bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lifting the dust veil from the globular cluster Palomar 2
Authors: Bonatto Charles , Chies-Santos Ana L
Published: February 2020

This work employs high-quality Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) F606W and F814W photometry to correct for the differential reddening affecting the colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) of the poorly studied globular cluster (GC) Palomar 2. Differential reddening is taken into account by assuming that morphological differences among CMDs extracted across the field of view of Palomar 2 correspond essentially to shifts (quantified in terms of δE(B − V)) along the reddening vector due to a non-uniform dust distribution. The average reddening difference over all partial CMDs is $\overline{{\delta E(B-V)}}=0.24\pm 0.08$, with the highest reaching δE(B − V) = 0.52. The corrected CMD displays well-defined and relatively narrow evolutionary sequences, especially for the evolved stars, i.e. the red giant, horizontal, and asymptotic giant branches (RGB, HB, and AGB, respectively). The average width of the upper main sequence and RGB profiles of the corrected CMD corresponds to 56 per cent of the original one. Parameters measured on this CMD show that Palomar 2 is ≈13.25 Gyr old, has the mass $M\sim 1.4\times 10^5\, \rm {\mathrm{ M}_\odot}$ stored in stars, is affected by the foreground E(B − V) ≈ 0.93, is located at d⊙ ≈ 26 kpc from the Sun, and is characterized by the global metallicity Z/Z⊙ ≈ 0.03, which corresponds to the range −1.9 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ −1.6 (for 0.0 ≤ [α/Fe] ≤ +0.4), quite consistent with other outer halo GCs. Additional parameters are the absolute magnitude MV ≈ −7.8, and the core and half-light radii rC ≈ 2.6 pc and RHL ≈ 4.7 pc, respectively.
Machine learning of reverse transcription signatures of variegated polymerases allows mapping and discrimination of methylated purines in limited transcriptomes
Authors: Werner Stephan , Schmidt Lukas , Marchand Virginie , Kemmer Thomas , Falschlunger Christoph , Sednev Maksim V , Bec Guillaume , Ennifar Eric , Höbartner Claudia , Micura Ronald , Motorin Yuri , Hildebrandt Andreas , Helm Mark
Published: February 2020

Reverse transcription (RT) of RNA templates containing RNA modifications leads to synthesis of cDNA containing information on the modification in the form of misincorporation, arrest, or nucleotide skipping events. A compilation of such events from multiple cDNAs represents an RT-signature that is typical for a given modification, but, as we show here, depends also on the reverse transcriptase enzyme. A comparison of 13 different enzymes revealed a range of RT-signatures, with individual enzymes exhibiting average arrest rates between 20 and 75%, as well as average misincorporation rates between 30 and 75% in the read-through cDNA. Using RT-signatures from individual enzymes to train a random forest model as a machine learning regimen for prediction of modifications, we found strongly variegated success rates for the prediction of methylated purines, as exemplified with N1-methyladenosine (m1A). Among the 13 enzymes, a correlation was found between read length, misincorporation, and prediction success. Inversely, low average read length was correlated to high arrest rate and lower prediction success. The three most successful polymerases were then applied to the characterization of RT-signatures of other methylated purines. Guanosines featuring methyl groups on the Watson-Crick face were identified with high confidence, but discrimination between m1G and m22G was only partially successful. In summary, the results suggest that, given sufficient coverage and a set of specifically optimized reaction conditions for reverse transcription, all RNA modifications that impede Watson-Crick bonds can be distinguished by their RT-signature.
The utility of magnetic resonance imaging lesion combinations in the sacroiliac joints for diagnosing patients with axial spondyloarthritis. A prospective study of 204 participants including post-partum women, patients with disc herniation, cleaning staff, runners and healthy persons
Authors: Seven Sengül , Østergaard Mikkel , Morsel-Carlsen Lone , Sørensen Inge Juul , Bonde Birthe , Thamsborg Gorm , Lykkegaard Jens Jørgen , Hendricks Oliver , Jørgensen Niklas Rye , Pedersen Susanne Juhl
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To investigate the diagnostic utility of different combinations of SI joint MRI lesions for differentiating patients with axial SpA (axSpA) from other conditions with and without buttock/pelvic pain.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional study included patients with axSpA (n = 41), patients with lumbar disc herniation (n = 25), women with (n = 46) and without (n = 14) post-partum (birth within 4–16 months) buttock/pelvic pain and cleaning assistants (n = 26), long-distance runners (n = 23) and healthy men (n = 29) without pain. Two independent readers assessed SI joint MRI lesions according to the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI definitions and pre-defined MRI lesion combinations with bone marrow oedema (BME) and fat lesions (FAT), respectively. Statistical analyses included the proportion of participants with scores above certain thresholds, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratios.

Results

BME adjacent to the joint space (BME@joint space) was most frequent in axSpA (63.4%), followed by women with post-partum pain (43.5%), but was present in nearly all groups. BME adjacent to fat lesions (BME@FAT) and BME adjacent to erosions (BME@erosion) were only present in axSpA patients and in women with post-partum pain, but scores ≥3 and ≥4, respectively, were only seen in axSpA patients. FAT@erosion was exclusively recorded in axSpA patients. FAT@joint space and FAT@sclerosis were present in most groups, but with higher scores in the axSpA group.

