bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting resident thriving in nursing homes: A qualitative study
Authors: Baxter Rebecca , Corneliusson Laura , Björk Sabine , Edvardsson David
Published: April 2024

Aim

To explore how staff promote resident thriving in an Australian nursing home.

Design

Qualitative research design using content analysis.

Methods

Interviews were held with 14 nursing staff working in an Australian nursing home in March/April 2018. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Four themes were revealed: promoting personalized care; promoting opportunities for autonomy; promoting connection and meaning; and promoting a curated environment.

Conclusions

Staff promoted resident thriving in relation to everyday care, activities, capabilities, relationships and the lived environment. Interventions that were perceived to promote thriving were described relative to the nurse, the resident, the care team and the wider nursing home context.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The findings provide novel insight into the understanding and application of the concept of thriving in long‐term care from nursing staffs' perspective.

Impact

What Problem did the Study Address?

Nursing home staff are uniquely positioned to support resident thriving through person‐centred care, yet little is known about how staff support promotion of thriving for nursing home residents in their everyday practice.

What were the Main Findings?

Nursing home staff perceived that they promoted thriving by personalizing care and supporting autonomy, connection, meaning and pleasure for residents.

Where and on Whom will the Research have an Impact?

These findings are of interest for the clinicians, educators and researchers who develop, implement and evaluate interventions to improve place‐related well‐being in nursing homes.

Reporting Method

CORE‐Q checklist.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution occurred for this study as this research focused on exploring staffs' perspectives from the specific viewpoint of their personal experience.
Hyponatremia‐associated hospital visits are not reduced by early electrolyte testing in older adults starting antidepressants
Authors: Lane Natasha E. , Bai Li , Seitz Dallas P. , Juurlink David N. , Paterson J. Michael , Guan Jun , Stukel Therese A.
Published: April 2024

Background

Clinical practice guidelines recommend early serum electrolyte monitoring when starting antidepressants in older adults due to the increased risk of hyponatremia. It is unclear whether this monitoring improves outcomes.

Methods

Population‐based, retrospective cohort study of Ontario adults aged ≥66 years who initiated therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) between April 1, 2013, and January 31, 2020. The index date was the date of the first such prescription, and the exposure of interest was serum electrolyte measurement during the subsequent 7 days. The primary outcome was any emergency department or hospital admission with hyponatremia within 8–60 days of antidepressant initiation. Poisson regression models compared individuals who had versus did not have their serum electrolytes tested in the week following SSRI/SNRI initiation, weighting by propensity score‐based overlap weights.

Results

Among the 420,085 patients aged ≥66 years initiating treatment with an SSRI/SNRI, 26,808 (6.4%) had serum electrolytes measured in the subsequent 7 days and 6109 (1.5%) subsequently presented to hospital with hyponatremia. The time from drug initiation to hospitalization varied (median 29, interquartile range [IQR] 17–44 days), and the median sodium concentration measured in the community (136, IQR 133–138 mmol/L) was marginally higher than those at the time of hospitalization (132, IQR 130–134 mmol/L). Patients who underwent electrolyte testing in the week following SSRI/SNRI treatment were more likely to attend an emergency department (ED) or hospital with hyponatremia within 8–60 days relative to those who did not (relative risk = 2.31, 95% confidence interval: 2.16–2.46).

Conclusions

Testing serum electrolytes in the week after starting an SSRI/SNRI is not associated with a reduced risk of a hospital visit with hyponatremia. These findings do not support current guidelines recommending routine electrolyte monitoring.
Partial melting mechanisms of peraluminous felsic magmatism in a collisional orogen: An example from the Khondalite belt, North China craton
Authors: Huang Guangyu , Liu Hao , Guo Jinghui , Palin Richard M. , Zou Lei , Cui Weilong
Published: April 2024

Sedimentary‐derived (S‐type) granites are an important product of orogenic metamorphism, and a range of subtypes can be recognized by differences in field occurrence, mineralogy and geochemistry. These subtypes can reflect variations of initial protolith composition, partial melting reactions, pressure and temperature of anatexis, or magmatic processes that occur during ascent through the crust (e.g. mineral fractional crystallization or crustal assimilation). Together, these diverse factors complicate geological interpretation of the history of peraluminous felsic melt fractions in orogenic settings. To assess the influence of these factors, we performed integrated field investigation, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology and phase equilibrium modelling on a series of leucosomes within migmatite associated with different S‐type granites within the Khondalite belt, North China craton (NCC), which is an archetypal collisional orogen. Three types of leucosome are recognized in the east Khondalite belt: leucogranitic leucosome, K‐feldspar (Kfs)‐rich granitic leucosome and garnet (Grt)‐rich granitic leucosome. Phase equilibrium modelling of partial melting and fractional crystallization processes indicate that the leucogranitic leucosomes were mostly produced through fluid‐present melting, Kfs‐rich granitic leucosomes are produced through muscovite dehydration melting with 3 vol.% garnet fractional crystallization, and Grt‐rich granitic leucosomes are produced through biotite dehydration melting with 20–40 vol.% K‐feldspar fractional crystallization and up to 20 vol.% peritectic garnet entrainment. Mineral fractional crystallization and peritectic mineral entrainment occur in the source during melting, and play equally important roles in partial melting mechanisms in terms of affecting the geochemical compositions of granitic melts. Thus, we suggest that peraluminous felsic magmas preserved in collisional orogens are dominantly produced by fluid‐absent melting in the middle to deep continental crust, although extraction of low‐volume melt fractions from an anatectic source region at shallower depths during fluid‐present melting can also generate small amounts of S‐type granites that subsequently crystallize at high structural levels in the crust.
Single‐shot differential phase contrast microscopy using ring‐shaped polarisation multiplexing illumination
Authors: Wang Shengping , Ma Yifu , Xie Mengyuan , Yao Manhong , Zhang Zibang , Zhong Jingang
Published: April 2024

