bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
4U 1210−64: a new member of the rare intermediate-mass X-ray binary subclass
Authors: Monageng I M , McBride V A , Alfonso-Garzon J , Townsend L J , Coley J B , Montesinos B , Corbet R H D , Pottschmidt K
Published: November 2023

4U 1210−64 is a peculiar X-ray binary that was first discovered in 1978 by the Uhuru satellite. The analysis of the X-ray data revealed a 6.7-d orbital period and an additional long-term modulation that is manifested as low- and high-flux states. Based on the previous classification of the donor star from the analysis of its optical spectra, the system has been suggested to be a high-mass X-ray binary. We revisit the optical classification where, based on the spectra from the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), we conclude that the donor star is of spectral class A8 III–IV, making it a member of the rare intermediate-mass X-ray binaries. We perform radial velocity analysis using the SALT spectra where we consider circular and eccentric orbits. From the mass function derived and the mass constraints of the donor star, we demonstrate that a neutron star is favoured as the compact object in the binary system. We show, for the first time, the folded optical light curves, whose shape is interpreted to be due to a combination of ellipsoidal variations, irradiation of the donor star, and mutual eclipses of the star and accretion disc.
Fast Bayesian gravitational wave parameter estimation using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Andrés-Carcasona M , Martínez M , Mir Ll M
Published: November 2023

The determination of the physical parameters of gravitational wave events is a fundamental pillar in the analysis of the signals observed by the current ground-based interferometers. Typically, this is done using Bayesian inference approaches which, albeit very accurate, are very computationally expensive. We propose a convolutional neural network approach to perform this task. The convolutional neural network is trained using simulated signals injected in a Gaussian noise. We verify the correctness of the neural network’s output distribution and compare its estimates with the posterior distributions obtained from traditional Bayesian inference methods for some real events. The results demonstrate the ability of the convolutional neural network to produce posterior distributions that are compatible with the traditional methods. Moreover, it achieves a remarkable inference speed, lowering by orders of magnitude the times of Bayesian inference methods, enabling real-time analysis of gravitational wave signals. Despite the observed reduced accuracy in the parameters, the neural network provides valuable initial indications of key parameters of the event such as the sky location, facilitating a multimessenger approach.
TESSgiants transiting giants V – two hot Jupiters orbiting red giant hosts
Authors: Pereira Filipe , Grunblatt Samuel K , Psaridi Angelica , Campante Tiago L , Cunha Margarida S , Santos Nuno C , Bossini Diego , Thorngren Daniel , Hellier Coel , Bouchy François , Lendl Monika , Mounzer Dany , Udry Stéphane , Beard Corey , Brinkman Casey L , Isaacson Howard , Quinn Samuel N , Tyler Dakotah , Zhou George , Howell Steve B , Howard Andrew W , Jenkins Jon M , Seager Sara , Vanderspek Roland K , Winn Joshua N , Saunders Nicholas , Huber Daniel
Published: November 2023

In this work, we present the discovery and confirmation of two hot Jupiters orbiting red giant stars, TOI-4377 b and TOI-4551 b, observed by Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite in the Southern ecliptic hemisphere and later followed-up with radial-velocity (RV) observations. For TOI-4377 b, we report a mass of $0.957^{+0.089}_{-0.087} \ M_\mathrm{J}$ and a inflated radius of 1.348 ± 0.081 RJ orbiting an evolved intermediate-mass star (1.36 M⊙ and 3.52 R⊙; TIC 394918211) on a period of of 4.378 d. For TOI-4551 b, we report a mass of 1.49 ± 0.13 MJ and a radius that is not obviously inflated of $1.058^{+0.110}_{-0.062} \ R_\mathrm{J}$, also orbiting an evolved intermediate-mass star (1.31 M⊙ and 3.55 R⊙; TIC 204650483) on a period of 9.956 d. We place both planets in context of known systems with hot Jupiters orbiting evolved hosts, and note that both planets follow the observed trend of the known stellar incident flux-planetary radius relation observed for these short-period giants. Additionally, we produce planetary interior models to estimate the heating efficiency with which stellar incident flux is deposited in the planet’s interior, estimating values of $1.91 \pm 0.48~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and $2.19 \pm 0.45~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for TOI-4377 b and TOI-4551 b, respectively. These values are in line with the known population of hot Jupiters, including hot Jupiters orbiting main-sequence hosts, which suggests that the radii of our planets have re-inflated in step with their parent star’s brightening as they evolved into the post-main sequence. Finally, we evaluate the potential to observe orbital decay in both systems.
Solar cycle prediction using a combinatorial deep learning model
Authors: Su Xu , Liang Bo , Feng Song , Cai Yunfang , Dai Wei , Yang Yunfei
Published: November 2023

