bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling of dcMS and HiPIMS process with hydrocarbon gas admixture
Authors: Fekete M , Kroker M , Souček P , Klein P , Vašina P
Published: June 2022

Magnetron sputtering in an argon and hydrocarbon gas mixture is a complex deposition process exhibiting features of both physical vapour deposition and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. The hydrocarbon gas decomposes within the plasma and then it is able to form a carbide phase with the target metal atoms or to be deposited as amorphous carbon. In this paper, a simple model for both the direct current (dcMS) and the high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) processes with hydrocarbon gas admixture is presented. The sputtered target racetrack is divided into metallic, compound, and carbon fractions to take into account both the carbide formation and the carbon deposition. To simulate the HiPIMS process, the back-attraction of ionised sputtered metal particles is incorporated into the model. The model is cross-validated with the previously published experiments which were conducted using the same deposition apparatus allowing for the direct comparison of the dcMS and HiPIMS processes. The simulated results correlate with the measured dependencies of the deposition rate, the carbon content in deposited films, and the racetrack fractions on the acetylene supply rate. The presented model is further successfully validated with the evolution of the racetrack composition calculated by SDTrimSP.
CO2 gas sensor based on Pt-, Ag-, Au- and Pd-doped InSe monolayer: a first-principles study
Authors: Cheng Wenming , Ni Jiaming
Published: June 2022

Through a first-principles study based on density functional theory, a physical model of CO2 gas molecule adsorption on an InSe monolayer was designed and built. The geometric structures of the InSe monolayer doped with different transition metal elements were optimized, and the spin-polarized energy band structure and magnetoelectric properties, such as the density of states, semimetallicity and magnetic moment of nanosheets with stable adsorbed phases, were calculated. The microscopic mechanism of these properties was analyzed by crystal field theory, and it was found that InSe monolayers are typical semiconductors, but transition metal–InSe monolayers can conduct electricity and are typical semi-metallic nanosheets. Second, the adsorption mechanism of CO2 gas molecule adsorption on InSe monolayers is studied. The calculation results show that when the O atom of the CO2 gas molecule is adsorbed on the surface of an InSe monolayer, the adsorption structure is relatively stable. The surface adsorption is mainly due to the transition of electrons on the InSe monolayer surface to the CO2 gas molecule. The doping of metal atoms gives CO2 gas molecules strong adsorption energy, promotes the magnetic properties of the adsorption system, and completes the transition from semiconductor to metal. The change of the work function of the adsorption system before and after doping indicates that this doping method can also enhance the sensitivity of the InSe monolayer to CO2 gas molecules.
Through-silicon-via induced stress-aware FinFET buffer sizing in 3D ICs
Authors: Yadav Sarita , Chauhan Nitanshu , Chawla Raghav , Sharma Arvind , Banchhor Shashank , Pratap Rajendra , Anand Bulusu
Published: June 2022

In order to keep up with scaling trends, significant efforts are being undertaken in the direction of vertical stacking of integrated circuits. With advancements in packaging technology, chips are being stacked atop each other using through-silicon-vias (TSVs). The fabrication process for TSVs on a silicon substrate for these 3D integrated circuits (ICs) introduces mechanical stresses that in turn affect the electrical parameters of the surrounding transistors depending on their orientation and distance from the TSV. This introduces significant variability in key performance metrics, especially when the devices operate at lower than nominal supply voltages. In this work, a complete methodology is developed to predict the impact on the delay of a buffer chain designed using Fin Field-Effect Transistors (FinFETs) around the TSV. First, an analytical model is developed to predict the normal stress components in the silicon wafer due to the TSV, which is subsequently converted in a layout-dependent model for variations in key device-level parameters. Subsequently, a modified logical effort-based model is proposed to predict the delay of a buffer chain designed around the TSV.
A brief review of the physical properties of charge density wave superconductor LaPt2Si2
Authors: Gupta Ritu , Thamizhavel A , Rajeev K P , Hossain Z
Published: June 2022

The study of materials with multiple phases, such as superconductivity (SC) coexisting with charge density wave (CDW) or spin density wave (SDW) instability, attracts considerable interest from the condensed matter research community. The CDW superconductors started drawing in heaps of attention soon after the discovery of CDW instability in high-T

c
cuprates, where understanding the underlying superconducting mechanism of the latter may turn out to be path-breaking for the discovery of room temperature SC. Understanding the pairing mechanism of high-T

c
superconductors necessitates less complex systems and this makes searching for CDW superconductors all the more important. Such systems avoid the additional complexity in contrast to the well-sought after Fe-based superconductors, which show more competing orders like SDW, nematicity and SC. RPt2Si2 (R = La, Pr, Eu) is a recently discovered series of materials, members of which crystallizes in CaBe2Ge2 type structure which has a close resemblance to the ThCr2Si2 type structure commonly found in pnictide-122 superconductors. This review is focused on LaPt2Si2, which undergoes a structural transition from high-temperature tetragonal to low-temperature orthorhombic structure, accompanied by a CDW transition around 112 K, which is then followed by a superconducting transition below 1.8 K. We discuss the physical properties of single crystal and polycrystalline LaPt2Si2 samples. Additionally, we present the results of transport and ac susceptibility measurements under external hydrostatic pressure to map out the temperature-pressure phase diagram of LaPt2Si2.
Floquet electronic bands and transport in magic-angle bilayer graphene
Authors: Ye Xiyin , Xu Hengyi , Zhu Xiaoming
Published: June 2022

