bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of helping experience on helper life-history and fitness in a cooperatively breeding bird
Authors: Chesterton Ellie , Sparks Alexandra M , Burke Terry , Komdeur Jan , Richardson David S , Dugdale Hannah L 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Cooperative breeding occurs when helpers provide alloparental care to the offspring of a breeding pair. One hypothesis of why helping occurs is that helpers gain valuable skills that may increase their own future reproductive success. However, research typically focuses on the effect of helping on short-term measures of reproductive success. Fewer studies have considered how helping affects long-term fitness measures. Here, we analyze how helping experience affects key breeding and fitness-related parameters in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). Importantly, we control for females that have cobred (reproduced as a subordinate by laying an egg within a territory in which they are not a dominant breeder), as they already have experience with direct reproduction. Helping experience had no significant association with any of the metrics considered, except that helpers had an older age at first dominance. Accounting for helping experience, females that had cobred produced more adult offspring (≥1 year) after acquiring dominance and had a higher lifetime reproductive success (LRS) than females that had never cobred. Our results suggest that, in the Seychelles warbler, helping experience alone does not increase the fitness of helpers in any of the metrics considered, and highlights the importance of separating the effects of helping from cobreeding. Our findings also emphasize the importance of analyzing the effect of helping at various life-history stages, as higher short-term fitness may not translate to an overall increase in LRS.
Evolutionary Genomics of Sister Species Differing in Effective Population Sizes and Recombination Rates
Authors: Ye Zhiqiang , Pfrender Michael E , Lynch Michael 
Published: November 2023

AbstractStudies of closely related species with known ecological differences provide exceptional opportunities for understanding the genetic mechanisms of evolution. In this study, we compared population-genomics data between Daphnia pulex and Daphnia pulicaria, two reproductively compatible sister species experiencing ecological speciation, the first largely confined to intermittent ponds and the second to permanent lakes in the same geographic region. Daphnia pulicaria has lower genome-wide nucleotide diversity, a smaller effective population size, a higher incidence of private alleles, and a substantially more linkage disequilibrium than D. pulex. Positively selected genes in D. pulicaria are enriched in potentially aging-related categories such as cellular homeostasis, which may explain the extended life span in D. pulicaria. We also found that opsin-related genes, which may mediate photoperiodic responses, are under different selection pressures in these two species. Genes involved in mitochondrial functions, ribosomes, and responses to environmental stimuli are found to be under positive selection in both species. Additionally, we found that the two species have similar average evolutionary rates at the DNA-sequence level, although approximately 160 genes have significantly different rates in the two lineages. Our results provide insights into the physiological traits that differ within this regionally sympatric sister-species pair that occupies unique microhabitats.
High-resolution mascon solutions reveal glacier-scale mass changes over the Greenland Ice Sheet from 2002 to 2022
Authors: Wang Wei , Shen Yunzhong , Chen Qiujie , Wang Fengwei 
Published: November 2023

SUMMARY
As the main contributor to global sea-level rise, the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has undergone significant mass change over the last two decades. The satellite mission of GRACE (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment) and its follow-on mission (GRACE-FO) provide accurate observations but low-spatial resolution. In contrast, satellite altimetry provides observations at a high-spatial resolution but with large uncertainties, limiting the understanding of glacier-scale mass change. To derive accurate and high-spatial resolution mass change estimates from GRACE/GRACE-FO observations, we present a novel constraint mascon method in which the regularization matrix is constructed with the signal variances from satellite altimetry. Based on the proposed method, we derive a series of high-resolution (25 km × 25 km) monthly mascon solutions from 2002 April to September. The glacier-scale estimates from the input–output method agree better with those from our mascon solutions than those from the global mascons of CSR (Center for Space Research, the University of Texas), JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center), with a higher linear regression coefficient of 0.71. Benefitting from the greatly improved spatial resolution, our estimates provide the first accurate monthly glacier-scale mass change estimates from GRACE/GRACE-FO observations over the GrIS, to our knowledge. The results show that 20 of the 260 glaciers contributed to more than 42 per cent of the ice loss in the GrIS from 2002 to 2022. Most strikingly, the mass loss of Jakobshavn Isbrae was the most significant at –18.7 ± 0.05 Gt yr−1, accounting for 7.4 per cent of the total in the GrIS during the study period. Furthermore, we find that the SMB (surface mass balance) and ice-dynamics-related mass changes contribute nearly equally to the observed mass changes, but the corresponding spatiotemporal characteristics differ. SMB contributed the most to the mass change in 2019, while ice dynamics played the most dominant role in 2018. Moreover, the SMB effect is widespread, and ice-dynamics-related mass loss is mainly concentrated in five small areas.
A detailed analysis of stochastic models applied to temporal gravity field recovery with GRACE observations
Authors: Yu Biao , You Wei , Kusche Jürgen , Fan Dongming , Su Yong , Zhang Jiahui 
Published: November 2023

