bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Path to Physics Education Research at the University of Washington
Authors: McDermott Lillian C.
Published: December 2021

This chapter opens with a brief history of the early life and education of Lillian Christie McDermott, as narrated by the author. It describes some of the obstacles she faced as a married woman in physics, and how her adaptation to those constraints indirectly led her to the field of physics education research, beginning when she joined the Department of Physics at the University of Washington as a volunteer in 1971. McDermott worked with Arnold Arons to develop and teach courses for prospective and in-service elementary and high school physics teachers, employing hands-on, inquiry-based learning and teaching methods. In 1972, the first of decades of the annual National Science Foundation Summer Institutes to follow was held at the University of Washington. The next year, McDermott became the first woman to receive a tenure-track appointment in the department.
Experience with K–12 Teachers and underprepared students
Authors: McDermott Lillian C.
Published: December 2021

This chapter describes the early years of author Lillian Christie McDermott's formal research in physics education. By 1973, she had begun to write worksheets that guided K–12 teachers through a series of questions for use in workshops on physical science education for local school districts. In a pivotal innovation, she invited former local participants in the University of Washington's National Science Foundation Summer Institutes to assist as peer instructors. In the 1980s, she and two colleagues instituted the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) for undergraduates who were underprepared in physics but who aspired to science-related careers. A major goal of the EOP section that was established within the teacher preservice course was to help students, particularly minorities, succeed in Introductory Physics, a gateway course to medical, science, and engineering programs. All of these experiences served as a learning lab and informed the new curriculum McDermott and the Physics Education Group were beginning to develop.
Starting a Ph.D. Program in PER at the University of Washington
Authors: McDermott Lillian C.
Published: December 2021

Gaining approval for Physics Education Research as a legitimate topic area for a Ph.D. from the Department of Physics at the University of Washington opened the door to the work described in this chapter. As their faculty advisor, author Lillian Christie McDermott collaborated with her first three graduate students in research identifying and addressing conceptual difficulties in kinematics, electric currents, and astronomy. The main method used in that early research was Piaget's individual demonstration interview, in which students observe a demonstration of a physical phenomenon using a simple apparatus and are asked a series of questions that probe the meaning a student ascribes to a concept or relation. Through these interviews, the investigator examined the ability of students of introductory physics to distinguish such concepts as position, velocity, and acceleration from one another and to inter-relate the real world, physical concepts, and their algebraic and graphical representations.
Developing and Learning from Tutorials in Introductory Physics
Authors: McDermott Lillian C.
Published: December 2021

In 1990, members of the Physics Education Group (PEG) at the University of Washington began to develop inquiry-oriented instructional materials for introductory calculus-based physics courses. Tutorials in Introductory Physics was the result. A supplementary curriculum, the Tutorials feature small, graduate teaching-assistant-led sections centered on a series of exercises for students to tackle collaboratively that target critical weaknesses in concept development and reasoning on key topics. This chapter goes into depth on the development, implementation, and learning from the tutorials on several of these topics: ray optics, work–energy, kinematics, wave optics, and atomic emission spectra. The chapter closes with a report on the demonstrated effectiveness of the use of the Tutorials in a variety of formats. The use of adequately prepared tutorial leaders has been found to be critical for effective implementation in any format.
Co-delivery of paclitaxel and doxorubicin using polypeptide-engineered nanogels for combination therapy of tumor
Authors: Yang Jie , Jin Rui-Mei , Wang Shen-Yan , Xie Xiao-Ting , Hu Wei , Tang Hong-Feng , Liu Bo
Published: December 2021

Loading of chemotherapeutic agents into nanoparticles has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy for cancer therapy. However, simultaneous delivery of different functional drugs to tumor sites for chemotherapy still remains challenging. In this study, nanogels formed by an engineered coiled-coil polypeptide PC10A were designed and prepared as a carrier for co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin (DOX) through ultrasonic treatment and electrostatic adsorption. The drug loading content and encapsulation efficiency of PTX and DOX in the PC10A/PTX/DOX nanogels were 5.98 wt%, 70 wt%, and 8.55 wt%, 83 wt%, respectively. Because the polypeptide PC10A was non-toxic and biodegradable, the PC10A/PTX/DOX nanogels exhibited good biocompatibility. The in vitro and in vivo antitumor experiments showed that the PC10A/PTX/DOX nanogels possessed obviously synergistic therapy effect of tumors and lower side effects compared with free PTX/DOX. Therefore, the PC10A/PTX/DOX nanogels are promising to provide a new strategy for combination therapy of different functional drugs.
Adjusting the Benjamini–Hochberg method for controlling the false discovery rate in knockoff-assisted variable selection
Authors: Sarkar Sanat K , Tang Cheng Yong
Published: December 2021

