Browse Articles

Bipolar vs. unipolar scaling in dynamic network analyses of Ecological Momentary Assessment data

This study examined the statistical and clinical benefits of using bipolar versus unipolar scaling in dynamic network analysis of Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data. Methods: Forty-seven students completed EMA reports three times daily for five weeks via either unipolar (n = 24) or bipolar (n = 23) scales. The data were analyzed to construct idiographic network models. Results: The bipolar scaling group presented significantly lower zero inflation (2.37% vs. 10.31%, U = 2407756, r = 0.75, p < .05) and greater response variability. Network analysis revealed more participants with significant network edges in the bipolar group (69.57% vs. 41.67%, χ²(1) = 12.06, p = .0007). Additionally, the bipolar group had lower odds of zero responses than the unipolar group did (p = .038). Conclusion: Bipolar scaling enhances EMA data quality by reducing zero inflation and increasing variability, resulting in richer dynamic network models. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in clinical populations.

Altered auditory brainstem responses are post-acute sequela of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)

DR5 is a restriction factor for human herpesviruses

Restriction factors are dominant proteins that target different essential steps of the viral life cycle; thus, these proteins provide an early line of defense against viruses. Here, we found that the internalization of DR5, an important receptor of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, initiates apoptosis to inhibit Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) lytic replication. An evolutionary analysis of the DR5 sequence demonstrated that three amino acids underwent positive selection in primates. Notably, one of these positive selection sites, A62, is essential for the antiviral function of DR5 and is important for the binding of DR5 to its ligand, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. Moreover, DR5 exhibits broad antiviral activity against and inhibits various herpesviruses, including Epstein–Barr virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, and herpes simplex virus type 2. As a countermeasure, the KSHV K5 protein interacts with DR5 and promotes DR5 degradation through the lysosomal and proteasomal degradation pathways; lysine 245 of DR5 is essential for K5-induced DR5 degradation. These findings demonstrate that DR5 is a restriction factor for human herpesviruses.

Tracking cropland transitions: A comparative analysis of U.S. land cover change data

There are a growing number of land cover data available for the conterminous United States, supporting various applications ranging from biofuel regulatory decisions to habitat conservation assessments. These datasets vary in their source information, frequency of data collection and reporting, land class definitions, categorical detail, and spatial scale and time intervals of representation. These differences limit direct comparison, contribute to disagreements among studies, confuse stakeholders, and hamper our ability to confidently report key land cover trends in the U.S. Here we assess changes in cropland derived from the Land Change Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (LCMAP) dataset from the U.S. Geological Survey and compare them with analyses of three established land cover datasets across the coterminous U.S. from 2008-2017: (1) the National Resources Inventory (NRI), (2) a dataset Lark et al. 2020 derived from the Cropland Data Layer (CDL), and (3) a dataset from Potapov et al. 2022. LCMAP reports more stable cropland and less stable noncropland in all comparisons, likely due to its more expansive definition of cropland which includes managed grasslands (pasture and hay). Despite these differences, net cropland expansion from all four datasets was comparable (5.18-6.33 million acres), although the geographic extent and type of conversion differed. LCMAP projected the largest cropland expansion in the southern Great Plains, whereas other datasets projected the largest expansion in the northwestern and central Midwest. Most of the pixel-level disagreements (86%) between LCMAP and Lark et al. 2020 were due to definitional differences among datasets, whereas the remainder (14%) were from a variety of causes. Cropland expansion in the LCMAP likely reflects conversions of more natural areas, whereas cropland expansion in other data sources also captures conversion of managed pasture to cropland. The particular research question considered (e.g., habitat versus soil carbon) should influence which data source is more appropriate.

