bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Placental Pathology With Childhood Blood Pressure Among Children Born Preterm
Authors: Long Jingmiao , Zhang Mingyu , Wang Guoying , Hong Xiumei , Ji Yuelong , Bustamante-Helfrich Blandine , Wang Xiaobin , Mueller Noel T
Published: August 2021

Background

The in utero pathologies underlying the link between preterm birth and offspring high blood pressure (BP) are still unknown. We investigated the prospective associations of placental histopathological findings with childhood BP among children born preterm.

Methods

Our study sample included 546 mother–child pairs with preterm birth (before 37 weeks gestation) enrolled from 1999 to 2013 at the Boston Medical Center. Early preterm birth was defined as gestational age between 23 and 34 weeks. We histologically classified maternal placental pathology using the latest recommended categories: no placental complications, histologic chorioamnionitis, maternal vascular malperfusion, and other placental complications. We calculated age-, sex-, and height-specific systolic BP (SBP) percentiles for children using the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline. We used linear regression models with generalized estimating equations to examine the associations.

Results

The mean (standard deviation (SD)) postnatal follow-up of the study children was 9.29 (4.1) years. After adjusting for potential confounders, histologic chorioamnionitis was associated with a 5.42 percentile higher childhood SBP (95% confidence interval: 0.32, 10.52) compared with no placental pathologic findings. This association was stronger among early preterm children. Maternal vascular malperfusion was associated with a 8.44 percentile higher childhood SBP among early preterm children (95% confidence interval: 1.54, 15.34) but the association was attenuated (6.25, 95% confidence interval: −0.76, 13.26) after additional adjustment for child standardized birthweight, a potential mediator of the association.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that among children born preterm, especially those born early preterm, both placental histologic chorioamnionitis and vascular malperfusion may help to differentiate a child’s risk of high BP.
Gray-White Matter Blurring of the Temporal Pole Associated With Hippocampal Sclerosis: A Microstructural Study Involving 3 T MRI and Ultrastructural Histopathology
Authors: Demerath T , Donkels C , Reisert M , Heers M , Rau A , Schröter N , Schulze-Bonhage A , Reinacher P , Scheiwe C , Shah M J , Beck J , Vlachos A , Haas C A , Urbach H
Published: August 2021

Hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is often associated with gray-white matter blurring (GMB) of the anterior temporal lobe. In this study, twenty patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy and HS were studied with 3 T MRI including T1 MP2RAGE and DTI/DMI sequences. Anterior temporal lobe white matter T1 relaxation times and diffusion measures were analyzed on the HS side, on the contralateral side, and in 10 normal controls. Resected brain tissue of three patients without GMB and four patients with GMB was evaluated ultrastructurally regarding axon density and diameter, the relation of the axon diameter to the total fiber diameter (G-ratio), and the thickness of the myelin sheath. Hippocampal sclerosis GMB of the anterior temporal lobe was related to prolonged T1 relaxation and axonal loss. A less pronounced reduction in axonal fraction was also found on imaging in GMB-negative temporal poles compared with normal controls. Contralateral values did not differ significantly between patients and normal controls. Reduced axonal density and axonal diameter were histopathologically confirmed in the temporopolar white matter with GMB compared to temporal poles without. These results confirm that GMB can be considered an imaging correlate for disturbed axonal maturation that can be quantified with advanced diffusion imaging.
White Matter, Gray Matter and Cerebrospinal Fluid Segmentation from Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Adaptive U-Net and Local Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Bao Pham The , Tuan Tran Anh , Tuan Tran Anh , Thuy Le Nhi Lam , Kim Jin Young , Tavares João Manuel R S
Published: August 2021

According to the World Alzheimer Report 2015, 46 million people are living with dementia in the world. The diagnosis of diseases helps doctors treating patients better. One of the signs of diseases is related to white matter, grey matter and cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, the automatic segmentation of three tissues in brain imaging especially from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in medical analysis. In this research, we proposed an effective approach to segment automatically these tissues in three-dimensional (3D) brain MRI. First, a deep learning model is used to segment the sure and unsure regions. In the unsure region, another deep learning model is used to classify each pixel. In the experiments, an adaptive U-net model is used to segment the sure and unsure regions, and the Local Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model with multiple inputs is used to classify each pixel only in the unsure region. Our method was evaluated with a real image database, Internet Brain Segmentation Repository database, with 18 persons (IBSR 18) (https://www.nitrc.org/projects/ibsr) and compared with state of art methods being the results very promising.
Cardiovascular effects of non-insulin glucose-lowering agents: a comprehensive review of trial evidence and potential cardioprotective mechanisms
Authors: Savarese Gianluigi , Butler Javed , Lund Lars H , Bhatt Deepak L , Anker Stefan D
Published: August 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is highly prevalent and associated with a two-fold increased mortality, mostly explained by cardiovascular diseases. Trial evidence on older glucose-lowering agents such as metformin and sulfonylureas is limited in terms of cardiovascular efficacy. Since 2008, after rosiglitazone was observed to increase the risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure (HF), cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) have been required by regulators for licensing new glucose-lowering agents. In the following CVOTs, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4i) have been shown to be safe but not to improve mortality/morbidity, except for saxagliptin which increased the risk of HF. Several glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-Ra) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been demonstrated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. SGLT2i have shown a class effect for the reduction in risk of HF events in patients with T2DM, leading to trials testing their efficacy/safety in HF regardless of T2DM. In the DAPA-HF and the EMPEROR-Reduced trials dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, respectively, improved cardiovascular mortality/morbidity in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with and without T2DM. Therefore, these drugs are now key part of HFrEF pharmacotherapy. In the SOLOIST-WHF, sotagliflozin reduced cardiovascular mortality/morbidity in patients with T2DM and a recent acute episode of HF regardless of ejection fraction (EF). In the EMPEROR-Preserved, empagliflozin reduced CV mortality/morbidity in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced (HFmrEF) and preserved (HFpEF) EF regardless of comorbid T2DM. The DELIVER is currently testing dapagliflozin in patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF. A strong renal protective role of SGLT2i has also emerged in trials enrolling patients with and without T2DM.
Association between blood pressure classification defined by the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines and coronary artery calcification progression in an asymptomatic adult population
Authors: Won Ki-Bum , Han Donghee , Choi Su-Yeon , Chun Eun Ju , Park Sung Hak , Han Hae-Won , Sung Jidong , Jung Hae Ok , Chang Hyuk-Jae
Published: August 2021

