bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia trachomatis Determined by Molecular Testing in Ocular Adnexa Lymphoma Specimens
Authors: Travaglino Antonio , Pace Mirella , Varricchio Silvia , Della Pepa Roberta , Iuliano Adriana , Picardi Marco , Pane Fabrizio , Staibano Stefania , Mascolo Massimo
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Chlamydia trachomatis in ocular adnexa lymphoma (OAL) determined by molecular testing in different countries and the potential association of Chlamydia infection with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) histotype by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched for studies assessing the presence of Chlamydia in OAL. Pooled prevalence of the three Chlamydia species was calculated in each country. An odds ratio was calculated for the association between Chlamydia and MALT histotype, with a significant P < .05.

Results

Thirty-seven studies with 1,188 OALs were included. Pooled prevalence of C psittaci, C pneumoniae, and C trachomatis by country was done. Chlamydia infection was significantly associated with MALT histotype (odds ratio, 2.183; P = .027).

Conclusions

The involvement of C psittaci in OAL is highly variable, with the highest prevalence in Italy and Korea. Chlamydia is associated with MALT histotype.
The Role of Pornography, Physical Symptoms, and Appearance in Labiaplasty Interest
Authors: Sorice-Virk Sarah , Li Alexander Y , Canales Francisco L , Furnas Heather J
Published: September 2019

Background

With the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reaffirming its 2007 opposition to labiaplasty in 2019, the procedure continues to be controversial. Particular emphasis on pornography as a major influencer on women seeking labiaplasty contributes to its controversy and distracts from other motivations. Few articles have established pornography’s influence relative to functional and appearance-related symptoms.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the relative influence of pornography on women’s decision to seek labiaplasty relative to other factors compared with a control cohort.

Methods

In this prospective study, 124 consecutive patients consulting about labiaplasty and a control cohort of 50 women were questioned about 11 labia-related symptoms and the possible influence of pornography.

Results

The mean age was 34.2 and 38.9 years in the labiaplasty and control cohorts, respectively. Women in the labiaplasty cohort had on average 2.8 of the 6 queried physical symptoms and 3.2 of the 5 queried appearance-related symptoms compared with control patients who reported an average of 0.3 of the 6 queried physical symptoms and 0.2 of the 5 queried appearance-related symptoms (P < 0.001). Less than one-half (47% of the labiaplasty and 42% of the control cohort) never viewed pornography. Pornography was not an influential factor to seek labiaplasty in 42% of the labiaplasty cohort and 54% of the control cohort. A minority (11% in the labiaplasty cohort and 4% in the control cohort) said that pornography influenced them to seek labiaplasty. There were no statistically significant differences between these 2 groups.

Conclusion

Pornography influences some women to seek labiaplasty, but relative to other motivating factors its role is minor.
Regularized calibrated estimation of propensity scores with model misspecification and high-dimensional data
Authors: Tan Z
Published: September 2019

Propensity scores are widely used with inverse probability weighting to estimate treatment effects in observational studies. We study calibrated estimation as an alternative to maximum likelihood estimation for fitting logistic propensity score models. We show that, with possible model misspecification, minimizing the expected calibration loss underlying the calibrated estimators involves reducing both the expected likelihood loss and a measure of relative errors between the limiting and true propensity scores, which governs the mean squared errors of inverse probability weighted estimators. Furthermore, we derive a regularized calibrated estimator by minimizing the calibration loss with a lasso penalty. We develop a Fisher scoring descent algorithm for computing the proposed estimator and provide a high-dimensional analysis of the resulting inverse probability weighted estimators, leveraging the control of relative errors of propensity scores for calibrated estimation. We present a simulation study and an empirical application to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed methods over maximum likelihood and its regularization. The methods are implemented in the R package RCAL.
Measurement errors in the binary instrumental variable model
Authors: Jiang Zhichao , Ding Peng
Published: September 2019

Instrumental variable methods can identify causal effects even when the treatment and outcome are confounded. We study the problem of imperfect measurements of the binary instrumental variable, treatment and outcome. We first consider nondifferential measurement errors, that is, the mismeasured variable does not depend on other variables given its true value. We show that the measurement error of the instrumental variable does not bias the estimate, that the measurement error of the treatment biases the estimate away from zero, and that the measurement error of the outcome biases the estimate toward zero. Moreover, we derive sharp bounds on the causal effects without additional assumptions. These bounds are informative because they exclude zero. We then consider differential measurement errors, and focus on sensitivity analyses in those settings.
Carpellary appendages in Nymphaea and Victoria (Nymphaeaceae): evidence of their role as osmophores based on morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure
Authors: Zini Lucía Melisa , Galati Beatriz Gloria , Gotelli Marina , Zarlavsky Gabriela , Ferrucci María Silvia
Published: September 2019