We theoretically study Floquet band structures and transport properties of twisted bilayer graphene at the magic-angle under the irradiation of variously polarized light. The magic-angle bilayer graphene is depicted by the newly proposed ten-band tight-binding model and the iterative continued fraction method is adopted to facilitate the calculations of electronic properties in the low-frequency regime. The transitions between Floquet sidebands induce discontinuous electronic bands and energy gaps which further give rise to the antiresonances in longitudinal conductivity calculated by the Kubo formula. Furthermore, significant Hall conductivity is generated by circularly polarized light and its magnitude and sign are sensitive to light polarization as well as photoinduced bandgap-opening, offering a feasible way to tune Hall conductivity by manipulating light polarization. We finally take into account the interplay between light irradiation and short-range disorder, and reveal that disorder scattering remarkably enhances the photoinduced Hall conductivity and can be viewed as an extrinsic source to Hall conductivity.
Total power horn-coupled 150 GHz LEKID array for space applications
Authors: Paiella A. , Coppolecchia A. , de Bernardis P. , Masi S. , Cruciani A. , Lamagna L. , Pettinari G. , Piacentini F. , Bersanelli M. , Cavaliere F. , Franceschet C. , Gervasi M. , Limonta A. , Mandelli S. , Manzan E. , Mennella A. , Passerini A. , Tommasi E. , Volpe A. , Zannoni M.
Published: June 2022

We have developed two arrays of lumped element kinetic inductance detectors working in the D-band, and optimised for the low radiative background conditions of a satellite mission aiming at precision measurements of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation. The first detector array is sensitive to the total power of the incoming radiation to which is coupled via single-mode waveguides and corrugated feed-horns, while the second is sensitive to the polarisation of the radiation thanks to orthomode transducers.

Here, we focus on the total power detector array, which is suitable, for instance, for precision measurements of unpolarised spectral distortions of the CMB, where detecting both polarisations provides a sensitivity advantage. We describe the optimisation of the array design, fabrication and packaging, the dark and optical characterisation, and the performance of the black-body calibrator used for the optical tests. We show that almost all the detectors of the array are photon-noise limited under the radiative background of a 3.6 K black-body. This result, combined with the weak sensitivity to cosmic ray hits demonstrated with the OLIMPO flight, validates the idea of using lumped elements kinetic inductance detectors for precision, space-based CMB missions.
Instrumental agreement and retrospective analysis of trends in precipitation extremes in the French Mediterranean Region
Authors: Blanchet Juliette , Creutin Jean-Dominique
Published: June 2022

In this letter we show the emergence of an agreement between the instruments of a rain-gauge network to point toward a positive trend in daily precipitation extremes since 1960 in the French Mediterranean Region. We identify for each gauge the time varying parameters of the generalized extreme value distribution of annual maximum precipitation over incremental time-windows. These distributions provide for each station of the network a trend assessment over a chosen period that can be interpreted for instance as a trend of the mean or as the trend of a chosen quantile. The incremental window, i.e. a window containing the series of data available at a given date, mimics the annual assessment of the trends that could have been made through time. Each year we thus have one trend per gauge that we can look in distribution through the network in order to assess the level of consensus among instruments. We show how the increasing size of the datasets used over a period of possible climate non-stationarity progressively leads from a dissensus anarchically pointing to no trend (before the 2000s) to a consensus where a majority of gauges points toward a positive trend (after the 2000s). The detected trend in this Mediterranean Region is quite substantial. For instance the 20 year return period precipitation in 1960 turns out to become a 8 year return period precipitation in 2020. Using a simulation basis we try to characterize the effect of decadal variability that is quite readable in the consensus evolution. The proposed metrics is thought to be a good candidate for the assessment of the local time and rate of emergence of climate change that has important implications in regards to adaptation of human and natural systems.
Economic evaluation of the e-Health StandingTall balance exercise programme for fall prevention in people aged 70 years and over
Authors: Ambrens Meghan , van Schooten Kimberley S , Lung Thomas , Clemson Lindy , Close Jacqueline C T , Howard Kirsten , Lord Stephen R , Zijlstra G A Rixt , Tiedemann Anne , Valenzuela Trinidad , Vandelanotte Corneel , Chow Jessica , McInerney Garth , Miles Lillian , Woodbury Ashley , Delbaere Kim
Published: June 2022

Background

globally, falls and fall-related injuries are the leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality in older people. In our ageing society healthcare costs are increasing, therefore programmes that reduce falls and are considered value for money are needed.

Objective

to complete an economic evaluation of an e-Health balance exercise programme that reduced falls and injurious falls in community-dwelling older people compared to usual care from a health and community-care funder perspective.