Aims

Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is widely used for cardiovascular risk stratification in asymptomatic population. We assessed the association of new blood pressure (BP) classification using the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines with coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression according to age in asymptomatic adults.

Methods and results

Overall, 10 839 asymptomatic Korean adults (23.4% aged ≤45 years) who underwent at least two CACS evaluations for health check-up were enrolled. Participants were categorized by age (≤45 and >45 years) and BP [normal (<120/<80 mmHg, untreated), elevated (120–129/<80 mmHg, untreated), Stage 1 hypertension (untreated BP 130–139/80–89 mmHg) or Stage 2 hypertension (BP ≥140/≥90 mmHg or anti-hypertensive use)] groups. CAC progression was defined as a difference of ≥2.5 between the square root (√) of the baseline and follow-up CACS. During a mean 3.3-year follow-up, the incidence of CAC progression was 13.5% and 36.3% in individuals aged ≤45 and >45 years, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, obesity, current smoking, and baseline CACS, hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for CAC progression in elevated BP, Stage 1 hypertension, and Stage 2 hypertension compared to normal BP were 1.43 (0.96–2.14) (P = 0.077), 1.64 (1.20–2.23) (P = 0.002), and 2.38 (1.82–3.12) (P < 0.001) in the ≤45 years group and 1.11 (0.95–1.30) (P = 0.179), 1.17 (1.04–1.32) (P = 0.009), and 1.52 (1.39–1.66) (P < 0.001) in the >45 years group, respectively.

Conclusion

Newly defined Stage 1 hypertension is independently associated with CAC progression in asymptomatic adults regardless of age.
Repair of the descending thoracic aorta using minimally invasive endoscopic Robot-assisted surgery: a feasibility study with the DaVinci XI system in a cadaver model
Authors: Rusch René , Hoffmann Grischa , Cremer Jochen , Berndt Rouven
Published: August 2021

Development of minimally invasive techniques has led to the clinical routine application of Robot-assisted surgery. Here, we demonstrate for the first time Robotic-assisted surgery (DaVinci XI) of the descending thoracic aorta in a Thiel cadaver model and discuss its potential value in the endovascular era.
Deep learning analysis of electrocardiogram for risk prediction of drug-induced arrhythmias and diagnosis of long QT syndrome
Authors: Prifti Edi , Fall Ahmad , Davogustto Giovanni , Pulini Alfredo , Denjoy Isabelle , Funck-Brentano Christian , Khan Yasmin , Durand-Salmon Alexandre , Badilini Fabio , Wells Quinn S , Leenhardt Antoine , Zucker Jean-Daniel , Roden Dan M , Extramiana Fabrice , Salem Joe-Elie
Published: August 2021

Aims

Congenital long-QT syndromes (cLQTS) or drug-induced long-QT syndromes (diLQTS) can cause torsade de pointes (TdP), a life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. The current strategy for the identification of drugs at the high risk of TdP relies on measuring the QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) on the electrocardiogram (ECG). However, QTc has a low positive predictive value.

Methods and results

We used convolutional neural network (CNN) models to quantify ECG alterations induced by sotalol, an IKr blocker associated with TdP, aiming to provide new tools (CNN models) to enhance the prediction of drug-induced TdP (diTdP) and diagnosis of cLQTS. Tested CNN models used single or multiple 10-s recordings/patient using 8 leads or single leads in various cohorts: 1029 healthy subjects before and after sotalol intake (n = 14 135 ECGs); 487 cLQTS patients (n = 1083 ECGs: 560 type 1, 456 type 2, 67 type 3); and 48 patients with diTdP (n = 1105 ECGs, with 147 obtained within 48 h of a diTdP episode). CNN models outperformed models using QTc to identify exposure to sotalol [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) = 0.98 vs. 0.72, P ≤ 0.001]. CNN models had higher ROC-AUC using multiple vs. single 10-s ECG (P ≤ 0.001). Performances were comparable for 8-lead vs. single-lead models. CNN models predicting sotalol exposure also accurately detected the presence and type of cLQTS vs. healthy controls, particularly for cLQT2 (AUC-ROC = 0.9) and were greatest shortly after a diTdP event and declining over time (P ≤ 0.001), after controlling for QTc and intake of culprit drugs. ECG segment analysis identified the J-Tpeak interval as the best discriminator of sotalol intake.

