bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-scale Order Recurrence Plot based deterministic analysis on Heart Rate Variability in Congestive Heart Failure Assessment
Authors: Yuhang Hu
Published: June 2021

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a cardiovascular disease associated with the abnormal autonomic nervous system (ANS). Heart rate variability analysis (HRV) is the main method for the quantitative evaluation of autonomic nervous function. Common analytical methods of HRV include time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear methods. However, these methods generally ignore the short-term volatility of heart rate and autonomic ganglion law. Therefore, this study proposes a new parameter to analyze heart rate variability-determination of a multi-scale order recurrence plot (MSORP_DET). This method can analyze the HRV in patients with heart failure on multiple time scales. This study analyzed the R-R interval in 24-hour HRV data from 98 samples (54 normal subjects and 44 patients with CHF). The results showed that MSORP_DET could significantly distinguish CHF patients from normal subjects (p<0.001). Moreover, the accuracy rate of screening patients with CHF reached the maximum of 81.6% by using the combination of low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) and MSORP_DET, compared with 78.6% when using LF/HF alone. Therefore, MSORP_DET can be used as a new index to screen patients with CHF and reveal that the rhythm of ANS in patients with heart failure is more complex than that in normal people.
The role of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Gut Microbiota and Mucosal Immune System
Authors: Lu Siyu
Published: June 2021

In recent years, nutritionists and microbiologists have paid more attention to the utilization of dietary supplementation produced by natural food resources, to improve the immune system function of the human and animals. People are more willing to obtain nature supplementations due to the growing awareness of food safety, and the side effects of excessive consumption of manufactured supplements. Fermented food are introduced to provide beneficial effects on health because of the characteristics of LAB, which are temporary integrative microorganisms in the intestinal microbiota. And they could not only balance the micro-ecosystem of the host by secreting microbiome, but also enhance the beneficial properties of autonomous microorganisms. This review aims to discuss the of LAB yogurt to the gut microbiota based on recent research.
Development of a network visualization and analysis system for malignant tumors based on transcriptome data
Authors: Zezheng Geng , Xiaonan Fang , Chuanmei Bi , Ling Dong
Published: June 2021

Shiny technology has developed rapidly in recent years, as an R package for developing interactive app, through which we can package the written R code into a web app, which can not only save user time, but also accelerate the development of the speed of user-end communication, analyze the transcriptome data of related malignant tumors, and construct a ceRNA network diagram of desired malignant tumors. The code utilizing shiny technology package can facilitate users to map the ceRNA network associated with malignant tumors only through screen operation, significantly improving the efficiency and accuracy of clinical decision support in primary hospitals.
Effect of Huatan Quyu Decoction on Patients with Cerebral Infarction
Authors: Miao Yanyong , Han Xiaolei , Meng Liuyang
Published: June 2021

The objective is to explore the clinical methods and effects of applying Huatan Quyu Decoction in the treatment of patients with cerebral infarction. The research work was carried out in our hospital, and the research was carried out from November 2019 to November 2020. Patients with cerebral infarction were selected as the research object, and the number of patients was 80. They were randomly divided into two groups and one group was given conventional rehabilitation therapy as the control group, the other group was given Huatan Quyu Decoction as the experimental group, and the effects of different treatments on patients were compared and analyzed. Before treatment intervention, there was no significant difference in the scores of neurological impairment, limb motor ability and ability of daily living between the two groups of patients, P>0.05. After treatment intervention, the CSS score of the experimental group decreased and the BI score increased, which has significant differences compared with the control group, and the experimental group has higher scores for sensory and motor function. In addition, the effective rate of treatment in the experimental group was 95.00%, which was significantly higher than the 77.50% in the control group. The difference between the two groups was significant and meaningful. The treatment effect was better in the experimental group.The application of Huatan Quyu Decoction in the process of treating patients with cerebral infarction can effectively promote the recovery of patients and improve the quality of life of patients. The clinical application is significant.
The extraction of natural essential oils and terpenoids from plants by supercritical fluid
Authors: Liu Hua , Zhan Ruixu , Wen Liangjian , Zhong Zhenyu
Published: June 2021

In order to provide guidance for the improvement of supercritical fluid extraction technology in the extraction of natural volatile oil and terpenoids from plants, SFE was compared with steam distillation, solvent extraction, Soxhlet extraction, pressure method and other traditional extraction processes, and the supercritical CO2 extraction conditions of SFE in the extraction of natural volatile oil and terpenoids were studied, including temperature, pressure, extraction time, extraction time, extraction time, extraction time, extraction time, extraction time and so on. The influence of entrainer or co extractant on the extraction effect was discussed to provide optimization parameters for the extraction process of natural volatile oil and terpenoids. SFE technology has advantages in the extraction of natural plant volatile oil and has broad application prospects in industrial production.
Hazards and Detection Techniques of Veterinary Drug Residues in Animal-Origin Food
Authors: Chen Zhongyu
Published: June 2021

