bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
1229 Standardising Consent for General Surgical Patients
Authors: Mamun M , Charles E
Published: October 2021

Aim

Informed consent requires all material risks to be discussed, as per Montgomery vs Lanarkshire 2015. This audit was based on the latest RCS England guidelines on consenting patients. We aimed to assess our adherence and to introduce standardised procedure-specific consent stickers to ensure the highest standards of care, which were reproducible.

Method

We undertook two retrospective case note reviews of patients undergoing emergency and elective general surgery procedures from 01/01-15/06 and 01/10-30/11 in 2020. RCS Good Surgical Practice 3.5.1 “Consent” details the standards for this audit. We included patients undergoing appendicectomy, cholecystectomy, incision and drainage and hernia repair (inguinal, umbilical, and incisional). We did not audit laparotomy due to variability in procedural risks precluding a specific sticker and we excluded patients unable to give consent.

Results

Our initial audit of 82 patients highlighted the variability between practitioners in the material risk discussion. Different patients undergoing the same procedures were being consented differently with significant omissions. We designed procedure specific-consent stickers to be used when consenting to address this imbalance and made these stickers available on surgical wards. A re-audit of 50 patients showed increase from 41% to 88% in documentation of material risks. While only 34% of the audited consent forms featured the stickers, those forms that did have the stickers on had 100% material risk documentation.

Conclusions

We saw an improvement in material risk discussion by implementing procedure-specific consent stickers. This supports the growing need for standardising consent across General Surgery to reduce variability. We will next aim to design laparotomy stickers.
1230 Infrainguinal Bypass Informed Consent: An Audit Driven Standardisation Of Perioperative Risk Profiling
Authors: Muhammad K , Al-Khaffaf H
Published: October 2021

Introduction

It is a fundamental good clinical practice in our medicolegal rights era to obtain standard, adequate, and transparent informed consent before any planned intervention. Currently, there are neither national approved vascular intervention-specific consents nor explicit guidelines for it. We aim to achieve a standardisation of perioperative risk profiling of infrainguinal bypass surgical consents and produce a model one.

Method

A retrospective analysis of 45 infrainguinal bypass consents (audit/reaudit) between (2013-2019) retrieved to evaluate quality and completeness against GMC 2008 guidance: "Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together". Data included basic consent requirements according to guidelines and speciﬁc risks of infrainguinal bypass. It was registered with the Trust Clinical Audit Department.

Results

(100%) of audit and reaudit consents documented the intended benefits of surgery. Inclusion into the National Vascular Registry (NVR) was achieved (0%) in audit vs (80%) in reaudit forms. Of the 19 documented postoperative complications, reaudit significant improvement observed in % of documenting 16 items with 9 complications recorded above 50%. The maximum number of audit documented risks was 15 (79%), the median 8 (42%), and the least was 3 (16%) compared to maximum 16 (84%), the median 10 (53%) and the least was 4 (21%) when reaudited, respectively.

Conclusions

Deficiencies in performing and adequately completing surgical consents still occur. Introducing a national pre-printed vascular intervention-specific consent is vital for accomplishing and maintaining a good clinical practice. It should include all complications with relative % risk to minimise errors, provide good quality consent, and promote clinical practice at a national level.
1248 “Passing the Surgical Torch”- A Review of Appropriate Surgical Handover Protocol on The Acute Surgical Take
Authors: Shaladi A , Marshall K , Fernandes R
Published: October 2021

Aim

Effective handover between shifts is vital to protect patient safety. The Royal College of Surgeons has detailed the necessary information needed for each patient at handover. We aimed to assess compliance with this handover protocol.

Method

Weekday surgical handover was reviewed over an 8-week period of time. Data was collected on documentation of diagnosis, up to investigations/bloods, clinical state of patient, management plan and resuscitation status/ceiling of care and COVID status.

Results

210 patients were reviewed. Of these, a clear diagnosis was documented for 152 patients. Up to date imaging results if applicable was documented in 111 of 153 patients. Up to date bloods were included in 140 of 210 patients. COVID status was only noted in 31 of 210 patients and DNAR status in only 24. After re-audit of 197 a clear diagnosis was seen in 183 patients, COVID status was documented in 170 patients and DNAR status in 169.

Conclusions

Surgical handover is hugely crucial for provision of patient care. Following clear guidance from the royal college of surgeons, better compliance with handover was noted, including a critical improvement in COVID and DNAR status.
1316 An Evaluation of The Consent Process in One of The Largest Spinal Surgery Units in Europe
Authors: Daitey E , Afolayan J , Shah N , Stringfellow T , Shafafy R , Gibson A
Published: October 2021

Complex spinal surgery has high morbidity and mortality making the process of consent central to patient care [1]. Our aim was to qualitatively assess our consent process with three set metrics; how far in advance patients were consented prior to the date of surgery, the inclusion of all relevant risks on the consent form and the provision of supplementary patient information leaflets or equivalent.

We retrospectively reviewed 100 consecutive patients undergoing elective spinal surgery at our tertiary centre which is the one of the largest spinal units in Europe between December 2019 and March 2020.

All patients had valid consent forms. 16% of patients were consented on the day of surgery, 22% were consented the day before. Of the remaining 62%, 22 patients (35%) were consented within 2 weeks of surgery, and 40 (65%) over 2 weeks prior to surgery.

94% were consented for all relevant risks as determined by the senior authors. 81% had no documentation of receiving supplementary information and 11% had documentation of consent discussion in clinic.

