bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of addition dfferent types of binders to the effervescent chemical characteristics of Sonneratia casolaris fruits
Authors: Ratrinia P W , Sumartini  , Hasibuan N E
Published: January 2022

Sonneratia caseolaris fruit that has not been widely explored is as an effervescent raw material. The purpose of this study was to determine the effervescent chemical characteristics of Sonneratia caseolaris fruit with the addition of several different types of binders. The research design used in this study was a Completely Randomized Design using four treatments using different binders, namely Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP), gelatin, Pulvis Gummi Arabicum (PGA), and maltodextrin. The test method used in this research is the analysis of water content, pH value, vitamin C, antioxidants, phenols, and soluble time. Statistical analysis used was the analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a 95% confidence level. The results showed that different binders had a significantly different effect (P<0.05) on the test results for water content, pH, vitamin C, antioxidants, phenols, and soluble time. The addition of gelatin to the effervescent gave the best value on the results of the soluble time test, namely water content, antioxidants, and soluble time. Meanwhile, the addition of PGA gave the best value for the phenolic test results. The conclusion obtained from this study is that the addition of different binders can have a significantly different effect on the effervescent chemical characteristics of Sonneratia caseolaris fruit.
Sustainability status of bay management: case study in Jor Bay, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province
Authors: AlAmin MA , Adrianto L , Kusumastanto T , Imran Z , Damar A
Published: January 2022

Jor Bay in East Lombok - West Nusatenggara is a small bay system characterized by a common pool resource, in which found a contestation of utilization among resources users. Even though the bay has been managed by a local institution, namely Lembaga Pemangku Awiq-awiq Teluk Jor (LPATJ), the role and perform of institutions in managing the bay is still very low. To ensure the sustainability of the bay, the need to converge the different resource users’ interests by balancing utilization to accommodate economical, ecological and social dimensions. This study aimed to assess the sustainability status of bay management and design future sustainable bay management strategies. To measure the sustainability status, we used a sustainability index intended to develop to bay ecosystem form. The current sustainability status of Jor Bay management showed a moderate level. The institutional dimension provides the greatest sustainability value, while the lowest degree shows in the ecological dimension. The governability of Jor Bay management shows low institutional interaction, limited scale (local), minimal initiative and low willingness to cooperate among elements. For this reason, the ICM (integrated coastal management) based management mechanism needs to be strengthened to ensure the functioning of the Jor Bay management system.
Assessing of coral reef resilience on Lembeh Island, North Sulawesi
Authors: Idris  , Fakhrurrozi  , Adiwijaya C
Published: January 2022

Resilience is the ability of a system to reach equilibrium after a temporary disturbance. When an ecosystem is disturbed, then the recovery of the system is very dependent on the diversity of species that are still left. The remaining communities determine the direction of new successional communities formed after the disturbance has passed, including coral, fish, and other biota communities. This study aimed to determine the level of resilience of coral reef ecosystems on Lembeh Island. The observation was carried out from January 16-19, 2019, at a 7-meter depth. Determination of the coral reef index will refer to coral reef resilience index table. It is found that the resilience of coral reefs on Lembeh Island currently has a high potential for recovery (resilience) from natural stressors based on the 16 parameters. Seven parameters have very high resilience values: the proportion of bleaching resistant species, community resistance to bleaching, taxonomic diversity, size/age distribution, the abundance of reef fish on live coral, and the abundance of coral benthos on live coral and coral disease levels. Lembeh Island is dominated by hard corals measuring between 5.1 to 25 cm (size M) by ~46%, then sizes more than 25 cm (size L) by ~37% and juvenile size (size S) by 17%. The coral health index on Lembeh Island has the capacity to recover if the condition of coral cover is minimally maintained or improved and lower fleshy seaweed cover by increasing the abundance and biomass of herbivorous fish.
Comparing Central Aortic Pressures Obtained Using a SphygmoCor Device to Pressures Obtained Using a Pressure Catheter
Authors: Esposito Cara , Machado Priscilla , Cohen Ira S , Mehrotra Praveen , Savage Michael , Fischman David , Davis Marguerite , Ruggiero Nicholas , Walinsky Paul , McDonald Maureen E , Dickie Kristopher , Forsberg Flemming , Dave Jaydev K
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

This study compared aortic pressures estimated using a SphygmoCor XCEL PWA device (ATCOR, Naperville, IL) noninvasively with aortic pressures obtained using pressure catheters during catheterization procedures and analyzed the impact of a linear-fit function on the estimated pressure values.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-six patients scheduled for cardiac catheterization procedure were enrolled in IRB approved studies. Catheterization procedures were performed according to standard-of-care to acquire aortic pressure measurements. Immediately after the catheterization procedure with the pressure catheters removed, while the patients were still in the catheterization laboratory, central aortic pressures were estimated with the SphygmoCor device (using its inbuilt transfer function). The error between measured and estimated aortic pressures was evaluated using Bland–Altman analysis (n = 93). A linear-fit was performed between the measured and estimated pressures, and using the linear equation the error measurements were repeated. A bootstrap analysis was performed to test the generalizability of the linear-fit function. In a subset of cases (n = 13), central aortic pressure values were also obtained using solid-state high-fidelity catheters (Millar, Houston, TX), and the error measurements were repeated.

