bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A high-resolution dispersion imaging method of seismic surface waves based on chirplet transform
Authors: Su Qin , Xu Xingrong , Wang Zhinong , Sun Chengyu , Guo Yaozong , Wu Dunshi
Published: December 2021

The surface-wave analysis method is widely adopted to build a near-surface shear-wave velocity structure. Reliable dispersion imaging results form the basis for subsequent picking and inversion of dispersion curves. In this paper, we present a high-resolution dispersion imaging method (CSFK) of seismic surface waves based on chirplet transform (CT). CT introduces the concept of chirp rate, which could focus surface-wave dispersion energy well in time-frequency domain. First, each seismic trace in time-distance domain is transformed to time-frequency domain by CT. Thus, for each common frequency gather, we obtain a series of 2D complex-valued functions of time and distance, which are called pseudo-seismograms. Then, we scan a series of group velocities to obtain the slanting-phase function and perform a spatial Fourier transform on the slanting-phase function to get its amplitude. In addition, power operation is adopted to increase the amplitude difference between dispersion energy and noise. Finally, we generate the dispersion image by searching for the maximum amplitude of a slanting-phase function. Because the CSFK method considers the position of surface-wave energy in the time-frequency domain, this largely eliminates the noise interference from other time locations and improves the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of the dispersion image. The results of synthetic test and field dataset processing demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. In addition, we invert all 120 sets of dispersion curves extracted from reflected wave seismic data acquired for petroleum prospecting. The one-dimensional inversion shear-wave velocity models are interpolated into a two-dimensional profile of shear-wave velocity, which is in good agreement with the borehole data.
Application of an improved particle filter for random seismic noise suppression
Authors: Zhang Jingquan , Wang Dian , Li Peng , Liu Shiyu , Yu Han , Xu Yuxin , Teng Ming
Published: December 2021

Random noise is inevitable during seismic prospecting. Seismic signals, which are variable in time and space, are damaged by conventional random noise suppression methods, and this limits the accuracy in seismic data imaging. In this paper, an improved particle filtering strategy based on the firefly algorithm is proposed to suppress seismic noise. To address particle degradation problems during the particle filter resampling process, this method introduces a firefly algorithm that moves the particles distributed at the tail of the probability to the high-likelihood area, thereby improving the particle quality and performance of the algorithm. Finally, this method allows the particles to carry adequate seismic information, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the estimation. Synthetic and field experiments indicate that this method can effectively suppress random seismic noise.
A proposed algorithm for the treatment of core muscle injuries
Authors: Kraeutler Matthew J , Mei-Dan Omer , Dávila Castrodad Iciar M , Talishinskiy Toghrul , Milman Edward , Scillia Anthony J
Published: December 2021

In recent years, there has been increased awareness and treatment of groin injuries in athletes. These injuries have been associated with various terminologies including sports hernia, core muscle injury (CMI), athletic pubalgia and inguinal disruption, among others. Treatment of these injuries has been performed by both orthopaedic and general surgeons and may include a variety of procedures such as rectus abdominis repair, adductor lengthening, abdominal wall repair with or without mesh, and hip arthroscopy for the treatment of concomitant femoroacetabular impingement. Despite our increased knowledge of these injuries, there is still no universal terminology, diagnostic methodology or treatment for a CMI. The purpose of this review is to present a detailed treatment algorithm for physicians treating patients with signs and symptoms of a CMI. In doing so, we aim to clarify the various pathologies involved in CMI, eliminate vague terminology, and present a clear, stepwise approach for both diagnosis and treatment of these injuries.
Chemotaxonomy of Five South American Species of theTriatomagenus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) Based on Their Cuticle Hydrocarbon Pattern
Authors: Moriconi Débora E , Macedo-Lopes Catarina , Sartorio Adriana , Juárez M Patricia , Girotti Juan R , Calderón-Fernández Gustavo M
Published: December 2021

The Triatoma sordida subcomplex traditionally included four triatomine species, T. sordida, Triatoma garciabesi, Triatoma guasayana, and Triatoma patagonica, distributed in the Southern Cone of South America. These species have a large intraspecific variability together with an overall similarity, making difficult to establish their taxonomic status. Many cytogenetic, morphometric, and molecular markers have been applied to address this. Recent studies have posed concerns on the inclusion of T. guasayana and T. patagonica within the subcomplex. Also, T. sordida from Argentina has been designed as a new species, Triatoma rosai. Using the cuticular hydrocarbon pattern as chemotaxonomic marker, the relationships among several populations of these species were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography and linear discriminant analysis along 25 collection sites in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. T. sordida and T. rosai populations were differentially clustered in two CHC-based groups: “Group 1” included T. sordida from Eastern Brazil, Eastern Paraguay, and the Bolivian populations from La Paz and Izozog G1; “Group 2” included T. rosai, and T. sordida from Izozog G2 (Bolivia), and Western Paraguay. Whereas T. garciabesi remained closely related to T. sordida and T. rosai, T. guasayana, and T. patagonica were clearly separated from the species of the T. sordida subcomplex. Our results agree with those from other several techniques suggesting that the taxonomy of the T. sordida subcomplex should be revised.
The research on the dental bridge model-making process based on the curing shrinkage epoxy and residual stress reduction
Authors: Yuan Cadmus C A , Shen Guang-Qian , Huang Yen-Chang , Ding Shinn-Jyh , Yan Min
Published: December 2021

