bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studien: Long-Covid: Auch Kinder sind betroffen
Authors: Orth Anne
Published: April 2021

Viele Erwachsene, die eine Corona-Infektion überstanden haben, leiden noch monatelang unter Spätfolgen. Nun legen Studien nahe, dass auch Kinder und Jugendliche Langzeitfolgen davontragen können. Experten schätzen, dass Spätfolgen bei jungen Menschen zunehmen werden.
Frauen in Führungspositionen: Muttersprache
Authors: Kucera Martin
Published: April 2021

Die Chirurgie ist weiblich. Trotzdem finden sich in deren Chefetagen nach wie vor fast ausschließlich Männer. Der Anfang dieses Jahres gegründete Verein „Die Chirurginnen“ will das ändern. Wir haben mit der Präsidentin, Professorin Dr. Katja Schlosser, über dessen Hintergründe und Ziele gesprochen.
Langatmige Sanierung: Der Geno läuft die Zeit davon
Authors: Rößing Sabine
Published: April 2021

Digitaler soll er werden, fokussierter und moderner, der Bremer Klinikverbund Gesundheit Nord. Geno-Chefin Dorothea Dreizehnter muss sparen. In drei Jahren soll sie ein ausgeglichenes Ergebnis vorlegen. Sonst geht den Trägern die Geduld aus. Vor allem aber muss sie unabhängiger werden von teuren Leiharbeitskräften, fordern Gewerkschafter und Politik. Corona macht ihren Job nicht leichter.
25 Jahre ÖVKT-Tagung in Pörtschach: Das Erfolgsgeheimnis des ÖVKT
Authors: Thalmayr Maria
Published: April 2021

Ein offenes Geheimnis hinter dem Erfolg des ÖVKT und seiner alljährlichen Tagung in Pörtschach ist neben einem hervorragenden Programm, Professionalität und Aktualität die einzigartige familiäre Atmosphäre. Maßgeblich geprägt und gestaltet wird diese wichtige „Zutat“ von Gertrude Schulterer – seit nunmehr 25 Jahren.
Dynamics of heterogeneous wetting in periodic hybrid nanopores
Authors: Picard C. , Gérard V. , Michel L. , Cattoën X. , Charlaix E.
Published: April 2021

We present experimental and theoretical results concerning the forced filling and spontaneous drying of hydrophobic cylindrical mesopores in the dynamical regime. Pores are structured with organic/inorganic moieties responsible for a periodicity of the surface energy along their axis. We find that the forced intrusion of water in these hydrophobic pores presents a slow dynamics: the intrusion pressure decreases as the logarithm of the intrusion time. We find that this slow dynamics is well described quantitatively by a classical model of activated wetting at the nanoscale, giving access to the structural length scales and surface energies of the mesoporous material.
Zeroth radial modes of azimuthal surface waves in dense plasma-loaded, coaxial helix traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides
Authors: Girka Igor O. , Pavlenko Ivan V. , Thumm Manfred
Published: April 2021

An analytical model of coaxial traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides with plasma filling has been justified and utilized to analyze the eigenmodes. Very often, introducing plasma into vacuum electronic devices leads to essential advantages as compared with evacuated tubes. The cylindrical structure under the present consideration consists of a central dielectric rod, placed inside a plasma coaxial layer with a metallic helix sheath on its outer interface, and a metal screen separated from the plasma by another dielectric layer. The dispersion properties of electromagnetic waves propagating across the external axial static magnetic field in such traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides are studied and summarized. The presence of a dense plasma coaxial layer makes the media nontransparent for waves in the electron cyclotron frequency range. However, surface type electromagnetic waves can propagate in this case. These waves are called azimuthal surface waves (ASWs). The helix sheath causes coupling of ordinarily and extraordinarily polarized ASWs. The zeroth radial ASW modes have been found to be most dangerous for parasitic wave excitation in dense plasma-loaded, coaxial traveling-wave-tube-like waveguides.
Impairment of the neurotrophic signaling hub B-Raf contributes to motoneuron degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy
Authors: Hensel Niko , Cieri Federica , Santonicola Pamela , Tapken Ines , Schüning Tobias , Taiana Michela , Pagliari Elisa , Joseph Antonia , Fischer Silke , Heidrich Natascha , Brinkmann Hella , Kubinski Sabrina , Bergmann Anke K. , Richter Manuela F. , Jung Klaus , Corti Stefania , Di Schiavi Elia , Claus Peter
Published: April 2021

Significance

The mechanisms of neurodegeneration are important targets for future treatments of the devastating motoneuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Here, we show an altered signaling network in SMA models and patient cells with a reduced B-Raf expression in the network center. B-Raf is crucial for motoneuron survival, and we present data that B-Raf restoration ameliorates motoneuron loss and symptoms in SMA models.
Circular swimming motility and disordered hyperuniform state in an algae system
Authors: Huang Mingji , Hu Wensi , Yang Siyuan , Liu Quan-Xing , Zhang H. P.
Published: April 2021

