bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SolBeePopecotox: A Population Model for Pesticide Risk Assessments of Solitary Bees
Authors: Schmolke Amelie , Galic Nika , Roeben Vanessa , Preuss Thomas G. , Miles Mark , Hinarejos Silvia
Published: September 2024

In agricultural landscapes, solitary bees occur in a large diversity of species and are important for crop and wildflower pollination. They are distinguished from honey bees and bumble bees by their solitary lifestyle as well as different nesting strategies, phenologies, and floral preferences. Their ecological traits and presence in agricultural landscapes imply potential exposure to pesticides and suggest a need to conduct ecological risk assessments for solitary bees. However, assessing risks to the large diversity of managed and wild bees across landscapes and regions poses a formidable challenge. Population models provide tools to estimate potential population-level effects of pesticide exposures, can support field study design and interpretation, and can be applied to expand study data to untested conditions. We present a population model for solitary bees, SolBeePopecotox, developed for use in the context of ecological risk assessments. The trait-based model extends a previous version with the explicit representation of exposures to pesticides from relevant routes. Effects are implemented in the model using a simplified toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic model, BeeGUTS (GUTS = generalized unified threshold model for survival), adapted specifically for bees. We evaluated the model with data from semifield studies conducted with the red mason bee, Osmia bicornis, in which bees were foraging in tunnels over control and insecticide-treated oilseed rape fields. We extended the simulations to capture hypothetical semifield studies with two soil-nesting species, Nomia melanderi and Eucera pruinosa, which are difficult to test in empirical studies. The model provides a versatile tool for higher-tier risk assessments, for instance, to estimate effects of potential exposures, expanding available study data to untested species, environmental conditions, or exposure scenarios. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2645–2661. © 2024 SETAC
A Role‐Needs Framework: Rethinking Support for Informal Caregivers for Alzheimer's Across the Global South and Global North
Authors: Knight Fauzia , Ridge Damien , Loveday Catherine , Weidner Wendy , Roeser Jannice , Halton Candida , Cartwright Tina
Published: September 2024

Objective

Caregivers play an essential role in supporting people with Alzheimer's disease globally. User‐informed research is vital to developing trans‐cultural guidelines for dementia support organisations. While coping strategies of caregivers are well researched, the ‘coping‐effectiveness’ framework falls short of representing all caregiver needs. Our aim was to develop a robust and inclusive, globally applicable framework of caregiver‐informed support needs.

Methods

In partnership with Alzheimer's Disease International and Roche, we conducted qualitative online semi‐structured interviews with 34 family caregivers from the Global North (UK, US) and Global South (Brazil, South Africa) in the COVID‐19 context. Participant‐generated photographs helped encourage discussions of hidden contextual issues. Iterative inductive narrative analysis of interviews and photographs was carried out with input from global and national charity and industry sectors.

Results

We identified a framework of four cross‐cultural caring approaches with implications for support: (1) Empathising, using emotion‐focused strategies to develop strong expertise and coping skills, with time specific information, psychosocial and peer support needs. (2) Organising, using problem‐focused strategies, with strong narratives of expertise and advocacy which benefited from early structured information and professional confirmation. (3) Non‐identifying caregiving, where daily aspects of caring occurred without specialist knowledge and expertise, and caregivers sought assistance in managing disease‐related support. (4) Reluctance, where struggling with unwanted caring responsibilities meant caregivers looked to professionals to carry out daily care.

Conclusion

Our findings move beyond the ‘coping‐effectiveness’ framework of support to suggest a novel ‘role‐needs’ framework. Our approach supports inclusive ways of tailoring support to fit individual caregiver circumstances globally.
iPLA2β regulates the dual effects of arachidonic acid in thyroid cancer
Authors: Zhang Yu , Su Wei , Yang Zhou , Zhao Dan , Guan Qing , Liao Tian , Li Duanshu , Feng Baijie , Wang Yunjun , Wang Yu , Xiang Jun
Published: September 2024

Background

Abnormal arachidonic acid metabolism in the tumor microenvironment is closely related to cancer progression; however, thyroid cancer was rarely researched.

Methods

Through lipidomic analysis, we disclosed that dysregulated arachidonic acid metabolism plays dual effects on thyroid cancer. The promoting role of arachidonic acid in the progression of thyroid cancer cells was evaluated utilizing cell viability (CCK‐8 assay) and transwell invasion assays, confirmed by corresponding inhibitors. Lipid peroxidation and the use of various cell death inhibitors confirmed that arachidonic acid confers vulnerability to ferroptosis in thyroid cancer. The roles of arachidonic acid and ferroptosis inducer in thyroid cancer were assessed in a xenograft mouse model.

Results

On one hand, arachidonic acid promotes the progression of thyroid cancer through the cyclooxygenase/prostaglandin pathway; on another hand, arachidonic acid confers vulnerability to ferroptosis through lipoxygenases. Moreover, iPLA2β drives converse roles of arachidonic acid between cancer‐progression and ferroptosis vulnerability through releasing free arachidonic acid from the cell membrane. Finally, we confirmed high arachidonic acid diet promotes the development of thyroid cancer in vivo, whereas ferroptosis inducer sulfasalazine dramatically reduced tumor growth of mice with feeding arachidonic acid.

