bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Roy Woodall 1930–2021
Authors: McFadden Phil
Published: July 2023

Facing a choice between postgraduate study and the world of work, Roy Woodall took the advice of his research supervisor at the University of California, Berkeley, to return to Australia and find ore deposits. He spent almost all his working life with Western Mining Corporation where, from 1967 to 2001, he was successively Chief Geologist, Exploration Manager, and Director of Exploration. From humble beginnings he formed and led the team that became Australia’s greatest discoverer of ore deposits, including Olympic Dam, while he was recognised internationally as an icon in the mineral exploration world.
Genetic analysis reveals spatial structure in an expanding introduced rusa deer population
Authors: Li-Williams Scarlett , Stuart Katarina C. , Comte Sebastien , Forsyth David M. , Dawson Michelle , Sherwin William B. , Rollins Lee A.
Published: July 2023

Context Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis), originally introduced in the 1860s, are still spreading in eastern Australia. The expanding peri-urban rusa deer population in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia is having undesirable impacts on human and ecological communities, but the spatial structure of this population has not been investigated. Genetic information on invasive species is potentially useful in identifying management units to mitigate undesirable impacts. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate population structure, characterise dispersal, and determine if natural and human-made landscape features affected gene flow in rusa deer invading the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Methods We used reduced representation sequencing (DArT-Seq) to analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms distributed throughout the genomic DNA of rusa deer culled during a management program. We used admixture and Principal Component Analyses to investigate population structure with respect to natural and human-made landscape features, and we investigated whether our genetic data supported the presence of sex-biased dispersal. Key results Genetic diversity was highest in the north, near the original introduction site. A railway line demarcated restricted gene flow. Surprisingly, the Illawarra escarpment, a prominent landscape feature, did not restrict gene flow. There was no evidence of sex-biased dispersal and seven individuals were identified as genetic outliers. Conclusions The genetic structure of the Illawarra rusa deer population is consistent with individuals spreading south from their introduction site in Royal National Park. The population is not panmictic, and a landscape feature associated with urbanisation was associated with increased spatial genetic structure. Outliers could indicate hybridisation or secondary incursion events. Implications Rusa deer can be expected to continue invading southwards in the Illawarra region, but landscape features associated with urbanisation might reduce dispersal across the landscape. The genetic structuring of the population identified three potential management units on which to prioritise ground shooting operations.
Large motherhood penalties in US administrative microdata
Authors: Almond Douglas , Cheng Yi , Machado Cecilia
Published: July 2023

Whereas previous research has described motherhood penalties in US survey data, we leverage administrative data on 811,000 quarterly earnings histories from the US Unemployment Insurance program. We analyze contexts where smaller motherhood penalties might be expected: couples where the woman outearns her male partner prior to childbearing, at firms that are headed by women, and at firms that are predominantly women. Our startling result is that none of these propitious contexts appear to diminish the motherhood penalty, and indeed, the gap often increases in magnitude over time following childbearing. We estimate one of the largest motherhood penalties in “female-breadwinner” families, where higher-earning women experience a 60% drop from their prechildbirth earnings relative to their male partners. Turning to proximate mechanisms, women are less likely to switch to a higher-paying firm postchildbearing than men and are substantially more likely to quit the labor force. On the whole, our findings are discouraging relative even to existing research on motherhood penalties.
Aberrant LYZ expression in tumor cells serves as the potential biomarker and target for HCC and promotes tumor progression via csGRP78
Authors: Gu Zhiwen , Wang Lei , Dong Qian , Xu Kaikun , Ye Jingnan , Shao Xianfeng , Yang Songpeng , Lu Cuixiu , Chang Cheng , Hou Yushan , Zhai Yuanjun , Wang Xinxin , He Fuchu , Sun Aihua
Published: July 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) takes the predominant malignancy of hepatocytes with bleak outcomes owing to high heterogeneity among patients. Personalized treatments based on molecular profiles will better improve patients’ prognosis. Lysozyme (LYZ), a secretory protein with antibacterial function generally expressed in monocytes/macrophages, has been observed for the prognostic implications in different types of tumors. However, studies about the explicit applicative scenarios and mechanisms for tumor progression are still quite limited, especially for HCC. Here, based on the proteomic molecular classification data of early-stage HCC, we revealed that the LYZ level was elevated significantly in the most malignant HCC subtype and could serve as an independent prognostic predictor for HCC patients. Molecular profiles of LYZ-high HCCs were typical of those for the most malignant HCC subtype, with impaired metabolism, along with promoted proliferation and metastasis characteristics. Further studies demonstrated that LYZ tended to be aberrantly expressed in poorly differentiated HCC cells, which was regulated by STAT3 activation. LYZ promoted HCC proliferation and migration in both autocrine and paracrine manners independent of the muramidase activity through the activation of downstream protumoral signaling pathways via cell surface GRP78. Subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft tumor models indicated that targeting LYZ inhibited HCC growth markedly in NOD/SCID mice. These results propose LYZ as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the subclass of HCC with an aggressive phenotype.
A simple mechanism for collective decision-making in the absence of payoff information
Authors: Carlesso Daniele , McNab Justin M. , Lustri Christopher J. , Garnier Simon , Reid Chris R.
Published: July 2023

