bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single top quark production with and without a Higgs boson *
Authors: Cao Qing-Hong , Jiang Hao-ran , Zeng Guojin
Published: June 2021

One method of probing new physics beyond the Standard Model is to check the correlation among higher-dimensional operators in the effective field theory. We examine the strong correlation between the processes

and

, which both depend on the same three operators. The correlation indicates that, according to the data of

,

, which is significantly below the current upper limit

.
Bridging observations, theory and numerical simulation of the ocean using machine learning
Authors: Sonnewald Maike , Lguensat Redouane , Jones Daniel C , Dueben Peter D , Brajard Julien , Balaji V
Published: June 2021

Progress within physical oceanography has been concurrent with the increasing sophistication of tools available for its study. The incorporation of machine learning (ML) techniques offers exciting possibilities for advancing the capacity and speed of established methods and for making substantial and serendipitous discoveries. Beyond vast amounts of complex data ubiquitous in many modern scientific fields, the study of the ocean poses a combination of unique challenges that ML can help address. The observational data available is largely spatially sparse, limited to the surface, and with few time series spanning more than a handful of decades. Important timescales span seconds to millennia, with strong scale interactions and numerical modelling efforts complicated by details such as coastlines. This review covers the current scientific insight offered by applying ML and points to where there is imminent potential. We cover the main three branches of the field: observations, theory, and numerical modelling. Highlighting both challenges and opportunities, we discuss both the historical context and salient ML tools. We focus on the use of ML in situ sampling and satellite observations, and the extent to which ML applications can advance theoretical oceanographic exploration, as well as aid numerical simulations. Applications that are also covered include model error and bias correction and current and potential use within data assimilation. While not without risk, there is great interest in the potential benefits of oceanographic ML applications; this review caters to this interest within the research community.
Retraction: Fundamental problems of geopolitical and socio-cultural development of the Arctic: Islamization, digitalization and transformation of the Arctic space (Russian example) (IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng.
940 012112)
Authors: Kudryavtseva Regina Elizaveta , Kulik Sergey , Eidemiller Konstantin , Samylovskaya Ekaterina
Published: June 2021

IOP Publishing Limited ("IOPP") is retracting this paper following an investigation which resulted from a reader complaint. The paper makes a number of unsubstantiated claims and, in the opinion of IOPP, lacks scientific rigour, clarity and objectivity. Although the paper was subject to peer review via the conference organisers, unfortunately these issues were not identified on this occasion. IOPP also has concerns regarding the discriminatory tone and sentiment of the paper, which are not appropriate in a scientific journal.

IOPP expresses its thanks to the readers and independent advisors who have shared their thoughts regarding this paper during the course of the investigation.

Retraction published: 25 June 2021
Corrosion rate and surface hardness optimization in wire electrical discharge machining of AISI A2 tool steel in various conductive states and mediums
Authors: Kurucheti Sateesh Kumar Reddy , Ranganath G , Nagaraj A , Jose Shylin H
Published: June 2021

The current work focuses on optimizing the material characteristics such as surface hardness and corrosion rate on the surface of the machined specimens of A2 Tool Steel (A2TS) under various conditions like normal conductive state (NCS) and superconductive state (SCS) in flushing and submergible medium. The machining parameters such as voltage, current, pulse-on, pulse-off, wire-feed, wire-tension, and fluid-pressure are considered for experimentation through orthogonal array L18 using the Taguchi method. The surface morphology of machined specimens surface is examined using energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDAX), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The experimental results reveal that voltage, pulse off, and fluid pressure increase while corrosion rate decreases and similarly, the increases in voltage, pulse-on, and wire feed the surface hardness increases in various states and mediums. The conductive states and mediums improved the material characteristics, such as corrosion rate and surface hardness of A2TS. The oxide layer (ferric oxides) formation reduces in SCS A2TS machined in submergible as elemental reaction with environment reduced with formation of chromium compounds. The bonding strength of the SCS A2TS material increased during re-solidification of machined specimens in submergible increases the surface hardness as a result, carbon content will increases. These results are noticed from EDAX, XRD and SEM analysis. An improvement of corrosion rate between NCS A2TS and SCS A2TS in flushing medium is 57.59% and in submergible medium is 59.35% respectively. The progress of surface hardness between NCS A2TS and SCS A2TS in flushing medium is 2.58% and in submergible medium is 4.93%, respectively.
The Co-Occurrence of Illegal Gun Carrying and Gun Violence Exposure: Evidence for Practitioners From Young People Adjudicated for Serious Involvement in Crime
Authors: Hureau David , Wilson Theodore
Published: June 2021

