bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoxia macrophage-derived exosomal miR-26b-5p targeting PTEN promotes the development of keloids
Authors: Dai Siya , Xu Mingyuan , Pang Qianqian , Sun Jiaqi , Lin Xiaohu , Chu Xi , Guo Chunyi , Xu Jinghong
Published: March 2024

Background

Hypoxia is the typical characteristic of keloids. The development of keloids is closely related to the abnormal phenotypic transition of macrophages. However, the role of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from hypoxic macrophages in keloids remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of hypoxic macrophage-derived exosomes (HMDE) in the occurrence and development of keloids and identify the critical miRNA.

Methods

The expression of CD206+ M2 macrophage in keloids and normal skin tissues was examined through immunofluorescence. The polarization of macrophages under a hypoxia environment was detected through flow cytometry. The internalization of macrophage-derived exosomes in human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) was detected using a confocal microscope. miRNA sequencing was used to explore the differentially expressed miRNAs in exosomes derived from the normoxic and hypoxic macrophage. Subsequently, the dual-luciferase reporter assay verified that phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN) was miR-26b-5p’s target. The biological function of macrophage-derived exosomes, miR-26b-5p and PTEN were detected using the CCK-8, wound-healing and Transwell assays. Western blot assay was used to confirm the miR-26b-5p’s underlying mechanisms and PTEN-PI3K/AKT pathway.

Results

We demonstrated that M2-type macrophages were enriched in keloids and that hypoxia treatment could polarize macrophages toward M2-type. Compared with normoxic macrophages-derived exosomes (NMDE), HMDE promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of HKFs. A total of 38 differential miRNAs (18 upregulated and 20 downregulated) were found between the NMDE and HMDE. miR-26b-5p was enriched in HMDE, which could be transmitted to HKFs. According to the results of the functional assay, exosomal miR-26b-5p produced by macrophages facilitated HKFs’ migration, invasion and proliferation via the PTEN-PI3K/AKT pathway.

Conclusions

The highly expressed miR-26b-5p in HMDE promotes the development of keloids via the PTEN-PI3K/AKT pathway.
Experimental study on the effect of micro-carbon additives in vegetable oils for aquifer thermal energy storage
Authors: Suzuki Takashi , Ichiyanagi Mitsuhisa , Yilmaz Emir , Maxwell Archie G K , Anggraini Handoyo Ekadewi
Published: March 2024

Aquifer thermal energy storage is a versatile method for regulating building temperatures, utilizing groundwater as a medium for both summer cooling and winter heating. Water has high thermal conductivity and specific heat but is corrosive, creating a mineral build-up that causes scaling. Additionally, its high freezing point presents operational challenges. Vegetable oils emerge as a promising alternative, owing to their lower freezing points. In light of environmental concerns, researchers are exploring vegetable oils as substitutes for petroleum-derived mineral oils. This paper is intended as an initial study using vegetable oils, i.e. coconut and sunflower oil, as the heat-transfer medium in aquifer thermal energy storage. The experiments assess the heat-transfer coefficient of coconut, sunflower, mineral, and synthetic oils when exposed to the same heat source. The study also evaluates the impact of introducing micro-carbon (graphite and charcoal) to the oils. Results indicate that sunflower oil has the highest heat-transfer coefficient of 374.4 W/m2 K among the oils, making it suitable for aquifer thermal energy storage applications. Furthermore, augmenting sunflower oil with charcoal powder enhances its performance by increasing the heat-transfer coefficient to 474.9 W/m2 K, or a 27% increase. In contrast, coconut oil proves unsuitable for aquifer thermal energy storage deployment because of its low heat-transfer coefficient of 293.7 W/m2 K. The heat-transfer coefficient of synthetic oil increases with graphite powder but decreases with charcoal powder introduction.
Green hydrogen energy production: current status and potential
Authors: Maka Ali O M , Mehmood Mubbashar
Published: March 2024

The technique of producing hydrogen by utilizing green and renewable energy sources is called green hydrogen production. Therefore, by implementing this technique, hydrogen will become a sustainable and clean energy source by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. The key benefit of producing green hydrogen by utilizing green energy is that no harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases are directly released throughout the process. Hence, to guarantee all of the environmental advantages, it is crucial to consider the entire hydrogen supply chain, involving storage, transportation and end users. Hydrogen is a promising clean energy source and targets plan pathways towards decarbonization and net-zero emissions by 2050. This paper has highlighted the techniques for generating green hydrogen that are needed for a clean environment and sustainable energy solutions. Moreover, it summarizes an overview, outlook and energy transient of green hydrogen production. Consequently, its perspective provides new insights and research directions in order to accelerate the development and identify the potential of green hydrogen production.
Toward a better understanding of how a gyrified brain develops
Authors: Barresi Mikaela , Hickmott Ryan Alexander , Bosakhar Abdulhameed , Quezada Sebastian , Quigley Anita , Kawasaki Hiroshi , Walker David , Tolcos Mary
Published: March 2024

