bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age Differences in Perceived Preparedness for the Continuation of COVID-19 Pandemic: Important Role of Social Support
Authors: Chen Zhirui , Cong Zhen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
This study examined the age differences in perceived preparedness for the continuation of COVID-19 pandemic; and tested the moderating effects of three types of social support, i.e., emotional, financial and instrumental support. Using a sample of 450 adults in Texas, USA from the research project ‘Vulnerability and Resilience to Disasters’ (October 2020 to January 2021), results of multiple linear regressions showed that compared with people aged over sixty-five, those aged eighteen–forty-four perceived a lower level of preparedness for the ongoing COVID-19 and there was no significant difference in perceived preparedness between individuals aged sixty-five+ and those aged forty-five–sixty-four. Receiving emotional and instrumental support was, respectively, more important for people aged sixty-five+ to perceive a better level of preparedness than for those aged eighteen–forty-four and forty-five–sixty-four. The findings highlighted the unique strengths of older adults in COVID-19 preparedness from the life course perspective and the importance of social support in their disaster preparedness. Based on these findings, social workers could incorporate the wisdom and experience of older adults into disaster management and develop age-specific interventions to promote preventive behaviours during future public health disasters.
Pleiotropy with sex-specific traits reveals genetic aspects of sex differences in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Nordengen Kaja , Cappelletti Chiara , Bahrami Shahram , Frei Oleksandr , Pihlstrøm Lasse , Henriksen Sandra Pilar , Geut Hanneke , Rozemuller Annemieke J M , van de Berg Wilma D J , Andreassen Ole A , Toft Mathias 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Parkinson’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder with a higher incidence in males than females. The causes for this sex difference are unknown. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 90 Parkinson’s disease risk loci, but the genetic studies have not found sex-specific differences in allele frequency on autosomal chromosomes or sex chromosomes. Genetic variants, however, could exert sex-specific effects on gene function and regulation of gene expression.
To identify genetic loci that might have sex-specific effects, we studied pleiotropy between Parkinson’s disease and sex-specific traits. Summary statistics from GWASs were acquired from large-scale consortia for Parkinson’s disease (n cases = 13 708; n controls = 95 282), age at menarche (n = 368 888 females) and age at menopause (n = 69 360 females). We applied the conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (FDR) method to identify shared loci between Parkinson’s disease and these sex-specific traits. Next, we investigated sex-specific gene expression differences in the superior frontal cortex of both neuropathologically healthy individuals and Parkinson’s disease patients (n cases = 61; n controls = 23). To provide biological insights to the genetic pleiotropy, we performed sex-specific expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis and sex-specific age-related differential expression analysis for genes mapped to Parkinson’s disease risk loci.
Through conditional/conjunctional FDR analysis we found 11 loci shared between Parkinson’s disease and the sex-specific traits age at menarche and age at menopause. Gene-set and pathway analysis of the genes mapped to these loci highlighted the importance of the immune response in determining an increased disease incidence in the male population. Moreover, we highlighted a total of nine genes whose expression or age-related expression in the human brain is influenced by genetic variants in a sex-specific manner. With these analyses we demonstrated that the lack of clear sex-specific differences in allele frequencies for Parkinson’s disease loci does not exclude a genetic contribution to differences in disease incidence. Moreover, further studies are needed to elucidate the role that the candidate genes identified here could have in determining a higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease in the male population.
Outcomes of pulmonary vein isolation with radiofrequency balloon vs. cryoballoon ablation: a multi-centric study
Authors: Almorad Alexandre , Del Monte Alvise , Della Rocca Domenico Giovanni , Pannone Luigi , Ramak Robbert , Overeinder Ingrid , Bala Gezim , Ströker Erwin , Sieira Juan , Dubois Aurélie , Sorgente Antonio , El Haddad Milad , Iacopino Saverio , Boveda Serge , de Asmundis Carlo , Chierchia Gian-Battista 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Aims
Cryoballoon (CB) ablation is the mainstay of single-shot pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). A radiofrequency balloon (RFB) catheter has recently emerged as an alternative. However, these two technologies have not been compared. This study aims to evaluate the freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATas) at 1 year: procedural characteristics, efficacy, and safety of the novel RFB compared with CB for PVI in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and results
This prospective multi-centre study included consecutive patients with symptomatic drug-resistant paroxysmal AF who underwent PVI with RFB or CB between July 2021 and January 2022 from three European centres. A total of 375 consecutive patients were included, 125 in the RFB group and 250 in the CB. Both groups had comparable clinical characteristics. At 12.33 ± 4.91 months, ATas-free rates were 83.20% and 82.00% in the RFB and CB groups, respectively (P &gt; 0.05). Compared with the CB group, the RFB group showed a shorter procedure time [59.91 (45.80–77.12) vs. 77.0 (35.13–122.71) min (P &lt; 0.001)], dwell time [19.59 (14.41–30.24) vs. 27.03 (17.11–57.21) min (P = 0.04)], time to isolation, and thermal energy delivery in all pulmonary veins (P &lt; 0.001). First-pass isolation was comparable. No major complications occurred in either group, with no stroke, atrio-oesophageal fistula, or permanent phrenic nerve injury. Transient phrenic nerve palsy occurred more frequently with CB than RFB (7.20% vs. 3.20%; P = 0.02). Oesophageal temperature rise occurred in 21 (16.8%) patients in the RFB group, and gastroscopy showed erythema in two of them with complete recovery after 30 days.

