bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recapitulating monocyte extravasation to the synovium in an organotypic microfluidic model of the articular joint
Authors: Mondadori Carlotta , Palombella Silvia , Salehi Shima , Talò Giuseppe , Visone Roberta , Rasponi Marco , Redaelli Alberto , Sansone Valerio , Moretti Matteo , Lopa Silvia
Published: June 2021

The synovium of osteoarthritis (OA) patients can be characterized by an abnormal accumulation of macrophages originating from extravasated monocytes. Since targeting monocyte extravasation may represent a promising therapeutic strategy, our aim was to develop an organotypic microfluidic model recapitulating this process. Synovium and cartilage were modeled by hydrogel-embedded OA synovial fibroblasts and articular chondrocytes separated by a synovial fluid channel. The synovium compartment included a perfusable endothelialized channel dedicated to monocyte injection. Monocyte extravasation in response to chemokines and OA synovial fluid was quantified. The efficacy of chemokine receptor antagonists, RS-504393 (CCR2 antagonist) and Cenicriviroc (CCR2/CCR5 antagonist) in inhibiting extravasation was tested pre-incubating monocytes with the antagonists before injection. After designing and fabricating the chip, culture conditions were optimized to achieve an organotypic model including synovial fibroblasts, articular chondrocytes, and a continuous endothelial monolayer expressing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. A significantly higher number of monocytes extravasated in response to the chemokine mix (p < 0.01) and OA synovial fluid (p < 0.01), compared to a control condition. In both cases, endothelium pre-activation enhanced monocyte extravasation. The simultaneous blocking of CCR2 and CCR5 proved to be more effective (p < 0.001) in inhibiting monocyte extravasation in response to OA synovial fluid than blocking of CCR2 only (p < 0.01). The study of extravasation in the model provided direct evidence that OA synovial fluid induces monocytes to cross the endothelium and invade the synovial compartment. The model can be exploited either to test molecules antagonizing this process or to investigate the effect of extravasated monocytes on synovium and cartilage cells.
High-dynamic-range 3D measurement for E-beam fusion additive manufacturing based on SVM intelligent fringe projection system
Authors: Liu Yue , Blunt Liam , Gao Feng , Jiang Xiangqian
Published: June 2021

Electron Beam Metal Additive Manufacturing (EBAM) has been developed over recent years because of its advantages in manufacturing internal features and complex structures with relatively high productivity. The process proceeds by layer by layer melting and re-solidification of metal powder utilising an electron beam energy source. Following solidification of the build layer, the surface becomes ‘shiny’ with high reflectivity which makes in-process inspection of the surface of the build layer using fringe projection, difficult. To address this issue, a novel intelligent fringe projection technique using a support-vector-machine (SVM) algorithm is proposed to measure the 3D topography of high dynamic range surfaces on a layer by layer basis within the EBAM machine. To facilitate the SVM implementation a range of EBAM manufactured surfaces are utilised as samples for training and classification. The training measurements are based on different exposure times and saturated pixels are utilised as feature vectors to predict tested samples categories. Training errors are evaluated, and the correct recognition rate is 91%, which indicates the proposed training method can effectively predict the categories of the surfaces. Examples of melting edge swelling and powder bed inspections during a part build are used to demonstrate the system capability for inspection high dynamic range measurement within the EBAM machine. The whole inspection process lasts less than 5 s with two measurements which minimises the time penalty for the manufacturing process. Experimental results showed that the powder and the melting surface defects could be efficiently inspected using the proposed technology and the measurement result could be fed back to the build process to improve the processing quality.
Discursive Epidemiology: Two Models
Authors: Tirrell Lynne
Published: June 2021

Toxic speech inflicts damage to mental and physical health. This process can be chronic or acute, temporary or permanent. Understanding how toxic speech inflicts these harms requires both an account of linguistic practices and, because language is inherently social, tools from epidemiology. This paper explores what we can learn from two epidemiological models: a common source model that emphasizes poisons, and a propagated transmission model that better fits contagions like viruses.
Node similarity-based graph convolution for link prediction in biological networks
Authors: Coşkun Mustafa , Koyutürk Mehmet
Published: June 2021

Background

Link prediction is an important and well-studied problem in network biology. Recently, graph representation learning methods, including Graph Convolutional Network (GCN)-based node embedding have drawn increasing attention in link prediction.

Motivation

An important component of GCN-based network embedding is the convolution matrix, which is used to propagate features across the network. Existing algorithms use the degree-normalized adjacency matrix for this purpose, as this matrix is closely related to the graph Laplacian, capturing the spectral properties of the network. In parallel, it has been shown that GCNs with a single layer can generate more robust embeddings by reducing the number of parameters. Laplacian-based convolution is not well suited to single-layered GCNs, as it limits the propagation of information to immediate neighbors of a node.

