bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WD J004917.14−252556.81: the most massive pulsating white dwarf
Authors: Kilic Mukremin , Córsico Alejandro H , Moss Adam G , Jewett Gracyn , De Gerónimo Francisco C , Althaus Leandro G
Published: April 2023

We present Apache Point Observatory (APO) and Gemini time-series photometry of WD J004917.14−252556.81, an ultramassive DA white dwarf with $T_{\rm eff} = 13\, 020$ K and log g = 9.34. We detect variability at two significant frequencies, making J0049−2525 the most massive pulsating white dwarf currently known with M⋆ = 1.31 M⊙ (for a CO core) or 1.26 M⊙ (for an ONe core). J0049−2525 does not display any of the signatures of binary mergers, there is no evidence of magnetism, large tangential velocity, or rapid rotation. Hence, it likely formed through single star evolution and is likely to have an ONe core. Evolutionary models indicate that its interior is ≳99 per cent crystallized. Asteroseismology offers an unprecedented opportunity to probe its interior structure. However, the relatively few pulsation modes detected limit our ability to obtain robust seismic solutions. Instead, we provide several representative solutions that could explain the observed properties of this star. Extensive follow-up time-series photometry of this unique target has the potential to discover a significant number of additional pulsation modes that would help overcome the degeneracies in the asteroseismic fits, and enable us to probe the interior of an ≈1.3 M⊙ crystallized white dwarf.
Hydrodynamical evolution of black hole binaries embedded in AGN discs: II. dependence on equation of state, binary mass, and separation scales
Authors: Li Rixin , Lai Dong
Published: April 2023

Stellar-mass binary black holes (BBHs) embedded in active galactic nucleus (AGN) discs offer a promising dynamical channel to produce black hole mergers that are detectable by LIGO/Virgo. Modelling the interactions between the disc gas and the embedded BBHs is crucial to understand their orbital evolution. Using a suite of 2D high-resolution simulations of prograde equal-mass circular binaries in local disc models, we systematically study how their hydrodynamical evolution depends on the equation of state (EOS; including the γ-law and isothermal EOS) and on the binary mass and separation scales (relative to the supermassive black hole mass and the Hill radius, respectively). We find that binaries accrete slower and contract in orbit if the EOS is far from isothermal such that the surrounding gas is diffuse, hot, and turbulent. The typical orbital decay rate is of the order of a few times the mass doubling rate. For a fixed EOS, the accretion flows are denser, hotter, and more turbulent around more massive or tighter binaries. The torque associated with accretion is often comparable to the gravitational torque, so both torques are essential in determining the long-term binary orbital evolution. We carry out additional simulations with non-accreting binaries and find that their orbital evolution can be stochastic and is sensitive to the gravitational softening length, and the secular orbital evolution can be very different from those of accreting binaries. Our results indicate that stellar-mass BBHs may be hardened efficiently under ideal conditions, namely less massive and wider binaries embedded in discs with a non-isothermal EOS.
LeMMINGs. VI. Connecting nuclear activity to bulge properties of active and inactive galaxies: radio scaling relations and galaxy environment
Authors: Dullo B T , Knapen J H , Beswick R J , Baldi R D , Williams D R A , McHardy I M , Green D A , Gil de Paz A , Aalto S , Alberdi A , Argo M K , Klöckner H-R , Mutie I M , Saikia D J , Saikia P , Stevens I R
Published: April 2023

Multiwavelength studies indicate that nuclear activity and bulge properties are closely related, but the details remain unclear. To study this further, we combine Hubble Space Telescope bulge structural and photometric properties with 1.5 GHz, e-MERLIN nuclear radio continuum data from the LeMMINGs survey for a large sample of 173 ‘active’ galaxies (LINERs and Seyferts) and ‘inactive’ galaxies (H iis and absorption line galaxies, ALGs). Dividing our sample into active and inactive, they define distinct (radio core luminosity)–(bulge mass), $L_{\rm R,core}-M_{*, \rm bulge}$ , relations, with a mass turnover at $M_{*, \rm bulge}\sim 10^{9.8 \pm 0.3} \rm { M_{\odot }}$ (supermassive blackhole mass $M_{\rm BH} \sim 10^{6.8 \pm 0.3} \rm M_{\odot }$ ), which marks the transition from AGN-dominated nuclear radio emission in more massive bulges to that mainly driven by stellar processes in low-mass bulges. None of our 10/173 bulge-less galaxies host an AGN. The AGN fraction increases with increasing $M_{*,\rm bulge}$ such that $f_{\rm optical\_AGN}\propto M_{*,\rm bulge}^{0.24 \pm 0.06}$ and $f_{\rm radio\_AGN}\propto M_{*,\rm bulge}^{0.24 \pm 0.05}$ . Between $M_{*,\rm bulge}\sim 10^{8.5}$ and $10^{11.3} \rm M_{\odot }$ , $f_{\rm optical\_AGN}$ steadily rises from 15 ± 4 to 80 ± 5 per cent. We find that at fixed bulge mass, the radio loudness, nuclear radio activity, and the (optical and radio) AGN fraction exhibit no dependence on environment. Radio-loud hosts preferentially possess an early-type morphology than radio-quiet hosts, the two types are however indistinguishable in terms of bulge Sérsic index and ellipticity, while results on the bulge inner logarithmic profile slope are inconclusive. We finally discuss the importance of bulge mass in determining the AGN triggering processes, including potential implications for the nuclear radio emission in nearby galaxies.
A photodissociation region (PDR) model grid in planetary nebula paradigm: dependency of C and O fine structure line emission and PDR thermal structure on central star radiation and nebular dust composition
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Rahul , Das Ramkrishna
Published: April 2023

