bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active seismotectonics of the East Anatolian Fault
Authors: Güvercin Sezim Ezgi , Karabulut Hayrullah , Konca A Özgün , Doğan Uğur , Ergintav Semih
Published: February 2022

The East Anatolian Fault (EAF) is a 700-km-long left-lateral transform fault located between the Anatolian and Arabian plates. The proximity of the Euler Pole to the Arabia–Anatolia Plate boundary leads to rapid changes in plate velocity along the boundary, which is manifested by the decreasing slip rates from east (10 mm yr–1) to west (∼1–4 mm yr–1). The EAF displays heterogeneous seismicity patterns with seismic gaps, localized clusters and broad diffuse zones. In this study, in order to understand the origin of these complexities and quantify the seismic hazard along the EAF, we present an improved seismicity catalogue with more than 26 000 earthquakes and 160 focal mechanisms from regional moment tensor inversion between 2007 and 2020. The focal mechanisms and seismicity show that the EAF dips towards north and forms a well-defined plate boundary in the east between Palu and Çelikhan with almost pure left-lateral motion. Further west, the boundary becomes broader with activity along subparallel faults. Focal mechanisms show heterogeneous stress orientations in consistence with geodetically determined strain rate field. The stress orientations show a transition from strike-slip to extension towards the west of Çelikhan. Amongst all segments of EAF, the Pütürge segment, which holds the near-repeating earthquakes in the vicinity of the nucleation of the 2020 Mw 6.8 earthquake, is distinguished with its steady and high rate of seismicity. Further east, the neighbouring Palu segment is characterized by several distinct moderate earthquakes. We do not observe any change in the seismicity rate on these segments of the EAF following large earthquakes. In order to quantify the seismic hazard along the EAF, we calculate the recurrence time and maximum magnitude for each segment by using an extended seismicity catalogue of 150 yr including the large historical earthquakes and the geodetic strain rate. The results show ∼150 yr recurrence time with Mmax∼6.7–7.0 along the seismically active Palu and Pütürge segments on the east, while relatively silent western segments yield longer recurrence times; 237–772 for Pazarcık and 414–917 for Amanos segments with slightly larger magnitudes (Mmax ∼7–7.4). We infer that the seismicity patterns and strain-rate field along the EAF are shaped by several factors such as strong geometrical irregularities, heterogeneous coupling and complex plate motion leading to rapid change of fault slip rate.
Excess mortality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts birth numbers in European countries
Authors: De Geyter Christian , Masciocchi Maddalena , Gobrecht-Keller Ursula
Published: February 2022

STUDY QUESTION

How did the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affect live birth numbers in Europe?

SUMMARY ANSWER

In 14 European countries with validated datasets on live birth numbers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, excess mortality was inversely correlated with live birth numbers.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Since March 2020, in order to minimize spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and reducing strain on the health care systems, many national authorities have imposed containments and restricted both indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Historical events, such as electricity blackouts, have repeatedly been shown to exert incremental effects on birth numbers.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the containments on reproduction and birth numbers in 14 European countries with complete and validated datasets, until March 2021.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The national demographic offices of 20 European countries were requested to provide the monthly birth numbers from 2015 to March 2021. Among them, 14 countries provided those data. Taking into account seasonal variations, the live birth numbers were compared with excess mortality at two different time intervals during the pandemic.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

At 9 months after the initiation of containments in many European countries, 11 of 14 European countries (78.5%) experienced a decline in live birth numbers, ranging between −0.5% and −11.4%. The decline in live birth numbers was most pronounced in eight European countries with the highest degree of excess mortality. From January to March 2021, live birth numbers continued to decline in 5 of 8 European countries with high excess mortality, whereas live births started to recover in 8 of 14 countries (57.1%).

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The live birth numbers of some key European countries were not available.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The demographic changes linked to the COVID-19 pandemic may add to the overall socio-economic consequences, most particularly in those countries with pre-existing reduced reproduction rates.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This study did not receive specific funding. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.
Firm innovation in Africa and Latin America: Heterogeneity and country context
Authors: Paus Eva , Robinson Michael , Tregenna Fiona
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we analyze the drivers of firm innovation in 35 African and Latin American countries. We investigate how firm-level capabilities and national country characteristics affect firm innovation activities and innovation outputs. Using data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys, we analyze the factors driving firm-level innovation distinguishing two stages in the innovation process: firm engagement with innovation inputs and the translation of innovation inputs into innovation outputs. The paper provides empirical support for the importance of country-level macro and institutional characteristics, in addition to firm-level capabilities, across a large number of countries in determining firm-level innovation. We demonstrate that capital investment and training are just as important innovation activities as research and development spending in developing economies. We highlight the heterogeneity in firm innovation across firm size, country- and firm-level characteristics, and economic sectors.
Issue-Areas, Sovereignty Costs, and North Americans’ Attitudes Toward Regional Cooperation
Authors: Fairbrother Malcolm , Long Tom , Pérez-Armendáriz Clarisa
Published: February 2022

