bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New-onset atrial fibrillation prediction: the HARMS2-AF risk score
Authors: Segan Louise , Canovas Rodrigo , Nanayakkara Shane , Chieng David , Prabhu Sandeep , Voskoboinik Aleksandr , Sugumar Hariharan , Ling Liang-Han , Lee Geoff , Morton Joseph , LaGerche Andre , Kaye David M , Sanders Prashanthan , Kalman Jonathan M , Kistler Peter M
Published: June 2023

Aims

Lifestyle risk factors are a modifiable target in atrial fibrillation (AF) management. The relative contribution of individual lifestyle risk factors to AF development has not been described. Development and validation of an AF lifestyle risk score to identify individuals at risk of AF in the general population are the aims of the study.

Methods and results

The UK Biobank (UKB) and Framingham Heart Study (FHS) are large prospective cohorts with outcomes measured >10 years. Incident AF was based on International Classification of Diseases version 10 coding. Prior AF was excluded. Cox proportional hazards regression identified independent AF predictors, which were evaluated in a multivariable model. A weighted score was developed in the UKB and externally validated in the FHS. Kaplan–Meier estimates ascertained the risk of AF development. Among 314 280 UKB participants, AF incidence was 5.7%, with median time to AF 7.6 years (interquartile range 4.5–10.2). Hypertension, age, body mass index, male sex, sleep apnoea, smoking, and alcohol were predictive variables (all P < 0.001); physical inactivity [hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96–1.05, P = 0.80] and diabetes (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.97–1.09, P = 0·38) were not significant. The HARMS2-AF score had similar predictive performance [area under the curve (AUC) 0.782] to the unweighted model (AUC 0.802) in the UKB. External validation in the FHS (AF incidence 6.0% of 7171 participants) demonstrated an AUC of 0.757 (95% CI 0.735–0.779). A higher HARMS2-AF score (≥5 points) was associated with a heightened AF risk (score 5–9: HR 12.79; score 10–14: HR 38.70). The HARMS2-AF risk model outperformed the Framingham-AF (AUC 0.568) and ARIC (AUC 0.713) risk models (both P < 0.001) and was comparable to the CHARGE-AF risk score (AUC 0.754, P = 0.73).

Conclusion

The HARMS2-AF score is a novel lifestyle risk score which may help identify individuals at risk of AF in the general community and assist population screening.
Microvascular resistance reserve: diagnostic and prognostic performance in the ILIAS registry
Authors: Boerhout Coen K M , Lee Joo Myung , de Waard Guus A , Mejia-Renteria Hernan , Lee Seung Hun , Jung Ji-Hyun , Hoshino Masahiro , Echavarria-Pinto Mauro , Meuwissen Martijn , Matsuo Hitoshi , Madera-Cambero Maribel , Eftekhari Ashkan , Effat Mohamed A , Murai Tadashi , Marques Koen , Doh Joon-Hyung , Christiansen Evald H , Banerjee Rupak , Nam Chang-Wook , Niccoli Giampaolo , Nakayama Masafumi , Tanaka Nobuhiro , Shin Eun-Seok , Appelman Yolande , Beijk Marcel A M , van Royen Niels , Knaapen Paul , Escaned Javier , Kakuta Tsunekazu , Koo Bon Kwon , Piek Jan J , van de Hoef Tim P
Published: June 2023

Aims

The microvascular resistance reserve (MRR) was introduced as a means to characterize the vasodilator reserve capacity of the coronary microcirculation while accounting for the influence of concomitant epicardial disease and the impact of administration of potent vasodilators on aortic pressure. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic performance of MRR.

Methods and results

A total of 1481 patients with stable symptoms and a clinical indication for coronary angiography were included from the global ILIAS Registry. MRR was derived as a function of the coronary flow reserve (CFR) divided by the fractional flow reserve (FFR) and corrected for driving pressure. The median MRR was 2.97 [Q1–Q3: 2.32–3.86] and the overall relationship between MRR and CFR was good [correlation coefficient (Rs) = 0.88, P < 0.005]. The difference between CFR and MRR increased with decreasing FFR [coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.34; Coef.—2.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.05–−2.73; P < 0.005]. MRR was independently associated with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 5-year follow-up [hazard ratio (HR) 0.78; 95% CI 0.63–0.95; P = 0.024] and with target vessel failure (TVF) at 5-year follow-up (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.76–0.97; P = 0.047). The optimal cut-off value of MRR was 3.0. Based on this cut-off value, only abnormal MRR was significantly associated with MACE and TVF at 5-year follow-up in vessels with functionally significant epicardial disease (FFR <0.75).

Conclusion

MRR seems a robust indicator of the microvascular vasodilator reserve capacity. Moreover, in line with its theoretical background, this study suggests a diagnostic advantage of MRR over other indices of vasodilatory capacity in patients with hemodynamically significant epicardial coronary artery disease.
Procedure, management, and outcome of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter–defibrillator extraction in clinical practice
Authors: De Filippo Paolo , Migliore Federico , Palmisano Pietro , Nigro Gerardo , Ziacchi Matteo , Rordorf Roberto , Pieragnoli Paolo , Di Grazia Angelo , Ottaviano Luca , Francia Pietro , Pisanò Ennio , Tola Gianfranco , Giammaria Massimo , D’Onofrio Antonio , Botto Giovanni Luca , Zucchelli Giulio , Ferrari Paola , Lovecchio Mariolina , Valsecchi Sergio , Viani Stefano
Published: June 2023

Aims

Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (S-ICD) therapy is expanding rapidly. However, there are few data on the S-ICD extraction procedure and subsequent patient management. The aim of this analysis was to describe the procedure, management, and outcome of S-ICD extractions in clinical practice.

