bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A LIGHTWEIGHT, FOLDABLE MOTORIZED TRANSPORT CHAIR TO EASE CAREGIVER BURDEN
Authors: Gustafson Kimberly , Durfee William , Voss Gregory , Hansen Andrew , Goldish Gary
Published: June 2023

As the population ages, the number of caregivers in the Unites States is growing rapidly. The burden on these caregivers is exacerbated by steadily increasing obesity rates, which are highest in adults aged 50 to 70. The Caregiver-Assist Transport Chair (CATC) is designed to address the difficulty many caregivers experience assisting in the transportation of moderate to low mobility care recipients outside of the home for appointments, community engagements, or fresh air excursions. It is not uncommon for the caregiver to be elderly or of a smaller build than the care recipient, increasing the difficulty of pushing a transport chair for extended distances or across uneven or unlevel terrain. The CATC is equipped with intelligent motorized wheels that engage in the forward or reverse directions to maintain a consistently low effort required from the caregiver, independent of the weight of the care recipient. The chair assists on uphill terrain and slows on downhill descents to match the walking speed of the caregiver. In addition, the chair has a drop-down footplate mechanism that eliminates the need for the legs of the care recipient to be lifted onto foot pedals once seated. This footplate also serves as a brake to eliminate safety concerns associated with the chair rolling back as the user transitions between sitting and standing. While the CATC contains motorized elements, unlike a typical motorized wheelchair, it is lightweight, foldable, and easy to maneuver in and out of a vehicle.
DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A SMART TOOTHBRUSH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA
Authors: Shakeri Jannati Mohammad E. , O’Byrne Sarah K , Moussavi Zahra
Published: June 2023

Dementia in general and Alzheimer’s Disease in particular, is one of the most challenging health conditions in our century. Experiencing cognitive decline, resulting in relying on others for daily living activities and impairment in basic mental tasks are the main symptoms. There are yet no proven treatments to slow or prevent neurodegenerative dementia progression; thus, dementia patients eventually need full-time care. To help patients to stay in their own homes longer and ease the caregiver burden, Smart Assistive Technology (SAT) products may be beneficial. One of the basic activities that Alzheimer’s patients in particular need help with, are basic hygiene needs such as brushing their teeth. A smart toothbrush has been designed and implemented as a pilot study towards development of a SAT for basic hygiene functions of dementia patients, while it can also have educational application for children. The design includes hardware and software. The hardware includes 9-Axis motion sensor, individually addressable light-emitting diodes (LEDs), Bluetooth Light Energy (BLE) communication module, laser distance sensor and other electrical components. The software includes real-time monitoring of several dependent and independent tasks using an algorithm to assist the users and transmit that data to a smartphone application. The real-time monitoring system of the designed prototype assists the users by visual and auditory means. It is anticipated the designed prototype will assist people with dementia, and hopefully prolong the time they can be cared for at home; it may also be used for oral hygiene education and instruction in general.
HAND MOVEMENT GLOVE FOR CHILD WITH TITINOPATHY
Authors: Bass Hannah , Foster Charles , Santhanaraj Akshaya , Kumar Shourya
Published: June 2023

Patients with titinopathy or hand paralysis often lack quality, low cost therapeutic tools to aid in gaining hand strength and range of motion. As a result, our team sought to develop a way to increase flexion and passive motion in the hand of a patient with titinopathy in order to gain functionality. This paper outlines the design and development of a novel therapeutic glove for a 4 year old boy with a neuromuscular disease that prevents him from flexing the two distal joints of his fingers.

The team has developed a low-cost hand movement glove (HMG) to be used as a supplement to traditional physical therapy. The device utilizes a motor-cable system secured to each finger, allowing for independent and synchronized flexion of each finger. Phase I of prototyping resulted in a working model to assess the finger movement mechanism and overall wearability of the device. Phase II utilized an Arduino Uno microcontroller, circuit switch, PCA9685 driver board, micro servo motors, a cotton woven glove, and 3-D printed components to characterize a more robust model allowing independent flexion of each finger.

Initial testing has proven the device’s ability to achieve physiologically relevant degrees of flexion in each finger. Upon completion of further testing, we anticipate this device having a profound impact as an additional tool utilized in the patient’s physical therapy regimen to allow for regained flexion at both proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.
A RECONFIGURABLE, ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED VIBROTACTILE STIMULATION DEVICE FOR CHRONIC PAIN
Authors: Adams Josh , Demarest Phillip , Donovan Kara , Brunner Dr. Peter , Burton Dr. Harold , Haroutounian Dr. Simon , Leuthardt Dr. Eric , Gorlewicz Dr. Jenna
Published: June 2023