Conclusions

Our research demonstrated the roles of iPLA2β in conversing dual effects of arachidonic acid in thyroid cancer and provides ferroptosis inducer as a potential therapeutic strategy.
Characteristics and prognostic implications of a cohort of 50 Sertoli‐Leydig cell tumors at a single center
Authors: Kang Jia , Mei Dongyan , Xing Xiaoyan , Cao Yang , Liang Dandan , Shi Honghui
Published: September 2024

Objective

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, therapy strategies and prognosis of Sertoli‐Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs).

Methods

A total of 50 cases of ovarian SLCTs were retrospectively analyzed. We performed descriptive statistics to describe baseline characteristics.

Results

A total of 70% of SLCT patients were below the age of 45 years. The dominant pathologic types were poor (40%) and moderate (40%) differentiation. Retiform variant tumor is more aggressive and tends to appear in children. According to the 2014 FIGO (the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) classification, tumors were classified as Stage I (n = 46: well differentiated, n = 4; moderately differentiated, n = 19; poorly differentiated, n = 18; and retiform, n = 5), Stage II (n = 1, moderately differentiated), Stage III (n = 1, poorly differentiated), and Stage IV (n = 2: poorly differentiated, n = 1; and retiform, n = 1). Median follow‐up was 58.1 months (2–132 months). A total of 45 patients (90%) achieved clinical remission. Four patients experienced a relapse (34.5 months, range: 7–58) and one patient died of the tumor at 10 months after initial treatment. All patients in grossly Stage IA achieved complete response, irrespective of the presence or absence of staging surgery or chemotherapy. After treatment, five patients successfully gave birth to healthy babies.

Conclusion

The prognosis for women diagnosed with early stage (I–II) SLCT is generally favorable, especially Stage IA. while those with advanced stages, poorly differentiated, retiform variant, or tumors containing heterologous components exhibit a more aggressive clinical course. Fertility sparing surgery appears to represent a feasible treatment approach for early stage SLCTs.
The Regulation of Cerebral Lymphatic Drainage in the Transverse Sinus Region of the Mouse Brain
Authors: Xie Zengjun , He Zhihui , Yuan Zhen , Wang Miao , Zhou Feifan
Published: September 2024

Cerebral lymphatic drainage is an important pathway for metabolic waste clearance in the brain, which plays a crucial role in the progression of central nervous system diseases. Recent studies have shown that norepinephrine (NE) is involved in the regulation of cerebral lymphatic drainage function, but the modulation mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we confirmed that NE rapidly reduced glymphatic influx and enhanced meningeal lymphatic clearance. Moreover, the transverse sinus (TS) was the vital region of cerebral lymphatic drainage regulation by NE. Further analysis revealed that NE inhibition could simultaneously enhance glymphatic drainage and dorsal meningeal lymphatic drainage, mainly acting on the TS region. This study demonstrated that the cerebral lymphatic drainage system can be regulated by NE, with the TS region serving as the primary modulating site. The findings provide a potential regulatory target for the amelioration of neurological diseases associated with cerebral lymphatic drainage function.
Silencing EPHB2 diminished the malignant biological properties of esophagus cancer cells by blocking autophagy and Wnt/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Cai Shusheng , Ye Lianhua , Zhong Qiming , Zhang Xin
Published: September 2024

Eph receptor B2 (EPHB2) is overexpressed in some tumors and relevant to unfavorable outcomes of tumor patients. By searching Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and KM Plot websites, we discovered that EPHB2 was highly expressed in patients with esophageal cancer, leading to poor prognosis. However, the role and molecular mechanism of EPHB2 in esophagus cancer is unknown. Our study aims to unveil the underlying mechanism by which EPHB2 modulates the biological properties of esophagus cancer cells. After si‐EPHB2 transfection, the malignant biological properties of esophagus cancer cells were determined by several biological experiments. IWP‐4 was applied to block Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. The expressions of autophagy and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway relevant molecules were tested by western blot assay. An increased expression of EPHB2 was happened in esophagus cancer samples and loss of EPHB2 diminished esophagus cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, our data showed that depletion of EPHB2 blocked the autophagy and in‐activated Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway in esophagus cancer cells. While, IWP‐4 treatment inhibited the autophagy and limited esophagus cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, EPHB2 knocked down strengthened the effect of IWP‐4 treatment in regulating esophagus cancer cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. Finally, we illustrated that EPHB2 regulated the biological properties of esophagus cancer cells by modulating autophagy and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. Our study illustrated that EPHB2 might be a worthwhile target considering for the treatment of esophagus cancer.
Can ultrasound elastography be useful in the diagnosis of poor ovarian response?
Authors: Gulec Ebru Sahin , Gur Esra Bahar , Kurtulmus Secil Karaca , Kaygun Bilgesu Cetinel , Kasap Esin , Demir Ahmet
Published: September 2024

Objectives

This study aims to compare the elastographic properties of the ovaries of patients with poor ovarian response (POR) with healthy controls by using real‐time ultrasound tissue elastography and to investigate the predictive value of ovarian strain ratio (OSR) in the diagnosis of POR.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted among infertility patients. OSR measurements of 46 women diagnosed with POR and 41 healthy controls with male infertility were performed by real‐time ultrasound tissue elastography. Ovarian volume, OSR, antral follicle count (AFC), age, body mass index (BMI), anti‐mullerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol (E2) values, were compared between the groups. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of OSR, AFC, AMH, FSH, and E2 for POR diagnosis.

