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COVID-19, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Climate Change, have disrupted work education, rendering sustainability of careers and livelihoods a concern. This paper outlines a collaborative response to that challenge, offering opportunities for sustainable livelihoods in a work education cloud collaboration, Project SLiC (Sustainable Livelihoods Collaboration). We have joined forces across nation states in the Global South/North to share cloud resources, focused on teaching a postgraduate course, Sustainable Livelihoods. Online modules are stored in a secure cloud site, from which local courses draw-down, autochthonously, whichever resources fit workforce development in context. We outline modules, and an evaluative process, in a proof-of-concept trial. Finally, we envisage how this initial collaboration may morph into a whole degree, including research supervision. We close with a call to career development professionals to share their unique expertise and experiences at the work education frontline, on how to develop this sustainable careers project, for the greater good.

Drought is a serious constraint on crop growth and production of important staple crops such as maize. Improved understanding of the responses of crops to drought can be incorporated into cropping system models to support crop breeding, varietal selection, and management decisions for minimizing negative impacts. We investigate the impacts of different soil types (stony and silty) and water regimes (irrigated and rainfed) on hydraulic linkages between soil and plant, as well as root : shoot growth characteristics. Our analysis is based on a comprehensive dataset measured along the soil–plant–atmosphere pathway at field scale in two growing seasons (2017 and 2018) with contrasting climatic conditions (low and high vapor pressure deficit). Roots were observed mostly in the topsoil (10–20 cm) of the stony soil, while more roots were found in the subsoil (60–80 cm) of the silty soil. The difference in root length was pronounced at silking and harvest between the soil types. Total root length was 2.5–6 times higher in the silty soil than in the stony soil with the same water treatment. At silking time, the ratios of root length to shoot biomass in the rainfed plot of the silty soil (F2P2) were 3 times higher than those in the irrigated silty soil (F2P3), while the ratio was similar for two water treatments in the stony soil. With the same water treatment, the ratios of root length to shoot biomass of silty soil were higher than for stony soil. The seasonally observed minimum leaf water potential (ψleaf) varied from around −1.5 MPa in the rainfed plot in 2017 to around −2.5 MPa in the same plot of the stony soil in 2018. In the rainfed plot, the minimum ψleaf in the stony soil was lower than in the silty soil from −2 to −1.5 MPa in 2017, respectively, while these were from −2.5 to −2 MPa in 2018, respectively. Leaf water potential, water potential gradients from soil to plant roots, plant hydraulic conductance (Ksoil_plant), stomatal conductance, transpiration, and photosynthesis were considerably modulated by the soil water content and the conductivity of the rhizosphere. When the stony soil and silt soil are compared, the higher “stress” due to the lower water availability in the stony soil resulted in fewer roots with a higher root tissue conductance in the soil with more stress. When comparing the rainfed with the irrigated plot in the silty soil, the higher stress in the rainfed soil resulted in more roots with a lower root tissue conductance in the treatment with more stress. This illustrates that the “response” to stress can be completely opposite depending on conditions or treatments that lead to the differences in stress that are compared. To respond to water deficit, maize had higher water uptake rate per unit root length and higher root segment conductance in the stony soil than in the silty soil, while the crop reduced transpired water via reduced aboveground plant size. Future improvements in soil–crop models in simulating gas exchange and crop growth should further emphasize the role of soil textures on stomatal function, dynamic root growth, and plant hydraulic system together with aboveground leaf area adjustments.

Parkinson’s patients experience severe pathological tremors because of abnormality of central oscillator that entrains the corticothalamic system and the basal ganglia. Normally, medications are used to decrease involuntary antagonistic muscle contraction can affect life, therefore, safe treatment methods have attention. The mechanical vibration absorber is an outstanding method, and can be used as an alternative treatment. Based on the biodynamics of the human arm, the objective of this study is to provide the performance of Parkinson’s patients and to design a model-free control to suppress their pathological tremor, called an active dynamic vibration absorber system (DVAs). An active DVA with model-free control inside can handle the complex system, disturbances, complicated working behavior, and so forth. Frequency of resting tremor as resonance frequencies of shoulder and elbow muscle is activation operating. The response of the active DVAs is studied in the case that it is attached to the arm and compared to the passive DVA with excitation frequencies in the previous study. The results verify the effectiveness of active DVA with controller inside, which can reduce the pathological tremor in amplitude feature in Parkinson's patient’s arm.

Abstract Children today are immersed in electronic technology shortly after birth as they now begin regularly watching television earlier than they did in the past. Many new programs geared towards infants contain lots of lights, color, and sounds, which may constitute a form of sensory overstimulation (SOS) that leads to cognitive and behavioral changes in children and adolescents. Here, we examined the impact of early life SOS exposure on later life behavioral and cognitive function in rodents by exposing developing male and female rats to excessive audiovisual stimulation from postnatal days (PND) 10–40 and assessing anxiety-like behavior, social motivation, compulsive behavior, and spatial learning/cognition from PND 50–60. To evaluate potential SOS effects on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis function, levels of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT) were measured at 3 timepoints (e.g., PND 23, 41, 61) post-SOS exposure. Sensory overstimulated males exhibited reduced anxiety-like and compulsive behavior compared to controls, whereas females exhibited reduced social motivation but enhanced spatial learning/cognition compared to controls. No differences in baseline CORT levels were found at any age tested, suggesting no impact of early life SOS on later life basal HPA-axis function. Our results demonstrate sex-specific effects of early life SOS on distinct behavioral domains in early adult rats.

