bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling subunitSmarca4/BRG1 is essential for female fertility
Authors: Abedini Atefeh , Landry David A , Macaulay Angus D , Vaishnav Het , Parbhakar Ashna , Ibrahim Dalia , Salehi Reza , Maranda Vincent , Macdonald Elizabeth , Vanderhyden Barbara C
Published: November 2022

Mammalian folliculogenesis is a complex process that involves the regulation of chromatin structure for gene expression and oocyte meiotic resumption. The SWI/SNF complex is a chromatin remodeler using either Brahma-regulated gene 1 (BRG1) or BRM (encoded by Smarca4 and Smarca2, respectively) as its catalytic subunit. SMARCA4 loss of expression is associated with a rare type of ovarian cancer; however, its function during folliculogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we describe the phenotype of BRG1 mutant mice to better understand its role in female fertility. Although no tumor emerged from BRG1 mutant mice, conditional depletion of Brg1 in the granulosa cells (GCs) of Brg1fl/fl;Amhr2-Cre mice caused sterility, whereas conditional depletion of Brg1 in the oocytes of Brg1fl/fl;Gdf9-Cre mice resulted in subfertility. Recovery of cumulus-oocyte complexes after natural mating or superovulation showed no significant difference in the Brg1fl/fl;Amhr2-Cre mutant mice and significantly fewer oocytes in the Brg1fl/fl;Gdf9-Cre mutant mice compared with controls, which may account for the subfertility. Interestingly, the evaluation of oocyte developmental competence by in vitro culture of retrieved two-cell embryos indicated that oocytes originating from the Brg1fl/fl;Amhr2-Cre mice did not reach the blastocyst stage and had higher rates of mitotic defects, including micronuclei. Together, these results indicate that BRG1 plays an important role in female fertility by regulating granulosa and oocyte functions during follicle growth and is needed for the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence.
Early onset hereditary neuronopathies: an update on non-5qmotor neuron diseases
Authors: Zambon Alberto A , Pini Veronica , Bosco Luca , Falzone Yuri M , Munot Pinki , Muntoni Francesco , Previtali Stefano C
Published: November 2022

Hereditary motor neuropathies (HMN) were first defined as a group of neuromuscular disorders characterized by lower motor neuron dysfunction, slowly progressive length-dependent distal muscle weakness and atrophy, without sensory involvement. Their cumulative estimated prevalence is 2.14/100 000 and, to date, around 30 causative genes have been identified with autosomal dominant, recessive,and X-linked inheritance. Despite the advances of next generation sequencing, more than 60% of patients with HMN remain genetically uncharacterized. Of note, we are increasingly aware of the broad range of phenotypes caused by pathogenic variants in the same gene and of the considerable clinical and genetic overlap between HMN and other conditions, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 (axonal), spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremities predominance, neurogenic arthrogryposis multiplex congenita and juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Considering that most HMN present during childhood, in this review we primarily aim to summarize key clinical features of paediatric forms, including recent data on novel phenotypes, to help guide differential diagnosis and genetic testing. Second, we describe newly identified causative genes and molecular mechanisms, and discuss how the discovery of these is changing the paradigm through which we approach this group of conditions.
Polygenic coronary artery disease association with brain atrophy in the cognitively impaired
Authors: de Silva Eric , Sudre Carole H , Barnes Josephine , Scelsi Marzia A , Altmann Andre ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: November 2022

While a number of low-frequency genetic variants of large effect size have been shown to underlie both cardiovascular disease and dementia, recent studies have highlighted the importance of common genetic variants of small effect size, which, in aggregate, are embodied by a polygenic risk score. We investigate the effect of polygenic risk for coronary artery disease on brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease using whole-brain volume and put our findings in context with the polygenic risk for Alzheimer’s disease and presumed small vessel disease as quantified by white-matter hyperintensities. We use 730 subjects from the Alzheimer’s disease neuroimaging initiative database to investigate polygenic risk score effects (beyond APOE) on whole-brain volumes, total and regional white-matter hyperintensities and amyloid beta across diagnostic groups. In a subset of these subjects (N = 602), we utilized longitudinal changes in whole-brain volume over 24 months using the boundary shift integral approach. Linear regression and linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate the effect of white-matter hyperintensities at baseline as well as Alzheimer’s disease-polygenic risk score and coronary artery disease-polygenic risk score on whole-brain atrophy and whole-brain atrophy acceleration, respectively. All genetic associations were examined under the oligogenic (P = 1e-5) and the more variant-inclusive polygenic (P = 0.5) scenarios. Results suggest no evidence for a link between the polygenic risk score and markers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology at baseline (when stratified by diagnostic group). However, both Alzheimer’s disease-polygenic risk score and coronary artery disease-polygenic risk score were associated with longitudinal decline in whole-brain volume (Alzheimer’s disease-polygenic risk score t = 3.3, PFDR = 0.007 over 24 months in healthy controls) and surprisingly, under certain conditions, whole-brain volume atrophy is statistically more correlated with cardiac polygenic risk score than Alzheimer’s disease-polygenic risk score (coronary artery disease-polygenic risk score t = 2.1, PFDR = 0.04 over 24 months in the mild cognitive impairment group). Further, in our regional analysis of white-matter hyperintensities, Alzheimer’s disease-polygenic risk score beyond APOE is predictive of white-matter volume in the occipital lobe in Alzheimer’s disease subjects in the polygenic regime. Finally, the rate of change of brain volume (or atrophy acceleration) may be sensitive to Alzheimer’s disease-polygenic risk beyond APOE in healthy individuals (t = 2, P = 0.04). For subjects with mild cognitive impairment, beyond APOE, a more inclusive polygenic risk score including more variants, shows coronary artery disease-polygenic risk score to be more predictive of whole-brain volume atrophy, than an oligogenic approach including fewer larger effect size variants.
Trends in Cases, Hospitalizations, and Mortality Related to the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 Subvariants in South Africa
Authors: Jassat Waasila , Abdool Karim Salim S , Ozougwu Lovelyn , Welch Richard , Mudara Caroline , Masha Maureen , Rousseau Petro , Wolmarans Milani , Selikow Anthony , Govender Nevashan , Walaza Sibongile , von Gottberg Anne , Wolter Nicole , Terrence Pisa Pedro , Sanne Ian , Govender Sharlene , Blumberg Lucille , Cohen Cheryl , Groome Michelle J ,   for the DATCOV Author Group
Published: November 2022

