bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
2009 CKD-EPI glomerular filtration rate estimation in Black individuals outside the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zingano Carolina Pires , Escott Gustavo Monteiro , Rocha Bruna Martins , Porgere Indianara Franciele , Moro Candice Cristine , Delanaye Pierre , Silveiro Sandra Pinho
Published: October 2022

Background

The 2009 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation is the most used equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), with race being a factor thereof, increasing GFR by 16% in self-identified Black persons compared with non-Black persons. However, recent publications indicate that it might overestimate GFR for Black adults outside the USA. In this meta-analysis, we assessed the accuracy, evaluated by the percentage of estimated GFR within 30% of measured GFR (P30), of the 2009 CKD-EPI equation in estimating GFR with and without the race coefficient in Black individuals outside the United States of America (USA).

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception to 9 July 2022, with no language restriction, supplemented by manual reference searches. Studies that assessed the CKD-EPI P30 accuracy with or without the race coefficient in Black adults outside the USA with an adequate method of GFR measurement were included. Data were extracted by independent pairs of reviewers and were pooled using a random-effects model.

Results

We included 11 studies, with a total of 1834 Black adults from South America, Africa and Europe. The race coefficient in the 2009 CKD-EPI equation significantly decreased P30 accuracy {61.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 53–70%] versus 72.9% [95% CI 66.7–78.3%]; P = .03}.

Conclusions

Outside the USA, the 2009 CKD-EPI equation should not be used with the race coefficient, even though the 2009 CKD-EPI equation is not sufficiently accurate either way (<75%). Thus we endorse the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines to use exogenous filtration markers when this may impact clinical conduct.
Natural Parasitism Influences Biological Control Strategies Against Both Global Invasive Pests Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae), and the Neotropical-Native Pest Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Biancheri María Josefina Buonocore , Suárez Lorena , Kirschbaum Daniel S , Garcia Flávio Roberto Mello , Funes Claudia F , Ovruski Sergio M
Published: October 2022

Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) and Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) are two severe invasive pests widespread in all Argentinean fruit-producing regions. Both coexist with the Neotropical pest Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) in northern Argentina. The northwestern region shelters major soft fruit and Citrus producing and exporting industries, which are heavily affected by these dipterans. Eco-friendly strategies are under assessment in Argentina. This study mainly assessed D. suzukii, C. capitata, and A. fraterculus temporal abundance variations and their natural parasitism levels on a 1.5-ha-patch of feral peach trees within a disturbed secondary subtropical rainforest of northwestern Argentina. Fly puparia were mainly collected from the soil under fallen peach. Sampling was performed over three peach fruiting seasons. The most abundant pest species was C. capitata. Drosophila suzukii was only found in the last collecting period, but outnumbered A. fraterculus. Natural parasitism distinctly affected the temporal abundance of these dipterans: it significantly depressed C. capitata abundance in last sampling weeks, it did not substantially affect D. suzukii abundance, but it increased synchronously with the increase in the A. fraterculus abundance. Parasitism on C. capitata was mostly exerted by a combination of both a cosmopolitan pupal and a native larval parasitoid, while A. fraterculus was mainly parasitized by two indigenous larval parasitoids. Only three resident pupal parasitoids were associated with D. suzukii, of which the cosmopolitan Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was the most significant. Data on the resident parasitoid impact are relevant for designing biocontrol strategies in noncrop habitats.
The macroeconomic effects of structural reforms: an empirical and model-based approach
Authors: Ciapanna Emanuela , Mocetti Sauro , Notarpietro Alessandro
Published: October 2022

This paper quantifies the macroeconomic effects of three major structural reforms (i.e. service sector liberalizations, incentives to innovation and civil justice reforms) undertaken in Italy in the last decade. We employ a novel approach that estimates the impact of each reform on total factor productivity (TFP) and markups in an empirical micro setting and uses these estimates in a dynamic general equilibrium model to simulate the macroeconomic effects of the reforms. Microeconometric estimates indicate that the reforms imply a sizeable increase in TFP and a reduction in service markup. Structural model–based analysis shows that, accounting for estimation uncertainty, the increase in the level of GDP at the end of the current decade would be between 3.5% and 8%, with non-negligible effects on the labour market.
From event to enactment: celebrating the massacre of Saint-Bartholomew at Rome
Authors: Martysheva Lana
Published: October 2022

This article analyzes the communication and celebration of the news of the massacre of Saint Bartholomew at Rome. It explains why there was such rejoicing on that occasion, and it reveals the mechanisms for the transformation of ‘news’ into a ‘news event’. Taking this case-study as its starting-point, it seeks to examine the role of the Urbs as a centre for the reception of news and its prioritization, through which the status of an event in the contemporary Catholic world was determined. The pontifical city emerges as an international political stage, on which different actors sought to impose their particular interpretation of far-off events. That is illustrated by the actions of Charles de Guise, cardinal of Lorraine, who profited from the great visibility offered by Rome in order to disseminate the notion that the massacre had been premeditated.
Surgery for Crohn’s disease: upfront or last resort?
Authors: Ahmed Ali U , Kiran Ravi P
Published: October 2022