In conclusion, this audit revealed a significant variation in the consent process within our unit. This may highlight a deficit in the consenting process which we aim to explore further.
1348 Quality Improvement Project to Promote Betablocker Therapy Post CABG In Patients with Low Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF): A Single Centre Study
Authors: Roy Dorina , Aljanadi Firas , Jones Mark
Published: October 2021

Aim

Statistically significant and strong evidence suggests that beta-blockers reduce the number of deaths in patients with reduced LVEF (<35%). The 2017 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) guidelines for perioperative medications in cardiac surgery recommended betablockers should be commenced or continued on discharge for patients with low LVEF after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). The EACTS recommends the use of Bisoprolol, Metoprolol, Carvedilol and Nebivolol. We aimed to assess the discharge prescription of patients undergoing CABG at a regional tertiary care centre.

Method

A retrospective observational analysis of patients admitted between 2013 and 2020 with low LVEF was done. A. total of 101 patients were finally included. Electronic care records of patients were reviewed to collect patient data, including clinic and discharge letters. Audit registration was conducted as per local hospital policies.

Results

Demographics revealed average age to be 66 years. There were 23% females and 77% males. Out of 101 patients, 90 (89%) patients were discharged with betablockers. 11 (11%) patients were not discharged with Betablockers. 83 (81%) patients were discharged with recommended betablockers.

Conclusions

This comprises the first cycle of the audit. Data is currently being analysed for a second cycle. Findings from this audit suggest good compliance with established guidelines, however there is scope for improvement. We employed simple measures like departmental presentation and raising awareness. Additional methods such as inclusion in discharge checklists is also a recommendation. Outcome from the second cycle will guide further interventions and data from both cycles will be presented at the meeting.
1365 Analysis of Outcomes Pre- and Post-Physiotherapy Protocol for Centenarian Patients Presenting with Neck of Femur Fractures
Authors: Shaladi A , Abdelkarim I , Kitson J
Published: October 2021

Aim

The number of centenarians has quadrupled over the last 2 decades with an increase in the number presenting with proximal femur fractures. Very little is known about mortality and morbidity in this age group. There is a subjective assumption that they are too frail and may not do well with surgery. This audit aims to outline improved outcomes of surgery in centenarian patients with NOF fractures following dedicated modified physiotherapy intervention.

Method

Data reviewing centenarian NOF outcomes over a two-year period (2015-2016) was compared with outcomes following a dedicated post-operative physiotherapy trust protocol for centenarian NOF patients. 16 patients (15 female, 1 male) from Jan 2017- August 2019 were identified. Data was analysed for patient demographics, surgical details including anaesthesia, post-operative complications, physiotherapy outcomes and mortality.

Results

10 patients had dynamic hip screws and 6 patients had hemiarthroplasties. Inpatient mortality was 0% compared to previous audit of 8.3%. The average length of stay had reduced from 23.3 days in previous audit to 18.5 days in current. 82% of patients could transfer with frame in the post-operative period.

Conclusions

Positive surgical outcomes are demonstrated even in centenarians particularly when given tailored post-operative physiotherapy with reduced length of stay, mortality, and high levels of physiotherapy compliance. Comparisons with younger elderly patients will help guide future management.
1371 “The Nosebleed Effect”: Advice Given to Epistaxis Patients Discharged from The Emergency Department
Authors: Shaladi A , Loizou P , Michael M
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Many patients with epistaxis are seen in the A&E department. A significant number are discharged without need for inpatient admission due to minor bleeds. Many are given limited information on management of further bleeds and even fewer are advised on the prevention of bleeds.

Aim

To evaluate the advice given to patients with epistaxis who are seen and discharged from A+E, to instigate an improvement in advice and to examine the subsequent effect on re-attendance rates

Method

Epistaxis patients discharged from A+E were audited over a 6-week period looking at advice given on discharge. A questionnaire was distributed to all A&E and ENT doctors probing current practice. A presentation on the management and prevention of epistaxis and the appropriate verbal/written advice to give was delivered and epistaxis advice sheets were made available. The practice regarding advice and the re-attendance rates were re-audited.

Results

53 patients presented to the A&E department with epistaxis. 31 patients presenting with epistaxis were seen and discharged by A&E doctors. The remaining seen by ENT. Only 9 patients received verbal advice and 1 received written advice. There were 13 re-attenders. After re-audit showed a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving advice by A&E doctors. Verbal and written advice increased from 18% to 61% and 1% to 60% respectively. The number of re-attenders was reduced to 13 to 6.
1382 Retrospective Audit to Assess Compliance to National Guidance for The Follow-Up of Acute Uncomplicated Diverticulitis and Adenoma Detection Rate at University Hospital Bristol
Authors: Newton L , Huppler L , McCabe T , Gourbault L , Embury-Young Y , Handa I , Muir D , Sivalingam N , Archdeacon J , Chan J , Macleod-Hall C , Shabbir J
Published: October 2021

Aim

Diverticulitis is a common cause for acute surgical admissions. UK guidance recommends uncomplicated diverticulitis is managed with antibiotics, and follow-up outpatient lower gastrointestinal (LGI) endoscopy (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) arranged 6-8 weeks after discharge. This audit aimed to assess compliance to national guidance and assess adenoma detection rate.

Method

Retrospective analysis of discharge summaries coded ‘diverticulitis’ from January 2017 – April 2020 at University Hospital Bristol(UHB).

