bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SNAIL driven by a feed forward loop motif promotes TGFβ induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Authors: Bhavani Gottumukkala Sai , Palanisamy Anbumathi
Published: June 2022

Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) plays an important role in tissue regeneration, embryonic development, and cancer metastasis. Several signaling pathways are known to regulate EMT, among which the modulation of TGFβ (Transforming Growth Factor-β) induced EMT is crucial in several cancer types. Several mathematical models were built to explore the role of core regulatory circuit of ZEB/miR-200, SNAIL/miR-34 double negative feedback loops in modulating TGFβ induced EMT. Different emergent behavior including tristability, irreversible switching, existence of hybrid EMT states were inferred though these models. Some studies have explored the role of TGFβ receptor activation, SMADs nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and complex formation. Recent experiments have revealed that MDM2 along with SMAD complex regulates SNAIL expression driven EMT. Encouraged by this, in the present study we developed a mathematical model for p53/MDM2 dependent TGFβ induced EMT regulation. Inclusion of p53 brings in an additional mechanistic perspective in exploring the EM transition. The network formulated comprises a C1FFL moderating SNAIL expression involving MDM2 and SMAD complex, which functions as a noise filter and persistent detector. The C1FFL was also observed to operate as a coincidence detector driving the SNAIL dependent downstream signaling into phenotypic switching decision. Systems modelling and analysis of the devised network, displayed interesting dynamic behavior, systems response to various inputs stimulus, providing a better understanding of p53/MDM2 dependent TGF-β induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition.
Elemental and proximate analysis of coal by x-ray fluorescence assisted laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Authors: TIAN Zhihui , LI Xiaolin , WANG Gang , ZHANG Lei , LI Jiaxuan , WANG Shuqing , BAI Yu , ZHANG Wanfei , YUE Han , MA Xiaofei , YIN Wangbao , JIA Suotang
Published: June 2022

Although laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), as a fast on-line analysis technology, has great potential and competitiveness in the analysis of chemical composition and proximate analysis results of coal in thermal power plants, the measurement repeatability of LIBS needs to be further improved due to the difficulty in controlling the stability of the generated plasmas at present. In this paper, we propose a novel x-ray fluorescence (XRF) assisted LIBS method for high repeatability analysis of coal quality, which not only inherits the ability of LIBS to directly analyze organic elements such as C and H in coal, but also uses XRF to make up for the lack of stability of LIBS in determining other inorganic ash-forming elements. With the combination of elemental lines in LIBS and XRF spectra, the principal component analysis and the partial least squares are used to establish the prediction model and perform multi-elemental and proximate analysis of coal. Quantitative analysis results show that the relative standard deviation (RSD) of C is 0.15%, the RSDs of other elements are less than 4%, and the standard deviations of calorific value, ash content, sulfur content and volatile matter are 0.11 MJ kg−1, 0.17%, 0.79% and 0.41% respectively, indicating that the method has good repeatability in determination of coal quality. This work is helpful to accelerate the development of LIBS in the field of rapid measurement of coal entering the power plant and on-line monitoring of coal entering the furnace.
An equivalent model of discharge instability in the discharge chamber of Kaufman ion thruster
Authors: TIAN Feng , XIE Kan , MIAO Long , LIANG Fuwen , SONG Jiahui , BAI Song , WANG Ningfei
Published: June 2022

The industrial application of the Kaufman ion thruster in its arc stage is limited owing to the instability of the discharge pulse. Presently, a complete prediction model that can predict the discharge pulse in the high-current stage does not exist. In this study, a complete prediction model for the pulse in the ion thruster is established using the zero-dimensional plasma discharge model and equivalent circuit model. The zero-dimensional plasma discharge model is used to obtain the corresponding plasma parameters by calculating the beam current, discharge current, voltage, and gas flow under actual working conditions. The input parameters of the equivalent circuit model are calculated using empirical formulae to acquire the estimated discharge waveforms. The pulse waveforms obtained using the model are found to be consistent with the experimental results. The model is used to evaluate the process of rapid changes in plasma density. Additionally, this model is employed to predict changes in the pulse waveforms when the volume of the discharge chamber and grid plate transmittance are changed.
Pushing the limits of existing plasma focus towards 1016 fusion neutrons with Q = 0.01
Authors: LEE Sing
Published: June 2022

