bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing the construct validity of the “individual problems and strengths” scale
Authors: Zahl-Olsen Rune , Gausel Nicolay , Tellefsen Håland Åshild , Tilden Terje
Published: October 2022

Background: Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) systems have been used to monitor how a client’s life changes over the course of therapy. However, if a ROM system is to be used, the system should have sufficient construct validity to warrant its usage. In the current study we sought to test the construct of the “individual problems and strengths” (IPS) measurement scale, a sub-section of the “Systemic Therapy Inventory of Change” (STIC).

Methods: We used a factorial construct validation procedure utilizing a stepwise confirmatory factor analysis approach on a sample of 841 clients of couple and family therapy.

Results: We found support for the original “8-factor” version of the IPS but failed to find support for the “1-factor” version and the “higher order factor structure”.

Conclusions: The investigation uncovered that the measurement tool is still under development and since the factorial construct (and the scale-reliability) was only supported for the original "8-factor" model, we encourage a pause in administering the IPS in clinical practice.
Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) interventional birth cohort study: Interim cohort profile
Authors: Dickerson Josie , Bridges Sally , Willan Kathryn , Kelly Brian , Moss Rachael H. , Lister Jennie , Netkitsing Chandani , Atkinson Amy L. , Bird Philippa K. , Uphoff Eleanora P. , Mason Dan , Newsham Alex , Waiblinger Dagmar , Razaq Rifat , Ahern Sara , Bryant Maria , Blower Sarah L. , Pickett Kate E. , McEachan Rosemary M. , Wright John
Published: October 2022

Background: The Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) interventional birth cohort study was designed as an innovative cohort platform for efficient evaluation of early life interventions delivered through the Better Start Bradford programme. There are a growing number of interventional cohorts being implemented internationally. This paper provides an interim analysis of BiBBS in order to share learning about the feasibility and value of this method.

Methods: Recruitment began in January 2016 and will complete in December 2023 with a target sample of 5,000 pregnancies. An interim data cut was completed for all pregnancies recruited between January 2016 and November 2019 with an expected due date between 1st April 2016 and 8th March 2020. Descriptive statistics were completed on the data.

Results: Of 4,823 eligible pregnancies, 2,626 (54%) pregnancies were recruited, resulting in 2,392 mothers and 2,501 children. The sample are representative of the pregnant population (61% Pakistani heritage; 12% White British; 8% other South Asian and 6% Central and Eastern European ethnicity). The majority of participants (84%) live in the lowest decile of the Index of Multiple Deprivation, and many live in vulnerable circumstances. A high proportion (85%) of BiBBS families have engaged in one or more of the Better Start Bradford interventions. Levels of participation varied by the characteristics of the interventions, such as the requirement for active participation and the length of commitment to a programme.

Conclusions: We have demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting an interventional cohort that includes seldom heard families from ethnic minority and deprived backgrounds. The high level of uptake of interventions is encouraging for the goal of evaluating the process and outcomes of multiple early life interventions using the innovative interventional cohort approach. BiBBS covers a period before, during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic which adds scientific value to the cohort.
Filling in the GAAPs in Individual Analysts’ Street Earnings Forecasts
Authors: Bratten Brian , Larocque Stephannie , Yohn Teri Lombardi
Published: October 2022

Analysts’ street earnings forecasts are sometimes based on GAAP earnings and sometimes based on non-GAAP earnings, which exclude various GAAP earnings components. Therefore, differences in analysts’ street earnings forecasts may capture differences in not only expected performance but also the earnings metric forecasted. We argue that analysts who forecast non-GAAP, rather than GAAP, street earnings are more likely to separately analyze earnings components. Consistent with this argument, we find that analysts who forecast non-GAAP street earnings issue relatively more accurate forecasts. We also argue that excluded earnings components often reflect negative transitory items, and that variation across analysts in the earnings metric forecasted suggests that the negative excluded items are forecasted by only a subset of analysts. Consistent with this assertion, we find that variation across analysts in the earnings metric forecasted is associated with a lower consensus GAAP earnings surprise and lower stock returns around the earnings announcement. Finally, although variation in the earnings metric forecasted is a source of analyst forecast dispersion, we find that it is also incrementally associated with a lower earnings response coefficient, consistent with the existence of transitory items. We therefore find that the variation in the earnings metric forecasted is an important source of analyst forecast dispersion that predicts not only a lower earnings surprise but also a lower earnings response.

This paper was accepted by Brian Bushee, accounting.

