bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Training community health volunteers to use mobile platform during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Kenya experience
Authors: Mbwayo Anne W. , Mathai Muthoni , Mutavi Teresia , Waruinge Stella , Triplett Noah , Concepcion Tessa , Collins Pamela Y. , Dorsey Shannon
Published: March 2024

This study describes an alternative to face-to-face training method for community health volunteers (CHVs) as used by a collaborative group from the University of Nairobi, University of Washington and the Nairobi Metropolitan Mental Health Team during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kenya. This qualitative study describes the experiences of 17 CHVs enrolled in a training study, required to utilize different digital platforms (Google Meet or Jitsi) as a training forum for the first time. Verbatim extracts of the participants’ daily experiences are extracted from a series of write-ups in the group WhatsApp just before the training. Daily failures and success experiences in joining a Google meet or Jitsi are recorded. Then, 17 participants, 10 women and 7 men, aged between 21 and 51 years (mean = 33), owning a smartphone, were enrolled in the study. None had used Jitsi or Google meet before. Different challenges were reported in login to either and a final decision to use Jitsi, which became the training platform. Training CHVs to deliver a psychosocial intervention using smartphones is possible. However, the trainer must establish appropriate and affordable methods when resources are constrained.
Effect of stratification on the propagation of a cylindrical gravity current
Authors: Lam W.K. , Chan L. , Sutherland D. , Manasseh R. , Moinuddin K. , Ooi A.
Published: March 2024

Direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of three-dimensional cylindrical release gravity currents in a linearly stratified ambient are presented. The simulations cover a range of stratification strengths

$0< S\leq 0.8$

(where

$S=(\rho _b^*-\rho _0^*)/(\rho _c^*-\rho _0^*), \rho _b^*, \rho _0^*$

and

$\rho _c^*$

are the dimensional density at the bottom of the domain, top of the domain and the dense fluid, respectively) at two different Reynolds numbers. A comparison between the stratified and unstratified cases illustrates the influence of stratification strength on the dynamics of cylindrical gravity currents. Specifically, the front velocity in the slumping phase decreases with increasing stratification strength whereas the duration of the slumping phase increases with increments of

$S$

. The Froude number calculated in this phase shows a good agreement with models proposed by Ungarish & Huppert (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 458, 2002, pp. 283–301) and Ungarish (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 548, 2006, pp. 49–68), originally developed for planar gravity currents in a stratified ambient. In the inertial phase, the front velocity across cases with different stratification strengths adheres to a power-law scaling with an exponent of

$-$

1/2. Higher Reynolds numbers led to more frequent lobe splitting and merging, with lobe size diminishing as stratification strength increased. Strong interactions among inner vortex rings occurred during the slumping phase, leading to the early formation of hairpin vortices in weakly stratified cases, while strongly stratified cases exhibited delayed vortex formation and less turbulence.
Individuating Cognitive Characters: Lessons from Praying Mantises and Plants
Authors: Figdor Carrie
Published: March 2024

This article advances the development of a phylogeny-based psychology in which cognitive ability types are individuated as characters in the evolutionary biological sense. I explain the character concept and its utility in addressing (or dissolving) conceptual problems arising from discoveries of cognitive abilities across a wide range of species. I use the examples of stereopsis in the praying mantis, internal cell-to-cell signaling in plants, and episodic memory in scrub jays to show how anthropocentric cognitive ability types can be reformulated into cognitive characters, thereby promoting the integration of psychology with other sciences of evolved traits.
Predatory drilling on molluscan assemblages along the Patagonian shelf (southern Argentina)
Authors: Gordillo Sandra , Bayer M. Sol
Published: March 2024

Both present-day and fossil molluscan assemblages offer an opportunity for a better understanding of the structure and organization of both modern and past benthic communities. In this framework, drill holes are used widely to explore predator–prey interactions. This research focuses on predation marks, especially drill holes, recorded on modern molluscan assemblages in a Patagonian sector of the Argentinean continental shelf. Shelled molluscs (n = 2179) were recovered from 27 to 135 m depths covering a long latitudinal extent (between 39° and 54°S). For each station, taxonomic position, ecological composition and relative abundance of taxa were determined, and then drilling frequency (DF) was calculated to infer drilling intensity. The collected molluscs belong to 37 families, with Veneridae being the most abundant in terms of the number of specimens (n = 419). Specimens with drill holes (n = 226) belong to 21 families (with at least 33 different species). Most of them are suspension feeders (85.8%) and the remaining percentage comprised other trophic types. Naticids and muricids, as main potential predators, together account for 19.6% of the gastropods present in the molluscan assemblages. DF across all the stations was moderate (9.9%) but varied between low (0–2.4%) and high (28.9%). These results do not show a trend linked to latitude or depth, and the great variability of DF between stations suggests that other local ecological or environmental conditions would influence drilling predation at a small spatio-scale.
Structural and resting-state connection abnormalities of habenula in obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Liu Qian , Wang Xiang , Cao Yanyuan , Gao Feng , Xia Jie , Du Hongyu , Liao Haiyan , Tan Changlian , Fan Jie , Zhu Xiongzhao
Published: March 2024

Background

Previous studies have suggested that the habenula (Hb) may be involved in the mechanism of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the specific role of Hb in OCD remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the structural and functional abnormalities of Hb in OCD and their relationship with the clinical symptoms.

