bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of the endovascular aneurysm repair procedure: real-world evidence using interrupted-time series analysis
Authors: Tseng Chi-Nan , Yu Sheng-Yueh , Chang Ya-Ting , Peng Wei-Sheng , Lin Chun-Yu , See Lai-Chu
Published: July 2022

OBJECTIVES

In Taiwan, endovascular aneurysm repair for treating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) was introduced in 2004 and became reimbursable in February 2010. We evaluated the real-world practice and safety of endovascular aneurysm repair in Taiwan.

METHODS

Patients who underwent repair operations for AAA (open or endovascular) from 2000 to 2016 were enrolled (n = 11485). Outcome statistics (during the index hospitalization: length of stay, rate of ischaemic bowel disease and 30-day mortality; after discharge: 30-day readmission rate, 2-year mortality, 2-year reintervention rate and 2-year paraplegia rate) were calculated for each half-year cohort. Propensity score-based stabilized weights were used to balance covariates among each half-year cohort. Interrupted time-series analysis was then performed.

RESULTS

The elective and emergency ratio of AAA repair was 50:50 from 2000 to 2004 and became 60:40 from 2010 to 2016. The half-year rate of endovascular aneurysm repair was 0% in 2000 to 2004/06, 83.16% in 2010 and 98.1% in 2016. Interrupted time series analysis revealed that after endovascular aneurysm repair became reimbursable, both elective and emergency groups had a reduction in length of stay (−4.2 days, P < 0.0001; −1.5 days, P = 0.0928) and 30-day mortality (−5.22%, P = 0.0702; −7.76%, P = 0.0086) but a significant increase in the reintervention rate (5.05%, P = 0.0031; 4.36%, P = 0.0097).

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular aneurysm repair was predominantly used in treating AAAs after it was reimbursed in Taiwan. Endovascular aneurysm repair is efficacious regarding short-term outcomes but increased the 2-year reintervention rate in both groups.
The first report of transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation within the expandable Inspiris Resilia® bioprosthetic valve
Authors: Mehdiani Arash , Chekhoeva Agunda , Klein Kathrin , Lichtenberg Artur
Published: July 2022

A 61-year-old male who underwent aortic valve replacement with an Inspiris Resilia® aortic bioprosthetic through an upper partial sternotomy due to severe aortic valve stenosis was presented 1 year later to our hospital suffering from dyspnoea and chest pain. The transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated moderate haemodynamic structural valve deterioration with a mean gradient of 29 mmHg and a valve area of 0.9 cm2. Due to relatively high-risk of reoperation, valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement with Sapien 3® 29 mm, followed by balloon valvuloplasty, was successfully performed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case of valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement into a degenerated Inspiris Resilia® aortic valve.
Associations of age at marriage and first pregnancy with maternal nutritional status in Nepal
Authors: Wells Jonathan C K , Marphatia Akanksha A , Manandhar Dharma S , Cortina-Borja Mario , Reid Alice M , Saville Naomi S
Published: July 2022

Background and objectives

Women’s nutritional status is important for their health and reproductive fitness. In a population where early marriage is common, we investigated how women’s nutritional status is associated with their age at marriage (marking a geographical transfer between households), and at first pregnancy.

Methodology

We used data from a cluster-randomized control trial from lowland Nepal (n = 4071). Outcomes including body mass index (BMI) were measured in early pregnancy and trial endpoint, after delivery. We fitted mixed-effects linear and logistic regression models to estimate associations of age at marriage and age at pregnancy with outcomes, and with odds of chronic energy deficiency (CED, BMI <18.5 kg/m2), at both timepoints.

Results

BMI in early pregnancy averaged 20.9 kg/m2, with CED prevalence of 12.5%. In 750 women measured twice, BMI declined 1.2 (95% confidence interval 1.1, 1.3) kg/m2 between early pregnancy and endpoint, when CED prevalence was 35.5%. Early pregnancy was associated in dose-response manner with poorer nutritional status. Early marriage was independently associated with poorer nutritional status among those pregnant ≤15 years, but with better nutritional status among those pregnant ≥19 years.

Conclusions and implications

The primary determinant of nutritional status was age at pregnancy, but this association also varied by marriage age. Our results suggest that natal households may marry their daughters earlier if food insecure, but that their nutritional status can improve in the marital household if pregnancy is delayed. Marriage age therefore determines which household funds adolescent weight gain, with implications for Darwinian fitness of the members of both households.
Increased virus dissemination leads to enhanced lung injury but not inflammation during influenza-associated secondary bacterial infection
Authors: Smith Amanda P , Lane Lindey C , Ramirez Zuniga Ivan , Moquin David M , Vogel Peter , Smith Amber M
Published: July 2022

