bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultracool dwarfs observed with the Spitzer infrared spectrograph – II. Emergence and sedimentation of silicate clouds in L dwarfs, and analysis of the full M5–T9 field dwarf spectroscopic sample
Authors: Suárez Genaro , Metchev Stanimir
Published: April 2022

We present a uniform analysis of all mid-infrared R ≈ 90 spectra of field M5–T9 dwarfs obtained with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph (IRS). The sample contains 113 spectra out of which 12 belong to late-M dwarfs, 69 to L dwarfs, and 32 to T dwarfs. Sixty-eight of these spectra are presented for the first time. We measure strengths of the main absorption bands in the IRS spectra, namely H2O at 6.25 $\rm{\mu m}$, CH4 at 7.65 $\rm{\mu m}$, NH3 at 10.5 $\rm{\mu m}$, and silicates over 8–11 $\rm{\mu m}$. Water absorption is present in all spectra and strengthens with spectral type. The onset of methane and ammonia occurs at the L8 and T2.5 types, respectively, although ammonia can be detectable as early as T1.5. Silicate absorption sets in at spectral type L2, is on average the strongest in L4–L6 dwarfs, and disappears past L8. However, silicate absorption can also be absent from the spectra at any L subtype. We find a positive correlation between the silicate absorption strength and the excess (deviation from median) near-infrared colour at a given L subtype, which supports the idea that variations of silicate cloud thickness produce the observed colour scatter in L dwarfs. We also find that variable L3–L7 dwarfs are twice more likely to have above-average silicate absorption than non-variables. The ensemble of results solidifies the evidence for silicate condensate clouds in the atmospheres of L dwarfs, and for the first time observationally establishes their emergence and sedimentation between effective temperatures of ≈2000 and ≈1300 K, respectively.
Using eagle simulations to study the effect of observational constraints on the determination of H i asymmetries in galaxies
Authors: Bilimogga Pooja V , Oman Kyle A , Verheijen Marc A W , van der Hulst Thijs
Published: April 2022

We investigate the effect of observational constraints such as signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, resolution, and column density level on the H i morphological asymmetry (Amod) and the effect of noise on the H i global profile (Aflux) asymmetry indices. Using mock galaxies from the eagle simulations, we find an optimal combination of the observational constraints that are required for a robust measurement of the Amod value of a galaxy: a column density threshold of 5 × 1019 cm−2 or lower at a minimal S/N of 3 and a galaxy resolved with atleast 11 beams. We also use mock galaxies to investigate the effect of noise on the Aflux values and conclude that a global profile with S/N greater than 6 is required to achieve a robust measurement of asymmetry. We investigate the relation between Amod and Aflux indices and find them to be uncorrelated, which implies that Aflux values cannot be used to predict morphological asymmetries in galaxies.
Comets beyond 4 au: How pristine are Oort nuclei?
Authors: Fulle Marco , Lazzarin M , Forgia F La , Zakharov V V , Bertini I , Epifani E Mazzotta , Ammannito E , Buzzoni A , Capria M T , Carbognani A , Da Deppo V , Corte V Della , Fiscale S , Frattin E , Inno L , Migliorini A , Pernechele C , Rotundi A , Sindoni G , Tubiana C , Milani G , Aletti A , Bacci P , Baj G , Bellini F , Bryssinck E , Di Grazia M , Facchini M , Feraco M , Kugel F , Maestripieri M , Tirelli D , Valvasori A , Snodgrass C , Jones G H
Published: April 2022

The ESA mission Comet Interceptor will target an Oort or interstellar comet during its first approach to the Sun. Meanwhile, the Vera Rubin LSST Survey will observe hundreds of active comets per month beyond 4 au from the Sun, where water vapor pressure is expected to be too low to eject dust. We discuss observations of dust tails at heliocentric distances larger than 4 au in order to retrieve the physical parameters driving cometary activity beyond Jupiter by means of a probabilistic tail model, which is consistent with the activity model defining the gas coma parameters due to the sublimation of carbon monoxide, molecular oxygen, methane, ethane and carbon dioxide since the activity onset at 85 au from the Sun. We find that: (i) All the observed dust tails are consistent with the adopted activity model; (ii) The tail fits depend on three free parameters only, all correlated to the nucleus size; (iii) Tail fits are always improved by anisotropic dust ejection, suggesting activity of Oort nuclei dominated by seasons; (iv) Inbound seasons suggest cometary activity before the ejection of protocomets into the Oort cloud, as predicted by the activity model; (v) Oort nuclei larger than 1 km may be characterized by a fallout up to ≈100 m thick deposited during ≈60 yr inbound; (vi) On the other side, Oort nuclei smaller than 1 km may appear more pristine than Jupiter Family Comets when observed at 1 au from the Sun.
The SAMI Galaxy Survey: the link between [α/Fe] and kinematic morphology
Authors: Watson Peter J , Davies Roger L , van de Sande Jesse , Brough Sarah , Croom Scott M , D’Eugenio Francesco , Glazebrook Karl , Groves Brent , López-Sánchez Ángel R , Scott Nicholas , Vaughan Sam P , Walcher C Jakob , Bland-Hawthorn Joss , Bryant Julia J , Goodwin Michael , Lawrence Jon S , Lorente Nuria P F , Owers Matt S , Richards Samuel
Published: April 2022

