bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optically detected galaxy cluster candidates in the AKARI North Ecliptic Pole field based on photometric redshift from the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam
Authors: Huang Ting-Chi , Matsuhara Hideo , Goto Tomotsugu , Santos Daryl Joe D , Ho Simon C-C , Kim Seong Jin , Hashimoto Tetsuya , Ikeda Hiroyuki , Oi Nagisa , Malkan Matthew A , Pearson William J , Pollo Agnieszka , Serjeant Stephen , Shim Hyunjin , Miyaji Takamitsu , Hwang Ho Seong , Durkalec Anna , Poliszczuk Artem , Greve Thomas R , Pearson Chris , Toba Yoshiki , Lee Dongseob , Kim Helen K , Toft Sune , Jeong Woong-Seob , Enokidani Umi
Published: July 2021

Galaxy clusters provide an excellent probe in various research fields in astrophysics and cosmology. However, the number of galaxy clusters detected so far in the AKARI North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) field is limited. In this work, we provide galaxy cluster candidates in the AKARI NEP field with the minimum requisites based only on the coordinates and photometric redshift (photo-z) of galaxies. We used galaxies detected in five optical bands (g, r, i, z, and Y) by the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC), with additional data from the u band obtained from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) MegaPrime/MegaCam, and from the IRAC1 and IRAC2 bands from the Spitzer space telescope for photo-z estimation. We calculated the local density around every galaxy using the 10th-nearest neighbourhood. Cluster candidates were determined by applying the friends-of-friends algorithm to over-densities. A total of 88 cluster candidates containing 4390 member galaxies below redshift 1.1 in 5.4 deg2 were identified. The reliability of our method was examined through false-detection tests, redshift-uncertainty tests, and applications on the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) data, giving false-detection rates of 0.01 to 0.05 and a recovery rate of 0.9 at high richness. Three X-ray clusters previously observed by ROSAT and Chandra were recovered. The cluster galaxies show a higher stellar mass and lower star formation rate compared with the field galaxies in two-sample Z-tests. These cluster candidates are useful for environmental studies of galaxy evolution and future astronomical surveys in the NEP, where AKARI has performed unique nine-band mid-infrared photometry for tens of thousands of galaxies.
First- and second-generation black hole and neutron star mergers in 2+2 quadruples: population statistics
Authors: Hamers Adrian S , Fragione Giacomo , Neunteufel Patrick , Kocsis Bence
Published: July 2021

Recent detections of gravitational waves from mergers of neutron stars (NSs) and black holes (BHs) in the low- and high-end mass gap regimes pose a puzzle to standard stellar and binary evolution theory. Mass-gap mergers may originate from successive mergers in hierarchical systems such as quadruples. Here, we consider repeated mergers of NSs and BHs in stellar 2+2 quadruple systems, in which secular evolution can accelerate the merger of one of the inner binaries. Subsequently, the merger remnant may interact with the companion binary, yielding a second-generation merger. We model the initial stellar and binary evolution of the inner binaries as isolated systems. In the case of successful compact object formation, we subsequently follow the secular dynamical evolution of the quadruple system. When a merger occurs, we take into account merger recoil, and model subsequent evolution using direct N-body integration. With different assumptions on the initial properties, we find that the majority of first-generation mergers are not much affected by secular evolution, with their observational properties mostly consistent with isolated binaries. A small subset shows imprints of secular evolution through residual eccentricity in the LIGO band, and retrograde spin-orbit orientations. Second-generation mergers are ∼107 times less common than first-generation mergers, and can be strongly affected by scattering (i.e. three-body interactions) induced by the first-generation merger. In particular, scattering can account for mergers within the low-end mass gap, although not the high-end mass gap. Also, in a few cases, scattering could explain highly eccentric LIGO sources and negative effective spin parameters.
Lynds Bright Nebulae: sites of possible twisted filaments and ongoing star formation
Authors: Dewangan L K , Dhanya J S , Bhadari N K , Ojha D K , Baug T
Published: July 2021

The paper presents an analysis of multiwavelength data of two Lynds Bright Nebulae (LBNs), LBN 140.07+01.64 and LBN 140.77−1.42. The 1420-MHz continuum map reveals an extended Y-shaped feature (linear extent ∼3.7°), which consists of a linear part and a V-like structure. The sites LBN 140.07+01.64 and AFGL 437 are located towards the opposite sides of the V-like structure, and LBN 140.77−1.42 is spatially seen towards the linear part. Infrared-excess sources are traced towards the entire Y-feature, suggesting star formation activities. Infrared and submillimetre images show the presence of at least two large-scale dust filaments extended towards the LBN sources. The Herschel maps, which are available only towards the northern and central parts of the Y-feature, display the presence of higher column density (≥2.4 × 1021 cm−2) of materials towards the filaments. Using the 12CO(1–0) line data, the distribution of molecular gas at [−42.7, −34.4] km s−1 traces the cloud associated with the Y-feature, and confirms the existence of filaments. The large-scale filaments appear to be possibly spatially twisted. There is a hint of an oscillatory-like velocity pattern along both the filaments, favouring their proposed twisted nature. It is the first study showing the possible twisting of filaments, which is more prominent in the northern and central parts of the Y-feature. This possible twisting/coupling of the large-scale filaments appears to be responsible for the observed star formation (including known OB stars). The proposed physical process and the energetics of OB stars together seem to explain the origin of the ionized Y-feature.
Comparative Analysis of Mammal Genomes Unveils Key Genomic Variability for Human Life Span
Authors: Farré Xavier , Molina Ruben , Barteri Fabio , Timmers Paul R H J , Joshi Peter K , Oliva Baldomero , Acosta Sandra , Esteve-Altava Borja , Navarro Arcadi , Muntané Gerard
Published: July 2021