Results

426 patients presented with uncomplicated diverticulitis, mean age 60.5 years (22-92 years). 42% (179/426) of patients underwent LGI endoscopy as an inpatient or on discharge. Median time to outpatient endoscopy was 70 days (6-287 days). 23% (99/426) had LGI endoscopy within the 8-week target. Histology showed: 21% (37/179) polyp; 5% (9/179) tubular adenoma; and one patient had high grade dysplasia. The histology for the remaining 28 patients with polyps showed: hyperplasia; granulation tissue; inflammation; or samples were not sent for histology. No cases of malignancy were detected.

Conclusions

58% of patients admitted with acute uncomplicated diverticulitis did not have a follow-up LGI endoscopy and only 23% had LGI endoscopy within the 8-week target. 21% had a polyp with a 5% rate of tubular adenoma and no cases of malignancy. UHB needs to improve compliance with national guidance for the arrangement of follow-up LGI endoscopy, however the absence of detection of malignancy raises the question of whether we need to re-consider its necessity for patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis.
Cardiac SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with pro-inflammatory transcriptomic alterations within the heart
Authors: Bräuninger Hanna , Stoffers Bastian , Fitzek Antonia D E , Meißner Kira , Aleshcheva Ganna , Schweizer Michaela , Weimann Jessica , Rotter Björn , Warnke Svenja , Edler Carolin , Braun Fabian , Roedl Kevin , Scherschel Katharina , Escher Felicitas , Kluge Stefan , Huber Tobias B , Ondruschka Benjamin , Schultheiss Heinz-Peter , Kirchhof Paulus , Blankenberg Stefan , Püschel Klaus , Westermann Dirk , Lindner Diana
Published: October 2021

Aims

Cardiac involvement in COVID-19 is associated with adverse outcome. However, it is unclear whether cell-specific consequences are associated with cardiac SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we investigated heart tissue utilizing in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and RNA-sequencing in consecutive autopsy cases to quantify virus load and characterize cardiac involvement in COVID-19.

Methods and results

In this study, 95 SARS-CoV-2-positive autopsy cases were included. A relevant SARS-CoV-2 virus load in the cardiac tissue was detected in 41/95 deceased (43%). Massive analysis of cDNA ends (MACE)-RNA-sequencing was performed to identify molecular pathomechanisms caused by the infection of the heart. A signature matrix was generated based on the single-cell dataset ‘Heart Cell Atlas’ and used for digital cytometry on the MACE-RNA-sequencing data. Thus, immune cell fractions were estimated and revealed no difference in immune cell numbers in cases with and without cardiac infection. This result was confirmed by quantitative immunohistological diagnosis. MACE-RNA-sequencing revealed 19 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with a q-value <0.05 (e.g. up: IFI44L, IFT3, TRIM25; down: NPPB, MB, MYPN). The upregulated DEGs were linked to interferon pathways and originate predominantly from endothelial cells. In contrast, the downregulated DEGs originate predominately from cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescent staining showed viral protein in cells positive for the endothelial marker ICAM1 but rarely in cardiomyocytes. The Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis revealed that downregulated GO terms were linked to cardiomyocyte structure, whereas upregulated GO terms were linked to anti-virus immune response.

Conclusion

This study reveals that cardiac infection induced transcriptomic alterations mainly linked to immune response and destruction of cardiomyocytes. While endothelial cells are primarily targeted by the virus, we suggest cardiomyocyte destruction by paracrine effects. Increased pro-inflammatory gene expression was detected in SARS-CoV-2-infected cardiac tissue but no increased SARS-CoV-2 associated immune cell infiltration was observed.
Toward the economic evaluation of participatory approaches in health promotion: lessons from four German physical activity promotion projects
Authors: Gelius Peter C , Sommer Raluca M , Abu-Omar Karim , Schätzlein Valentin , Suhrcke Marc
Published: October 2021

Health promotion increasingly employs participatory approaches, but the question arises whether the likely higher costs of participation also translate into greater benefits. This article takes a first step toward a full health economic evaluation by comprehensively reporting the costs of a specific participatory approach, Cooperative Planning, in a German research consortium to promote physical activity. We conducted a costing analysis of Cooperative Planning at 22 sites across six settings. Project teams used a custom template to record resource use. We calculated average costs per meeting, site and setting using the opportunity costs approach, and obtained feedback from participating researchers. A total of 144 planning meetings with an average of nine participants were conducted. Costs per meeting varied significantly across settings. Differences were mostly attributable to varying meeting duration, preparation time and numbers of participants. Across settings, human resources accounted for roughly 95% of the costs. Implementing researchers reported challenges regarding the logic and methods of the health economic analysis. A participatory approach to physical activity promotion may cause substantially varying costs in different settings despite similar cost structures. However, their value for money could turn out comparably favorable if (and only if) the expected benefits is indeed forthcoming. Despite some challenges implementing the costing exercise into the logistics of ongoing participatory projects, this analysis may pave the way toward a full health economic evaluation, and the template may be useful to future participatory health promotion projects.
Becoming an ocean scientist: learning from surprise
Authors: Schneider David C
Published: October 2021

