bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of von Willebrand Factor in COVID-19 Associated Coagulopathy
Authors: Mei Zhen W , van Wijk Xander M R , Pham Huy P , Marin Maximo J 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Background
COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) can present with symptoms ranging from none to severe. Thrombotic events occur in a significant number of patients with COVID-19, especially in critically ill patients. This apparent novel form of coagulopathy is termed COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC), and endothelial derived von Willebrand factor (vWF) may play an important role in its pathogenesis.

Content
vWF is a multimeric glycoprotein molecule that is involved in inflammation, primary and secondary hemostasis. Studies have shown that patients with COVID-19 have significantly elevated levels of vWF antigen and activity, likely contributing to an increased risk of thrombosis seen in CAC. The high levels of both vWF antigen and activity have been clinically correlated with worse outcomes. Furthermore, the severity of a COVID-19 infection appears to reduce molecules that regulate vWF level and activity such as ADAMTS-13 and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Finally, studies have suggested that patients with group O blood (a blood group with lower baseline levels of vWF) have a lower risk of infection and disease severity compared to other ABO blood groups; however, more studies are needed to elucidate the role of vWF.

Summary
CAC is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Endothelial dysfunction with the release of prothrombotic factors, such as vWF, needs further examination as a possible important component in the pathogenesis of CAC.
Large bowel obstruction secondary to gallstones
Authors: Crosen Matelin , Ghattas Paul , Sandhu Rovinder 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of cholelithiasis, representing 1% of bowel obstructions. The usual site of obstruction is the ileocecal valve, though other sites have been reported. Here, we present two cases of gallstone ileus within the distal colon requiring surgical intervention. Two elderly females presented with vague abdominal symptoms secondary to large bowel obstruction from gallstone impaction. Both underwent attempted endoscopic retrieval without success. Patient 1 required laparoscopy converted to exploratory laparotomy with colotomy and removal of the stone. Patient 2 required partial colectomy and end colostomy formation due to acute sigmoid inflammation. Gallstone ileus is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, though incidence increases with age. Cholecystocolonic fistulas allow stones to bypass the ileocecal valve, with the potential for impaction in the colon at the site of a stricture or tortuosity. Surgical intervention may be required in cases not amenable to successful endoscopic retrieval.
Rubisco production in maize mesophyll cells through ectopic expression of subunits and chaperones
Authors: Hotto Amber M , Salesse-Smith Coralie , Lin Myat , Busch Florian A , Simpson Isabelle , Stern David B 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
C4 plants, such as maize, strictly compartmentalize Rubisco to bundle sheath chloroplasts. The molecular basis for the restriction of Rubisco from the more abundant mesophyll chloroplasts is not fully understood. Mesophyll chloroplasts transcribe the Rubisco large subunit gene and, when normally quiescent transcription of the nuclear Rubisco small subunit gene family is overcome by ectopic expression, mesophyll chloroplasts still do not accumulate measurable Rubisco. Here we show that a combination of five ubiquitin promoter-driven nuclear transgenes expressed in maize leads to mesophyll accumulation of assembled Rubisco. These encode the Rubisco large and small subunits, Rubisco assembly factors 1 and 2, and the assembly factor Bundle sheath defective 2. In these plants, Rubisco large subunit accumulates in mesophyll cells, and appears to be assembled into a holoenzyme capable of binding the substrate analog CABP (carboxyarabinitol bisphosphate). Isotope discrimination assays suggest, however, that mesophyll Rubisco is not participating in carbon assimilation in these plants, most probably due to a lack of the substrate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and/or Rubisco activase. Overall, this work defines a minimal set of Rubisco assembly factors in planta and may help lead to methods of regulating the C4 pathway.
AnN-body population synthesis framework for the formation of moons around Jupiter-like planets
Authors: Cilibrasi M , Szulágyi J , Grimm S L , Mayer L 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACTThe moons of giant planets are believed to form in situ in circumplanetary discs (CPDs). Here, we present an N-body population synthesis framework for satellite formation around a Jupiter-like planet, in which the dust-to-gas ratio, the accretion rate of solids from the protoplanetary disc, the number, and the initial positions of protosatellites were randomly chosen from realistic distributions. The disc properties were from 3D radiative simulations sampled in 1D and 2D grids and evolved semi-analytically with time. The N-body satellitesimals accreted mass from the solid component of the disc, interacted gravitationally with each other, experienced close-encounters, both scattering and colliding. With this improved modeling, we found that only about $15{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the resulting population is more massive than the Galilean one, causing migration rates to be low and resonant captures to be uncommon. In 10 per cent of the cases, moons are engulfed by the planet, and 1 per cent of the satellite-systems lose at least 1 Earth-mass into the planet, contributing only in a minor part to the giant planet’s envelope’s heavy element content. We examined the differences in outcome between the 1D and 2D disc models and used machine learning techniques (Randomized Dependence Coefficient together with t-SNE) to compare our population with the Galilean system. Detecting our population around known transiting Jupiter-like planets via transits and TTVs would be challenging, but $14{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the moons could be spotted with an instrumental transit sensitivity of 10−5.