Towards simultaneous imaging of ultrafast nuclear and electronic dynamics in small molecules

Abstract When a chemical bond is broken, the molecular structure undergoes a transformation. An ideal experiment should probe the change in the electronic and nuclear structure simultaneously. Here, we present a method for the simultaneous time-resolved imaging of nuclear and electron dynamics by combining Coulomb explosion imaging with strong-field photoelectron momentum imaging. We study the dissociative photoionization of H2 and N2O using time-resolved photoion-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy. The measured delay-dependent kinetic energy release clearly reveals the ultrafast nuclear dynamics. The transient changes in the electronic structure of the dissociating $$\hbox {H}_2^+$$ molecular ion are studied by solving the three-dimensional Schrödinger equation in the fixed-nuclei approximation. A detailed comparison of the numerical results to those from a simple imaging model is conducted. The numerical results reflect the evolution in the electron density in the molecular ion as its bond is first stretched and then breaks apart. While these details remain unresolved in the H2 experiment, we demonstrate the sensitivity of the photoelectron signal to the site of electron localization following bond cleavage for the case of N2O. Our work shows opportunities and challenges on the track towards capturing simple gas-phase chemical dynamics in complete molecular movies.

Behold the scale of global zoogeomorphic activity

The effect of exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic on nutritional status and cognitive, motor, and behavioural development among children aged 20 months in rural Bangladesh: A repeated cross-section study between 2020 and 2022

Background Past studies have documented detrimental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the learning and mental health of preschool- and school-age children. Few studies have examined effects on younger children’s development, though this age group is extremely sensitive to economic and health shocks. Methods We assessed the effects of exposure to the pandemic on the cognitive, language, and motor development; behaviour; and growth among toddlers in rural Bangladesh. We estimated average differences between two repeated cross-sectional surveys of children and mothers living in the same villages. The first survey included 20-month-old children in 2019 and 2020 (unexposed group). The second survey took place in a randomly-selected subset of the same villages in 2022 among 20-month-old children, who had experienced pandemic-related lockdowns from approximately mid-gestation through their first year (exposed group). Both surveys used similar inclusion criteria and the same developmental assessments (Bayley’s Scales of Infant and Toddler Development), behaviour observations, and field protocols. Results The exposed group (N = 526) had lower cognitive [Effect size = -0.45 (95% CI = -0.63 to -0.27)] and motor [-0.55 (-0.73 to -0.37)] composite scores, compared to the unexposed group (N = 1344). They were also observed to be less responsive to the examiner [-0.29 (-0.48 to -0.11)], less happy [-0.37 (-0.55 to -0.19)], less vocal [-0.57 (-0.73 to -0.4)] and less cooperative [-0.42 (-0.6 to -0.24)]. The pandemic increased depression among mothers with a primary education or less but not among better educated mothers. Children of less educated mothers also showed larger differences across exposed and unexposed groups in development and behaviour than those with better educated mothers. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic detrimentally affected cognitive and motor skills and behaviour of young children in rural Bangladesh. Disadvantaged young children’s development appears to be extremely vulnerable to shocks. Without intervention these deficits will likely lead to later problems in learning and mental health.

Publisher Correction: Development and validation of nomogram models for severe and fatal COVID-19

Identifying the interactions conferring functional mechanical rigidity on RNase-resistant RNA from Zika virus

Some viruses counter host-cell efforts to digest invading viral RNA by using special structures resistant to host RNases, known as exoribonuclease-resistant RNAs (xrRNAs). xrRNAs typically form an unusual fold with the 5′-end threaded through a ring consisting of a multihelix junction closed by a pseudoknot. By using single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), we previously showed that a Zika virus xrRNA is extremely rigid mechanically, withstanding very high forces, and that this mechanical resistance—not simply the knot-like fold topology—is essential for RNase resistance. Here, we have determined which interactions are most important for generating mechanical rigidity in the Zika virus xrRNA, by systematically mutating tertiary contacts. We found that removing any of the tertiary contacts involving the threaded 5′ end was sufficient to abrogate mechanical resistance. In contrast, breaking a single pseudoknot base pair was not sufficient to do so: Two broken pairs were needed. This hierarchy of interaction importance for mechanical rigidity was supported by simulations mapping how mechanical tension was distributed within the xrRNA. For all mutants, RNase resistance varied in lock-step with mechanical resistance, confirming the primary role of mechanical rigidity in xrRNA function. This work reveals which interactions are most important for Zika xrRNA function, with implications for targeting the xrRNA therapeutically.

