bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local internal demagnetizing fields as one of the main fundamental reasons for the low density of critical current in twinned YBa2Cu3O7 − x
HTSCs
Authors: Rostami Khalil R
Published: July 2023

An oscillatory differential method of local approximation is applied to study the effect of local internal and external demagnetizing fields on the density of the critical current J
c of intertwin Josephson weak links in YBCO HTSC samples. Demagnetizing fields H
D1 and H
D2 of samples with different J
c and twin size d are measured in the zero field cooling and zero field cooling with magnetic flux accumulation modes. The following parameters are determined: the twin size d, the thermodynamic first critical magnetic fields of twins Hi

c1, the demagnetizing fields of twins H
Dtr, the densities of intertwin effective critical currents J
ceff, the critical pinning currents J
cp, and the Meissner screening critical currents J
cg. It is shown that, at the fields Hi

c1, large twins are stepwise decomposed into a group of smaller twins with close demagnetizing factors. It is found that an increase in J
cg and J
ceff and a decrease in d lead, on the one hand, to a decrease in J
c due to an increase in H
D and H
Dtr produced by J
ceff and J
cg, and, on the other hand, to an increase in J
ceff and J
cg due to a decrease in d. For samples with large J
c and d, as well as for samples with low values of J
c and d in a field of about 8 × 10−2 T, H
D and H
Dtr suppress J
c by about 70% and 60%, respectively. According to the results obtained in the present study and the known literature data, J
c decreases with increasing J
cg; in this case, a decrease in d leads to a decrease, rather than an increase, in J
c. Since the weak links and low values of J
c are fundamental properties of HTSCs, the literature data should be corrected with regard to the important facts on the effect of H
D and H
Dtr on J
c.
Versatile and effective design platform for surface acoustic wave accelerometers
Authors: Kuang Linjuan , Zhou Jian , Guo Yihao , Duan Huigao , Fu Yong Qing (Richard)
Published: July 2023

Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers have great potentials for applications in aerospace, autonomous driving and consumer electronics. However, their working principles are mostly based on capacitive and resistance types, which cannot be easily and effectively used for wireless and passive sensing, while surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology is the key solution for this problem. Due to complex acoustic-electric-mechanical coupling during SAW accelerators’ operations, currently, there needs an accurate, reliable, and efficient design and simulation platform to improve their structure and performance. In this work, we proposed an accurate, reliable, and efficient modeling platform to optimize designs of SAW accelerometers, using a double-ended cantilever beam structure as an example. This model integrated the elastic acoustic effect and the coupled wave equations under both the mechanical and electrical loading using the finite element analysis, and effectively obtained acceleration-frequency responses of the SAW accelerators. We have systematically simulated effects of thickness of piezoelectric film, wavelength, and structural parameters of cantilever beams, and the simulation results are well consistent with the theoretical ones. Finally, using the developed model, we designed a high-G SAW accelerometer (up to 20000 g) with a high sensitivity (−41.8 Hz g−1) and excellent linearity (0.9999), and another one with a high sensitivity (3.02 KHz g−1) and a good linearity (0.9999) over a 100 g acceleration range.
Indications of octupole correlation in 84Sr
Authors: Anuj  , Kumar S , Kumar Naveen , Rajput Neelam , Rojeeta Devi K , Kumar Neeraj , Ahmad C V , Banerjee Akashrup , Rohilla Aman , Gupta C K , Pandey Anand , Bhushan Ravi , Gupta Unnati , Mandal S K , Bhattacharjee S S , Arora Divya , Garg R , Bala Indu , Kumar Rakesh , Singh R P , Muralithar S , Jyothi V V , Majumder Chandrani , Sharma Hariprakash , Sharma Anupriya , Dhiman S K
Published: July 2023

Excited states in the 84Sr nucleus were investigated via the 76Ge(12C,4n)84Sr reaction at a beam energy of 58 MeV. The de-excited γ-rays were detected using the Indian National Gamma Array (INGA) spectrometer at Inter-University Accelerator Center, New Delhi. Directional Correlation from Oriented (DCO) states ratio and the polarization asymmetry (Δ) measurements were done to confirm the spin-parity of the low-lying states. Eight new γ-ray transitions were placed in the level scheme of 84Sr. The systematic behaviour of energy staggering S(I) of the γ-band (Band 1 and Band 2) was compared with the γ-bands in the mass A ≈ 80 region and the nuclei of other mass regions with similar behaviour (odd-I down). The E1 character is confirmed for strong γ-ray transitions connecting Band 3 to the Yrast band. Comparison of new results such as B(E1)/B(E2) ratio, frequency ratio ω
−/ω
+ and energy displacement ΔE in 84Sr with those of 72Se, 150Sm, 152Gd, 220Ra and 224Th nuclei suggests the presence of octupole correlations in 84Sr.
Integration of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and microbiome data highlights the impact of sulfate-reducing bacteria on Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Guo Xingzhi , Zhang Xin , Tang Peng , Chong Li , Li Rui
Published: July 2023

Background

observational studies have indicated that gut microbiome dysbiosis was associated with Alzheimer’s disease (ad). However, the results are largely inconsistent and it remains unknown whether the association is causal in nature.

