bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-coplanar lung SABR treatments delivered with a gantry-mounted x-ray tube
Authors: O’Connell Jericho , Weil Michael D , Bazalova-Carter Magdalena
Published: November 2023

Objective. To create two non-coplanar, stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) lung patient treatment plans compliant with the radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) 0813 dosimetric criteria using a simple, isocentric, therapy with kilovoltage arcs (SITKA) system designed to provide low cost external radiotherapy treatments for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Approach. A treatment machine design has been proposed featuring a 320 kVp x-ray tube mounted on a gantry. A deep learning cone-beam CT (CBCT) to synthetic CT (sCT) method was employed to remove the additional cost of planning CTs. A novel inverse treatment planning approach using GPU backprojection was used to create a highly non-coplanar treatment plan with circular beam shapes generated by an iris collimator. Treatments were planned and simulated using the TOPAS Monte Carlo (MC) code for two lung patients. Dose distributions were compared to 6 MV volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planned in Eclipse on the same cases for a Truebeam linac as well as obeying the RTOG 0813 protocols for lung SABR treatments with a prescribed dose of 50 Gy. Main results. The low-cost SITKA treatments were compliant with all RTOG 0813 dosimetric criteria. SITKA treatments showed, on average, a 6.7 and 4.9 Gy reduction of the maximum dose in soft tissue organs at risk (OARs) as compared to VMAT, for the two patients respectively. This was accompanied by a small increase in the mean dose of 0.17 and 0.30 Gy in soft tissue OARs. Significance. The proposed SITKA system offers a maximally low-cost, effective alternative to conventional radiotherapy systems for lung cancer patients, particularly in low-income countries. The system’s non-coplanar, isocentric approach, coupled with the deep learning CBCT to sCT and GPU backprojection-based inverse treatment planning, offers lower maximum doses in OARs and comparable conformity to VMAT plans at a fraction of the cost of conventional radiotherapy.
Experimental investigation on magnetic field strength providing thrust saturation in a magnetic nozzle radiofrequency plasma thruster
Authors: Takahashi Kazunori , Sumikawa Soya
Published: November 2023

Magnetic field strength applied to a magnetic nozzle radiofrequency (rf) plasma thruster having a 10.5 cm diameter source tube is increased up to about 3 kG by pulsing the solenoid current. A target plate is installed at 30 cm downstream of the source and an impulse bit exerted to the target is measured to assess the thrust, where the thrust balance measurement was impossible due to the interaction between the pulsed magnetic fields and the eddy currents on surroundings. Since the diameter of the plasma plume at the target location is larger than the target diameter, a comparison between the thrust balance and target measurements under continuous magnetic field and rf power is performed prior to the pulsed magnetic field experiments, showing that about 65 percent of the plasma momentum is exerted to the target plate. Saturation of the impulse bit, being equivalent to the force multiplied by the rf pulse width, is clearly observed when increasing the magnetic field strength. The magnetic field providing the force saturation is found to be changed by the source diameter, which is qualitatively explained by considering a change in the plasma loss to the source wall in a thruster model containing the particle balance, power balance, and one-dimensional magnetic nozzle models. It is suggested that the magnetic field strength required for optimizing the force, i.e. the thrust, can be reduced when enlarging the source tube diameter.
Ambient seismic noise tomography of the Suwannee suture zone using cross-coherence interferometry and double beamforming
Authors: Barman Debajeet , Pulliam Jay , Quiros Diego A
Published: November 2023

We use continuous data from more than 200 vertical-component broad-band seismic stations for the years 2012 and 2013 to model the crustal and lithospheric structure of the southeastern United States (SEUS). Seismic interferometry via cross-coherence is used to retrieve the surface wave Empirical Green's function (EGF) between station pairs. We mitigate the problem of non-stationary sources contributing to the extracted EGF by applying double beamforming to pairs of subarrays of stations. The recovered Rayleigh waves are used to compute group velocity dispersion maps which are then inverted to find shear wave velocity profiles using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique. EGFs are computed for more than 80 000 station pairs after filtering to the period band 7–60 s. Results reveal tectonic features in the SEUS that support recent claims that the northernmost extent of the Suwannee suture is located near the boundary of the Carolinia and Charleston terranes and that the Charleston and Suwannee terranes are not seismologically distinct within the resolution limits of the data set.
A qualitative exploration of the barriers and facilitators affecting informal and familial carers accessing community pharmacy services
Authors: Richardson C L , Lindsey L , Lunny J , Edwards K
Published: November 2023

Introduction

There are approximately 5.3 million informal carers in the United Kingdom, many of which support family members in their health including medicines use. Informal carers are unpaid and often unsupported. Many visit pharmacies to collect medicines and look for advice.

Aim

To explore informal carer involvement in community pharmacy services.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews with carers and pharmacy staff were conducted between October and December 2022. The project received ethical approval from the Faculty of Medical Sciences ethics committee (References: 25925/2022; 25368/2022) in October 2023. Interviews took place remotely and explored perspectives on the role of community pharmacy in identifying and supporting carers; the study received institutional ethical approval. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim before being analysed using a reflexive thematic approach.

