bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-throughput gene screen reveals modulators of nuclear shape
Authors: Tamashunas Andrew C. , Tocco Vincent J. , Matthews James , Zhang Qiao , Atanasova Kalina R. , Paschall Lauren , Pathak Shreya , Ratnayake Ranjala , Stephens Andrew D. , Luesch Hendrik , Licht Jonathan D. , Lele Tanmay P.
Published: June 2020

Using a high-throughput RNAi screen of epigenetic regulators combined with an automated elliptical Fourier analysis, we identify genes required for the maintenance of nuclear shape in breast epithelial cells.
High leaf mass per area Oryza genotypes invest more leaf mass to cell wall and show a low mesophyll conductance
Authors: Ye Miao , Zhang Zhengcan , Huang Guanjun , Xiong Zhuang , Peng Shaobing , Li Yong
Published: June 2020

The intraspecific variations of leaf structure and anatomy in rice leaves and their impacts on gas diffusion are still unknown. Researches about the tradeoff between structural compositions and intracellular chemical components within rice leaves are still lacking. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the varietal differences in leaf structure and leaf chemical compositions, and the tradeoff between leaf structural tissues and intracellular chemical components in rice leaves. Leaf structure, leaf anatomy, leaf chemical composition concentrations and gas exchange parameters were measured on eight Oryza sativa L. genotypes to investigate the intraspecific variations in leaf structure and leaf anatomy and their impacts on gas exchange parameters, and to study the tradeoff between leaf structural compositions (cell wall compounds) and intracellular chemical components (non-structural carbohydrates, nitrogen, chlorophyll). Leaf thickness increased with leaf mass per area (LMA), while leaf density did not correlate with LMA. Mesophyll cell surface area exposed to intercellular airspace (IAS) per leaf area, the surface area of chloroplasts exposed to IAS and cell wall thickness increased with LMA. Cell wall compounds accounted for 71.5 % of leaf dry mass, while mass-based nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations decreased with LMA. Mesophyll conductance was negatively correlated with LMA and cell wall thickness. High LMA rice genotypes invest more leaf mass to cell wall and possess a low mesophyll conductance.
Investigations of sequencing data and sample type on HLA class Ia typing with different computational tools
Authors: Yi Jian , Chen Longyun , Xiao Yajie , Zhao Zhikun , Su Xiaofan
Published: June 2020

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) can encode the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and play a key role in adaptive and innate immunity. Emerging clinical evidences suggest that the presentation of tumor neoantigens and neoantigen-specific T cell response associated with MHC class I molecules are of key importance to activate the adaptive immune systemin cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, accurate HLA typing is very essential for the clinical application of immunotherapy. In this study, we conducted performance evaluations of 4 widely used HLA typing tools (OptiType, Phlat, Polysolver and seq2hla) for predicting HLA class Ia genes from WES and RNA-seq data of 28 cancer patients. HLA genotyping data using PCR-SBT method was firstly obtained as the golden standard and was subsequently compared with HLA typing data by using NGS techniques. For both WES data and RNA-seq data, OptiType showed the highest accuracy for HLA-Ia typing than the other 3 programs at 2-digit and 4-digit resolution. Additionally, HLA typing accuracy from WES data was higher than from RNA-seq data (99.11% for WES data versus 96.42% for RNA-seq data). The accuracy of HLA-Ia typing by OptiType can reach 100% with the average depth of HLA gene regions >20x. Besides, the accuracy of 2-digit and 4-digit HLA-Ia typing based on control samples was higher than tumor tissues. In conclusion, OptiType by using WES data from control samples with the high average depth (>20x) of HLA gene regions can present a probably superior performance for HLA-Ia typing, enabling its application in cancer immunotherapy.
Social Worker Well-being: A Large Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Ravalier J M , McFadden P , Boichat C , Clabburn O , Moriarty J
Published: June 2020

Social workers play a vital role in maintaining and improving the lives of the service users that they work with. Despite this, the role is replete with high levels of stress-related sickness absence, turnover intentions and low levels of jobs satisfaction in addition to poor working conditions. This study sought to further investigate working conditions in the UK social workers, as well as the reasons for these working conditions via a mixed-methods survey and interview study. A total of 3,421 responses were gained from the cross-sectional survey which looked at working conditions, perceived stress, job satisfaction and turnover intentions (both migration and attrition), with the semi-structured interview schedule (n = 15) based on survey findings and analysed via thematic analysis continuing through to saturation. Similar to 2018, results demonstrated poor working conditions, irrespective of job role, and regression analysis suggested each of demands, control, managerial support, role and change influenced stress. Qualitative results found that workload, lack of managerial support and service user/family abuse were distinct demands associated with the role, whereas buffering positive resources were the social work role, peer support and positive managerial support. Implications for managerial practice, and harnessing the positive experience of peer support, are discussed.
Spatial Relationships between Molecular Pathology and Neurodegeneration in the Alzheimer’s Disease Continuum
Authors: Iaccarino Leonardo , La Joie Renaud , Edwards Lauren , Strom Amelia , Schonhaut Daniel R , Ossenkoppele Rik , Pham Julie , Mellinger Taylor , Janabi Mustafa , Baker Suzanne L , Soleimani-Meigooni David , Rosen Howard J , Miller Bruce L , Jagust William J , Rabinovici Gil D
Published: June 2020

