bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spin-wave modes of magnetic bimerons in nanodots
Authors: Jin Chendong , Li Shuang , Zhang Hu , Wang Ruining , Wang Jianglong , Lian Ruqian , Gong Penglai , Shi Xingqiang
Published: June 2022

We report the resonance excitations and the spin-wave modes of a single bimeron in a confined nanodot by using micromagnetic simulations. Magnetic bimerons can be considered as in-plane topological spin textures of magnetic skyrmions, which means that the spin-wave modes of bimerons also rotate in-plane compared to skyrmions, for example, through the application of out-of-plane microwave magnetic fields, the spin-wave mode of bimerons is no longer a breathing mode but contains a counterclockwise mode at low frequencies and a clockwise mode at high frequencies. When in-plane microwave magnetic fields rotated at different angles are applied, the spin-wave mode of bimerons has an anisotropic property, i.e., the spin-wave mode presents as a breathing mode for the microwave magnetic field applied along the x-direction, and a couple of azimuthal modes for the microwave magnetic field applied along the y-direction. Moreover, we demonstrate that the breathing mode, the counterclockwise rotation mode, and the clockwise rotation mode can simultaneously appear together when the microwave magnetic field is applied at a specific angle in the plane. In addition to the three typical spin-wave modes, two high-phase counterclockwise rotation modes lead to the periodic deformation of bimerons due to the broken rotational symmetry of the spin texture. Our results reveal the rich spin-wave modes of bimerons, which may contribute to the applications in spintronics and magnonics.
Joint explanation of W-mass and muon g–2 in the 2HDM*
Authors: Han Xiao-Fang , Wang Fei , Wang Lei , Yang Jin-Min , Zhang Yang
Published: June 2022

Because both W-mass and muon

can be affected by mass splittings among extra Higgs bosons

in a two-Higgs-doublet model, we take a model with μ-τ lepton flavor violation interactions to examine the two anomalies reported by CDF II and FNAL. We obtain the following observations: (i) Combined with theoretical constraints, the CDF W-mass measurement disfavors H or A degenerating in mass with

but allows H and A to degenerate. The mass splitting between

and

must be larger than 10 GeV.

and

are favored to be smaller than 650 GeV for

GeV and allowed to have larger values with increasing

. (ii) After imposing other relevant experimental constraints, there are parameter spaces that simultaneously satisfy (at the

level) the CDF W-mass, FNAL muon

, and data on lepton universality in τ decays; however, the mass splittings among extra Higgs bosons are strictly constrained.
On the origin of high harmonic fast wave edge losses in NSTX
Authors: Tierens W. , Bilato R. , Bertelli N. , Shiraiwa S. , Myra J. , Colas L.
Published: June 2022

Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain the high harmonic fast wave edge losses in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) (Perkins et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett.
109 045001). Here, we discuss a newly discovered edge loss mechanism (Tierens et al 2021 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
64 035001) which involves the resonant excitation of surface waves on filaments. We show that this edge loss mechanism can explain the main parameter dependencies observed in NSTX experiments.
Materials challenges for successful roll-out of commercial fusion reactors
Authors: Quadling Amanda , Lee William Edward , Astbury Jack
Published: June 2022

As members of the UK fusion community (covering national laboratories, academia and industry), we approached various colleagues to put together articles for this special issue of the Journal of Physics: Energy covering the materials challenges through to successful roll-out of fusion reactors. This paper serves to introduce the special issue and gives our opinion on the key challenges, many of which are covered in more detail in the submitted papers. Others may have differing opinions about what the key challenges are, but what we will all agree on is that they are substantial and will require sizeableresources to be addressed. Further, while we are all UK-based, all humankind will benefit from successful commercial roll-out of fusion for energy production, and the effort has been and will continue to be global. Fusion has entered the engineering era. Moving from plasma science to experiments demonstrating the benefits of modified torus shapes and advanced divertor geometries, the ‘field’ has become an ‘industry’. Investors now focus on whether superconducting magnet joints are feasible in large tokamak designs and how to deliver net energy to the grid. As with all technology trajectories, materials (both structural and functional) are the key enablers. For fusion materials, the three major challenges remain resilience to the combined damaging effects of tritium, transmutation and neutron bombardment (a veritable ‘triple whammy’), achieving suitable irradiation strategies for adequate damage studies (with optimal use of modelling as complementary science) and defining material safety and waste guidance in an era of evolving regulation. In the following, we highlight issues around ‘the triple whammy’, the resulting need for testing facilities and modelling proxies, and aspects of regulating materials in, and waste generated from, operating fusion reactors.
Online in silico validation of disease and gene sets, clusterings or subnetworks with DIGEST
Authors: Adamowicz Klaudia , Maier Andreas , Baumbach Jan , Blumenthal David B
Published: June 2022