Studies of public opinion toward regionalism tend to rely on questions regarding trade integration and specific regional organizations. This narrow focus overlooks dimensions of regionalism that sit at the heart of international relations research on regions today. Instead, we argue that research should explore public preferences with respect to regional cooperation in different issue-areas. We find that people's views of regional cooperation in North America diverge from their attitudes toward trade integration alone. Using data from Rethinking North America, an untapped public opinion survey conducted in Mexico, Canada, and the United States in 2013, we show that although country-level attitudes toward trade integration in North America were similar, preferences for regional cooperation varied by country depending on the issue at hand. We propose that attitudes are shaped by citizens’ perceptions of the asymmetric patterns of national-level benefits and vulnerabilities created by regional cooperation. Generally, respondents favor cooperation where their state stands to gain greater capacity benefits and oppose it where cooperation imposes greater costs on national autonomy. For policymakers, this multifaceted approach to regionalism sheds light on areas where public preferences for regional cooperation might converge. Future research that disaggregates various aspects of support for regional cooperation should help integrate the study of public opinion with “new” and comparative regional approaches that emphasize the aspects of regionalism beyond trade and formal institutions.
Current management of giant-cell tumor of bone in the denosumab era
Authors: Nagano Akihito , Urakawa Hiroshi , Tanaka Kazuhiro , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: February 2022

Giant-cell tumor of bone is a rare, locally aggressive and rarely metastasizing primary bone tumor. The mainstay of treatment remains controversial and is decided by the balance between adequate surgical margin and sufficient adjacent joint function. Although curettage with a high-speed burr and local adjuvants can maintain normal joint function, many reports have revealed a high local recurrence rate. Conversely, en bloc resection and reconstruction with prostheses for highly aggressive lesions have reportedly lower local recurrence rates and poorer functional outcomes. Denosumab—a full human monoclonal antibody that inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa β ligand—was approved by the Food and Drug Authority in 2013 for use in surgically unresectable or when resection is likely to result in severe morbidity for skeletally mature adolescents and adults with giant-cell tumor of bone. However, subsequent studies have suggested that the local recurrence rate would be increased by preoperative use of denosumab. In systematic reviews of the local recurrence rate after preoperative use of denosumab, conclusions vary due to the small sample sizes of the studies reviewed. Therefore, controversy regarding the treatment of giant-cell tumor of bone is ongoing. Here, this review elucidates the management of giant-cell tumor of bone, especially with the local adjuvant and neoadjuvant use of denosumab, and presents the current, evidence-based treatment for giant-cell tumor of bone.
Individual Opinions as an Agent of International Legal Development?
Authors: Song Ke , Ma Xuechan
Published: February 2022

This article analyses the role of individual opinions as an agent of international legal development, which has been little explored in academic literature. This article selects influential individual opinions primarily by looking at endorsements by subsequent judicial cases. The analysis concludes that individual opinions are likely to be influential under two circumstances: (i) where individual opinions address legal issues on which judges’ opinions are sharply divided, thereby proactively reconciling or bridging gaps between existing divided opinions and (ii) where individual opinions deal with legal norms that are either at an early stage of operation or have rarely been entertained before any international adjudicatory body, leaving judges with considerable discretion in clarifying and developing rules. This article also provides an efficient filter for selecting and compiling a living database of influential individual opinions for more comprehensive surveys on their jurisprudential role, especially in view of the ever-growing body of international jurisprudence.
Radio AGN in nearby dwarf galaxies: the important role of AGN in dwarf galaxy evolution
Authors: Davis F , Kaviraj S , Hardcastle M J , Martin G , Jackson R A , Kraljic K , Malek K , Peirani S , Smith D J B , Volonteri M , Wang L
Published: February 2022

We combine deep optical and radio data, from the Hyper Suprime-Cam and the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), respectively, to study 78 radio active galactic nuclei (AGN) in nearby (z < 0.5) dwarf galaxies. Comparison to a control sample, matched in stellar mass and redshift, indicates that the AGN and controls reside in similar environments, show similar star formation rates (which trace gas availability) and exhibit a comparable incidence of tidal features (which indicate recent interactions). We explore the AGN properties by combining the predicted gas conditions in dwarfs from a cosmological hydrodynamical simulation with a Monte Carlo suite of simulated radio sources, based on a semi-analytical model for radio-galaxy evolution. In the subset of LOFAR-detectable simulated sources, which have a similar distribution of radio luminosities as our observed AGN, the median jet powers, ages, and accretion rates are ∼1035 W, ∼5 Myr, and ∼10−3.4 M⊙ yr−1, respectively. The median mechanical energy output of these sources is ∼100 times larger than the median binding energy expected in dwarf gas reservoirs, making AGN feedback plausible. Since special circumstances (in terms of environment, gas availability, and interactions) are not necessary for the presence of AGN, and the central gas masses are predicted to be an order of magnitude larger than that required to fuel the AGN, AGN triggering in dwarfs is likely to be stochastic and a common phenomenon. Together with the plausibility of energetic feedback, this suggests that AGN could be important drivers of dwarf galaxy evolution, as is the case in massive galaxies.
The dynamics of the TRAPPIST-1 system in the context of its formation
Authors: Huang (黄硕) Shuo , Ormel Chris W
Published: February 2022

