bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proximity Effect of Epitaxial Iron Phthalocyanine Molecules on High-Quality Graphene Devices
Authors: Pan Haiyang , Wang Xiaobo , Wang Qiaoming , Wu Xiaohua , Liu Chang , Lin Nian , Zhao Yue
Published: October 2021

Depositing magnetic insulators on graphene has been a promising route to introduce magnetism via exchange proximity interaction in graphene for future spintronics applications. Molecule-based magnets may offer unique opportunities because of their synthesis versatility. Here, we investigate the magnetic proximity effect of epitaxial iron phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules on high-quality monolayer and bilayer graphene devices on hexagonal boron nitride substrates by probing the local and nonlocal transport. Although the FePc molecules introduce large hole doping effects combined with mobility degradation, the magnetic proximity gives rise to a canted antiferromagnetic state under a magnetic field in the monolayer graphene. On bilayer graphene and FePc heterostructure devices, the nonlocal transport reveals a pronounced Zeeman spin-Hall effect. Further analysis of the scattering mechanism in the bilayer shows a dominated long-range scattering. Our findings in graphene/organic magnetic insulator heterostructure provide a new insight for use of molecule-based magnets in two-dimensional spintronic devices.
Magnetic-Field-Induced Spin Nematicity in FeSe1 – x
S
x
and FeSe1 – y
Te
y
Superconductor Systems
Authors: Liu Shaobo , Yuan Jie , Ma Sheng , Lu Zouyouwei , Zhang Yuhang , Ma Mingwei , Zhang Hua , Jin Kui , Yu Li , Zhou Fang , Dong Xiaoli , Zhao Zhongxian
Published: October 2021

The angular-dependent magnetoresistance (AMR) of the ab plane is measured on the single crystals of iron-chalcogenide FeSe1–x
S
x
(x = 0, 0.07, 0.13 and 1) and FeSe1–y
Te
y
(y = 0.06, 0.61 and 1) at various temperatures under fields up to 9 T. A pronounced twofold-anisotropic carrier-scattering effect is identified by AMR, and attributed to a magnetic-field-induced spin nematicity that emerges from the tetragonal normal-state regime below a characteristic temperature T
sn. This magnetically polarized spin nematicity is found to be ubiquitous in the isoelectronic FeSe1–x
S
x
and FeSe1–y
Te
y
systems, no matter whether the sample shows an electronic nematic order at T
s ≲ T
sn, or an antiferromagnetic order at T
N < T
sn, or neither order. Importantly, we find that the induced spin nematicity shows a very different response to sulfur substitution from the spontaneous electronic nematicity: The spin-nematic T
sn is not suppressed but even enhanced by the substitution, whereas the electronic-nematic T
s is rapidly suppressed, in the FeSe1–x
S
x
system. Furthermore, we find that the superconductivity is significantly suppressed with the enhancement of the induced spin nematicity in both FeSe1–x
S
x
and FeSe1–y
Te
y
samples.
Large Magnetoresistance and Nontrivial Berry Phase in Nb3Sb Crystals with A15 Structure
Authors: Chen Qin , Zhou Yuxing , Xu Binjie , Lou Zhefeng , Chen Huancheng , Chen Shuijin , Wu Chunxiang , Du Jianhua , Wang Hangdong , Yang Jinhu , Fang Minghu
Published: October 2021

Compounds with the A15 structure have attracted extensive attention due to their superconductivity and nontrivial topological band structures. We have successfully grown Nb3Sb single crystals with the A15 structure and systematically measured the longitudinal resistivity, Hall resistivity and quantum oscillations in magnetization. Similar to other topological trivial/nontrivial semimetals, Nb3Sb exhibits large magnetoresistance (MR) at low temperatures (717%, 2 K and 9 T), unsaturating quadratic field dependence of MR and up-turn behavior in ρxx
(T) curves under magnetic field, which is considered to result from a perfect hole-electron compensation, as evidenced by the Hall resistivity measurements. The nonzero Berry phase obtained from the de-Hass van Alphen (dHvA) oscillations demonstrates that Nb3Sb is topologically nontrivial. These results indicate that Nb3Sb superconductor is also a semimetal with large MR and nontrivial Berry phase. This indicates that Nb3Sb may be another platform to search for the Majorana zero-energy mode.
Magnetic Anisotropy Induced by Orbital Occupation States in La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 Films
Authors: Wang Huaixiang , Song Jinghua , Wang Weipeng , Chen Yuansha , Shen Xi , Yao Yuan , Li Junjie , Sun Jirong , Yu Richeng
Published: October 2021

Interface engineering is an effective and feasible method to regulate the magnetic anisotropy of films by altering interfacial states between films. Using the technique of pulsed laser deposition, we prepared La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) and La0.67Sr0.33MnO3/SrCoO2.5 (LSMO/SCO) films on (110)-oriented La0.3Sr0.7Al0.65Ta0.35O3 substrates. By covering the SCO film above the LSMO film, we transformed the easy magnetization axis of LSMO from the [001] axis to the [