RESULTS

The magnitude of errors between the measured and estimated aortic pressures (mean errors >6.4 mm Hg; mean errors >8.0 mm Hg in the subset) were reduced to less than 1 mm Hg after using the linear-fit function derived in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

For the population examined in this study, the SphygmoCor data must be used with the linear-fit function to obtain aortic pressures that are comparable to the measurements obtained using pressure catheters.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

Trial Numbers NCT03243942 and NCT03245255.
A calcium-sensitive antibody isolates soluble amyloid-β aggregates and fibrils from Alzheimer’s disease brain
Authors: Stern Andrew M , Liu Lei , Jin Shanxue , Liu Wen , Meunier Angela L , Ericsson Maria , Miller Michael B , Batson Megan , Sun Tingwan , Kathuria Sagar , Reczek David , Pradier Laurent , Selkoe Dennis J
Published: January 2022

Aqueously soluble oligomers of amyloid-β peptide may be the principal neurotoxic forms of amyloid-β in Alzheimer’s disease, initiating downstream events that include tau hyperphosphorylation, neuritic/synaptic injury, microgliosis and neuron loss. Synthetic oligomeric amyloid-β has been studied extensively, but little is known about the biochemistry of natural oligomeric amyloid-β in human brain, even though it is more potent than simple synthetic peptides and comprises truncated and modified amyloid-β monomers. We hypothesized that monoclonal antibodies specific to neurotoxic oligomeric amyloid-β could be used to isolate it for further study.

Here we report a unique human monoclonal antibody (B24) raised against synthetic oligomeric amyloid-β that potently prevents Alzheimer’s disease brain oligomeric amyloid-β-induced impairment of hippocampal long-term potentiation. B24 binds natural and synthetic oligomeric amyloid-β and a subset of amyloid plaques, but only in the presence of Ca2+. The amyloid-β N terminus is required for B24 binding. Hydroxyapatite chromatography revealed that natural oligomeric amyloid-β is highly avid for Ca2+. We took advantage of the reversible Ca2+-dependence of B24 binding to perform non-denaturing immunoaffinity isolation of oligomeric amyloid-β from Alzheimer’s disease brain-soluble extracts.

Unexpectedly, the immunopurified material contained amyloid fibrils visualized by electron microscopy and amenable to further structural characterization. B24-purified human oligomeric amyloid-β inhibited mouse hippocampal long-term potentiation. These findings identify a calcium-dependent method for purifying bioactive brain oligomeric amyloid-β, at least some of which appears fibrillar.
Developmental course of the repetition effect and change detection responses from infancy through childhood: a longitudinal study
Authors: Deguire Florence , López-Arango Gabriela , Knoth Inga Sophia , Côté Valérie , Agbogba Kristian , Lippé Sarah
Published: January 2022

Neuronal repetition effect (repetition suppression and repetition enhancement) and change detection responses are fundamental brain responses that have implications in learning and cognitive development in infants and children. Studies have shown altered neuronal repetition and change detection responses in various clinical populations. However, the developmental course of these neuronal responses from infancy through childhood is still unknown. Using an electroencephalography oddball task, we investigate the developmental peculiarities of repetition effect and change detection responses in 43 children that we followed longitudinally from 3 months to 4 years of age. Analyses were conducted on theta (3–5 Hz), alpha (5–10 Hz), and beta (10–30 Hz) time–frequency windows. Results indicated that in the theta time–frequency window, in frontocentral and frontal regions of the brain, repetition and change detection responses followed a U-shaped pattern from 3 months to 4 years of age. Moreover, the change detection response was stronger in young infants compared to older children in frontocentral regions, regardless of the time–frequency window. Our findings add to the evidence of top–down modulation of perceptual systems in infants and children.
Fever of Unknown Origin and Incidence of Cancer
Authors: Søgaard Kirstine K , Farkas Dóra Körmendiné , Leisner Michelle Z , Schmidt Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir , Lash Timothy L , Sørensen Henrik Toft
Published: January 2022

Background

Diagnostic tools for determining causes of fever of unknown origin (FUO) have improved over time. We examined if cancer incidence among these patients changed over a 20-year period.

Methods

Population-based cohort study using nationwide Danish registries. We identified individuals diagnosed with FUO (1998-2017) to quantify their excess risk of cancer compared with the general population. Follow-up for cancer started 1 month after FUO. We computed absolute risks and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancer, and mortality rate ratios adjusted for age, sex, and cancer stage.