Results

Capitalizing on the rich literature on unsupervised link prediction, we propose using node similarity-based convolution matrices in GCNs to compute node embeddings for link prediction. We consider eight representative node-similarity measures (Common Neighbors, Jaccard Index, Adamic-Adar, Resource Allocation, Hub- Depressed Index, Hub-Promoted Index, Sorenson Index and Salton Index) for this purpose. We systematically compare the performance of the resulting algorithms against GCNs that use the degree-normalized adjacency matrix for convolution, as well as other link prediction algorithms. In our experiments, we use three-link prediction tasks involving biomedical networks: drug–disease association prediction, drug–drug interaction prediction and protein–protein interaction prediction. Our results show that node similarity-based convolution matrices significantly improve the link prediction performance of GCN-based embeddings.

Conclusion

As sophisticated machine-learning frameworks are increasingly employed in biological applications, historically well-established methods can be useful in making a head-start.

Availability and implementation

Our method, SiGraC, is implemented as a Python library and is freely available at https://github.com/mustafaCoskunAgu/SiGraC.
Open Data Practices among Users of Primary Biodiversity Data
Authors: Mandeville Caitlin P , Koch Wouter , Nilsen Erlend B , Finstad Anders G
Published: June 2021

Presence-only biodiversity data are increasingly relied on in biodiversity, ecology, and conservation research, driven by growing digital infrastructures that support open data sharing and reuse. Recent reviews of open biodiversity data have clearly documented the value of data sharing, but the extent to which the biodiversity research community has adopted open data practices remains unclear. We address this question by reviewing applications of presence-only primary biodiversity data, drawn from a variety of sources beyond open databases, in the indexed literature. We characterize how frequently researchers access open data relative to data from other sources, how often they share newly generated or collated data, and trends in metadata documentation and data citation. Our results indicate that biodiversity research commonly relies on presence-only data that are not openly available and neglects to make such data available. Improved data sharing and documentation will increase the value, reusability, and reproducibility of biodiversity research.
Misdirected attentional focus in functional tremor
Authors: Huys Anne-Catherine M L , Haggard Patrick , Bhatia Kailash P , Edwards Mark J
Published: June 2021

A characteristic and intriguing feature of functional neurological disorder is that symptoms typically manifest with attention and improve or disappear with distraction. Attentional phenomena are therefore likely to be important in functional neurological disorder, but exactly how this manifests is unknown. The aim of the study was to establish whether in functional tremor the attentional focus is misdirected, and whether this misdirection is detrimental to the movement, or rather reflects a beneficial compensatory strategy.

Patients with a functional action tremor, between the ages of 21–75, were compared to two age and gender matched control groups: healthy control participants and patients with an organic action tremor. The groups included between 17 and 28 participants. First, we compared the natural attentional focus on different aspects of a reaching movement (target, ongoing visual feedback, proprioceptive-motor aspect). This revealed that the attentional focus in the functional tremor group, in contrast to both control groups, was directed to ongoing visual feedback from the movement. Next, we established that all groups were able to shift their attentional focus to different aspects of the reaching movement when instructed. Subsequently, the impact of attentional focus on the ongoing visual feedback on movement performance was evaluated under several conditions: the reaching movement was performed with direct, or indirect visual feedback, without any visual feedback, under three different instruction conditions (as accurately as possible/very slowly/very quickly) and finally as a preparatory movement that was supposedly of no importance. Low trajectory length and low movement duration were taken as measures of good motor performance.

For all three groups, motor performance deteriorated with attention to indirect visual feedback, to accuracy and when instructed to move slowly. It improved without visual feedback and when instructed to move fast. Motor performance improved, in participants with functional tremor only, when the movement was performed as a preparatory movement without any apparent importance.

In addition to providing experimental evidence for improvement with distraction, we found that the normal allocation of attention during aimed movement is altered in functional tremor. Attention is disproportionately directed towards the ongoing visual feedback from the moving hand. This altered attentional focus may be partly responsible for the tremor, since it also worsens motor performance in healthy control participants and patients with an organic action tremor. It may have its detrimental impact through interference with automatic movement processes, due to a maladaptive shift from lower- to higher-level motor control circuitry.
Genome sequencing of 320 Chinese children with epilepsy: a clinical and molecular study
Authors: Zou Dongfang , Wang Lin , Liao Jianxiang , Xiao Hongdou , Duan Jing , Zhang Tongda , Li Jianbiao , Yin Zhenzhen , Zhou Jing , Yan Haisheng , Huang Yushan , Zhan Nianji , Yang Ying , Ye Jingyu , Chen Fang , Zhu Shida , Wen Feiqiu , Guo Jian
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of genome sequencing in children with epilepsy, and to provide genome sequencing-based insights into the molecular genetic mechanisms of epilepsy to help establish accurate diagnoses, design appropriate treatments and assist in genetic counselling.

We performed genome sequencing on 320 Chinese children with epilepsy, and interpreted single-nucleotide variants and copy number variants of all samples. The complete pedigree and clinical data of the probands were established and followed up. The clinical phenotypes, treatments, prognoses and genotypes of the patients were analysed.