Conclusion

CNN models applied to ECGs outperform QTc measurements to identify exposure to drugs altering the QT interval, congenital LQTS, and are greatest shortly after a diTdP episode.
Comparison of guidelines on rectal cancer: exception proves the rule?
Authors: Dou Ruoxu , He Siqi , Deng Yanhong , Wang Jianping
Published: August 2021

The standard of care for early or locally advanced rectal cancer is promoted by multiple clinical practice guidelines globally, but the considerable differences between the guidelines may cause confusion. We compared the latest updated clinical practice guidelines from five professional societies/authorities: National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Society of Colorectal Surgeons, European Society of Medical Oncology, Chinese National Health Commission, and Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. Key evidence is discussed for a better understanding of some seemingly contradictory recommendations.
Hawaiian Nysius Insects Rely on an Obligate Symbiont with a Reduced Genome That Retains a Discrete Nutritional Profile to Match Their Plant Seed Diet
Authors: Stever Heather , Eiben Jesse , Bennett Gordon M
Published: August 2021

Seed-feeding Nysius insects (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) have a symbiotic association with distinct intracellular bacteria, “Candidatus Schneideria nysicola” (Gammaproteobacteria). Although many other hemipteran insect groups generally rely on bacterial symbionts that synthesize all ten essential amino acids lacking in their plant sap diets, the nutritional role of Schneideria in Nysius hosts that specialize on a more nutritionally complete seed-based diet has remained unknown. To determine the nutritional and functional capabilities of Schneideria, we sequenced the complete Schneideria genomes from three distantly related endemic Hawaiian Nysius seed bug species. The complete Schneideria genomes are highly conserved and perfectly syntenic among Hawaiian Nysius host species. Each circular chromosome is ∼0.57 Mb in size and encodes 537 protein-coding genes. They further exhibit a strong A + T nucleotide substitution bias with an average G + C nucleotide content of 29%. The predicted nutritional contribution of Schneideria includes four B vitamins and five of the ten essential amino acids that likely match its hosts’ seed-based diet. Disrupted and degraded genes in Schneideria suggests that Hawaiian lineages are undergoing continued gene losses observed in the smaller genomes of the other more ancient hemipteran symbionts.
Digital health promotion: promise and peril
Authors: Koh Amanda , Swanepoel De Wet , Ling Annie , Ho Beverly Lorraine , Tan Si Ying , Lim Jeremy
Published: August 2021

The World Health Organization defines health promotion as process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health. As the world transitions into the information age, incorporating digital technologies into health promotion is becoming commonplace. This article discusses current applications of digital health promotion (DHP) and addresses its potential benefits, challenges, as well as how differences in cultures, governance models and digital readiness across the globe will shape the implementation of DHP differently in each society. The benefits include expanding access to health information and health promoting services, lowering scaling up costs, personalizing health advice and real-time ‘nudging’ toward healthier options. Key challenges would involve privacy control, appropriate use of data including secondary usage beyond the original intention, defining the limits of ‘nudging’ and the right of free choice, and ensuring widespread accessibility and affordability to minimize the exacerbation of social inequities. Finally, we discuss the enabling factors for successful DHP implementation, suggesting measures that should be taken at both individual and system levels. At the individual level, we explore the factors necessary to access and benefit from DHP meaningfully; at the system level, we examine the infrastructure required to provide wide access, establish trust among users and enable sustainability of behavioral changes.
A transcriptome-wide association study identifies novel susceptibility genes for psoriasis
Authors: Zhu Dongli , Yao Shi , Wu Hao , Ke Xin , Zhou Xiaorong , Geng Songmei , Dong Shanshan , Chen Hao , Yang Tielin , Cheng Ying , Guo Yan
Published: August 2021

Although >80 psoriasis genetic risk loci have been reported through genome-wide association studies (GWASs), the genetic mechanism of psoriasis remains unclear. To identify novel candidate genes associated with psoriasis and reveal the potential effects of genetic factors in the development of psoriasis, we conducted a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) based on summary statistics from GWAS of psoriasis (5175 cases and 447 089 controls) and gene expression levels from six tissues datasets (blood and skin). We identified 11 conditionally independent genes for psoriasis after Bonferroni corrections, such as the most significant genes UBLCP1 (PYFS = 2.98 × 10−16) and LCE3C (PSNSE = 9.72 × 10−12, PSSE = 6.24 × 10−12). The omnibus test identified additional five genes associated with psoriasis via the joint association model from multiple reference tissues. Among the 16 identified genes, 5 genes (CTSW, E1F1AD, KLRC3, FIBP and EFEMP2) were regarded as novel genes for psoriasis. We evaluated the 16 candidate genes by querying public databases and identified 11 differentially expressed genes and 8 genes proved by the knockout mice models. Through GO enrichment analyses, we found that TWAS genes were enriched in the known GO terms associated with skin development, such as cornified envelope (P = 4.80 × 10−8) and peptide cross-linking (P = 1.50 × 10−7). Taken together, our results detected multiple novel candidate genes for psoriasis, providing clues for understanding the genetic mechanism of psoriasis.
Exponential synchronization of a nodal observer for a semilinear model for the flow in gas networks
Authors: Gugat Martin , Giesselmann Jan , Kunkel Teresa
Published: August 2021