We explore a sample of 1492 galaxies with measurements of the mean stellar population properties and the spin parameter proxy, $\lambda _{R_{\rm {e}}}$, drawn from the SAMI Galaxy Survey. We fit a global $[\alpha /\rm {Fe}]$–σ relation, finding that ${[\alpha /\rm {Fe}]}=(0.395\pm 0.010)\rm {log}_{10}(\sigma)-(0.627\pm 0.002)$. We observe an anti-correlation between the residuals $\Delta [\alpha /\rm {Fe}]$ and the inclination-corrected $\lambda _{\, R_{\rm {e}}}^{\rm {\, eo}}$, which can be expressed as ${\Delta [\alpha /\rm {Fe}]}=(-0.057\pm 0.008){\lambda _{\, R_{\rm {e}}}^{\rm {\, eo}}}+(0.020\pm 0.003)$. The anti-correlation appears to be driven by star-forming galaxies, with a gradient of ${\Delta [\alpha /\rm {Fe}]}\sim (-0.121\pm 0.015){\lambda _{\, R_{\rm {e}}}^{\rm {\, eo}}}$, although a weak relationship persists for the subsample of galaxies for which star formation has been quenched. We take this to be confirmation that disc-dominated galaxies have an extended duration of star formation. At a reference velocity dispersion of 200 km s−1, we estimate an increase in half-mass formation time from ∼0.5 Gyr to ∼1.2 Gyr from low- to high-$\lambda _{\, R_{\rm {e}}}^{\rm {\, eo}}$ galaxies. Slow rotators do not appear to fit these trends. Their residual α-enhancement is indistinguishable from other galaxies with ${\lambda _{\, R_{\rm {e}}}^{\rm {\, eo}}}\lessapprox 0.4$, despite being both larger and more massive. This result shows that galaxies with ${\lambda _{\, R_{\rm {e}}}^{\rm {\, eo}}}\lessapprox 0.4$ experience a similar range of star formation histories, despite their different physical structure and angular momentum.
Morphology of dark matter haloes beyond triaxiality
Authors: Bonnet G , Nezri E , Kraljic K , Schimd C
Published: April 2022

The morphology of haloes inform about both cosmological and galaxy formation models. We use the Minkowski Functionals (MFs) to characterize the actual morphology of haloes, only partially captured by smooth density profile, going beyond the spherical or ellipsoidal symmetry. We employ semi-analytical haloes with NFW and αβγ-profile and spherical or ellipsoidal shape to obtain a clear interpretation of MFs as function of inner and outer slope, concentration and sphericity parameters. We use the same models to mimic the density profile of N-body haloes, showing that their MFs clearly differ as sensitive to internal substructures. This highlights the benefit of MFs at the halo scales as promising statistics to improve the spatial modelling of dark matter, crucial for future lensing, Sunyaev–Zel’dovich, and X-ray mass maps as well as dark matter detection based on high-accuracy data.
Updated bounds on axion-like particles from X-ray observations
Authors: Schallmoser Simon , Krippendorf Sven , Chadha-Day Francesca , Weller Jochen
Published: April 2022

In this work, we revisit five different point sources within or behind galaxy clusters to constrain the coupling constant between axion-like particles (ALPs) and photons. We use three distinct machine learning (ML) techniques and compare our results with a standard χ2 analysis. For the first time, we apply approximate Bayesian computation to search for ALPs and find consistently good performance across ML classifiers. Further, we apply more realistic 3D magnetic field simulations of galaxy clusters and compare our results with previously used 1D simulations. We find constraints on the ALP-photon coupling at the level of state-of-the-art bounds with $g_{a\gamma \gamma } \lesssim 0.6 \times 10^{-12} \, \rm{GeV}^{-1}$, hence improving on previous constraints obtained from the same observations.
The 21-cm signal from the cosmic dawn: metallicity dependence of high-mass X-ray binaries
Authors: Kaur Harman Deep , Qin Yuxiang , Mesinger Andrei , Pallottini Andrea , Fragos Tassos , Basu-Zych Antara
Published: April 2022

X-rays from high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) are likely the main source of heating of the intergalactic medium (IGM) during Cosmic Dawn (CD), before the completion of reionization. This Epoch of Heating (EoH; z ∼10–15) should soon be detected via the redshifted 21-cm line from neutral hydrogen, allowing us to indirectly study the properties of HMXBs in the unseen, first galaxies. Low-redshift observations, as well as theoretical models, imply that the integrated X-ray luminosity to star formation rate of HMXBs (LX/SFR) should increase in metal-poor environments, typical of early galaxies. Here, we study the impact of the metallicity (Z) dependence of LX/SFR during the EoH. For our fiducial models, galaxies with star formation rates of order 10−3–$10^{-1}\, M_\odot$ yr−1 and metallicities of order 10−3–$10^{-2}\, Z_\odot$ are the dominant contributors to the X-ray background (XRB) during this period. Different LX/SFR–Z relations result in factors of ∼ 3 differences in these ranges, as well as in the mean IGM temperature and the large-scale 21-cm power, at a given redshift. We compute mock 21-cm observations adopting as a baseline a 1000 h integration with the upcoming Square Kilometer Array (SKA) for two different LX/SFR–Z relations. We perform inference on these mock observations using the common simplification of a constant LX/SFR, finding that constant LX/SFR models can recover the IGM evolution of the more complicated LX/SFR–Z simulations only during the EoH. At z < 10, where the typical galaxies are more polluted, constant LX/SFR models overpredict the XRB and its relative contribution to the early stages of the reionization.
Human activation-induced deaminase lacks strong replicative strand bias or preference for cytosines in hairpin loops
Authors: Sakhtemani Ramin , Perera Madusha L W , Hübschmann Daniel , Siebert Reiner , Lawrence Michael S , Bhagwat Ashok S
Published: April 2022