Crohn’s disease (CD) can involve the entire gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus and can lead to a constellation of symptoms. With the advancement of effective medical treatments for CD, a tendency has emerged to consider surgical treatment as a last resort. This potentially has the disadvantage of delaying surgery and if it fails might leave patients sicker, less well nourished, and with more severe complications. As with most non-malignant diseases, the choice of surgery vs medical treatment is a patient’s personal preference under the guidance of the treating physician, except in extreme situations where surgery might be the only option. In this article, we will discuss the available evidence regarding the optimal timing of surgery in CD, focusing on whether early surgery can bring benefits in terms of disease control, symptom relief, and quality of life.
Food Insecurity Among Older Adults Living in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Authors: Neves Freiria Carolina , Arikawa Andrea , Van Horn Leslie T , Pires Corona Ligiana , Wright Lauri Y
Published: October 2022

Background and Objectives

Food insecurity is considered an increasing public health problem worldwide with adverse effects, especially among older adults. Although the literature related to food insecurity among older adults in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are expanding, little is known about existing patterns and knowledge gaps in these settings. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research related to food insecurity among older adults in LMIC.

Research Design and Methods

A systematic search was conducted in November 2021 and revised in July 2022 on six databases using terms related to food insecurity and older adults. Data were extracted, and the emerging themes from the main findings were summarized using a social-ecological model (SEM).

Results

Forty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Almost half (48.8%) were published in the last 2 years and utilized a quantitative approach (n = 38). Only one study was conducted in a low-income country. Using the SEM, most studies included in this review focused on addressing the relationship between food insecurity with intrapersonal factors.

Discussion and Implications

Several gaps in the current literature were identified. There is a lack of longitudinal and qualitative studies available on this topic. Also, only 15 LMIC were represented in the literature. A critical point in this review is that only a few studies addressed the relationship between food insecurity and the policy/social structure, institutional, community, and interpersonal levels. These identified gaps can serve as a guide for future research on this topic.
Quantitative analysis of diffusion regimes in iron ore with low field NMR
Authors: O'Neill Keelan T , Langford Dean , Fridjonsson Einar O , Johns Michael L
Published: October 2022

The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques allows in situ characterization of geophysical properties such as moisture content, permeability and wettability. However, the accuracy and applicability of such measurements is limited by internal magnetic field gradients which are a consequence of magnetic susceptibility differences at solid–fluid interfaces. Such effects are particularly prominent in iron ore rock samples which contain ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic mineralogy leading to high magnetic susceptibility. Multiple echo time Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) NMR pulse sequences are commonly used to capture the influence of internal gradients, with the intention of deconvoluting diffusion in effective internal gradients (geff) from true transver relaxation (T2). The interpretation of such measurements is complicated by the presence of multiple diffusive regimes: the short-time (ST), motionally averaged and localization regimes respectively. We introduce a new model for diffusive NMR signal attenuation, called the multiregime model which is intended to better capture diffusive behaviour across the three regimes. The multiregime model is compared against previous methods for quantifying diffusive decay (the ST only and generalized inversion models). Multi-echo measurements of iron ore samples are fit with each model in order to quantify 2-D T2–geff distributions. The resulting distributions demonstrate how the multiregime model can provide insight into the relative influence of the different diffusive regimes in a given sample. This assists in understanding the influence of diffusive decay on measurement accuracy, for example the increased measurement error with increasing prevalence of the localization regime. The multiregime model provides a key step in accurately segregating surface relaxation and diffusive relaxation, which is crucial for accurately estimating pore size distributions, permeability and wettability in high magnetic susceptibility samples using NMR.
Along-strike island-arc crustal growth rate estimation: case study of the Izu–Bonin–Mariana subduction system
Authors: Bai Yongliang , Mu Xuan , Zhang Wenzhao , Li Sanzhong , Zhang Diya , Wu Shiguo
Published: October 2022

The island-arc crustal growth rate (IACGR) is the island-arc magma production volume per 1 km width along the arc strike within one million years, and its variations are highly related to slab dehydration and mantle wedge melting. A novel method that includes Earth density modelling, gravity forward and inversion, and arc crustal growth thickness integration is designed to estimate the IACGR. This method can not only estimate the IACGR along the entire arc length but also assess the crustal growth of both remnant and active arcs. Therefore, the estimation result has high coverage and low uncertainty. Here, the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) subduction zone is taken as a case study region. The estimated time-averaged IACGR along the IBM arc changes between 16 and 59 km3 km−1 Myr−1, with a mean value of 40 km3 km−1 Myr−1, and this result matches the findings of previous studies well. The uncertainties due to crustal thickness inversion are relatively larger than those from flow line reconstruction. The rate results of the Mariana part have lower uncertainties than those of the Izu–Bonin parts since the arc boundaries can be delineated more accurately. The IACGR of the region where a plateau approaches the trench tends to be overestimated because the collision of the plateau with the island arc thickens the island arc crust and bias the uniform pre-existing crustal thickness assumption.
Communication lessons learned from the 2017 measles–rubella campaign in India: perspectives from vaccine decision-makers
Authors: Limaye Rupali J , Gupta Madhu , Bansal Adarsh , Chandler Mary Kate , Santosham Mathuram , Erchick Daniel J
Published: October 2022

