bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local estimation of quasi-geostrophic flows in Earth’s core
Authors: Schwaiger T , Jault D , Gillet N , Schaeffer N , Mandea M
Published: March 2023

The inference of fluid motion below the core–mantle boundary from geomagnetic observations presents a highly non-unique inverse problem. We propose a new method that provides a unique local estimate of the velocity field, assuming quasi-geostrophic flow in the core interior (which implies equatorial mirror symmetry) and negligible magnetic diffusion. These assumptions remove the theoretical underdetermination, enabling us to invert for the flow at each point of a spherical grid representing the core surface. The unreliable reconstruction of small-scale flows, which arises because only large-scale observations are available, is mitigated by smoothing the locally estimated velocity field using a Gaussian process regression. Application of this method to synthetic data provided by a state-of-the-art geodynamo simulation suggests that using this approach, the large-scale flow pattern of the core surface flow can be well reconstructed, while the flow amplitude tends to be underestimated. We compare these results with a core flow inversion using a Bayesian framework that incorporates statistics from numerical geodynamo models as prior information. We find that whether the latter method provides a more accurate recovery of the reference flow than the local estimation depends heavily on how realistic/relevant the chosen prior information is. Application to real geomagnetic data shows that both methods are able to reproduce the main features found in previous core flow studies.
Adjoint-state traveltime tomography for azimuthally anisotropic media in spherical coordinates
Authors: Chen Jing , Chen Guoxu , Nagaso Masaru , Tong Ping
Published: March 2023

Tong has proposed an adjoint-state traveltime tomography method to determine velocity heterogeneity and azimuthal anisotropy. This method, however, ignores the Earth’s curvature when deriving the eikonal equation for azimuthally anisotropic media. Thus, further coordinate transformation or approximation is required to ensure the accuracy of traveltime prediction in large-scale tomography. To address this problem, we derive the eikonal equation for azimuthally anisotropic media in spherical coordinates, which naturally considers the Earth’s curvature. Another key ingredient is the forward modelling algorithm, whose accuracy and efficiency dominate the numerical error and computational cost of the inversion. In this study, we apply a modified fast sweeping method to solve the eikonal equation in spherical coordinates. Two approaches, including the third-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory approximation and multiplicative factorization technique, are applied to improve the accuracy. According to the numerical experiments, this new eikonal solver achieves a second-order accuracy and is about two orders of magnitude more accurate than the commonly used first-order fast sweeping method with similar runtime. Taking advantage of the two improvements, we develop a novel eikonal equation-based adjoint-state traveltime tomography method for azimuthally anisotropic media in spherical coordinates. This method is applicable for large-scale tomography, and its performance is verified by a synthetic checkerboard test and a practical seismic tomographic inversion in central California near Parkfield.
Potato tonoplast sugar transporter 1 controls tuber sugar accumulation during postharvest cold storage
Authors: Liu Tengfei , Kawochar Md Abu , Begum Shahnewaz , Wang Enshuang , Zhou Tingting , Jing Shenglin , Liu Tiantian , Yu Liu , Nie Bihua , Song Botao
Published: March 2023

Cold-induced sweetening (CIS), the undesirable sugar accumulation in cold-stored potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers, is a severe postharvest issue in the potato processing industry. Although the process of sucrose hydrolysis by vacuolar invertase during potato CIS is well understood, there is limited knowledge about the transportation of sucrose from the cytosol to the vacuole during postharvest cold storage. Here, we report that among the three potato tonoplast sugar transporters (TSTs), StTST1 exhibits the highest expression in tubers during postharvest cold storage. Subcellular localization analysis demonstrates that StTST1 is a tonoplast-localized protein. StTST1 knockdown decreases reducing sugar accumulation in tubers during low-temperature storage. Compared to wild-type, potato chips produced from StTST1-silenced tubers displayed significantly lower acrylamide levels and lighter color after cold storage. Transcriptome analysis manifests that suppression of StTST1 promotes starch synthesis and inhibits starch degradation in cold-stored tubers. We further establish that the increased sucrose content in the StTST1-silenced tubers might cause a decrease in the ABA content, thereby inhibiting the ABA-signaling pathway. We demonstrate that the down-regulation of β-amylase StBAM1 in StTST1-silenced tubers might be directly controlled by ABA-responsive element-binding proteins (AREBs). Altogether, we have shown that StTST1 plays a critical role in sugar accumulation and starch metabolism regulation during postharvest cold storage. Thus, our findings provide a new strategy to improve the frying quality of cold-stored tubers and reduce the acrylamide content in potato chips.
Novel flavin-containing monooxygenase protein FMO1 interacts with CAT2 to negatively regulate drought tolerance through ROS homeostasis and ABA signaling pathway in tomato
Authors: Wang Lulu , Zhou Yinlian , Ding Yin , Chen Chunrui , Chen Xueting , Su Nini , Zhang Xingguo , Pan Yu , Li Jinhua
Published: March 2023