The flow of gas through networks of pipes can be modelled by coupling hyperbolic systems of partial differential equations that describe the flow through the pipes that form the edges of the graph of the network by algebraic node conditions that model the flow through the vertices of the graph. In the network, measurements of the state are available at certain points in space. Based upon these nodal observations, the complete system state can be approximated using an observer system. In this paper, we present a nodal observer for general graphs and prove that the state of the observer system converges to the original state exponentially fast. Numerical experiments confirm the theoretical findings.
On the minimum value of the condition number of polynomials
Authors: Beltrán Carlos , Lizarte Fátima
Published: August 2021

The condition number of a polynomial is a natural measure of the sensitivity of the roots under small perturbations of the polynomial coefficients. In 1993 Shub and Smale posed the problem of finding a sequence of univariate polynomials of degree $N$ with condition number bounded above by $N$. In Beltrán et al. (2021, A sequence of polynomials with optimal condition number. J. Amer. Math. Soc., 34, 219–244) it was proved that the optimal value of the condition number is of the form $\mathcal{O}(\sqrt {N})$, and the sequence demanded by Shub and Smale was described by a closed formula for large enough $N\geqslant N_0$ with $N_0$ unknown, and by a search algorithm for the rest of the cases. In this paper we find concrete estimates for the constant hidden in the $\mathcal{O}(\sqrt {N})$ term and we describe a simple formula for a sequence of polynomials whose condition number is at most $N$, valid for all $N=4M^2$, with $M$ a positive integer.
Salmonella Typhi Shedding and Household Transmission by Children With Blood Culture-Confirmed Typhoid Fever in Vellore, South India
Authors: Srinivasan Manikandan , Sindhu Kulandaipalayam Natarajan , Giri Sidhartha , Kumar Nirmal , Mohan Venkata Raghava , Grassly Nicholas C , Kang Gagandeep
Published: August 2021

Background

Children suffer the highest burden of the typhoid fever, with a considerable proportion shedding Salmonella Typhi in stool, potentially resulting in transmission of S Typhi.

Methods

We enrolled 70 children with blood culture-confirmed typhoid fever (index cases), from 63 households, during community-based fever surveillance in India. The index cases and their household contacts were followed up with stool samples at multiple time points over 3 weeks and 1 week, respectively. S Typhi was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Fifteen of 70 (21.4%) children with culture-confirmed typhoid fever shed S Typhi in stool after onset of fever. Ten of 15 children shed S Typhi for a median of 11.5 (range, 3–61) days from the day of completion of antibiotics. Of 172 household contacts from 56 of the 63 index case households, 12 (7%) contacts in 11 (19.6%) households had S Typhi in stool. Five of the 12 contacts who were shedding S Typhi were asymptomatic, whereas 7 reported recent fever.

Conclusions

One in 5 children with typhoid fever shed S Typhi, with shedding persisting even after antibiotics. One in 5 households had at least 1 contact of the child shedding S Typhi, highlighting potential concurrent typhoid infections in households in settings with poor water and sanitation.
Determinants and Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Diverse Population: 6-Month Evaluation of a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Horton Daniel B , Barrett Emily S , Roy Jason , Gennaro Maria Laura , Andrews Tracy , Greenberg Patricia , Bruiners Natalie , Datta Pratik , Ukey Rahul , Velusamy Senthil K , Fine Daniel , Honnen William J , Yin Yue Sandra , Pinter Abraham , Brooks Andrew , Tischfield Jay , Hussain Sabiha , Jagpal Sugeet , Swaminathan Shobha , Parmar Veenat , Reilly Nancy , Gaur Sunanda , Panettieri Reynold A , Carson Jeffrey L , Blaser Martin J
Published: August 2021

Background

We studied risk factors, antibodies, and symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in a diverse, ambulatory population.

Methods

A prospective cohort (n = 831) previously undiagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent serial testing (SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction, immunoglobulin G [IgG]) for 6 months.

Results

Ninety-three participants (11.2%) tested SARS-CoV-2-positive: 14 (15.1%) asymptomatic, 24 (25.8%) severely symptomatic. Healthcare workers (n = 548) were more likely to become infected (14.2% vs 5.3%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–3.3) and severely symptomatic (29.5% vs 6.7%). IgG antibodies were detected after 79% of asymptomatic infections, 89% with mild-moderate symptoms, and 96% with severe symptoms. IgG trajectories after asymptomatic infections (slow increases) differed from symptomatic infections (early peaks within 2 months). Most participants (92%) had persistent IgG responses (median 171 days). In multivariable models, IgG titers were positively associated with symptom severity, certain comorbidities, and hospital work. Dyspnea and neurologic changes (including altered smell/taste) lasted ≥ 120 days in ≥ 10% of affected participants. Prolonged symptoms (frequently more severe) corresponded to higher antibody levels.

