bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex and State-Dependent Effects on Proactive Behaviors of Bent-Wing Bats Across Contexts
Authors: Kuo Y-J , Lee Y-F , Kuo Y-M , Tai Y L
Published: December 2023

Synopsis

Animals within a population may show distinct behavioral types that differ consistently among individuals over time and across contexts, collectively known as animal personality. Individual state variables arising from intrinsic features of organisms and their interactions with the environment may contribute to or aid in maintaining these interindividual behavioral differences. The present study examined the effects of body mass, body condition, flight morphology, and parasite load on the personality traits of bent-wing bats Miniopterus fuliginosus. We assessed the bats in three testing contexts—hole-board box (HB), tunnel-box (TB), and flight-tent (FT)—that mimicked their natural environmental settings and allowed for different locomotion modes. A principal component analysis loaded the three mutually positively correlated personality traits of the bats—boldness, activity, and exploration—in each context onto a single component of proactiveness. In accordance with the AIC criteria, sex, body mass, body condition index, and wingtip shape were selected as predictors for the proactiveness of the bats in the TB and FT tests. In the HB tests, the biomass and abundances of parasitic bat flies were additionally selected, but body condition was excluded. We found a negative effect of the body mass on the proactiveness of the female bats in both the HB and FT tests, and that on the proactiveness of the male bats in the HB tests but not so in the FT tests. The sexual differences and negative correlation between the body mass of the bats and their proactive responsiveness are consistent with the mechanism of state-dependent energy assimilation efficiency. Our results may also concur with the predicted feedback mechanism stemming from the characteristic conditions associated with the environment of the bats. This latter inference offers insights for exploring the patterns of personality traits along gradients or the seasonality of ecological conditions.
Prosthetic joint infections: 6 weeks of oral antibiotics results in a low failure rate
Authors: Roger Pierre-Marie , Assi Frédéric , Denes Eric
Published: December 2023

Background

Need for parenteral administration and total duration of antibiotic therapy for prosthetic joint infection (PJI) are debated. We report our PJI management, in which outpatient care is privileged.

Methods

This was a retrospective multicentre cohort study of PJI managed from January 2017 to Jun 2021. Microbial diagnosis was based on surgical samples. Surgical procedures and antibiotic treatments were reported. Chronic PJI was defined by a course >1 month. Oral antibiotic therapy (OAT) was defined by exclusive use of oral antibiotics or by ≤3 days of parenteral treatments. Management failure was defined by clinical and/or microbial relapse of PJI over 24 months after surgical treatment.

Results

One hundred and seventy-two patients from 13 institutions were included: 103 were male (60%) and mean age was (±SD): 73 ± 12 years. Sites for PJI were mainly hip (50%) and knee (35%), being chronic infections in 70 cases (41%). The main bacterial genus in monomicrobial infections was Staphylococcus spp. (60%). We recorded 41 (24%) implant exchanges. An OAT was prescribed in 76 cases (44%), and the median (range) course for parenteral route was 6 days (4–180) for 96 cases. Median (range) duration of antimicrobials was 42 days (21–180). Management failure was observed in 7/76 (9.2%) cases treated with OAT and 15/96 (15.6%) treated with prolonged parenteral therapy. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for failure were a knee PJI [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 3.27 (1.27–8.40)] and a polymicrobial infection [4.09 (1.46–11.49)].

Conclusions

OAT for 6 weeks for PJI was associated with a low rate of management failure.
Towards a ‘security-centred’ energy transition: balancing the European Union’s ambitions and geopolitical realities
Authors: Marhold Anna-Alexandra
Published: December 2023

The European Union (EU) faces a pressing, multi-level energy crisis propelled by the perfect storm of Russia’s war in Ukraine and rapidly progressing climate change. As a result, the EU is scrambling to ensure it has sufficient energy supplies for the foreseeable future while reinventing its energy strategy in the long term. Since the EU is at a critical juncture for squaring EU energy security with European and international legal commitments, this article surveys this radical shift and its consequences. It analyses new EU-wide crisis-response tools and ad hoc bilateral arrangements with third countries against existing legal commitments. Recent developments are only the beginning of a much larger re-evaluation of core notions of the ‘trade-energy security’ nexus. To decarbonize, the EU must move towards a ‘security-centred’ energy transition, premised on ‘security first, compliance second’. This requires reassessing the notion of ‘protectionism’ in geopolitically sensitive areas and the current division of energy competences between the EU and its Member States.
A case of otogenic septic arthritis of the knee
Authors: Ozbek Leyla , Kyriakides Jonathon , Asokan Ajay
Published: December 2023

Septic arthritis is a serious condition resulting in rapid destruction of articular cartilage and potential sepsis. Bacterial invasion of a joint occurs most commonly as a result of haematogenous spread from a distant infection. However, an otogenic source of this transient bacteraemia and resultant septic arthritis has not yet been reported in the literature. We report a case of acute septic arthritis of the knee with Streptococcus pyogenes, secondary to acute otitis media of the ear.
Safety assessment of potential probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus AM13-1 with high cholesterol-lowering capability isolated from human gut
Authors: Liu Xudong , Wang Mengmeng , Hu Tongyuan , Lin Xiaoqian , Liang Hewei , Li Wenxi , Zhao Shaowei , Zhong Yiyi , Zhang Haifeng , Ge Lan , Jin Xin , Xiao Liang , Zou Yuanqiang
Published: December 2023