Methods

Eighty patients with OCD and 85 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited as the primary dataset. The grey matter volume, resting-state functional connectivity (FC), and effective connectivity (EC) of the Hb were calculated and compared between OCD group and HCs. An independent replication dataset was used to verify the stability and robustness of the results.

Results

Patients with OCD exhibited smaller Hb volume and increased FC of right Hb-left hippocampus than HCs. Dynamic causal model revealed an increased EC from left hippocampus to right Hb and a less inhibitory causal influence from the right Hb to left hippocampus in the OCD group compared to HCs. Similar results were found in the replication dataset.

Conclusions

This study suggested that abnormal structure of Hb and hippocampus-Hb connectivity may contribute to the pathological basis of OCD.
Structure design and kinematic performance of the deployable translational parallel tape-spring manipulator
Authors: Liu Hu , Qin Yawen , Yang Yi
Published: March 2024

A deployable manipulator has the characteristics of a small installation space and a large workspace, which has great application prospects in small unmanned platforms. Most existing deployable manipulators are designed based on rigid links, whose complexity and mass inevitably increase sharply with increasing numbers of rigid links and joints. Inspired by the remarkable properties of tape springs, this paper proposes novel deployable parallel tape-spring manipulators with low mass, simple mechanics, and a high deployed-to-folded ratio. First, a double C-shaped tape spring is presented to improve the stability of the structure. The combined fixed drive component (CFDC) and combined mobile drive component (CMDC) are designed. Then, novel 2-DOF and 3-DOF deployable translational parallel manipulators are proposed based on the CFDC and CMDC, and their degrees-of-freedom (DOFs), kinematics, and stability are analyzed. The coiled tape spring is regarded as an Archimedean spiral, which can significantly improve the accuracy of kinematic analysis. The correction coefficient of the Euler formula is obtained by comparison with simulation results and experimental results. Furthermore, the stability spaces of the 2-DOF and 3-DOF deployable parallel manipulators are given. Finally, a prototype is fabricated, and experiments are conducted to validate the proposed design and analysis.
The effects of exposure and explicit stereotypes on veracity judgments of Polish-accented English speech: A preregistered close replication and extension of Boduch-Grabka & Lev-Ari (2021)
Authors: Barlow Samantha , Beardsley Greg , Bsharah Zéta , Crofts Robin , De La Rosa Carlos , Gutierrez Andrea , Highfill Carlie , Johnson Amy Gail Wade , Johnson Caroline , Johnson Jacob , Cardenas Isaac Leyva , Martinez Jordan Taylor , Miller Nathaniel Todd , Murray Riley Monroe , Page Sylvia , Petersen Taylor , Ramos Irina , Rhodes Rayvin , Vainuku Phoebe , Wednesday Brenan M. , Farnsworth Emma Corrine , Kim Seung Kyung , Hayes-Harb Rachel
Published: March 2024

Boduch-Grabka and Lev-Ari (2021) showed that so-called “native” British-English speakers judged statements produced by Polish-accented English speakers as less likely to be true than statements produced by “native” speakers and that prior exposure to Polish-accented English speech modulates this effect. Given the real-world consequences of this study, as well as our commitment to assessing and mitigating linguistic biases, we conducted a close replication, extending the work by collecting additional information about participants’ explicit biases towards Polish migrants in the UK. We did not reproduce the original pattern of results, observing no effect of speaker accent or exposure on comprehension or veracity. In addition, the measure of explicit bias did not predict differential veracity ratings for Polish- and British-accented speech. Although the current pattern of results differs from that of the original study, our finding that neither comprehension nor veracity were impacted by accent or exposure condition is not inconsistent with the Boduch-Grabka and Lev-Ari (2021) processing difficulty account of the accent-based veracity judgment effect. We explore possible explanations for the lack of replication and future directions for this work.
Instrumental Guanxi Culture and Inbound Urban Migration in China: A Prefecture-level Analysis Using Online Search Data
Authors: Fu Zhihui , Liu Shukai , Ju Guodong , Ma Wen , Chen Yunsong
Published: March 2024

The socioeconomic role of guanxi networks among individuals has been widely recorded, yet macro-level analysis has been sparse in empirical research. This research fills that gap by presenting the first nationally representative evidence illustrating the connection between regional guanxi culture and population mobility among cities in China, with a particular focus on instrumental guanxi culture. To quantify guanxi culture, we employ online search indices related to gift giving, a measure which is challenging to capture through traditional survey data. Applying matched prefecture-level data spanning from 2011 to 2019, the panel model reveals a strong negative correlation between a city's instrumental guanxi culture and inbound migration, while sentimental guanxi culture exhibits a positive correlation with inbound mobility. This research not only adds to the existing theories by exploring the macro-level effects of both instrumental and sentimental guanxi practices but also introduces an innovative method for quantifying guanxi culture through big data analysis.
Political Fact-checking and Its Effects on Public Attitudes: Experimental Evidence from China
Authors: Xiang Chen , Neo Ric
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the effect of political misinformation as propaganda on the legitimacy of the Chinese government. A survey experiment (n = 2,236) was conducted to analyse the effect of positively spun misinformation on citizens’ perceptions and support for the government on two pivotal issues: the economy and air pollution. Results show that spreading positively spun misinformation is beneficial to the regime, as it leads to positive perceptions of the issue and increased support for the government. Interestingly, even when misinformation is exposed through credibly sourced corrections, trust and support for the government remain as high or higher than for the control groups. These effects are significant and hold constant in two issue types, underscoring the strategic value of disseminating positively spun yet false information in China. These findings have rich implications for studies of misinformation and fact-checking in general and China's information politics in particular.
Smells and politics of Utopia
Authors: Babich Babette
Published: March 2024

