bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond the safe and censored: outcomes from student experiences within a pedagogy of discomfort
Authors: McIver Shane , Murphy Berni
Published: August 2022

Educators continue to seek teaching and learning strategies to augment student self-empowerment, agency and professional skills. This qualitative study analysed students’ own evolving perspectives when Boler’s pedagogy of discomfort was used to redevelop curriculum. Changes over time were examined regarding personal and professional development in public health and health promotion, including those most significant to the students themselves. Participants were final-year Australian undergraduate health students (n = 91) who applied a thematic analysis to their regular online ‘blogs’, articulating their thoughts and opinions about what they observed regarding unit content and tasks throughout the trimester. The researchers then conducted their own analysis to identify patterns and trends within the depth and breadth of student perceptions. Findings revealed that the personal and professional growth educators seek to instil arose spontaneously from students’ increasing self-awareness, rather than classroom prompting or instruction and occurred in specific ways. This study chartered the course of how students challenged their own typical values and limiting beliefs, becoming more aligned and reflective of health promotion competencies. Other positive self-transformation was also identified, such as cultivating an open mind, shifts from victim-blaming to increasing compassion and empathy, through to the importance of finding their own voice. Future comparable studies including postgraduate students and diverse student groups are encouraged.
Inference of putative cell-type-specific imprinted regulatory elements and genes during human neuronal differentiation
Authors: Liang Dan , Aygün Nil , Matoba Nana , Ideraabdullah Folami Y , Love Michael I , Stein Jason L
Published: August 2022

Genomic imprinting results in gene expression bias caused by parental chromosome of origin and occurs in genes with important roles during human brain development. However, the cell-type and temporal specificity of imprinting during human neurogenesis is generally unknown. By detecting within-donor allelic biases in chromatin accessibility and gene expression that are unrelated to cross-donor genotype, we inferred imprinting in both primary human neural progenitor cells and their differentiated neuronal progeny from up to 85 donors. We identified 43/20 putatively imprinted regulatory elements (IREs) in neurons/progenitors, and 133/79 putatively imprinted genes in neurons/progenitors. Although 10 IREs and 42 genes were shared between neurons and progenitors, most putative imprinting was only detected within specific cell types. In addition to well-known imprinted genes and their promoters, we inferred novel putative IREs and imprinted genes. Consistent with both DNA methylation-based and H3K27me3-based regulation of imprinted expression, some putative IREs also overlapped with differentially methylated or histone-marked regions. Finally, we identified a progenitor-specific putatively imprinted gene overlapping with copy number variation that is associated with uniparental disomy-like phenotypes. Our results can therefore be useful in interpreting the function of variants identified in future parent-of-origin association studies.
Segmentectomy versus lobectomy for inner-located small-sized early non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Tane Shinya , Kitamura Yoshitaka , Kimura Kenji , Shimizu Nahoko , Matsumoto Gaku , Uchino Kazuya , Nishio Wataru
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVES

Although segmentectomy is an acceptable alternative to lobectomy for peripheral small-sized non-small-cell lung cancer, the effectiveness of segmentectomy for inner lesions remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of segmentectomy in comparison with lobectomy for inner lesions.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed 570 patients with small (≤2 cm) cN0 non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy between January 2007 and March 2021. We focused on patients with lesions located in the inner two-thirds, which were determined using three-dimensional computed tomography (n = 227). After propensity score matching analysis based on sex, age, pulmonary function, serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, radiographic tumour findings and tumour location, we compared the surgical and oncological outcomes in patients who underwent segmentectomy (n = 66) and lobectomy (n = 66).

RESULTS

Postoperative mortality or morbidity did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The 5-year recurrence-free and overall survival rates in the segmentectomy and lobectomy groups were 93.6% vs 84.1% and 95.8% vs 87.9%, respectively. The differences between 2 groups were not significant (P = 0.62 and P = 0.23, respectively). The 2 groups also showed no differences in loco-regional recurrence. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that segmentectomy had a comparable impact on recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.17–2.03; P = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Segmentectomy for inner-located small-sized non-small-cell lung tumours could be an acceptable treatment in comparison with lobectomy.
Going Beyond General Media Trust: An Analysis of Topical Media Trust, its Antecedents and Effects on Issue (Mis)perceptions
Authors: Tsfati Yariv , Strömbäck Jesper , Lindgren Elina , Damstra Alyt , Boomgaarden Hajo G , Vliegenthart Rens
Published: August 2022

A key problem with research on news media trust is that it has mostly focused on general media trust and that there is limited research on how media trust might vary across levels of analysis. In this paper, we seek to remedy this by investigating whether news media trust differs depending on the topic of news coverage and whether topical trust can be distinguished from general media trust. We also investigate the antecedents of trust in news coverage of different topics and the effects of topical trust on issue (mis)perceptions. Among other things, findings show that topical media trust can be distinguished from general media trust and is a better predictor of correct perceptions on political matters.
Variations in Methods for Quantification of Crude Ash in Animal Feeds
Authors: Quirino Daiana F , Palma Malber N N , Franco Marcia O , Detmann Edenio
Published: August 2022

Background

Crude ash is categorized as an empirical method playing an important role in the nutritional interpretation of animal feeds, allowing indirect estimation of total organic matter (OM).