In 2017, to reduce the burden of measles and rubella, a nation-wide measles–rubella campaign was launched in India. Despite detailed planning efforts that involved many stakeholders, vaccine refusal arose in several communities during the campaign. As strategic health communication and promotion is critical in any vaccine campaign, we sought to document lessons learned from the 2017 MR campaign from a strategic health communication and promotion perspective to capture lessons learned. To inform future campaigns, we conducted in-depth interviews through a perspective that is not usually captured, that of government and civil society stakeholders that had experience in vaccine campaign implementation (n = 21). We interviewed stakeholders at the national level and within three states that had diverse experiences with the campaign. Three key themes related to strategic health communication and promotion emerged: the importance of sensitizing communities at all levels through relevant and timely information about the vaccine and the vaccine campaign, leveraging key influencers to deliver tailored messaging about the importance of vaccines and mitigating vaccine misinformation rapidly. Our study findings have important implications for health communication and promotion research related to vaccine campaigns. The field must continue to enhance vaccine campaign efforts by identifying important health communication and promotion factors, including the importance of sensitization, trusted messengers that use tailored messaging and mitigating misinformation, as vaccine campaigns are crucial in improving vaccine acceptance.
Implementation evaluation of an Irish secondary-level whole school programme: a qualitative inquiry
Authors: McHale Fiona , Ng Kwok , Scanlon Dylan , Cooper Jemima , Grady Caera , Norton Catherine , O’Shea Donal , Woods Catherine
Published: October 2022

Whole-of-school programmes (WSPs) are recommended to promote physical activity for adolescents. The Active School Flag (ASF) programme for secondary-level schools is one such WSP. Due to the difficulties of incorporating WSPs into the complex school system, there is a risk of poor implementation. The monitoring of unanticipated influences can help to understand key implementation processes prior to scale-up. The aims of this study were to identify perceived facilitators and barriers to implementing the ASF and recommend evidence-based implementation strategies. Focus groups and interviews (N = 50) were conducted in three schools with stakeholders involved in programme implementation, i.e. school management (n = 5), ASF coordinator (n = 4), student-leaders (aged 15–16 years) (n = 64) and staff committee (n = 25). Transcripts were analysed using codebook thematic analysis and were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Implementation strategies were identified and were selected systematically to address contextual needs. Three themes surrounding the facilitators and barriers to implementation were generated: intervention design factors (e.g. capacity building and knowledge of implementers; and interest and buy-in for the programme), organizational factors (e.g. optimization of people and the busy school environment) and interpersonal factors (e.g. communication and collaboration). The examination of facilitators and barriers to implementation of the ASF has assisted with the identification of implementation strategies including (not limited to) a shared leadership programme for student leaders and a more flexible timeline for completion. These facilitative implementation strategies may assist in the effective implementation of the ASF.
Hypoxic ASCs-derived Exosomes Attenuate Colitis by Regulating Macrophage Polarization via miR-216a-5p/HMGB1 Axis
Authors: Qian Wenwei , Huang Liangyu , Xu Yihan , Lu Wen , Wen Weiwei , Guo Zhen , Zhu Weiming , Li Yi
Published: October 2022

Background

Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells have shown therapeutic effects for colitis. As a more clinically accessible resource, the therapeutic potential of exosomes from adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) has not been fully elucidated, and whether hypoxia precondition could improve the therapeutic effect of ASC-derived exosomes in colitis remains elusive.

Methods

In this study, exosomes were derived from ASCs under normoxia (NExos) and hypoxia (HExos) and were identified by detecting their morphology, size distribution, and exosome surface markers. The concentration of inflammation-related cytokines was detected by ELISA, and macrophage phenotype–related genes were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, and immunofluorescence. A miRNA microarray sequencing analysis was conducted to confirm the differentially expressed miRNAs. Dextran sulfate sodium–induced colitis was employed as an in vivo assay.

Results

Administration of NExos alleviated inflammation by modulating the balance of macrophages both in cellular assays and in vivo experiments, and HExos showed higher therapeutic efficiency than NExos. The miR-216a-5p in HExos was significantly enriched and promoted macrophage M2 polarization through transfer to macrophages by exosomes. The miR-216a-5p was confirmed to target the 3’-UTR of HMGB1. Mechanistically, hypoxia-induced ASCs release miR-216a-5p in an exosomal way that induced macrophage M2 polarization by regulating the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Exosomal miR-216a-5p released from hypoxia-prime ASCs showed higher therapeutic efficiency than NExos in experimental colitis by promoting the M2 macrophage phenotype, which indicated that hypoxia prime may represent a promising approach to optimizing the function of ASC-derived exosomes.
Will clinical standards not be part of the choir? Harmonization between the HL7 gender harmony project model and the NASEM measuring sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation report in the United States
Authors: Baker Kellan E , Compton D’Lane , Fechter-Leggett Ethan D , Grasso Chris , Kronk Clair A
Published: October 2022

Objectives

To propose an approach for semantic and functional data harmonization related to sex and gender constructs in electronic health records (EHRs) and other clinical systems for implementors, as outlined in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report Measuring Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation and the Health Level 7 (HL7) Gender Harmony Project (GHP) product brief “Gender Harmony—Modeling Sex and Gender Representation, Release 1.”