Animals are often faced with time-critical decisions without prior information about their actions’ outcomes. In such scenarios, individuals budget their investment into the task to cut their losses in case of an adverse outcome. In animal groups, this may be challenging because group members can only access local information, and consensus can only be achieved through distributed interactions among individuals. Here, we combined experimental analyses with theoretical modeling to investigate how groups modulate their investment into tasks in uncertain conditions. Workers of the arboreal weaver antOecophylla smaragdinaform three-dimensional chains using their own bodies to bridge vertical gaps between existing trails and new areas to explore. The cost of a chain increases with its length because ants participating in the structure are prevented from performing other tasks. The payoffs of chain formation, however, remain unknown to the ants until the chain is complete and they can explore the new area. We demonstrate that weaver ants cap their investment into chains, and do not form complete chains when the gap is taller than 90 mm. We show that individual ants budget the time they spend in chains depending on their distance to the ground, and propose a distance-based model of chain formation that explains the emergence of this tradeoff without the need to invoke complex cognition. Our study provides insights into the proximate mechanisms that lead individuals to engage (or not) in collective actions and furthers our knowledge of how decentralized groups make adaptive decisions in uncertain conditions.
A preparative small-molecule mimic of liver CYP450 enzymes in the aliphatic C–H oxidation of carbocyclic
N
-heterocycles
Authors: Chambers Rachel K. , Weaver Jacob D. , Kim Jinho , Hoar Jason L. , Krska Shane W. , White M. Christina
Published: July 2023

An emerging trend in small-molecule pharmaceuticals, generally composed of nitrogen heterocycles (
N
-heterocycles), is the incorporation of aliphatic fragments. Derivatization of the aliphatic fragments to improve drug properties or identify metabolites often requires lengthy de novo syntheses. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes are capable of direct site- and chemo-selective oxidation of a broad range of substrates but are not preparative. A chemoinformatic analysis underscored limited structural diversity of
N
-heterocyclic substrates oxidized using chemical methods relative to pharmaceutical chemical space. Here, we describe a preparative chemical method for direct aliphatic oxidation that tolerates a wide range of nitrogen functionality (chemoselective) and matches the site of oxidation (site-selective) of liver CYP450 enzymes. Commercial small-molecule catalyst Mn(CF
3
-PDP) selectively effects direct methylene oxidation in compounds bearing 25 distinct heterocycles including 14 out of 27 of the most frequent
N
-heterocycles found in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. Mn(CF
3
-PDP) oxidations of carbocyclic bioisostere drug candidates (for example, HCV NS5B and COX-2 inhibitors including valdecoxib and celecoxib derivatives) and precursors of antipsychotic drugs blonanserin, buspirone, and tiospirone and the fungicide penconazole are demonstrated to match the major site of aliphatic metabolism obtained with liver microsomes. Oxidations are demonstrated at low Mn(CF
3
-PDP) loadings (2.5 to 5 mol%) on gram scales of substrate to furnish preparative amounts of oxidized products. A chemoinformatic analysis supports that Mn(CF
3
-PDP) significantly expands the pharmaceutical chemical space accessible to small-molecule C–H oxidation catalysis.
Hydrodynamic coupling melts acoustically levitated crystalline rafts
Authors: Wu Brady , VanSaders Bryan , Lim Melody X. , Jaeger Heinrich M.
Published: July 2023

Going beyond the manipulation of individual particles, first steps have recently been undertaken with acoustic levitation in air to investigate the collective dynamical properties of many-body systems self-assembled within the levitation plane. However, these assemblies have been limited to two-dimensional, close-packed rafts where forces due to scattered sound pull particles into direct frictional contact. Here, we overcome this restriction using particles small enough that the viscosity of air establishes a repulsive streaming flow at close range. By tuning the particle size relative to the characteristic length scale for viscous streaming, we control the interplay between attractive and repulsive forces and show how particles can be assembled into monolayer lattices with tunable spacing. While the strength of the levitating sound field does not affect the particles’ steady-state separation, it controls the emergence of spontaneous excitations that can drive particle rearrangements in an effectively dissipationless, underdamped environment. Under the action of these excitations, a quiescent particle lattice transitions from a predominantly crystalline structure to a two-dimensional liquid-like state. We find that this transition is characterized by dynamic heterogeneity and intermittency, involving cooperative particle movements that remove the timescale associated with caging for the crystalline lattice. These results shed light on the nature of athermal excitations and instabilities that can arise from strong hydrodynamic coupling among interacting particles.
Sex and interferon gamma signaling regulate microglia migration in the adult mouse cortex in vivo
Authors: Boghozian Roobina , Sharma Sorabh , Narayana Kamal , Cheema Manjinder , Brown Craig E.
Published: July 2023