TRAPPIST-1 is an 0.09 M⊙ star, which harbours a system of seven Earth-sized planets. Two main features stand out: (i) all planets have similar radii, masses, and compositions; and (ii) all planets are in resonance. Previous works have outlined a pebble-driven formation scenario where planets of similar composition form sequentially at the H2O snowline (∼0.1 au for this low-mass star). It was hypothesized that the subsequent formation and migration led to the current resonant configuration. Here, we investigate whether the sequential planet formation model is indeed capable to produce the present-day resonant configuration, characterized by its two-body and three-body mean motion resonances structure. We carry out N-body simulations, accounting for type-I migration, stellar tidal damping, disc eccentricity-damping, and featuring a migration barrier located at the disc’s inner edge. Due to the sequential migration, planets naturally form a chain of first-order resonances. But to explain the period ratios of the b/c/d-system, which are presently in higher order resonances, we find that planets b and c must have marched across the migration barrier, into the gas-free cavity, before the disc has dispersed. We investigate both an early and late cavity infall scenario and find that the early infall model best matches the constraints, as well as being more probable. After the dispersal of the gaseous disc, stellar tidal torque also contributes towards a modest separation of the inner system. We outline how the insights obtained in this work can be applied to aid the understanding of other compact resonant planet systems.
Orbital architectures of planet-hosting binaries – II. Low mutual inclinations between planetary and stellar orbits
Authors: Dupuy Trent J , Kraus Adam L , Kratter Kaitlin M , Rizzuto Aaron C , Mann Andrew W , Huber Daniel , Ireland Michael J
Published: February 2022

Planet formation is often considered in the context of one circumstellar disc around one star. Yet, stellar binary systems are ubiquitous, and thus a substantial fraction of all potential planets must form and evolve in more complex, dynamical environments. We present the results of a 5 yr astrometric monitoring campaign studying 45 binary star systems that host Kepler planet candidates. The planet-forming environments in these systems would have literally been shaped by the binary orbits that persist to the present day. Crucially, the mutual inclinations of star–planet orbits can only be addressed by a statistical sample. We describe in detail our sample selection and Keck/NIRC2 laser guide star adaptive optics observations collected from 2012 to 2017. We measure orbital arcs, with a typical accuracy of ∼0.1 mas yr−1, that test whether the binary orbits tend to be aligned with the edge-on transiting planet orbits. We rule out randomly distributed binary orbits at 4.7σ, and we show that low mutual inclinations are required to explain the observed orbital arcs. If the stellar orbits have a field binary-like eccentricity distribution, then the best match to our observed orbital arcs is a distribution of mutual inclinations ranging from 0° to 30°. We discuss the implications of such widespread planet–binary alignment in the theoretical context of planet formation and circumstellar disc evolution.
Constraining the shape of Milky Way satellites with distance gradients
Authors: An Zhaozhou , Koposov Sergey E
Published: February 2022

We combine the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey DR8 photometry with Gaia photometry to study the 3D structure of Bootes I, Draco, Ursa Minor, Sextans, and Sculptor dwarf galaxies using blue horizontal branch (BHB) stars as distance indicators. We construct a new colour–absolute magnitude of BHB stars that we use to measure the distance gradients within the body of the dwarf galaxies. We detect a statistically significant non-zero gradient only in Sextans and Sculptor. Through modelling of the gradient and 2D density of the systems by triaxial Plummer models, we find that the distance gradients in both dwarf galaxies are inconsistent with prolate shape, but compatible with oblate or triaxial shapes. In order to explain the observed gradients, oblate models of Sextans and Sculptor need to have a significant intrinsic ellipticity larger than 0.47 for Sextans and 0.46 for Sculptor. The flattened oblate shape may imply a significant anisotropy in velocity distribution in order to be consistent with the lack of significant velocity gradients in these systems.
Constraints on r-process nucleosynthesis from 129I and 247Cm in the early Solar system
Authors: Banerjee Projjwal , Wu Meng-Ru , S K Jeena
Published: February 2022

