bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimization of magnetic forces on stellarator coils
Authors: Robin Rémi , Volpe Francesco A.
Published: June 2022

Magnetic confinement devices for nuclear fusion can be large and expensive. Compact stellarators are promising candidates for cost-reduction, but introduce new difficulties: confinement in smaller volumes requires higher magnetic field, which calls for higher coil-currents and ultimately causes higher Laplace forces on the coils—if everything else remains the same. This motivates the inclusion of force reduction in stellarator coil optimization. In the present paper we consider a coil winding surface, we prove that there is a natural and rigorous way to define the Laplace force (despite the magnetic field discontinuity across the current-sheet), we provide examples of cost associated (peak force, surface-integral of the force squared) and discuss easy generalizations to parallel and normal force-components, as these will be subject to different engineering constraints. Such costs can then be easily added to the figure of merit in any multi-objective stellarator coil optimization code. We demonstrate this for a generalization of the REGCOIL code (Landreman 2017 Nucl. Fusion
57 046003), which we rewrote in python, and provide numerical examples for the NCSX (Zarnstorff et al 2001 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
43 A237–49) (now QUASAR) design. We present results for various definitions of the cost function, including peak force reductions by up to 40%, and outline future work for further reduction.
Particle flow with a hybrid segmented crystal and fiber dual-readout calorimeter
Authors: Lucchini M.T. , Pezzotti L. , Polesello G. , Tully C.G.
Published: June 2022

In the reconstruction of physics events at future e+e-
colliders the calorimeter design has a crucial role in the overall
detector performance. The reconstruction of events with many jets in
their final state sets stringent requirements on the jet energy and
angular resolutions. The energy resolution for jets with energy of
about 45 GeV is required to be at the 4–5% level to enable an
efficient separation of the W and Z boson invariant masses. We
demonstrate in this paper how such a performance can be achieved by
exploiting a particle flow algorithm tailored for a hybrid
dual-readout calorimeter made of segmented crystals and fibers. The
excellent energy resolution and linearity of such calorimeter for
both photons and neutral hadrons (3%/√E and
26%/√E, respectively), inherent to the homogeneous crystals
and dual-readout technological choices, provides a powerful handle
for the development of a new approach for particle identification
and jet reconstruction. While the dual-readout particle flow
algorithm (DR-PFA) presented in this paper is at its early stage of
development, it already demonstrates the potential of a hybrid
dual-readout calorimeter for jet reconstruction by improving the jet
energy resolution with respect to a calorimeter-only reconstruction
from 6.0% to about 4.5% for 45 GeV jets.
Image contrast enhancement algorithm for X-ray observation of space materials in situ
Authors: Liu X.K. , Yu Q. , Pan X.H. , Yu Z.H. , Lu X.X.
Published: June 2022

Chinese Space Station has planned a high-temperature
material science experiment rack, equipped with an X-ray projection
imaging module, to support the development of material experiments
and research in space. BiFeO3 has been selected as the first batch
of experimental materials for Chinese Space Station. The melting and
solidification process of BiFeO3, an opaque, high-temperature
material, is observed by X-ray observation module in situ. X-ray is
the dominant way to observe opaque materials due to its
penetrability. In-situ observation of materials is the top priority
of this study, so we have strict requirements on image quality, and
high-quality images can better analyze the properties and properties
of materials. Limited by narrow size and high temperature
conditions, the X-ray images collected have low contrast, serious
noise pollution, and poor imaging quality. To enhance the contrast
and improve the edge details of such images, a grayscale weighted
histogram equalization combined with high-frequency enhancement
(GWHE-HFE) algorithm is proposed. First, we add a mask to the input
image to obtain the region of interest (ROI), and then filter out
the low-frequency components of the image by Gaussian high-pass
filter to preserve high-frequency details. Second, the image
obtained in the previous and the X-ray image of ROI are respectively
multiplied by a coefficient and added to obtain the edge-emphasized
X-ray image. And then, we use grayscale weighted histogram
equalization (GWHE) to process the image obtained in the second step
to obtain the contrast enhanced X-ray image. The enhanced image
shows the crystal grains and the thin bands where the solid and the
melt intersect, and it is helpful to accurately locate the solid
solution interface. Experiments on X-ray images of BiFeO3 growth
demonstrate that this combined method outperforms existing ones both
qualitatively and quantitatively, providing an in-depth and
effective analysis method for in high-temperature material-science
experiments.
Two-axis XUV/SR Imaging System with Temporal-spatial Resolution for Wire Array Z-pinch on Qin-1
Authors: Xinyi W. , Liang S. , Mei Z. , Yang L. , Yanhong Z. , Jianpeng G. , Jizhen Z. , Yongtang L. , Ziwei C. , Yuan J. , Qingmin Z.
Published: June 2022