A deeper understanding of the spatial relationships of β-amyloid (Aβ), tau, and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could provide insight into pathogenesis and clinical trial design. We included 81 amyloid-positive patients (age 64.4 ± 9.5) diagnosed with AD dementia or mild cognitive impairment due to AD and available 11C-PiB (PIB), 18F-Flortaucipir (FTP),18F-FDG-PET, and 3T-MRI, and 31 amyloid-positive, cognitively normal participants (age 77.3 ± 6.5, no FDG-PET). W-score voxel-wise deviation maps were created and binarized for each imaging-modality (W > 1.64, P < 0.05) adjusting for age, sex, and total intracranial volume (sMRI-only) using amyloid-negative cognitively normal adults. For symptomatic patients, FDG-PET and atrophy W-maps were combined into neurodegeneration maps (ND). Aβ-pathology showed the greatest proportion of cortical gray matter suprathreshold voxels (spatial extent) for both symptomatic and asymptomatic participants (median 94–55%, respectively), followed by tau (79–11%) and neurodegeneration (41–3%). Amyloid > tau > neurodegeneration was the most frequent hierarchy for both groups (79–77%, respectively), followed by tau > amyloid > neurodegeneration (13–10%) and amyloid > neurodegeneration > tau (6–13%). For symptomatic participants, most abnormal voxels were PIB+/FTP+/ND− (median 35%), and the great majority of ND+ voxels (91%) colocalized with molecular pathology. Amyloid spatially exceeded tau and neurodegeneration, with individual heterogeneities. Molecular pathology and neurodegeneration showed a progressive overlap along AD course, indicating shared vulnerabilities or synergistic toxic mechanisms.
Party Ideology and Vocational Education Spending: Empirical Evidence from Germany
Authors: Bischoff Ivo , Hauschildt Julia
Published: June 2020

We provide—to the best of our knowledge—the first empirical study on the political economy of public spending on vocational education. Vocational schools raise human capital among non-academics and give the latter a stronger bargaining position in wage negotiation—thereby supporting the clientele of leftwing parties. At the same time, they provide publicly funded inputs that raise firm productivity—an aim particularly important for conservative parties. We analyze expenditures on vocational schools of 301 West-German counties between 2002 and 2013 using two-way fixed effects and mixed models. We find the counties’ expenditures on vocational schools to decrease in the political power of Social Democrats and increase in the political power of Christian conservatives in the county council. Expenditures are higher in election years. We find no support for the conjecture building on Jensen (2011, Compar. Polit. Stud. 44, 412–435) according to which expenditures on vocational education are higher in regions suffering from deindustrialization. (JEL codes: H75, D72).
Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infections Among People Who Inject Drugs and People Experiencing Homelessness in the United States, 2010–2017
Authors: Valenciano Sandra J , Onukwube Jennifer , Spiller Michael W , Thomas Ann , Como-Sabetti Kathryn , Schaffner William , Farley Monica , Petit Susan , Watt James P , Spina Nancy , Harrison Lee H , Alden Nisha B , Torres Salina , Arvay Melissa L , Beall Bernard , Van Beneden Chris A
Published: June 2020

Background

Reported outbreaks of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) and people experiencing homelessness (PEH) have increased, concurrent with rising US iGAS rates. We describe epidemiology among iGAS patients with these risk factors.

Methods

We analyzed iGAS infections from population-based Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs) at 10 US sites from 2010 to 2017. Cases were defined as GAS isolated from a normally sterile site or from a wound in patients with necrotizing fasciitis or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. GAS isolates were emm typed. We categorized iGAS patients into four categories: injection drug use (IDU) only, homelessness only, both, and neither. We calculated annual change in prevalence of these risk factors using log binomial regression models. We estimated national iGAS infection rates among PWID and PEH.

Results

We identified 12 386 iGAS cases; IDU, homelessness, or both were documented in ~13%. Skin infections and acute skin breakdown were common among iGAS patients with documented IDU or homelessness. Endocarditis was 10-fold more frequent among iGAS patients with documented IDU only versus those with neither risk factor. Average percentage yearly increase in prevalence of IDU and homelessness among iGAS patients was 17.5% and 20.0%, respectively. iGAS infection rates among people with documented IDU or homelessness were ~14-fold and 17- to 80-fold higher, respectively, than among people without those risks.

Conclusions

IDU and homelessness likely contribute to increases in US incidence of iGAS infections. Improving management of skin breakdown and early recognition of skin infection could prevent iGAS infections in these patients.
Impact of Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy, Primarily Pembrolizumab, on Infection Risk in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: A Comparative Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Malek Alexandre E , Khalil Melissa , Hachem Ray , Chaftari Anne Marie , Fares Johny , Jiang Ying , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P , Fossella Frank , Chaftari Patrick , Mulanovich Victor E , Viola George M , Raad Issam I
Published: June 2020

Background

Checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, immune-related adverse events and the risk of infections are not well studied. To assess the infectious risk of CPIs, we evaluated the incidence of infections in lung cancer patients treated with CPIs plus conventional chemotherapy (CC) vs CC alone.

