bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of solar PV surface temperature with dimpled fin cooling
Authors: Ibrahim M F , Misaran M S , Amaludin N A
Published: January 2022

A significant number of cooling technologies have been developed to maintain the PV module temperature within subscribed limits. This paper represents the simulation study of active cooling forced air convection with fins attached to the back of the solar panel using CFD SimScale software. It has been first carefully validated against experimental and numerical results available in the literature. The number of fins and the shape of perforated and dimpled in each fin were varied to compare cooling performance. Three types of fins were adapted into this simulation: traditional fins, circular, and triangle perforated/dimpled fins. The effect of solar irradiation and velocity inlet was also reviewed by applying the nominal operating condition from the experimental works. Results indicated that fin channels are a very effective cooling technique, which significantly reduces the average temperature of the PV cell, especially when increasing the number of fins from 20 to 26 fins. Also, the results show that the dimpled triangle fin had the highest average temperature drop with a percentage difference of 6% compared with the solar panel cooling with traditional fins.
Competitive effect between roughness and mask pattern on charging phenomena during plasma etching
Authors: ZHANG Peng , DAMBIRE Ruvarashe F
Published: January 2022

In the plasma etching process, the edge roughness and mask pattern usually play a significant role in the deformation of holes under the influence of the charging effect. The competitive effect between these two factors has been investigated, focusing on the surface charging in a hexagonal array, with various values of roughness parameters (amplitude (A) and wavelength (W)) and distances between holes (L). A series of classical particle dynamic simulations of surface charging, surface etching and profile evolution were used to investigate the effect of roughness and pattern on charging. This study showed that various roughness and patterns (represented by different values of L) can significantly influence surface distributions of the electric-field (E-field) and the etching rates on the mask surface. The simulations also showed that (1) the shape of the pattern array influences the mask hole profile during the etching process, i.e. a hexagonal array pattern tends to deform the profile of a circular mask hole into a hexagonal hole; (2) pattern roughness is aggravated during the etching process. These factors were found to be significant only at a small feature pitch and may be ignored at a large feature pitch. Possible mechanisms of these results during the etching process are discussed. This work sheds light on the ways to maintain pattern integrity and further improve the quality of the pattern transfer onto the substrate.
Influence of committed volunteers on helping behavior in emergency evacuations
Authors: Kwak Jaeyoung , Lees Michael H , Cai Wentong , Pourghaderi Ahmad Reza , Ong Marcus E H
Published: January 2022

We study how the presence of committed volunteers influences the collective helping behavior in emergency evacuation scenarios. In this study, committed volunteers do not change their decision to help injured persons, implying that other evacuees may adapt their helping behavior through strategic interactions. An evolutionary game theoretic model is developed which is then coupled to a pedestrian movement model to examine the collective helping behavior in evacuations. By systematically controlling the number of committed volunteers and payoff parameters, we have characterized and summarized various collective helping behaviors in phase diagrams. From our numerical simulations, we observe that the existence of committed volunteers can promote cooperation but adding additional committed volunteers is effective only above a minimum number of committed volunteers. This study also highlights that the evolution of collective helping behavior is strongly affected by the evacuation process.
Towards a reproducible interactome: semantic-based detection of redundancies to unify protein–protein interaction databases
Authors: Melkonian Marc , Juigné Camille , Dameron Olivier , Rabut Gwenaël , Becker Emmanuelle
Published: January 2022

Motivation

Information on protein–protein interactions is collected in numerous primary databases with their own curation process. Several meta-databases aggregate primary databases to provide more exhaustive datasets. In addition to exhaustivity, aggregation contributes to reliability by providing an overview of the various studies and detection methods supporting an interaction. However, interactions listed in different primary databases are partly redundant because some publications reporting protein–protein interactions have been curated by multiple primary databases. Mere aggregation can thus introduce a bias if these redundancies are not identified and eliminated. To overcome this bias, meta-databases rely on the Molecular Interaction ontology that describes interaction detection methods, but they do not fully take advantage of the ontology’s rich semantics, which leads to systematically overestimating interaction reproducibility.

Results

We propose a precise definition of explicit and implicit redundancy and show that both can be easily detected using Semantic Web technologies. We apply this process to a dataset from the Agile Protein Interactomes DataServer (APID) meta-database and show that while explicit redundancies were detected by the APID aggregation process, about 15% of APID entries are implicitly redundant and should not be taken into account when presenting confidence-related metrics. More than 90% of implicit redundancies result from the aggregation of distinct primary databases, whereas the remaining occurs between entries of a single database. Finally, we build a ‘reproducible interactome’ with interactions that have been reproduced by multiple methods or publications. The size of the reproducible interactome is drastically impacted by removing redundancies for both yeast (−59%) and human (−56%), and we show that this is largely due to implicit redundancies.

