bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inocencia: Shining Path and the Recruitment of Minors, Ayacucho in the 1980s
Authors: Walker Charles F
Published: August 2021

This article uses a unique source to examine the role of young people in the Peruvian Maoist group the Shining Path. The Archivo Regional de Ayacucho contains the records of trials from 1980 to 1985 against minors accused of belonging to and supporting the Shining Path. About one-third of the detainees were women, and the majority were children of Indigenous migrants to the city of Ayacucho. These trials provide a ground-level view of how the guerrillas recruited and employed them, how these young people attacked “enemies of the people,” ransacked stores, set off dynamite, and dodged the police. They help explain why these young men and women joined a violent movement that was being met with similar brutality. The trials also illustrate how the police, the military, and the courts reacted to this guerrilla movement. The analysis of the trials contributes to debates about young people and insurgency, providing insights into the motivations for militancy and changing subjectivities. They also provide snapshots of Ayacucho in the early years of the struggle: the attacks that first bewildered and then petrified; the initial naivete about the Shining Path; and the panic of families when their children were detained as well as the families’ desperate efforts to defend them. The final section of the article tracks the fate of some of those detained. These trials tell the harrowing story of youth and the internal armed conflict in Peru in the 1980s.
Rebellion at the Fringe: Conspiracy, Surveillance, and State-Making in 1920s Mexico
Authors: Piña Ulices
Published: August 2021

In 1925, rumors of an alleged international conspiracy to overthrow the state circulated in central-western Mexico. The reports prompted the country’s newly created Departamento Confidencial (Confidential Department) to begin surveilling former rebels and zealous Catholics in the region, as well as political exiles in the American Southwest. This article explores how the intelligence services helped consolidate institutional power after the Mexican Revolution (1910–20). The investigations uncovered well-organized propaganda campaigns that centered on generating support, organization, and information. These networks originated abroad and circulated in the small hamlets, towns, and metropolitan centers of the region. The widespread rumors reflected what ordinary people thought was credible and socially conceivable, while also nourishing the belief among locals that a rebellion would breakout against the state. Ultimately, this type of surveillance transformed how the central state interacted with, and came to produce knowledge of, its citizenry.
Changes in Emergency Department Volumes at the Largest U.S. Military Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Long Adrianna , Fillinger Meghan , April Michael D , Hudson Ian L , Trueblood Wesley , Schmitz Gillian , Chin Eric J , Hartstein Bonnie , Pfaff James A , Schauer Steven G
Published: August 2021

Introduction

The coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted global healthcare delivery. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the DoD’s largest hospital and a critical platform for maintaining a ready medical force. We compare temporal trends in patient volumes and characteristics in the BAMC emergency department (ED) before versus during the pandemic.

Materials and Methods

We abstracted data on patient visits from the BAMC ED electronic medical record system. Data included patient demographics, visit dates, emergency severity index triage level, and disposition. We visually compared the data from January 1, 2019 to November 30, 2019 versus January 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020 to assess the period with the most apparent differences. We then used descriptive statistics to characterize the pre-pandemic control period (1 March-November 30, 2019) versus the pandemic period (1 March-November 30, 2020).

Results

Overall, when comparing the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods, the median number of visits per day was 232 (Interquartile Range (IQR) 214-250, range 145-293) versus 165 (144-193, range 89-308, P < .0001). Specific to pediatric visits, we found the median number of visits per day was 39 (IQR 33-46, range 15-72) versus 18 (IQR 14-22, range 5-61, P < .001). When comparing the median number of visits by month, the volumes were lower during the pandemic for all months, all of which were strongly significant (P < .001 for all).

Conclusions

The BAMC ED experienced a significant decrease in patient volume during the COVID-19 pandemic starting in March 2020. This may have significant implications for the capacity of this facility to maintain a medically ready force.
The cosmological dependence of halo and galaxy assembly bias
Authors: Contreras S , Chaves-Montero J , Zennaro M , Angulo R E
Published: August 2021

One of the main predictions of excursion set theory is that the clustering of dark matter haloes only depends on halo mass. However, it has been long established that the clustering of haloes also depends on other properties, including formation time, concentration, and spin; this effect is commonly known as halo assembly bias (HAB). We use a suite of gravity-only simulations to study the dependence of HAB on cosmology; these simulations cover cosmological parameters spanning 10σ around state-of-the-art best-fitting values, including standard extensions of the ΛCDM paradigm such as neutrino mass and dynamical dark energy. We find that, when studying the peak height-bias relation, the strength of HAB presents variations smaller than 0.05 dex across all cosmologies studied for concentration- and spin-selected haloes, letting us conclude that the dependence of HAB upon cosmology is negligible. We then study the dependence of galaxy assembly bias (i.e. the manifestation of HAB in galaxy clustering) on cosmology using subhalo abundance matching. We find that galaxy assembly bias also presents very small dependence upon cosmology (∼ 2 per cent–4 per cent of the total clustering); on the other hand, we find that the dependence of this signal on the galaxy formation parameters of our galaxy model is much stronger. Taken together, these results let us conclude that the dependence of halo and galaxy assembly bias on cosmology is practically negligible.
MAHGIC: a Model Adapter for the Halo–Galaxy Inter-Connection
Authors: Chen Yangyao , Mo H J , Li Cheng , Wang Kai , Wang Huiyuan , Yang Xiaohu , Zhang Youcai , Katz Neal
Published: August 2021

