bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fission Properties of Neutron-Rich Nuclei around the End Point of r-Process
Authors: Chen Jiawei , Pei Junchen , Qiang Yu , Chi Jihuai
Published: December 2022

We studied the fission properties of neutron-rich nuclei 278, 286Cf around the end point of r-process by microscopic self-consistent approaches. The fission barriers and potential energy surfaces are obtained by constrained static Skyrme Hartree–Fock-BCS calculations. Fission fragments are studied by dynamical time-dependent Hartree–Fock+BCS calculations. Results show that 286Cf has an octupole deformation at ground state, which can increase the fission barrier height by 1.1 MeV and enhance significantly the spontaneous fission half-life. To search possible fission channels, dynamical calculations with a broad coverage of initial deformations result in two slightly asymmetric peaks around A = 128 and 150 for 278Cf, and A = 133 and 153 for 286Cf. Very asymmetric fission channels as given by semi-empirical models are not found in our results.
The gravitational afterglow of boson stars
Authors: Croft Robin , Helfer Thomas , Ge Bo-Xuan , Radia Miren , Evstafyeva Tamara , Lim Eugene A , Sperhake Ulrich , Clough Katy
Published: December 2022

In this work we study the long-lived post-merger gravitational wave signature of a boson-star binary coalescence. We use full numerical relativity to simulate the post-merger and track the gravitational afterglow over an extended period of time. We implement recent innovations for the binary initial data, which significantly reduce spurious initial excitations of the scalar field profiles, as well as a measure for the angular momentum that allows us to track the total momentum of the spatial volume, including the curvature contribution. Crucially, we find the afterglow to last much longer than the spin-down timescale. This prolonged gravitational wave afterglow provides a characteristic signal that may distinguish it from other astrophysical sources.
Decoupling 1D and 2D features of 2D sp-nanoribbons—the megatom model
Authors: Andriotis Antonis N , Menon Madhu
Published: December 2022

The dependence of the electron energy band gap on the width of an sp-nanoribbon is investigated using a generalization of the 1D tight binding model for a chain of atoms. Within the proposed generalization, small linear atomic formations along lines perpendicular to the 2D ribbon axis are modeled as single large atoms called megatoms whose properties depend on the type, the size and the atomic conformation. Replacement of a 1D chain of atoms by that of the megatoms is accompanied by the incorporation of zeroth order 2D features into the 1D model approximation of the nanoribbon. We use this model to investigate the oscillating band gap of an sp-nanoribbon in terms of the ribbon’s width. Results are presented for the width dependence of the energy gap of the zig-zag Si2BN nanoribbons.
The applications of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-nanogold conjugate in cancer therapy
Authors: Karimi-Shahri Mehdi , Alalikhan Abbas , Hashemian Pedram , Hashemzadeh Alireza , Javid Hossein
Published: December 2022

Cancer has recently increased the death toll worldwide owing to inadequate therapy and decreased drug bioavailability. Long-term and untargeted chemotherapeutic exposure causes toxicity to healthy cells and drug resistance. These challenges necessitate the development of new methods to increase drug efficacy. Nanotechnology is an emerging field in the engineering of new drug delivery platforms. The phytochemical epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main component of green tea extract and its most bioactive component, offers novel approaches to cancer cell eradication. The current review focuses on the nanogold-based carriers containing EGCG, with an emphasis on the chemotherapeutic effects of EGCG in cancer treatment. The nanoscale vehicle may improve the EGCG solubility and bioavailability while overcoming constraints and cellular barriers. This article reviewed the phytochemical EGCG-based gold nanoplatforms and their major anticancer applications, both individually, and in combination therapy in a few cases.
On the green factorization method and supersymmetry
Authors: Tan M Y , Nurisya M S , Zainuddin H
Published: December 2022

The factorization method in operator language formalism and supersymmetric quantum mechanics are vastly studied in literature. The well-known factorization method goes to the early work by Infeld and Hull in 1951. However, a different formalism of factorization method introduced by Green in 1965 is less being considered by the researchers. We show that the Green factorization method, also known as the deductive method, has a connection with supersymmetric quantum mechanics. Some anharmonic quantum systems are discussed by obtaining their analytical expressions for the complete spectrum of bound states and superpotential through the Green factorization method.
Effects on heart rate from direct current block of the stimulated rat vagus nerve
Authors: Bender Shane A , Green David B , Daniels Robert J , Ganocy Stephen P , Bhadra Niloy , Vrabec Tina L
Published: December 2022

