bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct patterns of myogenic motor activity identified in isolated human distal colon with high‐resolution manometry
Authors: Rosli Reizal M. , Heitmann Paul T. , Kumar Raghu , Hibberd Tim J. , Costa Marcello , Wiklendt Lukasz , Wattchow David A. , Arkwright John , de Fontgalland Dayan , Brookes Simon J. H. , Spencer Nick J. , Dinning Phil G.
Published: May 2020

Background

Colonic high‐resolution manometry (HRM) has been used to reveal discrete, propagating colonic motor patterns. To help determine mechanisms underlying these patterns, we used HRM to record contractile activity in human distal colon ex vivo.

Methods

Surgically excised segments of descending (n = 30) or sigmoid colon (n = 4) were immersed in oxygenated Krebs solution at 36°C (n = 34; 16 female; 67.6 ± 12.4 years; length: 24.7 ± 3.5 cm). Contractility was recorded by HRM catheters. After 30 minutes of baseline recording, 0.3 mM lidocaine and/or 1 mM hexamethonium were applied. Ascending neural pathways were activated by electrical field stimulation (EFS; 10 Hz, 0.5 ms, 50 V, 5‐s duration) applied to the anal end before and after drug application.

Results

Spontaneous propagating contractions were recorded in all specimens (0.1‐1.5 cycles/minute). Most contractions occurred synchronously across all recording sites. In five specimens, rhythmic antegrade contractions propagated across the full length of the preparation. EFS evoked local contractions at the site of stimulation (latency: 5.5 ± 2.4 seconds) with greater amplitude than spontaneous contractions (EFS; 29.3 ± 26.9 vs 12.1 ± 14.8 mm Hg; P = .02). Synchronous or retrograde propagating motor patterns followed EFS; 71% spanned the entire preparation length. Hexamethonium and lidocaine modestly and only temporarily inhibited spontaneous contractions, whereas TTX increased the frequency of contractile activity while inhibiting EFS‐evoked contractions.

Conclusions and Inferences

Our study suggests that the propagated contractions recorded in the organ bath have a myogenic origin which can be regulated by neural input. Once activated at a local site, the contractions do not require the propulsion of fecal content to sustain long‐distance propagation.
Antidotal effects of methylene blue against cyanide neurological toxicity: in vivo and in vitro studies
Authors: Haouzi Philippe , McCann Marissa , Wang JuFang , Zhang Xue‐Qian , Song Jianliang , Sariyer Ilker , Langford Diane , Santerre Maryline , Tubbs Nicole , Haouzi‐Judenherc Annick , Cheung Joseph Y.
Published: May 2020

The aim of the present study was to determine whether methylene blue (MB) could directly oppose the neurological toxicity of a lethal cyanide (CN) intoxication. KCN, infused at the rate of 0.375 mg/kg/min intravenously, produced 100% lethality within 15 min in unanaesthetized rats (n = 12). MB at 10 (n = 5) or 20 mg/kg (n = 5), administered 3 min into CN infusion, allowed all animals to survive with no sequelae. No apnea and gasping were observed at 20 mg/kg MB (P < 0.001). The onset of coma was also significantly delayed and recovery from coma was shortened in a dose‐dependent manner (median of 359 and 737 seconds, respectively, at 20 and 10 mg/kg). At 4 mg/kg MB (n = 5), all animals presented faster onset of coma and apnea and a longer period of recovery than at the highest doses (median 1344 seconds, P < 0.001). MB reversed NaCN‐induced resting membrane potential depolarization and action potential depression in primary cultures of human fetal neurons intoxicated with CN. MB restored calcium homeostasis in the CN‐intoxicated human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. We conclude that MB mitigates the neuronal toxicity of CN in a dose‐dependent manner, preventing the lethal depression of respiratory medullary neurons and fatal outcome.
Is the prevalence of anemia in children living at high altitudes real? An observational study in Peru
Authors: Choque‐Quispe Benita Maritza , Alarcón‐Yaquetto Dulce E. , Paredes‐Ugarte Wilber , Zaira Arturo , Ochoa Adelayda , Gonzales Gustavo F.
Published: May 2020

Anemia diagnosis in populations residing at high altitude (HA) involves an adjustment of hemoglobin (Hb) values owing to the increase in its concentration with altitude. The suitability of the adjustment has been questioned since Hb concentrations depend on how adapted a population is to HA. In Peru, anemia in preschool children (PSC) is a matter of severe public concern for its high rates; in the city of Puno (∼3800 MASL), for example, 67.7% of children under 3 years are diagnosed with anemia. Here, we conducted an observational study in PSC living at different altitudes in Puno to assess Hb, iron status, and the suitability of altitude‐adjusted Hb values in defining iron deficiency anemia. After adjusting Hb, 65.66% of the population had anemia, while only 4.8% of PSC had anemia when using unadjusted Hb. Receiver‐operating characteristic curves using total body iron (TBI) as a marker of iron status are presented. In the 36‐ to 59‐month age group, unadjusted Hb performed better than altitude‐adjusted Hb. In the 6‐ to 35‐month age group, anemia (adjusted or unadjusted) was not associated with TBI. We conclude that Hb adjustment by altitude is not appropriate. Anemia at an early age is not entirely attributable to iron deficiency.
Assessment of body composition in pediatric overweight and obesity: A systematic review of the reliability and validity of common techniques
Authors: Orsso Camila E. , Silva Maria Ines B. , Gonzalez Maria Cristina , Rubin Daniela A. , Heymsfield Steven B. , Prado Carla M. , Haqq Andrea M.
Published: May 2020

