bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospective Association Between Plasma Amino Acids and Multimorbidity in Older Adults
Authors: Caballero Francisco Félix , Lana Alberto , Struijk Ellen A , Arias-Fernández Lucía , Yévenes-Briones Humberto , Cárdenas-Valladolid Juan , Salinero-Fort Miguel Ángel , Banegas José R , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando , Lopez-Garcia Esther
Published: July 2022

Background

Some amino acids have been associated with aging-related disorders and risk of physical impairment. The aim of this study was to assess the association between plasma concentrations of 9 amino acids, including branched-chain and aromatic amino acids, and multimorbidity.

Methods

This research uses longitudinal data from the Seniors-ENRICA 2 study, a population-based cohort from Spain that comprises noninstitutionalized adults older than 65. Blood samples were extracted at baseline and after a follow-up period of 2 years for a total of 1 488 subjects. Participants’ information was linked with electronic health records. Chronic diseases were grouped into a list of 60 mutually exclusive conditions. A quantitative measure of multimorbidity, weighting morbidities by their regression coefficients on physical functioning, was employed and ranged from 0 to 100. Generalized estimating equation models were used to explore the relationship between plasma amino acids and multimorbidity, adjusting for sociodemographics, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle behaviors.

Results

The mean age of participants at baseline was 73.6 (SD = 4.2) years, 49.6% were women. Higher concentrations of glutamine (coef. per mmol/l [95% confidence interval] = 10.1 [3.7, 16.6]), isoleucine (50.3 [21.7, 78.9]), and valine (15.5 [3.1, 28.0]) were significantly associated with higher multimorbidity scores, after adjusting for potential confounders. Body mass index could have influenced the relationship between isoleucine and multimorbidity (p = .016).

Conclusions

Amino acids could play a role in regulating aging-related diseases. Glutamine and branched-chain amino acids as isoleucine and valine are prospectively associated and could serve as risk markers for multimorbidity in older adults.
Endovascular plugs to occlude proximal entries in chronic aortic dissection
Authors: Sandström Charlotte , Roos Håkan , Henrikson Olof , Fagman Erika , Johnsson Åse A , Jeppsson Anders , Falkenberg Mårten
Published: July 2022

OBJECTIVES

Patients with expanding chronic aortic dissection and patent proximal entries are sometimes poor candidates for open surgery or TEVAR. Occlusion of proximal entries with endovascular plugs has previously been suggested in selected patients, but clinical results over time are unknown. This study analyses aortic remodelling and clinical outcome after proximal entry occlusion.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2016, 14 patients, with expanding chronic aortic dissection, considered poor candidates for standard treatment, were treated with endovascular plugs in proximal entries located in the arch (n = 6) or descending aorta (n = 8). The Amplatzer™ Vascular Plug II was used for entries ≤4 mm and the Amplatzer™ Septal Occluder or Amplatzer™ Muscular VSD Occluder for entries 5–16 mm. Patients were followed for 0.5–13 years (median 7.3) with clinical visits and computed tomography. Diameters and cross-sectional areas along the aorta were measured.

RESULTS

Occlusion of proximal entries was achieved in 10/14 patients (71%), including 4 patients with an adjunctive reintervention needed for complete seal in the segment. Unchanged or reduced maximum thoracic aortic diameter was observed in all 10 patients with successful occlusion. In 4 patients, proximal occlusion was not achieved and early conversion to FET (n = 1), FET/TEVAR (n = 2) or TEVAR (n = 1) was performed. Two aorta-related deaths occurred during follow-up, both after early conversion.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular occlusion of proximal dissection entries of expanding chronic aortic dissections can induce favourable aortic remodelling and may be considered in selected patients with expanding chronic aortic dissection who are poor candidates for open surgery or stent graft repair.
Hydraulic conductivity predictive model of RHA-ameliorated laterite for solving landfill liner leachate, soil and water contamination and carbon emission problems
Authors: Onyelowe Kennedy C , Ebid Ahmed M , de Jesús Arrieta Baldovino Jair , Onyia Michael E
Published: July 2022

The environment is seriously being affected by the leachate release at the unconstructed and badly constructed waste containment or landfill facilities around the globe. The worst hit is the developing world where there is little or totally no waste management system and facilities to receive waste released into the atmosphere. This research work is focused on the leachate drain into the soil and the underground water from landfills, which toxicifies both the soil and the water. Also, the construction of the liner or barrier with cement poses serious threat to the environment due to oxides of carbon release and this research also took this into account by replacing the utilization of cement with rice husk ash (RHA), which has proven to have the potentials of replacing cement as a supplementary binder. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the hydraulic conductivity (K) of lateritic soil (LS) ameliorated with different dosages of RHA. Other hydromechanical properties of the treated blend were studied and multiple data were generated for the artificial neural network (ANN) back-propagation (-BP), genetic algorithm (GA) and gradual reducing gradient (GRG), genetic programming (GP) and evolutionary polynomial regression (EPR) prediction exercises. Results show that the LS was a poorly graded A-2 sandy silt soil, which was subjected to three different compaction energies with the minimum of the British standard light (BSL) and derived k of 6.95E-10, 50.75E-10 and 32.33E-10 for BSL, west African standard and British standard heavy, respectively. The RHA addition improved the studied properties of the ameliorated LS. Out of the five models, the ANN-GRG outclassed others with a performance of 99% with minimal error compared with the rest. Potentially, this research has shown that RHA with a pozzolanic chemical moduli of 81.47% can replace cement in the construction of ecofriendly and more efficient landfills and waste containemnt barriers to save the soil and the underground water as well as the environment from leachate contamination and carbon emissions.
Construction of highly hydrophobic and fast endothermic surfaces using candle soot and nano-TiO2
Authors: Liu Hao , Du Yangfan , Zhou Qianyu , Wang Shifeng , Gao Qi
Published: July 2022

