bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UV and Visible light photodegradation of methylene blue with graphene decorated titanium dioxide
Authors: Acosta-Esparza M A , Rivera L P , Pérez-Centeno A , Zamudio-Ojeda A , González Daniel Ramírez , Chávez-Chávez A , Santana-Aranda M A , Santos-Cruz J , Quiñones-Galván J G
Published: February 2020

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by graphene decorated titanium dioxide (TiO2) powders heated at different temperatures was analyzed. The powders were prepared by mixing TiO2 with graphene prepared by the modified Hummers method. A thermal treatment was applied to mixed and pure TiO2 powders with the aim of analyze their structural dependence on temperature, and consistently their photocatalytic degradation effect on methylene blue solutions exposed to UV and visible radiation. Structural characterization of the powders was carried out by x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. When irradiated with UV, the mixed powders showed as high as 87% photocatalytic degradation, while the pure TiO2 reached values of 59%. For visible radiation, as it is expected, the pure TiO2 showed no activity, while the mixture presented degradation of 40%.
A posture and mobility training package for care home staff: results of a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial (the PATCH trial)
Authors: Graham Liz , Ellwood Alison , Hull Karen , Fisher Jill , Cundill Bonnie , Holland Michael , Goodwin Madeline , Clarke David , Hawkins Rebecca , Hulme Claire , Patel Ismail , Kelly Charlotte , Williams Rachel , Farrin Amanda , Forster Anne
Published: February 2020

Background

provision of care for care home residents with complex needs is challenging. Physiotherapy and activity interventions can improve well-being but are often time-limited and resource intensive. A sustainable approach is to enhance the confidence and skills of staff who provide care. This trial assessed the feasibility of undertaking a definitive evaluation of a posture and mobility training programme for care staff.

Design and setting

a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial with embedded process evaluation. Ten care homes in Yorkshire, United Kingdom, were randomised (1:1) to the skilful care training package (SCTP) or usual care (UC).

Participants

residents who were not independently mobile.

Intervention

SCTP—delivered by physiotherapists to care staff.

Objectives and measurements

key objectives informed progression to a definitive trial. Recruitment, retention and intervention uptake were monitored. Data, collected by a blinded researcher, included pain, posture, mobility, hospitalisations and falls. This informed data collection feasibility and participant safety.

Results

a total of 348 residents were screened; 146 were registered (71 UC, 75 SCTP). Forty two were lost by 6 months, largely due to deaths. While data collection from proxy informants was good (>95% expected data), attrition meant that data completion rates did not meet target. Data collection from residents was poor due to high levels of dementia. Intervention uptake was variable—staff attendance at all sessions ranged from 12.5 to 65.8%. There were no safety concerns.

Conclusion

care home and resident recruitment are feasible, but refinement of data collection approaches and intervention delivery are needed for this trial and care home research more widely.
Effect of a Home Pregnancy Test Intervention on Cohort Retention and Pregnancy Detection: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Wise Lauren A , Wang Tanran R , Willis Sydney K , Wesselink Amelia K , Rothman Kenneth J , Hatch Elizabeth E
Published: February 2020

We conducted a parallel, nonblinded randomized trial to assess whether offering home pregnancy tests (HPTs) to preconception cohort study participants influenced cohort retention or pregnancy detection. Pregnancy Study Online participants were female, aged 21–45 years, attempting pregnancy, and not using fertility treatment. At enrollment (2017–2018), 1,493 participants with 6 or fewer cycles of attempt time were randomly assigned with 50% probability to receive 12 Clearblue visual HPTs plus the standard protocol (n = 720) or the standard protocol alone (n = 773). Women completed bimonthly questionnaires for 12 months or until conception, whichever came first. In intent-to-treat analyses, retention (≥1 follow-up) was higher in the HPT arm (n = 598; 83%) than the standard protocol arm (n = 535 (69%); mean difference = 15%, 95% CI: 10, 19). Mean time at first pregnancy testing was identical in both arms (2 days before expected menses), as was mean gestational weeks at first positive pregnancy test (4 weeks). Conception was reported by 78% of women in the HPT arm and 75% in the standard protocol arm. Spontaneous abortion was reported by 21% in the HPT arm (mean gestational weeks = 7) and 21% in the standard protocol arm (mean gestational weeks = 6). Randomization of HPTs was associated with greater cohort retention but had little impact on incidence or timing of pregnancy detection.
On the use of private versus social information in oviposition site choice decisions by Drosophila melanogaster females
Authors: Malek Heather L , Long Tristan A F
Published: February 2020

Individuals are faced with decisions throughout their lifetimes, and the choices they make often have important consequences toward their fitness. Being able to discern which available option is best to pursue often incurs sampling costs, which may be largely avoided by copying the behavior and decisions of others. Although social learning and copying behaviors are widespread, much remains unknown about how effective and adaptive copying behavior is, as well as the factors that underlie its expression. Recently, it has been suggested that since female fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) appear to rely heavily on public information when selecting oviposition sites, they are a promising model system for researching patch-choice copying, and more generally, the mechanisms that control decision making. Here, we set out to determine how well female distinguish between socially produced cues, and whether females are using “relevant” signals when choosing an oviposition site. We found that females showed a strong preference for ovipositing on media patches that had been previously occupied by ovipositing females of the same species and diet over other female outgroups. However, in a separate assay, we observed that females favored ovipositing on media patches that previously housed virgin males over those exhibiting alternative conspecific signals. Our results confirm that females use cues left behind by other flies when choosing between potential oviposition sites, though their prioritization of these signals raises serious questions as to whether fruit flies are employing copying behavior, or are instead responding to signals that may not be of relevance to oviposition site suitability.
Inferring cellular heterogeneity of associations from single cell genomics
Authors: Levy Maya , Frishberg Amit , Gat-Viks Irit
Published: February 2020

Motivation

Cell-to-cell variation has uncovered associations between cellular phenotypes. However, it remains challenging to address the cellular diversity of such associations.

