bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intracellular replication of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
in epithelial cells requires suppression of the caspase-4 inflammasome
Authors: Kroken Abby R. , Klein Keith A. , Mitchell Patrick S. , Nieto Vincent , Jedel Eric J. , Evans David J. , Fleiszig Suzanne M. J. 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Pathogenesis of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infections can include bacterial survival inside epithelial cells. Previously, we showed that this involves multiple roles played by the type three secretion system (T3SS), and specifically the effector ExoS. This includes ExoS-dependent inhibition of a lytic host cell response that subsequently enables intracellular replication. Here, we studied the underlying cell death response to intracellular
P. aeruginosa
, comparing wild-type to T3SS mutants varying in capacity to induce cell death and that localize to different intracellular compartments. Results showed that corneal epithelial cell death induced by intracellular
P. aeruginosa
lacking the T3SS, which remains in vacuoles, correlated with the activation of nuclear factor-κB as measured by p65 relocalization and tumor necrosis factor alpha transcription and secretion. Deletion of caspase-4 through CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis delayed cell death caused by these intracellular T3SS mutants. Caspase-4 deletion also countered more rapid cell death caused by T3SS effector-null mutants still expressing the T3SS apparatus that traffic to the host cell cytoplasm, and in doing so rescued intracellular replication normally dependent on ExoS. While HeLa cells lacked a lytic death response to T3SS mutants, it was found to be enabled by interferon gamma treatment. Together, these results show that epithelial cells can activate the noncanonical inflammasome pathway to limit proliferation of intracellular
P. aeruginosa
, not fully dependent on bacterially driven vacuole escape. Since ExoS inhibits the lytic response, the data implicate targeting of caspase-4, an intracellular pattern recognition receptor, as another contributor to the role of ExoS in the intracellular lifestyle of
P. aeruginosa
.