Age at seizure onset ranged from 1 day to 17 years, with a median of 4.3 years. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were found in 117 of the 320 children (36.6%), of whom 93 (29.1%) had single-nucleotide variants, 22 (6.9%) had copy number variants and two had both single-nucleotide variants and copy number variants. Single-nucleotide variants were most frequently found in SCN1A (10/95, 10.5%), which is associated with Dravet syndrome, followed by PRRT2 (8/95, 8.4%), which is associated with benign familial infantile epilepsy, and TSC2 (7/95, 7.4%), which is associated with tuberous sclerosis. Among the copy number variants, there were three with a length <25 kilobases. The most common recurrent copy number variants were 17p13.3 deletions (5/24, 20.8%), 16p11.2 deletions (4/24, 16.7%), and 7q11.23 duplications (2/24, 8.3%), which are associated with epilepsy, developmental retardation and congenital abnormalities. Four particular 16p11.2 deletions and two 15q11.2 deletions were considered to be susceptibility factors contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders associated with epilepsy.

The diagnostic yield was 75.0% in patients with seizure onset during the first postnatal month, and gradually decreased in patients with seizure onset at a later age. Forty-two patients (13.1%) were found to be specifically treatable for the underlying genetic cause identified by genome sequencing. Three of them received corresponding targeted therapies and demonstrated favourable prognoses.

Genome sequencing provides complete genetic diagnosis, thus enabling individualized treatment and genetic counselling for the parents of the patients. Genome sequencing is expected to become the first choice of methods for genetic testing of patients with epilepsy.
Downregulation of HERC5 E3 ligase attenuates the ubiquitination of CtBP1 to inhibit apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Zhu Lin , Wu Jing , Liu Hong
Published: June 2021

The homologous to E6AP C-terminus (HECT) domain and RCC1-like domain-containing (HERC) proteins can function as tumour suppressors and as oncogenes, depending on the cancer type. However, the expression patterns of HERCs in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells are unclear. Here, we show that only HERC1 and HERC5 are downregulated in CRC tumours, and we focus our study on revealing HERC5-mediating signalling because the change in downregulation is much more obvious for HERC5 than for HERC1. We demonstrate that HERC5 recruits an adaptor protein, CREB-binding protein, to ubiquitinate C-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1) in non-cancerous colon cells. The downregulation of HERC5 in CRC cells attenuates the ubiquitination of CtBP1, which then accumulates and assembles into a transcriptional complex with histone deacetylase 1 and a transcription factor c-MYC. This transcriptional complex binds to the promoters of three proapoptotic genes, Bcl2 associated X (BAX), Bcl2 interacting killer (BIK) and p53upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), and inhibits their expression, thereby suppressing apoptotic signalling and promoting tumourigenesis. Overexpression of HERC5, downregulation of CtBP1 or blocking of the CtBP1 function with its inhibitors (NSC95397 and 4-methylthio-2-oxobutyric acid [MTOB]) significantly prevents CRC cell proliferation in vitro and tumour growth in vivo. Combining NSC95397 (or MTOB) with chemotherapeutic drugs (oxaliplatin or capecitabine) gives a much stronger inhibition of cell proliferation and tumour growth compared with their single treatments. Collectively, our results reveal that downregulation of HERC5 E3 ligase attenuates the ubiquitination of CtBP1 to inhibit apoptosis. Therefore, CtBP1 may be a promising target in CRC chemotherapy.
The Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children Under 2 Years of Age in a Rural Community in Maharashtra, India
Authors: Satav Ashish , Crow Rowena , Potdar Varsha , Dani Vibhawari , Satav Shilpa , Chadha Mandeep , Hessong Danielle , Carosone-Link Phyllis , Palaskar Sameer , Simões Eric A F
Published: June 2021

Background

Globally, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of acute lower tract infection (LRTI) in children younger than 2 years of age, but there are scant population-based studies on the burden of RSV illness in rural communities and no community studies in preterm infants.

Methods

Active surveillance of LRTI was performed in the community and hospital setting for the population of 93 tribal villages in Melghat, Central India, over 4 respiratory seasons. A nasopharyngeal swab was obtained from cases presenting as a severe LRTI for molecular analysis of respiratory pathogens including RSVA and B.

Results

High rates of RSV-associated LRTI were found in preterm and term infants beyond 6 months of age, extending into the second year of life. Community severe RSV LRTI rates for 0–11 months of age was 22.4 (18.6–27.0)/1000 child-years (CY) and the hospital-associated rate was 14.1 (11.1–17.8)/1000 CY. For preterm infants, these rates were 26.2 (17.8–38.5)/1000 CY and 12.6 (7.2–22.0)/1000 CY. Comparable rates in the first 6 months were 15.9 (11.8–21.4)/1000 CY and 12.9 (9.3–18.0)/1000 CY in term infants and 26.3 (15.4–45.0)/1000 CY and 10.1 (4.2–24.2)/1000 CY for preterms. The single RSV B season had higher incidences of RSV LRTI in every age group than the 2 RSV A seasons in both preterm and term infants. There were 11 deaths, all term infants.

