bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A molecular interpretation of the toughness of multiple network elastomers at high temperature
Authors: Slootman Juliette , Yeh C. Joshua , Millereau Pierre , Comtet Jean , Creton Costantino
Published: March 2022

Significance

Soft materials can be toughened by creating dissipative mechanisms in stretchy matrixes. Yet using them over a wide range of temperatures requires dissipative mechanisms independent of stretch rate or temperature. We show that sacrificial covalent bonds in multiple network elastomers are most useful in toughening elastomers at high temperature and act synergistically with viscoelasticity at lower temperature. We do not attribute this toughening mechanism only to the scission of bonds during crack propagation but propose that the highly stretched network diluted in a stretchy matrix acts by simultaneously stiffening the elastomer and delaying the localization of bond scission and the propagation of a crack. Such a toughening mechanism has never been proposed for elastomers and should guide network design.
Demographic change and assimilation in the early 21st-century United States
Authors: Alba Richard , Maggio Christopher
Published: March 2022

Significance

The contemporary intellectual landscape, dominated by theories about race and racism, has engendered the majority–minority conception of the American future, in which White people are outnumbered by Americans of color by midcentury. But assimilation, as a set of processes with societal ramifications, is still potent, driven by demographic dynamics that generate opportunities for minority mobility, and is linked to increasing family mixing between White and non-White people. The children of these families offer the best window into ongoing assimilation. The binary vision of the majority–minority society needs major modification because of the emergence and growing size of this bridging group. In addition, racism-focused theories need to be complemented by assimilation ideas to grasp the implications of demographic change.
On the sharp lower bound for duality of modulus
Authors: Eriksson-Bique Sylvester , Poggi-Corradini Pietro
Published: March 2022

We establish a sharp reciprocity inequality for modulus in compact metric spaces

X
X

with finite Hausdorff measure. In particular, when

X
X

is also homeomorphic to a planar rectangle, our result answers a question of K. Rajala and M. Romney [Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Math. 44 (2019), pp. 681-692]. More specifically, we obtain a sharp inequality between the modulus of the family of curves connecting two disjoint continua

E
E

and

F
F

in

X
X

and the modulus of the family of surfaces of finite Hausdorff measure that separate

E
E

and

F
F

. The paper also develops approximation techniques, which may be of independent interest.
Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial of a Low-Touch Remotely-Delivered Values Intervention to Promote Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Among Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Arch Joanna J , Crespi Catherine M , Levin Michael E , Genung Sarah R , Nealis Madeline , Mitchell Jill L , Bright Emma E , Albright Karen , Magidson Jessica F , Stanton Annette L
Published: March 2022

Background

Oral anti-cancer treatments such as adjuvant endocrine therapies (AET) for breast cancer survivors are commonly used but adherence is a challenge. Few low-touch, scalable interventions exist to increase ET adherence.

Purpose

To evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy of a low-touch, remotely-delivered values plus AET education intervention (REACH) to promote AET adherence.

Methods

A mixed-methods trial randomized 88 breast cancer survivors 1:1 to REACH or Education alone. Wisepill real-time electronic adherence monitoring tracked monthly AET adherence during a 1-month baseline through 6-month follow-up (FU) (primary outcome). Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated through 3- and 6-month FU (secondary). Multiple indices of intervention feasibility and acceptability were evaluated. Qualitative exit interviews (n = 38) further assessed participants’ perceptions of feasibility/acceptability and recommendations for intervention adaptation.

Results

The trial showed strong feasibility and acceptability, with an eligible-to-enrolled rate of 85%, 100% completion of the main intervention sessions, and “good” intervention satisfaction ratings on average. For Wisepill-assessed AET adherence, REACH outperformed Education for Month 1 of FU (p = .027) and not thereafter. Participants in REACH maintained high adherence until Month 4 of FU, whereas in Education, adherence declined significantly in Month 1. Conditions did not differ in self-reported adherence, positive affective attitudes, future intentions, or necessity beliefs. REACH trended toward less negative AET attitudes than Education at 3-month FU (p = .057) reflecting improvement in REACH (p = .004) but not Education (p = .809). Exploratory moderator analyses showed that average to highly positive baseline AET affective attitudes and oncologist-patient communication each predicted higher adherence following REACH than Education; low levels did not. Participants identified recommendations to strengthen the interventions.

Conclusions

REACH, a low-touch values intervention, showed good feasibility and acceptability, and initial promise in improving objectively-assessed AET adherence among breast cancer survivors (relative to education alone). Future research should target improving REACH’s tailoring and endurance.
Home infusion pharmacy quality improvement for central venous access devices using anti-reflux needleless connectors to reduce occlusions, emergency room visits, and alteplase costs
Authors: Buzas Bob , Smith Julie , Gilbert Gregory E , Moureau Nancy
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The study’s purpose was to measure the impact of anti-reflux needleless connector usage in prevention of intraluminal thrombotic occlusions among central venous catheters, as represented by alteplase usage, in a home infusion patient population.