Design

a within-trial economic evaluation of an assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial with 2 years of follow-up.

Setting

StandingTall was delivered via tablet-computer at home to older community-dwelling people in Sydney, Australia.

Participants

five hundred and three individuals aged 70+ years who were independent in activities of daily living, without cognitive impairment, progressive neurological disease or any other unstable or acute medical condition precluding exercise.

Main outcome measures

cost-effectiveness was measured as the incremental cost per fall and per injurious fall prevented. Cost-utility was measured as the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained.

Main results

the total average cost per patient for programme delivery and care resource cost was $8,321 (standard deviation [SD] 18,958) for intervention participants and $6,829 (SD 15,019) for control participants. The incremental cost per fall prevented was $4,785 and per injurious fall prevented was $6,585. The incremental cost per QALY gained was $58,039 (EQ5D-5L) and $110,698 (AQoL-6D).

Conclusion

this evaluation found that StandingTall has the potential to be cost-effective in specific subpopulations of older people, but not necessarily the whole older population.

Trial registration

ACTRN12615000138583.
Impact of advanced practice pharmacists on a culture response program in the emergency department
Authors: Cornell W Kyle , Hile Garrett , Stone Tyler , Hannum Jennifer , Reichert Marc , Hollinger Meredith K
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Culture response programs are an important antimicrobial stewardship strategy in the emergency department. Pharmacists often have a key role in culture response but are most often dependent on other providers to optimize a patient’s antimicrobial therapy. This study assessed the impact of advanced practice pharmacists, with independent prescribing authority, on an emergency department culture response program.

Methods

This was a quasi-experimental preimplementation vs postimplementation evaluation performed at an academic medical center, with a 91-bed adult and pediatric emergency department, during the transition from a nurse-driven to an advanced practice pharmacist–driven program. The primary endpoint was time elapsed between initial culture review and intervention.

Results

Data on 200 interventions were collected from both the pre- and postimplementation phases. Median time from culture review to intervention was 5.27 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 2.8-24.2 hours) before implementation, compared to 2.95 hours (IQR, 1.4-6.1) after implementation (P < 0.001). The nurse-driven program intervened on 27% of positive cultures, while pharmacists intervened on 42% of positive cultures. The types of interventions performed and antibiotic prescribing patterns differed between the 2 study phases, but all choices were deemed appropriate by the criteria set for the purposes of this study.

Conclusion

The roles of advanced practice pharmacists allowed for the establishment of a streamlined culture response workflow. Culture responses occurred at a faster rate than with the previous nurse-driven program while maintaining high-quality clinical decision-making.
Safety of bariatric surgery in patients with previous acute coronary events or heart failure: nationwide cohort study
Authors: Stenberg Erik , Cao Yang , Jernberg Tomas , Näslund Erik
Published: June 2022

Background

Metabolic (bariatric) surgery for patients with severe obesity and pre-existing heart disease has been reported to reduce the risk for cardiovascular events and mortality; however, concerns of short- and mid-term complications may limit the utility of metabolic surgery for these patients.

Method

This was an observational, nationwide, matched study, including all adult patients operated with a primary gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy procedure in Sweden from January 2011 until October 2020. Patients with or without previous acute coronary syndrome or heart failure were matched 1:5 using propensity scores. The primary outcome was serious postoperative complications, and secondary outcomes were the occurrence of any short-term complications, mid-term complications, weight loss, and health-related quality of life estimates after surgery

Results

Of patients who underwent metabolic surgery, 1165 patients with previous acute coronary syndrome or heart failure and 5825 without diagnosed heart disease were included in matched analyses. No difference was seen between the groups at risk for serious postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery (OR 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.95 to 1.86, P = 0.094), whereas heart disease was associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular complications (incidence 1.1 per cent versus 0.2 per cent, P < 0.001). No differences in overall mid-term complications, weight loss, or improvement of health-related quality of life were seen. Pre-existing heart disease was associated with an increased risk for bowel obstruction and strictures (OR 1.89, 95 per cent c.i. 1.20 to 2.99, P = 0.006).

Conclusion

Patients with severe obesity and heart disease undergoing metabolic surgery have an increased risk of postoperative cardiovascular complications compared with patients with severe obesity without heart disease. A careful preoperative cardiovascular work-up is needed but patients with severe obesity and heart disease should not be excluded from undergoing metabolic surgery.
Attributions for Everyday Discrimination and All-Cause Mortality Risk Among Older Black Women: A Latent Class Analysis Approach
Authors: Erving Christy L , Cobb Ryon J , Sheehan Connor
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives

This study examined the relationship between number of attributed reasons for everyday discrimination and all-cause mortality risk, developed latent classes of discrimination attribution, and assessed whether these latent classes were related to all-cause mortality risk among U.S. older Black women.

Research Design and Method

Participants were from the 2006 and 2008 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,133; 335 deaths). Vital status was collected through the National Death Index through 2013 and key informant reports through 2019. Latent class analyses were conducted on discrimination attributions. Weighted Cox proportional hazards model was used to predict all-cause mortality. Analyses controlled for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and health.