This work combines hydrophobic and heat-absorbing materials to solve the problem of water and frost resistance in industrial and domestic scenarios in harsh environments. Here, highly hydrophobic and fast endothermic (HHFE) surfaces were prepared by applying candle soot (nanocarbon) as the template, slides as the carrier and nano-TiO2 as a backbone and a connecting layer. The resulting HHFE surface exhibited a coral-like porous structure, which is beneficial to hydrophobic performance. The contact angle between the water droplet and the glass with the HHFE coating was about 120°, thus implying that the prepared HHFE surface with a TiO2 skeleton layer has excellent hydrophobicity. The hydrophobic mechanism of the HHFE surface can be explained by the Cassie–Baxter model. Infrared thermography and thermometry were used to record the thermal capacity and heat-absorbing rate of the HHFE surface. The temperature of the glass covered with the HHFE coating rose from 16°C to 38°C within 5 minutes, which is 46.2% higher in capacity and 2.2 times faster in rate than ordinary glass under the same solar irradiation. The resulting HHFE thin film consists of nanocarbon materials, and nano-TiO2 particles were hydrophobic and good heat absorbers. They have great potential for anti-freezing and water-proofing applications, especially in harsh environments.
Research on the strategy of lithium-ion battery-supercapacitor hybrid energy storage to suppress power fluctuation of DC microgrid
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zhong Ming , Han Junfei , Sun Yumei , Wang Yang
Published: July 2022

The wide application of clean energy has promoted the development of microgrids. For direct current (DC) microgrids, power fluctuations are inevitable, because photovoltaics, wind power and other clean energy sources are very unstable, which will bring great trouble to DC microgrids. Hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) are an effective solution to suppress power fluctuations. For a HESS composed of battery and supercapacitor (SC), a low-pass filter is usually used to allocate energy and power requirements to each energy storage unit, but the filter constant of the filter cannot be dynamically adjusted to adapt to different situations. The low-pass filter compensation coefficient used in this paper will change with the state of charge and discharge, and dynamically change and allocate different power requirements to the battery and SC according to the actual operating conditions of the HESS. The objective function of DC bus power fluctuation is established, and the optimized particle swarm algorithm (PSO) is used to obtain the output power coefficient of each energy storage unit. The output coefficient of the HESS control strategy has the characteristics of fast convergence speed and high computational efficiency in the optimization process, and it will not fall into the local optimal solution. Through the design experiment, the SC can withstand more high-frequency components, fully utilize the advantages of SC with fast response to power fluctuations, improve the performance of HESS, and have great engineering application value.
Quantifying thermal strain of steel plate subjected to constant temperature by distributed fiber optic sensors
Authors: Zhu Yanping , Chen Genda
Published: July 2022

Effective strain measurement tools for steel structure at high temperature are limited due to a significant gap in measurement science. This study aims to experimentally and numerically investigate the effectiveness and limitation of Rayleigh scattering based, distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS) without coatings for measuring the temperature and strain of a steel plate subjected to a local constant temperature. The DFOS were bonded to the steel plate by an epoxy with different bond lengths to measure coupled strain and temperature effect, while the DFOS near the end of the epoxied segment measured the temperature effect only for temperature discrimination. It was found that the DFOS accurately measured the temperature and strain of the steel plate with different bond lengths of the epoxy, as compared to the thermocouple temperature and thermal-induced strain, respectively. The maximum strain (or temperature) that the DFOS without coatings could measure for the steel plate was less than 1600 $\mu \varepsilon$ (or 150${}^{\circ}\textrm{C}$). Moreover, a local finite element model with the calibrated elastic modulus of the epoxy subjected to a uniform temperature field well captured optical fiber strains in the elastic stage. From parametric studies, the effect of the thermal expansion coefficients and elastic moduli of the optical fiber, epoxy, and host material as well as any initial defect between the optical fiber and epoxy on the strain transfer coefficient was investigated. The elastic modulus of epoxy within 100 MPa and the rectangular cross-section of epoxy (0.5 mm thick and 4 mm wide) could achieve a strain transfer coefficient of 0.997, while the initial defect had a similar effect on the strain transfer to the protective coating. The normal-distribution epoxy shape was designed for guiding robot assisted intelligent instrumentation and construction in the future.
Clinical decision support improves blood culture collection before intravenous antibiotic administration in the emergency department
Authors: Dutta Sayon , McEvoy Dustin S , Rubins David M , Dighe Anand S , Filbin Michael R , Rhee Chanu
Published: July 2022

Objective

Surviving Sepsis guidelines recommend blood cultures before administration of intravenous (IV) antibiotics for patients with sepsis or moderate to high risk of bacteremia. Clinical decision support (CDS) that reminds emergency department (ED) providers to obtain blood cultures when ordering IV antibiotics may lead to improvements in this process measure.