Availability and implementation

Software, data and results are available at https://gitlab.com/nnet56/reproducible-interactome, https://reproducible-interactome.genouest.org/, Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5595037) and NDEx (https://doi.org/10.18119/N94302 and https://doi.org/10.18119/N97S4D).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Incidence of Positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Polymerase Chain Reaction After Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination With up to 8 Months of Follow-up: Real-life Data From the Capital Region of Denmark
Authors: Heftdal Line Dam , Schultz Martin , Lange Theis , Knudsen Andreas Dehlbæk , Fogh Kamille , Hasselbalch Rasmus Bo , Linander Christine Borgen , Kallemose Thomas , Bundgaard Henning , Grønbæk Kirsten , Valentiner-Branth Palle , Iversen Kasper , Nielsen Susanne Dam
Published: January 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are implemented worldwide in efforts to curb the pandemic. This study investigates the risk of a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test following BNT162b2 vaccination in a large real-life population in Denmark.

Methods

Vaccination status and positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results from adults in the Capital Region of Denmark (n = 1 549 488) were obtained from national registries. PCR testing was free and widely available. The number of positive PCR tests per individual at risk was calculated as weekly rates. Time to positive PCR test was modelled using Kaplan-Meier methods and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox regression.

Results

A total of 1 119 574 individuals received the first dose of BNT162b2 and 1 088 879 received a second dose of BNT162b2. Individuals were followed up to 8.7 months after first dose (median: 5.5 months; interquartile ratio: 4.1–8.7). Rates of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection 2–4 months after the second dose were 0.21, 0.33, and 0.36 per 1000 individuals per week at risk for July, August, and September, respectively. Four or more months after the second dose, the rates were 0.56, 0.76, and 0.53 per 1000 individuals per week at risk for July, August, and September, respectively. HR of SARS-CoV-2 infection after the second dose was 0.2 (95% confidence interval, .05–.48; P = .001) for individuals with 8 months’ follow-up.

Conclusions

Individuals who received 2 doses of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine had a low risk of breakthrough infection after up to 8 months of follow-up. However, there was a tendency toward higher rates with longer follow-up.
Clinical Impact of the Refit CKD-EPI 2021 Creatinine-Based eGFR Equation
Authors: Meeusen Jeffrey W , Kasozi Ramla N , Larson Timothy S , Lieske John C
Published: January 2022

Background

The National Kidney Foundation recently endorsed the refit Chronic Kidney Disease Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using creatinine, age and sex [2021 eGFRCr(AS)] without a coefficient for race. We evaluated the impact of adopting the 2021 eGFRCr(AS) equation or a variation of the 2009 CKD-EPI eGFR equation without race [2009 CKD-EPI eGFRCr(ASR-NB)] compared to the original CKD-EPI eGFR [2009 eGFRCr(ASR)].

Methods

The studied population included patients with a clinically ordered iothalamate clearance (n = 33 889). Bias was assessed as the difference between measured and estimated GFR, P30 was defined as the percentage of estimates within 30% of measured GFR, and concordance was determined according to relevant clinical thresholds.

Results

Among Black patients, the median bias for 2009 eGFRCr(ASR), 2009 eGFRCr(ASR-NB), and 2021 eGFRCr(AS) was −1.32 mL min−1 (1.73 m2)−1 (95CI −2.46 to −0.26), −8.81 mL min−1 (1.73 m2)−1 (95CI −9.93 to −7.58), and −6.08 mL min−1 (1.73 m2)−1 (95CI −7.18 to −4.92), respectively. The median bias among non-Black patients was −0.15 m min−1 (1.73 m2)−1 (95CI −0.84 to −0.08) for 2021 eGFRcr(AS) compared to −3.09 mL min−1 (1.73 m2)−1 (95CI −3.17 to −3.03) for the 2009 eGFRCr(ASR). P30 and concordance were not significantly different in either racial group. The net reclassification improvement at a measured GFR <20 mL min−1 (1.73 m2)−1 was 6.4% (95CI 0.36 to 12.4) for Black patients and −5.1% (95CI −6.0 to −4.1) for non-Black patients using the 2021 eGFRCr(AS) equation.

Conclusions

Overall, the change in reported eGFR was minimal. However, these changes led to significant reclassification improvements at lower eGFR, which will indirectly improve equitable access to CKD resources.
Evaluation of Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Variants after Infection and Vaccination Using a Multiplexed Surrogate Virus Neutralization Test
Authors: Lynch Kara L , Zhou Shuxia , Kaul Ravi , Walker Roger , Wu Alan H
Published: January 2022

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has mutated and evolved since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic bringing into question the future effectiveness of current vaccines and antibody therapeutics. With evolution of the virus updated methods for the evaluation of the immune response in infected and vaccinated individuals are required to determine the durability of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Methods

We developed a multiplexed surrogate virus neutralization test (plex-sVNT) that simultaneously measures the ability of antibodies in serum to inhibit binding between angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and 7 SARS-CoV-2 trimeric spike protein variants, including wild type, B.1.1.7(α), B.1.351(β), P.1(γ), B.1.617.2(δ), B.1.617.1(κ), and B.1.429(ε). The assay was validated against a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT).

We evaluated 170 samples from 97 COVID-19 patients and 281 samples from 188 individuals that received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines.