Accurate measurement of body composition is required to improve health outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity. This systematic review aimed to summarize the reliability and validity of field and laboratory body composition techniques employed in pediatric obesity studies to facilitate technique selection for research and clinical practice implementation. A systematic search in MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus from inception up to December 2019 was conducted, using a combination of the following concepts: body composition, pediatric overweight/obesity, and reliability/validity. The search strategy resulted in 66 eligible articles reporting reliability (19.7%), agreement between body composition techniques cross sectionally (80.3%), and/or diagnostic test accuracy (10.6%) in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity (mean age range = 7.0–16.5 years). Skinfolds, air‐displacement plethysmography (ADP), dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), and ultrasound presented as reliable techniques. DXA, ADP, and isotope dilution showed similar and the best agreement with reference standards. Compared with these laboratory techniques, the validity of estimating body composition by anthropometric equations, skinfolds, and BIA was inferior. In conclusion, the assessment of body composition by laboratory techniques cannot be replaced by field techniques due to introduction of measurement errors, which potentially conceal actual changes in body components.
Perioperative management of children with urea cycle disorders
Authors: Del Río Cristina , Martín‐Hernández Elena , Ruiz Alicia , Quijada‐Fraile Pilar , Rubio Paloma
Published: May 2020

Background

Urea cycle disorders are congenital metabolism errors that affect ammonia elimination. Clinical signs and prognosis are strongly influenced by peak ammonia levels. Numerous triggers associated with metabolic decompensation have been described with many of them, including fasting or stress, being related to the perioperative period.

Aims

We aimed to assess perioperative complications in pediatric patients with urea cycle disorders requiring general anesthesia in our center.

Methods

We reviewed the clinical history of all the pediatric patients with a confirmed urea cycle disorders diagnosis requiring surgery or a diagnostic procedure with anesthesia between January 2002 and June 2018.

Results

We included 33 operations (major surgery, minor surgery, and diagnostic procedures) carried out on 10 patients via different anesthetic techniques. We observed the following complications: intraoperative hyperglycemia in one case, postoperative vomiting in eight cases, and slightly increased postoperative ammonia levels (54, 59, and 69 µmol/L) with normal preoperative levels in three cases without associated metabolic decompensation. There were two cases of perioperative hyperammonemia (72 and 69 µmol/L) secondary to preoperative metabolic decompensation (137 and 92 µmol/L) with the levels progressively dropping and normalizing in the first 24‐48 hours, respectively.

Conclusions

Procedures under anesthesia on pediatric patients with urea cycle diseases should be performed by experienced multidisciplinary teams at specialized centers. Perioperative management focused on avoiding catabolism (especially during fasting) and monitoring signs associated with metabolic decompensation to allow for its early treatment should be included in routine anesthetic techniques for children with urea cycle disorders.
A PCR diagnostic assay for rapid detection of plant pathogenic pseudomonads
Authors: Visnovsky Sandra B. , Panda Preeti , Everett Kerry R. , Lu Ashley , Butler Ruth C. , Taylor Robert K. , Pitman Andrew R.
Published: May 2020

Molecular detection of phytopathogens is increasingly being applied to identify regulated organisms at the border in many parts of the world. However, even with molecular tests, complete phenotyping and identification of a strain is often time consuming and sometimes inconclusive. In this study, a leaf‐based pathogenicity test was used to separate pseudomonads into two groups, Group A containing pathogens, and Group B containing saprotrophs. Comparative genomics of 56 pseudomonad genomes from different plant hosts (including 29 strains from kiwifruit) agreed with kiwifruit pathogenicity test results, placing pathogens into Group A and saprotrophs into Group B. Sixteen loci were found unique to Group A. A PCR assay was developed for amplification of one of these loci, the trehalose phosphatase gene. The generation of this 655 bp amplicon was associated with production of water‐soaked lesions on inoculated kiwifruit leaves by pseudomonads in Group A. This test was validated for further strains from all seven pathogenic Pseudomonas phylogroups, non‐pathogenic pseudomonads, and other bacterial genera. The sensitivity of the PCR was comparable to the limit of recovery of pseudomonads by culturing. This simple PCR assay could be used as part of a testing pipeline at the border and for general surveillance for screening plants with and without symptoms, offering the potential to detect uncharacterized pseudomonads that may pose a biosecurity risk. The method was shown to be able to rapidly identify pathogens cultured from plant material with symptoms, or, more importantly, to detect pathogens directly from plant tissue.
Transitional Stages: Transcultural Competence through Performances of Migration and Identity
Authors: Parkes Lisa
Published: May 2020

In offering an account of teaching and performing Nurkan Erpulat and Jens Hillje'sVerrücktes Blut(2010) with advanced German students, this article reflects on the theme of cultural identity, particularly with regard to current issues related to migrant populations. As a play that showcases theater as a transitional space where linguistic and cultural identities may be negotiated, and where social and linguistic agency are interdependent, this particular play affords many rich learning opportunities for language students in today's global context. The play's ingenious staging devices – formulated as a play within a play within a play – provides an ideal opportunity for investigating the complexities and nuanced difficulties of ethnic identity and cultural expectations.
Convalescent plasma to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): considerations for clinical trial design
Authors: Barone Paul , DeSimone Robert A.
Published: May 2020

KEY IDEAS

Case series studying convalescent plasma use in the treatment of COVID‐19 have been promising, but additional, high‐quality studies are needed to determine the efficacy of the treatment when applied for prophylaxis, for early phases of illness, and for severe illness.