An important risk factor for cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia, especially abnormal cholesterol levels. The relation between probiotics and cholesterol-lowering capability has been extensively studied. Lactobacillus acidophilus plays a significant role in affecting host health, and produces multitudinous metabolites, which have prohibitory functions against pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we identified a cholesterol-lowering strain AM13-1, isolated from a fecal sample obtained from a healthy adult male, and performed comprehensive function analysis by whole-genome analysis and in vitro experiments. Genome analyses of L. acidophilus AM13-1 revealed that carbohydrate and amino acid transport, metabolism, translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis are abundant categories of functional genes. No virulence factors or toxin genes with experimentally verified were found in the genome of strain AM13-1. Besides, plenty of probiotic-related genes were predicted from the L. acidophilus AM13-1 genome, such as cbh, atpA-D, and dltD, with functions related to cholesterol-lowering and acid resistance. And strain AM13-1 showed high-efficiency of bile salt hydrolase activity and the capacity for removing cholesterol with efficiency rates of 70%. These function properties indicate that strain AM13-1 can be considered as a probiotic candidate for use in food and health care products.
Search for merger ejecta emission from late-time radio observations of short GRBs using GMRT
Authors: Ghosh Ankur , Vaishnava C S , Resmi L , Misra Kuntal , Arun K G , Omar Amitesh , Chakradhari N K
Published: December 2023

In some cases, the merger of two neutron stars can produce a rapidly rotating and highly magnetized millisecond magnetar. A significant proportion of the rotational energy deposited to the emerging ejecta can produce a late-time radio brightening from interacting with the ambient medium. Detection of this late-time radio emission from short GRBs can have profound implications for understanding the physics of the progenitor. We report the radio observations of five short GRBs – 050709, 061210, 100625A, 140903A, and 160821B using the legacy Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 1250, 610, and 325 MHz frequencies and the upgraded-GMRT (uGMRT) at band 5 (1050–1450 MHz) and band 4 (550–900 MHz) after ∼2–11 yr from the time of the burst. The GMRT observations at low frequencies are particularly important to detect the signature of merger ejecta emission at the peak. These observations are the most delayed searches associated with some GRBs for any late-time low-frequency emission. We find no evidence for such an emission. We find that none of these GRBs is consistent with maximally rotating magnetar with a rotational energy of $\sim 10^{53}\, {\rm erg}$. However, magnetars with lower rotational energies cannot be completely ruled out. Despite the non-detection, our study underscores the power of radio observations in the search for magnetar signatures associated with short GRBs. However, only future radio observatories may be able to detect these signatures or put more stringent constraints on the model.
Experimental H2O formation on carbonaceous dust grains at temperatures up to 85 K
Authors: Grieco F , Dulieu F , De Looze I , Baouche S
Published: December 2023

Water represents the main component of the icy mantles on dust grains, it is of extreme importance for the formation of new species and it represents the main component for life. Water is observed both in the gas-phase and frozen in the interstellar medium (ISM), where the solid-phase formation route has been proven essential to explain abundances in molecular clouds. So far, experiments have focused on very low temperatures (around 10 K). We present the experimental evidence of solid water formation on coronene, PAH-like surface, for a higher range of temperatures. Water is efficiently formed up to 85 K through the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen atomic beams with a carbonaceous grain analogue. The beams are aimed towards the surface connected to a cryostat exploring temperatures from 10 to 100 K. The results are obtained with a QMS and analysed through a temperature-programmed desorption technique. We observe an efficient water formation on coronene from 10 up to 85 K mimicking the temperature conditions from the dense ISM to translucent regions, where the ice mantle onset is supposed to start. The results show the catalytic nature of coronene and the role of chemisorption processes. The formation of the icy mantles could be happening in less dense and warmer environments, helping explaining oxygen depletion in the ISM. The findings have several applications such as the disappearance of PAHs in translucent regions and the snowlines of protoplanetary discs. We stress on how JWST projects characterizing PAHs can be combined with H2O observations to study water formation at warm temperatures.
A spectral study of GRS 1915+105 during its March 2017 NuSTAR observations
Authors: Chauhan Jaiverdhan , Bharali Priya , Lohfink Anne , Abdulghani Youssef , Davidson Eric
Published: December 2023

