bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data-driven approaches can harness crop diversity to address heterogeneous needs for breeding products
Authors: van Etten Jacob , de Sousa Kauê , Cairns Jill E. , Dell’Acqua Matteo , Fadda Carlo , Guereña David , Heerwaarden Joost van , Assefa Teshale , Manners Rhys , Müller Anna , Enrico Pè Mario , Polar Vivian , Ramirez-Villegas Julian , Øivind Solberg Svein , Teeken Béla , Tufan Hale Ann
Published: March 2023

This perspective describes the opportunities and challenges of data-driven approaches for crop diversity management (genebanks and breeding) in the context of agricultural research for sustainable development in the Global South. Data-driven approaches build on larger volumes of data and flexible analyses that link different datasets across domains and disciplines. This can lead to more information-rich management of crop diversity, which can address the complex interactions between crop diversity, production environments, and socioeconomic heterogeneity and help to deliver more suitable portfolios of crop diversity to users with highly diverse demands. We describe recent efforts that illustrate the potential of data-driven approaches for crop diversity management. A continued investment in this area should fill remaining gaps and seize opportunities, including i) supporting genebanks to play a more active role in linking with farmers using data-driven approaches; ii) designing low-cost, appropriate technologies for phenotyping; iii) generating more and better gender and socioeconomic data; iv) designing information products to facilitate decision-making; and v) building more capacity in data science. Broad, well-coordinated policies and investments are needed to avoid fragmentation of such capacities and achieve coherence between domains and disciplines so that crop diversity management systems can become more effective in delivering benefits to farmers, consumers, and other users of crop diversity.
Toward plant breeding for multicrop systems
Authors: Moore Virginia M. , Peters Tessa , Schlautman Brandon , Brummer E. Charles
Published: March 2023

Increasing cropping system diversity has great potential to address environmental problems associated with modern agriculture, such as erosion, soil carbon loss, nutrient runoff, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. As with other agricultural sciences, plant breeding has primarily been conducted in the context of dominant monoculture cropping systems, with little focus on multicrop systems. Multicrop systems have increased temporal and/or spatial diversity and include a diverse set of crops and practices. In order to support a transition to multicrop systems, plant breeders must shift their breeding programs and objectives to better represent more diverse systems, including diverse rotations, alternate-season crops, ecosystem service crops, and intercropping systems. The degree to which breeding methods need to change will depend on the cropping system context in question. Plant breeding alone, however, cannot drive adoption of multicrop systems. Alongside shifts in breeding approaches, changes are needed within broader research, private sector, and policy contexts. These changes include policies and investments that support a transition to multicrop systems, increased collaboration across disciplines to support cropping system development, and leadership from both the public and private sectors to develop and promote adoption of new cultivars.
Re-cognizing the new self: The neurocognitive plasticity of self-processing following facial transplantation
Authors: Azevedo Ruben T. , Diaz-Siso J. Rodrigo , Alfonso Allyson R. , Ramly Elie P. , Kantar Rami S. , Berman Zoe P. , Diep Gustave K. , Rifkin William J. , Rodriguez Eduardo D. , Tsakiris Manos
Published: March 2023

The face is a defining feature of our individuality, crucial for our social interactions. But what happens when the face connected to the self is radically altered or replaced? We address the plasticity of self-face recognition in the context of facial transplantation. While the
acquisition
of a new face following facial transplantation is a medical fact, the
experience
of a new identity is an unexplored psychological outcome. We traced the changes in self-face recognition before and after facial transplantation to understand if and how the transplanted face gradually comes to be perceived and recognized as the recipient’s own new face. Neurobehavioral evidence documents a strong representation of the pre-injury appearance pre-operatively, while following the transplantation, the recipient incorporates the new face into his self-identity. The acquisition of this new facial identity is supported by neural activity in medial frontal regions that are considered to integrate psychological and perceptual aspects of the self.
Quantitative reconstitution of yeast RNA processing bodies
Authors: Currie Simon L. , Xing Wenmin , Muhlrad Denise , Decker Carolyn J. , Parker Roy , Rosen Michael K.
Published: March 2023

Many biomolecular condensates appear to form through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). Individual condensate components can often undergo LLPS in vitro, capturing some features of the native structures. However, natural condensates contain dozens of components with different concentrations, dynamics, and contributions to compartment formation. Most biochemical reconstitutions of condensates have not benefited from quantitative knowledge of these cellular features nor attempted to capture natural complexity. Here, we build on prior quantitative cellular studies to reconstitute yeast RNA processing bodies (P bodies) from purified components. Individually, five of the seven highly concentrated P-body proteins form homotypic condensates at cellular protein and salt concentrations, using both structured domains and intrinsically disordered regions. Combining the seven proteins together at their cellular concentrations with RNA yields phase-separated droplets with partition coefficients and dynamics of most proteins in reasonable agreement with cellular values. RNA delays the maturation of proteins within and promotes the reversibility of, P bodies. Our ability to quantitatively recapitulate the composition and dynamics of a condensate from its most concentrated components suggests that simple interactions between these components carry much of the information that defines the physical properties of the cellular structure.
Biohybrid CO
2
electrolysis for the direct synthesis of polyesters from CO
2
Authors: Lim Jinkyu , Choi So Young , Lee Jae Won , Lee Sang Yup , Lee Hyunjoo
Published: March 2023

