bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization and Characterization Studies of Dissimilar Friction Stir Welding Parameters of Brass and Aluminum Alloy 6063 Using Taguchi
Authors: Agarwal Vimal , Goyal Deepam , Pabla B. S. , Vettivel S. C. , Haiter Lenin A.
Published: May 2023

This paper focuses on optimizing process parameters such as tool rotating speed, preheat-treated workpiece temperature, traverse speed, and tool pin profile for dissimilar friction stir welding (FSW) of brass and AA 6063. The hardness of the friction stir-welded joint created is measured as a response variable. The Taguchi design of experiments approach was utilized to finalize the experimental strategy, and ANOVA was employed to analyze the data. The best input factors for a better weld and a harder FSW workpiece were predicted. The experimental results show that the input factors influenced the hardness and defects in the welds in the following order: tool rotation speed (28.98%), tool pin geometry (22.30%), travel speed (11%), and temperature of the preheat treated workpiece (10.95%), respectively. Optical microscopy identified three distinct zones: the nugget zone, the thermomechanically affected zone, and the heat-affected zone. The nugget zone had a maximum value of hardness (around a 27% increase) due to the formation of very fine recrystallized grains.
Data from Dying To Find Out: The Cost of Time at the Dawn of the Multicancer Early Detection Era
Authors: Klein Eric A. , Madhavan Sarina , Beer Tomasz M. , Bettegowda Chetan , Liu Minetta C. , Hartman Anne-Renee , Hackshaw Allan
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Cancer is a significant burden worldwide that adversely impacts life expectancy, quality of life, health care costs, and workforce productivity. Although currently recommended screening tests for individual cancers reduce mortality, they detect only a minority of all cancers and sacrifice specificity for high sensitivity, resulting in a high cumulative rate of false positives. Blood-based multicancer early detection tests (MCED) based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) and other technologies hold promise for broadening the number of cancer types detected in screened populations and hope for reducing cancer mortality. The promise of this new technology to improve cancer detection rates and make screening more efficient at the population level demands the development of novel trial designs that accelerate clinical adoption. Carefully designed clinical trials are needed to address these issues.
Data from Associations of race and ethnicity with hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensation, and mortality in US Veterans with cirrhosis
Authors: VoPham Trang , Cravero Anne , Feld Lauren D. , Green Pamela , Feng Ziding , Berry Kristin , Kim Nicole J. , Vutien Philip , Mendoza Jason A. , Ioannou George N.
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background: Among cirrhosis patients, it remains unclear whether there are racial/ethnic differences in cirrhosis complications and mortality. We examined the associations between race/ethnicity and risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis decompensation, and all-cause mortality overall and by cirrhosis etiology.
Methods: US Veterans diagnosed with cirrhosis from 2001-2014 (n=120,992), due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) (n=55,814), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) (n=36,323), hepatitis B virus (HBV) (n=1,972), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (n=17,789), or other (n=9,094), were followed through 2020 for incident HCC (n=10,242), cirrhosis decompensation (n=27,887), and mortality (n=81,441). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: Compared to non-Hispanic White patients, Hispanic patients had higher risk for HCC overall (aHR 1.32, 95% CI 1.24-1.41) and by cirrhosis etiology, particularly for ALD- (aHR 1.63, 95% CI 1.42-1.87) and NAFLD-cirrhosis (aHR 1.76, 95% CI 1.41-2.20), while non-Hispanic Black patients had lower HCC risk in ALD- (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.98) and NAFLD-cirrhosis (aHR 0.54, 95% CI 0.33-0.89). Asian patients had higher HCC risk (aHR 1.70, 95% CI 1.29-2.23), driven by HCV- and HBV-cirrhosis. Non-Hispanic Black patients had lower risk for cirrhosis decompensation overall (aHR 0.71, 95% CI 0.68-0.74) and by cirrhosis etiology. There was lower risk for mortality among all other racial/ethnic groups compared to non-Hispanic White patients.
Conclusions: Race/ethnicity is an important predictor for risk of developing HCC, decompensation, and mortality.
Impact: Future research should examine factors underlying these racial/ethnic differences to inform prevention, screening, and treatment for cirrhosis patients.
Spatial Immunoprofiling of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Reveals B7-H4 Is a Therapeutic Target for Aggressive Tumors
Authors: Sousa Luana Guimaraes , McGrail Daniel J. , Lazar Neto Felippe , Li Kaiyi , Marques-Piubelli Mario L. , Ferri-Borgogno Sammy , Dai Hui , Mitani Yoshitsugu , Spardy Burr Nicole , Cooper Zachary A. , Kinneer Krista , Cortez Maria Angelica , Lin Shiaw-Yih , Bell Diana , El Naggar Adel , Burks Jared , Ferrarotto Renata
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a heterogeneous malignancy, and no effective systemic therapy exists for metastatic disease. We previously described two prognostic ACC molecular subtypes with distinct therapeutic vulnerabilities, ACC-I and ACC-II. In this study, we explored the ACC tumor microenvironment (TME) using RNA-sequencing and spatial biology to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Experimental Design:

Tumor samples from 62 ACC patients with available RNA-sequencing data that had been collected as part of previous studies were stained with a panel of 28 validated metal-tagged antibodies. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) was performed using the Fluidigm Helios CyTOF instrument and analyzed with Visiopharm software. The B7-H4 antibody–drug conjugate AZD8205 was tested in ACC patient-derived xenografts (PDX).

