bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Treponema pallidum DNA During Early Syphilis Stages in Peripheral Blood, Oropharynx, Ano-Rectum and Urine as a Proxy for Transmissibility
Authors: Nieuwenburg S A , Zondag H C A , Bruisten S M , Jongen V W , Schim van der Loeff M F , van Dam A P , de Vries H J C 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
Syphilis diagnosis may be challenging, especially in the asymptomatic and early clinical stages. We evaluated the presence of Treponema pallidum DNA (TP-DNA) in various sample types to elucidate transmissibility during various syphilis stages.

Methods
The study was conducted at the Amsterdam Centre for Sexual Health. We included adult men who have sex with men (MSM), who were suspected of having syphilis. The 2020 European guidelines definitions were followed for the diagnosis and staging of syphilis. Using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the polA gene of Treponema pallidum (TP-PCR), we tested the following study samples on TP-DNA: peripheral blood, oropharyngeal swab, ano-rectal swab, and urine.

Results
From November 2018 to December 2019 we included 293 MSM. Seventy clients had primary syphilis, 73 secondary syphilis, 86 early latent syphilis, 14 late latent syphilis, 23 treated syphilis, and 27 had no syphilis. TP-DNA was detected in at least 1 study sample in 35/70 clients with primary syphilis (2/70 peripheral blood, 7/70 oropharynx, 13/70 ano-rectum, and 24/70 urine); in 62/73 clients with secondary syphilis (15/73 peripheral blood, 47/73 oropharynx, 37/73 ano-rectum, and 26/73 urine); and in 29/86 clients with early latent syphilis (5/86 peripheral blood, 21/86 oropharynx, 11/86 ano-rectum, and 6/86 urine). TP-DNA was not detected in clients with late latent syphilis or treated syphilis, nor in clients without syphilis.

Conclusions
TP-DNA was frequently detected in various sample types in the absence of lesions. This is in line with the high transmission rate of syphilis and opens diagnostic opportunities for early presymptomatic syphilis stages.
The Deviations of China’s Treaty-Making Practices from Its Constitutional and Statutory Provisions?: An Interbranch Perspective
Authors: Jiang Chaoyi 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
This article studies how Chinese State actors address treaty practices that go beyond the wording of applicable law designated to separate the treaty-making power between the executive and the legislative branches, particularly whether the executive branch has exploited its institutional advantages in foreign affairs to circumvent the statutory interbranch checks amid the proliferation of treaties to which China has subscribed. Such practices concentrate on the following five issues: the textual inconsistency in the meaning attached to the term ‘treaty’ under different Chinese laws; the unclear distinction between important agreements and sole-executive agreements, and ministerial agreements; the State president’s lack of a constitutional or statutory grant of affirmative power to negotiate treaties; the State president’s non-performing role in ratifying treaties and important agreements; and the mismatch between the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee’s treaty-making power and domestic law-making power. This article concludes that problems of extra-textual practices, including difficulties in identifying the hierarchical order of a ratified/approved treaty and other consequences of ultra vires exercise of treaty power by the executive branch, do not occur in the Chinese treaty-making process. The State Council and its departments do not take advantage of sole-executive agreements to covertly expand their domestic affairs authorities and have prudently cooperated with the NPC and the Standing Committee to avoid violating applicable law. The ultimate decision-making power of the NPC Standing Committee in ratifying treaties and important agreements is warranted, and the mismatch between its treaty-making power and domestic authority has been solved through internal cooperation with the State Council and delegation of authority by the NPC. The president’s treaty-negotiation power has developed from the long-standing constitutional practices recognized by the State Council and the NPC, and the acquiescence of the NPC can also justify the president’s failure to perform a symbolic declaratory role in treaty making.
Aortic valve repair using pericardial patch standardized with external ring annuloplasty
Authors: Danial Pichoy , Moiroux-Sahraoui Alexander , Debauchez Mathieu , Monin Jean-Luc , Berrebi Alain , Shraer Nathanael , Lansac Emmanuel 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was undertaken to analyse outcomes of aortic valve repair using additional material and compare the results to those of cusp repair without the use of the pericardial patch.

