bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Diet and Temperature on the Life History of the Redlegged Ham Beetle (Coleoptera: Cleridae)
Authors: Hasan Md Mahbub , Aikins Michael J , Mahroof Rizana M , Phillips Thomas W
Published: October 2021

We investigated the effects of various foods and different rearing temperatures on the survival and development of the redlegged ham beetle Necrobia rufipes (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Cleridae), a serious pest of dry-cured hams. The diets tested were dried pet food, finely shredded copra, shredded cheese, dry-cured ham, ground fish meal, and mature larvae of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). As indicated by the growth index and k-values, N. rufipes populations grew fastest on the pet food and slowest on the copra. On the other hand, N. rufipes fed both ham and T. castaneum larvae produced significantly heavier larvae. The adult beetles lived significantly longer on cheese compared to other foods. Studies conducted to determine the developmental rates of N. rufipes fed pet food at temperatures of 22, 25, 28, and 31°C showed that the total developmental time and longevity of N. rufipes significantly varied at different temperatures tested. The shortest developmental time (93.32 d) was observed at 28°C. Oviposition rate was highest for females reared at 25°C while lowest at 22°C. Based on the development, reproduction, and thermal requirements, the most suitable temperature for N. rufipes was between 28 and 31°C. The results also revealed that larval cannibalism prevailed among adult beetles.
Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Research Meets Household Panel Surveys: Research Potentials of the German Socio-Economic Panel and Its Boost Sample of SGM Households
Authors: Fischer Mirjam M , Kroh Martin , De Vries Lisa , Kasprowski David , Kühne Simon , Richter David , Zindel Zaza
Published: October 2021

There are numerous challenges to studying structural inequality in sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations, from the difficulty of obtaining a representative sample to issues comparing data across populations. This data brief illustrates how the largest household panel survey in Germany, the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), and its recent nationwide boost sample of SGM households, Sample Q, have addressed these challenges. We discuss the case of the SOEP and its boost sample to illustrate the untapped potentials that lie in other national household panels for research into the lived experiences of SGM people, couples, and families. Based on the SOEP example, we show the potential for cross-sectional comparative, retrospective, and longitudinal life course research using the detailed information on the extended families (parents, children, siblings, and relatives) of SGM respondents in household panel surveys.
International cohort study on the effectiveness of dronedarone and other antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation in real-world practice (EFFECT-AF)
Authors: Khachatryan Artak , Merino Jose L , de Abajo Francisco Jose , Botto Giovanni L , Kirchhof Paulus , Breithardt Guenter , Stambler Bruce , Abenhaim Lucien , Grimaldi-Bensouda Lamiae
Published: October 2021

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of dronedarone compared with other commonly used antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) for preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences.

Methods and results

An international observational cohort study in Germany, Spain, Italy, and the USA enrolling patients with AF receiving AAD therapy. Patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV heart failure were excluded. Participants were followed for up to 18 months, regardless of discontinuation or subsequent AAD switches. Atrial fibrillation recurrence was captured by hospitalization, emergency room visit, or electrocardiogram-based documentation of AF. Confounding bias was controlled for in the analysis of AF recurrence using multivariate models of 19 variables for adjustment. A total of 1009 participants [mean age 67.2 (10.8) years, male to female ratio 1.3] were recruited from 170 centres, 693 (69%) of which were from across Europe and the remaining 316 (31%) from the USA. At the time of enrolment, participants were taking dronedarone (51%) or other AADs (49%) [flecainide or propafenone (42%), sotalol (11%), and amiodarone (47%)]. No significant differences in the risk of first confirmed AF recurrence with dronedarone vs. other AADs [crude hazard ratio (HR) 1.10 (95% confidence interval 0.85–1.42); adjusted HR 1.16 (0.87–1.55)] were found, irrespective of whether univariate or multivariate models were used. Reported safety events were in accordance with the known safety profile of dronedarone.

Conclusion

In this population of patients from either Europe or the USA receiving dronedarone or another AAD, the effectiveness of dronedarone was comparable to that observed for other AADs in preventing first AF recurrence.
The Quality in Nutrition Care (QUINCE) model: development of a model based on Australian healthcare consumer perspectives
Authors: Kirkegaard Amy , Ball Lauren , Mitchell Lana , Williams Lauren T
Published: October 2021

Background

Primary healthcare is the ideal setting to address diet-related disease through delivery of nutrition services. However, quality nutrition care has not previously been defined from the healthcare consumer perspective.

Objectives

To explore, and develop a theoretical model of, healthcare consumer expectations of quality nutrition care in the primary healthcare setting.

Methods

A qualitative study design collected data describing healthcare consumer expectations of nutrition care. Consumers were recruited through social media and research networks, screened, and invited to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview. Interviews explored experiences and views of nutrition care. Interviews were thematically analysed, and informed development of a model using an iterative process.