Existing conventional megajoule plasma focus machines with 2–3 MA are producing fusion neutron yields of several times 1011 in deuterium operation, the fusion yields predominantly being the beam-gas target. Increasing the current to 10 MA and using 50%–50% D-T mixture will scale the neutron yield towards 1016 D-T fusion neutrons. In this work, we derive the Lawson criterion for plasma focus devices with a beam-target fusion neutron mechanism, so that we may glimpse what future technological advancements are needed for a break-even Q = 1 plasma focus. We perform numerical experiments with a present-day feasible 0.9 MV, 8.1 MJ, 11 MA machine operating in 100 Torr in 50%–50% D-T mixture. The Lee Code simulation gives a detailed description of the plasma focus dynamics through each phase, and provides plasma and yield parameters which show that out of 1.1 × 1019 fast beam ions produced in the plasma focus pinch, only 1.24 × 1014 ions take part in beam-target fusion reactions within the pinch, producing the same number of D-T neutrons. The remnant beam ions, numbering at least 1019, exit the focus pinch at 1.9 MeV, which is far above the 115 keV ion energy necessary for an optimum beam-target cross-section. We propose to regain the lost fusion rates by using a high-pressure D-T-filled drift-tube to attenuate the energy of the remnant beam ions until they reach the energy for the optimum fusion cross-section. Such a fusion enhancement tube would further harvest beam-target fusion reactions by increasing the interaction path length (1 m) at increased interaction density (6 atm). A gain factor of 300 is conservatively estimated, with a final yield of 3.7 × 1016 D-T neutrons carrying kinetic energy of 83.6 kJ, demonstrating Q = 0.01.
A review on recent advancements in solid state lithium–sulfur batteries: fundamentals, challenges, and perspectives
Authors: Deshmukh Ashvini , Thripuranthaka M , Chaturvedi Vikash , Das Anoushka K , Shelke Vilas , Shelke Manjusha V
Published: June 2022

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries (LSBs) have recently attracted extensive attention in the energy storage sector due to their very high theoretical energy density, and low cost of active materials compared to the state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. Despite recent progress in both the electrode and electrolyte materials and fundamental understanding the practical use of conventional LSBs is still hindered by their safety concerns and poor cycling performance. Solid-state LSBs (SSLSBs) have great potential to surmount these challenges. This review describes the basic requirements of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) and the fundamental understanding of solid electrolytes by addressing the key issues in the areas of ion transport. We emphasize recent advances in various SSEs used in SSLSBs. We also address the challenges and plausible solutions, involving improved designs and compositions of SSEs, electrode materials, and electrode–electrolyte interfaces. Even though several technological and fundamental issues still need to be solved to develop commercially viable technologies, SSLSBs offer a great opportunity to deal with the present limitations.
Predicting the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich field using modular and equivariant set-based neural networks
Authors: Thiele Leander , Cranmer Miles , Coulton William , Ho Shirley , Spergel David N
Published: June 2022

Theoretical uncertainty limits our ability to extract cosmological information from baryonic fields such as the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (tSZ) effect. Being sourced by the electron pressure field, the tSZ effect depends on baryonic physics that is usually modeled by expensive hydrodynamic simulations. We train neural networks on the IllustrisTNG-300 cosmological simulation to predict the continuous electron pressure field in galaxy clusters from gravity-only simulations. Modeling clusters is challenging for neural networks as most of the gas pressure is concentrated in a handful of voxels and even the largest hydrodynamical simulations contain only a few hundred clusters that can be used for training. Instead of conventional convolutional neural net (CNN) architectures, we choose to employ a rotationally equivariant DeepSets architecture to operate directly on the set of dark matter particles. We argue that set-based architectures provide distinct advantages over CNNs. For example, we can enforce exact rotational and permutation equivariance, incorporate existing knowledge on the tSZ field, and work with sparse fields as are standard in cosmology. We compose our architecture with separate, physically meaningful modules, making it amenable to interpretation. For example, we can separately study the influence of local and cluster-scale environment, determine that cluster triaxiality has negligible impact, and train a module that corrects for mis-centering. Our model improves by

70
%

on analytic profiles fit to the same simulation data. We argue that the electron pressure field, viewed as a function of a gravity-only simulation, has inherent stochasticity, and model this property through a conditional-VAE extension to the network. This modification yields further improvement by

7
%

, it is limited by our small training set however. We envision that our method will prove useful in problems beyond the specific one considered here
5

5

We make our code publicly available at this URL. Data products, trained models, and hyperparameter SQL databases will be shared upon reasonable request.

.
Large-scale variation in phytoplankton community composition of >1000 lakes across the USA
Authors: Verspagen Jolanda M H , Ji Xing , Liu Quan-Xing , Huisman Jef
Published: June 2022

Although environmental impacts on the biodiversity and species composition of lakes have been studied in great detail at local and regional scales, unraveling the big picture of how lake communities respond to environmental variation across large spatial scales has received less attention. We performed a comprehensive analysis to assess how the phytoplankton community composition varies among >1000 lakes across the conterminous United States of America. Our results show that lake-to-lake similarity in species composition was low even at the local scale, and slightly decreased with geographical distance. Analysis of the compositional data by Dirichlet regression revealed that the geographical variation in phytoplankton community composition was best explained by total phosphorus (TP), water temperature, pH, and lake size. High TP concentrations were associated with high relative abundances of cyanobacteria and euglenophytes at the expense of other phytoplankton groups. High lake temperatures stimulated cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates, desmids and euglenophytes, whereas cryptophytes, golden algae and diatoms were relatively more abundant in colder lakes. Low lake pH correlated with high dissolved CO2concentrations, which may explain why it benefitted phytoplankton groups with inefficient carbon concentrating mechanisms such as golden algae and euglenophytes. Conversely, the relative abundance of cyanobacteria showed a pronounced increase with lake pH. Large lakes showed higher relative abundances of cyanobacteria and diatoms, whereas small lakes showed higher relative abundances of chlorophytes, desmids and euglenophytes. Biodiversity increased with lake temperature, but decreased at high TP concentrations and pH. The key environmental variables identified by our study (high phosphorus loads, warm temperature, low pH) are associated with anthropogenic pressures such as eutrophication, global warming and rising atmospheric CO2concentration. Hence, our results provide a comprehensive illustration of the major impact of these anthropogenic pressures on the biodiversity and taxonomic composition of lake phytoplankton communities.
A note on convergence of noncompact nonsingular solutions of the Ricci flow
Authors: Zhang Qi
Published: June 2022