Elderly people suffer from more and more teeth problems. The tooth-implant-supported prosthesis provides a reliable solution to missing teeth patients. The proper dental prosthesis design to prevent overstress is essential due to the mechanical characteristics of the dental bridge abutments are different. The finite element method is widely applied, but proper experimental validation is required. The curing shrinkage epoxy is applied for the photoelasticity measurement because its mechanical property is close to the cancellous bone. A series of process developments, including mold design, residual stress releasing and artificial soft film making, is accomplished in this research to simulate the mechanical response of dental bridges in practice. The process is proven and can be accomplished at the dentist's workshop. The transmission photoelasticity technique is applied to measure the residual stress distribution and it nondestructively provides the continuous improvement guideline. The model-making procedure and tools are proven to be available at the dental workshop. Following the model-making procedure, the dental bridge model shows a low residual stress level that the photoelasticity system cannot detect. Excellent reproducibility of the proposed procedure has been validated. These models exhibit stable maximum stress of 2.13 MPa around the natural tooth apex and apical implant region when a 300 N vertical loading is applied upon the dental bridge. Finally, a finite element model of the dental bridge, including the natural tooth and dental implant, is built and validated by the photoelastic measurement.
Worries and Benefit Finding in Cancer Survivors and Parents: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Prikken Sofie , Raymaekers Koen , Lemiere Jurgen , Vercruysse Trui , Uyttebroeck Anne , Luyckx Koen
Published: December 2021

Objective

The interplay and longitudinal associations between positive and negative illness-related experiences in childhood cancer survivors and their families remain unclear. Therefore, benefit finding, cancer-related worries, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction were prospectively investigated in childhood cancer survivors and parents. Directionality of effects and interactions between benefit finding and cancer-related worries in predicting general well-being were examined.

Methods

Childhood cancer survivors (n = 125 at T1; aged 14–25), mothers (n = 133 at T1), and fathers (n = 91 at T1) completed two annual questionnaires on benefit finding, cancer-related worries, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction. Cross-lagged panel analyses including benefit finding, cancer-related worries, their interaction, and depressive symptoms or life satisfaction were conducted in survivors, mothers, and fathers.

Results

Relatively high stability coefficients were found for all study variables. In survivors, cancer-related worries predicted relative increases in depressive symptoms and benefit finding over time. Benefit finding predicted relative increases in life satisfaction over time and buffered negative effects of cancer-related worries on life satisfaction. In mothers and fathers, positive correlated change at T2 (the correlation between residuals at T2) indicated that relative change in benefit finding over time was positively related to relative change in cancer-related worries.

Conclusion

Benefit finding was related both to positive well-being and negative illness experiences, which calls for more research to unravel the different functions of benefit finding over time. Clinicians should be encouraged to attend to positive illness experiences along with more negative ones to obtain a more nuanced view on the illness experiences of survivors and their families.
Complexity of finite-variable fragments of products with non-transitive modal logics
Authors: Rybakov Mikhail , Shkatov Dmitry
Published: December 2021

We show that products of propositional modal logics where at least one factor is one of the monomodal logics $\textbf {K}$, $\textbf {KT}$, $\textbf {KB}$ and $\textbf {KTB}$ are polynomial-time embeddable into their single-variable fragments. Consequently, we obtain results about the computational complexity of single-variable fragments of logics belonging to intervals bounded by such products. We generalize our embeddability results to expanding relativized products and to products with polymodal logics.
Upper Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Crohn’s Disease: Differential Diagnosis and Treatment of an Uncommon Presentation of Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Mehta Ketan , Kurtz Maria T
Published: December 2021

Esophagogastroduodenoileal involvement of Crohn’s disease (CD) is uncommon; less than 5% of adult patients will suffer from this condition, although this diagnosis is likely underestimated given the lack of routine evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract in the absence of symptoms. An interesting differential, including sarcoidosis, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, tuberculosis, and Brunner’s gland hyperplasia, should be considered. The consequences of this diagnosis can have profound impacts on the military career of a soldier. Learning objectives of this case report include workup, differential, diagnosis, and treatment of esophagogastroduodenoileal involvement of CD, as well as discussing the psychological effects of this diagnosis and impact on an individual’s military career.
Relativistic hydrodynamical simulations of the effects of the stellar wind and the orbit on high-mass microquasar jets
Authors: Barkov Maxim V , Bosch-Ramon V
Published: December 2021

