bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase-adaptive brain stimulation of striatal D1 medium spiny neurons in dopamine-depleted mice
Authors: Kim Youngcho , Jung Dennis , Oya Mayu , Kennedy Morgan , Lence Tomas , Alberico Stephanie L. , Narayanan Nandakumar S.
Published: December 2022

Brain rhythms are strongly linked with behavior, and abnormal rhythms can signify pathophysiology. For instance, the basal ganglia exhibit a wide range of low-frequency oscillations during movement, but pathological “beta” rhythms at ~ 20 Hz have been observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and in PD animal models. All brain rhythms have a frequency, which describes how often they oscillate, and a phase, which describes the precise time that peaks and troughs of brain rhythms occur. Although frequency has been extensively studied, the relevance of phase is unknown, in part because it is difficult to causally manipulate the instantaneous phase of ongoing brain rhythms. Here, we developed a phase-adaptive, real-time, closed-loop algorithm to deliver optogenetic stimulation at a specific phase with millisecond latency. We combined this Phase-Adaptive Brain STimulation (PABST) approach with cell-type-specific optogenetic methods to stimulate basal ganglia networks in dopamine-depleted mice that model motor aspects of human PD. We focused on striatal medium spiny neurons expressing D1-type dopamine receptors because these neurons can facilitate movement. We report three main results. First, we found that our approach delivered PABST within system latencies of 13 ms. Second, we report that closed-loop stimulation powerfully influenced the spike-field coherence of local brain rhythms within the dorsal striatum. Finally, we found that both 4 Hz PABST and 20 Hz PABST improved movement speed, but we found differences between phase only with 4 Hz PABST. These data provide causal evidence that phase is relevant for brain stimulation, which will allow for more precise, targeted, and individualized brain stimulation. Our findings are applicable to a broad range of preclinical brain stimulation approaches and could also inform circuit-specific neuromodulation treatments for human brain disease.
Multidimensional analyses of the pathomechanism caused by the non-catalytic GNE variant, c.620A>T, in patients with GNE myopathy
Authors: Yoshioka Wakako , Iida Aritoshi , Sonehara Kyuto , Yamamoto Kazuki , Oya Yasushi , Mori-Yoshimura Madoka , Kurashige Takashi , Okubo Mariko , Ogawa Megumu , Matsuda Fumihiko , Higasa Koichiro , Hayashi Shinichiro , Nakamura Harumasa , Sekijima Masakazu , Okada Yukinori , Noguchi Satoru , Nishino Ichizo
Published: December 2022

GNE myopathy is a distal myopathy caused by biallelic variants inGNE, which encodes a protein involved in sialic acid biosynthesis. Compound heterozygosity of the second most frequent variant among Japanese GNE myopathy patients,GNEc.620A>T encoding p.D207V, occurs in the expected number of patients; however, homozygotes for this variant are rare; three patients identified while 238 homozygotes are estimated to exist in Japan. The aim of this study was to elucidate the pathomechanism caused by c.620A>T. Identity-by-descent mapping indicated two distinct c.620A>T haplotypes, which were not correlated with age onset or development of myopathy. Patients homozygous for c.620A>T had mildly decreased sialylation, and no additional pathogenic variants inGNEor abnormalities in transcript structure or expression of other genes related to sialic acid biosynthesis in skeletal muscle. Structural modeling of full-length GNE dimers revealed that the variant amino acid localized close to the monomer interface, but far from catalytic sites, suggesting functions in enzymatic product transfer between the epimerase and kinase domains on GNE oligomerization. In conclusion, homozygotes for c.620A>T rarely develop myopathy, while symptoms occur in compound heterozygotes, probably because of mildly decreased sialylation, due to partial defects in oligomerization and product trafficking by the mutated GNE protein.
Recyclable thermosets based on modified epoxy-amine network polymers
Authors: Anderson Lynn , Sanders Edward W. , Unthank Matthew G.
Published: December 2022

A simple, single stage process is reported for the creation of a recyclable thermoset material from readily available epoxy resins and aliphatic amines, crosslinked with diboronic esters.
Anchoring polysulfides via a CoS2/NC@1T MoS2 modified separator for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Li Qicheng , Liu Hui , Jin Bo , Li Lei , Sheng Qidong , Cui Mengyang , Li Yiyang , Lang Xingyou , Zhu Yongfu , Zhao Lijun , Jiang Qing
Published: December 2022

CoS2/NC@1T MoS2 synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method forms a unique hierarchical configuration with simultaneous internal and external modifications. A lithium–sulfur battery with a CoS2/NC@1T MoS2-PP separator shows superior cycling performance.
Fluorination effects on bithiophene unit in benzodithiophene-4,8-dione based D–A type alternating copolymers for highly efficient polymer solar cells
Authors: Chen Yunxiang , Chen Fang
Published: December 2022

