bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AlH lines in the blue spectrum of Proxima Centauri
Authors: Pavlenko Yakiv V , Tennyson Jonathan , Yurchenko Sergei N , Schmidt Mirek R , Jones Hugh R A , Lyubchik Yuri , Suárez Mascareño A
Published: September 2022

The recently computed ExoMol line lists for isotopologues of AlH are used to analyse the blue spectrum (4000–4500 Å) of Proxima Cen (M5.5 V). Comparison of the observed and computed spectra enables the identification of a large number of 27AlH lines of the A 1Π –X 1Σ+ band system: The spectral range covering 1-0, 0-0, and 1-1 bands are dominated by clearly resolved AlH lines. We reveal the diffuse nature of transitions close to the dissociation limit which appears in the form of increasingly wider (up to 5 Å) and shallower (up to the continuum confusion limit) AlH line profiles. The predicted wavelengths of AlH diffuse lines are systematically displaced. The effect of broadening by predissociation states on the line profiles is included by increasing the radiative damping rate by up to 5 orders of magnitude. We determine empirical values of damping rates for a number of the clean 0-0 Q-branch transitions by comparing the observed and synthetic stellar spectra. We find excellent agreement between our damping rates and lifetimes available in the literature. A comparison of 27Al1H ExoMol and REALH spectra shows that the observed spectrum is better described by the ExoMol line list. A search for 26Al1H lines in the Proxima Cen spectrum does not reveal any notable features; giving an upper limit of 27Al1H /26Al1H >100.
On the diversity of magnetar-driven kilonovae
Authors: Sarin Nikhil , Omand Conor M B , Margalit Ben , Jones David I
Published: September 2022

A non-negligible fraction of binary neutron star mergers are expected to form long-lived neutron star remnants, dramatically altering the multimessenger signatures of a merger. Here, we extend existing models for magnetar-driven kilonovae and explore the diversity of kilonovae and kilonova afterglows. Focusing on the role of the (uncertain) magnetic field strength, we study the resulting electromagnetic signatures as a function of the external dipolar and internal toroidal fields. These two parameters govern, respectively, the competition between magnetic-dipole spin-down and gravitational-wave spin-down (due to magnetic-field deformation) of the rapidly rotating remnant. We find that even in the parameter space where gravitational-wave emission is dominant, a kilonova with a magnetar central engine will be significantly brighter than one without an engine, as this parameter space is where more of the spin-down luminosity is thermalized. In contrast, a system with minimal gravitational-wave emission will produce a kilonova that may be difficult to distinguish from ordinary kilonovae unless early epoch observations are available. However, as the bulk of the energy in this parameter space goes into accelerating the ejecta, such a system will produce a brighter kilonova afterglow that will peak in shorter times. To effectively hide the presence of the magnetar from the kilonova and kilonova afterglow, the rotational energy inputted into the ejecta must be ≲10−3to 10−2Erot. We discuss the different diagnostics available to identify magnetar-driven kilonovae in serendipitous observations and draw parallels to other potential magnetar-driven explosions, such as superluminous supernovae and broad-line supernovae Ic.
Constraining the Hubble constant and its lower limit from the proper motion of extragalactic radio jets
Authors: Hsiao Tiger Yu-Yang , Goto Tomotsugu , Hashimoto Tetsuya , Santos Daryl Joe D , Wong Yi Hang Valerie , Kim Seong Jin , Raquel Bjorn Jasper R , Ho Simon C-C , Chen Bo-Han , Kilerci Ece , Lu Ting-Yi , On Alvina Y L , Lin Yu-Wei , Wu Cossas K-W
Published: September 2022

The Hubble constant (H0) is a measurement to describe the expansion rate of the Universe in the current era. However, there is a 4.4σ discrepancy between the measurements from the early Universe and the late Universe. In this research, we propose a model-free and distance-free method to constrain H0. Combining Friedman–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker cosmology with geometrical relation of the proper motion of extragalactic jets, the lower limit (H0,min) of H0 can be determined using only three cosmology-free observables: the redshifts of the host galaxies, and the approaching and receding angular velocities of radio jets. Using these, we propose to use the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (K–S test) between cumulative distribution functions of H0,min to differentiate cosmology. We simulate 100, 200, and 500 extragalactic jets with three levels of accuracy of the proper motion (μa and μr), at 10, 5, and 1 per cent, corresponding to the accuracies of the current and future radio interferometers. We perform K–S tests between the simulated samples as theoretical distributions with different H0 and power-law index of velocity distribution of jets and mock observational data. Our result suggests increasing sample sizes leads to tighter constraints on both power-law index and the Hubble constant at moderate accuracy (i.e. $10$ and $5{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$), while at $1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ accuracy, increasing sample sizes leads to tighter constraints on power-law index more. Improving accuracy results in better constraints in the Hubble constant compared with the power-law index in all cases, but it alleviates the degeneracy.
The VISCACHA survey – V. Rejuvenating three faint SMC clusters
Authors: Bica E , Maia F F S , Oliveira R A P , Dias B , Santos J F C , Rocha J P , Kerber L , Gardin J F , Armond T , Parisi M C , Souza S O , Barbuy B
Published: September 2022