Results

The plex-sVNT demonstrated >96% concordance with PRNT. Antibody neutralization activity was significantly reduced for all SARS-CoV-2 variants compared to wild type in both the infected and vaccinated cohorts. There was a decline in overall antibody neutralization activity, within both cohorts, out to 5 months post infection or vaccination, with the rate of decline being more significant for the vaccinated.

Conclusions

The plex-sVNT provides a correlative measure to PRNT and a convenient approach for evaluating antibody neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants is reduced compared to wild type and declines over the ensuing months after exposure or vaccination within each cohort, however it is still unknown what degree of neutralizing capacity is protective.
DDPD 1.0: a manually curated and standardized database of digital properties of approved drugs for drug-likeness evaluation and drug development
Authors: Li Qiang , Ma Shiyong , Zhang Xuelu , Zhai Zhaoyu , Zhou Lu , Tao Haodong , Wang Yachen , Pan Jianbo
Published: January 2022

Drug-likeness is a vital consideration when selecting compounds in the early stage of drug discovery. A series of drug-like properties are needed to predict the drug-likeness of a given compound and provide useful guidelines to increase the likelihood of converting lead compounds into drugs. Experimental physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic properties and maximum dosages of approved small-molecule drugs from multiple text-based unstructured data resources have been manually assembled, curated, further digitized and processed into structured data, which are deposited in the Database of Digital Properties of approved Drugs (DDPD). DDPD 1.0 contains 30 212 drug property entries, including 2250 approved drugs and 32 properties, in a standardized value/unit format. Moreover, two analysis tools are provided to examine the drug-likeness features of given molecules based on the collected property data of approved drugs. Additionally, three case studies are presented to demonstrate how users can utilize the database. We believe that this database will be a valuable resource for the drug discovery and development field.

Database URL: http://www.inbirg.com/ddpd
Interferon regulatory factor-5-dependent CD11c+ macrophages contribute to the formation of rupture–prone atherosclerotic plaques
Authors: Edsfeldt Andreas , Swart Maarten , Singh Pratibha , Dib Lea , Sun Jiangming , Cole Jennifer E , Park Inhye , Al-Sharify Dania , Persson Ana , Nitulescu Mihaela , Borges Patricia Das Neves , Kassiteridi Christina , Goddard Michael E , Lee Regent , Volkov Petr , Orho-Melander Marju , Maegdefessel Lars , Nilsson Jan , Udalova Irina , Goncalves Isabel , Monaco Claudia
Published: January 2022

Aims

Inflammation is a key factor in atherosclerosis. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF5) drives macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory state. We investigated the role of IRF5 in human atherosclerosis and plaque stability.

Methods and results

Bulk RNA sequencing from the Carotid Plaque Imaging Project biobank were used to mine associations between major macrophage associated genes and transcription factors and human symptomatic carotid disease. Immunohistochemistry, proximity extension assays, and Helios cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) were used for validation. The effect of IRF5 deficiency on carotid plaque phenotype and rupture in ApoE−/− mice was studied in an inducible model of plaque rupture. Interferon regulatory factor-5 and ITGAX/CD11c were identified as the macrophage associated genes with the strongest associations with symptomatic carotid disease. Expression of IRF5 and ITGAX/CD11c correlated with the vulnerability index, pro-inflammatory plaque cytokine levels, necrotic core area, and with each other. Macrophages were the predominant CD11c-expressing immune cells in the plaque by CyTOF and immunohistochemistry. Interferon regulatory factor-5 immunopositive areas were predominantly found within CD11c+ areas with a predilection for the shoulder region, the area of the human plaque most prone to rupture. Accordingly, an inducible plaque rupture model of ApoE−/−Irf5−/− mice had significantly lower frequencies of carotid plaque ruptures, smaller necrotic cores, and less CD11c+ macrophages than their IRF5-competent counterparts.

Conclusion

Using complementary evidence from data from human carotid endarterectomies and a murine model of inducible rupture of carotid artery plaque in IRF5-deficient mice, we demonstrate a mechanistic link between the pro-inflammatory transcription factor IRF5, macrophage phenotype, plaque inflammation, and its vulnerability to rupture.
Deep learning for forest inventory and planning: a critical review on the remote sensing approaches so far and prospects for further applications
Authors: Hamedianfar Alireza , Mohamedou Cheikh , Kangas Annika , Vauhkonen Jari
Published: January 2022

Data processing for forestry applications is challenged by the increasing availability of multi-source and multi-temporal data. The advancements of Deep Learning (DL) algorithms have made it a prominent family of methods for machine learning and artificial intelligence. This review determines the current state-of-the-art in using DL for solving forestry problems. Although DL has shown potential for various estimation tasks, the applications of DL to forestry are in their infancy. The main study line has related to comparing various Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures between each other and against more shallow machine learning techniques. The main asset of DL is the possibility to internally learn multi-scale features without an explicit feature extraction step, which many people typically perceive as a black box approach. According to a comprehensive literature review, we identified challenges related to (1) acquiring sufficient amounts of representative and labelled training data, (2) difficulties to select suitable DL architecture and hyperparameterization among many methodological choices and (3) susceptibility to overlearn the training data and consequent risks related to the generalizability of the predictions, which can however be reduced by proper choices on the above. We recognized possibilities in building time-series prediction strategies upon Recurrent Neural Network architectures and, more generally, re-thinking forestry applications in terms of components inherent to DL. Nevertheless, DL applications remain data-driven, in contrast to being based on causal reasoning, and currently lack many best practices of conventional forestry modelling approaches. The benefits of DL depend on the application, and the practitioners are advised to ex ante subject their requirements to operational data availability, for example. By this review, we contribute to the technical discussion about the prospects of DL for forestry and shed light on properties that require attention from the practitioners.
Patchy Distribution of GTPases of Immunity-Associated Proteins (GIMAP) within Cnidarians and Dinoflagellates Suggests a Complex Evolutionary History
Authors: Coelho Jenny C , Calhoun Ethan D , Calhoun Grant N , Poole Angela Z
Published: January 2022