Results

Reporting greater attributions for everyday discrimination was associated with higher mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.117; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.038–1.202; p < .01), controlling for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and health as well as health behaviors. A 4-class solution of the latent class analysis specified the following attribution classes: No/Low Attribution; Ancestry/Gender/Race/Age; Age/Physical Disability; High on All Attributions. When compared to the No/Low Attribution class, membership in the High on All Attributions class was associated with greater mortality risk (HR = 2.809; CI: 1.458–5.412; p < .01).

Discussion and Implications

Findings underscore the importance of everyday discrimination experiences from multiple sources in shaping all-cause mortality risk among older Black women. Accordingly, this study problematizes the homogenization of Black women in aging research and suggests the need for health interventions that consider Black women’s multiplicity of social statuses.
A taxonomy of simulated geomagnetic jerks
Authors: Aubert Julien , Livermore Philip W , Finlay Christopher C , Fournier Alexandre , Gillet Nicolas
Published: June 2022

Geomagnetic jerks—abrupt changes in the acceleration of Earth’s magnetic field that punctuate geomagnetic records— have been richly documented over the past decades by taking advantage of the complementary strengths of ground observatory and satellite measurements. It has recently been proposed that these events originate from the interplay and timescale separation between slow convection and rapid hydromagnetic wave propagation in Earth’s outer core, with these latter waves playing a key role in the generation of jerk signals. To assess the generality of this explanation, here we analyse a catalogue of 14 events obtained during a 14 000-yr-long temporal sequence from a numerical geodynamo simulation that is the closest to date to Earth’s core conditions regarding timescale separation. Events are classified according to their dynamic origin and the depth at which they are triggered in the outer core. The majority of jerk events are found to arise from intermittent local disruptions of the leading-order force balance between the pressure, Coriolis, buoyancy and Lorentz forces (the QG-MAC balance), that leads to an inertial compensation through the emission of rapid, non-axisymmetric, quasi-geostrophic Alfvén waves from the region where this force balance is disrupted. Jerk events of moderate strength arise from the arrival at low latitudes at the core surface of hydromagnetic wave packets emitted from convective plumes rooted at the inner core boundary. As in an earlier simulation, these account well for jerk features that have recently been documented by satellite and ground observations. The more realistic timescales in the simulation reported here allow further details to be distinguished, such as multiple temporal alternations of geomagnetic acceleration pulses at low latitudes, long-range synchronization of pulse foci in space and rapid longitudinal drift of these foci at the core surface. The strongest events in the catalogue arise from disruption of the leading-order force balance near or at the core surface, from the combined influence of the arrival of buoyancy plumes and magnetic field rearrangement. The hydromagnetic waves that are sent laterally and downwards generate signals that clearly illustrate the presence of nearly synchronous ‘V-shaped’ magnetic variation patterns over a wide portion of Earth’s surface and also at mid to high latitudes, despite the source being confined to low latitudes at the core surface. Other well-known characteristics of strong geomagnetic jerks such as surges in the intensity of the secular variation and inflexions in the length-of-day variations are also reproduced in these events. Irrespectively of the event strength, our results support the hypothesis of a single physical root cause—the emission of magneto-inertial waves following a disruption of the QG-MAC balance—for jerks observed throughout the geomagnetic record.
Control of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in the Oral Cavity Is Associated With Persistence of Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV)16/18 Among Men From the HPV Infection in Men Study
Authors: Dickey Brittney L , Giuliano Anna R , Sirak Bradley , Abrahamsen Martha , Lazcano-Ponce Eduardo , Villa Luisa L , Coghill Anna E
Published: June 2022

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) incidence is increasing among men. Biomarkers that can identify oral HPV16/18 infections likely to persist, the obligate precursor for HPV-OPC, are needed.

Methods

We assessed the association between oral Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and oral HPV16/18 persistence among 63 men in the HPV Infection in Men Study who tested positive for HPV16/18 at the baseline visit. Control of oral coinfections, including EBV, could serve as a biomarker of immune competence and the ability to control oral HPV.

Results

Detection of oral EBV was significantly associated with oral HPV16/18 ≥12-month persistence.

Conclusions

Detection of oral EBV deserves evaluation as a biomarker for oral HPV persistence and HPV-related OPC.
Impact of Oxidative Stress on Risk of Death and Readmission in African Children With Severe Malaria: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Blatt Daniel B , Hanisch Benjamin , Co Katrina , Datta Dibyadyuti , Bond Caitlin , Opoka Robert O , Cusick Sarah E , Michelow Ian C , John Chandy C
Published: June 2022

Background

We hypothesized that oxidative stress in Ugandan children with severe malaria is associated with mortality.

Methods

We evaluated biomarkers of oxidative stress in children with cerebral malaria (CM, n = 77) or severe malarial anemia (SMA, n = 79), who were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial of immediate vs delayed iron therapy, compared with community children (CC, n = 83). Associations between admission biomarkers and risk of death during hospitalization or risk of readmission within 6 months were analyzed.