We depicted the episodic nature of illegal gun carrying and tested its co-occurrence with gun violence victimization and exposure. We tested differences in differences using data from the Pathways to Desistance Study, originally collected between 2000 and 2010 (Phoenix, Arizona, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), on young people adjudicated for serious involvement in crime. We then tested the changes in gun victimization experiences attending gun-carrying changes for this sample. We found gun victimization to be highest during periods of gun carrying, and this correspondence held regardless of future or past gun-carrying behavior. This manifests both in direct victimization and witnessing gun violence. Even among gun carriers, episodes of noncarrying are common, with 76.4% of gun carriers in a 1-year period also reporting a pause in their carrying behavior of at least 6 months. Gun carrying and gun violence exposure co-occur at a high rate. During any period of gun carrying, the carrier has at least a 2% chance of getting shot versus near 0% for periods of noncarrying. Our results suggest that illegal gun carrying is malleable, and public health efforts to reduce the incidence of gun carrying could yield meaningful reductions in violence.
Hypertension and the Kidney: Reduced Kidney Mass Is Bad for Both Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Ware Kyle , Yildiz Vedat , Xiao Min , Medipally Ajay , Hemminger Jessica , Scarl Rachel , Satoskar Anjali A , Hebert Lee , Ivanov Iouri , Biederman Laura , Brodsky Sergey V
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. Early studies demonstrated the short-term effects of hypertension on kidney function and morphology in ablative nephropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term consequences of hypertension in 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6NE) model.

METHODS

Reduction of the kidney mass by 5/6NE was created in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and genetically similar normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Blood pressure, serum creatinine (SCr), hematuria, and proteinuria were monitored weekly for 23 weeks. Kidney morphology was assessed at the end of the study. Sham-operated rats from both strains were used as controls.

RESULTS

Rats with 5/6NE had increased SCr, blood pressure, hematuria, and proteinuria in both SHR and WKY. Even though the SCr levels and blood pressure were greater in 5/6NE SHR as compared with 5/6NE WKY rats, absolute changes from sham-operated rats were not statistically significant between these 2 groups. 5/6NE SHR had earlier onset and higher proteinuria than 5/6NE WKY rats. Hematuria was similar in 5/6NE SHR and 5/6NE WKY rats. However, 5/6NE SHR had enlarged glomeruli, increased interstitial fibrosis, and prominent intimal thickening in the small arteries/arterioles as compared with 5/6NE WKY rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term severity of kidney injury correlated with higher blood pressure. Reduction of the kidney mass increases SCr, hematuria, proteinuria, and blood pressure in both normotensive and hypertensive rats. Histological assessment provides better information about underlying chronic kidney injury than actual changes in SCr and urinalysis.
A pharmacist-managed virtual consult service for patients with rheumatologic conditions requiring specialty or infused medications
Authors: Sasnovskaya Veranika , Kumor Lisa M , Stubbings JoAnn , Chevalier Aimee
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To describe a pharmacist-managed virtual consult service practice model for rheumatology patients and evaluate its initial impact on compliance with institutional critical care guidelines for biologic response modifiers (BRMs).

Pharmacologic care of patients with rheumatologic conditions often revolves around the use of BRMs. While these drugs are generally well tolerated, nearly all of them carry risks for serious adverse events. The severity of these possible problems necessitates a thorough initial and ongoing clinical workup. Based on results of a needs assessment, a virtual consult service was introduced at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health) in August 2018 to integrate clinical, specialty pharmacy, and therapeutic infusion services for proactive medication and safety management of patients with rheumatologic conditions requiring treatment with BRMs. The consult service was managed by an embedded clinical pharmacist and a postgraduate year 1 specialty pharmacy resident, who evaluated each request for therapy appropriateness prior to submission for insurance approval.

Conclusion

Forty-one percent of the pharmacy benefit consult orders required a pharmacist intervention prior to referral to the specialty pharmacy. All consults (100%) adhered to the safety management guidelines for BRMs after review by the pharmacist. The pharmacist-managed virtual consult service is a novel practice model in specialty pharmacy that permits pharmacists to manage multiple patients simultaneously, virtually, and with optimal impact on medication selection and management at or before the point of prescribing.
Helping Children and Teens Strengthen Executive Skills to Reach Their Full Potential
Authors: Dawson Peg
Published: June 2021

Executive skills are brain-based skills that develop across childhood and that take a minimum of 25 years to reach full maturation. They are skills that support goal-directed behavior and although essential to school success, they are typically not explicitly listed in local, state, or national curriculum standards. When the pandemic closed schools in the USA in March 2020, the resulting reliance on remote-learning instruction exposed how much support teachers and in-person learning provide to students with immature executive skills. This paper will describe those supports and will build the case that in the absence of the kind of scaffolding teachers provide for students with weak executives, many students have struggled. Three strategies for strengthening executive skills will be outlined. These include: modifying the environment to make it more supportive and less punishing for students with weak executive skills; explicitly teaching executives by embedding them in daily routines; and offering incentives or motivators to entice students to practice skills which are laborious in their early stages of acquisition. Focusing on strengthening students’ executive skills will address the problem of “learning loss” that has resulted from the disruption the pandemic has caused.
Performance evaluation of transcriptomics data normalization for survival risk prediction
Authors: Ni Ai , Qin Li-Xuan
Published: June 2021