Secondary bacterial infections increase influenza-related morbidity and mortality, particularly if acquired after 5–7 d from the viral onset. Synergistic host responses and direct pathogen–pathogen interactions are thought to lead to a state of hyperinflammation, but the kinetics of the lung pathology have not yet been detailed, and identifying the contribution of different mechanisms to disease is difficult because these may change over time. To address this gap, we examined host–pathogen and lung pathology dynamics following a secondary bacterial infection initiated at different time points after influenza within a murine model. We then used a mathematical approach to quantify the increased virus dissemination in the lung, coinfection time-dependent bacterial kinetics, and virus-mediated and postbacterial depletion of alveolar macrophages. The data showed that viral loads increase regardless of coinfection timing, which our mathematical model predicted and histomorphometry data confirmed was due to a robust increase in the number of infected cells. Bacterial loads were dependent on the time of coinfection and corresponded to the level of IAV-induced alveolar macrophage depletion. Our mathematical model suggested that the additional depletion of these cells following the bacterial invasion was mediated primarily by the virus. Contrary to current belief, inflammation was not enhanced and did not correlate with neutrophilia. The enhanced disease severity was correlated to inflammation, but this was due to a nonlinearity in this correlation. This study highlights the importance of dissecting nonlinearities during complex infections and demonstrated the increased dissemination of virus within the lung during bacterial coinfection and simultaneous modulation of immune responses during influenza-associated bacterial pneumonia.
Rapid Adaptation Often Occurs through Mutations to the Most Highly Conserved Positions of the RNA Polymerase Core Enzyme
Authors: Cohen Yasmin , Hershberg Ruth
Published: July 2022

Mutations to the genes encoding the RNA polymerase core enzyme (RNAPC) and additional housekeeping regulatory genes were found to be involved in adaptation, in the context of numerous evolutionary experiments, in which bacteria were exposed to diverse selective pressures. This provides a conundrum, as the housekeeping genes that were so often mutated in response to these diverse selective pressures tend to be among the genes that are most conserved in their sequences across the bacterial phylogeny. In order to further examine this apparent discrepancy, we characterized the precise positions of the RNAPC involved in adaptation to a large variety of selective pressures. We found that RNAPC lab adaptations tended to occur at positions displaying traits associated with higher selective constraint. Specifically, compared to other RNAPC positions, positions involved in adaptation tended to be more conserved in their sequences within bacteria, were more often located within defined protein domains, and were located closer to the complex’s active site. Higher sequence conservation was also found for resource exhaustion adaptations occurring within additional housekeeping genes. Combined, our results demonstrate that the positions that change most readily in response to well-defined selective pressures exerted in lab environments are often also those that evolve most slowly in nature.
Comparing single-station 6C measurements and array measurements for seismic microzonation in Munich, Germany
Authors: Keil Sabrina , Wilczek Alexander , Wassermann Joachim , Kremers Simon
Published: July 2022

The essential goal of seismic microzonation is the estimation of the shallow velocity structure in order to characterize the local earthquake shaking characteristics. This is of special importance in densely inhabited areas with unfavourable soil conditions. The common approach is the analysis of ambient noise array data using frequency–wavenumber (FK) or spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) techniques. However, the installation of arrays is difficult, especially within urban environments, making single-station approaches more desirable. In this study, we directly compare the recently developed approach of velocity estimation using single-station six-component (6C) measurements, combining three translational and three rotational motions, with the established methods of FK and SPAC analysis. We conduct measurements in Munich’s inner city using a geophone array and an iXblue blueSeis-3A rotational motion sensor together with a Nanometrics Trillium Compact Seismometer, respectively. From the array data, as well as from the 6C data, Love and Rayleigh dispersion curves are estimated and further inverted for 1-D P- and S-wave velocity profiles. We find that all methods give similar results, indicating the potential of the novel 6C approach. Furthermore, adding horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios enables the inversion for structures at greater depth and increases the resolution of the velocity structure. In addition, we test different array geometries to evaluate the influence of the sensor configuration on the results. As a last step, we compare the estimated velocity models to lithologic profiles and find an overall positive correlation, which supports our inversion results.
Computed tomography volumetric analysis for predicting postoperative lung function for segmentectomy
Authors: Bae Seon Yong , Lee Haeju , Na Kwon Joong , Na Bubse , Park Samina , Park In Kyu , Kang Chang Hyun , Kim Young Tae
Published: July 2022

OBJECTIVES

We compared the computed tomographic (CT) volumetric analysis and anatomical segment counting (ASC) for predicting postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in patients who had segmentectomy for early-stage lung cancer.

METHODS

A total of 175 patients who had segmentectomy for lung cancer and had postoperative pulmonary function test were included. CT volumetric analysis was performed by software, which could measure total lung and target segment volume from CT images. ASC and CT volumetric analysis were used to determine predicted postoperative (PPO) values and the concordance and difference of these values were assessed. The relationship between PPO values and actual postoperative values was also investigated.

RESULTS

The PPO-FEV1 and PPO-DLCO showed high concordance between 2 methods (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.96 for PPO-FEV1 and 0.95 for PPO-DLCO). There was no significant difference between PPO values as determined by 2 methods (P = 0.53 for PPO-FEV1, P = 0.25 for PPO-DLCO) and actual postoperative values [P = 0.77 (ASC versus actual) and P = 0.20 (CT versus actual) for FEV1; P = 0.41 (ASC versus actual) and P = 0.80 (CT versus actual) for DLCO]. We subdivided the patients according to poor pulmonary function test, the number of resected segments and the location of the resected lobe. All subgroup analyses revealed no significant difference between PPO values and actual postoperative values.