The size and shape of the cerebral cortex have changed dramatically across evolution. For some species, the cortex remains smooth (lissencephalic) throughout their lifetime, while for other species, including humans and other primates, the cortex increases substantially in size and becomes folded (gyrencephalic). A folded cortex boasts substantially increased surface area, cortical thickness, and neuronal density, and it is therefore associated with higher-order cognitive abilities. The mechanisms that drive gyrification in some species, while others remain lissencephalic despite many shared neurodevelopmental features, have been a topic of investigation for many decades, giving rise to multiple perspectives of how the gyrified cerebral cortex acquires its unique shape. Recently, a structurally unique germinal layer, known as the outer subventricular zone, and the specialized cell type that populates it, called basal radial glial cells, were identified, and these have been shown to be indispensable for cortical expansion and folding. Transcriptional analyses and gene manipulation models have provided an invaluable insight into many of the key cellular and genetic drivers of gyrification. However, the degree to which certain biomechanical, genetic, and cellular processes drive gyrification remains under investigation. This review considers the key aspects of cerebral expansion and folding that have been identified to date and how theories of gyrification have evolved to incorporate this new knowledge.
Association of left atrial enlargement with heart failure events in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction
Authors: Hamatani Yasuhiro , Iguchi Moritake , Okamoto Keita , Nakanishi Yumiko , Minami Kimihito , Ishigami Kenjiro , Ikeda Syuhei , Doi Kosuke , Yoshizawa Takashi , Ide Yuya , Fujino Akiko , Ishii Mitsuru , Masunaga Nobutoyo , Esato Masahiro , Tsuji Hikari , Wada Hiromichi , Hasegawa Koji , Abe Mitsuru , Akao Masaharu
Published: March 2024

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of heart failure (HF); however, little is known regarding the risk stratification for incident HF in AF patients, especially with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods and results

The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of AF patients. From the registry, 3002 non-valvular AF patients with preserved LVEF and with the data of antero-posterior left atrial diameter (LAD) at enrolment were investigated. Patients were stratified by LAD (<40, 40–44, 45–49, and ≥50 mm) with backgrounds and HF hospitalization incidences compared between groups. Of 3002 patients [mean age, 73.5 ± 10.7 years; women, 1226 (41%); paroxysmal AF, 1579 (53%); and mean CHA2DS2-VASc score, 3.3 ± 1.7], the mean LAD was 43 ± 8 mm. Patients with larger LAD were older and less often paroxysmal AF, with a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (all P < 0.001). Heart failure hospitalization occurred in 412 patients during the median follow-up period of 6.0 years. Larger LAD was independently associated with a higher HF hospitalization risk [LAD ≥ 50 mm: hazard ratio (HR), 2.36; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.75–3.18; LAD 45–49 mm: HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.37–2.46; and LAD 40–44 mm: HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01–1.78, compared with LAD < 40 mm) after adjustment by age, sex, AF type, and CHA2DS2-VASc score. These results were also consistent across major subgroups, showing no significant interaction.

Conclusion

Left atrial diameter is significantly associated with the risk of incident HF in AF patients with preserved LVEF, suggesting the utility of LAD regarding HF risk stratification for these patients.
Kidney replacement therapy: trends in incidence, treatment, and outcomes of myocardial infarction and stroke in a nationwide Scottish study
Authors: Gallacher Peter J , Yeung David , Bell Samira , Shah Anoop S V , Mills Nicholas L , Dhaun Neeraj
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

Patients with kidney failure have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. Whilst temporal trends of myocardial infarction and stroke are declining in the general population, these have not been evaluated in patients with kidney failure. This study aimed to describe national trends in the incidence, treatment, and outcomes of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients with kidney failure (i.e. on dialysis or with a kidney transplant) over a 20-year period, stratified by age and sex.

Methods

In this retrospective national data linkage study, all patients with kidney failure in Scotland (UK) receiving kidney replacement therapy between January 1996 and December 2016 were linked to national hospitalization, prescribing, and death records. The primary outcomes were the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke, and subsequent cardiovascular death. Generalized additive models were constructed to estimate age-standardized, sex-stratified incidence rates and trends in cardiovascular and all-cause death.

Results

Amongst 16 050 patients with kidney failure [52 (SD 15) years; 41.5% women], there were 1992 [66 (SD 12) years; 34.8% women] and 996 [65 (SD 13) years; 45.1% women] incident myocardial infarctions and strokes, respectively, between January 1996 and December 2016. During this period, the age-standardized incidence of myocardial infarction per 100 000 decreased in men {from 4376 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3998–4785] to 1835 (95% CI 1692–1988)} and women [from 3268 (95% CI 2982–3593) to 1369 (95% CI 1257–1491)]. Similarly, the age-standardized incidence of stroke per 100 000 also decreased in men [from 1978 (95% CI 1795–2175) to 799 (95% CI 729–875)] and women [from 2234 (95% CI 2031–2468) to 903 (95% CI 824–990)]. Compared with the general population, the incidence of myocardial infarction was four- to eight-fold higher in patients with kidney failure, whilst for stroke it was two- to four-fold higher. The use of evidence-based cardioprotective treatment increased over the study period, and the predicted probability of cardiovascular death within 1 year of myocardial infarction for a 66-year-old patient with kidney failure (mean age of the cohort) fell in men (76.6% to 38.6%) and women (76.8% to 38.8%), and also decreased in both sexes following stroke (men, from 63.5% to 41.4%; women, from 67.6% to 45.8%).