This paper presents an experimental chronic pain rehabilitation therapy utilizing vibration-based stimulation of the hand, wrist and lower arm, which has shown promise in reducing pain ratings in chronic pain patients (n=5) over a six-week treatment period. Based on the clinical need and practical use discoveries of that first trial, this paper outlines the development of a second-generation device that activates specific nerves through vibrotactile stimulation applied to the skin. Several major steps in this process were the iterative design process, physical prototyping, conceptual modeling, and benchtop testing. Furthermore, this next generation device was tested with epilepsy patients undergoing invasive monitoring (stereotactic electroencephalography, sEEG) to collect electrophysiological measurements via implanted electrodes in the brain. Early findings showed differential modulation of delta power in response to 2 Hz median nerve stimulation, but not during 12 Hz median nerve stimulation or 2 Hz ulnar nerve stimulation, hence indicating differential encoding of vibration features depending on frequency and spatial parameters. These patient trials also served to collect feedback for the continued development of the device to improve aspects such as ease of use, patient comfort, and ideal application of the vibration stimulus. Testing and development are ongoing with the enhancement of vibration isolating structures, more comfortable contact points, more durable additively manufactured structures, and embedded force sensors in the device.
Quantitative evaluation of perfluorinated alkanethiol molecular order on gold surfaces
Authors: Gamble Lara J. , Radford David , Grainger David W. , Castner David G.
Published: June 2023

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of perfluoroalkanethiols [CF3(CF2)xCH2CH2SH (x = 3, 5, 7, and 9)] on gold were characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), and static time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Perfluoroalkanethiols of several chain lengths were synthesized using a known hydride reduction method for transforming commercially available perfluoroalkyliodides to corresponding perfluoroalkanethiols. This strategy provides improved product yields compared to other known routes based on hydrolysis from the common thioacetyl perfluoroalkyl intermediate. Angle-dependent XPS analysis revealed that CF3(CF2)xCH2CH2SH (x = 5, 7, and 9; F6, F8, and F10, respectively) SAMs on gold exhibited significant enrichment of the terminal CF3 group at the outer monolayer surface with the sulfur present as a metal-bound thiolate located at the monolayer-gold interface. XPS of the CF3(CF2)3CH2CH2SH (F4) monolayer revealed a thin film with a significant (>50%) amount of hydrocarbon contamination consistent with poorly organized monolayers, while the longest thiol (F10) showed XPS signals attributed to substantial ordering and anisotropy. ToF-SIMS spectra from all four SAMs contained molecular ions representative of the particular perfluorinated thiol used to prepare the monolayer. NEXAFS methods were used to determine degrees of ordering and average tilt for molecules comprising monolayers. The SAMs prepared from the longest (F10) thiols exhibited the highest degree of ordering with the molecular axis nearly perpendicular to the gold surface. The degree of ordering decreased significantly with decreasing length of the perfluorocarbon tail.
Bandwidths of vocal tract resonances in physical models compared to transmission-line simulations
Authors: Birkholz Peter , Blandin Rémi , Kürbis Steffen
Published: June 2023

This study investigated how the bandwidths of resonances simulated by transmission-line models of the vocal tract compare to bandwidths measured from physical three-dimensional printed vowel resonators. Three types of physical resonators were examined: models with realistic vocal tract shapes based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, straight axisymmetric tubes with varying cross-sectional areas, and two-tube approximations of the vocal tract with notched lips. All physical models had hard walls and closed glottis so the main loss mechanisms contributing to the bandwidths were sound radiation, viscosity, and heat conduction. These losses were accordingly included in the simulations, in two variants: A coarse approximation of the losses with frequency-independent lumped elements, and a detailed, theoretically more precise loss model. Across the examined frequency range from 0 to 5 kHz, the resonance bandwidths increased systematically from the simulations with the coarse loss model to the simulations with the detailed loss model, to the tube-shaped physical resonators, and to the MRI-based resonators. This indicates that the simulated losses, especially the commonly used approximations, underestimate the real losses in physical resonators. Hence, more realistic acoustic simulations of the vocal tract require improved models for viscous and radiation losses.
Approximation of modal wavenumbers and group speeds in an oceanic waveguide using a neural network
Authors: Varon A. , Mars J. , Bonnel J.
Published: June 2023

Underwater acoustic propagation is influenced not only by the property of the water column, but also by the seabed property. Modeling this propagation using normal mode simulation can be computationally intensive, especially for wideband signals. To address this challenge, a Deep Neural Network is used to predict modal horizontal wavenumbers and group velocities. Predicted wavenumbers are then used to compute modal depth functions and transmission losses, reducing computational cost without significant loss in accuracy. This is illustrated on a simulated Shallow Water 2006 inversion scenario.
Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella pertussis: Similarities and Differences in Infection, Immuno-Modulation, and Vaccine Considerations
Authors: Miguelena Chamorro Beatriz , De Luca Karelle , Swaminathan Gokul , Longet Stéphanie , Mundt Egbert , Paul Stéphane
Published: June 2023

