bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green Lane Planning for Safety, Beauty, and Reduction of the Diffusion of Air Pollutants to the Environment in the Boyolali Interchange on Semarang-Solo Toll Road
Authors: Setyawan F M , Nasrullah N
Published: August 2024

The high mobility of people requires fast transportation making toll roads as an alternative route to break up congestion and shorten the distance to a place. The availability of toll roads that are passed by many motorized vehicles, causes air pollution. To reduce the impact of air pollution, greenery is needed that can absorb exhaust emissions. In this study, motor vehicle exhaust emissions focus on NO2 gas. The purpose of this study was to analyze the emission of NO2 gas pollutants from motor vehicles, the absorption capacity of NO2 by vegetation, and to plan green lane that can improve the quality of the interchange landscape. The research was conducted at the Boyolali Interchange. The research method used is descriptive-quantitative based on the potential and constraints on the site, as well as analysis of emissions and vegetation that can absorb NO2 gas pollutants. Based on the results of the analysis, the development of green lane space is divided based on the function of vegetation which includes clear zone, cushion planting, aesthetics, identity, conservation, and guides which it supported with trees, and shrubs. The area of land that has the potential to be developed into green lane is 41,956.3 m2. The volume of vehicles is 66,637 per day with the resulting NO2 gas emission of 57.797 g. After planning, the emission that can be absorbed by plants is 48,293.50 g. Planned green lane of the Boyolali Interchange can reduce 83,56% of NO2 gas emissions released by motorized vehicles.
Study of the Procurement of Landscape Plant Nurseries in Sukamantri Village Tamansari Sub-district Bogor Regency
Authors: Sonjaya M P , Budiarti T
Published: August 2024

Nurserymen play an important role in the landscape industry by producing and providing plants according to the required specifications. Sukamantri Village is one of the centers of landscape plant production and sales in Bogor Regency. The main problem faced by the nursery is the fluctuating demand for landscape plants, which can cause a shortage or excess of plant stock. This research was conducted in Sukamantri Village, Tamansari Sub-district, Bogor Regency, from November 2022 to February 2023. This study aims to obtain information on the variety of plants in the nurseries and analyze the problems in order to obtain recommendations for the development and sustainability of the nursery. Data obtained through surveys, interviews, and secondary data. They were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using the SWOT approach regarding internal and external factors in the procurement of landscape plants. The results show the variety of plants includes indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, herbal plants, and fruit plant seedlings. The problem faced is the decline in domestic and foreign sales. Some of the recommended strategies include developing human resource skills, improving production technology, better planning production, promoting on social media, and expanding the market by strengthening networks.
Socio-Spatial Analysis of Indigenous Cultural Tourism Sites: A Comparative Study of Kampoeng Wisata Cinangneng, Bogor, Indonesia and Tam-Awan Village, Baguio City, Philippines
Authors: Centeno D DG
Published: August 2024

The diversified image and expanded settings of tourism in cultural landscapes pose an interesting challenge in preserving their tangible and intangible aspects and strengthening their relationships and representations. The study focuses on the comparative socio-spatial analysis of two mountainous cultural tourism sites — Kampoeng Wisata Cinangneng in Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia, and Tam-Awan Village in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines — with the local cultures of Sundanese and Ifugao, respectively. The study aims to understand the local cultures of Sundanese and Ifugao through their cultural activities present, to identify the natural and human-made landscape assets and their organization that reflect their cultures, and to study how these landscape assets are used by tourists. The research utilizes a descriptive qualitative approach and a comparative case study research design model through participatory observation, digital mapping, and thematic analysis. Data are translated on how each culture’s social structures are represented through the physical elements and how users act on it as representations of the culture, in return. Data shows differences in the sites’ socio-spatiality and representations. Cinangneng provides first-hand teaching and demonstration in the guided and controlled tours, while Tam-Awan offers a more flexible and self-directed learning through visual aids. The major physical difference of the sites are the topography and slopes, affecting the location of the built up structures and the pedestrian movement around them, creating Cinangneng’s passive and controlled experience and Tam-Awan’s active user experience. Understanding the socio-spatial relationships of these sites can help tourism policymakers, planners, managers, and other related stakeholders in recognizing cultural landscapes, their elements and spatial organization, and their representations in the evolving values of different cultures, especially in the Southeast Asian region.
Development of Time Period Expression of Regular and Irregular Buildings Using Statistical Procedure
Authors: Chaitanya R K , Rahul  , Chandradhara G P
Published: August 2024

The present study aims to develop a natural-period equation for buildings under different conditions, considering factors influencing the natural period. It includes the seismic responses of both regular and irregular structural configurations with various parameters of the natural period when subjected to horizontal disturbance. The parametric study considers a new empirical relationship between the building’s fundamental period and various factors influencing the natural period, such as stiffness, mass, and building height. Two different structural configurations, beam-column-framed structures, are studied. Different countries seismic codes are used for parametric studies. Building models are done using Etabs software, and a new formula for calculating the building period is proposed using principal component analysis. A time-period equation is obtained using multiple regression analysis using SPSS software. The developed period equation is found to be effective in estimating the time period of regular and irregular buildings.
Numerical Analysis on Fatigue Behavior of Plain Concrete and Alkali-activated Concrete
Authors: Sushanthkumar K V , Channappa T M , Prashanth M H , Chaitra A R
Published: August 2024