Qin-1 is a Z-pinch pulse power generator. Due to the
diagnostic requirements of its wire array Z-pinch, a two-axis
temporal-spatial resolution XUV/SR imaging system has been
developed. The system is composed of filters, two gated pinhole
cameras, and a synchronized electric control system. Each camera
consists of a pinhole array, a four-frame microchannel plate image
intensifier and a CMOS camera. The whole system can synchronously
diagnose plasma from two directions with a time resolution of
3 ns. The spatial resolution of the system is approximately
51 μm when the diameter of the pinhole is
20 μm and incident radiation is greater than
455 eV. By using the system, the implosion of symmetric loads and
asymmetric loads was investigated. The generation, ablation and
compression of the coronal plasma and instabilities in the implosion
axis at stagnation can be directly observed from two views. The
results indicated that the position of the implosion axis is related
to the mass distribution of the wire array and provided more details
about bright spots on individual wire arrays. In addition, the
diagnostic results of a single wire with energy resolution were
acquired.
Bending and vibration study of carbon nanotubes reinforced functionally graded smart composite beams
Authors: Kumar Manish , Sarangi Saroj Kumar
Published: June 2022

A study of smart functionally graded (FG) beams made of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced composites combined with piezoelectric materials is presented. The material parameters of the composite beams are assumed to vary along their thickness following extended rule of mixture. A finite element (FE) model was developed for the FG carbon nanotube-reinforced beam combined with piezoelectric materials. This model was tested against previously published studies and was found to be in accordance with them. The numerical results were evaluated using various boundary conditions and are presented. The appropriateness of the piezoelectric layer for deflection control of the FG beam is presented followed by the free vibration results. The numerical analysis revealed that the piezoelectric layer of the smart FG beam efficiently controlled the bending deflections of the presently studied carbon nanotube-reinforced FG beams. Various material profiles for grading FG beams were considered and the results are presented.
Utilizing eye tracking to assess electronic health record use by pharmacists in the intensive care unit
Authors: Kang Dean , Charlton Patrick , Applebury David E , Robinson Eric J , Merkel Matthias J , Rowe Sandra , Mohan Vishnu , Gold Jeffrey A
Published: June 2022

Purpose

A study was conducted using high-fidelity electronic health record (EHR)–based simulations with incorporated eye tracking to understand the workflow of critical care pharmacists within the EHR, with specific attention to the data elements most frequently viewed.

Methods

Eight critical care pharmacists were given 25 minutes to review 3 simulated intensive care unit (ICU) charts deployed in the simulation instance of the EHR. Using monitor-based eye trackers, time spent reviewing screens, clinical information accessed, and screens used to access specific information were reviewed and quantified to look for trends.

Results

Overall, pharmacists viewed 25.5 total and 15.1 unique EHR screens per case. The majority of time was spent looking at screens focused on medications, followed by screens displaying notes, laboratory values, and vital signs. With regard to medication data, the vast majority of screen visitations were to view information on opioids/sedatives and antibiotics. With regard to laboratory values, the majority of views were focused on basic chemistry and hematology data. While there was significant variance between pharmacists, individual navigation patterns remained constant across cases.

Conclusion

The study results suggest that in addition to medication information, laboratory data and clinical notes are key focuses of ICU pharmacist review of patient records and that navigation to multiple screens is required in order to view these data with the EHR. New pharmacy-specific EHR interfaces should consolidate these elements within a primary interface.
Tracking population genetic signatures of local extinction with herbarium specimens
Authors: Rosche Christoph , Baasch Annett , Runge Karen , Brade Philipp , Träger Sabrina , Parisod Christian , Hensen Isabell
Published: June 2022

Background and Aims

Habitat degradation and landscape fragmentation dramatically lower population sizes of rare plant species. Decreasing population sizes may, in turn, negatively affect genetic diversity and reproductive fitness, which can ultimately lead to local extinction of populations. Although such extinction vortex dynamics have been postulated in theory and modelling for decades, empirical evidence from local extinctions of plant populations is scarce. In particular, comparisons between current vs. historical genetic diversity and differentiation are lacking despite their potential to guide conservation management.

Methods

We studied the population genetic signatures of the local extinction of Biscutella laevigata subsp. gracilis populations in Central Germany. We used microsatellites to genotype individuals from 15 current populations, one ex situ population, and 81 herbarium samples from five extant and 22 extinct populations. In the current populations, we recorded population size and fitness proxies, collected seeds for a germination trial and conducted a vegetation survey. The latter served as a surrogate for habitat conditions to study how habitat dissimilarity affects functional connectivity among the current populations.

Key Results

Bayesian clustering revealed similar gene pool distribution in current and historical samples but also indicated that a distinct genetic cluster was significantly associated with extinction probability. Gene flow was affected by both the spatial distance and floristic composition of population sites, highlighting the potential of floristic composition as a powerful predictor of functional connectivity which may promote decision-making for reintroduction measures. For an extinct population, we found a negative relationship between sampling year and heterozygosity. Inbreeding negatively affected germination.

