bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recovery of pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance 6 and 12 months postpartum in primiparous women—a prospective cohort study
Authors: Bø Kari , Næss Karoline , Stær-Jensen Jette , Siafarikas Franziska , Ellström Engh Marie , Hilde Gunvor
Published: September 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

To date there has been scant knowledge on the natural recovery of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) after childbirth. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether PFM variables at 6 and 12 months postpartum had returned to mid-pregnancy levels and assess risk factors for reduced recovery at 12 months postpartum.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study following 235 nulliparous pregnant women from mid-pregnancy to 12 months postpartum. Vaginal resting pressure (VRP), PFM strength and endurance were assessed by manometry at 22 weeks, 6 and 12 months postpartum. Multiple linear regression was used to address factors influencing PFM variables beyond birth mode.

Results

Cesarean section was protective for change in PFM variables. From mid-pregnancy to 12 months postpartum there was a 20% reduction in VRP (p<0.001) and a 7.5 % reduction in PFM strength (p=0.007), and an increase of 9% in PFM endurance (p=0.002) in the normal vaginal birth. The instrumental vaginal group had a decline in VRP of 21% (p<0.001) and PFM strength of 15% (p=0.011), but no significant change in PFM endurance. Higher BMI at 12 months postpartum, longer second stage of labor, and major tears of the levator ani muscle had a negative influence on the PFM recovery beyond delivery mode.

Conclusions

At 12 months postpartum following vaginal delivery, the PFMs are not fully recovered compared with mid-pregnancy values. More follow-up physical therapy may be warranted in the postpartum period, especially for women with complicated vaginal births and higher BMI.
Kinetics and antimicrobial activity of gallic acid by novel bacterial co-culture system using Taguchi’s method and submerged fermentation
Authors: Selvaraj Subbalaxmi , Amaral Julia Moraes , Murty Vytla Ramachandra
Published: September 2022

A tannase-positive Bacillus gottheilii M2S2 and Bacillus cereus M1GT were co-cultivated for the production of gallic acid using tannic acid as the sole carbon source through submerged fermentation. Taguchi orthogonal array of design of experimental methodology was used to estimate the influence and significance of tannic acid concentration, glucose concentration, agitation speed, and inoculum size on the gallic acid production in a shake flask. Among all the factors, agitation speed contributed the highest for gallic acid production (28.28%), followed by glucose concentration (21.59%), inoculum size (19.6%), tannic acid concentration (19.54%), and pH (11.09%). Validation experiments were executed at the found optimized conditions which resulted in a 6.36-fold increase in gallic acid yield compared to unoptimized conditions. Further, the kinetics of growth, tannic acid degradation, and gallic acid yield were evaluated at the optimized conditions. The kinetic parameters Y x/s, Y p/s, and Y p/x were determined as 0.292 mg of cells/mg of tannic acid, 22.2 µg of gallic acid/mg of tannic acid, and 70.76 µg of gallic acid/mg of cells with a growth rate of 0.273 h −1 after 24 h of fermentation. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of the product gallic acid was investigated against food-borne pathogenic E. coli, S. aureus, and Serriatia marcescens and showed a zone of inhibition of 2 cm, 1.6 cm, and 1.3 cm, respectively, using the agar disc diffusion technique. Thus, the cost-effective bioproduct gallic acid proved to be potentially effective to control food poisoning diseases and preserve foodstuff.
Quantifying effects on tree growth rates of symmetric and asymmetric inter-tree competition in even-aged, monoculture Eucalyptus pilularis forests
Authors: West P. W.
Published: September 2022

Key message

In even-aged, monoculture eucalypt forest, symmetric inter-tree competition was far more important in determining tree growth rates than asymmetric competition. Tree size principally determined competitive ability at any time.

In even-aged, monoculture forests, individual tree growth rates are much affected by the amount of the resources required for growth (particularly light, water and nutrients) that are available to them from the site on which they are growing. In turn, those amounts are much affected by competition for them between neighbouring trees. Competition may be ‘symmetric’, when tree growth rates are directly proportional to tree sizes, or ‘asymmetric’ when growth rates vary disproportionately with tree sizes. Using a large data set from blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis Smith) forests of sub-tropical eastern Australia, methods were devised to quantify the effects of symmetric and asymmetric competition; they were determined as the change each causes in individual tree growth rates over growth periods of a few years. It was found that symmetric competition was by far the principal determinant of tree growth rates. Asymmetric competition had much lesser effects, but was sufficient to alter substantially the development with age of the frequency distribution of tree sizes. It is concluded that the size of a tree at any time is the principal determinant of both its metabolic capabilities for growth and its competitive status and, hence, its growth rate.
COVID-19 Testing in a Weekly Cohort Study of Gay and Bisexual Men: The Impact of Health-Seeking Behaviors and Social Connection
Authors: Hammoud Mohamed A. , Wells Nathanael , Holt Martin , Bavinton Benjamin , Jin Fengyi , Maher Lisa , Philpot Steven , Haire Bridget , Degenhardt Louisa , Bourne Adam , Saxton Peter , Keen Phillip , Storer Daniel , Prestage Garrett
Published: September 2022

