bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-World Experience of AI-Assisted Endocytoscopy Using EndoBRAIN—An Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Katrevula Anudeep , Katukuri Goutham Reddy , Singh Aniruddha Pratap , Inavolu Pradev , Rughwani Hardik , Alla Siddhartha Reddy , Ramchandani Mohan , Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy
Published: December 2022

Background and Aims Precise optical diagnosis of colorectal polyps could improve the cost-effectiveness of colonoscopy and reduce polypectomy-related complications. We conducted this study to estimate the diagnostic performance of visual inspection alone (WLI + NBI) and of EndoBRAIN (endocytoscopy-computer-aided diagnosis [EC-CAD]) in identifying a lesion as neoplastic or nonneoplastic using EC in real-world scenario.

Methods In this observational, prospective, pilot study, a total of 55 polyps were studied in the patients aged more than or equal to 18 years. EndoBRAIN is an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system that analyzes cell nuclei, crypt structure, and vessel pattern in differentiating neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesion in real-time. Endoscopist assessed polyps using white light imaging (WLI), narrow band imaging (NBI) initially followed by assessment using EC with NBI and EC with methylene blue staining. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of endoscopist and EndoBRAIN in identifying the neoplastic from nonneoplastic polyp was compared using histopathology as gold-standard.

Results A total of 55 polyps were studied, in which most of them were diminutive (36/55) and located in rectum (21/55). The image acquisition rate was 78% (43/55) and histopathology of the majority was identified to be hyperplastic (20/43) and low-grade adenoma (16/43). EndoBRAIN identified colonic polyps with 100% sensitivity, 81.82% specificity (95% confidence interval [CI], 59.7–94.8%), 90.7% accuracy (95% CI, 77.86–97.41%), 84% positive predictive value (95% CI, 68.4–92.72%), and 100% negative predictive value. The sensitivity and negative predictive value were significantly greater than visual inspection of endoscopist. The diagnostic accuracy seems to be superior; however, it did not reach statistical significance. Specificity and positive predictive value were similar in both groups.

Conclusion Optical diagnosis using EC and EC-CAD has a potential role in predicting the histopathological diagnosis. The diagnostic performance of CAD seems to be better than endoscopist using EC for predicting neoplastic lesions.
Therapeutic Neurointervention through Transradial Approach: Preliminary Experience from a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Bhatia Vikas , Kumar Ajay , Wani Mohd Yaqoob , Singla Navneet , Prabhakar Anuj , Karthigeyan Madhivanan , Chauhan Rajeev
Published: December 2022

Background The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of radial access for therapeutic neurointervention procedures.

Methods The retrospective evaluation of 20 patients taken for therapeutic neurointervention through transradial access at our institute was done from July 2021 to April 2022.

Results Therapeutic neurointervention procedures were attempted in 20 patients (age, 24–74 years; mean age, 48.4 years; 13 (65%) females using a transradial approach. The radial artery's mean diameter was 2.135 mm. The right radial access was taken in 18 (90%) cases. Indications for treatment were ruptured aneurysm in 13 (65%), mechanical thrombectomy in 5 (25%), flow diversion for a recanalized aneurysm in 1 (5%), and balloon occlusion test in 1 (5%) case. The procedure was successful through the transradial approach in 18 (90%) procedures. Failure was seen in two cases that were completed after conversion to the transfemoral approach. The reason for access conversion was a severe spasm in both cases. No significant access site complications were seen in the study cohort.

Conclusion A radial access route is a promising approach for therapeutic interventions with a high success rate and minimal access site complications. Interventionists should get accustomed to this approach as primary or alternative access for neurointervention.
Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injuries: Narrative Review
Authors: Pandey Vishram , Shukla Dhaval , Nirmal Shubham , Devi Bhagavatula Indira , Christopher Rita
Published: December 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a multistep interaction of brain antigens, cytokine-mediated humeral, and cellular immune reactions. Because of the limitations of clinical and radiological evaluation in TBI, there has been a considerable advancement toward the need for developing biomarkers that can predict the severity of TBI. Blood-based brain biomarkers hold the potential to predict the absence of intracranial injury and thus decrease unnecessary brain computed tomographic scanning. Various biomarkers have been studied that detects neuronal, axonal, and blood–brain barrier integrity. Biomarkers are still under investigation and hold promise in the future evaluation of TBI patients. They can be used for grading as well as a prognostication of head injury.
The Dutch see Red: (in)formal science advisory bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Aarts Janne , Gerth Eva , Ludwig David , Maat Harro , Macnaghten Phil
Published: December 2022

We analyse the roles, dynamics and logic of science advice in structuring the Dutch response to the COVID-19 pandemic, from January 2020 to December 2020. We address how the Dutch government responded by paying attention to styles of governance and expert advice. We argue that the Dutch response was shaped by the interplay of corporatist, deliberative and neoliberal forms of governance, in particular, how early corporatist tendencies seemed to create consensus during the first phase of the pandemic but quickly led to criticism and tension, most visibly at the onset of the second wave, as corporatist and neoliberal responses conflicted with deliberative and pluralist political engagement. Situating different science advisory bodies in this dynamic, we highlight how science–policy interactions and conflicts that evolved with the dynamics of the pandemic can be understood within this triad and as reflective broadly of the endurance of the Dutch model of polder governance.
Regional varieties and diachronic changes in Chinese political discourse
Authors: Hou Renkui , Huang Chu-Ren , Ahrens Kathleen
Published: December 2022