Methods

An18-month before-and-after cohort study of a single home infusion intervention was conducted to compare occlusion outcomes with use of two types of needleless connectors—neutral and anti-reflux—in preventing catheter occlusions, which have been reported to occur in 28% of home infusion patients, resulting in treatment delays, increased nursing encounters and emergency room visits, and higher overall pharmacy costs for supplies and alteplase.

Results

A total of 552,707 patient therapy days were studied: 42.5% in the neutral needleless connector group (n = 235,004 therapy days) and 57.5% in the anti-reflux needleless connector group (n = 317,703 therapy days). The rate of alteplase usage with neutral versus anti-reflux needleless connectors was 4.4% versus 2.2% per 1,000 therapy days, with median alteplase use of 112 (95% CI, 89-169) units versus 82 (95% CI, 68-109) units (P < 0.001). Implementation of anti-reflux connectors reduced occlusions and alteplase usage by 48%.

Conclusion

Statistical evidence demonstrated that use of anti-reflux needleless connectors with central venous access devices reduced the need for alteplase in the study population. Since 10% of patient occlusions were within 7 days after home infusion admission, future research may indicate that placement of anti-reflux needleless connectors at the time of in-hospital insertion can improve patient outcomes. This quality improvement measure reduced central catheter occlusions, alteplase costs, and the number of required nursing and emergency room visits.
EDGE COVID-19: a web platform to generate submission-ready genomes from SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts
Authors: Lo Chien-Chi , Shakya Migun , Connor Ryan , Davenport Karen , Flynn Mark , Gutiérrez Adán Myers y , Hu Bin , Li Po-E , Jackson Elais Player , Xu Yan , Chain Patrick S G
Published: March 2022

Genomics has become an essential technology for surveilling emerging infectious disease outbreaks. A range of technologies and strategies for pathogen genome enrichment and sequencing are being used by laboratories worldwide, together with different and sometimes ad hoc, analytical procedures for generating genome sequences. A fully integrated analytical process for raw sequence to consensus genome determination, suited to outbreaks such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is critical to provide a solid genomic basis for epidemiological analyses and well-informed decision making. We have developed a web-based platform and integrated bioinformatic workflows that help to provide consistent high-quality analysis of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing data generated with either the Illumina or Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). Using an intuitive web-based interface, this workflow automates data quality control, SARS-CoV-2 reference-based genome variant and consensus calling, lineage determination and provides the ability to submit the consensus sequence and necessary metadata to GenBank, GISAID and INSDC raw data repositories. We tested workflow usability using real world data and validated the accuracy of variant and lineage analysis using several test datasets, and further performed detailed comparisons with results from the COVID-19 Galaxy Project workflow. Our analyses indicate that EC-19 workflows generate high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Finally, we share a perspective on patterns and impact observed with Illumina versus ONT technologies on workflow congruence and differences.

Availability and implementation

https://edge-covid19.edgebioinformatics.org, and https://github.com/LANL-Bioinformatics/EDGE/tree/SARS-CoV2.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Protective Jurisdiction Under the Hong Kong National Security Law: Legitimacy and Impact
Authors: Hing-chau Lam , Jing Qin
Published: March 2022

The Hong Kong National Security Law is not only applicable in Hong Kong, it has global reach, applying to any breach of its provisions by anyone, regardless of nationality or location. Article 38 of that law expressly states that it is applicable worldwide for offences committed against Hong Kong “from outside the Region by a person who is not a permanent resident of the Region”. Its legal basis is protective jurisdiction, which permits a State to exercise jurisdiction over aliens who have committed an act abroad jeopardising the vital interests of that State. Protective jurisdiction is justified because a State has the right to defend and protect its vital interests. The protection of such interests cannot be left to other States that do not consider such interests to require the protection of criminal law. For these reasons, international law does not impose limits on a State to prescribe rules to assert such jurisdiction. Despite the justification, it is believed that the impact of Article 38 will be limited in practice. It would be difficult for Hong Kong to obtain international cooperation in enforcing this law, given that there are only 19 countries having extradition agreements with Hong Kong (with nine of them having now suspended their agreements) and that it may also require great effort to overcome the legal hurdles, i.e., the extradition refusal grounds, such as the double criminality requirement, non-extradition of nationals of the requested countries, and the political offence exception contained in these extradition agreements.
Acute Kidney Injury Interacts With Coma, Acidosis, and Impaired Perfusion to Significantly Increase Risk of Death in Children With Severe Malaria
Authors: Namazzi Ruth , Opoka Robert , Datta Dibyadyuti , Bangirana Paul , Batte Anthony , Berrens Zachary , Goings Michael J , Schwaderer Andrew L , Conroy Andrea L , John Chandy C
Published: March 2022

Background

Mortality in severe malaria remains high in children treated with intravenous artesunate. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of severe malaria, but the interactions between AKI and other complications on the risk of mortality in severe malaria are not well characterized.

Methods

Between 2014 and 2017, 600 children aged 6–48 months to 4 years hospitalized with severe malaria were enrolled in a prospective clinical cohort study evaluating clinical predictors of mortality in children with severe malaria.

