bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On-sky measurements of atmospheric dispersion – I. Method validation
Authors: Wehbe B , Cabral A , Ávila G
Published: September 2020

Observations with ground-based telescopes are affected by differential atmospheric dispersion due to the wavelength-dependent index of refraction of the atmosphere. The usage of an atmospheric dispersion corrector (ADC) is fundamental to compensate this effect. Atmospheric dispersion correction residuals above the level of ∼100 milliarcseconds (mas) will affect astronomical observations, in particular radial velocity and flux losses. The design of an ADC is based on atmospheric models. To the best of our knowledge, those models have never been tested on-sky. In this paper, we present a new method to measure the atmospheric dispersion on-sky in the optical range. We require an accuracy better than 50 mas that is equal to the difference between atmospheric models. The method is based on the use of cross-dispersion spectrographs to determine the position of the centroid of the spatial profile at each wavelength of each spectral order. The method is validated using cross-dispersed spectroscopic data acquired with the slit spectrograph UVES. We measure an instrumental dispersion of $\rm 47 ~ mas$ in the blue arm, and 15 and 23 mas in the two ranges of the red arm. We also measure a 4  per cent deviation in the pixel scale from the value cited in UVES manual. The accuracy of the method is ∼17 mas in the range of 315–665 nm. At this level, we can compare and characterize different atmospheric dispersion models for better future ADC designs.
CHIMPS2: survey description and 12CO emission in the Galactic Centre
Authors: Eden D J , Moore T J T , Currie M J , Rigby A J , Rosolowsky E , Su Y , Kim Kee-Tae , Parsons H , Morata O , Chen H-R , Minamidani T , Park Geumsook , Ragan S E , Urquhart J S , Rani R , Tahani K , Billington S J , Deb S , Figura C , Fujiyoshi T , Joncas G , Liao L W , Liu T , Ma H , Tuan-Anh P , Yun Hyeong-Sik , Zhang S , Zhu M , Henshaw J D , Longmore S N , Kobayashi M I N , Thompson M A , Ao Y , Campbell-White J , Ching T-C , Chung E J , Duarte-Cabral A , Fich M , Gao Y , Graves S F , Jiang X-J , Kemper F , Kuan Y-J , Kwon W , Lee C W , Lee J-E , Liu M , Peñaloza C H , Peretto N , Phuong N T , Pineda J E , Plume R , Puspitaningrum E , Samal M R , Soam A , Sun Y , Tang X D , Traficante A , White G J , Yan C-H , Yang A Y , Yuan J , Yue N , Bemis A , Brunt C M , Chen Z , Cho J , Clark P C , Cyganowski C J , Friberg P , Fuller G A , Han I , Hoare M G , Izumi N , Kim H-J , Kim J , Kim S , Koch E W , Kuno N , Lacialle K M , Lai S-P , Lee H , Lee Y-H , Li D L , Liu S-Y , Mairs S , Pan Z , Qian L , Scicluna P , Shi C-S , Shi H , Srinivasan S , Tan Q-H , Thomas H S , Torii K , Trejo A , Umemoto T , Violino G , Wallström S , Wang B , Wu Y , Yuan L , Zhang C , Zhang M , Zhou C , Zhou J J
Published: September 2020

The latest generation of Galactic Plane surveys is enhancing our ability to study the effects of galactic environment upon the process of star formation. We present the first data from CO Heterodyne Inner Milky Way Plane Survey 2 (CHIMPS2). CHIMPS2 is a survey that will observe the Inner Galaxy, the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), and a section of the Outer Galaxy in 12CO, 13CO, and C18O $(J = 3\rightarrow 2)$ emission with the Heterodyne Array Receiver Program on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). The first CHIMPS2 data presented here are a first look towards the CMZ in 12CO J = 3 → 2 and cover ${-}3^{\circ }\, \le \, \ell \, \le \, 5^{\circ }$ and $\mid {b} \mid \, \le \, 0{_{.}^{\circ}} 5$ with angular resolution of 15 arcsec, velocity resolution of 1 km s−1, and rms $\Delta \, T_A ^\ast =$ 0.58 K at these resolutions. Such high-resolution observations of the CMZ will be a valuable data set for future studies, whilst complementing the existing Galactic Plane surveys, such as SEDIGISM, the ${Herschel}$ infrared Galactic Plane Survey, and ATLASGAL. In this paper, we discuss the survey plan, the current observations and data, as well as presenting position–position maps of the region. The position–velocity maps detect foreground spiral arms in both absorption and emission.
Removing imaging systematics from galaxy clustering measurements with Obiwan: application to the SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey emission-line galaxy sample
Authors: Kong Hui , Burleigh Kaylan J , Ross Ashley , Moustakas John , Chuang Chia-Hsun , Comparat Johan , de Mattia Arnaud , du Mas des Bourboux Hélion , Honscheid Klaus , Lin Sichen , Raichoor Anand , Rossi Graziano , Zhao Cheng
Published: September 2020

