bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms, predictors, and evolution of severe peri-device leaks with two different left atrial appendage occluders
Authors: Lakkireddy Dhanunjaya , Nielsen-Kudsk Jens Erik , Windecker Stephan , Thaler David , Price Matthew J , Gambhir Alok , Gupta Nigel , Koulogiannis Konstantinos , Marcoff Leo , Mediratta Anuj , Anderson Jordan A , Gage Ryan , Ellis Christopher R
Published: August 2023

Aims

Incomplete left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) due to peri-device leak (PDL) is a limitation of the therapy. The Amulet IDE trial is the largest randomized head-to-head trial comparing the Amulet and Watchman 2.5 LAAO devices with fundamentally different designs. The predictors and mechanistic factors impacting differences in PDLs within the Amulet IDE trial are assessed in the current analysis.

Methods and results

An independent core lab analysed all images for the presence or absence of severe PDL (>5 mm). The incidence, mechanistic factors, predictors using propensity score-matched controls, and evolution of severe PDLs through 18 months were assessed. Of the 1878 patients randomized in the trial, the Amulet occluder had significantly fewer severe PDLs than the Watchman device at 45 days (1.1 vs. 3.2%, P < 0.001) and 12 months (0.1 vs. 1.1%, P < 0.001). Off-axis deployment or missed lobes were leading mechanistic PDL factors in each device group. Larger left atrial appendage (LAA) dimensions including orifice diameter, landing zone diameter, and depth predicted severe PDL with the Watchman device, with no significant anatomical limitations noted with the Amulet occluder. Procedural and device implant predictors were found with the Amulet occluder attributed to the learning curve with the device. A majority of Watchman device severe PDLs did not resolve over time through 18 months.

Conclusion

The dual-occlusive Amplatzer Amulet LAA occluder provided improved LAA closure compared with the Watchman 2.5 device. Predictors and temporal observations of severe PDLs were identified in the Amulet IDE trial.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov Unique identifier NCT02879448.
Ventricular arrhythmias recorded on 12-lead ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring in healthy volunteer athletes and controls: what is common and what is not
Authors: Graziano Francesca , Mastella Giulio , Merkely Bela , Vago Hajnalka , Corrado Domenico , Zorzi Alessandro
Published: August 2023

Aims

Premature ventricular beats (PVBs) in athletes are often benign, but sometimes they may be a sign of an underlying disease. We evaluated the prevalence, burden, and morphology of PVBs in healthy voluntary athletes and controls with the main purpose of defining if certain PVB patterns are ‘common’ and ‘training related’ and, as such, are more likely benign.

Methods and results

We studied 433 healthy competitive athletes [median age 27 (18–43) years, 74% males] and 261 age- and sex-matched sedentary subjects who volunteered to undergo 12-lead 24 h ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring (24H ECG), with a training session in athletes. Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) were evaluated in terms of their number, complexity [i.e. couplet, triplet, or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT)], exercise inducibility, and morphology. Eighty-six percent of athletes and controls exhibited a total of ≤10 PVBs/24 h, and >90% did not show any couplets, triplets, or runs of NSVT > 3 beats. An higher number of PVBs correlated with increasing age (P < 0.01) but not with sex and level of training. The most frequent morphologies among the 36 athletes with >50 PVBs were the infundibular (44%) and fascicular (22%) ones. In a comparison between athletes and sedentary individuals, and male and female athletes, no statistically significant differences were found in PVBs morphologies.

Conclusion

The prevalence and complexity of VAs at 24H ECG did not differ between athletes and sedentary controls and were not related to the type and amount of sport or sex. Age was the only variable associated with an increased PVB burden. Thus, no PVB pattern in the athlete can be considered ‘common’ or ‘training related’.
Model Organism Modifier (MOM): a user-friendly Galaxy workflow to detect modifiers from genome sequencing data using Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Maroilley Tatiana , Rahit K M Tahsin Hassan , Chida Afiya Razia , Cotra Filip , Rodrigues Alves Barbosa Victoria , Tarailo-Graovac Maja
Published: August 2023

Genetic modifiers are variants modulating phenotypic outcomes of a primary detrimental variant. They contribute to rare diseases phenotypic variability, but their identification is challenging. Genetic screening with model organisms is a widely used method for demystifying genetic modifiers. Forward genetics screening followed by whole genome sequencing allows the detection of variants throughout the genome but typically produces thousands of candidate variants making the interpretation and prioritization process very time-consuming and tedious. Despite whole genome sequencing is more time and cost-efficient, usage of computational pipelines specific to modifier identification remains a challenge for biological-experiment-focused laboratories doing research with model organisms. To facilitate a broader implementation of whole genome sequencing in genetic screens, we have developed Model Organism Modifier or MOM, a pipeline as a user-friendly Galaxy workflow. Model Organism Modifier analyses raw short-read whole genome sequencing data and implements tailored filtering to provide a Candidate Variant List short enough to be further manually curated. We provide a detailed tutorial to run the Galaxy workflow Model Organism Modifier and guidelines to manually curate the Candidate Variant Lists. We have tested Model Organism Modifier on published and validated Caenorhabditis elegans modifiers screening datasets. As whole genome sequencing facilitates high-throughput identification of genetic modifiers in model organisms, Model Organism Modifier provides a user-friendly solution to implement the bioinformatics analysis of the short-read datasets in laboratories without expertise or support in Bioinformatics.
Loneliness, Purpose in Life, and Protective Behaviors: Examining Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relationships in Older Adults Before and During COVID-19
Authors: Ma Xin , Yang Yin , Lin Tong , Zhang Yan , Zheng En
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Existing literature on the effects of psychological resources on health-protective behaviors in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other contexts has focused heavily on cross-sectional relationships. Informed by self-determination theory, the current study aims to overcome this limitation by investigating the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships among loneliness, purpose in life, and protective behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. older adults.

