bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-world survival of model-3501 subcutaneous implantable defibrillator lead
Authors: Viani S , Segreti L , Ottaviano L , Biffi M , Nigro G , Ricciardi G , Francia P , D’onofrio A , Bisignani G , Dello Russo A , De Filippo P , Solimene F , Scalone A , Botto G , Migliore F
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

In December 2020, the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) lead model-3501 was subject to a safety notification because of increased risk of fracture at a location just distal to the proximal sense ring. The manufacturer’s product performance report currently reports a lead survival probability of 98.8% at 45 months. However, no multicenter long-term performance information exists for this lead.

Purpose

Our aim was to assess the longevity of model-3501 leads and to compare it with that of the previous model-3401.

Methods

This analysis included consecutive patients who received an S-ICD with a model-3501 or a model-3401 lead at 66 Italian participating centers of the Rhythm Detect registry. A lead failed if it required extraction/replacement because of abnormalities suggestive of a structural defect, e.g. out-of-range impedance, nonphysiological electrical noise or ineffective therapy.

Results

From January 2013 to July 2021, 2403 patients were implanted and followed up (78% male, age 49±15years, ejection fraction 45±16%, body mass index 26±4Kg/m2). A 3501-model lead was used in 1697 patients and a 3401-model in 706 patients. During a median follow-up of 38 months [25th–75th percentile: 24-55], we detected 4 malfunctioning model-3501 leads and 2 model-3401 leads. After analysis of the returned leads by the manufacturer’s technical services, a single model-3501 lead failure was a fracture distal to the proximal ring electrode, as described in the manufacturer’s advisory letter. No deaths or permanent injuries occurred as a result of lead failures. The survival of 3501-model leads at 4 years was 99.5% (95% confidence interval, 99.0 to 99.9) compared with 99.9% (95% confidence interval, 99.6 to 100.0) of 3401-model leads (p=0.110). The cumulative occurrence rate of the 3501-model safety notification fracture was 0.1% (95% confidence interval, 0.0 to 0.3).

Conclusions

In this large multicenter analysis, the survival probability of model-3501 S-ICD leads was in line with that reported by the manufacturer, was not significantly lower than that of 3401-model leads (not affected by a safety notification), and still higher than that reported with transvenous leads. Although an enhanced electrode is now available, which addresses the potential for electrode body fracture, the present findings are reassuring and may have significant implications for the management of patients who have affected leads.
Association between right ventricular dysfunction and appropriate icd therapy
Authors: Chiba T , Kajiyama T , Yutaka Y , Ryuzaki S , Sugawara M , Kitagawa M , Ito R , Nakano M , Nakano M , Kondo Y , Kobayashi Y
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) as right ventricular function is recently referred as an independent predictor of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of RVFAC and appropriate ICD therapy in order to determine the cut-off value of RVFAC.

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent initial ICD implantation for any diseases except for non-dilated phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and channelopathy were retrospectively enrolled from 2012 to 2018. Primary endpoint was an initial appropriate ICD therapy. Transthoracic echocardiographic parameters before ICD implantation were evaluated by one physician and one echocardiologist to be validated. Right ventricular dimensions and function were also measured to be analyzed.

Results

In total, 172 patients (60.3±13.6 years, 131 males) including 63 ischemic cardiomyopathy were enrolled. Ninety patients received an ICD as a secondary prophylaxis. Mean LVEF and RVFAC were 38.3±14.3% and 35.8±8.82%, respectively. There was little correlation between RVFAC and LVEF (correlation coefficient =0.274). Regarding appropriate ICD therapy events, the best cut-off value of RVFAC was 34.8%. The odds ratio of low RVFAC was 2.731 (95%CI: 1.456-5.121, P=0.00174). Secondary prophylactic cohort with low RVFAC showed highest incidence of appropriate ICD therapy as shown in the figure. In multivariate analysis, only low RVFAC is an independent predictor of appropriate ICD therapy (HR: 3.53, 95%CI:1.78- 6.99, P=0.0003).

Conclusion

Low RVFAC seemed independently associated with increased appropriate ICD therapy.
Accuracy of non-invasive anatomical lead localization in CRT patients: BSPM vs 12-lead ECG
Authors: Sedova K , Van Dam P , Blahova M , Necasova L , Sramko M , Kautzner J
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Grant agency AZV, Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic

Background

Non-invasive, inverse ECG (iECG), estimating the cardiac activation from ECG signals, may be useful both to support CRT implant and optimization. However, most iECG strategies require a 32-250 electrode body surface potential mapping (BSPM), limiting their clinical utility.

Objective

This proof of concept study evaluates the accuracy of our novel PaceView iECG method to localize the LV/RV pacemaker lead to the cardiac anatomy using either a 96-electrode BSPM or the 12-lead ECG.

Methods

PaceView generates activation sequences in combination with the equivalent double layer source model to simulate the corresponding ECG signals. An initial activation sequence is iteratively optimized to match simulated and measured ECG signals. A BSPM with 96 electrodes and CT were recorded for every patient with implanted CRT. The CT was used to create patient-specific heart/torso model and to localize the ECG electrodes and CRT leads. From a BSPM, 9 signals were selected to obtain the 12-lead ECG. Both BSPM and 12-lead ECG were used to localize the RV/LV lead as the earliest ventricular activation site.