Although microglia possess the unique ability to migrate, whether mobility is evident in all microglia, is sex dependent, and what molecular mechanisms drive this, is not well understood in the adult brain. Using longitudinal in vivo two-photon imaging of sparsely labeled microglia, we find a relatively small population of microglia (~5%) are mobile under normal conditions. Following injury (microbleed), the fraction of mobile microglia increased in a sex-dependent manner, with male microglia migrating significantly greater distances toward the microbleed relative to their female counterparts. To understand the signaling pathways involved, we interrogated the role of interferon gamma (IFNγ). Our data show that in male mice, stimulating microglia with IFNγ promotes migration whereas inhibiting IFNγ receptor 1 signaling inhibits them. By contrast, female microglia were generally unaffected by these manipulations. These findings highlight the diversity of microglia migratory responses to injury, its dependence on sex and the signaling mechanisms that modulate this behavior.
KRAS mutation-driven angiopoietin 2 bestows anti-VEGF resistance in epithelial carcinomas
Authors: Hosaka Kayoko , Andersson Patrik , Wu Jieyu , He Xingkang , Du Qiqiao , Jing Xu , Seki Takahiro , Gao Juan , Zhang Yin , Sun Xiaoting , Huang Ping , Yang Yunlong , Ge Minghua , Cao Yihai
Published: July 2023

Defining reliable surrogate markers and overcoming drug resistance are the most challenging issues for improving therapeutic outcomes of antiangiogenic drugs (AADs) in cancer patients. At the time of this writing, no biomarkers are clinically available to predict AAD therapeutic benefits and drug resistance. Here, we uncovered a unique mechanism of AAD resistance in epithelial carcinomas with KRAS mutations that targeted angiopoietin 2 (ANG2) to circumvent antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) responses. Mechanistically, KRAS mutations up-regulated the FOXC2 transcription factor that directly elevated ANG2 expression at the transcriptional level. ANG2 bestowed anti-VEGF resistance as an alternative pathway to augment VEGF-independent tumor angiogenesis. Most colorectal and pancreatic cancers with KRAS mutations were intrinsically resistant to monotherapies of anti-VEGF or anti-ANG2 drugs. However, combination therapy with anti-VEGF and anti-ANG2 drugs produced synergistic and potent anticancer effects in KRAS-mutated cancers. Together, these data demonstrate that KRAS mutations in tumors serve as a predictive marker for anti-VEGF resistance and are susceptible to combination therapy with anti-VEGF and anti-ANG2 drugs.
Dissecting neuron-specific functions of circadian genes using modified cell-specific CRISPR approaches
Authors: Richhariya Shlesha , Shin Daniel , Le Jasmine Quynh , Rosbash Michael
Published: July 2023

Circadian behavioral rhythms in
Drosophila melanogaster
are regulated by about 75 pairs of brain neurons. They all express the core clock genes but have distinct functions and gene expression profiles. To understand the importance of these distinct molecular programs, neuron-specific gene manipulations are essential. Although RNAi based methods are standard to manipulate gene expression in a cell-specific manner, they are often ineffective, especially in assays involving smaller numbers of neurons or weaker Gal4 drivers. We and others recently exploited a neuron-specific CRISPR-based method to mutagenize genes within circadian neurons. Here, we further explore this approach to mutagenize three well-studied clock genes: the transcription factor gene
vrille,
the photoreceptor gene
Cryptochrome
(
cry
), and the neuropeptide gene
Pdf
(pigment dispersing factor). The CRISPR-based strategy not only reproduced their known phenotypes but also assigned
cry
function for different light-mediated phenotypes to discrete, different subsets of clock neurons. We further tested two recently published methods for temporal regulation in adult neurons, inducible Cas9 and the auxin-inducible gene expression system. The results were not identical, but both approaches successfully showed that the adult-specific knockout of the neuropeptide
Pdf
reproduces the canonical loss-of-function mutant phenotypes. In summary, a CRISPR-based strategy is a highly effective, reliable, and general method to temporally manipulate gene function in specific adult neurons.
Root-knot nematodes produce functional mimics of tyrosine-sulfated plant peptides
Authors: Yimer Henok Zemene , Luu Dee Dee , Coomer Blundell Alison , Ercoli Maria Florencia , Vieira Paulo , Williamson Valerie M. , Ronald Pamela C. , Siddique Shahid
Published: July 2023

Root-knot nematodes (
Meloidogyne
spp.) are highly evolved obligate parasites threatening global food security. These parasites have a remarkable ability to establish elaborate feeding sites in roots, which are their only source of nutrients throughout their life cycle. A wide range of nematode effectors have been implicated in modulation of host pathways for defense suppression and/or feeding site development. Plants produce a diverse array of peptide hormones including
PLANT PEPTIDE CONTAINING SULFATED TYROSINE
(PSY)-family peptides, which promote root growth via cell expansion and proliferation. A sulfated PSY-like peptide RaxX (required for activation of XA21 mediated immunity X) produced by the biotrophic bacterial pathogen (
Xanthomonas oryzae
pv.
oryzae
) has been previously shown to contribute to bacterial virulence. Here, we report the identification of genes from root-knot nematodes predicted to encode PSY-like peptides (MigPSYs) with high sequence similarity to both bacterial RaxX and plant PSYs. Synthetic sulfated peptides corresponding to predicted MigPSYs stimulate root growth in Arabidopsis.
MigPSY
transcript levels are highest early in the infection cycle. Downregulation of
MigPSY
gene expression reduces root galling and egg production, suggesting that the MigPSYs serve as nematode virulence factors. Together, these results indicate that nematodes and bacteria exploit similar sulfated peptides to hijack plant developmental signaling pathways to facilitate parasitism.
Single cobalt atoms anchored on Ti
3
C
2
T
x
with dual reaction sites for efficient adsorption–degradation of antibiotic resistance genes
Authors: Li Mingmei , Wang Pengfei , Zhang Kaida , Zhang Hongxiang , Bao Yueping , Li Yi , Zhan Sihui , Crittenden John C.
Published: July 2023