Results

The mean age of children in this cohort was 2.1 years (standard deviation, 0.9 years) and 338 children (56.3%) were male. Mortality was 7.3%, and 52.3% of deaths occurred within 12 hours of admission. Coma, acidosis, impaired perfusion, AKI, elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and hyperkalemia were associated with increased mortality (all P < .001). AKI interacted with each risk factor to increase mortality (P < .001 for interaction). Children with clinical indications for dialysis (14.4% of all children) had an increased risk of death compared with those with no indications for dialysis (odds ratio, 6.56; 95% confidence interval, 3.41-12.59).

Conclusions

AKI interacts with coma, acidosis, or impaired perfusion to significantly increase the risk of death in severe malaria. Among children with AKI, those who have hyperkalemia or elevated BUN have a higher risk of death. A better understanding of the causes of these complications of severe malaria, and development and implementation of measures to prevent and treat them, such as dialysis, are needed to reduce mortality in severe malaria.
Equipping SBMs with RBMs: an interpretable approach for analysis of networks with covariates
Authors: Gupta Shubham , K Gururaj , Dukkipati Ambedkar , Castro Rui M
Published: March 2022

Networks with node covariates offer two advantages to community detection methods, namely, (i) exploit covariates to improve the quality of communities, and more importantly, (ii) interpret the discovered communities by identifying the relative importance of different covariates in them. Recent methods have almost exclusively focused on the first point above. However, the quantitative improvements offered by them are often due to complex black-box models like deep neural networks at the expense of interpretability. Approaches that focus on the second point are either domain specific or have poor performance in practice. This article proposes interpretable, domain-independent statistical models for networks with node covariates that additionally offer good quantitative performance. The proposed models equip Stochastic Block Models with Restricted Boltzmann Machines to provide interpretable insights about the communities and they support both pure and mixed community memberships. Besides providing interpretability, our approach’s main strength is that it does not explicitly assume a causal direction between community memberships and node covariates, making it applicable in diverse domains. We derive efficient inference procedures for our models, which can, in some cases, run in linear time in the number of nodes and edges. Experiments on several synthetic and real-world networks demonstrate that our models achieve close to state-of-the-art performance on community detection and link prediction tasks while also providing interpretations for the discovered communities.
The Many-Sided Franklin Ford and the History of a Post-Discipline
Authors: Trudel Dominique , De Maeyer Juliette
Published: March 2022

Building on recent works emphasizing the “post-disciplinary” status of communication research, this article explores the implications of this thesis for the history of communication studies. While a portion of the existing historiography fits the disciplinary framework, the post-disciplinary thesis raises theoretical, methodological, and empirical challenges. In order to meet those challenges, we argue that historical research should also be directed toward intellectual and institutional projects that predated or transcended the institutionalization of communication as a discipline. To this end, we revisit the contribution of American journalist Franklin Ford (1849–1918) as an entry point into a historical moment when the study of communication was considered intellectually, socially, and institutionally relevant—for reasons that differ from the post-World War II institutionalization of communication as a discipline. Based on archival research, our approach emphasizes how Ford’s project diverges from the conventional disciplinary histories.
Light-chain cardiac amyloidosis: a case report of extraordinary sustained pathological response to cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combined therapy
Authors: Porcari Aldostefano , Pagura Linda , Rossi Maddalena , Porrazzo Marika , Dore Franca , Bussani Rossana , Merlo Marco , Sinagra Gianfranco
Published: March 2022

Background

Heart involvement represents the most ominous prognostic factor in light-chain amyloidosis (AL), often foreclosing curative therapies such as high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Heart transplantation (HTx) may be considered before ASCT in rigorously selected cases of advanced AL cardiac amyloidosis (CA). In ASCT-ineligible patients, chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone combined (CyBorD) regimen, even at low-dose, is feasible and effective in obtaining hematological and organ response.

Case Summary

A previously healthy 50-year-old woman presented with severely symptomatic new-onset heart with preserved ejection fraction, significant cardiac hypertrophy, and an ‘apical sparing’ pattern. Bone marrow and abdominal fat biopsy revealed AL amyloidosis due to a smouldering micromolecular λ-type myeloma with severe cardiac involvement, and the patient was judged a good candidate to HTx followed by ASCT. Despite fragile conditions, she tolerated a full course of low-dose combination therapy with bortezomib and was withdrawn from HTx list because of unexpected persistent complete hematologic response and major cardiac improvement. Disease remission was achieved in the long term (>3 years).

Discussion

We report a case of exceptional persistent hematologic and cardiac response after CyBorD therapy in a patient with advanced AL-CA who left the transplantation lists (both HTx and ASCT). In ASCT-ineligible patients, chemotherapy with CyBorD regimen, even at low-dose, can lead to durable remission of the disease with excellent cardiac response.
Sensitivity and specificity of 5 min cognitive screening tests in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Gallagher Robyn , Ouyang Meng-Lu , Tofler Geoffrey , Bauman Adrian , Zhao Emma , Weddell Joseph , Naismith Sharon L
Published: March 2022

Aims

This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Canadian Stroke Network (CSN) brief (5 min) screen composed of three items of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients during hospital admission, relative to the full MoCA and potential alternative combinations of other items.

