bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Telluric absorption lines in the ALMA spectra of η Car
Authors: Abraham Zulema , Beaklini Pedro P B , Cox Pierre , Falceta-Gonçalves Diego , Nyman Lars-Åke
Published: September 2022

The massive binary system formed by η Car and an unknown companion is a strong source at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. Close to the stars, continuum bremsstrahlung and radio recombination lines originate in the massive ionized wind of η Car and in several compact sources of high density plasma. Molecular lines are also detected at these wavelengths, some of them are seen in absorption towards the continuum emission region, many of them revealed by ALMA observations. However, because the ALMA atmospheric calibration is performed in a low spectral resolution mode, telluric lines can still be present in some high-resolution spectra of scientific products, which could lead to a false identification of molecules. In this work, we explore three different sets of ALMA archive data of η Car, including high resolution (0.065 arcsec × 0.043 arcsec) observations recently published by our group, to verify which of these absorption lines are real and discuss their origin. We conclude that some of them truly originate in clouds close to the binary system, while others are artefacts of a faulty elimination of telluric lines during ALMA calibration procedure. We found that these absorption lines are not present in the phase calibrators because they are much weaker than η Car, where the absorption line appears because the high intensity continuum enhances the small individual systematic calibration errors.
Image reconstruction algorithms in radio interferometry: From handcrafted to learned regularization denoisers
Authors: Terris Matthieu , Dabbech Arwa , Tang Chao , Wiaux Yves
Published: September 2022

We introduce a new class of iterative image reconstruction algorithms for radio interferometry, at the interface of convex optimization and deep learning, inspired by plug-and-play methods. The approach consists in learning a prior image model by training a deep neural network (DNN) as a denoiser, and substituting it for the handcrafted proximal regularization operator of an optimization algorithm. The proposed AIRI (‘AI for Regularization in radio-interferometric Imaging’) framework, for imaging complex intensity structure with diffuse and faint emission from visibility data, inherits the robustness and interpretability of optimization, and the learning power and speed of networks. Our approach relies on three steps. First, we design a low dynamic range training data base from optical intensity images. Secondly, we train a DNN denoiser at a noise level inferred from the signal-to-noise ratio of the data. We use training losses enhanced with a non-expansiveness term ensuring algorithm convergence, and including on-the-fly data base dynamic range enhancement via exponentiation. Thirdly, we plug the learned denoiser into the forward–backward optimization algorithm, resulting in a simple iterative structure alternating a denoising step with a gradient-descent data-fidelity step. We have validated AIRI against clean, optimization algorithms of the SARA family, and a DNN trained to reconstruct the image directly from visibility data. Simulation results show that AIRI is competitive in imaging quality with SARA and its unconstrained forward–backward-based version uSARA, while providing significant acceleration. clean remains faster but offers lower quality. The end-to-end DNN offers further acceleration, but with far lower quality than AIRI.
Quantum fluctuations masquerade as haloes: bounds on ultra-light dark matter from quadruply imaged quasars
Authors: Laroche Alexander , Gilman Daniel , Li Xinyu , Bovy Jo , Du Xiaolong
Published: September 2022

Ultra-light dark matter (ULDM) refers to a class of theories, including ultra-light axions, in which particles with mass $m_{\psi } \lt 10^{-20}\, \rm {eV}$ comprise a significant fraction of the dark matter. A galactic scale de Broglie wavelength distinguishes these theories from cold dark matter (CDM), suppressing the overall abundance of structure on sub-galactic scales, and producing wave-like interference phenomena in the density profiles of haloes. With the aim of constraining the particle mass, we analyse the flux ratios in a sample of 11 quadruple-image strong gravitational lenses. We account for the suppression of the halo mass function and concentration–mass relation predicted by ULDM theories, and the wave-like fluctuations in the host halo density profile, calibrating the model for the wave interference against numerical simulations of galactic-scale haloes. We show that the granular structure of halo density profiles, in particular, the amplitude of the fluctuations, significantly impacts image flux ratios, and therefore inferences on the particle mass derived from these data. We infer relative likelihoods of CDM to ULDM of 8:1, 7:1, 6:1, and 4:1 for particle masses $\log _{10}(m_\psi /\rm {eV})\in [-22.5,-22.25], [-22.25,-22.0],[-22.0,-21.75], [-21.75,-21.5]$, respectively. Repeating the analysis and omitting fluctuations associated with the wave interference effects, we obtain relative likelihoods of CDM to ULDM with a particle mass in the same ranges of 98:1, 48:1, 26:1, and 18:1, highlighting the significant perturbation to image flux ratios associated with the fluctuations. Nevertheless, our results disfavour the lightest particle masses with $m_{\psi } \lt 10^{-21.5}\, \rm {eV}$, adding to mounting pressure on ultra-light axions as a viable dark matter candidate.
A pilot biomonitoring study of air pollution in the urban area of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: genotoxicity assessment in buccal cells
Authors: Cetkovic Tamara , Haveric Anja , Behmen Selma , Hadzic Omanovic Maida , Caluk Klacar Lejla , Dzaferspahic Alen , Durmisevic Irma , Mehanovic Mahira , Haveric Sanin
Published: September 2022