Results

A total of 25 interviews were conducted with 13 carers and 12 pharmacy staff. From the thematic analysis, four themes were identified: Firstly, ‘Cultural expectations of caring’ - Carers described ways in which they found themselves in the role, for the majority this was not something they decided to do but was an expectation of an existing familial relationship, because of this both carers and pharmacy staff struggled to identify people as ‘carers’ due to understanding it was a formal role. Secondly, ‘Carers cannot be patients too’ - Caring was described as like a job and one in which their health was impacted but this was not always recognised by pharmacy staff who saw supporting carers as a way to provide better patient care rather than caring for the carer. Thirdly, ‘Being in the know-how of caring’ - The carers described having to know how to be a carer and how to navigate health systems. Carers first described needing to know about medicines use and secondly know how to navigate systems and processes around accessing medicines services. Fourthly ‘Don’t forget the community in community pharmacy’ - meaningful relationships between pharmacy staff and carers were important to carer experience and carers recognised that pharmacies are not just a place for medicines supply but increasingly a space for wider services as part of a ‘community hub’.

Discussion/Conclusion

Being a carer is often a cultural expectation which can contribute to worsening health and wellbeing of carers. This is aggravated by the need to navigate a complex system of services and know about medicines. A limitation of the work is that ethnicity was not and as such this may require further investigation.

Community pharmacy can offer a place for support, but pharmacy staff may need to reconsider their approach to identifying and supporting carers in their own right and not just treating them as an extension of supporting a patient to receive better care.
Antimicrobial potential of secondary metabolites and DNA gyrase B blocking molecules produced by a halophilic bacterium Virgibacillus salarius (MML1918)
Authors: Nandhagopal Manivannan , Chandrasekaran Ramprasath , Narayanasamy Mathivanan
Published: November 2023

Aim

The present study aims to determine the antimicrobial potential of Virgibacillus salairus (MML1918) against human pathogens and its in-vitro and in-silico properties.

Methods and results

In this present study, totally 63 halophilic bacterial cultures were obtained and cultivated in nutrient broth medium containing 8% NaCl and the metabolites, were extracted using ethyl acetate and screened for their antimicrobial property by cell viability assay against 12 pathogenic bacteria and fungi, among 63 halophilic bacteria the Vir. salaries (MML1918) found to be the best producer for secondary metabolites production against clinical pathogens. The optimization of growth for important physiochemical parameters was characterized and applied for different production media and based on its highest activity as 17.5 ± .07 mm zone of inhibition (ZOI) for Bacillus cereus followed by 17.5 ± 00 mm ZOI for Staphylococcus aureus, the production medium ATCC1097 was chosen for mass production. The mass production of secondary metabolites from Vir. salaries MML1918 was carried out in a fermenter under controlled conditions and crude metabolites was extracted and condensed. The antimicrobial activity of crude metabolites showed B. cereus (19.3 ± 0.5 mm ZOI), Staph. aureus, and Candida albicans (18.3 ± 0.5 mm ZOI) as the highest ZOI in production media for halophilic bacteria ATCC1097. Further, the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed 24 compounds present in crude metabolites. Among the 24 compounds, four molecules were found to be important based on molecule percentage in crude and structural similarity. The molecular docking studies show that the selected four molecules effectively bind with the active region DNA gyrase B.

Conclusion

Virgibacillus salarius (MML1918) effectively showed antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic organisms and can be employed as a suitable candidate for producing novel antimicrobial agents.
In vitro inhibition of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum mycelial growth and reduction of sclerotial viability by the volatile bioactive compounds of Brassicaceae crops
Authors: Dassanayaka Madhavi P , Casonato Seona G , Jones E Eirian
Published: November 2023

Aims

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is an important pathogen of a wide range of crops, with current control mostly relying on the use of fungicides. This study assessed the effect of biofumigation on in vitro inhibition of mycelial growth and reduction of sclerotial viability of S. sclerotiorum as an attempt to seek an alternative management strategy.

Methods and results

The effect of different biofumigant crop types to inhibit mycelial growth of ten S. sclerotiorum isolates was investigated, with Brassica juncea ‘Caliente 199’ being the most effective biofumigant crop. The efficacy of ‘Caliente 199’ to inhibit mycelial growth and reduce sclerotial viability was influenced by different crop factors. Plant tissue of ‘Caliente 199’ harvested at 50% or 100% flowering and adjusted to 80% (w/w) moisture resulted in greater mycelial inhibition and a reduction in the sclerotial viability compared with the vegetative tissue with the same plant moisture. Mycelial inhibition and reduction of sclerotial viability were affected by tissue quantity. Whole plant tissue and shoots only resulted in a similar inhibition of mycelial growth, but whole plant tissue resulted in a greater reduction of sclerotial viability. The S. sclerotiorum isolates differed in sensitivity to the volatile bioactive compounds released by the biofumigant plant tissue.

