bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
954 FRAILTY PREVALENCE, TRAJECTORIES AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS IN PEOPLE WITH COPD: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Hanlon P , Guo X , McGhee E , Lewsey J , McAllister D , Mair F
Published: June 2022

Background

Frailty is common in people with COPD. This systematic review assesses prevalence and trajectory of frailty and associations with adverse health outcomes in people with COPD.

Method

Three databases searched (Medline, Embase and Web of Science) from 2001 to September 2021, supplemented by forward citation searching and hand-searching reference lists. Eligibility criteria were observational studies of frailty (using any measure) in adults (>18 years) with COPD, any setting (community, outpatient, inpatient, rehabilitation, residential care) assessing frailty prevalence, trajectories, or association with health-related outcomes. Study quality was assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Screening, quality assessment and data extraction performed independently by two reviewers. We synthesized results using narrative synthesis and, where heterogeneity allowed, random-effects meta-analyses.

Results

We identified 53 eligible studies using 11 frailty measures. Most common were frailty phenotype (32/53), frailty index (5/53) and Kihon checklist (4/53). Prevalence varied between frailty definitions, setting, and age of study population. Using the frailty phenotype, median prevalence was 12.5% in community studies. Prevalence was higher using other measures, and in inpatients, pulmonary rehabilitation and residential care settings. Frailty in COPD is dynamic, with airflow limitation, dyspnoea, and exacerbation frequency associated with worsening. Improvements in frailty status were observed following pulmonary rehabilitation. Frailty was associated with mortality (5/7 studies), COPD exacerbation (7/11), and hospital admission (3/4). Using frailty phenotype, pooled hazard ratio for mortality was 1.80 (95% CI 1.24–2.63) and pooled incident rate ratios were 1.42 (0.94–2.17) for COPD exacerbation and 1.46 (1.10–1.92) for hospitalization. Frailty was cross-sectionally associated with airflow limitation (11/14), dyspnoea (15/16), COPD severity scores (10/12), poorer QOL (3/4) and disability (1/1).

Conclusion

Frailty is a common and dynamic state in COPD, associated with adverse outcomes. However, frailty also appears responsive to intervention. A nuanced understanding of frailty identification, prognosis, and reversibility is required to allow appropriate individualization of COPD care.
966 IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITH RELATIVES IN THE COVID ERA - DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW SERVICE STANDARD
Authors: Hough S , Alićehajić-Bečić Ð , Pederson A , Jordan T , Sharif F , Lakhi R , Maynard-Connor E , Knagg T
Published: June 2022

Background

Quality improvement project undertaken by the Ageing and Complex Medicine team to improve the quality and quantity of communication with patients’ relatives.

Introduction

Visitation restrictions at RAEI since the onset of the COVID pandemic have created barriers to effective communication between patients’ relatives and the medical team. Patients’ relatives were frequently receiving poorly structured information, incorrect information, or even no information. This problem was hospital wide and likely to have affected other trusts. It particularly affected elderly care wards, where the cohort of patients were often less able provide their relatives with updates themselves. We therefore agreed a service standard whereby the medical team would provide a medical update via phone to the patients’ next of kin within 24 hours of admission followed by twice weekly updates by any member of the wider MDT. Our aim was to improve the quality and quantity of communication with the patients’ relatives.

Method

So far 6 data capture cycles have seen us implement change in various ways such as utilisation of a white board to highlight when updates are due, a staff feedback survey to highlight barriers to providing the service and a relative feedback survey to evaluate their experience.

Results

Compared to baseline data we have seen an improvement in the quantity of relative updates with most cycles.

Conclusion

We have improved the quantity of relative updates and embedded it as established culture on Astley ward. Barriers to success include staffing levels, time burden, and low confidence levels amongst junior doctors. Cycle 7 will see implementation of a teaching session for new junior doctor cohorts to improve their confidence. I would like to share our learning and success with the wider hospital and see implementation of the service standard across all wards within the trust.
985 A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ON CALL BELL IN REACH IN AN ACUTE OLDER PERSON MEDICINE WARD (AGE > 85 YEARS)
Authors: Noor M , Islam M F , Spice C
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Call bell within reach of patients is an important part of quality care and standard in the National Inpatient Falls Audit. Initial data collection showed 56% of patients had call bell in reach indicating potential for improvement Understanding the problem: Discussion with stakeholders included: Healthcare support worker, nurses & doctors of all grades, physio, and occupational therapist.

Aim

We aimed to improve call bell reach-ability from 56% to 95% or more for patients on the ward.

Method

Data were collected from 2 bays (Total 10 beds) on the ward three times a week for 2 weeks after implementation of each change assuming it should roughly reflect the whole ward. Balancing measure Inpatient falls on the ward (weekly data for the ward). Changes 1st Change: Stickers in medical notes as a reminder 2nd Change: Teaching session to staff nurses 3rd Change: A short video posted in a closed social group of ward 4th Change: Make a component in the safety huddle & reminder in daily nursing handover.