Alkali-activated concrete (AAC) has recently gained a lot of potential to become one of the most recommended sustainable replacements for Ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPCC). In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to study the static and fatigue flexural behavior of AAC compared to that of OPCC by using numerical modeling FEA software, ABAQUS. The nonlinear behavior of the stress-strain curve of the concrete has been studied using the concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model. A 2D notched beam was modelled using plane stress condition and three-point bending tests were performed under monotonic loading to obtain the static behavior of concrete. The result obtained has been utilized to fix the loading range for cyclic loads in fatigue analysis and at different loading frequencies. The load-CMOD curves and load-deflection curves were obtained for both static and fatigue loading, and the number of cycles to failure during fatigue. From the results, it has been observed that the Ordinary Portland cement concrete specimens sustain more load than that of Alkali-activated concrete under monotonic loading. However, AAC has shown more resistance to fatigue than that of the OPCC and the frequency of loading significantly influences the fatigue performance.
Soil structure interaction studies on earth retaining wall
Authors: Ahmed Shaik Kabeer , Absana  , Shenoy Sundip
Published: August 2024

The paper offers a brand-new analytical technique for figuring out retaining wall natural frequencies, which are essential for seismic design. Using translational and torsion springs to account for soil-backfill interaction and foundation flexibility, the approach applies the theory of beams on elastic foundations. There are three closed-form techniques offered for figuring out the natural frequencies of flexural and stiff modes. The analytical model takes into account several kinds of retaining walls and the interactions between soil and structure that go along with them, such as active, passive, and dynamic earth pressures. To make the analysis simpler, certain assumptions are made about the behaviour of the structure and the state of the soil. The suggested technique provides a trustworthy means of assessing retaining wall behaviour during seismic events, which is crucial for guaranteeing structural stability and averting failure.
Foliated manifolds and closed manifolds of non-positive sectional curvature
Authors: An Guolin , Su Guangxiang
Published: August 2024

Let

(
X
,

g

T
X

)

(X,g^{TX})

be a closed Riemannian manifold of dimension

n
n

, and let

F
F

be an integrable subbundle of

T
X

TX

. Let

k
F

k^F

be the leafwise scalar curvature associated to

g

F

=

g

T
X

|

F

g^{F}=g^{TX}|_{F}

. Let

Y
Y

be a closed Riemannian manifold of non-positive sectional curvature. We show that if either

T
X

TX

or

F
F

is spin, and there is a smooth map

g
:
X
→
Y

g:X\rightarrow Y

so that

g

∗

[
X
]
≠
0

g_{\ast }[X]\neq 0

in

H

n

(
Y
;

Q

)

H_{n}(Y;\mathbb {Q})

, then

k

F

≤
0

k^{F}\leq 0

. It extends the result of Gromov-Lawson [Inst. Hautes Études Sci. Publ. Math. 58 (1983), pp. 83–196] that a manifold which represents a non-trivial homology class in a compact

K
(
π
,
1
)

K(\pi ,1)

-manifold of non-positive sectional curvature, should not carry positive scalar curvature, to the case of foliations.
The fragment of elementary plane Euclidean geometry based on perpendicularity alone with complexity PSPACE-complete
Authors: Ivanova Tatyana , Tinchev Tinko
Published: August 2024

A. Tarski uses in his system for elementary Euclidean geometry only the primitive concept of point, and the two primitive relations betweenness and equidistance. Another approach is for the relations to be on lines instead of points. W. Schwabhäuser and L. Szczerba [Fund. Math. 82 (1974/75), pp. 347–355] showed that perpendicularity together with the ternary relation of co-punctuality are sufficient for dimension two, i.e. they may be used as a system of primitive relations for elementary plane Euclidean geometry. In this paper we give a complete axiomatization for the fragment of elementary plane Euclidean geometry based on perpendicularity alone. We show that this theory is not finitely axiomatizable, that it is decidable and that the complexity is PSPACE-complete. In contrast the complexity of elementary plane Euclidean geometry is exponential.
mDia2 is an important mediator of MRTF-A-dependent regulation of breast cancer cell migration
Authors: Eder Ian , Yu Virginia , Antonello Jacob , Chen Fangyuan , Gau David , Chawla Pooja , Joy Marion , Lucas Peter C. , Boone David , Lee Adrian V. , Roy Partha
Published: August 2024