Previous studies of convalescent plasma in treating other viral diseases have identified factors to consider when designing treatment protocols, including timing of administration relative to onset of illness, timing of donation relative to resolution of symptoms, severity of illness of the donor, pretransfusion serology of the recipient, and antibody titers of the donor.

There are many clinical trials studying treatment of, and prophylaxis against, COVID‐19 using convalescent plasma. In addition to clinical trials, the FDA also allows treatment through two other pathways: the “Expanded Access to Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Patients with COVID‐19” protocol, and emergency investigational new drug applications. The FDA also provides criteria for donation of convalescent plasma.
English in the identity practices of black male township youth in South Africa
Authors: Makukule Idah , Brookes Heather
Published: May 2020

This paper explores the role of English in peer interactions among black male youth in two Johannesburg townships. We demonstrate how social meanings attached to English shape ways of using English in the expression of social identities. English is a central tool in processes of authentification and delegitimization in relation to notions of African urban male township identity. Longitudinal ethnographic work, with recordings of spontaneous peer interactions on the township streets, show how social meanings attached to using English have shifted with socio‐economic changes since 1994. These changes have impacted patterns of English use among black youth and male youth in particular. The way in which youth use English challenges structural variety approaches to youth languages in African contexts that treat them as separate linguistic varieties.
Training Social Information Processing in Elementary School Children With Intellectual Disabilities: A Key to Support Their Emotion Regulation and Social Behaviors
Authors: Jacobs Emilie , Nader-Grosbois Nathalie
Published: May 2020

Children with intellectual disabilities (IDs) show deficits in social information processing (SIP) that increased the risk of social maladjustment. As social inclusion is a major preoccupation for professionals and parents, it is important to know how foster SIP among these children, in order to support their understanding of social situations, their emotion regulation and social adjustment. The present study tested the efficacy of a new “SIP program for children”, considering specific strengths and weaknesses of these children. It also explored the potential causal contribution of SIP in elementary school children with ID to their emotion regulation, social adjustment and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. 30 children between 5 and 12 years with mild or moderate IDs, took part in a pre-test session involving measures on cognition and social problem solving. Teachers and/or parents completed questionnaires assessing children’s emotion regulation and social adjustment. Secondly, children were allocated to control or experimental groups. Experimental group participated in the “SIP program for children”. It was implemented by two trainers which used the specific material and technics described by the program during eight sessions to sub-groups of three children. After, all children took part in post-test sessions. Results showed significant improvement of social problem-solving abilities in children of experimental groups. After SIP training, they easily judged social behaviors and produced more complex justifications related to social consciousness and social rules, in comparison to the control group. Parents perceived children who had participated in the training as more socially adjusted and teachers described them as more integrated, autonomous and cooperative. These children were also perceived as displaying fewer internalizing problems.
Impact of Generational Commonality of Short Life Cycle Products in Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Processes
Authors: Kim Jinju , Kim Harrison M.
Published: May 2020

Short life cycle products are frequently replaced and discarded, even though they are resource-intensive products. Technological advances and rapid changes in demand have led manufacturers to develop their innovative next-generation products quickly, which not only enables multiple generations to coexist in the market but also speeds up the technological obsolescence of products. Diversity of collected end-of-life (EoL) and rapid technological obsolescence make the effective recovery of EoL products difficult. The low utilization rate of EoL products causes serious environmental problems such as e-waste and waste of natural resources. To deal with the conflict between the technical evolution of products and the promotion of social benefits in solving environmental problems, this paper focuses on the impact of generational commonality effects on the overall production process including manufacturing and remanufacturing. Generational commonality leads to an increase in the efficiency of manufacturing due to reducing related costs. Additionally, from the remanufacturing perspective, the interchangeability between generations can help collect the EoL products needed for remanufacturing. On the other hand, it causes a weakening of the level of performance and technology evolution between generations that significantly affect the demand for short life cycle products. Therefore, this study identifies these trade-offs of generational commonality levels in both manufacturing and remanufacturing based on a quantitative approach. This study finds how different pricing strategies, production plans, and recovery costs are based on the designs of a new generation with a different degree of generational commonality.
Nonlinear Span Assessment by Amplitude-Dependent Linearization
Authors: Peek Ralf
Published: May 2020