The long-term prediction of the solar cycle is of great significance for aerospace, communication, and space missions. For a long time, many studies have used relatively primitive deep learning methods to predict the solar cycle, and most of them do not perform well in the long-term prediction. In this paper, we proposed XG-SN ensemble model. The model used extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) ensemble learning method, combined with sample convolution and interaction net (SCINet), and neural basis expansion analysis for the interpretable time series (N-BEATS) to make predictions for known solar cycles. 13 months of smoothed monthly total sunspot numbers were selected as the data set. The model performance was evaluated by mean absolute error (MAE), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and mean absolute time lag (MATL) between the predicted and actual values. The first two evaluation metrics measured the prediction deviation from the numerical dimension, and the last one measured the prediction deviation from the temporal dimension. The results show that the model achieves the MAE, RMSE, and MATL values of 13.19, 17.13, and 0.08, respectively, in Solar Cycle 13 to 24. Our model is able to better predict in most cycles, ensuring accurate prediction of peaks with little time lag.
The debris disc of HD 131488: bringing together thermal emission and scattered light
Authors: Pawellek Nicole , Moór Attila , Kirchschlager Florian , Milli Julien , Kóspál Ágnes , Ábrahám Péter , Marino Sebastian , Wyatt Mark , Rebollido Isabel , Hughes A Meredith , Cantalloube Faustine , Henning Thomas
Published: November 2023

We show the first SPHERE/IRDIS and IFS data of the CO-rich debris disc around HD 131488. We use N-body simulations to model both the scattered light images and the spectral energy distribution of the disc in a self-consistent way. We apply the Henyey–Greenstein approximation, Mie theory, and the Discrete Dipole Approximation to model the emission of individual dust grains. Our study shows that only when gas drag is taken into account can we find a model that is consistent with scattered light as well as thermal emission data of the disc. The models suggest a gas surface density of 2 × 10−5 M⊕ au−2 which is in agreement with estimates from ALMA observations. Thus, our modelling procedure allows us to roughly constrain the expected amount of gas in a debris disc without actual gas measurements. We also show that the shallow size distribution of the dust leads to a significant contribution of large particles to the overall amount of scattered light. The scattering phase function indicates a dust porosity of ∼0.2…0.6 which is in agreement with a pebble pile scenario for planetesimal growth.
Mitigating the effect of 1/f noise on the detection of the H i intensity mapping power spectrum from single-dish measurements
Authors: Irfan Melis O , Li Yichao , Santos Mario G , Bull Philip , Gu Junhua , Cunnington Steven , Grainge Keith , Wang Jingying
Published: November 2023

We present and compare several methods to mitigate time-correlated (1/f) noise within the H i  intensity mapping component of the MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey (MeerKLASS). By simulating scan strategies, the H i signal, foreground emissions, white and correlated noise, we assess the ability of various data-processing pipelines to recover the power spectrum of H i  brightness temperature fluctuations. We use MeerKAT pilot data to assess the level of 1/f noise expected for the MeerKLASS survey and use these measurements to create realistic levels of time-correlated noise for our simulations. We find the time-correlated noise component within the pilot data to be between 10 and 20 times higher than the white noise level at the scale of $k = 0.04 \, {\rm {Mpc}}^{-1}$. Having determined that the MeerKAT 1/f noise is partially correlated across all the frequency channels, we employ Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) as a technique to remove both the 1/f noise and Galactic foregrounds but find that over-cleaning results in the removal of H i power at large (angular and radial) scales; a power loss of 40 per cent is seen for a 3-mode SVD clean at the scale of $k = 0.04 \, {\rm {Mpc}}^{-1}$. We compare the impact of map-making using weighting by the full noise covariance (i.e. including a 1/f component), as opposed to just a simple unweighted binning, finding that including the time-correlated noise information reduces the excess power added by 1/f noise by up to 30 per cent.
ANCA-associated vasculitis—treatment standard
Authors: Chalkia Aglaia , Jayne David
Published: November 2023

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are characterized by small-vessel necrotizing inflammation, and prior to the advent of immunosuppressive therapy frequently had a fatal outcome. Treatment has transformed AAV into a relapsing/remitting disease with increased drug-related toxicities and organ damage. The use of glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide and immunosuppressives (including azathioprine, mycophenolate and methotrexate) was optimized through a sequence of clinical trials establishing a standard of care against which subsequent targeted therapies could be developed. Improved understanding of pathophysiology has supported the development of B-cell depletion and complement inhibition in granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis, and interleukin 5 inhibition for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, leading to the approval of newer agents for these conditions. There has been an increased attention on minimizing the adverse effects of treatment and on understanding the epidemiology of comorbidities in AAV. This review will focus on recent evidence from clinical trials, especially with respect to glucocorticoids, avacopan, plasma exchange, rituximab and mepolizumab, and their interpretation in the 2022 management recommendations by the European League of Associations of Rheumatology.
Adult Consequences of Repeated Nicotine Vapor Inhalation in Adolescent Rats
Authors: Gutierrez Arnold , Nguyen Jacques D , Creehan Kevin M , Grant Yanabel , Taffe Michael A
Published: November 2023

Introduction

There has been a resurgence in nicotine inhalation in adolescents due to the popularity and availability of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). Almost five times as many US high-school seniors inhale nicotine vapor daily compared with those who smoke tobacco. This study was conducted to determine the impact of repeated adolescent vapor inhalation of nicotine on behavior in adulthood.