We present the analysis of three faint clusters of the Small Magellanic Cloud RZ 82, HW 42, and RZ 158. We employed the SOAR telescope instrument SAM with adaptive optics, allowing us to reach to V ∼ 23–24 mag, unprecedentedly, a depth sufficient to measure ages of up to about 10–12 Gyr. All three clusters are resolved to their centres, and the resulting colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) allow us to derive ages of 3.9, 2.6, and 4.8 Gyr, respectively. These results are significantly younger than previous determinations (7.1, 5.0, and 8.3 Gyr, respectively), based on integrated photometry or shallower CMDs. We rule out older ages for these clusters based on deep photometry and statistical isochrone fitting. We also estimate metallicities for the three clusters of $\rm {[Fe/H]}=-0.68$, −0.57, and −0.90, respectively. These updated ages and metallicities are in good agreement with the age-metallicity relation for the bulk of SMC clusters. Total cluster masses ranging from $\sim 7\!-\!11\cdot 10^3\, \mathit{ M}_\odot$ were estimated from integrated flux, consistent with masses estimated for other SMC clusters of similar ages. These results reduce the number of SMC clusters known to be older than about 5 Gyr and highlight the need of deep and spatially resolved photometry to determine accurate ages for older low-luminosity SMC star clusters.
Celda: a Bayesian model to perform co-clustering of genes into modules and cells into subpopulations using single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Wang Zhe , Yang Shiyi , Koga Yusuke , Corbett Sean E , Shea Conor V , Johnson W Evan , Yajima Masanao , Campbell Joshua D
Published: September 2022

Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful technique to quantify gene expression in individual cells and to elucidate the molecular and cellular building blocks of complex tissues. We developed a novel Bayesian hierarchical model called Cellular Latent Dirichlet Allocation (Celda) to perform co-clustering of genes into transcriptional modules and cells into subpopulations. Celda can quantify the probabilistic contribution of each gene to each module, each module to each cell population and each cell population to each sample. In a peripheral blood mononuclear cell dataset, Celda identified a subpopulation of proliferating T cells and a plasma cell which were missed by two other common single-cell workflows. Celda also identified transcriptional modules that could be used to characterize unique and shared biological programs across cell types. Finally, Celda outperformed other approaches for clustering genes into modules on simulated data. Celda presents a novel method for characterizing transcriptional programs and cellular heterogeneity in scRNA-seq data.
Inferring structural and dynamical properties of gene networks from data with deep learning
Authors: Chen Feng , Li Chunhe
Published: September 2022

The reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRNs) from data is vital in systems biology. Although different approaches have been proposed to infer causality from data, some challenges remain, such as how to accurately infer the direction and type of interactions, how to deal with complex network involving multiple feedbacks, as well as how to infer causality between variables from real-world data, especially single cell data. Here, we tackle these problems by deep neural networks (DNNs). The underlying regulatory network for different systems (gene regulations, ecology, diseases, development) can be successfully reconstructed from trained DNN models. We show that DNN is superior to existing approaches including Boolean network, Random Forest and partial cross mapping for network inference. Further, by interrogating the ensemble DNN model trained from single cell data from dynamical system perspective, we are able to unravel complex cell fate dynamics during preimplantation development. We also propose a data-driven approach to quantify the energy landscape for gene regulatory systems, by combining DNN with the partial self-consistent mean field approximation (PSCA) approach. We anticipate the proposed method can be applied to other fields to decipher the underlying dynamical mechanisms of systems from data.
Phase I dose escalation and expansion trial of single agent ONC201 in pediatric diffuse midline gliomas following radiotherapy
Authors: Gardner Sharon L , Tarapore Rohinton S , Allen Jeffrey , McGovern Susan L , Zaky Wafik , Odia Yazmin , Daghistani Doured , Diaz Zuanel , Hall Matthew D , Khatib Ziad , Koschmann Carl , Cantor Evan , Kurokawa Ryo , MacDonald Tobey J , Aguilera Dolly , Vitanza Nicholas A , Mueller Sabine , Kline Cassie , Lu Guangrong , Allen Joshua E , Khatua Soumen
Published: September 2022

Background

ONC201, a dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) antagonist and caseinolytic protease P (ClpP) agonist, has induced durable tumor regressions in adults with recurrent H3 K27M-mutant glioma. We report results from the first phase I pediatric clinical trial of ONC201.

Methods

This open-label, multi-center clinical trial (NCT03416530) of ONC201 for pediatric H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline glioma (DMG) or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) employed a dose-escalation and dose-expansion design. The primary endpoint was the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). A standard 3 + 3 dose escalation design was implemented. The target dose was the previously established adult RP2D (625 mg), scaled by body weight. Twenty-two pediatric patients with DMG/DIPG were treated following radiation; prior lines of systemic therapy in addition to radiation were permitted providing sufficient time had elapsed prior to study treatment.