Methods

We performed a retrospective comparative study of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer who received CPIs combined with CC and those treated with CC alone at our institution during January 2016 to February 2019. We compared clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes including infection rate and mortality between the groups.

Results

We identified 123 patients for the CPI group and 147 patients for the control (CC) group. Eighteen patients (15%) in the CPI group and 33 patients (22%) in the control group developed infections (P = .1). Pneumonia was the most common infection encountered in both groups. Urinary tract infection was higher in the CC group (40%) than in the CPI group (9%) (P = .01). On multivariable analysis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .024), prior use of corticosteroids (P = .021), and neutropenia (P < .001) were independent risk factors for infection and severe infection requiring hospital admission. Chronic kidney disease (P = .02), prior cancer treatment (P = .023), and neutropenia (P < .0001) were identified as independent risk factors for all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Lung cancer patients treated with CPIs combined with CC have a comparable risk of infection to those treated with CC alone, although there is a trend towards fewer infections in those given CPIs, particularly when it comes to urinary tract infections.
Ariane consolée par Bacchus and François Couperin’s early writing for the viol
Authors: Cyr Mary
Published: June 2020

Ariane consolée par Bacchus, newly discovered by Christophe Rousset and the only surviving cantata attributed to François Couperin, is scored for bass voice, obbligato bass viol and continuo. Because Couperin passionately engaged with Italian music, scholars have long assumed that he would have composed cantatas, but until now none had been known to survive. His choice of bass voice and viol, an unusual combination in the French cantata repertory, opens several avenues for investigation. A precursor to his choice of bass voice and viol can be found in his petits motets, some of which date from the 1690s, and the verset Deus virtutum convertere (1705). Although bass voice and solo viol do not yet appear together in a single work, Couperin’s writing betrays his interest in new Italian music and in composing for the viol. Some Italianate features that appear in the early sacred works can also be found in Ariane consolée par Bacchus.
The ‘Couperin chord’
Authors: Dubruque Julien
Published: June 2020

In 2016 Christophe Rousset identified an anonymous manuscript cantata entitled Ariane consolée par Bacchus as being the cantata Ariane abandonnée par Thésée attributed to Couperin by Titon du Tillet in Le Parnasse françois (1732). Rousset and I subsequently edited this cantata for the Éditions du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles. Over and above stylistic and other considerations, support for Couperin’s authorship is provided by certain idiosyncrasies in the basso continuo figurings, such as the well-known use of the 2 (‘seconde supérieure’) instead of the 9, and, most important, the use of what I call the ‘Couperin chord’: 7/5/2 on the degree IV. The current article supports this attribution by showing that Couperin used this chord very frequently in his organ and harpsichord pieces, as well as in his continuo figuring. Because he is the only French composer to use this chord systematically, it is possible to attribute anonymous pieces to him on the grounds of this single chord.
Predictors of long-term mortality after catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in a contemporary cohort of patients with structural heart disease
Authors: Darma Angeliki , Bertagnolli Livio , Dinov Borislav , Torri Federica , Shamloo Alireza Sepehri , Lurz Julia Anna , Dagres Nikolaos , Husser-Bollmann Daniela , Bollmann Andreas , Hindricks Gerhard , Arya Arash
Published: June 2020

Aims

Ablation of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) in patients with structural heart disease has been established in the past decades as an effective and safe treatment. However, the prognosis and long-term outcome remains poor.

Methods and results

We investigated 309 patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) (186 ICM, 123 NICM; 271 males; mean age 64.1 ± 12 years; ejection fraction 34 ± 13%) after ≥1 VT ablations over a mean follow-up period of 34 ± 28 months. Electrical storm was the indication for 224 patients (73%), whereas 86 patients (28%) underwent epicardial as well as endocardial ablation. During follow-up, 132 patients (43%) experienced VT recurrence and 97 (31%) died. Ischaemic cardiomyopathy and NICM patients showed comparable results, regarding procedural endpoints, complications, VT recurrence and survival. The Cox-regression analysis for all-cause mortality revealed that the presence of higher left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV; P < 0.001), male gender (P = 0.018), atrial fibrillation (AF; P < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; P = 0.001), antiarrhythmic drugs during the follow-up (P < 0.001), polymorphic VTs (P = 0.028), and periprocedural complications (P = 0.001) were independent predictors of mortality.

Conclusion

Ischaemic cardiomyopathy and NICM patients undergoing VT ablation had comparable results regarding procedural endpoints, complications, VT recurrence and 3-year mortality. Higher LVEDV, male gender, COPD, AF, polymorphic VTs, use of antiarrhythmics, and periprocedural complications are strong and independent predictors for increased mortality. The PAINESD score accurately predicted the long-term outcome in our cohort.
Seismogenic potential of the High Durance Fault constrained by 20 yr of GNSS measurements in the Western European Alps
Authors: Mathey M , Walpersdorf A , Sue C , Baize S , Deprez A
Published: June 2020