Methods and results

Participants were consecutively recruited during ACS admission and administered the MoCA before discharge. The three NINDS–CSN screen items were extracted, collated and compared to the full MoCA. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were created to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and appropriate cut-off scores of the screens. The mean age of the sample (n = 81) was 63.49 [standard deviation (SD) 10.85] years and 49.4% screened positive for cognitive impairment. The NINDS–CSN mean score was 9.22 (SD 2.09 of the potential range 0–12). Area under the ROC (AUC) indicated high accuracy levels for screening for cognitive impairment (AUC = 0.89, P < 0.01, 95% confidence interval 0.82, 0.96) with none of the alternative combination screens performing better on both sensitivity and specificity. A cut-off score of ≤10 on the NINDS–CSN protocol provided 83% sensitivity and 80% specificity for classifying cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

The NINDS–CSN protocol presents an accurate, feasible screen for cognitive impairment in patients following ACS for use at the bedside and potentially also for telephone screens. Diagnostic accuracy should be confirmed using a neurocognitive battery.
Successions of rare and abundant microbial subcommunities during fish carcass decomposition in a microcosm under the influence of variable factors
Authors: Hilal Mian G , Zhou Rui , Yu Qiaoling , Wang Yijie , Feng Tianshu , Li Xiangkai , Li Huan
Published: March 2022

Animal carcasses are hotspots of ecological activity. The study of the role of microbes in carcass decomposition has been exclusively focused on microbes with higher abundance. The comparative study of abundant and rare subcommunities associated with decomposition needs in-depth exploration. The current experiment has been conducted on the decomposition of a fish carcass in a microcosm. We conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the microbial communities. The correlation of the physicochemical properties of tap and Yellow river water with the microbial communities was evaluated. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were found to be the dominant phyla in both abundant and rare subcommunities. Among bacteria, the Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Cyanobacteria were found only in the rare subcommunity. In both subcommunities, the abundance of Proteobacteria was found to increase over time, and that of Firmicutes to decrease. The rare subcommunity shows higher alpha diversity than the abundant one. The variation in the abundant subcommunity was influenced by time and water type, and that in the rare subcommunity was influenced by pH and water type. These results have implications for future research on the ecological role of rare and abundant subcommunities in the decomposition of carcasses in the aquatic ecosystem.
The retention of non-commercial hardwoods in mixed stands maintains higher avian biodiversity than clear-cutting
Authors: Wheelhouse Lauren M , Hodder Dexter P , Otter Ken A
Published: March 2022

A diverse landscape can support a more diverse range of species and allow for more complex community structures. In forested habitats, openings and changes in tree composition allow for a higher species richness due to the greater chance of niche occupancy. Knowledge about these relationships may be useful for adapting forest harvesting strategies to, for example, support bird diversity conservation and studies are required to understand how different harvesting strategies influence forest structure and bird diversity. Here, we used Autonomous Recording Units (ARU) to record dawn signalling of forest birds between two forest-harvesting treatment types (complete clear-cuts and hardwood-retention patches) vs control forest patches in the John Prince Research Forest, British Columbia, Canada. We compared Species Richness and Shannon diversity as detected through identifying species in audio recordings, across treatments. The observed Species Richness and Shannon diversity did differ between the Retention treatment and Forest controls when controlling for number of individuals sampled, but both had higher Species Richness and Shannon diversity of passerine species than the Clear-cut treatments. When comparing species composition, we found that forest-associated species were disproportionately detected in Forest controls compared to Clear-cut treatments but detected at intermediate levels in Retention treatments. Species associated with early-seral habitats, though, had disproportionate detection in Clear-cut treatments compared to Forest controls, but also showed expected detections in Retention treatments. These results suggest that partial harvesting and retention of non-commercial hardwoods, can help retain forest-associated species while also helping attract early-seral avian species; this can help increase the overall diversity of the landscape while still making logging profitable. Further research should be conducted to determine the value of this retained habitat at different spatial scales to understand the impacts that it may have for larger-scale deployment.
Pregnenolone-methyl-ether enhances CLIP170 and microtubule functions improving spine maturation and hippocampal deficits related to CDKL5 deficiency
Authors: Barbiero Isabella , Zamberletti Erica , Tramarin Marco , Gabaglio Marina , Peroni Diana , De Rosa Roberta , Baldin Serena , Bianchi Massimiliano , Rubino Tiziana , Kilstrup-Nielsen Charlotte
Published: March 2022

