bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Health Literacy among Caregivers of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Family-Centred Empowerment Approach
Authors: Vahedian-Shahroodi Mohammad , Jafari Yasaman , Esmaily Habibullah , Shariati Mohammad , Tehrani Hadi
Published: July 2022

With regards to the importance of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the sufferers’ caregivers, and also by focusing on the importance of identifying factors influencing health literacy based on theoretical principles, it is necessary to detect the most effective factors involved in forming these direct or indirect effects. This study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and self-efficacy, and knowledge among caregivers of individuals with MS in Iran. One hundred and twenty caregivers of individuals with MS participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected through TOFHLA health literacy. Data were analysed using SPSS with independent t-tests, Pearson correlation and linear regression. More than 80 per cent of the participants had border and insufficient health literacy. Statistically, there was a significant relationship between health literacy level and self-efficacy, income source, economic situation and education. The results showed that for every 1 score increase in knowledge, self-efficacy, self-esteem and health literacy increased by 2.17, 0.62 and 2.71, respectively. Considering that there is a significant relationship between health literacy, self-efficacy and the knowledge of caregivers of people with MS, which plays a role in caring for patients, effective strategies should be developed in order to promote health literacy and consequently, the individuals' self-efficacy.
Covid-19 and heterogeneous restrictions: possible consequences for EU cities
Authors: Migheli Matteo
Published: July 2022

Covid-19 has obliged public authorities to enact several restrictions to citizens’ everyday life. Some of them were or will be transitory, while others may result in long-term changes in production organisation. The analysis offered in this paper links the restrictions to the level of economic freedom of the EU members. The aim is to understand whether these two aspects were related, and the potential legacy of the restrictions for economies and cities. Likely, only teleworking will survive the pandemic, but it might entail major changes in the organisation of production, especially for jobs located in cities.
Risk stratification of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis: the ILLUMINATE-CS registry
Authors: Nabeta Takeru , Kitai Takeshi , Naruse Yoshihisa , Taniguchi Tatsunori , Yoshioka Kenji , Tanaka Hidekazu , Okumura Takahiro , Sato Shuntaro , Baba Yuichi , Kida Keisuke , Tamaki Yodo , Matsumoto Shingo , Matsue Yuya
Published: July 2022

Aims

This study evaluated the prognosis and prognostic factors of patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS), an underdiagnosed disease.

Methods and results

Patients from a retrospective multicentre registry, diagnosed with CS between 2001 and 2017 based on the 2016 Japanese Circulation Society or 2014 Heart Rhythm Society criteria, were included. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, hospitalization for heart failure, and documented fatal ventricular arrhythmia events (FVAE), each constituting exploratory endpoints. Among 512 registered patients, 148 combined events (56 heart failure hospitalizations, 99 documented FVAE, and 49 all-cause deaths) were observed during a median follow-up of 1042 (interquartile range: 518–1917) days. The 10-year estimated event rates for the primary endpoint, all-cause death, heart failure hospitalizations, and FVAE were 48.1, 18.0, 21.1, and 31.9%, respectively. On multivariable Cox regression, a history of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation [hazard ratio (HR) 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59–4.00, P < 0.001], log-transformed brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (HR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07–1.53, P = 0.008), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR 0.94 per 5% increase, 95% CI 0.88–1.00, P = 0.046), and post-diagnosis radiofrequency ablation for VT (HR 2.65, 95% CI 1.02–6.86, P = 0.045) independently predicted the primary endpoint.

Conclusion

Although mortality is relatively low in CS, adverse events are common, mainly due to FVAE. Patients with low LVEF, with high BNP levels, with VT/fibrillation history, and requiring ablation to treat VT are at high risk.
Microbes live in a society, just like us
Authors: Wettstadt Sarah
Published: July 2022

About the scientific life of Philippe Sansonetti.
Multiscale 3-D imaging of the crustal electrical structure beneath the Caosiyao porphyry Mo deposit, North China
Authors: Xu Liuyang , Jin Sheng , Yin Yaotian , Wei Wenbo , Ye Gaofeng , Dong Hao , Zhang Letian , Jing Jian'en , Xie Chengliang
Published: July 2022

We proposed a stepwise procedure to obtain a multiscale 3-D resistivity model beneath the Caosiyao porphyry Mo deposit. Due to the joint inversion of data collected from 302 audio-frequency magnetotelluric and 33 broad-band magnetotelluric sites, this model can simultaneously combine both the shallow resolution and detection depth. The near-surface part of the model reveals the high-resolution structures. Specifically, a high-resistivity body (>500 Ω m) is interpreted as the late Jurassic porphyry intruding into the metamorphic basement. Two NE-trending high-conductivity (<100 Ω m) belts are interpreted as fault zones. The one in the southeast extends deeply (>15 km) is suggested to be a crust-scale weak zone and conduit for transporting ore-forming magmas and fluids. The other one is shallow (<2 km), but coincides with outcropped orebodies and alteration zones, so it may have played an important role in the hydrothermal alteration and mineralization. A predominant high-conductivity block (<30 Ω m) occurs within the lower part (∼15–30 km) of the model and connects with Caosiyao deposit through the inferred crust-scale fault. Its enhanced conductivity may result from the abundant fluids. We determined it had been a mid-lower crustal magma chamber providing space for the mixing of ore-forming magmas and fluids, as well as the element exchange during the mineralization. Combined with a previous magnetotelluric imaging, we suggested the heats and fluids needed for the mineralization might have been transported from a giant upper-mantle basaltic magma reservoir as indicated by a conductor beneath the Datong volcanic area through a lithosphere-scale shear zone. Summarily, the multiscale resistivity model provides us a chance to depict the multiscale metallogenic system for the Caosiyao porphyry Mo deposit from the aspect of electrical resistivity.
Pan-transcriptome assembly combined with multiple association analysis provides new insights into the regulatory network of specialized metabolites in the tea plant Camellia sinensis
Authors: Kong Weilong , Jiang Mengwei , Wang Yibin , Chen Shuai , Zhang Shengcheng , Lei Wenlong , Chai Kun , Wang Pengjie , Liu Renyi , Zhang Xingtan
Published: July 2022