Converting anthropogenic CO
2
to value-added products using renewable energy has received much attention to achieve a sustainable carbon cycle. CO
2
electrolysis has been extensively investigated, but the products have been limited to some C
1-3
products. Here, we report the integration of CO
2
electrolysis with microbial fermentation to directly produce poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), a microbial polyester, from gaseous CO
2
on a gram scale. This biohybrid system comprises electrochemical conversion of CO
2
to formate on Sn catalysts deposited on a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and subsequent conversion of formate to PHB by
Cupriavidus necator
cells in a fermenter. The electrolyzer and the electrolyte solution were optimized for this biohybrid system. In particular, the electrolyte solution containing formate was continuously circulated through both the CO
2
electrolyzer and the fermenter, resulting in the efficient accumulation of PHB in
C. necator
cells, reaching a PHB content of 83% of dry cell weight and producing 1.38 g PHB using 4 cm
2
Sn GDE. This biohybrid system was further modified to enable continuous PHB production operated at a steady state by adding fresh cells and removing PHB. The strategies employed for developing this biohybrid system will be useful for establishing other biohybrid systems producing chemicals and materials directly from gaseous CO
2
.
Top-down and bottom-up approaches to teaching English verb-particle constructions
Authors: Sung Min-Chang
Published: March 2023

The present study examines two cognitive linguistics approaches to foreign language teaching. One draws on the
conventionality of language use that a variety of expressions can be understood as instances of more general patterns, e.g.,
kick them out and eat it up as verb-object-particle, whereas the other centers on linguistic
creativeness such as novel combinations or associations, e.g., chest down the ball. Noting that English
verb-particle constructions (VPCs) exemplify both linguistic conventionality and creativeness, two types of instruction have been
developed–namely, top-down instruction and bottom-up instruction. The top-down instruction presents VPCs as instances of
conventional argument structures such as motion and resultative constructions (Goldberg,
2015), whereas the bottom-up instruction focuses on creative compositions of literal and metaphorical meanings (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980). The two types of instruction were provided for Korean EFL
learners, and their knowledge of VPCs was measured by a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a four-week delayed posttest. Results
of the immediate posttest showed that both types of instruction were effective in improving the learners’ knowledge of literal and
figurative VPCs. In the delayed posttest, significantly greater retention was observed for the construction-based top-down
instruction. This finding highlights the importance of argument structures as super-constructions in teaching VPCs to EFL
learners.
Automatic and high-accuracy matching method for a blade inspection system integrating fringe projection profilometry and conoscopic holography
Authors: Guo Yanyan , He Wantao , Zhong Kai , Zhuang Chungang , Chen Tao , Zhang Hongjun
Published: March 2023

The geometric dimensions and tolerances of blades, which are critical parts of turbomachinery with complex features, must be strictly controlled to ensure the efficiency and safety of the engine. Optical-based inspection systems for blades are increasingly receiving attention because of their high efficiency and flexibility. However, as a key issue in blade inspection, the matching of the part coordinate system and machine coordinate system directly determines the measurement accuracy and automation. The blade surface is complex and has no obvious features, and accurate and rapid matching thus remains a challenging problem to solve. To overcome these problems and realize the accurate inspection of blade profiles, an automatic and high-accuracy matching method for a blade measurement system integrating fringe projection profilometry (FPP) and conoscopic holography (CH) is proposed in this paper. First, automatic rough matching is realized making use of the ability of FPP to quickly obtain high-resolution cloud of points and improving the four-point congruent sets algorithm. The path of the CH measurement based on the calibration and rough matching result is then planned, to sample high-precision and uniform cloud-of-points data on the blade surface. Finally, a fine matching optimization algorithm is implemented with the signal-to-noise ratio as the weight. The results of simulation experiments and inspection case studies demonstrate that the proposed matching method is efficient and accurate.
Magnetron sputtering onto nonionic surfactant for 1-step preparation of metal nanoparticles without additional chemical reagents
Authors: Sergievskaya Anastasiya , Alem Halima , Konstantinidis Stephanos
Published: March 2023

Plasma-based sputtering onto liquids (SoL) is a straightforward approach for synthesizing small metal nanoparticles (NPs) without additional stabilizing reagents. In this work, nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 was used for the first time as a host liquid for the SoL process and the production of colloidal solutions of gold, silver and copper NPs was demonstrated. The average diameter of spherical Au NPs lies in the range from 2.6 to 5.5 nm depending on the conditions. The approach presented here opens the pathway to the production of concentrated dispersions of metal NPs of high purity that can be dispersed in water for future usage, therefore extending further the reach of this synthesis pathway.
Biofidelic image registration for head and neck region utilizing an in-silico articulated skeleton as a transformation model
Authors: Bauer Cornelius J , Teske Hendrik , Walter Alexandra , Hoegen Philipp , Adeberg Sebastian , Debus Jürgen , Jäkel Oliver , Giske Kristina
Published: March 2023

