bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Emergence and Evolution of Consumer Language Research
Authors: Packard Grant , Berger Jonah
Published: February 2023

Over the last 50+ years, there has been a huge rise in interest in consumer language research. This article spotlights the emergence and evolution of this area, identifying key themes and trends and highlighting topics for future research. Work has evolved from exploration of broad language concepts (e.g., rhetorics) to specific linguistic features (e.g., phonemes) and from monologues (e.g., advertiser to consumer) to two-way dialogues (e.g., consumer to service representative and back). We discuss future opportunities that arise from past trends and suggest two important shifts that prompt questions for future research: the new shift toward using voice (vs. hands) when interacting with objects and the ongoing shift toward using hands (vs. voices) to communicate with people. By synthesizing the past, and delineating a research agenda for the future, we hope to encourage more researchers to begin to explore this burgeoning area.
The WTO and Vaccine Supply Chain Resilience during a Pandemic
Authors: Bown Chad P
Published: February 2023

Cross-border supply chains and international trade enabled the manufacturing and delivery of billions of vaccine doses to inoculate the world against the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). At the same time, the pandemic revealed how the World Trade Organization (WTO) must change to become more useful in the face of a public health emergency. This paper describes the market failures—especially on the supply side—justifying the domestic subsidies and contracting arrangements used to accelerate vaccine research and development and to increase the scale of vaccine production to save lives, livelihoods, and economic activity during a pandemic. It highlights the trade-offs associated with the US subsidies and the priority-rated contracts written for vaccines through the Defense Production Act under Operation Warp Speed. This case study reveals a rich environment in which cross-border supply chains exacerbate input shortages in ways that constrain vaccine production, highlighting the need for the WTO to embrace new forms of international policy coordination for pandemic preparedness and response. As part of a pandemic treaty, the paper proposes a plurilateral agreement on vaccine supply chain resilience that would include novel and enforceable disciplines for export restrictions, provisions to trigger coordinated subsidies across countries to jointly scale up vaccine output and input production capacity, and market surveillance initiatives on supply chain transparency.
Transactional-governance structures:new cross-country data and an application to the effect of uncertainty
Authors: Murrell Peter , Karalashvili Nona , Francis David C
Published: February 2023

To what extent are personal trust, mutual interests, and third parties important in enforcing agreements to trade? How do firms combine these to form transactional-governance structures? This article answers these questions in a whole-economy, cross-country setting that considers a full spectrum of transactional-governance strategies. The data collection requires a new survey question answerable in any context. The question is applied in six South American countries using representative samples, with the resultant survey weights facilitating a whole-economy analysis. Without imposing an a priori model, latent class analysis estimates meaningful governance structures. Bilateralism is always used. Law is never used alone. Bilateralism and formal institutions are rarely substitutes. Within country, inter-regional variation in governance is greater than inter-country variation. The usefulness of the data is shown by testing one element of Williamson’s discriminating-alignment agenda: greater uncertainty in the transactional environment increases the involvement of third parties.
Hidradenitis suppurativa of the breast: a diagnostic dilemma
Authors: Fahrenhorst-Jones Travis , Theodore Jane E , Dauway Emilia L
Published: February 2023

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition characterised by recurrent abscesses, nodules, sinus tracts and fistulas. The condition has a known diagnostic delay and well-documented negative effect on the quality of life of patients. When affecting the periareolar region, there is a capacity for confusion with other more mainstream surgical conditions of the breast. We present a case of a 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with an acutely painful breast nodule with periareolar erythema and induration who was repeatedly misdiagnosed due to cofounding features on clinical assessment. We present this case as a diagnostic dilemma to raise awareness of HS as a differential when assessing surgical breast patients.
Supercritical accretion of BeXRB SXP 15.3
Authors: Ghising Manoj , Rai Binay , Tobrej Mohammed , Tamang Ruchi , Paul Bikash Chandra
Published: February 2023

We have studied the temporal and spectral properties of SXP 15.3, observed by NuSTAR in the hard energy range 3–79 keV during late 2018. Timing analysis of the NuSTAR observations predicts coherent pulsation at $15.2388\,\,\pm \,\,0.0002\, \mathrm{s}$. The pulse profiles in different energy bands demonstrate energy dependence. The shape of the pulse profile was generally suggestive of a fan-beam-dominated pattern, which, when combined with the measured luminosity, predicts that the source may be accreting in the supercritical regime. A non-monotonic increase in pulse fraction with energy was observed. The NuSTAR observations show that the pulse period of the source has spun up at a rate of −0.0176 s yr−1 compared with the previous analysis by the same observatory more than 1 year ago. The source flux in the present NuSTAR study in the 3–79 keV energy range is ${\sim }1.36\,\,\times \,\,10^{-10}\, \mathrm{erg\, cm}^{-2}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}$, which corresponds to a luminosity of ${\sim }6\,\,\times \,\,10^{37}\, \mathrm{erg\, s}^{-1}$. Cyclotron line energy of the source is detected at ∼5 keV. Pulse-phase-resolved spectroscopy shows that the cyclotron line energy varies significantly with pulse phase and the photon index becomes softer with increasing flux. In addition, we have studied the evolution of the luminosity with time using 2017 and 2018 Swift/XRT observations. Analysis of the Swift/XRT data reveals that the photon index is positively correlated with the source luminosity, which is a characteristic of supercritical accretion phenomena.
The SAMI survey: evidence for dynamical coupling of ionized gas and young stellar populations
Authors: Foster Caroline , Vaughan Sam , Fraser-McKelvie Amelia , Brough Sarah , Bryant Julia J , Croom Scott M , D’Eugenio Francesco , Groves Brent , Konstantopoulos Iraklis S , López-Sánchez Ángel R , Oh Sree , Owers Matt S , Sweet Sarah M , van de Sande Jesse , Wisnioski Emily , Yi Sukyoung K , Zovaro Henry R M
Published: February 2023