METHODS
All consecutive patients aged over 16 who underwent aortic valve repair with external ring annuloplasty for isolated aortic insufficiency, aortic insufficiency and tubular aortic aneurysm or aortic root aneurysm between May 2003 and November 2019 were included in a cohort study. Data were collected and analysed from the AVIATOR registry (AorticValve repair InternATiOnal Registry). Propensity score framework analysis (inverse probability of treatment weighting) was used to compare outcomes of the groups while controlling for confounders.

RESULTS
During the 16-year study period, 618 patients underwent aortic valve repair. Eight-year survival rate was 92% in the patch group and 90.2% in the no patch group without significant differences [P = 0.957 inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) weighted]. Early valve-related reoperation was more frequent in the patch group as compared to the no patch group (6% vs 1%, P &lt; 0.001 IPTW weighted), the freedom from aortic valve-related reintervention and from structural valve deterioration at 8 years was not significantly different between the patch and no patch groups (93.7% vs 94%, P = 0.968 IPTW weighted; and 99.3% vs 96.7%, P = 0.964 IPTW weighted).

CONCLUSIONS
Although a higher rate of early reintervention was observed, aortic valve repair using the pericardial patch, in a standardized approach using external annuloplasty, with effective coaptation height of at least 9 mm, was not associated with an increase in mid-term aortic valve-related reoperation or structural valve deterioration as compared to valve repair without the pericardial patch.
Single-cell transcription profiles in Bloom syndrome patients link BLM deficiency with altered condensin complex expression signatures
Authors: Gönenc Ipek Ilgin , Wolff Alexander , Schmidt Julia , Zibat Arne , Müller Christian , Cyganek Lukas , Argyriou Loukas , Räschle Markus , Yigit Gökhan , Wollnik Bernd 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Bloom syndrome (BS) is an autosomal recessive disease clinically characterized by primary microcephaly, growth deficiency, immunodeficiency and predisposition to cancer. It is mainly caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the BLM gene, which encodes the BLM helicase, acting in DNA replication and repair processes. Here, we describe the gene expression profiles of three BS fibroblast cell lines harboring causative, biallelic truncating mutations obtained by single-cell (sc) transcriptome analysis. We compared the scRNA transcription profiles from three BS patient cell lines to two age-matched wild-type controls and observed specific deregulation of gene sets related to the molecular processes characteristically affected in BS, such as mitosis, chromosome segregation, cell cycle regulation and genomic instability. We also found specific upregulation of genes of the Fanconi anemia pathway, in particular FANCM, FANCD2 and FANCI, which encode known interaction partners of BLM. The significant deregulation of genes associated with inherited forms of primary microcephaly observed in our study might explain in part the molecular pathogenesis of microcephaly in BS, one of the main clinical characteristics in patients. Finally, our data provide first evidence of a novel link between BLM dysfunction and transcriptional changes in condensin complex I and II genes. Overall, our study provides novel insights into gene expression profiles in BS on an sc level, linking specific genes and pathways to BLM dysfunction.
Functional Neuroimaging Correlates of Placebo Response in Patients With Depressive or Anxiety Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huneke Nathan T M , Aslan Ibrahim H , Fagan Harry , Phillips Naomi , Tanna Rhea , Cortese Samuele , Garner Matthew , Baldwin David S 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
The mechanisms underlying placebo effects of psychotropic drugs remain poorly understood. We carried out the first, to our knowledge, systematic review of functional neuroimaging correlates of placebo response in adults with anxiety/depressive disorders.

Methods
We systematically searched a large set of databases up to February 2021 based on a pre-registered protocol (PROSPERO CRD42019156911). We extracted neuroimaging data related to clinical improvement following placebo or related to placebo mechanisms. We did not perform a meta-analysis due to the small number of included studies and significant heterogeneity in study design and outcome measures.