Results

After the 4th PDSA cycle, the call bell in reach was 93.88% which was sustained improvement. Inpatient fall did not show any specific correlation with call bell reach-ability and specific fall data for those 10 beds was not available separately Learning: • Teaching is effective but it may not be able to involve all the staff especially when staffing is not consistent. Despite attending the teaching, implementation of gained knowledge from the teaching session may not sustain. • Social media can be used to improve patient care provided that it’s closed media & no patient confidentiality is hampered but again may not be a solution. • Reminding the staff of the importance was our most effective change, possibly because of its proximity to patient care immediately being delivered afterward.
1012 ASSESSING THE CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE PLANS (EHCPS); A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW
Authors: Thatcher C , Zin E T
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Almost 30% of hospital patients are in their last year of life; mortality is five times higher one year post-hospital admission for patients aged 85+ (Clark D, Armstrong M. Palliative Medicine, 2014, 28, 474–479). Studies have shown 40–50% of those who die in hospital could have died in the community (End of Life Care, National Audit Office, 2008). As a geriatric department, we wanted to adopt existing good practice to ensure we were recognising individuals in their last 12 months of life and enabling them to die where they chose.

Method

Using the Gold Standards Framework (Clifford C, Thomas K, Armstrong-Wilson J. End of Life, 2016, 6) in 2019 DrZin introduced a standardised document for EHCPs. We reviewed 123 EHCPs implemented March 2019—August 2021, focusing on the number of attendances to A&E in the year prior to implementation, the number of avoidable admissions to hospital following completion of an EHCP, and place of death.

Results

Of 123 patients, the mean number of A&E attendances in the year before EHCP implementation was 2.52 per patient; post implementation it was 0.18. There were 22 A&E attendances after implementation (17.8%); all resulted in an admission. Of those, 12 (54.5%) were deemed avoidable. There were 100 deaths (81.3%) within 12 months of implementation; 5% died in hospital.

Conclusion

95% of patients with an EHCP died in their preferred setting. Having an EHCP reduced patients’ attendance to A&E. However, work is required to reduce avoidable attendances, through education for GPs and community carers. Although every EHCP was sent to the patient’s GP and residence, several attendances contained no reference to the patient having an EHCP. Therefore, the next step of our project will be creating an alert for patients with an EHCP on their electronic record and re-reviewing hospital admissions rates.
1040 VALIDATION OF THE CHINESE VERSION OF THE ASSISTANCE PREFERENCE CHECKLIST
Authors: Lee L Y K , Yeung C K , Choi C W , Leung M N , Lui Y , Tam W Y , Tang K Y , Wong C , Wong Y , Yau C Y , Yeung T L , Lee J K L , Chui D L K
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Domestic robots have great potential to be developed as a useful and supportive device for elders in domestic setting. To achieve the intended purpose, the designs of domestic robots should make reference to elders’ preferences. The Assistance Preference Checklist is developed to assess elders’ preferences on receiving assistance from domestic robots. It comprises of 48 home-based task under six categories including personal care, leisure activities, health assistance, chores, information management, and manipulating objects. Altogether, these tasks are considered important for the elders to fulfil their general health needs and maintain their homes. The Assistance Preference Checklist is valid and reliable. To adapt it in the Chinese population, the Assistance Preference Checklist has been translated from English to Chinese according to the standard translation model. This study aims to validate the Chinese version of the Assistance Preference Checklist (the checklist).

Method

This was a validation study. Semantic and content equivalence of the checklist was evaluated by an expert panel (five academic specialized on instrument validation or translation and 15 nurses specialized on geriatrics). Content validity of the checklist was assessed by another expert panel (one academic specialized on instrument validation and two nurses specialized on geriatrics). Internal consistency of the checklist was determined by Cronbach's method on a convenience sample of 50 Chinese-speaking elders in Hong Kong.

Results

The checklist demonstrated good semantic and content equivalence with the original English version. The experts agreed that it was appropriately translated. The checklist demonstrated good content validity by having a content validity index of 1.00. Additionally, the checklist reported satisfactory internal consistency by having a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95.

Conclusion

The Chinese version of the Assistance Preference Checklist is a useful instrument for assessing elders’ preferences on receiving assistance from domestic robots. Findings provide evidence on its validity and reliability.
1046 STANDARDIZING THE APPROACH TO POSTURAL HYPOTENSION: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Authors: Glover T , Wise K , Malani S
Published: June 2022

Background & Aims

Falls in the older population cause significant morbidity and mortality, and can be a catalyst for deconditioning and a decrease in functional baseline. In the long-term, this results in higher levels of care needs and health issues. As orthostatic hypotension is a common cause for falls in the elderly, our QIP aims to develop a standardized approach to postural hypotension assessment.

Methodology

We undertook two rounds of retrospective data collection on the ward focusing on LSBP as part of the assessment that should be completed on every patient who presents with a fall. In between we undertook an intense period of small group education sessions. We involved a nurse and an HCA in delivering this teaching to ensure sustained change. We also created cards demonstrating the correct technique of doing a LSBP and attached these to all BP machines. Finally, we introduced a midday board round which allowed for more effective communication between the MDT.

Results

In cycle 1, 26% of patients presenting with a fall had a LSBP done prior to discharge whilst in cycle 2, 56% of patients did. We significantly improved the technique and documentation on our electronic system from 0% in the first cycle to 95% in the second. However, this increase in LSBP comes from increased nursing staff completion and documentation as opposed to more doctors requesting a LSBP as part of the falls assessment, with only 63% of patients having documented requests in both cycles.