One pivotal feature of transcriptomics data is the unwanted variations caused by disparate experimental handling, known as handling effects. Various data normalization methods were developed to alleviate the adverse impact of handling effects in the setting of differential expression analysis. However, little research has been done to evaluate their performance in the setting of survival outcome prediction, an important analysis goal for transcriptomics data in biomedical research. Leveraging a unique pair of datasets for the same set of tumor samples—one with handling effects and the other without, we developed a benchmarking tool for conducting such an evaluation in microRNA microarrays. We applied this tool to evaluate the performance of three popular normalization methods—quantile normalization, median normalization and variance stabilizing normalization—in survival prediction using various approaches for model building and designs for sample assignment. We showed that handling effects can have a strong impact on survival prediction and that quantile normalization, a most popular method in current practice, tends to underperform median normalization and variance stabilizing normalization. We demonstrated with a small example the reason for quantile normalization’s poor performance in this setting. Our finding highlights the importance of putting normalization evaluation in the context of the downstream analysis setting and the potential of improving the development of survival predictors by applying median normalization. We make available our benchmarking tool for performing such evaluation on additional normalization methods in connection with prediction modeling approaches.
Importance of Telomere Shortening in the Pathogenesis of Ulcerative Colitis: A New Treatment From the Aspect of Telomeres in Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Watanabe Sho , Hibiya Shuji , Katsukura Nobuhiro , Kitagawa Sayuki , Sato Ayako , Okamoto Ryuichi , Watanabe Mamoru , Tsuchiya Kiichiro
Published: June 2021

Background and Aims

Ulcerative colitis [UC] is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon with frequent relapses. Telomere shortening in intestinal epithelial cells has been reported in severe or longstanding cases. However, its influence on UC pathogenesis remains unelucidated. To this end, we evaluated telomere shortening using a long-term organoid inflammation model that we had originally established.

Methods

A UC model using human colon organoids was established to assess telomere changes chronologically. MST-312 was used for the telomerase inhibition assay. The potential of telomerase activators as a novel UC treatment was evaluated with an in vitro model, including microarray analysis, and histological changes were assessed using xenotransplantation into mouse colonic mucosa.

Results

Our UC model reproduced telomere shortening in vitro, which was induced by the continuous suppression of telomerase activity via P53. MST-312-based analysis revealed that telomere shortening was involved in the pathogenesis of UC. Madecassoside [MD] improved the telomere length of the UC model and UC patient-derived organoids, which further promoted cell proliferation in vitro and improved the graft take-rate of xenotransplantation. Moreover, histological analysis revealed that MD induced normal crypt structure with abundant goblet cells.

Conclusions

This study is the first to reveal the mechanism and importance of telomere shortening in the pathogenesis of UC. MD could be a novel candidate for UC treatment beyond endoscopic mucosal healing.
Long-term prognostic value of right ventricular dysfunction on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in anthracycline-treated cancer survivors
Authors: Chhikara Sanya , Hooks Matthew , Athwal Pal Satyajit Singh , Hughes Andrew , Ismail Mohamed F , Joppa Stephanie , Velangi Pratik S , Nijjar Prabhjot S , Blaes Anne H , Shenoy Chetan
Published: June 2021

Aims

We aimed to determine the prevalence of right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and its impact on long-term adverse outcomes in a large cohort of cancer survivors treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Methods and results

Consecutive cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines who underwent clinical CMR for suspected anthracycline-related cardiomyopathy were studied. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death or major adverse cardiac events (MACE): heart failure hospitalization, heart transplantation, ventricular assist device implantation, resuscitated cardiac arrest, or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. The secondary endpoints were all-cause death, and cardiac death or MACE. Among 249 survivors who underwent CMR at a median of 2.9 years after cancer treatment, RV systolic dysfunction was present in 54 (21.7%). Of these, 50 (92.6%) had an abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). At a median follow-up time after the CMR of 2.7 years, 105 survivors experienced the primary endpoint. On Kaplan–Meier analyses, the cumulative incidence of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in survivors with abnormal RVEF compared with those with normal RVEF (P = 0.002). However, on Cox multivariable analyses, RVEF was not associated with the primary endpoint (HR 1.04 per 5% decrease; 95% CI 0.93–1.17; P = 0.46) after adjustment for non-imaging variables and LVEF. RVEF was also not associated with the secondary endpoints.

Conclusion

Among anthracycline-treated cancer survivors undergoing CMR for suspected cardiotoxicity, RV systolic dysfunction was present in one in five cases, accompanied by LV systolic dysfunction in nearly all cases, and was not independently associated with long-term outcomes.
Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change Values for Performance-Based Measures of Physical Functioning in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Beauchamp Marla K , Hao Qiukui , Kuspinar Ayse , D’Amore Cassandra , Scime Giulia , Ma Jinhui , Mayhew Alexandra , Bassim Carol , Wolfson Christina , Kirkland Susan , Griffith Lauren , Raina Parminder
Published: June 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the relative and absolute reliabilities of 5 key performance-based measures of physical function in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA).