The assimilation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) by pathogenic bacteria poses a severe threat to public health. Here, we reported a dual-reaction-site–modified Co
SA
/Ti
3
C
2
T
x
(single cobalt atoms immobilized on Ti
3
C
2
T
x
MXene) for effectively deactivating extracellular ARGs via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The enhanced removal of ARGs was attributed to the synergistic effect of adsorption (Ti sites) and degradation (Co-O
3
sites). The Ti sites on Co
SA
/Ti
3
C
2
T
x
nanosheets bound with PO
4
3−
on the phosphate skeletons of ARGs via Ti–O–P coordination interactions, achieving excellent adsorption capacity (10.21 × 10
10
copies mg
−1
) for
tetA,
and the Co–O
3
sites activated PMS into surface-bond hydroxyl radicals (•OH
surface
), which can quickly attack the backbones and bases of the adsorbed ARGs, resulting in the efficient in situ degradation of ARGs into inactive small molecular organics and NO
3
. This dual-reaction-site Fenton-like system exhibited ultrahigh extracellular ARG degradation rate (k > 0.9 min
−1
) and showed the potential for practical wastewater treatment in a membrane filtration process, which provided insights for extracellular ARG removal via catalysts design.
Functional interrogation of lymphocyte subsets in alopecia areata using single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Lee Eunice Y. , Dai Zhenpeng , Jaiswal Abhinav , Wang Eddy Hsi Chun , Anandasabapathy Niroshana , Christiano Angela M.
Published: July 2023

Alopecia areata (AA) is among the most prevalent autoimmune diseases, but the development of innovative therapeutic strategies has lagged due to an incomplete understanding of the immunological underpinnings of disease. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) of skin-infiltrating immune cells from the graft-induced C3H/HeJ mouse model of AA, coupled with antibody-based depletion to interrogate the functional role of specific cell types in AA in vivo. Since AA is predominantly T cell-mediated, we focused on dissecting lymphocyte function in AA. Both our scRNAseq and functional studies established CD8+ T cells as the primary disease-driving cell type in AA. Only the depletion of CD8+ T cells, but not CD4+ T cells, NK, B, or γδ T cells, was sufficient to prevent and reverse AA. Selective depletion of regulatory T cells (T
reg
) showed that T
reg
are protective against AA in C3H/HeJ mice, suggesting that failure of T
reg
-mediated immunosuppression is not a major disease mechanism in AA. Focused analyses of CD8+ T cells revealed five subsets, whose heterogeneity is defined by an “effectorness gradient” of interrelated transcriptional states that culminate in increased effector function and tissue residency. scRNAseq of human AA skin showed that CD8+ T cells in human AA follow a similar trajectory, underscoring that shared mechanisms drive disease in both murine and human AA. Our study represents a comprehensive, systematic interrogation of lymphocyte heterogeneity in AA and uncovers a novel framework for AA-associated CD8+ T cells with implications for the design of future therapeutics.
Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)
Authors: Walker Andrew A. , Robinson Samuel D. , Merritt David J. , Cardoso Fernanda C. , Goudarzi Mohaddeseh Hedayati , Mercedes Raine S. , Eagles David A. , Cooper Paul , Zdenek Christina N. , Fry Bryan G. , Hall Donald W. , Vetter Irina , King Glenn F.
Published: July 2023

Larvae of the genus
Megalopyge
(Lepidoptera: Zygaenoidea: Megalopygidae), known as asp or puss caterpillars, produce defensive venoms that cause severe pain. Here, we present the anatomy, chemistry, and mode of action of the venom systems of caterpillars of two megalopygid species, the Southern flannel moth
Megalopyge opercularis
and the black-waved flannel moth
Megalopyge crispata
. We show that megalopygid venom is produced in secretory cells that lie beneath the cuticle and are connected to the venom spines by canals. Megalopygid venoms consist of large aerolysin-like pore-forming toxins, which we have named megalysins, and a small number of peptides. The venom system differs markedly from those of previously studied venomous zygaenoids of the family Limacodidae, suggestive of an independent origin. Megalopygid venom potently activates mammalian sensory neurons via membrane permeabilization and induces sustained spontaneous pain behavior and paw swelling in mice. These bioactivities are ablated by treatment with heat, organic solvents, or proteases, indicating that they are mediated by larger proteins such as the megalysins. We show that the megalysins were recruited as venom toxins in the Megalopygidae following horizontal transfer of genes from bacteria to the ancestors of ditrysian Lepidoptera. Megalopygids have recruited aerolysin-like proteins as venom toxins convergently with centipedes, cnidarians, and fish. This study highlights the role of horizontal gene transfer in venom evolution.
Underexcitation prevents crystallization of granular assemblies subjected to high-frequency vibration
Authors: AlMahri Sara , Grega Ivan , Shaikeea Angkur J. D. , Wadley Haydn N. G. , Deshpande Vikram S.
Published: July 2023