Specialized metabolites not only play important roles in biotic and abiotic stress adaptation of tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) but also contribute to the unique flavor of tea, the most important nonalcoholic beverage. However, the molecular networks and major genes that regulate specialized metabolites in tea plants are not well understood. Here, we constructed a population-level pan-transcriptome of the tea plant leaf using second-leaf transcriptome data from 134 accessions to investigate global expression differences in the population, expression presence or absence variations (ePAVs), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pure Camellia sinensis var. assamica (CSA) and pure Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (CSS) accessions. Next, we used a genome-wide association study, a quantitative trait transcript study, and a transcriptome-wide association study to integrate genotypes, accumulation levels of specialized metabolites, and expression levels of pan-transcriptome genes to identify candidate regulatory genes for flavor-related metabolites and to construct a regulatory network for specialized metabolites in tea plants. The pan-transcriptome contains 30 482 expressed genes, 4940 and 5506 of which were newly annotated from a de novo transcriptome assembly without a reference and a genome reference-based assembly, respectively. DEGs and ePAVs indicated that CSA and CSS were clearly differentiated at the population transcriptome level, and they were closely related to abiotic tolerance and secondary metabolite synthesis phenotypes of CSA and CSS based on gene annotations. The regulatory network contained 212 specialized metabolites, 3843 candidate genes, and 3407 eQTLs, highlighting many pleiotropic candidate genes, candidate gene-rich eQTLs, and potential regulators of specialized metabolites. These included important transcription factors in the AP2/ERF-ERF, MYB, WD40, and bHLH families. CsTGY14G0001296, an ortholog of AtANS, appeared to be directly related to variation in proanthocyanins in the tea plant population, and the CsTGY11G0002074 gene encoding F3′5′H was found to contribute to the biased distribution of catechins between pure CSAs and pure CSSs. Together, these results provide a new understanding of the metabolite diversity in tea plants and offer new insights for more effective breeding of better-flavored tea varieties.
The forgotten group of donor-conceived persons
Authors: Pennings Guido
Published: July 2022

A forgotten group of donor-conceived persons is those who believe that gamete donation is morally wrong and should be prohibited. Although they share the two main arguments with the anti-anonymity group, i.e. the psychological harm as a consequence of lacking the necessary information for identity construction, and the violation of a fundamental human right, namely the right to be cared for by one’s genetic parents, their voices are largely ignored in the debate. The anti-donation group also has a large part of the ideology of the family in common with the anti-anonymity group. The paper concludes that the anti-donation position should be accepted as an equivalent position. Moreover, given the similarities between the two positions, people who accept the claims of the anti-anonymity donor-conceived persons should explain why the claims of the anti-donation group should not be honoured.
Trends in Medical Management of Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Nationwide Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Yuan William , Marwaha Jayson S , Rakowsky Shana T , Palmer Nathan P , Kohane Isaac S , Rubin David T , Brat Gabriel A , Feuerstein Joseph D
Published: July 2022

Background

With an increasing number of therapeutic options available for the management of ulcerative colitis (UC), the variability in treatment and prescribing patterns is not well known. While recent guidelines have provided updates on how these therapeutic options should be used, patterns of long-term use of these drugs over the past 2 decades remain unclear.

Methods

We analyzed a retrospective, nationwide cohort of more than 1.7 million prescriptions for trends in prescribing behaviors and to evaluate practices suggested in guidelines relating to ordering biologics, step-up therapy, and combination therapy. The primary outcome was 30-day steroid-free remission and secondary outcomes included hospitalization, cost, and additional steroid usage. A pipeline was created to identify cohorts of patients under active UC medical management grouped by prescribing strategies to evaluate comparative outcomes between strategies. Cox proportional hazards and multivariate regression models were utilized to assess postexposure outcomes and adjust for confounders.

Results

Among 6 major drug categories, we noted major baseline differences in patient characteristics at first exposure corresponding to disease activity. We noted earlier use of biologics in patient trajectories (762 days earlier relative to UC diagnosis, 2018 vs 2008; P < .001) and greater overall use of biologics over time (2.53× more in 2018 vs 2008; P < .00001) . Among biologic-naive patients, adalimumab was associated with slightly lower rates of remission compared with infliximab or vedolizumab (odds ratio, 0.92; P < .005). Comparisons of patients with early biologic initiation to patients who transitioned to biologics from 5-aminosalicylic acid suggest lower steroid consumption for early biologic initiation (-761 mg prednisone; P < .001). Combination thiopurine-biologic therapy was associated with higher odds of remission compared with biologic monotherapy (odds ratio, 1.36; P = .01).