Results
We found 12 relevant studies for depressive disorders and 4 for anxiety disorders. Activity in the ventral striatum, rostral anterior cingulate cortex and other default mode network regions, orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex correlated with placebo antidepressant responses. Activity in regions of the default mode network, including posterior cingulate cortex, was associated with placebo anxiolysis. There was also evidence for possible involvement of the endogenous opioid, dopamine, and serotonin systems in placebo antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.

Conclusions
Several brain regions and molecular systems may be involved in these placebo effects. Further adequately powered studies exploring causality and controlling for confounders are required.
Pharmacogenetics of Between-Individual Variability in Plasma Clearance of Bedaquiline and Clofazimine in South Africa
Authors: Haas David W , Abdelwahab Mahmoud Tareq , van Beek Stijn W , Baker Paxton , Maartens Gary , Bradford Yuki , Ritchie Marylyn D , Wasserman Sean , Meintjes Graeme , Beeri Karen , Gandhi Neel R , Svensson Elin M , Denti Paolo , Brust James C M 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background
Plasma bedaquiline clearance is reportedly more rapid with African ancestry. Our objective was to determine whether genetic polymorphisms explained between-individual variability in plasma clearance of bedaquiline, its M2 metabolite, and clofazimine in a cohort of patients treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa.

Methods
Plasma clearance was estimated with nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Associations between pharmacogenetic polymorphisms, genome-wide polymorphisms, and variability in clearance were examined using linear regression models.

Results
Of 195 cohort participants, 140 were evaluable for genetic associations. Among 21 polymorphisms selected based on prior genome-wide significant associations with any drug, rs776746 (CYP3A5∗3) was associated with slower clearance of bedaquiline (P = .0017) but not M2 (P = .25). CYP3A5∗3 heterozygosity and homozygosity were associated with 15% and 30% slower bedaquiline clearance, respectively. The lowest P value for clofazimine clearance was with VKORC1 rs9923231 (P = .13). In genome-wide analyses, the lowest P values for clearance of bedaquiline and clofazimine were with RFX4 rs76345012 (P = 6.4 × 10−7) and CNTN5 rs75285763 (P = 2.9 × 10−8), respectively.

Conclusions
Among South Africans treated for drug-resistant tuberculosis, CYP3A5∗3 was associated with slower bedaquiline clearance. Different CYP3A5∗3 frequencies among populations may help explain the more rapid bedaquiline clearance reported in Africans. Associations with RFX4 and CNTN5 are likely by chance alone.
Recombination events that occur in a poxtA-carrying Enterococcus faecium during the conjugation process
Authors: Xu Chunyan , Wang Nannan , Li Dexi , Schwarz Stefan , Du Xiang-Dang 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Objectives
To investigate transferability of the poxtA-carrying plasmids in Enterococcus faecium and the mechanism of recombination that occurs during the conjugation process.

Methods
MICs were determined by broth microdilution. Transferability of the poxtA-carrying plasmids in E. faecium was investigated by conjugation. The mechanism of recombination that occurred during the conjugation process was explored by S1-PFGE and WGS.

Results
E. faecium strain Fac90 carries two plasmids, designated pFac90-154 and pFac90-54, respectively. Six transconjugants with different characteristics were obtained. In transconjugant T90-1, a plasmid–chromosome fusion event led to the integration of plasmid pFac90-154 from the donor E. faecium strain Fac90 into the chromosomal DNA of the recipient strain Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2. In transconjugants T90-2, -3 and -4, losses or additions of different-sized plasmid segments most likely occurred due to IS1216-mediated recombination. In transconjugants T90-5 and -6, two large plasmids with sizes of 101 656 and 149 526 bp were formed by plasmid fusion.