Conclusions

Our study illustrates the usefulness of historical DNA to study extinction vortices in threatened species. Our novel combination of classical population genetics together with data from herbarium specimens, an ex situ population and a germination trial underlines the need for genetic rescue measures to prevent extinction of B. laevigata in Central Germany.
Phylotranscriptomic analyses reveal multiple whole-genome duplication events, the history of diversification and adaptations in the Araceae
Authors: Zhao Lei , Yang Ying-Ying , Qu Xiao-Jian , Ma Hong , Hu Yi , Li Hong-Tao , Yi Ting-Shuang , Li De-Zhu
Published: June 2022

Background and Aims

The Araceae are one of the most diverse monocot families with numerous morphological and ecological novelties. Plastid and mitochondrial genes have been used to investigate the phylogeny and to interpret shifts in the pollination biology and biogeography of the Araceae. In contrast, the role of whole-genome duplication (WGD) in the evolution of eight subfamilies remains unclear.

Methods

New transcriptomes or low-depth whole-genome sequences of 65 species were generated through Illumina sequencing. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Araceae using concatenated and species tree methods, and then estimated the age of major clades using TreePL. We inferred the WGD events by Ks and gene tree methods. We investigated the diversification patterns applying time-dependent and trait-dependent models. The expansions of gene families and functional enrichments were analysed using CAFE and InterProScan.

Key Results

Gymnostachydoideae was the earliest diverging lineage followed successively by Orontioideae, Lemnoideae and Lasioideae. In turn, they were followed by the clade of ‘bisexual climbers’ comprised of Pothoideae and Monsteroideae, which was resolved as the sister to the unisexual flowers clade of Zamioculcadoideae and Aroideae. A special WGD event ψ (psi) shared by the True-Araceae clade occurred in the Early Cretaceous. Net diversification rates first declined and then increased through time in the Araceae. The best diversification rate shift along the stem lineage of the True-Araceae clade was detected, and net diversification rates were enhanced following the ψ-WGD. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that some genes, such as those encoding heat shock proteins, glycosyl hydrolase and cytochrome P450, expanded within the True-Araceae clade.

Conclusions

Our results improve our understanding of aroid phylogeny using the large number of single-/low-copy nuclear genes. In contrast to the Proto-Araceae group and the lemnoid clade adaption to aquatic environments, our analyses of WGD, diversification and functional enrichment indicated that WGD may play a more important role in the evolution of adaptations to tropical, terrestrial environments in the True-Araceae clade. These insights provide us with new resources to interpret the evolution of the Araceae.
Addressing barriers in comprehensiveness, accessibility, reusability, interoperability and reproducibility of computational models in systems biology
Authors: Niarakis Anna , Waltemath Dagmar , Glazier James , Schreiber Falk , Keating Sarah M , Nickerson David , Chaouiya Claudine , Siegel Anne , Noël Vincent , Hermjakob Henning , Helikar Tomáš , Soliman Sylvain , Calzone Laurence
Published: June 2022

Computational models are often employed in systems biology to study the dynamic behaviours of complex systems. With the rise in the number of computational models, finding ways to improve the reusability of these models and their ability to reproduce virtual experiments becomes critical. Correct and effective model annotation in community-supported and standardised formats is necessary for this improvement. Here, we present recent efforts toward a common framework for annotated, accessible, reproducible and interoperable computational models in biology, and discuss key challenges of the field.
Self-reported engagement in exercise is associated with longer event-free survival in heart failure patients with poor functional capacity
Authors: Madujibeya Ifeanyi , Chung Misook L , Moser Debra K , Miller Jennifer A , Lennie Terry A
Published: June 2022

Aims

Despite evidence-based recommendations for clinically stable patients with heart failure (HF) to engage in unsupervised exercise, the minimum cumulative dose of exercise per week associated with improvement in HF outcomes, especially in patients with poor functional capacity, has not been examined. We examined whether patients with HF and poor functional capacity who reported engagement in a guideline-recommended minimum weekly exercise had longer event-free survival than patients who did not exercise.

Methods and results

This analysis included 310 patients with HF who had completed the Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) and reported their level of engagement in exercise. Patients were grouped into good and poor functional capacity using a DASI cut-point of ≥19 and then further stratified based on their self-reported exercise level: high (≥60 min/week) and low (<60 min/week). Cox regression modelling was used to predict event-free survival for the four groups after adjusting for covariates. Patients (mean age = 61.6 ± 11.4 years, 30.3% female, 44.2% NYHA Classes III–IV) were followed for a median of 362 days. There were eight deaths and 108 all-cause hospitalizations. Patients with poor functional capacity who reported high exercise engagement had a 36% lower risk of all-cause hospitalization or mortality compared with patients with poor functional capacity who reported low exercise engagement (hazard ratio: 0.64, P = 0.028).