Funding: Financial support from the Gatton College of Business & Economics, the KPMG Fellowship at the Mendoza College of Business, and the Goizueta Business School is gratefully acknowledged.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4553 .
Glomic Tumour of the Stomach: A Rare Cause of Anaemia
Authors: Marques Cristina , Cruz Dany , Pereira Francisca , Martins Ana , Martins Daniel
Published: October 2022

Glomus tumour is a rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm usually located in the dermis and subcutis, and most commonly found in the extremities. Glomus tumour in the gastrointestinal system is rare and its symptoms unspecific. The diagnosis of gastric glomus tumour is challenging due to the lack of specific findings on imaging and blood analysis, and so is usually based on histology and immunochemistry. We describe the case of a 22-year-old man admitted for pallor and anaemia, the diagnostic path, treatment and follow-up. The present case suggests that this rare entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis of gastric lesions.
Relative humidity sensor based on a silver nano-grating made from DVD discs
Authors: Hua Guohuan , Cheng Jianxin , Chen Jin , Shen Yi , Chang Jianhua , Ni Haibin
Published: October 2022

A relative humidity sensor based on a silver nano-grating was proposed. By stripping and cleaning commercially available CD and DVD discs, polycarbonate plates with different grating periods are obtained. These plates as templates are coated with a layer of sputtered silver film to form silver nano-gratings, which exhibit refractive index sensing sensitivities of 517 nm/RIU and 742.9 nm/RIU, respectively. The finite-difference time-domain simulation results conform the excited surface plasmon polariton modes and localized surface plasmon modes on the nano-grating. By spin coating a layer of humidity-sensitive porous silica with optimized thickness, the silver nano-grating shows a relative humidity detection sensitivity of 0.23 nm/%RH.
Dual-pump few-mode fiber optical parametric amplification: analytical model and optimization strategy
Authors: Huang Xiaoshan , Xiang Meng , Fu Songnian , Li Jianping , Qin Yuwen
Published: October 2022

The realization of long-haul mode-division multiplexing (MDM) transmission requires a matched optical amplifier with similar gain profiles among all guided modes. The fiber optical parametric amplifier (FOPA) has several attractive characteristics, including wideband, high gain, and fast transient response. Here, we demonstrate an analytical model for the dual-pump few-mode FOPA (FM-FOPA), by taking all types of intramodal and intermodal four-wave mixing (FWM) interactions arising in a highly nonlinear few-mode fiber (HN-FMF) into account. Meanwhile, we provide a detailed description of corresponding phase-matching conditions, including the effect of high-order dispersion coefficients up to the fourth order. Equipped with this tool, we outline the optimization strategy of the dual-pump FM-FOPA. Next, we design a graded-index HN-FMF to satisfy the dispersion requirements of the dual-pump FM-FOPA. Under the optimal HN-FMF design, the dual-pump FM-FOPA can simultaneously amplify two modes with the simultaneous features of wide bandwidth (

∼

35

n
m

), high gain (

>

56.29

d
B

), low differential mode gain (DMG) (

<

0.59

d
B

), and low wavelength-dependent gain ripple (WDGR) (

<

1.92

d
B

).
Free-space remote detection of a spinning object using the combined vortex beam
Authors: Yu Tao , Xia Hui , Xie Qiao , Qin Guangwei , Zhao Yuefeng , Xie Wenke
Published: October 2022

The rotational Doppler effect (RDE) associated with orbital angular momentum (OAM) has been used for remote sensing of a spinning object. However, one of the challenges of long-range detection stems from the low echo signal power. In this paper, we propose a new detection scheme that uses the combined vortex beam (CVB) generated by coherent beam combining (CBC) technology as the probe beam to enhance the echo signal power. Furthermore, we establish a rotational speed remote sensing model based on RDE, the emitted power and emission diameter of the probe beam are investigated in detail. The results show that, compared with the superposition vortex beam (SVB) generated by a single laser beam, the CVB detection scheme can significantly enhance the echo signal intensity and detection distance. The measuring range and accuracy of rotational speed are also studied in detail. And finally, we present the first experimental demonstration of the RDE arising directly from the interaction of the CVB with a rotating rough surface. The scheme proposed in our paper offers a good reference for practical application of the remote detection based on RDE.
Addressing the imaging limitations of a microsphere-assisted nanoscope
Authors: Zhai Cong , Hong Yujian , Lin Zuzeng , Chen Yulu , Guo Mengdi , Guo Tong , Wang Han , Hu Chunguang
Published: October 2022

In the past decade, microsphere-assisted nanoscopy has been developed rapidly to overcome the diffraction limit. However, due to the limited size and high surface curvature of microspheres, the magnified imaging still suffers from problems like limited view scope, imaging distortion, and low contrast. In this paper, we specialize in the imaging mechanism of microspheres and find irradiance as the key factor for microsphere imaging quality. Utilizing a modified optical tweezer system, we achieve precise manipulation of microspheres and further propose a high-quality large-field magnified imaging scheme. The results show that the imaging area of 5 µm microspheres can reach 16×12 µm2 with the minimum identifiable feature of 137 nm. This scheme provides a new solution for extending the measuring scope of microsphere-assisted nanoscope, and will certainly promote the application of this technology in practice.
Nonlinear SNR estimation based on the data augmentation-assisted DNN with a small-scale dataset
Authors: Zhao Weiwei , Cheng Yijun , Xiang Meng , Tang Ming , Qin Yuwen , Fu Songnian
Published: October 2022