Results

The RP2D of orally administered ONC201 in this pediatric population was determined to be the adult RP2D (625 mg), scaled by body weight; no dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) occurred. The most frequent treatment-emergent Grade 1-2 AEs were headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and increase in alanine aminotransferase. Pharmacokinetics were determined following the first dose: T1/2, 8.4 h; Tmax, 2.1 h; Cmax, 2.3 µg/mL; AUC0-tlast, 16.4 hµg/mL. Median duration of treatment was 20.6 weeks (range 5.1-129). Five (22.7%) patients, all of whom initiated ONC201 following radiation and prior to recurrence, were alive at 2 years from diagnosis.

Conclusions

The adult 625 mg weekly RP2D of ONC201 scaled by body weight was well tolerated. Further investigation of ONC201 for DMG/DIPG is warranted.
Neurocognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma
Authors: Sekely Angela , Bernstein Lori J , Campbell Kristin L , Mason Warren P , Laperriere Normand , Kalidindi Navya , Or Rosemarylin , Ramos Ronald , Climans Seth A , Pond Gregory R , Ann Millar Barbara , Shultz David , Tsang Derek S , Zadeh Gelareh , Edelstein Kim
Published: September 2022

Background

In addition to poor survival rates, individuals with glioblastoma (GBM) are at risk of neurocognitive impairment due to multiple factors. This study aimed to characterize neurocognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed GBM patients; and to examine whether neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep, and depressive symptoms influence neurocognitive performance.

Methods

This study was part of a prospective, inception cohort, single-arm exercise intervention in which GBM patients underwent a neuropsychological assessment shortly after diagnosis (median 4 weeks; ie, baseline) and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months later, or until tumor progression. Here, we present baseline data. Forty-five GBM patients (mean age = 55 years) completed objective neurocognitive tests, and self-report measures of neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms.

Results

Compared to normative samples, GBM patients scored significantly lower on all neurocognitive tests, with 34 (76%) patients exhibiting neurocognitive impairment. Specifically, 53% exhibited impairment in memory retention, 51% in executive function, 42% in immediate recall, 41% in verbal fluency, and 24% in attention. There were high rates of clinically elevated sleep disturbance (70%), fatigue (57%), depressive symptoms (16%), and neurobehavioral symptoms (27%). A multivariate regression analysis revealed that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with neurocognitive impairment.

Conclusions

GBM patients are vulnerable to adverse outcomes including neurocognitive impairment, neurobehavioral symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms shortly after diagnosis, prior to completing chemoradiation. Those with increased depressive symptoms are more likely to demonstrate neurocognitive impairment, highlighting the need for early identification and treatment of depression in this population.
Effectiveness of Different Antimicrobial Strategies for Staphylococcal Prosthetic Joint Infection: Results From a Large Prospective Registry-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Scheper Henk , van der Wal Robert J P , Mahdad Rachid , Keizer Stefan , Delfos Nathalie M , van der Lugt Joris C T , Veldkamp Karin Ellen , Nolte Peter A. , Leendertse Masja , Gelinck Luc B S , Mollema Femke P N , Schippers Emile F , Wattel-Louis Hanke G , Visser Leo G , Nelissen Rob G. H. H. , de Boer Mark G J
Published: September 2022

Background

Treatment of staphylococcal prosthetic joint infection (PJI) usually consists of surgical debridement and prolonged rifampicin combination therapy. Tailored antimicrobial treatment alternatives are needed due to frequent side effects and drug-drug interactions with rifampicin combination therapy. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of several alternative antibiotic strategies in patients with staphylococcal PJI.

Methods

In this prospective, multicenter registry-based study, all consecutive patients with a staphylococcal PJI, treated with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) or 1-stage revision surgery between January 1, 2015 and November 3, 2020, were included. Patients were treated with a long-term rifampicin combination strategy (in 2 centers) or a short-term rifampicin combination strategy (in 3 centers). Antimicrobial treatment strategies in these centers were defined before the start of the registry. Patients were stratified in different groups, depending on the used antimicrobial strategy. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare outcome between the groups.

Results

Two hundred patients were included and stratified in 1 long-term rifampicin group (traditional rifampicin combination therapy) or 1 of 3 short-term rifampicin groups (clindamycin or flucloxacillin or vancomycin monotherapy, including rifampicin for only 5 postoperative days). Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for failure in patients treated with short-term rifampicin and either flucloxacillin or clindamycin were almost equal to patients treated with long-term rifampicin combination therapy (aHR = 1.21; 95% confidence interval, .34–4.40).