GTPases of Immunity-Associated Proteins (GIMAP) are a group of small GTP-binding proteins found in a variety of organisms, including vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. These proteins are characterized by the highly conserved AIG1 domain, and in vertebrates, have been implicated in regulation of the immune system as well as apoptosis and autophagy, though their exact mechanism of action remains unclear. Recent work on cnidarian GIMAPs suggests a conserved role in immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy—three processes involved in coral bleaching, or the breakdown of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. Therefore, to further understand the evolution of GIMAPs in this group of organisms, the purpose of this study was to characterize GIMAP or GIMAP-like sequences utilizing publicly available genomic and transcriptomic data in species across the cnidarian phylogeny. The results revealed a patchy distribution of GIMAPs in cnidarians, with three distinct types referred to as L-GIMAP, S-GIMAP, and GIMAP-like. Additionally, GIMAPs were present in most dinoflagellate species and formed seven well-supported clades. Overall, these results elucidate the distribution of GIMAPs within two distantly related eukaryotic groups and represent the first in-depth investigation on the evolution of these proteins within both protists and basal metazoans.
Natural genetic variation as a tool for discovery in Caenorhabditis nematodes
Authors: Andersen Erik C , Rockman Matthew V
Published: January 2022

Over the last 20 years, studies of Caenorhabditis elegans natural diversity have demonstrated the power of quantitative genetic approaches to reveal the evolutionary, ecological, and genetic factors that shape traits. These studies complement the use of the laboratory-adapted strain N2 and enable additional discoveries not possible using only one genetic background. In this chapter, we describe how to perform quantitative genetic studies in Caenorhabditis, with an emphasis on C. elegans. These approaches use correlations between genotype and phenotype across populations of genetically diverse individuals to discover the genetic causes of phenotypic variation. We present methods that use linkage, near-isogenic lines, association, and bulk-segregant mapping, and we describe the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. The power of C. elegans quantitative genetic mapping is best shown in the ability to connect phenotypic differences to specific genes and variants. We will present methods to narrow genomic regions to candidate genes and then tests to identify the gene or variant involved in a quantitative trait. The same features that make C. elegans a preeminent experimental model animal contribute to its exceptional value as a tool to understand natural phenotypic variation.
The Biological Variability of Plasma Ceramides in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Ramos Paola , Jenkins Sarah M , Donato Leslie J , Hartman Stacy J , Saenger Amy , Baumann Nikola A , Block Darci R , Jaffe Allan S , Meeusen Jeffrey W
Published: January 2022

Background

Ceramides are bioactive lipid species that mediate numerous cell-signaling events. Elevated plasma ceramides concentration constitutes a risk factor for several pathologies. Multiple studies have affirmed the plasma concentrations of 4 specific ceramides (Cer16:0, Cer18:0, Cer24:0, and Cer24:1) can predict cardiovascular disease risk. Furthermore, these ceramides can be altered by many lipid-lowering therapies. Understanding the biological variability within an individual, and within a population, will further inform the clinical use of plasma ceramides as a biomarker. In this study, we aimed to define the intra- and interbiological variability of ceramides in a healthy reference population in a weekly and monthly manner.

Methods

Fasting plasma from 24 healthy adults was collected daily (5 days), weekly (4 weeks), and monthly (7 months). Ceramide concentrations were measured with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). For analysis, we used random-effects regression models to estimate variance components.

Results

The analytical variability was smaller compared to the biological variability overall. The greatest variation reported was between-subject variation for all ceramide species. The critical difference-reference change value (RCV) for within-subject variations monthly were 0.07 mcmol/L (Cer16:0), 0.04 mcmol/L (Cer18:0), 1.09 mcmol/L (Cer24:0), and 0.27 mcmol/L (Cer24:1). The index of individuality (IOI) of ceramides were 0.82 (Cer16:0), 0.96 (Cer18:0), 1.06 (Cer24:0), and 0.89 (Cer24:1). The most consistent ceramide species was Cer18:0 with the lowest within- and between-subject critical differences in weekly and monthly measurements.