Utopia is nominally a ‘nowhere’ that is also, as Thomas More tells us, a ‘good’ place. Although there are competing cognate notions, the Greek description looms large in most accounts of utopia. The details of this ideal are so specified that utopic literature consists in a catalogue (and critique) of specifications. This essay draws attention to the fragrance attributed to Lucian’s ‘Isles of the Blest’ together with Ivan Illich’s attention to ‘atmosphere’ and to the aura and the nose along with Nietzsche’s emphasis on the sense of smell. Utopic suspicion is discussed as parallels are drawn with pragmatic critiques of utopia as inherently totalitarian along with the ‘good life’ in political theory and the programmatic default of techno-utopic fantasy. In the historical context of ‘conspiracy’ and the politics of living and breathing together in community, I conclude with Illich on pax and breath.
The evolution of bare nouns in the history of French. The view from calibrated corpora
Authors: Larrivée Pierre , Goux Mathieu
Published: March 2024

This article investigates the evolution of bare nouns, used without a determiner, through the history of the French language. The loss of bare nouns is charted through calibrated corpora of non-fictional prose texts from the same genres and region, ranging from the 12th to the 19th century. The change is first completed with nouns in subject function, significantly advances with direct objects, and progresses with obliques. The extensive quantitative documentation demonstrates that the change is impacted by the syntactic function of the noun, along the Accessibility Hierarchy. The speculation is examined that the more accessible functions encourage expression of (definite) determiners, thus explaining the pattern of change.
Acute Fetal Metabolomic Changes in Twins Undergoing Fetoscopic Surgery for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Authors: Forde Braxton , Martin Samuel , Watanabe-Chailland Miki , Lim Foong-Yen
Published: March 2024

Fetuses undergo major surgical stress as well as fluid shifts secondary to both twin-twin transfusion (TTTS) as well as the fetoscopic surgery for treatment of TTTS. While the pathophysiology of TTTS is understood, the acute metabolic changes that fetuses experience from fetoscopic surgery are not. We sought to evaluate the changes in recipient metabolomic profile secondary to TTTS surgery. Amniotic fluid was collected at the beginning and end of four TTTS surgical cases performed from 12/2022−2/2023. Samples were immediately processed and evaluated via NMR-based Metabolomics Facility protocol. In univariate analysis, 12 metabolites (glucose, lactate, and 10 key amino acids) showed statistically significant changes between the beginning and end of the surgery. Among these, 11 metabolites decreased at the end, while only lactate increased. Supervised oPLS-DA modeling revealed pyruvate and lactate as the two metabolites most impact on the variance between cases, and that 40% of metabolomic changes could be attributed directly to the timing that the sample was taken (i.e., if pre- or postoperatively). These results indicate significant metabolic changes in the recipient twin during fetoscopic surgery for TTTS. These findings of decreased glucose, increased lactate, and decreased amnio acids would indicate increased catabolism during surgery. This study raises questions regarding optimal maternal and fetal nutrition during surgery and if nutritional status could be optimized to further improve twin survival during fetoscopic surgery.
Das doppelte Kompetenzprofil: Ein Beitrag für die Zusammenarbeit von Praxis und Wissenschaft
Authors: Ulmann Raphaela , Hausheer Andrea Claudia , Jochum Angela , Koller Antje , Krattenmacher Samuel , Rickenbacher Ariane , Kruse Felix , Kohler Myrta
Published: March 2024

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Um als Fachhochschule die Orientierung an Praxisbedürfnissen sicherzustellen, wird neben der wissenschaftlichen Qualifikation auch der Praxisbezug eingefordert („doppeltes Kompetenzprofil“). Doch es ist unklar, wie die Bedürfnisse, Haltungen und Erwartungen der klinischen Praxis in Bezug auf die Schnittstelle Fachhochschule-Praxis aussehen. Somit ist es notwendig, die institutions- bzw. bereichsübergreifende Zusammenarbeit und ihre Beteiligten zu beleuchten. Ziel: Der vorliegende Beitrag zeigt auf, welche Bedürfnisse und Haltungen Personen aus der klinischen Praxis hinsichtlich der Zusammenarbeit mit der Fachhochschule haben und was sie von Personen mit doppeltem Kompetenzprofil erwarten. Methode: 24 ausgewählte Vertretende aus Akut-, Rehabilitations- und Geriatriepflegeinstitutionen sind in leitfadengestützten Einzel- und Fokusgruppeninterviews zu den fünf Blockthemen Ist-Zustand, Veränderungsbedarf, Handlungsfelder, Bedürfnisse und Nachhaltigkeit befragt worden. Ergebnisse: Praxisinstitutionen haben ein deutliches Bedürfnis nach Vernetzung und Wissenszirkulation mit der Fachhochschule gezeigt. Diese stehen in Wechselwirkung mit den vier Unterkategorien: Übergeordnetes Ziel, Personalentwicklung, Ressourcen und Rahmenbedingungen. Schlussfolgerungen: Personen mit doppeltem Kompetenzprofil eröffnen eine valide Möglichkeit, Fachhochschulen und Praxisinstitutionen auf konkrete Art näher zusammenzuführen. Ihre komplexen Arbeitswelten erfordern sinnvolle Rahmenbedingungen, gemeinsame Ziele und den Einbezug wichtiger Stakeholder.
Ionospheric Plasma Transported Into the Martian Magnetosheath
Authors: Shuvalov Sergey , Andersson Laila , Halekas Jasper S. , Fowler Christopher M. , Hanley Kathleen Gwen , DiBraccio Gina
Published: March 2024

