bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deforestation scenarios show the importance of secondary forest for meeting Panama’s carbon goals
Authors: Hall Jefferson S. , Plisinski Joshua S. , Mladinich Stephanie K. , van Breugel Michiel , Lai Hao Ran , Asner Gregory P. , Walker Kendra , Thompson Jonathan R.
Published: January 2022

Context

Tropical forest loss has a major impact on climate change. Secondary forest growth has potential to mitigate these impacts, but uncertainty regarding future land use, remote sensing limitations, and carbon model accuracy have inhibited understanding the range of potential future carbon dynamics.

Objectives

We evaluated the effects of four scenarios on carbon stocks and sequestration in a mixed-use landscape based on Recent Trends (RT), Accelerated Deforestation (AD), Grow Only (GO), and Grow Everything (GE) scenarios.

Methods

Working in central Panama, we coupled a 1-ha resolution LiDAR derived carbon map with a locally derived secondary forest carbon accumulation model. We used Dinamica EGO 4.0.5 to spatially simulate forest loss across the landscape based on recent deforestation rates. We used local studies of belowground, woody debris, and liana carbon to estimate ecosystem scale carbon fluxes.

Results

Accounting for 58.6 percent of the forest in 2020, secondary forests (< 50 years) accrue 88.9 percent of carbon in the GO scenario by 2050. RT and AD scenarios lost 36,707 and 177,035 ha of forest respectively by 2030, a carbon gain of 7.7 million Mg C (RT) and loss of 2.9 million Mg C (AD). Growing forest on all available land (GE) could achieve 56 percent of Panama’s land-based carbon sequestration goal by 2050.

Conclusions

Our estimates of potential carbon storage demonstrate the important contribution of secondary forests to land-based carbon sequestration in central Panama. Protecting these forests will contribute significantly to meeting Panama’s climate change mitigation goals and enhance water security.
Examining the cohesiveness and nestedness entrepreneurial ecosystems: evidence from British FinTechs
Authors: Spigel Ben
Published: January 2022

It is not clear if entrepreneurial ecosystems are cohesive wholes within a region that support high-growth entrepreneurship across a variety of sectors or if ecosystems are made up of several, nested sectoral-specific sub-ecosystems. This debate speaks to larger disagreements about what entrepreneurial ecosystems are and how they work. This paper addresses this research gap by using a novel methodology based on career history data of founders and top management teams of high-growth FinTech ventures. This method is used to classify the backgrounds of 1,570 individuals in 380 British FinTech firms based on their prior job histories and employers into categories such as technology or finance. The paper finds substantial evidence of nestedness in the ecosystems, but rather than FinTech ecosystems being specialized finance or technology clusters, more generic forms of managerial know-how remain crucial to firm innovation and growth. This suggests that even very advanced ecosystems remain nested, with few cross-over points between different communities.
A novel amended nitrification inhibitor confers an enhanced suppression role in the nitrification of ammonium in soil
Authors: Guo Changqing , Wang Hongmei , Zou Dianbo , Wang Yue , Han Xiaori
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Nitrification inhibitor plays an important regulatory role in inhibiting the nitrification of ammonium in soils. However, most of nitrification inhibitors lack the sustainable effects in suppressing the nitrification of ammonium. In this study, a novel DMS nitrification inhibitor was prepared and tested to explore its lasting effect of nitrification suppression in black soil.

Materials and methods

Both culture experiments and field trial were performed in black soils. Three kinds of nitrification inhibitors (NIs), dicyandiamide (DCD) with low bioactivity, 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) with high bioactivity, and a novel 3,4-dimethylpyrazole sulfate zinc (DMS) with long half-life, were applied into soils, respectively, and the abundance changes of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were investigated; then, the accumulation changes of inorganic nitrogen, nitrogen use efficiency, and crop yields were furtherly evaluated.

Results and discussions

A novel DMS nitrification inhibitor with high activity and long half-life maintained a persistent effect of nitrification suppression, and remarkably increased the accumulation of ammonium nitrogen in soil, thus improving nitrogen use efficiency and crop yields. This study implies that lowering the nitrogen loss of nitrification-triggered in soil is of great importance for improving nitrogen use efficiency.

Conclusions

This study provided an insight into the sustainable nitrification suppression of a novel DMS nitrification inhibitor under excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer in black soils. Compared with improving the activity, reasonably prolonging the validity of nitrification inhibitors in soil is a more important strategy increasing the sustainable effects of nitrification inhibition, and the survival period of nitrification inhibitors in soil should be a crucial factor improving nitrogen use efficiency.
Transdisciplinary partnerships for sustainability: an evaluation guide
Authors: Plummer Ryan , Blythe Jessica , Gurney Georgina G. , Witkowski Samantha , Armitage Derek
Published: January 2022

Transdisciplinary research, in which academics and actors from outside the academy co-produce knowledge, is an important approach to address urgent sustainability challenges. Indeed, to meet these real-world challenges, governments, universities, development agencies, and civil society organizations have made substantial investments in transdisciplinary partnerships. Yet to date, our understanding of the performance, as well as impacts, of these partnerships for sustainability is limited. Here, we provide a guide to assess the performance and impacts of transdisciplinary partnerships for sustainability. We offer key steps to navigate and examine the partnership process for continuous improvement, and to understand how transdisciplinary partnership is contributing to sustainable futures.
Investigation on the effect of CuO nanoparticles on the IFT and wettability alteration at the presence of [C12mim][Cl] during enhanced oil recovery processes
Authors: Abbood Nabeel Kadhim , obeidavi Abdolrahman , Hosseini Seyednooroldin
Published: January 2022