Results

Among 6620 patients with FUO (46.9% male; median age: 39 years), 343 were diagnosed with cancer (median follow-up: 6.5 years). The 1- to <12-month risk was 1.2%, and the SIR was 2.3 (95% CI, 1.8–2.9). The increased 1- to <12-month SIR was mainly due to an excess of Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR = 41.7) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR = 16.1), myelodysplastic syndrome/chronic myeloproliferative diseases (SIR = 6.0), lower gastrointestinal cancer (SIR = 3.3), and urinary tract cancer (SIR = 2.9). Beyond 1-year follow-up, malignant melanoma, hepatobiliary tract/pancreatic cancer, and brain/CNS/eye cancer were diagnosed more often than expected. The 1- to <12-month cancer SIR attenuated over time, and for the 2013–2017 period we found no excess risk. Patients diagnosed with cancer ≤1 year after FUO had similar mortality to cancer patients without this diagnosis.

Conclusions

Patients with FUO have a higher 1- <12-month cancer SIR; thereafter, the incidence for most cancers equals that of the general population. Decreasing SIRs over time suggests improvements in the initial diagnostic workup for FUO.
Detection of Treponema pallidum DNA During Early Syphilis Stages in Peripheral Blood, Oropharynx, Ano-Rectum and Urine as a Proxy for Transmissibility
Authors: Nieuwenburg S A , Zondag H C A , Bruisten S M , Jongen V W , Schim van der Loeff M F , van Dam A P , de Vries H J C
Published: January 2022

Background

Syphilis diagnosis may be challenging, especially in the asymptomatic and early clinical stages. We evaluated the presence of Treponema pallidum DNA (TP-DNA) in various sample types to elucidate transmissibility during various syphilis stages.

Methods

The study was conducted at the Amsterdam Centre for Sexual Health. We included adult men who have sex with men (MSM), who were suspected of having syphilis. The 2020 European guidelines definitions were followed for the diagnosis and staging of syphilis. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the polA gene of Treponema pallidum (TP-PCR), we tested the following study samples on TP-DNA: peripheral blood, oropharyngeal swab, ano-rectal swab, and urine.

Results

From November 2018 to December 2019 we included 293 MSM. Seventy clients had primary syphilis, 73 secondary syphilis, 86 early latent syphilis, 14 late latent syphilis, 23 treated syphilis, and 27 had no syphilis. TP-DNA was detected in at least 1 study sample in 35/70 clients with primary syphilis (2/70 peripheral blood, 7/70 oropharynx, 13/70 ano-rectum, and 24/70 urine); in 62/73 clients with secondary syphilis (15/73 peripheral blood, 47/73 oropharynx, 37/73 ano-rectum, and 26/73 urine); and in 29/86 clients with early latent syphilis (5/86 peripheral blood, 21/86 oropharynx, 11/86 ano-rectum, and 6/86 urine). TP-DNA was not detected in clients with late latent syphilis or treated syphilis, nor in clients without syphilis.

Conclusions

TP-DNA was frequently detected in various sample types in the absence of lesions. This is in line with the high transmission rate of syphilis and opens diagnostic opportunities for early presymptomatic syphilis stages.
The Deviations of China’s Treaty-Making Practices from Its Constitutional and Statutory Provisions?: An Interbranch Perspective
Authors: Jiang Chaoyi
Published: January 2022

This article studies how Chinese State actors address treaty practices that go beyond the wording of applicable law designated to separate the treaty-making power between the executive and the legislative branches, particularly whether the executive branch has exploited its institutional advantages in foreign affairs to circumvent the statutory interbranch checks amid the proliferation of treaties to which China has subscribed. Such practices concentrate on the following five issues: the textual inconsistency in the meaning attached to the term ‘treaty’ under different Chinese laws; the unclear distinction between important agreements and sole-executive agreements, and ministerial agreements; the State president’s lack of a constitutional or statutory grant of affirmative power to negotiate treaties; the State president’s non-performing role in ratifying treaties and important agreements; and the mismatch between the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee’s treaty-making power and domestic law-making power. This article concludes that problems of extra-textual practices, including difficulties in identifying the hierarchical order of a ratified/approved treaty and other consequences of ultra vires exercise of treaty power by the executive branch, do not occur in the Chinese treaty-making process. The State Council and its departments do not take advantage of sole-executive agreements to covertly expand their domestic affairs authorities and have prudently cooperated with the NPC and the Standing Committee to avoid violating applicable law. The ultimate decision-making power of the NPC Standing Committee in ratifying treaties and important agreements is warranted, and the mismatch between its treaty-making power and domestic authority has been solved through internal cooperation with the State Council and delegation of authority by the NPC. The president’s treaty-negotiation power has developed from the long-standing constitutional practices recognized by the State Council and the NPC, and the acquiescence of the NPC can also justify the president’s failure to perform a symbolic declaratory role in treaty making.
Aortic valve repair using pericardial patch standardized with external ring annuloplasty
Authors: Danial Pichoy , Moiroux-Sahraoui Alexander , Debauchez Mathieu , Monin Jean-Luc , Berrebi Alain , Shraer Nathanael , Lansac Emmanuel
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to analyse outcomes of aortic valve repair using additional material and compare the results to those of cusp repair without the use of the pericardial patch.