The enormous mammal’s lifespan variation is the result of each species’ adaptations to their own biological trade-offs and ecological conditions. Comparative genomics have demonstrated that genomic factors underlying both, species lifespans and longevity of individuals, are in part shared across the tree of life. Here, we compared protein-coding regions across the mammalian phylogeny to detect individual amino acid (AA) changes shared by the most long-lived mammals and genes whose rates of protein evolution correlate with longevity. We discovered a total of 2,737 AA in 2,004 genes that distinguish long- and short-lived mammals, significantly more than expected by chance (P = 0.003). These genes belong to pathways involved in regulating lifespan, such as inflammatory response and hemostasis. Among them, a total 1,157 AA showed a significant association with maximum lifespan in a phylogenetic test. Interestingly, most of the detected AA positions do not vary in extant human populations (81.2%) or have allele frequencies below 1% (99.78%). Consequently, almost none of these putatively important variants could have been detected by genome-wide association studies, suggesting that comparative genomics can be used to complement and enhance interpretation of human genome-wide association studies. Additionally, we identified four more genes whose rate of protein evolution correlated with longevity in mammals. Finally, we show that the human longevity-associated proteins are significantly more stable than the orthologous proteins from short-lived mammals, strongly suggesting that general protein stability is linked to increased lifespan.
The X-ray fluorescence screening of multiple elements in herbarium specimens from the Neotropical region reveals new records of metal accumulation in plants
Authors: Belloeil Célestine , Jouannais Pierre , Malfaisan Charles , Reyes Fernández Rolando , Lopez Severine , Navarrete Gutierrez Dulce Montserrat , Maeder-Pras Swann , Villanueva Paola , Tisserand Romane , Gallopin Melina , Alfonso-Gonzalez Dubiel , Fuentes Marrero Ilsa M , Muller Serge , Invernon Vanessa , Pillon Yohan , Echevarria Guillaume , Berazaín Iturralde Rosalina , Merlot Sylvain
Published: July 2021

Plants have developed a diversity of strategies to take up and store essential metals in order to colonize various types of soils including mineralized soils. Yet, our knowledge of the capacity of plant species to accumulate metals is still fragmentary across the plant kingdom. In this study, we have used the X-ray fluorescence technology to analyze metal concentration in a wide diversity of species of the Neotropical flora that was not extensively investigated so far. In total, we screened more than 11 000 specimens representing about 5000 species from herbaria in Paris and Cuba. Our study provides a large overview of the accumulation of metals such as manganese, zinc, and nickel in the Neotropical flora. We report 30 new nickel hyperaccumulating species from Cuba, including the first records in the families Connaraceae, Melastomataceae, Polygonaceae, Santalaceae, and Urticaceae. We also identified the first species from this region of the world that can be considered as manganese hyperaccumulators in the genera Lomatia (Proteaceae), Calycogonium (Melastomataceae), Ilex (Aquifoliaceae), Morella (Myricaceae), and Pimenta (Myrtaceae). Finally, we report the first zinc hyperaccumulator, Rinorea multivenosa (Violaceae), from the Amazonas region. The identification of species able to accumulate high amounts of metals will become instrumental to support the development of phytotechnologies in order to limit the impact of soil metal pollution in this region of the world.
Nuclear export of plant pararetrovirus mRNAs involves the TREX complex, two viral proteins and the highly structured 5′ leader region
Authors: Kubina Julie , Geldreich Angèle , Gales Jón Pol , Baumberger Nicolas , Bouton Clément , Ryabova Lyubov A , Grasser Klaus D , Keller Mario , Dimitrova Maria
Published: July 2021

In eukaryotes, the major nuclear export pathway for mature mRNAs uses the dimeric receptor TAP/p15, which is recruited to mRNAs via the multisubunit TREX complex, comprising the THO core and different export adaptors. Viruses that replicate in the nucleus adopt different strategies to hijack cellular export factors and achieve cytoplasmic translation of their mRNAs. No export receptors are known in plants, but Arabidopsis TREX resembles the mammalian complex, with a conserved hexameric THO core associated with ALY and UIEF proteins, as well as UAP56 and MOS11. The latter protein is an orthologue of mammalian CIP29. The nuclear export mechanism for viral mRNAs has not been described in plants. To understand this process, we investigated the export of mRNAs of the pararetrovirus CaMV in Arabidopsis and demonstrated that it is inhibited in plants deficient in ALY, MOS11 and/or TEX1. Deficiency for these factors renders plants partially resistant to CaMV infection. Two CaMV proteins, the coat protein P4 and reverse transcriptase P5, are important for nuclear export. P4 and P5 interact and co-localise in the nucleus with the cellular export factor MOS11. The highly structured 5′ leader region of 35S RNAs was identified as an export enhancing element that interacts with ALY1, ALY3 and MOS11 in vitro.
c-kit2 G-quadruplex stabilized via a covalent probe: exploring G-quartet asymmetry
Authors: Peterková Kateřina , Durník Ivo , Marek Radek , Plavec Janez , Podbevšek Peter
Published: July 2021