Objective

Our objective was to evaluate variations in laboratory procedures for crude ash quantification regarding physical parameters (i.e., time, temperature) and ashing aids and their influences on crude ash, repeatability, and discrimination power among feeds.

Methods

The “control” method was based on a simple ignition time of 3 h at 550°C. The variations are briefly described: increasing ashing time to 6 h; increasing temperature to 600°C; and using two 3 h ignition cycles at 550°C with ashing aids inclusion between them: fresh air supply, fresh air supply plus distilled water, and fresh air supply plus hydrogen peroxide. A color evaluation was also performed using a colorimetric technique. Twenty-four study materials from eight different feed types were evaluated.

Results

The crude ash results differed among the method variations, but a consistent decrease in the estimates was observed when liquid aids were applied, which also improved repeatability. Ash residues did not present a consistent color pattern among methods, but the residues were darker when the control method was applied.

Conclusion

The method of obtaining ash residues in animal feeds based on 550°C × 3 h does not have enough robustness and may overestimate crude ash in some feeds. Adjustments in either ignition time or temperature might improve crude ash test results, but the best test results are obtained using liquid ashing aids between two ignition cycles.

Highlights

The recommended method is based on the use of 550°C and two 3 h ignition cycles with water added to the ash residue between cycles.
Effect of COVID-19 on Emergency Department Visits by Pediatric Burn Patients in Korea: Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Choi Arum , Bae Woori , Kim Jong Dae , Kim Kyunghoon , Kim Sukil
Published: August 2022

It’s been over a year since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is still a global public health challenge. Many countries have implemented social distancing to prevent the risk of infection with COVID-19. As a result, children spend more time at home. Home is where burns among children occur predominantly. We hypothesized that the changes in lifestyle due to the COVID-19 outbreak may have affected pediatric emergency department (PED) visits by children sustaining burn injuries. This study was a long-term multicenter observational study. Pediatric burn patients were defined in accordance with International Classification of Disease, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). We investigated the trend in PED weekly visits by pediatric burn patients before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 and trends in the proportion of visits according to burn severity based on segmented regression analysis. The data were adjusted for seasonality due to seasonal variation in the visits. Over the past 3 years, the proportion of pediatric burn patients tended to decrease. However, it increased in the fourth week of January 2020, when COVID-19 was first confirmed in Korea. In particular, the proportion of PED visits to pediatric burn patients with severe burns increased after the COVID-19 epidemic. Our study showed increases in the proportion of PED visits among pediatric burn patients due to the spread of COVID-19. Many of these burn accidents mainly occur at home, suggesting the need for parental intervention to prevent the risk of burn injuries among children.
Intelligent computational design of scalene-faceted flat-foldable tessellations
Authors: Chen Yao , Lu Chenhao , Yan Jiayi , Feng Jian , Sareh Pooya
Published: August 2022

Origami tessellations can be folded from a given planar pattern into a three-dimensional object with specific geometric properties, inspiring developments in various fields of science and engineering such as deployable structures, energy absorption devices, reconfigurable robots, and metamaterials. However, the range of existing origami patterns with functional properties such as flat-foldability is rather scant, as analytical solutions to constraint equations arising in the design process are generally highly complicated. In this paper, we tackle the challenging problem of automated design of scalene-faceted flat-foldable origami tessellations using an efficient metaheuristic algorithm. To this end, this study establishes constraint curves based on compatibility conditions for all six-fold (i.e., degree-6) vertices. Subsequently, a graphical method and a particle swarm optimization (PSO) method are adopted to produce optimal origami patterns. Moreover, mountain-valley assignments for the obtained geometric designs are determined using a computational approach based on mixed-integer linear programming. It turns out that the flat-foldable internal vertices of each C2-symmetric unit fragment (UF) exist as C2-symmetric pairs about the centroid of the UF. Furthermore, numerical experiments are carried out to examine the feasibility and compare the accuracy, computational efficiency, and global convergence of the proposed methods. The results of numerical experiments demonstrated that, in comparison with the graphical method, the proposed PSO method has not only a higher accuracy but also a significantly lower computational cost, enabling us to develop an intelligent computational platform to efficiently design scalene-faceted flat-foldable origami tessellations.
Cilia regulate meiotic recombination in zebrafish
Authors: Xie Haibo , Wang Xiaosi , Jin Minjun , Li Lanqin , Zhu Junwen , Kang Yunsi , Chen Zhe , Sun Yonghua , Zhao Chengtian
Published: August 2022