Mutations in the X-linked cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) cause CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by severe infantile seizures and intellectual disability. The absence of CDKL5 in mice causes defective spine maturation that can at least partially explain the cognitive impairment in CDKL5 patients and CDD mouse models. The molecular basis for such defect may depend on the capacity of CDKL5 to regulate microtubule (MT) dynamics through its association with the MT-plus end tracking protein CLIP170 (cytoplasmic linker protein 170). Indeed, we here demonstrate that the absence of CDKL5 causes CLIP170 to be mainly in a closed inactive conformation that impedes its binding to MTs. Previously, the synthetic pregnenolone analogue, pregnenolone-methyl-ether (PME), was found to have a positive effect on CDKL5-related cellular and neuronal defects in vitro. Here, we show that PME induces the open active conformation of CLIP170 and promotes the entry of MTs into dendritic spines in vitro. Furthermore, the administration of PME to symptomatic Cdkl5-knock-out mice improved hippocampal-dependent behavior and restored spine maturation and the localization of MT-related proteins in the synaptic compartment. The positive effect on cognitive deficits persisted for 1 week after treatment withdrawal. Altogether, our results suggest that CDKL5 regulates spine maturation and cognitive processes through its control of CLIP170 and MT dynamics, which may represent a novel target for the development of disease-modifying therapies.
Endometrial compaction does not predict live birth in single euploid frozen embryo transfers: a prospective study
Authors: Shah Jaimin S , Vaughan Denis A , Dodge Laura E , Leung Angela , Korkidakis Ann , Sakkas Denny , Ryley David A , Penzias Alan S , Toth Thomas L
Published: March 2022

STUDY QUESTION

Is there a relationship between endometrial compaction and live birth in euploid frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Live birth rates (LBRs) were similar in both patients that demonstrated endometrial compaction or no compaction in single euploid FETs.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

There has been increasing interest in the correlation between endometrial compaction and clinical outcomes but there has been conflicting evidence from prior investigations.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This was a prospective observational study from 1 September 2020 to 9 April 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

This study was performed at a single, academically affiliated fertility center in which patients who had an autologous single euploid FET using a programmed or modified natural cycle protocol were included. All embryos had trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy followed by vitrification at the blastocyst stage. Two ultrasound measurements of endometrial thickness (EMT) were obtained. The first measurement (T1) was measured transvaginally within 1 day of initiation of progesterone or ovulation trigger injection, and a second EMT (T2) was measured transabdominally at the time of embryo transfer (ET). The primary outcome (LBR) was based on the presence and proportion of compaction (percentage difference in EMT between T1 and T2).

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Of the 186 participants included, 54%, 45%, 35%, 28% and 21% of women exhibited >0%, ≥5%, ≥10%, ≥15% and ≥20% endometrial compaction, respectively. Endometrial compaction was not predictive of live birth at any of the defined cutoffs. A sub-analysis stratified by FET protocol type (n = 89 programmed; n = 97 modified natural) showed similar results.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

There was the potential for measurement error in the recorded EMTs. The T2 measurement was performed transabdominally, which may cause potential measurement error, as it is generally accepted that transvaginal measurements of EMT are more accurate, though, any bias is expected to be non-differential. The sub-analysis performed looking at FET protocol type was underpowered and should be interpreted with caution. Our study, however, represents a pragmatic approach, as it allowed patients to avoid having to come in for an extra transvaginal ultrasound the day before or on the day of ET.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Assessing endometrial compaction may lead to unnecessary cycle cancellation. However, further studies are needed to determine if routine screening for endometrial compaction would improve clinical outcomes.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

No authors report conflicts of interest or disclosures. There was no study funding.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04330066.
The Skeletomuscular System of the Mesosoma ofFormica rufaWorkers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Aibekova Lazzat , Boudinot Brendon E , Georg Beutel Rolf , Richter Adrian , Keller Roberto A , Hita-Garcia Francisco , Economo Evan P
Published: March 2022

The mesosoma is the power core of the ant, containing critical structural and muscular elements for the movement of the head, legs, and metasoma. It has been hypothesized that adaptation to ground locomotion and the loss of flight led to the substantial rearrangements in the mesosoma in worker ants and that it is likely the ant mesosoma has undergone functional modifications as ants diversified into different ecological and behavioral niches. Despite this importance, studies on the anatomy of the ant mesosoma are still scarce, and there is limited understanding of important variation of internal structures across the ant phylogeny. Recent advances in imaging techniques have made it possible to digitally dissect small insects, to document the anatomy efficiently and in detail, and to visualize these data in 3D. Here we document the mesosomal skeletomuscular system of workers of the red wood ant, Formica rufa Linnaeus, 1761, and use it to establish a 3D atlas of mesosomal anatomy that will serve as reference work for further studies. We discuss and illustrate the configuration of the skeletomuscular components and the function of the muscles in interaction with the skeletal elements. This anatomical evaluation of a ‘generalized’ ant provides a template for future studies of the mesosoma across the radiation of Formicidae, with the ultimate objective of synthesizing structural, functional, and transformational information to understand the evolution of a crucial body region of ants.
Population structure ofblaKPC-harbouring IncN plasmids at a New York City medical centre and evidence for multi-species horizontal transmission
Authors: Gomez-Simmonds Angela , Annavajhala Medini K , Tang Nina , Rozenberg Felix D , Ahmad Mehrose , Park Heekuk , Lopatkin Allison J , Uhlemann Anne Catrin
Published: March 2022

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are highly concerning MDR pathogens. Horizontal transfer of broad-host-range IncN plasmids may contribute to the dissemination of the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), spreading carbapenem resistance among unrelated bacteria. However, the population structure and genetic diversity of IncN plasmids has not been fully elucidated.