Air pollution, recognized as a human carcinogen, is a significant cause of death in industrial and developing countries, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is one of the leading countries for air pollution—caused death rate and has the poorest urban air quality in Europe. Despite a population decrease, urban air pollution in B&H has increased due to traffic pollution and still intensive use of solid fuel for heating and cooking. Human biomonitoring studies, regarding the described air pollution, have not been conducted before, and particularly have not been conducted in the region of Sarajevo. Good health, well-being, and environmental protection are part of the 17 defined Sustainable Development Global Goals. Accordingly, this study aimed to determine baseline levels of DNA damage in a group of Sarajevo citizens and to compare seasonal variations in DNA damage in relation to the reported levels of air pollution. From 33 individuals included in the study, samples were collected in the summer and winter seasons. The buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay and comet assay in leucocytes isolated from saliva were performed. Mean values and standard deviations of log-transformed tail intensity (%), tail length (µm), and tail moment results in winter were 1.14 ± 0.23, 2.20 ± 0.14, and 1.03 ± 0.29, respectively, while in the summer season those values were 1.19 ± 0.19, 2.25 ± 0.17, and 1.07 ± 0.25, respectively. No significant differences were found for the comet assay parameters. Nevertheless, BMCyt results showed significant increases in micronuclei (P = .008), binuclear cells (P = .04), karyolysis (P = .0003), condensed chromatin (P = .03), and pyknosis (P = .002) in winter. Although the results of comet and BMCyt assays are not in accordance, this study contributes to the human air pollution biomonitoring in Sarajevo, B&H, and based on the genotoxic effects of air pollution evidenced by the BMCyt biomarker further studies of this kind are necessary.
Super-enhancer-controlled positive feedback loop BRD4/ERα–RET–ERα promotes ERα-positive breast cancer
Authors: Zheng Zao-zao , Xia Lin , Hu Guo-sheng , Liu Jun-yi , Hu Ya-hong , Chen Yu-jie , Peng Jia-yin , Zhang Wen-juan , Liu Wen
Published: September 2022

Estrogen and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-induced gene transcription is tightly associated with ERα-positive breast carcinogenesis. ERα-occupied enhancers, particularly super-enhancers, have been suggested to play a vital role in regulating such transcriptional events. However, the landscape of ERα-occupied super-enhancers (ERSEs) as well as key ERα-induced target genes associated with ERSEs remain to be fully characterized. Here, we defined the landscape of ERSEs in ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines, and demonstrated that bromodomain protein BRD4 is a master regulator of the transcriptional activation of ERSEs and cognate ERα target genes. RET, a member of the tyrosine protein kinase family of proteins, was identified to be a key ERα target gene of BRD4-regulated ERSEs, which, in turn, is vital for ERα-induced gene transcriptional activation and malignant phenotypes through activating the RAS/RAF/MEK2/ERK/p90RSK/ERα phosphorylation cascade. Combination therapy with BRD4 and RET inhibitors exhibited additive effects on suppressing ERα-positive breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo, comparable with that of standard endocrine therapy tamoxifen. Furthermore, combination therapy re-sensitized a tamoxifen-resistant ERα-positive breast cancer cell line to tamoxifen treatment. Taken together, our data uncovered the critical role of a super-enhancer-associated positive feedback loop constituting BRD4/ERα–RET–ERα in ERα-positive breast cancer, and suggested that targeting components in this loop would provide a new therapeutic avenue for treating ERα-positive breast cancer in the clinic.
PhaSepDB in 2022: annotating phase separation-related proteins with droplet states, co-phase separation partners and other experimental information
Authors: Hou Chao , Wang Xinxin , Xie Haotai , Chen Taoyu , Zhu Peiyu , Xu Xiaofeng , You Kaiqiang , Li Tingting
Published: September 2022

Phase separation (PS) proteins form droplets to regulate myriad membraneless organelles (MLOs) and cellular pathways such as transcription, signaling transduction and protein degeneration. PS droplets are usually liquid-like and can convert to hydrogel/solid-like under certain conditions. The PS behavior of proteins is regulated by co-PS partners and mutations, modifications, oligomerizations, repeat regions and alternative splicing of the proteins. With growing interest in PS condensates and associated proteins, we established PhaSepDB 1.0, which provided experimentally verified PS proteins and MLO-related proteins. The past few years witnessed a surge in PS-related research works; thus, we kept updating PhaSepDB. The current PhaSepDB contains 1419 PS entries, 770 low-throughput MLO-related entries and 7303 high-throughput MLO-related entries. We provided more detailed annotations of PS proteins, including PS verification experiments, regions used in experiments, phase diagrams of different experimental conditions, droplet states, co-PS partners and PS regulatory information. We believe that researchers can go further in studying PS proteins with the updated PhaSepDB (http://db.phasep.pro/).
Density-based detection of cell transition states to construct disparate and bifurcating trajectories
Authors: Lan Tian , Hutvagner Gyorgy , Zhang Xuan , Liu Tao , Wong Limsoon , Li Jinyan
Published: September 2022