Heavy cold ions at Mars are gravitationally bound to the planet unless some process provides energy to them. Observations show that cold (<20 eV) and dense (∼>1 cm−3) O+/O2+ ions with bulk velocities equal to energies ∼1 keV can reach deep into the nightside Martian magnetosheath. These ions are co‐located with a change of the sign of the sunward component of the magnetic field. This magnetic field topology implies the persistence of a localized planetary ions escape channel associated with draped magnetic field lines that are convecting tailward. The observed ion populations propagate approximately in the same direction as surrounding magnetosheath flow and are likely to be almost unheated ionospheric ions from low altitudes. The paper discusses planetary ion energization via Hall electric field originated from ions and electron separation associated with magnetic field curvature.
High Spatiotemporal Resolution River Networks Mapping on Catchment Scale Using Satellite Remote Sensing Imagery and DEM Data
Authors: Li Peng , Zhang Yun , Liang Cunren , Wang Houjie , Li Zhenhong
Published: March 2024

Characterizing and understanding the changes in the flow regimes of rivers have been challenging. Existing global river network data sets are not updated and can only identify rivers wider than 30 m. We propose a novel automated method to map river networks on a monthly basin scale for the first time at 10‐m resolution using Sentinel‐1 Synthetic Aperture Radar, Sentinel‐2 multispectral images, and the AW3D30 Digital Surface Model. This method achieved an overall accuracy of 95.8%. The total length of the Yellow River network produced is 40,280 km, approximately 3.2 times that of the Global River Widths from Landsat (GRWL) database, more effectively covering small and medium rivers. The monthly river geometry revealed a positive correlation between river network area and precipitation. This study is expected to provide a cost‐effective alternative to accurately mapping global river networks and advance our understanding of the changes and drivers of river systems.
Stable Chromium Isotope Fractionation During the Alteration of Abyssal Peridotite: Implications for Marine Chromium Isotope Mass Balance
Authors: Liu Chunyang , Xu Li‐Juan , Ma Haibo , Liu Sheng‐Ao , Liu Ping‐Ping , Wang Xiangli , Li Shuning
Published: March 2024

The stable chromium isotope system has been widely used as a redox proxy to reconstruct the oxygenation history of ocean atmosphere systems. However, the Cr isotope mass balance in modern oceans (i.e., inputs and outputs) remains poorly constrained. To investigate the influence of seawater‐peridotite reaction on the global marine Cr isotope mass balance, we report high‐precision Cr isotope data (δ53Cr) on a series of fresh and altered abyssal peridotites from the Gakkel Ridge and the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). The least altered peridotites give a δ53Cr value of −0.08 ± 0.06‰ (2SD, n = 4) for the oceanic mantle which is consistent with the established δ53Cr of the Bulk Silicate Earth. Compared to fresh peridotites, a subset of altered peridotites exhibit a loss of isotopically light Cr with relatively positive δ53Cr values (up to 0.04‰). These altered peridotites are characterized by significant Cr loss and likely have been subject to serpentinization. By contrast, seafloor weathering has limited influence on the Cr concentrations and isotopic compositions of the altered peridotites. Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of marine alteration suggest a net Cr flux into seawater from altered abyssal peridotites of ∼3.5 × 108 mol/yr, which is on the same order of magnitude as the riverine input flux of 108–109 mol/yr. Furthermore, the MC results suggest that the peridotite‐sourced net Cr flux has a negative δ53Cr signature (−0.33 ± 0.21‰, 2SD). Thus, seawater‐peridotite interactions must be considered when evaluating the modern oceanic Cr isotope mass balance.
Evaluation of Downward Surface Longwave Flux Estimates Using Meteosat Cloud Observations
Authors: Lopes Francisco M. , Dutra Emanuel , Trigo Isabel F. , Wild Martin
Published: March 2024

The downward surface longwave flux (DSLF) plays a relevant role in the Earth’s surface radiative budget, which is crucial to monitor, understand and model the impact of changes at local and global scales on surface temperature and surface conditions. This study focuses on the evaluation and intercomparison of four DSLF products: (a) a recently developed all‐weather DSLF product based on the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) algorithm driven by satellite cloud information from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) and ERA5 reanalysis screen variables; (b) the Satellite Application Facility on Land Surface Analysis (LSA SAF); (c) CERES Synoptic top‐of‐atmosphere and surface fluxes and clouds (CERES‐SYN1deg) and (d) ERA5 reanalysis. The study covers the period 2005–2021 and the MSG region focusing on monthly means. The evaluation performed against 48 ground stations from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) and FLUXNET2015 networks showed that the MARS product outperforms the remaining products, particularly the LSA SAF, while ERA5 and CERES show similar performance metrics. The fours products are intercompared in terms of their mean spatial variability and temporal mean annual cycles and inter‐annual variability in four selected regions, showing a high level of agreement, particularly between MARS, ERA5 and CERES. Our results highlight the clear added value of MARS with respect to LSA SAF, while providing higher spatial resolution (0.05°), constrained by satellite cloud information, when compared with ERA5 (0.25°) or CERES (1°).
The Eμ-Ret mouse is a novel model of hyperdiploid B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Farrokhi Ali , Atre Tanmaya , Rever Jenna , Fidanza Mario , Duey Wendy , Salitra Samuel , Myung Junia , Guo Meiyun , Jo Sumin , Uzozie Anuli , Baharvand Fatemeh , Rolf Nina , Auer Franziska , Hauer Julia , Grupp Stephan A. , Eydoux Patrice , Lange Philipp F. , Seif Alix E. , Maxwell Christopher A. , Reid Gregor S. D.
Published: March 2024

