bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective integration of a MOSFET phototransistor to a GaN LED for UV
sensing
Authors: Piao Jinlong , Wu Junhua , Ye Ziqi , Zhang Hao , Li Jinjia , Liu Pengzhan , Wang Hao , Cao Ziping , Wang Yongjin
Published: June 2022

In this Letter, we report an effective monolithic integration of a
metal oxide semiconductor field effect (MOSFET) phototransistor (PT)
and a light-emitting diode (LED) on a GaN-on-Si LED epitaxial (epi)
wafer. Avoiding additional growth or Si diffusion, the PT was directly
fabricated on the LED epi layer, providing a cost-effective and facile
method. As a driver, the PT could modulate both peak value of the
light intensity and output current of the integrated LED. As an
ultraviolet (UV) detector, our PT showed sufficient responsivity. It
was found that the gate-voltage-dependent photocurrent-response of the
device had a shorter response time, and a higher responsivity was
obtained at a higher gate-voltage bias. The device demonstrated a
switching effect that the photoinduced current from the PT drove the
LED when the UV lamp was turned on, whereas the photoinduced current
stopped driving upon powering off the UV lamp. The experiment proved
that the integrated device working as a UV detector exhibited a fast
response time and a longstanding stability. We anticipate that such an
approach could have potential applications for UV light detection and
visible light communication (VLC).
First-principles investigation of amorphous Ge-Sb-Se-Te optical phase-change materials
Authors: Zhang Hanyi , Wang Xudong , Zhang Wei
Published: June 2022

Chalcogenide phase-change materials (PCMs) are promising candidates for nonvolatile memory and neuromorphic computing devices. The recently developed Ge2Sb2Se4Te1 alloy shows superior properties in terms of low optical loss and higher thermal stability with respect to the flagship Ge2Sb2Te5 alloy, making this new quaternary alloy a suitable candidate for high-performance optical switches and modulators. In this work, we carry out ab initio calculations to understand how selenium substitution modifies the local structure and the optical response of the amorphous quaternary alloys. We consider four amorphous Ge2Sb2Se
x
Te5-x (GSST) alloys with x = 1 to 4 and show that the substitution of selenium content induces a gradual reduction in the calculated refractive indices, which is in agreement with experimental observation. This improvement on optical loss stems from the increased band gap size, which is attributed to the larger Peierls-like distortion and the stronger charge transfer in the Se-richer amorphous GSST alloys.
Non-Oxide Optical Materials: introduction to the special issue
Authors: Calvez Laurent , Ebendorff-Heidepriem Heike , Lin Changgui , David Musgraves J. , Richardson Kathleen , Shpotyuk Yaroslav
Published: June 2022

This is an introduction to the feature issue of Optical Materials Express on Non-Oxide Optical Materials.
Tunable mechanical-mode coupling based on nanobeam-double optomechanical cavities
Authors: Xu Qiancheng , Cui Kaiyu , Wu Ning , Feng Xue , Liu Fang , Zhang Wei , Huang Yidong
Published: June 2022

Tunable coupled mechanical resonators with nonequilibrium dynamic phenomena have attracted considerable attention in quantum simulations, quantum computations, and non-Hermitian systems. In this study, we propose tunable mechanical-mode coupling based on nanobeam-double optomechanical cavities. The excited optical mode interacts with both symmetric and antisymmetric mechanical supermodes and mediates coupling at a frequency of approximately 4.96 GHz. The mechanical-mode coupling is tuned through both optical spring and gain effects, and the reduced coupled frequency difference in non-Hermitian parameter space is observed. These results benefit research on the microscopic mechanical parity–time symmetry for topology and on-chip high-sensitivity sensors.
Pleiotropic constraints promote the evolution of cooperation in cellular groups
Authors: Bentley Michael A. , Yates Christian A. , Hein Jotun , Preston Gail M. , Foster Kevin R.
Published: June 2022

The evolution of cooperation in cellular groups is threatened by lineages of cheaters that proliferate at the expense of the group. These cell lineages occur within microbial communities, and multicellular organisms in the form of tumours and cancer. In contrast to an earlier study, here we show how the evolution of pleiotropic genetic architectures—which link the expression of cooperative and private traits—can protect against cheater lineages and allow cooperation to evolve. We develop an age-structured model of cellular groups and show that cooperation breaks down more slowly within groups that tie expression to a private trait than in groups that do not. We then show that this results in group selection for pleiotropy, which strongly promotes cooperation by limiting the emergence of cheater lineages. These results predict that pleiotropy will rapidly evolve, so long as groups persist long enough for cheater lineages to threaten cooperation. Our results hold when pleiotropic links can be undermined by mutations, when pleiotropy is itself costly, and in mixed-genotype groups such as those that occur in microbes. Finally, we consider features of multicellular organisms—a germ line and delayed reproductive maturity—and show that pleiotropy is again predicted to be important for maintaining cooperation. The study of cancer in multicellular organisms provides the best evidence for pleiotropic constraints, where abberant cell proliferation is linked to apoptosis, senescence, and terminal differentiation. Alongside development from a single cell, we propose that the evolution of pleiotropic constraints has been critical for cooperation in many cellular groups.
Induced fit with replica exchange improves protein complex structure prediction
Authors: Harmalkar Ameya , Mahajan Sai Pooja , Gray Jeffrey J.
Published: June 2022