Drought stress is the major abiotic factor that can seriously affect plant growth and crop production. The functions of flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) are known in animals. They add molecular oxygen to lipophilic compounds or produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, little information on FMOs in plants is available. Here, we characterized a tomato drought-responsive gene that showed homology to FMO, and it was designated as FMO1. FMO1 was downregulated promptly by drought and ABA treatments. Transgenic functional analysis indicated that RNAi suppression of the expression of FMO1 (FMO1-Ri) improved drought tolerance relative to wild-type (WT) plants, whereas overexpression of FMO1 (FMO1-OE) reduced drought tolerance. The FMO1-Ri plants exhibited lower ABA accumulation, higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activities, and less ROS generation compared with the WT and FMO1-OE plants under drought stress. RNA-seq transcriptional analysis revealed the differential expression levels of many drought-responsive genes that were co-expressed with FMO1, including PP2Cs, PYLs, WRKY, and LEA. Using Y2H screening, we found that FMO1 physically interacted with catalase 2 (CAT2), which is an antioxidant enzyme and confers drought resistance. Our findings suggest that tomato FMO1 negatively regulates tomato drought tolerance in the ABA-dependent pathway and modulates ROS homeostasis by directly binding to SlCAT2.
Monkeypox Virus Cross-Neutralizing Antibodies in Clinical Trial Participants Vaccinated With Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Encoding Middle East Respiratory Syndrome–Coronavirus Spike Protein
Authors: Raadsen Matthijs P , Dahlke Christine , Fathi Anahita , Lamers Mart M , van den Doel Petra , Zaeck Luca M , van Royen Martin E , de Bruin Erwin , Sikkema Reina , Koopmans Marion , van Gorp Eric C M , Sutter Gerd , de Vries Rory D , Addo Marylyn M , Haagmans Bart L
Published: March 2023

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is used as a vaccine against monkeypox virus and as a viral vaccine vector. MVA-MERS-S is a vaccine candidate against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)–associated coronavirus. Here, we report that cross-reactive monkeypox virus neutralizing antibodies were detectable in only a single study participant after the first dose of MVA-MERS-S vaccine, in 3 of 10 after the second dose, and in 10 of 10 after the third dose.
The posttranscriptional regulator CsrA affects multidrug resistance and biocontrol activity in Lysobacter enzymogenes
Authors: Yu Menghao , Zhao Youfu
Published: March 2023

Aims

The posttranscriptional regulator CsrA regulates many cellular processes, including stress responses in diverse bacteria. However, the role of CsrA in multidrug resistance (MDR) and biocontrol activity in Lysobacter enzymogenes strain C3 (LeC3) remains unknown.

Methods and results

In this study, we demonstrated that deletion of the csrA gene resulted in the initial slow growth of LeC3 and reduced its resistance to multiple antibiotics, including nalidixic acid (NAL), rifampicin (RIF), kanamycin (Km), and nitrofurantoin (NIT). Loss of the csrA gene also reduced its ability in inhibiting hypha growth of Sclerotium sclerotiorum and influenced its extracellular cellulase and protease activities. Two putative small noncoding regulatory RNAs (sRNAs), referred to as csrB and csrC, were also revealed in the genome of LeC3. Double deletion of csrB and csrC in LeC3 led to increased resistance to NAL, RIF, Km, and NIT. However, no difference was observed between LeC3 and the csrB/csrC double mutant in their suppression of S. sclerotiorum hypha growth and production of extracellular enzymes.

Conclusion

These results suggest that CsrA in LeC3 not only conferred its intrinsic MDR, but also contributed to its biocontrol activity.
Quantification of Lactose in Lactose-Free and Low-Lactose Milk and Milk Products by BIOMILK 300/3000 Lac, Collaborative Study: Final Action 2020.09
Authors: Garate Jone , Ortiz de Zarate Itziar , González Roberto , Jaureguibeitia Arrate , Salleres Sandra
Published: March 2023

Background

In April 2020, the BIOMILK 300 LAC method for the quantification of lactose in lactose-free and low-lactose dairy products was adopted as First Action Official Method of AnalysisSM2020.09 by AOAC INTERNATIONAL. To test the reproducibility of the method, as the last step toward the Final Action status, a collaborative study was organized by BIOLAN Microbiosensores.

Objective

Fifteen collaborators within the European Union took part in this study, where nine different samples were sent as duplicate blind test portions for lactose determination. The data obtained were used to determine method repeatability and reproducibility and also to validate the new version of the biosensor.

Method

The test method is based on the direct enzymatic recognition–electrochemical detection of trace levels of lactose over a wide range of dairy samples by means of the BIOMILK 300 biosensor, in less than 5 min, and without intricate sample pretreatments.

Results

All samples resulted in a repeatability relative standard deviation (RSDr) of <8.1% and a reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSDR) of 14% maximum, meeting requirements from Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2018.09.

Conclusions

The method has proved to give reproducible results for the quantification of lactose in lactose-free and low-lactose dairy products.