Results

Twenty-three healthcare consumers participated in an interview. Five themes were identified. The Quality in Nutrition Care consumer model developed from these themes comprised 5 interconnected components, these being: (i) quality nutrition care occurs within an integrated societal system; (ii) quality nutrition care is available, accessible, and affordable; (iii) quality nutrition care is up-to-date and evidence based; (iv) quality nutrition care is underpinned by positive relationships; and (v) quality nutrition care is personalized to consumer needs.

Conclusions

The consumer-derived model of quality nutrition care can be used by providers to inform activities that enhance primary healthcare practice, outcomes, and impact. The model has important implications for primary healthcare system reform and policy. Future research should explore the provision of dietetic services in primary care, with specific focus on factors that influence quality care, and investigate how quality is monitored and improved.
CeLINC, a fluorescence-based protein–protein interaction assay inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Kroll Jason R. , Remmelzwaal Sanne , Boxem Mike
Published: October 2021

Interactions among proteins are fundamental for life and determining whether two particular proteins physically interact can be essential for fully understanding a protein’s function. We present Caenorhabditis elegans light-induced coclustering (CeLINC), an optical binary protein–protein interaction assay to determine whether two proteins interact in vivo. Based on CRY2/CIB1 light-dependent oligomerization, CeLINC can rapidly and unambiguously identify protein–protein interactions between pairs of fluorescently tagged proteins. A fluorescently tagged bait protein is captured using a nanobody directed against the fluorescent protein (GFP or mCherry) and brought into artificial clusters within the cell. Colocalization of a fluorescently tagged prey protein in the cluster indicates a protein interaction. We tested the system with an array of positive and negative reference protein pairs. Assay performance was extremely robust with no false positives detected in the negative reference pairs. We then used the system to test for interactions among apical and basolateral polarity regulators. We confirmed interactions seen between PAR-6, PKC-3, and PAR-3, but observed no physical interactions among the basolateral Scribble module proteins LET-413, DLG-1, and LGL-1. We have generated a plasmid toolkit that allows use of custom promoters or CRY2 variants to promote flexibility of the system. The CeLINC assay is a powerful and rapid technique that can be widely applied in C. elegans due to the universal plasmids that can be used with existing fluorescently tagged strains without need for additional cloning or genetic modification of the genome.
HspB1 Overexpression Improves Life Span and Stress Resistance in an Invertebrate Model
Authors: Alexander Courtney Carroll , Munkáscy Erin , Tillmon Haven , Fraker Tamara , Scheirer Jessica , Holstein Deborah , Lozano Damian , Khan Maruf , Gidalevitz Tali , Lechleiter James D , Fisher Alfred L , Zare Habil , Rodriguez Karl A
Published: October 2021

To explore the role of the small heat shock protein beta 1 (HspB1, also known as Hsp25 in rodents and Hsp27 in humans) in longevity, we created a Caenorhabiditis elegans model with a high level of ubiquitous expression of the naked mole-rat HspB1 protein. The worms showed increased life span under multiple conditions and also increased resistance to heat stress. RNAi experiments suggest that HspB1-induced life extension is dependent on the transcription factors skn-1 (Nrf2) and hsf-1 (Hsf1). RNAseq from HspB1 worms showed an enrichment in several skn-1 target genes, including collagen proteins and lysosomal genes. Expression of HspB1 also improved functional outcomes regulated by SKN-1, specifically oxidative stress resistance and pharyngeal integrity. This work is the first to link a small heat shock protein with collagen function, suggesting a novel role for HspB1 as a hub between canonical heat response signaling and SKN-1 transcription.
A unified wavefield-partitioning approach for distributed acoustic sensing
Authors: Atterholt James , Zhan Zhongwen , Shen Zhichao , Li Zefeng
Published: October 2021

While distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has been demonstrated to have great potential in seismology, DAS data often have much higher levels of stochastic and coherent noise (e.g. instrument noise, traffic vibrations) than data collected by traditional seismometers. The linearly, densely spaced nature of DAS arrays presents a suite of opportunities for more innovative processing techniques that can be used to address this issue. One way to take advantage of DAS’s array architecture is through the use of curvelets. Curvelets have a non-uniform scaling property that makes them an excellent tool for representing images with discontinuities along piecewise, twice continuously differentiable curves. This anisotropic scaling property makes curvelets an ideal processing tool for DAS data, for which the measured wavefield can be represented as an image composed of curved features. Here, we use the curvelet frame as a tool for the manipulation of DAS signal and demonstrate how this manipulation can improve our ability to identify important features in DAS data sets. We use the curvelet representation to partition the measured wavefield using DAS data collected near Ridgecrest, CA, following the 2019 Mw7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake. Here, we isolate the earthquake-induced wavefield from coherent and stochastic noise using the curvelet frame in an effort to improve the results of template matching of the Ridgecrest aftershock sequence. We show that our wavefield-partitioning technique facilitates the identification of over 30 per cent more aftershocks and greatly reduces the magnitude of diurnal depressions in the aftershock catalogue due to cultural noise.
Cellular and metabolic effects of renin-angiotensin system blockade on glycogen storage disease type I nephropathy
Authors: Monteillet Laure , Labrune Philippe , Hochuli Michel , Do Cao Jeremy , Tortereau Antonin , Miliano Alexane Cannella , Ardon-Zitoun Carine , Duchampt Adeline , Silva Marine , Verzieux Vincent , Mithieux Gilles , Rajas Fabienne
Published: October 2021