Methods

An age-stratified subsample of 147 participants from the CLSA who were undergoing their 3-year data collection visit participated in 2 repeat visits (within 1 week). Participants underwent tests of grip strength, 4-m gait speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG), chair rise, and single-leg stance (left, right, mean, maximum). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change (MDC) values were calculated.

Results

The relative reliability for grip strength was excellent (ICC = 0.95); the TUG and single-leg stance tests had good reliability (ICC = 0.80 or 0.78–0.82, respectively); gait speed and the chair-rise test had moderate reliability (ICC = 0.64 for both) for participants overall. For participants between 50 and 64 years, TUG and gait speed had poor reliabilities (ICC = 0.38 or 0.33, respectively). For participants aged 75 years and older, the single-leg stance had poor reliability (ICC = 0.30–0.39). The MDC90 was about 6 kg for grip strength, 2.3 seconds for TUG, 0.2 m/second for gait speed, 5.2 seconds for chair rise, and ranged from 22.8 to 26.2 seconds for the single-leg stance.

Conclusions

Among community-dwelling Canadians older than 50 years, the reliabilities of the CLSA measures were moderate to excellent. The TUG and gait speed in the youngest age group, and the single-leg stance in the oldest age group, showed poor reliability. MDC values can be used to interpret changes over time.
The revised direct stiffness matrix method for seismogram synthesis due to dislocations: from crustal to geotechnical scale
Authors: Ba Zhenning , Sang Qiaozhi , Wu Mengtao , Liang Jianwen
Published: June 2021

The seismograms for the multiscale crustal model due to dislocations are synthesized by a revised direct stiffness matrix method. By extracting the exponential growth terms related to wavenumber and layer thickness, the fast and accurate wavefield modelling can be achieved for the multiscale system with superficial fine layers (the layer thickness and velocity vary from metre level in the near-surface to kilometre level in deep crustal zones). This method allows relatively high-frequency cases of engineering interest (about 10 Hz) to be tackled without extra computations, linking the geophysics to the geotechnical earthquake engineering. The simulations considering superficial fine layers (5–50  m) show that the horizontal peak ground velocities can be amplified twice with superficial velocity decreasing from 0.4 to 0.15 km s–1. A case study using a realistic fine model in Tokyo metropolis elucidates that the displacements are localized within the epicentre distance about 5 km, predicting the displacement responses by factors up to 6.7, 1.1 and 6.7 for radial, tangential and vertical directions in comparison to the simplified model without superficial fine structures.
Glycowork: A Python package for glycan data science and machine learning
Authors: Thomès Luc , Burkholz Rebekka , Bojar Daniel
Published: June 2021

While glycans are crucial for biological processes, existing analysis modalities make it difficult for researchers with limited computational background to include these diverse carbohydrates into workflows. Here, we present glycowork, an open-source Python package designed for glycan-related data science and machine learning by end users. Glycowork includes functions to, for instance, automatically annotate glycan motifs and analyze their distributions via heatmaps and statistical enrichment. We also provide visualization methods, routines to interact with stored databases, trained machine learning models and learned glycan representations. We envision that glycowork can extract further insights from glycan datasets and demonstrate this with workflows that analyze glycan motifs in various biological contexts. Glycowork can be freely accessed at https://github.com/BojarLab/glycowork/.
Validation of the Clear Safety Listeria Method for Detection of Listeria Species in Hot Dogs and on Environmental Surface Matrixes: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 091901
Authors: Pollard Stephanie , Singh Atul K , Lin Andrew , Maloney James , Campos Anay , Khaksar Ramin , Bastin Benjamin , Thompson Wesley , Benzinger M Joseph , Agin James
Published: June 2021

Background

The Clear Safety Listeria method utilizes polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and targeted next-generation sequencing technology to detect Listeria species (L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. marthii, L. grayi, L. welshimeri, and L. seeligeri) in hot dogs and on selected environmental surfaces.

Objective

The aim was to validate the candidate method according to current AOAC guidelines.

Method

The candidate method was compared to the reference method for hot dogs and the environmental surfaces. The method was also evaluated for inclusivity and exclusivity using 50 inclusivity strains and 30 exclusivity strains for each reported target. Product consistency and stability was tested and robustness was evaluated with changes in enrichment temperature, volume of sample treatment, and aliquot volume for PCR.

Results

The candidate method demonstrated no statistically significant differences using the probability of detection model between candidate and reference methods or between presumptive and confirmed results for all environmental surfaces and hot dogs. Additionally, the candidate method detected all inclusivity organisms and excluded all exclusivity organisms for each reported target. Product lots were shown to be consistent and data supported the kit’s shelf life. Finally, the robustness study demonstrated no statistical differences when the volume of sample or the aliquot volume for PCR was altered. Increasing the incubation temperature to 37 ± 1 °C resulted in greater recovery of L. monocytogenes as compared to 35 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C.