Conclusions

Overall, this study demonstrates that the variability of ceramide concentrations at different time points is minimal within individuals, allowing a single draw to be sufficient at least in a yearly time frame.
Comparing Production and Efficacy of Cordyceps javanica With Cordyceps fumosorosea
Authors: Behle Robert W , Wu Shaohui , Toews Michael D , Duffield Kristin R , Shapiro-Ilan David I
Published: January 2022

A newly discovered entomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps javanica (Friedrichs & Bally) Samson & Hywel-Jones (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) strain Wf GA17 was compared with the commercial Cordyceps fumosorosea Wize (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) Apopka 97 strain for liquid-culture production, formulation, insecticidal efficacy, and storage stability under laboratory conditions. We compared culture media with carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratios of 10:1, 30:1, and 50:1 for these two isolates. A third strain, C. fumosorosea strain ARSEF 3581, had previously been optimized for liquid-culture production of blastospores at 10:1 C:N served as an added control. These seven cultures were processed by spray drying with skim milk powder, stored at 25oC to evaluate storage stability, and assayed for insecticidal activity against Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) neonates. Final blastospore concentrations were not significantly different among cultures, ranging from 4.47 to 9.88 × 108 spores/ml. Fungal biomass decreased and final glucose concentrations increased with increasing C:N ratios, indicating better fungal growth with higher nitrogen concentrations. Product yields from the spray dryer (grams per liter culture) increased with increased C:N ratios while spore concentrations decreased, ranging from 2.27 to 7.17 × 109 spores/g. There were no significant differences for insecticidal efficacy among the seven treatments. Spores produced in 10:1 C:N ratio media retained viability longer than spores produced in other media. Cost of ingredients decreased with increasing C:N ratios, such that the 30:1 media may yield the most economical product. The raw material cost needed for application was 1.4× greater for Wf GA17 compared with Apopka 97, a difference that could be erased by optimization of culture conditions.
Drought may be beneficial to the competitive advantage of Amaranthus spinosus
Authors: Yu Youli , Cheng Huiyuan , Wang Shu , Wei Mei , Wang Congyan , Du Daolin
Published: January 2022

Drought can affect the growth and soil enzyme activities of invasive alien plants (IAPs). It is imperative to evaluate the competitive advantage of IAPs compared with that of the native species and the activities of soil enzymes under drought. This study aimed to evaluate the competitive advantage of the IAP Amaranthus spinosus that originated from tropical America compared with the native Chinese species A. tricolor and the activities of soil enzymes under drought. A competitive co-culture of A. spinosus and A. tricolor was established using a planting basin experiment. The two species were treated with different levels of drought, i.e. (i) the control; (ii) a light level of drought and (iii) a heavy level of drought. The functional traits, osmotic adjustment and the activities of antioxidant enzymes of the two species, as well as soil pH and electrical conductivity, contents of soil microbial biomass carbon and the activities of soil enzymes were determined. The relative competition intensity and relative dominance of A. spinosus were greater than those of A. tricolor under drought. Drought may provide an advantage to the competitive advantage of A. spinosus. Soil water-soluble salt content and sucrose hydrolytic power of A. spinosus were greater than those of A. tricolor under drought. The ability of A. spinosus to grow in soil with higher levels of water-soluble salt contents and sucrose hydrolytic power under drought may aid in its acquisition and utilization of nutrients.
An Innovative Technique for Intraoperative Radiological Assessment of Pelvic and Spine Fractures in Austere Environment
Authors: Crego Vita Diana M , García Cañas Rafael , Rodríguez Moro Carlos , Prieto Vázquez María , Areta Jiménez Fco. Javier
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Managing pelvic and spine fractures in the austere environment can be challenging even for skilled orthopedic surgeons, largely due to the difficulty of radiological visualization of bone structures. We present a simple alternative to the metallic operating table by placing the patient on a spinal board that will allow for a better radiological assessment of these fractures.

Material and methods

A cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study was carried out in the period between 2015 and 2020. The study population was all patients with pelvic o spine fractures, managed surgically using a spinal board in the Spanish Role 2 or in the Spanish Role 4.

Results

Seven patients underwent surgery in total using a spinal board, pelvic fracture being the the main diagnosis (n = 6; 85.71%). The distribution of surgical procedures was as follows: percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (one case), external fixation of the pelvis (two cases), percutaneous screw fixation of the pelvis (two cases), and open reduction and internal fixation of the pelvis (two cases). The mean duration of surgical interventions was 52 minutes, and a successful reduction and synthesis of the fracture was obtained in all the patients, with no complications reported.

Conclusion

A spinal board can be a useful, simple, and effective device for the orthopedic surgeon in the deployed setting. The described technique is simple, fast, and efficient in getting a complete radiological assessment of complex regions such as the pelvis and the spine, facilitating the surgical management of these injuries
Mobilizing the U.S. Military’s TRICARE Program for Value-Based Care: A Report From the Defense Health Board
Authors: Schaettle Paul R , Kaplan Robert S , Lee Vivian S , Parkinson Michael D , Gorman Gregory H , Browne Michael-Anne
Published: January 2022