Glycogen Storage Disease Type I (GSDI) is an inherited disease caused by glucose-6 phosphatase (G6Pase) deficiency, leading to a loss of endogenous glucose production and severe hypoglycemia. Moreover, most GSDI patients develop a chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to lipid accumulation in the kidney. Similar to diabetic CKD, activation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) promotes renal fibrosis in GSDI. Here, we investigated the physiological and molecular effects of RAS blockers in GSDI patients and mice. A retrospective analysis of renal function was performed in 21 GSDI patients treated with RAS blockers. Cellular and metabolic impacts of RAS blockade were analyzed in K.G6pc−/− mice characterized by G6pc1 deletion in kidneys. GSDI patients started RAS blocker treatment at a median age of 21 years and long-term treatment reduced the progression of CKD in about 50% of patients. However, CKD progressed to kidney failure in 20% of treated patients, requiring renal transplantation. In K.G6pc−/− mice, CKD was associated with an impairment of autophagy and ER stress. RAS blockade resulted in a rescue of autophagy and decreased ER stress, concomitantly with decreased fibrosis and improved renal function, but without impact on glycogen and lipid contents. In conclusion, these data confirm the partial beneficial effect of RAS blockers in the prevention of CKD in GSDI. Mechanistically, we show that these effects are linked to a reduction of cell stress, without affecting metabolism.
Correlation of ventricular septal defect height and outcomes after complete atrioventricular septal defect repair
Authors: Fong Laura S , Youssef David , Ayer Julian , Nicholson Ian A , Winlaw David S , Orr Yishay
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVES

There are limited data available on the height of the ventricular component of the septal deficiency (VSD) in patients undergoing complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) repair. VSD height may influence optimal choice of repair strategy with potential consequences for long-term outcomes. We aimed to measure VSD height using 2-dimensional echocardiography and review its association with postoperative outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative echocardiograms of 45 consecutive patients who underwent CAVSD repair between May 2010 and December 2015 at a single centre. VSD height and left ventricular length on the four-chamber view were measured. Demographic details and early and late outcomes including reoperation and long-term survival were studied.

RESULTS

Twenty patients underwent modified single-patch repair and 25 patients underwent double-patch repair of CAVSD. VSD height in the modified single-patch group ranged from 4.2 to 11.7 mm and in the double-patch group ranged from 5.1 to 14.9 mm. Nine patients had a deep ‘scoop’ with a VSD height of >10 mm, (7 double patch, 2 modified single patch). VSD height did not correlate with a specific Rastelli classification. There was no significant difference in the VSD height (P = 0.51) or the VSD height-to-left ventricular length ratio (P = 0.43) between the 2 repair groups. There was no 30-day mortality. Eight patients required reoperation; however, VSD height was not a significant predictor of reoperation (hazard ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.69–1.33; P = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no correlation between VSD height and risk of reoperation after CAVSD repair. A deep ventricular scoop is uncommon in CAVSD patients.
Nicotine Administration Normalizes Behavioral and Neurophysiological Perturbations in the MAM Rodent Model of Schizophrenia
Authors: Weeks Jillian J , Grace Anthony A , Sved Alan F
Published: October 2021

Background

The present study utilized the methylazoxymethanol (MAM) neurodevelopmental rodent model of schizophrenia (SCZ) to evaluate the hypothesis that individuals with SCZ smoke in an attempt to “self-medicate” their symptoms through nicotine (NIC) intake.

Methods

To explore this question, we examined the effects of acute and chronic administration of NIC in 2 established behavioral tests known to be disrupted in the MAM model: prepulse inhibition of startle and novel object recognition. Additionally, we assessed the effects of acute and chronic NIC on 2 indices of the pathophysiology of SCZ modeled by MAM, elevated dopamine neuron population activity in the ventral tegmental area and neuronal activity in the ventral hippocampus, using in vivo electrophysiological recordings.

Results

Our findings demonstrated that both acute and chronic administration of NIC significantly improved deficits in prepulse inhibition of startle and novel object recognition among MAM rats and normalized elevated ventral tegmental area and ventral hippocampal neuronal activity in these animals.

Conclusion

Together, these findings of NIC-induced improvement of deficits lend support for a “self-medication” hypothesis behind increased cigarette smoking in SCZ and illustrate the potential utility of nicotinic modulation in future pharmacotherapies for certain SCZ symptoms.
Convergence, error analysis and longtime behavior of the scalar auxiliary variable method for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation
Authors: Poulain Alexandre , Schratz Katharina
Published: October 2021

We carry out the convergence analysis of the scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) method applied to the nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which preserves a modified Hamiltonian on the discrete level. We derive a weak and strong convergence result, establish second-order global error bounds and present longtime error estimates on the modified Hamiltonian. In addition, we illustrate the favorable energy conservation of the SAV method compared to classical splitting schemes in certain applications.
Virologic Features of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Children
Authors: Yonker Lael M , Boucau Julie , Regan James , Choudhary Manish C , Burns Madeleine D , Young Nicola , Farkas Eva J , Davis Jameson P , Moschovis Peter P , Bernard Kinane T , Fasano Alessio , Neilan Anne M , Li Jonathan Z , Barczak Amy K
Published: October 2021

Background

Data on pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has lagged behind adults throughout the pandemic. An understanding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral dynamics in children would enable data-driven public health guidance.