High-mass microquasar jets, produced in an accreting compact object in orbit around a massive star, must cross a region filled with stellar wind. The combined effects of the wind and orbital motion can strongly affect the jet properties on binary scales and beyond. The study of such effects can shed light on how high-mass microquasar jets propagate and terminate in the interstellar medium. We study for the first time, using relativistic hydrodynamical simulations, the combined impact of the stellar wind and orbital motion on the properties of high-mass microquasar jets on binary scales and beyond. We have performed 3-dimensional relativistic hydrodynamic simulations, using the PLUTO code, of a microquasar scenario in which a strong weakly relativistic wind from a star interacts with a relativistic jet under the effect of the binary orbital motion. The parameters of the orbit are chosen such that the results can provide insight on the jet-wind interaction in compact systems like for instance Cyg X-1 or Cyg X-3. The wind and jet momentum rates are set to values that may be realistic for these sources and lead to moderate jet bending, which together with the close orbit and jet instabilities could trigger significant jet precession and disruption. For high-mass microquasars with orbit size a ∼ 0.1 AU, and (relativistic) jet power $L_j\sim 10^{37}(\dot{M}_w/10^{-6}\, {\rm M}_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1})$ erg s−1, where $\dot{M}_w$ is the stellar wind mass rate, the combined effects of the stellar wind and orbital motion can induce relativistic jet disruption on scales ∼1 AU.
A comprehensive search for the radio counterpart of GW190814 with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
Authors: Dobie D , Stewart A , Hotokezaka K , Murphy Tara , Kaplan D L , Buckley D A H , Cooke J , Ho A Y Q , Lenc E , Leung J K , Gromadzki M , O’Brien A , Pintaldi S , Pritchard J , Wang Y , Wang Z
Published: December 2021

We present results from a search for the radio counterpart to the possible neutron star–black hole merger GW190814 with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. We have carried out 10 epochs of observation spanning 2–655 d post-merger at a frequency of 944 MHz. Each observation covered 30 deg2, corresponding to 87 per cent of the posterior distribution of the merger’s sky location. We conducted an untargeted search for radio transients in the field, as well as a targeted search for transients associated with known galaxies. We find one radio transient, ASKAP J005022.3−230349, but conclude that it is unlikely to be associated with the merger. We use our observations to place constraints on the inclination angle of the merger and the density of the surrounding environment by comparing our non-detection to model predictions for radio emission from compact binary coalescences. This survey is also the most comprehensive widefield search (in terms of sensitivity and both areal and temporal coverage) for radio transients to-date and we calculate the radio transient surface density at 944 MHz.
Stellar mass segregation as separating classifier between globular clusters and ultrafaint dwarf galaxies
Authors: Baumgardt H , Faller J , Meinhold N , McGovern-Greco C , Hilker M
Published: December 2021

We have determined the amount of stellar mass segregation in over 50 globular clusters and ultrafaint dwarf galaxy candidates based on deep HST- and ground-based photometry. We find that the amount of mass segregation in globular clusters is strongly correlated with their relaxation time and that all clusters with relaxation times of the order of their ages or longer have little to no mass segregation. For each cluster, the amount of mass segregation seen is fully compatible with the amount expected by dynamical evolution from initially unsegregated clusters, showing that globular clusters formed without primordial mass segregation among their low-mass stars. Ultrafaint dwarf galaxy candidates split into two groups, star clusters which follow the same trend between relaxation time and amount of mass segregation as globular clusters and dark-matter dominated dwarf galaxies that are unsegregated despite having relaxation times smaller than a Hubble time. Stellar abundance and velocity dispersion data, where available, confirm our classification. After classification of the ultrafaint dwarf galaxy candidates, we find that outer halo star clusters have average densities inside their half-light radii of 0.03 ≲ ρh ≲ 1 M⊙ pc–3, while dwarf galaxies have stellar densities of 0.001 ≲ ρh ≲ 0.03 M⊙ pc–3. The reason for this separation in density is most likely a combination of the initial conditions by which the systems formed and the requirement to withstand external tidal forces.
Do gas-poor galaxy clusters have different galaxy populations? The positive covariance of hot and cold baryons
Authors: Puddu Emanuella , Andreon Stefano
Published: December 2021

Galaxy clusters show a variety of intracluster medium properties at a fixed mass in gas fractions, X-ray luminosity and X-ray surface brightness. In this work, we investigate whether the yet-undetermined cause that produces clusters of X-ray low surface brightness also affects galaxy properties, such as richness, richness concentration, width and location of the red sequence, colour, luminosity, and dominance of the brightest cluster galaxy. We use Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 12 photometry, and our analysis factors out the mass dependency to derive trends at fixed cluster mass. Clusters of low surface brightness for their mass have cluster richness in spite of their group-like luminosity. Gas-poor, low X-ray surface brightness, X-ray faint clusters for their mass display 25 per cent lower richness for their mass at the 4.4σ level. Therefore, richness and quantities depending on gas, such as gas fraction, Mgas and X-ray surface brightness, are covariant at fixed halo mass. In particular, we do not confirm the suggestion of anticorrelation of hot and cold baryons at fixed mass put forth in the literature. All the remaining optical properties show no covariance at fixed mass, within the sensitivities allowed by our data and sample size. We conclude that X-ray and optical properties are disjointed; the optical properties do not show signatures of those processes involving gas content, apart from the richness–mass scaling relation. The covariance between X-ray surface brightness and richness is useful for an effective X-ray follow-up of low-surface-brightness clusters because it allows us to pre-select clusters using optical data of survey quality and avoids expensive X-ray observations.
Spatially constrained direction-dependent calibration
Authors: Yatawatta Sarod
Published: December 2021