Due to the steady moderate seismicity observed along the Briançon seismic arc, in the south-western French Alps, three temporary GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) surveys took place in 1996, 2006 and 2011, across a ∼50 × 60 km² wide area, to investigate the surface deformation field. The horizontal velocity field computed from these three surveys showed an east–west extension in the network. A fourth campaign was led in 2016, creating a 20 yr observation span, resulting in measurements which reach a sufficient accuracy to assess whether extension found within the Briançon network is localized onto any particular tectonic feature. Several faults in this area are known to be active normal faults. Assessing the localization of the deformation may lead to a better understanding of the active tectonics of the Alpine belt. To address this issue, a robust velocity field was computed from the combination of the different campaign and permanent GNSS data. Strain rate tensors were derived for the first time in this area on a 0.1 × 0.1 deg grid to assess the distribution of the deformation. The regional deformation appears localized in the Briançon area and reaches up to 20 ± 5 nanostrain yr−1 in the centre of the network. The observed velocities were projected on a profile across the network and compared with modelled interseismic deformation to characterize the behaviour of the major active faults known in the study zone. While a two-fault model provides the best fit to the data, a single fault model has only marginally higher residuals, with parameters which are more consistent with the seismotectonics of the region. The localization of the single modelled fault is consistent with the location of the High Durance Fault (HDF). Therefore, we used the known geological location of this structure as a priori information in a block model to compute a fault slip rate at the interface between the two blocks. The velocities on the interface indicate 0.4–0.5 mm yr−1 of extension, and therefore strain accumulates along the HDF throughout the seismic cycle. The geodetically derived fault slip rate is converted into an equivalent seismic moment release rate, which is consistent within its uncertainty bounds with the known historical and instrumental seismicity of the Briançon area.
Useful idiots: the Hohenzollerns and Hitler*
Authors: Urbach Karina
Published: June 2020

Hitler needed the support of the Hohenzollern family on a national and an international level. While the national level has been researched in some detail, we do not have much information about the international aspect. This article shows what foreign connections the Hohenzollerns had and why they made them available to Hitler. Private correspondence in the papers of three Americans offers new insights. Resumption of the throne was a driving force for the Hohenzollerns who hoped to copy Mussolini’s arrangement with the Italian monarchy. But the family were not just opportunists. They shared many beliefs with the National Socialists: anti-Semitism, anti-parliamentarism and anti-communism. They also greatly admired Hitler’s wars of conquest. For the National Socialists, the Hohenzollerns’ eagerness to support them was welcome propaganda.
Ornithine decarboxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine synthesis, modifies brain pathology in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Kapfhamer David , McKenna James , Yoon Caroline J , Murray-Stewart Tracy , Casero Robert A , Gambello Michael J
Published: June 2020

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by variable expressivity. TSC results from inactivating variants within the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, leading to constitutive activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling. Using a mouse model of TSC (Tsc2-RG) in which the Tsc2 gene is deleted in radial glial precursors and their neuronal and glial descendants, we observed increased ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzymatic activity and concentration of its product, putrescine. To test if increased ODC activity and dysregulated polyamine metabolism contribute to the neurodevelopmental defects of Tsc2-RG mice, we used pharmacologic and genetic approaches to reduce ODC activity in Tsc2-RG mice, followed by histologic assessment of brain development. We observed that decreasing ODC activity and putrescine levels in Tsc2-RG mice worsened many of the neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including brain growth and neuronal migration defects, astrogliosis and oxidative stress. These data suggest a protective effect of increased ODC activity and elevated putrescine that modify the phenotype in this developmental Tsc2-RG model.
Dopaminergic loss of cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 recapitulates methylphenidate-remediable hyperlocomotion in mouse model of CDKL5 deficiency disorder
Authors: Jhang Cian-Ling , Lee Hom-Yi , Chen Jin-Chung , Liao Wenlin
Published: June 2020

Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5), a serine-threonine kinase encoded by an X-linked gene, is highly expressed in the mammalian forebrain. Mutations in this gene cause CDKL5 deficiency disorder, a neurodevelopmental encephalopathy characterized by early-onset seizures, motor dysfunction, and intellectual disability. We previously found that mice lacking CDKL5 exhibit hyperlocomotion and increased impulsivity, resembling the core symptoms in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here, we report the potential neural mechanisms and treatment for hyperlocomotion induced by CDKL5 deficiency. Our results showed that loss of CDKL5 decreases the proportion of phosphorylated dopamine transporter (DAT) in the rostral striatum, leading to increased levels of extracellular dopamine and hyperlocomotion. Administration of methylphenidate (MPH), a DAT inhibitor clinically effective to improve symptoms in ADHD, significantly alleviated the hyperlocomotion phenotype in Cdkl5 null mice. In addition, the improved behavioral effects of MPH were accompanied by a region-specific restoration of phosphorylated dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein Mr 32 kDa, a key signaling protein for striatal motor output. Finally, mice carrying a Cdkl5 deletion selectively in DAT-expressing dopaminergic neurons, but not dopamine receptive neurons, recapitulated the hyperlocomotion phenotype found in Cdkl5 null mice. Our findings suggest that CDKL5 is essential to control locomotor behavior by regulating region-specific dopamine content and phosphorylation of dopamine signaling proteins in the striatum. The direct, as well as indirect, target proteins regulated by CDKL5 may play a key role in movement control and the therapeutic development for hyperactivity disorders.
On the Existence of Extremals for Moser-Type Inequalities in Gauss Space
Authors: Cianchi Andrea , Musil Vít , Pick Luboš
Published: June 2020

