bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of dietary net energy on grow-finish performance and carcass characteristics of male market pigs managed with immunological castration (Improvest)
Authors: Bohrer Benjamin M , Wang Yifei , Landero Jose L , Young Malachy , Hansen Blaine , Pollmann D Steve , Mellencamp Marnie A , Van De Weyer Leanne , Aldaz Alvaro
Published: February 2024

The objective was to determine the effects of dietary net energy (NE) during the grow-finish period on live performance and carcass characteristics of intact male pigs managed with immunological castration (Improvest) compared with physically castrated (PC) male pigs. The 101-d study began when 1,008 pigs (504 intact male pigs and 504 PC male pigs; 10 wk old) were allocated by weight to 48 pens with 21 intact males or 21 PC males per pen. Three dietary NE treatments were fed to pigs using five dietary phases (dietary programs were formulated according to standardized ileal digestible lysine requirements of Improvest males or PC males) to provide an average of 2,212 kcal/kg (low NE), 2,337 kcal/kg (medium NE), or 2,462 kcal/kg (high NE). The experiment was designed and analyzed as a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of Improvest management and NE. For the overall study period, there were no significant interactions between Improvest management and NE (P ≥ 0.19) for average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), or gain:feed (G:F). There were also no significant interactions between Improvest management and NE (P ≥ 0.06) for carcass characteristics. Improvest males consumed less feed (5.3% lower ADFI; P < 0.01), grew faster (5.1% greater ADG; P < 0.01), and were more efficient (11.2% greater G:F; P < 0.01) compared with PC males. Hot carcass weight (HCW) did not differ (P = 0.16) between Improvest males and PC males (attributed to 1.6 percentage unit lower dressing percentage for Improvest males; P < 0.01); however, Improvest males were leaner (0.9 mm less backfat and 0.65% greater predicted lean yield; P < 0.01) compared with PC males. For the overall study period, pigs fed low NE and medium NE diets consumed 7.5% and 4.6% more feed (P < 0.01) than pigs fed high NE diets, respectively, and pigs fed low NE diets grew 1.7% slower (P < 0.02) than pigs fed medium NE and high NE diets. This resulted in pigs fed low NE diets having 4.4% lower G:F compared with pigs fed medium NE and 8.6% lower G:F compared with pigs fed high NE diets (P < 0.01). Pigs fed low NE had 3.0 kg lighter (P < 0.01) HCW compared with medium NE, while high NE had intermediate HCW that did not differ from the other two treatments. Overall, typical Improvest response levels for live performance and carcass characteristics when compared with PC males were achieved for each of the NE treatments evaluated in this study.
Expand and extend postpartum Medicaid to support maternal and child health
Authors: Mooney Jan T , Dahl Alicia A , Quinlan Margaret M , Lisenbee Jodie , Yada Farida N , Shade Lindsay E , Buscemi Joanna , Duffecy Jenna
Published: February 2024

Most early maternal deaths are preventable, with many occurring within the first year postpartum (we use the terms “maternal” and “mother” broadly to include all individuals who experience pregnancy or postpartum and frame our recognition of need and policy recommendations in gender-neutral terms. To acknowledge limitations inherent in existing policy and the composition of samples in prior research, we use the term “women” when applicable). Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals are at the most significant risk of pregnancy-related death. They are more commonly covered by Medicaid, highlighting likely contributions of structural racism and consequent social inequities. State-level length and eligibility requirements for postpartum Medicaid vary considerably. Federal policy requires 60 days of Medicaid continuation postpartum, risking healthcare coverage loss during a critical period of heightened morbidity and mortality risk. This policy position paper aims to outline urgent risks to maternal health, detail existing federal and state-level efforts, summarize proposed legislation addressing the issue, and offer policy recommendations for legislative consideration and future study. A team of maternal health researchers and clinicians reviewed and summarized recent research and current policy pertaining to postpartum Medicaid continuation coverage, proposing policy solutions to address this critical issue. Multiple legislative avenues currently exist to support and advance relevant policy to improve and sustain maternal health for those receiving Medicaid during pregnancy, including legislation aligned with the Biden–Harris Maternal Health Blueprint, state-focused options via the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (Public Law 117-2), and recently proposed acts (HR3407, S1542) which were last reintroduced in 2021. Recommendations include (i) reintroducing previously considered legislation requiring states to provide 12 months of continuous postpartum coverage, regardless of pregnancy outcome, and (ii) enacting a revised, permanent federal mandate equalizing Medicaid eligibility across states to ensure consistent access to postpartum healthcare offerings nationwide.
Novel Secreted Effectors Conserved Among Smut Fungi Contribute to the Virulence ofUstilago maydis
Authors: Schuster Mariana , Schweizer Gabriel , Reißmann Stefanie , Happel Petra , Aßmann Daniela , Rössel Nicole , Güldener Ulrich , Mannhaupt Gertrud , Ludwig Nicole , Winterberg Sarah , Pellegrin Clément , Tanaka Shigeyuki , Vincon Volker , Presti Libera Lo , Wang Lei , Bender Lena , Gonzalez Carla , Vranes Miroslav , Kämper Jörg , Seong Kyungyong , Krasileva Ksenia , Kahmann Regine
Published: February 2024

