bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single or multiple arterial bypass graft surgery vs. percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with three-vessel or left main coronary artery disease
Authors: Davierwala Piroze M , Gao Chao , Thuijs Daniel J F M , Wang Rutao , Hara Hironori , Ono Masafumi , Noack Thilo , Garg Scot , O'leary Neil , Milojevic Milan , Kappetein Arie Pieter , Morice Marie-Claude , Mack Michael J , van Geuns Robert-Jan , Holmes David R , Gaudino Mario , Taggart David P , Onuma Yoshinobu , Mohr Friedrich Wilhelm , Serruys Patrick W ,   for the SYNTAX Extended Survival Investigators
Published: August 2021

Aim

The aim of this study was to compare long-term all-cause mortality between patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using multiple (MAG) or single arterial grafting (SAG).

Methods and results

The current study is a post hoc analysis of the SYNTAX Extended Survival Study, which compared PCI with CABG in patients with three-vessel (3VD) and/or left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) and evaluated survival with ≥10 years of follow-up. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at maximum follow-up (median 11.9 years) assessed in the as-treated population. Of the 1743 patients, 901 (51.7%) underwent PCI, 532 (30.5%) received SAG, and 310 (17.8%) had MAG. At maximum follow-up, all-cause death occurred in 305 (33.9%), 175 (32.9%), and 70 (22.6%) patients in the PCI, SAG, and MAG groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Multiple arterial grafting [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.89], but not SAG (adjusted HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.67–1.03), was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality compared with PCI. In patients with 3VD, both MAG (adjusted HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37–0.81) and SAG (adjusted HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50–0.91) were associated with significantly lower mortality than PCI, whereas in LMCAD patients, no significant differences between PCI and MAG (adjusted HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.56–1.46) or SAG (adjusted HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.81–1.53) were observed. In patients with revascularization of all three major myocardial territories, a positive correlation was observed between the number of myocardial territories receiving arterial grafts and survival (P  trend = 0.003).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that MAG might be the more desirable configuration for CABG to achieve lower long-term all-cause mortality than PCI in patients with 3VD and/or LMCAD.

Trial registration

Registered on clinicaltrial.gov. SYNTAXES: NCT03417050 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03417050); SYNTAX: NCT00114972 (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00114972).
Got acetylene: a personal research retrospective
Authors: Oremland Ronald S
Published: August 2021

In research, sometimes sheer happenstance and serendipity make for an unexpected discovery. Once revealed and if interesting enough, such a finding and its follow-up investigations can lead to advances by others that leave its originators ‘scooped’ and mulling about what next to do with their unpublished data, specifically what journals could it still be published in and be perceived as original. This is what occurred with us nearly 40 years ago with regard to our follow-up observations of acetylene fermentation and led us to concoct a ‘cock-and-bull’ story. We hypothesized about a plausible role for acetylene metabolism in the primordial biogeochemistry of Earth and the possibility of acetylene serving as a key life-sustaining substrate for alien microbes dwelling in the orbs of the outer solar system. With the passage of time, advances were made in whole-genome sequencing coupled with major in silico progress in bioinformatics. In parallel came the results of explorations of the outer solar system (i.e. the Cassini mission to Saturn and its moons). It now appears that these somewhat harebrained ideas of ours, arisen at first out of a sense of desperation, actually ring true in fact, and particularly well in song:

‘Tell a tale of cock and bull,

Of convincing detail full

Tale tremendous,

Heav'n defend us!

What a tale of cock and bull!'

From ‘The Yeoman of the Guard’ by Gilbert & Sullivan.
DrosoPhyla: Resources for Drosophilid Phylogeny and Systematics
Authors: Finet Cédric , Kassner Victoria A , Carvalho Antonio B , Chung Henry , Day Jonathan P , Day Stephanie , Delaney Emily K , De Ré Francine C , Dufour Héloïse D , Dupim Eduardo , Izumitani Hiroyuki F , Gautério Thaísa B , Justen Jessa , Katoh Toru , Kopp Artyom , Koshikawa Shigeyuki , Longdon Ben , Loreto Elgion L , Nunes Maria D S , Raja Komal K B , Rebeiz Mark , Ritchie Michael G , Saakyan Gayane , Sneddon Tanya , Teramoto Machiko , Tyukmaeva Venera , Vanderlinde Thyago , Wey Emily E , Werner Thomas , Williams Thomas M , Robe Lizandra J , Toda Masanori J , Marlétaz Ferdinand
Published: August 2021

The vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster is a pivotal model for invertebrate development, genetics, physiology, neuroscience, and disease. The whole family Drosophilidae, which contains over 4,400 species, offers a plethora of cases for comparative and evolutionary studies. Despite a long history of phylogenetic inference, many relationships remain unresolved among the genera, subgenera, and species groups in the Drosophilidae. To clarify these relationships, we first developed a set of new genomic markers and assembled a multilocus data set of 17 genes from 704 species of Drosophilidae. We then inferred a species tree with highly supported groups for this family. Additionally, we were able to determine the phylogenetic position of some previously unplaced species. These results establish a new framework for investigating the evolution of traits in fruit flies, as well as valuable resources for systematics.
Left Turns by Older Drivers With Vision Impairment: A Naturalistic Driving Study
Authors: Swain Thomas A , McGwin Gerald , Antin Jonathan F , Wood Joanne M , Owsley Cynthia
Published: August 2021

Background and Objectives

Older drivers are overrepresented in collisions at intersections while making left turns across oncoming traffic. Using naturalistic driving methods, we evaluated the association between vision impairment and their left-turn characteristics.