Objective. Although electrical vagus nerve stimulation has been shown to augment parasympathetic control of the heart, the effects of electrical conduction block have been less rigorously characterized. Previous experiments have demonstrated that direct current (DC) nerve block can be applied safely and effectively in the autonomic system, but additional information about the system dynamics need to be characterized to successfully deploy DC nerve block to clinical practice. Approach. The dynamics of the heart rate (HR) from DC nerve block of the vagus nerve were measured by stimulating the vagus nerve to lower the HR, and then applying DC block to restore normal rate. DC block achieved rapid, complete block, as well as partial block at lower amplitudes. Main Results. Complete block was also achieved using lower amplitudes, but with a slower induction time. The time for DC to induce complete block was significantly predicted by the amplitude; specifically, the amplitude expressed as a percentage of the current required for a rapid, 60 s induction time. Recovery times after the cessation of DC block could occur both instantly, and after a significant delay. Both blocking duration and injected charge were significant in predicting the delay in recovery to normal conduction. Significance. While these data show that broad features such as induction and recovery can be described well by the DC parameters, more precise features of the HR, such as the exact path of the induction and recoveries, are still undefined. These findings show promise for control of the cardiac autonomic nervous system, with potential to expand to the sympathetic inputs as well.
Network organization of resting-state cerebral hemodynamics and their aliasing contributions measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Fan , Khan Ali F , Ding Lei , Yuan Han
Published: December 2022

Objective. Spontaneous fluctuations of cerebral hemodynamics measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are widely used to study the network organization of the brain. The temporal correlations among the ultra-slow, <0.1 Hz fluctuations across the brain regions are interpreted as functional connectivity maps and used for diagnostics of neurological disorders. However, despite the interest narrowed in the ultra-slow fluctuations, hemodynamic activity that exists beyond the ultra-slow frequency range could contribute to the functional connectivity, which remains unclear. Approach. In the present study, we have measured the brain-wide hemodynamics in the human participants with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a whole-head, cap-based and high-density montage at a sampling rate of 6.25 Hz. In addition, we have acquired resting state fMRI scans in the same group of participants for cross-modal evaluation of the connectivity maps. Then fNIRS data were deliberately down-sampled to a typical fMRI sampling rate of ∼0.5 Hz and the resulted differential connectivity maps were subject to a k-means clustering. Main results. Our diffuse optical topographical analysis of fNIRS data have revealed a default mode network (DMN) in the spontaneous deoxygenated and oxygenated hemoglobin changes, which remarkably resemble the same fMRI network derived from participants. Moreover, we have shown that the aliased activities in the down-sampled optical signals have altered the connectivity patterns, resulting in a network organization of aliased functional connectivity in the cerebral hemodynamics. Significance. The results have for the first time demonstrated that fNIRS as a broadly accessible modality can image the resting-state functional connectivity in the posterior midline, prefrontal and parietal structures of the DMN in the human brain, in a consistent pattern with fMRI. Further empowered by the fast sampling rate of fNIRS, our findings suggest the presence of aliased connectivity in the current understanding of the human brain organization.
Electromagnetic compatibility technologies based on multi-functional spoof surface plasmon polariton channels
Authors: Niu Ling Yun , Zhang Hao Chi , He Pei Hang , Fan Yi , Zhang Le Peng , Cui Tie Jun
Published: December 2022

High integration of modern microwave circuits and systems puts forward higher requirements for multi-function and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance of transmission channels. In this paper, we propose two EMC technologies including the substrate integrated packaging (SIP) and tuneable wavenumber mismatching (TWM) based on multi-functional spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) channels. The SIP technology can effectively improve the EMC performance of the SSPP channels in the whole frequency band by designing the packaging structure with easy fabrication and compact size; while the TWM technology can significantly suppress crosstalks in desired frequency bands by manipulating the wavenumber difference between two adjacent channels. Simulated and measured results demonstrate excellent multi-function and EMC performance of the integrated multi-functional SSPP channels by employing the two EMC technologies. The integrated multi-functional SSPP channels can realize continuous phase modulation in X-band and continuous amplitude modulation in Ku-band. The coupling coefficient of the integrated channels is about 8–10 dB lower than that of the channels without the package, and is 13–15 dB lower than that of the traditional microstrip channels in the whole X-band and Ku-band. Meanwhile, the coupling coefficient of the integrated multi-functional SSPP channels with a distance of 1/30 λ
0 can be reduced to around −30 dB in the desired narrow bands. Therefore, the proposed EMC technologies may find broad applications in highly integrated microwave circuits and systems.
mOWL: Python library for machine learning with biomedical ontologies
Authors: Zhapa-Camacho Fernando , Kulmanov Maxat , Hoehndorf Robert
Published: December 2022

Motivation

Ontologies contain formal and structured information about a domain and are widely used in bioinformatics for annotation and integration of data. Several methods use ontologies to provide background knowledge in machine learning tasks, which is of particular importance in bioinformatics. These methods rely on a set of common primitives that are not readily available in a software library; a library providing these primitives would facilitate the use of current machine learning methods with ontologies and the development of novel methods for other ontology-based biomedical applications.