Methods and results

We enrolled consecutive patients who required complete S-ICD extraction at 66 Italian centres. From 2013 to 2022, 2718 patients undergoing de novo implantation of an S-ICD were enrolled. Of these, 71 required complete S-ICD system extraction (17 owing to infection). The S-ICD system was successfully extracted in all patients, and no complications were reported; the median procedure duration was 40 (25th–75th percentile: 20–55) min. Simple manual traction was sufficient to remove the lead in 59 (84%) patients, in whom lead-dwelling time was shorter [20 (9–32) months vs. 30 (22–41) months; P = 0.032]. Hospitalization time was short in the case of both non-infectious [2 (1–2) days] and infectious indications [3 (1–6) days]. In the case of infection, no patients required post-extraction intravenous antibiotics, the median duration of any antibiotic therapy was 10 (10–14) days, and the re-implantation was performed during the same procedure in 29% of cases. No complications arose over a median of 21 months.

Conclusion

The S-ICD extraction was safe and easy to perform, with no complications. Simple traction of the lead was successful in most patients, but specific tools could be needed for systems implanted for a longer time. The peri- and post-procedural management of S-ICD extraction was free from complications and not burdensome for patients and healthcare system.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/Identifier: NCT02275637.
The influence of atrial high-rate episodes on stroke and cardiovascular death: an update
Authors: Toennis Tobias , Bertaglia Emanuele , Brandes Axel , Dichtl Wolfgang , Fluschnik Nina , de Groot Joris R , Marijon Eloi , Mont Lluis , Lundqvist Carina Blomström , Cabanelas Nuno , Dan G Andrei , Lubinski Andrzej , Merkely Béla , Rajappan Kim , Sarkozy Andrea , Velchev Vasil , Wichterle Dan , Kirchhof Paulus
Published: June 2023

Atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) are atrial tachyarrhythmias detected by continuous rhythm monitoring by pacemakers, defibrillators, or implantable cardiac monitors. Atrial high-rate episodes occur in 10–30% of elderly patients without atrial fibrillation. However, it remains unclear whether the presence of these arrhythmias has therapeutic consequences. The presence of AHRE increases the risk of stroke compared with patients without AHRE. Oral anticoagulation would have the potential to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with AHRE but is also associated with a rate of major bleeding of ∼2%/year. The stroke rate in patients with AHRE appears to be lower than the stroke rate in patients with atrial fibrillation. Wearables like smart-watches will increase the absolute number of patients in whom atrial arrhythmias are detected. It remains unclear whether anticoagulation is effective and, equally important, safe in patients with AHRE. Two randomized clinical trials, NOAH-AFNET6 and ARTESiA, are expected to report soon. They will provide much-needed information on the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation in patients with AHRE.
Adherence to dietary guidelines and dental caries among children: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: van Meijeren-van Lunteren Agatha W , Voortman Trudy , Wolvius Eppo B , Kragt Lea
Published: June 2023

Background

Even though dietary sugars are the most important nutrient for caries development, the disease process is dependent on other dietary practices. The intake of individual nutrient components cannot be evaluated separately from the overall diet which includes other nutrients, foods and habits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between adherence to dietary guidelines and dental caries.

Methods

This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, conducted in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In total, 2911 children were included in the present analyses. Dietary intake at the age of 8 years was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires. Diet quality scores were estimated, reflecting adherence to Dutch dietary guidelines. Dental caries was assessed at the age of 13 years using intra-oral photographs. Associations were estimated using multinomial logistic regression analyses, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and oral hygiene practices.

Results

The prevalence of dental caries at the age of 13 years was 33% (n = 969). Better diet quality was associated with a lower occurrence of severe dental caries after adjustments for sociodemographic factors [e.g. highest vs. lowest quartile of diet quality: odds ratio (OR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.98]. After additional adjustments for oral hygiene practices, this association was not statistically significant (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.41–1.03).

Conclusion

Adherence to dietary guidelines has the potential to reduce dental caries in children; however, with proper oral hygiene practices, this relationship might be attenuated. To understand the role of dietary patterns and dental caries, the contributing role of daily eating occasions needs to be studied further.
The never-ending battle between lactic acid bacteria and their phages
Authors: Philippe Cécile , Cornuault Jeffrey K , de Melo Alessandra G , Morin-Pelchat Rachel , Jolicoeur Alice P , Moineau Sylvain
Published: June 2023