Veterinary drugs originally used to diagnose, prevent, control and treat animal diseases. However, now some of them can also be mixed into livestock feed as growth promoters. Although most countries have specified animal-derived veterinary drug residue standards, such as the maximum residue limit, withdrawal period and prohibition of some veterinary drugs as growth promoters, there are still some animal-derived products with illegal amount of drug residues. Consequently, long-term intake of products with excessive residues will result in irreversible impacts on human health, livestock industries and natural environment. To minimize these risks, the techniques of drug residues detection plays an important role in guarding food safety of animal products. Moreover, Veterinary drug residue detection technology, according to the author's opinion, can be divided into instrumental method, immunoassay method, biomolecular technology and bio-sensor technology. The purpose of this article is to collect and summarize the existing journal literature current about status, hazards and detection techniques of animal-origin veterinary drug residues so that ordinary readers can briefly understand the research status of the residue detection techniques, farmers can understand the importance of regulating and suitable handling of veterinary drugs, and relevant researchers may know about the emphasized difficulties that need to be overcome in drug residue detection techniques.
Implementation of a Dual-Column Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass-Spectrometry Method for the Quantification of Isavuconazole in Clinical Practice
Authors: Enko Dietmar , Zelzer Sieglinde , Herrmann Markus , Krause Robert , Meinitzer Andreas
Published: June 2021

Objectives Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of isavuconazole, which is a novel broad-spectrum antimycoticum against invasive fungal infections, ensures an effective exposure of the drug and minimizes the risk of toxicity. This study is aimed at evaluating the analytical performance of a dual-column liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for isavuconazole quantification.

Materials and Methods The method was performed on a Voyager TSQ Quantum triple quadrupole instrument equipped with an Ultimate 3000 chromatography system (Thermo Fisher Scientific, San Jose, California, United States). Analytical and preanalytical requirements of the isavuconazole LC-MS/MS method were evaluated. Sample stability measurements were performed at room temperature (RT) and in serum tubes with separator gel.

Results The isavuconazole LC-MS/MS method was linear over the concentration range of 0.2 to 12.8 mg/L. The coefficient of determination (r
2) always exceeded 0.999. Within- and between-run precision ranged between 1.4 to 2.9% and 1.5 to 3.0%, the recovery between 93.9 and 102.7%. At RT, serum samples were stable for 3 days. Isavuconazole serum concentrations were significantly lower after incubation (18 hours) in serum tubes with separator gel at RT.

Conclusion The dual-column isavuconazole LC-MS/MS is a reliable tool for the TDM of isavuconazole. Serum samples are stable for at least 3 days and should be collected in tubes without separator gel.
Origin of magnetic anisotropy, role of induced magnetic moment, and all-optical magnetization switching for Co100−xGdx/Pt multilayers
Authors: Wang J. , Seki T. , Lau Y.-C. , Takahashi Y. K. , Takanashi K.
Published: June 2021

The combination of Co, Gd, and Pt materials is a representative with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) for the all-optical switching (AOS), which provides a promising route for ultrafast magnetization manipulation. This paper shows that the PMA of Co100−xGdx/Pt multilayers mainly originates not from the bulk property of ferrimagnetic Co100−xGdx but from the interface magnetic anisotropy between the Co100−xGdx and Pt layers. In addition, the contribution of magnetic moment induced in Pt becomes remarkable, which modulates the compensation temperature for the samples with thin Co100−xGdx layers. The Co100−xGdx/Pt multilayers exhibited the all-optical helicity-independent switching in a wide range of Gd concentrations, and the maximum AOS probability was achieved near the compensation composition. We discuss the correlation between the magnetic properties and the AOS probability for the Co100−xGdx/Pt multilayers. The AOS showed clear thickness dependence, which was attributable to the remarkable contribution of induced moment. Our findings are beneficial not only for understanding the mechanism of AOS but also for designing spintronic devices using ferrimagnets.
Quantum analysis of second-order effects in superconducting travelling-wave parametric amplifiers
Authors: Zhao Songyuan , Withington Stafford
Published: June 2021

We have performed a quantum mechanical analysis of travelling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) in order to investigate five experimental phenomena related to their operations, namely the effect of impedance mismatch, the presence of upper idler modes, the presence of quantum and thermal noise, the generation of squeezed states, and the preservation of pre-squeezed states during amplification. Our analysis uses momentum operators to describe the spatial evolution of quantised modes along a TWPA. We calculate the restriction placed on pump amplitude as well as amplifier gain as a result of impedance mismatch between a TWPA and its external system. We apply our analysis to upper idler modes and demonstrate that they will result in suppressed gain. We show that an ideal TWPA is indeed quantum-limited—i.e. it introduces a half-quantum of zero-point fluctuation which is the minimum possible noise contribution for a phase-preserving linear amplifier. We analyse the thermal noise associated with a TWPA by considering the effect of distributed sources along an amplifier transmission line. Our analysis predicts a doubling of thermal noise in the high gain limit as a result of wave-mixing between signal and idler modes. We study the operation of a TWPA in the presence of a DC bias current, and have shown that highly squeezed states can in principle be generated. However, amplifying a pre-squeezed state using a non-degenerate TWPA generally reduces the squeezing advantage.
Continuously and reversibly electro-tunable optical nanoantennas based on phase transition of vanadium dioxide
Authors: Wang Jia-Nan , Xiong Bo , Liu Yu , Chen Chao-Wei , Qi Dong-Xiang , Hou Ben-Qi , Peng Ruwen , Wang Mu
Published: June 2021

