bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-throughput search for RE (La, Ce and Y) contained stoichiometric compound in steels
Authors: Ma Cainv , Lv Meng , Gao Xueyun , Wang Haiyan , Wei Huihui , Gao Shiyi
Published: March 2021

The design of rare earth (RE) bearing steels requires a thorough understanding of the formation tendency of RE involved phases in steels, while searching for binary and ternary compounds with a wide variety of composition and permutation need a remarkable amount of experimentation which is nearly infeasible. In the present work, we perform a thorough search for the RE-contained compounds in steels by a data-driven high-throughput computational approach. The search results indicate that RE may react with O and N to form a large amounts of oxide and nitride inclusions, while only Y participate in the formation of sulfide inclusion Y2MnS4 and Y2CaS4. For the case of ternary compounds in Fe-based solid solution, it is found that RE prefers to form ternary phases with the non-metallic elements, i.e., B, C, O, P and Si, and only Y is found to combine with metal Cr to form YCr4Fe8. Finally, our screen suggests that RE can participate in the formation of the nano-scale precipitates of κ-carbides, L12 precipitates and B2 precipitates, but MC and M2C carbides.
On the digital twin application and the role of artificial intelligence in additive manufacturing: a systematic review
Authors: Bartsch Katharina , Pettke Alexander , Hübert Artur , Lakämper Julia , Lange Fritz
Published: March 2021

Additive manufacturing (AM) as a highly digitalized manufacturing technology is capable of the implementation of the concept of the digital twin (DT), which promises highly automated and optimized part production. Since the DT is a quite novel concept requiring a wide framework of various technologies, it is not state of the art yet, though. Especially the combination with artificial intelligence (AI) methods is still challenging. Applying the methodology of the systematic review, the state of the art regarding the DT in AM with emphasis of required technologies and current challenges is assessed. Furthermore, the topic of AI is investigated focusing the main applications in AM as well as the possibility to integrate today’s approaches into a DT environment.
Estimates of the Bergman kernel on Teichmüller space
Authors: Hu Guangming , Miyachi Hideki
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a comparison between the Bergman kernel form and the pushforward measure of the Masur-Veech measure on the Teichmüller space of genus

g
≥
2

g\ge 2

is obtained.
Flocking of Cucker-Smale model with unit speed on general digraphs
Authors: Ru Lining , Li Xiaoyu , Liu Yicheng , Wang Xiao
Published: March 2021

In the literature, the study of the continuous Cucker-Smale flocking model with unit speed is all restricted to completed undirected graphs. In this paper, we consider the flocking of the Cucker-Smale model with unit speed constraint on general digraphs, which contain the completed undirected graphs as special cases. For this model, we prove that the flocking would occur under some conditions depending only on initial data. Finally, we provide several numerical simulations to illustrate the obtained results.
Two problems on weighted shifts in linear dynamics
Authors: Bayart Frédéric
Published: March 2021

We show that an invertible bilateral weighted shift is strongly structurally stable if and only if it has the shadowing property. We also exhibit a Köthe sequence space supporting a frequently hypercyclic weighted shift, but no chaotic weighted shifts.
Determining solubility for finitely generated groups of PL homeomorphisms
Authors: Bleak Collin , Brough Tara , Hermiller Susan
Published: March 2021

The set of finitely generated subgroups of the group

P

L
+

(
I
)

PL_+(I)

of orientation-preserving piecewise-linear homeomorphisms of the unit interval includes many important groups, most notably R. Thompson’s group

F
F

. Here, we show that every finitely generated subgroup

G
>
P

L
+

(
I
)

G>PL_+(I)

is either soluble, or contains an embedded copy of the finitely generated, non-soluble Brin-Navas group

B
B

, affirming a conjecture of the first author from 2009. In the case that

G
G

is soluble, we show the derived length of

G
G

is bounded above by the number of breakpoints of any finite set of generators. We specify a set of ‘computable’ subgroups of

P

L
+

(
I
)

PL_+(I)

(which includes R. Thompson’s group

F
F

) and give an algorithm which determines whether or not a given finite subset

X
X

of such a computable group generates a soluble group. When the group is soluble, the algorithm also determines the derived length of

⟨
X
⟩

\langle X\rangle

. Finally, we give a solution of the membership problem for a particular family of finitely generated soluble subgroups of any computable subgroup of

P

L
+

(
I
)

PL_+(I)

.
Superresolution light microscopy of the Drosophila histone locus body reveals a core–shell organization associated with expression of replication–dependent histone genes
Authors: Kemp James P. , Yang Xiao-Cui , Dominski Zbigniew , Marzluff William F. , Duronio Robert J.
Published: March 2021

Structured illumination microscopy revealed a core-shell organization of the Drosophila histone locus body in which the core contains active RNA polymerase II and nascent transcripts and the shell contains a pre-mRNA processing factor, suggesting a link between HLB internal organization and replication-dependent histone mRNA biosynthesis.
Arf1 orchestrates Rab GTPase conversion at the trans-Golgi network
Authors: Thomas Laura L. , Highland Carolyn M. , Fromme J. Christopher
Published: March 2021

