bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple lipomata of the tricuspid valve and papillary muscle: case report
Authors: Zhao Yixin , Li Guoliang , Wang Shun , Yan Yang
Published: July 2021

Background

Cardiac lipomas are rare benign primary tumours of the heart. Due to the nature of these tumours, they are often asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally. Whether asymptomatic patients with cardiac lipomas should perform surgery still remains controversial.

Case summary

A 34-year-old Asian male who was incidentally found hyperechoic masses in the right ventricle (RV) on the transthoracic echocardiogram by annually routine physical examination was admitted to our cardiology department. His medical history was unremarkable. The repeated transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiogram showed multiple solitary and well-demarcated masses in the RV. On the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, four discrete masses (considering the possibility of it being a lipoma) partially occluding the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) were observed. During the open-heart resection surgery, it was found that the tricuspid valve and papillary muscle were covered by multiple adipose masses in the RV that arose from the interventricular septum and the free wall, resulting in partial RVOT obstruction. These excised masses were histopathologically confirmed as lipomata characterized by the mature adipocytes with entrapped myocardial cells. The patient had no cardiac abnormality in the 1-month follow-up after the surgery.

Discussion

This rare clinical case of multiple lipomata of the tricuspid valve and papillary muscle acknowledges that multimodality imaging is the cornerstone for the assessment and diagnosis. Surgery should be performed in cases of symptomatic or large lipomas as well as when a lipoma is considered to be high risk because of RVOT obstruction.
Microbial eukaryote assemblages and potential novel diversity in four tropical East African Great Lakes
Authors: Fermani Paulina , Metz Sebastián , Balagué Vanessa , Descy Jean Pierre , Morana Cédric , Logares Ramiro , Massana Ramon , Sarmento Hugo
Published: July 2021

East African Great Lakes are old and unique natural resources heavily utilized by their bordering countries. In those lakes, ecosystem functioning is dominated by pelagic processes, where microorganisms are key components; however, protistan diversity is barely known. We investigated the community composition of small eukaryotes (<10 µm) in surface waters of four African Lakes (Kivu, Edward, Albert and Victoria) by sequencing the 18S rRNA gene. Moreover, in the meromictic Lake Kivu, two stations were vertically studied. We found high protistan diversity distributed in 779 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), spanning in 11 high-rank lineages, being Alveolata (31%), Opisthokonta (20%) and Stramenopiles (17%) the most represented supergroups. Surface protistan assemblages were associated with conductivity and productivity gradients, whereas depth had a strong effect on protistan community in Kivu, with higher contribution of heterotrophic organisms. Approximately 40% of OTUs had low similarity (<90%) with reported sequences in public databases; these were mostly coming from deep anoxic waters of Kivu, suggesting a high extent of novel diversity. We also detected several taxa so far considered exclusive of marine ecosystems. Our results unveiled a complex and largely undescribed protistan community, in which several lineages have adapted to different niches after crossing the salinity boundary.
Mechanistic analysis of cadmium toxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Zhao Yunying , Su Ruifang , Li Shiyun , Mao Yin
Published: July 2021

As a potentially toxic heavy metal, Cadmium (Cd) can cause endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress, and thus lead to cell death. To explore the mechanisms of Cd toxicity, we investigated the UPRE-lacZ expression, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death in the 151 Cd-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to Cd stress. We identified 101 genes regulating UPRE-lacZ expression were involved in preventing ROS production and/or cell death from increasing to high levels, while mutants for 72 genes caused both elevated ROS production and cell death, indicating the Cd-induced ROS production and cell death are mediated by UPR. Genes involved in cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway, vacuolar protein sorting (VPS) and vacuolar transport, calcium/calcineurin pathway and PHO pathways were all required for the Cd-induced UPR, intracellular ROS and cell death. To conclude, this study highlights the importance of Cd-induced UPR, intracellular ROS levels and cell death that may play crucial roles in Cd-induced toxicity.
Genome-wide association mapping of Pyrenophora teres f. maculata and Pyrenophora teres f. teres resistance loci utilizing natural Turkish wild and landrace barley populations
Authors: Clare Shaun J , Çelik Oğuz Arzu , Effertz Karl , Sharma Poudel Roshan , See Deven , Karakaya Aziz , Brueggeman Robert S
Published: July 2021

Unimproved landraces and wild relatives of crops are sources of genetic diversity that were lost post domestication in modern breeding programs. To tap into this rich resource, genome-wide association studies in large plant genomes have enabled the rapid genetic characterization of desired traits from natural landrace and wild populations. Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), the progenitor of domesticated barley (Hordeum vulgare), is dispersed across Asia and North Africa, and has co-evolved with the ascomycetous fungal pathogens Pyrenophora teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata, the causal agents of the diseases net form of net blotch and spot form of net blotch, respectively. Thus, these wild and local adapted barley landraces from the region of origin of both the host and pathogen represent a diverse gene pool to identify new sources of resistance, due to millions of years of co-evolution. The barley—P. teres pathosystem is governed by complex genetic interactions with dominant, recessive, and incomplete resistances and susceptibilities, with many isolate-specific interactions. Here, we provide the first genome-wide association study of wild and landrace barley from the Fertile Crescent for resistance to both forms of P. teres. A total of 14 loci, four against P. teres f. maculata and 10 against P. teres f. teres, were identified in both wild and landrace populations, showing that both are genetic reservoirs for novel sources of resistance. We also highlight the importance of using multiple algorithms to both identify and validate additional loci.
Disease Burden Affects Aging Brain Function
Authors: Beason-Held Lori L , Fournier Danielle , Shafer Andrea T , Fabbri Elisa , An Yang , Huang Chiung-Wei , Bilgel Murat , Wong Dean F , Ferrucci Luigi , Resnick Susan M
Published: July 2021