Despite the progress in prediction of protein complexes over the last decade, recent blind protein complex structure prediction challenges revealed limited success rates (less than 20% models with DockQ score > 0.4) on targets that exhibit significant conformational change upon binding. To overcome limitations in capturing backbone motions, we developed a new, aggressive sampling method that incorporates temperature replica exchange Monte Carlo (T-REMC) and conformational sampling techniques within docking protocols in Rosetta. Our method, ReplicaDock 2.0, mimics induced-fit mechanism of protein binding to sample backbone motions across putative interface residues on-the-fly, thereby recapitulating binding-partner induced conformational changes. Furthermore, ReplicaDock 2.0 clocks in at 150-500 CPU hours per target (protein-size dependent); a runtime that is significantly faster than Molecular Dynamics based approaches. For a benchmark set of 88 proteins with moderate to high flexibility (unbound-to-bound iRMSD over 1.2 Å), ReplicaDock 2.0 successfully docks 61% of moderately flexible complexes and 35% of highly flexible complexes. Additionally, we demonstrate that by biasing backbone sampling particularly towards residues comprising flexible loops or hinge domains, highly flexible targets can be predicted to under 2 Å accuracy. This indicates that additional gains are possible when mobile protein segments are known.
CellDynaMo–stochastic reaction-diffusion-dynamics model: Application to search-and-capture process of mitotic spindle assembly
Authors: Kliuchnikov Evgenii , Zhmurov Artem , Marx Kenneth A. , Mogilner Alex , Barsegov Valeri
Published: June 2022

We introduce a Stochastic Reaction-Diffusion-Dynamics Model (SRDDM) for simulations of cellular mechanochemical processes with high spatial and temporal resolution. The SRDDM is mapped into the CellDynaMo package, which couples the spatially inhomogeneous reaction-diffusion master equation to account for biochemical reactions and molecular transport within the Langevin Dynamics (LD) framework to describe dynamic mechanical processes. This computational infrastructure allows the simulation of hours of molecular machine dynamics in reasonable wall-clock time. We apply SRDDM to test performance of the Search-and-Capture of mitotic spindle assembly by simulating, in three spatial dimensions, dynamic instability of elastic microtubules anchored in two centrosomes, movement and deformations of geometrically realistic centromeres with flexible kinetochores and chromosome arms. Furthermore, the SRDDM describes the mechanics and kinetics of Ndc80 linkers mediating transient attachments of microtubules to the chromosomal kinetochores. The rates of these attachments and detachments depend upon phosphorylation states of the Ndc80 linkers, which are regulated in the model by explicitly accounting for the reactions of Aurora A and B kinase enzymes undergoing restricted diffusion. We find that there is an optimal rate of microtubule-kinetochore detachments which maximizes the accuracy of the chromosome connections, that adding chromosome arms to kinetochores improve the accuracy by slowing down chromosome movements, that Aurora A and kinetochore deformations have a small positive effect on the attachment accuracy, and that thermal fluctuations of the microtubules increase the rates of kinetochore capture and also improve the accuracy of spindle assembly.
The Caenorhabditis elegans TDRD5/7-like protein, LOTR-1, interacts with the helicase ZNFX-1 to balance epigenetic signals in the germline
Authors: Marnik Elisabeth A. , Almeida Miguel V. , Cipriani P. Giselle , Chung George , Caspani Edoardo , Karaulanov Emil , Gan Hin Hark , Zinno John , Isolehto Ida J. , Kielisch Fridolin , Butter Falk , Sharp Catherine S. , Flanagan Roisin M. , Bonnet Frederic X. , Piano Fabio , Ketting René F. , Gunsalus Kristin C. , Updike Dustin L.
Published: June 2022

LOTUS and Tudor domain containing proteins have critical roles in the germline. Proteins that contain these domains, such as Tejas/Tapas inDrosophila, help localize the Vasa helicase to the germ granules and facilitate piRNA-mediated transposon silencing. The homologous proteins in mammals, TDRD5 and TDRD7, are required during spermiogenesis. Until now, proteins containing both LOTUS and Tudor domains inCaenorhabditis eleganshave remained elusive. Here we describe LOTR-1 (D1081.7), which derives its name from itsLOTUS andTudordomains. Interestingly, LOTR-1 docks next to P granules to colocalize with the broadly conserved Z-granule helicase, ZNFX-1. The Tudor domain of LOTR-1 is required for its Z-granule retention. Likeznfx-1mutants,lotr-1mutants lose small RNAs from the 3’ ends of WAGO and mutator targets, reminiscent of the loss of piRNAs from the 3’ ends of piRNA precursor transcripts in mouse Tdrd5 mutants. Our work shows that LOTR-1 acts with ZNFX-1 to bring small RNA amplifying mechanisms towards the 3’ ends of its RNA templates.
Funders: The missing link in equitable global health research?
Authors: Charani Esmita , Abimbola Seye , Pai Madhukar , Adeyi Olusoji , Mendelson Marc , Laxminarayan Ramanan , Rasheed Muneera A.
Published: June 2022

