bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of a nearby 1700 km s−1 star ejected from the Milky Way by Sgr A*
Authors: Koposov Sergey E , Boubert Douglas , Li Ting S , Erkal Denis , Da Costa Gary S , Zucker Daniel B , Ji Alexander P , Kuehn Kyler , Lewis Geraint F , Mackey Dougal , Simpson Jeffrey D , Shipp Nora , Wan Zhen , Belokurov Vasily , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Martell Sarah L , Nordlander Thomas , Pace Andrew B , De Silva Gayandhi M , Wang Mei-Yu ,   (S5 collaboration)
Published: November 2019

We present the serendipitous discovery of the fastest main-sequence hyper-velocity star (HVS) by the Southern Stellar Stream Spectroscopic Survey (S5). The star S5-HVS1 is a ∼2.35 M⊙ A-type star located at a distance of ∼9 kpc from the Sun and has a heliocentric radial velocity of 1017 ± 2.7 $\mathrm{\, km\, s^{-1}}$ without any signature of velocity variability. The current 3D velocity of the star in the Galactic frame is 1755 ± 50 $\mathrm{\, km\, s^{-1}}$. When integrated backwards in time, the orbit of the star points unambiguously to the Galactic Centre, implying that S5-HVS1 was kicked away from Sgr A* with a velocity of ∼1800 $\mathrm{\, km\, s^{-1}}$ and travelled for 4.8 Myr to its current location. This is so far the only HVS confidently associated with the Galactic Centre. S5-HVS1 is also the first hyper-velocity star to provide constraints on the geometry and kinematics of the Galaxy, such as the Solar motion Vy,⊙ = 246.1 ± 5.3 $\mathrm{\, km\, s^{-1}}$ or position R0 = 8.12 ± 0.23 kpc. The ejection trajectory and transit time of S5-HVS1 coincide with the orbital plane and age of the annular disc of young stars at the Galactic Centre, and thus may be linked to its formation. With the S5-HVS1 ejection velocity being almost twice the velocity of other hyper-velocity stars previously associated with the Galactic Centre, we question whether they have been generated by the same mechanism or whether the ejection velocity distribution has been constant over time.
Multiwavelength cluster mass estimates and machine learning
Authors: Cohn J D , Battaglia Nicholas
Published: November 2019

One emerging application of machine learning methods is the inference of galaxy cluster masses. In this note, machine learning is used to directly combine five simulated multiwavelength measurements in order to find cluster masses. This is in contrast to finding mass estimates for each observable, normally by using a scaling relation, and then combining these scaling law based mass estimates using a likelihood. We also illustrate how the contributions of each observable to the accuracy of the resulting mass measurement can be compared via model-agnostic Importance Permutation values. Thirdly, as machine learning relies upon the accuracy of the training set in capturing observables, their correlations, and the observational selection function, and as the machine learning training set originates from simulations, two tests of whether a simulation’s correlations are consistent with observations are suggested and explored as well.
Modelling strains and stresses in continuously stratified rotating neutron stars
Authors: Giliberti E , Cambiotti G , Antonelli M , Pizzochero P M
Published: November 2019

We introduce a Newtonian model for the deformations of a compressible, auto-gravitating and continuously stratified neutron star. The present framework can be applied to a number of astrophysical scenarios as it allows to account for a great variety of loading forces. In this first analysis, the model is used to study the impact of a frozen adiabatic index in the estimate of rotation-induced deformations: we assume a polytropic equation of state for the matter at equilibrium but, since chemical reactions may be slow, the perturbations with respect to the unstressed configuration are modeled by using a different adiabatic index. We quantify the impact of a departure of the adiabatic index from its equilibrium value on the stressed stellar configuration and we find that a small perturbation can cause large variations both in displacements and strains. As a first practical application, we estimate the strain developed between two large glitches in the Vela pulsar showing that, starting from an initial unstressed configuration, it is not possible to reach the breaking threshold of the crust, namely to trigger a starquake. In this sense, the hypothesis that starquakes could trigger the unpinning of superfluid vortices is challenged and, for the quake to be a possible trigger, the solid crust must never fully relax after a glitch, making the sequence of starquakes in a neutron star an history-dependent process.
The GALAH Survey: Chemically tagging the Fimbulthul stream to the globular cluster ω Centauri
Authors: Simpson Jeffrey D , Martell Sarah L , Da Costa Gary , Horner Jonathan , Wyse Rosemary F G , Ting Yuan-Sen , Asplund Martin , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Buder Sven , De Silva Gayandhi M , Freeman Ken C , Kos Janez , Lewis Geraint F , Lind Karin , Sharma Sanjib , Zucker Daniel B , Zwitter Tomaž , Čotar Klemen , Cottrell Peter L , Nordlander Thomas
Published: November 2019