Results

In this study 14 consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy were enrolled: mean age 58±9 years, 7 females. The localization error for the RV/LV lead was 10.4±5.4 (max 22) / 11.3±5.5 (max 20.4) mm using the 12 lead ECG and 11.7±6.1 (max 26.2) / 13.5±5.8 (max 24.5) mm for the BSPM. The time used for a 3D activation map computation was 0.9-1.8 s.

Conclusion

Our preliminary results show that the non-invasive lead localization error, using the 12-lead ECG, is small and comparable with a 96-lead BSPM. Therefore PaceView might be clinically beneficial, by actively localizing the LV/RV pacing sites during CRT implant, and optimize AV or VV delays at CRT follow-ups.
ELECTRa Registry Outcome Score (EROS): validation in a single center population
Authors: Segreti L , Fiorentini F , Giannotti Santoro M , Barletta V , Zucchelli G , Di Cori A , De Lucia R , Canu A , Viani S , Paperini L , Cellamaro T , Soldati E , Carluccio M , Branchitta G , Bongiorni MG
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

The ELECTRa Registry Outcome Score (EROS) was developed to identify patients at increased transvenous lead extraction (TLE) risk

Purpose

Aim of the study is to explore the efficiency of EROS for stratifying patients undergoing TLE.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of 1293 patients who underwent to TLE in our center. We performed extraction procedures with manual traction or mechanical dilatation. We calculated EROS, and we divided patients into 3 groups depending on the EROS class. For this purpose, we made statistical analysis and comparison between EROS 1+2 vs. EROS 3 groups. We used an X2 for among-group comparisons or Fisher’s exact test if the expected cell count was less than five.

Results

Our analysis included 1293 patients. EROS-1 counted 726 patients (56,1%), EROS-2 367 (28,4%) patients and EROS-3 200 (15,5%) patients. There was no statistical difference in peri-procedural death between EROS-1+2 and EROS-3 (0.18% vs 1.50%, p=0.134). Major complications (0.82% vs. 3.00%, p=0.014), minor complications (3.11% vs. 6.50%, p=0.019) and use of internal jugular approach (6.13% vs. 14.50%, p<0.001) was significantly higher in EROS 3 patients.

Conclusion

EROS effectively separates patients at higher risk of complications. Use of internal jugular approach was significantly higher in EROS 3 patients.
Transvenous lead extraction: safety and efficacy of local anesthesia
Authors: Fiorentini F , Segreti L , Giannotti Santoro M , Viani S , Zucchelli G , Di Cori A , De Lucia R , Grifoni G , Paperini L , Soldati E , Barletta V , Canu A , Della Volpe S , Mazzocchetti L , Bongiorni MG
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Introduction

Patients undergoing transvenous lead extraction (TLE) usually receive general anesthesia, although in our experience local anesthesia is a frequent alternative.

Purpose

We sought to verify safety and effectiveness of local anesthesia in patients undergoing tranvenous lead extraction (TLE).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent to TLE in our center was performed. 1293 patients were divided in three groups depending on EROS class and comparisons were made in each group depending on type of anesthesia. Lead extraction was performed by manual traction or mechanical dilatation and use of transjugular approach was evaluated on case-by-case.

Results

In the EROS 1 group (726 pts.) 559 (77%) receive local anesthesia, in the EROS 2 (367 pts.) 252 (69%) and in the EROS 3 (200 pts.) 73 (36%). There was no differences in total complications (EROS 1 3.76% vs 2.99%, p=0.814, EROS 2 4.76% vs 5.21%, p=0.851, EROS 3 5.48% vs 11.81%, p=0.210) and clinical success (EROS 1 98.75% vs 99.40%, p=0.689, EROS 2 98.41% vs 94.78%, p=0.077, EROS 3 80.82% vs 85.04%, p=0.439) between local and general anesthesia throughout the groups; use of internal jugular approach was significantly higher in EROS 2 patients undergoing general anesthesia (4.76% vs 11.30%, p=0.021), while in EROS 1 and 3 patients this difference was not statistically significant (EROS 1 5.01% vs 8.38%, p= 0.101, EROS 3 8,22% vs 18,11%, p=0.056).

Conclusion

These results suggest that local anesthesia in patients undergoing transvenous lead extraction does not affect procedural outcomes and safety. Complex procedures with the need for internal jugular approach may drive this choice with preference for general anesthesia.
Risk of pericardiac effusion after cardiac implantable electronic device implantation a nationwide study
Authors: Zhou Y , Haxha S , Torp-Pedersen C , Philbert B , Nielsen O W , Sajadieh A , Koeber L , Gislason G H , Bang C N
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Procedural pericardiac effusion (PE) is considered a major complication to implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), including permanent pacemakers (PM), cardiac resynchronization therapy devices with defibrillators (CRT-D) or without (CRT-P), and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), as it can cause life threatening cardiac tamponade. Very little is known about risk factors for procedural PE.