Conclusions

A short-term rifampicin strategy with either clindamycin or flucloxacillin and only 5 days of rifampicin was found to be as effective as traditional long-term rifampicin combination therapy. A randomized controlled trial is needed to further address efficacy and safety of alternative treatment strategies for staphylococcal PJI.
Grounding:De ReandDe Dicto
Authors: De Rizzo Julio
Published: September 2022

Is the macro grounded in the micro? That is, is every truth about a macroscopic object fully grounded in a truth wholly about its microscopic parts? In a recent interesting paper, Martin Glazier argued for a negative answer. Following him, call the position that the macro is grounded in the micro ‘priority micro pluralism’ (‘pluralism’ for short). In this discussion note, I propose a way out for the pluralist. In brief, it consists in the recognition that some metaphysical positions, including pluralism, are best expressed by fundamentally de dicto grounding claims. In that these claims have a distinctive modal force, this recognition has far-reaching consequences that go beyond a defence of pluralism.
Religious Decline as a Population Dynamic: Generational Replacement and Religious Attendance in Europe
Authors: Molteni Francesco , Biolcati Ferruccio
Published: September 2022

Nothing puzzles sociologists of religion more than the reasons and the patterns behind religious change. In the literature on secularization processes, it is broadly accepted that ongoing modernization has undermined many of the pillars of institutional religions, leading to widespread religious decline. While a considerable body of research investigates the “why(s)” of this decline, the main focus of this paper is on the “how.” Drawing on CARPE, a harmonized dataset concerning church attendance with almost 2 million observations spanning over 40 years in 39 European countries, this article disentangles the contributions of period change and cohort replacement to the general religious decline. It shows that this decline reflects a real population dynamic based on generational replacement. It is not historical events or developments affecting everyone that undermine religion: new and less religious cohorts are replacing old and more religious ones. Like many other population dynamics, this process is described by an S-shaped curve and applies—with different speeds and levels—to almost all the European countries considered herein. These findings suggest that the effects of the processes of modernization on the mechanisms of religious socialization should be scrutinized more carefully when studying the reasons behind religious decline.
Treating Religion as a Personal Choice: Opportunities and Dilemmas Involved in the Religious Identity Constructions of Turkish Muslim Immigrants
Authors: Akova Feyza
Published: September 2022

Studies examining the implications of treating religion as a personal choice have often focused on whether this individualistic approach to religion has undermined or strengthened religious commitment and identity. My findings, which are based on qualitative in-depth interviews with 20 Turkish Muslim immigrants living in the United States, show that treating religion as a personal choice does not simply intensify or weaken religious identities but instead generates opportunities while simultaneously leading to dilemmas surrounding individual religious identity constructions. Furthermore, my findings concerning the dilemmas arising from this particular approach to religion show that individuals can still remain attached to religious authority structures despite repeatedly mobilizing a discourse that signals autonomy via narratives of “choice.” This finding revises assumptions about how religious identities take shape in the cultural context of religious individualism and contributes to the study of Muslim immigrant religious identities.
The Characteristics and Survival Potential Under Sub-lethal Stress of Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells Isolated from the Human Vascular Wall
Authors: Ciavarella Carmen , Valente Sabrina , Pasquinelli Gianandrea
Published: September 2022

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have been identified in multiple human tissues, including the vascular wall. High proliferative potential, multilineage, and immunomodulatory properties make vascular MSCs promising candidates for regenerative medicine. Indeed, their location is strategic for controlling vascular and extra-vascular tissue homeostasis. However, the clinical application of MSCs, and in particular vascular MSCs, is still challenging. Current studies are focused on developing strategies to improve MSC therapeutic applications, like priming MSCs with stress conditions (hypoxia, nutrient deprivation) to achieve a higher therapeutic potential. The goal of the present study is to review the main findings regarding the MSCs isolated from the human vascular wall. Further, the main priming strategies tested on MSCs from different sources are reported, together with the experience on vascular MSCs isolated from healthy cryopreserved and pathological arteries. Stress induction can be a priming approach able to improve MSC effectiveness through several mechanisms that are discussed in this review. Nevertheless, these issues have not been completely explored in vascular MSCs and potential side effects need to be investigated.
Receipt of Recovery-Oriented Care Practices During Hospitalization for Sepsis
Authors: Watson Megan A. , Anderson Clare , Karlic Kevin J. , Hogan Cainnear K. , Seelye Sarah , Taylor Stephanie P. , Prescott Hallie C.
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVES:

Survivors of sepsis hospitalization are at high risk for postsepsis morbidity, readmission, and death, but these negative outcomes can be mitigated by receipt of recommended care practices. We sought to assess factors associated with the receipt of recommended recovery-oriented care practices during hospitalization for sepsis. We hypothesized that patients treated in the ICU may be more likely than ward-treated patients to receive recommended care practices given the increasing focus on survivorship in the critical care field.

DESIGN:

Observational cohort study.

SETTING:

Michigan Medicine, a tertiary academic medical center.