Rab family GTPases are key organizers of membrane trafficking and function as markers of organelle identity. Accordingly, Rab GTPases often occupy specific membrane domains and mechanisms exist to prevent the inappropriate mixing of distinct Rab domains. The yeast Golgi complex can be divided into two broad Rab domains: Ypt1 (Rab1) and Ypt6 (Rab6) are present at the early/medial Golgi and sharply transition to Ypt31/32 (Rab11) at the late Golgi/ trans-Golgi network (TGN). This Rab conversion has been attributed to GAP cascades in which Ypt31/32 recruits the Rab-GAPs Gyp1 and Gyp6 to inactivate Ypt1 and Ypt6, respectively. Here we report that Rab transition at the TGN involves additional layers of regulation. We provide new evidence confirming the TRAPPII complex as an important regulator of Ypt6 inactivation and uncover an unexpected role of the Arf1 GTPase in recruiting Gyp1 to drive Ypt1 inactivation at the TGN. Given its established role in directly recruiting TRAPPII to the TGN, Arf1 is therefore a master regulator of Rab conversion on maturing Golgi compartments.
Proteomic Biomarkers in the Cardiorenal Syndrome: Toward Deciphering Molecular Pathophysiology
Authors: He Tianlin , Zhang Zhenyu , Staessen Jan A , Mischak Harald , Latosinska Agnieszka , Beige Joachim
Published: March 2021

Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is defined by coexisting heart and renal dysfunctions. Malfunction of 1 organ may cause dysfunction of the other with variable causative disease that defines the type of CRS (1–5). Numerous studies showed that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Similarly, CKD affects a large proportion of patients with heart failure. This overlap between primary heart or primary kidney disease blurs cause–effect inferences of the initiator/target organ. The classical subdivision of CRS in 5 categories does not provide pathophysiological suggestions for targeted intervention. It seems timely to revisit the value of CRS biomarkers in a pathophysiology-centered approach. We systematically reviewed the literature in CRS, which revealed 53 clinical studies describing the use of 44 biomarkers and 4 proteomic panels. All biomarkers are involved in at least one of the CRS comorbidities. Among the pathways affected, inflammation, aberrant glucose metabolism, neurohormonal activation, and oxidative stress are well described. There is growing evidence that fibrosis may be the “cornerstone” that unifies most of the pathways leading to CRS. Formation of excess fibrous connective tissue antedates CRS in many cases. This review highlights that biomarkers reflecting fibrosis may be of substantial clinical value in the early detection, prognostication, and guiding treatment of CRS. Biomarkers detecting changes in collagen turnover in the extracellular matrix of heart and kidney appear able to depict subclinical changes in the fibrotic remodeling of tissues and constitute a promising approach toward personalized intervention in CRS.
Estimates of Inhalation Exposures among Land Workers during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Clean-up Operations
Authors: Huynh Tran B , Groth Caroline P , Ramachandran Gurumurthy , Banerjee Sudipto , Stenzel Mark , Blair Aaron , Sandler Dale P , Engel Lawrence S , Kwok Richard K , Stewart Patricia A
Published: March 2021

Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, thousands of workers and volunteers cleaned the shoreline across four coastal states of the Gulf of Mexico. For the GuLF STUDY, we developed quantitative estimates of oil-related chemical exposures [total petroleum hydrocarbons (THC), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and n-hexane (BTEX-H)] from personal measurements on workers performing various spill clean-up operations on land. These operations included decontamination of vessels, equipment, booms, and personnel; handling of oily booms; hazardous waste management; beach, marsh, and jetty clean-up; aerial missions; wildlife rescue and rehabilitation; and administrative support activities. Exposure estimates were developed for unique groups of workers by (i) activity, (ii) state, and (iii) time period. Estimates of the arithmetic means (AMs) for THC ranged from 0.04 to 3.67 ppm. BTEX-H estimates were substantially lower than THC (in the parts per billion range). Both THC and BTEX-H estimates were substantially lower than their respective occupational exposure limits. The work group, ‘Fueled engines’ consistently was one of the higher exposed groups to THC and BTEX-H. Notable differences in the AM exposures were observed by activity, time and, to a lesser degree, by state. These exposure estimates were used to develop job-exposure matrices for the GuLF STUDY.
Exploratory Interactive Explaining (EXINTEX): Constructing Disciplinary Knowledge in Two Multilingual University Settings
Authors: Komori-Glatz Miya , Smit Ute
Published: March 2021

The rise of English-medium education has led to considerable academic interest in communicative practices in multilingual university settings. However, there is still little research into disciplinary knowledge construction in higher education contexts where English is the academic lingua franca. To address this gap, we embrace the central role of explaining in education by proposing Exploratory Interactive Explaining (EXINTEX) as an analytical tool, which identifies the elements of explanatory episodes in the joint development of disciplinary knowledge. We then apply this tool at the micro-level of interaction to two comparable contexts differentiated primarily by the presence or absence of a teacher. Our findings confirm the relevance and high level of educational success of EXINTEX episodes in both quantitative and qualitative terms. They further reveal the dynamic interplay of epistemic authority and engagement in the learning process. Additionally, they show how research into educational disciplinary discourse and English as a lingua franca in academic settings can complement and supplement each other.
Sexual Well-Being Informed Social Work Practice: Harnessing the Power of Reflection and a Hallmark Experiential Sexuality Education Activity
Authors: Turner George W , Pelts Michael
Published: March 2021