Are taxes to sugar-sweetened beverages and non-essential energy dense food implemented in Mexico regressive?

Introduction In January 2014, Mexico introduced an excise tax of $1.00 Mexican peso/liter on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and an 8% tax on non-essential energy dense food (NEDF) with at least 275 kilocalories/100 grams. Fiscal policies could be regressive when taxes generate a greater financial burden for low-income households compared to higher-income households. The objective of this study was to analyze whether SSB and NEDF taxes in Mexico were regressive using a nationally representative survey. Materials and methods Information from the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey in Mexico in its 2014, 2016 and 2018 waves were used to estimate changes in expenditures on SSB and NEDF over total expenditures by income quintile and place of residence using own price elasticities, changes in prices after tax implementation and tax pass-through prices. We derived uncompensated own price elasticities using the Linear Approximation of the Almost Ideal Demand System. Results Price elasticities -in absolute values- were higher in urban areas than in rural settings for SSB in 2014 and 2016, while the opposite was observed for NEDF. For SSB, price elasticities -in absolute values- among households in the highest income quintiles were lower than those in the lowest income quintiles. The tax paid for SSB and NEDF over total expenditures was higher among low-income households. However, the reduction in SSB expenditures over total expenditures in low-income households was higher compared to the highest income quintile. For NEDF, weekly expenditures in rural areas were lower than in urban areas for the lowest quintile, while for the highest quintile the reduction was similar. Conclusions Low-income households in urban and rural areas reduced the proportion spent on SSB and NEDF more compared to higher-income residents, counteracting the regressive burden of the taxes.

Author Correction: Serum vitamin D levels and their correlation with pro-inflammatory prostaglandins in Acute myeloid leukemia: a cross-sectional analysis

Negative trend in total solar irradiance over the satellite era

Linear trends in total solar irradiance (TSI) between different reconstructions of the satellite era, defined as 1978 to 2023, disagree by up to 0.17 W/m 2 per decade. Furthermore, high-quality satellite radiometer observations of the most recent solar cycle, 24, systematically differ from estimates that rely on TSI proxies for reasons that have been unclear. Using a Bayesian Kalman filtering approach to estimate TSI from both satellite-based observations and proxies gives two complementary explanations: recent satellite-based observations of TSI contain unaccounted-for positive linear drifts, and regression-based reconstructions are affected by commonly used solar magnetic proxies becoming less sensitive to TSI variations at low values. After accounting for satellite instrument drifts and reduced sensitivity, direct and proxy observations come into agreement and together indicate a linear trend in overall TSI of −0.15 W/m 2 per decade with a 95% CI of −0.17 to −0.13 W/m 2 per decade between 1980 and 2023.

Deep image features sensing with multilevel fusion for complex convolution neural networks & cross domain benchmarks

Efficient image retrieval from a variety of datasets is crucial in today's digital world. Visual properties are represented using primitive image signatures in Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR). Feature vectors are employed to classify images into predefined categories. This research presents a unique feature identification technique based on suppression to locate interest points by computing productive sum of pixel derivatives by computing the differentials for corner scores. Scale space interpolation is applied to define interest points by combining color features from spatially ordered L2 normalized coefficients with shape and object information. Object based feature vectors are formed using high variance coefficients to reduce the complexity and are converted into bag-of-visual-words (BoVW) for effective retrieval and ranking. The presented method encompass feature vectors for information synthesis and improves the discriminating strength of the retrieval system by extracting deep image features including primitive, spatial, and overlayed using multilayer fusion of Convolutional Neural Networks(CNNs). Extensive experimentation is performed on standard image datasets benchmarks, including ALOT, Cifar-10, Corel-10k, Tropical Fruits, and Zubud. These datasets cover wide range of categories including shape, color, texture, spatial, and complicated objects. Experimental results demonstrate considerable improvements in precision and recall rates, average retrieval precision and recall, and mean average precision and recall rates across various image semantic groups within versatile datasets. The integration of traditional feature extraction methods fusion with multilevel CNN advances image sensing and retrieval systems, promising more accurate and efficient image retrieval solutions.

