bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Topological extension including quantum jump
Authors: Niu Xiangyu , Wang Junjie
Published: March 2024

Non-Hermitian (NH) systems and the Lindblad form master equation have always been regarded as reliable tools in dissipative modeling. Intriguingly, existing literature often obtains an equivalent NH Hamiltonian by neglecting the quantum jumping terms in the master equation. However, there lacks investigation into the effects of discarded terms as well as the unified connection between these two approaches. In this study, we study the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger model with collective loss and gain from a topological perspective. When the system undergoes no quantum jump events, the corresponding shape matrix exhibits the same topological properties in contrast to the traditional NH theory. Conversely, the occurrence of quantum jumps can result in a shift in the positions of the phase transition. Our study provides a qualitative analysis of the impact of quantum jumping terms and reveals their unique role in quantum systems.
Wealth, Power, and Authoritarian Institutions
Authors: Collord Michaela
Published: March 2024

Following the summary in the introductory chapter, this theory chapter sets out the book’s explanation of variation in authoritarian party and legislative strength, focusing on the African region. The chapter first situates the argument in relation to the broader Africanist and comparative literature on authoritarian institutions and democratization. It then sets out an alternative political economy approach, drawing inspiration from a range of literatures on the African state, postcolonial capitalist development, and political settlements, among others. A central idea is that authoritarian political institutions reflect—and to some extent, magnify—elite power dynamics. They are a ‘terrain of contest’, an arena where power is tested, negotiated, and in some cases, re-ordered. While there are many sources of elite power, the theory centres on material power, indicating how the socio-economic foundations of a regime can impact on its institutional landscape. This theory chapter also reflects on the significance of a stronger legislature, particularly for distributive politics. It briefly introduces an explanation of how the legislature, as a ‘terrain of contest’, contributes to both regressive and—more rarely—progressive redistributive outcomes. This theory chapter lays the foundations for the four subsequent empirical chapters, each of which addresses a key step in the theorized causal chain.
Authoritarian Party Trajectories
Authors: Collord Michaela
Published: March 2024

This chapter examines institutional continuity and change in authoritarian parties, demonstrating its theoretical argument through the comparison of TANU/CCM and the NRM. It identifies dynamics of institutional path dependence in each case, following on from the initial critical juncture of regime consolidation. Yet it also shows how party institutional trajectories remain sensitive to shifts in a country’s wider political economy. The analysis adopts the selection process for parliamentary and presidential candidates within each party as a strategic focus. It uses this to show how economic liberalization in Tanzania from the 1980s and the associated fragmentation of patron–client networks undermined formal candidate selection procedures in CCM up through the 2015 elections. Even so, the legacy of strong party structures still slowed the organization of rival factions and limited their autonomy. Regarding Uganda’s NRM, by contrast, the party’s candidate selection was from the start poorly institutionalized, undermined by informal pressure and patronage expenditure. Despite the NRM leadership repeatedly attempting to enforce formal discipline, particularly following the 2005 return to multi-party politics, these efforts failed, and this due to the continued prevalence of private political finance and fragmentated patron–client networks.
Legislative Institutional Strength
Authors: Collord Michaela
Published: March 2024

Whereas the two preceding chapters explain variation in party institutional strength over space and time, Chapters 5 and 6 shift focus, showing how an understanding of the political economy of authoritarian parties helps explain variation in legislative strength. Legislative strength or ‘institutionalization’ refers both to institutional strength and to actual performance. Chapter 5 focuses on institutional strength, indicating how a legislative institutional reform process may begin where private accumulation is less controlled, patron–client factions more fragmented, and ruling party discipline weak. The chapter first details how and why Tanzania’s legislature weakened from the late 1960s through the 1970s amidst the consolidation of TANU/CCM as a strong ‘institutionalized coalition’. It then examines how this trend reversed with the gradual institutional erosion of CCM and growing factionalism from the 1980s onwards. The chapter then explores how in Uganda, by contrast, legislative institutional strengthening occurred early under the NRM, a ‘bargained coalition’. The level of legislative institutional strength, moreover, remained largely stable, despite repeated efforts by the executive to reduce it.
Legislative Influence
Authors: Collord Michaela
Published: March 2024

Whereas Chapter 5 examines legislative institutional strength, which suggests the potential for legislative assertiveness, Chapter 6 centres on actual legislative performance. Again, it shows how the strength of legislative challenges to the executive depends on political economy of the ruling party and related dynamics of intra-elite bargaining. As with legislative institutional strength, it finds that the Tanzanian parliament, while marginal when TANU was at its most cohesive and institutionally strong, became a more significant channel for elite contestation and, consequently, more assertive after CCM party institutions began to erode and factional competition increased. By contract, during the period under study (up to 2016), the performance of the Ugandan Parliament, proved more consistent and relatively strong in the sense that it has routinely served as a platform for elite bargaining and intervened to challenge an executive agenda. Beyond a simple study of performance, though, the chapter probes the significance of an assertive legislature, engaging directly with a literature on political institutions and their distributive impact. Through analysis of specific legislative interventions, it demonstrates how legislators extract material and political benefits for themselves and allied politico-economic elites. While the politics driving legislative assertiveness suggest its regressive redistributive implications, the chapter also explores under what conditions legislators may intervene to favour progressive redistributive measure, highlighting the galvanizing effects of more bottom-up organized pressure.
Anosognosia in Alzheimer’s Pathology: Validation of a New Measure
Authors: Terry Christian , Lecci Len
Published: March 2024

Objective

Two studies were performed to validate a brief measure of cognitive insight and compare it to an empirical model – the Cognitive Awareness Model (CAM).