Conclusions
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing the integration of pFac90-154 from E. faecium Fac90 into the chromosomal DNA of recipient E. faecalis JH2-2 via homologous recombination. Besides, we showed that five new plasmid types were formed by genetic rearrangements. These recombination events resulted simultaneously in the formation of various types of mosaic plasmids with multiple resistance genes and/or conjugation characteristics, which might promote the transmission of diverse plasmids encoding resistance genes among enterococci. Thus, these data significantly expand our knowledge regarding conjugative events, establishing a dual role of conjugation in both dissemination of resistance genes and plasmid evolution.
A hybrid machine learning system to impute and classify a component-based robot
Authors: Basurto Nuño , Arroyo Ángel , Cambra Carlos , Herrero Álvaro 
Published: January 2022

AbstractIn the field of cybernetic systems and more specifically in robotics, one of the fundamental objectives is the detection of anomalies in order to minimize loss of time. Following this idea, this paper proposes the implementation of a Hybrid Intelligent System in four steps to impute the missing values, by combining clustering and regression techniques, followed by balancing and classification tasks. This system applies regression models to each one of the clusters built on the instances of data set. Subsequently, a variety of balancing techniques are applied to improve the classifier’s ability to discern whether it is in an error or a normal state. These techniques support to obtain better classification ratios in which a robot is close to error and allow us to bring the behavior back to a normal state. The experimentation is performed using a modern and public data set, which has been extracted from a component-based robotic system, in which different anomalies are induced by software in their components.
The Liberation of the Body of Creation: Towards a Pauline Environmental Ethic
Authors: Wells Kyle B 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
This article argues that careful attention to Paul’s concept of σῶμα provides a distinctly Pauline contribution to environmental ethics. It begins by highlighting the theological and exegetical problems posed by recent environmental approaches to Paul, and especially to Romans 8:19–23. It then proposes an alternative path for constructing an environmental ethic from these verses, one which (1) is based upon the close relationship Paul posits between bodily resurrection and creation’s liberation, and (2) builds upon a tradition of Pauline anthropology represented by Ernst Käsemann and Dale Martin. Specifically, this article argues that Paul relates the body to creation in such a way that it is possible to reason from the place of the body in the person’s liberation from sin and death (6:6; 12–13; 8:23) to an environmental ethic. What this approach provides is an environmental ethic that is both exegetically responsible and more consistent with Paul’s apocalyptic framework.
Solar system peculiar motion from the Hubble diagram of quasars and testing the cosmological principle
Authors: Singal Ashok K 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTWe determine here the peculiar motion of the Solar system, first time from the m–z Hubble diagram of quasars. Observer’s peculiar motion causes a systematic shift in the m–z plane between sources lying along the velocity vector and those in the opposite direction, providing a measure of the peculiar velocity. Accordingly, from a sample of ∼1.2 × 105 mid-infrared quasars with measured spectroscopic redshifts, we arrive at a peculiar velocity ∼22 times larger than that from the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) dipole but direction matching within ∼2σ. Previous findings from number count, sky brightness, or redshift dipoles observed in samples of distant active galactic nuclei or supernovae type Ia too had yielded values 2–10 times larger than the CMBR value, though the direction in all cases agreed with the CMBR dipole. Since a genuine solar peculiar velocity cannot vary from one data set to another, an order of magnitude, statistically significant, discordant dipoles might imply that we may instead have to look for some other cause for the genesis of these dipoles, including that of the CMBR. At the same time, a common direction for all these dipoles, determined from completely independent surveys by different groups employing different techniques, might indicate that these dipoles are not resulting from some systematics in the observations or in the data analysis, but could instead suggest a preferred direction in the Universe due to an inherent anisotropy, which, in turn, would be against the cosmological principle, the most basic tenet of the modern cosmology.
Fraction of broad absorption line quasars in different radio morphologies
Authors: Nair A , Vivek M 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACT
In this study, we investigated the orientation model of Broad Absorption Line (BAL) quasars using a sample of sources that are common in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release (DR)-16 quasar catalogue and Very Large Array (VLA)-Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty Centimeters (FIRST) survey. Using the radio cut-out images from the FIRST survey, we first designed a deep-learning model using convolutional neural networks (CNN) to classify the quasar radio morphologies into the core-only, young jet, single lobe, or triples. These radio morphologies are further sub-classified into core-dominated and lobe-dominated sources. The CNN models can classify the sources with a high precision of &gt;98 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for all the morphological sub-classes. The average BAL fraction in the resolved core, core-dominated, and lobe-dominated quasars are consistent with the BAL fraction inferred from radio and infrared surveys. We also present the distribution of BAL quasars as a function of quasar orientation by using the radio core-dominance as an orientation indicator. A similar analysis is performed for HiBALs, LoBALs, and FeLoBALs. All the radio morphological sub-classes and BAL sub-classes show an increase in BAL fraction at high orientation angles of the jets with respect to the line of sight. Our analysis suggests that BAL quasars are more likely to be found in viewing angles close to the equatorial plane of the quasar. However, a pure orientation model is inadequate, and a combination of orientation and evolution is probably the best way to explain the complete BAL phenomena.
Management of Dermatologic Events Associated With the Nectin-4-directed Antibody-Drug Conjugate Enfortumab Vedotin
Authors: Lacouture Mario E , Patel Anisha B , Rosenberg Jonathan E , O’Donnell Peter H 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Enfortumab vedotin is a first-in-class Nectin-4-directed antibody-drug conjugate approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC) previously treated with a platinum-based chemotherapy and a programmed death receptor-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/L1) inhibitor, or patients with la/mUC who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy and have previously received one or more prior lines of therapy. Enfortumab vedotin is the only drug to have demonstrated survival benefit versus chemotherapy in a randomized controlled trial in patients with la/mUC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and a PD-1/L1 inhibitor. The development of dermatologic events following the administration of enfortumab vedotin is anticipated given the expression of Nectin-4 in epidermal keratinocytes and skin appendages (eg, sweat glands and hair follicles). There is the potential for rare but severe and possibly fatal cutaneous adverse reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrosis, as described in the boxed warning of the US prescribing information for enfortumab vedotin. This manuscript describes the presumed pathophysiology and manifestations of dermatologic reactions related to enfortumab vedotin, and presents recommendations for prevention and treatment, to provide oncologists and other healthcare providers with an awareness of these potential adverse events to best anticipate and manage them.
Clinical, Psychological, and Neurophysiological Outcomes Associated with Pain and Function in Individuals with Unilateral Plantar Heel Pain
Authors: Alburquerque-Sendín Francisco , Ríos-León Marta , Valera-Calero Juan A , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Ortega-Santiago Ricardo , Priscila Rodrigues-de-Souza Daiana 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Objective
To assess the potential relationship of demographic (age, gender, body mass index, height, weight), clinical (affected side, duration of symptoms, health-related quality of life), psychological (depressive levels), or neurophysiological (pressure pain sensitivity and number of trigger points) variables with foot function and pain intensity in patients with unilateral plantar heel pain (PHP).

Methods
Fifty-four patients with PHP (48% females) were recruited. Data on demographics, months with pain, time in standing position, depression, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs), number of trigger points, health-related quality of life, function, and pain intensity were collected. A multivariable correlation analysis was performed to determine the associations among the variables, and a regression analysis was conducted to explain the variance in function and pain intensity.

Results
Pain intensity was negatively correlated with symptom duration and calcaneus bone PPT and positively associated with gender, time in standing position, and number of trigger points. Function was negatively correlated with PPTs on the calcaneus bone, the flexor digitorum brevis muscle, and the abductor hallucis muscle and with quality of life and was positively correlated with age, gender, and depressive levels. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that 60.8% of pain intensity was explained by female gender, calcaneus PPTs, time in a standing position, and function. Furthermore, gender, quality of life, age, depressive levels, and calcaneus bone PPTs explained 52.4% of function variance.

Conclusions
This study found that demographic, clinical, psychological, and neurophysiological variables can mutually interact to affect function and pain intensity in patients with unilateral PHP. These findings could guide clinicians in the identification, prevention, and treatment of PHP risk factors.