In this work, two D–A polymers PDTB and PDFTB were synthesized and studied systematically to reveal the fluorination effect on the polymer backbone.
Utilization of the nickel hydroxide derived from a spent electroless nickel plating bath for energy storage applications
Authors: Shaikh Aasiya , Singh Balwant Kr , Purnendu Kartikay , Kumari Prapunj , Sankar P. Ram , Mundra Girdhar , Bohm Sivasambu
Published: December 2022

Nickel hydroxide obtained from spent electroless nickel plating bath and its energy storage application.
Ginger waste as a potential feedstock for a zero-waste ginger biorefinery: a review
Authors: Inthalaeng Natthamon , Gao Yang , Remón Javier , Dugmore Thomas I. J. , Ozel Mustafa Z. , Sulaeman Allyn , Matharu Avtar S.
Published: December 2022

Ginger waste is an increasingly available renewable feedstock, which is rich in biobased chemicals and materials as well as a source of bioenergy. Ginger waste is explored as a feedstock leading to a potential zero-waste biorefinery.
Preparation of a triazine porous organic polymer thin film by nanoparticle-polymer reticulation for high-efficient molecule/ion separation
Authors: Ji Yan-Li , Zhang Kai , Wang Jin-Lin , Liu Zhuang-Zhuang , Wen Xin , Gao Cong-Jie
Published: December 2022

Triazine porous organic polymer thin film constructed using nanoparticle-polymer reticulation strategy exhibits high perm-selectivity and good anti-fouling/-bacterial property.
Atomic layer deposition of HfNx films and improving the film performance by annealing under NH3 atmosphere
Authors: Ryoo Seung Kyu , Kim Beom Yong , Lee Yong Bin , Park Hyeon Woo , Lee Suk Hyun , Oh Minsik , Lee In Soo , Byun Seung Yong , Shim Doo Sup , Lee Jae Hoon , Kim Ha Ni , Do Kim Kyung , Hwang Cheol Seong
Published: December 2022

Flowchart illustrating how the films are deposited (a) without and (b) with cleaning step, and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profile of 15 nm HfNx deposited with precleaning step, before annealing (c) and after 900 °C annealing at NH3 atmosphere.
Domain state exchange bias in a single layer FeRh thin film formed via low energy ion implantation
Authors: Cress Cory D. , Erve Olaf van ’t , Prestigiacomo Joseph , LaGasse Samuel W. , Glavic Artur , Lauter Valeria , Bennett Steven P.
Published: December 2022

Low-energy ion implantation is used to form a single-layer exchanged biased FeRh film. Neutron scattering measurements confirm the presence of pinned uncompensated moments and magnetic domains consistent with a domain state exchange bias system.
Associations Between Caregiver Stress and Language Outcomes in Infants With Autistic and Non-Autistic Siblings: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Markfeld Jennifer E. , Feldman Jacob I. , Bordman Samantha L. , Daly Claire , Santapuram Pooja , Humphreys Kathryn L. , Keçeli-Kaysılı Bahar , Woynaroski Tiffany G.
Published: December 2022

Purpose:

Caregivers of autistic children present with high stress levels, which have been associated with poorer child outcomes in several domains, including language development. However, prior to this study, it was unknown whether elevated caregiver stress was associated with language development in infant siblings of autistic children (Sibs-autism), who are at increased likelihood of receiving a future diagnosis of autism and/or language impairment compared to infant siblings of non-autistic children. This study explored the degree to which, as well as the mechanisms by which, caregiver stress was linked with later language outcomes of Sibs-autism and infant siblings of non-autistic children (Sibs-NA).

Method:

Participants were 50 infants (28 Sibs-autism; 22 Sibs-NA) aged 12–18 months at the first time point in this study (Time 1). Infants were seen again 9 months later, at 21–27 months of age (Time 2). Caregiver stress was measured via a validated self-report measure at Time 1. Caregiver language input, the putative mechanism by which caregiver stress may influence later language outcomes, was collected via two daylong recordings from digital recording (Language ENvironment Analysis) devices worn by the child at this same time point. Child language outcomes were measured via standardized and caregiver report measures at Time 2.

Results:

Several models testing hypothesized indirect effects of caregiver stress on later child language outcomes through caregiver language input were statistically significant. Specifically, significant indirect effects suggest that (a) caregivers with increased stress tend to speak less to their infants, and (b) this reduced language input tends to covary with reduced child language outcomes later in life for Sibs-autism and Sibs-NA.