Global health research is mired by inequities, some of which are linked to current approaches to research funding. The role of funders and donors in achieving greater equity in global health research needs to be clearly defined. Imbalances of power and resources between high income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is such that many funding approaches do not centre the role of LMIC researchers in shaping global health research priorities and agenda. Relative to need, there is also disparity in financial investment by LMIC governments in health research. These imbalances put at a disadvantage LMIC health professionals and researchers who are at forefront of global health practice. Whilst many LMICs do not have the means (due to geopolitical, historical, and economic reasons) for direct investment, if those with means were to invest more of their own funds in health research, it may help LMICs become more self-sufficient and shift some of the power imbalances. Funders and donors in HICs should address inequities in their approach to research funding and proactively identify mechanisms that assure greater equity–including via direct funding to LMIC researchers and direct funding to build local LMIC-based, led, and run knowledge infrastructures. To collectively shape a new approach to global health research funding, it is essential that funders and donors are part of the conversation. This article provides a way to bring funders and donors into the conversation on equity in global health research.
Treatment of waste stabilization pond effluent using natural zeolite for irrigation potential
Authors: Meiramkulova Kulyash , Mkilima Timoth , Baituk Galym , Beisembayeva Kulzhan , Meirbekov Abdilda , Kakabayev Anuarbek , Adilbektegi Gulmira , Tleukulov Almas , Tazhkenova Gaukhar
Published: June 2022

Direct utilization of treated effluent from natural treatment systems for irrigation can be challenging on sensitive plants due to high levels of salinity. Post-treatment of such an effluent prior to its applicability in irrigation can be of significant importance. In this study, the wastewater from a natural treatment plant was treated using a lab-scale filtration system with zeolite as a filter material. Three different column depths (0.5 m, 0.75 m, and 1 m) were used to investigate the effect of column depth on the treatment efficiency of the media. The suitability of the raw wastewater and the treated effluent from each column for irrigation purposes was investigated. The water quality parameters investigated were; electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+). From the analysis results, it was observed that the column depth had a significant influence on the removal efficiency of the pollutants. The highest removal efficiency (94.58%) was achieved from the combination of electrical conductivity and 1 m column depth, while the lowest removal efficiency (10.05%) was observed from the combination of calcium and 0.5 m column depth. The raw wastewater fell mostly into a “very high” hazard, which is class four (C4) based on electrical conductivity and class four (S4) based sodium adsorption ratio; making it unsuitable for irrigation purposes. However, when the wastewater was subjected to 1 m column depth, the quality of the treated effluent improved significantly which in turn also improved the suitability of the effluent for irrigation purposes, with percent compliance ranging from 20.19% to 97.54%.
Satellite-based meteorological drought indicator to support food security in Java Island
Authors: Siswanto Siswanto , Wardani Kartika Kusuma , Purbantoro Babag , Rustanto Andry , Zulkarnain Faris , Anggraheni Evi , Dewanti Ratih , Nurlambang Triarko , Dimyati Muhammad
Published: June 2022

A meteorological drought refers to reduced rainfall conditions and is a great challenge to food security. Information of a meteorological drought in advance is important for taking actions in anticipation of its effects, but this can be difficult for areas with limited or sparse ground observation data available. In this study, a meteorological drought indicator was approached by applying the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to satellite-based precipitation products from multiple sources. The SPI based meteorological drought analysis was then applied to Java Island, in particular to the largest rice-producing districts of Indonesia. A comparison with ground observation data showed that the satellite products accurately described meteorological drought events in Java both spatially and temporally. Meteorological droughts of the eight largest rice-producing districts in Java were modulated by the natural variations in El Niño and a positive-phase Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The drought severity was found to be dependent on the intensity of El Niño and a positive-phase IOD that occurs simultaneously, while the duration seems to be modulated more by the positive-phase IOD. The results demonstrate the potential applicability of satellite-based precipitation monitoring to predicting meteorological drought conditions several months in advance and preparing for their effects.
Study on the influence of COVID-19 on the growth of China’s small and medium-sized construction enterprises
Authors: Wang Wenbao , Lin Wenhe , Bao Zhenhua , Dai Xinyi , Lin Qiaohua
Published: June 2022