Optical nanoantennas have attracted significant attention over the past decades, owing to their exceptional capabilities in terms of light manipulation and versatile optical applications. Recently, active nanoantennas have been developed by introducing phase change materials, to achieve specific tunable electromagnetic responses. However, most of these attempts only function with ‘ON’/‘OFF’ states or switch in a few discrete states, significantly restricting the application in dynamic tunability. Thus far, the continuous and reversible modulation of optical nanoantennas has not been sufficiently explored. In this article, we experimentally demonstrate a continuously and reversibly electro-tunable optical nanoantenna, by integrating an asymmetric gold nanodisk dimer array with a vanadium dioxide (VO2) film and graphene thin film. By accurately controlling the applied electrical current, the Joule heat generated in the graphene film excites the metal-insulator phase transition of VO2, and the refractive index of VO2 exhibits a relatively large variation. When VO2 is in the insulating phase, we observe an apparent resonance dip in the reflection spectrum, which is attributed to a hybrid mode originating from the gap plasmon in the dimers and localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance excited at the edge of the nanodisks. Meanwhile, owing to the coupling between two asymmetric LSP resonances in the neighboring nanodisks, the reflected peak based on the Fano effect is realized. However, once VO2 is in the metallic phase, the hybrid mode becomes weaker and red-shifted, and the Fano effect disappears. Thereafter, the continuous and reversible electro-modulation of the nanoantenna features, including the resonant wavelength, resonant intensity, and quality factors (Q), are experimentally verified in the optical communication region, by varying the applied electrical current in the hybrid structure. To further increase the modulation range of these properties, we scan the gap size and structural asymmetry parameter of the nanodisk dimer. The results show that, with a smaller gap size, the resonant intensity of the nanoantenna is stronger. When the structural asymmetry parameter increases, the resonant wavelength is redshifted. We expect that such continuously and reversibly electro-tunable nanoantennas will stimulate various applications in optical communication systems, tunable photoelectric sensors, and beyond.
Willis coupling in water waves
Authors: Meng Yan , Hao Yiran , Guenneau Sébastien , Wang Shubo , Li Jensen
Published: June 2021

For mechanical waves, Willis coupling means a cross-coupling between stress and velocity or between momentum and strain. In contrary to its realization in acoustic and elastic waves, whether Willis coupling exists in water waves, as another kind of mechanical wave, is still unknown. Here, we propose and establish the concept of Willis coupling in water waves as the cross-coupling between the horizontal velocity at the free surface and the acceleration potential or between the vertical displacement of the water free surface and the flux. Thanks to the surface wave feature of water waves, the proposed metamaterial’s resonating conditions can be tuned by using the wave shoaling effect. With a proper three-dimensional design, Willis coupling can still have significant effects with resonance in the long-wavelength regime. Furthermore, by adding loss in the Willis metamaterial, asymmetric reflectance and absorption can be achieved, which are useful for applications such as seismic isolation, coastal protection, water-wave energy-harnessing, and also for constructing non-Hermitian exceptional points.
Cosmology of strongly interacting fermions in the early universe
Authors: Domènech Guillem , Sasaki Misao
Published: June 2021

In view of growing interest in long range scalar forces in the early universe to generate primordial black holes, we study in detail the general relativistic formulation of a Fermi gas interacting with a scalar field in cosmology. Motivated by long range forces, we mainly focus on the cosmological massless limit of the scalar field. In this limit, our main finding is that the Yukawa interaction leads to a solution where the scalar field oscillates around zero fermion mass and all energy densities decay as radiation. On one hand, we show that if the Fermi gas starts relativistic, it could stay relativistic. On the other hand, if the fermions are initially non-relativistic, they remain non-relativistic for all practical purposes. We find that in both cases the energy density of the fermions and the scalar field decays as radiation. In the non-relativistic case, this is due to an oscillating and decaying effective mass. Such background dynamics questions whether there is a substantial enhancement of the fermion density fluctuations in the non-relativistic case. Our work can be easily extended to more general field dependent fermion mass and to general scalar field potentials. The analysis of the cosmological perturbations will be presented in a follow-up work.
Effect of La and Mo co-doping on the properties of AgSnO2 contact material
Authors: Wang Jingqin , Chang Yongqiang , Zhu Yancai , Zhang Guangzhi , Huang Guanglin
Published: June 2021