Aim

To identify the patient- and procedure related risk factors associated with clinically relevant procedural PE.

Methods & Results

This is a nationwide retrospective observational cohort study based on data on 51.599 patients from the Danish Pacemaker Register. Included were all Danish patients who received their first PM, CRT or ICD from 2000 – 2018. Procedural PE was defined related to the invasive procedure if it occurred within 1 months after the invasive procedure and no cancer was diagnosed before the procedure. Pre-specified risk factors, including sex, age, year, implantation center-type and device type were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the association with PE. A total of 78 (0.2%) patients were diagnosed with procedural PE, with a median age of 73 years and 43% were females. In adjusted logistic regression analysis age > 70, heart failure [aOR 1.64 (1.01;2.67)], ischemic heart disease [aOR 1.84 (1.13;2.99)], direct oral anticoagulation [aOR 1.77 (1.13–2.77.)], amiodarone use [aOR 3.03 (1.75–5.22)], beta blocking agent [aOR 2.26 (1.23 –4.14)], university hospitals [aOR 2.59 (1.18 –5.67)] and PM implantation [aOR 3.38 (1.77;6.45)], were associated with PE.

Conclusion

Procedural PE is a rare complication after CIED implantation in Denmark. Importantly most of the risk factors for PE are modifiable. Optimizing the modifiable risk factors may reduce the risk of complication.
Predictors of all-cause mortality for patients undergoing transvenous lead extraction
Authors: Azari A , Kristjansdottir I , Gatti P , Gadler F
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Risk assessment of TLE patients may be challenging due to incomplete knowledge about possible risk factors for post-TLE outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of 30-day and 1-year mortality in a large retrospective series of patients undergoing TLE at a high-volume centre.

Methods

Medical journals of 893 consecutive patients undergoing TLE between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018 were analysed. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors.

Results

A total of 893 patients were identified. Local infection was the dominant TLE indication (40.5%), and pacemaker was the most common CIED (49.4%). Mean age was 65 + 16 years and 73.0% were males. The median follow up was 3.9 years (IQR, 2.0-6.4 years). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common microorganism found in blood cultures of the systemic infection group (39.9%). A total of 179 (69.4%) systemic infection patients had vegetations on echocardiography, where majority engaged the lead(s). The 30-day and 1 year mortality rates were 2.5% (86.4% had systemic infection) and 9.7% (64.4% had systemic infection), respectively. Per-procedural mortality occurred in 1 patient with systemic infection. Significant predictors of 30-day mortality were low haemoglobin, systemic infection as TLE-indication, clinical frailty scales (CFS) 5-7 and stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). In case of 1-year mortality, age, CRT-P/D (vs ICD), reduced ejection fraction, anaemia, BMI <25 kg/m2, CFS 4-7 and CKD stages 3-5 were identified as significant predictors. In the systemic infection subgroup, elevated white blood cell (WBC) count was associated with 30-day and 1 year mortality. Additionally CRP interval 200-300, low WBC count and WBC interval 8.8-15 correlated signigicantly with 1-year mortality within the systemic infection cohort. In the local infection subgroup, a significant correlation between CRP interval 100-150 and 1-year mortality was found.

Conclusions

Systemic infection as TLE-indication carries a high 30-days post-TLE all-cause mortality rate and is significantly correlated with short and long-term mortality, where elevated inflammatory parameters carried additional mortality risk in this subgroup. Anaemia, chronic kidney disease, CRT compared to ICD, reduced EF and patient-related features as high clinical frailty scale levels and BMI <25 kg/m2 predicted worse prognosis in the entire TLE-cohort.
Conduction system pacing in the adult congenital population; feasibility and outcomes
Authors: Riad O , Hunnybun D , O’connor M , Shi R , Cantor E , Jarman J , Foran J , Markides V , Gatzoulis M , Wong T
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Left bundle pacing (LBP) is an evolving pacing method designed to capture the intrinsic conduction and minimise ventricular dys- synchrony. Anatomical complexity, scars of previous corrective surgeries and haemodynamic properties of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population could increase challenges of LBP. We describe our experience in LBP in ACHD patients and different patient groups.

Purpose

To compare the feasibility of LBP in ACHD patient population and non-ACHD patients.

Methods

We included all patients who had LBP at our institution in 2020 and 2021. Demographic data, imaging data, procedural parameters and follow up data were collected and analysed.

