bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The epigenetic factor FVE orchestrates cytoplasmic SGS3-DRB4-DCL4 activities to promote transgene silencing in
Arabidopsis
Authors: Sun Di , Li Yanjun , Ma Zeyang , Yan Xingxing , Li Niankui , Shang Baoshuan , Hu Xiaomei , Cui Kai , Koiwa Hisashi , Zhang Xiuren
Published: August 2021

The epigenetic factor FVE synchronizes SGS3-DRB4/DCL2/4 functions to promote transgenic siRNA production in the cytoplasm.
Effect of BCG vaccination on proinflammatory responses in elderly individuals
Authors: Pavan Kumar Nathella , Padmapriyadarsini Chandrasekaran , Rajamanickam Anuradha , Marinaik Shrinivasa B. , Nancy Arul , Padmanaban Srinivasan , Akbar Nabila , Murhekar Manoj , Babu Subash
Published: August 2021

BCG vaccination significantly diminished proinflammatory responses in elderly individuals in COVID-19 hot spots.
A widely diverged locus involved in locomotor adaptation in
Heliconius
butterflies
Authors: Zhang Yubo , Teng Dequn , Lu Wei , Liu Min , Zeng Hua , Cao Lei , Southcott Laura , Potdar Sushant , Westerman Erica , Zhu Alan Jian , Zhang Wei
Published: August 2021

A locomotor locus shows high divergence and signatures of introgression among
Heliconius
butterflies.
Absence of a long-lived lunar paleomagnetosphere
Authors: Tarduno John A. , Cottrell Rory D. , Lawrence Kristin , Bono Richard K. , Huang Wentao , Johnson Catherine L. , Blackman Eric G. , Smirnov Aleksey V. , Nakajima Miki , Neal Clive R. , Zhou Tinghong , Ibanez-Mejia Mauricio , Oda Hirokuni , Crummins Ben
Published: August 2021

The Moon lacked a long-lived magnetic field of internal origin, and this allowed solar wind volatiles to accumulate in its soils.
Self-assembling synthetic nanoadjuvant scaffolds cross-link B cell receptors and represent new platform technology for therapeutic antibody production
Authors: Senapati Sujata , Darling Ross J. , Ross Kathleen A. , Wannemeuhler Michael J. , Narasimhan Balaji , Mallapragada Surya K.
Published: August 2021

Self-assembling nanoadjuvant scaffolds cross-link B cell receptors and are a new platform technology for therapeutic antibodies.
TGFβ2 and TGFβ3 isoforms drive fibrotic disease pathogenesis
Authors: Sun Tianhe , Huang Zhiyu , Liang Wei-Ching , Yin Jianping , Lin Wei Yu , Wu Jia , Vernes Jean-Michel , Lutman Jeff , Caplazi Patrick , Jeet Surinder , Wong Tiffany , Wong Manda , DePianto Daryle J. , Morshead Katrina B. , Sun Kai-Hui , Modrusan Zora , Vander Heiden Jason A. , Abbas Alexander R. , Zhang Hua , Xu Min , N’Diaye Elsa-Noah , Roose-Girma Meron , Wolters Paul J. , Yadav Rajbharan , Sukumaran Siddharth , Ghilardi Nico , Corpuz Racquel , Emson Claire , Meng Y. Gloria , Ramalingam Thirumalai R. , Lupardus Patrick , Brightbill Hans D. , Seshasayee Dhaya , Wu Yan , Arron Joseph R.
Published: August 2021

TGFβ2 and TGFβ3 isoforms are activated via unique mechanisms and are associated with fibrosis in human diseases.
Identifying and targeting the Achilles heel of a recalcitrant cancer
Authors: Sen Triparna
Published: August 2021

Targeting replication stress response proteins in small cell lung cancer activates the innate immune cGAS-STING pathway leading to augmentation of immunotherapy’s antitumor response.
Enzymatic Synthesis of
l
-
threo
-β-Hydroxy-α-Amino Acids via Asymmetric Hydroxylation Using 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Hydroxylase from Sulfobacillus thermotolerans Strain Y0017
Authors: Hara Ryotaro , Nakajima Yuta , Yanagawa Hiroaki , Gawasawa Ryo , Hirasawa Izumi , Kino Kuniki
Published: August 2021

Owing to an increasing concern for sustainability, enzymatic approaches for producing industrially useful compounds have attracted considerable attention as a powerful complement to chemical synthesis for environment-friendly synthesis. In this study, we developed a bioproduction method for β-hydroxy-α-amino acid synthesis using a newly discovered enzyme.
Glutathione Synthetase Overexpression in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Improves Halotolerance of Iron Oxidation
Authors: Inaba Yuta , West Alan C. , Banta Scott
Published: August 2021

The use of acidophilic bacteria in the hydrometallurgical processing of sulfide ores can enable many benefits, including the potential reduction of environmental impacts. The cells involved in bioleaching tend to have limited halotolerance, and increased halotolerance could enable several benefits, including a reduction in the need for the use of freshwater resources.
Can Testing Predict SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity? The Potential for Certain Methods To Be Surrogates for Replication-Competent Virus
Authors: Binnicker Matthew J.
Published: August 2021