Several sequences forming G-quadruplex are highly conserved in regulatory regions of genomes of different organisms and affect various biological processes like gene expression. Diverse G-quadruplex properties can be modulated via their interaction with small polyaromatic molecules such as pyrene. To investigate how pyrene interacts with G-rich DNAs, we incorporated deoxyuridine nucleotide(s) with a covalently attached pyrene moiety (Upy) into a model system that forms parallel G-quadruplex structures. We individually substituted terminal positions and positions in the pentaloop of the c-kit2 sequence originating from the KIT proto-oncogene with Upy and performed a detailed NMR structural study accompanied with molecular dynamic simulations. Our results showed that incorporation into the pentaloop leads to structural polymorphism and in some cases also thermal destabilization. In contrast, terminal positions were found to cause a substantial thermodynamic stabilization while preserving topology of the parent c-kit2 G-quadruplex. Thermodynamic stabilization results from π–π stacking between the polyaromatic core of the pyrene moiety and guanine nucleotides of outer G-quartets. Thanks to the prevalent overall conformation, our structures mimic the G-quadruplex found in human KIT proto-oncogene and could potentially have antiproliferative effects on cancer cells.
Machine Assist for Pediatric Posterior Fossa Tumor Diagnosis: A Multinational Study
Authors: Zhang Michael , Wong Samuel W , Wright Jason N , Toescu Sebastian , Mohammadzadeh Maryam , Han Michelle , Lummus Seth , Wagner Matthias W , Yecies Derek , Lai Hollie , Eghbal Azam , Radmanesh Alireza , Nemelka Jordan , Harward Stephen , Malinzak Michael , Laughlin Suzanne , Perreault Sebastien , Braun Kristina R M , Vossough Arastoo , Poussaint Tina , Goetti Robert , Ertl-Wagner Birgit , Ho Chang Y , Oztekin Ozgur , Ramaswamy Vijay , Mankad Kshitij , Vitanza Nicholas A , Cheshier Samuel H , Said Mourad , Aquilina Kristian , Thompson Eric , Jaju Alok , Grant Gerald A , Lober Robert M , Yeom Kristen W
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUND

Clinicians and machine classifiers reliably diagnose pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but less accurately distinguish medulloblastoma (MB) from ependymoma (EP). One strategy is to first rule out the most identifiable diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

To hypothesize a sequential machine-learning classifier could improve diagnostic performance by mimicking a clinician's strategy of excluding PA before distinguishing MB from EP.

METHODS

We extracted 1800 total Image Biomarker Standardization Initiative (IBSI)-based features from T2- and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images in a multinational cohort of 274 MB, 156 PA, and 97 EP. We designed a 2-step sequential classifier – first ruling out PA, and next distinguishing MB from EP. For each step, we selected the best performing model from 6-candidate classifier using a reduced feature set, and measured performance on a holdout test set with the microaveraged F1 score.

RESULTS

Optimal diagnostic performance was achieved using 2 decision steps, each with its own distinct imaging features and classifier method. A 3-way logistic regression classifier first distinguished PA from non-PA, with T2 uniformity and T1 contrast as the most relevant IBSI features (F1 score 0.8809). A 2-way neural net classifier next distinguished MB from EP, with T2 sphericity and T1 flatness as most relevant (F1 score 0.9189). The combined, sequential classifier was with F1 score 0.9179.

CONCLUSION

An MRI-based sequential machine-learning classifiers offer high-performance prediction of pediatric posterior fossa tumors across a large, multinational cohort. Optimization of this model with demographic, clinical, imaging, and molecular predictors could provide significant advantages for family counseling and surgical planning.
Immunoinflammatory role of apolipoprotein E4 in malnutrition and enteric infections and the increased risk for chronic diseases under adverse environments
Authors: Freitas Raul S , Roque Cássia R , Matos Gabriella A , Belayev Ludmila , de Azevedo Orleâncio G R , Alvarez-Leite Jacqueline I , Guerrant Richard L , Oriá Reinaldo B
Published: July 2021

Apolipoprotein E plays a crucial role in cholesterol metabolism. The immunomodulatory functions of the human polymorphic APOE gene have gained particular interest because APOE4, a well-recognized risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, has also been recently linked to increased risk of COVID-19 infection severity in a large UK biobank study. Although much is known about apoE functions in the nervous system, much less is known about APOE polymorphism effects on malnutrition and enteric infections and the consequences for later development in underprivileged environments. In this review, recent findings are summarized of apoE’s effects on intestinal function in health and disease and the role of APOE4 in protecting against infection and malnutrition in children living in unfavorable settings, where poor sanitation and hygiene prevail, is highlighted. The potential impact of APOE4 on later development also is discussed and gaps in knowledge are identified that need to be addressed to protect children's development under adverse environments.
Acute flaccid paralysis in a neonate: tick bite a differential?
Authors: James Vinson , Rajan Jincy , Rajan Shincy
Published: July 2021