IMPORTANCE

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
can exhibit an intracellular lifestyle within epithelial cells
in vivo
and
in vitro
. The type three secretion system (T3SS) effector ExoS contributes via multiple mechanisms, including extending the life of invaded host cells. Here, we aimed to understand the underlying cell death inhibited by ExoS when
P. aeruginosa
is intracellular. Results showed that intracellular
P. aeruginosa
lacking T3SS effectors could elicit rapid cell lysis via the noncanonical inflammasome pathway. Caspase-4 contributed to cell lysis even when the intracellular bacteria lacked the entire T33S and were consequently unable to escape vacuoles, representing a naturally occurring subpopulation during wild-type infection. Together, the data show the caspase-4 inflammasome as an epithelial cell defense against intracellular
P. aeruginosa
, and implicate its targeting as another mechanism by which ExoS preserves the host cell replicative niche.
Large Si isotope fractionation reveals formation mechanism of quartz in silicon-poor carbonatite
Authors: Huang Yong-Shu , Liu Qi , Liu Fei-Xiang , Li Xiao-Chun , Liu Yu , Tang Guo-Qiang , Fan Hong-Rui , Li Xian-Hua , Li Qiu-Li 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Carbonatites, the most silica-poor igneous rocks, have a close relationship with rare earth element (REE) ore deposits, where low SiO2 activity is considered to contribute to economic REE mineralization. However, a paradox is raised by quartz, commonly regarded as a Si-saturation proxy, which occurs in some giant carbonatites or carbonatite-related REE deposits such as those at Bayan Obo, China, and Mountain Pass, California, USA. A unique perception for the origin of quartz in carbonatites is provided here using Si isotope analysis. Quartz grains from the Bayan Obo carbonatite and REE ores commonly occur as inclusions in fluorite, or they coexist with fluorite, thus implicating the importance of fluorine in their hydrothermal origin. The quartz grains have remarkably large variations in δ30Si values, ranging from −4.55‰ to 1.71‰ in secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses, which have not been documented elsewhere in high- to medium-temperature magmatic-hydrothermal processes. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that such large Si isotopic fractionation can be generated during the formation and breakdown of Si-O and Si-F bonds due to their difference in bond strength. These results imply the presence of silicon fluoride species in the fluid and highlight the role of fluorine in quartz formation in silicon-poor carbonatite. The exsolved fluids from carbonatite magmas containing silicon fluoride species may decrease silica activity, which has the potential to impede incorporation of REEs into magmatic apatite, and thus facilitate late-stage hydrothermal REE enrichment and formation of REE orebodies.
Offshore-onshore record of Last Glacial Maximum–to–present grounding line retreat at Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica
Authors: Nichols Keir A. , Rood Dylan H. , Venturelli Ryan A. , Balco Greg , Adams Jonathan R. , Guillaume Louise , Campbell Seth , Goehring Brent M. , Hall Brenda L. , Wilcken Klaus , Woodward John , Johnson Joanne S. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, is the largest Antarctic contributor to global sea-level rise and is vulnerable to rapid retreat, yet our knowledge of its deglacial history since the Last Glacial Maximum is based largely on marine sediments that record a retreat history ending in the early Holocene. Using a suite of 10Be exposure ages from onshore glacial deposits directly adjacent to Pine Island Glacier, we show that this major glacier thinned rapidly in the early to mid-Holocene. Our results indicate that Pine Island Glacier was at least 690 m thicker than present prior to ca. 8 ka. We infer that the rapid thinning detected at the site farthest downstream records the arrival and stabilization of the retreating grounding line at that site by 8–6 ka. By combining our exposure ages and the marine record, we extend knowledge of Pine Island Glacier retreat both spatially and temporally: to 50 km from the modern grounding line and to the mid-Holocene, providing a data set that is important for future numerical ice-sheet model validation.
Role of volatiles in intrusion emplacement and sulfide deposition in the supergiant Norilsk-Talnakh Ni-Cu-PGE ore deposits
Authors: Barnes Stephen J. , Yudovskaya Marina A. , Iacono-Marziano Giada , Vaillant Margaux Le , Schoneveld Louise E. , Cruden Alexander R. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
The Norilsk-Talnakh orebodies in Siberia are some of the largest examples on Earth of magmatic Ni–Cu–platinum group element (PGE) deposits, formed by segregation of immiscible sulfide melts from silicate magmas. They show distinctive features attributable to degassing of a magmatic vapor phase during ore formation, including: vesiculation of the host intrusions, widespread intrusion breccias, and extensive hydrofracturing, skarns, and metasomatic replacement in the country rocks. Much of the magmatic sulfide was generated by assimilation of anhydrite and carbonaceous material, leading to injection of a suspension of fine sulfide droplets attached to gas bubbles into propagating tube-like host sills (“chonoliths”). Catastrophic vapor phase exsolution associated with a drop in magma overpressure at the transition from vertical to horizontal magma flow enabled explosive propagation of chonoliths, rapid “harvesting” and gravity deposition of the characteristic coarse sulfide globules that form much of the ore, and extensive magmatic fluid interaction with country rocks.
Hybrid Implants Based on Calcium-Magnesium Silicate Ceramic Diopside as a Carrier of Recombinant BMP-2 and Demineralized Bone Matrix as a Scaffold: Ectopic Osteogenesis in Intramuscular Implantation in Mice
Authors: Karyagina Anna S. , Orlova Polina A. , Zhulina Anna V. , Krivozubov Mikhail S. , Grunina Tatyana M. , Strukova Natalia V. , Nikitin Kirill E. , Manskikh Vasily N. , Senatov Fedor S. , Gromov Alexander V. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
High efficiency of hybrid implants based on calcium-magnesium silicate ceramic, diopside, as a carrier of recombinant BMP-2 and xenogenic demineralized bone matrix (DBM) as a scaffold for bone tissue regeneration was demonstrated previously using the model of critical size cranial defects in mice. In order to investigate the possibility of using these implants for growing autologous bone tissue using in vivo bioreactor principle in the patient’s own body, effectiveness of ectopic osteogenesis induced by them in intramuscular implantation in mice was studied. At the dose of 7 μg of BMP-2 per implant, dense agglomeration of cells, probably skeletal muscle satellite precursor cells, was observed one week after implantation with areas of intense chondrogenesis, initial stage of indirect osteogenesis, around the implants. After 12 weeks, a dense bone capsule of trabecular structure was formed covered with periosteum and mature bone marrow located in the spaces between the trabeculae. The capsule volume was about 8-10 times the volume of the original implant. There were practically no signs of inflammation and foreign body reaction. Microcomputed tomography data showed significant increase of the relative bone volume, number of trabeculae, and bone tissue density in the group of mice with BMP-2-containing implant in comparison with the group without BMP-2. Considering that DBM can be obtained in practically unlimited quantities with required size and shape, and that BMP-2 is obtained by synthesis in E. coli cells and is relatively inexpensive, further development of the in vivo bioreactor model based on the hybrid implants constructed from BMP-2, diopside, and xenogenic DBM seems promising.
Effect of a smartphone intervention as a secondary prevention for use among university students with unhealthy alcohol use: randomised controlled trial
Authors: Bertholet Nicolas , Schmutz Elodie , Studer Joseph , Adam Angéline , Gmel Gerhard , Cunningham John A , McNeely Jennifer , Daeppen Jean-Bernard 
Published: August 2023

Objective
To estimate the effects of providing access to an alcohol intervention based on a smartphone.

Design
Randomised controlled trial..

Setting
Four higher education institutions in Switzerland.