Meiosis is essential for evolution and genetic diversity in almost all sexual eukaryotic organisms. The mechanisms of meiotic recombination, such as synapsis, have been extensively investigated. However, it is still unclear whether signals from the cytoplasm or even from outside of the cell can regulate the meiosis process. Cilia are microtubule-based structures that protrude from the cell surface and function as signaling hubs to sense extracellular signals. Here, we reported an unexpected and critical role of cilia during meiotic recombination. During gametogenesis of zebrafish, cilia were specifically present in the prophase stages of both primary spermatocytes and primary oocytes. By developing a germ cell-specific CRISPR/Cas9 system, we demonstrated that germ cell-specific depletion of ciliary genes resulted in compromised double-strand break repair, reduced crossover formation, and increased germ cell apoptosis. Our study reveals a previously undiscovered role for cilia during meiosis and suggests that extracellular signals may regulate meiotic recombination via this particular organelle.
Estimation of the Number of Individuals Living With Metastatic Cancer in the United States
Authors: Gallicchio Lisa , Devasia Theresa P , Tonorezos Emily , Mollica Michelle A , Mariotto Angela
Published: August 2022

Background

The purpose of this study was to estimate the number of individuals living with metastatic breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, or bladder cancer or metastatic melanoma in the United States using population-based data.

Methods

A back-calculation method was used to estimate the number of individuals living with metastatic cancer for each cancer type from US cancer mortality and survival statistics from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries. The percentages of those living with metastatic cancer who advanced to metastatic disease from early stage cancer vs who were diagnosed with metastatic cancer de novo were calculated. One- and 5-year relative survival rates for de novo metastatic cancer were compared by year of diagnosis to assess time trends in survival.

Results

It is estimated that, in 2018, 623 405 individuals were living with metastatic breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, or bladder cancer, or metastatic melanoma in the United States. This number is expected to increase to 693 452 in 2025. In 2018, the percentage of metastatic cancer survivors who were initially diagnosed with early stage cancer and advanced to metastatic cancer ranged from 30% for lung cancer to 72% for bladder cancer.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates increasing numbers of individuals living with metastatic cancer of the 6 most common cancer types in the United States. This information is critical for informing the allocation of research efforts and healthcare infrastructure needed to address the needs of these individuals.
Pneumopericardium with massive pericardial effusion in the setting of tuberculosis constrictive pericarditis: a rare case report
Authors: Ahmed Said Abdirahman , Mohamud Mohamed Abdullah , Özkurt Yalçın , Abdi Ishak Ahmed , Hassan Mohamed Omar
Published: August 2022

Constrictive pericarditis is an uncommon complication of acute pericarditis, mainly caused by non-idiopathic sources. Pneumopericardium is the presence of air in the pericardial sac resulting from various procedures and circumstances, including trauma, iatrogenic, non-iatrogenic and natural causes. Here, we report a 16-year-old girl who came to the cardiology outpatient complaining of weakness, abdominal distention and shortness of breath while lying down and exertion. An echocardiography evaluation revealed a thickened precordium and massive pericardial effusion. Pericardiocentesis was performed for diagnosis and treatment purposes. Despite the patient’s remaining symptomatic and having no improvement following the procedure, we decided to perform chest computed tomography, which revealed a thickened pericardium with pneumopericardium. Partial pericardiectomy was performed successfully, and the sample was sent to the pathology department, which confirmed tuberculous constrictive pericarditis. The patient’s symptoms improved, and she was discharged on postoperative Day 5 standing on her foot.
SATHI: Surgical Accredited and Trained Healthcare Initiative for task shifting in India
Authors: Vora Kranti , Saiyed Shahin , Salvi Falguni , Shah Ankita R , Laverty Robert B , Riaz Mehr Muhammad Adeel , Takoutsing Berjo Dongmo , Buch Keyur , Mavalankar Dileep , Baines Lyndsay S , Jindal Rahul M
Published: August 2022

We conceptualized Surgical Accredited and Trained Healthcare Initiative (SATHI) as a community-based worker through which patients who are unaware or undecided of surgical conditions would be linked to service providers. These personnel will help patients to attain the benefits of health schemes and will offer counseling through trust-building and elimination of fear of surgical procedures to reduce the surgical unmet needs. Our baseline study identified five common surgical problems among the study population: extremity injuries/wounds; kidney stones; cataracts; abdominal pain, including external hernias, and menstrual disorders. Based on these findings, we designed a modular, skills-focused curriculum and recruited six full-time staff who have undergone didactic and practical training. Upon finding any suspected health condition, SATHI staff are trained to encourage the patient and their family to seek medical advice. They are also equipped with the basic information about the surgical management of these conditions and will offer preoperative and post-operative surgical care and psychosocial support. This publication describes the process of development of training material, methods and process. Each SATHI worker has been assigned 1000 households (~5000 population). Based on our estimates, he/she will have to cater to 64 cases of unmet surgical needs if the unmet need is 40%. This means a SATHI worker would have approximately five to six cases of unmet surgical needs per month. We are planning to analyze the survey findings, document the process of implementation, and based on learnings from the pilot project, modify the training material and protocol.
Mesoscopic energy ranking constraints in the IllustrisTNG simulations
Authors: Dantas Christine C
Published: August 2022