1

1
¯

0

] axis in the film plane. Based on statistical analyses, we find that the corresponding Mn–Mn ionic distances are different in the two types of LSMO films, causing different distortions of Mn–O octahedron in LSMO. In addition, it also induces diverse electronic occupation states in Mn3+ ions. The e
g electron of Mn3+ occupies 3z
2 – r
2 and x
2 – y
2 orbitals in the LSMO and LSMO/SCO, respectively. We conclude that the electronic spin reorientation leads to the transformation of the easy magnetization axis in the LSMO films.
Improvement of Photoluminescence of Perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 by Adding Additional CH3NH3I during Grinding
Authors: Qian Dou-Dou , Liu Lei , Xing Zhi-Xue , Dong Rui , Wu Li , Cai Hong-Kun , Kong Yong-Fa , Zhang Yi , Xu Jing-Jun
Published: October 2021

The organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 has been a good candidate for many optoelectronic applications such as light-emitting diodes due to its unique properties. Optimizing the optical properties of the CH3NH3PbI3 material to improve the device performance is a hot topic. Herein, a new strategy is proposed to enhance the light emission of CH3NH3PbI3 phosphor effectively. By adding the reactant CH3NH3I powder in an appropriate proportion and simply grinding, the emission intensity of CH3NH3PbI3 is greatly improved. The advantages of the proposed method are swiftness, simplicity and reproducibility, and no requirement for a complex organic ligand. The mechanism of this phenomenon is revealed by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and temperature-dependent photoluminescence. This study offers a unique insight for optimizing the optical properties of halide perovskite materials.
Site-Selective Magnetic Moment Collapse in Compressed Fe5O6
Authors: Qin Qiao-Ying , Yang Ai-Qin , Tao Xiang-Ru , Yang Liu-Xiang , Gou Hui-Yang , Zhang Peng
Published: October 2021

Iron oxide is one of the most important components in the Earth’s mantle. The recent discovery of the stable presence of Fe5O6 in the Earth’s mantle environment has stimulated significant interests in understanding of this new category of iron oxides. We report the electronic structure and magnetic properties of Fe5O6 calculated by the density functional theory plus dynamic mean field theory (DFT + DMFT) approach. Our calculations indicate that Fe5O6 is a conductor at ambient pressure with dominant Fe-3d density of states at the Fermi level. The magnetic moments of iron atoms at three non-equivalent crystallographic sites in Fe5O6 collapse at significantly different rates under pressure. This site-selective collapse of magnetic moments originates from the shifting of energy levels and the consequent charge transfer among the Fe-3d orbits when Fe5O6 is being compressed. Our simulations suggest that there could be high conductivity and volume contraction in Fe5O6 at high pressure, which may induce anomalous features in seismic velocity, energy exchange, and mass distribution in the deep interior of the Earth.
Optimizing calibration settings for accurate water equivalent path length assessment using flat panel proton radiography
Authors: Seller Oria Carmen , Marmitt Gabriel Guterres , Free Jeffrey , Langendijk Johannes A , Both Stefan , Knopf Antje C , Meijers Arturs
Published: October 2021

Objective: Proton range uncertainties can compromise the effectiveness of proton therapy treatments. Water equivalent path length (WEPL) assessment by flat panel detector proton radiography (FP-PR) can provide means of range uncertainty detection. Since WEPL accuracy intrinsically relies on the FP-PR calibration parameters, the purpose of this study is to establish an optimal calibration procedure that ensures high accuracy of WEPL measurements. To that end, several calibration settings were investigated. Approach: FP-PR calibration datasets were obtained simulating PR fields with different proton energies, directed towards water-equivalent material slabs of increasing thickness. The parameters investigated were the spacing between energy layers (ΔE) and the increment in thickness of the water-equivalent material slabs (ΔX) used for calibration. 30 calibrations were simulated, as a result of combining ΔE = 9, 7, 5, 3, 1 MeV and ΔX = 10, 8, 5, 3, 2, 1 mm. FP-PRs through a CIRS electron density phantom were simulated, and WEPL images corresponding to each calibration were obtained. Ground truth WEPL values were provided by range probing multi-layer ionization chamber simulations on each insert of the phantom. Relative WEPL errors between FP-PR simulations and ground truth were calculated for each insert. Mean relative WEPL errors and standard deviations across all inserts were computed for WEPL images obtained with each calibration. Main results: Large mean and standard deviations were found in WEPL images obtained with large ΔE values (ΔE = 9 or 7 MeV), for any ΔX. WEPL images obtained with ΔE ≤ 5 MeV and ΔX ≤ 5 mm resulted in a WEPL accuracy with mean values within ±0.5% and standard deviations around 1%. Significance: An optimal FP calibration in the framework of this study was established, characterized by 3 MeV ≤ ΔE ≤ 5 MeV and 2 mm ≤ ΔX ≤ 5 mm. Within these boundaries, highly accurate WEPL acquisitions using FP-PR are feasible and practical, holding the potential to assist future online range verification quality control procedures.
Scoping study of definitions of social participation: update and co-construction of an interdisciplinary consensual definition
Authors: Levasseur Mélanie , Lussier-Therrien Marika , Biron Marie Lee , Raymond Émilie , Castonguay Julie , Naud Daniel , Fortier Mireille , Sévigny Andrée , Houde Sandra , Tremblay Louise
Published: October 2021

Background

considering the importance of social participation for quality of life and active ageing in older adults, it is an important target of social and health professionals’ interventions. A previous review of definitions of social participation in older adults included articles up to 2009; new publications and changes in the social context (e.g. social media and the COVID-19 pandemic) justify continuing this work.