Methods

Respiratory swabs were collected from children with COVID-19. Viral load was quantified by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); viral culture was assessed by direct observation of cytopathic effects and semiquantitative viral titers. Correlations with age, symptom duration, and disease severity were analyzed. SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences were compared with contemporaneous sequences.

Results

One hundred ten children with COVID-19 (median age, 10 years [range, 2 weeks–21 years]) were included in this study. Age did not impact SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Children were most infectious within the first 5 days of illness, and severe disease did not correlate with increased viral loads. Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 sequences were representative of those in the community and novel variants were identified.

Conclusions

Symptomatic and asymptomatic children can carry high quantities of live, replicating SARS-CoV-2, creating a potential reservoir for transmission and evolution of genetic variants. As guidance around social distancing and masking evolves following vaccine uptake in older populations, a clear understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in children is critical for rational development of public health policies and vaccination strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
A vanA vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium ST80 outbreak resulting from a single importation event
Authors: Pratama Ryanbi , Beukers Alicia G , McIver Christopher J , Keighley Caitlin L , Taylor Peter C , van Hal Sebastiaan J
Published: October 2021

Background

A marked genotype shift among vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) from vanB to vanA in Australia between 2011 and 2015 is a well-known phenomenon. It is hypothesized that this was caused by multiple independent clones emerging simultaneously in different settings and/or regions.

Objectives

To gain insights into the circumstances surrounding the shift from vanB to vanA VREfm in one Australian hospital.

Methods

The genomes of 69 vanA VREfm isolates from St George Hospital collected between 2009 and 2018 were studied. An expansion of ST80 vanA VREfm was noted following a single introduction. ST80 isolates were thus further characterized using hybrid sequencing and contextualized through comparisons with other published Australian ST80 isolates. Phylogenies were constructed with plasmid sequences compared with the index isolate.

Results

The 2011 expansion of ST80 vanA VREfm isolates in our institution originated from the 2009 index isolate, from a patient transferred from overseas. Phylogenetic analysis with other Australian ST80 vanA VREfm isolates showed that the 2011 expansion event was unique, with limited spread to adjacent local health districts. Plasmid analysis showed multiple variants, which can also be traced back to the 2009 isolate, consistent with ongoing plasmid adaptation over time.

Conclusions

These findings confirm an expansion event following a VREfm introduction event leading to a sustained clonal and plasmid outbreak over several years. Moreover, it demonstrates the complexity of countrywide replacement events. This study also highlights the use of hybrid sequencing in establishing an epidemiological relationship to the index isolate that was initially inapparent.
PRO: Procalcitonin has clinical utility in children with community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Florin Todd A , Williams Derek J
Published: October 2021

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful, albeit imperfect, diagnostic aid that can help clinicians make more informed decisions around antibiotic use in children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), including community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Recent data suggest that a very low PCT concentration has a high negative predictive value to identify a population of children at low risk of typical bacterial infections. Although the preponderance of data on the clinical utility of PCT in LRTI come from adult studies, the potential for benefit is likely greatest in paediatric CAP and other LRTIs where viral aetiologies predominate, yet antibiotics are frequently prescribed.
Racing With or Against the Machine? Evidence on the Role of Trade in Europe
Authors: Gregory Terry , Salomons Anna , Zierahn Ulrich
Published: October 2021

Digital technologies displace labor from routine tasks, raising concerns that labor is racing against the machine. We develop an empirically tractable task-based framework to estimate the aggregate employment effects of routine-replacing technological change (RRTC), along with the labor and product demand channels through which this aggregate effect comes about, focusing on the role of inter-regional trade. While RRTC has indeed had strong displacement effects in Europe between 1999 and 2010, it has simultaneously created new jobs through increased product demand, resulting in net employment growth. However, the distribution of gains from technological progress matters for its job-creating potential.
The Matterozzi collection of Early Christian gold-glass at the British Museum: An investigation of textual records and an edition of archival sources
Authors: Mezzolani Valerio , Rini David
Published: October 2021