In the current study, the effect of CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) at the presence of dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C12mim][Cl]) is investigated on the interfacial tension (IFT) reduction, wettability alteration, and even tertiary oil recovery. Since the prepared solutions with CuO-NPs are completely dark and it is impossible to measure the IFT of these solutions in the presence of crude oil using the pendant drop method (since one of the phases must be transparent for IFT measurement using the pendant drop method), n-heptane (representative of saturates) and toluene (representative of aromatics) are used only for IFT measurement of solutions prepared by CuO-NPs, while rest of the experiments are performed using crude oil. The obtained results reveal that CuO-NPs are not stable in the aqueous solution in the absence of surfactant which means fast precipitation of CuO-NPs and a high risk of pore plugging. In this way, the stability of CuO-NPs is investigated at the presence of dodecyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride ([C12mim][Cl]) as an effective surfactant for stabilizing the CuO-NPs in the aqueous solution (more than 1 month without precipitation using 1000 ppm of IL). Further measurements reveal that although the presence of IL in the aqueous solution can reduce the IFT of oil/aqueous solution system, especially for the aqueous solutions prepared by formation brine (0.65 mN.m−1), the presence of CuO-NPs has no considerable effect on the IFT. On the other hand, not only the contact angle (CA) measurements reveal the considerable effect of IL on the wettability alteration toward water-wet condition (68.3° for IL concentration of 1000 ppm) but also the addition of CuO-NPs can significantly boost the wettability alteration toward strongly water-wet condition (23.4° for the concentration of 1000 ppm of CuO-NPs). Finally, several core flooding experiments are performed using different combinations of chemicals to find the effect of these chemicals on the tertiary oil recovery factor. The results reveal that the presence of CuO-NPs can enhance the oil recovery of injected chemical slug (aqueous solution prepared by dissolution of IL with an oil recovery factor of 10.1% based on Original oil in place (OOIP)) to 13.8, %, 16.9%, and 21.2% based on OOIP if 500, 1000, 2000 ppm of CuO-NPs existed in the solution concomitant with 1000 ppm of [C12mim][Cl].
REFERENDUM: TRA LIBERALISMO E DEMOCRAZIA. ASSERZIONI DI VALORE E OSSERVAZIONI EMPIRICHE
Authors: Uleri Pier Vincenzo
Published: January 2022

Introduzione

«Avremo dunque il referendum? La democrazia moderna non può essere che democrazia rappresentativa. La sostanza viva della democrazia moderna […] non consiste nella diretta partecipazione di tutti i cittadini alla formazione delle decisioni politiche… La democrazia liberale non è solo la legge brutale della maggioranza, non è una risultante solo aritmetica […] La democrazia liberale contemporanea è dunque necessariamente democrazia rappresentativa. […] la storia delle dittature è ricca di plebisciti e di referendum, mentre le democrazie liberali hanno dovuto ripudiare il referendum, o ridurlo entro confini cautissimi. (la) nostra costituzione, ha accolto […] il referendum senza troppa cautela; e bisognerebbe essere ciechi per non vedere i tremendi pericoli insiti nel referendum abrogativo delle leggi. Ma comunque, lo ha accolto in subordine al sistema rappresentativo: a quel sistema rappresentativo che l'involuzione partitocratica ha privato di ogni concretezza. […] (il referendum) nelle presenti condizioni, lungi dal poter essere uno strumento di espressione popolare, sarà forse solo un'arma di più offerta alle potenti oligarchie partitiche» (Giuseppe Maranini, Corriere della Sera, 13 gennaio 1959) (Maranini 1963, 111–3).
LE VECCHIE NOVITÀ DELLA GLOBALIZZAZIONE
Authors: Cesa Marcq
Published: January 2022

Introduzione

Quando la diffusione di un termine si fa tanto ampia da permetterne un uso indiscriminato, sia nel linguaggio comune che, e soprattutto, in quello scientifico, è lecito sospettare che essa rifletta una vera e propria moda intellettuale, o poco più. Questo è certamente il caso della «globalizzazione». Nell'ultimo decennio, economisti, storici, sociologi e politologi hanno fatto a gara, a più riprese, e con grande dovizia di argomenti, a offrire una lettura «globalizzata» dei fenomeni di loro rispettiva competenza, spesso sottolineando un insieme di elementi di drastica rottura con un passato relativamente recente e insistendo, di conseguenza, su tutta una serie di novità epocali che la globalizzazione comporterebbe. Secondo molti, infatti, la globalizzazione ha stravolto i tradizionali punti di riferimento e reso obsoleti gli strumenti analitici in nostro possesso; è necessario dunque elaborarne di nuovi, pena l'impossibilità di rendere conto delle più importanti dinamiche politiche, economiche e sociali odierne. A queste opinioni si contrappongono quelle di coloro che, pur riconoscendo l'importanza di molte tendenze «globalizzanti» in atto, ne limitano più o meno decisamente la portata, sia da una prospettiva storica (abbiamo già assistito a processi simili) che da una analitica (concetti e teorie di cui già disponiamo possono essere di grande utilità anche nell'esame dei fenomeni detti «globali»).
I PARLAMENTARI DI FORZA ITALIA: UN GRUPPO A SOSTEGNO DI UNA LEADERSHIP?
Authors: Lanza Orazio , Piazza Gianni
Published: January 2022