Crystallization of dry particle assemblies via imposed vibrations is a scalable route to assemble micro/macro crystals. It is well understood that there exists an optimal frequency to maximize crystallization with broad acceptance that this optimal frequency emerges because high-frequency vibration results in overexcitation of the assembly. Using measurements that include interrupted X-ray computed tomography and high-speed photography combined with discrete-element simulations we show that, rather counterintuitively, high-frequency vibration underexcites the assembly. The large accelerations imposed by high-frequency vibrations create a fluidized boundary layer that prevents momentum transfer into the bulk of the granular assembly. This results in particle underexcitation which inhibits the rearrangements required for crystallization. This clear understanding of the mechanisms has allowed the development of a simple concept to inhibit fluidization which thereby allows crystallization under high-frequency vibrations.
Resonant photoemission spectroscopy of atomic layer Fe2N on Cu(111) with continuous angular rotation of linearly polarized light
Authors: Horio M , Kudo Y , Wada T , Sumi T , Hirata Y , Niibe M , Komori F , Matsuda I
Published: July 2023

Linearly polarized soft x-rays provide information about electronic or magnetic anisotropy through absorption into materials or generation of photoelectrons. In order to change the relative angle between linear polarization and sample crystalline axes, either x-ray polarization or the sample needs to be rotated. Due to difficulties of polarization control in the soft x-ray range, a conventional approach was to rotate the sample. However, this method is not compatible, for example, with operando measurements on non-uniform samples where sample size and rotational motion are severely restricted. At BL07LSU of SPring-8, we developed a new method to rotate the linear polarization angle using a segmented cross undulator. We report an application of this linear polarization rotation to resonant photoemission spectroscopy on an magnetic atomic layer Fe2N on Cu(111) to probe the electronic anisotropy of the 3d states in the vicinity of the Fermi level.
Topological phases of graphene-Kagome systems
Authors: Felix de Souza A B , Spreafico L , Faria D , Latgé A
Published: July 2023

The growing skill in the synthesis processes of new materials has intensified the interest in exploring the properties of systems modeled by more complex lattices. Two-dimensional super-honeycomb lattices, have been investigated in metallic organic frameworks. They turned out as a significant route to the emergence of localized electronic responses manifested as flat bands in their structure with topological isolating behavior. A natural inquiry is a complete analysis of their topological phases in the presence of electronic correlation effects. Here we analyze the electron–electron correlation effects via Hubbard mean-field approximation on the topological phases of 2D and quasi-1D graphene-Kagome lattices. The 2D spin conductivity phase’s diagrams describe metallic, trivial, and topological insulating behaviors, considering different energy coupling and electronic occupations. Our results pave the way to smart-engineered nanostructured devices with relevant applications in spintronics and transport responses.
Measuring height of poured concrete via fiber-optic temperature sensing
Authors: Tian Wei , Zhu Hao , Liu Zhiang , Huang Can , Zheng Jianxin , Yang Huadong
Published: July 2023

Currently, there is no automatic method available to measure the height of poured concrete during concreting of underground diaphragm walls (UDWs), and the conventional manual method interrupts the operation. To address this issue, a distributed fiber-optic sensing-based method for measuring the height of poured concrete during the concreting of UDWs was developed and successfully applied to the real-time measurement of the height of poured concrete. The proposed method was verified by performing a scale mode test, wherein an acrylic circular tube was used to simulate a UDW steel cage and a temperature-sensing fiber-optic cable was laid spirally to increase the spatial resolution of measurement to 0.1 m. The temperature distribution in the tube and real-time measurements of the height of the poured concrete during concreting were obtained. The proposed method was applied to the construction of a real UDW. A total of 3360 data points representing the spatiotemporal temperature distribution in the UDW steel cage were obtained. The results indicated that the temperature of the mud in the steel cage was approximately 25 °C–26 °C when no concreting operation was performed and that the temperature of the concrete layer increased to approximately 28 °C–31 °C during concreting. The height of the poured concrete was the boundary representing the transition from the temperature of the mud to that of the concrete, and the measurement precision reached ±0.5 m. The measurement results obtained via the proposed method were consistent with those obtained manually using a plumb bob, thus confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method for high-precision, real-time measurement of the height of poured concrete during the concreting of UDWs.
Operational and engineering experiences of gas injection to JET for TT and DT operational campaigns
Authors: Bickerton Sarah , Felton Rob , Medley Sarah , Shaw Rebecca C R , Todd Hannah , Sanni Fatimah , King Damien , Romanelli Sandra
Published: July 2023