Conclusions

The Clear Safety Listeria method is statistically equivalent to the reference methods for the detection of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp. in hot dogs and on selected environmental surfaces.

Highlights

The Clear Safety Listeria method is an automated, highthroughput NGS-based method capable of detecting Listeria species in the hot dog and environmental samples within 28h.
Cosmology with the Roman Space Telescope – multiprobe strategies
Authors: Eifler Tim , Miyatake Hironao , Krause Elisabeth , Heinrich Chen , Miranda Vivian , Hirata Christopher , Xu Jiachuan , Hemmati Shoubaneh , Simet Melanie , Capak Peter , Choi Ami , Doré Olivier , Doux Cyrille , Fang Xiao , Hounsell Rebekah , Huff Eric , Huang Hung-Jin , Jarvis Mike , Kruk Jeffrey , Masters Dan , Rozo Eduardo , Scolnic Dan , Spergel David N , Troxel Michael , von der Linden Anja , Wang Yun , Weinberg David H , Wenzl Lukas , Wu Hao-Yi
Published: June 2021

We simulate the scientific performance of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope High Latitude Survey (HLS) on dark energy and modified gravity. The 1.6-yr HLS Reference survey is currently envisioned to image 2000 deg2 in multiple bands to a depth of ∼26.5 in Y, J, H and to cover the same area with slit-less spectroscopy beyond z = 3. The combination of deep, multiband photometry and deep spectroscopy will allow scientists to measure the growth and geometry of the Universe through a variety of cosmological probes (e.g. weak lensing, galaxy clusters, galaxy clustering, BAO, Type Ia supernova) and, equally, it will allow an exquisite control of observational and astrophysical systematic effects. In this paper, we explore multiprobe strategies that can be implemented, given the telescope’s instrument capabilities. We model cosmological probes individually and jointly and account for correlated systematics and statistical uncertainties due to the higher order moments of the density field. We explore different levels of observational systematics for the HLS survey (photo-z and shear calibration) and ultimately run a joint likelihood analysis in N-dim parameter space. We find that the HLS reference survey alone can achieve a standard dark energy FoM of >300 when including all probes. This assumes no information from external data sets, we assume a flat universe however, and includes realistic assumptions for systematics. Our study of the HLS reference survey should be seen as part of a future community-driven effort to simulate and optimize the science return of the Roman Space Telescope.
Line-depth ratios as indicators of effective temperature and surface gravity
Authors: Matsunaga Noriyuki , Jian Mingjie , Taniguchi Daisuke , Elgueta Scarlet S
Published: June 2021

The analysis of stellar spectra depends on the effective temperature (Teff) and the surface gravity (log g). However, the estimation of log g with high accuracy is challenging. A classical approach is to search for log g that satisfies the ionization balance, i.e. the abundances from neutral and ionized metallic lines being in agreement. We propose a method of using empirical relations between Teff, log g, and line-depth ratios, for which we meticulously select pairs of Fe i and Fe ii lines and pairs of Ca i and Ca ii lines. Based on YJ-band (0.97–1.32 $\mu$m) high-resolution spectra of 42 FGK stars (dwarfs to supergiants), we selected 5 Fe i–Fe ii and 4 Ca i–Ca ii line pairs together with 13 Fe i–Fe i pairs (for estimating Teff), and derived the empirical relations. Using such relations does not require complex numerical models and tools for estimating chemical abundances. The relations we present allow one to derive Teff and log g with a precision of around 50 K and 0.2 dex, respectively, but the achievable accuracy depends on the accuracy of the calibrators’ stellar parameters. It is essential to revise the calibration by observing stars with accurate stellar parameters available, e.g. stars with asteroseismic log g and stars analysed with complete stellar models taking into account the effects of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium and convection. In addition, the calibrators we used have a limited metallicity range, −0.2 < [Fe/H] < +0.2 dex, and our relations need to be tested and re-calibrated based on a calibrating data set for a wider range of metallicities.
The galaxy H i–(sub)halo connection and the H i spatial clustering of local galaxies
Authors: Calette A R , Rodríguez-Puebla Aldo , Avila-Reese Vladimir , Lagos Claudia del P
Published: June 2021