Results:

RNA deconvolution revealed that most ACCs are immunologically “cold,” with approximately 30% being “hot.” ACC-I tumors with a poor prognosis harbored a higher density of immune cells; however, spatial analysis by IMC revealed that ACC-I immune cells were significantly restricted to the stroma, characterizing an immune-excluded TME. ACC-I tumors overexpressed the immune checkpoint B7-H4, and the degree of immune exclusion was directly correlated with B7-H4 expression levels, an independent predictor of poor survival. Two ACC-I/B7-H4-high PDXs obtained 90% complete responses to a single dose of AZD8205, but none were observed with isotype-conjugated payload or in an ACC-II/B7-H4 low PDX.

Conclusions:

Spatial analysis revealed that ACC subtypes have distinct TMEs, with enrichment of ACC-I immune cells that are restricted to the stroma. B7-H4 is highly expressed in poor-prognosis ACC-I subtype and is a potential therapeutic target.
Supplementary Figure S5 from Overlaid Transcriptional and Proteome Analyses Identify Mitotic Kinesins as Important Targets of Arylsulfonamide-Mediated RBM39 Degradation
Authors: Coomar Seemon , Mota Pedro , Penson Alexander , Schwaller Jürg , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Gillingham Dennis
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Figure S5
Supplementary Table 2 from ZEB1 is Regulated by K811 Acetylation to Promote Stability, NuRD Complex Interactions, EMT, and NSCLC Metastasis
Authors: Perez-Oquendo Mabel , Manshouri Roxsan , Tian Yanhua , Fradette Jared J. , Rodriguez B. Leticia , Kundu Samrat T. , Gibbons Don L.
Published: May 2023

Potential ZEB1 acetylation-dependent target genes.
Supplementary Data from Overlaid Transcriptional and Proteome Analyses Identify Mitotic Kinesins as Important Targets of Arylsulfonamide-Mediated RBM39 Degradation
Authors: Coomar Seemon , Mota Pedro , Penson Alexander , Schwaller Jürg , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Gillingham Dennis
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Data
Supplementary Data from Overlaid Transcriptional and Proteome Analyses Identify Mitotic Kinesins as Important Targets of Arylsulfonamide-Mediated RBM39 Degradation
Authors: Coomar Seemon , Mota Pedro , Penson Alexander , Schwaller Jürg , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Gillingham Dennis
Published: May 2023

eClip Scores
Figure S2 from A Comparative Study of Neuroendocrine Heterogeneity in Small Cell Lung Cancer and Neuroblastoma
Authors: Cai Ling , DeBerardinis Ralph J. , Xie Yang , Minna John D. , Xiao Guanghua
Published: May 2023

Known NBL prognostic factors consistently associate with outcome across different NBL studies but not NE scores.
Data from Overlaid transcriptome and proteome analyses identify mitotic kinesins as important targets of arylsulfonamide-mediated RBM39 degradation
Authors: Coomar Seemon , Mota Pedro , Penson Alexander , Schwaller Juerg , Abdel-Wahab Omar , Gillingham Dennis
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Certain arylsulfonamides (ArSulfs) induce an interaction between the E3 ligase substrate adaptor DCAF15 and the critical splicing factor RBM39, ultimately causing its degradation. However, degradation of a splicing factor introduces complex pleiotropic effects that are difficult to untangle, since, aside from direct protein degradation, downstream transcriptional effects also influence the proteome. By overlaying transcriptional data and proteome datasets, we distinguish transcriptional from direct degradation effects, pinpointing those proteins most impacted by splicing changes. Using our workflow, we identify and validate the upregulation of the argininie-and-serine rich protein (RSRP1) and the downregulation of the key kinesin motor proteins KIF20A and KIF20B due to altered splicing in the absence of RBM39. We further show that kinesin downregulation is connected to the multinucleation phenotype observed upon RBM39 depletion by ArSulfs. Our approach should be helpful in the assessment of potential cancer drug candidates which target splicing factors.