An invitation to write a thought piece is an opportunity to reflect on one's early career, when events and choices shaped what we became. Because I teach at a university, I wrote a narrative for those thinking of becoming an ocean scientist, and are now encountering the research literature. It is a chronicle of episodes, each a discovery or surprising event and what I learned. It moves from early memories of the natural world to first attempts at science. A near-fatal surprise led to a course in environmental policy, to a commitment to public good science, and to learning benthic ecology in Woods Hole. Failure at publishing an original finding from a thesis spurred me to self-directed practice in writing scientific prose. Skill at running statistical analyses resulted in a post-doc on a topic where I had no other expertise. Publication success led to a second post-doc and a faculty position in Canada, where I funded three decades of student-oriented research, taught statistics, and wrote a book on ecological scaling from the point of view of an oceanographer. Teaching statistics came with surprises, which I list as further food for thought.
What Do You Mean by “Democrat” and “Republican”? Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment
Authors: Ogura Ikuma , Miwa Hirofumi , Iida Takeshi
Published: October 2021

To better understand the nature of American mass party identification, it is crucial to examine how voters understand terms used in measuring partisanship in public opinion surveys, such as “Democrat” and “Republican.” For this purpose, we conducted a conjoint experiment where respondents evaluated hypothetical profiles’ partisanship. We show that, in contrast to previous studies which rely on one theoretical perspective to understand mass partisanship, multiple theories are reflected in how voters understand labels representing their partisanship. Further, the results suggest that many Americans seem to equate party identification with vote choice, contrary to standard assumptions in American political behavior research that these are separate concepts.
Trust in AI: why we should be designing for APPROPRIATE reliance
Authors: Benda Natalie C , Novak Laurie L , Reale Carrie , Ancker Jessica S
Published: October 2021

Use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, such as machine learning-based predictive algorithms, holds promise for advancing outcomes, but few systems are used in routine clinical practice. Trust has been cited as an important challenge to meaningful use of artificial intelligence in clinical practice. Artificial intelligence systems often involve automating cognitively challenging tasks. Therefore, previous literature on trust in automation may hold important lessons for artificial intelligence applications in healthcare. In this perspective, we argue that informatics should take lessons from literature on trust in automation such that the goal should be to foster appropriate trust in artificial intelligence based on the purpose of the tool, its process for making recommendations, and its performance in the given context. We adapt a conceptual model to support this argument and present recommendations for future work.
PSV-14 Using Bayesian Hamiltonian Monte Carlo and a nonlinear model for the estimation of genetic parameters for lactation curves in goats
Authors: Araujo Andre C , Gloria Leonardo , Abreu Paulo , Silva Fabyano , Rodrigues Marcelo , Brito Luiz F
Published: October 2021

Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) is an algorithm of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method that uses dynamics to propose samples that follow a target distribution. This algorithm enables more effective and consistent exploration of the probability interval and is more sensitive to correlated parameters. Therefore, Bayesian-HMC is a promising alternative to estimate individual parameters of complex functions such as nonlinear models, especially when using small datasets. Our objective was to estimate genetic parameters for milk traits defined based on nonlinear model parameters predicted using the Bayesian-HMC algorithm. A total of 64,680 milk yield test-day records from 2,624 first, second, and third lactations of Saanen and Alpine goats were used. First, the Wood model was fitted to the data. Second, lactation persistency (LP), peak time (PT), peak yield (PY), and total milk yield [estimated from zero to 50 (TMY50), 100(TMY100), 150(TMY150), 200(TMY200), 250(TMY250), and 300(TMY300) days-in-milk] were predicted for each animal and parity based on the output of the first step (the individual phenotypic parameters of the Wood model). Thereafter, these predicted phenotypes were used for estimating genetic parameters for each trait. In general, the heritability estimates across lactations ranged from 0.10 to 0.20 for LP, 0.04 to 0.07 for PT, 0.26 to 0.27 for PY, and 0.21 to 0.28 for TMY (considering the different intervals). Lower heritabilities were obtained for the nonlinear function parameters (A, b and l) compared to its predicted traits (except PT), especially for the first and second lactations (range: 0.09 to 0.18). Higher heritability estimates were obtained for the third lactation traits. To our best knowledge, this study is the first attempt to use the HMC algorithm to fit a nonlinear model in animal breeding. The two-step method proposed here allowed us to estimate genetic parameters for all traits evaluated.
PSV-10 The effects of maternal programming on postnatal growth and inflammation in neonatal dairy bull calves
Authors: Barney Amanda , Lally Jordan , Gately Rachael , Hoffman Maria L
Published: October 2021

Neonatal dairy calves are highly susceptible to respiratory and digestive diseases. A mechanism that could be predisposing calves to disease is maternal programming. We hypothesized that high milk production and/or mastitis infection during gestation will 1) affect postnatal growth and development 2) cause increased inflammation in neonatal dairy bull calves. Calves (n = 45) were selected from dams classified has high producers (HI; Top 25% for herd M305; n = 7), high producers with high SCC (HIMAST; SCC test during pregnancy over 200,000 cells/mL; n = 15), moderate producers (MOD; lower 60% for herd M305; n = 17) or moderate producers with high SCC (MODMAST; n = 6). Calves were transported to the University of Rhode Island at 24 hrs of age. Body weights and body measurements (crown rump length (CRL), skull length (SL), skull width (SW), Girth, Height) were collected at 24 hrs (Initial) and at weaning (8 weeks). C-reactive protein (Abclonal, Woburn, MA) and Malondialdehyde (Abcam, Cambridge, MA) analyses were performed on plasma samples collected 72 hrs post travel. Data were analyzed in SAS using repeated measures (BW and growth measurements) and proc mixed (inflammatory biomarkers). As expected, an effect of time was observed on calf BW, CRL, SL, SW, Girth and Height (P ≤ 0.01). However, no difference in calf BW, CRL, SL, SW, Girth and Height were observed between groups (P>0.05). No effect of dam milk production and/or SCC during gestation was observed on CRP or MDA concentrations at 72 hrs post travel (P ≥ 0.17). In conclusion, high maternal milk production and/or mastitis infection during gestation does not affect calf BW and body measurements when analyzed overtime. Correlation analyses will be performed to better understand the relationship between maternal programming and calf growth. Additional inflammatory biomarkers are also going to be evaluated.
PSV-1 Injectable trace mineral supplementation on grazing beef cows: Effect on subsequent offspring birth weight and weaning weight
Authors: Pancini Stefania , Currin John , Stewart Jamie L , Clark Sherrie , Redifer Tracey , Wege Dias Nicholas W , Timlin Claire L , Sales Alvaro , Mercadante Vitor R G
Published: October 2021