Conclusions

In a prospective, ethnically diverse cohort, symptom severity correlated with the magnitude and trajectory of IgG production. Symptoms frequently persisted for many months after infection.

Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04336215.
Human Herpesvirus 6 DNAemia Is Associated With Worse Survival After Ex Vivo T-Cell–Depleted Hematopoietic Cell Transplant
Authors: Lee Yeon Joo , Su Yiqi , Cho Christina , Tamari Roni , Perales Miguel-Angel , Jakubowski Ann A , Papanicolaou Genovefa A
Published: August 2021

Background

We examined the correlation between persistent human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNAemia (p-HHV-6) and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), platelet count (PLT), and all-cause mortality by 1 year after ex vivo T-cell–depleted (TCD) hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT).

Methods

We analyzed a cohort of adult TCD HCT recipients during 2012–2016 prospectively monitored for plasma HHV-6 by quantitative polymerase chain reaction from day +14 post-HCT through day +100 (D+100). p-HHV-6 was defined as ≥2 consecutive values of ≥500 copies/mL by D+100. PLT and ALC were compared between patients with and without p-HHV-6 using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models (PH) were used to identify the impact of p-HHV-6 on 1 year mortality.

Results

Of 312 patients, 83 (27%) had p-HHV-6 by D+100. p-HHV-6 was associated with lower ALC and PLT in the first year post-HCT. In multivariable models, p-HHV-6 was associated with higher mortality by 1 year post-HCT (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.97 [95% confidence interval, 1.62–5.47]; P = .0005), after adjusting for age, antiviral treatment, and ALC at D+100.

Conclusions

p-HHV-6 was associated with lower ALC and PLT in the first year post-HCT. p-HHV-6 was an independent predictor of mortality in the first year after TCD HCT.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the surveillance, prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance: a global survey
Authors: Tomczyk Sara , Taylor Angelina , Brown Allison , de Kraker Marlieke E A , El-Saed Aiman , Alshamrani Majid , Hendriksen Rene S , Jacob Megan , Löfmark Sonja , Perovic Olga , Shetty Nandini , Sievert Dawn , Smith Rachel , Stelling John , Thakur Siddhartha , Vietor Ann Christin , Eckmanns Tim ,   the WHO AMR Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centres Network
Published: August 2021

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on health systems. The WHO Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centres Network conducted a survey to assess the effects of COVID-19 on AMR surveillance, prevention and control.

Methods

From October to December 2020, WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) national focal points completed a questionnaire, including Likert scales and open-ended questions. Data were descriptively analysed, income/regional differences were assessed and free-text questions were thematically analysed.

Results

Seventy-three countries across income levels participated. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 67% reported limited ability to work with AMR partnerships; decreases in funding were frequently reported by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs; P < 0.01). Reduced availability of nursing, medical and public health staff for AMR was reported by 71%, 69% and 64%, respectively, whereas 67% reported stable cleaning staff availability. The majority (58%) reported reduced reagents/consumables, particularly LMICs (P < 0.01). Decreased numbers of cultures, elective procedures, chronically ill admissions and outpatients and increased ICU admissions reported could bias AMR data. Reported overall infection prevention and control (IPC) improvement could decrease AMR rates, whereas increases in selected inappropriate IPC practices and antimicrobial prescribing could increase rates. Most did not yet have complete data on changing AMR rates due to COVID-19.

Conclusions

This was the first survey to explore the global impact of COVID-19 on AMR among GLASS countries. Responses highlight important actions to help ensure that AMR remains a global health priority, including engaging with GLASS to facilitate reliable AMR surveillance data, seizing the opportunity to develop more sustainable IPC programmes, promoting integrated antibiotic stewardship guidance, leveraging increased laboratory capabilities and other system-strengthening efforts.
Limited phylogenetic overlap between fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli isolated on dairy farms and those causing bacteriuria in humans living in the same geographical region
Authors: Mounsey Oliver , Schubert Hannah , Findlay Jacqueline , Morley Katy , Puddy Emma F , Gould Virginia C , North Paul , Bowker Karen E , Williams O Martin , Williams Philip B , Barrett David C , Cogan Tristan A , Turner Katy M , MacGowan Alasdair P , Reyher Kristen K , Avison Matthew B
Published: August 2021

Background

Our primary aim was to test whether cattle-associated fluoroquinolone-resistant (FQ-R) Escherichia coli found on dairy farms are closely phylogenetically related to those causing bacteriuria in humans living in the same 50 × 50 km geographical region suggestive of farm–human sharing. Another aim was to identify risk factors for the presence of FQ-R E. coli on dairy farms.

Methods

FQ-R E. coli were isolated during 2017–18 from 42 dairy farms and from community urine samples. Forty-two cattle and 489 human urinary isolates were subjected to WGS, allowing phylogenetic comparisons. Risk factors were identified using a Bayesian regularization approach.