This article recounts the story of an outstanding and yet little-known eighteenth-century character, the collector of sacred art Alessandro Matterozzi (1713–1783). He displayed in his family palace in Urbania (Marche, Italy), among paintings and antiquities, a select collection of Early Christian gold-glass, a form of decorative glass made of two layers of glass with a design in gold leaf fused between them. The seventeen pieces acquired from his collection by the British Museum consist of the bases of glass vessels found mainly in Early Christian catacombs. The drawings filed in Gaetano Marini’s sylloge entitled ‘Inscriptiones christianae’ (1765–1801), now in the Vatican Library, together with other newly studied written sources, document how Matterozzi assembled one of the largest gold-glass collections of his time, which was later added to the collections of the British Museum.
Ethanol production by Escherichia coli from detoxified lignocellulosic teak wood hydrolysates with high concentration of phenolic compounds
Authors: Sierra-Ibarra Estefanía , Alcaraz-Cienfuegos Jorge , Vargas-Tah Alejandra , Rosas-Aburto Alberto , Valdivia-López Ángeles , Hernández-Luna Martín G , Vivaldo-Lima Eduardo , Martinez Alfredo
Published: October 2021

Teak wood residues were subjected to thermochemical pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and detoxification to obtain syrups with a high concentration of fermentable sugars for ethanol production with the ethanologenic Escherichia coli strain MS04. Teak is a hardwood, and thus a robust deconstructive pretreatment was applied followed by enzymatic saccharification. The resulting syrup contained 60 g l–1 glucose, 18 g l–1 xylose, 6 g l–1 acetate, less than 0.1 g l–1 of total furans, and 12 g l–1 of soluble phenolic compounds (SPCs). This concentration of SPC is toxic to E. coli, and thus two detoxification strategies were assayed: (1) treatment with Coriolopsis gallica laccase followed by addition of activated carbon and (2) overliming with Ca(OH)2. These reduced the phenolic compounds by 40% and 76%, respectively. The detoxified syrups were centrifuged and fermented with E. coli MS04. Cultivation with the overlimed hydrolysate showed a 60% higher volumetric productivity (0.45 gETOH l–1 hr–1). The bioethanol/sugar yield was over 90% in both strategies.
Impacts of Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus (CCYV) on Biological Characteristics of Its Vector Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) MED Species
Authors: He Haifang , Li Jingjing , Zhang Zelong , Tang Xuefei , Song Danyang , Yan Fengming
Published: October 2021

Plant viruses can change the phenotypes and defense pathways of the host plants and the performance of their vectors to facilitate their transmission. Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) (Crinivirus), a newly reported virus occurring on cucurbit plants and many other plant species, is transmitted specifically by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (B biotype) and MED (Q biotype) cryptic species in a semipersistent manner. This study evaluated the impacts of CCYV on B. tabaci to better understand the plant-virus-vector interactions. By using CCYV-B. tabaci MED-cucumber as the model, we investigated whether or how a semipersistent plant virus impacts the biology of its whitefly vector. CCYV mRNAs were detectable in nymphs from first to fourth instars and adults of B. tabaci with different titers. Nymph instar durations and adult longevity of female whiteflies greatly extended on CCYV-infected plants, but nymph instar durations and adult longevity of male whiteflies were not significantly influenced. In addition, the body length and oviposition increased in adults feeding on CCYV-infected plants, but the hatching rates of eggs and survival rates of different stages were not affected. Most interestingly, the sex ratio (male:female) significantly reduced to 0.5:1 in whitefly populations on CCYV-infected plants, while the ratio remained about 1:1 on healthy plants. These results indicated that CCYV can significantly impact the biological characteristics of its vector B. tabaci. It is speculated that CCYV and B. tabaci have established a typical mutualist relationship mediated by host plants.
Dynamic stress analysis of scattering by a circular cavity in a radially inhomogeneous unbounded space under SH waves
Authors: Yang Zailin , Xiao Yong , Yang Yong , Sun Menghan , Deng Hongyu
Published: October 2021

The density of a radially inhomogeneous unbounded space is derived as a function form. Harmonic dynamics stress of the radially inhomogeneous medium with a circular cavity is investigated by the complex variable function method. The governing equation under incident SH waves in the radially inhomogeneous unbounded medium is expressed as a Helmholtz equation with a variable coefficient. It is equivalently transformed into a standard Helmholtz equation by the conformal transformation method. Then, the stress fields in the radially inhomogeneous medium can be proposed. The results indicate that the changes in density parameter of the medium and wave number further affect the dynamic stress concentration factor around the circular cavity.
Pretransplant Quality of Life and Post-Transplant Survival in Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Bernstein Ruth , Lynn Courtney , Faro Albert , Barker David , Quittner Alexandra
Published: October 2021

Objective

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common indication for pediatric lung transplantation and the third most common for adults. The selection of candidates and timing of transplant is challenging and whether there is a survival benefit of this procedure for pediatric patients is controversial. Use of the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R), a well-validated, disease-specific quality of life measure may improve pretransplant referral decision-making.

Methods

This multicenter study evaluated whether specific domains on the CFQ-R (i.e., Physical Functioning, Respiratory Symptoms), assessed pretransplant, predicted survival 4-year post-transplant (n = 25). A two-step Cox regression, with physical predictors entered in step one (i.e., age, CF-related Diabetes, FEV1% predicted) and the Physical Functioning and Respiratory Symptoms CFQ-R scales entered in step two, was used to assess whether the CFQ-R explained additional and unique variance. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of optimal cut-points of significant CFQ-R domains.