Conclusions

Studies restricted to the healthcare settings significantly underestimate the burden of RSV LRTI and preterm and term infants have comparable burdens of disease in this rural community.
Locating highly connected clusters in large networks with HyperLogLog counters
Authors: Weedage Lotte , Litvak Nelly , Stegehuis Clara
Published: June 2021

In this article, we introduce a new method to locate highly connected clusters in a network. Our proposed approach adapts the HyperBall algorithm to localize regions with a high density of small subgraph patterns in large graphs in a memory-efficient manner. We use this method to evaluate three measures of subgraph connectivity: conductance, the number of triangles and transitivity. We demonstrate that our algorithm, applied to these measures, helps to identify clustered regions in graphs and provides good seed sets for community detection algorithms such as PageRank-Nibble. We analytically obtain the performance guarantees of our new algorithms and demonstrate their effectiveness in a series of numerical experiments on synthetic and real-world networks.
A spinach genome assembly with remarkable completeness, and its use for rapid identification of candidate genes for agronomic traits
Authors: Hirakawa Hideki , Toyoda Atsushi , Itoh Takehiko , Suzuki Yutaka , Nagano Atsushi J , Sugiyama Suguru , Onodera Yasuyuki
Published: June 2021

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is grown as a nutritious leafy vegetable worldwide. To accelerate spinach breeding efficiency, a high-quality reference genome sequence with great completeness and continuity is needed as a basic infrastructure. Here, we used long-read and linked-read technologies to construct a de novo spinach genome assembly, designated SOL_r1.1, which was comprised of 287 scaffolds (total size: 935.7 Mb; N50 = 11.3 Mb) with a low proportion of undetermined nucleotides (Ns = 0.34%) and with high gene completeness (BUSCO complete 96.9%). A genome-wide survey of resistance gene analogues identified 695 genes encoding nucleotide-binding site domains, receptor-like protein kinases, receptor-like proteins and transmembrane-coiled coil domains. Based on a high-density double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing-based linkage map, the genome assembly was anchored to six pseudomolecules representing ∼73.5% of the whole genome assembly. In addition, we used SOL_r1.1 to identify quantitative trait loci for bolting timing and fruit/seed shape, which harbour biologically plausible candidate genes, such as homologues of the FLOWERING LOCUS T and EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR-LIKE genes. The new genome assembly, SOL_r1.1, will serve as a useful resource for identifying loci associated with important agronomic traits and for developing molecular markers for spinach breeding/selection programs.
Learner-initiated exploratory practice: revisiting curiosity
Authors: Kato Yoshitaka , Hanks Judith
Published: June 2021

This paper investigates the potential of learner-initiated exploratory practice (EP), which encourages learners to set their own investigative agenda based on their curiosity-driven puzzles. A case study was conducted in a remedial course for undergraduate students at a university in Japan. Data included student puzzles, posters, and reflective questionnaires. Student investigations of their puzzles remind teachers and researchers of the affordances of learning from learners. The results suggested that, despite their previously disoriented attitudes towards learning English, this form of fully inclusive practitioner research, EP, provides learners with an opportunity to realize their curiosity and reinvigorate their motivation towards language learning.
Homeloss: Narratives of Eviction in Contemporary Spain
Authors: Usoz de la Fuente Maite
Published: June 2021

This article considers how the prospect of losing one’s home to eviction is portrayed in three contemporary Spanish literary texts: Cristina Fallarás’s A la puta calle. Crónica de un desahucio (2013), Doménico Chiappe’s Tiempo de encierro (2013), and Isaac Rosa and Cristina Bueno’s Aquí vivió. Historia de un desahucio (2016). All three texts feature middle-class households at risk of homelessness due to the effects of the 2008 financial crisis, thus testifying to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of Spaniards in the wake of the global recession. Yet as this article argues, these narratives transcend the purely testimonial, as they problematize the very act of storytelling and thus draw our attention to the ways in which narrative – in its broadest sense – can be used to construct, justify or contest the socio-historical context we inhabit.
Zoledronate Extends Health Span and Survival via the Mevalonate Pathway in a FOXO-dependent Manner
Authors: Chen Zhengqi , Cordero Julia , Alqarni Adel M , Slack Cathy , Zeidler Martin P , Bellantuono Ilaria
Published: June 2021

Over recent decades, increased longevity has not been paralleled by extended health span, resulting in more years spent with multiple diseases in older age. As such, interventions to improve health span are urgently required. Zoledronate (Zol) is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, which inhibits the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase enzyme, central to the mevalonate pathway. It is already used clinically to prevent fractures in osteoporotic patients, who have been reported to derive unexpected and unexplained survival benefits. Using Drosophila as a model we determined the effects of Zol on life span, parameters of health span (climbing ability and intestinal dysplasia), and the ability to confer resistance to oxidative stress using a combination of genetically manipulated Drosophila strains and Western blotting. Our study shows that Zol extended life span, improved climbing activity, and reduced intestinal epithelial dysplasia and permeability with age. Mechanistic studies showed that Zol conferred resistance to oxidative stress and reduced accumulation of X-ray-induced DNA damage via inhibition of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase. Moreover, Zol was associated with inhibition of phosphorylated AKT in the mammalian traget of rapamycin pathway downstream of the mevalonate pathway and required dFOXO for its action, both molecules associated with increased longevity. Taken together, our work indicates that Zol, a drug already widely used to prevent osteoporosis and dosed only once a year, modulates important mechanisms of aging. Its repurposing holds great promise as a treatment to improve health span.
Utilizing Principles of Life-Span Developmental Psychology to Study the Complexities of Resilience Across the Adult Life Span
Authors: Infurna Frank J
Published: June 2021

