bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of aspect changes on Near-Earth Asteroid phase curves
Authors: Jackson S L , Rozitis B , Dover L R , Green S F , Kolb U C , Andrews A E , Lowry S C
Published: April 2022

Phase curves of asteroids are typically considered to depend solely on the scattering properties of airless particulate surfaces and the size of the object being studied. In this study, we demonstrate the additional dependence of phase curves on object shape, rotation pole orientation, and viewing geometry over an apparition. Variations in the phase curve of near-Earth asteroid (159402) 1999 AP10 over its apparition from 2020 July to 2021 January are verified to be due to aspect changes over the apparition. This is achieved through shape modelling of the asteroid and simulation of the phase curve over the apparition. We present simulations of asteroid phase curves over a range of geometries to understand the potential magnitude of this aspect effect, and under which circumstances it can begin to dominate in the phase curves. This dependence on aspect may introduce significant additional uncertainty in the properties derived from phase-curve data. We provide and demonstrate software code to estimate the aspect-related uncertainty in near-Earth asteroid phase curves through simulation and model fitting of a randomly generated sample of ellipsoidal asteroid models over the observed viewing geometry. We demonstrate how ignoring this effect may lead to misleading interpretations of the data and underestimation of uncertainties in further studies, such as those in the infrared that use phase curve derived parameters when fitting physical properties of an asteroid.
sipgi: an interactive pipeline for spectroscopic data reduction
Authors: Gargiulo A , Fumana M , Bisogni S , Franzetti P , Cassarà L P , Garilli B , Scodeggio M , Vietri G
Published: April 2022

We present sipgi, a spectroscopic pipeline to reduce optical/near-infrared data from slit-based spectrographs. sipgi is a complete spectroscopic data reduction environment, which retains the high level of flexibility and accuracy typical of the standard ‘by-hand’ reduction methods but is characterized by a significantly higher level of efficiency. This is obtained by exploiting three main concepts: (i) the instrument model: at the core of the data reduction is an analytic description of the main calibration relations (e.g. spectra location and wavelength calibration) that can be easily checked and adjusted on data using a graphical tool; (ii) a built-in data organizer that classifies the data, together with a graphical interface that helps in providing the recipes with the correct input; (iii) the design and flexibility of the reduction recipes: The number of tasks required to perform a complete reduction is minimized, while preserving the possibility of verifying the accuracy of the main stages of data-reduction process with provided tools. The current version of sipgi manages data from the MODS and LUCI spectrographs mounted at the Large Binocular Telescope, and it is our plan to extend sipgi to support other through-slit spectrographs. Meanwhile, to allow using the same approach based on the instrument model with other instruments, we have developed SpectraPy, a spectrograph-independent python library working on through-slit spectra. In its current version, SpectraPy produces two-dimensional wavelength-calibrated spectra corrected by instrument distortions. The current release of sipgi and its documentation can be downloaded fromhttp://pandora.lambrate.inaf.it/sipgi/, while SpectraPy can be found at http://pandora.lambrate.inaf.it/SpectraPy/.
On the detectability of massive black hole merger events by Laser Interferometry Space Antenna
Authors: Banks Samuel , Lee Katharine , Azimi Nazanin , Scarborough Kendall , Stefanov Nikolai , Periwal Indra , Chen Nianyi , DeGraf Colin , Di Matteo Tiziana
Published: April 2022

The launch of space-based gravitational-wave (GW) detectors (e.g. Laser Interferometry Space Antenna; LISA) and current and upcoming Pulsar Timing Arrays will extend the GW window to low frequencies, opening new investigations into dynamical processes involving massive black hole binaries (MBHBs) and their mergers across cosmic time. MBHBs are expected to be among the primary sources for the upcoming low-frequency (10−4–10−1 Hz) window probed by LISA. It is important to investigate the expected supermassive BH merger rates and associated signals, to determine how potential LISA events are affected by physics included in current models. To study this, we post-process the large population of MBHBs in the Illustris simulation to account for dynamical friction time delays associated with BH infall/inspiral. We show that merger delays associated with binary evolution have the potential to decrease the expected merger rates, with $M_{\rm {BH}}\ \gt\ 10^6\ \mathrm{M}_\odot$ MBHBs (the lowest mass in Illustris) decreasing from ∼3 to ∼0.1 yr−1, and shifting the merger peak from z ∼2 to ∼1.25. During this time, we estimate that accretion grows the total merging mass by as much as 7x the original mass. Importantly, however, dynamical friction-associated delays (which shift the mergers toward lower redshift and higher masses) lead to a stronger signal/strain for the emitted GWs in the LISA band, increasing mean frequency from 10−3.1 to 10−3.4–10−4.0 Hz, and mean strain from 10−17.2 to 10−16.3–10−15.3. Finally, we show that after including a merger delay and associated MBH growth, mergers still tend to lie on the typical MBH–M* relation, but with an increased likelihood of an undermassive BH.
Galaxy and mass assembly (GAMA): Self-Organizing Map application on nearby galaxies
Authors: Holwerda Benne W , Smith Dominic , Porter Lori , Henry Chris , Porter-Temple Ren , Cook Kyle , Pimbblet Kevin A , Hopkins Andrew M , Bilicki Maciej , Turner Sebastian , Acquaviva Viviana , Wang Lingyu , Wright Angus H , Kelvin Lee S , Grootes Meiert W
Published: April 2022