We propose a differential phase contrast microscopy that enables single‐shot phase imaging for unstained biological samples. The proposed approach employs a ring‐shaped LED array for polarisation multiplexing illumination and a polarisation camera for image acquisition. As such, multiple images of different polarisation angles can be simultaneously captured with a single shot. Through polarisation demultiplexing, the sample phase can therefore be recovered from the single‐shot measurement. Both simulations and experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. We also demonstrate that ring‐shaped illumination enables higher contrast and lower‐distortion imaging results than disk‐shaped illumination does. The proposed single‐shot approach potentially enables phase contrast imaging for live cell samples in vitro.

Lay Description: We propose a microscopy that enables imaging of transparent samples, unstained cells, etc. We demonstrate that the proposed method enables higher contrast and lower‐distortion imaging results than conventional methods, and significantly improves imaging efficiency. The proposed method potentially enables dynamic imaging for live cell samples in vitro.
Analysing the patient experience of COVID‐19: Exploring patients' experiences of hospitalisation and their quality of life post discharge
Authors: Reay Abigail , Dismore Lorelle , Aujayeb Avinash , Dotchin Catherine , Tullo Ellen , Steer John , Swainston Katherine
Published: April 2024

Aims and Objectives

We sought to gain an understanding of the patient experience during their hospital stay for COVID‐19, and the impact of COVID‐19 on quality of life post discharge.

Background

Symptoms of COVID‐19 include a persistent cough, dyspnoea and fatigue. Individuals with comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease have a higher risk of contracting COVID‐19 and approximately 20% of those diagnosed with COVID‐19 are admitted to hospital. Following discharge from hospital, 40% of patients report a worsened quality of life and up to 87% of those discharged from hospital have experienced ‘long COVID’.

Design

A qualitative design was used to understand patient experience of hospitalisation following a diagnosis of COVID‐19, and their experiences following discharge from hospital.

Methods

Ten patients with a previous diagnosis of COVID‐19 took part in semi‐structured interviews regarding their experiences of hospitalisation and the impact on quality of life post‐discharge.

Results

The results identified three key themes from the interviews: communication and the inpatient experience, symptoms following discharge and regaining independence. Patients discussed their experience of hospitalisation and how this continued to impact their emotional well‐being post‐discharge. However, patients appeared to push themselves physically to improve their health, despite continued COVID‐19 symptoms.

Conclusion

Patients hospitalised following a diagnosis of COVID‐19 experienced psychological distress during their hospital stay, as well as 3‐months post‐discharge. We suggest the use of psychosocial interventions to support patients post‐discharge.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The results of this study provide a greater understanding of the patient experience during their hospital stay, which can support nursing staff practice. Additionally, the study provides in depth knowledge of personal experiences of patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 and the impact following hospital discharge.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patient's took part in semi‐structured interviews via telephone to support the aims and objectives of this study.
Endogenous subsidies for cleaner products: The role of ecofriendly consumers
Authors: Tarola Ornella , Vergari Cecilia
Published: April 2024

In a vertically differentiated duopoly, we assume that environmental subsidies are endogenously determined by the demand for dirtier goods and the relative greenness of cleaner alternatives. By contemplating the possibility that a subsidy targets either consumers or firms, we study how the impact of a subsidy changes with its recipients, consumers versus firms. A consumer‐based subsidy is environmentally enhancing and increases firms' profits at equilibrium, while it hurts consumers. Overall, however, it is welfare improving. A firm‐based subsidy makes firms better off but may be environmentally harmful and has the paradoxical effect of hurting consumers buying the cleaner variant. Moreover, it is welfare detrimental on the whole.
Data exclusivity and patent monopoly extension: A view from Australia
Authors: Henriksen Teddy , Henriksen Simone
Published: April 2024