We extend the local stellar galaxy–(sub)halo connection to the atomic hydrogen (H i) component by seeding semi-empirically galaxies into a large N-body dark matter (DM) simulation. The main input to construct the mock galaxy catalogue are: our constrained stellar mass-to-(sub)halo circular velocity (M*–VDM) relation, assuming a scatter independent of any galaxy property, and the empirical $M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$ conditional probability distributions given M* for central and satellite galaxies. We find that the $\langle \log \mbox{$M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$}\rangle -\log \mbox{$M_{\rm DM}$}$ relation is not a monotonic increasing function. It increases with mass up to $\mbox{$M_{\rm DM}$}\sim 10^{12}$ M⊙, attaining a maximum of $\langle \log (\mbox{$M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$}/\mbox{M$_{\odot }$})\rangle \sim 9.2$, and at higher (sub)halo masses, $\langle \log (\mbox{$M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$})\rangle$ decreases slightly with MDM. The scatter around it is also large and mass dependent. The bivariate $M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$ and MDM distribution is broad and bimodal, specially at $\mbox{$M_{\rm DM}$}\gtrsim 10^{12}$ M⊙, which is inherited from the input $M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$ conditional distributions. We also report the total (central+satellites) H i gas mass within haloes, $M^{\rm tot}_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$, as a function of MDM. The mean $\mbox{$M^{\rm tot}_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$}$–$\mbox{$M_{\rm DM}$}$ relation is an increasing monotonic function. The galaxy spatial clustering increases weakly as the $M_{\rm H\, \small {I}}$ threshold increases. Our H i mock galaxies cluster more in comparison to the blind H i ALFALFA (Arecibo Fast Legacy ALFA) survey but we show that it is mainly due to the selection effects. We discuss the implications of our results in the light of predictions from semi-analytical models and hydrodynamics simulations of galaxy evolution.
Structure of the bacteriophage PhiKZ non-virion RNA polymerase
Authors: de Martín Garrido Natàlia , Orekhova Mariia , Lai Wan Loong Yuen Ting Emilie , Litvinova Anna , Ramlaul Kailash , Artamonova Tatyana , Melnikov Alexei S , Serdobintsev Pavel , Aylett Christopher H S , Yakunina Maria
Published: June 2021

Bacteriophage ΦKZ (PhiKZ) is the archetype of a family of massive bacterial viruses. It is considered to have therapeutic potential as its host, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is an opportunistic, intrinsically antibiotic resistant, pathogen that kills tens of thousands worldwide each year. ΦKZ is an incredibly interesting virus, expressing many systems that the host already possesses. On infection, it forms a ‘nucleus’, erecting a barrier around its genome to exclude host endonucleases and CRISPR-Cas systems. ΦKZ infection is independent of the host transcriptional apparatus. It expresses two different multi-subunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs): the virion RNAP (vRNAP) is injected with the viral DNA during infection to transcribe early genes, including those encoding the non-virion RNAP (nvRNAP), which transcribes all further genes. ΦKZ nvRNAP is formed by four polypeptides thought to represent homologues of the eubacterial β/β′ subunits, and a fifth with unclear homology, but essential for transcription. We have resolved the structure of ΦKZ nvRNAP to better than 3.0 Å, shedding light on its assembly, homology, and the biological role of the fifth subunit: it is an embedded, integral member of the complex, the position, structural homology and biochemical role of which imply that it has evolved from an ancestral homologue to σ-factor.
Heterogeneous gains from countercyclical fiscal policy: new evidence from international industry-level data
Authors: Choi Sangyup , Furceri Davide , Jalles João Tovar
Published: June 2021

Empirical evidence to date suggests a positive relationship between fiscal policy countercyclicality and growth. But do all industries gain equally from countercyclical fiscal policy? What are the channels through which countercyclical fiscal policy affects industry-level growth? We answer these questions by applying a difference-in-difference approach to an unbalanced panel of 22 manufacturing industries for 55 countries—including both advanced and developing economies—during the period 1970–2014. Among the various industry characteristics guided by different theoretical channels, we find that the credit constraints channel identifies the best transmission mechanism through which countercyclical fiscal policy enhances growth. This channel becomes stronger during periods of weak economic activity when credit constraints are more likely to bind and periods of effective lower bound on the monetary policy rate.
Tourism, shamanism and the pandemic
Authors: Rivas Virgilio A
Published: June 2021

There can be no doubt that tourism has contributed to the popular understanding of folk Christianity, including shamanistic practices that, since colonial times, have formed part of the dominant Filipino faith. However, faced with the pandemic, the island’s co-existence with tourism risks losing vital economic lifeblood through commerce-driven spaces for cultural exchange and the psycho-noetic conditions that sustain the spiritual structure of folkloric practices threatened by the existential risks of Covid-19.
Transformative outcomes: assessing and reorienting experimentation with transformative innovation policy
Authors: Ghosh Bipashyee , Kivimaa Paula , Ramirez Matias , Schot Johan , Torrens Jonas
Published: June 2021

The impending climate emergency, the Paris agreement and Sustainable Development Goals demand significant transformations in economies and societies. Science funders, innovation agencies, and scholars have explored new rationales and processes for policymaking, such as transformative innovation policy (TIP). Here, we address the question of how to orient the efforts of science, technology, and innovation policy actors to enable transformations. We build on sustainability transitions research and a 4-year co-creation journey of the TIP Consortium to present twelve transformative outcomes that can guide public policy agencies in evaluating and reformulating their projects, programmes, and policies. We illustrate the transformative outcomes in two empirical cases: transitions towards mobility-as-a-service in the Finnish transport system and the emergence of speciality coffee in Colombia. We argue that the twelve transformative outcomes can guide public policy agents to fundamentally transform their ways of thinking and operation in advancing transformative change.
Populism and Carbon Tax Justice: The Yellow Vest Movement in France
Authors: Driscoll Daniel
Published: June 2021