Objective

this paper provides an updated inventory and synthesis of definitions of social participation in older adults. Based on a critical review by content experts and knowledge users, a consensual definition is proposed.

Methods

using a scoping study framework, four databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, AgeLine, PsycInfo) were searched with relevant keywords. Fifty-four new definitions were identified. Using content analysis, definitions were deconstructed as a function of who, how, what, where, with whom, when, and why dimensions.

Results

social participation definitions mostly focused on people’s involvement in activities providing interactions with others in society or the community. According to this new synthesis and input from content experts and knowledge users, social participation can be defined as a person’s involvement in activities providing interactions with others in community life and in important shared spaces, evolving according to available time and resources, and based on the societal context and what individuals want and is meaningful to them.

Conclusion

a single definition may facilitate the study of active ageing and the contribution of older adults to society, socioeconomic and personal development, benefits for older adults and society, self-actualisation and goal attainment.
Atrial flutter with flecainide-induced 1:1 conduction at a rate <200 b.p.m. at rest: a case report
Authors: Dardas Sotirios , Khan Asif
Published: October 2021

Background 

Class IC antiarrhythmic drug flecainide is commonly used in the management of atrial arrhythmias and in particular atrial fibrillation (AF). Although previously reported as a potential complication, atrial flutter (AFL) with 1:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction is rare, with only few cases reported so far, most of which related to physical activity. In all previous reported cases, 1:1 conduction resulted in ventricular rates of >200 b.p.m.

Case summary 

We report the case of a 60-year-old woman, who presented to our local emergency department with palpitations related to acute onset AF. The patient developed symptomatic 1:1 AFL with a rate of 192 b.p.m., shortly after administration of intravenous flecainide, which spontaneously converted back to AF and subsequently to sinus rhythm, with further administration of amiodarone and beta-blocker.

Discussion 

The case raises awareness of this rare but potentially life-threatening complication to those using flecainide for pharmacological cardioversion of AF. QRS complex widening can be seen in the context of very rapid ventricular rates, posing additional diagnostic challenge, especially with rates of <200 b.p.m. Prescribing an AV nodal blocking agent, such as a beta-blocker, together with flecainide reduces significantly the risk of 1:1 conduction and should always be considered.
The Relationship Between Fertility History and Incident Dementia in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Gemmill Alison , Weiss Jordan
Published: October 2021

Objectives

An emerging literature suggests that fertility history, which includes measures of parity and birth timing, may influence cognitive health in older ages, especially among women given their differential exposure to pregnancy and sex hormones. Yet, few studies have examined associations between measures of fertility history and incident dementia in population-based samples.

Method

We examined the associations between parity, younger age at first birth, and older age at last birth with incident dementia over a 16-year period in a prospective sample of 15,361 men and women aged 51–100 years at baseline drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. We used Cox regression and the Fine and Gray model to obtain cause-specific hazard ratios (csHRs) and subdistribution hazard ratios for incident dementia from gender-stratified models, with the latter method accounting for the semicompeting risk of death.

Results

During the follow-up period (median 13.0 years), the crude incidence rate for dementia was 16.6 and 19.9 per 1,000 person-years for men and women, respectively. In crude models estimating csHRs, higher parity (vs parity 2) and younger age at first birth were associated with increased risk of dementia for both genders. These associations did not persist after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, and health conditions, with much of the attenuation in estimates occurring after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics.

Discussion

In this population-based, multiethnic cohort, we observed limited evidence for an association between measures of fertility history and incident dementia among men and women after adjusting for potential confounders.
Incident Care Trajectories for Older Adults With and Without Dementia
Authors: Freedman Vicki A , Bandeen-Roche Karen , Cornman Jennifer C , Spillman Brenda C , Kasper Judith D , Wolff Jennifer L
Published: October 2021

Objective

Despite cross-sectional evidence that persons living with dementia receive disproportionate hours of care, studies of how care intensity progresses over time and differs for those living with and without dementia have been lacking.

Method

We used the 2011–2018 National Health and Aging Trends Study to estimate growth mixture models to identify incident care hour trajectories (“classes”) among older adults (N = 1,780).

Results

We identified 4 incident care hour classes: “Low, stable,” “High, increasing,” “24/7 then high, stable,” and “Low then resolved.” The high-intensity classes had the highest proportions of care recipients with dementia and accounted for nearly half of that group. Older adults with dementia were 3–4 times as likely as other older adults to experience one of the 2 high-intensity trajectories. A substantial proportion of the 4 in 10 older adults with dementia who were predicted to be in the “Low, stable” class lived in residential care settings.

Discussion

Information on how family caregiving is likely to evolve over time in terms of care hours may help older adults with and without dementia, the family members, friends, and paid individuals who care for them, as well as their health care providers assess and plan for future care needs.
Patterns of Antibody Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among 1.6 Million Blood Donors: Impact of Vaccination, United States, December 2020–June 2021
Authors: Dodd Roger Y , Notari Edward P , Brodsky Jaye P , Foster Gregory A , Xu Meng , Saá Paula , Stramer Susan L
Published: October 2021