SUMMARY
In this study, we analysed the impacts of errors in background force models and observed non-gravitational forces on the pseudo-observations (pre-fits) during gravity field recovery based on the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite gravity mission. To reduce these effects, we introduced the stochastic parameters into the functional model of the variational equation integration approach to absorb this type of noise contribution. Simultaneously, the prior variances of observed orbits and K-band range rates used in traditional method are re-estimated with least-squares variance component estimation (LS-VCE) after considering these stochastic parameters. To improve the computing efficiency, a modified method of the calculation of sensitivity matrices related to the introduced stochastic parameters is proposed. Compared to the method of variation of constants widely used in the precise orbit determination and gravity field recovery, the modified method decreases the computational time of these matrices by about four times. Furthermore, an efficient LS-VCE algorithm is derived in a more generalized case. The efficient algorithm only costs 1 per cent of the time of the unoptimized method. With the GRACE data, we analysed the benefits of these refinements in gravity field recovery, and the results show that these improvements can mitigate the impacts of errors in background force models and accelerometer data on recovered gravity field models, especially in the high-degree signals. Furthermore, the quality of results has less dependence on parametrization.
Using queueing models as a decision support tool in allocating point-of-care HIV viral load testing machines in Kisumu County, Kenya
Authors: Wang Yinsheng , Wagner Anjuli D , Liu Shan , Kingwara Leonard , Oyaro Patrick , Brown Everlyne , Karauki Enerikah , Yongo Nashon , Bowen Nancy , Kiiru John , Hassan Shukri , Patel Rena 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Point-of-care (POC) technologies—including HIV viral load (VL) monitoring—are expanding globally, including in resource-limited settings. Modelling could allow decision-makers to consider the optimal strategy(ies) to maximize coverage and access, minimize turnaround time (TAT) and minimize cost with limited machines. Informed by formative qualitative focus group discussions with stakeholders focused on model inputs, outputs and format, we created an optimization model incorporating queueing theory and solved it using integer programming methods to reflect HIV VL monitoring in Kisumu County, Kenya. We modelled three scenarios for sample processing: (1) centralized laboratories only, (2) centralized labs with 7 existing POC ‘hub’ facilities and (3) centralized labs with 7 existing and 1–7 new ‘hub’ facilities. We calculated total TAT using the existing referral network for scenario 1 and solved for the optimal referral network by minimizing TAT for scenarios 2 and 3. We conducted one-way sensitivity analyses, including distributional fairness in each sub-county. Through two focus groups, stakeholders endorsed the provisionally selected model inputs, outputs and format with modifications incorporated during model-building. In all three scenarios, the largest component of TAT was time spent at a facility awaiting sample batching and transport (scenarios 1–3: 78.7%, 89.9%, 91.8%) and waiting time at the testing site (18.7%, 8.7%, 7.5%); transportation time contributed minimally to overall time (2.6%, 1.3%, 0.7%). In scenario 1, the average TAT was 39.8 h (SD: 2.9), with 1077 h that samples spent cumulatively in the VL processing system. In scenario 2, the average TAT decreased to 33.8 h (SD: 4.8), totalling 430 h. In scenario 3, the average TAT decreased nearly monotonically with each new machine to 31.1 h (SD: 8.4) and 346 total hours. Frequency of sample batching and processing rate most impacted TAT, and inclusion of distributional fairness minimally impacted TAT. In conclusion, a stakeholder-informed resource allocation model identified optimal POC VL hub allocations and referral networks. Using existing—and adding new—POC machines could markedly decrease TAT, as could operational changes.
Vaping industry participation standards in health organizations: an exploratory policy content analysis
Authors: Haklar Isabelle , Stephens Jacqueline , Bowden Jacqueline , Trigg Joshua 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The vaping industry has been found to employ similar tactics to tobacco industry actors to seek credibility and distort the scientific evidence base around the health harms of nicotine vaping products. As vaping industry interests undermine vaping control efforts, safeguards are necessary to protect against this influence. We aimed to examine health organizations’ policies on vaping industry participation in their activities in Australia. A descriptive approach integrating policy analysis and key informant surveys was used to obtain vaping industry participation information from health research stakeholders. Descriptive statistics on organization type, policy document type, policy document industry focus (tobacco or vaping) and respondent role and responsibility were collected. We used framework analysis to identify themes describing organizational allowances, constraints, and rationale for vaping industry research participation. Relevant health organizations were identified within Australia for policy searching (n = 156), which identified 47 unique policy documents. After contacting 267 key stakeholders from eligible organizations, 31 survey responses were analysed. Research organizations and universities were highly represented in both the policy and survey data. Most health research stakeholders recognized that vaping industry interests counteract public health priorities and opposed vaping industry participation. However, many organizations lacked clear, vaping industry-specific participation policies. To protect the integrity of the emerging evidence base around vaping harms which inform vaping policy, health organizations require strong, comprehensive policies to resist vaping industry participation in research.