Method

A pilot study included 31 (52% male; Mage = 69.42) patients from an outpatient neuropsychological assessment clinic. Seven patients were diagnosed with likely Alzheimer's dementia (AD), 15 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 9 no diagnosis (i.e., cognitively normal; CN). The Cognitive Coding Form (CCF) and several other measures were administered. Study 2 entailed archival data extraction of 240 patients (80 CN, 80 MCI, and 80 AD; 53.3% female; Mage = 72.8) to examine whether the CCF predicts memory (Wechsler Memory Scale – IV) and executive functioning (Trail-Making Test B).

Results

The pilot study found preliminary evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the 8-item CCF. Study 2 confirmed that both patient-reported cognitive concerns (F(2,237) = 10.40, p < .001, ω2 = .07, power = .99) and, more strongly, CCF informant-patient discrepancy scores (F(2,237) = 24.52, p < .001, ω2 = .16, power = .99) can distinguish CNs from those with MCI and AD. A regression indicated that depression (5.5%; β = -.38, p < .001) and TMT-B (13%; β = -.43, p < .001), together accounted for 18.5% of the variance in insight (R2 = .19, F(2,219) = 26.10, p < .001), supporting the CAM.

Conclusions

These studies establish an efficient measure of insight with high clinical utility and inform the literature on the role of insight in predicting performance in those with Alzheimer’s pathology.
Mycosis fungoides: successful re-treatment with brentuximab vedotin
Authors: James Mariel , Nakamura Mano , Whittaker Sean , Morris Stephen
Published: March 2024

UK guidelines currently endorse only one course of brentuximab vedotin as second-line treatment for CD30+ CTCL. We demonstrate that re-treatment can be safe, tolerable and highly efficacious in selected patients.
Childhood-onset progressive skin fibrosis and joint immobility
Authors: Baklan Ecem , Duman Nilay , Yaman Banu , Ceylan Can
Published: March 2024

A 28-year-old woman presented with generalized hardening of the skin, joint immobility, shortness of breath and lower back pain since the age of 7 years.
Biodegradable polydioxanone stents: histologic and structural effects in an experimental model of tracheal stenosis
Authors: Morante-Valverde Rocío , Usategui Alicia , López-Díaz María , Grau Montserrat , Luna-Paredes MaCarmen , de Atauri Álvaro Gimeno-Díaz , Pablos José L , Antón-Pacheco Juan L
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the biologic impact of polydioxanone (PDO) stenting in an animal model of inflammatory tracheal stenosis (TS). Additionally, to compare these results with those obtained in the same model without a stent and after placing one PDO stent in a healthy trachea.

Methods

40 adult NZ rabbits were distributed into 3 groups: Group A, 8 animals with a healthy trachea and a PDO stent; group B, 17 rabbits with a TS and no stent; and group C, 15 animals with TS and a PDO stent. Histopathological studies included Masson’s trichrome staining for submucosal fibrosis and Safranin O to assess structural integrity of cartilage. Morphometric analyses were performed in the 3 groups.

Results

Stent placement was successful in every case. Histological studies did not show a significant increase in tracheal wall collagen area and cartilage structure was not modified in those rabbits with a PDO stent, even in a TS scenario. Stent implantation permitted recovery of normal tracheal lumen levels in the TS model.

Conclusions

PDO stenting in the normal trachea and in a model of TS neither caused increase in the collagen matrix nor modification of the cartilaginous support. Additionally, radial force exhibited by PDO stents was effective in restoring normal tracheal lumen when placed in a stenotic lesion. These findings suggest that they may be safe and useful in the setting of an acquired TS.
The nature and structure of European belief systems: exploring the varieties of belief systems across 23 European countries
Authors: van Noord Jochem , Turner-Zwinkels Felicity M , Kesberg Rebekka , Brandt Mark J , Easterbrook Matthew J , Kuppens Toon , Spruyt Bram
Published: March 2024

We investigate the structure of political belief systems across Europe to investigate what belief systems in European societies, and those who hold them, have in common. In doing so, we answer three questions: First, are political belief system structures similar across Europe? Second, which demographic groups are likely to have similar belief systems within countries? Third, how are belief systems related to voting behaviour? Results from Correlational Class Analyses on data from 23 European countries indicate that a wide variety of belief systems exist in Europe (2–5 per country), but that these can be summarized into two diverse groups, although belief systems in one group were more similar than in the other. Unexpectedly, the groups did not differ in the strength of association between beliefs. While cultural and economic belief dimensions were not consistently found, and tended to be weak, they were positively associated in the first group and negatively associated in the second. Belief systems of the first group were more likely to be from Western European countries and its members more likely to be higher educated compared to the second group. Membership in the second group was associated with more populist far-right voting and vote abstention.
Preferential transport of synaptic vesicles across neuronal branches is regulated by the levels of the anterograde motor UNC-104/KIF1A in vivo
Authors: Vasudevan Amruta , Ratnakaran Neena , Murthy Kausalya , Kumari Shikha , Hall David H , Koushika Sandhya P
Published: March 2024