Results

A total of 36 patients were included and divided into two groups: ACHD (n=8, mean age, 54 years, 38% females) and non-ACHD (n=28, mean age, 74 years, 43% females). ACHD anatomy included simple lesions (4) as atrial and ventricular septal defects, partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, bicuspid aortic valve and Shone’s syndrome, moderate (3), as Tetralogy of Fallot with surgical repair, and complex (1), as transposition of great arteries with Mustard repair. Non-ACHD included patients with structurally normal heart, dilated cardiomyopathy, and those who underwent mitral and aortic valve interventions. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction in ACHD group was 59.5%, and 57.5% in non-ACHD. Late gadolinium enhancement in basal septal area was present in 5 patients in ACHD group. Acute success rate, defined as capture of left bundle branch, was 100% in ACHD group, and 88% in non-ACHD. No acute complications were recorded in both groups. Mean pre-procedural QRS duration was longer in ACHD group (170 ms, vs, 120, p=<0.001). Mean reduction in QRS duration in ACHD group was 27 ms, vs, 15, p= 0.856. Mean procedural and fluoroscopy times were similar in both groups (ACHD, 75.5 minutes, vs, 70, p= 0.26, and ACHD, 9 minutes, vs 7.13, respectively, p= 0.46). Pacing parameters at implantation and after 2 months were satisfactory in both groups (Fig 1).

Conclusion

Left bundle pacing is feasible in ACHD population as compared to non-ACHD patients, with low incidence of complications. Procedural and fluoroscopic times were similar in both groups. Pacing parameters were satisfactory and stable over 2 month-follow up.
Free-breathing joint bright- and black-blood cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for the improved visualization of ablation-related radiofrequency lesions in the left ventricle
Authors: Bustin A , Sridi S , Kamakura T , Jais P , Stuber M , Cochet H
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): This research was supported by funding from the French National Research Agency under grant agreements Equipex MUSIC ANR-11-EQPX-0030, ANR-21-CE17-0034-01 and Programme d’Investissements d’Avenir ANR-10-IAHU04-LIRYC, and from the European Council under grant agreement ERC n715093. AB acknowledges a Lefoulon-Delalande Foundation fellowship administered by the Institute of France.

Background

Bright-blood late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging can identify the sites that were ablated during prior ablation procedures (1). However, myocardial lesions visualization is often impaired by the poor contrast at the blood-scar interface on conventional bright-blood-LGE images.

Purpose

To assess the performance of a novel joint bright- and black-blood LGE (SPOT) technique to visualize myocardial lesions post ablation.

Methods

Three sheep (age 2 years, body weight 51.6 kg) underwent radiofrequency ablation at multiple endocardial and epicardial sites. The animals were imaged 3 months later on a 1.5-T CMR scanner using conventional post-contrast bright-blood LGE (PSIR) (1) and the proposed SPOT (2) sequences. The SPOT sequence sampled the data to simultaneously generate a black-blood image (for scar visualization) and a bright-blood image (for scar localization) in a free-breathing 2-dimensional multi-slice scan (2). A coloured representation of myocardial scarring was then generated through image fusion. A reader graded the relative scar-to-myocardium, scar-to-blood, and blood-to-myocardium contrasts and the presence of LGE on all datasets.

Results

Compared with the reference bright-blood LGE images, the average scar-to-myocardium relative contrast in the SPOT images significantly increased by 102.5% to 8.1±4.4 (P<0.01). Similarly, a significant increase in scar-to-blood relative contrast (0.4±0.6 vs. 7.6±4.9, P<0.01) was observed. Owing to the nulling of both blood and normal myocardium signal, a significant decrease in blood-to-myocardium relative contrast (2.5±1.8 vs. 0.2±0.4, P<0.01) was observed with SPOT. A total of 7 and 12 lesions could be identified on conventional bright-blood LGE and proposed SPOT images, respectively (Figure).

Conclusion

The higher scar-to-blood relative contrast with SPOT imaging enables the improved visualization of myocardial lesions post radiofrequency ablation. SPOT offers a promising technology for the non-invasive assessment of myocardial injuries post ablation.
Differential sodium current remodelling in human left atrial appendage cardiomyocytes in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Casini S , Marchal GA , Kawasaki M , Fabrizi B , Wesselink R , Nariswari FA , Neefs J , Van Den Berg NWE , Driessen AHG , De Groot JR , Verkerk AO , Remme CA
Published: May 2022

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by complex electrical, structural and metabolic remodelling. The mechanisms underlying AF progression from paroxysmal to persistent AF are not fully understood, and studies in cardiomyocytes (CMs) at the paroxysmal stage of AF are lacking. Moreover, most studies have so far investigated right atrial appendage CMs, while left atrial appendage (LAA) CMs may be more informative, as AF is predominantly a left atrial disease. Whether and to what extent electrical remodelling during various AF stages also includes alterations of the (late) sodium current (INa), remains unclear. Moreover, the functional relevance of sodium channel isoforms other than the cardiac Nav1.5, such as the "neuronal" isoform SCN10A/NaV1.8, during the various stages of AF is as yet not fully elucidated.

Purpose

To investigate peak and late INa remodelling in LAA CMs from patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF and patients in sinus rhythm (SR), as well as the potential contribution of NaV1.8-based current.

Methods

LAA were obtained from patients in SR (N=18) without a history of AF undergoing cardiac surgery, as well as from patients with paroxysmal (N=12) and persistent AF (N=30). Paroxysmal AF was defined as AF episodes terminating spontaneously within seven days and persistent as AF continuing for more than 7 days but less than 1 year. Peak INa, late INa and action potential (AP) properties were investigated through patch-clamp analysis on single LAA CMs, while qPCR was used to assess SCN5A and SCN10A expression levels in LAA tissue.