Following the first deuterium–tritium experiment (DTE1) at UKAEA, modifications were investigated to the Joint European Torus’ (JET) gas introduction (GI) systems to increase the gas feed capabilities of the JET facility to better support future campaigns. The GI systems comprise the GI and gas distribution system in the Active Gas Handling System (AGHS), and neutral beam injection and the tritium injection modules on the torus. During DTE1 about 100 g of tritium was supplied from AGHS to JET users. During the second deuterium–tritium experiment (DTE2) and the tritium–tritium experiment (TT) just over 373 g and 630 g of tritium respectively was supplied to JET users for the campaigns. The tritium and deuterium gas supply systems of the fuel cycle can be underestimated as having fewer technical or scientific challenges based on the mechanical simplicity of equipment that they consist of. However, operational experience has shown these systems have the potential to bottleneck a campaign programme. This publication outlines the upgrade requirements foreseen, following DTE1, for operations in the DTE2 and TT campaigns, how these changes impacted the gas supply operations, and where limitations were encountered. The areas discussed include—challenges of upgrading and maintaining equipment designed for a short operating life; the impact of having differences between user requirements and gas supply capabilities; the logistics of gas supply involving multiple control room locations; communication routes between gas supply systems and teams; and safely controlling and tracking tritium gas movements. The latest JET tritium campaigns highlighted a number of challenges for future facilities looking to operate in both batch and continuous gas injection operational modes. The recommendations from this publication intend to provide a starting point for how to address these challenges and optimise gas supply in support of future fusion programmes. This work has been carried out within the framework of the contract for the operation of the JET Facilities and has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.
Climate change-related mass migration requires health system resilience
Authors: Clark-Ginsberg Aaron , Chandra Anita
Published: July 2023

Mass migration driven by climate change-related shocks and stresses is already occurring. We argue for a need for resilient health systems to ensure migration is adaptive, not detrimental, to health. We make this argument for two reasons. First, without resilience, large and sudden population increases such as from migration may strain health systems. Second, while health system resilience-building efforts are occurring, these tend to focus on crises that are substantially different from climate change-related mass migration—most notably because migrants are not threats but instead people with resources and capacity as well as needs. Then, articulating a health system as a large and complex sociotechnical infrastructure, we outline three salient features of health systems resilient to climate change-related mass migration: rapid ability to shift and adapt, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and transformation. We conclude by suggesting the resources, which policymakers need for achieving health system resilience from this sociotechnical perspective.
Pollution hot spots and the impact of drive-through COVID-19 testing sites on urban air quality
Authors: Mendoza Daniel L , Benney Tabitha M , Olson Casey S , Crosman Erik T , Gonzales Shawn A , Chaudhari Mamta , Anderson Corbin
Published: July 2023

To be successful, commitments to climate change and environmental policy will require critical changes in human behavior and one important example is driving and idling. Idling is defined as running a vehicle’s motor while not in motion. Idling studies have repeatedly demonstrated that this behavior is costly, harmful to human health, and highly polluting. However, with the onset of COVID-19, the use of drive-through services to provide food, pharmaceuticals, and medical testing has increased. To understand this phenomenon further, we worked cooperatively with our government partners to compare the concentrations of PM2.5 at three regulatory sensor locations with nearby drive-through COVID-19 testing sites during average to elevated pollution days. Salt Lake City, UT (USA), where this study was undertaken, has seen a dramatic rise in drive-through services since the onset of the pandemic and community concern is also high due to poor local air quality. More importantly, the Salt Lake Valley is home to one of the largest research grade air quality networks in the world. Fine particulate matter sensors were installed or already in place at or adjacent to COVID-19 testing sites in the area, and we used data from nearby Utah Division of Air Quality monitors to provide comparative PM2.5 concentrations. Due to their placement (e.g., further distance from large roads and other emitting sources), we found that testing sites showed lower PM2.5 concentrations during average air quality days despite increased idling rates. However, when urban pollution rates were elevated due to atmospheric inversions, extensive idling around testing sites led to hyper local PM2.5 concentrations or pollution hot spots. This suggests that idling has serious compounding effects in highly polluted urban areas and policies minimizing vehicle emissions from idling and congestion could conceivably curtail pollutant exposure in a range of settings.
Bloch’s cycle complex and coherent dualizing complexes in positive characteristic
Authors: Ren Fei
Published: July 2023

Let

X
X

be a separated scheme of dimension

d
d

of finite type over a perfect field

k
k

of positive characteristic

p
p

. In this work, we show that Bloch’s cycle complex

Z

X
c

\mathbb {Z}^c_X

of zero cycles mod

p
n

p^n

is quasi-isomorphic to the Cartier operator fixed part of a certain dualizing complex from coherent duality theory. From this we obtain new vanishing results for the higher Chow groups of zero cycles with mod

p
n

p^n

coefficients for singular varieties.
Topical Tranexamic Acid in Primary Breast Augmentation Surgery: Short- and Long-term Outcomes
Authors: Lonie Sarah , Abesamis Gerald Marion , Law Jenaleen , Mohaghegh Mohammad Hassan , Vickery Karen , Deva Anand , Tavakoli Kourosh
Published: July 2023

Background

Breast augmentation mammaplasty (BAM) remains the most popular cosmetic procedure done worldwide. Bleeding in this procedure increases the chance of capsular contracture. Tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic, has been widely used by other surgical specialties to reduce bleeding.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the use of TXA in BAM surgery.