Background

Most older adults live with multiple chronic disease conditions, yet the effect of multiple diseases on brain function remains unclear.

Methods

We examine the relationship between disease multimorbidity and brain activity using regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) 15O-water PET scans from 97 cognitively normal participants (mean baseline age 76.5) in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA). Multimorbidity index scores, generated from the presence of 13 health conditions, were correlated with PET data at baseline and in longitudinal change (n = 74) over 5.05 (2.74 SD) years.

Results

At baseline, voxel-based analysis showed that higher multimorbidity scores were associated with lower relative activity in orbitofrontal, superior frontal, temporal pole and parahippocampal regions, and greater activity in lateral temporal, occipital, and cerebellar regions. Examination of the individual health conditions comprising the index score showed hypertension and chronic kidney disease individually contributed to the overall multimorbidity pattern of altered activity. Longitudinally, both increases and decreases in activity were seen in relation to increasing multimorbidity over time. These associations were identified in orbitofrontal, lateral temporal, brainstem, and cerebellar areas.

Conclusion

Together, these results show that greater multimorbidity is associated with widespread areas of altered brain activity, supporting a link between health and changes in aging brain function.
Stages of the Rohingya Genocide: A Theoretical and Empirical Study
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Pizuar
Published: July 2021

This article delineates processes of the ongoing Rohingya genocide by analyzing victim narratives through the lens of Gregory H. Stanton’s model of ten stages of genocide. Addressing the issues from theoretical and empirical perspectives offers a structured—if refracted—view of the plans, policies, and actions of the perpetrators. While bringing in historical origins and socio-political factors, the article rests primarily on victims’ accounts, along with evidence gathered by human rights organizations and the international press. The leaders of Myanmar seem intent on limiting international understandings of their program to simple ethnic cleansing—not prosecutable under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. But while internal documents would be required to reveal the regime’s intentions and so validate Stanton’s model, testimonies and witness accounts afford ample grounds to assess the evolution of events as genocide. The following privileges the experiences and narratives of grassroots Rohingya victims.
A conserved ATG2 binding site in WIPI4 and yeast Hsv2 is disrupted by mutations causing β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration
Authors: Bueno-Arribas Miranda , Blanca Irene , Cruz-Cuevas Celia , Escalante Ricardo , Navas María-Angeles , Vincent Olivier
Published: July 2021

PROPPINs are phosphoinositide-binding β-propeller proteins that mediate membrane recruitment of other proteins and are involved in different membrane remodeling processes. The main role of PROPPINs is their function in autophagy, where they act at different steps in phagophore formation. The human PROPPIN WIPI4 (WDR45) forms a complex with ATG2 involved in phagophore elongation, and mutations in this gene cause β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN). The yeast functional counterpart of WIPI4 is Atg18, although its closest sequence homolog is another member of the PROPPIN family, Hsv2, whose function remains largely undefined. Here, we provide evidence that Hsv2, like WIPI4 and Atg18, interacts with Atg2. We show that Hsv2 and a pool of Atg2 colocalize on endosomes under basal conditions and at the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS) upon autophagy induction. We further show that Hsv2 drives the recruitment of Atg2 to endosomes while Atg2 mediates Hsv2 recruitment to the PAS. HSV2 overexpression results in mis-sorting and secretion of carboxypeptidase CPY, suggesting that the endosomal function of this protein is related to the endosome-to-Golgi recycling pathway. Furthermore, we show that the Atg2 binding site is conserved in Hsv2 and WIPI4 but not in Atg18. Notably, two WIPI4 residues involved in ATG2 binding are mutated in patients with BPAN, and there is a correlation between the inhibitory effect of these mutations on ATG2 binding and the severity of the disease.
Optimal non-adaptive probabilistic group testing in general sparsity regimes
Authors: Bay Wei Heng , Scarlett Jonathan , Price Eric
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we consider the problem of noiseless non-adaptive probabilistic group testing, in which the goal is high-probability recovery of the defective set. We show that in the case of $n$ items among which $k$ are defective, the smallest possible number of tests equals $\min \{ C_{k,n} k \log n, n\}$ up to lower-order asymptotic terms, where $C_{k,n}$ is a uniformly bounded constant (varying depending on the scaling of $k$ with respect to $n$) with a simple explicit expression. The algorithmic upper bound follows from a minor adaptation of an existing analysis of the Definite Defectives algorithm, and the algorithm-independent lower bound builds on existing works for the regimes $k \le n^{1-\varOmega (1)}$ and $k = \varTheta (n)$. In sufficiently sparse regimes (including $k = o\big ( \frac{n}{\log n} \big )$), our main result generalizes that of Coja-Oghlan et al. (2020) by avoiding the assumption $k \le n^{1-\varOmega (1)}$, whereas in sufficiently dense regimes (including $k = \omega \big ( \frac{n}{\log n} \big )$), our main result shows that individual testing is asymptotically optimal for any non-zero target success probability, thus strengthening an existing result of Aldridge (2019, IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, 65, 2058–2061) in terms of both the error probability and the assumed scaling of $k$.
Metric Rectifiability of ℍ-regular Surfaces with Hölder Continuous Horizontal Normal
Authors: Di Donato Daniela , Fässler Katrin , Orponen Tuomas
Published: July 2021