Results

We developed mOWL, a Python library for machine learning with ontologies formalized in the Web Ontology Language (OWL). mOWL implements ontology embedding methods that map information contained in formal knowledge bases and ontologies into vector spaces while preserving some of the properties and relations in ontologies, as well as methods to use these embeddings for similarity computation, deductive inference and zero-shot learning. We demonstrate mOWL on the knowledge-based prediction of protein–protein interactions using the gene ontology and gene–disease associations using phenotype ontologies.

Availability and implementation

mOWL is freely available on https://github.com/bio-ontology-research-group/mowl and as a Python package in PyPi.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Representation matters: a call for inclusivity and equity in heart failure clinical trials
Authors: Reza Nosheen , Nayak Aditi , Lewsey Sabra C , DeFilippis Ersilia M
Published: December 2022

The burden of heart failure remains substantial worldwide, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) affects approximately half of this population. Despite this global prevalence of HFrEF, the majority of contemporary clinical trials in HFrEF have underenrolled individuals from minoritized sex, gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic groups. Moreover, significant disparities in access to HFrEF treatment and outcomes exist across these same strata. We provide a call to action for the inclusion of diverse populations in HFrEF clinical trials; catalogue several barriers to adequate representation in HFrEF clinical trials; and propose strategies to broaden inclusivity in future HFrEF trials.
A healthy liver will always deliver: development of a NAFLD awareness comic
Authors: Alemany-Pagès Mireia , Tavares Rui , Azul Anabela Marisa , Ramalho-Santos João
Published: December 2022

Comics can be an effective tool to communicate health information and appeal to behavior change. The aim of this project, undertaken by a multidisciplinary team, was to develop a comic to raise awareness about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and promote healthy lifestyles regarding dietary practices and regular physical activity patterns. We focused on the ability of comics in portraying abstract concepts to articulate NAFLD biomedical knowledge and use it as an encouragement/empowerment strategy towards disease-related beliefs, attitudes, intentions and behaviors. Formative research by means of a NAFLD awareness study with T2DM patients informed the selection of biomedical content and the design of characters and storylines on which the former was embedded. Mindful of graphic narrative and storytelling as a valuable tool in the domains of health promotion, disease prevention and therapeutic adherence, this work discusses the decisions that were taken for the materialization of the comic ‘A healthy liver will always deliver!’.
Creativity in continuity: legal treatises (al-rasāʾil al-fiqhiyya) in Islamic law
Authors: Ayoub Samy
Published: December 2022

This article explores how legal treatises (rasāʾil) were essential sites for the development and expansion of Islamic legal schools’ (madhāhib) positions. The rasāʾil, along with legal dicta (fatāwā)—besides legal commentaries (shurūḥ) and manuals (mutūn)—were among the prime loci where jurists contended with rapid social, political, and economic changes. Although these legal treatises were written to address specific sociolegal issues, I argue that the treatise—as a separate genre—provided a creative space for jurists to reaffirm, restate, or advance a new opinion in the school. These legal treatises were carefully considered and extensively referenced in the authoritative works of the school for their updated legal positions, practical utility for judges in courts, and relevance for official policy purposes. To demonstrate this dynamic, I present a close reading of two legal treatises by Maḥmūd Efendī al-Ḥamzāwī (d. 1887), a key Ḥanafī authority and judge, and the muftī of Damascus (1867–1887). The first covers the issue of criminal law procedures in Islamic/Ottoman courts and the second addresses the topic of hunting with rifles. Both treatises expanded the legal positions of the Ḥanafī school by incorporating new justifications, qualifications, and information. They offer an essential perspective on the status of this genre of legal writing through an exposition of a range of emerging issues in the late nineteenth century.
Pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus standard of care chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: Asian subgroup analysis of KEYNOTE-062
Authors: Satake Hironaga , Lee Keun-Wook , Chung Hyun Cheol , Lee Jeeyun , Yamaguchi Kensei , Chen Jen-Shi , Yoshikawa Takaki , Amagai Kenji , Yeh Kun-Huei , Goto Masahiro , Chao Yee , Lam Ka-On , Han Shi Rong , Shiratori Shinichi , Shah Sukrut , Shitara Kohei
Published: December 2022

Objective

First-line pembrolizumab with/without chemotherapy versus chemotherapy was evaluated in programmed death ligand 1 combined positive score ≥1, locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer/gastrooesophageal junction cancer in the KEYNOTE-062 study. We present results for patients enrolled in Asia.

Methods

Eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to pembrolizumab 200 mg, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine) or placebo plus chemotherapy Q3W. End points included overall survival (primary) in combined positive score ≥1 and combined positive score ≥10 populations and safety and tolerability (secondary).