Implications: Our approach provides a workflow for identifying and studying the most strongly modulated proteins when splicing is altered; the work also uncovers a splicing-based approach toward pharmacological targeting of mitotic kinesins.
Supplementary Materials and Methods from Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase is associated with metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises J , Tan Alex W , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary K , Browning Luke Samuel , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: May 2023

Supplementary Materials and Methods
Supplementary Figure S8 from Desmoplastic reaction associates with prognosis and adjuvant chemotherapy response in colorectal cancer: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Hu Qingru , Wang Yiting , Yao Su , Mao Yun , Liu Liu , Li Zhenhui , Chen Yonghe , Zhang Shenyan , Li Qian , Zhao Yingnan , Fan Xinjuan , Cui Yanfen , Zhao Ke , Liu Zaiyi
Published: May 2023

Predictive significance of other MSI status on the ACT of stage II CRC
Data from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Bertucci François , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has high relapse and metastasis rates and a high proportion of cancer stem-like cells (CSC), which possess self-renewal and tumor initiation capacity. MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase), a protein kinase of the Snf1/AMPK kinase family, is known to promote CSC maintenance and malignant transformation. However, the role of MELK in TNBC metastasis is unknown; we sought to address this in the current study. We found that MELK mRNA levels were higher in TNBC tumors [8.11 (3.79–10.95)] than in HR+HER2− tumors [6.54 (2.90–9.26)]; P < 0.001]. In univariate analysis, patients with breast cancer with high-MELK–expressing tumors had worse overall survival (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis-free survival (P < 0.01) than patients with low-MELK–expressing tumors. In a multicovariate Cox regression model, high MELK expression was associated with shorter overall survival after adjusting for other baseline risk factors. MELK knockdown using siRNA or MELK inhibition using the MELK inhibitor MELK-In-17 significantly reduced invasiveness, reversed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and reduced CSC self-renewal and maintenance in TNBC cells. Nude mice injected with CRISPR MELK-knockout MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited suppression of lung metastasis and improved overall survival compared with mice injected with control cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MELK-In-17 suppressed 4T1 tumor growth in syngeneic BALB/c mice (P < 0.001). Our findings indicate that MELK supports metastasis by promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the CSC phenotype in TNBC.
Significance:
These findings indicate that MELK is a driver of aggressiveness and metastasis in TNBC.
Data from Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase is associated with metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises J , Tan Alex W , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary K , Browning Luke Samuel , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has high relapse and metastasis rates and a high proportion of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which possess self-renewal and tumor initiation capacity. MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase), a protein kinase of the Snf1/AMPK kinase family, is known to promote CSC maintenance and malignant transformation. However, the role of MELK in TNBC metastasis is unknown; we sought to address this in the current study. We found that MELK mRNA levels were higher in TNBC tumors (8.11 [3.79-10.95]) than in HR+HER2- tumors (6.54 [2.90-9.26]; P < 0.001). In univariate analysis, breast cancer patients with high-MELK-expressing tumors had worse overall survival (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis-free survival (P < 0.01) than patients with low-MELK-expressing tumors. In a multicovariate Cox regression model, high MELK expression was associated with shorter overall survival after adjusting for other baseline risk factors. MELK knockdown using siRNA or MELK inhibition using the MELK inhibitor MELK-In-17 significantly reduced invasiveness, reversed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and reduced CSC self-renewal and maintenance in TNBC cells. Nude mice injected with CRISPR MELK-knockout MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited suppression of lung metastasis and improved overall survival compared with mice injected with control cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, MELK-In-17 suppressed 4T1 tumor growth in syngeneic BALB/c mice (P < 0.001). Our findings indicate that MELK supports metastasis by promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the CSC phenotype in TNBC.
Significance: These findings indicate that MELK is a driver of aggressiveness and metastasis in TNBC.  
Data from Desmoplastic Reaction Associates with Prognosis and Adjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Hu Qingru , Wang Yiting , Yao Su , Mao Yun , Liu Liu , Li Zhenhui , Chen Yonghe , Zhang Shenyan , Li Qian , Zhao Yingnan , Fan Xinjuan , Cui Yanfen , Zhao Ke , Liu Zaiyi
Published: May 2023