Methods

Male and female Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to 30-minute sessions of ENDS vapor inhalation, twice daily, from post-natal day (PND) 31–40. Conditions included vapor from the propylene glycol (PG) vehicle or nicotine (30 mg/mL in the PG). Animals were assessed for effects of nicotine on open field (PND 74–105) and wheel activity (PND 126–180) and for volitional exposure to nicotine vapor (PND 285–395). Plasma nicotine and cotinine were assessed in separate groups of male and female Wistar and Sprague–Dawley rats after a single nicotine inhalation session.

Results

Group mean plasma nicotine ranged from 39 to 59 ng/mL post-session with minimal strain differences detected. Adolescent nicotine exposure enhanced sensitivity to the locomotor stimulating effects of nicotine (0.1–0.8 mg/kg, s.c.) in an open field in female rats, but didn’t change the effects of nicotine on wheel activity. Female rats exposed to nicotine (30 mg/mL) vapor as adolescents responded more vigorously than PG-exposed females to nicotine vapor in a fixed ratio 5 challenge.

Conclusions

Repeated adolescent nicotine vapor inhalation leads to enhanced liability for volitional exposure to nicotine vapor in adulthood in female rats, but minimal change in spontaneous locomotor behavior.

Implications

These results show that adolescent vaping of nicotine can lead to lasting sensitization to the effects of nicotine in adulthood, including volitional responding for nicotine vapor. Demonstration of this in a controlled animal model establishes causality in a manner not possible from longitudinal evidence in human populations. These findings further highlight the importance of decreasing adolescent nicotine exposure to e-cigarettes to reduce consumption in adulthood.
A Patchy Prohibition: Product and Flavor Substitution After the Food and Drug Administration’s Prioritized Enforcement Policy on Flavored E-cigarettes
Authors: Borowiecki Mateusz , Kim Yoonsang , Emery Sherry
Published: November 2023

Introduction

E-cigarettes have rapidly grown in use among U.S. adolescents; in response, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) engaged in an “enforcement policy on banned e-cigarette flavors” (“enforcement action”) for pod-based e-cigarettes in January 2020, which accounted for most U.S. e-cigarette sales. No literature has yet examined long-term changes in e-cigarette sales patterns changed in relation to the FDA enforcement action.

Aims and Methods

We analyzed U.S. e-cigarette sales using Nielsen retail scanner data between March 2017 and December 2021, describing e-cigarette sales trends overall, by device type, and by flavor category. We also performed joinpoint regression analysis on the sales trends to detect significant changes in the rate of change of sales over time.

Results

The FDA enforcement action was associated with a sharp initial decrease in prefilled pod dollar sales, followed by a steady increase from April 2020 through the end of 2021, growing beyond the previous maximum in August 2019. We also observed a dramatic change in the composition of flavors sold: A large decline in mint-flavored pod sales was offset by a similar increase in menthol-flavored sales. Simultaneously, disposable product sales increased nearly ten-fold from July 2019 to July 2020 before stabilizing, dominated by fruit-flavored products.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest rapid product substitution without a long-term decline in e-cigarette sales in association with the enforcement action, along with a growing dominance of youth-friendly flavors, contrasting against FDA policy goals. Our study revealed the weakness of the “patchy” enforcement action, raising concern about its unintended consequences as consumption simply shifted to other e-cigarette products.

Implications

This is the first detailed longitudinal study on e-cigarette sales trends in the United States following the FDA flavor enforcement action, with novel findings on flavor trends and their relation to policy events. We report sales overall, by product type, and by flavor category, and highlight several important trends following the action, such as the rise and persistence of disposable e-cigarettes increasingly and overwhelmingly dominated by youth-friendly flavors, and likely substitution of prefilled e-cigarette flavors without any long-term decline in sales. Our results highlight the weaknesses of “patchy” regulation and suggest the need for a more comprehensive approach to flavor regulation.
Long-term occupational exposures on disability-free survival and mortality in older adults
Authors: Alif S M , Benke G P , Kromhout H , Vermeulen R , Tran C , Ronaldson K , Walker-Bone K , Woods R , Beilin L , Tonkin A , Owen A J , McNeil J J
Published: November 2023

Background

The impact of long-term occupational exposures on health in older adults is increasingly relevant as populations age. To date, no studies have reported their impact on survival free of disability in older adults.

Aims

We aimed to investigate the association between long-term occupational exposure and disability-free survival (DFS), all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality in initially healthy older adults.

Methods

We analysed data from 12 215 healthy participants in the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study whose mean age was 75 years. Their work history was collated with the ‘ALOHA-plus JEM’ (Job Exposure Matrix) to assign occupational exposures. The primary endpoint, DFS, was a composite measure of death, dementia or persistent physical disability. The secondary endpoint, mortality, was classified according to the underlying cause. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for confounders.