In flowers of Nymphaea and Victoria, carpellary appendages are regarded as structures related to pollination by deceit of night-blooming species. In this study, the anatomy, histochemistry and ultrastructure of carpellary appendages were analysed to investigate their possible role in the production of volatile compounds in nocturnal species Nymphaea amazonum, N. gardneriana, N. prolifera (Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis) and Victoria cruziana, and in diurnal species N. caerulea (Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras). Carpellary appendages were studied using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy from pre-anthesis to the second day of anthesis. Anatomical and ultrastructural features are characteristic of osmophores. In all species, the most frequent components in secretory cells are amyloplasts, lipid bodies, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and elaioplasts. The epidermis and multilayered parenchyma accumulate abundant starch grains and lipophilic substances, both of which vanish during anthesis. Amorphous substances are deposited between the plasmalemma and the outer cell wall of epidermal cells, and are then released by cuticular diffusion. Odour production in carpellary appendages might be an ancient role of primary importance both in diurnal and nocturnal species that are pollinated by deceit. Olfactory and visual cues of small carpellary appendages in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras correspond to bee pollination, and large carpellary appendages in subgenus Hydrocallis and Victoria represent parallel functional specializations of the flowers to the attraction and reward for exclusive beetle pollination.
Real-world Effectiveness of Advanced Therapies Among Patients With Moderate to Severe Ulcerative Colitis in the United States
Authors: Long Millie D , Smith Timothy W , Dibonaventura Marco , Gruben David , Bargo Danielle , Salese Leonardo , Quirk Daniel
Published: September 2019

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment aims to induce response and maintain steroid-free remission. For patients with moderate to severe UC and/or nonresponse to conventional treatment, advanced therapies (immunosuppressants and biologics) are available. We assessed real-world effectiveness of advanced UC therapies.

Methods

This retrospective analysis of claims data included adult patients with UC initiating immunosuppressant or biologic therapy, with 12 months’ continuous enrollment pre- and postinitiation. Patients had no prescription for biologic therapy (and/or immunosuppressant if initiating immunosuppressant) in the previous 12 months. Proportion of patients remaining steroid-free (excluding 14-week tapering period), hospitalizations, and costs in the 12 months postinitiation were assessed.

Results

In total, 3562 patients were included in the analysis. Most patients (83.0%) used steroids in the 12 months before initiating advanced therapy. Overall, 47.8% remained steroid-free after 12 months (excluding tapering). After adjusting for patient characteristics, remaining steroid-free was significantly more likely with infliximab (43.9%) than with adalimumab (39.4%; P < 0.05); golimumab (38.2%) and vedolizumab (41.4%) were not significantly different vs adalimumab. Overall, 12.2% of patients had a UC-related hospitalization within 12 months of initiation, with a mean (SD) total length of stay of 8.2 (8.9) days and no significant differences between biologic therapies. Mean, unadjusted, UC-related costs in the 12 months postinitiation were $42,579 and were similar between therapies.

Conclusions

Patients with UC initiating advanced therapy frequently continued using steroids for at least a year. Some patients experienced extended UC-related hospitalizations, with high UC-related costs overall. This suggests an ongoing challenge in managing patients with moderate to severe UC.
Utilization of Diagnostic Imaging and Ionization Radiation Exposure Among an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Inception Cohort
Authors: Nguyen Geoffrey C , Low Daniel , Chong Rachel Y , Diong Christina , Chawla Tanya
Published: September 2019

Background

Abdominal imaging is important in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We characterized utilization of imaging and exposure to ionizing radiation.

Methods

We enumerated abdominal diagnostic imaging in a population-based cohort of IBD patients between 1994 and 2016. Trends in utilization of abdominal computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound were characterized. Cumulative doses of ionizing radiation were compared between IBD patients and non-IBD controls and between Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Regression models were constructed to assess predictors of high ionizing radiation exposure.

Results

There were 72,933 incident cases of IBD. During the first 5 years of diagnosis, IBD patients were exposed to nearly 6-fold higher exposure to cumulative ionizing radiation attributable to abdominal imaging compared with non-IBD controls (18.6 mSv vs 2.9 mSv). Cumulative ionizing radiation exposure was higher in CD than UC (26.0 mSv vs 12.0 mSv; P < 0.001). Crohn’s disease patients were more than twice as likely as UC patients to exceed 50 mSv (15.6% vs 6.2%; P < 0.001) and 100 mSV (5.0% vs 2.1%; P < 0.001). There was geographic variation in ionizing radiation exposure, and individuals of lower income were more likely to have high exposure. Utilization of abdominal MRI has increased substantially, peaking between 2007 and 2012 and increasing annually at 34%, which coincided with an annual 2% decline in the use of abdominal CT.