Activation-induced deaminase (AID) is a DNA-cytosine deaminase that mediates maturation of antibodies through somatic hypermutation and class-switch recombination. While it causes mutations in immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes and strand breaks in the switch regions of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene, it largely avoids causing such damage in the rest of the genome. To help understand targeting by human AID, we expressed it in repair-deficient Escherichia coli and mapped the created uracils in the genomic DNA using uracil pull-down and sequencing, UPD-seq. We found that both AID and the human APOBEC3A preferentially target tRNA genes and transcription start sites, but do not show preference for highly transcribed genes. Unlike A3A, AID did not show a strong replicative strand bias or a preference for hairpin loops. Overlapping uracilation peaks between these enzymes contained binding sites for a protein, FIS, that helps create topological domains in the E. coli genome. To confirm whether these findings were relevant to B cells, we examined mutations from lymphoma and leukemia genomes within AID-preferred sequences. These mutations also lacked replicative strand bias or a hairpin loop preference. We propose here a model for how AID avoids causing mutations in the single-stranded DNA found within replication forks.
‘I want to be able to do what I know the tools will allow us to do’: Practicing evaluative bibliometrics through digital infrastructure
Authors: Krüger Anne K , Petersohn Sabrina
Published: April 2022

The proliferation of quantitative research assessment has been accompanied by an increasing growth and diversification of digital infrastructure for evaluative bibliometrics. Since the beginning of the 2000s, insights into academic performance provided by a variety of new databases and devices significantly exceed the capacities of the former Science Citation Index and embedded metrics. Going beyond the research on the construction, uses, and consequences of bibliometric indicators, we therefore posit that a perspective on bibliometric infrastructure is crucial for understanding how evaluative bibliometrics is put into practice. Drawing on interviews with academic librarians on the increasing provision and implementation of bibliometric infrastructure in the years 2013 and 2014, we analyse how the entanglement of technology and its users shapes how evaluative bibliometrics is understood and practiced.
Thigh MRI in antisynthetase syndrome, and comparisons with dermatomyositis and immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy
Authors: Zhang Wenhao , Zheng Yiming , Wang Yikang , Xiong Hui , Que Chengli , Zhang Xiaohui , Zhu Ying , Zhao Yawen , Yu Meng , Meng Lingchao , Lv He , Zhang Wei , Hao Hongjun , Xiao Jiangxi , Yuan Yun , Wang Zhaoxia
Published: April 2022

Objectives

To evaluate MRI changes to define muscle-lesion specific patterns in patients with antisynthetase syndrome (ASS), and compare them with those in other common idiopathic inflammatory myopathy subtypes.

Methods

Qualitative and semi-quantitative thigh MRI evaluations were conducted in patients with ASS, DM and immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM).

Results

This study included 51 patients with ASS, 56 with DM and 61 with IMNM. Thigh MRI revealed muscle oedema (62.7%), myofascial oedema (90.2%), subcutaneous-tissue oedema (60.8%) and fatty infiltration of muscles (68.6%) in patients with ASS. Compared with IMNM, ASS and DM were associated with more frequent adductor-muscle relative sparing (40.6% vs 3.6%, P<0.001, and 25.6% vs 3.6%, P<0.001) and subcutaneous-tissue oedema (60.8% vs 23.0%, P<0.001, and 57.1% vs 23.0%, P<0.001). Although ASS and DM exhibited similar oedema patterns, there were certain subtle differences between them. The ASS group was less frequently symmetric (60.6% vs 88.4%, P=0.005, and 60.6% vs 80.0%, P=0.048), but more frequently showed myofascial oedema of the tensor fasciae latae (80.4% vs 48.2%, P<0.001, and 80.4% vs 31.1%, P<0.001) than either the DM or IMNM groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an optimal combination of thigh MRI findings had an area under the curve with 0.893 for diagnosing ASS.

Conclusion

Thigh MRI in ASS exhibited frequent myofascial oedema. ASS oedema patterns resembled those of DM more than those of IMNM. Bilateral asymmetry, adductor-muscle relative sparing and remarkable myofascial oedema of tensor fasciae latae were the most characteristic ASS imaging findings.
Insights into the millennial generation of nurses
Authors: Wise Tiffani , Church Cory
Published: April 2022

Recommendations for developing and retaining younger workers
Fostering a culture of nursing excellence during the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Rodriguez Kaye Marie A. , Cura Jonathan D. , Aringo Ramon B.
Published: April 2022