PATIENTS:

Adult patients discharged alive from a hospitalization with a primary diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock in 2019. We further limited our cohort to patients receiving longitudinal care viewable in the Michigan Medicine electronic health record to ensure ability to capture posthospital care and outcomes.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Three-hundred sixty-five sepsis hospitalizations met study inclusion criteria. Using structured chart review, we determined receipt of the following recovery-based care practices during hospitalization: medication optimization, functional status evaluation at discharge, sepsis education, and scheduled follow-up within 2 weeks. The cohort was 46.6% female, 81.1% White, with a median age of 64 years. 51.2% were treated in the ICU. Medication optimization occurred in 93.7%, functional status evaluation in 82.7%, sepsis education in 20.0%, and scheduled follow-up within 2 weeks in 54.5%. ICU-treated patients had lower receipt of medication optimization and follow-up scheduling but greater receipt of functional and mental health status evaluations. In multivariable models, ICU treatment was associated with lower odds of receiving medication optimization (adjusted odds ratio, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.03–0.69) and not associated with receipt of other care practices.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study shows incomplete receipt of recommended recovery-based care practices during sepsis hospitalization in both ward and ICU-treated patients. Sepsis education and mental health evaluation were particularly uncommon.
Prenatal and Birth Care of Roma Women
Authors: Fernández-Feito Ana , Bueno-Pérez Arancha , Díaz-Alonso Julián , Paz-Zulueta María , Lana Alberto
Published: September 2022

Background

The reproductive health of Roma women has been poorly studied. It is important to determine the follow-up care received by Roma women from pregnancy to the first postpartum visit, together with neonatal outcomes, to improve prenatal care and maternal–child outcomes.

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine differences in prenatal care and maternal–infant outcomes between Roma and non-Roma women.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in 122 pregnant women (28 Roma and 94 non-Roma women) recruited from seven primary care centers in three districts of Asturias (Spain). Sociodemographic variables, prenatal control, birth characteristics, feeding, and neonatal outcomes (gestational age, weight, and APGAR [appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration]) were collected from the electronic medical records. Prenatal care was assessed using three indices: the Kessner index, the Modified Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Spanish Index, and an ad hoc index that considered adherence to the recommendations for pregnant women in Spain.

Results

Compared with non-Roma women, advanced maternal age (≥35 years) and primigravida were less common among Roma women. Roma women visited the dentist less often, smoked more, and underwent group B streptococcus screening less frequently. No differences were found in the number of prenatal visits between Roma and non-Roma women. Consequently, there were no differences between the Kessner index and the Modified Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Spanish Index. Using the ad hoc index, the non-Roma women more frequently had adequate prenatal visits. There were no differences in birth characteristics, type of feeding, and neonatal outcomes.

Discussion

Overall, prenatal care was slightly worse in Roma women; however, this did not imply worse neonatal health outcomes. Both study groups had similar birth characteristics and immediate puerperium, including feeding.
A gender-sensitive analysis of the feasibility and benefit of a psychological intervention for patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Shapiro Gilla K. , Mah Kenneth , de Vries Froukje E. , Zimmermann Camilla , Li Madeline , Hales Sarah , Rodin Gary
Published: September 2022

Background:

The role of gender in psychotherapy has been widely recognized but infrequently investigated in psychotherapy trials. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), a supportive-expressive intervention for individuals with advanced cancer, to examine gender effects in the feasibility, acceptability, perceived benefit, and effectiveness of CALM.

Methods:

Trial participants, outpatients with advanced cancer (N = 305, 40% men and 60% women), completed measures at baseline, 3 months (t1), and 6 months (t2). We investigated gender differences in participation rates, attrition rates, number of CALM sessions received, and perceived benefit of CALM. Separate subgroup analyses of data and gender × treatment group moderator analyses from men and women were compared in examining treatment effects on depressive symptoms, end-of-life preparation, and death anxiety at each follow-up period.

Results:

No gender differences were observed in participation or attrition rates, number of CALM sessions received, or perceived benefit of CALM. In subgroup analyses at t2, men in CALM reported significantly lower depressive symptoms than men in usual care (UC; P = .017), women in CALM with moderate baseline death anxiety reported lower death anxiety than women in UC (P = .009), and both men (P = .022) and women (P = .016) in CALM reported greater end-of-life preparation than those in UC. There were no significant gender × treatment group interaction effects on any outcome.

Conclusions:

CALM therapy is feasible, acceptable, and beneficial on different outcomes for men and women. Further clinical trials with comprehensive measures of gender identity are needed to evaluate gender effects in psychotherapeutic interventions for patients with advanced disease.
Worry about getting infected, confidence in safeguards, and received treatment between waves one and two of COVID-19 among patients with cancer in the Stockholm region
Authors: Winterling Jeanette , Wengström Yvonne
Published: September 2022

Background:

The Stockholm region was hard hit by the first wave of COVID-19, although, in contrast to other countries, Sweden introduced less strict protective measures. Furthermore, early studies highlighted the fact that patients with cancer were at increased risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. The aim was to describe perceptions of risk, safeguards, and cancer treatment received among patients with cancer early in the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the relationship between these perceptions and undergoing active treatment, self-isolation, and psychological well-being.