We compute a grid of photodissociation region (PDR) models. The varying parameters of the grid include effective temperature (Teff) and luminosity (L) of the radiation source, density (nH) of the nebula, PDR depth from the nebular ionization front (ΔrPDR), and densities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules and amorphous carbon (AC) dust. The paradigm, including the range of the parameters used to calculate the models, corresponds to planetary nebulae (PNe). We study the heating and cooling rates, and the variation of gas kinetic temperature (TK) along the PDR depth. We evaluate fluxes of fine structure lines: [O i] 63 $\mu$m, [C ii] 158 $\mu$m, and [C i] 609 $\mu$m and flux ratios: [O i] 146/63 $\mu$m, [O i] 63/[C ii] 158 $\mu$m, and [C i] 609/370 $\mu$m, and study their variation in the parameter space: Teff, L, and nH, for different composition of PAH and AC. We further study the distribution of [O i] 146/63 $\mu$m and [O i] 63/[C ii] 158 $\mu$m ratios in the parameter spaces of nH, ΔrPDR, Teff, and L. We take the observed [O i] 146/63 $\mu$m and [O i] 63/[C ii] 158 $\mu$m ratios for a number of PNe, and compare with these ratios obtained from our models. We verify that the correlation found between the [O i] 146/63 $\mu$m and [O i] 63/[C ii] 158 $\mu$m ratios observed in real PNe is similar to that found from our PN model grid.
Evolution of the UV LF from z ∼ 15 to z ∼ 8 using new JWST NIRCam medium-band observations over the HUDF/XDF
Authors: Bouwens Rychard J , Stefanon Mauro , Brammer Gabriel , Oesch Pascal A , Herard-Demanche Thomas , Illingworth Garth D , Matthee Jorryt , Naidu Rohan P , van Dokkum Pieter G , van Leeuwen Ivana F
Published: April 2023

We present the first constraints on the prevalence of z > 10 galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) leveraging new NIRCam observations from JEMS (JWST Extragalactic Medium-band Survey). These NIRCam observations probe redward of 1.6 μm, beyond the wavelength limit of HST, allowing us to search for galaxies to z > 10. These observations indicate that the highest redshift candidate identified in the HUDF09 data with HST, UDFj-39546284, has a redshift of z > 11.5, as had been suggested in analyses of the HUDF12/XDF data. This has now been confirmed with JWST NIRSpec. This source is thus the most distant galaxy discovered by HST in its >30 yr of operation. Additionally, we identify nine other z ∼ 8–13 candidate galaxies over the HUDF, two of which are new discoveries that appear to lie at z ∼ 11–12. We use these results to characterize the evolution of the UV luminosity function (LF) from z ∼ 15 to z ∼ 8.7. While our LF results at z ∼ 8.7 and z ∼ 10.5 are consistent with previous findings over the HUDF, our new LF estimates at z ∼ 12.6 are higher than other results in the literature, potentially pointing to a milder evolution in the UV luminosity density from z ∼ 12.6. We emphasize that our LF results are uncertain given the small number of z ∼ 12.6 sources and limited volume probed. The new NIRCam data also indicate that the faint z ∼ 8–13 galaxies in the HUDF/XDF show blue UV-continuum slopes β ∼ −2.7, high specific star formation rates ∼24.5 Gyr−1, and high EW (∼1300 Å) [O iii] + H β emission, with two z ∼ 8.5 sources showing [O iii] + H β EWs of ∼2300 Å.
Light and period variations in the supersoft X-ray source QR And (= RX J0019.8 + 2156)
Authors: Zang Lei , Qian Shengbang , Fernández-Lajús Eduardo
Published: April 2023

QR And is the optically brightest supersoft X-ray source, where a massive white dwarf in a close binary accretes material from its companion star via an accretion disc. Based on the photometric observations from the TESS space telescope and the AAVSO data base, 91 eclipse timings were determined. Variations such as flaring activities, depth and profile changes in the primary and the secondary minima, and some short-term irregular fluctuations are found in the TESS light curves, which are interpreted as the activities of the accretion disc and fluctuations of the mass transfer rate. By collecting all available eclipse timings together with those newly determined, we constructed the O-C diagram and analysed the changes in the orbital period. It is discovered that the orbital period is continuously increasing at a rate of $\dot{P}= +3.7(1)\times 10^{-7} d \cdot yr^{-1}= +0.0320(8)s \cdot yr^{-1}$. The continuous increase in the orbital period is mainly caused by the mass transfer from the low-mass companion to the white dwarf on its Kelvin–Helmholtz time-scale, while wind mass loss from the accretion disc may also contribute to the period variation. In this scenario, the mass transfer rate of QR And is estimated to be in the range of about 1.2 × 10−7 to 4.2 × 10−7M⊙ × yr−1 and the mass-accretion rate is less than 1.6 × 10−7M⊙ × yr−1. It can be roughly estimated that QR And may reach to the Chandrasekhar limit in at least 1.5 million yr, then might explode as a type Ia supernova.
Influence of turbulence on Ly α scattering
Authors: Munirov Vadim R , Kaurov Alexander A
Published: April 2023