Results

A total of 187 patients were enrolled in Asia (pembrolizumab, n = 62; pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, n = 64; chemotherapy, n = 61). Compared with the global population, higher proportions of patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 and a diagnosis of stomach cancer. In the programmed death ligand 1 combined positive score ≥1 population, median overall survival was numerically longer with pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy (22.7 vs 13.8 months; hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.82) and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy (16.5 vs 13.8 months; hazard ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.53–1.16). In the programmed death ligand 1 combined positive score ≥10 population, median overall survival was also numerically longer with pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy (28.5 vs 14.8 months; hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21–0.89) and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy (17.5 vs 14.8 months; hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–1.64). The grade 3–5 treatment-related adverse event rate was 19.4%, 75.8% and 64.9% for patients receiving pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy and chemotherapy, respectively.

Conclusions

This post hoc analysis showed pembrolizumab monotherapy was associated with numerically improved overall survival and a favourable tolerability profile versus chemotherapy in Asians with programmed death ligand 1–positive advanced gastric cancer/gastrooesophageal junction cancer.

This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02494583.
Sikh Digital Media
Authors: Singh Jasjit
Published: December 2022

This chapter examines the emergence and impact of Sikh digital media through an exploration of the Sikh tradition online. Defining “Sikh digital media” as “digital media established by Sikhs that focuses on ideologies, meanings, issues, and practices relating to Sikhs,” it explores the development of Sikh digital media in the context of the social and political environments in which Sikhs find themselves. Furthermore, the chapter examines how and why Sikhs interact with digital media and how these interactions shape contemporary Sikh belief and practice. By examining how the status of Sikhs as a distinct visible minority with a widespread diaspora influences their engagement with digital media, this chapter contributes to scholarship on digital religion by exploring how digital media is being used to curate culture, to facilitate activism and to challenge media representations of the Sikh tradition.
Religion and Online Community in African Contexts
Authors: Musa Bala A. , Lando Agnes Lucy
Published: December 2022

Spirituality and religion define the African worldview and lifeworld. From time immemorial, community and religion have been the driving forces that have shaped African culture. This chapter looks at how new media communications interface with religion and community. The chapter examines how cybermedia both strengthens and threatens these critical foundations of Africa’s communal religions and religious communalism. It critiques technological and cultural determinism and indeterminism in relation to religion and online community in Africa. The questions that emerge include who sets the agenda and ethos for the online faith community or communities, when interactions, leadership structures and focal points are diffused and decentered? Others include what elements of religion in the online environment are liberating, empowering, helpful, or detrimental to the mission of faith communities. The chapter proposes ways to balance enduring core values of community with the instrumentality and novelty of worshipping under the “glocal” electronic tent.
Defensive Social Rights
Authors: Dixon Rosalind , Landau David
Published: December 2022

This chapter examines the use of social rights defensively: as shields to protect existing entitlements rather than as swords to create new ones. Social rights are commonly used as shields by individuals, to protect against evictions or to stop a wide range of cuts to social programs and benefits such as water, social security, and even taxes. Social rights are also used as shields by the state, both explicitly to defend social programs against attacks based on other rights such as property, and implicitly to ward off international pressure for austerity measures during economic crisis. Defensive protection of social rights and interests is more varied than offensive enforcement, involving a wide range of doctrines including not only non-retrogression but also due process, the minimum core, proportionality, equality, and acquired rights. Defensive protection responds to important values of individual dignity and state sovereignty, but raises risks of overenforcement, especially to the fiscal health of the state and its relationship to external actors. The chapter argues that improvements to a fragmented doctrinal landscape are needed to mediate the tension between the burdens on those impacted by cuts or alterations, and the justifications prompting those actions.
From Brāhmi to Early Kannada
Authors: Settar S.
Published: December 2022

The scripts of the languages of India, including Kannada, have their origin in Aśōkan Brāhmi. This chapter draws on inscriptions of the period from the third century bce to around the fifth century ce found in Karnataka (Minor and Major Rock Edicts, and copper plates) to illuminate the world of the scribes and their contribution to literacy, and the gradual coopting of the Brāhmi script by local languages other than Prākr̥t after an initial phase of Prākr̥t-Brāhmi dominance. The Early Kannada script unseats the Brāhmi even as Prākr̥t makes way for Sanskrit and Early Old Kannada, the precursor to Old Kannada.
Beyond Land as Property
Authors: Ojeda Diana
Published: December 2022

Land and its relation to power remain central issues when we are seeking to better understand—and face—current social and environmental crises. This chapter takes a close look at particular formations of land as property, examining their relations to processes of state-making and revealing the inequality and violence that these engender. Using examples from the contemporary agrarian history of Montes de María, a region in the north of Colombia, the chapter argues that such inequality and violence are profoundly shaped by gender even as they result in long-lasting gendered exclusions. Moreover, it suggests the need to further study the relation between land and power, beyond what property relations make legible.
Land in the Anarchist Tradition
Authors: Grubačić Andrej , Gerber Julien-François , Rilović Andro
Published: December 2022