Conclusions

Crohn’s disease patients are at highest risk for high exposure to ionizing radiation, with a subgroup receiving potentially harmful levels. Increasing utilization and access to abdominal MRI may alleviate exposure.
Alternative and Complementary Approaches for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Evidence From Cochrane Reviews
Authors: Chande Nilesh , Costello Samuel P , Limketkai Berkeley N , Parker Claire E , Nguyen Tran M , Macdonald John K , Feagan Brian G
Published: September 2019

The Cochrane IBD Group presented a symposium at Digestive Diseases Week 2018 entitled “Alternative and Complementary Approaches for the Treatment of IBD: Evidence from Cochrane Reviews.” This article summarizes the data presented at this symposium.
Solid fuels for cooking and tobacco use and risk of major chronic liver disease mortality: a prospective cohort study of 0.5 million Chinese adults
Authors: Chan Ka Hung , Bennett Derrick A , Kurmi Om P , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Lv Jun , Guo Yu , Bian Zheng , Yu Canqing , Chen Xiaofang , Dong Caixia , Li Liming , Chen Zhengming , Lam Kin Bong Hubert ,   on behalf of the China Kadoorie Biobank Study Group
Published: September 2019

Background

Harmful substances in solid fuel and tobacco smoke are believed to enter the bloodstream via inhalation and to be metabolized in the liver, leading to chronic liver damage. However, little is known about the independent and joint effects of solid fuel use and smoking on risks of chronic liver disease (CLD) mortality.

Methods

During 2004–08, ∼0.5 million adults aged 30–79 years were recruited from 10 areas across China. During a 10-year median follow-up, 2461 CLD deaths were recorded. Multivariable Cox regression yielded adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the individual associations of self-reported long-term cooking fuel and tobacco use with major CLD death.

Results

Overall, 49% reported solid fuel use and 26% smoked regularly. Long-term solid fuel use for cooking and current smoking were associated with higher risks of CLD deaths, with adjusted HRs of 1.26 (95% CI, 1.02–1.56) and 1.28 (1.13–1.44), respectively. Compared with never-smoking clean fuel users, the HRs were 1.41 (1.10–1.82) in never-smoking solid fuel users, 1.55 (1.17–2.06) in regular-smoking clean fuel users and 1.71 (1.32–2.20) in regular-smoking solid fuels users. Individuals who had switched from solid to clean fuels (1.07, 0.90–1.29; for median 14 years) and ex-regular smokers who stopped for non-medical reasons (1.16, 0.95–1.43; for median 10 years) had no evidence of excess risk of CLD deaths compared with clean fuel users and never-regular smokers, respectively.

Conclusions

Among Chinese adults, long-term solid fuel use for cooking and smoking were each independently associated with higher risks of CLD deaths. Individuals who had stopped using solid fuels or smoking had lower risks.
Effects of Carrion Relocation on the Succession of Newly Arriving Adult Necrophilous Insects
Authors: Cruise Angela , Kakumanu Madhavi L , Watson David W , Schal Coby
Published: September 2019

Ecological succession of necrophilous insects follows a predictable sequence, related to their differential attraction to changing odor profiles associated with carrion and colonizing insects. However, the dependency of insect arrival on the duration of the carrion’s residency at a location has not been investigated. To assess the fidelity of necrophilous insects to carrion of specific decomposition ages, independent of its location, we monitored the decomposition of neonate pigs in one field and then simultaneously relocated carcasses of different decomposition ages to an ecologically similar but remote field. We examined the effects of decomposition age and relocation on the assembly of the necrophilous insect community, using a novel vented-chamber trap, which excluded all sensory cues except odors. Community composition differed over a 4-d decomposition period, showing that insects were differentially attracted to pigs of different decomposition ages. There was overall concordance between respective decomposition ages in the two fields, with similar relative abundances of taxa before and after transfer. Although different decomposition ages continued to attract different insects, differentiation of the necrophilous insect communities relative to the age of decomposition was less pronounced after transfer. The results of this study demonstrate that translocating a decomposing body to a new, but geographically and ecologically similar location continues the predicted insect succession, albeit with greater variance, based on olfactory cues alone. Several rare taxa were sampled only prior to relocation, including the first documentation of the invasive hairy maggot blow fly, Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in central North Carolina.
Chemically induced herbicide tolerance in rice by the safener metcamifen is associated with a phased stress response
Authors: Brazier-Hicks Melissa , Howell Anushka , Cohn Jonathan , Hawkes Tim , Hall Gavin , Mcindoe Eddie , Edwards Robert
Published: September 2019

The closely related sulphonamide safeners, metcamifen and cyprosulfamide, were tested for their ability to protect rice from clodinafop-propargyl, a herbicide normally used in wheat. While demonstrating that both compounds were equally bioavailable in planta, only metcamifen prevented clodinafop from damaging seedlings, and this was associated with the enhanced detoxification of the herbicide. Transcriptome studies in rice cultures demonstrated that whereas cyprosulfamide had a negligible effect on gene expression over a 4 h exposure, metcamifen perturbed the abundance of 590 transcripts. Changes in gene expression with metcamifen could be divided into three phases, corresponding to inductions occurring over 30 min, 1.5 h and 4 h. The first phase of gene induction was dominated by transcription factors and proteins of unknown function, the second by genes involved in herbicide detoxification, while the third was linked to cellular homeostasis. Analysis of the inducible genes suggested that safening elicited similar gene families to those associated with specific biotic and abiotic stresses, notably those elicited by abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate. Subsequent experiments with safener biomarker genes induced in phase 1 and 2 in rice cell cultures provided further evidence of similarities in signalling processes elicited by metcamifen and salicylic acid.
Genetic variation for photosynthetic capacity and efficiency in spring wheat
Authors: Silva-Pérez Viridiana , De Faveri Joanne , Molero Gemma , Deery David M , Condon Anthony G , Reynolds Matthew P , Evans John R , Furbank Robert T
Published: September 2019