Methods

This study uses data from the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal panel study of older adults in the United States. The working sample size was 2,649. A path model and a cross-lagged panel model were applied for the analyses.

Results

Purpose in life fully mediated the negative impact of loneliness on protective behaviors when measured cross-sectionally. Moreover, prepandemic loneliness was associated with a decrease in purpose in life over time. On the other hand, prepandemic purpose in life was associated with a decrease in loneliness and an increase in protective behaviors over time.

Discussion

Our cross-sectional finding on the mediating role of purpose in life reveals a psychological mechanism useful for future interventions. Furthermore, the longitudinal influence of prepandemic loneliness on purpose in life deserves both scholarly and clinical attention. Most importantly, the longitudinal effects of purpose in life on loneliness and protective behaviors provide guidance for preparing older adults during normal times to cope with loneliness and to comply more with recommended measures during future health crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic).
Pathways from Men’s Shed engagement to wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and lower loneliness
Authors: McEvoy Peter M , Holmes Kirsten , Smith Brendan J , Bullen Jonathan , Chiu Vivian W , Wild James , Ashley Jaxon , Talbot Rebecca
Published: August 2023

Extensive qualitative evidence, but limited quantitative evidence, indicates that mutual aid organizations such as Men’s Sheds have positive impacts on wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. A recently developed theoretical model proposes that Men’s Sheds may have these impacts via mediating factors such as broadening social networks, increasing behavioural activation and physical activity, reducing alcohol use, and providing meaning in life. The aim of this study was to quantitatively test a model whereby psychological safety (feeling safe, accepted, and valued) is associated with Men’s Shed engagement (frequency of attendance, duration of membership, diversity of activities), which is associated with the hypothesized mediators, which, in turn, are associated with wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. Men’s Shed members (N = 333, Mage = 70.90 years, SD = 10.34, 98% male) completed a survey assessing the factors in the model. The hypothesized path model provided an excellent fit to the data. Findings indicated that higher psychological safety was associated with higher engagement, which, in turn, was associated with larger social networks and more meaning in life, which were associated with higher wellbeing and lower loneliness. Higher behavioural activation and less alcohol use were also associated with higher wellbeing. Higher Men’s Shed engagement was not associated with higher behavioural activation and physical activity, or less alcohol use, but behavioural activation and alcohol use were directly associated with health-related quality of life. Implications for optimizing health outcomes within Men’s Sheds are discussed.
Profitable settlements: the earl of Warwick and toleration in the English Atlantic, 1643–8
Authors: Fradkin Jeremy
Published: August 2023

This article examines the tolerationist policies of Robert Rich, second earl of Warwick, in response to religious disputes among English settlers in Bermuda and Rhode Island in the 1640s. It shows how Warwick’s newly established Committee for Foreign Plantations extended toleration to those godly Protestant settlers who were deemed useful to the militant confessional program of English colonization that Warwick and his allies had pursued for decades prior to the civil war. The territorial and evangelical expansion of Reformed Protestantism, in his view, depended upon the toleration of godly settlers, the enslavement of African-descended labourers and the subjection of ﻿Indigenous American nations to English sovereignty.
Geographic and Population Distributions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)–1 and HIV-2 Circulating Subtypes: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis (2010–2021)
Authors: Williams Alexandria , Menon Sonia , Crowe Madeleine , Agarwal Neha , Biccler Jorne , Bbosa Nicholas , Ssemwanga Deogratius , Adungo Ferdinard , Moecklinghoff Christiane , Macartney Malcolm , Oriol-Mathieu Valerie
Published: August 2023

Background

HIV poses significant challenges for vaccine development due to its high genetic mutation and recombination rates. Understanding the distribution of HIV subtypes (clades) across regions and populations is crucial. In this study, a systematic review of the past decade was conducted to characterize HIV-1/HIV-2 subtypes.

Methods

A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, and CABI Global Health, yielding 454 studies from 91 countries.

Results

Globally, circulating recombinant forms (CRFs)/unique recombinant forms (URFs) accounted for 29% of HIV-1 strains, followed by subtype C (23%) and subtype A (17%). Among studies reporting subtype breakdowns in key populations, 62% of HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and 38% among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) were CRF/URFs. Latin America and the Caribbean exhibited a 25% increase in other CRFs (excluding CRF01_AE or CRF02_AG) prevalence between 2010–2015 and 2016–2021.