Moving human sexuality beyond a specialty focus and establishing a sexuality discourse within social work’s foundation may be challenging. Group process and reflection, hallmarks of social work, may be a way to integrate this sometimes overlooked and often taboo conversation into social work coursework. Undergrad students from two Mid-western universities reflected on the usefulness of an established experiential sex education activity . Qualitative analysis of student narratives resulted in seven themes describing the usefulness of this activity including: (i) emotional intimacy; (ii) connection; (iii) power of personal stories; (iv) normalising; (v) healing; (vi) clinical profile and (vii) RE-storying. These themes demonstrate that this activity has clear benefits and enriches the overall learning of the topic of human sexuality. Further, these themes fit nicely within a social work pedagogy teaching clinical practice skills such as group process, rapport building and use of self. Implications for social work are discussed.
Functional maps of direct electrical stimulation-induced speech arrest and anomia: a multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Lu Junfeng , Zhao Zehao , Zhang Jie , Wu Bin , Zhu Yanming , Chang Edward F , Wu Jinsong , Duffau Hugues , Berger Mitchel S
Published: March 2021

Direct electrical stimulation, the transient ‘lesional’ method probing brain function, has been utilized in identifying the language cortex and preserving language function during epilepsy and neuro-oncological surgeries for about a century. However, comparison of functional maps of the language cortex across languages/continents based on cortical stimulation remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective multicentre study including four cohorts of direct electrical stimulation mapping from four centres across three continents, where three indigenous languages (English, French and Mandarin) are spoken. All subjects performed the two most common language tasks: number counting and picture naming during stimulation. All language sites were recorded and normalized to the same brain template. Next, Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to explore the consistency of the distributions of the language cortex across centres, a kernel density estimation to localize the peak coordinates, and a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to detect the crucial epicenters. A total of 598 subjects with 917 speech arrest sites (complete interruption of ongoing counting) and 423 anomia sites (inability to name or misnaming) were included. Different centres presented highly consistent distribution patterns for speech arrest (Spearman’s coefficient r ranged from 0.60 to 0.85, all pair-wise correlations P < 0.05), and similar patterns for anomia (Spearman’s coefficient r ranged from 0.37 to 0.80). The combinational speech arrest map was divided into four clusters: cluster 1 mainly located in the ventral precentral gyrus and pars opercularis, which contained the peak of speech arrest in the ventral precentral gyrus; cluster 2 in the ventral and dorsal precentral gyrus; cluster 3 in the supplementary motor area; cluster 4 in the posterior superior temporal gyrus and supramarginal gyrus. The anomia map revealed two clusters: one was in the posterior part of the superior and middle temporal gyri, which peaked at the posterior superior temporal gyrus; and the other within the inferior frontal gyrus, peaked at the pars triangularis. This study constitutes the largest series to date of language maps generated from direct electrical stimulation mapping. The consistency of data provides evidence for common language networks across languages, in the context of both speech and naming circuit. Our results not only clinically offer an atlas for language mapping and protection, but also scientifically provide better insight into the functional organization of language networks.
SERCA2a stimulation by istaroxime improves intracellular Ca2+ handling and diastolic dysfunction in a model of diabetic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Torre Eleonora , Arici Martina , Lodrini Alessandra Maria , Ferrandi Mara , Barassi Paolo , Hsu Shih-Che , Chang Gwo-Jyh , Boz Elisabetta , Sala Emanuela , Vagni Sara , Altomare Claudia , Mostacciuolo Gaspare , Bussadori Claudio , Ferrari Patrizia , Bianchi Giuseppe , Rocchetti Marcella
Published: March 2021

Aims 

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a multifactorial disease characterized by an early onset of diastolic dysfunction (DD) that precedes the development of systolic impairment. Mechanisms that can restore cardiac relaxation improving intracellular Ca2+ dynamics represent a promising therapeutic approach for cardiovascular diseases associated to DD. Istaroxime has the dual properties to accelerate Ca2+ uptake into sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through the SR Ca2+ pump (SERCA2a) stimulation and to inhibit Na+/K+ ATPase (NKA). This project aims to characterize istaroxime effects at a concentration (100 nmol/L) marginally affecting NKA, in order to highlight its effects dependent on the stimulation of SERCA2a in an animal model of mild diabetes.

Methods and results 

Streptozotocin (STZ) treated diabetic rats were studied at 9  weeks after STZ injection in comparison to controls (CTR). Istaroxime effects were evaluated in vivo and in left ventricular (LV) preparations. STZ animals showed (i) marked DD not associated to cardiac fibrosis, (ii) LV mass reduction associated to reduced LV cell dimension and T-tubules loss, (iii) reduced LV SERCA2 protein level and activity and (iv) slower SR Ca2+ uptake rate, (v) LV action potential (AP) prolongation and increased short-term variability (STV) of AP duration, (vi) increased diastolic Ca2+, and (vii) unaltered SR Ca2+ content and stability in intact cells. Acute istaroxime infusion (0.11 mg/kg/min for 15 min) reduced DD in STZ rats. Accordingly, in STZ myocytes istaroxime (100 nmol/L) stimulated SERCA2a activity and blunted STZ-induced abnormalities in LV Ca2+ dynamics. In CTR myocytes, istaroxime increased diastolic Ca2+ level due to NKA blockade albeit minimal, while its effects on SERCA2a were almost absent.

