bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Divergent impacts of the neonicotinoid insecticide, clothianidin, on flight performance metrics in two species of migratory butterflies
Authors: Cibotti Staci , Saum Phineas J , Myrick Andrew J , Schilder Rudolf J , Ali Jared G
Published: February 2024

Long-distance flight is crucial for the survival of migratory insects, and disruptions to their flight capacity can have significant consequences for conservation. In this study, we examined how a widely used insecticide, clothianidin (class: neonicotinoid), impacted the flight performance of two species of migratory butterflies, monarchs (Danaus plexippus) and painted ladies (Vanessa cardui). To do this, we quantified the free-flight energetics and tethered-flight velocity and distance of the two species using flow-through respirometry and flight mill assays. Our findings show differential effects of the pesticide on the two species. For painted ladies, we found that clothianidin exposure reduced average free-flight metabolic rates, but did not affect either average velocity or total distance during tethered flight. Other studies have linked low flight metabolic rates with reduced dispersal capacity, indicating that clothianidin exposure may hinder painted lady flight performance in the wild. Conversely, for monarchs, we saw no significant effect of clothianidin exposure on average free-flight metabolic rates but did observe increases in the average velocity, and for large individuals, total distance achieved by clothianidin-exposed monarchs in tethered flight. This suggests a potential stimulatory response of monarchs to low-dose exposures to clothianidin. These findings indicate that clothianidin exposure has the potential to influence the flight performance of butterflies, but that not all species are impacted in the same way. This highlights the need to be thoughtful when selecting performance assays, as different assays can evaluate fundamentally distinct aspects of physiology, and as such may yield divergent results.
Prognostic thresholds of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography mean and maximum standardized uptake values for survival and nodal involvement in lung neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Soldath Patrick , Binderup Tina , Kjaer Andreas , Knigge Ulrich , Langer Seppo W , Petersen René H
Published: February 2024

OBJECTIVES

The mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography are prognostic biomarkers for survival and nodal involvement in non-small-cell lung cancer but their prognostic value in lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) remains unexplored. In this study, we aimed to examine whether they are also prognostic biomarkers for survival and nodal involvement in lung NENs.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied patients with typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid or large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma who had been radically resected at our institution between 2008 and 2020. We measured SUVmean and SUVmax on all primary tumours and lymph nodes that were clinically and/or pathologically involved. We dichotomized the patients into groups of high or low SUVmean and SUVmax of the primary tumour using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and compared their overall survival using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox models. Lastly, we predicted the patients’ pathological nodal status with SUVmean and SUVmax of the lymph nodes using binomial logistic models.

RESULTS

The study included 245 patients. Patients died earlier if their SUVmean of the primary tumour exceeded 3.9 [hazard ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–3.04, P = 0.002] or SUVmax exceeded 5.3 (hazard ratio 1.85, 95% CI 1.20–2.87, P = 0.006). Likewise, patients had a higher risk of pathological nodal involvement if their SUVmean of the lymph nodes exceeded 3.3 (odds ratio 10.00, 95% CI 2.59–51.01, P = 0.002) or SUVmax exceeded 4.2 (odds ratio 4.00, 95% CI 1.20–14.65, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

The fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography SUVmean and SUVmax are strong prognostic biomarkers for survival and nodal involvement in lung NENs and could be important guides for making treatment decisions.
Incidence and patterns of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter—the FLUTFIB study
Authors: Attanasio Philipp , Budde Tabea , Kamieniarz Paul , Tscholl Verena , Nagel Patrick , Biewener Sebastian , Parwani Abdul , Boldt Leif-Hendrik , Landmesser Ulf , Hindricks Gerhard , Huemer Martin
Published: February 2024

Aims

In patients with atrial flutter (AFL), ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) is a highly effective procedure to prevent AFL recurrence, but atrial fibrillation (AF) may occur during follow-up. The presented FLUTFIB study was designed to identify the exact incidence, duration, timely occurrence, and associated symptoms of AF after CTI ablation using continuous cardiac monitoring via implantable loop recorders.

Methods and results

One hundred patients with AFL without prior AF diagnosis were included after CTI ablation (mean age 69.7 ± 9.7 years, 18% female) and received an implantable loop recorder for AF detection. After a median follow-up of 24 months 77 patients (77%) were diagnosed with AF episodes. Median time to first AF occurrence was 180 (43–298) days. Episodes lasted longer than 1 h in most patients (45/77, 58%). Forty patients (52%) had AF-associated symptoms.

Patients with and without AF development showed similar baseline characteristics and neither HATCH- nor CHA2DS2-VASc scores were predictive of future AF episodes. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) was stopped during FU in 32 patients (32%) and was re-initiated after AF detection in 15 patients (15%). No strokes or transient ischaemic attack episodes were observed during follow-up.