Introduzione

Tra le molteplici ragioni che sollecitano uno studio del fenomeno Forza Italia, sono precipuamente due quelle da cui muove il nostro articolo. La prima è l'esigenza di fornire un contributo alla conoscenza di un fenomeno così nuovo ed originale da rendere complicato anche il semplice etichettamento. Come altrove, anche in campo politologico il termine più utilizzato per qualificare questo tipo di partito è stato quello di «azienda», che riassume il suo essere frutto di un originale e riuscito esperimento di trasferimento in campo politico di una struttura imprenditoriale e del suo leader. Ma non ne sono mancati altri altrettanto significativi. Nondimeno sembra ormai difficile parlare diflash partydopo otto anni di vita, dipartito aziendadopo l'allargamento del reticolo organizzativo, di semplicepartito carismaticodopo il parziale processo di istituzionalizzazione che negli anni è intervenuto (Poli 2001). Più utile ci sembra, riprendendo la terminologia proposta anni fa da Panebianco (1982), parlare di «partito elettoralista» (Gunther e Diamond 2002), ovvero di partito organizzativamente snello, le cui funzioni primarie sono la strutturazione del voto e la selezione dei candidati alle elezioni e, dunque, la conduzione della campagna elettorale attraverso tecniche moderne incentrate soprattutto sui mezzi di comunicazione di massa e sull'attrattiva personale dei candidati presentati, in particolare del suo leader.
NASCITA ED ISTITUZIONALIZZAZIONE DI UNA NUOVA DISCIPLINA. IL CASO DELL'INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY(IPE)1
Authors: Cobalti Antonio
Published: January 2022

Questo articolo si propone tre finalità. La prima e la più importante è presentare l'«evoluzione teorica» dell'Ipe, per usare un'espressione di Crane e Amawi (1997) che non implica un processo lineare e continuo. Inizialmente ispirato a Realismo, Liberalismo e Marxismo nelle Relazioni Internazionali, il dibattito ha via via acquistato caratteristiche proprie e si è collegato alle discussioni contemporanee sulle scienze sociali.
The differential activity of biological processes in tissues and cell subsets can illuminate disease-related processes and cell-type identities
Authors: Sharon Moran , Vinogradov Ekaterina , Argov Chanan M , Lazarescu Or , Zoabi Yazeed , Hekselman Idan , Yeger-Lotem Esti
Published: January 2022

Motivation

The distinct functionalities of human tissues and cell types underlie complex phenotype–genotype relationships, yet often remain elusive. Harnessing the multitude of bulk and single-cell human transcriptomes while focusing on processes can help reveal these distinct functionalities.

Results

The Tissue-Process Activity (TiPA) method aims to identify processes that are preferentially active or under-expressed in specific contexts, by comparing the expression levels of process genes between contexts. We tested TiPA on 1579 tissue-specific processes and bulk tissue transcriptomes, finding that it performed better than another method. Next, we used TiPA to ask whether the activity of certain processes could underlie the tissue-specific manifestation of 1233 hereditary diseases. We found that 21% of the disease-causing genes indeed participated in such processes, thereby illuminating their genotype–phenotype relationships. Lastly, we applied TiPA to single-cell transcriptomes of 108 human cell types, revealing that process activities often match cell-type identities and can thus aid annotation efforts. Hence, differential activity of processes can highlight the distinct functionality of tissues and cells in a robust and meaningful manner.

Availability and implementation

TiPA code is available in GitHub (https://github.com/moranshar/TiPA). In addition, all data are available as part of the Supplementary Material.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effect of a multi-domain lifestyle intervention on cardiovascular risk in older people: the FINGER trial
Authors: Lehtisalo Jenni , Rusanen Minna , Solomon Alina , Antikainen Riitta , Laatikainen Tiina , Peltonen Markku , Strandberg Timo , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Soininen Hilkka , Kivipelto Miia , Ngandu Tiia
Published: January 2022

Aims

Joint prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and dementia could reduce the burden of both conditions. The Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER) demonstrated a beneficial effect on cognition (primary outcome) and we assessed the effect of this lifestyle intervention on incident CVD (pre-specified secondary outcome).

Methods and results

FINGER enrolled 1259 individuals aged 60–77 years (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01041989). They were randomized (1:1) to a 2-year multi-domain intervention with diet, physical and cognitive activity, and vascular monitoring (n = 631), or general health advice (n = 628). National registries provided data on CVD including stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), or coronary heart event. During an average of 7.4 years, 229 participants (18%) had at least one CVD diagnosis: 107 in the intervention group and 122 in the control group. The incidence of cerebrovascular events was lower in the intervention than the control group: hazard ratio (HR) for combined stroke/TIA was 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51–0.99] after adjusting for background characteristics. Hazard ratio for coronary events was 0.84 (CI: 0.56–1.26) and total CVD events 0.80 (95% CI: 0.61–1.04). Among those with history of CVD (n = 145), the incidence of both total CVD events (HR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28–0.90) and stroke/TIA (HR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.20–0.81) was lower in the intervention than the control group.