As the development of new drugs reaches its physical and financial limits, drug repurposing has become more important than ever. For mechanistically grounded drug repurposing, it is crucial to uncover the disease mechanisms and to detect clusters of mechanistically related diseases. Various methods for computing candidate disease mechanisms and disease clusters exist. However, in the absence of ground truth, in silico validation is challenging. This constitutes a major hurdle toward the adoption of in silico prediction tools by experimentalists who are often hesitant to carry out wet-lab validations for predicted candidate mechanisms without clearly quantified initial plausibility. To address this problem, we present DIGEST (in silico validation of disease and gene sets, clusterings or subnetworks), a Python-based validation tool available as a web interface (https://digest-validation.net), as a stand-alone package or over a REST API. DIGEST greatly facilitates in silico validation of gene and disease sets, clusterings or subnetworks via fully automated pipelines comprising disease and gene ID mapping, enrichment analysis, comparisons of shared genes and variants and background distribution estimation. Moreover, functionality is provided to automatically update the external databases used by the pipelines. DIGEST hence allows the user to assess the statistical significance of candidate mechanisms with regard to functional and genetic coherence and enables the computation of empirical $P$-values with just a few mouse clicks.
Structural integrity of the anterior mid-cingulate cortex contributes to resilience to delirium in SuperAging
Authors: Katsumi Yuta , Wong Bonnie , Cavallari Michele , Fong Tamara G , Alsop David C , Andreano Joseph M , Carvalho Nicole , Brickhouse Michael , Jones Richard , Libermann Towia A , Marcantonio Edward R , Schmitt Eva , Shafi Mouhsin M , Pascual-Leone Alvaro , Travison Thomas , Barrett Lisa Feldman , Inouye Sharon K , Dickerson Bradford C , Touroutoglou Alexandra
Published: June 2022

Despite its devastating clinical and societal impact, approaches to treat delirium in older adults remain elusive, making it important to identify factors that may confer resilience to this syndrome. Here, we investigated a cohort of 93 cognitively normal older patients undergoing elective surgery recruited as part of the Successful Aging after Elective Surgery study. Each participant was classified either as a SuperAger (n = 19) or typically aging older adult (n = 74) based on neuropsychological criteria, where the former was defined as those older adults whose memory function rivals that of young adults. We compared these subgroups to examine the role of preoperative memory function in the incidence and severity of postoperative delirium. We additionally investigated the association between indices of postoperative delirium symptoms and cortical thickness in functional networks implicated in SuperAging based on structural magnetic resonance imaging data that were collected preoperatively. We found that SuperAging confers the real-world benefit of resilience to delirium, as shown by lower (i.e. zero) incidence of postoperative delirium and decreased severity scores compared with typical older adults. Furthermore, greater baseline cortical thickness of the anterior mid-cingulate cortex—a key node of the brain’s salience network that is also consistently implicated in SuperAging—predicted lower postoperative delirium severity scores in all patients. Taken together, these findings suggest that baseline memory function in older adults may be a useful predictor of postoperative delirium risk and severity and that superior memory function may contribute to resilience to delirium. In particular, the integrity of the anterior mid-cingulate cortex may be a potential biomarker of resilience to delirium, pointing to this region as a potential target for preventive or therapeutic interventions designed to mitigate the risk or consequences of developing this prevalent clinical syndrome.
Enhanced methanol-to-olefins (MTO) performance over SAPO-34 molecular sieves synthesized using novel sources of silicon and aluminium
Authors: Guo Lei , Xing Aihua , Zhu Weiping , Li Fei , Guo Zhihui
Published: June 2022

As the core technology of methanol-to-olefins (MTO), the development of a high-efficiency and low-cost molecular sieve catalyst has always been the most important challenge. Herein, SAPO-34 molecular sieves were synthesized by using three different compositions of amorphous aluminium silicate as both Si and Al source under the same conditions. The structure and composition of synthesized SAPO-34s were investigated using X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence, while the morphology and physical properties were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption measurements. Compared to the silica sol as the Si source, the SAPO-34s prepared with amorphous aluminium silicate show the higher solid yields and crystallinity, larger surface area and lower numbers of acid sites. Besides the effect of Si, the effect of the Al source on the textural structure and catalytic performance of SAPO-34s in MTO reactions was investigated in detail. The results confirmed that the SAPO-34s prepared using amorphous aluminium silicate have low Si content and hierarchical structure, which results in a longer catalytic lifetime and higher selectivity for light olefins. The sample S2 exhibited the longest lifetime of 214 min and the highest selectivity for light olefins of 85.37%. This also provides a potential for the approach to obtain a high-efficiency catalyst with enhanced catalytic performance and low cost.
Diagnosis 101: diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Lerma Edgar V
Published: June 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) attributed to diabetes occurs in 20%–40% of patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is recognized as the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease in the USA and most Western countries. For quite some time, it has been recognized that treatments based on inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can reduce the rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with DKD. Recently however, several novel agents, namely sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, were demonstrated to not only improve glycemic control but also to improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Another agent, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid antagonist, has also been shown to have cardiorenal benefits in patients with DKD. With such new developments, one would expect that it would eventually translate into further slowing CKD progression in the DKD population, provided that patients are diagnosed appropriately and in a timely manner. In this study, the authors attempt to investigate real-world data, looking at how well providers are establishing the diagnosis of DKD and its potential implications.
FGDB: a comprehensive graph database of ligand fragments from the Protein Data Bank
Authors: Toti Daniele , Macari Gabriele , Barbierato Enrico , Polticelli Fabio
Published: June 2022