Conclusion

This study represents the largest investigation using implantable loop recorders (ILRs) to detect AF after AFL ablation and shows a high incidence of AF episodes, most of them being asymptomatic and lasting longer than 1 h. In anticipation of trials determining the duration of AF episodes that should trigger OAC initiation, these results will help to guide anticoagulation management after CTI ablation.
Sugar tax and product reformulation proposals reduce the perceived legitimacy of health-promotion institutions: a randomized population-based survey experiment
Authors: van Meurs Tim , de Koster Willem , van der Waal Jeroen , Oude Groeniger Joost
Published: February 2024

Background

Structural nutrition interventions like a sugar tax or a product reformulation are strongly supported among the public health community but may cause a considerable backlash (e.g. inspiring aversion to institutions initiating the interventions among citizens). Such a backlash potentially undermines future health-promotion strategies. This study aims to uncover whether such backlash exists.

Methods

We fielded a pre-registered randomized, population-based survey experiment among adults from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences panel (n = 1765; based on a random sampling of the Dutch population register). Participants were randomly allocated to the control condition (brief facts about health-information provision/nudging), or one of two experimental groups (the same facts, expanded with either a proposed sugar tax on or reformulation of sugar-sweetened beverages). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the proposed interventions’ effects on four outcome variables: trust in health-promotion institutions involved; perceptions that these institutions have citizens’ well-being in mind (i.e. benevolence); perceptions that these institutions’ perspectives are similar to those of citizens (i.e. alignment of perspectives); and attitudes toward nutrition information.

Results

Trust, perceived benevolence and perceived alignment of perspectives were affected negatively by a proposed sugar tax (−0.24, 95% CI −0.38 to −0.10; −0.15, −0.29 to −0.01; −0.15, −0.30 to 0.00) or product reformulation (−0.32, −0.46 to −0.18; −0.24, −0.37 to −0.11; −0.18, 0.33 to −0.03), particularly among the non-tertiary educated respondents.

Conclusions

Sugar taxes or product reformulations may delegitimize health-promotion institutions, potentially causing public distancing from or opposition to these bodies. This may be exploited by political and commercial parties to undermine official institutions.

Trial registration

https://osf.io/qr9jy/?view_only=5e2e875a1fc348f3b28115b7a3fdfd90. Registered 3 February 2022.
Role of the San1 ubiquitin ligase in the heat stress-induced degradation of nonnative Nup1 in the nuclear pore complex
Authors: Ikeda Takanari , Yamazaki Kenji , Okumura Fumihiko , Kamura Takumi , Nakatsukasa Kunio
Published: February 2024

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) mediates the selective exchange of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are characterized by mislocalization of nucleoporins (Nups), transport receptors, and Ras-related nuclear proteins into nucleoplasmic or cytosolic aggregates, underscoring the importance of precise assembly of the NPC. The assembly state of large protein complexes is strictly monitored by the protein quality control system. The ubiquitin–proteasome system may eliminate aberrant, misfolded, and/or orphan components; however, the involvement of the ubiquitin–proteasome system in the degradation of nonnative Nups in the NPC remains unclear. Here, we show that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, although Nup1 (the FG-Nup component of the central core of the NPC) was stable, C-terminally green fluorescent protein-tagged Nup1, which had been incorporated into the NPC, was degraded by the proteasome especially under heat stress conditions. The degradation was dependent on the San1 ubiquitin ligase and Cdc48/p97, as well as its cofactor Doa1. We also demonstrate that San1 weakly but certainly contributes to the degradation of nontagged endogenous Nup1 in cells defective in NPC biogenesis by the deletion of NUP120. In addition, the overexpression of SAN1 exacerbated the growth defect phenotype of nup120Δ cells, which may be caused by excess degradation of defective Nups due to the deletion of NUP120. These biochemical and genetic data suggest that San1 is involved in the degradation of nonnative Nups generated by genetic mutation or when NPC biogenesis is impaired.
Civic factions, denied conversions and the first European narrative of Jewish infanticide: Praejectus of Clermont’s Deeds of Austremonius (c.650/75)
Authors: Savill Benjamin
Published: February 2024

This is the first dedicated study of the long-overlooked Gesta (‘deeds’) of Austremonius of Clermont, now understood to be a seventh-century composition. Its central focus is the Gesta’s remarkable anti-Jewish emphases, which reinvent this hitherto obscure missionary as an early apostle martyred by Jews. Building upon earlier research on civic factionalism in Merovingian Clermont, it situates this reinvention within the city’s competitive political environment, and its fraught recent history of Christian-Jewish confrontation. It further explores the long-term significance of the Gesta’s portrayal of Clermont’s Jews as child murderers, perhaps the first of its kind in Latin Europe. A critical translation follows.
Markups, profit shares, and cost-push-profit-led inflation
Authors: Nikiforos Michalis , Grothe Simon , Weber Jan David
Published: February 2024