Age- and region-dependent cortical excitability in the zQ175 Huntington disease mouse model
Authors: Wang Yundi , Ramandi Daniel , Sepers Marja D , Mackay James P , Raymond Lynn A 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The neurodegenerative disorder, Huntington disease (HD), manifests as disorders of movement, cognition and mood. Although studies report abnormal corticostriatal synaptic function early in HD mouse models, less is known about cortical–cortical activity across brain regions and disease stages. Recently, we reported enhanced mesoscale spread of cortical responses to sensory stimulation in vivo at early-manifest stages of two HD mouse models. Here, we investigated cortical excitability of zQ175 HD-model mice compared to their wild-type littermates across different cell types, ages and/or cortical regions using ex vivo electrophysiology. Cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) in somatosensory cortex of zQ175 mice showed intrinsic hyper-excitability at 3–4 months, but hypo-excitability at early-manifest stage (8–9 months); reduced frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) was seen at both ages. In contrast, motor cortex CPNs in early-manifest zQ175 mice showed increased intrinsic excitability and sEPSC frequency. Large-amplitude excitatory discharges recorded from CPNs in early-manifest zQ175 mice showed increased frequency only in somatosensory cortex, suggesting the intrinsic hypo-excitability of these CPNs may be compensatory against cortical network hyper-excitability. Similarly, in early-manifest zQ175 mice, region-dependent differences were seen in fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs): somatosensory but not motor FSIs from early-manifest zQ175 mice had reduced intrinsic excitability. Moreover, CPNs showed decreased frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents and increased excitatory-inhibitory (E-I) balance of evoked synaptic currents in somatosensory cortex. Aberrant large-amplitude discharges and reduced inhibitory drive may therefore underlie E-I imbalances that result in circuit changes and synaptic dysfunction in early-manifest HD.
A transcriptomics-based drug repositioning approach to identify drugs with similar activities for the treatment of muscle pathologies in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) models
Authors: Hoolachan Joseph M , McCallion Eve , Sutton Emma R , Çetin Özge , Pacheco-Torres Paloma , Dimitriadi Maria , Sari Suat , Miller Gavin J , Okoh Magnus , Walter Lisa M , Claus Peter , Wood Matthew J A , Tonge Daniel P , Bowerman Melissa 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disorder caused by the reduction of survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein levels. Although three SMN-augmentation therapies are clinically approved that significantly slow down disease progression, they are unfortunately not cures. Thus, complementary SMN-independent therapies that can target key SMA pathologies and that can support the clinically approved SMN-dependent drugs are the forefront of therapeutic development. We have previously demonstrated that prednisolone, a synthetic glucocorticoid (GC) improved muscle health and survival in severe Smn−/−;SMN2 and intermediate Smn2B/− SMA mice. However, long-term administration of prednisolone can promote myopathy. We thus wanted to identify genes and pathways targeted by prednisolone in skeletal muscle to discover clinically approved drugs that are predicted to emulate prednisolone’s activities. Using an RNA-sequencing, bioinformatics, and drug repositioning pipeline on skeletal muscle from symptomatic prednisolone-treated and untreated Smn−/−; SMN2 SMA and Smn+/−; SMN2 healthy mice, we identified molecular targets linked to prednisolone’s ameliorative effects and a list of 580 drug candidates with similar predicted activities. Two of these candidates, metformin and oxandrolone, were further investigated in SMA cellular and animal models, which highlighted that these compounds do not have the same ameliorative effects on SMA phenotypes as prednisolone; however, a number of other important drug targets remain. Overall, our work further supports the usefulness of prednisolone’s potential as a second-generation therapy for SMA, identifies a list of potential SMA drug treatments and highlights improvements for future transcriptomic-based drug repositioning studies in SMA.
Twenty years’ experience of type B aortic dissections: a population-based national registry study from Finland
Authors: Toimela Juhana Mikael , Sedha Jagdeep , Hedman Marja , Valtola Antti , Selander Tuomas , Husso Annastiina 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence, treatment and survival of Stanford type B aortic dissection (BTAD) during 20 years in the Finnish population.