Although it has long been recognized that vortex-induced vibrations of subsea pipeline spans involve nonlinear and inelastic behavior, the current practice to assess such spans for fatigue and ultimate loading conditions is based on the modal analysis assuming linear behavior. Nevertheless, nonlinearity can be captured approximately by making the linearization amplitude dependent. The eigenvalue problem to be solved for the natural frequencies and mode shapes then involves a stiffness matrix that depends on the mode shape and amplitude of vibration. An important part of the nonlinearity comes from the soil, which is generally represented by springs. This paper presents a simple and particularly effective algorithm to solve this nonlinear eigenvalue problem by using the same algorithm that serves to track the bifurcated solution branches in quasi-static structural stability (buckling) analyses. This method is applied to an example in which the nonlinearity comes from the soil springs. The results demonstrate the importance of the nonlinearity, even at relatively low vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) amplitudes typical of the pure inline response. The inelasticity of the soil springs is also used to calculate the associated contribution to the modal damping ratio.
Gravity Wave Trapping by Series of Horizontally Stratified Wave Absorbers Away From Seawall
Authors: Venkateswarlu V. , Karmakar D.
Published: May 2020

The fluid oscillation between the rigid wall and stratified wave absorber is analyzed in the context of the linearized water wave theory. The stratified wave absorber is composed of multiple horizontal layers considering higher porosity in the surface layer, moderate porosity in the middle layer, and zero porosity in the bottom layer. The study examined the wave motion through multiple horizontally stratified wave absorbers on solving the multilayer dispersion relation. The eigenfunction expansion method is used to form the system of analytical equations using the property of orthogonal mode-coupling relation with continuity of dynamic pressure and velocity at each of the interfaces. The free spacing available between leeward porous wave absorber and the rigid wall is termed as “trapping chamber.” The effect of the trapping chamber on wave reflection and fluid force experienced by a rigid wall is discussed. The analytical results formulated for the physical problem are validated with the available experimental and numerical results. The wave trapping is examined and compared for three types of seawalls such as vertical wall, permeable wall, and stepped wall. The change in trapping chamber length shows the harmonic peaks and troughs in the trapping coefficients and the harmonic oscillations help in the design and development of the stratified porous wave absorbers for the protection of marine infrastructure.
Study on Logarithmic Crowning of Tapered Roller Profile Considering Angular Misalignment
Authors: Wu Zhenghai , Xu Yingqiang , Liu Kaian
Published: May 2020

The angular misalignment of the tapered roller contact pair aggravates the stress edge effect and the stress concentration effect at the contact field, which in turn would affect bearing capacity and fatigue life of the contact pair. In this paper, based on the angular misalignment, the geometric interference model of the tapered roller contact pair was established. And two types of logarithmic crowning models for the roller profile design were theoretically deduced, in which design redundancy was considered through the quadratic processing of the pre-pressure. Then, with the discrete convolution and fast Fourier transform (DC-FFT) method and the conjugate gradient method (CGM), contact characteristics of the tapered roller with these two logarithmic profiles were verified. The results show that two profiles can effectively prevent the stress edge/concentration effect, improve contact pressure distribution and stress field of the roller in misalignment state, and ensure that the contact condition in alignment state is not greatly affected. The logarithmic crowning scheme is also suitable for the profile design of heavy-duty tapered rollers and can provide a reference for the crowning of other finite-line contact pairs under angular misalignment.
Experimental Analysis of a Particle Separator Design With Full-Field Three-Dimensional Measurements
Authors: Borup Daniel D. , Elkins Christopher J. , Eaton John K.
Published: May 2020

Particle ingestion into turbine engines can cause significant damage through deposition in internal cooling passages. Musgrove et al. proposed a compact particle separator installed between the combustor bypass exit and turbine vane cooling passage inlet. The design had small pressure losses but provided limited particle separation. Its performance has proved difficult to replicate. Borup et al. recently developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technique for full-field, 3D measurements of the mean particle concentration distribution in complex flows. A particle separator based on the Musgrove et al. design was fabricated out of plastic using 3D printing, with the addition of a drain from the collector through which 3% of the total flow was extracted. The separator efficiency was measured at two Reynolds numbers, using water as the working fluid and 33-μm titanium microspheres to represent dust particles. Stokes number was shown to play the dominant role in determining efficiency across studies. MRI was used to obtain the 3D particle volume fraction and three-component velocity fields. The velocity data showed that flow was poorly distributed between the separator louvers, while the collector flow followed the optimal pattern for particle retention. The MRI data revealed that strong swirling flow in the collector centrifuged particles toward the outer wall of the collector and into a partitioned region of quiescent flow, where they proceeded to exit the collector. Future designs could be improved by re-arranging the louvers to produce a more uniform flow distribution, while maintaining the effective collector design.
Ammonia assisted low temperature growth of In2O3 (111) epitaxial films on c-sapphire substrates by chemical vapor deposition technique
Authors: Yadav Santosh Kumar , Das Souvik , Prasad Nivedita , Barick Barun K. , Arora Simran , Sutar Dayanand S. , Dhar Subhabrata
Published: May 2020

The authors report the growth of bixbyite In2O3 (111) epitaxial layers on c-plane sapphire substrates by a chemical vapor deposition route, in which growth takes place under the flow of oxygen and ammonia in a furnace. Indium metal is used as the source for indium. It has been found that In2O3 films with high epitaxial quality can be grown by optimizing the growth temperature and the flow rate of NH3. Ammonia plays a catalytic role in the growth process. At growth temperatures less than 550 °C, inclusion of a rhombohedral phase, which is known to be thermodynamically stable only at high pressure, has been detected in the film. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy does not show the presence of nitrogen in these films. An x-ray diffraction study reveals a sharp increase of disorder in these films as the growth temperature increases beyond 550 °C. The bandgap of the material is also found to decrease with the increase of disorder.
Experimental study of airfoil-rotor interaction noise by wavelet beamforming
Authors: Chen Wangqiao , Peng Bo , Liem Rhea P. , Huang Xun
Published: May 2020