This work presents the application of a new tool, Obiwan, which uses image simulations to determine the selection function of a galaxy redshift survey and calculate three-dimensional (3D) clustering statistics. Obiwan relies on a forward model of the process by which images of the night sky are transformed into a 3D large-scale structure catalogue, and offers several advantages over more traditional map-based techniques – such as operating on individual exposures and adopting a maximum likelihood approach. The photometric pipeline automatically detects and models galaxies and then generates a catalogue of such galaxies with detailed information for each one of them, including their location, redshift, and so on. Systematic biases in the imaging data are therefore imparted into the catalogues and must be accounted for in any scientific analysis of their information content. Obiwan simulates this process for samples selected from the Legacy Surveys imaging data. This imaging data will be used to select target samples for the next-generation Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) experiment. Here, we apply Obiwan to a portion of the SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey emission-line galaxies (ELGs). Systematic biases in the data are clearly identified and removed. We compare the 3D clustering results to those obtained by the map-based approach applied to the complete eBOSS Data Release 16 (DR16) sample. We find the results are consistent, thereby validating the eBOSS DR16 ELG catalogues, which is used to obtain cosmological results.
Dissecting the turbulent weather driven by mechanical AGN feedback
Authors: Wittor D , Gaspari M
Published: September 2020

Turbulence in the intracluster, intragroup, and circumgalactic medium plays a crucial role in the self-regulated feeding and feedback loop of central supermassive black holes. We dissect the 3D turbulent ‘weather’ in a high-resolution Eulerian simulation of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback, shown to be consistent with multiple multiwavelength observables of massive galaxies. We carry out post-processing simulations of Lagrangian tracers to track the evolution of enstrophy, a proxy of turbulence, and its related sinks and sources. This allows us to isolate in depth the physical processes that determine the evolution of turbulence during the recurring strong and weak AGN feedback events, which repeat self-similarly over the Gyr evolution. We find that the evolution of enstrophy/turbulence in the gaseous halo is highly dynamic and variable over small temporal and spatial scales, similar to the chaotic weather processes on Earth. We observe major correlations between the enstrophy amplification and recurrent AGN activity, especially via its kinetic power. While advective and baroclinc motions are always subdominant, stretching motions are the key sources of the amplification of enstrophy, in particular along the jet/cocoon, while rarefactions decrease it throughout the bulk of the volume. This natural self-regulation is able to preserve, as ensemble, the typically observed subsonic turbulence during cosmic time, superposed by recurrent spikes via impulsive anisotropic AGN features (wide outflows, bubbles, cocoon shocks). This study facilitates the preparation and interpretation of the thermo-kinematical observations enabled by new revolutionary X-ray integral field unit telescopes, such as XRISM and Athena.
Leveraging HST with MUSE – I. Sodium abundance variations within the 2-Gyr-old cluster NGC 1978
Authors: Saracino S , Kamann S , Usher C , Bastian N , Martocchia S , Lardo C , Latour M , Cabrera-Ziri I , Dreizler S , Giesers B , Husser T-O , Kacharov N , Salaris M
Published: September 2020

Nearly all of the well-studied ancient globular clusters (GCs), in the Milky Way and in nearby galaxies, show star-to-star variations in specific elements (e.g. He, C, N, O, Na, and Al), known as ‘multiple populations’ (MPs). However, MPs are not restricted to ancient clusters, with massive clusters down to ∼2 Gyr showing signs of chemical variations. This suggests that young and old clusters share the same formation mechanism but most of the work to date on younger clusters has focused on N variations. Initial studies even suggested that younger clusters may not host spreads in other elements beyond N (e.g. Na), calling into question whether these abundance variations share the same origin as in the older GCs. In this work, we combine Hubble Space Telescope (HST) photometry with Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) spectroscopy of a large sample of red giant branch (RGB) stars (338) in the Large Magellanic Cloud cluster NGC 1978, the youngest globular to date with reported MPs in the form of N spreads. By combining the spectra of individual RGB stars into N-normal and N-enhanced samples, based on the ‘chromosome map’ derived from HST, we search for mean abundance variations. Based on the NaD line, we find a Na difference of Δ[Na/Fe] = 0.07 ± 0.01 between the populations. While this difference is smaller than typically found in ancient GCs (which may suggest a correlation with age), this result further confirms that the MP phenomenon is the same, regardless of cluster age and host galaxy. As such, these young clusters offer some of the strictest tests for theories on the origin of MPs.
Discovery of thermonuclear (Type I) X-ray bursts in the X-ray binary Swift J1858.6–0814 observed with NICER and NuSTAR
Authors: Buisson D J K , Altamirano D , Bult P , Mancuso G C , Güver T , Jaisawal G K , Hare J , Albayati A C , Arzoumanian Z , Castro Segura N , Chakrabarty D , Gandhi P , Guillot S , Homan J , Gendreau K C , Jiang J , Malacaria C , Miller J M , Özbey Arabacı M , Remillard R , Strohmayer T E , Tombesi F , Tomsick J A , Vincentelli F M , Walton D J
Published: September 2020