Data exclusivity and patents are important to the pharmaceutical industry, and both these regimes coexist in the pharmaceutical landscape. Both data exclusivity and patents provide market exclusivity through monopoly periods. Because data exclusivity and patents can protect the same pharmaceutical, beginning at different times in the pharmaceutical lifecycle and having different durations, these terms may not coincide, and each can extend the effective market exclusivity period of the other. For example, when data exclusivity persists beyond patent expiry for a pharmaceutical, subsequent entrant access to the market is restricted and the period during which originators can charge high prices is extended. This article seeks to eliminate the situation where patent monopolies have expired, but data exclusivity remains in force by proposing a method to ensure that data exclusivity and patent terms expire simultaneously. Further, the proposal maintains the protection to innovators afforded by both data exclusivity and patents, recognising that these regimes protect different things in pharmaceutical development.
COVID‐19 disease in children and adolescents following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A report from the Turkish pediatric bone marrow transplantation study group
Authors: Bozkurt Ceyhun , Hazar Volkan , Malbora Barış , Küpesiz Alphan , Aygüneş Utku , Fışgın Tunç , Karakükçü Musa , Kuşkonmaz Barış , Kılıç Suar Çakı , Bayırlı Derya , Arman Bilir Özlem , Yalçın Koray , Gözmen Salih , Uygun Vedat , Elli Murat , Sarbay Hakan , Küpesiz Funda Tayfun , Şaşmaz Hatice İlgen , Aksoy Başak Adaklı , Yılmaz Ebru , Okur Fatma Visal , Tekkeşin Funda , Yenigürbüz Fatma Demir , Özek Gülcihan , Atay Abdullah Avni , Bozkaya İkbal Ok , Çelen Suna , Öztürkmen Seda , Güneş Adalet Meral , Gürsel Orhan , Güler Elif , Özcan Alper , Çetinkaya Duygu Uçkan , Aydoğdu Selime , Özbek Namık Yaşar , Karasu Gülsün , Sezgin Gülay , Doğru Ömer , Albayrak Davut , Öztürk Gülyüz , Aksoylar Serap , Daloğlu Hayriye , Odaman Al Işık , Evim Melike Sezgin , Akbayram Sinan , Öncül Yurday , Zengin Emine , Albayrak Canan , Timur Çetin , Kar Yeter Düzenli , Çakmaklı Hasan Fatih , Tüfekçi Özlem , Töret Ersin , Antmen Bülent
Published: April 2024

Background

Data on the risk factors and outcomes for pediatric patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (COVID‐19) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are limited.

Objectives

The study aimed to analyze the clinical signs, risk factors, and outcomes for ICU admission and mortality in a large pediatric cohort who underwent allogeneic HSCT prior to COVID‐19 infection.

Method

In this nationwide study, we retrospectively reviewed the data of 184 pediatric HSCT recipients who had COVID‐19 between March 2020 and August 2022.

Results

The median time from HSCT to COVID‐19 infection was 209.0 days (IQR, 111.7–340.8; range, 0–3845 days). The most common clinical manifestation was fever (58.7%). While most patients (78.8%) had asymptomatic/mild disease, the disease severity was moderate in 9.2% and severe and critical in 4.4% and 7.6%, respectively. The overall mortality was 10.9% (n: 20). Deaths were attributable to COVID‐19 in nine (4.9%) patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) (OR, 23.20, p: .001) and lymphopenia at diagnosis (OR, 5.21, p: .006) were risk factors for ICU admission and that HSCT from a mismatched donor (OR, 54.04, p: .028), multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C) (OR, 31.07, p: .003), and LRTD (OR, 10.11, p: .035) were associated with a higher risk for COVID‐19‐related mortality.

Conclusion

While COVID‐19 is mostly asymptomatic or mild in pediatric transplant recipients, it can cause ICU admission in those with LRTD or lymphopenia at diagnosis and may be more fatal in those who are transplanted from a mismatched donor and those who develop MIS‐C or LRTD.
Gastric sleeve as an extra‐anatomical roux for biliary reconstruction in a pediatric third liver transplant
Authors: Hakeem Abdul Rahman , Gee Harrison , Attia Magdy , Raj Prasad K.
Published: April 2024

Background

Sir Roy Calne in 1976 described “Biliary reconstruction is the Achilles heel of liver transplantation,” and it remains true. In some patients, such as those with short‐gut syndrome and concomitant biliary atresia, neither duct to duct nor Roux biliary reconstruction is feasible.

Methods

We present a case of child's third liver transplant (LT), where an innovative extra‐anatomical biliary bypass was created using a sleeve from greater curvature of the stomach.

Results

The patient is well nearly 10 years following the LT.

Conclusions

This technique could prove to be an important addition to the armamentarium of a surgeon in difficult retransplants and in patients with short‐gut syndrome as it provides a viable option with good long‐term outcome.
ChloroSpec: A new in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence spectrometer for simultaneous wavelength‐ and time‐resolved detection
Authors: Nanda Sanchali , Shutova Tatyana , Cainzos Maximiliano , Hu Chen , Sasbrink Bart , Bag Pushan , Blanken Tristian den , Buijs Ronald , Gracht Lex van der , Hendriks Frans , Lambrev Petar , Limburg Rob , Mascoli Vincenzo , Nawrocki Wojciech J , Reus Michael , Parmessar Ramon , Singerling Björn , Stokkum Ivo H M , Jansson Stefan , Holzwarth Alfred R.
Published: April 2024