Conclusions

This review underscores the global distribution of HIV subtypes, with an increasing prevalence of CRFs and a lower prevalence of subtype C. Data on HIV-2 were limited. Understanding subtype diversity is crucial for vaccine development, which need to elicit immune responses capable of targeting various subtypes. Further research is needed to enhance our knowledge and address the challenges posed by HIV subtype diversity.
Prevalence of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Human Papillomaviruses in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer and Noncancer Controls and Relation to Behavioral Factors
Authors: Al-Soneidar Walid A , Harper Sam , Coutlée François , Gheit Tarik , Tommasino Massimo , Nicolau Belinda
Published: August 2023

Background

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause head and neck cancer (HNC), which is increasing in incidence in developed countries. We investigated the prevalence of alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) HPVs among HNC cases and controls, and their relationship with sociodemographic, behavioral, and oral health factors.

Methods

We obtained oral rinse and brush samples from incident HNC cases (n = 369) and hospital-based controls (n = 439) and tumor samples for a subsample of cases (n = 121). We genotyped samples using polymerase chain reaction with PGMY09–PGMY11 primers and linear array for α-HPV and type-specific multiplex genotyping assay for β-HPV and γ-HPV. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were obtained from interviews.

Results

The prevalence of α-, β-, and γ-HPV among controls was 14%, 56%, and 24%, respectively, whereas prevalence among cases was 42%, 50%, and 33%, respectively. Prevalence of α- and γ-HPV, but not β-HPV, increased with increase in sexual activity, smoking, and drinking habits. No HPV genus was associated with oral health. Tumor samples included HPV genotypes exclusively from the α-genus, mostly HPV-16, in 80% of cases.

Conclusions

The distribution of α- and γ-HPV, but not β-HPV, seems to vary based on sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. We did not observe the presence of cutaneous HPV in tumor tissues.
Vaccine Take of RV3-BB Rotavirus Vaccine Observed in Indonesian Infants Regardless of HBGA Status
Authors: Donato Celeste M , Handley Amanda , Byars Sean G , Bogdanovic-Sakran Nada , Lyons Eleanor A , Watts Emma , Ong Darren S , Pavlic Daniel , At Thobari Jarir , Satria Cahya Dewi , Nirwati Hera , Soenarto Yati , Bines Julie E
Published: August 2023

Background

Histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) status may affect vaccine efficacy due to rotavirus strains binding to HBGAs in a P genotype–dependent manner. This study aimed to determine if HBGA status affected vaccine take of the G3P[6] neonatal vaccine RV3-BB.

Methods

DNA was extracted from stool samples collected in a subset (n = 164) of the RV3-BB phase IIb trial in Indonesian infants. FUT2 and FUT3 genes were amplified and sequenced, with any single-nucleotide polymorphisms analyzed to infer Lewis and secretor status. Measures of positive cumulative vaccine take were defined as serum immune response (immunoglobulin A or serum-neutralizing antibody) and/or stool excretion of RV3-BB virus. Participants were stratified by HBGA status and measures of vaccine take.

Results

In 147 of 164 participants, Lewis and secretor phenotype were determined. Positive vaccine take was recorded for 144 (97.9%) of 147 participants with the combined phenotype determined. Cumulative vaccine take was not significantly associated with secretor status (relative risk, 1.00 [95% CI, .94–1.06]; P = .97) or Lewis phenotype (relative risk, 1.03 [95% CI, .94–1.14]; P = .33), nor was a difference observed when analyzed by each component of vaccine take.

Conclusions

The RV3-BB vaccine produced positive cumulative vaccine take, irrespective of HBGA status in Indonesian infants.
Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales bloodstream infections among children with cancer or post-haematopoietic stem cell transplant: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: López-Cubillos Juan F , Díaz Alejandro , Cárdenas Vicky C , Camacho-Moreno German , Cantor Erika , Arcila Eliana M , Hurtado Isabel C , Correa Adriana M , Tierradentro Tatiana M , Ramirez Oscar , Portilla Carlos A , Aponte-Barrios Nelson , López Pio , Torres Daniela , Bustos-Paz Mario , Bravo Ana M , Escobar Janeth J , Calle Juan P , Dávalos Diana M , López-Medina Eduardo
Published: August 2023

Background

Risk factors for carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales bloodstream infections among children with cancer or post-HSCT have not been thoroughly explored.

Methods

All children with cancer or post-HSCT who developed Enterobacterales bloodstream infections in two cancer referral centres in major Colombian cities between 2012 and 2021 were retrospectively examined. When the infection episode occurred, carbapenem resistance mechanisms were evaluated according to the available methods. Data were divided in a training set (80%) and a test set (20%). Three internally validated carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) prediction models were created: a multivariate logistic regression model, and two data mining techniques. Model performances were evaluated by calculating the average of the AUC, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values.

Results

A total of 285 Enterobacterales bloodstream infection episodes (229 carbapenem susceptible and 56 carbapenem resistant) occurred [median (IQR) age, 9 (3.5–14) years; 57% male]. The risk of CRE was 2.1 times higher when the infection was caused by Klebsiella spp. and 5.8 times higher when a carbapenem had been used for ≥3 days in the previous month. A model including these two predictive variables had a discriminatory performance of 77% in predicting carbapenem resistance. The model had a specificity of 97% and a negative predictive value of 81%, with low sensitivity and positive predictive value.