Research Design and Methods

In this prospective, observational study, vision impairment as defined by visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual processing speed, visual field sensitivity, and motion perception was assessed in drivers ≥70 years old. Data acquisition systems were installed in their personal vehicles recording video and vehicle kinematics. Driving during everyday life was recorded for 6 months. Data analysts evaluated a temporal data window surrounding randomly selected left turns at 4-way intersections. Left-turn traversals and turning behavior were evaluated in terms of age-adjusted associations with vision impairment.

Results

The sample consisted of 151 older drivers. The number of turns studied was 473; 265 turns were rated as unsafe traversals, and 201 as problematic turning behavior. Drivers with slowed visual processing speed and visual field impairment were less likely to exhibit unsafe traversals (p < .05); those with worse contrast sensitivity, slowed visual processing speed, and visual field impairment were less likely to exhibit problematic turning behavior (p < .05).

Discussion and Implications

Using naturalistic driving, our study suggests older drivers with vision impairment exhibit better performance in making left turns than those without deficits, which contradicts older driver studies on left turns using driving simulators and on-road driving evaluations. Our findings suggest more cautious and self-regulatory behavior, which are consistent with older visually impaired drivers’ commonly expressed concerns about their driving difficulties.
Conference Report on ‘Patents and Standards – Online FRAND-Forum’
Authors: Merbecks Aurelia
Published: August 2021

There have recently been a large number of court decisions concerning questions of FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) licensing of standard essential patents (SEPs). Despite this high level of judicial activity, however, many of the questions surrounding this topic continue to remain unanswered. On 4 November 2020 the annual Mannheim (Germany) FRAND Forum organised by the FORUM Institute was held online to discuss these highly challenging issues. The forum spanned five presentations from both judicial and legal perspectives, as well as two group discussions in which around 30 people took part.
A Recipe for Success: The Effect of Dyadic Communication and Cooperative Gameplay on Subsequent Non-gaming Task Performance
Authors: Velez John A , Schmierbach Michael , Sherrick Brett , Chae Seung Woo , Tan Ryan R , Rosenberg Kenneth Allen
Published: August 2021

Cooperative game play has been associated with a growing list of prosocial benefits. However, less research has examined its constituent parts to determine their contribution to subsequent positive outcomes. The current study examined partners’ communication as a common and even imperative aspect of cooperative play that may largely account for its positive effects on cooperative behaviors and effective teamwork. Partners played a cooperative game (Overcooked 2) alone or with a partner, and in the latter case with or without the ability to communicate, before engaging in two puzzle-solving tasks that required effective and efficient communication for successful performances. Results suggest communication is unnecessary, and may even be detrimental to, subsequent team performances on non-gaming tasks, and that it seems unlikely to account for the cooperative norms proposed to be the theoretical mechanism behind cooperative play’s positive effects. The conclusion discusses theoretical implications and potential future research.
Assessing the Russian Troll Efforts to Sow Discord on Twitter during the 2016 U.S. Election
Authors: Rains Stephen A , Shmargad Yotam , Coe Kevin , Kenski Kate , Bethard Steven
Published: August 2021

Although experts agree that the Russian Internet Research Agency deployed trolls on Twitter to disrupt the 2016 U.S. presidential election, questions remain about the nuances of their efforts. We examined almost 350,000 original tweets made during the two-year electoral cycle to investigate the emphasis, timing, content, and partisanship of the trolls’ efforts targeting leading candidates. Despite only dedicating a fraction of their tweets to candidates, troll behavior generally tracked the relevance of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Ted Cruz during the election cycle. Trolls were significantly more likely to engage in name-calling in tweets about Trump, Clinton, and Cruz than in tweets about other topics. Name-calling peaked in tweets addressing Clinton during the general election. Right trolls were more likely to focus their attention on Trump, Clinton, and Cruz than were other partisan trolls.
Ultra-processed food consumption and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Shunming , Gan Shinan , Zhang Qing , Liu Li , Meng Ge , Yao Zhanxin , Wu Hongmei , Gu Yeqing , Wang Yawen , Zhang Tingjing , Wang Xuena , Sun Shaomei , Wang Xing , Zhou Ming , Jia Qiyu , Song Kun , Qi Lu , Niu Kaijun
Published: August 2021

Background

Growing evidence supports a link between ultra-processed food consumption and human health outcomes. However, the association between ultra-processed food consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is not known. We aimed to explore the association between ultra-processed food consumption and risk of NAFLD.

Methods

The prospective study included 16 168 participants aged 18–90 years from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort Study. Information on ultra-processed food consumption was collected at baseline using a validated food frequency questionnaire. NAFLD was defined as the presence of sonographic fatty liver in the absence of significant alcohol intake (≥210 g/week for men and ≥140 g/week for women, respectively) and other liver diseases. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between ultra-processed food consumption and risk of NAFLD.

