bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microstructure and phase evolution of polymer‐derived SiHfOC ceramic microspheres
Authors: Zhang Xuemeng , Sun Jia , Zhang Yuyu , Li Hejun
Published: July 2022

The SiHfOC ceramic microspheres were synthesized from the polysilazane and hafnium(IV) acetylacetonate hybrid precursors through a combination of hydrothermal method and polymer‐derived ceramics (PDCs) method. The SiHfOC ceramic microspheres consist of β‐SiC, SiO2, and m‐HfO2 in an amorphous SiOC matrix and are in a spherical morphology with an average size of about 2 μm. Hafnium‐containing nanoparticles with ∼50‐nm size are not only uniformly distributed on the surface of the ceramic microspheres but also embedded in the SiHfOC ceramic microspheres, forming a unique mosaic structure. Pyrolyzing at 1000°C offers a possibility of an in situ formation of nanocrystal nuclei in the amorphous SiOC ceramic matrix, and the subsequent annealing at 1500°C helps the small nanocrystal nuclei grow and separate the amorphous SiHfOC into a multiphase SiOC network containing β‐SiC, SiO2, m‐HfO2 nanocrystalline and free C. This research provides a methodology for preparing multicomponent ceramic microspheres that can efficiently develop high‐performance PDCs modified by transition metal alkoxide.
Dry heat sterilization modelling for spacecraft applications
Authors: Flax Brian , Tortora Andrew , Yeung Yen , Schubert Wayne W. , McDonnell Gerald
Published: July 2022

Aims

Inactivation processes using heat are widely used for disinfection and sterilization. Dry heat sterilization of spacecraft equipment has been the preferred microbial inactivation method as part of interplanetary travel protection strategies. An antimicrobial model, based on temperature and exposure time based on experimental data, was developed to provide reliable sterilization processes to be used for interplanetary applications.

Methods and Results

Bacillus atrophaeus spores, traditionally used to challenge dry heat sterilization processes, were tested over a range of temperatures in comparison with spores of Bacillus canaveralius that have been shown to have a higher heat resistance profile. D-value and Z-values were determined and used to develop a mathematical model for parametric sterilization applications. The impact of the presence of a contaminating soil, representative of Mars dust, was also tested to verify the practical application of the model to reduce the risk of microbial contamination in such environments.

Conclusion

The sterilization model developed can be used as an intrinsic part of risk reduction strategies for interplanetary protection.

Significance and Impact

Forward and backward planetary protection strategies to reduce the risks of microbial contamination during interplanetary exploration and research is an important consideration. The development of a modern sterilization model, with consideration of microorganisms identified with higher levels of heat resistance than traditionally deployed in terrestrial applications, allows for the consideration of optimal inactivation processes to define minimum criteria for engineering design. The ability to inactivate living microorganisms, as well as to degrade biomolecules, provides a reliable method to reduce the risk of known and potentially unknown contaminants in future applications.
Impact of single‐cell RNA sequencing on understanding immune regulation
Authors: Hu Xueli , Zhou Xikun
Published: July 2022

Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq), one of the most powerful technologies, can describe the transcriptomic heterogeneity of single cells and reveal previously unreported cell types or states in complex tissues. With the rapid development of scRNA‐seq, it has renewed our view of cellular heterogeneity and its significance for deeply understanding cell development and function. There are a large number of studies applying scRNA‐seq to investigate the heterogeneity of immune cells and disease pathogenesis, focusing on differences among every individual cell, which have provided novel inspiration for disease therapy and biological processes. In this review, we describe the development of scRNA‐seq and its application in immune‐related physiological states, regulatory mechanisms and diseases. In addition, we further discuss the opportunities and challenges of scRNA‐seq in immune regulation.
Interchangeability of floral volatiles in ternary lure combinations for catching three cetoniin chafer species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Matula Eszter , Lohonyai Zsófia , Fail József , Tóth Miklós , Imrei Zoltán
Published: July 2022

In behavioural field experiments, we aimed to study the interchangeability of molecular structures, which only differ by single hydrogen, hydroxyl or methyl group from components of a known attractant blend of the flower damaging Epicometis hirta (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae), and two other cetoniin occasional pests Cetonia aurata aurata and Potosia cuprea, typical to the fauna of Central and Southern Europe. Rac. 1‐phenethyl alcohol or methyl eugenol (of the known attractant blend of rac. 1‐phenethyl alcohol, (E)‐anethol and methyl eugenol) were replaced with structurally similar floral compounds widespread among plant families in general. All baited treatments caught significantly more of the three species compared with the unbaited control. The ternary blend containing 2‐phenethyl alcohol caught numerically the most of the three species and gave a significant increase compared with the basic blend with rac. 1‐phenethyl alcohol for C. a. aurata and E. hirta. Benzyl alcohol performed similarly well to 2‐phenethyl alcohol in catching C. a. aurata and P. cuprea, and it was superior to the blend with phenylacetaldehyde. On the contrary, for E. hirta, the treatment containing phenylacetaldehyde was better than the combination with benzyl alcohol, resulting in a similar effect to the blend with 2‐phenethyl alcohol. In another experiment, the known ternary blend including methyl eugenol performed numerically the best in attracting E. hirta compared with the blends with eugenol or isoeugenol, which results are congruent with the earlier findings on C. a. aurata and P. cuprea. Our work resulted in a single optimized attractant combination for all three cetoniin species that includes 2‐phenethyl alcohol, methyl eugenol and (E)‐anethol.
Elevated CO2 does not alter behavioural lateralization in free‐swimming juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) tested in groups
Authors: Jarvis Dominic M. , Pope Edward C. , Duteil Mathieu , Fürtbauer Ines , Brown M. Rowan , Davis Richard J. , King Andrew J.
Published: July 2022