Materials and Methods

Authors from both publications contributed to a plan for data harmonization based upon fundamental principles in informatics, including privacy, openness, access, legitimate infringement, least intrusive alternatives, and accountability.

Results

We propose construct entities and value sets that best align with both publications to allow the implementation of EHR data elements on gender identity, recorded sex or gender, and sex for clinical use in the United States. We include usability- and interoperability-focused reasoning for each of these decisions, as well as suggestions for cross-tabulation for populations.

Discussion and Conclusion

Both publications agree on core approaches to conceptualization and measurement of sex- and gender-related constructs. However, some clarifications could improve our ability to assess gender modality, alignment (or lack thereof) between gender identity and assigned gender at birth, and address both individual-level and population-level health inequities. By bridging the GHP and NASEM recommendations, we provide a path forward for implementation of sex- and gender-related EHR elements. Suggestions for implementation of gender identity, recorded sex or gender, and sex for clinical use are provided, along with semantic and functional justifications.
Acaricidal Activities ofDioscorea japonicaThunb. (Dioscoreales: Dioscoreaceae) Extract and its Constituents Against the Two-spotted Spider Mite,Tetranychus urticaeKoch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Lee Min-Woo , Lee Dong-Ho , Nam Il , Lee Jae-Woo , Huh Min-Jung , Roh Gwang-Hyun , Park Il-Kwon
Published: October 2022

The acaricidal activities of 86 plant extracts were investigated under laboratory conditions. The ethanol extract of Dioscorea japonica Thunb. root showed the strongest acaricidal activity, with 89.3% mortality against two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch adults at a 2 mg/ml concentration. Bioassay-guided isolation of D. japonica root extract using silica gel open column chromatography, gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified palmitic acid as the primary active compound. The acaricidal activities of palmitic acid against T. urticae were 91.2% and 69.7% at concentrations of 1 and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. Among nine saturated fatty acids with carbon chains ranging from C8 to C26, the most vigorous acaricidal activity was observed with octanoic acid, followed by palmitic acid, and decanoic acid at a 1 mg/ml concentration. The acaricidal activity of the other fatty acids was less than 40% mortality at a 1 mg/ml concentration. These results indicate that a suitable carbon length is essential for fatty acids to exhibit acaricidal activity. The acaricidal efficacy of Eungjinssag (EJSG), an organic agricultural material authorized for the management of mites in the Republic of Korea, was compared to D. japonica root extract. At concentrations above 1 mg/ml, the acaricidal activity of D. japonica root extract was stronger than that of EJSG. The results of this study show that D. japonica root extract and palmitic acid are promising candidates as new environmentally-friendly control agents against two-spotted spider mite, which is one of the most severely damaging agricultural arthropod pests.
Effect of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Infestation on the Protein Physicochemical and Structural Properties of Wheat Grain
Authors: Wu Qiong , Tian Qisheng , Zhang Dongdong , Zhang Yurong
Published: October 2022

Boring pests such as Sitophilus zeamais (S. zeamais) are major threats in grain storage. However, how these pests affect the proteins of stored grains remains largely unknown. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of S. zeamais infestation on wheat protein during postharvest storage. In this study, wheat grain infested by S. zeamais was sampled at egg (4 d), larval (20 d), pupal (35 d), and adult stages (45 d), respectively. The protein’s physicochemical and structural properties and the edible quality of whole wheat noodle were analyzed. The results showed that S. zeamais infestation significantly decreased the quality of wheat protein by altering its constitution and structure properties. Especially, compared with the control, the content of wet and dry gluten, gluten index, sodium dodecyl sulfate sedimentation volume, sulfhydryl groups, and disulfide bonds in insect-infested wheat decreased by 19.40, 5.42, 18.40, 8.12, 29.13, and 14.30%, respectively, during the storage period of one life cycle of S. zeamais. Additionally, the proportions of wheat protein fractions (albumin [1.16-fold], globulin [0.96-fold], gliadin [1.16-fold], and glutenin [0.95-fold]) and secondary structures (α-helix [0.91-fold], β-fold [0.96-fold], β-turn [1.06-fold], and random coil [1.05-fold]) of protein changed significantly, and the gluten network structure was broken in S. zeamais-infested wheat. Furthermore, the color of whole wheat noodle became darker, cooking loss rate increased, and textural properties (hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness, and resilience) decreased as well. The results in the present study provided new insights for analyzing the quality deterioration mechanism and further quality improvement of boring pests-infested wheat grain.
Efficient liability law when parties genuinely disagree
Authors: Franzoni Luigi Alberto
Published: October 2022