Methods

leveraging observational studies and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on the gut microbiome in ad patients, we pooled the microbiome data (N = 1,109) to screen the microbiota significantly altered in ad patients and then conducted Mendelian randomisation (MR) study to determine the causal associations between altered microbiota (N = 18,340) and ad using two different ad GWAS datasets (N = 63,926 and N = 472,868) using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method.

Results

the combined effect sizes from observational studies showed that 8 phyla, 18 classes, 22 orders, 37 families, 78 genera and 109 species significantly changed in ad patients. Using the MR analysis, we found that two classes, one order, one family and one genus were suggestively associated with ad consistently in two different GWAS datasets. Both observational studies and MR analysis simultaneously showed that Desulfovibrionales (order) and Desulfovibrionaceae (family), which were mainly implicated in dissimilatory sulfate reduction, were significantly associated with an elevated risk of ad.

Conclusions

our findings demonstrated that the abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria was increased in ad patients, which was causally linked to an increased risk of ad. Further efforts are warranted to clarify the underlying mechanisms, which will provide new insight into the prevention and treatment of ad.
Always Silent? Exploring Contextual Conditions for Nonresponses to Vote Intention Questions at the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Authors: Camatarri Stefano , Luartz Lewis A , Gallina Marta
Published: July 2023

Nonresponses to vote intention questions notoriously impact the quality of electoral predictions. This issue has gained visibility in the US due to the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. Indeed, the failure of many major pollsters in predicting election results in several key states stimulated a renewed attention for the so-called shy Trump supporter hypothesis, according to which Trump supporters would be more likely to hide their vote preference in electoral surveys due to social desirability bias. Interestingly, extant studies generally overlook the role that the socio-political environments could play in respondent decisions to disclose one’s own political preferences. In this research note, we test the effect of local political climate on survey respondents’ willingness to express their vote intentions, conditional on their ideological orientations. We test our hypotheses by means of logistic regressions on data from the 2020 Cooperative Election Study, matched with prior presidential election results at the county level using data from the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. Our findings suggest the political–electoral context of respondents is likely to trigger a social desirability mechanism leading to reticence about one’s own preferred political options within the 2020 presidential election. This pattern applies especially to conservative-leaning respondents.
Correcting the ‘grossest faults’: Charles Jennens and the Composition of Handel’s Messiah
Authors: Burrows Donald
Published: July 2023

The correspondence between Charles Jennens and Edward Holdsworth includes criticisms by Jennens, sometimes trenchant, of Handel’s setting of the text in Messiah. A fresh detailed examination of the musical sources, building on work previously presented in Music & Letters, has revealed more specific evidence for the substance of Jennens’s criticisms. Handel’s performing score of Messiah has a large number of alterations to the verbal text by Jennens, and further alterations are found in a manuscript score of the oratorio from his library. By putting together the musical and documentary evidence it is possible to assess when Jennens made these alterations, the effect that they may have had on Handel’s performances, and the extent to which Handel accepted or rejected his librettist’s suggestions or demands. These matters are particularly relevant to Handel’s first London performances of Messiah, in 1743 and 1745. Although most of the accessible evidence concerns the verbal text and its setting, the musical sources also provide a few clues to Jennens’s criticisms of the musical composition. The article presents comparative transcriptions of passages in ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ as found in Handel’s autograph, Jennens’s score, and Walsh’s editions, with interpretation of the differences in the light of Jennens’s comments. It also suggests that the ‘Aylesford’ copies of Messiah, taken together, reveal Jennens’s preferred scheme for the movements of the oratorio.
“Laboratories against Democracy” and the Case against Federalism
Authors: Hopkins Daniel J
Published: July 2023

We are living through a renaissance in studies of politics and policymaking in the American states, and Jacob Grumbach’s pathbreaking book Laboratories against Democracy extends this remarkable streak. This important book tracks questions about nationalization, federalism, policymaking, and democracy across the traditional subfield boundaries of American politics. Indeed, the book’s attention to the role of political parties and federalist institutions in our nationalized politics provides a critical counterweight given prior research’s emphasis on political behavior. Grumbach’s book also expands the scope of outcomes under consideration, as it takes up the relationship between nationalization and democratic backsliding. While I voice some skepticism about the claim that federalism exacerbates contemporary threats to American democracy, this incisive book demands consideration, and is in many respects a model of synthetic scholarship.
Steroid Efficacy on Audiologic Recovery in Patients With Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Vestibular Schwannoma: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Huynh Pauline P. , Saba Elias S. , Hoerter Jacob E. , Jiang Nancy
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The objectives of this study are to (i) estimate the incidence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) among patients in an integrated healthcare system who present for evaluation of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and (ii) evaluate the efficacy of empiric steroid therapy on audiologic recovery among SSNHL patients ultimately diagnosed with VS.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients presenting with SSNHL in 2021 at a multicenter integrated healthcare system serving over 4 million members. Patient demographics, audiometric data, VS diagnosis, therapeutic steroid intervention, and data regarding treatment response were recorded. A clinically significant audiometric improvement was defined as (i) an increase of 15% in word recognition score, (ii) a decrease of 15 dB in four-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) using frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, or (iii) a PTA of <20 dB on follow-up audiogram.