Dysregulated actin cytoskeleton gives rise to aberrant cell motility and metastatic spread of tumor cells. This study evaluates the effect of overexpression of wild-type versus functional mutants of MRTF-A on migration and invasion of breast cancer (BC) cells. Our studies indicate that SRF's interaction is critical for MRTF-A-induced promotion of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional cell migration, while the SAP-domain function is important selectively for three-dimensional cell migration. Increased MRTF-A activity is associated with more effective membrane protrusion, a phenotype that is attributed predominantly to SRF's interaction with MRTF. We demonstrate formin-family protein mDia2 as an important mediator of MRTF-stimulated actin polymerization at the leading edge and cell migration. Multiplexed quantitative immunohistochemistry and transcriptome analyses of clinical BC specimens further demonstrate a positive correlation between nuclear localization of MRTF with malignant traits of cancer cells and enrichment of MRTF–SRF gene signature in pair-matched distant metastases versus primary tumors. In conclusion, this study establishes a novel mechanism of MRTF-dependent regulation of cell migration and provides evidence for the association between MRTF activity and increased malignancy in human BC, justifying future development of specific small molecule inhibitors of the MRTF-SRF transcriptional complex as potential therapeutic agents in BC.
A single septin from a polyextremotolerant yeast recapitulates many canonical functions of septin hetero-oligomers
Authors: Hamilton Grace E. , Wadkovsky Katherine N. , Gladfelter Amy S.
Published: August 2024

Morphological complexity and plasticity are hallmarks of polyextremotolerant fungi. Septins are conserved cytoskeletal proteins and key contributors to cell polarity and morphogenesis. They sense membrane curvature, coordinate cell division, and influence diffusion at the plasma membrane. Four septin homologues are conserved from yeasts to humans, the systems in which septins have been most studied. But there is also a fifth family of opisthokont septins that remain biochemically mysterious. Members of this family, Group 5 septins, appear in the genomes of filamentous fungi, but are understudied due to their absence from ascomycete yeasts. Knufia petricola is an emerging model polyextremotolerant black fungus that can also serve as a model system for Group 5 septins. We have recombinantly expressed and biochemically characterized KpAspE, a Group 5 septin from K. petricola. This septin––by itself in vitro––recapitulates many functions of canonical septin hetero-octamers. KpAspE is an active GTPase that forms diverse homo-oligomers, binds shallow membrane curvatures, and interacts with the terminal subunit of canonical septin hetero-octamers. These findings raise the possibility that Group 5 septins govern the higher-order structures formed by canonical septins, which in K. petricola cells form extended filaments, and provide insight into how septin hetero-oligomers evolved from ancient homomers.
Interventions to Reduce Lung Cancer and COPD-Related Stigma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yamazaki-Tan Julia , Harrison Nathan J , Marshall Henry , Gartner Coral , Runge Catherine E , Morphett Kylie
Published: August 2024

Background

Many individuals with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience high levels of stigma, which is associated with psychological distress and delayed help-seeking.

Purpose

To identify interventions aimed at reducing the stigma of lung cancer or COPD and to synthesize evidence on their efficacy.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for relevant records until March 1, 2024. Studies were eligible if they described an intervention designed to reduce internalized or external stigma associated with COPD or lung cancer and excluded if they did not report empirical findings.

Results

We identified 476 papers, 11 of which were eligible for inclusion. Interventions included educational materials, guided behavior change programs, and psychotherapeutic approaches. Interventions targeted people diagnosed with, or at high risk of developing COPD or lung cancer or clinical staff. No interventions that aimed to reduce stigma associated with lung cancer or COPD in the general community were identified. Most interventions yielded a statistically significant reduction in at least one measure of stigma or a decrease in qualitatively reported stigma.

Conclusions

The emerging literature on interventions to reduce stigma associated with lung cancer and COPD suggests that such interventions can reduce internalized stigma, but larger evaluations using randomized controlled trials are needed. Most studies were in the pilot stage and required further evaluation. Research is needed on campaigns and interventions to reduce stigma at the societal level to reduce exposure to external stigma amongst those with COPD and lung cancer.
Clinical Research Reporting Paradigms May Incompletely Describe Participant Identities
Authors: Enache Oana M. , Rosas Lisa Goldman , Rose Sherri
Published: August 2024

Reporting of participants’ baseline characteristics in clinical research is important for understanding a given study’s context and typically occurs in a tabular format. However, this format incompletely and ambiguously describes included participants, as their identities are more fully represented by an intersecting set of sociodemographic characteristics rather than discrete characteristics in a table. Standard tabular reporting practices therefore introduce limitations in assessing a study’s representativeness as well as its internal validity and external validity. To address this, we propose the addition of a simple graph that more clearly shows the joint distribution of baseline sociodemographic characteristics in a given study. We also discuss several practical considerations for the implementation of such graphs in the communication of clinical research.
Analyses using multiple imputation need to consider missing data in auxiliary variables
Authors: Madley-Dowd Paul , Curnow Elinor , Hughes Rachael A , Cornish Rosie P , Tilling Kate , Heron Jon
Published: August 2024