We explore local and global dynamical differences between the kinematics of ionized gas and stars in a sample of galaxies from Data Release 3 of the SAMI Galaxy Survey. We find better agreement between local (i.e. comparing on a spaxel-to-spaxel basis) velocities and dispersion of gas and stars in younger systems as with previous work on the asymmetric drift in galaxies, suggesting that the dynamics of stars and ionized gas are initially coupled. The intrinsic scatter around the velocity and dispersion relations increases with increasing stellar age and mass, suggesting that subsequent mechanisms, such as internal processes, divergent star formation, and assembly histories, also play a role in setting and altering the dynamics of galaxies. The global (flux-weighted) dynamical support of older galaxies is hotter than in younger systems. We find that the ionized gas in galaxies is almost always dynamically colder than the stars with a steeper velocity gradient. In absolute terms, the local difference in velocity dispersion is more pronounced than the local difference in velocity, possibly reflecting inherent differences in the impact of turbulence, inflow and/or feedback on gas compared to stars. We suggest how these findings may be taken into account when comparing high and low redshift galaxy samples to infer dynamical evolution.
Discovery of 37 new pulsars through GPU-accelerated reprocessing of archival data of the Parkes multibeam pulsar survey
Authors: Sengar R , Bailes M , Balakrishnan V , Bernadich M C i , Burgay M , Barr E D , Flynn C M L , Stevenson R Shannon S , Wongphechauxsorn J
Published: February 2023

We present the discovery of 37 pulsars from ∼ 20 yr old archival data of the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey using a new FFT-based search pipeline optimized for discovering narrow-duty cycle pulsars. When developing our pulsar search pipeline, we noticed that the signal-to-noise ratios of folded and optimized pulsars often exceeded that achieved in the spectral domain by a factor of two or greater, in particular for narrow duty cycle ones. Based on simulations, we verified that this is a feature of search codes that sum harmonics incoherently and found that many promising pulsar candidates are revealed when hundreds of candidates per beam even with modest spectral signal-to-noise ratios of S/N∼5–6 in higher-harmonic folds (up to 32 harmonics) are folded. Of these candidates, 37 were confirmed as new pulsars and a further 37 would have been new discoveries if our search strategies had been used at the time of their initial analysis. While 19 of these newly discovered pulsars have also been independently discovered in more recent pulsar surveys, 18 are exclusive to only the Parkes Multibeam Pulsar Survey data. Some of the notable discoveries include: PSRs J1635−47 and J1739−31, which show pronounced high-frequency emission; PSRs J1655−40 and J1843−08 belong to the nulling/intermittent class of pulsars; and PSR J1636−51 is an interesting binary system in a ∼0.75 d orbit and shows hints of eclipsing behaviour – unusual given the 340 ms rotation period of the pulsar. Our results highlight the importance of reprocessing archival pulsar surveys and using refined search techniques to increase the normal pulsar population.
Global simulations of Tayler instability in stellar interiors: a long-time multistage evolution of the magnetic field
Authors: Monteiro G , Guerrero G , Del Sordo F , Bonanno A , Smolarkiewicz P K
Published: February 2023

Magnetic fields are observed in massive Ap/Bp stars and are presumably present in the radiative zone of solar-like stars. To date, there is no clear understanding of the dynamics of the magnetic field in stably stratified layers. A purely toroidal magnetic field configuration is known to be unstable, developing mainly non-axisymmetric modes. Rotation and a poloidal field component may lead to stabilization. Here we perform global MHD simulations with the EULAG-MHD code to explore the evolution of a toroidal magnetic field located in a layer whose Brunt-Väisälä frequency resembles the lower solar tachocline. Our numerical experiments allow us to explore the initial unstable phase as well as the long-term evolution of such field. During the first Alfven cycles, we observe the development of the Tayler instability with the prominent longitudinal wavenumber, m = 1. Rotation decreases the growth rate of the instability and eventually suppresses it. However, after a stable phase, energy surges lead to the development of higher-order modes even for fast rotation. These modes extract energy from the initial toroidal field. Nevertheless, our results show that sufficiently fast rotation leads to a lower saturation energy of the unstable modes, resulting in a magnetic topology with only a small fraction of poloidal field, which remains steady for several hundreds of Alfven traveltimes. The system then becomes turbulent and the field is prone to turbulent diffusion. The final toroidal–poloidal configuration of the magnetic field may represent an important aspect of the field generation and evolution in stably stratified layers.
The relation between morphology, star formation history, and environment in local Universe galaxies
Authors: Pérez-Millán David , Fritz Jacopo , González-Lópezlira Rosa A , Moretti Alessia , Cervantes Sodi Bernardo , Vulcani Benedetta , Gullieuszik Marco , Bruzual Gustavo , Charlot Stéphane , Bettoni Daniela
Published: February 2023