This work presents Fragment Graph DataBase (FGDB), a graph database of ligand fragments extracted and generated from the protein entries available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). FGDB is meant to support and elicit campaigns of fragment-based drug design, by enabling users to query it in order to construct ad hoc, target-specific libraries. In this regard, the database features more than 17 000 fragments, typically small, highly soluble and chemically stable molecules expressed via their canonical Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) representation. For these fragments, the database provides information related to their contact frequencies with the amino acids, the ligands they are contained in and the proteins the latter bind to. The graph database can be queried via standard web forms and textual searches by a number of identifiers (SMILES, ligand and protein PDB ids) as well as via graphical queries that can be performed against the graph itself, providing users with an intuitive and effective view upon the underlying biological entities. Further search mechanisms via advanced conjunctive/disjunctive/negated textual queries are also possible, in order to allow scientists to look for specific relationships and export their results for further studies. This work also presents two sample use cases where maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase and mesotrypsin are used as a target, being proteins of high biomedical relevance for the development of cancer therapies.

Database URL: http://biochimica3.bio.uniroma3.it/fragments-web/
Analysis of Differential Gene Expression of the Aquatic Insect Protohermes costalis (Walker) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) in Response to Cadmium Exposure
Authors: Wen Fasheng , Yang Jie , Huang Xingrui , Huang Xinglong
Published: June 2022

Heavy metal pollution in freshwater ecosystems is a serious threat to aquatic organisms. Species of Megaloptera are important predators of aquatic invertebrates and have been widely used as bioindicators in assessing the quality of freshwater ecosystems. In this study, we determined the differential gene expression profile of Protohermes costalis (Walker) (Megaloptera: Corydalidae) in response to cadmium (Cd) exposure by using transcriptome analysis. A total of 60,627 unigenes were obtained in the transcriptomes of 150 mg/liter (PL), 1,000 mg/liter (PH) CdCl2 treatment, and the no Cd control (PC). Differential expression gene (DEG) analysis by pairwise comparison identified 2,794 DEGs after filtering the noninsect genes and repetitive counts. 606 DEGs were shared in comparisons of PL versus PC and PH versus PC, with 165 DEGs consistently up-regulated and 441 down-regulated by both PL and PH. Six heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the HSP70 family were identified in P. costalis and PcosHSP68 was up-regulated by both PL and PH. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) confirmed that the expression levels of PcosHSP68 in PL and PH were higher than that of PC by 31 and 197%, respectively. These results showed that exposure to Cd altered the gene expression profiles of P. costalis and the transcriptome data presented in this study provide insight into future studying on molecular mechanisms of Cd toxicity to these insects.
Atrioventricular 2:1-conduction via an accessory pathway during left atrial flutter unmasking WPW syndrome: a case report
Authors: Huttelmaier Moritz Till , Herting Jonas , Fischer Thomas Horst
Published: June 2022

Background

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are most effective in treating sudden cardiac death. However, accurate diagnostic workup of broad complex tachycardia is crucial to ensure correct indication for ICD treatment and to avoid unnecessary invasive treatment and device-associated morbidity.

Case summary

We present a case of atypical atrial flutter with 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction via a left-posterior accessory pathway (AP), leading to the diagnosis of Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Upon admission, the 72-year-old patient showed a regular broad complex tachycardia with superior axis and positive concordance in precordial leads, suggestive of either ventricular tachycardia (VT), antidromic AV re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT), or supraventricular tachycardia with antegrade conduction via a left-posterior AP. Interrogation of the two-chamber ICD, which was very likely implanted unjustified in a peripheral clinic before, revealed atrial flutter with 2:1 AV conduction. Remarkably, after the restoration of sinus rhythm, no classic echocardiogram (ECG) criteria for preexcitation syndrome were detected. An invasive electrophysiological study proved the diagnosis of a bidirectionally conducting, left-posterior AP, which was successfully ablated.

Discussion

Differential diagnosis of broad complex tachycardia with superior axis and positive concordance of chest leads consists of i) VT with a left ventricular exit at the posterior mitral annulus, ii) antidromic AVRT involving a left-posterior AP, and iii) supraventricular tachycardia predominantly conducted via a left-posterior AP. The absence of classic ECG criteria for preexcitation syndrome does not rule out AP sufficiently, highlighting the importance of minimal surface-ECG preexcitation criteria. In the case of detection of minimal surface-ECG preexcitation criteria, administration of adenosine rules out or proves the existence of an AP noninvasively and cost-effectively.
Psychosocial and clinical characteristics of a patient with Takotsubo syndrome and her healthy monozygotic twin: a case report
Authors: Princip Mary , Langraf-Meister Rebecca E , Slavich George M , Pazhenkottil Aju P , Hackl-Zuccarella Claudia , Cammann Victoria L , Ghadri Jelena R , Templin Christian , von Känel Roland
Published: June 2022

Background

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction, increased myocardial biomarkers, and electrocardiographic changes. Symptoms of TTS are similar to those of acute coronary syndromes, but there is often no significant coronary stenosis. Although emotional and physical stressors are often reported as having triggered TTS, the pathogenesis is largely unknown. To address this issue, we comprehensively characterized a monozygous pair of twin sisters, one of whom experienced TTS.