Conclusion

BME@joint space and FAT@joint space were frequent in axSpA but also in other conditions, reducing the diagnostic utility. FAT@erosion, and BME@FAT, BME@erosion and FAT@sclerosis above certain thresholds, were exclusively seen in axSpA patients and may thus have diagnostic utility in the differentiation of axSpA from other conditions.
Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis: A Review of Current Concepts and Technique
Authors: Marsh Andrew , Kooner Sahil , Conlin Catherine , Hussain Rafi , Yeganeh Kourosh M. , Lau Johnny
Published: February 2020

Background:

Open ankle arthrodesis (OAA) has traditionally been the gold standard for improving pain and function in ankle osteoarthritis patients. With advances in arthroscopic technology and improved instrumentation, arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA) has become more popular among orthopedic surgeons with equivalent or better outcomes compared with OAA. Recent studies have shown that, with increasing experience, AAA can even be suitable for large deformities, which has been traditional viewed as a relative contraindication. A review of literature and concepts with expert opinion. AAA has been shown in the literature to have equivalent fusion rates, decreased hospital length of stay, and better short-term and long-term function when compared with OAA. Arthroscopy advantages include faster time to union, decreased morbidity, decreased blood loss, and accelerated rehabilitation. Advanced arthroscopic techniques and instrumentation facilitate joint preparation with limited soft tissue injury, creating a favorable environment for fusion. Arthroscopic techniques lead to better short-term and long-term outcomes and decreased complications compared with open arthrodesis. The technique has been shown to be successful and reproducible within the literature, and can be employed to ultimately reduce overall hospital care costs and improve patient outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level V. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Multifocal Vortex Keratopathy
Authors: Tan Naomi , Thaung Caroline , Tuft Stephen
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

To report the clinical features, laboratory investigation, and histological findings of an individual with a 14-year history of an idiopathic multifocal vortex epithelial keratopathy.

Methods:

We describe the clinical appearance, the clinical course, and the response to treatment. We report the results of corneal epithelial culture, laboratory investigation for potential pathogens, and histopathology.

Results:

The signs were consistent with focal areas of corneal inflammation that produced abnormal epithelial cells that were carried in vortex patterns by the direction of epithelial flow. In vivo confocal microscopy demonstrated hyperreflective structures within the epithelial cell layer, but with only minor signs of stromal disease, similar to Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis. Culture, polymerase chain reaction, and serology did not support an infectious etiology, and histopathology showed nonspecific inflammation of the epithelial layer. Symptoms of photophobia and blur, with multiple exacerbations, required the almost continuous use of topical corticosteroid or ciclosporin over 14 years.

Conclusions:

The clinical course, as well as the response to topical corticosteroid and ciclosporin, suggests that this is distinct from Thygeson superficial punctate keratitis. The etiology is unknown.
Cardiovascular Screening of Elite Athletes by Sporting Organizations in Australia: A Survey of Chief Medical Officers
Authors: Orchard Jessica J. , Orchard John W. , Toresdahl Brett , Asif Irfan M. , Hughes David , La Gerche Andre , Semsarian Christopher
Published: February 2020

Objective:

To compare cardiovascular screening policies of Australian elite sporting organizations.

Design:

Online survey.

Setting:

Elite/professional sports in Australia.

Participants:

Chief medical officers (CMOs) of elite/professional sports in Australia, including rugby union and league, cricket, tennis, Australian football, and cycling.

Assessment of Variables:

Survey questions about each sport's cardiac screening policy: which screening components were included [eg, history and physical (H&P), resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG)], whether screening was mandatory, whether the policy applied to elite junior and/or adult players, and which criteria were used to interpret ECGs.

Main Outcome Measures:

Which sports had a formal cardiac screening policy, which athletes the policy applied to, components of screening, ECG interpretation criteria used.

Results:

Chief medical officers for 22/31 (71%) sports responded, representing >5000 athletes. Of these, 19/22 (86%) perform regular screening (100% H&P; 89% included ECG) with international cyclists also having routine echocardiograms and stress testing. Thirty-three percent of CMOs used the 2017 International Criteria for athlete ECG interpretation. Screening was mandatory with enforcement (26%), mandatory without enforcement (48%), and opt-out (26%). All screened adult elite athletes, and 68% screened junior elite athletes. Forty-two percent indicated athletes were required to pay for screening tests, and 63% required athletes to pay for follow-up tests. Almost all (94%) sports with a sports physician as the CMO screened athletes.