We develop a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code to study the effect of turbulence with a finite correlation length on scattering of Ly α photons propagating through neutral atomic hydrogen gas. We investigate how the effective mean free path, the emergent spectrum, and the average number of scatterings that Ly α photons experience change in the presence of turbulence. We find that the correlation length is an important and sensitive parameter that has an influence on physically relevant properties of Ly α radiative transfer. In particular, it can significantly, by orders of magnitude, reduce the number of scattering events that the average Ly α photon undergoes before it escapes the turbulent cloud.
Emerging planetary nebulae within 3D spiral patterns
Authors: Lora V , Toalá J A , González-Carbajal J I , Guerrero M A , Esquivel A , Ramos-Larios G
Published: April 2023

We present the first 3D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the formation of planetary nebulae (PNe) emerging from 3D spiral patterns. We use the guacho code to create 3D spiral structures as a consequence of the distortions on the geometry of the intrinsically isotropic wind of an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star produced by a companion star in a circular orbit. We found that the orbital period of the binary producing the 3D spiral pattern has consequences on the formation and shaping of the PN itself. Stellar systems with longer period create less entwined 3D spirals, producing PNe with rounder inner cavities, and prevent the expansion of jet towards the polar directions. The spiral fitting procedure used in the literature to predict the binary’s orbital period may be misleading in the case of proto-PNe and PNe as spiral patterns are diluted by their own thermal expansion down to the average AGB density profile within a few hundred years and are further disrupted by the action of jets. By adopting a phase of jet ejections between the AGB and post-AGB stages, we are able to recover the morphologies of proto-PNe and PNe that exhibit ring-like structures in their haloes.
Visible and infrared spectra of the solids α- and β-O2 at 9–30 K
Authors: Lo Jen-Iu , Lu Hsiao-Chi , Hung Wei-Hsiu , Ogilvie J F , Cheng Bing-Ming
Published: April 2023

To establish the spectroscopy of the solids α- and β-oxygen, we measured the thermal ramping spectra of the solid O2 in visible and near-infrared (near-IR) wavelength range 450–1020 nm and mid-infrared (mid-IR) range 500–5000 cm−1 (2–20 μm) at temperature 9–30 K. Besides the solids α- and β-oxygen, the imperfect structure of O2 ice might co-exist at low temperature. In mid-IR spectra, a triplet was observed at 1545.7, 1548.1, and 1549.6 cm−1 associated to the imperfect crystallinity of solid O2; the triplet existed below 27 K, but not at 30 K and on re-cooling to 9 K. The spectra measured at re-cooled 9 and 30 K are evidently responsible only for the solids α- and β-O2, respectively; overall, the spectra of the solids α- and β-O2 appear similar in the visible region, but those differ significantly from the spectrum of the solid O2 contaminated with imperfect structure. For solid α-O2, IR lines were recorded at 1591 and 1617 cm−1, which exhibited a reversible behaviour through the α-β phase transition temperature at 24 K. The visible spectrum of the separate solid α-O2 was obtained for the first time.
Distinguishing a planetary transit from false positives: a Transformer-based classification for planetary transit signals
Authors: Salinas Helem , Pichara Karim , Brahm Rafael , Pérez-Galarce Francisco , Mery Domingo
Published: April 2023

Current space-based missions, such as the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), provide a large database of light curves that must be analysed efficiently and systematically. In recent years, deep learning (DL) methods, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNN), have been used to classify transit signals of candidate exoplanets automatically. However, CNNs have some drawbacks; for example, they require many layers to capture dependencies on sequential data, such as light curves, making the network so large that it eventually becomes impractical. The self-attention mechanism is a DL technique that attempts to mimic the action of selectively focusing on some relevant things while ignoring others. Models, such as the Transformer architecture, were recently proposed for sequential data with successful results. Based on these successful models, we present a new architecture for the automatic classification of transit signals. Our proposed architecture is designed to capture the most significant features of a transit signal and stellar parameters through the self-attention mechanism. In addition to model prediction, we take advantage of attention map inspection, obtaining a more interpretable DL approach. Thus, we can identify the relevance of each element to differentiate a transit signal from false positives, simplifying the manual examination of candidates. We show that our architecture achieves competitive results concerning the CNNs applied for recognizing exoplanetary transit signals in data from the TESS telescope. Based on these results, we demonstrate that applying this state-of-the-art DL model to light curves can be a powerful technique for transit signal detection while offering a level of interpretability.
Statistical implications of the n = 1 observation of 1I/‘Oumuamua
Authors: Flekkøy Eirik Grude , Toussaint Renaud
Published: April 2023