Conclusion

Self-reported engagement in a minimum of 60 min of exercise per week was associated with a significant improvement in event-free survival, even in patients with HF with low functional capacity. These results provide evidence that this dose of exercise is beneficial in patients with HF and poor functional capacity.
Effects of short-interval reburns in the boreal forest on soil bacterial communities compared to long-interval reburns
Authors: Woolet Jamie , Whitman Ellen , Parisien Marc-André , Thompson Dan K , Flannigan Mike D , Whitman Thea
Published: June 2022

Increasing fire frequency in some biomes is leading to fires burning in close succession, triggering rapid vegetation change and altering soil properties. We studied the effects of short-interval (SI) reburns on soil bacterial communities of the boreal forest of northwestern Canada using paired sites (n = 44). Both sites in each pair had burned in a recent fire; one site had burned within the previous 20 years before the recent fire (SI reburn) and the other had not. Paired sites were closely matched in prefire ecosite characteristics, prefire tree species composition, and stand structure. We hypothesized that there would be a significant effect of short vs. long fire-free intervals on community composition and that richness would not be consistently different between paired sites. We found that Blastococcus sp. was consistently enriched in SI reburns, indicating its role as a strongly ‘pyrophilous’ bacterium. Caballeronia sordidicola was consistently depleted in SI reburns. The depletion of this endophytic diazotroph raises questions about whether this is contributing to—or merely reflects—poor conifer seedling recolonization post-fire at SI reburns. While SI reburns had no significant effect on richness, dissimilarity between short- and long-interval pairs was significantly correlated with difference in soil pH, and there were small significant changes in overall community composition.
De Novo Genome Assembly Highlights the Role of Lineage-Specific Gene Duplications in the Evolution of Venom in Fea's Viper (Azemiops feae)
Authors: Myers Edward A , Strickland Jason L , Rautsaw Rhett M , Mason Andrew J , Schramer Tristan D , Nystrom Gunnar S , Hogan Michael P , Yooseph Shibu , Rokyta Darin R , Parkinson Christopher L
Published: June 2022

Despite the medical significance to humans and important ecological roles filled by vipers, few high-quality genomic resources exist for these snakes outside of a few genera of pitvipers. Here we sequence, assemble, and annotate the genome of Fea’s Viper (Azemiops feae). This taxon is distributed in East Asia and belongs to a monotypic subfamily, sister to the pitvipers. The newly sequenced genome resulted in a 1.56 Gb assembly, a contig N50 of 1.59 Mb, with 97.6% of the genome assembly in contigs >50 Kb, and a BUSCO completeness of 92.4%. We found that A. feae venom is primarily composed of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) proteins expressed by genes that likely arose from lineage-specific PLA2 gene duplications. Additionally, we show that renin, an enzyme associated with blood pressure regulation in mammals and known from the venoms of two viper species including A. feae, is expressed in the venom gland at comparative levels to known toxins and is present in the venom proteome. The cooption of this gene as a toxin may be more widespread in viperids than currently known. To investigate the historical population demographics of A. feae, we performed coalescent-based analyses and determined that the effective population size has remained stable over the last 100 kyr. This suggests Quaternary glacial cycles likely had minimal influence on the demographic history of A. feae. This newly assembled genome will be an important resource for studying the genomic basis of phenotypic evolution and understanding the diversification of venom toxin gene families.
Random Peptides Rich in Small and Disorder-Promoting Amino Acids Are Less Likely to Be Harmful
Authors: Kosinski Luke J , Aviles Nathan R , Gomez Kevin , Masel Joanna
Published: June 2022

Proteins are the workhorses of the cell, yet they carry great potential for harm via misfolding and aggregation. Despite the dangers, proteins are sometimes born de novo from noncoding DNA. Proteins are more likely to be born from noncoding regions that produce peptides that do little to no harm when translated than from regions that produce harmful peptides. To investigate which newborn proteins are most likely to “first, do no harm,” we estimate fitnesses from an experiment that competed Escherichia coli lineages that each expressed a unique random peptide. A variety of peptide metrics significantly predict lineage fitness, but this predictive power stems from simple amino acid frequencies rather than the ordering of amino acids. Amino acids that are smaller and that promote intrinsic structural disorder have more benign fitness effects. We validate that the amino acids that indicate benign effects in random peptides expressed in E. coli also do so in an independent data set of random N-terminal tags in which it is possible to control for expression level. The same amino acids are also enriched in young animal proteins.
Press tack needle stimulation for blunt chest trauma: a randomized double-blind control trial
Authors: Kao Pei-Yu , Lottering Bernice , Lu Ting-Yu , Ho Wen-Chao , Lin Yu-Sen , Huang Tzu-Min , Chen Chien-Kuang , Chen Jian-Xun , Lee Yu-Chen , Chen Fang-Pey , Ben-Arie Eyal
Published: June 2022

OBJECTIVES

Blunt chest trauma is often associated with severe pain, reduced lung function and decreased sleep quality. This study aims to investigate the immediate and long-term effect of acupuncture on these factors using a randomized control double-blind design.

METHODS

A total of 72 patients were randomized into 2 groups: treatment group (press tack acupuncture) and control group (press tack placebo). The face rating scale, numerical rating scale (NRS), portable incentive spirometer and Verran Snyder-Halpern sleep scale were measured at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at the 4th day, with 2-weeks and 3-months follow-ups.