The authors investigated left–right turning preferences of n = 260 juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) reared in ambient conditions and ocean acidification (OA) conditions or in ambient conditions but tested in OA water. Groups of 10 individuals were observed alone in a circular tank, and individuals' left and right turning during free‐swimming was quantified using trajectory data from the video. The authors showed that near‐future OA levels do not affect the number of turns made, or behavioural lateralization (turning preference), in juvenile D. labrax tested in groups.
Short‐chain fatty acids affect the development of inflammatory bowel disease through intestinal barrier, immunology, and microbiota: A promising therapy?
Authors: Peng Kaixin , Xia Suhong , Xiao Siqi , Yu Qin
Published: July 2022

Intestinal metabolites are attracting increasing interest, especially more and more studies have found they are closely related to diseases. Microbial fermentation of indigestible dietary fibers in the gut produces short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as the main product. SCFAs can exert influences on the integrity of the intestinal epithelial and mucosal barrier, immune reactions, and the diversity of microbiota in humans. Thus, alteration in SCFAs may affect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In IBD, SCFAs are involved in the main pathogenic process and play an important role in the development of intestinal inflammation. Although many studies have proved that pretreatment with SCFAs can effectively ameliorate inflammation in the gut, the mechanisms are not fully understood. In this review, we describe the relationship between SCFAs and IBD from the aspects of defense barrier, immune effects, and microbial alterations. We also summarize the effects of SCFAs on comorbidities in IBD via the gut‐brain, gut‐liver, and gut‐lung axis, and we give an overview of the prospects of their clinical application. A better understanding of the relevance of SCFAs in IBD may reveal novel targets for future study
Institutional, therapeutic, and individual factors associated with 30‐day mortality after COVID‐19 diagnosis in Canadian long‐term care facilities
Authors: Zhang Xi Sophie , Charland Katia , Quach Caroline , Nguyen Quoc Dinh , Zinszer Kate
Published: July 2022

Background

Canadian long‐term care facility (LTCF) residents experienced higher death rates compared to other countries during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. This cohort study analyzes the individual, therapeutic, and institutional factors associated with death in LTCFs.

Methods

Institutional data for 17 LTCFs in Montreal, Canada were obtained from local administrative registries. Individual data for 1197 residents infected by SARS‐CoV‐2 between February 23 and July 11, 2020 were obtained through chart reviews. A multivariable modified Poisson regression model, which accounted for LTCF clustering, was used to identify resident and facility covariates associated with 30‐day mortality after COVID‐19 diagnosis.

Results

Severe shortage of licensed practical nurses (RR 2.60 95% CI 1.20–5.61) and medium‐sized facilities compared to smaller‐sized facilities (RR 2.73 95% CI 1.23–6.07) were associated with 30‐day mortality. Later COVID‐19 diagnosis (RR 0.98 95% CI 0.97–0.99 per additional day) was associated with survival. Individual risk factors for death included age (RR 1.33 95% CI 1.23–1.45 per additional 10 years), male sex (RR 1.46 95% CI 1.24–1.71), functional impairment (RR 1.08 95% CI 1.04–1.12 per unit increase of SMAF), as well as a diagnosis of congestive heart failure (RR 1.31 95% CI 1.04–1.66) and neurocognitive disorder (RR 1.31 95% CI 1.01–1.70). Among severe cases, anticoagulation was associated with survival (RR 0.70 95% CI 0.51–0.96).

Conclusions

This study identified practical nurse shortages and facility size as institutional risk factors for COVID‐19 death. Anticoagulation was associated with survival among severe cases.
Clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic evaluation of topical methotrexate 1% hydrogel versus topical Calcipotriol 0.005% cream in the treatment of plaque psoriasis
Authors: El Gayar Maha A. , Atwa Dina , Girgis Germeen , Marie Lamees
Published: July 2022

Background

Psoriasis Vulgaris is a common immune‐mediated skin disease. Its high prevalence, disability, chronicity, disfiguration, and associated comorbidities make it a challenge for physicians. Topical agents remain the mainstay of treatment for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of topical methotrexate 1% gel (MTX) versus topical calcipotriol 0.005% cream (CPL) in the treatment of localized plaque psoriasis.

Methods

This prospective comparative study included 40 patients with localized plaque psoriasis instructed to apply MTX to one side (group A) and CPL to the other side lesions (group B) twice daily for 12 weeks. Clinical and dermoscopic evaluations before, weekly during and after 3 months of treatment were done. The immunohistopathological assessment was done for skin biopsies from 10 patients in each group before and after treatment.