Tick paralysis is an uncommon, noninfectious, neurologic syndrome characterized by acute ataxia and ascending paralysis mostly seen in children. Early recognition and prompt management with tick removal helps in complete recovery. If untreated, ascending paralysis can lead to respiratory failure and death in 10% of the cases. Tick paralysis is usually considered as a differential in all cases of acute ataxia and generalized weakness in children and adults but seldom in neonates due to its rarity and differences in clinical presentation in the newborn period. In neonates, tick paralysis may present only as generalized weakness and lethargy with poor feeding. Even though tick paralysis is common in children <10 years of age, it has never been reported in a neonate. We report a case of tick bite paralysis in a baby who presented in the neonatal period, and identification of the tick and its removal that helped in rapid recovery.
Chemotherapy taste and bronchospasm: a consequence of a fistula between the superior vena cava and the right main bronchi
Authors: de Oliveira Leite Túlio Fabiano , Pazinato Lucas Vatanabe , da Motta Leal Filho Joaquim Mauricio
Published: July 2021

A 56-year-old female patient with upper lobe neoplasia of the right lung and superior vena cava syndrome. The patient complained about the taste of the medications during the chemotherapy sessions. Interventional radiology diagnosed cava-bronchial fistula when it injected contrast into the inferior and superior vena cava.
Orchiepididymitis in the context of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in a child with Covid-19 from Syria: a very rare presentation for SARS-Cov-19 in children
Authors: Haydar M , Baghdadi S , Taleb M , Al-Dali B , Badr H , Ghanem Y
Published: July 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still striking the global population affecting all age groups. So far, many clinical features associated with COVID-19 illness remain under-identified, especially atypical manifestations. It is essential to characterize associated rare symptoms to better recognize complications. As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) in severe infection manifesting as a generalized inflammatory reaction and immune response in many body systems, potential involvement of the male urogenital tract by SARS-CoV-2 should be considered.

Herein, we report a case of a pediatric patient with orchiepididymitis associated with COVID-19 infection, emphasizing the importance of considering other manifestations such as genital involvement of MIS-C in children with COVID-19 and highlighting the need to monitor the genitourinary function after infection. Therefore, andrological consultation is necessary to evaluate fertility as a long-term follow-up, especially as the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproductive function are still to be thoroughly researched.
Stay Still’s for POCUS: using bedside ultrasound to screen for cardiac complications
Authors: Choi Justin , Kelly Christopher T , Luk Francis C
Published: July 2021

Adult Still’s disease (ASD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology most commonly characterized by daily spiking fevers, an evanescent, ‘salmon-colored’ rash, and arthralgia. Cardiac complications such as pericarditis, myocarditis, heart failure, and pericardial effusion progressing to tamponade have been reported. Because of the severe and potentially lethal complications associated with these processes, the clinician’s index of suspicion must remain high and the threshold for cardiac imaging low. Here, we present a case of ASD-associated myocarditis identified quickly by point-of-care ultrasound, allowing for prompt workup and treatment.
The importance of correct radiological diagnosis in (adenoma malignum): a case report
Authors: Shirali Elham , Yarandi Fariba , Izadi Mood Narges , Rahmani Maryam , Ghaemi Marjan
Published: July 2021

Minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) of the cervix otherwise known as adenoma malignum is a rare variation of cervical adenocarcinoma. Radiological evaluation plays a great role to ensure an early diagnosis. Here, we report a 48-year-old woman who was presented with a mucoid vaginal discharge 10 years after a supracervical hysterectomy. Despite normal biopsy and cytology, magnetic resonance imaging showed a large cervix and multiple cervical cysts that considered adenoma malignum as a differential diagnosis. She underwent surgery and the pathology confirmed the adenoma malignum. In conclusion, radiologists, as well as gynecologists, and also pathologists may consider MDA among the differential diagnosis in patients with a vaginal discharge and multicysts in the cervix even after hysterectomy despite normal cytology and biopsy.
Recurrent pulmonary infections as the first presentation of Letterer Siwe disease
Authors: Doya Leen Jamel , Dib Ghazal , Hassan Fouz
Published: July 2021

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown etiology that affects several organs. The fatal type of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is called Letterer Siwe disease (LSD) which is multisystem with a poor prognosis. Herein, we report a 20-month-old male who was admitted for recurrent pulmonary infections at the age of 10 months. Diagnostic workup revealed a Letterer-Siwe disease. The patient was treated with a good response.
Transcondylar Odontoid Resection and Stabilization for Craniovertebral Degenerative Compression: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Ibn Essayed Walid , Al-Mefty Ossama
Published: July 2021

Non-neoplastic craniovertebral junction lesions are well known with various etiologies.
1,2
They are frequently associated with craniovertebral junction instability. Many require only stabilization for their management.
2
However, when significant irreducible anterior compression is present, surgical decompression becomes necessary.
2-4
The traditional decompression route is direct anterior, such as the transoral, transmaxillary, or endoscopic endonasal approaches with a separate posterior stabilization.
1,2
The transcondylar approach offers a wide and direct exposure to the anterolateral foramen magnum and atlantoaxial space, allowing extensive decompression, total resection of the odontoid, and associated pannus, even with large lateral extension, as well as fusion in the same surgical setting.
5
The surgical manipulation is parallel to the dural sac in the sagittal plane, which could be safer than perpendicular dissection.
5
Understanding the regional anatomy allows safe exposure and transposition of the vertebral artery with the surrounding alveolar and venous plexus (suboccipital cavernous sinus).
5-7
We present this technique's details in a case of a 72-yr-old female who presented with progressively worsening bilateral upper extremity weakness and significant anterior compression due to irreducible odontoid degenerative changes. We demonstrate the steps necessary to achieve adequate exposure and decompression. The patient agreed to the surgical intervention.