Conclusions

As biologic drugs have become increasingly available for UC management, they have increasingly been used at earlier stages of disease management. Large-scale analyses of prescribing behaviors provide evidence supporting early use of biologics compared with step-up therapy and use of thiopurine and biologic combination therapy.
History-Dependent Deformations of Rat Vaginas under Inflation
Authors: Dubik Justin , Tartaglione Alfonsina , Miller Kristin S , Dillard David A , De Vita Raffaella
Published: July 2022

The vagina is a highly inhomogeneous, anisotropic, and viscoelastic organ that undergoes significant deformations in vivo. The mechanical attributes of this organ facilitate important physiological functions during menstruation, intercourse, and birthing. Despite the crucial mechanical role that the vagina plays within the female reproductive system, the deformations that the organ can sustain over time under constant pressure, in both the longitudinal direction (LD) and circumferential direction (CD), have not been fully characterized. This experimental study focuses on quantifying the creep properties of the vagina via ex vivo inflation testing using the rat as an animal model. Toward this end, rat vaginas were subjected to three consecutively increasing constant luminal pressures (28, 55, and 83 kPa) using a custom-built experimental setup and the resulting inhomogeneous deformations were measured using the digital image correlation (DIC) method. The vagina was found to deform significantly more in the CD than the LD at any constant pressure, suggesting that the organ primarily adapts to constant pressures by significantly changing the diameter rather that the length. The change in deformation over time was significantly higher during the first inflation test at a constant pressure of 28 kPa than during the second and third inflation tests at constant pressures of 55 and 83 kPa, respectively. The findings of this study on the mechanical behavior of the vagina could serve to advance our limited knowledge about the physiology and pathophysiology of this important reproductive organ.
On the Convergence of a Novel Time-Slicing Approximation Scheme for Feynman Path Integrals
Authors: Trapasso Salvatore Ivan
Published: July 2022

In this note we study the properties of a sequence of approximate propagators for the Schrödinger equation, in the spirit of Feynman’s path integrals. Precisely, we consider Hamiltonian operators arising as the Weyl quantization of a quadratic form in phase space, plus a bounded potential perturbation in the form of a pseudodifferential operator with a rough symbol. The corresponding Schrödinger propagator belongs to the class of generalized metaplectic operators, a fact that naturally motivates the introduction of a manageable time-slicing approximation scheme consisting of operators of the same type. By leveraging on this design and techniques of wave packet analysis we are able to prove several convergence results with precise rates in terms of the mesh size of the time slicing subdivision, even stronger then those that can be achieved under the same assumptions using the standard Trotter approximation scheme. In particular, we prove convergence in the norm operator topology in $L^2$, as well as pointwise convergence of the corresponding integral kernels for non-exceptional times.
Ceftolozane/tazobactam for hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia due to ESBL-producing Enterobacterales: a subgroup analysis of the ASPECT-NP clinical trial
Authors: Paterson David L , Bassetti Matteo , Motyl Mary , Johnson Matthew G , Castanheira Mariana , Jensen Erin H , Huntington Jennifer A , Yu Brian , Wolf Dominik J , Bruno Christopher J
Published: July 2022

Background

After the MERINO trial with piperacillin/tazobactam, the efficacy of β-lactam/tazobactam combinations in serious infections involving extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens merits special evaluation.

Objectives

To further confirm the efficacy of ceftolozane/tazobactam in treating hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) involving ESBL-positive and/or AmpC-producing Enterobacterales.

Methods

Retrospective subgroup analysis of the ASPECT-NP trial comparing ceftolozane/tazobactam with meropenem for treating HABP/VABP in mechanically ventilated adults (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02070757). ESBLs were identified using whole genome sequencing. Chromosomal AmpC production was quantified employing a high-sensitivity mRNA transcription assay.

Results

Overall, 61/726 (8.4%) participants had all baseline lower respiratory tract (LRT) isolates susceptible to both study treatments and ≥1 baseline ESBL-positive/AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales isolate. In this subgroup (ceftolozane/tazobactam n = 30, meropenem n = 31), baseline characteristics were generally comparable between treatment arms. The most frequent ESBL-positive and/or AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales isolates (ceftolozane/tazobactam n = 31, meropenem n = 35) overall were Klebsiella pneumoniae (50.0%), Escherichia coli (22.7%), and Proteus mirabilis (7.6%). The most prevalent ESBLs were CTX-M-15 (75.8%), other CTX-M (19.7%), and SHV (4.5%); 10.6% of isolates overproduced chromosomal AmpC. Overall, 28 day all-cause mortality was 6.7% (2/30) with ceftolozane/tazobactam and 32.3% (10/31) with meropenem (25.6% difference, 95% CI: 5.54 to 43.84). Clinical cure rate at test-of-cure, 7–14 days after end of therapy, was 73.3% (22/30) with ceftolozane/tazobactam and 61.3% (19/31) with meropenem (12.0% difference, 95% CI: −11.21 to +33.51). Per-isolate microbiological response at test-of-cure was 64.5% (20/31) with ceftolozane/tazobactam and 74.3% (26/35) with meropenem (−9.8% difference, 95% CI: −30.80 to +12.00).