Direction-dependent calibration of widefield radio interferometers estimates the systematic errors, along with multiple directions in the sky. This is necessary because with most systematic errors, which are caused by effects such as the ionosphere or the receiver beam shape, there is a significant spatial variation. Fortunately, there is some deterministic behaviour of these variations in most situations. We enforce this underlying smooth spatial behaviour of systematic errors as an additional constraint on to spectrally constrained direction-dependent calibration. Using both analysis and simulations, we show that this additional spatial constraint improves the performance of multifrequency direction-dependent calibration.
The prevalence, burden of disease, and healthcare utilization of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis in Japan: a retrospective, descriptive cohort claims database study
Authors: Sada Ken-ei , Kojo Yoshiki , Fairburn-Beech Jolyon , Sato Keiko , Akiyama Shoko , Van Dyke Melissa K , Mukai Isao
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To estimate eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) prevalence and disease burden in patients with newly diagnosed EGPA in Japan.

Methods

This retrospective descriptive cohort study (GSK ID: 209751, HO-18-19652) used administrative claim data from patients (aged ≤74 years) with EGPA (study period: January 1, 2005–December 31, 2017), identified from their first ICD-10 code for EGPA (index). Data were examined during the 12 months before (baseline) and 12 months following the index date (follow-up). EGPA prevalence, respiratory comorbidities, all-cause healthcare utilization, and oral corticosteroid (OCS) use were assessed.

Results

EGPA prevalence (95%CI) increased from 4.2 (0,23.7)/million people (2005) to 38.0 (31.8,45.1)/million people (2017), was generally more common in females versus males, and increased with age. Of the 45 patients with newly diagnosed EGPA, 57.8% had acute bronchitis and 42.2% had upper respiratory tract infections during baseline. During follow-up, 60.0% of patients were hospitalized at least once and 77.8% used OCS (OCS dependent [≥80% of days]: 73.1%).

Conclusions

In Japan, EGPA prevalence increased over time, was generally more common in females, and increased with patient age. EGPA burden was high; respiratory comorbidities were common, and most patients required hospitalization and OCS use. Our data suggest additional EGPA treatment options are needed.
Effectiveness and safety of infliximab dose escalation in patients with refractory Takayasu arteritis: A real-life experience from a monocentric cohort
Authors: Tomelleri Alessandro , Campochiaro Corrado , Sartorelli Silvia , Baldassi Francesco , Fallanca Federico , Picchio Maria , Baldissera Elena , Dagna Lorenzo
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To evaluate effectiveness and safety of infliximab dose escalation in Takayasu arteritis (TAK) patients. To identify factors associated with refractoriness to standard-dose infliximab.

Methods

Medical records of infliximab-treated TAK patients from a large single-centre observational cohort were reviewed. Infliximab therapy duration, concomitant therapies, and reasons for dose escalation and therapy suspension were evaluated. Occurrence of adverse events was recorded. A comparison between patients who maintained infliximab standard-dose and those who needed dose-escalation was performed. Factors associated with refractoriness to standard dose were analysed.

Results

Forty-one patients were included. Starting infliximab dose was 5 mg/kg 6-weekly and 28 patients (68%) needed dose escalation. Persistence/recurrence of clinical symptoms was the most frequent reason for escalation. Median therapy duration was 39 (IQR, 26–61) months in the standard-dose group and 68 (38–87) months in the intensified-dose group. In the intensified-dose-group, infliximab was suspended in eight patients (29%) after a median of 38 (31–71) months, due to loss of response (n = 7) or patient’s request (n = 1). Patients in the intensified-dose group had a higher number of relapses (3.4 vs 0.8 events/patient) and received a higher cumulative steroid dose (1.7 [1.6–2.3] vs 1.3 [1–1.6] g/month of prednisone). Three patients from the intensified-dose group had serious infections; one patient from the standard-dose group developed paradoxical psoriasis. At univariate analysis, age at diagnosis and age at infliximab start were associated with infliximab escalation.

Conclusion

In TAK, dose escalation is safe and allows to optimise infliximab durability in refractory patients. Younger patients seem to be more refractory to standard dosages.
Proximal heat stress up-regulates angiopoietin-1 in fingers and reduces the severity of Raynaud’s phenomenon in systemic sclerosis: a single-centre pilot study
Authors: Shima Yoshihito , Watanabe Akane , Inoue Nobuto , Maruyama Tetsuya , Kunitomo Eiji , Hamano Kunihiko , Kawanishi Takashi , Takasugi Masashi , Kumanogoh Atsushi
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a peripheral vascular disorder that frequently occurs in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Although therapeutic heating seems reasonable given that RP is elicited by cold stimuli, the effects of heating are still unclear. We examined the effects of heating applied on various body parts in SSc patients with RP of fingers.