Conclusion

Our results were encouraging but also highlighted further areas for development in this area. Moving forward, we have extended the project to increase doctors’ awareness of the falls assessment. We have presented at the departmental meeting and included multifactorial falls assessment teaching in the induction handbook to allow for sustained change.
1062 GAIT SPEED AND EXECUTIVE PERFORMANCE IN PEOPLE WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT
Authors: Dolphin H , Fallon A , McHale C , Dookhy J , Kennelly S P
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome has highlighted the link between cognitive and motor performance, and the associated incremental higher risk of developing dementia. There is considerable debate regarding what aspects of cognition (working memory, executive function, attention) are most associated with gait changes. This study investigates the relationship between mobility scores and cognitive profiles in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) specifically with regard to executive performance and amnestic/non-amnestic profiles.

Method

Participants diagnosed with MCI, (Clinical Dementia Rating scale global score of ≤0.5, sum of boxes score ≤ 4.0), attending a regional specialist memory service had a three-meter Timed Up and Go (TUG) gait assessment and multi-domain neuropsychiatric assessment undertaken. Amnestic neuropsychiatric profile was defined as Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) delayed memory subset score < 1SD i.e. ≤16th centile below norm for age/education. Executive function performance was assessed using the Executive Interview (EXIT-25) where higher scores reflect poorer executive performance.

Results

Data was reviewed for 161 patients with MCI; 53% (86/161) women. 80% (129/161) had an amnestic neuropsychiatric profile, mean age 73.8 ± 7.2 (51–94). 20% (32/161) had non-amnestic MCI, mean age 74 ± 7.07 (60–87). There was no significant difference in TUG results between amnestic and non-amnestic MCI patients (11.2 ± 3.3 vs 10.7 ± 3.1 p = NS). There was a significant increase in TUG values with worsening executive function performance [EXIT-25 score 0–9 (88/161) mean TUG = 10.5 ± 3.3 seconds vs EXIT-25 score 10–14 (43/161) mean TUG =11.9 ± 2.8 seconds vs EXIT-25 score 15–25 (30/161) mean TUG = 12.1 ± 3.9 seconds; p = 0.021] which persisted after controlling for age, gender and other relevant cofactors.

Discussion

Reflective of the importance of frontal lobe integration to the respective tasks, subtle differences in gait performance are associated with executive function performance regardless of predominant amnestic or non-amnestic MCI profile.
1077 ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF A 7-DAY EXTENDED HOURS NURSE PRACTITIONER LED FRONT-DOOR FRAILTY SERVICE
Authors: Gibson V , Mole K , Chaplin A
Published: June 2022

Older frail patients have a demonstrable risk of adverse outcomes following attendance to the emergency department (ED), such as functional decline, delirium, institutionalisation, and death.

With an increasing number of frail patients within the population, it is important to have a system of identification of these patients at the ‘front door’; with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and direction to most appropriate place of care, whilst simultaneously minimising impact on flow within ED departments that are under increasing amounts of pressure.

Northumbria’s Frailty Assessment Service (FAS) operates 7 days a week, 12 hours/day into the ED. It identifies, within an hour of arrival, those frail patients >65 and delivers Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment and ‘ward level’ care within 4 hours, using a peripatetic model. It aims to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and therefore potentially adverse outcomes within this group, whilst minimising impact of flow within the ED, and directs the patients towards the most appropriate place of care.

It is Geriatric Specialist Nurse Practitioner led, with Consultant and MDT support, such that it has a workforce that has been able to increase to match demand over the last few years.

Over the course of 12 months (Jan—Dec 2021), the service saw 3,430 patients. 2,962 patients were planned by ED for admission, and following FAS review, only 1,169 were admitted acutely, demonstrating a reduction in admission rate of 39.5% across the year. 17.2% of patients were seen on a Saturday or Sunday demonstrating the need for a 7-day service. Average time patients spent with FAS within the ED was 1 h12 minutes. The service demonstrates the sustainability and effectiveness of an extended hours, non-Consultant led ‘front door frailty’ service, without significant impact on the flow within the Emergency Department.
Synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone agonist ameliorates the myocardial pathophysiology characteristic of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Dulce Raul A , Kanashiro-Takeuchi Rosemeire M , Takeuchi Lauro M , Salerno Alessandro G , Wanschel Amarylis C B A , Kulandavelu Shathiyah , Balkan Wayne , Zuttion Marilia S S R , Cai Renzhi , Schally Andrew V , Hare Joshua M
Published: June 2022

Aims

To test the hypothesis that the activation of the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor signalling pathway within the myocardium both prevents and reverses diastolic dysfunction and pathophysiologic features consistent with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Impaired myocardial relaxation, fibrosis, and ventricular stiffness, among other multi-organ morbidities, characterize the phenotype underlying the HFpEF syndrome. Despite the rapidly increasing prevalence of HFpEF, few effective therapies have emerged. Synthetic agonists of the GHRH receptors reduce myocardial fibrosis, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and improve performance in animal models of ischaemic cardiomyopathy, independently of the growth hormone axis.