Auxiliary variables are used in multiple imputation (MI) to reduce bias and increase efficiency. These variables may often themselves be incomplete. We explored how missing data in auxiliary variables influenced estimates obtained from MI. We implemented a simulation study with 3 different missing data mechanisms for the outcome. We then examined the impact of increasing proportions of missing data and different missingness mechanisms for the auxiliary variable on bias of an unadjusted linear regression coefficient and the fraction of missing information. We illustrate our findings with an applied example in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. We found that where complete records analyses were biased, increasing proportions of missing data in auxiliary variables, under any missing data mechanism, reduced the ability of MI including the auxiliary variable to mitigate this bias. Where there was no bias in the complete records analysis, inclusion of a missing not at random auxiliary variable in MI introduced bias of potentially important magnitude (up to 17% of the effect size in our simulation). Careful consideration of the quantity and nature of missing data in auxiliary variables needs to be made when selecting them for use in MI models.
Assessing the Certainty of the Evidence in Systematic Reviews: Importance, Process, and Use
Authors: Brignardello-Petersen Romina , Guyatt Gordon H
Published: August 2024

When interpreting results and drawing conclusions, authors of systematic reviews should consider the limitations of the evidence included in their review. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach provides a framework for the explicit consideration of the limitations of the evidence included in a systematic review, and for incorporating this assessment into the conclusions. Assessments of certainty of evidence are a methodological expectation of systematic reviews. The certainty of the evidence is specific to each outcome in a systematic review, and can be rated as high, moderate, low, or very low. Because it will have an important impact, before conducting certainty of evidence, reviewers must clarify the intent of their question: are they interested in causation or association. Serious concerns regarding limitations in the study design, inconsistency, imprecision, indirectness, and publication bias can decrease the certainty of the evidence. Using an example, this article describes and illustrates the importance and the steps for assessing the certainty of evidence and drawing accurate conclusions in a systematic review.
Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment on Neural Noise: a Longitudinal Design
Authors: Melara Robert D , Root James C , Edelman Jay A , Estelle Maria Camilla , Mohr Isabella , Ahles Tim A
Published: August 2024

Objective

Cognitive dysfunction has been observed consistently in a subset of breast cancer survivors. Yet the precise neurophysiological origins of cancer-related cognitive decline remain unknown. The current study assessed neural noise (1/f activity in electroencephalogram [EEG]) in breast cancer survivors as a potential contributor to observed cognitive dysfunction from pre- to post-treatment.

Methods

We measured EEG in a longitudinal design during performance of the paired-click task and the revised Attention Network Test (ANT-R) to investigate pre- versus post-treatment effects of neural noise in breast cancer patients (n = 20 in paired click; n = 19 in ANT-R) compared with healthy controls (n = 32 in paired click; n = 29 in ANT-R).

Results

In both paradigms, one sensory (paired click) and one cognitive (ANT-R), we found that neural noise was significantly elevated after treatment in patients, remaining constant from pretest to posttest in controls. In the ANT-R, patients responded more slowly than controls on invalid cuing trials. Increased neural noise was associated with poorer alerting and poorer inhibitory control of attention (as measured by behavioral network scores), particularly for patients after treatment.

Conclusions

The current study is the first to show a deleterious effect of breast cancer and/or cancer treatment on neural noise, pointing to alterations in the relative balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs, while also suggesting promising approaches for cognitive rehabilitation.
Breathwork-induced psychedelic experiences modulate neural dynamics
Authors: Lewis-Healey Evan , Tagliazucchi Enzo , Canales-Johnson Andres , Bekinschtein Tristan A
Published: August 2024

Breathwork is an understudied school of practices involving intentional respiratory modulation to induce an altered state of consciousness (ASC). We simultaneously investigate the phenomenological and neural dynamics of breathwork by combining Temporal Experience Tracing, a quantitative methodology that preserves the temporal dynamics of subjective experience, with low-density portable EEG devices. Fourteen novice participants completed a course of up to 28 breathwork sessions—of 20, 40, or 60 min—in 28 days, yielding a neurophenomenological dataset of 301 breathwork sessions. Using hypothesis-driven and data-driven approaches, we found that “psychedelic-like” subjective experiences were associated with increased neural Lempel-Ziv complexity during breathwork. Exploratory analyses showed that the aperiodic exponent of the power spectral density—but not oscillatory alpha power—yielded similar neurophenomenological associations. Non-linear neural features, like complexity and the aperiodic exponent, neurally map both a multidimensional data-driven composite of positive experiences, and hypothesis-driven aspects of psychedelic-like experience states such as high bliss.
Kidney effects of triple CFTR modulator therapy in people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Gabai Pierre , Novel-Catin Etienne , Reynaud Quitterie , Nove-Josserand Raphaële , Pelletier Solenne , Fouque Denis , Koppe Laetitia , Durieu Isabelle
Published: August 2024

Background

Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) is a new cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator that has transformed the respiratory prognosis of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). However, its impact on other organs such as the kidneys, where CFTR is expressed, remains unclear. Since pwCF are risk of both kidney disease and urolithiasis, we aimed to study the potential effects of ETI on renal function, volume status, and risk factors for urolithiasis.