We develop a model to establish the interconnection between galaxies and their dark matter haloes. We use Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensionality of both the mass assembly histories of haloes/subhaloes and the star formation histories of galaxies, and Gradient Boosted Decision Trees (GBDT) to transform halo/subhalo properties into galaxy properties. We use two sets of hydrodynamic simulations to motivate our model architecture and to train the transformation. We then apply the two sets of trained models to dark-matter-only (DMO) simulations to show that the transformation is reliable and statistically accurate. The model trained by a high-resolution hydrodynamic simulation, or by a set of such simulations implementing the same physics of galaxy formation, can thus be applied to large DMO simulations to make ‘mock’ copies of the hydrodynamic simulation. The model is both flexible and interpretable, which paves the way for future applications in which we will constrain the model using observations at different redshifts simultaneously and explore how galaxies form and evolve in dark matter haloes empirically.
Classification of Fermi-LAT sources with deep learning using energy and time spectra
Authors: Finke Thorben , Krämer Michael , Manconi Silvia
Published: August 2021

Despite the growing number of gamma-ray sources detected by the Fermi-Large Area Telescope (LAT), about one-third of the sources in each survey remains of uncertain type. We present a new deep neural network approach for the classification of unidentified or unassociated gamma-ray sources in the last release of the Fermi-LAT catalogue (4FGL-DR2) obtained with 10 yr of data. In contrast to previous work, our method directly uses the measurements of the photon energy spectrum and time series as input for the classification, instead of specific, human-crafted features. Dense neural networks, and for the first time in the context of gamma-ray source classification recurrent neural networks, are studied in depth. We focus on the separation between extragalactic sources, i.e. active galactic nuclei, and Galactic pulsars, and on the further classification of pulsars into young and millisecond pulsars. Our neural network architectures provide powerful classifiers, with a performance that is comparable to previous analyses based on human-crafted features. Our benchmark neural network predicts that of the sources of uncertain type in the 4FGL-DR2 catalogue, 1050 are active galactic nuclei and 78 are Galactic pulsars, with both classes following the expected sky distribution and the clustering in the variability–curvature plane. We investigate the problem of sample selection bias by testing our architectures against a cross-match test data set using an older catalogue, and propose a feature selection algorithm using autoencoders. Our list of high-confidence candidate sources labelled by the neural networks provides a set of targets for further multiwavelength observations addressed to identify their nature. The deep neural network architectures we develop can be easily extended to include specific features, as well as multiwavelength data on the source photon energy and time spectra coming from different instruments.
Successive injection of opposite magnetic helicity: evidence for active regions without coronal mass ejections
Authors: Vemareddy P
Published: August 2021

Magnetic helicity (MH) is a measure of twist and shear of magnetic field. MH is injected in the active region (AR) corona through photospheric footpoint motions causing twisted and sheared magnetic fields. From the conservation property of the helicity, it was conjectured that an already twisted flux rope (FR) with continuous injection of MH inevitably erupts to remove the excess accumulated coronal helicity. Therefore, understanding the nature and evolution of the photospheric helicity flux transfer is crucial to reveal the intensity of the flare/coronal mass ejection (CME) activity. Using the time-sequence vector magnetograms of Helioseismic Magnetic Imager, we study the evolution of MH injection in emerging AR 12257. The photospheric flux motions in this AR inject positive helicity in the first 2.5 days followed by negative helicity later. This successive injection of opposite helicity is consistent with the sign of mean force-free twist parameter (αav), orientation of magnetic tongues. Also, the extrapolated AR magnetic structure exhibits transformation of global shear without a twisted FR in the core of the AR. No CMEs are launched from this AR but C-class flaring activity is observed predominantly in the second half of the evolution period. The ARs with sign reversal of the MH injection are not favourable to twisted FR formation with excess coronal helicity, and therefore, are important to identify CME-less ARs readily. A possible scenario in these ARs is that when one sign of helicity flux is replaced by opposite sign, the magnetic field of different connectivity with opposite shear undergoes reconnection at different scales giving rise to both intermittent flares and enhanced coronal heating.
Pulsating subdwarf B stars observed with K2 during Campaign 7 and an examination of seismic group properties
Authors: Reed M D , Slayton A , Baran A S , Telting J H , Østensen R H , Jeffery C S , Uzundag M , Sanjayan S
Published: August 2021

We report the discovery of four new pulsating subdwarf B (sdBV) stars from Campaign 7 of the Kepler spacecraft’s K2 mission. EPIC 215776487, EPIC 217280630, EPIC 218366972, and EPIC 218717602 are all gravity (g)-mode pulsators and we also detect two pressure (p)-mode pulsations in EPIC 218717602. We detect asymptotic $\ell \, =\, 1$ sequences in all four stars, allowing us to identify nearly all of the g modes. We detect evenly spaced frequency multiplets in EPIC 218717602 from which we determine a rotation period near 7 d. Spectroscopic observations determine that EPIC 218366972 is in a 5.92 d binary with most likely a white dwarf companion of canonical mass while the others have no detected companions. As we detect no multiplets in EPIC 218366972, it is added to the growing list of subsynchronously rotating stars. With 40 Kepler-detected sdBV stars and a growing number of Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) publications, we update an examination of the group properties to provide direction for models. We notice a correlation between effective temperature and period of maximum pulsation amplitude, at least for g-mode pulsations, and update the previously observed effective temperature–rotation period relation.
Identifying low-amplitude pulsating stars through microlensing observations
Authors: Sajadian Sedighe , Ignace Richard , Neilson Hilding
Published: August 2021