Highlights

On the basis of these results, the enzymatic amperometric biosensor method developed by BIOLAN Microbiosensores was adopted as a Final Action Official Method in July 2022.
The two problem pillars of multiple proceedings in investment arbitration: why the abuse of process doctrine is a necessary remedy and requires focus in UNCITRAL’s ISDS reform
Authors: Richter Julia
Published: March 2023

With multiple proceedings in investment arbitration, various problems emerge. This article demonstrates they ultimately rest upon two pillars: a threat to the investor–state dispute settlement (‘ISDS’) system (i) and inequality of arms (ii). Since conventional instruments are insufficient to address these, the abuse of process doctrine is not only useful but also necessary to fill the gaps. However, the doctrine is prone to weaknesses. Therefore, guidance on the doctrine is desirable for it to reach its full potential as a successful mechanism to combat exploitative multiple proceedings. UNCITRAL’s current ISDS reform could serve this purpose. This articles’ analysis shows the reform efforts do recognize multiple proceedings as a problem. However, the path Working Group III is taking to address such is not clear but fades. That would be a lost opportunity. UNCITRAL’s ISDS reform should include guidance on unresolved issues of the abuse of process doctrine to help tackling exploitative multiple proceedings in investment arbitration.
‘Pursuing rational public defence’: Paul Hirst on teacher education
Authors: Orchard Janet
Published: March 2023

The question of the role of theory in initial teacher education was one that interested Paul Hirst throughout his long and distinguished academic career. When the story of teacher education in England is told by philosophers of education and, crucially, by teacher educators, we are reminded of Hirst’s contribution in two significant respects, as someone who not only taught teachers but also commented on the aim, purpose, and structure of teacher education. First, in the wake of the Robbins Report, Hirst supported Peters in helping to establish education at London’s Institute of Education (IOE) as an academic subject which promoted theory, particularly philosophy, suited to the needs of pre-service teachers. Secondly, several decades later, Hirst provided invaluable comment on the influential Oxford internship programme. This provision reimagined the one-year professional programmes for postgraduates entering teaching as a partnership between schools and universities. Hirst’s commentary, while generous and supportive, argued that teachers needed greater attention paid to the pursuit of ‘rational public defence’ during their pre-service formation than was evident in the ‘practical theorizing’ approach that underpins internship. Having examined Hirst’s contribution to and commentary on teacher education as a philosopher of education, I will argue that his example continues to offer insight today. In these neoliberal times, there are ad hoc opportunities for philosophy of education to continue to be included meaningfully in teachers’ professional formation, although the extent and reach it can exercise are limited where the dominant discourse describes teachers as being ‘trained’ rather than educated. I offer examples of theory developing in practice, building on established ideas of what is appropriate.
The aims of upbringing, reasonable affect, and parental rights: a response to Paul Hirst’s autobiographical reflections
Authors: Tillson John
Published: March 2023

In a candid autobiographical chapter which numbers among his last writings, Paul Hirst subjects his upbringing within a fundamentalist Christian sect to searching moral appraisal. He judges that his parents wronged him by religiously indoctrinating him, stifling his emotional development, and arbitrarily restricting his range of valuable morally permissible experiences. This upbringing undermined his autonomy and—more fundamentally, on his account—impaired his prospects of living the life he had most reason to live. Surprisingly, however, Hirst suggests that his parents had a right to initiate him into this conservative religious life, though the wider community owed him a more non-directive form of religious education to temper it. This is a striking concession to the scope of parental rights, especially in view of Hirst’s complaint that the emotional repression required by his parents was to ‘distort [his] experience and understanding of [himself] and others in ways that persisted well into [his] adult life’. Engaging with Hirst’s evaluation of his upbringing, I argue for a narrower range of parental rights than Hirst—one that excludes a parental moral right to religious initiation—and provide an account of the kind of emotional experiences to which children plausibly have a right.
Modelling gas around galaxy pairs and groups using the Q0107 quasar triplet
Authors: Beckett Alexander , Morris Simon L , Fumagalli Michele , Tejos Nicolas , Jannuzi Buell , Cantalupo Sebastiano
Published: March 2023

We examine to what extent disc and outflow models can reproduce observations of H i gas within a few virial radii of galaxies in pairs and groups. Using highly sensitive HST/COS and FOS spectra of the Q0107 quasar triplet covering Ly α for z≲1, as well as a deep galaxy redshift survey including VIMOS, DEIMOS, GMOS, and MUSE data, we test simple disc and outflow models against the H i absorption along three lines-of-sight (separated by 200–500 kpc) through nine galaxy groups in this field. These can be compared with our previous results in which these models can often be fit to the absorption around isolated galaxies. Our models can reproduce ≈ 75 per cent of the 28 identified absorption components within 500 km s−1 of a group galaxy, so most of the H i around groups is consistent with a superposition of the CGM of the individual galaxies. Gas stripped in interactions between galaxies may be a plausible explanation for some of the remaining absorption, but neither the galaxy images nor the galaxy and absorber kinematics provide clear evidence of such stripped material, and these unexplained absorbers do not preferentially occur around close pairs of galaxies. We find H i column densities typically higher than at similar impact parameters around isolated galaxies (≈ 2.5σ), as well as more frequent detections of O vi than around isolated galaxies (30 per cent of sightlines to 7 per cent).
Measuring neutron star distances and properties with gravitational-wave parallax
Authors: Sieniawska Magdalena , Jones David Ian , Miller Andrew L
Published: March 2023