This study evaluated the effect of an injectable multi-mineral complex supplementation on grazing beef cows on subsequent offspring birth weight (BW) and adjusted weaning weight (AWW). Experiment 1 included 1,128 Angus crossbred multiparous suckled cows, from 9 locations in Virginia, that were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) One dose of an injectable trace mineral (6 mL; Multimin® 90, Multimin USA, Ft. Collins, CO) at 71.4±16.8 d of lactation (n = 560); or 2) a negative control with no trace mineral injection (n = 568). In experiment 2, 986 Angus crossbred multiparous suckled cows, at 7 locations in Virginia, were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) Two doses of an injectable trace mineral (6 mL; Multimin® 90) at 118.3±17 days before calving and at 67.7±17.4 d of lactation (n = 494); or 2) negative control with no trace mineral injection (n = 492). All cows had ad libitum access to forage and water, and received additional mineral supplementation in form of mineral blocks. Calves were weaned at approximately 7 months of age, and 205-day AWW was calculated based on birth day, age of weaning and age of dam. No differences between treatments were detected for BW (33.7±1.01 kg; P = 0.50) and AWW (212.2±5.0 kg; P = 0.25) when only one dose of injectable trace mineral was administered to the dam at early lactation. Similarly, when two doses of injectable trace mineral were administrated BW (35.6±1.1 kg; P = 0.70) and AWW (259.4±6.1 kg; P = 0.83) did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, one or two doses of injectable trace mineral administrated at late gestation and/or during lactation had no effect on offspring BW and AWW.
PSV-3 Ovarian dynamics of brahman cows submitted to five-day or twelve-day progesterone-based estrus synchronization protocol
Authors: Filho Ramiro Oliveira , Paiva Rafael R , de Melo Gabriela Dalmaso , Cardoso Rodolfo C , Perry George A , Lamb G Cliff C , Pohler Ky G
Published: October 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the ovarian response of Brahman cows submitted to two different estrus synchronization protocols and to determine the estrus response and ovulation time. A total of 153 Brahman cows were randomly assigned to receive one of the following estrus synchronization protocols: 1) CIDR insert and an injection of prostaglandin F2α (25 mg, PGF) on Day -5 and CIDR removal with PGF on Day 0 (CIDR5; n = 77); 2) CIDR insert on Day -12 and an injection of PGF on Day -12, Day -5 and Day 0 upon CIDR removal (CIDR12; n = 76). Estrotect breeding indicator patches were placed on Day 0 and cows were artificially inseminated (AI) 12h after estrus detection; cows not detected in estrus after 96h received TAI coupled with 100 µg of GnRH. Ovarian dynamics were observed during the protocol and follicular diameter were measured every 12h after AI until ovulation. Cows synchronized with CIDR12 had increased follicular diameter (CIDR5, 10.19 ± 0.51 vs. CIDR12, 13.12 ± 0.52 mm; P = 0.01) and decreased serum concentrations of progesterone (CIDR5, 1.68 ± 0.12 vs. CIDR12, 0.81 ± 0.12 ng/ml; P < 0.01) at CIDR removal. The percentage of cows exhibiting estrus did not differ between treatments (CIDR5, 66.2 vs. CIDR12, 64.5%; P = 0.25). No difference was observed in ovulation rate (CIDR5, 94.1 vs. CIDR12, 94.1%; P = 0.6). Time of estrus expression and ovulation time after CIDR removal did not differ (CIDR5, 59.9 ± 2.3 vs. CIDR12, 61.5 ± 2.3h; P = 0.71 and CIDR5, 88.1 ± 2.6 vs. CIDR12, 90.9 ± 2.6h; P = 0.75; respectively). In conclusion, extended length of CIDR with additional PGF increased follicular diameter and decreased concentrations of progesterone but did not influence estrus response and ovulation time in Brahman cows.
PSII-17 The differential expression pattern of messenger RNA for key hepatic glycogen metabolizing proteins is consistent with hepatic glycogen content in suckling pigs
Authors: DeGiorgio Chloe , Elefson Sarah , Lindemann Merlin D , Matthews James C
Published: October 2021