Bordetella pertussis
and
Bordetella bronchiseptica
belong to the genus
Bordetella
, which comprises 14 other species.
B. pertussis
is responsible for whooping cough in humans, a severe infection in children and less severe or chronic in adults. These infections are restricted to humans and currently increasing worldwide.
B. bronchiseptica
is involved in diverse respiratory infections in a wide range of mammals.
A Cysteine Residue of Human Cytomegalovirus vMIA Protein Plays a Crucial Role in Viperin Trafficking to Control Viral Infectivity
Authors: Kim Jeong Jin , Hong Sookyung , Seo Jun-Young
Published: June 2023

Viperin traffics to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, and viral assembly compartment (AC) during human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Viperin has antiviral activity at the ER and regulates cellular metabolism at the mitochondria.
Characterization of the Inflammatory Response Evoked by Bacterial Membrane Vesicles in Intestinal Cells Reveals an RIPK2-Dependent Activation by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Vesicles
Authors: Thapa Himadri B. , Kohl Paul , Zingl Franz G. , Fleischhacker Dominik , Wolinski Heimo , Kufer Thomas A. , Schild Stefan
Published: June 2023

The release of membrane vesicles from the bacterial cell surface is highly conserved among most bacterial species, including outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) from Gram-negative bacteria as well as vesicles liberated from the cytoplasmic membrane of Gram-positive bacteria. It is becoming increasingly evident that these multifactorial spheres, carrying membranous, periplasmic, and even cytosolic content, contribute to intra- and interspecies communication.
New Multilocus Sequence Typing Scheme for Enterococcus faecium Based on Whole Genome Sequencing Data
Authors: Bezdicek Matej , Hanslikova Jana , Nykrynova Marketa , Dufkova Kristyna , Kocmanova Iva , Kubackova Petra , Mayer Jiri , Lengerova Martina
Published: June 2023

Enterococcus faecium
is one of the most important pathogens causing health care associated infections. One of the main reasons for its clinical importance is a rapidly spreading resistance to vancomycin and linezolid, which significantly complicates antibiotic treatment of infections caused by such resistant strains.
Intensified follow-up of patients with type 1 diabetes and poor glycaemic control: a multicentre quality improvement collaborative based on data from the Norwegian Diabetes Register for Adults
Authors: Vonheim Madsen Tone , Cooper John Graham , Carlsen Siri , Loevaas Karianne , Rekdal Magne , Igland Jannicke , Sandberg Sverre , Ueland Grethe Åstrøm , Iversen Marjolein Memelink , Sølvik Una
Published: June 2023

Background

Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and poor glycaemic control are at high risk of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications. The aim of this study was to determine if a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) initiated by the Norwegian Diabetes Register for adults (NDR-A) could reduce the proportion of patients with T1DM with poor glycaemic control (defined as glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)≥75 mmol/mol) and reduce mean HbA1c at participating clinics compared with 14 control clinics.

Method

Multicentre study with controlled before and after design. Representatives of 13 diabetes outpatient clinics (n=5145 patients with T1DM) in the intervention group attended four project meetings during an 18-month QIC. They were required to identify areas requiring improvement at their clinic and make action plans. Continuous feedback on HbA1c outcomes was provided by NDR-A during the project. In total 4084 patients with type 1 diabetes attended the control clinics.

Results

Between 2016 and 2019, the overall proportion of patients with T1DM and HbA1c≥75 mmol/mol in the intervention group were reduced from 19.3% to 14.1% (p<0.001). Corresponding proportions in the control group were reduced from 17.3% (2016) to 14.4% (2019) (p<0.001). Between 2016 and 2019, overall mean HbA1c decreased by 2.8 mmol/mol (p<0.001) at intervention clinics compared with 2.3 mmol/mol (p<0.001) at control clinics. After adjusting for the baseline differences in glycaemic control, there were no significant differences in the overall improvement in glycaemic control between intervention and control clinics.

Conclusions

The registry linked QIC did not result in a significantly greater improvement in glycaemic control at intervention clinics compared with control clinics. However, there has been a sustained improvement in glycaemic control and importantly a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with poor glycaemic control at both intervention and control clinics during and after the QIC time frame. It is possible that some of this improvement may be due to a spillover effect from the QIC.
Mixed-methods process evaluation of the injury prevention Warming-up Hockey programme and its implementation
Authors: Cornelissen Maaike Heleen , Kemler Ellen , Baan Anneloes , Nassau Femke van
Published: June 2023