Results

In paroxysmal and persistent AF CMs, AP duration was shorter than in SR CMs. Compared to SR, peak INa (Figure 1A) and SCN5A expression (Figure 1B) were significantly decreased in paroxysmal AF, while they were restored to SR levels in persistent AF. Conversely, while late INa was undetectable in SR and paroxysmal AF, it was significantly increased in persistent AF (Figure 2). Peak and late INa Nav1.8-based current was not detected in persistent AF CMs. Similarly, expression of SCN10A was not observed in LAAs at any stage.

Conclusions

Our study is the first to show that AP shortening already occurs in LAA CMs from paroxysmal AF, potentially contributing to pro-arrhythmia in this early stage of the disease. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that INa is differentially remodelled during various stages of AF, with peak INa reduction occurring during paroxysmal AF, while late INa is increased in persistent AF only. Finally, we have shown that Nav1.8 current does not contribute to the AF-related alterations in INa. These observations are of particular relevance when considering potential pharmacological approaches targeting (late) INa in patients with distinct forms of AF.
Transcriptome analysis of sex-biased gene expression in the spotted-wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura)
Authors: Deng Dan , Xing Shisi , Liu Xuxiang , Ji Qinge , Zhai Zongzhao , Peng Wei
Published: May 2022

Sexual dimorphism occurs widely throughout insects and has profound influences on evolutionary path. Sex-biased genes are considered to account for most of phenotypic differences between sexes. In order to explore the sex-biased genes potentially associated with sexual dimorphism and sexual development in Drosophila suzukii, a major devastating and invasive crop pest, we conducted whole-organism transcriptome profiling and sex-biased gene expression analysis on adults of both sexes. We identified transcripts of genes involved in several sex-specific physiological and functional processes, including transcripts involved in sex determination, reproduction, olfaction, and innate immune signals. A total of 11,360 differentially expressed genes were identified in the comparison, and 1,957 differentially expressed genes were female-biased and 4,231 differentially expressed genes were male-biased. The pathway predominantly enriched for differentially expressed genes was related to spliceosome, which might reflect the differences in the alternative splicing mechanism between males and females. Twenty-two sex determination and 16 sex-related reproduction genes were identified, and expression pattern analysis revealed that the majority of genes were differentially expressed between sexes. Additionally, the differences in sex-specific olfactory and immune processes were analyzed and the sex-biased expression of these genes may play important roles in pheromone and odor detection, and immune response. As a valuable dataset, our sex-specific transcriptomic data can significantly contribute to the fundamental elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of sexual dimorphism in fruit flies, and may provide candidate genes potentially useful for the development of genetic sexing strains, an important tool for sterile insect technique applications against this economically important species.
Geometrical properties of seismicity in California
Authors: Ross Zachary E , Ben-Zion Yehuda , Zaliapin Ilya
Published: May 2022

The spatial geometry of seismicity encodes information about loading and failure processes, as well as properties of the underlying fault structure. Traditional approaches to characterizing geometrical attributes of seismicity rely on assumed locations and geometry of fault surfaces, particularly at depth, where resolution is overall quite poor. In this study, we develop an alternative approach to quantifying geometrical properties of seismicity using techniques from anisotropic point process theory. Our approach does not require prior knowledge about the underlying fault properties. We characterize the geometrical attributes of 32 distinct seismicity regions in California and introduce a simple four class classification scheme that covers the range of geometrical properties observed. Most of the regions classified as having localized seismicity are within northern California, while nearly all of the regions classified as having distributed seismicity are within southern California. In addition, we find that roughly 1 out of 4 regions exhibit orthogonal seismicity structures. The results of this study provide a foundation for future analyses of geometrical properties of seismicity and new observables to compare with numerical modelling studies.
Algorithms and Organizing
Authors: Laapotti Tomi , Raappana Mitra
Published: May 2022

Algorithms are a ubiquitous part of organizations as they enable, guide, and restrict organizing at the level of everyday interactions. This essay focuses on algorithms and organizing by reviewing the literature on algorithms in organizations, examining the viewpoint of relationality and relational agency on algorithms and organizing, exploring the properties of algorithms, and concluding what these mean from an organizational communication viewpoint. Algorithms need data to be collected. The data are always biased, and algorithms exclude everything that is not in their code. They define what is seen as important. Their operating principles are opaque, and they are political due to human interference. Algorithms are not just used. Rather, they are co-actors in organizing. We argue that algorithms demand rethinking communication in the communicative constitution of organizations and call for more empirical research emphasizing the properties of algorithms, the relationality of algorithms, and the temporality of the materialization of algorithms.
A Fish-Like Soft-Robotic Model Generates a Diversity of Swimming Patterns
Authors: Wolf Zane , Lauder George V
Published: May 2022