Results

The Respiratory Symptoms scale predicted survival 4-year post-transplant (Exp(B) = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.14–1.01; area under the curve = 0.87) and once it was added to the model, no other individual predictors were significant. The incremental improvement beyond the physical parameters approached but did not reach statistical significance (χ2 Δ = 5.79, p = .06).

Conclusions

This study suggested that including patient-reported outcomes could aid pretransplant referral decision-making. The Respiratory Symptoms scale in particular may serve as a useful tool to help determine when to refer and evaluate an individual for transplant.
The phospho-base N-methyltransferases PMT1 and PMT2 produce phosphocholine for leaf growth in phosphorus-starved Arabidopsis
Authors: Ngo Anh H , Angkawijaya Artik Elisa , Lin Ying-Chen , Liu Yu-chi , Nakamura Yuki
Published: October 2021

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for plants. Membrane lipid remodeling is an adaptive mechanism for P-starved plants that replaces membrane phospholipids with non-P galactolipids, presumably to retrieve scarce P sources and maintain membrane integrity. Whereas metabolic pathways to convert phospholipids to galactolipids are well-established, the mechanism by which phospholipid biosynthesis is involved in this process remains elusive. Here, we report that phospho-base N-methyltransferases 1 and 2 (PMT1 and PMT2), which convert phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine (PCho), are transcriptionally induced by P starvation. Shoots of seedlings of pmt1 pmt2 double mutant showed defective growth upon P starvation; however, membrane lipid profiles were unaffected. We found that P-starved pmt1 pmt2 with defective leaf growth had reduced PCho content, and the growth defect was rescued by exogenous supplementation of PCho. We propose that PMT1 and PMT2 are induced by P starvation to produce PCho mainly for leaf growth maintenance, rather than for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis, in membrane lipid remodeling.
X-ray bubbles in the circumgalactic medium of TNG50 Milky Way- and M31-like galaxies: signposts of supermassive black hole activity
Authors: Pillepich Annalisa , Nelson Dylan , Truong Nhut , Weinberger Rainer , Martin-Navarro Ignacio , Springel Volker , Faber Sandy M , Hernquist Lars
Published: October 2021

The TNG50 cosmological simulation produces X-ray emitting bubbles, shells, and cavities in the circumgalactic gas above and below the stellar discs of Milky Way- and Andromeda-like galaxies with morphological features reminiscent of the eROSITA and Fermi bubbles in the Galaxy. Two-thirds of the 198 MW/M31 analogues inspected in TNG50 at z = 0 show one or more large-scale, coherent features of overpressurized gas that impinge into the gaseous halo. Some of the galaxies include a succession of bubbles or shells of increasing size, ranging from a few to many tens of kpc. These are prominent in gas pressure, X-ray emission, and gas temperature, and often exhibit sharp boundaries with typical shock Mach numbers of 2–4. The gas in the bubbles outflows with maximum (95th pctl) radial velocities of ∼100–1500 km s−1. TNG50 bubbles expand with speeds as high as 1000–2000 km s−1 (about 1–2 kpc Myr−1), but with a great diversity and with larger bubbles expanding at slower speeds. The bubble gas is at 106.4−7.2 K temperatures and is enriched to metallicities of $0.5-2~\rm Z_{\odot }$. In TNG50, the bubbles are a manifestation of episodic, kinetic, wind-like energy injections from the supermassive black holes at the galaxy centres that accrete at low Eddington ratios. According to TNG50, X-ray, and possibly γ-ray, bubbles similar to those observed in the Milky Way should be a frequent feature of disc-like galaxies prior to, or on the verge of, being quenched. They should be within the grasp of eROSITA in the local Universe.
Implications of a spatially resolved main sequence for the size evolution of star-forming galaxies
Authors: Pezzulli Gabriele
Published: October 2021

Two currently debated problems in galaxy evolution, the fundamentally local or global nature of the main sequence of star formation and the evolution of the mass–size relation of star-forming galaxies (SFGs), are shown to be intimately related to each other. As a preliminary step, a growth function g is defined, which quantifies the differential change in half-mass radius per unit increase in stellar mass (g = d log R1/2/d log M⋆) due to star formation. A general derivation shows that g = KΔ(sSFR)/sSFR, meaning that g is proportional to the relative difference in specific star formation rate between the outer and the inner half of a galaxy, with K a dimensionless structural factor for which handy expressions are provided. As an application, it is shown that galaxies obeying a fundamentally local main sequence also obey, to a good approximation, g ≃ γn, where γ is the slope of the normalized local main sequence ($\mathrm{ sSFR} \,\, \propto \,\, \Sigma _\star ^{-\gamma }$) and n is the Sersic index. An exact expression is also provided. Quantitatively, a fundamentally local main sequence is consistent with SFGs growing along a stationary mass–size relation, but inconsistent with the continuation at z = 0 of evolutionary laws derived at higher z. This demonstrates that either the main sequence is not fundamentally local, or the mass–size relation of SFGs has converged to an equilibrium state at some finite time in the past, or both.
Presence of red giant population in the foreground stellar substructure of the Small Magellanic Cloud
Authors: James Dizna , Subramanian Smitha , Omkumar Abinaya O , Mary Adhya , Bekki Kenji , Cioni Maria-Rosa L , de Grijs Richard , El Youssoufi Dalal , Kartha Sreeja S , Niederhofer Florian , van Loon Jacco Th
Published: October 2021