Desmoplastic reaction (DR) is one of many tumor–host interactions and is associated with the overall survival (OS) of patients with colorectal cancer. However, the clinical significance of DR requires further study in large multicenter cohorts and its predictive value in adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) response remains unclear. Here, a total of 2,225 patients with colorectal cancer from five independent institutions were divided into primary (N = 1,012 from two centers) and validation (N = 1,213 from three centers) cohorts. DR was classified as immature, middle, or mature depending on the presence of myxoid stroma and hyalinized collagen bundles at the invasive front of the primary tumor. OS among different subgroups were compared, and the correlations of DR type with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within stroma, tumor stroma ratio (TSR), and Stroma AReactive Invasion Front Areas (SARIFA) were also analyzed. In the primary cohort, patients with mature DR had the highest 5-year survival rate. These findings were confirmed in validation cohort. In addition, for stage II colorectal cancer, patients classified as non-mature DR would benefit from ACT compared with surgery alone. Furthermore, immature and middle DR were more associated with high TSR, less distribution of TILs within stroma and positive SARIFA compared with mature. Taken together, these data suggest that DR is a robust-independent prognostic factor for patients with colorectal cancer. For patients with stage II colorectal cancer, non-mature DR could be a potential marker for recognizing high-risk patients who may benefit from ACT.
Significance:
DR has the potential to identify patients with high-risk colorectal cancer and predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colorectal cancer. Our findings support reporting DR types as additional pathologic parameters in clinical practice for more precise risk stratification.
Data from Targeting fatty acid reprogramming suppresses CARM1-expressing ovarian cancer
Authors: Lombardi Simona , Goldman Aaron R , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew V , Liu Heng , Zhou Wei , Herlyn Meenhard , Lin Jianhuang , Zhang Rugang
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The arginine methyltransferase CARM1 exhibits high expression levels in several human cancers, with the trend also observed in ovarian cancer. However, therapeutic approaches targeting tumors that overexpress CARM1 have not been explored. Cancer cells exploit metabolic reprogramming such as fatty acids for their survival. Here we report that CARM1 promotes monounsaturated fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid reprogramming represents a metabolic vulnerability for CARM1-expressing ovarian cancer. CARM1 promotes the expression of genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes of de novo fatty acid metabolism such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN). In addition, CARM1 upregulates stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) that produces monounsaturated fatty acid by desaturation. Thus, CARM1 enhances de novo fatty acids synthesis which was subsequently utilized for synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids. Consequently, inhibition of SCD1 suppresses the growth of ovarian cancer cells in a CARM1-status dependent manner, which was rescued by the addition of monounsaturated fatty acids. Consistently, CARM1-expressing cells were more tolerant to the addition of saturated fatty acids. Indeed, SCD1 inhibition demonstrated efficacy against ovarian cancer in both orthotopic xenograft and syngeneic mouse models in a CARM1-dependent manner. In summary, our data show that CARM1 reprograms fatty acid metabolism and targeting SCD1 through pharmacological inhibition can serve as a potent therapeutic approach for CARM1-expressing ovarian cancers.
Targeting Fatty Acid Reprogramming Suppresses CARM1-expressing Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lombardi Simona , Goldman Aaron R. , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew V. , Liu Heng , Zhou Wei , Herlyn Meenhard , Lin Jianhuang , Zhang Rugang
Published: May 2023

The arginine methyltransferase CARM1 exhibits high expression levels in several human cancers, with the trend also observed in ovarian cancer. However, therapeutic approaches targeting tumors that overexpress CARM1 have not been explored. Cancer cells exploit metabolic reprogramming such as fatty acids for their survival. Here we report that CARM1 promotes monounsaturated fatty acid synthesis and fatty acid reprogramming represents a metabolic vulnerability for CARM1-expressing ovarian cancer. CARM1 promotes the expression of genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes of de novo fatty acid metabolism such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN). In addition, CARM1 upregulates stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) that produces monounsaturated fatty acid by desaturation. Thus, CARM1 enhances de novo fatty acids synthesis which was subsequently utilized for synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids. Consequently, inhibition of SCD1 suppresses the growth of ovarian cancer cells in a CARM1 status–dependent manner, which was rescued by the addition of monounsaturated fatty acids. Consistently, CARM1-expressing cells were more tolerant to the addition of saturated fatty acids. Indeed, SCD1 inhibition demonstrated efficacy against ovarian cancer in both orthotopic xenograft and syngeneic mouse models in a CARM1-dependent manner. In summary, our data show that CARM1 reprograms fatty acid metabolism and targeting SCD1 through pharmacological inhibition can serve as a potent therapeutic approach for CARM1-expressing ovarian cancers.

Significance:

CARM1 reprograms fatty acid metabolism transcriptionally to support ovarian cancer growth by producing monounsaturated fatty acids, supporting SCD1 inhibition as a rational strategy for treating CARM1-expressing ovarian cancer.
Pulsed Field Versus Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation: Efficacy, Safety, and Long-Term Follow-Up in a 400-Patient Cohort
Authors: Urbanek Lukas , Bordignon Stefano , Schaack David , Chen Shaojie , Tohoku Shota , Efe Tolga Han , Ebrahimi Ramin , Pansera Francesco , Hirokami Jun , Plank Karin , Koch Alexander , Schulte-Hahn Britta , Schmidt Boris , Chun Kyoung-Ryul Julian
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND:

The cryoballoon (CB) represents the gold standard single-shot device for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Single-shot pulsed field PVI ablation (nonthermal, cardiac tissue selective) has recently entered the arena. We sought to compare procedural data and long-term outcome of both techniques.

METHODS:

Consecutive AF patients who underwent pulsed field ablation (PFA) and CB-based PVI were enrolled. CB PVI was performed using the second-generation 28-mm CB; PFA was performed using a 31/35-mm pentaspline catheter. Success was defined as freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia after a 3-month blanking period.