The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array Mission (NuSTAR) observed the enigmatic microquasar GRS 1915+105 twice, on 2017 March 26 and 28. Using these NuSTAR observations, we performed a time-resolved spectral analysis. We detected a type C quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) along with the harmonic and the sub-harmonic in both epochs. From our spectral modelling, we found a dual reflection component, where one of the components comes from the hot inner flow and the second component originates from the exterior region of the accretion disc. Additionally, we found strong, highly ionized accretion disc winds as indicated by Fe xxv (on 2017 March 26) and Fe xxvi (on 2017 March 28) absorption lines, likely ultrafast outflows. Finally, at the end of the second observation, we detected variability class, which marked the onset of heartbeat oscillations in the X-ray light curve. We perform time-resolved spectral analysis to comprehend the physical conditions responsible for the onset of the heartbeat. We found that the accretion disc became highly ionized (log ξ > 4), and the high-energy cut-off showed some signs of increase, approaching >100 keV before the onset of the heartbeat class. We have not detected any signature of accretion disc instabilities thought to cause the heartbeat oscillations. We also found a strong positive correlation between the QPO frequency and the power-law index.
Proper motions in the sub-kiloparsec jet of 3C 78: novel constraints on the physical nature of relativistic jets
Authors: Roychowdhury Agniva , Meyer Eileen T , Georganopoulos Markos , Kollmann Kassidy
Published: December 2023

Jets from active galactic nuclei are thought to play a role in the evolution of their host and local environments, but a detailed prescription is limited by the understanding of the jets themselves. Proper motion studies of compact bright components in radio jets can be used to produce model-independent constraints on their Lorentz factor, necessary to understand the quantity of energy deposited in the intergalactic medium. We present our initial work on the jet of radio–galaxy 3C 78, as part of Catalogue of proper motions in active galactic nuclei using Very Large Array Studies (CAgNVAS), with a goal of constraining nature of jet plasma on larger (>100 parsec) scales. In 3C 78, we find three prominent knots (A, B, and C), where knot B undergoes sub-luminal longitudinal motion (∼0.6c at ∼ 200 pc), while knot C undergoes extreme (apparent) backward motion and eventual forward motion (∼−2.6c, 0.5c, at ∼ 300 pc). Assuming knots are shocks, we infer the bulk speeds from the pattern motion of Knots B and C. We model the spectral energy distribution of the large-scale jet and observe that a physically motivated two-zone model can explain most of the observed emission. We also find that the jet profile remains approximately conical from parsec to kiloparsec scales. Using the parsec-scale speed from very long baseline interferometry studies (∼0.1c) and the derived bulk speeds, we find that the jet undergoes bulk acceleration between the parsec and the kiloparsec scales providing the first direct evidence of jet acceleration in a conical and matter-dominated jet.
Dynamics in Star-forming Cores (DiSCo): project overview and the first look towards the B1 and NGC 1333 regions in Perseus
Authors: Chen Che-Yu , Friesen Rachel , Li Jialu , Schmiedeke Anika , Frayer David , Li Zhi-Yun , Tobin John , Looney Leslie W , Offner Stella , Mundy Lee G , Harris Andrew I , Church Sarah , Ostriker Eve C , Pineda Jaime E , Hsieh Tien-Hao , Lam Ka Ho
Published: December 2023

The internal velocity structure within dense gaseous cores plays a crucial role in providing the initial conditions for star formation in molecular clouds. However, the kinematic properties of dense gas at core scales (∼0.01−0.1 pc) has not been extensively characterized because of instrument limitations until the unique capabilities of GBT-Argus became available. The ongoing GBT-Argus Large Program, Dynamics in Star-forming Cores (DiSCo) thus aims to investigate the origin and distribution of angular momentum of star-forming cores. DiSCo will survey all starless cores and Class 0 protostellar cores in the Perseus molecular complex down to ∼0.01 pc scales with <0.05 km s−1 velocity resolution using the dense gas tracer N2H+. Here, we present the first data sets from DiSCo towards the B1 and NGC 1333 regions in Perseus. Our results suggest that a dense core’s internal velocity structure has little correlation with other core-scale properties, indicating these gas motions may be originated externally from cloud-scale turbulence. These first data sets also reaffirm the ability of GBT-Argus for studying dense core velocity structure and provided an empirical basis for future studies that address the angular momentum problem with a statistically broad sample.
Detection of diffuse H i emission in the circumgalactic medium of NGC 891 and NGC 4565 - II
Authors: Das Sanskriti , Rickel Mary , Leroy Adam , Pingel Nickolas M , Pisano D J , Heald George , Mathur Smita , Kingsbury Joshua , Sardone Amy
Published: December 2023

We probe the neutral circumgalactic medium (CGM) along the major axes of NGC 891 and NGC 4565 in 21-cm emission out to ≳100 kpc using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), extending our previous minor axes observations. We achieve an unprecedented 5σ sensitivity of 6.1 × 1016 cm−2 per 20 km s−1 velocity channel. We detect H i with diverse spectral shapes, velocity widths, and column densities. We compare our detections to the interferometric maps from the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) obtained as part of the HALOGAS survey. At small impact parameters, $\gt 31\!-\!43~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the emission detected by the GBT cannot be explained by emission seen in the WSRT maps, and it increases to $\gt 64\!-\!73~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at large impact parameters. This implies the presence of diffuse circumgalactic H i. The mass ratio between H i in the CGM and H i in the disc is an order of magnitude larger than previous estimates based on shallow GBT mapping. The diffuse H i along the major axes pointings is corotating with the H i disc. The velocity along the minor axes pointings is consistent with an inflow and/or fountain in NGC 891 and an inflow/outflow in NGC 4565. Including the circumgalactic H i, the depletion time and the accretion rate of NGC 4565 are sufficient to sustain its star formation. In NGC 891, most of the required accreting material is still missing.
A differentiable perturbation-based weak lensing shear estimator
Authors: Li Xiangchong , Mandelbaum Rachel , Jarvis Mike , Li Yin , Park Andy , Zhang Tianqing
Published: December 2023