From December 2020 to June 2021, 1654487 blood donors were tested for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) S1 protein, and 1028547 (62.17%) were reactive. A rapid increase in prevalence was due to vaccination. Among a subset of 1567446 donors, 729771 (46.56%) reported SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, of whom 633769 (86.84%) were S1-antibody reactive only in response to vaccination and 68269 (9.35%) were reactive to both S1 and nucleocapsid in response to prior infection; the remainder were not reactive to either antibody. Among the 837675 (53.44%) donors who did not report vaccination, 210022 (25.07%) had reactivity to both antibodies and 29446 (3.52%) to S1 only.
Overdensities of submillimetre-bright sources around candidate protocluster cores selected from the South Pole Telescope survey
Authors: Wang George C P , Hill Ryley , Chapman S C , Weiß A , Scott Douglas , Apostolovski Yordanka , Aravena Manuel , Archipley Melanie Ann , Béthermin Matthieu , Canning R E A , De Breuck Carlos , Dong Chenxing , Everett W B , Gonzalez Anthony , Greve Thomas R , Hayward Christopher C , Hezaveh Yashar , Jarugula Sreevani , Marrone D P , Phadke Kedar A , Reuter Cassie A , Rotermund K M , Spilker Justin S , Vieira Joaquin D
Published: October 2021

We present APEX-LABOCA 870-μm observations of the fields surrounding the nine brightest high-redshift unlensed objects discovered in the South Pole Telescope’s (SPT) 2500 deg2 survey. Initially seen as point sources by SPT’s 1-arcmin beam, the 19-arcsec resolution of our new data enables us to deblend these objects and search for submillimetre (submm) sources in the surrounding fields. We find a total of 98 sources above a threshold of 3.7σ in the observed area of 1300 arcmin2, where the bright central cores resolve into multiple components. After applying a radial cut to our LABOCA sources to achieve uniform sensitivity and angular size across each of the nine fields, we compute the cumulative and differential number counts and compare them to estimates of the background, finding a significant overdensity of $\delta \, {\approx }\,$10 at $S_{870}= 14$ mJy. The large overdensities of bright submm sources surrounding these fields suggest that they could be candidate protoclusters undergoing massive star formation events. Photometric and spectroscopic redshifts of the unlensed central objects range from $z= $3 to 7, implying a volume density of star-forming protoclusters of approximately 0.1 Gpc−3. If the surrounding submm sources in these fields are at the same redshifts as the central objects, then the total star formation rates of these candidate protoclusters reach 10 000 M⊙ yr−1, making them much more active at these redshifts than seen so far in either simulations or observations.
ARTS-DB: a database for antibiotic resistant targets
Authors: Mungan Mehmet Direnç , Blin Kai , Ziemert Nadine
Published: October 2021

As a result of the continuous evolution of drug resistant bacteria, new antibiotics are urgently needed. Encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), antibiotic compounds are mostly produced by bacteria. With the exponential increase in the number of publicly available, sequenced genomes and the advancements of BGC prediction tools, genome mining algorithms have uncovered millions of uncharacterized BGCs for further evaluation. Since compound identification and characterization remain bottlenecks, a major challenge is prioritizing promising BGCs. Recently, researchers adopted self-resistance based strategies allowing them to predict the biological activities of natural products encoded by uncharacterized BGCs. Since 2017, the Antibiotic Resistant Target Seeker (ARTS) facilitated this so-called target-directed genome mining (TDGM) approach for the prioritization of BGCs encoding potentially novel antibiotics. Here, we present the ARTS database, available at https://arts-db.ziemertlab.com/. The ARTS database provides pre-computed ARTS results for >70,000 genomes and metagenome assembled genomes in total. Advanced search queries allow users to rapidly explore the fundamental criteria of TDGM such as BGC proximity, duplication and horizontal gene transfers of essential housekeeping genes. Furthermore, the ARTS database provides results interconnected throughout the bacterial kingdom as well as links to known databases in natural product research.
Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Complicating Noninfluenza Respiratory Viral Infections in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Apostolopoulou Anna , Clancy Cornelius J , Skeel Abigail , Nguyen M Hong
Published: October 2021

Background

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is increasingly recognized as a complication of severe influenza and coronavirus disease 2019. The extent to which other respiratory viral infections (RVIs) predispose to IPA is unclear.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of IPA occurring within 90 days of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, or adenovirus infections (noninfluenza respiratory viral infections [NI-RVIs]) in patients who underwent solid organ transplant between 1/15/2011 and 12/19/2017.

Results

At a median post-transplant follow-up of 43.4 months, 221 of 2986 patients (7.4%) developed 255 RSV, parainfluenza, or adenovirus infections. IPA complicating these NI-RVIs was exclusively observed in lung and small bowel transplant recipients, in whom incidence was 5% and 33%, respectively. Cumulative prednisone doses >140mg within 7 days and pneumonia at the time of NI-RVI were independent risk factors for IPA (odds ratio [OR], 22.6; 95% CI, 4.5–112; and OR, 7.2; 95% CI, 1.6–31.7; respectively). Mortality at 180 days following NI-RVI was 27% and 7% among patients with and without IPA, respectively (P = .04).