Results

Nine children with CM and none with SMA died during hospitalization. Children with CM or SMA had higher levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) (P < .001) and lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than CC (P < .02). Children with CM had a higher risk of death with increasing HO-1 concentration (odds ratio [OR], 6.07 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.17–31.31]; P = .03) but a lower risk of death with increasing SOD activity (OR, 0.02 [95% CI, .001–.70]; P = .03). There were no associations between oxidative stress biomarkers on admission and risk of readmission within 6 months of enrollment.

Conclusions

Children with CM or SMA develop oxidative stress in response to severe malaria. Oxidative stress is associated with higher mortality in children with CM but not with SMA.

Clinical Trials Registration

NCT01093989.
Optimal dosing of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime for critically ill paediatric patients. Can we use microsampling?
Authors: Guerra Valero Yarmarly C , Dorofaeff Tavey , Coulthard Mark G , Sparkes Louise , Lipman Jeffrey , Wallis Steven C , Roberts Jason A , Parker Suzanne L
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To describe the population pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime in critically ill paediatric patients and provide dosing recommendations. We also sought to evaluate the use of capillary microsampling to facilitate data-rich blood sampling.

Methods

Patients were recruited into a pharmacokinetic study, with cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime concentrations from plasma samples collected at 0, 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 h used to develop a population pharmacokinetic model using Pmetrics. Monte Carlo dosing simulations were tested using a range of estimated glomerular filtration rates (60, 100, 170 and 200 mL/min/1.73 m2) and body weights (4, 10, 15, 20 and 40 kg) to achieve pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) targets, including 100% ƒT>MIC with an MIC breakpoint of 1 mg/L.

Results

Thirty-six patients (0.2–12 years) provided 160 conventional samples for inclusion in the model. The pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and desacetylcefotaxime were best described using one-compartmental model with first-order elimination. The clearance and volume of distribution for cefotaxime were 12.8 L/h and 39.4 L, respectively. The clearance for desacetylcefotaxime was 10.5 L/h. Standard dosing of 50 mg/kg q6h was only able to achieve the PK/PD target of 100% ƒT>MIC in patients >10 kg and with impaired renal function or patients of 40 kg with normal renal function.

Conclusions

Dosing recommendations support the use of extended or continuous infusion to achieve cefotaxime exposure suitable for bacterial killing in critically ill paediatric patients, including those with severe or deep-seated infection. An external validation of capillary microsampling demonstrated skin-prick sampling can facilitate data-rich pharmacokinetic studies.
Acute kidney injury in cystic fibrosis patients treated with intravenous colistimethate sodium or tobramycin
Authors: Lipp Madeline A , Crass Ryan L , Fitzgerald Linda J , Patel Twisha S , Simon Richard H , Lenhan Blair E , Han MeiLan K , Jia Shijing
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Colistimethate sodium and tobramycin are important systemic antibiotics for treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbations but can induce acute kidney injury (AKI). We characterize the rate of AKI in CF patients treated with systemic colistimethate sodium compared with tobramycin.

Methods

This single-centre, retrospective cohort study included hospitalized CF patients treated with IV colistimethate sodium or tobramycin. The primary outcome was AKI defined using the RIFLE criteria. Multivariate logistic regression using a mixed model was performed to identify variables that were independently associated with AKI.

Results

Overall, 156 patients representing 507 care encounters were included. The OR of AKI was not increased with IV colistimethate sodium relative to IV tobramycin after adjusting for other potential predictor variables (aOR 1.00; 95% CI 0.16–6.03). The frequency of AKI was 9.5% across all encounters, 6.9% with IV colistimethate sodium and 9.9% with IV tobramycin, with RIFLE category R (risk) being the most common stage, accounting for 4.2% of encounters with IV colistimethate sodium and 9.2% with IV tobramycin. The concomitant use of another nephrotoxin (aOR 2.51; 95% CI 1.27–4.95) or the combination of vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam (aOR 5.95; 95% CI 2.05–17.3) were both associated with increased odds of AKI.

Conclusions

Systemic treatment with colistimethate sodium or tobramycin in the CF patient population is associated with a similar rate of nephrotoxicity. However, clinicians should be mindful of the increased risk for AKI in patients treated with either IV colistimethate sodium or IV tobramycin when used concurrently with other nephrotoxic agents, particularly the combination of vancomycin and piperacillin/tazobactam.
Impact of prepartum administration of a vaccine against infectious calf diarrhea on nonspecific colostral immunoglobulin concentrations of dairy cows
Authors: Chambers Gregory P , Kelton William , Smolenski Grant , Cuttance Emma
Published: June 2022

Passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins from the cow to the calf is essential for calf health. The objective of this study was to determine if prepartum administration of a vaccine stimulates increased concentrations of colostral immunoglobulins of dairy cows beyond what is explained by vaccine-specific immunoglobulins. A prospective cohort study was conducted on a spring-calving commercial dairy farm that had a policy of only vaccinating cows with even ear tag numbers with a calf diarrhea vaccine, whereas cows with odd ear tag numbers were left unvaccinated. Cows in the vaccinated group (even ear tag numbers, n = 204) received a sensitizer and booster vaccination with a vaccine against bovine rotavirus (serotypes G6 and G10), bovine coronavirus, and E. coli having the K99 pili adherence factor. A sensitizer was given because the study vaccine was different from the vaccine previously used. Cows in the control group (odd ear tag numbers, n = 194) received a 2-mL subcutaneous sterile saline solution. Both groups received two treatments at a 3-wk interval, completing the treatments approximately 2 wk prior to the planned start of calving. During the calving period, technicians separated calves from cows immediately after parturition and prior to suckling, and cows were completely milked out within 6 h of parturition. Vaccine-specific, total, and nonvaccine-specific (total minus vaccine-specific) concentrations of immunoglobulin classes A, G1, G2a, and M (IgA, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgM, respectively) were quantified by mass spectrometry for 20 colostrum samples from each treatment group. Predicted mean non-vaccine-specific colostral IgM concentrations were 8.76 (95% CI = 7.18–10.67) and 5.78 (95% CI = 4.74–7.05) mg/mL for vaccinated and control cows, respectively (P = 0.005). Predicted mean non-vaccine-specific colostral IgG1 concentrations were 106.08 (95% CI = 92.07–120.08) and 95.30 (95% CI = 81.30–109.31) mg/mL among vaccinated and control cows, respectively; however, these means were not significantly different (P = 0.278). It is thus possible that the vaccine, in addition to specifically managing infectious calf diarrhea, may also have non-specific benefits by improving colostrum quality through increased non-vaccine-specific colostrum IgM concentrations. Further research is necessary to determine the mechanism for these preliminary findings, whether the effect may occur in other immunoglobulin classes, and what impacts it may have on calf health outcomes.
SDSS IV MaNGA: characteristics of edge-on galaxies with a counter-rotating gaseous disc
Authors: Beom Minje , Bizyaev Dmitry , Walterbos René A M , Chen Yanmei
Published: June 2022

Counter-rotating components in galaxies are one of the most direct forms of evidence for past gas accretion or merging. We discovered 10 edge-on disc gaseous counter-rotators in a sample of 523 edge-on galaxies identified in the final MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO) IFU sample. The counter-rotators tend to located in small groups. The gaseous counter-rotators have intermediate stellar masses and and located in the green valley and red sequence of the colour–magnitude diagram. The average vertical extents of the stellar and ionized gas discs are the same as for the rest of the sample while their radial gas and stellar distributions are more centrally concentrated. This may point at angular momentum loss during the formation process of the counter-rotating discs. The counter-rotators have low gas and dust content, weak emission-line strengths, and low star formation rates. This suggests that the formation of counter-rotators may be an efficient way to quench galaxies. One counter-rotator, SDSS J080016.09+292817.1 (Galaxy F), has a post-starburst region and a possible AGN at the centre. Another counter-rotator, SDSS J131234.03+482159.8 (Galaxy H), is identified as a potential ongoing galaxy interaction with its companion satellite galaxy, a gas-rich spiral galaxy. This may be representative case of a gaseous counter-rotator forming through a merger origin. However, tidal distortions expected in mergers are only found in a few of the galaxies and we cannot rule out direct gas accretion as another formation mechanism.
A tale of caution: the tails of NGC 752 are much longer than claimed
Authors: Boffin Henri M J , Jerabkova Tereza , Beccari Giacomo , Wang Long
Published: June 2022

Understanding the exact extent and content of tidal tails of open clusters provides useful clues on how field stars populate the Milky Way. We reanalyse, using Gaia EDR3 data, the tails around the open cluster NGC 752. Compared to previous analyses, we look at a much wider region around the cluster and use first the convergent point method, coupled with a clustering analysis using dbscan. We find that the cluster, located 433 pc away and well described by a Plummer profile, has very long and asymmetric tails, extending more than 260 pc on the sky (from tip to tip) – four times larger than previously thought – and contains twice as many stars. Numerical models computed with petar serve as a guide and confirm our analysis. The tails follow the predictions from the models, but the trailing tail appears slightly distorted, possibly indicating that the cluster had a complicated history of galactic encounters. Applying an alternative method to the newly developed compact convergent point method, we potentially trace the cluster’s tidal tails to their full extent, covering several thousands of parsecs and more than 1000 stars. Our analysis therefore opens a new window on the study of open clusters, whose potential will be fully unleashed with future Gaia data releases.
Trade, value chain-technology, and prices: Evidence from dairy in East Africa
Authors: Ignowski Liz , Minten Bart , Van Campenhout Bjorn , Vandevelde Senne
Published: June 2022