We consider the knockoff-based multiple testing set-up of Barber & Candès (2015). for variable selection in multiple regression. The method of Benjamini & Hochberg (1995) and an adaptive version of it are adjusted to this set-up, transforming them to valid $p$-value-based, false discovery rate-controlling methods that do not rely on specifying the correlation structure of the explanatory variables. Simulations and real data applications show that the proposed methods are powerful competitors of the false discovery rate-controlling method of Barber & Candès (2015).
Brittle mineral prediction based on rock-physics modelling for tight oil reservoir rocks
Authors: Ba Jing , Hu Peng , Tan Wenhui , Müller Tobias M , Fu Li-Yun
Published: December 2021

The reservoir rocks from Chang-7 member of Yanchang Formation of Ordos Basin are characterised with heterogeneous fabric structures at the pore scale, and low porosity/permeability is exhibited at the macro scale. Precise prediction of reservoir brittleness is of great significance to oil production. Ultrasonic experiments are performed on tight sandstones collected from the target formation. A rock-physics model (RPM) is presented based on the Voigt–Reuss–Hill average (VRH), self-consistent approximation (SCA) and differential effective medium (DEM) theory. The brittleness characteristics relying on mineral composition, porosity and microcrack properties are explored by using the RPM. The Young's modulus increases and Poisson ratio decreases with increasing quartz content. Based on experimental, log and seismic data, brittle mineral analysis of rock physical model is performed at multiple scales. The model accuracy is verified by experimental data and well log data. The brittleness distribution is predicted on the basis of log and seismic data, which can be instructive for the reservoir rock fracturing in actual engineering operations.
Comparing Rheumatology Consultation Patterns Across Telehealth Platforms and Face-to-Face Clinic in the Military Health System
Authors: Loncharich Michael F , Desena David F , Collamer Angelique N , Edison Jess D
Published: December 2021

Objective

To compare patterns of rheumatology consultations and outcomes across four different platforms in the Military Health System (MHS): face-to-face, synchronous telehealth, and two asynchronous telehealth platforms.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review comparing face-to-face rheumatology consults during 2019 with teleconsultations from three virtual systems in the MHS: an asynchronous email-based system from May 2006 to Feb 2018, a web-based platform from 2014 to 2018, and synchronous telehealth consults from March 2020 to March 2021. Consults were reviewed for diagnosis, and if medical evacuation was required for consults originating OCONUS or if face-to-face follow-up was required for synchronous teleconsults. Diagnoses of interest included inflammatory arthritis, noninflammatory arthritis, crystalline arthritis, myositis, lupus, vasculitis, fibromyalgia, antibody positivity without diagnosis, symptoms without specified diagnosis, and a composite of other rheumatic diseases.

Results

Leading diagnoses across platforms were inflammatory arthritis, noninflammatory arthritis, and a composite of other diagnoses. Consultation modality influenced the type of cases seen. Inflammatory arthritis accounted for significantly more consults in the synchronous telehealth (38.4%) and email-based (40.9%) models than in the web-based (23.7%) and face-to-face (32.0%) models. The composite of other diagnoses was the leading diagnosis for the asynchronous web-based model (32.9%), which was significantly more than the synchronous telehealth and face-to-face consults. Synchronous models saw significantly more cases of crystalline arthritis, vasculitis, and fibromyalgia.

Email-based consultations resulted in medical evacuation in 25 cases and prevented evacuation in 5. Web-based consultations prompted medical evacuation in 100 cases. In the synchronous model, face-to-face follow-up was recommended in 142 (15%) cases.

Conclusions

Modality of consultation influences the type of cases seen. Both synchronous and asynchronous telerheumatology models were able to answer the consult question without referral for face-to-face evaluation in 79.9-85.0% of consults, suggesting teleconsultation is a viable method to increase access to high-quality rheumatology care.
Extensive triple vessel coronary artery disease in a young male with juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Tsabedze Nqoba , Seboka Mpoti , Mpanya Dineo , Solomon Ahmed
Published: December 2021

The risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic inflammatory joint conditions is substantially increased compared to the general population. We present a case of a 27-year-old male with a chronic history of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who presented with denovo acutely decompensated chronic heart failure. He had no traditional risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, during his workup for dilated cardiomyopathy, he was found to have extensive triple vessel disease on coronary artery angiography, and this was subsequently thought to be the most likely aetiology for the dilated cardiomyopathy despite being of young age. The chronic JIA was identified as the principal risk factor for the ischaemic cardiomyopathy. Clinicians treating patients with rheumatological conditions should routinely screen for ASCVD, despite the absence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
A fatal case of infective endocarditis complicated by acute COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Pandey Anmol , Davies William R , Calvert Patrick A
Published: December 2021