The outbreak of COVID-19 at the beginning of 2020 had a significant impact on China’s economy, society, and citizens; it also had a negative impact on the development of the construction industry. In particular, small and medium-sized construction enterprises with low ability to withstand risk have been strongly impacted, aggravating a crisis of survival among these firms. The focus of this study is to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the growth of small and medium-sized construction companies. Based on the characteristics of small and medium-sized construction enterprises, this paper establishes a growth evaluation index and builds a growth evaluation model based on factor analysis. Twenty-three construction enterprises listed on small and medium-sized enterprises board are selected as samples, and the quarterly data of 2019 and 2020 are used for empirical analysis. The results show that the epidemic has had a high short-term impact on construction enterprises, and the total output value of the construction industry in the first quarter of 2020 was 16% lower than that in the same period of last year. In the long run, the impact of the epidemic on the growth of small and medium-sized construction enterprises has been limited. In the first quarter of 2020, the growth score of enterprises decreased by only 1.95% year-over-year, and it was essentially flat in the second and third quarters. The epidemic has had little influence on solvency, tangible resources or intangible resources but a high short term influence on profitability, capital expansion and market expectations. The long-term impact is small; It is conducive to the improvement of enterprise operation ability. Finally, to both address the influence of the COVID-19 on small and medium-sized construction enterprises and to realize their transformation and upgrading, targeted suggestions are offered at the policy and enterprise levels. The results will help to understand the impact of the epidemic on the growth of construction enterprises, and provide decision support for the healthy and orderly development of the follow-up construction industry.
Effects of mesotrione on the control efficiency and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Chenopodium album under simulated rainfall conditions
Authors: Sun Mengmeng , Guo Meijun , Guo Shuai , Li Yanfen , Dong Shuqi , Song Xie , Shi Xiaoxin , Yuan Xiangyang
Published: June 2022

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of mesotrione on the control efficiency and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of Chenopodium album. Simulating three rainfall intensities of 2 mm/h (light rain), 6 mm/h (moderate rain) and 10 mm/h (heavy rain) at different interval times (0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h) to analyze variable regulation of the control effect, the photosynthetic pigment content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of C. album after spraying mesotrione. With the extension of rainfall time interval, the inhibition rate of plant height, plant control effect and fresh weight control effect of C. album were gradually increased, the inhibition effect of rainfall on the efficacy was gradually decreased, at the same time, the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, the maximum photochemical quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), the actual photochemical quantum yield (Y (II)) and quantum yield (Y (NO)) production of regular energy consumption of C. album were also increased, while the nonregulatory energy decreased gradually. The results showed that the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in leaves of C. album increased significantly by 35.63% and 35.38% compared with the control under the condition of simulating 6 mm/h in interval 1 hour. The study suggested that simulating 10 mm/h rainfall intensity had the greatest effect on C. album, the photosynthetic pigment content, Fv/Fm and Y (II) of leaves were significantly higher than those in the control groups under 0.5 h, 1 h and 2 h interval treatments. The carotenoid content was the lowest and Y (NO) was the largest under the 4 h interval treatment. As is displayed that rainfall reduced the weed control effect in the aspect of controlling C. album on mesotrione, which is partly contributed to increase photosynthetic pigment content and enhance the PS II photochemical activity. In conclusion, the rain intensity of ≤2 mm/h did not affect the control effect of mesotrione on C. album. At 6 mm/h within 1 h after treatment, the control effect of fresh weight was significantly reduced by more than 7.14%, and at 10 mm/h within 2 h, the control effect was significantly reduced by more than 14.78%.
Mechanistic insights gained from cell and molecular analysis of the neuroprotective potential of bioactive natural compounds in an immortalized hippocampal cell line
Authors: Weisz Harris A. , Boone Deborah R. , Coggins William S. , Edwards Gabrielle A. , Willey Hannah E. , Widen Steven G. , Siegel Dionicio , Nelson Andrew T. , Prough Donald S. , Hellmich Helen L.
Published: June 2022

Evaluating novel compounds for neuroprotective effects in animal models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a protracted, labor-intensive and costly effort. However, the present lack of effective treatment options for TBI, despite decades of research, shows the critical need for alternative methods for screening new drug candidates with neuroprotective properties. Because natural products have been a leading source of new therapeutic agents for human diseases, we used anin vitromodel of stretch injury to rapidly assess pro-survival effects of three bioactive compounds, two isolated from natural products (clovanemagnolol [CM], vinaxanthone [VX]) and the third, a dietary compound (pterostilbene [PT]) found in blueberries. The stretch injury experiments were not used to validate drug efficacy in a comprehensive manner but used primarily, as proof-of-principle, to demonstrate that the neuroprotective potential of each bioactive agent can be quickly assessed in an immortalized hippocampal cell line in lieu of comprehensive testing in animal models of TBI. To gain mechanistic insights into potential molecular mechanisms of neuroprotective effects, we performed a pathway-specific PCR array analysis of the effects of CM on the rat hippocampus and microRNA sequencing analysis of the effects of VX and PT on cultured hippocampal progenitor neurons. We show that the neuroprotective properties of these natural compounds are associated with altered expression of several genes or microRNAs that have functional roles in neurodegeneration or cell survival. Our approach could help in quickly assessing multiple natural products for neuroprotective properties and expedite the process of new drug discovery for TBI therapeutics.
Comparing different metabolic indexes to predict type 2 diabetes mellitus in a five years follow-up cohort: The Baependi Heart Study
Authors: de Oliveira Camila Maciel , Pavani Jessica Leticia , Liu Chunyu , Balcells Mercedes , Capasso Robson , Alvim Rafael de Oliveira , Mourão-Júnior Carlos Alberto , Krieger José Eduardo , Pereira Alexandre Costa
Published: June 2022