Participants
1770 students (≥18 years) who screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use (ie, a score on the alcohol use disorders identification test-consumption (AUDIT-C) of ≥4 for men and ≥3 for women) were randomly assigned by 1:1 allocation ratio in blocks of 10.

Intervention
Providing access to a brief, smartphone based alcohol intervention.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome studied was number of standard drinks per week at six months and the secondary outcome was number of heavy drinking days (past 30 days). Additional outcomes were maximum number of drinks consumed on one occasion, alcohol related consequences, and academic performance. Follow-up assessments occurred at months three, six, and 12. Data were analysed by intention to treat and by using generalised linear mixed models with random intercepts for the recruitment site and participants nested within the recruitment site, and with intervention (
v
control), time (three months
v
six months; 12 months
v
six months), and baseline outcome values as fixed effects.

Results
Between 26 April 26 2021 and 30 May 2022, 1770 participants (intervention group (n=884); control group (n=886)) were included. Mean age was 22.4 years (standard deviation 3.07); 958 (54.1%) were women; and 1169 (66.0%) were undergraduate students, 533 (30.1%) were studying for a master’s degree, 43 (2.4%) were studying for a doctorate, and 25 (1.4%) were students of other higher education programme. The baseline mean number of standard drinks per week was 8.59 (standard deviation 8.18); the baseline number of heavy drinking days was 3.53 (4.02). Of 1770 participants, follow-up rates were 1706 (96.4%) at three months, 1697 (95.9%) at six months, and 1660 (93.8%) at 12 months. Of 884 students randomly assigned to the intervention group, 738 (83.5%) downloaded the smartphone application. The intervention had a significant overall effect on the number of standard drinks per week (incidence rate ratio 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.85 to 0.96)), heavy drinking days (0.89 (0.83 to 0.96)), and the maximum number of drinks consumed on one occasion (0.96 (0.93 to 1.00), P=0.029), indicating significantly lower drinking outcomes in the intervention group than in the control group during the follow-up period. The intervention did not affect alcohol related consequences or academic performance.

Conclusions
Providing access to the smartphone application throughout the 12 month follow-up was effective at limiting the average drinking volume of university students who had self-reported unhealthy alcohol use at baseline.