CONCLUSIONS

Both CT volumetric analysis and ASC showed high predictability for actual postoperative FEV1 and DLCO in segmentectomy.
Nucleocapsid Antigenemia Is a Marker of Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Verkerke Hans P , Damhorst Gregory L , Graciaa Daniel S , McLendon Kaleb , O’Sick William , Robichaux Chad , Cheedarla Narayanaiah , Potlapalli Sindhu , Wu Shang-Chuen , Harrington Kristin R V , Webster Andrew , Kraft Colleen , Rostad Christina A , Waggoner Jesse J , Gandhi Neel R , Guarner Jeannette , Auld Sara C , Neish Andrew , Roback John D , Lam Wilbur A , Shah N Sarita , Stowell Sean R
Published: July 2022

Detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is essential for diagnosis, treatment, and infection control. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fails to distinguish acute from resolved infections, as RNA is frequently detected after infectiousness. We hypothesized that nucleocapsid in blood marks acute infection with the potential to enhance isolation and treatment strategies. In a retrospective serosurvey of inpatient and outpatient encounters, we categorized samples along an infection timeline using timing of SARS-CoV-2 testing and symptomatology. Among 1860 specimens from 1607 patients, the highest levels and frequency of antigenemia were observed in samples from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antigenemia was higher in seronegative individuals and in those with severe disease. In our analysis, antigenemia exhibited 85.8% sensitivity and 98.6% specificity as a biomarker for acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, antigenemia sensitively and specifically marks acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further study is warranted to determine whether antigenemia may aid individualized assessment of active COVID-19.
Dispensability of Ascorbic Acid Uptake and Utilization Encoded by ulaABCD for the Virulence of Haemophilus ducreyi in Humans
Authors: Brothwell Julie A , Fortney Kate R , Batteiger Teresa , Katz Barry P , Spinola Stanley M
Published: July 2022

Compared with wounded skin, ascorbic acid is enriched in pustules of humans experimentally infected with Haemophilus ducreyi. Compared with the broth-grown inocula, transcription of the H. ducreyi ulaABCD operon, which encodes genes for ascorbic acid uptake, is increased in pustules. We hypothesized that ascorbic acid uptake plays a role in H. ducreyi virulence. Five volunteers were infected with both H. ducreyi strain 35000HP and its isogenic ulaABCD deletion mutant at multiple sites; the papule and pustule formation rates of the mutant and parent strains were similar. Thus, ascorbic acid uptake is not essential for H. ducreyi virulence in humans.
Monkeypox outbreak 2022: an unusual case of peritonsillar abscess in a person previously vaccinated against smallpox
Authors: Davido Benjamin , D’Anglejan Emma , Baudoin Robin , Dahmane Lotfi , Chaud Adrien , Cortier Marie , Vauloup-Fellous Christelle , De Truchis Pierre , Ghosn Jade
Published: July 2022

Descriptions of monkeypox 2022 outbreak have been increasingly reported with unusual presentations and therefore a risk of misdiagnosis. Diagnosis is primarily based on risk factors, including men having sex with men and high-risk contact, with the presence of cutaneous lesions and/or rashes including the genitals in a context of fever.
Hard X-Ray broadband spectroscopy of Mrk 876: characterizing its spectrum
Authors: Bottacini Eugenio
Published: July 2022

Ever since the launch of the NuSTAR mission, the hard X-ray range is being covered to an unprecedented sensitivity. This range encodes the reflection features arising from active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Especially, the reflection of the primary radiation off the accretion disc carries the features of the manifestation of General Relativity described by the Kerr metric due to rotating supermassive black holes (SMBHs). We show the results of the broadband analyses of Mrk 876. The spectra exhibit the signature of a Compton hump at energies above 10 keV and a broadened and skewed excess at energies ∼6 keV. We establish this spectral excess to be statistically significant at 99.71 per cent (∼3σ) that is the post-trail probability through Monte Carlo simulations. Based on the spectral fit results and the significance of spectral features, the relativistic reflection model is favoured over the distant reflection scenario. The excess at ∼6 keV has a complex shape that we try to recover along with the Compton hump through a self-consistent X-ray reflection model. This allows inferring an upper limit to the black hole spin of a ≤ 0.85, while the inclination angle of the accretion disc results in i = 32.84$^{\circ }{}^{+12.22}_{-8.99}$, which is in agreement within the errors with a previous independent measurement (i = 15.4$^{\circ }{}^{+12.1}_{-6.8}$). While most spin measurements are biased towards high spin values, the black hole mass of Mrk 876 (2.4$\times 10^{8}\, \mbox{M}_\odot \le$ MSMBH $\le ~1.3 \times 10^{9}\, \mbox{M}_\odot$) lies in a range where moderately spinning SMBHs are expected. Moreover, the analyses of 12 Chandra observations reveal for the first time X-ray variability of Mrk 876 with an amplitude of 40 per cent.
Integrated mass-loss of evolved stars in M4 using asteroseismology
Authors: Howell Madeline , Campbell Simon W , Stello Dennis , De Silva Gayandhi M
Published: July 2022

Mass-loss remains a major uncertainty in stellar modelling. In low-mass stars, mass-loss is most significant on the red giant branch (RGB), and will impact the star’s evolutionary path and final stellar remnant. Directly measuring the mass difference of stars in various phases of evolution represents one of the best ways to quantify integrated mass-loss. Globular clusters (GCs) are ideal objects for this. M4 is currently the only GC for which asteroseismic data exist for stars in multiple phases of evolution. Using K2 photometry, we report asteroseismic masses for 75 red giants in M4, the largest seismic sample in a GC to date. We find an integrated RGB mass-loss of $\Delta \overline{M} = 0.17 \pm 0.01 ~\mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, equivalent to a Reimers’ mass-loss coefficient of ηR = 0.39. Our results for initial mass, horizontal branch mass, ηR, and integrated RGB mass-loss show remarkable agreement with previous studies, but with higher precision using asteroseismology. We also report the first detections of solar-like oscillations in early asymptotic giant branch (EAGB) stars in GCs. We find an average mass of $\overline{M}_{\text{EAGB}}=0.54 \pm 0.01 ~\mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, significantly lower than predicted by models. This suggests larger-than-expected mass-loss on the horizontal branch. Alternatively, it could indicate unknown systematics in the scaling relations for the EAGB. We discover a tentative mass bimodality in the RGB sample, possibly due to the multiple populations. In our red horizontal branch sample, we find a mass distribution consistent with a single value. We emphasize the importance of seismic studies of GCs since they could potentially resolve major uncertainties in stellar theory.
On the use of galaxies as clocks and the universal expansion
Authors: Ahlström Kjerrgren Anders , Mörtsell Edvard
Published: July 2022