Swift J1858.6–0814 is a recently discovered X-ray binary notable for extremely strong variability (by factors of >100 in soft X-rays) in its discovery state. We present the detection of five thermonuclear (Type I) X-ray bursts from Swift J1858.6–0814, implying that the compact object in the system is a neutron star (NS). Some of the bursts show photospheric radius expansion, so their peak flux can be used to estimate the distance to the system. The peak luminosity, and hence distance, can depend on several system parameters; for the most likely values, a high inclination and a helium atmosphere, $D=12.8_{-0.6}^{+0.8}$ kpc, although systematic effects allow a conservative range of 9–18 kpc. Before one burst, we detect a QPO at 9.6 ± 0.5 mHz with a fractional rms amplitude of 2.2 ± 0.2 per cent (0.5–10 keV), likely due to marginally stable burning of helium; similar oscillations may be present before the other bursts but the light curves are not long enough to allow their detection. We also search for burst oscillations but do not detect any, with an upper limit in the best case of 15 per cent fractional amplitude (over 1–8 keV). Finally, we discuss the implications of the NS accretor and this distance on other inferences which have been made about the system. In particular, we find that Swift J1858.6–0814 was observed at super-Eddington luminosities at least during bright flares during the variable stage of its outburst.
Assessing cosmic acceleration with the Alcock–Paczyński effect in the SDSS-IV quasar catalogue
Authors: Melia Fulvio , Qin Jin , Zhang Tong-Jie
Published: September 2020

The geometry of the Universe may be probed using the Alcock–Paczyński (AP) effect, in which the observed redshift size of a spherical distribution of sources relative to its angular size varies according to the assumed cosmological model. Past applications of this effect have been limited, however, by a paucity of suitable sources and mitigating astrophysical factors, such as internal redshift-space distortions and poorly known source evolution. In this Letter, we introduce a new test based on the AP effect that avoids the use of spatially bound systems, relying instead on sub-samples of quasars at redshifts z ≲ 1.5 in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV, with a possible extension to higher redshifts and improved precision when this catalogue is expanded by upcoming surveys. We here use this method to probe the redshift-dependent expansion rate in three pertinent Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker cosmologies: Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM), which predicts a transition from deceleration to acceleration at z ∼ 0.7; Einstein–de Sitter, in which the Universe is always decelerating; and the Rh = ct universe, which expands at a constant rate. ΛCDM is consistent with these data, but Rh = ct is favoured overall.
Background for gravitational wave signal at LISA from refractive index of solar wind plasma
Authors: Smetana Adam
Published: September 2020

A strong indication is presented that the space-based gravitational antennas, in particular the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) concept introduced in 2017 in response to the ESA call for L3 mission concepts, are going to be sensitive to a strong background signal interfering with the prospected signal of gravitational waves. The false signal is due to variations in the electron number density of the solar wind, causing variations in the refractive index of plasma flowing through interplanetary space. As countermeasures, two solutions are proposed. The first solution is to deploy enough solar wind detectors to the LISA mission to allow for reliable knowledge of the solar wind background. The second solution is to equip the LISA interferometer with a second laser beam with a distinct wavelength to allow cancelling of the background solar wind signal from the interferometric data.
UV spectroscopy confirms SU Lyn to be a symbiotic star
Authors: Kumar Vipin , Srivastava Mudit K , Banerjee Dipankar P K , Joshi Vishal
Published: September 2020

SU Lyn, a star that ostensibly appears to be an unremarkable late M type giant, has recently been proposed to be a symbiotic star largely based on its hard X-ray properties. The star does not display, in low-resolution optical spectra, the high excitation lines typically seen in the spectra of symbiotic stars. In this work, ultraviolet (UV), optical, and near-infrared observations are presented, aimed at exploring and strengthening the proposed symbiotic classification for this star. Our far-UV 1300–1800 Å spectrum of SU Lyn, obtained with the ASTROSAT mission’s UVIT payload, shows emission lines of Si iv, C iv, O iii, and N iii in a spectrum typical of symbiotic stars. The UV spectrum robustly confirms SU Lyn’s symbiotic nature. The detection of high excitation lines in a high-resolution optical spectrum further consolidates its symbiotic nature. As is being recognized, the potential existence of other similar symbiotic systems could significantly impact the census of symbiotic stars in the Galaxy.
Racial, Ethnic, and Geographic Disparities in Novel Coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) Test Positivity in North Carolina
Authors: Turner Nicholas A , Pan William , Martinez-Bianchi Viviana S , Panayotti Gabriela M Maradiaga , Planey Arrianna M , Woods Christopher W , Lantos Paul M
Published: September 2020

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that black and Hispanic communities in the United States are disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A complex interplay of socioeconomic and healthcare disparities likely contribute to disproportionate COVID-19 risk.

Methods

We conducted a geospatial analysis to determine whether individual- and neighborhood-level attributes predict local odds of testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We analyzed 29 138 SARS-CoV-2 tests within the 6-county catchment area for Duke University Health System from March to June 2020. We used generalized additive models to analyze the spatial distribution of SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Adjusted models included individual-level age, gender, and race, as well as neighborhood-level Area Deprivation Index, population density, demographic composition, and household size.

Results

Our dataset included 27 099 negative and 2039 positive unique SARS-CoV-2 tests. The odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test were higher for males (odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% credible interval [CI], 1.30–1.58), blacks (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.27–1.70), and Hispanics (OR, 4.25; 955 CI, 3.55–5.12). Among neighborhood-level predictors, percentage of black population (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05–1.25), and percentage Hispanic population (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07–1.41) also influenced the odds of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Population density, average household size, and Area Deprivation Index were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 test results after adjusting for race.