The present paper explores the synchronic variations and diachronic changes in political discourses in Hong Kong (HK) and in Mainland of People’s Republic of China (PRC). The relationship between lengths of linguistic constructs and their immediate constituents (including sentences and clauses, and clauses and words) are fitted using the function y = axb based on the Menzerath–Altmann (MA) law to capture the characteristics of language as self-organizing complex systems. We found that the two fitted parameters a and b, as distinctive characteristics of complex systems, can distinguish two regional variants of political speeches from HK and PRC over different periods in time. We also found that the same parameters can capture language changes between different periods of political speeches from the PRC. More specifically, we found that regional variations and historical changes show different degrees of salience at different constituency levels. In addition, we found compounding effects between historical change and regional variations. That is, the two regional variants of political speeches are closer to each other at the earliest diachronic period as compared with the latter two periods, as represented by the fitted parameters of the relationship between sentence and clause lengths. Our results provide strong support for the hypothesis for the MA Law capturing the characteristics of language as a complex self-organizing system, as the two fitted parameters account for the interaction of diachronic language change and synchronic variation.
Classical nucleation theory and molecular dynamics simulation: Cavitation
Authors: Protsenko K. R. , Baidakov V. G.
Published: December 2022

Based on the results of molecular dynamics simulations of spontaneous cavitation in a stretched Lennard-Jones liquid at temperatures close to the triple point temperature, the possibilities and the limits of applicability of approximations of the classical nucleation theory were analyzed. In systems containing from 5×103 to 3×105 particles, the nucleation rate, radii and work of formation of critical bubbles, and the diffusion coefficient of nuclei were calculated. Methods such as direct forward flux sampling, seeding, and well-tempered metadynamics were used. From the obtained data, the surface free energy of critical bubbles was determined, and their sizes and shapes were estimated. The asymptotic laws of the behavior of nucleation parameters when approaching the spinodal of a stretched liquid are discussed.
Supervised Learning System for Pest Disease Identification and Recommendations using Wireless Sensor Network in Agriculture Domain
Authors: Amune A C , Pande H M , Musale V P
Published: December 2022

Designing wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that will sustain for longer time have been a challenging issue. For achieving this, efficient utilization of available energy should be anticipated from energy-constrained sensors running autonomously for long periods. In the field of agricultural research, farming related activities, assistance to farmers using advanced IoT and sensor network technologies is a need of time. Initially this paper briefed about smartphone based application systems that forewarns the farmer about pests/diseases that can occur on the crop. The designed system assists farmers to foresee the crop disease using machine learning algorithm. The disease can be predicted based on the environmental parameters as soil moisture, temperature and humidity obtained from sensor node and other parameters like rain fall, evaporation rate and sun shine hour obtained from open weather map application programming interfaces. A prototype is developed using ultra low powered micro-controller with interconnected sensor’s module. While comparing with the Arduino micro-controller based system, it was observed that the developed prototype system utilized less energy with effectively forewarned the farmers about crop diseases using Internet of Things (IoT). Thus it would assist the farmers proactively to reduce the losses due to crop diseases.
Influenza-Like Symptom Incidence, Illness-Associated Expenses, and Economic Impact Among Healthcare Personnel in Thailand: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study (2020–2021)
Authors: Kittikraisak Wanitchaya , Wongrapee Thanapat , Punjasamanvong Somsak , Piyaraj Phunlerd , Vachiraphan Apichat , Yoocharoen Pornsak , Klungthong Chonticha , Jones Anthony R , Tanathitikorn Chuleekorn , Mott Joshua A , Chottanapund Suthat
Published: December 2022

Objectives

We estimated influenza-like symptom (ILS) incidence among healthcare personnel (HCP) in four hospitals and the economic impact due to ILS in the Thai HCP population during July 2020–June 2021 (Thailand’s expected 2020 influenza season), which also coincided with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Methods

We followed HCP, in a prospective observational cohort, weekly for ≥1 of: muscle pain, cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, sore throat, or difficulty breathing. We fitted population-averaged Poisson regression models to identify factors associated with acquiring ILS and to calculate ILS incidence. We applied epidemiologic parameters to Thailand’s HCP population (227 349 persons) to estimate economic impact.

Results

Of 2184 participants, adjusted all-cause ILS incidence was 6.1 episodes per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 3.4–10.9). Among Thailand’s HCP population, 13 909 ILS episodes were estimated to occur annually and would result in US$235 135 economic loss. Controlling for study site and calendar month, factors associated with acquiring ≥1 ILS versus no ILS included being female, having asthma, and using personal protective equipment ‘frequently, but not always’.