Medical center uses Pathway to Excellence® framework to sustain a positive practice environment
Teaching Disaster Evacuation Management Education to Nursing Students Using Virtual Reality Mobile Game-Based Learning
Authors: Hu Hai , Lai Xiaoqin , Li Hao , Nyland John
Published: April 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a virtual reality mobile game-based application for teaching disaster evacuation management education to nursing students. A pre-test, post-test, and final-test study design was used to compare traditional lecture group and game group instructional knowledge delivery effectiveness and instructional mode satisfaction. The statistical comparison of pre-test and post-test knowledge and decision-making scores did not reveal significant group differences for short-term improvement (P ≥ .05); however, final test scores revealed that the virtual reality mobile game-based application group had significantly higher knowledge and decision-making retention scores compared with the traditional lecture group (P = .000). The game group also had significantly higher instructional mode satisfaction scores for course interest and cooperation with others (P < .05). The virtual reality mobile game-based application was more effective for teaching nursing students about disaster evacuation management educational training than lecture instruction. The greater satisfaction expressed by nursing students when using this instructional mode suggests that it may better facilitate self-initiated lifelong disaster evacuation learning behaviors.
NAMS 2021 Utian Translational Science SymposiumSeptember 2021, Washington, DCCharting the path to health in midlife and beyond: the biology and practice of wellness
Authors: Santoro Nanette F. , Coons Helen L. , El Khoudary Samar R. , Epperson C. Neill , Holt-Lunstad Julianne , Joffe Hadine , Lindsey Sarah H. , Marlatt Kara L. , Montella Patti , Richard-Davis Gloria , Rockette-Wagner Bonny , Salive Marcel E. , Stuenkel Cynthia , Thurston Rebecca C. , Woods Nancy , Wyatt Holly
Published: April 2022

Charting the Path to Health in Midlife and Beyond: The Biology and Practice of Wellness was a Translational Science Symposium held on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. Foundational psychosocial and behavioral approaches to promote healthy aging and strategies to disseminate this information were discussed. The following synopsis documents the conversation, describes the state of the science, and outlines a path forward for clinical practice. Wellness, in its broadest sense, prioritizes an orientation toward health, and an embrace of behaviors that will promote it. It involves a journey to improve and maintain physical and mental health and overall well-being to fully engage and live one's best life. It is more about recognizing and optimizing what one can do than what one cannot do and emphasizes the individual's agency over changing what they are able to change. Wellness is therefore not a passive state but rather an active goal to be sought continually. When viewed in this fashion, wellness is accessible to all. The conference addressed multiple aspects of wellness and embraced this philosophy throughout.
Intimate Partner Violence Knowledge and Preparation: Perspective of Health Care Profession Students
Authors: Hughes Charmayne M. L. , Southard Rachel , Walsh Lilia , Gordon-Murer Chloe , Hintze Amy , Musselman Elaine
Published: April 2022

Introduction.

Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) access various health care services for diagnosis and treatment of their injuries. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether IPV attitudes, perceived knowledge, and preparation differ by the health care program in which the students are enrolled. The secondary aim was to determine whether demographic and clinical variables known to predict self-perceived IPV knowledge and preparation differ between health care professions.

Review of Literature.

Intimate partner violence is a global public health concern affecting approximately 25% of women and 10% of men. Persons with a history of IPV have elevated health care utilization rates compared with persons with no history of IPV. Health care providers without adequate IPV training may discount/minimize the abuse or blame the victim for the abuse.

Subjects.

Respondents included students enrolled in entry-level physical therapy/occupational therapy programs (n = 96), prelicensure nursing programs (n = 141), and medical school (n = 154).

Methods.

Respondents completed the Nursing Roles and Values Scale, Domestic Violence Myth Assessment Survey, and a modified Provider Readiness to Manage IPV Survey online.

Results.

Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy (PT/OT) students had the lowest self-perceived IPV knowledge and preparation scores and were more likely to adhere to IPV myths. Self-perceived IPV knowledge and preparation were predicted by student's opinions about IPV and level of IPV training, regardless of health care profession. Lifetime IPV experience predicted medical student's level of IPV knowledge but did not predict PT/OT and nursing students' knowledge.

Discussion and Conclusion.

Intimate partner violence education was shown to significantly influence students' perceived knowledge and preparation to care for victims of IPV, supporting the need for inclusion of IPV content in health profession curricula. Academic programs provide an ideal opportunity to prepare future health care providers with the knowledge and preparation to appropriately respond to IPV in the clinical environment.
Nurse-Driven Assessment, Prevention, and Management of Delirium on an Acute Inpatient Neurology Unit
Authors: Francisco Mary Ann , Gesell Travis , Meletis Stephanie , Bohr Nicole L. , Gleason Lauren J.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Delirium commonly affects hospitalized patients and is associated with increased hospital length of stay, discharge to skilled care, cost, morbidity, and mortality.

Local Problem:

At our organization, there was no formal delirium assessment performed by the nursing staff outside of the intensive care unit.

Methods:

Assessment of nurses' knowledge about delirium, a nurse-driven delirium screening protocol, and patient education were implemented on an adult inpatient neurology unit. Knowledge change, protocol implementation, and patient-level outcomes were assessed.

Interventions:

Staff nurse delirium education and a nurse-driven delirium screening protocol were implemented.

Results:

No change in nursing knowledge occurred pre/postintervention. Falls, falls with injury, and restraint and sitter usage decreased. Changes in length of stay varied over the intervention period. The trend to discharge to home increased, while the trend to discharge to skilled nursing care decreased.

Conclusions:

Formal delirium screening protocols may add organizational value by positively impacting patient outcomes.
Post-Stroke Detection of Subclinical Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source in the Real World Practice
Authors: Grifoni Elisa , Baldini Giulia , Baldini Mariella , Pinto Gabriele , Micheletti Irene , Madonia Elisa M. , Cosentino Eleonora , Bartolozzi Maria L. , Bertini Elisabetta , Dei Alessandro , Signorini Ira , Giannoni Sara , Del Rosso Attilio , Prisco Domenico , Guidi Leonello , Masotti Luca
Published: April 2022

Background:

Subclinical paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the main occult causative mechanisms of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Aim of this study was to identify AF predictors, and to develop a score to predict the probability of AF detection in ESUS.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed ESUS patients undergoing 2-week external electrocardiographic monitoring. Patients with and without AF detection were compared. On the basis of multivariate analysis, predictors of AF were identified and used to develop a predictive score, which was then compared with other existing literature scores.