Conclusions

The odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 were higher for both black and Hispanic individuals, as well as within neighborhoods with a higher proportion of black or Hispanic residents—confirming that black and Hispanic communities are disproportionately affected by SARS-CoV-2.
Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Electrolysis for Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gómez-Chiguano Guido F , Navarro-Santana Marcos J , Cleland Joshua A , Arias-Buría Jose L , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo
Published: September 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis alone or as an adjunct to other interventions on pain and pain-related disability for musculoskeletal pain conditions.

Databases and Data Treatment

Search of MEDLINE database, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, EMBASE database, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature database, EBSCO database, PubMed database, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cochrane Library database, Scopus database, and Web of Science database. Randomized controlled trials in which at least one group received ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis for treatment of musculoskeletal pain. To be eligible, studies had to include humans and collect outcomes on pain intensity and pain-related disability for musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane Guidelines and the quality of evidence was reported using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and random effects were calculated.

Results

Ten studies were included. The meta-analysis found that ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis reduced the mean pain intensity by –2.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], –2.69 to –1.42) and the pain intensity as assessed with a visual analog scale or a numeric pain rating scale with a large size effect (SMD = –1.15; 95% CI, –1.48 to –0.81) and also improved pain-related disability with a large size effect (SMD = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.73–1.18) as compared with comparison groups. No differences in effect sizes were found among the short-term, midterm, and long-term follow-ups. The risk of bias was generally low, but the heterogeneity of the overall result downgraded the evidence level. Trials included heterogeneous musculoskeletal pain conditions and short-term, midterm, and long-term follow-ups.

Conclusion

Moderate evidence suggests positive effects of ultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysis for pain and pain-related disability in musculoskeletal pain conditions relative to a comparison group in the short term, midterm, and long term.
An Interventional Pain Algorithm for the Treatment of Postmastectomy Pain Syndrome: A Single-Center Retrospective Review
Authors: Yang Ajax , Nadav Danielle , Legler Aron , Chen Grant H , Hingula Lee , Puttanniah Vinay , Gulati Amitabh
Published: September 2020

Objective

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy worldwide. Breast surgery and adjuvant oncological therapies are often required to increase survival. Treatment-related pain may persist and evolve into postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) in a significant subset of breast cancer survivors. In this retrospective investigation, we will present our experience in applying an interventional algorithmic approach to treat PMPS.

Design

A retrospective study.

Setting

An academic cancer hospital.

Subjects

Adult females with PMPS diagnosis.

Methods

We reviewed 169 records with the diagnosis of PMPS from 2015 to 2019 within our health system. Pre- and post-injection pain scores, relief duration, and medication usage changes were collected. The decision to perform each procedure was based on the anatomic location of the painful area with the corresponding peripheral sensory innervation. Decision-making flow diagrams were created to present our experience in managing PMPS beyond peripheral nerve blocks.

Results

Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block results (n=350) were analyzed. The mean baseline pain score was 7, compared with the post-treatment mean score of 3 (95% confidence interval: 3.58 to 3.98, P = 0.0001). Among the responders, the mean pain relief duration was 45 days, with a median of 84 days. Opioid medication consumption was reduced by 11% (t = 0.72, P = 0.47).

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks of this area could be performed safely and effectively after breast surgeries. We also present our proposed algorithm to provide a stepwise application for selecting the appropriate therapies in the management of more complex PMPS.
Police BWCs as ‘Neutral Observers’: Perceptions of public defenders
Authors: Gaub Janne E , Naoroz Carolyn , Malm Aili
Published: September 2020

The research on police body-worn cameras (BWCs) has rapidly expanded to evaluate the technology’s impact on a range of police outcomes. Far fewer studies have addressed the various effects on downstream criminal justice actors, and those that do have focused almost entirely on prosecutors. Thus, public defenders have remained on the periphery of the police BWC discussion, despite playing an important role as an end-user of the technology. This study draws on qualitative data from focus groups with public defenders in the Commonwealth of Virginia to discuss the perception of BWCs as neutral observers in a police–citizen encounter. We then provide implications and recommend avenues for future research.
Risk factors for herpes zoster in patients with rheumatic diseases: a nationwide cohort study in Korea
Authors: Ryu Hee Jung , Han Jin-Ok , Lee Sang Ah , Seo Mi Ryoung , Choi Hyo Jin , Ko Kwang-Pil , Baek Han Joo
Published: September 2020

Objective

To determine the risk factors for herpes zoster (HZ) in patients with rheumatic diseases in Korea.