We obtain the exact statistical distribution of expected detection rates that may be obtained from the detection of ‘Oumuamua, which currently belongs to a class of objects that is only observed once in our Solar system. The derivation of the distribution of future detection rates starts from the assumption that the detection is a result of a Poisson process, and uses Bayes theorem along with information theory to get the result. We derive the probability for the next such observation along with the confidence limits of this prediction assuming that observations are done with the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This probability depends on the estimates of detection rates that existed prior to the ‘Oumuamua observation. However, unless the constraints given by these model-based estimates are within an order of magnitude of the actual detection rate, they have a negligible effect on the probability of making a second observation. The results are generalized to the expected future case where more than one observation exists.
Current approaches in enhancing TRAIL therapies in glioblastoma
Authors: Thang Morrent , Mellows Clara , Mercer-Smith Alison , Nguyen Phuong , Hingtgen Shawn
Published: April 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent, aggressive, primary brain cancer in adults and continues to pose major medical challenges due in part to its high rate of recurrence. Extensive research is underway to discover new therapies that target GBM cells and prevent the inevitable recurrence in patients. The pro-apoptotic protein tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has attracted attention as an ideal anticancer agent due to its ability to selectively kill cancer cells with minimal toxicity in normal cells. Although initial clinical evaluations of TRAIL therapies in several cancers were promising, later stages of clinical trial results indicated that TRAIL and TRAIL-based therapies failed to demonstrate robust efficacies due to poor pharmacokinetics, resulting in insufficient concentrations of TRAIL at the therapeutic site. However, recent studies have developed novel ways to prolong TRAIL bioavailability at the tumor site and efficiently deliver TRAIL and TRAIL-based therapies using cellular and nanoparticle vehicles as drug loading cargos. Additionally, novel techniques have been developed to address monotherapy resistance, including modulating biomarkers associated with TRAIL resistance in GBM cells. This review highlights the promising work to overcome the challenges of TRAIL-based therapies with the aim to facilitate improved TRAIL efficacy against GBM.
Sub-nanotesla sensitivity at the nanoscale with a single spin
Authors: Zhao Zhiyuan , Ye Xiangyu , Xu Shaoyi , Yu Pei , Yang Zhiping , Kong Xi , Wang Ya , Xie Tianyu , Shi Fazhan , Du Jiangfeng
Published: April 2023

High-sensitivity detection of the microscopic magnetic field is essential in many fields. Good sensitivity and high spatial resolution are mutually contradictory in measurement, which is quantified by the energy resolution limit. Here we report that a sensitivity of 0.5 nT/$\sqrt{\rm Hz}$ at the nanoscale is achieved experimentally by using nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond with depths of tens of nanometers. The achieved sensitivity is substantially enhanced by integrating with multiple quantum techniques, including real-time-feedback initialization, dynamical decoupling with shaped pulses and repetitive readout via quantum logic. Our magnetic sensors will shed new light on searching new physics beyond the standard model, investigating microscopic magnetic phenomena in condensed matters, and detection of life activities at the sub-cellular scale.
“To Be Honest, You Probably Would Have to Read It 50 Times”: Stakeholders Views on Using the Opt-Out Approach for Vaccination in Jails
Authors: Lodolo Laura , Smyth Emma , Ngassa Yvane , Pickard Bridget , LeClair Amy M , Beckwith Curt G , Wurcel Alysse
Published: April 2023

Background

Despite national guidelines on infectious disease testing and vaccination in prisons, there is heterogeneity on the implementation of these practices in jails. We sought to better understand perspectives on the implementation of opt-out vaccination for infectious diseases in jails by interviewing a broad group of stakeholders involved in infectious diseases vaccination, testing, and treatment in Massachusetts jails.

Methods

The research team conducted semistructured interviews with people incarcerated in Hampden County Jail (Ludlow, Massachusetts), clinicians working in jail and community settings, corrections administrators, and representatives from public health, government, and industry between July 2021 and March 2022.

Results

Forty-eight people were interviewed, including 13 people incarcerated at the time of interview. Themes that emerged included the following: misunderstandings of what opt-out means, indifference to the way vaccines are offered, belief that using the opt-out approach will increase the number of individuals who receive vaccination, and that opt-out provides an easy way for vaccine rejection and reluctance to accept vaccination.

Conclusions

There was a clear divide in stakeholders’ support of the opt-out approach, which was more universally supported by those who work outside of jails compared to those who work within or are incarcerated in jails. Compiling the perspectives of stakeholders inside and outside of jail settings on the opt-out approach to vaccination is the first step to develop feasible and effective strategies for implementing new health policies in jail settings.
Factors Associated With the Development of Bacterial Pneumonia Related to Seasonal Influenza Virus Infection: A Study Using a Large-scale Health Insurance Claim Database
Authors: Shirata Masahiro , Ito Isao , Jo Taisuke , Iwao Tomohide , Oi Issei , Hamao Nobuyoshi , Nishioka Kensuke , Yamana Hayato , Nagase Takahide , Yasunaga Hideo , Hirai Toyohiro
Published: April 2023

Background

Influenza-related bacterial pneumonia is a leading complication of influenza infection. However, the differences in the incidence rates and risk factors associated with concomitant viral/bacterial pneumonia (CP) and secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza (SP) remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the incidence rates of CP and SP following seasonal influenza and identify factors associated with their development.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the JMDC Claims Database, a health insurance claims database in Japan. All patients aged <75 years who developed influenza during 2 consecutive epidemic seasons, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, were analyzed. CP was defined as bacterial pneumonia diagnosed between 3 days before and 6 days after the date of influenza diagnosis, and SP was defined as pneumonia diagnosed 7–30 days after the date of diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the development of CP and SP.

Results

Among the 10 473 014 individuals registered in the database, 1 341 355 patients with influenza were analyzed. The average age at diagnosis (SD) was 26.6 (18.6) years. There were 2901 (0.22%) and 1262 (0.09%) patients who developed CP and SP, respectively. Age 65–74 years, asthma, chronic bronchitis/emphysema, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, malignant tumor, and immunosuppression were significant risk factors for both CP and SP, whereas cerebrovascular disease, neurological disease, liver disease, and diabetes were risk factors specific to CP development.