Fungal pathogens deploy a set of molecules (proteins, specialized metabolites, and sRNAs), so-called effectors, to aid the infection process. In comparison to other plant pathogens, smut fungi have small genomes and secretomes of 20 Mb and around 500 proteins, respectively. Previous comparative genomic studies have shown that many secreted effector proteins without known domains, i.e., novel, are conserved only in the Ustilaginaceae family. By analyzing the secretomes of 11 species within Ustilaginaceae, we identified 53 core homologous groups commonly present in this lineage. By collecting existing mutants and generating additional ones, we gathered 44 Ustilago maydis strains lacking single core effectors as well as 9 strains containing multiple deletions of core effector gene families. Pathogenicity assays revealed that 20 of these 53 mutant strains were affected in virulence. Among the 33 mutants that had no obvious phenotypic changes, 13 carried additional, sequence-divergent, structurally similar paralogs. We report a virulence contribution of seven previously uncharacterized single core effectors and of one effector family. Our results help to prioritize effectors for understanding U. maydis virulence and provide genetic resources for further characterization.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Hydrogen peroxide sensitivity connects the activity of COX5A and NPR3 to the regulation of YAP1 expression
Authors: Takallou Sarah , Hajikarimlou Maryam , Al‐gafari Mustafa , Wang Jiashu , Jagadeesan Sasi Kumar , Kazmirchuk Thomas David Daniel , Moteshareie Houman , Indrayanti Alex Mulet , Azad Taha , Holcik Martin , Samanfar Bahram , Smith Myron , Golshani Ashkan
Published: February 2024

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are among the most severe types of cellular stressors with the ability to damage essential cellular biomolecules. Excess levels of ROS are correlated with multiple pathophysiological conditions including neurodegeneration, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Failure to regulate the severely imbalanced levels of ROS can ultimately lead to cell death, highlighting the importance of investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in the detoxification procedures that counteract the effects of these compounds in living organisms. One of the most abundant forms of ROS is H2O2, mainly produced by the electron transport chain in the mitochondria. Numerous genes have been identified as essential to the process of cellular detoxification. Yeast YAP1, which is homologous to mammalian AP‐1 type transcriptional factors, has a key role in oxidative detoxification by upregulating the expression of antioxidant genes in yeast. The current study reveals novel functions for COX5A and NPR3 in H2O2‐induced stress by demonstrating that their deletions result in a sensitive phenotype. Our follow‐up investigations indicate that COX5A and NPR3 regulate the expression of YAP1 through an alternative mode of translation initiation. These novel gene functions expand our understanding of the regulation of gene expression and defense mechanism of yeast against oxidative stress.
We Need to Talk: Advancing Open Inquiry
Authors: Cassel Christine K. , Maurana Cheryl A.
Published: February 2024

In this article, the authors explore the current state of divisiveness in U.S. society and its impact on medical schools. Higher education institutions are increasingly faced with challenges in supporting freedom of speech while respecting marginalized groups who may feel attacked by certain kinds of speech. “Cancel culture” has resulted in misunderstandings, job loss, and a growing fear of expressing ideas that may offend someone. These dynamics are particularly relevant in medicine, where issues of racial justice, reproductive health, gender identity, and end-of-life care, occurring in the context of personal and religious differences, affect patient care.

Despite these challenges, there must be ways to talk and listen respectfully to each other and bridge sociopolitical divides. Open inquiry and discussion are essential to medical education and patient care. There needs to be a common language and a setting where open engagement is encouraged and supported. This requires expertise and practice. The authors describe several models that offer constructive approaches toward this goal. Organizations including Braver Angels, Constructive Dialogue Institute, Essential Partners, and Greater Good Science Center are working to advance open inquiry and discussion, as are psychology leaders whose methods encourage empathy and learning from one another before engaging in a charged, polarized discussion topic. These and others are using methods that can benefit medical education in supporting diversity of ideas and deliberative discussions to equip students with skills to overcome divisiveness in their training and clinical practice.

Promoting civil discourse is critical to society’s well-being, and respectful engagement and open inquiry are essential to medical education and patient care. Despite the challenges posed by current societal divides, there are ways to talk with each other respectfully and constructively. The authors assert that this requires ongoing effort and practice, which are crucial for the health care enterprise to flourish.
Impression of Primary Care Follow-Up After a PICU Admission: A Pilot Survey of Primary Care Pediatricians
Authors: Harris-Kober Sarah , Motzel Alyssa , Grant Scott , Berman Brian , Yagiela Lauren
Published: February 2024

OBJECTIVES:

The majority of PICU general follow-up occurs with primary care providers. Our objective was to investigate primary care pediatricians’: 1) comfort with and barriers to caring for children after a PICU admission, 2) knowledge of and screening for post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics (PICS-P), and 3) resource needs.

DESIGN:

Pilot cross-sectional survey study.

SETTING:

Metropolitan Detroit, Michigan from September 2022 to March 2023.

SUBJECTS:

Primary care pediatricians.

MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS:

The survey included 15 questions on provider demographics, comfort with and barriers to caring for children after a PICU admission, knowledge of and screening practices for PICS-P, and resource needs. The median values for continuous data and frequencies for categorical data were calculated. The survey response rate was 17% (26/152). The median age was 38.5 years (interquartile range 34–52 yr) and 19 of 26 (73%) were female. In case studies, 26 of 26 (100%) were “very comfortable” resuming care for a patient with a straightforward bronchiolitis PICU admission while 8 of 26 participants (31%) were “somewhat uncomfortable” and 1 of 26 (4%) was “not at all comfortable” with caring for a patient after a complex acute respiratory distress syndrome PICU admission. Seven of 26 participants (27%) were familiar with the term “post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics.” Over 50% screened for four of five PICS-P domains. Key barriers were care coordination with specialists, discomfort or difficulties with managing new home equipment, and inadequate or missing documentation.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this pilot study, approximately one-third of primary care pediatricians had knowledge of PICS-P. Participants experienced numerous care barriers. Our findings suggest future research could engage improved study methods and designs, and focus on interventions to support primary care-provided PICU follow-up.
Persistent Critical Illness and Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With COVID-19: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Ling Ryan Ruiyang , Bonavia William , Ponnapa Reddy Mallikarjuna , Pilcher David , Subramaniam Ashwin
Published: February 2024

OBJECTIVES:

A nontrivial number of patients in ICUs experience persistent critical illness (PerCI), a phenomenon in which features of the ICU course more consistently predict mortality than the initial indication for admission. We aimed to describe PerCI among patients with critical illness caused by COVID-19, and these patients’ short- and long-term outcomes.

DESIGN:

Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database of 114 Australian ICUs between January 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022.

PATIENTS:

Patients 16 years old or older with COVID-19, and a documented ICU length of stay.

EXPOSURE:

The presence of PerCI, defined as an ICU length of stay greater than or equal to 10 days.

MEASUREMENTS:

We compared the survival time up to 2 years from ICU admission using time-varying robust-variance estimated Cox proportional hazards models. We further investigated the impact of PerCI in subgroups of patients, stratifying based on whether they survived their initial hospitalization.

MAIN RESULTS:

We included 4961 patients in the final analysis, and 882 patients (17.8%) had PerCI. ICU mortality was 23.4% in patients with PerCI and 6.5% in those without PerCI. Patients with PerCI had lower 2-year (70.9% [95% CI, 67.9–73.9%] vs. 86.1% [95% CI, 85.0–87.1%]; p < 0.001) survival rates compared with patients without PerCI. Patients with PerCI had higher mortality (adjusted hazards ratio: 1.734; 95% CI, 1.388–2.168); this was consistent across several sensitivity analyses. When analyzed as a nonlinear predictor, the hazards of mortality were inconsistent up until 10 days, before plateauing.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this multicenter retrospective observational study patients with PerCI tended to have poorer short-term and long-term outcomes. However, the hazards of mortality plateaued beyond the first 10 days of ICU stay. Further studies should investigate predictors of developing PerCI, to better prognosticate long-term outcomes.
Retinal artery to vein ratio is associated with cerebral microbleeds in individuals with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Tarkkonen Aleksi , Fickweiler Ward , Eriksson Marika , Sun Jennifer K. , Thorn Lena M. , Summanen Paula , Groop Per-Henrik , Putaala Jukka , Martola Juha , Gordin Daniel ,   the FinnDiane Study Group
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

A third of asymptomatic individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) show signs of cerebrovascular disease in brain MRI. These signs associate with advanced stages of diabetic retinal disease, but not in mild or moderate retinopathy. We aimed to evaluate a wider spectrum of retinal changes by exploring the relationship between quantitative measures of retinal vessel parameters (RVP) and cerebrovascular changes in T1D.

Methods:

We included 146 neurologically asymptomatic individuals with T1D [51% women, median age 40 (33.0–45.1) years] and 24 healthy, sex-matched and age-matched controls. All individuals underwent a clinical and biochemical work-up and brain MRI, which was evaluated for cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), white matter hyperintensities, and lacunar infarcts. RVPs, including central retinal arteriole (CRAE) and central retinal vein (CRVE) equivalents and the ratio of the two variables (arteriovenous ratio, AVR) were assessed quantitatively by a computer-assisted method (IVAN software, version 3.2.6) from fundus images.

Results:

Among T1D participants, those with CMBs had a lower arteriovenous ratio (AVR) compared with those without CMBs (P = 0.023). AVR was inversely associated with the amount of CMBs (r = −0.063, P = 0.035). CMB prevalence was higher in those with AVR below the median (31%) compared with above the median (16%, P < 0.001), and this difference was significant also after individuals with only no-to-mild retinopathy were included (28 vs. 16%, P = 0.005). A correlation between blood pressure and CRAE (r = −0.19, P = 0.025) appeared among those with T1D.