Galaxy populations show bimodality in a variety of properties: stellar mass, colour, specific star-formation rate, size, and Sérsic index. These parameters are our feature space. We use an existing sample of 7556 galaxies from the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey, represented using five features and the K-means clustering technique, showed that the bimodalities are the manifestation of a more complex population structure, represented by between two and six clusters. Here we use Self-Organizing Maps (SOM), an unsupervised learning technique that can be used to visualize similarity in a higher dimensional space using a 2D representation, to map these 5D clusters in the feature space on to 2D projections. To further analyse these clusters, using the SOM information, we agree with previous results that the sub-populations found in the feature space can be reasonably mapped on to three or five clusters. We explore where the ‘green valley’ galaxies are mapped on to the SOM, indicating multiple interstitial populations within the green valley population. Finally, we use the projection of the SOM to verify whether morphological information provided by GalaxyZoo users, for example, if features are visible, can be mapped on to the SOM-generated map. Voting on whether galaxies are smooth, likely ellipticals, or ‘featured’ can reasonably be separated but smaller morphological features (bar, spiral arms) can not. SOMs promise to be a useful tool to map and identify instructive sub-populations in multidimensional galaxy survey feature space, provided they are large enough.
Linking the properties of accreting white dwarfs with the ionization state of their ambient medium
Authors: Souropanis D , Chiotellis A , Boumis P , Chatzikos M , Akras S , Piersanti L , Ruiter A J , Ferland G J
Published: April 2022

Steadily accreting white dwarfs (WDs) are efficient sources of ionization and thus are able to create extended ionized nebulae in their vicinity. These nebulae represent ideal tools for the detection of accreting WDs, given that in most cases the source itself is faint. In this work, we combine radiation transfer simulations with known H- and He-accreting WD models, providing for the first time the ionization state and the emission-line spectra of the formed nebulae as a function of the WD mass, the accretion rate and the chemical composition of the accreted material. We find that the nebular optical line fluxes and radial extent vary strongly with the WD’s accretion properties, peaking in systems with WD masses of 0.8–1.2 $\rm M_{\odot }$. Projecting our results on so-called BPT diagnostic diagrams, we show that accreting WD nebulae possess characteristics distinct from those of H ii-like regions, while they have line ratios similar to those in galactic low-ionization emission-line regions. Finally, we compare our results with the relevant constraints imposed by the lack of ionized nebulae in the vicinity of supersoft X-ray sources (SSSs) and Type Ia supernova remnants – sources that are related to steadily accreting WDs. The large discrepancies uncovered by our comparison rule out any steadily accreting WD as a potential progenitor of the studied remnants and additionally require the ambient medium around the SSSs to be less dense than 0.2 $\rm cm^{-3}$. We discuss possible alternatives that could bridge the incompatibility between the theoretical expectations and relevant observations.
Hydrogen emission from meteors and meteorites: mapping traces of H2O molecules and organic compounds in small Solar system bodies
Authors: Matlovič Pavol , Pisarčíková Adriana , Tóth Juraj , Mach Pavel , Čermák Peter , Loehle Stefan , Kornoš Leonard , Ferrière Ludovic , Šilha Jiří , Leiser David , Ravichandran Ranjith
Published: April 2022

The hydrogen emission from meteors is assumed to originate mainly from the meteoroid composition, making it a potential tracer of H2O molecules and organic compounds. H α line was previously detected in individual fireballs, but its variation in a larger meteor data set and dependence on the dynamical origin and physical properties have not yet been studied. Here, we investigate the relative intensity of H α within 304 meteor spectra observed by the AMOS (All-sky Meteor Orbit System) network. We demonstrate that H α emission is favoured in faster meteors (vi > > 30 km s−1) which form the high-temperature spectral component. H α was found to be a characteristic spectral feature of cometary meteoroids with ∼92 per cent of all meteoroids with detected H α originating from Halley-type and long-period orbits. Our results suggest that hydrogen is being depleted from meteoroids with lower perihelion distances (q < 0.4 au). No asteroidal meteoroids with detected H emission were found. However, using spectral data from simulated ablation of different meteorite types, we show that H emission from asteroidal materials can occur, and apparently correlates with their water and organic matter content. Strongest H emission was detected from carbonaceous chondrites (CM and CV) and achondrites (ureilite and aubrite), while it was lacking in most ordinary chondrites. The detection of H α in asteroidal meteoroids could be used to identify meteoroids of carbonaceous or achondritic composition. Overall, our results suggest that H α emission correlates with the emission of other volatiles (Na and CN) and presents a suitable tracer of water and organic matter in meteoroids.
Chaos over order: mapping 3D rotation of triaxial asteroids and minor planets
Authors: Makarov Valeri V , Goldin Alexey , Tkachenko Alexei V , Veras Dimitri , Noyelles Benoît
Published: April 2022