This study evaluates the association of anthropometric indexes and the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after a 5-year follow-up. This analysis included 1091 middle-aged participants (57% women, mean age 47 ± 15 years) who were free of T2DM at baseline and attended two health examinations cycles [cycle 1 (2005–2006) and cycle 2 (2010–2013)]. As expected, the participants who developed T2DM after five years (3.8%) had the worst metabolic profile with higher hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity rates. Besides, using mixed-effects logistic regression and adjustment for sex, age, and glucose, we found that one unit increase in body adiposity index (BAI) was associated with an 8% increase in their risk of developing T2DM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08 [95% CI, 1.02–1.14]) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) was associated with a risk increase of 11% (OR = 1.11 [95% CI, 1.00–1.22]). Moreover, a one-unit increase in the triglycerides-glucose index (TyG) was associated with more than four times the risk of developing T2DM (OR = 4.27 [95% CI, 1.01–17.97]). The interquartile range odds ratio for the continuous predictors showed that TyG had the best discriminating performance. However, when any of them were additionally adjusted for waist circumference (WC) or even body mass index (BMI), all adiposity indexes lost the effect in predicting T2DM. In conclusion, TyG had the most substantial predictive power among all three indexes. However, neither BAI, VAI, nor TyG were superior to WC or BMI for predicting the risk of developing T2DM in a middle-aged normoglycemic sample in this rural Brazilian population.
The safety of co-administration of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and influenza vaccines
Authors: Villanueva Paola , Wadia Ushma , Crawford Nigel W. , Messina Nicole L. , Kollmann Tobias R. , Lucas Michaela , Manning Laurens , Richmond Peter , Pittet Laure F. , Curtis Nigel
Published: June 2022

Background

With the emergence of novel vaccines and new applications for older vaccines, co-administration is increasingly likely. The immunomodulatory effects of BCG could theoretically alter the reactogenicity of co-administered vaccines. Using active surveillance in a randomised controlled trial, we aimed to determine whether co-administration of BCG vaccination changes the safety profile of influenza vaccination.

Methods

Participants who received influenza vaccine alone (Influenza group) were compared with those who also received BCG-Denmark vaccine in the contralateral arm (Influenza+BCG group). Data on the influenza vaccination site were collected using serial questionnaires and active follow-up for 3 months post vaccination.

Results

Of 1351 participants in the Influenza+BCG group and 1418 participants in the Influenza group, 2615 (94%) provided influenza vaccine safety data. There was no significant difference in the proportion of participants with any local adverse reaction between the Influenza+BCG group and the Influenza group (918/1293 [71.0%] versus (906/1322 [68.5%], p = 0.17). The proportion of participants reporting any pain, erythema and tenderness at the influenza vaccination site were similar in both groups. Swelling was less frequent (81/1293 [6.3%] versus 119/1322 (9.0%), p = 0.01) and the maximal diameter of erythema was smaller (mean 1.8 cm [SD 2.0] versus 3.0 cm [SD 2.5], p<0.001) in the Influenza+BCG group. Sixteen participants reported serious adverse events: 9 participants in the Influenza+BCG group and 7 in the Influenza group.

Conclusions

Adverse events following influenza vaccination are not increased when BCG is co-administered.
Opinions and options about COVID-19: Personality correlates and sex differences in two European countries
Authors: Brito-Costa Sónia , Jonason Peter Karl , Tosi Michele , Antunes Rui , Silva Sofia , Castro Florêncio
Published: June 2022

In the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we collected data (N = 1,420) from Portugal and Spain in relation to personality (i.e., Dark Triad traits, Big Five traits, religiousness, and negative affect) and attitudes related to COVID-19 about its origins, opinions on how to deal with it, and fear of it. The most pervasive patterns we found were: (1) neurotic-type dispositions were associated with stronger opinions about the origins of the virus and leave people to have more fear of the virus but also more trust in tested establishments to provide help. (2): religious people were less trusting of science, thought prayer was answer, and attributed the existence of the virus to an act of God. We also found that sex differences and country differences in attitudes towards COVID-19 were mediate by sex/country differences in personality traits like emotional stability, religiousness, and negative affect. For instance, women reported more fear of COVID-19 than men did, and this was verified by women’s greater tendency to have negative affect and low emotional stability relative to men. Results point to the central role of neuroticism in accounting for variance in broad-spectrum attitudes towards COVID-19.
Informing wind energy development: Land cover and topography predict occupancy for Arizona bats
Authors: Starbuck Clarissa A. , Dickson Brett G. , Chambers Carol L.
Published: June 2022