A wavelet-based beamforming method is performed in this investigation to analyze moving acoustic sources in the time-frequency domain, which is of scientific significance and practical importance. The particular problem considered here is the interaction noise from an airfoil and the downstream rotor in the presence of a moving flow, which could find realistic applications in next-generation underwater and aviation systems. A realistic experimental setup is prepared with a rotating blade and the airfoil in an anechoic wind tunnel. The results show that the wavelet-based beamforming method is very suitable for unsteady sound source imaging, which would be able to strengthen the time-frequency analysis capability of acoustic imaging tests and, consequently, possibly leads to deepened physical insights of various transient and moving systems in underwater and aerospace systems.
“What’s Worth Doing?”: A Qualitative Historical Analysis of the TPSR Model
Authors: Richards K. Andrew R. , Shiver Victoria N.
Published: May 2020

Purpose: The authors sought to trace the development of the teaching personal and social responsibility (TPSR) model from its initial conception by Don Hellison as a humanistic approach to teaching physical education to the current version of the model through qualitative historiography.Methods: Data sources included: (a) books written by Don, (b) sources that discussed the evolution of the model, and (c) supplemental texts that are important to the TPSR literature.Results: The authors identified four phases of TPSR model development: (a) setting the stage for a humanistic approach through practical inquiry, (b) moving beyond balls and bats to developing a model focused on the affective domain, (c) further defining humanistic goals and teaching strategies, and (d) continuous tinkering in the context of a living model.Discussion/Conclusions: Lessons learned about the model are discussed in relation to practical inquiry, and recommendations are made related to the future of the TPSR model.
Don Hellison’s Life and Legacy: Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Wright Paul M. , Walsh David
Published: May 2020

Don Hellison (1938–2018) was a leader and trailblazer in sport and physical education pedagogy. Early in his career, he was an advocate for humanistic physical education. His engaged approach to scholarship culminated in the development of the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model, which is now recognized as a best practice for promoting social and emotional learning in physical education. The TPSR model has also been widely applied in the field of sport-based youth development. This is the introduction to the special issue devoted to Don’s life and legacy. It provides opening comments from the guest editors and a brief overview of the articles in the special issue.
A persistent alcohol cue memory trace drives relapse to alcohol seeking after prolonged abstinence
Authors: Visser Esther , Matos Mariana R. , van der Loo Rolinka J. , Marchant Nathan J. , de Vries Taco J. , Smit August B. , van den Oever Michel C.
Published: May 2020

Chemogenetic suppression of a neuronal ensemble that encodes a lasting alcohol cue memory attenuates cue-induced relapse.
Pharmacological modulation of mitochondrial calcium uniporter controls lung inflammation in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Rimessi Alessandro , Pozzato Chiara , Carparelli Lorenzo , Rossi Alice , Ranucci Serena , De Fino Ida , Cigana Cristina , Talarico Anna , Wieckowski Mariusz R. , Ribeiro Carla M. P. , Trapella Claudio , Rossi Giacomo , Cabrini Giulio , Bragonzi Alessandra , Pinton Paolo
Published: May 2020

Mitochondrial therapy offers an alternative strategy for attenuation of hyperinflammation in cystic fibrosis lung disease.
Integrin-mediated adhesions in regulation of cellular senescence
Authors: Shin Eun-Young , Park Jin-Hee , You Soon-Tae , Lee Chan-Soo , Won So-Yoon , Park Jung-Jin , Kim Han-Byeol , Shim Jaegal , Soung Nak-Kyun , Lee Ok-Jun , Schwartz Martin Alexander , Kim Eung-Gook
Published: May 2020

βPIX and GIT control cellular senescence through integrin signaling.
Axonal Na
+
channels detect and transmit levels of input synchrony in local brain circuits
Authors: Zbili Mickaël , Rama Sylvain , Yger Pierre , Inglebert Yanis , Boumedine-Guignon Norah , Fronzaroli-Moliniere Laure , Brette Romain , Russier Michaël , Debanne Dominique
Published: May 2020

Detection and transmission of neuronal synchrony in the rat cortex is achieved by fast changes in action potential waveform.
Activating transcription factor 3 coordinates differentiation of cardiac and hematopoietic progenitors by regulating glucose metabolism
Authors: Yin Hui-Min , Yan Li-Feng , Liu Qian , Peng Zheng , Zhang Chi-Yuan , Xia Yu , Su Dan , Gu Ai-Hua , Zhou Yong
Published: May 2020

ATF3 provides cardiac and hematopoietic progenitors with metabolic adaptive capacity for protection of differentiation potential.
The plant cuticle regulates apoplastic transport of salicylic acid during systemic acquired resistance
Authors: Lim Gah-Hyun , Liu Huazhen , Yu Keshun , Liu Ruiying , Shine M. B. , Fernandez Jessica , Burch-Smith Tessa , Mobley Justin K. , McLetchie Nicholas , Kachroo Aardra , Kachroo Pradeep
Published: May 2020