Results

At the end of 12 weeks, there was marked‐complete improvement in 97.5% of group A lesions treated with MTX 1% gel compared with 37.5% of group B lesions treated with calcipotriol 0.005% cream (p < 0.001). There was a very high statistically significant improvement in erythema that was cleared totally in 67.5% vs 22.5%, scaling in 75% vs 17.5%, and infiltration in 72.5% vs 27.5% in group A vs B, respectively (p < 0.001). These results were confirmed by dermoscopic and immunohistopathological findings.

Conclusion

Methotrexate 1% gel is a marvelous promising well‐tolerated effective topical agent that can be used safely in the treatment of localized plaque psoriasis.
Morphological design of occlusal wear facets for the mandibular first molar crown using different bite registration methods
Authors: Chen Hu , Yang Xu , Li Linlin , Wang Yong , Sun Yuchun
Published: July 2022

Purpose

To compare the accuracy of occlusal wear facet morphology designed using different bite registration methods for mandibular first molar crowns.

Materials and methods

The posterior teeth and intraoral intercuspal occlusions of 12 participants were scanned. The abutment shape of the mandibular first molars for complete crowns was virtually designed, and the anatomic coping design method was used to design crowns. In the anatomic coping design, digital wax patterns were constructed by elevating the wear facets on the original surface of the first molars and then adjusting the facets with 2 types of virtual occlusions determined by buccal bite registration (BBR) or segmented tooth registration (STR) methods, where the displacement of teeth under bite force was considered (STR) or not (BBR). The occlusal distance between the original wear facets and the antagonists as well as 3D deviations between the facets on the designed crowns and on the surfaces of the original teeth were measured. Paired‐samples t‐test was used to analyze the results (α = 0.05).

Results

Regarding occlusal distance, the mean 3D deviation and the root mean square (RMS) values of BBR were greater than those of the STR groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008). The mean 3D deviations of the crowns of the BBR and STR groups were 0.19 ±0.04 mm and 0.14 ±0.06 mm, respectively and the RMS values were 0.22 ±0.03 mm and 0.18 ±0.04 mm (p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

The morphology of occlusal wear facets of mandibular first molar crowns designed with the occlusion constructed using the segmented tooth registration method are more coincident with the original morphology.
The Need for Improved Collaboration between Schools and Child Death Review Teams
Authors: Joshi Deepa S. , Lebrun‐Harris Lydie A. , Shaw Esther , Pilkey Diane , Collier Abby , Kinsman Sara
Published: July 2022

Background

Schools are essential public health partners for safeguarding students' health. Child Death Review (CDR) is one public health activity where collaboration with schools is integral for developing strategies to prevent child death but the degree of collaboration is unknown. This study assessed school participation in CDR and the prevalence of school problems in reviewed child death cases, comparing non‐suicide and suicide‐related deaths.

Methods

Using the National Fatality Review‐Case Reporting System, we created a dataset of school‐aged children (5 to 20 years) whose death was reviewed from 2005 to 2017 and used frequencies, proportions, and chi‐squared statistics on selected measures.

Results

Educational representatives infrequently participated in CDRs (24.9%). School records were rarely accessed for reviewed deaths (5.2%). Less than half (41.2%) of reviewed deaths had any school information and of these, 35.5% of children were indicated as having problems in school. Compared with non‐suicide deaths, a larger proportion of suicide deaths had school representatives attend CDRs (28.4% vs 24.1%, P < .0001), and access to educational records (4.2% vs 9.2%, P < .0001).

Implications

Efforts are needed to address potential barriers to systems integration, including state policies and federal educational privacy laws.

Conclusions

School participation in CDRs is lacking for both suicide and non‐suicide deaths.
Color‐nutrient associations: Implications for product design of dietary supplements
Authors: Motoki Kosuke , Yamada Asumi , Spence Charles
Published: July 2022

Dietary supplements are prevalent and represent a huge (and still growing) global market. Such products are intended to enhance health and wellness as well as to supplement diets. Compared to the large amount of dietary supplements research on nutrition, dietetics, and medicine, far less research has been conducted in the realm of sensory and consumer science. Product design is undoubtedly an important element of any brand's success, no matter what the category, and can be used to convey various symbolic meanings to the consumer. Drawing on research on color psychology and product design, the present research aimed to clarify the associations (or expectations) that consumers have with the particular product design of dietary supplements. Across four studies, two of which were preregistered, participants were asked to choose a color that they felt best matched each of the named nutrients. The results consistently demonstrate that people associate nutrients with particular colors (i.e., color patches; Study 1) and to capsule/container color; Studies 2–4. Vitamins supplements in general, as well as vitamins C and D, in particular, were frequently matched with the colors yellow and orange. Dietary fiber supplement was often matched with green. Although mineral supplements were frequently matched with blue, each kind of mineral appeared to have its own unique association with specific colors (magnesium/iron with gray, calcium with white). Protein supplements (protein, amino acid) are frequently matched with the colors orange and red. Taken together, these findings demonstrate how people associate nutrients with specific visual design features and thus contribute practical knowledge concerning the design of dietary supplements.