Methods

This was a multicenter causal impact analysis comparing timely blood culture collections prior to IV antibiotics for adult ED patients 1 year before and after a CDS intervention implementation in the electronic health record. A Bayesian structured time-series model compared daily timely blood cultures collected compared to a forecasted synthetic control. Mixed effects models evaluated the impact of the intervention controlling for confounders.

Results

The analysis included 54 538 patients over 2 years. In the baseline phase, 46.1% had blood cultures prior to IV antibiotics, compared to 58.8% after the intervention. Causal impact analysis determined an absolute increase of 13.1% (95% CI 10.4–15.7%) of timely blood culture collections overall, although the difference in patients with a sepsis diagnosis or who met CDC Adult Sepsis Event criteria was not significant, absolute difference 8.0% (95% CI −0.2 to 15.8). Blood culture positivity increased in the intervention phase, and contamination rates were similar in both study phases.

Discussion

CDS improved blood culture collection before IV antibiotics in the ED, without increasing overutilization.

Conclusion

A simple CDS alert increased timely blood culture collections in ED patients for whom concern for infection was high enough to warrant IV antibiotics.
Constructing foldable cylindrical surfaces via unfolded waterbomb origami units
Authors: Zhao Yan , Wei Yinglei , Jia Yiyang , Li Shiling , Zhang Mingyue , Zeng Lanling , Yang Yang , Mitani Jun
Published: July 2022

Origami tessellations have shown the potential to be utilized for approximating curved target surfaces by folding a set of elemental units. As those units are in partially folded states, the origami approximation captures the outline of the target while demonstrating a corrugated surface. In this paper, we focus on the cylindrical surface and propose a method for constructing its discrete version via square or rectangular units with crease patterns inspired by the waterbomb tessellation. We unify the unit size through optimization to realize cost-efficient constructions. Three-dimensional curved structures are deployed by folding collinear creases between adjacent rows of units and the other creases in each row are remained unfolded. The deployed structure can still be folded to a compact state by folding all creases. To flexibly approximate the outline of the target surface, we analyse relationships between the width and height of the rectangular unit and utilize variations of the waterbomb tessellation to control the region of the origami structure when fully folded. The proposed method provides a novel solution to the so-called inverse-origami-design problem for generating foldable cylindrical surfaces using unfolded waterbomb origami units.
Docetaxel for Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer: Long-Term Survival Outcomes in the STAMPEDE Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: James Nicholas D , Ingleby Fiona C , Clarke Noel W , Amos Claire L , Attard Gerhardt , Brawley Christopher D , Chowdhury Simon , Cross William , Dearnaley David P , Gilbert Duncan C , Gillessen Silke , Jones Robert J , Langley Ruth E , Macnair Archie , Malik Zafar I , Mason Malcolm D , Matheson David J , Millman Robin , Parker Chris C , Rush Hannah L , Russell J Martin , Au Carly , Ritchie Alastair W S , Mestre Ricardo Pereira , Ahmed Imtiaz , Birtle Alison J , Brock Susannah J , Das Prantik , Ford Victoria A , Gray Emma K , Hughes Robert J , Manetta Caroline B , McLaren Duncan B , Nikapota Ashok D , O’Sullivan Joe M , Perna Carla , Peedell Clive , Protheroe Andrew S , Sundar Santhanam , Tanguay Jacob S , Tolan Shaun P , Wagstaff John , Wallace Jan B , Wylie James P , Zarkar Anjali , Parmar Mahesh K B , Sydes Matthew R
Published: July 2022

Background

STAMPEDE previously reported adding upfront docetaxel improved overall survival for prostate cancer patients starting long-term androgen deprivation therapy. We report long-term results for non-metastatic patients using, as primary outcome, metastatic progression-free survival (mPFS), an externally demonstrated surrogate for overall survival.

Methods

Standard of care (SOC) was androgen deprivation therapy with or without radical prostate radiotherapy. A total of 460 SOC and 230 SOC plus docetaxel were randomly assigned 2:1. Standard survival methods and intention to treat were used. Treatment effect estimates were summarized from adjusted Cox regression models, switching to restricted mean survival time if non-proportional hazards. mPFS (new metastases, skeletal-related events, or prostate cancer death) had 70% power (α = 0.05) for a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.70. Secondary outcome measures included overall survival, failure-free survival (FFS), and progression-free survival (PFS: mPFS, locoregional progression).