Fiber nonlinearity is one of the major impairments for long-haul transmission systems. Therefore, estimating the nonlinear signal-to-noise ratio (SNRNL) is indispensable to guarantee the quality of transmission and manage the operation of optical networks. The deep neural network (DNN) has been successfully applied for the SNRNL estimation. However, the performance substantially degrades, when the mega dataset is inaccessible. Here, we demonstrate an accurate SNRNL estimation based on the data augmentation (DA)-assisted DNN with a small-scale dataset in the frequency domain. When the 95-GBaud dual-polarization 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (DP-16QAM) signal with variable optical launch powers from -2 to 4-dBm is numerically transmitted from 80-km to 1520-km standard single-mode fiber (SSMF), we identify that, in comparison with traditional DNN scheme, the DA allows the reduction of the training dataset size by about 60% while keeping the same mean absolute error (MAE) as 0.2-dB of SNRNL estimation. Meanwhile, the DA-assisted DNN scheme can reduce the MAE by about 0.14-dB compared with the traditional DNN scheme, when both SNRNL estimation schemes use 100 raw datasets which contain 700 symbols. Due to these observations, the DA-assisted DNN scheme is promising for field-trial nonlinear SNR estimation, especially when the collection of mega datasets is inconvenient.
Suppressing the spectral shift of a polarization-independent nanostructure with multiple resonances
Authors: Ghindani Dipa , Pihlava Tuomas , Caglayan Humeyra
Published: October 2022

Resonances are the cornerstone of photonic applications in many areas of physics and engineering. The spectral position of a photonic resonance is dominated by the structure design. Here, we devise a polarization-independent plasmonic structure comprising nanoantennas with two resonances on an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) substrate in order to loosen this correlation to obtain less sensitivity to geometrical perturbations of the structure. Compared with the bare glass substrate, the designed plasmonic nanoantennas on an ENZ substrate exhibit a nearly three-fold reduction only in the resonance wavelength shift near the ENZ wavelength as a function of antenna length.
Multi-wavelength random fiber laser based on a tilted parallel inscribed apodized fiber Bragg grating array
Authors: Shen Ming , Deng Jiancheng , Li Yanxin , Shu Xuewen
Published: October 2022

We propose and demonstrate a multi-wavelength random fiber laser (RFL) based on a novel, to the best of our knowledge, compact apodized fiber Bragg grating array (AFBGA). The AFBGA is fabricated by a femtosecond laser with the point-by-point tilted parallel inscription method. The characteristics of the AFBGA can be flexibly controlled in the inscription process. Hybrid erbium–Raman gain is used in the RFL and reduces the lasing threshold to sub-watt level. Stable emissions at two to six wavelengths are achieved with the corresponding AFBGAs, and more wavelengths are expected with higher pump power and AFBGAs containing more channels. A thermo-electric cooler is employed to improve the stability of the RFL, and the maximum wavelength and power fluctuations of a three-wavelength RFL are 64 pm and 0.35 dB, respectively. With flexible AFBGA fabrication and simple structure, the proposed RFL enriches the choice of multi-wavelength devices and has significant potential in practical applications.
Terahertz generation optimization in an OH1 nonlinear organic crystal pumped by a Cr:forsterite laser
Authors: Ovchinnikov A. V. , Chefonov O. V. , Agranat M. B. , Shalaby M. , Sitnikov D. S.
Published: October 2022

We present the results of experimental investigations of terahertz
radiation generation conversion efficiency in an OH1 nonlinear organic
crystal pumped by femtosecond laser pulses at 1240 nm wavelength. An
influence of OH1 crystal thickness on the terahertz generation by
optical rectification method was studied. It is shown that the optimal
crystal thickness for the maximum conversion efficiency is 1 mm, which
agrees with the previously made theoretical estimates.
Convolutional neural network based displacement gradients estimation for a full-parameter initial value guess of digital image correlation
Authors: Ma Xueyi , Ren Qing , Zhao Dong , Zhao Jian
Published: October 2022

The selection of initial value in digital image correlation (DIC) has significant influence on the search efficiency of image subpixel displacement and the algorithmic convergence speed. An accurate and reasonable initial value can reduce the number of iterations of subsequent IC-GN optimization, accelerate the convergence of the results, and avoid the divergence of the algorithm in the iterative process. This paper proposes a full-parameter initial value estimation method based on a regression convolution neural network with multithreaded calculation. The proposed method sequentially uses the integer-pixel estimation based on neighborhood search, the subpixel estimation based on surface fitting and the first-order displacement gradients estimation based on a regressive convolutional neural network to achieve the initial value estimation of inverse compositional Gauss-Newton (IC-GN) iteration. Experimental results show that the iteration times of the proposed method are reduced by about 30% compared with the integer-pixel initial value estimation method. In the process of IC-GN iteration, the computational efficiency of CPU multithreaded calculation is nearly twice higher as that of the single-thread method. It can not only improve the accuracy of the initial value estimation but also has high adaptability, which can adapt to selecting different subset sizes or different speckle patterns. This study provides a reference for the effect of iterative initial value optimization on efficiency and accuracy in DIC.
Heliorhodopsin binds and regulates glutamine synthetase activity
Authors: Cho Shin-Gyu , Song Myungchul , Chuon Kimleng , Shim Jin-gon , Meas Seanghun , Jung Kwang-Hwan
Published: October 2022