Practical Applications

Our findings provide practical implications for effective communication strategies for nutrition with the consumer. Color is an important design element, and the design of nutritional supplements and their packaging is no exception in this regard. Designers and marketers can use our findings to help create better visual designs for dietary supplements and their packaging to help meet consumers' expectations. Moreover, our findings might also be fruitfully applied to marketing communications for functional foods (e.g., vitamin‐enriched foods, mineral‐enriched foods). Marketers may be able to capitalize on our findings concerning color‐nutrition associations in order to effectively promote functional foods.
Mottle necrosis caused by Globisporangium ultimum var. ultimum on sweet potato roots during harvest and storage in China
Authors: Wang Rongyan , Gao Bo , Ma Juan , Li Xiuhua , Li Jiaosheng , Chen Shulong
Published: July 2022

Mottle necrosis of sweet potato roots was observed frequently during harvest and storage in Hebei Province, China, from 2018 to 2021. The disease incidence was 1–3% during harvest and increased to 10–30% during storage in underground cellars. The typical symptom of the disease is the soft cheese consistency of the affected tissue. The pathogen was isolated from diseased roots. Based on morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA‐ITS), β‐tubulin (β‐tub), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox I) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (cox II), the pathogen was identified as Globisporangium ultimum var. ultimum. Furthermore, a pathogenicity test was performed by proving Koch's postulate to confirm the pathogen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of mottle necrosis on sweet potato roots caused by G. ultimum var. ultimum during harvest and storage in China.
Phylogeography of Scots pine in Europe and Asia based on mtDNA polymorphisms
Authors: Wachowiak Witold , Żukowska Weronika B. , Perry Annika , Lewandowski Andrzej , Cavers Stephen , Łabiszak Bartosz
Published: July 2022

We analyzed mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms to search for evidence of the genetic structure and patterns of admixture in 124 populations (N = 1407 trees) across the distribution of Scots pine in Europe and Asia. The markers revealed only a weak population structure in Central and Eastern Europe and suggested postglacial expansion to middle and northern latitudes from multiple sources. Major mitotype variants include the remnants of Scots pine at the north‐western extreme of the distribution in the Scottish Highlands; two main variants (western and central European) that contributed to the contemporary populations in Norway and Sweden; the central‐eastern European variant present in the Balkan region, Finland, and Russian Karelia; and a separate one common to most eastern European parts of Russia and western Siberia. We also observe signatures of a distinct refugium located in the northern parts of the Black Sea basin that contributed to the patterns of genetic variation observed in several populations in the Balkans, Ukraine, and western Russia. Some common haplotypes of putative ancient origin were shared among distant populations from Europe and Asia, including the most southern refugial stands that did not participate in postglacial recolonization of northern latitudes. The study indicates different genetic lineages of the species in Europe and provides a set of genetic markers for its finer‐scale population history and divergence inference.
Changing trends in aetiology‐based hospitalizations with end‐stage liver disease in the United States from 2016 to 2019
Authors: Kim Donghee , Perumpail Brandon J. , Alshuwaykh Omar , Dennis Brittany B. , Cholankeril George , Ahmed Aijaz
Published: July 2022

Backgrounds and Aims

A potent and safe antiviral agent may impact chronic hepatitis C (HCV)‐related end‐stage liver disease (ESLD). We assess aetiology‐based hospitalizations for ESLD in the United States, 2016–2019.

Methods

We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2019. We defined ESLD as either decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, criteria obtained from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.

Results

National hospitalization rates for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increased significantly from 67.1/100 000 persons in 2016 to 93.6 in 2019 with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 12.1%, while chronic hepatitis C (HCV) decreased significantly from 71.2/100 000 persons in 2016 to 58.5 in 2019 (−6.5% AAPC). Hospitalizations for ESLD in alcohol‐related liver disease (ALD) increased as well.

Conclusions

Hospitalization rates for NAFLD‐ and ALD‐related ESLD increased steadily, while those for HCV‐related ESLD decreased during the direct‐acting antivirals era.
JOHN MAWURNDJUL'S ART IN PARIS
Authors: Taylor Luke
Published: July 2022

abstract

The Musée du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac (MQBJC) in Paris includes a commissioned ceiling mural by Australian artist John Mawurndjul. Neither the identity of the artist nor the cultural meaning of the work features strongly as part of the visitor experience for this work. Such interpretation is, in general, pushed to the margins in the museum's permanent exhibits. Paradoxically, the temporary exhibits are treated differently. The paper details how the power of John Mawurndjul's art is developed in relation to social activities on his own country as well as his cross‐cultural engagements with the broader art world. Cultural meaning and strong principles of aesthetics are developed through this creativity. The paper presents these insights as interpretational possibilities for Mawurndjul's mural and questions whether an avowed museum of world arts can continue to ignore the development of a more cross‐cultural definition of aesthetics and a relational approach to develop and interpret its permanent exhibits.
MIGRANT HERITAGE: A Dialogue of Objects and Memories in a Barcelona Ethnographic Museum
Authors: Izard Gabriel , Celigueta Gemma
Published: July 2022