Conclusion

A 2-year multi-domain lifestyle intervention among older adults was effective in preventing cerebrovascular events and also total CVD events among those who had history of CVD.
3-D synthetic modelling and observations of anisotropy effects on SS precursors: implications for mantle deformation in the transition zone
Authors: Huang Quancheng , Schmerr Nicholas C , Beghein Caroline , Waszek Lauren , Maguire Ross R
Published: January 2022

The Earth's mantle transition zone (MTZ) plays a key role in the thermal and compositional interactions between the upper and lower mantle. Seismic anisotropy provides useful information about mantle deformation and dynamics across the MTZ. However, seismic anisotropy in the MTZ is difficult to constrain from surface wave or shear wave splitting measurements. Here, we investigate the sensitivity to anisotropy of a body wave method, SS precursors, through 3-D synthetic modelling and apply it to real data. Our study shows that the SS precursors can distinguish the anisotropy originating from three depths: shallow upper mantle (80–220 km), deep upper mantle above 410 km, and MTZ (410–660 km). Synthetic resolution tests indicate that SS precursors can resolve $\ge $3 per cent azimuthal anisotropy where data have an average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR = 7) and sufficient azimuthal coverage. To investigate regional sensitivity, we apply the stacking and inversion methods to two densely sampled areas: the Japan subduction zone and a central Pacific region around the Hawaiian hotspot. We find evidence for significant VS anisotropy (15.3 ± 9.2 per cent) with a trench-perpendicular fast direction (93° ± 5°) in the MTZ near the Japan subduction zone. We attribute the azimuthal anisotropy to the grain-scale shape-preferred orientation of basaltic materials induced by the shear deformation within the subducting slab beneath NE China. In the central Pacific study region, there is a non-detection of MTZ anisotropy, although modelling suggests the data coverage should allow us to resolve at least 3 per cent anisotropy. Therefore, the Hawaiian mantle plume has not produced detectable azimuthal anisotropy in the MTZ.
Distributed sparse normal means estimation with sublinear communication
Authors: Amiraz Chen , Krauthgamer Robert , Nadler Boaz
Published: January 2022

We consider the problem of sparse normal means estimation in a distributed setting with communication constraints. We assume there are $M$ machines, each holding $d$-dimensional observations of a $K$-sparse vector $\boldsymbol \mu $ corrupted by additive Gaussian noise. The $M$ machines are connected in a star topology to a fusion center, whose goal is to estimate the vector $\boldsymbol \mu $ with a low communication budget. Previous works have shown that to achieve the centralized minimax rate for the $\ell _2$ risk, the total communication must be high—at least linear in the dimension $d$. This phenomenon occurs, however, at very weak signals. We show that at signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) that are sufficiently high—but not enough for recovery by any individual machine—the support of $\boldsymbol \mu $ can be correctly recovered with significantly less communication. Specifically, we present two algorithms for distributed estimation of a sparse mean vector corrupted by either Gaussian or sub-Gaussian noise. We then prove that above certain SNR thresholds, with high probability, these algorithms recover the correct support with total communication that is sublinear in the dimension $d$. Furthermore, the communication decreases exponentially as a function of signal strength. If in addition $KM\ll \tfrac{d}{\log d}$, then with an additional round of sublinear communication, our algorithms achieve the centralized rate for the $\ell _2$ risk. Finally, we present simulations that illustrate the performance of our algorithms in different parameter regimes.
Matrix orthogonality in the plane versus scalar orthogonality in a Riemann surface
Authors: Charlier Christophe
Published: January 2022

We consider a non-Hermitian matrix orthogonality on a contour in the complex plane. Given a diagonalizable and rational matrix valued weight, we show that the Christoffel–Darboux (CD) kernel, which is built in terms of matrix orthogonal polynomials, is equivalent to a scalar valued reproducing kernel of meromorphic functions in a Riemann surface. If this Riemann surface has genus $0$, then the matrix valued CD kernel is equivalent to a scalar reproducing kernel of polynomials in the plane. Interestingly, this scalar reproducing kernel is not necessarily a scalar CD kernel. As an application of our result, we show that the correlation kernel of certain doubly periodic lozenge tiling models admits a double contour integral representation involving only a scalar CD kernel. This simplifies a formula of Duits and Kuijlaars.
Serum Levels of Proinflammatory Lipid Mediators and Specialized Proresolving Molecules Are Increased in Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Correlate With Markers of the Adaptive Immune Response
Authors: Turnbull James , Jha Rakesh R , Ortori Catherine A , Lunt Eleanor , Tighe Patrick J , Irving William L , Gohir Sameer A , Kim Dong-Hyun , Valdes Ana M , Tarr Alexander W , Barrett David A , Chapman Victoria
Published: January 2022

Background

Specialized proresolution molecules (SPMs) halt the transition to chronic pathogenic inflammation. We aimed to quantify serum levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory bioactive lipids in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) patients, and to identify potential relationships with innate responses and clinical outcome.

Methods

Serum from 50 hospital admitted inpatients (22 female, 28 male) with confirmed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and 94 age- and sex-matched controls collected prior to the pandemic (SARS-CoV-2 negative), were processed for quantification of bioactive lipids and anti-nucleocapsid and anti-spike quantitative binding assays.

