bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating thermal energy loads in remote and northern communities to facilitate a net-zero transition
Authors: Maynard Ian , Abdulla Ahmed
Published: February 2023

Canada has more than 350 remote and northern communities, most of which rely on diesel for their electric and thermal needs. This reliance is deleterious to climate, health, albedo, and energy security—all diesel must be imported. The government is working to transition these communities to climate-friendly and sustainable alternatives, but assessments of this transition are hampered by limited data availability, especially the absence of hourly thermal load profiles. Here, we develop a method for estimating the thermal load profiles of these communities; apply it to 40 communities that vary across characteristics like population, location, accessibility, and Indigenous identity; and seek to validate these profiles with the few empirical data that exist. We also develop a model to predict the thermal load of a remote and northern community using limited, available information like population and location. This paper represents the first attempt to simulate hourly thermal load profiles for these communities. We find that thermal loads are large—the hourly thermal load can be up to 23 times the hourly electrical load in winter, which has implications for investment planning. Our research helps communities, investors, and analysts develop robust transition plans as they seek to decarbonize northern communities’ energy systems.
Bounds for the Tornheim double zeta function
Authors: Nakamura Takashi
Published: February 2023

In the present paper, we give bounds for the Tornheim double zeta function

T
(

s
1

,

s
2

,

s
3

)

T(s_1,s_2,s_3)

when

|

t
1

|
,
|

t
2

|
,
|

t
3

|
≥
1

\lvert t_1 \rvert , \lvert t_2 \rvert , \lvert t_3 \rvert \ge 1

,

|

t
1

+

t
2

|
,
|

t
2

+

t
3

|
,
|

t
3

+

t
1

|
≥
1

\lvert t_1 + t_2 \rvert , \lvert t_2 + t_3 \rvert , \lvert t_3 + t_1 \rvert \ge 1

and

|

t
1

+

t
2

+

t
3

|
≥
1

\lvert t_1 + t_2 + t_3 \rvert \ge 1

with

σ
1

,

σ
2

,

σ
3

>
−
K

\sigma _1 , \sigma _2, \sigma _3 > -K

and

σ
1

+

σ
2

,

σ
2

+

σ
3

,

σ
3

+

σ
1

>
1
−
K

\sigma _1 +\sigma _2, \sigma _2 + \sigma _3, \sigma _3 + \sigma _1 > 1-K

, where

K
K

is a positive integer, from bounds for the Hurwitz zeta function which are shown by Bourgain’s bounds for exponential sums.
Gustation Across the Class Insecta: Body Locations
Authors: King Bethia H , Gunathunga Panchalie B
Published: February 2023

This review summarizes which body parts have taste function in which insect taxa. Evidence of taste by mouthparts, antennae, and tarsi is widespread. Mouthparts that commonly have taste function are the labium, including the labella and labial palps, the maxillae, including the galeae and maxillary palps, the inner surface of the labrum or clypeolabrum of chewers, and inside the precibarium/cibarium of hemipterans, which have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Tasting with mandibles has not been found, and tasting with the hypopharynx is seldom reported. Use of the antennae appears uncommon among fly species, but common among species of lepidopterans, hymenopterans, beetles, and bugs. Although tasting with legs, especially tarsi, is reported mostly for fly and lepidopteran species, there is also evidence of it for multiple species of beetles, grasshoppers, and hemipterans, and one species of a roach, an ant, and a bee. Ovipositor taste function has been supported for some species of flies, lepidopterans, hymenopterans, orthopterans, and odonates. Taste by wings has been much less studied, but has been documented in a few fly species. Taste remains unstudied for any species or any body parts of Archaeognatha, Dermaptera, Mantodea, Mecoptera, Phasmatodea, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Phthiraptera, Psocoptera, Siphonaptera, as well as Raphidioptera, Strepsiptera, Embioptera, Notoptera, and Zoraptera. Across holometabolous insects, larvae have not often been examined, the exception being some species of lepidopterans, flies, and beetles. Taste studies of antenna and legs are uncommon for even lepidopteran and beetle larvae.
Unsupervised construction of gene regulatory network based on single-cell multi-omics data of colorectal cancer
Authors: Cui Lingyu , Li Hongfei , Bian Jilong , Wang Guohua , Liang Yingjian
Published: February 2023

Identifying gene regulatory networks (GRNs) at the resolution of single cells has long been a great challenge, and the advent of single-cell multi-omics data provides unprecedented opportunities to construct GRNs. Here, we propose a novel strategy to integrate omics datasets of single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing and single-cell Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing, and using an unsupervised learning neural network to divide the samples with high copy number variation scores, which are used to infer the GRN in each gene block. Accuracy validation of proposed strategy shows that approximately 80% of transcription factors are directly associated with cancer, colorectal cancer, malignancy and disease by TRRUST; and most transcription factors are prone to produce multiple transcript variants and lead to tumorigenesis by RegNetwork database, respectively. The source code access are available at: https://github.com/Cuily-v/Colorectal_cancer.
Neuropsychiatric disorders following SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Harrison Paul J , Taquet Maxime
Published: February 2023