Methods

This was a single-surgeon case series of all patients who underwent primary BAM from March 2017 to March 2018 and received topical TXA spray to the implant pocket before implant insertion. Early postoperative complications and long-term outcomes, such as capsular contracture and revisional surgery, were recorded and described.

Results

Two hundred and eighty-eight patients were included in the study with an overall complication rate of 2.8% over 5 years. No patients had postoperative bleeding or hematoma formation. One patient had a seroma, managed with ultrasound drainage. Complications requiring reoperation included rippling (3, 1.0%), pocket revision (2, 0.7%), capsule contracture (1, 0.3%) and rupture (1, 0.3%).

Conclusions

This study highlights the safety and potential benefits of the use of topical TXA in breast augmentation, with low bleeding and capsular contracture rates.

Level of Evidence: 4
Confronting intergenerational harm: Care experience, motherhood and criminal justice involvement
Authors: Fitzpatrick Claire , Hunter Katie , Shaw Julie , Staines Jo
Published: July 2023

Prior research highlights how criminalized mothers may be particularly at risk of negative judgements, but little work to date explores how criminalisation, care experience and motherhood may intersect to produce multi-faceted structural disadvantage within both systems of care and punishment. This paper attends to this knowledge gap, drawing on interviews with imprisoned women who have been in care (e.g. foster care or children’s homes), care-experienced girls and young women in the community, and professionals who work with them. Key findings include: a desire to break cycles of intergenerational stigma and social care involvement; lack of support and a fear of asking for help, and the care-less approach to pregnancy and motherhood that may be faced in prison and beyond.
Metastasis-directed therapy for oligometastases in breast cancer
Authors: Ishiba Toshiyuki , Nishibuchi Ikuno , Hara Fumikata , Shikama Naoto , Shien Tadahiko , Iwata Hiroji
Published: July 2023

The concept of oligometastases was first proposed to describe a disease state between localized cancer and extensive metastasis. After the emergence of variations in the definition of oligometastasis, in April 2020 the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer defined oligometastases as the presence of one to five metastatic lesions that can be safely treated. However, the pathogenesis of oligometastases remains unknown, and it is uncertain which patients will benefit from metastasis-directed therapy. Breast cancer with oligometastases is generally managed with systemic therapy. Retrospective studies have suggested that the addition of metastasis-directed therapy, such as surgery, radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic body radiation therapy, may increase overall survival in breast cancer patients with oligometastases, but as yet there have been no prospective studies. Phase II trials of stereotactic body radiation therapy or fractionated irradiation for oligometastases of breast cancer have demonstrated impressive rates of local control and overall survival. Although the efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy in the SABR-COMET was largely anticipated, it is noteworthy that only 18% of the patient population had breast cancer. For this reason, various trials were planned or are being conducted globally to investigate the efficacy of metastasis-directed therapy for oligometastases of breast cancer. Metastasis-directed therapy for oligometastases has been shown to be effective, and stereotactic body radiation therapy and other therapies are commonly used internationally and are considered to be safe. However, the efficacy of metastasis-directed therapy for oligometastases has not yet been proven. The results of future clinical trials are thus eagerly awaited.
G-quadruplex DNA contributes to RNA polymerase II-mediated 3D chromatin architecture
Authors: Yuan Jun , He Xiaomei , Wang Yinsheng
Published: July 2023

High-order chromatin organization plays an important role in biological processes and disease development. Previous studies revealed a widespread occurrence of guanine quadruplex (G4) structures in the human genome, with enrichment in gene regulatory regions, especially in promoters. However, it remains unclear whether G4 structures contribute to RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-mediated long-range DNA interactions and transcription activity. In this study, we conducted an intuitive overlapping analysis of previously published RNAPII ChIA-PET (chromatin interaction analysis with paired-end tag) and BG4 ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing using a G4 structure-specific antibody) data. We observed a strong positive correlation between RNAPII-linked DNA loops and G4 structures in chromatin. Additionally, our RNAPII HiChIP-seq (in situ Hi-C followed by ChIP-seq) results showed that treatment of HepG2 cells with pyridostatin (PDS), a small-molecule G4-binding ligand, could diminish RNAPII-linked long-range DNA contacts, with more pronounced diminutions being observed for those contacts involving G4 structure loci. RNA sequencing data revealed that PDS treatment modulates the expression of not only genes with G4 structures in their promoters, but also those with promoters being connected with distal G4s through RNAPII-linked long-range DNA interactions. Together, our data substantiate the function of DNA G4s in RNAPII-associated DNA looping and transcription regulation.
Abnormal electrocardiogram and poor prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: He Tiantian , Liu Chen , Liang Weihao
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is generally performed in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), but the prognostic value of abnormal ECG is not fully understood. We aim to explore the prognostic value of abnormal ECG at baseline in HFpEF using data from the TOPCAT trial.

Methods

A total of 1736 patients from TOPCAT-Americas were included and divided into normal versus abnormal ECG groups. Survival analyses were performed for the following outcomes: the primary endpoint [a composite of cardiovascular death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and aborted cardiac arrest], all-cause death, cardiovascular death, and HF hospitalization.