Celestial bodies approximated with rigid triaxial ellipsoids in a two-body system can rotate chaotically due to the time-varying gravitational torque from the central mass. At small orbital eccentricity values, rotation is short-term orderly and predictable within the commensurate spin–orbit resonances, while at eccentricity approaching unity, chaos completely takes over. Here, we present the full three-dimensional rotational equations of motion around all three principal axes for triaxial minor planets and two independent methods of numerical solution based on Euler rotations and quaternion algebra. The domains of chaotic rotation are numerically investigated over the entire range of eccentricity with a combination of trial integrations of Euler’s equations of motion and the GALI(k) (Generalized Alignment Index) method. We quantify the dependence of the order–chaos boundaries on shape by changing a prolateness parameter, and find that the main 1:1 spin–orbit resonance disappears for specific moderately prolate shapes already at eccentricities as low as 0.3. The island of short-term stability around the main 1:1 resonance shrinks with increasing eccentricity at a fixed low degree of prolateness and completely vanishes at approximately 0.8. This island is also encroached by chaos on longer time-scales, indicating longer Lyapunov exponents. Trajectories in the close vicinity of the 3:2 spin–orbit resonance become chaotic at smaller eccentricities, but separated enclaves of orderly rotation emerge at eccentricities as high as 0.8. Initial perturbations of rotational velocity in latitude away from the exact equilibrium result in a spectrum of free libration, nutation, and polar wander, which is not well matched by the linearized analysis omitting the inertial terms.
Aquinas’s Theory of Goodness
Authors: Stump Eleonore
Published: April 2022

The aim of this essay is to sketch the basic outline of Aquinas’s metaethics and its support for his virtue-based ethics. When Aquinas’s central metaethical thesis is combined with his theological views, especially his understanding of the doctrine of divine simplicity, then the theological interpretation of the central metaethical thesis constitutes the basis for a religious ethics that makes God essential to human morality but without tying morality to God’s will. The result is a metaphysically grounded, objective normative virtue ethics which is theological at least in this sense that it is ultimately based in God’s nature.
Anti-Climacus and the Demoralization of Sin
Authors: Hüsch Sebastian , Viertbauer Klaus
Published: April 2022

The paper develops the claim that in The Sickness unto Death (1849), Kierkegaard conceptualizes a demoralized understanding of sin. Rather than interpreting sin as moral guilt, he proposes a concept of sin that takes the form of alienation. The claim is unfolded in a three-step argumentation: First, we identify crucial hermeneutical issues and stress the role of the pseudonyms within Kierkegaard’s writings. Second, we offer a detailed analysis of the theory of self-consciousness developed by Anti-Climacus. Finally, using the romantic interpretation of Kierkegaard as a foundation, we demonstrate how Anti-Climacus conceptualizes sin as alienation
The Tribute of Faith: Theistic Commitment as Moral Gesture
Authors: Schellenberg J L
Published: April 2022

In this paper I explore and defend the idea that those who struggle intellectually in theistic religious practice can be given a good reason to persist in it by treating their continuing practice as a way of paying tribute to people and projects and personal relationships and indeed to the whole moral dimension of human life, expressing how important and profoundly significant these things are to them. This ‘tribute of faith’ is a gesture that one makes with one’s life—a moral gesture. The key thought is that the sayings and other doings of a religious life allow one to treat the world as one in which the things, such as projects and people, that are, for one, most deeply imbued with moral value will achieve fulfilment—a fulfillment that without the truth of religious claims they would often be denied.
Shaping the genome via lengthwise compaction, phase separation, and lamina adhesion
Authors: Brahmachari Sumitabha , Contessoto Vinícius G , Di Pierro Michele , Onuchic José N
Published: April 2022

The link between genomic structure and biological function is yet to be consolidated, it is, however, clear that physical manipulation of the genome, driven by the activity of a variety of proteins, is a crucial step. To understand the consequences of the physical forces underlying genome organization, we build a coarse-grained polymer model of the genome, featuring three fundamentally distinct classes of interactions: lengthwise compaction, i.e., compaction of chromosomes along its contour, self-adhesion among epigenetically similar genomic segments, and adhesion of chromosome segments to the nuclear envelope or lamina. We postulate that these three types of interactions sufficiently represent the concerted action of the different proteins organizing the genome architecture and show that an interplay among these interactions can recapitulate the architectural variants observed across the tree of life. The model elucidates how an interplay of forces arising from the three classes of genomic interactions can drive drastic, yet predictable, changes in the global genome architecture, and makes testable predictions. We posit that precise control over these interactions in vivo is key to the regulation of genome architecture.
The Vibrio cholerae master regulator for the activation of biofilm biogenesis genes, VpsR, senses both cyclic di-GMP and phosphate
Authors: Hsieh Meng-Lun , Kiel Niklas , Jenkins Lisa M Miller , Ng Wai-Leung , Knipling Leslie , Waters Christopher M , Hinton Deborah M
Published: April 2022

Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation/maintenance is controlled by myriad factors; chief among these are the regulator VpsR and cyclic di-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP). VpsR has strong sequence similarity to enhancer binding proteins (EBPs) that activate RNA polymerase containing sigma factor σ54. However, we have previously shown that transcription from promoters within the biofilm biogenesis/maintenance pathways uses VpsR, c-di-GMP and RNA polymerase containing the primary sigma factor (σ70). Previous work suggested that phosphorylation of VpsR at a highly conserved aspartate, which is phosphorylated in other EBPs, might also contribute to activation. Using the biofilm biogenesis promoter PvpsL, we show that in the presence of c-di-GMP, either wild type or the phospho-mimic VpsR D59E activates PvpsL transcription, while the phospho-defective D59A variant does not. Furthermore, when c-di-GMP levels are low, acetyl phosphate (Ac∼P) is required for significant VpsR activity in vivo and in vitro. Although these findings argue that VpsR phosphorylation is needed for activation, we show that VpsR is not phosphorylated or acetylated by Ac∼P and either sodium phosphate or potassium phosphate, which are not phosphate donors, fully substitutes for Ac∼P. We conclude that VpsR is an unusual regulator that senses phosphate directly, rather than through phosphorylation, to aid in the decision to form/maintain biofilm.
Rational guide RNA engineering for small-molecule control of CRISPR/Cas9 and gene editing
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Xiong Wei , Qi Qianqian , Zhang Yutong , Ji Huimin , Cui Shuangyu , An Jing , Sun Xiaoming , Yin Hao , Tian Tian , Zhou Xiang
Published: April 2022

It is important to control CRISPR/Cas9 when sufficient editing is obtained. In the current study, rational engineering of guide RNAs (gRNAs) is performed to develop small-molecule-responsive CRISPR/Cas9. For our purpose, the sequence of gRNAs are modified to introduce ligand binding sites based on the rational design of ligand–RNA pairs. Using short target sequences, we demonstrate that the engineered RNA provides an excellent scaffold for binding small molecule ligands. Although the ‘stem–loop 1’ variants of gRNA induced variable cleavage activity for different target sequences, all ‘stem–loop 3’ variants are well tolerated for CRISPR/Cas9. We further demonstrate that this specific ligand–RNA interaction can be utilized for functional control of CRISPR/Cas9 in vitro and in human cells. Moreover, chemogenetic control of gene editing in human cells transfected with all-in-one plasmids encoding Cas9 and designer gRNAs is demonstrated. The strategy may become a general approach for generating switchable RNA or DNA for controlling other biological processes.
TeachOpenCADD 2022: open source and FAIR Python pipelines to assist in structural bioinformatics and cheminformatics research
Authors: Sydow Dominique , Rodríguez-Guerra Jaime , Kimber Talia B , Schaller David , Taylor Corey J , Chen Yonghui , Leja Mareike , Misra Sakshi , Wichmann Michele , Ariamajd Armin , Volkamer Andrea
Published: April 2022

Computational pipelines have become a crucial part of modern drug discovery campaigns. Setting up and maintaining such pipelines, however, can be challenging and time-consuming—especially for novice scientists in this domain. TeachOpenCADD is a platform that aims to teach domain-specific skills and to provide pipeline templates as starting points for research projects. We offer Python-based solutions for common tasks in cheminformatics and structural bioinformatics in the form of Jupyter notebooks, based on open source resources only. Including the 12 newly released additions, TeachOpenCADD now contains 22 notebooks that cover both theoretical background as well as hands-on programming. To promote reproducible and reusable research, we apply software best practices to our notebooks such as testing with automated continuous integration and adhering to the idiomatic Python style. The new TeachOpenCADD website is available at https://projects.volkamerlab.org/teachopencadd and all code is deposited on GitHub.
DNA tension-modulated translocation and loop extrusion by SMC complexes revealed by molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Nomidis Stefanos K , Carlon Enrico , Gruber Stephan , Marko John F
Published: April 2022

Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) complexes play essential roles in genome organization across all domains of life. To determine how the activities of these large (≈50 nm) complexes are controlled by ATP binding and hydrolysis, we developed a molecular dynamics model that accounts for conformational motions of the SMC and DNA. The model combines DNA loop capture with an ATP-induced ‘power stroke’ to translocate the SMC complex along DNA. This process is sensitive to DNA tension: at low tension (0.1 pN), the model makes loop-capture steps of average 60 nm and up to 200 nm along DNA (larger than the complex itself), while at higher tension, a distinct inchworm-like translocation mode appears. By tethering DNA to an experimentally-observed additional binding site (‘safety belt’), the model SMC complex can perform loop extrusion (LE). The dependence of LE on DNA tension is distinct for fixed DNA tension vs. fixed DNA end points: LE reversal occurs above 0.5 pN for fixed tension, while LE stalling without reversal occurs at about 2 pN for fixed end points. Our model matches recent experimental results for condensin and cohesin, and makes testable predictions for how specific structural variations affect SMC function.
How clear is our current view on microbial dark matter? (Re-)assessing public MAG & SAG datasets with MDMcleaner
Authors: Vollmers John , Wiegand Sandra , Lenk Florian , Kaster Anne-Kristin
Published: April 2022