Abstract Background The gut microbiome modulates the effects of diet on host health, but it remains unclear which specific foods and microbial features interact to influence risk of depression. To understand this interplay, we leveraged decades of dietary and depression data from a longitudinal cohort of women (n = 32,427), along with fecal metagenomics and plasma metabolomics from a substudy (n = 207) nested in this cohort, as well as an independent validation cohort of men (n = 307). Results We report that citrus intake and its components are prospectively associated with a lower risk of depression and altered abundance of 15 gut microbial species, including enriched Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. In turn, we found a lower abundance of F. prausnitzii and its metabolic pathway, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) cycle I in participants with depression. To explore causality, we found that lower SAM production by F. prausnitzii may decrease intestinal monoamine oxidase A gene expression implicated in serotonin and dopamine synthesis. Conclusions These data underscore the role of diet in the prevention of depression and offer a plausible explanation for how the intestinal microbiome modulates the influence of citrus on mental health. Video Abstract

Abstract Background A prolonged first episode of psychosis (FEP) without adequate treatment is a predictor of poor clinical, functional, and health outcomes and significant economic burden. Team-based “coordinated specialty care” (CSC) for early psychosis (EP) has established effectiveness in promoting clinical and functional recovery. However, California’s CSC program implementation has been unsystematic and could benefit from standardizing its processes and data collection infrastructure. To address this, we established a consortium of EP clinics across the state via a Learning Health Care Network (LHCN) framework to develop the Early Psychosis Intervention Network of California (EPI-CAL). EPI-CAL’s LHCN developed a core battery of evidence-based measures for service users and family members and linked them together using a unique data collection and visualization application, Beehive. Methods and objectives EPI-CAL’s LHCN collects, visualizes, and aggregates data at the individual and clinic level for EP programs across California via Beehive. Beehive was designed to: (1) collect outcomes data from service users receiving care at EP programs and their support persons, (2) provide the data to providers on a secure web-based dashboard to support measurement-based care, and (3) allow data to be used for program or research analysis. We will (1) determine the feasibility of implementing an LHCN across a diverse, decentralized network of early psychosis programs, (2) determine if the implementation of an LHCN increases the delivery of measurement-based care, and (3) determine if the implementation of measurement-based care is associated with significant improvements in key service user outcomes. EPI-CAL’s network will contribute data to the Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) program. Discussion The current study aims to establish an LHCN of EP clinics in California that implements harmonized data collection using Beehive and assesses the feasibility of establishing such a network. Our goal is for this harmonized data collection approach to be used to inform decisions and develop learning opportunities for service users, staff, and administrators, and to improve outcomes for service users and their supporters in CSC care. Further, the data will enable programs and research teams to examine what elements of care lead to program success and improved treatment outcomes for service users. Clinical trials registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT04007510; registered 07/05/2019.

Vietnam secures a place among the top countries that possess the largest mangrove areas worldwide. The mangrove forests are mainly found in the Northern, Northeast, Central and Southern Delta, providing goods to habitants, and make significant help mitigate global climate change. Despite this, mangroves are severely threatened because of extensive deforestation in Vietnam. Recent advances have utilized remotely sensed imagery to present the spatial and temporal distribution of mangroves. Nevertheless, the approach is limited by imagery availability and computing resources, and difficult to share within the community. Therefore, a shareable Web-based tool that reinforces coastal managers to monitor the changes in mangroves is needed. Recently, Google Earth Engine (GEE) is a cloud-based geospatial analysis platform, which allows users to freely exploit the availability of satellite imagery and harness their computing capacity. This research aims to use GEE to detect mangrove changes, a case study in Tien Yen district, Quang Ninh, over a period from 2010 to 2020. Four supervised classification algorithms, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes classifier, and Classification and Regression Trees (CART) have been implemented on GEE platform to select the best algorithm to produce spatial-temporal mangrove maps, then change detection of mangroves is performed. The results showed that RF demonstrated the highest accuracy with overall accuracy and kappa values of 91.04% and 0.75 respectively. The mangrove areas statistically reported by the GEE-based platform are in line with the governmental statistic report annually, marking the capabilities of GEE in natural resource management.

Abstract The abundance of Lp(a) protein holds significant implications for the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is directly impacted by the copy number (CN) of KIV-2, a 5.5 kbp sub-region. KIV-2 is highly polymorphic in the population and accurate analysis is challenging. In this study, we present the DRAGEN KIV-2 CN caller, which utilizes short reads. Data across 166 WGS show that the caller has high accuracy, compared to optical mapping and can further phase approximately 50% of the samples. We compared KIV-2 CN numbers to 24 previously postulated KIV-2 relevant SNVs, revealing that many are ineffective predictors of KIV-2 copy number. Population studies, including USA-based cohorts, showed distinct KIV-2 CN, distributions for European-, African-, and Hispanic-American populations and further underscored the limitations of SNV predictors. We demonstrate that the CN estimates correlate significantly with the available Lp(a) protein levels and that phasing is highly important.

Abstract The bacterial group of the phylum Bacteroidota greatly contributes to the global carbon cycle in marine ecosystems through its specialized ability to degrade marine polysaccharides. In this study, it is proposed that two novel facultative anaerobic strains, DS1-an-13321T and DS1-an-2312T, which were isolated from a sea squirt, represent a novel genus, Halosquirtibacter, with two novel species in the family Prolixibacteraceae. The 16S rRNA sequence similarities of these two strains were 91.26% and 91.37%, respectively, against Puteibacter caeruleilacunae JC036T, which is the closest recognized neighbor. The complete genomes of strains DS1-an-13321T and DS1-an-2312T each consisted of a single circular chromosome with a size of 4.47 and 5.19 Mb, respectively. The average amino acid identity and the percentage of conserved proteins against the type species of the genera in the family Prolixibacteraceae ranged from 48.33 to 52.35% and 28.34–37.37%, respectively, which are lower than the threshold for genus demarcation. Strains DS1-an-13321T and DS1-an-2312T could grow on galactose, glucose, maltose, lactose, sucrose, laminarin, and starch, and only DS1-an-2312T could grow on xylose and xylan under fermentation conditions. These strains produced acetic acid and propionic acid as the major fermentation products. Genome mining of the genomes of the two strains revealed 27 and 34 polysaccharide utilization loci, which included 155 and 249 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), covering 57 and 65 CAZymes families, respectively. The laminarin-degrading enzymes in both strains were cell-associated, and showed exo-hydrolytic activity releasing glucose as a major product. The xylan-degrading enzymes of strain DS1-an-2312T was also cell-associated, and had endo-hydrolytic activities, releasing xylotriose and xylotetraose as major products. The evidence from phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic, and genomic characteristics supported the proposal of a novel genus with two novel species in the family Prolixibacteraceae, for which the names Halosquirtibacter laminarini gen. nov., sp. nov. and Halosquirtibacter xylanolyticus sp. nov. are proposed. The type strain of Halosquirtibacter laminarini is DS1-an-13321T (= KCTC 25031T = DSM 115329T) and the type strain of Halosquirtibacter xylanolyticus is DS1-an-2312T (= KCTC 25032T = DSM 115328T).