Conclusion:

Regardless of the severity of diabetic retinopathy, AVR is associated with the existence of CMBs in T1D.
The Short-term Effects of Artificial Tears on the Tear Film Assessed by a Novel High-Resolution Tear Film Imager: A Pilot Study
Authors: Antman Gal , Tessone Isaac , Rios Hernan A. , Verticchio Alice , Sidoti Paul A. , King-Smith P. Ewen , Suchowski Haim , Beitner Daniel , Eckert George , Siesky Brent , Rosen Richard B. , Chen Masako
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of artificial tears (AT) on the sublayers of the tear film assessed by a novel tear film imaging (TFI) device.

Methods:

The mucoaqueous layer thickness (MALT) and lipid layer thickness (LLT) of 198 images from 11 healthy participants, 9 of whom had meibomian gland disease, were prospectively measured before and after exposure to 3 different AT preparations (Refresh Plus; Retaine [RTA]; Systane Complete PF [SYS]), using a novel nanometer resolution TFI device (AdOM, Israel). Participants were assessed at baseline and at 1, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes after instilling 1 drop of AT during 3 sessions on separate days. Repeated-measures analysis of variances were used for comparisons with P < 0.05 considered significant.

Results:

For all ATs, the mean MALT was greatest 1 minute after drop instillation, with an increase of 67%, 55%, and 11% above the baseline for SYS, Refresh Plus, and RTA, respectively. The SYS formulation demonstrated the highest percentage increases in mean MALT and LLT at most postdrop time points. The MALT differences were significantly higher in the SYS than in the RTA (P = 0.014). After 60 minutes, no AT group demonstrated statistically significant changes in MALT or LLT compared with baseline.

Conclusions:

We report, for the first time, the effects of AT on MALT and LLT using a high-resolution TFI. A substantial acute mean MALT increase occurs 1 minute after AT instillation with all agents tested, but there were clear differences in response and durability, suggesting the benefits of choosing specific AT according to the needs of each patient.
APOL1 nephropathy – a population genetics success story
Authors: Tabachnikov Orly , Skorecki Karl , Kruzel-Davila Etty
Published: February 2024

Purpose of review

More than a decade ago, apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk alleles designated G1 and G2, were discovered to be causally associated with markedly increased risk for progressive kidney disease in individuals of recent African ancestry. Gratifying progress has been made during the intervening years, extending to the development and clinical testing of genomically precise small molecule therapy accompanied by emergence of RNA medicine platforms and clinical testing within just over a decade.

Recent findings

Given the plethora of excellent prior review articles, we will focus on new findings regarding unresolved questions relating mechanism of cell injury with mode of inheritance, regulation and modulation of APOL1 activity, modifiers and triggers for APOL1 kidney risk penetrance, the pleiotropic spectrum of APOL1 related disease beyond the kidney – all within the context of relevance to therapeutic advances.

Notwithstanding remaining controversies and uncertainties, promising genomically precise therapies targeted at APOL1 mRNA using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), inhibitors of APOL1 expression, and small molecules that specifically bind and inhibit APOL1 cation flux are emerging, many already at the clinical trial stage. These therapies hold great promise for mitigating APOL1 kidney injury and possibly other systemic phenotypes as well. A challenge will be to develop guidelines for appropriate use in susceptible individuals who will derive the greatest benefit.
Prediction of Admission to Intensive Care Unit and 1-Year Mortality After Acute Pancreatitis With Walled-Off Pancreatic Necrosis
Authors: Ebrahim Mohamed , Werge Mikkel Parsberg , Novovic Srdan , Amin Nadia Emad Lotfi , Karstensen John Gásdal , Jørgensen Henrik Løvendahl
Published: February 2024

Background and aims

Pancreatic walled-off necrosis (WON) carries significant mortality and morbidity risks, often necessitating intensive care unit (ICU) admission. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether routine biochemical parameters at the time of the index endoscopic procedure could predict ICU admission and 1-year mortality following endoscopic treatment of WON.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively identified 201 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic drainage for WON between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020. Associations between routine biochemical blood tests and outcomes were assessed using logistic regression models.

Results

Within 1 year of the index endoscopy, 31 patients (15.4%) died, and 40 (19.9%) were admitted to the ICU due to sepsis. Preoperative electrolyte disturbances were more prevalent among ICU-admitted patients and nonsurvivors. Hyperkalemia, hypoalbuminemia, and elevated urea were significant predictors of 1-year mortality, while hypernatremia, elevated serum creatinine, and hypoalbuminemia predicted ICU admission. Predictive models exhibited good discriminative ability, with an AUC of 0.84 (95% CI,0,75–0.93) for 1-year mortality and 0.86 (95%CI, 0.79–0.92) for ICU admission.

Conclusions

Preoperative imbalances in routine blood tests effectively predict adverse outcomes in endoscopically treated WON patients.
Evaluating Social Determinants of Health Related to Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Care
Authors: Somayaji Darryl , Mohedat Heba , Li Chin-Shang
Published: February 2024

Background

Social determinants of health posit that negative outcomes are influenced by individuals living in underserved and underresourced neighborhoods.

Objective

This study examines a cancer diagnosis, race/ethnicity, age, geographic location (residence), education, and social economic status factors at disease onset and treatment.

Methods

A multivariable PO regression analysis was run for quality of care at testing or diagnosis, and quality of care at treatment and the quality of received care compared with another person.