The post-pandemic surge in inflation was accompanied by a surge in the corporate share of profits. As a result, several economists and policy makers have given to it names such as “profit-led inflation” or “sellers’ inflation.” The present paper discusses the extent to which profit-led inflation, as an explanation for the recent surge in inflation, is compatible with what we know about the price-setting behavior of firms, income distribution, and inflation. We do that in juxtaposition to two recent critiques: that the increase in the profit share is the result of cyclical factors and that the increase in import prices leads to higher profit shares even under constant markups. We show that there is little evidence that the recent surge in profitability is cyclical in nature. Moreover, after outlining the Structuralist/Kaleckian theories of prices and inflation, we argue that profit-led inflation does not require an increase in the markup of the firms and is consistent with these theories. In the face of large import and other price shocks even under constant markups, firms are able to pass the burden of adjustment to real wages. Thus, the term profit-led emphasizes the distributional source and consequences of inflation. We also provide an empirical examination of the markups in the post-pandemic period using data from the Compustat database. We show that, on average, firms were able to increase or maintain their markups, although there is significant heterogeneity across sectors or the position of the firms in the distribution of markups.
Multispecies population-scale emergence of climate change signals in an ocean warming hotspot
Authors: Mills Katherine E , Kemberling Adam , Kerr Lisa A , Lucey Sean M , McBride Richard S , Nye Janet A , Pershing Andrew J , Barajas Miguel , Lovas Carly S
Published: February 2024

Ocean waters of the Northeast US continental shelf have warmed rapidly in recent years, with sea surface temperatures rising 2.5 times faster than those of the global oceans. With this strong warming trend, the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves have increased. These temperature changes stood out as a distinct warm temperature regime during the 2010s. During this decade, fish population characteristics also differed from the past. Species distribution shifts were detected for many species, demonstrating one way species could adapt to warming conditions. However, for most species, distribution shifts were insufficient to avoid warmer surface or bottom temperatures. As species occupied warmer habitats, growth patterns aligned with expectations for warming temperatures. Consistent with the temperature-size rule, some species exhibited faster growth at early life stages but plateaued at smaller body sizes; other species, however, experienced reduced growth across all ages, indicating thermal stress. Finally, population productivity indexed by the recruit-to-spawner ratio declined significantly during the 2010s for some populations. Changes in these three processes—distribution, growth, and productivity—indicate the emergence of climate change signals across multiple Northeast US fish populations. These effects create new challenges for fishery managers and industry participants operating in the context of non-stationarity and uncertainty.
Risk of death due to COVID-19 among current and former smokers in the Netherlands: a population-based quasi-cohort study
Authors: van Westen-Lagerweij Naomi A , Plasmans Marjanne H D , Kramer Iris , Harteloh Peter P M , Poos Marinus J J C , Hilderink Henk B M , Croes Esther A
Published: February 2024

Background

Research on smoking as a risk factor for death due to COVID-19 remains inconclusive, with different studies demonstrating either an increased or decreased risk of COVID-19 death among smokers. To investigate this controversy, this study uses data from the Netherlands to assess the relationship between smoking and death due to COVID-19.

Methods

In this population-based quasi-cohort study, we linked pseudonymized individual data on smoking status from the 2016 and 2020 ‘Health Monitor Adults and Elderly’ in the Netherlands (n = 914 494) to data from the cause-of-death registry (n = 2962). Death due to COVID-19 in 2020 or 2021 was taken as the main outcome. Poisson regression modelling was used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs of death due to COVID-19 for current and former smokers compared with never smokers while adjusting for relevant confounders (age, sex, educational level, body mass index and perceived health).

Results

Former smokers had a higher risk of death due to COVID-19 compared with never smokers across unadjusted (RR, 2.22; 95% CI, 2.04–2.42), age–sex-adjusted (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.22–1.55) and fully adjusted (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.16–1.45) models. Current smokers had a slightly higher risk of death due to COVID-19 compared with never smokers after adjusting for age and sex (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00–1.48) and after full adjustment (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.90–1.29), although the results were statistically non-significant.