Wind energy is a growing source of renewable energy with a 3-fold increase in use globally over the last decade. However, wind turbines cause bat mortality, especially for migratory species. The southwest United States has high bat species diversity and is an important area for migratory species, although little is known about their seasonal distribution. To examine potential risk to bats in areas proposed for wind energy development, we characterized bat occupancy spatially and temporally across northern Arizona, identifying use during summer when bats are reproductively active and fall during the migratory season. Our objectives were to determine occupancy of migratory species and species of greatest conservation need and develop a probability of occupancy map for species to identify areas of potential conflict with wind energy development. We selected 92 sites in 10 clusters with potential for development and used acoustic detectors to sample bats in the summer and fall of 2016 and 2017 for 6 nights per site per year. We predicted response of migratory bat species and species of special concern to 9 landscape variables using Program MARK. During summer, higher densities of forest on the landscape resulted in a higher probability of occupancy of migratory species such as hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus), silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans), big free-tailed bats (Nyctinomops macrotis), and species of conservation need such as spotted bats (Euderma maculatum). During the fall, higher concentration of valleys on the landscape predicted occupancy of hoary bats, big free-tailed bats, and spotted bats. High bat occupancy in the fall was also associated with higher elevation and close proximity to forests. We recommend that wind turbines be placed in open, flat grasslands away from forested landscapes and concentrations of valleys or other topographic variation.
A cash lottery increases voter turnout
Authors: La Raja Raymond J. , Schaffner Brian F.
Published: June 2022

Reform efforts to improve turnout typically focus on reducing the costs of participation or strengthening appeals to civic duty. While these efforts generate modest effects, this paper explores whether citizens might respond to extrinsic rewards to encourage voting. We conduct a field experiment offering lottery prizes to undergraduate students in conjunction with a student government election at a major public university. We find that extrinsic rewards appear to boost voting significantly in these low turnout elections and that the effects of a lottery appear to be especially strong among those of lower socio-economic status.
Calcium imaging in intact mouse acinar cells in acute pancreas tissue slices
Authors: Marolt Urška , Paradiž Leitgeb Eva , Pohorec Viljem , Lipovšek Saška , Venglovecz Viktória , Gál Eleonóra , Ébert Attila , Menyhárt István , Potrč Stojan , Gosak Marko , Dolenšek Jurij , Stožer Andraž
Published: June 2022

The physiology and pathophysiology of the exocrine pancreas are in close connection to changes in intra-cellular Ca2+ concentration. Most of our knowledge is based on in vitro experiments on acinar cells or acini enzymatically isolated from their surroundings, which can alter their structure, physiology, and limit our understanding. Due to these limitations, the acute pancreas tissue slice technique was introduced almost two decades ago as a complementary approach to assess the morphology and physiology of both the endocrine and exocrine pancreas in a more conserved in situ setting. In this study, we extend previous work to functional multicellular calcium imaging on acinar cells in tissue slices. The viability and morphological characteristics of acinar cells within the tissue slice were assessed using the LIVE/DEAD assay, transmission electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence imaging. The main aim of our study was to characterize the responses of acinar cells to stimulation with acetylcholine and compare them with responses to cerulein in pancreatic tissue slices, with special emphasis on inter-cellular and inter-acinar heterogeneity and coupling. To this end, calcium imaging was performed employing confocal microscopy during stimulation with a wide range of acetylcholine concentrations and selected concentrations of cerulein. We show that various calcium oscillation parameters depend monotonically on the stimulus concentration and that the activity is rather well synchronized within acini, but not between acini. The acute pancreas tissue slice represents a viable and reliable experimental approach for the evaluation of both intra- and inter-cellular signaling characteristics of acinar cell calcium dynamics. It can be utilized to assess many cells simultaneously with a high spatiotemporal resolution, thus providing an efficient and high-yield platform for future studies of normal acinar cell biology, pathophysiology, and screening pharmacological substances.
Discrimination and mental health in the minority sexual population: Cross-sectional analysis of the first peruvian virtual survey
Authors: Soriano-Moreno David R. , Saldaña-Cabanillas David , Vasquez-Yeng Luigy , Valencia-Huamani Javier Antonio , Alave-Rosas Jorge Luis , Soriano Anderson N.
Published: June 2022

Objective

This study sought to evaluate the association between discrimination and having mental health problems in the past 12 months in the sexual minority population in Peru.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a secondary database corresponding to the first LGBTI survey in Peru in 2017. We included adults who self-identified their sexual orientation as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual/others. Both the exposure and dependent variables were self-reported by the participants. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to determine the association by calculating adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

Out of 9760 respondents, more than two-thirds of the participants reported having been discriminated against or having experienced violence at some time in their lives (70.3%) and one-fourth reported having mental health problems (23.8%). In the multivariable regression model, the prevalence of mental health problems in the last 12 months was 72% higher for the group of individuals who experienced discrimination when compared with the group that did not experience discrimination (APR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.57–1.88). The association was stronger among who self-identified lesbians (APR = 2.08, 95% CI 1.65–2.64).