Over the past few decades, the interest in lactic acid bacteria (LAB) has been steadily growing. This is mainly due to their industrial use, their health benefits as probiotic bacteria and their ecological importance in host-related microbiota. Phage infection represents a significant risk for the production and industrial use of LAB. This created the need to study the various means of defense put in place by LAB to resist their viral enemies, as well as the countermeasures evolved by phages to overcome these defenses. In this review, we discuss defense systems that LAB employ to resist phage infections. We also describe how phages counter these mechanisms through diverse and sophisticated strategies. Furthermore, we discuss the way phage-host interactions shape each other's evolution. The recent discovery of numerous novel defense systems in other bacteria promises a new dawn for phage research in LAB.
The Effects of Graded Levels of Calorie Restriction: XX. Impact of Long-Term Graded Calorie Restriction on Survival and Body Mass Dynamics in Male C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Mitchell Sharon E , Togo Jacques , Green Cara L , Derous Davina , Hambly Catherine , Speakman John R
Published: June 2023

Calorie restriction (CR) typically promotes a reduction in body mass, which correlates with increased lifespan. We evaluated the overall changes in survival, body mass dynamics, and body composition following long-term graded CR (580 days/19 months) in male C57BL/6J mice. Control mice (0% restriction) were fed ad libitum in the dark phase only (12-hour ad libitum [12AL]). CR groups were restricted by 10%–40% of their baseline food intake (10CR, 20CR, 30CR, and 40CR). Body mass was recorded daily, and body composition was measured at 8 time points. At 728 days/24 months, all surviving mice were culled. A gradation in survival rate over the CR groups was found. The pattern of body mass loss differed over the graded CR groups. Whereas the lower CR groups rapidly resumed an energy balance with no significant loss of fat or fat-free mass, changes in the 30 and 40CR groups were attributed to higher fat-free mass loss and protection of fat mass. Day-to-day changes in body mass were less variable under CR than for the 12AL group. There was no indication that body mass was influenced by external factors. Partial autocorrelation analysis examined the relationship between daily changes in body masses. A negative correlation between mass on Day 0 and Day +1 declined with age in the 12AL but not the CR groups. A reduction in the correlation with age suggested body mass homeostasis is a marker of aging that declines at the end of life and is protected by CR.
Bodily Pain in Physical Function and the Role of Physical Activity Among Community-Dwelling Adults Aged 50–69 Years in Ghana
Authors: Gyasi Razak M , Phillips David R , Boampong Mary Sefa , Abass Kabila , Kyei-Arthur Frank , Agunbiade Ojo Melvin , Mohamed Sukri F , Salarvand Shahin , Smith Lee , Hajek André
Published: June 2023

Background

Older adults who experience pain are likely to report higher functional limitations (FL) and lower physical activity (PA) levels. However, the extent to which PA explains the association of pain with FL is largely unknown, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study estimates whether and how much pain in FL is mediated by PA engagement.

Methods

We used cross-sectional data from 770 adults aged 50–69 years who participated in the Aging, Health, Psychological Well-being, and Health-seeking Behavior Study in Ghana. FL and pain characteristics were defined using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. PA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form. Bootstrapped mediation analyses estimated the direct and indirect hypothesized associations. The control variables included age, sex, residential type, level of education, monthly income, social isolation, emotional distress, multimorbidity, and self-rated health.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, higher pain interference (β = 0.091, p < .05) and higher pain severity (β = 0.075, p < .05) were associated with greater FL. The bootstrapping analyses showed that PA mediated the pain interference-FL association, accounting for approximately 58% (β = 0.124, Boots 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.078–0.175) of the total effect (β = 0.215, Boots 95% CI: 0.095–0.335). Similarly, PA mediated the association between pain severity with FL, accounting for approximately 37% (β = 0.044, Boots 95% CI: 0.001–0.094) of the overall effect (β = 0.119, Boots 95% CI: −0.011 to 0.249).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the higher pain severity and pain interference may lead to higher FL in middle and old age, and the associations are partially explained by PA. Effective and low-cost PA participation could be targeted in efforts to reduce the effect of pain on physical functioning among middle-aged and older adults.
Neural network architecture optimization using automated machine learning for borehole resistivity measurements
Authors: Shahriari M , Pardo D , Kargaran S , Teijeiro T
Published: June 2023

Deep neural networks (DNNs) offer a real-time solution for the inversion of borehole resistivity measurements to approximate forward and inverse operators. Using extremely large DNNs to approximate the operators is possible, but it demands considerable training time. Moreover, evaluating the network after training also requires a significant amount of memory and processing power. In addition, we may overfit the model. In this work, we propose a scoring function that accounts for the accuracy and size of the DNNs compared to a reference DNNs that provides good approximations for the operators. Using this scoring function, we use DNN architecture search algorithms to obtain a quasi-optimal DNN smaller than the reference network; hence, it requires less computational effort during training and evaluation. The quasi-optimal DNN delivers comparable accuracy to the original large DNN.
Operational Earthquake Forecasting in Italy: validation after 10 yr of operativity
Authors: Spassiani I , Falcone G , Murru M , Marzocchi W
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we gather and take stock of the results produced by the Operational Earthquake Forecasting (OEF) system in Italy, during its first 10 yr of operativity. The system is run in real-time: every midnight and after each ML 3.5+ event, it produces the weekly forecast of earthquakes expected by an ensemble model in each cell of a spatial grid covering the entire Italian territory. To evaluate the performance skill of the OEF-Italy forecasts, we consider here standard tests of the Collaboratory for the Study of Earthquake Predictability, which have been opportunely adapted to the case of the overlapped weekly OEF forecasts; then we also adopt new performance measures borrowed from other research fields, like meteorology, specific to validate alarm-based systems by a binary criterion (forecast: yes/no; occurrence: yes/no). Our final aim is to: (i) investigate possible weaknesses and room for improvements in the OEF-Italy stochastic modelling, (ii) provide performance measures that could be helpful for stakeholders who act through a boolean logic (making an action or not) and (iii) highlight possible features in the Italian tectonic seismic activity.
A critique of the policy discourse on primary health care under the Aardram mission of Kerala
Authors: Sreekumar Sreenidhi , Ravindran T K Sundari
Published: June 2023