METHODS

All consecutive patients aged over 16 who underwent aortic valve repair with external ring annuloplasty for isolated aortic insufficiency, aortic insufficiency and tubular aortic aneurysm or aortic root aneurysm between May 2003 and November 2019 were included in a cohort study. Data were collected and analysed from the AVIATOR registry (AorticValve repair InternATiOnal Registry). Propensity score framework analysis (inverse probability of treatment weighting) was used to compare outcomes of the groups while controlling for confounders.

RESULTS

During the 16-year study period, 618 patients underwent aortic valve repair. Eight-year survival rate was 92% in the patch group and 90.2% in the no patch group without significant differences [P = 0.957 inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) weighted]. Early valve-related reoperation was more frequent in the patch group as compared to the no patch group (6% vs 1%, P < 0.001 IPTW weighted), the freedom from aortic valve-related reintervention and from structural valve deterioration at 8 years was not significantly different between the patch and no patch groups (93.7% vs 94%, P = 0.968 IPTW weighted; and 99.3% vs 96.7%, P = 0.964 IPTW weighted).

CONCLUSIONS

Although a higher rate of early reintervention was observed, aortic valve repair using the pericardial patch, in a standardized approach using external annuloplasty, with effective coaptation height of at least 9 mm, was not associated with an increase in mid-term aortic valve-related reoperation or structural valve deterioration as compared to valve repair without the pericardial patch.
Single-cell transcription profiles in Bloom syndrome patients link BLM deficiency with altered condensin complex expression signatures
Authors: Gönenc Ipek Ilgin , Wolff Alexander , Schmidt Julia , Zibat Arne , Müller Christian , Cyganek Lukas , Argyriou Loukas , Räschle Markus , Yigit Gökhan , Wollnik Bernd
Published: January 2022

Bloom syndrome (BS) is an autosomal recessive disease clinically characterized by primary microcephaly, growth deficiency, immunodeficiency and predisposition to cancer. It is mainly caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the BLM gene, which encodes the BLM helicase, acting in DNA replication and repair processes. Here, we describe the gene expression profiles of three BS fibroblast cell lines harboring causative, biallelic truncating mutations obtained by single-cell (sc) transcriptome analysis. We compared the scRNA transcription profiles from three BS patient cell lines to two age-matched wild-type controls and observed specific deregulation of gene sets related to the molecular processes characteristically affected in BS, such as mitosis, chromosome segregation, cell cycle regulation and genomic instability. We also found specific upregulation of genes of the Fanconi anemia pathway, in particular FANCM, FANCD2 and FANCI, which encode known interaction partners of BLM. The significant deregulation of genes associated with inherited forms of primary microcephaly observed in our study might explain in part the molecular pathogenesis of microcephaly in BS, one of the main clinical characteristics in patients. Finally, our data provide first evidence of a novel link between BLM dysfunction and transcriptional changes in condensin complex I and II genes. Overall, our study provides novel insights into gene expression profiles in BS on an sc level, linking specific genes and pathways to BLM dysfunction.
Functional Neuroimaging Correlates of Placebo Response in Patients With Depressive or Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huneke Nathan T M , Aslan Ibrahim H , Fagan Harry , Phillips Naomi , Tanna Rhea , Cortese Samuele , Garner Matthew , Baldwin David S
Published: January 2022

Background

The mechanisms underlying placebo effects of psychotropic drugs remain poorly understood. We carried out the first, to our knowledge, systematic review of functional neuroimaging correlates of placebo response in adults with anxiety/depressive disorders.

Methods

We systematically searched a large set of databases up to February 2021 based on a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42019156911). We extracted neuroimaging data related to clinical improvement following placebo or related to placebo mechanisms. We did not perform a meta-analysis due to the small number of included studies and significant heterogeneity in study design and outcome measures.

Results

We found 12 relevant studies for depressive disorders and 4 for anxiety disorders. Activity in the ventral striatum, rostral anterior cingulate cortex and other default mode network regions, orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex correlated with placebo antidepressant responses. Activity in regions of the default mode network, including posterior cingulate cortex, was associated with placebo anxiolysis. There was also evidence for possible involvement of the endogenous opioid, dopamine, and serotonin systems in placebo antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.

Conclusions

Several brain regions and molecular systems may be involved in these placebo effects. Further adequately powered studies exploring causality and controlling for confounders are required.
Pharmacogenetics of Between-Individual Variability in Plasma Clearance of Bedaquiline and Clofazimine in South Africa
Authors: Haas David W , Abdelwahab Mahmoud Tareq , van Beek Stijn W , Baker Paxton , Maartens Gary , Bradford Yuki , Ritchie Marylyn D , Wasserman Sean , Meintjes Graeme , Beeri Karen , Gandhi Neel R , Svensson Elin M , Denti Paolo , Brust James C M
Published: January 2022

Background

Plasma bedaquiline clearance is reportedly more rapid with African ancestry. Our objective was to determine whether genetic polymorphisms explained between-individual variability in plasma clearance of bedaquiline, its M2 metabolite, and clofazimine in a cohort of patients treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa.