Results

A total of 1835 individuals reached the DFS endpoint during the median 4.7 years follow-up period. Both ever-high and cumulative exposure to all dusts and all pesticides during a person’s working years were associated with reduced DFS. Compared to no exposure, men with high exposure to dusts and pesticides had a reduced DFS. Neither of these exposures were significantly associated with all-cause mortality. Men with high occupational exposure to solvents and women exposed to dusts experienced higher all-cause and cancer-related mortality.

Conclusions

Long-term occupational exposure to all dusts and pesticides was associated with a reduced DFS and increased mortality in community-dwelling healthy older adults.
A challenge to the evidence behind noise guidelines for UK hospitals
Authors: Hampton T , Everett S , Goldsmith E , Lee P J
Published: November 2023

Background

Teams assessing hospital noise against international guidelines regularly find that noise exceeds perceived safe levels in clinical settings. The care of sick people may be inherently noisy but recent efforts to tackle the problem propose a wider scope to identify sources and qualities of noise as well as more precision with noise recording.

Aims

We sought to challenge the scientific evidence cited in the four major documents pertaining to hospital noise in the UK to clarify if evidence of harm from noise included in guidelines is available, contemporary and of high quality.

Methods

Our team of hearing-health clinicians, acoustic scientists and acoustic engineers have conducted a narrative scoping review focused on critically appraising four of the most cited guidelines against which noise is measured in healthcare settings in the UK.

Results

There is a lack of high-quality evidence for commonly accepted consequences of noise cited in current guidelines.

Conclusions

The current evidence base for noise guidelines in a healthcare setting is largely based on subjective heterogeneous and inconclusive research. Whilst reduced noise is not disputed as potentially beneficial for patient care, further hypothesis-driven research and interventions assessing the benefits or outcomes of any such intervention should be sought to produce high-quality evidence of relevance on the clinical coalface.
Women’s Education, Autonomy, and Reproductive Behaviour: Experience from Developing Countries
Authors: Jejeebhoy Shireen J
Published: November 2023

Women's access to education has been recognized as a fundamental right. At the national level, educating women results in improved productivity, income, and economic development, as well as a better quality of life, notably a healthier and better nourished population. It is important for all kinds of demographic behaviour, affecting mortality, health, fertility, and contraception, The personal benefits that women attach to education vary widely according to region, culture, and level of devlopment, but it is clear that educaiton empowers women, providing them with increased autonomy and resulting in almost every context in fewer children. Beyond these few general assertions, however, there is little consensus on such issues as how much education is required before changes in autonomy or reproductive behaviour occur; whether the education-autonomy relationship exists in all cultural contexts, at all times, and at all levels of development; and which aspects of autonomy are important in the relationship between education and fertility. It is in the need to address these fundamental issues that this book took shape. The author reviews the considerable evidence about education and fertility in the developing world that has emerged over the last twenty years, and then passes beyond the limits of previous studies to address three major questions: BL Does increased education always lead to a decrease in the number of children, or is there a threshold level of education that a woman must achieve before this inverse relationship becomes apparent? BL What are the critical pathways influencing the relationship of women's education to fertility? Is fertility affected because education leads to changes in the duration of breast-feeding? Because it raises the age at marriage? Because it increases the practice of contraception? Or because education reduces women's preferences for large numbers of children? BL Do improvements in education empower women in other areas of life, such as their improving exposure to information, decision-making, control of resources, or confidence in dealing with family and the outside world? Supported by full documentation of the available survey data, this study concludes that such contextual factors as the overall level of socio-economic development and the situation of women in traditional kinship structures complicate the general assumptions about the interrelationships between education, fertility, and female autonomy. It lays out the policy implications of these findings and fruitful directions for future research.
Anthriscus sylvestris Deoxypodophyllotoxin Synthase Involved in the Podophyllotoxin Biosynthesis
Authors: Kobayashi Keisuke , Yamamura Masaomi , Mikami Bunzo , Shiraishi Akira , Kumatani Masato , Satake Honoo , Ono Eiichiro , Umezawa Toshiaki
Published: November 2023

Tetrahydrofuran ring formation from dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans is a key step in the biosynthesis of aryltetralin lignans including deoxypodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxin. Previously, Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) from Podophyllum hexandrum (Himalayan mayapple, Berberidaceae) was found to catalyze the cyclization of a dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan, yatein, to give deoxypodophyllotoxin and designated as deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase (DPS). Recently, we reported that the biosynthesis of deoxypodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxin evolved in a lineage-specific manner in phylogenetically unrelated plant species such as P. hexandrum and Anthriscus sylvestris (cow parsley, Apiaceae). Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of DPSs that catalyze the cyclization of yatein to deoxypodophyllotoxin in various plant species is important. However, for plant species other than P. hexandrum, the isolation of the DPS enzyme gene and the type of the enzyme, e.g. whether it is 2-ODD or another type of enzyme such as cytochrome P-450, have not been reported. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of A. sylvestris DPS (AsDPS). Phylogenetic analysis showed that AsDPS belonged to the 2-ODD superfamily and shared moderate amino acid sequence identity (40.8%) with P. hexandrum deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase (PhDPS). Recombinant protein assay indicated that AsDPS and PhDPS differ in terms of the selectivity of substrate enantiomers. Protein modeling using AlphaFold2 and site-directed mutagenesis indicated that the Tyr305 residue of AsDPS probably contributes to substrate recognition. This study advances our understanding of the podophyllotoxin biosynthetic pathway in A. sylvestris and provides new insight into 2-ODD involved in plant secondary (specialized) metabolism.
Arabidopsis CML13 and CML14 Have Essential and Overlapping Roles in Plant Development
Authors: Symonds Kyle , Teresinski Howard , Hau Bryan , Chiasson David , Benidickson Kirsten , Plaxton William , Snedden Wayne A
Published: November 2023