Methods:

This observational cross-sectional study was based on the Swedish sample in a multinational study. Data were collected through an anonymous online questionnaire from a convenience sample of patients with cancer in the Stockholm region of Sweden between the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results:

Among participants (N = 76), 9% had been infected by COVID-19 and 62% had been self-isolating for a longer period; 41% of participants stated that they were worried about becoming infected, which was associated with self-isolation and higher levels of anxiety. The majority were confident that family members behaved with caution and followed COVID-19 guidelines, but few had confidence in other people or state authorities. Less than 15% reported that they did not receive medical treatment or supportive care.

Conclusion:

Despite the small sample size, this study shows that most participants used self-isolation to protect themselves from COVID-19 during this period and that most of the participants perceived that they had received their cancer treatment as planned.
Preferences of patients with cancer for psychological counseling: a cross-sectional study using full-profile conjoint analysis in Japan
Authors: Ichikura Kanako , Shimizu Sayuri , Oshima Noriko , Ariizumi Yosuke , Fujie Toshihide , Yamauchi Shin-ichi , Ishikawa Toshiaki , Nakajima Yasuaki , Fukase Yuko , Murayama Norio , Murase Hanako , Tagaya Hirokuni , Takeuchi Takashi , Miyake Satoshi , Matsushima Eisuke
Published: September 2022

Background:

Psychological counseling is an effective nonpharmacological intervention for patients with cancer experiencing psychological distress. This study used a conjoint analysis approach to assess the preferences of patients with cancer for psychological counseling.

Methods:

We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional study using a self-report questionnaire. Data were collected from outpatients and inpatients in the departments of respiratory medicine, gastrointestinal surgery, female pelvic surgery, and head and neck surgery at a university hospital between March 2018 and March 2020. The questionnaire was developed using semistructured interviews with 10 clinical psychologists. It included 48 scenarios to determine patients' preferences for counseling based on a combination of the type, length, cost, and frequency of counseling. We performed a conjoint analysis, calculating the relative importance and part-worth utility value of each factor.

Results:

The results of the conjoint analysis showed that patients with cancer considered counseling type as the most important factor (relative importance: 37.5%), followed by frequency (23.4%), cost (19.6%), and length (19.5%). Patients with cancer valued life reviews more highly than problem-solving, emotional control, and emotional expression. However, women and younger patients valued counseling for emotional control the most, and patients with advanced cancer valued counseling for problem-solving the most.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that patients with cancer consider the type and content of counseling to be the most important factors in their decision process, although these preferences vary with individual characteristics. This is the first study to clarify the preferences of patients with cancer for psychological counseling using a conjoint analysis, and it proposes a new economic approach in the field of psycho-oncology.
Implementation of the Distress Assessment and Response Tool at the Kuwait Cancer Control Centre
Authors: Al-Awadhi Mariam , Gascon Bryan , Albarak Nawar , Aldeweesh Ghazlan , Hamadah Abdulaziz , Abdulkarim Hazim , Leung Yvonne , Rodin Gary , Li Madeline
Published: September 2022

Background:

This report describes the implementation of a comprehensive distress screening program at the Kuwait Cancer Control Center (KCCC), the first such initiative in the Middle East. A Kuwait-adapted version of the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (K-DART) was used in this screening program.

Methods:

Paper-based K-DART surveys were piloted in the lymphoma clinic at KCCC in July 2013, followed by gradual hospital-wide expansion. K-DART included patient-reported outcome measures to assess cancer-related physical and emotional symptoms and practical problems. English and Arabic translations of these measures were used. Trained nurses administered K-DART and followed up with the oncologist for patients with moderate-to-high levels of distress. Descriptive data are reported for prevalence of distress, psychosocial oncology program (PSOP) referral rates, and patient and staff satisfaction with K-DART.

Results:

A total of 1,153 K-DART surveys were completed by 618 patients in the pilot lymphoma clinic, with screening rates increasing from 33.5% to 75.3% over the first 12 months of implementation. Among all K-DART completers, 85/618 (13.8%) were referred to PSOP, whereas only 1/955 (0.1%) of K-DART noncompleters were referred to PSOP. After hospital-wide expansion of screening, a total of 2,017 patients completed K-DART in the first year of implementation. Both patients and physicians reported high satisfaction with K-DART, which was reported to enhance patient–physician communication and improve clinical care.

Conclusion:

Implementation of K-DART in a Middle Eastern country is feasible and facilitates a more comprehensive approach to cancer care, contributing to the successful establishment of a PSOP at the KCCC.
A Cadaveric Study of a Safe and Accurate Electromyographic Needle Approach to the Rhomboid Major
Authors: Kim Ki Hoon , Park Hong Bum , Kim Dasom , Rhyu Im Joo , Kim Dong Hwee
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study aimed to investigate a safe and accurate electromyographic needle insertion site of the rhomboid major (RM) muscle using cadaver dissection.

