bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the formation of globular clusters: comparison with observations
Authors: Jiménez Santiago , Tenorio-Tagle Guillermo , Silich Sergiy
Published: April 2022

The paper deals with the conditions required to form at least two stellar generations in globular clusters under the constraints generated by feedback from massive stars as well as radiative cooling and the metallicity of the primordial clouds. Our calculations are based on two main constraints to the star-formation efficiency of the first stellar generation (1G) ϵ1G. First, ϵ1G is restricted to warrant that stellar winds and supernovae do not disrupt the leftover gas out of which a second generation would form. Second, ϵ1G is also limited such that the metallicity enhancement caused by trapped supernovae is, in agreement with the observations, not larger than ∼0.1 dex. Several central parameters define the globular cluster’s end result: the mass and radius of the primordial clouds, their metallicity, and ϵ1G. The parameter space composed by models which fulfilled all constraints, is here shown to coincide remarkably well with the scattered observed anticorrelation between the fraction of first-generation stars (f1G) and total cluster mass. Our models also discern, in agreement with the data, between single and multiple population clusters in a metallicity versus mass (or radius) plane. Hence, our results suggest that the presence of multiple stellar populations is closely linked to the ability of proto-globular clusters to retain a fraction of leftover gas.
Revisiting the quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination
Authors: Huang Zhiqi
Published: April 2022

The quasi-molecular mechanism of recombination (QMR), recently suggested by Kereselidze et al., is a non-standard process where an electron and two neighboring protons in the early Universe directly form an ionized hydrogen molecule in a highly excited state, which then descends to lower levels or dissociates. It has been suggested that the increased binding energy due to the participation of a second proton may lead to an earlier cosmic recombination that alleviates the Hubble tension. Revisiting the quasi-molecular channel of recombination in more details, we find that the original work significantly overestimated the probability of finding a pair of adjacent protons in the relevant epoch (z ∼ a few thousand). Our new estimation suggests that the QMR cannot be the primary cause of the Hubble tension.
Insight-HXMT measurements of the diffuse X-ray background
Authors: Huang R , Cui W , Liao J Y , Zhang S , Wang S F , Jin J , Lu X F , Guo C C , You Y , Li G , Zhang J
Published: April 2022

We present an X-ray spectrum of the diffuse X-ray background (DXRB) between 1.5 and 120 keV, as measured with the Low-Energy Detector (LE) and the High-Energy Detector (HE) aboard the Insight-HXMT satellite, based on ’blank-sky’ observations. LE covers a nominal energy range of 1–15 keV and HE 20–250 keV, but calibration issues and data quality narrowed the energy range for this work. The LE background was directly measured with ‘blind’ detector modules, while the HE background was derived from Earth-occultation data. With the LE data alone, the measured DXRB spectrum can be well-described by a power law; fitting the LE and HE data jointly, however, a spectral cut-off must be introduced in the model to account for the measurements above 30 keV. Modelling the combined spectrum with a cut-off power law, the best-fitting photon index is 1.40, normalization 9.57 $\rm ph~cm^{-2}\,s^{-1}\,keV^{-1}\,sr^{-1}$ (at 1 keV), and cut-off energy 55 keV after correcting for the effects of the Earth albedo and atmospheric emission (which are significant in the HE band). Based on the best-fitting cut-off power law, we derived the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the DXRB. The shape of the SED is in general agreement with the published measurements, but the overall normalization is lower by varying amounts, except for the HEAO-1 result, with which our result is in good agreement.
MAGRATHEA: an open-source spherical symmetric planet interior structure code
Authors: Huang(黄辰亮) Chenliang , Rice David R , Steffen Jason H
Published: April 2022

MAGRATHEA is an open-source planet structure code that considers the case of fully differentiated spherically symmetric interiors. Given the mass of each layer and the surface temperature, the code iterates the boundary conditions of the hydrostatic equations using the method of shooting to a fitting point in order to find the planet radius. The first version of MAGRATHEA supports a maximum of four layers of iron, silicates, water, and ideal gas. With a few exceptions, the temperature profile can be chosen between isothermal, isentropic, and user-defined functions. The user has many options for the phase diagram and equation of state in each layer and we document how to add additional equations of state. We present MAGRATHEA’s capabilities and discuss its applications. We encourage the community to participate in the development of MAGRATHEA at https://github.com/Huang-CL/Magrathea.
Combining radiomics and deep convolutional neural network features from preoperative MRI for predicting clinically relevant genetic biomarkers in glioblastoma
Authors: Calabrese Evan , Rudie Jeffrey D , Rauschecker Andreas M , Villanueva-Meyer Javier E , Clarke Jennifer L , Solomon David A , Cha Soonmee
Published: April 2022

Background

Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain malignancy, yet treatment options are limited, and prognosis remains guarded. Individualized tumor genetic assessment has become important for accurate prognosis and for guiding emerging targeted therapies. However, challenges remain for widespread tumor genetic testing due to costs and the need for tissue sampling. The aim of this study is to evaluate a novel artificial intelligence method for predicting clinically relevant genetic biomarkers from preoperative brain MRI in patients with glioblastoma.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed preoperative MRI data from 400 patients with glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype or WHO grade 4 astrocytoma, IDH mutant who underwent resection and genetic testing. Nine genetic biomarkers were assessed: hotspot mutations of IDH1 or TERT promoter, pathogenic mutations of TP53, PTEN, ATRX, or CDKN2A/B, MGMT promoter methylation, EGFR amplification, and combined aneuploidy of chromosomes 7 and 10. Models were developed to predict biomarker status from MRI data using radiomics features, convolutional neural network (CNN) features, and a combination of both.