Gravitational-wave astronomy allows us to study objects and events invisible to electromagnetic waves. So far, only signals triggered by coalescing binaries have been detected. However, as the interferometers’ sensitivities improve over time, we expect to observe weaker signals in the future, e.g. emission of continuous gravitational waves from spinning, isolated neutron stars. Parallax is a well-known method, widely used in electromagnetic astronomical observations, to estimate the distance to a source. In this work, we consider the application of the parallax method to gravitational-wave searches and explore possible distance estimation errors. We show that detection of parallax in the signal from a spinning down source can constrain the neutron star moment of inertia. For instance, we found that the relative error of the moment of inertia estimation is smaller than 10 per cent for all sources closer than 300 pc, for the assumed birth frequency of 700 Hz, ellipticity ≥10−7, and for 2 yr of observations by the Einstein Telescope, assuming spin-down due purely to quadrupolar gravitational radiation.
Predictions of gas-phase methanimine (CH2NH) abundance in cold cores
Authors: Luthra H , Wakelam V , Sharma M K , Chandra S
Published: March 2023

Since the 1930s, more than 250 molecules have been discovered in the interstellar medium. With the development of more sensitive telescopes, we keep detecting new more complex species. Amongst them, methanimine (CH2NH) is considered as a pre-biotic molecule as it can be involved in the synthesis of glycine through aminoacetonitrile. CH2NH has been observed in a variety of interstellar sources (hot cores, circumstellar envelops, external galaxies, and even cold cores). We studied the chemistry of this species at low temperature as previous models failed at reproducing the observed abundance in cold cores. First, using the public version of the gas-grain model nautilus (called pnautilus), we tested the effect of new proposed reactions for the production and destruction for CH2NH from the literature. These reactions, in particular association reactions with atomic hydrogen, increases the gas-phase production of CH2NH to a level in disagreement with the published observed values, putting some doubts on these reactions. Using the KIDA gas-phase network, we studied the sensitivity of the CH2NH gas-phase abundance to temperature, density, visual extinction, and cosmic-ray ionization rate. We show that under typical cold core conditions (10 K, 2 × 104 cm−3), CH2NH is formed on the surface of the grains but also from dissociative recombination of protonated ions in the gas. With this model, we are able to reproduce the level of detections in the cold cores Ori-3N and L183.
A three-dimensional chemical simulation with irregular density distributions of L1544
Authors: Ge Jixing , Mardones Diego , Inostroza-Pino Natalia , Peng Yaping
Published: March 2023

The dust continuum and molecular distributions observed on the sky plane always show irregular shapes of molecular clouds. However, it is hard to directly reproduce the observed distributions using symmetrical models. In this work, for the first time, we present a three-dimensional (3D) gas-grain chemical simulation using an irregular 3D density structure derived by the Abel inversion taking the starless core L1544 as an example. We found that most (∼70 per cent) of the observed features (molecular distributions, peak positions, and column density values of 16 species) can be reproduced directly. The previously reached conclusion of non-uniform illumination at C3H2 peak is confirmed as the contribution from the gas component with density of a few 104 cm−3 at distance of ∼3000–8000 au from the core centre along the line of sight.
In situ analysis of surface composition and meteorology at the Zhurong landing site on Mars
Authors: Zhao Yu-Yan Sara , Yu Jin , Wei Guangfei , Pan Lu , Liu Xiangfeng , Lin Yangting , Liu Yang , Sun Chen , Wang Xiyu , Wang Juntao , Xu Weijie , Rao Yunfei , Xu Weiming , Sun Tianyang , Chen Fengye , Zhang Beiyi , Lin Honglei , Zhang Zhenqiang , Hu Sen , Li Xiang-Yu , Yu Xiao-Wen , Qu Shuai-Yi , Zhou Di-Sheng , Wu Xing , Zeng Xiaojia , Li Xiongyao , Tang Hong , Liu Jianzhong
Published: March 2023

The Zhurong rover of the Tianwen-1 mission landed in southern Utopia Planitia, providing a unique window into the evolutionary history of the Martian lowlands. During its first 110 sols, Zhurong investigated and categorized surface targets into igneous rocks, lithified duricrusts, cemented duricrusts, soils and sands. The lithified duricrusts, analysed by using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy onboard Zhurong, show elevated water contents and distinct compositions from those of igneous rocks. The cemented duricrusts are likely formed via water vapor–frost cycling at the atmosphere–soil interface, as supported by the local meteorological conditions. Soils and sands contain elevated magnesium and water, attributed to both hydrated magnesium salts and adsorbed water. The compositional and meteorological evidence indicates potential Amazonian brine activities and present-day water vapor cycling at the soil–atmosphere interface. Searching for further clues to water-related activities and determining the water source by Zhurong are critical to constrain the volatile evolution history at the landing site.
Sustained Virologic Suppression With Dolutegravir/Lamivudine in a Test-and-Treat Setting Through 48 Weeks
Authors: Rolle Charlotte-Paige , Berhe Mezgebe , Singh Tulika , Ortiz Roberto , Wurapa Anson , Ramgopal Moti , Jayaweera Dushyantha T , Leone Peter A , Matthews Jessica E , Cupo Michael , Underwood Mark R , Angelis Konstantinos , Wynne Brian R , Merrill Deanna , Nguyen Christopher , van Wyk Jean , Zolopa Andrew R
Published: March 2023

Background

We assessed the efficacy and safety of dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) in a US test-and-treat setting at a secondary 48-week time point of the multicenter, single-arm, phase IIIb STAT study.