One possibility for detecting low-amplitude pulsational variations is through gravitational microlensing. During a microlensing event, the temporary brightness increase leads to improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and thereby better detectability of pulsational signatures in light curves. We explore this possibility under two primary considerations. The first is when the standard point-source and point-lens approximation applies. In this scenario, dividing the observed light curve by the best-fitted microlensing model leads to residuals that result in pulsational features with improved uncertainties. The second is for transit events (single lens) or caustic crossing (binary lens). The point-source approximation breaks down, and residuals relative to a simple best-fitted microlensing model display more complex behaviour. We employ a Monte Carlo simulation of microlensing of pulsating variables toward the Galactic bulge for the surveys of OGLE and of KMTNet. We demonstrate that the efficiency for detecting pulsational signatures with intrinsic amplitudes of <0.25 mag during single and binary microlensing events, at differences in χ2 of Δχ2 > 350, is $\sim \!50\!-\!60{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. The maximum efficiency occurs for pulsational periods P ≃ 0.1–0.3 d. We also study the possibility that high-magnification microlensing events of non-radially pulsating stars could be misinterpreted as planetary or binary microlensing events. We conclude that small asymmetric features around light curve peaks due to stellar pulsations could be misdiagnosed with crossing (or passing close to) small caustic curves.
White dwarf and subdwarf stars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 16
Authors: Kepler S O , Koester Detlev , Pelisoli Ingrid , Romero Alejandra D , Ourique Gustavo
Published: August 2021

White dwarfs are the end state of the evolution of more than 97 per cent of all stars, and therefore carry information on the structure and evolution of the Galaxy through their luminosity function and initial-to-final mass relation. Examining the new spectra of all white or blue stars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 16, we report the spectral classification of 2410 stars, down to our identification cut-off of signal-to-noise ratio equal to three. We newly identify 1404 DAs, 189 DZs, 103 DCs, 12 DBs, and nine CVs. The remaining objects are a mix of carbon or L stars (dC/L), narrow-lined hydrogen-dominated stars (sdA), dwarf F stars, and P Cyg objects. As white dwarf stars were not targeted by SDSS DR16, the number of new discoveries is much smaller than in previous releases. We also report atmospheric parameters and masses for a subset consisting of 555 new DAs, 10 new DBs, and 85 DZs for spectra with signal-to-noise ratio larger than 10.
The dependence of the hierarchical distribution of star clusters on galactic environment
Authors: Menon Shyam H , Grasha Kathryn , Elmegreen Bruce G , Federrath Christoph , Krumholz Mark R , Calzetti Daniela , Sánchez Néstor , Linden Sean T , Adamo Angela , Messa Matteo , Cook David O , Dale Daniel A , Grebel Eva K , Fumagalli Michele , Sabbi Elena , Johnson Kelsey E , Smith Linda J , Kennicutt Robert C
Published: August 2021

We use the angular two-point correlation function (TPCF) to investigate the hierarchical distribution of young star clusters in 12 local (3–18 Mpc) star-forming galaxies using star cluster catalogs obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) as part of the Treasury Program Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey. The sample spans a range of different morphological types, allowing us to infer how the physical properties of the galaxy affect the spatial distribution of the clusters. We also prepare a range of physically motivated toy models to compare with and interpret the observed features in the TPCFs. We find that, conforming to earlier studies, young clusters ($T \lesssim 10\, \mathrm{Myr}$) have power-law TPCFs that are characteristic of fractal distributions with a fractal dimension D2, and this scale-free nature extends out to a maximum scale lcorr beyond which the distribution becomes Poissonian. However, lcorr, and D2 vary significantly across the sample, and are correlated with a number of host galaxy physical properties, suggesting that there are physical differences in the underlying star cluster distributions. We also find that hierarchical structuring weakens with age, evidenced by flatter TPCFs for older clusters ($T \gtrsim 10\, \mathrm{Myr}$), that eventually converges to the residual correlation expected from a completely random large-scale radial distribution of clusters in the galaxy in $\sim 100 \, \mathrm{Myr}$. Our study demonstrates that the hierarchical distribution of star clusters evolves with age, and is strongly dependent on the properties of the host galaxy environment.
Towards next generation antisense oligonucleotides: mesylphosphoramidate modification improves therapeutic index and duration of effect of gapmer antisense oligonucleotides
Authors: Anderson Brooke A , Freestone Graeme C , Low Audrey , De-Hoyos Cheryl L , III William J Drury , Østergaard Michael E , Migawa Michael T , Fazio Michael , Wan W Brad , Berdeja Andres , Scandalis Eli , Burel Sebastien A , Vickers Timothy A , Crooke Stanley T , Swayze Eric E , Liang Xuehai , Seth Punit P
Published: August 2021