Objective. We propose an integration scheme for a biomechanical motion model into a deformable image registration. We demonstrate its accuracy and reproducibility for adaptive radiation therapy in the head and neck region. Approach. The novel registration scheme for the bony structures in the head and neck regions is based on a previously developed articulated kinematic skeleton model. The realized iterative single-bone optimization process directly triggers posture changes of the articulated skeleton, exchanging the transformation model within the deformable image registration process. Accuracy in terms of target registration errors in the bones is evaluated for 18 vector fields of three patients between each planning CT and six fraction CT scans distributed along the treatment course. Main results. The median of target registration error distribution of the landmark pairs is 1.4 ± 0.3 mm. This is sufficient accuracy for adaptive radiation therapy. The registration performs equally well for all three patients and no degradation of the registration accuracy can be observed throughout the treatment. Significance. Deformable image registration, despite its known residual uncertainties, is until now the tool of choice towards online re-planning automation. By introducing a biofidelic motion model into the optimization, we provide a viable way towards an in-build quality assurance.
Polyurethane/ drug loaded halloysite nanotubes based electrospun nanocomposite for sustained drug release
Authors: Joshi Mangala , Roy Sukumar , Venugopal Vani
Published: March 2023

In this study, electrospun polyurethane nanofibre composite incorporated with drug loaded halloysite nanotubes is presented. Chlorhexidine acetate (CA) drug was loaded into the halloysite nanotubes (HNT) to facilitate its controlled release for prolonged efficacy. The drug loading percentage in HNT was determined using thermo-gravimetric (TG) analysis. Uniform fibrous webs were obtained by electrospinning technique with optimised process parameters (i.e., 10 KV, flow rate of 5 μl min−1 and needle to collector distance of 10 cm) which was evident from SEM images. Antimicrobial efficiency of the nanowebs was determined using disk diffusion method (AATCC 90) against both the Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria. The polyurethane/HNT-CA nanowebs showed very good activity against these strains. The drug release analysis of the nanowebs was carried by UV–vis spectrophotometry using total immersion method. The nanocomposite with drug loaded in HNT showed higher controlled release characteristics as evident from the drug release assay.
Evidence of defect formation in monolayer MoS2at ultralow accelerating voltage electron irradiation
Authors: Dash Ajit Kumar , Swaminathan Hariharan , Berger Ethan , Mondal Mainak , Lehenkari Touko , Prasad Pushp Raj , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Komsa Hannu-Pekka , Singh Akshay
Published: March 2023

Control on spatial location and density of defects in two-dimensional materials can be achieved using electron beam irradiation. Conversely, ultralow accelerating voltages (⩽5 kV) are used to measure surface morphology, with no expected defect creation. We find clear signatures of defect creation in monolayer MoS2at these voltages. Evolution ofE′andA1′Raman modes with electron dose, and appearance of defect activated peaks indicate defect formation. To simulate Raman spectra of MoS2at realistic defect distributions, while retaining density-functional theory accuracy, we combine machine-learning force fields for phonons and eigenmode projection approach for Raman tensors. Simulated spectra agree with experiments, with sulphur vacancies as suggested defects. We decouple defects, doping and carbonaceous contamination using control (hBN covered and encapsulated MoS2) samples. We observe cryogenic photoluminescence quenching and defect peaks, and find that carbonaceous contamination does not affect defect creation. These studies have applications in photonics and quantum emitters.
The benefit of Ca in improving pinning of BaZrO3-Y2O3doubly-doped YBa2Cu3O7-x/Ca0.3Y0.7Ba2Cu3O7-xmultilayer nanocomposite films
Authors: Panth Mohan , Ogunjimi Victor , Sebastian Mary Ann , Gautam Bibek , Haugan Timothy , Wu Judy
Published: March 2023

This work examines the pinning enhancement in BaZrO3(BZO) +Y2O3doubly-doped (DD) YBa2Cu3O7(YBCO) nanocomposite multilayer (DD-ML) films. The film consists of two 10 nm thin Ca0.3Y0.7Ba2Cu3O7-x(CaY-123) spacers stacking alternatively with three BZO + Y2O3/YBCO layers of 50 nm each in thickness that contain 3 vol% of Y2O3and BZO doping in the range of 2–6 vol%. Enhanced magnetic vortex pinning and improved pinning isotropy with respect to the orientation of magnetic field (B) have been achieved in the DD-ML samples at lower BZO doping as compared to that in the single-layer counterparts (DD-SL) without the CaY-123 spacers. For example, the pinning force density (Fp) of ∼58 GNm−3in 2 vol.% of DD-ML film is ∼110% higher than in 2 vol% of DD-SL at 65 K andB//c-axis, which is attributed to the improved pinning efficiency byc-axis aligned BZO nanorods through diffusion of Calcium (Ca) along the tensile-strained channels at BZO nanorods/YBCO interface for improvement of the interface microstructure and hence pinning efficiency of BZO nanorods. An additional benefit is in the considerably improvedJc(θ) and reducedJcanisotropy in the former over the entire range of the B orientations. However, at higher BZO doping, the BZO nanorods become segmented and misoriented, which may change the Ca diffusion pathways and reduce the benefit of Ca in improving the pinning efficiency of BZO nanorods.
Charge transport modelling of perovskite solar cells accounting for non-Boltzmann statistics in organic and highly-doped transport layers
Authors: Clarke Will , Wolf Matthew J , Walker Alison , Richardson Giles
Published: March 2023