The effect of developmental age (d) on expression of genes responsible for hepatic glycogen (GLY) synthesis and degradation, glucose flux, and GLY content, was determined in crossbred pigs euthanized (n = 6) at birth (d 0, pre-suckle), 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d. Liver GLY content and relative abundance of mRNA (RT-PCR) was determined. The relative content of liver mRNA was determined in 2 experiments, d 0, 1, 3, 7 (Experiment 1) and d 0, 1, 7, 14, 21 (Experiment 2). Within each experiment, data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Fisher’s protected LSD procedure was used to separate treatment means. Day 0 (76.0) GLY content (mg/g) decreased (P < 0.01) 82% from d 0 to d 1, increased (P < 0.05) from d 1 (13.8) through d 14 (28.4), and did not differ (P = 0.07) between d 1 and 21. In Experiment 1, mRNA content of GLY synthesis proteins GYG1 and GYS1 was greatest (P < 0.01) at d 3 and 7; and 1 and 3; respectively, whereas mRNA content of GLY degrading proteins PGM1, PGM2, and PGM5 was greatest (P ≤ 0.01) at d 1; d 0; and d 1 and 7; respectively. In Experiment 2, mRNA content of GLY synthesis proteins GBE1 and GYS1 was greatest (P < 0.01) at d 0 and 21; and d 1 and 21; respectively, whereas mRNA content of GLY degrading proteins AGL, PGM2, PGM2L, and PGM5 was greatest (P < 0.01) at d 21; d 0; d 7, 14, and 21; and d 14 and 21; respectively. Glucose transporter SGLT1 mRNA content was greatest (P < 0.01) at d 14 and 21. These findings indicate that the pattern of mRNA content of key hepatic GLY degradation and synthesis proteins was consistent with GLY content of suckling pigs.
PSII-18 The effects of fish oil supplementation on markers of inflammation and skeletal muscle and adipose growth in pigs
Authors: Okamoto Lillian L , Reichhardt Caleb C , Lopez Sierra , Alberto Anthony F , Briggs Reganne K , Smith Laura A , Batistel Fernanda , Thornton Kara J
Published: October 2021

Omega-3 fatty acids have immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this project was to determine the effects of fish oil, a source of omega-3 fatty acids, on genes involved in inflammation and growth of skeletal muscle tissue after an LPS challenge. Male Landrace-New Hampshire weaned piglets (BW 8.21±0.83 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design and assigned to two treatments: 1) basal diet (n=7) and 2) basal diet plus 3% fish oil added (n = 7). Treatments were fed for 35 d. On d 34, an LPS challenge was performed and 24 h later, piglets were euthanized and skeletal muscle samples were collected from the longissimus lumborum and biceps femoris. Total mRNA was isolated and markers of inflammation [cyclophilin (Cyclo), nuclear factor kappa beta subunit-1 (NF-kB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)], skeletal muscle growth [paired box transcription factor-7 (Pax7), myogenic factor-5 (Myf5), myoblast determination factor-1 (MyoD), myogenin (MyoG)] and adipose growth (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPARy), leptin, and adiponectin) were analyzed. Cyclophilin abundance was increased (P = 0.03) in fish-oil piglets compared to control piglets. Other markers of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, NF-kB) were not affected (P > 0.05) by fish-oil supplementation. Abundance of Myf5 was lower (P = 0.03) in fish oil piglets than control piglets. Other myogenic regulatory factors (Pax7, MyoD, MyoG) were not (P > 0.05) altered by treatment. Abundance of PPARy, leptin or adiponectin was not affected (P > 0.05) by fish-oil supplementation. Muscle location influenced (P < 0.01) abundance of leptin and adiponectin, with abundance being higher in the biceps femoris than in the longissimus lumborum. No other genes analyzed were impacted by muscle location (P > 0.05). Our findings suggest that supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids via fish-oil may affect the inflammatory response and skeletal muscle growth. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of these results on animal production.
Arabidopsis fibrillin 1-2 subfamily members exert their functions via specific protein–protein interactions
Authors: Torres-Romero Diego , Gómez-Zambrano Ángeles , Serrato Antonio Jesús , Sahrawy Mariam , Mérida Ángel
Published: October 2021

Fibrillins (FBNs) are plastidial proteins found in photosynthetic organisms from cyanobacteria to higher plants. The function of most FBNs remains unknown. Here, we focused on members of the FBN subgroup comprising FBN1a, FBN1b, and FBN2. We show that these three polypeptides interact between each other, potentially forming a network around the plastoglobule surface. Both FBN2 and FBN1s interact with allene oxide synthase, and the elimination of any of these FBNs results in a delay in jasmonate-mediated anthocyanin accumulation in response to a combination of moderate high light and low temperature. Mutations in the genes encoding FBN1s or FBN2 also affect the protection of PSII under the combination of these stresses. Fully developed leaves of these mutants have lower maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and higher oxidative stress than wild-type plants. These effects are additive, and the fbn1a-1b-2 triple mutant shows a stronger decrease in Fv/Fm and a greater increase in oxidative stress than fbn1a-1b or fbn2 mutants. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that FBN2 also interacts with other proteins involved in different metabolic processes. We propose that these fibrillins facilitate accurate positioning of different proteins involved in distinct metabolic processes, and that their elimination leads to dysfunction of those proteins.
Progenitor and close-in circumstellar medium of type II supernova 2020fqv from high-cadence photometry and ultra-rapid UV spectroscopy
Authors: Tinyanont Samaporn , Ridden-Harper R , Foley R J , Morozova V , Kilpatrick C D , Dimitriadis G , DeMarchi L , Gagliano A , Jacobson-Galán W V , Messick A , Pierel J D R , Piro A L , Ramirez-Ruiz E , Siebert M R , Chambers K C , Clever K E , Coulter D A , De K , Hankins M , Hung T , Jha S W , Jimenez Angel C E , Jones D O , Kasliwal M M , Lin C-C , Marques-Chaves R , Margutti R , Moore A , Pérez-Fournon I , Poidevin F , Rest A , Shirley R , Smith C S , Strasburger E , Swift J J , Wainscoat R J , Wang Q , Zenati Y
Published: October 2021