The existence of an extremal in an exponential Sobolev-type inequality, with optimal constant, in Gauss space is established. A key step in the proof is an augmented version of the relevant inequality, which, by contrast, fails for a parallel classical inequality by Moser in the Euclidean space.
Measuring Performance and Shaping Identity
Authors: Jones Annika
Published: June 2020

Amid pressure to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the International Criminal Court (ICC), work has progressed on the development of a set of performance indicators for the ICC. This article argues that performance indicators play into tensions that underpin the international criminal justice process at the ICC, in particular between expeditiousness, on the one hand, and fairness and victim satisfaction, on the other. It argues that while the ICC’s performance indicators extend assessment of the ICC beyond the speedy completion of cases and embrace goals of fairness and victim access to justice, they inevitably support the former to the detriment of the latter, with implications for the Court’s identity. While acknowledging the benefits of performance indicators for the ICC, the article outlines several measures to counter the risks that they pose for the balance between these goals.
A Longitudinal Skin Biopsy Study of Phosphorylated Alpha-Synuclein in a Patient With Parkinson Disease and Orthostatic Hypotension
Authors: Infante Rossella , Scaglione Cesa , Incensi Alex , Rizzo Giovanni , Liguori Rocco , Donadio Vincenzo
Published: June 2020

The aim of our study was to assess the distribution of phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-syn) deposits in a patient affected by early stage Parkinson disease and orthostatic hypotension through a longitudinal skin biopsy study. We found widespread p-syn spatial diffusion from deep autonomic dermis nerve bundles to autonomic terminals, suggesting a centrifugal spread of p-syn from ganglia to the innervation target structures. Furthermore, the case suggests the possibility of discriminating synucleinopathies at an early stage of disease by means of skin biopsy. If confirmed, these data support skin biopsy as a useful and promising tool for the diagnosis, longitudinal evaluation, and pathological understanding of Parkinson disease.
The accretion history of high-mass stars: an ArTéMiS pilot study of infrared dark clouds
Authors: Peretto N , Rigby A , André Ph , Könyves V , Fuller G , Zavagno A , Schuller F , Arzoumanian D , Bontemps S , Csengeri T , Didelon P , Duarte-Cabral A , Palmeirim P , Pezzuto S , Revéret V , Roussel H , Shimajiri Y
Published: June 2020

The mass growth of protostars is a central element to the determination of fundamental stellar population properties such as the initial mass function. Constraining the accretion history of individual protostars is therefore an important aspect of star formation research. The goal of the study presented here is to determine whether high-mass (proto)stars gain their mass from a compact (<0.1 pc) fixed-mass reservoir of gas, often referred to as dense cores, in which they are embedded, or whether the mass growth of high-mass stars is governed by the dynamical evolution of the parsec-scale clump that typically surrounds them. To achieve this goal, we performed a 350-μm continuum mapping of 11 infrared dark clouds, along side some of their neighbouring clumps, with the ArTéMiS camera on APEX. By identifying about 200 compact ArTéMiS sources, and matching them with Herschel Hi-GAL 70 -μm sources, we have been able to produce mass versus temperature diagrams. We compare the nature (i.e. starless or protostellar) and location of the ArTéMiS sources in these diagrams with modelled evolutionary tracks of both core-fed and clump-fed accretion scenarios. We argue that the latter provide a better agreement with the observed distribution of high-mass star-forming cores. However, a robust and definitive conclusion on the question of the accretion history of high-mass stars requires larger number statistics.
Properties of two-temperature magnetized advective accretion flow around rotating black hole
Authors: Dihingia Indu K , Das Santabrata , Prabhakar Geethu , Mandal Samir
Published: June 2020

We study the two-temperature magnetized advective accretion flow around the Kerr black holes (BHs). During accretion, ions are heated up due to viscous dissipation, and when Coulomb coupling becomes effective, they transfer a part of their energy to the electrons. On the contrary, electrons lose energy due to various radiative cooling processes, namely bremsstrahlung, synchrotron, and Comtonization processes, respectively. To account for the magnetic contribution inside the disc, we consider the toroidal magnetic fields which are assumed to be dominant over other components. Moreover, we adopt the relativistic equation of state to describe the thermal characteristics of the flow. With this, we calculate the global transonic accretion solutions around the rotating BHs. We find that accretion solution containing multiple critical points may harbour shock wave provided the standing shock conditions are satisfied. Further, we investigate the shock properties, such as shock location (xs) and compression ratio (R) that delineate the post-shock corona (hereafter PSC) and find that the dynamics of PSC is controlled by the flow parameters, such as accretion rate (${\dot{m}}$) and magnetic fields (β, defined as the ratio of gas pressure to the magnetic pressure), etc. Finally, we calculate the emission spectra of the accretion flows containing PSC and indicate that both ${\dot{m}}$ and β play the pivotal roles in explaining the spectral state transitions commonly observed for BH X-ray binaries.
The X-ray view of merger-induced active galactic nuclei activity at low redshift
Authors: Secrest Nathan J , Ellison Sara L , Satyapal Shobita , Blecha Laura
Published: June 2020