Upcoming imaging surveys will use weak gravitational lensing to study the large-scale structure of the Universe, demanding sub-per cent accuracy for precise cosmic shear measurements. We present a new differentiable implementation of our perturbation-based shear estimator (fpfs), using jax, which is publicly available as part of a new suite of analytic shear algorithms called anacal. This code can analytically calibrate the shear response of any non-linear observable constructed with the fpfs shapelets and detection modes utilizing autodifferentiation (ad), generalizing the formalism to include a family of shear estimators with corrections for detection and selection biases. Using the ad capability of jax, it calculates the full Hessian matrix of the non-linear observables, which improves the previously presented second-order noise bias correction in the shear estimation. As an illustration of the power of the new anacal framework, we optimize the effective galaxy number density in the space of the generalized shear estimators using an LSST-like galaxy image simulation for the 10 yr LSST. For the generic shear estimator, the magnitude of the multiplicative bias |m| is below 3 × 10−3 (99.7 per cent confidence interval), and the effective galaxy number density is improved by 5 per cent . We also discuss some planned future additions to the anacal software suite to extend its applicability beyond the fpfs measurements.
The RNA helicase Dbp10 coordinates assembly factor association with PTC maturation during ribosome biogenesis
Authors: Mitterer Valentin , Hamze Hussein , Kunowska Natalia , Stelzl Ulrich , Henras Anthony K , Hurt Ed
Published: December 2023

During ribosome biogenesis a plethora of assembly factors and essential enzymes drive the unidirectional maturation of nascent pre-ribosomal subunits. The DEAD-box RNA helicase Dbp10 is suggested to restructure pre-ribosomal rRNA of the evolving peptidyl-transferase center (PTC) on nucleolar ribosomal 60S assembly intermediates. Here, we show that point mutations within conserved catalytic helicase-core motifs of Dbp10 yield a dominant-lethal growth phenotype. Such dbp10 mutants, which stably associate with pre-60S intermediates, impair pre-60S biogenesis at a nucleolar stage prior to the release of assembly factor Rrp14 and stable integration of late nucleolar factors such as Noc3. Furthermore, the binding of the GTPase Nug1 to particles isolated directly via mutant Dbp10 bait proteins is specifically inhibited. The N-terminal domain of Nug1 interacts with Dbp10 and the methyltransferase Spb1, whose pre-60S incorporation is also reduced in absence of functional Dbp10 resulting in decreased methylation of 25S rRNA nucleotide G2922. Our data suggest that Dbp10’s helicase activity generates the necessary framework for assembly factor docking thereby permitting PTC rRNA methylation and the progression of pre-60S maturation.
MGMT function determines the differential response of ATR inhibitors with DNA-damaging agents in glioma stem cells for GBM therapy
Authors: Leong Vincent W S , Khan Sabbir , Sharma Pratibha , Wu Shaofang , Thomas Riya R , Li Xiaolong , Singh Sanjay K , Lang Frederick F , Yung Alfred W K , Koul Dimpy
Published: December 2023

Background

The most prevalent cancer treatments cause cell death through DNA damage. However, DNA damage response (DDR) repair pathways, initiated by tumor cells, can withstand the effects of anticancer drugs, providing justification for combining DDR inhibitors with DNA-damaging anticancer treatments.

Methods

Cell viability assays were performed with CellTiter-Glo assay. DNA damage was evaluated using Western blotting analysis. RNA-seq and single-cell level expression were used to identify the DDR signatures. In vivo, studies were conducted in mice to determine the effect of ATris on TMZ sensitization.

Results

We found a subpopulation of glioma sphere-forming cells (GSCs) with substantial synergism with temozolomide (TMZ) using a panel of 3 clinical-grade ataxia-telangiectasia- and Rad3-related kinase inhibitors (ATRis), (elimusertib, berzosertib, and ceralasertib). Interestingly, most synergistic cell lines had O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation, indicating that ATRi mainly benefits tumors with no MGMT repair. Further, TMZ activated the ATR-checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) axis in an MGMT-dependent way. TMZ caused ATR-dependent Chk1 phosphorylation and DNA double-strand breaks as shown by increased γH2AX. Increased DNA damage and decreased Chk1 phosphorylation were observed upon the addition of ATRis to TMZ in MGMT-methylated (MGMT-) GSCs. TMZ also improved sensitivity to ATRis in vivo, as shown by increased mouse survival with the TMZ and ATRi combination treatment.