As of today, the majority of environmental microorganisms remain uncultured and is therefore referred to as ‘microbial dark matter’ (MDM). Hence, genomic insights into these organisms are limited to cultivation-independent approaches such as single-cell- and metagenomics. However, without access to cultured representatives for verifying correct taxon-assignments, MDM genomes may cause potentially misleading conclusions based on misclassified or contaminant contigs, thereby obfuscating our view on the uncultured microbial majority. Moreover, gradual database contaminations by past genome submissions can cause error propagations which affect present as well as future comparative genome analyses. Consequently, strict contamination detection and filtering need to be applied, especially in the case of uncultured MDM genomes. Current genome reporting standards, however, emphasize completeness over purity and the de facto gold standard genome assessment tool, checkM, discriminates against uncultured taxa and fragmented genomes. To tackle these issues, we present a novel contig classification, screening, and filtering workflow and corresponding open-source python implementation called MDMcleaner, which was tested and compared to other tools on mock and real datasets. MDMcleaner revealed substantial contaminations overlooked by current screening approaches and sensitively detects misattributed contigs in both novel genomes and the underlying reference databases, thereby greatly improving our view on ‘microbial dark matter’.
Efficient golden gate assembly of DNA constructs for single molecule force spectroscopy and imaging
Authors: Bell Nicholas A W , Molloy Justin E
Published: April 2022

Single-molecule techniques such as optical tweezers and fluorescence imaging are powerful tools for probing the biophysics of DNA and DNA-protein interactions. The application of these methods requires efficient approaches for creating designed DNA structures with labels for binding to a surface or microscopic beads. In this paper, we develop a simple and fast technique for making a diverse range of such DNA constructs by combining PCR amplicons and synthetic oligonucleotides using golden gate assembly rules. We demonstrate high yield fabrication of torsionally-constrained duplex DNA up to 10 kbp in length and a variety of DNA hairpin structures. We also show how tethering to a cross-linked antibody substrate significantly enhances measurement lifetime under high force. This rapid and adaptable fabrication method streamlines the assembly of DNA constructs for single molecule biophysics.
Individual Health Determinants That Predict Low Risk of Transitioning to Tobacco Use During Young Adulthood: An In-Depth Examination of Race and Ethnicity
Authors: Horn Kimberly , Crandell Ian , Patel Minal , Rose Shyanika W , Schillo Barbara , Folger Shanell , Bernat Debra , Branstetter Steve
Published: April 2022

Introduction

The present study examines the contributions of individual-level health determinants on young adult tobacco use initiation to improve understanding of racial and ethnic distinctions and to inform effective tobacco prevention strategies.

Methods

Using time-to-event analyses, the 10–wave (2011–2016) Truth Initiative Young Adult Cohort, a probability-based, nationally representative sample of the US young adults aged 18–34 years (N = 7 665), provides data to examine differences in variables that influence tobacco uptake, by race and ethnicity.

Results

Among Non–Hispanic White young adults, having fewer peers who smoke cigarettes is protective against any tobacco initiation, whereas hazard of tobacco initiation increases for males, having low confidence to resist smoking, and having higher proclivity for sensation seeking. Depressive and anxiety symptoms increase uptake hazard most in the Non–Hispanic All Other Races group and least among Non–Hispanic Black individuals. Among Hispanic young adults, being female and perceiving tobacco as harmful are notably protective while being male is a notable uptake hazard. Unlike other groups, higher income levels do not lower hazards among Hispanic individuals. Cannabis use and overestimating the smoking rate among peers increase hazard least among Hispanic individuals. In the Non–Hispanic All Other Races group, aging is least protective; hazard increases notably if individuals engage in regular alcohol or cannabis use.

Conclusions

Tobacco prevention efforts are critical during young adulthood. Specific tobacco uptake hazard and protective factors exist by race and ethnicity and should be considered when developing selective young adult prevention, particularly among groups with the highest risk for tobacco initiation during this life stage.

Implications

Rising rates of tobacco initiation among the US young adults necessitate expanded efforts to prevent tobacco use initiation and progression beyond youth. Results highlight nuanced and differential tobacco uptake hazards by race and ethnicity for late initiation and sustained non–tobacco use among young adults. The study confirms existing evidence on tobacco use patterns and contributes to new knowledge on risk and protective factors. Tobacco prevention and control interventions, including policies, tailored in more meaningful ways could reduce tobacco use disparities among those most disproportionately affected.
Rethinking the “Pan-Culture”: Clinical Impact of Respiratory Culturing in Patients With Low Pretest Probability of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Albin Owen R , Saravolatz Louis , Petrie Joshua , Henig Oryan , Kaye Keith S
Published: April 2022

Background

Respiratory cultures are often obtained as part of a “pan-culture” in mechanically ventilated patients in response to new fevers or leukocytosis, despite an absence of clinical or radiographic evidence suggestive of pneumonia.