This chapter proposes an anarchist lens to look at the land question. The slogan “Land and Liberty” has been used by many anarchistic movements throughout history to convey the basic message that democratic control over land is a necessary condition for the construction of a free society. Injustice creeps in whenever resource ownership and human needs do not match. In response, anarchistic movements have promoted a variety of institutional arrangements based on usufruct and democratic self-management, two notions that are key anarchist contributions to the land question. In the anarchist sense, usufruct implies reunifying ownership and political deliberation, and therefore abolishing “the economy” as an independent domain of existence. The chapter is divided into three parts. It first briefly explores what some of the main anarchist theorists have said about land and ownership. It then presents three examples, historical and contemporary, of anarchistic organizing around land: the agrarian communes of Makhnovshchina, the Spanish revolution, and the agrarian economy of Zapatismo. Finally, the chapter discusses land in eco-anarchism, with special reference to Murray Bookchin’s work, and in the contemporary degrowth movement.
Stratification Trees for Adaptive Randomisation in Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Tabord-Meehan Max
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes an adaptive randomisation procedure for two-stage randomised controlled trials. The method uses data from a first-wave experiment in order to determine how to stratify in a second wave of the experiment, where the objective is to minimise the variance of an estimator for the average treatment effect. We consider selection from a class of stratified randomisation procedures which we call stratification trees: these are procedures whose strata can be represented as decision trees, with differing treatment assignment probabilities across strata. By using the first wave to estimate a stratification tree, we simultaneously select which covariates to use for stratification, how to stratify over these covariates, and the assignment probabilities within these strata. Our main result shows that using this randomisation procedure with an appropriate estimator results in an asymptotic variance which is minimal in the class of stratification trees. Moreover, our results are able to accommodate a large class of assignment mechanisms within strata, including stratified block randomisation. In a simulation study, we find that our method, paired with an appropriate cross-validation procedure, can improve on ad-hoc choices of stratification. We conclude by applying our method to the study in Karlan and Wood (2017, Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, vol. 66, 1–8), where we estimate stratification trees using the first wave of their experiment.
The paternalist politics of punitive and enabling workfare: evidence from a new dataset on workfare reforms in 16 countries, 1980–2015
Authors: Horn Alexander , Kevins Anthony , van Kersbergen Kees
Published: December 2022

Does neoliberalism lie behind the increased use of social policy to control and incentivize labour market behaviour? We argue that this assumed connection is theoretically weak and empirically inaccurate, and we point to an alternative explanation centred on government paternalism. Using a new comparative dataset on workfare reforms, we first describe how the overall balance of punitive and enabling demands placed on the unemployed has changed across 16 countries between 1980 and 2015. We observe a growing number of workfare reforms, modestly tilted towards the punitive side—but without a broad shift towards punitive workfare. We then assess the drivers of policy intervention, finding that government paternalism, rather than neoliberalism, helps us to understand which governments enact enabling and punitive measures. In line with our broader argument, we suggest that this reflects the moral (rather than economic) foundations of social policy.
Bony Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Akhavan Arya Andre , Catterall Lauren Christina , Deune Eagen Gene
Published: December 2022

Background

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a rare but known complication of brain and nerve trauma, orthopedic trauma, and burns. Nerve compression due to HO is extremely rare; “bony cubital tunnel syndrome,” or compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow due to HO, is an unusual presentation that requires special considerations for treatment.

Case Presentation

We present a 50-year-old man who presented to our hospital after vehicular polytrauma with associated car fire and prolonged extrication. He experienced extensive trauma, with all classically described risks for HO. He developed bony cubital tunnel syndrome, with ulnar neuropathy confirmed on electrodiagnostic studies, and underwent surgical decompression. Surgical decompression revealed circumferential encasement of the ulnar nerve in heterotopic bone, all of which was removed. He demonstrates appropriate recovery of nerve function.

Literature Review

All perineural HO should be excised early to prevent nerve injury, because excision within 4 months of development is linked to improved functional outcomes. Measures to prevent nerve compression by HO are all associated with delayed wound or bone healing and should be considered on an individual basis.
Proceedings from the 2022 Consensus Conference to Implement Optimal Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Trauma
Authors: Haut Elliott R. , Byrne James P. , Price Michelle A. , Bixby Pamela , Bulger Eileen M. , Lake Leslie , Costantini Todd
Published: December 2022

On May 4 and 5, 2022, a meeting of multidisciplinary stakeholders in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after trauma was convened by the Coalition for National Trauma Research, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and hosted by the American College of Surgeons in Chicago, Illinois. This consensus conference gathered more than 40 in-person and 80 virtual attendees, including trauma surgeons, other physicians, thrombosis experts, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, and patient advocates. The objectives of the meeting were twofold: (1) to review and summarize the present state of the scientific evidence regarding VTE prevention strategies in injured patients and (2) to develop consensus on future priorities in VTE prevention implementation and research gaps.