Methods

Plasma clearance was estimated with nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Associations between pharmacogenetic polymorphisms, genome-wide polymorphisms, and variability in clearance were examined using linear regression models.

Results

Of 195 cohort participants, 140 were evaluable for genetic associations. Among 21 polymorphisms selected based on prior genome-wide significant associations with any drug, rs776746 (CYP3A5∗3) was associated with slower clearance of bedaquiline (P = .0017) but not M2 (P = .25). CYP3A5∗3 heterozygosity and homozygosity were associated with 15% and 30% slower bedaquiline clearance, respectively. The lowest P value for clofazimine clearance was with VKORC1 rs9923231 (P = .13). In genome-wide analyses, the lowest P values for clearance of bedaquiline and clofazimine were with RFX4 rs76345012 (P = 6.4 × 10−7) and CNTN5 rs75285763 (P = 2.9 × 10−8), respectively.

Conclusions

Among South Africans treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis, CYP3A5∗3 was associated with slower bedaquiline clearance. Different CYP3A5∗3 frequencies among populations may help explain the more rapid bedaquiline clearance reported in Africans. Associations with RFX4 and CNTN5 are likely by chance alone.
Recombination events that occur in a poxtA-carrying Enterococcus faecium during the conjugation process
Authors: Xu Chunyan , Wang Nannan , Li Dexi , Schwarz Stefan , Du Xiang-Dang
Published: January 2022

Objectives

To investigate transferability of the poxtA-carrying plasmids in Enterococcus faecium and the mechanism of recombination that occurs during the conjugation process.

Methods

MICs were determined by broth microdilution. Transferability of the poxtA-carrying plasmids in E. faecium was investigated by conjugation. The mechanism of recombination that occurred during the conjugation process was explored by S1-PFGE and WGS.

Results

E. faecium strain Fac90 carries two plasmids, designated pFac90-154 and pFac90-54, respectively. Six transconjugants with different characteristics were obtained. In transconjugant T90-1, a plasmid–chromosome fusion event led to the integration of plasmid pFac90-154 from the donor E. faecium strain Fac90 into the chromosomal DNA of the recipient strain Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2. In transconjugants T90-2, -3 and -4, losses or additions of different-sized plasmid segments most likely occurred due to IS1216-mediated recombination. In transconjugants T90-5 and -6, two large plasmids with sizes of 101 656 and 149 526 bp were formed by plasmid fusion.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the integration of pFac90-154 from E. faecium Fac90 into the chromosomal DNA of recipient E. faecalis JH2-2 via homologous recombination. Besides, we showed that five new plasmid types were formed by genetic rearrangements. These recombination events resulted simultaneously in the formation of various types of mosaic plasmids with multiple resistance genes and/or conjugation characteristics, which might promote the transmission of diverse plasmids encoding resistance genes among enterococci. Thus, these data significantly expand our knowledge regarding conjugative events, establishing a dual role of conjugation in both dissemination of resistance genes and plasmid evolution.
A hybrid machine learning system to impute and classify a component-based robot
Authors: Basurto Nuño , Arroyo Ángel , Cambra Carlos , Herrero Álvaro
Published: January 2022

In the field of cybernetic systems and more specifically in robotics, one of the fundamental objectives is the detection of anomalies in order to minimize loss of time. Following this idea, this paper proposes the implementation of a Hybrid Intelligent System in four steps to impute the missing values, by combining clustering and regression techniques, followed by balancing and classification tasks. This system applies regression models to each one of the clusters built on the instances of data set. Subsequently, a variety of balancing techniques are applied to improve the classifier’s ability to discern whether it is in an error or a normal state. These techniques support to obtain better classification ratios in which a robot is close to error and allow us to bring the behavior back to a normal state. The experimentation is performed using a modern and public data set, which has been extracted from a component-based robotic system, in which different anomalies are induced by software in their components.
The Liberation of the Body of Creation: Towards a Pauline Environmental Ethic
Authors: Wells Kyle B
Published: January 2022

This article argues that careful attention to Paul’s concept of σῶμα provides a distinctly Pauline contribution to environmental ethics. It begins by highlighting the theological and exegetical problems posed by recent environmental approaches to Paul, and especially to Romans 8:19–23. It then proposes an alternative path for constructing an environmental ethic from these verses, one which (1) is based upon the close relationship Paul posits between bodily resurrection and creation’s liberation, and (2) builds upon a tradition of Pauline anthropology represented by Ernst Käsemann and Dale Martin. Specifically, this article argues that Paul relates the body to creation in such a way that it is possible to reason from the place of the body in the person’s liberation from sin and death (6:6; 12–13; 8:23) to an environmental ethic. What this approach provides is an environmental ethic that is both exegetically responsible and more consistent with Paul’s apocalyptic framework.
Solar system peculiar motion from the Hubble diagram of quasars and testing the cosmological principle
Authors: Singal Ashok K
Published: January 2022