RESULTS:

Four hundred patients were included (56.5% men; 60.8% paroxysmal AF; age 70 [interquartile range, 59–77] years), 200 in each group (CB and PFA), and baseline characteristics did not differ. Acute PVI was achieved in 100% of PFA and in 98% (196/200) of CB patients (
P
=0.123; 4 touch-up ablations). Median procedure time was significantly shorter in PFA (34.5 [29–40] minutes) versus CB (50 [45–60] minutes;
P
<0.001), fluoroscopy time was similar. Overall procedural complications were 6.5% in CB and 3.0% in PFA (
P
=0.1), driven by a higher rate of phrenic nerve palsies using CB. The 1-year success rates in paroxysmal AF (CB, 83.1%; PFA, 80.3%;
P
=0.724) and persistent AF (CB, 71%; PFA, 66.8%;
P
=0.629) were similar for both techniques.

CONCLUSIONS:

PFA compared with CB PVI shows a similar procedural efficacy but is associated with shorter procedure time and no phrenic nerve palsies. Importantly, 12-month clinical success rates are favorable but not different between both groups.
Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among US Adults: A Sex-Stratified Analysis, 1999–2019
Authors: Elfassy Tali , German Charles A. , Muntner Paul , Choi Eunhee , Contreras Gabriel , Shimbo Daichi , Yang Eugene
Published: May 2023

Background:

Most research examining the association between blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is sex-agnostic. Our goal was to assess sex-specific associations between BP and CVD mortality.

Methods:

We combined ten cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018), N=53 289. Blood pressure was measured 3× and averaged. Data were linked to National Death Index data, and CVD mortality through December 31, 2019, was defined from
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision
codes. We estimated sex-stratified, multivariable-adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for CVD mortality.

Results:

Over a median follow-up of 9.5 years, there were 2405 CVD deaths. Associations between categories of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with CVD mortality differed by sex (
P
<0.01). Among men, compared with SBP of 100 to <110 mm Hg, CVD mortality was 76% higher with SBP ≥160 mm Hg (IRR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.27–2.44]). Among women, compared with SBP 100 to < 110 mm Hg, CVD mortality was 61% higher with SBP 130 to 139 mm Hg (IRR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.02–2.55]), 75% higher with SBP 140 to 159 mm Hg (IRR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.09–2.80]), and 113% higher with SBP≥160 mm Hg (IRR, 2.13 [95% CI, 1.35–3.36]). Compared with DBP 70 to <80 mm Hg, CVD mortality was higher with DBP <70 mm Hg and DBP≥80 mm Hg among men, and higher with DBP <50 mm Hg and DBP≥80 mm Hg among women.

Conclusions:

The association between BP and CVD mortality differed by sex, with increased CVD mortality risk present at lower levels of systolic blood pressure among women compared with men.
Evaluating the Evidence for the Functional Inhibition Account of Alpha-band Oscillations during Preparatory Attention
Authors: Morrow Audrey , Elias Mackenzie , Samaha Jason
Published: May 2023

The functional inhibition account states that alpha-band (8–14 Hz) power implements attentional control by selectively inhibiting task-irrelevant neural representations. This account has been well supported by decades of correlational research showing attention-related changes in the topography of alpha power in anticipation of task-relevant stimuli and is a viable theory of how attention impacts sensory processing, namely, via alpha power changes in sensory areas before stimulus onset. In addition, attention is known to modulate neural responses to stimuli themselves. Thus, a critical prediction of the functional inhibition account is that preparatory alpha modulations should explain variance in the degree of attention-related modulation of neural responses to stimuli. The present article sought evidence for or against this prediction by scouring the literature on attention and alpha oscillations to review papers that explicitly correlated attention-related changes in prestimulus alpha with attention-related changes in stimulus-evoked neural activity. Surprisingly, out of over 100 papers that were examined, we found only nine that explicitly computed such relationships. The results of these nine papers were mixed, with some in support and some arguing against the functional inhibition account of alpha. Our synthesis draws out common design features that may help explain when effects are observed or not. Even among studies that do find correlations, there is inconsistency as to whether preparatory alpha modulations are predictive of sensory or postsensory components of stimulus responses, highlighting avenues for future research. A clear outcome of this review is that future studies on the role of alpha in attentional processing should analyze correlations between attention effects on alpha and attention effects on stimulus-evoked activity, as more data pertinent to this hypothesized relationship are needed.
Theoretical and Technical Issues Concerning the Measurement of Alpha Frequency and the Application of Signal Detection Theory: Comment on Buergers and Noppeney (2022)
Authors: Kawashima Tomoya , Nakayama Ryohei , Amano Kaoru
Published: May 2023