Significance

Disordered hyperuniform materials suppress large-scale density fluctuations like crystals and remain locally isotropic as liquids. These materials possess unique properties, such as isotropic photonic gap, and have attracted the attention of scientists from many disciplines. Here we show that circularly swimming marine algae can robustly self-organize into disordered hyperuniform states through long-range hydrodynamic interactions at air–liquid interfaces. Important properties measured from hyperuniform states can be quantitatively reproduced by a numerical model whose main parameters are obtained experimentally. Our work clearly demonstrates the possibility to create disordered hyperuniform states via hydrodynamic interactions and highlights the importance of such interactions in active matter systems.
Climate Models and the Irrelevance of Chaos
Authors: Dethier Corey
Published: April 2021

Philosophy of science has witnessed substantial recent debate over the existence of a structural analogue of chaos, which is alleged to spell trouble for certain uses of climate models. The debate over the analogy can and should be separated from its alleged epistemic implications: chaos-like behavior is neither necessary nor sufficient for small dynamical misrepresentations to generate erroneous results. The kind of sensitivity that matters in epistemology is one that induces unsafe beliefs, and the existence of a structural analogue to chaos is better seen as an explanation for known safety failures than as providing evidence for unknown ones.
On Estimating Personality Traits of US Supreme Court Justices
Authors: Black Ryan C. , Owens Ryan J. , Wedeking Justin , Wohlfarth Patrick C.
Published: April 2021

Psychological scholarship on personality is uniting with political science to redefine existing theories. This is clearly the case with research on judicial behavior and the US Supreme Court. But if this new approach is to survive and thrive, it must employ measures equal to the task. We show that Supreme Court Individual Personality Estimates, which seek to estimate justices’ personalities by examining their concurring opinions, suffer from a number of important methodological deficits that critically limit their usefulness. We briefly discuss what kinds of improved personality measures scholars should use instead and offer an improved set of estimates for one trait with an application that demonstrates our cautionary tale.
PN junction and band to band tunneling in carbon nanotube transistors at room temperature
Authors: Zeevi Gilad , Razin Alexey , Yaish Yuval E
Published: April 2021

We demonstrate band to band tunneling (BTBT) in a carbon nanotube (CNT) field effect transistor. We employ local electrostatic doping assisted by charged traps within the oxide to produce an intramolecular PN junction along the CNT. These characteristics apply for both metallic (m-CNTs) and semiconducting (SC-CNTs) CNTs. For m-CNTs we present a hysteretic transfer characteristic which originates from local electrostatic doping in the middle segment of the CNT. This controlled doping is reversible and results in formation and destruction of a PN junction along the CNT channel. For SC-CNTs we observe BTBT, and analysis based on the WKB approximation reveals a very narrow depletion region and high transmission probability at the optimal energy bands overlap. These results may assist in developing a non-volatile one-dimensional PN junction memory cell and designing a tunneling based field effect transistor.
Photonic devices based on thin-film lithium niobate on insulator
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Hu Changran , Pan An , Ding Yuedi , Wang Xuanhao , Qu Zhicheng , Wei Junjie , Liu Yuheng , Zeng Cheng , Xia Jinsong
Published: April 2021

Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) is rising as one of the most promising platforms for integrated photonics due to the high-index-contrast and excellent material properties of lithium niobate, such as wideband transparency from visible to mid-infrared, large electro-optic, piezoelectric, and second-order harmonic coefficients. The fast-developing micro- and nano-structuring techniques on LNOI have enabled various structure, devices, systems, and applications. In this contribution, we review the latest developments in this platform, including ultra-high speed electro-optic modulators, optical frequency combs, opto-electro-mechanical system on chip, second-harmonic generation in periodically poled LN waveguides, and efficient edge coupling for LNOI.
High-frequency characterization of high-speed modulators and photodetectors in a link with low-speed photonic sampling
Authors: Wang Mengke , Zhang Shangjian , Liu Zhao , Zhang Xuyan , He Yutong , Ma Yangxue , Zhang Yali , Zhang Zhiyao , Liu Yong
Published: April 2021

We propose a low-speed photonic sampling for independent high-frequency characterization of a Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) and a photodetector (PD) in an optical link. A low-speed mode-locked laser diode (MLLD) provides an ultra-wideband optical stimulus with scalable frequency range, working as the photonic sampling source of the link. The uneven spectrum lines of the MLLD are firstly characterized with symmetric modulation within the interesting frequency range. Then, the electro-optic modulated signals are down-converted to the first Nyquist frequency range, yielding the self-referenced extraction of modulation depth and half-wave voltage of the MZM without correcting the responsivity fluctuation of the PD in the link. Finally, the frequency responsivity of the PD is self-referenced measured under null modulation of the MZM. As frequency responses of the MZM and the PD can be independently obtained, our method allows self-referenced high-frequency measurement for a high-speed optical link. In the proof-of-concept experiment, a 96.9 MS/s MLLD is used for measuring a MZM and a PD within the frequency range up to 50 GHz. The consistency between our method and the conventional method verifies that the ultra-wideband and self-referenced high-frequency characterization of high-speed MZMs and PDs.
Combinations of photoinitiator and UV absorber for cell-based digital light processing (DLP) bioprinting
Authors: Huh JunTae , Moon Young-Wook , Park Jihoon , Atala Anthony , Yoo James J , Lee Sang Jin
Published: April 2021