Objectives

We reconstructed blaKPC-harbouring IncN plasmid genomes to characterize shared gene content, structural variability, and putative horizontal transfer within and across patients and diverse bacterial clones.

Methods

We performed short- and long-read sequencing and hybrid assembly on 45 CRE isolates with blaKPC-harbouring IncN plasmids. Eight serial isolates from two patients were included to assess intra-patient plasmid dynamics. Comparative genomic analysis was performed to assess structural and sequence similarity across plasmids. Within IncN sublineages defined by plasmid MLST and kmer-based clustering, phylogenetic analysis was used to identify closely related plasmids.

Results

Comparative analysis of IncN plasmid genomes revealed substantial heterogeneity including large rearrangements in serial patient plasmids and differences in structure and content across plasmid clusters. Within plasmid sublineages, core genome content and resistance gene regions were largely conserved. Closely related plasmids (≤1 SNP) were found in highly diverse isolates, including ten pST6 plasmids found in eight bacterial clones from three different species.

Conclusions

Genomic analysis of blaKPC-harbouring IncN plasmids revealed the presence of several distinct sublineages as well as substantial host diversity within plasmid clusters suggestive of frequent mobilization. This study reveals complex plasmid dynamics within a single plasmid family, highlighting the challenge of tracking plasmid-mediated transmission of blaKPC in clinical settings.
Growth performance, immune status, gastrointestinal tract ecology, and function in nursery pigs fed enzymatically treated yeast without or with pharmacological levels of zinc
Authors: Christensen Brenda , Zhu Cuilan , Mohammadigheisar Mohsen , Schulze Hagen , Huber Lee-Anne , Kiarie Elijah G
Published: March 2022

Growth performance and physiological responses of nursery piglets when fed enzymatically treated yeast (HY40) and pharmacological ZnO alone or in combination were investigated. A total of 144 pigs (21 d old, BW 7.32 ± 0.55 kg) were placed in 36 pens (4 pigs/pen). Pigs were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments (n = 9): 1) control corn-wheat-soybean meal diet (control), 2) control + HY40 (HY40), 3) control + (ZnO) and 4) control + HY40 + ZnO (HY40+ZnO). Inclusion of HY40 and ZnO was 0.5% and 3,000 ppm in phase I (days 0 to 14), respectively, and halved in phase II (days 15 to 42). All diets contained 0.2% TiO2 for determination of apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of components. Body weight and feed disappearance were recorded weekly. One pig per pen was killed for organ weights, blood, and tissue samples on day 14. Except for phase II, when HY40 + ZnO pigs had greater average daily feed intake (P = 0.004) than all other treatments, there were no (P > 0.05) interactions between HY40 and ZnO on growth performance. Pigs fed HY40 or ZnO containing diets were heavier (P < 0.05) than pigs fed without by the end of the study. On day 14, pigs fed additives exhibited higher (P ≤ 0.009) ATTD of dry matter (DM) and gross energy (GE) than control pigs. On day 28, pigs fed control, HY40, and HY40 + ZnO had greater (P ≤ 0.022) ATTD of DM, crude protein, and GE than piglets fed ZnO only. Pigs fed HY40 + ZnO had lower ileal digesta Escherichia coli concentration (P < 0.05) than HY40 and control pigs. Ileal digesta of pigs fed ZnO diets had higher lactobacillus to E. coli ratio (1.44 vs. 1.20; P = 0.001), exhibited higher concentrations of acetic (P = 0.01) and butyric acid (P = 0.01) but lower lactic (P = 0.02) and total short chain fatty acids (P = 0.033) than pigs fed non-ZnO diets. Greater (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of nutrient transporters, tight junction proteins, and fecal excretion of zinc (Zn) was observed in ZnO pigs relative to non-ZnO pigs. Pigs fed HY40 diets had greater (P = 0.002) villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD) than non-HY40 pigs. The concentration of plasma IgA was higher (P = 0.04) in HY40 + ZnO pigs relative to other pigs, whereas HY40 pigs showed higher (P < 0.001) jejunal IgA than non-HY40 pigs. Although the mode of action of HY40 and ZnO differed, the present study indicated that HY40 improved growth performance and jejunal function and immunity, making HY40 an effective alternative to pharmacological ZnO in nursery pigs feeding programs.
Cancer’s Lasting Financial Burden: Evidence From a Longitudinal Assessment
Authors: Shih Ya-Chen Tina , Owsley Kelsey M , Nicholas Lauren Hersch , Yabroff K Robin , Bradley Cathy J
Published: March 2022

Background

The purpose of this study was to conduct a longitudinal analysis of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) trajectories for the assessment of cancer’s lasting financial impact.