Using kinematics from Gaia and the large elemental abundance space of the second data release of the GALAH survey, we identify two new members of the Fimbulthul stellar stream, and chemically tag them to massive, multimetallic globular cluster ω Centauri. Recent analysis of the second data release of Gaia had revealed the Fimbulthul stellar stream in the halo of the Milky Way. It had been proposed that the stream is associated with the ω Cen, but this proposition relied exclusively upon the kinematics and metallicities of the stars to make the association. In this work, we find our two new members of the stream to be metal-poor stars that are enhanced in sodium and aluminium, typical of second population globular cluster stars, but not otherwise seen in field stars. Furthermore, the stars share the s-process abundance pattern seen in ω Cen, which is rare in field stars. Apart from one star within 1.5 deg of ω Cen, we find no other stars observed by GALAH spatially near ω Cen or the Fimbulthul stream that could be kinematically and chemically linked to the cluster. Chemically tagging stars in the Fimbulthul stream to ω Cen confirms the earlier work, and further links this tidal feature in the Milky Way halo to ω Cen.
Extracting the 21cm Global Signal using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Choudhury Madhurima , Datta Abhirup , Chakraborty Arnab
Published: November 2019

The study of the cosmic Dark Ages, Cosmic Dawn, and Epoch of Reionization (EoR) using the all-sky averaged redshifted HI 21cm signal, are some of the key science goals of most of the ongoing or upcoming experiments, for example, EDGES, SARAS, and the SKA. This signal can be detected by averaging over the entire sky, using a single radio telescope, in the form of a Global signal as a function of only redshifted HI 21cm frequencies. One of the major challenges faced while detecting this signal is the dominating, bright foreground. The success of such detection lies in the accuracy of the foreground removal. The presence of instrumental gain fluctuations, chromatic primary beam, radio frequency interference (RFI) and the Earth’s ionosphere corrupts any observation of radio signals from the Earth. Here, we propose the use of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to extract the faint redshifted 21cm Global signal buried in a sea of bright Galactic foregrounds and contaminated by different instrumental models. The most striking advantage of using ANN is the fact that, when the corrupted signal is fed into a trained network, we can simultaneously extract the signal as well as foreground parameters very accurately. Our results show that ANN can detect the Global signal with $\gtrsim 92 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ accuracy even in cases of mock observations where the instrument has some residual time-varying gain across the spectrum.
The Fundamental Plane of cluster spheroidal galaxies at z ∼ 1.3: evidence for mass-dependent evolution
Authors: Saracco P , Gargiulo A , La Barbera F , Annunziatella M , Marchesini D
Published: November 2019

We present spectroscopic observations obtained at the Large Binocular Telescope in the field of the cluster XLSSJ0223−0436 at z = 1.22. We confirm 12 spheroids cluster members and determine stellar velocity dispersion for 7 of them. We combine these data with those in the literature for clusters RXJ0848+4453 at z = 1.27 (8 galaxies) and XMMJ2235−2557 at z = 1.39 (7 galaxies) to determine the Fundamental Plane (FP) of cluster spheroids. We find that the FP at z ∼ 1.3 is offset and rotated (∼3σ) with respect to the local FP. The offset corresponds to a mean evolution Δlog(Mdyn/LB) = (−0.5 ± 0.1)z. High-redshift galaxies follow a steeper mass-dependent Mdyn/LB–Mdyn relation than local ones. Assuming Δ log(Mdyn/LB) = Δ log(M*/LB), higher mass galaxies [log(Mdyn/M⊙) ≥ 11.5] have a higher formation redshift (zf ≥ 6.5) than lower mass ones [zf ≤2 for log(Mdyn/M⊙ ≤ 10)], with a median zf ≃ 2.5 for the whole sample. Also, galaxies with higher stellar mass density host stellar populations formed earlier than those in lower density galaxies. At fixed initial mass function, Mdyn/M* varies systematically with mass and mass density. It follows that the evolution of the stellar populations (M*/LB) accounts for the observed evolution of Mdyn/LB for Mdyn > 1011 M⊙ galaxies, while accounts for ∼85 per cent of the evolution at Mdyn < 1011 M⊙. We find no evidence in favour of structural evolution of individual galaxies, while we find evidences that spheroids later added to the population may account for the observed discrepancy between Δlog(Mdyn/LB) and Δ log(M*/LB) at masses <1011 M⊙. Thus, the evolution of the FP of cluster spheroids is consistent with the mass-dependent and mass density-dependent evolution of their stellar populations superimposed to a minor contribution of spheroids joining the population at later times.
Have we seen all the galaxies that comprise the cosmic infrared background at 250 μm ≤λ ≤ 500 μm?
Authors: Duivenvoorden S , Oliver S , Béthermin M , Clements D L , De Zotti G , Efstathiou A , Farrah D , Hurley P D , Ivison R J , Lagache G , Scott D , Shirley R , Wang L , Zemcov M
Published: November 2019