RESULTS

There were no significant changes between the groups at the baseline measurements, with the exception of hypertension comorbidity. Immediately after the intervention and on the 4th day follow-up, the patients in the treatment group showed a significantly lower face rating scale when compared to the control (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in any of the other measurements between the groups (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that the NRS for turn over on the 4th day was reduced significantly in the treatment group of patients without lung contusion (P < 0.05). For patients without pleural drainage, cough NRS in the treatment group was significantly reduced in the 2-week follow-up (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that press tack acupuncture effects on pain reduction were inconclusive. However, future studies on the effect of acupuncture on blunt chest trauma patients are needed.

Clinical trial registration

clinicaltirl.gov: NCT04318496.
Gradual Decline of Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Populations in Michigan Follows Establishment of Ovavesicula popilliae (Microsporidia)
Authors: Smitley D , Hotchkiss E , Buckley K , Piombiono M , Lewis P , Studyvin J
Published: June 2022

The purpose of this research was to document the incidence of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), infection by the microsporidian pathogen, Ovavesicula popilliae Andreadis & Hanula (Microsporida: Pleistophoridae) while monitoring Japanese beetle populations at nine golf courses in Michigan from 1999 to 2018. We also compared the current distribution of the pathogen in Michigan to the known distribution in 1999. Beetles were sampled a total of seven different years, in three time periods: 1999–2000, 2005–2007, and 2015–2018. At these nine golf courses, O. popilliae infection rates of adults increased from 0.39% in 2000 to 29.5% in 2018, while Japanese beetle adult populations declined 73.2%, and Japanese beetle larval density declined 78.6% (from 1999 to 2018). In previous research, larval infection rates averaged at least twice the infection rates of adults, because all infections originate in the larval stage, and at least 75% of infected larvae die before pupation. This means that an adult infection rate of 29.5%, combined with previously observed 50% reductions in egg production by infected females, are consistent with the observed population declines. The current distribution of O. popilliae in southern Michigan was determined by sampling Japanese beetle larvae and adults at 38 sites in 2017 and 2018. Ovavesicula popilliae was found at 21 of 38 sites and in 16 of 21 counties, compared with two sites in one of 16 counties when it was first detected in Michigan in 1999 and 2000.
Osteofibrous dysplasia-like adamantinoma of isolated fibula in a child mimicking chronic osteomyelitis with pathological fracture
Authors: Goetz Pierre-Emmanuel , Dumitriu Dana , Galant Christine , Docquier Pierre-Louis
Published: June 2022

The occurrence of a pathological fracture in children requires a rigorous diagnostic approach in order to establish the etiology and to develop a precise therapeutic strategy. Several causes are associated with these fractures, the most frequent being benign tumors in children in developed countries and chronic osteomyelitis in developing countries. More rarely, malignant tumors must however always be considered. The differential diagnosis on imaging may be difficult to establish between bone tumors and chronic infection. Surgical biopsy is therefore often performed to establish the precise origin of the fracture. We report the case of an adamantinoma (osteofibrous dysplasia-like) of the fibula in a 7-year-old child, discovered during the management of a pathologic fracture. The presumed diagnosis before biopsy was chronic osteomyelitis. A 14-cm-resection of the affected fibula was performed with good functional result. Differential diagnosis between adamantinoma, osteofibrous dysplasia and osteofibrous dysplasia-like adamantinoma remains very challenging.
Diagnostic Accuracy of the Boston Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury-Lifetime Clinical Interview Compared to Department of Defense Medical Records
Authors: Kim Sahra , Currao Alyssa , Fonda Jennifer R , Beck Brigitta , Kenna Alexandra , Fortier Catherine B
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Since 2006, efforts have been made to increase the accurate identification of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in post-9/11 military personnel. The Boston Assessment of TBI-Lifetime (BAT-L) is the first validated instrument designed specifically to diagnose TBIs throughout the life span in post-9/11 Veterans. The objective was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the BAT-L with medical records from the Department of Defense (DoD).

Material and Methods

Traumatic brain injury diagnosis for 153 Veterans deployed in 2011 enrolled in the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorder longitudinal cohort study from the BAT-L clinical interview was compared to DoD online medical records to determine diagnostic prevalence and injury severity for all head injury cases during deployment. Sensitivity, specificity, Cohen’s kappa, and Kendall’s tau-b were calculated for TBI diagnosis and severity. Concordant TBI cases and discordant TBI cases were compared using chi-square and t-test analyses. This study has been approved by VA Boston by Institutional Review Boards for human participants’ protection.

Results

Correspondence of TBI diagnoses from the BAT-L with DoD records was fair (κ = 0.42; sensitivity = 72.7%; specificity = 82.8%). Comparison of injury severity also showed fair correspondence (κ = 0.41). Missing TBI diagnostic data from DoD records were frequent; 43% of TBIs reported on the BAT-L did not have any documentation of assessment or diagnoses in DoD records.