Case summary

The 60-year-old Caucasian monozygotic female twins with and without TTS were examined at the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland. The twins completed questionnaires and clinical interviews assessing several sociopsychological factors. The twin sister with TTS exhibited higher levels of anxiety, vital exhaustion, social inhibition, and alexithymia, and lower levels of quality of and meaning in life. She was given the diagnoses of social phobia, adjustment disorder, specific anxiety disorder, obsessive–compulsive personality disorder, and an accentuated anxiety-avoidant personality disorder. Additionally, the twin with TTS experienced more—and also more severe—stressors involving life-threatening and dangerous situations over the life course.

Discussion

These monozygous female twins with and without TTS differed in several notable aspects of their psychological functioning, psychiatric status, personality, and lifetime stressor exposure. The results thus highlight several factors, besides genetic components, that may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TTS. Looking forward, larger studies using experimental and longitudinal designs are needed to elucidate the role that psychosocial factors play in TTS.
Histopathological findings of late-phase restenosis after directional coronary atherectomy with drug-coated balloon angioplasty: a case report
Authors: Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Emoto Takuo , Takeda Shintaro , Takaya Tomofumi
Published: June 2022

Background

Drug-coated balloon angioplasty after directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) allows for a stentless strategy providing good short-term outcomes; however, late-phase restenosis and its mechanism remain unclear. Moreover, histopathological evaluation for late-phase restenosis post-drug-coated balloon angioplasty after DCA has never been reported.

Case summary

We report the first case of late-phase restenosis post-drug-coated balloon angioplasty after DCA, wherein tissue analysis using intravascular coronary imaging and histopathology suggested neovascularization in newly developed neointimal proliferation. A 52-year-old man with a history of dyslipidaemia presented with exertional angina pectoris. He underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-coated balloon angioplasty after DCA for the proximal left anterior descending artery. Although coronary angiography after nine months revealed no restenosis, he experienced recurrent chest discomfort after 25 months. Coronary angiography confirmed late-phase restenosis, and intravascular ultrasound showed progressively developed neointima above the underlying residual plaque. Optical coherence tomography suggested developing neovascularization within the neointima. Stentless PCI with drug-coated balloon angioplasty after DCA was re-performed, and collected restenotic sample. The histopathological evaluation confirmed less-cellular neointimal proliferation with rich neovascularization and concomitant diffuse vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.

Discussion

Late-phase restenosis post-drug-coated balloon angioplasty after DCA comprised less-cellular neointima, suggesting inhibition of cell proliferation by drug-coated balloon efficacy. However, diffuse VEGF expression and concomitant rich neovascularization with haemorrhage and inflammation might indicate neointimal proliferation. Further large-scale investigations of the restenotic mechanism should be performed to avoid long-term target vascular failure after drug-coated balloon angioplasty post-DCA.
Cardiac tamponade and constrictive pericarditis due to Actinomyces meyeri bacterial pericarditis: a case report
Authors: Eng-Frost Joanne , Murray Lewis , Lorensini Scott , Harjit-Singh Rajinder Singh
Published: June 2022

Background

Purulent bacterial pericarditis (PBP) is a highly lethal infection of the pericardial space that arises as a complication of infective illnesses. Purulent bacterial pericarditis remains a diagnostic challenge given its non-specific clinical and investigative features and carries exceedingly high mortality rates due to fulminant sepsis and morbidity including constrictive pericarditis in survivors. We present our management of cardiac tamponade and subsequent constrictive pericarditis due to Actinomyces meyeri PBP.

Case summary

A 53-year-old Caucasian male presented with acute New York Heart Association Class IV dyspnoea and chest discomfort, in the context of multiple hospital presentations over the preceding 8 weeks due to presumed recurrent viral pericarditis. On this admission, initial transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated a large asymmetric pericardial effusion for which he underwent urgent pericardiocentesis. Serial TTE post-pericardiocentesis, however, demonstrated effusion re-accumulation and effusive-constrictive pericarditis, confirmed on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Fluid culture was positive for A. meyeri. He was diagnosed with PBP, but his condition deteriorated despite appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy, necessitating semi-urgent surgical pericardiectomy. He recovered well and was discharged on Day 10 post-operatively.