Methods

We used the nationwide database of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service to analyse patients aged ≥20 years who had visited a hospital more than twice for rheumatic disease as a principal diagnosis from January 2009 to April 2013. HZ was identified using HZ-related Korean Standard Classification of Diseases 6 (KCD-6) codes and the prescription of antiviral agents. The relationship between demographics, comorbidities and medications and HZ risk was analysed by Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

HZ developed in 1869 patients. In Cox proportional hazards models, female sex but not age showed an increased adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for HZ. Comorbidities such as haematologic malignancies, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic lung and liver diseases led to an increased HR. HZ risk was higher in patients with SLE (HR: 4.29, 95% CI: 3.49, 5.27) and Behçet’s syndrome (BS, HR: 4.54; 95% CI: 3.66, 5.64) than with RA. The use of conventional DMARDs, immunosuppressants, TNF inhibitors, glucocorticoids and NSAIDs increased the HR. Infliximab and glucocorticoids (equivalent prednisolone dose >15 mg/day) produced the highest HZ risk (HR: 2.91, 95% CI: 1.72, 4.89; HR: 2.85, 95% CI: 2.15, 3.77, respectively).

Conclusion

Female sex, comorbidities and medications increased HZ risk in patients with rheumatic diseases and even young patients could develop HZ. Compared with RA, SLE and BS are stronger HZ risk factors. Patients with rheumatic diseases and these risk factors are potential target populations for HZ vaccination.
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Children: A Study of Contacts of Index Paediatric Cases in India
Authors: Gupta Nitin , Saravu Kavitha , Varma Muralidhar , PM Afsal , Shetty Seema , Umakanth Shashikiran
Published: September 2020

The susceptibility of children to coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and transmission of COVID-19 from children to others is a relatively unexplored area. The aim of this study was to understand the transmission dynamics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in children. This was a retrospective observational study where a total of 19 paediatric index cases (including a set of twins) with COVID-19 and 42 primary contacts (adults—36, paediatric—6) from the immediate family members were included. All the index cases and four of the five positive contacts were asymptomatic. Despite adults staying with positive children in the same vehicle, same room in the quarantine centre and the same ward, only four of the parents became positive.
Detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae by Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
Authors: Katoh Hiroshi , Yamazaki Shuichiro , Fukuda Takashi , Sonoda Shoji , Nishigawa Hisashi , Natsuaki Tomohide
Published: September 2020

We developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detecting Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, the causal agent of wilt in strawberry plants. This assay was based on genomic regions between the portions of transposable elements Han and Skippy of the fungus. The LAMP assay allowed the efficient detection of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae DNA by visual inspection, without requiring gel electrophoresis. The detection limit was 100 pg of genomic DNA, which is comparable to that of PCR. The LAMP primers successfully discriminated F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae strains from nonpathogenic F. oxysporum strains and other fungi. The LAMP assay at 63°C, which was found to be the optimal treatment temperature, for 1.5 h successfully detected F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae California strains GL1270 and GL1385. When the assay was performed using a Genelyzer FIII portable fluorometer, these California strains were successfully detected in 1 h. The assay facilitated the detection of conidia in soil samples after they were precultured on a selective medium for F. oxysporum (FoG2) as well as latent infection in strawberry plants after preculturing. The LAMP assay for visual inspection of DNA required only a heating block and an incubator, reducing the cost of this assay. Thus, it could be suitable for the detection of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae strains in centers that store prefoundation and foundation stocks of strawberry, including plant nurseries.
Susceptibility of Garden Plants to Phytophthora Root Rot
Authors: Beal Elizabeth J. , Waghorn Ian A. G. , Perry Joe N. , Clover Gerard R. G. , Cromey Matthew G.
Published: September 2020

Phytophthora root rot (PRR) is a serious disease of horticultural, forest, and ornamental plant species caused by species of the oomycete genus Phytophthora. Their wide host range makes the choice of resistant plants in the management of the disease difficult. We used the Royal Horticultural Society diagnostic dataset of PRR records from U.K. gardens to compare the susceptibility of different host genera to the disease. The dataset was compared with existing reports of plants recorded as notably resistant or notably susceptible to PRR. An index-based approach was used to separate 177 genera of woody plants into three categories: 85 were low index (<0.10: rarely affected), 34 were medium index (0.10 to 0.20: sometimes affected) and 58 were high index (>0.20: frequently affected). Similarly, genera of nonwoody plants were separated into: 45 low index (<0.22), 16 medium index (0.22 to 0.44), and 18 high index (>0.44). Taxus was the genus with the highest index, while most genera in the Malvales and Ericales were in the high-index group. Most genera in the Myrtales, Fabales, and Monocotyledons were low index. While 30 Phytophthora species were recorded in our study, the wide host range spp., P. plurivora, P. cryptogea, and P. cinnamomi, represented 63% of identifications. P. plurivora was the most common species on woody plants and P. cryptogea on nonwoody plants. These results provide confidence in the use of host resistance as part of the integrated management of PRR.
The Business Case for Magnet® in an International Hospital
Authors: February Tracy , Holmes Sandra
Published: September 2020

There is a growing interest outside the United States in obtaining Magnet® accreditation. King Fahad Specialist Hospital–Dammam became the 1st Ministry of Health hospital in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be recognized as a Magnet®-accredited institution. Understanding the return on investment of Magnet accreditation is important and speaks to the value of Magnet for international hospitals. Data from a peer hospital will aid nurse executives when presenting the business case for Magnet accreditation.
Christopher Hooley. 7 August 1928—13 December 2018
Authors: Heath-Brown D. R.
Published: September 2020