Abstract Background Before SARS-CoV-2 vaccination availability, medical center employees were at high risk of COVID-19. However, risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in medical center employees, both healthcare and non-healthcare workers, are poorly understood. Methods From September-December 2020, free IgG antibody testing was offered to all employees at a large urban medical center. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on work and non-work related risk factors for COVID-19 infection. Results SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was found in 4.7%. Seropositivity was associated with close contact with COVID-19 cases with or without the use of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.4–6.9] and OR 4.7 [95% CI 2.0–11.0] respectively), never wearing a mask outside of work (OR 10.1 [95% CI 1.9–57]), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander race (OR 6.3 95% CI (1.6–25)]. Conclusions Among workers in a large urban medical center, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was associated with work-related COVID-19 close contacts and low mask use outside of work, suggesting that non-workplace close contacts are also relevant routes of COVID-19 spread among healthcare workers.

Learning to read depends on the ability to extract precise details of letter combinations, which convey critical information that distinguishes tens of thousands of visual word forms. To support fluent reading skill, one crucial neural developmental process is one's brain sensitivity to statistical constraints inherent in combining letters into visual word forms. To test this idea in early readers, we tracked the impact of two years of schooling on within-subject longitudinal changes in cortical responses to three different properties of words: coarse tuning for print, and fine tuning to either familiar letter combinations within visual word forms or whole word representations. We then examined how each related to growth in reading skill. Three stimulus contrasts--words versus pseudofonts, words versus pseudowords, pseudowords versus nonwords--were presented while high-density EEG Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs, n = 31) were recorded. Internalization of abstract visual word form structures over two years of reading experience resulted in a near doubling of SSVEP amplitude, with increasing left lateralization. Longitudinal changes (decreases) in brain responses to such word form structural information were linked to the growth in reading skills, especially in rapid automatic naming of letters. No such changes were observed for whole word representation processing and coarse tuning for print. Collectively, these findings indicate that sensitivity to visual word form structure develops rapidly through exposure to print and is linked to growth in reading skill.

Background: Receiving hemodialysis treatment makes end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients highly vulnerable amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, their kidney disease quality of life (KDQOL) is affected. We aimed to examine the association between fear of COVID-19 (FCoV-19) and KDQOL, and the effect modification of Health literacy (HL) on this association.Material and Methods: A survey was conducted at 8 hospitals from July 2020 to March 2021 on 972 patients. Data collection includes socio-demographic factors, clinical parameters, HL, digital healthy diet literacy (DDL), hemodialysis diet knowledge (HDK), FCoV-19, suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), and KDQOL.Results: Higher HL scores B = 0.13 (95% CI = 0.06–0.21, p = 0.001) and HDK scores B = 0.58 (95% CI = 0.31–0.85, p = 0.001) were associated with higher KDQOL scores. Whereas, S-COVID-19-S B = −6.12 (95% CI = −7.66 to – 4.58, p = 0.001) and FCoV-19 B = −0.91 (95% CI = −1.03 to – 0.80, p = 0.001) were associated with lower KDQOL scores. Notably, higher HL scores significantly attenuate the negative impact of FCoV-19 on overall KDQOL and the kidney disease component summary.Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, FCoV-19 and S-COVID-19-S were associated with a lower KDQOL. Health literacy significantly mitigates the negative impact of FCoV-19 on KDQOL. Strategic public health interventions to improve HL are suggested to protect patient’s KDQOL during the pandemic.

Pectin was adopted as a natural ingredient in cosmetic formulations due to its moisturizing, stabilizing, binding, viscosity-controlling, and gel-forming properties. Pectin extracted from fruit peels has the potential to become another environmentally friendly alternative to commercial pectin. This study used pectin extracted from red dragon fruit peels and durian rinds, tropical fruit waste sources, to prepare skincare lotion formulations. Also, betalains recovered from red dragon fruit were applied to those formulas as a colorant and active ingredient. The developed lotions were evaluated for pH, viscosity, spreadability, and stability. Red dragon fruit peel pectin and encapsulated betalains-based formula exhibited suitable properties and indicated antioxidant and antimicrobial activity through tests. The results provided a basis for selecting and designing vegan skincare products based on fruit waste-derived compounds.

Abstract DNA data storage is a potential alternative to magnetic tape for archival storage purposes, promising substantial gains in information density. Critical to the success of DNA as a storage media is an understanding of the role of environmental factors on the longevity of the stored information. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of exposure to ionizing particle radiation, a cause of data loss in traditional magnetic media, on the longevity of data in DNA data storage pools. We develop a mass action kinetics model to estimate the rate of damage accumulation in DNA strands due to neutron interactions with both nucleotides and residual water molecules, then utilize the model to evaluate the effect several design parameters of a typical DNA data storage scheme have on expected data longevity. Finally, we experimentally validate our model by exposing dried DNA samples to different levels of neutron irradiation and analyzing the resulting error profile. Our results show that particle radiation is not a significant contributor to data loss in DNA data storage pools under typical storage conditions.

Abstract Primary liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome and alcohol consumption, along with the existing burden of viral hepatitis, could significantly heighten the impact of primary liver cancer. However, the specific effects of these factors in the Asia–Pacific region, which comprises more than half of the global population, remain largely unexplored. This study aims to analyze the epidemiology of primary liver cancer in the Asia–Pacific region. We evaluated regional and national data from the Global Burden of Disease study spanning 2010 to 2019 to assess the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years associated with primary liver cancer in the Asia–Pacific region. During the study period, there were an estimated 364,700 new cases of primary liver cancer and 324,100 deaths, accounting for 68 and 67% of the global totals, respectively. Upward trends were observed in the age-standardized incidence rates of primary liver cancer due to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) in the Asia–Pacific region, as well as an increase in primary liver cancer from Hepatitis B virus infection in the Western Pacific region. Notably, approximately 17% of new cases occurred in individuals aged 15–49 years. Despite an overall decline in the burden of primary liver cancer in the Asia–Pacific region over the past decade, increases in incidence were noted for several etiologies, including MASLD and ALD. However, viral hepatitis remains the leading cause, responsible for over 60% of the total burden. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the rising burden of primary liver cancer in the Asia–Pacific region.