Life-span developmental psychology includes a broad array of principles that have wide application to studying adult development and aging. Three principles have guided my past, current, and future research: (a) development being a cumulative, lifelong process with no one period taking precedence; (b) multiple processes influence development (e.g., age-, pathology-, nonnormative, and mortality-related processes); and (c) development is multidirectional and multidimensional. This paper elaborates on how these principles have guided my research studying resilience to adversity across the adult life span and how my research aligns with guiding elements of resilience across definitions and literatures. I also discuss my current and future research of applying these principles to studying resilience in midlife, which emphasizes how the defining features of midlife lend themselves to examining resilience, midlife continues to not be well understood, midlife health foreshadows health in old age, and the experience of midlife will evolve in the context of an increasingly diverse society. The last section elaborates on additional directions for future research, such as the promise of intensive longitudinal research designs that incorporate qualitative approaches and examining historical changes in midlife health and well-being. In conclusion, a life-span developmental psychology framework has wide application for elucidating the nature of resilience across the adult life span through the integration of its principles with existing paradigms and research designs that blend contemporary methods with mixed methodology.
Pertussis Toxin Promotes Pulmonary Hypertension in an Infant Mouse Model of Bordetella pertussis Infection
Authors: Scanlon Karen M , Chen Ling , Carbonetti Nicholas H
Published: June 2021

Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is a reemerging disease that can produce severe disease manifestations in infants, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). B. pertussis-induced PH is a major risk factor for infection-induced death, but the molecular mechanisms promoting PH are unknown and there is no effective treatment. We examined B. pertussis-induced PH in infant and adult mouse models of pertussis by Fulton index, right heart catheterization, or Doppler echocardiogram. Our results demonstrate that B. pertussis-induced PH is age related and dependent on the expression of pertussis toxin by the bacterium. Hence, pertussis toxin-targeting treatments may ameliorate PH and fatal infant infection.
Nonsurvival Distributions in Pediatric Burn Patients: A Comparative Study of Two National Databases
Authors: Wermine Kendall , Gotewal Sunny , Schober Marc A , Africa Robert E , Hallman Taylor , Cuartas-Olarte Andres , Ko Andrew , Torres Mark Jordan M , Peterson Joshua M , Golovko Georgiy , Song Juquan , El Ayadi Amina , Wolf Steven E
Published: June 2021

A contemporary, age-specific model for the distribution of burn mortality in children has not been developed for over a decade. Using data from TriNetX, a global federated health research network, and the American Burn Association’s Nation Burn Repository (NBR), we investigated nonsurvival distributions for pediatric burns in the United States. Pediatric burn patients aged 0 to 20 between 2010 and 2020 were identified in TriNetX from 41 Healthcare Organizations using ICD-10 codes (T.20-T.30) and identified as lived/died. These were compared to the nonsurvival data from 90 certified burn centers in the NBR database between 2016 and 2018. The patient population was stratified by age into subgroups of 0 to 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 14, and 15 to 20 years. Overall, mortality rates for pediatric burn patients were found to be 0.62% in NBR and 0.52% in TrinetX. Boys had a higher incidence of mortality than girls in both databases (0.34% vs 0.28% NBR, P = .13; 0.31% vs 0.21% TriNetX, P < .001). Comparison of ethnic cohorts between 2010 to 2015 and 2016 to 2020 subgroups showed that nonsurvival rates of African American children increased relative to white children (TriNetX, P < .001); however, evidence was insufficient to conclude that African American children die more frequently than other ethnicities (NBR, P = .054). When analyzing subgroups in TriNetX, burned children aged 5 to 9 had significantly increased frequency of nonsurvival (P < .001). However, NBR data suggested that children aged 0 to 4 experience the highest frequency of mortality (P < .001). The nonsurvival distributions between these two large databases accurately reflect nonsurvival rates in burned children.
Parasitoid Communities in the Variable Agricultural Environments of Blueberry Production in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Schmidt Jason M , Whitehouse Tyler S , Neupane Subin , Miranda Rezende Sarah , Sial Ashfaq , Gariepy Tara D
Published: June 2021

In blueberry crops, there are multiple pest species, and some of those can be suppressed by natural enemies including parasitoid wasps and predators. Parasitoid wasps occur within the environment often tracking pest species for food resources to complete their lifecycle. These small wasps are also sensitive to agricultural environments including agrichemicals, habitat availability, and climate. We investigated how the structure of parasitoid communities varied between organic and conventional blueberry systems, and how the communities of these parasitoids varied within field spatial scales (forested border vs edge vs interior). With the lower intensity of agricultural interventions occurring in organic systems and forested borders, we predicted more stable parasitoid numbers that would be insulated from predicted climate variability. In our study, parasitoids were observed in low abundance in each cropping system, with community structure dependent on both management practice and field position. Unmanaged blueberry fields and forested field borders contained more parasitoid families, and in conventional systems, we saw fewer families present in the field interior as compared to field borders. In this first study to characterize Southern parasitoid communities in blueberry production systems, we observed over 50 genera of parasitoids, with a few dominant families (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) that would contribute to biological control in blueberry systems. Overall, we captured few parasitoids, which indicates a potential vulnerability in biological control, and the need for further research using other sampling techniques to better understand these parasitoid communities.
Intra-abdominal rectal perforation post-haemorrhoidal artery ligation operation and converted Ligasure open haemorrhoidectomy
Authors: Simon Natalie , Saiyara Noshin , Kim Hyun-Kyung , Gercek Yuksel
Published: June 2021