We present a drift–diffusion model of a perovskite solar cell (PSC) in which carrier transport in the charge transport layers (TLs) is not based on the Boltzmann approximation to the Fermi–Dirac (FD) statistical distribution, in contrast to previously studied models. At sufficiently high carrier densities the Boltzmann approximation breaks down and the precise form of the density of states function (often assumed to be parabolic) has a significant influence on carrier transport. In particular, parabolic, Kane and Gaussian models of the density of states are discussed in depth and it is shown that the discrepancies between the Boltzmann approximation and the full FD statistical model are particularly marked for the Gaussian model, which is typically used to describe organic semiconducting TLs. Comparison is made between full device models, using parameter values taken from the literature, in which carrier motion in the TLs is described using (I) the full FD statistical model and (II) the Boltzmann approximation. For a representative TiO2/MAPI/Spiro device the behaviour of the PSC predicted by the Boltzmann-based model shows significant differences compared to that predicted by the FD-based model. This holds both at steady-state, where the Boltzmann treatment overestimates the power conversion efficiency by a factor of 27%, compared to the FD treatment, and in dynamic simulations of current–voltage hysteresis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This suggests that the standard approach, in which carrier transport in the TLs is modelled based on the Boltzmann approximation, is inadequate. Furthermore, we show that the full FD treatment gives a more accurate representation of the steady-state performance, compared to the standard Boltzmann treatment, as measured against experimental data reported in the literature for typical TiO2/MAPI/Spiro devices.
Laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of NiTi shape memory alloys: a review
Authors: Wei Shuaishuai , Zhang Jinliang , Zhang Lei , Zhang Yuanjie , Song Bo , Wang Xiaobo , Fan Junxiang , Liu Qi , Shi Yusheng
Published: March 2023

Highlights

The printability, microstructural characteristics, phase transformation behaviors, and mechanical properties of LPBF-fabricated NiTi alloys are reviewed.

Several common structures for LPBF-fabricated NiTi alloys are considered and their various fields of application are illustrated.

The technical challenges, limitations, and development tendencies of LPBF-fabricated NiTi alloys are put forward.
Deep Neck Contouring With a Focus on Submandibular Gland Vascularity: A Cadaver Study
Authors: Cakmak Ozcan , Buyuklu Fuat , Kolar Mallappa , Whitehead David Edward James , Gezer Erhan , Tunalı Selçuk
Published: March 2023

Background

Opening the neck through a submental incision allows accurate management of deep neck structures and results in exceptional neck contours.

Objectives

The authors aimed to evaluate the distribution of deep neck structures and investigate the detailed vascular anatomy of the submandibular gland.

Methods

A total of 26 fresh frozen cadaver heads (15 female, 11 male) were utilized. The authors evaluated the weights of the excised tissues simulating cosmetic resections, including subcutaneous fat, subplatysmal fat, the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, and submandibular glands. The vascular supply of the submandibular gland and intracapsular vessel diameters were also investigated.

Results

Whereas female cadavers had greater mean tissue weight removed from the supraplatysmal plane (mean 20.9 g, 56.6%) than the subplatysmal plane (16 g, 43.4%), male cadavers had higher mean tissue weight removed from the subplatysmal plane (10.5 g, 60.7%) than the supraplatysmal plane (mean 6.8 g, 39.3%). The mean subcutaneous (6.8 g) and subplatysmal (6.4 g) fat weights were almost equal in male cadavers; mean subcutaneous fat weight (20.9 g) was 3 times higher than subplatysmal fat weight (6.8 g) in female cadavers. There was a statistically significant relationship between body mass index and fat removed. The intraglandular vessel diameters increased as resections approached the main feeding vessels located posterosuperior (facial artery) and anterosuperior (submental artery) to the submandibular gland.

Conclusions

The results suggest that to achieve exceptional neck contour the structures deep to the platysma often need to be addressed. The submandibular gland reduction can be safely performed with comprehensive understanding of its vascular anatomy.
Bimekizumab maintenance of response through 3 years in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: results from the BE BRIGHT open-label extension trial
Authors: Strober Bruce , Tada Yayoi , Mrowietz Ulrich , Lebwohl Mark , Foley Peter , Langley Richard G , Warren Richard B , Wang Maggie , Vanvoorden Veerle , Szilagyi Balint , Ciaravino Valerie , Paul Carle
Published: March 2023

Background

Given the chronic nature of psoriasis and the loss of response that can be observed with therapies over time, it is important to understand the long-term efficacy of new treatments.

Objectives

To evaluate maintenance of Week 16 responses with bimekizumab (BKZ) treatment through Year 3, in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods

Data were pooled from BKZ-treated patients in the 52-week (BE VIVID) and 56-week (BE READY and BE SURE) phase III studies, and their ongoing open-label extension (OLE), BE BRIGHT. Efficacy outcomes are reported through 3 years of BKZ treatment in patients with an efficacy response at Week 16. Missing data were imputed primarily using modified nonresponder imputation (mNRI), with nonresponder imputation and observed case data also reported.