Abstract Background Betel quid and its major ingredient, areca nut, are recognized by IARC as major risk factors in oral cancer development. Areca nut extract (ANE) exposure has been linked to OPMD progression and malignant transformation to OSCC. However, the detailed mechanism through which ANE acts on other cell types in the oral microenvironment to promote oral carcinogenesis remains elusive. Methods Immunoprofiling of macrophages associated with OPMD and OSCC was carried out by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. Phosphokinase and cytokine arrays and western blotting were performed to determine the underlying mechanisms. Transwell assays were used to evaluate the migration-promoting effect of ANE. Hamster model was finally applied to confirm the in vivo effect of ANE. Results We reported that M2 macrophages positively correlated with oral cancer progression. ANE induced M2 macrophage differentiation, CREB phosphorylation and VCAM-1 secretion and increased mitochondrial metabolism. Conditioned medium and VCAM-1 from ANE-treated macrophages promoted migration and mesenchymal phenotypes in oral precancer cells. In vivo studies showed that ANE enhanced M2 polarization and related signaling pathways in the oral buccal tissues of hamsters. Conclusion Our study provides novel mechanisms for areca nut-induced oral carcinogenesis, demonstrating that areca nut promotes M2 macrophage differentiation and secretion of oncogenic cytokines that critically activate malignant transformation of oral premalignant cells.

Abstract Background Despite recent advances in lung cancer therapeutics and improving overall survival, disparities persist among socially disadvantaged populations. This study aims to determine the effects of neighborhood deprivation indices (NDI) on lung cancer mortality. This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study assessing the relationship between NDI and overall survival adjusted for age, disease stage, and DNA methylation among biopsy-proven lung cancer patients. State-specific NDI for each year of sample collection were computed at the U.S. census tract level and dichotomized into low- and high-deprivation. Results A total of 173 non small lung cancer patients were included, with n = 85 (49%) and n = 88 (51%) in the low and high-deprivation groups, respectively. NDI was significantly higher among Black patients when compared with White patients (p = 0.003). There was a significant correlation between DNA methylation and stage for HOXA7, SOX17, ZFP42, HOXA9, CDO1 and TAC1. Only HOXA7 DNA methylation was positively correlated with NDI. The high-deprivation group had a statistically significant shorter survival than the low-deprivation group (p = 0.02). After adjusting for age, race, stage, and DNA methylation status, belonging to the high-deprivation group was associated with higher mortality with a hazard ratio of 1.81 (95%CI: 1.03–3.19). Conclusions Increased neighborhood-level deprivation may be associated with liquid biopsy DNA methylation, shorter survival, and increased mortality. Changes in health care policies that consider neighborhood-level indices of socioeconomic deprivation may enable a more equitable increase in lung cancer survival.

Abstract Facial recognition systems have emerged as indispensable components in identity verification. These systems heavily rely on facial data, which is stored in a biometric database. However, storing such data in a database raises concerns about privacy breaches. To address this issue, several technologies have been proposed for protecting facial biometrics. Unfortunately, many of these methods can cause irreversible damage to the data, rendering it unusable for other purposes. In this paper, we propose a novel reversible anonymization scheme for face images via cyclic learning. In our scheme, face images can be de-identified for privacy protection and reidentified when necessary. To achieve this, we employ generative adversarial networks with a cycle consistency loss function to learn the bidirectional transformation between the de-identified and re-identified domains. Experimental results demonstrate that our scheme performs well in terms of both de-identification and reidentification. Furthermore, a security analysis validates the effectiveness of our system in mitigating potential attacks.

Abstract In this paper, we would like to examine whether stable de Sitter inflationary solutions appear within power-law extensions of the Starobinsky model. In particular, we will address general constraints for the existence along with the stability of de Sitter inflationary solutions in a general case involving not only the Starobinsky $$R^2$$ R 2 term but also an additional power-law $$R^n$$ R n one. According to the obtained results, we will be able to identify which extension is more suitable for an early inflationary phase rather than a late-time cosmic acceleration phase. To be more specific, we will consider several values of n to see whether the corresponding de Sitter inflationary solutions are stable or not.

Abstract Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) might manifest in a broad spectrum of clinical scenarios, ranging from mild features to multi-organ dysfunction and mortality. However, this novel entity has a heterogenicity of data regarding prognostic factors associated with severe outcomes. The present study aimed to identify independent predictors for severity by using multivariate regression models. A total of 391 patients (255 boys and 136 girls) were admitted to Vietnam National Children’s Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023. The median age was 85 (range: 2–188) months, and only 12 (3.1%) patients had comorbidities. 161 (41.2%) patients required PICU admission, and the median PICU LOS was 4 (2–7) days. We observed independent factors related to PICU admission, including CRP $$\ge $$ ≥ 50 (mg/L) (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.39–4.56, p = 0.002), albumin $$\le $$ ≤ 30 (g/L) (OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.63–6.02, p = 0.001), absolute lymphocyte count $$\le $$ ≤ 2 (× 109/L) (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.29–3.71, p = 0.004), ferritin ≥ 300 (ng/mL) (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.38–4.01), p = 0.002), and LVEF

Abstract Classically, G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) promote signaling at the plasma membrane through activation of heterotrimeric Gαβγ proteins, followed by the recruitment of GPCR kinases and βarrestin (βarr) to initiate receptor desensitization and internalization. However, studies demonstrated that some GPCRs continue to signal from internalized compartments, with distinct cellular responses. Both βarr and Gβγ contribute to such non-canonical endosomal G protein signaling, but their specific roles and contributions remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R)–βarr complex scaffolds Gβγ at the plasma membrane through a direct interaction with βarr, enabling its transport to endosomes. Gβγ subsequently potentiates Gαs endosomal translocation, presumably to regenerate an endosomal pool of heterotrimeric Gs. This work shines light on the mechanism underlying G protein subunits translocation from the plasma membrane to the endosomes and provides a basis for understanding the role of βarr in mediating sustained G protein signaling.