We report an unfortunate case of rectal perforation and subsequent peritonitis in a 74-year-old lady who underwent haemorrhoidal artery ligation in order to treat complex large external and internal haemorrhoids. Serious complications following haemorrhoid surgery are rare and this is the first documented case of delayed intra-abdominal rectal perforation following a haemorrhoid artery ligation operation and converted Ligasure open haemorrhoidectomy.
In-flight medical emergencies during commercial travel
Authors: Ceyhan Mehmet Ali , Menekşe İbrahim Ethem
Published: June 2021

Background

Growing number of passengers travelling by air is associated with increased in-flight emergency medical events (IEMEs). However, there are scarce data regarding IEMEs during commercial travels. In this study, analysis of IEMEs occurring among adult and paediatric passengers during commercial international and domestic flights of a major airline company was targeted.

Methods

Data regarding IEMEs recorded in all international and domestic flights of a major airline company between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020 were collected. Demographics, adult and paediatric IEMEs, in-flight deaths and aircraft diversions (ADs) were analysed.

Results

Total number of passengers was 177 400 748 and a number of 22 541 (0.012%) IEMEs occurred. The frequency of IEMEs per 1 million passengers was 127. The number of male patients suffering from IEMEs was 8387 (37.2%), while the number female patients was 10 853 (48.1%). Median age of adult and paediatric patients were 43, [32–57], 4, [2–10], respectively. The most common cause of IEMEs in adult patients was headache (3424 IEMEs, 15.1%) and it was fever in paediatric patients (688 IEMEs, 3.05%). Multiple symptoms were present in 8449 IEMEs (37.4%). On-board doctors managed events in more than half of IEMEs (13 295 IEMEs, 58.9%). AD was required in 255 (1.13%) IEMEs. The most common reason for AD was chest pain (45 IEMEs, 17.6%) in adult patients. The most common reason for AD in paediatric patients was epileptic seizures (nine IEMEs, 3.5%). A total of 46 (0.2%) patients, including 2 (0.008%) paediatric patients, died.

Conclusions

Majority of IEMEs are not life-threatening conditions, which can be easily managed by cabin crew or on-board doctors without AD. Multiple symptoms can be present in a patient suffering from IEME. Ground-to-air medical assistance may help optimization of diagnosis and decision for AD.
Primordial non-Gaussianity from the completed SDSS-IV extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey – I: Catalogue preparation and systematic mitigation
Authors: Rezaie Mehdi , Ross Ashley J , Seo Hee-Jong , Mueller Eva-Maria , Percival Will J , Merz Grant , Katebi Reza , Bunescu Razvan C , Bautista Julian , Brownstein Joel R , Burtin Etienne , Dawson Kyle , Gil-Marín Héctor , Hou Jiamin , Lyke Eleanor B , de la Macorra Axel , Rossi Graziano , Schneider Donald P , Zarrouk Pauline , Zhao Gong-Bo
Published: June 2021

We investigate the large-scale clustering of the final spectroscopic sample of quasars from the recently completed extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS). The sample contains 343 708 objects in the redshift range 0.8 < z < 2.2 and 72 667 objects with redshifts 2.2 < z < 3.5, covering an effective area of $4699\, {\rm deg}^{2}$. We develop a neural network-based approach to mitigate spurious fluctuations in the density field caused by spatial variations in the quality of the imaging data used to select targets for follow-up spectroscopy. Simulations are used with the same angular and radial distributions as the real data to estimate covariance matrices, perform error analyses, and assess residual systematic uncertainties. We measure the mean density contrast and cross-correlations of the eBOSS quasars against maps of potential sources of imaging systematics to address algorithm effectiveness, finding that the neural network-based approach outperforms standard linear regression. Stellar density is one of the most important sources of spurious fluctuations, and a new template constructed using data from the Gaia spacecraft provides the best match to the observed quasar clustering. The end-product from this work is a new value-added quasar catalogue with the improved weights to correct for non-linear imaging systematic effects, which will be made public. Our quasar catalogue is used to measure the local-type primordial non-Gaussianity in a companion paper.
Multiband variability of the TeV blazar PG 1553+113 with XMM–Newton
Authors: Dhiman Vinit , Gupta Alok C , Gaur Haritma , Wiita Paul J
Published: June 2021