Christopher Hooley was one of the leading analytic number theorists of his day, world-wide. His early work on Artin’s conjecture for primitive roots remains the definitive investigation in the area. His greatest contribution, however, was the introduction of exponential sums into every corner of analytic number theory, bringing the power of Deligne’s ‘Riemann hypothesis’ for varieties over finite fields to bear throughout the subject. For many he was a figure who bridged the classical period of Hardy and Littlewood with the modern era. This biographical sketch describes how he succeeded in applying the latest tools to famous old problems.
Long non-coding RNA-polycomb intimate rendezvous
Authors: Cerase Andrea , Tartaglia Gian Gaetano
Published: September 2020

The interaction between polycomb-repressive complexes 1/2 (PRC1/2) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), such as the X inactive specific transcriptXistand the HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), has been the subject of intense debate. While cross-linking, immuno-precipitation and super-resolution microscopy argue against direct interaction of Polycomb with some lncRNAs, there is increasing evidence supporting the ability of both PRC1 and PRC2 to functionally associate with RNA. Recent data indicate that these interactions are in most cases spurious, but nonetheless crucial for a number of cellular activities. In this review, we suggest that while PRC1/2 recruitment byHOTAIRmight be direct, in the case ofXist, it might occur indirectly and, at least in part, through the process of liquid–liquid phase separation. We present recent models of lncRNA-mediated PRC1/2 recruitment to their targets and describe potential RNA-mediated roles in the three-dimensional organization of the nucleus.
Molecular and functional characterization of somatostatin-type signalling in a deuterostome invertebrate
Authors: Zhang Ya , Yañez Guerra Luis Alfonso , Egertová Michaela , Zampronio Cleidiane G. , Jones Alexandra M. , Elphick Maurice R.
Published: September 2020

Somatostatin (SS) and allatostatin-C (ASTC) are structurally and evolutionarily related neuropeptides that act as inhibitory regulators of physiological processes in mammals and insects, respectively. Here, we report the first molecular and functional characterization of SS/ASTC-type signalling in a deuterostome invertebrate—the starfish
Asterias rubens
(phylum Echinodermata). Two SS/ASTC-type precursors were identified in
A. rubens
(ArSSP1 and ArSSP2) and the structures of neuropeptides derived from these proteins (ArSS1 and ArSS2) were analysed using mass spectrometry. Pharmacological characterization of three cloned
A. rubens
SS/ASTC-type receptors (ArSSR1–3) revealed that ArSS2, but not ArSS1, acts as a ligand for all three receptors. Analysis of ArSS2 expression in
A. rubens
using mRNA
in situ
hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed stained cells/fibres in the central nervous system, the digestive system (e.g. cardiac stomach) and the body wall and its appendages (e.g. tube feet). Furthermore,
in vitro
pharmacological tests revealed that ArSS2 causes dose-dependent relaxation of tube foot and cardiac stomach preparations, while injection of ArSS2
in vivo
causes partial eversion of the cardiac stomach. Our findings provide new insights into the molecular evolution of SS/ASTC-type signalling in the animal kingdom and reveal an ancient role of SS-type neuropeptides as inhibitory regulators of muscle contractility.
Bradyrhizobium hipponense sp. nov., isolated from Lupinus angustifolius growing in the northern region of Tunisia
Authors: Rejili Mokhtar , Off Katja , Brachmann Andreas , Marín Macarena
Published: September 2020

Strain aSej3T was isolated from a root nodule of a Lupinus angustifolius plant growing in Bizerte, Tunisia. 16S rRNA gene analysis placed this strain within the genus

Bradyrhizobium

. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) including three housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB and recA) grouped aSej3T together with

Bradyrhizobium rifense

CTAW71T,

Bradyrhizobium cytisi

CTAW11T,

Bradyrhizobium ganzhouense

RITF806T,

Bradyrhizobium lupini

USDA 3051T and

Bradyrhizobium canariense

BTA-1T. MLSA with five housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) revealed that this strain shares less than 93.5 % nucleotide identity with other type strains. Genome sequencing and inspection revealed a genome size of 8.83 Mbp with a G+C content of 62.8 mol%. Genome-wide average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were below 87.5 and 36.2 %, respectively, when compared to described

Bradyrhizobium

species. Strain aSej3T nodulated L. angustifolius plants under axenic conditions and its nodC gene clustered within the genistearum symbiovar. Altogether, the phylogenetic data and the chemotaxonomic characteristics of this strain support that aSej3T represents a new species for which we propose the name Bradyrhizobium hipponense sp. nov. with the type strain aSej3T (=DSM 108913T=LMG 31020T).
Chronic Pain Patients Exhibit Individually Unique Cortical Signatures of Pain
Authors: Mayr Astrid , Jahn Pauline , Stankewitz Anne , Deak Bettina , Winkler Anderson , Witkovsky Viktor , Eren Ozan , Straube Andreas , Schulz Enrico
Published: September 2020