METHODS
Data collection was made from the Nationwide Care Register for Health Care, Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare. All patients over 15 years of age with BTAD from 2000 to 2019 were included in the study. A data search of the Registry of Death Cause (Statistic Finland) was carried out to identify the date and cause of death.

RESULTS
There were 1742 cases of BTAD during the study period. BTAD represented 45.6% of all aortic dissections leading to hospital admission. Incidence for BTAD was 1.62 per 100 000 inhabitants per year. The median survival was 12.7 years [95% confidence interval (CI) 9.63–14.7], 12.4 years (95% CI 10.5–14.4) and 8.6 years (95% CI 7.5–9.7) for patients treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), surgery and medical treatment (MT), respectively. Survival was significantly better after TEVAR and surgery, compared to MT only (P &lt; 0.001). Age-adjusted survival was significantly better after TEVAR compared to patients treated with MT or surgery (hazard ratio 0.578, 95% CI 0.420–0.794, P &lt; 0.001). Aortic-related death was the most common cause of death in all groups (41%).

CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of BTAD seems to be similar in the Finnish population compared to other populational studies. Patients treated with TEVAR had significantly better survival compared to other patients. A high risk for late aortic-related death should be recognized in patients with BTAD.
A reduced Landau-de Gennes study for nematic equilibria in three-dimensional prisms
Authors: Han Yucen , Shi Baoming , Zhang Lei , Majumdar Apala 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
We model nematic liquid crystal configurations inside three-dimensional prisms, with a polygonal cross-section and Dirichlet boundary conditions on all prism surfaces. We work in a reduced Landau-de Gennes framework, and the Dirichlet conditions on the top and bottom surfaces are special in the sense that they are critical points of the reduced Landau-de Gennes energy on the polygonal cross-section. The choice of the boundary conditions allows us to make a direct correspondence between the three-dimensional Landau-de Gennes critical points and pathways on the two-dimensional Landau-de Gennes solution landscape on the polygonal cross-section. We explore this concept by means of asymptotic analysis and numerical examples, with emphasis on a cuboid and a hexagonal prism, focusing on three-dimensional multistability tailored by two-dimensional solution landscapes.
Whole-Genome Sequencing Predicting Phenotypic Antitubercular Drug Resistance: Meta-analysis
Authors: Tagami Yoichi , Horita Nobuyuki , Kaneko Megumi , Muraoka Suguru , Fukuda Nobuhiko , Izawa Ami , Kaneko Ayami , Somekawa Kohei , Kamimaki Chisato , Matsumoto Hiromi , Tanaka Katsushi , Murohashi Kota , Aoki Ayako , Fujii Hiroaki , Watanabe Keisuke , Hara Yu , Kobayashi Nobuaki , Kaneko Takeshi 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
For simultaneous prediction of phenotypic drug susceptibility test (pDST) for multiple antituberculosis drugs, the whole genome sequencing (WGS) data can be analyzed using either a catalog-based approach, wherein 1 causative mutation suggests resistance, (eg, World Health Organization catalog) or noncatalog-based approach using complicated algorithm (eg, TB-profiler, machine learning). The aim was to estimate the predictive ability of WGS-based tests with pDST as the reference, and to compare the 2 approaches.