The U.S. Military Health System spends about $50 billion annually to provide care to 9.6 million active duty service members, retirees, and their families through its TRICARE health plans. TRICARE follows the predominant payment model in the USA—fee-for-service—although the Department of Defense (DoD) and Congress encourage and mandate a move toward alternative payment models—mainly, fee-for-value. For the next TRICARE contracts which will begin in 2023, the DoD asked its health-focused federal advisory committee, the Defense Health Board (DHB), to recommend how best to assess and prioritize leading value-based healthcare initiatives identified from private, public, and employer-based health plans. The November 2020 report, ‘Modernization of the TRICARE Benefit’, specifies a rubric to evaluate these value-based care initiatives not only in traditional measures of effectiveness but also in terms of the Defense Health Agency’s Quadruple Aim with its focus on readiness. The goal of TRICARE’s move toward value-based care is to leverage its size and focus on prevention of disease and injury to maintain the readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces in addition to delivering great outcomes and value to the DoD’s nearly 10 million beneficiaries. The DHB emphasizes that TRICARE’s size and focus on providing quality care at lower cost will incentivize providers to participate in the shift toward value-based care despite the potential challenges in transitioning to this system. This shift also aims to motivate other large government and private payors to accelerate the adoption of value-based care through TRICARE’s example.
Piston Reconstruction Experiment (P-REx) – II. Off-line performance evaluation with VLTI/GRAVITY
Authors: Perera Saavidra , Pott Jörg-Uwe , Woillez Julien , Kulas Martin , Brandner Wolfgang , Lacour Sylvestre , Widmann Felix
Published: January 2022

For sensitive optical interferometry, it is crucial to control the evolution of the optical path difference (OPD) of the wavefront between the individual telescopes of the array. The OPD between a pair of telescopes is induced by differential optical properties such as atmospheric refraction, telescope alignment, etc. This has classically been measured using a fringe tracker that provides corrections to a piston actuator to account for this difference. An auxiliary method, known as the Piston Reconstruction Experiment (P-REx), has been developed to measure the OPD, or differential ‘piston’ of the wavefront, induced by the atmosphere at each telescope. Previously, this method was outlined and results obtained from Large Binocular Telescope adaptive optics data for a single telescope aperture were presented. P-REx has now been applied off-line to previously acquired Very Large Telescope Intereferometer (VLTI)’s GRAVITY Coudé Infrared Adaptive Optics wavefront sensing data to estimate the atmospheric OPD for the six baselines. Comparisons with the OPD obtained from the VLTI GRAVITY fringe tracker were made. The results indicate that the telescope and instrumental noise of the combined VLTI and GRAVITY systems dominates over the atmospheric turbulence contributions. However, good agreement between simulated and on-sky P-REx data indicates that if the telescope and instrumental noise was reduced to atmospheric piston noise levels, P-REx has the potential to reduce the OPD root mean square of piston turbulence by up to a factor of 10 for frequencies down to 1 Hz. In such conditions, P-REx will assist in pushing the sensitivity limits of optical fringe tracking with long baseline interferometers.
High-redshift quasars and their host galaxies – II. Multiphase gas and stellar kinematics
Authors: Lupi Alessandro , Volonteri Marta , Decarli Roberto , Bovino Stefano , Silk Joseph
Published: January 2022

Observations of z ≳ 6 quasars provide information on the early phases of the most massive black holes (MBHs) and galaxies. Current observations at sub-mm wavelengths trace cold and warm gases, and future observations will extend information to other gas phases and the stellar properties. The goal of this study is to examine the gas life cycle in a z ≳ 6 quasar: from accretion from the halo to the galaxy and all the way into the MBH, to how star formation and the MBH itself affect the gas properties. Using a very high resolution cosmological zoom-in simulation of a z = 7 quasar, including state-of-the-art non-equilibrium chemistry, MBH formation, growth, and feedback, we investigate the distribution of the different gas phases in the interstellar medium across cosmic time. We assess the morphological evolution of the quasar host using different tracers (star- or gas-based) and the thermodynamic distribution of the MBH accretion-driven outflows, finding that obscuration in the disc is mainly due to molecular gas, with the atomic component contributing at larger scales and/or above/below the disc plane. Moreover, our results also show that molecular outflows, if present, are more likely the result of gas being lifted near the MBH than production within the wind because of thermal instabilities. Finally, we also discuss how different gas phases can be employed to dynamically constrain the MBH mass, and argue that resolutions below ∼100 pc yield unreliable estimates because of the strong contribution of the nuclear stellar component to the potential at larger scales.
Secular evolution of resonant small bodies: semi-analytical approach for arbitrary eccentricities in the coplanar case
Authors: Pons Juan , Gallardo Tabaré
Published: January 2022