Tree- and linear-shaped cell differentiation trajectories have been widely observed in developmental biologies and can be also inferred through computational methods from single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets. However, trajectories with complicated topologies such as loops, disparate lineages and bifurcating hierarchy remain difficult to infer accurately. Here, we introduce a density-based trajectory inference method capable of constructing diverse shapes of topological patterns including the most intriguing bifurcations. The novelty of our method is a step to exploit overlapping probability distributions to identify transition states of cells for determining connectability between cell clusters, and another step to infer a stable trajectory through a base-topology guided iterative fitting. Our method precisely re-constructed various benchmark reference trajectories. As a case study to demonstrate practical usefulness, our method was tested on single-cell RNA sequencing profiles of blood cells of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients. We not only re-discovered the linear trajectory bridging the transition from IgM plasmablast cells to developing neutrophils, and also found a previously-undiscovered lineage which can be rigorously supported by differentially expressed gene analysis.
Response assessment in pediatric craniopharyngioma: recommendations from the Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (RAPNO) Working Group
Authors: Hoffman Lindsey M , Jaimes Camilo , Mankad Kshitij , Mirsky David M , Tamrazi Benita , Tinkle Christopher L , Kline Cassie , Ramasubramanian Aparna , Malbari Fatema , Mangum Ross , Lindsay Holly , Horne Vincent , Daniels David J , Keole Sameer , Grosshans David R , Young Poussaint Tina , Packer Roger , Cavalheiro Sergio , Bison Brigitte , Hankinson Todd C , Müller Hermann L , Bartels Ute , Warren Katherine E , Chintagumpala Murali
Published: September 2022

Background

Craniopharyngioma is a histologically benign tumor of the suprasellar region for which survival is excellent but quality of life is often poor secondary to functional deficits from tumor and treatment. Standard therapy consists of maximal safe resection with or without radiation therapy. Few prospective trials have been performed, and response assessment has not been standardized.

Methods

The Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (RAPNO) committee devised consensus guidelines to assess craniopharyngioma response prospectively.

Results

Magnetic resonance imaging is the recommended radiologic modality for baseline and follow-up assessments. Radiologic response is defined by 2-dimensional measurements of both solid and cystic tumor components. In certain clinical contexts, response to solid and cystic disease may be differentially considered based on their unique natural histories and responses to treatment. Importantly, the committee incorporated functional endpoints related to neuro-endocrine and visual assessments into craniopharyngioma response definitions. In most circumstances, the cystic disease should be considered progressive only if growth is associated with acute, new-onset or progressive functional impairment.

Conclusions

Craniopharyngioma is a common pediatric central nervous system tumor for which standardized response parameters have not been defined. A RAPNO committee devised guidelines for craniopharyngioma assessment to uniformly define response in future prospective trials.
Review of 20 years of adult medulloblastoma treatment: Chemotherapy prescription trends and survival
Authors: Sherwood Marissa , Climans Seth , Ramos Ronald , Laperriere Normand J , Gao Andrew F , Millar Barbara-Ann , Shultz David B , Tsang Derek S , Mason Warren P
Published: September 2022

Background

The historic standard of care for adult medulloblastoma has been considered surgery and radiation, while chemotherapy is increasingly being prescribed. This study reviewed 20-year chemotherapy trends at a high-volume center, as well as overall and progression free-survival.

Methods

Adults with medulloblastoma treated at an academic center from January 1, 1999 to –December 31, 2020 were reviewed. Patient baseline data were summarized and Kaplan–Meier estimators were used for survival.

Results

Forty-nine patients were included; median age was 30 years and male: female ratio was 2:1. Desmoplastic and classical histologies were most common. Of all patients, 23 (47%) were high risk and 7 (14%) metastatic at diagnosis. Only 10 (20%) received initial chemotherapy, of which 70% were high risk and 30% metastatic, with most treated from 2010 to 2020. Forty percent of initial chemotherapy patients received salvage chemotherapy for recurrence or metastases (of all patients, 49% required salvage). Initial chemotherapy regimens were mainly cisplatin/lomustine/vincristine, and at recurrence cisplatin/etoposide. Median overall survival was 8.6 years (95% CI 7.5–∞), with 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival at 95.8%, 72%, and 46.7%. Median overall survival for those who did not receive initial chemotherapy was 12.4 years and 7.4 years for those who did (P-value .2).

Conclusions

Twenty years of adult medulloblastoma treatment was reviewed. Initial chemotherapy patients, most of whom were high risk, trended towards worse survival, but this was nonsignificant. The ideal timing and choice of chemotherapy for adult medulloblastoma is unknown—challenges of administering chemotherapy following photon craniospinal irradiation may have prevented it from becoming routine.
Effects of Purchase Restrictions on Smoking During Pregnancy: An Analysis of U.S. Birth Records
Authors: Tennekoon Vidhura S B W
Published: September 2022

Introduction

In December 2019, the minimum legal sales age (MLSA) for tobacco products in the United States was raised from 18 to 21 years as a measure of preventing smoking initiation. Smoking during pregnancy, which causes maternal, fetal, and infant morbidity and mortality, is a major public health concern. We first study the effects of purchase restrictions on smoking during different stages of pregnancy covering the entire United States and using the records of all live births during 2014–2018 by birthing people aged 18–21 years.