Results

Here, we do not rely on the conventional assumption that the same association holds throughout the entire cell population. Instead, we assume that associations may exist in a certain subset of the cells. We developed CEllular Niche Association (CENA) to reliably predict pairwise associations together with the cell subsets in which the associations are detected. CENA does not rely on predefined subsets but only requires that the cells of each predicted subset would share a certain characteristic state. CENA may therefore reveal dynamic modulation of dependencies along cellular trajectories of temporally evolving states. Using simulated data, we show the advantage of CENA over existing methods and its scalability to a large number of cells. Application of CENA to real biological data demonstrates dynamic changes in associations that would be otherwise masked.

Availability and implementation

CENA is available as an R package at Github: https://github.com/mayalevy/CENA and is accompanied by a complete set of documentations and instructions.

Contact

iritgv@gmail.com

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Process for an efficient lentiviral cell transduction
Authors: Pirona Anna Chiara , Oktriani Risky , Boettcher Michael , Hoheisel Jörg D
Published: February 2020

The combination of lentiviruses with techniques such as CRISPR-Cas9 has resulted in efficient and precise processes for targeted genome modification. An often-limiting aspect, however, is the efficiency of cell transduction. Low efficiencies with particular cell types and/or the high complexity of lentiviral libraries can cause insufficient representation. Here, we present a protocol that yielded substantial increases in transduction efficiency in various cell lines in comparison to several other procedures.
Integration of Solid-Phase Extraction and Reversed-Phase Chromatography in Single Protein-Coated Columns for Direct Injection of Bupivacaine in Human Serum
Authors: Zarad Walaa , El-Gendy Heba , Ali Ahmed , Aboulella Yasmine , Emara Samy
Published: February 2020

A rapid, reliable and precise integrated solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography method was developed and validated to determine bupivacaine in human serum using single protein-coated analytical columns. The protein-coated columns were packed with four different sorbents: TSK-ODS, LiChrosorb RP-8, LiChrosorb RP-2 and μ-Bondapak CN-bonded silica. The method involved direct injection of serum sample onto the columns for trapping of the analyte, clean-up from weakly retained serum endogenous components, as well as the final separation. The protein-coated columns operated in two different chromatographic modes. Serum proteins were extracted and cleaned up by SPE, whereas the final separation of bupivacaine was based on reversed-phase chromatography. The protein-coated TSK-ODS column resulted in more accurate peak integration and more reproducible results. A linear relationship between the concentrations of drug and peak areas was confirmed in the range of 100–2000 ng/mL. Detection and quantification limits were 24.85 and 85.36 ng/mL, respectively. The average recovery for bupivacaine ranged from 96.48% to 98.81%. The present methodology was successfully applied, with a high degree of confidence, to analyze clinical samples obtained from patient receiving 0.5% bupivacaine therapy.
Pharmacist-led Penicillin Allergy Assessment in the Emergency Department Reduced Empiric Fluoroquinolone Use
Authors: Campbell Samantha , Hauler Gregory , Immler Ellen L , Seiti Susan , Dandache Patricia , Srinivas Pavithra
Published: February 2020

In a retrospective, quasi-experimental study of 380 adult patients with a reported penicillin allergy who received antibiotics at a community hospital emergency department, a pharmacist-led penicillin allergy assessment via medical records review and patient interview improved guideline-preferred antibiotic use by 13% (P = .018) and reduced fluoroquinolone use by 11% (P = .035).
Severe radial artery spasm causing entrapment of the Terumo radial to peripheral destination slender sheath: a case report
Authors: Nazir Salik , Nesheiwat Zeid , Syed Mubbasher Ameer , Gupta Rajesh
Published: February 2020

Background

Radial access for lower-extremity peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs) has been limited due to inadequate equipment lengths. The Terumo R2P Destination Slender sheath is a relatively new sheath designed for these interventions. However, complications related to this sheath or access strategy for lower-extremity PVI have not been reported.

Case summary

A 69-year-old woman presented with purple discolouration of her 1st and 5th toes of the left foot for approximately 1 month. Lower-extremity arterial duplex ultrasound showed mid left superficial femoral artery (SFA) greater than 90% stenosis. Peripheral angiogram was performed via the left radial artery and this confirmed the presence of severe left SFA stenosis. Intra-arterial vasodilators including verapamil and nitroglycerine were administered to prevent radial artery spasm. Next, we attempted to deliver the Terumo 6-Fr R2P Destination Slender 119 cm sheath for the interventional procedure. However, the sheath became stuck at the level of mid axillary artery due to severe radial artery spasm. Despite use of intra-arterial vasodilators, deep sedation with propofol, and gentle retraction, the sheath could not be removed and eventually broke requiring surgical removal.