The observed properties of galaxies are strongly dependent on both their total stellar mass and their morphology. Furthermore, the environment is known to play a strong role in shaping them. The galaxy population in the local Universe that is located in virialized clusters is found to be red, poorly star-forming, and mostly composed of early morphological types. Towards a holistic understanding of the mechanisms that drive galaxy evolution, we exploit the spectrophotometric data from the WINGS and OmegaWINGS local galaxy cluster surveys, and study the role of both the local and the large-scale environments. We attempt to disentangle their effects from the intrinsic characteristics of the galaxies, in shaping the star formation activity at fixed morphological type and stellar mass. Using a sample of field galaxies from the same surveys for comparison, we analyse the effects of the environment, embodied by the local density, clustercentric distance, and close neighbours, respectively, on the star formation histories of cluster galaxies. We find that local effects have a more relevant impact on galaxy stellar properties than the large-scale environment, and that morphology needs to be taken into account to pinpoint the mechanisms that are driving the influence of clusters in galaxy evolution.
Rotational properties of solar EUV corona using SDO/AIA-19.3-nm observations
Authors: Sharma Jaidev , Malik Anil K , Vats Hari Om , Banerjee Shyamal Kumar
Published: February 2023

In this article, we present the differential rotational profile of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) corona. For this purpose, we used observations with high resolution obtained from SDO/AIA at 19.3-nm wavelength from years 2011 to 2021. We found the higher rotation rate of the equatorial segment (14.8 deg d−1) which drops about 13.5 deg d−1 on both sides of the poles. The average rotation rate (i.e. from 2011 to 2021) of the equatorial region of EUV corona is found to be higher than that of the photosphere, chromosphere, transition region, and corona. Furthermore, the average rotational gradient (as a function of latitude) of the EUV corona is lower than that of the photosphere and transition region. Interestingly, we found a significant correlation of the hemispheric rotational asymmetry with the solar activity indicator (SSNs) and EUV emission. The cross-correlation analysis indicates that the hemispheric rotational asymmetry leads the solar activity indicator (SSN) and EUV emission by about 1.5 months.
The covalent nucleotide modifications within plant mRNAs: What we know, how we find them, and what should be done in the future
Authors: Prall Wil , Ganguly Diep R , Gregory Brian D
Published: February 2023

Although covalent nucleotide modifications were first identified on the bases of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), a number of these epitranscriptome marks have also been found to occur on the bases of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). These covalent mRNA features have been demonstrated to have various and significant effects on the processing (e.g. splicing, polyadenylation, etc.) and functionality (e.g. translation, transport, etc.) of these protein-encoding molecules. Here, we focus our attention on the current understanding of the collection of covalent nucleotide modifications known to occur on mRNAs in plants, how they are detected and studied, and the most outstanding future questions of each of these important epitranscriptomic regulatory signals.
E3 ligase MaNIP1 degradation of NON-YELLOW COLORING1 at high temperature inhibits banana degreening
Authors: Luo Qi , Wei Wei , Yang Ying-ying , Wu Chao-jie , Chen Jian-ye , Lu Wang-jin , Kuang Jian-fei , Shan Wei
Published: February 2023

Banana (Musa acuminata) fruit ripening under high temperatures (>24 °C) undergoes green ripening due to failure of chlorophyll degradation, which greatly reduces marketability. However, the mechanism underlying high temperature-repressed chlorophyll catabolism in banana fruit is not yet well understood. Here, using quantitative proteomic analysis, 375 differentially expressed proteins were identified in normal yellow and green ripening in banana. Among these, one of the key enzymes involved in chlorophyll degradation, NON-YELLOW COLORING 1 (MaNYC1), exhibited reduced protein levels when banana fruit ripened under high temperature. Transient overexpression of MaNYC1 in banana peels resulted in chlorophyll degradation under high temperature, which weakens the green ripening phenotype. Importantly, high temperature induced MaNYC1 protein degradation via the proteasome pathway. A banana RING E3 ligase, NYC1-interacting protein 1 (MaNIP1), was found to interact with and ubiquitinate MaNYC1, leading to its proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, transient overexpression of MaNIP1 attenuated MaNYC1-induced chlorophyll degradation in banana fruits, indicating that MaNIP1 negatively regulates chlorophyll catabolism by affecting MaNYC1 degradation. Taken together, the findings establish a post-translational regulatory module of MaNIP1–MaNYC1 that mediates high temperature-induced green ripening in bananas.
Devices of evaluation: Institutionalization and impact—Introduction to the special issue
Authors: Hamann Julian , Blome Frerk , Kosmützky Anna
Published: February 2023