In 2017, the State of Kerala in India, launched the ‘Aardram’ mission for health. One of the aims of the mission was to enhance the primary health care (PHC) provisioning in the state through the family health centre (FHC) initiative. This was envisaged through a comprehensive PHC approach that prioritized preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services, and social determinants of health. Given this backdrop, the study aimed to examine the renewed policy commitment towards comprehensive PHC and the extent to which it remains true to the globally accepted ideals of PHC. This was undertaken using a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the policy discourse on PHC. This included examining the policy documents related to FHC and Aardram as well as the narratives of policy-level actors on PHC and innovations for them. Through CDA we examined the discursive representation of PHC and innovations for improving it at the level of local governments in the state. Though the mission envisaged a shift from the influence of market-driven ideas of health, analysis of the current policy discourse on PHC suggested otherwise. The discourse continues to carry a curative care bias within its ideas of PHC. The disproportionate emphasis on strategies for early detection, treatment and infrastructural improvements meant limited space for preventive, protective and promotive dimensions, thus digressing from the gatekeeping role of PHC. The reduced emphasis on preventive and promotive dimensions and depoliticization of social determinants of health within the PHC discourse indicates that, in the long run, the mission puts at risk its stated goals of social justice and health equity envisioned in the FHC initiative.
P-700 preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy failed to improve cumulative live birth rate in patients with limited good-quality embryos
Authors: Yan Y , Zhang Q , Li J , Huang Y , Zhou W , Ni T , Yan J
Published: June 2023

Study question

To evaluate whether preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) can improve pregnancy and neonatal outcomes for patients with limited good-quality embryos.

Summary answer

PGT-A failed to improve cumulative live birth rate or shorten time to pregnancy, but optimized pregnancy outcomes per transfer for patients with limited good-quality embryos.

What is known already

PGT-A is currently widely used to screen for aneuploidy with the goal of improving live birth rates. Remarkably, previous studies have focused on the effect of PGT-A on cumulative clinical outcomes in women with good pregnancy prognosis. However, it is still unclear whether PGT-A can improve the cumulative pregnancy outcomes in patients with limited good-quality embryos.

Study design, size, duration

A retrospective cohort study was performed among 1553 women who intended PGT-A for the first time but obtained only two or less good-quality embryos on day 3 after oocyte retrieval from March 2017 to June 2021.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

A total of 1553 patients were divided into two groups: 997 in the PGT-A group and 556 in the drop-out group of withdrawing PGT-A due to poor embryological outcome. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to adjust for potential confounders when comparing the clinical outcomes between two groups.

Main results and the role of chance

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, PGT-A group exhibited significantly lower cumulative rates of biochemical pregnancy (19.96% vs. 30.22%, P-adj < 0.001), clinical pregnancy (17.55% vs. 23.38%, P-adj < 0.001) and live birth (14.14% vs. 16.19%, P-adj = 0.005) per oocyte retrieval and longer median time to pregnancy and live birth compared with drop-out group. However, significant increases in rates of biochemical pregnancy (72.16% vs. 35.50%, P-adj < 0.001), clinical pregnancy (61.86% vs. 26.98%, P-adj < 0.001), and live birth (48.45 vs. 18.26%, P-adj < 0.001) per transfer were found in the PGT-A group. No significant differences were observed in cumulative miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy rates, number of ETs needed per live birth and neonatal outcomes.

Limitations, reasons for caution

This study was limited by the inherent potential bias of retrospective studies and small sample size. Thus, additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm our findings.

Wider implications of the findings

PGT-A failed to improve cumulative live birth rate or shorten time to pregnancy, but optimized pregnancy outcomes per transfer for patients with limited good-quality embryos.

Trial registration number

Not applicable
Higher Localization and Higher Branching Laws
Authors: Li Wen-Wei
Published: June 2023

For a connected reductive group $G$ and an affine smooth $G$-variety $X$ over the complex numbers, the localization functor takes $\mathfrak{g}$-modules to $D_{X}$-modules. We extend this construction to an equivariant and derived setting using the formalism of h-complexes due to Beilinson–Ginzburg, and show that the localizations of Harish-Chandra $(\mathfrak{g}, K)$-modules onto $X = H \backslash G$ have regular holonomic cohomologies when $H, K \subset G$ are both spherical reductive subgroups. The relative Lie algebra homologies and $\operatorname{Ext}$-branching spaces for $(\mathfrak{g}, K)$-modules are interpreted geometrically in terms of equivariant derived localizations. As direct consequences, we show that they are finite-dimensional under the same assumptions, and relate Euler–Poincaré characteristics to local index theorem; this recovers parts of the recent results of M. Kitagawa. Examples and discussions on the relation to Schwartz homologies are also included.
Rapid Antigen and Antibody Microfluidic Immunofluorescence Assays Compared to Culture, PCR, and Laboratory Reference Tests: Performance in a Longitudinal Cohort
Authors: Dalmat Ronit R , Hao Linhui , Prabhu Roshni , Rechkina Elena , Hamilton Daphne , Ikuma Matthew H , Bauer Marie , Gale Michael , Cantera Jason L , Ball Alexey S , Grant Benjamin D , Drain Paul K
Published: June 2023