Results

Patients with POR were significantly older, had a lower duration of infertility, lower AMH, higher FSH, higher E2, lower AFC and ovarian volume (p < 0.01, p = 0.02, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). The mean OSR of both ovaries was similar between the groups. For the diagnosis of POR, the sensitivity and specificity for AMH were 97.5% and 100%, for AFC were 86.7% and 97.6%; for FSH were 66.7% and 80.5%, for E2 were 53.3% and 90.2%, respectively.

Conclusions

The significant independent predictors of the POR were AMH, AFC, and FSH, with no additional significant contribution from OSR. However, considering the relationship between POR and ovarian fibrosis, it is recommended to investigate this issue in more comprehensive studies.
Ultrasound‐guided percutaneous thrombin injection for the management of upper extremity pseudoaneurysms: 20 years of tertiary care center experience
Authors: McCarthy Colin J. , Weinstein Jeffrey L. , Bulman Julie C. , Schroeppel DeBacker Sarah E. , Berkowitz Seth J. , Dowlatshahi Arriyan S. , Ahmed Muneeb , Faintuch Salomao
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound‐guided percutaneous thrombin injection for the treatment of upper extremity pseudoaneurysms.

Methods

An institutional database containing 8,316,467 radiology reports was searched for suitable cases over a 241‐month period. Fourteen female and 10 male patients, average age of 69.7 years (range 29–93) underwent a total of 26 procedures for the management of upper extremity pseudoaneurysms, involving the radial (n = 9), brachial (n = 9) or other upper extremity arteries (n = 6). Baseline demographic and pseudoaneurysm characteristics were documented, together with primary and secondary success, failures, and complications. All procedures were performed with real‐time ultrasound guidance.

Results

The mean pseudoaneurysm volume was 9.93 cm3 (range 0.06–111.62 cm3). Twelve cases were related to central line placement or arterial access. Primary success was obtained in 50% (n = 12) after a single ultrasound‐guided thrombin injection, and secondary success was achieved in an additional six (for a total success of 75%). Success was highest for the treatment of brachial artery pseudoaneurysms (87.5%), and in those who were diagnosed within 7 days of the inciting event, findings that were statistically significant (p‐value 0.046 and 0.002, respectively).

Conclusions

Ultrasound‐guided percutaneous thrombin injection is safe and effective for managing upper extremity pseudoaneurysms.
Fetuses with deceleration of growth improve their growth following maternal rest
Authors: DeVore Greggory R. , Polanco Bardo
Published: September 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine if fetuses with deceleration of growth velocity resulting in an EFW <10th percentile increase their growth above the 10th percentile following 2 weeks of maternal rest in the left lateral recumbent position.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of 265 fetuses with the prenatal diagnosis of an EFW <10th percentile. Fetuses were classified by four definitions of abnormal growth velocity: (1) a growth velocity less than 20 g/day, (2) 30 percentile decrease in the EFW, (3) 50 percentile decrease in the EFW, and (4) abnormal growth trajectory. Once the fetuses were identified with an EFW <10th percentile the patient was requested to begin 2 weeks of rest in the left lateral recumbent position during her waking hours following which the EFW was reassessed 2 week later to determine the effect of maternal rest on the EFW.

Results

Irrespective of the four types of decreased growth velocity described in the methods section, there was as significant increase (p < 0.001) in the EFW following 2 weeks of maternal rest as follows: (1) growth less than 20 g/day (75%); (2) decrease of 30 or more EFW percentiles (79%); (3) decrease of 50 or more EFW percentiles (64%); and abnormal growth trajectory (77%).

Conclusions

This suggests an important role of increased maternal cardiac output as the result of resting in the left lateral recumbent position that may be associated with improved fetal growth. These observations should be the basis for future prospective randomized trials to test this hypothesis.
Correlation between corrected carotid flow time and left ventricular outflow tract velocity‐time integral using a novel technique
Authors: Cheong Issac , Merlo Pablo Martín , Tamagnone Francisco Marcelo
Published: September 2024

Background

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely used for assessing patients in the intensive care unit, with cardiac output measurement being crucial for hemodynamic monitoring. This is achieved by measuring the velocity‐time integral (VTI) of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), which serves as a surrogate of stroke volume. However, conducting TTE in the critical care setting presents several challenges. Our primary objective was to investigate the relationship between carotid corrected flow time (cCFT) and LVOT VTI. Additionally, we aimed to determine the threshold cCFT value that reliably predicts a normal LVOT VTI.

Materials and Methods

This proof‐of‐concept study involves a post‐hoc analysis from a diagnostic accuracy investigation conducted in a medical‐surgical intensive care unit. We included patients admitted to the ICU from December 2021 to January 2022. We used a phased array transducer to measure the cCFT at the left supraclavicular fossa and the LVOT VTI in an apical 5‐chamber view.