Results

SARS-CoV-2 serum had significantly higher concentrations of omega-6–derived proinflammatory lipids and omega-6– and omega-3–derived SPMs, compared to the age- and sex-matched SARS-CoV-2–negative group, which were not markedly altered by age or sex. There were significant positive correlations between SPMs, proinflammatory bioactive lipids, and anti-spike antibody binding. Levels of some SPMs were significantly higher in patients with an anti-spike antibody value >0.5. Levels of linoleic acid and 5,6-dihydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatrienoic acid were significantly lower in SARS-CoV-2 patients who died.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with increased levels of SPMs and other pro- and anti-inflammatory bioactive lipids, supporting the future investigation of the underlying enzymatic pathways, which may inform the development of novel treatments.
Scoliosis and spina bifida contributing to strangulation of a hiatus hernia: a case report
Authors: Shean Christopher , Balasooriya Janaka
Published: January 2022

Hiatus hernia is defined as a trans-diaphragmatic protrusion of the intra-abdominal contents through the oesophageal hiatus into the mediastinum. Surgical repair is indicated in symptomatic patients, with some patients presenting emergently with strangulation and ischaemia of hernial contents. In this situation, emergent decompression and surgical repair is indicated. Although it has been suggested previously that kyphoscoliosis may contribute to development and progression of hiatus hernia, there are no published reports of obstruction being caused by severe spinal deformity. A 67-year-old male patient with spina bifida and severe scoliosis who presented with an obstructed hiatus hernia is discussed here. Because of his obstruction, laparoscopic hiatus hernia repair and fundoplication was undertaken. The patient had an uncomplicated recovery following this. This case highlights the importance of providing definitive management to patients with difficult anatomy, which has caused their obstruction, as conservative management is unlikely to lead to an optimal outcome.
Coblation debulking of a paediatric laryngeal plexiform neurofibroma: a pragmatic response to a rare tumour
Authors: Schuster-Bruce James , Kelly Mairead , Bernic Ana , Brar Sabrina , Barber Joy , Modayil Prince
Published: January 2022

Laryngeal neurofibroma is a rare but important differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with stridor. In paediatric patients, these lesions present a management conundrum: complete surgical resection is the established treatment of choice, but an aggressive approach can be detrimental to developing anatomy. We report the case of a plexiform neurofibroma affecting the right hemilarynx of a 3-year-old boy. Endoscopy revealed a large tumour, involving the right aryepiglottic fold and extending into the piriform sinus, ventricle and the false cord. Given the patient’s young age and the challenging tumour location, the lesion was debulked, rather than resected, using coblation (low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation). At 30 months follow-up, the neurofibroma has mildly increased in size—in line with expectations that these lesions exhibit slow growth throughout childhood—but there are no significant respiratory symptoms and there is no functional impairment.
Unusual migration of cutaneous larva migrans
Authors: Kestenbaum Emily H , Schler David , Schwartz Eli
Published: January 2022

We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented with cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) of the breast after a trip to Long-Island, NY. The location of the rash is very unusual, and the region the patient was infected in NY is not known to be endemic forCLM.
Recent formation and likely cometary activity of near-Earth asteroid pair 2019 PR2–2019 QR6
Authors: Fatka Petr , Moskovitz Nicholas A , Pravec Petr , Micheli Marco , Devogèle Maxime , Gustafsson Annika , Kueny Jay , Skiff Brian , Kušnirák Peter , Christensen Eric , Ries Judit , Brucker Melissa , McMillan Robert , Larsen Jeffrey , Mastaler Ron , Bressi Terry
Published: January 2022

Asteroid pairs are genetically related asteroids that recently separated (<few million years), but still reside on similar heliocentric orbits. A few hundred of these systems have been identified, primarily in the asteroid main belt. Here, we studied a newly discovered pair of near-Earth objects (NEOs): 2019 PR2 and 2019 QR6. Based on broad-band photometry, we found these asteroids to be spectrally similar to D-types, a type rare amongst NEOs. We recovered astrometric observations for both asteroids from the Catalina Sky Survey from 2005, which significantly improved their fitted orbits. With these refinements we ran backwards orbital integrations to study formation and evolutionary history. We found that neither a pure gravitational model nor a model with the Yarkovsky effect could explain their current orbits. We thus implemented two models of comet-like non-gravitational forces based on water or CO sublimation. The first model assumed quasi-continuous, comet-like activity after separation, which suggested a formation time of the asteroid pair $300^{+120}_{-70}$ yr ago. The second model assumed short-term activity for up to one heliocentric orbit (∼13.9 yr) after separation, which suggested that the pair formed 272 ± 7 yr ago. Image stacks showed no activity for 2019 PR2 during its last perihelion passage. These results strongly argue for a common origin that makes these objects the youngest asteroid pair known to date. Questions remain regarding whether these objects derived from a parent comet or asteroid, and how activity may have evolved since their separation.
Addendum: Precision in high resolution absorption line modelling, analytic Voigt derivatives, and optimization methods
Authors: Lee Chung-Chi , Webb John K , Carswell Robert F
Published: January 2022

The parent paper to this Addendum describes the optimization theory on which vpfit, a non-linear least-squares program for modelling absorption spectra, is based. In that paper, we show that Voigt function derivatives can be calculated analytically using Taylor series expansions and look-up tables, for the specific case of one column density parameter for each absorption component. However, in many situations, modelling requires more complex parameterization, such as summed column densities over a whole absorption complex, or common pattern relative ion abundances. This Addendum provides those analytic derivatives.
Phase-resolved spectroscopy of a quasi-periodic oscillation in the black hole X-ray binary GRS 1915+105 with NICER and NuSTAR
Authors: Nathan Edward , Ingram Adam , Homan Jeroen , Huppenkothen Daniela , Uttley Phil , van der Klis Michiel , Motta Sara , Altamirano Diego , Middleton Matthew
Published: January 2022