We determine here the peculiar motion of the Solar system, first time from the m–z Hubble diagram of quasars. Observer’s peculiar motion causes a systematic shift in the m–z plane between sources lying along the velocity vector and those in the opposite direction, providing a measure of the peculiar velocity. Accordingly, from a sample of ∼1.2 × 105 mid-infrared quasars with measured spectroscopic redshifts, we arrive at a peculiar velocity ∼22 times larger than that from the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) dipole but direction matching within ∼2σ. Previous findings from number count, sky brightness, or redshift dipoles observed in samples of distant active galactic nuclei or supernovae type Ia too had yielded values 2–10 times larger than the CMBR value, though the direction in all cases agreed with the CMBR dipole. Since a genuine solar peculiar velocity cannot vary from one data set to another, an order of magnitude, statistically significant, discordant dipoles might imply that we may instead have to look for some other cause for the genesis of these dipoles, including that of the CMBR. At the same time, a common direction for all these dipoles, determined from completely independent surveys by different groups employing different techniques, might indicate that these dipoles are not resulting from some systematics in the observations or in the data analysis, but could instead suggest a preferred direction in the Universe due to an inherent anisotropy, which, in turn, would be against the cosmological principle, the most basic tenet of the modern cosmology.
Fraction of broad absorption line quasars in different radio morphologies
Authors: Nair A , Vivek M
Published: January 2022

In this study, we investigated the orientation model of Broad Absorption Line (BAL) quasars using a sample of sources that are common in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release (DR)-16 quasar catalogue and Very Large Array (VLA)-Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty Centimeters (FIRST) survey. Using the radio cut-out images from the FIRST survey, we first designed a deep-learning model using convolutional neural networks (CNN) to classify the quasar radio morphologies into the core-only, young jet, single lobe, or triples. These radio morphologies are further sub-classified into core-dominated and lobe-dominated sources. The CNN models can classify the sources with a high precision of >98 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for all the morphological sub-classes. The average BAL fraction in the resolved core, core-dominated, and lobe-dominated quasars are consistent with the BAL fraction inferred from radio and infrared surveys. We also present the distribution of BAL quasars as a function of quasar orientation by using the radio core-dominance as an orientation indicator. A similar analysis is performed for HiBALs, LoBALs, and FeLoBALs. All the radio morphological sub-classes and BAL sub-classes show an increase in BAL fraction at high orientation angles of the jets with respect to the line of sight. Our analysis suggests that BAL quasars are more likely to be found in viewing angles close to the equatorial plane of the quasar. However, a pure orientation model is inadequate, and a combination of orientation and evolution is probably the best way to explain the complete BAL phenomena.
Management of Dermatologic Events Associated With the Nectin-4-directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate Enfortumab Vedotin
Authors: Lacouture Mario E , Patel Anisha B , Rosenberg Jonathan E , O’Donnell Peter H
Published: January 2022

Enfortumab vedotin is a first-in-class Nectin-4-directed antibody-drug conjugate approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC) previously treated with a platinum-based chemotherapy and a programmed death receptor-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) inhibitor, or patients with la/mUC who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy and have previously received one or more prior lines of therapy. Enfortumab vedotin is the only drug to have demonstrated survival benefit versus chemotherapy in a randomized controlled trial in patients with la/mUC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and a PD-1/L1 inhibitor. The development of dermatologic events following the administration of enfortumab vedotin is anticipated given the expression of Nectin-4 in epidermal keratinocytes and skin appendages (eg, sweat glands and hair follicles). There is the potential for rare but severe and possibly fatal cutaneous adverse reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrosis, as described in the boxed warning of the US prescribing information for enfortumab vedotin. This manuscript describes the presumed pathophysiology and manifestations of dermatologic reactions related to enfortumab vedotin, and presents recommendations for prevention and treatment, to provide oncologists and other healthcare providers with an awareness of these potential adverse events to best anticipate and manage them.
Clinical, Psychological, and Neurophysiological Outcomes Associated with Pain and Function in Individuals with Unilateral Plantar Heel Pain
Authors: Alburquerque-Sendín Francisco , Ríos-León Marta , Valera-Calero Juan A , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo , Priscila Rodrigues-de-Souza Daiana
Published: January 2022

Objective

To assess the potential relationship of demographic (age, gender, body mass index, height, weight), clinical (affected side, duration of symptoms, health-related quality of life), psychological (depressive levels), or neurophysiological (pressure pain sensitivity and number of trigger points) variables with foot function and pain intensity in patients with unilateral plantar heel pain (PHP).