GW170817 has confirmed binary neutron star mergers as one of the sites for rapid neutron capture (r) process. However, there are large theoretical and experimental uncertainties associated with the resulting nucleosynthesis calculations and additional sites may be needed to explain all the existing observations. In this regard, abundances of short-lived radioactive isotopes (SLRIs) in the early Solar system (ESS), which are synthesized exclusively by r-process, can provide independent clues regarding the nature of r-process events. In this work, we study the evolution of r-process SLRIs 129I and 247Cm as well as the corresponding reference isotopes 127I and 235U at the solar location. We consider up to three different sources that have distinct 129I/247Cm production ratios corresponding to the varied r-process conditions in different astrophysical scenarios. In contrast to results reported in a recent study, we find that 129I and 247Cm in the ESS do not come entirely from a single major event but get contributions from at least two more minor contributors. This has a dramatic effect on the evolution of the 129I/247Cm ratio, such that the measured ESS value in meteorites may not correspond to that of the ‘last’ major r-process event. Interestingly, however, we find that the 129I/247Cm ratio, in combination with the observed 129I/127I and 247Cm/235U ratio in the ESS, can still provide important constraints on the properties of proposed r-process sources operating in the Milky Way.
Forensic reconstruction of galaxy colour evolution and population characterization
Authors: Bravo Matías , Robotham Aaron S G , Lagos Claudia del P , Davies Luke J M , Bellstedt Sabine , Thorne Jessica E
Published: February 2022

Mapping the evolution of galaxy colours, from blue star forming to red passive systems, is fundamental to understand the processes involved in galaxy evolution. To this end, we reconstruct the colour evolution of low-redshift galaxies, combining stellar templates with star formation and metallicity histories of galaxies from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly survey and shark semi-analytical model. We use these colour histories to robustly characterize the evolution of red and blue galaxy populations over cosmic time. Using a Gaussian Mixture Model to characterize the colour distribution at any given epoch and stellar mass, we find both observations and simulations strongly favour a model with only two populations (blue and red), with no evidence for a third ‘green’ population. We map the evolution of mean, weight, and scatter of the blue and red populations as a function of both stellar mass and lookback time. Using our simulated galaxy catalogue as a testbed, we find that we can accurately recover galaxies colour histories up to a lookback time of ∼6 Gyr. We find that both populations show little change in the mean colour for low-mass galaxies, while the colours at the massive end become significantly redder with time. The stellar mass above which the galaxy population is predominantly red decreases by 0.3 dex in the last 5 Gyrs. We find a good agreement between observations and simulations, with the largest tension being that massive galaxies from shark are too blue (a known issue with many galaxy evolution models).
Electron scattering emission in the light curves of stars with centrifugal magnetospheres
Authors: Berry I D , Owocki S P , Shultz M E , ud-Doula A
Published: February 2022

Strongly magnetic, rapidly rotating B-type stars with relatively weak winds form centrifugal magnetospheres (CMs), as the stellar wind becomes magnetically confined above the Kepler co-rotation radius. Approximating the magnetic field as a dipole tilted by an angle β with respect to the rotation axis, the CM plasma is concentrated in clouds at and above the Kepler radius along the intersection of the rotational and magnetic equatorial planes. Stellar rotation can bring such clouds in front of the stellar disc, leading to absorption of the order of 0.1 mag ($\sim 10 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of continuum flux). However, some stars with prominent CMs, such as σ Ori E, show an emission bump in addition to absorption dips, which has been so far unexplained. We show that emission can occur from electron scattering towards the observer when CM clouds are projected off the stellar limb. Using the rigidly rotating magnetosphere model, modified with a centrifugal breakout density scaling, we present a model grid of photometric light curves spanning parameter space in observer inclination angle i, magnetic obliquity angle β, critical rotation fraction W, and optical depth at the Kepler radius τK. We show that τK of order unity can produce emission bumps of the magnitude ∼0.05 seen in σ Ori E. We discuss the implications for modelling the light curves of CM stars, as well as future work for applying the radiative transfer model developed here to 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations of CMs.
The mass profile of NGC 3377 from a Bayesian approach
Authors: Caso Juan P
Published: February 2022

The mass profile for the moderately bright elliptical NGC 3377 is studied through a spherical Jeans analysis, combined with a Bayesian approach. The prior distributions are generated from dark matter simulations and observational constraints. The observational data set consist of Gemini/Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph long-slit observations aligned with the major and minor axes of the galaxy, and are supplemented with data from the literature for the diffuse stellar component, globular clusters, and planetary nebulae. Although the galaxy is assumed to alternatively reside in central and satellite haloes, the comparison with literature results prefer the latter option. Several options of constant anisotropy are considered, as well as both NFW and Einasto mass profiles. The analysis points to an intermediate mass halo, presenting a virial mass around $(3.6\pm 0.6)\times 10^{11}\, {\rm M_{\odot }}$.
Impact of pain in other body regions on the foot-specific quality of life in patients with hallux valgus
Authors: Mikami Yukio , Yamaguchi Satoshi , Teramoto Atsushi , Amaha Kentaro , Yasui Tetsuro , Kurashige Toshinori , Nagashima Ryota , Endo Jun , Takakura Yoshiyuki , Noguchi Koji , Sadamasu Aya , Kimura Seiji
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence of pain outside the foot, and to determine the associations of pain outside the foot with foot-specific quality of life (QOL) in patients with hallux valgus.