A 74-year-old man with no co-morbidities presented to hospital with a 3-day history of diarrhoea and vomiting. He met the modified Duke’s criteria for definite infective endocarditis and was immediately started on an intravenous antibiotic. Over Days 1–9, he developed renal failure. On Day 10, he was transferred to a tertiary hospital for mitral valve replacement. However, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on arrival at the tertiary hospital, which delayed his surgery. He underwent bi-weekly nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 with a plan to operate as soon as he tested negative, or as soon as his incubation period for COVID-19 pneumonia had elapsed. Unfortunately, he died on Day 31 from acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia. We describe the challenges in deciding on the optimal timing for valve replacement. We conclude by suggesting that earlier valve replacement may result in better outcomes.
Advances in Reversal Strategies of Opioid-induced Respiratory Toxicity
Authors: van der Schrier Rutger , Dahan Jack D. C. , Boon Martijn , Sarton Elise , van Velzen Monique , Niesters Marieke , Dahan Albert
Published: December 2021

Opioids may produce life-threatening respiratory depression and death from their actions at the opioid receptors within the brainstem respiratory neuronal network. Since there is an increasing number of conditions where the administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone is inadequate or undesired, there is an increased interest in the development of novel reversal and prevention strategies aimed at providing efficacy close to that of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone but with fewer of its drawbacks such as its short duration of action and lesser ability to reverse high-affinity opioids, such as carfentanil, or drug combinations. To give an overview of this highly relevant topic, the authors systematically discuss predominantly experimental pharmacotherapies, published in the last 5 yr, aimed at reversal of opioid-induced respiratory depression as alternatives to naloxone. The respiratory stimulants are discussed based on their characteristics and mechanism of action: nonopioid controlled substances (e.g., amphetamine, cannabinoids, ketamine), hormones (thyrotropin releasing hormone, oxytocin), nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, ampakines, serotonin receptor agonists, antioxidants, miscellaneous peptides, potassium channel blockers acting at the carotid bodies (doxapram, ENA001), sequestration techniques (scrubber molecules, immunopharmacotherapy), and opioids (partial agonists/antagonists). The authors argue that none of these often still experimental therapies are sufficiently tested with respect to efficacy and safety, and many of the agents presented have a lesser efficacy at deeper levels of respiratory depression, i.e., inability to overcome apnea, or have ample side effects. The authors suggest development of reversal strategies that combine respiratory stimulants with naloxone. Furthermore, they encourage collaborations between research groups to expedite development of viable reversal strategies of potent synthetic opioid-induced respiratory depression.
Fibula Nailing: A Retrospective Review of 110 Consecutive FibuLock Nails
Authors: Hodgkins Christopher W. , Fleites Jorge
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

To evaluate the treatment of unstable lateral malleolar fractures using a fibula nail with both proximal and distal locking capabilities.

Design:

Retrospective review of 110 single-surgeon consecutive fibula nails.

Setting:

Single-surgeon, private practice community hospital.

Patients/Participants:

One hundred ten fractures, 92 OTA/AO 44B and 18 OTA/AO 44C.

Intervention:

FibuLock fibula nail (Arthrex, Naples, FL).

Main Outcome Measurements:

Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic outcome data.

Results:

One hundred two patients/102 fractures met criteria. Ninety percent had a f/u of ≥12 months (mean 12.2 months). All fractures healed. There were no superficial or deep infections, no nonunions, or malunions. Two fractures required conversion to plate fixation intraoperatively because of excessive comminution which precluded the use of a nail, while one patient sustained an iatrogenic superficial peroneal nerve neuroma. No patients reported implant irritation, and none have required implant removal.

Conclusion:

Fibula nails with proximal locking capabilities offer an alternative to plating with the potential for lower complication rates and lower need for implant removal.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Association Between Genetic Predictors for C-Reactive Protein and Venous Thromboembolism With Severe Adverse Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outcomes
Authors: Guo Boya , Williams-Nguyen Jessica , Wang Lu , Haas Cameron B. , Kabrhel Christopher , Lindström Sara
Published: December 2021

OBJECTIVES:

To assess if genetic predictors for C-reactive protein and risk of venous thromboembolism are associated with severe outcomes among individuals who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

U.K. Biobank.

PATIENTS OR SUBJECTS:

U.K. Biobank participants with European ancestry who were recorded to have a positive polymerase chain reaction test result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 between March 16, 2020, and August 14, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS:

Not applicable.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

We constructed separate genetic risk scores for C-reactive protein and venous thromboembolism consisting of 56 and 37 genetic variants that have been significantly associated with venous thromboembolism and C-reactive protein, respectively. Among 1,126 individuals who were diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019, 48% had a coronavirus disease 2019–related hospitalization, 16% received critical care support, 10% had critical respiratory support, and 21% died from coronavirus disease 2019. Genetic predisposition to high C-reactive protein concentrations was marginally associated with a lower risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73–1.00; p = 0.05). No other associations were significant.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results do not support associations between polygenic risk for elevated blood C-reactive protein concentrations or venous thromboembolism and severe coronavirus disease 2019 health outcomes. Thus, considering genetic predisposition associated with C-reactive protein concentrations or venous thromboembolism risk is not meaningful for predicting severe coronavirus disease 2019 health outcomes.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Disseminated Histoplasmosis
Authors: Wasylyshyn Anastasia , Maki Gina , Linder Kathleen A. , Herc Erica S.
Published: December 2021