Conclusions
The RFB appears to have a safety and efficacy profile similar to that of the CB for PVI. Shorter procedural times appear to be driven by shorter left atrial dwell and thermal delivery times.
Ageism in Birthday Cards: A Mixed-Method Content Analysis
Authors: Lin Shayne S-H , Walden Allison 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Ageism is oftentimes sugarcoated within humor. Paper birthday cards are 1 delivery approach in which ageist messages are perpetuated and reinforced through humor.

Research Design and Methods
A convenience sample of birthday cards (k = 227), all indicating a decade of age, were acquired from 7 national retail stores in Colorado Springs, CO. The decades sampled ranged from 21 to 100. With a predeveloped codebook, 3 raters coded the decade birthday cards on various variables, including age group, ageist tone, and humor.

Results
Birthday cards intended for age 30–60 contained significantly more ageist messages compared to cards intended for age 21 and age 70–100, which did not show a significant difference from each other. Additionally, birthday cards with humor showed more ageist messages than cards without humor. Characteristics of decade birthday cards were also explored.

Discussion and Implications
Consumers need to learn to evaluate these ageist messages in birthday cards to reduce the perpetuation of damaging stereotypes.
Experimental validation of membrane distillation unit coupled with a sweeping gas membrane using solar energy
Authors: Boukhriss Mokhless , Maatoug Med Ali , Farhani Slah , Timoumi Mahdi , Jammali Adel , Bacha Habib Ben 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
This work presents an experimental validation of MD unit coupled with a sweeping gas membrane (SGMD) using solar energy experimental validation of a sweeping gas membrane distillation (SGMD) unit coupled with solar energy. This station is installed at the University of Kairouan in Tunisia. SGMD is the least used membrane distillation (MD) configuration, and it is very expensive to build. SGMD is used to completely remove solutions containing non-volatile compounds such as salts and recover only high-purity water. A theoretical and experimental study was carried out with the parameters that intervene in the system. The theory of the system is described by a mathematical model based on the heat and mass transfer of the MD unit. Experimental studies were carried out for two types of processes: with preheating and without preheating of the charge (brine). With a low gas flow, the evaporation capacity varies between 0.15 and 0.25 l/m2 h. The operating parameter (liquid velocity) is affected by the layer on both sides of the membrane. Utilizing the water heating by the solar collector increases the evaporation efficiency in the SGMD, and increasing the flow rate the permeate flow in the SGMD. SGMD unit experimental data were submitted to evaluate the reliability obtained from the MD unit, aspects of heat transfer, mass transfer, in solation patterns and all temperatures considering the efficiency of the MD unit.
Evaluation of omadacycline against intracellular Mycobacterium abscessus in an infection model in human macrophages
Authors: Jahanbakhsh S , Howland J , Ndayishimiye Uwineza M O , Thwaites M T , Pillar C M , Serio A W , Anastasiou D M , Hufnagel D A 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background
Omadacycline is an aminomethylcycline antibiotic in the tetracycline class that was approved by the US FDA in 2018 for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. It is available in both IV and oral formulations. Omadacycline has broad-spectrum in vitro activity and clinical efficacy against infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Omadacycline is being evaluated in a 3 month placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial of oral omadacycline versus placebo in adults with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium abscessus (NCT04922554).