Background/Aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a multitude of adverse outcomes. We aimed to estimate the pooled incidence of NAFLD-related adverse events. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies of adults with NAFLD to evaluate the pooled incidence of adverse events. Results 19,406 articles were screened, 409 full-text articles reviewed, and 79 eligible studies (1,377,466 persons) were included. Mean age was 51.47 years and body mass index 28.90 kg/m2. Baseline comorbidities included metabolic syndrome (41.73%), cardiovascular disease (CVD) (16.83%), cirrhosis (21.97%), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (58.85%). Incidence rate per 1,000 person-years for mortality included: all-cause (14.6), CVD-related (4.53), non-liver cancer-related (4.53), and liver-related (3.10). Incidence for liver-related events included overall (24.3), fibrosis progression (49.0), cirrhosis (10.9), liver transplant (12.0), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (3.39). Incidence for non-liver events included metabolic syndrome (25.4), hypertension (25.8), dyslipidemia (26.4), diabetes (19.0), CVD (24.77), renal impairment (30.3), depression/anxiety (29.1), and non-liver cancer (10.5). Biopsy-proven NASH had higher incidence of HCC (P=0.043) compared to non-NASH. Higher rates of CVD and mortality were observed in North America and Europe, hypertension and non-liver cancer in North America, and HCC in Western Pacific/Southeast Asia (P

IntroductionImmunogenicity continues to be a challenge for development and clinical utility of monoclonal antibodies, and there are gaps in our current ability to prevent anti-drug antibody development in a safe and antigen-specific manner.MethodsTo mitigate immunogenicity of monoclonal antibodies administered subcutaneously, O-phospho-L-serine (OPLS)—the head group of the tolerance-inducing phospholipid, phosphatidylserine—was investigated as an immunoregulatory adjuvant.ResultsFormulations of adalimumab, trastuzumab or rituximab with OPLS showed reduction in relative immunogenicity in mice compared to vehicle formulations, indicated by reduced anti-drug antibody development and significant reductions in CD138+ plasma cell differentiation in bone marrow. Titer development toward recombinant human hyaluronidase, a dispersion enhancer that was co-formulated with monoclonal antibodies, was similarly reduced. Subcutaneous administration of adalimumab with OPLS resulted in a two-fold increase in expression of type 1 regulatory (Tr1) T cell subset in the spleen. This is consistent with in vitro studies where co-culturing of dendritic cells primed with ovalbumin in the presence and absence of OPLS and antigen specific T-cells induced expression of Tr1 phenotype on live CD4+ T cells.ConclusionThis adjuvant does not impact immune competence of non-human primates and mice, and repeated administration of the adjuvant does not show renal or hepatic toxicity. Formulation of monoclonal antibodies with the immunoregulatory adjuvant, OPLS, was found to be safe and effective at mitigating immunogenicity.

Abstract Alcohols are common alkylating agents and starting materials alternative to harmful alkyl halides. In this study, a simple, benign and efficient pathway was developed to synthesize 1,3‐diphenylpropan‐1‐ols via the β‐alkylation of 1‐phenylethanol with benzyl alcohols. Unlike conventional borrowing hydrogen processes in which alcohols were activated by transition‐metal catalyzed dehydrogenation, in this work, t‐BuONa was suggested to be a dual‐role reagent, namely, both base and radical initiator, for the radical coupling of aromatic alcohols. The cross‐coupling reaction readily proceeded under transition metal‐free conditions and an inert atmosphere, affording 1,3‐diphenylpropan‐1‐ol with an excellent yield. A good functional group tolerance in benzyl alcohols was observed, leading to the production of various phenyl‐substituted propan‐1‐ol derivatives in moderate‐to‐good yields. The mechanistic studies proposed that the reaction could involve the formation of reactive radical anions by base‐mediated deprotonation and single electron transfer.

The ubiquitin kinase-ligase pair PINK1-PRKN identifies and selectively marks damaged mitochondria for elimination via the autophagy-lysosome system (mitophagy). While this cytoprotective pathway has been extensively studied in vitro upon acute and complete depolarization of mitochondria, the significance of PINK1-PRKN mitophagy in vivo is less well established. Here we used a novel approach to study PINK1-PRKN signaling in different energetically demanding tissues of mice during normal aging. We demonstrate a generally increased expression of both genes and enhanced enzymatic activity with aging across tissue types. Collectively our data suggest a distinct regulation of PINK1-PRKN signaling under basal conditions with the most pronounced activation and flux of the pathway in mouse heart compared to brain or skeletal muscle. Our biochemical analyses complement existing mitophagy reporter readouts and provide an important baseline assessment in vivo, setting the stage for further investigations of the PINK1-PRKN pathway during stress and in relevant disease conditions.Abbreviations: ECL: electrochemiluminescence; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; MSD: Meso Scale Discovery; PD: Parkinson disease; p-S65-Ub: Serine-65 phosphorylated ubiquitin; RT-PCR: real-time polymerase chain reaction; Ub: ubiquitin; WT: wild-type.

Background People with disabilities are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 health outcomes and face barriers accessing COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of this study is to examine receipt of ≥ 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, intention to vaccinate in the future, and reasons for not vaccinating among people with disabilities and functional limitations using a large, nationally representative dataset of adults in the United States.Methods Data were analyzed from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (14–26 April 2021, n = 68,913). Separate logistic regression models were conducted to examine the association between each disability (vision, hearing, cognition and mobility), overall disability status, and functional status on ≥1 dose COVID-19 vaccination receipt and intention to vaccinate. Furthermore, reasons for not getting vaccinated were examined among those with disabilities or functional limitations.Results Approximately 13% of adults reported having a disability, and almost 60% reported having some or a lot of functional limitations. Over 65% of adults with disabilities had received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 vaccines, compared to 73% among adults without disabilities (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.94). Among adults with disabilities, those who were younger, had lower educational attainment and income, did not have insurance and had a prior history of COVID-19 were less likely to get vaccinated or intend to get vaccinated than their respective counterparts. The main reasons for not getting vaccinated were concerns about possible side effects (52.1%), lack of trust in COVID-19 vaccines (45.4%) and lack of trust in the government (38.6%).Discussion and conclusion Efforts to ensure high and equitable vaccination coverage include working with communities to strengthen the message that the vaccine is safe and effective, educating health professionals about the need to recommend and promote vaccines, and making vaccination sites more accessible for people who need additional accommodations.