Conclusions:

This study provides new insights into links between caregiver stress, caregiver language input, and language outcomes in Sibs-autism and Sibs-NA. Further work is necessary to understand how to best support caregivers and optimize the language learning environments for infants.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21714368
Research Hotspot and Trend Analysis of China’s Elderlyoriented Smart Products
Authors: Wang Qiyu , Huang Ying , Xu Yanli , Fang Zupeng , He Zhengbo
Published: December 2022

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the current situation of population aging, so it has introduced relevant aging policies. The combination of new technologies has played a positive role in the development of Elderly-oriented smart products of enterprises. Based on the research literature on Elderly-oriented smart products collected in CNKI database in recent ten years (2012-2022), this paper makes a quantitative analysis on the research results of Elderly-oriented smart products in China with the help of CiteSpace visual analysis software. Through research hotspots and evolution trends, it is found that the theme can be extended: the upgrading and construction of Elderly-oriented smart products will be a hot research topic in the academic community in the future.
Research on the Mechanism of Food Endorsement’s Influence on Consumers’ Consumption Psychology
Authors: Xu Jiaxin
Published: December 2022

With the development of society, more and more brand spokesmen are used in all kinds of advertisements, and businesses seek the point of agreement with consumers’ psychology from the advertising benefits of spokesmen, and use their advertising images to stimulate consumption, spread brand information, and improve brand awareness, recognition and reputation. Nowadays, celebrities have already stepped out of the TV screen and entered the business world. They attract consumers by means of product endorsement and food endorsement generated by their own public influence, and promote the consumption of the products they endorse, so as to make more profits for businesses. In the complex and changing environment, on the one hand, individuals and enterprises are faced with more and more choices, but on the other hand, their time and energy seem to be more and more limited. To some extent, the corporate image or brand image can be established by establishing the communication relationship between spokespersons and consumers by means of corporate spokespersons. This paper discusses the influence mechanism of food endorsements and celebrity food endorsements on consumer psychology, and then discusses the development strategy of food enterprises.
Research on the Influencing Factors of the Entrepreneurial Intention of People Returning from Urban to Rural Areas: The Views of New Development Concept
Authors: Yao Zuchan , Lian Zhihua
Published: December 2022

This paper focuses on the entrepreneurial intention for “people returning from urban to rural areas “, the research selects three towns with different economic levels in Liancheng County of Fujian Province of China. Through field visits, in-depth interviews and questionnaires, it deeply explores the reasons, experiences, difficulties and contributions to rural construction of “ people returning from urban to rural areas “, and systematically understands the new demographic dividend caused by “ people returning from urban to rural areas “ in combination with the local policy environment and the present situation of entrepreneurship. Using simple random sampling and scientific econometric methods, this paper makes an empirical analysis of 532 samples of “ people returning from urban to rural areas “, and finally concludes that “ people returning from urban to rural areas “ to start a business can give birth to five new demographic dividends, such as demographic labor dividend, demographic quality dividend, demographic consumption dividend, policy dividend and social harmony dividend. In addition, this study constructs a theoretical model of “returning to the city” and finds that the policy environment, individual capital and personal motivation of people returning from urban to rural areas have significant influences on the entrepreneurial intention.
Research on the Influence of Fiscal Decentralization on the Return Rate of China’s Real Economy
Authors: Wang Yinuo , Hu Yanbo
Published: December 2022

Based on the panel data of 30 provinces from 2000 to 2020, this paper empirically analyzes the impact of local fiscal decentralization on the return rate of China’s real economy from two dimensions, that is, income decentralization and expenditure decentralization. It is found that income decentralization and expenditure decentralization can improve the overall real economic return rate with heterogeneity in different regions. The empirical results in the central region are consistent with the core conclusions, and the regression results of expenditure decentralization in the eastern and western regions are significant, while income decentralization is not significant. With industrial structure affecting the role of fiscal decentralization, the more advanced the industrial structure, the greater role of fiscal decentralization in promoting the return rate of the real economy.
Research on Macro-economic Decision Model Based on Big Data Analysis
Authors: Yan Xiangqi
Published: December 2022

Macroeconomic forecasting is guided by rational expectation, which emphasizes various historical information used. It is similar to using historical data to predict macroeconomic development trends. When making investment decisions, enterprises generally need to consider the cost of investment. The economic downturn seems to have entered a bottomless pit. The main reason is that although the government has stabilized the economic growth through large-scale stimulus policies, it also hinders the process of economic natural adjustment, leading to the artificially prolonged market economic cycle. Therefore, in order to effectively deal with this complex situation, we must rely on a more mature theory and method system to systematically analyze the transmission mechanism that affects enterprise investment decisions. This paper will analyze the macro-economy based on big data. The development strategy of big data has become a hot issue for enterprises around the world. Many enterprises integrate big data strategy with their own decisionmaking management system, and make more scientific decisions through comprehensive collection, screening and analysis of all kinds of data.
Research on the Application of China Traditional Culture in Modern Cultural Tourism Commodity Design
Authors: Jian Kailun
Published: December 2022

With the rapid development of economy, the competition of tourism culture and tourism commodities is becoming more and more fierce, and the traditional national culture is also impacted, and its historical value is gradually hidden. Traditional cultural elements have strong cultural attributes and influence charm, so it is particularly important to apply them to the design of cultural tourism commodities. However, at present, there are relatively few studies on the application of traditional cultural elements in the design of cultural tourism commodities. Cultural tourism commodity design is the main means of product commercialization and functional expression, and traditional cultural elements play an important role in cultural tourism commodity design. Cultural commodity design is not a simple form, so it is necessary to make breakthroughs and innovations in form expression and color language through the application of various elements. This paper expounds the connotation and development status of traditional cultural elements in China, extracts cultural elements from them, and applies them to the decoration design, modeling design and implication design of cultural tourism commodities, so as to achieve the perfect integration of traditional culture and modern design.
Research on investment strategy of single power grid project based on combination weighting method
Authors: Tang Libo , Kang Peng , Sun Anli , Liu Ziyi
Published: December 2022