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) have developed community norms for regular HIV/STI testing. We investigated factors associated with self-reported COVID-19 testing in response to reported COVID-19 cases and public health restrictions. Participants responded to weekly cohort surveys between 10th May 2021 and 27th September 2021. We used the Andersen-Gill extensions to the Cox proportional hazards model for multivariable survival data to predict factors influencing COVID-19 testing. Mean age of the 942 study participants was 45.6 years (SD: 13.9). In multivariable analysis, GBM were more likely to report testing during periods of high COVID-19 caseload in their state of residence; if they were younger; university educated; close contact of someone with COVID-19; or reported coping with COVID-19 poorly. COVID-19 testing was higher among men who: were more socially engaged with other GBM; had a higher proportion of friends willing to vaccinate against COVID-19; and were willing to contact sexual partners for contact tracing. Social connection with other gay men was associated with COVID-19 testing, similar to what has been observed throughout the HIV epidemic, making community networks a potential focus for the promotion of COVID-19 safe practices.
Shame, Love, and Morality
Authors: Westerlund Fredrik
Published: September 2022

This article offers a new account of the moral substance of shame. Through careful reflection on the motives and intentional structure of shame, I defend the claim that shame is an egocentric and morally blind emotion. I argue that shame is rooted in our desire for social affirmation and constituted by our ability to sense how we appear to others. What makes shame egocentric is that in shame we are essentially concerned about our own social worth and pained by the perception of our self as socially worthless. In itself, shame entails no morally pertinent concern about others or understanding of what is morally significant. I contrast shame with the possibility of relating to others—and to oneself—with love and care. Indeed, I propose that love is essential for moral understanding and motivation. The argument of the article unfolds through critical appraisals of the main strategies for defending the moral value of shame. First, against the claim that shame entails respect for others, I argue that shame's sensitivity to the opinions of others is motivated by egocentric self-concern. Second, against the view that shame over failures to live up to moral values is morally valuable, I argue that regardless of whether the values guiding our shame are moral or not, the perspective of shame is oblivious to their moral meaning. Third, against the claim that shame is crucial for self-understanding, I argue that the desire for affirmation that drives shame is a powerful source of self-deception.
Cytotoxicity of combinations of the pan-KRAS SOS1 inhibitor BAY-293 against pancreatic cancer cell lines
Authors: Plangger Adelina , Rath Barbara , Stickler Sandra , Hochmair Maximilian , Lang Clemens , Weigl Lukas , Funovics Martin , Hamilton Gerhard
Published: September 2022

KRAS is mutated in approximately 25% of cancer patients and first KRAS G12C-specific inhibitors showed promising responses. Pancreatic cancer has the highest frequency of KRAS mutations but the prevailing KRAS G12D mutation is difficult to target. Inhibition of the GTP exchange factor (GEF) SOS1—KRAS interaction impairs oncogenic signaling independently of the specific KRAS mutations. In general, cell lines exhibiting KRAS mutations show specific alterations in respect to glucose utilization, signal transduction and stress survival. The aim of this investigation was to check the putative synergy of the SOS1 inhibitor BAY-293 with modulators targeting specific vulnerabilities of KRAS-mutated cell lines in vitro. The cytotoxicity of BAY-293 combinations was tested against MIA PaCa-2 (G12C), AsPC1 (G12D) and BxPC3 (KRAS wildtype) cell lines using MTT tests and calculation of the combination indices (CI) according to the Chou-Talalay method. The results show that BAY-293 synergizes with modulators of glucose utilization, inhibitors of the downstream MAPK pathway and several chemotherapeutics in dependence of the specific KRAS status of the cell lines. In particular, divergent responses for BAY-293 combinations between pancreatic and NSCLC cell lines were observed for linsitinib, superior inhibitory effects of trametinib and PD98059 in NSCLC, and lack of activity with doxorubicin in case of the pancreatic cell lines. Phosphoproteome analysis revealed inhibition of distinct signaling pathways by BAY-293 for MIA PaCa-2 on the one hand and for Aspc1 and BH1362 on the other hand. In conclusion, BAY-293 exhibits synergy with drugs in dependence of the tumor type and specific KRAS mutation.
‘Pressure creates diamonds’/‘fire refines gold’: Conceptualizing coping capital
Authors: Kapoor Vikram , Belk Russell
Published: September 2022

While many consumer behavior studies have investigated consumer coping, few have considered it as a source of positive benefits in addition to being a matter of necessity. In this paper, we draw on Bourdieu’s notion of capital to introduce the concept of coping capital—the intentional or unintentional accumulation of resources, such as emotional and epistemic-competencies and skills resulting from coping with adversity, thatmaythereafter exist in an embodied state in the form of mental and physical dispositions—dispositions that later provide benefits in life. We suggest that the benefits of coping capital may be determined using either a prospective or a retrospective approach. These benefits may be anticipated or unanticipated when intentionally coping with adversity, while the benefits are predominantly unanticipated when unintentionally coping. By conceptualizing coping capital, our study makes a domain-level conceptual contribution to research on consumer coping. In addition the concept of coping capital may have broader implications outside of the domain of consumption.
Mining and taxation in Sweden
Authors: Tarras-Wahlberg Håkan
Published: September 2022