Methods

Participants were eligible adults newly diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and had started once-daily DTG/3TC within 14 days of diagnosis, before laboratory results were available. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was modified if baseline testing indicated DTG or 3TC resistance, hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection, or creatinine clearance <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2, and these participants remained in the study. A proportion with HIV-1 ribonucleic acid (RNA) <50 copies/mL at Week 48 was calculated among all participants (intention-to-treat-exposed [ITT-E] missing = failure analysis) and those with available data (observed analysis).

Results

At Week 48, 82% of all participants regardless of ART (107 of 131; ITT-E missing = failure) and 97% with available data (107 of 110; observed analysis) achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL. High proportions of virologic response were seen overall, including in participants with high viral load (≥500 000 copies/mL; 89%) or low CD4+ cell count (<200 cells/mm3; 78%) at baseline. Ten participants had treatment modification (baseline HBV coinfection, n = 5; participant/proxy decision, n = 2; baseline M184V resistance mutation, adverse event [AE; rash], and pregnancy, n = 1 each) before Week 48. Two participants met confirmed virologic failure criteria. No treatment-emergent resistance was observed. Ten participants reported drug-related AEs (all grade 1–2); no serious drug-related AEs occurred.

Conclusions

Results demonstrated high proportions of participants with sustained virologic suppression, no treatment-emergent resistance, and good safety over 48 weeks, supporting first-line use of DTG/3TC in a test-and-treat setting.
Coronary Artery Plaque Composition and Severity Relate to the Inflammasome in People With Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Schnittman Samuel R , Kitch Douglas W , Swartz Talia H , Burdo Tricia H , Fitch Kathleen V , McCallum Sara , Flynn Jacqueline M , Fulda Evelynne S , Diggs Marissa R , Stapleton Jack T , Casado José L , Taron Jana , Currier Judith S , Zanni Markella V , Malvestutto Carlos , Fichtenbaum Carl J , Aberg Judith A , Ribaudo Heather J , Lu Michael T , Douglas Pamela S , Grinspoon Steven K
Published: March 2023

Background

Inflammasome activation is increased in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), but its relationship with coronary plaque is poorly understood in this setting.

Methods

In a large human immunodeficiency virus cardiovascular prevention cohort, relationships between caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 and coronary plaque indices were assessed by multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Higher IL-18 and IL-1β were associated with Leaman score, an integrative measure of plaque burden and composition.

Conclusions

As Leaman score >5 is associated with cardiovascular events in the general population, future work is needed to determine how the inflammasome relates to events and whether strategies to reduce its activation affect events or plaque progression among PWH.
Intensive blood pressure control in older patients with hypertension—a STEP in the right direction?
Authors: Liang Xiaopeng , Chou Oscar H I , Cheung Bernard M Y
Published: March 2023

In November 2022, the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in China were updated; the definition of hypertension and the target of treatment was changed from 140/90 mm Hg to 130/80 mm Hg. This was prompted by the results of the Strategy of Blood Pressure Intervention in the Elderly Hypertensive Patients (STEP) study, a large multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted in China. STEP echoed the results of the American Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), and confirmed that intense lowering of blood pressure is on the whole beneficial. This confirmation is important for the Chinese population, in which strokes outnumber myocardial infarctions. It is also reassuring to know that treating adults aged 60 years or older to achieve a systolic blood pressure of <130 mm Hg is safe, while reducing cardiovascular events, stroke and all-cause mortality. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to delineate the risks and benefits in subgroups, such as the elderly with diabetes or a history of stroke.
Monetary Policy and Birth Rates: The Effect of Mortgage Rate Pass-Through on Fertility
Authors: Cumming Fergus , Dettling Lisa
Published: March 2023

This paper examines whether monetary policy pass-through to mortgage interest rates affects household fertility decisions. Our empirical strategy exploits variation in households’ eligibility for a rate adjustment, coupled with the large reductions in the monetary policy rate that occurred during the Great Recession in the U.K. and U.S. We estimate that each one percentage point drop in the policy rate increased birth rates amongst households eligible for a rate adjustment by 3%. Our results provide new evidence on the nature of monetary policy transmission to households and suggest a new mechanism via which mortgage contract structures can affect both aggregate demand and supply.
Effects of supplementing narasin toBos indicusheifers during late-gestation and lactation on development of the offspring
Authors: Miranda Victor F B , Cooke Reinaldo F , Lasmar Pedro V F , Silva Carlos E D , Burato Samir , Aguiar Caio L C , Ferreira Hingryd A O , Colombo Eduardo A , Valarelli Rodrigo L , Leiva Tiago , Vasconcelos Jose L M
Published: March 2023