Conclusions

All-cause ILS resulted in considerable economic loss among Thai HCP workforce. These findings underscore the importance of public health interventions to reduce the risk of acquiring ILS.
Discovering misannotated lncRNAs using deep learning training dynamics
Authors: Nabi Afshan , Dilekoglu Berke , Adebali Ogun , Tastan Oznur
Published: December 2022

Motivation

Recent experimental evidence has shown that some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contain small open reading frames (sORFs) that are translated into functional micropeptides, suggesting that these lncRNAs are misannotated as non-coding. Current methods to detect misannotated lncRNAs rely on ribosome-profiling (Ribo-Seq) and mass-spectrometry experiments, which are cell-type dependent and expensive.

Results

Here, we propose a computational method to identify possible misannotated lncRNAs from sequence information alone. Our approach first builds deep learning models to discriminate coding and non-coding transcripts and leverages these models’ training dynamics to identify misannotated lncRNAs—i.e. lncRNAs with coding potential. The set of misannotated lncRNAs we identified significantly overlap with experimentally validated ones and closely resemble coding protein sequences as evidenced by significant BLAST hits. Our analysis on a subset of misannotated lncRNA candidates also shows that some ORFs they contain yield high confidence folded structures as predicted by AlphaFold2. This methodology offers promising potential for assisting experimental efforts in characterizing the hidden proteome encoded by misannotated lncRNAs and for curating better datasets for building coding potential predictors.

Availability and implementation

Source code is available at https://github.com/nabiafshan/DetectingMisannotatedLncRNAs.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Discovering comorbid diseases using an inter-disease interactivity network based on biobank-scale PheWAS data
Authors: Nam Yonghyun , Jung Sang-Hyuk , Yun Jae-Seung , Sriram Vivek , Singhal Pankhuri , Byrska-Bishop Marta , Verma Anurag , Shin Hyunjung , Park Woong-Yang , Won Hong-Hee , Kim Dokyoon
Published: December 2022

Motivation

Understanding comorbidity is essential for disease prevention, treatment and prognosis. In particular, insight into which pairs of diseases are likely or unlikely to co-occur may help elucidate the potential relationships between complex diseases. Here, we introduce the use of an inter-disease interactivity network to discover/prioritize comorbidities. Specifically, we determine disease associations by accounting for the direction of effects of genetic components shared between diseases, and categorize those associations as synergistic or antagonistic. We further develop a comorbidity scoring algorithm to predict whether diseases are more or less likely to co-occur in the presence of a given index disease. This algorithm can handle networks that incorporate relationships with opposite signs.

Results

We finally investigate inter-disease associations among 427 phenotypes in UK Biobank PheWAS data and predict the priority of comorbid diseases. The predicted comorbidities were verified using the UK Biobank inpatient electronic health records. Our findings demonstrate that considering the interaction of phenotype associations might be helpful in better predicting comorbidity.

Availability and implementation

The source code and data of this study are available at https://github.com/dokyoonkimlab/DiseaseInteractiveNetwork.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Dating the Lender of Last Resort
Authors: Rieder Kilian , Anson Michael , Bholat David , Thomas Ryland
Published: December 2022

We exploit a fixed rule constraining central bank credit provision in a regression discontinuity framework to analyse counterparties’ behavioural responses to the (non-)receipt of liquidity during a crisis. In spring 1847, the Bank of England suddenly started rationing credit to avoid violating its gold reserve requirement. We show that counterparties that suffered rejection from the Bank were more likely to fail. Conditional on survival, rationed counterparties learned from their experience and changed their behaviour during a subsequent panic in fall 1847: they came to the discount window more often, but submitted smaller requests and relied less on central bank liquidity overall.
Acute type A aortic dissection in bicuspid versus tricuspid aortic valve patients: focus on geometrical features of the aorta
Authors: Della Corte Alessandro , Lo Presti Federica , Saade Wael , Rubino Antonino Salvatore , Palmieri Lucrezia , Patanè Francesco , Miraldi Fabio , De Feo Marisa
Published: December 2022

OBJECTIVES

This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the geometrical features, including diameters, length and angulation, of the ascending aorta with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve and to identify imaging markers potentially predicting whether aortopathy is likely to evolve chronically or to complicate with acute type A dissection.

METHODS

Angio-computed-tomography scans of 354 patients (from 3 centres) with non-dilated (n = 97), aneurysmal (n = 100) or dissected aorta (n = 157) were reviewed. Diameters were measured at root, sinotubular junction, ascending, brachio-cephalic trunk origin; centreline lengths of the root and tubular tract and ascending-arch angle (between the ascending tubular tract axis and the proximal arch axis) were also measured. For 12 dissection patients, pre-dissection scans were available to investigate predisposing aortic geometry. Statistical analysis included: tricuspid versus bicuspid comparisons in each subgroup; univariate and multivariate analyses of the predictors of ascending-arch angle narrowing; and estimation of diagnostic accuracy of the angle parameter.