Chlorophyll fluorescence is a ubiquitous tool in basic and applied plant science research. Various standard commercial instruments are available for characterization of photosynthetic material like leaves or microalgae, most of which integrate the overall fluorescence signals above a certain cut‐off wavelength. However, wavelength‐resolved (fluorescence signals appearing at different wavelengths having different time dependent decay) signals contain vast information required to decompose complex signals and processes into their underlying components that can untangle the photo‐physiological process of photosynthesis. Hence, to address this we describe an advanced chlorophyll fluorescence spectrometer ‐ ChloroSpec ‐ allowing three‐dimensional simultaneous detection of fluorescence intensities at different wavelengths in a time‐resolved manner. We demonstrate for a variety of typical examples that most of the generally used fluorescence parameters are strongly wavelength dependent. This indicates a pronounced heterogeneity and a highly dynamic nature of the thylakoid and the photosynthetic apparatus under actinic illumination. Furthermore, we provide examples of advanced global analysis procedures integrating this three‐dimensional signal and relevant information extracted from them that relate to the physiological properties of the organism. This conveniently obtained broad range of data can make ChloroSpec a new standard tool in photosynthesis research.
Why temporality matters in collective resistance: Shifting civic norms in a post‐traumatic society
Authors: Cayli Messina Baris
Published: April 2024

What is the role of civic norms for social change after traumatic events, and how do those norms shape collective resistance? The present study seeks to address this urgent query by examining Sicilians' culture war against the mafia. Based on rigorous ethnographic research over a period of 7 years (2016–2023), an extensive database was created, which included 77 commemorative events, a guided city tour, 54 interviews with antimafia activists, and 89 audio–visual recordings totaling 1768 min. I introduce two analytical concepts, “informative rituals” and “transmissive rituals,” that offer a new perspective on how activists leverage the civic norms of social bonds to realize their objectives. I argue that shifting civic norms in a post‐traumatic society is not only driven by collective resistance but also requires significant time in the presence of an oppressive force. This study proposes that, for a socially traumatized community attempting to shift civic norms, prolonged and strenuous endeavors are required in order to thoroughly permeate those norms among the general public. The findings demonstrate that the consolidation of civic norms within post‐traumatic societies is highly contingent upon its temporal context and sustainability, which explains why culture wars frequently necessitate a long‐term communal investment.
Frequency of red blood cell phenotypes from genotyped Australian blood donors
Authors: Jacko Georgina , Powley Tanya , Daly James
Published: April 2024

Background

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (Lifeblood) performs human erythrocyte antigen (HEA) genotyping for a subset of repeat whole‐blood donors through preferential selection which aims to maximise variation of results and possibility of identifying donors lacking high frequency red cell antigens.

Materials and Methods

The HEA Molecular Bead chip™ assay is used by Lifeblood for donor genotyping. A review of all donor HEA genotype data from March 2019 to May 2022 (3 years) was conducted.

Results

HEA genotyping was performed for 20,185donors. Due to selective genotyping of donors, a higher frequency of R1R1 predicted phenotype was identified. However, frequencies of other red cell phenotypes were relatively similar to previous reported in the Australian population. A small number of donors with rare red cell phenotypes was identified.

Conclusion

Genotyping of blood donors provides an available pool of extended matched red blood cell products for matching to recipients. Additionally genotyping can improve the identification of donors with rare phenotypes. Whilst limitations exist, genotyping may reduce the need for labour intensive serotyping, improve blood inventory management, and may be useful in donor recruitment and retention.
Detection of Mycoplasma spp. and feline calicivirus in cats with ocular surface disease
Authors: Lewin Andrew C. , Zhu Xiaojuan
Published: April 2024

Objective

To survey the prevalence of pathogens in shelter‐housed cats with active ocular surface disease (OSD).

Animals Studied

A total of 255 shelter‐housed domestic cats with evidence of active OSD. No normal, unaffected cats were sampled.

Procedure(s)

OSD scoring was performed on cats with active OSD. Combined oropharyngeal/conjunctival swabs were submitted for rt‐PCR/PCR for feline herpesvirus (FHV‐1), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydia spp. (CHL), Bordetella bronchiseptica (BORD), and Mycoplasma spp. (MYC).

Results

Pathogens were detected as follows: 76.4% (195/255) MYC, 57.6% (147/255) FHV‐1, 42.7% (109/255) FCV, 26.7% (68/255) CHL, and 5.5% (14/255) BORD. Monoinfections affected 21.1% (54/255) animals, with MYC being the most common monoinfection (12.5%, 32/255), followed by FHV‐1 (4.7%, 12/255), followed by CHL (2.4%, 6/255), followed by FCV (1.6%, 4/255), with no animals having a BORD monoinfection. Dual infections affected 36.4% of animals (93/255), with MYC detected in 30.1% (77/255) dual infections and FCV detected in 12.9% (33/255) dual infections. Dual infections with MYC and FCV together were detected in 9.8% (25/255) animals. Many animals (35.3%, 90/255) were found to be affected by 3 or more pathogens, and 7.1% (18/255) animals had no pathogens detected. OSD scores were not influenced by any variable assessed, including the number and type of pathogens detected.