Methods

Patients scheduled to undergo hallux valgus surgery were recruited. Patients answered whether they experienced disabling pain in 13 body regions other than the foot. Foot-specific QOLwas assessed using the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation questionnaire (SAFE-Q). Foot pain was quantified using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Patient characteristics, including age, sex, comorbidity, anxiety, and depression, were also surveyed. The association between pain elsewhere and the SAFE-Q and pain VAS scores were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Of 102 patients, 55 (54%) experienced pain other than the foot. All SAFE-Q subscale scores were lower, and pain VAS was higher in patients with pain elsewhere than in patients without. In the multivariate analysis, an increase in the number of pain regions was independently associated with a decrease in SAFE-Q scores and an increase in pain VAS.

Conclusion

More than half of the patients with hallux valgus experienced pain elsewhere. The presence of pain elsewhere was associated with poorer foot-specific QOL and severer foot pain.
Parental gender bias and investment in children’s health and education: evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Begum Lutfunnahar , Grossman Philip J , Islam Asad
Published: February 2022

Studies have documented a gender bias in intrahousehold resource allocations in developing countries. Combining a field experiment allocation task and a household survey conducted in Bangladesh, we examine the association between parental gender bias and investment in children’s health and education. The task was designed to circumvent the problem in which children’s education attainment and health status or parents’ expenditure on their children would affect allocation decisions; the outcome did not directly affect the subjects themselves or their own children. The task measures systematic bias arising possibly from sociocultural and religious norms. Biased parents allocate resources in a discriminatory manner. Boy-biased parents are more likely to enrol boys and to spend more on boys’ education. They are less likely to seek formal treatment and to spend less when a girl is sick. Girl-biased parents do not seem to differentiate between sons and daughters with respect to education or health.
Efficacy and Safety of Regdanvimab (CT-P59): A Phase 2/3 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Outpatients With Mild-to-Moderate Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Streinu-Cercel Anca , Săndulescu Oana , Preotescu Liliana-Lucia , Kim Jin Yong , Kim Yeon-Sook , Cheon Shinhye , Jang Young Rock , Lee Sang Joon , Kim Sung Hyun , Chang Ilsung , Suh Jee Hye , Lee Seul Gi , Kim Mi Rim , Chung Da Rae , Kim Han Na , Streinu-Cercel Adrian , Eom Joong Sik
Published: February 2022

Background

Regdanvimab (CT-P59) is a monoclonal antibody with neutralizing activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We report on part 1 of a 2-part randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study for patients with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

Outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 received a single dose of regdanvimab 40 mg/kg (n = 100), regdanvimab 80 mg/kg (n = 103), or placebo (n = 104). The primary end points were time to negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal swab based on quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) up to day 28 and time to clinical recovery up to day 14. Secondary end points included the proportion of patients requiring hospitalization, oxygen therapy, or mortality due to COVID-19.

Results

Median (95% CI) time to negative conversion of RT-qPCR was 12.8 (9.0–12.9) days with regdanvimab 40 mg/kg, 11.9 (8.9–12.9) days with regdanvimab 80 mg/kg, and 12.9 (12.7–13.9) days with placebo. Median (95% CI) time to clinical recovery was 5.3 (4.0–6.8) days with regdanvimab 40 mg/kg, 6.2 (5.5–7.9) days with regdanvimab 80 mg/kg, and 8.8 (6.8–11.6) days with placebo. The proportion (95% CI) of patients requiring hospitalization or oxygen therapy was lower with regdanvimab 40 mg/kg (4.0% [1.6%–9.8%]) and regdanvimab 80 mg/kg (4.9% [2.1%–10.9%]) vs placebo (8.7% [4.6%–15.6%]). No serious treatment-emergent adverse events or deaths occurred.

Conclusions

Regdanvimab showed a trend toward a minor decrease in time to negative conversion of RT-qPCR results compared with placebo and reduced the need for hospitalization and oxygen therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

Clinical trial registration. 

NCT04602000 and EudraCT 2020-003369-20.
Do patient-reported measures of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis vary between countries? Results from a Nordic collaboration
Authors: Delcoigne Bénédicte , Provan Sella Aarrestad , Hammer Hilde Berner , Di Giuseppe Daniela , Frisell Thomas , Glintborg Bente , Grondal Gerdur , Gudbjornsson Bjorn , Hetland Merete Lund , Michelsen Brigitte , Nordström Dan , Relas Heikki , Askling Johan
Published: February 2022

Objectives

To investigate whether patient-reported outcomes vary across countries and are influenced by cultural/contextual factors. Specifically, we aimed to assess inter-country differences in tender joint count (TJC), pain and patient’s global health assessment (PGA), and their impact on disease activity (DAS28-CRP) in RA patients from five Nordic countries.

Methods

We collected data (baseline, 3- and 12-months) from rheumatology registers in the five countries comprising RA patients starting a first ever MTX or a first ever TNF inhibitor (TNFi). In order to assess the role of context (=country), we separately modelled TJC, pain and PGA as functions of objective variables (CRP, swollen joint count, age, sex, calendar period and disease duration) with linear models. Analyses were performed at each time point and for both treatments. We further assessed the impact of inter-country differences on DAS28-CRP.