Conclusion

This study addresses a critical gap in research by comparing the diagnostic accuracy of a validated, semi-structured clinical interview with available medical records. Diagnosis of TBIs via the BAT-L was both sensitive and specific when compared to DoD records, supporting the validity of the BAT-L for retrospective assessment of military TBI. However, diagnostic correspondence was only fair. This lack of diagnostic agreement was related to multiple factors including lack of documentation at the time of injury by DoD, differences in assessment and goals, and other combat-related motivational factors associated with failure to report injuries while deployed. Several policies have been implemented to address underreporting and under-documentation of TBIs, yet challenges remain. Recommendations for evaluating TBI are presented. Accurate diagnosis of TBI is necessary for appropriate treatment planning, as well as service-related compensation.
Realistic synthetic integral field spectroscopy with RealSim-IFS
Authors: Bottrell Connor , Hani Maan H
Published: June 2022

The most direct way to confront observed galaxies with those formed in numerical simulations is to forward-model simulated galaxies into synthetic observations. Provided that synthetic galaxy observations include similar constraints and limitations as real observations, they can be used to (1) carry out even-handed comparisons of observation and theory and (2) map the observable characteristics of simulated galaxies to their a priori known origins. In particular, integral field spectroscopy (IFS) expands the scope of such comparisons and mappings to an exceptionally broad set of physical properties. We therefore present RealSim-IFS, a tool for forward-modelling galaxies from hydrodynamical simulations into synthetic IFS observations. The core components of RealSim-IFS model the detailed spatial sampling mechanics of any fibre-bundle, image slicer, or lenslet array IFU and corresponding observing strategy, real or imagined, and support the corresponding propagation of noise adopted by the user. The code is highly generalized and can produce cubes in any light- or mass-weighted quantity (e.g. specific intensity, gas/stellar line-of-sight velocity, stellar age/metallicity, etc.). We show that RealSim-IFS exactly reproduces the spatial reconstruction of specific intensity and variance cubes produced by the MaNGA survey Data Reduction Pipeline using the calibrated fibre spectra as input. We then apply RealSim-IFS by producing a public synthetic MaNGA stellar kinematic survey of 893 galaxies with log (M⋆/M⊙) > 10 from the TNG50 cosmological hydrodynamical simulation.
Lensing in the darkness: a Bayesian analysis of 22 Chandra sources at z ≳ 6 shows no evidence of lensing
Authors: Pacucci Fabio , Foord Adi , Gordon Lucia , Loeb Abraham
Published: June 2022

More than 200 quasars have been detected so far at z > 6, with only one showing clear signs of strong gravitational lensing. Some studies call for a missing population of lensed high-z quasars, but their existence is still in doubt. A large fraction of high-z quasars being lensed would have a significant effect on the shape of the intrinsic quasar luminosity function (QLF). Here, we perform the first systematic search for lensed X-ray-detected quasars at z ≳ 6 employing a Bayesian analysis, with the code baymax, to look for morphological evidence of multiple images that may escape a visual inspection. We analysed a sample of 22 quasars at z > 5.8 imaged by the Chandra X-ray observatory and found none with statistically significant multiple images. In the sub-sample of the eight sources with photon counts >20, we exclude multiple images with separations r > 1 arcsec and count ratios f > 0.4, or with separations as small as 0.7 arcsec and f > 0.7 at $95{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ confidence level. Comparing this non-detection with predictions from theoretical models suggesting a high- and a low-lensed fraction, we placed upper limits on the bright-end slope, β, of the QLF. Using only the sub-sample with eight sources, we obtain, in the high-lensing model, a limit β < 3.38. Assuming no multiple source is present in the full sample of 22 sources, we obtain β < 2.89 and β < 3.53 in the high- and low-lensing models, respectively. These constraints strongly disfavour steep QLF shapes previously proposed in the literature.
A machine learning approach to infer the accreted stellar mass fractions of central galaxies in the TNG100 simulation
Authors: Shi Rui , Wang Wenting , Li Zhaozhou , Han Jiaxin , Shi Jingjing , Rodriguez-Gomez Vicente , Peng Yingjie , Li Qingyang
Published: June 2022

We propose a random forest (RF) machine learning approach to determine the accreted stellar mass fractions (facc) of central galaxies, based on various dark matter halo and galaxy features. The RF is trained and tested using 2710 galaxies with stellar mass log10M*/M⊙ > 10.16 from the TNG100 simulation. Galaxy size is the most important individual feature when calculated in 3-dimensions, which becomes less important after accounting for observational effects. For smaller galaxies, the rankings for features related to merger histories increase. When an entire set of halo and galaxy features are used, the prediction is almost unbiased, with root-mean-square error (RMSE) of ∼0.068. A combination of up to three features with different types (galaxy size, merger history, and morphology) already saturates the power of prediction. If using observable features, the RMSE increases to ∼0.104, and a combined usage of stellar mass, galaxy size plus galaxy concentration achieves similar predictions. Lastly, when using galaxy density, velocity, and velocity dispersion profiles as features, which approximately represent the maximum amount of information extracted from galaxy images and velocity maps, the prediction is not improved much. Hence, the limiting precision of predicting facc is ∼0.1 with observables, and the multicomponent decomposition of galaxy images should have similar or larger uncertainties. If the central black hole mass and the spin parameter of galaxies can be accurately measured in future observations, the RMSE is promising to be further decreased by ∼20 per cent.
A simple analytical model of magnetic jets
Authors: Zdziarski Andrzej A , Stawarz Łukasz , Sikora Marek , Nalewajko Krzysztof
Published: June 2022