Conclusions 

SERCA2a stimulation by istaroxime improved STZ-induced DD and intracellular Ca2+ handling anomalies. Thus, SERCA2a stimulation can be considered a promising therapeutic approach for DD treatment.
‘A bridge over troubled water’: a case report
Authors: D’Amario Domenico , Cammarano Michela , Quarta Rossella , Casamassima Fabio , Restivo Attilio , Bianco Massimiliano , Palmieri Vincenzo , Zeppilli Paolo
Published: March 2021

Background

Myocardial bridge (MB) is the most common inborn coronary artery variant, in which a portion of myocardium overlies a major epicardial coronary artery segment. Myocardial bridge has been for long considered a benign condition, although it has been shown to cause effort-related ischaemia.

Case summary 

We present the case of a 17-year-old female patient experiencing chest pain during physical activity. Since her symptoms became unbearable, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were performed together with a coronary computed tomography scan, revealing an MB on proximal-mid left anterior descending artery. In order to unequivocally unmask the ischaemic burden lent by MB, the patient underwent coronary angiography and physiological invasive test: instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) and fractional flow reserve (FFR) were calculated, both at baseline and after dobutamine infusion (5 µg/kg/min). At baseline, iFR value was borderline (= 0.89), whereas after dobutamine infusion and increase in the heart rate, the patient suffered chest pain. This symptom was associated with a decrease in the iFR value up to 0.77. Consistently, when FFR was performed, a value of 0.92 was observed at baseline, while after inotrope infusion the FFR reached the haemodynamic significance (= 0.79). Therefore, a medical treatment with bisoprolol was started.

Discussion 

Our clinical case shows the importance of a comprehensive non-invasive and invasive assessment of MB in young patients experiencing chest pain, with significant limitation in the daily life. The coronary functional indexes allow to detect the presence of MB-derived ischaemia, thus guiding the decision to undertake a medical/surgical therapy.
Antithrombotic treatment management in low stroke risk patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation <48 h duration: results of an EHRA survey
Authors: Migliore Federico , Providencia Rui , Farkowski Michal M , Dan Georghe Andrei , Daniel Scherr , Potpara Tatjana S , Jubele Kristine , Chun Julian K R , de Asmundis Carlo , Zorzi Alessandro , Boveda Serge
Published: March 2021

Data supporting the safety of cardioversion (CV) of atrial fibrillation (AF) without anticoagulation in patients with AF duration <48 h are scarce. Observational studies suggest that the risk of stroke in these patients is very low when the definite duration of the AF episode is of <48 h and the clinical risk profile as estimated through the CHA2DS2VASc score is low (a score of 0 for men and 1 for women). As the recent 2020 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines indication for this clinical scenario is based mainly on consensus, we sent out a survey to assess the current clinical practice on anticoagulation prior to and post-CV in patients with AF <24–48 h duration and low stroke risk across centres in Europe. Of the 136 respondents, half were affiliated to university hospitals (68/136; 50%). Non-university hospitals (50/136; 36%) and private hospitals (2/136; 1.4%) accounted over a third of respondents. The main findings of our survey were (i) heterogeneity in the anticoagulation management both before and post-CV in low stroke-risk patients with AF <48 h, (ii) higher utilization of periprocedural low-molecular-weight heparin than of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant, (iii) higher utilization of pre-CV transoesophageal echocardiography for electrical CV than for pharmacological CV regardless of the duration of AF, (iv) high adherence to a 4-week post-CV oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy, mainly for electrical CV, and finally, (v) perceived higher acceptance of lack of post-CV OAC therapy in patients with <24 h than 24-48 h episode duration. The results obtained in this survey highlight the need for more research providing definitive clarification on the safety of CV without anticoagulation in patients with short duration AF.
Social media influencers can be used to deliver positive information about the flu vaccine: findings from a multi-year study
Authors: Bonnevie Erika , Smith Sierra M , Kummeth Caitlin , Goldbarg Jaclyn , Smyser Joe
Published: March 2021

Large-scale digital flu vaccine campaigns have experienced difficulty increasing vaccination coverage among African Americans and Hispanics, and are routinely inundated by negative responses from vaccine opponents. A digital campaign employing user-generated content from social media ‘micro’ influencers who are predominantly followed by African Americans and Hispanics was implemented during the 2018–19 and 2019–20 flu seasons to disseminate positive information about the flu vaccine. At the time, this constituted the largest influencer-driven health campaign focused on these communities in the United States. Comments on posts were qualitatively coded to determine content perceptions among those exposed to posts. Digital metrics were also analyzed. During Year 1, posts reached 9 million+ social media users and generated 64 612 likes or shares, and 1512 responses. In Year 2, posts reached 8 million+ users and generated 155 600 likes or shares, and 3122 responses. Around 94% of public responses to posts were positive, suggesting this is a promising strategy to communicate health information and could shift social norms, particularly for heavily debated topics such as vaccination. This strategy represents a more community-led and participatory approach than most large-scale vaccination campaigns have attempted, with immediate applicability to communications about the COVID-19 vaccine.
FOXO1 controls protein synthesis and transcript abundance of mutant polyglutamine proteins, preventing protein aggregation
Authors: Furtado Gabriel Vasata , Yang Jing , Wu Di , Papagiannopoulos Christos I , Terpstra Hanna M , Kuiper E F Elsiena , Krauss Sybille , Zhu Wei-Guo , Kampinga Harm H , Bergink Steven
Published: March 2021