Conclusions

The incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke has halved in patients with kidney failure over the past 20 years but remains significantly higher than in the general population. Despite improvements in treatment and outcomes, the prognosis of these patients following myocardial infarction and stroke remains poor.
The Metalinguistic Dimension of Literary Multilingualism: Linguistic Biographies in Italian Fiction
Authors: Ala-Risku Riikka
Published: March 2024

In this article, I argue that a thorough analysis of literary multilingualism and code-switching needs to take their metalinguistic dimension into account. Many scholars have noticed multilingual authors’ tendency to frame code-switches with metalinguistic comments, but they are sometimes treated marginally, or as just one of the many functions of code-switching. My article argues that metalanguage is, in fact, a fundamental characteristic of literary multilingualism, and key to its interpretation. This is particularly evident when we look at how the contemporary Italian writers Laura Pariani, Silvana Grasso and Elena Ferrante construct their characters through linguistic biographies, and how they describe dialect use, bilingualism, language loss and shift and other collective and individual sociolinguistic processes. I also show that metalanguage needs to be analysed together with other tools used by authors to flag multilingualism: namely intratextual translations and peritextual elements (such as glossaries or notes), but also visual cues, such as italics.
The Impact of Type 2 Diabetes on Peripheral and Cerebral Hemodynamic Responses to Active Stand
Authors: Hernández Belinda , Dyer Adam H , Finucane Ciaran , Nipoti Bernardo , Romero-Ortuno Roman , Reilly Richard , Kenny Rose Anne
Published: March 2024

Background

Although type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an established risk factor for cognitive impairment, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly explored. One potential mechanism may be through effects of T2DM on cerebral perfusion. The current study hypothesized that T2DM is associated with altered peripheral and central hemodynamic responses to orthostasis, which may in turn be associated with cognitive impairment in T2DM.

Methods

A novel use of function-on-scalar regression, which allows the entire hemodynamic response curve to be modeled, was employed to assess the association between T2DM and hemodynamic responses to orthostasis. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between tissue saturation index (TSI), T2DM, and cognitive impairment. All analyses used cross-sectional data from Wave 3 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

Results

Of 2 984 older adults (aged 64.3 ± 8.0; 55% female), 189 (6.3%) had T2DM. T2DM was associated with many features that are indicative of autonomic dysfunction including a blunted peak heart rate and lower diastolic blood pressure. T2DM was associated with reduced TSI and also with greater odds of impaired performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (odds ratio [OR]: 1.62; confidence interval [CI: 1.07, 2.56]; p = .019). Greater TSI was associated with lower odds of impaired performance (OR: 0.90, CI [0.81–0.99]; p = .047).

Conclusions

T2DM was associated with impaired peripheral and cerebral hemodynamic responses to active stand. Both T2DM and reduced cerebral perfusion were associated with impaired cognitive performance. Altered cerebral perfusion may represent an important mechanism linking T2DM and adverse brain health outcomes in older adults.
Access to perinatal doula services in Medicaid: a case analysis of 2 states
Authors: Safon Cara B , McCloskey Lois , Estela Maria Guadalupe , Gordon Sarah H , Cole Megan B , Clark Jack
Published: March 2024

Doula services support maternal and child health, but few Medicaid programs reimburse for them. Through qualitative interviews with key policy informants (n = 20), this study explored facilitators and barriers to Medicaid reimbursement through perceptions of doula-related policies in 2 states: Oregon, where doula care is reimbursed, and Massachusetts, where reimbursement is pending. Five themes characterize the inclusion of doula services in Medicaid. In Theme 1, stakeholders recognized an imperative to expand access to doula services. Subsequent themes represent complications in accomplishing that imperative. In Theme 2, perceptions that doula services were not valued by health care providers resulted in conflict between doulas and the health care system. In Theme 3, complex billing processes created friction and impeded reimbursement. In Theme 4, internal conflict presented barriers to policymaking. In Theme 5, structural fragmentation between state government and doula communities was prominent in Massachusetts, presenting tensions during policymaking. Informants reported on problems demanding resolution to establish equitable and robust doula care policies. Medicaid coverage of doula services requires ongoing collaboration with doulas, providers, and health care advocates.
Proposal of statistical twin as a transition to full digital twin technology for cardiovascular interventions
Authors: Sardari Nia Peyman , Ganushchak Yuri , Maessen Jos
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES

We introduced statistical twin as aggregates of multiple virtual patients’ data throughout the treatment at any chosen time point. The goal of this manuscript was to provide the proof of concept of statistical twin by evaluating the feasibility of detection of distinctive aggregates of patients throughout the perioperative trajectory (prerequisite for development of statistical twin).