Conclusions

These data confirm ceftolozane/tazobactam as an effective treatment option for HABP/VABP involving ceftolozane/tazobactam-susceptible ESBL-positive and/or AmpC-producing Enterobacterales.
Molecular and biochemical characterization of novel PAM-like MBL variants, PAM-2 and PAM-3, from clinical isolates of Pseudomonas tohonis
Authors: Yamada Kageto , Yoshizumi Ayumi , Nagasawa Tatsuya , Aoki Kotaro , Sasaki Masakazu , Murakami Hinako , Morita Toshisuke , Ishii Yoshikazu , Tateda Kazuhiro
Published: July 2022

Background

There is no comprehensive study on PAM-like MBLs.

Objectives

Our aim was to characterize novel B3 MBL variants, PAM-2 and PAM-3, from Pseudomonas tohonis clinical isolates.

Methods

We evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility and the MBL gene composition of three novel P. tohonis clinical isolates identified at a Japanese hospital, using the broth microdilution method and WGS, respectively. We characterized the PAM-2 and PAM-3 proteins using recombinant protein expression and biochemical evaluations.

Results

Low carbapenem MICs (meropenem MIC = 0.125–1 mg/L) were observed for all three P. tohonis isolates; however, the isolates produced MBLs. We identified blaPAM-2 and blaPAM-3 as potential genes, belonging to a novel subclass of B3 MBLs. Their genomic sequence was similar to that of blaPAM-1 from Pseudomonas alcaligenes. PAM-2 and PAM-3 comprised 287 amino acids and exhibited 90% amino acid identity with PAM-1, 73% identity with POM-1 from Pseudomonas otitidis and 61% identity with L1 from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Biochemical evaluations of recombinant PAM-2 and PAM-3 revealed similar kcat/Km ratios and demonstrated catalytic activity against all the tested β-lactams, except for aztreonam. In addition, the kcat/Km ratio for imipenem was 40-fold lower than that for meropenem.

Conclusions

P. tohonis harbours a species-specific PAM-family MBL gene. This enzyme has higher hydrolytic activity against meropenem compared with that against imipenem.
Evaluation of the French surveillance system for epidemiological surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the community and nursing homes
Authors: Collineau Lucie , Godebert Euriel , Thibaut Sonia , Lemenand Olivier , Birgand Gabriel , Caillon Jocelyne , Bourely Clémence
Published: July 2022

Background

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been widely recognized as a major public health issue, which can be addressed through effective AMR surveillance systems. In 2018, a national surveillance programme for AMR in the community and nursing homes called Mission PRIMO was established in France. It builds on an existing network called MedQual-Ville that had been monitoring AMR mainly in the west of France community since 2003.

Objectives and Methods

To evaluate the MedQual-Ville surveillance activities and to formulate practical recommendations for improvement, using a semi-quantitative evaluation framework called OASIS.

Results

The evaluation showed that MedQual-Ville is overall a well-performing surveillance system. Its major strengths rely on excellent coordination and internal communication with clinical laboratories that participate on a voluntary basis. Surveillance objectives and procedures are clear to all participants. Hence, the quality and reliability of the data being produced is very high. At this stage, the major area for improvement is representativeness, with poor coverage achieved in several densely populated areas. Besides, the utility and impact of surveillance data could be improved by strengthening communication towards end-users, especially local prescribers.

Conclusions

There is currently no European programme or guidance for AMR surveillance in the community and nursing homes. Our results partly fill this gap, by evaluating how surveillance is being performed in France and providing recommendations that could be applicable to other countries with similar health systems. This work also highlighted the relevance of OASIS for evaluation of surveillance systems in the human sector.
Cloning and expression of the thioredoxin gene in Cherax quadricarinatus (Von Martens, 1868) (Decapoda: Astacidea: Parastacidae) under bacterial stress
Authors: Xing Zenghou , Liu Zhuoliang , Liu Jinfeng , Xu Youhou , Lu Min , Felix Dan Solomon , Zhang Hong , Wang Pengliang , Yang Jialin , Zhu Peng
Published: July 2022

As a member of the thioredoxin (Trx) system, the Trx1 gene plays essential roles in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The function of Trx in bacterial infections in the freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (Von Martens, 1868), however, has not been clarified. We cloned thioredoxin 1 (CqTrx1) from C. quadrangularis, and its expression was investigated. The results showed that the coding sequence of the CqTrx1 gene was 318 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 105 amino acids, contains the conserved motif CGPC (Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys), and was 75.24% and 66.67% identical to sequences of the shrimps Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879) and Fenneropenaeus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765), respectively. The CqTrx1 transcript existed in all organs tested, with the highest expression level in the intestinal tract and the lowest expression level in the gonads. Under the stress of Vibrio algolyticus, V. parahaemolyticus, or Aeromonas hydrophila, the expression level of CqTrx in the gills was 3.1, 4, and 7 times that in the control group at 3, 9, and 24 h, respectively, indicating that CqTrx1 plays an essential role in shrimp antibacterial immunity.
The death of Roe and the future of ex vivo embryos
Authors: Greely Henry T
Published: July 2022