Results

Combined model performance was good for IDH1 and TERT promoter hotspot mutations, pathogenic mutations of ATRX and CDKN2A/B, and combined aneuploidy of chromosomes 7 and 10, with receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC AUC) >0.85 and was fair for all other tested biomarkers with ROC AUC >0.7. Combined model performance was statistically superior to individual radiomics and CNN feature models for prediction chromosome 7 and 10 aneuploidy, MGMT promoter methylation, and PTEN mutation.

Conclusions

Combining radiomics and CNN features from preoperative MRI yields improved noninvasive genetic biomarker prediction performance in patients with WHO grade 4 diffuse astrocytic gliomas.
Plant peptidoglycan precursor biosynthesis: Conservation between moss chloroplasts and Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Dowson Amanda J , Lloyd Adrian J , Cuming Andrew C , Roper David I , Frigerio Lorenzo , Dowson Christopher G
Published: April 2022

Accumulating evidence suggests that peptidoglycan, consistent with a bacterial cell wall, is synthesized around the chloroplasts of many photosynthetic eukaryotes, from glaucophyte algae to early-diverging land plants including pteridophyte ferns, but the biosynthetic pathway has not been demonstrated. Here, we employed mass spectrometry and enzymology in a two-fold approach to characterize the synthesis of peptidoglycan in chloroplasts of the moss Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens. To drive the accumulation of peptidoglycan pathway intermediates, P. patens was cultured with the antibiotics fosfomycin, D-cycloserine, and carbenicillin, which inhibit key peptidoglycan pathway proteins in bacteria. Mass spectrometry of the trichloroacetic acid-extracted moss metabolome revealed elevated levels of five of the predicted intermediates from uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) through the uridine diphosphate N-acetylmuramic acid (UDP-MurNAc)-D,L-diaminopimelate (DAP)-pentapeptide. Most Gram-negative bacteria, including cyanobacteria, incorporate meso-diaminopimelic acid (D,L-DAP) into the third residue of the stem peptide of peptidoglycan, as opposed to L-lysine, typical of most Gram-positive bacteria. To establish the specificity of D,L-DAP incorporation into the P. patens precursors, we analyzed the recombinant protein UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamate–2,6-diaminopimelate ligase (MurE) from both P. patens and the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. (Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120). Both ligases incorporated D,L-DAP in almost complete preference to L-Lys, consistent with the mass spectrophotometric data, with catalytic efficiencies similar to previously documented Gram-negative bacterial MurE ligases. We discuss how these data accord with the conservation of active site residues common to DL-DAP-incorporating bacterial MurE ligases and of the probability of a horizontal gene transfer event within the plant peptidoglycan pathway.
Genetic diversity and connectivity of the Ostreid herpesvirus 1 populations in France: A first attempt to phylogeographic inference for a marine mollusc disease
Authors: Delmotte Jean , Pelletier Camille , Morga Benjamin , Galinier Richard , Petton Bruno , Lamy Jean-Baptiste , Kaltz Oliver , Avarre Jean-Christophe , Jacquot Maude , Montagnani Caroline , Escoubas Jean-Michel
Published: April 2022

The genetic diversity of viral populations is a key driver of the spatial and temporal diffusion of viruses; yet, studying the diversity of whole genomes from natural populations still remains a challenge. Phylodynamic approaches are commonly used for RNA viruses harboring small genomes but have only rarely been applied to DNA viruses with larger genomes. Here, we used the Pacific oyster mortality syndrome (a disease that affects oyster farms around the world) as a model to study the genetic diversity of its causative agent, the Ostreid herpesvirus 1 (OsHV-1) in the three main French oyster-farming areas. Using ultra-deep sequencing on individual moribund oysters and an innovative combination of bioinformatics tools, we de novo assembled twenty-one OsHV-1 new genomes. Combining quantification of major and minor genetic variations, phylogenetic analysis, and ancestral state reconstruction of discrete traits approaches, we assessed the connectivity of OsHV-1 viral populations between the three oyster-farming areas. Our results suggest that the Marennes-Oléron Bay represents the main source of OsHV-1 diversity, from where the virus has dispersed to other farming areas, a scenario consistent with current practices of oyster transfers in France. We demonstrate that phylodynamic approaches can be applied to aquatic DNA viruses to determine how epidemiological, immunological, and evolutionary processes act and potentially interact to shape their diversity patterns.
Response of Resistant Hazelnut Cultivars to Eastern Filbert Blight in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Pscheidt Jay W. , Heckert Stephanie , Cluskey Steve A.
Published: April 2022