The Swedish taxation regime for mining has been criticised for being overly advantageous for mining companies, and for not adequately safeguarding the interests of the state and/or other rights- and stakeholders. The critique has been expressed in the media and in political discourse, whereas more thorough assessments are lacking. This paper addresses this shortcoming, and it uses financial modelling and international comparisons. The Swedish taxation regime for mining is not substantially different from that of other sectors of the economy, and it has also been unchanged for a long time. It includes no royalty nor any fiscal instrument to capture windfall profits, and it is based on statues rather than bespoke contracts. In terms of incomes to the state from mining performed by private companies, the most substantial ones are the corporate income tax (CIT) and the dividend withholding tax. In terms of ensuring local benefits, there is no specific instrument in place for mining. The overall taxation system is such that municipalities charge substantial pay roll taxes, and the taxes derived in this way are of the same order of magnitude as taxes normally derived by the central state through the CIT. This principle of ensuring local benefits may however be under threat, as mining becomes increasingly mechanised—with fewer employees—and with an increasing prevalence of so-called fly in-fly out personnel. The findings confirm that the Swedish tax regime is comparatively generous towards mining companies. Furthermore, the lack of a royalty means that the state foregoes opportunities to earn incomes in times of poor mining profitability, and the lack of a windfall tax similarly gives an uneven distribution of benefits when commodity prices are high. This, in turn, suggests that there is a need for reform. Moreover, the current system includes a so-called mineral fee, which mainly functions to compensate landowners, but a smaller part also falls to the central state. The funds collected by the state in this way are insignificant, and as this component of the mineral fee is both poorly understood and contentious, it is recommended that it be discontinued. It is recommended that in general, economic tools that specifically model the outcomes of taxation regimes for mining be supplemented with general analyses of the whole taxation regime in question, to provide a better basis for analysis, and associated policy advice.
Different Coefficients for Studying Dependence
Authors: Rainio Oona
Published: September 2022

Through computer simulations, we research several different measures of dependence, including Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients, the maximal correlation, the distance correlation, a function of the mutual information called the information coefficient of correlation, and the maximal information coefficient (MIC). We compare how well these coefficients fulfill the criteria of generality, power, and equitability. Furthermore, we consider how the exact type of dependence, the amount of noise and the number of observations affect their performance. According to our results, the maximal correlation is often the best choice of these measures of dependence because it can recognize both functional and non-functional types of dependence, fulfills a certain definition of equitability relatively well, and has very high statistical power when the noise grows if there are enough observations. While Pearson’s correlation does not find symmetric non-monotonic dependence, it has the highest statistical power for recognizing linear and non-linear but monotonic dependence. The MIC is very sensitive to the noise and therefore has the weakest statistical power.
Transporting positive definiteness
Authors: Szafraniec Franciszek Hugon
Published: September 2022

This is a rough guide to the topic which might be worthy to develop
further on. Expanding positive definiteness beyond its presupposed
scope is intriguing due to a number of possible applications. The paper
though looking at the first glance a little bit sketchy may provide a basis
for further research.
Physicochemical properties of imported and locally produced honey did not translate into its microbial quality and antibacterial activity
Authors: Nzeh Joseph , Quansah Lydia , Dufailu Osman Adamu
Published: September 2022

Honey is often considered a good substitute for sugar. However, concerns about the poor quality of locally produced honey have necessitated the importation of honey to meet the domestic demand in spite of Ghana’s good climatic conditions suitable for honey production. Due to the increasing level of demand for honey both locally and internationally, we highlighted here the need for an assessment of the physicochemical, microbiological quality, and antibiotics resistance of microbes isolated from the imported and locally produced honey vis-à-vis international standards. Thirty honey samples which comprise 7 imported and 23 locally produced were randomly sampled from retail outlets consisting of supermarkets, marts, shops, and open markets as well as from production sites within the northern region for physicochemical analysis, microbial analysis, and antibiogram. Results of the physicochemical quality analysis showed that sampled honey (both imported and locally produced) was within acceptable set standards. However, microbial quality was poor as a high incidence of bacterial contamination and resistance was recorded in the study. The High incidence of bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance recorded in this study gives an indication that all is not well in the honey industry and therefore the need for appropriate measures to avert possible health issues associated with the consumption of honey found within the region.
Confucian Culture and Competition Law in East Asia
Authors: Ma Jingyuan , Marquis Mel
Published: September 2022

Competition law is a significant legal transplant in East Asia, where it has come into contact with deeply rooted variants of Confucian culture. This timely volume analyses cultural factors in mainland China, Japan and Korea, focusing on their shared but diversely evolved Confucian heritage. These factors distinguish the competition law systems of these countries from those of major western jurisdictions, in terms of the goals served by the law, the way enforcement is structured, and the way subjects of the law respond to it. Concepts from cultural studies inform a new and eclectic perspective on these dynamics, with the authors also drawing on ideas from law and economics, comparative law, East Asian studies, political science, business management and ethics, and institutional economics. The volume presents a model for cultural analysis of comparative legal topics and contributes to a greater understanding of the challenges to deeper convergence of competition laws between East and West.
Beyond Death in the Oresteia
Authors: Shilo Amit
Published: September 2022