Conclusions

The results determined the incidence rates of CP and SP and identified their risk factors, such as older age and comorbidities.
Late diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis: a case report
Authors: Domínguez-Valdez Luis F , Hernández-Utrera Jaime E , Chávez-Sánchez Iliana N , Peralta-Amaro Ana L , Talin-Bosquez Melina J , García-Pedraza Luis A , Hernández-Jiménez Carlos A , Delgado-Carmona Diana K , Gracia-Ramos Abraham E
Published: April 2023

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the formation of hamartomas in organ systems such as the brain, skin, kidneys and lungs. Patients with TSC are usually diagnosed early in life. However, in some cases, the diagnosis is delayed until adulthood because various manifestations occur at various times throughout an individual’s life. In this regard, we present the case of a female patient diagnosed at the beginning of the seventh decade of life. The patient had a history of seizures and showed clinical findings on the skin (facial angiofibromas, ungual fibromas, ‘Confetti-like’ skin lesions, shagreen patch), brain (cortical tubers), heart (cardiac rhabdomyomas), kidneys (angiomyolipomas) and a positive genetic test for mutations in TSC2, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria. We compared the differences between manifestations in patients diagnosed during childhood and adulthood. Knowledge of the clinical spectrum of TSC allows early identification.
Management of acute pulmonary embolism with sequential hybrid therapy of surgical thrombectomy and rivaroxaban intensive therapy: a case report
Authors: Migita Shohei , Murata Nobuhiro , Fukamachi Daisuke , Fukumoto Katsunori , Arai Riku , Uchiyama Hiroe , Tago Kenichiro , Okada Masahiro , Tanaka Masashi , Okumura Yasuo
Published: April 2023

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is often associated with rapid hemodynamic deterioration or death. Therefore, early therapeutic intervention is important. A 45-year-old man was diagnosed with intermediate-high risk PE, and sequential hybrid therapy consisting of surgical thrombectomy and rivaroxaban intensive therapy was administered. During the course of treatment, echocardiography revealed improvement in pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and thrombus volume analysis by computed tomography revealed a drastic reduction in the size of the thrombus. Sequential hybrid therapy for acute PE not only stabilizes hemodynamics, but may also prevent conversion to chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension by sufficiently reducing the volume of the thrombus.
A case of premortem diagnosis of cardiac tamponade due to pericardial metastasis of rectal cancer
Authors: Takano Yuki , Mazaki Junichi , Tasaki Koichiro , Udo Ryutaro , Tago Tomoya , Okazaki Naoto , Kasahara Kenta , Kuwabara Hiroshi , Enomoto Masanobu , Isizaki Tetsuo , Matsubayashi Jun , Nagao Toshitaka , Nagakawa Yuichi , Katsumata Kenji , Tsuchida Akihiko
Published: April 2023

Colorectal cancer rarely develops pericardial metastasis, and it is an extremely rare case that cardiac tamponade due to the metastasis of colorectal cancer during life. Our case is of a 50-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic lower anterior resection for the rectal cancer with lung metastasis 4 years ago developed cardiac tamponade due to pericardial metastasis of rectal cancer. We performed pericardiocentesis as a temporary life-saving procedure, but pericardial fluid re-accumulated within a few days. She died 23 days after admission. When a patient with advanced colorectal cancer complains dyspnea, we should consider the pericardial metastasis, and perform the proper treatment as this case.
Brain connectivity during social exclusion differs depending on the closeness within a triad among older adults living in a village
Authors: Kim Hairin , Kwak Seyul , Baek Elisa C , Oh Naeun , Baldina Ekaterina , Youm Yoosik , Chey Jeanyung
Published: April 2023

Social exclusion occurs in various types of social relationships, from anonymous others to close friends. However, the role that social relationships play in social exclusion is less well known because most paradigms investigating social exclusion have been done in laboratory contexts, without considering the features of individuals’ real-world social relationships. Here, we addressed this gap by examining how pre-existing social relationships with rejecters may influence the brain response of individuals experiencing social exclusion. Eighty-eight older adults living in a rural village visited the laboratory with two other participants living in the same village and played Cyberball in an Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner. Utilizing whole-brain connectome-based predictive modeling, we analyzed functional connectivity (FC) data obtained during the social exclusion task. First, we found that the level of self-reported distress during social exclusion was significantly related to sparsity, i.e. lack of closeness, within a triad. Furthermore, the sparsity was significantly predicted by the FC model, demonstrating that a sparse triadic relationship was associated with stronger connectivity patterns in brain regions previously implicated in social pain and mentalizing during Cyberball. These findings extend our understanding of how real-world social intimacy and relationships with excluders affect neural and emotional responses to social exclusion.
Species Delimitation, Phylogenomics, and Biogeography of Sulawesi Flying Lizards: A Diversification History Complicated by Ancient Hybridization, Cryptic Species, and Arrested Speciation
Authors: Mcguire Jimmy A , Huang Xiaoting , Reilly Sean B , Iskandar Djoko T , Wang-Claypool Cynthia Y , Werning Sarah , Chong Rebecca A , Lawalata Shobi Z S , Stubbs Alexander L , Frederick Jeffrey H , Brown Rafe M , Evans Ben J , Arifin Umilaela , Riyanto Awal , Hamidy Amir , Arida Evy , Koo Michelle S , Supriatna Jatna , Andayani Noviar , Hall Robert
Published: April 2023