The presence of supernumerary chromosomes is the only abnormality shared by all patients diagnosed with high-hyperdiploid B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HD-ALL). Despite being the most frequently diagnosed pediatric leukemia, the lack of clonal molecular lesions and complete absence of appropriate experimental models have impeded the elucidation of HD-ALL leukemogenesis. Here, we report that for 23 leukemia samples isolated from moribund Eμ-Ret mice, all were characterized by non-random chromosomal gains, involving combinations of trisomy 9, 12, 14, 15, and 17. With a median gain of three chromosomes, leukemia emerged after a prolonged latency from a preleukemic B cell precursor cell population displaying more diverse aneuploidy. Transition from preleukemia to overt disease in Eμ-Ret mice is associated with acquisition of heterogeneous genomic abnormalities affecting the expression of genes implicated in pediatric B-ALL. The development of abnormal centrosomes in parallel with aneuploidy renders both preleukemic and leukemic cells sensitive to inhibitors of centrosome clustering, enabling targeted in vivo depletion of leukemia-propagating cells. This study reveals the Eμ-Ret mouse to be a novel tool for investigating HD-ALL leukemogenesis, including supervision and selection of preleukemic aneuploid clones by the immune system and identification of vulnerabilities that could be targeted to prevent relapse.
“The forest and the trees”: a narrative medicine curriculum by residents for residents
Authors: Sinha Anoushka , Slater Carly S. , Lee Alyson , Sridhar Harini , Gowda Deepthiman
Published: March 2024

A 7-session narrative medicine (NM) curriculum was designed and facilitated by pediatrics residents for pediatrics residents in order to unpack challenging experiences during clinical training and strengthen relationships with colleagues and patients. The primary facilitator, a resident with a master’s degree in NM, provided facilitator training to her co-residents with whom she co-led the workshops in the curriculum. We conducted, transcribed, and analyzed individual interviews of 15 residents, with three resultant themes: reflection on personal and professional identity; connection to others and community building; and reconceptualization of medical practice. Residents shared that they experienced greater solidarity, professional fulfillment, appreciation for multiple facets of their identities, recognition of holding space for vulnerability, and advocacy for marginalized populations. Our study highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of peer-led NM workshops to enhance clinical training through self-reflection, inclusion of persons from underrecognized backgrounds, and promotion of values consistent with humanistic care.

Impact

A novel narrative medicine curriculum was designed and facilitated by pediatrics residents for pediatrics residents.

The curriculum was feasible and acceptable to pediatrics residents and required a facilitator with content and methodology expertise in narrative medicine to train additional facilitators.

Three themes emerged from resident interviews: reflection on personal and professional identity; connection to others and community building; and reconceptualization of medical practice on individual and global levels.
Diindoles produced from commensal microbiota metabolites function as endogenous CAR/Nr1i3 ligands
Authors: Liu Jiabao , Malekoltojari Ainaz , Asokakumar Anjana , Chow Vimanda , Li Linhao , Li Hao , Grimaldi Marina , Dang Nathanlown , Campbell Jhenielle , Barrett Holly , Sun Jianxian , Navarre William , Wilson Derek , Wang Hongbing , Mani Sridhar , Balaguer Patrick , Anakk Sayeepriyadarshini , Peng Hui , Krause Henry M.
Published: March 2024

Numerous studies have demonstrated the correlation between human gut bacteria and host physiology, mediated primarily via nuclear receptors (NRs). Despite this body of work, the systematic identification and characterization of microbe-derived ligands that regulate NRs remain a considerable challenge. In this study, we discover a series of diindole molecules produced from commensal bacteria metabolites that act as specific agonists for the orphan constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). Using various biophysical analyses we show that their nanomolar affinities are comparable to those of synthetic CAR agonists, and that they can activate both rodent and human CAR orthologues, which established synthetic agonists cannot. We also find that the diindoles, diindolylmethane (DIM) and diindolylethane (DIE) selectively up-regulate bona fide CAR target genes in primary human hepatocytes and mouse liver without causing significant side effects. These findings provide new insights into the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and host physiology, as well as new tools for disease treatment.
Defective mitochondria remodelling in B cells leads to an aged immune response
Authors: Iborra-Pernichi Marta , Ruiz García Jonathan , Velasco de la Esperanza María , Estrada Belén S. , Bovolenta Elena R. , Cifuentes Claudia , Prieto Carro Cristina , González Martínez Tamara , García-Consuegra José , Rey-Stolle María Fernanda , Rupérez Francisco Javier , Guerra Rodriguez Milagros , Argüello Rafael J. , Cogliati Sara , Martín-Belmonte Fernando , Martínez-Martín Nuria
Published: March 2024