Results:

Eighty-two patients, 48 females, mean age±SD 72±10 years, were included. In 36 patients (43.9%) AF was detected. The frequency of age 75 years or above and arterial hypertension, and the median CHA2DS2-VASc score were significantly higher in patients with AF compared with those without. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥8 was the only independent variable associated with AF detection. We derived the Empoli ESUS-AF (E2AF) score (NIHSS ≥8 5 points, arterial hypertension 3 points, age 75 years or above 2 points, age 65 to 74 years 1 point, history of coronary/peripheral artery disease 1 point, left atrial enlargement 1 point, posterior lesion 1 point, cortical or cortical-subcortical lesion 1 point), whose predictive power in detecting AF was good (area under the curve: 0.746, 95% confidence interval: 0.638-0.836) and higher than that of CHA2DS2-VASc and other scores.

Conclusions:

In our study NIHSS score ≥8 was the only independent predictor of post-ESUS-AF detection. The E2AF score appears to have a good predictive power for detecting AF. External validations are required.
Role of Testicular Scintigraphy in the Assessment of Viability of Undescended Testis
Authors: Aggarwal Piyush , Kavanal Anwin Joseph , Kumar Srinivas Ananth , Parmar Kalpesh , Bhattacharya Anish
Published: April 2022

Doppler ultrasonography and testicular scintigraphy are sensitive techniques to detect the adequacy of blood flow to testicular tissue. Because Doppler ultrasonography is an operator-dependent imaging modality, it can result in equivocal findings. Testicular scintigraphy proves to be more accurate in such cases, but it may be inconclusive on occasion. The authors report the case of a young man with a left undescended testis where testicular scintigraphy was inconclusive for viability and 18F-FDG PET/CT provided important diagnostic information.
Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis Masquerading as Gallbladder Carcinoma on 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET
Authors: Zhang Zeyu , Dong Hui , Zhang Lu , Cheng Chao , Zuo Changjing
Published: April 2022

68Ga-FAPI-04 has great potential for the detection and staging evaluation of a variety of tumors. We report a case of suspected gallbladder carcinoma that was enrolled in a prospective study of 68Ga-FAPI-04 imaging at our institution. This case was later histopathologically confirmed as xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. This demonstrates that xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis might be disguised as gallbladder carcinoma in 68Ga-FAPI-04 imaging. Thus, we suggest that nuclear clinicians evaluating 68Ga-FAPI-04 imaging should be aware of this possibility.
Digital therapy to improve stuttering symptoms in patients with a deficit of spectral power in the EEG beta frequency band
Authors: Chernetchenko Dmytro , Prasolov Pramax , Aganov Sam , Voropay Andrey , Lituiev Dmytro , Nayshtetik Eugene
Published: April 2022

Background

Stuttering is a speech disorder that affects more than 70 million people worldwide, limiting their ability to communicate and socialize. In recent decades, several studies have demonstrated a link between stuttering and a deficit of β electroencephalographic (EEG) power.

Aim and Methods

This study investigates the efficacy of a novel auditory neuro modulating technology that leverages euphonic music tracks with broad-spectrum binaural beats to induce selective EEG spectral power changes. Adults with stuttering (AWS, n=6) and participants from the control group (n=6) were exposed to euphonic binaural stimuli for 5 minutes. The EEG and electrocardiographic (ECG) bio-signals were recorded prior, during, and after exposure.

Results

During standard reading tasks without stimulation, β-power in the left hemisphere in the adults without stuttering and with stuttering differed. The left-right hemisphere asymmetry in β-wave power was observed in the control group but not in AWS. After the stimulation, the power of β-band in AWS participants in the left hemisphere increased 1.54-fold, while changes in the right hemisphere activity were not significant. Average β-band power within left frontotemporal area and temporoparietal junction after stimulation in AWS participants shows an increase of β-band in left frontotemporal junction by 1.65-fold and in left temporoparietal by 1.72-fold. The changes in the quality of speech were assessed based on the speech rate and the rate of speech disfluencies evaluated by speech therapists. The rate of disfluencies dropped significantly after the stimulation (median 74.70% of the baseline rate), but the effect was not significantly different from the baseline 10 min later (median 65.51% of the baseline rate). Similarly, the speech rate significantly increased immediately after the stimulation (median 133.15%) but was not significantly different 10 min later (median 126.63% of the baseline rate). In this study, we found significant correlations of β-activation level in left temporoparietal projection (Spearman ρ=-0.54,) and left frontotemporal area (Spearman ρ=-0.58) with disfluency rate of speech.

Conclusions

We show for the first time that auditory binaural beats stimulation can substantially improve speech fluency in AWS and its effect is related to boost of EEG β-band power in speech-production centers. The changes in β power are detected immediately after the exposure and persist 10 min later. Additionally, these effects are accompanied by a reduction in stress level as monitored by ECG markers. This suggests that auditory binaural beats stimulation temporarily improves speech quality in AWS by increasing β-band power of EEG in speech centers of the brain.
Health care use attributable to COVID-19: A propensity matched national electronic health records cohort study of 249,390 people in Wales, UK
Authors: Kennedy J , Parker M , Seaborne M , Mhereeg M , Walker A , Walker V , Denaxas S , Kennedy N , Katikireddi S.V , Brophy S
Published: April 2022

Background

To determine the extent and nature of changes in infected patients healthcare utilization, we studied healthcare contact in the 1-4 weeks and 5-24 weeks following a COVID-19 diagnosis compared to propensity matched controls.