Several large-scale electronic health records studies have reported increased diagnostic rates for neuropsychiatric disorders following Coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 infection)], but many questions remain. To highlight the issues, we selectively review this literature, focusing on mood disorder, anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder, and cognitive impairment (‘brain fog’). Eight key questions are addressed, comprising: (i) the nature and magnitude of the risks; (ii) their association with severity of infection; (iii) their duration; (iv) whether the risks differ between adults and children, or between men and women; (v) whether prior vaccination protects against them; (vi) the risk profile associated with different SARS-CoV-2 strains; (vii) what the underlying mechanisms might be; and (viii) whether the sequelae can be predicted. We consider the major unknowns, the limitations of electronic health records for research in this area, and the use of additional approaches to help characterize and understand the neuropsychiatric burden of COVID-19.
Interictal discharges in the human brain are travelling waves arising from an epileptogenic source
Authors: Diamond Joshua M , Withers C Price , Chapeton Julio I , Rahman Shareena , Inati Sara K , Zaghloul Kareem A
Published: February 2023

While seizure activity may be electrographically widespread, increasing evidence has suggested that ictal discharges may in fact represent travelling waves propagated from a focal seizure source. Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are an electrographic manifestation of excessive hypersynchronization of cortical activity that occur between seizures and are considered a marker of potentially epileptogenic tissue. The precise relationship between brain regions demonstrating IEDs and those involved in seizure onset, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we hypothesize that IEDs likewise reflect the receipt of travelling waves propagated from the same regions which give rise to seizures.

Forty patients from our institution who underwent invasive monitoring for epilepsy, proceeded to surgery and had at least one year of follow-up were included in our study. Interictal epileptiform discharges were detected using custom software, validated by a clinical epileptologist.

We show that IEDs reach electrodes in sequences with a consistent temporal ordering, and this ordering matches the timing of receipt of ictal discharges, suggesting that both types of discharges spread as travelling waves. We use a novel approach for localization of ictal discharges, in which time differences of discharge receipt at nearby electrodes are used to compute source location; similar algorithms have been used in acoustics and geophysics. We find that interictal discharges co-localize with ictal discharges. Moreover, interictal discharges tend to localize to the resection territory in patients with good surgical outcome and outside of the resection territory in patients with poor outcome. The seizure source may originate at, and also travel to, spatially distinct IED foci.

Our data provide evidence that interictal discharges may represent travelling waves of pathological activity that are similar to their ictal counterparts, and that both ictal and interictal discharges emerge from common epileptogenic brain regions. Our findings have important clinical implications, as they suggest that seizure source localizations may be derived from interictal discharges, which are much more frequent than seizures.
Tilavonemab in early Alzheimer’s disease: results from a phase 2, randomized, double-blind study
Authors: Florian Hana , Wang Deli , Arnold Steven E , Boada Mercè , Guo Qi , Jin Ziyi , Zheng Hui , Fisseha Nahome , Kalluri Hari Varun , Rendenbach-Mueller Beatrice , Budur Kumar , Gold Michael
Published: February 2023

Tau accumulation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease tracks closely with cognitive decline and plays a role in the later stages of disease progression. This phase 2 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tilavonemab, an anti-tau monoclonal antibody, in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.

In this 96-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (NCT02880956), patients aged 55–85 years meeting clinical criteria for early Alzheimer’s disease with a Clinical Dementia Rating-Global Score of 0.5, a Mini-Mental State Examination score of 22 to 30, a Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status-Delayed Memory Index score of ≤85, and a positive amyloid PET scan were randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive one of three doses of tilavonemab (300 mg, 1000 mg, or 2000 mg) or placebo via intravenous infusion every 4 weeks. The primary end point was the change from baseline up to Week 96 in the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score. Safety evaluations included adverse event monitoring and MRI assessments.

A total of 453 patients were randomized, of whom 337 were treated with tilavonemab (300 mg, n = 108; 1000 mg, n = 116; 2000 mg, n = 113) and 116 received placebo. Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were comparable across groups. The mean age was 71.3 (SD 7.0) years, 51.7% were female, and 96.5% were White. At baseline, the mean CDR-SB score was 3.0 (1.2), which worsened through Week 96 for all treatment groups. The least squares mean change from baseline at Week 96 in the CDR-SB score with tilavonemab was not significantly different compared with placebo [300 mg (n = 85): −0.07 (95% confidence interval, CI: −0.83 to 0.69); 1000 mg (n = 91): −0.06 (95% CI: −0.81 to 0.68); 2000 mg (n = 81): 0.16 (95% CI: −0.60 to 0.93); all P ≥ 0.05]. The incidence of any adverse event and MRI findings were generally comparable across groups.