The B cell response in the germinal centre (GC) reaction requires a unique bioenergetic supply. Although mitochondria are remodelled upon antigen-mediated B cell receptor stimulation, mitochondrial function in B cells is still poorly understood. To gain a better understanding of the role of mitochondria in B cell function, here we generate mice with B cell-specific deficiency in Tfam, a transcription factor necessary for mitochondrial biogenesis. Tfam conditional knock-out (KO) mice display a blockage of the GC reaction and a bias of B cell differentiation towards memory B cells and aged-related B cells, hallmarks of an aged immune response. Unexpectedly, blocked GC reaction in Tfam KO mice is not caused by defects in the bioenergetic supply but is associated with a defect in the remodelling of the lysosomal compartment in B cells. Our results may thus describe a mitochondrial function for lysosome regulation and the downstream antigen presentation in B cells during the GC reaction, the dysruption of which is manifested as an aged immune response.
InPACT: a computational method for accurate characterization of intronic polyadenylation from RNA sequencing data
Authors: Liu Xiaochuan , Chen Hao , Li Zekun , Yang Xiaoxiao , Jin Wen , Wang Yuting , Zheng Jian , Li Long , Xuan Chenghao , Yuan Jiapei , Yang Yang
Published: March 2024

Alternative polyadenylation can occur in introns, termed intronic polyadenylation (IPA), has been implicated in diverse biological processes and diseases, as it can produce noncoding transcripts or transcripts with truncated coding regions. However, a reliable method is required to accurately characterize IPA. Here, we propose a computational method called InPACT, which allows for the precise characterization of IPA from conventional RNA-seq data. InPACT successfully identifies numerous previously unannotated IPA transcripts in human cells, many of which are translated, as evidenced by ribosome profiling data. We have demonstrated that InPACT outperforms other methods in terms of IPA identification and quantification. Moreover, InPACT applied to monocyte activation reveals temporally coordinated IPA events. Further application on single-cell RNA-seq data of human fetal bone marrow reveals the expression of several IPA isoforms in a context-specific manner. Therefore, InPACT represents a powerful tool for the accurate characterization of IPA from RNA-seq data.
Photoswitchable polyynes for multiplexed stimulated Raman scattering microscopy with reversible light control
Authors: Yang Yueli , Bai Xueyang , Hu Fanghao
Published: March 2024

Optical imaging with photo-controllable probes has greatly advanced biological research. With superb chemical specificity of vibrational spectroscopy, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy is particularly promising for super-multiplexed optical imaging with rich chemical information. Functional SRS imaging in response to light has been recently demonstrated, but multiplexed SRS imaging with reversible photocontrol remains unaccomplished. Here, we create a multiplexing palette of photoswitchable polyynes with 16 Raman frequencies by coupling asymmetric diarylethene with super-multiplexed Carbow (Carbow-switch). Through optimization of both electronic and vibrational spectroscopy, Carbow-switch displays excellent photoswitching properties under visible light control and SRS response with large frequency change and signal enhancement. Reversible and spatial-selective multiplexed SRS imaging of different organelles are demonstrated in living cells. We further achieve photo-selective time-lapse imaging of organelle dynamics during oxidative stress and protein phase separation. The development of Carbow-switch for photoswitchable SRS microscopy will open up new avenues to study complex interactions and dynamics in living cells with high spatiotemporal precision and multiplexing capability.
Brain atrophy in normal older adult links tooth loss and diet changes to future cognitive decline
Authors: Nakamura Hiroyuki , Noguchi-Shinohara Moeko , Ishimiya-Jokaji Mai , Kobayashi Yutaka , Isa Mikana , Ide Kentaro , Kawano Toshihiro , Kawashiri Shuichi , Uchida Kazuhiro , Tatewaki Yasuko , Taki Yasuyuki , Ohara Tomoyuki , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Ono Kenjiro
Published: March 2024

Several studies have found associations between poor oral health, particularly tooth loss and cognitive decline. However, the specific brain regions affected by tooth loss and the probable causes remain unclear. We conducted a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Nakajima, Nanao City, Japan. Between 2016 and 2018, 2454 residents aged ≥60 participated, covering 92.9% of the local age demographics. This study used comprehensive approach by combining detailed dental examinations, dietary assessments, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, and cognitive evaluations. Tooth loss, even in cognitively normal individuals, is associated with parahippocampal gyrus atrophy and increased WMH volume, both of which are characteristics of dementia. Tooth loss was associated with altered dietary patterns, notably a reduction in plant-based food intake and an increase in fatty, processed food intake. This study highlights a possible preventative pathway where oral health may play a significant role in preventing the early neuropathological shifts associated with dementia.
De novo and somatic structural variant discovery with SVision-pro
Authors: Wang Songbo , Lin Jiadong , Jia Peng , Xu Tun , Li Xiujuan , Liu Yuezhuangnan , Xu Dan , Bush Stephen J. , Meng Deyu , Ye Kai
Published: March 2024