Transport of salicylic acid is important for systemic immunity and is regulated by osmotic pressure and cuticle permeability.
Freezing and water availability structure the evolutionary diversity of trees across the Americas
Authors: Segovia Ricardo A. , Pennington R. Toby , Baker Tim R. , Coelho de Souza Fernanda , Neves Danilo M. , Davis Charles C. , Armesto Juan J. , Olivera-Filho Ary T. , Dexter Kyle G.
Published: May 2020

Freezing temperatures and water availability shape the distribution of evolutionary lineages of angiosperm trees in the Americas.
The lightness of water vapor helps to stabilize tropical climate
Authors: Seidel Seth D. , Yang Da
Published: May 2020

An overlooked effect of water vapor has a profound impact on Earth’s energy balance.
Running makes old stem cells act young
Authors: Aguilar Carlos A.
Published: May 2020

Voluntary wheel running restores aged muscle stem cells’ ability to activate and repair tissue after injury in mice.
Glutamine: A bad guy for antitumor immunity?
Authors: Shi Lewis Z.
Published: May 2020

Glutamine antagonism enhances antitumor immunity by reprogramming myeloid cells.
Connecting Theory to Practice: Using Self-Determination Theory To Better Understand Inclusion in STEM
Authors: Moore Michael E. , Vega Dulce M. , Wiens Katie M. , Caporale Natalia
Published: May 2020

In the United States, persistence for women and ethnic minorities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers is strongly impacted by affective factors such as science identity, agency, and sense of belonging. Policies aimed at increasing the diversity of the national STEM student population and workforce have recently focused on fostering inclusive learning environments that can positively impact the experiences of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in STEM, thus increasing their retention. While research on inclusion in STEM in higher education is relatively new, inclusion research has a rich history in several other disciplines. These fields have developed theoretical frameworks and validated instruments to conceptualize and assess inclusion. Self-determination theory (SDT) is a well-established theoretical framework in educational psychology that states that ones’ internal motivation is strongly correlated with the satisfaction of three specific psychological needs: autonomy, competency, and relatedness. In this paper, we introduce SDT and discuss how it relates to inclusion and to ongoing efforts to increase retention of STEM URM students in higher education environments. We argue that grounding inclusion initiatives in the SDT framework increases our understanding of the mechanisms mediating their impact, thus facilitating their reproducibility and generalizability. Finally, we describe how this theoretical framework has been adapted by the field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology to define and assess inclusion in the workplace as an example of how STEM education researchers can use this framework to promote and assess inclusion in their fields.
Does Repetition Matter? Analysis of Biology Majors’ Ability to Comprehend Journal Articles Across a Major
Authors: Raimondi Stacey L. , Marsh Tamara L. , Guenther Merrilee F.
Published: May 2020

The ability to read and critically analyze the primary literature is a core skill necessary for future success in scientific fields. While many studies have described methodologies to teach journal reading, no studies examine how much practice and repetition is required before students learn how to comprehend a journal article. Here we assessed student journal reading and comprehension throughout an undergraduate biology major, analyzing students in six upper-level elective courses, some of which had no journal reading requirements while others had extensive requirements built into the course. We hypothesized that there would be a strong correlation between number of articles read in a semester and student ability to comprehend the articles, as well as their comfort and confidence with journal reading. Surprisingly, we found that the number of articles required for a class did not affect overall student reading comprehension and critical thinking even though students self-assessed that they gained comfort and confidence with articles as the number increased. Instead, we found that sophomore students in their first upper-level biology course showed significant gains in learning when the course activities include journal article readings. After this initial gain, there were no significant learning gains in future years, no matter the number of journals required in the course. Together, the results shown here indicate that it is not necessary to revise an entire curriculum to improve students’ journal reading and critical thinking skills. Instead, early intervention and exposure to critical journal article reading is most important for this skill development.
Draft Genome Sequence of Blautia luti DSM 14534
T
, Isolated from Human Stool
Authors: Ortiz Rodrigo L. , Melis-Arcos Felipe , Covarrubias Paulo C. , Ugalde Juan A. , Apte Zachary S. , Pérez-Donoso José , Cárdenas Juan P. , Almonacid Daniel E.
Published: May 2020

Here, we report the draft sequence of
Blautia luti
strain DSM 14534
T
, originally isolated from human feces. This draft contains 74 contigs, comprising 3,718,760 bp with a G+C content of 42.87%. The annotated draft contains 3,338 coding sequences (CDSs) and 110 RNA genes.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Citrobacter freundii Type Strain
Authors: Wan Kenneth H. , Park Soo , Hess Becky M. , Neff Michael J. , Booth Benjamin W. , Celniker Susan E.
Published: May 2020

Citrobacter freundii
is a species of facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria of the family
Enterobacteriaceae
. The complete genome is composed of a single chromosomal circle of 4,957,773 bp with a G+C content of 52%.
Complete Genome Sequence of an Efficient Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae Strain, A1
Authors: Afonin Alexey M. , Gribchenko Emma S. , Sulima Anton S. , Zhukov Vladimir A.
Published: May 2020