Methods

This was a propensity score–stratified cohort study of hospitalized mechanically ventilated adult patients between 2014 and 2019, with a new abnormal temperature or serum white blood cell count (NATW), but without radiographic evidence of pneumonia, change in ventilator requirements, or documentation of purulent secretions. Two patient groups were compared: those with respiratory cultures performed within 36 hours after NATW and those without respiratory cultures performed. The co-primary outcomes were the proportion of patients receiving >2 days of total antibiotic therapy and >2 days of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy within 1 week after NATW.

Results

Of 534 included patients, 113 (21.2%) had respiratory cultures obtained and 421 (78.8%) did not. Patients with respiratory cultures performed were significantly more likely to receive antibiotics for >2 days within 1 week after NATW than those without respiratory cultures performed (total antibiotic: adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.39–4.75; broad-spectrum antibiotic: adjusted OR, 2.47, 95% CI, 1.46–4.20).

Conclusions

Performance of respiratory cultures for fever/leukocytosis in mechanically ventilated patients without increasing ventilator requirements, secretion burden, or radiographic evidence of pneumonia was associated with increased antibiotic use within 1 week after incident abnormal temperature and/or white blood cell count. Diagnostic stewardship interventions targeting performance of unnecessary respiratory cultures in mechanically ventilated patients may reduce antibiotic overuse within intensive care units.
An Anatomy-Informed, Novel Technique for S1 Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation Lead Placement
Authors: Chapman Kenneth B , van Helmond Noud , Kallewaard Jan Willem , Vissers Kris C , Patel Kiran V , Motivala Soriaya , Hagedorn Jonathan M , Deer Timothy R , Dickerson David M
Published: April 2022

Objective

A heightened and organized understanding of sacral anatomy could potentially lead to a more effective and safe method of dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S) lead placement. The aim of this technical note is to describe a standardized access method for S1 DRG-S lead placement.

Design

Technical note.

Methods

The described approach utilizes alignment of the lumbosacral prominence and is measurement-based, allowing for standardized sacral access, even when visualization is suboptimal. The medial-to-lateral needle trajectory is designed to limit interaction with the sensitive neural structures and allows for a more parallel orientation of the lead to the DRG and nerve root.

Conclusions

The described technique potentially improves the safety of S1 DRG-S lead placement. The parallel lead orientation to the DRG may also increase efficacy while lowering energy requirements.
Optimizing COVID-19 surveillance using historical electronic health records of influenza infections
Authors: Du Zhanwei , Bai Yuan , Wang Lin , Herrera-Diestra Jose L , Yuan Zhilu , Guo Renzhong , Cowling Benjamin J , Meyers Lauren A , Holme Petter
Published: April 2022

Targeting surveillance resources toward individuals at high risk of early infection can accelerate the detection of emerging outbreaks. However, it is unclear which individuals are at high risk without detailed data on interpersonal and physical contacts. We propose a data-driven COVID-19 surveillance strategy using Electronic Health Record (EHR) data that identifies the most vulnerable individuals who acquired the earliest infections during historical influenza seasons. Our simulations for all three networks demonstrate that the EHR-based strategy performs as well as the most-connected strategy. Compared to the random acquaintance surveillance, our EHR-based strategy detects the early warning signal and peak timing much earlier. On average, the EHR-based strategy has 9.8 days of early warning and 13.5 days of peak timings, respectively, before the whole population. For the urban network, the expected values of our method are better than the random acquaintance strategy (24% for early warning and 14% in-advance for peak time). For a scale-free network, the average performance of the EHR-based method is 75% of the early warning and 109% in-advance when compared with the random acquaintance strategy. If the contact structure is persistent enough, it will be reflected by their history of infection. Our proposed approach suggests that seasonal influenza infection records could be used to monitor new outbreaks of emerging epidemics, including COVID-19. This is a method that exploits the effect of contact structure without considering it explicitly.
Interspecific mating bias may drive Aedes albopictus displacement of Aedes aegypti during its range expansion
Authors: Zhou Jiayong , Liu Shuang , Liu Hongkai , Xie Zhensheng , Liu Liping , Lin Lifeng , Jiang Jinyong , Yang Mingdong , Zhou Guofa , Gu Jinbao , Zhou Xiaohong , Yan Guiyun , James Anthony A , Chen Xiao-Guang
Published: April 2022

Aedes albopictus is the most invasive mosquito in the world and often displaces Ae. aegypti in regions where their populations overlap. Interspecific mating has been proposed as a possible cause for this displacement, but whether this applies across the range of their sympatry remains unclear. Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti collected from allopatric and sympatric areas in China were allowed to interact in cage experiments with different crosses and sex-choices. The results confirm that asymmetric interspecific mating occurs in these populations with matings between allopatric Ae. albopictus males and Ae. aegypti females being significantly higher (55.2%) than those between Ae. aegypti males and Ae. albopictus females (27.0%), and sympatric mosquitoes showed a similar but lower frequency bias, 25.7% versus 6.2%, respectively. The cross-mated females can mate second time (remate) with the respective conspecific males and the 66.7% remating success of female Ae. albopictus was significantly higher than the 9.3% of Ae. aegypti females. Furthermore, 17.8% of the matings of Ae. albopictus males exposed to mixed pools of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females and 9.3% of the matings of Ae. aegypti males with mixed Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus females were interspecific. The difference in the length of clasper between male Ae. albopictus (0.524 mm) and Ae. aegypti (0.409 mm) may be correlated with corresponding mates. We conclude that stronger Ae. albopictus male interspecific mating and more avid female intraspecific remating result in a satyr effect and contribute to competitive displacement of Ae. aegypti as allopatric Ae. albopictus invade during range expansion.
Short-range contributions of local sources to ambient air
Authors: Gusareva Elena S , Gaultier Nicolas E , Uchida Akira , Premkrishnan Balakrishnan N V , Heinle Cassie E , Phung Wen J , Wong Anthony , Lau Kenny J X , Yap Zhei H , Koh Yanqing , Ang Poh N , Putra Alexander , Panicker Deepa , Lee Jessica G H , Neves Luis C , Drautz-Moses Daniela I , Schuster Stephan C
Published: April 2022