Under the dual carbon target, it is a big problem for power grid enterprises to accurately invest and help the high-quality construction of new power systems. Under the situation of large-scale new energy grid connection, the grid investment strategy needs to be more reasonable and efficient. Therefore, this paper proposes a single project evaluation method of power grid based on combination weighting method, which provides a basis for the ranking of power grid projects, and also provides theoretical support for solving the investment decision-making problem of power grid single projects
Image-based robot assisted bicompartmental knee arthroplasty versus total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Thilak Jai , Nagaraja Rao Srivatsa , Mohan Vipin , Babu Balu C.
Published: December 2022

Objective: To evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of image-based robot-assisted bicruciate retaining bicompartmental knee arthroplasty and compare it to robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty in the Indian population.Methods: Between December 2018 and November 2019, five patients (six knees) underwent robot-assisted bicompartmental knee arthroplasty (BCKA). These patients were demographically matched with five patients (six knees) who underwent robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) during the same period. Clinical outcomes of these twelve knees were assessed in the form of knee society score (KSS) score, Oxford knee score (OKS), and forgotten joint score (FJS) after a minimum follow-up period of 25 months. The data between the two cohorts were compared and analyzed.Results: Scores obtained from both cohorts were subjected to statistical analysis. SPSS software was utilized and the Mann WhitneyU-test was utilized to compare the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference found between the two groups in terms of functional outcome.Conclusion: Image-based robot-assisted BCKA is a bone stock preserving and more physiological procedure which can be a promising alternative to patients presenting with isolated arthritis of only two compartments of the knee. Although long-term, larger trials are warranted to establish it as an alternative, our pilot study shows an equally favorable outcome as TKA, making it an exciting new avenue in the field of arthroplasty.
Disentangling the factors of spatio-temporal patterns of wildfire activity in south-eastern France
Authors: Castel-Clavera Jorge , Pimont François , Opitz Thomas , Ruffault Julien , Rivière Miguel , Dupuy Jean-Luc
Published: December 2022

Background Identifying if and how climatic and non-climatic factors drive local changes in fire regimes is, as in many other human-dominated landscapes, challenging in south-eastern France where both heterogeneous spatial patterns and complex fire trends are observed. Aim We sought to identify the factors driving the spatial-temporal patterns of fire activity in southeastern France. Methods We incorporated several non-climatic variables into the probabilistic Firelihood model of fire activity and implemented an enhanced spatio-temporal component to quantitatively assess remaining unexplained variations in fire activity. Key results Several non-climatic drivers (i.e. orography, land cover and human activities) contributed as much as fire-weather to the distribution of fire occurrence (>1 ha) but less to larger fires (>10, 100 and 1000 ha). Over the past decades, increased fire-weather induced a strong increase in wildfire probabilities, which was actually observed on the western part of the region but not so in the east and Corsican Island, most likely due to reinforced suppression policies. Conclusions While spatial patterns in fire activity are driven by land-use and land-cover factors, temporal patterns were mostly driven by changes in fire-weather and unexplained effects potentially related to suppression policies but with large differences between regions.
CTCF: an R/bioconductor data package of human and mouse CTCF binding sites
Authors: Dozmorov Mikhail G , Mu Wancen , Davis Eric S , Lee Stuart , Triche Timothy J , Phanstiel Douglas H , Love Michael I
Published: December 2022

CTCF (CCCTC-binding factor) is an 11-zinc-finger DNA binding protein which regulates much of the eukaryotic genome’s 3D structure and function. The diversity of CTCF binding motifs has led to a fragmented landscape of CTCF binding data. We collected position weight matrices of CTCF binding motifs and defined strand-oriented CTCF binding sites in the human and mouse genomes, including the recent Telomere to Telomere and mm39 assemblies. We included selected experimentally determined and predicted CTCF binding sites, such as CTCF-bound cis-regulatory elements from SCREEN ENCODE. We recommend filtering strategies for CTCF binding motifs and demonstrate that liftOver is a viable alternative to convert CTCF coordinates between assemblies. Our comprehensive data resource and usage recommendations can serve to harmonize and strengthen the reproducibility of genomic studies utilizing CTCF binding data.