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a syndrome of immune dysregulation that can lead to an overwhelming inflammatory state. In this case series, we describe 3 cases in which disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum infection caused hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Prdm12 modulates pain-related behavior by remodeling gene expression in mature nociceptors
Authors: Latragna Aurore , Sabaté San José Alba , Tsimpos Panagiotis , Vermeiren Simon , Gualdani Roberta , Chakrabarti Sampurna , Callejo Gerard , Desiderio Simon , Shomroni Orr , Sitte Maren , Kricha Sadia , Luypaert Maëlle , Vanhollebeke Benoit , Laumet Geoffroy , Salinas Gabriela , Smith Ewan St. John , Ris Laurence , Bellefroid Eric J.
Published: December 2021

Prdm12 is a conserved epigenetic transcriptional regulator that displays restricted expression in nociceptors of the developing peripheral nervous system. In mice, Prdm12 is required for the development of the entire nociceptive lineage. In humans, PRDM12 mutations cause congenital insensitivity to pain, likely because of the loss of nociceptors. Prdm12 expression is maintained in mature nociceptors suggesting a yet-to-be explored functional role in adults. Using Prdm12 inducible conditional knockout mouse models, we report that in adult nociceptors Prdm12 is no longer required for cell survival but continues to play a role in the transcriptional control of a network of genes, many of them encoding ion channels and receptors. We found that disruption of Prdm12 alters the excitability of dorsal root ganglion neurons in culture. Phenotypically, we observed that mice lacking Prdm12 exhibit normal responses to thermal and mechanical nociceptive stimuli but a reduced response to capsaicin and hypersensitivity to formalin-induced inflammatory pain. Together, our data indicate that Prdm12 regulates pain-related behavior in a complex way by modulating gene expression in adult nociceptors and controlling their excitability. The results encourage further studies to assess the potential of Prdm12 as a target for analgesic development.
Capitalizing on Central Registries for Expanded Cancer Surveillance and Research
Authors: Bradley Cathy J. , Entwistle Julia , Sabik Lindsay M. , Lindrooth Richard C. , Perraillon Marcelo
Published: December 2021

Background:

State central cancer registries are an essential component of cancer surveillance and research that can be enriched through linkages to other databases. This study identified and described state central registry linkages to external data sources and assessed the potential for a more comprehensive data infrastructure with registries at its core.

Methods:

We identified peer-reviewed papers describing linkages to state central cancer registries in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, published between 2010 and 2020. To complement the literature review, we surveyed registrars to learn about unpublished linkages. Linkages were grouped by medical claims (public and private insurers), medical records, other registries (eg, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome registries, birth certificates, screening programs), and data from specific cohorts (eg, firefighters, teachers).

Results:

We identified 464 data linkages with state central cancer registries. Linkages to cohorts and other registries were most common. Registries in predominately rural states reported the fewest linkages. Most linkages are not ongoing, maintained, or available to researchers. A third of linkages reported by registrars did not result in published papers.

Conclusions:

Central cancer registries, often in collaboration with researchers, have enriched their data through linkages. These linkages demonstrate registries’ ability to contribute to a data infrastructure, but a coordinated and maintained approach is needed to leverage these data for research. Sparsely populated states reported the fewest linkages, suggesting possible gaps in our knowledge about cancer in these states. Many more linkages exist than have been reported in the literature, highlighting potential opportunities to further use the data for research purposes.
The Impact of Smart Pump Interoperability on Errors in Intravenous Infusion Administrations: A Multihospital Before and After Study
Authors: Skog Jilian , Rafie Sally , Schnock Kumiko O. , Yoon Catherine , Lipsitz Stuart , Lew Pauline
Published: December 2021

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the frequency, type, and severity of errors associated with intravenous medication administration before and after smart pump interoperability.

Methods

We conducted an observational study at a community healthcare system before and after implementing smart pump interoperability. Point prevalence methodology was used to collect data on medication administration and errors in adult inpatient settings.