The hazelnut (Corylus avellana) cultivars ‘Ennis’, ‘Jefferson’, and ‘McDonald’ were inoculated with various doses of Anisogramma anomala ascospores to determine whether high concentrations of ascospores resulted in eastern filbert blight (EFB) cankers. Trees at budbreak or early shoot growth were inoculated with 0, 104, 105, 106, and 107 ascospores/ml, placed in a mist chamber for 72 h, and held for 1.5 years for canker development. Ennis trees became infected when the concentration was at least 104 ascospores/ml whereas resistant trees became infected only when the concentration was 106 or 107 ascospores/ml. The progression of EFB symptoms in a 10-ha Jefferson hazelnut orchard was also documented over a 5-year period from 2010 to 2014. EFB cankers were first observed fall 2010, averaged 7 cm in length, and were characterized by longitudinal cracks and flat or slightly sunken areas on trunks. Some cankers had a few small stromata with viable ascospores. Cankers on 143 trees were measured after leaf fall each year. Comparison between the initial canker size and the final size measured in 2014 indicated that 49% of the cankers continued to get larger but there was no indication of whether the cankers would increase or decrease in size over time. Growers should use fungicides the first few years after planting until trees are established and vigorously growing. Cankers that develop on resistant trees should be removed and destroyed prior to budbreak in the spring.
A High-Throughput Fast Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Method for Deoxynivalenol Quantification in Wheat Grain
Authors: Wang Lipu , Michel Deborah , Zhang Wentao , El-Aneed Anas , Fobert Pierre R. , Ruan Yuefeng , Berraies Samia , Cuthbert Richard , Kutcher Hadley R.
Published: April 2022

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium spp., is a destructive disease of cereal grains. Apart from grain yield loss, a major quality concern is contamination with Fusarium-produced mycotoxins, specifically deoxynivalenol (DON). Mycotoxins accumulate in the grain, making it unfit for consumption by humans and animals. Breeding cultivars with high disease resistance and low mycotoxin contamination is a priority for wheat breeders. However, DON measurement in breeding programs is expensive and time consuming due to the lack of efficient quantification methods. In this study, we established a simple fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, which employed a one-step acetonitrile extraction protocol with a short guard column to reduce complexity, cost, and analysis time. To ensure robustness and reproducibility, the method was validated according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Bioanalytical Method Validation. Furthermore, the method was applied for determination of DON in 102 wheat grain samples. Obtained results highly correlated with the conventional immunological method for all tested samples. With its ease of use, rapid sample analysis, and high sensitivity and accuracy, the method could be integrated into current FHB breeding programs to increase breeding efficiency and accelerate screening progress to identify germplasm with increased resistance to DON accumulation.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Hemorrhoidal disease
Authors: Pullen Richard L.
Published: April 2022

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a common anorectal disorder that affects at least 10 million people in the US, with a peak incidence in individuals between the ages of 45 and 65. This article discusses the signs, symptoms, risk factors, classification, treatment, and nursing interventions for patients with HD.
Protecting yourself from PPE skin injuries
Authors: Stiger Ivan
Published: April 2022

Nurses are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for extended periods while providing patient care during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This article identifies dermatologic issues of extended PPE use, explores the risks of injury, and offers prevention strategies.
Hidden realities of electrical injuries
Authors: McCollum Kyle , Gowrishankar T.R. , Lee Raphael C.
Published: April 2022

The clinical spectrum of electrical injury ranges from the absence of any external physical signs to severe and life-threatening trauma. This article discusses the fundamental concepts and misunderstandings surrounding electrical injuries and the best practices for evaluation and treatment.
The Impact of a Machine Learning Early Warning Score on Hospital Mortality: A Multicenter Clinical Intervention Trial
Authors: Winslow Christopher J. , Edelson Dana P. , Churpek Matthew M. , Taneja Munish , Shah Nirav S. , Datta Avisek , Wang Chi-Hsiung , Ravichandran Urmila , McNulty Patrick , Kharasch Maureen , Halasyamani Lakshmi K.
Published: April 2022

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the impact of a machine learning early warning risk score, electronic Cardiac Arrest Risk Triage (eCART), on mortality for elevated-risk adult inpatients.

DESIGN:

A pragmatic pre- and post-intervention study conducted over the same 10-month period in 2 consecutive years.

SETTING:

Four-hospital community-academic health system.

PATIENTS:

All adult patients admitted to a medical-surgical ward.