Methods and results

CD1 mice received 4- or 8-week continuous infusion of angiotensin-II (Ang-II) to generate a phenotype with several features consistent with HFpEF. Mice were administered either vehicle or a potent synthetic agonist of GHRH, MR-356 for 4-weeks beginning concurrently or 4-weeks following the initiation of Ang-II infusion. Ang-II-treated animals exhibited diastolic dysfunction, ventricular hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and normal ejection fraction. Cardiomyocytes isolated from these animals exhibited incomplete relaxation, depressed contractile responses, altered myofibrillar protein phosphorylation, and disturbed calcium handling mechanisms (ex vivo). MR-356 both prevented and reversed the development of the pathological phenotype in vivo and ex vivo. Activation of the GHRH receptors increased cAMP and cGMP in cardiomyocytes isolated from control animals but only cAMP in cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting that GHRH-A exert differential effects on cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that the GHRH receptor signalling pathway(s) represents a new molecular target to counteract dysfunctional cardiomyocyte relaxation by targeting myofilament phosphorylation and fibrosis. Accordingly, activation of GHRH receptors with potent, synthetic GHRH agonists may provide a novel therapeutic approach to management of the myocardial alterations associated with the HFpEF syndrome.
Immunopotentiation by linking Hsp70 T-cell epitopes to Gag-Pol-Env-Nef-Rev multiepitope construct and increased IFN-gamma secretion in infected lymphocytes
Authors: Akbari Elahe , Ajdary Soheila , Mirabzadeh Ardakani Esmat , Agi Elnaz , Milani Alireza , Seyedinkhorasani Masoud , Khalaj Vahid , Bolhassani Azam
Published: June 2022

Therapeutic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccines can boost the anti-HIV host immunity to control viral replication and eliminate viral reservoirs in the absence of anti-retroviral therapy. In this study, two computationally designed multiepitope Gag-Pol-Env-Nef-Rev and Hsp70-Gag-Pol-Env-Nef-Rev constructs harboring immunogenic and highly conserved HIV T cell epitopes were generated in E. coli as polypeptide vaccine candidates. Furthermore, the multiepitope gag-pol-env-nef-rev and hsp70-gag-pol-env-nef-rev DNA vaccine constructs were prepared and complexed with MPG cell-penetrating peptide. The immunogenicity of the multiepitope constructs were evaluated using the homologous and heterologous prime/boost strategies in mice. Moreover, the secretion of IFN-γ was assessed in infected lymphocytes in vitro. Our data showed that the homologous polypeptide regimens could significantly induce a mixture of IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses, activate T cells to secret IFN-γ, IL-5, IL-10, and generate Granzyme B. Moreover, IFN-γ secretion was significantly enhanced in single-cycle replicable (SCR) HIV-1 virions-infected splenocytes in these groups compared to uninfected splenocytes. The linkage of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) epitopes to Gag-Pol-Env-Nef-Rev polypeptide in the homologous regimen increased significantly cytokines and Granzyme B levels, and IFN-γ secretion in virions-infected splenocytes. Briefly, both designed constructs in the homologous regimens can be used as a promising vaccine candidate against HIV infection.
Genomes and demographic histories of the endangered Bretschneidera sinensis (Akaniaceae)
Authors: Zhang Han , Du Xin , Dong Congcong , Zheng Zeyu , Mu Wenjie , Zhu Mingjia , Yang Yingbo , Li Xiaojie , Hu Hongyin , Shrestha Nawal , Li Minjie , Yang Yongzhi
Published: June 2022

Background

Bretschneidera sinensis is an endangered relic tree species in the Akaniaceae family and is sporadically distributed in eastern Asia. As opposed to its current narrow and rare distribution, the fossil pollen of B. sinensis has been found to be frequent and widespread in the Northern Hemisphere during the Late Miocene. B. sinensis is also a typical mycorrhizal plant, and its annual seedlings exhibit high mortality rates in absence of mycorrhizal development. The chromosome-level high-quality genome of B. sinensis will help us to more deeply understand the survival and demographic histories of this relic species.

Results

A total of 25.39 Gb HiFi reads and 109.17 Gb Hi-C reads were used to construct the chromosome-level genome of B. sinensis, which is 1.21 Gb in length with the contig N50 of 64.13 Mb and chromosome N50 of 146.54 Mb. The identified transposable elements account for 55.21% of the genome. A total of 45,839 protein-coding genes were predicted in B. sinensis. A lineage-specific whole-genome duplication was detected, and 7,283 lineage-specific expanded gene families with functions related to the specialized endotrophic mycorrhizal adaptation were identified. The historical effective population size (Ne) of B. sinensis was found to oscillate greatly in response to Quaternary climatic changes. The Ne of B. sinensis has decreased rapidly in the recent past, making its extant Ne extremely lower. Our additional evolutionary genomic analyses suggested that the developed mycorrhizal adaption might have been repeatedly disrupted by environmental changes caused by Quaternary climatic oscillations. The environmental changes and an already decreased population size during the Holocene may have led to the current rarity of B. sinensis.