Results

Median follow-up was 6.5 years with 142 mPFS events on SOC (3 year and 54% increases over previous report). There was no good evidence of an advantage to SOC plus docetaxel on mPFS (HR = 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66 to 1.19; P = .43); with 5-year mPFS 82% (95% CI = 78% to 87%) SOC plus docetaxel vs 77% (95% CI = 73% to 81%) SOC. Secondary outcomes showed evidence SOC plus docetaxel improved FFS (HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.55 to 0.88; P = .002) and PFS (nonproportional P = .03, restricted mean survival time difference = 5.8 months, 95% CI = 0.5 to 11.2; P = .03) but no good evidence of overall survival benefit (125 SOC deaths; HR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.64 to 1.21; P = .44). There was no evidence SOC plus docetaxel increased late toxicity: post 1 year, 29% SOC and 30% SOC plus docetaxel grade 3-5 toxicity.

Conclusions

There is robust evidence that SOC plus docetaxel improved FFS and PFS (previously shown to increase quality-adjusted life-years), without excess late toxicity, which did not translate into benefit for longer-term outcomes. This may influence patient management in individual cases.
The completed SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: measurement of the growth rate of structure from the small-scale clustering of the luminous red galaxy sample
Authors: Chapman Michael J , Mohammad Faizan G , Zhai Zhongxu , Percival Will J , Tinker Jeremy L , Bautista Julian E , Brownstein Joel R , Burtin Etienne , Dawson Kyle S , Gil-Marín Héctor , de la Macorra Axel , Ross Ashley J , Rossi Graziano , Schneider Donald P , Zhao Gong-Bo
Published: July 2022

We measure the small-scale clustering of the Data Release 16 extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey Luminous Red Galaxy sample, corrected for fibre-collisions using Pairwise Inverse Probability weights, which give unbiased clustering measurements on all scales. We fit to the monopole and quadrupole moments and to the projected correlation function over the separation range $7-60\, h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}$ with a model based on the aemulus cosmological emulator to measure the growth rate of cosmic structure, parametrized by fσ8. We obtain a measurement of fσ8(z = 0.737) = 0.408 ± 0.038, which is 1.4σ lower than the value expected from 2018 Planck data for a flat ΛCDM model, and is more consistent with recent weak-lensing measurements. The level of precision achieved is 1.7 times better than more standard measurements made using only the large-scale modes of the same sample. We also fit to the data using the full range of scales $0.1\text{--}60\, h^{-1}{\rm Mpc}$ modelled by the aemulus cosmological emulator and find a 4.5σ tension in the amplitude of the halo velocity field with the Planck + ΛCDM model, driven by a mismatch on the non-linear scales. This may not be cosmological in origin, and could be due to a breakdown in the Halo Occupation Distribution model used in the emulator. Finally, we perform a robust analysis of possible sources of systematics, including the effects of redshift uncertainty and incompleteness due to target selection that were not included in previous analyses fitting to clustering measurements on small scales.
Fuzzy dark matter and the Dark Energy Survey Year 1 data
Authors: Dentler Mona , Marsh David J E , Hložek Renée , Laguë Alex , Rogers Keir K , Grin Daniel
Published: July 2022

Gravitational weak lensing by dark matter haloes leads to a measurable imprint in the shear correlation function of galaxies. Fuzzy dark matter (FDM), composed of ultralight axion-like particles of mass m ∼ 10−22 eV, suppresses the matter power spectrum and shear correlation with respect to standard cold dark matter. We model the effect of FDM on cosmic shear using the optimized halo model HMCode, accounting for additional suppression of the mass function and halo concentration in FDM as observed in N-body simulations. We combine Dark Energy Survey Year 1 (DES-Y1) data with the Planck cosmic microwave background anisotropies to search for shear correlation suppression caused by FDM. We find no evidence of suppression compared to the preferred cold dark matter model, and thus set a new lower limit to the FDM particle mass. Using a log-flat prior and marginalizing over uncertainties related to the non-linear model of FDM, we find a new, independent 95 per cent C.L. lower limit log10m > −23 combining Planck and DES-Y1 shear, an improvement of almost two orders of magnitude on the mass bound relative to CMB-only constraints. Our analysis is largely independent of baryonic modelling, and of previous limits to FDM covering this mass range. Our analysis highlights the most important aspects of the FDM non-linear model for future investigation. The limit to FDM from weak lensing could be improved by up to three orders of magnitude with $\mathcal {O}(0.1)$ arcmin cosmic shear angular resolution, if FDM and baryonic feedback can be simultaneously modelled to high precision in the halo model.
Correlations between X-ray spectral parameters of Mkn 421 using long-term Swift–XRT data
Authors: Khatoon Rukaiya , Shah Zahir , Hota Jyotishree , Misra Ranjeev , Gogoi Rupjyoti , Pradhan Ananta C
Published: July 2022

We have performed a detailed analysis of the X-ray spectra of the blazar Mkn 421 using Swift–XRT observations taken between 2005 and 2020, to quantify the correlations between spectral parameters for different models. In an earlier work, it has been shown that such spectral parameter correlations obtained from a single short flare of duration ∼5 d of Mkn 421, can be used to distinguish spectrally degenerate models and provide estimates of physical quantities. In this work, we show that the results from the long-term spectral parameter correlations are consistent with those obtained from the single flare. In particular, that the observed spectral curvature is due to maximum cut-off energy in the particle distribution is ruled out. Instead, models where the curvature is due to the energy dependence of escape or acceleration time-scale of the particles are favoured. The estimated values of the physical parameters for these models are similar to the ones obtained from the single flare analysis and are somewhat incompatible with the physical assumption of the models, suggesting that more complex physical models are required. The consistency of the results obtained from the long- and short-term evolution of the source, underlines the reliability of the technique to use spectral parameter correlations to distinguish physical models.
Comparison of the active galactic nuclei Baldwin effect with the modified Baldwin effect of the ultraviolet-optical emission lines in a single sample
Authors: Wang Yongjiang , Liu Wanqing , Shang Zhaohui , Brotherton Michael S
Published: July 2022