Results

Participants are representative of the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) of adults diagnosed with breast (n = 263), prostate (n = 195), lung (n = 46), colorectal (n = 105), or other cancers (n = 526). This study includes cancer survivors who completed the SCCS Baseline and Cancer Navigation Surveys in urban (73.13%) and rural (26.87%) areas. White participants reported a higher quality of received care for testing or diagnosis and care for treatment compared with Black participants. Participants with high school or equivalent education (odds ratio, 1.662; 95% confidence interval, 1.172-2.356; P = .0044) or some college or junior college education (odds ratio, 1.970; 95% confidence interval, 1.348-2.879; P = .0005) were more likely to report a better level of quality of received care for treatment.

Conclusions

The SCCS represents individuals who are historically underrepresented in cancer research. The results of this study will have broad implications across diverse communities to reduce disparities and inform models of care.

Implications for Practice

Nurses are positioned to evaluate the quality of population health and design and lead interventions that will benefit underserved and underresourced communities.
Impact of Exergames on the Rehabilitation of Cancer Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery
Authors: Alves Isabel , Moreira Ana Paula , Sousa Teresa , Teles Paulo , Magalhães Bruno Miguel , Goncalves Filipe , Fernandes Carla Sílvia
Published: February 2024

Background

Exergames can be an appealing strategy that is integrated into post–abdominal surgery rehabilitation.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of exergame rehabilitation in improving independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) and patient balance after abdominal cancer surgery.

Methods

A randomized control-group study was carried out in an oncological hospital in Portugal. Seventy postoperative patients were included, and data collection took place between January 2023 and May 2023. The patients were randomly assigned to either an exergame rehabilitation program (n = 35) or a traditional rehabilitation program (n = 35). The assessed outcomes were the Barthel and Berg scales, and data collection occurred at 3 different time points: admission, 48 hours postoperatively, and on the seventh day after surgery.

Results

At the third assessment, a statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups for both indicators, ADLs and balance.

Conclusions

There was an improvement in ADLs and balance in the exergames group. By the seventh day after surgery, the intervention group showed improvement in balance and ADLs compared with the control group.

Implications for Practice

The use of exergames can be a solution to the challenges of traditional rehabilitation methods after abdominal surgery for cancer for postoperative patients. This is the first study carried out in this specific population.
Aging with robots: a brief review on eldercare automation
Authors: Zhang Yuhan , Luo Longxiang , Wang Xiuli
Published: February 2024

Robotic solutions designed to cater to the needs of the elderly, commonly known as eldercare robots or nursing robots, hold the promise of delivering intelligent elderly care, alleviating societal caregiving pressures, and reducing financial burdens on nations. Scholars across various disciplines have delved into the realm of eldercare robotics from different perspectives. Four types of robots at the design level are currently used in the elderly care industry: anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, cartoon, and mechanical-functional. They can play such roles as assistants, companions, and even surrogate pets, providing support for the elderly’s daily routines, cognitive enhancement, and emotional well-being. Acceptance of eldercare robots hinges on three key factors: technical attributes, user-specific characteristics, and the surrounding social environment. The utilization of eldercare robots has the potential to positively impact various aspects of the elderly population, such as their physiological health, cognitive abilities, psychological well-being, and social interactions. However, it can also lead to social isolation, reduced autonomy, increased sense of objectification, blurred responsibility attribution, and tendencies towards deceptive and childish behavior. Additionally, eldercare robots also influence healthcare professionals in terms of workload, working conditions, job satisfaction and sense of purpose, both positively and negatively. This paper examines these research findings within the context of theories in communication, technology ethics, and medical ethics, shedding light on the multifaceted landscape of eldercare robotics.
The impact of digitalized community-based square-stepping exercise program (DC-SSEP) on cognitive and balance functions among older adults living in senior facilities: A pilot study
Authors: Lee Kyoung Eun , Boham Mikaela , Zhao Meng , Ro YoungHee , Cong Xiaomei , Huang Yuxia
Published: February 2024

Objectives:

Older adults exhibit high desire for Active and Healthy Aging (AHA) without physical or mental dysfunction, particularly those living independently in senior facilities. Preserving or improving cognitive function and minimizing fall risks are essential for older adults to live a happy and active lifestyle. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility, safety, and preliminary effectiveness of the innovative Digitalized Community-based Square-Stepping Exercise Program (DC-SSEP) in improving cognitive and physical function among older adults residing in senior facilities.

Methods:

Guided by the Health Promotion Model and Social Cognitive Theory, this pilot study used a quasi-experiment design with one intervention group. A total of 17 older adults recruited from a senior facility in Southern Texas participated in 40 sessions of DC-SSEP over 20 weeks. Cognitive function was measured using the latest version (8.1) of MoCA and the balance function focusing on balance and functional mobility was measured using Berg’s Balance Scale and Time to Up and Go.

Results:

Most participants were non-Hispanic White women. The DC-SSEP was a feasible and safe exercise program for older adults; and the results showed the preliminary effectiveness of the DC-SSEP in improving cognitive and balance function (P<0.01) among older adults, especially among older adults living in senior facilities.