Methods

This prospective, observational, single-center, before–after cohort study, involved adult pwCF eligible for ETI. The changes in plasma and urinary profiles were assessed by comparing renal function (using 2021 CKD-EPIcreatinine and 2021 CKD-EPIcreatinine-cystatin C formulas), volume status (using aldosterone/renin ratio and blood pressure), and risk factors for urolithiasis, at the time of ETI introduction (M0) and 7 months after (M7).

Results

Nineteen pwCF were included. No significant change in renal function was observed between M0 and M7 (2021 CKD-EPIcreatinine: 105.5 ml/min/1.73 m² at M0 vs. 103.3 ml/min/1.73 m² at M7; P = .17). There was a significant reduction in aldosterone level (370.3 pmol/l at M0 vs. 232.4 pmol/l at M7; P = .02) and aldosterone/renin ratio (33.6 at M0 vs. 21.8 at M7; P = .03). Among the risk factors for urolithiasis, a significant reduction in magnesuria level was found (4.6 mmol/d at M0 vs. 3.8 mmol/d at M7; P = .01).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that ETI seem to have no short-term impact on the renal function of adult pwCF and appears to correct secondary hyperaldosteronism due to excessive sweat losses. Further investigations are needed to determine the potential impact of decreased magnesuria observed under ETI therapy on the risk of urolithiasis.
Recognition and normalization of multilingual symptom entities using in-domain-adapted BERT models and classification layers
Authors: Gallego Fernando , Veredas Francisco J
Published: August 2024

Due to the scarcity of available annotations in the biomedical domain, clinical natural language processing poses a substantial challenge, especially when applied to low-resource languages. This paper presents our contributions for the detection and normalization of clinical entities corresponding to symptoms, signs, and findings present in multilingual clinical texts. For this purpose, the three subtasks proposed in the SympTEMIST shared task of the Biocreative VIII conference have been addressed. For Subtask 1—named entity recognition in a Spanish corpus—an approach focused on BERT-based model assemblies pretrained on a proprietary oncology corpus was followed. Subtasks 2 and 3 of SympTEMIST address named entity linking (NEL) in Spanish and multilingual corpora, respectively. Our approach to these subtasks followed a classification strategy that starts from a bi-encoder trained by contrastive learning, for which several SapBERT-like models are explored. To apply this NEL approach to different languages, we have trained these models by leveraging the knowledge base of domain-specific medical concepts in Spanish supplied by the organizers, which we have translated into the other languages of interest by using machine translation tools. The results obtained in the three subtasks establish a new state of the art. Thus, for Subtask 1 we obtain precision results of 0.804, F1-score of 0.748, and recall of 0.699. For Subtask 2, we obtain performance gains of up to 5.5% in top-1 accuracy when the trained bi-encoder is followed by a WNT-softmax classification layer that is initialized with the mean of the embeddings of a subset of SNOMED-CT terms. For Subtask 3, the differences are even more pronounced, and our multilingual bi-encoder outperforms the other models analyzed in all languages except Swedish when combined with a WNT-softmax classification layer. Thus, the improvements in top-1 accuracy over the best bi-encoder model alone are 13% for Portuguese and 13.26% for Swedish.

Database URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/database/baae087
Prediction of additive genetic variances of descendants for complex families based on Mendelian sampling variances
Authors: Niehoff Tobias A M , ten Napel Jan , Calus Mario P L
Published: August 2024

The ability to predict the outcome of selection and mating decisions enables breeders to make strategically better selection decisions. To improve genetic progress, those individuals need to be selected whose offspring can be expected to show high genetic variance next to high breeding values. Previously published approaches enable to predict the variance of descendants of 2 future generations for up to 4 founding haplotypes, or 2 outbred individuals, based on phased genotypes, allele effects, and recombination frequencies. The purpose of this study was to develop a general approach for the analytical calculation of the genetic variance in any future generation. The core development is an equation for the prediction of the variance of double haploid lines, under the assumption of no selection and negligible drift, stemming from an arbitrary number of founder haplotypes. This double haploid variance can be decomposed into gametic Mendelian sampling variances (MSVs) of ancestors of the double haploid lines allowing usage for non-double haploid genotypes that enables application in animal breeding programs as well as in plant breeding programs. Together with the breeding values of the founders, the gametic MSV may be used in new selection criteria. We present our idea of such a criterion that describes the genetic level of selected individuals in 4 generations. Since breeding programs do select, the assumption made for predicting variances is clearly violated, which decreases the accuracy of predicted gametic MSV caused by changes in allele frequency and linkage disequilibrium. Despite violating the assumption, we found high predictive correlations of our criterion to the true genetic level that was obtained by means of simulation for the “corn” and “cattle” genome models tested in this study (0.90 and 0.97). In practice, the genotype phases, genetic map, and allele effects all need to be estimated meaning inaccuracies in their estimation will lead to inaccurate variance prediction. Investigation of variance prediction accuracy when input parameters are estimated was not part of this study.
Loneliness and Mode of Social Contact in Late Life
Authors: Zhang Shiyang , Zhou Zexi , Fingerman Karen L , Birditt Kira S
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Social contact may alleviate loneliness, but little is known about within-person daily fluctuations in loneliness and social encounters. Older adults who feel lonely may engage in different modes of social contact (in-person, phone, digital). This study asked how different forms of contact are associated with loneliness throughout the day.