Aims and Methods

Our identification strategy utilizes the variation in the MLSA of tobacco products over time and across counties in the United States during 2014–2018 using a two-way fixed effects model, modified to accommodate a partially observable treatment indicator.

Results

The results show that 37.4% of potential smokers in our study population would have been prevented from smoking before pregnancy, 50.5% during the first trimester, 53.4% during the second trimester, and 14.8% during the third trimester if the law prevented selling tobacco products to them in the locality they live. A purchase restriction is estimated to cause the smoking intensity of those who smoke, the intensive margin, to drop by 5.4% before pregnancy, 10.4% during the first trimester, 14.8% during the second trimester, and 5.2% during the third trimester.

Conclusions

Our results show that purchase restrictions are highly effective in preventing smoking among birthing people in the 18–21 years age group. The effect on smoking prevalence during the first and second trimesters is more pronounced.

Implications

Many countries around the world have recently tightened age-based purchase restriction policies as a tobacco control measure. We first study the effects of purchase restrictions on smoking during different stages of pregnancy using the birth records of all pregnancies in the United States by birthing people aged 18–21 years during 2014–2018. The study utilizes the variation in the MLSA of tobacco products over time and across counties during that period. Our results show that purchase restrictions are highly effective in preventing smoking among birthing people in the 18–21 years age group.
Prolonged Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Delta Variant Shedding in a Patient With AIDS: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Peters Jillian L , Fall Amary , Langerman Steven D , El Asmar Margueritta , Nakazawa Mari , Mustapha Aishat , Tobian Aaron A R , Mostafa Heba H , Blankson Joel N
Published: September 2022

We describe the case of a patient with AIDS who had persistent infection with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant for >80 days. The variant contained mutations that were not present in other Delta viruses in our hospital. Prolonged infection in immunosuppressed individuals may lead to evolution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Carriage of Neisseria meningitidis Among Young Israeli Adults
Authors: Sofer-Sali Noa , Roif-Kaminsky Diana , Motro Yair , Khalfin Boris , Avramovich Eva , Galor Inbal , Shlaifer Amir , Sommer Adir , Rutenberg Ran , Sachter Yacov , Yitzhak Avraham , Grupel Daniel , Moran-Gilad Jacob
Published: September 2022

Background

No updated data currently exist regarding Neisseria meningitidis carriage and genomic epidemiology among young Israeli adults.

Methods

Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 1801 military recruits on the day of recruitment during 2019. Neisseria meningitidis was detected and identified by culture and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Confirmed isolates were serotyped by qPCR, and encapsulated strains underwent whole-genome sequencing. Risk factors for carriage were determined by analyzing focused questionnaires using uni- and multivariate models. Genomic typing was performed by means of core genome multilocus sequence typing.

Results

Carriage rates overall and of encapsulated strains were 20.1% and 6.7%, respectively. Genogroups B (49.2%) and Y (26.7%) were the most commonly encapsulated strains. Genogroups C, W, and X were scarce, and genogroup A was absent. The most notable clonal complexes (CCs) were CC23 (n = 30), CC32 (n = 16), and CC44/41 (n = 9). Carriage was significantly associated with smoking (odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% CI, 1.43–2.33) and boarding school attendance before recruitment (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.14–1.96).

Conclusions

The prevalence of meningococcal carriage among young Israeli adults is high, compared with similar studies in other developed countries. This might be due to sociocultural characteristics including smoking and boarding school attendance during and after high school. The dominant genogroups and CCs found were compatible with those implicated in invasive disease in Israel.
Talazoparib, a Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitor, for Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer and DNA Damage Response Alterations: TALAPRO-1 Safety Analyses
Authors: Mehra Niven , Fizazi Karim , de Bono Johann S , Barthélémy Philippe , Dorff Tanya , Stirling Adam , Machiels Jean-Pascal , Bimbatti Davide , Kilari Deepak , Dumez Herlinde , Buttigliero Consuelo , van Oort Inge M , Castro Elena , Chen Hsiang-Chun , Di Santo Nicola , DeAnnuntis Liza , Healy Cynthia G , Scagliotti Giorgio V
Published: September 2022

Background

The phase II TALAPRO-1 study (NCT03148795) demonstrated durable antitumor activity in men with heavily pretreated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Here, we detail the safety profile of talazoparib.

Patients and Methods

Men received talazoparib 1 mg/day (moderate renal impairment 0.75 mg/day) orally until radiographic progression, unacceptable toxicity, investigator decision, consent withdrawal, or death. Adverse events (AEs) were evaluated: incidence, severity, timing, duration, potential overlap of selected AEs, dose modifications/discontinuations due to AEs, and new clinically significant changes in laboratory values and vital signs.