Results

A total of 27 645 RA patients started MTX and 19 733 started a TNFi. Crude inter-country differences at MTX start amounted to up to 4 points (28 points scale) for TJC, 10 and 27 points (0–100 scale) for pain and PGA, respectively. Corresponding numbers at TNFi start were 3 (TJC), 27 (pain) and 24 (PGA) points. All differences were reduced at 3- and 12-months, and attenuated when adjusting for the objective variables. The variation in predicted DAS28-CRP across countries amounted to <0.5 units.

Conclusions

Inter-country differences in TJC, pain and PGA are greater than expected based on differences in objective measures, but have a small clinical impact on DAS28-CRP across countries.
Trait coordination at leaf level explains the resistance to excess light stress in shade-tolerant tropical tree species
Authors: Cifuentes Lucas , Moreno Flavio
Published: February 2022

Plant functioning in response to the environment is an important issue for vegetation reassembly of degraded lands because of both low and excessive sunlight influence the performance of young plants. However, how shade-tolerant tree species deal with excess of light energy remains unclear due to the contrasting results among studies and the subjective classifications of species shade tolerance. From a quantitative classification of shade tolerance of 12 tropical tree species planted in the field under contrasting light conditions, we hypothesized that shade-tolerant species are capable of effective long-term acclimation to high-light conditions. Plant size and survival of species were measured at the beginning and 38 months after planting. We also measured functional traits associated with carbon economy and non-photochemical energy dissipation. Under high-light condition, more light-demanding species showed higher growth rates associated with higher values of functional traits that improve the CO2 assimilation capacity. By contrast, more shade-tolerant species showed higher survival that was associated with higher values of qN, leaf K contents and leaf thickness. The concomitant increase in these traits, as well as their greater plasticity to light in WUEi, Fv/Fm and qN, confers on these species strong photoprotection to avoid high-light stress and to persist under open field conditions. The results challenge the common assumption that only fast-growing and light-demanding tree species are suitable for vegetation reassembly in full sunlight conditions and to improve the environmental conditions for other species.
An Outcomes-Oriented Approach to Residency Selection: Implementing Novel Processes to Align Residency Programs and Applicants
Authors: Caretta-Weyer Holly A.
Published: February 2022

Residency application numbers have skyrocketed in the last decade, and stakeholders have scrambled to identify and deploy methods of reducing the number of applications submitted to each program. These interventions have traditionally focused on the logistics of the application submission and review process, neglecting many of the drivers of overapplication. Implementing application caps, preference signaling as described by Pletcher and colleagues in this issue, or an early Match does not address the fear of not matching that applicants hold, the lack of transparent data available for applicants to assess their alignment with a specific program, or issues of inequity in the residency selection process. Now is the time to reconsider the residency selection process itself.

As competency-based medical education emerges as the predominant educational paradigm, residency selection practices must also shift to align with societal, specialty, and program outcomes. The field of industrial and organizational psychology offers a multitude of tools (e.g., job analysis) by which to define the necessary outcomes of residency training. These tools also provide programs with the infrastructure around which to scaffold an outcomes-oriented approach to the residency selection process. Programs then can connect residency selection to training outcomes, longitudinal assessment modalities, and the evolving learning environment.

To achieve an outcomes-oriented residency selection process, stakeholders at all levels will need to invest in coproducing novel ways forward. These solutions range from defining program priorities to implementing national policy. Focusing on outcomes will facilitate a more transparent residency selection process while also allowing logistics-level interventions to be successful, as applicants will be empowered to better assess their alignment with each program and apply accordingly.
Optimal regulation of tumour-associated neutrophils in cancer progression
Authors: de los Reyes Aurelio A. , Kim Yangjin
Published: February 2022

In a tumour microenvironment, tumour-associated neutrophils could display two opposing differential phenotypes: anti-tumour (N1) and pro-tumour (N2) effector cells. Converting N2 to N1 neutrophils provides innovative therapies for cancer treatment. In this study, a mathematical model for N1-N2 dynamics describing the cancer survival and immune inhibition in response to TGF-βand IFN-βis considered. The effects of exogenous intervention of TGF-βinhibitor and IFN-βare examined in order to enhance N1 recruitment to combat tumour progression. Our approach employs optimal control theory to determine drug infusion protocols that could minimize tumour volume with least administration cost possible. Four optimal control scenarios corresponding to different therapeutic strategies are explored, namely, TGF-βinhibitor control only, IFN-βcontrol only, concomitant TGF-βinhibitor and IFN-βcontrols, and alternating TGF-βinhibitor and IFN-βcontrols. For each scheme, different initial conditions are varied to depict different pathophysiological condition of a cancer patient, leading to adaptive treatment schedule. TGF-βinhibitor and IFN-βdrug dosages, total drug amount, infusion times and relative cost of drug administrations are obtained under various circumstances. The control strategies achieved could guide in designing individualized therapeutic protocols.
School and community reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mathematical modelling study
Authors: Yuan Pei , Aruffo Elena , Gatov Evgenia , Tan Yi , Li Qi , Ogden Nick , Collier Sarah , Nasri Bouchra , Moyles Iain , Zhu Huaiping
Published: February 2022