Results

During 56 935 person-years of follow-up, we documented 3752 incident NAFLD cases. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, alcohol drinking, education, occupation, income, physical activity, total energy intake, personal and family history of disease and overall diet quality, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of NAFLD across increasing quartiles of ultra-processed food consumption were 1.00 (reference), 0.99 (0.90, 1.08), 1.13 (1.03, 1.25) and 1.18 (1.07, 1.30), respectively (P for trend <0.0001). The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) per one standard deviation increase in ultra-processed food consumption, equivalent to a 62.7 g/1000 kcal per day, was 1.06 (1.03, 1.09), P = 0.0001.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that higher ultra-processed food consumption is associated with a higher risk of NAFLD. This finding suggests that ultra-processed food, which is widely consumed worldwide, might be a modifiable dietary target to reduce the risk of NAFLD.
On Generic Topological Type of Complex Plane Polynomial Mappings
Authors: Farnik M , Jelonek Z
Published: August 2021

For given natural numbers $d_1,d_2$, let $\Omega _2(d_1,d_2)$ be the set of all polynomial mappings $F=(f,g):\mathbb{C}^2\to \mathbb{C}^2$ such that $\deg f\le d_1$, $\deg g\le d_2$. We describe the generic topological type in $\Omega _2(d_1,d_2)$. In particular, we show how to effectively determine a member of $\Omega _2(d_1,d_2)$ with generic topology.
Getting Cozy, or How the European Commission Produces Legitimacy in the EU
Authors: Hensell Stephan
Published: August 2021

International organizations increasingly resort to strategies of legitimation in order to justify their authority and policies. This article explores one such strategy of the European Commission that targets organized interest groups with the aim to build a legitimating constituency. The members of this constituency not only contribute expertise to a policy, but also benefit from that policy and, therefore, participate in the development and confirmation of a claim to the policy's legitimacy that is put forward by EU officials. As a consequence, the agents seeking legitimacy and the addressees granting it become closely associated and “get cozy” with each other. EU officials address their claim to legitimacy to a community of co-opted elites who are likely to confirm this claim and in whose own interests it is to do so. The result is legitimation as a collaborative activity with preordained outcomes. Taking the case of the European Commission's research and innovation policy, and building in part on an ethnographic practitioner's account, the article provides an original insight into how this legitimation strategy works in everyday EU policymaking.
Is a Pedagogy of Indigenous Solidarity Possible in the International Relations Theory Classroom?
Authors: Khalid Maryam , McMillan Mark , Symons Jonathan
Published: August 2021

How should teachers of international relations in settler-colonial states engage with First Nations’ sovereignty claims? While a growing body of recent scholarship explores how teaching might acknowledge and move beyond the discipline's racist and colonial origins, less research investigates how pedagogy might rectify inattention to Indigenous sovereignty. This paper reports on a class activity that sought to highlight how the discipline's foundational assumptions can naturalize Indigenous dispossession. In the class, students were asked to conduct discourse analysis of debates surrounding the “Uluru Statement from the Heart,” and to consider practices of Indigenous transnationalism. Although students generally succeeded in identifying how discursive practices consolidate the authority of the settler-colonial state, class discussion tended to reproduce the state's justificatory narratives and to classify First Nations’ claims as akin to those of any other ethnic minority. At a time when many universities are seeking to embed more Indigenous content within curriculum, we reflect on how the activity revealed epistemic colonialism's operation within educational settings. We argue that in addition to introducing Indigenous perspectives and knowledges, it is valuable for teaching in settler-colonial states to focus critical attention onto non-Indigenous practices that reproduce systemic injustice.
The impact of direct-maternal genetic correlations on international beef cattle evaluations for Limousin weaning weight
Authors: Bonifazi Renzo , Vandenplas Jérémie , ten Napel Jan , Veerkamp Roel F , Calus Mario P L
Published: August 2021

In beef cattle maternally influenced traits, estimates of direct-maternal genetic correlations (rdm) are usually reported to be negative. In international evaluations, rdm can differ both within countries (rdm_WC) and between countries (rdm_BC). The rdm_BC are difficult to estimate and are assumed to be zero in the current model for international beef cattle evaluations (Interbeef). Our objective was to investigate re-ranking of international estimated breeding values (IEBVs) in international beef cattle evaluations between models that either used estimated values for rdm or assumed them to be 0. Age-adjusted weaning weights and pedigree data were available for Limousin beef cattle from ten European countries. International EBVs were obtained using a multi-trait animal model with countries modeled as different traits. We compared IEBVs from a model that uses estimated rdm_BC (ranging between −0.14 and +0.14) and rdm_WC (between −0.33 and +0.40) with IEBVs obtained either from the current model that assumes rdm_BC to be 0, or from an alternative model that assumes both rdm_BC and rdm_WC to be 0. Direct and maternal IEBVs were compared across those three scenarios for different groups of animals. The ratio of population accuracies from the linear regression method was used to further investigate the impact of rdm on international evaluations, for both the whole set of animals in the evaluation and the domestic ones. Ignoring rdm_BC, i.e., replacing estimated values with 0, resulted in no (rank correlations > 0.99) or limited (between 0.98 and 0.99) re-ranking for direct and maternal IEBVs, respectively. Both rdm_BC and rdm_WC had less impact on direct IEBVs than on maternal IEBVs. Re-ranking of maternal IEBVs decreased with increasing reliability. Ignoring rdm_BC resulted in no re-ranking for sires with IEBVs that might be exchanged across countries and limited re-ranking for the top 100 sires. Using estimated rdm_BC values instead of considering them to be 0 resulted in null to limited increases in population accuracy. Ignoring both rdm_BC and rdm_WC resulted in considerable re-ranking of animals’ IEBVs in all groups of animals evaluated. This study showed the limited impact of the current practice of ignoring rdm_BC in international evaluations for Limousin weaning weight, most likely because the estimated rdm_BC was close to 0. We expect that these conclusions can be extended to other traits that have reported rdm values in the range of rdm_WC values for weaning weight in Limousin.
Addition of dietary methionine but not dietary taurine or methyl donors/receivers to a grain-free diet increases postprandial homocysteine concentrations in adult dogs
Authors: Banton Sydney , Pezzali Júlia G , Verbrugghe Adronie , Bakovic Marica , Wood Katie M , Shoveller Anna K
Published: August 2021