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, molecular methods (e.g., real-time PCR) have been the primary means of diagnosing the disease. It is now well-established that molecular tests can continue to detect SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA for weeks or months following the resolution of clinical illness.
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry for Rapid Detection of Isolates Belonging to the Epidemic Clones Achromobacter xylosoxidans ST137 and Achromobacter ruhlandii DES from Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Garrigos Thomas , Dollat Manon , Magallon Arnaud , Chapuis Angélique , Varin Véronique , Bador Julien , Makki Nadia , Cremet Lise , Persyn Elise , Cardot-Martin Emilie , Echahidi Fedoua , Peeters Charlotte , Pierard Denis , Vandamme Peter , Verroken Alexia , Neuwirth Catherine , Amoureux Lucie
Published: August 2021

Achromobacter
spp. are increasingly reported among cystic fibrosis patients. Genotyping requires time-consuming methods such as multilocus sequence typing or pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
Detection of Blastomyces dermatitidis Antigen in Urine Using a Commercially Available Quantitative Enzyme Immunoassay
Authors: Theel Elitza S. , Rodino Kyle G. , Granger Dane
Published: August 2021

Laboratory diagnosis of blastomycosis relies on a combination of methods, including antigen detection. We assessed the performance of analyte-specific reagents from Gotham Biotech (Portland, ME) for quantitative detection of
Blastomyces dermatitidis
galactomannan (GM) in urine using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) compared to the
Blastomyces
quantitative EIA from MiraVista Diagnostics (Indianapolis, IN).
UL25 Capsid Binding Facilitates Mechanical Maturation of the Herpesvirus Capsid and Allows Retention of Pressurized DNA
Authors: Freeman Krista G. , Huffman Jamie B. , Homa Fred L. , Evilevitch Alex
Published: August 2021

Most viruses undergo a maturation process from a weakly assembled particle to a stable virion. Herpesvirus capsid undergoes mechanical maturation to withstand tens of atmospheres of DNA pressure.
Levels of Circulating NS1 Impact West Nile Virus Spread to the Brain
Authors: Wessel Alex W. , Dowd Kimberly A. , Biering Scott B. , Zhang Ping , Edeling Melissa A. , Nelson Christopher A. , Funk Kristen E. , DeMaso Christina R. , Klein Robyn S. , Smith Janet L. , Cao Thu Minh , Kuhn Richard J. , Fremont Daved H. , Harris Eva , Pierson Theodore C. , Diamond Michael S.
Published: August 2021

Flavivirus NS1 serves as an essential scaffolding molecule during virus replication but also is expressed on the cell surface and is secreted as a soluble glycoprotein that circulates in the blood of infected individuals. Although extracellular forms of NS1 are implicated in immune modulation and in promoting endothelial dysfunction at blood-tissue barriers, it has been challenging to study specific effects of NS1 on pathogenesis without disrupting its key role in virus replication.
Hairpin Transfer-Independent Parvovirus DNA Replication Produces Infectious Virus
Authors: Shen Weiran , Wang Zekun , Ning Kang , Cheng Fang , Engelhardt John F. , Yan Ziying , Qiu Jianming
Published: August 2021

Hairpin transfer-independent parvovirus replication was modeled with human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) duplex genomes whose 5′ hairpin structure was ablated by various deletions. In HEK293 cells, these duplex viral genomes with ablated 5′ hairpin sequence replicated efficiently and generated viruses that productively infected polarized human airway epithelium.
Analysis of Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Carriage in Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Equids Using Whole-Genome Sequencing
Authors: Little Sara V. , Hillhouse Andrew E. , Lawhon Sara D. , Bryan Laura K.
Published: August 2021

This is one of the first studies to perform whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a large collection of
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates, both methicillin resistant and susceptible, collected from horses. A large proportion of the isolates carry leucocidin PQ (LukPQ), making this one of the first reports of such carriage in the United States.
Skin Metagenomic Sequence Analysis of Early Candida auris Outbreaks in U.S. Nursing Homes
Authors: Huang Xin , Welsh Rory M. , Deming Clay , Proctor Diana M. , Thomas Pamela J. ,   NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Gussin Gabrielle M. , Huang Susan S. , Kong Heidi H. , Bentz Meghan L. , Vallabhaneni Snigdha , Chiller Tom , Jackson Brendan R. , Forsberg Kaitlin , Conlan Sean , Litvintseva Anastasia P. , Segre Julia A.
Published: August 2021

Candida auris
is a human pathogen of high concern due to its extensive antifungal drug resistance and high mortality rates associated with invasive infections.
Candida auris
skin colonization and persistence on environmental surfaces make this pathogen difficult to control once it enters a health care facility. Residents in long-term care hospitals and nursing homes are especially vulnerable.
Metagenomic Sequencing for Direct Identification of Candida auris Colonization
Authors: O’Meara Teresa R.
Published: August 2021

Candida auris
is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that is associated with skin colonization and deadly bloodstream infections, especially in ventilator skilled nursing facilities. An ongoing question is how this organism colonizes the skin of these patients and whether the skin microbiome provides a measure of colonization resistance against
C. auris
.
Semiquantitative Real-Time PCR to Distinguish Pneumocystis Pneumonia from Colonization in a Heterogeneous Population of HIV-Negative Immunocompromised Patients
Authors: Grønseth Stine , Rogne Tormod , Hannula Raisa , Åsvold Bjørn Olav , Afset Jan Egil , Damås Jan Kristian
Published: August 2021