The Oresteia is permeated with depictions of the afterlife, which have never been examined together. In this book Amit Shilo analyses their intertwined and conflicting implications. He argues for a 'poetics of multiplicity' and 'poetics of the beyond' that inform the ongoing debates over justice, fate, ethics, and politics in the trilogy. The book presents novel, textually-grounded readings of Cassandra's fate, Clytemnestra's ghost scene, mourning ritual, hero cult, and punishment by Hades. It offers a fresh perspective on the political thought of the trilogy by contrasting the ethical focus of the Erinyes and Hades with Athena's insistence on divine unity and warfare. Shedding new light on the trilogy as a whole, this book is crucial reading for students and scholars of classical literature and religion. This title is available as open access on Cambridge Core.
International access to research infrastructure in the Arctic
Authors: Ruck Kate , Arndal Marie Frost , Biebow Nicole , Dahl Justiina , Flått Stig , Granskog Mats , Holste Svenja , Lenz Josefine , Mercer Jennifer , Pausch Franziska , Perttu Anna-Maria , Rasch Morten , Samuelsson Maria , Sundfjord Arild , Thomas Femi Anna , Topp-Jørgensen Elmer , Willmott Veronica
Published: September 2022

Reliable access to Arctic research infrastructure is critical to the future of polar science. In cultivating proposals, it is essential that researchers have a deep understanding of existing platforms when selecting the appropriate research site and experimental design for projects. However, Arctic infrastructure platforms are often funded as national assets, and choices for what would be the best platform for the project are sometimes at odds with a researcher’s ability to gain access. Researchers from Arctic and non-Arctic nations are poised to benefit from reducing barriers and increasing cooperation around transnational access to Arctic infrastructure, allowing scientists to successfully execute the research that is most needed rather than what is just logistically feasible. This commentary provides a summary of findings from a workshop held at the 2021 Arctic Science Summit Week to discuss navigating “transnational” or “cross-border” access to national research infrastructure. This workshop brought together users and operators of Arctic infrastructure platforms with the three goals of identifying challenges, best practices, and possible next steps for improved collaboration.
Sudden cardiac arrest response preparedness in Durham County schools
Authors: Sooy-Mossey Meredith , DeRusso Michelle , Green Cynthia L. , Best Debra L.
Published: September 2022

Sudden cardiac arrest is an uncommon event with high morbidity and mortality. There are improved outcomes with early access to an automated external defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We assessed the availability of automated external defibrillators and emergency cardiac arrest plans in schools. A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted to determine the status of emergency cardiac arrest plans and automated external defibrillator presence. Most schools (88%) had access to an automated external defibrillator; however, trained staff and maintenance plans were highly variable. Automated external defibrillator availability did not differ by racial/ethnic or socio-economic composition; however, there was a relationship between number of automated external defibrillators and student population (p = 0.0030). The majority of schools either did not have (28%) or did not know if they had (36%) an emergency cardiac arrest plan. Even without state legislation, automated external defibrillators were largely available in schools. However, there remains a paucity of emergency cardiac arrest plans and automated external defibrillator maintenance plans.
Musicological Archaeology and Constança Capdeville
Authors: Magalhães Filipa
Published: September 2022

In a concert of two sound worlds, one acoustic and the other electroacoustic, it is difficult to balance both sonically. When texts, lights, gestures, and movements from different artistic domains such as theatre, dance, or cinema combine with the music this coexistence creates, the result is a new language: the language of Constança Capdeville.
Extraterrestrial intelligence and moral standing
Authors: Ćirković Milan M. , Katić Ana
Published: September 2022

We consider the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI) activities from a bioethical standpoint. In particular, we argue that there is a moral duty to search for other intelligent beings in the Universe. Some of them could – and are likely to be – morally enhanced in the sense that they are not only capable of unmistakable moral reasoning but are also capable of consistently acting upon the results of such deliberations. Even if the probability of finding such morally superior beings is small, it is higher than zero in any case; in fact, our astrobiological knowledge suggests that this probability is significant. Hence, there are both deductive and inductive arguments for the proposition that our duty is to search for such morally superior extraterrestrial beings. In other words, there is a duty to undertake and support our SETI efforts. The argument to that effect runs parallel to some of the arguments deployed in current debates on human moral enhancement.
The Cambridge “Gang” Meets Iranian Intellectual History: Reimagining Conservatism In Context
Authors: Nachman Alexander
Published: September 2022

The Iranian humanities publication Farhang Emrooz (Today's Culture) published a series of articles on the Cambridge school of intellectual history in May 2016. The journal's colloquium, while hardly the only intervention on the Cambridge school by Iranian scholars, constitutes perhaps the most sophisticated exploration to date of the relationship between the school and Iranian intellectual history. It also excavates what Professor Ḥātam Qāderī defines as conservative currents of historiography in England and Iran. How, this article asks, is Cambridge-style history presented as a conservative approach and what might the school's Iranian reception tell us about the purpose of such a presentation? Furthermore, how do Qāderī and his peers attempt to reform Iranian historiography by diverging from other historiographical currents in Iran?
Effect of varieties and planting dates of bread wheat-lupine intercropping system under additive design in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Bayeh Birhanu , Alemayehu Getachew , Tadesse Tilahun , Alemayehu Melkamu
Published: September 2022