FOXO1, a transcription factor downstream of the insulin/insulin like growth factor axis, has been linked to protein degradation. Elevated expression of FOXO orthologs can also prevent the aggregation of cytosine adenine guanine (CAG)-repeat disease causing polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins but whether FOXO1 targets mutant proteins for degradation is unclear. Here, we show that increased expression of FOXO1 prevents toxic polyQ aggregation in human cells while reducing FOXO1 levels has the opposite effect and accelerates it. Although FOXO1 indeed stimulates autophagy, its effect on polyQ aggregation is independent of autophagy, ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) mediated protein degradation and is not due to a change in mutant polyQ protein turnover. Instead, FOXO1 specifically downregulates protein synthesis rates from expanded pathogenic CAG repeat transcripts. FOXO1 orchestrates a change in the composition of proteins that occupy mutant expanded CAG transcripts, including the recruitment of IGF2BP3. This mRNA binding protein enables a FOXO1 driven decrease in pathogenic expanded CAG transcript- and protein levels, thereby reducing the initiation of amyloidogenesis. Our data thus demonstrate that FOXO1 not only preserves protein homeostasis at multiple levels, but also reduces the accumulation of aberrant RNA species that may co-contribute to the toxicity in CAG-repeat diseases.
Impact of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on Nasopharyngeal Carriage Rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a Rural Community in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Dunn Maria G , Lessa Fernanda C , Sánchez Jacqueline , Cordero Ramona , Feris-Iglesias Jesús , Cedano Doraliza , Carvalho Maria da Glória , Fernández Josefina , Feemster Kristen A
Published: March 2021

Background

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) leads to thousands of pediatric deaths annually. Pneumococcal colonization precedes IPD. In 2013, the Dominican Republic introduced the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) into its routine infant immunization program, with doses at ages 2, 4, and 12 months. Prevalence of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization was evaluated post–PCV13 introduction.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 125 children aged 2–35 months was conducted in a rural Dominican Republic community November 2016 through July 2017. Nasopharyngeal swabs and clinical and vaccination data were collected at enrollment and 4–6 months later. Serotypes included in PCV13 were defined as vaccine-type. Colonization rates and serotype distribution were compared at baseline and follow-up, and the association between colonization and vaccination status among the entire cohort was evaluated at each time point.

Results

Of 125 children enrolled, 118 (94%) completed follow-up. Overall and vaccine-type pneumococcal colonization rates were 62% and 25%, respectively, at baseline and 60% and 28% at follow-up. Among children age-eligible for 3 doses, 50% and 51% were fully vaccinated at baseline and follow-up, respectively. At baseline assessment, children up-to-date for age for PCV13 were less likely to be colonized with vaccine-type pneumococci than children not up-to-date, and the same was found for fully vaccinated children (3 doses) compared to those not fully vaccinated (odds ratios [ORs], 0.38 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .18–.79], and 0.14 [95% CI, .04–.45], respectively). The same associations were not found at follow-up assessment.

Conclusions

Three years post -PCV13 introduction, vaccine-type colonization rates remained high. Low vaccination coverage for 3 PCV13 doses may have contributed. The protective effect of PCV13 on vaccine-type carriage suggests an increase in PCV13 coverage could lead to substantial declines in pneumococcal vaccine-type carriage.
What Do Diagnoses of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease in Specialist Sexual Health Services in England Tell Us About Chlamydia Control?
Authors: Davis Grahame S , Horner Patrick J , Price Malcolm J , Mitchell Holly D , Soldan Kate
Published: March 2021

Background

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an outcome measure for the evaluation of chlamydia screening programs. We explore PID diagnoses in specialist sexual health services (SSHSs) in England to inform the evaluation of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, which was implemented nationally in 2008.

Methods

We conducted descriptive analyses using data on diagnoses of PID—with and without Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC)—by age and year of birth, in SSHSs between 2009 and 2019 from the GUMCAD STI Surveillance System database. Rates were calculated per 100 000 females residing in England.

Results

CT screening activity peaked in 2010. The rates of all PID diagnoses decreased between 2009 and 2019 by 39%. CT-associated PID (CT-PID) declined by 58%, and nonspecific PID declined by 37%. GC-PID increased by 34%. CT-PID decreased across all age groups with the highest observed decline, 71%, in 15- to 19-year-olds. A dose-response relationship was observed between CT-PID rates and screening, with rates lowest in those with the greatest exposure to screening.

Conclusions

There was a marked decline in diagnoses of CT-PID, and nonspecific PID, at SSHSs after the introduction of widespread chlamydia screening, whereas GC-PID diagnoses increased. This ecological trend was broadly consistent with what we would have expected to see if widespread screening reduced the incidence of chlamydia-associated PID (and of nonspecific PID), as has been observed in randomized controlled trials of screening.
Inflammatory Profiles and Clinical Features of Coronavirus 2019 Survivors 3 Months After Discharge in Wuhan, China
Authors: Zhou Mei , Yin Zhengrong , Xu Juanjuan , Wang Sufei , Liao Tingting , Wang Kai , Li Yumei , Yang Fan , Wang Zhen , Yang Guanghai , Zhang Jianchu , Jin Yang
Published: March 2021

Background

Postdischarge immunity and its correlation with clinical features among patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) are poorly described. This prospective cross-sectional study explored the inflammatory profiles and clinical recovery of patients with COVID-19 at 3 months after hospital discharge.