We evaluated the performance of rapid antigen (RAg) and antibody (RAb) microfluidic diagnostics with serial sampling of 71 participants at 6 visits over 2 months following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Rapid tests showed strong agreement with laboratory references (κAg = 81.0%; κAb = 87.8%). RAg showed substantial concordance to both virus growth in culture and PCR positivity 0–5 days since symptom onset (κAg-culture = 60.1% and κAg-PCR = 87.1%). PCR concordance to virus growth in culture was similar (κPCR-culture = 70.0%), although agreement between RAg and culture was better overall (κAg-culture = 45.5% vs κPCR-culture = 10.0%). Rapid antigen and antibody testing by microfluidic immunofluorescence platform are highly accurate for characterization of acute infection.
Association Between Maternal Breastmilk Microbiota Composition and Rotavirus Vaccine Response in African, Asian, and European Infants: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mandolo Jonathan , Parker Edward P K , Bronowski Christina , Sindhu Kulandaipalayam Natarajan C , Darby Alistair C , Cunliffe Nigel A , Kang Gagandeep , Iturriza-Gómara Miren , Kamng’ona Arox W , Jere Khuzwayo C
Published: June 2023

Background

Maternal breastmilk is a source of pre- and pro-biotics that impact neonatal gut microbiota colonization. Because oral rotavirus vaccines (ORVs) are administered at a time when infants are often breastfed, breastmilk microbiota composition may have a direct or indirect influence on vaccine take and immunogenicity.

Methods

Using standardized methods across sites, we compared breastmilk microbiota composition in relation to geographic location and ORV response in cohorts prospectively followed from birth to 18 weeks of age in India (n = 307), Malawi (n = 119), and the United Kingdom ([UK] n = 60).

Results

Breastmilk microbiota diversity was higher in India and Malawi than the UK across 3 longitudinal samples spanning weeks of life 1 to 13. Dominant taxa such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus were consistent across cohorts; however, significant geographic differences were observed in the prevalence and abundance of common and rare genera throughout follow up. No consistent associations were identified between breastmilk microbiota composition and ORV outcomes including seroconversion, vaccine shedding after dose 1, and postvaccination rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin A level.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that breastmilk microbiota composition may not be a key factor in shaping trends in ORV response within or between countries.
Intrinsic and Effective Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Cases Infected With the Ancestral Strain and Omicron BA.2 Variant in Hong Kong
Authors: Wong Jessica Y , Cheung Justin K , Lin Yun , Bond Helen S , Lau Eric H Y , Ip Dennis K M , Cowling Benjamin J , Wu Peng
Published: June 2023

Background

Understanding severity of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants is crucial to inform public health measures. Here we used coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient data from Hong Kong to characterize the severity profile of COVID-19.

Methods

Time-varying and age-specific effective severity measured by case hospitalization risk and hospitalization fatality risk was estimated with all individual COVID-19 case data collected in Hong Kong from 23 January 2020 through 26 October 2022 over 6 epidemic waves. The intrinsic severity of Omicron BA.2 was compared with the estimate for the ancestral strain with the data from unvaccinated patients without previous infections.

Results

With 32 222 COVID-19 hospitalizations and 9669 deaths confirmed over 6 epidemic waves, the time-varying hospitalization fatality risk dramatically increased from <10% before the largest fifth wave of Omicron BA.2 to 41% during the peak of the fifth wave when hospital resources were severely constrained. The age-specific fatality risk in unvaccinated hospitalized Omicron cases was comparable to the estimates for unvaccinated cases with the ancestral strain. During epidemics predominated by Omicron BA.2, fatality risk was highest among older unvaccinated patients.

Conclusions

Omicron has comparable intrinsic severity to the ancestral Wuhan strain, although the effective severity is substantially lower in Omicron cases due to vaccination.
Facts are hard to come by: discerning and sharing factual information on social media
Authors: Tu Fangjing , Pan Zhongdang , Jia Xinle
Published: June 2023

How credulous are we when engaging information on social media? Addressing this question, this article aims to understand how individuals’ epistemic vigilance, a set of cognitive mechanisms that comprise our system of precaution in social interactions, may operate and fall short. Reporting findings from two survey experiments (Study 1, N = 413; Study 2, N = 392), we show that participants tended to be skeptical toward social media news, were reasonably successful in identifying true news, and reported a tendency to share true rather than false news. In one study, social endorsement enticed a higher accuracy rating of news posts. In both studies, people judged attitudinally congruent news posts as being more accurate and reported a higher likelihood to share them. Individuals’ propensity to reflective thinking measured by cognitive reflection test potentially operated as a restraint on sharing inaccurate information and bolstered veracity anchoring in their information engagement.
Comparison of different traps and attractants in 3 food processing facilities in Greece on the capture of stored product insects
Authors: Morrison William R , Agrafioti Paraskevi , Domingue Michael J , Scheff Deanna S , Lampiri Evagelia , Gourgouta Marina , Baliota Georgia V , Sakka Maria , Myers Scott W , Athanassiou Christos G
Published: June 2023