This introduction outlines the analytical potential of the concept of ‘device’ that is key to the special issue ‘Devices of evaluation’. Evaluation relies not only on the human capacity to value, classify, compare, or judge, but also on social operators that affect evaluations in different ways. The notion of ‘devices’ puts the focus not on human actors but on things, tools, and instruments, on (infra-)structures and procedures, on assemblages and constellations which human actors either draw on when they attribute value or worth, or which have their own agentic capacity and facilitate or enforce evaluations themselves. We propose three perspectives through which a focus on devices can have analytical potential and thus contribute to the study of evaluation in academia: Devices facilitate and accomplish evaluation as trans-situational relays, they connect different forms of evaluation, and they enable, guide, and shape comparisons among very different valuation constellations and contexts. Broadening the focus in this way, the concept can improve our understanding of the non-human side of evaluation. The contributions to this special convey the idea that devices of evaluation are crucial for understanding the production, diffusion, and institutionalization of value and worth in academic contexts.
ASIRPAReal-Time in the making or how to empower researchers to steer research towards desired societal goals
Authors: Matt Mireille , Robinson Douglas K R , Joly Pierre-Benoît , Van Dis Renée , Colinet Laurence
Published: February 2023

The promise that research and innovation (R&I) will contribute to societally desired changes poses a difficult analytical and evaluative challenge. The aim of this article is to present a framework and a toolset, labelled ASIRPAReal-Time, that aides R&I program and project managers to design and steer R&I activities in real-time towards expected directions. It is based on the analytical concepts, language, and lessons learned from the case studies and the practice of the toolset developed in ASIRPAex post. ASIRPAReal-Time is a formative nested approach that fosters learning processes, coordination, and reflexivity at project and program levels. It is iterative and analyses how intermediate results may lead to reconsidering the vision of the R&I pathways. ASIRPAReal-Time is designed and operationalized through intervention research, mobilizing testbeds (i.e. co-experimentation with potential users) to develop and continuously improve the tools. The toolset is designed to be transferable to, and operationalized by, program and project managers since they have the relevant knowledge related to their field of expertise. This article presents the creation of the framework and management tools, detailing the journey of redesigning a tool in a new use context as well as providing a broader reflection on the tools themselves and their applications.
The Cost of Wage Rigidity
Authors: Faia Ester , Pezone Vincenzo
Published: February 2023

Private efficiency of wage rigidity has taken centre stage in economics. Measuring its effects has proven elusive for lack of actual wage data. Using a unique confidential labour contract-level dataset matched with firm-level high-frequency asset prices, we find robust evidence that firms’ stock prices and employment fluctuate more in response to monetary policy announcements, the higher the degree of wage rigidity. Hand-collected information on the periods across renegotiations of collective bargaining agreements allow us to construct an accurate and predetermined measure of wage rigidity. We find that the amplification induced by wage rigidity is stronger for firms with high labour intensity, low profitability, and a large share of workers with more rigid contracts.
Comparison of risks of cancer, infection, and MACEs associated with JAK inhibitor and TNF inhibitor treatment: a multicentre cohort study
Authors: Uchida Tomohisa , Iwamoto Naoki , Fukui Shoichi , Morimoto Shimpei , Aramaki Toshiyuki , Shomura Fumiko , Aratake Koichiro , Eguchi Katsumi , Ueki Yukitaka , Kawakami Atsushi
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The objective of this study was to compare the incidence rates (IRs) of infectious diseases, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and malignancies in RA patients treated with tofacitinib, baricitinib or a TNF inhibitor.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed the cases of 499 RA patients treated with tofacitinib (n = 192), baricitinib (n = 104), or a TNF inhibitor (n = 203). We determined the IRs of infectious diseases and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of malignancies and investigated factors related to infectious diseases. After adjusting the clinical characteristic imbalance by propensity score weighting, we compared the incidence of adverse events between the Janus kinase (JAK)-inhibitor and TNF-inhibitor groups.

Results

The observational period was 959.7 patient-years (PY), and the median observational period was 1.3 years. The IRs within the JAK-inhibitor treatment group were: serious infectious diseases other than herpes zoster (HZ), 8.36/100 PY; HZ, 13.00/100 PY. Multivariable Cox regression analyses revealed independent risk factors: the glucocorticoid dose in serious infectious diseases other than HZ, and older age in HZ. Two MACEs and 11 malignancies were identified in JAK-inhibitor–treated patients. The overall malignancy SIR was (non-significantly) higher than that of the general population (1.61/100 PY, 95% CI: 0.80, 2.88). The IR of HZ in the JAK-inhibitor–treated group was significantly higher than the TNF-inhibitor-treated group, but there were no significant differences in the IRs of other adverse events between the JAK-inhibitor–treated group and the TNF-inhibitor–treated group, or between the treatment groups of the two JAK inhibitors.