Conclusions

People with a history of smoking appear to have a higher risk of death due to COVID-19. Further research is needed to investigate which underlying mechanisms may explain this.
Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantations in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using metagenomic sequencing
Authors: Linnehan Barbara K , Kodera Sho M , Allard Sarah M , Brodie Erin C , Allaband Celeste , Knight Rob , Lutz Holly L , Carroll Maureen C , Meegan Jennifer M , Jensen Eric D , Gilbert Jack A
Published: February 2024

Aims

Gastrointestinal disease is a leading cause of morbidity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under managed care. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) holds promise as a therapeutic tool to restore gut microbiota without antibiotic use. This prospective clinical study aimed to develop a screening protocol for FMT donors to ensure safety, determine an effective FMT administration protocol for managed dolphins, and evaluate the efficacy of FMTs in four recipient dolphins.

Methods and Results

Comprehensive health monitoring was performed on donor and recipient dolphins. Fecal samples were collected before, during, and after FMT therapy. Screening of donor and recipient fecal samples was accomplished by in-house and reference lab diagnostic tests. Shotgun metagenomics was used for sequencing. Following FMT treatment, all four recipient communities experienced engraftment of novel microbial species from donor communities. Engraftment coincided with resolution of clinical signs and a sustained increase in alpha diversity.

Conclusion

The donor screening protocol proved to be safe in this study and no adverse effects were observed in four recipient dolphins. Treatment coincided with improvement in clinical signs.
Extracellular histones promote calcium phosphate-dependent calcification in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Hoshino Tomonori , Kharaghani Davood , Kohno Shohei
Published: February 2024

Vascular calcification, a major risk factor for cardiovascular events, is associated with a poor prognosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This process is often associated with the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into cells with osteoblast-like characteristics. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as extracellular histones released from damaged or dying cells, are suspected to accumulate at calcification sites. To investigate the potential involvement of DAMPs in vascular calcification, we assessed the impact of externally added histones (extracellular histones) on calcium and inorganic phosphate-induced calcification in mouse VSMCs. Our study found that extracellular histones intensified calcification. We also observed that the histones decreased the expression of VSMC marker genes while simultaneously increasing the expression of osteoblast marker genes. Additionally, histones treated with DNase I, which degrades dsDNA, attenuated this calcification, compared with the non-treated histones, suggesting a potential involvement of dsDNA in this process. Elevated levels of dsDNA were also detected in the serum of CKD model mice, underlining its potential role in vascular calcification in CKD. Our findings suggest that extracellular histones could play a pivotal role in the vascular calcification observed in CKD.
Coevolution between heat and cold tolerance in endotherms
Authors: Xiao Hongtao , Li Jiale , Yu Guozhi , Yao Yongfang , Xu Huailiang
Published: February 2024