Conclusion

MYC, FHV‐1, FCV, and CHL were commonly detected in this group of animals with OSD. Both MYC and FCV (alone or in combination with each other) were detected in multiple animals with active OSD, supporting prior evidence that either may independently act as a primary ocular surface pathogen.
An alternative surgical technique for removal of multiple uveal cysts in a dog: A case report
Authors: Reis Alysha M. , Olivero Dennis K.
Published: April 2024

Uveal cysts have been reported to cause vision changes in dogs. The objective of this article is to report removing multiple uveal cysts from both eyes of a canine patient using a previously unreported methodology. A bimanual irrigation and aspiration procedure is reported here as an alternative method for managing multiple anterior segment iris cysts in the dog. The results of the surgery were mild postoperative inflammation that resolved within 1 week and no other complications were encountered. Overall, the authors conclude that the procedure was a less invasive alternative to the traditional approaches for removal of multiple uveal cysts including laser rupture of cysts, direct aspiration or removal using coaxial irrigation and aspiration through a standard clear corneal approach to the anterior chamber with or without the aid of viscoelastic floatation. The procedure eliminated the need for sutures, marked activity restrictions, or an Elizabethan collar postoperatively. This is the first report of bimanual irrigation and aspiration for multiple uveal cyst removal in dogs.
Risk of rabies reintroduction into the European Union as a result of the Russo‐Ukrainian war: A quantitative disease risk analysis
Authors: Cobby Tirion Rebecca , Eisler Mark Charles
Published: April 2024

Aims

The importation of rabid animals poses a continual threat to rabies freedom in the European Union (EU). Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Commission eased the rules on companion animal importations for Ukrainian refugees through derogations to the EU Pet Travel Scheme (EU PETS). As Ukraine remains endemic for canine rabies, this paper aimed to quantitatively assess whether the change in regulations affected the risk of rabies introduction to the EU.

Method and Results

Transmission pathways for both EU PETS and derogations to this scheme were considered, as well as the scenarios of 100% compliance and reduced compliance within both schemes. Stochastic modelling was performed via a Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the median and 95% confidence intervals of the annual risk of rabies entry and the years between rabies entries into the EU. Following 100% compliance, the derogation scheme posed a significantly lower risk at a value of 3.63 × 10−3 (CI 95% 1.18 × 10−3–9.34 × 10−3) rabies entries per year in comparison to EU PETS where the risk was 4.25 × 10−2 (CI 95% 1.44 × 10−2–9.81 × 10−2). Despite a significantly lower risk as compared to EU PETS under 100% compliance, the derogation scheme was more sensitive to a reduction in compliance which resulted in a 74‐fold increase in risk. Given this, even under reduced compliance, the annual risk remained lower under the derogation scheme, although this was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that a 4‐month period of quarantine, as modelled for the derogation scenario, could reduce the annual risk of rabies entry. This scheme may present a viable solution for the management of companion animal influxes in future crises.
Racial and ethnic disparities in Lyme disease in the United States
Authors: Gould L. Hannah , Fathalla Adam , Moïsi Jennifer C. , Stark James H.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Lyme disease (LD), caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common vector‐borne disease in the United States. Although most surveillance‐reported cases are in people who are White, data suggest worse outcomes among people from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review to describe racial disparities in LD. We described the epidemiology of LD by race and ethnicity, including clinical presentation at diagnosis, and summarised the literature on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to LD and ticks by race and ethnicity.

Results

Overall, the incidence and prevalence of LD were 1.2–3.5 times higher in White persons than in persons who identified as Asian or Pacific Islander and 4.5–6.3 times higher in White persons than in persons who identified as Black. Across multiple studies, people from racial and ethnic minority groups were more likely than White people to have disseminated manifestations of LD, including neurological manifestations and arthritis, and less likely to have erythema migrans. People from racial and ethnic minority groups were also more likely to report disease onset in the fall and less likely to report disease onset in the summer. Possible reasons for these disparities include lack of recognition of the disease in people with darker skin tones, lack of knowledge of disease risk for some groups and differences in exposure risk.

Conclusions

Taken together, these results reinforce that all people residing in high‐incidence areas are at risk of LD, regardless of race or ethnicity. Future prevention measures should be broadly targeted to reach all at‐risk populations.
Recovering p$p$‐adic valuations from pro‐p$p$ Galois groups
Authors: Koenigsmann Jochen , Strommen Kristian
Published: April 2024

Let be a field with , where denotes the maximal pro‐2 quotient of the absolute Galois group of a field . We prove that then admits a (non‐trivial) valuation which is 2‐henselian and has residue field . Furthermore, is a minimal positive element in the value group and . This forms the first positive result on a more general conjecture about recovering ‐adic valuations from pro‐ Galois groups which we formulate precisely. As an application, we show how this result can be used to easily obtain number‐theoretic information, by giving an independent proof of a strong version of the birational section conjecture for smooth, complete curves over , as well as an analogue for varieties.
Influence of Mechanical Properties of Tube on Forming Limits and Deformation Characteristics in an Expansion Drawing Process
Authors: Zhang S. L. , Kuboki T. , Akiyama M. , Kajikawa S.
Published: April 2024