This experiment evaluated the effects of supplementing narasin during late-gestation and lactation on productive and physiological responses of Bos indicus beef heifers and their offspring. Pregnant, nulliparous Nelore heifers (N = 88) that conceived under the same fixed-time artificial insemination protocol and to the same sire were used. Heifers were ranked by maternal ability genomic score, body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) and allocated to 44 drylot pens (2 heifers per pen; 10 × 25 m). Pens were ranked by these traits and alternatively assigned to receive (NAR) or not (CON) 0.260 mg of narasin/kg of heifer BW daily (Elanco Saúde Animal, São Paulo, Brazil). Narasin was mixed into a supplement offered at 0.30% of heifer BW from day 0 until heifers weaned their calves (day 316), whereas CON heifers received the same supplement without narasin addition. Heifers received Urochloa brizantha hay and water for ad libitum consumption (days 0 to 316) and calved between days 97 to 112 of the experiment. After calving, heifers and offspring had access to hay and supplement; hence, supplements and narasin were offered according to heifer + calf BW beginning on day 162. No treatment differences were detected (P ≥ 0.18) for heifer BW and BCS during the experiment, although BW loss from day 0 to calving was less (P = 0.04) in NAR compared to CON heifers. Hay intake during the experiment did not differ (P = 0.79) between treatments. Serum IGF-I concentrations were greater (P = 0.05) for NAR heifers on day 60 of the experiment and did not differ (P ≥ 0.28) between treatments 24 h and 30 d after calving (treatment × day interaction; P = 0.04). No treatment effects were detected (P ≥ 0.58) for calf birth BW. Serum concentrations of total protein 24 h after birth were greater (P = 0.04) in calves from NAR compared with CON heifers, and a tendency (P = 0.10) for a similar outcome was noted for serum IgG concentrations. Diarrhea incidence did not differ (P = 0.16) between treatments, although the number of total diarrhea cases per calf were greater (P = 0.03) in the CON offspring. Growth rate of calves from NAR heifers tended (P = 0.08) to be greater, resulting in heavier calves at weaning (P ≤ 0.04) compared with CON offspring. Collectively, these outcomes indicate narasin supplementation to beef heifers as a nutritional alternative to improve cow–calf productivity via developmental programming effects during gestation, as well as direct consumption by their nursing offspring.
Understanding Environmental and Physiological Factors Affecting the Biology of Diaporthe ilicicola, the Fungus Causing Latent Fruit Rot in Winterberry
Authors: Emanuel Isabel B. , Laird Aleacia E. , Hand Francesca Peduto
Published: March 2023

Fruit rot in winterberry is associated with a complex of fungal pathogens. Among them, Diaporthe ilicicola plays a unique role by infecting flowers at bloom, resulting in symptom development in mature fruit. This research aimed to identify at what stage of maturation Ilex fruit can develop disease symptoms and correlate changes in fruit physiology (sugar and phenolic content) and environment (temperature and light intensity) with disease incidence. Correlation data informed in vitro studies testing the ability of putative factors to alter growth of D. ilicicola and select opportunistic fungi within the fruit rot complex: Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum fioriniae, and Epicoccum nigrum. Results indicated that Ilex fruit do not develop symptoms until 81 to 108 days after inoculation. Temperature and fruit phenolic content were negatively correlated with disease incidence, while fruit sugar concentration and light intensity were positively correlated. In vitro assays revealed that sugar concentration had no effect on the growth of D. ilicicola, but increased light intensity increased hyphal growth and pycnidium formation. Additionally, phenolics extracted from fruit inhibited spore germination in A. alternata, induced secondary conidiation in C. fioriniae, and late season phenolic extracts increased hyphal melanization and pycnidial formation in D. ilicicola. Finally, drops in field temperatures, when replicated in vitro, resulted in a decrease in hyphal growth and spore germination for all fungi. These results suggest that changes in Ilex fruit phenolics during maturation and the increased exposure to light following defoliation may play a role in symptom development by altering D. ilicicola growth within the fruit.
Colchicine exerts anti‐atherosclerotic and ‑plaque‐stabilizing effects targeting foam cell formation
Authors: Schwarz Nisha , Fernando Sanuja , Chen Yung‐Chih , Salagaras Thalia , Rao Sushma R. , Liyanage Sanuri , Williamson Anna E. , Toledo‐Flores Deborah , Dimasi Catherine , Sargeant Timothy J. , Manavis Jim , Eddy Eleanor , Kanellakis Peter , Thompson Peter L. , Tan Joanne T. M. , Snel Marten F. , Bursill Christina A. , Nicholls Stephen J. , Peter Karlheinz , Psaltis Peter J.
Published: March 2023