The inverse relationship between equivalent width (EW) of broad emission lines and the underlying continuum luminosity, known as the Baldwin effect (BE), is an important and well-studied correlation in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). However, the EW is also considered to be anticorrelated with the Eddington ratio, referred to as the modified Baldwin effect (MBE). Investigating whether the BE or MBE is the stronger correlation is important for studying the ionization mechanism and the broad-line region of AGN. Based on a sample of 85 bright quasars with quasi-simultaneous ultraviolet (UV)-optical spectra and a redshift range of 0.03–1.404 from Shang et al., we first present line fitting and measurements of the O vi line that were not previously available and the Si iv + O iv] line. We then investigate and compare the BE and MBE of multiple UV and optical emission lines from this single sample. We find that the BE of most of the broad emission lines is stronger than the MBE. Furthermore, we confirm the previous result that the slope of the BE steepens with the ionization energy of the line, and also find that the MBE slope shows a similar trend. In addition, compared with the C iv line, the O vi shows a broader line width and a larger peak velocity blueshift with respect to the systemic redshift. These results are also in agreement with previous studies and imply that, compared to the C iv gas, the O vi line-emitting gas is closer to the accretion disc and is more strongly influenced by the accretion disc wind.
SEQ2MGS: an effective tool for generating realistic artificial metagenomes from the existing sequencing data
Authors: Van Camp Pieter-Jan , Porollo Aleksey
Published: July 2022

Assessment of bioinformatics tools for the metagenomics analysis from the whole genome sequencing data requires realistic benchmark sets. We developed an effective and simple generator of artificial metagenomes from real sequencing experiments. The tool (SEQ2MGS) analyzes the input FASTQ files, precomputes genomic content, and blends shotgun reads from different sequenced isolates, or spike isolate(s) in real metagenome, in desired proportions. SEQ2MGS eliminates the need for simulation of sequencing platform variations, reads distributions, presence of plasmids, viruses, and contamination. The tool is especially useful for a quick generation of multiple complex samples that include new or understudied organisms, even without assembled genomes. For illustration, we first demonstrated the ease of SEQ2MGS use for the simulation of altered Schaedler flora (ASF) in comparison with de novo metagenomics generators Grinder and CAMISIM. Next, we emulated the emergence of a pathogen in the human gut microbiome and observed that Kraken, Centrifuge, and MetaPhlAn, while correctly identified Klebsiella pneumoniae, produced inconsistent results for the rest of real metagenome. Finally, using the MG-RAST platform, we affirmed that SEQ2MGS properly transfers genomic information from an isolate into the simulated metagenome by the correct identification of antimicrobial resistance genes anticipated to appear compared to the original metagenome.
Changing Diagnostic Testing Practices for Foodborne Pathogens, Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 2012–2019
Authors: Ray Logan C , Griffin Patricia M , Wymore Katie , Wilson Elisha , Hurd Sharon , LaClair Bethany , Wozny Sophia , Eikmeier Dana , Nicholson Cyndy , Burzlaff Kari , Hatch Julie , Fankhauser Melissa , Kubota Kristy , Huang Jennifer Y , Geissler Aimee , Payne Daniel C , Tack Danielle M
Published: July 2022

Background

Pathogen detection has changed with increased use of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs). CIDTs do not yield isolates, which are necessary to detect outbreaks using whole-genome sequencing. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) monitors clinical laboratory testing practices to improve interpretation of surveillance data and assess availability of isolates. We describe changes in practices over 8 years.

Methods

During 2012–2019, 10 FoodNet sites collected standardized data about practices in clinical laboratories (range, 664–723 laboratories) for select enteric pathogens. We assessed changes in practices.

Results

During 2012–2019, the percentage of laboratories that used only culture methods decreased, with the largest declines for Vibrio (99%–57%) and Yersinia (99%–60%). During 2019, the percentage of laboratories using only CIDTs was highest for Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (43%), Campylobacter (34%), and Vibrio (34%). From 2015 to 2019, the percentage of laboratories that performed reflex culture after a positive CIDT decreased, with the largest declines for Shigella (75%–42%) and Salmonella (70%–38%). The percentage of laboratories that routinely submitted isolates to a public health laboratory decreased for all bacterial pathogens examined from 2015 to 2019.