The PS modification enhances the nuclease stability and protein binding properties of gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and is one of very few modifications that support RNaseH1 activity. We evaluated the effect of introducing stereorandom and chiral mesyl-phosphoramidate (MsPA) linkages in the DNA gap and flanks of gapmer PS ASOs and characterized the effect of these linkages on RNA-binding, nuclease stability, protein binding, pro-inflammatory profile, antisense activity and toxicity in cells and in mice. We show that all PS linkages in a gapmer ASO can be replaced with MsPA without compromising chemical stability and RNA binding affinity but these designs reduced activity. However, replacing up to 5 PS in the gap with MsPA was well tolerated and replacing specific PS linkages at appropriate locations was able to greatly reduce both immune stimulation and cytotoxicity. The improved nuclease stability of MsPA over PS translated to significant improvement in the duration of ASO action in mice which was comparable to that of enhanced stabilized siRNA designs. Our work highlights the combination of PS and MsPA linkages as a next generation chemical platform for identifying ASO drugs with improved potency and therapeutic index, reduced pro-inflammatory effects and extended duration of effect.
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity Among Medical Students in Copenhagen
Authors: Madsen Johannes R , Nielsen Jacob P S , Fogh Kamille , Hansen Cecilie B , Nielsen Pernille B , Lange Theis , Hasselbalch Rasmus B , Garred Peter , Iversen Kasper
Published: August 2021

Background

Health care workers are at a higher risk of getting infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) than the general population. Knowledge about medical students’ exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is lacking. Thus, we measured the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a cohort of Danish medical students.

Methods

We invited all medical students at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) to participate. Students underwent venous blood sampling and a questionnaire about work-life behaviors possibly associated with SARS-CoV-2 exposure and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms. Samples were analyzed for total immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and seropositive samples were screened for IgG, immunoglobulin M, and immunoglobulin A antibodies. We determined associations between seropositivity and clinical and social activities and self-reported symptoms.

Results

Between October 19 and 26, 1120 students participated in the questionnaire and 1096 were included. Of all included, 379 (34.58%) were seropositive. Seropositivity was associated with attendance at 2 parties at UCPH, on February 29 and March 6, 2020 (odds ratio [OR], 5.96; 95% CI, 4.34–8.24; P < .001). Four hundred sixty-one students (42.06%) worked with COVID-19 patients, which was significantly associated with seropositivity (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.03–1.85; P = .033). The symptom most associated with seropositivity was loss of smell and/or taste (n = 183 of all, 31.35%; OR, 24.48; 95% CI, 15.49–40.60; P < .001). Bachelor’s students were significantly more likely to be seropositive than Master’s students (42.28% vs 16.87%; P < .001).

Conclusions

Medical students have the highest reported seropositivity in the Danish health care system. In this cohort of students at UCPH, seropositivity was associated with social behavior markers and, to a lesser extent, with self-reported contact with SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.
Enforced stripping of negative muons from $\mu$He+ ions to stimulate muon-catalyzed fusion by cyclotron resonance acceleration
Authors: Mori Yoshiharu
Published: August 2021

The addition (sticking) of a negative muon to an $\alpha$ particle to form a $\mu$He$^+$ ion limits the number of chain reactions in muon-catalyzed fusion (MuCF), making scientific break-even in MuCF difficult. The reduction in the sticking probability by boosting the negative muon stripping using resonance radio-frequency (RF) acceleration of $\mu$He$^+$ ions has been examined with multi-particle tracking simulations. It was found that the stripping efficiency was largely depressed by ion–electron capture processes that have not been considered so far. Improvement of the fusion chain cycles is rather difficult with an RF electric field strength of 50 MV m$^{-1}$ even at a small deuterium/tritium (D/T) gas pressure of approximately 5 atm. However, in the scheme of using spatially localized D/T mixture gas streams, the sticking probability could be reduced almost tenfold even at a large gas density of 100 atm with a modest RF field strength of less than 50 MV m$^{-1}$.
Transcriptomics data: pointing the way to subclassification and personalized medicine in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Hubbard Erika L. , Grammer Amrie C. , Lipsky Peter E.
Published: August 2021

Purpose of review

To summarize recent studies stratifying SLE patients into subgroups based on gene expression profiling and suggest future improvements for employing transcriptomic data to foster precision medicine.

Recent findings

Bioinformatic & machine learning pipelines have been employed to dissect the transcriptomic heterogeneity of lupus patients and identify more homogenous subgroups. Some examples include the use of unsupervised random forest and k-means clustering to separate adult SLE patients into seven clusters and hierarchical clustering of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of immune cells yielding four clusters in a cohort of adult SLE and pediatric SLE participants. Random forest classification of bulk RNA-seq data from sorted blood cells enabled prediction of high or low disease activity in European and Asian SLE patients. Inferred transcription factor activity stratified adult and pediatric SLE into two subgroups.

