bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does subjective social status predict depressive symptoms in Chinese elderly? A longitudinal study from Hong Kong
Authors: Kwong Elizabeth , Kwok Timothy T Y , Sumerlin Timothy S , Goggins William B , Leung Jason , Kim Jean H 
Published: July 2020

BackgroundSubjective social status (SSS), one’s self-perceived social status, has been gaining interest among researchers as a risk/protective factor of many health outcomes. SSS encompasses both socio-economic factors (eg, income) and intangible aspects of status (eg, esteem from peers). This study’s main objective was to examine the association between SSS and future risk of depression in elderly Chinese.MethodsUsing data from the ongoing Mr/Mrs Os study, a longitudinal study of Hong Kong Chinese elderly, this study analysed baseline SSS-Hong Kong (self-perceived social status within Hong Kong) and SSS-Community (self-perceived status within one’s own social network) as predictors of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score at year 4 (n=3153). The models adjusted for baseline depression scores, socio-economic status indicators, demographic variables, clinical conditions and functional status variables.ResultsHigher depression scores at follow-up were independently associated with lower SSS-Hong Kong (standardised β-coefficient= −0.040, p=0.017), lower SSS-Community (standardised β-coefficient= −0.057, p=0.001), in addition to older age, female gender and stroke history. After stratifying by dementia status, higher baseline SSS was associated with less depressive symptoms only in the non-dementia group. In the multivariable models that included both SSS variables, only SSS-Community was significantly associated with year 4 GDS score. However, both SSS variables were independently associated with year 4 depression status in the logistic regression analysis.ConclusionIn Chinese elderly, SSS captures aspects of social status that are not captured by traditional socio-economic indicators. SSS can be a useful supplementary tool for assessing future risk of developing mental health conditions.
Exposure to cholinesterase inhibiting insecticides and blood glucose level in a population of Ugandan smallholder farmers
Authors: Hansen Martin Rune Hassan , Jørs Erik , Sandbæk Annelli , Sekabojja Daniel , Ssempebwa John C , Mubeezi Ruth , Staudacher Philipp , Fuhrimann Samuel , Burdorf Alex , Bibby Bo Martin , Schlünssen Vivi 
Published: July 2020

ObjectivesThe risk of diabetes mellitus may be elevated among persons exposed to some pesticides, including cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides (organophosphates and carbamates). The objective of this study was to investigate how acetylcholinesterase activity was associated with mean blood glucose levels among smallholder farmers in Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a short-term follow-up study among 364 smallholder farmers in Uganda. Participants were examined three times from September 2018 to February 2019. At each visit, we measured glycosylated haemoglobin A (HbA1c) as a measure of long-term average blood glucose levels. Exposure to organophosphate and carbamate insecticides was quantified using erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase normalised by haemoglobin (AChE/Hb). For a subgroup of participants, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was also available. We analysed HbA1cand FPG versus AChE/Hb in linear mixed and fixed effect models adjusting for age, sex, physical activity level, and consumption of fruits and vegetables, alcohol and tobacco.ResultsContrary to our hypothesis, our mixed effect models showed significant correlation between low AChE/Hb and low HbA1c. Adjusted mean HbA1cwas 0.74 (95% CI 0.17 to 1.31) mmol/mol lower for subjects with AChE/Hb=24.3 U/g (35th percentile) compared with subjects with AChE/Hb=25.8 U/g (50th percentile). Similar results were demonstrated for FPG. Fixed effect models showed less clear correlations for between-phase changes in AChE/Hb and HbA1c.ConclusionsOur results do not clearly support a causal link between exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticides and elevated blood glucose levels (expressed as HbA1cand FPG), but results should be interpreted with caution due to the risk of reverse causality.
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between urinary zinc and lung function among urban adults in China
Authors: Zhou Min , Xiao Lili , Yang Shijie , Wang Bin , Shi Tingming , Tan Aijun , Wang Xing , Mu Ge , Chen Weihong 
Published: July 2020