The cosmic infrared background (CIB) provides a fundamental observational constraint on the star-formation history of galaxies over cosmic history. We estimate the contribution to the CIB from catalogued galaxies in the COSMOS field by using a novel map fitting technique on the Herschel SPIRE maps. Prior galaxy positions are obtained using detections over a large range in wavelengths in the Ks–3 GHz range. Our method simultaneously fits the galaxies, the system foreground, and the leakage of flux from galaxies located in masked areas and corrects for an “over-fitting” effect not previously accounted for in stacking methods. We explore the contribution to the CIB as a function of galaxy survey wavelength and depth. We find high contributions to the CIB with the deep r (mAB ≤ 26.5), Ks (mAB ≤ 24.0) and 3.6 μm (mAB ≤ 25.5) catalogues. We combine these three deep catalogues and find a total CIB contributions of 10.5 ± 1.6, 6.7 ± 1.5 and 3.1 ± 0.7 nWm−2sr−1 at 250, 350 and 500 μm, respectively. Our CIB estimates are consistent with recent phenomenological models, prior based SPIRE number counts and with (though more precise than) the diffuse total measured by FIRAS. Our results raise the interesting prospect that the CIB contribution at λ ≤ 500 μm from known galaxies has converged. Future large-area surveys like those with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope are therefore likely to resolve a substantial fraction of the population responsible for the CIB at 250 μm ≤λ ≤ 500 μm.
ILF3 contributes to the establishment of the antiviral type I interferon program
Authors: Watson Samir F , Bellora Nicolas , Macias Sara
Published: November 2019

Upon detection of viral infections, cells activate the expression of type I interferons (IFNs) and pro-inflammatory cytokines to control viral dissemination. As part of their antiviral response, cells also trigger the translational shutoff response which prevents translation of viral mRNAs and cellular mRNAs in a non-selective manner. Intriguingly, mRNAs encoding for antiviral factors bypass this translational shutoff, suggesting the presence of additional regulatory mechanisms enabling expression of the self-defence genes. Here, we identified the dsRNA binding protein ILF3 as an essential host factor required for efficient translation of the central antiviral cytokine, IFNB1, and a subset of interferon-stimulated genes. By combining polysome profiling and next-generation sequencing, ILF3 was also found to be necessary to establish the dsRNA-induced transcriptional and translational programs. We propose a central role for the host factor ILF3 in enhancing expression of the antiviral defence mRNAs in cellular conditions where cap-dependent translation is compromised.
RbfA and IF3 couple ribosome biogenesis and translation initiation to increase stress tolerance
Authors: Sharma Indra Mani , Woodson Sarah A
Published: November 2019

Bacterial ribosome biogenesis and translation occur in the same cellular compartment. Therefore, a biochemical gate-keeping step is required to prevent error-prone immature ribosomes from engaging in protein synthesis. Here, we provide evidence for a previously unknown quality control mechanism in which the abundant ribosome assembly factor, RbfA, suppresses protein synthesis by immature Escherichia coli 30S subunits. After 30S maturation, RbfA is displaced by initiation factor 3 (IF3), which promotes translation initiation. Genetic interactions between RbfA and IF3 show that RbfA release by IF3 is important during logarithmic growth as well as during stress encountered during stationary phase, low nutrition, low temperature, and antibiotics. By gating the transition from 30S biogenesis to translation initiation, RbfA and IF3 maintain the fidelity of bacterial protein synthesis.
Pol5 is required for recycling of small subunit biogenesis factors and for formation of the peptide exit tunnel of the large ribosomal subunit
Authors: Braun Christina M , Hackert Philipp , Schmid Catharina E , Bohnsack Markus T , Bohnsack Katherine E , Perez-Fernandez Jorge
Published: November 2019

More than 200 assembly factors (AFs) are required for the production of ribosomes in yeast. The stepwise association and dissociation of these AFs with the pre-ribosomal subunits occurs in a hierarchical manner to ensure correct maturation of the pre-rRNAs and assembly of the ribosomal proteins. Although decades of research have provided a wealth of insights into the functions of many AFs, others remain poorly characterized. Pol5 was initially classified with B-type DNA polymerases, however, several lines of evidence indicate the involvement of this protein in ribosome assembly. Here, we show that depletion of Pol5 affects the processing of pre-rRNAs destined for the both the large and small subunits. Furthermore, we identify binding sites for Pol5 in the 5′ external transcribed spacer and within domain III of the 25S rRNA sequence. Consistent with this, we reveal that Pol5 is required for recruitment of ribosomal proteins that form the polypeptide exit tunnel in the LSU and that depletion of Pol5 impairs the release of 5′ ETS fragments from early pre-40S particles. The dual functions of Pol5 in 60S assembly and recycling of pre-40S AFs suggest that this factor could contribute to ensuring the stoichiometric production of ribosomal subunits.
The FMRP–MOV10 complex: a translational regulatory switch modulated by G-Quadruplexes
Authors: Kenny Phillip J , Kim Miri , Skariah Geena , Nielsen Joshua , Lannom Monica C , Ceman Stephanie
Published: November 2019

The Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) is an RNA binding protein that regulates translation and is required for normal cognition. FMRP upregulates and downregulates the activity of microRNA (miRNA)-mediated silencing in the 3′ UTR of a subset of mRNAs through its interaction with RNA helicase Moloney leukemia virus 10 (MOV10). This bi-functional role is modulated through RNA secondary structures known as G-Quadruplexes. We elucidated the mechanism of FMRP’s role in suppressing Argonaute (AGO) family members’ association with mRNAs by mapping the interacting domains of FMRP, MOV10 and AGO and then showed that the RGG box of FMRP protects a subset of co-bound mRNAs from AGO association. The N-terminus of MOV10 is required for this protection: its over-expression leads to increased levels of the endogenous proteins encoded by this co-bound subset of mRNAs. The N-terminus of MOV10 also leads to increased RGG box-dependent binding to the SC1 RNA G-Quadruplex and is required for outgrowth of neurites. Lastly, we showed that FMRP has a global role in miRNA-mediated translational regulation by recruiting AGO2 to a large subset of RNAs in mouse brain.
The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY in 2020: extending immunopharmacology content and introducing the IUPHAR/MMV Guide to MALARIA PHARMACOLOGY
Authors: Armstrong Jane F , Faccenda Elena , Harding Simon D , Pawson Adam J , Southan Christopher , Sharman Joanna L , Campo Brice , Cavanagh David R , Alexander Stephen P H , Davenport Anthony P , Spedding Michael , Davies Jamie A ,   NC-IUPHAR
Published: November 2019

The IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (www.guidetopharmacology.org) is an open-access, expert-curated database of molecular interactions between ligands and their targets. We describe significant updates made over the seven releases during the last two years. The database is notably enhanced through the continued linking of relevant pharmacology with key immunological data types as part of the IUPHAR Guide to IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY (www.guidetoimmunopharmacology.org) and by a major new extension, the IUPHAR/MMV Guide to Malaria PHARMACOLOGY (www.guidetomalariapharmacology.org). The latter has been constructed in partnership with the Medicines for Malaria Venture, an organization dedicated to identifying, developing and delivering new antimalarial therapies that are both effective and affordable. This is in response to the global challenge of over 200 million cases of malaria and 400 000 deaths worldwide, with the majority in the WHO Africa Region. It provides new pharmacological content, including molecular targets in the malaria parasite, interaction data for ligands with antimalarial activity, and establishes curation of data from screening assays, used routinely in antimalarial drug discovery, against the whole organism. A dedicated portal has been developed to provide quick and focused access to these new data.
Hierarchically porous metal–organic frameworks: synthetic strategies and applications
Authors: Feng Liang , Wang Kun-Yu , Lv Xiu-Liang , Yan Tian-Hao , Zhou Hong-Cai
Published: November 2019

Despite numerous advantages, applications of conventional microporous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are hampered by their limited pore sizes, such as in heterogeneous catalysis and guest delivery, which usually involve large molecules. Construction of hierarchically porous MOFs (HP-MOFs) is vital to achieve the controllable augmentation of MOF pore size to mesopores or even macropores, which can enhance the diffusion kinetics of guests and improve the storage capacity. This review article focuses on recent advances in the methodology of HP-MOF synthesis, covering preparation of HP-MOFs with intrinsic hierarchical pores, and modulated, templated and template-free synthetic strategies for HP-MOFs. The key factors which affect the formation of HP-MOF architectures are summarized and discussed, followed by a brief review of their applications in heterogeneous catalysis and guest encapsulation. Overall, this review presents a roadmap that will guide the future design and development of HP-MOF materials with molecular precision and mesoscopic complexity.
Monazite behaviour during metamorphic evolution of a diamond-bearing gneiss: a case study from the Seve Nappe Complex, Scandinavian Caledonides
Authors: Petrík I , Janák M , Klonowska I , Majka J , Froitzheim N , Yoshida K , Sasinková V , Konečný P , Vaculovič T
Published: November 2019

Monazite is a common mineral in metapelitic rocks including those which underwent ultra-high pressure (UHP) metamorphism. During metamorphic evolution monazite adapts its composition to the changing mineral assemblage, especially in its heavy rare earth element contents. We studied this process in diamond-bearing gneiss containing monazite, from Saxnäs in the Seve Nappe Complex of the Scandinavian Caledonides. Although the rock has been re-equilibrated under granulite facies and partial melting conditions, it still preserves minerals from the UHP stage: garnet, kyanite, rutile, and especially diamond. Microdiamonds occur in situ as inclusions in garnet, kyanite and zircon, either as single-crystals or polyphase inclusions with Fe-Mg carbonates, rutile and CO2. Both monazite and diamond occur in the rims of garnet showing the highest pyrope content and a secondary peak of yttrium. Such a position indicates thermally activated diffusion under high temperature at the end of prograde metamorphism. Monazite compositions show negative Eu anomalies, which we interpret to be inherited from the source rock, not reflecting the coexistence with plagioclase and/or K-feldspar which are unstable at UHP conditions. Our results suggest that the effect of whole-rock composition may be more important than that of coexisting phases. The UHP monazite was most likely formed from allanite during subduction and prograde metamorphism. The monazites included in garnet and kyanite are mostly unaltered, whereas those in the matrix show breakdown coronas consisting of apatite, REE-epidote/allanite and REE carbonate, likely formed due to pressure decrease and cooling. U-Th-Pb chemical age dating of monazites yields an isochron centroid age of 472 ±3 Ma. We interpret this age as monazite growth under UHP conditions related to subduction of the Baltica continental margin in Early Ordovician time.
Foreign Credential Recognition and Immigrants’ Chances of Being Hired for Skilled Jobs—Evidence from a Survey Experiment Among Employers
Authors: Damelang Andreas , Ebensperger Sabine , Stumpf Felix
Published: November 2019