We revisited the problem of mixing in a gravitational N-body system from the point of view of the ordering of coarse-grained cells in the one-particle energy space, here denoted energy ranking preservation (ERP). This effect has been noted for some time in simulations, although individual particle energies and their phase-space variables mix considerably. The present investigation aimed to map ERP in terms of parameters involving the collective range in which it is effective, as well as in terms of global and historical characterizations of gravitational systems evolving towards equilibrium. We examined a subset of the IllustrisTNG cosmological magnetohydrodynamical simulations (TNG50-4 and TNG100-3), considering both their full and dark-only versions. For each simulation, we selected the 20 most massive haloes at redshift z = 0, tracing their ERP fractions back at selected redshift markers (z = {1.0, 5.0, 10 0}), and for a coarse-graining set ranging from 5 to 30 energy bins. At the redshift marker z = 1, we found high ERP fractions (above ${\sim}80\,\hbox{per cent}$) in both simulations, regardless of the coarse-graining level. The decline in ERP fractions with redshift was roughly a function of mass and fractional mass increase in the analysed TNG50-4 haloes, but not in the TNG100-3 ones, indicating a possible relative susceptibility of the ERP effect to mass accretion for haloes less massive than ${\sim}10^{14} \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$. We confirmed earlier indications in the literature concerning a possible ‘mesoscopic’ constraint operative in a time span of at least several Gyr.
The SAMI galaxy survey: Galaxy size can explain the offset between star-forming and passive galaxies in the mass–metallicity relationship
Authors: Vaughan Sam P , Barone Tania M , Croom Scott M , Cortese Luca , D’Eugenio Francesco , Brough Sarah , Colless Matthew , McDermid Richard M , van de Sande Jesse , Scott Nicholas , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Bryant Julia J , Lawrence J S , López-Sánchez Ángel R , Lorente Nuria P F , Owers Matt S , Richards Samuel N
Published: August 2022

In this work, we investigate how the central stellar metallicity ([Z/H]) of 1363 galaxies from the SAMI galaxy survey is related to their stellar mass and a proxy for the gravitational potential, $\Phi = \log _{10}\left(\frac{M_*}{M_{\odot }} \right) - \log _{10}\left(\frac{r_e}{\mathrm{kpc}} \right)$. In agreement with previous studies, we find that passive and star-forming galaxies occupy different areas of the [Z/H]–M* plane, with passive galaxies having higher [Z/H] than star-forming galaxies at fixed mass (a difference of 0.23 dex at log10(M*/M⊙) = 10.3). We show for the first time that all galaxies lie on the same relation between [Z/H] and Φ, and show that the offset in [Z/H] between passive and star-forming galaxies at fixed Φ is smaller than or equal to the offset in [Z/H] at fixed mass (an average Δ[Z/H] of 0.11 dex at fixed Φ compared to 0.21 dex at fixed mass). We then build a simple model of galaxy evolution to explain and understand our results. By assuming that [Z/H] traces Φ over cosmic time and that the probability that a galaxy quenches depends on both its mass and size, we are able to reproduce these offsets in stellar metallicity with a model containing instantaneous quenching. We therefore conclude that an offset in metallicity at fixed mass cannot by itself be used as evidence of slow quenching processes, in contrast to previous studies. Instead, our model implies that metal-rich galaxies have always been the smallest objects for their mass in a population. Our findings reiterate the need to consider galaxy size when studying stellar populations.
An estimate of the mass of the Milky Way from the Magellanic Stream
Authors: Craig Peter A , Chakrabarti Sukanya , Baum Stefi , Lewis Benjamin T
Published: August 2022

We present a model for the formation of the Magellanic Stream (MS) due to ram pressure stripping. We model the history of the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds in the recent cosmological past in a static Milky Way (MW) potential with diffuse halo gas, using observationally motivated orbits for the Magellanic Clouds derived from HST proper motions within the potential of the MW. This model is able to reproduce the trailing arm but does not reproduce the leading arm feature, which is common for models of the stream formation that include ram pressure stripping effects. While our model does not outperform other models in terms of matching the observable quantities in the MS, it is close enough for our ultimate goal – using the MS to estimate the MW mass. By analysing our grid of models, we find that there is a direct correlation between the observed stream length in our simulations and the mass of the MW. For the observed MS length, the inferred MW mass is 1.5 ± 0.32 × 1012$\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, which agrees closely with other independent measures of the MW mass. We also discuss the MS in the context of H i streams in galaxy clusters, and find that the MS lies on the low-mass end of a continuum from Hickson groups to the Virgo cluster. As a tracer of the dynamical mass in the outer halo, the MS is a particularly valuable probe of the MW’s potential.
SN 2016iyc: a Type IIb supernova arising from a low-mass progenitor
Authors: Aryan Amar , Pandey S B , Zheng WeiKang , Filippenko Alexei V , Vinko Jozsef , Ouchi Ryoma , Brink Thomas G , Halle Andrew , Molloy Jeffrey , Kumar Sahana , Halevi Goni , Kilpatrick Charles D , Kumar Amit , Gupta Rahul , Ror Amit Kumar
Published: August 2022