Discussion

Unlike uncomplicated acute viral or idiopathic pericarditis, PBP portends a very poor prognosis if unrecognized and untreated. Diagnostic challenges persist given its rarity in modern clinical practice; however, PBP should be considered in cases of seemingly recurrent pericarditis. Multi-modal cardiac imaging and careful analysis of pericardial fluid including cultures and lactate dehydrogenase/serum ratios may assist in earlier recognition. In this case, source control and symptom relief were achieved only with combined intravenous antibiotics, surgical evacuation, and pericardiectomy.
Post-operative atrial fibrillation and risk of heart failure hospitalization
Authors: Goyal Parag , Kim Michael , Krishnan Udhay , Mccullough Stephen A , Cheung Jim W , Kim Luke K , Pandey Ambarish , Borlaug Barry A , Horn Evelyn M , Safford Monika M , Kamel Hooman
Published: June 2022

Aims

Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with stroke and mortality. It is unknown if POAF is associated with subsequent heart failure (HF) hospitalization. This study aims to examine the association between POAF and incident HF hospitalization among patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries.

Methods and results

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using all-payer administrative claims data that included all non-federal emergency department visits and acute care hospitalizations across 11 states in the USA. The study population included adults aged at least 18 years hospitalized for surgery without a prior diagnosis of HF. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association between POAF and incident HF hospitalization after making adjustment for socio-demographics and comorbid conditions. Among 76 536 patients who underwent cardiac surgery, 14 365 (18.8%) developed incident POAF. In an adjusted Cox model, POAF was associated with incident HF hospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–1.41]. In a sensitivity analysis excluding HF within 1 year of surgery, POAF remained associated with incident HF hospitalization (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.01–1.31). Among 2 929 854 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery, 23 763 (0.8%) developed incident POAF. In an adjusted Cox model, POAF was again associated with incident HF hospitalization (HR 2.02; 95% CI 1.94–2.10), including in a sensitivity analysis excluding HF within 1 year of surgery (HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.38–1.61).

Conclusions

Post-operative atrial fibrillation is associated with incident HF hospitalization among patients without prior history of HF undergoing both cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries. These findings reinforce the adverse prognostic impact of POAF and suggest that POAF may be a marker for identifying patients with subclinical HF and those at elevated risk for HF.
The RNA-binding protein Swm is critical for Drosophila melanogaster intestinal progenitor cell maintenance
Authors: Ariyapala Ishara S , Buddika Kasun , Hundley Heather A , Calvi Brian R , Sokol Nicholas S
Published: June 2022

The regulation of stem cell survival, self-renewal, and differentiation is critical for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Although the involvement of signaling pathways and transcriptional control mechanisms in stem cell regulation have been extensively investigated, the role of post-transcriptional control is still poorly understood. Here, we show that the nuclear activity of the RNA-binding protein Second Mitotic Wave Missing is critical for Drosophila melanogaster intestinal stem cells and their daughter cells, enteroblasts, to maintain their progenitor cell properties and functions. Loss of swm causes intestinal stem cells and enteroblasts to stop dividing and instead detach from the basement membrane, resulting in severe progenitor cell loss. swm loss is further characterized by nuclear accumulation of poly(A)+ RNA in progenitor cells. Second Mitotic Wave Missing associates with transcripts involved in epithelial cell maintenance and adhesion, and the loss of swm, while not generally affecting the levels of these Second Mitotic Wave Missing-bound mRNAs, leads to elevated expression of proteins encoded by some of them, including the fly ortholog of Filamin. Taken together, this study indicates a nuclear role for Second Mitotic Wave Missing in adult stem cell maintenance, raising the possibility that nuclear post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs encoding cell adhesion proteins ensures proper attachment of progenitor cells.
Use of polymyxins for carbapenem-resistant infections in children and adolescents
Authors: Barco-Cabrera Carolina , Reina Yeison A , Dávalos Diana M , López Pio , Tulcán-Toro Rubén , Cantor Erika , López-Medina Eduardo
Published: June 2022

Background

Polymyxins are still used in children in some regions due to limited availability of newer antibiotics.

Objectives

To describe our experience in a cohort of children who received polymyxins for suspected or confirmed carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections (CRI), and explore potential factors associated with therapeutic success.

Methods

Retrospective, observational study in children and adolescents <18 years who received IV polymyxin B or colistin therapy for suspected or culture-documented CRI and were admitted to a high complexity clinic in Cali, Colombia between 1 September 2016 and 22 June 2020. Patients’ demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics were collected and analysed; associations with therapeutic success were explored using univariate and multivariate models.

Results

There were 40 episodes of polymyxin use (polymyxin B, n = 34; colistin, n = 6) in 34 patients with a median age of 10 years (IQR 7–15); 65% were male. There were 17 adverse events: 3 (17.6%) neurotoxic and 14 (82.4%) nephrotoxic. Therapeutic success was achieved in 28 episodes (70%), of which 32% (9/28) had adverse events. Therapeutic success decreased by 35% with each additional year of age (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.49–0.80) and by 7% for every hour that elapsed between the onset of fever and the start of appropriate antibiotic therapy (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.8–0.97) and increased with concomitant non-carbapenem treatment (OR 6.87; 95% CI 1.04–71.01) and the use of adequate empirical therapy (OR 121.36; 95% CI 2.90–1147.95).