Photoreceptors are light-sensitive proteins found in various organisms that respond to light and relay signals into the cells. Heliorhodopsin, a retinal-binding membrane protein, has been recently discovered, however its function remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the relationship between Actinobacteria bacterium IMCC26103 heliorhodopsin (AbHeR) and an adjacent glutamine synthetase (AbGS) in the same operon. We demonstrate that AbHeR binds to AbGS and regulates AbGS activity. More specifically, the dissociation constant (Kd) value of the binding between AbHeR and AbGS is 6.06 μM. Moreover, the absence of positively charged residues within the intracellular loop of AbHeR impacted Kd value as they serve as critical binding sites for AbGS. We also confirm that AbHeR up-regulates the biosynthetic enzyme activity of AbGS both in vitro and in vivo in the presence of light. GS is a key enzyme involved in nitrogen assimilation that catalyzes the conversion of glutamate and ammonia to glutamine. Hence, the interaction between AbHeR and AbGS may be critical for nitrogen assimilation in Actinobacteria bacterium IMCC26103 as it survives in low-nutrient environments. Overall, the findings of our study describe, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a novel function of heliorhodopsin as a regulatory rhodopsin with the capacity to bind and regulate enzyme activity required for nitrogen assimilation.
Modulation of working memory duration by synaptic and astrocytic mechanisms
Authors: Becker Sophia , Nold Andreas , Tchumatchenko Tatjana
Published: October 2022

Short-term synaptic plasticity and modulations of the presynaptic vesicle release rate are key components of many working memory models. At the same time, an increasing number of studies suggests a potential role of astrocytes in modulating higher cognitive function such as WM through their influence on synaptic transmission. Which influence astrocytic signaling could have on the stability and duration of WM representations, however, is still unclear. Here, we introduce a slow, activity-dependent astrocytic regulation of the presynaptic release probability in a synaptic attractor model of WM. We compare and analyze simulations of a simple WM protocol in firing rate and spiking networks with and without astrocytic regulation, and underpin our observations with analyses of the phase space dynamics in the rate network. We find that the duration and stability of working memory representations are altered by astrocytic signaling and by noise. We show that astrocytic signaling modulates the mean duration of WM representations. Moreover, if the astrocytic regulation is strong, a slow presynaptic timescale introduces a ‘window of vulnerability’, during which WM representations are easily disruptable by noise before being stabilized. We identify two mechanisms through which noise from different sources in the network can either stabilize or destabilize WM representations. Our findings suggest that (i) astrocytic regulation can act as a crucial determinant for the duration of WM representations in synaptic attractor models of WM, and (ii) that astrocytic signaling could facilitate different mechanisms for volitional top-down control of WM representations and their duration.
Variant calling enhances the identification of cancer cells in single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Gasper William , Rossi Francesca , Ligorio Matteo , Ghersi Dario
Published: October 2022

Single-cell RNA-sequencing is an invaluable research tool that allows for the investigation of gene expression in heterogeneous cancer cell populations in ways that bulk RNA-seq cannot. However, normal (i.e., non tumor) cells in cancer samples have the potential to confound the downstream analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data. Existing methods for identifying cancer and normal cells include copy number variation inference, marker-gene expression analysis, and expression-based clustering. This work aims to extend the existing approaches for identifying cancer cells in single-cell RNA-seq samples by incorporating variant calling and the identification of putative driver alterations. We found that putative driver alterations can be detected in single-cell RNA-seq data obtained with full-length transcript technologies and noticed that a subset of cells in tumor samples are enriched for putative driver alterations as compared to normal cells. Furthermore, we show that the number of putative driver alterations and inferred copy number variation are not correlated in all samples. Taken together, our findings suggest that augmenting existing cancer-cell filtering methods with variant calling and analysis can increase the number of tumor cells that can be confidently included in downstream analyses of single-cell full-length transcript RNA-seq datasets.
Specification of the endocrine primordia controlling insect moulting and metamorphosis by the JAK/STAT signalling pathway
Authors: García-Ferrés Mar , Sánchez-Higueras Carlos , Espinosa-Vázquez Jose Manuel , C-G Hombría James
Published: October 2022

The corpora allata and the prothoracic glands control moulting and metamorphosis in insects. These endocrine glands are specified in the maxillary and labial segments at positions homologous to those forming the trachea in more posterior segments. Glands and trachea can be homeotically transformed into each other suggesting that all three evolved from a metamerically repeated organ that diverged to form glands in the head and respiratory organs in the trunk. While much is known about tracheal specification, there is limited information about corpora allata and prothorathic gland specification. Here we show that the expression of a key regulator of early gland development, the snail gene, is controlled by the Dfd and Scr Hox genes and by the Hedgehog and Wnt signalling pathways that induce localised transcription of upd, the ligand of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway, which lies at the heart of gland specification. Our results show that the same upstream regulators are required for the early gland and tracheal primordia specification, reinforcing the hypothesis that they originated from a segmentally repeated organ present in an ancient arthropod.
SARS-CoV-2 reinfections with BA.1 (Omicron) variant among fully vaccinated individuals in northeastern Brazil
Authors: Freire-Neto Francisco P. , Teixeira Diego G. , da Cunha Dayse C. S. , Morais Ingryd C. , Tavares Celisa P. M. , Gurgel Genilson P. , Medeiros Sanderson D. N. , Santos David C. dos , Sales Alexandre de O. , Jeronimo Selma M. B.
Published: October 2022