Methods

Fifty-four patients with PHP (48% females) were recruited. Data on demographics, months with pain, time in standing position, depression, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), number of trigger points, health-related quality of life, function, and pain intensity were collected. A multivariable correlation analysis was performed to determine the associations among the variables, and a regression analysis was conducted to explain the variance in function and pain intensity.

Results

Pain intensity was negatively correlated with symptom duration and calcaneus bone PPT and positively associated with gender, time in standing position, and number of trigger points. Function was negatively correlated with PPTs on the calcaneus bone, the flexor digitorum brevis muscle, and the abductor hallucis muscle and with quality of life and was positively correlated with age, gender, and depressive levels. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that 60.8% of pain intensity was explained by female gender, calcaneus PPTs, time in a standing position, and function. Furthermore, gender, quality of life, age, depressive levels, and calcaneus bone PPTs explained 52.4% of function variance.

Conclusions

This study found that demographic, clinical, psychological, and neurophysiological variables can mutually interact to affect function and pain intensity in patients with unilateral PHP. These findings could guide clinicians in the identification, prevention, and treatment of PHP risk factors.
Think of the Children?
Authors: Toossi Saied
Published: January 2022

Government programs targeting groups perceived to be deserving are more likely to attract support. While children are often assumed to constitute such a group, their effect on public opinion can be theoretically ambiguous and few studies have tested whether highlighting the child beneficiaries of government programs can alter attitudes toward them. It is also unclear how conceptualizations of children’s deservingness vary depending on their race and across segments of the population. Using a nationally representative survey experiment, this study tests the effect of children on attitudes in the context of welfare, a highly politicized and racialized policy domain often associated with the undeserving. More specifically, this study tests whether highlighting the child beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can alter attitudes toward it, and whether this effect varies by different racial characterizations of the children and across subgroups of the population. I find that doing so boosts support for SNAP overall and across politically influential constituencies, but that this effect is generally less pronounced when children are characterized as black as compared to white or diverse. These findings enhance our understanding of attitudes toward welfare and contribute to the deservingness literature more broadly.
Supersymmetric gauge theory on the graph
Authors: Matsuura So , Ohta Kazutoshi
Published: January 2022

We consider two-dimensional ${\cal N} = (2,2)$ supersymmetric gauge theory on discretized Riemann surfaces. We find that the discretized theory can be efficiently described by using graph theory, where the bosonic and fermionic fields are regarded as vectors on a graph and its dual. We first analyze the Abelian theory and identify its spectrum in terms of graph theory. In particular, we show that the fermions have zero modes corresponding to the topology of the graph, which can be understood as kernels of the incidence matrices of the graph and the dual graph. In the continuous theory, a scalar curvature appears as an anomaly in the Ward–Takahashi identity associated with a U(1) symmetry. We find that the same anomaly arises as the deficit angle at each vertex on the graph. By using the localization method, we show that the path integral on the graph reduces to an integral over a set of the zero modes. The partition function is then ill-defined unless suitable operators are inserted. We extend the same argument to the non-Abelian theory and show that the path integral reduces to multiple integrals of Abelian theories at the localization fixed points.
Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Promotes Survival of Hematopoietic Progenitors Ex Vivo and Is Post-Translationally Regulated by DPP4
Authors: Ropa James , Cooper Scott , Broxmeyer Hal E
Published: January 2022

Hematopoietic cells are regulated in part by extracellular cues from cytokines. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) promotes survival, self-renewal, and pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC). While genetic deletion of LIF affects hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), the direct effect of LIF protein exposure on HPC survival is not known. Furthermore, post-translational modifications (PTM) of LIF and their effects on its function have not been evaluated. We demonstrate that treatment with recombinant LIF preserves mouse and human HPC numbers in stressed conditions when growth factor addition is delayed ex vivo. We show that Lif is upregulated in response to irradiation-induced stress. We reveal novel PTM of LIF where it is cleaved twice by dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) protease so that it loses its 4 N-terminal amino acids. This truncation of LIF down-modulates LIF’s ability to preserve functional HPC numbers ex vivo following delayed growth factor addition. DPP4-truncated LIF blocks the ability of full-length LIF to preserve functional HPC numbers. This LIF role and its novel regulation by DPP4 have important implications for normal and stress hematopoiesis, as well as for other cellular contexts in which LIF and DPP4 are implicated.
Update on the use of allergen challenge chambers in immunotherapy: clinical implications
Authors: Zieglmayer Petra U. , Pfaar Oliver
Published: January 2022

Purpose of review

This review aims to reflect on and discuss recent evidence of applicability of allergen exposure chambers (AEC) for allergen immunotherapy studies, especially focussing on validation of AECs, technical documentation and future perspectives.