Availability and implementation

https://bioconductor.org/packages/CTCF. Companion website: https://dozmorovlab.github.io/CTCF/; Code to reproduce the analyses: https://github.com/dozmorovlab/CTCF.dev.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Identifying thresholds in air exposure, water temperature and fish size that determine reflex impairment in brook trout exposed to catch-and-release angling
Authors: Brownscombe Jacob W , Ward Taylor D , Nowell Liane , Lennox Robert J , Chapman Jacqueline M , Danylchuk Andy J , Cooke Steven J
Published: December 2022

Understanding the factors that contribute to fish impairment and survival from angling events is essential to guide best angling practices for catch-and-release (C&R) recreational fisheries. Complex interactions often exist between angler behaviour, environmental conditions, and fish characteristics that ultimately determine biological outcomes for fish. Yet, few studies focus on identifying biologically relevant thresholds. We therefore examined the effects of water temperature, air exposure and fish size on reflex impairment and mortality in brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis exposed to experimental and simulated angling stressors (n = 337). Using conditional inference trees, we identified interactions among these factors as well as threshold values within them that determine brook trout reflex impairment as an indicator of whole animal stress. Specifically, longer air exposure times (>30 sec) and warmer temperatures (>19.5°C) had a synergistic effect leading to higher reflex impairment scores. Further, larger fish (>328 mm) were more sensitive to air exposure durations >10 sec. Of the reflex impairment measures, loss of equilibrium and time to regain equilibrium were strongly and moderately associated with brook trout mortality (18–24 h monitoring), although mortality rates were generally low (6%). These findings support previous research that has established strong links between these reflex impairment measures and fish health outcomes in other species. They also highlight the important interactions among air exposure duration, water temperature and fish size that determine impairment in brook trout, providing specific thresholds to guide best angling practices for C&R fisheries. This approach may be widely applicable to generate similar thresholds that can be encouraged by regulators and adopted by anglers for other common C&R fishes.
Continuum of Care for Older Adults With Concurrent Hearing and Vision Impairment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Jaiswal Atul , Gupta Shikha , Paramasivam Abinethaa , Santhakumaran Sangeetha , Holzhey Peter , Dupont Patrice , Wittich Walter
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives

A global report estimates up to 2% of the world population experience concurrent hearing and vision impairment (dual sensory impairment [DSI]). Older adults with DSI are often frequent users of health care, yet the evidence is limited to inform care delivery for this population. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on tools and strategies for screening, assessment, and interventions that promote a continuum of care for older adults with DSI.

Research Design and Methods

The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. Electronic databases (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Global Health, and Web of Science) and clinical trial registries (ISRCTN Registry, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched. The quality appraisal was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results

Of 4,775 identified references, 28 records were selected. The review identified 7 tools and 7 strategies for DSI-specific screening, assessments, and/or interventions. Some of the most promising tools were the interRAI Community Health Assessment with deafblind supplement, adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Severe Dual Sensory Loss screening tool. Useful strategies included the use of alternative forms of communication, assistive devices or technology, education and training for service providers, and training of older adults on the use and maintenance of assistive aids/technology. However, quality appraisal indicated a need for more robust evidence to inform clinical practice.

Discussion and Implications

Reviewed evidence pinpointed the need for training for health care providers on DSI-specific challenges and supports and the use of integrated multidisciplinary care for older adults. Future studies need to explore the development and evaluation of tools and interventions to improve the continuum of care for this group.

Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO registration # CRD42020180545
Building leaders for the UN Ocean Science Decade: a guide to supporting early career women researchers within academic marine research institutions
Authors: Shellock R J , Cvitanovic C , McKinnon M C , Mackay M , van Putten I E , Blythe J , Kelly R , Tuohy P , Maltby K M , Mynott S , Simmonds N , Bailey M , Begossi A , Crona B , Fakoya K A , Ferreira B P , Ferrer A J G , Frangoudes K , Gobin J , Goh H C , Haapasaari P , Hardesty B D , Häussermann V , Hoareau K , Hornidge A-K , Isaacs M , Kraan M , Li Y , Liu M , Lopes P F M , Mlakar M , Morrison T H , Oxenford H A , Pecl G , Penca J , Robinson C , Selim S A , Skern-Mauritzen M , Soejima K , Soto D , Spalding A K , Vadrot A , Vaidianu N , Webber M , Wisz M S
Published: December 2022

Diverse and inclusive marine research is paramount to addressing ocean sustainability challenges in the 21st century, as envisioned by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Despite increasing efforts to diversify ocean science, women continue to face barriers at various stages of their career, which inhibits their progression to leadership within academic institutions. In this perspective, we draw on the collective experiences of thirty-four global women leaders, bolstered by a narrative review, to identify practical strategies and actions that will help empower early career women researchers to become the leaders of tomorrow. We propose five strategies: (i) create a more inclusive culture, (ii) ensure early and equitable career development opportunities for women ECRs, (iii) ensure equitable access to funding for women ECRs, (iv) offer mentoring opportunities and, (v) create flexible, family-friendly environments. Transformational, meaningful, and lasting change will only be achieved through commitment and collaborative action across various scales and by multiple stakeholders.
Preventing Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among U.S. Military Personnel: Potential Impact of a 2-Dose Versus 3-Dose Vaccine on Medical Readiness
Authors: Oelschlager Kimberly A , Termini Michael S , Stevenson Catherine
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Hepatitis B, a major public health issue worldwide, has been associated with serious clinical outcomes. Military personnel are at particular risk for hepatitis B, such that hepatitis B vaccination is part of the accession process for new recruits. Although lost time costs and medical cost avoidance have been used by the U.S. Military to guide their decision-making protocols, this has not been applied to hepatitis B vaccination costs. Herein, a decision-analytic model is used to compare the effective vaccine protection rates and vaccine and operational costs of 2-dose versus 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine regimens in a population of recruits from the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island.