Conclusions

This research provides a rationale for selectively targeting MGMT-methylated cells using ATRis and TMZ combination. Overall, we believe that MGMT methylation status in GBM could serve as a robust biomarker for patient selection for ATRi combined with TMZ.
Contradictions in Heritage Tourism
Authors: López Varela Sandra L. , Estrada-Belli Francisco
Published: December 2023

This chapter discusses the contradictions of heritage tourism as a strategy for economic growth and development through two mega infrastructure projects, promising to massively boost the local economy and overcome poverty levels in Mexico and Guatemala. Each project varies in its complexities and institutional support. The Maya Train Project, launched by Mexico’s government, will run through the Yucatán Peninsula and neighboring Mexican states. The El Mirador–Calakmul Basin Development Project in Guatemala is an initiative of foreign archaeologists who have sought international support, mainly from the U.S. government. Both projects have faced strong opposition from local communities. Behind these projects is a doctrine of unbridled progress and growth, drawing its authority from culturally dominant western science, with archaeologists and institutions actively endorsing their premises to build “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world.” The analysis of these controversial projects exemplifies how such large-scale infrastructure projects stimulating an already failed tourist market support the sustainability of neocolonialist archaeology aligned with the interests of private corporations and the progression of militarized states in Latin America.
Facets of India’s Illiberalism
Authors: Jaffrelot Christophe
Published: December 2023

Since 2014, India’s illiberalism has found expression in the authoritarian politics of the Modi government. Since then, checks and balances have declined, dissenting voices have been repressed, and the concentration of power (including economic power) in the hands of a few people has increased. This new orientation relies on an ethno-nationalist ideology, Hindutva, that is embodied in a century-old movement, the RSS, which has developed a huge network across society (including a student union and a labor union). This network comprises vigilante groups that—backed by the ruling party, the BJP—routinely target religious minorities, including Muslims. Anti-individualism, the social dimension of the Hindu nationalist brand of illiberalism, translates into hierarchies inherited from the caste system. Gender relations are also articulated in a traditionalist manner. Society being seen as a living organism, the state is not supposed to play a major role in this brand of illiberalism.
“Together in the leaves of the book”
Authors: Bose Brinda
Published: December 2023

Modernist poetry has always wrestled with the impossibility of articulation and the limits of language. In reading a selection of poems by two Bengali poets of the 20th century—Jibanananda Das and Binoy Majumdar—this chapter suggests that Bengali avant-garde modernist poetry attempts a sleight of poetic hand that elides this dilemma by transforming desire into poetry, rather than by attempting to express desire in poetry. No human gratification of passion remains relevant then; nor is the poem simply its approximation or representation in language. Instead, the poem becomes a material embodiment of human desire: fulfilled, failed, needy. This chapter asks if this metamorphosis can be seen as a queer praxis of poetry-making, because in its production of a desire—a poem—that distills gratification and its embedded failure at once, it becomes anti-normative. Politically, it uses the textured body of the poem on a page to both assert desire and predict its loss, vulnerability, and death.
Voices of Resistance
Authors: Gangopadhyay Rudrani
Published: December 2023

The postmillennial Indian anglophone graphic narrative field has experienced a boom of womxn creators and feminist narratives, which provide an interesting view of the contemporary gendered experience in India. This chapter explores feminist futurities in postmillennial Indian graphic narrative through a study of Kari by Amruta Patil and Shaheen Bagh: A Graphic Recollection by Ita Mehrotra. Feminism’s future (and certainly postfeminism) relies on a combination of and a dialogue between current activism and continued aspirations. In their engagement with intersectional issues like sexuality, queer lives, communalism, ethno-racial conflict, democracy, citizenship, and belonging, Kari and Shaheen Bagh reveal the text as a site for this dialogue to unfold, where institutionalized and grassroots efforts merge with lived experiences and art. Reading the feminist intellectual project as a part and also an extension of current political movements, and thinking of futurity as emergent, the chapter traces the different directions in which Patil’s and Mehrotra’s works navigate women’s lives and issues in India.
Procedural Rights and Criminal Procedure
Authors: Fukurai Hiroshi
Published: December 2023

To strengthen procedural rights in criminal cases, many Asian countries have considered incorporating lay participation into criminal proceedings. South Korea introduced all-citizen criminal jury trials in 2008. The People’s Republic of China strengthened its lay assessor system in the early 2000s and introduced the People’s Supervisor System in 2010 to monitor the fairness of prosecutorial decision-making. In 2009, Japan strengthened its grand jury system (Prosecution Review Commissions), and it introduced a quasi-jury mixed system called Saiban-in Seido. Taiwan introduced a mixed tribunal in 2023 after many years of civic activism calling for reform. Other Asian jurisdictions continue to engage in national discussions on the possible introduction of lay adjudication to their respective criminal justice systems. This chapter examines the development of lay participation in criminal adjudication in East and Southeast Asia. It situates these developments within the broader context of reforms to bolster the constitutional protection of procedural rights in criminal cases.
Oil Price Exposure and the Cross-Section of Stock Returns
Authors: Moore Jordan , Velikov Mihail
Published: December 2023