Methods

We identified newly diagnosed cancer patients and constructed matched control group of noncancer participants from the 2002-2018 Health and Retirement Study. Outcomes included monthly OOPE for prescription drugs (RX-OOPE_MONTHLY) and OOPE for medical services other than drugs in the past 2 years (non–RX-OOPE_2YR), consumer debt, and new individual retirement account (IRA) withdrawals. Generalized linear models were used to compare OOPEs between cancer and matched control groups. Logistic regressions were used to compare household-level consumer debt or early IRA withdrawal. Subgroup analysis stratified patients by age, health status, and household income, with the low-income group stratified by Medicaid coverage. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Results

The study cohort included 2022 cancer patients and 10 110 participants in the matched noncancer control group. Mean non–RX-OOPE_2YR of cancer patients was similar to that of participants in the matched control group before diagnosis but statistically significantly higher at diagnosis ($1157, P < .001), 2 ($511, P < .001) years, 4 ($360, P = .006) years, and 6  ($430, P = .01) years after diagnosis. A similar pattern was observed in RX-OOPE_MONTHLY. A statistically significantly higher proportion of cancer patients incurred consumer debt at diagnosis (34.5% vs 29.9%; P < .001) and 2 years after (32.5% vs 28.2%; P = .002). There was no statistically significant difference in new IRA withdrawals. Patients experienced lasting financial consequences following cancer diagnosis that were most pronounced among patients aged 65 years and older, in good-to-excellent health at baseline, and with low income, but without Medicaid coverage.

Conclusions

Policies to reduce costs and expand insurance coverage options while reducing cost-sharing are needed.
Long-Term Risk of Hospitalization for Somatic Diseases Among Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Sørensen Gitte Vrelits , Albieri Vanna , Holmqvist Anna Sällfors , Erdmann Friederike , Mogensen Hanna , Talbäck Mats , Ifversen Marianne , Lash Timothy Lee , Feychting Maria , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Heyman Mats Marshall , Winther Jeanette Falck , Hasle Henrik
Published: March 2022

Background

Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may be at increased long-term risk of hospitalization for somatic diseases. However, large population-based cohort studies with risk estimates for survivors successfully cured without experiencing a relapse or requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are lacking.

Methods

Danish and Swedish patients diagnosed with ALL before age 20 years in 1982-2008 were identified in the national cancer registries. Five-year survivors and matched population comparisons without childhood cancer were followed for hospitalization for 120 somatic disease categories in the national hospital registries from 5 years postdiagnosis until 2017, and disease-specific hospitalization rate ratios (RR) were calculated. The mean cumulative count method was used to estimate the mean number of multiple and recurrent disease-specific hospitalizations per individual.

Results

A total of 2024 5-year survivors and 9797 population comparisons were included. The overall hospitalization rate was more than twice as high compared with comparisons (RR = 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.09 to 2.52). At 30 years postdiagnosis, the mean cumulative hospitalization count was 1.69 (95% CI = 1.47 to 1.90) per survivor and 0.80 (95% CI = 0.73 to 0.86) per comparison. In the subcohort without relapse or HSCT (n = 1709), the RR was 1.41 (95% CI = 1.27 to 1.58).

Conclusions

Survivors of childhood ALL were at increased long-term risk for disease-specific hospitalizations; however, in survivors without relapse or HSCT, the rate was only modestly higher than in population comparisons without a childhood cancer. The absolute mean numbers of multiple and recurrent hospitalizations were generally low.
An Asian multi-national multi-institutional retrospective study comparing intracavitary versus the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma
Authors: Murakami Naoya , Ando Ken , Murata Masumi , Murata Kazutoshi , Ohno Tatsuya , Aoshika Tomomi , Kato Shingo , Okonogi Noriyuki , Saito Anneyuko I , Kim Joo-Young , Yoshioka Yasuo , Sekii Shuhei , Tsujino Kayoko , Lowanichkiattikul Chairat , Pattaranutaporn Poompis , Kaneyasu Yuko , Nakagawa Tomio , Watanabe Miho , Uno Takashi , Umezawa Rei , Jingu Keiichi , Kanemoto Ayae , Wakatsuki Masaru , Shirai Katsuyuki , Igaki Hiroshi , Itami Jun
Published: March 2022