Results

Six hundred fifty-eight patients were reviewed, of which 309 (56.0% male; mean, 57.5 years) met the inclusion criteria with audiometric data and magnetic resonance imaging data. Ten patients (70.0% male; mean, 51.3 years) were found to have VS. Of these, five patients received oral steroid therapy alone, and five had combination therapy (oral + intratympanic steroid injections). No patients received intratympanic steroid therapy alone. Median PTA improvement with steroid therapy was 3.1-dB hearing loss, and median word recognition score improvement was 16.5%. Six of 10 patients demonstrated clinically significant audiometric improvement with steroid therapy.

Conclusion

This study represents the largest US-based study showcasing the prevalence of VS in patients originally presenting with SSNHL. It also reinforces previous findings that VS does not preclude trials of steroid therapy.
Cochlear Implant Outcomes between Patients with Sporadic and Neurofibromatosis Type 2–Associated Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Dornhoffer James R. , Haller Travis , Lohse Christine M. , Driscoll Colin L.W. , Neff Brian A. , Saoji Aniket , Link Michael J. , Carlson Matthew L.
Published: July 2023

Objective

Compare cochlear implant (CI) performance between patients with ipsilateral sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) and NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2). Compare CI performance according to VS management modality.

Study Design

Historical cohort.

Setting

Tertiary academic center.

Patients

Forty-nine patients (52 ears) undergoing cochlear implantation in the setting of ipsilateral sporadic (n = 21) or NF2-associated VS (n = 28).

Interventions

CI ipsilateral to VS.

Main Outcome Measures

Auditory thresholds, consonant–nucleus–consonant (CNC) word scores, and AzBio sentences in quiet scores.

Results

Among all patients, median post-CI pure tone average was 28 dB HL (interquartile range [IQR], 21–38), CNC word score was 39% (IQR, 6–62), and AzBio sentences in quiet score was 60% (IQR, 11–83) at a median of 12.5 months postimplantation. Despite the NF2 cohort having larger tumors, when comparing patients with sporadic versus NF2-associated VS, there were no statistically significant differences in CNC word (49% [30–70] vs. 31% [0–52]) or AzBio sentences in quiet (66% [28–80] vs. 57% [5–83]) scores. Regardless of NF2 status, all patients managed with observation, and radiosurgery achieved open-set speech. In patients who underwent microsurgery, 6 (46%) of 13 with NF2 achieved open-set speech recognition compared with 4 (67%) of 6 with sporadic disease.

Conclusion

Select patients with VS achieve successful hearing rehabilitation with a CI. In this cohort, tumor management strategy significantly influenced CI performance, whereas differences in NF2 status exhibited less effect. Specifically, all patients managed with observation or radiosurgery achieved open-set speech perception, whereas approximately half of people with NF2-related VS and two-thirds of people with sporadic VS achieved this outcome after tumor microsurgery. When disease permits, observation and radiosurgery should be considered in patients who may later pursue a CI.
Text mining and data analysis identifies potential drugs and pathways for polycystic ovary syndrome treatment
Authors: Yuan Xiao-Jing , Wang Yan , Yang Hai-Yan , Zhao Bin
Published: July 2023

Objective:

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. This study aimed to use text mining and microarray data analysis to identify drugs that target genes and potential pathways associated with PCOS.

Methods:

We extracted a common set of genes associated with PCOS using text mining and the microarray dataset GSE48301. Next, we performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses of these genes, as well as protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Additionally, we used MCODE and cytoHubba to cluster significant common genes in the PPI network and performed gene-drug interaction analyses to identify potential drugs for further investigation. Finally, we annotated pathways associated with the genes identified.

Results:

Text mining and microarray analysis yielded 696 text mining genes (TMGs) and 2,804 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these, a set of 77 genes was found in both TMGs and DEGs. Interestingly, 67 of these genes participated in constructing the PPI network. Seven common hub genes were selected using the MCODE and CytoHubba methods. Finally, five out of seven genes were targeted by 15 existing drugs.

Conclusion:

Four genes (FASLG, IL13, IL17A, and IL2RA), which are mainly related to the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, could be prioritized as targets for PCOS.
Factors Affecting Psychosocial Adjustment in Persons With a Recent Ostomy
Authors: Doucette Jeffrey E. , Mawn Barbara E. , Beitz Janice M. , Koren Ainat
Published: July 2023

PURPOSE:

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of personal and clinical factors on psychosocial adjustment in persons living with an ostomy for less than 1 year.