We investigated how the trajectory of pain patients’ ongoing and fluctuating pain is encoded in the brain. In repeated fMRI sessions, 20 chronic back pain patients and 20 chronic migraineurs were asked to continuously rate the intensity of their endogenous pain. Linear mixed effects models were used to disentangle cortical processes related to pain intensity and to pain intensity changes. We found that the intensity of pain in chronic back pain patients is encoded in the anterior insula, the frontal operculum, and the pons; the change of pain of chronic back pain and chronic migraine patients is mainly encoded in the anterior insula. At the individual level, we identified a more complex picture where each patient exhibited their own signature of endogenous pain encoding. The diversity of the individual cortical signatures of chronic pain encoding results adds to the understanding of chronic pain as a complex and multifaceted disease.
Explicit knowledge of task structure is the primary determinant of human model-based action
Authors: Castro-Rodrigues Pedro , Akam Thomas , Snorasson Ivar , Marta Camacho M , Paixão Vitor , Barahona-Corrêa J. Bernardo , Dayan Peter , Simpson H. Blair , Costa Rui M. , Oliveira-Maia Albino J.
Published: September 2020

Explicit information obtained through instruction profoundly shapes human choice behaviour. However, this has been studied in computationally simple tasks, and it is unknown how model-based and model-free systems, respectively generating goal-directed and habitual actions, are affected by the absence or presence of instructions. We assessed behaviour in a novel variant of a computationally more complex decision-making task, before and after providing information about task structure, both in healthy volunteers and individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive (OCD) or other disorders. Initial behaviour was model-free, with rewards directly reinforcing preceding actions. Model-based control, employing predictions of states resulting from each action, emerged with experience in a minority of subjects, and less in OCD. Providing task structure information strongly increased model-based control, similarly across all groups. Thus, explicit task structural knowledge determines human use of model-based reinforcement learning, and is most readily acquired from instruction rather than experience.
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin on presentation to rule out myocardial infarction: a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Anand Atul , Lee Kuan Ken , Chapman Andrew R. , Ferry Amy V. , Adamson Phil D. , Strachan Fiona E. , Berry Colin , Findlay Iain , Cruikshank Anne , Reid Alan , Collinson Paul O. , Apple Fred S. , McAllister David A. , Maguire Donogh , Fox Keith A.A. , Newby David E. , Tuck Chris , Harkess Ronald , Keerie Catriona , Weir Christopher J. , Parker Richard A. , Gray Alasdair , Shah Anoop S.V. , Mills Nicholas L.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays enable myocardial infarction to be ruled out earlier, but the efficacy and safety of this approach is uncertain. We investigated whether an early-rule out pathway is safe and effective for the management of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.

Design

A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Seven acute care hospitals in Scotland.

Participants

31,492 consecutive patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome between December 2014 to December 2016.

Intervention

Sites were randomised to implement an early rule-out pathway where myocardial infarction was ruled out if high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I concentrations were <5 ng/L at presentation. During a prior validation phase, myocardial infarction was ruled out where troponin concentrations were < 99th centile at 6-12 hours after symptom onset.

Main outcome measures

The co-primary outcome was length of stay (efficacy), and myocardial infarction or cardiac death after discharge at 30 days (safety). Patients were followed for 1 year to evaluate the safety outcome and other secondary outcomes.

Results

We enrolled 31,492 patients (59±17 years, 45% women) with troponin concentrations < 99th centile at presentation. The length of stay was reduced from 10.1±4.1 to 6.8±3.9 hours (adjusted geometric mean ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73 to 0.83, P< 0.001) following implementation, and the proportion of patients discharged increased from 50% to 71% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.59, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.75). Non-inferiority was not demonstrated for the 30-day safety outcome (upper limit of one-sided 95% CI for adjusted risk difference 0.70%, non-inferiority margin 0.50%, P = 0.068), but the observed differences favoured the early rule-out pathway (0.4% [57/14,700] versus 0.3% [56/16,792]). At 1 year, the safety outcome occurred in 2.7% (396/14,700) and 1.8% (307/16,792) of patients before and after implementation (aOR 1.02, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.40, P = 0.894), and there were no differences in hospital reattendance or all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Implementation of an early rule-out pathway for myocardial infarction reduced length of stay and hospital admission. Whilst non-inferiority for the safety outcome was not demonstrated at 30 days, there was no increase in cardiac events at 1 year. Adoption of this pathway will have major benefits for patients and healthcare providers.

Trial registration

http://ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03005158
Evaluation of Nanopore sequencing technology to differentiateSalmonellaserotypes and serotype variants with the same or closely related antigenic formulae
Authors: Xu Feng , Ge Chongtao , Li Shaoting , Tang Silin , Wu Xingwen , Luo Hao , Deng Xiangyu , Zhang Guangtao , Stevenson Abigail , Baker Robert C.
Published: September 2020

Our previous study demonstrated that whole genome sequencing (WGS) data generated by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) can be used for rapid and accurate prediction ofSalmnonellaserotypes. However, one limitation is that established methods for WGS-based serotype prediction cannot differentiate certain serotypes and serotype variants with the same or closely related antigenic formulae. This study aimed to evaluate Nanopore sequencing and corresponding data analysis for differentiation of these serotypes and serotype variants, thus overcoming this limitation. Five workflows that combined different flow cells, library construction methods and basecaller models were evaluated and compared. The workflow that consisted of the R9 flow cell, rapid sequencing library construction kit and guppy basecaller with base modified model performed best for Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis. With this workflow, as high as 99.98% matched the identity of the assembled genomes and only less than five high quality SNPs (hqSNPs) between ONT and Illumina sequencing data were achieved. SNP typing allowed differentiation of Choleraesuissensu stricto, Choleraesuis var. Kunzendorf, Choleraesuis var. Decatur, Paratyphi C, and Typhisuis that share the same antigenic formula 6,7:c:1,5. Prophage prediction further distinguished Orion var. 15+and Orion var. 15+, 34+. Our study improves the readiness of ONT as aSalmonellasubtyping and source tracking tool for food industry applications.