This article describes the “Dialogues with Africa” project of the Barcelona Museum of World Cultures, which consisted of workshops using personal objects of African guests residing in Catalonia, and objects from the museum's African collections. The dialogues revealed the existence of both a migrant memory connected with objects chosen for their capacity to evoke origins and a museum memory linked with artifacts that were chosen as representing distant cultures. The main aim is to describe this migrant memory in relation to the objects and analyze how it connects with the museum's institutional memory in order to contribute to the discussion of the role of ethnographic museums in a plural society. We suggest that incorporating migrant memory will make possible an opening up to new meanings for objects that have been turned into heritage from an exoticizing standpoint, and that this is in keeping with a more inclusive anthropological museology.
Current situation of endemic mycosis in the Americas and the Caribbean: Proceedings of the first international meeting on endemic mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA)
Authors: Caceres Diego H. , Echeverri Tirado Laura C. , Bonifaz Alexandro , Adenis Antoine , Gomez Beatriz L. , Flores Claudia Lizette Banda , Canteros Cristina E. , Santos Daniel Wagner , Arathoon Eduardo , Soto Elia Ramirez , Queiroz‐Telles Flavio , Schwartz Ilan S. , Zurita Jeannete , Damasceno Lisandra Serra , Garcia Nataly , Fernandez Norma B. , Chincha Omayra , Araujo Patricia , Rabagliati Ricardo , Chiller Tom , Giusiano Gustavo
Published: July 2022

Background

The Americas are home to biologically and clinically diverse endemic fungi, including Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Emergomyces, Histoplasma, Paracoccidioides and Sporothrix. In endemic areas with high risk of infection, these fungal pathogens represent an important public health problem.

Objectives

This report aims to summarise the main findings of the regional analysis carried out on the status of the endemic mycoses of the Americas, done at the first International Meeting on Endemic Mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA).

Methods

A regional analysis for the Americas was done, the 27 territories were grouped into nine regions. A SWOT analysis was done.

Results

All territories reported availability of microscopy. Seventy percent of territories reported antibody testing, 67% of territories reported availability of Histoplasma antigen testing. None of the territories reported the use of (1–3)‐β‐d‐glucan. Fifty two percent of territories reported the availability of PCR testing in reference centres (mostly for histoplasmosis). Most of the territories reported access to medications such as trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B (AMB) deoxycholate. Many countries had limited access to liposomal formulation of AMB and newer azoles, such as posaconazole and isavuconazole. Surveillance of these fungal diseases was minimal.

Conclusions

A consensus emerged among meeting participants, this group concluded that endemic mycoses are neglected diseases, and due to their severity and lack of resources, the improvement of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance is needed.
The spatial distribution of rhizosphere microbial activities under drought: water availability is more important than root‐hair‐controlled exudation
Authors: Zhang Xuechen , Bilyera Nataliya , Fan Lichao , Duddek Patrick , Ahmed Mutez A. , Carminati Andrea , Kaestner Anders , Dippold Michaela A. , Spielvogel Sandra , Razavi Bahar S.
Published: July 2022

Root hairs and soil water content are crucial in controlling the release and diffusion of root exudates and shaping profiles of biochemical properties in the rhizosphere. But whether root hairs can offset the negative impacts of drought on microbial activity remains unknown.

Soil zymography, 14C imaging and neutron radiography were combined to identify how root hairs and soil moisture affect rhizosphere biochemical properties. To achieve this, we cultivated two maize genotypes (wild‐type and root‐hair‐defective rth3 mutant) under ambient and drought conditions.

Root hairs and optimal soil moisture increased hotspot area, rhizosphere extent and kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) of β‐glucosidase activities. Drought enlarged the rhizosphere extent of root exudates and water content. Colocalization analysis showed that enzymatic hotspots were more colocalized with root exudate hotspots under optimal moisture, whereas they showed higher dependency on water hotspots when soil water and carbon were scarce.

We conclude that root hairs are essential in adapting rhizosphere properties under drought to maintain plant nutrition when a continuous mass flow of water transporting nutrients to the root is interrupted. In the rhizosphere, soil water was more important than root exudates for hydrolytic enzyme activities under water and carbon colimitation.
A tonoplast‐localized magnesium transporter is crucial for stomatal opening in Arabidopsis under high Mg2+ conditions
Authors: Inoue Shin‐ichiro , Hayashi Maki , Huang Sheng , Yokosho Kengo , Gotoh Eiji , Ikematsu Shuka , Okumura Masaki , Suzuki Takamasa , Kamura Takumi , Kinoshita Toshinori , Ma Jian Feng
Published: July 2022

Plant stomata play an important role in CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and transpiration, but the mechanisms underlying stomatal opening and closing under changing environmental conditions are still not completely understood.

Through large‐scale genetic screening, we isolated an Arabidopsis mutant (closed stomata2 (cst2)) that is defective in stomatal opening. We cloned the causal gene (MGR1/CST2) and functionally characterized this gene.