We set out to rederive the 8 Hubble parameter values obtained from estimated relative galaxy ages by Simon et al. We find that to obtain the level of precision claimed in H($\mathit{ z}$), unrealistically small galaxy age uncertainties have to be assumed. Also, some parameter values will be correlated. In our analysis we find that the uncertainties in the Hubble parameter values are significantly larger when 8 independent H($\mathit{ z}$) are obtained using Monte Carlo sampling. Smaller uncertainties can be obtained using Gaussian processes, but at the cost of strongly correlated results. We do not obtain any useful constraints on the Hubble parameter from the galaxy data employed.
A galaxy-driven model of type Ia supernova luminosity variations
Authors: Wiseman P , Vincenzi M , Sullivan M , Kelsey L , Popovic B , Rose B , Brout D , Davis T M , Frohmaier C , Galbany L , Lidman C , Möller A , Scolnic D , Smith M , Aguena M , Allam S , Andrade-Oliveira F , Annis J , Bertin E , Bocquet S , Brooks D , Burke D L , Carnero Rosell A , Carrasco Kind M , Carretero J , Castander F J , Costanzi M , Pereira M E S , Desai S , Diehl H T , Doel P , Everett S , Ferrero I , Friedel D , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gatti M , Gaztanaga E , Gruen D , Gschwend J , Gutierrez G , Hinton S R , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D J , March M , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Morgan R , Palmese A , Paz-Chinchón F , Pieres A , Plazas Malagón A A , Romer A K , Sanchez E , Scarpine V , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Soares-Santos M , Suchyta E , Tarle G , To C , Varga T N ,   DES Collaboration
Published: July 2022

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are used as standardizable candles to measure cosmological distances, but differences remain in their corrected luminosities which display a magnitude step as a function of host galaxy properties such as stellar mass and rest-frame U−R colour. Identifying the cause of these steps is key to cosmological analyses and provides insight into SN physics. Here we investigate the effects of SN progenitor ages on their light-curve properties using a galaxy-based forward model that we compare to the Dark Energy Survey 5-yr SN Ia sample. We trace SN Ia progenitors through time and draw their light-curve width parameters from a bimodal distribution according to their age. We find that an intrinsic luminosity difference between SNe of different ages cannot explain the observed trend between step size and SN colour. The data split by stellar mass are better reproduced by following recent work implementing a step in total-to-selective dust extinction ratio (RV) between low- and high-mass hosts, although an additional intrinsic luminosity step is still required to explain the data split by host galaxy U−R. Modelling the RV step as a function of galaxy age provides a better match overall. Additional age versus luminosity steps marginally improve the match to the data, although most of the step is absorbed by the width versus luminosity coefficient α. Furthermore, we find no evidence that α varies with SN age.
On the optical properties of resonant drag instabilities: variability of asymptotic giant branch and R Coronae Borealis stars
Authors: Steinwandel Ulrich P , Kaurov Alexander A , Hopkins Philip F , Squire Jonathan
Published: July 2022

In dusty cool-star outflow or ejection events around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) or R Coronae Borealis or RCB-like stars, dust is accelerated by radiation from the star and coupled to the gas via collisional drag forces. It has recently been shown that such dust-gas mixtures are unstable to a super-class of instabilities called the resonant drag instabilities (RDIs), which promote dust clustering. We therefore consider idealized simulations of the RDIs operating on a spectrum of dust grain sizes subject to radiative acceleration (allowing for different grain optical properties), coupled to the gas with a realistic drag law, including or excluding the effects of magnetic fields and charged grains, and calculate for the first time how the RDIs could contribute to observed variability. We show that the RDIs naturally produce significant variations (spatially and temporally) ($\sim 10\!-\!20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ 1 σ-level) in the extinction, corresponding to $\sim 0.1\!-\!1\,$mag level in the stellar types above, on time-scales of order months to a year. The fluctuations are surprisingly robust to the assumed size of the source as they are dominated by large-scale modes, which also means their spatial structure could be resolved in some nearby systems. We also quantify how this produces variations in the line-of-sight grain size-distribution. All of these variations are similar to those observed, suggesting that the RDIs may play a key role driving observed spatial and temporal variability in dust extinction within dusty outflow/ejection events around cool stars. We further propose that the measured variations in grain sizes could directly be used to identify the presence of the RDIs in close by systems with observations.
Outflows and spectral evolution in the eclipsing AMXP SWIFT J1749.4–2807 with NICER, XMM-Newton, and NuSTAR
Authors: Marino A , Anitra A , Mazzola S M , Di Salvo T , Sanna A , Bult P , Guillot S , Mancuso G , Ng M , Riggio A , Albayati A C , Altamirano D , Arzoumanian Z , Burderi L , Cabras C , Chakrabarty D , Deiosso N , Gendreau K C , Iaria R , Manca A , Strohmayer T E
Published: July 2022