Conclusions

Even in settings with high CRE prevalence, these two variables can help early identification of patients in whom CRE-active agents are unnecessary and highlight the importance of strengthening antibiotic stewardship strategies directed at preventing carbapenem overuse.
Variance component estimates for growth traits in beef cattle using selected variants from imputed low-pass sequence data
Authors: Russell Chad A , Kuehn Larry A , Snelling Warren M , Kachman Stephen D , Spangler Matthew L
Published: August 2023

A beef cattle population (n = 2,343) was used to assess the impact of variants identified from the imputed low-pass sequence (LPS) on the estimation of variance components and genetic parameters of birth weight (BWT) and post-weaning gain (PWG). Variants were selected based on functional impact and were partitioned into four groups (low, modifier, moderate, high) based on predicted functional impact and re-partitioned based on the consequence of mutation, such as missense and untranslated region variants, into six groups (G1-G6). Each subset was used to construct a genomic relationship matrix (GRM) for univariate animal models. Multiple analyses were conducted to compare the proportion of additive genetic variation explained by the different subsets individually and collectively, and these estimates were benchmarked against all LPS variants in a single GRM and array (e.g., GeneSeek Genomic Profiler 100K) genotypes. When all variants were included in a single GRM, heritability estimates for BWT and PWG were 0.43 ± 0.05 and 0.38 ± 0.05, respectively. Heritability estimates for BWT ranged from 0.10 to 0.42 dependent on which variant subsets were included. Similarly, estimates for PWG ranged from 0.05 to 0.38. Results showed that variants in the subsets modifier and G1 (untranslated region) yielded the highest heritability estimates and were similar to the inclusion of all variants, while estimates from GRM containing only variants in the categories High, G4 (non-coding transcript exon), and G6 (start and stop loss/gain) were the lowest. All variants combined provided similar heritability estimates to chip genotypes and provided minimal to no additional information when combined with chip data. This suggests that the chip single nucleotide polymorphisms and the variants from LPS predicted to be less consequential are in relatively high linkage disequilibrium with the underlying causal variants as a whole and sufficiently spread throughout the genome to capture larger proportions of additive genetic variation.
Plant water limitation and its impact on the oviposition preferences of the monarch butterfly (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Authors: Diethelm Aramee C , Kost Konnor E , Pringle Elizabeth G
Published: August 2023

Intensifying drought conditions across the western United States due to global climate change are altering plant–insect interactions. Specialist herbivores must find their host plants within a matrix of nonhosts, and thus often rely upon specific plant secondary chemistry for host location and oviposition cues. Climate-induced alterations to plant chemistry could thus affect female selection of larval food plants. Here, we investigated whether host-plant water limitation influenced oviposition preference in a threatened invertebrate: the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). We found that females deposited more eggs on reduced-water than on well-watered narrowleaf milkweed plants (Asclepias fascicularis), but we could not attribute this change to any specific change in plant chemistry. Specialist herbivores, such as the monarch butterfly, which are tightly linked to specific plant cues, may experience shift in preferences under global-change conditions. Understanding oviposition preferences will be important to directing ongoing habitat restoration activities for this declining insect.
Metrics and Considerations for Evaluating How Forest Treatments Alter Wildfire Behavior and Effects
Authors: Vorster Anthony G , Stevens-Rumann Camille , Young Nicholas , Woodward Brian , Choi Christopher Tsz Hin , Chambers Marin E , Cheng Antony S , Caggiano Michael , Schultz Courtney , Thompson Matthew , Greiner Michelle , Aplet Greg , Addington Robert N , Battaglia Mike A , Bowker Daniel , Bucholz Ethan , Buma Brian , Evangelista Paul , Huffman David , Mueller Stephanie , Rhoades Charles , Romme William H , Sánchez Meador Andrew J , Tinkham Wade T , Tuten Matt , West Fordham Amanda
Published: August 2023

The influence of forest treatments on wildfire effects is challenging to interpret. This is, in part, because the impact forest treatments have on wildfire can be slight and variable across many factors. Effectiveness of a treatment also depends on the metric considered. We present and define human–fire interaction, fire behavior, and ecological metrics of forest treatment effects on wildfire and discuss important considerations and recommendations for evaluating treatments. We demonstrate these concepts using a case study from the Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado, USA. Pre-fire forest treatments generally, but not always, experienced reduced burn severity, particularly when surface fuels were reduced. Treatments in the Cameron Peak Fire have also been documented as increasing tree survivorship, aiding suppression efforts, promoting firefighter safety, and influencing fire spread. However, the impacts of pre-fire management on primary landscape-scale objectives, like watershed protection, are unknown. Discussions about the influence of pre-fire treatments on fire effects must define the indicator(s) being assessed, as the same treatment may be considered successful under one measure but not others. Thus, it is critical to bring a common language and understanding to conversations about treatment effects and advance efforts to evaluate the range of treatment effects, thus supporting treatment planning.
Old poisons, new signaling molecules: the case of hydrogen cyanide
Authors: Díaz-Rueda Pablo , Morales de los Ríos Laura , Romero Luis C , García Irene
Published: August 2023