Conclusions

By increasing use of CIDTs and decreasing reflex culture, clinical laboratories have transferred the burden of isolate recovery to public health laboratories. Until technologies allow for molecular subtyping directly from a patient specimen, state public health laboratories should consider updating enteric disease reporting requirements to include submission of isolates or specimens. Public health laboratories need resources for isolate recovery.
Prevalence of Histoplasmosis and Molecular Characterization of Histoplasma species in Patients with Presumptive Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Calabar, Nigeria
Authors: Ekeng Bassey E , Oladele Rita O , Emanghe Ubleni E , Ochang Ernest A , Mirabeau Tatfeng Y
Published: July 2022

Background

Several case reports abound in literature about cases of histoplasmosis misdiagnosed as tuberculosis (TB). Nigeria is one of the highest TB-burdened countries, but data on histoplasmosis in Nigeria are sparse in the literature. The aim of this research was to investigate patients with presumptive pulmonary TB in Calabar, Nigeria, for histoplasmosis.

Methods

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 213 participants with presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary TB between April 2020 and March 2021. Urine samples were collected from selected patients for Histoplasma antigen test using enzyme immunoassay kits, while sputum samples were collected for GeneXpert test for confirmed diagnosis of TB and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

Results

Of the 213 participants enrolled into the study, 94 subjects (44.1%) were confirmed TB patients, 75 (35.2%) were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive, 41 (19.2%) had advanced HIV disease (AHD), and 138 (64.8%) were HIV negative. Twenty-seven of the 213 participants were Histoplasma positive by antigen test and/or PCR, giving an overall prevalence rate of 12.7%. The prevalence of histoplasmosis among confirmed TB patients (7.4% [7/94]) was significantly lower than in unconfirmed TB patients (16.8% [20/119]) (P = .04). Participants on anti-TB therapy also had a significantly lower rate of histoplasmosis compared to those not on anti-TB drugs (P = .00006). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing of the Histoplasma revealed a closely relatedness to Histoplasma capsulatum.

Conclusions

Histoplasmosis is not uncommon among presumptive TB patients. There should be proper microbiological investigation of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of TB to exclude cases of histoplasmosis.
Outcomes of Fungemia in Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: Rosas Melissa M , Sobieszczyk Michal J , Warren Whittney , Mason Phillip , Walter Robert J , Marcus Joseph E
Published: July 2022

There are limited data on the treatment of fungal infections complicating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In 14 patients who developed fungal bloodstream infections on ECMO, 8 (57%) survived to discharge. Of the 5 patients completing treatment prior to decannulation, 2 (40%) developed recurrent fungal infections.
Understanding emergency placements for Nova Scotian children in foster care
Authors: Cameron Hannah , Holland Alyson , Wong Tania
Published: July 2022

To cope with a critical lack of foster families, Nova Scotia’s Department of Community Services uses rented private facilities staffed by subcontracted companies, known as “places of safety”. Similar models are used across the country, with places of safety intended to be used for emergency placements only. The mean length of stay in a place of safety was 255 nights in 2020. Male children are far overrepresented, as are Indigenous children. Despite the increasing use of places of safety, little is known about the impacts of these short-term and unhomelike environments. Previous research on placement disruption shows that placement change and multiple placements impact children’s health, mental health, and attachment behaviour. This paper presents data on the use of places of safety in Nova Scotia and synthesizes existing research on placement disruption to present advocacy priorities and directions for further research.
Transcription factor CmbHLH16 regulates petal anthocyanin homeostasis under different lights in Chrysanthemum
Authors: Zhou Li-Jie , Wang Yuxi , Wang Yiguang , Song Aiping , Jiang Jiafu , Chen Sumei , Ding Baoqing , Guan Zhiyong , Chen Fadi
Published: July 2022

Light is essential to plant survival and elicits a wide range of plant developmental and physiological responses under different light conditions. A low red-to-far red (R/FR) light ratio induces shade-avoidance responses, including decreased anthocyanin accumulation, whereas a high R/FR light ratio promotes anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, the detailed molecular mechanism underpinning how different R/FR light ratios regulate anthocyanin homeostasis remains elusive, especially in non-model species. Here, we demonstrate that a low R/FR light ratio induced the expression of CmMYB4, which suppressed the anthocyanin activator complex CmMYB6-CmbHLH2, leading to the reduction of anthocyanin accumulation in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) petals. Specifically, CmMYB4 recruited the corepressor CmTPL (TOPLESS) to directly bind the CmbHLH2 promoter and suppressed its transcription by impairing histone H3 acetylation. Moreover, the low R/FR light ratio inhibited the PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR family transcription factor CmbHLH16, which can competitively bind to CmMYB4 and destabilize the CmMYB4–CmTPL protein complex. Under the high R/FR light ratio, CmbHLH16 was upregulated, which impeded the formation of the CmMYB4-CmTPL complex and released the suppression of CmbHLH2, thus promoting anthocyanin accumulation in Chrysanthemum petals. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which different R/FR light ratios fine-tune anthocyanin homeostasis in flower petals.
Cryocampsis: a biophysical freeze-bending response of shrubs and trees under snow loads
Authors: Ray Peter M , Bret-Harte M Syndonia
Published: July 2022