Introduction Understanding changes in vaccine hesitancy, overall and by sociodemographic characteristics, may highlight sub-populations for whom more intensive efforts are needed to increase vaccine uptake and confidence.Methods We analyzed data using the CDC’s Research and Development Survey (RANDS), a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults ≥18 years, collected from 17 May 2021–30 June 2021 (n = 5,458) and 3 November 2022–12 December 2022 (n = 6,821). We assessed changes in vaccine hesitancy, changes in vaccine attitudes and attitudes, and factors associated with hesitancy toward both vaccines in general and COVID-19 vaccines among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.Results Although COVID-19 vaccination (≥1 dose) increased from 67.2% (2021) to 74.7% (2022), COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy increased from 40.7% to 44.6% during the same period. During the same period, hesitancy toward both COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines in general increased among those who were aged ≥65 years and who were non-Hispanic White. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy decreased among non-Hispanic Black adults. Current or former smokers were more hesitant toward vaccines in general (aPR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.03–1.24) and toward COVID-19 vaccines (aPR = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.01–1.16) compared to never smokers. Among adults who did not receive any COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy increased from 86.6% in 2021 to 92.4% in 2022. Furthermore, belief in the overall social benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine decreased from 47.5% to 25.1%.Conclusion This study highlights concerning trends in vaccine hesitancy and uptake of the COVID-19 and other recommended vaccines. We found that some high-risk groups (e.g. smokers) and population subgroups have become more vaccine hesitant, suggesting the need for improved and intensified strategies to increase vaccine confidence and uptake. Future research may focus on qualitative inquiry to understand specific concerns and determinants contributing to increased hesitancy among these groups to help inform interventions and communication campaigns to support vaccination.

Background A well-known complication of laparoscopic management of gynaecologic masses and cancers is the need to perform an intraoperative conversion to laparotomy. The purpose of this study was to identify novel patient risk factors for conversion from minimally invasive to open surgeries for gynaecologic oncology operations.Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 1356 patients ≥18 years of age who underwent surgeries for gynaecologic masses or malignancies between February 2015 and May 2020 at a single academic medical centre. Multivariable logistic regression was used to study the effects of older age, higher body mass index (BMI), higher American Society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) physical status, and lower preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) on odds of converting from minimally invasive to open surgery. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the discriminatory ability of a risk prediction model for conversion.Results A total of 704 planned minimally invasive surgeries were included with an overall conversion rate of 6.1% (43/704). Preoperative Hb was lowest for conversion cases, compared to minimally invasive and open cases (11.6 ± 1.9 vs 12.8 ± 1.5 vs 11.8 ± 1.9 g/dL, p50 years, BMI ≥30 kg/m2, ASA physical status >2, and preoperative haemoglobin

ABSTRACTSix serotypes (Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V) cause nearly all group B streptococcal (GBS) disease globally. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) conjugate vaccines aim to prevent GBS disease, however, licensure of a vaccine would depend on a standardized serological assay for measuring anti-CPS IgG responses. A multiplex direct Luminex-based immunoassay (dLIA) has been developed to simultaneously measure the concentration of serum IgG specific for the six prevalent GBS CPS serotypes. Assay validation was performed using serum samples obtained from human subjects vaccinated with an investigational 6-valent GBS CPS conjugate vaccine. Results for the assay are expressed as IgG concentrations (µg/mL) using a human serum reference standard composed of pooled sera from vaccinated subjects. The lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) for all serotypes covered in the 6-plex GBS IgG dLIA fell within the range of 0.002-0.022 µg/mL IgG. Taken together, the 6-plex GBS IgG dLIA platform is specific for the six GBS serotypes included in Pfizer’s investigational vaccine, has a wide dilution adjusted assay range, and is precise (

ABSTRACT Aim The purpose of this systematic review was to identify key factors that lead to variations in outcome in cardiometabolic interventions among Asian Americans. Design Systematic review. Review Methods and Data Sources In October 2022, a systematic search was conducted in the following databases: CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science. Results of database searches were uploaded to Rayyan for screening of titles, abstracts and full texts. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, twelve studies published across seventeen articles between 2002 and 2021 were included in this review. These studies were assessed for bias using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results Cultural tailoring was an element of 91.7% of the studies. More than one‐third of the studies utilized community health workers to build relationships with the communities being studied. Overall, lifestyle interventions targeted for Asian American populations led to improvements in both physical and psychosocial outcomes such as mental health, self‐efficacy, disease knowledge, behavior change and/or quality of life. Conclusion This systematic review of interventions targeting cardiometabolic outcomes among Asian American populations reveals many gaps in the existing literature. For one, there is limited research on the association of various sociodemographic variables with participants' success and/or retention in health intervention studies among Asian American populations. Interventions utilizing technology have also been lacking with this population and are a potential tool for improving health outcomes. Impact and Implications Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are both ranked in the top five causes of Asian American deaths. The reviewed articles' findings were mixed but suggest that culturally tailored interventions aimed to improve the cardiometabolic health of Asian Americans are generally effective. As we move forward, this body of research serves as a crucial foundation for shaping the future of culturally tailored interventions, guiding nurse researchers to develop more effective strategies for treating and preventing these prevalent and cardiometabolic conditions. Reporting Method Completed PRISMA checklist is available upon request. No Patient or Public Contribution This systematic review better informs future directions for person‐centred, community‐based and participatory research.