The high phenotypic plasticity developed by plants includes rapid responses and adaptations to aggressive or changing environments. To achieve this, they evolved extremely efficient mechanisms of signaling mediated by a wide range of molecules, including small signal molecules. Among them, hydrogen cyanide (HCN) has been largely ignored due to its toxic characteristics. However, not only is it present in living organisms, but it has been shown that it serves several functions in all kingdoms of life. Research using model plants has changed the traditional point of view, and it has been demonstrated that HCN plays a positive role in the plant response to pathogens independently of its toxicity. Indeed, HCN induces a response aimed at protecting the plant from pathogen attack, and the HCN is provided either exogenously (in vitro or by some cyanogenic bacteria species present in the rhizosphere) or endogenously (in reactions involving ethylene, camalexin, or other cyanide-containing compounds). The contribution of different mechanisms to HCN function, including a new post-translational modification of cysteines in proteins, namely S-cyanylation, is discussed here. This work opens up an expanding ‘HCN field’ of research related to plants and other organisms.
Determination of Light-Induced Deformation Characteristics of the Director Field of Nematic Liquid Crystal by Combining the Methods of Aberrational Self-Action of Light Beam and Polarization Microscopy
Authors: Budagovsky Ivan , Kuznetsov Aleksey , Shvetsov Sergey , Smayev Mikhail , Zolot’ko Alexander
Published: August 2023

Light-induced director field deformation of a nematic liquid crystal in the field of an obliquely incident laser beam is experimentally studied with aberrational self-action and polarization microscopy. Each of the methods has features associated with the geometry of the light interaction with the director. The combination of methods significantly expands the possibilities of reconstructing the light-induced nonlinear phase shift profile and the director field deformation.
The Dark Energy Survey Year 3 high-redshift sample: selection, characterization, and analysis of galaxy clustering
Authors: Sánchez C , Alarcon A , Bernstein G M , Sanchez J , Pandey S , Raveri M , Prat J , Weaverdyck N , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Chang C , Baxter E , Omori Y , Jain B , Alves O , Amon A , Bechtol K , Becker M R , Blazek J , Choi A , Campos A , Rosell A Carnero , Kind M Carrasco , Crocce M , Cross D , DeRose J , Diehl H T , Dodelson S , Drlica-Wagner A , Eckert K , Eifler T F , Elvin-Poole J , Everett S , Fang X , Fosalba P , Gruen D , Gruendl R A , Harrison I , Hartley W G , Huang H , Huff E M , Kuropatkin N , MacCrann N , McCullough J , Myles J , Krause E , Porredon A , Rodriguez-Monroy M , Rykoff E S , Secco L F , Sheldon E , Troxel M A , Yanny B , Yin B , Zhang Y , Zuntz J , Abbott T M C , Aguena M , Allam S , Andrade-Oliveira F , Bertin E , Bocquet S , Brooks D , Burke D L , Carretero J , Castander F J , Cawthon R , Conselice C , Costanzi M , Pereira M E S , Desai S , Doel P , Doux C , Ferrero I , Flaugher B , Frieman J , García-Bellido J , Gutierrez G , Herner K , Hinton S R , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D J , Kuehn K , Marshall J L , Mena-Fernández J , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Ogando R L C , Palmese A , Paz-Chinchón F , Pieres A , Malagón A A Plazas , Sanchez E , Scarpine V , Schubnell M , Smith M , Suchyta E , Tarle G , Thomas D , To C ,   (DES Collaboration)
Published: August 2023

The fiducial cosmological analyses of imaging surveys like DES typically probe the Universe at redshifts z < 1. We present the selection and characterization of high-redshift galaxy samples using DES Year 3 data, and the analysis of their galaxy clustering measurements. In particular, we use galaxies that are fainter than those used in the previous DES Year 3 analyses and a Bayesian redshift scheme to define three tomographic bins with mean redshifts around z ∼ 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5, which extend the redshift coverage of the fiducial DES Year 3 analysis. These samples contain a total of about 9 million galaxies, and their galaxy density is more than 2 times higher than those in the DES Year 3 fiducial case. We characterize the redshift uncertainties of the samples, including the usage of various spectroscopic and high-quality redshift samples, and we develop a machine-learning method to correct for correlations between galaxy density and survey observing conditions. The analysis of galaxy clustering measurements, with a total signal to noise S/N ∼ 70 after scale cuts, yields robust cosmological constraints on a combination of the fraction of matter in the Universe Ωm and the Hubble parameter h, $\Omega _m h = 0.195^{+0.023}_{-0.018}$, and 2–3  per cent measurements of the amplitude of the galaxy clustering signals, probing galaxy bias and the amplitude of matter fluctuations, bσ8. A companion paper (in preparation) will present the cross-correlations of these high-z samples with cosmic microwave background lensing from Planck and South Pole Telescope, and the cosmological analysis of those measurements in combination with the galaxy clustering presented in this work.
Effects of massive central objects on the degree of energy equipartition of globular clusters
Authors: Aros Francisco I , Vesperini Enrico
Published: August 2023

We present an analysis of the degree of energy equipartition in a sample of 101 Monte Carlo numerical simulations of globular clusters (GCs) hosting either a system of stellar-mass black holes (BHS), an intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) or neither of them. For the first time, we systematically explore the signatures that the presence of BHS or IMBHs produces on the degree of energy equipartition and if these signatures could be found in current observations. We show that a BHS can halt the evolution towards energy equipartition in the cluster centre. We also show that this effect grows stronger with the number of stellar-mass black holes in the GC. The signatures introduced by IMBHs depend on how dominant their masses are to the GCs and for how long the IMBH has co-evolved with its host GCs. IMBHs with a mass fraction below 2 per cent of the cluster mass produce a similar dynamical effect to BHS, halting the energy equipartition evolution. IMBHs with a mass fraction larger than 2 per cent can produce an inversion of the observed mass-dependence of the velocity dispersion, where the velocity dispersion grows with mass. We compare our results with observations of Galactic GCs and show that the observed range of the degree of energy equipartition in real clusters is consistent with that found in our analysis. In particular, we show that some Galactic GCs fall within the anomalous behaviour expected for systems hosting a BHS or an IMBH and are promising candidates for further dynamical analysis.
Frequency of the dark matter subhalo collisions and bifurcation sequence arising formation of dwarf galaxies
Authors: Otaki Koki , Mori Masao
Published: August 2023