Conclusion

This is a detailed report of the genome sequences for the family Akaniaceae distributed in evergreen forests in eastern Asia. Such a high-quality genomic resource may provide critical clues for comparative genomics studies of this family in the future.
A novel ground truth multispectral image dataset with weight, anthocyanins, and Brix index measures of grape berries tested for its utility in machine learning pipelines
Authors: Navarro Pedro J , Miller Leanne , Díaz-Galián María Victoria , Gila-Navarro Alberto , Aguila Diego J , Egea-Cortines Marcos
Published: June 2022

Background

The combination of computer vision devices such as multispectral cameras coupled with artificial intelligence has provided a major leap forward in image-based analysis of biological processes. Supervised artificial intelligence algorithms require large ground truth image datasets for model training, which allows to validate or refute research hypotheses and to carry out comparisons between models. However, public datasets of images are scarce and ground truth images are surprisingly few considering the numbers required for training algorithms.

Results

We created a dataset of 1,283 multidimensional arrays, using berries from five different grape varieties. Each array has 37 images of wavelengths between 488.38 and 952.76 nm obtained from single berries. Coupled to each multispectral image, we added a dataset with measurements including, weight, anthocyanin content, and Brix index for each independent grape. Thus, the images have paired measures, creating a ground truth dataset. We tested the dataset with 2 neural network algorithms: multilayer perceptron (MLP) and 3-dimensional convolutional neural network (3D-CNN). A perfect (100% accuracy) classification model was fit with either the MLP or 3D-CNN algorithms.

Conclusions

This is the first public dataset of grape ground truth multispectral images. Associated with each multispectral image, there are measures of the weight, anthocyanins, and Brix index. The dataset should be useful to develop deep learning algorithms for classification, dimensionality reduction, regression, and prediction analysis.
An unsupervised learning approach to deblend seismic data from denser shot coverage surveys
Authors: Wang Kunxi , Hu Tianyue , Wang Shangxu
Published: June 2022

The simultaneous source data obtained by simultaneous source acquisition contain crosstalk noise and cannot be directly used in conventional data processing procedures. Therefore, it is necessary to deblend the blended wavefield to obtain the conventionally acquired single-shot recordings. In this study, we propose an iterative inversion method based on the unsupervised deep neural network (UDNN) to deblend the simultaneous source data from a denser shot coverage survey (DSCS). In the common receiver gather (CRG), the coherent effective signals in the blended data of the primary and secondary sources are similar. We exploit the excellent nonlinear optimization capability of the U-net network to extract similar coherent signals from the blended data of the primary and secondary sources by minimizing the total loss function. The proposed UDNN method does not need to use the raw unblended data as label data, which solves the problem of missing label data and is suitable for deblending the simultaneous source data in different work areas with complex underground structures. One synthetic data and one field data examples are used to prove that the proposed method can suppress crosstalk noise and protect weak effective signals effectively, and achieve good effectiveness for the separation of simultaneous source data.
T-spline surface smoothing based on 1-ring neighborhood space angle
Authors: Wang Aizeng , Li Ling , Chang Heng , Zhao Gang , Wang Wei , Yang Jiaming
Published: June 2022

The prominent properties owned by T-spline, such as flexibility, continuity, local refinement, water tightness, make it extensively applied in Computer Aided Design (CAD)- and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)-integrating scenarios. But the local fairness may dissatisfy in damaged areas or even on the entire surface of industry applications. Under these circumstances, local protrusion and sharp features appeared seriously affect the fairness of T-spline surfaces. Derived from the geometric properties of T-spline control points, we propose a smoothing algorithm based on the 1-ring neighborhood space angle to deal with local abruptions of T-spline surfaces. We also demonstrate the availability of the proposed algorithm through several experiments. Results show that this method is suitable for removing sharp features and smoothing unstructured T-spline surfaces.
Sheeran succeeds in ‘Shape of You’ music copyright infringement claim
Authors: Bosher Hayleigh
Published: June 2022

This case involved an assessment of UK copyright infringement, including the application of the question of independent creation and substantial similarity in relation to the copying of a musical work.
NRF1-mediated microglial activation triggers high-altitude cerebral edema
Authors: Wang Xueting , Chen Guijuan , Wan Baolan , Dong Zhangji , Xue Yan , Luo Qianqian , Wang Dan , Lu Yapeng , Zhu Li
Published: June 2022

High-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a potentially fatal encephalopathy associated with a time-dependent exposure to the hypobaric hypoxia of altitude. The formation of HACE is affected by both vasogenic and cytotoxic edema. The over-activated microglia potentiate the damage of blood–brain barrier (BBB) and exacerbate cytotoxic edema. In light with the activation of microglia in HACE, we aimed to investigate whether the over-activated microglia were the key turning point of acute mountain sickness to HACE. In in vivo experiments, by exposing mice to hypobaric hypoxia (7000 m above sea level) to induce HACE model, we found that microglia were activated and migrated to blood vessels. Microglia depletion by PLX5622 obviously relieved brain edema. In in vitro experiments, we found that hypoxia induced cultured microglial activation, leading to the destruction of endothelial tight junction and astrocyte swelling. Up-regulated nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) accelerated pro-inflammatory factors through transcriptional regulation on nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in activated microglia under hypoxia. NRF1 also up-regulated phagocytosis by transcriptional regulation on caveolin-1 (CAV-1) and adaptor-related protein complex 2 subunit beta (AP2B1). The present study reveals a new mechanism in HACE: hypoxia over-activates microglia through up-regulation of NRF1, which both induces inflammatory response through transcriptionally activating NF-κB p65 and TFAM, and enhances phagocytic function through up-regulation of CAV-1 and AP2B1; hypoxia-activated microglia destroy the integrity of BBB and release pro-inflammatory factors that eventually induce HACE.
A comparative study reveals the key biological traits causing bioinvasion differences among four alien species of genus Veronica in China
Authors: Liu Yujing , Wu Hairong , Wang Congyan , Cheng Jiliang , Qiang Sheng
Published: June 2022