DESIGN:

A cross-sectional survey.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

The study sample comprised 183 adult individuals who had a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy for less than 1 year, residing in the Northeastern United States.

METHODS:

Data were collected from May through November 2018 using 2 instruments: a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Ostomy Adjustment Inventory-23 (OAI-23). The OAI-23 items measured 4 psychosocial subscales: acceptance, anxious preoccupation, social engagement, and anger. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, Cramer's V correlations, and multiple regression.

RESULTS:

Univariate analysis indicated that factors influencing psychosocial adjustment to an ostomy include age, assistance with care, educational background, stomal type, body mass index, ostomy height, preoperative education, and stoma siting. Multivariate analysis of variance identified that those who reported independence with ostomy care experienced higher levels of adjustment in all areas of the OAI-23.

CONCLUSIONS:

Findings from this study may assist nurses and other care providers to better understand the physical and emotional needs of those with ostomies and to identify interventions to promote optimal health in this population.
Effects of brand spokes-characters with personal and historical nostalgia on brand attitude: evidence from Generation Z consumers in China
Authors: Jiang Huanshu , Ge Jiaoju , Yao Jie
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Using Generation Z consumers from China as an example and focusing on the nostalgia-driven design of brand spokes-character, this study sought to update research on the causal relationship between nostalgia and brand attitude for younger consumers. Two types of nostalgic brand spokes-characters (i.e., eliciting personal nostalgia and historical nostalgia) were examined separately and compared to verify their contributions to more positive brand attitude, as well as related mechanisms, that is, whether consumer trust in the spokes-character mediated the relationship between nostalgic spokes-characters and brand attitude.

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment was first conducted to test the causal effects of brand spokes-characters designed to elicit two types of nostalgic feelings (i.e., personal nostalgia and historical nostalgia). Then, the authors investigated the influencing mechanism of nostalgic brand spokes-characters based on bootstrap mediation models.

Findings

The results revealed that for less familiar brand spokes-characters, either type of nostalgia-driven design would enhance consumers' brand attitude. Moreover, consumer trust in the spokes-character mediated the relationship between personal-nostalgic brand spokes-characters and brand attitude.

Originality/value

This study was the first to examine personal nostalgia and historical nostalgia separately regarding the effects of nostalgic spokes-characters and related mechanisms. By combining methods of experimental design and bootstrap mediation modeling, it provided a more robust evaluation of nostalgia-driven design, and supported using certain nostalgic styles for designing brand spokes-characters, which can help modern brands draw more interest from young consumers and promote more positive brand attitude.
Identification and functional characterization of female antennae‐biased odorant receptor 23 involved in acetophenone detection of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella
Authors: Chen Qi , Zhu Xiaoyan , Kang Guoqing , Yu Qiling , Liu Qingxin , Du Lin , Yang Yi , He Xinyu , Zhao Ying , Zhang Junjie , Hu Ying , Ren Bingzhong
Published: July 2023

The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a globally distributed storage pest, relies on odors that are emitted from stored foods to select a suitable substrate for oviposition. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the chemical communication between P. interpunctella and its host remains elusive. In this study, 130 chemosensory genes were identified from the transcriptomes of 7 P. interpunctella tissues, and the quantitative expression levels of all 56 P. interpunctella odorant receptor genes (PintORs) were validated using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The functional characteristics of 5 PintORs with female antennae‐biased expression were investigated using 2‐electrode voltage clamp recordings in Xenopus laevis oocytes. PintOR23 was found to be specifically tuned to acetophenone. Acetophenone could elicit a significant electrophysiological response and only attracted mated females when compared with males and virgin females. In addition, molecular docking predicted that the hydrogen bonding sites, TRP‐335 and ALA‐167, might play key roles in the binding of PintOR23 to acetophenone. Our study provides valuable insights into the olfactory mechanism of oviposition substrate detection and localization in P. interpunctella and points toward the possibility of developing eco‐friendly odorant agents to control pests of stored products.
Fossil Equidae in the Linxia Basin with Biostratigraphic and Paleozoogeographic Significance
Authors: SUN Boyang
Published: July 2023

The Linxia Basin is characterized by an abundance of Cenozoic sediments, that contain exceptionally rich fossil resources. Equids are abundant in the Linxia Basin, the fossil record of equids in this region including 16 species that represent 10 genera. In comparison to other classic late Cenozoic areas in China, the Linxia Basin stands out, because the fauna and chronological data accompanying Linxia equids render them remarkably useful for biostratigraphy. The anchitheriines in the region, such as Anchitherium and Sinohippus, represent early equids that appeared in the late stages of the middle and late Miocene, respectively. Among the equines, most species of Chinese hipparions have been identified in the Linxia Basin and some species of the genera Hipparion and Hippotherium have FAD records for China. Furthermore, Equus eisenmannae is one of the earliest known species of Equus in the Old World and is well‐represented at the Longdan locality. Some species with precise geohistorical distributions can serve as standards for high‐resolution chronological units within this framework. Located at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and subject to considerable uplift, the Linxia Basin has served as a biogeographic transition area for equids throughout the late Cenozoic.
Causal associations between gut microbiota and sepsis: A two‐sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: You Jingya , Bi Xiaogang , Zhang Kouxing , Xie Dan , Chai Yiwen , Wen Sha , Xian Ying , Fan Min , Xu Wen , Li Mingliang , Yuan Xiaofeng
Published: July 2023

Background

Targeting the gut microbiota may become a new therapeutic to prevent and treat sepsis. Nonetheless, the causal relationship between specific intestinal flora and sepsis is still unclear.