This paper describes an efficient method of manufacturing thin-walled metal tubes. The proposed method is an expansion drawing and it consists of two stages, flaring and drawing, during which high thickness reduction is achieved because the tube being processed is subjected to tensile stress in both the circumferential and axial directions. The optimal plug half-angle for various materials is investigated using a finite element analysis and experiments, revealing the plug shape with the highest expansion limit and the highest thickness reduction ratio. To investigate the deformation characteristics of different materials during the expansion drawing process, the strain in tubes formed using different materials was measured experimentally using a square grid on the outer surface of the tubes. In addition, a finite element analysis using hypothetical material properties revealed that the work-hardening exponent and friction coefficient affect tube deformation. The results of this work explain the influences of material properties on experimentally observed phenomena. Materials with a large work-hardening exponent are less prone to thinning during forming and have a greater forming limit. On the other hand, the larger the friction coefficient between the plug and the mother tube, the larger the deformation in the axial direction was, and then the thickness reduction increased due to biaxial tension.
Fabrication of silicon sharp nanocones using dry etch with periodic oxygen plasma shrinking and wet etch
Authors: Kang Renqiang , Pan Aixi , Cui Bo
Published: April 2024

Silicon (Si) nanocones have a wide range of applications in microelectromechanical systems and nanoelectromechanical systems. There is an increasing demand for precise control over the size and shape of nanocones. This paper proposed a novel method combining Si dry etch with periodic oxygen plasma shrinking, wet etch, and oxidation sharpening to achieve well-defined sharp Si nanocones. First, the standard Bosch process was employed to create the base part of nanocones. Second, two alternating steps of etching with sulfur hexafluoride/octafluorocyclobutane plasma and photoresist shrinkage with oxygen plasma were used to form the cone-shaped structures on top of the cylindrical bases. Third, to obtain a sharp tip, wet etching was carried out in either potassium hydroxide or a nitric acid/hydrofluoric (HF) acid mixture. To further sharpen the Si tips, thermal oxidation and HF dipping were conducted and the apex of nanocones can be down to 20 nm. This technique provides a cost-effective way to manufacture nanocones for various applications.
Quantitative identification of causes of instrumental acoustic signal distortion in Global Navigation Satellite System–Acoustics Combination observations
Authors: Yoshizumi Yuto , Yokota Yusuke , Ishikawa Tadashi , Nagae Koya , Watanabe Shun-ichi , Nakamura Yuto , Kouno Kenji
Published: April 2024

The Seafloor Geodetic Observation–Array (SGO-A), operated by the Japan Coast Guard, relies on the Global Navigation Satellite System–Acoustics combination (GNSS-A) technique, which integrates satellite positioning systems and undersea acoustic ranging to determine seafloor crustal deformation at the centimeter level for earthquake disaster prevention. Recently, we found distortion in the SGO-A 10-kHz carrier wave that degraded the accuracy. Carrier wave distortion can cause errors on the scale of several centimeters to twenty centimeters, which greatly impedes centimeter-level observations. This study investigated this carrier wave degradation by an underwater acoustic communication experiment conducted in 2022, using a transducer similar to that used by SGO-A. Also, we reproduced degraded waveforms through a grid search-like method for quantitatively evaluating the extent to which the interior of the equipment contributed to deterioration. Our results underscore the importance of careful consideration in signal processing, as the observed waveform degradation is not solely attributed to hardware structures but also to internal electrical circuits. The findings suggest that conventional signal identification methods may lead to errors, providing motivation for a shift towards experimental and experiential timing-based waveform identification approaches to enhance accuracy in GNSS-A systems.
Mentoring Philosophy as a Guide to Navigate Challenges From the Lens of Certified Mental Performance Consultant Mentors
Authors: Fogaça Janaina Lima , Madrigal Leilani
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this paper is to show how philosophies and guiding theoretical models have helped develop the mentoring practices of a master’s degree program with students seeking to become Certified Mental Performance Consultants. We present a series of challenges that we have encountered as mentors in this program. These challenges center around the consulting student, coach interactions, situations that have warranted a need for referrals, and mentor burnout. In each challenge, we discuss how our philosophy and models of supervision helped guide our decisions and the lessons learned from these various situations. Ultimately, these challenges and experiences helped us improve the program through changes in our mentorship structure and general logistics. We hope that our lessons, ideas for program improvement, and the rationale of how our mentoring philosophy supported our decision making at the time may be useful to mentors who oversee graduate-level programs.
A Pilot Randomized Trial of Combined Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exercise Training Versus Exercise Training Alone for the Management of Chronic Insomnia in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Cammalleri Amanda , Perrault Aurore A. , Hillcoat Alexandra , Carrese-Chacra Emily , Tarelli Lukia , Patel Rahul , Baltzan Marc , Chouchou Florian , Dang-Vu Thien Thanh , Gouin Jean-Philippe , Pepin Veronique
Published: April 2024