Conclusions

The volatile bioactive compounds released by ‘Caliente 199’ resulted in effective mycelial inhibition but did not kill sclerotia completely.
Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of low-risk non-HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Junyu , Dong Ruiqi , Zhang Hongya , Yao Shiqi , Liu Jia , Yang Lu , Fan Liuxu , Su Xiaohong , Wang Anni , Su Zhihui , Ngai Iok Keng , Dai Kai , Jiang Ying , Peng Fuhua
Published: November 2023

Although non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a severe disease, there are still some non-HIV CM patients with a low risk of therapeutic failure. Recognizing clinical characteristics of low-risk non-HIV-associated CM may enable clinicians to treat non-HIV-associated CM more reasonably. According to the definition of low-risk non-HIV-associated CM in the 2010 Infectious Diseases Society of America guideline, a total of 220 non-HIV CM patients were divided into two groups (Group 1: 35 low-risk patients and Group 2: 185 non-low-risk patients). Clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome were compared between the two groups. Compared with non-low-risk patients, low-risk patients had a lower rate of headache (82.9% vs. 95.7%, P = .012), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure (OP) at baseline (CSF OP < 250-mm H2O, 60.0% vs. 32.4%, P = .001), and baseline CSF cryptococcal count (median, 0 vs. 2376, P < .001), higher baseline CSF white blood cell (median, 130 vs. 90, P = .029) and CSF protein (median, 0.87 vs. 0.73, P = .011). Multivariate analysis showed that baseline CSF OP <250-mm H2O (OR: 2.545, 95% CI 1.168, 5.545, P = .019) was independently associated with low-risk for non-HIV-associated CM. The lengths of AMB-d-based induction therapy of low-risk patients (median, 20 days) were shorter (P < .001) than that of non-low-risk patients (median, 38 days). The successful outcome rate of low-risk patients was higher than non-low-risk patients (97.1% vs. 54.6%, P < .001). We demonstrated that non-HIV-associated CM patients with baseline CSF OP < 250-mm H2O were prone to the low-risk status.
A method of weak lensing reconstruction through cosmic magnification with multiband photometry information
Authors: Ma Ruijie , Zhang Pengjie , Yu Yu , Qin Jian
Published: November 2023

Weak gravitational lensing induces flux-dependent fluctuations in the observed galaxy number density distribution. This cosmic magnification (magnification bias) effect in principle enables lensing reconstruction alternative to cosmic shear and cosmic microwave background lensing. However, the intrinsic galaxy clustering, which otherwise overwhelms the signal, has hindered its application. Through a scaling relation found by principal component analysis of the galaxy clustering in multiband photometry space, we design a minimum variance linear estimator to suppress the intrinsic galaxy clustering and to reconstruct the lensing convergence map. In combination of the CosmoDC2 galaxy mock and the CosmicGrowth simulation, we test this proposal for an LSST (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope)-like galaxy survey with ugrizY photometry bands. (1) The scaling relation holds excellently at multipole ℓ < 103, and remains reasonably well to ℓ ∼ 3000. (2) The linear estimator efficiently suppresses the galaxy intrinsic clustering, by a factor of ∼102. (3) For galaxies in the photo-z range 0.8 < zκ < 1.2, the reconstructed convergence map is cosmic variance limited per ℓ mode at ℓ < 102, and shot noise limited at $\ell \gtrsim 200$. (4) Its cross-correlation with cosmic shear of galaxies can achieve $\mathrm{ S/N}\gtrsim 200$. When the source redshift of cosmic shear galaxies zγ < zκ, the systematic error is negligible at all investigated scales (ℓ < 3000). When zγ ≥ zκ, the systematic error caused by the residual intrinsic galaxy clustering becomes non-negligible. We discuss possible mitigation of the residual intrinsic galaxy clustering required for accurate measurement at ℓ > 103. This work further demonstrates the potential of lensing measurement through cosmic magnification to enhance the weak lensing cosmology.
Probing the early Milky Way with GHOST spectra of an extremely metal-poor star in the Galactic disc
Authors: Dovgal Anya , Venn Kim A , Sestito Federico , Hayes Christian R , McConnachie Alan W , Navarro Julio F , Placco Vinicius M , Starkenburg Else , Martin Nicolas F , Pazder John S , Chiboucas Kristin , Deibert Emily , Gamen Roberto , Heo Jeong-Eun , Kalari Venu M , Martioli Eder , Xu Siyi , Diaz Ruben , Gomez-Jimenez Manuel , Henderson David , Prado Pablo , Quiroz Carlos , Robertson J Gordon , Ruiz-Carmona Roque , Simpson Chris , Urrutia Cristian , Waller Fletcher , Berg Trystyn , Burley Gregory , Hartman Zachary , Ireland Michael , Margheim Steve , Perez Gabriel , Thomas-Osip Joanna
Published: November 2023