Colchicine is a broad‐acting anti‐inflammatory agent that has attracted interest for repurposing in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Here, we studied its ability at a human equivalent dose of 0.5 mg/day to modify plaque formation and composition in murine atherosclerosis and investigated its actions on macrophage responses to atherogenic stimuli in vitro. In atherosclerosis induced by high‐cholesterol diet, Apoe−/− mice treated with colchicine had 50% reduction in aortic oil Red O+ plaque area compared to saline control (p = .001) and lower oil Red O+ staining of aortic sinus lesions (p = .03). In vitro, addition of 10 nM colchicine inhibited foam cell formation from murine and human macrophages after treatment with oxidized LDL (ox‐LDL). Mechanistically, colchicine downregulated glycosylation and surface expression of the ox‐LDL uptake receptor, CD36, and reduced CD36+ staining in aortic sinus plaques. It also decreased macrophage uptake of cholesterol crystals, resulting in lower intracellular lysosomal activity, inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and reduced secretion of IL‐1β and IL‐18. Colchicine's anti‐atherosclerotic actions were accentuated in a mouse model of unstable plaque induced by carotid artery tandem stenosis surgery, where it decreased lesion size by 48% (p = .01), reduced lipid (p = .006) and necrotic core area (p = .007), increased collagen content and cap‐to‐necrotic core ratio (p = .05), and attenuated plaque neutrophil extracellular traps (p < .001). At low dose, colchicine's effects were not accompanied by the evidence of microtubule depolymerization. Together, these results show that colchicine exerts anti‐atherosclerotic and plaque‐stabilizing effects at low dose by inhibiting foam cell formation and cholesterol crystal‐induced inflammation. This provides a new framework to support its repurposing for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Management of severe peri-operative bleeding: Guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
Authors: Kietaibl Sibylle , Ahmed Aamer , Afshari Arash , Albaladejo Pierre , Aldecoa Cesar , Barauskas Giedrius , De Robertis Edoardo , Faraoni David , Filipescu Daniela C. , Fries Dietmar , Godier Anne , Haas Thorsten , Jacob Matthias , Lancé Marcus D. , Llau Juan V. , Meier Jens , Molnar Zsolt , Mora Lidia , Rahe-Meyer Niels , Samama Charles M. , Scarlatescu Ecaterina , Schlimp Christoph , Wikkelsø Anne J. , Zacharowski Kai
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND

Management of peri-operative bleeding is complex and involves multiple assessment tools and strategies to ensure optimal patient care with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality. These updated guidelines from the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) aim to provide an evidence-based set of recommendations for healthcare professionals to help ensure improved clinical management.

DESIGN

A systematic literature search from 2015 to 2021 of several electronic databases was performed without language restrictions. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies and to formulate recommendations. A Delphi methodology was used to prepare a clinical practice guideline.

RESULTS

These searches identified 137 999 articles. All articles were assessed, and the existing 2017 guidelines were revised to incorporate new evidence. Sixteen recommendations derived from the systematic literature search, and four clinical guidances retained from previous ESAIC guidelines were formulated. Using the Delphi process on 253 sentences of guidance, strong consensus (>90% agreement) was achieved in 97% and consensus (75 to 90% agreement) in 3%.

DISCUSSION

Peri-operative bleeding management encompasses the patient's journey from the pre-operative state through the postoperative period. Along this journey, many features of the patient's pre-operative coagulation status, underlying comorbidities, general health and the procedures that they are undergoing need to be taken into account. Due to the many important aspects in peri-operative nontrauma bleeding management, guidance as to how best approach and treat each individual patient are key. Understanding which therapeutic approaches are most valuable at each timepoint can only enhance patient care, ensuring the best outcomes by reducing blood loss and, therefore, overall morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSION

All healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients at risk for surgical bleeding should be aware of the current therapeutic options and approaches that are available to them. These guidelines aim to provide specific guidance for bleeding management in a variety of clinical situations.
Self-Reported Executive Function in Hospitalized Cardiac Patients and Associations With Patient Characteristics and Cardiac Rehabilitation Attendance
Authors: Katz Brian R. , Khadanga Sherrie , Middleton William A. , Mahoney Katharine , Savage Patrick D. , DeSarno Michael , Ades Philip A. , Gaalema Diann E.
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

Executive function (ExF), the ability to do complex cognitive tasks like planning and refraining from impulsive behavior, is associated with compliance with medical recommendations. The present study identified associations between self-reported ExF and demographics of patients with cardiac disease as well as with cardiac rehabilitation (CR) attendance.

Methods:

Self-reported ExF impairment was measured using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) on 316 individuals hospitalized for CR-qualifying cardiac events. Scores were calculated for a global measure (Global Executive Composite [GEC]) and the two BRIEF indices: Behavioral Regulation Index and Metacognition Index (MCI). Participants were followed up post-discharge to determine CR attendance. Univariate logistic regressions between ExF measures and demographic variables were conducted, as were multiple logistic regressions to identify significant, independent predictors. Analyses were conducted using clinical (T scores ≥ 65) and subclinical (T scores ≥ 60) criteria for significant ExF impairment as outcomes. One-way analyses of variance were performed between ExF impairment and CR attendance.

Results:

Self-reported ExF deficits were relatively rare; 8.9% had at least subclinical scores on the GEC. Using the subclinical criterion for the MCI, having diabetes mellitus (DM) and being male were significant, independent predictors of MCI impairment. No significant relationship was found between ExF and CR attendance.

Conclusion:

Using the subclinical criterion only, individuals with DM and males were significantly more likely to have MCI impairment. No significant effect of ExF impairment on CR attendance was found, suggesting that self-reported ExF measured in the hospital may not be an appropriate measure for predicting behavioral outcomes.
Water extracts of Polygonum Multiflorum Thunb. and its active component emodin relieves osteoarthritis by regulating cholesterol metabolism and suppressing chondrocyte inflammation
Authors: Li Lanqing , Xu Haiying , Qu Linghang , Nisar Maryam , Farrukh Nisar Muhammad , Liu Xianqiong , Xu Kang
Published: March 2023

Objective:

Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PMT) is a widely used traditional Chinese herbal medicine with a variety of pharmacological effects. This study investigates the chemical composition of a water extract of PMT and its potential as a therapy for osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods:

The components of the aqueous extract of PMT were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of a gene expression dataset downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were performed using Limma in R language. Differential chondrocyte metabolites were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after treatment.