This article examines the possible effects of the end of a federal constitutional right to abortion on clinical practice and research involving ex vivo human embryos. It first analyzes the likely outcomes of Dobbs v. Mississippi, concluding the Supreme Court will either overrule the federal constitutional abortion right or restrict it in a way that leads to its rapid disappearance. Next, the article discusses a possible increase in use of preimplantation genetic testing as one result. It then forecasts the likely ramifications of such a court decision on state legislation affecting ex vivo human embryos in two ways. It examines the possibility that victory over Roe will inspire embryo support groups to push for limitations on in vitro fertilization, perhaps on its destruction of embryos and more likely on permissible grounds for prospective parents to use in choosing embryos for transfer. It ends by discussing the prospects of new laws in some states banning or limiting research with human embryos.
Larvicidal Activity of Two Rutaceae Plant Essential Oils and Their Constituents Against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Multiple Formulations
Authors: Jian Rongchao , Lin Yuan , Li Yuling , Wu Weifeng , Ren Xiaofei , Liang Zhanyuan , Kong Lingjia , Cai Jinglin , Lao Canyao , Wu Min , Chen Wenhua , Chen Jing , Hong Weiqian David , Sheng Zhaojun
Published: July 2022

Aedes albopictus (Skuse) is a vector of several arboviruses, such as dengue, chikungunya, West Nile, and Zika viruses. At present, the use of synthetic insecticides is the main vector control strategy. However, the widespread and long-term use of insecticides has aroused several problems, including insecticide resistance, environmental pollution, and non-target species effects, thereby encouraging researchers to search for new alternatives derived from natural products. In recent decades, essential oils (EOs) as natural alternatives to control mosquitoes have received increasing attention. In the initial larvicidal activity screen, two Rutaceae plants (Citrus aurantium and Citrus paradisi) EOs were selected and evaluated for killing Ae. albopictus larvae. The LC50 values of C. aurantium and C. paradisi EOs against Ae. albopictus were 91.7 and 100.9 ppm, respectively. The main components of C. aurantium EO include diethyl o-phthalate (37.32%), limonene (10.04%), and methyl dihydrojasmonate (6.48%). The main components of C. paradisi EO include limonene (60.51%), diethyl o-phthalate (11.75%), linalool (7.90%), and styralyl acetate (6.28%). Among these main components of the two EOs, limonene showed potent larvicidal activity, with the LC50 value of 39.7 ppm. The nanoemulsions of limonene were prepared and characterized. The duration of larvicidal activity was greater in the limonene nanoemulsions than when limonene was applied in solvent. This study demonstrates that EOs of plants in family Rutaceae are a potential resource to develop new larvicides, and nanoemulsification is an effective method for improving the physicochemical properties and efficacy of natural products as larvicides.
Assessing childhood unintentional injury literature in Africa and Zimbabwe: a protocol for a scoping literature review
Authors: Mazingi Dennis , Paterson Amy , Muguti Godfrey , Peter Noel , Bandyopadhyay Soham , Handa Ashok , Lakhoo Kokila
Published: July 2022

Injury is a looming calamity whose burden is growing rapidly and threatens to become an emergency in affected nations. The burden is experienced disproportionately in low and middle countries but attention in these countries has been focused on competing priorities of infectious diseases. Despite this, the burden of trauma deaths from injury now exceeds the deaths from human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis and malaria combined. This trend is expected to continue as a result of continued epidemiological transition as well as demographic changes that will see Africa's paediatric and adolescent population grow to a billion. The objective of this scoping review is to map the existing literature in unintentional injury in children in Africa. We aim to highlight areas where there is a gap in knowledge and provide an impetus for further research in this area in the continent. A systematic search of white and grey literature will be undertaken.
Early Phonological Traditions in a Contemporary Hebrew Sociolect
Authors: Henshke Yehudit
Published: July 2022

The article traces the place of, and changing attitudes in the research toward, the Mizrahi sociolect of Modern Hebrew in Israel. Initially defined by Haim Blanc in the 1950s as paralleling Askhenazoid Hebrew, Blanc’s sociolinguistic definition did not evoke scholarly interest. Many scholars noted the widespread adoption of the Ashkenazoid variety and even predicted the disappearance of the Mizrahi sociolect. A shift came in the twenty-first century. A comprehensive field study by the author showed the continued, widespread existence and distribution of the Mizrahi sociolect and its impact in many linguistic spheres. This article focuses on chosen phonological issues from Mizrahi Hebrew: the realization of pharyngeals, and of ṣere, and the preservation of precise, early Hebrew forms: šeʿur and the vowel in the second radical of III-y verbs, such as x̠iketi.
Prevalence, antifungal susceptibility and etiology of vulvovaginal candidiasis in sub–Saharan Africa: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression
Authors: Mushi Martha F , Olum Ronald , Bongomin Felix
Published: July 2022