Two definitions for the rectifiability of hypersurfaces in Heisenberg groups $\mathbb{H}^n$ have been proposed: one based on ${\mathbb{H}}$-regular surfaces and the other on Lipschitz images of subsets of codimension-$1$ vertical subgroups. The equivalence between these notions remains an open problem. Recent partial results are due to Cole–Pauls, Bigolin–Vittone, and Antonelli–Le Donne. This paper makes progress in one direction: the metric Lipschitz rectifiability of ${\mathbb{H}}$-regular surfaces. We prove that ${\mathbb{H}}$-regular surfaces in $\mathbb{H}^{n}$ with $\alpha $-Hölder continuous horizontal normal, $\alpha> 0$, are metric bilipschitz rectifiable. This improves on the work by Antonelli–Le Donne, where the same conclusion was obtained for $C^{\infty }$-surfaces. In $\mathbb{H}^{1}$, we prove a slightly stronger result: every codimension-$1$ intrinsic Lipschitz graph with an $\epsilon $ of extra regularity in the vertical direction is metric bilipschitz rectifiable. All the proofs in the paper are based on a new general criterion for finding bilipschitz maps between “big pieces” of metric spaces.
Community pharmacists’ views on their current role and future opportunities for antibiotic stewardship: a French qualitative study
Authors: Essilini Anaïs , Pierre Amélie , Bocquier Aurélie , Pulcini Céline , Wilcke Christophe , Gravoulet Julien , Demore Béatrice , Thilly Nathalie
Published: July 2021

Background

Different healthcare professionals should contribute to antibiotic stewardship (ABS) activities. Involvement of community pharmacists (CPs) has been little explored worldwide to date.

Objectives

To explore French CPs’ views on ABS and antibiotic resistance, their role and current practices, and future opportunities for ABS.

Methods

A qualitative study using semi-structured face-to-face individual interviews was performed from May to October 2019 among CPs from north-eastern France. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis.

Results

Twenty-seven interviews were conducted. Most participants had a clear understanding of antibiotic resistance and ABS. They considered themselves as ‘guardians of the appropriate use of drugs’ but often failed to fulfil this mission because of difficult relationships with physicians. Their current ABS practices are: (i) counselling patients about the antibiotic treatment; and (ii) reporting to the prescriber when they identify contraindications/drug interactions. Concerning their potential increased involvement in ABS, CPs felt they could perform more rapid diagnostic testing for sore throat; they were divided on the possibility for them to change the antibiotic prescription made by a physician and were mainly against the possibility of initiating an antibiotic prescription. The idea of systematically collecting unused antibiotics was perceived well by CPs, while unit dose delivery was not.

Conclusions

French community pharmacists are willing to become more involved in ABS activities. Collaboration and trust between pharmacists and prescribers should however be improved.
Factors Affecting Willingness to Use Indoor Residual Spraying Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Hyperendemic State of West Africa: A Random Survey
Authors: Oladoyinbo Tunji Oloyede , Adeogun Adedapo Olufemi , Babalola Ayodele Samuel , Babatunde Muideen , Ladipo Olabode Taiwo , Olarinde Taiwo Iyabode , Oyedemi Ibrahim Dawud
Published: July 2021

This study assessed the perception of pregnant women on indoor residual spraying (IRS), documented acceptability, and factors that significantly dictate willingness to use IRS among the pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Ibadan Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from 500 pregnant women. Descriptive and principal component analysis (PCA) were done at 5% level of significance. Majority of the pregnant women had between good and fair knowledge of IRS. Less than 70% of the respondents were willing to allow IRS in their homes. Our PCA revealed that major factors responsible for acceptance and willingness to use IRS were associated with perceived benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of IRS rather than overall knowledge of IRS among the respondents. The analysis revealed that these factors were responsible for at least 80% of the reasons for a pregnant woman to willingly accept IRS or not. The factors that positively influenced willingness to use IRS include its benefit in controlling mosquitoes and other insects, reducing malaria incidence, and prolonged effects of IRS which is an added advantage over continuous purchase of aerosols. One major factor that may negatively affect the acceptance of IRS is the fact that you may have to pack out of the house and wait for more than 3 d before entering. This current study has identified some specific factors that seem to promote and/or reduce willingness to accept IRS as a malaria control intervention among pregnant women in South Western Nigeria.
The influence of abiotic and spatial variables on woody and herbaceous species abundances in a woodland–grassland system in the Eastern Terai of India
Authors: Das Dhritiman , Banerjee Subham , Lehmkuhl John , Krishnaswamy Jagdish , John Robert
Published: July 2021