A large body of empirical research has demonstrated that foreign education is a major cause of ethnic disadvantages in the labor market. However, there are few insights into how these disadvantages of foreign training can be effectively countered. To improve skilled immigrants’ access to positions commensurate with their foreign qualifications, several countries have introduced policies to officially recognize foreign educational credentials. In this study, we examine the extent to which having recognized foreign credentials improves immigrants’ chances of being hired. To identify the causal effect of foreign credential recognition on immigrants’ chances of accessing adequate jobs, we focus on employers’ hiring decisions. Using vignettes, we simulate a hiring process and show randomized profiles of applicants to employers who then rate how likely they are to invite the applicants to a job interview. Our central finding is that having recognized foreign credentials considerably narrows but does not completely close the gap in the hiring chances between foreign- and native-trained applicants. Moreover, we find that the extent to which applicants benefit from foreign credential recognition varies with their occupational experience but not with the quality of the educational system in which they were trained. We conclude that whereas foreign credential recognition is a promising tool to highlight immigrants’ skill potential and reduce the disadvantages of the foreign-trained in the labor market, it hardly harmonizes the hiring chances of native- and foreign-trained applicants.
What do people do before going to bed? A study of bedtime procrastination using time use surveys
Authors: Chung Sun Ju , An Hyeyoung , Suh Sooyeon
Published: November 2019

Study Objectives

Bedtime procrastination (BP) is defined as going to bed later than intended despite absence of external reasons. This study investigated sleep and psychological factors associated with BP in young adults, and further compared how high and low BP groups spend their time over 24 h and also 3 h prior to bedtime using time use surveys.

Methods

Young adults (N = 106) from the community were classified as either high (n = 54) or low (n = 52) BP group based on the Bedtime Procrastination Scale. All participants were asked to complete questionnaires on insomnia, depression, anxiety, stress, and chronotype, in addition to keeping a 7-day sleep diary and completing time use surveys over 48 h.

Results

Participants were 61.3% female, mean age 22.7 (±2.89) years old. Individuals in the high BP group reported significantly more depression, anxiety, and insomnia, went to bed later, woke up later, and had more eveningness tendencies compared to the low BP group. Results from the time use surveys revealed that the high BP group spent significantly more time engaging in leisure and social activity with the majority of time spent using media over 24 h compared to the low BP group. Finally, the high BP group spent on average approximately 451% (or 61 min) more time per day on their smartphone 3 h prior to bedtime compared to the low BP group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that BP is negatively associated with sleep and mood, and should be considered a serious health-interfering behavior.
Indications of Susceptibility to Calonectria pseudonaviculata in Some Common Groundcovers and Boxwood Companion Plants
Authors: Richardson Patricia A. , Daughtrey Margery , Hong Chuanxue
Published: November 2019

Knowing the host range of a pathogen is critical to developing and implementing effective disease management programs. Calonectria pseudonaviculata (Cps) is known to attack a number of species, varieties, and cultivars in the genus Buxus as well as three Pachysandra species (Pachysandra terminalis, Pachysandra procumbens, and Pachysandra axillaris) and several Sarcococca species, all in the Buxaceae family. The objective of this study was to evaluate non-Buxaceae groundcovers and companion plants commonly associated with boxwood plantings for their susceptibility to Cps. Twenty-seven plant species belonging to 21 families were exposed to different levels of inoculum: 50 to 300 conidia per drop for detached leaf assays and 30,000 to 120,000 conidia per 1 ml for whole-plant assays. Inoculated plants were incubated in humid environments for at least 48 h to facilitate infection. Cps infection and sporulation were observed on 12 plant species: Alchemilla mollis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Brunnera macrophylla, Epimedium × youngianum, Galium odoratum, Geranium sanguineum, Phlox subulata, Tiarella cordifolia, Callirhoe involucrata, Iberis sempervirens, Mazus reptans, and Vinca minor. These results suggest that there may be more hosts of Cps commonly grown in nurseries and landscapes. If corroborated by observations of natural infection, these findings have implications for the Boxwood Blight Cleanliness Program instituted by the National Plant Board and for planning disease mitigation at production and in the landscape.
An Expansin-Like Candidate Effector Protein from Pratylenchus penetrans Modulates Immune Responses in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Vieira Paulo , Nemchinov Lev G.
Published: November 2019