Warming-up Hockey (WUP) is an effective injury prevention programme to reduce acute field hockey injuries among youth. This paper describes the process evaluation of the nationwide scaling-up. We conducted a mixed-methods process evaluation from September 2019 to December 2020 according to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, focusing on the intervention and its implementation. We collected data through questionnaires, interviews and web/app analytics. Participants were trainers/coaches, technical/board members of hockey clubs (TBMs) and employees of the Royal Dutch Hockey Federation (KNHB). In total, 226 trainers/coaches (61 via WUP and 165 via training courses) and 14 TBMs filled in questionnaires. Ten individuals (four trainers/coaches, four TBMs and two KNHB employees) participated in semistructured interviews. The study showed the following results according to the RE-AIM framework. Reach: According to web/app analytics, 1492 new accounts were registered. Effectiveness: Overall, users were satisfied with WUP and the implementation strategies, and believed WUP could reduce field hockey injuries. Adoption: 63% of the trainers/coaches (enrolled via WUP) indicated they used WUP. Implementation: Most trainers/coaches did not use WUP during every training session or match. Most TBMs promoted WUP in their club. Implementation barriers included lack of integration with other training programmes, ‘know-it-all’ trainers, lack of supervision on WUP use and delayed start of implementation. Facilitators included perceived added value, information need on injury prevention in small clubs and tailored communication. Maintenance: Users planned to use WUP occasionally. The KNHB intended to integrate WUP in their newly developed Knowledge Platform. To conclude, WUP was evaluated as a useful programme, but adherence to WUP was challenging. Timely preparation and creating an implementation plan based on stakeholder input, including communication at key moments during the sports season and tailored communication, were found to be important during implementation. Findings can be useful for others planning to implement evidence-based injury prevention programmes on a larger scale.
Dust acoustic solitary waves in dusty plasma with nonuniform temperature
Authors: Pakzad Hamid Reza
Published: June 2023

In this paper, the dust acoustic wave is studied in conditions where the dust temperature is not constant. This model includes negatively charged dust particles and thermal ions. The reductive perturbation technique is used and the new point in this study is the nonuniformity of the plasma temperature. The nonconstancy of the temperature is entered as a first-order perturbation in the calculations, and finally the modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equation is derived. The solution of the modified KdV equation clarifies the change in soliton shape of the wave when it moves in the perturbation plasma. We show how the soliton wave undergoes deformation and amplitude reduction during propagation when it encounters a region with a different temperature. The output of this research can be effective to better understand the wave behavior in a real plasma with nonuniform temperature.
ON THE ALGEBRAIC FOUNDATION OF THE MANDELBULB
Authors: BOILY VANESSA , ROCHON DOMINIC
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we generalize the Mandelbrot set using quaternions and spherical coordinates. In particular, we use pure quaternions to define a spherical product. This product, which is inspired by the product of complex numbers, adds the angles and multiplies the radii of the spherical coordinates. We show that the algebraic structure of pure quaternions with the spherical product is a commutative unital magma. Then, we present several generalizations of the Mandelbrot set. Among them, we present a set that is visually identical to the so-called Mandelbulb. We show that this set is bounded and that it can be generated by an escape time algorithm. We also define another generalization, the bulbic Mandelbrot set. We show that one of its 2D cuts has the same dynamics as the Mandelbrot set and that we can generate this set only with a quaternionic product, without using the spherical product.
Fine-grained Caching and Resource Scheduling for Adaptive Bitrate Videos in Edge Networks
Authors: Zhang Xinglin , Tian Jiaqi , Zhang Junna , Xiang Chaocan
Published: June 2023

With the easy access to mobile networks and the proliferation of video applications, video traffic is occupying a great portion of the network traffic, which poses a new challenge of how to alleviate the heavy backhaul traffic and ensure the high quality of experience for video services. As a promising solution towards addressing this challenge, video caching in edge networks has recently received significant attention, which mostly considers the video popularity and the user preference for the video. However, few studies consider the user behavior and the user preference for different parts of the video that indeed have an essential impact on caching efficiency. Hence, this article proposes a new caching and resource scheduling scheme for adaptive bitrate videos by incorporating these fine-grained factors. We first model the video service problem as a nonlinear integer programming problem, which can be divided into a cache placement problem and an online resource scheduling problem. Then, we design efficient algorithms based on several techniques, including greedy strategy, relaxation, and rounding, to solve the two problems. Extensive experimental results based on two real-world datasets show that the proposed solution achieves superior performance compared with several state-of-the-art caching approaches.
A Survey on Influence Maximization: From an ML-Based Combinatorial Optimization
Authors: Li Yandi , Gao Haobo , Gao Yunxuan , Guo Jianxiong , Wu Weili
Published: June 2023

Influence Maximization (IM) is a classical combinatorial optimization problem, which can be widely used in mobile networks, social computing, and recommendation systems. It aims at selecting a small number of users such that maximizing the influence spread across the online social network. Because of its potential commercial and academic value, there are a lot of researchers focusing on studying the IM problem from different perspectives. The main challenge comes from the NP-hardness of the IM problem and #P-hardness of estimating the influence spread, thus traditional algorithms for overcoming them can be categorized into two classes: heuristic algorithms and approximation algorithms. However, there is no theoretical guarantee for heuristic algorithms, and the theoretical design is close to the limit. Therefore, it is almost impossible to further optimize and improve their performance.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, technologies based on Machine Learning (ML) have achieved remarkable achievements in many fields. In view of this, in recent years, a number of new methods have emerged to solve combinatorial optimization problems by using ML-based techniques. These methods have the advantages of fast solving speed and strong generalization ability to unknown graphs, which provide a brand-new direction for solving combinatorial optimization problems. Therefore, we abandon the traditional algorithms based on iterative search and review the recent development of ML-based methods, especially Deep Reinforcement Learning, to solve the IM problem and other variants in social networks. We focus on summarizing the relevant background knowledge, basic principles, common methods, and applied research. Finally, the challenges that need to be solved urgently in future IM research are pointed out.
Boosting Oxygen Reduction Activity of Co3O4 through a Synergy of Ni Doping and Carbon Species Dotting for Zn-air Battery
Authors: Zheng Yue , Huang Li , Gao Rui , Zheng Lirong , Hu Zhongbo , Liu Xiangfeng
Published: June 2023