We report a biophysical mechanism, termed cryocampsis (Greek cryo-, cold, + campsis, bending), that helps northern shrubs bend downward under a snow load. Subfreezing temperatures substantially increase the downward bending of cantilever-loaded branches of these shrubs, while allowing them to recover their summer elevation after thawing and becoming unloaded. This is counterintuitive, because biological materials (including branches that show cryocampsis) generally become stiffer when frozen, so should flex less, rather than more, under a given bending load. Cryocampsis involves straining of the cell walls of a branch’s xylem (wood), and depends upon the branch being hydrated. Among woody species tested, cryocampsis occurs in almost all Arctic, some boreal, only a few temperate and Mediterranean, and no tropical woody species that we have tested. It helps cold-winter climate shrubs reversibly get, and stay, below the snow surface, sheltering them from winter weather and predation hazards. This should be advantageous, because Arctic shrub bud winter mortality significantly increases if their shoots are forcibly kept above the snow surface. Our observations reveal a physically surprising behavior of biological materials at subfreezing temperatures, and a previously unrecognized mechanism of woody plant adaptation to cold-winter climates. We suggest that cryocampsis’ mechanism involves the movement of water between cell wall matrix polymers and cell lumens during freezing, analogous to that of frost-heave in soils or rocks.
Toward tensor renormalization group study of three-dimensional non-Abelian gauge theory
Authors: Kuwahara Takaaki , Tsuchiya Asato
Published: July 2022

We propose a method to represent the path integral over gauge fields as a tensor network. We introduce a trial action with variational parameters and generate gauge field configurations with the weight defined by the trial action. We construct initial tensors with indices labelling these gauge field configurations. We perform the tensor renormalization group (TRG) with the initial tensors and optimize the variational parameters. As a first step to the TRG study of non-Abelian gauge theory in more than two dimensions, we apply this method to three-dimensional pure SU(2) gauge theory. Our result for the free energy agrees with the analytical results in the weak and strong coupling regimes.
CRYSTAL CONFIGURATION DEPENDENCE OF CSI(TL) SCINTILLATION DETECTORS ON ENVIRONMENTAL DOSE RATE MEASUREMENT
Authors: Tsuda S , Saito K
Published: July 2022

The crystal configuration dependence of thallium-doped caesium iodide (CsI(Tl)) scintillation detectors was analysed on an ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)). H*(10) were systematically calculated in various crystal conditions for aspect ratios and sizes in a virtual environment contaminated by radionuclides to investigate directional characteristics by comparing the H*(10)s with the typical irradiation geometries in anterior–posterior (AP), lateral (LAT), rotational (ROT) and isotropic (ISO). The simulation revealed that H*(10) obviously changes according to the crystal configuration and cuboidal CsI(Tl) scintillation detectors with specific aspect ratios could be applied to environmental dose rate measurement without further changes in the calibration procedure.
14Psychoanalysis
Authors: Vashisht Jivitesh
Published: July 2022

This chapter discusses four major works of scholarship—three monographs and an edited volume—from 2021 that stage fresh and highly topical encounters between psychoanalysis, politics, and aesthetics, with transformative consequences for each. It is organized into four sections: 1. Introduction: Psychoanalysis On and Off the Couch; 2. Reframing the Clinic (I): A Travelling Psychoanalysis for the Urban Poor, on Ankhi Mukherjee’s Unseen City: The Psychic Lives of the Urban Poor; 3. Reframing the Clinic (II): Cultural Objects and/as Psychic Objects, on Noreen Giffney’s The Culture-Breast in Psychoanalysis: Cultural Experiences and the Clinic; and finally, 4. Literature and Psychoanalysis: Whither Now?, on Naomi Wynter-Vincent’s Wilfred Bion and Literary Criticism and Vera J. Camden’s edited volume, The Cambridge Companion to Literature and Psychoanalysis.
Evaluation of Protein Extraction Methods for Metaproteomic Analyses of Root-Associated Microbes
Authors: Salvato Fernanda , Vintila Simina , Finkel Omri M. , Dangl Jeffery L. , Kleiner Manuel
Published: July 2022

Metaproteomics is a powerful tool for the characterization of metabolism, physiology, and functional interactions in microbial communities, including plant-associated microbiota. However, the metaproteomic methods that have been used to study plant-associated microbiota are very laborious and require large amounts of plant tissue, hindering wider application of these methods. We optimized and evaluated different protein extraction methods for metaproteomics of plant-associated microbiota in two different plant species ( Arabidopsis and maize). Our main goal was to identify a method that would work with low amounts of input material (40 to 70 mg) and that would maximize the number of identified microbial proteins. We tested eight protocols, each comprising a different combination of physical lysis method, extraction buffer, and cell-enrichment method on roots from plants grown with synthetic microbial communities. We assessed the performance of the extraction protocols by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry–based metaproteomics and found that the optimal extraction method differed between the two species. For Arabidopsis roots, protein extraction by beating whole roots with small beads provided the greatest number of identified microbial proteins and improved the identification of proteins from gram-positive bacteria. For maize, vortexing root pieces in the presence of large glass beads yielded the greatest number of microbial proteins identified. Based on these data, we recommend the use of these two methods for metaproteomics with Arabidopsis and maize. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of the eight tested protocols will enable future optimization of protein extraction for metaproteomics in other dicot and monocot plants.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Global Validation of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification
Authors: Vaccaro Alexander R. , Lambrechts Mark J. , Karamian Brian A. , Canseco Jose A. , Oner Cumhur , Benneker Lorin M. , Bransford Richard , Kandziora Frank , Shanmuganathan Rajasekaran , El-Sharkawi Mohammad , Kanna Rishi , Joaquim Andrei , Schnake Klaus , Kepler Christopher K. , Schroeder Gregory D. ,   AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification International Members
Published: July 2022

Study Design.