The four alien farmland weeds of genus Veronica (i.e. V. arvensis, V. didyma, V. hederifolia and V. persica) have successfully colonized in China, but caused different ecological consequences in the colonized habitats. However, the key biological traits conferring bioinvasion differences under different light conditions among the four alien species of Veronica remain unknown. A comprehensive contrastive analysis experiment was conducted to assess the contribution of the intensity of photosynthetic and sexual and asexual reproductive traits of the four alien Veronica weeds to their invasion level in both field trial and laboratory. The field survey showed that V. persica had the highest invasion level, followed by V. didyma, V. hederifolia and V. arvensis. Their invasiveness was mainly attributed to photosynthetic-related parameters (LMA) and asexual reproduction traits (the ratio of adventitious roots) out of all the 22 tested indexes. The photosynthetic-related and some asexual reproduction indexes from separate determinations under both sun and shade conditions showed that V. persica was able to adapt to strong illumination but was more tolerant of shade than the other species. This adaptive differentiation to illumination conferred different competitiveness over crops on the four alien Veronica weeds by allocating resources to the biomass of each organ in farmland. It may be concluded that the adaptability to illumination conditions and the asexual reproduction traits may endow their successful invasion and become different important farmland weeds.
Heat shock factor HSFA2 fine-tunes resetting of thermomemory via plastidic metalloprotease FtsH6
Authors: Sedaghatmehr Mastoureh , Stüwe Benno , Mueller-Roeber Bernd , Balazadeh Salma
Published: June 2022

Plants ‘memorize’ stressful events and protect themselves from future, often more severe, stresses. To maximize growth after stress, plants ‘reset’ or ‘forget’ memories of stressful situations, which requires an intricate balance between stress memory formation and the degree of forgetfulness. HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 21 (HSP21) encodes a small heat shock protein in plastids of Arabidopsis thaliana. HSP21 functions as a key component of thermomemory, which requires a sustained elevated level of HSP21 during recovery from heat stress. A heat-induced metalloprotease, filamentation temperature-sensitive H6 (FtsH6), degrades HSP21 to its pre-stress abundance, thereby resetting memory during the recovery phase. The transcription factor heat shock factor A2 (HSFA2) activates downstream genes essential for mounting thermomemory, acting as a positive regulator in the process. Here, using a yeast one-hybrid screen, we identify HSFA2 as an upstream transactivator of the resetting element FtsH6. Constitutive and inducible overexpression of HSFA2 increases expression of FtsH6, whereas it is drastically reduced in the hsfa2 knockout mutant. Chromatin immunoprecipitation reveals in planta binding of HSFA2 to the FtsH6 promoter. Importantly, overexpression of HSFA2 improves thermomemory more profoundly in ftsh6 than wild-type plants. Thus, by activating both memory-supporting and memory-resetting genes, HSFA2 acts as a cellular homeostasis factor during thermomemory.
Narrating Cross-Border Migration, Writing Subjects without History: On Luis Alberto Urrea’sThe Devil’s Highwayand Francisco Cantú’sThe Line Becomes a River
Authors: Béjar Lara Adolfo
Published: June 2022

After the techno-militarization of the US-Mexico border, the criminalization of undocumented migration, and the subsequent human rights violations against migrants, writers have been narrating the journeys of migrants across the US-Mexico borderlands as a form of state violence that hinges on notions of rightlessness. Founded on humanitarian discourses, contemporary nonfictional accounts about cross-border migration center their narrative approach on the struggles of migrants from a perspective of economic injustice. Through a reading of Luis Alberto Urrea’s The Devil’s Highway: A True Story (2004) and Francisco Cantú’s The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border (2018), I argue that, in framing the migrant struggle as a problem of economic injustice, these texts obscure the ongoing dispossession, exploitation, and forcible displacement of historically subordinated populations in the region. In so doing, I urge an alternative approach to think cross-border migration by centering how dispossession, exploitation, and forced displacement are key to understanding longer histories of violence in Latin America and its connections to contemporary undocumented migration to the United States.
The spectroscopy and H-band imaging of Virgo cluster galaxies (SHIVir) survey: data catalogue and kinematic profiles
Authors: Ouellette Nathalie N-Q , Courteau Stéphane , Holtzman Jon A , McDonald Michael , Cappellari Michele , Roediger Joel C , Côté Patrick , Dalcanton Julianne J , Dalla Bontà Elena , Ferrarese Laura , Tully R Brent , Stone Connor , Peng Eric W
Published: June 2022