Results

Observations were completed for 350 infusions preintervention (178 patients) and 367 postintervention (200 patients). Total errors significantly decreased from 401 (114.6 per 100 infusions) to 354 (96.5 per 100 infusions, P = 0.02). Administration errors decreased from 144 (41.1 per 100 infusions) to 119 (32.4 per 100 infusions, P = 0.12). Expired medication errors significantly reduced from 11 (3.1 per 100 infusions) to 2 (0.5 per 100 infusions, P = 0.02). Errors involving high-risk medications significantly reduced from 45 (12.8 per 100 infusions) to 25 (6.8 per 100 infusions, P = 0.01). Errors involving continuous medications significantly reduced from 44 (12.6 per 100 infusions) to 22 (6.0 per 100 infusions, P = 0.005). When comparing programming type, manual programming resulted in 115 (77.2%) of administration and user documentation errors compared with 34 errors (22.8%) that occurred when autoprogramming was used. Of these, errors involving high-risk medications reduced from 21 (84.0%) to 4 (16.0%) after using autoprogramming.

Conclusions

Smart pump interoperability resulted in a 16% reduction in medication administration errors. Despite using dose error reduction software and autoprogramming, some types of errors persisted. Further studies are needed to understand how technology use can be optimized.
Measuring What Matters at Morbidity and Mortality Conferences: A Scoping Review of Effectiveness Measures
Authors: Verhagen Merel J. , de Vos Marit S. , Smaggus Andrew , Hamming Jaap F.
Published: December 2021

Objective

Efforts to study morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MC) are hampered by the lack of rigorous instruments to assess the effectiveness of the conferences for the purpose of quality improvement and medical education. This might limit further advancement of the practice. The aim of this scoping review was to determine commonly used effectiveness measures of M&MC in the literature.

Method

A scoping review was performed of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies of M&MC, using databases from PubMed, Emcare, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane library. Studies were included if an outcome was described after a general evaluation or an intervention to M&MC. Study quality was assessed with the Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs.

Results

A total of 43 articles were included in the review. The majority used a quantitative (n = 23) or mixed (n = 17) design, with surveys as the most frequent method used for data collection (n = 29). The overall Quality Assessment Tool for Studies with Diverse Designs scores were modest (64%). Outcome measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of M&MC were clustered in the following categories: “participant experiences,” “characteristics of the meeting,” “medical knowledge,” “actions for improvement,” and “clinical outcomes.”

Conclusions

This review found a wide variety of effectiveness measures for M&MC. Rather than using isolated measures, approaches that combine multiple effectiveness measures could offer a more comprehensive assessment of M&MC. Although there was a preference for quantitative metrics, this fails to seize the opportunity of qualitative methods to yield insights into sociological purposes of M&MC, such as building professional identities and safety culture.
Relationships Between Pediatric Safety Indicators Across a National Sample of Pediatric Hospitals: Dispelling the Myth of the “Safest” Hospital
Authors: Milliren Carly E. , Bailey George , Graham Dionne A. , Ozonoff Al
Published: December 2021

Objective

There are many measures of healthcare quality, but no obvious summary measures to simplify ranking of hospital performance. With public reporting and accountability for hospital performance, the validity of composite measures for performance rankings has increased importance. This study aimed to explore the covariance of pediatric hospital quality indicators and evaluate the use of a single composite score.

Methods

We performed an observational study of pediatric hospital performance across 13 safety indicators extracted from the Pediatric Health Information System, a comparative database of children’s hospitals in the United States. We included patients discharged from 36 hospitals from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2019. Using principal components analysis, we investigate relationships among patient safety measures from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality pediatric quality indicators and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services hospital-acquired conditions. We compare and summarize rankings based on individual safety indicators and calculate alternative composite scores.

Results

We identified 5 orthogonal variance components accounting for 68% of variation in pediatric hospital quality indicators. Rankings demonstrated greater within-hospital variation compared with between-hospital variation. We observed discordant rankings across commonly used summary measures and conclude that these pediatric safety measures demonstrate at least 2 underlying variance components.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the multifactorial nature of patient safety. This implies no unique ordering of hospitals based on these measures, and thus, no pediatric hospital can claim to be “the safest.” This raises further questions about appropriate methods to rank hospitals by safety.
Strength of Safety Measures Introduced by Medical Practices to Prevent a Recurrence of Patient Safety Incidents: An Observational Study
Authors: Müller Beate S. , Lüttel Dagmar , Schütze Dania , Blazejewski Tatjana , Pommée Marina , Müller Hardy , Rubin Katharina , Thomeczek Christian , Schadewitz Romy , Kintrup Andreas , Heuzeroth Reiner , Beyer Martin , Schwappach David , Hecker Ruth , Gerlach Ferdinand M.
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the strength of safety measures described in incident reports in outpatient care.

Methods

An incident reporting project in German outpatient care included 184 medical practices with differing fields of specialization. The practices were invited to submit anonymous incident reports to the project team 3 times for 17 months. Using a 14-item coding scheme based on international recommendations, we deductively coded the incident reports and safety measures. Safety measures were classified as “strong” (likely to be effective and sustainable), “intermediate” (possibly effective and sustainable), or “weak” (less likely to be effective and sustainable).