Asymmetric transport of cargo across axonal branches is a field of active research. Mechanisms contributing to preferential cargo transport along specific branches in vivo in wild type neurons are poorly understood. We find that anterograde synaptic vesicles preferentially enter the synaptic branch or pause at the branch point in Caenorhabditis elegans Posterior Lateral Mechanosensory neurons. The synaptic vesicle anterograde kinesin motor UNC-104/KIF1A regulates this vesicle behavior at the branch point. Reduced levels of functional UNC-104 cause vesicles to predominantly pause at the branch point and lose their preference for turning into the synaptic branch. SAM-4/Myrlysin, which aids in recruitment/activation of UNC-104 on synaptic vesicles, regulates vesicle behavior at the branch point similar to UNC-104. Increasing the levels of UNC-104 increases the preference of vesicles to go straight toward the asynaptic end. This suggests that the neuron optimizes UNC-104 levels on the cargo surface to maximize the fraction of vesicles entering the branch and minimize the fraction going to the asynaptic end.
Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Type Distribution in Penile Samples in Young Men in Denmark: Results 10 Years After Implementation of a Girls-Only HPV Vaccination Program
Authors: Munk Christian , Reinholdt Kristian , Kjaer Alexander K , Hemmingsen Caroline H , Ørnskov Dorthe , Iftner Thomas , Waldstrøm Marianne , Kjaer Susanne K
Published: March 2024

Background

In Denmark, a girls-only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program was initiated in 2008–2009. The study aim was to assess the HPV prevalence and type distribution in younger men prior to HPV vaccination in men.

Methods

The study population was younger men who attended information days regarding military service. At random days (2019–2020), 280 men were included. We collected questionnaire data regarding risk factors for HPV infection and a penile swab for HPV testing. We compared results in this study with those from a previous study of young men (2006–2007).

Results

The majority of participants (94%) were 18–20 years old. The median number of lifetime sexual partners was 4. Altogether, 130 men (46.4%) were HPV positive. No infections with HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 45 were detected. The most frequent type was HPV-51 (detected in 11.1%). Comparison showed that the odds of high-risk HPV type infection were higher in 2019–2020 (prevalence odds ratio [POR], 1.7 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.1–2.7]) compared with 2006–2007. In contrast, the odds were lower (POR, 0.3 [95% CI, .1–.6]) for HPV types targeted by the 9-valent HPV vaccine.

Conclusions

The multicohort girls-only vaccination program has to a large degree protected young men against the HPV types included in the licensed vaccines. This does not speak against gender-neutral vaccination as the HPV prevalence is still high, although consisting largely of less carcinogenic HPV types.
International Political Sociology through the Colonial Mirror: A Contrapuntal Reading of the Spanish Civil War
Authors: Colás Alejandro
Published: March 2024

This paper invokes Edward Said’s notion of counterpoint to present a transnational sociological account of the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939. This contrapuntal reading raises questions of sovereignty, violence, and identity, which—filtered through a political sociological lens—offer novel perspectives on the power of empire and colonialism in relation to these key IR categories. Specifically, I argue that the Spanish colonial frontier in Morocco served as a laboratory for distinctive expressions of transnational state-building, violence, and identity-formation, which were reproduced in the metropolitan heartlands of the Iberian Peninsula during the interwar years. The complex interaction between core and periphery in this period had momentous implications for both Spanish and Moroccan history, many of which continue to play out in contemporary politics across the Gibraltar Strait.
Enigmatic persistence of aerobic methanotrophs in oxygen-limiting freshwater habitats
Authors: Reis Paula C J , Tsuji Jackson M , Weiblen Cerrise , Schiff Sherry L , Scott Matthew , Stein Lisa Y , Neufeld Josh D
Published: March 2024

Methanotrophic bacteria mitigate emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4) from a variety of anthropogenic and natural sources, including freshwater lakes, which are large sources of CH4 on a global scale. Despite a dependence on dioxygen (O2) for CH4 oxidation, abundant populations of putatively aerobic methanotrophs have been detected within microoxic and anoxic waters and sediments of lakes. Experimental work has demonstrated active aerobic methanotrophs under those conditions, but how they are able to persist and oxidize CH4 under O2 deficiency remains enigmatic. In this review, we discuss possible mechanisms that underpin the persistence and activity of aerobic methanotrophs under O2-limiting conditions in freshwater habitats, particularly lakes, summarize experimental evidence for microbial oxidation of CH4 by aerobic bacteria under low or no O2, and suggest future research directions to further explore the ecology and metabolism of aerobic methanotrophs in O2-limiting environments.
Regulatory impact of statins on macrophage polarization: mechanistic and therapeutic implications
Authors: Sadeghi Mahvash , Khayati Shaho , Dehnavi Sajad , Almahmeed Wael , Sukhorukovi Vasily N , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: March 2024

Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are widely prescribed drugs for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to their lipid-lowering effects, these compounds have been found to possess immune-modulating properties. Macrophages, which are crucial phagocytic cells in the body, can be divided into two main subsets: M1 (proinflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory). While there is evidence suggesting that statins exert an anti-inflammatory action on macrophages and promote their polarization towards the M2 subset, recent studies have identified the proinflammatory impact of statins on macrophages, leading to polarization towards the M1 subset. For example, statins have been shown to inhibit NF-κB activation to promote anti-inflammatory responses. On the other hand, statins can induce NFκB/AP-1 activation and increase IL-1β secretion in macrophages to promote pro-inflammatory responses. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of both in vivo and in vitro studies that have investigated the effects of statins on macrophage polarization and inflammatory responses in various diseases. Furthermore, this review seeks to evaluate the underlying mechanisms involved in these effects. By summarizing the existing evidence, this review contributes to our understanding of the complex interactions between statins and macrophages in different disease contexts.
A case report of two synchronous primary urologic malignancies in one patient
Authors: Mremi Alex , Mpelumbe Janeth , Kasyupa Furaha Enos , Patrick Elizabeth , Mbwambo Orgeness Jasper , Ngowi Bartholomeo Nicholaus
Published: March 2024

It is quite unusual to have numerous primary malignant tumors at the same time in the same patient. These cancers are classified as metachronous or synchronous. The occurrence of synchronous urologic tumors poses diagnostic and treatment challenges and has always been a subject of controversy in the clinical decision-making process. Unfortunately, no clear standardized management protocols for these patients exist. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment may be difficult, especially with few resources. We present a 75-year-old man with simultaneous prostate and kidney cancers successfully treated at our center. This is one of the rare cases in the English literature with two primary urologic cancers.
Ileosigmoidal knotting: a case report and literature review of a rare cause of acute abdomen in children
Authors: Yadav Dipak K , Shah Sanjay K , Poudel Saurav , Parajuli Bivusha , Bhattarai Amit , Adhikari Dinesh
Published: March 2024

Ileosigmoidal knotting (ISK) is a rare, possibly fatal cause of intestinal obstruction. ISK is a compound volvulus that is more common in Africa and Asia. ISK is mostly seen in adults, pediatric cases reported in the literature are much rarer. In this report, we present the first reported case of ISK in a pediatric patient from Nepal. An 8-year-old male child presented with symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting, and obstipation. The abdomen was distended with generalized tenderness. Erect abdominal X-ray showed multiple air-fluid levels. Intraoperatively, gangrenous ileum loops were entangled around the sigmoid, and resection of the gangrenous ileum and sigmoid was performed. An end-to-end colo-colic anastomosis from the descending colon to the remaining sigmoid with a double-loop ileostomy was performed. Pediatric ISK is a rare fatal form of intestinal obstruction that progresses quickly to gangrene. Clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific, making preoperative diagnosis challenging.
Photography and the diasporic condition. A travel in the writer Sabyl Ghoussoub’s family photographs
Authors: Brones Sophie
Published: March 2024

“The contributions in this series explore the migration experience using different kinds of ‘data.’ Our contributors use works of art, novels, songs, and movies to explore many of the same questions they generally ask in their social scientific research. What additional insights come from using arts and culture to think through the issues that concern us? What can images and notes reveal that scholarly work cannot? We also invite original stories, poems, photo essays or art works. Ideas for contributions are wholeheartedly invited at any time. Please contact Marie Godin or Peggy Levitt”.
To be, or not to be: Balmer breaks in high-z galaxies with JWST
Authors: Vikaeus Anton , Zackrisson Erik , Wilkins Stephen , Nabizadeh Armin , Kokorev Vasily , Abdurro’uf  , Bradley Larry D , Coe Dan , Dayal Pratika , Ricotti Massimo
Published: March 2024

Standard models of structure formation allow us to predict the cosmic timescales relevant for the onset of star formation and the assembly history of galaxies at high redshifts (z > 10). The strength of the Balmer break represents a well-known diagnostic of the age and star formation history of galaxies, which enables us to compare observations with contemporary simulations – thus shedding light on the predictive power of our current models of star formation in the early Universe. Here, we measure the Balmer break strength for 23 spectroscopically confirmed galaxies at redshifts 6 ≲ z ≲ 12 using public JWST NIRSpec data from the cycle 1 GO 1433 and GO 2282 programmes (PI Coe), as well as public spectroscopic data from the JWST Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES). We find that the range of observed Balmer break strengths agree well with that of current simulations given our measurement uncertainties. No cases of anomalously strong Balmer breaks are detected, and therefore no severe departures from the predictions of contemporary models of star formation. However, there are indications of a number of outliers in the observed distribution which have weaker Balmer breaks than predicted by simulations.
Possible GeV gamma-ray emission from the pulsar wind nebula in CTA 1
Authors: Zhou Liancheng , Wu Keyao , Gong Yunlu , Fang Jun
Published: March 2024