Calmodulin (CaM)-like proteins (CMLs) are the largest family of calcium-binding proteins in plants, yet the functions of most CMLs are unknown. Arabidopsis CML13 and CML14 are closely related paralogs that interact with the isoleucine–glutamine (IQ) domains of myosins, IQ-domain proteins and CaM-binding transcription activators (CAMTAs). Here, we explored the physiological roles of CML13 and CML14 during development by using dexamethasone (Dex)-inducible RNA silencing to suppress either CML13 or CML14 transcript levels. In the absence of inducible suppression, CML13- and CML14-RNA-interference lines were indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) plants throughout development. In contrast, induction of silencing treatment led to rapid increases in RNA-hairpin production that correlated with a targeted reduction in CML13 or CML14 transcript levels and a range of developmental and morphological effects. RNA-suppression treatment did not impair the germination of CML13- or 14-RNA-interference lines, but these seedlings were chlorotic, displayed high mortality and failed to achieve seedling establishment. Under Dex treatment, seeds of CML13- and CML14-RNA-interference lines exhibited differential sensitivity to exogenous ABA compared to WT seeds. Induced RNA suppression of mature plants led to reduced silique length, shorter roots and rapid leaf senescence in CML13- and 14-RNA-interference plants, which correlated with increased gene expression of the senescence marker Senescence-Associated Gene13 (SAG13). Plants induced for RNA suppression at 2 weeks post-germination exhibited a much stronger phenotype than treatment of 3-, 4- or 5-week-old plants. Collectively, our data indicate that both CML13 and CML14 are essential for normal development and function across a broad range of tissues and developmental stages.
A Carbonic Anhydrase, ZmCA4, Contributes to Photosynthetic Efficiency and Modulates CO2 Signaling Gene Expression by Interacting with Aquaporin ZmPIP2;6 in Maize
Authors: Zhou Lian , Xiang Xiaoqin , Ji Dongpu , Chen Qiulan , Ma Tengfei , Wang Jiuguang , Liu Chaoxian
Published: November 2023

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) catalyzes the reversible CO2 hydration reaction that produces bicarbonate for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC). This is the initial step for transmitting the CO2 signal in C4 photosynthesis. However, it remains unknown whether the maize (Zea mays L.) CA gene, ZmCA4, plays a role in the maize photosynthesis process. In our study, we found that ZmCA4 was relatively highly expressed in leaves and localized in the chloroplast and the plasma membrane of mesophyll protoplasts. Knock-out of ZmCA4 reduced CA activity, while overexpression of ZmCA4 increased rubisco activity, as well as the quantum yield and relative electron transport rate in photosystem II. Overexpression of ZmCA4 enhanced maize yield–related traits. Moreover, ZmCA4 interacted with aquaporin ZmPIP2;6 in bimolecular fluorescence complementation and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. The double-knock-out mutant for ZmPIP2;6 and ZmCA4 genes showed reductions in its growth, CA and PEPC activities, assimilation rate and photosystem activity. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that the expression of other ZmCAs, ZmPIPs, as well as CO2 signaling pathway homologous genes, and photosynthetic-related genes was all altered in the double-knock-out mutant compared with the wild type. Altogether, our study’s findings point to a critical role of ZmCA4 in determining photosynthetic capacity and modulating CO2 signaling regulation via its interaction with ZmPIP2;6, thus providing insight into the potential genetic value of ZmCA4 for maize yield improvement.
A meta-analysis of distance measurements to M87
Authors: Ramakrishnan Gunasekar , Desai Shantanu
Published: November 2023

We obtain the median-, the arithmetic mean–, and the weighted mean–based central estimates for the distance to M87 using all the measurements collated in literature. We then reconstruct the error distribution for the residuals of the combined measurements and also split them based on the tracers used. We then check for consistency with a Gaussian distribution and other symmetric distributions such as Cauchy, Laplacian, and Student’s-t distributions. We find that when we analyze the combined data, the weighted mean–based estimates show a poor agreement with the Gaussian distribution, indicating that there are unaccounted systematic errors in some of the measurements. Therefore, the median-based estimate for the distance to M87 would be the most robust. This median-based distance modulus to M87 is given by 31.08 ± 0.09 mag and 31.07 ± 0.09 mag, with and without considering measurements categorized as “averages,” respectively.
Negative back beliefs are associated with increased odds of low back pain and disability: a 10-year cohort study in men
Authors: Estee Mahnuma M , Wang YuanYuan , Heritier Stephane , Urquhart Donna M , Cicuttini Flavia M , Kotowicz Mark A , Brennan-Olsen Sharon L , Pasco Julie A , Wluka Anita E
Published: November 2023

Objective

Although negative back beliefs are associated with high-intensity low back pain (LBP)/disability, whether they influence incident high-intensity LBP/high disability over the long-term is unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether negative back beliefs were associated with developing high-intensity LBP and/or high disability over 10 years in men.