METHODS

We used a retrospective validated cohort of all comers with mitral valve disease treated (2014–2020) at a tertiary academic hospital. The end point was overall survival based on the decision of the heart team. We applied two-step cluster analysis to detect distinct aggregated virtual patients throughout the process of care.

RESULTS

The cluster procedure resulted in 5 distant clusters with relatively equal numbers of patients. Effects of the treatment (surgery, transcatheter or optimal medical therapy) on survival were as follows: For optimal medical therapy, the expected survival ranged from 95% to 96% in 30 days to 58% to 75% in 10 years independent of baseline characteristics. However, for transcatheter interventions, the 5-year survival was 60–92% and was dependant on the initial characteristics of the virtual patient. Furthermore, survival following an uncomplicated operation of normal duration was higher through all observation periods. The aggregated virtual patients of cluster 5 would have a better survival rate at all times if the intervention were done by a dedicated surgeon.

CONCLUSIONS

It is possible to detect distinctive aggregates of virtual patients based on baseline characteristics and to capture the impact of perioperative events and external and other factors at multiple time points throughout the postoperative phase.
Study on the impact of digital finance on agricultural carbon emissions from a spatial perspective: an analysis based on provincial panel data
Authors: Bao Bingfei , Fei Baoxiang , Ren Gaigai , Jin Shengtian
Published: March 2024

China is committed to achieving the goal of ‘carbon peaking and carbon neutrality’, which requires reducing carbon emissions from various sectors, especially agriculture. Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and its carbon intensity is influenced by many factors, including the development of digital finance. Digital finance, as an important driver of economic growth and technological innovation, can affect the carbon emissions of agricultural production and consumption through various channels. However, the existing literature has not paid enough attention to the spatial effects of digital finance on agricultural carbon emissions, which may lead to biased estimates and policy implications. Therefore, this paper aims to fill this gap by using the Spatial Durbin Model to analyze the impact of digital finance on agricultural carbon emissions from a spatial perspective, based on the provincial panel data of 28 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2011 to 2020. The main findings are as follows: (1) The development of digital finance has a positive and significant effect on China’s agricultural carbon emissions, and this effect is robust to different spatial weight matrices. (2) The impact mechanism of digital finance on agricultural carbon emissions is mainly through affecting the spatial spillover of carbon emissions and the cross-regional financial coordination. Based on these results, this paper provides some policy suggestions for achieving the goal of ‘carbon peaking and carbon neutrality’ in China’s agricultural sector.
Immunoassay Testing of Alpha-Gal Specific Immunoglobulin-E: Data from a National Reference Laboratory
Authors: Saadalla Abdulrahman , Jacela Jessica , Poll Rick , Slev Patricia
Published: March 2024

Background

Immunoassay measurements of serum alpha-gal (AG) specific IgE (sIgE) enable antibody detection and quantification with high sensitivity and specificity and are essential for AG syndrome diagnosis and patient management. We here present and analyze results from over 15 000 patient serum samples tested using the ImmunoCAP (Thermo/Phadia) assay.

Methods

AG-sIgE levels and positivity rates were correlated to patient age, gender, geographic location, repeat testing results, sIgE levels to co-tested red meat whole allergen extracts, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) serology performed on a subset of patient samples.

Results

Of the tested samples, 36.7% contained detectable (>0.1 KUA/L) AG-sIgE. Antibody levels were higher in patients of older age, in samples submitted from lower midwestern and southern states, and during the June–December period of the year. Specific IgE to co-tested red meat whole allergens showed moderate to strong correlation to AG-sIgE and were of lower levels. Samples with positive RMSF IgG titers (≥1:64) were of overall higher AG-IgE levels.

Conclusion

Findings are consistent with the role of lone star ticks in AG syndrome pathogenesis. Levels of measured sIgE to AG are higher than co-tested sIgE to red meat whole allergen, consistent with the improved diagnostic performance of component-resolved testing.
Methodologies and key considerations for implementing the International Classification of Diseases-11th revision morbidity coding: insights from a national pilot study in China
Authors: Zhang Meng , Wang Yipeng , Jakob Robert , Su Shanna , Bai Xue , Jing Xiaotong , Xue Xin , Liao Aimin , Li Naishi , Wang Yi
Published: March 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to disseminate insights from a nationwide pilot of the International Classification of Diseases-11th revision (ICD-11).

Materials and methods

The strategies and methodologies employed to implement the ICD-11 morbidity coding in 59 hospitals in China are described. The key considerations for the ICD-11 implementation were summarized based on feedback obtained from the pilot hospitals. Coding accuracy and Krippendorff’s alpha reliability were computed based on the coding results in the ICD-11 exam.

Results

Among the 59 pilot hospitals, 58 integrated ICD-11 Coding Software into their health information management systems and 56 implemented the ICD-11 in morbidity coding, resulting in 3 723 959 diagnoses for 873 425 patients being coded over a 2-month pilot coding phase. The key considerations in the transition to the ICD-11 in morbidity coding encompassed the enrichment of ICD-11 content, refinement of tools, provision of systematic and tailored training, improvement of clinical documentation, promotion of downstream data utilization, and the establishment of a national process and mechanism for implementation. The overall coding accuracy was 82.9% when considering the entire coding field (including postcoordination) and 92.2% when only one stem code was considered. Krippendorff’s alpha was 0.792 (95% CI, 0.788-0.796) and 0.799 (95% CI, 0.795-0.803) with and without consideration of the code sequence, respectively.