Background

In this study, we compared admission incidence risk and the risk of mortality in the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 wave to previous waves.

Methods

Data from South Africa's SARS-CoV-2 case linelist, national COVID-19 hospital surveillance system, and Electronic Vaccine Data System were linked and analyzed. Wave periods were defined when the country passed a weekly incidence of 30 cases/100 000 population. In-hospital case fatality ratios (CFRs) during the Delta, Omicron BA.1/BA.2, and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 waves were compared using post-imputation random effect multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

The CFR was 25.9% (N = 37 538 of 144 778), 10.9% (N = 6123 of 56 384), and 8.2% (N = 1212 of 14 879) in the Delta, Omicron BA.1/BA.2, and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 waves, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, race, comorbidities, health sector, and province, compared with the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 wave, patients had higher risk of mortality in the Omicron BA.1/BA.2 wave (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–1.4) and Delta wave (aOR, 3.0; 95% CI: 2.8–3.2). Being partially vaccinated (aOR, 0.9; 95% CI: .9–.9), fully vaccinated (aOR, 0.6; 95% CI: .6–.7), and boosted (aOR, 0.4; 95% CI: .4–.5) and having prior laboratory-confirmed infection (aOR, 0.4; 95% CI: .3–.4) were associated with reduced risks of mortality.

Conclusions

Overall, admission incidence risk and in-hospital mortality, which had increased progressively in South Africa's first 3 waves, decreased in the fourth Omicron BA.1/BA.2 wave and declined even further in the fifth Omicron BA.4/BA.5 wave. Mortality risk was lower in those with natural infection and vaccination, declining further as the number of vaccine doses increased.
Analysis Performance Of Image Processing Technique Its Application by Decision Support Systems On Covid-19 Disease Prediction Using Convolution Neural Network
Authors: Ravishankar K , Jothikumar C
Published: November 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic has been identified as a key issue for human society, in recent times. The presence of the infection on any human is identified according to different symptoms like cough, fever, headache, breathless and so on. However, most of the symptoms are shared by various other diseases, which makes it challenging for the medical practitioners to identify the infection. To aid the medical practitioners, there are a number of approaches designed which use different features like blood report, lung and cardiac features to detect the disease. The method captures the lung image using magnetic resonance imaging scan device and records the cardiac features. Using the image, the lung features are extracted and from the cardiac graph, the cardiac features are extracted. Similarly, from the blood samples, the features are extracted. By extracting such features from the person, the method estimates different weight measures to predict the disease. Different methods estimate the similarity of the samples in different ways to classify the input sample. However, the image processing techniques are used for different problems in medical domain; the same has been used in the detection of the disease. Also, the presence of Covid-19 is detected using different set of features by various approaches.
Models of Care for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A National Cross-sectional Survey to Characterize the Landscape of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Care in Canada
Authors: Miles Matthew , Peña-Sánchez Juan Nicolás , Heisler Courtney , Cui Yunsong , Mathias Holly , Stewart Michael , Jones Jennifer L
Published: November 2022

Background

Collaborative care models improve inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient outcomes, yet little is known about the capacity or available resources to deliver such model of care in Canada. We aimed to describe the structure and process characteristics of clinical care delivery models for IBD across Canada, including the number of collaborative care centers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2017 and October 2018 through an online survey. This survey was distributed to gastroenterologists at community and academic centers across Canada who provide care for IBD patients. Comparisons between collaborative and non-collaborative centers were analyzed using chi-squares or t-tests. Descriptive statistics of respondent demographics were also generated.