The root lesion nematode (RLN) Pratylenchus penetrans is a migratory species that attacks a broad range of crops. After the RLN is initially attracted to host roots by root exudates and compounds, it releases secretions that are critical for successful parasitism. Among those secretions are nematode virulence factors or effectors that facilitate the entry and migration of nematodes through the roots and modulate plant immune defenses. The recognition of the effectors by host resistance proteins leads to effector-triggered immunity and incompatible plant–nematode interactions. Although many candidate effectors of the RLN and other plant-parasitic nematodes have been identified, the detailed mechanisms of their functions and particularly, their host targets remain largely unexplored. In this study, we sequenced and annotated genes encoding expansin-like proteins, which are major candidate effectors of P. penetrans. One of the genes, Pp-EXPB1, which was the most highly expressed during nematode infection in different plant species, was further functionally characterized via transient expression in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana and global transcriptome profiling of gene expression changes triggered by this candidate effector in plants. As a result of this investigation, the biological roles of Pp-EXPB1 in nematode parasitism were proposed, the putative cellular targets of the proteins were identified, and the molecular mechanisms of plant responses to the nematode-secreted proteins were outlined.
Hypertension management in patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Liddell Toddra S. , Bassett Robin , Link Denise K.
Published: November 2019

Managing hypertension, especially when accompanied by chronic kidney disease, is challenging. These different but related conditions are complicated by differing guidelines. NPs can safely prescribe antihypertensive treatments, which reduce hypertension and the risk of associated comorbidities, such as kidney failure, stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular disease.
We Must Graduate Physicians, Not Doctors
Authors: Dewan Mantosh J. , Norcini John J.
Published: November 2019

Today, medical schools graduate doctors, not physicians. Thousands of doctors who are U.S. citizens and graduates of U.S. and international medical schools will never become physicians because they do not obtain a residency position. Doctors need at least one year of residency to become a licensed physician. However, 4,099 applicants in 2018 and 4,170 in 2019 failed to get a position through the National Resident Matching Program Main Match; about 1,000 students get positions after the Main Match each year. The personal and societal cost is enormous: each year, approximately 3,000 nonphysician doctors cannot use 12,000 education years and three-quarters of a billion dollars they invested in medical education and cannot mitigate the shortfall of 112,000 physicians expected in 2030.

To ameliorate this problem, medical schools could guarantee one year of residency. This is affordable: despite federally funded slots being capped, residency positions have increased for 17 consecutive years (20,602 in 2002 to 32,194 in 2019) because residents are cost-effective additions to the workforce. Alternatively, a 3-year curriculum plus required fourth-year primary care residency is another option. The salary during the residency year could equal other first-year residents’, or there could be a token amount for this “internship.” Both models decrease the cost of medical education; the second financially unburdens the hospital.

Since the Flexner Report (when there was no formal postgraduate training), the end point of medical education has moved from readiness for independent medical practice (physician) to readiness for postgraduate training (doctor). To benefit individuals and society, medical education must take steps to ensure that all graduates are physicians, not just doctors.
Developing Health Care Organizations That Pursue Learning and Exploration of Diagnostic Excellence: An Action Plan
Authors: Singh Hardeep , Upadhyay Divvy K. , Torretti Dennis
Published: November 2019

Reducing errors in diagnosis is the next big challenge for patient safety. Diagnostic safety improvement efforts should become a priority for health care organizations, payers, and accrediting bodies; however, external incentives, policies, and practical guidance to develop these efforts are largely absent. In this Perspective, the authors highlight ways in which health care organizations can pursue learning and exploration of diagnostic excellence (LEDE). Building on current evidence and their recent experiences in developing such a learning organization at Geisinger, the authors propose a 5-point action plan and corresponding policy levers to support development of LEDE organizations. These recommendations, which are applicable to many health care organizations, include (1) implementing a virtual hub to coordinate organizational activities for improving diagnosis, such as identifying risks and prioritizing interventions that cross intra-institutional silos while promoting a culture of learning and safety; (2) participating in novel scientific initiatives to generate and translate evidence, given the rapidly evolving “basic science” of diagnostic excellence; (3) avoiding the “tyranny of metrics” by focusing on measurement for improvement rather than using measures to reward or punish; (4) engaging clinicians in activities for improving diagnosis and framing missed opportunities positively as learning opportunities rather than negatively as errors; and (5) developing an accountable culture of engaging and learning from patients, who are often underexplored sources of information. The authors also outline specific policy actions to support organizations in implementing these recommendations. They suggest this action plan can stimulate scientific, practice, and policy progress needed for achieving diagnostic excellence and reducing preventable patient harm.
Assessment of Anesthesia Practice Patterns for Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) Member Survey
Authors: Rusy Deborah A. , Hofer Adam , Rasmussen Mads , Paisansathan Chanannait , Sharma Deepak
Published: November 2019

Background:

The choice of general anesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation (CS) may impact neurological outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The aim of this survey was to describe the practice patterns of members of the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) for anesthetic management of AIS.