Nitrogen X-ray absorption in the local ISM
Authors: Gatuzz Efrain , García Javier A , Kallman Timothy R 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Nitrogen is one of the most abundant metals in the interstellar medium (ISM), and thus it constitutes an excellent test to study a variety of astrophysical environments, ranging from nova to active galactic nuclei. We present a detailed analysis of the gaseous component of the N K-edge using high-resolution XMM–Newton spectra of 12 Galactic and 40 extragalactic sources. For each source, we have estimated column densities for N i, N ii, N iii, N v, N vi, and N vii ionic species, which trace the cold, warm, and hot phases of the local Galactic ISM. We have found that the cold-warm component column densities decrease with the Galactic latitude, while the hot component does not. Moreover, the cold column density distribution is in good agreement with UV measurements. This is the first detailed analysis of the nitrogen K-edge absorption due to ISM using high-resolution X-ray spectra.
AzTEC survey of the central molecular zone: data reduction, analysis, and preliminary results
Authors: Tang Yuping , Wang Q Daniel , Wilson Grant W , Heyer Mark H , Gutermuth Robert A , Schloerb Peter , Yun Min S , Bally John , Loinard Laurent , Silich Sergiy , Chávez Miguel , Haggard Daryl , Montaña Alfredo , Sánchez-Argüelles David , Zeballos Milagros , Zavala Jorge A , León-Tavares Jonathan 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
We present a large-scale survey of the central molecular zone (CMZ) of our Galaxy, as well as a monitoring program of Sgr A*, with the AzTEC/Large Millimeter Telescope in the 1.1 mm continuum. Our 1.1 mm map covers the main body of the CMZ over a field of 1.6 × 1.1 deg2 with an angular resolution of 10.5 arcsec and a depth of 15 mJy beam−1. To account for the intensity loss due to the background removal process, we combine this map with lower resolution CSO/Bolocam and Planck/HFI data to produce an effective full intensity 1.1 mm continuum map. With this map and existing Herschel surveys, we have carried out a comprehensive analysis of the spectral energy distribution of dust in the CMZ. A key component of this analysis is the implementation of a model-based deconvolution approach, incorporating the Point Spread Functions (PSFs) of the different instruments, and hence recovering a significant amount of spatial information on angular scales larger than 10.5 arcsec. The monitoring of Sgr A* was carried out as part of a worldwide, multiwavelength campaign when the so-called G2 object was undergoing the pericentre passage around the massive black hole. Our preliminary results include (1) high-resolution maps of column density, temperature and dust spectral index across the CMZ; (2) a 1.1 mm light curve of Sgr A* showing an outburst of $140{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ maximum amplitude on 2014 May 9th May, 2014 but otherwise only stochastic variations of $10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and no systematic long-term change, consistent with other observations.
Further support for a trio of mass-to-light deviations in Abell 370: free-form grale lens inversion using BUFFALO strong lensing data
Authors: Ghosh Agniva , Williams Liliya L R , Liesenborgs Jori , Acebron Ana , Jauzac Mathilde , Koekemoer Anton M , Mahler Guillaume , Niemiec Anna , Steinhardt Charles , Faisst Andreas L , Lagattuta David , Natarajan Priyamvada 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
We use the Beyond Ultra-deep Frontier Fields and Legacy Observations (BUFFALO) strong lensing image catalogue of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 370 to obtain a mass model using free-form lens inversion algorithm grale. The improvement of the strong lensing data quality results in a lens plane rms of only 0.45 arcsec, about a factor of two lower than that of our existing HFF v4 reconstruction. We attribute the improvement to spectroscopic data and use of the full reprocessed HST mosaics. In our reconstructed mass model, we found indications of three distinct mass features in Abell 370: (i) a ∼35 kpc offset between the northern BCG and the nearest mass peak, (ii) a ∼100 kpc mass concentration of roughly critical density ∼250 kpc east of the main cluster, and (iii) a probable filament-like structure passing N-S through the cluster. While (i) is present in some form in most publicly available reconstructions spanning the range of modelling techniques: parametric, hybrid, and free-form, (ii) and (iii) are recovered by only about half of the reconstructions. We tested our hypothesis on the presence of the filament-like structure by creating a synthetic cluster – Irtysh IIIc – mocking the situation of a cluster with external mass. We also computed the source plane magnification distributions. Using them, we estimated the probabilities of magnifications in the source plane, and scrutinized their redshift dependence. Finally, we explored the lensing effects of Abell 370 on the luminosity functions of sources at zs = 9.0, finding it consistent with published results.