We present observations of SN 2020fqv, a Virgo-cluster type II core-collapse supernova (CCSN) with a high temporal resolution light curve from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) covering the time of explosion; ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) starting 3.3 d post-explosion; ground-based spectroscopic observations starting 1.1 d post-explosion; along with extensive photometric observations. Massive stars have complicated mass-loss histories leading up to their death as CCSNe, creating circumstellar medium (CSM) with which the SNe interact. Observations during the first few days post-explosion can provide important information about the mass-loss rate during the late stages of stellar evolution. Model fits to the quasi-bolometric light curve of SN 2020fqv reveal  0.23 M⊙ of CSM confined within  1450 R⊙ (1014 cm) from its progenitor star. Early spectra (<4 d post-explosion), both from HST and ground-based observatories, show emission features from high-ionization metal species from the outer, optically thin part of this CSM. We find that the CSM is consistent with an eruption caused by the injection of ∼5 × 1046 erg into the stellar envelope ∼300 d pre-explosion, potentially from a nuclear burning instability at the onset of oxygen burning. Light-curve fitting, nebular spectroscopy, and pre-explosion HST imaging consistently point to a red supergiant (RSG) progenitor with $M_{\rm ZAMS}\approx 13.5\!-\!15 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, typical for SN II progenitor stars. This finding demonstrates that a typical RSG, like the progenitor of SN 2020fqv, has a complicated mass-loss history immediately before core collapse.
Two c’s in a pod: cosmology-independent measurement of the Type Ia supernova colour–luminosity relation with a sibling pair
Authors: Biswas Rahul , Goobar Ariel , Dhawan Suhail , Schulze Steve , Johansson Joel , Bellm Eric C , Dekany Richard , Drake Andrew J , Duev Dmitry A , Fremling Christoffer , Graham Matthew , Kim Young-Lo , Kool Erik C , Kulkarni Shrinivas R , Mahabal Ashish A , Perley Daniel , Rigault Mickael , Rusholme Ben , Sollerman Jesper , Shupe David L , Smith Matthew , Walters Richard S
Published: October 2021

Using Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) observations, we identify a pair of ‘sibling’ Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), i.e. hosted by the same galaxy at z = 0.0541. They exploded within 200 d from each other at a separation of $0.6\,\mathrm{ arcsec}$ corresponding to a projected distance of only 0.6 kpc. Performing salt2 light-curve fits to the gri ZTF photometry, we show that for these equally distant ‘standardizable candles’, there is a difference of 2 mag in their rest-frame B-band peaks, and the fainter supernova (SN) has a significantly red salt2 colour c = 0.57 ± 0.04, while the stretch values x1 of the two SNe are similar, suggesting that the fainter SN is attenuated by dust in the interstellar medium of the host galaxy. We use these measurements to infer the salt2 colour standardization parameter, β = 3.5 ± 0.3, independent of the underlying cosmology and Malmquist bias. Assuming the colour excess is entirely due to dust, the result differs by 2σ from the average Milky Way total-to-selective extinction ratio, but is in good agreement with the colour–brightness corrections empirically derived from the most recent SN Ia Hubble–Lemaitre diagram fits. Thus we suggest that SN ‘siblings’, which will increasingly be discovered in the coming years, can be used to probe the validity of the colour and light-curve shape corrections using in SN Ia cosmology while avoiding important systematic effects in their inference from global multiparameter fits to inhomogeneous data sets, and also help constrain the role of interstellar dust in SN Ia cosmology.
Super stellar abundances of alkali metals suggest significant migration for hot Jupiters
Authors: Hands Tom O , Helled R
Published: October 2021

We investigate the origin of the measured overabundance of alkali metals in the atmospheres of hot gas giants, relative to both their host stars and their atmospheric water abundances. We show that formation exterior to the water snow line followed by inward disc-driven migration results in excess accretion of oxygen-poor, refractory-rich material from within the snow-line. This naturally leads to enrichment of alkali metals in the planetary atmosphere relative to the bulk composition of its host star but relative abundances of water that are similar to the stellar host. These relative abundances cannot be explained by in situ formation which places the refractory elements in the planetary deep interior rather than the atmosphere. We therefore suggest that the measured compositions of the atmospheres of hot Jupiters are consistent with significant migration for at least a subset of hot gas giants. Our model makes robust predictions about atmospheric composition that can be confirmed with future data from JWST and Ariel.
New constraints on the minimum mass for thermonuclear lithium burning in brown dwarfs
Authors: Martín E L , Lodieu N , del Burgo C
Published: October 2021