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) undertakes an indispensable driving role for metal-air batteries with sluggish kinetics. In this work, we proposed a synergic strategy of Ni doping and carbon species dotting to compose Co3O4 with intrinsic large specific area and oxygen vacancies. The Ni-doped Co3O4/C (NCC-1) with four electron transfer mode conducts extraordinary electrocatalytic performance than commercial 20 wt% Pt/C and excellent tolerance to methanol poisoning. This series of improvements are attributed to the rapid dynamics drove by variable transition metal valence with elevated electronic conductivity derived from dotted carbon species. The XPS results at different reduction stages investigate that the doped Co3O4/C affects ORR performance by adjusting the species of *O at the active sites and the formation of intermediates including *OH and *O. More Co3+ active sites exposed on the NCC-1 surface, higher catalytic activity is provided by the conversion of Co(Ⅱ)/Co(III) and Ni(Ⅱ)/Ni(III). What is purposeful in practicability. the NCC-1/IrO2 based Zn-air batteries show an excellent charge-discharge response and cyclability than that of 20% Pt/IrO2 based Zn-air batteries, highlighting the implemented potentiality of NCC-1 based metal-air-battery. This study offers new insights into designing non-noble-metal based oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for more energy storage devices.
Capacitive Behaviour of Imidazole Azo Modified Carbon Nanotubes/Polypyrrole Composite in Aqueous Electrolytes
Authors: Baby Anjana , A. Saranraj , S. Abinaya , Jose Sujin P. , V. P. Aswathi , Puthenveetil Balakrishnan Sreeja
Published: June 2023

Here, we reported imidazole azo (Im) modified carbon nanotubes (CNT) grafted polypyrrole (PPy) via the chemical oxidation method. The synthesized hybrid material has shown a unique structure consisting of carbon nanotubes with a conductive network via polypyrrole. The presence of Im derivatives has helped CNTs to enhance their electrochemical performances. The as synthesized composite was characterized using various techniques like FT-IR, XRD, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. The morphological studies were performed using SEM technique which also confirmed the nature of the composite. The electrochemical performances of the electrode material were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in various electrolytes. The best performance of the electrode material was observed in 1 M H2SO4 with a specific capacitance of 305 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1. The electrode material also showed a coulombic efficiency of 96% even after 5000 cycles.
Moderate exercise induces trained immunity in macrophages
Authors: Murugathasan Mayoorey , Jafari Ardavan , Amandeep Amandeep , Hassan Syed A. , Chihata Matthew , Abdul-Sater Ali A.
Published: June 2023

In this study, we explain how long-term moderate exercise training can reduce inflammation in mouse macrophages by reprogramming the way they sense and respond to the presence of pathogens. We completed a thorough analysis and showed that these changes persist in macrophages because exercise improves the ability of cells to utilize oxygen without producing damaging compounds, and changes the way they access their DNA.
Behavioral and neural responses to high-strength magnetic fields are reduced in otolith mutant mice
Authors: Cote Jason M. , Hood Alison , Kwon Bumsup , Smith James C. , Houpt Thomas A.
Published: June 2023

Static high magnetic fields (MFs) interact with the vestibular system of humans and rodents. In rats and mice, exposure to MFs causes perturbations such as head movements, circular locomotion, suppressed rearing, nystagmus, and conditioned taste aversion acquisition. To test the role of otoconia, two mutant mouse models were examined, head-tilt Nox3 het ( het) and tilted Otop1 ( tlt), with mutations, respectively, in Nox3, encoding the NADPH oxidase 3 enzyme, and Otop1, encoding the otopetrin 1 proton channel, which are normally expressed in the otolith organs, and are critical for otoconia formation. Consequently, both mutants show a near complete loss of otoconia in the utricle and saccule, and are nonresponsive to linear acceleration. Mice were exposed to a 14.1 Tesla MF for 30 min. After exposure, locomotor activity, conditioned taste aversion and c-Fos (in het) were assessed. Wild-type mice exposed to the MF showed suppressed rearing, increased latency to rear, locomotor circling, and c-Fos in brainstem nuclei related to vestibular processing (prepositus, spinal vestibular, and supragenual nuclei). Mutant het mice showed no response to the magnet and were similar to sham animals in all assays. Unlike het, tlt mutants exposed to the MF showed significant locomotor circling and suppressed rearing compared with sham controls, although they failed to acquire a taste aversion. The residual responsiveness of tlt versus het mice might reflect a greater semicircular deficit in het mice. These results demonstrate the necessity of the otoconia for the full effect of exposure to high MFs, but also suggest a semicircular contribution.
Proteomics of novel induced pluripotent stem cell-derived vascular endothelial cells reveal extensive similarity with an immortalized human endothelial cell line
Authors: Ariyasinghe Nethika R. , de Souza Santos Roberta , Gross Andrew , Aghamaleky-Sarvestany Arwin , Kreimer Simion , Escopete Sean , Parker Sarah J. , Sareen Dhruv
Published: June 2023