The ‘Spectroscopy and H-band Imaging of Virgo cluster galaxies’ (SHIVir) survey is an optical and near-infrared survey which combines SDSS photometry, deep H-band photometry, and long-slit optical spectroscopy for 190 Virgo cluster galaxies covering all morphological types over the stellar mass range log (M*/M⊙) = 7.8–11.5. We present the spectroscopic sample selection, data reduction, and analysis for this SHIVir sample. We have used and optimized the pPXF routine to extract stellar kinematics from our data. Ultimately, resolved kinematic profiles (rotation curves and velocity dispersion profiles) are available for 133 SHIVir galaxies. A comprehensive data base of photometric and kinematic parameters for the SHIVir sample is presented with grizH magnitudes, effective surface brightnesses, effective and isophotal radii, rotational velocities, velocity dispersions, and stellar and dynamical masses. Parameter distributions highlight some bimodal distributions and possible sample biases. A qualitative study of resolved extended velocity dispersion profiles suggests a link between the so-called ‘sigma-drop’ kinematic profile and the presence of rings in lenticular S0 galaxies. Rising dispersion profiles are linked to early-type spirals or dwarf ellipticals for which a rotational component is significant, whereas peaked profiles are tied to featureless giant ellipticals.
Combined spectroscopy and intensity interferometry to determine the distances of the blue supergiants P Cygni and Rigel
Authors: de Almeida E S G , Hugbart M , Domiciano de Souza A , Rivet J-P , Vakili F , Siciak A , Labeyrie G , Garde O , Matthews N , Lai O , Vernet D , Kaiser R , Guerin W
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we report on spatial intensity interferometry measurements within the  Hα line on two stars: the Luminous Blue Variable supergiant P Cygni and the late-type B supergiant Rigel. The experimental setup was upgraded to allow simultaneous measurement of two polarization channels, instead of one in our previous setup, and the zero baseline correlation function on-sky to validate independent estimates obtained from the stellar spectrum and the instrumental spectral throughput. Combined with simultaneous spectra measurements and based on radiative transfer models calculated with the code CMFGEN, we were able to fit our measured visibility curves to extract the stellar distances. Our distance determinations for both P Cygni (1.61 ± 0.18 kpc) and Rigel (0.26 ± 0.02 kpc) agree very well with the values provided by astrometry with the Gaia and Hipparcos missions, respectively. This result for Rigel was obtained by adopting a stellar luminosity of L⋆ = 123 000 L⊙, which is reported in the literature as being consistent with the Hipparcos distance to Rigel. However, due to the lack of consensus on Rigel’s luminosity, we also explore how the adoption of the stellar luminosity in our models affects our distance determination for Rigel. In conclusion, we support, in an independent way, the distance to Rigel as the one provided by the Hipparcos mission, when taking the luminosity of 123 000 L⊙ at face value. This study is the first successful step towards extending the application of the Wind Momentum Luminosity Relation method for distance calibration from an LBV supergiant to a more normal late-type B supergiant.
The strong suppression of galactic cosmic rays reaching AU Mic b, c, and Prox Cen b
Authors: Mesquita A L , Rodgers-Lee D , Vidotto A A , Kavanagh R D
Published: June 2022

The propagation of Galactic cosmic rays is well understood in the context of the Solar system but is poorly studied for M dwarf systems. Quantifying the flux of cosmic rays reaching exoplanets is important since cosmic rays are relevant in the context of life. Here, we calculate the Galactic cosmic ray fluxes in AU Mic and Prox Cen planetary systems. We propagate the Galactic cosmic rays using a 1D cosmic ray transport model. We find for Prox Cen  b, AU Mic  b, and AU Mic  c that the Galactic cosmic ray fluxes are strongly suppressed and are lower than the fluxes reaching Earth. We include in our models, for the first time for a star other than the Sun, the effect of radial particle drift due to gradients and curvatures in the stellar magnetic field. For Prox Cen, we find that the inclusion of particle drift leads to less suppression of Galactic cosmic rays fluxes than when it is excluded from the model. In the case of AU Mic we explore two different wind environments, with a low and high stellar wind mass-loss rate. For AU Mic, the particle drift also leads to less suppression of the Galactic cosmic ray fluxes but it is only significant for the high mass-loss rate scenario. However, both wind scenarios for AU Mic suppress the Galactic cosmic rays strongly. Overall, careful modelling of stellar winds is needed to calculate the Galactic cosmic ray fluxes reaching exoplanets. The results found here can be used to interpret future exoplanet atmosphere observations and in atmospheric models.
ExoMol photodissociation cross-sections – I. HCl and HF
Authors: Pezzella Marco , Tennyson Jonathan , Yurchenko Sergei N
Published: June 2022

Photon initiated chemistry, i.e. the interaction of light with chemical species, is a key factor in the evolution of the atmosphere of exoplanets. For planets orbiting stars in UV-rich environments, photodissociation induced by high-energy photons dominates the atmosphere composition and dynamics. The rate of photodissociation can be highly dependent on atmospheric temperature, as increased temperature leads to increased population of vibrational excited states and the consequent lowering of the photodissociation threshold. This paper inaugurates a new series of papers presenting computed temperature-dependent photodissociation cross-sections with rates generated for different stellar fields. Cross-sections calculations are performed by solving the time-independent Schrödinger equation for each electronic state involved in the process. Here, photodissociation cross-sections for hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride are computed for a grid of 34 temperatures between 0 and 10 000 K. Use of different radiation fields shows that for the Sun and cooler stars the photodissociation rate can increase exponentially for molecular temperatures above 1000 K; conversely the photodissociation rates in UV rich fields instead are almost insensitive to the temperature of the molecule. Furthermore, these rates show extreme sensitivity to the radiation model used for cool stars, suggesting that further work on these may be required. The provision of an ExoMol data base of cross-sections is discussed.
Quasi-periodic eruptions from galaxy nuclei
Authors: King Andrew
Published: June 2022