In this work, photometric and spectroscopic analyses of a very low-luminosity Type IIb supernova (SN) 2016iyc have been performed. SN 2016iyc lies near the faint end among the distribution of similar supernovae (SNe). Given lower ejecta mass (Mej) and low nickel mass (MNi) from the literature, combined with SN 2016iyc lying near the faint end, one-dimensional stellar evolution models of 9–14 M⊙ zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) stars as the possible progenitors of SN 2016iyc have been performed using the publicly available code mesa. Moreover, synthetic explosions of the progenitor models have been simulated, using the hydrodynamic evolution codes stella and snec. The bolometric luminosity light curve and photospheric velocities produced through synthetic explosions of ZAMS stars of mass in the range of 12–13 M⊙ having a pre-supernova radius R0 = (204–300) R⊙, with Mej = (1.89–1.93) M⊙, explosion energy Eexp = (0.28–0.35) × 1051 erg, and MNi < 0.09 M⊙, are in good agreement with observations; thus, SN 2016iyc probably exploded from a progenitor near the lower mass limits for SNe IIb. Finally, hydrodynamic simulations of the explosions of SN 2016gkg and SN 2011fu have also been performed to compare intermediate- and high-luminosity examples among well-studied SNe IIb. The results of progenitor modelling and synthetic explosions for SN 2016iyc, SN 2016gkg, and SN 2011fu exhibit a diverse range of mass for the possible progenitors of SNe IIb.
Clustering redshifts with the 21cm-galaxy cross-bispectrum
Authors: Guandalin Caroline , Carucci Isabella P , Alonso David , Moodley Kavilan
Published: August 2022

The cross-correlation between 21-cm intensity mapping (IM) experiments and photometric surveys of galaxies (or any other cosmological tracer with a broad radial kernel) is severely degraded by the loss of long-wavelength radial modes due to Galactic foreground contamination. Higher-order correlators are able to restore some of these modes due to the non-linear coupling between them and the local small-scale clustering induced by gravitational collapse. We explore the possibility of recovering information from the bispectrum between a photometric galaxy sample and an IM experiment, in the context of the clustering-redshifts technique. We demonstrate that the bispectrum is able to calibrate the redshift distribution of the photometric sample to the required accuracy of future experiments such as the Rubin Observatory, using future single-dish and interferometric 21-cm observations, in situations where the two-point function is not able to do so due to foreground contamination. We also show how this calibration is affected by the photometric redshift width σz,0 and maximum scale kmax. We find that it is important to reach scales $k \gtrsim 0.3\, h\, {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$, with the constraints saturating at around $k\sim 1\, h\, {\rm Mpc}^{-1}$ for next-generation experiments.
The role of the hadron-quark phase transition in core-collapse supernovae
Authors: Jakobus Pia , Müller Bernhard , Heger Alexander , Motornenko Anton , Steinheimer Jan , Stoecker Horst
Published: August 2022

The hadron-quark phase transition in quantum chromodynamics has been suggested as an alternative explosion mechanism for core-collapse supernovae. We study the impact of three different hadron-quark equations of state (EoS) with first-order (DD2F_SF, STOS-B145) and second-order (CMF) phase transitions on supernova dynamics by performing 97 simulations for solar- and zero-metallicity progenitors in the range of $14\tt {-}100\, \text{M}_\odot$. We find explosions only for two low-compactness models (14 and $16\, \text{M}_\odot$) with the DD2F_SF EoS, both with low explosion energies of ${\sim }10^{50}\, \mathrm{erg}$. These weak explosions are characterized by a neutrino signal with several minibursts in the explosion phase due to complex reverse shock dynamics, in addition to the typical second neutrino burst for phase-transition-driven explosions. The nucleosynthesis shows significant overproduction of nuclei such as 90Zr for the $14\hbox{-} \text{M}_\odot$ zero-metallicity model and 94Zr for the $16\hbox{-}\text{M}_\odot$ solar-metallicity model, but the overproduction factors are not large enough to place constraints on the occurrence of such explosions. Several other low-compactness models using the DD2F_SF EoS and two high-compactness models using the STOS EoS end up as failed explosions and emit a second neutrino burst. For the CMF EoS, the phase transition never leads to a second bounce and explosion. For all three EoS, inverted convection occurs deep in the core of the protocompact star due to anomalous behaviour of thermodynamic derivatives in the mixed phase, which heats the core to entropies up to 4kB/baryon and may have a distinctive gravitational-wave signature, also for a second-order phase transition.
A case of Takayasu arteritis complicated with acute pericarditis at initial presentation
Authors: Kurokawa Miyu , Higuchi Tomoaki , Hirahara Shinya , Watanabe Kotaro , Yamada Risa , Nakamura Shohei , Takada Hideto , Majima Masako , Motoyama Ryo , Hanaoka Masanori , Katsumata Yasuhiro , Harigai Masayoshi
Published: August 2022