Conclusion

This nationwide pilot study has enhanced national technical readiness for the ICD-11 implementation in morbidity, elucidating key factors warranting careful consideration in future endeavors. The good accuracy and intercoder reliability of the ICD-11 coding achieved following a brief training program underscore the potential for the ICD-11 to reduce training costs and provide high-quality health data. Experiences and lessons learned from this study have contributed to WHO’s work on the ICD-11 and can inform other countries when formulating their transition plan.
Maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation improves offspring performance and metabolism in beef cows
Authors: Nascimento Karolina B , Galvão Matheus C , Meneses Javier A M , Ramírez-Zamudio German D , Pereira Douglas G , Paulino Pedro V R , Casagrande Daniel R , Gionbelli Tathyane R S , Ladeira Marcio M , Duarte Marcio S , Loor Juan J , Gionbelli Mateus P
Published: March 2024

This study examined the impact of maternal protein supplementation during mid-gestation on offspring, considering potential sex-related effects. Forty-three pregnant purebred Tabapuã beef cows (20 female and 23 male fetuses) were collectively managed in a pasture until 100 d of gestation. From 100 to 200 d of gestation, they were randomly assigned to the restricted group [(RES) − basal diet (75% corn silage + 25% sugar cane bagasse + mineral mixture); n = 24] or control group [(CON) – same basal diet + based-plant supplement [40% of crude protein, 3.5 g/kg of body weight (BW); n = 19]. From 200 d of gestation until parturition, all cows were equally fed corn silage and mineral mixture. During the cow–calf phase, cows and their calves were maintained in a pasture area. After weaning, calves were individually housed and evaluated during the backgrounding (255 to 320 d), growing 1 (321 to 381 d), and growing 2 (382 to 445 d) phases. Offspring’s blood samples were collected at 210 and 445 d of age. Samples of skeletal muscle tissue were collected through biopsies at 7, 30, and 445 d of age. Muscle tissue samples were subjected to reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Prenatal treatment and offspring’s sex (when pertinent) were considered fixed effects. The significance level was set at 5%. At mid-gestation, cows supplemented with protein reached 98% and 92% of their protein and energy requirements, while nonsupplemented cows attained only 30% and 50% of these requirements, respectively. The RES offspring were lighter at birth (27 vs. 31 kg), weaning (197 vs. 214 kg), and 445 d of age (398 vs. 429 kg) (P ≤ 0.05). The CON calves had greater (P < 0.05) morphometric measurements overall. The CON offspring had ~26% greater muscle fiber area (P ≤ 0.01). There was a trend (P = 0.06) for a greater Mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase mRNA expression in the Longissimus thoracis in the CON group at 7 d of age. The Myogenic differentiation 1 expression was greater (P = 0.02) in RES-females. Upregulation of Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 was observed in RES offspring at 445 d (P = 0.04). Expression of Fatty acid binding protein 4 (P < 0.001), Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (P < 0.001), and Stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase (P < 0.001) was upregulated in CON-females. Therefore, protein supplementation during gestation enhances offspring growth and promotes favorable responses to lipogenesis, particularly in females.
The impact of climate change and the conservation of the keystone Asian honeybee using niche models and systematic prioritization
Authors: Li Dexian , Wang Xiaoxia , Jiang Kaisong , An Rong , Li Yonghong , Liu Deguang
Published: March 2024

Global warming has seriously disturbed the Earth’s ecosystems, and in this context, Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) has experienced a dramatic decline in recent decades. Here, we examined both direct and indirect effects of climate change on A. cerana through ecological niche modeling of A. cerana, and its disease pathogens (i.e., Chinese sacbrood virus and Melissococcus plutonius) and enemies (i.e., Galleria mellonella and Vespa mandarinia). Ecological niche modeling predicts that climate change will increase the potential suitability of A. cerana, but it will also cause some of the original habitat areas to become unsuitable. Outbreak risks of Chinese sacbrood disease and European Foulbrood will increase dramatically, while those of G. mellonella and V. mandarinia will decrease only slightly. Thus, climate change will produce an unfavorable situation for even maintaining some A. cerana populations in China in the future. Genetic structure analyses showed that the A. cerana population from Hainan Island had significant genetic differentiation from that of the mainland, and there was almost no gene flow between the 2, suggesting that urgent measures are needed to protect the unique genetic resources there. Through taking an integrated planning technique with the Marxan approach, we optimized conservation planning, and identified potential nature reserves (mainly in western Sichuan and southern Tibet) for conservation of A. cerana populations. Our results can provide insights into the potential impact of climate change on A. cerana, and will help to promote the conservation of the keystone honeybee in China and the long-term sustainability of its ecosystem services.
An orientation to the US National Cancer plan for the research community
Authors: Geiger Ann M , Jaffee Elizabeth M , Berger Mitchel S , Brown Carol L , Rathmell W Kimryn , Bertagnolli Monica M
Published: March 2024