The environmental factors that influence tree–grass abundances in tropical savanna and grasslands are not well understood, particularly for woodland–grassland mosaics in humid zones. We studied the effects of abiotic and spatial variables on woody and herbaceous species distributions in a Terai ecosystem of northeastern India. We evaluated the importance of climatic and non-climatic factors that maintain variable tree–grass ratios across the landscape, and also accounted for spatial connectivity and dispersal. We measured species abundances of woody and herbaceous plant species in 134 plots with each 30 m × 30 m in a 519 km2 protected Terai habitat, and derived several climatic and non-climatic environmental factors. We constructed variables based on different models of spatial connectivity among sites, to test their influence on species abundances. We then used redundancy analyses and variation partitioning to quantify the importance of environmental variables and spatial structure on variation in tree–grass abundances. We found that environmental variables including rainfall, fire, water stress, topography and soil nutrients had statistically significant effects on species abundance and tree–grass ratios. Spatial structure was significant, and the best spatial model was an inverse distance-weighted model with linkage extending to 23.5 km, indicating weak dispersal limitation. About 21% of the variation in species abundance was explained by the selected environmental and spatial factors. The results indicate that dynamic plant communities in which spatial–temporal variation in environmental factors may drive stochasticity in species distribution and abundance, thus dominantly influencing on the vegetation mosaic.
Realized niche shift associated withGalinsoga quadriradiata(Asteraceae) invasion in China
Authors: Zhang Wengang , Chen Xiaoyan , Liu Ruiling , Song Xingjiang , Liu Gang , Zou Jiabin , Qian Zengqiang , Zhu Zhihong , Cui Langjun
Published: July 2021

Shifts in the realized niches of exotic species may play an important role in their invasion. Galinsoga quadriradiata has invaded China widely and occupied many climate zones that are different from its native range. We addressed the climatic niche shift of G. quadriradiata and evaluated how this could contribute to its invasion in China. We used the Maxent model to predict the potential distribution of G. quadriradiata using its native and invaded range occurrences and climatic variables. Principal component analysis was conducted to measure climatic niche shifts of G. quadriradiata during its invasion in China. The models revealed only 32.7% niche overlap between the native and invasive populations. The niche similarity of the two populations was significantly low (Schoener’s D = 0.093, P < 0.005), suggesting the occurrence of a niche shift. The envelop and center of the realized climatic niche in China has shifted to lower temperature and less precipitation compared to that in its native range. The majority of invaded areas in southern China are in the stabilizing zone, whereas the colonization and adaptation zones are predicted to be at the leading edge of G. quadriradiata invasion in northern China. This suggests that the regional distribution of G. quadriradiata may be in a quasi-equilibrium state, and that the species continues to invade environmentally suitable areas. Alterations in G. quadriradiata’s niche would help to explain why this species is so invasive in China.
Transit origami: a method to coherently fold exomoon transits in time series photometry
Authors: Kipping David
Published: July 2021

One of the simplest ways to identify an exoplanetary transit is to phase fold a photometric time series upon a trial period – leading to a coherent stack when using the correct value. Such phase-folded transits have become a standard data visualization in modern transit discovery papers. There is no analogous folding mechanism for exomoons, which would have to represent some kind of double fold: once for the planet and then another for the moon. Folding with the planet term only, a moon imparts a small decrease in the surrounding out-of-transit averaged intensity, but its incoherent nature makes it far less convincing than the crisp stacks familiar to exoplanet hunters. Here, a new approach is introduced that can be used to achieve the transit origami needed to double fold an exomoon, in the case where a planet exhibits transit timing variations (TTVs). This double fold has just one unknown parameter, the satellite-to-planet mass ratio, and thus a simple one-dimensional grid search can be used to rapidly identify power associated with candidate exomoons. The technique is demonstrated on simulated light curves, exploring the breakdown limits of close-in and/or inclined satellites. As an example, the method is deployed on Kepler-973b, a warm mini-Neptune exhibiting an 8-min TTV, where the possibility that the TTVs are caused by a single exomoon is broadly excluded, with upper limits probing down to a Ganymede-sized moon.
Intraday multiband optical variability of BL Lacertae object S5 0716+714
Authors: Dai Yan , Fang Yue , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Meng Nankun , Wu Jianghua , Zhu Zong-Hong
Published: July 2021