INTERVENTIONS:

During the baseline period, clinicians were blinded to eCART scores. During the intervention period, scores were presented to providers. Scores greater than or equal to 95th percentile were designated high risk prompting a physician assessment for ICU admission. Scores between the 89th and 95th percentiles were designated intermediate risk, triggering a nurse-directed workflow that included measuring vital signs every 2 hours and contacting a physician to review the treatment plan.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

The primary outcome was all-cause inhospital mortality. Secondary measures included vital sign assessment within 2 hours, ICU transfer rate, and time to ICU transfer. A total of 60,261 patients were admitted during the study period, of which 6,681 (11.1%) met inclusion criteria (baseline period n = 3,191, intervention period n = 3,490). The intervention period was associated with a significant decrease in hospital mortality for the main cohort (8.8% vs 13.9%; p < 0.0001; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.60 [95% CI, 0.52–0.71]). A significant decrease in mortality was also seen for the average-risk cohort not subject to the intervention (0.49% vs 0.26%; p < 0.05; adjusted OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.41–0.74]). In subgroup analysis, the benefit was seen in both high- (17.9% vs 23.9%; p = 0.001) and intermediate-risk (2.0% vs 4.0 %; p = 0.005) patients. The intervention period was also associated with a significant increase in ICU transfers, decrease in time to ICU transfer, and increase in vital sign reassessment within 2 hours.

CONCLUSIONS:

Implementation of a machine learning early warning score-driven protocol was associated with reduced inhospital mortality, likely driven by earlier and more frequent ICU transfer.
BRCA2-associated Breast Cancer in Transgender Women: Reconstructive Challenges and Literature Review
Authors: Cole Naomi A. , Copeland-Halperin Libby R. , Shank Nina , Shankaran Vidya
Published: April 2022

Breast cancer in trans women is rare. Only 21 cases have been reported worldwide. Multidisciplinary teams must balance oncologic treatment with patient goals. Here we describe a case of invasive ductal carcinoma in a transgender woman who was found to have a BRCA2 gene mutation. A shared decision-making process led to the patient undergoing bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate tissue expander placement. Later findings prompted discussions about adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. Additionally, we discuss the complexities associated with reconstructing a transfeminine chest.
The Practice of Psychiatric E-Consultation: Current State and Future Directions
Authors: Adams Thomas C. E. , Lim Christopher T. , Huang Hsiang
Published: April 2022

Objective

This article summarizes the existing literature on psychiatric electronic consultation (e-consultation or e-consult) to provide guidance on psychiatric e-consult practice and suggest next steps in research on psychiatric e-consults.

Method

A narrative review was conducted using relevant search terms in PubMed and Google Scholar.

Results and Discussion

The psychiatric e-consult is a method of asynchronous consultation between primary care providers and psychiatric specialists that is associated with primary care provider satisfaction and promotes access to specialist guidance in mental health care. Major themes in the literature include contextual factors that affect implementation of psychiatric e-consult services, outcomes associated with psychiatric e-consults, and specific practical considerations that may affect psychiatric e-consult technique.

Conclusions

Psychiatric e-consults may help address the widespread lack of access to specialty psychiatric care. Further studies are needed to examine clinical outcomes based on psychiatry e-consults.
Transluminal Nd: YAG laser embolysis for branch retinal artery occlusion
Authors: Zhang Wei , An Ning , Zhang Xi , Gu Wei , Peng Xiaoyan
Published: April 2022

Rationale:

Central retinal artery occlusion and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) result in partial or complete retinal ischemia and sudden loss of vision; to date there is no effective therapy for central retinal artery occlusion and BRAO. Transluminal Nd:YAG laser embolysis (TYE) could represent a therapeutic approach for retinal vascular occlusive diseases.

Patient concerns:

We report 2 cases with BRAO, 1 with inferor-temporal and 1 with superor hemiretinal BRAO. All the patients complained of a history of sudden blurry vision and impaired visual field and had a visible embolus within the intravascular, all of them treated with TYE, the laser applications being delivered directly to the embolus.

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis was based on the results from color retinography, optical coherence tomography and visual field testing. Fundus fluorescein angiography clearly indicated the location of retinal artery occlusion.

Interventions:

The patients’ symptoms could not be relieved after dilating the blood vessels in the eye, lowering intraocular pressure, massaging the eyeball, and inhaling oxygen. Informed consent was obtained from the patient for TYE and the patients were referred for this procedure.

Outcomes:

Upon the successful competition of the TYE procedure the embolus was removed completely, restoring the blood flow in the intraocular vessels and improving significantly the patients’ visual acuity.

Lessons:

World-wide experience with TYE is still limited, but the technique seems feasible for the treatment of RAO caused by visible emboli on the optic disc surface and the posterior pole of the fundus oculi.
Two cases of neurilemmoma in the nasal vestibule
Authors: Heo Sung Jae , Kim A. Young , Kim Jung Soo
Published: April 2022

Rationale:

Neurilemmoma is a benign tumor derived from the Schwann cells of the nerve sheath. The highest incidence of neurilemmoma occurs in the head and neck region; however, the nose and paranasal sinuses are rarely involved. Less than 4% of these tumors involve the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. To date, only six cases of nasal vestibule neurilemmoma have been reported.

Patient concerns:

Two patients (a 32-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman) visited our clinic with complaint of a lump in the left nasal vestibule.

Diagnosis:

Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining confirmed a neurilemmoma.

Interventions:

The mass was completely removed via an intranasal approach.