Insomnia treatment among individuals with comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea is suboptimal. In a pilot randomized controlled trial, 19 individuals with comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea were allocated to one of two arms: EX + EX, consisting of two 8-week phases of exercise training (EX), or RE + CBTiEX, encompassing 8 weeks of relaxation training (RE) followed by 8 weeks of combined cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise (CBTiEX). Outcomes included Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), polysomnography, and cardiorespiratory fitness measures. A mixed-model analysis of variance revealed a Group × Time interaction on peak oxygen consumption change, F(1, 14) = 10.1, p = .007, and EX increased peak oxygen consumption (p = .03, g′ = −0.41) and reduced ISI (p = .001, g′ = 0.82) compared with RE (p = .49, g = 0.16) post-8 weeks. Post-16 weeks, there was a significant Group × Time interaction (p = .014) driven by RE + CBTiEX yielding a larger improvement in ISI (p = .023, g′ = 1.48) than EX + EX (p = .88, g′ < 0.1). Objective sleep was unchanged. This study showed promising effects of regular EX alone and combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia on ISI in comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.
Developing future nanomedicines
Authors: Feliu Neus , Parak Wolfgang J.
Published: April 2024

Quantitative analysis of biodistribution and clearance may improve nanoparticle development
Sequence basis of transcription initiation in the human genome
Authors: Dudnyk Kseniia , Cai Donghong , Shi Chenlai , Xu Jian , Zhou Jian
Published: April 2024

Transcription initiation is a process that is essential to ensuring the proper function of any gene, yet we still lack a unified understanding of sequence patterns and rules that explain most transcription start sites in the human genome. By predicting transcription initiation at base-pair resolution from sequences with a deep learning–inspired explainable model called Puffin, we show that a small set of simple rules can explain transcription initiation at most human promoters. We identify key sequence patterns that contribute to human promoter activity, each activating transcription with distinct position-specific effects. Furthermore, we explain the sequence basis of bidirectional transcription at promoters, identify the links between promoter sequence and gene expression variation across cell types, and explore the conservation of sequence determinants of transcription initiation across mammalian species.
A sound beginning of life starts before birth
Authors: Slabbekoorn Hans
Published: April 2024

Long-term impact from prenatal noise exposure in birds should raise general concern
Frans de Waal (1948–2024)
Authors: Brosnan Sarah F.
Published: April 2024

Primatologist who brought animals and humans “a little closer”
Africa steps up battle against mpox outbreaks
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: April 2024

Research consortium announced as new variant spreads in Congolese mining region
A flow equilibrium of zinc in cells of
Cupriavidus metallidurans
Authors: Nies Dietrich H. , Schleuder Grit , Galea Diana , Herzberg Martin
Published: April 2024

The hypothesis was tested that a kinetical flow equilibrium of uptake and efflux reactions is responsible for balancing the cellular zinc content. The experiments were done with the metal-resistant bacterium
Cupriavidus metallidurans
. In pulse-chase experiments, the cells were loaded with radioactive
65
Zn and chased with the 100-fold concentration of non-radioactive zinc chloride. In parallel, the cells were loaded with isotope-enriched stable
67
Zn and chased with non-enriched zinc to differentiate between zinc pools in the cell. The experiments demonstrated the existence of a kinetical flow equilibrium, resulting in a constant turnover of cell-bound zinc ions. The absence of the metal-binding cytoplasmic components, polyphosphate and glutathione, metal uptake, and metal efflux systems influenced the flow equilibrium. The experiments also revealed that not all zinc uptake and efflux systems are known in
C. metallidurans
. Cultivation of the cells under zinc-replete, zinc-, and zinc-magnesium-starvation conditions influenced zinc import and export rates. Here, magnesium starvation had a stronger influence compared to zinc starvation. Other metal cations, especially cobalt, affected the cellular zinc pools and zinc export during the chase reaction. In summary, the experiments with
65
Zn and
67
Zn demonstrated a constant turnover of cell-bound zinc. This indicated that simultaneously occurring import and export reactions in combination with cytoplasmic metal-binding components resulted in a kinetical flow equilibrium that was responsible for the adjustment of the cellular zinc content.

IMPORTANCE

Understanding the biochemical action of a single enzyme or transport protein is the pre-requisite to obtain insight into its cellular function but this is only one half of the coin. The other side concerns the question of how central metabolic functions of a cell emerge from the interplay of different proteins and other macromolecules. This paper demonstrates that a flow equilibrium of zinc uptake and efflux reactions is at the core of cellular zinc homeostasis and identifies the most important contributors to this flow equilibrium: the uptake and efflux systems and metal-binding components of the cytoplasm.
PmrAB, the two-component system of
Acinetobacter baumannii
, controls the phosphoethanolamine modification of lipooligosaccharide in response to metal ions
Authors: Yamada Noriteru , Kamoshida Go , Shiraishi Tsukasa , Yamaguchi Daiki , Matsuoka Momoko , Yamauchi Reika , Kanda Nana , Kamioka Roku , Takemoto Norihiko , Morita Yuji , Fujimuro Masahiro , Yokota Shin-ichi , Yahiro Kinnosuke
Published: April 2024