Digital light processing (DLP) bioprinting, which provides predominant speed, resolution, and adaptability for fabricating complex cell-laden three-dimensional (3D) structures, requires a combination of photoinitiator (PI) and UV absorber (UA) that plays critical roles during the photo-polymerization of bioinks. However, the PI and UA combination has not been highlighted for cell-based DLP bioprinting. In this study, the most used PIs and UAs in cell-based bioprinting were compared to optimize a combination that can ensure the maximum DLP printability, while maintaining the cellular activities during the process. The crosslinking time and printability of PIs were assessed, which are critical in minimizing the cell damage by the UV exposure during the fabrication process. On the other hand, the UAs were evaluated based on their ability to prevent the over-curing of layers beyond the focal layer and the scattering of light, which are required for the desirable crosslinking of a hydrogel and high resolution (25–50 µms) to create a complex 3D cell-laden construct. Lastly, the cytotoxicity of PIs and UAs was assessed by measuring the cellular activity of 2D cultured and 3D bioprinted cells. The optimized PI and UA combination provided high initial cell viability (>90%) for up to 14 days in culture and could fabricate complex 3D structures like a perfusable heart-shaped construct with open vesicles and atriums. This combination can provide a potential starting condition when preparing the bioink for the cell-based DLP bioprinting in tissue engineering applications.
Evolution of texture and precipitates in Al–Cu–Li alloy during deformation and heat treatment and its effect on anisotropy
Authors: Yang Shengli , Liu Lele , Gao Fuyang , Xu Zhe , Song Dejun , Jiang Peng
Published: April 2021

Al–Li alloy offersa great advantage over traditional alloys and it is the ideal material for today’s aerospace industry. Therefore, here we examined the Al–Cu–Li alloy as the third generation of Al–Li alloy. Deformation and heat treatment on the texture and precipitate type and distribution of Al–Cu–Li alloy were studied by mechanical properties test, XRD, and TEM analysis. The effect of texture and precipitate on the plane anisotropy of yield strength was discussed. The results showed thatBrass texture was mainly formed in the deformation process. On the one hand, increasethe pass deformation or cross rolling,the total volume fraction of the texture (S{123}〈634〉, G{011}〈100〉, {011}〈011〉) was increased, which lowered thesheet anisotropy. While on the other hand, the δ′ phase precipitated rapidly during solution treatment and easily caused a coplanar slip, increasing plane anisotropy. However, owing to the difference distribution of the aged precipitated T1 on the two group of {111} habit plane, the strengthening effect of the Al–Cu–Li alloy sheet was weak at 45° direction, but stronger atthe rolling direction (0°) and transverse direction (90°).
A study of the permeation and water-structuring behavioural properties of PEG modified hydrated silk fibroin membranes
Authors: Mann Aisling , Lydon Fiona , Tighe Brian J , Suzuki Shuko , Chirila Traian V
Published: April 2021

The potential of naturally occurring substances as a source of biomedical materials is well-recognised and is being increasingly exploited. Silk fibroin membranes derived from Bombyx mori silk cocoons exemplify this, for example as substrata for the growth of ocular cells with the aim of generating biomaterial-cell constructs for tissue engineering. This study investigated the transport properties of selected silk fibroin membranes under conditions that allowed equilibrium hydration of the membranes to be maintained. The behaviour of natural fibroin membranes was compared with fibroin membranes that have been chemically modified with poly(ethylene glycol). The permeation of the smaller hydrated sodium ion was higher than that of the hydrated calcium ion for all three ethanol treated membranes investigated. The PEG and HRP-modified C membrane, which had the highest water content at 59.6 ± 1.5% exhibited the highest permeation of the three membranes at 95.7 ± 2.8 × 10–8 cm2 s−1 compared with 17.9 ± 0.9 × 10–8 cm2 s−1 and 8.7 ± 1.7 × 10–8 cm2 s−1 for membranes A and B respectively for the NaCl permeant. Poly(ethylene glycol) was used to increase permeability while exploiting the crosslinking capabilities of horseradish peroxidase to increase the compressive strength of the membrane. Importantly, we have established that the permeation behaviour of water-soluble permeants with hydrated radii in the sub-nanometer range is analogous to that of conventional hydrogel polymers.
Advanced fuzzy cognitive maps: state-space and rule-based methodology for coronary artery disease detection
Authors: Apostolopoulos Ioannis D , Groumpos Peter P , Apostolopoulos Dimitris J
Published: April 2021