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is a rare, large-vessel vasculitis, frequently presenting at approximately 20 years of age. Patients with TAK without characteristic clinical findings are sometimes left undiagnosed and are followed by a fever of unknown origin; delayed diagnosis may lead to irreversible ischaemia and organ damage. Here, we report a case of an 18-year-old woman with TAK complicated by acute pericarditis at initial presentation. She was diagnosed with idiopathic acute pericarditis and treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, the patient’s fever and pain in the chest and upper back persisted. On admission to our hospital, magnetic resonance angiography and ultrasonography revealed wall thickening in the common carotid artery, subclavian artery, and aorta, along with vascular narrowing in the celiac, superior mesenteric, and bilateral renal arteries. The patient was diagnosed with TAK and treated with glucocorticoids, including methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and azathioprine. The treatment improved the patient’s signs and symptoms, and pericardial effusion decreased. Acute pericarditis is a rare manifestation of TAK, but it is important to differentiate diseases, including TAK in patients with acute pericarditis who fail to respond to 2–3 weeks of conventional therapy with NSAIDs.
Performance evaluation of differential splicing analysis methods and splicing analytics platform construction
Authors: Li Kuokuo , Luo Tengfei , Zhu Yan , Huang Yuanfeng , Wang An , Zhang Di , Dong Lijie , Wang Yujian , Wang Rui , Tang Dongdong , Yu Zhen , Shen Qunshan , Lv Mingrong , Ling Zhengbao , Fang Zhenghuan , Yuan Jing , Li Bin , Xia Kun , He Xiaojin , Li Jinchen , Zhao Guihu
Published: August 2022

A proportion of previously defined benign variants or variants of uncertain significance in humans, which are challenging to identify, may induce an abnormal splicing process. An increasing number of methods have been developed to predict splicing variants, but their performance has not been completely evaluated using independent benchmarks. Here, we manually sourced ∼50 000 positive/negative splicing variants from > 8000 studies and selected the independent splicing variants to evaluate the performance of prediction methods. These methods showed different performances in recognizing splicing variants in donor and acceptor regions, reminiscent of different weight coefficient applications to predict novel splicing variants. Of these methods, 66.67% exhibited higher specificities than sensitivities, suggesting that more moderate cut-off values are necessary to distinguish splicing variants. Moreover, the high correlation and consistent prediction ratio validated the feasibility of integration of the splicing prediction method in identifying splicing variants. We developed a splicing analytics platform called SPCards, which curates splicing variants from publications and predicts splicing scores of variants in genomes. SPCards also offers variant-level and gene-level annotation information, including allele frequency, non-synonymous prediction and comprehensive functional information. SPCards is suitable for high-throughput genetic identification of splicing variants, particularly those located in non-canonical splicing regions.
Systematic review of diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant: Outcomes and associated clinical factors
Authors: Crowell Cameron , Mata-Mbemba Daddy , Bennett Julie , Matheson Kara , Mackley Michael , Perreault Sébastien , Erker Craig
Published: August 2022

Background

A comprehensive review and description of the clinical features that impact prognosis for patients with diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant (G34-DHG) is needed. Understanding survival and prognostic features is paramount for clinical advancements and patient care.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched for English articles published between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2021. Eligible studies included patient(s) of any age diagnosed with an H3 G34-mutant brain tumor with at least one measure of survival or progression. Patient-level data were pooled for analyses. This study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021267764) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed.

Results

Twenty-seven studies met the criteria with a total of 135 patients included. Median age at diagnosis was 15.8 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 13.3–22.0) with 90% having localized disease. Co-occurring alterations included ATRX mutation in 93%, TP53 mutation in 88%, and MGMT promoter methylation in 70%. Median time-to-progression was 10.0 months (IQR: 6.0–18.0) and median overall survival was 17.3 months (95% CI: 15.0 to 22.9). The median time from progression to death was 5.0 months (IQR: 3.0–11.7). Factors associated with survival duration were age, as patients ≥18 y/o demonstrated longer survival (hazard ratio [HR] =2.05, 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.62), and degree of upfront resection, as near or gross-total resection demonstrated longer survival compared to those with less than near-total resection (HR = 3.75, 95% CI: 2.11 to 6.62).

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights available clinical data for G34-DHG demonstrating poor outcomes and important prognostic features, while serving as a baseline for future research and clinical trials.
FDA Approval Summary: Brexucabtagene Autoleucel for Treatment of Adults With Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Bouchkouj Najat , Lin Xue , Wang Xiaofei , Przepiorka Donna , Xu Zhenzhen , Purohit-Sheth Tejashri , Theoret Marc
Published: August 2022