Pneumocystis jirovecii
is potentially life threatening to an increasing number of individuals with compromised immune systems. This microorganism can cause severe pneumonia in susceptible hosts, including patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases and people undergoing solid organ transplantation.
Differential Antibody Response to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Wheeler Sarah E. , Shurin Galina V. , Yost Mary , Anderson Adam , Pinto Lisa , Wells Alan , Shurin Michael R.
Published: August 2021

Now that authorized vaccines for COVID-19 have been widely used, it is important to understand how they induce antivirus antibodies, which antigens are targeted, how long antibodies circulate, and how personal health conditions and age may affect this humoral immunity. Here, we report induction and time course of multiple anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in healthy individuals immunized with Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.
Lowered Risk of Nephrotoxicity through Intervention against the Combined Use of Vancomycin and Tazobactam/Piperacillin: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Oda Kazutaka , Hashiguchi Yumi , Katanoda Tomomi , Nakata Hirotomo , Jono Hirofumi , Saito Hideyuki
Published: August 2021

The combined use of vancomycin (VCM) and tazobactam/piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) is a major risk factor for nephrotoxicity. We retrospectively evaluated interventions against the combined use of VCM and TAZ/PIPC.
Entamoeba
Chitinase is Required for Mature Round Cyst Formation
Authors: Mi-ichi Fumika , Sakaguchi Miako , Hamano Shinjiro , Yoshida Hiroki
Published: August 2021

Amoebiasis is caused by
Entamoeba histolytica
infection and is transmitted by dormant
Entamoeba
cells or cysts. Cysts need to be tolerant to severe environmental stresses faced outside and inside a human host.
Estimated total cardiovascular risk in a rural area of Bangladesh: a household level cross-sectional survey done by local community health workers
Authors: Zaman Mohammad Mostafa , Moniruzzaman Mohammad , Chowdhury Kamrun Nahar , Zareen Salma , Hossain AHM Enayet
Published: August 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to estimate 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Bangladeshi rural community residents, using the 2014 WHO/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) risk prediction charts.

Study design

Cross-sectional population-based study done by local community healthcare workers engaging the lowest level facilities of the primary healthcare system.

Setting and participants

A total of 1545 rural adults aged ≥40 years of Debhata upazila of Satkhira district of Bangladesh participated in this survey done in 2015. The community health workers collected data on age, smoking, blood pressure, blood glucose and treatment history of diabetes and hypertension.

Primary outcome measures

We estimated total 10-year CVD risk using the WHO/ISH South East Asia Region-D charts without cholesterol and categorised the risk into low (<10%), moderate (10%–19.9%), high (20%–29.9%) and very high (≥30%).

Results

The participants’ mean age (±SD) was 53.9±11.6 years. Overall, the 10-year CVD risks (%, 95% CI) were as follows: low risk (81.6%, 95% CI 78.4% to 84.6%), moderate risk (9.9%, 95% CI 7.4% to 12.1%), high risk (5.8%, 95% CI 4.4% to 7.2%) and very high risk (2.8%, 95% CI 1.5% to 4.1%). In women, moderate to very high risks were higher (moderate 12.1%, high 6.1% and very high 3.7%) compared with men (moderate 7.5%, high 5.5% and very high 1.9%) but none of these were statistically significant. The age-standardised prevalence of very high risk increased from 2.9% (0.7%–5.2%) to 8.5% (5%–12%) when those with anti-hypertensive medication having controlled blood pressure (<140/90 mm Hg) added.

Conclusion

The very high-risk estimates could be used for planning resource for CVD prevention programme at upazila level. There is a need for a national level study, covering diversities of rural areas, to contribute to national planning of CVD prevention.
Development of entrustable professional activities for residents rotating nephrology department in a Japanese university hospital: a Delphi study
Authors: Tanaka Akihito , Kondo Takeshi , Urushibara-Miyachi Yuka , Maruyama Shoichi , Nishigori Hiroshi
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Training strategies regarding entrustable professional activities (EPAs) vary from country to country; one such strategy is for residents. However, there are no reports of EPAs developed for residents who rotate to the nephrology departments. We aimed to construct such EPAs, which could be generalised to other institutions.

Design

Purposive design and a modified Delphi method to build consensus.

Setting

The department of nephrology in a university hospital in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Participants

Based on the attainment goals used in our department, an initial list was developed within the research group. The expert panel included 25 nephrologists from our affiliate hospital. Responses were based on a 5-point method and agreement was reached if both (A) and (B) were met: (A) mean≥4 with a SD <1; (B) more than 75% of respondents rated the item 4 or more. With agreement, the item was left for the next round. This round was repeated.

Results

An initial list of 11 items was developed; after three Delphi rounds and revisions, eight items remained that were then established as the final EPAs. These items can serve as a list of goals to be reached by residents who rotate to the department of nephrology. The results indicated that most of the experts believed residents should be able to perform tasks deemed necessary or urgent for all physicians, such as those that deal with hyperkalaemia and heart failure.