To achieve these objectives, the first part of the conference consisted of talks from physician leaders, researchers, clinical champions, and patient advocates to summarize the current state of knowledge of VTE pathogenesis and prevention in patients with major injury. Video recordings of all talks and accompanying slides are freely available on the conference website (https://www.nattrauma.org/research/research-policies-templates-guidelines/vte-conference/). Following this curriculum, the second part of the conference consisted of a series of small-group breakout sessions on topics potentially requiring future study. Through this process, research priorities were identified, and plans of action to develop and undertake future studies were defined.

The 2022 Consensus Conference to Implement Optimal VTE Prophylaxis in Trauma answered the National Trauma Research Action Plan call to define a course for future research into preventing thromboembolism after trauma. A multidisciplinary group of clinical champions, physicians, scientists, and patients delineated clear objectives for future investigation to address important, persistent key knowledge gaps. The series of papers from the conference outlines the consensus based on the current literature and a roadmap for research to answer these unanswered questions.
Considering Individuals’ Hearing Ability Before Administering Cognitive Assessments
Authors: Brown-Quigley Bella , Gaeta Laura
Published: December 2022

Sensory impairments such as age-related hearing loss and poor eyesight have been associated with a negative impact on cognitive screening test scores. Many researchers use cognitive tests and consider factors such as vision and cardiac issues but do not account for hearing loss. We reviewed published literature in the field of gerontology to determine if hearing loss was considered in human subjects research that involved the administration of a cognitive battery or screening test. We present evidence for the need to consider hearing loss when administering cognitive screening tests, as well as recommendations for practitioners and researchers.
Epidemiological impact of the paediatric live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) programme on group AStreptococcus(GAS) infections in England
Authors: Sinnathamby Mary A , Warburton Fiona , Guy Rebecca , Andrews Nick , Lamagni Theresa , Watson Conall , Bernal Jamie Lopez
Published: December 2022

Influenza is known to predispose to secondary bacterial infections including group A streptococcal infection (GAS) and invasive (iGAS) disease.

The universal paediatric live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) programme was introduced in England during the 2013/14 influenza season to directly protect children as well as indirectly protect the wider population through reduction in transmission. Nationally, the programme was implemented incrementally introducing cohorts of children from pre-school age to school age children year on year towards 2 to 16 year old coverage. In addition, a series of discrete geographical areas (pilot areas) offered LAIV vaccination to all primary school age children, allowing for a unique assessment and comparison of infection rates between pilot and non-pilot areas during roll-out.

Overall reductions in incidence rates of GAS and scarlet fever were observed within most of post-LAIV programme seasons when assessing the impact of the LAIV programme among the targeted (2 to 4 years and 5 to 10 years) and non-targeted groups using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) from Poisson regressions.

We assessed the overall effect of the pilot programme between the pre-introduction (2010/11-2012/13 influenza seasons) and post-introduction (2013/14-2016/17 influenza) periods using negative binomial regression by comparing the pre-to -post programme changes in incidence between the pilot and non-pilot areas (rIRR = ratio of incidence rate ratios). This showed significant reductions among the 5 to 10 years (rIRR of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.45 to 0.71; p-value: <0.001)); the 2 to 4 years (rIRR of 0.62 (95% CI:0.43 to 0.90; p-value: 0.011)) and the 11 to 16 years (rIRR of 0.63 (95% CI: 0.43 to 0.90; p-value: 0.018)) for GAS infections. A non-significant reduction was also seen for iGAS in 2-4 year olds (rIRR of 0.58 (95% CI: 0.21 to 1.65; p-value=0.31)). No difference was seen for iGAS 5 to 10 year olds, or for scarlet fever in both age groups (rIRRs (95% CI) of 1.1 (0.34-3.6), 0.96 (0.66-1.39), 1.16 (0.75-1.81) for iGAS age 5 to 10, scarlet fever age 2 to 4 and 5 to 10, respectively).

Our findings are compatible with the paediatric LAIV programme reducing the incidence of GAS and iGAS infections among children and support attaining high uptake of childhood influenza vaccination.
The effect of the minimum price for unit of alcohol in Scotland on alcohol-related ambulance callouts: a controlled interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Manca Francesco , Lewsey Jim , Mackay Daniel , Angus Colin , Fitzpatrick David , Fitzgerald Niamh
Published: December 2022

Background and aim

On the 1st of May 2018, to reduce alcohol-related harm, Scotland introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) of £0.50 for alcohol. It has been shown that the policy has reduced per capita alcohol consumption. The aim of this study is to assess the association between the implementation of MUP and changes in the overall volume of alcohol-related ambulance callouts. We then assessed effects on time of the day when alcohol callouts are more numerous and in specific subpopulations (e.g., different socioeconomic groups) to assess potential impacts on health inequality.