Conclusions

Several factors were associated with the therapeutic success of polymyxins, however, more than half of episodes had therapeutic failure or adverse events. Antibiotics with greater efficacy and safety are needed in regions with high rates of CRI.
A Comparison of Topical Agents for Eschar Removal in a Porcine Model: Bromelain-enriched vs Traditional Collagenase Agents
Authors: Singer Adam J , Goradia Eshani N , Grandfield Samuel , Zhang Nigel , Shah Kunal , McClain Steve A , Sandoval Steven , Shoham Yaron
Published: June 2022

Surgical excision and grafting of deep partial-thickness (DPT) and full-thickness (FT) burns is a cornerstone of wound care. The use of commercially available topical enzymatic agents has been limited due to slower and less complete eschar removal than surgical excision. Using a porcine model of DPT and FT burns, we compared the eschar removal efficacy of a bromelain-enriched enzymatic agent derived from the stems of pineapple plants and a commercially available collagenase. We created 40 DPT and 40 FT burns on four anesthetized Yorkshire pigs. Eschar removal was initiated 24 hours later. Two pigs each were randomly assigned to collagenase or the bromelain-enriched agent. The bromelain-enriched agent was applied topically once for 4 hours followed by a 2-hour soaking. The collagenase was applied topically daily until complete removal of eschar or for up to 14 days. All bromelain-enriched treated FT burns underwent complete removal of the eschar after a single application while none of the collagenase-treated FT burns underwent complete removal of the eschar even after 14 days of treatment. All bromelain-enriched treated DPT burns had complete eschar removal after the single application. None of the collagenase-treated DPT burns experienced complete removal of eschar after 10 days; by day 14, 35% had complete eschar removal, 30% had >50% eschar removed, and 35% had <50% eschar removed. We conclude that eschar removal is quicker and more complete with the bromelain-enriched compared with collagenase debriding agent.
Wage variations and commuting distance
Authors: Aboulkacem El-Mehdi , Nedoncelle Clément
Published: June 2022

We estimate the causal impact of wage variations on commuting distance of workers. We test whether higher wages across years lead workers to live further away from their working place. We use employer–employee data for the French Ile-de-France region (surrounding Paris), from 2003 to 2008, and we deal with the endogenous relation between income and commuting using an instrumental variable strategy. We estimate that increases in wages coming from exogenous exposure to trade activities lead workers to increase their commuting distance and to settle closer to the city of Paris historical center. Our results cast novel insights upon the causal mechanisms from wage to spatial allocation of workers.
LIGO–Virgo correlations between mass ratio and effective inspiral spin: testing the active galactic nuclei channel
Authors: McKernan B , Ford K E S , Callister T , Farr W M , O’Shaughnessy R , Smith R , Thrane E , Vajpeyi A
Published: June 2022

Observations by LIGO–Virgo of binary black hole mergers suggest a possible anticorrelation between black hole mass ratio (q = m2/m1) and the effective inspiral spin parameter χeff, the mass-weighted spin projection on to the binary orbital angular momentum. We show that such an anticorrelation can arise for binary black holes assembled in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) due to spherical and planar symmetry-breaking effects. We describe a phenomenological model in which (1) heavier black holes live in the AGN disc and tend to spin-up into alignment with the disc; (2) lighter black holes with random spin orientations live in the nuclear spheroid; (3) the AGN disc is dense enough to rapidly capture a fraction of the spheroid component, but small in radial extent to limit the number of bulk disc mergers; (4) migration within the disc is non-uniform, likely disrupted by feedback from migrators or disc turbulence; (5) dynamical encounters in the disc are common and preferentially disrupt binaries that are retrograde around their centre of mass, particularly at stalling orbits, or traps. Comparisons of predictions in (q, χeff) parameter space for the different channels may allow us to distinguish their fractional contributions to the observed merger rates.
On the formation of massive quiescent galaxies with diverse morphologies in the TNG50 simulation
Authors: Park Minjung , Tacchella Sandro , Nelson Erica J , Hernquist Lars , Weinberger Rainer , Diemer Benedikt , Nelson Dylan , Pillepich Annalisa , Marinacci Federico , Vogelsberger Mark
Published: June 2022