One way to increase yield potential in wheat is screening for natural variation in photosynthesis. This study uses measured and modelled physiological parameters to explore genotypic diversity in photosynthetic capacity (Pc, Rubisco carboxylation capacity per unit leaf area at 25 °C) and efficiency (Peff, Pc per unit of leaf nitrogen) in wheat in relation to fertilizer, plant stage, and environment. Four experiments (Aus1, Aus2, Aus3, and Mex1) were carried out with diverse wheat collections to investigate genetic variation for Rubisco capacity (Vcmax25), electron transport rate (J), CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and complementary plant functional traits: leaf nitrogen, leaf dry mass per unit area, and SPAD. Genotypes for Aus1 and Aus2 were grown in the glasshouse with two fertilizer levels. Genotypes for Aus3 and Mex1 experiments were grown in the field in Australia and Mexico, respectively. Results showed that Vcmax25 derived from gas exchange measurements is a robust parameter that does not depend on stomatal conductance and was positively correlated with Rubisco content measured in vitro. There was significant genotypic variation in most of the experiments for Pc and Peff. Heritability of Pc reached 0.7 and 0.9 for SPAD. Genotypic variation and heritability of traits show that there is scope for these traits to be used in pre-breeding programmes to improve photosynthesis with the ultimate objective of raising yield potential.
Burnout in Military Emergency Medicine Resident Physicians: A Cross-Sectional Study With Comparisons to Other Physician Groups
Authors: Williams Barbara J , Rudinsky Sherri L , Matteucci Michael J
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Physician burnout is of growing concern in the medical community and in emergency medicine (EM) in particular. It is unclear whether higher levels of burnout are associated with poorer academic or clinical performance. EM residency in military environments compared to civilian residencies has unique considerations related to additional military-specific training and operational requirements, which may contribute to burnout. The prevalence and effects of burnout on military EM resident physicians have not been investigated.

Methods

In this institutional review board-approved cross-sectional study, the prevalence of burnout and its effect on academic performance of 30 EM residents in a single 4-year military EM training program was examined. The primary instrument utilized to assess for burnout was the Maslach Burnout Inventory Health Services Survey (MBI-HSS). The primary definition of burnout utilized was a high score in both emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP), and a low score in personal achievement (PA). Additionally, at risk for burnout was defined as moderate or high scores in both EE and DP and low scores in PA. A secondary definition of burnout utilized was any high score in EE or DP, or a low score in PA. The findings in this cohort were compared with published reports of burnout in civilian EM resident and attending physicians as well as military orthopedic physicians. The annual American Board of Emergency Medicine In-Training Exam (ABEM-ITE) percentile ranks for each volunteer in that same academic year were collected as a measure of academic achievement.

Results

Thirty of the 40 eligible resident physicians consented to participate in this research project (75%). All 30 completed the MBI-HSS and ABEM-ITE. Burnout, using the primary definition, was found in 10% of residents with an additional 13% at risk for burnout. Using the secondary definition of burnout, 73% of residents demonstrated burnout. The prevalence of burnout as measured by the MBI-HSS was similar to that reported in civilian EM resident and practicing physician groups but 2.7 times the burnout rates found in a military orthopedic resident group. We found no relationship between any individual burnout measure in the MBI-HSS and the annual ABEM-ITE percentile scores.

Conclusion

In a small study of military EM resident physicians, level of burnout as measured by the MBI-HSS is similar to other EM populations including civilian residents and practicing physicians, though it was much higher than that of military orthopedic residents. No relationship between presence or absence of burnout and academic performance as measured by the ABEM-ITE was found.
Chemical modelling of dust–gas chemistry within AGB outflows – I. Effect on the gas-phase chemistry
Authors: Van de Sande M , Walsh C , Mangan T P , Decin L
Published: September 2019