RESULTS

Diameters and lengths were similar between aneurysms and dissections, whereas dissections showed a significant ascending-arch angle narrowing (117 ± 13° in tricuspid, 115 ± 14° in bicuspid) compared to non-dilated and aneurysmal aortas (all P < 0.001). The best angle cut-off to discriminate dissection patients was 131° (96% sensitivity). In patients with a pre-dissection scan, Asc-Arch narrowing was already present before dissection. In non-dissected aortas over-angulation was predicted by root phenotype dilatation both in bicuspid and tricuspid patients. Bicuspid patients with non-dilated aorta showed elongated root (P = 0.027), a feature significantly correlated with Asc-Arch angle narrowing (P = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The ascending-arch angle is promising as a risk marker for dissection to be used along with diameter. Its narrowing seems to be associated with elongation of the root, a feature that bicuspid patients can show even without significant dilatation. Root phenotype aortopathy may be at higher risk also with tricuspid aortic valve.
Integration of High-Throughput Imaging and Multiparametric Metabolic Profiling Reveals a Mitochondrial Mechanism of Tenofovir Toxicity
Authors: Pearson Adam , Haenni Dominik , Bouitbir Jamal , Hunt Matthew , Payne Brendan A I , Sachdeva Ashwin , Hung Rachel K Y , Post Frank A , Connolly John , Nlandu-Khodo Stellor , Jankovic Nevena , Bugarski Milica , Hall Andrew M
Published: December 2022

Nephrotoxicity is a major cause of kidney disease and failure in drug development, but understanding of cellular mechanisms is limited, highlighting the need for better experimental models and methodological approaches. Most nephrotoxins damage the proximal tubule (PT), causing functional impairment of solute reabsorption and systemic metabolic complications. The antiviral drug tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is an archetypal nephrotoxin, inducing mitochondrial abnormalities and urinary solute wasting, for reasons that were previously unclear. Here, we developed an automated, high-throughput imaging pipeline to screen the effects of TDF on solute transport and mitochondrial morphology in human-derived RPTEC/TERT1 cells, and leveraged this to generate realistic models of functional toxicity. By applying multiparametric metabolic profiling—including oxygen consumption measurements, metabolomics, and transcriptomics—we elucidated a highly robust molecular fingerprint of TDF exposure. Crucially, we identified that the active metabolite inhibits complex V (ATP synthase), and that TDF treatment causes rapid, dose-dependent loss of complex V activity and expression. Moreover, we found evidence of complex V suppression in kidney biopsies from humans with TDF toxicity. Thus, we demonstrate an effective and convenient experimental approach to screen for disease relevant functional defects in kidney cells in vitro, and reveal a new paradigm for understanding the pathogenesis of a substantial cause of nephrotoxicity.
Atmospheric and ionospheric waves induced by the Hunga eruption on 15 January 2022; Doppler sounding and infrasound
Authors: Chum Jaroslav , Šindelářová Tereza , Koucká Knížová Petra , Podolská Kateřina , Rusz Jan , Baše Jiří , Nakata Hiroyuki , Hosokawa Keisuke , Danielides Michael , Schmidt Carsten , Knez Leon , Liu Jann-Yenq , Molina María Graciela , Fagre Mariano , Katamzi-Joseph Zama , Ohya Hiroyo , Omori Tatsuya , Laštovička Jan , Obrazová Burešová Dalia , Kouba Daniel , Urbář Jaroslav , Truhlík Vladimír
Published: December 2022

The massive explosive eruption of the Hunga volcano on 15 January 2022 generated atmospheric waves that were recorded around the globe and affected the ionosphere. The paper focuses on observations of atmospheric waves in the troposphere and ionosphere in Europe, however, a comparison with observations in East Asia, South Africa and South America is also provided. Unlike most recent studies of waves in the ionosphere based on the detection of changes in the total electron content, this study builds on detection of ionospheric motions at specific altitudes using continuous Doppler sounding. In addition, much attention is paid to long-period infrasound (periods longer than ∼50 s), which in Europe is observed simultaneously in the troposphere and ionosphere about an hour after the arrival of the first horizontally propagating pressure pulse (Lamb wave). It is shown that the long-period infrasound propagated approximately along the shorter great circle path, similar to the previously detected pressure pulse in the troposphere. It is suggested that the infrasound propagated in the ionosphere probably due to imperfect refraction in the lower thermosphere. The observation of infrasound in the ionosphere at such large distances from the source (over 16 000 km) is rare and differs from ionospheric infrasound detected at large distances from the epicenters of strong earthquakes, because in the latter case the infrasound is generated locally by seismic waves. An unusually large traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) observed in Europe and associated with the pressure pulse from the Hunga eruption is also discussed. Doppler sounders in East Asia, South Africa and South America did not record such a significant TID. However, TIDs were observed in East Asia around times when Lamb waves passed the magnetically conjugate points. A probable observation of wave in the mesopause region in Europe approximately 25 min after the arrival of pressure pulse in the troposphere using a 23.4 kHz signal from a transmitter 557 km away and a coincident pulse in electric field data are also discussed.
Integrating human dimensions in decadal-scale prediction for marine social–ecological systems: lighting the grey zone
Authors: Melbourne-Thomas Jess , Tommasi Desiree , Gehlen Marion , Murphy Eugene J , Beckensteiner Jennifer , Bravo Francisco , Eddy Tyler D , Fischer Mibu , Fulton Elizabeth , Gogina Mayya , Hofmann Eileen , Ito Maysa , Mynott Sara , Ortega-Cisneros Kelly , Osiecka Anna N , Payne Mark R , Saldívar-Lucio Romeo , Scherrer Kim J N
Published: December 2022