Food insecurity in Ethiopia is an immediate humanitarian crisis that is expected to worsen due to population growth and climate change. This study applied GIS-based approaches to evaluate the feasibility of deploying an emergent type of single-cell protein (SCP) technology to supplement the nutritional needs of Ethiopian citizens who are most vulnerable to drought. The technology—power-to-protein (PtP)—uses H2 and O2 from water electrolysis and CO2 from woody biomass combustion in a two-stage bioprocess to produce nutrient-rich protein powder for human consumption. Population density, land use, and other geographical data were used to identify optimal site locations for these PtP systems based on two deployment strategies: large centralized plants vs. small decentralized units. The model also accounted for biomass availability, collection, and distribution logistics. The analysis revealed three sites that are both (highly) vulnerable/food-insecure and accessible within walking distance. The identified sites are proximate to the urban areas of Mekele in northern Ethiopia, Addis Ababa in central Ethiopia, and Hawasa south of Addis Ababa. If centralized PtP were deployed, the protein requirements of these populations could be sustained for several months, assuming a modest biomass collection radius of 35 km. Decentralized PtP deployment was similarly effective, requiring a distribution density of 5.4–11.0 PtP units per km2 under conservative estimates and 0.76–1.1 units per km2 under optimistic estimates. Lastly, a theoretical comparison showed that PtP is more efficient than conventional agricultural food production regarding biomass-to-protein conversion yields. Overall, our study suggests that PtP technology would be a feasible approach to supplement the nutritional needs of Ethiopian people in times of drought-related emergencies. However, given logistical limitations and considering social preference factors, it would be more practical to implement PtP in conjunction with standard emergency food aid measures.

The conformational ensemble and function of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are sensitive to their solution environment. The inherent malleability of disordered proteins, combined with the exposure of their residues, accounts for this sensitivity. One context in which IDPs play important roles that are concomitant with massive changes to the intracellular environment is during desiccation (extreme drying). The ability of organisms to survive desiccation has long been linked to the accumulation of high levels of cosolutes such as trehalose or sucrose as well as the enrichment of IDPs, such as late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins or cytoplasmic abundant heat-soluble (CAHS) proteins. Despite knowing that IDPs play important roles and are co-enriched alongside endogenous, species-specific cosolutes during desiccation, little is known mechanistically about how IDP-cosolute interactions influence desiccation tolerance. Here, we test the notion that the protective function of desiccation-related IDPs is enhanced through conformational changes induced by endogenous cosolutes. We find that desiccation-related IDPs derived from four different organisms spanning two LEA protein families and the CAHS protein family synergize best with endogenous cosolutes during drying to promote desiccation protection. Yet the structural parameters of protective IDPs do not correlate with synergy for either CAHS or LEA proteins. We further demonstrate that for CAHS, but not LEA proteins, synergy is related to self-assembly and the formation of a gel. Our results suggest that functional synergy between IDPs and endogenous cosolutes is a convergent desiccation protection strategy seen among different IDP families and organisms, yet the mechanisms underlying this synergy differ between IDP families.

Summary: Pregnancy is a risk factor for increased severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory infections, but the mechanisms underlying this risk are poorly understood. To gain insight into the role of pregnancy in modulating immune responses at baseline and upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, we collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma from 226 women, including 152 pregnant individuals and 74 non-pregnant women. We find that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with altered T cell responses in pregnant women, including a clonal expansion of CD4-expressing CD8+ T cells, diminished interferon responses, and profound suppression of monocyte function. We also identify shifts in cytokine and chemokine levels in the sera of pregnant individuals, including a robust increase of interleukin-27, known to drive T cell exhaustion. Our findings reveal nuanced pregnancy-associated immune responses, which may contribute to the increased susceptibility of pregnant individuals to viral respiratory infection.

In this paper, we present two multidimensional power flow formulations based on a fixed-point iteration (FPI) algorithm to efficiently solve hundreds of thousands of Power flows (PFs) in distribution systems. The presented algorithms are the base for a new TensorPowerFlow (TPF) tool and shine for their simplicity, benefiting from multicore Central processing unit (CPU) and Graphics processing unit (GPU) parallelization. We also focus on the mathematical convergence properties of the algorithm, showing that its unique solution is at the practical operational point. The proof is validated using numerical simulations showing the robustness of the FPI algorithm compared to the classical Newton–Raphson (NR) approach. In the case study, a benchmark with different PF solution methods is performed, showing that for applications requiring a yearly simulation at 1-minute resolution, the computation time is decreased by a factor of 164, compared to the NR in its sparse formulation. Finally, a set of applications is described, highlighting the potential of the proposed formulations over a wide range of analyses in distribution systems.

BackgroundDetailed subgroup incidence rates for steatotic liver disease (SLD)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are critical to inform practice and public health interventions but remain sparse. We aimed to fill in this gap.Methods and findingsIn a retrospective cohort study of adults with SLD from the United States (US) Merative Marketscan Research Databases (1/2007 to 12/2021), we estimated HCC incidence stratified by sex, age, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus (DM), and a combination of all these 4 factors. We excluded patients with significant alcohol use and chronic viral hepatitis. We analyzed data from 741,816 patients with SLD (mean age 51.5 ± 12.8 years, 46% male, 14.7% cirrhosis). During a 2,410,166 person-years (PY) follow-up, 1,740 patients developed HCC. The overall HCC incidence yielded 0.72 per 1,000 PY (95% confidence interval [CI, 0.68, 0.75]). The incidence was higher in males (0.95, 95% CI [0.89, 1.01]) compared to females (0.52, 95% CI [0.48, 0.56]) (p < 0.001). For those with cirrhosis, the incidence was significantly higher at 4.29 (95% CI [4.06, 4.51]) compared to those without cirrhosis (0.14, 95% CI [0.13, 0.16]) (p < 0.001). Additionally, the incidence was higher in patients with DM (1.19, 95% CI [1.12, 1.26]) compared to those without DM (0.41, 95% CI [0.38, 0.44]) (p < 0.001). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was also associated with a higher HCC incidence of 2.20 (95% CI [2.00, 2.41]) compared to those without CKD (0.58, 95% CI [0.55, 0.62]) (p < 0.001). Similarly, individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) had a higher HCC incidence of 1.89 (95% CI [1.75, 2.03]) compared to those without CVD (0.51, 95% CI [0.48, 0.54]) (p < 0.001). Finally, the incidence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with non-liver cancer (3.90, 95% CI [3.67, 4.12]) compared to those without other cancers (0.29, 95% CI [0.26, 0.31]) (p < 0.001). On further stratification, HCC incidence incrementally rose by 10-year age intervals, male sex, cirrhosis, and DM, reaching 19.06 (95% CI [16.10, 22.01]) and 8.44 (95% CI [6.78, 10.10]) in males and females, respectively, but only 0.04 for non-diabetic, noncirrhotic aged ConclusionsThis nationwide study provided robust granular estimates for SLD-related HCC incidence stratified by several key risk factors. In addition to cirrhosis, future surveillance strategies, prevention, public health initiatives, and future research models should also take into account the impact of sex, age, and DM.