Methods

Men with no or low-intensity LBP and/or disability attending the Geelong Osteoporosis Study between 2006 and 2010 were included. Data on age, body mass index, mobility, education, back beliefs (Back Beliefs Questionnaire), LBP and disability (Graded Chronic Pain Scale) were collected between 2006 and 2010. Beliefs, LBP and disability were re-assessed in 2016–2021. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between negative back beliefs and incident high-intensity pain and/or high disability, adjusting for age, body mass index, mobility and education.

Results

At baseline, 705 participants (mean age 53.8 years) had no or low LBP and no or low disability; 441 (62.6%) participants completed a 10-year follow-up. Of these, 37 (8.4%) developed high-intensity pain and/or high disability. In multivariate analyses, participants with more negative back beliefs at baseline were more likely to develop high-intensity pain and/or high disability (odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.11). Developing more negative back beliefs was also associated with incident high-intensity pain and/or high disability (odds ratio 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.30).

Conclusion

In a male community-based population, negative beliefs regarding the consequences of LBP were associated with an increased likelihood of developing high-intensity pain and/or high disability. Addressing negative back beliefs in the community may reduce the incidence of high-intensity pain and/or high disability over 10 years in men.
Relapse after cessation of weekly tocilizumab for giant cell arteritis: a multicentre service evaluation in England
Authors: Quick Vanessa , Abusalameh Mahdi , Ahmed Sajeel , Alkoky Hoda , Bukhari Marwan , Carter Stuart , Coath Fiona L , Davidson Brian , Doddamani Parveen , Dubey Shirish , Ducker Georgina , Griffiths Bridget , Gullick Nicola , Heaney Jonathan , Holloway Amelia , Htut Ei Ei Phyu , Hughes Mark , Irvine Hannah , Kinder Alison , Kurshid Asim , Lim Joyce , Ludwig Dalia R , Malik Mariam , Mercer Louise , Mulhearn Ben , Nair Jagdish R , Patel Rikesh , Robson Joanna , Saha Pratyasha , Tansley Sarah ,   the TOC STOP 2022 Investigators, Ahmed Saad , Atchia Ismael , Bluett James , Connew Alex , Coulson Elizabeth , Crawshaw Helena , Davies Ursula , De Lord Denise , Dulay Gurdeep , Embuldeniya Amanda , Fonseca Carmen , Galloway James , Gubbins William , Guruparan Thushyanthan , Heaton Rebecca , James Martin , Janagan Shalini , Johnson Hilary , Karim Areej , Khalid Salema , Kinsey Kath , Koduri Gouri , Linton Stuart , MacPhie Elizabeth , Mahto Arti , Mukhtyar Chetan , Nandagudi Anupama C , Nandi Pradip , Osman Fathelrahman , Plumb Sophie , Quinlan Eavan , Redfern Angela , Regan Marian , Reid Vanessa , Roy Dipak , Saeed Sadaf , Smith Abbey , Steel Lauren , Thomas Rhys , Ugwoke Adaeze , Villar Sarah , Williams Emma , Wood Fiona , Xie Mingrui , Mackie Sarah L
Published: November 2023

Objectives

The National Health Service in England funds 12 months of weekly s.c. tocilizumab (qwTCZ) for patients with relapsing or refractory GCA. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some patients were allowed longer treatment. We sought to describe what happened to patients after cessation of qwTCZ.

Methods

Multicentre service evaluation of relapse after stopping qwTCZ for GCA. The log-rank test was used to identify significant differences in time to relapse.

Results

A total of 336 GCA patients were analysed from 40 centres, treated with qwTCZ for a median [interquartile range (IQR)] of 12 (12–17) months. At time of stopping qwTCZ, median (IQR) prednisolone dose was 2 (0–5) mg/day. By 6, 12 and 24 months after stopping qwTCZ, 21.4%, 35.4% and 48.6%, respectively, had relapsed, requiring an increase in prednisolone dose to a median (IQR) of 20 (10–40) mg/day. 33.6% relapsers had a major relapse as defined by EULAR. Time to relapse was shorter in those that had previously also relapsed during qwTCZ treatment (P = 0.0017), in those not in remission at qwTCZ cessation (P = 0.0036) and in those with large vessel involvement on imaging (P = 0.0296). Age ≥65 years, gender, GCA-related sight loss, qwTCZ treatment duration, TCZ taper, prednisolone dosing and conventional synthetic DMARD use were not associated with time to relapse.