Methods

A two‐sample Mendelian randomization study was performed using the summary statistics of gut microbiota from the largest available genome‐wide association study (n = 18,340). The summary statistics of sepsis were obtained from the UK Biobank (n = 486,484). Inverse‐variance weighted, weighted median and MR‐Egger were used to examine the causal association between gut microbiota and sepsis. Cochrane's Q test, MR‐Egger intercept test, MR‐PRESSO Global test and Rucker's Q'‐test were used for sensitivity analyses. The leave‐one method was used for testing the stability of MR results, and Bonferroni‐corrected was used to test the strength of the causal relationship between exposure and outcome.

Results

Nine intestinal microflora were found causally associated with sepsis, and 11 intestinal microflora were causally associated with 28‐day death in sepsis. Among them, Order Victivallales had a strong causality with lower risk of sepsis (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.78–0.94, p = .00165) and lower 28‐day mortality of sepsis (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53–0.87, p = .00179) after Bonferroni‐corrected test. No pleiotropy was detected.

Conclusions

Through the two‐sample MR analysis, we identified the specific intestinal flora that had a causal relationship with the risk and prognosis of sepsis at the level of gene prediction, which may provide helpful biomarkers for early disease diagnosis and potential therapeutic targets for sepsis.
Experimental and numerical investigation on test methods for mode II fracture of composite‐titanium adhesively bonded structures
Authors: Wang Jian , Ding Huiming , Jiang Junxia , Bi Yunbo
Published: July 2023

The investigation on fracture test methods for dissimilar materials adhesively bonded structures is urgent. In this study, three mode II fracture test methods for composite‐titanium adhesively bonded structures are experimentally and numerically studied. A manual inverse fitting method is adopted to obtain accurate cohesive models, and sensitivity evaluation of test methods is comprehensively conducted. The results show that GII of the experimental end‐notched flexure (ENF) test is nearly 20% greater than end‐loaded split (ELS). The effect of friction can be ignored, while all methods are highly dependent on the adherend's thickness, especially the maximum deviation of ELS that is 23.74%. In addition, the condition that the adherend with smaller flexural stiffness places outside the bending direction should be avoided to achieve mode II dominant possibly. In summary, the ENF test method with span length of 100 mm and small adherend's thickness is recommended for the mode II fracture test of the dissimilar materials adhesively bonded structures.
Mapping the two distinct proliferative bursts early in T‐cell development
Authors: Oh Seungyoul , Parikh Dhruti , Xiao Jiyao , Liu Xin , Gu Karen , Chong Mark MW
Published: July 2023

T‐cell development occurs in the thymus and is tightly regulated to produce a diverse enough repertoire of mature T cells that can recognize any potential pathogen. The development of T cells is dependent on small numbers of uncommitted precursors that continually seed the thymus from the bone marrow. As they progress along the developmental pathway, there is a massive expansion in cell number to generate the necessary diversity in T‐cell receptor chain usage. It is recognized that there are two proliferative bursts that occur early in T‐cell development, one prior to β‐selection and one after, and these are responsible for the expansion. While the proliferation following β‐selection is well‐characterized, the earlier proliferative burst has yet to be precisely defined. In this study, we employ single‐cell RNA sequencing coupled to trajectory inference methods to pinpoint when in T‐cell development thymocytes are induced into cell cycle. We show that the first proliferative burst is initiated in the double‐negative (DN) 2a stage before T lineage commitment occurs, with cell cycling downregulated by the DN3a stage. A second burst is then initiated at the DN3b stage, immediately after β‐selection. We subsequently employ fluorescence‐activated cell sorting–based analysis for DNA content to confirm these two proliferative bursts.
A synthetic biology approach to engineering circuits in immune cells
Authors: Hoces Daniel , Miguens Blanco Jesús , Hernández‐López Rogelio A.
Published: July 2023