Background

The first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, was diagnosed on March 12, 2020; thereafter, multiple surges of infection occurred, similar to what was seen elsewhere. These surges were mostly due to SARS-CoV-2 mutations leading to emergence of variants of concern (VoC). The introduction of new VoCs in a population previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or after vaccination has been a challenge to understanding the kinetics of the protective immune response against this virus. The aim of this study was to investigate the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections observed in mid-January 2022 in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. It describes the clinical and genomic characteristics of nine cases of reinfection that occurred coincident with the introduction of the omicron variant.

Methodology/Principal findings

Of a total of 172,965 individuals with upper respiratory symptoms tested for SARS-CoV-2, between March 2020 through mid-February 2022, 58,097 tested positive. Of those, 444 had documented a second SARS-CoV-2 infection and nine reinfection cases were selected for sequencing. Genomic analysis revealed that virus lineages diverged between primary infections and the reinfections, with the latter caused by the Omicron (BA.1) variant among individuals fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings suggest that the Omicron variant is able to evade both natural and vaccine-induced immunity, since all nine cases had prior natural infection and, in addition, were fully vaccinated, emphasizing the need to develop effective blocking vaccines.
Aggressive behaviour of psychiatric patients with mild and borderline intellectual disabilities in general mental health care
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Jeanet Grietje , Lepping Peter , Mulder Cornelis Lambert , Nijman Henk Liewellyn Inge , Noorthoorn Eric Onno
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Little is known about the associations between mild intellectual disability (MID), borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) and aggressive behaviour in general mental health care. The study aims to establish the association between aggressive behaviour and MID/BIF, analysing patient characteristics and diagnoses.

Method

1174 out of 1565 consecutive in-and outpatients were screened for MID/BIF with the Screener for Intelligence and Learning Disabilities (SCIL) in general mental health care in The Netherlands. During treatment, aggressive behaviour was assessed with the Staff Observation Aggression Scale-Revised (SOAS-R). We calculated odds ratios and performed a logistic and poisson regression to calculate the associations of MID/ BIF, patient characteristics and diagnoses with the probability of aggression.

Results

Forty-one percent of participating patients were screened positive for MID/BIF. Patients with assumed MID/BIF showed significantly more aggression at the patient and sample level (odds ratio (OR) of 2.50 for aggression and 2.52 for engaging in outwardly directedphysicalaggression). The proportion of patients engaging in 2–5 repeated aggression incidents was higher in assumed MID (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 1.82–4.95) and MID/BIF (OR = 4.20, 95% CI 2.45–7.22). Logistic regression showed that patients who screened positive for BIF (OR 2,0 95% CL 1.26–3.17), MID (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.87–4.46), had a bipolar disorder (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.79–5.28), schizophrenia (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.80–4.19), and younger age (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.15–2.50), were more likely to have engaged in any aggression. Poisson regression underlined these findings, showing a SCIL of 15 and below (β = 0.61, p<0.001) was related to more incidents.

Conclusions

We found an increased risk for aggression andphysicalaggression in patients with assumed MID/BIF. We recommend screening for intellectual functioning at the start of treatment and using measures to prevent and manage aggressive behaviour that fits patients with MID/BIF.
A social ecological approach to identify the barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccination acceptance: A scoping review
Authors: Lun Penny , Gao Jonathan , Tang Bernard , Yu Chou Chuen , Jabbar Khalid Abdul , Low James Alvin , George Pradeep Paul
Published: October 2022

Background

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has caused substantial impact on population health, healthcare, and social and economic systems around the world. Several vaccines have been developed to control the pandemic with varying effectiveness and safety profiles. One of the biggest obstacles to implementing successful vaccination programmes is vaccine hesitancy stemming from concerns about effectiveness and safety. This review aims to identify the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and acceptance and to organize the factors using the social ecological framework.

Methods

We adopted the five-stage methodological framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley to guide this scoping review. Selection criteria was based on the PICo (Population, Phenomenon of interest and Context) framework. Factors associated with acceptance and hesitancy were grouped into the following: intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and public policy factors using the social ecological framework.

Results

Fifty-one studies fulfilled this review’s inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in Europe and North America, followed by Asia and the Middle East. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy rates varied across countries. Some common demographic factors associated with hesitancy were younger age, being female, having lower than college education, and having a lower income level. Most of the barriers and facilitators to acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccines were intrapersonal factors, such as personal characteristics and preferences, concerns with COVID-19 vaccines, history/perception of general vaccination, and knowledge of COVID-19 and health. The remaining interpersonal, institution, community, and public policy factors were grouped into factors identified as barriers and facilitators.