Differences in world market participation and access to value-chain technologies have resulted in uneven experiences across countries. In this paper, we explore their impact on prices in the value chain, using the examples of Ethiopia and Uganda. We first develop a conceptual framework, and then validate the model using primary price data collected at several levels in the dairy value chains in both countries. We find that prices are lower in Uganda than in Ethiopia, reflecting their respective net trade status. Moreover, despite shorter value chains, we find much more significant effects of distance from the capital on milk prices in Ethiopia than in Uganda. This is linked to the presence of milk chilling centers in Uganda. While such technology is important for milk quality, we find here that it also has the added benefit to reduce the impact of farmers’ remoteness on prices and allows for more geographically extended value chains.
VIThe Sixteenth Century: Excluding Drama after 1550
Authors: Montori Irene , Wood Richard
Published: June 2022

This chapter has three sections: 1. General; 2. Sidney; 3. Spenser. Section 1 is by Irene Montori; sections 2 and 3 are by Richard Wood.
Aspirin Use to Prevent Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement
Authors:   US Preventive Services Task Force, Davidson K.W. , Barry M.J. , Mangione C.M. , Cabana M. , Caughey A.B. , Davis E.M. , Donahue K.E. , Doubeni C.A. , Kubik M. , Li L. , Ogedegbe G. , Pbert L. , Silverstein M. , Simon M.A. , Stevermer J. , Tseng C.W. , Wong J.B.
Published: June 2022

(JAMA. 2021;326:1186–1191)

Preeclampsia is a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality around the world. In the United States, preeclampsia complicates 4% of pregnancies and contributes to 6% of preterm births and 19% of medically indicated preterm births. Preeclampsia is defined by a maternal blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or more on 2 separate office visits after 20 weeks of pregnancy, accompanied by maternal proteinuria. Preeclampsia is an inflammatory syndrome that can lead to multiple maternal risks including impaired liver function, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency, cerebral or visual disturbances, and pulmonary edema. It can lead to fetal risks including low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth from a lack of blood flow to the placenta. As the placenta develops, it may cause an overactive systemic inflammatory response and oxidative stress resulting in the development of preeclampsia.
Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Work Environments and Hospitalizations and ED Use Among Chronically Ill Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Poghosyan Lusine , Liu Jianfang , Perloff Jennifer , D’Aunno Thomas , Cato Kenrick D. , Friedberg Mark W. , Martsolf Grant
Published: June 2022

Background:

Nurse practitioners (NPs) play a critical role in delivering primary care, particularly to chronically ill elderly. Yet, many NPs practice in poor work environments which may affect patient outcomes.

Objective:

We investigated the relationship between NP work environments in primary care practices and hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) use among chronically ill elderly.

Research Design:

We used a cross-sectional design to collect survey data from NPs about their practices. The survey data were merged with Medicare claims data.

Subjects:

In total, 979 primary care practices employing NPs and delivering care to chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries (n=452,931) from 6 US states were included.

Measures:

NPs completed the Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care Organizational Climate Questionnaire—a valid and reliable measure for work environment. Data on hospitalizations and ED use was obtained from Medicare claims. We used Cox regression models to estimate risk ratios.

Results:

After controlling for covariates, we found statistically significant associations between practice-level NP work environment and 3 outcomes: Ambulatory Care Sensitive (ACS) ED visits, all-cause ED visits, and all-cause hospitalizations. With a 1-unit increase in the work environment score, the risk of an ACS-ED visit decreased by 4.4% [risk ratio (RR)=0.956; 99% confidence interval (CI): 0.918–0.995; P=0.004], an ED visit by 3.5% (RR=0.965; 99% CI: 0.933–0.997; P=0.005), and a hospitalization by 4.0% (RR=0.960;99% CI: 0.928–0.993; P=0.002). There was no relationship between NP work environment and ACS hospitalizations.

Conclusion:

Favorable NP work environments are associated with lower hospital and ED utilization. Practice managers should focus on NP work environments in quality improvement strategies.
Fragility fracture systems, Latin America perspective
Authors: Rojas Luis G. Padilla , Cervantes Roberto E. López , Almejo Leonardo López , Pesciallo Cesar A. , Garabano Germán , Bidolegui Fernando , Giordano Vincenzo , Belangero William Dias , Hungria José Octavio Soares , Triana Q Miguel Alvaro , Gómez Amparo
Published: June 2022

Osteoporosis is a worldwide epidemic, affecting an average of 30% to 50% of those over 50 years of age in Latin America. Resulting from it is another epidemic, that of fragility fractures, which adversely affects morbidity and mortality of this population. Increasing in their incidence, fragility fractures are expected to occur in 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50years of age during their lifetimes.

Currently, there are diagnostic and management guidelines for fragility fractures in Latin American countries, especially those for hip and spine fractures. In general, in Latin America, the quality indicators and standards for the care of these fractures vary greatly according to the health system, being suboptimal in many situations.

The organization of health services is different in the different countries throughout Latin America. Common underlying characteristics, however, include the distinctions that exist in care between public and private medicine and the lack of economic resources directed to public healthcare systems from the national levels.