Conclusion

Up to half our patients with GCA relapsed after stopping qwTCZ, often requiring a substantial increase in prednisolone dose. One-third of relapsers had a major relapse. Extended use of TCZ or repeat treatment for relapse should be considered for these patients.
Promoting Competence in Nursing and Pharmacy Interprofessional Collaboration Through Telehealth Simulation
Authors: Davis Rebecca G. , Smith Miranda M.
Published: November 2023

Competence in interprofessional collaboration is essential for safe patient outcomes. This study examined the impact of an interprofessional telehealth pharmacology simulation on prelicensure nursing and pharmacy students’ perceptions of interprofessional roles. A pretest-posttest design was used to compare participants’ perceptions of interprofessional roles prior to and following the simulation. Data were collected using the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS). Paired-samples t-tests showed statistically significant increases in scores for both the full IEPS (n = 99) and two subscales, Competency and Autonomy (n = 99) and Perception of Actual Cooperation (n = 99). Nurse educators should provide regular interprofessional experiences to foster learners’ competence in interprofessional collaboration and communication.
Patient outcomes of conventional versus robot assisted total hip arthroplasty
Authors: Karlin Elan , Lee Ji Won , Sanghavi Kavya , Boucher Henry
Published: November 2023

Background:

Robotic assisted (RA) total hip arthroplasty (THA) may provide improved precision and accuracy; however, contention remains on whether RA THA provides better patient outcomes than conventional THA. This study compares short-term clinical outcomes, complication rates, and operative times between these two groups.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed charts for demographic data, comorbidities, operating time, revisions, and complications of patients who underwent RA and conventional THA. Patient-reported outcomes were collected via OBERD database at the following timepoints: preoperatively, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year postoperatively. Descriptive statistics and mixed multivariate regression analyses were used to analyze data.

Results:

Two hundred ten patients were included (n=149 conventional, n=61 RA). Patients with RA THAs were younger than those with conventional THAs (59 years, IQR: 53-66 and 64 years, IQR: 58-71; P=.002). The operative time was longer for the RA compared to the conventional group (106 minutes, IQR: 92-120 and 92 minutes, IQR: 82-109, respectively, P=< .001). There was no statistically significant difference in SF-12 mental scores, SF-12 physical scores, or OHS between RA and conventional THA at different timepoints. Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference in complication and revision rates between the two groups.

Conclusion:

Our findings demonstrated that there were no statistically significant differences in patient-reported outcomes between the RA versus conventional THA groups. Furthermore, our findings suggest a lack of significant differences in complication or revision rates. Surgeons performing robot-assisted surgeries for hip replacements can reasonably expect patient outcomes that are, at a minimum, as successful as the conventional counterparts.
Dual targeting of Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 to overcome chemoresistance in cervical and colon cancer
Authors: Wang Ling , Xi Changlei , Liu Rong , Ye Tingting , Xiang Ning , Deng Jinfang , Li Hui
Published: November 2023

After an initial positive response to chemotherapy, cancer patients often become resistant and experience relapse. Our previous research identified eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) as a crucial target to overcome chemoresistance. In this study, we delved further into the role and therapeutic potential of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), an eIF4E-mediated target, in chemoresistance. We showed that the levels of phosphor and total eIF4E, as well as Mcl-1, were elevated in chemoresistant cervical but not colon cancer cells. Mcl-1 inhibitor S64315 decreased Mcl-1 levels in chemoresistant cancer cells, regardless of Mcl-1 upregulation, decreased viability in chemoresistant cancer cells and acted synergistically with chemotherapy drugs. The combined inhibition of Mcl-1 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), employing both genetic and pharmacological approaches, led to a markedly more substantial decrease in viability compared with the inhibition of either target individually. The combination of S64315 and Bcl-2 inhibitors reduced tumor growth in chemoresistant cervical and colon cancer models without causing general toxicity in mice. This combination also prolonged overall survival compared with using S64315 or venetoclax alone. Our research highlights the therapeutic potential of inhibiting Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 simultaneously in chemoresistant cancers and provides a rationale for initiating clinical trials to investigate the combination of S64315 and venetoclax for the treatment of advanced colon and cervical cancer.
Research progress of acupuncture analgesia based on autonomic nerve regulation pathway
Authors: Pang Lina , Chen Xiaomei , Lan Yanyan , Huang Qiuling , Yu Xiangmei , Qi Lu , Wang Zhifu
Published: November 2023

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) includes the sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric nervous systems, and its senior regulatory center includes the brainstem, cingulate gyrus, and hypothalamus. Acupuncture can affect visceral, vascular, and glandular functions via the autonomic nervous regulatory pathway. In this paper, the relationship between pain and autonomic nervous function, the application of acupuncture guided by the autonomic nervous system, and the basis and clinical research on acupuncture analgesia are reviewed.
OCTess: An Optical Character Recognition Algorithm for Automated Data Extraction of Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Reports
Authors: Balas Michael , Herman Josh , Bhambra Nishaant (Shaan) , Longwell Jack , Popovic Marko M , Melo Isabela M , Muni Rajeev H
Published: November 2023

Purpose:

Manual extraction of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) reports is time- and resource-intensive. This study aimed to develop an optical character recognition (OCR) algorithm for automated data extraction from Cirrus SD-OCT macular cube reports.