We propose a simple analytical jet model of magnetic jets, in which radially averaged profiles of main physical quantities are obtained based on conservation laws and some results of published general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic jet simulations. We take into account conversion of the magnetic energy flux to bulk acceleration in jets formed around rotating black holes assuming the mass continuity equation and constant jet power, which leads to the Bernoulli equation. For assumed profiles of the bulk Lorentz factor and the radius, this gives us the profile of the toroidal magnetic field component along the jet. We then consider the case where the poloidal field component is connected to a rotating black hole surrounded by an accretion disc. Our formalism then recovers the standard formula for the power extracted from a rotating black hole. We find that the poloidal field strength dominates over the toroidal one in the comoving frame up to large distances, which means that jets should be more stable to current-driven kink modes. The resulting magnetic field profiles can then be used to calculate the jet synchrotron emission.
Iso-FRET: an isothermal competition assay to analyze quadruplex formation in vitro
Authors: Luo Yu , Verga Daniela , Mergny Jean-Louis
Published: June 2022

Algorithms have been widely used to predict G-quadruplexes (G4s)-prone sequences. However, an experimental validation of these predictions is generally required. We previously reported a high-throughput technique to evidence G4 formation in vitro called FRET-MC. This method, while convenient and reproducible, has one known weakness: its inability to pin point G4 motifs of low thermal stability. As such quadruplexes may still be biologically relevant if formed at physiological temperature, we wanted to develop an independent assay to overcome this limitation. To this aim, we introduced an isothermal version of the competition assay, called iso-FRET, based on a duplex-quadruplex competition and a well-characterized bis-quinolinium G4 ligand, PhenDC3. G4-forming competitors act as decoys for PhenDC3, lowering its ability to stabilize the G4-forming motif reporter oligonucleotide conjugated to a fluorescence quencher (37Q). The decrease in available G4 ligand concentration restores the ability of 37Q to hybridize to its FAM-labeled short complementary C-rich strand (F22), leading to a decrease in fluorescence signal. In contrast, when no G4-forming competitor is present, PhenDC3 remains available to stabilize the 37Q quadruplex, preventing the formation of the F22 + 37Q complex. Iso-FRET was first applied to a reference panel of 70 sequences, and then used to investigate 23 different viral sequences.
Availability of assisted peritoneal dialysis in Europe: call for increased and equal access
Authors: Brown Edwina A , Ekstrand Agneta , Gallieni Maurizio , Gorrín Maite Rivera , Gudmundsdottir Helga , Guedes Anabela Malho , Heidempergher Marco , Kitsche Benno , Lobbedez Thierry , Lundström Ulrika Hahn , McCarthy Kate , Mellotte George J , Moranne Olivier , Petras Dimitrios , Povlsen Johan V , Punzalan Sally , Wiesholzer Martin
Published: June 2022

Background

Availability of assisted PD (asPD) increases access to dialysis at home, particularly for the increasing numbers of older and frail people with advanced kidney disease. Although asPD has been widely used in some European countries for many years, it remains unavailable or poorly utilized in others. A group of leading European nephrologists have therefore formed a group to drive increased availability of asPD in Europe and in their own countries.

Methods

Members of the group filled in a proforma with the following headings: personal experience, country experience, who are the assistants, funding of asPD, barriers to growth, what is needed to grow and their top three priorities.

Results

Only 5 of the 13 countries surveyed provided publicly funded reimbursement for asPD. The use of asPD depends on overall attitudes to PD, with all respondents mentioning the need for nephrology team education and/or patient education and involvement in dialysis modality decision making.

Conclusions and call to action

Many people with advanced kidney disease would prefer to have their dialysis at home, yet if the frail patient chooses PD most healthcare systems cannot provide their choice. AsPD should be available in all countries in Europe and in all renal centres. The top priorities to make this happen are education of renal healthcare teams about the advantages of PD, education of and discussion with patients and their families as they approach the need for dialysis, and engagement with policymakers and healthcare providers to develop and support assistance for PD.
Long-term outcomes and late toxicity of adult medulloblastoma treated with combined modality therapy: A contemporary single-institution experience
Authors: Saraf Anurag , Yock Torunn I , Niemierko Andrzej , Oh Kevin S , Curry William T , Butler William E , Forst Deborah A , Arrillaga-Romany Isabel , Ebb David H , Tarbell Nancy J , MacDonald Shannon , Loeffler Jay S , Shih Helen A
Published: June 2022

Background

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a rare central nervous system malignancy of adults, with limited contemporary studies to define treatment guidelines and expected late toxicity.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective study was conducted of patients age ≥18 years from 1997–2019 with MB and who were treated with postoperative radiotherapy. Late toxicity was defined as a minimum of 18 months from diagnosis. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were characterized using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.