Global cross-sectional survey.

Objective.

To determine the classification accuracy, interobserver reliability, and intraobserver reproducibility of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System based on an international group of AO Spine members.

Summary of Background Data.

Previous upper cervical spine injury classifications have primarily been descriptive without incorporating a hierarchical injury progression within the classification system. Further, upper cervical spine injury classifications have focused on distinct anatomical segments within the upper cervical spine. The AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System incorporates all injuries of the upper cervical spine into a single classification system focused on a hierarchical progression from isolated bony injuries (type A) to fracture dislocations (type C).

Methods.

A total of 275 AO Spine members participated in a validation aimed at classifying 25 upper cervical spine injuries through computed tomography scans according to the AO Spine Upper Cervical Classification System. The validation occurred on two separate occasions, three weeks apart. Descriptive statistics for percent agreement with the gold-standard were calculated and the Pearson χ2 test evaluated significance between validation groups. Kappa coefficients (κ) determined the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility.

Results.

The accuracy of AO Spine members to appropriately classify upper cervical spine injuries was 79.7% on assessment 1 (AS1) and 78.7% on assessment 2 (AS2). The overall intraobserver reproducibility was substantial (κ=0.70), while the overall interobserver reliability for AS1 and AS2 was substantial (κ=0.63 and κ=0.61, respectively). Injury location had higher interobserver reliability (AS1: κ = 0.85 and AS2: κ=0.83) than the injury type (AS1: κ=0.59 and AS2: 0.57) on both assessments.

Conclusion.

The global validation of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System demonstrated substantial interobserver agreement and intraobserver reproducibility. These results support the universal applicability of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Injury Classification System.

Level of Evidence

4
OCULAR FACTORS RELATED TO PREOPERATIVE ENLARGEMENT OF IDIOPATHIC MACULAR HOLE DIAMETER
Authors: Terasaki Hiroto , Yamashita Toshifumi , Funatsu Ryoh , Shiihara Hideki , Yamashita Takehiro , Sakamoto Taiji
Published: July 2022

Purpose:

To determine the preoperative factors that are significantly correlated with an enlargement of an idiopathic macular hole (MH) during the one-month preoperative period.

Methods:

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with MH who had undergone vitrectomy in the Kagoshima University Hospital. The stage of the MH was determined by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Patients who had optical coherence tomography images at two time points more than 14 days apart before the vitrectomy were studied.

Results:

The MH participants were at Stage 2 in 44 eyes, at Stage 3 in 58 eyes, and at Stage 4 in 38 eyes. The rate of increase of the hole diameter was 26.0 ± 42.3% at Stage 2, 5.52 ± 15.5% at Stage 3, and 8.04 ± 18.7% at Stage 4. The rate of change at Stage 2 was significantly greater than that at Stage 3 and Stage 4 (both P < 0.01). In Stage 2, the MH diameter at the initial visit was significantly and negatively correlated with the rate of MH enlargement (r = −0.35, P = 0.021).

Conclusion:

Patients with Stage 2 MHs, especially eyes with small hole diameter, should be considered for early surgery.
Physical Therapy Management of Functional Constipation in Adults Executive Summary: A 2021 Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline From the American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy
Authors: LaCross Jennifer A. , Borello-France Diane , Marchetti Gregory F. , Turner Rose , George Susan
Published: July 2022

Background:

Functional constipation, diagnosed by physicians utilizing the Rome criteria, is a nonpathologic bowel condition resulting in difficulty with defecation. Adults with functional constipation experience infrequent defecation and may strain and/or use manual maneuvers to produce a bowel movement. Physical therapy should be offered as part of conservative intervention. The goals of this guideline were to describe the available evidence and create a reference document of evidence for physical therapists managing adults with functional constipation symptoms.

Methods:

A systematic search of the literature was performed for articles published between 1990 and 2019 related to physical therapy interventions for adult functional constipation. A summary of details including benefits, risks, harms, and costs related to each intervention category is provided.

Results:

Strong evidence suggests that physical therapists should offer biofeedback interventions to their patients with functional constipation, including either electromyographic, rectal balloon catheter, or anorectal manometry biofeedback. Moderate evidence supports the use of manual therapy, whereas weak evidence was found to support the use of electrical stimulation to manage adult functional constipation. Finally, although we were not able to grade the evidence for the use of patient education and therapeutic exercise in the physical therapy management of functional constipation, we did provide a summary of these interventions in the literature.

Discussion/Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that physical therapists can confidently include biofeedback interventions into the plan of care for adults with functional constipation, as they are supported by strong evidence. Manual therapy also provided a degree of evidence suitable to recommend its use.