The biota of Sulawesi is noted for its high degree of endemism and for its substantial levels of in situ biological diversification. While the island’s long period of isolation and dynamic tectonic history have been implicated as drivers of the regional diversification, this has rarely been tested in the context of an explicit geological framework. Here, we provide a tectonically informed biogeographical framework that we use to explore the diversification history of Sulawesi flying lizards (the Draco lineatus Group), a radiation that is endemic to Sulawesi and its surrounding islands. We employ a framework for inferring cryptic speciation that involves phylogeographic and genetic clustering analyses as a means of identifying potential species followed by population demographic assessment of divergence-timing and rates of bi-directional migration as means of confirming lineage independence (and thus species status). Using this approach, phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of mitochondrial sequence data obtained for 613 samples, a 50-SNP data set for 370 samples, and a 1249-locus exon-capture data set for 106 samples indicate that the current taxonomy substantially understates the true number of Sulawesi Draco species, that both cryptic and arrested speciations have taken place, and that ancient hybridization confounds phylogenetic analyses that do not explicitly account for reticulation. The Draco lineatus Group appears to comprise 15 species—9 on Sulawesi proper and 6 on peripheral islands. The common ancestor of this group colonized Sulawesi ~11 Ma when proto-Sulawesi was likely composed of two ancestral islands, and began to radiate ~6 Ma as new islands formed and were colonized via overwater dispersal. The enlargement and amalgamation of many of these proto-islands into modern Sulawesi, especially during the past 3 Ma, set in motion dynamic species interactions as once-isolated lineages came into secondary contact, some of which resulted in lineage merger, and others surviving to the present. [Genomics; Indonesia; introgression; mitochondria; phylogenetics; phylogeography; population genetics; reptiles.]
Mitochondrial Genome Evolution in Annelida—A Systematic Study on Conservative and Variable Gene Orders and the Factors Influencing its Evolution
Authors: Struck Torsten H , Golombek Anja , Hoesel Christoph , Dimitrov Dimitar , Elgetany Asmaa Haris
Published: April 2023

The mitochondrial genomes of Bilateria are relatively conserved in their protein-coding, rRNA, and tRNA gene complement, but the order of these genes can range from very conserved to very variable depending on the taxon. The supposedly conserved gene order of Annelida has been used to support the placement of some taxa within Annelida. Recently, authors have cast doubts on the conserved nature of the annelid gene order. Various factors may influence gene order variability including, among others, increased substitution rates, base composition differences, structure of noncoding regions, parasitism, living in extreme habitats, short generation times, and biomineralization. However, these analyses were neither done systematically nor based on well-established reference trees. Several focused on only a few of these factors and biological factors were usually explored ad-hoc without rigorous testing or correlation analyses. Herein, we investigated the variability and evolution of the annelid gene order and the factors that potentially influenced its evolution, using a comprehensive and systematic approach. The analyses were based on 170 genomes, including 33 previously unrepresented species. Our analyses included 706 different molecular properties, 20 life-history and ecological traits, and a reference tree corresponding to recent improvements concerning the annelid tree. The results showed that the gene order with and without tRNAs is generally conserved. However, individual taxa exhibit higher degrees of variability. None of the analyzed life-history and ecological traits explained the observed variability across mitochondrial gene orders. In contrast, the combination and interaction of the best-predicting factors for substitution rate and base composition explained up to 30% of the observed variability. Accordingly, correlation analyses of different molecular properties of the mitochondrial genomes showed an intricate network of direct and indirect correlations between the different molecular factors. Hence, gene order evolution seems to be driven by molecular evolutionary aspects rather than by life history or ecology. On the other hand, variability of the gene order does not predict if a taxon is difficult to place in molecular phylogenetic reconstructions using sequence data or not. We also discuss the molecular properties of annelid mitochondrial genomes considering canonical views on gene evolution and potential reasons why the canonical views do not always fit to the observed patterns without making some adjustments. [Annelida; compositional biases; ecology; gene order; life history; macroevolution; mitochondrial genomes; substitution rates.]
Effects of Temperature on Spore Germination and Mycelial Growth of Calosphaeria pulchella, Cytospora sorbicola, and Eutypa lata Isolates Associated with Sweet Cherry Canker Diseases
Authors: Li Sampson , Travadon Renaud , Trouillas Florent P.
Published: April 2023