Methods

Fourteen SSc patients heated their neck, elbows, and wrists with disposable heating pads for 1 week each. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for RP during each heating period was compared with that of each 1-week pre-treatment interval. On the day after the expiration of each heating period, their finger temperature, the finger blood flow, and angiogenesis-related factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, endostatin, angiopoietin-1, and angiopoietin-2) obtained from the cubital vein and fingertip were measured.

Results

The mean VAS was significantly reduced during the heating of the neck and elbows. Fingertip blood samples showed significantly increased angiopoietin-1 after each of the heating periods and increased endostatin after wrist heating. After the termination of heating, changes in finger temperature or blood flow could not be detected.

Conclusions

Heating the neck or elbows can alleviate RP in SSc. The heat up-regulates angiopoietin-1 in the fingers.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on body composition among patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Mochizuki Takeshi , Yano Koichiro , Ikari Katsunori , Okazaki Ken
Published: December 2021

Objectives

To evaluate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on body composition among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

A total 102 patients with RA were enrolled. We examined muscle mass, fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) values using bioelectrical impedance analysis between November 2019 and January 2020 (for the first measurement) and September 2020 and January 2021 (for the second measurement).

Results

The muscle mass was significantly decreased from a median of 34.6 kg at the first measurement to a median of 33.9 kg at the second measurement (p = 0.002). The FFMI was significantly decreased from a median of 15.3 at the first measurement to a median of 14.8 at the second measurement (p = 0.011).

Conclusions

The present study reveals that muscle mass and FFMI decreased among patients with RA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clinical characteristics of patients with polyarteritis nodosa based on a nationwide database in Japan
Authors: Kawazoe Mai , Nanki Toshihiro , Hagino Noboru , Ikegaya Noriko , Ito Satoshi , Kodera Masanari , Nakano Naoko , Suzuki Miki , Kaname Shinya , Harigai Masayoshi
Published: December 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to clarify the epidemiological and clinical features and treatment of patients with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) in Japan.

Methods

We used the database of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan in 2013 and 2014. We analysed 121 patients who were antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies negative among the patients certified as PAN according to the MHLW diagnostic criteria.

Results

The analysis included 60 males and 61 females, with a mean age of 52.9 ± 21.0 years. As a general manifestation, fever was observed in 53.7%. Regarding organ involvement, skin manifestations (82.6%), joint and muscle manifestations (75.2%), and neuropsychiatric manifestations (50.4%) were common. Male patients had a higher proportion of mononeuritis multiplex involving motor neuropathy than female patients. Elderly patients had a higher proportion of general and respiratory manifestations. Glucocorticoids were used for treatment in all patients, and 19.0% underwent methylprednisolone pulse. Concomitant immunosuppressants were used in 25.6%, one-third of whom received cyclophosphamide. Methylprednisolone pulse and cyclophosphamide were mostly used in patients with life-threatening organ involvement.

Conclusions

PAN developed in middle-aged people and led to numerous clinical manifestations. The common manifestations varied with age, and treatment was determined based on the type of organ involvement and disease severity.
Sturnira tildae (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)
Authors: Carneiro Lucas , Monteiro Leandro R , Nogueira Marcelo R
Published: December 2021

Sturnira tildae de la Torre, 1959, Tilda’s yellow-shouldered bat, is a phyllostomid with wide geographic distribution across South America. It inhabits preferably lowland mature rainforests, but also has been captured in modified vegetation and tropical savannas, where it is less abundant. Globally, it is listed as “Least Concern” (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, but local red lists in southern Brazil have recorded this species as “Vulnerable,” mainly due to habitat destruction (Atlantic Forest deforestation).
Gut microbiota-mediated ferroptosis contributes to mercury exposure-induced brain injury in common carp
Authors: Zhang Yue , Zhang Peijun , Li Yuehong
Published: December 2021

Mercury is a heavy metal, which causes irreversible toxicity to fish and is found in aquatic environments around the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative mechanism of mercury exposure on brain injury in common carp. The results showed that mercury exposure could induce brain injury and memory loss in common carp. Meanwhile, mercury exposure could induce neuronal ferroptosis. The ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 attenuated mercury-induced brain injury. However, in an in vitro study, mercury did not induce ferroptosis, and ferrostatin-1 did not attenuate mercury-induced common carp brain cell death. Therefore, we speculated that mercury exposure-induced ferroptosis might occur through other pathways. Studies have shown that the gut microbiota contributes to the pathological process of heavy metal-induced injury. Therefore, we detected the effects of mercury exposure on the gut microbiota composition. The results showed that the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota were affected by mercury chloride. Surprisingly, we found that the abundance of Aeromonas, one of the most important pathogenic bacteria of fish, increased significantly. Subsequently, we isolated Aeromonas hydrophila from mercury-exposed carp and these bacteria could lead to brain injury and ferroptosis in common carp. These results suggested that mercury exposure-induced brain injury partly by increasing intestinal A. hydrophila, which led to ferroptosis in common carp.
Structure–activity relationships at a nucleobase-stacking tryptophan required for chemomechanical coupling in the DNA resecting motor-nuclease AdnAB
Authors: Warren Garrett M , Meir Aviv , Wang Juncheng , Patel Dinshaw J , Greene Eric C , Shuman Stewart
Published: December 2021