Trial registration
ISRCTN 10007691.
Adolescent sleep health in Africa: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Olorunmoteni Oluwatosin Eunice , Gómez-Olivé F Xavier , Popoola Biliamin O , Fatusi Adesegun Olayiwola , Scheuermaier Karine 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionProblematic sleep is a major threat to health and quality of life among adolescents. Hence, to provide directions for research and interventions, there is a need to examine the literature on adolescent sleep health in Africa. However, available studies on adolescent sleep health in Africa have not been properly mapped. Thus, this scoping review aims to investigate the extent and type of available evidence concerning sleep health among adolescents in Africa and to highlight the relationship of adolescent sleep health with adverse mental health outcomes and cardiometabolic risk factors. The review will further highlight areas of agreement and controversies on adolescent sleep health, and identify evidence gaps that require research attention across the continent.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will be conducted using Arksey and O’Malley’s six-step procedure. Thus, we have prepared this protocol according to the framework for scoping reviews developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. To identify eligible studies, we will search MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, AJOL, JSTOR, HINARI and Google Scholar. The review will include all published articles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian languages on adolescent sleep health in Africa from the inception of the databases, while relevant information will be extracted from included studies using an adapted data extraction tool. The results will be presented using tables and charts as appropriate.Ethics and disseminationThe scoping review does not require ethical approval because the publications to be used for the review are publicly available and the study does not involve contact with humans or other animals as research participants. Furthermore, clinical records will not be used for the study. Upon completion, findings from the study will be disseminated through presentations at scientific meetings and publication in a relevant peer-reviewed journal.Scoping review registrationOpen Science Framework (https://osf.io/5sjwq/).
Developing an ethical framework-guided instrument for assessing bias in EHR-based Big Data studies: a research protocol
Authors: Qiao Shan , Khushf George , Li Xiaoming , Zhang Jiajia , Olatosi Bankole 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThe emergence of Big Data health research has exponentially advanced the fields of medicine and public health but has also faced many ethical challenges. One of most worrying but still under-researched aspects of the ethical issues is the risk of potential biases in data sets (eg, electronic health records (EHR) data) as well as in the data curation and acquisition cycles. This study aims to develop, refine and pilot test an ethical framework-guided instrument for assessing bias in Big Data research using EHR data sets.Methods and analysisEthical analysis and instrument development (ie, the EHR bias assessment guideline) will be implemented through an iterative process composed of literature/policy review, content analysis and interdisciplinary dialogues and discussion. The ethical framework and EHR bias assessment guideline will be iteratively refined and integrated with preliminary summaries of results in a way that informs subsequent research. We will engage data curators, end-user researchers, healthcare workers and patient representatives throughout all iterative cycles using various formats including in-depth interviews of key stakeholders, panel discussions and charrette workshops. The developed EHR bias assessment guideline will be pilot tested in an existing National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Big Data HIV project (R01AI164947).Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by Institutional Review Boards at the University of South Carolina (Pro00122501). Informed consent will be provided by the participants in the in-depth interviews. Study findings will be disseminated with key stakeholders, presented at relevant workshops and academic conferences, and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Live birth after letrozole-stimulated cycles versus hormone replacement treatment cycles for the first frozen embryo transfer in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Li Yuan , Zhang Cuilian , Feng Yu Rong , Deng Bo , Zhang Shaodi , Ma Yun , Wu Yuerong , Lin Ge , Gong Fei 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionHormone replacement treatment (HRT) is the most commonly used endometrial preparation protocol for frozen embryo transfer (FET) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, studies have found that HRT may increase the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and some obstetric complications. Letrozole is a new first-line ovulation induction drug for PCOS and can effectively induce spontaneous ovulation by reducing oestrogen levels. However, letrozole is still rarely used in FET and has only been reported in a few studies in Asian populations. High-quality, well-powered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HRT and letrozole-stimulated protocols are lacking. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of two protocols in patients with PCOS.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre, open-label RCT in four reproductive medical centres in China. In total, 1078 women with PCOS will be randomised (1:1) to the letrozole-stimulated or HRT group in their first FET cycle and their pregnancy and perinatal outcomes during this cycle will be followed up and analysed. The primary outcome is live birth. Secondary outcomes are cycle cancellation rate, biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, obstetric and perinatal complications, neonatal complications and birth weight.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA (LL-SC-2022-001). Written informed consent will be obtained from each participant. The findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT05227391.
Predictors of parental anxiety in a paediatric emergency department
Authors: Martin Sarah R , Hung Isaac , Heyming Theodore W , Fortier Michelle A , Kain Zeev N 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundChildren experience significant anxiety in the paediatric ED. Although research from preoperative and primary care samples indicates that parents experience anxiety surrounding their children’s medical procedures, less is known about parental anxiety and factors that contribute to higher parental anxiety in the ED. This study aimed to assess parental anxiety in families presenting to a paediatric ED with a variety of presenting concerns and examine demographic and psychological factors associated with parental anxiety.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included parents of children <18 years old presenting to a paediatric ED in Orange County, California, USA, for a non-psychiatric complaint between 20 January 2021 and 26 March 2021. Parents were, on average, 34.76±9.10 years old, 87.5% were mothers, 59.2% identified as non-Latinx and parents reported average levels of mental health (T-score=51.21±9.84). Parent state anxiety was assessed via the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and validated instruments were used to measure child temperament (ie,emotionality, activity, sociability, shyness), previous medical anxiety, and parent physical and mental health. Data were analysed using multiple linear regression models.ResultsOut of 201 families screened, 150 were eligible, and 120 enrolled. In the sample, 42.5% of parents endorsed clinically significant levels of anxiety in the ED. Regression analyses indicated that lower child activity temperament (ie, tendency to be less active/energetic;B=−3.20, 95% CI −5.70 to −0.70, p=0.012) and poorer parent mental health (B=−0.31, 95% CI −0.52 to −0.09, p=0.006) were independently associated with higher parent anxiety (F(5, 99)=6.77, p=0.004).ConclusionOver 40% of parents sampled endorsed clinically significant anxiety in the paediatric ED. Child temperament, specifically lower activity temperament, and poorer parental mental health were identified as contributors to parent anxiety, whereas clinical condition or severity did not influence parent anxiety. Current results may help identify families in need of additional intervention and may improve patient outcomes.
A study of polarization compensation for quantum networks
Authors: Peranić Matej , Clark Marcus , Wang Rui , Bahrani Sima , Alia Obada , Wengerowsky Sören , Radman Anton , Lončarić Martin , Stipčević Mario , Rarity John , Nejabati Reza , Joshi Siddarth Koduru 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe information-theoretic unconditional security offered by quantum key distribution has spurred the development of larger quantum communication networks. However, as these networks grow so does the strong need to reduce complexity and overheads. Polarization-based entanglement distribution networks are a promising approach due to their scalability and no need for trusted nodes. Nevertheless, they are only viable if the birefringence of all-optical distribution fibres in the network is compensated to preserve the polarization-based quantum state. The brute force approach would require a few hundred fibre polarization controllers for even a moderately sized network. Instead, we propose and investigate four different realizations of polarization compensation schemes that can be used in quantum networks. We compare them based on the type of reference signals, complexity, effort, level of disruption to network operations and performance on a four-user quantum network.