Results

The practices submitted 245 incident reports. In 160 of them, 243 preventive measures were described, or an average of 1.5 per report. The number of documented measures varied from 1 in 67% to 4 in 5% of them. Four preventive measures (2%) were classified as strong, 37 (15%) as intermediate, and 202 (83%) as weak. The most frequently mentioned measures were “new procedure/policy” (n = 121) and “information/notification/warning” (n = 45).

Conclusions

The study provides examples of critical incidents in medical practices and for the first time examines the strength of ensuing measures introduced in outpatient care. Overall, the proportion of weak measures is (too) high, indicating that practices need more support in identifying strong measures.
Incidence and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in HIV-Infected Individuals During the First Year of the Pandemic
Authors: Rial-Crestelo David , Bisbal Otilia , Font Rebeca , De Lagarde Maria , Pinto Adriana , Arce-García Octavio , Santacreu-Guerrero Mireia , Bermejo-Plaza Laura , Rubio Rafael , Pulido Federico
Published: December 2021

Background:

We aim to investigate the infection rate, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-disease in a cohort of people living with HIV in Madrid (Spain), during the first year of pandemics.

Setting:

Observational single-center study, in which we included all HIV-infected patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection as of February 28, 2021, at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre.

Methods:

Confirmed disease was defined as any patient with a positive antigen test, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or serology for SARS-CoV-2. We compared the characteristics of patients with mild disease (asymptomatic included) with those with moderate or severe disease (requiring admission).

Results:

Of 2344 HIV-infected patients, 158 (82.9% male; median age, 46.5 years) were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 (infection rate, 6.74%; 95% confidence interval, 5.79 to 7.83). Thirty-nine individuals (24.7%) had moderate or severe disease, 43.7% had mild disease, and 31.6% were asymptomatic. Hypertension (23.4%) and obesity (15.8%) were the most prevalent comorbidities; 12.7% had at least 2 comorbidities. One hundred forty-five patients (97.3%) had RNA-HIV viral load of <50 copies per milliliter, and only 3 had CD4 cell count of <200 cells per cubic millimeter before infection. Of those admitted to hospital, 59% required oxygen support and 15.4%, invasive mechanical ventilation. Five patients died. None of the patient taking tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate required admission. In the multivariate analysis, age remained as the only independent factor for moderate-severe disease (odds ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.14; P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

People living with HIV are at risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Age was the only variable with an independent association with moderate-severe disease, after adjusting by comorbidities and other factors.
Neocortical pyramidal neurons with axons emerging from dendrites are frequent in non-primates, but rare in monkey and human
Authors: Wahle Petra , Sobierajski Eric , Gasterstädt Ina , Lehmann Nadja , Weber Susanna , Lübke Joachim H.R. , Engelhardt Maren , Distler Claudia , Meyer Gundela
Published: December 2021

The canonical view of neuronal function is that inputs are received by dendrites and somata, become integrated in the somatodendritic compartment and upon reaching a sufficient threshold, generate axonal output with axons emerging from the cell body. The latter is not necessarily the case. Instead, axons may originate from dendrites. The terms “axon carrying dendrite” (AcD) and “AcD neurons” have been coined to describe this feature. Here, we report on the diversity of axon origins in neocortical pyramidal cells. We found that in non-primates (rodent, cat, ferret, pig), 10-21% of pyramidal cells of layers II-VI had an AcD. In marked contrast, in macaque and human, this proportion was lower, and it was particularly low for supragranular neurons. Unexpectedly, pyramidal cells in the white matter of postnatal cat and aged human cortex exhibit AcDs to much higher percentages. In rodent hippocampus, AcD cells are functionally ‘privileged’, since inputs here can circumvent somatic integration and lead to immediate action potential initiation in the axon. Our findings expand the current knowledge regarding the distribution and proportion of AcD cells in neocortial regions of non-primate taxa, which strikingly differs from primates where these cells are mainly found in deeper layers and white matter.
Characterization of retinal development in 13-lined ground squirrels
Authors: Kandoi Sangeetha , Martinez Cassandra , Merriman Dana K. , Lamba Deepak A.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The cone-dominant, 13-lined ground squirrel (13-LGS) retina mimics the human foveal region but retinal development in this useful rodent species has not been reported. Here, the embryonic and postnatal development of the 13-LGS retina was studied to further characterize the species as a practical alternative animal model for investigating cone-based vision in health and disease.

Methods

The spatiotemporal expression of key progenitor and cell type markers was examined in retinas from defined embryonic and postnatal stages using immunohistochemistry. Changes in the postnatal gene expression were also assessed by qPCR.