Methods

Patients with COVID-19 discharged from 4 hospitals in Wuhan, recovered asymptomatic patients (APs) from an isolation hotel, and uninfected healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Viral nucleic acid and antibody detection, laboratory examination, computed tomography, pulmonary function assessment, multiplex cytokine assay, and flow cytometry were performed.

Results

The72 age-, sex- and body mass index–matched participants included 19 patients with severe/critical COVID-19 (SPs), 20 patients with mild/moderate COVID-19 (MPs), 16 APs, and 17 HCs. At 3 months after discharge, levels of proinflammatory cytokines and factors related to vascular injury/repair in patients recovered from COVID-19 had not returned to those of the HCs, especially among recovered SPs compared with recovered MPs and APs. These cytokines were significantly correlated with impaired pulmonary function and chest computed tomographic abnormalities. However, levels of immune cells had returned to nearly normal levels and were not significantly correlated with abnormal clinical features.

Conclusion

Vascular injury, inflammation, and chemotaxis persisted in patients with COVID-19 and were correlated with abnormal clinical features 3 months after discharge, especially in recovered SPs.
Coupling kinetic models and advection–diffusion equations. 2. Sensitivity analysis of an advection–diffusion–reaction model
Authors: Uys Lafras , Hofmeyr Jan-Hendrik S , Rohwer Johann M
Published: March 2021

The accompanying paper (Uys et al., in silico Plants, 2021: diab013) presented a core model of sucrose accumulation within the advection–diffusion–reaction framework, which is able to capture the spatio-temporal evolution of the system from a set of initial conditions. This paper presents a sensitivity analysis of this model. Because this is a non-steady-state model based on partial differential equations, we performed the sensitivity analysis using two approaches from engineering. The Morris method is based on a one-at-a-time design, perturbing parameters individually and calculating the influence on model output in terms of elementary effects. Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (FAST) is a global sensitivity analysis method, where all parameters are perturbed simultaneously, oscillating at different frequencies, enabling the calculation of the contribution of each parameter through Fourier analysis. Overall, both methods gave similar results. Perturbations in reactions tended to have a large influence on their own rate, as well as on directly connected metabolites. Sensitivities varied both with the time of the simulation and the position along the sugarcane stalk. Our results suggest that vacuolar sucrose concentrations are most sensitive to vacuolar invertase in the centre of the stalk, but that phloem unloading and vacuolar sucrose uptake also contribute, especially towards the stalk edges. Sucrose in the phloem was most sensitive to phloem loading at the nodes, but most sensitive to phloem unloading in the middle of the internodes. Sink concentrations of sucrose in the symplast were most sensitive to phloem unloading in the middle of the internodes, but at the nodes cytosolic invertase had the greatest effect.
To Blame or to Support? Large-scale Insurgent Attacks on Civilians and Public Trust in State Institutions
Authors: Deglow Annekatrin , Sundberg Ralph
Published: March 2021

While there is a substantial body of literature on the consequences of terror attacks on public attitudes toward state institutions in Western democracies, little is known about the impact that such events have in the context of armed conflict. We address this gap by exploring the attitudinal effects of a 2012 Taliban attack on civilians in Kabul City, Afghanistan. We test two competing hypotheses: the “rally-effect” hypothesis according to which individuals increase their trust in incumbent institutions in the aftermath of violent attacks and the “accountability” hypothesis according to which individuals punish state institutions for their inability to provide security by withdrawing trust. Leveraging a quasi-experiment that compares individuals interviewed before the attack to individuals interviewed thereafter, we find that the attack—in line with the rally-effect hypothesis—increased trust in several state institutions among residents of Kabul City.
Antibiotic resistance during and beyond COVID-19
Authors: Livermore David M
Published: March 2021

Antibiotics underpin the ‘modern medicine’ that has increased life expectancy, leading to societies with sizeable vulnerable elderly populations who have suffered disproportionately during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Governments have responded by shuttering economies, limiting social interactions and refocusing healthcare. There are implications for antibiotic resistance both during and after these events. During spring 2020, COVID-19-stressed ICUs relaxed stewardship, perhaps promoting resistance. Counterpoised to this, more citizens died at home and total hospital antibiotic use declined, reducing selection pressure. Restricted travel and social distancing potentially reduced community import and transmission of resistant bacteria, though hard data are lacking. The future depends on the vaccines now being deployed. Unequivocal vaccine success should allow a swift return to normality. Vaccine failure followed by extended and successful non-pharmaceutical suppression may lead to the same point, but only after some delay, and with indefinite travel restrictions; sustainability is doubtful. Alternatively, failure of vaccines and control measures may prompt acceptance that we must live with the virus, as in the prolonged 1889–94 ‘influenza’ (or coronavirus OC43) pandemic. Vaccine failure scenarios, particularly those accepting ‘learning to live with the virus’, favour increased outpatient management of non-COVID-19 infections using oral and long t½ antibiotics. Ultimately, all models—except those envisaging societal collapse—suggest that COVID-19 will be controlled and that hospitals will revert to pre-2020 patterns with a large backlog of non-COVID-19 patients awaiting treatment. Clearing this will increase workloads, stresses, nosocomial infections, antibiotic use and resistance. New antibiotics, including cefiderocol, are part of the answer. The prescribing information for cefiderocol is available at: https://shionogi-eu-content.com/gb/fetcroja/pi.
Serotype distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from a Phase III community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) trial
Authors: McCurdy S P , Sheets A J , Cammarata S K , Vidal J E
Published: March 2021

Objectives

To report Streptococcus pneumoniae serotyping and susceptibility data from a recent clinical trial (ML-3341-306) comparing delafloxacin with moxifloxacin in the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).