Identification of hub genes between moderate to severe asthma and early lung adenocarcinoma through bioinformatics analysis

Physical proximity drives gay discrimination in the gig economy

Despite legal protections, discrimination based on sexual orientation remains difficult to detect and measure in labor markets. We present evidence from a field experiment ( N = 1,128) conducted in Australia on a major gig economy platform that allows users to outsource everyday tasks. By manipulating both the sexual orientation of job posters (gay vs. straight male) and physical proximity requirements of tasks (inside vs. outside the home), we identify discrimination against gay profiles and demonstrate a specific mechanism for its emergence: physical proximity. Gay profiles received fewer offers and less engagement, and attracted workers with significantly lower quality ratings, but only for tasks requiring close physical proximity. Additional exploratory analysis further suggests that the results are driven by an anti-gay bias rather than an anti-men or pro-women bias and that discrimination is stronger for tasks with a higher degree of interaction between worker and job poster. Our findings demonstrate how digital labor platforms can perpetuate traditional forms of discrimination, while shedding light on physical proximity as one important mechanism. These results have important implications for users of the gig economy, a sector of increasing importance due to its rapid growth and comparatively lax regulatory frameworks.

Active versus restrictive approach to isolated hypotension in preterm neonates: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and GRADE based Clinical Practice Guideline

Objective Isolated hypotension (IH) without any clinical or biochemical features of poor perfusion is a common occurrence in very preterm infants (VPTI). There exists no recommendations guiding its management.The objective of this review was to compare the effect of active vs. restrictive approach to treat IH in VPTI. Methodology Medline, Embase and Web of Science were searched until 1st April 2024. RCTs and non-RCTs were included. Mortality, major brain injury (MBI) (intraventricular hemorrhage >  grade 2 or cystic periventricular leukomalacia), mortality or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 18–24 months’ corrected age were the critical outcomes evaluated. Results 44 studies were included: 9 were synthesized in a meta-analysis and 35 studies in the narrative review. Clinical benefit or harm could not be ruled out for the outcomes from the meta-analyses of RCTs. Meta-analysis of 3 non-RCTs suggested that active treatment of IH in VPTI of <  24 hours of life possibly increased the odds of MBI (aOR: 95% CI 1.85 (1.45; 2.36), very low certainty). Meta-analysis of 2 non-RCTs that had included VPTI <  72 hours indicated a possibly decreased risk of MBI (aOR: 95% CI 0.44 (0.24; 0.82), very low certainty) and NEC ≥  stage 2 (aOR: 95% CI 0.61 (0.41; 0.92), very low certainty) with active treatment of IH. Active treatment of IH in the first 24 hours possibly increased the risk of mortality or long-term NDI (aOR: 95% CI 1.84 (1.10; 3.09), very low certainty) and the risk of hearing loss at 2 years (aOR: 95% CI 3.60 (1.30; 9.70), very low certainty). Clinical benefit or harm could not be ruled out for other outcomes. There was insufficient evidence with respect to preterm neonates of ≥  32 weeks. Conclusions IH may not be treated in VPTI in the first 24 hours. However, IH occurring between 24 hours - 72 hours of life may be treated. The evidence certainty was very low.