The dynamics of marine systems at decadal scales are notoriously hard to predict—hence references to this timescale as the “grey zone” for ocean prediction. Nevertheless, decadal-scale prediction is a rapidly developing field with an increasing number of applications to help guide ocean stewardship and sustainable use of marine environments. Such predictions can provide industry and managers with information more suited to support planning and management over strategic timeframes, as compared to seasonal forecasts or long-term (century-scale) predictions. The most significant advances in capability for decadal-scale prediction over recent years have been for ocean physics and biogeochemistry, with some notable advances in ecological prediction skill. In this paper, we argue that the process of “lighting the grey zone” by providing improved predictions at decadal scales should also focus on including human dimensions in prediction systems to better meet the needs and priorities of end users. Our paper reviews information needs for decision-making at decadal scales and assesses current capabilities for meeting these needs. We identify key gaps in current capabilities, including the particular challenge of integrating human elements into decadal prediction systems. We then suggest approaches for overcoming these challenges and gaps, highlighting the important role of co-production of tools and scenarios, to build trust and ensure uptake with end users of decadal prediction systems. We also highlight opportunities for combining narratives and quantitative predictions to better incorporate the human dimension in future efforts to light the grey zone of decadal-scale prediction.
A Non-Western Attempt at Hegemony: Lessons from the Second-Generation Kyoto School for International Pluralism and Its Discontents
Authors: Shimizu Kosuke
Published: December 2022

In an age of relative Western decline, international relations (IR) scholars and practitioners can learn from Japan's attempt to re-envision world order in an earlier era of relative European decline. In both periods, an apparently pluralistic, relational ontology of IR has been articulated by East Asian thinkers. However, a closer examination of the philosophical underpinnings of these Confucian frames reveals a hierarchical, culturalist reasoning. Under conditions of heightened militarism, this tension can lead to another tension between pluralism in theory and universalism in practice. In the case of 1940s Japan, it informed and legitimized an exceptionalist mission civilisatrice and imperialistic expansion. The takeaway for our current age of “Western” decline and “non-Western” rise is that we must resist any utopian temptation emanating from any ethical system, not least Confucian hierarchical relationality, to say “we will save the world.”
The ARTS of p53-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis
Authors: Hao Qian , Chen Jiaxiang , Lu Hua , Zhou Xiang
Published: December 2022

The tumor-suppressive activity of p53 is largely attributed to its ability to induce cell death, including apoptosis, through transcription-dependent and transcription-independent mechanisms. On the one hand, nuclear p53 transcriptionally activates the expression of a myriad of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family genes, such as NOXA, PUMA, BID, BAD, BIK, BAX, etc., whereas it inactivates the expression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2, BCL-XL, and MCL1, leading to mitochondrial apoptosis. On the other hand, cytoplasmic p53 also promotes mitochondrial apoptosis by directly associating with multiple BCL-2 family proteins in the mitochondria. Apoptosis-related protein in TGF-β signaling pathway (ARTS), a mitochondria-localized pro-apoptotic protein encoded by an alternative spliced variant of the SEPT4 gene, triggers apoptosis by facilitating proteasomal degradation of BCL-2 and XIAP upon pro-apoptotic stimuli. We recently identified SEPT4/ARTS as a new p53 target gene in response to genotoxic stress. ARTS in turn binds to p53, drives its mitochondrial localization, and enhances the interaction between p53 and BCL-XL, thereby promoting mitochondrial apoptosis. This review will illustrate the mechanisms of p53-induced mitochondrial apoptosis, offer some recently discovered new insights into the functions of ARTS in regulating mitochondrial cell death, and discuss the clinical significance of ARTS in cancer and non-cancer diseases.
Patient Attitudes Regarding High-Risk Low-Volume Surgery
Authors: Ellis Oriana , Kirby Derek , Williamson Bethany , Bader Julia , Nelson Daniel , Porta Christopher
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Significant controversy surrounds the “Take the Volume Pledge” campaign and the use of volume as a surrogate for quality. However, data on patient-reported attitudes toward this initiative are limited. We sought to examine patient preferences and perceptions regarding the location of their health care and the factors that may influence that decision.

Materials and Methods

After IRB approval, we conducted a prospective study at a 109-bed tertiary referral military hospital, which performs 8 of the 10 defined high-risk low-volume surgeries. From 2018 to 2019, patients from all specialties completed anonymous questionnaires during preoperative registration. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify factors associated with patients desiring referral. Additional investigations into patient risk tolerance and thresholds regarding hospital/surgeon volume, postoperative complication risk, and cancer survival were analyzed.

Results

Six hundred and three surveys were completed and available for analysis. Only 1.5% expressed a desire to seek care from a high-volume subspecialist. On multivariable analysis, the only independent predictors for patients desiring referral were perceived displeasure with their care (P = .02) and not being asked their opinion on where to have surgery (P = .04). Most patients (57.6%) expressed willingness to stay at their home institution even if only half of the recommended volume of surgeries are performed. Of patients, 49.8% would accept a 10% increased risk of postoperative complications, and 55.3% would accept decreased long-term cancer survival to stay at their home institution.