Methods

Serotyping and susceptibility testing were conducted on 142 baseline S. pneumoniae isolates recovered from subjects participating in a CABP clinical trial.

Results

Overall, 113/142 (79.6%) isolates were vaccine serotypes. 76.8% (109/142) of serotyped isolates were PPSV23 serotypes and 59.9% (85/142) of isolates were PCV13 serotypes. 15.5% (22/142) of serotyped isolates were serotypes not covered by either vaccine; 4.9% (7/142) of tested isolates were non-typeable. The most common serotypes were serotypes 3 (19.0%; 27/142), 19F (9.9%; 14/142) and 23F (7.0%; 10/142). All of the 142 isolates were susceptible to delafloxacin and moxifloxacin, 76.1% were susceptible to azithromycin and 71.8% were susceptible to penicillin. Multidrug resistance was found among 19A (4/5; 80%), 6A (1/4; 25%), 6B (1/4; 25%), 14 (1/4; 25%), 19F (1/14; 7.1%), and 23F serotypes (2/10; 20%), and among non-typeable S. pneumoniae isolates (1/7; 14.3%).

Conclusions

S. pneumoniae vaccine-targeted serotypes were the main cause of CABP in this Phase 3 CABP study. Fluoroquinolones including delafloxacin remain a good treatment option for CABP in adults caused by S. pneumoniae.
The disulfiram/copper complex induces apoptosis and inhibits tumour growth in human osteosarcoma by activating the ROS/JNK signalling pathway
Authors: Guo Weihong , Zhang Xiaoxing , Lin Longshuai , Wang Hongjie , He Enjun , Wang Gangyang , Zhao Qinghua
Published: March 2021

Given the huge cost, long research and development (R&D) time and uncertain side effects of discovering new drugs, drug repositioning of those approved to treat diseases clinically as new drugs for other pathological conditions, especially cancers, is a potential alternative strategy. Disulfiram (DSF), an old drug used to treat alcoholism, has been found to exhibit anticancer activity and improve chemotherapeutic efficacy in cancers by an increasing number of studies. In addition, the combination of DSF and copper may be a more effective therapeutic strategy. In this study, we report the toxicity of the disulfiram/copper (DSF/Cu) complex to human osteosarcoma (OS) both in vitro and in vivo. DSF/Cu significantly inhibited the proliferation and clonogenicity of OS cell lines. Furthermore, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was triggered by DSF/Cu, and cell arrest, autophagy and apoptosis were induced in an ROS-dependent manner. The underlying mechanism of this process was explored, and DSF/Cu may mainly inhibit OS by inducing apoptosis by activating the ROS/JNK pathway. DSF/Cu also inhibited OS growth in a xenograft model with low levels of organ-related toxicities. These results suggest that the DSF/Cu complex could be an efficient and safe option for the treatment of OS in the clinic.
Daurian pika (Ochotona dauurica) alarm calls: individual acoustic variation in a lagomorph with audible through ultrasonic vocalizations
Authors: Volodin Ilya A , Volodina Elena V , Frey Roland , Karaseva Kseniya D , Kirilyuk Vadim E
Published: March 2021

Colonial lagomorphs warn conspecifics of potential danger with alarm calls encoding information about attributes of presumptive predators as well as the caller. In this study, we show that alarm calls of Daurian pikas, Ochotona dauurica (Pallas, 1776), encode information about caller identity. We recorded the alarm calls produced toward a surrogate predator (researcher), slowly moving (0.5–1 km/h) between densely distributed colonies. The alarm calls of most (32 of the 35) callers started in the ultrasonic range at 22.41 kHz on average and rapidly decreased to 3.88 kHz on average at call end. Call duration was very short (0.057 s on average). The accuracy of classifying alarm calls to correct callers with discriminant function analysis (DFA) was 93.71% for the manually measured set of 12 acoustic variables and 95.43% for the semiautomatically measured set of 12 acoustic variables; in both cases exceeding the level of chance (17.28% or 17.33%, respectively). Nonlinear vocal phenomena (biphonations) only were detected in one individual. We discuss the relationship between vocal traits, individuality, vocal production mechanisms, and functions, of pika alarm calls. We propose a potential divergence of alarm calls in Asian pikas to high-frequency whistles (> 20 kHz in Daurian pikas) and in American pikas to low-frequency emissions (0.4–1.3 kHz in Ochotona princeps) during the evolutionary radiation of pikas at the center of the origin of lagomorphs in East Asia and their subsequent geographic dispersal.
The Role of Trauma in Mothers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Beliefs and Intentions
Authors: Milan Stephanie , Dáu Ana Luísa B. T.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Research on COVID-19 vaccine beliefs has focused primarily on adults’ intentions to vaccinate themselves; however, many parents will also face decisions about vaccinating their children. In this study, we examine how maternal posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma history relate to mothers’ beliefs and intentions about the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and their children.