Conclusions

The infectious disease IR in RA was comparable between tofacitinib and baricitinib, but the IR for HZ in these treatment groups was high compared with that in the TNF inhibitor treatment group. The malignancy rate in the JAK-inhibitor-treated group was high but not significantly different from that of the general population or that of the TNF-inhibitor–treated group.
Chinese public university patents during 2006–20: a comprehensive investigation and comparative study
Authors: Zhang Lin , Qi Fan , Huang Ying , Van Looy Bart , Chen Lixin , Saritas Ozcan
Published: February 2023

Promoting growth in patent activity was an important stated goal of China’s Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Science and Technology Development (2006–20), and it was a successful one. By the end of this ambitious blueprint, China had witnessed enormous growth in the number of granted patents, especially those granted to public universities. This vital role played by universities in technology innovation justifies further research on the role of academia with respect to the development of technology. However, most studies on patenting by Chinese universities are limited in terms of research scale and context, and patent performance is seldom investigated in great detail. This study first presents an overall analysis of the utility patents granted to Chinese public universities (not utility model patents). Then, we compare the patent performance of two elite university groups: Project 985 universities in China and member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in the USA. Our results show that Chinese universities account for a high proportion of the total patents granted in China, and the number of patents granted to universities has grown rapidly in recent decades, making them a very substantial contributor to China’s innovation system. However, the value of patents did not improve as their counts surged. Compared to AAU universities, the technological and economic value of patents held by Project 985 universities is considerably lower, even for the top-patenting universities in China. These findings extend our understanding of technological innovation activity in China’s academic landscape and might inspire future policies toward patent quality and impact.
Direct foliar acquisition of desert dust phosphorus fertilizes forest trees despite reducing photosynthesis
Authors: Starr Maya , Klein Tamir , Gross Avner
Published: February 2023

Phosphorus (P) availability to forest trees is often limited by local soil conditions that increase its fixation to soil minerals. In certain regions, atmospheric-P inputs can compensate for low soil-P availability. Among atmospheric-P sources, desert dust is the most dominant. However, the effects of desert dust on P nutrition and its uptake mechanisms by forest trees are currently unknown. We hypothesized that forest trees that naturally grow on P-poor soils or soils with high soil-P fixation capacity can acquire P from desert dust deposited on their leaves via direct foliar uptake, bypassing the soil, thus promoting tree growth and productivity. We performed a controlled greenhouse experiment with three forest tree species: Palestine Oak (Quercus calliprinos) and Carob (Ceratonia siliqua), native to the NE edge of the Saharan desert, and Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius), native to the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, which is located on the western part of the trans-Atlantic Saharan dust route. To simulate natural dust deposition events, the trees had desert dust applied directly upon their foliage and were monitored for growth and final biomass, P levels, leaf surface pH and the rate of photosynthesis. The dust treatment increased the P concentration significantly by 33–37% in Ceratonia and Schinus trees. On the other hand, trees that received the dust displayed a 17–58% reduction in biomass, probably related to particle coverage of the leaf surface that inhibited photosynthesis by 17–30%. Overall, our findings show that direct P uptake from desert dust can be an alternative P uptake pathway for multiple tree species under P-deficient conditions, with implications for forest trees’ P economy.
Aureobasidium pullulans from the Fire Blight Biocontrol Product, Blossom Protect, Induces Host Resistance in Apple Flowers
Authors: Zeng Quan , Johnson Kenneth B. , Mukhtar Salma , Nason Sara , Huntley Regan , Millet Felicia , Yang Ching-Hong , Hassani M. Amine , Zuverza-Mena Nubia , Sundin George W.
Published: February 2023

Fire blight, caused by Erwinia amylovora, is a devastating disease of apple. Blossom Protect, a product that contains Aureobasidium pullulans as the active ingredient, is one of the most effective biological controls of fire blight. It has been postulated that the mode of action of A. pullulans is to compete against and antagonize epiphytic growth of E. amylovora on flowers, but recent studies have found that flowers treated with Blossom Protect harbored similar to or only slightly reduced E. amylovora populations compared with nontreated flowers. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that A. pullulans-mediated biocontrol of fire blight is the result of induced host resistance. We found that PR genes in the systemic acquired resistance pathway, but not genes in the induced systemic resistance pathway, were induced in hypanthial tissue of apple flowers after the Blossom Protect treatment. Additionally, the induction of PR gene expression was coupled with an increase of plant-derived salicylic acid in this tissue. After inoculation with E. amylovora, PR gene expression was suppressed in nontreated flowers, but in flowers pretreated with Blossom Protect, the heightened PR expression offset the immune repression caused by E. amylovora, and prevented infection. Temporal and spatial analysis of PR gene induction showed that induction of PR genes occurred 2 days after the Blossom Protect treatment, and required direct flower–yeast contact. Finally, we observed deterioration of the epidermal layer of the hypanthium in some of the Blossom Protect-treated flowers, suggesting that PR gene induction in flowers may be a result of pathogenesis by A. pullulans.
Aging and obesity prime the methylome and transcriptome of adipose stem cells for disease and dysfunction
Authors: Xie Shaojun , Choudhari Sulbha , Wu Chia‐Lung , Abramson Karen , Corcoran David , Gregory Simon G. , Thimmapuram Jyothi , Guilak Farshid , Little Dianne
Published: February 2023