Results

We included 22 patients. The Spearman coefficient between LVOT VTI and cCFT was 0.82 (p < 0.0001). The area under the ROC curve for cCFT to predict LVOT VTI equal to or greater than 17 cm was 0.871 (95% CI 0.660–0.974). A cCFT exceeding 283 ms predicted LVOT VTI equal to or greater than 17 cm with a sensitivity of 93.3% (95% CI 68.1% to 99.8%) and specificity of 85.7% (95% CI 42.1% to 99.6%).

Conclusion

The cCFT, measured using a novel technique with a phased array transducer, shows a strong correlation with LVOT VTI. Additionally, cCFT predicts a normal LVOT VTI with good sensitivity and specificity in critically ill patients. Larger studies are warranted to validate these findings.
Discrimination Between Benign and Malignant Lesions With Restriction Spectrum Imaging MRI in an Enriched Breast Cancer Screening Cohort
Authors: Loubrie Stephane , Zou Jingjing , Rodriguez‐Soto Ana E. , Lim Jihe , Andreassen Maren M.S. , Cheng Yuwei , Batasin Summer J. , Ebrahimi Sheida , Fang Lauren K. , Conlin Christopher C. , Seibert Tyler M. , Hahn Michael E. , Dialani Vandana , Wei Catherine J. , Karimi Zahra , Kuperman Joshua , Dale Anders M. , Ojeda‐Fournier Haydee , Pisano Etta , Rakow‐Penner Rebecca
Published: September 2024

Background

Breast cancer screening with dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (DCE‐MRI) is recommended for high‐risk women but has limitations, including variable specificity and difficulty in distinguishing cancerous (CL) and high‐risk benign lesions (HRBL) from average‐risk benign lesions (ARBL). Complementary non‐invasive imaging techniques would be useful to improve specificity.

Purpose

To evaluate the performance of a previously‐developed breast‐specific diffusion‐weighted MRI (DW‐MRI) model (BS‐RSI3C) to improve discrimination between CL, HRBL, and ARBL in an enriched screening population.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

Exactly 187 women, either with mammography screening recommending additional imaging (N = 49) or high‐risk individuals undergoing routine breast MRI (N = 138), before the biopsy.

Field Strength/Sequence

Multishell DW‐MRI echo planar imaging sequence with a reduced field of view at 3.0 T.

Assessment

A total of 72 women had at least one biopsied lesion, with 89 lesions categorized into ARBL, HRBL, CL, and combined CLs and HRBLs (CHRLs). DW‐MRI data were processed to produce apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, and estimate signal contributions (C1, C2, and C3—restricted, hindered, and free diffusion, respectively) from the BS‐RSI3C model. Lesion regions of interest (ROIs) were delineated on DW images based on suspicious DCE‐MRI findings by two radiologists; control ROIs were drawn in the contralateral breast.

Statistical Tests

One‐way ANOVA and two‐sided t‐tests were used to assess differences in signal contributions and ADC values among groups. P‐values were adjusted using the Bonferroni method for multiple testing, P = 0.05 was used for the significance level. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and intra‐class correlations (ICC) were also evaluated.

Results

C1, √C1C2, and were significantly different in HRBLs compared with ARBLs (P‐values < 0.05). The had the highest AUC (0.821) in differentiating CHRLs from ARBLs, performing better than ADC (0.696), especially in non‐mass enhancement (0.776 vs. 0.517).

Data Conclusion

This study demonstrated the BS‐RSI3C could differentiate HRBLs from ARBLs in a screening population, and separate CHRLs from ARBLs better than ADC.

Level of Evidence

1.

Technical Efficacy Stage

2.
Clinical and etiological characteristics of severe hemorrhagic fever caused by coinfection of hantaan orthohantavirus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus
Authors: Jiang Feng , Zhao Yongxiang , Peng Ruihao , Wen Ya , Bi Yudan , Zhou Yichen , Chen Yao , Deng Hua , Han Xiaohu , Chen Zeliang
Published: September 2024

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) usually have different infection routes, and coinfection is relatively rare. This study examines the clinical and etiological characteristics of coinfection by these two pathogens to provide important references for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Blood samples from 22 clinically diagnosed patients with HFRS were collected for molecular detection of HFRS and common tick and mouse borne diseases. Inoculate the blood of six severe and critically patients into cells to isolate and proliferate potential viruses, and retest the cell culture to determine the pathogen. In addition, complete data were collected from these 22 HFRS and concurrent SFTS patients, and white blood cells (WBCs), platelet (PLT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and other data were compared and analyzed. A total of 31 febrile patients, including 22 HFRS patients and 9 SFTS patients, were collected from September 2021 to October 2022. Among these HFRS patients, 11 were severe or critical. Severe and critical HFRS patients were characterized by rodent exposure history, pharyngeal and conjunctival hyperemia, abnormal WBC and PLT counts, and elevated BUN and Cr values. Virus isolation and molecular detection on blood samples from 6 patients showed that three of the six severe patients were positive for hantaan virus (HTNV), and two of the three HTNV positives were also positive for SFTS bunyavirus (SFTSV). The two coinfected patients exhibited different clinical and laboratory characteristics compared to those infected by either virus alone. Coinfection of HTNV and SFTSV leads to severe and complex hemorrhagic fever. Laboratory characteristics, such as the indicators of WBC, PLT, BUN, and Cr, may differ between HFRS and SFTS. These findings have implications and provide references for the diagnosis and treatment of coinfected cases.
Relationship Between Tourists' Perceived Restorative Environment and Wellness Tourism Destinations
Authors: Jeong Heonkyu
Published: September 2024