Rhizobium leguminosarum
strain A1 is used in inoculation experiments with a wide range of pea (
Pisum sativum
L.) lines. In this study, we report the genome sequence of strain A1, consisting of a 5.06-Mbp circular chromosome and circular plasmids ranging from 804,800 bp to 154,738 bp long.
Draft Genome Sequences of 27 Staphylococcus aureus Strains and 3
Staphylococcus
Species Strains Isolated from Bovine Intramammary Infections
Authors: Park Soyoun , Jung Dongyun , Dufour Simon , Ronholm Jennifer
Published: May 2020

Staphylococcus aureus
is one of the most common etiological agents responsible for contagious bovine mastitis. Here, we report the draft whole-genome sequences, with annotations, of 27
S. aureus
strains and 3
Staphylococcus
species strains that were isolated from Holstein cows with intramammary infection in Canada.
Draft Genome Sequences of Five Enterococcus faecium Isolates from Traditional Montenegrin Brine Cheese
Authors: Ruppitsch Werner , Nisic Andjela , Stöger Anna , Allerberger Franz , Martinovic Aleksandra
Published: May 2020

Enterococcus faecium
is a multifaceted bacterial species. It is part of the natural human microbiota, it grows in a variety of traditional foods, and emerging multiresistant clones are a leading cause of nosocomial infections. Here, we present draft genomes of five
E. faecium
isolates originating from traditional Montenegrin brine cheeses.
Draft Genome Sequence of Citrobacter freundii UFMG-H9, Isolated from Urine from a Healthy Bovine Heifer (Gyr Breed)
Authors: Giannattasio-Ferraz Silvia , Maskeri Laura , Oliveira André P. , Barbosa-Stancioli Edel F. , Putonti Catherine
Published: May 2020

Citrobacter freundii
is a pathogen associated with antibiotic resistance and severe infections in humans. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
C. freundii
strain UFMG-H9, an isolate from urine from a healthy Gyr heifer.
Supplemental Material: Quaternary slip rates on the White Mountains fault zone, eastern California: Implications for comparing geologic to geodetic slip rates across the Walker Lane
Authors: Lifton Zachery M.
Published: May 2020

Field photographs, stratigraphic columns, displacement modeling results, depth profile modeling results, and slip rate modeling results.
Delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture with tension colothorax and strangulation of the transverse colon
Authors: Mousa Wassim , Lapa Christo , Grossart Cathleen , Haq Asif
Published: May 2020

A 26-year-old man presented to emergency department with respiratory distress. The initial diagnosis after chest X-ray was massive haemothorax, after insertion of a chest drain and further investigations, it turned up to be a rare case of a delay presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture (DR) (after 1 year of the initial trauma). After excessive resuscitation of the patient in the emergency department, the patient underwent an emergency laparotomy which revealed ischaemic transverse colon herniated into the chest through a 7 cm diaphragmatic defect. Resection of the ischaemic bowel had been done, and the patient admitted to Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) postoperatively. The patient had an uneventful recovery and discharged home on postoperative day 9. As DR after thoracoabdominal trauma is a rare condition that can be missed at initial presentation, we would like to highlight the main challenges in diagnosing and managing similar cases after reviewing related cases in the literature.
Diagnostic accuracy of diabetic retinopathy grading by an artificial intelligence-enabled algorithm compared with a human standard for wide-field true-colour confocal scanning and standard digital retinal images
Authors: Olvera-Barrios Abraham , Heeren Tjebo FC , Balaskas Konstantinos , Chambers Ryan , Bolter Louis , Egan Catherine , Tufail Adnan , Anderson John
Published: May 2020

Background

Photographic diabetic retinopathy screening requires labour-intensive grading of retinal images by humans. Automated retinal image analysis software (ARIAS) could provide an alternative to human grading. We compare the performance of an ARIAS using true-colour, wide-field confocal scanning images and standard fundus images in the English National Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (NDESP) against human grading.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with consecutive recruitment of patients attending annual diabetic eye screening. Imaging with mydriasis was performed (two-field protocol) with the EIDON platform (CenterVue, Padua, Italy) and standard NDESP cameras. Human grading was carried out according to NDESP protocol. Images were processed by EyeArt V.2.1.0 (Eyenuk Inc, Woodland Hills, California). The reference standard for analysis was the human grade of standard NDESP images.

Results

We included 1257 patients. Sensitivity estimates for retinopathy grades were: EIDON images; 92.27% (95% CI: 88.43% to 94.69%) for any retinopathy, 99% (95% CI: 95.35% to 100%) for vision-threatening retinopathy and 100% (95% CI: 61% to 100%) for proliferative retinopathy. For NDESP images: 92.26% (95% CI: 88.37% to 94.69%) for any retinopathy, 100% (95% CI: 99.53% to 100%) for vision-threatening retinopathy and 100% (95% CI: 61% to 100%) for proliferative retinopathy. One case of vision-threatening retinopathy (R1M1) was missed by the EyeArt when analysing the EIDON images, but identified by the human graders. The EyeArt identified all cases of vision-threatening retinopathy in the standard images.