Tilavonemab was generally well tolerated but did not demonstrate efficacy in treating patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. Further investigations of tilavonemab in early Alzheimer’s disease are not warranted.
Return to Travel in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Recovery Period and Implications for Imported Malaria: Reinforcing Prevention, Early Diagnosis, and Appropriate Treatment of Malaria
Authors: Schultz Jonathan S , Mace Kimberly E , Tan Kathrine R
Published: February 2023

Return to international travel in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery period is expected to increase the number of patients with imported malaria in the United States (US). Malaria prevention in travelers and preparedness for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to minimize imported malaria morbidity and mortality. Intravenous artesunate (IVAS) is now available from commercial distributors in the US for the treatment of severe malaria. Hospitals and pharmacists should have a plan for malaria treatment, including stocking artemether-lumefantrine for uncomplicated malaria, and stocking or planning for rapid procurement of IVAS for the treatment of severe malaria.
Dispositional Balancing and Hegemonic Order: US Response to China’s Financial Statecraft
Authors: Rodrigues Vieira Vinícius G , Vadlamannati Krishna Chaitanya , Li Yuanxin
Published: February 2023

How does the USA react to Chinese initiatives that gather allies from among the states that have been instrumental in sustaining the American-led liberal international order? We contend that Washington deploys dispositional balancing against Beijing, supporting this argument through a close scrutiny of US support for the projects of international developmental organisations (IDOs), such as multilateral development banks (MDBs), that target borrowing members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). In theoretical terms, dispositional balancing is a relatively cheap strategy whereby the hegemon (the USA) reacts to the emerging power (China) by signalling to both old and potential allies its immutable ability to match that rival’s benefits and hence retain its status and order. We build our theory through logit and linear models, tackling potential endogeneity through use of an instrumental variable strategy. In line with the theoretical expectations, we identify that the USA favours AIIB members, particularly those that also display high levels of dependency on Chinese aid, in IDOs/MDBs, wherein Beijing competes with traditional Western donors from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee. Our findings contribute to both the debates on hegemonic-order transitions and the growing scholarship on soft balancing, contested multilateralism, and collective financial statecraft.
Multi-item Measures for Paediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: The ABCs of All Those Acronyms
Authors: Ledder Oren , Turner Dan
Published: February 2023

With the recent acceptance of multiple treatment goals for inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD], it becomes increasingly important to accurately quantify the measurable concepts. These include patient-reported symptoms, intestinal damage, mucosal activity, transmural inflammation, and histologicl appearance, as well as quality of life, disability, and other patient-centred attributes. Standardised indices which show sufficient validity, reliability, and responsiveness to change are not only mandatory for implementing the treat to target approach but are also critical for assessing the effectiveness of emerging medications in clinical trial settings. Some concepts can be accurately assessed through the use of existing measurement tools used for adults [eg, capsule endoscopy, ultrasonic, endoscopic, and histological scoring] and others may be age specific. Although several paediatric indices and scales are well established (eg, IMPACT questionnaire, Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index [PCDAI], and Paediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index [PUCAI]), recent years have seen the development of newer indices for children, including the Mucosal Inflammation Noninvasive Index [MINI] to predict endoscopic healing in Crohn’s disease, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] indices that measure inflammation (ie, the Paediatric Inflammatory Crohn’s Magnetic Resonance Enterography Index [PICMI]) and perianal disease (ie, Paediatric MRI-based Perianal Crohn’s Disease [PEMPAC]), and patient-reported outcome measures in ulcerative colitis [ie, TUMMY-UC], upper gastrointestinal inflammatory score [ie, UGI-SES-CD], simplified endoscopic mucosal assessment score for Crohn’s disease [SEMA-CD], and the parent-completed IMPACT questionnaire [ie, IMPACT-III-P]. Despite these advances, quantifiable paediatric IBD-specific tools are still lacking for disability and fatigue. In this review, we provide a contemporary, clinically focused overview of the indices that a paediatric gastroenterologist can use to quantify disease status.
Partially reversible lung consolidation after revascularization of a total occlusion of both left pulmonary veins following ablation of atrial fibrillation: a case report
Authors: Ahero Anete , Frauenfelder Thomas , Breitenstein Alexander , Ammann Peter , Kucher Nils , Barco Stefano
Published: February 2023

Background

The use of pulmonary vein (PV) radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment may be complicated by PV stenosis or occlusion. A common curative treatment for symptomatic patients is a transcatheter intervention, including percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. Stent implantation itself, however, can be complicated by in-stent stenosis.

Case summary

A 26-year-old man presented with worsening exertional dyspnoea due to a total occlusion of both left PVs after the isolation of two PVs for AF. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed chest asymmetry and consolidation of the left lung. The patient was treated with balloon angioplasty and stent placement of both left PVs, resulting in improvement of symptoms, walking distance, and increase in lung space volume by 120 mL based on CT-based volumetry. Ten months later, the patient experienced a recurrence of similar symptoms. A high grade in stent restenosis of the upper left PV and moderate in stent restenosis of the lower PV were diagnosed and treated with angioplasty. The patient was discharged from the hospital in good clinical condition 3 days after the intervention.