Several different endotypes of SLE patients with differing molecular profiles have been reported but a global consensus of clinically actionable groups has not been reached. Moreover, heterogeneity between datasets, reproducibility of predictions as well as the most effective classification approach have not been resolved. Nevertheless, gene expression-based precision medicine remains an attractive option to subset lupus patients.
Clinical Outcomes of 3-column Osteotomy at Growing Rod Graduation
Authors: Cayli Cem , Dursun Gokay , Cetik R. Mert , Ramazanov Rafik , Demirkiran H. Gokhan , Ayvaz Mehmet , Yazici Muharrem
Published: August 2021

Background:

Several different strategies were described on how to graduate a patient when skeletal maturity is reached after growing rod treatment. A final instrumentation and fusion is commonly performed, but the stiffness of the spine after numerous lenghthenings can be a major problem. When correction is needed in a severe and rigid curve, 3-column osteotomies (3CO) can be used as a method of bringing the spine back to a well-balanced position. This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 3CO osteotomies at growing rod graduation.

Methods:

A retrospective search of the database was performed between 1996 and 2018. Inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of early-onset scoliosis, underwent 3CO at the final fusion procedure, and ≥1 year of follow-up. Indications for this osteotomy were: significant sagittal and/or coronal off-balance or severe crankshaft deformity or significant distal and/or proximal adding-on. Clinical, radiographic, and operative data were analyzed. Complications were classified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo-Sink system.

Results:

Eight patients were included in the study with a mean age of 13.5 at graduation (male/female: 2/6). The mean scoliosis angle significantly reduced from 65.6 to 39 degrees (P=0.012). Mean T1-T12 height increased from 19 to 20.5 (P=0.084) and T1-S1 from 29.6 to 31.6 (P=0.144). Five patients had a staged surgery. Average operative time was 338 minutes and blood loss was 1321 mL. Four grade 1, 1 grade 2, and 1 grade 3 complications occurred.

Conclusions:

This is the first case-series in the literature reporting on the use of 3CO at growing rod graduation. These procedures can be safely and effectively used to overcome significant multiplanar deformity and/or off-balance in the graduation of patients with early-onset scoliosis and significant correction can be achieved on these severe and rigid curves.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—case series.
Testing Decision Level (DL) and Minimum Detectable Amount (MDA) for Hanford In Vivo Counting Systems
Authors: Rosenberg Brett L. , Lynch Timothy P. , Antonio Cheryl L.
Published: August 2021

Testing the decision level (DL) and minimum detectable amount (MDA) of a radionuclide for a direct bioassay (in vivo) counting system is a requirement for in vivo monitoring programs across the DOE complex. Bottle manikin absorption (BOMAB) and torso phantoms are used in conjunction with point sources to facilitate the testing. This paper describes a method of testing the DL and MDA values of in vivo counting systems with equipment commonly used by in vivo programs. This method is cost effective and minimizes waste since the radiological sources used can have broad ranges for decay activities. The results from the testing indicated that the current DL and MDA values are valid for the equipment and methods used at the Hanford in vivo counting facility.
Molecular Landscape of Therapy-related Myeloid Neoplasms in Patients Previously Treated for Gynecologic and Breast Cancers
Authors: Khalife-Hachem Sabine , Saleh Khalil , Pasquier Florence , Willekens Christophe , Tarabay Anthony , Antoun Leony , Grinda Thomas , Castilla-Llorente Cristina , Duchmann Matthieu , Quivoron Cyril , Auger Nathalie , Saada Veronique , Delaloge Suzette , Leary Alexandra , Renneville Aline , Antony-Debre Ileana , Rosselli Filippo , De Botton Stéphane , Salviat Flore , Marzac Christophe , Micol Jean-Baptiste
Published: August 2021

Definition of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (TRMN) is only based on clinical history of exposure to leukemogenic therapy. No specific molecular classification combining therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia and therapy-related myelodysplastic syndromes has been proposed. We aimed to describe the molecular landscape of TRMN at diagnosis, among 77 patients with previous gynecologic and breast cancer with a dedicated next-generation sequencing panel covering 74 genes. We investigated the impact of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential-associated mutations (CHIP-AMs defined as presence at TRMN stage of mutations described in CHIP with a frequency >1%) on overall survival (OS) and the clinical relevance of a modified genetic ontogeny-based classifier that categorized patients in 3 subgroups. The most frequently mutated genes were TP53 (31%), DNMT3A (19%), IDH1/2 (13%), NRAS (13%), TET2 (12%), NPM1 (10%), PPM1D (9%), and PTPN11 (9%). CHIP-AMs were detected in 66% of TRMN patients, with no impact on OS. Yet, patients with CHIP-AM were older and had a longer time interval between solid tumor diagnosis and TRMN. According to our modified ontogeny-based classifier, we observed that the patients with TP53 or PPM1D mutations had more treatment lines and complex karyotypes, the “MDS-like” patients were older with more gene mutations, while patients with “De novo/pan-AML” mutations were younger with more balanced chromosomal translocations. Median OS within each subgroup was 7.5, 14.5, and 25.2 months, respectively, with statistically significant difference in multivariate analysis. These results support the integration of cytogenetic and molecular markers into the future TRMN classification to reflect the biological diversity of TRMN and its impact on outcomes.
The prevention of gastric cancer by Helicobacter pylori eradication
Authors: Argueta Erick A. , Moss Steven F.
Published: August 2021

Purpose of review

Gastric cancer remains one of the most common causes of death globally. Increasing evidence suggests that many gastric cancer cases can be prevented by eradicating its most important etiological agent, Helicobacter pylori. Using the search terms ‘H. pylori’ and ‘gastric cancer’ we reviewed the scientific literature regarding the association between H. pylori and gastric cancer published from 1 January 2020 to 30 May 2021. We review the most important articles relevant to the clinical issues regarding H. pylori eradication for gastric cancer prevention.