We study the secular evolution of a particle in deep mean motion resonance (MMR) with a planet in the planar elliptic restricted three body problem. We do not consider any restriction neither in the planet’s eccentricity ep nor in the particle’s eccentricity e. The methodology used is based on a semi-analytical model that consists on calculating the averaged resonant disturbing function numerically, assuming for this that in the resonant scale of time all the orbital elements of the particle are constant. In order to obtain the secular evolution inside the MMR, we make use of the adiabatic invariance principle, assuming a zero-amplitude resonant libration. We construct two-dimensional surfaces (called $\mathcal {H}$ surfaces) in the three-dimensional space (σ, e, ϖ) that allow us to predict the secular evolution of these three variables. The 2:1 MMR is used as example to show some results. We found four apsidal corotation resonance (ACR) families, two symmetric and two asymmetric. One of the symmetric families exists for almost any ep value. The other one for ep > 0.3 and the asymmetric ones for ep > 0.44. We corroborate the secular variations in e and ϖ predicted by the model through numerical integrations even when the initial conditions are displaced from those ACR. Some peculiar examples are presented for the 3:1 and 3:2 MMR showing large excursions in eccentricity. As an application, the Planet 9 is investigated as a possible responsible of high eccentric distant TNOs.
The complex globular cluster system of the S0 galaxy NGC 4382 in the outskirts of the Virgo Cluster
Authors: Escudero Carlos G , Cortesi Arianna , Faifer Favio R , Sesto Leandro A , Smith Castelli Analía V , Johnston Evelyn J , Reynaldi Victoria , Chies-Santos Ana L , Salinas Ricardo , Menéndez-Delmestre Karín , Gonçalves Thiago S , Grossi Marco , Mendes de Oliveira Claudia
Published: January 2022

NGC 4382 is a merger-remnant galaxy that has been classified as morphological type E2, S0, and even Sa. In this work, we performed a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the globular cluster (GC) system of this peculiar galaxy in order to provide additional information about its history. We used a combination of photometric data in different filters, and multiobject and long-slit spectroscopic data obtained using the Gemini/GMOS instrument. The photometric analysis of the GC system, using the Gaussian Mixture Model algorithm in the colour plane, reveals a complex colour distribution within Rgal < 5 arcmin (26.1 kpc), showing four different groups: the typical blue and red subpopulations, a group with intermediate colours, and the fourth group towards even redder colours. From the spectroscopic analysis of 47 GCs, confirmed members of NGC 4382 based on radial velocities, we verified 3 of the 4 photometric groups from the analysis of their stellar populations using the ULySS code. NGC 4382 presents the classic blue (10.4 ± 2.8 Gyr, [Fe/H] = −1.48 ± 0.18 dex), and red (12.1 ± 2.3 Gyr, [Fe/H] = −0.64 ± 0.26 dex) GCs formed earlier in the lifetime of the galaxy, and a third group of young GCs (2.2 ± 0.9 Gyr; [Fe/H] = −0.05 ± 0.28 dex). Finally, analysis of long-slit data of the galaxy reveals a luminosity-weighted mean age for the stellar population of ∼2.7 Gyr, and an increasing metallicity from [Fe/H] = −0.1 to +0.2 dex in Rgal < 10 arcsec (0.87 kpc). These values, and other morphological signatures in the galaxy, are in good agreement with the younger group of GCs, indicating a common origin as a result of a recent merger.
Self-consistent grain depletions and abundances I: the Orion Nebula as a test case
Authors: Gunasekera Chamani M , Ji Xihan , Chatzikos Marios , Yan Renbin , Ferland Gary
Published: January 2022

Atomic species in the interstellar medium transition out of their gas phase mainly by depletion on to dust. In this study, we examine if there is any change to the spectral-line ratio predictions from a photoionization model of the Orion H ii region when the degree of dust depletions is altered according to the most recently published model. We use equations and parameters published by previous works, in order to streamline the calculation of depleted abundances within cloudy. Our aim is for cloudy users to be able to vary the level of depletion using a single parameter in the input file. This makes it possible to explore predictions for a large range of depletions more efficiently. Finally, we discuss the results obtained for a model of the Orion Nebula when the degree of depletions are manipulated in this way. We found that the intensity of line ratios are significantly affected by depletions on to dust grains. Further, we found that adjusting dust abundances along with depletion affects the structure and the overall temperature of the H+ layer across the H ii region.
The DIVING3D survey – Deep Integral Field Spectrograph View of Nuclei of Galaxies – I. Definition and sample presentation
Authors: Steiner J E , Menezes R B , Ricci T V , da Silva Patrícia , Cid Fernandes R , Vale Asari N , Carvalho M S , May D , Coelho Paula R T , de Amorim A L
Published: January 2022

We present the Deep Integral Field Spectrograph View of Nuclei of Galaxies (DIVING3D) survey, a seeing-limited optical 3D spectroscopy study of the central regions of all 170 galaxies in the Southern hemisphere with B < 12.0 and |b| > 15○. Most of the observations were taken with the Integral Field Unit of the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph, at the Gemini South telescope, but some are also being taken with the Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR) Integral Field Spectrograph. The DIVING3D survey was designed for the study of nuclear emission-line properties, circumnuclear (within scales of hundreds of pc) emission-line properties, stellar and gas kinematics, and stellar archaeology. The data have a combination of high spatial and spectral resolution not matched by previous surveys and will result in significant contributions for studies related to, for example, the statistics of low-luminosity active galactic nuclei, the ionization mechanisms in low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions, and the nature of transition objects, among other topics.
AggMapNet: enhanced and explainable low-sample omics deep learning with feature-aggregated multi-channel networks
Authors: Shen Wan Xiang , Liu Yu , Chen Yan , Zeng Xian , Tan Ying , Jiang Yu Yang , Chen Yu Zong
Published: January 2022