Discussion

Non-specific symptoms of PV stenosis or occlusion, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, reduced physical performance, and haemoptysis delay the diagnosis. If unusual symptoms appear abruptly after PV isolation, a PV stenosis should be considered. In this case, we describe for the first time a partially reversible consolidation of lung parenchyma following the revascularization of both PVs.
Targeted care coordination towards patients with a history of multiple readmissions effectively reduces readmissions
Authors: Wellman Courtney D , Franks Adam M , Stickler Morgan , Rollyson William , Korkmaz Alperen , Christiansen Matthew Q , Petrany Stephen M
Published: February 2023

Background

To decrease hospital readmission rates, clinical practices create a transition of care (TOC) process to assess patients and coordinate care postdischarge. As current evidence suggests lack of universal benefit, this study’s objectives are to determine what patient and process factors associate with hospital readmissions, as well as construct a model to decrease 30-day readmissions.

Methods

Three months of retrospective discharged patient data (n = 123) were analysed for readmission influences including: patient-specific comorbidities, admission-specific diagnoses, and TOC components. A structured intervention of weekly contact, the Care Coordination Cocoon (CCC), was created for multiply readmitted patients (MRPs), defined as ≥2 readmissions. Three months of postintervention data (n = 141) were analysed. Overall readmission rates and patient- and process-specific characteristics were analysed for associations with hospital readmission.

Results

Standard TOC lacked significance. Patient-specific comorbidities of cancer (odds ratio [OR] 6.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.73–22.75) and coronary artery disease (OR 6.71; 95% CI 1.84–24.46), and admission-specific diagnoses within pulmonary system admissions (OR 7.20; 95% CI 1.96–26.41) were associated with readmissions. Post-CCC data demonstrated a 48-h call (OR 0.21; 95% CI 0.09–0.50), answered calls (OR 0.16; CI 0.07–0.38), 14-day scheduled visit (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.07–0.54), and visit arrival (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.17–0.91) independently associated with decreased readmission rate. Patient-specific (hypertension—OR 3.65; CI 1.03–12.87) and admission-specific (nephrologic system—OR 3.22; CI 1.02–10.14) factors associated with readmissions which differed from the initial analysis.

Conclusions

Targeting a practice’s MRPs with CCC resources improves the association of TOC components with readmissions and rates decreased. This is a more efficient use of TOC resources.
Bottlenecks can constrain and channel evolutionary paths
Authors: Gamblin Jasmine , Gandon Sylvain , Blanquart François , Lambert Amaury
Published: February 2023

Population bottlenecks are commonplace in experimental evolution, specifically in serial passaging experiments where microbial populations alternate between growth and dilution. Natural populations also experience such fluctuations caused by seasonality, resource limitation, or host-to-host transmission for pathogens. Yet, how unlimited growth with periodic bottlenecks influence the adaptation of populations is not fully understood. Here, we study theoretically the effects of bottlenecks on the accessibility of evolutionary paths and on the rate of evolution. We model an asexual population evolving on a minimal fitness landscape consisting of two types of beneficial mutations with the empirically supported trade-off between mutation rate and fitness advantage, in the regime where multiple beneficial mutations may segregate simultaneously. In the limit of large population sizes and small mutation rates, we show the existence of a unique most likely evolutionary scenario, determined by the size of the wild-type population at the beginning and at the end of each cycle. These two key demographic parameters determine which adaptive paths may be taken by the evolving population by controlling the supply of mutants during growth and the loss of mutants at the bottleneck. We do not only show that bottlenecks act as a deterministic control of evolutionary paths but also that each possible evolutionary scenario can be forced to occur by tuning demographic parameters. This work unveils the effects of demography on adaptation of periodically bottlenecked populations and can guide the design of evolution experiments.
Meaningful Work: Cultural Frameworks of Forced Labour in Accounts of Nazi Concentration Camp Inmates
Authors: Falldorf Ella , Kabalek Kobi
Published: February 2023

Studies of forced labour in Nazi camps tend to stress the exceptionality of inmates’ experiences and their profound difference from common views of work. Yet examination of the wartime and postwar accounts of inmates and survivors reveals that they often combine features of the camp reality itself with phenomena from other times, places and situations. In this way, written, oral and visual depictions articulate a reality in which concepts and ideologies of work familiar from various cultural settings mix with those of the Nazi camp system, as well as with later experiences and current debates. This article traces three cultural frameworks that inmates and survivors utilized to make sense of forced labour in Nazi camps: war and the military, industrial concepts of productive destruction and destructive production, and Jewish religious culture. In exploring the relationship between the continuity and discontinuity of meaning between these cultural frameworks and the Nazi camps, we analyse a wide range of interviews, artworks, songs, memoirs and written reports from the 1930s to the early 2000s. We argue that in order not to make their suffering and work appear senseless, inmates and survivors understood forced labour within well-established frameworks of meaning. Their accounts, we suggest, use symbolic elements as creative acts that address inmates’ experiences by expanding the camp reality or going beyond it, thereby making them more comprehensible and communicable.
Excitation of high-latitude MAC waves in Earth’s core
Authors: Nicolas Quentin , Buffett Bruce
Published: February 2023