Conclusions:

Most sports have a screening policy, with reasonable uniformity of components. All included H&P, and almost all included ECG. Only one sport included an echocardiogram and stress test as a standard (international players only). Promoting the latest ECG interpretation criteria may reduce false-positives and cost. Future work should explore cardiac emergency plans, screening infrastructure, cost, and long-term follow-up.
To evaluate prognostic significance of metabolic-derived tumour volume at staging 18-flurodeoxyglucose PET-CT scan and to compare it with standardized uptake value-based response evaluation on interim 18-flurodeoxyglucose PET-CT scan in patients of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma)
Authors: Gupta Nitin , Singh Natasha
Published: February 2020

Introduction

To evaluate whether metabolic tumour volume (MTV) can be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Materials and methods

Eighty-nine patients with DLBCL who underwent staging fluorodeoxyglucose PET–computed tomography (18FDG PET-CT) scan were included in this study and followed up, up to a period of 5 years. Whole-body PET-CT was performed at staging and the total MTV of all FDG avid lesions was calculated for each patient at a threshold of 42% of SUVmax. Out of 89 patients studied, six patients had persistent disease after chemotherapy, 24 had recurrence during follow-up and 59 patients remained disease free. In this study, prognostic significance of the interim PET-CT scan was also analysed. Out of 89 patients, 81 underwent interim PET-CT scan. Receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis was done to determine MTV baseline cutoff along with sensitivity and specificity. For interim PET-CT scan prognostic evaluation, sensitivity and negative predictive value were calculated.

Results

Among all 89 patients, the estimated area under the ROC curve was 0.851 and the MTV cutoff was 185.63 cm3 with sensitivity and specificity of 86.67% and 84.75%, respectively. In subset analysis of MTV cutoff, sensitivity and specificity were calculated for both the groups. For prognostic significance of the interim PET-CT scan, sensitivity and negative predictive value of staging MTV were much more than that of the interim PET-CT.

Conclusion

Baseline MTV can be used as a prognostic marker in DLBCL patients. Chemosensitive interim PET-CT scan is not a good prognostic marker compared with MTV.
Advances in chronic intestinal failure management and therapies
Authors: Deutsch Liat , Cloutier Anabelle , Lal Simon
Published: February 2020

Purpose of review

To summarize changes and recent advances in therapies for chronic intestinal failure (CIF).

Recent findings

In the last few years, the management of CIF has significantly improved through better prevention and treatment of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) and intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD), as well as improved enteral autonomy by using small bowel growth factors in selected patients. This may have been reflected by a recent reduction in small bowel transplantations.

Although CIF management has become more established and effective, the long-term implications of parenteral nutrition still place substantial burden on patients such that further work is required to improve patients’ quality of life as well as continued efforts to reduce complications relating to CIF management.
Development of a UK liver transplantation selection and allocation scheme
Authors: Gimson Alexander
Published: February 2020

Purpose of review

Equitable allocation of organs for liver transplantation remains a major area of ongoing study. In United Kingdom, it was agreed that the success of any national donor offering scheme would be judged from the point of registration on a national list for a transplant, and would therefore include outcome while waiting for the procedure.

Recent findings

Standard minimal criteria for acceptance onto a transplant list have been developed for chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma and for a number of variant syndromes where current scores do not adequately reflect the risk of death without a transplant or symptom burden. Allocation by need, or on the basis of utility, or by transplant benefit (net life years gained) were compared in a simulation against current unit-based allocation. A transplant benefit model was shown to reduce deaths on the waiting list and maximise population life years.

Since March 2018, liver donors after brain death in United Kingdom have been offered to a national list prioritised by net life years gained – transplant benefit.
Identification of US Counties at Elevated Risk for Congenital Syphilis Using Predictive Modeling and a Risk Scoring System
Authors: Cuffe Kendra M. , Kang Joseph D.Y. , Dorji Tandin , Bowen Virginia B. , Leichliter Jami S. , Torrone Elizabeth , Bernstein Kyle T.
Published: February 2020

Background

Although preventable through timely screening and treatment, congenital syphilis (CS) rates are increasing in the United States, occurring in 5% of counties in 2015. Although individual-level factors are important predictors of CS, given the geographic focus of CS, it is also imperative to understand what county-level factors are associated with CS.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of reported county CS cases to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System during the periods 2014–2015 and 2016–2017. We developed a predictive model to identify county-level factors associated with CS and use these to predict counties at elevated risk for future CS.

Results

Our final model identified 973 (31.0% of all US counties) counties at elevated risk for CS (sensitivity, 88.1%; specificity, 74.0%). County factors that were predictive of CS included metropolitan area, income inequality, primary and secondary syphilis rates among women and men who have sex with men, and population proportions of those who are non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, living in urban areas, and uninsured. The predictive model using 2014–2015 CS outcome data was predictive of 2016–2017 CS cases (area under the curve value, 89.2%)

Conclusions

Given the dire consequences of CS, increasing prevention efforts remains important. The ability to predict counties at most elevated risk for CS based on county factors may help target CS resources where they are needed most.
Self-Reported Prevalence of HIV Testing Among Those Reporting Having Been Diagnosed With Selected STIs or HCV, United States, 2005–2016
Authors: Patel Shilpa N. , Delaney Kevin P. , Pitasi Marc A. , Oraka Emeka , Tao Guoyu , Van Handel Michelle , Kilmer Greta , DiNenno Elizabeth A.
Published: February 2020

Background

Persons with STIs or HCV infection often have indicators of HIV risk. We used weighted data from 6 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to assess the proportion of persons who reported ever being diagnosed as having a selected STI or HCV infection and who reported that they were ever tested for HIV.