Results

A total of 989 patients were randomized to BKZ at baseline in BE VIVID, BE READY and BE SURE. At Week 16, 693 patients achieved ≥ 90% reduction from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 90), 503 achieved 100% reduction from baseline in PASI (PASI 100), 694 achieved absolute PASI ≤ 2 and 597 achieved body surface area (BSA) ≤ 1%, and continued into the OLE. Of these, 93.0% maintained PASI 90, 80.8% maintained PASI 100, 94.0% maintained PASI ≤ 2 and 90.3% maintained BSA ≤ 1% responses through to 3 years of BKZ treatment (mNRI). Among Week 16 PASI 90 responders, 96.8% and 72.5% also achieved Investigator’s Global Assessment 0/1 and PASI 100 at Week 16, respectively, and 92.2% and 73.4% achieved these responses at Year 3 (mNRI). Among Week 16 PASI 100 responders, 76.3% also achieved Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) 0/1 at Week 16, and DLQI 0/1 response increased with continuous BKZ treatment to 89.0% at Year 3 (mNRI).

Conclusions

High levels of clinical response were maintained through to 3 years of BKZ treatment in the vast majority of Week 16 responders. Long-term treatment with BKZ was efficacious, with important benefits for health-related quality of life, in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Cervical spinal cord injury leads to injury and altered metabolism in the lungs
Authors: Huffman Emily E , Dong Brittany E , Clarke Harrison A , Young Lyndsay E A , Gentry Matthew S , Allison Derek B , Sun Ramon C , Waters Christopher M , Alilain Warren J
Published: March 2023

High-cervical spinal cord injury often disrupts respiratory motor pathways and disables breathing in the affected population. Moreover, cervically injured individuals are at risk for developing acute lung injury, which predicts substantial mortality rates. While the correlation between acute lung injury and spinal cord injury has been found in the clinical setting, the field lacks an animal model to interrogate the fundamental biology of this relationship. To begin to address this gap in knowledge, we performed an experimental cervical spinal cord injury (N = 18) alongside sham injury (N = 3) and naïve animals (N = 15) to assess lung injury in adult rats. We demonstrate that animals display some early signs of lung injury two weeks post-spinal cord injury. While no obvious histological signs of injury were observed, the spinal cord injured cohort displayed significant signs of metabolic dysregulation in multiple pathways that include amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and N-linked glycosylation. Collectively, we establish for the first time a model of lung injury after spinal cord injury at an acute time point that can be used to monitor the progression of lung damage, as well as identify potential targets to ameliorate acute lung injury.
Preimplantation or gestation/lactation high-fat diet alters adult offspring metabolism and neurogenesis
Authors: Ojeda Diego A , Hutton Oliver , Hopkins Robert , Cagampang Felino , Smyth Neil R , Fleming Tom P , Eckert Judith , Willaime-Morawek Sandrine
Published: March 2023

Poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy is known to impair fetal development. Moreover, the preimplantation period is vulnerable to adverse programming of disease. Here, we investigated the effect of a mouse maternal high-fat diet in healthy non-obese dams during preimplantation or throughout pregnancy and lactation on metabolism-related parameters and hippocampal neurogenesis in adult offspring. Female mice were fed from conception either a normal fat diet (normal fat diet group) or high-fat diet throughout gestation and lactation (high-fat diet group), or high-fat diet only during preimplantation (embryonic high-fat diet group, high-fat diet up to E3.5, normal fat diet thereafter). Maternal high-fat diet caused changes in the offspring, including increased systolic blood pressure, diurnal activity, respiratory quotient, and energy expenditure in high-fat diet females, and increased systolic blood pressure and respiratory quotient but decreased energy expenditure in high-fat diet males. High-fat diet males had a higher density of newborn neurons and a lower density of mature neurons in the dentate gyrus, indicating that exposure to a maternal high-fat diet may regulate adult neurogenesis. A maternal high-fat diet also increased the density of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampus of high-fat diet males and females. Generally, a graded response (normal fat diet < embryonic high-fat < high-fat diet) was observed, with only 3 days of high-fat diet exposure altering offspring energy metabolism and hippocampal cell density. Thus, early maternal exposure to a fatty diet, well before neural differentiation begins and independently of maternal obesity, is sufficient to perturb offspring energy metabolism and brain physiology with lifetime consequences.
Sodium in the skin: a summary of the physiology and a scoping review of disease associations
Authors: Chattopadhyay Aheli , Tully Janell , Shan Judy , Sheikh Sidra , Ohliger Michael , Gordon Jeremy W , Mauro Theodora , Abuabara Katrina
Published: March 2023