Chemical modelling of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) outflows is typically focused on either non-thermodynamic equilibrium chemistry in the inner region or photon-driven chemistry in the outer region. We include, for the first time, a comprehensive dust–gas chemistry in our AGB outflow chemical kinetics model, including both dust–gas interactions and grain-surface chemistry. The dust is assumed to have formed in the inner region, and follows an interstellar-like dust-size distribution. Using radiative transfer modelling, we obtain dust temperature profiles for different dust types in an O-rich and a C-rich outflow. We calculate a grid of models, sampling different outflow densities, drift velocities between the dust and gas, and dust types. Dust–gas chemistry can significantly affect the gas-phase composition, depleting parent and daughter species and increasing the abundance of certain daughter species via grain-surface formation followed by desorption/sputtering. Its influence depends on four factors: outflow density, dust temperature, initial composition, and drift velocity. The largest effects are for higher density outflows with cold dust and O-rich parent species, as these species generally have a larger binding energy. At drift velocities larger than ∼10 km s−1, ice mantles undergo sputtering; however, they are not fully destroyed. Models with dust–gas chemistry can better reproduce the observed depletion of species in O-rich outflows. When including colder dust in the C-rich outflows and adjusting the binding energy of CS, the depletion in C-rich outflows is also better reproduced. To best interpret high-resolution molecular line observations from AGB outflows, dust–gas interactions are needed in chemical kinetics models.
Resolving the puzzle of type IIP SN 2016X
Authors: Utrobin V P , Chugai N N
Published: September 2019

The enigmatic type IIP SN 2016X demonstrates the unprecedented asphericity in the nebular Hα line profile, the absence of nebular [O i] emission, and the unusual occultation effect due to the internal dust. The hydrodynamic modelling of the bolometric light curve and expansion velocities suggests that the event is an outcome of the massive star explosion that ejected 28 M$\odot$ with the kinetic energy of 1.7 × 1051 erg and 0.03 M$\odot$ of radioactive 56Ni. We recover the bipolar distribution of 56Ni from the Hα profile via the simulation of the emissivity produced by non-spherical 56Ni ejecta. The conspicuous effect of the dust absorption in the Hα profile rules out the occultation by the dusty sphere or dusty thick disc, but turns out consistent with the thin dusty disc-like structure in the plane perpendicular to the bipolar axis. We speculate that the absence of the nebular [O i] emission might originate from the significant cooling of the oxygen-rich matter mediated by CO and SiO molecules.
Generalized model-independent characterization of strong gravitational lenses V: reconstructing the lensing distance ratio by supernovae for a general Friedmann universe
Authors: Wagner Jenny , Meyer Sven
Published: September 2019

We determine the cosmic expansion rate from supernovae of type Ia to set up a data-based distance measure that does not make assumptions about the constituents of the universe, i.e. about a specific parametrization of a Friedmann cosmological model. The scale, determined by the Hubble constant H0, is the only free cosmological parameter left in the gravitational lensing formalism. We investigate to which accuracy and precision the lensing distance ratio D is determined from the Pantheon sample. Inserting D and its uncertainty into the lensing equations for given H0, especially the time-delay equation between a pair of multiple images, allows to determine lens properties, especially differences in the lensing potential (Δϕ), without specifying a cosmological model. We expand the luminosity distances into an analytic orthonormal basis, determine the maximum-likelihood weights for the basis functions by a globally optimal χ2-parameter estimation, and derive confidence bounds by Monte Carlo simulations. For typical strong lensing configurations between z = 0.5 and 1.0, Δϕ can be determined with a relative imprecision of 1.7 per cent, assuming imprecisions of the time delay and the redshift of the lens on the order of 1 per cent. With only a small, tolerable loss in precision, the model-independent lens characterisation developed in this paper series can be generalised by dropping the specific Friedmann model to determine D in favour of a data-based distance ratio. Moreover, for any astrophysical application, the approach presented here, provides distance measures for z ≤ 2.3 that are valid in any homogeneous, isotropic universe with general relativity as theory of gravity.
Heterogeneous evolution of the galaxy and the origin of the short-lived nuclides in the early solar system
Authors: Kaur Tejpreet , Sahijpal Sandeep
Published: September 2019

We present galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models of the short-lived radionuclides (SLRs), 26Al, 36Cl, 41Ca, 53Mn and 60Fe, across the entire Milky Way galaxy. The objective is to understand the spatial and temporal distribution of the SLRs in the galaxy. The gamma-ray observations infer widespread distribution of 26Al and 60Fe across the galaxy. The signatures of the SLRs in the early solar system (ESS) are found in meteorites. We present homogeneous GCE simulation models for SLRs across the galaxy. We also develop a set of heterogeneous GCE models to understand the evolution of the galaxy within independent spatial grids of area, 0.1–1 kpc2. These grids evolve distinctly in terms of nucleosynthetic contributions of massive stars. We succeeded in simulating the formation and evolution of generations of stellar clusters/association. Based on the formulation, we provide a novel method to amalgamate the origin of the solar system with the gradual evolution of the galaxy along with a self-consistent origin of SLRs. We explore the possibility of the birth of the solar system in an environment where one of the stellar clusters formed ≥ 25 Million years earlier. The decaying 53Mn and 60Fe remnants from the evolved massive stars from the cluster probably contaminated the local medium associated with the presolar molecular cloud. A Wolf-Rayet wind from a distant massive star, belonging to a distinct cluster, probably contributed, 26Al (and 41Ca) to the presolar cloud. The irradiation production of 7,10Be and 36Cl occurred later in ESS.
Latent cellular analysis robustly reveals subtle diversity in large-scale single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Cheng Changde , Easton John , Rosencrance Celeste , Li Yan , Ju Bensheng , Williams Justin , Mulder Heather L , Pang Yakun , Chen Wenan , Chen Xiang
Published: September 2019