Outcomes and Lessons:

Neurilemmoma is easy to overlook because it occurs rarely in the nasal vestibule, but neurilemmoma needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Assessing the incidence of complications and malignancies in the long-term management of benign biliary strictures with a percutaneous transhepatic drain
Authors: Yoshitomi Munehiro , Kawahara Ryuichi , Taniwaki Shinichi , Midorikawa Ryuta , Kojima Satoki , Muroya Daisuke , Arai Shoichiro , Shirahama Takahisa , Kanno Hiroki , Fukutomi Shogo , Goto Yuichi , Nomura Yoriko , Akashi Masanori , Sato Toshihiro , Sakai Hisamune , Hisaka Toru , Akagi Yoshito
Published: April 2022

Percutaneous drainage catheters (PDCs) are required for the management of benign biliary strictures refractory to first-line endoscopic treatment. While biliary patency after PDC placement exceeds 75%, long-term catheterization is occasionally necessary. In this article, we assess the outcomes of patients at our institution who required long-term PDC placement.

A single-institution retrospective analysis was performed on patients who required a PDC for 10 years or longer for the management of a benign biliary stricture. The primary outcome was uncomplicated drain management without infection or complication. Drain replacement was performed every 4 to 12 weeks as an outpatient procedure.

Nine patients (three males and six females; age range of 48–96 years) required a long-term PDC; eight patients required the long-term PDC for an anastomotic stricture and one for iatrogenic bile duct stenosis. A long-term PDC was required for residual stenosis or patient refusal. Drain placement ranged from 157 to 408 months. In seven patients, intrahepatic stones developed, while in one patient each, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or hepatocellular carcinoma occurred.

Long-term PDC has a high rate of complications; therefore, to avoid the need for using long-term placement, careful observation or early surgical interventions are required.
The Detection Performance of 18F–Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen-1007 PET/CT in Primary Prostate Cancer
Authors: Huang Ya-Ting , Tseng Neng-Chuan , Chen Yen-Kung , Huang Kuo-How , Lin Hsiu-Ying , Huang Ya-Yao , Hwang Thomas I. S. , Ou Yen-Chuan
Published: April 2022

Background

Multiple tools are now available to determine the requirement for a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer, and PET/CT with radiolabeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–targeting radiotracers has been recommended for detecting primary prostate cancer. Particularly, the radiotracer 18F-PSMA-1007 was found to be more favorable for primary tumors compared with other PSMA-targeting radiotracers because of its low clearance via the urinary tract and better image resolution. Thus, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to more accurately evaluate the detection performance of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in primary prostate cancer patients.

Methods

An update on the databases of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for comprehensive literature search was performed on September 30, 2021. The pooling detection rate was calculated on a per-patient basis. The pooling median of the SUVmax was analyzed from the included studies. Furthermore, the positive predictive value of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT with pathologic lesions was analyzed using the criterion standard.

Results

Twelve studies (540 patients total) were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooling detection rate of 18F-PSMA-1007 per patient was 94%, and the pooling median of SUVmax located at the intraprostate tumor was 16 (range, 3.7–77.7). The positive predictive value of 18F-PSMA-1007 per lesion with histopathological validation was 0.90, detecting regional lymph node metastasis was 0.94, and detecting localized prostatic tumors was 0.84.

Conclusions

In the current meta-analysis, we revealed the excellent performance of 18F-PSMA-1007 to detect localized prostatic tumor lesions and regional lymph node metastasis. Moreover, the uptake of localized tumors in primary prostate cancer was nearly liver uptake and may be considered a suspicious malignancy if it was equal to or greater than the liver uptake.
Usefulness of 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT on Diagnosis and Management of Cushing Syndrome
Authors: Ding Jie , Tong Anli , Hacker Marcus , Feng Ming , Huo Li , Li Xiang
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This pilot study investigated the performance of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) molecular imaging (68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT) in Cushing syndrome (CS) and the correlation between CXCR4 signaling interactions and glucose metabolism in adrenocorticotropin-cortisol pathway.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 31 patients (16 patients with CS and 15 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary or adrenal adenomas). All patients underwent68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT, and 11 with pituitary adenoma also underwent18F-FDG PET/CT. The diagnosis accuracy of68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT was calculated. The correlation between radiouptake along the pituitary-adrenal axis and hormone levels was calculated.

Results

Patients with Cushing disease characterized a focal uptake in adrenocorticotropic hormone–producing pituitary adenoma (ACTH-PA). In ACTH-independent CS, there was increased uptake of68Ga-pentixafor in adrenal lesions but not in the pituitary fossa. The nonfunctioning pituitary or adrenal adenomas showed negative68Ga-pentixafor signal. The one patient with metastatic ectopic ACTH syndrome had multiple68Ga-pentixafor–avid lesions. Using the threshold of SUVmax>8.5 in the adrenal lesions, the sensitivity and specificity of68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT to diagnose cortisol-producing adenoma were 100% and 84.9%. A cutoff SUVmaxvalue of 3.0 on68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT had 100% sensitivity and specificity for differentiating ACTH-PA. The corresponding hormone level was significantly correlated with uptake of68Ga-pentixafor in pituitary adenoma and adrenal tissue but not with glucose metabolism.