Methods

Persons aged 20 to 59 years with prior knowledge of HCV infection before receiving NHANES HCV RNA–positive results (2005–2012) or reporting ever being told by a doctor that they had HCV infection (2013–2016), or ever had genital herpes, or had chlamydia or gonorrhea in the past 12 months were categorized as having had a selected STI or HCV infection. Weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for reporting ever being tested for HIV for those who did and did not report a selected STI or HCV infection.

Results

A total of 19,102 respondents had nonmissing data for STI and HCV diagnoses and HIV testing history; 44.4% reported ever having been tested for HIV, and 5.2% reported being diagnosed as having a selected STI or HCV infection. The proportion reporting an HIV test was higher for the group that reported an STI or HCV infection than for the group that did not.

Conclusion

Self-reported HIV testing remains low in the United States, even among those who reported a previous selected STI or HCV infection. Ensuring HIV tests are conducted routinely for those with overlapping risk factors can help facilitate the diagnosis of HIV infections.
The Potential Impact of One-Time Routine HIV Screening on Prevention and Clinical Outcomes in the United States: A Model-Based Analysis
Authors: Rao Darcy White , Hughes James P. , Brady Kathleen , Golden Matthew R.
Published: February 2020

Background

US guidelines recommend routine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening of all adults and adolescents at least once. The population-level impact of this strategy is unclear and will vary across the country.

Methods

We constructed a static linear model to estimate the optimal ages and incremental impact of adding 1-time routine HIV screening to risk-based, prenatal, symptom-based, and partner notification testing. Using surveillance data and published studies, we parameterized the model at the national level and for 2 settings representing subnational variability in the rates and distribution of infection: King County, WA and Philadelphia County, PA. Screening strategies were evaluated in terms of the percent of tests that result in new diagnoses (test positivity), cumulative person-years of undiagnosed infection, and the number of symptomatic HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome cases.

Results

Depending on the frequency of risk-based screening, routine screening test positivity was maximized at ages 30 to 34 years in the national model. The optimal age for routine screening was higher in a setting with a lower proportion of cases among men who have sex with men. Across settings, routine screening resulted in incremental reductions of 3% to 8% in years of undiagnosed infection and 3% to 11% in symptomatic cases, compared with reductions of 36% to 69% and 41% to 76% attributable to risk-based screening.

Conclusions

Although routine HIV screening may contribute meaningfully to increased case detection in persons not captured by targeted testing programs in some settings, this strategy will have a limited impact on population-level outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of a multipronged testing strategy with continued investment in risk-based screening programs.
Evaluation of BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total With Automated Rapid Plasma Reagin: Experience From a Tertiary Medical Center
Authors: Tang Eric W. , Paiva Kimberly J. , Pytel-Parenteau Diane L. , Maynard Michaela A. , Chan Philip A. , Lu Shaolei
Published: February 2020

Background

Treponema-specific assays are widely adopted in the first step of the reverse algorithm of serologic syphilis screening. The new BioPlex 2200 Syphilis Total and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test is designed to perform the first 2 steps of the algorithm simultaneously. However, limited data regarding the BioPlex Syphilis Total and RPR in clinical practice exist.

Methods

A total of 293 random samples at a tertiary medical center were tested by BioPlex Syphilis Total and RPR, BioPlex Syphilis IgG, Architect Syphilis TP, and BD Macro-Vue RPR card.Treponema pallidumparticle agglutination (TP-PA) assay and clinical chart review were used to resolve discrepancies. Comparisons were performed among treponemal-specific assays and between 2 RPR tests.

Results

Good overall agreements (>91%) were achieved between BioPlex Syphilis Total, BioPlex Syphilis IgG, and Architect Syphilis TP. Overall agreement between BioPlex RPR and BD RPR was 86.8% with positive percent agreement of 66.7% and negative percent agreement of 96.3%. There were 37 discordant samples including 30 with BD RPR+/BioPlex RPR− and 7 with BD RPR−/BioPlex RPR+. Negative BioPlex RPR results were observed in samples with reactive BD RPR: 10 (91%) of 11 for BD RPR 1:1, 13 (65%) of 20 for BD RPR 1:2, 6 (35%) of 17 for BD RPR 1:4, and 1 (7%) of 14 for BD RPR 1:8. The discordant samples were predominantly from patients with high-risk of syphilis reinfection and included 9 patients with an early reinfection.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that BioPlex Syphilis Total and Architect Syphilis TP performed similarly. The BioPlex RPR missed a small number of early syphilis reinfections, and its implementation should depend on the patient population that the laboratory serves.
Subtracted Computed Tomography Angiography in the Evaluation of Coronary Arteries With Severe Calcification or Stents Using a 320-Row Computed Tomography Scanner
Authors: Chen Chun-Chi , Wu Patricia Wanping , Tsay Pei-Kwei , Wang Chun-Chieh , Toh Cheng-Hong , Wan Yung-Liang
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has its limitations in evaluating arteries with stents or heavy calcification. This study compares the diagnostic performance of subtracted coronary computed tomography angiography (SCCTA) and nonsubtracted coronary computed tomography angiography (NSCCTA) in evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD) and in-stent restenosis (ISR).