This article compares the classic liability rules, negligence, and strict liability, under the hypothesis that injurers and victims formulate subjective beliefs about the probabilities of harm. Parties may reasonably disagree in their assessment of the precautionary measures available: a measure regarded as safe by one party may be regarded as not safe by the other. By relying on the notions of Pareto efficiency and “No Betting” Pareto efficiency, the article shows that negligence is the optimal liability rule when injurers believe that the probability of harm is always higher than the victims do, while strict liability with overcompensatory damages is the optimal rule in the opposite case. The same results apply to bilateral accidents and, specifically, to product-related harms in competitive markets. Overcompensatory (“punitive”) damages provide consumers with insurance against their own pessimism. (JEL K13, D83, D62)
The Effect ofPlasmodium falciparum(Welch) (Haemospororida: Plasmodiidae) Infection on the Susceptibility ofAnopheles gambiaes.l. andAnopheles funestus(Diptera: Culicidae) to Pyrethroid Insecticides in the North-Western and South-Eastern, Tanzania
Authors: Joseph Matiya Deokary , Philbert Anitha B , Kidima Winifrida B , Matowo Johnson J
Published: October 2022

The rapid development of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors threatens insecticide-based interventions. It is hypothesized that infection of insecticide-resistant vectors with Plasmodium parasites increases their vulnerability to insecticides, thus assuring the effectiveness of insecticide-based strategies for malaria control. Nonetheless, there is limited field data to support this. We investigated the effect of the Plasmodium falciparum infection on the susceptibility of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and Anopheles funestus to pyrethroids in south-eastern (Kilombero) and north-western (Muleba), Tanzania. The wild-collected mosquitoes were tested against 0.05% deltamethrin and 0.75% permethrin, then assessed for sporozoite rate and resistant gene (kdr) mutations. All Anopheles gambiae s.l. from Kilombero were An. arabiensis (Patton, 1905) while those from Muleba were 87% An. gambiae s.s (Giles, 1902) and 13% An. Arabiensis. High levels of pyrethroid resistance were observed in both areas studied. The kdr mutation was only detected in An. gambiae s.s. at the frequency of 100% in survivors and 97% in dead mosquitoes. The P. falciparum sporozoite rates were slightly higher in susceptible than in resistant mosquitoes. In Muleba, sporozoite rates in An. gambiae s.l. were 8.1% and 6.4% in dead mosquitoes and survivors, respectively (SRR = 1.28, p = 0.19). The sporozoite rates in Kilombero were 1.3% and 0.7% in the dead and survived mosquitoes, respectively (sporozoite rate ratio (SRR) = 1.9, p = 0.33). In An. funestus group sporozoite rates were 6.2% and 4.4% in dead and survived mosquitoes, respectively (SRR = 1.4, p = 0.54). These findings indicate that insecticides might still be effective in malaria control despite the rapid development of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors.
Bandgaps for flexural waves in infinite beams and plates with a periodic array of resonators
Authors: Chen Jing-Heng , Chao I-Chein , Chen Tungyang
Published: October 2022

The subject of seismic metamaterials, inspired from novel ideas in optics and acoustics, has attracted great attention in the last decade for potential applications in earthquake engineering. Simple structure systems, like beams and plates, with periodically attached mechanical resonators provide a simple physical model to interpret the existence of certain frequency bandgap in dispersion relations and to simulate the mechanism of flexural energy attenuation. In this work, we consider simple structure systems of beams and plates with periodically attached resonators. The resonator is composed of a spring, a damper and a mass attached along the beam direction. We utilize the Timoshenko beam model and the Mindlin plate theory to incorporate the shear effect. The plane wave expansion method together with the Bloch theorem is used to expand the governing field into an eigenvalue problem of an infinite complex system, allowing us to characterize the band structures of the dispersion relations. Local resonance and Bragg bandgaps are identified and examined. The effect of thickness ratios, the damping ratio and the shear modulus are exemplified to demonstrate how these factors will affect the formation of bandgaps. This formulation demonstrates a feasibility that a periodic array of mechanical resonators together with suitable material and geometric parameters of beams and plates can be designed to tune with the dispersion behavior in the control of flexure waves. This study may open up new potential in the control of wave propagation in complex continuum systems through the interaction of adequately designed resonators.
Demonstration of a portable system for daytime optical turbulence profile measurements
Authors: Ren Deqing , Beck Christian , Cao Wenda , Drybread Erik , Faulkner Katz David
Published: October 2022

Measurements of the optical turbulence profile are critical for selecting a potential new solar observational site or for characterizing an existing solar observatory. To measure the turbulence distribution to a moderate altitude above an existing observatory, current techniques use a large facility telescope with an aperture size larger than 1.0 m. This limits their application, especially in surveys to find a new potential site where no large facility telescope is available and where a portable measurement device is needed for such measurements. To address the above issues, we propose a new technique, termed the Advanced Multiple Aperture Seeing Profiler (A-MASP), which uses solar granulation to measure the daytime optical turbulence profile. The A-MASP is a portable system and thus can fully address the fundamental limitation of current optical turbulence profile measurement techniques. The A-MASP consists of two small telescopes, each with an aperture of the order of 100 mm, which can measure the turbulence profile to an altitude up to 20 km. Here, we present our A-MASP development work and its initial on-site measurements at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. In a proof-of-concept experiment, it was successfully demonstrated that the A-MASP can reliably measure the turbulence profile up to 12 km with a vector separation of 0.7 m between the two telescopes. The A-MASP could be used for future surveys to find potentially good observational sites.
Type II and anomalous Cepheids in the Kepler K2 mission
Authors: Jurkovic Monika I , Plachy Emese , Molnár László , Groenewegen Martin A T , Bódi Attila , Moskalik Pawel , Szabó Róbert
Published: October 2022