Conclusion

We have characterized the performance of68Ga-pentixafor in different subtypes of CS.68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT is promising in the differential diagnosis of both ACTH-independent and ACTH-dependent CS. Activated CXCR4 molecular signaling along the pituitary-adrenal axis was found in patients with Cushing disease.
Tenebrionicola larvae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from larvae of mealworm Tenebrio molitor L., and a proposal to transfer Erwinia teleogrylli Liu et al. 2016 to a new genus Entomohabitans as Entomohabitans teleogrylli comb. nov.
Authors: Lee Soon Dong , Kim Seong-Min , Byeon Yeong-Sik , Yang Hong Lim , Chang Soo Hong , Kim In Seop
Published: April 2022

Two enterobacterial strains, designated YMB-R21T and YMB-R22, were isolated from larvae of mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. and examined for their taxonomic characteristics. A 16S rRNA gene-based neighbour-joining tree showed that the two isolates formed two distinct sublineages within the family

Enterobacteriaceae

and were separated from other genera of the family. The isolates showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.9 % to each other and ≤96.5 % to members of the order

Enterobacteriales

. The phylogenomic analysis based on 92 singly-copy core genes showed that the two isolates belonged to the family

Enterobacteriaceae

and formed a distinct sublineage at a position located remotely from the genera of the family. The loosely associated members were the type strain of

Erwinia teleogrylli

and members of the genus

Shimwellia

. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values showed that the isolates represented members of a novel species in the family

Enterobacteriaceae

. The values of amino acid identity between the two isolates and the closest relatives were 74.5–75.0 % with the type strain of

E. teleogrylli

and 74.5–74.8 % with the type strains of two

Shimwellia

species, while

E. teleogrylli

showed the amino acid identity values of 76.3–76.5 % with two

Shimwellia

species. Based on the results obtained here, we propose a new genus Tenebrionicola with the description of Tenebrionicola larvae sp. nov. (type strain YMB-R21T=KCTC 82597T=CCM 9152T and strain YMB-R22=KCTC 82598=CCM 9153), with the transfer of

Erwinia teleogrylli

Liu et al. 2016 to a new genus Entomohabitans as Entomohabitans teleogrylli comb. nov. (type strain SCU-B244T=CGMCC 1.12772T=DSM 28222T=KCTC 42022T).
Clinical and haematological profile of dengue among adult patients at a tertiary care hospital in Pokhara
Authors: Dhungana Durga , Banstola Bidhya , Banjara Mahesh
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Dengue is an important infectious disease. This disease is prevalent in the terai belts of Nepal mainly. But in the last few years, the cases are in increasing trend in the hilly areas of Nepal also. Hence this study was done in an aim to study the clinical and haematological profile of the dengue cases.

Methods

This was a retrospective cross-sectional quantitative study done at a tertiary teaching hospital of Pokhara, Nepal after obtaining ethical approval from the institutional ethical committee. The data of serologically confirmed dengue cases, during the period of August 2019 to December 2019, of age above 15 years, were collected and analysed using SPSS 20. Descriptive analysis in terms of mean, median, percentage as well as t-test for nominal and chi-square tests were used to compare different parameters. P-value≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Out of 922 patients, approximately one-half (50.5%) cases were seen during the month of September. Most (82.8%) were the inhabitants of Kaski district. Median age of presentation was 29 years with slightly more cases of males (52.4%). Three hundred and forty seven patients were admitted. Fever (96.5%) and headache (40.6%) were the most common symptoms on presentation of admitted cases. Leukopenia (55.3%) was more common than thrombocytopenia (47.6%) in the admitted cases. On comparison between admitted patients with warning signs and those without signs, no significant variation was seen in terms of age, total leukocyte count and total platelet count.

Conclusion

Dengue is common in young population. Fever, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms are common among dengue patients. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are common laboratory features of dengue.
Polio Virotherapy of Malignant Glioma Engages the Tumor Myeloid Infiltrate and Induces Diffuse Microglia Activation
Authors: Yang Yuanfan , Brown Michael C. , Zhang Gao , Stevenson Kevin , Mohme Malte , Kornahrens Reb , Bigner Darell D. , Ashley David M. , López Giselle Y. , Gromeier Matthias
Published: April 2022