Grain-based ingredients are replaced in part by pulse ingredients in grain-free pet foods. Pulse ingredients are lower in methionine and cysteine, amino acid (AA) precursors to taurine synthesis in dogs. Although recent work has investigated plasma and whole blood taurine concentrations when feeding grain-free diets, supplementation of a grain-free diet with various nutrients involved in the biosynthesis of taurine has not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplementing a complete grain-free dry dog food with either methionine (MET), taurine (TAU), or methyl donors (choline) and methyl receivers (creatine and carnitine; CCC) on postprandial AA concentrations. Eight healthy Beagle dogs were fed one of the three treatments or the control grain-free diet (CON) for 7 d in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. On day 7, cephalic catheters were placed and one fasted sample (0 min) and a series of nine post-meal blood samples were collected at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 min. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the PROC GLIMMIX function in SAS (Version 9.4). Dogs fed MET had greater plasma and whole blood methionine concentrations from 30 to 360 min after a meal (P < 0.0001) and greater plasma homocysteine concentrations from 60 to 360 min after a meal (P < 0.0001) compared with dogs fed CON, TAU, and CCC. Dogs fed TAU had greater plasma taurine concentrations over time compared with dogs fed CON (P = 0.02) but were not different than dogs fed MET and CCC (P > 0.05). In addition, most AAs remained significantly elevated at 6 h post-meal compared with fasted samples across all treatments. Supplementation of creatine, carnitine, and choline in grain-free diets may play a role in sparing the methionine requirement without increasing homocysteine concentrations. Supplementing these nutrients could also aid in the treatment of disease that causes metabolic or oxidative stress, including cardiac disease in dogs, but future research is required.
Effects of dietary macronutrient profile on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility and fecal microbiota, fermentative metabolites, and bile acids of female dogs after spay surgery
Authors: Phungviwatnikul Thunyaporn , Alexander Celeste , Do Sungho , He Fei , Suchodolski Jan S , de Godoy Maria R C , Swanson Kelly S
Published: August 2021

Obesity and estrogen reduction are known to affect the gut microbiota and gut microbial-derived metabolites in some species, but limited information is available in dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary macronutrient profile on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility, fecal microbiota, and fecal metabolites of adult female dogs after spay surgery. Twenty-eight adult intact female beagles (age: 3.02 ± 0.71 yr, BW: 10.28 ± 0.77 kg; BCS: 4.98 ± 0.57) were used. After a 5-wk baseline phase (week 0), 24 dogs were spayed and randomly allotted to one of three experimental diets (n = 8 per group): 1) control (CO) containing moderate protein and fiber (COSP), 2) high-protein, high-fiber (HPHF), or 3) high-protein, high-fiber plus omega-3 and medium-chain fatty acids (HPHFO). Four dogs were sham-operated and fed CO (COSH). All dogs were fed to maintain BW for 12 wk after spay and then allowed to consume twice that amount for 12 wk. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 0, 12, and 24 for digestibility, microbiota, and metabolite analysis. All data were analyzed using repeated measures and linear mixed models procedure of SAS 9.4, with results reported as a change from baseline. Apparent organic matter and energy digestibilities had greater decreases in HPHF and HPHFO than COSH and COSP. Increases in fecal acetate, total short-chain fatty acids, and secondary bile acids were greater and decreases in primary bile acids were greater in HPHF and HPHFO. Principal coordinates analysis of weighted UniFrac distances revealed that HPHF and HPHFO clustered together and separated from COSH and COSP at weeks 12 and 24, with relative abundances of Faecalibacterium, Romboutsia, and Fusobacterium increasing to a greater extent and Catenibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Prevotella 9, Eubacterium, and Megamonas decreasing to a greater extent in HPHF or HPHFO. Our results suggest that high-protein, high-fiber diets alter nutrient and energy digestibilities, fecal metabolite concentrations, and fecal gut microbiota, but spay surgery had minor effects. Future research is needed to investigate how food intake, nutrient profile, and changes in hormone production influence gut microbiota and metabolites of dogs individually and how this knowledge may be used to manage spayed pets.
The Influence of Gut Microbiota on the Fecundity of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Li Hanwen , Zhao Changwei , Yang Yang , Zhou Zhixiong , Qi Jingwei , Li Chuanren
Published: August 2021