Results

Of 489 FQ-R human isolates, 255 were also third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant, with strong genetic linkage between aac(6’)Ib-cr and blaCTX-M-15. We identified possible farm–human sharing for pairs of ST744 and ST162 isolates, but minimal core genome SNP distances were larger between farm–human pairs of ST744 and ST162 isolates (71 and 63 SNPs, respectively) than between pairs of isolates from different farms (7 and 3 SNPs, respectively). Total farm fluoroquinolone use showed a positive association with the odds of isolating FQ-R E. coli, while total dry cow therapy use showed a negative association.

Conclusions

This work suggests that FQ-R E. coli found on dairy farms have a limited impact on community bacteriuria within the local human population. Reducing fluoroquinolone use may reduce the on-farm prevalence of FQ-R E. coli and this reduction may be greater when dry cow therapy is targeted to the ecology of resistant E. coli on the farm.
Identifying patterns in administrative tasks through structural topic modeling: A study of task definitions, prevalence, and shifts in a mental health practice’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Pachamanova Dessislava , Glover Wiljeana , Li Zhi , Docktor Michael , Gujral Nitin
Published: August 2021

Objective

This case study illustrates the use of natural language processing for identifying administrative task categories, prevalence, and shifts necessitated by a major event (the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic) from user-generated data stored as free text in a task management system for a multisite mental health practice with 40 clinicians and 13 administrative staff members.

Materials and Methods

Structural topic modeling was applied on 7079 task sequences from 13 administrative users of a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant task management platform. Context was obtained through interviews with an expert panel.

Results

Ten task definitions spanning 3 major categories were identified, and their prevalence estimated. Significant shifts in task prevalence due to the pandemic were detected for tasks like billing inquiries to insurers, appointment cancellations, patient balances, and new patient follow-up.

Conclusions

Structural topic modeling effectively detects task categories, prevalence, and shifts, providing opportunities for healthcare providers to reconsider staff roles and to optimize workflows and resource allocation.
Technical note: using an automated head chamber system to administer an external marker to estimate fecal output by grazing beef cattle
Authors: Beck Matthew R , Gunter Stacey A , Moffet Corey A , Reuter R Ryan
Published: August 2021

The objective of this experiment was to determine if titanium dioxide (TiO2) dosed through an automated head chamber system (GreenFeed; C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) is an acceptable method to measure fecal output. The GreenFeed used on this experiment had a 2-hopper bait dispensing system, where hopper 1 contained alfalfa pellets marked with 1% titanium dioxide (TiO2) and hopper 2 contained unmarked alfalfa pellets. Eleven heifers (BW = 394 ± 18.7 kg) grazing a common pasture were stratified by BW and then randomized to either 1) dosed with TiO2-marked pellets by hand feeding (HFD; n = 6) or 2) dosed with TiO2-marked pellets by the GreenFeed (GFFD; n = 5) for 19 d. During the morning (0800), all heifers were offered a pelleted, high-CP supplement at 0.25% of BW in individual feeding stanchions. The HFD heifers also received 32 g of TiO2-marked pellets at morning feeding, whereas the GFFD heifers received 32 g of unmarked pellets. The GFFD heifers received a single aliquot (32 ± 1.6 g; mean ± SD) of marked pellets at their first visit to the GreenFeed each day with all subsequent 32-g aliquots providing unmarked pellets; HFD heifers received only unmarked pellets. Starting on d 15, fecal samples were collected via rectal grab at feeding and every 12 h for 5 d. A two-one sided t-test method was used to determine agreement and it was determined that the fecal output estimates by HFD and GFFD methods were similar (P = 0.04). There was a difference (P < 0.01; Bartlett’s test for homogenous variances) in variability between the dosing methods for HFD and GFFD (SD = 0.1 and 0.7, respectively). This difference in fecal output variability may have been due to variability of dosing times-of-day for the GFFD heifers (0615 ± 6.2 h) relative to the constant dosing time-of-day for HFD and constant 0800 and 2000 sampling times-of-day for all animals. This research has highlighted the potential for dosing cattle with an external marker through a GreenFeed configured with two (or more) feed hoppers because estimated fecal output means were similar; however, consideration of the increased variability of the fecal output estimates is needed for future experimental designs.
Counterproductive Worker Behavior After a Pay Cut
Authors: Coviello Decio , Deserranno Erika , Persico Nicola
Published: August 2021

We examine how workers reacted to a pay cut in a sales call center setting in the United States. The pay cut was implemented by raising two pre-existing sales targets, that is, by “moving the goalposts”. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we show that among the workers who experienced the pay cut, some chose to leave the firm (exit); others generated abnormally high customer refunds, in a way that hurt both them and the firm. (We define this work practice as counterproductive.) The firm believed, and we present evidence, that these workers intentionally sold the wrong items, as opposed to simply optimally shirking on effort in response to the pay cut. We show that the most loyal workers (those with longer tenure) expressed themselves only through counterproductive work practices and not through exit. Less loyal workers reacted more strongly than loyal workers, and did so through a balanced mix of exit and counterproductive behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document individual-level patterns of exit and (counter-) productivity following a pay cut and, how these differ for high- versus low-loyalty workers.
The Impact of Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and 2-Mercaptoethanol on Antibody and Antigen Binding
Authors: Wang Chong , Liu Hui , Feng Xinyan
Published: August 2021

Objective

To evaluate the effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) on antigen-antibody binding when incubated at 100°C, which is the pretreatment temperature required for western blots.