Discussion

This case demonstrates severe radial artery spasm causing sheath entrapment that required emergency surgery for sheath removal. Unfortunately, the sheath could not be removed despite typical manoeuvres for severe spasm including intra-arterial vasodilators and deep sedation with propofol. Physicians performing PVIs via radial access need to be aware of this potentially serious complication.
Health systems constraints and facilitators of human papillomavirus immunization programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Amponsah-Dacosta Edina , Kagina Benjamin M , Olivier Jill
Published: February 2020

Given the vast investments made in national immunization programmes (NIPs) and the significance of NIPs to public health, it is important to understand what influences the optimal performance of NIPs. It has been established that well-performing NIPs require enabling health systems. However, systematic evidence on how the performance of health systems impacts on NIPs is lacking, especially from sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a qualitative systematic review to synthesize the available evidence on health systems constraints and facilitators of NIPs in sub-Saharan Africa, using human papillomavirus immunization programmes as a proxy. Fifty-four articles published between 2008 and 2018 were found to be eligible. Data extraction was guided by an analytical model on the interface between NIPs and health systems. A cross-cutting thematic analysis of the extracted data was performed. This systematic review provides evidence necessary for informing ongoing health systems strengthening initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. There is evidence to suggest that NIPs in sub-Saharan Africa have surmounted significant health systems constraints and have achieved notable public health success. This success can be attributed to strong political endorsement for vaccines, clear governance structures and effective collaboration with global partners. Despite this, significant health systems constraints persist in service delivery, vaccine communication, community engagement, the capacity of the health workforce and sustainable financing. These constraints could derail further progress if not addressed through health systems strengthening efforts. There is a need to expand the research agenda to include the comprehensive evaluation of health systems constraints and facilitators of NIPs within sub-Saharan Africa.
Competition, selection, and productivity growth in the Chilean manufacturing industry
Authors: Álvarez Roberto , Gonzalez Aldo
Published: February 2020

Competition is considered as a key driver of productivity growth. However, the empirical evidence on its impact is scant in developing countries. Using information from manufacturing plants for the period 1995–2007, we analyze the impact of competition on firm selection and productivity growth in Chile. Our results indicate that competition has a positive effect on total factor productivity (TFP) growth, especially for laggard firms. We find weaker evidence that competition affects the probability of exit for low-productivity firms. In general, these results for productivity growth are robust to alternative methodologies for calculating productivity and to the inclusion of other variables that may affect firms’ TFP growth. We find support for Schumpeterian forces, but the quantitative impact is small.
Guaranteed a posteriori error bounds for low-rank tensor approximate solutions
Authors: Dolgov Sergey , Vejchodský Tomáš
Published: February 2020

We propose a guaranteed and fully computable upper bound on the energy norm of the error in low-rank tensor train (TT) approximate solutions of (possibly) high-dimensional reaction–diffusion problems. The error bound is obtained from Euler–Lagrange equations for a complementary flux reconstruction problem, which are solved in the low-rank TT representation using the block alternating linear scheme. This bound is guaranteed to be above the energy norm of the total error, including the discretization error, the tensor approximation error and the error in the solver of linear algebraic equations, although quadrature errors, in general, can pollute its evaluation. Numerical examples with the Poisson equation and the Schrödinger equation with the Henon–Heiles potential in up to 40 dimensions are presented to illustrate the efficiency of this approach.
Nontangential Estimates on Layer Potentials and the Neumann Problem for Higher-Order Elliptic Equations
Authors: Barton Ariel , Hofmann Steve , Mayboroda Svitlana
Published: February 2020

We solve the Neumann problem, with nontangential estimates, for higher-order divergence form elliptic operators with variable $t$-independent coefficients. Our results are accompanied by nontangential estimates on higher-order layer potentials.
Phase Separation, Optimal Partitions, and Nodal Solutions to the Yamabe Equation on the Sphere
Authors: Clapp Mónica , Saldaña Alberto , Szulkin Andrzej
Published: February 2020

We study an optimal $M$-partition problem for the Yamabe equation on the round sphere, in the presence of some particular symmetries. We show that there is a correspondence between solutions to this problem and least energy sign-changing symmetric solutions to the Yamabe equation on the sphere with precisely $M$ nodal domains.

The existence of an optimal partition is established through the study of the limit profiles of least energy solutions to a weakly coupled competitive elliptic system on the sphere.
Development and Validation of a UPLC-DAD Method for Quantitative Analysis of Coumarin, trans-Cinnamic Acid, trans-Cinnamaldehyde, and Eugenol in Encapsulated Cinnamon Flavoring Powder
Authors: Cao Congmei , Liu Wei , Babajanian Silva , Zhang Yanjun , Chang Peter , Swanson Gary
Published: February 2020

Background

Cinnamon is a popular spice used in food products. Its flavor varies by its chemical profile. Cinnamon flavoring powder is a unique form of material with essential oil encapsulated in wall material, which improves the stability and homogeneity but also increases the difficulties for analysis. A specific and rapid method is needed to analyze the main components for its quality and safety.