A synthetic circuit in a biological system involves the designed assembly of genetic elements, biomolecules, or cells to create a defined function. These circuits are central in synthetic biology, enabling the reprogramming of cellular behavior and the engineering of cells with customized responses. In cancer therapeutics, engineering T cells with circuits have the potential to overcome the challenges of current approaches, for example, by allowing specific recognition and killing of cancer cells. Recent advances also facilitate engineering integrated circuits for the controlled release of therapeutic molecules at specified locations, for example, in a solid tumor. In this review, we discuss recent strategies and applications of synthetic receptor circuits aimed at enhancing immune cell functions for cancer immunotherapy. We begin by introducing the concept of circuits in networks at the molecular and cellular scales and provide an analysis of the development and implementation of several synthetic circuits in T cells that have the goal to overcome current challenges in cancer immunotherapy. These include specific targeting of cancer cells, increased T‐cell proliferation, and persistence in the tumor microenvironment. By harnessing the power of synthetic biology, and the characteristics of certain circuit architectures, it is now possible to engineer a new generation of immune cells that recognize cancer cells, while minimizing off‐target toxicities. We specifically discuss T‐cell circuits for antigen density sensing. These circuits allow targeting of solid tumors that share antigens with normal tissues. Additionally, we explore designs for synthetic circuits that could control T‐cell differentiation or T‐cell fate as well as the concept of synthetic multicellular circuits that leverage cellular communication and division of labor to achieve improved therapeutic efficacy. As our understanding of cell biology expands and novel tools for genome, protein, and cell engineering are developed, we anticipate further innovative approaches to emerge in the design and engineering of circuits in immune cells.
Preclinical evaluation of a novel single‐shot pulsed field ablation system for pulmonary vein and atrial ablation
Authors: Aryana Arash , Ji Sang Yong , Hata Cary , de la Rama Alan , Nguyen Ken , Panescu Dorin
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a nonthermal ablative strategy that achieves cell death via electroporation. Herein, we investigated the preclinical safety and efficacy of PFA using two novel 8‐French, 16‐electrode spiral PFA/mapping catheters (ElePulse; CRC EP, Inc.).

Methods

Bipolar PFA (>1.8 kV) was performed using 30 s, single‐shot, QRS‐gated applications. Altogether, 94 atrial structures were ablated in 23 swine, one canine, and one ovine, including right and left atria and atrial appendages, pulmonary veins, and superior and inferior (IVC) vena cavae. We also examined the impact of PFA on the phrenic nerve (14 swine) and on a deviated esophagus after delivery of PFA from inside the IVC (five swine).

Results

All applications were single‐shot without catheter repositioning. Minimal microbubbling was observed without significant skeletal muscle twitching/activation (mean acceleration: 0.05 m/s2). There was a marked reduction in post‐PFA versus pre‐PFA atrial electrogram amplitude (0.17 ± 0.21 vs. 1.18 ± 1.08 mV; p < .0001). Lesion durability was demonstrated up to 3 months in all targeted tissues. Histologically, lesions were contiguous and transmural, except in the atrial appendage, and without any thermal effects. Magnetic resonance, gross, and histologic examinations of the brain, rete mirabile, and kidneys revealed no thromboembolism. No acute/long‐term phrenic nerve dysfunction was encountered. Although within 2 h of ablation, histologic examinations of the esophagus revealed acute PFA‐related changes in the muscular layer, these completely resolved by 21 ± 5 days.

Conclusion

A novel, single‐shot, spiral PFA system is capable of safely creating large, durable atrial lesions without significant adverse effects on the phrenic nerve or the esophagus.
Treated periodontitis and recurrent events after first‐time myocardial infarction: A Danish nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wagner Andrea Kjellström , D'Souza Maria , Bang Casper N. , Holmstrup Palle , Blanche Paul , Fiehn Nils‐Erik , Gislason Gunnar , Pedersen Christian Torp , Damgaard Christian , Nielsen Claus Henrik , Hansen Peter Riis
Published: July 2023

Aim

To investigate the association between previous periodontal treatment and recurrent events after first‐time myocardial infarction (MI).

Materials and Methods

From the Danish nationwide registries, patients with first‐time MI between 2000 and 2015 were divided into three groups according to oral health care within 1 year prior to first‐time MI. A multiple logistic regression model provided adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the 3‐year risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Results

A total of 103,949 patients were included. Patients with treated periodontitis (PD) prior to first‐time MI had an adjusted 3‐year risk of MACE similar to patients presumed periodontally healthy (OR 0.97 [95% CI 0.92–1.03]). Patients with no prior dental visits were significantly older, had more comorbidities and showed significantly increased adjusted 3‐year risks of MACE (OR 1.47 [95% CI 1.42–1.52]), cardiovascular death (OR 1.71 [95% CI 1.64–1.78]) and heart failure (OR 1.13 [95% CI 1.07–1.20]) compared with patients presumed periodontally healthy.