We present variability analyses of twenty pointed XMM–Newton observations of the high energy peaked TeV blazar PG 1553+113 taken during 2010–2018. We found intraday variability in the total X-ray energy range (0.3–10 keV) in 16 out of 19 light curves or a duty cycle of ∼84 per cent. A discrete correlation function analysis of the intraday light curves in the soft and hard X-ray bands peaks on zero lag, showing that the emission in hard and soft bands are co-spatial and emitted from the same population of leptons. Red-noise dominates the power spectral density (PSD) of all the LCs, although the PSDs have a range of spectral slopes from −2.36 to −0.14. On longer time-scales, the optical and UV variability patterns look almost identical and well correlated, as are the soft and hard X-ray bands, but the optical/UV variations are not correlated to those in the X-ray band, indicating that the optical/UV and X-ray emissions are emitted by two different populations of leptons. We briefly discuss physical mechanisms that may be capable of explaining the observed flux and spectral variability of PG 1553+113 on these diverse time-scales.
Evandro Pinto da Luz de Oliveira, MD, PhD (November 8, 1945-February 11, 2021): A Giant of Microneurosurgery and Neuroanatomy
Authors: Wen Hung Tzu , Matsushima Toshio , Morcos Jacques J ,   Rhoton Society Abe Hiroshi MD Goel Atul MD Kobayashi Shigeaki MD Martins Carolina MD Matsushima Toshio MD Miranda Juan Carlos Fernandez MD Morcos Jacques MD Rubino Pablo MD Sorenson Jeffrey MD Tong Xiaoguang MD Ture Ugur MD Wen Hung Tzu MD, Abe Hiroshi , Goel Atul , Kobayashi Shigeaki , Martins Carolina , Matsushima Toshio , Miranda Juan Carlos Fernandez , Morcos Jacques , Rubino Pablo , Sorenson Jeffrey , Tong Xiaoguang , Ture Ugur , Wen Hung Tzu
Published: June 2021

Dr Evandro de Oliveira, one of the most acclaimed and recognized names in neurosurgery, anywhere in the world, tragically left us on February 11, 2021, at the age of 75.

The Rhoton Society submits an account of Dr Evandro de Oliveira's life with highlights of his personal journey, and his special contributions to the fields of microneurosurgery and neuroanatomy.
Socially Responsible Investing in Good and Bad Times
Authors: Bansal Ravi , Wu Di (Andrew) , Yaron Amir
Published: June 2021

We investigate the time variability of abnormal returns from socially responsible investing (SRI). Using portfolio regressions and event studies on multiple data sources, including analyst ratings, firm announcements, and realized incidents, we find that highly rated SRI stocks outperform lowly rated SRI stocks during good economic times, for example, periods with high market valuations or aggregate consumption, but underperform during bad times, such as recessions. This variation in abnormal returns of high-SR stocks vis-à-vis low SR stocks is consistent with a wealth-dependent investor preference for SR stocks that leads to an increased (decreased) demand for SRI during good (bad) times.
A neurocomputational theory of nightmares: the role of formal properties of nightmare images
Authors: McNamara Patrick , Wildman Wesley J , Hodulik George , Rohr David
Published: June 2021

Study Objectives

To test and extend Levin & Nielsen’s (2007) Affective Network Dysfunction (AND) model with nightmare disorder (ND) image characteristics, and then to implement the extension as a computational simulation, the Disturbed Dreaming Model (DDM).

Methods

We used AnyLogic V7.2 to computationally implement an extended AND model incorporating quantitative effects of image characteristics including valence, dominance, and arousal. We explored the DDM parameter space by varying parameters, running approximately one million runs, each for one month of model time, varying pathway bifurcation thresholds, image characteristics, and individual-difference variables to quantitively evaluate their combinatory effects on nightmare symptomology.

Results

The DDM shows that the AND model extended with pathway bifurcations and image properties is computationally coherent. Varying levels of image properties, we found that when nightmare images exhibit lower dominance and arousal levels, the ND agent will choose to sleep but then has a traumatic nightmare, whereas, when images exhibit greater than average dominance and arousal levels, the nightmares trigger sleep-avoidant behavior, but lower overall nightmare distress at the price of exacerbating nightmare effects during waking hours.

Conclusions

Computational simulation of nightmare symptomology within the AND framework suggests that nightmare image properties significantly influence nightmare symptomology. Computational models for sleep and dream studies are powerful tools for testing quantitative effects of variables affecting nightmare symptomology. The DDM confirms the value of extending the Levin & Nielsen AND model of disturbed dreaming/ND.
A rare case series of central nervous system cystic echinococcosis
Authors: Elvan-Tuz Aysegul , Karadag-Oncel Eda , Kara-Aksay Ahu , Sarioglu Fatma Ceren , Karadag Ali , Yilmaz-Ciftdogan Dilek
Published: June 2021

Introduction

A total of three cases of childhood central nervous system (CNS) echinococcosis with spinal or posterior fossa involvement having rare localizations, have been presented.

Case presentation

A 7-year-old boy with spinal involvement applied to our hospital with left leg weakness and inability to walk. A 16-year-old girl with posterior fossa involvement had peripheral facial paralysis, while a 9-year-old girl had headache and vomiting. These cases, diagnosed with cystic echinococcosis with the necessary laboratory and imaging methods, improved with appropriate medical treatment and surgery.

Discussion

Especially in endemic areas, it should be kept in mind that cystic echinococcosis may present with CNS involvement and should become to mind in the differential diagnosis when neurological findings are detected.