The gut microbiota of insects usually plays an important role in the development and reproduction of their hosts. The fecundity of Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fabricius) varies greatly when they develop on different host plants. Whether and how the gut microbiota regulates the fecundity of H. vigintioctopunctata was unknown. To address this question, we used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the gut microbiomes of H. vigintioctopunctata adults fed on two host plant species (Solanum nigrum and Solanum melongena) and one artificial diet. The development of the ovaries and testes was also examined. Our results revealed that the diversity and abundance of gut microorganisms varied significantly in insects reared on different diets. The gut microbiota of H. vigintioctopunctata raised on the two host plants was similar, with Proteobacteria being the dominant phylum in both groups, whereas Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the group reared on the artificial diet. The predominant microbiota in the S. nigrum group were Acinetobacter soli and Acinetobacter ursingii (Acinetobacter, Moraxellaceae); Moraxella osloensis (Enhydrobacter, Moraxellaceae); and Empedobacter brevis (Empedobacter, Weeksellaceae). The microbiota in this group are associated with high lipid metabolism. In addition, the beetles’ ovaries and testes were more highly developed in the S. nigrum group than in the other two groups. These findings provide valuable information for elucidating the complex roles the gut microbiota play in the fecundity of H. vigintioctopunctata, and may also contribute to developing future novel control strategies involving this economically important pest.
Open Science, Closed Doors? Countering Marginalization through an Agenda for Ethical, Inclusive Research in Communication
Authors: Fox Jesse , Pearce Katy E , Massanari Adrienne L , Riles Julius Matthew , Szulc Łukasz , Ranjit Yerina S , Trevisan Filippo , Soriano Cheryll Ruth R , Vitak Jessica , Arora Payal , Ahn Sun Joo (Grace) , Alper Meryl , Gambino Andrew , Gonzalez Carmen , Lynch Teresa , Williamson Lillie D , L Gonzales Amy
Published: August 2021

The open science (OS) movement has advocated for increased transparency in certain aspects of research. Communication is taking its first steps toward OS as some journals have adopted OS guidelines codified by another discipline. We find this pursuit troubling as OS prioritizes openness while insufficiently addressing essential ethical principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Some recommended open science practices increase the potential for harm for marginalized participants, communities, and researchers. We elaborate how OS can serve a marginalizing force within academia and the research community, as it overlooks the needs of marginalized scholars and excludes some forms of scholarship. We challenge the current instantiation of OS and propose a divergent agenda for the future of Communication research centered on ethical, inclusive research practices.
The interactive effects of nitrogen addition and increased precipitation on gross ecosystem productivity in an alpine meadow
Authors: Shen Ruo-Nan , Zhang Yang-Jian , Zhu Jun-Tao , Chen Ning , Chen Yao , Zhao Guang , Zhu Yi-Xuan , Tang Ze , Li Wen-Yu
Published: August 2021

The ecological consequences of precipitation change and increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition have profound impacts on ecosystem CO2 exchange in grassland ecosystems. Water and N can largely influence grassland productivity, community composition and ecosystem functions. However, the influences of water and N addition on the ecosystem CO2 exchange of alpine grassland ecosystems remain unclear. A field manipulative experiment with water and N additions was conducted in an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau over 4 years with contrasting precipitation patterns. There were four treatments: control (Ctrl), N addition (N), water addition (W) and N and water addition (NW), each replicated three times. N addition, but not water addition, increased gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), plant biomass, community cover and community-weighted mean height. The responses of ecosystem CO2 exchange to water and N addition varied between the wet and dry years. Water addition had a positive effect on net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) due to a larger increase in GEP than in ecosystem respiration (ER) only in the dry year. On the contrary, N addition significantly enhanced ecosystem CO2 exchange only in the wet year. The increased GEP in N addition was attributed to the larger increase in NEE than ER. Moreover, N addition stimulated NEE mainly through increasing the cover of dominant species. Our observations highlight the important roles of precipitation and dominant species in regulating ecosystem CO2 exchange response to global environmental change in alpine grasslands.
Successful delivery of subretinal aflibercept (new surgical technique) for the treatment of submacular hemorrhage in idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
Authors: Chalam K V , Gasparian Suzie
Published: August 2021

Submacular hemorrhage (SMH) is often a result of trauma, wet age-related macular degeneration or IPCV and frequently leads to blindness secondary to extreme toxicity of hemoglobin products on photoreceptors. We describe a new technique of subretinal aflibercept injection during pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of SMH in idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV). A 55-old male presented with sudden loss of vision (HM) secondary to massive subretinal hemorrhage associated with IPCV. Subretinal injection of aflibercept with a 25 g/42 g cannula coupled to the viscous fluid control unit of a standard vitrectomy system was performed during parsplana vitrectomy. Controlled injection of aflibercept intra-operatively has resulted in a resolution of SMH (confirmed with OCT and ICG). Visual acuity improved from HM to 20/20. This combined approach delivered anti-VEGF agent to target tissue in controlled fashion with the assistance of VFC system (similar to gene therapy) and restored full vision with resolution of SMH.
Radiation hydrodynamics simulations of line-driven AGN disc winds: metallicity dependence and black hole growth
Authors: Nomura Mariko , Omukai Kazuyuki , Ohsuga Ken
Published: August 2021