RNAnue: efficient data analysis for RNA–RNA interactomics
Authors: Schäfer Richard A , Voß Björn 
Published: April 2021

AbstractRNA–RNA inter- and intramolecular interactions are fundamental for numerous biological processes. While there are reasonable approaches to map RNA secondary structures genome-wide, understanding how different RNAs interact to carry out their regulatory functions requires mapping of intermolecular base pairs. Recently, different strategies to detect RNA–RNA duplexes in living cells, so called direct duplex detection (DDD) methods, have been developed. Common to all is the Psoralen-mediated in vivo RNA crosslinking followed by RNA Proximity Ligation to join the two interacting RNA strands. Sequencing of the RNA via classical RNA-seq and subsequent specialised bioinformatic analyses the result in the prediction of inter- and intramolecular RNA–RNA interactions. Existing approaches adapt standard RNA-seq analysis pipelines, but often neglect inherent features of RNA–RNA interactions that are useful for filtering and statistical assessment. Here we present RNAnue, a general pipeline for the inference of RNA–RNA interactions from DDD experiments that takes into account hybridisation potential and statistical significance to improve prediction accuracy. We applied RNAnue to data from different DDD studies and compared our results to those of the original methods. This showed that RNAnue performs better in terms of quantity and quality of predictions.
pLannotate: engineered plasmid annotation
Authors: McGuffie Matthew J , Barrick Jeffrey E 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Engineered plasmids are widely used in the biological sciences. Since many plasmids contain DNA sequences that have been reused and remixed by researchers for decades, annotation of their functional elements is often incomplete. Missing information about the presence, location, or precise identity of a plasmid feature can lead to unintended consequences or failed experiments. Many engineered plasmids contain sequences—such as recombinant DNA from all domains of life, wholly synthetic DNA sequences, and engineered gene expression elements—that are not predicted by microbial genome annotation pipelines. Existing plasmid annotation tools have limited feature libraries and do not detect incomplete fragments of features that are present in many plasmids for historical reasons and may impact their newly designed functions. We created the open source pLannotate web server so users can quickly and comprehensively annotate plasmid features. pLannotate is powered by large databases of genetic parts and proteins. It employs a filtering algorithm to display only the most relevant feature matches and also reports feature fragments. Finally, pLannotate displays a graphical map of the annotated plasmid, explains the provenance of each feature prediction, and allows results to be downloaded in a variety of formats. The webserver for pLannotate is accessible at: http://plannotate.barricklab.org/
O13 Which composite measure best reflects disease activity and predicts treatment change in psoriatic arthritis?
Authors: Tucker Laura , Helliwell Philip , Coates Laura ,   GRACE collaboration
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background/Aims
Multiple composite measures of disease activity are available and used in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) research; however, poor agreement remains amongst clinicians on the optimal measure of disease activity. Research to date has focused on polyarticular PsA, despite oligoarticular disease accounting for around half of cases in clinical practice. We aim to compare the ability of Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (CPDAI), Psoriatic ArthritiS Disease Activity Score (PASDAS), Disease Activity score for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA), GRAppa Composite scorE (GRACE) and Disease Activity Score 28 CRP (DAS28-CRP) to assess disease activity and predict treatment change, amongst usual care patients with oligoarticular and polyarticular psoriatic disease.
Methods
The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Composite Exercise (GRACE) dataset was utilised. Oligoarthritis was defined as &lt; 5 active joints. Reference measures were clinician and patient opinions on disease control and whether treatment was escalated. Patients with baseline data for all composite measures were included. The ability of each composite measure to predict treatment change and capture disease activity was compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.
Results
Data were available for 271 patients (152 oligoarthritis, 119 polyarthritis). The mean age, duration of PsA and psoriasis were similar for both groups. A higher proportion of oligoarticular patients were male. Patients with polyarticular disease had higher disease activity in skin, enthesitis and dactylitis.
Using both patient and physician definitions of disease control, all composite measures were able to differentiate between patients with active and quiescent disease, regardless of disease subtype (p &lt; 0.05). PASDAS demonstrated the largest differentiation in score. Differences between active and inactive disease scores were more pronounced in oligoarticular disease. PASDAS demonstrated the greatest ability to predict treatment change in both oligoarticular and polyarticular disease. Interestingly, DAPSA could not predict treatment change in polyarticular patients, p = 0.074 (Table 1).
Conclusion
This is the first study to compare composite measures, in oligoarticular and polyarticular PsA in a multinational cohort. All composite measures of disease activity were able to differentiate between active and inactive disease in both subtypes. PASDAS demonstrated the largest discrimination in both polyarticular and oligoarticular disease, suggesting greatest clinical and research utility.