The US National Cancer Act of 1971 designated the director of the National Cancer Institute as responsible for coordinating federal agencies and nonfederal organizations to make progress against cancer. As part of her role, the immediate past director of the National Cancer Institute (MMB) led the development of a National Cancer Plan that was formally released on April 3, 2023. The plan includes 8 aspirational goals “to achieve a society where every person with cancer lives a full and active life and to prevent most cancers so that few people need to face this diagnosis.” Research findings provide a foundation for each goal, and research gaps are included in the strategies for meeting each goal. The President’s Cancer Panel, also created by the National Cancer Act, conducted an initial assessment of progress toward the plan goals by hearing from 12 organizations at a virtual public meeting on September 7, 2023. The purpose of this commentary is to orient the scientific community to the plan and call attention to related knowledge gaps that could benefit from research.
Nonlinear network-based quantitative trait prediction from biological data
Authors: Blein-Nicolas Mélisande , Devijver Emilie , Gallopin Mélina , Perthame Emeline
Published: March 2024

Quantitatively predicting phenotypic variables using biomarkers is a challenging task for several reasons. First, the collected biological observations might be heterogeneous and correspond to different biological mechanisms. Second, the biomarkers used to predict the phenotype are potentially highly correlated since biological entities (genes, proteins, and metabolites) interact through unknown regulatory networks. In this paper, we present a novel approach designed to predict multivariate quantitative traits from biological data which address the 2 issues. The proposed model performs well on prediction but it is also fully parametric, with clusters of individuals and regulatory networks, which facilitates the downstream biological interpretation.
Effects of sexual counseling on sexual function and sexual quality of life of women with permanent intestinal ostomy
Authors: Sohrabi Fatemeh , Tirgari Batool , Safaei Milad , Alizadeh Sajjad
Published: March 2024

Background

Patients with an intestinal ostomy may experience significant sexual dysfunction that may have adverse impacts on quality of life. Appropriate sexual health counseling can be beneficial for these patients.

Aim

This study was conducted to determine the effect of sexual counseling on the sexual function and sexual quality of life of women with a permanent intestinal ostomy.

Methods

For this experimental study, 60 female patients with a permanent intestinal ostomy were selected through convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control groups. Patients in the intervention group received four 90-minute individual counseling sessions based on the PLISSIT (permission [P], limited information [LI], specific suggestions [SS], and intensive therapy [IT] model over a period of 4 weeks). The control group underwent routine training. Data were collected by use of a demographic information questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Sexual Quality of Life Female questionnaire. Both groups completed the questionnaires before and after the intervention.

Outcomes

Study outcomes were the resulting data for the Female Sexual Function Index and the Sexual Quality of Life Female questionnaire.

Results

The results revealed a significant increase in the mean score of sexual function in the intervention group after counseling (P = .001). No significant difference was observed in the mean score of sexual quality of life between the 2 groups before the intervention (P > .05). In contrast, a significant increase was noted in the intervention group’s sexual quality of life after the intervention (P = .001).

Clinical Implications

The results indicate a need to sexual counseling interventions directed toward sexual function and sexual quality of life in women with permanent intestinal ostomy.

Strengths and Limitations

Study strengths include utilization of the PLISSIT model for sexual counseling as an invaluable roadmap for healthcare professionals, systematically addressing patient needs within a tailored framework, and prescribing appropriate strategies over 4 distinct phases. Limitations include the use of convenience sampling and no follow-up duration.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the efficacy of counseling in enhancing sexual well-being of women with permanent intestinal ostomy.
Synchrotron signatures of cosmic ray transport physics in galaxies
Authors: Ponnada Sam B , Butsky Iryna S , Skalidis Raphael , Hopkins Philip F , Panopoulou Georgia V , Hummels Cameron , Kereš Dušan , Quataert Eliot , Faucher-Giguère Claude-André , Su Kung-Yi
Published: March 2024

Cosmic rays (CRs) may drive outflows and alter the phase structure of the circumgalactic medium, with potentially important implications on galaxy formation. However, these effects ultimately depend on the dominant mode of transport of CRs within and around galaxies, which remains highly uncertain. To explore potential observable constraints on CR transport, we investigate a set of cosmological fire-2 CR-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of L* galaxies which evolve CRs with transport models motivated by self-confinement (SC) and extrinsic turbulence (ET) paradigms. To first order, the synchrotron properties diverge between SC and ET models due to a CR physics-driven hysteresis. SC models show a higher tendency to undergo ‘ejective’ feedback events due to a runaway buildup of CR pressure in dense gas due to the behaviour of SC transport scalings at extremal CR energy densities. The corresponding CR wind-driven hysteresis results in brighter, smoother, and more extended synchrotron emission in SC runs relative to ET and constant diffusion runs. The differences in synchrotron arise from different morphology, interstellar medium gas, and B properties, potentially ruling out SC as the dominant mode of CR transport in typical star-forming L* galaxies, and indicating the prospect for non-thermal radio continuum observations to constrain CR transport physics.
Aneuploidy Can Be an Evolutionary Diversion on the Path to Adaptation
Authors: Kohanovski Ilia , Pontz Martin , Vande Zande Pétra , Selmecki Anna , Dahan Orna , Pilpel Yitzhak , Yona Avihu H , Ram Yoav
Published: March 2024