Pristine_183.6849 + 04.8619 (P1836849) is an extremely metal-poor ([Fe/H] = −3.3 ± 0.1) star on a prograde orbit confined to the Galactic disc. Such stars are rare and may have their origins in protogalactic fragments that formed the early Milky Way, in low-mass satellites accreted later, or forming in situ in the Galactic plane. Here, we present a chemo-dynamical analysis of the spectral features between 3700−11 000 Å from a high-resolution spectrum taken during Science Verification of the new Gemini High-resolution Optical SpecTrograph. Spectral features for many chemical elements are analysed (Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni), and valuable upper limits are determined for others (C, Na, Sr, Ba). This main sequence star exhibits several rare chemical signatures, including (i) extremely low metallicity for a star in the Galactic disc, (ii) very low abundances of the light α-elements (Na, Mg, Si) compared to other metal-poor stars, and (iii) unusually large abundances of Cr and Mn, where [Cr, Mn/Fe]NLTE > +0.5. A comparison to theoretical yields from supernova models suggests that two low-mass Population III objects (one 10 M⊙ supernova and one 17 M⊙ hypernova) can reproduce the abundance pattern well (reduced χ2 < 1). When this star is compared to other extremely metal-poor stars on quasi-circular, prograde planar orbits, differences in both chemistry and kinematics imply there is little evidence for a common origin. The unique chemistry of P1836849 is discussed in terms of the earliest stages in the formation of the Milky Way.
First intensity interferometry measurements with the H.E.S.S. telescopes
Authors: Zmija Andreas , Vogel Naomi , Wohlleben Frederik , Anton Gisela , Zink Adrian , Funk Stefan
Published: November 2023

Intensity interferometry for astrophysical observations has gained increasing interest in the last decade. The method of correlating photon fluxes at different telescopes for high resolution astronomy without access to the phase of the incoming light is insensitive to atmospheric turbulence and does not require high-precision optical path control. The necessary large collection areas can be provided by Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes. Implementation of intensity interferometers to existing telescope systems such as VERITAS and MAGIC has proven to be successful for high-resolution imaging of stars. In 2022 April we equipped two telescopes of the H.E.S.S. array in Namibia with an intensity interferometry setup to measure southern sky stars and star systems during the bright moon period. We mounted an external optical system to the lid of the telescope cameras, which splits the incoming light and feeds it into two photomultipliers in order to measure the zero-baseline correlation within one telescope in addition to the cross-correlation between the telescopes. The optical elements are motorized, which enables live correction of tracking inaccuracies of the telescopes. During the campaign we measured the spatial correlation curves and thereby the angular diameters of λ Sco (Shaula) and σ Sgr (Nunki), while we also performed systematic studies of our interferometer using the multiple star system of α Cru (Acrux).
NGC 5474 X-1: A neutron star ultraluminous X-ray source in an old stellar cluster?
Authors: Atapin Kirill , Vinokurov Alexander , Sarkisyan Arkadiy , Solovyeva Yulia , Kostenkov Alexander , Medvedev Aleksei , Fabrika Sergei
Published: November 2023

We present an optical and X-ray study of the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5474 X-1. The X-ray spectrum taken during the bright state of the source (LX ∼ 2 × 1040 erg s–1) shows signatures of a broad absorption line at ≃ 8 keV, which may be a cyclotron resonant scattering feature. This implies that this system may host a neutron star with a magnetic field of ∼1012 G. The first observation of this area with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), carried out 14 months later, revealed that the source was bright in the optical range as well. Subsequent observations have shown that the source faded in both ranges (more than 2.8 mag in the U band and by a factor of 50–100 in the X-ray) and has never become bright again. Deeper HST observations made it possible to impose constraints on the donor star spectral class and mass ($\lt \, 7$ M⊙), as well as to identify a stellar cluster of about 1 Gyr, the centre of which is located at a projected distance of ~2 pc from NGC 5474 X-1. The ULX could be a member of this old cluster; however, the presence of stars with ages of ∼10 Myr within 300 pc of the ULX means that it is possible that this is just an accidental projection.
Trusts taxation in Italy: the current state of art
Authors: Quartana Claudio , Bolis Lodovico
Published: November 2023

Although a legal instrument typical of common law Countries, over the years, the trust has become better known in Italy, also due to the ratification of the Hague Convention in 1989. This has led to the introduction in the Italian legislation of a specific discipline regulating the taxation of trusts, together with the issue of numerous guidelines provided by the Italian Tax Authorities, which this in depth article tries to address in detail, even focusing on the more troublesome aspects, especially for income tax purposes.
Molecular phylogeny of dragon millipedes (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) from mainland South-East Asia, with description of a new genus and species
Authors: Srisonchai Ruttapon , Enghoff Henrik , Likhitrakarn Natdanai , Jeratthitikul Ekgachai , Jirapatrasilp Parin , Panha Somsak , Sutcharit Chirasak
Published: November 2023

Recent taxonomic revision of the strikingly ornamented millipedes known as ‘dragon millipedes’ in the family Paradoxosomatidae, has revealed generic division into six genera. The majority of species are distributed in mainland South-East Asia and each genus is restricted to a well-delimited area. However, their evolutionary history has remained poorly understood, particularly the relationships among genera and their biogeographic distribution. We present a comprehensive and well-resolved molecular phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes. A dataset of 256 sequences representing 40 dragon millipede species was newly generated and analysed in order to reveal the relationships and to explore the origin using ancestral range reconstruction. All dragon millipedes were retrieved together as monophyletic, each genus except Hylomus forming a distinct clade with strong statistical values, supporting the previous classification using morphology. A new monotypic genus and new species, Siamaxytes bifurca Srisonchai and Panha gen. nov. et sp. nov., was revealed based on distinct morphological and DNA data. The Tenasserim mountain range was inferred to be the centre of origin of dragon millipedes with a series of subsequent diversifications across mainland South-East Asia. Our analysis provides evidence that both dispersal and vicariance presumably played a role in shaping these millipedes’ distribution and diversification.
The Importance of Pelvic Obliquity in Assessing Spinal Coronal Alignment
Authors: Zuckerman Scott L. , Sardar Zeeshan M. , Marciano Gerard , Cerpa Meghan , Hassan Fthimnir M. , Kerolus Mena G. , Kelly Michael P. , Bourret Stéphane , Hasegawa Kazuhiro , Wong Hee-Kit , Dennis Hey Hwee Weng , Riahi Hend , Le Huec Jean-Charles , Lenke Lawrence G.
Published: November 2023