According to the World Health Organization, 50% of deaths in European Union are caused by Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), while 80% of premature heart diseases and strokes can be prevented. In this study, a Computer-Aided Diagnostic model for a precise diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is proposed. The methodology is based on State Space Advanced Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (AFCMs), an evolution of the traditional Fuzzy Cognitive Maps. Also, a rule-based mechanism is incorporated, to further increase the knowledge of the proposed system and the interpretability of the decision mechanism. The proposed method is evaluated utilizing a CAD dataset from the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the University Hospital of Patras, in Greece. Several experiments are conducted to define the optimal parameters of the proposed AFCM. Furthermore, the proposed AFCM is compared with the traditional FCM approach and the literature. The experiments highlight the effectiveness of the AFCM approach, obtaining 85.47% accuracy in CAD diagnosis, showing an improvement of +7% over the traditional approach. It is demonstrated that the AFCM approach in developing Fuzzy Cognitive Maps outperforms the conventional approach, while it constitutes a reliable method for the diagnosis of Coronary Artery Disease.
New features in the surface plasmon induced photon drag effect in noble metal thin films
Authors: Khichar Vivek , Sharma Suresh C , Hozhabri Nader
Published: April 2021

We study light–matter interactions leading to the generation of photon drag voltage under surface plasmon resonance conditions in noble metal thin films and observe important effects, which provide opportunity for condensed matter theorists to critically evaluate theoretical models. The drag voltage originates from a force that arises because of the transfer of momentum from incident light to electrons. This transfer of photon momentum leads to an electric current, which in turn results in the generation of drag voltage. The effect is particularly enhanced under surface plasmon resonance conditions and thereby reinforces the interaction between light and collective oscillations of the surface charges. We observe relatively high voltages with a nonlinear dependence on laser intensity. In disagreement with previous results, we do not observe a reversal in the sign of the voltage when the direction of the incident laser momentum is reversed. Qualitative analyses of the data show that the hydrodynamic model of laser-induced drag voltage does not work: the hydrodynamic model predicts voltages that are nine orders of magnitude lower than our measurements. However, there is reasonable consistency between the results of the measurements and numerical simulations.
Inversion of incomplete spectral data using support information with an application to magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: de Leeuw den Bouter Merel L , van den Berg Peter M , Remis Rob F
Published: April 2021

In this paper we discuss an imaging method when the object has known support and its spatial Fourier transform is only known on a certain k-space undersampled pattern. The simple conjugate gradient least squares algorithm applied to the corresponding truncated Fourier transform equation produces reconstructions that are basically of a similar quality as reconstructions obtained by solving a standard compressed sensing problem in which support information is not taken into account. Connections with previous one-dimensional approaches are highlighted and the performance of the method for two- and three-dimensional simulated and measured incomplete spectral data sets is illustrated. Possible extensions of the method are also briefly discussed.
Practical selection of representative sets of RNA-seq samples using a hierarchical approach
Authors: Tung Laura H , Kingsford Carl
Published: April 2021

Motivation

Despite numerous RNA-seq samples available at large databases, most RNA-seq analysis tools are evaluated on a limited number of RNA-seq samples. This drives a need for methods to select a representative subset from all available RNA-seq samples to facilitate comprehensive, unbiased evaluation of bioinformatics tools. In sequence-based approaches for representative set selection (e.g. a k-mer counting approach that selects a subset based on k-mer similarities between RNA-seq samples), because of the large numbers of available RNA-seq samples and of k-mers/sequences in each sample, computing the full similarity matrix using k-mers/sequences for the entire set of RNA-seq samples in a large database (e.g. the SRA) has memory and runtime challenges; this makes direct representative set selection infeasible with limited computing resources.

Results

We developed a novel computational method called ‘hierarchical representative set selection’ to handle this challenge. Hierarchical representative set selection is a divide-and-conquer-like algorithm that breaks representative set selection into sub-selections and hierarchically selects representative samples through multiple levels. We demonstrate that hierarchical representative set selection can achieve summarization quality close to that of direct representative set selection, while largely reducing runtime and memory requirements of computing the full similarity matrix (up to 8.4× runtime reduction and 5.35× memory reduction for 10 000 and 12 000 samples respectively that could be practically run with direct subset selection). We show that hierarchical representative set selection substantially outperforms random sampling on the entire SRA set of RNA-seq samples, making it a practical solution to representative set selection on large databases like the SRA.

Availability and implementation

The code is available at https://github.com/Kingsford-Group/hierrepsetselection and https://github.com/Kingsford-Group/jellyfishsim.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
ORFLine: a bioinformatic pipeline to prioritize small open reading frames identifies candidate secreted small proteins from lymphocytes
Authors: Hu Fengyuan , Lu Jia , Matheson Louise S , Díaz-Muñoz Manuel D , Saveliev Alexander , Xu Jinbo , Turner Martin
Published: April 2021

Motivation

The annotation of small open reading frames (smORFs) of <100 codons (<300 nucleotides) is challenging due to the large number of such sequences in the genome.