Although fungal canker diseases constitute a limiting factor to orchard productivity and longevity, little is known about the effects of temperature on spore germination and mycelial growth of the fungal causal agents. Accordingly, the germination of spores and colony growth of Calosphaeria pulchella, Cytospora sorbicola, and Eutypa lata were evaluated after incubation on 2% water agar and 4% potato dextrose agar, respectively, at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C. Temperature optima for spore germination and mycelial growth were derived from nonlinear models fitted to germination rates and colony diameter data. The optimal temperatures for spore germination of Cal. pulchella were 28.5°C for ascospores and 29.2°C for conidia. The optimal temperatures for Cyt. sorbicola conidia and E. lata ascospore germination were 25.8 and 23.1°C, respectively. The germination of ascospores and conidia of Cal. pulchella at temperatures below 15°C required an incubation time of at least 72 h. Ascospores of E. lata and conidia of Cyt. sorbicola germinated at 10°C after 36 h. The optimal temperature for colony growth of Cal. pulchella was 24.6°C, whereas it was 21.7°C for both Cyt. sorbicola and E. lata. Our study indicates that temperature requirements for basic biological functions are higher for Cal. pulchella than for Cyt. sorbicola and E. lata. The overall higher temperatures of California relative to other cherry-producing regions in the United States or worldwide could explain the prevalence of Calosphaeria canker in the state. Conversely, Cyt. sorbicola and E. lata appear better adapted to cooler temperatures.
Comparative Genomics Identifies Conserved and Variable TAL Effectors in African Strains of the Cotton Pathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum
Authors: Pérez-Quintero Alvaro L. , Rodriguez-R Luis M. , Cuesta-Morrondo Sara , Hakalová Eliška , Betancurt-Anzola Daniela , Valera Laura Carolina Camelo , Cardenas Luis Alberto Chica , Matiz-Céron Luisa , Jacobs Jonathan M. , Roman-Reyna Veronica , Muñoz Alejandro Reyes , Giraldo Adriana Jimena Bernal , Koebnik Ralf
Published: April 2023

Strains of Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum cause bacterial blight of cotton, a potentially serious threat to cotton production worldwide, including in sub-Saharan countries. Development of disease symptoms, such as water soaking, has been linked to the activity of a class of type 3 effectors, called transcription activator-like (TAL) effectors, which induce susceptibility genes in the host's cells. To gain further insight into the global diversity of the pathogen, to elucidate their repertoires of TAL effector genes, and to better understand the evolution of these genes in the cotton-pathogenic xanthomonads, we sequenced the genomes of three African strains of X. citri pv. malvacearum using nanopore technology. We show that the cotton-pathogenic pathovar of X. citri is a monophyletic lineage containing at least three distinct genetic subclades, which appear to be mirrored by their repertoires of TAL effectors. We observed an atypical level of TAL effector gene pseudogenization, which might be related to resistance genes that are deployed to control the disease. Our work thus contributes to a better understanding of the conservation and importance of TAL effectors in the interaction with the host plant, which can inform strategies for improving resistance against bacterial blight in cotton.
Full Reversal of Anticoagulants Before Cephalomedullary Fixation of Geriatric Hip Fractures May Not Be Necessary
Authors: Maturana Carlos , Singh Manak , Perdue Aaron M. , Ahn Jaimo , Hake Mark E. , Schaffer Nathaniel E.
Published: April 2023

Objectives:

To examine the relationship between anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs and surgical blood loss for geriatric patients undergoing cephalomedullary nail fixation of extracapsular proximal femur fractures.

Design:

Multicenter, retrospective, cohort study using bivariate and multivariable regression analyses.

Setting:

Two Level-1 trauma centers.

Patients:

One thousand four hundred forty-two geriatric (ages 60–105 years) patients undergoing isolated primary intramedullary fixation of nonpathologic extracapsular hip fractures from 2009 to 2018 including 657 taking an antiplatelet drug alone (including aspirin), 99 taking warfarin alone, 37 taking a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) alone, 59 taking an antiplatelet drug and an anticoagulant, and 590 taking neither.

Intervention:

Cephalomedullary nail fixation.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Blood transfusion and calculated blood loss.

Results:

More patients taking antiplatelet drugs required a transfusion than controls (43% vs. 33%, P < 0.001), whereas patients taking warfarin or DOACs did not (35% or 32% vs. 33%). Median calculated blood loss was increased in patients taking antiplatelet drugs (1275 mL vs. 1059 mL, P < 0.001) but not in patients taking warfarin or DOACs (913 mL or 859 mL vs. 1059 mL). Antiplatelet drugs were independently associated with an odds ratio of transfusion of 1.45 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–1.9] in contrast with 0.76 (95% CI, 0.5–1.2) for warfarin and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.3–1.4) for DOACs.

Conclusions:

Geriatric patients taking warfarin (incompletely reversed) or DOACs lose less blood during cephalomedullary nail fixation of hip fractures than those taking aspirin. Delaying surgery to mitigate anticoagulant-related surgical blood loss may be unwarranted.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Biodegradable Microspheres and Hydrogel Drug Delivery System of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitor and Growth Differentiation Factor 5 (GDF5) Reduces Disk Inflammation in the Rabbit Model
Authors: Yuan Bo , Rudeen Kayla , Li Jun , Williams Brandon , Sumughan Saurav , Lopez Gregory , An Howard S. , Kang-Mieler Jennifer J. , Chee Ana V.
Published: April 2023

Study Design.

Preclinical study.

Objective.

Develop and test a drug delivery system (DDS) composed of anti-inflammatories and growth factors in the rabbit disk injury model.

Summary of Background Data.

Biological therapies that inhibit inflammation or enhance cell proliferation can alter intervertebral disk (IVD) homeostasis to favor regeneration. As biological molecules have short half-lives and one molecule may not cover multiple disease pathways, effective treatments may require a combination of growth factors and anti-inflammatory agents delivered in a sustained manner.

Materials and Methods.