Methods

A decision-analytic model was developed to assess the expected levels of adherence, seroprotection, and vaccination and operational costs of a cohort of recruits vaccinated with either a 2-dose (HepB-CpG) vaccine for those eligible (scenario 1) or a 3-dose (HepB-Alum) vaccine (scenario 2). De-identified data from 23,004 recruits at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, in 2018 and 2019 were used to provide real-world data on age distribution and vaccination status. Other inputs included published data on adherence for hepatitis B vaccines and seroprotection rates for HepB-CpG and HepB-Alum in relation to the number of doses received. Costs included direct medical costs of the hepatitis B vaccination and operational costs such as missed training time.

Results

After receipt of two vaccine doses, 92% of recruits in scenario 1 (HepB-CpG group) were expected to be protected against hepatitis B within 1 month of receiving the second dose, compared with 24% of recruits in scenario 2 (HepB-Alum group), leaving 76% of Marine recruits unprotected if using HepB-Alum during the intervening 5-month period between doses 2 and 3. Over the study period, HepB-CpG was estimated to provide cost savings of $744,509 (17.3% cost reduction) compared with HepB-Alum, with the cost of missed training time being the most influential driver of the cost difference between the two vaccination schedules.

Conclusions

Findings from this model suggest that vaccination with the 2-dose HepB-CpG vaccine may provide earlier and higher protection against hepatitis B compared with the 3-dose vaccine (HepB-Alum). A 2-dose vaccination strategy incorporated as part of individual medical readiness has the potential to not only increase protection but also confer economic savings among military recruits at risk for hepatitis B infection.
A halo of trapped interstellar matter surrounding the Solar system
Authors: Peñarrubia Jorge
Published: December 2022

This paper shows that gravitating bodies travelling through the Galaxy can trap lighter interstellar particles that pass nearby with small relative velocities onto temporarily bound orbits. The capture mechanism is driven by the Galactic tidal field, which can decelerate infalling objects to a degree where their binding energy becomes negative. Over time, trapped particles build a local overdensity – or ‘halo’– that reaches a steady state as the number of particles being captured equals that being tidally stripped. This paper uses classical stochastic techniques to calculate the capture rate and the phase-space distribution of particles trapped by a point-mass. In a steady state, bound particles generate a density enhancement that scales as δ(r) ∼ r−3/2 (a.k.a ‘density spike’) and follow a velocity dispersion profile σh(r) ∼ r−1/2. Collision-less N-body experiments show excellent agreement with these theoretical predictions within a distance range r ≳ rϵ, where $r_\epsilon \simeq 0.8\, \exp [-V_\star ^2/(2\sigma ^2)]\, Gm_\star /\sigma ^2$ is the thermal critical radius of a point-mass m⋆ moving with a speed V⋆ through a sea of particles with a velocity dispersion σ. Preliminary estimates that ignore collisions with planets and Galactic substructures suggest that the Solar system may be surrounded by a halo that contains the order of $N^{\rm ISO}(\lt 0.1\, {\rm pc})\sim 10^7$ energetically bound ‘Oumuamua-like objects, and a dark matter mass of $M^{\rm DM}(\lt 0.1\, {\rm pc})\sim 10^{-13}M_\odot$. The presence of trapped interstellar matter in the Solar system can affect current estimates on the size of the Oort Cloud, and leave a distinct signal in direct dark matter detection experiments.
In situperformance and stability tests of large-area flexible polymer solar cells in the 35-km stratospheric environment
Authors: Xu Zihan , Xu Guoning , Luo Qun , Han Yunfei , Tang Yu , Miao Ying , Li Yongxiang , Qin Jian , Guo Jingbo , Zha Wusong , Gong Chao , Lu Kun , Zhang Jianqi , Wei Zhixiang , Cai Rong , Yang Yanchu , Li Zhaojie , Ma Chang-Qi
Published: December 2022