We extend some convergence results on nonsingular compact Ricci flows in the papers by Hamilton [Comm. Anal. Geom. 7 (1999), pp. 695–729], Sesum [Math. Res. Lett. 12 (2005), pp. 623–632] and Fang, Zhang, and Zhang [J. Geom. Anal. 20 (2010), pp. 592–608] to certain infinite volume noncompact cases which are “partially” nonsingular. As an application, for a finite time singularity which is partially type I, it is shown that a blow up limit is a gradient shrinking soliton.
Counterclaims and legitimacy in investment treaty arbitration
Authors: Trinel Paul E
Published: June 2022

Investor-State dispute resolution (ISDS) is currently facing a crisis of legitimacy, notably because of its perceived asymmetry as well as the difficulties it is faced with when trying to reconcile investor rights with human rights. This article wishes to explore the possibility for respondent States to present counterclaims to investment arbitral tribunals as a way of dealing with these criticisms. Even though some rare awards have entertained them favourably, the majority of arbitral tribunals have declined to hear counterclaims. The author, therefore, examines the obstacles existing in investment case law to the admissibility of counterclaims, both from a procedural as well as from a substantive point of view. The analysis then focuses on the beneficial and adverse consequences that would stem from the hypothetical adoption of a set of rules more favorable to the filing of counterclaims by respondent States in investment arbitration. The essay concludes that such an adoption would be warranted and reinstitute a measure of procedural fairness in a framework that has been suffering from a perception of imbalance and a lack of legitimacy.
scCNC: a method based on capsule network for clustering scRNA-seq data
Authors: Wang Hai-Yun , Zhao Jian-Ping , Zheng Chun-Hou , Su Yan-Sen
Published: June 2022

Motivation

A large number of studies have shown that clustering is a crucial step in scRNA-seq analysis. Most existing methods are based on unsupervised learning without the prior exploitation of any domain knowledge, which does not utilize available gold-standard labels. When confronted by the high dimensionality and general dropout events of scRNA-seq data, purely unsupervised clustering methods may not produce biologically interpretable clusters, which complicate cell type assignment.

Results

In this article, we propose a semi-supervised clustering method based on a capsule network named scCNC that integrates domain knowledge into the clustering step. Significantly, we also propose a Semi-supervised Greedy Iterative Training method used to train the whole network. Experiments on some real scRNA-seq datasets show that scCNC can significantly improve clustering performance and facilitate downstream analyses.

Availability and implementation

The source code of scCNC is freely available at https://github.com/WHY-17/scCNC.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Progress in modern reproductive biology research in China
Authors: Zhou Qi
Published: June 2022

Reproductive biology is closely associated with human health and social progress. Modern reproductive biology research in China began in the 1930s. Advances in science, technology, government support, and international collaborations spawned the rapid growth of reproductive biology research in China. While the development of reproductive biology has provided both theoretical knowledge and applicable technologies, it has also generated new social and ethical concerns. This review summarizes and highlights the contributions of modern reproductive biology research in China, with a specific focus on aspects that are most related to human reproduction and health.
Effect of kidney replacement therapy modality after first kidney graft failure on second kidney transplantation outcomes
Authors: Couceiro Carlos , Rama Inés , Comas Jordi , Montero Núria , Manonelles Anna , Codina Sergi , Favà Alexandre , Melilli Edoardo , Coloma Ana , Quero Maria , Tort Jaume , Cruzado Josep M
Published: June 2022

Background

There is a lack of information regarding which is the best dialysis technique after kidney transplant (KT) failure. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of kidney replacement therapy modality-peritoneal dialysis (TX-PD-TX), haemodialysis (TX-HD-TX) and preemptive deceased donor retransplantation (TX-TX) on patient survival and second KT outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective observational study from the Catalan Renal Registry was carried out. We included adult patients with failing of their first KT from 2000 to 2018.