Results

Seventy-two gastroenterologists from 62 unique IBD centers completed the survey. A total of 7 unique collaborative centers and 55 unique non-collaborative centers were identified. There were significant differences between collaborative and non-collaborative centers in some aspects of access to IBD care, patient assessment and referral process, and patent education and empowerment. Notably, very few centers had processes for implementing and evaluating evidence-based clinical pathways, and auditing quality indicators.

Conclusions

Our findings identify areas for improving the quality of IBD care in Canada. Expanding the number of and access to collaborative care centers in Canada is needed, in addition to increased focus on patient education, communication, and implementation of evidence-based care pathways.
Inflammatory Response in Patients With Crohn’s Disease Compared With Ulcerative Colitis: Secondary Results of a Prospective Pilot Study
Authors: El-Hussuna Alaa , Varghese Chris , Bhat Vivek , Qvist Niels
Published: November 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the inflammatory response (IR) to surgery between patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a previous study by the authors. We included all adult patients who underwent elective surgery for CD and UC. The primary outcome variable was the difference in postoperative IR as measured by interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the count of white blood cells (WBCs) in peripheral blood. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance with a mixed effect (disease type as the between-patient factor, and time as the within patient factor).

Results

We included 46 patients in this pilot study. Median age was 42.5 years (IQR 30.5–42.2), 25/46 were females (54.3%). Patients with CD had a more marked IR to surgery compared with those with UC as shown by significant differences in levels of IL-6, IL-10, and CRP. Patients with CD were more often treated with postoperative epidural analgesia 17 (53.1%) versus 1 (7.1%), P = .009. Patients with colonic CD had a more intense IR to surgery than patients with UC after the same surgical resection. This significant trend continued when patients who underwent small bowel resection compared with those with colectomy. The changes in inflammatory markers and WBC counts from baseline to peak value were also higher in patients with CD indicating a more severe IR. However, there was a similar response in patients undergoing laparoscopic compared with open approaches

Conclusions

The postoperative IR was greater in patients with CD than those with UC. This is important to tackle in preoperative optimization as well as postoperative recovery protocols.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in identical twins: a case series
Authors: Ashraf Muddasir , Samad Fatima , Jahangir Arshad , Jan Muhammad Fuad , Galazka Patrycja , Tajik Abdul Jamil
Published: November 2022

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in identical twins is rare. Cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with homogenous and heterogeneous phenotypes have been described in the literature.

Case summary

We report a pair of monozygotic twins (Twin A and Twin B) with identical morphological expression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. On initial evaluation, both twins had resting left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, Grade II diastolic dysfunction, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II symptoms, but they had a different clinical course afterward. Twin A progressed from NYHA Class II to Class III with a high left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient that was unresponsive to medical treatment and required alcohol septal ablation. Twin B responded very well to medical treatment. Both patients had no risk factors for sudden cardiac death, and neither required an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Discussion

The morphology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has a strong genetic basis, but epigenetic factors may affect disease expression.
How theory can help to understand the potential impact of food environment policies on socioeconomic inequalities in diet: an application of Bourdieu’s capital theory and the scarcity theory
Authors: Djojosoeparto Sanne K , Kamphuis Carlijn B M , Harrington Janas M , Løvhaug Anne Lene , Roos Gun , Sawyer Alexia D M , Stronks Karien , Terragni Laura , Torheim Liv Elin , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Poelman Maartje P , van Lenthe Frank J
Published: November 2022

Government policies that promote healthy food environments are considered promising to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in diet. Empirical evidence of effects on these inequalities, however, is relatively scarce and, with a few exceptions, tends to be inconclusive. We use two contemporary theories that help to understand socioeconomic inequalities in health and health-related behaviours (Bourdieu’s capital theory and Mullainathan and Shafir’s scarcity theory) to reason how policies influencing food environments may differentially impact lower and higher socioeconomic groups. In essence, these theories enable us to understand how specific elements of broader daily living conditions (e.g. social practices that lead to habitus formation, material conditions that shape experiences of scarcity) may lead to a greater benefit of certain food environment policies for the healthfulness of diets of lower or higher socioeconomic groups. We conclude that the application of theories on the mechanisms underlying socioeconomic inequalities in health can help to guide future empirical studies in testing theory-based hypotheses on differential effects of policies, and thereby enhance the development of effective policies tackling socioeconomic inequalities in dietary intakes.
Towards a harmonized European surveillance for dietary and physical activity indicators in young and adult populations
Authors: Hebestreit Antje , Do Stefanie , Wolters Maike , Mensink Gert B M , Garnica-Rosas Lina , Abu-Omar Karim , Messing Sven , Neumann-Podczaska Agnieszka , Wieczorowska-Tobis Katarzyna , Lien Nanna , Stanley Isobel , Ahrens Wolfgang , Murrin Celine
Published: November 2022

Background

The Policy Evaluation Network proposes a consolidated approach to measure comparable health indicators across European health surveillance systems to evaluate effectiveness of policy action.