The eastern region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is found to have a foreground stellar substructure, which is identified as a distance bimodality (∼12 kpc apart) in the previous studies using red clump (RC) stars. Interestingly, studies of red giant branch (RGB) stars in the eastern SMC indicate a bimodal radial velocity (RV) distribution. In this study, we investigate the connection between these two bimodal distributions to better understand the nature and origin of the foreground stellar substructure in the eastern SMC. We use the Gaia Early Data Release 3 astrometric data and archival RV data of RGB stars for this study. We find a bimodal RV distribution of RGB stars (separated by ∼35–45 km s−1) in the eastern and south-western (SW) outer regions. The observed proper motion values of the lower and higher RV RGB components in the eastern regions are similar to those of the foreground and main-body RC stars, respectively. This suggests that the two RGB populations in the eastern region are separated by a similar distance to those of the RC stars, and the RGB stars in the lower RV component are part of the foreground substructure. Based on the differences in the distance and RV of the two components, we estimate an approximate time of formation of this substructure as 307 ± 65  Myr ago. This is comparable with the values predicted by simulations for the recent epoch of tidal interaction between the Magellanic Clouds. Comparison of the observed properties of RGB stars, in the outer SW region, with N-body simulations shows that the higher RV component in the SW region is at a farther distance than the main body, indicating the presence of a stellar counter-bridge in the SW region of the SMC.
isymba: a symplectic massive bodies integrator with planets interpolation
Authors: Roig Fernando , Nesvorný David , Deienno Rogerio , Garcia Matias J
Published: October 2021

A planetary instability occurring at time <100 My after formation of the giant planets (GPs) in our Solar system can be responsible for some characteristics of the inner Solar system. However, the actual influence of the instability on the terrestrial planet formation is not well understood. The simulations of terrestrial planet formation are very CPU-expensive, and this limits the exploration of different instability scenarios. To include the effects of the GPs instability in the simulations of terrestrial planets formation in a feasible way, we approach the problem in two steps. First, we model and record an evolution of the GPs that replicates the present outer Solar system in the end. Then, we use that orbital record, properly interpolated, as the input for a second step to simulate its effects on the terrestrial planet formation. For this second step, we developed isymba, a symplectic massive bodies algorithm, where ‘i’ stands for interpolation. isymba is a very useful code to accurately evaluate the effects of planetary instabilities on minor body reservoirs, whilst accounting for close encounters among massive objects. We provide a detailed description of how isymba was developed and implemented to study terrestrial planet formation. Adapting isymba for other problems that demand interpolation from previous simulations can be done following the method described here.
Improved hydrodynamic pulsation models for the pulsating extreme helium star V652 Herculis
Authors: Jeffery C Simon , Montañés-Rodríguez Pilar , Saio Hideyuki
Published: October 2021

New non-linear hydrodynamic models have been constructed to simulate the radial pulsations observed in the extreme helium star V652 Her. These use a finer zoning to allow higher radial resolution than in previous simulations. Models incorporate updated OPAL and OP opacity tables and adopt a composition based on the best atmospheric analyses to date. Key pulsation properties including period, velocity amplitude, and shock acceleration are examined as a function of the mean stellar parameters (mass, luminosity, and effective temperature). The new models confirm that, for large amplitude pulsations, a strong shock develops at minimum radius, and is associated with a large phase delay between maximum brightness and minimum radius. Using the observed pulsation period to constrain parameter space in one dimension, other pulsation properties are used to constrain the model space further, and to critically discuss observational measurements. Similar models may be useful for the interpretation of other blue large amplitude pulsators, which may also exhibit pulsation-driven shocks.
3D MHD simulation of a pulsationally driven MRI decretion disc
Authors: Ressler S M
Published: October 2021

We explore the pulsationally driven orbital mass ejection mechanism for Be star disc formation using isothermal, 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and hydrodynamic simulations. Non-radial pulsations are added to a star rotating at 95 per cent of critical as an inner boundary condition that feeds gas into the domain. In MHD, the initial magnetic field within the star is weak. The hydrodynamics simulation has limited angular momentum transport, resulting in repeating cycles of mass accumulation into a rotationally supported disc at small radii followed by fall-back on to the star. The MHD simulation, conversely, has efficient (Maxwell αM ∼ 0.04) angular momentum transport provided by both turbulent and coherent magnetic fields: a slowly decreting midplane driven by the magnetorotational instability and a supersonic wind on the surface of the disc driven by global magnetic torques. The angle and time-averaged properties near the midplane agree reasonably well with a 1D viscous decretion disc model with a modified $\tilde{\alpha }=0.5$, in which the gas transitions from a subsonic thin disc to a supersonic spherical wind at the critical point. 1D models, however, cannot capture the multiphase decretion/angular structure seen in our simulations. Our results demonstrate that, at least under certain conditions, non-radial pulsations on the surface of a rapidly rotating, weakly magnetised star can drive a Keplerian disc with the basic properties of the viscous decretion disc paradigm, albeit coupled to a laminar wind away from the midplane. Future modelling of Be star discs should consider the possible existence of such a surface wind.
Exploring the dust content of galactic haloes with Herschel – IV. NGC 3079
Authors: Veilleux S , Meléndez M , Stone M , Cecil G , Hodges-Kluck E , Bland-Hawthorn J , Bregman J , Heitsch F , Martin C L , Mueller T , Rupke D S N , Sturm E , Tanner R , Engelbracht C
Published: October 2021