Classical and recent evidence has suggested that alpha oscillations play a critical role in temporally discriminating or binding successively presented items. Challenging this view, Buergers and Noppeney [Buergers, S., & Noppeney, U. The role of alpha oscillations in temporal binding within and across the senses. Nature Human Behaviour, 6, 732–742, 2022] found that by combining EEG, psychophysics, and signal detection theory, neither prestimulus nor resting-state alpha frequency influences perceptual sensitivity and bias in the temporal binding task. We propose the following four points that should be considered when interpreting the role of alpha oscillations, and especially their frequency, on perceptual temporal binding: (1) Multiple alpha components can be contaminated in conventional EEG analysis; (2) the effect of alpha frequency on perception will interact with alpha power; (3) prestimulus and resting-state alpha frequency can be different from poststimulus alpha frequency, which is the frequency during temporal binding and should be more directly related to temporal binding; and (4) when applying signal detection theory under the assumption of equal variance, the assumption is often incomplete and can be problematic (e.g., the magnitude relationships between individuals in parametric sensitivity may change when converted into nonparametric sensitivity). Future directions, including solutions to each of the issues, are discussed.
Electroencephalographic Signature of Out-of-Body Experiences Induced by Virtual Reality: A Novel Methodological Approach
Authors: Martial Charlotte , Cassol Helena , Slater Mel , Bourdin Pierre , Mensen Armand , Oliva Ramon , Laureys Steven , Núñez Pablo
Published: May 2023

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are subjective experiences of seeing one's own body and the environment from a location outside the physical body. They can arise spontaneously or in specific conditions, such as during the intake of dissociative drug. Given its unpredictable occurrence, one way to empirically study it is to induce subjective experiences resembling an OBE using technology such as virtual reality. We employed a complex multisensory method of virtual embodiment in a virtual reality scenario with seven healthy participants to induce virtual OBE-like experiences. Participants performed two conditions in a randomly determined order. For both conditions, the participant's viewpoint was lifted out of the virtual body toward the ceiling of the virtual room, and real body movements were (visuo-tactile ON condition) or were not (visuo-tactile OFF condition) translated into movements on the virtual body below—the latter aiming to maintain a feeling of connection with the virtual body. A continuous 128-electrode EEG was recorded. Participants reported subjective experiences of floating in the air and of feeling high up in the virtual room at a strong intensity, but a weak to moderate feeling of being “out of their body” in both conditions. The EEG analysis revealed that this subjective experience was associated with a power shift that manifested in an increase of delta and a decrease of alpha relative power. A reduction of theta complexity and an increase of beta-2 connectivity were also found. This supports the growing body of evidence revealing a prominent role of delta activity during particular conscious states.
A New Verification Approach? Using Coupled Natural–Human Models to Evaluate the Impact of Forecast Errors on Evacuations
Authors: Harris Austin , Roebber Paul , Morss Rebecca
Published: May 2023

In addition to measuring forecast accuracy in terms of errors in a tropical system’s forecast track and other meteorological characteristics, it is important to measure the impact of those errors on society. With this in mind, the authors designed a coupled natural–human modeling framework with high-level representations of the natural hazard (hurricane), the human system (information flow, evacuation decisions), the built environment (road infrastructure), and connections between elements (forecasts and warning information, traffic). Using the model, this article begins exploring how tropical cyclone forecast errors impact evacuations and, in doing so, builds toward the development of new verification approaches. Specifically, the authors implement track errors representative of 2007 and 2022, and create situations with unexpected rapid intensification and/or rapid onset, and evaluate their impact on evacuations across real and hypothetical forecast scenarios (e.g., Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Dorian making landfall across east Florida). The results provide first-order evidence that 1) reduced forecast track errors across the 2007–22 period translate to improvements in evacuation outcomes across these cases and 2) unexpected rapid intensification and/or rapid onset scenarios can reduce evacuation rates, and increase traffic, across the most impacted areas. In exploring these relationships, the results demonstrate how experiments with coupled natural–human models can offer a societally relevant complement to traditional metrics of forecast accuracy. In doing so, this work points toward further development of natural–human models and associated methodologies to address these types of questions and improve forecast verification across the weather enterprise.
Constraining the Nineteenth-Century Temperature Baseline for Global Warming
Authors: Schneider L. , Konter O. , Esper J. , Anchukaitis K. J.
Published: May 2023