Food production on ever-dwindling agricultural land is a severe problem in Ethiopia, necessitating the adoption of more efficient and sustainable land-use strategies to feed the country's growing population. The benefits of intercropping are known to be limited by a variety of factors such as companion crop sowing date and variety. The present study was therefore initiated to evaluate the effect of varieties and planting dates of lupines in bread wheat-lupine under an additive design intercropping system in Northwest Ethiopia. Field experiments were conducted for two years in Adet and Debre Tabor experimental sites. The treatments consisted of four planting dates of lupines and two varieties of lupine. Moreover, the sole crop of bread wheat (Triticum aestivumeL.), local lupine (Lupinus albusL.) and sweet lupine (Lupinus angustifloliusL.) were also included. The experiments were laid out in factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that at the Adet experimental site, the highest land equivalent ratio (LER) was recorded in the simultaneous planting of sweet lupine and bread wheat (1.3), followed by the planting of sweet lupine two weeks after bread wheat (1.23). While at Debre Tabor experimental site, the highest LER was recorded in planting sweet lupine two weeks after bread wheat (1.67). A greater area time equivalent ratio (ATER) was reported in the simultaneous planting of sweet lupine and bread wheat (1.29), followed by the planting of sweet lupine after bread wheat (1.22) at the Adet experimental site. A greater ATER was also recorded in the planting of sweet lupine after bread wheat (1.53) had the highest ATER in Debre Tabor, followed by simultaneous planting of sweet lupine after bread wheat (1.39) intercropping. This revealed that sole cropping would necessitate 29 and 53% more area, respectively, to attain the same yield as intercropping. In Adet, the simultaneous planting of sweet lupine and bread wheat intercropping, while in Debre Tabor, planting of sweet lupine two weeks after bread wheat boosted productivity, and production efficiency and is a viable option for increasing household food security.
Exploration of Atmosphere‐Only Model Deficiencies in Reproducing the 1992–2011 Pacific Trade Wind Acceleration
Authors: van Rensch Peter , McGregor Shayne , Dommenget Dietmar
Published: September 2022

A robust simulation of tropical Pacific Ocean decadal‐scale zonal wind stress trends can increase the confidence in projections of global surface temperature and regional sea level rise, yet coupled general circulation models simulate weaker trends than observed. When forced with observed sea surface temperatures, the atmospheric component of these models still simulates a weaker zonal wind stress trend during 1992–2008 (and 1992–2011) than observed. Yet, this decadal wind trend bias is not evident at the 850 hPa level. We show that the modelled wind trend bias is related to deficiencies in monthly wind stress variability. Furthermore, the strength of the connectivity between the surface and 850 hPa was also an indicator of the wind stress trend. Models that simulated a more realistic wind stress trend tend to simulate a stronger Pacific zonal sea level pressure gradient intensification than observed and a South Pacific Convergence Zone shift like that observed.
Time Variable Stress Inversion of Centroid Moment Tensor Data Using Gaussian Processes
Authors: Okazaki Tomohisa , Fukahata Yukitoshi , Ueda Naonori
Published: September 2022

This study presents a new method of centroid moment tensor (CMT) data inversion to estimate time‐dependent regional stress fields. The Gaussian process (GP) is applied to resolve the computational difficulty of the existing basis function expansion method when analyzing high‐dimensional data, including time dependence. A critical step in the formulation is an analytical derivation of the relationship of the covariance function, which is a key ingredient of GP, between CMT data and the model stress field based on an observation equation. The validity and efficiency of the proposed method are verified through applications to CMT data in and around Japan after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The estimated stress field exhibits small‐scale heterogeneity in space and long‐term stability in time for most regions. Additionally, significant temporal variations are observed around the margin of the focal region of the 2011 event, with opposite changes on landward and oceanward sides. GP would be particularly effective for geophysical inversions of high‐dimensional data distributed over a broad region.
An ecological animal model of subthreshold depression in adolescence: behavioral and resting state 18F-FDG PET imaging characterization
Authors: Accrombessi Georgine , Galineau Laurent , Tauber Clovis , Serrière Sophie , Moyer Esteban , Brizard Bruno , Le Guisquet Anne-Marie , Surget Alexandre , Belzung Catherine
Published: September 2022