In October 2021, the FDA approved brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel), a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Approval was based on the phase II portion of ZUMA-3, a single-arm, open-label, multicenter trial that evaluated a single infusion of brexu-cel, preceded by lymphodepleting chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, in this population. Efficacy was established on the basis of complete remission (CR) within 3 months after infusion and the duration of CR (DOCR). Among 54 patients in the efficacy analysis population, the CR rate was 52% (95% CI: 38, 66) with a median time-to-response of 56 days. With a median follow-up for responders of 7.1 months, the median DOCR was not reached. For all leukapheresed patients in the phase II portion of this trial (n = 71), the CR rate was 41% (95% CI: 29, 53). Among the 78 patients treated with the approved dose of brexu-cel, serious adverse reactions occurred in 79% and fatal adverse reactions occurred in 5% and included cerebral edema and infections. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 92% (grade ≥3, 26%) and neurologic toxicities occurred in 87% (grade ≥3, 35%), leading to implementation of a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS). Postmarketing study with 15 years of follow-up will further evaluate long-term safety in adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-ALL.
Neoadjuvant Dovitinib in Early- and Intermediate-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Rizzo Alessandro , Dalia Ricci Angela , Brandi Giovanni
Published: August 2022

This letter to the editor comments on recently reported results of a phase II study of dovitinib therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
A call for action: Recommendations to improve transition to adult care for youth with complex health care needs
Authors: Toulany Alene , Willem Gorter Jan , Harrison Megan
Published: August 2022

Youth with complex health care needs, defined as those requiring specialized health care and services for physical, developmental, and/or mental health conditions, are often cared for by paediatricians and paediatric specialists. In Canada, the age at which provincial/territorial funders mandate the transfer of paediatric care to adult services varies, ranging between 16 and 19 years. The current configuration of distinct paediatric and adult care service boundaries is fragmentary, raising barriers to continuity of care during an already vulnerable developmental period. For youth, the lack of care integration across sectors can negatively impact health engagement and jeopardize health outcomes into adulthood. To address these barriers and improve transition outcomes, paediatric and adult care providers, as well as family physicians and other community partners, must collaborate in meaningful ways to develop system-based strategies that streamline and safeguard care for youth transitioning to adult services across tertiary, community, and primary care settings. Flexible age cut-offs for transfer to adult care are recommended, along with considering each youth’s developmental stage and capacity as well as patient and family needs and circumstances. Specialized training and education in transitional care issues are needed to build capacity and ensure that health care providers across diverse disciplines and settings are better equipped to accept and care for young people with complex health care needs.
A shrinkage-based criterion for evaluating resistance spot weldability of alloyed steels
Authors: Li Shuoshuo , Wang Yanjun , Hu Bin , Tao Wu , Yang Shanglu , Luo Haiwen
Published: August 2022

For many decades, several classical formulas on carbon equivalent (CE) have been widely used for evaluating the weldability of steels. Unfortunately, a single CE is impossible for various types of steels. In this study, the resistance spot weldability of medium-Mn steels was investigated. In particular, the influences of paint baking processes at different temperatures on the mechanical properties, fracture mode, and microstructure of weldment were studied. It was found that the paint baking above 170°C can change the tensile-shear failure of weldment from the undesired interfacial failure to the desired pull-out one, because the shrinkage of weldment during welding was compensated by the thermal expansion during the baking, leading to the “cold welding” realized for solid joining. Furthermore, a shrinkage-based criterion (∆l) was established for evaluating the weldability of greater range of alloyed steels more accurately and robustly than CE. The proposed criterion on measuring the weldability of high alloyed steels opens a promising path forward for designing a new generation of advanced high strength steels requiring good weldability.
On the vacuum structure of gauge–Higgs unification models
Authors: Adachi Yuki , Lim C S , Maru Nobuhito
Published: August 2022

We discuss the vacuum structure of the gauge–Higgs unification theory, which is one of the attractive candidates for physics beyond the standard model. This scenario has a remarkable feature: it has infinitely degenerate vacua due to the characteristic periodic potential of the Higgs field, to be identified with the extra space component of the higher-dimensional gauge field. We address the question of whether forming the superposition of such degenerate vacua, like the θ-vacuum in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), is necessary or not, in order to realize the true vacuum state of the theory. We derive a gauge field configuration which describes the transition between neighboring vacua, like the instanton (or anti-instanton) solution in QCD, and the corresponding Euclidean action in two models. In a simplified two-dimensional U(1) model, the derived configuration to describe the transition is shown to have finite Euclidean action, and accordingly the “θ-vacuum” and the resultant “θ-term” are formulated. In a realistic five-dimensional U(1) model, however, the gauge field configuration to describe the transition is shown to have infinite Euclidean action, and therefore the tunneling probability between the degenerate vacua vanishes. Thus, superposition of the degenerate vacua is not necessary.
Open-closed homotopy algebra in superstring field theory
Authors: Kunitomo Hiroshi
Published: August 2022

We construct open-closed superstring interactions based on the open-closed homotopy algebra structure. This provides a classical open superstring field theory on general closed-superstring-field backgrounds described by classical solutions of the nonlinear equation of motion of the closed superstring field theory. We also give the corresponding WZW-like action through the map connecting the homotopy-based and WZW-like formulations.
Air pollution and public health vulnerabilities, susceptibilities and inequalities in Wales, UK
Authors: Horton Amber , Jones Sarah J , Brunt Huw
Published: August 2022

Background

Outdoor air pollution is the largest environmental risk to health. Air pollution, deprivation and poor health status are inextricably linked; highlighting issues of environmental injustice, social and health inequalities.