This study aims to determine the importance of tourists' perceptions of wellness tourism destinations and their performance based on tourists' perceived restorative environments. An empirical analysis was conducted using sample data collected through a survey with 428 tourists who have experienced wellness tourism. According to the analysis results, there were differences in the level of tourists' perception of the restorative environment. Based on these differences, tourists were subdivided into “the high‐perception group,” “the medium‐perception group,” and “the low‐perception group.” A clear difference in the importance and performance of wellness destinations considered by tourists based on clusters was also found. This segmentation based on the restorative environment can be applied to the development of tourism resource tailored to tourist characteristics.
Free‐roaming horses exceeding appropriate management levels affect multiple vital rates in greater sage‐grouse
Authors: Beck Jeffrey L. , Milligan Megan C. , Smith Kurt T. , Street Phillip A. , Pratt Aaron C. , Kirol Christopher P. , Wanner Caitlyn P. , Hennig Jacob D. , Dinkins Jonathan B. , Derek Scasta J. , Coates Peter S.
Published: September 2024

Since the passage of the Wild Free‐Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, federal agencies have been responsible for managing free‐roaming equids in the United States. Over the last 20 years, management has been hampered by direct opposition from advocacy groups, budget limitations, and a decline in the public's willingness to adopt free‐roaming horses (Equus caballus). As a result, free‐roaming equid numbers have increased to >3 times the targeted goal of 26,785 (horses and burros [E. asinus] combined), the cumulative sum of the appropriate management levels (AML) for all 177 designated herd management areas (HMA) managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This increase is one of the causes of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population declines, owing to habitat alteration from free‐roaming equids exacerbated by ongoing drought. To evaluate potential demographic mechanisms influencing these declines, we compiled survival data from 4 studies in central Wyoming, USA, including 995 adult female (first‐year breeders or older) sage‐grouse during the breeding season, 1,075 nests, 372 broods, and 136 juveniles (i.e., overwinter survival for fledged young), from 2008–2022. During this period, we also obtained population information for free‐roaming horses from 9 HMAs used by individual grouse in our sample. Population estimates of free‐roaming horses for these HMAs ranged from 59% to 7 times of the maximum appropriate management level (AMLmax). Sage‐grouse monitored outside of HMAs represented control populations and, because we assumed they were not exposed to populations of free‐roaming horses, we set values of AMLmax to zero for all grouse located outside of HMAs. To evaluate whether free‐roaming horses were negatively affecting sage‐grouse, we modeled daily survival of breeding age females, nest, broods, and juveniles. There was strong or moderate evidence that overabundant free‐roaming horses negatively affected nest, brood, and juvenile survival. When horse abundance increased from AMLmax to 3 times AMLmax, survival was reduced 8.1%, 18.3%, 18.2%, and 18.2% for nests, early broods (≤20 days after hatch), late broods (>20 days to 35 days after hatch), and juveniles, respectively. These results indicate increasing free‐roaming horse numbers affected vital rates for important life stages of sage‐grouse, and that maintaining free‐roaming horse numbers below AMLmax would reduce negative effects to sage‐grouse populations.
High‐Riding Innominate Artery: Booby Trap for ICU Tracheotomy
Authors: Ramakrishnan Vijay R. , Kaefer Samuel L.
Published: September 2024

Despite tracheotomy being a routine procedure, it is not rare to encounter anatomic irregularities that can compromise its success. In this report, we describe a case in which a high riding innominate artery was identified within the surgical trajectory moments before incision, which ultimately necessitated airway securement using an alternative laryngological procedure. Laryngoscope, 135:626–628, 2025
The Use of Water Sac Dilation in Resecting Parapharyngeal Space Benign Tumor via Transoral Approach
Authors: Dong Yuke , Zhang Junbo , Li Yujie , Huang Wei , Dang Yanwei , Li Tao , Xu Lianfang , Shen Xiao , Li Hongyan , Huang Lijie , Li Beiying
Published: September 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of employing the water sac dilation (WSD) method during endoscopy‐assisted transoral resection of parapharyngeal space benign tumor (PSBT).

Methods

Between February 2017 and January 2022, a total of 32 patients diagnosed with PSBT were included in this prospective study and were randomly allocated into two groups: the WSD group and the control group. Tumors of the WSD group patients were all dissected using the WSD method.

Results

The final numbers of studied patients in WSD group and control group were 17 and 15, respectively. The basic information was comparable between these two groups of patients. All these patients successfully underwent tumor resection via transoral approach. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage volume on the first postoperative day, drainage duration, and the total drainage volume in the WSD group patients were significantly lower than those in the control group patients (all p < 0.05). No surgical complications occurred, and no residual tumor or recurrence could be identified at 6 months after surgery in both groups of patients.