Results

In the safety population (N = 127; median age 69.0 years), 95.3% (121/127) experienced all-cause treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Most common were anemia (48.8% [62/127]), nausea (33.1% [42/127]), decreased appetite (28.3% [36/127]), and asthenia (23.6% [30/127]). Nonhematologic TEAEs were generally grades 1 and 2. No grade 5 TEAEs or deaths were treatment-related. Hematologic TEAEs typically occurred during the first 4-5 months of treatment. The median duration of grade 3-4 anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia was limited to 7-12 days. No grade 4 events of anemia or neutropenia occurred. Neither BRCA status nor alteration origin significantly impacted the safety profile. The median (range) treatment duration was 6.1 (0.4-24.9) months; treatment duration did not impact the incidence of anemia. Only 3 of the 15 (11.8% [15/127]) permanent treatment discontinuations were due to hematologic TEAEs (thrombocytopenia 1.6% [2/127]; leukopenia 0.8% [1/127]).

Conclusion

Common TEAEs associated with talazoparib could be managed through dose modifications/supportive care. Demonstrated efficacy and a manageable safety profile support continued evaluation of talazoparib in mCRPC.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier

NCT03148795
Introduction
Authors: Walls Jerry L.
Published: September 2022

Although “Christ” has come to be used as a name, it was originally a title that means “messiah.” Christian faith is thus messianic faith, faith in a savior who has come to deliver us and set up his kingdom. Contrary to Jewish expectations, Christians proclaim that the Messiah has died and that his shameful death is the very means to our salvation and deliverance. The salvation that Christ achieved is holistic in nature and as such is eschatological in its ultimate dimensions. Eschatology is the study of the final end of things, the ultimate resolution of the entire creation. While the main focus of this book is Christian eschatology, it also has a section devoted to eschatology in world religions. This book explores eschatology in the Old Testament as well as the rationalization of violence in new religious eschatologies, eschatology of the New Testament church, liberation theology, ecumenism, resurrection, and politics.
Millennialism
Authors: Weber Timothy P.
Published: September 2022

Millennialism is the belief that there will be a period of peace and righteousness on the earth associated with the Second Coming of Christ. Millennialism has taken various forms and been embraced with varying degrees of intensity throughout the history of Christianity. Millennialists cite Old Testament passages that describe a “peaceable kingdom” in which all God's covenantal promises are fulfilled, human society is transformed, and a new covenant is written on human hearts. The Book of Revelation contains both apocalyptic and prophetic elements, which complicates interpretation even more. Most early Christians struggled to make sense of it, as can be seen in the early church's difficulty in recognizing the book's canonical status. Over time, four ways of interpreting Revelation emerged: preterism, historicism, futurism, and idealism. There are two kinds of millennialism: premillennialism and postmillennialism. This article discusses millennialism and the history of millennial movements (the early church, the Middle Ages, the Protestant Reformation, and the modern period), as well as amillennialism as an alternative to millennialism.
Heaven
Authors: Walls Jerry L.
Published: September 2022

One of the most basic and existentially engaging of all questions is the question of what level of happiness and fulfillment is possible for human beings. Theism in general, and Christianity in particular, has returned the answer that the possibilities are beyond our deepest dreams and wildest imaginings. If the hope of heaven is a function of belief in God, then how heaven is conceived accordingly will be shaped by how God is understood. In light of this point, it is important to emphasize that the Christian view of God makes distinctive claims that go beyond generic theism. In particular, the doctrine of the Trinity provides rich resources for articulating the idea of a personal God whose very nature is love. This article examines differing conceptions of heaven, including the views of Alister McGrath, Colleen McDannell, Bernhard Lang, and Thomas Aquinas. It also discusses grace, freedom, exclusion, and inclusion as well as the doctrine of eternal hell, boredom in heaven, and heaven as a moral source.
Annihilationism
Authors: Pinnock Clark H.
Published: September 2022

In Christian theology, annihilationism designates the views of those who hold that the finally impenitent wicked will cease to exist after (or soon after) the last judgment. Annihilation is a term designating theories which contend that human beings may pass or be put out of existence altogether. The theories fall into three classes: pure mortality, conditional immortality, and annihilation proper. Alongside the large number of texts that depict hell as a place of death and destruction, there is some countertestimony too. There are three texts in particular, one in the Gospel of Matthew and two in the Book of Revelation, which need comment because they are cited as proof texts of the traditional opinion. Scripture aside, belief in the nature of hell as everlasting conscious punishing remains solidly traditional, which means that the burden of proof rests on the shoulders of the reformers in this matter.
Ethics and Eschatology
Authors: Stackhouse Max L.
Published: September 2022

Eschatology is recognized as a decisive influence in the understandings of personal and social morality. The ethic conserves traditional patterns of the common life, although that is now being altered by the rapid growth of Christianity in Africa and other tribal regions. Similar primal motifs are present also in both Confucianism and Hinduism, while Buddhism seeks a state of consciousness of “nothingness” that evokes an ultimate bliss, beyond the illusions of external existence. Islam also calls for an asceticism, but of a quite different kind. It calls for a radical obedience to the commands of Allah. For all their differences, all of these religions seem to believe in a moral logic governing time and eternity whereby dutiful and virtuous actions in life are rewarded, and neglectful or vicious ones are punished—partially in this life, but ultimately in a state of existence beyond it. This article examines Christian ethics and eschatology as well as resurrection, the kingdom, and the new Jerusalem.
Cosmology and Eschatology
Authors: Russell Robert John
Published: September 2022