Methods

Air pollution (nitrogen dioxide, NO2 and fine particulate matter, PM2.5), population and deprivation data were identified at Lower Super Output Area level in Wales, UK, for 2012–18. Air pollution data were categorized according to different air pollution concentrations. Population and deprivation data were considered simultaneously to describe population vulnerabilities, susceptibilities and inequalities. Simple statistical analyses were performed using a difference in proportions method with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Over time, the majority of Welsh people transitioned to living in areas of lower NO2 and PM2.5 pollution. Areas of worse air pollution comprised more young people than people aged 65+; both populations are known to be susceptible to air pollution exposure. By 2018, significant socioeconomic inequality gaps were found where ‘most deprived’ population groups for both pollutants experienced greater disadvantage.

Conclusion

Air quality in Wales is improving. However, local-level variations in exposure risk still exist. System-wide action must ensure that air quality improvement-related benefits are equitable and acknowledge current evidence about the harms that even low levels of air pollution can have on health.
Sexual Signals Persist over Deep Time: Ancient Co-option of Bioluminescence for Courtship Displays in Cypridinid Ostracods
Authors: Ellis Emily A , Goodheart Jessica A , Hensley Nicholai M , González Vanessa L , Reda Nicholas J , Rivers Trevor J , Morin James G , Torres Elizabeth , Gerrish Gretchen A , Oakley Todd H
Published: August 2022

Although the diversity, beauty, and intricacy of sexually selected courtship displays command the attention of evolutionists, the longevity of these traits in deep time is poorly understood. Population-based theory suggests sexual selection could either lower or raise extinction risk, resulting in high or low persistence of lineages with sexually selected traits. Furthermore, empirical studies that directly estimate the longevity of sexually selected traits are uncommon. Sexually selected signals—including bioluminescent courtship—originated multiple times during evolution, allowing the empirical study of their longevity after careful phylogenetic and divergence time analyses. Here, we estimate the first transcriptome-based molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Cypridinidae. We report extreme longevity of bioluminescent courtship, a trait important in mate choice and probably under sexual selection. Our relaxed-clock estimates of divergence times coupled with stochastic character mapping show luminous courtship evolved only once in Cypridinidae—in a Sub-Tribe, we name Luxorina—at least 151 millions of years ago from cypridinid ancestors that used bioluminescence only in antipredator displays, defining a Tribe we name Luminini. This time-calibrated molecular phylogeny of cypridinids will serve as a foundation for integrative and comparative studies on the biochemistry, molecular evolution, courtship, diversification, and ecology of cypridinid bioluminescence. The persistence of luminous courtship for hundreds of millions of years suggests that sexual selection did not cause a rapid loss of associated traits, and that rates of speciation within the group exceeded extinction risk, which may contribute to the persistence of a diverse clade of signaling species. [Ancestral state reconstruction; Biodiversity; co-option; divergence time estimates; macroevolution; Ostracoda; phylogenomics; sexual selection.]
Gestational Benzo[a]pyrene Exposure Destroys F1 Ovarian Germ Cells Through Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway and Diminishes Surviving Oocyte Quality
Authors: Malott Kelli F , Leon Parada Kathleen , Lee Melody , Swanson Edward , Luderer Ulrike
Published: August 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), are products of incomplete combustion. In female mouse embryos primordial germ cells proliferate before and after arriving at the gonadal ridge around embryonic (E) 10 and begin entering meiosis at E13.5. Now oocytes, they arrest in the first meiotic prophase beginning at E17.5. We previously reported dose-dependent depletion of ovarian follicles in female mice exposed to 2 or 10 mg/kg-day BaP E6.5–15.5. We hypothesized that embryonic ovaries are more sensitive to gestational BaP exposure during the mitotic developmental window, and that this exposure results in persistent oxidative stress in ovaries and oocytes of exposed F1 female offspring. We orally dosed timed-pregnant female mice with 0 or 2 mg/kg-day BaP in oil from E6.5–11.5 (mitotic window) or E12.5–17.5 (meiotic window). Cultured E13.5 ovaries were utilized to investigate the mechanism of BaP-induced germ cell death. We observed statistically significant follicle depletion and increased ovarian lipid peroxidation in F1 pubertal ovaries following BaP exposure during either prenatal window. Culture of E13.5 ovaries with BaP induced germ cell DNA damage and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria in oocytes, confirming that BaP exposure induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Mitochondrial membrane potential, oocyte lipid droplet (LD) volume, and mitochondrial-LD colocalization were decreased and mitochondrial superoxide levels were increased in the MII oocytes of F1 females exposed gestationally to BaP. Results demonstrate similar sensitivity to germ cell depletion and persistent oxidative stress in F1 ovaries and oocytes following gestational BaP exposure during mitotic or meiotic windows.