Conclusion

The application of the WSD method in endoscopy‐assisted transoral resection of PSBT effectively attenuated intraoperative injury, improved surgical efficiency, and accelerated postoperative recovery.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 135:665–670, 2025
Impact of Biologics on Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Polyps and Allergic Fungal Sinusitis
Authors: Bentan Mihai A. , Pingree Graham , Lee Lawrance , Fitzpatrick Thomas , Schuman Theodore
Published: September 2024

Objective

To compare the efficacy of th2‐targeted biologic medications (dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab) on absolute risk reduction (ARR) of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS).

Methods

The TriNetX Research Network database was queried for each mAb's market lifespan through March 2024. Adults with CRSwNP were propensity score matched against non‐mAb controls based on age, sex, race, and asthma diagnosis. The primary outcome was rate of FESS, with secondary outcomes including inpatient admission, emergency department (ED) visit, and incidence of acute sinusitis. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients with AFRS.

Results

All mAbs decreased FESS risk (dupilumab, ARR 11.48%, 95% CI 9.82%–13.15%, p < 0.001; omalizumab, ARR 12.02%, 95% CI 4.36%–19.68%, p = 0.002; mepolizumab, ARR 10.32%, 95% CI 5.24%–15.40%, p < 0.001) in CRSwNP patients. Only dupilumab also reduced risk of inpatient admission (ARR 8.59%, 95% CI 7.04%–10.15%, p < 0.001), ED visit (ARR 5.94%, 95% CI 4.28%–7.61%, p < 0.001), and acute sinusitis (ARR 2.60%, 95% CI 1.09%–4.12%, p = 0.001). In AFRS patients, only dupilumab reduced the risk of all outcomes: FESS (ARR 6.97%, 95 CI 2.86%–11.09%, p = 0.001), inpatient admission (ARR 16.93%, 95% CI 11.30%–22.57%, p < 0.001), ED visit (ARR 13.15%, 95% CI 7.15%–19.14%, p < 0.001), and acute sinusitis (ARR 7.17%, 95% CI 2.18%–12.17%, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Although all mAbs reduced FESS risk in CRSwNP, only dupilumab reduced secondary outcomes as well. Similarly, only dupilumab improved all outcomes in AFRS patients. These data demonstrate the potential of mAbs in reducing disease burden and enhancing patient outcomes in CRSwNP and AFRS.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 135:593–601, 2025
Sediment Transport Dynamics Modeling of Overland Flow on Gentle Slopes Based on Flume Experiments
Authors: Zhang Kai , Zhang Chengcheng , Wang Zhidan , Bai Yikui , Wang Xuan
Published: September 2024

Soil erosion is a global environmental issue, and sediment transport capacity (T

c
) is critical for developing soil erosion models. This study conducted flume drainage experiments at six flow discharges (0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, and 0.65 L s−1) and eight slope gradients (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, 9.0, 10.5, and 12.0°) to investigate how the T
c of gentle slopes in the northeastern hilly region of China and water erosion factors are related and to establish a T
c model of overland flow. The study demonstrated a power–law relationship between T
c, flow discharge, and slope gradient, as evidenced by a high coefficient of determination (R
2; 0.94) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE; 0.92) values. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between T
c and average flow velocity, with R
2 and NSE values of 0.86 and 0.84, respectively. Among the hydrodynamic parameters tested, the average flow velocity was determined to be the most effective T
c predictor, surpassing stream power (R
2 > 0.7, NSE > 0.7), shear stress (R
2 > 0.6, NSE > 0.6), and unit stream power (R
2 < 0.5, NSE < 0.5). These findings lay the foundation for developing process‐based sediment transport models for gentle slopes in the northeastern hilly regions of China.
Ecological patterns of benthic foraminiferal communities driven by seasonal and spatial environmental gradients in an Arctic fjord
Authors: Guilhermic Corentin , Nardelli Maria Pia , Mouret Aurélia , Pusceddu Antonio , Baltzer Agnès , Howa Hélène
Published: September 2024

Arctic fjords, being transitional areas between glacier‐covered land and the ocean, are characterized by strong environmental gradients. The seasonal melting of glaciers generates strong turbidity and primary production antagonist gradients, which can affect benthic habitats. Two sampling campaigns were carried out in Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Arctic Ocean) in May and August 2021 to investigate seasonal changes in benthic foraminifera spatial distribution and ecosystem functioning along a longitudinal transect of 10 km from the Kronebreen tidewater glacier front. Concurrently, organic matter quantity and biochemical composition, sediment grain size, and physical parameters of the water masses were investigated as possible driving factors of benthic ecosystem responses. In a previous study, three statistically determined foraminiferal biozonations (glacier proximal, medial, and distal) were observed on the basis of their species content within the closest 10 km from the glacier front, presenting similar assemblages in both seasons. Our results indicate that foraminiferal distribution at the local scale is mainly driven by physical and geochemical gradients induced by melting waters and sediment discharges from the tidewater glacier occurring during summer. Due to the climate change, the melting season is expected to last longer and increasing global temperature will much probably accelerate the melting processes. Our findings strongly support the use of foraminifera as bioindicators to monitor the effects of ongoing climate change on the benthic ecosystems of Arctic fjords and, accessorily, as proxies for reconstructing glacier front positions in the recent past.
Probing the Linear‐to‐Plastic Transition in Polymer Nanocomposites via Atomistic Simulations: The Role of Interphases
Authors: Reda Hilal , Katsamba Panayiota , Chazirakis Anthony , Harmandaris Vagelis
Published: September 2024