Study Design:

Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Objective:

In a geographically diverse population of asymptomatic volunteers, we sought to report the incidence of pelvic obliquity (PO), establish normative values of PO across patient factors, and assess the correlation of PO with radiographic parameters.

Summary of Background Data:

PO is defined as the misalignment of the pelvis and can be assessed through several anatomic landmarks. Significant PO, whether caused by leg-length discrepancy or not, can lead to coronal malalignment which causes severe pain and disability. Significant emphasis has been placed on achieving appropriate sagittal alignment in recent decades; however, a greater understanding of coronal alignment is needed, and PO is a crucial aspect of evaluating the coronal plane in adult spinal deformity patients.

Methods:

Asymptomatic adult volunteers, ages 18–80 years, enrolled patients from 5 countries (France, Japan, Singapore, Tunisia, and the United States) in the “multiethnic alignment normative study” cohort (IRB 201812144). The included volunteers had no known spinal disorder(s), no significant neck or back pain (Visual Analog Scale: ≤2; Oswestry Disability Index: ≤20), and no abnormal alignment (Cobb ≤20°). PO was measured in the frontal plane as the distance between the highest points of each acetabulum, calculated along the vertical axis in millimeters (mm). The incidence of PO was defined as PO ≥10 mm. Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank-sum, Pearson correlation, and linear regression were used.

Results:

A total of 467 patients were included, and PO values by age, sex, body mass index, and country were provided. The overall incidence of PO ≥10 mm was 4.3%, and a nonsignificant trend toward increased PO with age was seen (P = 0.077). No significant differences were seen in PO between sex, ethnicity, or body mass index groups. No significant correlation existed between PO and other commonly used coronal radiographic measurements.

Conclusion:

PO ≥10 mm occurred in 4.3% of asymptomatic volunteers. Despite the importance of recognizing PO in preventing coronal malalignment, PO did not seem to be associated with other radiographic and demographic information, which underscores the importance of intentionally assessing for any PO before surgery. These results in an asymptomatic population provide a foundation for studying PO in patients with spinal pathology.
A Longitudinal Evaluation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Its Effects on Spinal Decompressions With or Without Fusion
Authors: Siegel Nicholas , Lambrechts Mark J. , Brush Parker L. , Tomlak Alexa , Lee Yunsoo , Karamian Brian A. , Canseco Jose A. , Woods Barrett I. , Kaye I. David , Hilibrand Alan S. , Kepler Christopher K. , Vaccaro Alexander R. , Schroeder Gregory D.
Published: November 2023

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort.

Objective:

The objectives were to (1) compare the safety of spine surgery before and after the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and (2) determine whether patients with a history of COVID-19 were at increased risk of adverse events.

Summary and Background Data:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a tremendous impact on several health care services. In spine surgery, elective cases were canceled and patients received delayed care due to the uncertainty of disease transmission and surgical outcomes. As new coronavirus variants arise, health care systems require guidance on how to provide optimal patient care to all those in need of our services.

Patients and Methods:

A retrospective review of patients undergoing spine surgery between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2021 was performed. Patients were split into pre-COVID or post-COVID cohorts based on local government guidelines. Inpatient complications, 90-day readmission, and 90-day mortality were compared between groups. Secondary analysis included multiple logistic regression to determine independent predictors of each outcome.

Results:

A total of 2976 patients were included for analysis with 1701 patients designated as pre-COVID and 1275 as post-COVID. The pre-COVID cohort had fewer patients undergoing revision surgery (16.8% vs 21.9%, P < 0.001) and a lower home discharge rate (84.5% vs 88.2%, P = 0.008). Inpatient complication (9.9% vs 9.2%, P = 0.562), inpatient mortality (0.1% vs 0.2%, P = 0.193), 90-day readmission (3.4% vs 3.2%, P = 0.828), and 90-day mortality rates (0.8% vs 0.8%, P = 0.902) were similar between groups. Patients with positive COVID-19 tests before surgery had similar complication rates (7.7% vs 6.1%, P = 1.000) as those without a positive test documented.