Whether the heat and cold tolerance of endotherms evolve independently or correlatively remains unresolved. Both physiological trade-offs and natural selection can contribute to a coevolutionary pattern of heat and cold tolerance in endotherms. Using a published database, we tested the correlation between upper and lower thermal limits across endothermic species with multi-response generalized linear mixed models incorporating phylogenies. We found a positive correlation between upper and lower thermal limits, which suggested a coevolutionary pattern of heat and cold tolerance. Specifically, this relationship between heat and cold tolerance is phylogenetically constrained for tropical endotherms but not for temperate endotherms. The correlated evolution between heat and cold tolerance may have a significant influence on endotherms’ evolution and ecology and needs to be further investigated.
Consequences of Anger and the Importance of Setting Goals
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter covers Session 2 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. The facilitators assure the participants that it is fine to feel anger. The session’s activities primarily revolve around different responses to anger and the consequences of those responses. As adolescents, the girls will be more motivated by self-interest than empathy, so self-interested goals will help guide their consideration of consequences throughout the session. The facilitators emphasize the importance of setting goals as a way to avoid anger-provoking situations and to help the girls avoid responses to anger that will get them in trouble. Scripts, materials, and activities are provided for the session.
Recognition of Anger
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter covers Session 5 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session participants learn about the role of anger in social problems. The physiological aspects of anger are identified. Girls learn that their body can serve as a warning sign or indicator that they are angry and need to mobilize strategies to cope with the anger. Activities for the session include role-playing to recognize when people are angry, an anger in action cartoon clip, and identifying signs of anger. The activities help the participants to identify their and other people’s physiological responses to anger and to reinforce the possibility of different interpretations of a situation.
Self-Control
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter covers Session 7 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants learn about the significance of having self-control. The session’s materials, activities, and script all help participants identify tools that they can use to control their anger. The group facilitators work with the participants regarding coping with social aggression through activities to practice self-control techniques and to use the tools taught during the session. Practicing self-control helps the girls identify ways they can stay calm in stressful situations. The chapter provides instructions for the session’s “Ugly Bag” activity and social aggression role-play.
Identifying Options and Consequences
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter covers Session 12 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the group participants practice applying the coping tools they have learned in prior sessions. They learn to evaluate possible actions they could take in an anger-provoking situation so they can choose their best option. The participants’ self-interest and desire to get what they want are significant factors in this decision. The chapter provides the materials needed for an activity that helps the girls generate solutions to anger-provoking situations. It also provides a script for a surprise role-play to help participants identify the most helpful options and tools they could use in a situation that made them angry.
Preparing for Our Futures
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter covers Session 14 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the participants learn how they can prepare for their future after treatment. The session focuses on synthesizing the various skills and tools that the girls have learned during the program. The facilitators encourage the girls to practice applying these skills to real-life situations and to enlist others to help them use these skills in the future. The participants will identify their goals beyond the treatment. An activity is provided to help the girls feel more comfortable using the support systems that they have previously identified.
Repairing Damaged Relationships
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter provides the facilitator materials for Session 13 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. This session focuses on repairing damaged relationships. The facilitators explain how relationships can become damaged but can be fixed by apologizing. The facilitators teach the girls how to give a true apology and encourage them to write a letter apologizing for something they did. The Session 13 catch phrase is “Before you shut someone out, consider how much an apology might count.” The goal sheet also highlights the importance of apologizing as a way of fixing relationships. The fidelity assessment for the session involves letter-writing activities and reviewing communication.
How Do I Keep Myself Calm?
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 8 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls will learn to use self-talk to stay calm when they are angry. The material begins with three role-playing scripts. The participant feedback form allows participants to reflect on examples of situations where they can practice self-talk. One example is when one is made fun of by someone; it is useful to tell oneself that the person just wants to make them mad and therefore it is better to walk away instead. Another tool is to count to 10 to control one’s anger.
How Do I Stop Myself When I’m Angry?
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter presents the participant materials for Session 9 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn to take time to calm down before reacting to anger. One powerful tool is to count to 10 and think about one’s reactions and the corresponding consequences. The participant feedback form allows participants to reflect on examples of situations where they can practice delaying reactions to anger. When one is insulted by someone, for instance, it is useful to take a deep breath and think about what would happen if one reacts right away. Another example is hearing a rumor that a romantic partner is cheating; it is useful to go for a walk and think about whether to confront one’s partner.
Communication
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter provides the participant materials for Session 10 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn how to communicate their feelings to improve their relationships and to calm down. The best way to tell someone how one feels is to use “I” statements. The participant feedback form allows participants to reflect on examples of situations where they can practice effective communication. One example is for a girl to try to explain her side of things when her mother was really mad and yelled at her. Another example is listening to one’s friend when the friend is trying to explain their own feelings.
Repairing Damaged Relationships
Authors: Goldstein Naomi E. S. , Serico Jennifer M. , Haney-Caron Emily , Giallella Christy L. , Kalbeitzer Rachel , Zelechoski Amanda D. , Riggs Romaine Christina L. , Kemp Kathleen
Published: February 2024

This chapter provides the participant material for Session 13 of the Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls. In this session the girls learn ways to repair damaged relationships. These include saying “I’m sorry” or writing an apology letter. It is important to learn how to communicate with “I” statements, accept responsibility, and apologize. An example of an “I” statement is for a girl to say that she feels bad because she hurt someone’s feelings. The chapter also discusses the practice of good listening. The participant feedback form allows participants to reflect on examples of situations where they can use effective communication to repair damaged relationships.
Revisiting the extreme clustering of z ≈ 4 quasars with large volume cosmological simulations
Authors: Pizzati Elia , Hennawi Joseph F , Schaye Joop , Schaller Matthieu
Published: February 2024

Observations from wide-field quasar surveys indicate that the quasar autocorrelation length increases dramatically from z ≈ 2.5 to ≈ 4. This large clustering amplitude at z ≈ 4 has proven hard to interpret theoretically, as it implies that quasars are hosted by the most massive dark matter haloes residing in the most extreme environments at that redshift. In this work, we present a model that simultaneously reproduces both the observed quasar autocorrelation and quasar luminosity functions. The spatial distribution of haloes and their relative abundance are obtained via a novel method that computes the halo mass and halo cross-correlation functions by combining multiple large-volume dark-matter-only cosmological simulations with different box sizes and resolutions. Armed with these halo properties, our model exploits the conditional luminosity function framework to describe the stochastic relationship between quasar luminosity, L, and halo mass, M. Assuming a simple power-law relation L ∝ Mγ with lognormal scatter, σ, we are able to reproduce observations at z ∼ 4 and find that: (i) the quasar luminosity–halo mass relation is highly non-linear (γ ≳ 2), with very little scatter (σ ≲ 0.3 dex); (ii) luminous quasars ($\log _{10} L/{\rm erg}\, {\rm s}^{-1}\gtrsim 46.5-47$) are hosted by haloes with mass log10M/M⊙ ≳ 13–13.5; and (iii) the implied duty cycle for quasar activity approaches unity ($\varepsilon _{\rm DC}\approx 10\,\mathrm{ per}\,\mathrm{ cent}-60~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$). We also consider observations at z ≈ 2.5 and find that the quasar luminosity–halo mass relation evolves significantly with cosmic time, implying a rapid change in quasar host halo masses and duty cycles, which in turn suggests concurrent evolution in black hole scaling relations and/or accretion efficiency.
Adaptive Evolution of Nearctic Deepwater Fish Vision: Implications for Assessing Functional Variation for Conservation
Authors: Van Nynatten Alexander , Duncan Alexander T , Lauzon Ryan , Sheldon Tom A , Chen Steven K , Lovejoy Nathan R , Mandrak Nicholas E , Chang Belinda S W
Published: February 2024