Methods:

Following institutional review board approval, a 16-question online survey assessing anesthetic management of patients with AIS undergoing EVT was circulated to members of SNACC.

Results:

A total of 76 SNACC members from 52 institutions and 11 countries completed the survey (12.5% response rate). Overall, 33% of institutions reported dedicated neuroanesthesia teams for EVT. Patients treated with GA ranged from 5% to 100% between centers. In total 51% and 49% of centers in the United States reported preferentially providing GA and CS, respectively, compared with 34% and 66%, respectively, in European centers. Reported anesthetic induction agents are propofol (64%), etomidate (4%) and either medication (33%). For maintenance of GA, volatile anesthetic is used more often (54%) than propofol (16%). There was wide variation in medications used for CS. Arterial catheter placement was reported by 75% and 43% of respondents for patients undergoing GA and CS, respectively. Systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg was targeted by 35.7% of respondents, with others targeting mean arterial pressure within 10%, 20% or 30% of baseline values. Phenylephrine and norepinephrine were the most commonly used vasopressors.

Conclusions:

There is wide variation in anesthesia technique and hemodynamic management during EVT for AIS, and no consensus on the choice of, or preferred medications for, GA or CS, or target blood pressure and management of hypotension during the procedure.
Evidence of a Vestibular Origin for Crossed-Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Responses to Air-Conducted Sound
Authors: Taylor Rachael L. , Winton Roger W. , Rosengren Sally M. , Argaet Emma C. , Welgampola Miriam S.
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

Small, excitatory surface potentials can sometimes be recorded from the contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) following monaural acoustic stimulation. Little is known about the physiological properties of these crossed reflexes. In this study, we sought the properties of crossed SCM responses and through comparison with other cochlear and vestibular myogenic potentials, their likely receptor origin.

Design:

Surface potentials were recorded from the ipsilateral and contralateral SCM and postauricular (PAM) muscles of 11 healthy volunteers, 4 patients with superior canal dehiscence and 1 with profound hearing loss. Air-conducted clicks of 105 dB nHL and tone bursts (250 to 4000 Hz) of 100 dB nHL were presented monaurally through TDH 49 headphones during head elevation. Click-evoked responses were recorded under two conditions of gaze in random order: gaze straight ahead and rotated hard toward the contralateral recording electrodes. Amplitudes (corrected and uncorrected) and latencies for crossed SCM responses were compared with vestibular (ipsilateral SCM) and cochlear (PAM) responses between groups and across the different recording conditions.

Results:

Surface waveforms were biphasic; positive-negative for the ipsilateral SCM, and negative-positive for the contralateral SCM and PAM. There were significant differences in the amplitudes and latencies (p = 0.004) for click responses of healthy controls across recording sites. PAM responses had the largest mean-corrected amplitudes (2.3 ± 2.8) and longest latencies (13.0 ± 1.2 msec), compared with ipsilateral (1.6 ± 0.5; 12.0 ± 0.7 msec) and contralateral (0.8 ± 0.3; 10.4 ± 1.0 msec) SCM responses. Uncorrected amplitudes and muscle activation for PAM increased by 104.4% and 46.8% with lateral gaze respectively, whereas SCM responses were not significantly affected. Click responses of patients with superior canal dehiscence followed a similar latency, amplitude, and gaze modulation trend as controls. SCM responses were preserved in the patient with profound hearing loss, yet all PAM were absent. There were significant differences in the frequency tuning of the three reflexes (p < 0.001). Tuning curves of healthy controls were flat for PAM and down sloping for ipsilateral and contralateral SCM responses. For superior canal dehiscence, they were rising for PAM and slightly down sloping for SCM responses.

Conclusions:

Properties of crossed SCM responses were similar, though not identical, to those of ipsilateral SCM responses and are likely to be predominantly vestibular in origin. They are unlikely to represent volume conduction from the PAM as they were unaffected by lateral gaze, were shorter in latency, and had different tuning properties. The influence of crossed vestibulo-collic pathways should be considered when interpreting cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials recorded under conditions of binaural stimulation.
Transcutaneous Hemoglobin Screening in an Adult Orthopaedic Trauma Population
Authors: Rascoe Alexander S. , Kavanagh Michael D. , Breslin Mary A. , Hu Emily , Vallier Heather A.
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

To evaluate a noninvasive hemoglobin measurement device in an orthopaedic trauma population.

Design:

Prospective.

Setting:

Level 1 trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

One hundred five patients consecutively admitted to the orthopaedic trauma service after surgical treatment of fracture.

Intervention:

Transcutaneous hemoglobin (TcHgb) monitoring using the Masimo Pronto Pulse CO-Oximeter model with Rainbow SET Technology for spot TcHgb measurement.

Main Outcome Measurements:

TcHgb measurements and standard venipuncture hemoglobin (vHgb) were obtained. Patient preferences for each were recorded.