The neutron star low-mass X-ray binary SWIFT J1749.4–2807 is the only known eclipsing accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar. In this manuscript, we perform a spectral characterization of the system throughout its 2021, 2-week-long outburst, analysing 11 NICER observations and quasi-simultaneous XMM-Newton and NuSTAR single observations at the outburst peak. The broad-band spectrum is well-modelled with a blackbody component with a temperature of ∼0.6 keV, most likely consistent with a hotspot on the neutron star surface, and a Comptonization spectrum with power-law index Γ ∼ 1.9, arising from a hot corona at ∼12 keV. No direct emission from the disc was found, possibly due to it being too cool. A high truncation radius for the disc, i.e. at ∼20–30 RG, was obtained from the analysis of the broadened profile of the Fe line in the reflection component. The significant detection of a blue-shifted Fe XXVI absorption line at ∼7 keV indicates weakly relativistic X-ray disc winds, which are typically absent in the hard state of X-ray binaries. By comparing the low flux observed during the outburst and the one expected in a conservative mass-transfer, we conclude that mass-transfer in the system is highly non-conservative, as also suggested by the wind detection. Finally, using the NICER spectra alone, we followed the system while it was fading to quiescence. During the outburst decay, as the spectral shape hardened, the hotspot on the neutron star surface cooled down and shrank, a trend which could be consistent with the pure power-law spectrum observed during quiescence.
Gravitational wave of intermediate-mass black holes in Population III star clusters
Authors: Wang Long , Tanikawa Ataru , Fujii Michiko
Published: July 2022

Previous theoretical studies suggest that the Population III (Pop3) stars tend to form in extremely metal-poor gas clouds with approximately $10^5 \ \mathrm{M}_\odot$ embedded in mini dark matter haloes. Very massive stars can form via multiple collisions in Pop3 star clusters and eventually evolve to intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs). In this work, we conduct star-by-star N-body simulations for modelling the long-term evolution of Pop3 star clusters. We find that if the mini dark matter haloes can survive today, these star clusters can avoid tidal disruption by the galactic environment and can efficiently produce IMBH–black hole (BH) mergers among a wide range of redshift from 0 to 20. The average gravitational wave event rate is estimated to be $0.1\!-\!0.8\ \mathrm{yr}^{-1} \,\mathrm{Gpc}^{-3}$, and approximately 40–80 per cent of the mergers occur at high redshift (z > 6). The characteristic strain shows that a part of low-redshift mergers can be detected by LISA, TianQin, and Taiji, whereas most mergers can be covered by DECIGO and advanced LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA. Mergers with pair-instability BHs have a rate of approximately 0.01–0.15 yr−1 Gpc−3, which can explain the GW190521-like events.
GRANDMA observations of ZTF/Fink transients during summer 2021
Authors: Aivazyan V , Almualla M , Antier S , Baransky A , Barynova K , Basa S , Bayard F , Beradze S , Berezin D , Blazek M , Boutigny D , Boust D , Broens E , Burkhonov O , Cailleau A , Christensen N , Cejudo D , Coleiro A , Coughlin M W , Datashvili D , Dietrich T , Dolon F , Ducoin J-G , Duverne P-A , Marchal-Duval G , Galdies C , Granier L , Godunova V , Gokuldass P , Eggenstein H B , Freeberg M , Hello P , Inasaridze R , Ishida E E O , Jaquiery P , Kann D A , Kapanadze G , Karpov S , Kiendrebeogo R W , Klotz A , Kneip R , Kochiashvili N , Kou W , Kugel F , Lachaud C , Leonini S , Leroy A , Leroy N , Van Su A Le , Marchais D , Mašek M , Midavaine T , Möller A , Morris D , Natsvlishvili R , Navarete F , Noysena K , Nissanke S , Noonan K , Orange N B , Peloton J , Popowicz A , Pradier T , Prouza M , Raaijmakers G , Rajabov Y , Richmond M , Romanyuk Ya , Rousselot L , Sadibekova T , Serrau M , Sokoliuk O , Song X , Simon A , Stachie C , Taylor A , Tillayev Y , Turpin D , Vardosanidze M , Vlieghe J , Melo I Tosta e , Wang X F , Zhu J
Published: July 2022

We present our follow-up observations with GRANDMA of transient sources revealed by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Over a period of six months, all ZTF alerts were examined in real time by a dedicated science module implemented in the Fink broker, which will be used in filtering of transients discovered by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. In this article, we present three selection methods to identify kilonova candidates. Out of more than 35 million alerts, a hundred sources have passed our selection criteria. Six were then followed-up by GRANDMA (by both professional and amateur astronomers). The majority were finally classified either as asteroids or as supernovae events. We mobilized 37 telescopes, bringing together a large sample of images, taken under various conditions and quality. To complement the orphan kilonova candidates, we included three additional supernovae alerts to conduct further observations during summer 2021. We demonstrate the importance of the amateur astronomer community that contributed images for scientific analyses of new sources discovered in a magnitude range r′ = 17 − 19 mag. We based our rapid kilonova classification on the decay rate of the optical source that should exceed 0.3 mag d−1. GRANDMA’s follow-up determined the fading rate within 1.5 ± 1.2 d post-discovery, without waiting for further observations from ZTF. No confirmed kilonovae were discovered during our observing campaign. This work will be continued in the coming months in the view of preparing for kilonova searches in the next gravitational-wave observing run O4.
Low spin-axis variations of circumbinary planets
Authors: Chen Renyi , Li Gongjie , Tao Molei
Published: July 2022