Objectives
To determine if omadacycline has intracellular antimicrobial activity against NTM, bacteria that can cause chronic lung disease, in an ex vivo model of intracellular infection.

Methods
Two strains of M. abscessus were used to infect THP-1 macrophages. Intracellular M. abscessus was then challenged with omadacycline and control antibiotics at multiples of the MIC over time to evaluate intracellular killing.

Results
At 16 ×  the MIC at 72 h, omadacycline treatment of intracellular NTM yielded a log10 reduction in cfu of 1.1 (91.74% reduction in cfu) and 1.6 (97.65% reduction in cfu) consistent with killing observed with tigecycline, whereas amikacin and clarithromycin at 16 ×  the MIC did not show any reduction in cfu against the intracellular M. abscessus.

Conclusions
Omadacycline displayed intracellular activity against M. abscessus within macrophages. The activity was similar to that of tigecycline; as expected, intracellular killing was not observed with clarithromycin and amikacin.
The growth inhibitory and apoptotic effects of umbelliprenin in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis
Authors: Rashidi Mohsen , Bazi Ali , Ahmadzadeh Alireza , Romeo Orazio , Rezaei-Matehkolaei Ali , Abastabar Mahdi , Haghani Iman , Mirzaei Sepideh 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Aims
Umbelliprenin has shown promising biological activities, including immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. The present study investigated the growth inhibitory and apoptotic effects of umbelliprenin against Candida albicans in a BALB/c mice model of disseminated candidiasis.

Methods and results
First, an antimicrobial assay via microdilution sensitivity test was performed. Then, twenty-five 6-week-old female BALB/c mice (20 ± 12 g) were divided into five groups of five mice, including one control group (no umbelliprenin treatment) and four experimental groups: C. albicans-infected mice treated with umbelliprenin at the doses of 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg −1. The brain, lung, kidney, spleen, and liver tissues were examined for fungal infection and histological lesions, and TUNEL staining was performed to assess apoptosis. The β-1, 3-glucan synthase assay was used to evaluate enzymatic activity, and gene expression analysis was also performed to investigate the transcriptional changes of ERG11, CDR1, ALS1, and HWP1 genes. The MIC of umbelliprenin was 1.5 mg mL−1. Our results showed that at the 40 mg kg −1 dose, umbelliprenin was able to eradicate fungal infection in BALB/c mice. The percentage of apoptotic cells in umbelliprenin-treated groups increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Umbelliprenin (40 mg kg −1) also inhibited the expression of β-1, 3-glucan synthase, and the genes involved in antifungal resistance (CDR1 and ERG11), as well as the expression of the genes encoding adhesins (ALS1 and HWP1).