Flexible organic solar cells (FOSCs) are one of the most promising power sources for aerospace aircraft due to their attractive advantages with high power-per-weight ratio and excellent mechanical flexibility. Understanding the performance and stability of high-performance FOSCs is essential for the further development of FOSCs for aerospace applications. In this paper, after systematic investigations on the performance of the state-of-the-art high-performance solar cells under thermal cycle and intensive UV irradiation conditions, in situ performance and stability tests of the solar cells in the 35 km stratospheric environment were carried out through a high-altitude balloon uploading. The encapsulated FOSCs with an area of 0.64 cm2 gave the highest power density of 15.26 mW/cm2 and an efficiency over 11%, corresponding to a power-per-weight ratio of over 3.32 kW/kg. More importantly, the cells showed stable power output during the 3-h continuous flight at 35 km and only 10% performance decay after return to the lab, suggesting promising stability of the FOSCs in the stratospheric environment.
Prevalence and Mortality of Infective Endocarditis in Community-Acquired and Healthcare-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Danish Nationwide Registry-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Østergaard Lauge , Voldstedlund Marianne , Bruun Niels Eske , Bundgaard Henning , Iversen Kasper , Køber Nana , Dahl Anders , Chamat-Hedemand Sandra , Petersen Jeppe Kofoed , Jensen Andreas Dalsgaard , Christensen Jens Jørgen , Rosenvinge Flemming Schønning , Jarløv Jens Otto , Moser Claus , Andersen Christian Østergaard , Coia John , Marmolin Ea Sofie , Søgaard Kirstine K , Lemming Lars , Køber Lars , Fosbøl Emil Loldrup
Published: December 2022

Background

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) can be community-acquired or healthcare-associated, and prior small studies have suggested that this mode of acquisition impacts the subsequent prevalence of infective endocarditis (IE) and patient outcomes.

Methods

First-time SAB was identified from 2010 to 2018 using Danish nationwide registries and categorized into community-acquired (no healthcare contact within 30 days) or healthcare-associated (SAB >48 hours of hospital admission, hospitalization within 30 days, or outpatient hemodialysis). Prevalence of IE (defined from hospital codes) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis. One-year mortality of S aureus IE (SAIE) was compared between groups using multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazard analysis.

Results

We identified 5549 patients with community-acquired SAB and 7491 with healthcare-associated SAB. The prevalence of IE was 12.1% for community-acquired and 6.6% for healthcare-associated SAB. Community-acquired SAB was associated with a higher odds of IE as compared with healthcare-associated SAB (odds ratio, 2.12 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.86–2.41]). No difference in mortality was observed with 0–40 days of follow-up for community-acquired SAIE as compared with healthcare-associated SAIE (HR, 1.07 [95% CI, .83–1.37]), while with 41–365 days of follow-up, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, .53–.95]).

Conclusions

Community-acquired SAB was associated with twice the odds for IE, as compared with healthcare-associated SAB. We identified no significant difference in short-term mortality between community-acquired and healthcare-associated SAIE. Beyond 40 days of survival, community-acquired SAIE was associated with a lower mortality.
Association Between Population-Level Factors and Household Secondary Attack Rate of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Can , Huang Xiaotong , Lau Eric H Y , Cowling Benjamin J , Tsang Tim K
Published: December 2022

Background

Accurate estimation of household secondary attack rate (SAR) is crucial to understand the transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The impact of population-level factors, such as transmission intensity in the community, on SAR estimates is rarely explored.

Methods

In this study, we included articles with original data to compute the household SAR. To determine the impact of transmission intensity in the community on household SAR estimates, we explored the association between SAR estimates and the incidence rate of cases by country during the study period.

Results

We identified 163 studies to extract data on SARs from 326 031 cases and 2 009 859 household contacts. The correlation between the incidence rate of cases during the study period and SAR estimates was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.24–0.49). We found that doubling the incidence rate of cases during the study period was associated with a 1.2% (95% CI, 0.5%–1.8%) higher household SAR.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the incidence rate of cases during the study period is associated with higher SAR. Ignoring this factor may overestimate SARs, especially for regions with high incidences, which further impacts control policies and epidemiological characterization of emerging variants.
Resource stewardship and Choosing Wisely in a children’s hospital
Authors: Friedman Jeremy N , Whitney Lauren , Jones Melissa , Ostrow Olivia
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Evidence suggests that approximately 30% of the tests and treatments currently prescribed in healthcare are potentially unnecessary, may not add value, and in some cases cause harm. We describe the evolution of our hospital’s Choosing Wisely (CW) program over the first 5 years of existence, highlighting the enablers, challenges, and overall lessons learned with the goal of informing other healthcare providers about implementing resource stewardship initiatives in paediatric healthcare settings.

Methods

We describe the development of de novo “top 5” CW lists of recommendations using anonymous surveys and Likert scale scoring. Composition and role of the steering committee, measurement of data and outcomes, and implementation strategies are outlined.

Results

Many projects have resulted in a successful decrease in inappropriate utilization while simultaneously monitoring for unintended consequences. Examples include respiratory viral testing in the emergency department (ED) decreased by greater than 80%; ankle radiographs for children with ankle injuries decreased from 88% to 54%; and use of IVIG for treatment of typical ITP cases decreased from 88% to 55%. Early involvement focused within General Paediatrics and the ED, but later expanded to include perioperative services and paediatric subspecialties.