Growth of the black holes (BHs) from the seeds to supermassive BHs (SMBHs, $\sim \!10^9\, M_\odot$) is not understood, but the mass accretion must have played an important role. We performed 2D radiation hydrodynamics simulations of line-driven disc winds considering the metallicity dependence in a wide range of the BH mass, and investigated the reduction of the mass accretion rate due to the wind mass-loss. Our results show that denser and faster disc winds appear at higher metallicities and larger BH masses. The accretion rate is suppressed to ∼0.4–0.6 times the mass supply rate to the disc for the BH mass of $M_{\rm BH}\gtrsim 10^5\, M_{\odot }$ in high-metallicity environments of Z ≳ Z⊙, while the wind mass-loss is negligible when the metallicity is subsolar (∼0.1Z⊙). By developing a semi-analytical model, we found that the metallicity dependence of the line force and the BH mass dependence of the surface area of the wind launch region are the cause of the metallicity dependence (∝ Z2/3) and BH mass dependencies ($\propto \! M_{\rm BH}^{4/3}$ for $M_{\rm BH}\le 10^6\, M_\odot$ and ∝ MBH for $M_{\rm BH}\ge 10^6\, M_\odot$) of the mass-loss rate. Our model suggests that the growth of BHs by the gas accretion effectively slows down in the regime ≳ 105M⊙ in metal-enriched environments ≳ Z⊙. This means that the line-driven disc winds may have an impact on late evolution of SMBHs.
Common envelope jets supernovae with a black hole companion as possible high-energy neutrino sources
Authors: Grichener Aldana , Soker Noam
Published: August 2021

We study high-energy neutrino emission from relativistic jets launched by a black hole (BH) spiraling-in inside the envelope of a red supergiant (RSG), and find that such common envelope jets supernovae (CEJSNe) are a potential source for the $\gtrsim 10^{15} ~\rm {eV}$ neutrinos detected by IceCube. We first use the stellar evolution code mesa to mimic the effect of the jets on the RSG envelope, and find that the jets substantially inflate the envelope. We then study the propagation of jets inside the extended RSG envelope and find that in most cases the jets do not penetrate the envelope but are rather stalled. We show that such jets can accelerate cosmic rays to high enough energies to produce high-energy neutrinos. While the neutrinos stream out freely, the gamma-rays that accompany the neutrino production remain trapped inside the optically thick envelope. This explains the lack of observational association between high-energy neutrinos and gamma rays. We crudely estimate the diffuse neutrino spectrum from a CEJSN and find that CEJSNe with BH companions might have a substantial contribution to the high-energy neutrinos flux detected by IceCube.
Constraining the 21 cm brightness temperature of the IGM at z = 6.6 around LAEs with the murchison widefield array
Authors: Trott C M , Jordan C H , Line J L B , Lynch C R , Yoshiura S , McKinley B , Dayal P , Pindor B , Hutter A , Takahashi K , Wayth R B , Barry N , Beardsley A , Bowman J , Byrne R , Chokshi A , Greig B , Hasegawa K , Hazelton B J , Howard E , Jacobs D , Kolopanis M , Mitchell D A , Morales M F , Murray S , Pober J C , Rahimi M , Tingay S J , Webster R L , Wilensky M , Wyithe J S B , Zheng Q
Published: August 2021

The locations of Ly α-emitting galaxies (LAEs) at the end of the Epoch of Reionization (EoR) are expected to correlate with regions of ionized hydrogen, traced by the redshifted 21 cm hyperfine line. Mapping the neutral hydrogen around regions with detected and localized LAEs offers an avenue to constrain the brightness temperature of the Universe within the EoR by providing an expectation for the spatial distribution of the gas, thereby providing prior information unavailable to power spectrum measurements. We use a test set of 12 h of observations from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in extended array configuration, to constrain the neutral hydrogen signature of 58 LAEs, detected with the Subaru Hypersuprime Cam in the Silverrush survey, centred on z = 6.58. We assume that detectable emitters reside in the centre of ionized H ii bubbles during the end of reionization, and predict the redshifted neutral hydrogen signal corresponding to the remaining neutral regions using a set of different ionized bubble radii. A pre-whitening matched filter detector is introduced to assess detectability. We demonstrate the ability to detect, or place limits upon, the amplitude of brightness temperature fluctuations, and the characteristic H ii bubble size. With our limited data, we constrain the brightness temperature of neutral hydrogen to ΔTB <30 mK (<200 mK) at 95 per cent (99 per cent) confidence for lognormally distributed bubbles of radii, RB = 15 ± 2h−1 cMpc.
Non-Visit-Based and Non-Infection-Related Antibiotic Use in the US: A Cohort Study of Privately Insured Patients During 2016–2018
Authors: Fischer Michael A , Mahesri Mufaddal , Lii Joyce , Linder Jeffrey A
Published: August 2021

Background

Ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions without a clinic visit or without documentation of infection could represent overuse and contribute to adverse outcomes. We aim to describe US ambulatory antibiotic prescribing, including those without an associated visit or infection diagnosis.