Polymer nanocomposites have found ubiquitous use across diverse industries, attributable to their distinctive properties and enhanced mechanical performance compared to conventional materials. Elucidating the elastic‐to‐plastic transition in polymer nanocomposites under diverse mechanical loads is paramount for the bespoke design of materials with desired mechanical attributes. In the current work, the elastic‐to‐plastic transition is probed in model systems of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and silica, SiO2, nanoparticles, through detailed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. This comprehensive, multi‐scale analysis unveils pivotal markers of the elastic‐to‐plastic transition, highlighting the quintessential role of microstructural and regional heterogeneities in density, strain, and stress fields, featuring the polymer‐nanoparticle interphase region. At the atomic level, the behavior of polymer chains interacting with nanoparticle surfaces is traced, differentiating between free and adsorbed chains, and identifying the microscopic origins of the linear‐to‐plastic transition. The mechanical behavior of subregions are characterized within the PEO/SiO2 nanocomposites, focusing on the interphase and bulk‐like polymer areas, probing stress heterogeneities and their decomposition into various force contributions. At the inception of plasticity, a disruption is discerned in isotropy of the polymeric density field, the emergence of low‐density regions, and microscopic voids/cavities within the polymer matrix concomitant with a transition of adsorbed chains to free. The yield strain also emerges as an inflection point in the local versus global strain diagram, demarcating the elastic limit, and the plastic regime shows pronounced strain heterogeneities. The decomposition of the atomic Virial stress into bonded and non‐bonded interactions indicates that the rigidity of the material is primarily governed by non‐bonded interactions, significantly influenced by the volume fraction of the nanoparticle. These findings emphasize the importance of the microstructural and micromechanical environment at the polymer‐nanoparticle interface on the linear‐to‐plastic transition, which is of great importance in the design of nanocomposite materials with advanced mechanical properties.
Numerical analysis of fractional‐order Euler–Bernoulli beam model under composite model
Authors: Zhu Shuai , Ma Yanfei , Zhang Yanyun , Xie Jiaquan , Xue Ning , Wei Haidong
Published: September 2024

The primary objective of this study is to develop a new constitutive model by combining a fractional‐order Kelvin–Voigt model with an Abel dashpot element in parallel. Subsequently, this new model will be incorporated into the Euler–Bernoulli beam's governing equation, utilizing shifted Legendre polynomials as basis functions, a classical orthogonal polynomial system, to solve the fractional‐order partial differential equations. By comparing the numerical solutions with the analytical solutions, we aim to evaluate the applicability of shifted Legendre polynomials in solving such problems and the accuracy of the obtained numerical solutions. Furthermore, we will investigate the performance of viscoelastic HDPE beams under different loading conditions and conduct a comparative analysis of the displacements of HDPE beams under the new constitutive model and the traditional fractional‐order Kelvin–Voigt model. Through this research, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of fractional‐order phenomena and provide more accurate and efficient numerical simulation and analysis methods for the field of structural mechanics, promoting the development of related engineering applications.
Denoising of dual‐VENC PC‐MRI with large high/low VENC ratios
Authors: Brunátová Jana , Löcke Miriam , Uribe Sergio , Bertoglio Cristóbal
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Dual velocity encoding PC‐MRI can produce spurious artifacts when using high ratios of velocity encoding values (VENCs), limiting its ability to generate high‐quality images across a wide range of encoding velocities. This study aims to propose and compare dual‐VENC correction methods for such artifacts.

Theory and Methods

Two denoising approaches based on spatiotemporal regularization are proposed and compared with a state‐of‐the‐art method based on sign correction. Accuracy is assessed using simulated data from an aorta and brain aneurysm, as well as 8 two‐dimensional (2D) PC‐MRI ascending aorta datasets. Two temporal resolutions (30,60) ms and noise levels (9,12) dB are considered, with noise added to the complex magnetization. The error is evaluated with respect to the noise‐free measurement in the synthetic case and to the unwrapped image without additional noise in the volunteer datasets.

Results

In all studied cases, the proposed methods are more accurate than the Sign Correction technique. Using simulated 2D+T data from the aorta (60 ms, 9 dB), the Dual‐VENC (DV) error is reduced to: (Sign Correction); and (proposed techniques). The methods are found to be significantly different (p‐value ). Importantly, brain aneurysm data revealed that the Sign Correction method is not suitable, as it increases error when the flow is not unidirectional. All three methods improve the accuracy of in vivo data.