Conclusions

Only 1.5% of our population desired referral to a high-volume center. Our study showed that an open discussion and shared decision-making are the most important factors for patients when deciding where to have surgery. Moreover, most were willing to accept greater risk and lower volume to stay at their local hospital. Although performed at a single military facility, this study showed that patient preferences are extremely important and should not be understudied.
Molecular characterization of fungal endophthalmitis and keratitis caused by yeasts
Authors: Belanger Nicole L , Kim Su Jeoung , Bispo Paulo J M
Published: December 2022

Candida species are the most common causes of sight-threatening fungal ocular infections in temperate regions of the world. Despite their relevance, little is known about the emergence of novel species and the molecular epidemiology of these infections. Here, we molecularly characterized 38 yeast isolates collected from patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis or keratitis at Massachusetts Eye and Ear from 2014 to 2021. Sequencing of the ITS1–5.8S–/ITS2 regions demonstrated that this population of yeasts was dominated by Candida spp. (37 out of 38; 97%), with 58% of the cases caused by C. albicans (n = 22) and the remaining by emerging non-albicans species, predominantly by C. parapsilosis (n = 8) and C. dubliniensis (n = 6). One isolate each was identified as C. tropicalis and Clavispora lusitaniae. Interestingly, all C. dubliniensis were isolated from endophthalmitis and most C. parapsilosis from keratitis. Multilocus sequence typing analysis of C. albicans showed a prevalence of CC-1 isolates that has DST69 as the putative founder, with 64% of them belonging to this clonal complex (CC). Isolates grouped within this cluster were more predominant in endophthalmitis (10 out of 14; 71%). One C. albicans CC-1 isolate was multi-azole resistant. In conclusion, we observed that nearly half of the ocular infections caused by yeasts are associated with C. albicans, with evidence for the emergence of non-albicans species that are differentially enriched in distinct ocular niches. Candida albicans isolates clustered within the predominant CC-1 group were particularly more common in endophthalmitis, demonstrating a potential pattern of ocular disease enrichment within this clade.
Probing Galactic variations in the fine-structure constant using solar twin stars: Systematic errors
Authors: Berke Daniel A , Murphy Michael T , Flynn Chris , Liu Fan
Published: December 2022

Sun-like stars are a new probe of variations in the fine-structure constant, α, via the solar twins approach: velocity separations of close pairs of absorption lines are compared between stars with very similar stellar parameters, i.e. effective temperature, metallicity, and surface gravity within 100 K, 0.1 dex, and 0.2 dex of the Sun’s values. Here, we assess possible systematic errors in this approach by analysing ≳10 000 archival exposures from the High-Accuracy Radial Velocity Planetary Searcher (HARPS) of 130 stars covering a much broader range of stellar parameters. We find that each transition pair’s separation shows broad, low-order variations with stellar parameters that can be accurately modelled, leaving only a small residual, intrinsic star-to-star scatter of 0–33 m s−1 (average ≈7 m s−1, ≈1 × 10−4 Å at 5000 Å). This limits the precision available from a single pair in a single star. We consider potential systematic errors from a range of instrumental and astrophysical sources (e.g. wavelength calibration, charge transfer inefficiency, stellar magnetic activity, line blending) and conclude that variations in elemental abundances, isotope ratios, and stellar rotational velocities may explain this star-to-star scatter. Finally, we find that the solar twins approach can be extended to solar analogues – within 300 K, 0.3 dex, and 0.4 dex of the Sun’s parameters – without significant additional systematic errors, allowing a much larger number of stars to be used as probes of variation in α, including at much larger distances.
Probing Galactic variations in the fine-structure constant using solar twin stars: methodology and results
Authors: Berke Daniel A , Murphy Michael T , Flynn Chris , Liu Fan
Published: December 2022

The rich absorption spectra of Sun-like stars are enticing probes for variations in the fine-structure constant, α, which gauges the strength of electromagnetism. While individual line wavelengths are sensitive to α, they are also sensitive to physical processes in the stellar atmospheres, which has precluded their use so far. Here we demonstrate a new differential approach using solar twins: velocity separations between close pairs of transitions are compared across stars with very similar physical properties, strongly suppressing astrophysical and instrumental systematic errors. We utilize 423 archival exposures of 18 solar twins from the High-Accuracy Radial velocity Planetary Searcher (HARPS), in which calibration errors can be reduced to ≲3 m s−1. For stars with ≈10 high-signal-to-noise ratio spectra (≥200 per pixel), velocity separations between pairs are measured with ≈10 m s−1 statistical precision. A companion paper assesses a range of systematic error sources using 130 stars, with a greater range of stellar parameters, providing accurate corrections for astrophysical effects and a residual, intrinsic star-to-star scatter of 0–13 m s−1. Within these uncertainties, we find no evidence for velocity separation differences in 17 transition pairs between solar twins. In a second companion paper, this is found to limit local (≲50 pc) variations in α to ≈50 parts per billion, ∼2 orders of magnitude less than other Galactic constraints.
Building the molecular cloud population: the role of cloud mergers
Authors: Skarbinski Maya , Jeffreson Sarah M R , Goodman Alyssa A
Published: December 2022