Methods

A controlled interrupted time series design (ITS) was used to examine variations in the daily volume of alcohol-related callouts (overall and night-time only). The control series was the number of ambulance callouts to under 13 years old. We performed uncontrolled ITS on both the intervention and control group as well as a controlled ITS built on the difference between the two series.

Results

No significant decrease in the volume of callouts was found in both uncontrolled series (step change: 0.062, 95%CI: -0.012,0.0135 p=0.091; slope change: -0.001, 95%CI: -0.001, 0.000 p=0.139) and controlled (step change: -0.01, 95%CI: -0.317,0.298 p=0.951; slope change: -0.003, 95%CI: -0.008, 0.002 p=0.257). Similarly, no significant changes were found for the night-time series or for any population subgroups.

Conclusions

There was no apparent association between the introduction of MUP and the volume of alcohol-related ambulance callouts. One possible reason for this finding may be the relatively low level of MUP, and its consequent limited effect on alcohol sales.
Digital PCR discriminates between SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants and immune escape mutations
Authors: Holland Steven C. , Holland LaRinda A. , Smith Matthew F. , Lee Mihyun B. , Hu James C. , Lim Efrem S.
Published: December 2022

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, mutations arise that will allow the virus to evade immune defenses and therapeutics. Assays that can identify these mutations can be used to guide personalized patient treatment plans. Digital PCR (dPCR) is a fast and reliable complement to whole genome sequencing that can be used to discriminate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in template molecules. Here, we developed a panel of SARS-CoV-2 dPCR assays and demonstrate its applications for typing variant lineages and therapeutic monoclonal antibody resistance. We designed multiplexed dPCR assays for SNPs located at residue 3395 in theorf1abgene and residue 143 of thespikegene that differentiate the Delta, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2 lineages. We demonstrate their validity on 596 clinical saliva specimens that were sequence-verified using Illumina whole genome sequencing. Next, we developed dPCR assays for spike mutations R346T, K444T, N460K, F486V, and F486S mutations that are associated with host immune evasion and reduced therapeutic monoclonal antibody efficacy. We demonstrate that these assays can be run individually or multiplexed to detect the presence of up to 4 SNPs in a single assay. We validate these dPCR assays on 81 clinical saliva SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens from Omicron subvariants BA.2.75.2, BM.1.1, BN.1, BF.7, BQ.1, BQ.1.1, and XBB. Thus, dPCR could serve as a useful tool to determine if clinical specimens contain therapeutically relevant mutations and inform patient treatment.
DNA methylation patterns define subtypes of differentiated follicular cell-derived thyroid neoplasms: an unsupervised machine learning approach
Authors: Marczyk Vicente Rodrigues , Recamonde-Mendoza Mariana , Maia Ana Luiza , Goemann Iuri Martin
Published: December 2022

Alterations in DNA methylation patterns are a frequent finding in cancer. Methylation aberrations can drive tumorigenic pathways and serve as potential biomarkers. The role of epigenetic alterations in thyroid cancer is still poorly understood Here, we analyzed methylome data of a total of 810 thyroid samples (n=256 for discovery and n=554 for validation), including benign and malignant follicular cell-derived thyroid neoplasms, as well as normal thyroid tissue. In the discovery phase, we employed an unsupervised machine-learning method to search for methylation patterns. We found evidence supporting the existence of three distinct methylation subtypes: a normal-like, a hypermethylated follicular-like, and a hypomethylated papillary-like cluster. Follicular adenomas, follicular carcinomas, oncocytic adenomas, oncocytic carcinomas, and NIFTP samples were grouped within the follicular-like cluster, indicating that these pathologies shared numerous epigenetic alterations, with a predominance of hypermethylation events. Conversely, classic papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and tall cell PTC formed a separate subtype characterized by the predominance of hypomethylated positions. Interestingly, follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinomas (FVPTC) were as likely to be classified as follicular-like or PTC-like during the discovery phase, indicating a heterogeneous group likely to be formed by at least two distinct diseases. In the validation phase, we found that FVPTC with follicular-like methylation patterns were enriched for RAS mutations. In contrast, FVPTC with PTC-like methylation patterns were enriched for BRAF and RET alterations. Our data provide novel insights into the epigenetic alterations of thyroid tumors. Since the classification method relies on a fully unsupervised machine learning approach for subtype discovery, our results offer a robust background to support the classification of thyroid neoplasms based on methylation patterns.
Report of the Executive Committee for 2021
Authors: Ashcroft A. T. , Stanley A. M.
Published: December 2022

The report of the Executive Committee for 2021 is presented.
Molecular-dynamics simulation methods for macromolecular crystallography
Authors: Wych David C. , Aoto Phillip C. , Vu Lily , Wolff Alexander M. , Mobley David L. , Fraser James S. , Taylor Susan S. , Wall Michael E.
Published: December 2022