Conclusions

The concept of EPAs enabled us to develop goals and evaluation criteria for residents’ training in nephrology. This study can serve as a springboard for future discussions and contribute to the development of resident education in nephrology.
Cost-effectiveness of the fixed-dose combination tiotropium/olodaterol versus tiotropium monotherapy or a fixed-dose combination of long-acting β2-agonist/inhaled corticosteroid for COPD in Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands: a model-based study
Authors: Hoogendoorn Martine , Corro Ramos Isaac , Soulard Stéphane , Cook Jennifer , Soini Erkki , Paulsson Emma , Rutten-van Mölken Maureen
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines advocate treatment with combinations of long-acting bronchodilators for patients with COPD who have persistent symptoms or continue to have exacerbations while using a single bronchodilator. This study assessed the cost-utility of the fixed dose combination of the bronchodilators tiotropium and olodaterol versus two comparators, tiotropium monotherapy and long-acting β2 agonist/inhaled corticosteroid (LABA/ICS) combinations, in three European countries: Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Methods

A previously published COPD patient-level discrete event simulation model was updated with most recent evidence to estimate lifetime quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs for COPD patients receiving either tiotropium/olodaterol, tiotropium monotherapy or LABA/ICS. Treatment efficacy covered impact on trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), total and severe exacerbations and pneumonias. The unit costs of medication, maintenance treatment, exacerbations and pneumonias were obtained for each country. The country-specific analyses adhered to the Finnish, Swedish and Dutch pharmacoeconomic guidelines, respectively.

Results

Treatment with tiotropium/olodaterol gained QALYs ranging from 0.09 (Finland and Sweden) to 0.11 (the Netherlands) versus tiotropium and 0.23 (Finland and Sweden) to 0.28 (the Netherlands) versus LABA/ICS. The Finnish payer’s incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of tiotropium/olodaterol was €11 000/QALY versus tiotropium and dominant versus LABA/ICS. The Swedish ICERs were €6200/QALY and dominant, respectively (societal perspective). The Dutch ICERs were €14 400 and €9200, respectively (societal perspective). The probability that tiotropium/olodaterol was cost-effective compared with tiotropium at the country-specific (unofficial) threshold values for the maximum willingness to pay for a QALY was 84% for Finland, 98% for Sweden and 99% for the Netherlands. Compared with LABA/ICS, this probability was 100% for all three countries.

Conclusions

Based on the simulations, tiotropium/olodaterol is a cost-effective treatment option versus tiotropium or LABA/ICS in all three countries. In both Finland and Sweden, tiotropium/olodaterol is more effective and cost saving (ie, dominant) in comparison with LABA/ICS.
Antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention interventions targeting healthcare-associatedClostridioides difficileand carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeinfections: a scoping review
Authors: Okeah Bernard Ojiambo , Morrison Valerie , Huws Jaci C
Published: August 2021

Objectives

This study assessed antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and infection prevention (IP) interventions targeting healthcare-associatedClostridioides difficileand carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP) infections, their key outcomes and the application of behaviour change principles in these interventions.

Design

This scoping review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines while focusing on acute healthcare settings in both low-to-middle income and high-income countries.

Data sources

The databases searched were MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science and CINAHL between 22 April 2020 and 30 September 2020.

Eligibility

The review included peer-reviewed articles published in English language between 2010 and 2019. Studies that focussed on IP and/or AMS interventions primarily targetingC. difficileor CRKP were included. Studies that assessed effectiveness of diagnostic devices or treatment options were excluded from this review.

Data extraction and synthesis

An abstraction sheet calibrated for this study was used to extract data on the main study characteristics including the population, intervention and outcomes of interest (antimicrobial use, compliance with IP interventions and risk forC. difficileand CRKP). A narrative synthesis of the results is provided.

Results

The review included 34 studies. Analysis indicates that interventions targetingC. difficileand CRKP include Education, Surveillance/Screening, Consultations, Audits, Policies and Protocols, Environmental measures, Bundles, Isolation as well as Notifications or alerts (represented using the ESCAPE-BIN acronym). The identified outcomes include antimicrobial use, resistance rates, risk reduction, adherence to contact precautions, hospital stay and time savings. AMS and IP interventions tend to be more adhoc with limited application of behaviour change principles.

Conclusion

This scoping review identified the AMS and IP interventions targetingC. difficileand CRKP in healthcare settings and described their key outcomes. The application of behaviour change principles in AMS and IP interventions appears to be limited.
Association of lipocalin-2 and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) with biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) among under 2 children in Bangladesh: results from a community-based intervention study
Authors: Hasan Md. Mehedi , Gazi Md. Amran , Das Subhasish , Fahim Shah Mohammad , Hossaini Farzana , Alam Md. Ashraful , Mahfuz Mustafa , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: August 2021

Background

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is thought to occur from persistent intestinal inflammation. Studies also revealed the association of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) with intestinal inflammation. Therefore, we intended to explore the relationship of LCN2 and LRP1 with gut inflammation and biomarkers of EED in Bangladeshi malnourished children.

Methods

A total of 222 children (length-for-age z-score (LAZ) <-1) aged 12–18 months were enrolled in this study in a cross-sectional manner. Among the participants, 115 were stunted (LAZ <-2) and 107 were at risk of being stunted (LAZ −1 to −2) children. Plasma and faecal biomarkers were measured using ELISA. Spearman’s rank correlation was done to see the correlation among LCN2, LRP1 and biological biomarkers.