Methods

In a stepwise approach, questionnaire items used by the systems for measuring diet and physical activity data to describe health indicators were identified based on their validity, reliability, and suitability to monitor achievement of health recommendations. They were collated to unified questionnaire modules and discussed bilaterally with representatives of these systems to explore barriers and facilitators for implementation. Also, establishment of a methodological competence platform was proposed, in which the surveillance and monitoring systems agree on the priorities and common quality standards for the harmonization process and to coordinate the integration of questionnaire modules into existing systems.

Results

In total, seven questionnaire modules were developed, of which two diet and two physical activity modules were proposed for implementation. Each module allows measurement of data reflecting only partial aspects of national and WHO recommendations related to diet and physical activity. Main barriers were the requirements of systems to monitor temporal trends and to minimize costs. Main facilitator for implementation was the systems’ use of questionnaire items that were comparable to the unified modules. Representatives agreed to participate in a methodological competence platform.

Conclusion

We successfully took first steps in the realization of the roadmap towards a harmonization of European surveillance by introducing unified questionnaire modules allowing the collection of comparable health indicators and by initiating the establishment of a competence platform to guide this process.
The impact of mass-media campaigns on physical activity: a review of reviews through a policy lens
Authors: den Braver Nicolette R , Garcia Bengoechea Enrique , Messing Sven , Kelly Liam , Schoonmade Linda J , Volf Kevin , Zukowska Joanna , Gelius Peter , Forberger Sarah , Woods Catherine B , Lakerveld J
Published: November 2022

Background

This review of reviews aimed to: (1) summarize the evidence from published reviews on the effectiveness of mass-media campaigns to promote physical activity (PA) or PA-related determinants (intermediate psychological and proximal outcomes) and (2) to identify policy-relevant recommendations related to successful PA campaigns.

Methods

An extensive literature search was performed on 1 March 2021. Reviews that evaluated the impact of campaigns on distal (e.g. PA) and/or proximal outcomes of PA (awareness, knowledge, etc.) and that targeted the general population or subsets were included. Quality of reviews was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 tool. Policy-relevant recommendations were systematically derived and synthesized and formulated as good practice statements. A protocol was registered beforehand (ID: CRD42021249184).

Results

A total of 1915 studies were identified, of which 22 reviews were included. The most consistent evidence was found for the effectiveness of mass-media campaigns on proximal outcomes, while the evidence for distal outcomes was mixed. Good practice statements were derived: (1) to achieve behaviour change, mass-media is an important component of larger, multilevel and multicomponent strategies; (2) mass-media strategies should be coordinated and aligned at local- and national-level and be sustained, monitored and resourced at these levels and (3) media should be tailored to reduce socioeconomic inequalities.

Conclusions

Mass-media can play an important role in the promotion of PA. In general, evidence was more inconsistent for effectiveness on distal outcomes than for proximal outcomes. Policy-relevant recommendations include that mass-media strategies should be resourced, coordinated, aligned, sustained, monitored and evaluated on the local and national level.
Absent Animals in Patrick Deville’s
Kampuchéa
Authors: Epp Marla
Published: November 2022

This article focuses on the ways in which encounters with animals, a frequent trope in travel literature, are reworked in Patrick Deville’s
Kampuchéa
(2011) to reflect the current dire ecological situation. Deville’s narrator is in South East Asia following the path of French naturalist Henri Mouhot, whose diary of his travels was published in 1868. Although the travel routes are similar and the basic components of a travel narrative remain, Mouhot’s literary style is reconfigured to reflect the twenty-first-century traveller’s awareness of the violent past of the region and anxiety over the future of the planet. If animals abound in Mouhot’s diary, they are remarkable in
Kampuchéa
primarily through their absence. Deville does not, however, occlude them from his narrative, but rather writes about them
in absentia
. This article studies the implications of Deville’s writing about animals without any meaningful face-to-face encounters. It further considers the repercussions of these lost moments of exchange and argues that Deville’s commitment to writing about animals, even those who are absent, works to keep their looming extinction at the forefront of readers’ minds.
Assessing similarity in continuous seismic cross-correlation functions using hierarchical clustering: application to Ruapehu and Piton de la Fournaise volcanoes
Authors: Yates Alexander , Caudron Corentin , Lesage Philippe , Mordret Aurélien , Lecocq Thomas , Soubestre Jean
Published: November 2022

Passive seismic interferometry has become a popular technique towards monitoring. The method depends on the relative stability of background seismic sources in order to make repeatable measurements of subsurface properties. Such stability is typically assessed by examining the similarity of cross-correlation functions through time. Thus, techniques that can better assess the temporal similarity of cross-correlation functions may aid in discriminating between real subsurface processes and artificial changes related variable seismic sources. In this study, we apply agglomerative hierarchical clustering to cross-correlation functions computed using seismic networks at two volcanoes. This allows us to form groups of data that share similar characteristics and also, unlike common similarity measures, does not require a defined reference period. At Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion island), we resolve distinct clusters that relate both to changes in the seismic source (volcanic tremor onset) and changes in the medium following volcanic eruptions. At Mt Ruapehu (New Zealand), we observe a consistency to cross-correlation functions computed in the frequency band of volcanic tremor, suggesting tremor could be useful as a repeatable seismic source. Our results demonstrate the potential of hierarchical clustering as a similarity measure for cross-correlation functions, suggesting it could be a useful step towards recognizing structure in seismic interferometry data sets. This can benefit both decisions in processing and interpretations of observed subsurface changes.
Non-Personal Data Regulation – A Latin American Perspective
Authors: Díaz Vera Lina María
Published: November 2022