Recent geomagnetic observations reveal localized oscillations in the field’s secular acceleration at high latitudes, with periods of about 20 yr. Several types of waves in rotating magnetized fluids have been proposed to explain equatorial oscillations with similar high frequencies. Among these are non-axisymmetric Alfvén waves, magneto-Coriolis waves and, in the presence of fluid stratification, magnetic-Archimedes–Coriolis (MAC) waves. We explore the hypothesis that the observed high latitude patterns are the signature of MAC waves by modelling their generation in Earth’s core. We quantitatively assess several generation mechanisms using output from dynamo simulations in a theoretical framework due to Lighthill. While the spatio-temporal structure of the sources from the dynamo simulations are expected to be realistic, their amplitudes are extrapolated to reflect differences between the simulation’s parameter space and Earth-like conditions. We estimate full wave spectra spanning monthly to centennial frequencies for three plausible excitation sources: thermal fluctuations, Lorentz force and magnetic induction. When focusing on decadal frequencies, the Lorentz force appears to be most effective in generating high-latitude MAC waves with amplitude estimates falling within an order of magnitude of observed oscillations. Overall, this study puts forward MAC waves as a viable explanation, in the presence of fluid stratification at the top of Earth’s core, for observed field variations at high latitudes.
Homogenization results for the generator of multiscale Langevin dynamics in weighted Sobolev spaces
Authors: Zanoni Andrea
Published: February 2023

We study the homogenization of the Poisson equation with a reaction term and of the eigenvalue problem associated to the generator of multiscale Langevin dynamics. Our analysis extends the theory of two-scale convergence to the case of weighted Sobolev spaces in unbounded domains. We provide convergence results for the solution of the multiscale problems above to their homogenized surrogate. A series of numerical examples corroborate our analysis.
Changes in the Incidence of Invasive Bacterial Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, 2014–2020
Authors: Prasad Namrata , Rhodes Julia , Deng Li , McCarthy Natalie L , Moline Heidi L , Baggs James , Reddy Sujan C , Jernigan John A , Havers Fiona P , Sosin Daniel M , Thomas Ann , Lynfield Ruth , Schaffner William , Reingold Arthur , Burzlaff Kari , Harrison Lee H , Petit Susan , Farley Monica M , Herlihy Rachel , Nanduri Srinivas , Pilishvili Tamara , McNamara Lucy A , Schrag Stephanie J , Fleming-Dutra Katherine E , Kobayashi Miwako , Arvay Melissa
Published: February 2023

Background

Descriptions of changes in invasive bacterial disease (IBD) epidemiology during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States are limited.

Methods

We investigated changes in the incidence of IBD due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, group A Streptococcus (GAS), and group B Streptococcus (GBS). We defined the COVID-19 pandemic period as 1 March to 31 December 2020. We compared observed IBD incidences during the pandemic to expected incidences, consistent with January 2014 to February 2020 trends. We conducted secondary analysis of a health care database to assess changes in testing by blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture during the pandemic.

Results

Compared with expected incidences, the observed incidences of IBD due to S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, GAS, and GBS were 58%, 60%, 28%, and 12% lower during the pandemic period of 2020, respectively. Declines from expected incidences corresponded closely with implementation of COVID-19–associated nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Significant declines were observed across all age and race groups, and surveillance sites for S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Blood and CSF culture testing rates during the pandemic were comparable to previous years.

Conclusions

NPIs likely contributed to the decline in IBD incidence in the United States in 2020; observed declines were unlikely to be driven by reductions in testing.
Clinical Features, Antiviral Treatment, and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Comparative Analysis of the Previous and the 2022 Mpox Outbreaks
Authors: Li Pengfei , Li Jiajing , Ayada Ibrahim , Avan Amine , Zheng Qinyue , Peppelenbosch Maikel P , de Vries Annemarie C , Pan Qiuwei
Published: February 2023

Background

This study aims to comparatively analyze clinical features, treatment, and patient outcomes between the previous and the 2022 mpox (monkeypox) outbreaks.

Methods

Five bibliographic databases were searched for studies reporting clinical features, management, and patient outcomes of mpox. Systematic review and meta-analysis were performed.

Results

In total, 73 studies were included in the systematic review, of which 33 studies were subjected to meta-analysis. Previous outbreaks substantially affected children, whereas the 2022 outbreak primarily affected male adults, of which 94.66% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88.03–98.95) were men who have sex with men. Furthermore, 72.47% (95% CI, 51.04–89.71) reported high-risk sexual activity and the overall human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence was 37.65% (95% CI, 30.09–45.50). Skin lesions remain the typical symptom; however, their anatomic distribution differed. Systemic manifestations were common, but rectal pain was unique to the 2022 outbreak. The estimated overall fatality during past outbreaks in Africa was 4.61% (95% CI, 2.39%–7.35%), whereas 6.34% (95% CI, 3.35%–10.10%) of patients from the 2022 outbreak required hospitalization. Antiviral treatment, in particular tecovirimat, has been prescribed for a subset of patients, but the efficacy remains inconclusive.