Scholars cite right-wing authoritarian and business-elite influences in their explanations of populist mobilization against climate reforms. The Yellow Vest movement in France, initially sparked by opposition to a carbon tax, defies the generalizations offered by scholars, the media, and politicians alike. This populist movement emerged from below rather than from elite sponsorship and was motivated by social justice concerns. Through in-depth interviews with 31 Yellow Vest activists as well as supplementary primary texts and data, I uncover how the activists frame carbon taxation and climate change within their political struggle. The findings are four-fold: 1) the Yellow Vests are concerned about global climate change and feel their anti-climate depictions in the media are rooted in a government strategy to divide and discredit the movement; 2) they view the government’s taxing them in order to fight climate change as corrupt and unfair; 3) they argue that the carbon tax is additionally unjust due to their precarity, which has increased over several decades; 4) they want to fight climate change on their own terms and argue for more direct forms of democracy to equalize decision making. I conclude with a framework for understanding how and why popular movements oppose climate reforms.
What Is the Efficacy of a Nonoperative Program Including a Specific Stretching Protocol for Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendonitis?
Authors: Michelson James D. , Bernknopf Jacob W. , Charlson Mark D. , Merena Stephen J. , Stone Lara M.
Published: June 2021

Background

Diagnosis and treatment of tendonitis/entrapment of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) has been sporadically described in the evidence, primarily in the context of dancers and other athletes. Although various nonspecific nonoperative treatments have been described, it is not clear how often they achieve a satisfactory amount of symptom improvement.

Questions/purposes

The present study was designed to address the following questions regarding the nonoperative treatment of FHL tendonitis: (1) In a population of patients where the default management option for FHL tendonitis is a comprehensive nonsurgical approach, what proportion of patients thus treated opted not to have surgery? (2) What factors were associated with a patient’s decision to undergo surgery after a period of nonsurgical management?

Methods

The 656 patients included were all those diagnosed with FHL tendonitis who were initially treated nonoperatively in the foot and ankle division between January 2009 and December 2018. Demographics, comorbidities, examination findings, imaging results, pain scores, treatment instituted, and final outcome were obtained from the electronic medical record. The primary outcome was the decision to have surgery due to unsatisfactory symptom improvement. We compared patients who opted for surgery with those who did not after nonoperative treatment with univariable and multivariable statistics using demographics, comorbidities, and clinical findings as potential risk factors, with p < 0.05.

Results

Forty-four percent (180 of 409) of patients decided to forgo surgery after the institution of a specific FHL stretching program. Surgery was more likely in patients with clinical hallux rigidus (OR 2.4 [95% CI 1.16 to 4.97]; p = 0.02) or posteromedial ankle pain (OR 1.78 [95% CI 1.12 to 2.83]; p = 0.01) and less likely in those who completed an FHL stretching program (OR 0.15 [95% CI 0.08 to 0.27]; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

FHL tendonitis is more common than the previous evidence suggests and frequently occurs in nonathletes. Once it was diagnosed by detection of tenderness anywhere along the tendon, most frequently at the fibroosseous tunnel, nonoperative treatment focused on specific FHL stretching and immobilization in more severe cases reduced the symptoms to the extent that 44% of patients decided that surgery was unnecessary. The key to its diagnosis is awareness that this injury is possible because most patients treated in this study had been previously seen by orthopaedic providers who had not appreciated the presence of the condition, leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of more than a year in many patients.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.
Using a Claims-Based Framework to Identify Severe Maternal Morbidities in a Commercially Insured US Population
Authors: Chaisson Christine E. , Ameli Omid , Paterson Victoria J. , Weiseth Amber , Genen Linda , Thayer Sarah
Published: June 2021

Many severe maternal morbidities (SMMs) are preventable, and understanding circumstances in which complications occur is crucial. The objective was to evaluate a framework for SMM benchmarking and quality improvement opportunities. Building upon metrics defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the basis of an inpatient sample, analysis included indicators across 5 domains (Hemorrhage/Transfusion, Preeclampsia/Eclampsia, Cardiovascular, Sepsis, and Thromboembolism/Cerebrovascular). Morbidity rates per 10 000 deliveries were calculated using de-identified administrative claims in commercially insured women in the United States. Longitudinal data linked inpatient delivery episodes and 6-week postpartum period, and SMMs were assessed for present on admission and geographic variation. This retrospective analysis of 356 838 deliveries identified geographic variation in SMMs. For example, hemorrhage rates per 10 000 varied 3-fold across states from 279.7 in Alabama to 964.69 in Oregon. Administrative claims can be used to calculate SMM rates, identify geographic variations, and assess problems locally, nationally, and across payers. Identifying conditions present on admission and a postpartum window is valuable in differentiating events occurring during preadmission, inpatient stay, and postpartum periods. Targeting preventable SMMs through local and hospital-level interventions and limiting SMM progression through postdischarge monitoring may reduce the prevalence of SMM and postpartum complications.
A Critique on Psychiatric Inpatient Admissions for Suicidality in Youth
Authors: Safer Daniel J.
Published: June 2021