Conclusion

The prevalence of mental health problems and discrimination was high in this population. In addition, we found a statistically significant association between discrimination and the occurrence of mental health problems in the last 12 months.
Correlation between genetic and environmental risk factors for age-related macular degeneration in Brazilian patients
Authors: Rim Priscila H. H. , de Vasconcellos José Paulo C. , de Melo Mônica B. , Medina Flavio M. C. , Sacconi Daniela P. D. , Lana Tamires P. , Hirata Fabio E. , Magna Luis A. , Marques-de-Faria Antonia P.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To analyze the correlations between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and genetic and environmental risk factors for in a Brazilian population.

Design

Cross-sectional study with a control group.

Methods

We collected data on 236 participants 50 years of age or older (141 with AMD and 95 controls without the disease). Data was obtained using a questionnaire and included information on demographics, ocular and medical history, family history of AMD, lifestyle, and smoking and drinking habits. Genetic evaluations included direct sequencing for the LOC387715 (rs10490924) variant, as well as PCR and enzymatic digestion for the CFH Y402H (rs1061170) and HTRA1 (rs11200638) variants. We performed a risk assessment of environmental risk factors and genetic variants associated with AMD and determined correlations between AMD and the data collected using multiple linear regression analysis.

Results

Of the 141 AMD cases, 99 (70%) had advanced AMD in at least one eye (57% neovascular AMD and 13% geographic atrophy), and 42 (30%) had not-advanced AMD. Family history of AMD (OR: 6.58; 95% CI: 1.94–22.31), presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (OR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.08–5.28), low physical activity level (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 0.82–2.37), and high serum cholesterol (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 0.84–2.65) were associated with an increased risk for AMD. There was a significant association between CVD and incidence of advanced AMD (OR: 2.29; 95% CI 0.81–6.44). The OR for the risk allele of the LOC387715 gene, the CFH gene and the HTRA1 gene were 2.21 (95% CI: 1.47–3.35), 2.27 (95% CI: 1.52–3.37), and 2.76 (95% CI: 1.89–4.03), respectively. In the stepwise multiple linear regression analyses, the HTRA1 and CFH risk alleles, family history of AMD, the LOC387715 risk allele, and CVD were associated with an increased risk of AMD for a total of 25.6% contribution to the AMD phenotype.

Conclusions

The analysis correlating environmental and genetic risk factors such as family history of AMD, and CVD and the variants of HTRA1, CFH, and LOC387715 genes showed an expressive contribution for the development of AMD among this admixed population.
Genome editing using preassembled CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Lee Nahyun , Park Jiyeun , Kim Jung-Eun , Shin Ji Young , Min Kyunghun , Son Hokyoung
Published: June 2022

Genome editing using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has greatly facilitated the genetic analysis of fungal pathogens. The head blight fungus, Fusarium graminearum, causes destructive losses of economically important cereal crops. The recent development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for use with F. graminearum has enabled more efficient genome editing. In this study, we described a CRISPR-Cas9-based genome-editing tool for the direct delivery of preassembled Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) into the protoplasts of F. graminearum. The use of RNPs significantly increased both the number of transformants and percentage of transformants in which the target gene was successfully replaced with a selectable marker. We showed that a single double-strand DNA break mediated by the Cas9 ribonucleoprotein was sufficient for gene deletion. In addition, short-homology recombination required only 50 base pair regions flanking the target gene. The high efficiency of Cas9 RNPs enables large-scale functional analysis, the identification of essential genes, and gene deletion that is difficult with conventional methods. We expect that our approach will accelerate genetic studies of F. graminearum.
Cancer patients’ satisfaction with telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Paige Samantha R. , Campbell-Salome Gemme , Alpert Jordan , Markham Merry Jennifer , Murphy Martina , Heffron Eve , Harle Chris , Yue Sijia , Xue Wei , Bylund Carma L.
Published: June 2022

Objective

To examine factors associated with cancer patients’ satisfaction using telehealth during COVID-19, including video conferencing platforms and secure messaging systems.

Method

Patients with cancer participated in a cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted with patients with cancer. The survey included questions about satisfaction with video-conferencing and secure messaging platforms to interact with clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of satisfaction for each telehealth platform.

Results

Participants generally reported positive satisfaction with each telehealth platform. Both platforms were commonly used to review medical results and discuss symptoms or treatment. Participants identifying as a man were most satisfied with their video-conferencing session, especially if they had a comfortable place to sit. Patients were more satisfied with secure messaging because they could ask a question without scheduling an appointment.