Conclusions:

After the emergence of COVID-19, patients undergoing spine surgery had a greater number of medical comorbidities, but similar rates of inpatient complications, readmission, and mortality. Prior COVID-19 infection was not associated with an increased risk of postsurgical complications or mortality.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
WITHDRAWN: Genomic characterization of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus detected during nosocomial outbreak (2023) in Balochistan province of Pakistan
Authors: Umair Massab , Haider Syed Adnan , Ali Qasim , Hakim Rabia , Raisani Maqbool Ahmed , Ayub Adnan , Salman Muhammad
Published: November 2023

Withdrawal Statement

The authors have withdrawn their manuscript owing to lack of approval by provincial health authorities to publish this work. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
Examining the association of live virus neutralisation activity of capillary microsamples and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infections: a nested case control study within the Virus Watch community cohort
Authors: Yavlinsky Alexei , Nguyen Vincent G. , Beale Sarah , Wall Emma , Wu Mary Y , Braithwaite Isobel , Kovar Jana , Shrotri Madhumita , Navaratnam Annalan M D , Fong Wing Lam Erica , Byrne Thomas E. , Balloux François , Abubakar Ibrahim , Cowling Benjamin J. , Hayward Andrew C. , Aldridge Robert W.
Published: November 2023

Due to the proliferation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, most COVID-19 cases are now caused by post-vaccine infections and a substantial proportion are reinfections. While prior research on correlates of protection has focused on the role of anti-spike antibodies, the results of the corresponding antibody assays may not accurately predict the risk of infection with new SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this study, we investigated the association between live virus neutralising antibody activity and SARS-CoV-2 infection risk using self-administered capillary microsample blood tests from VirusWatch participants. The study was conducted during the transition between the dominance of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) and B.1.1.529 (Omicron BA.1) SARS-CoV-2 variants, enabling us to investigate the association between variant-specific virus inhibition and subsequent infections within each dominance period. Greater inhibition of Omicron BA.1 live virus was associated with a reduction in infection risk during both the Delta and Omicron BA.1 dominance periods. Delta virus inhibition was associated with infection risk reduction during the Delta dominance period, but we found no association between Delta inhibition and protection against infection during the Omicron BA.1 dominance period. Our results are consistent with earlier findings and suggest that variant-specific serosurveillance of immunity and protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection at the population level could inform public health policy in near-real time using inexpensive and accessible home-based testing.
Pathogenic IgE-fated B cell memory retains functional plasticity
Authors: Bruton Kelly , Phelps Allyssa , Ariaz Atai , Walker Tina D. , Wen Jianping , Khavkine-Binstock Sharon S. , Fang Allison , Mann-Delany Olivia , Knudsen Niels Peter H. , Gadkar Siyon , Grydziuszko Emily , Koenig Joshua F. E. , Gagnon Aidan , Waserman Susan , Andersen Peter S. , Jordana Manel
Published: November 2023

Long-lived immunoglobulin (Ig) E responses against innocuous environmental and dietary antigens (Ags) are maintained by an IgG1-dominant memory B cell (MBC) compartment primed for IL-4 responsiveness. In this work, we investigated the plasticity of the MBC compartment fated for IgE class switch recombination upon Ag re-exposure. Antibody-mediated IL-4R( blockade augmented the germinal center response and uncovered an IL-4/IL-13 dependency within the type 2 memory B cell (MBC2) skewed phenotype. In the absence of IL-4/IL-13 signaling during the recall response, a long-lived Ag-specific IgG2c MBC population emerged, shifting the MBC response away from a type 2 phenotype and towards type 1. The emergence of this IgG2c response was dependent on IFN-( signaling and arose from both unswitched and class-switched Ag-specific B cells in vivo. We further demonstrated that a type 1-polarizing adjuvant can augment the redirection of type 2-polarized class-switched MBCs, suggesting with the correct cues pathogenic MBCs can be functionally reprogrammed.

One Sentence Summary

B cell responses to allergens can be reprogrammed away from a pathogenic fate through IL-4/IL-13 signaling blockade.
Hydrothermal vent fauna of the Galápagos Rift: Updated species list with new records
Authors: Chen Chong , Jamieson John W. , Tunnicliffe Verena
Published: November 2023

The sighting of giant bivalves and tubeworms at the Rose Garden vent field on the Galápagos Rift in 1977 marked the discovery of hydrothermal vents, a turning point for modern biology. The following decade saw a flurry of taxonomic descriptions of vent endemic species from the first vents. With the finding of high-temperature ‘black smokers’ on the East Pacific Rise, exploration shifted away from Galápagos. A faunal list of Galápagos vents with 65 species was published in 1991, then updated to 74 species in 2006. Since then, few expeditions returned to the Galápagos Rift. Here, we revisited several Galápagos vents including recently confirmed high-temperature sites and inactive sulfide mounds. From our collecting efforts and observations, as well as revisions from the literature, we update the faunal list to 92 species including 15 new records, restricted to obvious vent associates. Accurate regional faunal lists are important for understanding the biogeography of vent fauna, and our list will also be valuable for setting management strategies.
Inference of the core gene regulatory network underlying seam cell development inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Brożek Alicja , Ceccarelli Arianna , Jørgensen Andreas Christ Sølvsten , Hintze Mark , Barkoulas Michalis , Shahrezaei Vahid
Published: November 2023