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) are often present in the X-ray flux from accreting stellar-mass black holes (BHs). If they are due to relativistic (Lense–Thirring) precession of an inner accretion flow which is misaligned with the disc, the iron emission line caused by irradiation of the disc by the inner flow will rock systematically between red and blue shifted during each QPO cycle. Here, we conduct phase-resolved spectroscopy of an ∼2.2 Hz type-C QPO from the BH X-ray binary GRS 1915+105, observed simultaneously with NICER and NuSTAR. We apply a tomographic model in order to constrain the QPO phase-dependent illumination profile of the disc. We detect the predicted QPO phase-dependent shifts of the iron line centroid energy, with our best fit featuring an asymmetric illumination profile (>2σ confidence). The observed line energy shifts can alternatively be explained by the spiral density waves of the accretion-ejection instability model. However, we additionally measure a significant (>3σ) modulation in reflection fraction, strongly favouring a geometric QPO origin. We infer that the disc is misaligned with previously observed jet ejections, which is consistent with the model of a truncated disc with an inner precessing hot flow. However, our inferred disc inner radius is small (rin ∼ 1.4 GM/c2). For this disc inner radius, Lense–Thirring precession cannot reproduce the observed QPO frequency. In fact, this disc inner radius is incompatible with the predictions of all well-studied QPO models in the literature.
Estimation of gastric cancer burden attributable toHelicobacter pyloriinfection in Asia
Authors: Ji Xuanke , He Gui , Wang Kunyan , Zhang Yuehua , Yin Jingjing , Wang Kaijuan
Published: January 2022

Background

Helicobacter pylori causes large burden of gastric cancer (GC) in Asia. We aimed to comprehensively quantify the burden of GC attributable to H. pylori infection in Asia.

Methods

We searched related articles from January 1998 to December 2020 to obtain the prevalence and relative risks (or odds ratio) of GC associated with H. pylori in Asia. The burden of GC attributable to H. pylori infection was quantified by Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) and Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs).

Results

We quantified the burden of GC attributable to H. pylori infection with 415.6 thousand DALYs and 38.03% PAF through the five included Asian countries in 2019. The study found that the burden had obvious regional differences. The DALYs ranged from 298.9 thousand in China to 1.9 thousand in Malaysia, and the PAFs were between 58.00% in Japan and 30.89% in China. The average prevalence of H. pylori in the included general population was estimated to be 56.29%.

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori poses a huge disease burden of GC to the population, and its eradication should receive attention, especially in the countries with high incidence of and mortality due to GC.
Digital Microcertification: An Interprofessional Simulation Experience for Undergraduate Nursing and Medical Laboratory Students
Authors: Graham Leslie , Goulding Helene Marie , Chorney Dana , Coffey Sue
Published: January 2022

Badges of merit, or microcertification, have increased in popularity to acknowledge achievement of skills or proficiency in a profession-specific competency and incentivize the learning experience. Outcome criteria are rigorously established by an academic institution to preserve the integrity of the microcredential or badge. On the premise that a microcredential may be favored by future employers, stakeholder involvement in the microcredential process strategically enhances employer awareness. This article describes use of a simulation experience with nursing and medical laboratory science students to demonstrate competencies in interprofessional communication to achieve a digital microcredential.
Developing a Culture of Civility in Nursing Students
Authors: Abedini Zahra , Saeedi Maryam , Khalajinia Zohre , Ahmari Tehran Hoda
Published: January 2022

Incivility is a significant problem in nursing education. The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of culture management on incivility in nursing students. Nursing faculty and students participated in a quasi-experimental study. The program included the formation of a committee, development of codes of conduct, giving positive scores for civil behaviors, and setting a vision. Behavioral changes were assessed before and after the intervention. There were significant differences between the two groups for perceived level and occurrence rate of incivility (p < .05).
Outcome of Temporary Circulatory Support As a Bridge-to-Left Ventricular Assist Device Strategy in Cardiogenic Shock Patients
Authors: Bidaut Auriane , Flécher Erwan , Nesseler Nicolas , Bounader Karl , Vincentelli André , Moussa Mouhammed , Delmas Clément , Porterie Jean , Nubret Karine , Pernot Mathieu , Kindo Michel , Schneider Clément , Gaudard Philippe , Rouvière Philippe , Michel Magali , Sénage Thomas , Boignard Aude , Chavanon Olivier , Verdonk Constance , Para Marylou , Maille Baptiste , Gariboldi Vlad , Pozzi Matteo , Hugon-Vallet Elisabeth , Litzler Pierre-Yves , Anselme Frédéric , Blanchart Katrien , Babatasi Gerard , Bielefeld Marie , Grosjean Sandrine , Radu Costin , Hamon David , Bourguignon Thierry , Genet Thibaud , Eschalier Romain , D’Ostrevy Nicolas , Nougue Hélène , Martin Anne Cécile , Vanhuyse Fabrice , Blangy Hugues , Leclercq Christophe , Martins Raphael P. , Galand Vincent
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVES:

Temporary circulatory support (TCS) as a bridge-to-left ventricular assist device (BTL) in cardiogenic shock patients has been increasing, but limited data exists on this BTL strategy. We aimed at analyzing the outcome of BTL patients in a population of cardiogenic shock patients compared with those without TCS at the time of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery and identify predictors of postoperative mortality in this specific population.