Results

Among 2045 patients, 1829 started on HD (89.4%), 168 on PD (8.2%) and 48 (2.4%) received a preemptive KT. Non-inclusion on the KT waiting list and HD were associated with worse patient survival. For patients included on the waiting list, the probability of human leucocyte antigens (HLA) sensitization and to receive a second KT was similar in HD and PD. A total of 776 patients received a second KT (38%), 656 in TX-HD-TX, 72 in TX-PD-TX and 48 in TX-TX groups. Adjusted mortality after second KT was higher in TX-HD-TX patients compared with TX-TX and TX-PD-TX groups, without differences between TX-TX and TX-PD-TX groups. Death-censored second graft survival was similar in all three groups.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that after first KT failure, PD is superior to HD in reducing mortality in candidates for a second KT without options for preemptive retransplantation.
Prognostic impact of late gadolinium enhancement at the right ventricular insertion points in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Claver Eduard , Di Marco Andrea , Brown Pamela Frances , Bradley Joshua , Nucifora Gaetano , Ruiz-Majoral Alejandro , Dallaglio Paolo Domenico , Rodriguez Marcos , Comin-Colet Josep , Anguera Ignasi , Miller Christopher A , Schmitt Matthias
Published: June 2022

Aims

To evaluate the baseline characteristics and the prognostic implications associated with late gadolinium enhancement limited to the right ventricular insertion points (IP-LGE) or present at both the right ventricular insertion points and the left ventricle (IP&LV-LGE) in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods and results

This is a retrospective observational multicentre cohort study including 1165 consecutive patients with DCM evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance. The primary endpoint included appropriate defibrillator therapies, sustained ventricular tachycardia, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or sudden death. The secondary outcome encompassed heart failure hospitalizations, heart transplant, left ventricular assist device implantation, and end-stage heart failure death. IP-LGE was found in 72 patients (6%), who had clinical characteristics closer to LGE− than to LGE+ patients. During follow-up (median 36 months), none of the IP-LGE patients experienced the primary endpoint. The cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint was similar between IP-LGE and LGE− patients (P = 1), while IP-LGE had significantly lower cumulative incidence when compared with LGE+ patients (P < 0.001). When compared with IP-LGE patients, the cumulative incidence of the secondary endpoint was similar in LGE− cases (P = 0.86) but tended to be higher in LGE+ patients (P = 0.06). Both clinical characteristics and outcomes were similar between IP&LV-LGE patients and the rest of LGE+ cases.

Conclusions

In a large cohort of DCM patients, IP-LGE was associated with similar outcome when compared with LGE− patients and with significant lower risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death when compared with LGE+ cases. Patients with IP&LV-LGE had clinical characteristics and outcomes similar to the rest of LGE+ cases.
Exploring the socioeconomic disparities of maternal body mass index: a national study in France
Authors: Saurel-Cubizolles Marie-Josèphe , Azria Elie , Blondel Béatrice , Regnault Nolwenn , Deneux-Tharaux Catherine
Published: June 2022

Background

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in various countries. Normal weight before pregnancy is important to protect maternal and newborn health. This study aimed to describe the evolution of body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy in France and explore its association with two measures of socioeconomic status (SES), education and household income.

Methods

Data were from four national perinatal surveys in France in 1998, 2003, 2010 and 2016 to describe the time evolution of maternal BMI. We explored the links between BMI and women’s characteristics in the most recent period (2010–2016 surveys) since income information was not available before. Risk ratios (RRs) of underweight, overweight and obesity for each measure of SES were computed by using multivariable Poisson regression models.

Results

Overweight and obesity prevalence increased between 1998 and 2016, from 6% to 12% for obesity. Both were inversely associated with SES (higher prevalence among least educated and poorest women), with strong variations for each social indicator, even in multivariable analyses including both. Combining education and income revealed a wide gradient; RR for obesity was 6.01 (95% confidence interval 4.89–7.38) with low education and income <2000 euros/month vs. high education and income ≥4000 euros/month.

Conclusions

Public policies must implement programs to limit the increase in overweight and its unequal distribution in the population, alongside other policies to address the societal determinants of the obesogenic environment. Health professionals need to advise women to improve their eating and physical activity to limit weight gain from childhood to early adulthood.
Transanal total mesorectal excision combined with intersphincteric resection has similar long-term oncological outcomes to laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection in low rectal cancer: a propensity score-matched cohort study
Authors: Liu Zhi-Hang , Zeng Zi-Wei , Jie Hai-Qing , Huang Liang , Luo Shuang-Ling , Liang Wen-Feng , Zhang Xing-Wei , Kang Liang
Published: June 2022

Background

Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) or intersphincteric resection (ISR) has recently proven to be a valid and safe surgical procedure for low rectal cancer. However, studies focusing on the combination of these two technologies are limited. This study aimed to evaluate perioperative results, long-term oncologic outcomes, and anorectal functions of patients with low rectal cancer undergoing taTME combined with ISR, by comparing with those of patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (laAPR).

Methods

After 1:1 propensity score matching, 200 patients with low rectal cancer who underwent laAPR (n = 100) or taTME combined with ISR (n = 100) between September 2013 and November 2019 were included. Patient demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, oncological outcomes, and anal functional results were analysed.

Results

Patients in the taTME-combined-with-ISR group had less intraoperative blood loss (79.6 ± 72.6 vs 107.3 ± 65.1 mL, P = 0.005) and a lower rate of post-operative complications (22.0% vs 44.0%, P < 0.001) than those in the laAPR group. The overall local recurrence rates were 7.0% in both groups within 3 years after surgery. The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 86.3% in the taTME-combined-with-ISR group and 75.1% in the laAPR group (P = 0.056), while the 3-year overall survival rates were 96.7% and 94.2%, respectively (P = 0.319). There were 39 patients (45.3%) in the taTME-combined-with-ISR group who developed major low anterior resection syndrome, whereas 61 patients (70.9%) had good post-operative anal function (Wexner incontinence score ≤ 10).