Methods

Survival analysis was used for time to death and first clinical outcomes including clinical terminology concepts for post-viral illness, fatigue, embolism, respiratory conditions, mental and developmental conditions, fit note, or hospital attendance. Increased instantaneous risk for the occurrence of an outcome for positive individuals was quantified using hazard ratios (HR) from Cox Regression and absolute risk was quantified using relative risk (RR) from life table analysis.

Results

Compared to matched individuals testing negative, surviving positive community-tested patients had a higher risk of post-viral illness (HR: 4.57, 95%CI: 1.77-11.80, p=0.002), fatigue (HR: 1.47, 95%CI: 1.24-1.75, p<0.001) and embolism (HR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.13-2.02, p=0.005) at 5-24 weeks post-diagnosis. In the four weeks after COVID-19 higher rates of sick notes were being issued for community-tested (HR: 3.04, 95%CI: 0.88 to 10.50, p<0.079); the risk was reduced after four weeks, compared to controls. Overall healthcare attendance for anxiety, depression was less likely in those with COVID-19 in the first four weeks (HR: 0.83, 95%CI: 0.73-1.06, p=0.007). After four weeks, anxiety, depression is less likely to occur for the positive community-tested individuals (HR: 0.87, 95%CI: 0.77-1.00, p=0.048), but more likely for positive hospital-tested individuals (HR: 1.16, 95%CI: 1.00-1.45, p=0.053). Although statistical associations between positive infection and post-infection healthcare use are clear, the absolute use of healthcare is very.

Conclusions

Community COVID-19 disease is associated with increased risks of post-viral illness, fatigue, embolism, depression, anxiety and respiratory conditions. Despite these elevated risks, the absolute healthcare burden is low. Either very small proportions of people experience adverse outcomes following COVID-19 or they are not presenting to healthcare.

Trial registration

Data held in SAIL databank are anonymised and therefore, no ethical approval is required. All data in SAIL has the permission from the relevant Caldicott Guardian or Data Protection Officer and SAIL-related projects are required to obtain Information Governance Review Panel (IGRP) approval. The IGRP approval number for this study is 1259.
Estimating the period prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron (BA.1) surge in New York City (NYC), January 1-March 16, 2022
Authors: Qasmieh Saba A , Robertson McKaylee M , Teasdale Chloe A , Kulkarni Sarah G , Nash Denis
Published: April 2022

In a population-based survey of NYC adults, we assessed positive SARS-CoV-2 tests (including via exclusive at-home testing) and possible cases among untested respondents. An estimated 27.4% (95%CI: 22.8%-32.0%) or 1.8 million adults (95%CI: 1.6-2.1 million) had SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 prevalence was high among groups that are more vulnerable to severe SARS-CoV-2 and death, including unvaccinated persons (21.7%, 95%CI 9.6%-33.8%) and those aged 65+ (17.8%, 95%CI 10.2-25.4%). Population-based representative surveys are an important adjunct surveillance tool to standard testing-based SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.
Grandfathers and Grandsons: Social Security Expansion and Child Health in China
Authors: Yang Jinyang , Chen Xi
Published: April 2022

We examine the multigenerational impacts of a nationwide social pension program in China, the New Rural Pension Scheme (NRPS). NRPS was rolled out in full scale since 2012, and rural enrollees over age 60 are eligible to receive a minimum of 70 CNY non-contributory monthly pension. We leverage age eligibility and variations in pension receipt to identify the inter-generational effect of NRPS on health among grandchildren. We find NRPS substantially increases child weight without impacting height. Overall, child BMI z score increases by 1.09, which is largely driven by grandfathers’ pension receipt raising rates of overweight and obesity among grandsons. Among the potential mechanisms, our findings are more plausibly explained by a mixture of income effect, son preference, and rising inter-generational co-residence and childcare.
A machine learning-based SNP-set analysis approach for identifying disease-associated susceptibility loci
Authors: Silva Princess P. , Gaudillo Joverlyn D. , Vilela Julianne A. , Roxas-Villanueva Ranzivelle Marianne L. , Tiangco Beatrice J. , Domingo Mario R. , Albia Jason R.
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Identifying disease-associated susceptibility loci is one of the most pressing and crucial challenges in modeling complex diseases. Existing approaches to biomarker discovery are subject to several limitations including underpowered detection, neglect for variant interactions, and restrictive dependence on prior biological knowledge. Addressing these challenges necessitates more ingenious ways of approaching the “missing heritability” problem.

Objectives

This study aims to discover disease-associated susceptibility loci by augmenting previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the integration of random forest and cluster analysis.

Methods

The proposed integrated framework is applied to a hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance GWAS data. Multiple cluster analyses were performed on (1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) considered significant by GWAS and (2) SNPs with the highest feature importance scores obtained using random forest. The resulting SNP-sets from the cluster analyses were subsequently tested for trait-association.