Design

Dissection of the trapezius and RM muscles around the scapula was performed in 18 scapulae from nine fresh cadavers. The point (point A) at which the lateral margin of the lower trapezius muscle crossed the medial border of the scapula, and the distal insertion point (point DI) of the RM muscle to the medial scapula were determined. The midpoint (point M) between points A and DI was also determined. The distance from the inferior angle of the scapula to each point was measured.

Results

The length of the medial scapula was 12.9 ± 1.2 cm from the root of the scapular spine to the inferior angle of the scapula. Points A, DI, and M were located at a mean distance of 8.4 ± 0.7 cm, 1.8 ± 0.4 cm, and 5.1 ± 0.5 cm proximal to the inferior angle of the scapula, respectively.

Conclusion

Needle electromyographic examination of the RM muscle can be performed safely and accurately using the lower part of the RM muscle, as investigated in this anatomical study.
Beyond Viral Suppression—The Impact of Cumulative Violence on Health-Related Quality of Life Among a Cohort of Virally Suppressed Patients
Authors: Harris Rachel M. , Xavier Hall Casey D. , Mills Jon C. , Pence Brian W. , Bgneris Jessica , Wong Frankie Y.
Published: September 2022

Objective:

To elucidate how and in what ways cumulative violence affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among a clinical cohort of virally stable people living with HIV.

Design:

We used data from the University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research HIV clinical cohort. Our analysis was limited to participants with an undetectable viral load (<200) and those who completed the Clinical, Sociodemographic, and Behavioral Survey between 2008 and 2017 (n= 284).

Methods:

A path analysis was used to test our primary hypothesis that the effect of cumulative violence on HRQoL would be mediated through symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depressive symptoms, and HIV symptom distress.

Results:

The impact of cumulative violence on HRQoL was fully mediated by symptoms of PTSD, depressive symptoms, and HIV symptom distress. Greater exposure to violence was associated with higher odds of PTSD symptoms (P<0.001), increased depressive symptoms (P<0.001), and increased HIV symptom distress (P< 0.01). HIV symptom distress displayed the largest association with HRQoL (P< 0.001), followed by depressive symptoms (P= 0.001) and PTSD symptoms (P< 0.001). These factors explained approximately 51% of the variance in HRQoL (R2= 0.51,P< 0.001).

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that addressing physical and mental health symptoms rooted in violent victimization should be a point of focus in efforts to improve HRQoL among people living with HIV who are virally stable.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella infections acquired from poultry
Authors: Chousalkar Kapil K. , Willson Nicky-Lee
Published: September 2022

Purpose of review

Nontyphoidal Salmonella is a major food safety concern in developed and developing countries. Table eggs are often linked to cases of foodborne gastrointestinal disease. This review is focused on the latest findings on foodborne Salmonella infections acquired from poultry products and their implications on food safety.

Recent findings

Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) and Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) are the predominant Salmonella serovars associated with human Salmonellosis. In Australia, ST is the predominant serovar but SE has been recently detected in some commercial free-range egg flocks. The Salmonella shedding in poultry flocks can be highly variable across different flocks and farms; as a result, the level of product contamination is largely attributed to the flock management. The microevolution in the ST genome after in-vivo passaging may have clinical significance. On farm use of Salmonella vaccines and/or interventions during the processing of the product can influence the bacterial load. The refrigeration of the product also influences the safety of the poultry product.

Many interventions are in place for the control of Salmonella from farm to fork. However, given the biosecurity challenges because of the increase in public demand for free-range products, the emergence of Salmonella virulent types and expensive diagnostics, ongoing collaborative efforts from farmers, regulators and public health officials are required.
Seasonal structure of interactions enhances multidimensional stability of mutualistic networks
Authors: Duchenne François , Wüest Rafael O. , Graham Catherine H.
Published: September 2022

Community ecologists have made great advances in understanding how natural communities can be both diverse and stable by studying communities as interaction networks. However, focus has been on interaction networks aggregated over time, neglecting the consequences of the seasonal organization of interactions (hereafter 'seasonal structure') for community stability. Here, we extended previous theoretical findings on the topic in two ways: (i) by integrating empirical seasonal structure of 11 plant–hummingbird communities into dynamic models, and (ii) by tackling multiple facets of network stability together. We show that, in a competition context, seasonal structure enhances community stability by allowing diverse and resilient communities while preserving their robustness to species extinctions. The positive effects of empirical seasonal structure on network stability vanished when using randomized seasonal structures, suggesting that eco-evolutionary dynamics produce stabilizing seasonal structures. We also show that the effects of seasonal structure on community stability are mainly mediated by changes in network structure and productivity, suggesting that the seasonal structure of a community is an important and yet neglected aspect in the diversity–stability and diversity–productivity debates.
Tonality over a broad frequency range is linked to vocal learning in birds
Authors: Faiß Marius , Riede Tobias , Goller Franz
Published: September 2022