Methods

We conducted an observational cohort study using data of all patients receiving antibacterial, antibiotic prescriptions from 04/01/2016 to 06/30/2018 in a large US private health insurance plan. We identified outpatient antibiotic prescriptions as (1) associated with a clinician visit and an infection-related diagnosis; (2) associated with a clinician visit but no infection-related diagnosis; or (3) not associated with an in-person clinician visit in the 7 days before the prescription (non-visit-based). We then assessed whether non-visit-based antibiotic prescriptions (NVBAPs) differed from visit-based antibiotics by patient, clinician, or antibiotic characteristics using multivariable models.

Results

The cohort included 8.6M enrollees who filled 22.3M antibiotic prescriptions. NVBAP accounted for 31% (6.9M) of fills, and non-infection-related prescribing accounted for 22% (4.9M). NVBAP rates were lower for children than for adults (0–17 years old, 16%; 18–64 years old, 33%; >65 years old, 34%). Among most commonly prescribed antibiotic classes, NVBAP was highest for penicillins (36%) and lowest for cephalosporins (25%) and macrolides (25%). Specialist physicians had the highest rate of NVBAP (38%), followed by internists (28%), family medicine (20%), and pediatricians (10%). In multivariable models, NVBAP was associated with increasing age, and NVBAP was less likely for patients in the South, those with more baseline clinical visits, or those with chronic lung disease.

Conclusions

Over half of ambulatory antibiotic use was either non-visit-based or non-infection-related. Particularly given health care changes due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing must account for non-visit-based and non-infection-related prescribing.
QT Interval Prolongation in People Treated With Bedaquiline for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Under Programmatic Conditions: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Isralls Sharon , Baisley Kathy , Ngam Eric , Grant Alison D , Millard James
Published: August 2021

Background

Bedaquiline has a black-box warning of the risk of arrhythmias and sudden death. This study aimed to determine the incidence of QTc prolongation and cardiac events in patients receiving bedaquiline for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) under programmatic conditions.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of patients receiving bedaquiline at a DR-TB hospital in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa from September 2017 to February 2019. The primary outcome, a prolonged QT interval corrected using the Fridericia formula (QTcF), was defined as QTcF >500 ms, QTcF change >60 ms from baseline, or both.

Results

Among 420 patients (66.2% male, median age 36 years), the median QTcF was 406.4 (interquartile range [IQR], 389.1–421.3) ms at baseline, increasing to 430.5 (IQR, 414.4–445.1) ms by 3 months and 434.0 (IQR, 419.0–447.9) ms at 6 months. Eighteen of 420 patients (4.3%) had a QTcF >500 ms and 110 of 420 patients (26.2%) had a QTcF change >60 ms. There were no recorded arrhythmias or cardiac deaths. Odds of prolonged QTcF were increased with concomitant azoles (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.61 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.26–13.91]; P < .001) and an inverse association with HIV-positive status (aOR, 0.34 [95% CI, .15–.75]; P = .008) and hypertension (aOR, 0.13 [95% CI, .02–.86]; P = .02). After prolongation, the QTcF declined to <500 ms, whether drugs were interrupted or not.

Conclusions

We observed a modest prolongation of QTcF, maximal at week 15; there were no recorded arrhythmias or related deaths.
Removal of a Penetrating Tree Branch in the Orbitofrontal Region—A Unique Application of an Orbitofrontal Craniotomy Through a Supraciliary Brow Approach
Authors: Desai Rupen , Srienc Anja I , Maamari Robi N , Custer Philip L , Warren David K , Chicoine Michael R
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

Orbitocranial penetrating injury (OPI) is associated with neurological, infectious, and vascular sequalae. This report describes unique application of an orbitofrontal craniotomy through a supraciliary approach to remove a wooden stick penetrating through the orbit and frontal lobe, postoperative management, and antimicrobial therapy.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

A 51-yr-old male presented after a tree branch penetrated beneath his eye. He had no loss of consciousness and was neurologically intact with preserved vision and ocular motility. Computed tomography (CT) and CT angiogram revealed an isodense hollow cylindrical object penetrating though the left orbit and left frontal lobe. The object extended into the right lateral ventricle, abutting the left anterior cerebral artery. There was minimal intraventricular hemorrhage without arterial injury. The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobial coverage. The foreign body was removed and the dural defect repaired via an orbitofrontal craniotomy through a supraciliary eyebrow incision. He was treated with an extended course of antimicrobial therapy, and after 18 mo remained neurologically intact.

CONCLUSION

OPI are a subset of penetrating brain injuries with potential for immediate injury to neurovascular structures and delayed complications including cerebrospinal fluid leak and infection. Treatment includes attempted complete removal of the foreign body and antimicrobial therapy. An orbitofrontal craniotomy through a supraciliary eyebrow incision may be effective in selected patients.
Extrapial Hippocampal Resection in Anterior Temporal Lobectomy: Technical Description and Clinical Outcomes in a 62-Patient Case Series
Authors: Hussein Helweh , Kokkinos Vasileios , Sisterson Nathaniel D , Modo Michel , Richardson R Mark
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Extrapial en bloc hippocampal resection facilitates complete removal of the hippocampus. With increasing use of minimally invasive treatments, considering open resection techniques that optimize the integrity of tissue specimens is important both for obtaining the correct histopathological diagnosis and for further study.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the operative strategy and clinical outcomes associated with an extrapial approach to hippocampal resection during ATL.