We monitored the BL Lac object S5 0716+714 in four optical wavebands with four telescopes on 11 nights from 2012 to 2017. The object was active during most of those nights. It was brightest on 2012 November 7 with 11.720 mag in the I band and reached the faintest state on 2016 January 22 with 15.770 mag in the R band corresponding to ∼15.230 mag in the I band. Intraday variations in all bands were found on 6 d, while in partial bands on 3 d. Strong bluer-when-brighter chromatism was observed on 8 nights. Correlation analyses revealed interband time delays from 4 to 40 min in the intraday variability on 5 nights. Both hard and soft lags were observed in this object, indicating complicated emission process in the jet. The analysis on the interband time delays indicated that the radiative cooling may dominate the optical time lags in S5 0716+714 occasionally, but cannot be invoked as the sole explanation.
Inferring the concentration of dark matter subhaloes perturbing strongly lensed images
Authors: Minor Quinn , Kaplinghat Manoj , Chan Tony H , Simon Emily
Published: July 2021

We demonstrate that the perturbations of strongly lensed images by low-mass dark matter subhaloes are significantly impacted by the concentration of the perturbing subhalo. For subhalo concentrations expected in Lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM), significant constraints on the concentration can be obtained at Hubble Space Telescope (HST) resolution for subhaloes with masses larger than about $10^{10}\, {\rm M}_\odot$. Constraints are also possible for lower mass subhaloes, if their concentrations are higher than the expected scatter in CDM. We also find that the concentration of lower mass perturbers down to $\sim 10^8\, {\rm M}_\odot$ can be well constrained with a resolution of ∼0.01 arcsec, which is achievable with long-baseline interferometry. Subhalo concentration also plays a critical role in the detectability of a perturbation, such that only high-concentration perturbers with mass $\lesssim 10^9\, {\rm M}_\odot$ are likely to be detected at HST resolution. If scatter in the ΛCDM mass–concentration relation is not accounted for during lens modelling, the inferred subhalo mass can be biased by up to a factor of 3 (6) for subhaloes of mass $10^9 \, {\rm M}_\odot \,(10^{10} \, {\rm M}_\odot$); this bias can be eliminated if one varies both mass and concentration during lens fitting. Alternatively, one may robustly infer the projected mass within the subhalo’s perturbation radius, defined by its distance to the critical curve of the lens being perturbed. With a sufficient number of detections, these strategies will make it possible to constrain the halo mass–concentration relation at low masses in addition to the mass function, offering a probe of dark matter physics as well as the small-scale primordial power spectrum.
Behavioural responses of Intensivists to stressors in Intensive Care
Authors: Dennis D , van Heerden P V , Khanna R , Knott C I
Published: July 2021

Background

The hospital intensive care unit (ICU) environment encompasses sick patients who present for care in health crisis. Healthcare in this setting is complex, often involving the co-ordination of multiple professional teams, all under significant time pressures. The sequelae for staff interacting in this dynamic and often volatile setting are variable, depending upon their coping skillset and their familiarity with the stressors.

Aims

The primary aim of this study was to describe and in doing so, normalize the behavioural responses expressed by ICU doctors (Intensivists) in response to stressful workplace events. The secondary aim was to identify those responses that contributed to resilience.

Methods

A prospective qualitative study of senior Intensivists using a semi-scripted iterative interview. Data were transcribed and thematically analysed with verbatim quotations selected to support coding choices.

Results

Nineteen experienced Intensivists from three sites in Australia and Israel participated. Clinicians described conscious, physiological and professional responses to stressors, including sense-making and taking time to process information with appropriate support. Two of the most important mitigation processes revealed were the use of reflective learning and preventative practice changes to prevent future errors. These were overlaid with the importance of disclosure and transparency in clinical work.

Conclusions

Repeated exposure to stressful events potentiates burnout, wherein staff no longer experience satisfaction and enjoyment in what they do. This paper presents the behavioural responses that experienced Intensivists described in relation to stressful events in the ICU, including steps taken to mitigate the effects of these events on their personal well-being.
Increased Capsule Thickness and Hypermotility Are Traits of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ST3 Strains Causing Fulminant Infection
Authors: Rakovitsky Nadya , Lellouche Jonathan , Ben David Debby , Frenk Sammy , Elmalih Polet , Weber Gabriel , Kon Hadas , Schwartz David , Wolfhart Liat , Temkin Elizabeth , Carmeli Yehuda
Published: July 2021

Background

Acinetobacter baumannii is a successful nosocomial pathogen, causing severe, life-threatening infections in hospitalized patients, including pneumonia and bloodstream infections. The spread of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) strains is a major health threat worldwide. The successful spread of CRAB is mostly due to its highly plastic genome. Although some virulence factors associated with CRAB have been uncovered, many mechanisms contributing to its success are not fully understood.

Methods

Here we describe strains of CRAB that were isolated from fulminant cases in 2 hospitals in Israel. These isolates show a rare hypermucoid (HM) phenotype and were investigated using phenotypic assays, comparative genomics, and an in vivo Galleria mellonella model.

Results

The 3 isolates belonged to the ST3 international clonal type and were closely related to each other, as shown by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and phylogenetic analyses. These isolates possessed thickened capsules and a dense filamentous extracellular polysaccharides matrix as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and overexpressed the capsule polysaccharide synthesis pathway-related wzc gene.