Results

The 13-LGS neuroblastic layer expressed key progenitor markers (Sox2, Vsx2, Pax6, and Lhx2) at E18. Sequential cell fate determination evidenced by the first appearance of cell type-specific marker labeling was: at E18, ganglion cells (Brn-3A, HuC/D) and microglia (Iba1); at E24-25.5 shortly before birth, photoreceptor progenitor (Otx2, Recoverin), horizontal and amacrine cells (Lhx1, Oc1); and at P15, bipolar cells (Vsx1, CaBP5) and Müller glia cells (GS, Rlbp1). Photoreceptor maturation indicated by opsin+ outer segments and PNA labeling of cone sheaths was completed at the time of eye opening, P21-24.

Conclusions

The timeline and order of retinal cell development in the 13-LGS generally matches that recorded from other mammalian models but with a stark variation in the proportion of various cell types due to cone-dense photoreceptors. This provides a baseline for future examinations of developmental, disease model, and stem cell approach studies employing this emerging rodent model of human vision.
Non-neural factors influencing BOLD response magnitudes within individual subjects
Authors: Kurzawski Jan W. , Gulban Omer Faruk , Jamison Keith , Winawer Jonathan , Kay Kendrick
Published: December 2021

To what extent is the size of the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response influenced by factors other than neural activity? In a re-analysis of three neuroimaging datasets (male and female human participants), we find large systematic inhomogeneities in the BOLD response magnitude in primary visual cortex (V1): stimulus-evoked BOLD responses, expressed in units of percent signal change, are up to 50% larger along the representation of the horizontal meridian than the vertical meridian. To assess whether this surprising effect can be interpreted as differences in local neural activity, we quantified several factors that potentially contribute to the size of the BOLD response. We find relationships between BOLD response magnitude and cortical thickness, curvature, depth and macrovasculature. These relationships are consistently found across subjects and datasets and suggest that variation in BOLD response magnitudes across cortical locations reflects, in part, differences in anatomy and vascularization. To compensate for these factors, we implement a regression-based correction method and show that after correction, BOLD responses become more homogeneous across V1. The correction reduces the horizontal/vertical difference by about half, indicating that some of the difference is likely not due to neural activity differences. We conclude that interpretation of variation in BOLD response magnitude across cortical locations should consider the influence of the potential confounding factors of thickness, curvature, depth and vascularization.

Significance statement

The magnitude of the BOLD signal is often used as a surrogate of neural activity, but the exact factors that contribute to its strength have not been studied on a voxel-wise level. Here, we examined several anatomical and measurement-related factors to assess their relationship with BOLD signal magnitude. We find that BOLD magnitude correlates with cortical anatomy, depth and macrovasculature. To remove the contribution of these factors, we propose a simple, data-driven correction method that can be used in any functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. After accounting for the confounding factors, BOLD magnitude becomes more spatially homogenous. Our correction method improves the ability to make more accurate inferences about local neural activity from fMRI data.
Effects of land use and weather on the presence and abundance of mosquito-borne disease vectors in a urban and agricultural landscape in Eastern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Rakotoarinia Miarisoa Rindra , Blanchet F. Guillaume , Gravel Dominique , Lapen David , Leighton Patrick A. , Ogden Nicholas H. , Ludwig Antoinette
Published: December 2021

Weather and land use can significantly impact mosquito abundance and presence, and by consequence, mosquito-borne disease (MBD) dynamics. Knowledge of vector ecology and mosquito species response to these drivers will help us better predict risk from MBD. In this study, we evaluated and compared the independent and combined effects of weather and land use on mosquito species occurrence and abundance in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Data on occurrence and abundance (245,591 individuals) of 30 mosquito species were obtained from mosquito capture at 85 field sites in 2017 and 2018. Environmental variables were extracted from weather and land use datasets in a 1-km buffer around trapping sites. The relative importance of weather and land use on mosquito abundance (for common species) or occurrence (for all species) was evaluated using multivariate hierarchical statistical models. Models incorporating both weather and land use performed better than models that include weather only for approximately half of species (59% for occurrence model and 50% for abundance model). Mosquito occurrence was mainly associated with temperature whereas abundance was associated with precipitation and temperature combined. Land use was more often associated with abundance than occurrence. For most species, occurrence and abundance were positively associated with forest cover but for some there was a negative association. Occurrence and abundance of some species (47% for occurrence model and 88% for abundance model) were positively associated with wetlands, but negatively associated with urban (Culiseta melanuraandAnopheles walkeri) and agriculture (An. quadrimaculatus, Cs. minnesotaeandAn. walkeri) environments. This study provides predictive relationships between weather, land use and mosquito occurrence and abundance for a wide range of species including those that are currently uncommon, yet known as arboviruses vectors. Elucidation of these relationships has the potential to contribute to better prediction of MBD risk, and thus more efficiently targeted prevention and control measures.
Flooding tolerance of four tropical peatland tree species in a nursery trial
Authors: Tata Hesti L. , Nuroniah Hani S. , Ahsania Diandra A. , Anggunira Haning , Hidayati Siti N. , Pratama Meydina , Istomo  , Chimner Rodney A. , van Noordwijk Meine , Kolka Randall
Published: December 2021