Methods

Participants were 313 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65–90). They completed ecological momentary assessments reporting on their social encounters (e.g., type of social partner, mode of contact) and their loneliness every 3 hr for 5–6 days. We differentiated close social ties from ties not identified as close (i.e., weak ties).

Results

We examined within-person effects using multilevel models. Findings revealed that momentary loneliness predicted a greater likelihood of phone contact in the next 3 hr. However, only in-person contact was associated with lower levels of loneliness. Regarding close and weak ties, momentary loneliness was associated with more in-person and phone contact with close ties, yet fewer in-person contacts with weak ties. In-person contact with both close and weak ties predicted lower levels of loneliness.

Discussion

Although older adults engage in both in-person and phone contact when they feel lonely, it appears that only in-person contact may reduce loneliness. Digital contact was not widely adopted as a response to momentary loneliness among these older adults. Findings underscore older adults’ willingness to maintain regular contact with close ties. Interventions addressing older adults who are lonely may consider innovative approaches to increase in-person contact.
Smartphone-Based Sit-to-Stand Analysis for Mobility Assessment in Middle Age
Authors: Hayek Roee , Gutman Itai , Baranes Guy , Nudelman Yaniv , Springer Shmuel
Published: August 2024

Background and Objectives

Mobility can decline in middle age and growing evidence highlights the importance of assessing mobility at this stage of life. Smartphone-based accelerometry during sit-to-stand has been shown to identify mobility impairments, but its utility in detecting subtle mobility deterioration in middle age has not been tested. This study aimed to examine whether smartphone-based accelerometry data measured during sit-to-stand tests performed on a regular chair and a cushioned sofa could be useful for detecting subtle changes in mobility in middle age.

Research Design and Methods

Twenty-three young (25.0 ± 2.5 years), 25 middle-aged (52.0 ± 5.2 years), and 17 older adults (70.0 ± 4.1 years) performed the 5-times sit-to-stand test on both a standard chair and a sofa. A smartphone attached to the participants’ lower back was used to measure lower-limb muscle power, maximal vertical velocity (MVV) during rising, the duration of the total task and the subphase of transition from sitting to standing (SiToSt), and repetition variability using the dynamic time warping method.

Results

Middle-aged adults had reduced lower-limb muscle power compared to young adults (5.25 ± 1.08 vs 6.19 ± 1.38 W/kg, p = .034), being more pronounced on the sofa (6.23 ± 1.61 vs 8.08 ± 2.17 W/kg, p = .004). Differences between middle-aged and young adults in terms of MVV (p = .011) and SiToSt duration (p = .038) were only detected on the sofa, and the middle-aged adults showed less variability compared to the older adults on the chair (p = .018). There was no difference in total task duration between the middle-aged group and the young or older adults in either condition.

Discussion and Implications

Most common tests are limited in their ability to detect early mobility deterioration in midlife due to a ceiling effect. Our results, which show the potential of smartphone-based sit-to-stand assessment in detecting subtle mobility decline in midlife, could serve as a screening tool for this purpose.
Single-cell RNA-seq Reveals the Inhibitory Effect of Methamphetamine on Liver Immunity with the Involvement of Dopamine Receptor D1
Authors: Zhou Jin-Ting , Xu Yungang , Liu Xiao-Huan , Cheng Cheng , Fan Jing-Na , Li Xiaoming , Yu Jun , Li Shengbin
Published: August 2024

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive psychostimulant that causes physical and psychological damage and immune system disorder, especially in the liver which contains a significant number of immune cells. Dopamine, a key neurotransmitter in METH addiction and immune regulation, plays a crucial role in this process. Here, we developed a chronic METH administration model and conducted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the effect of METH on liver immune cells and the involvement of dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1). Our findings reveal that chronic exposure to METH induces immune cell identity shifts from IFITM3+ macrophage (Mac) and CCL5+ Mac to CD14+ Mac, as well as from FYN+CD4+ T effector (Teff), CD8+ T, and natural killer T (NKT) to FOS+CD4+ T and RORα+ group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2), along with the suppression of multiple functional immune pathways. DRD1 is implicated in regulating certain pathways and identity shifts among the hepatic immune cells. Our results provide valuable insights into the development of targeted therapies to mitigate METH-induced immune impairment.
Psychological Distress Is Associated With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Manifestation and Mucosal Inflammation
Authors: Dragasevic Sanja , Stankovic Biljana , Kotur Nikola , Sokic Milutinovic Aleksandra , Nikolic Andreja , Pavlovic Sonja , Popovic Dragan
Published: August 2024

Background

Stress is a potentially significant risk factor for the occurrence and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods

The study analyzed the level of stress, anxiety, and depression in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD; n = 50) and ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 54) in comparison with non-IBD controls (n = 100), using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Additionally, a correlation between psychological scores and expression of IL17A, IL17F, and IL23A genes in the intestinal mucosa of IBD patients was assessed.