Conclusion

We found similar long-term oncological outcomes for patients with low rectal cancer undergoing laAPR and those undergoing taTME combined with ISR. Patients receiving taTME combined with ISR had acceptable post-operative anorectal function.
Systematic evaluation of oxygen isotopes in cephalopod statoliths as thermal proxies
Authors: Martino Jasmin C , Chung Ming-Tsung , Chiang Chun-I , Wang Chia-Hui , Shirai Kotaro , Doubleday Zoë A
Published: June 2022

Temperature histories are critical for understanding and predicting ecological functioning in marine systems. Stable oxygen isotopes (δ18O) locked within calcified tissues can uncover experienced temperatures of marine animals, but have been little evaluated in the statoliths of cephalopods. As such, we investigated field applications of oxygen isotope ratios in statoliths (δ18Ostatoliths) for reconstructing the thermal histories of cuttlefish, octopus, and squid. In doing so, we collated measured (instrumental and modelled) temperature and salinity data, alongside δ18Ostatoliths data, of ocean-caught species from Taiwan and Australia. To navigate potential species-bias or “vital effects,” two aragonite-specific thermometry equations were compared, whilst simulation modelling evaluated variation and addressed uncertainties. Linear regressions identified environmental and biological influences on the differences between measured and reconstructed temperatures. Variable trends in temperature reconstructions were observed between taxa, which may be due to ecological traits. For squid, the relationship was highly aligned with no significant model predictors. For cuttlefish and octopus, differences between measured and reconstructed temperatures increased in warmer conditions, and may indicate thermoregulation behaviour. Here, we demonstrate that δ18Ostatoliths values can function as natural proxies of ocean temperature and are an invaluable tool for broadening the field of thermal ecology for the important, yet understudied, cephalopods.
Impacts of Financial Assistance on Quality of Life Among People Living With Burn Injury: Matched Cohort Analysis of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research Burn Model System Database
Authors: Martz Flora , McMullen Kara A , Carrougher Gretchen J , Bunnell Aaron , Sheckter Clifford C , Wolf Steven E , Schneider Jeffrey C , Stewart Barclay T
Published: June 2022

Disparities in socioeconomic status and minority status affect the risk of burn injury and the severity of that injury, thus affecting the subsequent cost of care. We aimed to characterize the demographic details surrounding receipt of financial assistance due to burn injury and its relationship with health-related quality of life scores. Participants ≥18 from Burn Model System National Longitudinal Database (BMS) with complete demographic data were included (n = 4330). Nonresponders to financial assistance questions were analyzed separately. The remaining sample (n = 1255) was divided into participants who received financial assistance because of burn injury, those who received no financial assistance, and those who received financial assistance before injury and as a result of injury. A demographic and injury-characteristic comparison was conducted. Health-related quality of life metrics (Satisfaction with Life, Short Form-12/Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey, Community Integration Questionnaire Social Component, and the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory) were analyzed preinjury, then 6-months, 1-year, and 2-years postinjury. A matched cohort analysis compared these scores. When compared to their no financial assistance counterparts, participants receiving financial assistance due to burns were more likely to be minorities (19% vs 14%), have more severe injuries (%TBSA burn 21% vs 10%), and receive workers’ compensation (24% vs 9%). They also had lower health-related quality of life scores on all metrics except the post-traumatic growth inventory. Financial assistance may aid in combating disparities in posttraumatic growth scores for participants at the greatest risk of financial toxicity but does not improve other health-related quality of life metrics.
#54 Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Among Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant (SOT) Recipients: Preliminary Results from a Multi-Site U.S. Study.
Authors: Ross Hailey S
Published: June 2022

Background

RSV is the most common lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) among children. Serious adverse outcomes are more likely among immunocompromised patients, including progression to pneumonia, respiratory failure, and increased mortality rates. We present interim analyses results from a secondary data use multi-site study to characterize the morbidity and mortality associated with RSV infection among pediatric SOT patients.

Method

Pediatric (< 18 years old at transplant) SOT recipients from 10 U.S. transplant centers from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Transplant Network (PIDTRAN) who underwent SOT between 2010 and 2019 and were RSV positive within 365 days of SOT were identified from medical records. Demographics, underlying condition, and clinical characteristics were abstracted and entered in an electronic REDCap survey. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the clinical course and outcomes of RSV infection.