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a commonly occurring form of mucocutaneous candidiasis in women. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the prevalence, antifungal susceptibility, and etiology of VVC in sub–Saharan Africa (SSA). A search of studies was conducted in seven online databases and the reference lists of selected studies. Observational studies published between January 2000, to July 2021, that met the eligibility criteria were included. Meta-analyses with random and fixed-effects model, and subgroup analyses were performed using STATA 16.0. A total of 41 studies including 15 723 participants were included in the meta-analyses. The pooled prevalence of VVC was 33% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 28–38%, I2 = 98%, P < 0.001). Pregnant women had 6% higher odds of having VVC compared to non-pregnant women Odds Ratio (OR): 1.06, 95% CI: 0.99–1.13, P = 0.107). The odds of diagnosing VVC were 40% higher in symptomatic patients than general study population (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.3–1.5, P < 0.0001). In 17 studies, a total of 2112 isolates of Candida species were reported: 1514 (71.7%) Candida albicans, 510 (24.1%) non-albicans Candida (NAC) species and 88 (4.2%) unidentified Candida spp. Of the NAC species detected, Candida glabrata (40.9%, n = 209), Candida krusei (21.2%, n = 108), and Candida tropicalis (22.7%, n = 116) were the most common. Resistance to fluconazole in Candida albicans using disc diffusion methods ranged from 6.8% in Cameroon to 53.7% in Ethiopia. One-third of women in SSA have VVC, mainly caused by C. albicans. Data on the susceptibility of the Candida isolates to commonly used antifungal agents is limited and warrants further research.

Lay Summary

The overarching aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the prevalence, antifungal susceptibility, and causative species of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in sub–Saharan Africa (SSA). A detailed search of studies was conducted to retrieve eligible observational studies published ‘between’ January 1, 2000, to July 31, 2021. From the 41 selected studies including 15 723 participants, VVC was found in 33% of the participants. The chances of diagnosing VVC was 40% higher in symptomatic patients compared to the general study population. In 71.7% of the cases, C. albicans was the causative species of VVC. We conclude that about one-third of women in SSA have VVC, mainly caused by C. albicans.
Impact of massive binary star and cosmic evolution on gravitational wave observations – II. Double compact object rates and properties
Authors: Broekgaarden Floor S , Berger Edo , Stevenson Simon , Justham Stephen , Mandel Ilya , Chruślińska Martyna , van Son Lieke A C , Wagg Tom , Vigna-Gómez Alejandro , de Mink Selma E , Chattopadhyay Debatri , Neijssel Coenraad J
Published: July 2022

Making the most of the rapidly increasing population of gravitational-wave detections of black hole (BH) and neutron star (NS) mergers requires comparing observations with population synthesis predictions. In this work, we investigate the combined impact from the key uncertainties in population synthesis modelling of the isolated binary evolution channel: the physical processes in massive binary-star evolution and the star formation history as a function of metallicity, Z, and redshift z, $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$. Considering these uncertainties, we create 560 different publicly available model realizations and calculate the rate and distribution characteristics of detectable BHBH, BHNS, and NSNS mergers. We find that our stellar evolution and $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$ variations can combined impact the predicted intrinsic and detectable merger rates by factors in the range 102–104. We find that BHBH rates are dominantly impacted by $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$ variations, NSNS rates by stellar evolution variations and BHNS rates by both. We then consider the combined impact from all uncertainties considered in this work on the detectable mass distribution shapes (chirp mass, individual masses, and mass ratio). We find that the BHNS mass distributions are predominantly impacted by massive binary-star evolution changes. For BHBH and NSNS, we find that both uncertainties are important. We also find that the shape of the delay time and birth metallicity distributions are typically dominated by the choice of $\mathcal {S}(Z,z)$ for BHBH, BHNS, and NSNS. We identify several examples of robust features in the mass distributions predicted by all 560 models, such that we expect more than 95 per cent of BHBH detections to contain a BH $\gtrsim 8\, \rm {M}_{\odot }$ and have mass ratios ≲ 4. Our work demonstrates that it is essential to consider a wide range of allowed models to study double compact object merger rates and properties. Conversely, larger observed samples could allow us to decipher currently unconstrained stages of stellar and binary evolution.
Antenna beam characterization for the global 21-cm experiment LEDA and its impact on signal model parameter reconstruction
Authors: Spinelli M , Kyriakou G , Bernardi G , Bolli P , Greenhill L J , Fialkov A , Garsden H
Published: July 2022

Cosmic dawn, the onset of star formation in the early universe, can in principle be studied via the 21-cm transition of neutral hydrogen, for which a sky-averaged absorption signal, redshifted to MHz frequencies, is predicted to be O(10–100) mK. Detection requires separation of the 21-cm signal from bright chromatic foreground emission due to Galactic structure, and the characterization of how it couples to instrumental response. In this work, we present characterization of antenna gain patterns for the Large-aperture Experiment to detect the Dark Ages (LEDA) via simulations, assessing the effects of the antenna ground-plane geometries used, and measured soil properties. We then investigate the impact of beam pattern uncertainties on the reconstruction of a Gaussian absorption feature. Assuming the pattern is known and correcting for the chromaticity of the instrument, the foregrounds can be modelled with a log-polynomial, and the 21-cm signal identified with high accuracy. However, uncertainties on the soil properties lead to percentage changes in the chromaticity that can bias the signal recovery. The bias can be up to a factor of two in amplitude and up to few  per cent in the frequency location. These effects do not appear to be mitigated by larger ground planes, conversely gain patterns with larger ground planes exhibit more complex frequency structure, significantly compromising the parameter reconstruction. Our results, consistent with findings from other antenna design studies, emphasize the importance of chromatic response and suggest caution in assuming log-polynomial foreground models in global signal experiments.
Nocardia beijingensis Isolated From an Adrenal Abscess in a Diabetic Host
Authors: Pender Melissa , Mehta Ninad , Hamilton Blake D , Swaminathan Sankar
Published: July 2022