We provide evidence that equity investors are slow to process information about how current oil price changes affect future earnings announcements. Stock prices respond to lagged quarterly oil price changes when firms start announcing earnings in the next quarter. A cross-sectional equity trading strategy that exploits this predictability yields an annualized Sharpe ratio of 0.50. Our oil-response forecast strategy earns especially high returns after large absolute oil price changes, in recessions or bear markets, and during peak earnings season. The predictability we document is consistent with limited attention, is not driven by risk factor exposure, and survives several robustness tests. (JEL G10, G11, G14, G40, Q41)
Increased expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 alters early T‐cell receptor signaling and differentiation of CD4+ T cells in chronic heart failure
Authors: Liu Meilin , Xia Ni , Zha Lingfeng , Yang Haoyi , Gu Muyang , Hao Zhiheng , Zhu Xinyu , Li Nana , He Junyi , Tang Tingting , Nie Shaofang , Zhang Min , Lv Bingjie , Lu Yuzhi , Jiao Jiao , Li Jingyong , Cheng Xiang
Published: December 2023

CD4+ T‐cell counts are increased and activated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), whereas regulatory T‐cell (Treg) expansion is inhibited, probably due to aberrant T‐cell receptor (TCR) signaling. TCR signaling is affected by protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22) in autoimmune disorders, but whether PTPN22 influences TCR signaling in CHF remains unclear. This observational case–control study included 45 patients with CHF [18 patients with ischemic heart failure versus 27 patients with nonischemic heart failure (NIHF)] and 16 non‐CHF controls. We used flow cytometry to detect PTPN22 expression, tyrosine phosphorylation levels, zeta‐chain‐associated protein kinase, 70 kDa (ZAP‐70) inhibitory residue tyrosine 292 and 319 phosphorylation levels, and CD4+ T cell and Treg proportions. We conducted lentivirus‐mediated PTPN22 RNA silencing in isolated CD4+ T cells. PTPN22 expression increased in the CD4+ T cells of patients with CHF compared with that in controls. PTPN22 expression was positively correlated with left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter and type B natriuretic peptide but negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction in the NIHF group. ZAP‐70 tyrosine 292 phosphorylation was decreased, which correlated positively with PTPN22 overexpression in patients with NIHF and promoted early TCR signaling. PTPN22 silencing induced Treg differentiation in CD4+ T cells from patients with CHF, which might account for the reduced frequency of peripheral Tregs in these patients. PTPN22 is a potent immunomodulator in CHF and might play an essential role in the development of CHF by promoting early TCR signaling and impairing Treg differentiation from CD4+ T cells.
TAF7L regulates early stages of male germ cell development in the rat
Authors: Moreno‐Irusta Ayelen , Dominguez Esteban M. , Iqbal Khursheed , Zhang Xiaoyu , Wang Ning , Soares Michael J.
Published: December 2023

Male germ cell development is dependent on the orchestrated regulation of gene networks. TATA‐box binding protein associated factors (TAFs) facilitate interactions of TATA‐binding protein with the TATA element, which is known to coordinate gene transcription during organogenesis. TAF7 like (Taf7l) is situated on the X chromosome and has been implicated in testis development. We examined the biology of TAF7L in testis development using the rat. Taf7l was prominently expressed in preleptotene to leptotene spermatocytes. To study the impact of TAF7L on the testis we generated a global loss‐of‐function rat model using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Exon 3 of the Taf7l gene was targeted. A founder was generated possessing a 110 bp deletion within the Taf7l locus, which resulted in a frameshift and the premature appearance of a stop codon. The mutation was effectively transmitted through the germline. Deficits in TAF7L did not adversely affect pregnancy or postnatal survival. However, the Taf7l disruption resulted in male infertility due to compromised testis development and failed sperm production. Mutant germ cells suffer meiotic arrest at late zygotene/early pachynema stages, with defects in sex body formation. This testis phenotype was more pronounced than previously described for the subfertile Taf7l null mouse. We conclude that TAF7L is essential for male germ cell development in the rat.
Academic and Demographic Characteristics of Pediatric Orthopaedic Division Chiefs in the United States
Authors: Proal Joshua D. , Maqsoodi Noorullah , Abela Daniele , Curry Emily J. , Mesfin Addisu , Li Xinning
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Division Chiefs (DCs) and department leadership play an integral role within the service. The goal of this study is to assess the demographics and scholarly work of the leadership in pediatric orthopaedics services across the United States and comment on the role of diversity within leadership positions.

Methods:

Academic medical centers and pediatric hospitals were identified using the Electronic Residency Application Service website, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America website, and the Children’s Hospital Association website. Leadership was identified using the hospitals’ respective websites where data such as sex, race/ethnicity, fellowship institution, time since graduating fellowship, and academic rank were collected. Scopus database was used to determine h-indices and PubMed was used to determine the number of publications.

Results:

Of 196 academic centers and 223 pediatric hospitals identified, 98 had a designated DC of the pediatric orthopaedics division. The majority of the DCs were male (85.7%), and leadership positions at hospitals with academic affiliations had a higher proportion of female DCs than nonacademic centers (P=0.0317). DCs were mostly white (83.7%), followed by Asian (12.2%), and African American (2.0%). The average time since fellowship was 21.1 years and the average h-index was 15.7. The average age of the DCs was 56.8 years old. Of those in academic settings, 48.5% held the rank of professor. The fellowship programs that trained the most DCs were Boston Children’s Hospital (16.3%) and Texas Scottish Rite for Children (14.3%).