Disclosure
L. Tucker: None. P. Helliwell: None. L. Coates: None.
P060 Pilot study showing the efficacy and acceptability of an acceptance and commitment therapy based brief psychological intervention on mood and disability in patients with early inflammatory arthritis
Authors: Maher-Edwards Lorraine , Ng Nora , Gillanders David 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background/Aims
Psychiatric comorbidities are common in patients living with rheumatological conditions and are associated with poorer health outcomes and treatment response. The evidence base for psychological intervention is scarce and of poor quality. One trial has found CBT intervention early post-diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has small to medium effect sizes for depression and anxiety and no effect on disability. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological therapy with a good evidence base for a number of long term health conditions. The target process in ACT is psychological flexibility, which relates closely to a number of positive life outcomes including adaptive response to illness and trauma. Psychological inflexibility has been shown to be associated with poorer function and psychological wellbeing in chronic pain populations and more recently juvenile idiopathic arthritis specifically. We aimed to evaluate outcomes for a sample (n = 12) of newly diagnosed (within 3 years of diagnosis) patients with inflammatory arthritis who underwent an individualised ACT intervention using patient satisfaction data, qualitative feedback and measures of mood, quality of life and psychological flexibility.
Methods
Patients received up to 7 sessions of one to one therapy. Outcome measures included PHQ-9, GAD-7, compACT, and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and a satisfaction questionnaire with open questions inviting qualitative responses. Paired t-tests were conducted, and the Jacobson and Truax method used to calculate Reliable Change Index and Clinically Significant Change criteria. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohens’ d. Correlation analysis was conducted using Pearsons correlation coefficients.
Results
Patients who took part in the brief intervention showed significant improvement in depression, anxiety, quality of life and psychological flexibility. Effect sizes were large. Correlation analysis showed strong correlations between PF and both depression and quality of life. Changes in PF from baseline to end of therapy strongly correlated with changes in depression and disability, and moderately correlated with anxiety. Subanalyses will be presented to understand which particular components of PF most closely relate to improvements in outcomes on disability and mood.
Conclusion
A brief one to one ACT-based psychological intervention conferred good benefit for a rheumatology population. Results suggest PF is a key therapeutic target in psychological interventions for people with arthritis and that ACT is a viable, highly acceptable and promising alternative to CBT in this population. More studies are needed to understand whether this effect is generalisable and longer-term outcomes.
Disclosure
L. Maher-Edwards: None. N. Ng: None. D. Gillanders: None.
P070 Tele-consultations from the patient’s perspective: during the pandemic and beyond
Authors: Cleaton Natasha , Raizada Sabrina 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background/Aims
The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged healthcare systems worldwide stimulating a transformation of NHS services to cope with increased acute demand, while aiming to minimise viral transmission. A significant proportion of rheumatology patients are considered ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and are at increased risk of COVID-19. With this in mind, alongside national guidance from the British Society for Rheumatology and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence we adapted our services in response to COVID by mostly suspending face-to-face appointments for follow up patients, instead relying on telephone or virtual consultations with a face-to-face appointment if necessary in order to minimise risk to our patients. We aimed to evaluate our use of telephone consultations during the pandemic and gain understanding of our patients views of telephone consultations longer term.
Methods
We retrospectively surveyed rheumatology patients under active follow-up at the royal Wolverhampton trust who had a telephone consultation with a rheumatology consultant over a 4-week period (11/5/20- 4/6/20). Patients were invited to participate via a SMS text message containing an embedded web-link to the survey. Results were analysed using SPSS version 26.
Results
Surveys were sent to 1,213 patients; 306 (25.2%) patients completed the survey. Responders were mostly female; the predominant diagnosis was inflammatory arthritis. Ages included: 1 (0.3%) patient 16-29 years, 46 (15.0%) 30-49, 180 (58.8%) 50-69, and 79 (25.8%) aged &gt;70 years. Regarding their telephone consultation, 86.6% of responders were satisfied with the consultation. During the current pandemic 81.4% of responders were pleased to have a telephone consult rather than face-to-face; 57.2% of responders would be happy for their next routine appointment to be a telephone clinic. A significantly higher proportion of patients &lt;50 years preferred telephone consultations when compared to older patients (Chi2 [DF = 3]= 10.075, P = 0.018) and more younger patients had access to a smartphone than those in the older cohort (Chi2 [DF 3]= 20.919, P = &lt;0.001).
Conclusion
Overall, the short-term switch to telephone consultation was well received by our cohort. The majority of patients were satisfied with their telephone consultation and most were pleased to have a telephone consult rather than a face-to-face appointment in the current pandemic. Just over half would be happy for their next routine appointment to be a telephone consultation, however, a significantly higher proportion of younger patients prefer telephone consultations compared to older patients and a greater number of younger patients have access to a smartphone compared to older patients. Further planning is required to ensure patients in older and other vulnerable groups are not excluded should telephone clinics become a more permanent fixture.
Disclosure
N. Cleaton: None. S. Raizada: None.