The cold dark matter model predicts galaxies have 100 times more dark matter mass than stars. Nevertheless, recent observations report the existence of dark-matter-deficient galaxies with less dark matter than expected. To solve this problem, we investigate the physical processes of galaxy formation in head-on collisions between gas-containing dark matter subhaloes (DMSHs). Analytical estimation of the collision frequency between DMSHs associated with a massive host halo indicates that collisions frequently occur within one-tenth of the virial radius of the host halo, with a collision time-scale of about $10\, \mathrm{Myr}$, and the most frequent relative velocity increases with increasing radius. Using analytical models and numerical simulations, we show the bifurcation channel of the formation of dark-matter-dominated and dark-matter-deficient galaxies. In the case of low-velocity collisions, a dark-matter-dominated galaxy is formed by the merging of two DMSHs. In the case of moderate-velocity collisions, the two DMSHs penetrate each other. However, the gas medium collides, and star formation begins as the gas density increases, forming a dwarf galaxy without dark matter at the collision surface. In the case of high-velocity collisions, shock-breakout occurs due to the shock waves generated at the collision surface reaching the gas surface, and no galaxy forms. For example, the simulation demonstrates that a pair of DMSHs with a mass of $10^9\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$ containing gas of 0.1 solar metallicity forms a dark-matter-deficient galaxy with a stellar mass of $10^7\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$ for a relative velocity of $200\, \mathrm{km\, s^{-1}}$.
Orbital structure evolution in self-consistent N-body simulations
Authors: Valencia-Enríquez Diego , Puerari Ivânio , Chaves-Velasquez Leonardo
Published: August 2023

The bar structure in disc galaxies models is formed by different families of orbits; however, it is not clear how these families of orbits support the bar throughout its secular evolution. Here, we analyse the orbital structure on three stellar disc N-body models embedded in a live dark matter halo. During the evolution of the models, discs naturally form a bar that buckles out of the galactic plane at different ages of the galaxy evolution generating boxy, X, peanut, and/or elongated shapes. To understand how the orbit families hold the bar structure, we evaluate the orbital evolution using the frequency analysis on phase space coordinates for all disc particles at different time intervals. We analyse the density maps morphology of the 2:1 family as the bar potential evolves. We showed that the families of orbits providing bar support exhibit variations during different stages of its evolutionary process, specifically prior to and subsequent to the buckling phase, likewise in the secular evolution of the bar. The disc-dominated model develops an internal boxy structure after the first Gyr. Afterwards, the outer part of the disc evolves into a peanut-shape, which lasts till the end of the simulation. The intermediary model develops the boxy structure only after 2 Gyr of evolution. The peanut shape appears 2 Gyr later and evolves slowly. The halo-dominated model develops the boxy structure much later, around 3 Gyr, and the peanut morphology is just incipient at the end of the simulation.
Star formation in the centre of NGC 1808 as observed by ALMA
Authors: Chen Guangwen , Bendo George J , Fuller Gary A , Henkel Christian , Kong Xu
Published: August 2023

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of 85.69- and 99.02-GHz continuum emission and H42α and H40α lines emission from the central 1 kpc of NGC 1808. These forms of emission are tracers of photoionizing stars but unaffected by dust obscuration that we use to test the applicability of other commonly star formation metrics. An analysis of the spectral energy distributions shows that free–free emission contributes about 60–90 per cent of the continuum emission in the 85–100-GHz frequency range, dependent on the region. The star formation rate (SFR) derived from the ALMA free–free emission is 3.1 ± 0.3 M⊙ yr−1. This is comparable to the SFRs measured from the infrared emission, mainly because most of the bolometric energy from the heavily obscured region is emitted as infrared emission. The radio 1.5-GHz emission yields an SFR 25 per cent lower than the ALMA value, probably because of the diffusion of the electrons producing the synchrotron emission beyond the star-forming regions. The SFRs measured from the extinction-corrected H α line emission are about 40–65 per cent of the SFR derived from the ALMA data, likely because this metric was not calibrated for high-extinction regions. Some SFRs based on extinction-corrected ultraviolet emission are similar to those from ALMA and infrared data, but given that the ultraviolet terms in the extinction correction equations are very small, these metrics seem inappropriate to apply to this dusty starburst.
Empirical extinction coefficients for the Swift-UVOT optical-through-ultraviolet passbands
Authors: Yi Fang , Haibo Yuan , Ruoyi Zhang , Jian Gao , Shuai Xu
Published: August 2023