Observations have shown that the star formation activity and the morphology of galaxies are closely related but the underlying physical connection is not well understood. Using the TNG50 simulation, we explore the quenching and the morphological evolution of the 102 massive quiescent galaxies in the mass range of 10.5 < log (Mstellar/M⊙) < 11.5 selected at z = 0. We show that galaxies tend to be quenched more rapidly if they (i) are satellites in massive haloes, (ii) have lower star-forming gas fractions, or (iii) inject a larger amount of black hole kinetic feedback energy. Following global evolutionary pathways, we conclude that quiescent discs are mainly disc galaxies that are recently and slowly quenched. Approximately half of the quiescent ellipticals at z = 0 are rapidly quenched at higher redshifts while still disc-like. While quiescent, these gradually become more elliptical mostly by disc heating, yet these ellipticals still retain some degree of rotation. The other half of quiescent ellipticals with the most random motion-dominated kinematics build up large spheroidal components before quenching primarily by mergers, or in some cases, misaligned gas accretion. However, the mergers that contribute to morphological transformation do not immediately quench galaxies in many cases. In summary, we find that quenching and morphological transformation are largely decoupled. We conclude that the TNG black hole feedback – in combination with the stochastic merger history of galaxies – leads to a large diversity of quenching time-scales and a rich morphological landscape.
Gap opening by planets in discs with magnetized winds
Authors: Elbakyan Vardan , Wu Yinhao , Nayakshin Sergei , Rosotti Giovanni
Published: June 2022

Planets open deep gaps in protoplanetary discs when their mass exceeds a gap opening mass, Mgap. We use one- and two-dimensional simulations to study planet gap opening in discs with angular momentum transport powered by MHD disc winds. We parametrize the efficiency of the MHD disc wind angular momentum transport through a dimensionless parameter αdw, which is an analogue to the turbulent viscosity αv. We find that magnetized winds are much less efficient in counteracting planet tidal torques than turbulence is. For discs with astrophysically realistic values of αdw, Mgap is always determined by the residual disc turbulence, and is a factor of a few to ten smaller than usually obtained for viscous discs. We introduce a gap opening criterion applicable for any values of αv and αdw that may be useful for planet formation population synthesis. We show that in discs powered by magnetized winds growing planets detach from the disc at planet masses below $\sim 0.1{\, {\rm M}_{\rm J}}$ inside 10 au. This promotes formation of super-Earth planets rather than gas giants in this region, in particular precluding formation of hot jupiters in situ. On larger scales, ALMA gap opening planet candidates may be less massive than currently believed. Future high-resolution observations with instruments such as the extended ALMA, ngVLA, and SKA are likely to show abundant narrow annular features at R < 10 au due to ubiquitous super-Earth planets.
Combined effects of disc winds and turbulence-driven accretion on planet populations
Authors: Alessi Matthew , Pudritz Ralph E
Published: June 2022

Recent surveys show that protoplanetary discs have lower levels of turbulence than expected based on their observed accretion rates. A viable solution to this is that magnetized disc winds dominate angular momentum transport. This has several important implications for planet formation processes. We compute the physical and chemical evolution of discs and the formation and migration of planets under the combined effects of angular momentum transport by turbulent viscosity and disc winds. We take into account the critical role of planet traps to limit Type I migration in all of these models and compute thousands of planet evolution tracks for single planets drawn from a distribution of initial disc properties and turbulence strengths. We do not consider multiplanet models nor include N-body planet–planet interactions. Within this physical framework we find that populations with a constant value disc turbulence and winds strength produce mass–semimajor axis distributions in the M–a diagram with insufficient scatter to compare reasonably with observations. However, populations produced as a consequence of sampling discs with a distribution of the relative strengths of disc turbulence and winds fit much better. Such models give rise to a substantial super Earth population at orbital radii 0.03–2 au, as well as a clear separation between the produced hot Jupiter and warm Jupiter populations. Additionally, this model results in a good comparison with the exoplanetary mass–radius distribution in the M–R diagram after post-disc atmospheric photoevaporation is accounted for.
Housewives and Entrepreneurs: Local Coalitions of Power and the Political Construction of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Turkey
Authors: Aymé Prunelle
Published: June 2022

Scholars have interpreted the popularity of women’s entrepreneurship as a co-optation of feminism by neoliberalism at a global level. I argue that we need to pay more attention to local actors promoting women’s entrepreneurship. This article focuses on projects targeting lower-class women and relies on an ethnographic survey of a handicraft market in Gaziantep, Turkey. The promotion of women’s entrepreneurship fits both the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) conservative agenda and the strategies of local businesses. I first show that although officially a civil society initiative, this project is tied to partisan, corporate, and municipal support. Second, I analyze the economic, social, and political effects of the market on saleswomen’s lives. As a site for political mobilization by the AKP, this project has implications for women’s ties with the municipality and the party. It is a telling case to analyze how women’s empowerment projects might be instrumental for a populist and authoritarian party’s agenda.
Oral administration of pentachlorophenol impairs antioxidant system, inhibits enzymes of brush border membrane, causes DNA damage and histological changes in rat intestine
Authors: Maheshwari Nikhil , Khan Aijaz Ahmed , Ali Asif , Mahmood Riaz
Published: June 2022