BackgroundExposure to zinc was suggested to be associated with pulmonary damage, but whether zinc exposure affects lung function remains unclear.ObjectivesTo quantify the association between urinary zinc and lung function and explore the potential mechanisms.MethodsUrinary zinc and lung function were measured in 3917 adults from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort and were repeated after 3 years of follow-up. Indicators of systemic inflammation (C reactive protein), lung epithelium integrity (club cell secretory protein-16) and oxidative damage (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine and 8-isoprostane) were measured at baseline. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the exposure–response relationship between urinary zinc and lung function. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess mediating roles of inflammation and oxidative damage in above relationships.ResultsEach 1-unit increase in log-transformed urinary zinc values was associated with a 35.72 mL decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) and a 24.89 mL decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in the baseline analyses. In the follow-up analyses, there was a negative association between urinary zinc and FVC among participants with persistent high urinary zinc levels, with an estimated change of −93.31 mL (95% CI −178.47 to −8.14). Furthermore, urinary zinc was positively associated with restrictive ventilatory impairment. The mediation analyses suggested that C reactive protein mediated 8.62% and 8.71% of the associations of urinary zinc with FVC and FEV1, respectively.ConclusionUrinary zinc was negatively associated with lung function, and the systemic inflammation may be one of the underlying mechanisms.
Maintenance inhaler therapy preferences of patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Tervonen Tommi , Hawken Natalia , Hanania Nicola A , Martinez Fernando J , Heidenreich Sebastian , Gilbert Ileen 
Published: July 2020

BackgroundA variety of maintenance inhaler therapies are available to treat asthma and COPD. Patient-centric treatment choices require understanding patient preferences for the alternative therapies.MethodsA self-completed web-based discrete choice experiment was conducted to elicit patient preferences for inhaler device and medication attributes. Selection of attributes was informed by patient focus groups and literature review.ResultsThe discrete choice experiment was completed by 810 patients with asthma and 1147 patients with COPD. Patients with asthma most valued decreasing the onset of action from 30 to 5 min, followed by reducing yearly exacerbations from 3 to 1. Patients with COPD most and equally valued decreasing the onset of action from 30 to 5 min and reducing yearly exacerbations from 3 to 1. Both patients with asthma and patients with COPD were willing to accept an additional exacerbation in exchange for a 15 min decrease in onset of action and a longer onset of action in exchange for a lower risk of adverse effects from inhaled corticosteroids. Patients with asthma and COPD valued once-daily over twice-daily dosing, pressurised inhalers over dry powder inhalers and non-capsule priming over single-use capsules, although these attributes were not valued as highly as faster onset of action or reduced exacerbations.ConclusionsThe most important maintenance inhaler attributes for patients with asthma and COPD were fast onset of symptom relief and a lower rate of exacerbations. Concerns about safety of inhaled corticosteroids and device convenience also affected patient preferences but were less important.
Maintenance tobramycin primarily affects untargeted bacteria in the CF sputum microbiome
Authors: Nelson Maria T , Wolter Daniel J , Eng Alexander , Weiss Eli J , Vo Anh T , Brittnacher Mitchell J , Hayden Hillary S , Ravishankar Sumedha , Bautista Gilbert , Ratjen Anina , Blackledge Marcella , McNamara Sharon , Nay Laura , Majors Cheryl , Miller Samuel I , Borenstein Elhanan , Simon Richard H , LiPuma John J , Hoffman Luke R 
Published: July 2020