We present the results of the analysis of Type II and anomalous Cepheids using the data from the Kepler K2 mission. The precise light curves of these pulsating variable stars are the key to study the details of their pulsation, such as the period-doubling effect or the presence of additional modes. We applied the Automated Extended Aperture Photometry (autoEAP) to obtain the light curves of the targeted variable stars which were observed. The light curves were Fourier analysed. We investigated 12 stars observed by the K2 mission, seven Type II, and five anomalous Cepheids. Among the Type II Cepheids, EPIC 210622262 shows period-doubling, and four stars have modulation present in their light curves which are different from the period-doubling effect. We calculated the high-order Fourier parameters for the short-period Cepheids. We also determined physical parameters by fitting model atmospheres to the spectral energy distributions. The determined distances using the parallaxes measured by the Gaia space telescope have limited precision below 16 mag for these types of pulsating stars, regardless if the inverse method is used or the statistical method to calculate the distances. The BaSTI evolutionary models were compared to the luminosities and effective temperatures. Most of the Type II Cepheids are modelled with low metallicity models, but for a few of them solar-like metallicity ([Fe/H] = 0.06) model is required. The anomalous Cepheids are compared to low-metallicity single stellar models. We do not see signs of binarity among our sample stars.
Burst search method based on likelihood ratio in Poisson statistics
Authors: Cai Ce , Xiong Shao-Lin , Xue Wang-Chen , Zhao Yi , Xiao Shuo , Yi Qi-Bin , Guo Zhi-Wei , Liu Jia-Cong , Zhang Yan-Qiu , Zheng Chao , Xie Sheng-Lun , Du Yan-Qi , Zhao Xiao-Yun , Li Cheng-Kui , Wang Ping , Peng Wen-Xi , Zheng Shi-Jie , Song Li-Ming , Li Xin-Qiao , Wen Xiang-Yang , Zhang Fan
Published: October 2022

Searching for X-ray and gamma-ray bursts, including Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters (SGRs), and high energy transients associated with Gravitational wave (GW) events or Fast radio bursts (FRBs), is of great importance in the multimessenger and multiwavelength era. Although a coherent search based on the likelihood ratio and Gaussian statistics has been established and utilized in many studies, this Gaussian-based method could be problematic for weak and short bursts which usually have very few counts. To deal with all bursts including weak ones, here we propose the coherent search in Poisson statistics. We studied the difference between Poisson-based and Gaussian-based search methods by Monte Carlo simulations, and find that the Poisson-based search method has advantages compared to the Gaussian case, especially for weak bursts. Our results show that, for very weak bursts with very low number of counts, the Poisson-based search can provide higher significance than the Gaussian-based search, and its likelihood ratio (for background fluctuation) still generally follows the χ2 distribution, making the significance estimation of searched bursts very convenient. Thus, we suggest that the coherent search based on Poisson-likelihood ratio is more appropriate in the search for generic transients including very weak ones.
TFAW survey II: six newly validated planets and 13 planet candidates fromK2
Authors: del Ser D , Fors O , del Alcázar M , Dyachenko V , Horch E P , Tokovinin A , Ziegler C , van Belle G T , Clark C A , Hartman Z D
Published: October 2022

Searching for Earth-sized planets in data from Kepler’s extended mission (K2) is a niche that still remains to be fully exploited. The TFAW survey is an ongoing project that aims to re-analyse all light curves in K2 C1–C8 and C12–C18 campaigns with a wavelet-based detrending and denoising method, and the period search algorithm TLS to search for new transit candidates not detected in previous works. We have analysed a first subset of 24 candidate planetary systems around relatively faint host stars (10.9 < Kp < 15.4) to allow for follow-up speckle imaging observations. Using vespa and TRICERATOPS, we statistically validate six candidates orbiting four unique host stars by obtaining false-positive probabilities smaller than 1 per cent with both methods. We also present 13 vetted planet candidates that might benefit from other, more precise follow-up observations. All of these planets are sub-Neptune-sized with two validated planets and three candidates with sub-Earth sizes, and have orbital periods between 0.81 and 23.98 d. Some interesting systems include two ultra-short-period planets, three multiplanetary systems, three sub-Neptunes that appear to be within the small planet Radius Gap, and two validated and one candidate sub-Earths (EPIC 210706310.01, K2-411 b, and K2-413 b) orbiting metal-poor stars.
The environment of AGN dwarf galaxies at z ∼ 0.7 from the VIPERS survey
Authors: Siudek M , Mezcua M , Krywult J
Published: October 2022