Acinetobacter baumannii
is highly resistant to antimicrobial agents, and XDR strains have become widespread.
A. baumannii
has developed resistance to colistin, which is considered the last resort against XDR Gram-negative bacteria, mainly caused by lipooligosaccharide (LOS) phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) and/or galactosamine (GalN) modifications induced by mutations that activate the two-component system (TCS)
pmrAB
. Although PmrAB of
A. baumannii
has been recognized as a drug resistance factor, its function as TCS, including its regulatory genes and response factors, has not been fully elucidated. In this study, to clarify the function of PmrAB as TCS, we elucidated the regulatory genes (regulon) of PmrAB via transcriptome analysis using
pmrAB
-activated mutant strains. We discovered that PmrAB responds to low pH, Fe
2+
, Zn
2+
, and Al
3+
.
A. baumannii
selectively recognizes Fe
2+
rather than Fe
3+
, and a novel region ExxxE, in addition to the ExxE motif sequence, is involved in the environmental response. Furthermore, PmrAB participates in the phosphoethanolamine modification of LOS on the bacterial surface in response to metal ions such as Al
3+
, contributing to the attenuation of Al
3+
toxicity and development of resistance to colistin and polymyxin B in
A. baumannii
. This study demonstrates that PmrAB in
A. baumannii
not only regulates genes that play an important role in drug resistance but is also involved in responses to environmental stimuli such as metal ions and pH, and this stimulation induces LOS modification. This study reveals the importance of PmrAB in the environmental adaptation and antibacterial resistance emergence mechanisms of
A. baumannii
.

IMPORTANCE

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global issue in human health.
Acinetobacter baumannii
is notably high on the World Health Organization’s list of bacteria for which new antimicrobial agents are urgently needed. Colistin is one of the last-resort drugs used against extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacteria. However,
A. baumannii
has become increasingly resistant to colistin, primarily by modifying its lipooligosaccharide (LOS) via activating mutations in the two-component system (TCS) PmrAB. This study comprehensively elucidates the detailed mechanism of drug resistance of PmrAB in
A. baumannii
as well as its biological functions. Understanding the molecular biology of these molecules, which serve as drug resistance factors and are involved in environmental recognition mechanisms in bacteria, is crucial for developing fundamental solutions to the AMR problem.
Student definitions of ownership and perceived ways ownership influences writing in a biology laboratory class
Authors: Yang Anqi , McDonnell Lisa
Published: April 2024

Laboratory courses offer a unique opportunity, and sometimes challenge, to engage students in projects where they can experience ownership and authentic science practices. An important science practice is writing, which can lead to increased learning about concepts and science communication. Experiencing a sense of ownership in research can lead to various student outcomes, such as increased motivation, greater interest in research, and higher retention in STEM fields. Although previous work has extracted aspects of ownership from students’ descriptions of research experiences, studies have not examined directly how students define and perceive ownership. In addition, we do not have a clear idea of whether a sense of ownership is related to student attitudes toward scientific writing in a lab course setting. To better understand the relationship between ownership and writing directly from students’ perspectives, we used analysis of student responses to surveys and interviews in an upper-division laboratory course. Using a grounded theory approach for the analysis of 167 survey responses and 9 interviews, we found that students have varying perceptions of project ownership, with the most frequent being opportunities to contribute ideas and shape the project (autonomy), doing the work, and leadership. Students largely perceived that increased ownership had positive influences on their writing, such as increased understanding and thinking, freedom in writing, and increased motivation. Learning about how students perceive ownership in the context of a lab course is useful for considering how lab course structure may support the development of a sense of ownership and may influence how we can engage students in meaningful writing practices.
Structural morphing in the viral portal vertex of bacteriophage lambda
Authors: Gu Zhiwei , Wu Kexun , Wang Jiawei
Published: April 2024

The portal protein of tailed bacteriophage plays essential roles in various aspects of capsid assembly, motor assembly, genome packaging, connector formation, and infection processes. After DNA packaging is complete, additional proteins are assembled onto the portal to form the connector complex, which is crucial as it bridges the mature head and tail. In this study, we report high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the portal vertex from bacteriophage lambda in both its prohead and mature virion states. Comparison of these structures shows that during head maturation, in addition to capsid expansion, the portal protein undergoes conformational changes to establish interactions with the connector proteins. Additionally, the independently assembled tail undergoes morphological alterations at its proximal end, facilitating its connection to the head-tail joining protein and resulting in the formation of a stable portal-connector-tail complex. The B-DNA molecule spirally glides through the tube, interacting with the nozzle blade region of the middle-ring connector protein. These insights elucidate a mechanism for portal maturation and DNA translocation within the phage lambda system.

IMPORTANCE

The tailed bacteriophages possess a distinct portal vertex that consists of a ring of 12 portal proteins associated with a 5-fold capsid shell. This portal protein is crucial in multiple stages of virus assembly and infection. Our research focused on examining the structures of the portal vertex in both its preliminary prohead state and the fully mature virion state of bacteriophage lambda. By analyzing these structures, we were able to understand how the portal protein undergoes conformational changes during maturation, the mechanism by which it prevents DNA from escaping, and the process of DNA spirally gliding.