Results

Fifty-nine patients met criteria, with median age of 25 years (range 18–62 y) and median follow-up of 6.5 years (range 0.7–23.1 y). At diagnosis, 68% were standard-risk, 88% Chang M0, and 22% with anaplastic histology. Gross total resection was achieved in 75%; median craniospinal irradiation dose was 30.6 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]), median total dose was 54.0 Gy (RBE), 80% received proton radiotherapy; 81% received chemotherapy. 5 year PFS and OS were 86.5% and 95.8%, respectively; 10 year PFS and OS were 83.9% and 90.7%, respectively. Anaplastic histology was associated with worse PFS (P = .04). Among eight recurrences, 25% presented after 5 years. Most common grade ≥2 late toxicities were anxiety/depressive symptoms (30%), motor dysfunction (25%), and ototoxicity (22%). Higher posterior fossa radiation dose was associated with increased risk of late toxicity, including worse cognitive dysfunction (P = .05).

Conclusions

Adults with MB have favorable survival outcomes, but late failures and toxicity are not uncommon. Better understanding of prognostic factors, possibly from molecular subtyping, may help to define more personalized treatments for patients with high risk of recurrence and long-term treatment sequelae.
The effect of dexamethasone on the microenvironment and efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors in glioblastoma: a systematic review
Authors: Swildens Kyra X , Sillevis Smitt Peter A E , van den Bent Martin J , French Pim J , Geurts Marjolein
Published: June 2022

Background

Checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy has not proven clinically effective in glioblastoma. This lack of effectiveness may be partially attributable to the frequent administration of dexamethasone in glioblastoma patients. In this systematic review, we assess whether dexamethasone (1) affects the glioblastoma microenvironment and (2) interferes with checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy efficacy in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Methods

PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for eligible articles published up to September 15, 2021. Both in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies, as well as clinical studies were selected. The following information was extracted from each study: tumor model, corticosteroid treatment, and effects on individual immune components or checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy.

Results

Twenty-one preclinical studies in cellular glioma models (n = 10), animal glioma models (n = 6), and glioblastoma patient samples (n = 7), and 3 clinical studies were included. Preclinical studies show that dexamethasone decreases the presence of microglia and other macrophages as well as the number of T lymphocytes in both tumor tissue and periphery. Dexamethasone abrogates the antitumor effects of checkpoint inhibitors on T lymphocytes in preclinical studies. Although randomized studies directly addressing our research question are lacking, clinical studies suggest a negative association between corticosteroids and survival outcomes in glioblastoma patients receiving checkpoint inhibitors after adjustment for relevant prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Preclinical research shows that dexamethasone inhibits the antitumor immune response in glioma, thereby promoting a protumorigenic microenvironment. The efficacy of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy in glioblastoma patients may therefore be negatively affected by the use of dexamethasone. Future research could investigate the potential of edema-reducing alternatives to dexamethasone.
Efficacy and Safety of Intensified Versus Standard Prophylactic Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wills Nicola K , Nair Nikhil , Patel Kashyap , Sikder Omaike , Adriaanse Marguerite , Eikelboom John , Wasserman Sean
Published: June 2022

Background

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported inconsistent effects from intensified anticoagulation on clinical outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We performed an aggregate data meta-analysis from available trials to quantify effect on nonfatal and fatal outcomes and identify subgroups who may benefit.

Methods

We searched multiple databases for RCTs comparing intensified (intermediate or therapeutic dose) vs prophylactic anticoagulation in adults with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 through 19 January 2022. We used random-effects meta-analysis to estimate pooled risk ratios for mortality, thrombotic, and bleeding events (at end of follow-up or discharge) and performed subgroup analysis for clinical setting and dose of intensified anticoagulation.

Results

Eleven RCTs were included (N = 5873). Intensified vs prophylactic anticoagulation was not associated with a mortality reduction up to 45 days (risk ratio [RR], 0.93 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .79–1.10]). There was a possible signal of mortality reduction for non–intensive care unit (ICU) patients, although with low precision and high heterogeneity (5 studies; RR, 0.84 [95% CI, .49–1.44]; I2 = 75%). Risk of venous thromboembolism was reduced (RR, 0.53 [95% CI, .41–.69]; I2 = 0%), with effect driven by therapeutic rather than intermediate dosing (interaction P = .04). Major bleeding was increased with intensified anticoagulation (RR, 1.73 [95% CI, 1.17–2.56]) with no interaction for dosing and clinical setting.

Conclusions

Intensified anticoagulation has no effect on mortality among hospitalized adults with COVID-19 and is associated with increased bleeding risk. The observed reduction in venous thromboembolism risk and trend toward reduced mortality in non-ICU settings requires exploration in additional RCTs.

Clinical Trials Registration. CRD42021273449 (PROSPERO).