Recent developments in aerobiology have enabled the investigation of airborne biomass with high temporal and taxonomic resolution. In this study, we assess the contributions of local sources to ambient air within a 160,000 m2 tropical avian park (AP). We sequenced and analyzed 120 air samples from seven locations situated 160 to 400 m apart, representing distinct microhabitats. Each microhabitat contained a characteristic air microbiome, defined by the abundance and richness of its airborne microbial community members, supported by both, PCoA and Random Forest analysis. Each outdoor microhabitat contained 1% to 18.6% location-specific taxa, while a core microbiome of 27.1% of the total taxa was shared. To identify and assess local sources, we compared the AP dataset with a DVE reference dataset from a location 2 km away, collected during a year-round sampling campaign. Intersection of data from the two sites demonstrated 61.6% of airborne species originated from local sources of the AP, 34.5% from ambient air background, and only 3.9% of species were specific to the DVE reference site. In-depth taxonomic analysis demonstrated association of bacteria-dominated air microbiomes with indoor spaces, while fungi-dominated airborne microbial biomass was predominant in outdoor settings with ample vegetation. The approach presented here demonstrates an ability to identify local source contributions against an ambient air background, despite the prevailing mixing of air masses caused by atmospheric turbulences.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Election Administration, Voting Options, and Turnout in the 2020 US Election
Authors: Herrnson Paul S , Hanmer Michael J , Weil Matthew , Orey Rachel
Published: April 2022

COVID-19 had a major impact on how some states administered the 2020 election and little effect on others. Using a new dataset, we identify the options states introduced to make voting safer, the measures they took to encourage voters to use these options, and the options’ effects on voter turnout. We show that most states introduced few, if any, significant changes in voting policies. We identify relationships between the states’ responses and preexisting election policies, party control of government, and other state characteristics. We also demonstrate the introduction of safe voting options had an effect on aggregate voter turnout. The results give insights into factors that influence election policymaking and the prospects for future election reforms.
Grotesque transparency and public health communication: the aesthetics and the ethics of ill bodies in the era of digital networks
Authors: Nahon-Serfaty Isaac
Published: April 2022

Background

We discuss the aesthetics of grotesque transparency in public health communication campaigns and health-related social marketing initiatives, and its strategic and ethical implications.

Methods

Some emblematic cases are discussed illustrating the relevance of the grotesque transparency strategy.

Results

These case studies show aesthetical and emotional considerations that public health scholars and professionals should carefully consider in the context of an expansive visual culture driven by digital communications. They also indicate that with the advent of technologies that expand the capabilities of manipulating and diffusing images the role of the transparently grotesque is more prevalent in public health and social marketing initiatives.

Discussion

The study of grotesque transparency is particularly important when facing emerging global public health challenges, such as pandemics and climate change-related health issues, in a disruptive communication ecosystem.
Socio-economics beyond the Global North
Authors: Jackson Gregory
Published: April 2022

This editorial argues for understanding socio-economics as an interdisciplinary space. While economic sociology and political economy are largely grounded in disciplines, the scope of socio-economics extends beyond any disciplinary subfields. But rather than a grand integration, a realistic aspiration behind this project is establishing a space of dialogue and engagement between them. Here scholarly innovation can take place in a more phenomenon-driven form and via eclectic borrowing and blending of discipline-based theories and methods. The next challenge facing socio-economics is to expand this interdisciplinary space from encompassing the Global North to engage with scholarship on and scholars from the Global South. This long-term challenge reflects very deep economic and social inequalities. The editorial offers several modest observations regarding the practices of writing and publication, while calling for a wider conversation about these issues. Specifically, the editorial highlights the potential of leveraging cross-context engagement with concepts to further new theoretical development.
Queer Social Control and the Homonormative Bargain: Sexual Harassment in the Era of Open LGBT Military Service
Authors: Connell Cati
Published: April 2022