Fish display a versatile array of swimming patterns, and frequently demonstrate the ability to switch between these patterns altering kinematics as necessary. Many hard and soft robotic systems have sought to understand a variety of aspects pertaining to undulatory swimming, but most have been built to focus solely on a subset of those swimming patterns. We have expanded upon a previous soft robotic model, the pneufish, so that it can now simulate a variety of swimming patterns, much like a real fish. We explore the performance space available for this longer soft robotic model, which we call the quad-pneufish, with particular attention to the effects on lateral forces and z-torques produced during locomotion. We show that the quad-pneufish is capable of achieving a variety of midline patterns—including more realistic, fish-like patterns—and introducing a slight amount of co-activation between the left and right sides maintains forward thrust while decreasing lateral forces, indicating an increase in swimming efficiency. Robotic systems that are capable of producing an array of swimming movement patterns hold promise as experimental platforms for studying the diversity of fish locomotor patterns.
Addressing Diverse Motivations to Enable Bioinspired Design
Authors: Barley William C , Ruge-Jones Luisa , Wissa Aimy , Suarez Andrew V , Alleyne Marianne
Published: May 2022

Synopsis

Bioinspired design (BID) is an inherently interdisciplinary practice that connects fundamental biological knowledge with the capabilities of engineering solutions. This paper discusses common social challenges inherent to interdisciplinary research, and specific to collaborating across the disciplines of biology and engineering when practicing BID. We also surface best practices that members of the community have identified to help address these challenges. To accomplish this goal, we address challenges of bioinspiration through a lens of recent findings within the social scientific study of interdisciplinary teams. We propose three challenges faced in BID: (1) complex motivations across collaborating researchers, (2) misperceptions of relationships and benefits between biologists and engineers, and (3) institutionalized barriers that disincentivize interdisciplinary work. We advance specific recommendations for addressing each of these challenges.
Acute abdomen with haemorrhagic shock while cruising on a private sailboat in the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Potin Mathieu , Calmes Jean-Marie , De Vallière Serge
Published: May 2022

This case report demonstrates that even in an austere and remote environment (nearly the middle of the Atlantic Ocean), a severe medical case can be handled, but luck was probably part of the positive outcome.
Early-type galaxy density profiles from IllustrisTNG – III. Effects on outer kinematic structure
Authors: Wang Yunchong , Mao Shude , Vogelsberger Mark , Springel Volker , Hernquist Lars , Wechsler Risa H
Published: May 2022

Early-type galaxies (ETGs) possess total density profiles close to isothermal, which can lead to non-Gaussian line-of-sight velocity dispersion (LOSVD) under anisotropic stellar orbits. However, recent observations of local ETGs in the MASSIVE Survey reveal outer kinematic structures at 1.5Reff (effective radius) that are inconsistent with fixed isothermal density profiles; the authors proposed varying density profiles as an explanation. We aim to verify this conjecture and understand the influence of stellar assembly on these kinematic features through mock ETGs in IllustrisTNG. We create mock Integral-Field-Unit observations to extract projected stellar kinematic features for 207 ETGs with stellar mass $M_{\ast }\geqslant 10^{11} \, \mathrm{M_{\odot}}$ in TNG100-1. The mock observations reproduce the key outer (1.5Reff) kinematic structures in the MASSIVE ETGs, including the puzzling positive correlation between velocity dispersion profile outer slope γouter and the kurtosis h4’s gradient. We find that h4 is uncorrelated with stellar orbital anisotropy beyond Reff; instead, we find that the variations in γouter and outer h4 (a good proxy for h4 gradient) are both driven by variations of the density profile at the outskirts across different ETGs. These findings corroborate the proposed conjecture and rule out velocity anisotropy as the origin of non-Gaussian outer kinematic structure in ETGs. We also find that the outer kurtosis and anisotropy correlate with different stellar assembly components, with the former related to minor mergers or flyby interactions while the latter is mainly driven by major mergers, suggesting distinct stellar assembly origins that decorrelates the two quantities.
X-ray constraint for the unseen companion of V723 Mon: it is a mass-gap black hole rather than binary neutron stars
Authors: Li (李彦) Yan , Qiao (乔二林) Erlin , Shen (申荣锋) Rong-Feng
Published: May 2022

Recently, the red giant V723 Mon is reported to have an unseen companion with a mass of 3.04 ± 0.06 M⊙, but question remains about whether it is a single (thus the so-called mass-gap) black hole or an inner binary of two more ordinary compact objects (neutron stars or white dwarfs). In this work, we estimate the X-ray emission by considering the wind-fed accretion from V723 Mon on to the compact companion. We analyse three different scenarios of the dark companion, i.e. a single black hole, binary neutron stars, and binary of a neutron star and a white dwarf. We show that the single black hole is the most favoured scenario. We also calculate the synchrotron emission from the bow shock caused by the interaction of the compact companion with the wind. We find that this emission peaks at ∼0.1–1 GHz, with a flux density of ∼1 mJy, which is expected to be detected by observations with higher angular resolution in the future.
Antimicrobial therapy for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease improved hearing loss and normalized myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody level: A case report
Authors: Tomishima Yutaka , Suda Masei , Tamaki Hiromichi
Published: May 2022