Conclusion:

This pilot study is distinctive as it is among the first to evaluate the multi-layered impacts of DC-SSEP using IoT technology and integrated operating software in the U.S. Despite the small sample size and homogeneity of participants, this pilot study suggests multiple valuable directions for future research using DC-SSEP.
Application of the Left Lateral Decubitus Position in Laparoscopic Right Posterior Lobectomy
Authors: Huang Dong-Fang , Xu Jian-Bo , Du Ye-Mu , Wang Ye-Bo , Zhou Ding-Hua
Published: February 2024

Objective:

To investigate the value of the left lateral decubitus position in laparoscopic right posterior lobe tumor resection.

Patients and Methods:

The clinical data of patients who underwent laparoscopic right posterior lobectomy from January 2020 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected and divided into group A (left lateral decubitus position group, n=30) and group B (conventional position group, n=35) according to different body positions. Intraoperative and postoperative data were collected and compared between the 2 groups.

Results:

The operation time (210.43±57.56 vs. 281.97±65.89, t=5.887, P<0.05), hilar occlusion time (23.97±14.25 vs. 35.79±12.62, t=4.791, P<0.05), intraoperative blood loss (162.14±72.61 vs. 239.65±113.56, t=5.713, P<0.05), postoperative feeding time (1.13±0.36 vs. 1.57±0.67, t=3.681, P<0.05), postoperative visual analog scale score (5.16±0.89 vs. 7.42±1.31, t=3.721, P<0.05), postoperative abdominal drainage tube indwelling time (4.58±1.34 vs. 5.42±1.52, t=4.553, P<0.05), incidence rate of complications (43.33% vs. 82.86%, χ2=11.075, P<0.05) in group A were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). Symptoms/side effects (32.42±3.42 vs. 27.44±3.31, t=4.331, P<0.05), and there were significant differences in social function (33.55±2.56 vs. 29.31±3.32, t=4.863, P<0.05).

Conclusion:

For right posterior lobe tumors of the liver, the left lateral decubitus position has many advantages in laparoscopic right posterior lobectomy, such as a wide field of view, simple steps, a short operation time, less bleeding, and a high postoperative quality of life. It is an effective treatment for right posterior lobe tumors of the liver and is worthy of being widely popularized.
Feasibility of Robot-Assisted Cytoreductive Surgery With Upper-Abdominal Peritonectomy for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei With Low Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index: A Pilot Study
Authors: Fujimoto Daisuke , Yonemura Yutaka , Taniguchi Keizo , Kobayashi Hirotoshi
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Our study’s objective was to provide the method for, and preliminary findings from, robot-assisted cytoreductive surgery (r-CRS) combined with upper-abdominal peritonectomy in pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) with limited peritoneal surface malignancy (PSM).

Materials and Methods:

We conducted a retrospective pilot study on consecutive patients with PSM secondary to pseudomyxoma peritonei with a peritoneal cancer index (PCI) of under 10 who were indicated for r-CRS combined with upper-abdominal peritectomy. Perioperative and 30-day major morbidity and mortality characteristics were analyzed and compared with cases in which laparoscopic CRS (l-CRS) was performed under the same conditions.

Results:

Six patients underwent r-CRS combined with an upper-abdominal partial peritonectomy. Their mean PCI was 4.83. Complete cytoreduction was achieved in all patients. The mean duration of the operation was 156.8 minutes. There was no major complication and no mortality. The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 6.33 days. r-CRS resulted in less blood loss, a lower C-reactive protein level, and a shorter length of hospital stay that were significantly different compared with those of l-CRS.

Conclusions:

This is the initial technical report of a robotic approach for CRS combined with upper-abdominal peritonectomy. r-CRS with a combined upper-abdominal peritonectomy was shown to be safe and feasible for PMP with limited PSM.
Human arm redundancy: a new approach for the inverse kinematics problem
Authors: Barliya Avi , Krausz Nili , Naaman Hila , Chiovetto Enrico , Giese Martin , Flash Tamar
Published: February 2024

The inverse kinematics (IK) problem addresses how both humans and robotic systems coordinate movement to resolve redundancy, as in the case of arm reaching where more degrees of freedom are available at the joint versus hand level. This work focuses on which coordinate frames best represent human movements, enabling the motor system to solve the IK problem in the presence of kinematic redundancies. We used a multi-dimensional sparse source separation method to derive sets of basis (or source) functions for both the task and joint spaces, with joint space represented by either absolute or anatomical joint angles. We assessed the similarities between joint and task sources in each of these joint representations, finding that the time-dependent profiles of the absolute reference frame’s sources show greater similarity to corresponding sources in the task space. This result was found to be statistically significant. Our analysis suggests that the nervous system represents multi-joint arm movements using a limited number of basis functions, allowing for simple transformations between task and joint spaces. Additionally, joint space seems to be represented in an absolute reference frame to simplify the IK transformations, given redundancies. Further studies will assess this finding’s generalizability and implications for neural control of movement.
Fecal DNA metabarcoding reveals seasonal and annual variation in willow ptarmigan diet
Authors: Ingvaldsen Elise W. , Østnes Jan E. , Kleven Oddmund , Davey Marie , Fossøy Frode , Nilsen Erlend B.
Published: February 2024