The mutant phenotype was caused by a mutation in a gene encoding an unknown protein with similarities to the human magnesium (Mg2+) efflux transporter ACDP/CNNM. MGR1/CST2 was localized to the tonoplast and showed transport activity for Mg2+. This protein was constitutively and highly expressed in guard cells. Knockout of this gene resulted in stomatal closing, decreased photosynthesis and growth retardation, especially under high Mg2+ conditions, while overexpression of this gene increased stomatal opening and tolerance to high Mg2+ concentrations. Furthermore, guard cell‐specific expression of MGR1/CST2 in the mutant partially restored its stomatal opening.

Our results indicate that MGR1/CST2 expression in the leaf guard cells plays an important role in maintaining cytosolic Mg2+ concentrations through sequestering Mg2+ into vacuoles, which is required for stomatal opening, especially under high Mg2+ conditions.
Leadless pacemaker in Twiddler's syndrome: A case report
Authors: Ducceschi Valentino , De Divitiis Marcello , Ciriello Giovanni Domenico , Gallo Paolo
Published: July 2022

Twiddler's syndrome is a rare cause of pacemaker lead dislodgement. We present the case of a 49‐year‐old male patient with Down's syndrome implanted with a dual chamber pacemaker showing high ventricular impedance, no sensing, and complete loss of capture for both leads at the 3‐month follow‐up due to Twiddler Syndrome. The dislocated device was removed, and an endocardial leadless pacing system was implanted.
Do recovery‐oriented messages improve self‐efficacy and positive emotions amongst people with lived experience of psychosis? Experimental investigation
Authors: McLeod Bronte , Meyer Catherine , Meyer Denny , Nunan Cassy , Murray Greg , Farhall John , Thomas Neil
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Recovery‐oriented perspectives have become accepted worldwide as an alternative to the biomedical approach to conceptualizing and managing severe mental health problems. It has been proposed that one advantage of this is to support self‐efficacy amongst people with a lived experience of psychosis, especially when recovery messages are presented by lived experience peers.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the proposed psychological benefits of the recovery paradigm, by testing for possible differential impacts of recovery versus biomedical messages on self‐efficacy beliefs and positive emotional state amongst people with experience of psychosis. It was hypothesized that (1) recovery‐oriented messages, when presented by lived experience peers, would generate improvements in self‐efficacy and positive emotions relative to biomedical messages presented by a professional and (2) recovery‐oriented messages delivered by a professional would generate improvements in self‐efficacy and positive emotions relative to biomedical messages delivered by a professional. We also explored whether recovery‐oriented messages were more impactful when delivered by a lived experience peer versus a professional.

Design

Experimental design with three within‐subject video‐based conditions.

Methods

Fifty‐three participants with lived experience of psychosis viewed three videos: (i) people with lived experience sharing their experiences of recovery; (ii) mental health professionals presenting traditional biomedical conceptualizations of psychosis; and (iii) mental health professionals presenting recovery perspectives. Participants provided baseline clinical and demographic information, and post‐viewing ratings of experienced changes in self‐efficacy and emotional state.

Results

Hypothesis 1 was supported: both self‐efficacy and positive emotions were significantly increased by a video of peers sharing personal recovery stories relative to professionals presenting biomedical messages. Hypothesis 2 was partially supported: when comparing videos of recovery versus biomedical messages delivered by professionals, significant relative benefits were found for positive emotions, but not self‐efficacy.

Conclusions

This experimental investigation generated a pattern of findings broadly supportive of the assumed psychological benefits of the recovery paradigm for people with lived experiences of psychosis. Findings must be interpreted with caution given the limitations of the present design, but encourage further experimental research to directly test the interpersonal impacts of the recovery paradigm.
Individual variations in pre‐altitude hemoglobin mass influence hemoglobin mass responses to repeated altitude sojourns
Authors: Skattebo Øyvind , Hallén Jostein
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Previous studies have shown variable within‐subject hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) responses to altitude training. We investigated whether Hbmass responses depend on individual variations in pre‐altitude Hbmass during repeated altitude sojourns.

Methods

Nine elite endurance athletes carried out 3–5 altitude sojourns over 17 ± 10 months (mean ± 95% confidence interval), at an altitude of 1976 ± 62 m, for 21 ± 1 days, and a total hypoxic dose of 989 ± 46 km·h, with Hbmass assessed before and after each sojourn (carbon monoxide rebreathing). The individual mean baseline was calculated as the mean of all pre‐altitude Hbmass values for an athlete, and it was investigated whether the percent deviation from the individual mean baseline affected the altitude‐induced Hbmass response.

Results

On average, Hbmass increased by 3.4 ± 1.1% (p < 0.001) from pre‐ to post‐altitude. The intra‐individual changes in Hbmass were highly inconsistent (coefficient of variation, CV: 88%), and we found no relationship between Hbmass changes in successive altitude sojourns (r = 0.01; p = 0.735). However, the percent increase in Hbmass was highly correlated with the pre‐altitude Hbmass, expressed as the percent deviation from the individual mean baseline (y = −0.7x + 3.4; r = 0.75; p < 0.001). Linear mixed‐model analysis confirmed a −0.6 ± 0.2% smaller increase in Hbmass for each 1% higher pre‐altitude Hbmass than the individual mean baseline (p < 0.001) after adjusting for the covariates hypoxic dose (p = 0.032) and the relative Hbmass (g·kg−1 body weight; p = 0.031).