Gene regulatory networks are fundamental in cellular decision-making, yet even in well-studied systems, their topologies are often poorly characterised. The nematodeCaenorhabditis eleganscontains a population of stem-like cells, known as seam cells. While seam cells are essential to generate the majority of the animal epidermis as well as specific neurons, the architecture of the underlying gene network has not been elucidated. Here, we combine experiments, mathematical modelling and statistical inference to uncover the architecture of the seam cell gene network focusing on three core transcription factors (TFs), the GATA factors ELT-1, EGL-18 and the Engrailed homolog CEH-16. We use single-molecule FISH (smFISH) to quantify TF mRNA abundance in single seam cells in both wild type and mutant backgrounds. We then predict potential TF interactions and their quantitative strengths using a combination of Modular Response Analysis, ordinary differential equations and a Bayesian model discovery approach. Taken together, our findings suggest new relationships between core TFs in seam cells and highlight an approach that can be used to infer quantitative networks from smFISH data.
(R,S)-ketamine’s rapid-acting antidepressant effects are modulated by NR2B-containing NMDA receptors on adult-born hippocampal neurons
Authors: Bulthuis Nicholas E. , McGowan Josephine C. , Ladner Liliana R. , LaGamma Christina T. , Lim Sean C. , Shubeck Claire X. , Brachman Rebecca A. , Sydnor Ezra , Pavlova Ina P. , Seo Dong-oh , Drew Michael R. , Denny Christine A.
Published: November 2023

Standard antidepressant treatments often take weeks to reach efficacy and are ineffective for many patients. (R,S)-ketamine, anN-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, has been shown to be a rapid-acting antidepressant and to decrease depressive symptoms within hours of administration. While previous studies have shown the importance of the NR2B subunit of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) on interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), no study has investigated the influence of NR2B-expressing adult-born granule cells (abGCs). In this study, we examined whether (R,S)-ketamine’s efficacy depends upon these adult-born hippocampal neurons using a genetic strategy to selectively ablate the NR2B subunit of the NMDAR from Nestin+cells. To validate our findings, we also used several other transgenic lines including one in which NR2B was deleted from an interneuron (Parvalbumin (PV)+) population. We report that in male mice, NR2B expression on 6-week-old adult-born neurons is necessary for (R,S)-ketamine’s effects on behavioral despair in the forced swim test (FST) and on hyponeophagia in the novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) paradigm, as well on fear behavior following contextual fear conditioning (CFC). In female mice, NR2B expression is necessary for effects on hyponeophagia in the NSF. We also find that ablating neurogenesis increases fear expression in CFC, which is buffered by (R,S)-ketamine administration. In line with previous studies, these results suggest that 6-week-old adult-born hippocampal neurons expressing NR2B partially modulate (R,S)-ketamine’s rapid-acting effects. Future work targeting these 6-week-old adult-born neurons may prove beneficial for increasing the efficacy of (R,S)-ketamine’s antidepressant actions.
Effects of transient, persistent, and resurgent sodium currents on excitability and spike regularity in vestibular ganglion neurons
Authors: Baeza-Loya Selina , Eatock Ruth Anne
Published: November 2023

Vestibular afferent neurons occur as two populations with differences in spike timing regularity that are independent of rate. The more excitable regular afferents have lower current thresholds and sustained spiking responses to injected currents, while irregular afferent neurons have higher thresholds and transient responses. Differences in expression of low-voltage-activated potassium (KLV) channels are emphasized in models of spiking regularity and excitability in these neurons, leaving open the potential contributions of the voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels responsible for the spike upstroke. We investigated the impact of different NaVcurrent modes (transient, persistent, and resurgent) with whole-cell patch clamp experiments in mouse vestibular ganglion neurons (VGNs), the cultured and dissociated cell bodies of afferents. All VGNs had transient NaVcurrent, many had a small persistent (non-inactivating) NaVcurrent, and a few had resurgent current, which flows after the spike peak when NaVchannels that were blocked are unblocked. NaV1.6 channels conducted most or all of each NaVcurrent mode, and a NaV1.6-selective blocker decreased spike rate and altered spike waveforms in both sustained and transient VGNs. A NaVchannel agonist enhanced persistent current and increased spike rate and regularity. We hypothesized that persistent and resurgent currents have different effects on sustained (regular) VGNs vs. transient (irregular) VGNs. Lacking blockers specific for the different current modes, we used modeling to isolate their effects on spiking of simulated transient and sustained VGNs, driven by simulated current steps and noisy trains of simulated EPSCs. In all simulated neurons, increasing transient NaVcurrent increased spike rate and rate-independent regularity. In simulated sustained VGNs, adding persistent current increased both rate and rate-independent regularity, while adding resurgent current had limited impact. In transient VGNs, adding persistent current had little impact, while adding resurgent current increased both rate and rate-independent irregularity by enhancing sensitivity to synaptic noise. These experiments show that the small NaVcurrent modes may enhance the differentiation of afferent populations, with persistent currents selectively making regular afferents more regular and resurgent currents selectively making irregular afferents less regular.
Human Cytokine and Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein Interactivity Using Large-Scale Virtual Screens
Authors: Tomezsko Phillip J. , Ford Colby T. , Meyer Avery E. , Michaleas Adam M. , Jaimes Rafael
Published: November 2023