We report a detection of GeV γ-ray emission potentially originating from the pulsar wind nebula in CTA 1 by analysing about 15 yr of Fermi Large Area Telescope data. By selecting an energy range from 50 GeV to 1 TeV to remove contamination from the γ-ray pulsar PSR J0007+7303, we have discovered an extended γ-ray source with a test statistic value of ∼44.94 in the region of CTA 1. The obtained flux is measured to be 6.71 ± 2.60 × 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1 with a spectral index of 1.61 ± 0.36, which allows for a smooth connection with the flux in the TeV band. CTA 1 is also considered to be associated with 1LHAASO J0007+7303u, which is an ultra-high-energy source listed in the recently published catalogue of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory. We assume that the radiation originates from the pulsar wind nebula and that its multiwavelength spectral energy distribution can be explained well with a time-dependent one-zone model.
Effects of aflatoxin and fumonisin on gene expression of growth factors and inflammation-related genes in a human hepatocyte cell line
Authors: Wu Hang , Xu Ya , Gong Yun Yun , Huntriss John , Routledge Michael N
Published: March 2024

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) are mycotoxins widely distributed in maize and maized-based products, often occurring together. The implications of co-exposure to aflatoxin and fumonsin for human health are numerous, but a particular concern is the potential of FB1 to modulate AFB1 hepatotoxicity. This study evaluated the toxicity of these mycotoxins, alone or combined, in a human non-tumorigenic liver cell line, HHL-16 cells, and assessed the effects of AFB1 and FB1 on expression of genes involved in immune and growth factor pathways. The results demonstrated that in HHL-16 cells, both AFB1 and FB1 had dose-dependent and time-dependent toxicity, and the combination of them showed a synergistic toxicity in the cells. Moreover, AFB1 caused upregulation of IL6, CCL20, and BMP2, and downregulation of NDP. In combination of AFB1 with FB1, gene expression levels of IL6 and BMP2 were significantly higher compared to individual FB1 treatment, and had a tendency to be higher than individual AFB1 treatment. This study shows that FB1 may increase the hepatoxicity of AFB1 through increasing the inflammatory response and disrupting cell growth pathways.
A gradient of the HD-Zip regulator Woolly regulates multicellular trichome morphogenesis in tomato
Authors: Wu MinLiang , Bian XinXin , Hu ShouRong , Huang BenBen , Shen JingYuan , Du YaDi , Wang YanLi , Xu MengYuan , Xu HuiMin , Yang MeiNa , Wu Shuang
Published: March 2024

Homeodomain (HD) proteins regulate embryogenesis in animals such as the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), often in a concentration-dependent manner. HD-leucine zipper (Zip) IV family genes are unique to plants and often function in the L1 epidermal cell layer. However, our understanding of the roles of HD-Zip IV family genes in plant morphogenesis is limited. In this study, we investigated the morphogenesis of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) multicellular trichomes, a type of micro-organ in plants. We found that a gradient of the HD-Zip IV regulator Woolly (Wo) coordinates spatially polarized cell division and cell expansion in multicellular trichomes. Moreover, we identified a TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN BINDING FACTOR (TCP) transcription factor-encoding gene, SlBRANCHED2a (SlBRC2a), as a key downstream target of Wo that regulates the transition from cell division to cell expansion. High levels of Wo promote cell division in apical trichome cells, whereas in basal trichome cells, Wo mediates a negative feedback loop with SlBRC2a that forces basal cells to enter endoreduplication. The restricted high and low activities of Wo pattern the morphogenesis of tomato multicellular trichomes. These findings provide insights into the functions of HD-Zip IV genes during plant morphogenesis.
Where the Gavel Wields: The Jurisdictional Conundrum of Sedition in Hong Kong
Authors: Wan Trevor T W
Published: March 2024

The offence of sedition in Hong Kong, a colonial relic that has languished in a state of dormancy since the 1960s, has made an abrupt return to the city’s legal landscape following the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law. The confluence of these two regimes has engendered myriad nuanced legal intricacies that belie straightforward resolution, one of which occupies the focal point of this article: whether or not the District Court, an intermediate trial court with limited criminal jurisdiction, can hear sedition cases. This article engages this issue and contends that a coherent reading of the now multitude of legislative instruments constituting Hong Kong’s national security and criminal procedural regime yields a negative answer. Only the Court of First Instance, a superior court of record with unlimited criminal jurisdiction, is competent to hear sedition cases. In reaching this conclusion, this article engages with and diagnoses the errors in the diverse strands of reasoning put forward in the cases of HKSAR v Tam Tak Chi and HKSAR v Chan Tai Sum in defence of the District Court’s jurisdiction.
No Room to Fall: Criminal Justice Contact and Neighborhood Disadvantage
Authors: DeMarco Laura M
Published: March 2024