Lay Summary: With this report, we attempted to share our experience with cystic echinococcosis in the spinal region and posterior fossa in three children over 1 year, including a description of associated signs and symptoms as well as laboratory and radiological findings. It should be kept in mind that cystic echinococcosis may present with CNS involvement in endemic areas and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when neurological findings are detected. Afterward, the diagnosis should be confirmed with appropriate laboratory and imaging methods. In these cases, rapid recovery can be achieved with appropriate surgical intervention as well as medical treatment.
Emotional Closeness Among NICU Fathers
Authors: Lebel Valérie , Feeley Nancy , Gosselin Émilie , Axelin Anna
Published: June 2021

Background:

The unique perspective of fathers with an infant in the neonatal unit on the development of emotional closeness toward their infant is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to explore experiences and instances of emotional closeness from the perspective of fathers as well as factors influencing emotional closeness during an infant's hospitalization in the neonatal unit.

Methods:

This qualitative descriptive study employed one-on-one interviews with fathers recruited in a level 3 neonatal unit. The interview data were analyzed with thematic analysis, and emerging themes and subthemes were organized according to dimensional analysis.

Results:

Eight fathers agreed to take part in this study. According to the participants, emotional closeness was a complex process composed of multiple dimensions. More specifically, emotional closeness was a difficult-to-describe, mixed, and growing feeling influenced by multiple factors such as the environment, co-parenting, and the father–infant relationship. It occurred in the contexts of presence and separation in the neonatal unit and was part of the development of the father–infant relationship.

Implications for Practice:

The results presented in this article are important for neonatal intensive care unit nurses who support fathers in the development of their fathering role. By knowing more about the process and dimensions of emotional closeness, nurses can direct their interventions with fathers to enhance emotional closeness and better understand their experience.

Implications for Research:

No previous study has addressed emotional closeness as a complex process with multiple components like the current study. These findings contribute to our understanding of the process of emotional closeness for fathers.
Parental Perspectives on Neonatologist Continuity of Care
Authors: Machut Kerri Z. , Gilbart Christie , Murthy Karna , Michelson Kelly N.
Published: June 2021

Background:

Continuity of care (COC) is highly regarded; however, data about benefits are mixed. Little is known about components, parental views, or the value COC may provide to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants and families.

Purpose:

To describe parents' perspectives on definitions, reasons they value, and suggested improvements regarding COC provided by neonatologists.

Methods:

We performed a qualitative study of in-person, semistructured interviews with parents of NICU infants hospitalized for 28 days or more. We analyzed interview transcripts using content analysis, identifying codes of parental experiences, expressed value, and improvement ideas related to neonatologist COC, and categorizing emerging themes.

Results:

Fifteen families (15 mothers and 2 fathers) described 4 themes about COC: (1) longitudinal neonatologists: gaining experience with infants and building relationships with parents over time; (2) background knowledge: knowing infants' clinical history and current condition; (3) care plans: establishing patient-centered goals and management plans; and (4) communication: demonstrating consistent communication and messaging. Parents described benefits of COC as decreasing knowledge gaps, advancing clinical progress, and decreasing parental stress. Suggested improvement strategies included optimizing staffing and sign-out/transition processes, utilizing clinical guidelines, and enhancing communication. Using parent input and existing literature, we developed a definition and conceptual framework of COC.

Implications for Practice:

NICUs should promote practices that enhance COC. Parental suggestions can help direct improvement efforts.

Implications for Research:

Our COC definition and conceptual framework can guide development of research and quality improvement projects. Future studies should investigate nursing perspectives on NICU COC and the impact of COC on infant and family outcomes.
Elucidating the Relationship Between Maternal Diabetes and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Authors: Jennings Arin , John Collin , Lilly Christa , Hamilton Candice , Umer Amna
Published: June 2021

Background:

Previous research indicated that diabetes during pregnancy results in a more permeable placenta. Based on this data, we hypothesized that women with maternal diabetes were more likely to have infants who developed neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to examine the association between maternal diabetes and NAS in a cohort of women reporting substance use during pregnancy.

Methods:

This study used data from a population-based cohort of all newborns born in 2017 and 2018 (N = 36,974) in the state of West Virginia and restricted the analysis to those infants with intrauterine substance exposure (14%, n = 5188). Multiple logistic regression was performed to analyze the adjusted relationship between maternal diabetes and NAS while controlling for maternal and infant covariates.

Results:

Just over 28% of women with diabetes had an infant who developed NAS, whereas 34.8% of women without diabetes had an infant who developed NAS. The adjusted odds ratio of infants developing NAS born to women with diabetes was 0.70 (95% confidence interval: 0.51, 0.94) compared with those born to mothers without diabetes after controlling for covariates. Contrary to our hypothesis, the study suggests that maternal diabetes during pregnancy is associated with a decreased risk of an infant developing NAS.

Implications for Practice:

Future research generating from this hypothesis may lead to potential implications for practice for infants born to mothers with substance use during pregnancy and diabetes.

Implications for Research:

More research should be conducted to investigate the relationship between glucose metabolism and NAS.