Long-read-based de novo and somatic structural variant (SV) discovery remains challenging, necessitating genomic comparison between samples. We developed SVision-pro, a neural-network-based instance segmentation framework that represents genome-to-genome-level sequencing differences visually and discovers SV comparatively between genomes without any prerequisite for inference models. SVision-pro outperforms state-of-the-art approaches, in particular, the resolving of complex SVs is improved, with low Mendelian error rates, high sensitivity of low-frequency SVs and reduced false-positive rates compared with SV merging approaches.
UVB induced reactivation leads to HSV1 in the corneas of virtually all latently infected mice and requires STING to develop corneal disease
Authors: Yin Xiao-Tang , Hartman Alexis , Sirajuddin Nadia , Shukla Deepak , Leger Anthony St. , Keadle Tammie L. , Stuart Patrick M.
Published: March 2024

Reactivation of latent herpes simplex type 1 results in virus returning to the cornea leading to recurrent herpetic stromal keratitis (rHSK). We compare two competing models to reactivate viruses from latency, UV-B irradiation and cyclophosphamide (CP). Results revealed that while both result in corneal recrudescence, only UV-B irradiation results in rHSK. To better understand the dynamics of reactivation, we analyzed corneas for both the presence of infectious viruses and the dynamics of exposure to multiple reactivations using UV-B. We noted that multiple reactivations result in progressively worse corneal disease. We also noted that expression of IFNα and STING, surragate markers for the presence of virus, are induced by the presence of reactivated virus. Studies to determine the importance of STING to the development of HSK revealed that in the absence of STING, mice do not develop significant HSK and the magnitude of the infiltrate of CD45+ cells in these corneas is significantly reduced. The resulting paucity of CD45+CD11b+GR-1+F4/80-neutrophils, and to a lesser extent CD45+CD11b+GR-1-F4/80+ macrophages in B6-STING KO mice following reactivation is likely the underlying cause for lack of rHSK as has been noted by ourselves and others. These results underscore the critical importance of STING’s role in developing rHSK.
Smartphone-based device for point-of-care diagnostics of pulmonary inflammation using convolutional neural networks (CNNs)
Authors: Ghaderinia Mohammadreza , Abadijoo Hamed , Mahdavian Ashkan , Kousha Ebrahim , Shakibi Reyhaneh , Taheri S. Mohammad-Reza , Simaee Hossein , Khatibi Ali , Moosavi-Movahedi Ali Akbar , Khayamian Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2024

In pulmonary inflammation diseases, like COVID-19, lung involvement and inflammation determine the treatment regime. Respiratory inflammation is typically arisen due to the cytokine storm and the leakage of the vessels for immune cells recruitment. Currently, such a situation is detected by the clinical judgment of a specialist or precisely by a chest CT scan. However, the lack of accessibility to the CT machines in many poor medical centers as well as its expensive service, demands more accessible methods for fast and cheap detection of lung inflammation. Here, we have introduced a novel method for tracing the inflammation and lung involvement in patients with pulmonary inflammation, such as COVID-19, by a simple electrolyte detection in their sputum samples. The presence of the electrolyte in the sputum sample results in the fern-like structures after air-drying. These fern patterns are different in the CT positive and negative cases that are detected by an AI application on a smartphone and using a low-cost and portable mini-microscope. Evaluating 160 patient-derived sputum sample images, this method demonstrated an interesting accuracy of 95%, as confirmed by CT-scan results. This finding suggests that the method has the potential to serve as a promising and reliable approach for recognizing lung inflammatory diseases, such as COVID-19.
A quantitative comparison of virtual and physical experimental paradigms for the investigation of pedestrian responses in hostile emergencies
Authors: Shipman Alastair , Majumdar Arnab , Feng Zhenan , Lovreglio Ruggiero
Published: March 2024

Modern experiments investigating human behaviour in emergencies are often implemented in virtual reality (VR), due to the increased experimental control and improved ethical viability over physical reality (PR). However, there remain questions regarding the validity of the results obtained from these environments, and no full validation of VR experiments has yet appeared. This study compares the results of two sets of experiments (in VR and PR paradigms) investigating behavioural responses to knife-based hostile aggressors. This study quantitatively analyses these results to ascertain whether the different paradigms generate different responses, thereby assessing the use of virtual reality as a data generating paradigm for emergencies. The results show that participants reported almost identical psychological responses. This study goes on to identify minimal differences in movement responses across a range of predictors, noting a difference in responses between genders. As a result, this study concludes that VR can produce similarly valid data as physical experiments when investigating human behaviour in hostile emergencies, and that it is therefore possible to conduct realistic experimentation through VR environments while retaining confidence in the resulting data. This has major implications for the future of this type of research, and furthermore suggests that VR experimentation should be performed for both existing and new critical infrastructure to understand human responses in hostile scenarios.
Effect of different salinity on seed germination, growth parameters and biochemical contents of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) seeds cultivars
Authors: Irik Hasan Ali , Bikmaz Gülsah
Published: March 2024