Discussion:

There is a paucity of available research on leadership characteristics in pediatric orthopaedic surgery. While progress has been made, there is still a lack of diversity that exists among leadership in pediatric orthopaedics, both within the academic setting as well as the private sector. The position of DC is held predominately by white males with a rank of either professor or no academic association. Intentional efforts are needed to continue to increase diversity in leadership positions within pediatric orthopaedic programs in the United States.

Level of Evidence:

IV
Clinical Outcomes of PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors Among Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer With BRAF, ERBB2/HER2, MET, or RET Alterations: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Akers Katherine G. , Oskar Sabine , Zhao Bin , Frederickson Andrew M. , Arunachalam Ashwini
Published: December 2023

The therapeutic landscape for patients with advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is rapidly evolving due to advances in molecular testing and the development of new targeted therapies and immunotherapies. However, the efficacy of programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors in advanced or metastatic patients with NSCLC whose tumors harbor BRAF V600E mutation, HER2/ERBB2 alteration, MET exon 14 skipping mutation, or RET rearrangement is not completely understood. A systematic literature review was performed to summarize evidence from clinical trials and observational studies on objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival in patients whose tumors express these biomarkers and who were treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Searches of Embase, MEDLINE, conference abstracts, and a clinical trial registry identified a total of 12 unique studies: 4 studies included patients with BRAF V600E mutation, 6 studies included patients with HER2/ERBB2 alteration, 7 studies included patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutation, and 5 studies included patients with RET rearrangement. Across studies, there was heterogeneity in treatment and patient characteristics and a lack of reporting on many important predictive and prognostic factors, including treatment regimens, patients’ line of therapy, and tumor PD-L1 expression, which may explain the wide variation in objective response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival across studies. Therefore, additional studies prospectively evaluating clinical outcomes of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors among patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors harbor emerging predictive or prognostic biomarkers are needed to determine whether this class of immunotherapy can provide additional survival benefits for these patients.
The relationship between depressive symptoms and physical performance in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional investigation
Authors: Silva Rosely M. , Orsatti Fábio L. , Margato Luana R. , de Sousa Wellington G. , Pelet Danyelle C. S. , Justino da Silva Jonathã Luiz , de Sousa Lino Anderson D. , de Oliveira Assumpção Cláudio , Souza Markus Vinicius C.
Published: December 2023

Objective

The relationship between depressive symptoms and declining physical performance in postmenopausal women has been extensively examined. However, various confounding factors can influence this association. This study aimed to investigate the link between depressive symptoms and physical performance in postmenopausal women while considering potential interfering factors.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 137 postmenopausal women were categorized into two groups based on the presence of depressive symptoms (n = 58; mean ± SD age, 60.12 ± 8.45 y) and absence of depressive symptoms (n = 79; mean ± SD age, 60.72 ± 7.45) using the Geriatric Depression Scale (short version) (GDS-15). Thoracic kyphosis angle was measured using the flexicurve method. Physical performance was assessed through various tests, including Timed Up and Go, Five Times Stand and Sit Test, 6-minute Walking Speed, 10-meter Usual Walking Speed, 10-meter Fast Walking Speed, and dynamometry. The study compared variables between the two groups and used linear regression models adjusted for dynamometry, kyphosis angle, age, antidepressant usage, sitting time, and fall history to evaluate the relationship between GDS-15 scores and physical performance.

Results

Significant differences were observed in physical performance, body mass index, kyphosis angle, antidepressant usage, sitting time, and fall history between women with and without depressive symptoms. The GDS-15 showed a negative association with all walking speed tests (10-meter Usual Walking Speed, m/s; P < 0.001; B = −0.01; 10-meter Fast Walking Speed, m/s; P < 0.001; B = −0.02; 6-minute Walking Speed, m/s; P < 0.004; B = −0.01) and a positive association with the Five Times Stand and Sit Test (P < 0.002; B = 0.21) and Timed Up and Go (P < 0.001; B = 0.13) tests, regardless of grip strength, kyphosis angle, age, antidepressant use, sitting time, or fall history in postmenopausal women.

Conclusions

This study underscores the independent and substantial impact of depressive symptoms on the physical performance of postmenopausal women. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing both mental health and physical well-being when providing care and support for this demographic.
The Single-port Laparoscopic Omental Free Flap: Reconstruction of Dorsal Hand Defects with Negligible Donor-site Scar
Authors: Scharfetter Sandra , Schwaiger Karl , Entschev Alexandra , Weiss Helmut , Wechselberger Gottfried
Published: December 2023

The reconstruction of complex dorsal hand injuries can be challenging. For coverage of dorsal hand defects, thin flap tissue is preferred. In addition, it is ideal to raise flaps with minimal donor-site morbidity and a discrete scar. In a 65-year-old obese man, we successfully reconstructed a soft-tissue defect measuring 7 × 5 cm at the dorsal hand with an omental free flap harvested through single-port laparoscopy. Our patient regained hand function and is satisfied with the aesthetic results. We propose the single-port laparoscopic omental free flap to be a suitable option for free flap dorsal hand reconstruction, especially in obese patients with small defects. The technique provides a thin free tissue with a concomitant negligible donor-site scar.
Waist Remodeling without Incision, with Ultrasound-guided Monocortical Fracture
Authors: Manzaneda Cipriani Raúl M. , Duran Vega Héctor , Cala Uribe Laura , Viaro Mauricio , Adrianzen Gerardo A. , Botelho Daniel L.
Published: December 2023

Background:

Rib remodeling is a surgical technique for waist shaping in women and men. However, one of the main patient complaints is the scar. We aimed to describe a scarless, ultrasound-guided rib remodeling (RibXcar) technique that assessed the degree of angular variation of the fracture by ultrasound and the variation in waist measurement and patient satisfaction through a survey.