Since the Paris Agreement, climate policy has focused on 1.5° and 2°C maximum global warming targets. However, the agreement lacks a formal definition of the nineteenth-century “pre-industrial” temperature baseline for these targets. If global warming is estimated with respect to the 1850–1900 mean, as in the latest IPCC reports, uncertainty in early instrumental temperatures affects the quantification of total warming. Here, we analyze gridded datasets of instrumental observations together with large-scale climate reconstructions from tree rings to evaluate nineteenth-century baseline temperatures. From 1851 to 1900 warm season temperatures of the Northern Hemisphere extratropical landmasses were 0.20°C cooler than the twentieth-century mean, with a range of 0.14°–0.26°C among three instrumental datasets. At the same time, proxy-based temperature reconstructions show on average 0.39°C colder conditions with a range of 0.19°–0.55°C among six records. We show that anomalously low reconstructed temperatures at high latitudes are underrepresented in the instrumental fields, likely due to the lack of station records in these remote regions. The nineteenth-century offset between warmer instrumental and colder reconstructed temperatures is reduced by one-third if spatial coverage is reduced to those grid cells that overlap between the different temperature fields. The instrumental dataset from Berkeley Earth shows the smallest offset to the reconstructions indicating that additional stations included in this product, due to more liberal data selection, lead to cooler baseline temperatures. The limited early instrumental records and comparison with reconstructions suggest an overestimation of nineteenth-century temperatures, which in turn further reduces the probability of achieving the Paris targets.

Significance Statement

The warming targets formulated in the Paris Agreement use a “pre-industrial” temperature baseline that is affected by significant uncertainty in the instrumental temperature record. During the second half of the nineteenth century, much of the continental landmasses were not yet covered by the observational station network and existing records were often subject to inhomogeneities and biases, thus resulting in uncertainty regarding the large-scale mean temperature estimate. By analyzing summer temperature reconstructions from tree-rings for the Northern Hemisphere extratropical land areas, we examine an independent climate archive with a typically broader and more continuous spatial extent during the “pre-industrial” period. Despite the additional uncertainty when using climate reconstructions instead of direct observations, there is evidence for an overestimation of land temperature during the summer season in early instrumental data. Colder early instrumental temperatures would reduce the probability of reaching the Paris targets.
Observations of Internal Wave Interactions in a Southern Ocean Standing Meander
Authors: Cyriac Ajitha , Meyer Amelie , Phillips Helen E. , Bindoff Nathaniel L.
Published: May 2023

We characterize the internal wave field at a standing meander of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) where strong winds, bathymetry, and a strong eddy field combine to form a dynamic environment for the generation and dissipation of internal waves. We use Electromagnetic Autonomous Profiling Explorer float data spanning 0–1600 m depth collected from a meander near the Macquarie Ridge, south of Australia. Of the 112 internal waves identified, 69% are associated with upward energy propagation. Most of the upward propagating waves (35%) are found near the Polar Front and are likely generated by mean flow–topography interactions. Generation by wind forcing at the sea surface is likely responsible for more than 40% of the downward propagating waves. Our results highlight advection of the waves and wave–mean flow interactions within the ACC as the dominant processes affecting the wave dynamics. The larger dissipation time scales of the waves compared to advection suggests they are likely to dissipate away from the generation site. We find that about 79% (66%) of the waves in cyclonic eddies (the Subantarctic Front) are influenced by horizontal strain, whereas 92% of the waves in the slower Polar Front are influenced by the relative vorticity of the background flow. There is energy exchange between internal waves and the mean flow, in both directions. The mean energy transfer (1.4 ± 1.0 × 10−11 m2 s−3) is from the mean flow to the waves in all dynamic regions except in anticyclonic eddies. The strongest energy exchange (5.0 ± 3.7 × 10−11 m2 s−3) is associated with waves in cyclonic eddies.
Numerical Evaluation of Internal Tide Characteristics Extracted from Mobile Float Observations: A Case Study near the Luzon Strait
Authors: Cao Anzhou , Guo Zheng , Wang Shuya , Guo Xinyu , Song Jinbao
Published: May 2023

With the development of ocean observation technology, data from specially designed mobile profiling floats have been used to study the internal tides (ITs). However, the accuracy of IT characteristics extracted from such observations has not been fully evaluated. Based on numerical simulations of ITs and background circulation with hundreds of free-moving floats near the Luzon Strait, this study examines the IT characteristics extracted from the float observations based on statistics. For the case in which only the M2 constituent is considered, the lowest error level of extracted M2 temperature fluctuation amplitudes (TFAs) is 40%–50%, which appears at 200–1500 m depth. Increasing the sampling frequency of the float from daily to hourly does not decrease the lowest error level. The quasi-daily sampling and other tidal constituents also have an impact on the extracted M2 TFAs and increase their errors. The different patterns of background currents mainly influence the errors of extracted M2 TFAs in the upper 200 m. The relation between TFA and vertical displacement of ITs and the two error sources of the TFA extracted from float observations are discussed in this study.
Localizing COVID-19 Public Health Department Outreach on Digital Platforms: The Role of Discoverability, Reach, and Moderation for Illinois’ COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
Authors: Usher Nikki , Wong Adrian Tai , Raynal Isaiah R. , Bigman-Galimore Cabral , Maslowska Ewa
Published: May 2023