Certain lures are marketed toward particular pests or classes of pests, while others might be multi-species lures. Investigative aims for this study included both which trap was most sensitive and whether different combinations of traps and attractants were delivering novel information about the stored product insect community. Comparisons were made for all combinations of 3 commercial traps and 4 different attractants plus an untreated control on the capture of stored-product insects for 2 consecutive years in 3 food processing facilities in Central Greece. The traps used in the experiments were Dome Trap (Trécé Inc., USA), Wall Trap (Trécé) and Box Trap (Insects Limited, Ltd., USA). The attractants that were evaluated were 0.13 g of (i) PantryPatrol gel (Insects Limited), (ii) Storgard kairomone food attractant oil (Trécé), (iii) wheat germ (Honeyville, USA), and (iv) Dermestid tablet attractant (Insects Limited). The traps were inspected approximately every 15 days and rotated. A total of 34,000+ individuals were captured belonging to 26 families and at least 48 species. The results indicated that Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), and cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.) were the most abundant. Although there were noticeable differences among the different traps and attractants for specific species, all combinations provided similar information on population dynamics. Generally, Dome traps baited with either the oil or the gel, were found to be the most sensitive. The results of the present study demonstrate the importance of long-term trapping protocols, as a keystone in IPM-based control strategies in food processing facilities.
Comparison of toxic effects of 5 macrofungi against Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Li Jinzhe , Huang Yaqin , Wang Dezhi , Zhu Nailiang , Qiao Xinrong
Published: June 2023

Traditional chemical pesticides pose potential threats to human health, the environment, and food safety, and there is an urgent need to develop botanical pesticides that are easily degradable, renewable, and environmentally compatible. This research serves to detect the lethal impacts of Amanita pantherina(DC.:Fr) Schrmm.(Agaricales, Amanitaceae, Amanita), Amanita virgineoides Bas (Agaricales, Amanitaceae, Amanita), Coprinus comatus (O.F.Müll.) Pers. (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae, Coprinus), Pycnoporus cinnabarinus(Jacq.:Fr) Karst (Polyporales, Polyporaceae, Polyporus) and Phallus rubicundus (Bosc) Fr. (Phallales, Phallaceae, Phallus) on Drosophila melanogaster(Diptera, Drosophilidae, Drosophila), including their effects on lifespan, fecundity, offspring growth and developmental characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, peroxide content, and the gene transcription associated with signaling pathways and lifespan of D. melanogaster. The results demonstrated that they all produced lethal effects on D. melanogaster. Female flies were more sensitive to the addition of macrofungi to their diet and have a shorter survival time than male flies. The toxic activity of A. pantherina-supplemented diet was the strongest, so that the D. melanogaster in this group had no offspring. The macrofungal-supplemented diets were able to significantly reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes, accumulate peroxidation products, up-regulatd the transcription of genes related to signaling pathways, inhibit the expression of longevity genes, reduce the lifespan and fertility of D. melanogaster. Consequently, we hypothetically suggest that medicinal C. comatus, P. cinnabarinus and P. rubicundus hold the potential to be developed into an environmentally friendly biopesticide for fly killing.
Ticks and tick-borne microbes identified through passive and active surveillance in Alaska
Authors: Hahn Micah B , Hojgaard Andrias , Disler Gale , George William , Droghini Amanda , Schlaht Renate , Durden Lance A , Coburn Sarah , Gerlach Robert , Eisen Rebecca J
Published: June 2023

Rapid environmental change in Alaska and other regions of the Arctic and sub-Arctic has raised concerns about increasing human exposure to ticks and the pathogens they carry. We tested a sample of ticks collected through a combination of passive and active surveillance from humans, domestic animals, and wildlife hosts in Alaska for a panel of the most common tick-borne pathogens in the contiguous United States to characterize the diversity of microbes present in this region. We tested 189 pooled tick samples collected in 2019-2020 for Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Babesia spp. using a multiplex PCR amplicon sequencing assay. We found established populations of Ixodes angustus Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae), Ixodes uriae White (Acari: Ixodidae), and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris Packard (Acari: Ixodidae) in Alaska, with I. angustus found on a variety of hosts including domestic companion animals (dogs and cats), small wild mammals, and humans. Ixodes angustus were active from April through October with peaks in adult and nymphal activity observed in summer months (mainly July). Although no known human pathogens were detected, Babesia microti-like parasites and candidatus Ehrlichia khabarensis were identified in ticks and small mammals. The only human pathogen detected (B. burgdorferi s.s.) was found in a tick associated with a dog that had recently traveled to New York, where Lyme disease is endemic. This study highlights the value of a combined passive and active tick surveillance system to detect introduced tick species and pathogens and to assess which tick species and microbes are locally established.
Neutrophilic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Severity in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Omar Mona A , El Hawary Rabab , Eldash Alia , Sadek Khaled M , Soliman Neveen A , Hanna Mariam Onsy F , Shawky Shereen M
Published: June 2023

Background

While we strive to live with SARS-CoV-2, defining the immune response that leads to recovery rather than severe disease remains highly important. COVID-19 has been associated with inflammation and a profoundly suppressed immune response.