Several important changes have been implemented in recent years, with the collaboration between national organizations and international associations such as the Fragility Fracture Network and the International Osteoporosis Foundation, aimed at improving quality standards in care and rates of morbidity and mortality in patients treated thorough fragility fracture programs. The underregistration in these programs and absence of formal national registries also contribute to a lack of recognition of the size, scope, and severity of the problem.
Proceedings of the 26th Annual Virtual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society
Authors: Kalisvaart Marit , Chadha Ryan , De Martin Eleonora , Alconchel Felipe , Goldaracena Nicolas , Keskin Onur , Liu Jiang , Nasralla David , Mazzola Alessandra , Rammohan Ashwin , Spiro Michael , Tanaka Tomohiro , Campos-Varela Isabel , Victor David , Vinaixa Carmen , Yoon Uzung , Yoon Young-in , Hessheimer Amelia , Kabacam Gokhan , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Shaker Tamer , Bhangui Prashant , Chan Albert , Kirchner Varvara
Published: June 2022

After a 1-y absence due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the 26th Annual Congress of the International Liver Transplantation Society was held from May 15 to 18, 2021, in a virtual format. Clinicians and researchers from all over the world came together to share their knowledge on all the aspects of liver transplantation (LT). Apart from a focus on LT in times of coronavirus disease 2019, featured topics of this year’s conference included infectious diseases in LT, living donation, machine perfusion, oncology, predictive scoring systems and updates in anesthesia/critical care, immunology, radiology, pathology, and pediatrics. This report presents highlights from invited lectures and a review of the select abstracts. The aim of this report, generated by the Vanguard Committee of International Liver Transplantation Society, is to provide a summary of the most recent developments in clinical practice and research in LT.
Are Non-lactose fermenting Escherichia coli important diarrhoeal pathogens in children and adults?
Authors: Sharma Bhawna , Modgil Vinay , Mahindroo Jaspreet , Kumar Ajay , Kaur Varpreet , Narayan Chandradeo , Verma Ritu , Mohan Balvinder , Taneja Neelam
Published: June 2022

Introduction: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are responsible for about 30–40% of acute diarrhoea episodes in developing countries. Up to 10% of isolates of E. coli from stool specimens have been reported to be non-lactose fermenting (NLF E. coli). There is scarcity of literature available regarding the pathogenicity of NLF E. coli causing infectious diarrhoea. Aim: We aimed to elucidate the importance of NLF E. coli in causing diarrhoea in both adults as well as children by detecting various DEC pathotypes among NLF E. coli in stool samples from gastroenteritis cases. Material and Methods: A total of 376 non-lactose fermenting (NLF) E. coli isolates isolated from 3110 stool samples of diarrhoea/ gastroenteritis patients were included in the study. Upto 3 non-lactose fermenting colonies which did not confirm as V.cholerae, Aeromonas spp., Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., but were  identified as E.coli on MALDI-TOF were selected from each MacConkey agar plate and streaked onto fresh, sterilized nutrient agar and biochemical reactions were put up. Multiplex PCR was put up for EAEC, EPEC, ETEC, EHEC pathotypes and PCR for ipaH gene was put up for EIEC. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed with the disc diffusion method. Results: Using multiplex PCR and ipaH PCR, a total of 63 pathotypes of DEC were obtained, EAEC being the most predominant (n= 31) followed by EIEC (n=22), EPEC (n=8) and ETEC (n=2). To further differentiate EIEC from Shigella, additional biochemicals were performed which include acetate utilization, mucate and salicin fermentation, and esculin hydrolysis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) showed that maximum resistance was seen against ciprofloxacin (82.5%) followed by ampicillin (77.8%) and cotrimoxazole (68.2%) and minimum resistance was seen against ertapenem (4.8%). Conclusion: In our study two pathotypes (EAEC, EIEC) were predominant among NLF E. coli and these were important etiological agents not only in children but also in adults. Our study also sheds light on epidemiology of EIEC which is one of the most neglected DEC pathotype as hardly any microbiological laboratory process NLF E. coli for EIEC.
Effect of level of autistic traits on motion inspection time performance in centre-surround suppression tasks
Authors: Gubko Andrew , Crewther David
Published: June 2022

The mechanisms underlying visual anomalies observed in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), presenting in the form of impaired global visual perception and enhanced local perception have long been debated. Researchers have sought to investigate the phenomenon of surround suppression, the inhibitory mechanism responsible for filtering visual noise in high contrast stimuli of increasing size. Mixed results have shown impaired gain control reduces surround suppression allowing for improved motion inspection in certain conditions, along with the possibility that receptive field size and population varies among the ASD population producing size-specific alteration in motion inspection. The present study aims to investigate whether the level of autistic traits predicts motion inspection time performance in a random dot kinetogram (RDK), a function of stimulus size and contrast. A total of 12 typically developing (TD) participants were screened and grouped by AQ score to indicate level of autistic traits (low, medium and high). Results revealed that the high AQ group’s motion inspection time significantly outperformed the mid AQ group for small and large central RDK of low contrast. This result suggests an interaction between temporal and spatial processing may have masked the effects of gain control and impaired surround suppression in higher contrast conditions, often seen in previous studies.