Results

Compared to controls, CD and UC patients had higher PSS (P = 4 × 10−14, P = 2.5 × 10−16), PHQ-9 (P = 2 × 10−16, P = 2 × 10−16), HADS depression (P = 2.6 × 10−10, P = 2.5 × 10−11), and HADS anxiety (P = 3.5 × 10−9, P = 1.2 × 10−11). We found a positive correlation between PSS and IL17F mRNA (rs = 0.43, P = .036) while HADS depression and HADS anxiety positively correlated with the IL23A mRNA in inflamed ileal mucosa of CD subjects (rs = 0.55, P = .0048; rs = 0.53, P = .0062).

Conclusions

A significantly higher psychological distress was identified in IBD patients. CD patients with increased ileal expression of IL17F and IL23A genes had higher PSS and HADS, suggesting a potential interplay between psychological distress and inflammation.
Systematic Review: Practices and Programs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Transition Care
Authors: Chan Patrick , McNamara Jack , Vernon-Roberts Angharad , Giles Edward M , Havrlant Rachael , Christensen Britt , Thomas Amanda , Williams Astrid-Jane
Published: August 2024

Background

Adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) transitioning to adult care is often deemed a challenging period for patients, their carers, and practitioners. The use of structured transition programs is increasingly incorporated into standards of care, yet the optimal format remains unknown. The aim of this study is to carry out a systematic review of structured transition programs and their components to assess the impact on disease-specific and transition-related outcomes.

Methods

A systematic review (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023380846) was performed across 4 databases (PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and EMBASE) and relevant publications up to March 2023 were reviewed. Studies evaluating either a structured transition program or targeted intervention which also measured a transition- and/or disease-related outcomes were included for evaluation in accordance with the PRISMA statement.

Results

Three thousand four hundred and thirty-two articles were identified and 29 included in the final review. A structured transition program was reported in 21 studies and 8 investigated discrete transition-related interventions. The key transition-related outcomes included knowledge, self-efficacy, adherence, clinic attendance, and transition readiness which overall improved with the use of structured transition programs. Similarly, interventions consistently improved relapse/admission rates and corticosteroid use across most studies, although the benefit in hospitalization and surgical rates was less evident. Methodological limitations alongside heterogeneity in study design and outcome measures impacted on the quality of the evidence as assessed by the GRADE rating.

Conclusions

Transition- and medical-related outcomes for adolescents with IBD have been shown to benefit from structured transition programs but practices vary greatly between centers. There is no current standardized transition model for patients with IBD prompting further research to guide future development of guidelines and models of care.
The Potential of Molecular Remission: Tissue Neutrophil Elastase Is Better Than Histological Activity for Predicting Long-Term Relapse in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis in Endoscopic Remission
Authors: Jun Yu Kyung , Oh Hyeon Jeong , Lee Ji Ae , Choi Yonghoon , Shin Cheol Min , Park Young Soo , Kim Nayoung , Lee Dong Ho , Yoon Hyuk
Published: August 2024

Background

Growing interest exists in deep remission, beyond clinical and endoscopic remission, to enhance long-term prognosis in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Our study aimed to evaluate the risk of relapse according to tissue expression levels of calprotectin and neutrophil elastase (NE) in patients with quiescent UC.

Methods

Rectal biopsies were performed on 218 patients with UC in clinical and endoscopic remission. Histological activity was prospectively scored using the Robarts Histological Index. Tissue calprotectin and NE levels were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Optimal tissue calprotectin and NE cutoffs for relapse were determined using log-rank analysis. Cox proportional hazard analyses evaluated relapse risk factors.

Results

Tissue calprotectin and NE levels were significantly higher in patients with histological activity than in those in histological remission (P < .001). The optimal cutoffs of tissue calprotectin and NE for relapse were 10.61 and 22.08 per mm2, respectively. The 3-year clinical relapse risk was significantly lower in the low-tissue NE group than in the high-tissue NE group (P = .009); however, it did not differ between the low- and high-tissue calprotectin group (P = .094). In multivariate analyses, a low level of tissue NE expression was independently associated with a lower risk of 3-year clinical relapse (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.453, 95% confidence interval = 0.225–0.911, P = .026), unlike histological index and tissue calprotectin.