Operating schools safely during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a balance between health risks and the need for in-person learning. Using demographic and epidemiological data between 31 July and 23 November 2020 from Toronto, Canada, we developed a compartmental transmission model with age, household and setting structure to study the impact of schools reopening in September 2020. The model simulates transmission in the home, community and schools, accounting for differences in infectiousness between adults and children, and accounting for work-from-home and virtual learning. While we found a slight increase in infections among adults (2.2%) and children (4.5%) within the first eight weeks of school reopening, transmission in schools was not the key driver of the virus resurgence in autumn 2020. Rather, it was community spread that determined the outbreak trajectory, primarily due to increases in contact rates among adults in the community after school reopening. Analyses of cross-infection among households, communities and schools revealed that home transmission is crucial for epidemic progression and safely operating schools, while the degree of in-person attendance has a larger impact than other control measures in schools. This study suggests that safe school reopening requires the strict maintenance of public health measures in the community.
Bo-NO-bouba-kiki: picture-word mapping but no spontaneous sound symbolic speech-shape mapping in a language trained bonobo
Authors: Margiotoudi Konstantina , Bohn Manuel , Schwob Natalie , Taglialatela Jared , Pulvermüller Friedemann , Epping Amanda , Schweller Ken , Allritz Matthias
Published: February 2022

Humans share the ability to intuitively map ‘sharp’ or ‘round’ pseudowords, such as ‘bouba’ versus ‘kiki’, to abstract edgy versus round shapes, respectively. This effect, known as sound symbolism, appears early in human development. The phylogenetic origin of this phenomenon, however, is unclear: are humans the only species capable of experiencing correspondences between speech sounds and shapes, or could similar effects be observed in other animals? Thus far, evidence from an
implicit
matching experiment failed to find evidence of this sound symbolic matching in great apes, suggesting its human uniqueness. However,
explicit
tests of sound symbolism have never been conducted with nonhuman great apes. In the present study, a language-competent bonobo completed a cross-modal matching-to-sample task in which he was asked to match spoken English words to pictures, as well as ‘sharp’ or ‘round’ pseudowords to shapes. Sound symbolic trials were interspersed among English words. The bonobo matched English words to pictures with high accuracy, but did not show any evidence of spontaneous sound symbolic matching. Our results suggest that speech exposure/comprehension alone cannot explain sound symbolism. This lends plausibility to the hypothesis that biological differences between human and nonhuman primates could account for the putative human specificity of this effect.
Psychological distress and work and social adjustment in the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-Country analysis
Authors: Distaso Walter , Nikčević Ana V. , Spada Marcantonio M.
Published: February 2022

We investigate the determinants of several measures of psychological distress and work and social adjustment, using data from a large survey covering six countries and three continents over the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis reveals substantial cross-country heterogeneity and identifies a strong effect of COVID-19 specific measures of distress onto generic ones, but not the other way around. The results confirm the importance of controlling for individual characteristics, which help explain some of the cross-country differences. Finally, they also highlight specific categories of individuals who have recorded extremely high levels of psychological distress.
Non-self RNA rewires IFNβ signaling: A mathematical model of the innate immune response
Authors: Korwek Zbigniew , Czerkies Maciej , Jaruszewicz-Błońska Joanna , Prus Wiktor , Kosiuk Ilona , Kochańczyk Marek , Lipniacki Tomasz
Published: February 2022

Type I interferons (IFNs) are key coordinators of the innate immune response to viral infection, which through activation of STAT1/2 in bystander cells induce the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). The complex system-level mechanisms of IFN signaling are however not well understood. Here, we show that in cells transfected with an analog of viral RNA, poly(I:C), transcriptional activity of STAT1/2 is terminated due to depletion of the interferon β (IFNβ) receptor, IFNAR. Two ISGs, RNase L and PKR, not only hinder replenishment of IFNAR, but also suppress negative regulators of IRF3 and NF-κB, consequently promoting IFNβ transcription. We incorporated these findings into a comprehensive mathematical model of innate immunity. By coupling signaling through the IRF3/NF-κB and STAT1/2 pathways with the activity of RNase L and PKR, the model explains how poly(I:C) switches the transcriptional program from STAT1/2-induced to IRF3/NF-κB-induced, turning IFNβ-responding cells to IFNβ-secreting cells.