Results

Three susceptibility loci possibly associated with HBsAg seroclearance were identified: (1) SNP rs2399971, (2) gene LINC00578, and (3) locus 11p15. SNP rs2399971 is a biomarker reported in the literature to be significantly associated with HBsAg seroclearance in patients who had received antiviral treatment. The latter two loci are linked with diseases influenced by the presence of hepatitis B virus infection.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed integrated framework in identifying disease-associated susceptibility loci. With further validation, results herein could aid in better understanding complex disease etiologies and provide inputs for a more advanced disease risk assessment for patients.
Intra-myonuclear inclusions are diagnostic of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
Authors: Ogasawara Masashi , Eura Nobuyuki , Iida Aritoshi , Kumutpongpanich Theerawat , Minami Narihiro , Nonaka Ikuya , Hayashi Shinichiro , Noguchi Satoru , Nishino Ichizo
Published: April 2022

The pathologies of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) and oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM) are indistinguishable. We found that p62-positive intra-nuclear inclusions (INIs) in myonuclei (myo-INIs) were significantly more frequent in OPMD (11.4 ± 4.1%, range 5.0– 17.5%) than in OPDM and other rimmed vacuolar myopathies (RVMs) (1–2% on average, range 0.0–3.5%,p<0.0001). In contrast, INIs in nonmuscle cells (nonmuscle-INIs) were present in OPDM, but absent in other RVMs, including OPMD. These results indicate that OPMD can be differentiated from OPDM and other RVMs by the frequent presence of myo-INIs (≥5%) and the absence of nonmuscle-INIs in muscle pathology.
A Systematised Review of the Beighton Score Compared with Other Commonly Used Measurement Tools for Assessment and Identification of Generalised Joint Hypermobility (GJH)
Authors: Alexander Malini
Published: April 2022

Background

Objective

A systematised review compared validity and reliability of the Beighton Score to those of other commonly used scores for identification of generalised joint hypermobility (GJH)

Methods

Inclusion criteria: English language, studies on humans, all types of study designs, publications in academic journals, publications from the year two thousand onwards, publications in print and theses. Exclusion criteria: studies not in English, studies measuring single joints only, studies published before the year 2000, cadaveric studies, papers with only abstracts available. An electronic literature search was undertaken of Pub Med/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database, SPORT Discus, Pedro databases, followed by a manual search. The final review included 73 papers. The PRISMA (2021) COSMIN (2010) guidelines and CASP (2019) criteria were used to evaluate methodological quality and bias.

Results

The Beighton Score’s Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability ranged between ICC 0.74-0.99 and ICC 0.72-0.98 respectively. The BS has reasonable intra-rater and inter-rater reliability, however validity cannot be accurately determined as incorporation bias was identified as an issue in study methodology, not previously identified in the literature.

Conclusion

Paucity of data prevented accurate assessment of other scoring systems. Urgent research is required to clarify these issues and compare the BS to other tests. No source of funding was received in in undertaking this review. This review was not registered.
Analyses of Omicron genomes from India reveal BA.2 as a more transmissible variant
Authors: Atkulwar Ashwin , Rehman Akif , Imaan Y. , Baig Mumtaz
Published: April 2022

This is the first study on omicron genomes from India to focus on phylodynamics and phylogenomics trait to provide an insight into the evolution of omicron variants. We analyzed 564 genomes deposited to GISAID database from various states of India. Pangolin COVID-19 Lineage Assigner tool was used to determine lineage assignment of all retrieved genomes. A Maximum likelihood (MLE) tree construction further confirms the separation of genomes into two distinct clades, BA. 1. and BA. 2. A very high reproduction number (R0) of 2.445 was estimated for the lineage BA.2. The highest R0 value in Telangana confirms the prevalence of lineage BA.2 in the state. Construction of the Reduced Median (RM) network shows evolution of some autochthonous haplogroups and haplotypes, which further supports the rapid evolution of omicron as compared to its previous variants. Phylogenomic analyses using maximum likelihood (ML) and RM show the potential for the emergence of sub-sublineages and novel haplogroups respectively. Due to the recombinant property and high transmissibility of omicron virus, we suggest continuous and more widespread genome sequencing in all states of India to track evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in real time.
Epidemiological behavior of the contamination curve by COVID-19 in Brazil: a time series study
Authors: de Morais Thiffany Nayara Bento , Silva Costa Ketyllem Tayanne da , Capistrano Gustavo Nepomuceno , de Andrade Fábia Barbosa
Published: April 2022