Until recently, opportunities to analyze the sexual harassment of LGBTs in the U.S. military were constrained by their formal exclusion; the existing research was largely conducted under the conditions of closed service, which were crucial to its operation. This article considers if and how sexual harassment is being re-conceptualized in the era of open service. Using in-depth interviews, I assess how current, future, and former service members narrate the emergence of open service and its relationship to sexual harassment. Although sexual blackmail may have lost some of its purchase under these conditions, I find that discussions and enactments of sexual harassment play a central role in containing the threat of queer contamination that has been introduced by open service. These are practices of what I term “queer social control” and demonstrate one of many reasons why inclusion should not be mistaken for acceptance; rather than resisting heterocisnormativity and the military’s role in its maintenance, the dynamics of LGBT incorporation actually reinforce it. This seemingly paradoxical finding is, in fact, the only logical outcome of the homonormative bargain that has been struck in the name of advancing LGBT rights.
Gendered Perceptions of Personality Traits, Policy Stereotypes, and Support for Right-Wing Populist Parties: Lessons from Turkey
Authors: Yildirim Tevfik Murat , Bulut Alper Tolga
Published: April 2022

Although several studies have examined the relationship between gender and support for right-wing populist parties, much of the scholarly attention has focused on explaining the gender gap in populist-party support. This article shifts the focus to gender stereotypes, which we argue are closely related to the macho-type policy style of populist-political parties. Utilizing an original survey conducted in Turkey, we examined how gender-based personality traits and policy stereotypes—the belief that women and men are better at handling different issue areas, and that they have different personality traits—correlate with support for the incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP). We show that male and female policy stereotypes are significantly associated with both the right-wing populist AKP support and support for the secular opposition parties, albeit in opposite ways. These results suggest that support for right-wing populist parties is multidimensional and consists of gendered perceptions of competence, traits, and key socioeconomic characteristics.
Safety and Efficacy of the Intra-articular Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Knee: A 5-Year Follow-up Study
Authors: Kim Kang-Il , Lee Woo-Suk , Kim Jun-Ho , Bae Jung-Kwon , Jin Wook
Published: April 2022

Although successful short-term results of the intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the conservative treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been reported, the mid-term results of the injection of adipose-derived (AD) MSCs remains unknown. We assessed the mid-term safety and efficacy of the intra-articular injection of ADMSCs in patients with knee OA. Eleven patients with knee OA were prospectively enrolled and underwent serial evaluations during a 5-year follow-up of a single intra-articular injection of autologous high-dose (1.0 × 108) ADMSCs. The safety profiles were assessed using the World Health Organization Common Toxicity Criteria. The clinical evaluations included visual analog scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores for pain and function, respectively. The radiologic evaluations included chondral defect area and whole-organ magnetic resonance imaging scores (WORMS) by serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hip-knee-ankle axis (HKAA) and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades were assessed on simple radiographs. No treatment-related adverse events occurred during the 5-year follow-up. Both VAS and total WOMAC scores improved significantly at 6 months after the injection and until the latest follow-up. Total WORMS was significantly improved until 3 years after the injection. However, the chondral defect size on MRI or other radiologic evaluations did not change significantly. A single intra-articular injection of autologous, high-dose ADMSCs provided safe and clinical improvement without radiologic aggravation for 5 years. Furthermore, structural changes in the osteoarthritic knee showed significant improvement up to 3 years, suggesting a possible option for disease-modifying outpatient treatment for patients with knee OA.
Natural justice and the Court’s supervisory jurisdiction
Authors: Machell QC John , Fritz Dan McCourt
Published: April 2022

The Court’s supervisory jurisdiction over the administration of trusts is a cornerstone of the law and well known to practitioners. However, although there are countless decided cases in which Courts around the common law world have made decisions and exercised powers that have their footing in the supervisory jurisdiction, and the topic is addressed in detail in Daniel Clarry’s excellent “The Supervisory Jurisdiction over Trust Administration”,1 there is surprisingly little consideration in the authorities of the juridical foundation of the jurisdiction and the ways in which the role of the Court differs from that played in ordinary adversarial litigation. One point that has not, until recently, been considered in the decided cases is the extent to which rules of natural justice apply when the Court exercises its supervisory jurisdiction and in particular whether a trustee has a right to be heard prior to being removed. The purpose of this article is to consider this issue and the Court of Appeal of Bermuda’s recent decision in St. John’s Trust Company (PVT) Ltd v Medlands (PTC) Ltd.2
Public Trust v Kain: New Zealand courts address the relevance of a settlor’s wishes and of distributions from separate, related trusts in administering a trust
Authors: Smith Martin , Coupe Sean
Published: April 2022

The New Zealand High Court and Court of Appeal recently considered an application by a trustee for directions as to the administration of two high-value family trusts. The application raised two issues of general interest. First, the relevance of a settlor’s wishes. The courts held that it is necessary for a trustee to read and understand a settlor’s statement of wishes. A trustee is then entitled to take those wishes into account substantively in its decision-making, but it is not required to do so. The trustee must exercise its independent judgement within the terms and purpose of the trust. This applies also to a statement of wishes made by the settlor subsequent to the settlement of the trust, with such a later statement tending to supersede any earlier statement. Second, the courts considered the relevance of distributions from separate, related trusts. The courts held that a trustee is entitled, but not required, to take into account in administering the trust any benefits the beneficiaries have received or may receive from separate trusts established by the same settlor.