A large and growing body of research suggests that the skin plays an important role in regulating total body sodium, challenging traditional models of sodium homeostasis that focused exclusively on blood pressure and the kidney. In addition, skin sodium may help to prevent water loss and facilitate macrophage-driven antimicrobial host defence, but may also trigger immune dysregulation via upregulation of proinflammatory markers and downregulation of anti-inflammatory processes. We performed a systematic search of PubMed for published literature on skin sodium and disease outcomes and found that skin sodium concentration is increased in patients with cardiometabolic conditions including hypertension, diabetes and end-stage renal disease; autoimmune conditions including multiple sclerosis and systemic sclerosis; and dermatological conditions including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and lipoedema. Several patient characteristics are associated with increased skin sodium concentration including older age and male sex. Animal evidence suggests that increased salt intake results in higher skin sodium levels; however, there are conflicting results from small trials in humans. Additionally, limited data suggest that pharmaceuticals such as diuretics and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors approved for diabetes, as well as haemodialysis may reduce skin sodium levels. In summary, emerging research supports an important role for skin sodium in physiological processes related to osmoregulation and immunity. With the advent of new noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging measurement techniques and continued research on skin sodium, it may emerge as a marker of immune-mediated disease activity or a potential therapeutic target.
Long-term outcome of children with newly diagnosed pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from the global TOPP registry
Authors: Ploegstra Mark-Jan , Ivy David Dunbar , Beghetti Maurice , Bonnet Damien , Alehan Dursun , Ablonczy Laszlo , Mattos Sandra , Bowers David , Humpl Tilman , Berger Rolf M F ,   TOPP Investigators, Weintraub Robert G , Geiger Ralf , Marx Manfred , Cools Bjorn , Mattos Sandra , Humpl Tilman , Jing Zhi-Cheng , Sondergaard Lars , Bonnet Damien , Apitz Christian , Hager Alfred , Ablonczy Laszlo , Milanesi Ornella , Saji Ben T , Pulido Tomás , Berger Rolf , Douwes Menno , Brun Henrik , Moll Jadwiga , Michalak Krzysztof W , Kawalec Wanda , Małgorzata Żuk , Beghetti Maurice , Boillat Margrit Fasnacht , Olguntürk Rana , Kula Serdar , Alehan Dursun , Schulze-Neick Ingram , Barst Robyn , Atz Andrew M , Ivy D Dunbar , Day Ronald W , Austin Eric D , Moore J Donald , Feinstein Jeffrey A , Yung Delphine , Berger John T , Mallory George B
Published: March 2023

Background and aims

The Tracking Outcomes and Practice in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension (TOPP) registry is a global network established to gain insights into the disease course and long-term outcomes of paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Previously published cohorts in paediatric PAH are obscured by survival bias due to the inclusion of both prevalent (previously diagnosed) and incident (newly diagnosed) patients. The current study aims to describe long-term outcome and its predictors in paediatric PAH, exclusively of newly diagnosed patients.

Methods and results

Five hundred thirty-one children with confirmed pulmonary hypertension, aged ≥3 months and <18 years, were enrolled in the real-world TOPP registry at 33 centres in 20 countries, from 2008 to 2015. Of these, 242 children with newly diagnosed PAH with at least one follow-up visit were included in the current outcome analyses. During long-term follow-up, 42 (17.4%) children died, 9 (3.7%) underwent lung transplantation, 3 (1.2%) atrial septostomy, and 9 (3.7%) Potts shunt palliation (event rates: 6.2, 1.3, 0.4, and 1.4 events per 100 person-years, respectively). One-, three-, and five-year survival free from adverse outcome was 83.9%, 75.2%, and 71.8%, respectively.

Overall, children with open (unrepaired or residual) cardiac shunts had the best survival rates. Younger age, worse World Health Organization functional class, and higher pulmonary vascular resistance index were identified as independent predictors of long-term adverse outcome. Younger age, higher mean right atrial pressure, and lower systemic venous oxygen saturation were specifically identified as independent predictors of early adverse outcome (within 12 months after enrolment).

Conclusion

This comprehensive analysis of survival from time of diagnosis in a large exclusive cohort of children newly diagnosed with PAH describes current-era outcome and its predictors.
Ethnic differences in blood pressure levels over time: the HELIUS study
Authors: Vriend Esther M C , Wever Britt E , Bouwmeester Thomas A , Agyemang Charles , Franco Oscar H , Galenkamp Henrike , Moll van Charante Eric P , Zwinderman Aeilko H , Collard Didier , van den Born Bert-Jan H
Published: March 2023

Aims

Hypertension is an important global health burden with major differences in prevalence among ethnic minorities compared with host populations. Longitudinal research on ethnic differences in blood pressure (BP) levels provides the opportunity to assess the efficacy of strategies aimed at mitigating gaps in hypertension control. In this study, we assessed the change in BP levels over time in a multi-ethnic population-based cohort in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Methods and results

We used baseline and follow-up data from HELIUS to assess differences in BP over time between participants of Dutch, South Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Moroccan, and Turkish descent. Baseline data were collected between 2011 and 2015 and follow-up data between 2019 and 2021. The main outcome was ethnic differences in systolic BP (SBP) over time determined by linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, and use of antihypertensive medication. We included 22 109 participants at baseline, from which 10 170 participants had complete follow-up data. The mean follow-up time was 6.3 (1.1) years. Compared with the Dutch population, the mean SBP increased significantly more from baseline to follow-up in Ghanaians [1.78 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–2.79], Moroccans (2.06 mmHg, 95% CI 1.23–2.90), and the Turkish population (1.30 mmHg, 95% CI 0.38–2.22). Systolic blood pressure differences were in part explained by differences in body mass index (BMI). No differences in SBP trajectory were present between the Dutch and Surinamese population.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate a further increase of ethnic differences in SBP among Ghanaian, Moroccan, and Turkish populations compared with the Dutch reference population that are in part attributable to differences in BMI.
Population-Based Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Whole-Genome Sequencing and Contact Tracing During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Switzerland
Authors: Anderegg Nanina , Schwab Tiana , Borcard Loïc , Mugglin Catrina , Keune-Dübi Bettina , Ramette Alban , Fenner Lukas
Published: March 2023

Background

Testing and contact tracing (CT) can interrupt transmission chains of SARS-CoV-2. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can potentially strengthen these investigations and provide insights on transmission.