Conclusion

The newly proposed methods outperform the Sign Correction method in improving dual‐VENC PC‐MRI images. Among them, the approach based on temporal differences has shown the highest accuracy.
High‐resolution surface‐wave‐constrained mapping of sparse dynamic cone penetrometer tests
Authors: Wang Ao , Rejiba Fayçal , Bodet Ludovic , Finco Cécile , Fauchard Cyrille
Published: September 2024

The dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) provides local soil resistance information. The difference in the vertical and horizontal data resolution (centimetric vs. multi‐metric) makes it difficult to spatialize the DCP data directly. This study uses a high‐resolution section, extracted by the seismic surface‐wave method, as the auxiliary and physical constraint for mapping the DCP index (DCPI). Geostatistical formalism (kriging and cokriging) is used. The associated measurement error of the seismic surface‐wave data is also included in the cokriging system, that is, the cokriging with variance of measurement error (CKVME). The proposed methods are validated for the first time on a test site designed and constructed for this study, with known geotechnical perspectives. Seismic and high‐intensity DCP campaigns were performed on the test site. The results show that with decimating the number of DCP soundings, the kriging approach is no longer capable of estimating the lateral variation in the test site, and the root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) value of the kriging section is increased by . With the help of sections constraining the lateral variability model, the RMSE values of the cokriging and the CKVME sections are increased by and .
Tracheobronchomalacia is common in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia—A case note review
Authors: Kennelly Synne S. , Hovland Vegard , Matthews Iren Lindbak , Reinholt Finn P. , Skjerven Håvard , Heimdal Ketil , Crowley Suzanne
Published: September 2024

Background

The estimated prevalence of tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) in children is about 1:2100. Prevalence of intrathoracic malacia is higher in children with chronic lung disease such as bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis (CF) and may contribute to increased morbidity.

Objective

To determine the prevalence and assess clinical features of tracheomalacia (TM), TBM and bronchomalacia (BM) in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Methods

We performed a retrospective case‐note review of all children with a confirmed or highly likely diagnosis of PCD attending Oslo University Hospital between 2000 and 2021. We selected those who had undergone flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) and in whom the presence of TBM was assessed. We retrieved demographic and clinical data, including airway symptoms, PCD‐diagnostic criteria, indication for bronchoscopy, the presence of lobar atelectasis, microbiology and the descriptive and unblinded video‐recorded results of FB. Complications occurring during and after bronchoscopy were noted.

Results

Of 71 children with PCD, 32 underwent FB and were included in the review. The remaining 39 were included for TBM prevalence calculation only. Median age at FB was 6.0 years (3.1–11.9). Twenty‐two children (69%) had intrathoracic airway malacia. Four (13%) had isolated TM, seven (22%) had TBM, and 11 (34%) had isolated BM affecting either main (n = 4) or lobar bronchi (n = 7) (LBM), including four with associated lobar atelectasis. FB related complications, one major, 12 minor, were documented in 13 children (41%).

Conclusion

We found a high prevalence of TBM among children with PCD undergoing FB. This may represent a significant comorbidity and have implications for patient management.
HYDIN variants cause primary ciliary dyskinesia in the Finnish population
Authors: Burgoyne Thomas , Fassad Mahmoud R. , Schultz Rüdiger , Elenius Varpu , Lim Jacqueline S. Y. , Freke Grace , Rai Ranjit , Mohammed Mai A. , Mitchison Hannah M. , Sironen Anu I.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by chronic respiratory tract infections and in some cases laterality defects and infertility. The symptoms of PCD are caused by malfunction of motile cilia, hair‐like organelles protruding out of the cell. Thus far, disease causing variants in over 50 genes have been identified and these variants explain around 70% of all known cases. Population specific genetics underlying PCD has been reported highlighting the importance of characterizing gene variants in different populations for development of gene‐based diagnostics and management.

Methods

Whole exome sequencing was used to identify disease causing variants in Finnish PCD cohort. The effect of the identified HYDIN variants on cilia structure and function was confirmed by high‐speed video analysis, immunofluorescence and electron tomography.

Results

In this study, we identified three Finnish PCD patients carrying homozygous loss‐of‐function variants and one patient with compound heterozygous variants within HYDIN. The functional studies showed defects in the axonemal central pair complex. All patients had clinical PCD symptoms including chronic wet cough and recurrent airway infections, associated with mostly static airway cilia.

Conclusion

Our results are consistent with the previously identified important role of HYDIN in the axonemal central pair complex and improve specific diagnostics of PCD in different national populations.
Mesoscale explorer: Visual exploration of large‐scale molecular models
Authors: Rose Alexander , Sehnal David , Goodsell David S. , Autin Ludovic
Published: September 2024

The advent of cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) and cryo‐electron tomography (cryo‐ET), coupled with computational modeling, has enabled the creation of integrative 3D models of viruses, bacteria, and cellular organelles. These models, composed of thousands of macromolecules and billions of atoms, have historically posed significant challenges for manipulation and visualization without specialized molecular graphics tools and hardware. With the recent advancements in GPU rendering power and web browser capabilities, it is now feasible to render interactively large molecular scenes directly on the web. In this work, we introduce Mesoscale Explorer, a web application built using the Mol* framework, dedicated to the visualization of large‐scale molecular models ranging from viruses to cell organelles. Mesoscale Explorer provides unprecedented access and insight into the molecular fabric of life, enhancing perception, streamlining exploration, and simplifying visualization of diverse data types, showcasing the intricate details of these models with unparalleled clarity.