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool for characterizing the cell-to-cell variation and cellular dynamics in populations which appear homogeneous otherwise in basic and translational biological research. However, significant challenges arise in the analysis of scRNA-seq data, including the low signal-to-noise ratio with high data sparsity, potential batch effects, scalability problems when hundreds of thousands of cells are to be analyzed among others. The inherent complexities of scRNA-seq data and dynamic nature of cellular processes lead to suboptimal performance of many currently available algorithms, even for basic tasks such as identifying biologically meaningful heterogeneous subpopulations. In this study, we developed the Latent Cellular Analysis (LCA), a machine learning–based analytical pipeline that combines cosine-similarity measurement by latent cellular states with a graph-based clustering algorithm. LCA provides heuristic solutions for population number inference, dimension reduction, feature selection, and control of technical variations without explicit gene filtering. We show that LCA is robust, accurate, and powerful by comparison with multiple state-of-the-art computational methods when applied to large-scale real and simulated scRNA-seq data. Importantly, the ability of LCA to learn from representative subsets of the data provides scalability, thereby addressing a significant challenge posed by growing sample sizes in scRNA-seq data analysis.
PGG.Han: the Han Chinese genome database and analysis platform
Authors: Gao Yang , Zhang Chao , Yuan Liyun , Ling YunChao , Wang Xiaoji , Liu Chang , Pan Yuwen , Zhang Xiaoxi , Ma Xixian , Wang Yuchen , Lu Yan , Yuan Kai , Ye Wei , Qian Jiaqiang , Chang Huidan , Cao Ruifang , Yang Xiao , Ma Ling , Ju Yuanhu , Dai Long , Tang Yuanyuan ,   The Han100K Initiative, Zhang Guoqing , Xu Shuhua
Published: September 2019

As the largest ethnic group in the world, the Han Chinese population is nonetheless underrepresented in global efforts to catalogue the genomic variability of natural populations. Here, we developed the PGG.Han, a population genome database to serve as the central repository for the genomic data of the Han Chinese Genome Initiative (Phase I). In its current version, the PGG.Han archives whole-genome sequences or high-density genome-wide single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) of 114 783 Han Chinese individuals (a.k.a. the Han100K), representing geographical sub-populations covering 33 of the 34 administrative divisions of China, as well as Singapore. The PGG.Han provides: (i) an interactive interface for visualization of the fine-scale genetic structure of the Han Chinese population; (ii) genome-wide allele frequencies of hierarchical sub-populations; (iii) ancestry inference for individual samples and controlling population stratification based on nested ancestry informative markers (AIMs) panels; (iv) population-structure-aware shared control data for genotype-phenotype association studies (e.g. GWASs) and (v) a Han-Chinese-specific reference panel for genotype imputation. Computational tools are implemented into the PGG.Han, and an online user-friendly interface is provided for data analysis and results visualization. The PGG.Han database is freely accessible via http://www.pgghan.org or https://www.hanchinesegenomes.org.
A Novel Sequence: ZOOMit-Blood Oxygen Level-Dependent for Motor-Cortex Localization
Authors: Fang Shengyu , Bai Harrison X , Fan Xing , Li Shaowu , Zhang Zhong , Jiang Tao , Wang Yinyan
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

Use of conventional blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (conventional-BOLD-fMRI) presents challenges in accurately identifying the hand-motor cortex when a glioma involves the ipsilateral hand-knob. Zoomed imaging technique with parallel transmission (ZOOMit)-BOLD is a novel sequence allowing high spatial resolution with a relatively small field of view that may solve this problem.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the accuracy of ZOOMit-BOLD and conventional-BOLD in hand-motor cortex identification.

METHODS

A total of 20 patients with gliomas involving the sensorimotor cortex were recruited to identify the hand-motor cortex by both ZOOMit-BOLD and conventional-BOLD. Based on whether the entire or partial glioma directly invaded (was located within) the hand-knob or indirectly affected it by proximity, patients were placed into the involved or uninvolved groups, respectively. Direct cortical stimulation was applied intraoperatively to verify the location of the hand-motor cortex. Overlap indices were used to evaluate the accuracy of the hand-motor cortex identification. An overlap index equal to 0, indicating lack of overlap, was classified as inaccurate classification.