Recent findings

In randomized trials, eradication of H. pylori is associated with an approximately 50% reduction in sporadic gastric cancer. A similar benefit was observed when screening first-degree relatives of gastric cancer cases, after resection of early gastric cancer to prevent metachronous neoplasia, and in population-based screen and treatment programs in areas of high H. pylori and gastric cancer prevalence. Even in relatively low gastric cancer countries such as the United States, gastric cancer may potentially be avoided by screening for H. pylori, especially among minority groups who are at greatest risk.

Gastric cancer is preventable, at least in part, by H. pylori eradication. Ongoing screening trials will help determine whether population-based H. pylori screening programs are feasible and cost-effective. Their results are likely to differ according to H. pylori and gastric cancer prevalence rates.
Craniosynostosis With Preoperative Iron Supplementation Exposure: A Retrospective Cohort Study Examining Preoperative Iron Supplementation and Transfusion Practice in a National Paediatric Craniofacial Centre
Authors: O’Brien Eavan , Bracken Shirley , Yap Kee Yang Brendan , Hunter Kim , Kirby Fidelma , Murray Dylan J.
Published: August 2021

Background:

Blood loss and subsequent transfusion are key concerns in the surgical management of craniosynostosis, and have been associated with increased morbidity, requirement for intensive care admission and increased length of hospital stay. Patient blood management guidelines advocate treatment of anemia before elective surgical procedures where significant blood loss is anticipated. At present there is little evidence in the literature investigating the clinical value of this practice in pediatric craniofacial surgery.

Aims:

The authors examined the effect of preoperative oral iron supplementation on blood loss and transfusion rates in a national pediatric craniofacial unit.

Methods:

A total of 157 patients were included in a retrospective and prospective observational cohort study conducted between July 2011 and November 2016. Eighty-five (85) patients included in the preoperative iron supplementation group were prescribed oral ferrous fumarate before total cranial vault reconstruction, frontal-orbital advancement or extended strip cranial vault remodeling procedures. This cohort was retrospectively compared to seventy-two (72) consecutive patients who did not receive iron supplementation.

Results:

Calculated blood loss was 51.3 mL/kg in the intervention group, and 56.65 mL/kg in the control group. Transfusion rate and mean volumes for the intervention group were 85.9% and 25 mL/kg. The control group had transfusion rate of 86.1% with mean transfused volume of 24.7 mL/kg. These differences were not statistically significant. Intraoperative tranexamic acid was associated with significantly reduced transfusion volumes overall.

Conclusions:

This study did not show a statistically significant benefit to preoperative iron supplementation. Secondary outcomes of this study showed a statistically significant difference in estimated versus calculated intraoperative blood loss. Further research in to specific iron supplementation protocols is indicated.
Comparative genomic analysis of obligately piezophilic Moritella yayanosii DB21MT-5 reveals bacterial adaptation to the Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench
Authors: Zhang Wei-Jia , Zhang Chan , Zhou Siyu , Li Xue-Gong , Mangenot Sophie , Fouteau Stéphanie , Guerin Thomas , Qi Xiao-Qing , Yang Jian , Bartlett Douglas H. , Wu Long-Fei
Published: August 2021

Hadal trenches are the deepest but underexplored ecosystems on the Earth. Inhabiting the trench bottom is a group of micro-organisms termed obligate piezophiles that grow exclusively under high hydrostatic pressures (HHP). To reveal the genetic and physiological characteristics of their peculiar lifestyles and microbial adaptation to extreme high pressures, we sequenced the complete genome of the obligately piezophilic bacterium

Moritella yayanosii

DB21MT-5 isolated from the deepest oceanic sediment at the Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench. Through comparative analysis against pressure sensitive and deep-sea piezophilic

Moritella

strains, we identified over a hundred genes that present exclusively in hadal strain DB21MT-5. The hadal strain encodes fewer signal transduction proteins and secreted polysaccharases, but has more abundant metal ion transporters and the potential to utilize plant-derived saccharides. Instead of producing osmolyte betaine from choline as other

Moritella

strains, strain DB21MT-5 ferments on choline within a dedicated bacterial microcompartment organelle. Furthermore, the defence systems possessed by DB21MT-5 are distinct from other

Moritella

strains but resemble those in obligate piezophiles obtained from the same geographical setting. Collectively, the intensive comparative genomic analysis of an obligately piezophilic strain

Moritella yayanosii

DB21MT-5 demonstrates a depth-dependent distribution of energy metabolic pathways, compartmentalization of important metabolism and use of distinct defence systems, which likely contribute to microbial adaptation to the bottom of hadal trench.
Guided Axon Outgrowth of Neurons by Real-Time Femtosecond Laser Penetration on a 4 μm Thick Thin-Glass Sheet
Authors: Anggraini Dian , Liu Xun , Okano Kazunori , Tanaka Yo , Inagaki Naoyuki , Li Ming , Hosokawa Yoichiroh , Yamada Sohei , Yalikun Yaxiaer
Published: August 2021