Conclusions

Patients with treated PD 1 year prior to first‐time MI had a similar risk of recurrent cardiovascular events as patients presumed periodontally healthy. No dental visit prior to first‐time MI was an independent risk factor for recurrent events.
The causal effect of corporate governance on employee satisfaction
Authors: Menner Marco , Menninger Frederic
Published: July 2023

We investigate the causal effect of increasing shareholder rights on employee satisfaction. To ensure causality, we use close shareholder votes on antitakeover provisions included in the Entrenchment Index (E‐Index) as exogenous shocks to the corporate governance of a company. A 1‐point increase in shareholder rights on the E‐Index scale causes a 10% decrease in employee satisfaction. The channels that drive our results are decreases in employees' opinion about firm culture, in their view about the company's CEO, in the number of employees, and in capital expenditures.
Identifying flood response experiences in Iranian health system: A qualitative study
Authors: Mohajervatan Ali , Tavakoli Nahid , Khankeh Hamidreza , Raeisi Ahmad Reza , Atighechian Golrokh
Published: July 2023

One of the most essential purposes of the health system is to ensure that people affected by various disastrous events, such as floods, have access timely to basic health services. Therefore, enhancing the preparedness and response plans for such events should be a national priority. Because of the complexity and devastating impacts of floods on public health, it is a crucial to understand the various aspects of flood experience in the country. The experiences of managers and operational staff from various units of the Iranian health system are a valuable source for understanding flood complexities. These experiences were explored using 19 semi‐structured interviews with people who had firsthand experience of this phenomenon. Based on the results, in order to provide a flood response plan, it is necessary to adhere to the principles and foundations that can meet the needs arising from the flood. Our study showed that the health system's response to flooding can be divided into two categories: initial and specific functions. A comprehensive response requires an initial function to prevent flood impacts, and specific functions are needed to prevent and treat flood‐related diseases. These results could form the basis for the health system's response to future floods.
Discontinuation of oral anticoagulant use among nursing home residents with atrial fibrillation before hospice enrollment
Authors: Chen Qiaoxi , Baek Jonggyu , Goldberg Robert , Tjia Jennifer , Lapane Kate , Alcusky Matthew
Published: July 2023

Background

Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are effective in reducing the risk of cardioembolic stroke due to atrial fibrillation. While most nursing home residents with atrial fibrillation qualify for anticoagulation based on clinical guidelines, the net clinical benefits of OACs may diminish as residents approach the end of life.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 30,503 US nursing home residents with atrial fibrillation (based on Minimum Data Set 3.0 and Medicare Part A records) who used OACs in the year before enrolling in hospice care during 2012–2016. Whether residents discontinued OACs before hospice enrollment was determined using Part D claims and date of hospice enrollment. Modified Poisson models estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR).

Results

Almost half (45.7%) of residents who had recent OAC use discontinued prior to hospice enrollment. Residents who were underweight (aPR: 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.03), those with high bleeding risk (aPR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03–1.05), and those with moderate or severe cognitive impairment (aPR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02–1.03) had a higher prevalence of OAC discontinuation before entering hospice. Residents with venous thromboembolism (aPR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.93–0.96), statin users (aPR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.87–0.89), and those on polypharmacy (≥10 medications, aPR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.71–0.73) were less likely to discontinue OACs before enrollment in hospice.

Conclusion

Anticoagulants are often discontinued among older nursing home residents with atrial fibrillation before hospice enrollment; it is not clear that these decisions are driven solely by net clinical benefit considerations. Further research is needed on comparative outcomes to inform resident‐centered decisions regarding OAC use in older adults entering hospice.
Are institutional investors colluding with manipulators?
Authors: Luu Quang T.
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the trading behavior of institutional investors in Taiwan before, during, and after a manipulation event and determines whether institutional investors benefit from their trading behavior during the period from the year 2000 to 2020. We find that stocks with a low turnover and small market capitalization are the main targets of price manipulators. In addition, the stock price of manipulated firms increases from the start date of the manipulation event, peaks at the end of the event, then falls after the event. Foreign institutions collude with manipulators to exaggerate stock prices for self‐benefit. In contrast, securities dealers counter the trading behavior of manipulators and act as market stabilizers, causing them to suffer losses. Moreover, foreign institutions earn higher returns on stocks of manipulated firms with a low turnover during and soon after manipulation; however, they earn a higher return on stocks of manipulated firms with a high turnover in the long run after manipulation.
Benefits of Testing and Production for Learning Turkish As a New Language
Authors: Rose Maya C. , Brooks Patricia J. , Lodhi Arshia K. , Cortez Angela
Published: July 2023

This study examined putative benefits of testing and production for learning new languages. Undergraduates (N = 156) were exposed to Turkish spoken dialogues under varying learning conditions (retrieval practice, comprehension, verbal repetition) in a computer‐assisted language learning session. Participants completed pre‐ and posttests of number‐ and case‐marking comprehension, a vocabulary test, and an explicit awareness questionnaire. Controlling for nonverbal ability and pretest scores, the retrieval‐practice group performed highest overall. For number/case marking, the comprehension and retrieval‐practice groups outperformed the verbal‐repetition group, suggesting benefits of either recognition‐ or recall‐based testing. For vocabulary, the verbal‐repetition and retrieval‐practice groups outperformed the comprehension group, indicating benefits of overt production. Case marking was easier to learn than number marking, suggesting advantages for learning word‐final inflections. Explicit awareness correlated with comprehension accuracy, yet some participants demonstrated above‐chance comprehension without showing awareness. Findings indicate the value of incorporating both practice tests and overt production in language pedagogy.
The Effect of Addition and Subtraction Practice within a Word–Problem Intervention on Addition and Subtraction Outcomes
Authors: Powell Sarah R. , Akther Syeda Sharjina , Yoon Na Young , Berry Katherine A. , Nemcek Carmen , Fall Anna-Maria , Roberts Greg
Published: July 2023