We calculated empirical reddening and extinction coefficients with respect to the dust reddening map of Schlegel et al. (1998) for the Swift-UVOT passbands, using the ‘star pair’ method and photometric data from the UVOT Serendipitous Source Catalogue and 2MASS as well as spectroscopic data from LAMOST Data Release 7. The reddening coefficients for the UVW2 − UVM2, UVM2 − UVW1, UVW1 − U, U − B, and B − V colours are −1.39, 2.08, 0.78, 0.72, and 0.84, respectively. The extinction coefficients for the UVW2, UVM2, UVW1, U, B, and V bands are 5.60, 6.99, 4.91, 4.13, 3.41, and 2.57, respectively. The numbers are consistent with predictions by the Fitzpatrick’s extinction law of R(V)  = 3.0. Temperature-dependent variations of the coefficients are found and discussed, particularly for the ultraviolet passbands. We recommend using the new reddening and extinction coefficients in future when dereddening the Swift-UVOT data.
Photometric long-term variations of dwarf novae during quiescence
Authors: Vogt N , Vega-Manubens I
Published: August 2023

Using the Catalina Sky Survey and Gaia alert data bases, we have carried out a systematic search for long-term variability of the brightness of dwarf novae in quiescence. A small, but significant portion of them revealed variability on time-scales between 2 and 14 yr which can be fitted, in some of the targets, by linear slopes of 0.14 mag yr−1 on average and up to 0.6 mag yr−1 in extreme cases. Another group of dwarf novae showed quasi-periodic variations in their quiescent brightness, with periods of 3.7 yr on average and up to 13 yr in extreme cases, and mean amplitudes of 0.5 mag, reaching up to 1.3 mag. The observed slopes could be understood as portions of a quasi-sinusoidal variability with larger periods, not covered by our data. SU UMa stars have, on average, smaller slope values and longer periods, compared to other dwarf novae. These variations could be interpreted as caused by magnetic activity of the secondary companion star, similar to the 11-yr solar cycle, but one could consider also other origins of this phenomenon.
Beyond diffusion: a generalized mean-field theory of turbulent dust transport in protoplanetary discs
Authors: Binkert Fabian
Published: August 2023

Turbulence in protoplanetary discs, when present, plays a critical role in transporting dust particles embedded in the gaseous disc component. When using a field description of dust dynamics, a diffusion approach is traditionally used to model this turbulent dust transport. However, it has been shown that classical turbulent diffusion models are not fully self-consistent. Several shortcomings exist, including the ambiguous nature of the diffused quantity and the non-conservation of angular momentum. Orbital effects are also neglected without an explicit prescription. In response to these inconsistencies, we present a novel Eulerian turbulent dust transport model for isotropic and homogeneous turbulence on the basis of a mean-field theory. Our model is based on density-weighted averaging applied to the pressureless fluid equations and uses appropriate turbulence closures. Our model yields novel dynamic equations for the turbulent dust mass flux and recovers existing turbulent transport models in special limiting cases, thus providing a more general and self-consistent description of turbulent particle transport. Importantly, our model ensures the conservation of global angular and linear momentum unconditionally and implicitly accounts for the effects of orbital dynamics in protoplanetary discs. Furthermore, our model correctly describes the vertical settling–diffusion equilibrium solutions for both small and large particles. Hence, this work presents a generalized Eulerian turbulent dust transport model, establishing a comprehensive framework for more detailed studies of turbulent dust transport in protoplanetary discs.
Steady states of the Parker instability: the effects of rotation
Authors: Tharakkal Devika , Shukurov Anvar , Gent Frederick A , Sarson Graeme R , Snodin Andrew
Published: August 2023

We model the Parker instability in vertically stratified isothermal gas using non-ideal MHD three-dimensional simulations. Rotation, especially differential, more strongly and diversely affects the nonlinear state than the linear stage (where we confirm the most important conclusions of analytical models), and stronger than any linear analyses predict. Steady-state magnetic fields are stronger and cosmic ray energy density is higher than in comparable non-rotating systems. Transient gas outflows induced by the nonlinear instability persist longer, of order 2 Gyr, with rotation. Stratification combined with (differential) rotation drives helical flows, leading to mean-field dynamo. Consequently, the nonlinear state becomes oscillatory (while both the linear instability and the dynamo are non-oscillatory). The horizontal magnetic field near the mid-plane reverses its direction propagating to higher altitudes as the reversed field spreads buoyantly. The spatial pattern of the large-scale magnetic field may explain the alternating magnetic field directions in the halo of the edge-on galaxy NGC 4631. Our model is unique in producing a large-scale magnetic structure similar to such observation. Furthermore, our simulations show that the mean kinetic helicity of the magnetically driven flows has the sign opposite to that in the conventional non-magnetic flows. This has profound consequences for the nature of the dynamo action and large-scale magnetic field structure in the coronae of spiral galaxies that remain to be systematically explored and understood. We show that the energy density of cosmic rays and magnetic field strength are not correlated at scales of order 1 kiloparsec.
Giant molecular cloud G18.1-0.3+51 associated with H ii regions and supernova remnant in the 3-kpc expanding ring
Authors: Sofue Yoshiaki
Published: August 2023