Evaluation of protein quantity and protein nutritional quality of protein bars with different protein sources

Abstract A comprehensive overview of commercially available protein bars, focusing on their protein content, protein source(s) and nutritional composition. Four protein bars were selected based on the quality of their protein sources; (i) plant only (pea and rice); (ii) animal only (milk proteins); (iii) mix of animal (milk and egg) and plant (soy); (iv) mix of animal (milk and collagen) and plant (soy) to assess the relationship between protein sources and protein nutritional quality. Data analysis was conducted on data from an online consumer-generated database (OpenFoodFacts.org). Indeces of protein nutritional quality, DIAAS and PDCAAS, were determined after in vitro digestion simulation using the Infogest method. Of the 1641 bars, 81% had sufficient protein to be classified as “high in protein” (protein content > 20E%). However, the results show that lower protein digestibility values (between 47 and 81%) were measured when the proteins were included as a component of the protein bar matrix than when the digestibility of the same proteins was evaluated in a pure format. All measured in vitro-DIAAS and PDCAAS values were relatively low with the highest DIAAS = 61(Trp) and PDCAAS = 62(Trp) obtained for a protein bar containing only milk proteins (WPC, MPC). Although most protein bars are labelled ‘high in protein’, their protein nutritional quality could be very low based on DIAAS. The low numbers are most probably due to application of lower-nutritional-quality proteins (such as collagen) and of other ingredients such as carbohydrates, fats and fibres, that might deteriorate the bioaccessibility of essential amino acids.

Cell extrusion drives neural crest cell delamination

Neural crest cells (NCC) comprise a heterogeneous population of cells with variable potency that contribute to nearly every tissue and organ throughout the body. Considered unique to vertebrates, NCC are transiently generated within the dorsolateral region of the neural plate or neural tube during neurulation. Their delamination and migration are crucial for embryo development as NCC differentiation is influenced by their final resting locations. Previous work in avian and aquatic species revealed that NCC delaminate via an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which transforms these progenitor cells from static polarized epithelial cells into migratory mesenchymal cells with fluid front and back polarity. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms facilitating NCC delamination in mammals are poorly understood. Through time-lapse imaging of NCC delamination in mouse embryos, we identified a subset of cells that exit the neuroepithelium as isolated round cells, which then halt for a short period prior to acquiring the mesenchymal migratory morphology classically associated with delaminating NCC. High-magnification imaging and protein localization analyses of the cytoskeleton, together with measurements of pressure and tension of delaminating NCC and neighboring neuroepithelial cells, revealed that round NCC are extruded from the neuroepithelium prior to completion of EMT. Furthermore, cranial NCC are extruded through activation of the mechanosensitive ion channel, PIEZO1. Our results support a model in which cell density, pressure, and tension in the neuroepithelium result in activation of the live cell extrusion pathway and delamination of a subpopulation of NCC in parallel with EMT, which has implications for cell delamination in development and disease.

Exploring bidirectional causality between religion and mental health: A longitudinal study using data from the parent generation of a UK birth cohort

Relations between religion and mental health have been studied extensively, yet whether associations are causal remains uncertain. Here, we use longitudinal data from the parental generation of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), based in the UK, to assess: i) whether religiosity may cause subsequent depression and anxiety; ii) whether depression and anxiety may cause subsequent religiosity; and iii) whether there are gender differences in the above associations. All analyses were pre-registered, and adjusted for baseline confounders, exposures and outcomes in an attempt to rule out reverse causality and confounding bias. We found little conclusive evidence that religiosity was associated with subsequent mental health, or that mental health was associated with subsequent religiosity. Some weak associations were reported, but effect sizes were small and largely consistent with null effects. Small differences by gender were found, with religiosity marginally associated with better mental health in women and worse mental health in men, but the inconsistency of the results and the wide margins of error mean that firm conclusions cannot be made. In sum, in this UK population we find little evidence for bidirectional causation between religion and mental health, or for large differences in these associations by gender.

Effect of hazard analysis critical control points system in the assembly of reusable medical devices