This study examined the influence of addition and subtraction practice embedded within a word–problem intervention for Grade 3 students experiencing word–problem difficulty. Students ( N = 448) were randomly assigned to one of two variants of a word–problem intervention or a business–as–usual comparison condition. Within the word–problem interventions, students participated in targeted addition and subtraction fact and computation practice for approximately 3 minutes of each 30–minute session across 47 intervention sessions, but also continually practiced addition and subtraction through word–problem solving. At posttest, students who participated in the intervention demonstrated improved single–digit addition and subtraction performance as well as improved double–digit addition and subtraction performance. At follow–up in Grade 4, persistence of effects was only identified for double–digit addition. Considering addition and subtraction are foundational to many other mathematics skills, addition and subtraction practice serves as an important component of mathematics intervention.
Glomerular hyperfiltration is an independent predictor of postoperative outcomes: A NSQIPmulti‐specialty surgical cohort analysis
Authors: Riveros Carlos , Ranganathan Sanjana , Huang Emily , Ordonez Adriana , Xu Jiaqiong , Geng Michael , Miles Brian J. , Esnaola Nestor , Klaassen Zachary , Jerath Angela , Kim S. Joseph , Wallis Christopher J. D. , Satkunasivam Raj
Published: July 2023

Aim

While high estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been associated with increased overall mortality, its effect on postoperative outcomes is relatively understudied. We sought to investigate the association between high eGFR and 30‐day postoperative outcomes using a multi‐specialty surgical cohort.

Methods

Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we selected adult for whom eGFR could be calculated using the 2021 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Based on sex‐specific distributions of eGFR stratified by age quintiles, we classified patients into low (<5th percentile), normal (5–95th percentile) and high eGFR (>95th percentile). The primary outcome was a composite of any 30‐day major adverse outcomes, including: death, reoperation, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction and stroke. Secondary outcomes included 30‐day infectious complications, venous thromboembolism (VTE), bleeding requiring transfusion, prolonged length of stay and unplanned readmission. After matching for demographic differences, comorbidity burden and operative characteristics, logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between extremes of eGFR and the outcomes of interest.

Results

Of 1 668 447 patients, 84 115 (5.07%) had a high eGFR. High eGFR was not associated with major adverse outcomes (odds ratio [OR] 1.00 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97, 1.03]); however, it was associated with reoperation (OR 1.04 [95% CI: 1.00,1.08]), infectious complications (OR 1.14 [95% CI: 1.11, 1.16]), VTE (OR 1.15 [95% CI: 1.09, 1.22]) and prolonged length of stay (OR 1.19 [95% CI: 1.16, 1.21]).

Conclusion

Our findings support an association between high eGFR and adverse 30‐day postoperative outcomes.
Greater rate of nitrogen fertilizer application increases root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. plurivora in container‐grown rhododendron
Authors: Mestas Angie , Weiland Jerry E. , Scagel Carolyn F. , Davis Anne E. , Mitchell Jesse N. , Beck Bryan R.
Published: July 2023

Phytophthora root rot, caused by many Phytophthora species, decreases the health of rhododendrons produced in nurseries. Optimizing nitrogen (N) fertilizer is often used to improve nursery stock quality, but there is little information on how N fertilizers influence root rot caused by these pathogens. To understand the impact of N fertilizer and pathogen species on root rot development, rhododendrons were grown with no (0 g N/pot), low (1.04 g N/pot) or high (3.12 g N/pot) rates of N and inoculated with either P. cinnamomi or P. plurivora. Noninoculated plants at low and high N rates had greater biomass, leaf greenness and enhanced N, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur and manganese uptake compared to plants grown with no N. When either Phytophthora species was present, N application increased aboveground disease symptoms (wilting, chlorosis, reduced stomatal conductance and biomass), but had no effect on root rot severity belowground. In addition, P. cinnamomi restricted uptake of several nutrients while P. plurivora had less influence on nutrient uptake. Nurseries frequently apply high amounts of N to promote fast growth. However, our results show that this can exacerbate root rot when P. cinnamomi or P. plurivora is present. Although decreasing N can reduce the number of overtly symptomatic plants, this may conversely increase the risk for selling apparently asymptomatic plants with low levels of infection. Additional studies are needed to determine how N fertilization influences Phytophthora root rot for a broader range of rhododendron cultivars and nursery crop species.