RationaleThe most common antibiotic used to treat people with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) is inhaled tobramycin, administered as maintenance therapy for chronicPseudomonas aeruginosalung infections. While the effects of inhaled tobramycin onP. aeruginosaabundance and lung function diminish with continued therapy, this maintenance treatment is known to improve long-term outcomes, underscoring how little is known about why antibiotics work in CF infections, what their effects are on complex CF sputum microbiomes and how to improve these treatments.ObjectivesTo rigorously define the effect of maintenance tobramycin on CF sputum microbiome characteristics.Methods and measurementsWe collected sputum from 30 PWCF at standardised times before, during and after a single month-long course of maintenance inhaled tobramycin. We used traditional culture, quantitative PCR and metagenomic sequencing to define the dynamic effects of this treatment on sputum microbiomes, including abundance changes in both clinically targeted and untargeted bacteria, as well as functional gene categories.Main resultsCF sputum microbiota changed most markedly by 1 week of antibiotic therapy and plateaued thereafter, and this shift was largely driven by changes in non-dominant taxa. The genetically conferred functional capacities (ie, metagenomes) of subjects’ sputum communities changed little with antibiotic perturbation, despite taxonomic shifts, suggesting functional redundancy within the CF sputum microbiome.ConclusionsMaintenance treatment with inhaled tobramycin, an antibiotic with demonstrated long-term mortality benefit, primarily impacted clinically untargeted bacteria in CF sputum, highlighting the importance of monitoring the non-canonical effects of antibiotics and other treatments to accurately define and improve their clinical impact.
High-flux neutron irradiation of boron trioxide analyzed with Raman and FTIR spectroscopy
Authors: Mirzayev Matlab N. 
Published: July 2020

Boron oxide nanopowder is widely used in the production of special glasses and nuclear technology. This paper reports on the optical properties and investigates the formation of new bonds on the structure of nanoboron oxide. In this work, high purity boron oxide samples were irradiated using a energy upto 1 MeV fast neutrons with fluences in the range of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and the neutron flux [Formula: see text] at the room-temperature. Optical properts were determined using Raman spectrum analysis and spectroscopy Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR and Raman spectrum analysis were used to explain the chemical bonds and functional groups of nanoboron oxide samples before and after neutron irradiation. When the irradation fluence on [Formula: see text] was increased upto [Formula: see text] it resulted in the formation of a new functional groups [Formula: see text]. From the Raman analysis, the [Formula: see text] was observed to start amorphization after neutron irradiation.
Phase diagram of cuprate high-temperature superconductors based on the optimization Monte Carlo method
Authors: Yanagisawa T. , Miyazaki M. , Yamaji K. 
Published: July 2020

It is important to understand the phase diagram of electronic states in the CuO2 plane to clarify the mechanism of high-temperature superconductivity. We investigate the ground state of electronic models with strong correlation by employing the optimization variational Monte Carlo method. We consider the two-dimensional Hubbard model as well as the three-band [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] model. We use the improved wave function that takes account of inter-site electron correlation to go beyond the Gutzwiller wave function. The ground state energy is lowered considerably, which now gives the best estimate of the ground state energy for the two-dimensional Hubbard model. The many-body effect plays an important role as an origin of spin correlation and superconductivity in correlated electron systems. We investigate the competition between the antiferromagnetic state and superconducting state by varying the Coulomb repulsion [Formula: see text], the band parameter [Formula: see text] and the electron density [Formula: see text] for the Hubbard model. We show phase diagrams that include superconducting and antiferromagnetic phases. We expect that high-temperature superconductivity occurs near the boundary between antiferromagnetic phase and superconducting one. Since the three-band [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] model contains many-band parameters, high-temperature superconductivity may be more likely to occur in the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] model than in single-band models.
Ab initio calculations of ABO3 perovskite (001), (011) and (111) nano-surfaces, interfaces and defects
Authors: Eglitis R. , Kruchinin S. P. 
Published: July 2020

We carried out ab initio calculations for technologically important ABO3 perovskite, such as, SrTiO3, BaTiO3, SrZrO3 and PbZrO3 (001), (011) and (111) nano-surfaces, interfaces and bulk [Formula: see text]-centers. For SrTiO3, BaTiO3, SrZrO3 and PbZrO3 (001) nano-surfaces, as a rule, all first surface layer atoms relax inward, whereas all second layer atoms relax outward, and, typically, all third surface layer atoms, again, relax inward. Calculated (001) surface energies for SrTiO3, BaTiO3, SrZrO3 and PbZrO3 perovskites are almost equal for both BO2 and AO-terminations, and always smaller than the (011) and (111) surface energies. We discussed the results of our ab initio calculations dealing with BaTiO3/SrTiO3 and SrZrO3/PbZrO3 (001) interfaces. We analyzed systematic trends in ABO3 perovskite bulk [Formula: see text]-center ab initio calculations.
Young–Capelli bitableaux, Capelli immanants in U(gl(n)) and the Okounkov quantum immanants
Authors: Brini A. , Teolis A. 
Published: July 2020