Dwarf galaxies are ideal laboratories to study the relationship between the environment and active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity. However, the type of environments in which dwarf galaxies hosting AGN reside is still unclear and limited to low-redshift studies (${z\lt 0.5}$). We use the VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey (VIPERS) to investigate, for the first time, their environments at $0.5\lt {z}\lt 0.9$. We select a sample of 12 942 low-mass ($\rm {log}(\mathit{ M}_\mathrm{*}/M_{\odot })\le 10$) galaxies and use the emission-line diagnostic diagram to identify AGN. We characterize their local environments as the galaxy density contrast, δ, derived from the fifth nearest neighbour method. Our work demonstrates that AGN and non-AGN dwarf galaxies reside in similar environments at intermediate redshift suggesting that the environment is not an important factor in triggering AGN activity already since ${z=0.9}$. Dwarf galaxies show a strong preference for low-density environments, independently of whether they host an AGN or not. Their properties do not change when moving to denser environments, suggesting that dwarf galaxies are not gas-enriched due to environmental effects. Moreover, AGN presence does not alter host properties supporting the scenario that AGN feedback does not impact the star formation of the host. Lastly, AGNs are found to host overmassive black holes. This is the first study of dwarf galaxies hosting AGNs at ${z\gt 0.5}$. The next generation of deep surveys will reveal whether or not such lack of environmental trends is common also for faint higher redshift dwarf galaxy populations.
Phase II Single-Arm Study of Palbociclib and Cetuximab Rechallenge in Patients with KRAS/NRAS/BRAF Wild-Type Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Sorah Jonathan D , Moore Dominic T , Reilley Matthew J , Salem Mohamed E , Triglianos Tammy , Sanoff Hanna K , McRee Autumn J , Lee Michael S
Published: October 2022

Background

Cetuximab is often administered to patients with KRAS wild-type (KRAS-WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), although resistance inevitably develops. We hypothesized that co-inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with cetuximab and downstream cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4/6 with palbociclib would be effective for anti-EGFR rechallenge in KRAS-WT mCRC.

Methods

We designed a single-arm, Simon’s 2-stage, phase II trial of cetuximab and palbociclib in KRAS-WT mCRC treated with ≥2 prior lines of therapy. We report here on cohort B rechallenging patients with anti-EGFR-based therapy who had disease control of at least 4 months on prior anti-EGFR therapy. Primary endpoint was disease control rate (DCR) at 4 months.

Results

Ten evaluable patients were enrolled in this cohort. The 4-month DCR was 20%, which did not fulfill the prespecified 4-month DCR rate to continue. Median progression-free survival was 1.8 months and median overall survival was 6.6 months. Three patients had stable disease, although overall response rate was 0%. Most common treatment-related grades 3-4 adverse events were lymphopenia and leukopenia.

Conclusion

Selection of patients for anti-EGFR rechallenge using clinical criteria alone was insufficient to identify response to palbociclib + cetuximab. Additional biomarkers are needed to select anti-EGFR rechallenge and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis is planned for samples collected in this study. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03446157)
Phosphorylation of MdCYTOKININ RESPONSE FACTOR4 suppresses ethylene biosynthesis during apple fruit ripening
Authors: Li Tong , Liu Zhi , Lv Tianxing , Xu Yaxiu , Wei Yun , Liu Weiting , Wei Yajing , Liu Li , Wang Aide
Published: October 2022

The plant hormone ethylene plays a central role in the ripening of climacteric fruits, such as apple (Malus domestica). Ethylene biosynthesis in apple fruit can be suppressed by calcium ions (Ca2+); however, the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. In this study, we identified an apple APETALA2/ETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription factor, MdCYTOKININ RESPONSE FACTOR4 (MdCRF4), which functions as a transcriptional activator of ethylene biosynthesis- and signaling-related genes, including Md1-AMINOCYCLOPROPANE-1-CARBOXYLIC ACID SYNTHASE1 (MdACS1) and MdETHYLENE-RESPONSIVE FACTOR3 (MdERF3), as a partner of the calcium sensor, calmodulin. Ca2+ promoted the Ca2+/CaM2-mediated phosphorylation of MdCRF4, resulting in MdCRF4 recognition by the E3 ubiquitin ligase MdXB3 ORTHOLOG 1 IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA (MdXBAT31), and consequently its ubiquitination and degradation via the 26S proteasome pathway. This in turn resulted in lower expression of MdACS1 and MdERF3 and reduced ethylene biosynthesis. Transiently overexpressing various MdCRF4 proteins with specific mutated phosphorylation sites revealed that the phosphorylation state of MdCRF4 affects the ripening of apple fruit. The results reveal that a Ca2+/CaM-MdCRF4–MdXBAT31 module is involved in Ca2+-suppressed ethylene biosynthesis, which delays apple fruit ripening. This provides insights into fruit ripening that may result in strategies for extending fruit shelf life.
Optimal Feedback in Contests
Authors: Ely Jeffrey C , Georgiadis George , Khorasani Sina , Rayo Luis
Published: October 2022