DESIGN:

A multicenter retrospective observational study conducted in 19 centers from 2006 to 2016.

SETTING:

Nineteen French centers.

PATIENTS:

A total of 329 cardiogenic shock patients at the time of LVAD implantation were analyzed. Patients were divided in three groups: those under TCS at the time of LVAD implantation (n = 173), those with TCS removal before LVAD surgery (n = 24), and those who did not undergo a bridging strategy (n = 152). Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Among the BTL group, 68 (39.3%), 18 (10.4%), and 15 (8.7%) patients were under venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Impella, and IABP support alone, and 72 patients (20.6%) were under multiple TCS support. BTL patients presented similar 30 days survival compared with the TCS removal and non-BTL groups. However, BTL group had a significantly longer ICU duration stay, with two-fold duration of mechanical ventilation time, but the three groups experienced similar postoperative complications. Multivariate analysis identified three independent predictors of mortality in the BTL group: combined surgery with LVAD, body mass index (BMI), and heart failure (HF) duration. BTL strategy was not an independent predictor of mortality in cardiogenic shock patients who underwent LVAD.

CONCLUSIONS:

BTL strategy is not associated with a lower survival among cardiogenic shock patients with LVAD implantation. Predictors of mortality are combined surgery with LVAD, higher BMI, and HF duration.
Predictors of Preadolescent Children's Recreational Screen Time Duration During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: McArthur Brae Anne , Eirich Rachel , McDonald Sheila , Tough Suzanne , Madigan Sheri
Published: January 2022

Objective:

Research suggests that children's screen use during the COVID-19 pandemic has doubled. There is a need to understand factors associated with increased use to more adequately inform COVID-19 pandemic recovery efforts aimed at promoting healthy device habits. The objective of this multi-informant study of children aged 9 to 11 years was to examine whether duration of screen use during the COVID-19 pandemic was predicted by sociodemographic factors (e.g., child age and sex), COVID-19 pandemic family stressors, daily routines (e.g., sleep and physical activity), and device use factors (e.g., parent management strategies and content and context of use).

Methods:

Participants included 846 children (M = 9.85, SD = 0.78) and their mothers from the All Our Families cohort, Calgary, Canada. Mothers reported (May–July 2020) on child screen use and COVID-19 pandemic impacts (e.g., job/income loss and stress), and children self-reported (July–August 2020) on their screen use and daily routines (e.g., sleep, physical activity, and device-free activities).

Results:

Screen use during the COVID-19 pandemic was highest among male and minoritized children and families reporting high levels of stress. Children had lower durations of screen time when device limits were set by mothers. Children also had lower durations of screen time when they used screens to connect with others and when they engaged in higher levels of physical activity or device-free recreational activities.

Conclusion:

This study sheds light on children's screen use during the COVID-19 pandemic and supports the current screen use guidelines for school-aged children, suggesting that parents monitor use and foster high-quality screen use (e.g., coviewing or used for connection) and device-free recreational activities when possible.
One-year outcomes of the treat-and-extend regimen using aflibercept for the treatment of diabetic macular edema
Authors: Sheu Shwu-Jiuan , Yang Chang-Hao , Lai Chi-Chun , Wu Pei-Chang , Chen Shih-Jen
Published: January 2022

Background:

Optimal regimen using intravitreal aflibercept injections for diabetic macular edema (DME) in clinical practice remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a treat-and-extend (TAE) approach using intravitreal aflibercept in participants with center-involved DME.

Methods:

A 52-week open-label, prospective, multicenter, interventional study was conducted between August 2015 and November 2017 in Taiwan. Adults with diabetes mellitus and center-involved DME who have best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 73 to 24 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters and central retinal thickness (CRT) >300 μm were included. Participants received five monthly loading doses of 2 mg intravitreal aflibercept, followed by a TAE regimen with a four-week increment/decrement interval over 48 weeks; the maximum interval was 12 weeks. Main outcomes included changes in BCVA and CRT from baseline to week 52, additional anatomical outcomes, and treatment burden parameters.

Results:

Forty-five participants with mean (SD) age of 63.7 (8.3) years were analyzed. At baseline, mean (SD) BCVA and CRT were 58.3 (11.9) letters and 434.4 (116.8) μm, respectively. Changes from baseline in BCVA and CRT were +8.3 (9.3) letters and –138.2 (150.0) μm (both p < 0.001) at week 52, respectively. In addition, 22% (10/45) of patients gained ≥15 letters, 14% (6/44) of participants achieved ≥2-level improvement in diabetic retinopathy severity, and 51% (23/45) demonstrated dry retina at week 52 compared with 13% (6/45) at baseline. In total, 87% (39/45) of patients reached disease stability, entering TAE at week 20. Subsequently, 89% (40/45) of patients reached maximum interval at week 52. Mean (SD) number of injections was 7.7 (1.5) over a period of 52 weeks.

Conclusion:

This straightforward and practical TAE regimen using intravitreal aflibercept injections resulted in favorable clinical outcomes with minimal treatment burden for DME at week 52.
Electrocardiographic Findings in Professional Male Athletes
Authors: Raman Karanvir S. , Vyselaar John R.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To generate granular normative electrocardiogram (ECG) data and characterize the variation by ethnicity and sport played.