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a broad spectrum biocide that has many domestic and industrial applications. PCP enters the environment due to its wide use, especially as a wood preservative. Human exposure to PCP is through contaminated water and adulterated food products. PCP is highly toxic and is classified as class 2B or probable human carcinogen. In this study, we explored the effect of PCP on rat intestine. Adult rats were orally given different doses of PCP (25–150-mg/kg body weight/day) in corn oil for 5 days, whereas controls were given similar amount of corn oil. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last treatment. A marked increase in lipid peroxidation, carbonyl content, and hydrogen peroxide level was seen. The glutathione and sulfhydryl group content was decreased in all PCP treated groups. This strongly suggests the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intestine. PCP administration suppressed carbohydrate metabolism, inhibited enzymes of brush border membrane (BBM), and antioxidant defense system. It also led to increase in DNA damage, which was evident from comet assay, DNA-protein cross-linking, and DNA fragmentation. Histological studies supported the biochemical results showing marked dose-dependent tissue damage in intestines from PCP treated animals. This study reports for the first time that oral administration of PCP induces ROS, impairs the antioxidant system, damages DNA, and alters the enzyme activities of BBM and metabolic pathways in rat intestine.
An IDDES study of the near-wake flow topology of a simplified heavy vehicle
Authors: Zhang Jie , Guo Zhanhao , Han Shuai , Krajnović Siniša , Sheridan John , Gao Guangjun
Published: June 2022

The complex wake flow of a GTS (ground transportation system) model contributes to large percentage of the aerodynamic drag force. Therefore, predicting accurate wake flow will help carry out the drag reduction strategies. In this paper, the near-wake flow topology of the GTS was studied at Re = 2.7×104 to assess the capability of a hybrid RANS/LES (Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes/large eddy simulation) approach, known as IDDES (improved delayed detached eddy simulation). The current study also aims to understand the effects of different computational parameters, e.g. the spatial resolution, time step, residual level, discretization scheme and turbulence model, on this asymmetrical wake flow configuration. A comparison of IDDES with previous water channel tests, well-resolved LES, partially averaged Navier–Stokes and URANS (unsteady RANS) was included to better understand the benefits of this hybrid RANS/LES approach. The results show that on the medium and fine grids, the IDDES produces an asymmetrical flow topology (known as flow state I) in the near-wake of the vertical midplane, as reported in previous studies. The recommended parameters for the time step (1×10–4 s) and residual level (1×10–4) provide sufficient accuracy of wake predictions to show good agreement with experiments. For the convective term of the momentum equation in IDDES, the bounded central difference discretization scheme is proposed to be adopted for discretization. Additionally, URANS cannot accurately capture this asymmetrical flow field. IDDES proves to be capable of predicting the wake flow field of this simplified heavy vehicle with high accuracy. All obtained conclusions can provide references for the aerodynamic drag reduction of the GTS.
A rapid review of the red eye
Authors: McSwigan Tara M. , Beck David , Farkas Deborah
Published: June 2022

The red eye is a common presenting complaint among patients. Although assessment may seem intimidating, clinicians who are mindful of the patient's anticipated history and physical examination findings should be able to accurately diagnose and manage common conditions, identify ocular emergencies, and expedite care.
The predictive value of macaque models of preexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention
Authors: García-Lerma J. Gerardo , McNicholl Janet M. , Heneine Walid
Published: June 2022

Purpose of review

We review macaque models for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention and highlight their role in advancing currently approved and novel PrEP agents.

Recent findings

The development of the repeat low dose simian HIV (SHIV) challenge models represented a significant advancement in preclinical PrEP modeling that has allowed the investigation of PrEP under conditions that better mimic HIV exposures in humans. These models incorporate relevant drug pharmacology to inform drug correlates of PrEP protection. Models of rectal, vaginal, and penile infection are now available and have been found to predict clinical efficacy of all the currently approved PrEP strategies including daily oral PrEP with the combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or tenofovir alafenamide, and a long-acting formulation of the integrase inhibitor cabotegravir. These models are being used to test new PrEP modalities including the nucleoside reverse transcriptase-translocation inhibitor islatravir and long-acting capsid inhibitors. The SHIV models have also been supplemented by sexually transmitted infection co-infections with Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum or Trichomonas vaginalis to assess the impact of inflammation on PrEP efficacy.

Clinical efficacy validated current PrEP macaque models supporting their continued use to advance novel PrEP agents to improve global PrEP coverage.
Drug-induced optic neuropathy
Authors: Horwitz Anna , Horwitz Henrik
Published: June 2022

Drug-induced optic neuropathy is an understudied subject, and most of the evidence is based on case-reports. Amiodarone, ciprofloxacin, disulfiram, and sildenafil have been associated with optic neuropathy and their use is relatively prevalent. We therefore set out to investigate the strength of this association. In this nationwide cohort, we identified all incident users of the four drugs studied during the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2018. We then investigated their incidence of optic neuropathy in the year prior to prescription and in the year following We found that the risk of being diagnosed with optic neuropathy was 2.27 [95% confidence interval (1.29–4.00)] higher times during amiodarone therapy than in the year prior to prescription, but for the three other drugs we found no certain association. This study revealed a weak association between optic neuropathy and amiodarone; however, we were unable to confirm any association with ciprofloxacin, sildenafil, and disulfiram.