RESULTS

The accuracy of motor-cortex identification with ZOOMit-BOLD was 100% compared to only 65% with conventional-BOLD. The average overlap index yielded by ZOOMit-BOLD was higher than that of conventional-BOLD, regardless of whether gliomas directly invaded the hand-knob (P = .008) or not (P = .004). The overlap index in the involved group was significantly lower than that in the uninvolved group with both ZOOMit-BOLD (P = .002) and conventional-BOLD (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

ZOOMit-BOLD may potentially replace conventional-BOLD to identify the hand-motor cortex, particularly in cases in which gliomas directly invade the hand-knob.
The Effect of Older Age on the Perioperative Outcomes of Spinal Fusion Surgery in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease With Spondylolisthesis: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Badhiwala Jetan H , Karmur Brij S , Hachem Laureen D , Wilson Jamie R F , Jiang Fan , Jaja Blessing , Nouri Aria , Witiw Christopher D , Nassiri Farshad , Fehlings Michael G , Wilson Jefferson R
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

Degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) is often treated with lumbar spinal fusion (LSF). However, there is concern that the morbidity of LSF may be prohibitively high in older adults.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of advanced age on the safety of LSF for DS.

METHODS

Patients who underwent LSF for DS were retrospectively identified from National Surgical Quality Improvement Program datasets for 2011 to 2015 using Current Procedural Terminology codes. Data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgical factors, and 30-d morbidity and mortality were collected. Propensity score matching (nearest neighbor) was performed with age (<70 vs ≥70 yr) as the dependent variable and sex, type of fusion procedure, number of levels fused, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and chronic steroid use as covariates. Outcomes were compared between age <70 and ≥70 groups.

RESULTS

The study cohort consisted of 2238 patients (n = 1119, age <70; n = 1119, age ≥70). The 2 age groups were balanced for key covariates including sex, race, diabetes, hypertension, CHF, smoking, chronic steroid use, type of fusion, and number of levels. Rates of all complications were similar between younger and older age groups, except urinary tract infection, which was more frequent among the ≥70 age group (OR 2.32, P = .009). Further, patients in the older age group were more likely to be discharged to a rehabilitation (OR 2.94, P < .001) or skilled care (OR 3.66, P < .001) facility, rather than directly home (OR 0.25, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

LSF may be performed safely in older adults with DS. Our results suggest older age alone should not exclude a patient from undergoing lumbar fusion for DS.
Is Group Ontology Morally Distracting? A Natural Law Approach to Corporate Religious Liberty
Authors: David Edward A
Published: September 2019

In recent years, a variety of corporate litigants, from houses of worship to for-profit enterprises, have brought religious liberty suits to the US Supreme Court. Interestingly, the metaphysical status of such litigants has been subject to intense debate by judges and commentators alike. Are these litigants corporate moral persons or mere aggregates of individuals? How, if at all, does their metaphysical status affect our assignment of corporate rights to religious freedom? While many have entertained such questions, others reject them as morally distracting. This article challenges that latter position. Drawing upon the natural law tradition, I argue that group ontology can be used in the assignment of corporate rights in a morally illuminating way. I point out the tradition’s distinctive ontology, which views groups primarily as social actions, subject to moral evaluation. I then discuss how this conception moves attention away from polarizing rights-based discourse towards measured consideration of what is morally right. Finally, I show how this ontology helps practical reasoning to discover a variety of (non-rights-based) reasons and means to protect religious freedoms as well as other moral stakes. Far from causing moral distraction, a natural law group ontology facilitates careful moral deliberation.
At the Margins of the Medical? Educational Psychology, Child Guidance and Therapy in Provincial England, c.1945–74
Authors: Burchell Andrew
Published: September 2019

This article mobilises archival material from local authorities in England to assess the shifting role of psychologists within local school health services from the 1930s through to the reorganisation of the National Health Service (NHS) in 1974. It argues that psychologists were increasingly positioned between therapist, diagnostician and social worker, that this was bound together with a local discourse of children’s emotional well-being and that the increasing fluidity of the psychologist’s role emerged from local policies designed to stress the ‘educational’ nature of their role. In so doing, it extends work by John Stewart on child guidance and more long-standing histories of local, ‘municipal’ medical services. It suggests ways in which the older, localised provision of public health services in Britain persisted after the creation of the NHS and argues the need for a more flexible understanding of what was ‘medical’ about the local welfare state in this period.
A Single Amino Acid Substitution in the Intervening Region of 129K Protein of Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus Resulted in Attenuated Symptoms
Authors: Chen H. , Ino M. , Shimono M. , Wagh S. G. , Kobayashi K. , Yaeno T. , Yamaoka N. , Bai G. , Nishiguchi M.
Published: September 2019

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), a member of the genus Tobamovirus, is a major threat to economically important cucurbit crops worldwide. An attenuated strain (SH33b) derived from a severe strain (SH) of CGMMV caused a reduction in the viral RNA accumulation and the attenuation of symptoms, and it has been successfully used to protect muskmelon plants against severe strains in Japan. In this study, we compared GFP-induced silencing suppression by the 129K protein and the methyltransferase domain plus intervening region (MTIR) of the 129K protein between the SH and SH33b strains, respectively. As a result, silencing suppression activity (SSA) in the GFP-silenced plants was inhibited efficiently by the MTIR and 129K protein of SH strain, and it coincided with drastically reduced accumulation of GFP-specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) but not by that of SH33b strain. Furthermore, analyses of siRNA binding capability (SBC) by the MTIR of 129K protein and 129K protein using electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that SBC was found with the MTIR and 129K protein of SH but not with that of SH33b, suggesting that a single amino acid mutation (E to G) in the MTIR is responsible for impaired SSA and SBC of SH33b. These data suggest that a single amino acid substitution in the intervening region of 129K protein of CGMMV resulted in attenuated symptoms by affecting RNA silencing suppression.
Operative treatment of chronic ulnar collateral ligament humeral origin avulsion fracture in young baseball players
Authors: Su Yu Jung , Wu Chung Da , Hsu Wei Chien , Wong Kin Weng
Published: September 2019