This paper argues in favor of non-personal data regulation in Latin America as a way of helping the digital economy reach its full potential in the region. While overall there are significant improvements regarding personal data, there is a vacuum in terms of data that does not allow the identification of any individual person, either because it is not initially related to a data subject or because it was anonymized. Drawing from data economics, the paper argues that countries in Latin America should regulate non-personal data because of the winner-takes-all dynamics of data markets, the importance of having control over non-personal data for local companies, and to try and balance the scales. In particular, the paper addresses three issues to be regulated, namely property vs. access to non-personal data, cross-border data flows, and data standardization.
What is the relationship between contraceptive services and knowledge of abortion availability and legality? Evidence from a national sample of women and facilities in Ethiopia
Authors: Zimmerman Linnea A , Karp Celia , Kassa Munir , Lulu Birikty , Yihdego Mahari , Anjur-Dietrich Selena , Seme Assefa , Shiferaw Solomon , Ahmed Saifuddin
Published: November 2022

In Ethiopia, abortions are legal for minors and for rape, incest, foetal impairment or maternal disability. Knowledge of abortion legality and availability is low, and little effort has been made to disseminate this information for fear of invoking anti-abortion sentiment; instead, systems rely on health providers as information gatekeepers. This study explores how exposure to and interaction with family planning service delivery environment, specifically (1) availability of contraceptive and facility-based abortion services within 5 km of one’s residence and (2) contact with a health provider in the past 12 months, relate to women’s knowledge of the legality of accessing abortion services and of where to access facility-based abortion services. We used data from a nationally representative sample of 8719 women in Ethiopia and a linked health facility survey of 799 health facilities. Our outcome of interest was a categorical variable indicating if a woman had (1) knowledge of at least one legal ground for abortion, (2) knowledge of where to access abortion services, (3) knowledge of both or (4) knowledge of neither. We conducted multilevel, multinomial logistic regressions, stratified by residence. Approximately 60% of women had no knowledge of either a legal ground for abortion or a place to access services. Women who visited a health provider or who were visited by a health worker in the past 12 months were significantly more likely to know about abortion legality and availability. There were no differences based on whether women lived within 5 km of a facility that offered contraception and abortion services. We find that health workers are likely valuable sources of information; however, progress to disseminate information may be slowed if it relies on uptake of services and limited outreach. Efforts to train providers on legality and availability are critical, as is additional research on knowledge dissemination pathways.
Sense of coherence, off-job crafting, and mental well-being: A path of positive health development
Authors: Tušl Martin , de Bloom Jessica , Bauer Georg F
Published: November 2022

Our study examines the core concept of salutogenesis—sense of coherence (SOC)—in relation to off-job crafting (OJC) and mental well-being (MWB). The original salutogenic model of health mainly addresses the protective function of SOC against adversity. In our study, we focus on the recently proposed path of positive health development that captures how SOC can contribute to positive health and thriving. We present and test our theoretical assumptions about one such path, examining OJC as a possible mechanism how SOC translates into MWB. We tested our proposed model using cross-lagged panel model with three waves of panel data from Swiss and German employees (N = 2217). We compared our model to alternative nested models and conducted indirect effect analysis to test longitudinal mediation. Our hypothesized model fitted the data well and we found support for our main hypothesis that OJC partially mediates the relationship between SOC and MWB. Further, we identified positive reciprocal relationships between SOC and MWB, as well as between OJC and MWB. Overall, our study provides evidence that OJC is one mechanism underlying the recently postulated path of positive health development in the salutogenic model. For health promotion, this implies that promoting SOC and OJC may help to strengthen individual well-being and lead to positive feedback loops that foster personal development and thriving.
On the Rank of the Thurston Pullback Map
Authors: Filom Khashayar
Published: November 2022

Under some mild assumptions, an orientation-preserving branched covering map of marked $2$-spheres induces a pullback map between the corresponding Teichmüller spaces. By analyzing the associated pushforward operator acting on integrable quadratic differentials, we obtain a global lower bound on the rank of the derivative of the pullback map in terms of the action of the cover on the marked points. In the dynamical context, the two sets of marked points in the target and source coincide with the postcritical set. Investigating the resulting pullback map is the central part of Thurston’s topological characterization of postcritically finite rational maps. Postcritically finite maps with constant pullback have been studied by various authors. In that direction, our approach provides upper bounds on the size of the postcritical set of a map with constant pullback, and shows that the postcritical dynamics is highly restricted.
Review on tsunami–bridge interaction
Authors: Leng Shuangjin , Xu Guoji , Wu Qinghong , Jiang Zexing
Published: November 2022