Intraspecific functional variation is critical for adaptation to rapidly changing environments. For visual opsins, functional variation can be characterized in vitro and often reflects a species’ ecological niche but is rarely considered in the context of intraspecific variation or the impact of recent environmental changes on species of cultural or commercial significance. Investigation of adaptation in postglacial lakes can provide key insight into how rapid environmental changes impact functional evolution. Here, we report evidence for molecular adaptation in vision in 2 lineages of Nearctic fishes that are deep lake specialists: ciscoes and deepwater sculpin. We found depth-related variation in the dim-light visual pigment rhodopsin that evolved convergently in these 2 lineages. In vitro characterization of spectral sensitivity of the convergent deepwater rhodopsin alleles revealed blue-shifts compared with other more widely distributed alleles. These blue-shifted rhodopsin alleles were only observed in deep clear postglacial lakes with underwater visual environments enriched in blue light. This provides evidence of remarkably rapid and convergent visual adaptation and intraspecific functional variation in rhodopsin. Intraspecific functional variation has important implications for conservation, and these fishes are of conservation concern and great cultural, commercial, and nutritional importance to Indigenous communities. We collaborated with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation to develop and test a metabarcoding approach that we show is efficient and accurate in recovering the ecological distribution of functionally relevant variation in rhodopsin. Our approach bridges experimental analyses of protein function and genetics-based tools used in large-scale surveys to better understand the ecological extent of adaptive functional variation.
Characteristics of anti-melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 antibody-positive dermatomyositis with thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Ushijima Toshiyuki Shiki , Komai Toshihiko , Izuka Shinji , Shoda Hirofumi , Fujio Keishi
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Anti-melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 antibody (anti-MDA5 Ab)-positive dermatomyositis (DM) is a representative of rapidly progressive interstitial pneumonia. However, its association with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), characterized by thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia, and organ dysfunction, has not been defined. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM accompanied by TMA.

Methods

We reviewed our hospital records from November 2009 to September 2022. We included patients in accordance with the 2017 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria and the criteria of Bohan and Peter. TMA was diagnosed according to the criteria for transplantation-associated TMA proposed by the International Working Group.

Results

This study enrolled a total of 26 anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM patients, four of whom developed TMA. The patients with TMA had an increased urine protein/creatinine ratio. In addition, these four of them showed significantly elevated levels of ferritin and anti-MDA5 Ab titers and were considered to have high disease activity; yet, all of them survived.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that anti-MDA5 Ab-positive DM patients with hyperferritinemia, a high anti-MDA5 Ab titer, and an increased urine protein/creatinine ratio should be carefully managed, bearing in mind a complication of TMA.
Xrp1 governs the stress response program to spliceosome dysfunction
Authors: Stanković Dimitrije , Tain Luke S , Uhlirova Mirka
Published: February 2024

Co-transcriptional processing of nascent pre-mRNAs by the spliceosome is vital to regulating gene expression and maintaining genome integrity. Here, we show that the deficiency of functional U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) in Drosophila imaginal cells causes extensive transcriptome remodeling and accumulation of highly mutagenic R-loops, triggering a robust stress response and cell cycle arrest. Despite compromised proliferative capacity, the U5 snRNP-deficient cells increased protein translation and cell size, causing intra-organ growth disbalance before being gradually eliminated via apoptosis. We identify the Xrp1-Irbp18 heterodimer as the primary driver of transcriptional and cellular stress program downstream of U5 snRNP malfunction. Knockdown of Xrp1 or Irbp18 in U5 snRNP-deficient cells attenuated JNK and p53 activity, restored normal cell cycle progression and growth, and inhibited cell death. Reducing Xrp1-Irbp18, however, did not rescue the splicing defects, highlighting the requirement of accurate splicing for cellular and tissue homeostasis. Our work provides novel insights into the crosstalk between splicing and the DNA damage response and defines the Xrp1-Irbp18 heterodimer as a critical sensor of spliceosome malfunction and mediator of the stress-induced cellular senescence program.
Healthcare Provider N95 Respirator Contamination Worn Behind Face Shields With SARS-CoV-2 During Routine Clinical Care of Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Graves Amanda M , Warren Bobby G , Barrett Aaron , Lewis Sarah S , Smith Becky , Weber David J , Sickbert-Bennett Emily E , Anderson Deverick J
Published: February 2024