Transplantation of scaffold-embedded guided neurons has been reported to increase neuronal regeneration following brain injury. However, precise axonal integration between host and transplant neurons to form functional synapses remains a major problem. This study aims to develop a real-time femtosecond (fs) laser penetration on a 4 μm thick thin-glass sheet to promote guided axon outgrowth influenced by molecular gradients in a microfluidic device. The device enables the introduction of the guidance molecule (i.e., netrin-1), neuronal culture, and manipulation by fs laser. After fabricating multiple micro-holes on the thin-glass sheet using fs laser, netrin-1 gradients with radial concentrations are generated in the chamber, affecting axon outgrowth and guidance. A majority of axons (~92%) experiences guided outgrowth with positive angular changes towards netrin-1 gradients. These results demonstrate the capability of the precise and real-time manipulation system based on a fs laser and a microfluidic device to control the growth of neurons.
Protein-based RBD-C-tag COVID-19 Vaccination Candidate Elicits Protection Activity against SARS-COV-2 Variant Infection
Authors: Subramani Jaganathan , Shaabani Namir , Shetty Dhwani , Wu Haiwa , Kwon Sunkuk , Li Wenzhao , Yue Chanyu , Lahtz Christoph , Ramirez-Torres Adela , Zhou Heyue , Zhang Yanliang , Allen Robert , Farley Bill , Emalfarb Mark , Tchelet Ronen , Markku Soloheimo , Marika Vitikainen , Wiebe Marilyn , Huuskonen Anne , Ben-artzi Hannah , Avigdor Avi , Ji Henry , Herrmann Andreas
Published: August 2021

The identification of a vaccination candidate against COVID-19 providing protecting activity against emerging SARS-COV-2 variants remains challenging. Here, we report protection activity against a spectrum of SARS-COV-2 and variants by immunization with protein-based recombinant RBD-C-tag administered with aluminum-phosphate adjuvant intramuscularly. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with RBD-C-tag resulted in the in vivo production of IgG antibodies recognizing the immune-critical spike protein of the SARS-COV-2 virus as well as the SARS-COV-2 variants alpha (“United Kingdom”), beta (“South Africa”), gamma (“Brazil/Japan”), and delta (“India”) as well as wt-spike protein. RBD-C-tag immunization led to a desired Th1 polarization of CD4 T cells producing IFNγ. Importantly, RBD-C-tag immunization educated IgG production delivers antibodies that exert neutralizing activity against the highly transmissible SARS-COV-2 virus strains “Washington”, “South Africa” (beta), and “India” (delta) as determined by conservative infection protection experiments in vitro. Hence, the protein-based recombinant RBD-C-tag is considered a promising vaccination candidate against COVID-19 and a broad range of emerging SARS-COV-2 virus variants.
AllerStat: Finding Statistically Significant Allergen-Specific Patterns in Protein Sequences by Machine Learning
Authors: Goto Kento , Tamehiro Norimasa , Yoshida Takumi , Hanada Hiroyuki , Sakuma Takuto , Adachi Reiko , Kondo Kazunari , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: August 2021

Cutting-edge technologies such as genome editing and synthetic biology allow us to produce novel foods and functional proteins. However, their toxicity and allergenicity must be accurately evaluated. Allergic reactions are caused by specific amino-acid sequences in proteins (Allergen Specific Patterns, ASPs), of which, many remain undiscovered. In this study, we introduce a data-driven approach and a machine-learning (ML) method to find undiscovered ASPs. The proposed method enables an exhaustive search for amino-acid sub-sequences whose frequencies are statistically significantly higher in allergenic proteins. As a proof-of-concept (PoC), we created a database containing 21,154 proteins of which the presence or absence allergic reactions are already known, and the proposed method was applied to the database. The detected ASPs in the PoC study were consistent with known biological findings, and the allergenicity prediction accuracy using the detected ASPs was higher than extant approaches.

Teaser

We propose a computational method for finding statistically significant allergen-specific amino-acid sequences in proteins.
Rice LEAFY COTYLEDON1 hinders photosynthesis in the embryo development to promote seed dormancy
Authors: Guo Fu , Zhang Peijing , Wu Yan , Lian Guiwei , Liu Wu , Buerte B , Zhou Chun , Han Ning , Zhu Muyuan , Xu Lin , Chen Ming , Bian Hongwu
Published: August 2021

LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) is the central regulator of seed development. During seed development, rice embryo photosynthesis is completely blocked, which is different from Arabidopsis green embryo. However, effects of LEC1 on photosynthesis in developing seeds is largely elusive. We generated OsLEC1 mutants using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Oslec1 mutant seeds lost the ability of dormancy and triggered photosynthesis in embryos at the early developing stage. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that Oslec1 mutation promoted photosynthesis and altered diverse hormonal pathways and stress response contributing to seed dormancy. Further, genome-wide identification of OsLEC1 binding sites demonstrated that OsLEC1 directly bound to genes involved in photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, as well as abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) pathways, in seed maturation. We illustrated an OsLEC1-controlling gene network during seed development, including the interconnection between photosynthesis and ABA/GA biosynthesis/signalling. Our findings suggested that OsLEC1 is an inhibitor of photosynthesis during embryo development to promote rice seed maturation. This study would provide new understanding for the OsLEC1 regulatory mechanisms on photosynthesis in the monocot seed development.
CytoPro: A computational platform for accurate and robust assessment of cell contributions in bulk expression from diverse tissues and conditions
Authors: Katz Adir , Gaujoux Renaud , Orly Hadas , Starosvetsky Elina , Rozov Roye , Rabinovitch Yoni , Halberstadt Benny , Bar Liron , Spector Yael , Wald Naama , Rubin Chanan , Benita Yair , Gerassy-Vainberg Shiran , Shen-Orr Shai S.
Published: August 2021