Methods

We included all laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases diagnosed between 4 June and 26 July 2021, in a Swiss canton. We defined CT clusters based on epidemiological links reported in the CT data and genomic clusters as sequences with no single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences between any 2 pairs of sequences being compared. We assessed the agreement between CT clusters and genomic clusters.

Results

Of 359 COVID-19 cases, 213 were sequenced. Overall, agreement between CT and genomic clusters was low (Cohen's κ = 0.13). Of 24 CT clusters with ≥2 sequenced samples, 9 (37.5%) were also linked based on genomic sequencing but in 4 of these, WGS found additional cases in other CT clusters. Household was most often reported source of infection (n = 101 [28.1%]) and home addresses coincided well with CT clusters: In 44 of 54 CT clusters containing ≥2 cases (81.5%), all cases in the cluster had the same reported home address. However, only a quarter of household transmission was confirmed by WGS (6 of 26 genomic clusters [23.1%]). A sensitivity analysis using ≤1-SNP differences to define genomic clusters resulted in similar results.

Conclusions

WGS data supplemented epidemiological CT data, supported the detection of potential additional clusters missed by CT, and identified misclassified transmissions and sources of infection. Household transmission was overestimated by CT.
Time alters urban singing strategies in a North American songbird
Authors: Sanchez Karina A , Fialko Kristina , Benedict Lauryn , Cicero Carla
Published: March 2023

Local habitats shape animal vocalizations through selection to improve transmission of signals to receivers. This process can be variable, however, when landscapes are changing continuously due to urbanization or other factors. Studies have shown that some birds alter the frequency, amplitude and structure of their songs in urban habitats. Because songbirds learn their songs from other individuals, this cultural transmission can result in substantial change over time. Urban bird populations may therefore show rapid shifts in song form and variation may result from the combined or interacting effects of time and anthropogenic habitat change. In this study, we used historic and recent song recordings to investigate changes in spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus) songs over 45 years across an urban-to-rural gradient in northern California. We found that pre-trill and trilled song parts covaried differently with urban development at the two time-points, with more change occurring in trill phrases than pre-trills. Additionally, we found that birds in 1970 adjusted trills in urban areas by raising maximum frequencies and broadening bandwidths, while birds in 2015 narrowed song bandwidths by decreasing maximum frequencies in more urban areas. These results did not fit our prediction that urbanization would have a consistent effect on song at two time-points. We suggest that habitat, cultural evolution and cultural drift can act on song elements in complicated ways that vary over time.
Molecular origins of mutational spectra produced by the environmental carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine and SN1 chemotherapeutic agents
Authors: Armijo Amanda L , Thongararm Pennapa , Fedeles Bogdan I , Yau Judy , Kay Jennifer E , Corrigan Joshua J , Chancharoen Marisa , Chawanthayatham Supawadee , Samson Leona D , Carrasco Sebastian E , Engelward Bevin P , Fox James G , Croy Robert G , Essigmann John M
Published: March 2023

DNA-methylating environmental carcinogens such as N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and certain alkylators used in chemotherapy form O6-methylguanine (m6G) as a functionally critical intermediate. NDMA is a multi-organ carcinogen found in contaminated water, polluted air, preserved foods, tobacco products, and many pharmaceuticals. Only ten weeks after exposure to NDMA, neonatally-treated mice experienced elevated mutation frequencies in liver, lung and kidney of ∼35-fold, 4-fold and 2-fold, respectively. High-resolution mutational spectra (HRMS) of liver and lung revealed distinctive patterns dominated by GC→AT mutations in 5’-Pu-G-3’ contexts, very similar to human COSMIC mutational signature SBS11. Commonly associated with alkylation damage, SBS11 appears in cancers treated with the DNA alkylator temozolomide (TMZ). When cells derived from the mice were treated with TMZ, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, and streptozotocin (two other therapeutic methylating agents), all displayed NDMA-like HRMS, indicating mechanistically convergent mutational processes. The role of m6G in shaping the mutational spectrum of NDMA was probed by removing MGMT, the main cellular defense against m6G. MGMT-deficient mice displayed a strikingly enhanced mutant frequency, but identical HRMS, indicating that the mutational properties of these alkylators is likely owed to sequence-specific DNA binding. In sum, the HRMS of m6G-forming agents constitute an early-onset biomarker of exposure to DNA methylating carcinogens and drugs.
CMV Infection After Letermovir Primary Prophylaxis Discontinuation in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Chavaz Lara , Royston Léna , Masouridi-Levrat Stavroula , Mamez Anne-Claire , Giannotti Federica , Morin Sarah , Van Delden Christian , Chalandon Yves , Neofytos Dionysios
Published: March 2023