Conclusion

Our review identified barriers and facilitators of vaccine acceptance and hesitancy and organised them using the social ecological framework. While some barriers and facilitators such as vaccine safety are universal, differentiated barriers might exist for different target groups, which need to be understood if they are to be addressed to maximize vaccine acceptance.
The effect of cigarette modified risk claims and brand on perceived risk, product appeal, and use intentions
Authors: O’Brien Erin Keely , Ruybal Andrea L. , . Koblitz Amber R. , Johnson Sarah E.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

No studies have examined the brand context in which modified risk claims appear on tobacco products. This study examines how marketing products with modified risk claims affects risk perceptions, appeal, and intentions among own-brand, other brand, and novel brand cigarettes.

Methods

This experiment employed a 3 (claim: risk modification [RM], exposure modification [EM], control) x 3 (brand: own, other, novel) between-subjects design. A convenience sample (N = 1,557, Mage = 40.28, SDage = 19.01, 71.3% female, 80.3% White) of current or former Marlboro, Camel, or Newport users was collected. Participants were assigned to view their own brand, another brand, or a novel brand, with or without a claim, and rated perceived risk after switching to this product, product appeal, and use intentions.

Results

Participants in the RM or EM conditions had lower risk perceptions (versus control). Claim did not affect appeal. Adult established cigarette users in the EM (but not RM) condition had higher intentions (versus control). Participants rated their own and another brand as more appealing than the novel brand. Interactions between brand and claim were not significant.

Conclusions

We found modified risk claims decreased risk perceptions but did not impact appeal. Whereas participants showed preference for their own brand in terms of appeal and intentions, brand did not moderate the impact of claims.
The (im-)moral scientist? Measurement and framing effects shape the association between scientists and immorality
Authors: Rutjens Bastiaan T. , Niehoff Esther , Heine Steven J.
Published: October 2022

Recent years have not only seen growing public distrust in science, but also in the people conducting science. Yet, attitudes toward scientists remain largely unexplored, and the limited body of literature that exists points to an interesting ambivalence. While survey data suggest scientists to be positively evaluated (e.g., respected and trusted), research has found scientists to be perceived as capable of immoral behavior. We report two experiments aimed at identifying what contributes to this ambivalence through systematic investigations of stereotypical perceptions of scientists. In these studies, we particularly focus on two potential sources of inconsistencies in previous work: divergent operationalizations of morality (measurement effects), and different specifications of the broad group of scientists (framing effects). Results show that scientists are generally perceived as more likely to violate binding as opposed to individualizing moral foundations, and that they deviate from control groups more strongly on the latter. The extent to which different morality measures reflect the differentiation between binding and individualizing moral foundations at least partially accounts for previous contradictory findings. Moreover, the results indicate large variation in perceptions of different types of scientists: people hold more positive attitudes toward university-affiliated scientists as compared to industry-affiliated scientists, with perceptions of the ‘typical scientist’ more closely resembling the latter. Taken together, the findings have important academic ramifications for science skepticism, morality, and stereotyping research as well as valuable practical implications for successful science communication.
Identification of natural cytochalasins as leads for neglected tropical diseases drug discovery
Authors: Valli Marilia , Souza Julia Medeiros , Chelucci Rafael Consolin , Biasetto Carolina Rabal , Araujo Angela Regina , Bolzani Vanderlan da Silva , Andricopulo Adriano Defini
Published: October 2022

Investigating the chemical diversity of natural products from tropical environments is an inspiring approach to developing new drug candidates for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In the present study, phenotypic screenings for antiprotozoal activity and a combination of computational and biological approaches enabled the identification and characterization of four cytochalasins, which are fungal metabolites from Brazilian biodiversity sources. Cytochalasins A-D exhibited IC50 values ranging from 2 to 20 μM against intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum amastigotes, values comparable to those of the standard drugs benznidazole and miltefosine for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, respectively. Furthermore, cytochalasins A-D reduced L. infantum infections by more than 80% in THP-1 cells, most likely due to the inhibition of phagocytosis by interactions with actin. Molecular modelling studies have provided useful insights into the mechanism of action of this class of compounds. Furthermore, cytochalasins A-D showed moderate cytotoxicity against normal cell lines (HFF-1, THP-1, and HepG2) and a good overall profile for oral bioavailability assessed in vitro. The results of this study support the use of natural products from Brazilian biodiversity sources to find potential drug candidates for two of the most important NTDs.
Chronic wasting disease prions in mule deer interdigital glands
Authors: Ness Anthony , Zeng Doris , Kuznetsova Alsu , Otero Alicia , Kim Chiye , Saboraki Kelsey , Lingle Susan , Pybus Margo , Aiken Judd , Gilch Sabine , McKenzie Debbie
Published: October 2022