Objective

To study myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which are potent immunosuppressive cells, in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results

Patients with severe and critical COVID-19 showed higher frequencies of neutrophilic (PMN)–MDSCs than patients with moderate illness and control individuals (P = .005). Severe disease in individuals older and younger than 60 years was associated with distinct PMN-MDSC frequencies, being predominantly higher in patients of 60 years of age and younger (P = .004). However, both age groups showed comparable inflammatory markers. In our analysis for the prediction of poor outcome during hospitalization, MDSCs were not associated with increased risk of death. Still, patients older than 60 years of age (odds ratio [OR] = 5.625; P = .02) with preexisting medical conditions (OR = 2.818; P = .003) showed more severe disease and worse outcome. Among the immunological parameters, increased C-reactive protein (OR = 1.015; P = .04) and lymphopenia (OR = 5.958; P = .04) strongly identified patients with poor prognosis.

Conclusion

PMN-MDSCs are associated with disease severity in COVID-19; however, MDSC levels do not predict increased risk of death during hospitalization.
Clinical impacts of the rapid diagnostic method on positive blood cultures
Authors: Tsai Ya-Wen , Zhang Bin , Chou Hsiu-Yin , Chen Hung-Jui , Hsu Yu-Chi , Shiue Yow-Ling
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of short-term incubation (STI) protocol on clinical outcomes of bloodstream infection (BSI) patients.

Methods

A total of 1363 positive blood culture records from January 2019 to December 2021 were included. The main clinical outcomes included pathogen identification turnaround time (TAT), antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) TAT, and length of total hospital stay.

Results

The TAT of pathogen identification and AST significantly decreased after implementing the STI protocol (2.2 vs 1.4 days and 3.4 vs 2.5 days, respectively, with P < .001 for both). Moreover, for patients with Gram-negative bacteria (GNB)–infected BSIs, the length of total hospital stay decreased from 31.9 days to 27.1 days, indicating that these patients could be discharged 5 days earlier after implementing the STI protocol (P < .01).

Conclusion

The protocol led to a significant reduction in TAT and improved clinical outcomes, particularly for GNB organisms. The findings suggest that the STI protocol can improve patient outcomes and hospital resource utilization in the management of BSIs.
Measurement of stellar and substellar winds using white dwarf hosts
Authors: Walters N , Farihi J , Dufour P , Pineda J S , Izzard R G
Published: June 2023

White dwarfs stars are known to be polluted by their active planetary systems, but little attention has been paid to the accretion of wind from low-mass companions. The capture of stellar or substellar wind by white dwarfs is one of few methods available to astronomers which can assess mass-loss rates from unevolved stars and brown dwarfs, and the only known method to extract their chemical compositions. In this work, four white dwarfs with closely orbiting, L-type brown dwarf companions are studied to place limits on the accretion of a substellar wind, with one case of a detection, and at an extremely non-solar abundance mNa/mCa > 900. The mass-loss rates and upper limits are tied to accretion in the white dwarfs, based on limiting cases for how the wind is captured, and compared with known cases of wind pollution from close M dwarf companions, which manifest in solar proportions between all elements detected. For wind captured in a Bondi–Hoyle flow, mass-loss limits $\dot{M}\lesssim 5\times 10^{-17}$ ${\rm M}_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1}$ are established for three L dwarfs, while for M dwarfs polluting their hosts, winds in the range 10−13−10−16 ${\rm M}_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1}$ are found. The latter compares well with the $\dot{M}\sim 10^{-13} {\!-\!} 10^{-15}$ ${\rm M}_\odot \, {\rm yr}^{-1}$ estimates obtained for nearby, isolated M dwarfs using Ly$\alpha$ to probe their astropsheres. These results demonstrate that white dwarfs are highly sensitive stellar and substellar wind detectors, where further work on the actual captured wind flow is needed.
Direct observations of the atomic-molecular phase transition in the Milky Way’s nuclear wind
Authors: Noon Karlie A , Krumholz Mark R , Di Teodoro Enrico M , McClure-Griffiths Naomi M , Lockman Felix J , Armillotta Lucia
Published: June 2023