Recent findings

Publications covered by this review summarize the historical background, current status of research use and validation of AEC systems. It describes identified unmet needs regarding comparability of AEC systems, reproducibility of clinical assessments and correlation of AEC-induced symptoms with scores under natural environmental exposure. Furthermore, new information on technical specifications, for example, dimensions, allergen dispersal and validation procedures is highlighted and future activities of the EAACI AEC task force group regarding harmonization of clinical endpoints are delineated.

AECs are in use for evaluation of allergic patients for over three decades now. As different systems largely vary regarding technical set up and standard assessments, detailed technical documentation must be available. To gain acceptance of regulatory authorities for pivotal immunotherapy trials conducted with the use of AEC system, harmonization of clinical assessments as well as documentation of correlation of clinical AEC outcomes with environmental exposure clinical scores is required.
The Evolving Role of Social Media in Pediatric Orthopaedics
Authors: Chiang Benjamin J. , Lo Karen D. , Jorgensen Alexis A. , Tabaie Sean A.
Published: January 2022

Background:

Social media has grown significantly and its application in health care has been dramatically accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is often considered as a “new dimension” of health care, particularly in its ability to provide health information. In 2017, the top social media sites utilized by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons included Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. In our study, we analyze the current social media usage, trends in Instagram and TikTok content, and the perceptions on social media usage among pediatric orthopaedic surgeons.

Methods:

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) membership directory was searched for the presence of social media. A review of all Instagram and TikTok posts made by the POSNA members were reviewed. A survey regarding the perception of social media networks and content was distributed to all POSNA members.

Results:

A total of 1231 POSNA members actively practicing in the United States were included in our study. In all, 327 (26.6%) had a LinkedIn profile, 34 (2.8%) had a professional Facebook profile, 15 (1.2%) had a public Instagram account, 0 (0%) had TikTok, and 72 (5.8%) had a professional Twitter account. Fifteen POSNA members with public Instagram accounts had 10,878 followers. A total of 907 Instagram posts were made, 134 (14.8%) of which were education and 462 (50.9%) of which were personal or political. The perception of various social media networks such as Instagram (3.02), Facebook (3.16), and LinkedIn (3.51) were positive on a 5-point Likert scale, while perceptions of TikTok (2.36) and Twitter (2.99) were negative. Educational posts on Instagram (3.19) and Facebook (3.37) were positive.

Conclusions:

We provide an update to the utilization of social media by pediatric orthopaedists. Use of Instagram and TikTok accounts remain rare. Educational posts, when hosted on an appropriate social media platform, are perceived positively among pediatric orthopaedists.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
Semaglutide for Weight Loss: Was It Worth the Weight?
Authors: Novograd Joel , Mullally Jaime , Frishman William H.
Published: January 2022

Obesity is a major public health issue with an increasing prevalence worldwide. Excess body fat is associated with various comorbidities, as well as increased overall mortality risk. The benefits of weight loss are evident by the reductions in morbidity and mortality. The foundation for most weight loss programs involves strict lifestyle modification, including dietary change and exercise. Unfortunately, many individuals struggle with weight loss and chronic weight management due to difficulty adhering to long-term lifestyle modification and the metabolic adaptations that promote weight regain. The use of adjunctive pharmacotherapy has been employed to help patients not only achieve greater weight loss than lifestyle modification alone but also to assist with long-term weight management. Historically, antiobesity drugs have produced only modest weight loss and required at least once daily administration. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone with significant effects on glycemic control and weight regulation, has been explored for use as adjunctive pharmacotherapy for weight loss. Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight. The approval came after the publication of the Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity clinical trials. In these 68-week trials, semaglutide 2.4 mg was associated with significantly greater weight loss compared to placebo. Semaglutide differs from other GLP-1 receptor agonists by having a longer half-life and producing greater weight loss. This article provides an overview of the discovery and mechanism of action of semaglutide 2.4 mg, and the clinical trials that led to its approval.
Implantable Cardiovascular Devices: Current and Emerging Technologies for Remote Heart Failure Monitoring
Authors: Gill Jashan
Published: January 2022

Heart failure remains a substantial socioeconomic burden to our health care system. With the aging of the population, the incidence is expected to rise in the ensuing years. Standard heart failure management strategies have failed to reduce hospitalizations and mortality. In patients with heart failure, remote hemodynamic monitoring with implantable devices provides essential data, which can be used in unison with standard patient management to reduce heart failure hospitalizations. This review will chronicle the important clinical trials of various implantable devices and describe the emerging technologies in remote heart failure management. Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, namely implanted cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices with defibrillator, have evolved beyond sole resynchronization and currently can deliver real-time cardiac hemodynamics. Clinical data regarding hemodynamic monitoring with implanted cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices with defibrillator have not consistently demonstrated a reduction in heart failure or mortality benefit. However, there is promise in the future with the application of multiparameter diagnostic algorithms with these devices. The most efficacious implantable device has been the pulmonary artery pressure sensor, CardioMEMS. This device has been proven to be safe and shown to reduce heart failure hospitalizations. Moreover, multiple newly developed devices are currently under investigation after successful first-in-man studies.