The epigenome of stem cells occupies a critical interface between genes and environment, serving to regulate expression through modification by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We hypothesized that aging and obesity, which represent major risk factors for a variety of diseases, synergistically modify the epigenome of adult adipose stem cells (ASCs). Using integrated RNA‐ and targeted bisulfite‐sequencing in murine ASCs from lean and obese mice at 5‐ and 12‐months of age, we identified global DNA hypomethylation with either aging or obesity, and a synergistic effect of aging combined with obesity. The transcriptome of ASCs in lean mice was relatively stable to the effects of age, but this was not true in obese mice. Functional pathway analyses identified a subset of genes with critical roles in progenitors and in diseases of obesity and aging. Specifically, Mapt, Nr3c2, App, and Ctnnb1 emerged as potential hypomethylated upstream regulators in both aging and obesity (AL vs. YL and AO vs. YO), and App, Ctnnb1, Hipk2, Id2, and Tp53 exhibited additional effects of aging in obese animals. Furthermore, Foxo3 and Ccnd1 were potential hypermethylated upstream regulators of healthy aging (AL vs. YL), and of the effects of obesity in young animals (YO vs. YL), suggesting that these factors could play a role in accelerated aging with obesity. Finally, we identified candidate driver genes that appeared recurrently in all analyses and comparisons undertaken. Further mechanistic studies are needed to validate the roles of these genes capable of priming ASCs for dysfunction in aging‐ and obesity‐associated pathologies.
Occult diaphramatic injury in penetrating trauma: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Pothiawala Sohil
Published: February 2023

Diaphragmatic injuries in penetrating trauma are occult and may be easily missed. Common signs of diaphragmatic injury on computed tomography scan include discontinuous and/or dangling diaphragm sign, thickened diaphragm, organ herniation, collar sign, associated rib fracture, and contiguous injury on either side of the diaphragm. The detection of these signs varies based on the mechanism of injury, that is, penetrating versus blunt injury. Surgical management of an unstable patient with penetrating trauma and diaphragmatic injury is exploratory laparotomy, while laparoscopy is an alternate option in hemodynamically stable patients. A high level of suspicion is required to avoid missing this occult diagnosis and its associated complications.
Correlation between Glasgow Coma Scale with central venous pressure and near-infrared spectroscopy in patients with acquired brain injury in the intensive care unit of Adam Malik Hospital Medan
Authors: Wafie Galdy , Nasution Akhyar H. , Lubis Bastian
Published: February 2023

Background

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is caused by trauma or nontrauma to the brain after birth. Increased intracranial pressure in patients with traumatic or nontraumatic brain injury affects the cerebral perfusion pressure. After traumatic brain injury, there is an increase in air content in the brain and an increase in volume of blood flow to the brain, which can cause increased intracranial pressure, herniation of brain tissue, impaired cerebral perfusion, and brain damage. Most patients with traumatic brain injury die from uncontrolled increases in intracranial pressure. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring are also associated with cerebral perfusion. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and CVP and NIRS values in patients with ABI.

Methods

This prospective analytical study used a cross-sectional design to compare GCS scores with CVP and NIRS values in patients with traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Haji Adam Malik Hospital Medan. GCS, CVP, and NIRS descriptive data in patients with brain injury were presented in terms of mean and standard deviation if the data were normally distributed, or median (interquartile range) values if the data were not normally distributed. The relationship between GCS scores and CVP and NIRS values was assessed using the Pearson correlation test if the data were normally distributed, or the Spearman test if the data were not normally distributed.

Results

In this study, the mean GCS score and CVP values were 7.04 ± 2.69 and 5.63 ± 25.82 mmHg, respectively. The right tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) was 55.61% ± 18.72%, and the left StO2 was 57.57% ± 17.48% with normally distributed data. There was no correlation between GCS scores and CVP values (P = 0.829), and no correlation between moderate GCS scores and right and left StO2 (P = 0.343; P = 0.121); however, there was a significantly strong positive correlation between severe GCS scores and right and left StO2 (P = 0.028, r = 0.656; P = 0.005, r = 0.777).

Conclusion

There was no significant correlation between GCS scores and CVP values, and no correlation between moderate GCS scores and NIRS values; however, there was a significantly strong positive correlation between severe GCS scores and NIRS values in patients with ABI at the ICU of Haji Adam Malik Hospital Medan.
Structural genomic variants in thoracic aortic disease
Authors: Meester Josephina A.N. , Hebert Anne , Loeys Bart L.
Published: February 2023

Purpose of review

Structural genomic variants have emerged as a relevant cause for several disorders, including intellectual disability, neuropsychiatric disorders, cancer and congenital heart disease. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge about the involvement of structural genomic variants and, in particular, copy number variants in the development of thoracic aortic and aortic valve disease.

Recent findings

There is a growing interest in the identification of structural variants in aortopathy. Copy number variants identified in thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, bicuspid aortic valve related aortopathy, Williams-Beuren syndrome and Turner syndrome are discussed in detail. Most recently, the first inversion disrupting FBN1 has been reported as a cause for Marfan syndrome.