Materials and Methods:

Twelve patients with stents and 20 patients with heavy coronary calcifications (total Agatston’s score >400) underwent both SCCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) with an interval of <3 months. Four subjects in the stented group also had heavy calcifications. Overall, 30 stented segments and 202 calcified segments were assessed to compare the diagnostic performance of SCCTA and NSCCTA in detecting ISR and CAD.

Results:

For the 30 stented segments, SCCTA/NSCCTA had a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) (shown in %) of 66.7/100, 100/55.6, 96.7/60, 100/20, and 96.4/100 in diagnosing ISR, respectively. For the 202 calcified segments, SCCTA/NSCCTA had a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV of 68.8/84.4, 97.6/76.5, 93.1/77.7, 84.6/40.3, and 94.3/96.3 in diagnosing CAD, respectively. For both stented and calcified segments, SCCTA was significantly superior to NSCCTA in specificity and accuracy. For the calcified segments, SCCTA was significantly superior to NSCCTA in PPV. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of SCCTA between the stented and calcified segments.

Conclusions:

The diagnostic accuracy and specificity of SCCTA are significantly superior to those of NSCCTA in evaluating CAD and ISR. SCCTA shows no statistical difference in its diagnostic performance between the stented and calcified segments.
Opioid use and schizophrenia
Authors: Li Kevin J. , Chen Anderson , DeLisi Lynn E.
Published: February 2020

Purpose of review

To summarize the current literature regarding comorbid schizophrenia and opioid use disorder (OUD).

Recent findings

Epidemiological evidence is unclear on whether patients with schizophrenia have a higher rate of OUD. Patients with OUD have been shown to have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia. However, it is clear that patients with both schizophrenia and OUD are less likely to receive standard of care including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opiate use disorder and have worse outcomes compared with patients with schizophrenia who do not abuse opioids. OUD significantly increases the risk of converting patients from prodromal schizophrenia states to schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Shared pathophysiology involving the kappa opioid receptor may help explain the relationships between schizophrenia and OUD. Second-generation antipsychotics, long-acting injectables, and MAT for OUD should be utilized in a dual-diagnosis and treatment approach for patients with schizophrenia and OUD.

Exploration into the relationship between schizophrenia and opiate abuse is still in its infancy and requires a significant amount of future attention to clarify the epidemiology of this comorbidity, neurobiological relationship, shared genetic underpinnings, and possible treatments for both the psychotic symptoms and substance abuse.
Estimate number of individuals infected with the 2019-novel coronavirus in South Korea due to the influx of international students from countries with virus risk: a simulation study
Authors: Ryu Sukhyun , Ali Sheikh Taslim , Lim Jun-sik , Chun Byung Chul
Published: February 2020

Background

In March 2020, overall, 37,000 international students from the country at risk of the 2019-novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection will arrive in Seoul, South Korea. Individuals from the country at risk of COVID-19 infection have been included in a home-quarantine program, but the efficacy of the program is uncertain.

Methods

To estimate the possible number of infected individuals within the large influx of international students, we used a deterministic compartmental model for epidemic and perform a simulation-based search of different rates of compliance with home-quarantine.

Results

Under the home-quarantine program, the total number of the infected individuals would reach 24–53 from March 17–March 20, 50–86 from March 18– March 16, and 234– 343 from March 4– March 23 with the arrival of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 1% of pre-infectious individuals, in Seoul, South Korea, respectively. Our findings indicated when incoming international students showed strict compliance with quarantine, epidemics were less likely to occur in Seoul, South Korea.

Conclusion

To mitigate possible epidemics, additional efforts to improve the compliance of home-quarantine are warranted along with other containment policies.
Risk map of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China: proportionate control is needed
Authors: Li Xinhai , Zhao Xumao , Lou Yingqiang , Sun Yuehua
Published: February 2020

Background

China is running a national level antivirus campaign against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Strict control measures are being enforced in either the populated areas and remote regions. While the virus is closed to be under control, tremendous economic loss has been caused.

Methods and findings

We assessed the pandemic risk of 2019-nCoV for all cities/regions in China using the random forest algorithm, taking into account the effect of five factors: the accumulative and increased numbers of confirmed cases, total population, population density, and GDP. We defined four levels of the risk, corresponding to the four response levels to public health emergencies in China. The classification system has good consistency among cities in China, as the error rate of the confusion matrix is 1.58%.

Conclusions

The pandemic risk of 2019-nCoV is dramatically different among the 442 cities/regions. We recommend to adopt proportionate control policy according to the risk level to reduce unnecessary economic loss.
Inpainting as a Technique for Estimation of Missing Voxels in Chemical Shift Imaging
Authors: Torrado-Carvajal Angel , Albrecht Daniel S. , Lee Jeungchan , Andronesi Ovidiu C. , Ratai Eva-Maria , Napadow Vitaly , Loggia Marco L.
Published: February 2020

Issues with model fitting (i.e. suboptimal standard deviation, linewidth/full-width-at-half-maximum, and/or signal-to-noise ratio) in multi-voxel MRI spectroscopy, or chemical shift imaging (CSI), can result in the significant loss of usable voxels. A potential solution to minimize this problem is to estimate the value of unusable voxels by utilizing information from reliable voxels in the same image. We assessed an image restoration method called inpainting as a tool to restore unusable voxels and compared it with traditional interpolation methods (nearest neighbor, trilinear interpolation and tricubic interpolation). We applied these techniques to N-acetylaspartate (NAA) spectroscopy maps from a CSI dataset. Inpainting exhibited superior performance (lower normalized root-mean-square errors, NRMSE) compared to all other methods considered (p’s<0.001). Inpainting maintained its superiority whether the previously unusable voxels were randomly distributed or located in regions most commonly affected by voxel loss in real-world data.