Conclusions

In patients with UC who have achieved clinical and endoscopic remission, tissue expression of NE is a better predictor of long-term relapse than histological activity.
Communicating Information Regarding IBD Remission to Patients: Evidence From a Survey of Adult Patients in the United States
Authors: Wood Dallas W , Treiman Katherine , Rivell Aileen , van Deen Welmoed K , Heyison Hilary , Mattar Mark C , Power Sydney , Strauss Alyssa , Syal Gaurav , Zullow Samantha , Ehrlich Orna G
Published: August 2024

Background

Previous research suggests patients living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) understand IBD remission differently than healthcare professionals, which could influence patient expectations and clinical outcomes. We investigated 3 questions to better understand this: (1) How do patients currently understand remission; (2) Do patients currently face any barriers to communicating with their healthcare professional about remission; and (3) Can existing educational material be improved to help patients feel more prepared to discuss remission and treatment goals with their healthcare professional?

Methods

We sent a web-based survey to adult patients with IBD in the United States. This survey included an educational experiment where patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 improved versions of existing educational material.

Results

In total, 1495 patients with IBD completed the survey. The majority of patients (67%) agreed that remission is possible in IBD, but there was significant diversity in how they defined it with the most common being “my symptoms are reduced” (22%) and “I am no longer experiencing any symptoms” (14%). Patients reported being able to communicate openly with their healthcare professionals. Exposure to improved educational material did not have a statistically significant effect on patients’ feelings of preparedness for discussing different aspects of their care with their healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that patients tend to define remission in terms of resolving symptoms. We found little evidence of barriers preventing patients from discussing remission with their healthcare professionals. This suggests that educational material could be used to resolve this discrepancy in understanding.
The Common Basis Complex and the Partial Decomposition Poset
Authors: Brück Benjamin , Piterman Kevin I , Welker Volkmar
Published: August 2024

For a finite-dimensional vector space $V$, the common basis complex of $V$ is the simplicial complex whose vertices are the proper non-zero subspaces of $V$, and $\sigma $ is a simplex if and only if there exists a basis $B$ of $V$ that contains a basis of $S$ for all $S\in \sigma $. This complex was introduced by Rognes in 1992 in connection with stable buildings. In this article, we prove that the common basis complex is homotopy equivalent to the proper part of the poset of partial direct sum decompositions of $V$. Moreover, we establish this result in a more general combinatorial context, including the case of free groups, matroids, vector spaces with non-degenerate sesquilinear forms, and free modules over commutative Hermite rings, such as local rings or Dedekind domains.
Genetic characterization of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from neutropenic patients in Tunisia: spread of the pandemic CC17 clone associated with high genetic diversity in Tn1546-like structures
Authors: Raddaoui Anis , Chebbi Yosra , Frigui Siwar , Latorre Javier , Ammeri Rim Werhani , Abdejlil Nour Ben , Torres Carmen , Abbassi Mohamed Salah , Achour Wafa
Published: August 2024

Aims

In Tunisia, limited research has focused on characterizing clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm). This study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance, determining the genetic elements mediating vancomycin-resistance, and whole-genome sequencing of one representative VREfm isolate

Methods and results

Over 6 years (2011–2016), a total of eighty VREfm isolates responsible for infection or colonization were identified from hospitalized patients, with the incidence rate increasing from 2% in 2011 to 27% in 2016. All of these strains harbored the vanA gene. The screening for antimicrobial resistance genes revealed the predominance of ermB, tetM, and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′’)-Ia genes and 81.2% of strains harbored the Tn1545. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified seven clusters, with two major clusters (belonging to ST117 and ST80) persisting throughout the study period. Seven Tn1546 types were detected, with type VI (truncated transposon) being the most prevalent (57.5%). Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 3 028 373 bp chromosome and five plasmids. Mobile genetic elements and a type I CRISPR-cas locus were identified. Notably, the vanA gene was carried by the classic Tn1546 transposon with ISL3 insertion on a rep17pRUM plasmid.

Conclusion

A concerning trend in the prevalence of VREfm essentially attributed to CC17 persistence and to horizontal transfer of multiple genetic variants of truncated vanA-Tn1546.
Brand Teasing: How Brands Build Strong Relationships by Making Fun of Their Consumers
Authors: Oba Demi , Howe Holly S , Fitzsimons Gavan J
Published: August 2024

Popular brands like Wendy’s, Postmates, and RyanAir have gained notoriety by making fun of their consumers, but is this an effective strategy to build strong consumer relationships? Across 11 (seven pre-registered) studies, using lab data, field data, and a variety of analytical approaches, the current research demonstrates that teasing communication increases consumer engagement with and connection to the brand compared to merely funny or neutral communication. These effects occur because consumers anthropomorphize brands more when they use teasing communication. This leads to greater engagement with brand messages and greater self-brand connection (SBC). We also leverage the interpersonal teasing literature to distinguish between prosocial and antisocial teases and highlight an important boundary condition. Specifically, we demonstrate that while prosocial teasing evokes a positive human schema, antisocial teasing, although still anthropomorphic, activates a negative human schema, which reduces connection to the brand. As a result, antisocial teases lose their relational advantage over purely funny communication. This work contributes to the streams of research on brand humor, anthropomorphism, and consumer–brand relationships. It also provides actionable implications by demonstrating a novel antecedent to consumer–brand connection and the boundaries within which these positive effects are expected to occur.