Biodegradable microspheres were generated separately to encapsulate tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) inhibitors [etanercept (ETN)] or growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) and were embedded into a thermoresponsive hydrogel. Release kinetics and activity of ETN and GDF5 were measured in vitro. For in vivo testing, New Zealand White rabbits (n=12) underwent surgery for disk puncture and treatment with blank-DDS, ETN-DDS, or ETN+GDF5-DDS at levels L34, L45, and L56. Radiographic and magnetic resonance images of the spines were obtained. The IVDs were isolated for histologic and gene expression analyses.

Results.

ETN and GDF5 were encapsulated into poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres and had average initial bursts of 2.4±0.1 and 11.2±0.7 μg from DDS, respectively. In vitro studies confirmed that ETN-DDS inhibited TNFα-induced cytokine release and GDF5-DDS induced protein phosphorylation. In vivo studies showed that rabbit IVDs treated with ETN+GDF5-DDS had better histologic outcomes, higher levels of extracellular, and lower levels of inflammatory gene expression than IVDs treated with blank-DDS or ETN-DDS.

Conclusions.

This pilot study demonstrated that DDS can be fabricated to deliver sustained and therapeutic dosages of ETN and GDF5. In addition, ETN+GDF5-DDS may have greater anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects than ETN-DDS alone. Thus, intradiscal injection of controlled release TNF-α inhibitors and growth factors may be a promising treatment to reduce disk inflammation and back pain.
Scapulothoracic Fusion Using Multiple Suture Tape Cerclage
Authors: Ba Papa Amadou , Schoch Bradley , Werthel Jean-David
Published: April 2023

Scapulothoracic arthrodesis has been proposed for the treatment of painful scapular winging in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. It was introduced to improve shoulder function. Several methods of fixation have been proposed to obtain the union of the scapula to the ribs. These include plates, screws, cables, or wires with or without bone grafting. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the surgical technique of scapulothoracic arthrodesis using plate and cerclage suture tapes.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, treatment study (case series).
Comparing Follicular Extension Between Low-Grade and High-Grade Dysplastic Nevi
Authors: Grube Vanden L. , Narla Shanthi , Mata Douglas A. , Hafeez Farhaan
Published: April 2023

Dysplastic nevi are an important subset of melanocytic nevi with atypical clinical, histopathologic, as well as genomic features compared with common acquired nevi. Dysplastic nevi are characterized histologically by both cytologic atypia and architectural disorder. The established criteria for cytologic atypia used to distinguish between low-grade and high-grade dysplastic nevi are often subjective, although there is a dearth of more objective, reproducible features of architectural disorder (eg, pagetoid scatter) that have been validated to differentiate between low-grade and high-grade dysplastic nevi. In this study, we sought to determine whether the presence and degree of follicular extension differ between low-grade and high-grade dysplastic nevi. We retrospectively examined the histopathologic features of 90 dysplastic nevi: 60 cases of low-grade dysplastic nevi (average age of 47.2 ± 18.1 years; 62.7% female) and 30 cases of high-grade dysplastic nevi (average age of 47.4 ± 19.8 years; 60.0% female). After examination, 50% of the cases of dysplastic nevi (n = 45) had hair follicles within the lesion, for which the presence and degree of follicular extension was then determined. Low-grade and high-grade dysplastic nevi do not differ significantly regarding the presence of follicular extension, average depth of follicular extension, and confluence of nevus cells along the follicular epithelium. Both low-grade and high-grade dysplastic nevi in our study demonstrated follicular extension that was superficial, that is, above the level of isthmus of hair follicles (insertion of sebaceous gland into hair follicle). Future studies are warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.
Cellular and Molecular Atlas of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from a Pregnant Woman After Recovery from COVID-19
Authors: Du Lili , Liang Yingyu , Wang Xiaoyi , Huang Lijun , Pan Xingfei , Chen Jingsi , Chen Dunjin
Published: April 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the immune response of a pregnant woman who recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID_RS) by using single-cell transcriptomic profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and to analyze the properties of different immune cell subsets.

Methods

PBMCs were collected from the COVID_RS patient at 28 weeks of gestation, before a cesarean section. The PBMCs were then analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing. The transcriptional profiles of myeloid, T, and natural killer (NK) cell subsets were systematically analyzed and compared with those of healthy pregnant controls from a published single-cell RNA sequencing data set.

Results

We identified major cell types such as T cells, B cells, NK cells, and myeloid cells in the PBMCs of our COVID_RS patient. The increase of myeloid and B cells and decrease of T cells and NK cells in the PBMCs in this patient were quite distinct compared with that in the control subjects. After reclustering and Augur analysis, we found that CD16 monocytes and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells were mostly affected within different myeloid, T, and NK cell subtypes in our COVID_RS patient. The proportion of CD16 monocytes in the total myeloid population was increased, and the frequency of MAIT cells in the total T and NK cells was significantly decreased in the COVID-RS patient. We also observed significant enrichment of gene sets related to antigen processing and presentation, T-cell activation, T-cell differentiation, and tumor necrosis factor superfamily cytokine production in CD16 monocytes, and enrichment of gene sets related to antigen processing and presentation, response to type II interferon, and response to virus in MAIT cells.

Conclusion

Our study provides a single-cell resolution atlas of the immune gene expression patterns in PBMCs from a COVID_RS patient. Our findings suggest that CD16-positive monocytes and MAIT cells likely play crucial roles in the maternal immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. These results contribute to a better understanding of the maternal immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and may have implications for the development of effective treatments and preventive strategies for the coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnant women.