Clinical Relevance

The presence of missing voxels can be problematic, particularly when data are analyzed in standard space, given that only voxels that are contributed to by all participants can be interrogated in these analyses. Inpainting is a promising approach for recovering unusable or missing voxels in voxelwise analyses, particularly in imaging modalities characterized by low SNR such as CSI.
PCR procedures to amplify GC-rich DNA sequences ofMycobacterium bovis
Authors: Assal Nadia , Lin Min
Published: February 2020

Amplification of high GC content genes by PCR is a major challenge during the creation of recombinant GC-rich DNA constructs. This may be due to the difficulty in DNA denaturation or the possibility of forming secondary structures from DNA templates. Tools have been described to address the technical problems associated with the amplification of shorter sequences (<1000 bp). However, obstacles of synthesizing larger-sized GC-rich sequences by PCR continue to exist. This study aims to investigate the amplification of long and high GC content genes by PCR from theMycobacterium bovis, a genome with GC content >60%, in comparison to amplifying a gene from theListeria monocytogenesgenome, a genome with a 37.8% GC content. Three PCR protocols were designed and experimented at various conditions with twoM. bovisgenes,Mb0129, a large gene of 1794 bp with 77.5% GC content,mpb83, a smaller gene of 663 bp in length with moderate GC content of 63%, together withLMHCC_RS00060, a largeL.monocytogenesgene of 1617 bp with a lower GC content of 41.53%. The result demonstrated the superiority of the 2-step PCR protocol over other protocols in PCR amplification ofMb0129when specific high fidelity DNA polymerases were used in the presence of an enhancer. The study highlighted the importance of manipulating the cycling conditions to perform the annealing and extension steps at higher temperatures for a successful PCR amplification of a large GC-rich DNA template. The PCR protocols developed in this study can be valuable tools for the amplification of long GC-rich DNA sequences for various downstream applications.
TREEasy: An automated workflow to infer gene trees, species trees, and phylogenetic networks from multilocus data
Authors: Mao Yafei , Hou Siqing , Shi Junfeng , Economo Evan P.
Published: February 2020

Multilocus genomic data sets can be used to infer a rich set of information about the evolutionary history of a lineage, including gene trees, species trees, and phylogenetic networks. However, user‐friendly tools to run such integrated analyses are lacking, and workflows often require tedious reformatting and handling time to shepherd data through a series of individual programs. Here, we present a tool written in Python—TREEasy—that performs automated sequence alignment (with MAFFT), gene tree inference (with IQ‐Tree), species inference from concatenated data (with IQ‐Tree and RaxML‐NG), species tree inference from gene trees (with ASTRAL, MP‐EST, and STELLS2), and phylogenetic network inference (with SNaQ and PhyloNet). The tool only requires FASTA files and nine parameters as inputs. The tool can be run as command line or through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). As examples, we reproduced a recent analysis of staghorn coral evolution, and performed a new analysis on the evolution of the “WGD clade” of yeast. The latter revealed novel patterns that were not identified by previous analyses. TREEasy represents a reliable and simple tool to accelerate research in systematic biology (https://github.com/MaoYafei/TREEasy).
Trends in suicide death risk in transgender people: results from the Amsterdam Cohort of Gender Dysphoria study (1972–2017)
Authors: Wiepjes C. M. , den Heijer M. , Bremmer M. A. , Nota N. M. , de Blok C. J. M. , Coumou B. J. G. , Steensma T. D.
Published: February 2020

Objective

This study explored the overall suicide death rate, the incidence over time, and the stage in transition where suicide deaths were observed in transgender people.

Methods

A chart study, including all 8263 referrals to our clinic since 1972. Information on death occurrence, time, and cause of death was obtained from multiple sources.

Results

Out of 5107 trans women (median age at first visit 28 years, median follow‐up time 10 years) and 3156 trans men (median age at first visit 20 years, median follow‐up time 5 years), 41 trans women and 8 trans men died by suicide. In trans women, suicide deaths decreased over time, while it did not change in trans men. Of all suicide deaths, 14 people were no longer in treatment, 35 were in treatment in the previous two years. The mean number of suicides in the years 2013–2017 was higher in the trans population compared with the Dutch population.

Conclusions

We observed no increase in suicide death risk over time and even a decrease in suicide death risk in trans women. However, the suicide risk in transgender people is higher than in the general population and seems to occur during every stage of transitioning. It is important to have specific attention for suicide risk in the counseling of this population and in providing suicide prevention programs.
Cardiovascular risk factors are not present in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Dorfman Lev , Ghersin Itai , Khateeb Neron , Daher Saleh , Shamir Raanan , Assa Amit
Published: February 2020

Aim

Due to conflicting data, we aimed to investigate the association of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors at late adolescence in a cross‐sectional population‐based study.