Results

In this study, we developed a computational pipeline, which we have named ORFLine, that stringently identifies smORFs and classifies them according to their position within transcripts. We identified a total of 5744 unique smORFs in datasets from mouse B and T lymphocytes and systematically characterized them using ORFLine. We further searched smORFs for the presence of a signal peptide, which predicted known secreted chemokines as well as novel micropeptides. Four novel micropeptides show evidence of secretion and are therefore candidate mediators of immunoregulatory functions.

Availability and implementation

Freely available on the web at https://github.com/boboppie/ORFLine.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Slow-transit constipation and criteria for colectomy: a cross-sectional study of 1568 patients
Authors: Chaichanavichkij P , Vollebregt P F , Tee S Z Y , Scott S M , Knowles C H
Published: April 2021

Background

Colectomy remains a treatment option for a minority of patients with slow-transit constipation (STC) refractory to conservative treatment. However careful patient selection is essential to maximize benefits and minimize risk of adverse outcome. This study determined the proportion of patients with chronic constipation that would meet criteria for colectomy based on recent European graded practice recommendations derived by expert consensus.

Methods

Retrospective application of graded practice recommendations was undertaken on a prospectively maintained data set of consecutive adult patients with chronic constipation who underwent whole-gut transit studies using radio-opaque markers. Primary analysis applied contraindications achieving high level of expert consensus (normal whole-gut transit as an absolute contraindication and faecal incontinence as a relative contraindication for colectomy). Secondary analysis applied contraindications with less certain consensus.

Results

Primary analysis of 1568 patients undergoing a whole-gut transit study between January 2004 and March 2016 found 208 (13.3 per cent) met published criteria to be selected for colectomy, with 974 excluded for normal whole-gut transit and 386 for faecal incontinence. Secondary analysis demonstrated high prevalence of other relative contraindications to colectomy: 165 concomitant upper gastrointestinal symptoms, 216 abdominal pain (including 126 irritable bowel syndrome), and 446 evacuation disorder. The majority of patients (416 of 594) had two or more relative contraindications. If these patients were excluded, only 26 (1.7 per cent) chronically constipated patients retrospectively met selection criteria for colectomy.

Conclusions

The retrospective application of selection criteria is a limitation. However, the data highlight the high prevalence of factors associated with poor postoperative outcome and provide further caution to surgeons undertaking colectomy for STC.
A case report: adenosine triggered myocardial infarction during myocardial perfusion stress test imaging in a diabetic patient
Authors: de Mulder Maarten , van Gameren Menno , van Asperen Eric A , Meuwissen Martijn
Published: April 2021

Background

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can in general be used safely in daily clinical practice. However, under the right circumstances, it can lead to serious complications.

Case summary

A 68-year-old female patient with diabetes and a history of inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction 8 years earlier, visited our outpatient clinic with atypical chest discomfort. In order to assess whether this is due to myocardial ischaemia, MPI-SPECT was ordered. As it was suspected she would not achieve sufficient exercise levels, pharmacologic stress using adenosine was arranged. During the scan, she developed acute myocardial infarction. Subsequent urgent coronary angiography demonstrated a subtotal stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery which was successfully stented. She was still free from angina 4 months later.

Discussion

The combination of a reduced systemic and coronary perfusion pressure in the presence of an exhausted coronary autoregulation, may be a starting point for local geometrical changes that initiate the classic cascade of thrombus formation and acute occlusion of coronary arteries during MPI-SPECT. This illustrates the need for continuous patient and electrocardiogram monitoring.
Neonatal arrhythmias in Turner syndrome: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Choi Yeyoon , Hoffman Jodi , Alarcon Lizzeth , Pfau Jennifer , Bolourchi Meena
Published: April 2021

Background

While left-sided congenital heart defects have been well described in females with Turner syndrome (45, X), the literature is scarce regarding arrhythmias in this patient population.

Case summary

A full-term neonate referred to cardiology was found to have a non-apex forming left ventricle and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. During the echocardiogram, she developed atrial flutter, followed by orthodromic reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). She was started on propranolol and eventually switched to sotalol due to breakthrough SVT. A genetics evaluation revealed Turner syndrome with complete monosomy X (45, X). The patient is now 18 months old and has not had any further arrhythmias.

Discussion

We present a rare case of atrial flutter followed by supraventricular tachycardia in a neonate with Turner syndrome and left-sided heart defects. This case highlights the importance of early and precise investigation of cardiac abnormalities in neonatal patients, especially among females with Turner syndrome given their relatively higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the general population.
Ehrlichia TRP effectors: moonlighting, mimicry and infection
Authors: Byerly Caitlan D , Patterson LaNisha L , McBride Jere W
Published: April 2021