Conclusions

These findings are important for better understanding the disease and guiding adequate response to mpox outbreaks.
The relationship between minimum inhibitory concentration and 28 day mortality in patients with a Gram-negative bloodstream infection: an analysis of data from a cohort study (BSI-FOO)
Authors: Evans Rebecca N , Harris Jessica , Rogers Chris A , MacGowan Alasdair P
Published: February 2023

Objectives

To explore the association between MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio and 28 day mortality in patients with a Gram-negative bloodstream infection (BSI).

Methods

Using data from the Bloodstream Infection—Focus on Outcomes (BSI-FOO) observational study, we defined an average MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio that was updated daily to reflect changes in treatment in the first 7 days after blood culture. Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio and mortality, adjusting for organism and a risk score calculated using potential confounding variables. The primary outcome was 28 day all-cause mortality from the date of blood culture.

Results

Of the 1903 study participants, 514 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis (n = 357 Escherichia coli, n = 6 Klebsiella and n = 151 Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The average age was 74.0 years (IQR 60.0–82.0). The mortality rate varied from 11.1% (in patients treated with an average MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio of 1) to 27.6% (in patients treated with antibiotics with an average MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio >1). After adjusting for risk score and organism, MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio was not associated with 28 day mortality (P = 0.148).

Conclusions

In an adjusted model controlling for potential confounding variables, there was no evidence to suggest a relationship between MIC/EUCAST breakpoint ratio and 28 day mortality in patients with a Gram-negative BSI.
Design and development of a digital shared decision-making tool for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Nunes Julio C , Baykaner Tina , Pundi Krishna , DeSutter Katie , True Hills Mellanie , Mahaffey Kenneth W , Sears Samuel F , Morin Daniel P , Lin Bryant , Wang Paul J , Stafford Randall S
Published: February 2023

Background

Shared decision-making (SDM) is an approach in which patients and clinicians act as partners in making medical decisions. Patients receive the information needed to decide and are encouraged to balance risks, benefits, and preferences. Informative materials are vital to SDM. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and responsible for 10% of ischemic strokes, however 1/3 of patients are not on appropriate anticoagulation. Decision sharing may facilitate treatment acceptance, improving outcomes.

Aims

To develop a framework of the components needed to create novel SDM tools and to provide practical examples through a case-study of stroke prevention in AF.

Methods

We analyze the design values of a web-based SDM tool created to better inform AF patients about anticoagulation. The tool was developed in partnership with patient advocates, multi-disciplinary investigators, and private design firms. It was refined through iterative, recursive testing in patients with AF. Its effectiveness is being evaluated in a multisite clinical trial led by Stanford University and sponsored by the American Heart Association.

Findings

The main components considered when creating the Stanford AFib tool included: design and software; content identification; information delivery; inclusive communication, user engagement; patient feedback; clinician experience; and anticipation of implementation and dissemination. We also highlight the ethical principles underlying SDM; matters of diversity and inclusion, linguistic variety, accessibility, and health literacy. The Stanford AFib Guide patient tool is available at: https://afibguide.com and the clinician tool at https://afibguide.com/clinician.

Conclusion

Attention to a range of vital development and design factors can facilitate tool adoption and information acquisition by diverse cultural, educational, and socioeconomic subpopulations. With thoughtful design, digital tools may decrease decision regret and improve treatment outcomes across many decision-making situations in healthcare.
Effect of light environment on prey consumption in two species of larval stomatopods, Gonodactylaceus falcatus (Forskål, 1775) and Gonodactylellus sp. (Stomatopoda: Gonodactylidae)
Authors: McDonald Marisa , Porter Megan
Published: February 2023

While adult stomatopod crustaceans are relatively well studied, understanding of larval stomatopod ecology is lacking, largely due to difficulties studying larvae in their natural habitat. This study investigated how light environment (i.e., spectral composition) and time of day affected prey consumption in two species of larval stomatopod, Gonodactylaceus falcatus (Forskål, 1775) and Gonodactylellus sp. Individual larvae were placed with 20 Artemia nauplii prey in feeding chambers treated to produce different light environments with respect to ultraviolet (UV) light: full spectrum light UV+, full spectrum UV–, and a dark control. Chambers were lowered to a depth of 3 m for 2 hours at three times of day (noon, twilight, and night) to test 1) if larval feeding rates changed at different times of day and 2) if UV vision was involved in prey capture. We found that light was important for successful feeding, with both species eating significantly more in lighted treatments than the dark controls during daytime experiments. Gonodactylellus sp. also had a significantly higher feeding rate at twilight in the UV+ treatment than in the dark control. Both species showed decreased consumption at night compared to daytime rates, and decreased consumption in all dark controls. This study is one of the first to examine how ecological conditions affect feeding behavior in larval stomatopods. Our results suggest that light is important for larval stomatopod feeding, with differences between species in daily feeding activity periods. There was also a difference in total consumption between the two species, with the slightly larger Gonodactylaceus falcatus consuming nearly double the prey items as Gonodactylellus sp. at peak feeding times. Follow up studies should incorporate a variety of prey types to test how feeding changes based on food source and density.
Inoculation of Tomato With Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Affects the Tomato—Potato Psyllid—Candidatus Liberibacter Solanacearum Interactions
Authors: de Leon Victoria , Orr Katharine , Stelinski Lukasz L , Mandadi Kranthi , Ibanez-Carrasco Freddy
Published: February 2023