Results

In total, 40 SOT patients were eligible for analysis with 40 (93%) reporting 1 case of RSV within 365 days of transplant and 3 (7%) reported 2 episodes resulting in 43 RSV episodes. Over half (24, 60%) were male, 24 (60%) were white/Caucasian, with a median age of 2 years at the time of RSV diagnosis. The majority received 1 SOT (80%) prior to RSV diagnosis. The most common transplanted organ was liver 17 (42%) followed by heart 14 (36%) and kidney 9 (22%). Among the 43 episodes reported, almost half (46.5%) were diagnosed with LRTI at the time of RSV diagnosis and 29 (67.4%) required hospitalization. Among the 43 episodes, none received palivizumab and 1 (2.3%) received IVIG in the 4 weeks prior to RSV diagnosis. Nearly half (21, 48.8%) received oxygen support at least 4 hours per day (at least one day) with 3 (15%) requiring ventilator support. Only 2 (5%) were treated with ribavirin while 3 (7%) received IVIG within 28 days for the treatment of RSV. None received palivizumab within 28 days of diagnosis for RSV treatment. Among those who initially presented with upper respiratory tract infection, 2 (10%) progressed to LRTI after initial diagnosis of a URTI. One (2.4%) death related to RSV was reported.

Conclusion

Preliminary results from this continuing multi-site study demonstrate RSV is an ongoing concern among SOT recipients with approximately half developing LRTI and two thirds requiring hospitalization. These data help our understanding of RSV infections in this population and inform future prospective study designs to better define RSV risk as well as help address optimal prophylaxis and treatment strategies for SOT recipients at risk for severe illness.
#29 Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and Associated Complications in Children Aged 0-3 Years in Two Urban Multiethnic Community Hospitals
Authors: Ruiz Holgado Maria Celeste
Published: June 2022

Background

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) include cellulitis and abscess. Cellulitis is an infection of the deep dermis and an abscess is a collection of pus within the dermis and subcutaneous space. Complications of SSTI include bacteremia, lymphadenitis, endocarditis, septic arthritis or osteomyelitis, metastatic infection, sepsis, and toxic shock syndrome. There are no studies evaluating SSTI and complications and outcomes in children aged 0-3 years.

Method

This is a retrospective chart review of SSTI in children aged 0-3 years in Flushing Hospital Medical Center and Jamaica Hospital Medical Center between Jan 2015 and Oct 2021. Data extracted from EHR include demographics (age, gender, ethnicity), clinical presentation, laboratory studies, imaging studies, antibiotic used, treatment course, complications and length of stay (LOS). Data were analyzed using percentages.

Results

Of 206 patients admitted for SSTI, about a half (48%) were abscesses, less than half (44%) cellulitis, few impetigo (6%) and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (2%). Most were male (52%), Hispanic (70%) and Asian (26%). A fifth (18%) had previous SSTI and a tenth (8%) had a positive family history. Of a third (36%) who had imaging studies, three quarters (76%) had an ultrasound, less than a half (44%) confirmed an abscess and less than a third (29%) soft tissue infection. Almost all (94%) had a blood culture and most a wound culture (59%). Of the positive blood cultures (4%), majority (78%) were contaminants or normal skin flora and remainder (22%) Staphylococcus aureus. Of the positive wound cultures, most (86%) were Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) was equal to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (44% vs 43%). Of the 11% having complications, the most common was lymphadenitis (6%). Clindamycin was the antibiotic of choice in most (70%) and 14% required a change in antibiotic due to susceptibility pattern. The median LOS was 3 days.

Conclusion

The most common SSTI in children aged 0-3 years is abscess and cellulitis. The yield of blood cultures is low. The prevalence of MRSA was equal to MSSA. Knowing the low prevalence of complications in children with SSTI, healthcare providers can provide appropriate antibiotic coverage and disposition for SSTI in our community.
#37 Human Toxocariasis: eleven-year experience in a tertiary-care level pediatric hospital in Mexico City
Authors: Vargas-Vazquez Tania Maria
Published: June 2022

Background

In Mexico, human toxocariasis is not subject to continuous epidemiological surveillance. However, some studies that report seroprevalence show a significant association between larva migrans (LM) and pediatric cases (OR 3.2; IC95 2.541-4.279). Data is scarce about infection in animal reservoirs, more specifically dogs, in which there are reports of a 12-18% positivity rate. As for the role of the environment there is evidence to support high contamination levels. Most symptomatic pediatric patients develop ocular presentations that can lead to permanent vision loss, and diagnosis becomes a challenge because serological markers and peripheral eosinophilia can be absent.

Method

A retrospective, transverse, descriptive study including 17 patients with diagnosis of toxocariasis according to electronic medical records. For categoric variables, frequencies and percentages were analyzed and for discrete variables median and ranges were calculated.

Results

Nine patients (52.9%) presented with ocular LM of which, 55.6% were female with a median age of 5 years at diagnosis (IQR=9). 44.4% came from the coastal state of Veracruz and 88.9% had close contact with either dogs or cats. Two patients presented with eosinophilia and only one had positive anti-Toxocara antibodies at 2.12 OD. Under suspicion of retinoblastoma, two patients underwent enucleation and diagnosis was made with pathology findings. Eight patients (47.1%) presented with visceral LM of which, 62.5% were female with a median age of 7.5 years at diagnosis (IQR=12). 62.5% of them had close contact with either dogs or cats. In this case, all patients had history of peripheral eosinophilia but it was only in 75% that it was corroborated during initial workup at our institution ranging between 500-9400 cells/mm3 and all of them had positive antibodies that ranged between 1.02-3.2 OD. Five patients received oral treatment with albendazole for 3-7 days.