Conclusion

EyeArt identified diabetic retinopathy in EIDON images with similar sensitivity to standard images in a large-scale screening programme, exceeding the sensitivity threshold recommended for a screening test. Further work to optimise the identification of ‘no retinopathy’ and to understand the differential lesion detection in the two imaging systems would enhance the use of these two innovative technologies in a diabetic retinopathy screening setting.
Henle fibre layer haemorrhage: clinical features and pathogenesis
Authors: Baumal Caroline R , Sarraf David , Bryant Tara , Gui Wei , Muakkassa Nora , Pichi Francesco , Querques Giuseppe , Choudhry Netan , Teke Mehmet Yasin , Govetto Andrea , Invernizzi Alessandro , Eliott Dean , Gaudric Alain , Cunha de Souza Eduardo , Naysan Jonathan , Lembo Andrea , Lee Grace C , Freund K Bailey
Published: May 2020

Background

To describe the clinical presentation and characteristic imaging features of deep retinal haemorrhages primarily located in the Henle fibre layer (HFL) of the macula. The spectrum of aetiologies and a comprehensive theory of pathogenesis are presented.

Methods

This is a retrospective, multicentre case series evaluating eyes with retinal haemorrhage in HFL. Clinical features, underlying aetiology, systemic and ocular risk factors, visual acuity, and multimodal imaging including fundus photography and cross-sectional and en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) are presented.

Results

Retinal haemorrhages localised to HFL in 33 eyes from 23 patients were secondary to acute blunt trauma to the head (n=2), eye (n=1) and trunk (n=1), ruptured intracranial aneurysm (Terson’s syndrome, n=3), general anaesthesia (n=1), epidural anaesthesia (n=1), hypertension with anaemia (n=1), decompression retinopathy (n=1), postvitrectomy with intraocular gas (n=1), retinal vein occlusion (n=7), myopic degeneration (n=2), macular telangiectasia type 2 (n=1), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (n=1). Defining clinical features included deep retinal haemorrhage with feathery margin and petaloid pattern radiating from the fovea. OCT demonstrated characteristic hyper-reflectivity from the haemorrhage delineated by obliquely oriented fibres in the Henle layer. Spontaneous resolution of HFL haemorrhage occurred after 3 months in 15 patients with follow-up.

Conclusion

The characteristic petaloid-shaped, deep intraretinal haemorrhage with a feathery margin localised to HFL is associated with various disorders. The terminology ‘Henle fiber layer hemorrhage (HH)’ is proposed to describe the clinical and OCT findings, which may result from abnormal retinal venous pressure from systemic or local retinovascular disorders affecting the deep capillary plexus or from choroidal vascular abnormalities.
Improving function in people with hip-related pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of physiotherapist-led interventions for hip-related pain
Authors: Kemp Joanne L , Mosler Andrea B , Hart Harvi , Bizzini Mario , Chang Steven , Scholes Mark J , Semciw Adam I , Crossley Kay M
Published: May 2020

Objective

To report the effectiveness of physiotherapist-led interventions in improving pain and function in young and middle-aged adults with hip-related pain.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

A comprehensive, reproducible search strategy was performed on five databases in May 2019. Reference lists and grey literature were also searched.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Population: people aged ≥18 years with hip-related pain (with or without a diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome). Intervention(s): physiotherapist-led interventions for hip pain. Comparators: sham treatment, no treatment or other treatment (eg, hip arthroscopic surgery). Outcomes: primary outcomes included patient-reported hip pain and function. Secondary outcomes included physical function measures.

Results

1722 papers were identified. After exclusion criteria were applied, 14 studies were included for analysis. They had varied risk of bias. There were no full-scale placebo-controlled randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of physiotherapist-led treatment. Pooled effects ranged from moderate effects (0.67 (95% CI 0.07 to 1.26)) favouring physiotherapist-led intervention over no treatment post-arthroscopy, to weak effects (−0.32 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.07)) favouring hip arthroscopy over physiotherapist-led treatment.

Conclusion

Physiotherapist-led interventions might improve pain and function in young and middle-aged adults with hip-related pain, however full-scale high-quality RCT studies are required.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018089088.
Prevalence of therapeutic use exemptions at the Olympic Games and association with medals: an analysis of data from 2010 to 2018
Authors: Vernec Alan , Healy David
Published: May 2020

Objectives

The percentage of athletes with Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) competing in elite sport and the association with winning medals has been a matter of speculation in the absence of validated competitor numbers. We used International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) data to identify athletes competing with TUEs at five Olympic Games (Games) and a possible association between having a TUE and winning an Olympic medal.

Methods

We used the IOC’s competition results and WADA’s TUE database to identify the number of TUEs for athlete competitions (ACs, defined as one athlete competing in one event) and any associations with medals among athletes competing in individual competitions. We calculated risk ratios (RR) for the probability of winning a medal among athletes with a TUE compared with that of athletes without a TUE. We also reported adjusted RR (RRadj) controlling for country resources, which is a potential confounder.

Results

During the Games from 2010 to 2018, there were 20 139 ACs and 2062 medals awarded. Athletes competed with a TUE in 0.9% (181/20 139) of ACs. There were 21/2062 medals won by athletes with a TUE. The RR for winning a medal with a TUE was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.73 to 1.65; p=0.54), and the RRadjwas 1.07 (95% CI: 0.69 to 1.56; p=0.73).

Conclusion

The number of athletes competing with valid TUEs at Games is <1%. Our results suggested that there is no meaningful association between being granted a TUE and the likelihood of winning a medal.