We have developed methods to differentiate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) across multiple iPSC lines into nontissue-specific pan vascular ECs (iECs) and demonstrated the proteomic similarity of these cells to a widely used endothelial cell line (HUVECs). We also identified posttranslational modifications and targets for increasing the proteomic similarity of iECs to HUVECs. In the future, iECs can be used to study EC development, signaling, and metabolism for future regenerative applications.
Aerobic Exercise Alters the Melanoma Microenvironment and Modulates ERK5 S496 Phosphorylation
Authors: Savage Hannah , Pareek Sumedha , Lee Jonghae , Ballarò Riccardo , Conterno Minussi Darlan , Hayek Karma , Sadullozoda Mumina , Lochmann Brooke S. , McQuade Jennifer L. , LaVoy Emily C. , Marmonti Enrica , Patel Hetal , Wang Guangyu , Imanishi Masaki , Kotla Sivareddy , Abe Jun-ichi , Schadler Keri
Published: June 2023

Exercise changes the tumor microenvironment by remodeling blood vessels and increasing infiltration by cytotoxic immune cells. The mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that exercise normalizes tumor vasculature and upregulates endothelial expression of VCAM1 in YUMMER 1.7 and B16F10 murine models of melanoma but differentially regulates tumor growth, hypoxia, and the immune response. We found that exercise suppressed tumor growth and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration in YUMMER but not in B16F10 tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry revealed exercise modulated the number and phenotype of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and myeloid cells. Specifically, exercise caused a phenotypic shift in the tumor-associated macrophage population and increased the expression of MHC class II transcripts. We further demonstrated that ERK5 S496A knock-in mice, which are phosphorylation deficient at the S496 residue, “mimicked” the exercise effect when unexercised, yet when exercised, these mice displayed a reversal in the effect of exercise on tumor growth and macrophage polarization compared with wild-type mice. Taken together, our results reveal tumor-specific differences in the immune response to exercise and show that ERK5 signaling via the S496 residue plays a crucial role in exercise-induced tumor microenvironment changes.

See related Spotlight by Betof Warner, p. 1158
Evaluating Work Impairment as a Source of Financial Toxicity in Cancer Healthcare and Negative Impacts on Health Status
Authors: Mudaranthakam Dinesh Pal , Nollen Nicole , Wick Jo , Hughes Dorothy , Welch Danny , Calhoun Elizabeth
Published: June 2023

How the socioeconomic factors intersect for a particular patient can determine their susceptibility to financial toxicity, what costs they will encounter during treatment, the type and quality of their care, and the potential work impairments they face. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate financial factors leading to worsening health outcomes by the cancer subtype. A logistic model predicting worsening health outcomes while assessing the most influential economic factors was constructed by the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study. A forward stepwise regression procedure was implemented to identify the social risk factors that impact health status. Stepwise regression was done on data subsets based on the cancer types of lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer to determine whether significant predictors of worsening health status were different or the same across cancer types. Independent covariate analysis was also conducted to cross-validate our model. On the basis of the model fit statistics, the two-factor model has the best fit, that is, the lowest AIC among potential models of 3270.56, percent concordance of 64.7, and a C-statistics of 0.65. The two-factor model used work impairment and out-of-pocket costs, significantly contributing to worsening health outcomes. Covariate analysis demonstrated that younger patients with cancer experienced more financial burdens leading to worsening health outcomes than elderly patients aged 65 years and above. Work impairment and high out-of-pocket costs were significantly associated with worsening health outcomes among cancer patients. Matching the participants who need the most financial help with appropriate resources is essential to mitigate the financial burden.

Significance:

Among patients with cancer, work impairment and out-of-pocket are the two primary factors contributing to adverse health outcomes. Women, African American or other races, the Hispanic population, and younger individuals have encountered higher work impairment and out-of-pocket costs due to cancer than their counterparts.
Comprehensive Transcriptomics Profiling of MicroRNA Reveals Plasma Circulating Biomarkers of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Dysregulated Signaling Pathways
Authors: Liang Lusha W. , Hasegawa Kohei , Maurer Mathew S. , Reilly Muredach P. , Fifer Michael A. , Shimada Yuichi J.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is caused by mutations in genes coding for proteins essential for myocardial contraction. However, it remains unclear through which signaling pathways these gene mutations mediate HCM pathogenesis. Growing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. We hypothesized that transcriptomics profiling of plasma miRNAs would reveal circulating biomarkers and dysregulated signaling pathways in HCM.