Methods

A total of 1 144 213 Jewish Israeli adolescents who underwent a general health examination prior to enlistment at median age of 17.1 years from 1988 to 2016 were included. Covariate data included demographics, blood pressure, resting heart rate and risk factors associated with CVD.

Results

Overall, 2372 cases of IBD were identified, including 1612 cases of Crohn's disease (68%). Univariate analysis showed marginally lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with IBD with no difference following multivariate analysis. Diagnosis of Crohn's disease in males was associated with lower rates of overweight (15.8% vs 21.2%, P < .001) and obesity (3.7% vs 6.1% P = .003), whereas females with Crohn's disease had a lower rate of overweight (14.0% vs 17.9% P = .04) but not obesity. Patients with ulcerative colitis did not differ from controls in terms of overweight or obesity. Patients with Crohn's disease had an increased prevalence of hereditary hypercoagulability (odds ratio 16.9, 95% confidence interval 8.0‐35.7, P < .001).

Conclusion

Significant risk factors for CVD were not present in adolescents with IBD.
Variation in the Human Leukocyte Antigen system and risk for endemic Burkitt lymphoma in northern Uganda
Authors: Kirimunda Samuel , Verboom Murielle , Otim Isaac , Ssennono Mark , Legason Ismail D. , Nabalende Hadijah , Ogwang Martin D. , Kerchan Patrick , Kinyera Tobias , Mwebaza Ivan , Joloba Moses , Ayers Leona W. , Reynolds Steven J. , Bhatia Kishor , Onabajo Olusegun O. , Hallensleben Michael , Biggar Robert J. , Prokunina‐Olsson Ludmila , Goedert James J. , Blasczyk Rainer , Mbulaiteye Sam M.
Published: February 2020

Endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) is an aggressive childhood B‐cell lymphoma associated with Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infections. Variation in the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system is suspected to play a role, but assessments using less accurate serology‐based HLA typing techniques in small studies yielded conflicting results. We studied 200 eBL cases and 400 controls aged 0–15 years enrolled in northern Uganda and typed by accurate high‐resolution HLA sequencing methods. HLA results were analyzed at one‐ or two‐field resolution. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (aOR, 95% CI) for eBL risk associated with common HLA alleles versus alleles that were rare (<1%) or differed by <2% between the cases and controls as the reference category, were estimated using multiple logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, microgeography, region, malaria positivity and treatment history, and genetic variants associated with eBL. Compared to the controls, eBL cases had a lower frequency of HLA‐A*02 (aOR = 0·59, 95% CI 0·38–0·91), HLA‐B*41 (aOR = 0·36, 95% CI 0·13–1·00), and HLA‐B*58 alleles (aOR = 0·59, 95% CI 0·36–0·97). eBL cases had a lower frequency of HLA‐DPB1 homozygosity (aOR = 0·57, 95% CI 0·40–0·82) but a higher frequency of HLA‐DQA1 homozygosity (aOR = 2·19, 95% CI 1·42–3·37). Our results suggest that variation in HLA may be associated with eBL risk.
Does democracy die in recessions? A descriptive analysis of aggregate demand shortfalls and regime transition
Authors: Murphy Ryan H
Published: February 2020

Can a central bank accidentally provoke changes to a country's political regime? Sumner (2015) proposes that macroeconomic mismanagement on the part of central bank authorities, leading to declines in nominal output, can cause voters to respond with populism at the ballot box. Murphy and Smith (2018) have found evidence for this hypothesis, with populism interpreted as movements away from liberal market institutions. This article extends the hypothesis to macroeconomic mismanagement and its relationship with democratic political institutions. It finds both that recessions foreshadow a lower probability of a dictatorship becoming a democracy, and that a democracy is more likely to become a dictatorship. The relationship with autocratisation is most visible after 15 years, while the negative relationship with democratisation is far more persistent over time. These findings, it must be stressed, are historical and descriptive, not necessarily causal.
Angiographic characteristics in Moyamoya disease with the p.R4810K variant: a propensity score‐matched analysis
Authors: Ge P. , Zhang Q. , Ye X. , Liu X. , Deng X. , Wang J. , Wang R. , Zhang Y. , Zhang D. , Zhao J.
Published: February 2020

Background and purpose

The p.R4810K variant was identified as a strong susceptibility in patients with Moyamoya disease (MMD). The aim of this study was to investigate the angiographic characteristics in MMD with the p.R4810K variant.

Methods

Angiographic characteristics were compared between patients with wild‐type p.R4810K variant (GG) and patients with heterozygous p.R4810K variant (GA) after 1:1 propensity score matching, including Suzuki stage, collateral circulation and external carotid artery (ECA) collateral. Collateral circulation was graded with scores ranging from 0 to 12: posterior collateral circulation from the posterior cerebral artery to the middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery was scored from 0 to 6; anterior collateral circulation was scored as 6 to 0 corresponding to Suzuki stages 0 to 6.