We describe the case of a 57-year-old man with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus who presented with 30 days of left-sided abdominal pain. He was found to have a left adrenal abscess and underwent adrenalectomy. Intraoperative cultures grew Nocardia beijingensis, which is an uncommonly identified Nocardia species rarely affecting immunocompetent patients. We review the published literature on cases of N beijingensis among immunocompetent patients. This is the first report summarizing the diagnosis and management of N beijingensis isolated from an adrenal abscess.
Prevalence of and Factors Associated With Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Condition in the 12 Months After the Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Adults Followed in General Practices in Germany
Authors: Kostev Karel , Smith Lee , Koyanagi Ai , Jacob Louis
Published: July 2022

Background

Little is known about the epidemiology of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) condition (PCC) in primary care practices. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and the factors associated with PCC in the 12 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19 in patients followed in general practices in Germany.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included adults aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed for the first time with COVID-19 (index date) in 1 of 855 general practices in Germany between October 2020 and August 2021 (Disease Analyzer database; IQVIA). The outcome was the occurrence of PCC 91 to 365 days after the index date. Covariates included age, sex, and comorbidities documented in the 12 months before the index date. The association between covariates and PCC was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model.

Results

We included 51 630 patients in this study (mean age, 47.1 [standard deviation, 19.8] years; 54.3% women). The prevalence of PCC was 8.3%. Age >30 years (odds ratios [ORs] ranging from 1.40 for 31–45 years to 2.10 for 46–60 years) and female sex (OR = 1.23) were positively and significantly associated with PCC compared with age 18–30 years and male sex, respectively. There was also a significant relationship of PCC with asthma (OR = 1.38), reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorders (OR = 1.24), and somatoform disorders (OR = 1.23).

Conclusions

Post-COVID-19 condition was found in the 12 months after the diagnosis of COVID-19 in approximately 8% of adults from general practices in Germany. More data from other settings are warranted to confirm these findings.
Ovule siRNAs methylate protein-coding genes in trans
Authors: Burgess Diane , Chow Hiu Tung , Grover Jeffrey W , Freeling Michael , Mosher Rebecca A
Published: July 2022

Twenty-four-nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) maintain asymmetric DNA methylation at thousands of euchromatic transposable elements in plant genomes in a process called RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). RdDM is dispensable for growth and development in Arabidopsis thaliana, but is required for reproduction in other plants, such as Brassica rapa. The 24-nt siRNAs are abundant in maternal reproductive tissue, due largely to overwhelming expression from a few loci in the ovule and developing seed coat, termed siren loci. A recent study showed that 24-nt siRNAs produced in the anther tapetal tissue can methylate male meiocyte genes in trans. Here we show that in B. rapa, a similar process takes place in female tissue. siRNAs are produced from gene fragments embedded in some siren loci, and these siRNAs can trigger methylation in trans at related protein-coding genes. This trans-methylation is associated with silencing of some target genes and may be responsible for seed abortion in RdDM mutants. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a consensus sequence in at least two families of DNA transposons is associated with abundant siren expression, most likely through recruitment of CLASSY3, a putative chromatin remodeler. This research describes a mechanism whereby RdDM influences gene expression and sheds light on the role of RdDM during plant reproduction.
Crop genetic diversity uncovers metabolites, elements, and gene networks predicted to be associated with high plant biomass yields in maize
Authors: Hajheidari Mohsen , Gerlach Nina , Dorau Kristof , Omidbakhshfard M Amin , Pesch Lina , Hofmann Jörg , Hallab Asis , Ponce-Soto Gabriel Y , Kuhalskaya Anastasiya , Medeiros David B , Bourceret Amélia ,   the RECONSTRUCT Consortium, Usadel Björn , Mayer Jochen , Fernie Alisdair , Mansfeldt Tim , Sonnewald Uwe , Bucher Marcel
Published: July 2022