Results:

The water extract of PMT showed good ability in improving OA, and the content of the active ingredient emodin increased significantly after processing. Analysis of the GEO database further demonstrated a strong association between OA and metabolic pathways. Emodin promotes chondrocyte proliferation and significantly reduces the number of inflammatory factors. The metabolomic results showed that emodin affected five metabolic pathways related mainly to primary bile acid biosynthesis, steroid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.

Conclusions:

This study revealed the pharmacological effects of PMT and emodin as the main active components, thereby providing a scientific basis for the treatment of OA.

Graphical abstract:

http://links.lww.com/AHM/A51
Increasing Inclusion, Diversity, Antiracism, and Equity With a Medical School Curriculum Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Alli Adebisi , Seegmiller Renner Amy , Kunze Katie , Gross James , Tollefson Sierra , Kuehntopp Metta , Shah Amit , Jordan Barbara , Laughlin-Tommaso Shannon
Published: March 2023

The students at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) wrote a call to action to medical school leadership in June 2020. The students requested help in navigating socio–political barriers that affected one another and contributed to healthcare inequities and mistrust. Using the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) tool to assess cultural competence training, our team evaluated the baseline 2017–2018 MCASOM curriculum. There were 254 learning objectives, of which 43 (17%) were related to inclusion, diversity, antiracism, and equity (I-DARE). Mirroring the concerns of the students, the findings identified minimal content about antiracism and inclusion. By applying DMAIC principles for quality and process improvement, we aimed to increase the number of taught learning objectives about I-DARE content for the first-year and second-year medical students by 100%, from 43 to 86 objectives, without adversely affecting student satisfaction and true attendance. To address the underlying causes, we launched a virtual, multisite I-DARE medical school course and doubled the number of I-DARE–taught learning objectives from 43 to 107 (149%), compared with the baseline. The program evaluation review revealed that the students were self-reflective and provided a spectrum of experiences regarding the I-DARE course.
The impact of a structured onboarding program for newly hired nurse practitioners and physician assistants
Authors: Erickson Mitchel , Yee Alisa M. , Krauter Roseanne , Hoffmann Thomas
Published: March 2023

Background:

The return on investment for onboarding programs and their effect on attrition and engagement within health systems across the United States are unclear.

Local problem:

The existing onboarding program for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) at a hospital on the west coast was varied and lacked a clinician focus. A structured onboarding program was created to standardize their entry to our workforce.

Methods:

A needs assessment was completed with a stakeholder focus group, for which an onboarding curriculum was then created. Participants completed presurveys/postsurveys during the data collection period as the primary outcome. A Plan–Do–Study–Act approach was used to revise session content and improve participant experience. Onboarding costs and attrition were tracked as secondary outcomes.

Interventions:

From July 2017 through June 2019, newly hired NPs and PAs were invited to participate in the program. Six quarterly cohorts attended five in-person 2-hour onboarding sessions over 12 months.

Results:

One hundred twenty-nine eligible NPs and PAs completed an anonymous pre/post Qualtrics survey. The aggregate responses were significantly improved using Fisher exact test. Measured onboarding value was not significantly changed. Mean pre-onboarding attrition was 10.3% compared with 4.5% for onboarding participants. The annual cost for onboarding participants was $63,470 versus $256,826 as the estimated mean cost of one separation within their first year.

Conclusions:

Workforce engagement, standardized knowledge, and participant attrition revealed an improving trend with this structured onboarding program. The investment to formalize onboarding newly hired NPs and PAs was modest, and the findings suggest that an onboarding program has financial and engagement merit.
Delayed acyclovir therapy for disseminated varicella zoster in an adult kidney transplant recipient: a case report and literature review
Authors: Alsultan Mohammad , Kliea Marwa , Hassan Qussai , Basha Kassem
Published: March 2023

Introduction:

Kidney transplant recipients are at increasing risk for reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection.

Presentation of case:

A 31-year-old male was admitted with fever, chest pain, and dyspnea. Also, the complaints accompanied by generalized maculopapular, vesicular, hemorrhagic, itching, and painful rash with pustules and crusts on an erythematous base fill the entire body for the last 10 days. Chest computed tomography scan showed diffuse miliary and ground-glass opacities. The patient had a previous history of chickenpox infection in childhood, no recent contact with individuals suffering from VZV infection, and no known pretransplant serology for VZV. Due to the high clinical suspicion of reactivated VZV with pneumonitis and severe disseminated form, we started the treatment with intravenous acyclovir (ACV) for 10 days followed by oral ACV for a total of 21 days, along with stopping mycophenolate mofetil and increasing the prednisolone dose to 10 mg/d. The clinical status was improved and the rash receded with a flaked surface for old lesions.

Conclusion:

We experienced a successful ACV treatment for delayed and severe VZV infection with a literature review of VZV pneumonitis among kidney transplant recipients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case that presented a disseminated skin form with pneumonitis of VZV from Syria. This case supports the initiation of antiviral therapy for transplant patients even after 72 hours the onset of the rash despite the lack of evidence in these circumstances.