Having a massive moon has been considered as a primary mechanism for stabilized planetary obliquity, an example of which being our Earth. This is, however, not always consistent with the exoplanetary cases. This article details the discovery of an alternative mechanism, namely that planets orbiting around binary stars tend to have low spin-axis variations. This is because the large quadrupole potential of the stellar binary could speed up the planetary orbital precession, and detune the system out of secular spin-orbit resonances. Consequently, habitable zone planets around the stellar binaries in low inclination orbits hold higher potential for regular seasonal changes comparing to their single star analogues.
A machine learning based approach to gravitational lens identification with the International LOFAR Telescope
Authors: Rezaei S , McKean J P , Biehl M , de Roo W , Lafontaine A
Published: July 2022

We present a novel machine learning based approach for detecting galaxy-scale gravitational lenses from interferometric data, specifically those taken with the International LOFAR Telescope (ILT), which is observing the northern radio sky at a frequency of 150 MHz, an angular resolution of 350 mas and a sensitivity of 90 μJy beam−1 (1σ). We develop and test several Convolutional Neural Networks to determine the probability and uncertainty of a given sample being classified as a lensed or non-lensed event. By training and testing on a simulated interferometric imaging data set that includes realistic lensed and non-lensed radio sources, we find that it is possible to recover 95.3 per cent of the lensed samples (true positive rate), with a contamination of just 0.008 per cent from non-lensed samples (false positive rate). Taking the expected lensing probability into account results in a predicted sample purity for lensed events of 92.2 per cent. We find that the network structure is most robust when the maximum image separation between the lensed images is ≥3 times the synthesized beam size, and the lensed images have a total flux density that is equivalent to at least a 20σ (point-source) detection. For the ILT, this corresponds to a lens sample with Einstein radii ≥0.5 arcsec and a radio source population with 150 MHz flux densities ≥2 mJy. By applying these criteria and our lens detection algorithm we expect to discover the vast majority of galaxy-scale gravitational lens systems contained within the LOFAR Two Metre Sky Survey.
Spliceosomal SL1 RNA binding to U1-70K: the role of the extended RRM
Authors: Gopan Gopika , Ghaemi Zhaleh , Davis Caitlin M , Gruebele Martin
Published: July 2022

The RNA recognition motif (RRM) occurs widely in RNA-binding proteins, but does not always by itself support full binding. For example, it is known that binding of SL1 RNA to the protein U1-70K in the U1 spliceosomal particle is reduced when a region flanking the RRM is truncated. How the RRM flanking regions that together with the RRM make up an ‘extended RRM’ (eRRM) contribute to complex stability and structural organization is unknown. We study the U1-70K eRRM bound to SL1 RNA by thermal dissociation and laser temperature jump kinetics; long-time molecular dynamics simulations interpret the experiments with atomistic resolution. Truncation of the helix flanking the RRM on its N-terminal side, ‘N-helix,’ strongly reduces overall binding, which is further weakened under higher salt and temperature conditions. Truncating the disordered region flanking the RRM on the C-terminal side, ‘C-IDR’, affects the local binding site. Surprisingly, all-atom simulations show that protein truncation enhances base stacking interactions in the binding site and leaves the overall number of hydrogen bonds intact. Instead, the flanking regions of the eRRM act in a distributed fashion via collective interactions with the RNA when external stresses such as temperature or high salt mimicking osmotic imbalance are applied.
KMT2C-deficient tumors have elevated APOBEC mutagenesis and genomic instability in multiple cancers
Authors: Hu Xiaoju , Biswas Antara , De Subhajyoti
Published: July 2022

The histone methyltransferase KMT2C is among the most frequently mutated epigenetic modifier genes in cancer and plays an essential role in MRE11-dependent DNA replication fork restart. However, the effects of KMT2C deficiency on genomic instability during tumorigenesis are unclear. Analyzing 9,663 tumors from 30 cancer cohorts, we report that KMT2C mutant tumors have a significant excess of APOBEC mutational signatures in several cancer types. We show that KMT2C deficiency promotes APOBEC expression and deaminase activity, and compromises DNA replication speed and delays fork restart, facilitating APOBEC mutagenesis targeting single stranded DNA near stalled forks. APOBEC-mediated mutations primarily accumulate during early replication and tend to cluster along the genome and also in 3D nuclear domains. Excessive APOBEC mutational signatures in KMT2C mutant tumors correlate with elevated genome maintenance defects and signatures of homologous recombination deficiency. We propose that KMT2C deficiency is a likely promoter of APOBEC mutagenesis, which fosters further genomic instability during tumor progression in multiple cancer types.
Risk Factors for Acute Gastroenteritis Among Patients Hospitalized in 5 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, 2016–2019
Authors: Balachandran Neha , Cates Jordan , Kambhampati Anita K , Marconi Vincent C , Whitmire Alexis , Morales Elena , Brown Sheldon T , Lama Diki , Rodriguez-Barradas Maria C , Moronez Rosalba Gomez , Domiguez Gilberto Rivera , Beenhouwer David O , Poteshkina Aleksandra , Matolek Zlatko Anthony , Holodniy Mark , Lucero-Obusan Cynthia , Agarwal Madhuri , Cardemil Cristina , Parashar Umesh , Mirza Sara A
Published: July 2022

Background

In the United States, ∼179 million acute gastroenteritis (AGE) episodes occur annually. We aimed to identify risk factors for all-cause AGE, norovirus-associated vs non-norovirus AGE, and severe vs mild/moderate AGE among hospitalized adults.