Neighborhoods across the United States are shaped by the criminal justice system and socioeconomic inequality. This article examines whether multiple forms of criminal justice contact affect neighborhood attainment for a cohort of young adults coming of age in the era of mass incarceration. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 cohort, and census data, I analyze neighborhood conditions before and after contact with the criminal justice system. Conviction is a critical experience in the life course. Having a household member incarcerated is associated with moving to a worse neighborhood only for White young adults. I contextualize these findings in the literature on the cumulative disadvantages faced by the justice-involved population and the complexities of identifying causal effects for this population. For many, incarceration represents a late stage of criminal justice contact, at which point there is no room to fall. Disentangling the web of disadvantage that follows criminal justice contact is crucial as the effects of the era of mass incarceration continue to accumulate. Locational attainment contextualized within the life course must be central to understanding how the legal system creates and reproduces disadvantage.
Comparative evolutionary analyses of peste des petits ruminants virus genetic lineages
Authors: Courcelle Maxime , Salami Habib , Tounkara Kadidia , Lo Modou Moustapha , Ba Aminata , Diop Mariame , Niang Mamadou , Sidibe Cheick Abou Kounta , Sery Amadou , Dakouo Marthin , Kaba Lanceï , Sidime Youssouf , Keyra Mohamed , Diallo Alpha Oumar Sily , El Mamy Ahmed Bezeid , El Arbi Ahmed Salem , Barry Yahya , Isselmou Ekaterina , Habiboullah Habiboullah , Doumbia Baba , Gueya Mohamed Baba , Awuni Joseph , Odoom Theophilus , Ababio Patrick Tetteh , TawiahYingar Daniel Nana Yaw , Coste Caroline , Guendouz Samia , Kwiatek Olivier , Libeau Geneviève , Bataille Arnaud
Published: March 2024

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a highly infectious disease affecting mainly goats and sheep in large parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and has an important impact on the global economy and food security. Full genome sequencing of PPRV strains has proved to be critical to increasing our understanding of PPR epidemiology and to inform the ongoing global efforts for its eradication. However, the number of full PPRV genomes published is still limited and with a heavy bias towards recent samples and genetic Lineage IV (LIV), which is only one of the four existing PPRV lineages. Here, we generated genome sequences for twenty-five recent (2010–6) and seven historical (1972–99) PPRV samples, focusing mainly on Lineage II (LII) in West Africa. This provided the first opportunity to compare the evolutionary pressures and history between the globally dominant PPRV genetic LIV and LII, which is endemic in West Africa. Phylogenomic analysis showed that the relationship between PPRV LII strains was complex and supported the extensive transboundary circulation of the virus within West Africa. In contrast, LIV sequences were clearly separated per region, with strains from West and Central Africa branched as a sister clade to all other LIV sequences, suggesting that this lineage also has an African origin. Estimates of the time to the most recent common ancestor place the divergence of modern LII and LIV strains in the 1960s–80s, suggesting that this period was particularly important for the diversification and spread of PPRV globally. Phylogenetic relationships among historical samples from LI, LII, and LIII and with more recent samples point towards a high genetic diversity for all these lineages in Africa until the 1970s–80s and possible bottleneck events shaping PPRV’s evolution during this period. Molecular evolution analyses show that strains belonging to LII and LIV have evolved under different selection pressures. Differences in codon usage and adaptative selection pressures were observed in all viral genes between the two lineages. Our results confirm that comparative genomic analyses can provide new insights into PPRV’s evolutionary history and molecular epidemiology. However, PPRV genome sequencing efforts must be ramped up to increase the resolution of such studies for their use in the development of efficient PPR control and surveillance strategies.
Identification of an SCF Ubiquitin Ligase Complex that Contributes to Resistance Against Valsa Canker in Apple
Authors: Han Pengliang , Zhang Ruotong , Li Rui , Li Fudong , Huang Lili
Published: March 2024

E3 ubiquitin ligases play a critical role in plant disease resistance. Among them, the Skp1-Cullin-F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex is the largest family and regulates the ubiquitination of a wide range of proteins. Apple Valsa canker (AVC) is a fungal disease of apple trees caused by the fungus Valsa mali, which can lead to significant economic losses. However, the function of the SCF complex in apple resistance to this disease is still largely unknown. In this study, we identified an SCF ubiquitin ligase complex that can enhance resistance to Valsa canker in apple. Disease evaluation experiments demonstrated that MdSkp1 increased apple resistance to AVC. Furthermore, MdSkp1 interacted with an F-box protein, MdSKIP14, and interacted with a cullin-1 protein, MdCUL1, to form an SCF ubiquitin ligase complex. Additionally, we revealed both MdSKIP14 and MdCUL1 as positive regulators of AVC resistance. In conclusion, our results identified an SCF complex capable of contributing to apple resistance against AVC, providing a theoretical basis for apple disease resistance and the sustainable development of the industry.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Fungal Species Causing Canker and Wilt of Ficus carica and Evidence of Their Association by Bark Beetles in Italy
Authors: Gusella Giorgio , Gugliuzzo Antonio , Guarnaccia Vladimiro , Martino Ilaria , Aiello Dalia , Costanzo Mariangela B. , Russo Agatino , Groenewald Johannes Z. , Crous Pedro W. , Polizzi Giancarlo
Published: March 2024