Chronic ulnar collateral ligament humeral origin avulsion fracture in young baseball players is a rare condition and a difficult problem to treat. Eight high school or college student baseball players with onset of symptoms in their adolescent ages were collected in this series. Their mean age at surgical intervention was 17.8 ± 1.99 years. The fracture was operated on with muscle splitting, ulnar nerve-sparing technique. Suture anchors were employed to fix the avulsed fragment. Visual analog scale, Mayo elbow performance score, and Conway scale were used for objective patient evaluation. The patients were followed up for 30.8 ± 10.2 months. Six patients have achieved solid bony union, and 2 had partial union. All patients showed no medial space widening on followed-up stress films. Visual Analogue Scale score improved from 9 to 0. The Mayo elbow performance score improved from 60 ± 10 to 85 ± 15 points pre- and post-operatively. The Conway scale had 3 excellent, 3 good, and 2 fair results. The average return to pitching occurred 7 months post-operatively at a rate of 75%. The present results indicate that open reduction and fixation with suture anchors is an effective treatment method for chronic ulnar collateral ligament humeral origin avulsion fracture in young baseball players.
Cervical cancer screening and Pap test non-adherence risk factors in systemic sclerosis patients
Authors: Kavosi Hoda , Javinani Ali , Kazemi-Rahmatabadi Zahra , Alyasin Ashraf , Sefidbakht Salma , Gharibdoost Farhad , Jamshidi Ahmad Reza , Mirbeyk Mona , Imeni Vahideh , Gorgani Fatemeh , Tamartash Zahra
Published: September 2019

Systemic sclerosis is a rare autoimmune disorder that potentially affects nearly every organ of the body. Malignancies are one of the most common non-systemic sclerosis related cause of mortality. There are controversial findings regarding the cervical cancer rate among these patients, but prolonged immunosuppressive medication makes them more susceptible to cervical cancer. In the present study, we have aimed to investigate the cervical cancer screening result and the Pap test non-adherence risk factors among systemic sclerosis patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 systemic sclerosis patients. The clinicodemographic variables in addition to cervical cancer risk factors were obtained from the patients. Pap test performed using the liquid-based method. The non-adherence risk factors were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Benign inflammatory and atrophic changes were reported in 26 and 5%, respectively. None of the cases had abnormal cytological finding. Twenty-two percent of the participants were a routine Pap test performer. According to the multivariate model, higher age was associated with Pap test non-adherence [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.058 (1.010–1.108) and P-value: 0.018]. In the present study, we have shown that compliance with Pap test performing is extremely low among Iranian systemic sclerosis patients. In addition, we have demonstrated that older age is a risk factor for non-adherence. These findings highlighted the crucial role of the physicians in motivating the patients toward cancer screening.
Initial experience with a PET/computed tomography system using silicon photomultiplier detectors
Authors: Park Sonya Youngju , Barrato Lucia , Hatami Negin , Davidzon Guido , Gambhir Sanjiv Sam , Iagaru Andrei
Published: September 2019

Purpose

A PET/computed tomography (CT) that uses silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) technology was installed at our institution. Here, we report the initial use of the new scanner and evaluate the image quality in comparison to standard PET/CT scanners.

Procedures

Seventy-two patients were scanned first using standard PET/CT followed immediately by the new PET/CT system. Images from the new PET/CT system were reconstructed using a conventional [non time-of-flight (TOF)] algorithm, TOF alone and TOF in combination with BSREM. Images from standard PET/CT were reconstructed using clinical standard-of-care settings. Three blinded readers randomly reviewed four datasets (standard, non-TOF, TOF alone, TOF+BSREM) per patient for image quality using a five-point Likert scale. SUV measurements for the single most avid lesion on each dataset were also recorded.

Results

Datasets from the new scanner had higher image quality (P < 0.001) and SUV measurements (P < 0.001) compared with the standard scanners, and scores further improved when TOF and BSREM algorithms were added (mean scores for standard, non-TOF, TOF alone and TOF+BSREM were 3.1, 3.9, 4.3 and 5.0, respectively; mean SUVmax for hottest lesion were 8.8, 10.3, 10.7 and 13.3, respectively).

Conclusion

The SiPM-based PET/CT system outperforms two standard Bismuth germanium oxide- and Lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate-based scanners in terms of image quality, with further benefits added using TOF and BSREM. This may be beneficial for detecting small lesions and more accurate disease staging.