Conclusion
Our results showed that umbelliprenin could promote antifungal effects, partly via inducing apoptosis.
Fortify the Truth: How to Defend Human Rights in an Age of Deepfakes and Generative AI
Authors: Gregory Sam 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Audiovisual digital media and tools are critical elements in contemporary human rights documentation and advocacy. Generative AI, deepfakes and synthetic media compound questions of what to trust in an existing situation of government suppression, difficulty proving witness accounts and broader societal challenges to trust. There is a need to ‘fortify the truth’ by fostering resilient witnessing practices that can ensure trustworthy videos and strengthen narratives of vulnerable communities. The author identifies and speculates on actions at tactical, strategic, tools, technology, and policy levels, drawing upon human rights organization WITNESS’s work on proactive preparation for emerging technologies and technical infrastructures. Practical steps occur across a trajectory of using images and video in human rights advocacy and activism including filming, storytelling, watching, analysing, sharing, advocacy, and preservation. Guidance on filming must evolve to address deepfakes and opportunities and challenges in ‘authenticity infrastructure’. Narrative video advocacy and formal legal and policy processes must adapt to new technologies including text-to-image and text-to-video, new disinformation threats such as ‘floods of falsehood’ and new presentation opportunities. The evolution of watching, scrutinizing, and sharing videos accountability amid increasing volume and normalized image manipulation includes positive dimensions of the ‘media forensic turn’, including collaborative ‘open-source intelligence’ verification, and negative aspects involving excessive scrutiny. Finally, preserving audiovisual media is critical, and emerging socio-technical infrastructure should be shaped for community control. Underlying principles for ‘fortifying the truth’ include taking a proactive approach, centring voices and needs of people facing human rights abuses, and working with and challenging technologists and technology companies.
How Crime Shapes Insurance and Insurance Shapes Crime
Authors: Baker Tom , Shortland Anja 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Crime creates demand for insurance but supplying insurance may promote crime. We examine five case studies of insured crimes (auto theft, art theft, kidnap and hijack for ransom, ransomware, and payment card fraud) and find a co-evolutionary process through which insurers engage with insureds, governments, and legal and extralegal third parties to mitigate losses, particularly when criminal innovations destabilize the insurance market. “Insurance as crime governance” stimulates demand for security, shapes criminal incentives, engages with the state to combat crime, and tolerates some crime in the interest of profitability.
Validation of co–Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool: a novel dyadic approach to symptom screening in pediatric patients receiving cancer treatment
Authors: Tomlinson Deborah , Dupuis L Lee , Dix David , Crellin-Parsons Nicole , Cook Sadie , Kulkarni Ketan , Schechter Tal , Tomlinson George A , Sung Lillian 
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Background
Co-Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (co-SSPedi) is a dyadic (child-guardian) approach to symptom assessment. Objectives were to evaluate the reliability and validity of co-SSPedi for pediatric patients receiving cancer treatments.

Methods
This multicenter study included dyads of patients aged 4-18 years of age with cancer or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant and their guardians. Two groups were enrolled. The more symptomatic group included those receiving active treatment for cancer or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant where patients were in hospital or clinic for 4 consecutive days. The less symptomatic group included those receiving maintenance therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or who had completed cancer treatments. At baseline, all dyads completed co-SSPedi, and guardians completed measures of mucositis, nausea, pain, quality of life, and overall symptoms. In the more symptomatic group, dyads completed co-SSPedi and a global symptom change scale on day 4.

Results
There were 501 dyads included: 301 in the more symptomatic group and 200 in the less symptomatic group. Median time to complete co-SSPedi was less than 3 minutes in both groups. Test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.77 to 0.90). For internal consistency, total co-SSPedi Cronbach alpha was 0.81 (95% CI = 0.78 to 0.83). For known groups validation, mean difference in total co-SSPedi scores between the more symptomatic and less symptomatic groups was 7.8 (95% CI = 6.7 to 8.8; P &lt; .0001). For convergent validation and responsiveness, all hypothesized relationships were demonstrated.