For the shortage of the AgSnO2 contact material, the models of SnO2, La–SnO2, Mo–SnO2, and La–Mo–SnO2 were built to calculate their electrical and mechanical properties based on the first principles of density functional theory in this study. The La-Mo co-coped SnO2 is the most stable of all the models according to the enthalpy change and the impurity formation energy. By analyzing the energy band structure and density of states, the doped models are still the direct bandgap semiconductor materials. The valence band moves up and the conduction band moves down after doped, reducing the band gap and enhancing the conductivity. With the reduced energy for carrier transition, the electrical performance of La-Mo co-doped SnO2 is improved best. The mechanical properties of SnO2 were completely improved by La-Mo co-doping with the calculation results. The doped SnO2 materials were prepared by sol-gel method and the doped AgSnO2 materials were prepared by powder metallurgy method. The x-ray diffraction experiment, hardness, conductivity and wettability experiment had been taken. And the experimental results show that the AgSnO2 can be improved comprehensively by La-Mo co-doping, verifying the conclusions of the simulation. It provides an effective method for the preparation of high-performance contact materials.
Cardiovascular Risk and Health Among People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Eligible for Primary Prevention: Insights From the REPRIEVE Trial
Authors: Douglas Pamela S , Umbleja Triin , Bloomfield Gerald S , Fichtenbaum Carl J , Zanni Markella V , Overton Edgar T , Fitch Kathleen V , Kileel Emma M , Aberg Judith A , Currier Judith , Sponseller Craig A , Melbourne Kathleen , Avihingsanon Anchalee , Bustorff Flavio , Estrada Vicente , Ruxrungtham Kiat , Saumoy Maria , Navar Ann Marie , Hoffmann Udo , Ribaudo Heather J , Grinspoon Steven
Published: June 2021

Background

In addition to traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, antiretroviral therapy, lifestyle, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related factors may contribute to future CV events in persons with HIV (PWH).

Methods

Among participants in the global REPRIEVE randomized trial, we characterized demographics and HIV characteristics relative to ACC/AHA pooled cohort equations (PCE) for atherosclerotic CV disease predicted risk and CV health evaluated by Life’s Simple 7 (LS7; includes smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and glucose).

Results

Among 7382 REPRIEVE participants (31% women, 45% Black), the median PCE risk score was 4.5% (lower and upper quartiles Q1, Q3: 2.2, 7.2); 29% had a PCE score <2.5%, and 9% scored above 10%. PCE score was related closely to known CV risk factors and modestly (<1% difference in risk score) to immune function and HIV parameters. The median LS7 score was 9 (Q1, Q3: 7, 10) of a possible 14. Only 24 participants (0.3%) had 7/7 ideal components, and 36% had ≤2 ideal components; 90% had <5 ideal components. The distribution of LS7 did not vary by age or natal sex, although ideal health was more common in low sociodemographic index countries and among Asians. Poor dietary and physical activity patterns on LS7 were seen across all PCE scores, including the lowest risk categories.

Conclusions

Poor CV health by LS7 was common among REPRIEVE participants, regardless of PCE. This suggests a critical and independent role for lifestyle interventions in conjunction with conventional treatment to improve CV outcomes in PWH.

Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02344290.

AIDS Clinical Trials Group study number: A5332.
Differential sensitivity to warming and hypoxia during development and long-term effects of developmental exposure in early life stage Chinook salmon
Authors: Del Rio Annelise M , Mukai Gabriella N , Martin Benjamin T , Johnson Rachel C , Fangue Nann A , Israel Joshua A , Todgham Anne E
Published: June 2021

Warming and hypoxia are two stressors commonly found within natural salmon redds that are likely to co-occur. Warming and hypoxia can interact physiologically, but their combined effects during fish development remain poorly studied, particularly stage-specific effects and potential carry-over effects. To test the impacts of warm water temperature and hypoxia as individual and combined developmental stressors, late fall-run Chinook salmon embryos were reared in 10 treatments from fertilization through hatching with two temperatures [10°C (ambient) and 14°C (warm)], two dissolved oxygen saturation levels [normoxia (100% air saturation, 10.4–11.4 mg O2/l) and hypoxia (50% saturation, 5.5 mg O2/l)] and three exposure times (early [eyed stage], late [silver-eyed stage] and chronic [fertilization through hatching]). After hatching, all treatments were transferred to control conditions (10°C and 100% air saturation) through the fry stage. To study stage-specific effects of stressor exposure we measured routine metabolic rate (RMR) at two embryonic stages, hatching success and growth. To evaluate carry-over effects, where conditions during one life stage influence performance in a later stage, RMR of all treatments was measured in control conditions at two post-hatch stages and acute stress tolerance was measured at the fry stage. We found evidence of stage-specific effects of both stressors during exposure and carry-over effects on physiological performance. Both individual stressors affected RMR, growth and developmental rate while multiple stressors late in development reduced hatching success. RMR post-hatch showed persistent effects of embryonic stressor exposure that may underlie differences observed in developmental timing and acute stress tolerance. The responses to stressors that varied by stage during development suggest that stage-specific management efforts could support salmon embryo survival. The persistent carry-over effects also indicate that considering sub-lethal effects of developmental stressor exposure may be important to understanding how climate change influences the performance of salmon across life stages.
Antiplatelet therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials
Authors: Benz Alexander P , Johansson Isabelle , Dewilde Willem J M , Lopes Renato D , Mehran Roxana , Sartori Samantha , Sarafoff Nikolaus , Yasuda Satoshi , McIntyre William F , Healey Jeff S , Shoamanesh Ashkan , Eikelboom John W , Connolly Stuart J
Published: June 2021

Aims 

The aim of this study was to systematically assess the effects of antiplatelets on clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), treated and not-treated with oral anticoagulation.