Highlights

Salmonellaserotypes or serotype variants with the same antigenic formula were differentiated by SNP typing.

Nanopore sequencing followed by phage prediction identified theSalmonellaserotype variants caused by phage conversion.

The latest ONT technology is capable of high fidelity SNP typing ofSalmonella.
Speech auditory-motor adaptation lacks an explicit component: reduced adaptation in adults who stutter reflects limitations in implicit sensorimotor learning
Authors: Kim Kwang S. , Max Ludo
Published: September 2020

The neural mechanisms underlying stuttering remain poorly understood. A large body of work has focused on sensorimotor integration difficulties in individuals who stutter, including recently the capacity for sensorimotorlearning. Typically, sensorimotor learning is assessed with adaptation paradigms in which one or more sensory feedback modalities are experimentally perturbed in real-time. Our own previous work on speech with perturbed auditory feedback revealed substantial auditory-motor learning limitations in both children and adults who stutter (AWS). It remains unknown, however, which sub-processes of sensorimotor learning are impaired. Indeed, new insights from research on upper-limb motor control indicate that sensorimotor learning involves at least two distinct components: (a) an explicit component that includes intentional strategy use and presumably is driven by target error, and (b) an implicit component that updates an internal model without awareness of the learner and presumably is driven by sensory prediction error. Here, we attempted to dissociate these components for speech auditory-motor learning in AWS vs. adults who do not stutter (AWNS). Our formant-shift auditory-motor adaptation results replicated previous findings that such sensorimotor learning is limited in AWS. Novel findings are that neither control nor stuttering participants reported any awareness of changing their productions in response to the auditory perturbation, and that neither group showed systematic drift in auditory target judgments made throughout the adaptation task. These results indicate that speech auditory-motor adaptation relies exclusively on implicit learning processes. Thus, limited adaptation in AWS reflects poor implicit sensorimotor learning.
Epigenetic clock and methylation studies in cats
Authors: Raj Ken , Szladovits Balazs , Haghani Amin , Zoller Joseph A. , Li Caesar Z. , Horvath Steve
Published: September 2020

Human DNA methylation profiles have been used successfully to develop highly accurate biomarkers of aging (“epigenetic clocks”). Although these human epigenetic clocks are not immediately applicable to all species of the animal kingdom, the principles underpinning them appear to be conserved even in animals that are evolutionarily far removed from humans. This is exemplified by recent development of epigenetic clocks for mice and other mammalian species. Here, we describe epigenetic clocks for the domestic cat (Felis catus), based on methylation profiles of CpGs with flanking DNA sequences that are highly conserved between multiple mammalian species. Methylation levels of these CpGs are measured using a custom-designed Infinium array (HorvathMammalMethylChip40). From these, we present 3 epigenetic clocks for cats; of which, one applies only to blood samples from cats, while the remaining two dual-species human-cat clocks apply both to cats and humans. As the rate of human epigenetic ageing is associated with a host of health conditions and pathologies, it is expected that these epigenetic clocks for cats would do likewise and possess the potential to be further developed for monitoring feline health as well as being used for identifying and validating anti-aging interventions.
Hmx gene conservation identifies the evolutionary origin of vertebrate cranial ganglia
Authors: Papdogiannis Vasileios , Parker Hugo J. , Pennati Alessandro , Patthey Cedric , Bronner Marianne E. , Shimeld Sebastian M.
Published: September 2020

The evolutionary origin of vertebrates included innovations in sensory processing associated with the acquisition of a predatory lifestyle1. Vertebrates perceive external stimuli through sensory systems serviced by cranial sensory ganglia (CSG) which develop from cranial placodes; however understanding the evolutionary origin of placodes and CSGs is hampered by the gulf between living lineages and difficulty in assigning homology between cell types and structures. Here we use the Hmx gene family to address this question. We show Hmx is a constitutive component of vertebrate CSG development and thatHmxin the tunicateCionais able to drive the differentiation program of Bipolar Tail Neurons (BTNs), cells previously thought neural crest homologs2,3. UsingCionaand lamprey transgenesis we demonstrate that a unique, tandemly duplicated enhancer pair regulated Hmx in the stem-vertebrate lineage. Strikingly, we also show robust vertebrate Hmx enhancer function inCiona, demonstrating that deep conservation of the upstream regulatory network spans the evolutionary origin of vertebrates. These experiments demonstrate regulatory and functional conservation betweenCionaand vertebrateHmx, and confirm BTNs as CSG homologs. Our analysis also identifies derived evolutionary changes, including a genetic basis for secondary simplicity inCionaand unique regulatory complexity in vertebrates.