Tsunamis have caused substantial damage to coastal bridges, which has seriously affected transportation and rescue work in coastal communities and led to serious threats to human life and property. Many studies have been conducted to investigate tsunami–bridge interactions in the last decade, especially since the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. To gain a better understanding of the bridge damage mechanism in tsunamis and corresponding protection measures, this paper presents a state-of-the-art review for bridge–tsunami interaction. In this paper, effective methods for tsunami wave generation are documented and the characteristics of these methods are comparatively summarized. The influencing factors of tsunami parameters and bridge structural parameters are analyzed and the multi-hazard coupling effects on bridges are elaborated. Meanwhile, tsunami resistance measures for coastal bridges are archived. This review work aims to offer a comprehensive overview and guidelines for the design and protection of coastal bridges that are vulnerable to tsunamis.
Management ofClostridioides difficileinfection in adults and challenges in clinical practice: review and comparison of current IDSA/SHEA, ESCMID and ASID guidelines
Authors: Bishop Emma Jane , Tiruvoipati Ravindranath
Published: November 2022

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a significant clinical challenge both in the management of severe and severe-complicated disease and the prevention of recurrence. Guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (IDSA/SHEA) and ESCMID had some consensus as well as some discrepancies in disease severity classification and treatment recommendations. We review and compare the key clinical strategies from updated IDSA/SHEA, ESCMID and current Australasian guidelines for CDI management in adults and discuss relevant issues for clinicians, particularly in the management of severe-complicated infection.

Updated IDSA/SHEA and ESCMID guidelines now reflect the increased efficacy of fidaxomicin in preventing recurrence and have both promoted fidaxomicin to first-line therapy with an initial CDI episode in both non-severe and severe disease and endorsed the role of bezlotoxumab in the prevention of recurrent infection. Vancomycin remains acceptable therapy and metronidazole is not preferred. For severe-complicated infection the IDSA/SHEA recommends high-dose oral ± rectal vancomycin and IV metronidazole, whilst in an important development, ESCMID has endorsed fidaxomicin and tigecycline as part of combination anti-CDI therapy, for the first time. The role of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in second CDI recurrence is now clearer, but timing and mode of FMT in severe-complicated refractory disease still requires further study.
Association between imaging surveillance frequency and outcomes following surgical treatment of early-stage lung cancer
Authors: Heiden Brendan T , Eaton Daniel B , Chang Su-Hsin , Yan Yan , Schoen Martin W , Thomas Theodore S , Patel Mayank R , Kreisel Daniel , Nava Ruben G , Meyers Bryan F , Kozower Benjamin D , Puri Varun
Published: November 2022

Background

Recent studies have suggested that more frequent postoperative surveillance imaging via computed tomography following lung cancer resection may not improve outcomes. We sought to validate these findings using a uniquely compiled dataset from the Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated health-care system in the United States.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of veterans with pathologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer receiving surgery (2006-2016). We assessed the relationship between surveillance frequency (chest computed tomography scans within 2 years after surgery) and recurrence-free survival and overall survival.

Results

Among 6171 patients, 3047 (49.4%) and 3124 (50.6%) underwent low-frequency (<2 scans per year; every 6-12 months) and high-frequency (≥2 scans per year; every 3-6 months) surveillance, respectively. Factors associated with high-frequency surveillance included being a former smoker (vs current; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 1.33), receiving a wedge resection (vs lobectomy; aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.39), and having follow-up with an oncologist (aOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.42 to 1.77), whereas African American race was associated with low-frequency surveillance (vs White race; aOR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.75). With a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 7.3 (3.4-12.5) years, recurrence was detected in 1360 (22.0%) patients. High-frequency surveillance was not associated with longer recurrence-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.83 to 1.04, P = .22) or overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.96 to 1.12, P = .35).

Conclusions

We found that high-frequency surveillance does not improve outcomes in surgically treated stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Future lung cancer treatment guidelines should consider less frequent surveillance imaging in patients with stage I disease.
News for life: improving the quality of journalistic news reporting to prevent suicides
Authors: Arendt Florian , Markiewitz Antonia , Scherr Sebastian
Published: November 2022

Despite much theorizing on the quality of journalism, there is limited actual empirical evidence for the effects of improved news quality on societal outcomes. This study provides such evidence for suicide reporting. News quality especially matters in this domain, as low-quality reporting can elicit “copycat” suicides (Werther effect). We developed and disseminated a web-based campaign promoting high-quality suicide reporting, targeting newsrooms in Germany. Twenty-two newsrooms participated. A content analysis (N = 4,015 articles) provided supporting evidence for an increase in high-quality reporting (Study 1). Interrupted time series analyses offered tentative evidence for a reduction in actual suicides (Study 2). Acknowledging limitations in terms of causal interpretations, the findings support the claim that high-quality news can save lives. Similar newsroom interventions run elsewhere may contribute to preventing suicides globally. We discuss the implications, including those of a theoretically meaningful discovery related to the suicide-protective effect’s underlying mechanism, termed the dampening-the-spikes hypothesis.
Stress response requires an efficient connection between glycogen and central carbon metabolism by phosphoglucomutases in cyanobacteria
Authors: Ortega-Martínez Pablo , Roldán Miguel , Díaz-Troya Sandra , Florencio Francisco J
Published: November 2022