This study is an international multi-institutional retrospective study comparing the clinical outcomes between intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) and the hybrid of intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy (HBT) for locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with definitive radiation therapy. Locally advanced cervical cancer, the initial size of which is larger than 4 cm and treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and image-guided adaptive brachytherapy, were eligible for this retrospective study. Patients who received HBT at least once were included in the HBT group, and patients who received only ICBT were included in the ICBT group. Anonymized data from 469 patients from 13 institutions in Japan, one from Korea and one from Thailand, were analyzed. Two hundred eighty and 189 patients were included in the ICBT group and the HBT group, respectively. Patients in the HBT group had more advanced stage, non-Scc histopathology, a higher rate of uterine body involvement, larger tumor at diagnosis, larger tumor before brachytherapy and a lower tumor reduction ratio. With a median follow-up of 51.3 months (2.1–139.9 months), 4-y local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the entire patient population were 88.2%, 64.2% and 83%, respectively. The HBT group received a higher HR-CTV D90 than that of the ICBT group (68.8 Gy vs 65.6 Gy, P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the non-Scc histological subtype, HR-CTV D95 ≤ 60 Gy, reduction ratio ≤ 29% and total treatment time (TTT) ≥ 9 weeks were identified as the independent adverse prognostic factors for LC. Regarding LC, no difference was found between ICBT and HBT (4-y LC 89.3% vs 86.8%, P = 0.314). After adjustment for confounding factors by propensity score matching, no advantage of applying HBT was demonstrated regarding LC, PFS, or OS. Despite the fact that HBT patients had more adverse clinical factors than ICBT patients, HBT delivered a higher dose to HR-CTV and resulted in comparable LC.
Rituals of (dis)possession: appropriation and performativity in the early modern law of nations
Authors: Alvarez-Nakagawa Alexis
Published: March 2022

This article makes a contribution to the history and theory of international law by looking at instruments, institutions, and practices of the Spanish Conquest. Instead of analysing the canonical texts of the ‘Spanish fathers’ of the law of nations, as has been done several times in the literature, it focuses on the legal forms of territorial acquisition and analyses the performative character of the ceremonies of possession that served to legalise the Conquest in the early modern political and theological order of 16th century Europe.
Listening
Authors: Fuks Abraham
Published: March 2022

This chapter examines the importance of listening in clinical care. Our society values speaking over listening, yet patients and their families consistently yearn for a physician who will listen. Listening leads to the garnering of important information and concurrently signals respect for the patient. The chapter explores why listening is poorly understood and underappreciated; it describes the modes of social listening and offers a taxonomy of clinical listening. Attentive listening is undermined by the increasing speed of social interactions and the rapid pace of patient visits, to the detriment of optimal health care. The chapter showcases the maieutic quality of listening in giving birth to the words of the speaker and the interpretive nature of hearing. Clinicians must learn the features of attentive listening that signal authentic engagement with patients and the nature of its power to heal. The chapter concludes with a comparison of the two traditional scholarly frameworks for knowing the world.
A step towards unveiling the nature of three cataclysmic variables: LS Cam, V902 Mon, and SWIFT J0746.3-1608
Authors: Rawat Nikita , Pandey J C , Joshi Arti , Yadava Umesh
Published: March 2022

We have carried out detailed time-resolved timing analyses of three cataclysmic variables (CVs) namely LS Cam, V902 Mon, and SWIFT J0746.3-1608, using the long-baseline, high-cadence optical photometric data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Our analysis of LS Cam observations hints the presence of a superorbital period of ∼4.025 ± 0.007 d along with negative and positive superhump periods of ∼3.30 and 3.70 h, respectively. These results can be explained as an interaction of nodal and apsidal precession of the accretion disc with orbital motion. For the other two sources, V902 Mon and SWIFT J0746.3-1608, we have found evidence of a beat period of 2387.0 ± 0.6 and 2409.5 ± 0.7 s, respectively, which were not found in earlier studies. Our results presented in this study indicate the change in the accretion mode during the entire observing period for both sources. For V902 Mon, an apparent orbital period derivative of (6.09 ± 0.60) × 10−10 was also found. Moreover, the second harmonic of orbital frequency dominates the power spectrum of SWIFT J0746.3-1608, suggestive of ellipsoidal modulation of the secondary star. Present analyses suggest that LS Cam could be a superhumping CV, whereas V902 Mon and SWIFT J0746.3-1608 are likely to be variable disc-overflow accreting intermediate polars.
The velocity structure of the intracluster medium of the Centaurus cluster
Authors: Gatuzz Efrain , Sanders J S , Canning R , Dennerl K , Fabian A C , Pinto C , Russell H , Tamura T , Walker S A , ZuHone J
Published: March 2022

There are few direct measurements of the intracluster medium (ICM) velocity structure, despite its importance for understanding clusters. We present a detailed analysis of the velocity structure of the Centaurus cluster using XMM–Newton observations. Using a new European Photon Imaging Camera-pn energy scale calibration, which uses the Cu Kα instrumental line as reference, we are able to obtain velocity measurements with uncertainties down to Δ$\mathit{ v}$ ∼ 79 km s−1. We create 2D spectral maps for the velocity, metallicity, temperature, density, entropy, and pressure with a spatial resolution of 0.25 arcmin. We have found that the velocity structure of the ICM is similar to the velocity structure of the main galaxies, while the cold fronts are likely moving in a plane perpendicular to our line of sight with low velocity. Finally, we have found a contribution from the kinetic component of $\lt 25{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ to the total energetic budget for a radius >30 kpc.