Mycobacterial AdnAB is a heterodimeric helicase-nuclease that initiates homologous recombination by resecting DNA double-strand breaks. The AdnB subunit hydrolyzes ATP to drive single-nucleotide steps of 3′-to-5′ translocation of AdnAB on the tracking DNA strand via a ratchet-like mechanism. Trp325 in AdnB motif III, which intercalates into the tracking strand and makes a π stack on a nucleobase 5′ of a flipped-out nucleoside, is the putative ratchet pawl without which ATP hydrolysis is mechanically futile. Here, we report that AdnAB mutants wherein Trp325 was replaced with phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, leucine, or alanine retained activity in ssDNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis but displayed a gradient of effects on DSB resection. The resection velocities of Phe325 and Tyr325 mutants were 90% and 85% of the wild-type AdnAB velocity. His325 slowed resection rate to 3% of wild-type and Leu325 and Ala325 abolished DNA resection. A cryo-EM structure of the DNA-bound Ala325 mutant revealed that the AdnB motif III peptide was disordered and the erstwhile flipped out tracking strand nucleobase reverted to a continuous base-stacked arrangement with its neighbors. We conclude that π stacking of Trp325 on a DNA nucleobase triggers and stabilizes the flipped-out conformation of the neighboring nucleoside that underlies formation of a ratchet pawl.
Implementation of Veterans Affairs Primary Care Antimicrobial Stewardship Interventions For Asymptomatic Bacteriuria And Acute Respiratory Infections
Authors: Mortrude Grace C , Rehs Mary T , Sherman Katherine A , Gundacker Nathan D , Dysart Claire E
Published: December 2021

Background

Outpatient antimicrobial prescribing is an important target for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to decrease antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this study was to design, implement, and evaluate the impact of AMS interventions focused on asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in the primary care setting.

Methods

This stepped-wedge trial evaluated the impact of multifaceted educational interventions to providers on adult patients presenting to primary care clinics for ARIs and ASB. The primary outcome was percentage of overall antibiotic prescriptions as a composite of prescriptions for ASB, acute bronchitis, upper respiratory infection not otherwise specified, uncomplicated sinusitis, and uncomplicated pharyngitis. Secondary outcomes were the individual components of the primary outcome; a composite safety endpoint of related hospital, emergency department, or primary care visits within 4 weeks; antibiotic selection appropriateness; and patient satisfaction surveys.

Results

A total of 887 patients were included (405 preintervention and 482 postintervention). After controlling for type I error using Bonferroni correction, the primary outcome was not significantly different between groups (56% vs 49%). There was a statistically significant decrease in prescriptions for acute bronchitis (20.99% vs 12.66%; P = .0003). Appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for uncomplicated sinusitis (odds ratio [OR], 4.96 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.79–13.75]; P = .0021) and pharyngitis (OR, 5.36 [95% CI, 1.93–14.90]; P = .0013) was improved in the postintervention vs the preintervention group. The composite safety outcome and patient satisfaction surveys did not differ between groups.

Conclusions

Multifaceted educational interventions targeting providers can improve antibiotic prescribing for indications rarely requiring antimicrobials without increasing re-visits or patient satisfaction surveys.
Safety of Live-Attenuated Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine Administered Within 2 Years of Hematopoietic Cell Transplant
Authors: Desjardins Michaël , Mitre Xhoi , Sherman Amy C , Walsh Stephen R , Cheng Matthew P , Kanjilal Sanjat , Ho Vincent T , Baden Lindsey R , Issa Nicolas C
Published: December 2021

Background

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a live-attenuated vaccine usually contraindicated within the first 2 years of hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT). The objective of this study was to assess the safety of MMR vaccine when administered within 2 years of HCT.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received MMR vaccination within 2 years of an autologous or allogeneic HCT, mostly in the context of the 2019 measles outbreak. Adverse reactions were collected for 42 days postvaccination, and all hospitalizations and deaths following vaccination were reviewed.

Results

A total of 129 patients (75 autologous and 54 allogeneic HCT) were vaccinated 300–729 days after HCT (median, 718 days), and 39 (30%) of these were vaccinated earlier than 23 months post-transplant. Ten adverse reactions in 7 patients (5%) were identified within 42 days of vaccination: 6 respiratory tract infections (3 with fever) and 1 rash. The rash was seen in a 37-year-old female who had an allogeneic HCT 542 days before vaccination. She presented with a centrifugal maculopapular rash, confirmed to be caused by the vaccine strain rubella virus. She fully recovered. No other vaccine-associated illness was identified in the cohort after a median follow-up of 676 days.