N95 respirator contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during clinical care of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 is poorly understood. We performed a prospective observational study on healthcare provider's (HCP’s) N95 respirators’ and face shields’ SARS-CoV-2 contamination during aerosol-generating procedures on SARS-CoV-2–positive patients housed in a COVID-19–specific unit. Medical masks worn on top of HCP's N95 respirators, and under face shields, during study aerosol-generating procedures were used as surrogates to detect contamination to avoid waste. Thirty-three HCPs were studied, and a total of 33 mask and 27 face shields were sampled. Masks were cut into 9 pieces and face shields were sampled twice, front and back, to determine locality of contamination; however, no positive samples were identified using standard polymerase chain reaction techniques with a CT value up to 40. All 9 mask piece samples were then pooled, as were face shield samples, using centrifugal concentration with polyethersulfone membranes. Once pooled and concentrated, overall, 9 (15%) samples were positive via real-time polymerase chain reaction: 5 from masks (15.2%) and 4 from face shields (14.8%).
Resurgence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in the Summer of 2021 in Denmark—a Large out-of-season Epidemic Affecting Older Children
Authors: Lomholt Frederikke Kristensen , Emborg Hanne-Dorthe , Nørgaard Sarah Kristine , Nielsen Jens , Munkstrup Charlotte , Møller Karina Lauenborg , Krog Jesper Schak , Trebbien Ramona , Vestergaard Lasse Skafte
Published: February 2024

Background

When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions were lifted in Denmark in the spring of 2021, a surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases followed, causing a large out-of-season epidemic. This study aims to investigate the summer epidemic compared with 3 typical pre-COVID-19 RSV winter seasons using Danish registers to identify RSV cases, RSV-related admissions, and use of intensive care treatment.

Methods

Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 person-years for RSV cases, RSV-related admissions, and intensive care treatment were calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI) for each season, stratified by age groups and incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% CI were calculated to compare the summer epidemic with the winter season for 2019-2020.

Results

In the summer epidemic, the IR of RSV cases and admissions exceeded previous winter seasons for all age groups. The highest increases in IRs were seen among children aged 2 to 3 years and 4 to 5 years. The IRR of cases were 4.6 (95% CI, 4.1-5.2) and 3.3 (2.6-4.2) and the IRR of admissions were 3.3 (2.7-4.2) and 3.8 (2.3-6.5) in the 2 age groups, respectively, when compared with the winter season 2019-2020.

Conclusions

Likely because of immunity debt following COVID-19 restrictions, the summer epidemic was significantly larger than previous winter seasons, most markedly among children aged 2 to 3 and 4 to 5 years but had a similar disease severity spectrum.
Molecular identification of immature Cerambycinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): revisiting the significance of immature morphologies
Authors: Lee Seunghyun , Lee Seunghwan
Published: February 2024

The microstructure of immature insect forms plays a crucial role in systematics, especially in inferring phylogenetic relationships and designating the morphological basis for taxonomic units. However, the microstructure of longhorn beetle larvae and pupae is poorly understood, owing to difficulties in obtaining them and technical limitations. Among 90 larvae and 80 pupae collected and photographed, 31 larvae and 15 pupae remained unidentified after morphological and bionomical evidence-based identification. Cytochrome c oxidase I sequences were amplified successfully from 68 larvae and 59 pupae. Molecular identification using tree-based analysis identified 28 of 31 undetermined larvae (90.3%) and 14 of 15 undetermined pupae (93.3%) to the species level. We highlight the usefulness of DNA barcoding in identifying immature forms of cerambycid beetles and filling gaps in public databases. This study also demonstrates how microstructure can clarify the morphological basis of polyphyletic taxa on the phylogeny and emphasizes the significance of the microstructure of immature stages in longhorn beetle systematics.
Loss of mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphate‐5 aggravates islet dysfunction in mice with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Authors: Zhao Tongjian , Tian Yafei , Zhao Jianan , Sun Dandan , Ma Yongjun , Wang Wei , Yan Weiqun , Jiao Ping , Ma Jie
Published: February 2024