Images at 2:46, 3:00, and 3:25 reused from Al-Mefty et al,
5
by permission from JNSPG.

Images at 9:28 from Symonds et al,
3
by permission of Oxford University Press.

Image at 2:15, © Ossama Al-Mefty, used with permission.
Clinical role of bronchoalveolar lavage in dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: He Linrong , Ge Yongpeng , Li Sizhao , Huang Ke , Liu Xia , Chen Fang , Li Shanshan , Yang Hongxia , Lu Xin , Wang Guochun , Shu Xiaoming
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in DM-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with DM-ILD who underwent bronchoscopy between October 2015 and September 2019. We then collated clinical features, laboratory data and bronchoscopy findings. The follow-up study was terminated on the 1 May 2020.

Results

A total of 113 DM-ILD patients were included in this study, including 27 patients with acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP) and 86 patients with chronic interstitial pneumonia (CIP). The A/SIP group had significantly lower proportions of lymphocytes and eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) than the CIP group, but had a significantly higher proportion of neutrophils. Pathogens were discovered in BALF from 28 (24.8%) patients. Twenty-five (22.1%) patients commenced or changed antibiotic therapy on the basis of their bronchoscopy results. Lymphopenia and intensive care unit care were significantly associated with pathogen-positive BALF findings. Complications of bronchoscopy occurred in nine (8.0%) patients; fever (5.3%) was the most common complication. Twenty-five deaths (25/106, 23.6%) were observed during a mean follow-up of 22 months. Age, A/SIP and anti-MDA5 antibody were identified as independent predictors of a poor outcome, while mechanic’s hands was an independent protective factor. However, cellular and pathogen findings in BALF had no significant influence on 30-day or overall mortality.

Conclusion

Bronchoscopy is a relatively useful instrument to evaluate ILD in patients with DM, and BAL can improve the diagnosis of infection. However, cellular and pathogen findings from BALF had no significant influence on prognosis.
Identification of plexin D1 on circulating extracellular vesicles as a potential biomarker of polymyositis and dermatomyositis
Authors: Uto Kenichi , Ueda Koji , Okano Takaichi , Akashi Kengo , Takahashi Soshi , Nakamachi Yuji , Imanishi Takamitsu , Awano Hiroyuki , Morinobu Akio , Kawano Seiji , Saegusa Jun
Published: July 2021

Objectives

We aimed to identify disease-specific surface proteins on extracellular vesicles (EVs) as novel serum biomarkers of PM/DM.

Methods

We performed liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) on purified EVs from sera of 10 PM/DM patients, 23 patients with other autoimmune diseases and 10 healthy controls (HCs). We identified membrane proteins preferentially present in EVs of PM/DM patients by bioinformatics and biostatistical analyses. We developed an EV sandwich ELISA for directly detecting serum EVs expressing disease-specific membrane proteins and evaluated their clinical utility using sera from 54 PM/DM, 24 RA, 20 SLE, 13 SSc and 25 Duchenne and Becker types of muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) patients and 36 HCs.

Results

LC/MS analysis identified 1220 proteins in serum EVs. Of these, plexin D1 was enriched in those from PM/DM patients relative to HCs or patients without PM/DM. Using a specific EV sandwich ELISA, we found that levels of plexin D1+ EVs in serum were significantly greater in PM/DM patients than in HCs or RA, SLE or DMD/BMD patients. Serum levels of plexin D1+ EVs were greater in those PM/DM patients with muscle pain or weakness. Serum levels of plexin D1+ EVs were significantly correlated with levels of aldolase (rs = 0.481), white blood cells (rs = 0.381), neutrophils (rs = 0.450) and platelets (rs = 0.408) in PM/DM patients. Finally, serum levels of plexin D1+ EVs decreased significantly in patients with PM/DM in clinical remission after treatment.

Conclusion

We identified levels of circulating plexin D1+ EVs as a novel serum biomarker for PM/DM.
Fertility and pregnancy outcomes in women with spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hamroun Sabrina , Hamroun Aghilès , Bigna Jean-Joël , Allado Edem , Förger Frauke , Molto Anna
Published: July 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of SpA and its treatments on fertility and pregnancy outcomes, as well as the impact of pregnancy on disease activity.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analyses were performed, including studies in women with SpA [axial (axSpA) and peripheral SpA, including PsA]. The heterogeneity between studies was quantified (I2), and in the case of substantial heterogeneity, the results were reported in a narrative review.