Field surveys conducted during 2021 and 2022 in Western Sicily, Italy, revealed the presence of common fig trees severely affected by trunk and crown root canker and bark cracking. Moreover, in conjunction with the symptomatic tissues, the same surveyed plants showed the presence of bark beetle holes and internal wood galleries. The predominant beetle Criphalus dilutus was previously reported attacking figs in Sicily. Phylogenetic analyses based on multilocus DNA data showed the presence of different fungal taxa associated with disease symptoms, including Botryosphaeria dothidea, Ceratocystis ficicola, Diaporthe foeniculina, Neocosmospora bostrycoides, N. perseae, and Neofusicoccum luteum. Pathogenicity tests conducted on potted fig plants showed that all the species were pathogenic to fig, with C. ficicola and Neocosmospora spp. as the most aggressive fungal species. Moreover, isolations conducted from the bodies of emerging adult insects recovered from disease samples confirmed the presence of C. ficicola and Neocosmospora spp., suggesting the potential involvement of C. dilutus in their dissemination.
Repurposing of rituximab biosimilars to treat B cell mediated autoimmune diseases
Authors: Mostkowska Agata , Rousseau Guy , Raynal Noël J‐M
Published: March 2024

Rituximab, the first monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of lymphoma, eventually became one of the most popular and versatile drugs ever in terms of clinical application and revenue. Since its patent expiration, and consequently, the loss of exclusivity of the original biologic, its repurposing as an off‐label drug has increased dramatically, propelled by the development and commercialization of its many biosimilars. Currently, rituximab is prescribed worldwide to treat a vast range of autoimmune diseases mediated by B cells. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of rituximab repurposing in 115 autoimmune diseases across 17 medical specialties, sourced from over 1530 publications. Our work highlights the extent of its off‐label use and clinical benefits, underlining the success of rituximab repurposing for both common and orphan immune‐related diseases. We discuss the scientific mechanism associated with its clinical efficacy and provide additional indications for which rituximab could be investigated. Our study presents rituximab as a flagship example of drug repurposing owing to its central role in targeting cluster of differentiate 20 positive (CD20) B cells in 115 autoimmune diseases.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems Physical Function and Pain Interference Scores Are Correlated With Tibial Shaft Fracture Nonunion Following Intramedullary Nailing
Authors: Dong Willie , Thorne Tyler , Da Silva Zarek , Dauk Morgan , Marchand Lucas , Rothberg David , Higgins Thomas , Haller Justin
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES:

To assess trends in Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) and Pain Interference (PI) in surgically treated tibial shaft fracture patients progressing to union versus nonunion.

METHODS:

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Level 1 trauma center.

Patient Selection Criteria:

Patients with operatively treated tibial shaft fractures (AO/OTA 42-A, B, C) using an intramedullary nail.

Outcome Measures and Comparisons:

PROMIS PF and PI were compared between patients progressing to union and patients requiring nonunion repair.

RESULTS:

A total of 234 patients (196 union, 38 nonunion) were included consisting 144 men and 90 women. The mean age of included patients was 40.8 years. A significant difference in mean PROMIS PF between union and nonunion patients was observed at 1–3 months (P = 0.005), 3–6 months (P < 0.001), 6–9 months (P = 0.003), and 6–12 months (P = 0.018). The odds of developing nonunion for every unit decrease in PROMIS PF was significant at 3–6 months (OR 1.07, P = 0.028) and 6–9 months (OR 1.17, P = 0.015). A significant difference in mean PROMIS PI between union and nonunion patients was observed at 1–3 months (P = 0.001), 3–6 months (P = 0.005), and 6–9 months (P = 0.005). The odds of developing nonunion for every unit increase in PROMIS PI was significant at 1–3 months (OR 1.11, P = 0.005), 3–6 months (OR 1.10, P = 0.011), and 6–9 months (OR 1.23, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS:

Poorly trending PROMIS PF and PI in the clinical setting is a factor that can be used to evaluate progression to nonunion following tibial shaft repair where imaging studies may lag behind.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Racial Differences in Accuracy of Predictive Models for High-Flow Nasal Cannula Failure in COVID-19
Authors: Yang Philip , Gregory Ismail A. , Robichaux Chad , Holder Andre L. , Martin Greg S. , Esper Annette M. , Kamaleswaran Rishikesan , Gichoya Judy W. , Bhavani Sivasubramanium V.
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES:

To develop and validate machine learning (ML) models to predict high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) failure in COVID-19, compare their performance to the respiratory rate-oxygenation (ROX) index, and evaluate model accuracy by self-reported race.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Four Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, GA.