The theory of substellar evolution predicts that there is a sharp mass boundary between lithium and non-lithium brown dwarfs, not far below the substellar-mass limit. The imprint of thermonuclear burning is carved on the surface lithium abundance of substellar-mass objects during the first few hundred million years of their evolution, leading to a sharp boundary between lithium and non-lithium brown dwarfs, so-called, the lithium test. The theoretical predictions can be tested by comparing with observations of lithium in the individual components of binaries with dynamical masses measured from orbital motions. New optical spectroscopic observations of the binaries DENIS J063001.4−184014AB and DENIS J225210.7−173013AB obtained using the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio de Canarias are reported here. They allow us to re-determine their combined optical spectral types (M9.5 and L6.5, respectively) and to search for the presence of the Li i resonance doublet. The non-detection of the Li i feature in the combined spectrum of DENIS J063001.4−184014AB is converted into estimates for the depletion of lithium in the individual components of this binary system. In DENIS J225210.7−173013AB, we report the detection of a weak Li i feature which we tentatively ascribe as arising from the contribution of the T3.5-type secondary. Combining our results with data for seven other brown dwarf binaries in the literature treated in a self-consistent way, we confirm that there is indeed a sharp transition in mass for lithium depletion in brown dwarfs, as expected from theoretical calculations. We estimate such mass boundary is observationally located at 51.48$^{+0.22}_{-4.00}\, M_\mathrm{Jup}$, which is lower than the theoretical determinations.
ALMA observations of the Extended Green Object G19.01−0.03 – I. A Keplerian disc in a massive protostellar system
Authors: Williams G M , Cyganowski C J , Brogan C L , Hunter T R , Ilee J D , Nazari P , Kruijssen J M D , Smith R J , Bonnell I A
Published: October 2021

Using the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), we observed the Extended Green Object (EGO) G19.01−0.03 with sub-arcsec resolution from 1.05 mm to 5.01 cm wavelengths. Our ∼0.4 arcsec ∼ 1600 au angular resolution ALMA observations reveal a velocity gradient across the millimetre core MM1, oriented perpendicular to the previously known bipolar molecular outflow, which is consistently traced by 20 lines of 8 molecular species with a range of excitation temperatures, including complex organic molecules (COMs). Kinematic modelling shows the data are well described by models that include a disc in Keplerian rotation and infall, with an enclosed mass of 40–70 M⊙ (within a 2000 au outer radius) for a disc inclination angle of i = 40○, of which 5.4–7.2 M⊙ is attributed to the disc. Our new VLA observations show that the 6.7 GHz Class II methanol masers associated with MM1 form a partial ellipse, consistent with an inclined ring, with a velocity gradient consistent with that of the thermal gas. The disc-to-star mass ratio suggests the disc is likely to be unstable and may be fragmenting into as-yet-undetected low-mass stellar companions. Modelling the centimetre–millimetre spectral energy distribution of MM1 shows the ALMA 1.05 mm continuum emission is dominated by dust, whilst a free–free component, interpreted as a hypercompact H ii region, is required to explain the VLA ∼5 cm emission. The high enclosed mass derived for a source with a moderate bolometric luminosity (∼104 L⊙) suggests that the MM1 disc may feed an unresolved high-mass binary system.
A detailed study of the bridge of excess X-ray emission between the galaxy clusters Abell 2029 and Abell 2033
Authors: Mirakhor M S , Walker S A , Runge J
Published: October 2021

We examine Suzaku, XMM–Newton, and Chandra observations of the Abell 2029/2033 system to investigate the nature of a bridge of X-ray emission joining the two galaxy clusters. By modelling the contributions from the outskirts of the two clusters, and excluding the emission from the southern infalling group and the background group LOS9, we find a significant excess of X-ray emission between the two clusters at the level of 6.5–7.0σ, depending on the choice of model, that cannot be explained by the overlap of the clusters. This excess component to the surface brightness is consistent with being emission from a filament with roughly 1.0 Mpc wide. The derived emission measure for the gas associated with the filament yields an average gas density of $3.7^{+1.0}_{-0.7} \times 10^{-5}$ cm−3, corresponding roughly to 160 times the mean baryon density of the Universe. The Suzaku X-ray spectrum of the excess emission indicates that it is significantly colder ($1.4_{-0.5}^{+0.7}$ keV) than the cluster outskirts emission from the two clusters (∼5 keV), statistically consistent with the temperature expected from the hottest and densest parts of the warm–hot intergalactic medium. The geometry, density, and temperature are similar to those found from X-ray studies of the Abell 222/223 filament.
DISCO: a database of Deeply Integrated human Single-Cell Omics data
Authors: Li Mengwei , Zhang Xiaomeng , Ang Kok Siong , Ling Jingjing , Sethi Raman , Lee Nicole Yee Shin , Ginhoux Florent , Chen Jinmiao
Published: October 2021

The ability to study cellular heterogeneity at single cell resolution is making single-cell sequencing increasingly popular. However, there is no publicly available resource that offers an integrated cell atlas with harmonized metadata that users can integrate new data with. Here, we present DISCO (https://www.immunesinglecell.org/), a database of Deeply Integrated Single-Cell Omics data. The current release of DISCO integrates more than 18 million cells from 4593 samples, covering 107 tissues/cell lines/organoids, 158 diseases, and 20 platforms. We standardized the associated metadata with a controlled vocabulary and ontology system. To allow large scale integration of single-cell data, we developed FastIntegration, a fast and high-capacity version of Seurat Integration. We also developed CELLiD, an atlas guided automatic cell type identification tool. Employing these two tools on the assembled data, we constructed one global atlas and 27 sub-atlases for different tissues, diseases, and cell types. DISCO provides three online tools, namely Online FastIntegration, Online CELLiD, and CellMapper, for users to integrate, annotate, and project uploaded single-cell RNA-seq data onto a selected atlas. Collectively, DISCO is a versatile platform for users to explore published single-cell data and efficiently perform integrated analysis with their own data.