Methods and results 

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL from inception until September 2020. From 5446 citations, we selected randomized trials allocating patients with AF to antiplatelet therapy vs. control. We applied random-effects models for meta-analysis and assessed potential effect modification with background anticoagulation use. Eighteen trials including 21 518 participants met our prespecified eligibility criteria. In 10 studies without background anticoagulation, antiplatelets reduced all-cause stroke [486/6165 (events/patients) vs. 621/6061; risk ratio (RR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69–0.86, I2 = 0%]. In eight studies with background anticoagulation, there was a signal for an increase in all-cause stroke with antiplatelets (97/4608 vs. 72/4684; RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.98–1.79, I2 = 0%, P-value for interaction <0.001). A similar pattern emerged for ischaemic stroke. Irrespective of background anticoagulation use, antiplatelets increased major bleeding (509/10 402 vs. 328/10 496; RR 1.54, 95% CI 1.35–1.77, I2 = 0%) and intracranial haemorrhage (107/10 221 vs. 65/10 232; RR 1.64, 95% CI 1.20–2.24, I2 = 0%), and reduced myocardial infarction (201/9679 vs. 260/9751; RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.94, I2 = 0%, all P-values for interaction ≥0.36). Antiplatelets did not affect mortality (1221/10 299 vs. 1211/10 287; RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.89–1.17, I2 = 29%, P-value for interaction = 0.23).

Conclusions 

In patients with AF not receiving oral anticoagulation, antiplatelet therapy modestly reduced stroke. There was a corresponding signal for harm when used on top of anticoagulation. Irrespective of background anticoagulation use, antiplatelet therapy significantly increased bleeding, moderately reduced myocardial infarction, and did not affect mortality.
Failure to rescue: variation in mortality after cardiac surgery
Authors: Milojevic Milan , Bond Chris , He Chang , Shannon Francis L , Clark Melissa , Theurer Patricia F , Prager Richard L
Published: June 2021

OBJECTIVES

Measures to prevent surgical complications are critical components of optimal patient care, and adequate management when complications occur is equally crucial in efforts to reduce mortality. This study aims to elucidate clinical realities underlying in-hospital variations in failure to rescue (FTR) after cardiac surgery.

METHODS

Using a statewide database for a quality improvement program, we identified 62 450 patients who had undergone adult cardiac surgery between 2011 and 2018 in 1 of the 33 Michigan hospitals performing adult cardiac surgery. The hospitals were first divided into tertiles according to their observed to expected (O/E) ratios of 30-day mortality: low-mortality tertile (O/E 0.46–0.78), intermediate-mortality tertile (O/E 0.79–0.90) and high-mortality tertile (O/E 0.98–2.00). We then examined the incidence of 15 significant complications and the rates of death following complications among the 3 groups.

RESULTS

A total of 1418 operative deaths occurred in the entire cohort, a crude mortality rate of 2.3% and varied from 1.3% to 5.9% at the hospital level. The death rates also diverged significantly according to mortality score tertiles, from 1.6% in the low-mortality group to 3.2% in the high-mortality group (P < 0.001). Hospitals ranked in a high- or intermediate-mortality tertile had similar rates of overall complications (21.3% and 20.7%, P = 0.17), while low-mortality hospitals had significantly fewer complications (16.3%) than the other 2 tertiles (P < 0.001). FTR increased in a stepwise manner from low- to high-mortality hospitals (8.3% vs 10.0% vs 12.7%, P < 0.001, respectively). Differences in FTR were related to survival after cardiac arrest, multi-system organ failure, prolonged ventilation, reoperation for bleeding and severe acute kidney disease that requires dialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that timely recognition and appropriate treatment of complications are as important as preventing complications to further reduce operative mortality in cardiac surgery. FTR tools may provide vital information for quality improvement initiatives.
Measles Vaccination Elicits a Polyfunctional Antibody Response, Which Decays More Rapidly in Early Vaccinated Children
Authors: Brinkman Iris D , Butler Audrey L , de Wit Jelle , van Binnendijk Rob S , Alter Galit , van Baarle Debbie
Published: June 2021

Background

Measles outbreaks are reported worldwide and pose a serious threat, especially to young unvaccinated infants. Early measles vaccination given to infants under 12 months of age can induce protective antibody levels, but the long-term antibody functionalities are unknown.

Methods

Measles-specific antibody functionality was tested using a systems serology approach for children who received an early measles vaccination at 6–8 or 9–12 months, followed by a regular dose at 14 months of age, and children who only received the vaccination at 14 months. Antibody functionalities comprised complement deposition, cellular cytotoxicity, and neutrophil and cellular phagocytosis. We used Pearson’s r correlations between all effector functions to investigate the coordination of the response.