Impaired functionality and loss of islet β‐cells are the primary abnormalities underlying the pathogenesis of both type 1 and 2 diabetes (T1DM and T2DM). However, specific therapeutic and preventive mechanisms underlying these conditions remain unclear. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphatase‐5 (MKP‐5) has been implicated in carcinogenesis, lipid metabolism regulation, and immune cell activation. In a previous study, we demonstrated the involvement of exogenous MKP‐5 in the regulation of obesity‐induced T2DM. However, the role of endogenous MKP‐5 in the T1DM and T2DM processes is unclear. Thus, mice with MKP‐5 knockout (KO) were generated and used to establish mouse models of both T1DM and T2DM. Our results showed that MKP‐5 KO exacerbated diabetes‐related symptoms in mice with both T1DM and T2DM. Given that most phenotypic studies on islet dysfunction have focused on mice with T2DM rather than T1DM, we specifically aimed to investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and autophagy in T2DM KO islets. To accomplish this, we performed RNA sequence analysis to gain comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with ERS and autophagy in T2DM KO islets. The results showed that the islets from mice with MKP‐5 KO triggered 5′ adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)‐mediated autophagy inhibition and glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP‐78)‐dominated ERS. Hence, we concluded that the autophagy impairment, resulting in islet dysfunction in mice with MKP‐5 KO, is mediated through GRP‐78 involvement. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular pathogenesis of diabetes and highlight the significant role of MKP‐5. Moreover, this knowledge holds promise for novel therapeutic strategies targeting MKP‐5 for diabetes management.
Multi‐organ single‐cell RNA sequencing in mice reveals early hyperglycemia responses that converge on fibroblast dysregulation
Authors: Braithwaite Adam T. , Akbar Naveed , Pezzolla Daniela , Paget Daan , Krausgruber Thomas , Bock Christoph , Carnicer Ricardo , Choudhury Robin P.
Published: February 2024

Diabetes causes a range of complications that can affect multiple organs. Hyperglycemia is an important driver of diabetes‐associated complications, mediated by biological processes such as dysfunction of endothelial cells, fibrosis, and alterations in leukocyte number and function. Here, we dissected the transcriptional response of key cell types to hyperglycemia across multiple tissues using single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) and identified conserved, as well as organ‐specific, changes associated with diabetes complications. By studying an early time point of diabetes, we focus on biological processes involved in the initiation of the disease, before the later organ‐specific manifestations had supervened. We used a mouse model of type 1 diabetes and performed scRNA‐seq on cells isolated from the heart, kidney, liver, and spleen of streptozotocin‐treated and control male mice after 8 weeks and assessed differences in cell abundance, gene expression, pathway activation, and cell signaling across organs and within organs. In response to hyperglycemia, endothelial cells, macrophages, and monocytes displayed organ‐specific transcriptional responses, whereas fibroblasts showed similar responses across organs, exhibiting altered metabolic gene expression and increased myeloid‐like fibroblasts. Furthermore, we found evidence of endothelial dysfunction in the kidney, and of endothelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in streptozotocin‐treated mouse organs. In summary, our study represents the first single‐cell and multi‐organ analysis of early dysfunction in type 1 diabetes‐associated hyperglycemia, and our large‐scale dataset (comprising 67 611 cells) will serve as a starting point, reference atlas, and resource for further investigating the events leading to early diabetic disease.
Milvexian: A Focus on a New Oral Anticoagulant that Targets Factor XIa for Thromboembolism Prophylaxis
Authors: Birchansky Joseph , Frishman William H.
Published: February 2024

Drugs that target factor XI and/or XIa have been evaluated as alternatives to existing anticoagulants, in light of studies that indicate that a decrease in Factor XI/XIa levels or activity may result in a lower risk of thrombosis without a significant increase in bleeding risk. Milvexian is an investigational small-molecule factor XIa inhibitor that has recently completed phase 2 clinical trials. Preclinical studies were suggestive of its potential to prevent arterial and venous thrombosis. It was well-tolerated in healthy participants, as well as in participants with mild or moderate hepatic impairment and moderate or severe renal impairment. Notably, patients who received milvexian after knee arthroplasty had a dose-proportional lower incidence of venous thromboembolism compared to patients who received postoperative enoxaparin, and they had a lower incidence of clinically relevant bleeding. A separate phase 2 trial was conducted that assessed the use of milvexian for secondary stroke prevention in patients who had ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. It failed its primary objective of establishing a dose-response relationship between milvexian and a composite endpoint of symptomatic ischemic stroke or covert brain infarction. The trial did, however, show a reduction in the relative risk of symptomatic ischemic stroke across most of the treatment groups receiving various dosages of milvexian compared to placebo. The efficacy of milvexian in secondary stroke prevention will be further assessed in an upcoming phase 3 trial. Additional upcoming phase 3 trials will also assess its efficacy in stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation as well as in event reduction in patients with acute coronary syndrome.