For the last few decades, psychiatric inpatient admissions for the treatment of suicidality in US youth have been increasing. Nonetheless, since 2007, the national rate of completed suicides by youth has steadily and sizably increased. Therefore, a literature review was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the psychiatric inpatient admission of suicidal youths. The analysis concluded that suicidality is surprisingly common in youth, completed suicide is very uncommon in early adolescence, suicidal ideation is a major reason in early adolescence for inpatient admission, girls are admitted to psychiatric inpatient units three times more than boys even though boys complete suicide four times more than girls, inpatient stays average 6 days and are quite expensive, and repeat attempts after inpatient treatment are common. Thus, filling more beds for youth with suicidality lacks evidence of a public health, long-term benefit. Expanding the focus in psychiatry to population efforts including means reductions is recommended.
The Burden of Elders
Authors: Shrum Wesley , Mbatia Paul N. , Yevuyibor Jonathan Teye , Schafer Mark , Walker Mark , Miller Paige , Palackal Antony
Published: June 2021

Although anxiety and depression have been central topics for scholars and clinicians in the United States, few studies have examined their correlates in sub-Saharan Africa and none have examined large urban slums. Using face-to-face interviews in two African cities, we analyze self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in a community-based sample (n = 495). Ordinary least squares regression was used to analyze a variety of demographic and social predictors including sex, child-rearing, marital status, education, income, age, and neighborhood for residents of Agbogbloshie (Accra, Ghana) and Kangemi (Nairobi, Kenya). Controlling for other factors, two personal network dimensions were significant. Total network size is positively associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in Kenya but not in Ghana. However, one factor was predictive of symptoms of anxiety and depression in both locations: the reported percentage of ties with older persons. Higher levels of anxiety and depression are associated with a larger share of older individuals in one's personal network.
Combination of long- and short-read sequencing fully resolves complex repeats of herpes simplex virus 2 strain MS complete genome
Authors: López-Muñoz Alberto Domingo , Rastrojo Alberto , Kropp Kai A. , Viejo-Borbolla Abel , Alcamí Antonio
Published: June 2021

Herpes simplex virus serotype 2 (HSV-2) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that causes recurrent genital infections and ulcerations. Many HSV-2 strains with different biological properties have been identified, but only the genomes of HSV-2 strains HG52, SD90e and 333 have been reported as complete and fully characterized sequences. We de novo assembled, annotated and manually curated the complete genome sequence of HSV-2 strain MS, a highly neurovirulent strain, originally isolated from a multiple sclerosis patient. We resolved both DNA ends, as well as the complex inverted repeats regions present in HSV genomes, usually undisclosed in previous published partial herpesvirus genomes, using long reads from Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) technology. Additionally, we identified isomeric genomes by determining the alternative relative orientation of unique fragments in the genome of the sequenced viral population. Illumina short-read sequencing was crucial to examine genetic variability, such as nucleotide polymorphisms, insertion/deletions and sequence determinants of strain-specific virulence factors. We used Illumina data to fix two disrupted open reading frames found in coding homopolymers after PacBio assembly. These results support the combination of long- and short-read sequencing technologies as a precise and effective approach for the accurate de novo assembly and curation of complex microbial genomes.
Adopting an American framework to optimize nursing admission documentation in an Australian health organization
Authors: Shala Danielle Ritz , Jones Aaron , Fairbrother Greg , Baysari Melissa
Published: June 2021

Objective

Apply and modify the American Essential Clinical Dataset (ECD) approach to optimize the data elements of an electronic nursing admission assessment form in a metropolitan Australian local health district.

Materials and Methods

We used the American ECD approach but made modifications. Our approach included 1) a review of data, 2) a review of current admission practice via consultations with nurses, 3) a review of evidence and policies, 4) workshops with nursing and informatics teams in partnership with the eMR vendor, and 5) team debrief sessions to consolidate findings and decide what data elements should be kept, moved, or removed from the admission form.

Results

Of 165 data elements in the form, 32% (n=53) had 0% usage, while 25% (n=43) had 100% usage. Nurses’ perceptions of the form’s purpose varied. Eight policy documents specifically prescribed data to be noted at admission. Workshops revealed risks of moving or removing data elements, but also uncovered ways of streamlining the form. Consolidation of findings from all phases resulted in a recommendation to reduce 91% of data elements.

Discussion

Application of a modified ECD approach allowed the team to identify opportunities for significantly reducing and reorganizing data elements in the eMR to enhance the utility, quality, visibility, and value of nursing admission data.

Conclusion

We found the modified ECD approach effective for identifying data elements and work processes that were unnecessary and duplicated. Our findings and methodology can inform improvements in nursing clinical practice, information management, and governance in a digital health age.