Rapid population growth and increasing demand for food, feed, and bioenergy in these times of unprecedented climate change require breeding for increased biomass production on the world's croplands. To accelerate breeding programs, knowledge of the relationship between biomass features and underlying gene networks is needed to guide future breeding efforts. To this end, large-scale multiomics datasets were created with genetically diverse maize lines, all grown in long-term organic and conventional cropping systems. Analysis of the datasets, integrated using regression modeling and network analysis revealed key metabolites, elements, gene transcripts, and gene networks, whose contents during vegetative growth substantially influence the build-up of plant biomass in the reproductive phase. We found that S and P content in the source leaf and P content in the root during the vegetative stage contributed the most to predicting plant performance at the reproductive stage. In agreement with the Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, the cis-motifs and identified transcription factors associated with upregulated genes under phosphate deficiency showed great diversity in the molecular response to phosphate deficiency in selected lines. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that genotype-dependent uptake, assimilation, and allocation of essential nutrient elements (especially C and N) during vegetative growth under phosphate starvation plays an important role in determining plant biomass by controlling root traits related to nutrient uptake. These integrative multiomics results revealed key factors underlying maize productivity and open new opportunities for efficient, rapid, and cost-effective plant breeding to increase biomass yield of the cereal crop maize under adverse environmental factors.
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza coinfection throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: an assessment of coinfection rates, cohort characteristics, and clinical outcomes
Authors: Pawlowski Colin , Silvert Eli , O'Horo John C , Lenehan Patrick J , Challener Doug , Gnass Esteban , Murugadoss Karthik , Ross Jason , Speicher Leigh , Geyer Holly , Venkatakrishnan A J , Badley Andrew D , Soundararajan Venky
Published: July 2022

Case reports of patients infected with COVID-19 and influenza virus (“flurona”) have raised questions around the prevalence and severity of coinfection. Using data from HHS Protect Public Data Hub, NCBI Virus, and CDC FluView, we analyzed trends in SARS-CoV-2 and influenza hospitalized coinfection cases and strain prevalences. We also characterized coinfection cases across the Mayo Clinic Enterprise from January 2020 to April 2022. We compared expected and observed coinfection case counts across different waves of the pandemic and assessed symptoms and outcomes of coinfection and COVID-19 monoinfection cases after propensity score matching on clinically relevant baseline characteristics. From both the Mayo Clinic and nationwide datasets, the observed coinfection rate for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza has been higher during the Omicron era (2021 December 14 to 2022 April 2) compared to previous waves, but no higher than expected assuming infection rates are independent. At the Mayo Clinic, only 120 coinfection cases were observed among 197,364 SARS-CoV-2 cases. Coinfected patients were relatively young (mean age: 26.7 years) and had fewer serious comorbidities compared to monoinfected patients. While there were no significant differences in 30-day hospitalization, ICU admission, or mortality rates between coinfected and matched COVID-19 monoinfection cases, coinfection cases reported higher rates of symptoms including congestion, cough, fever/chills, headache, myalgia/arthralgia, pharyngitis, and rhinitis. While most coinfection cases observed at the Mayo Clinic occurred among relatively healthy individuals, further observation is needed to assess outcomes among subpopulations with risk factors for severe COVID-19 such as older age, obesity, and immunocompromised status.
Preferences and Performance in Simultaneous First-Price Auctions: A Structural Analysis
Authors: Gentry Matthew , Komarova Tatiana , Schiraldi Pasquale
Published: July 2022

Motivated by the prevalence of simultaneous bidding across a wide range of auction markets, we develop and estimate a model of strategic interaction in simultaneous first-price auctions when objects are heterogeneous and bidders have non-additive preferences over combinations. We establish non-parametric identification of primitives in this model under standard exclusion restrictions, providing a basis for both estimation and testing of preferences over combinations. We then apply our model to data on Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) highway procurement auctions, quantifying the magnitude of cost synergies and evaluating the performance of the simultaneous first-price mechanism in the MDOT marketplace.
Inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV in arthritis: dual effect on Th17 cell activation and osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Koga Tomohiro , Umeda Masataka , Yoshida Nobuya , Satyam Abhigyan , Jha Meenakshi , Scherlinger Marc , Bhargava Rhea , Tsokos Maria G , Sato Tomohito , Furukawa Kaori , Endo Yushiro , Fukui Shoichi , Iwamoto Naoki , Abiru Norio , Okita Minoru , Ito Masako , Kawakami Atsushi , Tsokos George C
Published: July 2022

Objective

To investigate the role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMK4) in the development of joint injury in a mouse model of arthritis and patients with RA.

Methods

Camk4-deficient, Camk4flox/floxLck-Cre, and mice treated with CaMK4 inhibitor KN-93 or KN-93 encapsulated in nanoparticles tagged with CD4 or CD8 antibodies were subjected to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Inflammatory cytokine levels, humoral immune response, synovitis, and T-cell activation were recorded. CAMK4 gene expression was measured in CD4+ T cells from healthy participants and patients with active RA. Micro-CT and histology were used to assess joint pathology. CD4+ and CD14+ cells in patients with RA were subjected to Th17 or osteoclast differentiation, respectively.

Results

CaMK4-deficient mice subjected to CIA displayed improved clinical scores and decreased numbers of Th17 cells. KN-93 treatment significantly reduced joint destruction by decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Camk4flox/floxLck-Cre mice and mice treated with KN93-loaded CD4 antibody-tagged nanoparticles developed fewer Th17 cells and less severe arthritis. CaMK4 inhibition mitigated IL-17 production by CD4+ cells in patients with RA. The number of in vitro differentiated osteoclasts from CD14+ cells in patients with RA was significantly decreased with CaMK4 inhibitors.

Conclusion

Using global and CD4-cell-targeted pharmacologic approaches and conditionally deficient mice, we demonstrate that CaMK4 is important in the development of arthritis. Using ex vivo cell cultures from patients with RA, CaMK4 is important for both Th17 generation and osteoclastogenesis. We propose that CaMK4 inhibition represents a new approach to control the development of arthritis.