PATIENTS:

Adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2022 who received HFNC therapy within 24 hours of ICU admission were included.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Four types of supervised ML models were developed for predicting HFNC failure (defined as intubation or death within 7 d of HFNC initiation), using routine clinical variables from the first 24 hours of ICU admission. Models were trained on the first 60% (n = 594) of admissions and validated on the latter 40% (n = 390) of admissions to simulate prospective implementation. Among 984 patients included, 317 patients (32.2%) developed HFNC failure. eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model had the highest area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUROC) for predicting HFNC failure (0.707), and was the only model with significantly better performance than the ROX index (AUROC 0.616). XGB model had significantly worse performance in Black patients compared with White patients (AUROC 0.663 vs. 0.808, p = 0.02). Racial differences in the XGB model were reduced and no longer statistically significant when restricted to patients with nonmissing arterial blood gas data, and when XGB model was developed to predict mortality (rather than the composite outcome of failure, which could be influenced by biased clinical decisions for intubation).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our XGB model had better discrimination for predicting HFNC failure in COVID-19 than the ROX index, but had racial differences in accuracy of predictions. Further studies are needed to understand and mitigate potential sources of biases in clinical ML models and to improve their equitability.
Comparative Analysis of Tomographic Indicators Forecasting Decompensation in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Authors: Passaro Maria Laura , Airaldi Matteo , Ancona Chiara , Cucco Rosangela , Costagliola Ciro , Semeraro Francesco , Romano Vito
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

To compare the performance of 3 commercially available tomographers (the Pentacam Scheimpflug camera, the swept-source optical coherence tomography Casia, and the blue light slit-scanning tomographer Precisio) in the identification of patterns associated with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) decompensation.

Methods:

This was a clinic-based cross-sectional imaging study. Pachymetry maps and posterior surface elevation maps were acquired with the 3 devices from 61 eyes affected by FECD. The maps were graded according to the evidence of tomographic patterns predictive of FECD decompensation (loss of parallel isopachs, displacement of the thinnest point, and focal posterior depression) by 2 blind cornea specialists.

Results:

The loss of parallel isopachs was significantly less frequently evident in Pentacam pachymetry maps [8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) (3%, 18%)] compared with both the Casia [31%, 95% CI (20%, 44%), P = 0.01] and Precisio devices [24%, 95% CI (15%, 37%), P = 0.05]. The displacement of the thinnest point was graded as most evident in a significantly higher proportion of Precisio pachymetry maps [43%, 95% CI (31%, 55%)] compared with both the Pentacam [13%, 95% CI (6%, 24%), P = 0.001] and Casia devices [21%, 95% CI (12%, 33%), P = 0.03]. There were no significant differences in the identification of focal posterior depression on posterior elevation maps across the 3 devices.

Conclusions:

Identification of patterns predictive of FECD prognosis on pachymetry and posterior elevation maps is possible with different devices. However, their evidence varies across tomographers, and the results from different devices are not interchangeable.
Utilization of Patient-Specific Characteristics and Competing Risks to Tailor the Duration of Surveillance Imaging After Surgery for Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Merrill Suzanne B. , Alzubaidi Ahmad N. , Schaefer Eric , Master Viraj , Patil Dattatraya , Allen Glenn O. , Abel E. Jason , Raman Jay D.
Published: March 2024

Purpose:

The appropriate duration of follow-up after surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains incompletely defined. To better inform on this time line, we investigate when an individual's risk of RCC recurrence becomes less significant than their risk of non-RCC death.

Materials and Methods:

We identified 1672 patients who underwent surgery for M0 RCC between 1999 and 2018. Patients were stratified by pathologic stage, histology, age, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Cumulative incidence functions were estimated for RCC recurrence and non-RCC death using Fine and Gray models. Follow-up durations were estimated as the time point at which the cumulative incidence of non-RCC death exceeded that of RCC recurrence.

Results:

At a median follow-up of 2.1 years (IQR 0.6-5.1 years), a total of 272 recurrences (16.3%) and 234 non-RCC deaths (14.0%) occurred. The fitted model showed significant associations of stage with RCC recurrence and of age and ECOG with non-RCC death. For 50-year-old patients with pT1aN0-x clear cell and ECOG 0, the incidence of non-RCC death exceeded that of recurrence after 4.4 years. However, if such patients had an ECOG status of 1 or 2 to 4, the incidence of non-RCC death exceeded that of recurrence at 30 days, suggesting that routine oncologic surveillance may not be necessary. Alternatively, regardless of ECOG status, the incidence of non-RCC death failed to exceed that of recurrence for >13.9 years in all patients age 50 with > pT3aN0-x clear cell thereby suggesting longer surveillance than currently recommended.

Conclusion:

Modeling competing risks of RCC recurrence and non-RCC death provide patient-specific estimates when follow-up may be reasonably discontinued.
Measuring the PULSE of Nursing
Authors: Mann Charles , Montoya Lorraine , Taylor Joey , Barton Glenn
Published: March 2024

Background:

Critical nursing shortages have required many health care organizations to restructure nursing care delivery models. At a tertiary health care center, 150 registered practical nurses were integrated into acute inpatient care settings.

Problem:

A mechanism to continuously monitor the impact of this staffing change was not available.

Approach:

Leveraging current literature and consultation with external peers, metrics were compiled and categorized according to Donabedian's Structure Process Outcome Framework. Consultation with internal subject matter experts determined the final metrics.

Outcomes:

The Patient care, Utility, Logistics, Systemic Evaluation (PULSE) electronic dashboard was developed, capturing metrics from multiple internal databases and presenting real-time composites of validated indicators.

Conclusion:

The PULSE dashboard is a practical means of enabling nursing leadership to evaluate the impact of change and to make evidence-informed decisions about nursing care delivery at our organization.