In order to facilitate hydrological restoration efforts, initiatives have been conducted to promote tree growth in degraded and rewetted peatlands in Indonesia. For these initiatives to be successful, tree seedlings need to be able to survive flooding episodes, with or without shade. We investigated the survival rates and the formation of adventitious roots in the case of four tree species exposed to combinations of different shading and water levels under controlled conditions in a nursery, with artificial rainwater and with peat soils as the medium. The research focused on the following questions (i) whether trees can grow on flooded peat soils; and (ii) which plant traits allow plants to cope with inundation, with or without shade. The four tree species compared (Shorea balangeran, Cratoxylum arborescens, Nephelium lappaceum and Durio zibethinus) include two natural pioneer and two farmer-preferred fruit trees. The experiment used a split-split plot design with 48 treatment combinations and at least 13 tree-level replicates. The study found that S. balangeran and C. arborescens had relatively high survival rates and tolerated saturated condition for 13 weeks, while N. lappaceum and D. zibethinus required non-saturated peat conditions. S. balangeran and C. arborescens developed adventitious roots to adapt to the inundated conditions. D. zibethinus, S. balangeran and N. lappaceum grew best under moderate (30%) shading levels, while C. arborescent grew best in full sunlight.
Nutrient composition and bioaccumulation of an edible aquatic insect,Pantalasp. (Odonata: Libellulidae) from the rice field
Authors: Maneechan Witwisitpong , Prommi Taeng On
Published: December 2021

Numerous edible aquatic insects have unanticipated nutraceutical potential and are consumed in a variety of Thai locations. The proximate composition, amino acid, fatty acid, mineral, and heavy metal content ofPantalasp. (Odonata: Libellulidae) aquatic edible nymphs were determined using standard analytical methods in this study.Pantalasp. had a proximate protein content of 445.14±0.04 %, a fat content of 4.93±0.05 %, an ash content of 5.24±0.03 %, a moisture content of 35.11±0.09 %, and a total carbohydrate content of 9.60±0.11 %. Total energy was 263.25±0.20 kcal/100 g, with fat energy accounting for 44.37±0.43 kcal/100 g. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis revealed that this insect was high in phosphorus, iron, and copper for human consumption. In comparison to other edible insects studied, they were also excellent calcium sources. Agilent 7890B Gas Chromatograph (GC) analysis revealed that it contains 236.67 mg/100g of omega-3 and 523.32 mg/100g of omega-6. While the amino acids examined using High Performance liquid Chromatography contained all essential amino acids. ICP-OES was used to determine the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As).Pantalasp. had the highest concentration of As (average = 2.827 ± 0.289 mg kg-1), followed by Cd (0.164 ± 0.007 mg kg-1) and Pb (0.158 ± 0.015 mg kg-1). Although the insects have nutraceutical potential, they also have toxic heavy metals in trace amounts, with the exception of As. This work could serve as a nutritional reference for local consumers interested in entomophagy.
WITHDRAWN: Extinction risk modeling predicts range-wide differences of climate change impact on Karner blue butterfly
Authors: Li Yudi , Wilson David , Grundel Ralph , Campbell Steven , Knight Joseph , Perry Jim , Hellmann Jessica J.
Published: December 2021

Withdrawal Statement

The authors have withdrawn their manuscript owing to the fact that the manuscript has not gone through the US Geological Survey review and approval process required prior to posting and is, therefore, withdrawn. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
IKK controls naive T cell survival by repressing RIPK1 dependent apoptosis and activation of NF-κB
Authors: Carty Fiona , Layzell Scott , Barbarulo Alessandro , Islam Farjana , Webb Louise , Seddon Benedict
Published: December 2021

The Inhibitor of Kappa B Kinase (IKK) complex is a critical regulator of NF-κB activation. In addition, IKK has recently been shown to repress RIPK1 dependent extrinsic cell death pathways by directly phosphorylating RIPK1. Our previous work shows that normal thymopoiesis relies on IKK exclusively for repression of TNF triggered cell death pathways, and that NF-κB activation by IKK is redundant for development. The role of these pathways in mature naive T cells has not previously been reported. Here, we show that, like thymocytes, naive peripheral T cells require continued IKK1/2 expression for survival. In contrast, however, cell loss is only partially prevented by blocking extrinsic cell death pathways by either deletingCasp8or inhibiting RIPK1 kinase activity. Inducible deletion ofRelain mature CD4+T cells also results in a significant loss of naive CD4+T cells and loss of IL7R expression, revealing an additional reliance upon NF-κB for long term survival of mature T cells. Together, these data show that IKK dependent survival of naive T cells depends upon both repression of extrinsic cell death pathways and activation of NF-κB survival programme.

One sentence summary

IKK regulates naive T cell survival