Conclusions

The HM isolates possessed a unique combination of virulence genes involved in iron metabolism, protein secretion, adherence, and membrane glycosylation. HM strains were more virulent than control strains in 2 G. mellonella infection models. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated several virulence factors, all present in 3 CRAB isolates with rare hypermucoid phenotypes.
Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy on Progression Along the HIV Care Continuum in Transgender Women
Authors: Summers Nathan A , Huynh Trang T , Dunn Ruth C , Cross Sara L , Fuchs Christian J
Published: July 2021

Background

Progression along the HIV care continuum has been a key focus for improving outcomes for people with HIV (PWH). Transgender women with HIV (TGWWH) have not made the same progress as their cisgender counterparts.

Methods

All PWH identifying as transgender women receiving care at our clinic from 1/1/2015 to 12/31/2019 were identified from the electronic health records (EHRs) using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Demographics, laboratory data, prescription of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and visit history were abstracted from the EHR. Retention in care and viral suppression were defined using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions. The proportions of TGWWH who were consistently retained in care or virally suppressed over time were calculated using a binary response generalized mixed model including random effects and correlated errors.

Results

Of the 76 PWH identified by ICD codes, 2 were excluded for identifying as cisgender and 15 for insufficient records, leaving 59 TGWWH included for analysis. Patients were on average 35 years old and Black (86%), with a median CD4 count of 464 cells/µL. There were 13 patients on GAHT at study entry and 31 receiving GAHT at any point during the study period. Fifty-five percent were virally suppressed at study entry and 86% at GAHT initiation. The proportion of TGWWH who were consistently virally suppressed over time was greater among those receiving GAHT compared with those who were not (P = .04).

Conclusions

Rates of viral suppression were significantly greater among TGWWH receiving GAHT when compared with those who were not. More research to evaluate the reasons behind this effect is needed.
Clostridioides difficilePrevalence in the United States: National Inpatient Sample, 2016 to 2018
Authors: Petersen Molly R , Cosgrove Sara E , Klein Eili Y , Zhu Xianming , Quinn Thomas C , Patel Eshan U , Grabowski M Kate , Tobian Aaron A R
Published: July 2021

Data from the National Inpatient Sample indicate that Clostridioides difficile prevalence decreased from 10.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.9–10.3) to 8.6 (95% CI = 8.5–8.8) per 1000 hospital discharges between 2016 and 2018, after accounting for age, sex, and race. There was heterogeneity in the prevalence and decrease in prevalence by geographic region in the United States.
Desiccation and rehydration dynamics in the epiphytic resurrection fern Pleopeltis polypodioides
Authors: Prats Kyra A , Brodersen Craig R
Published: July 2021

The epiphytic resurrection—or desiccation-tolerant (DT)—fern Pleopeltis polypodioides can survive extreme desiccation and recover physiological activity within hours of rehydration. Yet, how epiphytic DT ferns coordinate between deterioration and recovery of their hydraulic and photosynthetic systems remains poorly understood. We examined the functional status of the leaf vascular system, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic rate during desiccation and rehydration of P. polypodioides. Xylem tracheids in the stipe embolized within 3–4 h during dehydration. When the leaf and rhizome received water, tracheids refilled after ∼24 h, which occurred along with dramatic structural changes in the stele. Photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence recovered to predesiccation values within 12 h of rehydration, regardless of whether fronds were connected to their rhizome. Our data show that the epiphytic DT fern P. polypodioides can utilize foliar water uptake to rehydrate the leaf mesophyll and recover photosynthesis despite a broken hydraulic connection to the rhizome.
Backreaction of mass and angular momentum accretion on black holes: General formulation of metric perturbations and application to the Blandford–Znajek process
Authors: Kimura Masashi , Harada Tomohiro , Naruko Atsushi , Toma Kenji
Published: July 2021

We study the metric backreaction of mass and angular momentum accretion on black holes. We first develop the formalism of monopole and dipole linear gravitational perturbations around Schwarzschild black holes in Eddington–Finkelstein coordinates against generic time-dependent matter. We derive the relation between the time dependence of the mass and angular momentum of the black hole and the energy–momentum tensors of accreting matter. As a concrete example, we apply our formalism to the Blandford–Znajek process around slowly rotating black holes. We find that the time dependence of the monopole and dipole perturbations can be interpreted as a slowly rotating Kerr metric with time-dependent mass and spin parameters, which are determined from the energy and angular momentum extraction rates of the Blandford–Znajek process. We also show that the Komar angular momentum and the area of the apparent horizon are decreasing and increasing in time, respectively, while they are consistent with the Blandford–Znajek argument of energy extraction in terms of black hole mechanics if we regard the time-dependent mass parameter as the energy of the black hole.
Electrospun poly (L-lactic acid)/gelatine membranes loaded with doxorubicin for effective suppression of glioblastoma cell growthin vitroandin vivo
Authors: Liu Boxun , Jin Zhizhong , Chen Haiyan , Liang Lun , Li Yao , Wang Guo , Zhang Jing , Xu Tao
Published: July 2021