Abstract Quality assessment of pome fruits (i.e. apples and pears) is used not only for determining the optimal harvest time but also for the progression of fruit‐quality attributes during storage. Therefore, it is typical to repeatedly evaluate fruits during the course of a postharvest experiment. This evaluation often includes careful visual assessments of fruit for apparent defects and physiological symptoms. A general best practice for quality assessment is to rate fruit using the same individual rater or group of individual raters to reduce bias. However, such consistency across labs, facilities, and experiments is often not feasible or attainable. Moreover, while these visual assessments are critical empirical data, they are often coarse‐grained and lack consistent objective criteria. Granny, is a tool designed for rating fruit using machine‐learning and image‐processing to address rater bias and improve resolution. Additionally, Granny supports backward compatibility by providing ratings compatible with long‐established standards and references, promoting research program continuity. Current Granny ratings include starch content assessment, rating levels of peel defects, and peel color analyses. Integrative analyses enhanced by Granny's improved resolution and reduced bias, such as linking fruit outcomes to global scale ‐omics data, environmental changes, and other quantitative fruit quality metrics like soluble solids content and flesh firmness, will further enrich our understanding of fruit quality dynamics. Lastly, Granny is open‐source and freely available.

Postdoctoral scholars (“postdocs”) occupy a distinct academic stage and therefore have unique career and professional development needs. We aimed to explore whether a cohort-based program could promote skill development, support career preparation, and facilitate community building among postdocs at our institution. We applied the design thinking process, commonly used in engineering and industrial design, to create a 4-month long leadership and project management program. Pre- and post-surveys with Likert-scale questions measured participants' self-confidence in and self-assessment of competencies related to leadership and project management (e.g., creating an inclusive environment, developing a project charter). Fourteen postdocs from STEM and humanities disciplines participated in the pilot program. Matched responses from participants indicated an 82% positive shift in leadership self-confidence (n = 11) and a 56% positive shift in project management self-confidence (n = 9). Postdocs also showed a positive shift in all 12 competencies related to leadership (n = 11), and a positive shift in nine of 10 competencies related to project management (n = 9). In the optional open-ended questions provided in the surveys, postdocs articulated that the cohort created an environment to share experiences, safely practice new skills, and discuss their career goals. Applying the principles of design thinking to develop a cohort-based professional development program resulted in participant learning gains and their feedback suggests that the program supported a greater sense of belonging. Administrators could use our approach to innovate programming that meets the professional and personal needs of postdocs at their institution.

BackgroundPatients with diabetes experience worse health outcomes and greater health care expenditure. Improving diabetes outcomes requires involved self-management. Peer coaching programs can help patients engage in self-management while addressing individual and structural barriers. These peer coaching programs can be scaled with digital platforms to efficiently connect patients with peer supporters who can help with diabetes self-management. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the implementation of a technology-enabled peer coaching intervention to support diabetes self-management among patients with uncontrolled diabetes. MethodsMetroPlusHealth, a predominant Medicaid health maintenance organization based in New York City, partnered with Pyx Health to enroll 300 Medicaid patients with uncontrolled diabetes into its 6-month peer coaching intervention. Pyx Health peer coaches conduct at least 2 evidence-based and goal-oriented coaching sessions per month with their assigned patients. These sessions are focused on addressing both behavioral and social determinants of health (SDoH) with the goal of helping patients increase their diabetes self-management literacy, implement self-management behaviors, and reduce barriers to ongoing self-care. Data analyzed in this study included patient demographic data, clinical data (patient’s hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]), and program implementation data including types of behavioral determinants of health and SDoH reported by patients and types of interventions used by peer coaches. ResultsA total of 330 patients enrolled in the peer mentoring program and 2118 patients were considered to be on a waitlist group and used as a comparator. Patients who enrolled in the peer coaching program were older; more likely to be English speakers, female, and African American; and less likely to be White or Asian American or Pacific Islander than those in the waitlist condition, and had similar HbA1c laboratory results at baseline (intervention group 10.59 vs waitlist condition 10.62) Patients in the enrolled group had on average a –1.37 point reduction in the HbA1c score (n=70; pre: 10.99, post 9.62; P

Despite the lack of consensus regarding the effects of different soils on wine flavour, the simplification of terroir to soil type has become increasingly common in wine marketing, particularly for German Riesling. To examine the effects of this strategy on sensory perception, twenty German Rieslings from four commonly marketed soil types (Buntsandstein, Löß, Muschelkalk, and Schiefer) were evaluated for aroma, taste, and mouthfeel attributes (rate-all-that-apply) by a panel of twenty wine experts, first without and then with each wine’s soil type given as an extrinsic informational cue. While ratings from the uninformed tastings suggest baseline differences among Rieslings from the various soils, the provision of soil type cues resulted in more extensive discrimination, particularly in terms of attributes related to minerality (earthy, chalky, marine, flinty, and salty). Soil type-dependent changes in ratings suggest distinct a priori conceptions for each soil shaped the panel’s expectations and differentially altered their perception, though further work is needed to determine whether nonexpert consumers would be similarly biased by these cues. For wine soil typing to be a viable marketing strategy, a well-defined “image” of each soil would need to be communicated to consumers, to ensure their expectations are set to trigger perception of the desired sensory properties.