Methods

Serum that tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) plus loading buffer were mixed at a ratio of 4:1 and incubated in a water bath. We then detected HBsAg using double immunodiffusion and ELISA.

Results

The HBsAg titer was 1:512 in the control group when incubated at 37°C. Incubation with SDS at 100°C reduced the antigen titer to 1:32. The inhibitory effect on HBsAg titer reached 96.9% after incubation at 100°C with SDS and 2-ME.

Conclusion

We detected strong inhibition of antigens in western blots via SDS and 2-ME. It is likely that false-negative results will be obtained from western blots of antigens with weak resistance to these reagents.
Comparison of Accelerated Resolution Therapy for PTSD Between Veterans With and Without Prior PTSD Treatment
Authors: Pang Tiantian , Murn Lindsay , Williams Dana , Lawental Maayan , Abhayakumar Anya , Kip Kevin E
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder commonly caused by a traumatic event(s) and prevalent among service members and veterans. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an emerging “mind-body” psychotherapy for PTSD that is generally briefer and less expensive than current first-line treatments, such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) therapy. This study examined the results of ART for treatment of military-related PTSD, with stratification by prior PTSD treatment types, including service members/veterans with reported residual PTSD symptoms following receipt of first-line recommended psychotherapy.

Materials and Methods

Four groups were constructed and compared based on self-reported prior PTSD treatment history: treatment-naïve (n = 33), pharmacotherapy only (n = 40), first-line psychotherapy (CPT and/or PE) (n = 33), and other psychotherapy (n = 42). Participants were assessed for PTSD symptoms at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up using the 17-item Military PTSD Checklist (PCL-M), as well as assessment of depressive, anxiety, and sleep symptoms. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at University of South Florida.

Results

Among 148 veterans/service members who enrolled and started treatment with ART, 106 (71.6%) completed treatment in a mean of 3.5 treatment sessions, and 55 (51.9%) provided 6-month follow-up data. Mean age was 43.8 years, 95% were male, and 84% were of white race. Within-group standardized effect sizes for pre-to-post changes in PTSD scores (PCL-M) were large at 1.48, 1.11, 1.88, and 1.03 for the treatment-naïve, pharmacotherapy only, first-line psychotherapy, and other psychotherapy groups, respectively. Among treatment completers, the clinically significant treatment response rate (reduction of ≥10 points on the PCL-M) was highest in the treatment-naïve (83%) and first-line psychotherapy (88%) groups. Similar significant symptom reductions were observed for measures of depression and anxiety, and favorable treatment effects were generally sustained at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion

In a brief treatment period, ART appears to result in substantial reductions in symptoms of PTSD among veterans, including those with residual PTSD symptoms after prior treatment with first-line psychotherapies endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. These results suggest that ART be considered as a potential first-line treatment modality for veterans with PTSD.
Calibrating systematic errors in the distance determination with the luminosity–distance space large-scale structure of dark sirens and its potential applications
Authors: Zhang Pengjie , Yu Hai
Published: August 2021

The cosmological luminosity–distance can be measured from gravitational wave (GW) standard sirens, free of astronomical distance ladders, and the associated systematics. However, it may still contain systematics arising from various astrophysical, cosmological, and experimental sources. With the large amount of dark standard sirens of upcoming third generation GW experiments, such potential systematic bias, can be diagnosed and corrected by statistical tools of the large-scale structure of the universe. We estimate that, by cross-correlating the dark siren luminosity–distance space distribution and galaxy redshift space distribution, multiplicative error m in the luminosity distance measurement can be constrained with 1σ uncertainty σm ∼ 0.1. This is already able to distinguish some binary black hole origin scenarios unambiguously. Significantly better constraints and therefore more applications may be achieved by more advanced GW experiments.
Imaginary images and Stokes phenomena in the weak plasma lensing of coherent sources
Authors: Jow Dylan L , Lin Fang Xi , Tyhurst Emily , Pen Ue-Li
Published: August 2021

The study of astrophysical plasma lensing, such as in the case of extreme scattering events, has typically been conducted using the geometric limit of optics, neglecting wave effects. However, for the lensing of coherent sources such as pulsars and fast radio bursts, wave effects can play an important role. Asymptotic methods, such as the so-called Eikonal limit, also known as the stationary phase approximation, have been used to include first-order wave effects; however, these methods are discontinuous at Stokes lines. Stokes lines are generic features of a variety of lens models, and are regions in parameter space where imaginary images begin to contribute to the overall intensity modulation of lensed sources. Using the mathematical framework of Picard–Lefschetz theory to compute diffraction integrals, we argue that these imaginary images contain as much information as their geometric counterparts, and may potentially be observable in data. Thus, weak-lensing events where these imaginary images are present can be as useful for inferring lens parameters as strong-lensing events in which multiple geometric images are present.
Optimizing a magnitude-limited spectroscopic training sample for photometric classification of supernovae
Authors: Carrick Jonathan E , Hook Isobel M , Swann Elizabeth , Boone Kyle , Frohmaier Chris , Kim Alex G , Sullivan Mark ,   (The LSST Dark Energy Science Collaboration)
Published: August 2021