The different depressive disorders that exist can take root at adolescence. For instance, some functional and structural changes in several brain regions have been observed from adolescence in subjects that display either high vulnerability to depressive symptoms or subthreshold depression. For instance, adolescents with depressive disorder have been shown to exhibit hyperactivity in hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex as well as volume reductions in hippocampus and amygdala (prefrontal cortex showing more variable results). However, no animal model of adolescent subthreshold depression has been developed so far. Our objective was to design an animal model of adolescent subthreshold depression and to characterize the neural changes associated to this phenotype. For this purpose, we used adolescent Swiss mice that were evaluated on 4 tests assessing cognitive abilities (Morris water maze), anhedonia (sucrose preference), anxiety (open-field) and stress-coping strategies (forced swim test) at postnatal day (PND) 28–35. In order to identify neural alterations associated to behavioral profiles, we assessed brain resting state metabolic activity in vivo using18F-FDG PET imaging at PND 37. We selected three profiles of mice distinguished in a composite Z-score computed from performances in the behavioral tests: High, Intermediate and Low Depressive Risk (HDR, IDR and LDR). Compared to both IDR and LDR, HDR mice were characterized by passive stress-coping behaviors, low cognition and high anhedonia and anxiety and were associated with significant changes of18F-FDG uptakes in several cortical and subcortical areas including prelimbic cortex, infralimbic cortex, nucleus accumbens, amygdala, periaqueductal gray and superior colliculus, all displaying higher metabolic activity, while only the thalamus was associated with lower metabolic activity (compared to IDR). LDR displayed an opposing behavioral phenotype and were associated with significant changes of18F-FDG uptakes in the dorsal striatum and thalamus that both exhibited markedly lower metabolic activity in LDR. In conclusion, our study revealed changes in metabolic activities that can represent neural signatures for behavioral profiles predicting subthreshold depression at adolescence in a mouse model.
Clinical outcomes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia with disease progression on ibrutinib
Authors: Hampel Paul J. , Rabe Kari G. , Call Timothy G. , Ding Wei , Leis Jose F. , Chanan-Khan Asher A. , Kenderian Saad S. , Muchtar Eli , Wang Yucai , Ailawadhi Sikander , Koehler Amber B. , Parrondo Ricardo , Schwager Susan M. , Sher Taimur , Hanson Curtis A. , Shi Min , Van Dyke Daniel L. , Braggio Esteban , Slager Susan L. , Kay Neil E. , Parikh Sameer A.
Published: September 2022

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with disease progression on ibrutinib have worse outcomes compared to patients stopping ibrutinib due to toxicity. A better understanding of expected outcomes in these patients is necessary to establish a benchmark for evaluating novel agents currently available and in development. We evaluated outcomes of 144 patients with CLL treated at Mayo Clinic with 2018 iwCLL disease progression on ibrutinib. The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 25.5 months; it was 29.8 months and 8.3 months among patients with CLL progression (n = 104) and Richter transformation (n = 38), respectively. Longer OS was observed among patients with CLL progression who had received ibrutinib in the frontline compared to relapsed/refractory setting (not reached versus 28.5 months; p = 0.04), but was similar amongst patients treated with 1, 2, or ≥3 prior lines (18.5, 30.9, and 26.0 months, respectively, p = 0.24). Among patients with CLL disease progression on ibrutinib, OS was significantly longer when next-line treatment was chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (median not reached) or venetoclax-based treatment (median 29.8 months) compared to other approved treatments, such as chemoimmunotherapy, phosphoinositide 3’-kinase inhibitors, and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (9.1 months; p = 0.03). These findings suggest an unmet need for this growing patient population.
Identification of two pathways mediating protein targeting from ER to lipid droplets
Authors: Song Jiunn , Mizrak Arda , Lee Chia-Wei , Cicconet Marcelo , Lai Zon Weng , Tang Wei-Chun , Lu Chieh-Han , Mohr Stephanie E. , Farese Robert V. , Walther Tobias C.
Published: September 2022

Pathways localizing proteins to their sites of action are essential for eukaryotic cell organization and function. Although mechanisms of protein targeting to many organelles have been defined, how proteins, such as metabolic enzymes, target from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cellular lipid droplets (LDs) is poorly understood. Here we identify two distinct pathways for ER-to-LD protein targeting: early targeting at LD formation sites during formation, and late targeting to mature LDs after their formation. Using systematic, unbiased approaches inDrosophilacells, we identified specific membrane-fusion machinery, including regulators, a tether and SNARE proteins, that are required for the late targeting pathway. Components of this fusion machinery localize to LD–ER interfaces and organize at ER exit sites. We identified multiple cargoes for early and late ER-to-LD targeting pathways. Our findings provide a model for how proteins target to LDs from the ER either during LD formation or by protein-catalysed formation of membrane bridges.
Myo-inositol moderates maternal BMI and glycemia related variations in in-vitro placental 13C-DHA-metabolism, altering their relationships with birthweight
Authors: Watkins Oliver C. , Selvam Preben , Pillai Reshma Appukuttan , Cracknell-Hazra Victoria K. B. , Yong Hannah E. J. , Sharma Neha , Cazenave-Gassiot Amaury , Bendt Anne K. , Godfrey Keith M. , Lewis Rohan M. , Wenk Markus R. , Chan Shiao-Yng
Published: September 2022