Methods:

SD-OCT monocular macular cube reports (n=675) were randomly selected from a single-center database of patients from 2020-2023. Image processing and bounding box operations were performed, and Tesseract (an OCR library) was used to develop the algorithm, OCTess. The algorithm was validated using a separate test dataset.

Results:

The long short-term memory (LSTM) deep learning version of Tesseract achieved the best performance. After re-verifying all discrepancies between human and algorithmic data extractions, OCTess achieved accuracies of 100.00% and 99.98% in the training (n=125) and testing (n=550) datasets, while the human error rate was 1.11% (98.89% accuracy) and 0.49% (99.51% accuracy) in each, respectively. OCTess extracted data in 3.1 seconds, compared to 94.3 seconds for human evaluators.

Conclusion:

We developed an OCR and machine learning algorithm that extracts SD-OCT data with near-perfect accuracy, which is more accurate and efficient compared to a human. This algorithm can be used for efficient construction of large-scale SD-OCT datasets for researchers and clinicians.
Longitudinal Relationships Between Heart Failure Self-care and All-Cause Hospital Readmissions
Authors: Freedland Kenneth E. , Skala Judith A. , Steinmeyer Brian C. , Chen Ling , Carney Robert M. , Rich Michael W.
Published: November 2023

Background

Many patients with heart failure (HF) are repeatedly hospitalized. Heart failure self-care may reduce readmission rates. Hospitalizations may also affect self-care.

Objective

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to test the hypotheses that better HF self-care is associated with a lower rate of all-cause readmissions and that readmissions motivate patients to improve their self-care.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of patients with HF (N = 400) who were enrolled during a stay at an urban teaching hospital between 2014 and 2016. The Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v6.2 was administered during the hospital stay, along with other questionnaires, and repeated at 6-month intervals after discharge. All-cause readmissions and deaths were ascertained for 24 months.

Results

A total of 333 (83.3%) were readmitted at least once, and 117 (29.3%) of the patients died during the follow-up period. A total of 1581 readmissions were ascertained. Higher Self-Care of Heart Failure Index Maintenance scores predicted more rather than fewer readmissions (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.17; P < .01). Conversely, more readmissions predicted higher Maintenance scores (b = 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.02–0.56; P < .05).

Conclusions

These findings do not support the hypothesis that HF self-care maintenance or management helps to reduce the rate of all-cause readmissions, but they do suggest that the experience of multiple readmissions may help to motivate improvements in HF self-care.
Mortality Risk After a Major Cancer Surgery Is Associated With Preoperative Exposure to Air Pollution
Authors: Oh Tak Kyu , Song In-Ae
Published: November 2023

Objective

The aim of the study is to examine whether preoprerative exposure to air pollution is associated with mortality after a major cancer surgery.

Methods

All patients who underwent major cancer surgeries after hospitalization between January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020, were included.

Results

In total, 244,766 patients who underwent major cancer surgeries were included. Both 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide and 0.1-ppm increase in carbon monoxide were associated with a 7% increase in 90-day mortality rate after a major cancer surgery. Furthermore, a 0.001-ppm increase in sulfur dioxide, 0.1 ppm increase in carbon monoxide, and 1 μg/m3 increase in particulate matter 2.5 were associated with a 4%, 3%, and 1% increase in 1-year all-cause mortality rate after a major cancer surgery.

Conclusions

Preoperative exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients after major cancer surgery.
Review of molecular biological research on the treatment of membranous nephropathy with Tripterygium glycosides based on TCM theory
Authors: Xu Pengyu , Fu Guangchu , Zhao Haishen , Wang Manya , Ye Hong , Shi Kejun , Zang Pin , Su Xubo
Published: November 2023

To explore the mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP) in the treatment of membranous nephropathy (MN) by network pharmacology. TCMSP and DrugBank databases were used to screen the main targets of the main active components of Tripterygium glycosides, and OMIM and Gene Cards databases were used to search the gene targets of MN. UniProt database was used to normalize all the targets to get the intersection targets of TGs and MNs. Synergistic genes were uploaded to the STRING platform to construct a protein-protein interaction network and screen related core targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Genome Encyclopedia analyses of core targets were performed using the DAVID database. AutoDockTools software was used to verify the molecular docking between the active components of TGs and the synergistic genes. We identified 126 potential targets for the active component of Tripterygium glycosides, 584 MN-associated disease targets, and 28 co-acting genes. It mainly involves AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, NF-kappa B signaling pathway and other pathways and biological pathways in diabetic complications. The active component of that Tripterygium glycosides and the active site of the synergistic core target can the bond energy is less than −5kJ/mol. Tripterygium glycosides can regulate the release of inflammatory factors to treat MN through multiple active components, multiple disease targets, multiple biological pathways and multiple pathways, which provides a basis for broadening the clinical use of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of MN.