During the past 15 years, the knowledge on the role of copy number variants as a cause for aortopathy has grown significantly, which is partially due to the development of novel technologies including next-generation sequencing. Although copy number variants are now often investigated on a routine basis in diagnostic laboratories, more complex structural variants such as inversions, which require the use of whole genome sequencing, are still relatively new to the field of thoracic aortic and aortic valve disease.
LONG-TERM EVOLUTION OF MYOPIC RETINOSCHISIS WITH A DOME-SHAPED MACULA AND PREDICTORS OF PROGRESSION AND VISUAL PROGNOSIS
Authors: Shiwei Li  , Li Tingting , Long Da , Lu Bin , Chen Yan , Zhang Xueyan , Hu Jianyan , WU Qiang
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

To study the long-term natural course of myopic retinoschisis (MRS) with a dome-shaped macula (DSM) and to identify the factors affecting its development and visual prognosis.

Methods:

In this retrospective case series study, we followed 25 MRS eyes with a DSM and 68 MRS eyes without a DSM for at least two years and observed changes in optical coherence tomography morphologic features and best-corrected visual acuity.

Results:

During the mean follow-up of 48.3 ± 13.24 months, the difference in the rate of MRS progression between the DSM and non-DSM groups was not significant (P = 0.7462). In the DSM group, the patients whose MRS progressed were older and had a higher refractive error than those whose MRS was stable or improved (P = 0.0301 and 0.0166, respectively). The patients whose DSM was located in the central fovea had a significantly higher progression rate than those whose DSM was located in the parafovea (P = 0.0421). For all DSM eyes, BCVA did not decrease significantly in eyes with extrafoveal retinoschisis (P = 0.2500), patients whose best-corrected visual acuity decreased more than two lines had a greater central foveal thickness initially than those whose best-corrected visual acuity decreased less than two lines during the follow-up period (P = 0.0478).

Conclusion:

A DSM did not delay the progression of MRS. The development of MRS in DSM eyes was associated with age, myopic degree, and DSM location. A higher schisis cavity predicted visual deterioration, and a DSM protected visual function in extrafoveal MRS eyes during the follow-up period.
The Contribution of Viruses and Bacteria to Childhood Community-acquired Pneumonia: 11-Year Observational Study From Norway
Authors: Smyrnaios Anastasios , Risnes Kari , Krokstad Sidsel , Nordbø Svein Arne , Heimdal Inger , Christensen Andreas , Døllner Henrik
Published: February 2023

Background:

Viruses are associated with pediatric community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) but are also common in the upper airways of healthy children. We have determined the contribution of respiratory viruses and bacteria by comparing children with CAP and hospital controls.

Methods:

Children less than 16 years old with radiologically confirmed CAP (n = 715) were enrolled over an 11-year period. Children admitted for elective surgery during the same period served as controls (n = 673). Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for 20 respiratory pathogens by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction tests and cultivated for bacteria and viruses. We used logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios [aOR; 95% confidence intervals (CIs)], and estimated population-attributable fractions (95% CI).

Results:

At least 1 virus was detected in 85% of cases and 76% of controls, and greater than or equal to 1 bacterium was detected in 70% of cases and controls. The presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (aOR, 16.6; 95% CI: 9.81–28.2), human metapneumovirus (HMPV) (13.0; 6.17–27.5) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (27.7; 8.37–91.6) were most strongly associated with CAP. For RSV and HMPV, there were significant trends between lower cycle-threshold values indicating higher viral genomic loads, and higher aORs for CAP. The population-attributable fraction estimates of RSV, HMPV, human parainfluenza virus, influenza virus and M. pneumoniae were 33.3% (32.2–34.5), 11.2% (10.5–11.9), 3.7% (1.0–6.3), 2.3% (1.0–3.6) and 4.2% (4.1–4.4), respectively.

Conclusions:

RSV, HMPV and M. pneumoniae were most strongly related to pediatric CAP and accounted for half of all cases. There were positive trends between increasing viral genomic loads of RSV and HMPV, and higher odds for CAP.
QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus Performance in Children: A Narrative Review
Authors: Buonsenso Danilo , Seddon James A. , Esposito Susanna , Barcellini Lucia
Published: February 2023

This review summarizes studies evaluating the performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) test forMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) infection in children. Literature searching was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase (January 2017 to December 2021) and the terms “children” or “pediatric” and “IGRAs” or “QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus.” Selected studies (N = 14; 4646 subjects) enrolled children withMtbinfection, tuberculosis (TB) disease or healthy children with household TB contacts. Agreement between QFT-Plus and tuberculin skin test (TST) (kappa values) ranged from –0.201 (no agreement) to 0.83 (almost perfect agreement). Assay sensitivity of QFT-Plus (against reference standard of microbiologically confirmed TB disease) was 54.5%–87.3%, with no reported difference in children less than 5 versus greater than or equal to 5 years of age. In individuals less than or equal to 18 years of age, the rate of indeterminate results was 0%–33.3% (2.6% in children <2 years). IGRAs may overcome the limitations of TST in young, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin-vaccinated children.
Demographic Characteristics Influence Treatment Costs of Invasive Melanoma in Florida
Authors: Avila Francisco R. , Spaulding Aaron C. , Rinker Brian D. , Huayllani Maria T. , Boczar Daniel , Torres-Guzman Ricardo A. , Maita Karla C. , Ho Olivia A. , Forte Antonio J.
Published: February 2023

Background

Demographic characteristics are known to influence the treatment and outcomes of patients with invasive melanoma. Whether these characteristics influence treatment costs is unknown. We aimed to analyze whether patient demographics and tumor characteristics influence treatment costs for patients with invasive cutaneous melanoma in Florida.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study in which the Florida Inpatient and Outpatient Dataset of the Agency for Health Care Administration was analyzed for patients with a diagnosis of invasive melanoma between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018. Categorical variables were assessed using Pearson χ2 tests, and continuous variables were evaluated using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the association between patient demographics and total costs. All analyses were done using SAS 9.4 statistical software (SAS Institute, Inc).