We study the physical drivers of slow molecular cloud mergers within a simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy in the moving-mesh code arepo, and determine the influence of these mergers on the mass distribution and star formation efficiency of the galactic cloud population. We find that 83 per cent of these mergers occur at a relative velocity below 5 km s−1, and are associated with large-scale atomic gas flows, driven primarily by expanding bubbles of hot, ionized gas caused by supernova explosions and galactic rotation. The major effect of these mergers is to aggregate molecular mass into higher-mass clouds: mergers account for over 50 per cent of the molecular mass contained in clouds of mass M > 2 × 106 M⊙. These high-mass clouds have higher densities, internal velocity dispersions and instantaneous star formation efficiencies than their unmerged, lower mass precursors. As such, the mean instantaneous star formation efficiency in our simulated galaxy, with its merger rate of just 1 per cent of clouds per Myr, is 25 per cent higher than in a similar population of clouds containing no mergers.
Detection of H i 21 cm emission from a strongly lensed galaxy at z ∼ 1.3
Authors: Chakraborty Arnab , Roy Nirupam
Published: December 2022

We report the first 5σ detection of H i 21 cm emission from a star-forming galaxy at redshift z ∼ 1.3 (nearly 9 billion years ago) using upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT). This is the highest redshift H i detection in emission from an individual galaxy to date. The emission is strongly boosted by the gravitational lens, an early-type elliptical galaxy, at redshift z ∼ 0.13. The measured H i mass of the galaxy is $M_{\rm H\, \small {\rm I}} = (0.90 \pm 0.14 \pm 0.05) \times 10^{10}\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, which is almost twice the inferred stellar mass of the galaxy, indicating an extended structure of the H i gas inside the galaxy. By fitting 2D Gaussian to the H i signal at the peak of the spectral line, we find the source to be marginally resolved with the position angle consistent with the emission being tangential to the critical curve of the lens mass distribution. This indicates that the solid angle of the approaching H i line flux comes very close to the inner lens caustic and results in very high magnification. These results, for the first time, demonstrate the feasibility of observing high-redshift H i in a lensed system with the modest amount of telescope time and open up exciting new possibilities for probing the cosmic evolution of neutral gas with existing and upcoming low-frequency radio telescopes in the near future.
Deep ALMA redshift search of a z ∼ 12 GLASS-JWST galaxy candidate
Authors: Bakx Tom J L C , Zavala Jorge A , Mitsuhashi Ikki , Treu Tommaso , Fontana Adriano , Tadaki Ken-ichi , Casey Caitlin M , Castellano Marco , Glazebrook Karl , Hagimoto Masato , Ikeda Ryota , Jones Tucker , Leethochawalit Nicha , Mason Charlotte , Morishita Takahiro , Nanayakkara Themiya , Pentericci Laura , Roberts-Borsani Guido , Santini Paola , Serjeant Stephen , Tamura Yoichi , Trenti Michele , Vanzella Eros
Published: December 2022

The JWST has discovered a surprising abundance of bright galaxy candidates in the very early universe (≤500 Myr after the Big Bang), calling into question current galaxy formation models. Spectroscopy is needed to confirm the primeval nature of these candidates, as well as to understand how the first galaxies form stars and grow. Here we present deep spectroscopic and continuum ALMA observations towards GHZ2/GLASS-z12, one of the brightest and most robust candidates at z > 10, identified in the GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program. We detect a 5.8σ line, offset 0${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$5 from the JWST position of GHZ2/GLASS-z12, that associating it with the [O iii] 88 $\mu {\rm m}$ transition, implies a spectroscopic redshift of z = 12.117 ± 0.001. We verify the detection using extensive statistical tests. The oxygen line luminosity places GHZ2/GLASS-z12 above the [O iii]-SFR relation for metal-poor galaxies, implying an enhancement of [O iii] emission in this system while the JWST-observed emission is likely a lower-metallicity region. The lack of dust emission seen by these observations is consistent with the blue UV slope observed by JWST, which suggest little dust attenuation in galaxies at this early epoch. Further observations will unambiguously confirm the redshift and shed light on the origins of the wide and offset line and physical properties of this early galaxy. This work illustrates the synergy between JWST and ALMA, and paves the way for future spectroscopic surveys of z > 10 galaxy candidates.
Radio transients and variables in the tenth Deeper, Wider, Faster observing run
Authors: Dobie D , Pritchard J , Wang Y , Graham L W , Freeburn J , Qiu H , White T R , O’Brien A , Lenc E , Leung J K , Lynch C , Murphy Tara , Stewart A J , Wang Z , Zic A , Abbott T M C , Cai C , Cooke J , Dobiecki M , Goode S , Jia S , Li C , Möller A , Webb S , Zhang J , Zhang S N
Published: December 2022