The set of standard Capelli bitableaux and the set of standard Young–Capelli bitableaux are bases of [Formula: see text], whose action on the Gordan–Capelli basis of polynomial algebra [Formula: see text] have remarkable properties (see, e.g. [A. Brini, A. Palareti and A. Teolis, Gordan–Capelli series in superalgebras, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85 (1988) 1330–1333; A. Brini and A. Teolis, Young–Capelli symmetrizers in superalgebras, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86 (1989) 775–778; A. Brini and A. Teolis, Capelli bitableaux and [Formula: see text]-forms of general linear Lie superalgebras, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87 (1990) 56–60; A. Brini and A. Teolis, Capelli’s theory, Koszul maps, and superalgebras, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90 (1993) 10245–10249.]). We introduce a new class of elements of [Formula: see text], called the Capelli immanants, that can be efficiently computed and provide a system of linear generators of [Formula: see text]. The Okounkov quantum immanants [A. Okounkov, Quantum immanants and higher Capelli identities, Transform Groups 1 (1996) 99–126; A. Okounkov, Young basis, Wick formula, and higher Capelli identities, Int. Math. Res. Not. 1996(17) (1996) 817–839.] — quantum immanants, for short — are proved to be simple linear combinations of diagonal Capelli immanants, with explicit coefficients. Quantum immanants can also be expressed as sums of double Young–Capelli bitableaux. Since double Young–Capelli bitableaux uniquely expands into linear combinations of standard Young–Capelli bitableaux, this leads to canonical presentations of quantum immanants, and, furthermore, it does not involve the computation of the irreducible characters of symmetric groups.
PERIODIC STRATEGIES II: GENERALIZATIONS AND EXTENSIONS
Authors: OIKONOMOU V. K. , JOST J. 
Published: July 2020

At a mixed Nash equilibrium, the payoff of a player does not depend on her own action, as long as her opponent sticks to his. In a periodic strategy, a concept developed in a previous paper [V. K. Oikonomou and J. Jost, Periodic strategies: A new solution concept and an algorithm for nontrivial strategic form games, Adv. Compl. Syst. 20(5) (2017) 1750009], in contrast, the own payoff does not depend on the opponent’s action. Here, we generalize this to multi-player simultaneous perfect information strategic form games. We show that also in this class of games, there always exists at least one periodic strategy, and we investigate the mathematical properties of such periodic strategies. In addition, we demonstrate that periodic strategies may exist in games with incomplete information; we shall focus on Bayesian games. Moreover, we discuss the differences between the periodic strategies formalism and cooperative game theory. In fact, the periodic strategies are obtained in a purely non-cooperative way, and periodic strategies are as cooperative as the Nash equilibria are. Finally, we incorporate the periodic strategies in an epistemic game theory framework, and discuss several features of this approach.
Intronic CRISPR Repair in a Preclinical Model of Noonan Syndrome–Associated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Hanses Ulrich , Kleinsorge Mandy , Roos Lennart , Yigit Gökhan , Li Yun , Barbarics Boris , El-Battrawy Ibrahim , Lan Huan , Tiburcy Malte , Hindmarsh Robin , Lenz Christof , Salinas Gabriela , Diecke Sebastian , Müller Christian , Adham Ibrahim , Altmüller Janine , Nürnberg Peter , Paul Thomas , Zimmermann Wolfram-Hubertus , Hasenfuss Gerd , Wollnik Bernd , Cyganek Lukas 
Published: July 2020

Background:
Noonan syndrome (NS) is a multisystemic developmental disorder characterized by common, clinically variable symptoms, such as typical facial dysmorphisms, short stature, developmental delay, intellectual disability as well as cardiac hypertrophy. The underlying mechanism is a gain-of-function of the RAS–mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. However, our understanding of the pathophysiological alterations and mechanisms, especially of the associated cardiomyopathy, remains limited and effective therapeutic options are lacking.