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a geographically expanding, fatal neurodegenerative disease in cervids. The disease can be transmitted directly (animal-animal) or indirectly via infectious prions shed into the environment. The precise mechanisms of indirect CWD transmission are unclear but known sources of the infectious prions that contaminate the environment include saliva, urine and feces. We have previously identified PrPC expression in deer interdigital glands, sac-like exocrine structures located between the digits of the hooves. In this study, we assayed for CWD prions within the interdigital glands of CWD infected deer to determine if they could serve as a source of prion shedding and potentially contribute to CWD transmission. Immunohistochemical analysis of interdigital glands from a CWD-infected female mule deer identified disease-associated PrPCWD within clusters of infiltrating leukocytes adjacent to sudoriferous and sebaceous glands, and within the acrosyringeal epidermis of a sudoriferous gland tubule. Proteinase K-resistant PrPCWD material was amplified by serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) from soil retrieved from between the hoof digits of a clinically affected mule deer. Blinded testing of interdigital glands from 11 mule deer by real-time quake-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) accurately identified CWD-infected animals. The data described suggests that interdigital glands may play a role in the dissemination of CWD prions into the environment, warranting future investigation.
Spatiotemporal characteristics of soil erosion in a typical watershed consisting of different landscape: A case study of the Qin River Basin
Authors: Li Yanyan , Rong Tianqi , Qin Mingzhou , Zhang Pengyan , Yang Dan , Liu Zhenyue , Zhang Ying , Zhu Hui , Song Meiling
Published: October 2022

Soil erosion has a severe impact on habitat and productivity. It is considered to be a major environmental threat prevalent in ecosystems. However, few researchers have studied the spatial distribution of soil erosion intensity among different geographic environmental factors. The Qin River Basin is a geographical unit consisting of mountains, hills, and plains with significant regional characteristics, and it has a basin area of 14,810.91 km2. This study uses the Geographical Information Systems, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in the soil-erosion intensity in the Qin River Basin from 1990 to 2018. Different environmental factors of land use, slope and altitude on erosion intensities of 19 secondary land types were analyzed. It can better reflect the soil erosion under different environmental factors and different land use types. Results show that the soil erosion modulus of Qin River Basin were 10.25 t hm−2 a−1, and it belong to slight erosion from 1990 to 2018. Soil erosion intensity is greater in grassland and woodland than in cropland. The strongest soil erosion occurred in the sparse forestland, and the lowest was in beach land. Soil erosion was the highest for a slope of 15~25° and an altitude of 1200~1500 m. Rainfall and slope are important factors lead to soil erosion, indicating weak water and soil conservation implemented in these areas. Therefore, priority should be given to these geomorphic units to formulate and implement soil-erosion control and ecological restoration policies in the Qin River Basin. This study provides a good reference for preventing and controlling soil erosion in river basins.
GIFT: An ImageJ macro for automated fiber diameter quantification
Authors: Huling Jennifer , Götz Andreas , Grabow Niels , Illner Sabine
Published: October 2022

This paper details the development and testing of the GIFT macro, which is a freely available program for ImageJ for the automated measurement of fiber diameters in SEM images of electrospun materials. The GIFT macro applies a validated method which distinguishes fiber diameters based on distance frequencies within an image. In this work, we introduce an applied version of the GIFT method which has been designed to be user-friendly while still allowing complete control over the various parameters involved in the image processing steps. The macro quickly processes large data sets and creates results that are reproducible and accurate. The program outputs both raw data and fiber diameter averages, so that the user can quickly assess the results and has the opportunity for further analysis if desired. The GIFT macro was compared directly to other software designed for fiber diameter measurements and was found to have comparable or lower average error, especially when measuring very small fibers, and reduced processing times per image. The macro, detailed instructions for use, and sample images are freely available online (https://github.com/IBMTRostock/GIFT). We believe that the GIFT macro is a valuable new tool for researchers looking to quickly, easily and reliably assess fiber diameters in electrospun materials.
Revisiting Leishmania GP63 host cell targets reveals a limited spectrum of substrates
Authors: Guay-Vincent Marie-Michèle , Matte Christine , Berthiaume Anne-Marie , Olivier Martin , Jaramillo Maritza , Descoteaux Albert
Published: October 2022