Objective

An analytical method for the quantification of cinnamon flavoring powder was developed and validated. The characteristic components for analysis were selected as coumarin, trans-cinnamic acid, trans-cinnamaldehyde, and eugenol.

Methods

This quantitation method with ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector analysis was achieved by material extraction followed by chromatographic separation on C18 columns eluted with a gradient acetonitrile-water mobile phase. The detected wavelength was determined as 280 nm.

Results

Linear regression of calibration curves for each component was validated (R2 > 0.9995). The specificity, LOD and LOQ, precision, accuracy, and ruggedness of the developed method were also evaluated.

Conclusions

Such an approach is applicable for the simultaneous determination of these four characteristic constituents in cinnamon flavoring powder used in manufacturing and quality control of nutritional products.

Highlights

This study describes the selection of four components for analysis, the efficient extraction of them from cinnamon flavoring powder, and the rapid quantitation of these four characteristic components in these materials.
The Neuropathology of MIRAGE Syndrome
Authors: Viaene Angela N , Harding Brian N
Published: February 2020

MIRAGE syndrome is a multisystem disorder characterized by myelodysplasia, infections, restriction of growth, adrenal hypoplasia, genital phenotypes, and enteropathy. Mutations in the sterile alpha motif domain containing 9 (SAMD9) gene which encodes a protein involved in growth factor signal transduction are thought to cause MIRAGE syndrome. SAMD9 mutations lead to an antiproliferative effect resulting in a multisystem growth restriction disorder. Though rare, a few patients with SAMD9 mutations were reported to have hydrocephalus and/or cerebellar hypoplasia on imaging. The neuropathologic features of MIRAGE syndrome have not been previously described. Here, we describe the postmortem neuropathologic examinations of 2 patients with a clinical diagnosis of MIRAGE syndrome and confirmed SAMD9 mutations. Common features included microcephaly, hydrocephalus, white matter abnormalities, and perivascular calcifications. One of the 2 cases showed marked cerebellar hypoplasia with loss of Purkinje and granule neurons as well as multifocal polymicrogyria and severe white matter volume loss; similar findings were not observed in the second patient. These cases demonstrate the variation in neuropathologic findings in patients with MIRAGE syndrome. Interestingly, the findings are similar to those reported in ataxia-pancytopenia syndrome caused by mutations in SAMD9L, a paralogue of SAMD9.
Stability and solution of the time-dependent Bondi–Parker flow
Authors: Keto Eric
Published: February 2020

Bondi and Parker derived a steady-state solution for Bernoulli’s equation in spherical symmetry around a point mass for two cases, respectively, an inward accretion flow and an outward wind. Left unanswered were the stability of the steady-state solution, the solution itself of time-dependent flows, whether the time-dependent flows would evolve to the steady state, and under what conditions a transonic flow would develop. In a Hamiltonian description, we find that the steady-state solution is equivalent to the Lagrangian implying that time-dependent flows evolve to the steady state. We find that the second variation is definite in sign for isothermal and adiabatic flows, implying at least linear stability. We solve the partial differential equation for the time-dependent flow as an initial-value problem and find that a transonic flow develops under a wide range of realistic initial conditions. We present some examples of time-dependent solutions.
On the turbulence driving mode of expanding H ii regions
Authors: Menon Shyam H , Federrath Christoph , Kuiper Rolf
Published: February 2020

We investigate the turbulence driving mode of ionizing radiation from massive stars on the surrounding interstellar medium. We run hydrodynamical simulations of a turbulent cloud impinged by a plane-parallel ionization front. We find that the ionizing radiation forms pillars of neutral gas reminiscent of those seen in observations. We quantify the driving mode of the turbulence in the neutral gas by calculating the driving parameter b, which is characterized by the relation $\sigma _s^2 = \ln ({1+b^2\mathcal {M}^2})$ between the variance of the logarithmic density contrast $\sigma _s^2$ [where s = ln (ρ/ρ0) with the gas density ρ and its average ρ0], and the turbulent Mach number $\mathcal {M}$. Previous works have shown that b ∼ 1/3 indicates solenoidal (divergence-free) driving and b ∼ 1 indicates compressive (curl-free) driving, with b ∼ 1 producing up to ten times higher star formation rates than b ∼ 1/3. The time variation of b in our study allows us to infer that ionizing radiation is inherently a compressive turbulence driving source, with a time-averaged b ∼ 0.76 ± 0.08. We also investigate the value of b of the pillars, where star formation is expected to occur, and find that the pillars are characterized by a natural mixture of both solenoidal and compressive turbulent modes (b ∼ 0.4) when they form, and later evolve into a more compressive turbulent state with b ∼ 0.5–0.6. A virial parameter analysis of the pillar regions supports this conclusion. This indicates that ionizing radiation from massive stars may be able to trigger star formation by producing predominately compressive turbulent gas in the pillars.
The Pristine survey XI: the FORS2 sample
Authors: Caffau E , Bonifacio P , Sbordone L , Matas Pinto A M , François P , Jablonka P , Lardo C , Martin N F , Starkenburg E , Aguado D , González-Hernández J I , Venn K , Mashonkina L , Sestito F
Published: February 2020

Extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars are old objects that mostly formed very early after the big bang. They are rare and, to select them, we have to rely on low-resolution spectroscopic or photometric surveys; specifically the combination of narrow- and broad-band photometry provides a powerful and time efficient way to select MP stars. The Pristine photometric survey is using the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope MegaCam wide-field imager to obtain narrow-band photometry by utilizing a filter centred at 395.2 nm on the Ca ii-H and -K lines. Gaia DR 2 is providing us the wide-band photometry as well as parallaxes. Follow-up observations of MP candidates allowed us to improve our photometric calibrations. In this paper of the series we analyse MP stars observed with FORS2 at VLT. We demonstrate the Pristine calibration adopted in this work to be able to provide metallicities accurate to ±0.3 dex for MP giant stars with good parallaxes, while it performs poorly for dwarf and turn-off stars, whatever the accuracy on the parallaxes. We find some MP and very MP stars that are not enhanced in α elements. Such stars have already been found in several other searches, and a higher resolution follow-up of our sample would be useful to put our findings on a firmer ground. This sample of stars analysed has a low fraction of carbon-enhanced MP stars, regardless of the definition adopted. This deficiency could indicate a small sensitivity of the Pristine filter to carbon abundance, issue to be addressed in the future.
Cross-correlating Planck with VST ATLAS LRGs: a new test for the ISW effect in the Southern hemisphere
Authors: Ansarinejad Behzad , Mackenzie Ruari , Shanks Tom , Metcalfe Nigel
Published: February 2020

The integrated Sachs–Wolfe (ISW) effect probes the late-time expansion history of the Universe, offering direct constraints on dark energy. Here, we present our measurements of the ISW signal at redshifts of $\bar{z}=0.35$, 0.55, and 0.68, using the cross-correlation of the Planck cosmic microwave background temperature map with ∼0.5 million luminous red galaxies (LRGs) selected from the VST ATLAS survey. We then combine these with previous measurements based on WMAP and similar SDSS LRG samples, providing a total sample of ∼2.1 million LRGs covering ∼12 000 deg2 of sky. At $\bar{z}=0.35$ and $\bar{z}=0.55$, we detect the ISW signal at 1.2σ and 2.3σ (or 2.6σ combined), in agreement with the predictions of lambda cold dark matter (ΛCDM). We verify these results by repeating the measurements using the BOSS LOWZ and CMASS, spectroscopically confirmed LRG samples. We also detect the ISW effect in three magnitude limited ATLAS + SDSS galaxy samples extending to z ≈ 0.4 at ∼2σ per sample. However, we do not detect the ISW signal at $\bar{z}=0.68$ when combining the ATLAS and SDSS results. Further tests using spectroscopically confirmed eBOSS LRGs at this redshift remain inconclusive due to the current low sky coverage of the survey. If the ISW signal is shown to be redshift dependent in a manner inconsistent with the predictions of ΛCDM, it could open the door to alternative theories such as modified gravity. It is therefore important to repeat the high-redshift ISW measurement using the completed eBOSS sample, as well as deeper upcoming surveys such as DESI and LSST.
An accurate and efficient numerical calculation of detonation waves in multidimensional supernova simulations using a burning limiter and adaptive quasi-statistical equilibrium
Authors: Kushnir Doron , Katz Boaz
Published: February 2020

Resolving the small length-scale of thermonuclear detonation waves (TNDWs) in supernovae is currently not possible in multidimensional full-star simulations. Additionally, multidimensional simulations usually use small, oversimplistic reaction networks and adopt an ad hoc transition criterion to nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE). The errors due to the applied approximations are not well understood. We present here a new accurate and efficient numerical scheme that accelerates the calculations by orders of magnitudes and allows the structure of TNDWs to be resolved. The numerical scheme has two important ingredients: (1) a burning limiter that broadens the width of the TNDW while accurately preserving its internal structure, and (2) an adaptive separation of isotopes into groups that are in nuclear statistical quasi-equilibrium, which resolves the time-consuming burning calculation of reactions that are nearly balanced out. Burning is calculated in situ employing the required large networks without the use of post-processing or pre-describing the conditions behind the TNDW. In particular, the approach to and deviation from NSE are calculated self-consistently. The scheme can be easily implemented in multidimensional codes. We test our scheme against accurate solutions of the structure of TNDWs and against homogeneous expansion from NSE. We show that with resolutions that are typical for multidimensional full-star simulations, we reproduce the accurate thermodynamic trajectory (density, temperature, etc.) to an accuracy that is better than a per cent for the resolved scales (where the burning limiter is not applied), while keeping the error for unresolved scales (broadened by the burning limiter) within a few per cent.
LARgE Survey – II. The dark matter haloes and the progenitors and descendants of ultramassive passive galaxies at cosmic noon
Authors: Cheema Gurpreet Kaur , Sawicki Marcin , Arcila-Osejo Liz , Golob Anneya , Moutard Thibaud , Arnouts Stéphane , Coupon Jean
Published: February 2020