Results

Multivariate analysis showed that sex (P < 0.001), hospital setting (P < 0.001), race/ethnicity (P < 0.01), patient region (P < 0.01), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score (P < 0.001), presence of metastasis (P < 0.01), total number of procedures (P < 0.001), and length of stay (P < 0.001) were correlated with the cost of treatment of invasive cutaneous melanoma. After stratification, the association between cost and race/ethnicity disappeared for inpatients but remained for Black patients in the outpatient setting (P < 0.001). The association between cost and patient residence regions also differed when the cohort was stratified.

Conclusions

Strategies addressing disparities in treatment cost of invasive melanoma should differ, depending on the hospital setting where the patient is being treated.
Transcutaneous and Direct Electrical Stimulation of Mouse Sciatic Nerve Accelerates Functional Recovery After Nerve Transection and Immediate Repair
Authors: Pion Anne-Marie , Roy Andrée-Anne , Ma Xiya , Beaumont Eric , Lin Jenny C.
Published: February 2023

Background

Electrical stimulation can accelerate peripheral nerve regeneration after injury and repair. Clinically, direct electrical stimulation (DES) may involve longer operating times, increasing risks of perioperative complications. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TCES) is a noninvasive alternative. In this study, we investigate how transcutaneous and DES compare for accelerating functional nerve recovery in a mouse sciatic nerve model.

Methods

Twenty-eight mice were divided into sham (n = 4), axotomy (n = 8), DES (n = 8), and TCES (n = 8) groups. After sciatic nerve transection and repair, the proximal nerve was subjected to DES or TCES at 20 Hz for 1 hour. Sciatic functional index was measured before the injury, and at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 by walking-track analysis. Electrophysiological measures were taken at week 12.

Results

Kinematic studies showed significant improvement from the 8th week to the 12th week for both electrical stimulation groups compared with the axotomy group (P < 0.05), with no difference between the electrical stimulation groups. At the 12th week, both DES and TCES groups had significantly faster average conduction velocity than the axotomy group.

Conclusions

Functional recovery was significantly better from 8 weeks onward in mice receiving either DES or TCES stimulation when compared with axotomy and repair alone. Transcutaneous electrical stimulation is a minimally invasive alternative treatment for accelerating functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury.
Heart Transplantation in Patients Less Than 18 Years of Age: Comparison of 2 Eras Over 36 Years and 323 Transplants at a Single Institution
Authors: Bleiweis Mark S , Fricker Frederick Jay , Upchurch Gilbert R , Peek Giles J , Stukov Yuriy , Gupta Dipankar , Shih Renata , Pietra Biagio , Sharaf Omar M , Jacobs Jeffrey P
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:

We reviewed our management strategy and outcome data for all 311 patients less than 18 years of age who underwent 323 heart transplants at our institution (1986 to 2022) in order to assess changes in patterns of practice and outcomes over time and to compare two consecutive eras: era 1 (154 heart transplants [1986 to 2010]) and era 2 (169 heart transplants [2011 to 2022]).

STUDY DESIGN:

Descriptive comparisons between the two eras were performed at the level of the heart transplant for all 323 transplants. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed at the level of the patient for all 311 patients, and log-rank tests were used to compare groups.

RESULTS:

Transplants in era 2 were younger (6.6 ± 6.5 years vs 8.7 ± 6.1 years, p = 0.003). More transplants in era 2 were in infants (37.9% vs 17.5%, p < 0.0001), had congenital heart disease (53.8% vs 39.0%, p < 0.010), had high panel reactive antibody (32.1% vs 11.9%, p < 0.0001), were ABO-incompatible (11.2% vs 0.6%, p < 0.0001), had prior sternotomy (69.2% vs 39.0%, p < 0.0001), had prior Norwood (17.8% vs 0%, p < 0.0001), had prior Fontan (13.6% vs 0%, p < 0.0001), and were in patients supported with a ventricular assist device at the time of heart transplant (33.7% vs 9.1%, p < 0.0001). Survival at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after transplant was as follows: era 1 = 82.4% (76.5 to 88.8), 76.9% (70.4 to 84.0), 70.7% (63.7 to 78.5), and 58.8% (51.3 to 67.4), respectively; era 2 = 90.3% (85.7 to 95.1), 85.4% (79.7 to 91.5), 83.0% (76.7 to 89.8), and 66.0% (49.0 to 88.8), respectively. Overall Kaplan-Meier survival in era 2 was better (log-rank p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients undergoing cardiac transplantation in the most recent era are higher risk but have better survival.