Electrospun membranes are attracting interest as a drug delivery system because of their material composition flexibility and versatile drug loading. In this study, the electrospun membrane was loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) via electrostatic adsorption for long-term drug delivery. DOX loading process was optimized by varying temperature, time, drug concentration, pH and ionic strength of solutions. The loading process did not impair the structural properties of the membrane. Next, we investigated the drug release kinetics using spectroscopic techniques. The composite membranes released 22% of the adsorbed DOX over the first 48 h, followed by a slower and sustained release over 4 weeks. The DOX release was sensitive to acidic solutions that the release rate at pH 6.0 was 1.27 times as that at pH 7.4. The DOX-loaded membranes were found to be cytotoxic to U-87 MG cells in vitro that decreased the cell viability from 82.92% to 25.49% from 24 to 72 h of co-incubation. These membranes showed strong efficacy in suppressing tumour growth in vivo in glioblastoma-bearing mice that decreased the tumour volume by 77.33% compared with blank membrane-treated group on Day 20. In conclusion, we have developed an effective approach to load DOX within a clinically approved poly (L-lactic acid)/gelatine membrane for local and long-term delivery of DOX for the treatment of glioblastoma.
Gelatin methacrylate hydrogel scaffold carrying resveratrol-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles for enhancement of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and effective bone regeneration
Authors: Wei Bangguo , Wang Wenrui , Liu Xiangyu , Xu Chenxi , Wang Yanan , Wang Ziqi , Xu Jinnuo , Guan Jianzhong , Zhou Pinghui , Mao Yingji
Published: July 2021

Critical-sized bone defects caused by traumatic fractures, tumour resection and congenital malformation are unlikely to heal spontaneously. Bone tissue engineering is a promising strategy aimed at developing in vitro replacements for bone transplantation and overcoming the limitations of natural bone grafts. In this study, we developed an innovative bone engineering scaffold based on gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel, obtained via a two-step procedure: first, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were loaded with resveratrol (Res), a drug that can promote osteogenic differentiation and bone formation; these particles were then encapsulated at different concentrations (0.01%, 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.08%) in GelMA to obtain the final Res-SLNs/GelMA scaffolds. The effects of these scaffolds on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and bone regeneration in rat cranial defects were evaluated using various characterization assays. Our in vitro and in vivo investigations demonstrated that the different Res-SLNs/GelMA scaffolds improved the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, with the ideally slow and steady release of Res; the optimal scaffold was 0.02 Res-SLNs/GelMA. Therefore, the 0.02 Res-SLNs/GelMA hydrogel is an appropriate release system for Res with good biocompatibility, osteoconduction and osteoinduction, thereby showing potential for application in bone tissue engineering.
Canakinumab in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: real-world data from a retrospective Italian cohort
Authors: De Matteis Arianna , Bracaglia Claudia , Pires Marafon Denise , Piscitelli Anna Lucia , Alessio Maria , Naddei Roberta , Orlando Francesca , Filocamo Giovanni , Minoia Francesca , Ravelli Angelo , Tibaldi Jessica , Cimaz Rolando , Marino Achille , Simonini Gabriele , Mastrolia Maria Vincenza , La Torre Francesco , Tricarico Ilaria , Licciardi Francesco , Montin Davide , Maggio Maria Cristina , Alizzi Clotilde , Martini Giorgia , Civino Adele , Gallizzi Romina , Olivieri Alma Nunzia , Ardenti Morini Francesca , Conti Giovanni , De Benedetti Fabrizio , Pardeo Manuela
Published: July 2021

Objective

The objective of this study was to use real-world data to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of canakinumab in Italian patients with systemic JIA (sJIA).

Methods

A retrospective multicentre study of children with sJIA was performed. Clinical features, laboratory parameters and adverse events were collected at baseline, and 6 and 12 months after starting canakinumab. The primary outcome measure of effectiveness was clinically inactive disease (CID) off glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment at 6 months.

Results

A total of 80 children from 15 Italian centres were analysed. Of the 12 patients who started canakinumab in CID while receiving anakinra, all maintained CID. Of the 68 with active disease at baseline, 57.4% achieved CID off GCs at 6 months and 63.8% at 12 months. In univariate analysis, the variables significantly related to non-response were number of active joints (NAJs) ≥5, history of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and disease duration. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between non-response and NAJs ≥5 [odds ratio (OR) 6.37 (95% CI: 1.69, 24.02), P = 0.006] and between non-response and history of MAS [OR 3.53 (95% CI: 1.06, 11.70), P = 0.039]. No serious adverse events were recorded in this series. There were two cases of MAS during canakinumab, leading to a rate of 2.9 episodes per 100 patient years.