In this single-center study of 61 allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients receiving letermovir primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis for the first 100 days, we report 23% incidence of clinically significant CMV infection during the first 100 days after letermovir discontinuation, predominately in haploidentical HCT recipients, without any associations with CMV-DNAemia under letermovir.
A novel variant of Paganini-Miozzo syndrome: a case report
Authors: Sarmadian Roham , Gilani Abolfazl , Biglari Habibe Nejad
Published: March 2023

Paganini-Miozzo syndrome (MRXSPM) is a rare neurogenetic disorder that is transmitted by X-linked recessive inheritance. This is the third case reported of this disease in the world with a novel variant. A boy was referred due to the absence of neck holding and hand tremors. The examinations found facial anomalies. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed cerebral atrophy and diffused white matter, and irregularities were seen in his electroencephalogram (EEG). The echocardiography revealed a mid-muscular ventricular septal defect. A whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis revealed a novel variant (c.979C > T; p.Pro327Ser) of uncertain significance in the HS6ST2 gene indicating Paganini-Miozzo syndrome. The current case provides additional evidence that MRXSPM can be associated with various neurological and cardiac complications. It is essential to rule out other causes, such as metabolic and infectious diseases. EEG, MRI and WES analyses can help to make a definitive diagnosis.
The Uprooting of Indigenous Women’s Horticultural Practices in Brazil, 1500–1650
Authors: O’Leary Jessica
Published: March 2023

In the land now known as Brazil, Indigenous women were responsible for cultivating and preparing a tuberous root called mandioca (cassava). Following the arrival of Europeans in 1500, mandioca replaced wheat bread to become the staple carbohydrate in settlers’ diets. Travellers’ accounts between 1500 and 1550 describe how Indigenous women taught settlers to prepare the tubers for consumption through the use of special tools and processes of soaking, drying and pulverizing. However, with the arrival of the Jesuits, European sources began to elide or problematize knowledge among Indigenous women that did not cohere with Christian normative values. By the mid seventeenth century, naturalists were no longer acknowledging the original female informants who had taught Europeans how to identify and cultivate the plant. In line with recent scholarship on the history of science and medicine in colonial contexts, a close reading of the sources reflects the importance of Indigenous knowledges to imperial expansion, on the one hand, and the interactive nature of cross-cultural knowledge sharing that became hidden by early modern European epistemological practices. Drawing on a broad body of colonial documentation, this article examines how European representations of the cultivation of mandioca identified, exploited, assimilated, suppressed and, finally, alienated Indigenous women’s knowledges from their original holders between 1500 and 1650.
Weaving It In: How Political Radio Reacts to Events
Authors: Vandeweerdt Clara
Published: March 2023

How do ideologically slanted media outlets react to politically relevant events? Previous research suggests that partisan media trumpet ideologically congenial events, such as opposing-party scandals, while ignoring bad news for their own side. Looking at reactions to newsworthy events on political radio—an often-partisan medium that reaches more Americans than Twitter—I find a different pattern. Based on recordings of hundreds of shows totaling two million broadcast hours, I demonstrate that regardless of their ideological leanings, political shows respond to events by dramatically increasing the attention they give to related policy issues. At the same time, liberal and conservative shows continue to frame those issues in very different ways. Instead of ignoring inconvenient events, partisan media “weave them in,” interpreting them in ways consistent with their ideological leanings. These media dynamics imply that nationally significant events can cause opinion polarization rather than convergence—becoming a divisive rather than a shared experience.
Why We Don’t Fight: A Review Article
Authors: Beehner Lionel
Published: March 2023

Wars are the exception, not the rule, as Christopher Blattman, a political scientist and development economist from the University of Chicago, reveals in his new book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. Blattman makes the case that both strategic and psychological factors explain most outbreaks of violence, whether they are gangland beefs over urban turf, asymmetric counterinsurgencies, or conventional wars like the current conflict in Ukraine. The book is a helpful compendium for scholars of international relations and comparative politics on the causes of conflict, drawing on lessons from game theory and the rational choice school to explain why nations and nonstate actors fight. Much of the analysis is drawn from Blattman’s own distinguished career as a development economist in Africa, and he helpfully intersperses the prose with first-person vignettes from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones, including Liberia, Uganda, Colombia, and inner-city Chicago.
How to Talk When a Machine Is Listening: Corporate Disclosure in the Age of AI
Authors: Cao Sean , Jiang Wei , Yang Baozhong , Zhang Alan L
Published: March 2023

Growing AI readership (proxied for by machine downloads and ownership by AI-equipped investors) motivates firms to prepare filings friendlier to machine processing and to mitigate linguistic tones that are unfavorably perceived by algorithms. Loughran and McDonald (2011) and BERT available since 2018 serve as event studies supporting attribution of the decrease in the measured negative sentiment to increased machine readership. This relationship is stronger among firms with higher benefits to (e.g., external financing needs) or lower cost (e.g., litigation risk) of sentiment management. This is the first study exploring the feedback effect on corporate disclosure in response to technology.

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.