We present the results from an analysis of deep Herschel far-infrared (far-IR) observations of the edge-on disc galaxy NGC 3079. The point spread function-cleaned Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) images at 100 and 160 µm display a 25 × 25 kpc2 X-shape structure centred on the nucleus that is similar in extent and orientation to that seen in H α, X-rays, and the far-ultraviolet. One of the dusty filaments making up this structure is detected in the Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver 250 µm map out to ∼25 kpc from the nucleus. The match between the far-IR filaments and those detected at other wavelengths suggests that the dusty material has been lifted out of the disc by the same large-scale galactic wind that has produced the other structures in this object. A closer look at the central 10 × 10 kpc2 region provides additional support for this scenario. The dust temperatures traced by the 100–160 µm flux ratios in this region are enhanced within a biconical region centred on the active galactic nucleus, aligned along the minor axis of the galaxy, and coincident with the well-known double-lobed cm-wave radio structure and H α–X-ray nuclear superbubbles. PACS imaging spectroscopy of the inner 6 kpc region reveals broad [C ii] 158 µm emission line profiles and OH 79 µm absorption features along the minor axis of the galaxy with widths well in excess of those expected from beam smearing of the disc rotational motion. This provides compelling evidence that the cool material traced by the [C ii] and OH features directly interacts with the nuclear ionized and relativistic outflows traced by the H α, X-ray, and radio emission.
The NuSTAR extragalactic survey of the James Webb Space Telescope North Ecliptic Pole time-domain field
Authors: Zhao X , Civano F , Fornasini F M , Alexander D M , Cappelluti N , Chen C T , Cohen S H , Elvis M , Gandhi P , Grogin N A , Hickox R C , Jansen R A , Koekemoer A , Lanzuisi G , Maksym W P , Masini A , Rosario D J , Ward M J , Willmer C N A , Windhorst R A
Published: October 2021

We present the NuSTAR extragalactic survey of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) Time-Domain Field. The survey covers a ∼0.16 deg2 area with a total exposure of 681 ks acquired in a total of nine observations from three epochs. The survey sensitivities at 20 per cent of the area are 2.39, 1.14, 2.76, 1.52, and 5.20 × 10−14 erg cm−2 s−1 in the 3–24, 3–8, 8–24, 8–16, and 16–24 keV bands, respectively. The NEP survey is one of the most sensitive extragalactic surveys with NuSTAR so far. A total of 33 sources were detected above 95 per cent reliability in at least one of the five bands. We present the number counts, logN-logS, measured in the hard X-ray 8–24 and 8–16 keV bands, uniquely accessible by NuSTAR down to such faint fluxes. We performed source detection on the XMM–Newton and Chandra observations of the same field to search for soft X-ray counterparts of each NuSTAR detection. The soft band positions were used to identify optical and infrared associations. We present the X-ray properties (hardness ratio and luminosity) and optical-to-X-ray properties of the detected sources. The measured fraction of candidate Compton-thick (N$\rm _H\ge 10^{24}\, cm^{-2}$) active galactic nuclei, derived from the hardness ratio, is between 3 and 27 per cent. As this survey was designed to have variability as its primary focus, we present preliminary results on multiepoch flux variability in the 3–24 keV band.
Gravitational waves from GRB core spin-down
Authors: Contopoulos I , Strantzalis A , Papadopoulos D , Kazanas D
Published: October 2021

We investigate long Gamma-Ray Bursts which manifest a sharp linear rise followed by an exponential decay in their γ-ray prompt emission observed with the BAT instrument on board the Swift satellite. We offer a simple electrodynamic model that may account for these particular characteristics. We associate the sharp rise with the winding of the magnetic field by the fast-rotating core that formed in the interior of the stellar precursor. We also associate the subsequent exponential decay with the electromagnetic spin-down of the core following the release of the electromagnetic jet from the stellar interior. Any non-axisymmetric distortion in the rotating core will generate gravitational waves with exponentially decreasing frequency, a so-called ‘down-chirp’. We obtain a detailed estimate of the gravitational-wave profile if the distortion of space–time is due to the winding of a non-axisymmetric component of the magnetic field during that particular phase of the burst. We offer 7 particular time intervals during which one may look into LIGO archival data for the presence of our particular predicted waveforms in order to test our interpretation.