The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) in southern Texas is well-suited for vegetable production due to its relatively mild/warm weather conditions in the fall and winter. Consequently, insects inflict year-round, persistent damage to crops in the RGV and regions with similar climate. Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), commonly known as the potato psyllid, is a known vector of Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) (Hyphomicrobiales: Rhizobiaceae), a fastidious phloem-limited bacterium associated to vein-greening in tomatoes and Zebra Chip in potatoes. Vector control is the primary approach of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies that aim to prevent plant diseases in commercial agricultural systems. However, resistance-selective pressures that decrease the effectiveness of chemical control (insecticide) applications over time are of increasing concern. Therefore, we explore an ecological approach to devising alternative IPM methodologies to manage the psyllid-transmitted CLso pathogen to supplement existing chemical products and application schedules without increasing resistance. In this study, our objective was to examine the effects of plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on host-vector-pathogen interactions. Soil-drench applications of PGPRs to Solanum lycopersicum (Solanales: Solanaceae) seedlings revealed structural and possible physiological changes to the plant host and indirect changes on psyllid behavior: host plants had increased length and biomass of roots and exhibited delayed colonization by CLso, while psyllids displayed changes in parental (F0) psyllid behavior (orientation and oviposition) in response to treated hosts and in the sex ratio of their progeny (F1). Based on our results, we suggest that PGPR may have practical use in commercial tomato production.
Parental Uncertainty Scale Factor Structure in Pediatric DSD With Ambiguous Genitalia
Authors: Basile Nathan L , Dattilo Taylor M , DeLone Alexandra M , Kraft Jacob D , Edwards Clayton S , Buchanan Cindy L , Cheng Earl Y , Poppas Dix P , Wisniewski Amy B , Mullins Larry L
Published: February 2023

Objective

Illness uncertainty is a salient experience for caregivers of children with disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) presenting with ambiguous genitalia; however, no validated measure of illness uncertainty exists for this unique population. Thus, the current study aimed to preliminarily identify the factor structure of the Parental Perception of Uncertainty Scale (PPUS) in caregivers of children with DSD presenting with ambiguous genitalia and examine the convergent validity of the PPUS.

Methods

Participants included 115 caregivers (Mage = 32.12 years, SD = 6.54; 57% mothers) of children (<2-year-olds) diagnosed with DSD participating in a larger, longitudinal study. Caregivers completed the PPUS as well as self-report measures of anxious, depressive, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted.

Results

Exploratory factor analysis results indicated that a 23-item 1-factor solution was the most parsimonious and theoretically sound factor structure (α = 0.92). Convergent validity analyses demonstrated further support for the use of the 23-item 1-factor solution over the original PPUS factor structure.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the preliminary clinical and research utility of the PPUS with caregivers of children with DSD presenting with ambiguous genitalia. The PPUS may benefit from further refinement through qualitative research and item adaptation to capture uncertainties unique to DSD presenting with ambiguous genitalia. In addition, future research should replicate the proposed factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis with a separate, larger sample of caregivers of children with DSD to confirm the factor structure.
Genome-wide-association study and transcriptome analysis reveal the genetic basis controlling the formation of leaf wax in Brassica napus
Authors: Long Zhengbiao , Tu Mengxin , Xu Ying , Pak Haksong , Zhu Yang , Dong Jie , Lu Yunhai , Jiang Lixi
Published: February 2023

Cuticular wax protects plants from various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the genetic network of wax biosynthesis and the environmental factors influencing leaf wax production in rapeseed (Brassica napus) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated the role of leaf wax in the resistance to Sclerotinia infection in rapeseed. We found that leaves grown under high light intensity had higher expression of genes involved in wax biosynthesis, and produced more wax on the leaf surface, compared with those grown under low light conditions. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 89 single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with leaf wax coverage. A cross-analysis between GWAS and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the leaf epidermis of the accessions with contrasting differences in wax content revealed 17 candidate genes that control this variation in rapeseed. Selective sweep analysis combined with DEG analysis unveiled 510 candidate genes with significant selective signatures. From the candidate genes, we selected BnaA02.LOX4, a putative lipoxygenase, and BnaCnn.CER1, BnaA02.CER3, BnaC02.CER3, and BnaA01.CER4 (ECERIFERUM1–4) that were putatively responsible for wax biosynthesis, to analyse the allelic forms and haplotypes corresponding to high or low leaf wax coverage. These data enrich our knowledge about wax formation, and provide a gene pool for breeding an ideal leaf wax content in rapeseed.
Sequestration of zearalenone using microorganisms blend in vitro
Authors: Nathan Vignesh B , Lu Hang , Horn Nathan L , Drolia Rishi , Bhunia Arun K
Published: February 2023