Design:

Cross-sectional study; ECGs were collected from preseason screening programs from 2012 to 2019 and interpreted in accordance with athlete-specific guidelines.

Setting:

Of the professional athletes based in Vancouver, the North Shore Heart Centre performs the annual preparticipation ECG screening.

Participants:

Seven hundred fifty-three professional male athletes competing in hockey, football, lacrosse, skiing, and snowboarding.

Interventions:

Independent variables include commonly transcribed electrocardiographic findings, for example, those indicating benign and pathologic findings.

Main outcome measures:

Prevalence of and variance in electrocardiographic findings by sport played and ethnicity.

Results:

Of the 753 athletes, 171 (22.3%) were National Hockey League, 358 (47.5%) were Canadian Football League, 163 (21.6%) were Major League Soccer and/or the Canadian National Soccer team, and 61 (8%) others. The most common finding, sinus bradycardia, was more likely in both soccer (P < 0.001) and hockey (P < 0.001) versus football players. Early repolarization (ER) was more likely in soccer players versus both hockey (P < 0.001) and football players (P = 0.001). Within football, Black athletes (BA) were more likely than White athletes to display ER (P = 0.009), left ventricular hypertrophy (P = 0.004), and nonspecific ST changes (P = 0.027).

Conclusion:

Our study contributes to the generation of normative data for ECG findings while accounting for ethnic and sport-specific variation. The expected clinical presentation of endurance athletes, including soccer players, and the possible predisposition of BA to develop distinct adaptations can augment clinical care by delineating physiology from pathologic changes.
COVID-19–Positive Testing in Minnesota High School Fall and Winter Sports: A Guide for Sports Risk
Authors: Roberts William O. , Stuart Michael J. , Lee Jason A. , Miner Michael H.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To assess the effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention strategies used during sports participation.

Design:

To analyze prospective reports of student-athletes with COVID-19–positive tests to assess prevention strategies and risk factors by sports and seasons.

Setting:

Minnesota high schools.

Participants:

Fall 2020 (August 24-October 30) and winter 2021 (January 2-March 12) student-athletes.

Assessment of Risk Factors:

Sports, indoor location, mask use, physical distancing, and season.

Main Outcome Measures:

COVID-19–positive test rates.

Methods:

Self-selected schools voluntarily reported, in 2-week intervals, the number of student-athletes with COVID-19–positive tests in each sport and the number of athletes participating in each sport during the fall and winter sports seasons. The positive testing rates per 100 000 athletes were calculated for participants in each sport and compared by sports type and risk variables.

Results:

The high school age community–positive testing rate was 1298 per 100 000 students in the fall and 2396 in the winter. The student-athlete positive testing rate was 1500 per 100 000 athletes during the fall and 2800 during the winter (χ2 = 1.98, df = 1, P = 0.350). Positive tests per 100 000 athletes ranged from 197 (girls alpine skiing) to 4151 (wrestling). The incidence rates comparing indoor with outdoor sports (P = 0.001) and close-contact with physically distanced sports (P = 0.023) were significantly different, but the incidence rates comparing indoor masked with unmasked sports (P = ns) were not different.

Conclusion:

Athletes competing in outdoor individual sports have less risk of a COVID-19–positive test compared with age-matched individuals in the community and indoor sports participants either wearing or not wearing masks during competition. Unmasked athletes in close proximity have the highest positive test rates, and unenforced masking is not associated with lower positive testing rates. More study is needed to understand mask effectiveness.
MILESTONE: More Than 1,200 Children Bridged to Heart Transplantation with Mechanical Circulatory Support
Authors: Thangappan Karthik , Zafar Farhan , Lorts Angela , Adachi Iki , Rosenthal David , Rossano Joseph , Maeda Katsuhide , Morales David L.S.
Published: January 2022

Pediatric mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has been successfully used to bridge numerous children to transplantation who otherwise would have been unlikely to survive on the waitlist and, in many cases, make them better transplant candidates. The purpose of this study was to analyze what the pediatric heart failure community has achieved over the last 15 years in reaching 1,200 cases of bridging children to heart transplantation. The United Network for Organ Sharing database was used to identify MCS patients ages 0–18 at the time of listing for heart transplantation between 2005 and 2019, divided into three eras: first (2005–2009), second (2010–2014), and third (2015–2019). From 2005 to 2019, 1,289 pediatric cases were identified. More patients were successfully bridged to transplantation with MCS in the third-era (28%) [vs. first-era (16%), second-era (24%), p ≤ 0.004]. The proportion of discharges on ventricular assist device has increased as well from 3% to 22% (p < 0.001). Post-transplant survival was significantly better in the third era (1-year survival: 96%; 3-year survival: 89%) compared to the two previous eras (p = 0.006). On MCS, renal dysfunction, ventilator dependence, inotrope use, and functional status improved from the time of listing to transplantation (p < 0.01). Hepatic dysfunction (p < 0.001), renal dysfunction (p = 0.004), congenital heart disease (p = 0.023), and infant age (p = 0.002) were risk factors for post-transplant mortality. Over the last 15 years, pediatric MCS has become an accepted and increasingly used strategy for bridging children to transplantation. MCS therapy is associated with improved end-organ function at the time of transplantation, perhaps contributing to the increasing post-transplantation survival of patients bridged with MCS.