Conclusions

In conclusion, IPA can complicate RSV, parainfluenza, and adenovirus infection in lung and small bowel transplant recipients. Future research is needed on the epidemiology of IPA complicating various RVIs. In the interim, physicians should be aware of this complication.
Intranasal oxytocin treatment on the day of weaning does not decrease walking behavior or improve plasma metabolites in beef calves placed on pasture
Authors: Nickles Kirsten R , Relling Alejandro E , Parker Anthony J
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intranasal oxytocin administered at abrupt weaning on weaning behaviors such as walking distance and time devoted to walking, calf body weight, and plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), and cortisol. Twenty Simmental × Angus heifer calves were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: intranasal oxytocin (OXT; n = 10) or intranasal saline (CON; n = 10). All calves were given the respective intranasal treatment on the day of weaning (day 0) and then placed on pasture together. Calves were weighed and a blood sample was obtained on days 0, 1, 7, and 14 postweaning. Blood samples were subsequently used to quantify plasma NEFA, β-HB, and cortisol concentrations. All calves in both treatment groups were fitted with an individual global positioning system that recorded calf location every 10 s for a 16-h period on days 0, 7, and 14 to quantify and evaluate walking behaviors. There was no treatment × day effect for distance walked (P = 0.82), walking time (P = 0.80), non-walking time (P = 0.88), area utilization index (P = 0.84), calf body weight (P = 0.82), average daily gain (P = 0.54), NEFA (P = 0.22), or cortisol concentrations (P = 0.32). There was a tendency for a treatment × day effect observed for average walking speed (P = 0.09) and β-HB (P = 0.10), such that calves in the CON treatment tended to have lesser average walking speeds on day 14 and tended to have greater β-HB concentration after weaning. There was a treatment effect (P = 0.02) for NEFA concentrations, with the CON calves having a greater plasma NEFA concentration throughout the study compared with OXT calves. These data imply that OXT calves may have had differing metabolic responses immediately after weaning that could have altered the mobilization of NEFA, but this change was not substantial enough to impact body weights or walking behaviors.
Genome Resource of a Hypervirulent Strain C9-3 of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae Causing Bacterial Blight of Rice
Authors: Chen Xiaolin , Li Qili , Wang Jinkai , Zhang Yu , Tang Lihua , Huang Suiping , Mo Jianyou , Guo Tangxun
Published: October 2021

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is the causal agent of bacterial blight, one of the most devastating diseases of rice. Here, a hypervirulent strain, C9-3, defeating Xa1, Xa10, xa13, and Xa23 resistance genes, was used to extract genomic DNA for single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. After assembly, the genome consists of a single-circular chromosome with the size of 4,924,298 bp with G+C content of 63.7% and contains 4,715 genes. Annotation and analysis of the TALE genes using a suite of applications named AnnoTALE suggested that 17 transcription activator-like effectors, including 15 typical TALEs and 2 iTALEs/truncTALEs, were encoded in the genome. The approach and genome resource will contribute to the discovery of new virulence effectors and understanding on rice-X. oryzae pv. oryzae interactions.
Immune Memory Response After a Booster Injection of mRNA-1273 for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Authors: Chu Laurence , Montefiori David , Huang Wenmei , Nestorova Biliana , Chang Ying , Carfi Andrea , Edwards Darin K. , Oestreicher Judy , Legault Holly , Girard Bethany , Pajon Rolando , Miller Jacqueline M. , Das Rituparna , Leav Brett , McPhee Roderick
Published: October 2021

Rising breakthrough infections of coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in previously immunized individuals has raised concerns for a booster to combat suspected waning immunity and new variants. Participants immunized 6-8 months earlier with a primary series of two doses of 50 or 100 µg of mRNA-1273 were administered a booster injection of 50 µg of mRNA-1273. Neutralizing antibody levels against wild-type virus and the Delta variant at one month after the booster were 1.7-fold and 2.1-fold higher, respectively, than those 28 days post primary series second injection indicating an immune memory response. The reactogenicity after the booster dose was similar to that after the second dose in the primary series of two doses of mRNA-1273 (50 or 100 µg) with no serious adverse events reported in the one-month follow-up period. These results demonstrate that a booster injection of mRNA-1273 in previously immunized individuals stimulated an immune response greater than the primary vaccination series.
Pruning Digital Contact Networks for Meso-scale Epidemic Surveillance Using Foursquare Data
Authors: Hurtado Sofia , Marculescu Radu , Drake Justin A. , Srinivasan Ravi
Published: October 2021

With the recent boom in human sensing, the push to incorporate human mobility tracking with epidemic modeling highlights the lack of groundwork at the meso-scale (e.g., city-level) for both contact tracing and transmission dynamics. Although GPS data has been used to study city-level outbreaks, current approaches fail to capture the path of infection at the individual level. Consequently, in this paper, we extend the usefulness of epidemics prediction from estimating the size of an outbreak at the population level to estimating the individuals who may likely get infected within a finite period of time. To this end, we propose a network-based method to first build and then prune the dynamic contact networks for recurring interactions; these networks can serve as the backbone topology for mechanistic epidemics modeling. We test our method using Foursquare’s Points of Interest (POI) smart-phone geolocation data from over 1.3 million devices and show that we can recreate the COVID-19 infection curves for two major (yet very different) US cities (i.e., Austin and New York City) while maintaining the granularity of individual transmissions and reducing model uncertainty. Our method provides a foundation for building a disease prediction framework at the meso-scale that can help both policy makers and individuals of their estimated state of health and help with pandemic planning.
Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 against Delta, Mu, and other emerging variants
Authors: Bruxvoort Katia J. , Sy Lina S. , Qian Lei , Ackerson Bradley K. , Luo Yi , Lee Gina S. , Tian Yun , Florea Ana , Aragones Michael , Tubert Julia E. , Takhar Harpreet S. , Ku Jennifer H. , Paila Yamuna D. , Talarico Carla A. , Tseng Hung Fu
Published: October 2021

Background

Real-world studies have found high vaccine effectiveness (VE) of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, but reduced VE against the Delta variant and waning protection have been reported, with few studies examining mRNA-1273 variant-specific VE.