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the Fusarium species and induces severe reproductive disorders in animals thus a major concern in the livestock industry. Probiotic bacteria treatments have been shown to inactivate mycotoxins, therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of two commercial probiotic feed additives on the sequestration of ZEN. Commercial probiotic blends containing clay-based binder with Aspergillus niger, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus subtilis at various proportions from BioMatrix International were incubated with ZEN in a time-dependent manner and then analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to quantify unbound ZEN. Sequestration of ZEN was further verified by using MCF-7 cell-based cytotoxicity and/or cell proliferation assays. ZEN, or probiotic mix, was nontoxic to MCF-7 cells. Probiotic blends decreased ZEN concentration by 45% (∼100 μg L−1) and prevented ZEN from inducing MCF-7 cell proliferation (20%–28% reduction). The probiotic feed supplements tested show a potential utility in ZEN neutralization.
Origins of the UV/X-ray relation in Arakelian 120
Authors: Mahmoud R D , Done C , Porquet D , Lobban A
Published: February 2023

We explore the accretion geometry in Arakelian 120 using intensive UV and X-ray monitoring from Swift. The hard X-rays (1–10 keV) show large amplitude, fast (few-day) variability, so we expect reverberation from the disc to produce UV variability from the varying hard X-ray illumination. We model the spectral energy distribution (SED) including an outer standard disc (optical), an intermediate warm-Comptonization region (UV and soft X-ray), and a hot corona (hard X-rays). Unlike the lower Eddington fraction AGN (NGC 4151 and NGC 5548 at L/LEdd ∼ 0.02 and 0.03, respectively), the SED of Akn 120 (L ∼ 0.05LEdd) is dominated by the UV, restricting the impact of reverberating hard X-rays by energetics alone. Illumination from a hard X-ray corona with height ∼10 Rg produces minimal UV variability. Increasing the coronal scale height to ∼100 Rg improves the match to the observed amplitude of UV variability as the disc subtends a larger solid angle, but results in too much fast variability to match the UV data. The soft X-rays (connected to the UV in the warm-Comptonization model) are more variable than the hard, but again contain too much fast variability to match the observed smoother variability seen in the UV. Results on lower Eddington fraction AGN have emphasized the contribution from reverberation from larger scales (the broad-line region), but reverberation induces lags on similar time-scales to the smoothing, producing a larger delay than is compatible with the data. We conclude that the majority of the UV variability is therefore intrinsic, connected to mass-accretion rate fluctuations in the warm-Comptonization region.
Dynamical evolution of massive black hole pairs in the presence of spin-dependent radiative feedback
Authors: Bollati Francesco , Lupi Alessandro , Dotti Massimo , Haardt Francesco
Published: February 2023

The putative ubiquity of massive black holes (MBHs) at the centre of galaxies, and the hierarchical progress of structure formation along the cosmic history, together necessarily imply the existence of a large population of cosmic MBH binaries. Such systems are understood to be the loudest sources of gravitational waves at MHz frequencies, the regime that will be probed by the next Laser Interferometer Space Antenna. It has been proposed that the rate at which MBHs pair and then bind to form binaries is critically dependent upon the feedback exerted by the MBHs on the surrounding gaseous environment. Using the publicly available code gizmo, we perform a suite of simulations aimed at studying the dynamics of an MBH pair embedded in a gaseous disc on ∼100-pc scale. By means of dedicated modules, we follow the dynamics of MBHs in the presence of different spin-dependent radiative feedback models, and compare the results to a benchmark case with no feedback at all. Our main finding is that feedback causes the secondary MBH to shrink its orbit at a reduced pace, when compared with models where feedback is absent. Moreover, such slower inspiral occurs on eccentric orbits, as feedback has the net effect of hampering the circularization process. Though idealized in many aspects, our study highlights and quantities the importance of including spin-dependent feedback recipes in hydrodynamic simulations of MBH pairs, and ultimately in assessing the cosmological coalescence rate of such systems in view of their detection through gravitational waves.
A numerical study of fourth- and fifth-order retrograde mean motion resonances in planetary systems
Authors: Signor Alan Cefali , Caritá Gabriel Antonio , Morais Maria Helena Moreira
Published: February 2023

We present a numerical study on the stability of all fourth- and fifth-order retrograde mean motion resonances (1/3, 3/1, 1/4, 4/1, 2/3, and 3/2) in the 3-body problem composed of a solar mass star, a Jupiter mass planet, and an additional body with zero mass (elliptic restricted problem) or masses corresponding to either Neptune, Saturn, or Jupiter (planetary problem). The fixed point families exist in all cases and are identified through libration of all resonant angles simultaneously. In addition, configurations with libration of a single resonant angle were also observed. Our results for the elliptic restricted 3-body problem are in agreement with previous studies of retrograde periodic orbits, but we also observe new families not previously reported. Our results regarding stable resonant retrograde configurations in the planetary 3-body problem could be applicable to extra-Solar systems.