Results

LCN2 correlates positively with myeloperoxidase (r=0.19, p=0.005), neopterin (r=0.20, p=0.004), calprotectin (r=0.3, p=0.0001), Reg1B (r=0.20, p=0.003) and EED score (r=0.20, p=0.003). Whereas, LRP1 correlates negatively with myeloperoxidase (r = −0.18, p=0.006), neopterin (r = −0.30, p=0.0001), alpha-1-antitrypsin (r = −0.18, p=0.006), Reg1B (r=−0.2, p=0.003) and EED score (r = −0.29, p=0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings imply that LCN2 might be a promising biomarker to predict gut inflammation and EED. Whereas, increased level of LRP1 may contribute to alleviating intestinal inflammation.
Optimising undergraduate medico-legal and professionalism teaching through a student-selected component
Authors: Pandya Tej , Muneeb Ferhan , Gibb Jonathan , Metcalfe Neil H
Published: August 2021

Purpose

We sought to understand how best to teach medico-ethics, law and professionalism to undergraduate medical students using a student selected component.

Materials and methods

Students received small-group, seminar-based teaching from the module organiser and external representatives from organisations such as the General Medical Council and Medical Protection Society. Experiential learning was also facilitated through attendance at fitness to practice tribunals and Coroner’s court, followed by structured debrief sessions. Two cohorts of medical students(n=40) from Manchester University were surveyed before and after undergoing the placement, with qualitative interviews and thematic analysis for a subset of this group(n=16) and course leaders(n=4).

Results

There were significant (p<0.05) improvements in students’ self-reported understanding of key medicolegal organisations and accessing guidance on professionalism. Thematic analysis uncovered increasing confidence in the role of the medicolegal system, barriers to challenging unprofessional behaviour, and a desire for this to be placed in the curricula.

Conclusions

This placement was well received and demonstrates an importance for this content to be taught effectively in the medical curricula. Having protected time to attend sessions while an undergraduate may reduce anxiety felt by doctors fearing medicolegal proceedings and help challenge unprofessional behaviours. Further work could explore mechanisms into how best to incorporate this into the medical curricula.
Trauma center funding: time for an update
Authors: Grossman Verner Heather M , Figueroa Brian A , Salgado Crespo Marcos , Lorenzo Manuel , Amos Joseph D
Published: August 2021

Background

Uncompensated care (UC) is healthcare provided with no payment from the patient or an insurance provider. UC directly contributes to escalating healthcare costs in the USA and potentially impacts patient care. In Texas, there has been a steady increase in the number of trauma centers and UC volumes without an increase in trauma funding of UC. The method of calculating UC trauma funds in Texas is imprecise as it is driven by Medicaid volumes and not actual trauma care costs.

Methods

Five years of annual trauma UC disbursement reports from the Texas Department of State Health Services were used to determine changes in UC economic considerations for level I, II, and III trauma centers in the largest urban trauma service areas (TSAs). Data for UC costs, compensation, and TSA demographics were used to assess variations. Statistical significance was determined using a Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s pairwise comparison post-hoc analysis and logistic regression.

Results

TSA-E (Dallas-Fort Worth area) has 33% of the level I trauma centers in Texas (n=6) and yet serves only 27% of the total state population across 14 metropolitan and 5 non-metropolitan counties. Since 2015, TSA-E has shown higher UC costs (p<0.02) and lower reimbursement (p<0.01) than the second largest urban hub, TSA-Q (Houston area). TSA-E level I trauma centers trended towards decreased UC reimbursements.

Discussion

The unregulated expansion of trauma centers in Texas has led to an unprecedented increase in hospitals participating in trauma care. The unbalanced allocation of UC funding could lead to further economic instability, compromise resource allocation, and negatively impact patient care in an already fragile healthcare environment.

Level of evidence

Level IV; Retrospective economic analysis and evaluation.
What are the strongest indicators of intracerebral hemorrhage in mild traumatic brain injury?
Authors: Teeratakulpisarn Panu , Angkasith Phati , Wannakul Thanakorn , Tanmit Parichat , Prasertcharoensuk Supatcha , Thanapaisal Chaiyut , Wongkonkitsin Narongchai , Kitkhuandee Amnat , Sukeepaisarnjaroen Wattana , Phuttharak Warinthorn , Sawanyawisuth Kittisak
Published: August 2021

Background

Although there are eight factors known to indicate a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), identification of the strongest of these factors may optimize the utility of brain CT in clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of ICH based on baseline characteristics/mode of injury, indications for brain CT, and a combination of both to determine the strongest indicator.

Methods

This was a descriptive, retrospective, analytical study. The inclusion criteria were diagnosis of mild TBI, high risk of ICH, and having undergone a CT scan of the brain. The outcome of the study was any type of ICH. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to find the strongest predictors according to three models: (1) injury pattern and baseline characteristics, (2) indications for CT scan of the brain, and (3) a combination of models 1 and 2.

Results

There were 100 patients determined to be at risk of ICH based on indications for CT of the brain in patients with acute head injury. Of these, 24 (24.00%) had ICH. Model 1 found that injury due to motor vehicle crash was a significant predictor of ICH, with an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 11.53 (3.05 to 43.58). Models 2 and 3 showed Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13 to 14 after 2 hours of observation and open skull or base of skull fracture to be independent predictors, with adjusted OR (95% CI) of 11.77 (1.32 to 104.96) and 5.88 (1.08 to 31.99) according to model 2.

Discussion

Open skull or base of skull fracture and GCS score of 13 to 14 after 2 hours of observation were the two strongest predictors of ICH in mild TBI.