Conclusion

Individual variations in pre‐altitude Hbmass significantly influence the athletes' Hbmass responses to repeated altitude sojourns, with a potentiated response after traveling to altitude with a low pre‐altitude Hbmass.
The tradition of indigenous people and the status of internal migrants – The story of exclusion in West Seram (Maluku, Indonesia)
Authors: Sienkiewicz Simona
Published: July 2022

In this paper, I explore approaches in establishing cross‐cultural relations between indigenous people and internal migrants in the district of West Seram (Maluku, Indonesia). According to current data, the number of people from other islands exceeds the local population but the district government neglects the ethnic issues. Emerging inequalities are becoming a challenge for internal migrants, especially in the areas of leadership and land tenure. I argue that the sense of exclusion among ‘outsiders’ impacts on growing social tensions and creates immobility within the social structures, giving less room for negotiations and dialogue.
Adolescent Health Series: The status of adolescent mental health research, practice and policy in sub‐Saharan Africa: A narrative review
Authors: Sequeira Miriam , Singh Soumya , Fernandes Luanna , Gaikwad Leena , Gupta Devika , Chibanda Dixon , Nadkarni Abhijit
Published: July 2022

Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) has the fastest growing adolescent population in the world. In addition to developmental changes, adolescents in SSA face health and socioeconomic challenges that increase their vulnerability to mental ill‐health. This paper is a narrative review of adolescent mental health (AMH) in SSA with a focus on past achievements, current developments, and future directions in the areas of research, practice and policy in the region. We describe the status of AMH in the region, critical factors that negatively impact AMH, and the ways in which research, practice and policy have responded to this need. Depression, anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorders are the most common mental health problems among adolescents in SSA. Intervention development has largely been focused on HIV/AIDS service delivery in school or community programs by non‐specialist health workers. There is a severe shortage of specialised AMH services, poor integration of services into primary health care, lack of a coordinated inter‐sectoral collaboration, and the absence of clear referral pathways. Policies for the promotion of AMH have been given less attention by policymakers, due to stigma attached to mental health problems, and an insufficient understanding of the link between mental health and social determinants, such as poverty. Given these gaps, traditional healers are the most accessible care available to help‐seeking adolescents. Sustained AMH research with a focus on the socioeconomic benefits of implementing evidence‐based, contextually adapted psychosocial interventions might prove useful in advocating for much needed policies to improve AMH in SSA.
Pathological laughter and crying in neurological disorders: recognition and treatment
Authors: Husbands Emma , Talbot Kevin
Published: July 2022

Pathological laughter and crying is a disabling symptom complex associated with damage to various central nervous system pathways that control the reflex motor component of emotional expression. Many underlying conditions—including neurodegenerative diseases, CNS inflammation, vascular lesions and traumatic brain injury—can be associated with disinhibition of emotional reflex control. This suggests a disruption of anatomical and functional networks, rather than any specific unifying pathological process. There is a wide differential diagnosis, including depression, dementia and other forms of behavioural disturbance. Diagnostic criteria and rating scales can help with clinical assessments and facilitate clinical trials. There is now good-quality evidence for a combination of dextromethorphan and quinidine, with weaker evidence for tricyclic and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. Pathological laughter and crying is disabling and underdiagnosed but potentially treatable, and its wider recognition is important.
Increased use of sanitizers and disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic: identification of antimicrobial chemicals and considerations for aquatic environmental contamination
Authors: Marteinson Sarah C. , Lawrence Michael J. , Taranu Zofia E. , Kosziwka Kerri , Taylor Jessica J. , Green Alexandria , Winegardner Amanda K. , Rytwinski Trina , Reid Jessica L. , Dubetz Cory , Leblanc Judith , Galus Michal D. , Cooke Steven J.
Published: July 2022

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been an increased need for personal and environmental decontamination to aid in curbing transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Products used for this purpose include sanitizers for hands and disinfectants for surfaces. The active chemical ingredients used in these products, termed antimicrobials, can enter waste streams after application and may be emerging as more prominent environmental contaminants. Even prior to COVID-19, there was recognized need to examine their implications for aquatic biota, which is now made more pressing due to their exaggerated use in response to the pandemic. Our objectives were to identify current antimicrobial active ingredients, quantify their increased use, and determine which may be candidates for further consideration as possible aquatic contaminants. By consulting multiple sources of publicly available information in Canada, we identified current-use antimicrobials from the lists of sanitizers and surface disinfectants approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 by Health Canada and the drug registration database. To estimate the use of sanitizers and disinfectants, we evaluated import quantities and grocery store retail sales of related compounds and products (Statistics Canada) and both lines of evidence supported increased use trends. The list of identified antimicrobials was refined to include only candidates with potential to reach aquatic ecosystems, and information on their environmental concentrations and toxicity to aquatic biota was reviewed. Candidate antimicrobials ( n = 32) fell into four main categories: quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), phenols, acids, and salts. Benzalkonium chloride, a QAC, was the most prominent active ingredient used in both nonalcohol-based hand sanitizers and surface disinfectants. Four QACs followed in prevalence and the next most used antimicrobial was triclosan (hand sanitizers only), an established and regulated environmental contaminant. Little information was found on environmental concentrations of other candidates, suggesting that the majority would fall into the category of emerging contaminants if they enter aquatic systems. Several were classified as acutely or chronically toxic to aquatic biota (Globally Harmonized System), and thus we recommend empirical research begin focusing on environmental monitoring of all candidate antimicrobials as a critical next step, with detection method development first where needed.
Hawking evaporation, shadow images, and thermodynamics of black holes through deflection angle
Authors: Jawad Abdul , Chaudhary Shahid , Jusufi Kimet
Published: July 2022