Results

Abnormal ECG was significantly associated with higher risks of the primary endpoint [hazard ratio (HR): 1.480, P = 0.001] and HF hospitalization (HR: 1.400, P = 0.015), and borderline significantly with cardiovascular death (HR: 1.453, P = 0.052) in patients with HFpEF after multivariate adjustment. As for specific ECG abnormalities, bundle branch block was associated with the primary endpoint (HR: 1.278, P = 0.020) and HF hospitalization (HR: 1.333, P = 0.016), whereas atrial fibrillation/flutter was associated with all-cause death (HR: 1.345, P = 0.051) and cardiovascular death (HR: 1.570, P = 0.023), but ventricular paced rhythm, pathological Q waves, and left ventricular hypertrophy were not of prognostic significance. Besides, other unspecific abnormalities together were associated with the primary endpoint (HR: 1.213, P = 0.032).

Conclusion

Abnormal ECG at baseline could be associated with poor prognosis in patients with HFpEF. Physicians are encouraged to pay more attention to HFpEF patients who present an abnormal ECG instead of ignoring those obscure abnormalities.

Key messages What is already known on this topic Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a basic and easily accessible examination for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Some findings from ECG such as frontal QRS-T angle, QTc interval, and the Cornell product have been shown to be associated with the prognosis of HFpEF but these results are from studies with relatively small sample sizes. What this study adds Using data from TOPCAT-Americas, this study found that an overall estimation of abnormal ECG significantly predicted poor prognosis in patients with HFpEF. As for specific abnormalities in ECG, bundle branch block mainly predicted heart failure hospitalization and atrial fibrillation mainly predicted death. How this study might affect research, practice, or policy This study reminds physicians to pay more attention to HFpEF patients who present an abnormal ECG.
National Study of Quality, Safety, and Just Culture in Prelicensure Nursing Education
Authors: Altmiller Gerry
Published: July 2023

AIM

The study’s aim was to evaluate the integration and application of quality and safety competencies and concepts of fair and just culture in prelicensure nursing education.

BACKGROUND

Health care organizations support a safety culture by encouraging error reporting without fear of punishment and by conducting investigations to determine causes to improve quality and learn from mistakes. In prelicensure nursing education, the response to errors is often punitive and threatens dismissal.

METHOD

Members of the National Student Nurses' Association were recruited to participate in an electronic assessment through the organization’s mailing system.

RESULTS

Students representing all prelicensure program types (BSN, ADN, diploma, accelerated) and 46 states (N = 268) completed the survey.

CONCLUSION

Nurse educators were found to have a positive impact on student quality and safety competency. Improvement is possible in developing and supporting just culture within nursing programs to bridge the gap between academia and practice.
What are Effective Strategies to Reduce Low-Value Care? An Analysis of 121 Randomized Deimplementation Studies
Authors: Heus Pauline , van Dulmen Simone A. , Weenink Jan-Willem , Naaktgeboren Christiana A. , Takada Toshihiko , Verkerk Eva W. , Kamm Isabelle , van der Laan Maarten J. , Hooft Lotty , Kool Rudolf B.
Published: July 2023

Background:

Low-value care is healthcare leading to no or little clinical benefit for the patient. The best (combinations of) interventions to reduce low-value care are unclear.

Purpose:

To provide an overview of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating deimplementation strategies, to quantify the effectiveness and describe different combinations of strategies.

Methods:

Analysis of 121 RCTs (1990–2019) evaluating a strategy to reduce low-value care, identified by a systematic review. Deimplementation strategies were described and associations between strategy characteristics and effectiveness explored.

Results:

Of 109 trials comparing deimplementation to usual care, 75 (69%) reported a significant reduction of low-value healthcare practices. Seventy-three trials included in a quantitative analysis showed a median relative reduction of 17% (IQR 7%–42%). The effectiveness of deimplementation strategies was not associated with the number and types of interventions applied.

Conclusions and Implications:

Most deimplementation strategies achieved a considerable reduction of low-value care. We found no signs that a particular type or number of interventions works best for deimplementation. Future deimplementation studies should map relevant contextual factors, such as the workplace culture or economic factors. Interventions should be tailored to these factors and provide details regarding sustainability of the effect.
Taurodontism of primary teeth in a 4-year-old child- A case report
Authors: Davangere Padmanabh Dr Shital Kiran , Jhamb Dr Vikram , Tanurkar Dr. Sumeet Sharad , Gori Dr. Nasrin , Bhise . Dr. Omkar Rajendra , Gangurde Dr. Vishakha Bhausaheb
Published: July 2023

 Taurodont teeth are mainly seen by large pulp chambers with respect to the roots. An enlarged pulp chamber, apical displacement of the pulpal floor and no constriction at the level of the cement-enamel junction are the characteristic features of a taurodont tooth. It appears more frequently as an isolated anomaly but its association with syndromes and other abnormalities has also been reported. Permanent dentition is more commonly affected than deciduous dentition. Taurodont teeth show wide variation in the size and shape of pulp chambers, varying degrees of obliteration and canal complexity, low canal orifices and the potential for additional canal systems. The dental literature on taurodontism is relatively sparse and most are case reports. 