Level of evidence

III.
Hunting BFKL in semi-hard reactions at the LHC
Authors: Celiberto Francesco Giovanni
Published: August 2021

The agreement between calculations inspired by the resummation of energy logarithms, known as BFKL approach, and experimental data in the semi-hard sector of QCD has become manifest after a wealthy series of phenomenological analyses. However, the contingency that the same data could be concurrently portrayed at the hand of fixed-order, DGLAP-based calculations, has been pointed out recently, but not yet punctually addressed. Taking advantage of the richness of configurations gained by combining the acceptances of CMS and CASTOR detectors, we give results in the full next-to-leading logarithmic approximation of cross sections, azimuthal correlations and azimuthal distributions for three distinct semi-hard processes, each of them featuring a peculiar final-state exclusiveness. Then, making use of disjoint intervals for the transverse momenta of the emitted objects, i.e. $$\kappa $$
κ
-windows, we clearly highlight how high-energy resummed and fixed-order driven predictions for semi-hard sensitive observables can be decisively discriminated in the kinematic ranges typical of current and forthcoming analyses at the LHC. The scale-optimization issue is also introduced and explored, while the uncertainty coming from the use of different PDF and FF set is deservedly handled. Finally, a brief overview of , a numerical tool recently developed, suited for the computation of inclusive semi-hard reactions is provided.
X(6200) as a compact tetraquark in the QCD string model
Authors: Nefediev A. V.
Published: August 2021

Recently the LHCb Collaboration announced the first observation of nontrivial structures in the double-$$J/\psi $$

J
/
ψ

mass spectrum in the mass range 6.2–7.2 GeV, and a theoretical coupled-channel analysis of these data performed in Dong et al. (Phys Rev Lett 126:132001, 2021) evidenced the existence of a new state X(6200) close to the double-$$J/\psi $$

J
/
ψ

threshold. Although its molecular interpretation seems the most plausible assumption, the present data do not exclude an admixture of a compact component in its wave function, for which a fully-charmed compact tetraquark is the most natural candidate. It is argued in this work that the QCD string model is compatible with the existence of a compact $$cc{\bar{c}}{\bar{c}}$$

c
c

c

¯

c

¯

state bound by QCD forces just below the double-$$J/\psi $$

J
/
ψ

threshold. A nontrivial interplay of the quark dynamics associated with this compact state and the molecular dynamics provided by soft gluon exchanges between $$J/\psi $$

J
/
ψ

mesons is discussed and the physical X(6200) is argued to be a shallow bound state, in agreement with the results of the aforementioned coupled-channel analysis of the LHCb data.
The SIR model towards the data
Authors: Lazzizzera Ignazio
Published: August 2021

In this work, the SIR epidemiological model is reformulated so to highlight the important effective reproduction number, as well as to account for the generation time, the inverse of the incidence rate, and the infectious period (or removal period), the inverse of the removal rate. The aim is to check whether the relationships the model poses among the various observables are actually found in the data. The study case of the second through the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Italy is taken. Given its scale invariance, initially the model is tested with reference to the curve of swab-confirmed infectious individuals only. It is found to match the data, if the curve of the removed (that is healed or deceased) individuals is assumed underestimated by a factor of about 3 together with other related curves. Contextually, the generation time and the removal period, as well as the effective reproduction number, are obtained fitting the SIR equations to the data; the outcomes prove to be in good agreement with those of other works. Then, using knowledge of the proportion of Covid-19 transmissions likely occurring from individuals who didn’t develop symptoms, thus mainly undetected, an estimate of the real numbers of the epidemic is obtained, looking also in good agreement with results from other, completely different works. The line of this work is new, and the procedures, computationally really inexpensive, can be applied to any other national or regional case besides Italy’s study case here.
Consequences of Fourier’s and Fick’s laws in bioconvective couple stress nanofluid flow configured by an inclined stretchable cylinder
Authors: Waqas Hassan , Muhammad Taseer , Hussain Sajjad , Yasmin Sumeira , Rasool Ghulam
Published: August 2021

The main benefits of submerging tiny-solid particles with the host fluid are to enhance the capability of storing heat, heat exchanger and interaction between the nanomaterials. The objective of this paper is to investigate the steady flow of bio-convective couple stress nanofluid across an inclined stretching cylinder with activation energy, motile microorganisms and nonlinear thermal radiation. The variable temperature conductivity and diffusivity impacts are considered. The Cattaneo–Christov double diffusion theory is also accounted in this model. The governing primary equations are reduced into a coupled system of ODEs by adopting appropriate similarity transformation. The resulting system is integrated numerically utilizing bvp4c tool via MATLAB software. The physical properties of concerned parameters against subjective profiles are examined through tabular and pictorial outline and then discussed in bit detail. It is shown that the velocity field reduces with growing estimations of Reynolds number and buoyancy ratio parameter. It is analyzed that thermal distribution decreases with improving amount of thermal relaxation parameter. Furthermore, concentration of nanoparticles is enhanced for larger amount of thermophoresis parameter. The microorganism field is up surged with enlarging amount of curvature and couple stress fluid parameters.
Transcriptional Pausing as a Mediator of Bacterial Gene Regulation
Authors: Landick Robert
Published: August 2021