It is investigated whether molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations can be used to enhance macromolecular crystallography (MX) studies. Historically, protein crystal structures have been described using a single set of atomic coordinates. Because conformational variation is important for protein function, researchers now often build models that contain multiple structures. Methods for building such models can fail, however, in regions where the crystallographic density is difficult to interpret, for example at the protein–solvent interface. To address this limitation, a set of MD–MX methods that combine MD simulations of protein crystals with conventional modeling and refinement tools have been developed. In an application to a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase at room temperature, the procedure improved the interpretation of ambiguous density, yielding an alternative water model and a revised protein model including multiple conformations. The revised model provides mechanistic insights into the catalytic and regulatory interactions of the enzyme. The same methods may be used in other MX studies to seek mechanistic insights.
Sensory marketing in hospitality: a critical synthesis and reflection
Authors: Fong Lawrence Hoc Nang , Lei Soey Sut Ieng , Chow Cheris W.C. , Lam Long W.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Through a critical synthesis and reflection on the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence related to sensory marketing, this study aims to offer meaningful insights for hospitality operators and provides future research directions on sensory marketing in hospitality.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on an extensive review of sensory marketing studies across disciplines, this paper presents critical discussions of the theories and findings on the five senses in the context of hospitality.

Findings

The critical synthesis and discussion indicate that sensory marketing is highly relevant and applicable to operations in various hospitality sectors such as hotels and restaurants. Still, empirical evidence is required to lend support to the discussions. Although scholarly interest in sensory marketing has surged in the past decade, some research streams, such as sensory incongruence, cross-modal correspondence and sensory intensity, have yet to be extended. These under-researched areas provide directions for future hospitality research.

Practical implications

Through discussions of empirical evidence related to the five senses, mental simulation, cross-modal correspondence and sensory congruence, this paper provides implications for managing customers’ sensory experiences and behavior in hospitality settings.

Originality/value

Despite the increase of research on sensory marketing in the past decade, its full implications in the context of hospitality remain unknown. Through a critical synthesis and reflection on the hospitality literature, this paper offers research directions for a systematic expansion of sensory marketing.
Environmental predictors of electroactive bacterioplankton in small boreal lakes
Authors: Olmsted Charles N. , Ort Roger , Tran Patricia Q. , McDaniel Elizabeth A. , Roden Eric E. , Bond Daniel R. , He Shaomei , McMahon Katherine D.
Published: December 2022

Extracellular electron transfer (EET) by electroactive bacteria in anoxic soils and sediments is an intensively researched subject, but EET's function in planktonic ecology has been less considered. Following the discovery of an unexpectedly high prevalence of EET genes in a bog lake's bacterioplankton, we hypothesized that the redox capacities of dissolved organic matter (DOM) enrich for electroactive bacteria by mediating redox chemistry. We developed the bioinformatics pipeline FEET (Find EET) to identify and summarize predicted EET protein‐encoding genes from metagenomics data. We then applied FEET to 36 bog and thermokarst lakes and correlated gene occurrence with environmental data to test our predictions. Our results provide indirect evidence that DOM may participate in bacterioplankton EET. We found a similarly high prevalence of genes encoding putative EET proteins in most of these lakes, where oxidative EET strongly correlated with DOM. Numerous novel clusters of multiheme cytochromes that may enable EET were identified. Taxa previously not considered EET‐capable were found to carry EET genes. We propose that EET and DOM interactions are of ecologically important to bacterioplankton in small boreal lakes, and that EET, particularly by methylotrophs and anoxygenic phototrophs, should be further studied and incorporated into methane emission models of melting permafrost.
Reporting likelihood ratio for casework in firearm evidence identification
Authors: Song John , Song Huixu
Published: December 2022

Likelihood ratio (LR) plays an important role in estimating the weight of evidence in firearm evidence identifications. LR is computed from a statistical model including the distribution of the known‐matching (KM or within) and known‐nonmatching (KNM or between) comparison scores. Current LR procedures rely on KM/KNM scores from existing reference firearm toolmark data sets or alternatively from generating a set of test fires using multiple firearms. Both procedures may contain theoretical or practical issues which may hinder the LR procedures from reporting an unbiased LR estimation in casework. In this paper, a reference data set was established from a set of firearms, each test‐fired two cartridge cases, resulting in a basic data set and a control data set. The congruent matching cells (CMC) method was used to generate CMC scores that are used to fit in the KM/KNM statistical distributions for LR estimation. In the initial test, 130 firearms from eight manufacturers were used for generating a reference data set consisting of 260 cartridge cases representing 130 KM and 8385 KNM pairwise breech face images. Test results showed that the KM and KNM distribution intersect at CMC = 2, which is equivalent to LR = 1 (equally to support both the prosecutor and the defense propositions). When the CMC threshold is increased to 6 or more, the LR values are higher than a million, which can provide extremely strong support to the conclusion of the same firearm (or the prosecutor's proposition) in the casework of firearm evidence identification.