Results

Children receiving early measles vaccination at 6–8 or 9–12 months of age show polyfunctional antibody responses. Despite significant lower levels of antibodies in these early-vaccinated children, Fc effector functions were comparable with regular-timed vaccinees at 14 months. However, 3-year follow-up revealed significant decreased polyfunctionality in children who received a first vaccination at 6–8 months of age, but not in children who received the early vaccination at 9–12 months.

Conclusions

Antibodies elicited in early-vaccinated children are equally polyfunctional to those elicited from children who received vaccination at 14 months. However, these antibody functionalities decay more rapidly than those induced later in life, which may lead to suboptimal, long-term protection.
Epidemiology of Reported HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections During the COVID-19 Pandemic, New York City
Authors: Braunstein Sarah L , Slutsker Jennifer Sanderson , Lazar Rachael , Shah Dipal , Hennessy Robin R , Chen Shirley X , Pathela Preeti , Daskalakis Demetre C , Schillinger Julia A
Published: June 2021

Early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, a statewide executive order (PAUSE) severely restricted the movement of New Yorkers from 23 March to 7 June 2020. We used New York City surveillance data for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis to describe trends in diagnosis and reporting surrounding PAUSE. During PAUSE, the volume of positive HIV/sexually transmitted infection tests, and diagnoses of HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis declined substantially, reaching a nadir in April before rebounding. Some shifts in characteristics of reported cases were identified.
Pathways to Violence in Civil Wars: Combatant Socialization and the Drivers of Participation in Civilian Targeting
Authors: Cantin Marc-Olivier
Published: June 2021

Recent research has drawn attention to the role of socialization in shaping the behaviors of rebel combatants during civil wars. In particular, scholars have highlighted how vertical and horizontal socialization dynamics can bring combatants to engage in a range of wartime practices, including the use of violence against civilians. This article synthesizes existing theories of combatant socialization and combines them into an integrated framework, which casts the focus on individual pathways toward civilian targeting and specifies the underlying sociopsychological mechanisms through which socializing influences motivate participation in violence. Specifically, the article charts five key pathways that operate through different mechanisms and that are based upon varying degrees of internalization regarding the legitimacy of civilian targeting. In each case, I also identify a number of unit-level factors that are likely to make a given pathway particularly prevalent among combatants. The article then illustrates how these pathways map onto the actual experiences of civil war combatants by examining the drivers of individual participation in violence against civilians among low-ranking members of the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone. The case study evidence highlights the equifinal nature of violence perpetration during civil wars, shedding light on the different social needs, influences, sanctions, and constraints that may motivate involvement in violence. By analyzing rebel behavior through the prism of perpetrator studies, this article thus seeks to establish the civil war literature on firmer theoretical grounds, providing a synthetic account of the individual experiences, motives, and trajectories that are often left unaddressed in this body of research.
A randomized phase III study comparing trastuzumab emtansine with trastuzumab, pertuzumab and docetaxel in elderly patients with advanced stage HER2-positive breast cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study (JCOG1607, HERB TEA study)
Authors: Shimomura Akihiko , Tamura Kenji , Tanaka Kiyo , Mizutani Tomonori , Sasaki Keita , Sekino Yuta , Sawaki Masataka , Shien Tadahiko , Shibata Taro , Iwata Hiroji
Published: June 2021

The standard first-line treatment for patients with human epidermal growth factor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer is a combination therapy of trastuzumab, pertuzumab and docetaxel, and the standard second-line treatment is trastuzumab emtansine. However, it may be difficult for the elderly to maintain sufficient intensity of treatment due to severe adverse events of trastuzumab, pertuzumab and docetaxel. The aim of this trial is to confirm the non-inferiority of trastuzumab emtansine over trastuzumab, pertuzumab and docetaxel in terms of overall survival in elderly (65-year-old or more) patients with human epidermal growth factor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer. If improved overall survival and fewer toxicities are observed, trastuzumab emtansine may be a feasible new standard first-line treatment for elderly patients with human epidermal growth factor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer. A planned total 330 patients will be enrolled from 45 institutions over 6.5 years. This trial has been registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000030783 [http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm].
Limited resection for early-stage thymoma: minimally invasive resection does not mean limited resection
Authors: Nakagawa Kazuo , Asamura Hisao
Published: June 2021

Standard resection for patients with thymoma is resection of thymoma with total thymectomy (TTx) via median sternotomy. Hence, limited resection for thymoma means a lesser extent of resection of normal thymus compared with a standard procedure, i.e. resection of thymoma with partial thymectomy (PTx). In contrast, minimally invasive resection has been defined as resection of thymoma with TTx via a less-invasive approach. However, to date, few studies have precisely evaluated the differences in surgical and oncological outcomes among these three procedures. This report summarizes the differences among these three procedures with a review of studies (January 2000 to December 2020) focusing on the difference in surgical and oncological outcomes and presents current issues in the surgical management of thymoma. In this report, 16 studies were identified; 5 compared standard resection to limited resection, 9 compared standard resection to minimally invasive resection and 2 compared limited resection to minimally invasive resection. Most studies reported that the surgical and oncological outcomes of limited resection or minimally invasive resection were similar to those of standard resection in patients with early-stage thymoma. However, they did not include a sufficient follow-up period. Both limited resection and minimally invasive resection for early-stage thymoma might be reasonable treatment options. However, they are still promising modes of resection. Further studies with a long follow-up period are needed.
DLX5/6 GABAergic Expression Affects Social Vocalization: Implications for Human Evolution
Authors: Levi Giovanni , de Lombares Camille , Giuliani Cristina , Iannuzzi Vincenzo , Aouci Rym , Garagnani Paolo , Franceschi Claudio , Grimaud-Hervé Dominique , Narboux-Nême Nicolas
Published: June 2021