In traditional Christianity, eschatology was treated quite literally, limited to the topic of last things (general resurrection, last judgment, heaven and hell, the end of the world, etc.) and consigned to the end of dogmatics. Beginning with the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, eschatology was frequently reinterpreted in terms of philosophical, ethical, social, political, economic, and historical categories with little attention to traditional issues. In 1906, however, with Albert Schweitzer's stunning work The Quest of the Historical Jesus, eschatology was exposed as foundational to Jesus's understanding of his mission and to early Christian faith and praxis. This article explores the relation between eschatology and scientific cosmology. It begins by summarizing the importance of eschatology to contemporary Christian theology. It then provides an overview of scientific cosmology, whose predictions of “freeze or fry” severely challenge those versions of Christian eschatology which are based on the bodily resurrection of Jesus and the transformation of the universe into the new creation. The article outlines several recent approaches to this challenge and offers some suggestions for future research in both theology and science.
Near-Death Experiences
Authors: Zaleski Carol
Published: September 2022

In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross published On Death and Dying, a manifesto calling for reforms in end-of-life care and translating into a psychological idiom the ancient religious idea of dying as a peregrinatio animae, a pilgrimage of the soul from this world to the next. In 1975, Raymond Moody published a slim book, Life after Life, that introduced the now-ubiquitous expression “near-death experience” and opened a new era in the modern search for intimations of human immortality. Coming after the unraveling of the spiritualist movement, and at the high-water mark of the death awareness movement, Life after Life offered a less outré approach to the mysteries of the spirit world. This article examines the debates about near-death experience, focusing on popular narratives and near-death studies. It also discusses critical perspectives about the subject as well as cultural differences and interpretations of near-death testimony. It then looks at the near-death experience of a skeptic, A. J. Ayer, and that of a Roman Catholic priest, Richard John Neuhaus.
Health Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Youths in Custody: The Significant Contribution of Sexual Abuse
Authors: Ratnani Y , Hébert M , Robichaud M , Duchesne M , Frappier J-Y , Villemaire-Krajden R , Bergeron S , Lambert Y , Chartrand R , Mcduff P
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests a graded relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and unfavorable health outcomes as early as in the teenage years. Youths under the welfare protection system represent an especially vulnerable group - presenting traumatic personal trajectory while cumulating family related-risk factors. Among early life adversities, specific experience might have a greatest contribution on the long-term health-risk.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this analysis is to evaluate the contribution of sexual abuse as compare to other ACEs on different health issues in adolescent under court custody.

DESIGN/METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a cross-sectional health evaluation study of youths in custodial facilities (2011-13). A total of 315 teenagers 14-17 y.o. (134 girls, 181 boys) completed a self-reported questionnaire about their health status and were then evaluated by a nurse/ doctor using a comprehensive standardized data collection checklist. We identified 8 ACEs: (1) single family; (2) violent death of family member; family history of (3) incarceration, (4) mental health issues, (5) substance abuse; personal history of (6) intrafamilial or (7) extrafamilial physical abuse; personal history of (8) sexual abuse. Multiple and logistic regression were performed between the ACEs and a number of relevant variables.

RESULTS: A personal history of sexual abuse was the most consistant ACE predicting negative health outcomes including perceived health status (R2=0.04; p=0.05), number of health problems identified / acute or chronic (p=0.00), psychosomatic complaints (R2=0.12; p=0.00), sleeping problems (OR=2.8; p=0.005), medication (OR=3.5; p=0.01). This trauma was also the most important factor for high-risk sexuality items evaluated: number of sexuality-related problems in girls (R2=0.15; p=0.00), vaginal sex before 13 y.o. (OR=1.8; p=0.48), number of partners (R2=0.04; p=0.03), sex work (OR=9.6; p=0.00), fear of STI (OR=3.2; p=0.001), as it was for mental health issues: mental health disorders (OR=4.3; p=0.00), suicidal ideation (OR=4.0; p=0.00), suicidal attempt (OR=3.6; p=0.00), self-inflicting injuries (R2=0.12 ; p = 0.01), depression (R2=0.08 ; p=0.00), low self-esteem (R2=0.07; p=0.00) and overdose (OR=2.1; p=0.02).

CONCLUSION: Among ACEs, a personal history of sexual abuse seems to be the most contributing factor for significant health outcomes. Some traumatic or adverse childhood events have a greater burden on subsequent health-risk. A simple question could help identified those at higher risk and higher needs for health services in teens under custody.
Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Canadian Children, 2000-2014: The Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active
Authors: Bettinger J , Scheifele D , Kellner J , Saux N Le , Embree J , Vanderkooi O , Martin I , Tyrrell G , Vaudry W , Halperin S
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND: Before implementation of the first conjugate IPD vaccine program in 2002, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) accounted for most severe, invasive bacterial infections in Canadian children. Conjugate vaccine programs in children were implemented with the expectation that the burden of disease from IPD would improve.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the changes in Canadian epidemiology of pediatric IPD before and after the implementation of conjugate pneumo-coccal vaccine programs.