Galaxy mergers are predicted to trigger accretion on to the central supermassive black holes, with the highest rates occurring during final coalescence. Previously, we have shown elevated rates of both optical and mid-IR selected active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in post-mergers, but to date the prevalence of X-ray AGNs has not been examined in the same systematic way. We present XMM–Newton data of 43 post-merger galaxies selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey along with 430 non-interacting control galaxies matched in stellar mass, redshift, and environment in order to test for an excess of hard X-ray (2–10 keV) emission in post-mergers attributable to triggered AGNs. We find two X-ray detections in the post-mergers ($4.7^{+9.3}_{-3.8}{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) and nine in the controls ($2.1^{+1.5}_{-1.0}{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$), an excess of $2.22^{+4.44}_{-2.22}$, where the confidence intervals are 90 per cent. While, we therefore do not find statistically significant evidence for an X-ray AGN excess in post-mergers (p = 0.26), we find a factor of ∼17 excess of mid-IR AGNs in our sample, consistent with the past work and inconsistent with the observed X-ray excess (p = 2.7 × 10−4). Dominant, luminous AGNs are therefore more frequent in post-mergers, and the lack of a comparable excess of 2–10 keV X-ray AGNs suggests that AGNs in post-mergers are more likely to be heavily obscured. Our results are consistent with the post-merger stage being characterized by enhanced AGN fueling, heavy AGN obscuration, and more intrinsically luminous AGN, in line with theoretical predictions.
Waves in thin oceans on oblate neutron stars
Authors: van Baal Bart F A , Chambers Frank R N , Watts Anna L
Published: June 2020

Waves in thin fluid layers are important in various stellar and planetary problems. Due to rapid rotation such systems will become oblate, with a latitudinal variation in the gravitational acceleration across the surface of the object. In the case of accreting neutron stars, rapid rotation could lead to a polar radius smaller than the equatorial radius by a factor ∼0.8. We investigate how the oblateness and a changing gravitational acceleration affect different hydrodynamic modes that exist in such fluid layers through analytic approximations and numerical calculations. The wave vectors of g modes and Yanai modes increase for more oblate systems compared to spherical counterparts, although the impact of variations in the changing gravitational acceleration is effectively negligible. We find that for increased oblateness, Kelvin modes show less equatorial confinement and little change in their wave vector. For r modes, we find that for more oblate systems the wave vector decreases. The exact manner of these changes for the r modes depends on the model for the gravitational acceleration across the surface.
Crystal structure of an atypical cobalamin riboswitch reveals RNA structural adaptability as basis for promiscuous ligand binding
Authors: Chan Clarence W , Mondragón Alfonso
Published: June 2020

Cobalamin riboswitches encompass a structurally diverse group of cis-acting, gene regulatory elements found mostly in bacterial messenger RNA and are classified into subtypes based on secondary and tertiary characteristics. An unusual variant of the cobalamin riboswitch with predicted structural features was identified in Bacillus subtilis over a decade ago, but its structure and mechanisms of cobalamin selectivity and translational control have remained unsolved. We present the crystal structure of the aptamer domain of this atypical cobalamin riboswitch and a model for the complete riboswitch, including its expression platform domain. We demonstrate that this riboswitch binds to multiple cobalamin derivatives and correlate its promiscuous behavior to its structure and unique arrangement of peripheral elements. Comparative structural analyses between conventional cobalamin riboswitches and the B. subtilis cobalamin riboswitch reveal that the likely basis for this promiscuous ligand binding is intrinsic structural adaptability encoded in the RNA structure. It suggests that cobalamin selectivity might ultimately be viewed as existing on a spectrum of affinity for each derivative rather than as belonging to distinct types based on ligand specificities. Our work provides an interesting and notable example of functional coupling of ligand-sensing and adaptive folding by a structured RNA molecule.
Psychosocial Mechanisms of Cognitive-Behavioral–Based Physical Therapy Outcomes After Spine Surgery: Preliminary Findings From Mediation Analyses
Authors: Coronado Rogelio A , Ehde Dawn M , Pennings Jacquelyn S , Vanston Susan W , Koyama Tatsuki , Phillips Sharon E , Mathis Shannon L , McGirt Matthew J , Spengler Dan M , Aaronson Oran S , Cheng Joseph S , Devin Clinton J , Wegener Stephen T , Archer Kristin R
Published: June 2020

Objective

Changing Behavior through Physical Therapy (CBPT), a cognitive-behavioral–based program, has been shown to improve outcomes after lumbar spine surgery in patients with a high psychosocial risk profile; however, little is known about potential mechanisms associated with CBPT treatment effects. The purpose of this study was to explore potential mediators underlying CBPT efficacy after spine surgery.

Methods

In this secondary analysis, 86 participants were enrolled in a randomized trial comparing a postoperative CBPT (n = 43) and education program (n = 43). Participants completed validated questionnaires at 6 weeks (baseline) and 3 and 6 months following surgery for back pain (Brief Pain Inventory), disability (Oswestry Disability Index), physical health (12-Item Short-Form Health Survey), fear of movement (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), and pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire). Parallel multiple mediation analyses using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) were conducted to examine whether 3- and 6-month changes in fear of movement, pain catastrophizing, and pain self-efficacy mediate treatment outcome effects at 6 months.