The Brazil is experiencing the greatest episode of sanitary collapse ever known in the country’s history. Therefore, the relevance of this study is highlighted for the scientific advance on the epidemiological behavior of the virus in Brazil, enabling the development of analyses and discussions on the factors that influenced the high rates of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in the country. Given the above, the study in question aims to analyze the epidemiological behavior of the contamination curve by COVID-19 by epidemiological week (EW), in the years 2020-2021, in Brazil. This is an ecological study of time series, prepared using information collected through secondary means. The country of origin of the study is Brazil, and its main theme is the number of those infected during the pandemic of COVID-19, this being the dependent variable of the study. The data been analyzed from February 23, 2020, when the first case was confirmed in Brazil, to January 1, 2022. In 2021, the country’s graph shows an exorbitant growth, reaching a peak of approximately 250 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the 12th EW. This data became the highest rate of the pandemic in Brazil, and did not vary significantly for the next twelve weeks. Thus, it was identified that Brazil was severely impacted by the new coronavirus, considering the high rates of confirmed cases of the virus in the country, the low adhesion of the population to preventive measures, the late start of mass vaccination in the Brazilian population, and the lack of structure in the health system, which was not properly prepared for the high demand generated by COVID-19.
Dietary fatty acids modulate the endocannabinoid system in rat submandibular gland
Authors: Combina Herrera César Nicolás , Blanco Mariana , Repossi Gastón , Escandriolo Nackauzi Jorge Darío , Actis Adriana Beatriz
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of dietary fatty acids on endocannabinoid system components in rat submandibular gland. 15 male Wistar rats were fed on commercial diet until the 8th week of life. They were then divided into three dietary groups: Control, continuing with chow diet, and two experimental groups receiving for 30 days a diet containing corn oil or chia oil as lipid source (7%). At that time, animals were sacrificed and salivary glands obtained. Anandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol endogenous ligands (high performance liquid chromatography) and cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 (immunofluorescence) were quantified. Fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme activity was analyzed (spectrophotometry). Kruskal Wallis test was applied. 2-Arachidonylglycerol was higher in Corn oil group than in Control and Chia oil groups. The greatest CB1 and the lowest CB2 receptor positively-marked area percentage were found in Corn oil and in Chia oil, respectively. Fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme activity was higher in Corn oil than in Chia oil. 18:2 n-6 (Corn oil) and 18:3 n-3 (Chia oil) dietary fatty acids modulate endocannabinoid system components in rat submandibular gland, what would have influence on salivary secretion. Dietary n-3 fatty acid could be useful in salivary dysfunctions.
Integrated molecular analysis reveals two distinct subtypes of pure seminoma of the testis
Authors: Medvedev Kirill E. , Savelyeva Anna V. , Bagrodia Aditya , Jia Liwei , Grishin Nick V.
Published: April 2022

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common solid malignancy in adolescent and young men, with a rising incidence over the past 20 years. Overall, TGCTs are second in terms of the average life years lost per person dying of cancer, and clinical therapeutics without adverse long-term side effects are lacking. Platinum-based regimens for TGCTs have heterogeneous outcomes even within the same histotype that frequently leads to under- and over-treatment. Understanding of molecular differences that lead to diverse outcomes of TGCT patients may improve current treatment approaches. Seminoma is the most common subtype of TGCTs, which can either be pure or present in combination with other histotypes. Here we conducted a computational study of 64 pure seminoma samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas, applied consensus clustering approach to their transcriptomic data and revealed two clinically relevant seminoma subtypes: seminoma subtype 1 and 2. Our analysis identified significant differences in pluripotency stage, activity of double stranded DNA breaks repair mechanisms, rates of loss of heterozygosity, DNA methylation, and expression of lncRNA responsible for cisplatin resistance between the subtypes. Seminoma subtype 1 is characterized by higher pluripotency state, while subtype 2 showed attributes of reprogramming into non-seminomatous TGCT. The seminoma subtypes we identified may provide a molecular underpinning for variable responses to chemotherapy and radiation. Translating these findings into clinical care may help improve risk stratification of seminoma, decrease overtreatment rates, and increase long-term quality of life for TGCT survivors.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND DIAGNOSIS OF CO-INFECTION OF COVID-19, TUBERCULOSIS AND OPPORTUNISTIC PULMONARY INFECTIONS IN LATE-STAGE HIV PATIENTS
Authors: Mishina A.V. , Mishin V.Yu. , Shashenkov I. V.
Published: April 2022

Objective

The purpose of the study was to investigate the specific features of clinical manifestations and diagnosis of co-infection of COVID-19, tuberculosis and opportunistic pulmonary infections in late-stage HIV patients.

Design

27 patients with co-infection of COVID-19, tuberculosis, opportunistic pulmonary infections and late-stage HIV infection with immunodeficiency without antiretroviral therapy (group 1) and 27 patients with equivalent parameters but without COVID-19 (group 2) were examined.

Results

The patients of the group 1 and group 2 are the persons with social maladjustment and substance addiction. All of them have concomitant viral hepatitis B/C, COPD, opportunistic pulmonary infections and similar clinical and radiological manifestations, which can only be differentiated with microbiological and molecular genetic studies. The patients with co-infection of COVID-19, tuberculosis and HIV pose a high risk of transmission of infection to healthy persons in view of non-adherence to examination and treatment.

Conclusion

To prevent the spread of infection among the healthy population, it is necessary to arrange in a mandatory manner an active and regular COVID-19 testing of all patients with tuberculosis/HIV co-infection, especially of late-stage HIV patients without antiretroviral therapy, in the tuberculosis care unit for HIV-infected persons at the tuberculosis dispensary.

Setting

There are few data on the specific features of clinical manifestations of co-infection of COVID-19, tuberculosis (TB) and opportunistic pulmonary infections (OPI) in late-stage HIV patients with immunodeficiency.

Objective

Study purpose is to investigate the specific features of clinical manifestations and diagnosis of co-infection of COVID-19, TB and OPI in late-stage HIV patients with immunodeficiency.

Design

Fifty-four (54) patients admitted for inpatient treatment at the TB Clinical Hospital N 3 named after Zakharyin were enrolled in this prospective study. The participants were assigned to two groups: group 1 (main) and group 2 (comparison group). Group 1 consisted of twenty-seven (27) aged 28-52 patients (18 men (66.7 ± 9.1%) and 9 women (33.3 ± 9.1%)) with known co-infection of COVID-19, sputum smear-positive for M. tuberculosis (MBT) pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and with late-stage HIV infection in progression phase without antiretroviral therapy (ART). Group 2 included 27 patients who were selected using the “copy-pair” method and were completely identical to the patients of the main group (with virtually the same age, sex, social parameters and clinical and laboratory indicators), but without diagnosis of COVID-19.