DLX5 and DLX6 are two closely related transcription factors involved in brain development and in GABAergic differentiation. The DLX5/6 locus is regulated by FoxP2, a gene involved in language evolution and has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and mental retardation. Targeted inactivation of Dlx5/6 in mouse GABAergic neurons (Dlx5/6VgatCre mice) results in behavioral and metabolic phenotypes notably increasing lifespan by 33%. Here, we show that Dlx5/6VgatCre mice present a hyper-vocalization and hyper-socialization phenotype. While only 7% of control mice emitted more than 700 vocalizations/10 min, 30% and 56% of heterozygous or homozygous Dlx5/6VgatCre mice emitted more than 700 and up to 1,400 calls/10 min with a higher proportion of complex and modulated calls. Hyper-vocalizing animals were more sociable: the time spent in dynamic interactions with an unknown visitor was more than doubled compared to low-vocalizing individuals. The characters affected by Dlx5/6 in the mouse (sociability, vocalization, skull, and brain shape…) overlap those affected in the “domestication syndrome”. We therefore explored the possibility that DLX5/6 played a role in human evolution and “self-domestication” comparing DLX5/6 genomic regions from Neanderthal and modern humans. We identified an introgressed Neanderthal haplotype (DLX5/6-N-Haplotype) present in 12.6% of European individuals that covers DLX5/6 coding and regulatory sequences. The DLX5/6-N-Haplotype includes the binding site for GTF2I, a gene associated with Williams–Beuren syndrome, a hyper-sociability and hyper-vocalization neurodevelopmental disorder. The DLX5/6-N-Haplotype is significantly underrepresented in semi-supercentenarians (>105 years of age), a well-established human model of healthy aging and longevity, suggesting their involvement in the coevolution of longevity, sociability, and speech.
When and Where Is It Cheaper to Issue Inflation-Linked Debt?
Authors: Ermolov Andrey
Published: June 2021

I compare the direct issuance costs of inflation-linked debt (the liquidity premium) with nominal government debt (the inflation risk premium) in developed countries. On average, it is cheaper to issue nominal debt at medium maturities (5–10 years) and inflation-linked debt at long maturities (20 or more years), although results vary somewhat based on whether survey-based or statistical inflation expectations are used. Issuance costs exhibit pronounced time and cross-country variation. Lower inflation-linked debt issuance costs are associated with more countercyclical inflation and higher proportions of inflation-linked debt. International inflation-linked zero-coupon yields are available as an Internet Appendix to this paper. (JEL E31, E43, G12, G15, H30, H63)

Received November 22, 2018; editorial decision March 9, 2021 by Editor Jeffrey Pontiff. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Autoantibody profiles delineate distinct subsets of scleromyositis
Authors: Leclair Valérie , D’Aoust Julie , Gyger Geneviève , Landon-Cardinal Océane , Meyer Alain , O'Ferrall Erin , Karamchandani Jason , Massie Rami , Ellezam Benjamin , Satoh Minoru , Troyanov Yves , Fritzler Marvin J , Hudson Marie ,   the Canadian Inflammatory Myopathy Study Group
Published: June 2021

Objective

Scleromyositis remains incompletely characterized owing in part to its heterogeneity. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of autoantibody profiles to define subsets of scleromyositis.

Methods

Subjects with scleromyositis from a prospective cohort were divided into three groups based on autoantibody profiles: subjects with SSc-specific autoantibodies (anti-centromere, -topoisomerase 1, -RNA polymerase III, -Th/To, -fibrillarin), subjects with SSc-overlap autoantibodies (anti-PM/Scl, -U1RNP, -Ku) and subjects without SSc-related autoantibodies. Clinical features, laboratory tests and histopathological findings were retrieved and compared between groups.

Results

Of 42 scleromyositis subjects (79% female, mean age at diagnosis 55 years, mean disease duration 3.5 years), 8 (19%) subjects had SSc-specific autoantibodies, 14 (33%) SSc-overlap autoantibodies and 20 (48%) had no SSc-related autoantibodies. One-third had no skin involvement, a finding more frequent in the SSc-overlap subjects and those without SSc-related autoantibodies. Proximal and distal weakness was common and head drop/bent spine was found in 50% of the SSc-specific and 35% of the subjects without SSc-related autoantibodies. Of note, the group without SSc-related autoantibodies had the only cases of severe cardiac systolic dysfunction (n = 1) and scleroderma renal crisis (n = 1), as well as three out of the four cancers and three out of the four deaths.