Several case reports have indicated that nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease is associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides. However, the effect of the treatment for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease on anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides remains unclear. An asymptomatic 80-year-old woman presented with nodular bronchiectasis. After 1 year, she developed a productive cough. Mycobacterial culture of the respiratory specimen revealed Mycobacterium avium. She was diagnosed with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease based on the criteria proposed by the American Thoracic Society. Concurrently, she had hearing loss, tinnitus, and weight loss. A blood test showed an elevated level of myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (107 IU/mL, normal level: <3.5 IU/mL). Bilateral otitis media with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis was diagnosed based on the diagnostic criteria proposed by the Japan Otological Society. After starting antimicrobial agents for the nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease, her pulmonary symptoms and hearing loss improved, and the level of myeloperoxidase-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody normalized. No immunosuppressive treatment was administered. The present case suggests that nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease can cause otitis media with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides, and antimicrobial treatment for the nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease may resolve otitis media with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides.
Indefinite
Authors: Walker Michael L.
Published: May 2022

Indefinite is the first major ethnographic study of American jails since the advent of racialized mass incarceration. The author was confined in a southern California county jail system during which time he conducted what he calls an organic ethnography of jail life. The resulting study is an investigation of the vagaries of jail living, the relationship between custodial deputies and penal residents, the endurance strategies residents employed to protect their emotional selves from being overwhelmed by the nature of jail punishment, and consequences of extremes of vulnerability, uncertainty, and penal time. Indefinite toggles between what is peculiar to jail time and what is familiar in broader social life to develop general concepts, sensitizing schemes, and theories about social life that expand beyond the specifics of jail without reducing jail to a mere case study.
The Rep System
Authors: Walker Michael L.
Published: May 2022

One of the defining features of the Golden County jail social structure is the “rep”—a general population resident to whom deputies devolved certain authorities and who were given privileges to aid deputies in the more efficient management of general population housing units. To explain how “the rep system” of management works, the chapter opens with a discussion of the significance of race making by deputies such that there is a “rep” for each of three racialized groups in every general population housing unit. It describes the role of the “rep” as an example of a kind of management system that is common beyond penal walls. Most importantly, this chapter details the responsibilities and privileges the reps have, because the reps are vital to the social order of every general population housing unit.
“Court Bodies”
Authors: Walker Michael L.
Published: May 2022

This chapter is a journey of sorts through the feelings and behaviors common to residents on the days scheduled for in-custody court appearances. This chapter is driven by two goals. One aim is to detail how in-custody court appearances concentrated uncertainty and vulnerability for penal residents. For residents hoping for an adjudicatory decision of one kind or another, a court appearance presented the possibility that something would be done to bring about a conclusion to the tetherlessness of jail time. Usually, however, court appearances resulted in continuances and acute depressive states. The other aim is to analyze the relationship between time and social behavior—violence, in particular. Court days were more dangerous for general population residents than any other procedural period, but those dangers followed the arc of a day’s time, moving from relatively low likelihoods of violence to high likelihoods, and back to relatively low likelihoods of violence again.
Time
Authors: Walker Michael L.
Published: May 2022

Whereas Chapter 6 covers many of the endurance strategies residents used to protect their emotional selves, Chapter 7 describes what happened when those endurance strategies inevitably failed: hard time. In this chapter, “hard time” or “hard-timing-it” are defined and explained as a breakdown of the emotional fortitude necessary to endure the strictures of jail time. Part of the problem is that we have a very different relationship to “penal time” than we do free society time, and the author details those differences to explore how residents made sense of themselves relative to “time” as an objectified thing—a task and personified beast of sorts.
The Power of Platforms
Authors: Nielsen Rasmus Kleis , Ganter Sarah Anne
Published: May 2022

More people today get news via Facebook and Google than via any news organization in history, and platforms like Twitter serve news to more people than all but the biggest media companies. This book draws on interviews and other data to analyze the platform power a few technology companies as a consequence have come to exercise in public life, the reservations publishers have about platforms—as well as the reasons why they often embrace them nonetheless. Most of the news content we rely on is still produced by journalists working for news organizations. But the way in which we discover it, how it is distributed, where decisions are made on what to display (and what not), and who profits from our behavior—all this is changing rapidly as people increasingly rely on social media, search engines, and aggregators offered by large platform companies to access news, and publishers in turn seek to reach people via the platforms they rely on. To understand the new, distinct relational and generative forms of power that platforms exercise, this book analyzes how they have evolved from the early days of Google’s first forays into news. Examining the different ways publishers have responded and how various platform companies have in turn handled the increasingly important and controversial role they play, it draws out the implications of a fundamental feature of our world we all need to understand: the news media are simultaneously empowered by and dependent on a few powerful private, for-profit technology companies.
The Imperial Project
Authors: Waters Matt
Published: May 2022