I consider quasi-periodic eruptions (QPEs) from galaxy nuclei. All the known cases fit naturally into a picture of accretion from white dwarfs (WDs) in highly eccentric orbits about the central black holes which decay through gravitational wave emission. I argue that ESO 243-39 HLX–1 is a QPE source at an earlier stage of this evolution, with a correspondingly longer period, more extreme eccentricity, and a significantly more massive WD donor. I show explicitly that mass transfer in QPE systems is always highly stable, despite recent claims to the contrary in the literature. This stability may explain the alternating long-short eruptions seen in some QPE sources. As the WD orbit decays, the eruptions occupy larger fractions of the orbit and become brighter, making searches for quasi-periodicities in bright low-mass galaxy nuclei potentially fruitful.
The Si + SO2 collision and an extended network of neutral–neutral reactions between silicon and sulphur bearing species
Authors: Campanha Danilo R , Mendoza Edgar , Silva Mateus X , Velloso Paulo F G , Carvajal Miguel , Wakelam Valentine , Galvão Breno R L
Published: June 2022

The Si + SO2 reaction is investigated to verify its impact on the abundances of molecules with astrochemical interest, such as SiS, SiO, SO, and others. According to our results Si(3P) and SO2 react barrierlessly yielding only the monoxides SO and SiO as products. No favourable pathway has been found leading to other products, and this reaction should not contribute to SiS abundance. Furthermore, it is predicted that SiS is stable in collisions with O2, and that S(3P) + SiO2 and O(3P)+OSiS will also produce SO + SiO. Using these results and gathering further experimental and computational data from the literature, we provide an extended network of neutral–neutral reactions involving Si- and S-bearing molecules. The effects of these reactions were examined in a protostellar shock model, using the nautilus gas–grain code. This consisted in simulating the physicochemical conditions of a shocked gas evolving from (i) primeval cold core, (ii) the shock region itself, (iii) and finally the gas bulk conditions after the passage of the shock. Emphasizing on the cloud ages and including systematically these chemical reactions, we found that [SiS/H2] can be of the order of ∼10−8 in shocks that evolves from clouds of t = 1 × 106 yr, whose values are mostly affected by the SiS + O $\longrightarrow$SiO + S reaction. Perspectives on further models along with observations are discussed in the context of sources harbouring molecular outflows.
TESS light curves of cataclysmic variables – I – Unknown periods in long-known stars
Authors: Bruch Albert
Published: June 2022

Cataclysmic variables (CVs) exhibit a plethora of variable phenomena many of which require long, uninterrupted light curves to reveal themselves in detail. The month long data sets provided by TESS are well suited for this purpose. TESS has the additional advantage to have observed a huge number of stars, among them many CVs. Here, a search for periodic variations in a sample of CVs of the novalike and old novae subtypes is presented. In 10 of the 15 targets either previously unseen positive or negative superhumps or unusual features in known superhumps are identified. The TESS light curves demonstrate that the occurrence of superhumps in these types of CVs is not an exception but quite common. For 8 systems new or improved values for the orbital period are measured. In TV Col the long-sought optical manifestation of the white dwarf spin period is first seen in form of its orbital sideband. The mystery of multiple photometric periods observed in CP Pup in the past is explained by irregularly occurring anomalous states which are reflected in the light curve.
X-ray timing and spectral analysis of reverberating active galactic nuclei
Authors: Hancock S , Young A J , Chainakun P
Published: June 2022

We use the publicly available XMM–Newton archive to select a sample of 20 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) known to exhibit reverberation signatures caused by the reflection of X-rays from the corona off the accretion disc that feeds the central black hole engine. Inverse Compton scattering by energetic electrons, coupled with accretion disc fluctuations give rise to the highly variable observed X-ray spectrum, the behaviour of which is still not fully understood. We use 121 observations in 3–4 distinct spectral states for each source and calculate the time lags as a function of frequency. We fit the relativistic reflection model RELXILL and explore parameter correlations. The known scaling relationship between the black hole mass and time lag is well recovered and the continuum flux is coupled strongly to the disc reflection flux. We also find that 1H 0707−495 and IRAS 13224−3809 are well described using reflection and absorption modelling in a variety of flux states. The reflection fraction is strongly coupled to the power-law photon index and may be linked to dynamics of the emitting region. The data reveal hints of the power law evolutionary turnover when the 2–10 keV Eddington fraction is ∼0.02, the origin of which is not fully understood. Finally, we report the covering fraction is inversely correlated with the flux and power-law photon index in IRAS 13224−3809. These findings support recent studies of 1H 0707−495 where the covering fraction may contribute to the observed variability via flux modulations from non-uniform orbiting clouds.