Methods:

Here, we present a family with two siblings displaying an autosomal recessive form of NS with massive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as clinically the most prevalent symptom caused by biallelic mutations within the leucine zipper-like transcription regulator 1 (
LZTR1
). We generated induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes of the affected siblings and investigated the patient-specific cardiomyocytes on the molecular and functional level.

Results:
Patients’ induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes recapitulated the hypertrophic phenotype and uncovered a so-far-not-described causal link between LZTR1 dysfunction, RAS–mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling hyperactivity, hypertrophic gene response and cellular hypertrophy. Calcium channel blockade and MEK inhibition could prevent some of the disease characteristics, providing a molecular underpinning for the clinical use of these drugs in patients with NS, but might not be a sustainable therapeutic option. In a proof-of-concept approach, we explored a clinically translatable intronic CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) repair and demonstrated a rescue of the hypertrophic phenotype.

Conclusions:

Our study revealed the human cardiac pathogenesis in patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes from NS patients carrying biallelic variants in
LZTR1
and identified a unique disease-specific proteome signature. In addition, we identified the intronic CRISPR repair as a personalized and in our view clinically translatable therapeutic strategy to treat NS-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Frontal Instability and Energy Dissipation in a Submesoscale Upwelling Filament
Authors: Peng Jen-Ping , Holtermann Peter , Umlauf Lars 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBased on high-resolution turbulence microstructure and near-surface velocity data, frontal instability and its relation to turbulence are investigated inside a transient upwelling filament in the Benguela upwelling system (southeast Atlantic). The focus of our study is a sharp submesoscale front located at the edge of the filament, characterized by persistent downfront winds, a strong frontal jet, and vigorous turbulence. Our analysis reveals three distinct frontal stability regimes. (i) On the light side of the front, a 30–40-m-deep turbulent surface layer with low potential vorticity (PV) was identified. This low-PV region exhibited a well-defined two-layer structure with a convective (Ekman-forced) upper layer and a stably stratified lower layer, where turbulence was driven by forced symmetric instability (FSI). Dissipation rates in this region scaled with the Ekman buoyancy flux, in excellent quantitative agreement with recent numerical simulations of FSI. (ii) Inside the cyclonic flank of the frontal jet, near the maximum of the cross-front density gradient, the cyclonic vorticity was sufficiently strong to suppress FSI. Turbulence in this region was driven by marginal shear instability. (iii) Inside the anticyclonic flank of the frontal jet, conditions for mixed inertial/symmetric instability were satisfied. Our data provide direct evidence for the relevance of FSI, inertial instability, and marginal shear instability for overall kinetic energy dissipation in submesoscale fronts and filaments.
Evaluation of secondary dentin deposition in lower first molars to indicate a legal age threshold of 14 years using receiver operating characteristic curves
Authors: Ravi Vishali , SP Amulya Sravan , Balla Sudheer B , Kanaparthi Alekhya , Ch Gayathri , N Laxmi Prasanna 
Published: July 2020

The age threshold of 14 years has become vital in proving legal violations involving children, particularly in cases of suspected child labour, child pornography and the minimum age of criminal responsibility. In recent years, there has been great interest in the evaluation of age in children and sub-adults using analysis of regressive changes in teeth, with a particular focus on age thresholds that are of medico-legal importance. This research aimed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of stages of root pulp visibility by Olze et al. in a sample of South Indian children aged between 12 and 16 years, with an age threshold of 14 years, using receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC). Among the four stages of root pulp visibility, stage 2 showed the highest AUC in both female and male cohorts. For stage 2, lower sensitivity and higher specificity values were recorded, indicating the possibility of type II errors (i.e. false negatives). In both sexes, stage 2 had a higher AUC (i.e. 0.696 in females and 0.706 in males, respectively). Based on our findings, it can be concluded that this staging method in lower first molars is of limited value in indicating the legal age threshold of 14 years. Future research should validate the proposed approach in a larger sample and consider how to improve predictions in this area.