Conclusion

Human toxocariasis is a neglected parasitic disease with scarce published data. Pediatric patients are an important vulnerable group specially for ocular presentations. The differential diagnosis of leukochoria should always include retinoblastoma, but as shown in this study, also ocular LM. As new approaches to global health move towards prevention, our study can set a precedent in order to standardize patient care and resource allocation.
#39 Impact Of Covid-19 Pandemi On Mortality Profile Of Pediatric Oncology Patient In Referral Hospital
Authors: Adrizain Riyadi
Published: June 2022

Background

cancer patients are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and more likely to have higher morbidity and mortality than the general population, While cancer it self is still the main cause of death in children around the world, In countries with limited health facilities, that might cause delayed of seeking treatment, cancer death rate in children could reach 90%, this condition would become bigger in the pandemic condition expecially in hospital that appointed as a referral hospital for COVID-19 but also tertiary hospital for hematology and oncology cases. The aim of the study was to describe is there any differences mortality profile of pediatric oncology patient before and during COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

: we collected data pediatric oncology patient aged 1 to 18 years that admitted to Hasan Sadikin General Hospital from Hospital Information Systems, IP-CAR, and Waiting List of Oncology Ward Hospital Admission, data conducted to differentiate between Admission Rate, New case Diagnosis and abandonment rate before and during COVID-19 pandemic. Mortality data and what might caused it also collected after audited by experts from Hasan Sadikin General Hospital.

Results

There were 87 death cases from January to Desember 2021 when pandemi has already happened, Acute lymphoblastic leukemia still the main oncology diagnosis for those cases (33%), most of the death cases was caused by septic Shock ((24%), the second leading caused was covid 19 (8%). We also found in our research there was a significantly increased rate of treatment abandonment from 1.1% before to 17% during COVID-19 pandemic. This may pose risk for the patients involved, not only cause treatment failure, increased toxicity or complications.

Conclusion

Pandemic COVID-19 increased abandonment rate that could impact the general condition of oncology patient, that might indirectly related to mortality rate. While infection as the leading causes of death before and after pandemic remain the same but the distinction was the COVID-19 as a second most caused of death. Optimal efforts should be made to avoid abandonment and prevent the occurrence of infection
Prostate cancer metastasis mimicking a primary urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
Authors: Spazzapan Martina , Ahmed Momen Sid , Tasleem Ali , Nkwam Nkwam
Published: June 2022

We report on a 79-year-old male patient who presented with asymptomatic elevation of prostate-specific antigen and a concurrent papillary lesion, which raised the suspicion of synchronous bladder and prostatic malignancies. He underwent a trans-perineal prostate biopsy as well as transurethral resection of bladder tumour, which revealed a Gleason 9 adenocarcinoma of prostatic origin. While synchronous bladder and prostate cancer is a possibility, differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with lesions of the bladder neck should include advanced prostate cancer.
Monkeypox 2022 outbreak: cases with exclusive genital lesions
Authors: Davido Benjamin , D’anglejan Emma , Jourdan Juliette , Robinault Amelie , Davido Guillaume
Published: June 2022

Description of the monkeypox 2022 outbreak is essentially based on historical cases mostly observed locally in Africa, but also from rare imported cases in four countries elsewhere, before the 2022 outbreak. This orthopoxvirus outbreak appears to be particularly well transmitted sexually possibly due to the high prevalence of genital lesions.
Single-cell atlas of multilineage cardiac organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Zhang Fengzhi , Qiu Hui , Dong Xiaohui , Zhang Xiaoyan , Wang Chunlan , Li Xin , Zhang Xingwu , Na Jie , Zhou Jin , Wang Changyong
Published: June 2022

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac organoids can be used to model human heart development and cardiovascular disease, and provide therapeutic cells to repair the heart. We used single-cell transcriptome analysis to dissect the development of 3D mini-cardiac organoids (MCOs) consisting of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, and endothelial and smooth muscle cells. We found that the 3D matrix-rich microenvironment significantly promoted the maturation of cardiomyocytes, and mixing endothelial and smooth muscle cells with cardiomyocytes led to the formation of cardiac fibroblast highly expressing DLK1. Modulation of DLK1 signaling affected immunomodulatory gene expression in 2D cultured cardiomyocytes. Transplantation of multilineage MCO into a rat model of myocardial infarction significantly improved cardiac function and reduced fibrosis in the infarcted area. Our single-cell analysis of MCO provided rich information about cell state and fate dynamics in the 3D multilineage microenvironment and brought new insight into the molecular mechanism that promotes cardiomyocyte maturation and heart repair.
The ultradiffuse galaxy AGC 114905 needs dark matter
Authors: Sellwood J A , Sanders R H
Published: June 2022