Results

Of 4397 eligible studies, 21 articles were included, assessing a total of 3566 patients and 3718 pregnancies, compared with 42 264 controls. There is a lack of data on fertility in the literature. We found an increased risk of preterm birth [pooled odds ratio (OR) 1.64 (1.15–2.33), I2 =24% in axSpA and 1.62 (1.23–2.15), I2 =0.0% in PsA], small for gestational age [pooled OR 2.05 (1.09–3.89), I2 =5.8% in axSpA], preeclampsia [pooled OR 1.59 (1.11–2.27], I2 =0% in axSpA] and caesarean section [pooled OR 1.70 (1.44–2.00), I2 =19.9% in axSpA and 1.71 (1.14–2.55), I2 =74.3% in PsA], without any other unfavourable pregnancy outcome. Further analysis showed a significantly higher risk of elective caesarean section [pooled OR 2.64 (1.92–3.62), I2 =0.0% in axSpA and 1.47 [1.15–1.88], I2 =0,0% in PsA), without increased risk of emergency caesarean section in PsA. During pregnancy, there appears to be a tendency for unchanged or worsened disease activity in axSpA and unchanged or improved disease activity in PsA. Both conditions tend to flare in the postpartum period.

Conclusion

SpA seems to be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, and caesarean section.
Psychosis Biotypes: Replication and Validation from the B-SNIP Consortium
Authors: Clementz Brett A , Parker David A , Trotti Rebekah L , McDowell Jennifer E , Keedy Sarah K , Keshavan Matcheri S , Pearlson Godfrey D , Gershon Elliot S , Ivleva Elena I , Huang Ling-Yu , Hill S Kristian , Sweeney John A , Thomas Olivia , Hudgens-Haney Matthew , Gibbons Robert D , Tamminga Carol A
Published: July 2021

Current clinical phenomenological diagnosis in psychiatry neither captures biologically homologous disease entities nor allows for individualized treatment prescriptions based on neurobiology. In this report, we studied two large samples of cases with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, and bipolar I disorder with psychosis, presentations with clinical features of hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, affective, or negative symptoms. A biomarker approach to subtyping psychosis cases (called psychosis Biotypes) captured neurobiological homology that was missed by conventional clinical diagnoses. Two samples (called “B-SNIP1” with 711 psychosis and 274 healthy persons, and the “replication sample” with 717 psychosis and 198 healthy persons) showed that 44 individual biomarkers, drawn from general cognition (BACS), motor inhibitory (stop signal), saccadic system (pro- and anti-saccades), and auditory EEG/ERP (paired-stimuli and oddball) tasks of psychosis-relevant brain functions were replicable (r’s from .96–.99) and temporally stable (r’s from .76–.95). Using numerical taxonomy (k-means clustering) with nine groups of integrated biomarker characteristics (called bio-factors) yielded three Biotypes that were virtually identical between the two samples and showed highly similar case assignments to subgroups based on cross-validations (88.5%–89%). Biotypes-1 and -2 shared poor cognition. Biotype-1 was further characterized by low neural response magnitudes, while Biotype-2 was further characterized by overactive neural responses and poor sensory motor inhibition. Biotype-3 was nearly normal on all bio-factors. Construct validation of Biotype EEG/ERP neurophysiology using measures of intrinsic neural activity and auditory steady state stimulation highlighted the robustness of these outcomes. Psychosis Biotypes may yield meaningful neurobiological targets for treatments and etiological investigations.
Mode of delivery of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial of digital and face-to-face therapy
Authors: Kallestad Håvard , Scott Jan , Vedaa Øystein , Lydersen Stian , Vethe Daniel , Morken Gunnar , Stiles Tore Charles , Sivertsen Børge , Langsrud Knut
Published: July 2021

Study Objectives

Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (dCBT-I) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing insomnia severity in self-referred and community samples. It is unknown, however, how dCBT-I compares to individual face-to-face (FtF) CBT-I for individuals referred to clinical secondary services. We undertook a randomized controlled trial to test whether fully automated dCBT-I is non-inferior to individual FtF CBT-I in reducing insomnia severity.

Methods

Eligible participants were adult patients with a diagnosis of insomnia disorder recruited from a sleep clinic provided via public mental health services in Norway. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was the primary outcome measure. The non-inferiority margin was defined a priori as 2.0 points on the ISI at week 33.

Results

Individuals were randomized to FtF CBT-I (n = 52) or dCBT-I (n = 49); mean baseline ISI scores were 18.4 (SD 3.7) and 19.4 (SD 4.1), respectively. At week 33, the mean scores were 8.9 (SD 6.0) and 12.3 (SD 6.9), respectively. There was a significant time effect for both interventions (p < 0.001); and the mean difference in ISI at week 33 was −2.8 (95% CI: −4.8 to −0.8; p = 0.007, Cohen’s d = 0.7), and −4.6 at week 9 (95% CI −6.6 to −2.7; p < 0.001), Cohen’s d = 1.2.