Methods

We conducted a test-negative case-control study at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Whole genome sequencing was conducted for SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens collected from 3/1/2021 to 7/27/2021. Test-positive cases were matched 1:5 to test-negative controls on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and specimen collection date. Outcomes included SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization. Exposures were 2 doses or 1 dose of mRNA-1273 ≥14 days prior to specimen collection versus no COVID-19 vaccination. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare odds of vaccination among cases versus controls, adjusting for confounders. VE was calculated as (1-odds ratio)x100%.

Results

The study included 8,153 cases and their matched controls. Two-dose VE (95% confidence interval) was 86.7% (84.3-88.7%) against Delta infection, 98.4% (96.9-99.1%) against Alpha, 90.4% (73.9-96.5%) against Mu, 96-98% against other identified variants, and 79.9% (76.9-82.5%) against unidentified variants. VE against Delta declined from 94.1% (90.5-96.3%) 14-60 days after vaccination to 80.0% (70.2-86.6%) 151-180 days after vaccination. Waning was less pronounced for non-Delta variants. VE against Delta was lower among individuals aged ≥65 years (75.2% [59.6-84.8%]) than those aged 18-64 years (87.9% [85.5-89.9%]). VE against Delta hospitalization was 97.6% (92.8-99.2%). One-dose VE was 77.0% (60.7-86.5%) against Delta infection.

Conclusions

Two doses of mRNA-1273 were highly effective against all SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, VE against Delta moderately declined with increasing time since vaccination.

Trial Registration Number

Not applicable

Funding

Moderna Inc.
A HOME-TREATMENT ALGORITHM BASED ON ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATION OF PATIENTS WITH EARLY COVID-19: A MATCHED-COHORT STUDY (COVER 2)
Authors: Consolaro Elena , Suter Fredy , Rubis Nadia , Pedroni Stefania , Moroni Chiara , Pastò Elena , Paganini Maria Vittoria , Pravettoni Grazia , Cantarelli Umberto , Perico Norberto , Perna Annalisa , Peracchi Tobia , Ruggenenti Piero , Remuzzi Giuseppe
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background and Aim

While considerable success has been achieved in the management of patients hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), far less progress has been made with early outpatient treatment. We assessed whether the implementation of a home treatment algorithm – designed based upon on a pathophysiologic and pharmacologic rationale - during the initial, mild phase of COVID-19, could effectively reduce hospital admissions.

Methods

This fully academic, matched-cohort study evaluated outcomes in 108 consecutive consenting patients with mild COVID-19 managed at home by their family doctors from January 2021 to May 2021, according to the proposed treatment algorithm and in 108 age-, sex-, and comorbidities-matched patients who were given other therapeutic schedules (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04854824). The primary outcome was COVID-19-related hospitalization. Analyses were by intention-to-treat.

Results

One (0.9%) patient in the ‘recommended’ cohort and 12 (11.1%) in the ‘control’ cohort were admitted to hospital (P=0.0136). The proposed algorithm reduced, by 85%, the cumulative length of hospital stays (from 141 to 19 days) and related costs (from € 60.316 to € 9.058). Only 9.8 patients needed to be treated with the recommended algorithm to prevent one hospitalization event. The rate of resolution of major symptoms was numerically, but not significantly, higher in the ‘recommended’ compared to the ‘control’ cohort (97.2% versus 93.5%, respectively; P=0.322). Other symptoms lingered in a lower proportion of patients in the ‘recommended’ than in the‘control’ cohort (20.4% versus 63.9%, respectively; P<0.001), and for a shorter period.

Conclusion

The adoption of the proposed outpatient treatment algorithm during the early, mild phase of COVID-19 reduced the incidence of subsequent hospitalization and related costs.
Anti-neuronal IgG4 autoimmune diseases and IgG4-related diseases may not be part of the same spectrum: a comparative study
Authors: Endmayr Verena , Tunc Cansu , Ergin Lara , de Rosa Anna , Weng Rosa , Wagner Lukas , Yu Thin-Yau , Fichtenbaum Andreas , Perkmann Thomas , Haslacher Helmuth , Kozakowski Nicolas , Schwaiger Carmen , Ricken Gerda , Hametner Simon , Dutra Lívia Almeida , Lechner Christian , de Simoni Désirée , Poppert Kai-Nicolas , Müller Georg Johannes , Pirker Susanne , Pirker Walter , Angelovski Aleksandra , Valach Matus , Maestri Michelangelo , Guida Melania , Ricciardi Roberta , Frommlet Florian , Sieghart Daniela , Pinter Miklos , Höftberger Romana , Koneczny Inga
Published: October 2021

Background

IgG4 is associated with two emerging groups of rare diseases: 1) IgG4 autoimmune diseases (IgG4-AID) and 2) IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RLD). Anti-neuronal IgG4-AID include MuSK myasthenia gravis, LGI1- and Caspr2-encephalitis and autoimmune nodo-/paranodopathies (CNTN1 or NF155 antibodies). IgG4-RLD is a multiorgan disease hallmarked by tissue-destructive fibrotic lesions with lymphocyte and IgG4 plasma cell infiltrates and increased serum IgG4 concentrations. It is unclear, whether IgG4-AID and IgG4-RLD share relevant clinical and immunopathological features.