Understanding spatio-temporal variation in the diet of alpine herbivores is important to predict how a changing climate will affect these species in the future. We examined the spatio-temporal variation in willow ptarmigan (
Lagopus l. lagopus
) diet using DNA metabarcoding of fecal pellets sampled from winter to early summer over three consecutive years. Furthermore, we assessed how snow cover and vegetation phenology affected diet variation. We also investigated sex differences in diet composition. We identified 18 important diet taxa and the genera
Betula, Vaccinium
and
Empetrum
occurred most frequently. Diet composition and richness varied within and between years. Seasonally, there was a shift from a narrow winter diet dominated by trees and dwarf shrubs to a broader spring diet with more nutritious field vegetation. This seasonal progression differed among years. The temporal variation in diet was better explained by day of year than by snow cover and vegetation phenology. Females had a more diverse diet than males, but there were no sex differences in diet composition. Our results demonstrate that metabarcoding of fecal samples provides the opportunity to assess factors affecting diet composition of species in alpine ecosystems in the context of a changing climate.
Programming quadric metasurfaces via infinitesimal origami maps of monohedral hexagonal tessellations: Part II
Authors: dos Santos Filipe A. , Favata Antonino , Micheletti Andrea , Paroni Roberto , Picchi Scardaoni Marco
Published: February 2024

In Part I of this study, it was shown that all the three known types of monohedral hexagonal tessellations of the plane, those composed of equal irregular hexagons, have just a single deformation mode when tiles are considered as rigid bodies hinged to each other along the edges. A gallery of tessellated plates was simulated numerically to demonstrate the range of achievable deformed shapes. In Part II, the displacement field was first derived and a continuous interpolant for each type of tessellated plate. It turns out that all corresponding metasurfaces are described by quadrics. Afterwards, a parametric analysis was carried out to determine the effect of varying angles and edge lengths on the curvature, and the values of the geometric Poisson ratio of the plates. Finally, a method of fabrication is proposed based on the additive manufacturing of stiff tiles of negligible deformability and flexible connectors. Using this modular technique, it is possible to join together different monohedral tessellated plates able to deform into piece-wise quadrics. The nodal positions in the deformed configuration of the realized plates are measured after enforcing one principal curvature to assume a chosen value. The estimate of the other principal curvature confirms the analytical predictions. The presented tessellated plates permit to realize doubly curved shape-morphing metasurfaces with assorted shapes, which also can feature a certain surface roughness, and they can be employed in all applications demanding high surface accuracy and few actuators or just one.
Roseibium algicola sp. nov. and Roseibium porphyridii sp. nov., isolated from marine red algae
Authors: Lee Min Woo , Kim Jeong Min , Kim Kyung Hyun , Choi Dae Gyu , Lee Jae Kyeong , Baek Ju Hye , Jeon Che Ok
Published: February 2024

Two Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic rods, designated as RMAR6-6T and KMA01T, exhibiting catalase- and oxidase-positive activities, were isolated from marine red algae in the Republic of Korea. Cells of strain RMAR6-6T exhibited flagellar motility, while those of strain KMA01T were non-motile. Strain RMAR6-6T exhibited optimal growth at 30–35°C and pH 7.0–8.0 with 4.0–6.0 % (w/v) NaCl, while strain KMA01T grew optimally at 30–35 °C, pH 7.0–8.0 and 2.0–5.0% NaCl. Both strains shared common major respiratory isoprenoid quinone (ubiquinone-10), cellular fatty acids (C18 : 0, C18: 1 

ω7c 11-methyl, C20 : 1
 ω7c and summed feature 8) and polar lipids (phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerol). The genomic DNA G+C contents were 59.0 and 55.0 mol% for strains RMAR6-6T and KMA01T, respectively. With 98.5 % 16S rRNA gene similarity, 75.2 % average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 19.8 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values, strains RMAR6-6T and KMA01T were identified as representing distinct species. Phylogenetic analyses based on both 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences revealed that strains RMAR6-6T and KMA01T formed distinct phylogenic lineages within the genus Roseibium, most closely related to Roseibium aggregatum IAM 12614T and Roseibium album CECT 5094T, respectively. The ANI and dDDH values between strain RMAR6-6T and R. aggregatum IAM 12614T were 87.5 and 33.3 %, respectively. Similarly, the values between KMA01T and R. album CECT 5094T were 74.2 % (ANI) and 19.3 % (dDDH). Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics, strains RMAR6-6T and KMA01T represent two novel species of the genus Roseibium, for which the names R. algicola sp. nov. (RMAR6-6T=KACC 22482T=JCM 34977T) and R. porphyridii sp. nov. (KMA01T=KACC 22479T=JCM 34597T) are proposed, respectively.
Relapse after intermittent access to cocaine: Discriminative cues more effectively trigger drug seeking than do conditioned cues
Authors: Ndiaye Ndeye Aissatou , Shamleh Sema Abu , Casale Domiziana , Castaneda-Ouellet Sol’Abraham , Laplante Isabel , Robinson Mike J. F. , Samaha Anne-Noël
Published: February 2024