Intracellular bacteria have evolved various strategies to evade host defense mechanisms. Remarkably, the obligately intracellular bacterium, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, hijacks host cell processes of the mononuclear phagocyte to evade host defenses through mechanisms executed in part by tandem repeat protein (TRP) effectors secreted by the type 1 secretion system. In the past decade, TRP120 has emerged as a model moonlighting effector, acting as a ligand mimetic, nucleomodulin and ubiquitin ligase. These defined functions illuminate the diverse roles TRP120 plays in exploiting and manipulating host cell processes, including cytoskeletal organization, vesicle trafficking, cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, post-translational modifications, autophagy and apoptosis. This review will focus on TRP effectors and their expanding roles in infection and provide perspective on Ehrlichia chaffeensis as an invaluable model organism for understanding infection strategies of obligately intracellular bacteria.
Social Isolation Profiles and Older Adult Substance Use: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Farmer Antoinette Y , Wang Yuqi , Peterson N Andrew , Borys Suzanne , Hallcom Donald K
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine substance use among older adults based upon their social isolation and loneliness profiles.

Methods

Data were derived from the New Jersey Older Adult Survey on Drug Use and Health. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to determine the profiles of older adults (N = 801) based on 5 dimensions of social isolation and loneliness. Logistic and generalized ordered logistic regressions were conducted to assess the relationship between the latent profiles and substance use.

Results

LPA identified 5 social isolation/loneliness profiles. The “connected and active” group had the lowest odds of cigarette use. The “alone but not lonely” group had the highest odds of cigarette use, alcohol use, and high-risk drinking. The “alone and lonely” group had the highest odds of nonmedical drug use.

Discussion

In working with older adults who are using substances, it is important to inquire about their social isolation and loneliness. Cognitive behavioral therapy for the “alone and lonely” group may be beneficial, as it has been deemed effective in reducing loneliness and enhancing social networks.
Progressive and Parallel Decline of Humoral and T-Cell Immunity in Convalescent Healthcare Workers with Asymptomatic or Mild-to-Moderate Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection
Authors: Casado Jose L , Vizcarra Pilar , Velasco Hector , Hammerle Johannes , McGee Amaranta , Fernandez-Escribano Marina , Vallejo Alejandro
Published: April 2021

We investigated the duration of humoral and T-cell immune response in paired samples among 22 convalescent healthcare workers (HCWs). A median of 1.8 months after diagnosis, T-cell response was significantly lower in HCWs with early loss of antibodies (6 cases [27%]). After 5.1 months, antibody decline was observed in 77% of cases (41% seroreverted; P < .01), and 36% had lost T-cell response (75% lost response to spike protein). Persistence of immune response was observed in those who developed a greater adaptive immune response. Our data point to the initial immune response as the relevant player in coronavirus disease 2019 duration of protection.
Anxiety and Its Association With Screening Mammography
Authors: Loving Vilert A , Aminololama-Shakeri Shadi , Leung Jessica W T
Published: April 2021

Anxiety is often cited as a risk of screening mammography, and organizations such as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force list anxiety as a screening-associated “harm” that should be mitigated. However, the level of mammography-related anxiety risk is difficult to assign clearly for myriad reasons, including the variability of individuals’ baseline susceptibility to anxiety, the self-reported nature of subjective anxiety states, and the multiple sources of breast cancer screening–related anxiety. In addition, anxiety measures differ between studies and psychological responses to screening mammography vary across racial and ethnic groups. Nonetheless, breast radiology practices should acknowledge the existence of mammography-associated anxiety and consider strategies to decrease it. These strategies include immediate screening interpretations, patient education efforts, and relaxation techniques.
The Bauhaus and the Business of Window Display: Moholy-Nagy’s Endeavours at Window Display in London
Authors: Meakin Kerry
Published: April 2021

This article reassesses the window displays created at Simpson’s, Piccadilly, from April 1936 until early 1937 by the Bauhaus master, László Moholy-Nagy. Although art historian and biographer, Krisztina Passuth, gave Moholy-Nagy the credit for bringing new display methods to Britain, my research reveals that modern methods of display were practised well before his arrival. His designs appear removed from the professional standard of British window display, which was influenced by the fundamentals taught at the Schule Reimann in Berlin during the 1920s. To understand the discrepancy between the German influence on British display and the work of an émigré Bauhaus master in Britain, I will first consider German window reform in the 1910s and its development and influence on British display from the latter half of the 1920s. Secondly, I will examine Moholy-Nagy’s period at Simpson’s and his approach to display. Thirdly, I will attempt tounderstand why Moholy-Nagy was seemingly naïve about the modern display methods used in Britain in the mid-1930s and why Simpson’s displays were so removed from the standard of display professionals. This article is part of my doctoral research on the professionalisation of window display in Britain from 1919 to 1939.
The Underlying Effects of Celiac Disease and Subsequent Implications on Deployment in the United States Army
Authors: Seidel Grayson , Kotchman Halle , Milner Erin , O’Donovan Kevin J
Published: April 2021

Introduction

The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the etiology, pathology, and treatments for celiac disease (CD), as well as to provide context as to how CD impacts the U.S. military.

Materials and Methods

To conduct this review, the authors surveyed recent epidemiology and immunology literature in order to provide a detailed summary of the current understanding of CD, its diagnosis, and the real-world impacts within the Department of Defense (DoD).