Methods

We collected and analysed serological, clinical, and histopathological data in 50 patients with anti-neuronal IgG4-AID and 16 patients with IgG4-RLD.

Results

A significantly higher proportion of IgG4-RLD patients had serum IgG4 elevation when compared to IgG4-AID patients (50% vs. 16%, p = .015). Moreover, those IgG4-AID patients with elevated IgG4 did not meet the diagnostic criteria of IgG4-RLD, and their autoantibody titres did not correlate with their serum IgG4 concentrations. In addition, patients with IgG4-RLD were negative for anti-neuronal/neuromuscular autoantibodies and among these patients, men showed a significantly higher propensity for IgG4 elevation, when compared to women (p = .041). Last, a kidney biopsy from a patient with autoimmune paranodopathy due to CNTN1/Caspr1-complex IgG4 autoantibodies and concomitant nephrotic syndrome did not show fibrosis or IgG4+ plasma cells, which are diagnostic hallmarks of IgG4-RLD.

Conclusion

Our observations suggest that anti-neuronal IgG4-AID and IgG4-RLD are most likely distinct disease entities.
Development and validation of a length- and habitus-based method of total body weight estimation for critically ill adults requiring urgent weight-based medical intervention
Authors: Wells Mike , Goldstein Lara Nicole , Cattermole Giles
Published: October 2021

Background

Erroneous weight estimation during the management of emergency presentations in adults may contribute to patient harm and poor outcomes. Patients can often not be weighed during emergencies and a weight estimation is required to facilitate weight-based therapies. Many existing methods of weight estimation are either unacceptably inaccurate or very difficult to use during the provision of emergency care.

Methods

The weight estimation system developed in this study was based on and modified from the PAWPER XL-MAC method, a paediatric weight estimation system that uses recumbent length and mid-arm circumference (MAC) to predict total body weight. This model was validated in the 2015 – 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets. The primary outcome measure was to achieve >95% of estimations within 20% of measured weight (P20>95%).

Results

The modified PAWPER XL-MAC model achieved a P20 of 96.0% and a P10 of 71.3% in the validation dataset (N=11520). This accuracy (P20>95%) was maintained in both sexes, all ages, all ethnic groups, all lengths and in all habitus-types, except for the subgroup of severely obese individuals.

Conclusions

The modified PAWPER XL-MAC model proved to be a very accurate method of weight estimation. It is more accurate than most other published reports of existing methods of weight estimation, except for patients’ own estimations. It therefore could have a role in facilitating emergency drug dose calculations, if prospective studies bear out the accuracy found in this study.
Dynamical modeling of the H3K27 epigenetic landscape in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Newar Kapil , Abdulla Amith Z. , Salari Hossein , Fanchon Eric , Jost Daniel
Published: October 2021

The Polycomb system via the methylation of the lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) plays central roles in the silencing of many lineage-specific genes during development. Recent experimental evidence suggested that the recruitment of histone modifying enzymes like the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) at specific sites and their spreading capacities from these sites are key to the establishment and maintenance of a proper epigenomic landscape around Polycomb-target genes. Here, to test whether such mechanisms, as a minimal set of qualitative rules, are quantitatively compatible with data, we developed a mathematical model that can predict the locus-specific distributions of H3K27 modifications based on previous biochemical knowledge. Within the biological context of mouse embryonic stem cells, our model showed quantitative agreement with experimental profiles of H3K27 acetylation and methylation around Polycomb-target genes in wild-type and mutants. In particular, we demonstrated the key role of the reader-writer module of PRC2 and of the competition between the binding of activating and repressing enzymes in shaping the H3K27 landscape around transcriptional start sites. The predicted dynamics of establishment and maintenance of the repressive trimethylated H3K27 state suggest a slow accumulation, in perfect agreement with experiments. Our approach represents a first step towards a quantitative description of PcG regulation in various cellular contexts and provides a generic framework to better characterize epigenetic regulation in normal or disease situations.
Representation of motion concepts in occipitotemporal cortex: fMRI activation, decoding and connectivity analyses
Authors: Zhang Yueyang , Lemarchand Rafael , Asyraff Aliff , Hoffman Paul
Published: October 2021

Embodied theories of semantic cognition predict that brain regions involved in motion perception are engaged when people comprehend motion concepts expressed in language. Left lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOTC) is implicated in both motion perception and motion concept processing but prior studies have produced mixed findings on which parts of this region are engaged by motion language. We scanned participants performing semantic judgements about sentences describing motion events and static events. We performed univariate analyses, multivariate pattern analyses (MVPA) and psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analyses to investigate the effect of motion on activity and connectivity in different parts of LOTC. In multivariate analyses that decoded whether a sentence described motion or not, the middle and posterior parts of LOTC showed above-chance level performance, with performance exceeding that of other brain regions. Univariate ROI analyses found the middle part of LOTC was more active for motion events than static ones. Finally, PPI analyses found that when processing motion events, the middle and posterior parts of LOTC (overlapping with motion perception regions), increased their connectivity with cognitive control regions. Taken together, these results indicate that the more posterior parts of LOTC, including motion perception cortex, respond differently to motion vs. static events. These findings are consistent with embodiment accounts of semantic processing, and suggest that understanding verbal descriptions of motion engages areas of the occipitotemporal cortex involved in perceiving motion.
A morphometric double dissociation: cortical thickness is more related to aging; surface area is more related to cognition
Authors: Borgeest G. Sophia , Henson Richard N. , Kietzmann Tim C. , Madan Christopher R. , Fox Theresa , Malpetti Maura , Fuhrmann Delia , Knights Ethan , Carlin Johan D. ,   Cam-CAN, Kievit Rogier A.
Published: October 2021