Soil and water salinity is an important limiting factor affecting yield and production levels in arid and semi-arid areas. Salt tolerance during germination is an important parameter that also affects the other plant development stages. In this respect, this study was designed to determine the responses of pumpkin seed varieties (Develi, Ürgüp, Hybrid) to different NaCl salinities. The study was carried out in 2022 in the laboratory of Biosystems Engineering Department of Erciyes University in randomized plots design with 3 replications. Experiments were conducted with 5 different water salinity. Germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), mean germination time (MGT), seedling vigor index (SVI), ion leakage (Il), radicula length (RL) and plumule length (PL), root and shoot fresh and dry weights and some mineral composition (Na, K, Ca) were examined. Proline, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and DPPH content were significantly affected by salinity. In scatter plot correlation analysis SVI a positive correlation was observed between GP (r2 = 0.774), GI (r2 = 0.745), RL (r2 = 0.929), FRW (r2 = 0.837), FSW (r2 = 0.836), DRW (r2 = 0.894), AC (r2 = 0.747), TP (r2 = 0.640) and DPPH (r2 = 0.635). It was determined that there were negative correlations between SVI and MGT (r2 = − 0.902), II (r2 = − 0.588), DSW (r2 = − 0.682) and PR (r2 = − 0.344). Present findings revealed that investigated parameters were significantly affected by increasing salinity levels. While Hybrid cultivar was the most affected by salinity, Develi cultivar was found to be resistant to saline conditions.
Effect of the temporal coordination and volume of cyclic mechanical loading on human Achilles tendon adaptation in men
Authors: Tsai Meng-Shiuan , Domroes Theresa , Pentidis Nikolaos , Koschinski Sophia , Schroll Arno , Bohm Sebastian , Arampatzis Adamantios , Mersmann Falk
Published: March 2024

Human tendons adapt to mechanical loading, yet there is little information on the effect of the temporal coordination of loading and recovery or the dose–response relationship. For this reason, we assigned adult men to either a control or intervention group. In the intervention group, the two legs were randomly assigned to one of five high-intensity Achilles tendon (AT) loading protocols (i.e., 90% maximum voluntary contraction and approximately 4.5 to 6.5% tendon strain) that were systematically modified in terms of loading frequency (i.e., sessions per week) and overall loading volume (i.e., total time under loading). Before, at mid-term (8 weeks) and after completion of the 16 weeks intervention, AT mechanical properties were determined using a combination of inverse dynamics and ultrasonography. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and length of the free AT were measured using magnetic resonance imaging pre- and post-intervention. The data analysis with a linear mixed model showed significant increases in muscle strength, rest length-normalized AT stiffness, and CSA of the free AT in the intervention group (p < 0.05), yet with no marked differences between protocols. No systematic effects were found considering the temporal coordination of loading and overall loading volume. In all protocols, the major changes in normalized AT stiffness occurred within the first 8 weeks and were mostly due to material rather than morphological changes. Our findings suggest that—in the range of 2.5–5 sessions per week and 180–300 s total high strain loading—the temporal coordination of loading and recovery and overall loading volume is rather secondary for tendon adaptation.
Combined effects of biochar and biodegradable mulch film on chromium bioavailability and the agronomic characteristics of tobacco
Authors: Tang Yuan , Zuo Fumin , Li Changhong , Zhang Qinghai , Gao Weichang , Cheng Jianzhong
Published: March 2024

Biochar (BC) and biodegradable mulch film (BMF) are both commonly used means of production in agriculture. In recent years, most studies have focused on the effects of BC or BMF on soil heavy metal pollution, while they have neglected the combined effects. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to examine the impacts of BMF, BC, and combined BMF and BC (CMB) on the mobility of chromium (Cr) and the agronomic characteristics of flue-cured tobacco. Compared with the control, BMF, BC, and CMB significantly reduced the concentrations of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable Cr in soils by 29.07–29.75%, 45.35–48.54%, and 34.21–37.92%, respectively. In comparison to the application of BMF and BC alone, co-application reduced the availability of Cr in soil via increasing the adsorption of soil Cr and soil enzyme activity, which resulted in the decrease of Cr content and bioconcentration factor and in plants. Moreover, the combined application increased the plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, total root area, root tip number, and root activity of tobacco, which leaded to increase in leaf and root biomass by 11.40–67.01% and 23.91–50.74%, respectively. Therefore, the application of CMB can reduce the heavy metal residues in tobacco leaves and improve tobacco yield and quality.
Computer vision enables taxon-specific identification of African carnivore tooth marks on bone
Authors: Domínguez-Rodrigo Manuel , Pizarro-Monzo Marcos , Cifuentes-Alcobendas Gabriel , Vegara-Riquelme Marina , Jiménez-García Blanca , Baquedano Enrique
Published: March 2024

Taphonomic works aim at discovering how paleontological and archaeofaunal assemblages were formed. They also aim at determining how hominin fossils were preserved or destroyed. Hominins and other mammal carnivores have been co-evolving, at least during the past two million years, and their potential interactions determined the evolution of human behavior. In order to understand all this, taxon-specific carnivore agency must be effectively identified in the fossil record. Until now, taphonomists have been able to determine, to some degree, hominin and carnivore inputs in site formation, and their interactions in the modification of part of those assemblages. However, the inability to determine agency more specifically has hampered the development of taphonomic research, whose methods are virtually identical to those used several decades ago (lagged by a high degree of subjectivity). A call for more objective and agent-specific methods would be a major contribution to the advancement of taphonomic research. Here, we present one of these advances. The use of computer vision (CV) on a large data set of images of tooth marks has enabled the objective discrimination of taxon-specific carnivore agency up to 88% of the testing sample. We highlight the significance of this method in an interdisciplinary interplay between traditional taphonomic-paleontological analysis and artificial intelligence-based computer science. The new questions that can be addressed with this will certainly bring important changes to several ideas on important aspects of the human evolutionary process.