Colonization of host phagocytic cells by Leishmania metacyclic promastigotes involves several parasite effectors, including the zinc-dependent metalloprotease GP63. The major mode of action of this virulence factor entails the cleavage/degradation of host cell proteins. Given the potent proteolytic activity of GP63, identification of its substrates requires the adequate preparation of cell lysates to prevent artefactual degradation during cell processing. In the present study, we re-examined the cleavage/degradation of reported GP63 substrates when GP63 activity was efficiently neutralized during the preparation of cell lysates. To this end, we infected bone marrow-derived macrophages with either wild type, Δgp63, and Δgp63+GP63 L. major metacyclic promastigotes for various time points. We prepared cell lysates in the absence or presence of the zinc-metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline and examined the levels and integrity of ten previously reported host cell GP63 substrates. Inhibition of GP63 activity with 1,10-phenanthroline during the processing of macrophages prevented the cleavage/degradation of several previously described GP63 targets, including PTP-PEST, mTOR, p65RelA, c-Jun, VAMP3, and NLRP3. Conversely, we confirmed that SHP-1, Synaptotagmin XI, VAMP8, and Syntaxin-5 are bona fide GP63 substrates. These results point to the importance of efficiently inhibiting GP63 activity during the preparation of Leishmania-infected host cell lysates. In addition, our results indicate that the role of GP63 in Leishmania pathogenesis must be re-evaluated.
Human neutrophil IL1β directs intestinal epithelial cell extrusion during Salmonella infection
Authors: Lawrence Anna-Lisa E. , Berger Ryan P. , Hill David R. , Huang Sha , Yadagiri Veda K. , Bons Brooke , Fields Courtney , Sule Gautam J. , Knight Jason S. , Wobus Christiane E. , Spence Jason R. , Young Vincent B. , O’Riordan Mary X. , Abuaita Basel H.
Published: October 2022

Infection of the human gut bySalmonella entericaTyphimurium (STM) results in a localized inflammatory disease that is not mimicked in murine infections. To determine mechanisms by which neutrophils, as early responders to bacterial challenge, direct inflammatory programming of human intestinal epithelium, we established a multi-component human intestinal organoid (HIO) model of STM infection. HIOs were micro-injected with STM and seeded with primary human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN-HIOs). PMNs did not significantly alter luminal colonization ofSalmonella, but their presence reduced intraepithelial bacterial burden. Adding PMNs to infected HIOs resulted in substantial accumulation of shed TUNEL+epithelial cells that was driven by PMN Caspase-1 activity. Inhibition of Caspases-1, -3 or -4 abrogated epithelial cell death and extrusion in the infected PMN-HIOs but only Caspase-1 inhibition significantly increased bacterial burden in the PMN-HIO epithelium. Thus, PMNs promote cell death in human intestinal epithelial cells through multiple caspases as a protective response to infection. IL-1β was necessary and sufficient to induce cell shedding in the infected HIOs. These data support a critical innate immune function for human neutrophils in amplifying cell death and extrusion of human epithelial cells from theSalmonella-infected intestinal monolayer.
Modulation of the extracellular matrix by Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus and importance in cell proliferation
Authors: Kumar Ritesh , Taylor John Culver , Jain Antrix , Jung Sung Yun , Garza Victor , Xu Yi
Published: October 2022

Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies gallolyticus (Sgg) has a strong clinical association with colorectal cancer (CRC) and actively promotes the development of colon tumors. Previous work showed that this organism stimulates CRC cells proliferation and tumor growth. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these activities are not well understood. Here, we found that Sgg upregulates the expression of several type of collagens in HT29 and HCT116 cells, with type VI collagen (ColVI) being the highest upregulated type. Knockdown of ColVI abolished the ability of Sgg to induce cell proliferation and reduced the adherence of Sgg to CRC cells. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important regulator of cell proliferation. Therefore, we further examined the role of decellularized matrix (dc-matrix), which is free of live bacteria or cells, in Sgg-induced cell proliferation. Dc-matrix prepared from Sgg-treated cells showed a significantly higher pro-proliferative activity than that from untreated cells or cells treated with control bacteria. On the other hand, dc-matrix from Sgg-treated ColVI knockdown cells showed no difference in the capacity to support cell proliferation compared to that from untreated ColVI knockdown cells, suggesting that the ECM by itself is a mediator of Sgg-induced cell proliferation. Furthermore, Sgg treatment of CRC cells but not ColVI knockdown CRC cells resulted in significantly larger tumors in vivo, suggesting that ColVI is important for Sgg to promote tumor growth in vivo. These results highlight a dynamic bidirectional interplay between Sgg and the ECM, where Sgg upregulates collagen expression. The Sgg-modified ECM in turn affects the ability of Sgg to adhere to host cells and more importantly, acts as a mediator for Sgg-induced CRC cell proliferation. Taken together, our results reveal a novel mechanism in which Sgg stimulates CRC proliferation through modulation of the ECM.
Las publicaciones de Falange Española en Buenos Aires: estrategias de propaganda y movilización política durante la Guerra Civil (1936-1939)
Authors: Ferreyra Alejandra Noemí
Published: October 2022

La Guerra Civil española generó una intensa movilización política tanto en la sociedad argentina como en la nutrida colonia de inmigrantes españoles que residía en el país. Con el propósito de apoyar al ejército sublevado, en agosto de 1936 se fundó una sede de Falange Española en la ciudad de Buenos Aires. Desde allí se buscó recaudar recursos monetarios y, fundamentalmente, desplegar mecanismos de propaganda que motivaran la adhesión de la población. El presente artículo se propone analizar las características, los contenidos y las formas de activismo político impulsadas a través de los órganos de prensa que publicó la entidad durante la guerra. Se estudiarán, por un lado, el semanario Falange Española, editado entre octubre de 1936 y marzo de 1938, y por el otro, ¡Arriba!, el órgano que sustituyó al anterior en abril de 1938.