Conclusions

MMR vaccine appears to be well tolerated in select HCT recipients when given between 300 and 729 days after transplant. An uncomplicated case of vaccine-associated rubella illness was seen after vaccination. Assessment of potential risks and benefits of MMR vaccination given within 2 years of HCT remains important.
Persistence of Robust Humoral Immune Response in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Convalescent Individuals Over 12 Months After Infection
Authors: Miyakawa Kei , Kubo Sousuke , Stanleyraj Jeremiah Sundararaj , Go Hirofumi , Yamaoka Yutaro , Ohtake Norihisa , Kato Hideaki , Ikeda Satoshi , Mihara Takahiro , Matsuba Ikuro , Sanno Naoko , Miyakawa Masaaki , Shinkai Masaharu , Miyazaki Tomoyuki , Ogura Takashi , Ito Shuichi , Kaneko Takeshi , Yamamoto Kouji , Goto Atsushi , Ryo Akihide
Published: December 2021

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection elicits varying degrees of protective immunity conferred by neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). In this study, we report the persistence of nAb responses over 12 months after infection despite their decreasing trend noticed from 6 months.

Methods

The study included sera from 497 individuals who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 between January and August 2020. Samples were collected at 6 and 12 months after onset. The titers of immunoglobulin (Ig)G to the viral nucleocapsid protein (NP) and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein were measured by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. The nAb titer was determined using lentivirus-based pseudovirus or authentic virus.

Results

Antibody titers of NP-IgG, RBD-IgG, and nAbs were higher in severe and moderate cases than in mild cases at 12 months after onset. Although the nAb levels were likely to confer adequate protection against wild-type viral infection, the neutralization activity to recently circulating variants in some of the mild cases (~30%) was undermined, implying the susceptibility to reinfection with the variants of concerns (VOCs).

Conclusions

Coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent individuals have robust humoral immunity even at 12 months after infection albeit that the medical history and background of patients could affect the function and dynamics of antibody response to the VOCs.
A Novel Program to Provide Drug Recovery Assistance and Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy in People Who Inject Drugs
Authors: Gelman Stephanie S , Stenehjem Eddie , Foster Rachel A , Tinker Nick , Grisel Nancy , Webb Brandon J
Published: December 2021

Background

Safe hospital discharge on parenteral antibiotic therapy is challenging for people who inject drugs (PWID) admitted with serious bacterial infections (SBI). We describe a Comprehensive Care of Drug Addiction and Infection (CCDAI) program involving a partnership between Intermountain Healthcare hospitals and a detoxification facility (DF) to provide simultaneous drug recovery assistance and parenteral antibiotic therapy (DRA-OPAT).

Methods

The CCDAI program was evaluated using a pre-/poststudy design. We compared outcomes in PWID hospitalized with SBI during a 1-year postimplementation period (2018) with similar patients from a historical control period (2017), identified by propensity modeling and manual review.

Results

Eighty-seven patients were candidates for the CCDAI program in the implementation period. Thirty-five participants (40.2%) enrolled in DRA-OPAT and discharged to the DF; 16 (45.7%) completed the full outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) duration. Fifty-one patients with similar characteristics were identified as a preimplementation control group. Median length of stay (LOS) was reduced from 22.9 days (interquartile interval [IQI], 9.8–42.7) to 10.6 days (IQI, 6–17.4) after program implementation (P < .0001). Total median cost decreased from $39 220.90 (IQI, $23 300.71–$82 506.66) preimplementation to $27 592.39 (IQI, $18 509.45–$48 369.11) postimplementation (P < .0001). Ninety-day readmission rates were similar (23.5% vs 24.1%; P = .8). At 1-year follow-up, all-cause mortality was 7.1% in the preimplementation group versus 1.2% postimplementation (P = .06).

Conclusions

Partnerships between hospitals and community resources hold promise for providing resource-efficient OPAT and drug recovery assistance. We observed significant reductions in LOS and cost without increases in readmission rates; 1-year mortality may have been improved. Further study is needed to optimize benefits of the program.
Dengue and scrub typhus co-infection causing septic shock
Authors: Subedi Prakriti , Ghimire Manoj , Shrestha Karun , Ghimire Kalpana , Adhikari Sudeep , Tiwari Bishal
Published: December 2021

A 33-year-old female presented with a history of high-grade fever, cough, dyspnea, joint pain and myalgia. On examination, the patient was febrile with tachycardia, hypotension and decreased oxygen saturation. Chest auscultation revealed bilateral decreased air entry with crepitation supported by bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. The laboratory investigations showed leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, transaminitis and renal impairment. The patient was treated with intravenous fluids, ceftriaxone and levofloxacin; however, there was no clinical improvement till 48 h. She was then diagnosed with scrub typhus and dengue co-infection via serologies. Doxycycline was started following which the patient improved in 24 h. Scrub typhus can present with septic shock but does not respond to the usual antibiotics and the addition of doxycycline will result in rapid clinical improvement. Co-infection with other tropical diseases such as dengue is also common, hence it is important to test based on local endemicity.
Learning from Noise? Price and Liquidity Spillovers around Mutual Fund Fire Sales
Authors: Honkanen Pekka , Schmidt Daniel
Published: December 2021