Methods

We enrolled 1029 AGE cases and 624 non-AGE controls from December 1, 2016, to November 30, 2019, at 5 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Patient interviews and medical chart abstractions were conducted, and participant stool samples were tested using the BioFire Gastrointestinal Panel. Severe AGE was defined as a modified Vesikari score of ≥11. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess associations between potential risk factors and outcomes; univariate analysis was conducted for norovirus-associated AGE due to limited sample size.

Results

Among 1029 AGE cases, 551 (54%) had severe AGE and 44 (4%) were norovirus positive. Risk factors for all-cause AGE included immunosuppressive therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.6; 95% CI, 2.7–11.7), HIV infection (aOR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.8–8.5), severe renal disease (aOR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.8–5.2), and household contact with a person with AGE (aOR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.3–6.7). Household (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.6–12.0) and non-household contact (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.2–11.5) with AGE was associated with norovirus-associated AGE. Norovirus positivity (aOR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.3–8.8) was significantly associated with severe AGE.

Conclusions

Patients with immunosuppressive therapy, HIV, and severe renal disease should be monitored for AGE and may benefit from targeted public health messaging regarding AGE prevention. These results may also direct future public health interventions, such as norovirus vaccines, to specific high-risk populations.
Involvement of NGATHA-Like 1 Transcription Factor in Boron Transport under Low and High Boron Conditions
Authors: Tsednee Munkhtsetseg , Tanaka Mayuki , Giehl Ricardo Fh , von Wirén Nicolaus , Fujiwara Toru
Published: July 2022

NGATHA-Like 1 (NGAL1) transcription factor has been identified as a gene regulated through AUG-stop-mediated boron (B)-dependent translation stall; however, its function in B response remains unknown. Here, we show that NGAL1 plays an important role in the maintenance of B transport under both low- and high-B conditions in Arabidopsis thaliana. NGAL1 mRNA is accumulated predominantly in shoots in response to B stress. Independent ngal1 mutants carrying transferred DNA (T-DNA) and Ds-transposon insertions exhibit reduced B concentrations in aerial tissues and produce shortened and reduced number of siliques when B supply is limited. Furthermore, the expression of B transporter genes including nodulin 26-like intrinsic protein 6; 1 (NIP6;1), NIP5;1, NIP7;1 and borate exporter 1 (BOR1) is significantly decreased in ngal1 mutants under low-B condition, suggesting that NGAL1 is required for the transcript accumulation of B transporter genes to facilitate B transport and distribution under B limitation. Under high-B condition, ngal1 mutants exhibit reduced growth and increased B concentration in their shoots. The accumulation of BOR4 mRNA, a B transporter required for B efflux to soil, is significantly reduced in roots of ngal1 plants under high-B condition, suggesting that NGAL1 is involved in the upregulation of BOR4 in response to excess B. Together, our results indicate that NGAL1 is involved in the transcriptional regulation of B transporter genes to facilitate B transport and distribution under both low- and high-B conditions.
Arabidopsis Glucan Synthase-Like1 (GSL1) Is Required for Tolerance to Low-Calcium Conditions and Exhibits a Function Comparable to GSL10
Authors: Shikanai Yusuke , Takahashi Satomi , Enomoto Yusuke , Yamagami Mutsumi , Yamaguchi Katsushi , Shigenobu Shuji , Kamiya Takehiro , Fujiwara Toru
Published: July 2022

Crops that exhibit symptoms of calcium (Ca) deficiency constitute a major agricultural problem. Molecular breeding of resistant cultivars is a promising method for overcoming this problem. However, the involved genes must first be identified. Here, we show that the glucan synthase-like (GSL) 1 gene is essential for low-Ca tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. GSL1 is homologous to GSL10, which we previously showed was essential for low-Ca tolerance. Under low-Ca conditions, gsl1 mutants exhibit reduced growth and the onset of necrosis in new leaves. These symptoms are typical of Ca-deficient crops. A grafting experiment suggested that the shoot genotype, but not the root genotype, was important for the suppression of shoot necrosis. The ectopic accumulation of callose under low-Ca conditions was significantly reduced in gsl1 mutants compared with wild-type plants. Because the corresponding single-mutant phenotypes are similar, we investigated the interaction between GSL1 and GSL10 by testing the gsl1 gsl10 double mutant for sensitivity to low-Ca conditions. The double mutant exhibited a more severe phenotype than did the single mutants, indicating that the effects of GSL1 and GSL10 on low-Ca tolerance are additive. Because GSL genes are highly conserved within the plant kingdom, the GSL loci may be useful for breeding low-Ca tolerant crops.
Personal Responsibility for Health: Exploring Together with Lay Persons
Authors: Asada Yukiko , Brown Marion , McNally Mary , Murphy Andrea , Urquhart Robin , Warner Grace
Published: July 2022