Results:

TcHgb measurements were obtained in 100 patients and compared with their corresponding vHgb measurements. The mean vHgb and TcHgb were 10.2 ± 1.9 g/dL and 11.2 ± 2.1 g/dL, respectively, and the mean difference was 1.1 ± 1.6 g/dL, which was statistically different from 0 (P < 0.001). In 76% of cases, the TcHgb device overestimated vHgb. In a subgroup of patients undergoing procedures with minimal expected blood loss (external fixators of knee or ankle, irrigation and debridement, or open reduction and internal fixation of ankle or calcaneal fractures), the mean difference between vHgb and TcHgb was 0.68 ± 1.6 g/dL (P = 0.06).

Conclusions:

A preliminary study of TcHgb monitoring with the tested device as a potential screening mechanism to limit unnecessary blood draws showed statistical difference from vHgb; however, the mean bias 1.1 g/dL of hemoglobin was notably small. In a subgroup of patients undergoing procedures with minimal expected blood loss, the device may have merit. Larger studies are required to determine the clinical relevance of differences in measurements between the 2 methods.

Level of Evidence:

Diagnostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Reimbursement System Based on a 48-Hour Target Time for Surgery Shortens the Waiting Time for Hip Fracture Fixation in Elderly Patients
Authors: Uri Ofir , Folman Yoram , Laufer Gil , Behrbalk Eyal
Published: November 2019

Objectives:

To evaluate whether a pay-for-performance reimbursement system, aimed at expediting surgical fixation of hip fractures in elderly patients, has, in fact, succeeded in shortening the waiting time for surgery.

Design:

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Setting:

Academic Level II trauma center.

Patients/Participants:

One hundred fifty patients older than 70 years with femoral neck fractures (OTA/AO 31 A1–A3).

Intervention:

Implementation of a reimbursement system which incentivizes meeting a 48-hour target time for surgical fixation of hip fractures in elderly patients.

Methods:

Medical records of 75 consecutive patients operated on 1 year before the implementation of the reimbursement system were compared with records of 75 consecutive patients operated on 1 year after the implementation of the reimbursement system. The collected data included age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologist score, time from injury to hospital admission, time from admission to surgery, reason for surgical delay beyond 48 hours, perioperative complication rate, and length of postoperative hospitalization.

Results:

Patients' mean age, sex distribution, American Society of Anesthesiologist score, and time from injury to hospital admission were similar in both groups. The average waiting time for surgery shortened from a mean of 77 hours before implementing the reimbursement system to 28 hours after the implementation (P < 0.001). Before the reimbursement system implementation, 41% of the surgeries were delayed beyond 48 hours due to medical causes, compared with 20% only after the implementation (P < 0.001). Fewer patients developed perioperative complications in the postimplementation group in comparison with the preimplementation group (9% vs. 13%, respectively); however, because the study was not powered to examine differences in complication rate, the significance of this difference remains unclear.

Conclusions:

A reimbursement system which incentivizes meeting a 48-hour target time for surgery has led to a substantial shortening in the waiting time for surgical fixation of hip fractures in elderly patients in our institution.
Comparison of the Results of Primary Versus Repeat Hamstring Surgical Lengthening in Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Morais Filho Mauro C. , Blumetti Francesco C. , Kawamura Cátia M. , Fujino Marcelo H. , Matias Marcelo S. , Lopes José A.F.
Published: November 2019

Background:

Hamstring surgical lengthening (HSL) has been frequently performed for the correction of knee flexion deformity in cerebral palsy (CP), although recurrence is described in long-term follow-up. Repeat hamstring surgical lengthening (RHSL) can be an option for recurrent knee flexion deformity; however, the results of this approach are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of primary HSL and RHSL in CP.

Methods:

Patients with spastic diplegic CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to III, underwent bilateral medial HSL with complete documentation in the gait laboratory before and after the intervention, were included in the study. A total of 229 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were divided into 2 groups: group A was formed by those who received medial HSL for the first time (185 patients), and group B was composed of individuals who underwent RHSL (44 patients). Clinical and kinematic parameters were evaluated before and after the intervention, and the results compared.

Results:

The groups were matched with regard to sex distribution, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels, and follow-up time (>2 y). Popliteal angle was reduced in groups A (60.3 to 51.4 degrees, P<0.001) and B (56.1 to 51.5 degrees, P=0.001) after the intervention. Knee flexion at initial contact was reduced from 40.8 to 28.9 degrees in group A (P<0.001) and from 40.4 to 35.1 degrees in group B (P=0.001). Reduction of minimum knee flexion in the stance phase (24.9 to 17.5 degrees, P<0.001) and improvement of the Gait Deviation Index (52.9 to 60.2, P<0.001) occurred only in group A. Anterior pelvic tilt (APT) increased in groups A (from 17 to 19.5 degrees, P<0.001) and B (from 14.9 to 19.4 degrees, P<0.001) after treatment. Finally, in the comparison between groups, the reduction of knee flexion at initial contact was more significant in group A (P<0.001), whereas the increase of APT was higher in group B.

Conclusions:

In the present study, the improvement of knee extension during the stance phase was observed only after the primary medial HSL. Moreover, the increase of APT was more significant when RHSL was performed.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.