The thickness and surface area of cortex are genetically distinct aspects of brain structure, and may be affected differently by age. However, their potential to differentially predict age and cognitive abilities has been largely overlooked, likely because they are typically aggregated into the commonly used measure of volume. In a large sample of healthy adults (N=647, aged 18-88), we investigated the brain-age and brain-cognition relationships of thickness, surface area, and volume, plus five additional morphological shape metrics. Cortical thickness was the metric most strongly associated with age cross-sectionally, as well as exhibiting the steepest longitudinal change over time (subsample N=261, aged 25-84). In contrast, surface area was the best single predictor of age-residualized cognitive abilities (fluid intelligence), and changes in surface area were most strongly associated with cognitive change over time. These findings were replicated in an independent dataset (N=1345, aged 18-93). Our results suggest that cortical thickness and surface area make complementary contributions the age-brain-cognition triangle, and highlight the importance of considering these volumetric components separately.
Relative Risk Assessment of Ecological Areas with the Highest Potential Impact of Underwater Released Exhaust CO2 from Innovative Ships
Authors: Wei Yuzhu , Kroeze Michel , Vámos Csilla , Foekema Edwin M. , van Lammeren Ron , Murk Albertinka J.
Published: October 2021

Applying underwater released exhaust gas as ‘air lubrication’ along the ship’s hull to reduce the energy consumption is under development. However, this direct emission to the water could pose a risk to the local marine environment, especially in shipping-dense areas. Specifically, CO2, a dominant component in the exhaust gas, has the potency to enhance algal blooms and cause acidification. This study provides the first relative risk assessment of ships with underwater release exhaust gas systems on a global scale, taking into account local water conditions and shipping intensity. Risk was characterized for 262 marine ecoregions by plotting the expected CO2 emission from ships to water against the estimated vulnerability to acidification and algal blooms. The vulnerability of each ecoregion was assessed based on background dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) level, chlorophyll-a concentrations and total alkalinity. The results reveal that areas with relatively high vulnerability are mainly located above 30° N latitude. The Yellow Sea, Southern China Sea, and North Sea come out as relatively high risk areas. Looking in more detail to European high-risk ecoregions, the highest risk levels are found in areas with dense shipping lanes and maritime chokepoints, e.g. the Strait of Dover and the Strait of Gibraltar. This was the first attempt to make such a risk assessment and the outcome is only indicative. In a next phase additional parameters, such as water currents and biological composition of the ecosystem should be included.

Key Points

The first global environmental risk assessment was made for innovative ships that apply underwater released exhaust gas as ‘air lubrication’

Ecoregions with relatively high vulnerability to acidification and algal blooms are mainly located above 30° N latitude

The risk for the marine ecosystem of the underwater released exhaust CO2 from ships is limited to specific shipping-dense areas
Deformation-induced actuation of cells in asymmetric periodic flow fields
Authors: Krauss Sebastian W. , Gires Pierre-Yves , Weiss Matthias
Published: October 2021

Analyzing and sorting particles and/or biological cells in microfluidic devices is a topical problem in soft-matter and biomedical physics. An easy and rapid screening of the deformation of individual cells in constricted microfluidic channels allows, for example, the identification of sick or aberrant cells with altered mechanical properties, even in vast cell ensembles. The subsequently desired softness-specific segregation of cells is, however, still a major challenge. Moreover, aiming at an intrinsic and unsupervised approach raises a very general question: How can one achieve a softness-dependent net migration of particles in a microfluidic channel? Here we show that this is possible by exploiting a deformation-induced actuation of soft cells in asymmetric periodic flow fields in which rigid beads show a vanishing net drift.
Efficient methods for generation and expansion of, and gene delivery to Rhesus Macaque plasma B cells
Authors: Kreuser Shannon , Honaker Yuchi , Cheng Rene Yu-Hong , Dahl Noelle , Soligalla Rupa , Lopez Christina , Rawlings David J. , James Richard G.
Published: October 2021

Engineered long lived plasma cells have the potential to be a new area of cell therapy. A key step in developing this cell therapy is testing in a model with an intact immune system similar to humans. To that end, we have developed methods to purify, expand, and differentiate non-human primate (NHP; rhesus macaque) B cells ex vivo. By comparing several media types and conditions, we consistently achieved 10-fold expansion of NHP B cells using a readily available commercial supplement. After only seven days in culture, large percentages of cells in NHP B cell cultures were differentiated. These cells expressed surface markers found in human antibody secreting cells (CD38 and CD138) and secreted immunoglobulin G. We also identified the serotypes (2.5 and D-J) and conditions necessary for efficient transduction of NHP B cells with AAV vectors for the purposes of producing a secreted protein (BAFF). We hope that this work will accelerate proof-of-concept in vivo studies using engineered protein-secreting B cells in an NHP model.