Cellular life depends on transcription of DNA by RNA polymerase to express genetic information. RNA polymerase has evolved not just to read information from DNA and write it to RNA but also to sense and process information from the cellular and extracellular environments. Much of this information processing occurs during transcript elongation, when transcriptional pausing enables regulatory decisions. Transcriptional pauses halt RNA polymerase in response to DNA and RNA sequences and structures at locations and times that help coordinate interactions with small molecules and transcription factors important for regulation. Four classes of transcriptional pause signals are now evident after decades of study: elemental pauses, backtrack pauses, hairpin-stabilized pauses, and regulator-stabilized pauses. In this review, I describe current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these four classes of pause signals, remaining questions about how RNA polymerase responds to pause signals, and the many exciting directions now open to understand pausing and the regulation of transcript elongation on a genome-wide scale.
Quorum Sensing in Fungal Species
Authors: Tian Xiuyun , Ding Hao , Ke Weixin , Wang Linqi
Published: August 2021

Quorum sensing (QS) is one of the most studied cell-cell communication mechanisms in fungi. Research in the last 20 years has explored various fungal QS systems that are involved in a wide range of biological processes, especially eukaryote- or fungus-specific behaviors, mirroring the significant contribution of QS regulation to fungal biology and evolution. Based on recent progress, we summarize in this review fungal QS regulation, with an emphasis on its functional role in behaviors unique to fungi or eukaryotes. We suggest that using fungi as genetically amenable eukaryotic model systems to address why and how QS regulation is integrated into eukaryotic reproductive strategies and molecular or cellular processes could be an important direction for QS research.
Relationships between reproductive hormones and maternal pregnancy physiology in women conceiving with or without in vitro fertilization
Authors: Conrad Kirk P. , Taher Shèdy , Chi Yueh-Yun , Qiu Yingjie , Li Mingyue , Lingis Melissa , Williams R. Stan , Rhoton-Vlasak Alice , Keller-Wood Maureen , Segal Mark S.
Published: August 2021

We evaluated maternal pregnancy adaptations and their relationships with circulating hormones in women who conceived with or without in vitro fertilization (IVF). Pregnancies were grouped by corpus luteum (CL) number: 1 CL with physiological plasma relaxin concentration (PRLN; spontaneous pregnancies); 0 CL without circulating RLN (programmed cycles); >1 CL with elevated PRLN (ovarian stimulation). Major findings were that declines in plasma osmolality (Posm) and plasma sodium concentration ([Formula: see text]) were comparable in the 1 CL and 0 CL cohorts, correlated with plasma estradiol and progesterone concentrations but not PRLN; gestational declines in plasma uric acid (UA) concentration (PUA) were attenuated after IVF, especially programmed cycles, partly because of subdued increases of renal UA clearance; and PRLN and cardiac output (CO) were inversely correlated when plasma estradiol concentration was below ∼2.5 ng/mL but positively correlated above ∼2.5 ng/mL. Unexpectedly, PRLN and plasma sFLT1 (PsFLT1) were directly correlated. Although PsFLT1 and CO were not significantly associated, CO was positively correlated with plasma placental growth factor (PLGF) concentration after the first trimester, particularly in women who conceived with 0 CL. Major conclusions are that 1) circulating RLN was unnecessary for gestational falls in Posm and [Formula: see text]; 2) PRLN and CO were inversely correlated during early gestation, suggesting that PRLN in the lower range may have contributed to systemic vasodilation, whereas at higher PRLN RLN influence became self-limiting; 3) evidence for cooperativity between RLN and estradiol on gestational changes in CO was observed; and 4) after the first trimester in women who conceived without a CL, plasma PLGF concentration was associated with recovery of CO, which was impaired during the first trimester in this cohort.
Simple and complex spike responses of mouse cerebellar Purkinje neurons to regular trains and omissions of somatosensory stimuli
Authors: Zempolich Grant W. , Brown Spencer T. , Holla Meghana , Raman Indira M.
Published: August 2021

Responses of cerebellar Purkinje cells in awake mice form two categories defined by complex spiking during regular trains of brief, somatosensory stimuli. Cells in which complex spike probability first increases or decreases show simple spike suppressions that habituate or persist, respectively. Stimulus omissions alter complex spiking. The results provide evidence for differential suppression of olivary cells during sensory stimulation and omissions and illustrate that climbing fiber innervation defines Purkinje cell responses to repetitive stimuli.
Population calcium responses of Purkinje cells in the oculomotor cerebellum driven by nonvisual input
Authors: Fanning Alexander S. , Shakhawat Amin Md , Raymond Jennifer L.
Published: August 2021

It was long known that the climbing fiber input to Purkinje cells in the cerebellar flocculus conveys visual feedback about the accuracy of image-stabilizing oculomotor reflexes. More recently, the same climbing fibers were reported to carry nonvisual signals. Here, we report that both visual and nonvisual inputs can elicit robust calcium responses in the Purkinje cells, suggesting that the instructive signals guiding oculomotor plasticity are multimodal.
Inverse Eigenvalue Problems for Singular Rank One Perturbations of a Sturm-Liouville Operator
Authors: Wu Xuewen
Published: August 2021

This paper is concerned with the inverse eigenvalue problem for singular rank one perturbations of a Sturm-Liouville operator. We determine uniquely the potential function from the spectra of the Sturm-Liouville operator and its rank one perturbations.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Potential Biomarkers and Pathway Identification for Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Qi Dong , Chen Kui
Published: August 2021