Conclusions

At the primary endpoint at week 33, the 95% CI of the estimated treatment difference included the non-inferiority margin and was wholly to the left of zero. Thus, this result is inconclusive regarding the possible inferiority or non-inferiority of dCBT-I over FtF CBT-I, but dCBT-I performed significantly worse than FtF CBT-I. At week 9, dCBT-I was inferior to FtF CBT-I as the 95% CI was fully outside the non-inferiority margin. These findings highlight the need for more clinical research to clarify the optimal application, dissemination, and implementation of dCBT-I.

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02044263: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Delivered by a Therapist or on the Internet: a Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial.
Daily-level effects of alcohol, marijuana, and simultaneous use on young adults’ perceived sleep health
Authors: Graupensperger Scott , Fairlie Anne M , Vitiello Michael V , Kilmer Jason R , Larimer Mary E , Patrick Megan E , Lee Christine M
Published: July 2021

Study Objectives

Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is increasingly prevalent among young adults but has adverse health consequences. The current study examined daily-level associations between perceived sleep health and SAM use, relative to non-substance-use days and alcohol- or marijuana-only days. We also estimated linear associations between alcohol/marijuana use and perceived sleep health and explored whether effects were moderated by combined use of alcohol and marijuana.

Methods

A community sample of SAM-using young adults (N = 409; Mage = 21.61, SD = 2.17; 50.9% female; 48.2% White; 48.9% college students) completed twice-daily surveys for five 14-day sampling bursts. Daily measurements assessed substance use and perceived sleep health in terms of subjective sleep quality, negative impact of sleep on functioning, and symptoms of insomnia.

Results

Multilevel models indicated that, relative to non-substance-use days, participants reported poorer perceived sleep health on alcohol-only days, better perceived sleep health on marijuana-only days, and mixed evidence regarding SAM use (i.e. fewer perceived symptoms of insomnia, but poorer perceived next day functioning attributed to sleep). Daily-level estimates showed increased alcohol use was associated with poorer perceived sleep health, while stronger effects from marijuana were associated with better perceived sleep health. Across all indices of sleep health, only one linear association was moderated by combined use: The adverse association between alcohol and next day functioning was weaker on days alcohol was combined with marijuana.

Conclusions

Findings provide additional evidence for daily-level effects of alcohol and marijuana use on perceived sleep health and address an important literature gap regarding potential adverse effects of SAM use.
Making the Cut: Status, Credentials, and Hiring in Medicine
Authors: Jenkins Tania M
Published: July 2021

Little is known about how employers interpret prestigious and non-prestigious credentials in professional recruitment, or how organizations shape and structure this process. Such research is needed to elucidate how employers and organizations contribute to stratification among professionals based on social class, especially since graduates of less selective schools tend to come from lower-SES backgrounds. Using data from a comparative ethnography of residency recruitment at two hospitals, I ask: 1) how do employers interpret prestigious and non-prestigious professional degrees in recruitment, and 2) how does organizational context influence how employers interpret these credentials? The findings add to a growing literature that focuses on qualitative differences between credentials to understand how employers make sense of elite and non-elite credentials within a single profession. The literature disagrees, however, about how employers interpret credentials. I reframe the debate to show that employers rely on combinations of interpretations in sequence, rather than finding evidence for one interpretation or another. I show how organizational context shapes these interpretations, with different employers interpreting the same credentials differently. The article also demonstrates that the order in which employers use different credential interpretations is heavily shaped by organizational status, with implications for inequality.
Higher water and nutrient use efficiencies in savanna than in rainforest lianas result in no difference in photosynthesis
Authors: Zhang Yun-Bing , Yang Da , Zhang Ke-Yan , Bai Xiao-Long , Wang Yang-Si-Ding , Wu Huai-Dong , Ding Ling-Zi , Zhang Yong-Jiang , Zhang Jiao-Lin
Published: July 2021

Differences in traits between lianas and trees in tropical forests have been studied extensively; however, few have compared the ecological strategies of lianas from different habitats. Here, we measured 25 leaf and stem traits concerning leaf anatomy, morphology, physiology and stem hydraulics for 17 liana species from a tropical seasonal rainforest and for 19 liana species from a valley savanna in south-west China. We found that savanna lianas had higher vessel density, wood density and lower hydraulically weighted vessel diameter and theoretical hydraulic conductivity than tropical seasonal rainforest lianas. Compared with tropical seasonal rainforest lianas, savanna lianas also showed higher leaf dry matter content, carbon isotope composition (δ13C), photosynthetic water use efficiency, ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency and lower leaf size, stomatal conductance and nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations. Interestingly, no differences in light-saturated photosynthetic rate were found between savanna and tropical seasonal rainforest lianas either on mass or area basis. This is probably due to the higher water and nutrient use efficiencies of savanna lianas. A principal component analysis revealed that savanna and tropical seasonal rainforest lianas were significantly separated along the first axis, which was strongly associated with acquisitive or conservative resource use strategy. Leaf and stem functional traits were coordinated across lianas, but the coordination or trade-off was stronger in the savanna than in the tropical seasonal rainforest. In conclusion, a relatively conservative (slow) strategy concerning water and nutrient use may benefit the savanna lianas, while higher nutrient and water use efficiencies allow them to maintain similar photosynthesis as tropical seasonal rainforest species. Our results clearly showed divergences in functional traits between lianas from savanna and tropical seasonal rainforest, suggesting that enhanced water and nutrient use efficiencies might contribute to the distribution of lianas in savanna ecosystems.
California’s Paid Family Leave Law and the Employment of 45- to 64-Year-Old Adults
Authors: Bartel Ann P , Kim Soohyun , Ruhm Christopher J , Waldfogel Jane
Published: July 2021