Methods

A total of 240 mothers with a mental health history participating in a parenting study answered online survey questions via Prolific. Questions assessed: (a) trauma indictors (past diagnosis, current symptoms, and lifetime exposure to events); (b) vaccine measures (intentions for self and child, COVID-19 vaccine confidence, general vaccine perceived safety, reasoning about vaccine intentions, sources of influence on intentions); and (c) possible explanatory variables (institutional distrust, negative worldviews). ANCOVAs and regression analyses were used.

Results

When compared with mothers with other mental health diagnoses, mothers with a PTSD history had significantly less confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine and less intent to get the vaccine for themselves or their child. These effects were explained by greater institutional distrust (i.e., significant indirect effects). Mothers with a previous PTSD diagnosis also expressed different reasons for vaccine hesitancy (e.g., less belief in science) and ascribed less influence to healthcare and governmental sources in vaccine decision-making.

Conclusion

Findings highlight the potential utility of a trauma-informed approach in efforts to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. For mothers with a history of PTSD, addressing institutional distrust, including towards the healthcare industry, may be an important element to consider in the content, delivery, and mode of vaccine messaging.
Integrative transnational analysis to dissect tuberculosis transmission events along the migratory route from Africa to Europe
Authors: Martínez-Lirola Miguel , Jajou Rana , Mathys Vanessa , Martin Anandi , Cabibbe Andrea Maurizio , Valera Ana , Sola-Campoy Pedro J , Abascal Estefanía , Rodríguez-Maus Sandra , Garrido-Cárdenas Jose Antonio , Bonillo Magdalena , Chiner-Oms Álvaro , López Begoña , Vallejo-Godoy Silvia , Comas Iñaki , Muñoz Patricia , Cirillo Daniela Maria , van Soolingen Dick , Pérez-Lago Laura , García de Viedma Darío
Published: March 2021

Background

Growing international migration has increased the complexity of tuberculosis transmission patterns. Italy’s decision to close its borders in 2018 made of Spain the new European porte entrée for migration from the Horn of Africa (HA). In one of the first rescues of migrants from this region at the end of 2018, tuberculosis was diagnosed in eight subjects, mainly unaccompanied minors.

Methods

Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from these recently arrived migrants were analysed by Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive-Unit/Variable-Number of Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and subsequent whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Data were compared with those from collections from other European countries receiving migrants from the HA and a strain-specific PCR was applied for a fast searching of common strains. Infections in a cellular model were performed to assess strain virulence.

Results

MIRU-VNTR analysis allowed identifying an epidemiological cluster involving three of the eight cases from Somalia (0 single-nucleotide polymorphisms between isolates, HA cluster). Following detailed interviews revealed that two of these cases had shared the same migratory route in most of the trip and had spent a long time at a detention camp in Libya. To confirm potential en route transmission for the three cases, we searched the same strain in collections from other European countries receiving migrants from the HA. MIRU-VNTR, WGS and a strain-specific PCR for the HA strain were applied. The same strain was identified in 12 cases from Eritrea diagnosed soon after their arrival in 2018 to the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Intracellular replication rate of the strain did not reveal abnormal virulence.

Conclusions

Our study suggests a potential en route transmission of a pan-susceptible strain, which caused at least 15 tuberculosis cases in Somalian and Eritrean migrants diagnosed in four different European countries.
Turbulent properties of Helium convective shells of massive stars
Authors: Ding C Y , Chen Y H
Published: March 2021

In this paper, turbulent properties and correlations of Helium convective shells (due to partial ionization of Helium) of 30 $\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ star are researched. As evolution proceeds, the turbulence in Helium convective shells becomes more and more intense. Choosing the stellar models of which effective temperature is 10 000 Kelvin, it is found that the turbulent kinetic energy will increase in the Helium II (primary Helium ionization) zone but decrease in the Helium III (Helium secondary ionization) zone and the ratio of convective heat flux to the total heat flux will increase in the He ii convective zone and decrease in the He iii convective zone as the turbulent diffusion parameters’ values increase. This represents that the turbulent kinetic energy possibly transport outward as the turbulent diffusive parameters’ values increase.
Solution intervals considered harmful: on the optimality of radio interferometric gain solutions
Authors: Sob U M , Bester H L , Smirnov O M , Kenyon J S , Russeeawon C
Published: March 2021

Solution intervals are often used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio during radio interferometric gain calibration. This work investigates how factors such as the noise level, intrinsic gain variability, degree of model incompleteness, and the presence of radio frequency interference impact the selection of solution intervals for calibration. We perform different interferometric simulations to demonstrate how these factors, in combination with the choice of solution intervals, affect calibration and imaging outputs and discuss practical guidelines for choosing optimal solution intervals. Furthermore, we present an algorithm capable of automatically selecting suitable solution intervals during calibration. By applying the algorithm to both simulated and real data, we show that it can successfully choose solution intervals that strike a good balance between capturing intrinsic gain variability and not fitting noise as long as the data are not too inhomogeneously flagged. Furthermore, we elaborate on several practical aspects that emphasize the need to develop regularized calibration algorithms that do not require solution intervals.