Methods:

We conducted a multicenter case-control study of cases with HCM and controls with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy. We performed plasma transcriptomics profiling of miRNAs using RNA sequencing. We developed a transcriptomics-based discrimination model using samples retrieved during the first two-thirds of the study period at one institution (training set). We prospectively tested its discriminative ability in samples collected thereafter from the same institution (prospective test set). We also externally validated the model by applying it to samples collected from the other institutions (external test set). We executed pathway analysis of dysregulated miRNAs with univariable
P
<0.05.

Results:

This study included 555 patients (392 cases and 163 controls). One thousand one hundred forty-one miRNAs passed our quality control filters. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the transcriptomics-based model derived from the training set was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79–0.93) in the prospective test set and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90–0.97) in the external test set. Pathway analysis revealed dysregulation of the Ras-MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway and pathways related to inflammation in HCM.

Conclusions:

This study utilized comprehensive transcriptomics profiling with RNA sequencing in HCM, revealing circulating miRNA biomarkers and dysregulated pathways.
Policing the scientific lexicon: The new colonialism?
Authors: PETHIYAGODA ROHAN
Published: June 2023

Several recent authors have called for the revision of the common and scientific names associated with taxa, as well as scientific terms, that may be construed as offensive (e.g., Hammer & Thiele, 2021; Cheng et al., 2023) or inappropriate (e.g., Gillman & Wright, 2020; Guedes et al., 2023). These proposals have been met with resistance, for example by Palma & Heath (2021—indigenous names), Mosyakin (2022—botany), Slabin (2023—philosophy of science) and all 26 commissioners of the International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature (Ceríaco et al., 2023).
On the types of Bolboceratidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) in the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm
Authors: ROSSINI MICHELE , FORSHAGE MATTIAS
Published: June 2023

The investigation of the Bolboceratidae collection of the Stockholm Museum of Natural History (NHRS) yielded 12 type specimens of eight Afrotropical and one Australian species. The majority of these types belongs to species described by Carl Henrik Boheman (1796–1868) based on specimens collected by Johan August Wahlberg (1810–1856) in southern Africa. In two of these species, we found ambiguity among potential syntypes. Therefore, based on comparison with original descriptions, we designate lectotypes for Bolboceras caffrum Boheman, 1857 and Bolboceras exasperans Péringuey, 1908, both of which are today classified in the genus Bolbocaffer Vulcano, Martínez & Pereira, 1969. Finally, we establish Bolboceras matabele Péringuey, 1908 (syn. nov.) as a junior subjective synonym of B. exasperans, we confirm a few synonymies that were historically established without study of type specimens, and we resurrect Bolboceras dorsuale Boheman, 1857 from previous synonymy under B. maculicolle Boheman, 1857 (Mimobolbus dorsualis (Boheman, 1857) n. comb. and stat. rev.).
A Regime Shift on Weddell Sea Continental Shelves with Local and Remote Physical and Biogeochemical Implications is Avoidable in a 2°C Scenario
Authors: Nissen Cara , Timmermann Ralph , Hoppema Mario , Hauck Judith
Published: June 2023

Tipping points in the Earth system describe critical thresholds beyond which a single component, part of the system, or the system as a whole changes from one stable state to another. In the present-day Southern Ocean, the Weddell Sea constitutes an important dense-water formation site, associated with efficient deep-ocean carbon and oxygen transfer and low ice-shelf basal melt rates. Here, a regime shift will occur when continental shelves are continuously flushed with warm, oxygen-poor offshore waters from intermediate depth, leading to less efficient deep-ocean carbon and oxygen transfer and higher ice-shelf basal melt rates. We use a global ocean–biogeochemistry model including ice-shelf cavities and an eddy-permitting grid in the southern Weddell Sea to address the susceptibility of this region to such a system change for four twenty-first-century emission scenarios. Assessing the projected changes in shelf–open-ocean density gradients, bottom-water properties, and on-shelf heat transport, our results indicate that the Weddell Sea undergoes a regime shift by 2100 in the highest-emission scenario, SSP5–8.5, but not yet in the lower-emission scenarios. The regime shift is imminent by 2100 in the scenarios SSP3–7.0 and SSP2–4.5, but avoidable under the lowest-emission scenario SSP1–2.6. While shelf-bottom waters freshen and acidify everywhere, bottom waters in the Filchner Trough undergo accelerated warming and deoxygenation following the system change, with implications for local ecosystems and ice-shelf basal melt. Additionally, deep-ocean carbon and oxygen transfer decline, implying that the local changes ultimately affect ocean circulation, climate, and ecosystems globally.
Homemade Dart Attacks in Hawai’i
Authors: Balaraman Prashanth K. , Ng Karen , Perry Kyle , Hayashi Michael S.
Published: June 2023