Analysing the high-resolution CO line survey of the Galactic plane with the Nobeyama 45-m telescope (FUGIN), we show that the star-forming complex G18.15-0.30+51 (G18) at radial velocity of 51 km s−1 is a tight triple association of a giant molecular cloud (GMC), H ii regions, and a supernova remnant (SNR). The radial velocity of G18 allows three possible kinematic distances of d = 3.9 ± 0.2 kpc for near solution or 12 ± 0.2 kpc for far solution, if we assume circular Galactic rotation, or d = 6.1 ± 0.1 kpc, if it is moving with the 3-kpc expanding ring at an expanding velocity of 50 km s−1. The H i line absorption of radio continuum from the H ii region constrains the distance to 5.6 ≲ dSNR ≤ 7.6 kpc. The Σ−D (radio brightness–diameter) relation yields the distance to the SNR of $d_{\rm SNR}=10.1^{+11.5}_{-4.7}$ kpc, allowing for a minimum distance of 5.4 kpc. From these, we uniquely determined the distance of G18 to be 6.07 ± 0.13 kpc in the 3-kpc expanding ring with the SNR being physically associated. The molecular mass of the GMC is estimated to be Mmol ∼ 3 × 105 M⊙. The ratio of virial to luminous molecular masses is greater than unity in the central region and decreases outward to ≲0.2 at the cloud edge, indicating that the central region is dynamic, while the entire cloud is stable. We discuss the origin of the G18 triple system and propose a sustainable GMC model with continuous star formation.
First light and reionization epoch simulations (FLARES) X iii: the lyman-continuum emission of high-redshift galaxies
Authors: Seeyave Louise T C , Wilkins Stephen M , Kuusisto Jussi K , Lovell Christopher C , Irodotou Dimitrios , Simmonds Charlotte , Vijayan Aswin P , Thomas Peter A , Roper William J , Byrne Conor M , Jones Gareth T , Turner Jack C , Conselice Christopher J
Published: August 2023

The history of reionization is highly dependent on the ionizing properties of high-redshift galaxies. It is therefore important to have a solid understanding of how the ionizing properties of galaxies are linked to physical and observable quantities. In this paper, we use the First Light and Reionization Epoch Simulations (Flares) to study the Lyman-continuum (LyC, i.e. hydrogen-ionizing) emission of massive ($M_*\gt 10^8\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$) galaxies at redshifts z = 5 − 10. We find that the specific ionizing emissivity (i.e. intrinsic ionizing emissivity per unit stellar mass) decreases as stellar mass increases, due to the combined effects of increasing age and metallicity. Flares predicts a median ionizing photon production efficiency (i.e. intrinsic ionizing emissivity per unit intrinsic far-UV luminosity) of $\log _{10}(\xi _{\rm ion}\rm {/erg^{-1}Hz})=25.40^{+0.16}_{-0.17}$, with values spanning the range $\log _{10}(\xi _{\rm ion}\rm {/erg^{-1}Hz})=25-25.75$. This is within the range of many observational estimates, but below some of the extremes observed. We compare the production efficiency with observable properties, and find a weak negative correlation with the UV-continuum slope, and a positive correlation with the [O iii] equivalent width. We also consider the dust-attenuated production efficiency (i.e. intrinsic ionizing emissivity per unit dust-attenuated far-UV luminosity), and find a median of $\log _{10}(\xi _{\rm ion}\rm {/erg^{-1}Hz})\sim 25.5$. Within our sample of $M_*\gt 10^8\, \mathrm{M_\odot }$ galaxies, it is the stellar populations in low mass galaxies that contribute the most to the total ionizing emissivity. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) emission accounts for 10 − 20 per cent of the total emissivity at a given redshift, and extends the LyC luminosity function by ∼0.5 dex.
Experiences of diagnosis and treatment for upper limb Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Griffiths Grace S , Thompson Bronwyn L , Snell Deborah L , Dunn Jennifer A
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) most frequently affects the upper limb, with high associated disability. Delays to diagnosis and appropriate treatment can adversely impact prognosis and quality of life, but little is known about the healthcare experiences of people with CRPS. This study aimed to explore lived experiences of diagnosis and treatment for people with upper limb CRPS.

Methods

Participants were recruited through online support groups and multiple public and private healthcare settings in the Greater Wellington Region, New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who had experienced upper limb CRPS for more than three months and less than three years. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Thirteen participants (11 female, 2 male) aged between 43 and 68 years were interviewed. Duration of CRPS ranged from 7 months to 2.5 years. Five themes were identified. Participants initially engaged in healthcare out of a desire to return to being the person they were before having CRPS. Three interacting experiences epitomised the overall healthcare experience: (1) not knowing what is going on, (2) not being taken seriously, and (3) healthcare as adding another layer of load. Meanwhile, participants used multiple approaches in an attempt to not let CRPS stop them from continuing to live their lives.

Conclusions

Participants in this study felt that credible information, validation, and simplification from healthcare providers and systems would support their process of navigating towards a meaningful life and self-concept in the presence of CRPS.
Dynamic Equilibrium with Costly Short-Selling and Lending Market
Authors: Atmaz Adem , Basak Suleyman , Ruan Fangcheng
Published: August 2023

We develop a dynamic model of costly stock short-selling and lending market and obtain implications that simultaneously support many empirical regularities related to short-selling. In our model, investors’ belief disagreement leads to shorting demand, whereby short-sellers pay shorting fees to borrow stocks from lenders. Our main novel results are as follows. Short interest is positively related to shorting fee and predicts stock returns negatively. Higher short-selling risk can be associated with lower stock returns and less short-selling activity. Stock volatility is increased under costly short-selling. An application to GameStop episode yields implications consistent with observed patterns.