We use a 27.6 deg2 survey to measure the clustering of gzKs-selected quiescent galaxies at z ∼ 1.6, focusing on ultramassive quiescent galaxies. We find that z ∼ 1.6 Ultra-Massive Passively Evolving Galaxies (UMPEGs), which have Ks(AB) < 19.75 (stellar masses of M⋆$\gtrsim10^{11.4}\,\mathrm{ M}_{\odot }$ and mean   = 1011.5 M⊙), cluster more strongly than any other known galaxy population at high redshift. Comparing their correlation length, r0 = 29.77 ± 2.75h−1Mpc, with the clustering of dark matter (DM) haloes in the Millennium XXL N-body simulation suggests that these z ∼ 1.6 UMPEGs reside in DM haloes of mass Mh ∼ 1014.1h−1M⊙. Such very massive z ∼ 1.6 haloes are associated with the ancestors of z ∼ 0 massive galaxy clusters such as the Virgo and Coma clusters. Given their extreme stellar masses and lack of companions with comparable mass, we surmise that these UMPEGs could be the already-quenched central massive galaxies of their (proto)clusters. We conclude that with only a modest amount of further growth in their stellar mass, z ∼ 1.6 UMPEGs could be the progenitors of some of the massive central galaxies of present-day massive galaxy clusters observed to be already very massive and quiescent near the peak epoch of the cosmic star formation.
Origin and Evolution of Polycyclic Triterpene Synthesis
Authors: Santana-Molina Carlos , Rivas-Marin Elena , Rojas Ana M , Devos Damien P
Published: February 2020

Polycyclic triterpenes are members of the terpene family produced by the cyclization of squalene. The most representative polycyclic triterpenes are hopanoids and sterols, the former are mostly found in bacteria, whereas the latter are largely limited to eukaryotes, albeit with a growing number of bacterial exceptions. Given their important role and omnipresence in most eukaryotes, contrasting with their scant representation in bacteria, sterol biosynthesis was long thought to be a eukaryotic innovation. Thus, their presence in some bacteria was deemed to be the result of lateral gene transfer from eukaryotes. Elucidating the origin and evolution of the polycyclic triterpene synthetic pathways is important to understand the role of these compounds in eukaryogenesis and their geobiological value as biomarkers in fossil records. Here, we have revisited the phylogenies of the main enzymes involved in triterpene synthesis, performing gene neighborhood analysis and phylogenetic profiling. Squalene can be biosynthesized by two different pathways containing the HpnCDE or Sqs proteins. Our results suggest that the HpnCDE enzymes are derived from carotenoid biosynthesis ones and that they assembled in an ancestral squalene pathway in bacteria, while remaining metabolically versatile. Conversely, the Sqs enzyme is prone to be involved in lateral gene transfer, and its emergence is possibly related to the specialization of squalene biosynthesis. The biosynthesis of hopanoids seems to be ancestral in the Bacteria domain. Moreover, no triterpene cyclases are found in Archaea, invoking a potential scenario in which eukaryotic genes for sterol biosynthesis assembled from ancestral bacterial contributions in early eukaryotic lineages.
Atm deficiency in the DNA polymerase β null cerebellum results in cerebellar ataxia and Itpr1 reduction associated with alteration of cytosine methylation
Authors: Kim Jusik , Kim Keeeun , Mo Jung-soon , Lee Youngsoo
Published: February 2020

Genomic instability resulting from defective DNA damage responses or repair causes several abnormalities, including progressive cerebellar ataxia, for which the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report a new murine model of cerebellar ataxia resulting from concomitant inactivation of POLB and ATM. POLB is one of key enzymes for the repair of damaged or chemically modified bases, including methylated cytosine, but selective inactivation of Polb during neurogenesis affects only a subpopulation of cortical interneurons despite the accumulation of DNA damage throughout the brain. However, dual inactivation of Polb and Atm resulted in ataxia without significant neuropathological defects in the cerebellum. ATM is a protein kinase that responds to DNA strand breaks, and mutations in ATM are responsible for Ataxia Telangiectasia, which is characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia. In the cerebella of mice deficient for both Polb and Atm, the most downregulated gene was Itpr1, likely because of misregulated DNA methylation cycle. ITPR1 is known to mediate calcium homeostasis, and ITPR1 mutations result in genetic diseases with cerebellar ataxia. Our data suggest that dysregulation of ITPR1 in the cerebellum could be one of contributing factors to progressive ataxia observed in human genomic instability syndromes.
Changing Therapeutic Landscape for Melanoma With Multiple Brain Metastases
Authors: Jiang Cecilia , Wallington David G , Anker Christopher J , Lawson David H , Yushak Melinda L , Kudchadkar Ragini R , Tarhini Ahmad , Khan Mohammad K
Published: February 2020

Over 90 000 people are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma in the United States this year. The development of brain metastases is particularly difficult to manage. Over the past few years, melanoma patients with multiple unresectable brain metastases for which stereotactic surgery might also not be a viable option have fortunately experienced a dramatic expansion in available management options given improvements made to targeted agents, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is a long-standing radiation technique that has become increasingly sophisticated. In this review, we summarize retrospective and prospective studies on individual advances in targeted agents, immunotherapy, and WBRT, highlighting important variables such as overall survival, intracranial progression-free survival, control and response rates, and toxicities. We also discuss the recent integration of these therapies into a multimodality approach, which has shown promise in the clinical setting although toxicities have not been insignificant. Finally, we describe ongoing prospective trials relevant to melanoma with brain metastases, and we conclude with our own thoughts on the optimal approach for these patients.
Primary CNS lymphoma commonly expresses immune response biomarkers
Authors: Ou Alexander , Sumrall Ashley , Phuphanich Surasak , Spetzler David , Gatalica Zoran , Xiu Joanne , Michelhaugh Sharon , Brenner Andrew , Pandey Manjari , Kesari Santosh , Korn W Michael , Mittal Sandeep , Westin Jason , Heimberger Amy B
Published: February 2020