Omics-based biomedical learning frequently relies on data of high-dimensions (up to thousands) and low-sample sizes (dozens to hundreds), which challenges efficient deep learning (DL) algorithms, particularly for low-sample omics investigations. Here, an unsupervised novel feature aggregation tool AggMap was developed to Aggregate and Map omics features into multi-channel 2D spatial-correlated image-like feature maps (Fmaps) based on their intrinsic correlations. AggMap exhibits strong feature reconstruction capabilities on a randomized benchmark dataset, outperforming existing methods. With AggMap multi-channel Fmaps as inputs, newly-developed multi-channel DL AggMapNet models outperformed the state-of-the-art machine learning models on 18 low-sample omics benchmark tasks. AggMapNet exhibited better robustness in learning noisy data and disease classification. The AggMapNet explainable module Simply-explainer identified key metabolites and proteins for COVID-19 detections and severity predictions. The unsupervised AggMap algorithm of good feature restructuring abilities combined with supervised explainable AggMapNet architecture establish a pipeline for enhanced learning and interpretability of low-sample omics data.
Spatial Clustering of Hookah Lounges, Vape Shops, and All Tobacco Retailers Near Colleges
Authors: Sun Dennis L , Schleicher Nina C , Recinos Amanda , Henriksen Lisa
Published: January 2022

Introduction

US college students smoke hookah and vape nicotine at higher rates than other young adults. Density and/or proximity of hookah lounges and vape shops near colleges has been described, but this study is the first to test whether tobacco retailers spatially cluster near college campuses.

Aims and Methods

We created and linked spatial shapefiles for community colleges and 4-year colleges in California with lists of hookah lounges, vape shops, and licensed tobacco retailers. We simulated 100 datasets, placing hookah lounges, vape shops, and tobacco retailers randomly in census tracts in proportion to population density. A modified version of Ripley’s K-function was computed using the radius (r) from each retailer within retail category.

Results

In 2018-2019, 50.5% of hookah lounges (n = 479), 42.5% of vape shops (n = 2467), and 42.0% of all tobacco retailers (n = 31 100) were located within 3 miles of a community college. Spatial clustering was significant (p < .05) from at least 0.4 miles for hookah lounges, 0.1 mile for vape shops, and 0.3 miles for all tobacco retailers. For 4-year colleges, approximately 46.8% of hookah lounges, 31.3% of vape shops, and 31.6% of all tobacco retailers were located within 3 miles. Clustering was significant from 0.2 miles for hookah lounges and 1.3 miles for all tobacco retailers but was not significant for vape shops.

Conclusions

Evidence that some types of tobacco retailers cluster near community colleges and 4-year colleges implies greater accessibility and exposure to advertising for students. It is also concerning because a higher probability of underage tobacco sales presumably exists near colleges.

Implications

Prior studies infer that hookah lounges and vape shops cluster near colleges from the density and closer proximity to campuses. This study modified a traditional test of spatial clustering and considered community colleges separately from 4-year universities. Spatial clustering of hookah lounges and all licensed tobacco retailers was evident near both types of campuses, but vape shops clustered only near community colleges. Place-based strategies to limit tobacco retail density could expand state and local laws that prohibit tobacco sales near schools to include retailers near college campuses. In addition, college environments should be a target for reducing hookah smoking and nicotine vaping.
Reduced diurnal activity and increased stopover duration by molting Swainson’s Thrushes
Authors: Morales Ana , Frei Barbara , Mitchell Greg W , Bégin-Marchand Camille , Elliott Kyle H
Published: January 2022

Migration consists of a sequence of small- to large-scale flights often separated by stopovers for refueling. Tradeoffs between minimizing migration time (more flights, shorter stopovers) and maximizing energy gain (fewer flights, longer stopovers) will affect overall migration timing. For example, some individuals make long-term stopovers in high-quality habitat that maximize energy gain (e.g., molt-migration), but movement to those habitats likely costs time. We used radio telemetry and blood plasma metabolite levels to examine physiological and behavioral tradeoffs between molt-migrant (birds molting at the molt stopover; n = 59) and post-molt (birds that presumably completed their molt elsewhere; n = 19) migrant Swainson’s Thrushes (Catharus ustulatus) near Montreal, Canada. Molt-migration was a large time investment as the average stopover duration for molt-migrants was of 47 ± 9 days (~13% of the entire annual cycle), almost twice as long as previously assumed from banding records, and far longer than stopovers of post-molting individuals (7 ± 2 days). Daily mortality rate during the molt stopover was similar to the average annual daily mortality rate. Molt-migrants’ circadian rhythms closely matched light levels, whereas post-molting birds had irregular rhythms and averaged 1 hr greater activity per day than molt-migrants. Despite being less active, molt-migrants had similar refueling rates based on metabolite profiles. As compared with migrants that completed molt earlier, molt-migrants at this stopover site had slower subsequent migration rates. Thus, birds using long-term stopovers appeared to tradeoff energy (efficient refueling) for time (slower subsequent migration).