One-sentence summary

A computational model explains how non-self RNA turns cells from IFNβ- responders to IFNβ-producers.
Determining the Origins of Repeat Trichomonas vaginalis Infections Using Clinical Versus Genotype-Informed Criteria
Authors: Larkin Heather , Bradic Martina , Schmidt Norine , Martin David H. , Carlton Jane M. , Kissinger Patricia J.
Published: February 2022

Background

High rates of repeat infections post-treatment are reported in women infected with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). Determining the origin of repeat infections is generally limited to clinical queries of adherence to treatment and sexual exposure. The purpose of this study was to add micro-satellite (MS) genotype data to classification criteria for origin of repeat TV infection, and examine if the addition of TV genotype changes classification as treatment failure, re-infection, or new infection

Methods

Women were enrolled at clinics in Birmingham, AL; Jackson, MS; and New Orleans, LA as part of a randomized clinical trial comparing single-dose (2 g) and multi-dose (500 mg twice daily x 7 days) metronidazole (MTZ) treatment regimens. Participants provided vaginal swabs and completed a behavioral audio-computer assisted self-interview (ACASI). TV specimens were genotyped at 11 microsatellite (MS) loci. Women with repeat TV infections at TOC, were classified as treatment failure, re-infection or new infections using behavioral and genotype data; classifications were compared.

Results

Data were available for 45 women. Genotype concordance was defined as <4 MS loci different and genotype discordance was defined as ≥ 4 MS loci different. Clinical criteria vs. genotype-informed criteria classifications were treatment failure (66.7% vs 64.4%) re-infection (26.7% vs. 17.8%) and new infections (6.7% vs. 17.8%) respectively; Bowker’s test of symmetry had Χ2=16.00 p=0.0011, indicating differences in results.

Conclusions

The majority of women, using either criteria, were classified as treatment failure. Clinical assessment may overestimate reinfections and underestimate new infections. Patient counseling should be adapted accordingly.

To more precisely determine the origin of repeat Trichomonas vaginalis infection, we compared genotype microsatellite size polymorphism data to clinical criteria and found that clinical data overestimated reinfection and underestimated new infections. Patient counselling should consider new partners.
Project Prevent: Assessing the Value of Education-Focused Laws in Reducing Child Sexual Abuse
Authors: Thompson Bradley Merrill , Srivastava Kunal
Published: February 2022

I.

We investigated the impact of new state laws requiring or encouraging education on Child Sexual Abuse (“CSA”) in schools. From 2005 through June, 2019, 31 states enacted such laws. By comparing the states with and without those laws using a difference-in-differences calculation, and controlling for changes in population, wages, employment and other relevant CSA laws, we conclude that most likely such laws:

Increased the number of CSA reports made to state departments of child services each year, and

Decreased the number of CSA cases that those departments were able to substantiate from the reported cases.

We had hypothesized, however, that effective educational content would cause more reported cases to be substantiated as people learn what to report, but implementation of the new laws apparently instead increased the proportion of unsubstantiated reports of CSA.

Our research does not tell us whether that is good or bad. In the best scenario, children are helped, but at the expense of potentially hurting those who are wrongly accused. In another scenario, children and the wrongly accused are hurt. In arguably the worst scenario, child are hurt and perpetrators are helped.

We recommend that policymakers support research to learn why the laws are shifting more cases to unsubstantiated. Depending on the answer, the laws may be worthwhile to continue but with a modification to how the reporting is done, creating a new path for reporting troublesome but lawful activity. Such a modification would preserve the benefit to children while avoiding the harm to adults.
Moment-to-moment fluctuations of hemodynamic responses in posterior default mode networks differentially predict level of attentional lapses in adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Sørensen Lin , Chung Yu Sun , Khadka Sabin , Stevens Michael C.
Published: February 2022

Background

The neurobiological underpinnings of the characteristically higher intra-individual variability of reaction times (IIVRT) in patients with ADHD remain poorly understood. The aim of the current study was to characterize the role of the default mode and other canonical brain networks measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to task performance fluctuations measured by IIVRT. To our knowledge, no prior fMRI study has shown the involvement of posterior default mode network (DMN) in ADHD IIVRT. We expected that moment-to-moment fluctuations in hemodynamic responses in posterior DMN would predict higher IIVRT in ADHD.

Methods

Adolescents (12 to 19 years old) with ADHD (n= 55) and healthy controls (n= 55) performed a fMRI Go/NoGo task. Whole-brain independent component analysis (ICA) segregated hemodynamic responses into functional brain networks, then further decomposed into individual trial-specific estimates of hemodynamic response amplitude. Mean and variability metrics of these amplitudes were tested in stepwise linear regression analyses to identify which functional brain networks predicted high IIVRT.

Results

As hypothesized, variability in hemodynamic responses in posterior DMN regions predicted level of IIVRT. In posterior cingulate cortex this variability predicted higher IIVRT only in ADHD, whereas in precuneus variability in hemodynamic responses predicted lower IIVRT. Average hemodynamic responses in a bilateral superior temporal cortex network predicted higher IIVRT only in ADHD.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that estimating variability in hemodynamic responses is crucial to understand the involvement of the intrinsic default mode in attentional lapses in ADHD. The parcellation into subnetworks showed the differentiating role of default mode in attentional lapses in ADHD.