Glycogen and starch are the main storage polysaccharides, acting as a source of carbon and energy when necessary. Interconversion of glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate by phosphoglucomutases connects the metabolism of these polysaccharides with central carbon metabolism. However, knowledge about how this connection affects the ability of cells to cope with environmental stresses is still scarce. The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has two enzymes with phosphoglucomutase activity, PGM (phosphoglucomutase) and PMM/PGM (phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase). In this work, we generated a null mutant of PGM (∆PGM) that exhibits very reduced phosphoglucomutase activity (1% of wild type activity). Although this mutant accumulates moderate amounts of glycogen, its phenotype resembles that of glycogen-less mutants, including high light sensitivity and altered response to nitrogen deprivation. Using an on/off arsenite promoter, we demonstrate that PMM/PGM is essential for growth and responsible for the remaining phosphoglucomutase activity in the ∆PGM strain. Furthermore, overexpression of PMM/PGM in the ∆PGM strain is enough to revoke the phenotype of this mutant. These results emphasize the importance of an adequate flux between glycogen and central carbon metabolism to maintain cellular fitness and indicate that although PGM is the main phosphoglucomutase activity, the phosphoglucomutase activity of PMM/PGM can substitute it when expressed in sufficient amounts.
Batchelor, Saffman, and Kazantsev spectra in galactic small-scale dynamos
Authors: Brandenburg Axel , Zhou Hongzhe , Sharma Ramkishor
Published: November 2022

The magnetic fields in galaxy clusters and probably also in the interstellar medium are believed to be generated by a small-scale dynamo. Theoretically, during its kinematic stage, it is characterized by a Kazantsev spectrum, which peaks at the resistive scale. It is only slightly shallower than the Saffman spectrum that is expected for random and causally connected magnetic fields. Causally disconnected fields have the even steeper Batchelor spectrum. Here, we show that all three spectra are present in the small-scale dynamo. During the kinematic stage, the Batchelor spectrum occurs on scales larger than the energy-carrying scale of the turbulence, and the Kazantsev spectrum on smaller scales within the inertial range of the turbulence – even for a magnetic Prandtl number of unity. In the saturated state, the dynamo develops a Saffman spectrum on large scales, suggestive of the build-up of long-range correlations. At large magnetic Prandtl numbers, elongated structures are seen in synthetic synchrotron emission maps showing the parity-even E polarization. We also observe a significant excess in the E polarization over the parity-odd B polarization at subresistive scales, and a deficiency at larger scales. This finding is at odds with the observed excess in the Galactic microwave foreground emission, which is believed to be associated with larger scales. The E and B polarizations may be highly non-Gaussian and skewed in the kinematic regime of the dynamo. For dust emission, however, the polarized emission is always nearly Gaussian, and the excess in the E polarization is much weaker.
Deep Herschel observations of the 2 Jy sample: assessing the non-thermal and AGN contributions to the far-IR continuum
Authors: Dicken D , Tadhunter C N , Nesvadba N P H , Bernhard E , Könyves V , Morganti R , Ramos Almeida C , Oosterloo T
Published: November 2022

The far-IR/sub-mm wavelength range contains a wealth of diagnostic information that is important for understanding the role of active galactic nuclei (AGN) in galaxy evolution. Here we present the results of Herschel PACS and SPIRE observations of a complete sample of 46 powerful 2 Jy radio AGN at intermediate redshifts (0.05 < z < 0.7), which represent the deepest pointed observations of a major sample of radio AGN undertaken by Herschel. In order to assess the importance of non-thermal synchrotron emission at far-IR wavelengths, we also present new APEX sub-mm and ALMA mm data. We find that the overall incidence of non-thermal contamination in the PACS bands (<200 μm) is in the range 28–43 per cent; however, this rises to 30–72 per cent for wavelengths (>200 μm) sampled by the SPIRE instrument. Non-thermal contamination is strongest in objects with compact CSS/GPS or extended FRI radio morphologies, and in those with type 1 optical spectra. Considering thermal dust emission, we find strong correlations between the 100 and 160 μm monochromatic luminosities and AGN power indicators, providing further evidence that radiation from the AGN may be an important heating source for the far-IR emitting dust. Clearly, AGN contamination – whether by the direct emission from synchrotron-emitting lobes and cores, or via radiative heating of the cool dust – needs to be carefully considered when using the far-IR continuum to measure the star formation rates in the host galaxies of radio AGN.
MUSE-ALMA Haloes – VIII. Statistical study of circumgalactic medium gas
Authors: Weng S , Péroux C , Karki A , Augustin R , Kulkarni V P , Szakacs R , Zwaan M A , Klitsch A , Hamanowicz A , Sadler E M , Biggs A , Fresco A Y , Hayes M , Howk J C , Kacprzak G G , Kuntschner H , Nelson D , Pettini M
Published: November 2022