Cells are the quanta unit of biology and their relative composition in a tissue is the prime driver of bulk tissue gene expression variation. When there is no cell information, deconvolution is an effective tool to achieve cell resolution, which provides important information for learning disease complexity and its interactions with treatments, drugs and/or the environment in a wide variety of contexts. Here we present CytoPro, a production-level tissue and condition-specific deconvolution platform, based on a large collection of human tissue-specific signatures derived from single and sorted cells. CytoPro infer per-sample multiple cell-type composition, given input bulk gene expression. CytoPro includes a rigorous QC pipeline for learning, generating and selecting signatures and performs internal automated validation using multiple QC test criteria including: Comparison to ground truth cytometry and pure sorted cells data, performance evaluation using simulated data including robustness to noise as well as agreement with biological expectations in validation datasets regarding genes and cells. We demonstrate that CytoPro outperforms existing deconvolution tools, in both accuracy and robustness. By exploring multiple datasets with predefined disease phenotypes, and analyzing a use-case of biological treatment response, we show the ability of CytoPro to flush out relevant cell biology in real pathological conditions.
Moiré, Euler and self-similarity – the lattice parameters of twisted hexagonal crystals
Authors: Feuerbacher M.
Published: August 2021

A real-space approach for the calculation of the moiré lattice parameters for superstructures formed by a set of rotated hexagonal 2D crystals such as graphene or transition-metal dichalcogenides is presented. Apparent moiré lattices continuously form for all rotation angles, and their lattice parameter to a good approximation follows a hyperbolical angle dependence. Moiré crystals, i.e. moiré lattices decorated with a basis, require more crucial assessment of the commensurabilities and lead to discrete solutions and a non-continuous angle dependence of the moiré-crystal lattice parameter. In particular, this lattice parameter critically depends on the rotation angle, and continuous variation of the angle can lead to apparently erratic changes of the lattice parameter. The solutions form a highly complex pattern, which reflects number-theoretical relations between formation parameters of the moiré crystal. The analysis also provides insight into the special case of a 30° rotation of the constituting lattices, for which a dodecagonal quasicrystalline structure forms.
Understanding the acceptance of the Internet of Things: an integrative theoretical approach
Authors: Kim Ki Joon , Wang Sai
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Guided by the frameworks of the technology acceptance model, uses and gratifications theory and the information systems success model, this study develops and validates an adoption model for the Internet of Things (IoT).

Design/methodology/approach

The measurement and research models are statistically validated via a confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation modeling analysis of data collected from 262 IoT users.

Findings

The results indicate that the IoT is expected to deliver accurate and up-to-date information via an accessible and reliable system to enhance its usefulness and ease of use, which leads to greater adoption. The results further reveal that sufficient knowledge and adequate understanding of the IoT outweigh technology discomfort, which, in turn, have a positive effect on individuals' motivation to use the IoT.

Originality/value

This study distills a rich set of antecedents to build a comprehensive theory of IoT acceptance and sheds light on the adoption of future pervasive information and communications technologies.
The effects of consumer consciousness, food safety concern and healthy lifestyle on attitudes toward eating “green”
Authors: Tan Booi Chen , Lau Teck Chai , Sarwar Abdullah , Khan Nasreen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a research framework to examine the effects of consumer consciousness, food safety concern and healthy lifestyle on the attitudes toward eating “green” simultaneously in a single study. Besides, the mediating role of healthy lifestyle in forming a positive attitude toward eating “green” is also examined in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based approach was applied in this study. The unit of analysis was individual consumer (aged 18 years and above) who lived in Klang Valley, Malaysia. PLS-SEM was used to test the structural relationship of the constructs in the model based on the 300 useable data collected.

Findings

The results indicated that health consciousness, food safety concern and healthy lifestyle have a significant effect on attitudes toward eating “green”, whereas environmental and price consciousness did not have such effect. A healthy lifestyle also mediates the relationship between health consciousness and attitude toward eating “green”. An individual’s healthy lifestyle that focused on physical health-related activities will increase the effect of consumer health consciousness on their attitudes toward eating “green”.

Practical implications

The outcome of this study provided deeper insights for firms to assess the feasibility of entering or expanding their operations in the green market with more enduring and effective sales and marketing strategies.

Originality/value

Consumers’ acceptance of or resistance toward organic food had become the centre of the research focus by the academician and the industrial practitioners over the years, despite the inconsistencies of the results obtained to predict such behavior. In this study, besides examining the direct effect of the proposed variables on the attitudes toward eating “green”, the mediating role of a healthy lifestyle in forming such attitudes was also examined.