Hundreds of high-velocity atomic gas clouds exist above and below the Galactic Centre, with some containing a molecular component. However, the origin of these clouds in the Milky Way’s wind is unclear. This paper presents new high-resolution MeerKAT observations of three atomic gas clouds and studies the relationship between the atomic and molecular phases at ∼1 pc scales. The clouds’ atomic hydrogen column densities, NH i, are less than a few × 1020 cm−2, but the two clouds closest to the Galactic Centre none the less have detectable CO emission. This implies the presence of H2 at levels of NH i at least a factor of ten lower than in the typical Galactic interstellar medium. For the cloud closest to the Galactic Centre, detectable CO coexists across the entire range of H i column densities. In contrast, for the intermediate cloud, detectable CO is heavily biased towards the highest values of NH i. The cloud most distant from the Galactic Centre has no detectable CO at similar NH i values. Moreover, we find that the two clouds with detectable CO are too molecule-rich to be in chemical equilibrium, given the depths of their atomic shielding layers, which suggests a scenario whereby these clouds consist of pre-existing molecular gas from the disc that the Galactic wind has swept up, and that is dissociating into atomic hydrogen as it flows away from the Galaxy. We estimate that entrained molecular material of this type has a ∼few − 10 Myr lifetime before photodissociating.
The MPIfR–MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey – I. System set-up and early results
Authors: Padmanabh P V , Barr E D , Sridhar S S , Rugel M R , Damas-Segovia A , Jacob A M , Balakrishnan V , Berezina M , Bernadich M C , Brunthaler A , Champion D J , Freire P C C , Khan S , Klöckner H-R , Kramer M , Ma Y K , Mao S A , Men Y P , Menten K M , Sengupta S , Venkatraman Krishnan V , Wucknitz O , Wyrowski F , Bezuidenhout M C , Buchner S , Burgay M , Chen W , Clark C J , Künkel L , Nieder L , Stappers B , Legodi L S , Nyamai M M
Published: June 2023

Galactic plane radio surveys play a key role in improving our understanding of a wide range of astrophysical phenomena. Performing such a survey using the latest interferometric telescopes produces large data rates necessitating a shift towards fully or quasi-real-time data analysis with data being stored for only the time required to process them. We present here the overview and set-up for the 3000-h Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie (MPIfR)–MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (MMGPS). The survey is unique by operating in a commensal mode, addressing key science objectives of the survey including the discovery of new pulsars and transients and studies of Galactic magnetism, the interstellar medium and star formation rates. We explain the strategy coupled with the necessary hardware and software infrastructure needed for data reduction in the imaging, spectral, and time domains. We have so far discovered 78 new pulsars including 17 confirmed binary systems of which two are potential double neutron star systems. We have also developed an imaging pipeline sensitive to the order of a few tens of micro-Jansky ($\mu{\rm Jy}$) with a spatial resolution of a few arcseconds. Further science operations with an in-house built S-band receiver operating between 1.7 and 3.5 GHz are about to commence. Early spectral line commissioning observations conducted at S-band, targeting transitions of the key molecular gas tracer CH at 3.3 GHz already illustrate the spectroscopic capabilities of this instrument. These results lay a strong foundation for future surveys with telescopes like the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).
Coronal line forest AGN - II. Analysis of the spectral energy distribution
Authors: Cerqueira-Campos F C , Rodríguez-Ardila A , Panda S , Riffel R , Dahmer-Hahn L G , Marinello M
Published: June 2023

Coronal-Line Forest Active Galactic Nuclei (CLiF AGN) are characterized by strong, high-ionization lines, which are in contrast to what is found in typical AGNs. Here, we carry out an infrared analysis aimed at understanding the spectral energy distribution (SED) of six sources from this group. In this work, the properties of the dusty torus for these objects are analysed. To this purpose, we infer the physical and geometrical properties of the dust structure that surrounds the central region by fitting with models, the SED of CLiF AGNs in the infrared. For this analysis, we compare the results of three models: clumpy, skirtor, and cat3d-wind. Using the Bayesian information criterion, skirtor was found to have the most robust fit to the SEDs in five out of six galaxies. The remaining object was best fitted with clumpy. The results indicate that these objects are preferentially Type I sources, supporting the detection of broad components in the permitted lines, likely associated with the broad-line region in the near-infrared spectra. The best SED fitting indicates that the line of sight gives access to the view of the central source for these objects, but the amount of dusty clouds in the same direction is high, suggesting the hypothesis that they obscure the emission of the continuum produced by the central source and that the obscuration makes the coronal lines to not overlap with the continuum.
Return of the forgotten hero: the role of Y chromosome-encodedZfyin male reproduction
Authors: Holmlund Hayden , Yamauchi Yasuhiro , Ruthig Victor A , Cocquet Julie , Ward Monika A
Published: June 2023

The Y-linked zinc finger gene ZFY is conserved across eutherians and is known to be a critical fertility factor in some species. The initial studies of the mouse homologues, Zfy1 and Zfy2, were performed using mice with spontaneous Y chromosome mutations and Zfy transgenes. These studies revealed that Zfy is involved in multiple processes during spermatogenesis, including removal of germ cells with unpaired chromosomes and control of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation during meiosis I, facilitating the progress of meiosis II, promoting spermiogenesis, and improving assisted reproduction outcomes. Zfy was also identified as a key gene in Y chromosome evolution, protecting this chromosome from extinction by serving as the executioner responsible for meiosis surveillance. Studies with targeted Zfy knock-outs revealed that mice lacking both homologues have severe spermatogenic defects and are infertile. Based on protein structure and in vitro assays, Zfy is expected to drive spermatogenesis as a transcriptional regulator. The combined evidence documents that the presence of at least one Zfy homologue is required for male fertility and that Zfy2 plays a more prominent role. This knowledge reinforces the importance of these factors for mouse spermatogenesis and informs our understanding of the human ZFY variants, which are homologous to the mouse Zfy1 and Zfy2.