Understanding the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the human immune system is paramount to the characterization of novel variants as the virus co-evolves with the human host. In this study, we employed state-of-the-art molecular docking tools to conduct large-scale virtual screens, predicting the binding affinities between 64 human cytokines against 17 nucleocapsid proteins from six betacoronaviruses. Our comprehensivein silicoanalyses reveal specific changes in cytokine-nucleocapsid protein interactions, shedding light on potential modulators of the host immune response during infection. These findings offer valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying viral pathogenesis and may guide the future development of targeted interventions. This manuscript serves as insight into the comparison of deep learning based AlphaFold2-Multimer and the semi-physicochemical based HADDOCK for protein-protein docking. We show the two methods are complementary in their predictive capabilities. We also introduce a novel algorithm for rapidly assessing the binding interface of protein-protein docks using graph edit distance: graph-based interface residue assessment function (GIRAF). The high-performance computational framework presented here will not only aid in accelerating the discovery of effective interventions against emerging viral threats, but extend to other applications of high throughput protein-protein screens.
Length control emerges from cytoskeletal network geometry
Authors: McInally Shane G. , Reading Alexander J.B. , Rosario Aldric , Jelenkovic Predrag R. , Goode Bruce L. , Kondev Jane
Published: November 2023

Many cytoskeletal networks consist of individual filaments that are organized into elaborate higher order structures. While it is appreciated that the size and architecture of these networks are critical for their biological functions, much of the work investigating control over their assembly has focused on mechanisms that regulate the turnover of individual filaments through size-dependent feedback. Here, we propose a very different, feedback-independent mechanism to explain how yeast cells control the length of their actin cables. Our findings, supported by quantitative cell imaging and mathematical modeling, indicate that actin cable length control is an emergent property that arises from the cross-linked and bundled organization of the filaments within the cable. Using this model, we further dissect the mechanisms that allow cables to grow longer in larger cells, and propose that cell length-dependent tuning of formin activity allows cells to scale cable length with cell length. This mechanism is a significant departure from prior models of cytoskeletal filament length control and presents a new paradigm to consider how cells control the size, shape, and dynamics of higher order cytoskeletal structures.

Significance Statement

Cells control the sizes of their cytoskeletal networks to ensure that these structures can efficiently perform their cellular functions. Until now, this ability has been attributed to molecular feedback mechanisms that control the rates at which individual filaments are assembled and disassembled. We find that size control of cytoskeletal networks does not require this type of feedback and can instead be encoded through the physical arrangement of the filaments within that network. These findings have important implications for understanding how the underlying geometry of higher order cytoskeletal networks contributes to cellular control over these structures.
Single nucleus transcriptome of a “Super RV” shows increased insulin and angiogenesis signaling
Authors: Turaga Diwakar , Li Xiao , Zhao Yi , Tsai Chang-Ru , Moreira Axel , Hickey Edward , Adachi Iki , Martin James
Published: November 2023

The right ventricle (RV) is one of the four pumping chambers of the heart, pumping blood to the lungs. In severe forms of congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, the RV is made to pump into the systemic circulation. Such systemic RVs typically display early failure due to pressure overload. In rare cases a systemic RV persists into later decades of life – colloquially called a ‘Super RV’. Here we present the single-nucleus transcriptome of a systemic RV from a 60-year-old with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries (ccTGA). Our data shows two specific signaling pathways enriched in the ccTGA RV myocardium. First, we show increased insulin like growth factor (IGF1) signaling within the systemic RV myocardium: there is increased expression of the main receptor IGFR1 within the cardiomyocytes, and IGF1 ligands within the cardiofibroblasts and macrophages. Second, we find increased VEGF and Wnt9 ligand expression in cardiomyocytes and increased VEGF1R and Wnt9 receptors in endothelial cells, which are implicated in angiogenesis. We show that increased insulin and angiogenesis signaling are potentially beneficial RV adaptations to increased pressure overload. This study of an adult systemic RV provides an important framework for understanding RV remodeling to systemic pressures in congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.
Fluctuating temperatures exacerbate the effects of nutritional stress during development inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Zanco Brooke , Morimoto Juliano , Cockerell Fiona , Mirth Christen , Sgrò Carla M.
Published: November 2023

Recent studies suggest that elevated temperatures interact with nutrition to exacerbate the negative effects of poor nutrition. Furthermore, populations adapted to distinct environments differ in their sensitivity to combined thermal and nutritional stress. However, most studies have tested these effects using constant temperatures, even though animals in the wild experience daily and seasonal thermal fluctuations. Here, we used two locally-adapted populations ofD. melanogasterfrom the east coast of Australia (a tropical and a temperate population) to ask whether temperature fluctuations interact with nutrition in the same manner as constant temperature conditions to shape life history traits, and how this differs across populations. We found that fluctuating temperatures exacerbate the negative effects of a poor diet when compared to constant temperatures. Moreover, the negative effects of nutritional stress were significantly greater in the tropical population. In contrast, we found that the temperate population was able to utilize nutrition in unique ways to maintain optimal viability under warmer temperatures. Our findings reveal the ways in which temperature and nutrition interact to impact key life history traits in geographically distinct populations, while also highlighting the importance of using temperature assays representative of natural diel cycles when examining insect responses to climate change.