METHODS

A database of epilepsy surgeries performed by a single surgeon between October 2011 and February 2019 was reviewed to identify all patients who underwent ATL using an extrapial approach to hippocampal resection. To reduce confounding variables for outcome analysis, subjects with prior resections, tumors, and cavernous malformations were excluded. Seizure outcomes were classified using the Engel scale.

RESULTS

The surgical technique is described and illustrated with intraoperative images. A total of 62 patients met inclusion criteria (31 females) for outcome analysis. Patients with most recent follow-up <3 yr (n = 33) and >3 yr (n = 29) exhibited 79% and 52% class I outcomes, respectively. An infarct was observed on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging in 3 patients (1 asymptomatic and 2 temporarily symptomatic). An en bloc specimen in which the subiculum and all hippocampal subfields were preserved was obtained in each case. Examples of innovative research opportunities resulting from this approach are presented.

CONCLUSION

Extrapial resection of the hippocampus can be performed safely with seizure freedom and complication rates at least as good as those reported with the use of subpial techniques.
Management of an Internal Carotid Artery Injury During Open Skull Base Surgery With a Crushed Muscle Patch – Technical Note and Lessons Learned
Authors: Van Der Veken Jorn , Mascarenhas Annika Reann , Chryssidis Steve , Poonoose Santosh Isaac
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic internal carotid artery (ICA) injury is a catastrophic complication in open skull base surgery. There is a lack of information regarding the most appropriate techniques on how to manage this complication.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight the difficulties encountered when an ICA injury arises intraoperatively and discuss the role and the potential pitfalls of the crushed muscle patch in the management of an ICA injury during open skull base surgery.

METHODS

In this technical video, we demonstrate the management of intraoperative ICA injury, which occurred during the resection of a diffuse planum sphenoidale meningioma via a left pterional craniotomy.

RESULTS

When isolation of the defect with temporary clips failed, we opted for a crushed muscle graft to plug the defect. Hemostasis was achieved, but because of prolonged pressure application and “overpacking,” the parent vessel was occluded.

CONCLUSION

The crushed muscle patch can be easily applied; however, care must be taken not to “overpack” and occlude the ICA.
Resection of a Medulla Oblongata Hemangioblastoma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Ibn Essayed Walid , Al-Mefty Ossama
Published: August 2021

Hemangioblastomas are benign vascular tumors that can be sporadic or multiple, as part of Von Hippel-Lindau disease. They develop at any level of the central nervous system, with a predilection for the dorsal medulla among brainstem locations. Radical resection of the solid portion of the tumor is the best treatment option.
1,2
The resection should be en bloc to avoid uncontrollable intraoperative hemorrhage hindering safe dissection. Preservation of the venous drainage during the progressive dissection of the tumor of the surrounding structures and interruption of numerous small arterial feeders is a tenet for safe surgical resection.
3
Once the tumor is completely disconnected, the large draining veins can be coagulated, and the tumor removed. We demonstrate these technical principles in the surgery of a 30-yr-old female with an exophytic hemangioblastoma from the dorsal medulla obstructing the fourth ventricle outflow. We demonstrate the resection of this lesion through a suboccipital craniotomy in a sitting position.
4
The patient consented to the surgery and publication of images.

Image at 1:26 from Kadri and Al-Mefty,
4
by permission from the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
HECATE2 acts with GLABROUS3 and Tu to boost cytokinin biosynthesis and regulate cucumber fruit wart formation
Authors: Wang Zhongyi , Wang Liming , Han Lijie , Cheng Zhihua , Liu Xiaofeng , Wang Shaoyun , Liu Liu , Chen Jiacai , Song Weiyuan , Zhao Jianyu , Zhou Zhaoyang , Zhang Xiaolan
Published: August 2021

Warty fruit in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is an important quality trait that greatly affects fruit appearance and market value. The cucumber wart consists of fruit trichomes (spines) and underlying tubercules, in which the existence of spines is prerequisite for tubercule formation. Although several regulators have been reported to mediate spine or tubercule formation, the direct link between spine and tubercule development remains unknown. Here, we found that the basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) gene HECATE2 (CsHEC2) was highly expressed in cucumber fruit peels including spines and tubercules. Knockout of CsHEC2 by the CRISPR/Cas9 system resulted in reduced wart density and decreased cytokinin (CTK) accumulation in the fruit peel, whereas overexpression of CsHEC2 led to elevated wart density and CTK level. CsHEC2 is directly bound to the promoter of the CTK hydroxylase-like1 gene (CsCHL1) that catalyzes CTK biosynthesis, and activated CsCHL1 expression. Moreover, CsHEC2 physically interacted with GLABROUS3 (CsGL3, a key spine regulator) and Tuberculate fruit (CsTu, a core tubercule formation factor), and such interactions further enhanced CsHEC2-mediated CsCHL1 expression. These data suggested that CsHEC2 promotes wart formation by acting as an important cofactor for CsGL3 and CsTu to directly stimulate CTK biosynthesis in cucumber. Thus, CsHEC2 can serve as a valuable target for molecular breeding of cucumber varieties with different wart density requirements.