Methods:

The RibXcar technique was performed in 30 women aged 18–35 years in Peru, Colombia, and Mexico between October and December 2022 by three board-certified plastic surgeons trained in ultrasound and in this technique. The plastic surgeons measured costal angles before and immediately, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgery by ultrasound, as well as the waist in the same site and at these time points. Similarly, patient satisfaction was surveyed 3 months after the surgery, in which questions were asked about body aesthetics and the puncture site.

Results:

Ultrasound angular measurements before and immediately, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgical procedure were 168.00, 158.00, 160.00, and 160.43 degrees in the 10th rib, 170.50, 160.50, 152.50, and 163.50 degrees in the 11th rib, and 172.00, 162.00, 154.00, and 165.00 degrees in the 12th rib, respectively. The satisfaction survey showed that patients were satisfied with the aesthetic results of both the shape of the waist and the puncture site.

Conclusions:

RibXcar surgery maintains the angular variation over time. Similarly, waist measurements show a sustained reduction. Three months postoperatively, the patients were satisfied with the aesthetic results of the waist and the puncture site.
Education can reassure people with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain: a 3-arm, randomised, online experiment
Authors: Zadro Joshua R. , Ferreira Giovanni E. , Muller Ryan , Sousa Filho Luis Fernando , Malliaras Peter , West Courtney A. , O'Keeffe Mary , Maher Christopher G.
Published: December 2023

We aimed to investigate the immediate effect of best practice education (with and without pain science messages) and structure-focused education on reassurance among people with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain. We conducted a 3-arm, parallel-group, randomised experiment. People with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain were randomised (1:1:1) to (1) best practice education (highlights that most shoulder pain is not serious or a good indicator of tissue damage and recommends simple self-management strategies); (2) best practice education plus pain science messages (which attempt to improve understanding of pain); and (3) structure-focused education (highlighting that structural changes are responsible for pain and should be targeted with treatment). Coprimary outcomes were self-reported reassurance that no serious condition is causing their pain and continuing with daily activities is safe. Secondary outcomes measured management intentions, credibility and relevance of the education, and similarity to previous education. Two thousand two hundred thirty-seven participants were randomised and provided primary outcome data. Best practice education increased reassurance that no serious condition is causing their pain (estimated mean effect 0.5 on a 0-10 scale, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2-0.7) and continuing with daily activities is safe (0.6, 95% CI 0.3-0.8) compared with structure-focused education. Adding pain science messages to best practice education slightly increased both measures of reassurance (0.2, 95% CI 0.0-0.4). Clinicians treating patients with rotator cuff–related shoulder pain should highlight that most shoulder pain is not serious or a good indicator of tissue damage and recommend simple self-management strategies. The benefit of adding pain science messages is small.
Updated recommendations on measures for clinical trials in pediatric chronic pain: a multiphase approach from the Core Outcomes in Pediatric Persistent Pain (Core-OPPP) Workgroup
Authors: Palermo Tonya M. , Li Rui , Birnie Kathryn A. , Crombez Geert , Eccleston Christopher , Kashikar-Zuck Susmita , Stone Amanda L. , Walco Gary A.
Published: December 2023

Many gaps remain in finding effective, safe, and equitable treatments for children and adolescents with chronic pain and in accessing treatments in different settings. A major goal of the field is to improve assessment of pain and related experience. Valid and reliable patient-reported outcome measures are critical for advancing knowledge of clinical interventions for pediatric chronic pain. Building on the work of the Ped-IMMPACT group, we previously updated a core outcome set (COS) for pediatric chronic pain clinical trials using stakeholder feedback from providers, youth, and parents. The new COS includes 3 mandatory domains: pain severity, pain-related interference with daily living, and adverse events and 4 optional domains: overall well-being, emotional functioning, physical functioning, and sleep quality. The aim of this study was to use a multiphased approach to recommend specific measures for each of the 7 domains identified in our new COS for pediatric chronic pain. We synthesized evidence through conducting the following: (1) a Delphi study of experts to identify candidate measures for the new COS domains, (2) a review phase to gather evidence for measurement properties for candidate measures, and (3) an expert consensus conference to reach agreement on measurement recommendations. Final recommendations included 9 patient-reported measures. Important contextual considerations are discussed, and guidance is provided regarding strengths and limitations of the recommendations. Implementation of these recommendations may be enhanced by widespread dissemination and ease of access to measurement tools.