When people with drug addiction encounter cues associated with drug use, this can trigger cravings and relapse. These cues can include conditioned stimuli (CSs) signaling drug delivery and discriminative stimuli (DSs) signaling drug availability. Compared to CS effects, DS effects are less explored in preclinical studies on cue-induced relapse. We compared CS and DS effects on reward seeking following abstinence from intermittent-access cocaine (or sucrose) self-administration. During 15-20 intermittent-access sessions, rats self-administered sucrose pellets or i.v. cocaine paired with a light-tone CS. Cocaine/sucrose was available for 5-min (signalled by a light; DS+) and unavailable for 25 min (signalled by different lighting conditions; DS-), and this cycled for 4 h/session. Following abstinence, we measured cocaine/sucrose seeking under extinction triggered by CS and DS presentation, and instrumental responding reinforced by these cues. Across intermittent-access sessions, rats increased lever pressing for cocaine or sucrose during DS+ periods and decreased responding during DS-periods. On days 2 and 21 of abstinence, only presentation of the DS+ or DS+ and CS combined elicited increased cocaine/sucrose-seeking behaviour (i.e., increased active lever presses). Additionally, presenting the DS-alongside the DS+ suppressed the increased cocaine-seeking behaviour otherwise produced by the DS+. Finally, on day 21 of abstinence, rats showed equivalent levels of lever pressing reinforced by the DS+, CS and by the DS+ and CS combined, suggesting comparable conditioned reinforcing value. After intermittent self-administration, cocaine-associated DSs and CSs acquire similar conditioned reinforcing properties, but DSs more effectively trigger increases in drug seeking.
Resilience and vulnerability of neural speech tracking in children with cochlear implants
Authors: Federici Alessandra , Fantoni Marta , Pavani Francesco , Handjaras Giacomo , Bednaya Evgenia , Martinelli Alice , Berto Martina , Ricciardi Emiliano , Nava Elena , Orzan Eva , Bianchi Benedetta , Bottari Davide
Published: February 2024

Infants are born with biological biases that favour language acquisition. One is the auditory system’s ability to track the envelope of continuous speech, a pivotal feature for spoken language comprehension in adulthood. However, the extent to which neural speech tracking relies on postnatal auditory experience remains unknown. In this case-control study, we tested children with or without access to functional hearing in the first year of life after they received cochlear implants (CIs) for hearing restoration. We measured neural speech tracking in CI users with a congenital bilateral profound deafness (CD) or who acquired it later in development (AD; minimum auditory experience after birth 12 months), as well as in two groups of hearing controls listening to original (HC) or vocoded-speech (HC-v). Remarkably, neural speech tracking in children with CIs was unaffected by the absence of perinatal auditory experience. Regardless of deafness onset, CI users and HC exhibited a similar neural tracking magnitude at short timescales ∼50– 130 ms (P1TRF) of brain activity. However, this neural tracking phase (P1TRF) was delayed in CI users, and its timing depended on the age of hearing restoration. Conversely, at longer timescales ∼130–260 ms (N2TRF) of brain activity, speech tracking was substantially dampened in participants with CIs, thereby accounting for their comprehension deficits. Speech tracking in HC listening to vocoded-speech and in a phantom head-model with CIs suggested that neural processing differences between HC and CI children could not merely be explained by the degraded acoustic stimulation, nor by electrical artifacts of the implants. These findings highlight (i) the resilience of sensory components of neural speech tracking to the lack of hearing in the first year of life, (ii) the crucial role played when hearing restoration takes place in mitigating the impact of atypical auditory experience, (iii) the vulnerability of higher hierarchical levels of speech processing in CI users.
Subjective confidence modulates individual BOLD patterns of predictive processing
Authors: Hechler André , de Lange Floris P. , Riedl Valentin
Published: February 2024

Humans are adept at extracting and learning sequential patterns from sensory input. This ability enables predictions about future states, resulting in anticipation both on a behavioral and neural level. Stimuli deviating from predictions usually evoke higher neural and hemodynamic activity than predicted stimuli. This difference indicates increased surprise, or prediction error signaling in the context of predictive coding. However, interindividual differences in learning performance and uncertainty have rarely been taken into account. Under Bayesian formulations of cortical function, surprise should be strongest if a subject makes incorrect predictions with high confidence.

In the present study, we studied the impact of subjective confidence on imaging markers of predictive processing. Participants viewed visual object sequences of varying predictability over multiple days. After each day, we instructed them to complete partially presented sequences and to rate their confidence in the decision. During fMRI scanning, participants saw sequences that either confirmed predictions, deviated from them, or were random. We replicated findings of increased BOLD responses to surprising input in the ventral visual stream. In line with our hypothesis, response magnitude increased with the level of confidence after the training phase. Interestingly, the activity difference between predictable and random input also scaled with confidence: In the anterior cingulate, we found tentative evidence that predictable sequences elicited higher activity for low levels of confidence, but lower activity for high levels of confidence. In summary, we showed that confidence is a crucial moderator of the link between predictive processing and BOLD activity.