We study the extent of cross-asset learning in financial markets by examining the spillover effects around mutual fund fire sales, which lead to a well-documented impact-reversal pattern in returns. We find that the returns of fire sale stocks spill over onto the stock returns of economic peers with a magnitude of around one-third of the original effect. These spillovers extend to liquidity and are not explained by common funding shocks or the hedging activity of liquidity providers. We conclude that they represent information spillovers due to learning from prices, thus identifying cross-asset learning as an important driver for the commonality in returns and liquidity. (JEL G11, G12, G14, G23)

Received July 1, 2021; editorial decision August 30, 2021. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Overcoming Obstacles to the Application of the Unidroit Principles: Proposal for a Descriptive Choice of the Unidroit Principles Clause
Authors: Brödermann Eckart
Published: December 2021

The article builds on a similar article written ten years ago and published in the Uniform Law Review. It tries to build a bridge between the academic world and the world of practitioners with regard to the perception of the Unidroit Principles.
Random forest modelling of neuropathological features identifies microglial activation as an accurate pathological classifier of C9orf72-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Rifai Olivia M. , Longden James , O’Shaughnessy Judi , Sewell Michael D.E. , McDade Karina , Daniels Michael J.D. , Abrahams Sharon , Chandran Siddharthan , McColl Barry , Sibley Christopher R. , Gregory Jenna M.
Published: December 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are regarded as two ends of a pathogenetic spectrum, termed ALS-frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD). However, it is currently difficult to predict where on the spectrum an individual will lie, especially for patients with C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HRE), a mutation associated with both ALS and FTD. It has been shown that both inflammation and protein misfolding influence aspects of ALS and ALS-FTSD disease pathogenesis, such as the manifestation or severity of motor or cognitive symptoms. Previous studies have highlighted markers which may influence C9orf72-associated disease presentation in a targeted fashion, though there has yet to be a systematic and quantitative assessment of common immunohistochemical markers to investigate the significance of these pathways in an unbiased manner. Here we report the first extensive digital pathological assessment with random forest modelling of pathological markers often used in neuropathology practice. This study profiles glial activation and protein misfolding in a cohort of deeply clinically profiled post-mortem tissue from patients with a C9orf72 HRE, who either met the criteria for a diagnosis of ALS or ALS-FTSD. We show that microglial immunohistochemical staining features, both morphological and spatial, are the best independent classifiers of disease status and that clinicopathological associations exist between microglial activation status and cognitive dysfunction in ALS-FTSD patients with C9orf72 HRE. Furthermore, we show that spatially resolved changes in FUS staining are also an accurate predictor of disease status, implying that liquid-liquid phase shift of this aggregation-prone RNA-binding protein may be important in ALS caused by a C9orf72 HRE. Our findings provide further support to the hypothesis of dysfunctional immune regulation and proteostasis in the pathogenesis of C9orf72 ALS and provide a framework for digital analysis of commonly used neuropathological stains as a tool to enrich our understanding of clinicopathological associations between cohorts.
Benchmarking GE-BOLD, SE-BOLD, and SS-SI-VASO sequences for depth-dependent separation of feedforward and feedback signals in high-field MRI
Authors: Iamshchinina Polina , Haenelt Daniel , Trampel Robert , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Kaiser Daniel , Cichy Radoslaw M.
Published: December 2021

Recent advances in high-field fMRI have allowed differentiating feedforward and feedback information in the grey matter of the human brain. For continued progress in this endeavor, it is critical to understand how MRI data acquisition parameters impact the read-out of information from laminar response profiles. Here, we benchmarked three different MR-sequences at 7T - gradient-echo (GE), spin-echo (SE) and vascular space occupancy imaging (VASO) - in differentiating feedforward and feedback signals in human early visual cortex (V1). The experiment (N=4) consisted of two complementary tasks: a perception task that predominantly evokes feedforward signals and a working memory task that relies on feedback signals. In the perception task, participants saw flickering oriented gratings while detecting orthogonal color-changes. In the working memory task, participants memorized the precise orientation of a grating. We used multivariate pattern analysis to read out the perceived (feedforward) and memorized (feedback) grating orientation from neural signals across cortical depth. Analyses across all the MR-sequences revealed perception signals predominantly in the middle cortical compartment of area V1 and working memory signals in the deep compartment. Despite an overall consistency across sequences, SE-EPI was the only sequence where both feedforward and feedback information were differently pronounced across cortical depth in a statistically robust way. We therefore suggest that in the context of a typical cognitive neuroscience experiment as the one benchmarked here, SE-EPI may provide a favorable trade-off between spatial specificity and signal sensitivity.

Highlights

Here, we benchmarked three sequences at high-field fMRI -GE-BOLD, SE-BOLD and VASO - in differentiating feedforward and feedback signals across grey matter depth of area V1. We show that:

All the MR-sequences revealed the feedforward and feedback signals at the middle and deep cortical bins, respectively.

Such correspondence across the sequences indicates that widely used GE-BOLD is a suitable method for the exploration of signals in cortical depth.

Only SE-BOLD yielded statistically reliable differences between the cortical bins carry- ing feedforward and feedback signals.