Conclusions
Co-SSPedi is a novel approach to dyadic symptom assessment that is reliable, valid, and responsive in pediatric patients aged 4-18 years.
A LOFAR prompt search for radio emission accompanying X-ray flares in GRB 210112A
Authors: Hennessy A , Starling R L C , Rowlinson A , de Ruiter I , Kumar A , Eyles-Ferris R A J , Ror A K , Anderson G E , Gourdji K , van der Horst A J , Pandey S B , Shimwell T W , Steeghs D , Stylianou N , ter Veen S , Wiersema K , Wijers R A M J 
Published: September 2023

ABSTRACT
The composition of relativistic gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets and their emission mechanisms are still debated, and they could be matter or magnetically dominated. One way to distinguish these mechanisms arises because a Poynting flux dominated jet may produce low-frequency radio emission during the energetic prompt phase, through magnetic reconnection at the shock front. We present a search for radio emission coincident with three GRB X-ray flares with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR), in a rapid response mode follow-up of long GRB 210112A (at z ∼ 2) with a 2 h duration, where our observations began 511 s after the initial Swift-BAT trigger. Using time-sliced imaging at 120–168 MHz, we obtain upper limits at 3σ confidence of 42 mJy averaging over 320 s snapshot images, and 87 mJy averaging over 60 s snapshot images. LOFAR’s fast response time means that all three potential radio counterparts to X-ray flares are observable after accounting for dispersion at the estimated source redshift. Furthermore, the radio pulse in the magnetic wind model was expected to be detectable at our observing frequency and flux density limits which allows us to disfavour a region of parameter space for this GRB. However, we note that stricter constraints on redshift and the fraction of energy in the magnetic field are required to further test jet characteristics across the GRB population.
Post-transcriptional repression of CFP-1 expands the regulatory repertoire of LIN-41/TRIM71
Authors: Kumari Pooja , Thuestad Lars Harald , Ciosk Rafal 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
The Caenorhabditis elegans LIN-41/TRIM71 is a well-studied example of a versatile regulator of mRNA fate, which plays different biological functions involving distinct post-transcriptional mechanisms. In the soma, LIN-41 determines the timing of developmental transitions between larval stages. The somatic LIN-41 recognizes specific mRNAs via LREs (LIN-41 Recognition Elements) and elicits either mRNA decay or translational repression. In the germline, LIN-41 controls the oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET), although the relevant targets and regulatory mechanisms are poorly understood. The germline LIN-41 was suggested to regulate mRNAs indirectly by associating with another RNA-binding protein. We show here that LIN-41 can also regulate germline mRNAs via the LREs. Through a computational-experimental analysis, we identified the germline mRNAs potentially controlled via LREs and validated one target, the cfp-1 mRNA, encoding a conserved chromatin modifier. Our analysis suggests that cfp-1 may be a long-sought target whose LIN-41-mediated regulation during OET facilitates the transcriptional reprogramming underlying the switch from germ- to somatic cell identity.
Real-time imaging of drug-induced trapping of cellular topoisomerases and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 at the single-molecule level
Authors: Sun Yilun , Chen Jiji , Pommier Yves 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Topoisomerases (TOP1, TOP2α, and β) are nuclear enzymes crucial for virtually all aspects of DNA metabolisms. They also are the targets of important anti-tumor chemotherapeutics that act by trapping the otherwise reversible topoisomerase-DNA covalent complex intermediates (TOPccs) that are formed during their catalytic reactions, resulting in long-lived topoisomerase DNA-protein crosslinks (TOP-DPCs) that interfere with DNA transactions. The Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family protein PARP1 is activated by DNA damage to recruit DNA repair proteins, and PARP inhibitors are another class of commonly used chemotherapeutics, which bind and trap PARP molecules on DNA. To date, the trapping of TOPccs and PARP by their respective inhibitors can only be measured by immune-biochemical methods in cells. Here, we developed an imaging-based approach enabling real-time monitoring of drug-induced trapping of TOPccs and PARP1 in live cells at the single-molecule level. Capitalizing on this approach, we calculated the fraction of self-fluorescence tag-labeled topoisomerases and PARP single-molecules that are trapped by their respective inhibitors in real time. This novel technique should help elucidate the molecular processes that repair TOPcc and PARP trapping and facilitate the development of novel topoisomerase and PARP inhibitor-based therapies.