Results

A total of 489 patients were screened; 133 pairs were obtained after 1:1 propensity score matching. Compared with the patients in the GA group, unilateral MMD was more frequent in the GG group (P = 0.026). Hemispheres in the GA group (86/266) had more posterior cerebral artery involvement than hemispheres in the GG group (48/266) (P < 0.001). Hemispheres in the GA group had a lower grade in collateral circulation than hemispheres in the GG group (P = 0.011), but ECA collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group (53.4% vs. 39.8%, P = 0.002). Superficial temporal artery and occipital artery collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients in the GA group had lower grades in collateral circulation than patients in the GG group, but ECA collateral was more frequently observed in the GA group than in the GG group.
Serum TNFRII: A promising biomarker for predicting the risk of subcentimetre lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Hu Minjuan , Zhang Yanwei , Sun Beibei , Lou Yuqing , Zhang Xueyan , Wang Huimin , Huang Chengya , Zhang Wei , Chu Tianqing , Han Baohui
Published: February 2020

Early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma requires effective risk predictors. TNFRII was reported to be related to tumorigenesis, but remained unclear in lung cancer. This research set out to investigate the relationship between the sTNFRII (serum TNFRII) level and the risk of lung adenocarcinoma less than 1 cm in diameter. Seventy‐one pairs of subcentimetre lung adenocarcinoma patients and healthy controls were analysed through multiplex bead‐based Luminex assay and found a significantly lower expression of sTNFRII in patients with subcentimetre lung adenocarcinoma than that in the healthy controls (P < .001), which was further verified through ONCOMINE database analysis. Increased levels of sTNFRII reduced the risk of subcentimetre lung adenocarcinoma by 89% (P < .001). Patients with a higher level of BLC had a 2.70‐fold (P < .01) higher risk of subcentimetre adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, a higher BLC/TNFRII ratio was related to a 35‐fold higher risk of subcentimetre adenocarcinoma. TNFRII showed good specificity, sensitivity and accuracy (0.72, 0.75 and 0.73, respectively), with an AUC of 0.73 (P < .001). In conclusion, the present study assessed the value of sTNFRII as a potential biomarker to predict the risk of subcentimetre lung adenocarcinoma and provided evidence for the further use of TNFRII as an auxiliary marker in the diagnosis of subcentimetre lung adenocarcinoma.
The new locally endemic genusYazdana(Caryophyllaceae) and patterns of endemism highlight the high conservation priority of the poorly studied Shirkuh Mountains (central Iran)
Authors: Noroozi Jalil , Pirani Atefeh , Moazzeni Hamid , Mahmoodi Mohammad , Zare Golshan , Noormohammadi Alireza , Barfuss Michael H.J. , Suen Michael , Schneeweiss Gerald M.
Published: February 2020

Although mountain ranges are often recognized as global biodiversity hotspots with a high level of endemism, diversity and biogeographic connections of isolated and weakly explored mountains remain poorly understood. This is also the case for Shirkuh Mts. in central Iran. Here,Yazdana shirkuhensisgen. & spec. nov. (Caryophylleae, Caryophyllaceae) is described and illustrated from the high alpine zone of this mountain. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data show thatY. shirkuhensisis related toCyathophyllaandHeterochroa(tribe Caryophylleae). The newly described genus and species accentuate Shirkuh Mts. as a center of endemism, which harbors a high number of narrowly distributed species, mostly in high elevations reaching alpine habitats. As this area is currently not protected, a conservation priority is highlighted for high elevations of Shirkuh Mts.
Building plantation America: Creolized design and captive labor in Wright, Faulkner, and Chesnutt
Authors: Emery Mary Lou
Published: February 2020

Pairing Wright's Auldbrass and Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom! in light of Chesnutt's earlier novel, The House Behind the Cedars, we can read across literature and architecture to foundational myths of plantation America. These myths are embedded in the material structure of the veranda, framed architecturally and also verbally in the structures of literary narrative. However, in these modernist versions of the southern plantation, the myths repeat differently. Like the “guilty secret” screened behind the cedars of Chesnutt's fiction, an obscured global history of captive labor, entwined from its beginnings with creolized architectural design, comes into view. While Chesnutt brings our attention to the “back of the Big House,” Wright and Faulkner's reworkings of the plantation veranda display a contested aesthetic. Echoing the iconic features of the antebellum Big House, they also carry forward an alternate vision, one that counters the rigid patterning and control of racialized labor. Appreciated as “beyond plumb,” this aesthetic recalls different stories, different architects, and the creativity of enslaved plantation workers of earlier centuries.
The birth of the author
Authors: Helle Sophus
Published: February 2020

The Sumerian hymn known as the The Exaltation of Inana, which was attributed to the Old Akkadian priestess Enheduana, is the earliest known depiction of literary authorship. Through a close reading of the text, the essay argues that the figure of the author is created by a number of individuals acting together, including the addressee, performers, and copyists of the poem. Their involvement is necessary for authors to become authors, and authorship can therefore be seen as a collaborative creation even when a text is attributed to a single person. This notion of co‐authorship, not as a collaboration between delimited individuals, but as the collective creation of an authorial persona, makes the author an inherently fluid entity—waxing, waning, dispersed, and regrouped over the course of the text. Having identified this form of co‐authorship in the Exaltation, the essay then traces its dynamics across a wider selection of poems.1