Emerging parallel to long-standing, academic and policy inquiries on personal responsibility for health is the empirical assessment of lay persons’ views. Yet, previous studies rarely explored personal responsibility for health among lay persons as dynamic societal values. We sought to explore lay persons’ views on personal responsibility for health using the Fairness Dialogues, a method for lay persons to deliberate equity issues in health and health care through a small group dialogue using a hypothetical scenario. We conducted two 2-h Fairness Dialogues sessions (n = 15 in total) in Nova Scotia, Canada. We analyzed data using thematic analysis. Our analysis showed that personal choice played an important role in participants’ thinking about health. Underlying the concept of personal choice was considerations of freedom and societal debt. In participants’ minds, personal and social responsibilities co-existed and they were unwilling to determine health care priority based on personal responsibility. The Fairness Dialogues is a promising deliberative method to explore lay persons’ views as dynamic values to be developed through group dialogues as opposed to static, already-formed values waiting to be elicited.
Vibrational and electrochemical studies of pectin—a candidate towards environmental friendly lithium-ion battery development
Authors: Wu Phillip M , Chung Ching Yi , Chen Yan Ruei , Su Yu Hsuan , Chang-Liao Kuei Shu , Chi Po Wei , Paul Tanmoy , Chen Yun Ju , Chen Yeng Long , Wang Sea Fue , Badgujar Pooja , Chen Bo-Nian , Cheng Chia Liang , Wu Maw Kuen
Published: July 2022

Pectin polymers are considered for lithium-ion battery electrodes. To understand the performance of pectin as an applied buffer layer, the electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of pectin films are investigated. This work describes a methodology for creating pectin films, including both pristine pectin and Fe-doped pectin, which are optically translucent, and explores their potential for lithium-ion battery application. The transmission response is found extended in optimally Fe-doped pectin, and prominent modes for cation bonding are identified. Fe doping enhances the conductivity observed in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and from the magnetic response of pectin evidence for Fe3+ is identified. The Li-ion half-cell prepared with pectin as binder for anode materials such as graphite shows stable charge capacity over long cycle life, and with slightly higher specific capacity compare with the cell prepared using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as binder. A novel enhanced charging specific capacity at a high C-rate is observed in cells with pectin binder, suggesting that within a certain rate (∼5 C), pectin has higher capacity at faster charge rates. The pectin system is found as a viable base material for organic–inorganic synthesis studies.
Affinity maturation of TCR-like antibodies using phage display guided by structural modeling
Authors: Frick Rahel , Høydahl Lene S , Hodnebrug Ina , Vik Erik S , Dalhus Bjørn , Sollid Ludvig M , Gray Jeffrey J , Sandlie Inger , Løset Geir Åge
Published: July 2022

TCR-like antibodies represent a unique type of engineered antibodies with specificity toward pHLA, a ligand normally restricted to the sensitive recognition by T cells. Here, we report a phage display-based sequential development path of such antibodies. The strategy goes from initial lead identification through in silico informed CDR engineering in combination with framework engineering for affinity and thermostability optimization, respectively. The strategy allowed the identification of HLA-DQ2.5 gluten peptide-specific TCR-like antibodies with low picomolar affinity. Our method outlines an efficient and general method for development of this promising class of antibodies, which should facilitate their utility including translation to human therapy.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients With a First Episode of Psychosis: A Two-Year Longitudinal Follow-up Study
Authors: Bioque Miquel , Catarina Matias-Martins Ana , Llorca-Bofí Vicent , Mezquida Gisela , Cuesta Manuel J , Vieta Eduard , Amoretti Sílvia , Lobo Antonio , González-Pinto Ana , Moreno Carmen , Roldán Alexandra , Martinez-Aran Anabel , Baeza Immaculada , Bergé Daniel , García-Rizo Clemente , Mas Herrero Sergi , Bernardo Miquel ,   2EPs GROUP, Madero Santiago , González Jairo , Andreu-Bernabeu Álvaro , Recio Sandra , Selma Judit , Tonda Maria , García-Corres Edurne , Fernández-Sevillano Jéssica , De-la-Cámara Concepción , Modrego-Pardo Pedro , Escartí Mª José , Pérez-Rando Marta , Vázquez Guillermo , Cristeto Silvia , Sanchez-Moreno Jose , Gimenez-Palomo Anna , Castro-Fornieles Josefina , de la Serna Elena , Contreras Fernando , González-Blanco Leticia , A Sáiz Pilar , Gutiérrez-Fraile Miguel , Zabala Arantzazu , Sanchez-Pastor Luis , Rodriguez-Jimenez Roberto , Usall Judith , Butjosa Anna , Pomarol-Clotet Edith , Sarró Salvador , Ibáñez Ángela , Sánchez-Torres Ana M , Balanzá Vicent
Published: July 2022

Background and Hypothesis

A pro-inflammatory phenotype has been related to psychotic disorders. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an accessible biomarker that could be helpful to characterize this systemic inflammation state.

Study Design

This study evaluated the NLR in a cohort of 310 subjects with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) and a matched group of 215 healthy controls, recruited in 16 Spanish centers participating in the PEPs Project. We investigated the NLR measures over 2 years in a prospective, naturalistic study.

Study Results

At baseline, the FEP group showed a significant higher mean NLR compared to the control group (1.96 ± 1.11 vs 1.72 ± 0.74, P = 0.03). These ratio differences between groups grew at the 24 months follow-up visit (2.04 ± 0.86 vs 1.65 ± 0.65, P < 0.001). Within the FEP group, there were no significant differences in NLR across the follow-up visits, between genders or diagnosis groups (affective vs nonaffective). NLR values did not correlate with the Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale scores. The group of patients who did not reach remission criteria at the end of the study showed a significant higher NLR than those who remitted (2.1896 ± 0.85 vs 1.95 ± 0.87, P = 0.042). A significant correlation between antipsychotic doses and NLR was found at the two-years follow-up visit (r=0.461, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our results highlight the existence of an underlying predisposition of FEP patients to present an increased mean NLR. The use of NLR in clinical practice could be helpful to identify this inflammatory imbalance.