Background

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare and there is limited genomic and immunological information available. Incidental clinical and radiographic responses have been reported in PCNSL patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Materials and Methods

To genetically characterize and ascertain if the majority of PCNSL patients may potentially benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors, we profiled 48 subjects with PCNSL from 2013 to 2018 with (1) next-generation sequencing to detect mutations, gene amplifications, and microsatellite instability (MSI); (2) RNA sequencing to detect gene fusions; and (3) immunohistochemistry to ascertain PD-1 and PD-L1 expression. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was calculated using somatic nonsynonymous missense mutations.

Results

High PD-L1 expression (>5% staining) was seen in 18 patients (37.5%), and intermediate expression (1–5% staining) was noted in 14 patients (29.2%). Sixteen patients (33.3%) lacked PD-L1 expression. PD-1 expression (>1 cell/high-power field) was seen in 12/14 tumors (85.7%), uncorrelated with PD-L1 expression. TMB of greater than or equal to 5 mutations per megabase (mt/Mb) occurred in 41/42 tumors, with 19% (n = 8) exhibiting high TMB (≥17 mt/Mb), 71.4% (n = 30) exhibiting intermediate TMB (7–16 mt/Mb), and 9.5% (n = 4) exhibiting low TMB (≤6 mt/Mb). No samples had MSI. Twenty-six genes showed mutations, most frequently in MYD88 (34/42, 81%), CD79B (23/42, 55%), and PIM1 (23/42, 55%). Among 7 cases tested with RNA sequencing, an ETV6-IGH fusion was found. Overall, 18/48 samples expressed high PD-L1 and 38/42 samples expressed intermediate to high TMB.

Conclusions

Based on TMB biomarker expression, over 90% of PCNSL patients may benefit from the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Influenza and Bacterial Coinfection in Adults With Community-Acquired Pneumonia Admitted to Conventional Wards: Risk Factors, Clinical Features, and Outcomes
Authors: Abelenda-Alonso Gabriela , Rombauts Alexander , Gudiol Carlota , Meije Yolanda , Ortega Lucía , Clemente Mercedes , Ardanuy Carmen , Niubó Jordi , Carratalà Jordi
Published: February 2020

Background

Relevance of viral and bacterial coinfection (VBC) in non-intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalized adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is poorly characterized. We aim to determine risk factors, features, and outcomes of VBC-CAP in this setting.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort of adults admitted to conventional wards with CAP. Patients were divided into VBC-CAP, viral CAP (V-CAP), and bacterial CAP (B-CAP) groups. Independent risk and prognostic factors for VBC-CAP were identified.

Results

We documented 1123 episodes: 57 (5.1%) VBC-CAP, 98 (8.7%) V-CAP, and 968 (86.1%) B-CAP. Patients with VBC-CAP were younger than those with B-CAP (54 vs 71 years; P < .001). Chronic respiratory disease was more frequent in patients with VBC-CAP than in those with V-CAP (26.3% vs 14.3%%; P = .001). Among those with influenza (n = 153), the VBC-CAP group received empirical oseltamivir less often (56.1% vs 73.5%; P < .001). Patients with VBC-CAP also had more respiratory distress (21.1% VBC-CAP; 19.4% V-CAP, and 9.8% B-CAP; P < .001) and required ICU admission more often (31.6% VBC-CAP, 31.6% V-CAP, and 12.8% B-CAP; P < .001). The 30-day case-fatality rate was 3.5% in the VBC-CAP group, 3.1% in the V-CAP group, and 6.3% in the B-CAP group (P = .232). Furthermore, VBC-CAP was associated with severity criteria (odds ratio [OR], 5.219; P < .001) and lack of empirical oseltamivir therapy in influenza cases (OR, 0.401; P < .043).

Conclusions

Viral and bacterial coinfection-CAP involved younger patients with comorbidities and with poor influenza vaccination rate. Patients with VBC-CAP presented more respiratory complications and more often required ICU admission. Nevertheless, 30-day mortality rate was low and related either to severity criteria or to delayed initiation of oseltamivir therapy.
Health
Authors: Delgado Melvin
Published: February 2020

Associating state-sanctioned violence with health is not a far stretch in seeing how broadly its consequences unfold in cities and among people of color across the lifespan, including the institutions serving them. It is not a leap to think of health rights as civil rights, or to think of state violence in a similar fashion. Social workers understand how race and health unfold and why a state violence stance helps provide a more comprehensive understanding of how it unfolds in the lives of people of color and the reasons for health disparities. It is arduous to do justice to this chapter because of the abundance of statistics and scholarly material on this subject, which attests to its importance, with the further introduction of health and those who are incarcerated seeking to obtain asylum in this country.
Social Work Research, Education, and Practice
Authors: Delgado Melvin
Published: February 2020