DESIGN/METHODS: The Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT) captures all in- and out-patient lab-confirmed IPD cases presenting at its 12 tertiary care pediatric hospitals across Canada. Nurses abstract case details from the hospital chart onto a standardized report form. Case isolates are serotyped at a central reference laboratory. All participating centers have local ethics and/or administrative approvals.

RESULTS: From 2000-2014 IMPACT centers identified 3,328 IPD cases. Annual case numbers decreased by 48% (323 to 168) over this time period. Annually, vaccine preventable serotypes accounted for on average 89% (n=288) of cases in the pre-conjugate vaccine era (2000-2003) and 34% (n=56) in the post-13-valent conjugate vaccine era (2011-2014), with 73% (n=41/56) due to serotypes 19A, 3 and 6a. The age distribution of cases shifted upward over the time period with 16% (n=204) of cases occurring in children 5 years of age and older in the pre-vaccine era compared to 32% (n=217) in the post 13-valent vaccine era. This shift was due to decreases in cases occurring in children 0-4 years of age, rather than a significant increase in the number of cases occurring in older children. The most frequent presentation of IPD was radiologic-confirmed pneumonia (n=1119), with complicated pneumonia (pneumonia with empyema or pleural effusion) accounting for 36% (405/1119) of cases, followed by bacteremia only (n=919) and meningitis (n=532). The proportion of cases presenting with complicated pneumonia increased significantly (from 6% -24%; p<0.0001) between the pre-conjugate and post 13-valent conjugate eras. The proportion of cases presenting with meningitis did not change over the time periods (15% pre-conjugate era vs. 16% post-13-valent conjugate era; p=0.46). However, the proportion of meningitis caused by vaccine preventable serotypes decreased significantly (from 85%-26%; p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION: The epidemiology of pediatric IPD has changed with the introduction of conjugate vaccine programs. IPD has been reduced by almost 50% in the post-13-valent conjugate vaccine era and vaccine sero-types account for just one-third of cases. However, complicated pneumonia is seen more frequently in the post-13-valent conjugate vaccine era.
Tobacco Use Among Adolescents Entering Quebec Youth Protection Centers
Authors: Haley N , Lambert G , Gervais A , Tremblay C , Roy E , Frappier J-Y
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND: Every year between 4,000 and 5,000 adolescents reside in Quebec Youth Protection Centers (YPCs). Many of these adolescents use tobacco products and other psychotropic substances that impact their present and future well-being.

OBJECTIVES: Document the prevalence of tobacco use among youth residing in YPCs and identify associated factors. Describe the measures taken to implement policies for smoke-free environments in YPCs and promote smoking cessation counseling for youth in care.

DESIGN/METHODS: Between July 2008 and May 2009, adolescents aged 14-17 living in six YPCs across Quebec were recruited on a volunteer basis to participate in a surveillance study on health risk behaviors. Data on socio-demographics, lifetime substance use and sexual risk behaviors, as well as certain health consequences related to these behaviors were obtained during structured, face-to-face interviews. An analysis of factors associated with daily tobacco use was carried out.

RESULTS: Data regarding behaviors reported during the year prior to admission were collected among 499 participants (boys: 59%; median age: boys: 16; girls: 15). Lifetime tobacco use was reported by 93% of girls and 91% of boys (median age at first cigarette was 12 years). During the year prior to admission, 15% of youth reported no tobacco use, and 20% smoked occasionally. Two thirds (65%) reported daily tobacco use, with 36% of girls and 43% of boys smoking 10 or more cigarettes a day. In univariate analysis, factors significantly (p<0.05) associated with daily smoking were: school failure or dropping out; family history of problematic alcohol or drug use; precocious initiation of alcohol use before age 13; history of regular use of alcohol or cannabis; problematic drug use (measured by DEP-ADO scale); having 6 or more lifetime sexual partners. Following dissemination of these results, measures were taken to develop a smoke-free policy and implementation plan for YPCs. Health professionals were trained to do brief interventions with all youth smokers entering care. In 2015 the YPC presented a brief to the provincial parlimentary committee on the Tobacco Act to support adoption of smoke-free policies for all health establishments in Québec.

CONCLUSION: Daily tobacco use is very prevalent among adolescents entering YPCs and the majority report problematic use of other psychoac-tive substances. Youth entering care merit screening for tobacco and drug use so that appropriate counseling can be initiated. Promoting policies that encourage smoke-free environments in child protection centers for both youth and the professionals working with them may greatly improve the chances for youth to live tobacco-free.
Development of A Novel Tool, The Owl-Sleep Inventory, for the Assessment of Sleep Disorders in Children With Comorbid Psychiatric Illness
Authors: Jaworski M , Chicoine M , Martello E , Godbout R , Belhumeur C
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of sleep disorders in children with psychiatric illness is widely recognized and has a significant impact on families. Ascertainment of sleep disorders remains difficult in a fast-paced clinical setting, owing to the lack of short and efficient assessment tools.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we tested a one-page parent-response behavioural questionnaire aimed at identifying patients for sleep clinic referral: the OWL-Sleep Inventory (OWL-SI : Godbout and Martello, 2009).