Many birds emit tonal song syllables even though the sound sources generate sound with rich upper harmonic energy content. This tonality is thought to arise in part from dynamically adjusted filtering of harmonic content. Here, we compare tonality of song syllables between vocal learners and non-learners to assess whether this characteristic is linked to the increased neural substrate that evolved with vocal learning. We hypothesize that vocal learning ability is correlated with enhanced ability for generating tonal sounds, because vocal production learners might also have an enhanced ability to articulate their vocal tracts and sound source for producing tonality. To test this hypothesis, we compared vocal learners and non-learners from two groups (186 passerines and 42 hummingbirds) by assessing tonality of song syllables. The data suggest that vocal learners in both clades have evolved to sing songs with higher tonality than the related, non-vocal learning clades, which is consistent with stronger roles for broadband dynamic filtering and adjustments to the sound source. In addition, oscine songs display higher tonality than those of hummingbirds. A complex interplay of vocal tract biomechanics, anatomical differences of the sound source as well as increased motor control through vocal learning facilitates generation of broad tonality.
Quantifying phenology and migratory behaviours of hummingbirds using single-site dynamics and mark-detection analyses
Authors: English Simon G. , Wilson Scott , Bandivadekar Ruta R. , Graves Emily E. , Holyoak Marcel , Brown Jennifer C. , Tell Lisa A.
Published: September 2022

Nuanced understanding of seasonal movements of partially migratory birds is paramount to species and habitat conservation. Using nascent statistical methods, we identified migratory strategies of birds outfitted with radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags detected at RFID feeders in two sites in California, USA. We quantified proportions of migrants and residents and the seasonal phenology for each movement strategy in Allen’s and Anna’s hummingbirds; we also validated our methodology by fitting our model to obligate migratory black-chinned hummingbirds. Allen’s and Anna’s hummingbirds exhibited characteristics of facultative migratory behaviour. We also quantified apparent annual survival for each migratory strategy and found that residents had significantly higher probabilities of apparent survival. Low survival estimates for migrants suggest that a high proportion of birds in the migrant group permanently emigrated from our study sites. Considered together, our analyses suggest that hummingbirds in both northern and southern California sites partake in diverse and highly plastic migratory behaviours. Our assessment elucidates the dynamics underlying idiosyncratic migratory behaviours of two species of hummingbirds, in addition to describing a framework for similar assessments of migratory behaviours using the multi-state open robust design with state uncertainty model and single-site dynamics.
Home and hub: pet trade and traditional medicine impact reptile populations in source locations and destinations
Authors: Dufour Pauline C. , Miot Elliott F. , So Tsz Chun , Tang Shun Long , Jones Emily E. , Kong Tsz Ching , Yuan Felix Landry , Sung Yik-Hei , Dingle Caroline , Bonebrake Timothy C.
Published: September 2022

The pet trade and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consumption are major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Tokay geckos (
Gekko gecko
) are among the most traded reptile species worldwide. In Hong Kong, pet and TCM markets sell tokay geckos while wild populations also persist. To clarify connections between trade sources and destinations, we compared genetics and stable isotopes of wild tokays in local and non-local populations to dried individuals from TCM markets across Hong Kong. We found that TCM tokays are likely not of local origin. Most wild tokays were related to individuals in South China, indicating a probable natural origin. However, two populations contained individuals more similar to distant populations, indicating pet trade origins. Our results highlight the complexity of wildlife trade impacts within trade hubs. Such trade dynamics complicate local legal regulation when endangered species are protected, but the same species might also be non-native and possibly damaging to the environment.
Reservoir population ecology, viral evolution and the risk of emerging infectious disease
Authors: Nuismer Scott L. , Basinski Andrew J. , Schreiner Courtney , Whitlock Alexander , Remien Christopher H.
Published: September 2022

The ecology and life history of wild animals influences their potential to harbour infectious disease. This observation has motivated studies identifying empirical relationships between traits of wild animals and historical patterns of spillover and emergence into humans. Although these studies have identified compelling broad-scale patterns, they are generally agnostic with respect to underlying mechanisms. Here, we develop mathematical models that couple reservoir population ecology with viral epidemiology and evolution to clarify existing verbal arguments and pinpoint the conditions that favour spillover and emergence. Our results support the idea that average lifespan influences the likelihood of an animal serving as a reservoir for human infectious disease. At the same time, however, our results show that the magnitude of this effect is sensitive to the rate of viral mutation. Our results also demonstrate that viral pathogens causing persistent infections or a transient immune response within the reservoir are more likely to fuel emergence. Genetically explicit stochastic simulations enrich these mathematical results by identifying relationships between the genetic basis of transmission and the risk of spillover and emergence. Together, our results clarify the scope of applicability for existing hypotheses and refine our understanding of emergence risk.