Aneuploidy is common in eukaryotes, often leading to decreased fitness. However, evidence from fungi and human tumur cells suggests that specific aneuploidies can be beneficial under stressful conditions and facilitate adaptation. In a previous evolutionary experiment with yeast, populations evolving under heat stress became aneuploid, only to later revert to euploidy after beneficial mutations accumulated. It was therefore suggested that aneuploidy is a “stepping stone” on the path to adaptation. Here, we test this hypothesis. We use Bayesian inference to fit an evolutionary model with both aneuploidy and mutation to the experimental results. We then predict the genotype frequency dynamics during the experiment, demonstrating that most of the evolved euploid population likely did not descend from aneuploid cells, but rather from the euploid wild-type population. Our model shows how the beneficial mutation supply—the product of population size and beneficial mutation rate–determines the evolutionary dynamics: with low supply, much of the evolved population descends from aneuploid cells; but with high supply, beneficial mutations are generated fast enough to outcompete aneuploidy due to its inherent fitness cost. Our results suggest that despite its potential fitness benefits under stress, aneuploidy can be an evolutionary “diversion” rather than a “stepping stone”: it can delay, rather than facilitate, the adaptation of the population, and cells that become aneuploid may leave less descendants compared to cells that remain diploid.
Decoding face recognition abilities in the human brain
Authors: Faghel-Soubeyrand Simon , Ramon Meike , Bamps Eva , Zoia Matteo , Woodhams Jessica , Richoz Anne-Raphaelle , Caldara Roberto , Gosselin Frédéric , Charest Ian
Published: March 2024

Why are some individuals better at recognizing faces? Uncovering the neural mechanisms supporting face recognition ability has proven elusive. To tackle this challenge, we used a multimodal data-driven approach combining neuroimaging, computational modeling, and behavioral tests. We recorded the high-density electroencephalographic brain activity of individuals with extraordinary face recognition abilities—super-recognizers—and typical recognizers in response to diverse visual stimuli. Using multivariate pattern analyses, we decoded face recognition abilities from 1 s of brain activity with up to 80% accuracy. To better understand the mechanisms subtending this decoding, we compared representations in the brains of our participants with those in artificial neural network models of vision and semantics, as well as with those involved in human judgments of shape and meaning similarity. Compared to typical recognizers, we found stronger associations between early brain representations of super-recognizers and midlevel representations of vision models as well as shape similarity judgments. Moreover, we found stronger associations between late brain representations of super-recognizers and representations of the artificial semantic model as well as meaning similarity judgments. Overall, these results indicate that important individual variations in brain processing, including neural computations extending beyond purely visual processes, support differences in face recognition abilities. They provide the first empirical evidence for an association between semantic computations and face recognition abilities. We believe that such multimodal data-driven approaches will likely play a critical role in further revealing the complex nature of idiosyncratic face recognition in the human brain.
Design and performance of a collimated beam projector for telescope transmission measurement using a broad-band light source
Authors: Sommer K , Cohen-Tanugi J , Plez B , Betoule M , Bongard S , Le Guillou L , Neveu J , Nuss E , Sepulveda E , Souverin T , Moniez M , Stubbs C W
Published: March 2024

Type Ia supernovae are the most direct cosmological probe to study dark energy in the recent Universe, for which the photometric calibration of astronomical instruments remains one major source of systematic uncertainties. To address this, recent advancements introduce collimated beam projectors (CBPs), aiming to enhance calibration by precisely measuring a telescope’s throughput as a function of wavelength. This work describes the performance of a prototype portable CBP. The experimental set-up consists of a broad-band Xenon light source replacing a more customary but much more demanding high-power laser source, coupled with a monochromator emitting light inside an integrating sphere monitored with a photodiode and a spectrograph. Light is injected at the focus of the CBP telescope projecting a collimated beam onto a solar cell whose quantum efficiency has been obtained by comparison with a NIST-calibrated photodiode. The throughput and signal-to-noise ratio achieved by comparing the photocurrent signal in the CBP photodiode with the one in the solar cell are computed. We prove that the prototype, in its current state of development, is capable of achieving 1.2 per cent and 2.3 per cent precision on the integrated g and r bands of the Zwicky Transient Facility photometric filter system, respectively, in a reasonable amount of integration time. Central wavelength determination accuracy is kept below ∼0.91 and ∼0.58 nm for g and r bands, respectively. The expected photometric uncertainty caused by filter throughput measurement is approximately 5 mmag on the zero-point magnitude. Several straightforward improvement paths are discussed to upgrade the current set-up.
Private Sector Provision as an “Escape Valve”: The Mexico Diabetes Experiment
Authors: Bronsoler Ari , Gruber Jonathan , Seira Enrique
Published: March 2024