DESIGN/METHODS: The OWL-SI contains 9 questions scored 1 to 3: “never/rarely” (1 point), “sometimes” (2 points), “usually” (3 points), with a subjective cut-off of 16 points. We cross-referenced the OWL-SI against a longer, widely used and validated tool, the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ: Owens et al., 2000). Medical charts of 408 pediat-ric patients with primary psychiatric diagnosis referred to a specialized sleep clinic were reviewed. Within this group, 261 parents/caregivers had completed both the CSHQ and OWL-SI questionnaires between 2011 and mid-2015. The mean age of patients was 7.13±3.54 years (195 boys, 67 girls) and most were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, 46.6%) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, 25.6%). Internal consistency of the items for both the CSHQ and the OWL-SI was evaluated as well as the correlation between the two sleep measures.

RESULTS: Total scores for the OWL-SI and the CSHQ were significantly correlated (r=0.623, p<0.001). The CSHQ successfully identified more than 98% of patients later confirmed by a clinician as having sleep disturbance, with a cut-off of 41. ASD and ADHD patients scored positively on the CSHQ (55.25 and 55.60). However, the OWL-SI identified only 53% of patients at a cut-off of 16, with mean scores of 16.17 and 15.25 for patients with ASD and ADHD respectively. When lowered to a cut-off of 11, the questionnaire was efficacious at identifying 95.4% of children needing specialized services referral.

CONCLUSION: Parental response to the novel tool OWL-SI correlated significantly with the CSHQ scores. Following this study, the cut-off for the OWL-SI was lowered to 11in order to commensurate with the widely used CSHQ and the answers “never” and “rarely” are scored separately as 0 and 1, respectively. Further studies assessing prospective validity will permit to determine the optimal cut-off score leading to referral.
Assessment of the Training Needs of Paediatric Residents in Developing a Curriculum in Gastroenterology
Authors: McNeil K , Rashid M
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND: Well defined and focused objectives are essential for effective learning. Paediatric residents are expected to meet the educational objectives as set out by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). For rotation in paediatric gastroenterology, it is unclear how the objectives and list of key clinical conditions was originally developed and which of them are most important for general practice. With increasing educational commitments, residents have limited time to acquire all the essential skills needed for clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: To identify topics in gastroenterology which are of most importance in general pediatric practice. This would enable development of a concise and focused curriculum for pediatric residents doing rotation in gastroenterology.

DESIGN/METHODS: All paediatricians in the four Canadian Atlantic provinces were surveyed with a mailed questionnaire. The list consisted of 14 clinical conditions from the current RCPSC objectives with additional 6 generated after input from regional paediatric gastroenterologists. Information was collected on demographics including type and duration of pediatric practice. The participants ranked the conditions on a 4 point Likert scale (from Not Important to Very Important).

RESULTS: Of the 234 subjects, 132 (56%) responded. Of these, 57.5% were female, 48.8% were academic and 48% were general pediatricians. The majority (73.2%) were in practice >10 years and 75.6% felt that a rotation in gastroenterology should be mandatory in pediatric residency training. Celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux and obesity were identified as Very Important conditions by 94.4%, 96.1% and 96.0% of the participants respectively. These are currently not in RCPSC list of clinical problems. Clinical situations encountered in long-term follow-up of survivors of liver transplantation (RCPSC objective) and chronic pancreatitis were considered Not Important by 61.3% and 58.3% of respondents respectively. Academic pediatricians placed significantly more importance on abdominal pain than non-academic pediatricians (p=0.029). Pediatricians in practice for <10 years identified issues encountered in long-term follow-up of liver transplantation (p=0.039) and celiac disease (p=0.015) as significantly more important than those in practice longer. There were no significant differences between general paediatricians and specialists in cross analysis of all other variables studied.

CONCLUSION: Needs assessment for paediatric residency curriculum development is important as it can identify gaps in RCPSC objectives. Input from general pediatricians should be sought systematically and on an ongoing basis in order to keep the curriculum current and focused.
Mate-seeking behavior in the calanoid copepod Eodiaptomus japonicus
Authors: Liu Xin , Nakamoto Yusuke , Dur GaËl , Ban Syuhei
Published: September 2022

We present here the first report of the mate-seeking behaviors of the calanoid copepod Eodiaptomus japonicus. Analyses of three-dimensional (3D) recordings revealed that males exhibit both homo- and heterosexual pursuit patterns, with no obvious increase in swimming speed during seeking. Males appear to use hydromechanical signals to seek female locations and detect them from up to 6 mm away, mainly from below. Males always exhibit several small hops to adjust their position to an optimal for catching a mate. In homosexual encounters, the two individuals separate within 1 s, whereas the average copulation duration in heterosexual mating events persists for ∼2.9 min. Females display a shaking-off male behavior in all heterosexual pursuit events, indicating the existence of mate choice. This mate choice may result in enhanced offspring quality and decrease the pairing time thereby reducing predation risk.