Malignant gliomas commandeer an abundant inflammatory infiltrate with glioma-associated macrophages and microglia (GAMM) actively promoting tumor progression. Like all cells in the mononuclear phagocytic system, macrophages and microglia constitutively express the poliovirus receptor, CD155. Besides myeloid cells, CD155 is widely upregulated ectopically in the neoplastic compartment of malignant gliomas (and solid cancers in general). Intratumor treatment with the highly attenuated rhino:poliovirus chimera, PVSRIPO, yielded long-term survival with durable radiographic responses in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (Desjardins et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 2018). Here, we studied mechanisms of PVSRIPO immunotherapy in mouse brain tumor models to decipher contributions of myeloid vs. malignant cells to antitumor efficacy. PVSRIPO treatment caused intense engagement of the GAMM infiltrate associated with substantial, but transient tumor regression. This was accompanied by diffuse microglia activation and proliferation in the normal central nervous system (CNS) surrounding the tumor, extending to the ipsilateral and even the contralateral hemispheres. PVSRIPO-instigated microglia activation occurred against a backdrop of sustained innate antiviral inflammation, associated with induction of the PD-L1 immune checkpoint on GAMM. Combining PVSRIPO with PD1/PD-L1 blockade led to durable remissions. Our work implicates GAMM as active drivers of PVSRIPO-induced antitumor inflammation and reveals profound and widespread neuroinflammatory activation of the CNS-resident myeloid compartment by PVSRIPO.
The structure and evolutionary diversity of the fungal E3-binding protein
Authors: Forsberg Bjoern O.
Published: April 2022

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is a central metabolic enzyme in all living cells composed majorly of E1, E2, and E3. Tight coupling of their reactions makes each component essential, so that loss impacts oxidative metabolism pathologically. E3 retention is mediated by the E3-binding protein (E3BP), which has not previously been clearly resolved within the PDC. Here, the structure of the fungal E3BP in complex with the PDC core from N.crassa is resolved to 3.2Å, showing its mode of binding. Fungal and mammalian E3BP are shown to be orthologs, arguing E3BP as a broadly eukaryotic gene. Fungal E3BP architectures predicted from sequence data and computational models further bridge the evolutionary distance between N. crassa and humans, and suggest discriminants for E3-specificity. This is confirmed by similarities in their respective E3-binding domains, where a novel interaction is also predicted that may affect the interaction of its lipoyl substrate with recruited E3.
Determination of the specific surface of a granular porous material by the USAXS–SAXS intensity of a loosely packed powder sample
Authors: Ciccariello Salvino
Published: April 2022

Developing an earlier suggestion by Spalla, Lyonnard & Testard [J. Appl. Cryst. (2003), 36, 338–347], it is shown that the porosity and the specific surface of a porous material can be determined by the small- and ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and USAXS, respectively) intensity of a sample made up of loosely packed and rather large grains of the material, provided the Porod plot of the intensity shows two plateaux within the range of the explored scattering vectors. To this end, it is necessary to consider the system geometrically as formed by three phases: the bulk matter, the macropores and the micropores.
1-(Phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-2-carbaldehyde
Authors: Pineda Leslie W. , Ferllini Natasha , Cabezas Jorge A.
Published: April 2022

The title compound, C15H11NO3S, was prepared by a facile synthetic approach. The N atom in the pyrrole ring of the indole moiety is pyramidal (bond-angle sum = 350.0°) and the phenyl ring of the phenylsulfonyl motif forms a dihedral angle of 76.24 (7)° with the mean plane of the indole ring system. In the crystal, C—H...O and C—H...π interactions link the molecules into a three-dimensional network.
The decline in agricultural share and agricultural industrialization—some stylized facts and theoretical explanations
Authors: Liu Shouying , Wang Baojin
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The decline in the share of agriculture in both output and employment is a central feature of structural transformation. The authors present the distinct features between developed and developing countries in the process of agricultural share decline and dig into the real changes that occurred in the agricultural sector during the rapid decline in the agricultural share.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking the declining share of agriculture as a clue, the authors depict heterogeneous characteristics in the declining share of agriculture in developed and developing countries. Secondly, by criticizing the factor substitution hypothesis, the authors argue that the essence of agricultural transformation is the process of agricultural industrialization characterized by the combination, reconstruction, and continual changes of agricultural production factors. Finally, based on the theory of agricultural industrialization, this paper analyzes the combination of factors in different stages of declining agricultural share in typical economies.

Findings

In this paper, the authors find that the rapid decline in agricultural employment share is accompanied by an increase in the returns to agricultural production in developed economies. In contrast, the decline in agricultural employment share in developing economies lags, and agricultural production efficiency is way much poorer than that of developed economies. Taking the United States and Japan as examples, the authors find that the agricultural sector underwent agricultural industrialization, featured by reconstruction and upgrades of production factors combination.

Originality/value

The authors systematically reveal why huge changes occurred in the agricultural sector in developed economies during structural transformation, and also provide further thoughts and lessons for developing countries to accomplish agricultural modernization.
Rally-around-the-organizational-flag? Internal communication in a professional organization during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis
Authors: Falkheimer Jesper , Heide Mats , Simonsson Charlotte , Andersson Rickard
Published: April 2022

Purpose

This study aims, first, to explore and analyze if and how organizational members’ professions or occupations influence perceptions of internal crisis communication. The second, related, aim is to discuss the role of internal communication in creating a strong organizational identity during a prolonged crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is mainly conceptual but uses quantitative data from a survey conducted in a health-care organization in late 2020 to illustrate the theoretical reasoning.