Transplacental docosahexaenoic-acid (DHA) supply for fetal development is regulated by placental DHA-lipid metabolism. Both maternal diabetes and obesity are linked to possible decreased fetal circulating DHA and increased placental DHA-lipids. Since myo-inositol is a promising intervention for gestational diabetes (GDM), we aimed to determine whether myo-inositol could rectify perturbations in placental DHA metabolism associated with maternal increasing glycemia and obesity and examine links with birthweight. Term placental villous explants from 17 women representing a range of BMIs and mid-gestational glycemia, were incubated with 13C-labeled-DHA for 48 h, in 0.3 µmol/L (control) or 60 µmol/L myo-inositol. Individual newly synthesized 13C-DHA-labeled lipid species were quantified by liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. Compared with controls, incubation with myo-inositol decreased most 13C-DHA-lipids in placental explants from women with higher BMI or higher glycemia, but increased 13C-DHA-lipids with normal BMI or lower glycemia. Myo-inositol also increased 13C-DHA-labeled lipids in cases of lower birthweight centile, but induced decreases at higher centiles. Myo-inositol therefore lowered DHA-lipids in placenta with high basal placental DHA-lipid production (higher BMI and glycemia) but increased DHA-lipids where basal processing capacity is low. Myo-inositol thus moderates placental DHA metabolism towards a physiological mean which may in turn moderate birthweight.
Avalanche criticality in LaAlO$$_3$$ and the effect of aspect ratio
Authors: Scott John J. R. , Casals Blai , Luo King-Fa , Haq Atta , Mariotti Davide , Salje Ekhard K. H. , Arredondo Miryam
Published: September 2022

Ferroic domain dynamics, as a function of external stimuli, can be collectively described as scale-invariant avalanches characterised by a critical exponent that are sensitive to the complexity of the domain microstructure. The understanding and manipulation of these avalanches lies at the heart of developing novel applications such as neuromorphic computing. Here we combine in situ heating optical observations and mean-field analysis to investigate the collective domain behaviour in pure-ferroelastic lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO$$_3$$

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) as a function of aspect ratio, the ratio of sample length to width, where the movement of the domains is predominantly driven by thermal stresses via thermal expansion/contraction during heat cycling. Our observations demonstrate that the aspect ratio induces (1) distinctive domain microstructures at room temperature, (2) a deviation of dynamical behaviour at high temperatures and (3) critical exponent mixing in the higher aspect ratio samples that accompanies this behaviour. While the critical exponents of each aspect ratio fall within mean-field predicted values, we highlight the effect that the aspect ratio has in inducing exponent mixing. Hence, furthering our understanding towards tuning and controlling avalanches which is crucial for fundamental and applied research.
Comparison of treatment methods for submacular hemorrhage in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: conservative versus active surgical strategy
Authors: Mun Yongseok , Park Kyu Hyung , Park Sang Jun , Cho Han Joo , Kim Chul Gu , Kim Jong Woo , Park Dong Geun , Sagong Min , Kim Jae Hui , Woo Se Joon
Published: September 2022

The optimal treatment of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) following neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is controversial. This study aimed to compare visual outcomes of conservative versus active surgical treatment. Two hundred thirty-six eyes of 236 patients with SMH (≥ 1 disc diameter) were stratified into four groups: observation (n = 21); anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy (n = 161); non-surgical gas tamponade (n = 31); and subretinal surgery (n = 23). The primary outcome was best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 12 months. The baseline BCVAs of the observation, anti-VEGF monotherapy, non-surgical gas tamponade, and subretinal surgery groups were 1.50 ± 0.70, 1.09 ± 0.70, 1.31 ± 0.83, and 1.62 ± 0.77 logarithm of minimal angle resolution (LogMAR), respectively. The mean BCVAs at 12 months were 1.39 ± 0.84, 0.90 ± 0.83, 1.35 ± 0.88, and 1.44 ± 0.91 LogMAR, respectively. After adjusting for age, baseline BCVA, SMH size, and the number of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections before SMH, the mean BCVA showed no significant difference among treatments at 12 months (P = 0.204). The anti-VEGF monotherapy group showed better mean BCVA significantly at 3 months (P < 0.001). Only baseline BCVA was associated with VA gain at 12 months (Odds ratio = 3.53, P < 0.001). This study demonstrated that there was no difference in 12 month visual outcomes among treatments and a better early visual outcome can be expected with anti-VEGF monotherapy.
Localized, time-dependent responses of rat cranial bone to repeated mild traumatic brain injuries
Authors: Dill Larissa K. , Sims Natalie A. , Shad Ali , Anyaegbu Chidozie , Warnock Andrew , Mao Yilin , Fitzgerald Melinda , Semple Bridgette D.
Published: September 2022