The politicization of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States and abroad has received significant scholarly attention, particularly surrounding misinformation circulating on social media among millions of users. However there has been far less attention paid to how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and others impact vaccine uptake within local, geographically specific communities. Local public health departments view platforms as critical communication infrastructure for outreach. Through a case study of Illinois, we examine how vaccine uptake is associated with county-level public health communication on Facebook, political regionalism, demographic variation, and digital access and reach. We ask about (a) discoverability: are individuals conducting digital searches able to find and access local public health information on their websites and social media? (b) reach: does growth in public health departments’ Facebook followers correlate to vaccination rate? and (c) practices: is there an association between discoverability, moderation policies/practices of local public health departments’ Facebook pages, and county-reported vaccination rates? We draw on original data about discoverability and local public health department’s Facebook pages in addition to secondary data on voting behavior and rurality. We find discoverability as well as moderation are positively associated with vaccination rates, while greater Facebook reach in rural Illinois is negatively correlated with vaccination rates.
Duodenal Atresia Repair: A Single-Center Comparative Study
Authors: Cruz-Centeno Nelimar , Stewart Shai , Marlor Derek R , Aguayo Pablo , Rentea Rebecca M , Hendrickson Richard J , Juang David , Snyder Charles L , Fraser Jason D , St Peter Shawn D. , Oyetunji Tolulope A.
Published: May 2023

Background

The use of laparoscopy in the repair of duodenal atresia has been increasing. However, there is no consensus regarding which surgical approach has better outcomes. We aimed to compare the different surgical approaches and types of anastomoses for duodenal atresia repair.

Methods

Patients who underwent duodenal atresia repair at a single pediatric center were identified between January 2006 and June 2022. Those with concomitant gastrointestinal anomalies or who required other simultaneous operations were excluded. The primary outcome was rate of complications, defined as rate of leak, stricture, and re-operation by surgical approach and technique of anastomosis.

Results

A total of 78 patients were included. The majority were female (51.3%, n = 40), with a median age of 4 days (IQR 3.0,8.0) and a median weight of 2.7 kg (IQR 2.2,3.3) at repair. The re-operation rate was 7.7% (n = 6), of which two were anastomotic leaks, and four were anastomotic strictures. The leak rate was 5.6% (n = 1/18) for the open handsewn and 4.8% (n = 1/21) for the laparoscopic handsewn technique. The stricture rate was 12.5% (n = 1/8) for the laparoscopic-assisted handsewn, 9.1% (n = 2/22) for the laparoscopic U-clip, 4.8% (n = 1/21) for the laparoscopic handsewn, and none with laparoscopic stapled and laparoscopic converted to open handsewn techniques. No differences were found in complication rate when controlling for surgical approach.

Conclusion

The method of surgical approach did not affect the outcomes or complications in the repair of duodenal atresia.
Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury in Pediatric Hanging Victims
Authors: Golubkova Alena A. , Liebe Heather L. , Leiva Tyler D. , Stewart Kenneth E. , Sarwar Zoona , Hunter Catherine J. , Johnson Jeremy J.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Incidence of blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) following hanging in the pediatric population is ill-defined. Current guidelines recommend screening imaging during the initial trauma evaluation. Necessity of screening is questioned given BCVI is considered rare after hanging, especially when asymptomatic. This study aims to elucidate the incidence of BCVI in pediatric hangings and determine the value of radiographic work-up.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed of pediatric hangings reported to the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB), 2017-2019. Imaging, diagnoses, and findings suggestive of BCVI, such as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤8, presence of cervical injury, and soft tissue injury were considered. Statistical analysis was carried out to compare incidence.

Results

197 patients met study criteria, with 179 arriving in the trauma bay with signs of life. BCVI incidence was 5.6% (10 of 179). Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) of the neck was the only reported screening modality in this data set. A CTA was completed in 46% of the cases.

Discussion

BCVI incidence following pediatric hanging is more common than previously thought. Less than half of patients had a CTA reported in this cohort. This may result in an underestimate. Given the potentially devastating consequences of a missed BCVI, the addition of CTA to initial work-up may be worthwhile to evaluate for cervical vascular injury, but further studies into the outcomes of children who do receive prophylactic therapy are needed.
Retrograde Pylorogastric Intussusception—Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Worth Samantha , Morton Zoey , Groot Samuel , Evert Michael , Gates Robert L.
Published: May 2023

A 6-month-old male presented with an acute onset of emesis and feeding intolerance. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass in the distal stomach immediately adjacent to the balloon of a gastrostomy button. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series demonstrated persistence of the mass obstructing the pylorus even after deflation of the gastrostomy balloon with failure of contrast to empty from the stomach. Upper endoscopy revealed retrograde pylorogastric intussusception. The child then underwent laparotomy, and after removal of the gastrostomy, a Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty was performed. Postoperative total parenteral nutrition was administered for 10 days at which point he was passing flatus and enteral oral feeding started. The postoperative course remained uncomplicated.