Findings

The results show that the administrative groups perceive factors in the internal crisis communication more favorably than the professional groups. The study suggests that organizational members perceive internal crisis communication differently depending on which intra-organizational group they belong to. This further points to the absence of a “rally-around-the-flag” effect and highlights the importance of working proactively with professionals and in internal crisis communication.

Originality/value

This study highlights the role of professionals in crisis communication, which is an aspect that so far has been ignored. The internal professionalization processes and an intriguing power struggle between professions have obvious consequences for crisis communication. As shown in the overview of earlier research on internal communication, leadership and professional organizations, the prerequisites for creating an increased organizational unity among coworkers are challenging. The idea that a crisis may, as in certain political situations in society, create a “rally-around-the-flag” effect is still relevant, even if the case study is an example of how this did not happen.
Intellectual capital and the acquisition of human capital by technology-based new ventures
Authors: Zane Lee J.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Intellectual Capital (IC) is essential to the success of new technology-based firms. A key component of IC is human capital. Human capital is shown to affect firm innovation, growth, and survival positively. This paper investigates the signaling effect of technology-based start-ups’ initial stock of IC on obtaining skilled human capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher employs signaling theory to analyze primary data concerning the firm’s initial stock of IC and subsequently hired human capital from founders of 236 technology-based new ventures in the USA Hypotheses are tested through a set of hierarchical linear regressions.

Findings

This study demonstrates that the firms’ IC, in the form of quantity of founders with doctorates and intellectual property, correlates with the quality (average education level) of subsequently hired technical and business human capital. In addition, the quantity of founders with doctorates is correlated with the quantity of subsequently hired technical human capital.

Originality/value

The paper collects retrospective data from founders of technology-based new ventures. While human capital is important for technology-based firms’ innovation and growth, little research has investigated potential connections between firms’ initial IC and subsequent hiring of top-level human capital. This paper investigates these connections explicitly.
Trait affectivity and applicant reactions: a multiwave field study
Authors: Harari Michael B. , Kraus Eyran , Boyi Victor , Viswesvaran Chockalingam , Haas Craig
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Although affective accounts of organizational justice theory have been offered, suggesting a role played by trait affectivity dimensions – trait positive affectivity (TPA) and trait negative affectivity (TNA) - in shaping applicant reactions to selection procedures, research in this area relies on cognitive information processing accounts of justice perceptions. Thus, the role played by TPA and TNA in shaping applicant reactions is an underexplored area. This study explicates and tests the role of TPA and TNA in shaping reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out a three-wave field study of police job applicants, measuring TPA and TNA before testing and applicant justice perceptions and recommendation intentions pre-feedback and post-feedback.

Findings

TPA, but not TNA, was positively associated with justice perceptions and recommendation intentions. Mediation analyses suggested that the TPA-recommendation intentions relationship was mediated through justice perceptions.

Practical implications

Recruiting high TPA applicants can benefit future applicant pools due to enhanced recommendation intentions. High TPA applicants react more favorably to positive features; thus, procedures should conform to procedural justice rules so that favorable aspects exist for high TPA applicants to respond favorably towards.

Originality/value

The authors’ work is the first to integrate affective accounts of the justice perception formation process into applicant reactions research. Their work supports a role served by affect in shaping applicant fairness perceptions and provides novel and important insights for both theory and practice.
Libraries and financial literacy
Authors: Kiszl Péter , Winkler Bea
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The recent financial crises and the economic problems caused by the pandemic highlight the importance of financial literacy (FL). Libraries have an essential role in developing informational literacy and promoting access to information. In this study the authors seek to identify, based on the published literature, in which areas and in what roles libraries engage in the development of FL, and what options are available for those who intend to set out in this direction in the near future.

Design/methodology/approach

The basis of the research is a review of the literature, as comprehensive as possible, achieved by keyword- and discipline-focused searches run in the Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), the Web of Science (WoS) and the Scopus database. At the beginning of the study, the initial list of results had 765 publications, but this number decreased significantly after removing duplicates and sorting the results. Finally, 138 publications were included in the analysis.

Findings

Libraries engage in the development of FL mostly through their collections, with recommendations, through education, by organizing programs and through information service. Most successful methods do not require any specialized FL knowledge from librarians. Necessary competences are more related to organizational skills, cooperation with partners and creativity.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on publications which include the term financial culture, any of its synonyms, or broader or more specific terms and which are related to libraries in the manner described in the search strategy. The international literature databases chosen for the searches limited the scope of the articles available for inclusion.

Originality/value

The study summarizes the results in libraries related to FL from the past 10 years. There has been no other similar summary published recently applicable in practice.
The Politics of Covid Vaccine Hesitancy and Opposition
Authors: Sorell Tom , Butler Jethro
Published: April 2022

Opposition to vaccines is not a new phenomenon, but positions once associated with traditional religious or conservative stances have given way to some highly disparate views that transcend traditional left/right/religious divisions. This article reviews recent literature showing how social media has contributed to the spread of conspiracy theories around Covid‐19 and mass vaccination programmes. The narratives discussed are principally those of the right and the religious right.