While many elements of royal ideology and the sophisticated administrative apparatus that developed under the Achaemenid Empire are not fully traceable until later rulers, it is clear that Cyrus the Great laid the foundations. This is manifest in various ways, but in particular the plan and construction of Cyrus’ new capital of Pasargadae in modern Fars. The new city was not complete during Cyrus’ reign, but his influence is clear throughout. Cyrus operationalized discrete elements of Persian and Elamite traditions with those of Assyrian and Babylonian kingship to forge a new imperial vision, one adapted and expanded upon by his dynastic successors.
Introduction
Authors: Townsend Chris
Published: May 2022

Though George Berkeley has long been understood to have played a role in the formation of the thing we call ‘Romanticism’, the precise nature of that role—and of the relation of idealist and empiricist philosophy to Romanticism—is not well understood. The introduction sets up the terms of the inquiry that follows, from ‘immaterialism’ to the model of nature as a divine language that preoccupied Berkeley and the Romantics alike, and it also gives a sense of the stakes of that inquiry: to understand Berkeley’s role within Romantic thought is to begin to understand the larger question, in the eighteenth century and beyond, of the relation of philosophic and poetic forms, and of Romanticism’s place within the history of ideas.
Conclusion
Authors: Sarker Sonita
Published: May 2022

The conclusion discusses how the slash in the title of the book (“N/native”) is not merely a diacritical mark but a signifier of impactful material and ideological differences and similarities. “N/native” qualifies “women” and “women writers,” “race,” and even “modernism” in this volume to render them unavailable as monolithic or homogeneous categories. Nor do these categories contain entirely symmetrical or equivalent entities, since the six N/natives inhabit and relate across colonial and colonizing, modern and modernizing structures. For instance, the category of “woman” appears to unite the six N/natives across and over the slashes that separate them in other ways. On closer examination, the consequences of gender-marginalization actually emerge differently when race and class are taken into account. Extending from this study of the six positionings in relation to the slash, the postscript to this book invites readers to participate directly in situating themselves in relation to “N/native.”
Homeland Insecurities
Authors: Barbora Sanjay
Published: May 2022

This book engages with key political and social issues in Assam following the pacification of insurgencies in the 21st century. Keeping in mind the impact of counterinsurgency, migration, and conflicts arising out of demands for political and territorial autonomy, it focuses on the emerging issues that will play an important role in defining the future of social and political relations in Assam. Arguing that old conflicts have taken new forms, this book reflects critically on the dominant themes that animate academic research on the region—autonomy, migration, and conflict—and accentuates tentative peacebuilding efforts to show how there is a creative social world of solidarity that survives violence.
‘Autonomy or Death’
Authors: Barbora Sanjay
Published: May 2022

This chapter focuses on both a historical trajectory of the autonomous movement, as well as its more quotidian moments where much of the political rhetoric is constantly being challenged on the ground. It argues that the militarized social milieu does not allow for the resolution of many of the nuanced outcomes of conflicts that arise in the process of political mobilization by local communities and conflict management strategies of the government. Based on fieldwork in Kamrup (rural), Nalbari, and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), it locates contemporary demands for territorial autonomy by indigenous communities in historical experiences of land and resource alienation, as well as in the strategic use of violence to leverage political demands for autonomy.
Elephants (and Rhinos) in the Room
Authors: Barbora Sanjay
Published: May 2022

This chapter looks at the way issues around peasants and farming communities have been framed in contemporary Assam, especially since the turn of the century when armed organizations purported to speak on behalf of the rural farmer receded into the margins of political discourse. This process allowed for the emergence of non-human elements into society and politics in Assam. It happened in ways that had not been seen earlier. The focus of the chapter is on the ongoing encounters between animals and humans, much of which is being slowly militarized. This process allows readers to understand the changes that are taking place in the political ecology in Assam.
Introduction
Authors: Cheng Thomas K.
Published: May 2022

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the patent-competition interface in developing countries. Most developing countries rely on technology transfer by the industrialized economies for technological upgrade and productivity growth. Innovation that takes place in developing countries is unlikely to be global in nature, but is more likely to be innovation in the local or domestic sense. Such developing country innovation can be called laggard innovation. Given that what drives technological upgrade in developing countries are foreign technology transfer and laggard innovation and not frontier innovation, the policy tradeoff underlying the patent-competition interface takes on a different character. The chapter then differentiates between production countries, technology adaptation countries, and proto-innovation countries. The importance of innovation to economic growth means that the patent-competition interface is arguably the most important facet of competition law in developing countries.
Introduction
Authors: Ingle Hrishikesh Sudhakar
Published: May 2022

In this introductory chapter, the broad arguments informing this study of Marathi cinema are presented. It begins by identifying the peculiar scenario of Marathi cinema as a displaced-yet-present film culture, and a prominent regional film industry operating from Mumbai and Pune. The geosocial contiguity of Hindi and Marathi film industries are then framed for a socio-spatial inquiry. The need for a critical spatial analysis is developed by considering the meta-ideas of ‘regional’ and ‘national’ in relation to Indian film studies. Marathi cinema bears an unmistakable character of a networked industry, where sites of filmic articulation become more prominent as performance of the region. This historical understanding is introduced in this chapter to identify the contours of a vernacular cultural space. The chapter then elaborates on the role of language in such a spatial scheme of analysis and later outlines the plan of this book.