Results

Six-month changes, but not 3-month changes, in fear of movement and pain self-efficacy mediated postoperative outcomes at 6 months. Specifically, changes in fear of movement mediated the effects of CBPT treatment on disability (indirect effect = −2.0 [95% CI = −4.3 to 0.3]), whereas changes in pain self-efficacy mediated the effects of CBPT treatment on physical health (indirect effect = 3.5 [95% CI = 1.2 to 6.1]).

Conclusions

This study advances evidence on potential mechanisms underlying cognitive-behavioral strategies. Future work with larger samples is needed to establish whether these factors are a definitive causal mechanism.

Impact

Fear of movement and pain self-efficacy may be important mechanisms to consider when developing and testing psychologically informed physical therapy programs.
Staying in Place: Federalism and the Political Economy of Place Attachment
Authors: Jacobs Nicholas F , Munis B K
Published: June 2020

A growing number of scholars have documented how social identities defined by an attachment to place influence individuals’ understandings about political power and representation. Drawing on this theoretical framework, we explore how place-based identities matter for American federalism by documenting how attachments to the American states alter individuals’ decisions to leave, or exit, as well as to welcome newcomers into their local communities. Using a set of conjoint experiments designed to measure individual attitudes about place, politics, and America’s federal polity, we find evidence that Americans hold deep and consequential attitudes about the places in which they live. Our evidence confirms that state identities are still highly relevant in shaping American federalism and the competitive pressures between intergovernmental jurisdictions. While federalism may encourage individuals to leave, federalism also nourishes place-specific attachments, motivating people to stay.
Sarcoidosis diagnosed in the elderly: a case–control study
Authors: Bert A , Gilbert T , Cottin V , Mercier J , Gerfaud-Valentin M , Durieu I , Hot A , Hicks J , Varron L , Seve P , Jamilloux Y
Published: June 2020

Background

Studies on sarcoidosis in elderly patients are scarce and none have specifically evaluated patients aged ≥75 at onset.

Aim

We aimed to analyse the characteristics of patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed after 75 and to compare them with those of younger patients.

Design

Multicenter case–control study comparing elderly-onset sarcoidosis (EOS) with young-onset sarcoidosis (YOS) seen at Lyon University Hospitals between 2006 and 2018.

Methods

Using our institutional database, we included 34 patients in the EOS group and compared them with 102 controls from the YOS group in a 1:3 ratio. Demographic characteristics, medical history, clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings, sites of biopsies, histological analyses, treatments and outcomes were recorded using a comprehensive questionnaire.

Results

There were more Caucasians in the EOS group (94.1% vs. 59.8%; P < 0.001), who had significantly more comorbidities (mean, 3.1 ± 2 vs. 1.1 ± 1.6; P < 0.001). In the EOS group, there was less pulmonary involvement (26.5% vs. 49%; P = 0.022), less lymphadenopathy (2.9% vs. 16.7%; P = 0.041), no erythema nodosum (0% vs. 12.8%; P = 0.029) and no arthralgia (0% vs. 25.5%; P = 0.001). Conversely, uveitis was more common in the EOS group (55.9% vs. 20.6%; P < 0.001). Pathological confirmation was obtained significantly less frequently in the EOS group (67.7% vs. 85.3%; P = 0.023). Corticosteroid-related side effects were significantly more common in the EOS group (100% vs. 75.9%; P = 0.030).

Conclusion

Epidemiology and clinical presentation of EOS differs from YOS, including more comorbidities and more uveitis. Elderly patients are more prone to corticosteroid side effects.
Cardiovascular risk and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis compared with diabetes mellitus and the general population
Authors: Løgstrup Brian B , Ellingsen Torkell , Pedersen Alma B , Darvalics Bianka , Olesen Kevin K W , Bøtker Hans Erik , Maeng Michael
Published: June 2020

Objectives

To compare risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in patients with incident RA, diabetes mellitus (DM) and the general population (GP).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with incident RA were matched 1:5 by age, sex and year of RA diagnosis with the GP. In the same period, patients with incident DM were included. Outcomes were heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularization, stroke, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and death up to 10 years after diagnosis.

Results

We included 15 032 patients with incident RA, 301 246 patients with DM and 75 160 persons from the GP. RA patients had an increased risk of HF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.51, 95% CI: 1.38, 1.64], MI (HR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.43, 1.74), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; HR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.62), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG; HR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.62) and stroke (HR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.12–1.33) compared with the GP. However, the 10-year all-cause mortality was at the same level as observed in the GP. Cardiac death and MACE were increased in RA compared with the GP. When compared with patients with DM, RA patients had a lower adjusted risk of HF (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.85), CABG (HR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.76) and stroke (HR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.89), and similar risk of MI and PCI. DM patients had the highest risk of 10-year mortality, cardiac death and MACE.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that RA is associated with an increased risk of HF, MI, stroke and coronary revascularization than found in the GP but without reaching the risk levels observed in DM patients.
Lupus nephritis: clinical presentations and outcomes in the 21st century
Authors: Gasparotto Michela , Gatto Mariele , Binda Valentina , Doria Andrea , Moroni Gabriella
Published: June 2020