Over a 4.5-year period (September 2014 to March 2019), 7 patients presented to the State’s only Level I Trauma Center with penetrating injuries inflicted by homemade metallic darts. Previously described in Micronesia, these are the first domestic cases of assaults utilizing this type of weaponry. Retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who presented to our institution with a dart injury within the study period. Details regarding demographics, imaging, and patient management were collected and described herein. All 7 patients were male with a median age of 24.6 years impaled with darts that penetrated through the deep muscle and tissue layers of the neck, torso, or extremity. Three patients required operative intervention and no mortalities were observed. The depth of penetration and proximity to vital structures highlight the potential for life-threatening injuries from these homemade darts.
Worship without words? The strange sacramental thought of the ever-memorable John Hales of Eton
Authors: Graves Daniel F.
Published: June 2023

In his undated Tract on the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, the “ever-memorable” John Hales [1584–1656], fellow of Eton, proposed the curious and idiosyncratic view that the sacrament of Holy Communion might be celebrated without the words of consecration. Since the patristic period, sacramental validity has required both “matter” and “form” (form being the words used in the ritual). Was Hales’ suggestion merely an intellectual exercise or was he truly promoting such a heterodox theological view of a sacrament with “matter” but no “form”? An examination of the tract will demonstrate how Hales builds upon the theological method of Richard Hooker and yet goes beyond him in new ways, setting the stage for later English Latitudinarian thought.
The UK's Statutory Defence for Victims of Modern Slavery and its Narrow Understanding of Victimhood
Authors: Heys Alicia
Published: June 2023

The Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings stipulates a ‘non-punishment principle’ which provides for the possibility of not imposing penalties on victims for crimes they were compelled to commit. This paper investigates the UK's iteration of this principle: the statutory defence provided by section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act. Drawing on extant literature and relevant case law, this paper investigates current understandings of the statutory defence and the insights these provide into broader understandings of criminal exploitation. It demonstrates that while practitioners understand the processes of the legislation surrounding the defence, they are less knowledgeable about the nuances of modern slavery which therefore impacts the use and effectiveness of the defence. This paper challenges the basis upon which criminal law is applied, and its analysis makes an original contribution to recognising how misunderstandings of criminal exploitation can affect fairness in the criminal justice system.
Understanding Consumer Self-Design Abandonment: A Dynamic Perspective
Authors: Krause Franziska , Franke Nikolaus
Published: June 2023

Many studies have found that allowing customers to self-design products using customization configurators generates high value for customers. However, in practice, high abandonment rates cast doubt on these findings. In the present article, this contradiction is resolved by analyzing consumers’ experiences during the creative process. Six studies provide converging evidence that consumers abandon customization because their valence during the process is U-shaped: initial high expectations prompt consumers to start self-designing in the first place, but they quickly find, to their frustration, that their (interim) design solutions are less attractive and the self-designing process is less enjoyable than they originally anticipated. Unaware that their enjoyment of the process would ultimately increase if they persisted through this phase, they abandon the self-design process altogether. It is only if the consumer overcomes the minimum of the U of valence that they harness the potential value from self-designing. This problematic pattern can be managed by providing social feedback during the self-design process. These findings contribute not only to the customization literature but also more generally to the understanding of consumers’ goal pursuit by enhancing its scope to creative tasks.
A Theory and Test of Pledge-Based Voting: The Limited but Real Effects of Election Pledges on Citizens’ Vote Choice
Authors: Bøggild Troels , Jensen Carsten
Published: June 2023

Do voters decide on the basis of the election pledges political parties make? Although this is a key assumption in most democratic theories and, seemingly, among parties who issue dozens of pledges during campaigns, the scientific literature does not provide a clear answer to this question. This article develops a theory of pledge-based voting and a research design that allows for studying the electoral effects of pledges in real-time as the campaign unfolds. Based on a novel experimental design embedded in panel surveys administered during and after the 2019 Danish national election campaign (N = 6233), we estimate that the most salient pledges affect vote choice by between 1.1 and 2.1 percentage points averaged across the electorate. While modest, these effects can be decisive in the often highly competitive context of modern elections. The findings have implications for our understanding of political behavior, party politics, and normative theories of democracy.
Family Work Histories: Centering First-Generation and Working-Class Students in a Sociology Course
Authors: Wahl Ana-María González
Published: June 2023

First-generation students often feel alone on college campuses. These students can find themselves excluded from organizations, traditions, and spaces that require financial, social, and cultural capital they may not have. In my Sociology of Work course, I use a family work history project to center and validate their experiences. Using census records and other sources, students reconstruct their parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ experience in the workplace. The histories of my first-generation students, in turn, provide the lens through which we collectively build a sociological analysis of the way that work shapes the trajectory of our lives. More specifically, these histories have taken us from farm and factory to the low-wage service sector, revealing both the troubles facing those without a college degree as well as their resilience. Overall, students describe this as a deeply meaningful project that confirms the pedagogical value of storytelling, particularly for first-generation students.