Public health systems are dominant in much of the world but often face fiscal constraints that lead to rationing of care. As a result, private sector healthcare providers could in theory beneficially supplement public systems, but evaluating the benefits of private alternatives has been challenging. We evaluate a private supplement to the free public health system for one of the world’s deadliest health problems, diabetes. We estimate enormous impacts of the private supplement, increasing the share of those treated who are under control by 69%. This effect arises through both improved treatment compliance and health behavior. We find diabetes complications fall in the short run, and that the net costs of this intervention are one-third of the gross costs. The returns to private care do not appear to reflect more productive delivery but rather more attachment to medical care, offering lessons for improving the public system.
The Roles of Gti1/Pac2 Family Proteins in Fungal Growth, Morphogenesis, Stress Response, and Pathogenicity
Authors: Luo Zheng , Xiong Dianguang , Tian Chengming
Published: March 2024

Gti1/Pac2 is a fungal-specific transcription factor family with a stable and conserved N-terminal domain. Generally, there are two members in this family, named Gti1/Wor1/Rpy1/Mit1/Reg1/Ros1/Sge1 and Pac2, which are involved in fungal growth, development, stress response, spore production, pathogenicity, and so on. The Gti1/Pac2 family proteins share some conserved and distinct functions. For example, in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Gti1 promotes the initiation of gluconate uptake during glucose starvation, while Pac2 controls the onset of sexual development in a pathway independent of the cAMP cascade. In the last two decades, more attention was focused on the Gti1 and its orthologs because of their significant effect on morphological switching and fungal virulence. By contrast, limited work was published on the functions of Pac2, which is required for stress responses and conidiation, but plays a minor role in fungal virulence. In this review, we present an overview of our current understanding of the Gti1/Pac2 proteins that contribute to fungal development and/or pathogenicity and of the regulation mechanisms during infection related development. Understanding the working networks of the conserved Gti1/Pac2 transcription factors in fungal pathogenicity not only advances our knowledge of the highly elaborate infection process but may also lead to the development of novel strategies for the control of plant disease.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
The Root Endophytic Microbiome Shifts Under Drought in High-Performing Sorghum
Authors: Garcia Ciara , Pauli Duke , Plecki Caroline , Alnasser Hesham , Rozzi Bruno , Calleja Sebastian , Arnold A. Elizabeth
Published: March 2024

Plant-associated microbes contribute to crop health and resilience, potentially extending or complementing plant traits under abiotic stress. Here we tested a series of hypotheses centered on the fungal mycobiome and bacterial microbiome of field-grown sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor), an emerging model crop for drought resilience, which we cultivated under arid conditions. Overall, the sorghum mycobiome and microbiome differed in composition between the exterior and interior of plant tissues, between roots and leaves, and among sorghum genotypes. We did not observe variation in fungal and bacterial endophytes among performance classes of sorghum when water was plentiful, but the root endophytic mycobiome and microbiome both shifted markedly under water limitation, with similar shifts in composition observed among multiple plant genotypes. The root endophytic microbiome of high-performing sorghum was especially responsive to water limitation. Network analysis suggested that water limitation did not directly remodel these root endophytic microbiomes, such that interactions of the microbiome with the host plant, rather than interactions among microbes within the microbiome, may be the most dynamic element of change when water is limited. Overall, our study points to shifts in the prevalence of particular taxa under abiotic stress and suggests that high-performing lines may have distinctive features as substrates or strategies for actively recruiting diverse, abundant, and distinctive microbial communities to roots under water limitation. Such findings are important in the arid lands that frame marginal agriculture today and comprise an increasing proportion of agriculture in a changing world.
The Peripapillary Retina – A Common Juncture in Stargardt Disease and Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Authors: Oh Jin Kyun , Ben Dov Meital , Tsang Stephen H. , Odel Jeffrey G.
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To present the multimodal imaging and functional exam findings in a case of combined Stargardt disease and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Methods:

The patient was evaluated with multimodal imaging including color fundus photography, short wavelength autofluorescence, spectral domain optical coherence tomography as well as functional testing such as Humphrey visual fields and full-field electroretinogram.

Results:

A 35-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of bilateral transient visual obscurations over the course of 2 months. Optic disc edema was observed in both eyes as well as a bulls-eye maculopathy with pisciform flecks. Magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent lumbar puncture confirmed a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Fundus autofluorescence demonstrated hyperautofluorescent flecks surrounding both the macula and the disc. Genetic testing and full-field electroretinogram confirmed a diagnosis of Stargardt disease. Notably, the peripapillary retina was not spared as is frequently seen in Stargardt disease, possibly due to the impact of disc edema in the area. The patient was treated with increasing doses of acetazolamide and familial testing for Stargardt disease was recommended.

Conclusion:

Both Stargardt disease and idiopathic intracranial hypertension are separately rare diseases with common anatomic intersection at the peripapillary retina. Stargardt disease typically spares the peripapillary retina; however, in the present case shows some evidence of peripapillary involvement. This finding suggests some relationship between disc edema due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension and the natural history of Stargardt disease.