Conclusion

We have confirmed, using real-world data, the efficacy of canakinumab in sJIA in a multicentric cohort. History of MAS and higher NAJ were associated with lower probability of achieving CID.
Loneliness Loves Company, Some More than Others: Social Ties, Form of Engagement, and Their Relation to Loneliness
Authors: Rinderknecht R Gordon , Doan Long , Sayer Liana C
Published: July 2021

Although tie strength is a significant theoretical concept in the field, recent work suggests that other dimensions of social ties may be important to consider. We build on this body of work to propose that situational forms of engagement with various interaction partners play a vital role in shaping feelings of loneliness. We anticipate that when engaging in direct forms of engagement (active engagement), the association between different types of social ties and loneliness will be minimal. In contrast, while engaging in less direct forms of engagement (passive engagement), the type of social tie may matter more in reducing loneliness. We test these expectations using original time-diary data capturing daily interactions and momentary feelings of loneliness. Results show that active engagement associates with reduced feelings of loneliness relative to passive engagement. We find that the benefit of active engagement over passive engagement is greatest among acquaintances and family members. We interpret this as indicating that active engagement is beneficial for establishing a sense of connection among some social ties that already exists for other social ties. These findings indicate that how we engage with others and the kinds of people we engage with jointly shape the benefits of social interaction.
Concurrent central nervous system involvement in immunocompetent adults with pulmonary miliary TB: a prospective analysis
Authors: Urs Vijeth L , Rizvi Imran , Kumar Neeraj , Garg Ravindra Kumar , Srivastava Anand , Garg Rajiv , Jain Amita , Parihar Anit , Verma Rajesh , Sharma Praveen , Uniyal Ravi , Pandey Shweta , Malhotra Hardeep Singh
Published: July 2021

Background

Wallgren's tuberculosis (TB) timetable demonstrated co-occurrence of miliary TB and tuberculous meningitis in children. To verify the same in immunocompetent adults, we prospectively evaluated the prevalence and spectrum of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with pulmonary miliary TB.

Materials and Methods

This was a tertiary care, University hospital-based, prospective evaluation performed from December 2018 to June 2020. Newly diagnosed patients with pulmonary miliary TB were subjected to a detailed clinical, laboratory and MRI-based evaluation. All patients received treatment as per WHO guidelines.

Results

Out of 342 patients with pulmonary TB, 53 patients met the eligibility criteria. The median age at presentation was 32 y and approximately two-thirds of patients were female. Clinically, only two-fifths of patients had features of CNS involvement. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and imaging abnormalities were noted in 46 patients each. Twelve (23.5%) patients were diagnosed with definite-category tuberculous meningitis. Presence of an infarct significantly correlated with neurological features. Mantoux positivity correlated significantly with the presence of choroid tubercles, CSF changes and brain tuberculomas.

Conclusion

This is the first study to endorse Wallgren's observations in immunocompetent adults. A high index of suspicion, even in asymptomatic patients, may uncover tuberculous lesions involving the CNS and guide optimal monitoring of patients.
Working at Home
Authors: Graham Melissa , Weale Victoria , Lambert Katrina A. , Kinsman Natasha , Stuckey Rwth , Oakman Jodi
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To examine the impact of working at home on general health, pain, stress, and work-family and family-work conflict, and differences based on gender and parental responsibilities.

Methods:

A convenience sample of 658 adults completed an online questionnaire. Regression modeling examined the effects and interactions of gender and parental responsibility on general health, musculoskeletal discomfort/pain frequency and severity, stress, and work-family and family-work conflict.

Results:

Women reported more pain and discomfort, regardless of the presence of children, than men with children. Women with children experienced increased stress compared with men with children. Women without children experienced less work-family conflict, and those without children experienced less family-work conflict than men with children.

Conclusions:

The impact on pain, stress, and work-family and family-work conflict, due to mandated working at home, is gendered and influenced by parental responsibilities.
Thermosipho ferrireducens sp.nov., an anaerobic thermophilic iron(III)-reducing bacterium isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide deposits
Authors: Chen Yao , He Yang , Shao Zongze , Han Xiqiu , Chen Danling , Yang Jian , Zeng Xiang
Published: July 2021

A thermophilic, anaerobic, iron-reducing bacterium strain JL129W03T (=KCTC 15905T=MCCC 1A14213T) was isolated from a sulfide sample collected from the Daxi hydrothermal field (60.5° E, 6.4° N, 2919 m depth) on the Carlsberg Ridge, northwest Indian Ocean. Cells grew at 55–75 °C(optimum, 70 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 6.0–7.0) and at NaCl concentrations of 1.5–4.5 % (w/v; optimum 3.0 %). Under optimal growth conditions, the generation time was around 85 min. The isolate was an obligate chemoorganoheterotroph, utilizing complex organic compounds, carbohydrates, organic acids and one amino acid. It was anaerobic and facultatively dependent on elemental sulphur and various forms of Fe(III) as an electron acceptor: insoluble forms and soluble forms. It did not reduce sulﬁte, sulphate, thiosulfate or nitrate. The G+C content of its genomic DNA was 34.0 mol%. Phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses revealed that its closest relative was

Thermosipho atlanticus

DV1140T with 95.81 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity. On the basis of physiological distinctness and phylogenetic distance, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Thermosipho

, for which the name Thermosipho ferrireducens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain JL129W03T (=KCTC 15905T;=MCCC 1A14213T).