While it is well-established that bone responds dynamically to mechanical loading, the effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on cranial bone composition are unclear. We hypothesized that repeated mTBI (rmTBI) would change the microstructure of cranial bones, without gross skull fractures. To address this, young adult female Piebald Viral Glaxo rats received sham, 1×, 2× or 3× closed-head mTBIs delivered at 24 h intervals, using a weight-drop device custom-built for reproducible impact. Skull bones were collected at 2 or 10 weeks after the final injury/sham procedure, imaged by micro computed tomography and analyzed at predetermined regions of interest. In the interparietal bone, proximal to the injury site, modest increases in bone thickness were observed at 2 weeks, particularly following 2× and 3× mTBI. By 10 weeks, 2× mTBI induced a robust increase in the volume and thickness of the interparietal bone, alongside a corresponding decrease in the volume of marrow cavities in the diploë region. In contrast, neither parietal nor frontal skull samples were affected by rmTBI. Our findings demonstrate time- and location-dependent effects of rmTBI on cranial bone structure, highlighting a need to consider microstructural alterations to cranial bone when assessing the consequences of rmTBI.
Coupled discrete phase model and Eulerian wall film model for numerical simulation of respiratory droplet generation during coughing
Authors: Anzai Hitomi , Shindo Yugo , Kohata Yutaro , Hasegawa Masahiro , Takana Hidemasa , Matsunaga Tetsuro , Akaike Takaaki , Ohta Makoto
Published: September 2022

Computational fluid dynamics is widely used to simulate droplet-spreading behavior due to respiratory events. However, droplet generation inside the body, such as the number, mass, and particle size distribution, has not been quantitatively analyzed. The aim of this study was to identify quantitative characteristics of droplet generation during coughing. Airflow simulations were performed by coupling the discrete phase model and Eulerian wall film model to reproduce shear-induced stripping of airway mucosa. An ideal airway model with symmetric bifurcations was constructed, and the wall domain was covered by a mucous liquid film. The results of the transient airflow simulation indicated that the droplets had a wide particle size distribution of 0.1–400 µm, and smaller droplets were generated in larger numbers. In addition, the total mass and number of droplets generated increased with an increasing airflow. The total mass of the droplets also increased with an increasing mucous viscosity, and the largest number and size of droplets were obtained at a viscosity of 8 mPa s. The simulation methods used in this study can be used to quantify the particle size distribution and maximum particle diameter under various conditions.
Detection of human pathogenic bacteria in rectal DNA samples from Zalophus californianus in the Gulf of California, Mexico
Authors: Cicala Francesco , Ramírez-Delgado David , Gómez-Reyes Ricardo , Martínez-Porchas Marcel , Rojas-Vargas Jorge , Pardo-López Liliana , Licea-Navarro Alexei F.
Published: September 2022

Human intrusions into undisturbed wildlife areas greatly contribute to the emergence of infectious diseases. To minimize the impacts of novel emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) on human health, a comprehensive understanding of the microbial species that reside within wildlife species is required. The Gulf of California (GoC) is an example of an undisturbed ecosystem. However, in recent decades, anthropogenic activities within the GoC have increased. Zalophus californianus has been proposed as the main sentinel species in the GoC; hence, an assessment of sea lion bacterial microbiota may reveal hidden risks for human health. We evaluated the presence of potential human pathogenic bacterial species from the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of wild sea lions through a metabarcoding approach. To comprehensively evaluate this bacterial consortium, we considered the genetic information of six hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA. Potential human pathogenic bacteria were identified down to the species level by integrating the RDP and Pplacer classifier outputs. The combined genetic information from all analyzed regions suggests the presence of at least 44 human pathogenic bacterial species, including Shigella dysenteriae and Bacillus anthracis. Therefore, the risks of EIDs from this area should be not underestimated.
Optimization two-qubit quantum gate by two optical control methods in molecular pendular states
Authors: Li Jin-Fang , Hu Jie-Ru , Wan Feng , He Dong-Shan
Published: September 2022

Implementation of quantum gates are important for quantum computations in physical system made of polar molecules. We investigate the feasibility of implementing gates based on pendular states of the molecular system by two different quantum optical control methods. Firstly, the Multi-Target optimal control theory and the Multi-Constraint optimal control theory are described for optimizing control fields and accomplish the optimization of quantum gates. Numerical results show that the controlled NOT gate (CNOT) can be realized under the control of above methods with high fidelities (0.975 and 0.999) respectively. In addition, in order to examine the dependence of the fidelity on energy difference in the same molecular system, the SWAP gate in the molecular system is also optimized with high fidelity (0.999) by the Multi-Constraint optimal control theory with the zero-area and constant-fluence constraints.
Determinants of cervical cancer screening utilization among women in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Ayanto Samuel Yohannes , Belachew Tefera , Wordofa Muluemebet Abera
Published: September 2022

Cervical cancer has been an important public health problem. Despite the availability of screening services, its utilization in Ethiopia is low. This study therefore, aimed to identify contextual predictors of cervical cancer screening utilization among eligible women. This study employed facility-based unmatched case–control study design. Data were collected from 410 participants using interviewer-administered techniques. The collected data were entered using EpiInfo version 7 and transported to SPSS version 20 for statistical analysis. We performed descriptive analysis and logistic regression to identify predictors of screening utilization. This study demonstrated that urban residence, being in marital union, membership in women development army, knowledge of cervical cancer screening location, use of maternal health care in the previous year and knowledge on cervical cancer and its screening were predictors of screening utilization. Therefore, it is important to improve women’s knowledge on cervical cancer, promote maternal health care use, disseminate health information through women’s groups and consider all positive effects of urban residence among rural women to improve screening utilization.