We obtain optimal dynamic contests for environments where the designer monitors effort through coarse, binary signals—Poisson successes—and aims to elicit maximum effort, ideally in the least amount of time possible, given a fixed prize. The designer has a vast set of contests to choose from, featuring termination and prize-allocation rules together with real-time feedback for the contestants. Every effort-maximizing contest (which also maximizes total expected successes) has a history-dependent termination rule, a feedback policy that keeps agents fully apprised of their own success, and a prize-allocation rule that grants them, in expectation, a time-invariant share of the prize if they succeed. Any contest that achieves this effort in the shortest possible time must in addition be what we call second chance: once a pre-specified number of successes arrive, the contest enters a countdown phase where contestants are given one last chance to succeed.
Genetic and Geographical Associations With Six Dimensions of Psychotic Experiences in Adolesence
Authors: Maxwell Jessye , Ronald Angelica , Cardno Alastair G , Breen Gerome , Rimfeld Kaili , Vassos Evangelos
Published: October 2022

Background and Hypothesis

Large-scale epidemiological and genetic research have shown that psychotic experiences in the community are risk factors for adverse physical and psychiatric outcomes. We investigated the associations of six types of specific psychotic experiences and negative symptoms assessed in mid-adolescence with well-established environmental and genetic risk factors for psychosis.

Study Design

Fourteen polygenic risk scores (PRS) and nine geographical environmental variables from 3590 participants of the Twins Early Development Study (mean age 16) were associated with paranoia, hallucinations, cognitive disorganization, grandiosity, anhedonia, and negative symptoms scales. The predictors were modeled using LASSO regularization separately (Genetic and Environmental models) and jointly (GE model).

Study Results

In joint GE models, we found significant genetic associations of negative symptoms with educational attainment PRS (β = −.07; 95% CI = −0.12 to −0.04); cognitive disorganization with neuroticism PRS (β = .05; 95% CI = 0.03–0.08); paranoia with MDD (β = .07; 95% CI = 0.04–0.1), BMI (β = .05; 95% CI = 0.02–0.08), and neuroticism PRS (β = .05; 95% CI = 0.02–0.08). From the environmental measures only family SES (β = −.07, 95% CI = −0.10 to −0.03) and regional education levels (β = −.06; 95% CI = −0.09 to −0.02) were associated with negative symptoms.

Conclusions

Our findings advance understanding of how genetic propensity for psychiatric, cognitive, and anthropometric traits, as well as environmental factors, together play a role in creating vulnerability for specific psychotic experiences and negative symptoms in mid-adolescence.
Effects of Asparagus officinalis on immune system mediated EAE model of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Aliomrani Mehdi , Rezaei Mina , Dinani Masoud Sadeghi , Mesripour Azadeh
Published: October 2022

Background

About 5 to 10 percent of the population in developed countries are affected by autoimmune diseases. One of the most important autoimmune disease with high prevalence rate is Multiple sclerosis in which there is currently no definitive cure for it, and most medications such as interferons are used only to limit the disease. The present study aims to investigate the effect of using Asparagus Officinalis fractions in an immune system mediated model of multiple sclerosis.

Material and Methods

Fractionation was performed by maceration using n-hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9: 1), n-Butanol and methanol solvents from aerial parts of Asparagus Officinalis. Thin layer chromatography, NMR and phenolic component measurement were done and two fractions were selected for checking in MS induced in vivo model.

Results

It was observed that chloroform-methanolic and N-Butanol fractions had higher content of saponin in comparison of other extracts. Also, it was showed that the methanolic and n-Butanol extracts contains the highestportion of glycosylic steroid saponins in comparison to other fractions. Regarding experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) score, Butanolic and methanolic fractions with doses higher that 100mg/kg showed a potent supportive effects as long as locomotor activity protection even in lower dose in comparison to phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group.

Conclusion

Considering the proved different effects of saponin compounds on the immune system we observed that those fractions altered the circulatory peripheral blood cells and also remit the clinical signs after EAE induction along with enhanced myelin sheath content in the median region of corpus callusom. It could be inferred that this fractions are promising candidates for further investigation as dose-dependent immune system regulating compounds in multiple sclerosis patients.
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Intervention Description of a Mobile Health Intervention in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Schmaderer Myra S. , Struwe Leeza , Loecker Courtney , Lier Lauren , Lundgren Scott W. , Pozehl Bunny , Zimmerman Lani
Published: October 2022

Mobile health (mHealth) is used to encourage and support self-management skills in patients with heart failure. The purpose of the study was to describe the feasibility, fidelity, usability, and acceptability of mHealth interventions. This pilot study used a randomized 3-group (enhanced usual care, mHealth, and mHealth plus, which included a nurse practitioner and community health worker) repeated-measure design to determine the feasibility of using a self-management behavior app and a Bluetooth-enabled scale for daily self-monitoring of weights and medications. In the 2 mHealth groups, of the 48 patients, 38 (79%) engaged partially in recording daily weights and medications, and of the 74 patients in the sample, we obtained partial to complete data on 63 (85%) of the patients during follow-up outcome phone calls. Most patients found the intervention to be feasible, usable, and acceptable, and (93%) patients in the mHealth group and 100% of patients in the mHealth plus group agreed or strongly agreed that they learned how to self-manage their heart failure using the app. The intervention was reasonable to implement and provided insight for future intervention improvements.