This chapter provides readers with a list of suggestions of how social work education, practice, and research will need to be transformed in order to achieve social justice when the state is a primary source of violence. Social work’s social justice approach requires that it be addressed across the entire intervention and lifespan spectrum, occupying a central role in our education. This broad reach is a blessing and curse from an educational standpoint. It is a blessing because social justice is integral to our mission and its importance reaches all aspects of social work. It is a curse by requiring that practice have this as a central tenet, ruffling feathers in our work with other professions not sharing this value stance. Social work is in a unique position to move a social justice agenda during this challenging period in our history. We must, however, guard against “good” deeds going astray and causing more harm than good.
Screen Woman
Authors: Furman Nelly
Published: February 2020

The international appeal of the story of Carmen on the silver screen has been phenomenal. The story has spawned nearly eighty films by some of the world’s most celebrated directors. In the early days of cinema, we find a first cluster of Carmens among them films directed by Cecil B. Demille, Charlie Chaplin, and Ernest Lubitsch. In 1954, Otto Preminger’s Carmen Jones calls attention to African American issues in the United States, as will in 2001, Carmen: A Hip Opera directed by Robert Towsend for MTV. In 1983, we find a second cluster of international film directed by Jean-Luc Godard (France), Francesco Rosi (Italy) and Carlos Saura (Spain). At the turn of the twenty-first century, Bizet’s heroine appears in two major African film production: Joseph Gaï Ramaka’s Karmen (Senegal) and U-Carmen by the Dimpho Di Kopan theater (South Africa). All these films testify to the continuous attraction of Bizet’s heroine through time from the lyric stage to the silver screen.
Legacies of the Past
Authors: Westad Odd Arne
Published: February 2020

All nations are a product of their pasts—but perhaps few as much as China. With its 5,000 year recorded history, the Chinese have endured as a civilization and a nation. This chapter analyzes how China’s long imperial past has shaped its post-1949 interactions with the world. It examines the legacies that the PRC has inherited and those that still shape the PRC’s strategy, calculations, and behavior. Three themes are particularly identified: the legacy of empire, the traditional of authoritarianism, and the narrative of “shame and humiliation.” It argues that China’s strong sense of victimhood fuels an outsized sense of nationalism, and is a concerning factor in China’s future relations with its neighbors and the world community.
Nationalism, Social Influences, and Chinese Foreign Policy
Authors: Gries Peter
Published: February 2020

This chapter assesses the domestic sources of contemporary China’s foreign policy. In particular, it examines the importance of national identities, China’s worldviews, the socialization of Chinese, and particularly the role of nationalism. The chapter begins by arguing that social influences matter: the CCP has inextricably linked itself, society, and foreign policy by staking its domestic right to rule upon its foreign policy performance. The chapter then turns to the thorny empirical question of what we know about Chinese feelings and attitudes toward different parts of the world, from China’s Asian neighbors, to the admired and resented Euro-American First World, to Russia, and the dark and backwards Third World of Africa and Latin America. It then turns to the causes/drivers of these worldviews, arguing that both demographics (e.g., age and location) and individual predispositions (e.g., nationalism and cosmopolitanism) matter, but that political and peer socialization has a powerful constraining effect on the international attitudes of the Chinese people.
China’s Relations with the United States
Authors: Sutter Robert
Published: February 2020

This chapter reviews Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and People’s Republic of China (PRC) interactions with the United States since the 1940s, and it reveals a general pattern of the United States at the very top of China’s foreign priorities. Among those few instances where China seemed to give less attention to the United States was the post-2010 period, which saw an ever more powerful China advancing at US expense. However, China’s rapid advance in economic, military, and diplomatic power has progressively alarmed the US government, which now sees China as its main international danger. Looking forward into the future, deteriorating US-China relations have enormous consequences for both countries, the Asia-Pacific region, and the world.
China’s Relations with Russia
Authors: Voskressenski Alexei D.
Published: February 2020

Russia’s relations with China (and vice versa) have evolved steadily during the post-Soviet period. Leaders on both sides have proclaimed, for a number of years now, that their bilateral relations are at their best point in history. How did the China-Russia relationship reach such a stage, especially given their long (and largely discordant) history? This chapter traces the evolution of China-Russia relations since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It identifies the commonalities and common purposes Moscow and Beijing have in world affairs, as well as their bilateral economic, cultural, and military relations. The China-Russia relationship has important implications for the United States, as well as American allies in the world.
From Women’s Movements to Feminist Theories (and Vice Versa)
Authors: Femenías María Luisa
Published: February 2020

This chapter examines some of the substantial suggestions for antiessentialist practices that have emerged from the problematic prejudice against women’s rights. Exploring the idea of identity, as it is lived and resignified by Latin American women, offers us a set of significant ideas that provide different ways of signifying language and reality. The chapter attends critically to these ideas, confronting their historical and political contexts through decolonial thought, subalternity, and globalization. It denies an essentialist view of “identity,” appealing to the collective resignification that women have achieved individually and among each other through self-expression, revealing the democratic value of ambiguity rather than that of univocity, of mestizaje over purity, and self-identifications over essentialist hegemonic definitions.