We study the Hawking evaporation process of the exact black hole with nonlinear electrodynamics for positive and negative coupling constant $$\zeta $$
ζ
. We provide a new perspective to study the thermodynamics of exact black hole through deflection angle formalism. We also evaluate the shadow images in the presence of deflection images for this black hole. Moreover, we consider the Gibbs energy optical dependence to investigate the Hawking-Page transition. We observe that evaporation rate depends upon $$\zeta $$
ζ
and black hole evaporates more quickly for positive $$\zeta $$
ζ
as compared to negative $$\zeta $$
ζ
. For the case $$\zeta =-1$$

ζ
=
-
1

, the black hole’s lifetime become infinite, which makes the black hole a remnant and the third law of black hole thermodynamics holds in this scenario. We show that the thermal variations in the deflection angle can be used to determine the stable and unstable phases of the black hole. Our findings show that large and small phase transitions of black hole occur at a specific value of the deflection angle.
Backward timelike Compton scattering to decipher the photon content of the nucleon
Authors: Pire Bernard , Semenov-Tian-Shansky Kirill M. , Shaikhutdinova Alisa A. , Szymanowski Lech
Published: July 2022

The exclusive photoproduction off nucleon of a large invariant mass lepton pair in the backward region specified by the small Mandelstam variable $$-u$$

-
u

is discussed in the framework of collinear QCD factorization. The amplitude is factorized in terms of photon-to-nucleon Transition Distribution Amplitudes (TDAs). These new non-perturbative objects, complementary to the “photon-inside-the-nucleon PDF”, lead to a tomographic picture of the nucleon’s photon content after Fourier transforming to the impact parameter space. This allows to address the question of where in the transverse plane the nucleon emits a photon. A simplistic model-estimate of photon-to-nucleon TDAs is used to estimate the magnitude of the corresponding cross sections. The background due to the electromagnetic Bethe–Heitler process is shown to be negligible in the kinematical regime of interest.
Explaining human mobility predictions through a pattern matching algorithm
Authors: Smolak Kamil , Rohm Witold , Sila-Nowicka Katarzyna
Published: July 2022

Understanding what impacts the predictability of human movement is a key element for the further improvement of mobility prediction models. Up to this day, such analyses have been conducted using the upper bound of predictability of human mobility. However, later works indicated discrepancies between the upper bound of predictability and accuracy of actual predictions suggesting that the predictability estimation is not accurate. In this work, we confirm these discrepancies and, instead of predictability measure, we focus on explaining what impacts the actual accuracy of human mobility predictions. We show that the accuracy of predictions is dependent on the similarity of transitions observed in the training and test sets derived from the mobility data. We propose and evaluate five pattern matching based-measures, which allow us to quickly estimate the potential prediction accuracy of human mobility. As a result, we find that our metrics can explain up to 90% of its variability. We also find that measures that were proved to explain the variability of predictability measure, fail to explain the variability of predictions accuracy. This suggests that predictability measure and accuracy of predictions should not be compared. Our metrics can be used to quickly assess how predictable the data will be for prediction algorithms. We share developed metrics as a part of HuMobi, the open-source Python library.
Modelling railway delay propagation as diffusion-like spreading
Authors: Dekker Mark M. , Medvedev Alexey N. , Rombouts Jan , Siudem Grzegorz , Tupikina Liubov
Published: July 2022

Railway systems form an important means of transport across the world. However, congestions or disruptions may significantly decrease these systems’ efficiencies, making predicting and understanding the resulting train delays a priority for railway organisations. Delays are studied in a wide variety of models, which usually simulate trains as discrete agents carrying delays. In contrast, in this paper, we define a novel model for studying delays, where they spread across the railway network via a diffusion-like process. This type of modelling has various advantages such as quick computation and ease of applying various statistical tools like spectral methods, but it also comes with limitations related to the directional and discrete nature of delays and the trains carrying them. We apply the model to the Belgian railways and study its performance in simulating the delay propagation in severely disrupted railway situations. In particular, we discuss the role of spatial aggregation by proposing to cluster the Belgian railway system into sets of stations and adapt the model accordingly. We find that such aggregation significantly increases the model’s performance. For some particular situations, non-trivial optimal levels of spatial resolution are found on which the model performs best. Our results show the potential of this type of delay modelling to understand large-scale properties of railway systems.