In preparation for photometric classification of transients from the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) we run tests with different training data sets. Using estimates of the depth to which the 4-m Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST) Time Domain Extragalactic Survey (TiDES) can classify transients, we simulate a magnitude-limited sample reaching rAB ≈ 22.5 mag. We run our simulations with the software snmachine, a photometric classification pipeline using machine learning. The machine-learning algorithms struggle to classify supernovae when the training sample is magnitude limited, in contrast to representative training samples. Classification performance noticeably improves when we combine the magnitude-limited training sample with a simulated realistic sample of faint high-redshift supernovae observed from larger spectroscopic facilities; the algorithms’ range of average area under receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) scores over 10 runs increases from 0.547–0.628 to 0.946–0.969 and purity of the classified sample reaches 95 per cent in all runs for two of the four algorithms. By creating new, artificial light curves using the augmentation software avocado, we achieve a purity in our classified sample of 95 per cent in all 10 runs performed for all machine-learning algorithms considered. We also reach a highest average AUC score of 0.986 with the artificial neural network algorithm. Having ‘true’ faint supernovae to complement our magnitude-limited sample is a crucial requirement in optimization of a 4MOST spectroscopic sample. However, our results are a proof of concept that augmentation is also necessary to achieve the best classification results.
An ALMA view of 11 dusty star-forming galaxies at the peak of cosmic star formation history
Authors: Pantoni L , Massardi M , Lapi A , Donevski D , D’Amato Q , Giulietti M , Pozzi F , Talia M , Vignali C , Cimatti A , Silva L , Bressan A , Ronconi T
Published: August 2021

We present the ALMA view of 11 main-sequence dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) (sub-)millimetre selected in the Great Observatories Origins Survey South (GOODS-S) field and spectroscopically confirmed to be at the peak of cosmic star formation history (z ∼ 2). Our study combines the analysis of galaxy spectral energy distribution with ALMA continuum and CO spectral emission by using ALMA Science Archive products at the highest spatial resolution currently available for our sample (Δθ ≲ 1 arcsec). We include galaxy multiband images and photometry (in the optical, radio, and X-rays) to investigate the interlink between dusty, gaseous, and stellar components and the eventual presence of AGN. We use multiband sizes and morphologies to gain an insight on the processes that lead galaxy evolution, e.g. gas condensation, star formation, AGN feedback. The 11 DSFGs are very compact in the (sub-)millimetre (median rALMA = 1.15 kpc), while the optical emission extends to larger radii (median rH/rALMA = 2.05). CO lines reveal the presence of a rotating disc of molecular gas, but we cannot exclude the presence of interactions and/or molecular outflows. Images at higher (spectral and spatial) resolution are needed to disentangle from the possible scenarios. Most of the galaxies are caught in the compaction phase, when gas cools and falls into galaxy centre, fuelling the dusty burst of star formation and the growing nucleus. We expect these DSFGs to be the high-z star-forming counterparts of massive quiescent galaxies. Some features of CO emission in three galaxies are suggestive of forthcoming/ongoing AGN feedback, which is thought to trigger the morphological transition from star-forming discs to early-type galaxies.
C ii and H i 21-cm line intensity mapping from the EoR: impact of the light-cone effect on auto and cross-power spectra
Authors: Murmu Chandra Shekhar , Majumdar Suman , Datta Kanan K
Published: August 2021

C ii line intensity mapping (LIM) is a potential technique to probe the early galaxies from the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). Several experiments e.g. CONCERTO, TIME, CCAT-p are underway to map the C ii LIM signal fluctuations from the EoR, enabling us to estimate the C ii power-spectrum and C ii × 21-cm cross-power spectrum. The observed LIM signal will have its time evolution embedded in it along the line of sight due to the finite traveltime of the signal from its origin to the observer. We have investigated this so-called light-cone effect on the observed statistics of our seminumerically simulated C ii signal from the EoR. Using a suit of simulated C ii and neutral hydrogen 21-cm maps and corresponding light-cone boxes, we have shown that the light-cone effect can impact the C ii power spectrum by more than 15 per cent at large scales ($k\sim 0.1\, \text{Mpc}^{-1}$, at $z$ = 6.8). We have also observed that the impact of light-cone effect on the C ii power spectrum drops with decreasing redshift within the redshift range considered here (7.2 ≲ $z$ ≲ 6). The C ii × 21-cm cross-power spectrum is also affected by light cone, and in our models where reionization ends before $z$ = 6, we find that the maximum impact on cross-power can reach up to 20 per cent. At $z$ = 6.4, we find comparatively pronounced variation in the light-cone effect with reionization history on the cross-power. Faster reionization histories have a more drastic light-cone effect on cross-power. We conclude that we need to incorporate the light cone in order to properly model the signal, constrain the EoR-related astrophysical parameters and reionization history using the C ii × 21-cm cross-power spectrum.