Results

We described the gluten proteins and both the immune response in CD. We further describe the underlying genetic risk factors and diagnosis and pathogenesis of the disease and conclude the review with a discussion of how current DoD regulations impact U.S. military readiness.

Conclusion

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that results in damage to the small intestine. Ingestion of gluten in a CD patient is usually followed by villous atrophy in the small intestine, often along with other gastrointestinal symptoms. Around 1% of patients diagnosed with CD can experience complications if gluten-free diet is not followed, including intestinal lymphoma and hyposplenism. Therefore, a patient showing possible symptoms should discuss the diagnostic process with their healthcare providers to ensure adequate understanding of serological and genetic tests along with the histological examination of intestinal biopsy. Patients should seek consults with registered dietitians to structure their diets appropriately. Considering the prevalence and incidence of CD and gluten intolerances are increasing, the military should consider providing gluten-free Meals Ready-to-Eat as an option for all service members. Given the retention of service members with CD, subsequent admission of personnel with mild CD that does not affect the duties will allow the DoD access to a growing population of fully capable service members with critical technical skills who are eager to serve the USA.
Dysuria, Rebound Tenderness, and a Palpable Mass—A Ticking Time Bomb
Authors: Miklovic Tyler , Davis Philip
Published: April 2021

A 37-year-old male presented to the emergency department with the complaint of periumbilical abdominal pain, radiating to just above pubic symphysis. The patient reported that the pain was worse with urination and associated with chills and nausea. This case reports discusses the Emergency Department (ED) course and subsequent treatment of a patient found to have an infected urachal cyst, a previously asymptomatic embryological anomaly in an otherwise healthy middle-aged adult male. This is a crucial diagnosis to make in order to avoid the potential for significant morbidity and/or mortality, given the unlikely symptomatic source.
Statistics of a single sky: constrained random fields and the imprint of Bardeen potentials on galaxy clustering
Authors: Desjacques Vincent , Ginat Yonadav Barry , Reischke Robert
Published: April 2021

We explore the implications of a single observer’s viewpoint on measurements of galaxy clustering statistics. We focus on the Bardeen potentials, which imprint characteristic scale-dependent signatures in the observed galaxy power spectrum. The existence of an observer breaks homogeneity as it singles out particular field values at her/his position, like a spontaneous symmetry breaking. As a result, spatial averaging of the data must be performed while holding the Bardeen potentials fixed at the observer’s position. In practice, this can be implemented with the formalism of constrained random fields. In the traditional Cartesian Fourier decomposition, this constraint imprints a signature in the observed galaxy power spectrum at wavenumbers comparable to the fundamental mode of the survey. This effect, which is well within the cosmic variance, is the same for all observers regardless of their local environment because differences of potential solely are observable. In a spherical Bessel Fourier decomposition, this constraint affects the monopole of the observed galaxy distribution solely, like in CMB data. As a corollary, the scale dependence of the non-Gaussian bias induced by a local primordial non-Gaussianity is not significantly affected by the observer’s viewpoint.
The evolution of Lithium: implications of a universal Spite plateau
Authors: Matteucci Francesca , Molero Marta , Aguado David S , Romano Donatella
Published: April 2021

The cosmological 7Li problem consists in explaining why the primordial Li abundance, as predicted by the standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis theory with constraints from WMAP and Planck, is a factor of 3 larger than the Li abundance measured in the stars of the Spite plateau defined by old, warm dwarf stars of the Milky Way halo. Several explanations have been proposed to explain this difference, including various Li depletion processes as well as non-standard Big Bang nucleosynthesis, but the main question remains unanswered. In this paper, we present detailed chemical evolution models for dwarf spheroidal and ultra faint galaxies, compute the galactic evolution of 7Li abundance in these objects, and compare it with observations of similar objects. In our models, Li is mainly produced by novae and cosmic rays, and to a minor extent, by low and intermediate mass stars. We adopt the yield combination that best fits the Li abundances in the Milky Way stars. It is evident that the observations of dwarf objects define a Spite plateau, identical to that observed in the Milky Way, thus suggesting that the Spite plateau could be a universal feature and its meaning should be discussed. The predictions of our models for dwarf galaxies are obtained by assuming as Li primordial abundance either the one detected in the atmospheres of the oldest halo stars (Spite plateau; A(Li) ∼ 2.2 dex), or the one from cosmological observations (WMAP; A(Li) ∼ 2.66 dex). Finally, we discuss the implications of the universality of the Spite plateau results.
The search for ultraviolet luminous objects in GALEX data
Authors: Karpov Sergey V , Malkov Oleg Yu , Zhao Gang
Published: April 2021