Paid family leave allows workers to take time off from work to care for a family member with a serious health condition, with reduced financial risk and increased job continuity. In 2004, California was the first state in the nation to implement a paid family leave program allowing workers to take up to 8 weeks off work with partial pay to care for their own or a family member’s serious health condition. Although the effects of California’s law on the labor supply of parents of newborns have been extensively studied, the role of paid family leave in the labor supply of workers who may need to provide care for a spouse has not been studied widely. We examine the effects of California’s law on the employment of workers who are aged 45–64 and have a disabled spouse, using the 2001–2008 American Community Survey. Our preferred estimates suggest the paid leave program increased the employment of 45- to 64-year-old women with a disabled spouse in California by around 0.9 percentage points (or 1.4% on a prelaw base rate of 65.9%) in the postlaw period compared with their counterparts in other states, with a 2.9 percentage point rise in private-sector employment. The employment of men with a disabled spouse in California also increased, but by a smaller amount: 0.7 percentage points (or 0.8% on a prelaw base 86.8%; with a nonsignificant 0.4 percentage point decrease in private-sector employment).
14Disability Studies
Authors: Dilodovico Amanda
Published: July 2021

This chapter reviews recent publications in the field of disability studies on disability and criminal justice systems, particularly through the processes of institutionalization and incarceration. The main texts that serve as the corpus for this review define disability broadly, though devote analysis to historical constructions of intellectual/developmental disability and psychosocial disorders, labels that are critically evaluated in each text as well as in this review. By concentrating on institutionalization and incarceration, these texts are specifically focused on how ‘disability’ is entangled in the criminal justice systems of Anglo legal structures (USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Australia) that developed out of English-speaking imperial forces. Specifically, these texts take issue with the idea that the process of deinstitutionalization, the movement of disabled individuals from enclosed facilities to inclusive community settings, was successful in liberating disabled individuals, specifically disabled black, Indigenous populations. This chapter proceeds in four sections. First, we focus on the contemporary definitions of institutionalization and incarceration across the different legal systems traversed by each author. Second, we consider the organizing tension of neoliberal capitalism as a framework through which to analyze and critique continued forms of institutionalization and incarceration. Third, we observe the need to center disabled black, Indigenous experiences of incarceration and institutionalization under the auspices of ‘inclusion’ in the supposed era of deinstitutionalization. Lastly, we move through the alternatives to the forms of institutionalization and incarceration assessed in these texts and offer directions for further critical thought.
What the COVID-19 Pandemic Can Teach Health Professionals About Continuing Professional Development
Authors: Sklar David , Yilmaz Yusuf , Chan Teresa M.
Published: July 2021

The world’s health care providers have realized that being agile in their thinking and growth in times of rapid change is paramount and that continuing education can be a key facet of the future of health care. As the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, educators at academic health centers are faced with a crucial question: How can continuing professional development (CPD) within teams and health systems be improved so that health care providers will be ready for the next disruption? How can new information about the next disruption be collected and disseminated so that interprofessional teams will be able to effectively and efficiently manage a new disease, new information, or new procedures and keep themselves safe? Unlike undergraduate and graduate/postgraduate education, CPD does not always have an identified educational home and has had uneven and limited innovation during the pandemic. In this commentary, the authors explore the barriers to change in this sector and propose 4 principles that may serve to guide a way forward: identifying a home for interprofessional continuing education at academic health centers, improving workplace-based learning, enhancing assessment for individuals within health care teams, and creating a culture of continuous learning that promotes population health.
Diversity Is Not Enough: Advancing a Framework for Antiracism in Medical Education
Authors: Solomon Sonja R. , Atalay Alev J. , Osman Nora Y.
Published: July 2021

Medical students, residents, and faculty have begun to examine and grapple with the legacy and persistence of structural racism in academic medicine in the United States. Until recently, the discourse and solutions have largely focused on augmenting diversity across the medical education continuum through increased numbers of learners from groups underrepresented in medicine (UIM). Despite deliberate measures implemented by medical schools, residency programs, academic institutions, and national organizations, meaningful growth in diversity has not been attained. To the contrary, the UIM representation among medical trainees has declined or remained below the representation in the general population. Inequities continue to be observed in multiple domains of medical education, including grading, admission to honor societies, and extracurricular obligations. These inequities, alongside learners’ experiences and calls for action, led the authors to conclude that augmenting diversity is necessary but insufficient to achieve equity in the learning environment.

In this article, the authors advance a 4-step framework, built on established principles and practices of antiracism, to dismantle structural racism in medical education. They ground each step of the framework in the concepts and skills familiar to medical educators. By drawing parallels with clinical reasoning, medical error, continuous quality improvement, the growth mindset, and adaptive expertise, the authors show how learners, faculty, and academic leaders can implement the framework’s 4 steps—see, name, understand, and act—to shift the paradigm from a goal of diversity to a stance of antiracism in medical education.