Recent 21 cm line observations of the ultradiffuse galaxy AGC 114905 indicate a rotating disc largely supported against gravity by orbital motion, as usual. Remarkably, this study has revealed that the form and amplitude of the H i rotation curve are completely accounted for by the observed distribution of baryonic matter, stars, and neutral gas, implying that no dark halo is required. It is surprising to find a dark matter (DM)-free galaxy for a number of reasons, one being that a bare Newtonian disc having low velocity dispersion would be expected to be unstable to both axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric perturbations that would change the structure of the disc on a dynamical time-scale, as has been known for decades. We present N-body simulations of the DM-free model, and one having a low-density DM halo, that confirm this expectation: the disc is chronically unstable to just such instabilities. Since it is unlikely that a galaxy that is observed to have a near-regular velocity pattern would be unstable, our finding calls into question the suggestion that the galaxy may lack, or have little, DM. We also show that if the inclination of this near face-on system has been substantially overestimated, the consequent increased amplitude of the rotation curve would accommodate a halo massive enough for the galaxy to be stable.
Detailed properties of gravitational-wave mergers from flyby perturbations of wide binary black holes in the field
Authors: Raveh Yael , Michaely Erez , Perets Hagai B
Published: June 2022

Wide black hole binaries (wide-BBHs; ≥103 au) in the field can be perturbed by random stellar flybys that excite their eccentricities. Once a wide binary is driven to a sufficiently small pericentre approach, gravitational wave (GW) emission becomes significant, and the binary inspirals and merges. In our previous study, using simplified models for wide-BBHs, we found that successive flybys lead to significant merger fractions of wide-BBHs in less than Hubble time, making the flyby perturbation mechanism a relevant contributor to the production rate of GW-sources. However, the exact rates and detailed properties of the resulting GW sources depend on the wide binary progenitors. In this paper, we use detailed population synthesis models for the initial wide-BBH population, considering several populations corresponding to different natal-kick models and metallicities, and then follow the wide-BBHs evolution due to flyby perturbations and GW-emission. We show that the cumulative effect of flybys is conducive for the production of GW sources in non-negligible rates of 1−20 Gpc−3 yr−1, which are sensitive to the natal kicks model. Such rates are relevant to the observationally inferred rate. Our models, now derived from detailed population of binaries, provide detailed properties of the produced GW-sources, including mass-functions and delay times. The observational signatures from this channel include circular orbits in aLIGO band; preference for high-velocity dispersion host galaxies (in particular ellipticals); relatively uniform delay-time distribution; and, likely, mild – i.e. less than isolated evolution channels and more than dynamical channels – spin–spin and spin–orbit alignments.
Multiphase turbulence in galactic haloes: effect of the driving
Authors: Mohapatra Rajsekhar , Federrath Christoph , Sharma Prateek
Published: June 2022

Supernova explosions, active galactic nuclei jets, galaxy–galaxy interactions, and cluster mergers can drive turbulence in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) and the intracluster medium (ICM). However, the exact nature of turbulence forced by these sources and its impact on the different statistical properties of the CGM/ICM and their global thermodynamics is still unclear. To investigate the effects of different types of forcing, we conduct high-resolution (10083 resolution elements) idealized hydrodynamic simulations with purely solenoidal (divergence-free) forcing, purely compressive (curl-free) forcing, and natural mixture forcing (equal fractions of the two components). The simulations also include radiative cooling. We study the impact of the three different forcing modes (sol, comp, and mix) on the morphology of the gas, its temperature and density distributions, sources and sinks of enstrophy, i.e. solenoidal motions, as well as the kinematics of hot (∼107 K) X-ray emitting and cold (∼104 K) H α emitting gas. We find that compressive forcing leads to stronger variations in density and temperature of the gas as compared to solenoidal forcing. The cold phase gas forms large-scale filamentary structures for compressive forcing and misty, small-scale clouds for solenoidal forcing. The cold phase gas has stronger large-scale velocities for compressive forcing. The natural mixture forcing shows kinematics and gas distributions intermediate between the two extremes, the cold-phase gas occurs as both large-scale filaments and small-scale misty clouds.
Could TDE outflows produce the PeV neutrino events?
Authors: Wu Han-Ji , Mou Guobin , Wang Kai , Wang Wei , Li Zhuo
Published: June 2022

A tidal disruption event (TDE), AT2019dsg, was observed to be associated with a PeV neutrino event, IceCube-191001A, lagging the optical outburst by a half year. It is known that TDEs may generate ultra fast outflows. If the TDE occurs in a cloudy environment, the outflow-cloud interactions may form shock waves which generate accelerated protons and hence, delayed neutrinos from hadronic interactions in clouds. Here, we investigate the neutrino production in AT2019dsg by examining the TDE outflow-cloud interaction model. We find that, for an outflow with a velocity of 0.07 c and a kinetic luminosity of $10^{45}\rm \,erg\ \,s^{-1}$, protons may be accelerated up to ∼60 PeV by the bow shocks, and generate PeV neutrinos by interactions with clouds. The predicted neutrino number in this model depends on the uncertainties of model parameters and in order to match the observations, some challenging values of parameters have been involved. The PeV neutrino event number can be ∼4 × 10−3 for a hard proton index Γ = 1.5.