Discussion

When strategically used together, video-conferencing platforms and secure messaging may increase patient satisfaction in cancer care during the remainder of the pandemic and beyond. Attention must be paid to optimizing factors that promote satisfaction for each telehealth platform.
Understanding factors that promote uptake of HIV self-testing among young people in Nigeria: Framing youth narratives using the PEN-3 cultural model
Authors: Mason Stacey , Ezechi Oliver C. , Obiezu-Umeh Chisom , Nwaozuru Ucheoma , BeLue Rhonda , Airhihenbuwa Collins , Gbaja-Biamila Titilola , Oladele David , Musa Adesola Z. , Modi Karan , Parker Jessica , Uzoaru Florida , Engelhart Alexis , Tucker Joseph , Iwelunmor Juliet
Published: June 2022

It is important to understand how to frame the formats for promoting HIV self-testing to increase uptake among young people. In this study, we used a culture-centered model to understand the narratives of HIV self-testing preferences among young people in Nigeria. We conducted a crowdsourcing contest to solicit ideas surrounding HIV self-testing promotion among young people (10–24 years) in Nigeria from October to November 2018 as part of the 2018 World AIDS Day event. We received 903 submissions and employed thematic content analysis to evaluate 769 eligible youth narratives. Thematic content analysis of the statements from the youth narratives was guided by the PEN-3 cultural model to examine the positive, existential, and negative perceptions (beliefs and values), enablers (resources), and nurturers (roles of friends and family) of HIV self-testing promotion among young people in Nigeria. Several themes emerged as factors that influence the uptake of HIV self-testing among young people in Nigeria. Specifically, seven themes emerged as perceptions: HIV testing accessibility, stigma reduction, and autonomy (positive); HIV self-testing kit packaging and advertisements (existential); lack of knowledge and increased stigma (negative). Seven themes emerged as enablers: social media, school, and government promotion (positive); gamification and animation (existential); high cost and access to linkage to care services (negative); And seven themes emerged as nurturers: peer, families, and faith-based communities (positive); parents and family-centered approach (existential); and partners and family (negative). Our data suggests that increased awareness around HIV self-testing on current youth-friendly platforms, de-stigmatization of HIV and HIV self-testing, decreased prices for HIV self-testing kits, reliability of testing kits, increased linkage to care services, and promotion of self-testing among family members and the community will be beneficial for HIV self-testing scale-up measures among young people in Nigeria.
Perception of the quality of remote lessons in the time of COVID-19: A comparative study in Latin America quality of remote lessons in the context of COVID-19
Authors: Villa Castaño Lida Esperanza , Durán William Fernando , Arohuanca Percca Paula Andrea
Published: June 2022

This research examines the perception of undergraduate students of public and private universities in Latin America on the quality of the lessons that applied the emergency remote teaching (ERT) in the time of COVID-19. This study employs a mixed sequential approach, starting with six focal groups, and finishing with a quantitative validation exercise that uses exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis as well as regression models. Findings reveal that student perception is elicited along three dimensions: concerns related to academic quality, teaching strategies applied by professors, and access limitations. Moderation analysis shows that the relationship between teaching strategies and the concerns related to academic quality varies and that it even gets stronger when access limitations are reduced. Consequently, perception is limited by student access to maintain the teaching–learning process.
Psychological distress reported by healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Altwaijri Yasmin , Bilal Lisa , Almeharish Amani , BinMuammar Abdulrahman , DeVol Edward , Hyder Sanaa , Naseem Mohammad Talal , Alfattani Areej , AlShehri Abdussalam Ali , Almatrafi Rami
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Few studies have considered the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We estimated the prevalence and severity of psychological distress and characterized predisposing risk factors among HCWs in KSA during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 1,985 HCWs from 6 hospitals across the country designated with caring for COVID-19 patients between April 16 and June 21, 2020. Our data analysis was performed using logistic regressions. Ordered logistic regressions were also performed using forward stepwise model selection to explore the effects of risk factors on psychological distress.

Results

The prevalence of psychological distress reported by HCWs in KSA was high, ranging from mild-moderate to severe in severity. Younger HCWs, women, those in contact with COVID-19 patients, and those who either had loved ones affected or who were themselves affected by COVID-19 were the most at-risk of psychological distress. Risk factors such as insomnia, loneliness, fear of transmission, and separation from loved ones most significantly predicted elevated levels of distress among HCWs.

Conclusions

Increasing psychological distress was commonly reported by HCWs during the early months of COVID-19 pandemic in KSA. Public health policy makers and mental health professionals must give special attention to risk factors that predispose HCWs in KSA to psychological distress.
Who tweets climate change papers? investigating publics of research through users’ descriptions
Authors: Toupin Rémi , Millerand Florence , Larivière Vincent
Published: June 2022

As social issues like climate change become increasingly salient, digital traces left by scholarly documents can be used to assess their reach outside of academia. Our research examine who shared climate change research papers on Twitter by looking at the expressions used in profile descriptions. We categorized users in eight categories (academia, communication, political, professional, personal, organization, bots and publishers) associated to specific expressions. Results indicate how diverse publics may be represented in the communication of scholarly documents on Twitter. Supplementing our word detection analysis with qualitative assessments of the results, we highlight how the presence of unique or multiple categorizations in textual Twitter descriptions provides evidence of the publics of research in specific contexts. Our results show a more substantial communication by academics and organizations for papers published in 2016, whereas the general public comparatively participated more in 2015. Overall, there is significant participation of publics outside of academia in the communication of climate change research articles on Twitter, although the extent to which these publics participate varies between individual papers. This means that papers circulate in specific communities which need to be assessed to understand the reach of research on social media. Furthermore, the flexibility of our method provide means for research assessment that consider the contextuality and plurality of publics involved on Twitter.