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a frequent and severe manifestation of SLE. Along the decades, the epidemiology of LN and its clinical presentation have been changing. However, even though retrospective cohort studies report a decreased mortality rate and an improvement in the disease prognosis, the percentage of patients progressing into end stage renal disease (ESRD) keeps steady despite the improvements in therapeutic strategies. Current in-use medications have been available for decades now, yet over the years, regimens for optimizing their efficacy and minimizing toxicity have been developed. Therapeutic research is now moving towards the direction of precision medicine and several new drugs, targeting selectively different pathogenetic pathways, are currently under evaluation with promising results. In this review, we address the main changes and persistent unmet needs in LN management throughout the past decades, with a focus on prognosis and upcoming treatments.
Do Current Measures of Polygenic Risk for Mental Disorders Contribute to Population Variance in Mental Health?
Authors: Marsman Anne , Pries Lotta-Katrin , ten Have Margreet , de Graaf Ron , van Dorsselaer Saskia , Bak Maarten , Kenis Gunter , Lin Bochao D , Luykx Jurjen J , Rutten Bart P F , Guloksuz Sinan , van Os Jim
Published: June 2020

The polygenic risk score (PRS) allows for quantification of the relative contributions of genes and environment in population-based studies of mental health. We analyzed the impact of transdiagnostic schizophrenia PRS and measures of familial and environmental risk on the level of and change in general mental health (Short-Form-36 mental health) in the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 general population sample, interviewed 4 times over a period of 9 years, yielding 8901 observations in 2380 individuals. Schizophrenia PRS, family history, somatic pain, and a range of environmental risks and social circumstances were included in the regression model of level of and change in mental health. We calculated the relative contribution of each (group of) risk factor(s) to the variance in (change in) mental health. In the combined model, familial and environmental factors explained around 17% of the variance in mental health, of which around 5% was explained by age and sex, 30% by social circumstances, 16% by pain, 22% by environmental risk factors, 24% by family history, and 3% by PRS for schizophrenia (PRS-SZ). Results were similar, but attenuated, for the model of mental health change over time. Childhood trauma and gap between actual and desired social status explained most of the variance. PRS for bipolar disorder, cross-disorder, and depression explained less variance in mental health than PRS-SZ. Polygenic risk for mental suffering, derived from significance-testing in massive samples, lacks impact in analyses focusing on prediction in a general population epidemiological setting. Social-environmental circumstances, particularly childhood trauma and perceived status gap, drive most of the attributable variation in population mental health.
Sleep quality, occupational factors, and psychomotor vigilance performance in the U.S. Navy sailors
Authors: Matsangas Panagiotis , Shattuck Nita Lewis
Published: June 2020

Study Objectives

This field study (a) assessed sleep quality of sailors on the U.S. Navy (USN) ships while underway, (b) investigated whether the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were affected by occupational factors and sleep attributes, and (c) assessed whether the PSQI could predict impaired psychomotor vigilance performance.

Methods

Longitudinal field assessment of fit-for-duty USN sailors performing their underway duties (N = 944, 79.0% males, median age 26 years). Participants completed questionnaires, wore actigraphs, completed logs, and performed the wrist-worn 3-min Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT).

Results

Sailors slept on average 6.60 ± 1.01 h/day with 86.9% splitting their sleep into more than one episode/day. The median PSQI Global score was 8 (interquartile range [IQR] = 5); 80.4% of the population were classified as “poor sleepers” with PSQI scores >5. PSQI scores were affected by sailor occupational group, rank, daily sleep duration, and number of sleep episodes/day. Sleep quality showed a U-shape association with daily sleep duration due to the confounding effect of split sleep. Sailors with PSQI scores >9 had 21.1% slower reaction times (p < 0.001) and 32.8%–61.5% more lapses combined with false starts (all p < 0.001) than sailors with PSQI scores ≤9. Compared to males and officers, females and enlisted personnel had 86% and 23% higher risk, respectively, of having PSQI scores >9. Sailors in the PSQI > 9 group had more pronounced split sleep.

Conclusions

Working on Navy ships is associated with elevated PSQI scores, a high incidence of poor sleep, and degraded psychomotor vigilance performance. The widely used PSQI score>5 criterion should be further validated in active-duty service member populations.
The Increasing Effect of Neighborhood Racial Composition on Housing Values, 1980–2015
Authors: Howell Junia , Korver-Glenn Elizabeth
Published: June 2020

Beginning in the 1930s, neighborhood racial composition was an explicit determining factor in the evaluation of U.S. home values. This deliberate practice was outlawed in the 1960s and 1970s, but the correlation between neighborhood racial composition and home values persists. Using Census Bureau data from 1980 to 2015, the present study investigates the changing relationship between neighborhood racial composition and home appraisals, as well as the mechanisms that drive it. Contrary to what is often presumed, neighborhood racial composition was a stronger determinant of appraised values in 2015 than it was in 1980. Results suggest this is primarily due to contemporary appraising practices. Specifically, the use of the sales comparison approach has allowed historical racialized appraisals to influence contemporary values and appraisers’ racialized assumptions about neighborhoods to drive appraisal methods. These findings provide strong evidence that persistent racial inequality is driven in part by perpetual devaluing of communities of color and they suggest further regulation is required to foster equity.