Aiming at a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular biomarkers and potential mechanisms of major depressive disorder (MDD), from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we first obtained mRNA expression profiles and identified 585 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the R software, including 263 upregulated genes and 322 downregulated genes. Then, through the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genome and Genome (KEGG) pathway and biological process (BP) analysis, we found that the upregulated and downregulated DEGs were abundant in different pathways, respectively. It was noteworthy that upregulated DEGs were the most significantly enriched in the mTOR signaling pathway. Subsequently, through the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, we identified seven hub genes, namely, EXOSC2, CAMK2A, PRIM1, SMC4, TYMS, CDK6, and RPA2. Finally, through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), we obtained that hypoxia, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hedgehog signaling, and reactive oxygen species pathway were the enriched pathways for MDD patients. The above data results would provide a new direction for the treatment of MDD patients.
Deep Learning-Based Computed Tomography Image Features in the Detection and Diagnosis of Perianal Abscess Tissue
Authors: Han Song , Yang Jun , Xu Jihua
Published: August 2021

The performance characteristics of deep learning fully convolutional neural network (DLFCNN) algorithm-based computed tomography (CT) images were investigated in the detection and diagnosis of perianal abscess tissue. 60 patients who were medically diagnosed as perianal abscesses in the hospital were selected as the experimental group, and 60 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group. In this study, the DLFCNN algorithm based on deep learning was compared with the CNN algorithm and applied to the segmentation training of CT images of patients with perianal abscesses. Then, the segmentation metrics Jaccard, Dice coefficient, precision rate, and recall rate were compared by extracting the region of interest. The results showed that Jaccard (0.7326) calculated by the CNN algorithm was sharply lower than that of the DLFCNN algorithm (0.8525), and the Dice coefficient (0.7264) was also steeply lower than that of the DLFCNN algorithm (0.8434) (

P
<
0.05

). The thickness range of the epidermis and dermis in patients from the experimental group was 4.1–4.9 mm, which was markedly greater than the range of the control group (1.8–3.6 mm) (

P
<
0.05

). Besides, the CT value of the subcutaneous fascia in the experimental group (−95.45 ± 8.26) hugely reduced compared with the control group (−76.34 ± 7.69) (

P
<
0.05

). The accuracy rate of the patients with perianal abscesses was 96.67% by multislice spiral CT (MSCT). Therefore, the DLFCNN algorithm in this study had good stability and good segmentation effect. The skin at the focal site of anal abscess was obviously thickened, and it was simple and accurate to use CT images in the diagnosis of patients with perianal abscesses, which could effectively locate the lesion and clarify the relationship between the lesion and the surrounding structure.
Optimal Control of Semiactive Two‐Stage Vibration Isolation Systems for Marine Engines
Authors: Fang YuanYuan
Published: August 2021

To improve the vibration reduction performance of two‐stage vibration isolation systems for marine engines under wide frequency band and multifrequency excitation, the magnetorheological (MR) damper is introduced into the vibration isolation system and an optimal controller is designed. Taking the test results of MR damper dynamic characteristics as sample data, the forward and inverse models of the MR damper are identified by the least square method and neural network (NN) method respectively, and the identification results are applied to semiactive control of the two‐stage isolation system. Based on the analysis of vibration source, a six‐degree‐of‐freedom mechanical model of two‐stage system based on the MR damper is established. The optimal controller taking the minimum force transmitted from the engine to base as the control objective is designed. The system model and numerical simulation analysis are established using MATLAB. The results show that the isolation effect of optimal control is better than that of passive vibration isolation in the whole frequency band. In addition, good control effect is achieved in the low‐frequency resonance region which is most concerned in engineering, which is of great significance to further improve the vibration reduction performance of marine engines.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Fine Particulate Matter Induce Oxidative Stress and the Inflammatory Response in Human Vocal Fold Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Choi Hyunsu , Kim Choung-Soo
Published: August 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxicants in particulate matter (PM). The vocal fold, part of the larynx and a key structure for voicing, is always in contact with air. In recent epidemic studies, PM was shown to cause laryngitis; however, the basic mechanism has not been evaluated. In the present study, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokine levels were analyzed after exposing human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFFs) to PM standard reference material (SRM 2786). Expression levels of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and Cytochrome P450 Family 1 Subfamily A Member 1 (CYP1A1) were also evaluated. PM induced ROS formation and proinflammatory cytokines via the AhR CYP1A1 pathway and caused lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Blocking AhR or CYP1A1 production using siRNAs significantly decreased ROS production and IL‐6 and IL‐9 expression in PM‐exposed hVFFs, thus protecting the cells against oxidative stress. These results confirm that PAHs in PM play an important role in cell damage and inflammation, confirming a basic pathophysiologic relationship between PM exposure and laryngitis.
Hamilton Energy Control for the Chaotic System with Hidden Attractors
Authors: Wang Meibo , Ma Shaojuan
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the dynamic behavior and control of chaotic systems with hidden attractors are studied. Firstly, a class of autonomous chaotic systems without the equilibrium point is proposed. Secondly, quantitative analysis methods are applied to explore the dynamic behavior of the new chaotic systems. Then, the Hamilton energy function of the new system is calculated by the Helmholtz theorem and the energy feedback controller is designed. Finally, the effectiveness of the controller is verified by numerical simulations. Compared with the line feedback control, the control effect of Hamilton energy control is better.