Conclusion

In this carefully phenotyped series of scleromyositis subjects, absence of SSc-related autoantibodies was common and associated with distinct features and poor prognosis. Future studies are needed to validate these results and possibly identify novel autoantibodies or other biomarkers associated with scleromyositis.
Significance of eosinophilia in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: data from the French Vasculitis Study Group Registry
Authors: Iudici Michele , Puéchal Xavier , Pagnoux Christian , Courvoisier Delphine S , Hamidou Mohamed , Blanchard-Delaunay Claire , Maurier François , Ruivard Marc , Quéméneur Thomas , Aumaître Olivier , Guillevin Loïc , Terrier Benjamin ,   for the French Vasculitis Study Group
Published: June 2021

Objective

To describe disease presentation and long-term outcome of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) patients according to blood eosinophils count (Eos) at vasculitis diagnosis.

Methods

Data from newly diagnosed GPA patients registered in the French Vasculitis Study Group database with available eosinophil count at diagnosis were reviewed. Disease characteristics, rate and type of relapses, and overall survival were analysed according to Eos, categorized as normal (<500/mm3), mild-to-moderate hypereosinophilia (HE) (between 500 and 1500/mm3) and severe HE (>1500/mm3).

Results

Three hundred and fifty-four patients were included. At diagnosis, 90 (25.4%) patients had HE ≥500/mm3; they were more likely male (73% vs 56%, P = 0.006) and had more frequent cutaneous manifestations (49% vs 33%, P = 0.01), peripheral neuropathy (32% vs 17%, P = 0.004) and higher BVAS (21 vs 18, P = 0.01), compared with those with Eos <500/mm3. Patients with severe HE (n = 28; median Eos 2355, range 1500–9114) had more frequent renal function worsening at presentation (P = 0.008). After a median follow-up of 3.95 (interquartile range 1.95–6.76) years, no difference was found in overall relapse rates according to baseline Eos, but those with HE experienced more neurological (P = 0.013) and skin (P = 0.024) relapses and had more frequently peripheral neuropathy as damage at last follow-up (P = 0.02). Overall survival was not significantly different in patients with normal Eos or HE at diagnosis. (P = 0.08).

Conclusions

Blood HE at diagnosis, observed in about one-quarter of GPA patients, identifies a subgroup of patients with a more severe disease and higher rate of skin and neurological involvement both at presentation and during follow-up.
SIMULATION AND MEASUREMENT OF EXTERNAL ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENT OF TOKAMAK DEVICE
Authors: Zhang Maoxing , Jiang Yunsheng , Xu Zhiqian , Wang Shouzhi , Liu Wenbin , Meng Cui , Tan Yi , Gao Zhe
Published: June 2021

Magnetic confinement nuclear fusion is an important way to realize controllable nuclear fusion. Due to the large current and complicated coil arrangement, there is a complicated electromagnetic environment around the fusion device. In this paper, the B-dot sensor is used to measure the magnetic field, the D-dot sensor is used to measure the electric field, the MAXWELL electromagnetic simulation software is used to simulate the electromagnetic field strength; the simulation and measurement of the spherical Tokamak SUNIST device and the measurement of MARX generator are carried out, then we give corresponding electromagnetic protection suggestions.
Illuminating measuring lives: snuffing out Twisden’s candles
Authors: Pratt Simon D
Published: June 2021

Building upon an earlier article exploring ancient Greek, Roman, Neoplatonic and Avicennian influences upon English trusts, the discussion moves on to consider how—whether wittingly or unwittingly—the Bracton authors subsequently misapplied Roman jurisprudence in their treatise. From this, a hotchpotch of discordant ideas is argued to have laid the foundations for one of the most enthralling issues raised in modern times: Which living persons are relevant to the common law Rule Against Perpetuities and what purpose do they serve? Attorneys advising citizens in nine US states where the common law Rule still applies deserve an answer.
Knowledge Transfer Between Younger and Older Employees: A Temporal Social Comparison Model
Authors: Fasbender Ulrike , Gerpott Fabiola H
Published: June 2021

Knowledge transfer between younger and older employees can help to prevent organizational knowledge loss and contribute to business success. However, despite its potential benefits, knowledge transfer does not occur automatically. To better understand the challenges associated with age-diverse knowledge transfer, we develop a conceptual model outlining 10 propositions. Specifically, we adopt a temporal social comparison perspective suggesting that employees compare their current and future status (i.e., the prestige, respect, and esteem provided by others). Expected future status differences are meaningful among age-diverse employees because older employees may have a higher current status than their younger colleagues, whereas younger employees may gain a higher status in the future. In our conceptual model, we propose 2 opposing pathways through which temporal social comparison impacts knowledge transfer, namely age-specific motives (i.e., generativity and development striving) and discrete emotions (i.e., fear of losing status and fear of losing face). In addition, we introduce individual and organizational boundary conditions that can modify the downstream consequences of temporal social comparison on knowledge transfer between younger and older employees.