The distribution of gas and metals in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) plays a critical role in how galaxies evolve. The MUSE-ALMA Haloes survey combines MUSE, ALMA, and HST observations to constrain the properties of the multiphase gas in the CGM and the galaxies associated with the gas probed in absorption. In this paper, we analyse the properties of galaxies associated with 32 strong ${\rm H\, {\small I}}$ Ly-α absorbers at redshift 0.2 ≲ z ≲ 1.4. We detect 79 galaxies within ±500 kms−1 of the absorbers in our 19 MUSE fields. These associated galaxies are found at physical distances from 5.7 kpc and reach star formation rates as low as 0.1 M⊙ yr−1. The significant number of associated galaxies allows us to map their physical distribution on the Δv and b plane. Building on previous studies, we examine the physical and nebular properties of these associated galaxies and find the following: (i) 27/32 absorbers have galaxy counterparts and more than 50 per cent of the absorbers have two or more associated galaxies, (ii) the ${\rm H\, {\small I}}$ column density of absorbers is anticorrelated with the impact parameter (scaled by virial radius) of the nearest galaxy as expected from simulations, (iii) the metallicity of associated galaxies is typically larger than the absorber metallicity, which decreases at larger impact parameters. It becomes clear that while strong ${\rm H\, {\small I}}$ absorbers are typically associated with more than a single galaxy, we can use them to statistically map the gas and metal distribution in the CGM.
First spatially resolved Na i and He i transitions towards a massive young stellar object. Finding new tracers for the gaseous star/disc interface
Authors: Koumpia Evgenia , Koutoulaki M , de Wit W-J , Oudmaijer R D , Frost A J , Lumsden S L , Pittard J M
Published: November 2022

With steady observational advances, the formation of massive stars is being understood in more detail. Numerical models are converging on a scenario where accretion discs play a key role. Direct observational evidence of such discs at a few au scales is scarce, due to the rarity of such objects and the observational challenges, including the lack of adequate diagnostic lines in the near-IR. We present the analysis of K-band spectro-interferometric observations toward the Massive Young Stellar Object IRAS 13481-6124, which is known to host an accreting dusty disc. Using GRAVITY on the VLTI, we trace the crucial au-scales of the warm inner interface between the star and the accretion dusty disc. We detect and spatially resolve the Na i doublet and He i transitions towards an object of this class for the first time. The new observations in combination with our geometric models allowed us to probe the smallest au-scales of accretion/ejection around a MYSO. We find that Na i originates in the disc at smaller radii than the dust disc and is more compact than any of the other spatially resolved diagnostics (Brγ, He i, and CO). Our findings suggest that Na i can be a new powerful diagnostic line in tracing the warm star/disc accreting interface of forming (massive) stars, while the similarities between He i and Brγ point towards an accretion/ejection origin of He i.
Interferons and systemic lupus erythematosus: Pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatments in interferon-driven disease
Authors: Tanaka Yoshiya , Kusuda Masaki , Yamaguchi Yoshiyuki
Published: November 2022

Type I interferons (IFNs) have recently received a lot of attention with the elucidation of the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Type I IFNs are associated with many SLE symptoms and play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases that may occur concurrently with SLE, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, myositis, scleroderma, and interferonopathy. Type I IFNs could be the link between these diseases. However, direct measurement of type I IFN levels and the IFN gene signature is currently unavailable in clinical practice. This review discusses type I IFN signalling in SLE, investigates the role of type I IFN in the clinical manifestations and symptoms associated with SLE and other IFN-related diseases, and discusses the clinical tests that can be used to diagnose SLE and measure disease activity. In addition, the role of type I IFN–blocking therapies as potential treatments for SLE is discussed.
canSAR: update to the cancer translational research and drug discovery knowledgebase
Authors: di Micco Patrizio , Antolin Albert A , Mitsopoulos Costas , Villasclaras-Fernandez Eloy , Sanfelice Domenico , Dolciami Daniela , Ramagiri Pradeep , Mica Ioan L , Tym Joseph E , Gingrich Philip W , Hu Huabin , Workman Paul , Al-Lazikani Bissan
Published: November 2022

canSAR (https://cansar.ai) is the largest public cancer drug discovery and translational research knowledgebase. Now hosted in its new home at MD Anderson Cancer Center, canSAR integrates billions of experimental measurements from across molecular profiling, pharmacology, chemistry, structural and systems biology. Moreover, canSAR applies a unique suite of machine learning algorithms designed to inform drug discovery. Here, we describe the latest updates to the knowledgebase, including a focus on significant novel data. These include canSAR’s ligandability assessment of AlphaFold; mapping of fragment-based screening data; and new chemical bioactivity data for novel targets. We also describe enhancements to the data and interface.