The Deeper, Wider, Faster (DWF) program coordinates observations with telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum, searching for transients on time-scales of milliseconds to days. The tenth DWF observing run was carried out in near real-time during September 2021, and consisted of six consecutive days of observations of the NGC 6744 galaxy group and a field containing the repeating fast radio burst FRB 190711 with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, the Dark Energy Camera, the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope, and the Parkes 64-m ‘Murriyang’ radio telescope. In this work, we present the results of an image-domain search for transient, variable, and circularly polarized sources carried out with ASKAP, using data from the observing run along with test observations prior to the run and follow-up observations carried out during and after the run. We identified eight variable radio sources, consisting of one pulsar, six stellar systems (five of which exhibit circularly polarized emission), and one previously uncatalogued source. Of particular interest is the detection of pulses from the ultra-cool dwarf SCR J1845–6357 with a period of 14.2 ± 0.3 h in good agreement with the known optical rotation period, making this the slowest rotating radio-loud ultra-cool dwarf discovered.
Orbital structure of planetary systems formed by giant impacts: stellar mass dependence
Authors: Hoshino H , Kokubo E
Published: December 2022

Recent exoplanet surveys revealed that for solar-type stars, close-in Super-Earths are ubiquitous and many of them are in multiplanet systems. These systems are more compact than the Solar system’s terrestrial planets. However, there have been few theoretical studies on the formation of such planets around low-mass stars. In the standard model, the final stage of terrestrial planet formation is the giant impact stage, where protoplanets gravitationally scatter and collide with each other and then evolve into a stable planetary system. We investigate the effect of the stellar mass on the architecture of planetary systems formed by giant impacts. We perform N-body simulations around stars with masses of 0.1–2 times the solar mass. Using the isolation mass of protoplanets, we distribute the initial protoplanets in 0.05–0.15 au from the central star and follow the evolution for 200 million orbital periods of the innermost protoplanet. We find that for a given protoplanet system, the mass of planets increases as the stellar mass decreases, while the number of planets decreases. The eccentricity and inclination of orbits and the orbital separation of adjacent planets increase with decreasing the stellar mass. This is because as the stellar mass decreases, the relative strength of planetary scattering becomes more effective. We also discuss the properties of planets formed in the habitable zone using the minimum-mass extrasolar nebula model.
Explosive nucleosynthesis with fast neutrino-flavour conversion in core-collapse supernovae
Authors: Fujimoto Shin-ichiro , Nagakura Hiroki
Published: December 2022

Fast neutrino (ν)-flavour conversion (FFC) is a possible game-changing ingredient in core-collapse supernova (CCSN) theory. In this paper, we examine the impact of FFC on explosive nucleosynthesis by including the effects of FFC in conjunction with asymmetric ν emission into nucleosynthetic computations in a parametric way. We find that the ejecta compositions are not appreciably affected by FFC for elements lighter than Co while the compositions are influenced by FFC for the heavier elements. We also find that the role of FFC varies depending on the asymmetric degree of ν emission (masy) and the degree of ν-flavour mixing. The impact of FFC is not monotonic to masy. The change in the ejecta composition increases for higher masy up to ∼10 per cent compared with that without FFC, whereas FFC has little effect on the nucleosynthesis in very large asymmetric ν emission (${\gtrsim}30\,\hbox{per cent}$). Our results suggest that FFC facilitates the production of neutron-rich ejecta in most cases, although it makes the ejecta more proton-rich if anti-ν conversion is more vigorous than that of ν. The key ingredient accounting for this trend is ν absorption, whose effects on nucleosynthesis can be quantified by simple diagnostics.
MEGASTAR − III. Stellar parameters and data products for DR1 late-type stars
Authors: Mollá M , García-Vargas M L , Millán-Irigoyen I , Cardiel N , Carrasco E , Gil de Paz A , Berlanas S R , Gómez-Álvarez P
Published: December 2022

MEGARA (Multi Espectrógrafo en Gran Telescopio Canarias de Alta Resolución para Astronomía) is the optical integral-field and multi-object spectrograph at the Gran Telescopio Canarias. We have created MEGASTAR , an empirical library of stellar spectra obtained using MEGARA at high resolution, $R=20\, 000$ (full width at half-maximum), available in two wavelength ranges: one centred on Hα, from 6420 to 6790 Å; and the other centred on the Ca ii triplet, from 8370 to 8885 Å (HR-R and HR-I volume phase holographic (VPH)-grating configurations). In this work, we use MEGASTAR spectra, a combination of these two short wavelength intervals, to estimate the stellar parameters, namely the effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity (and their associated errors), for a sample of 351 MEGASTAR members with spectral types earlier than B2. We applied a χ2-technique by comparing MEGASTAR data with theoretical stellar models. For those stars with stellar parameters derived in the literature, we obtained a good agreement between the published parameters and ours. In addition to the stellar parameters, we also provide several products, such as the rectified spectra, radial velocities, and stellar indices, for this sample of stars. In the near future, we will use MEGASTAR spectra and their derived stellar parameters to compute stellar population evolutionary synthesis models, which will contribute to a better interpretation of star cluster and galactic spectra obtained with MEGARA.