Methods
Following a systematic literature search, the diagnostic test accuracies for 14 drugs were pooled using a random-effect bivariate model.

Results
Of 779 articles, 44 with 16 821 specimens for meta-analysis and 13 not for meta-analysis were included. The areas under summary receiver operating characteristic curve suggested test accuracy was excellent (0.97–1.00) for 2 drugs (isoniazid 0.975, rifampicin 0.975), very good (0.93–0.97) for 8 drugs (pyrazinamide 0.946, streptomycin 0.952, amikacin 0.968, kanamycin 0.963, capreomycin 0.965, para-aminosalicylic acid 0.959, levofloxacin 0.960, ofloxacin 0.958), and good (0.75–0.93) for 4 drugs (ethambutol 0.926, moxifloxacin 0.896, ethionamide 0.878, prothionamide 0.908). The noncatalog-based and catalog-based approaches had similar ability for all drugs.

Conclusions
WGS accurately identifies isoniazid and rifampicin resistance. For most drugs, positive WGS results reliably predict pDST positive. The 2 approaches had similar ability.

Clinical Trials Registration
UMIN-ID UMIN000049276.
Subclinical Atherosclerosis Across the Menopausal Transition in Women With and Without HIV
Authors: Peters Brandilyn A , Whalen Adam , Xue Xiaonan , Topper Elizabeth F , Weber Kathleen M , Tien Phyllis C , Kassaye Seble G , Minkoff Howard , Fox Ervin , Fischl Margaret A , Collins Lauren F , Floris-Moore Michelle , Hodis Howard N , Qi Qibin , Hanna David B , Sharma Anjali , Anastos Kathryn , Kaplan Robert C 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The menopausal transition is a pivotal time of cardiovascular risk, but knowledge is limited in HIV. We studied longitudinal carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (2004–2019; 979 women/3247 person-visits; 72% with HIV). Among women with HIV only, those who transitioned had greater age-related CIMT progression compared to those remaining premenopausal (difference in slope = 1.64 µm/year, P = .002); and CIMT increased over time in the pretransition (3.47 µm/year, P = .002) and during the menopausal transition (9.41 µm/year, P &lt; .0001), but not posttransition (2.9 µm/year, P = .19). In women with HIV, menopause may accelerate subclinical atherosclerosis as measured by CIMT.
Prior Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV in Patients With Mpox, Chicago, Illinois (June 2022–March 2023)
Authors: Faherty Emily A G , Holly Taylor , Herrera Kara , Guidry Taylor , Lyang Jeffrey , Black Stephanie , Tabidze Irina 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
HIV is associated with severe mpox. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could facilitate mpox transmission. We estimated HIV and STI frequency among patients with mpox and compared characteristics associated with mpox severity. Mpox cases during 1 June 2022 to 31 March 2023 were matched to Illinois HIV/AIDS surveillance data. Among 1124 patients with mpox, 489 (44%) had HIV and 786 (70%) had prior or concurrent STI; 307 (39%) had ≥3 STI episodes. More patients with mpox who were living with HIV were hospitalized than those without HIV (10.3% vs 4.1%, P &lt; .001). STI screening visits are opportunities to vaccinate against mpox and provide HIV prophylaxis or treatment.