Selection of extreme objects in data from large-scale sky surveys is a powerful tool for the detection of new classes of astrophysical objects or rare stages of their evolution. The cross-matching of catalogues and analysis of the colour indices of their objects is the usual approach to this problem, which has already provided a lot of interesting results. However, the analysis of objects that are found in only one of the surveys and are absent from all others should also attract close attention, as it may lead to the discovery of both transients and objects with extreme colour values. Here we report on an initial study aimed at the detection of objects with a significant UV excess in their spectra by cross-matching of the GALEX all-sky catalogue with several other surveys in different wavelength ranges and analysing those visible in GALEX only, or with extreme UV–optical colours (ultraviolet luminous objects). We describe the methodology for such an investigation, explain the selection of surveys for this study, and show the initial results based on a search in a small fraction of the sky. We uncovered several prominent UV-only objects lacking counterparts in catalogues of longer wavelengths, and discuss their possible nature. We also detected a single source showing an extreme UV–optical colour corresponding to UV flare on a cool sdM subdwarf star. Finally, we discuss the possible populations of objects that may be revealed in a future larger-scale analysis of this kind.
Peer Mobilization and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Partner Notification Services Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Coastal Kenya Identified a High Number of Undiagnosed HIV Infections
Authors: Dijkstra Maartje , Mohamed Khamisi , Kigoro Alex , Mumba Teresia , Mahmoud Shally , Wesonga Abdalla , Mukuria Nana , Oduor Tony , Gichuru Evans , Schim van der Loeff Maarten F , Palmer Shaun , Graham Susan M , van der Elst Elise M , Sanders Eduard J
Published: April 2021

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) partner notification services (HPN), peer mobilization with HIV self-testing, and acute and early HIV infection (AEHI) screening among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women (TGW) were assessed for acceptability, feasibility, and linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services.

Methods

Between April and August 2019, peer mobilizers mobilized clients by offering HIV oral self-tests and immediate clinic referral for clients with AEHI symptoms. Mobilized participants received clinic-based rapid antibody testing and point-of-care HIV RNA testing. Newly diagnosed participants including those derived from HIV testing services were offered immediate ART and HPN. Partners were recruited through HPN.

Results

Of 772 mobilized clients, 452 (58.5%) enrolled in the study as mobilized participants. Of these, 16 (3.5%) were HIV newly diagnosed, including 2 (0.4%) with AEHI. All but 2 (14/16 [87.5%]) initiated ART. Thirty-five GBMSM and TGW were offered HPN and 27 (77.1%) accepted it. Provider referral identified a higher proportion of partners tested (39/64 [60.9%] vs 5/14 [35.7%]) and partners with HIV (27/39 [69.2%] vs 2/5 [40.0%]) than index referral. Of 44 enrolled partners, 10 (22.7%) were newly diagnosed, including 3 (6.8%) with AEHI. All 10 (100%) initiated ART. PrEP was initiated among 24.0% (103/429) mobilized participants and 28.6% (4/14) partners without HIV.

Conclusions

HPN, combined with a peer mobilization–led self-testing strategy and AEHI screening for GBMSM and TGW, appears to be acceptable and feasible. These strategies, especially HPN provider referral, effectively identified undiagnosed HIV infections and linked individuals to ART and PrEP services.
Genus 0 Gopakumar–vafa Invariants of the Banana Manifold
Authors: Morishige Nina
Published: April 2021

The Banana manifold $X_{Ban}$ is a compact Calabi–Yau threefold constructed as the conifold resolution of the fiber product of a generic rational elliptic surface with itself, which was first studied by Bryan. We compute Katz’s genus 0 Gopakumar–Vafa invariants of fiber curve classes on the Banana manifold $X_{Ban}\to \mathbf{P} ^1$. The weak Jacobi form of weight −2 and index 1 is the associated generating function for these genus 0 Gopakumar–Vafa invariants. The invariants are shown to be an actual count of structure sheaves of certain possibly non-reduced genus 0 curves on the universal cover of the singular fibers of $X_{Ban}\to\mathbf{P}^1$.
Aspiring for Change: Ethiopian Women’s Labor Migration to the Middle East
Authors: Schewel Kerilyn
Published: April 2021

This paper examines why young women in rural Ethiopia decide to migrate as domestic workers to the Middle East. Based on survey data and 84 in-depth interviews, it explores the forces shaping young women’s aspirations and capabilities to migrate, challenging the dominant narratives of trafficking, deception, and victimization that surround this migration corridor. It finds, first, that migration to the Middle East is one migration trajectory embedded within a broader urban transition occurring across Ethiopia. For rural women, labor emigration is often a long-distance, short-term strategy to access the capital needed to realize a long-term, short-distance move to town. Second, the aspiration to migrate emerges at a particular moment in the life course, as young women transition from adolescence into adulthood and when local opportunities do not provide promising pathways to achieve their life aspirations. This paper shows why labor emigration can simultaneously be a reasonable, capabilities-enhancing choice for young women and a response to a critical lack of capabilities in other domains of their lives. Finally, through applying an aspiration–capability framework, this paper advances a theoretical approach that avoids the common binary between “forced” and “voluntary” migration and thus contributes to advancing research on other forms of precarious migration occurring under highly constrained conditions.