Conclusions

An internally developed CW program in a children’s hospital can reduce targeted areas of potentially unnecessary tests and treatments. Enablers include credible clinician champions, organizational leadership support, reliable measurement strategies, and dedicated resource stewardship education. The lessons learned may be generalizable to other paediatric healthcare settings and providers looking to introduce a similar approach to target unnecessary care in their own organizations.
ASSESSMENT OF OVERRANGING AS A FUNCTION OF PITCH, COLLIMATION AND ROTATION TIME FOR THREE OF THE MOST RECENT AND WIDESPREAD CT SCANS IN FRANCE
Authors: González-Méndez L A , Bozec J , Rousselle I , Royer B , Noel A , Farah J
Published: December 2022

Purpose: to assess overranging (OR) as a function of pitch, collimation and rotation time for three commonly used CT models in France. Methods: OR was measured using XR-SP2 Gafchromic films (Ashland, USA) and computed from exposure data for three widely used CT models in France. The impact of collimation, pitch and rotation time on OR was analyzed while comparing the three CT models. Results: for a typical head protocol, measured OR was found to be equal to 1.64 cm for CT scan A, 0.5 cm for CT scan B and 3.44 cm for CT scan C. OR values were respectively of 4.47, 3.24 and 7.81 cm for the typical chest protocol and the 3 CT models. OR was lowest at pitch values <1 for CT scan A, while it linearly increased with pitch for CT scan B and was lowest for high pitch values for CT scan C. Additionally, OR increase with collimation (24 mm to 38.4 mm) was most pronounced for CT scan B (factor of 2.2 for low pitch (0.5) and 2.8 for high pitch (1.2)) while it increased linearly regardless of the pitch for CT scans A and C. Rotation time also proved to slightly affect OR mainly for CT scan B (up to 2.2 mm). Conclusion: the present study shows that overranging remains an issue in modern CT scanners with large disparities across the vendors.
Biological and Urea Treatments Reduce the Primary Inoculum of Red Leaf Blotch of Almond Caused by Polystigma amygdalinum
Authors: López-Moral Ana , Agustí-Brisach Carlos , Ruiz-Prados María Dolores , Lovera María , Luque Francisca , Arquero Octavio , Trapero Antonio
Published: December 2022

Red leaf blotch (RLB), caused by Polystigma amygdalinum, is considered the most prevalent foliar disease in both traditional and new intensive almond-growing areas in Spain. Since the disease is monocyclic, its control must be based on the reduction of the only source of inoculum—the leaves infected in the previous season and fallen to the ground in autumn. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of two microorganisms and urea on RLB inoculum reduction by evaluating different application modes to fallen leaves in field conditions. Leaves of almond cv. Guara showing symptoms of RLB were collected in autumn, placed into nylon mesh bags, and treated by dipping or spraying with conidial suspensions of Myrothecium inundatum or the nonpathogenic strain Fusarium oxysporum FO12. The bags were exposed on the ground or buried in an experimental almond field for 6 months in each experimental year. Bags treated with crystalline urea solution at 46% N or not treated were included as controls. The primary inoculum (number of ascospores per gram of leaf) and the development of fruiting bodies (maturity stages of perithecia) were monitored in the fallen leaves for each experimental treatment combination. M. inundatum significantly reduced the primary inoculum in comparison with the nontreated control or F. oxysporum FO12, showing a similar effect to that observed for urea in the 2 experimental years. The type of application (spraying or dipping) did not show any significant effect, whereas the inoculum was significantly reduced in buried leaves in comparison with leaves maintained on the ground for all the treatments tested. This study represents the first report evaluating management strategies against RLB based on the reduction of the primary inoculum of P. amygdalinum.
Paraconexibacter antarcticus sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from Antarctic tundra soil
Authors: Kim Chol Song , Liu Zhenyu , Peng Xiaoya , Qin Kun , Huang Jun , Niu Jingjing , Liu Yixuan , Liu Jia , Sun Mingjing , Peng Fang
Published: December 2022

A Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, named 02-257T, was isolated from Antarctic soil. The cells are surrounded by relatively thin capsules and were catalase-positive and oxidase-negative cocci. Growth of strain 02-257T was observed at 4–35 °C (optimum, 28–30 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.0) and with 0–1.5% NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Strain 02–257 showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to

Paraconexibacter algicola

Seoho-28T (95.06 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 02-257T is a member of a novel species belonging to the clade formed by members of the genus

Paraconexibacter

in the family

Paraconexibacteraceae

. The DNA G+C content was 72.9 mol%. Strain 02-257T contained C16 : 0-iso (23.0 %), C18  :  1
ω9c (13.8 %), C16 : 0 (12.5 %) and C17 : 1
ω9c-iso (10.8 %) as major cellular fatty acids and menaquinone MK-7(H4) was detected as the only isoprenoid quinone. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositole mannoside, phosphatidylinositole dimannoside, unidentified phosphoglycolipid, unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified phospholipids, three unidentified aminolipids and six unidentified lipids were the major polar lipids. meso-Diaminopimelic acids were the diagnostic diamino acids in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain 02-257T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Paraconexibacter

, for which the name Paraconexibacter antarcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 02-257T (=CCTCC AB 2021030T=KCTC 49619T).