bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of elevated CO2 on aboveground and belowground carbon allocation and eco-physiology of four species of angiosperm and gymnosperm forest trees
Authors: Dror Dar , Klein Tamir
Published: October 2021

Although atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) continues to rise, the question of how tree carbon (C) allocation is affected by this change remains. Studies show that C assimilation increases under elevated CO2 (eCO2). Yet, no detailed study has determined the fate of the surplus C, i.e., its compartment and physiological process allocation, nor in multiple species together. In this project, we grew 2-year-old saplings of four key Mediterranean tree species (the conifers Cupressus sempervirens L. and Pinus halepensis Mill., and the broadleaf Quercus calliprinos Webb. and Ceratonia siliqua L.) to [CO2] levels of 400 or 700 p.p.m. for 6 months. We measured the allocation of C to below and aboveground growth, respiration, root exudation, storage and leaf litter. In addition, we monitored intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE), soil moisture, soil chemistry and nutrient uptake. Net assimilation, WUE and soil nitrogen uptake significantly increased at eCO2 across the four species. Broadleaf species showed soil water savings, which were absent in conifers. All other effects were species-specific: Cupressus had higher leaf respiration, Pinus had lower starch in branches and transiently higher exudation rate and Quercus had higher root respiration. Elevated CO2 did not affect growth or litter production. Our results are pivotal to understanding the sensitivity of tree C allocation to the change in [CO2] when water is abundant. Species-specific responses should be regarded cautiously when predicting future changes in forest function in a higher CO2 world.
Draft Genome Sequence of Diaporthe batatatis Causing Dry Rot Disease in Sweetpotato
Authors: Yang Yiling , Yao Xiaojian , Xhang Xinxin , Zou Hongda , Chen JingYi , Fang Boping , Huang Lifei
Published: October 2021

Dry rot caused by Diaporthe batatatis leads to the serious decay of sweetpotato storage roots during postharvest storage, which can result in considerable economic loss. Genomic research of the pathogen could provide a basis for study and prevention of sweetpotato dry rot. Herein, we report a high-quality draft genome sequence of D. batatatis CRI 302-4 isolated from infected sweetpotato storage roots in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. The size of the genome was 54.38 Mb and consisted of 36 scaffolds with a G+C content of 50.56% and an N50 of 2,950,914 bp. The information provided in this genome sequence will be an invaluable resource for molecular genetic research and disease control in sweetpotato production.
Validation of a Cost-effective Cast Saw Simulation-based Educational Module to Improve Cast Removal Safety
Authors: Liles Jeffrey , Wieschhaus Kyle , Wieschhaus Keaton , Adams William , Cappello Teresa , Evans Douglas
Published: October 2021

Background:

Inexperience in cast removal in the pediatric population can lead to a range of cast saw–related injuries. The purpose of this study is to validate a simple simulation-based wax model that is both reproducible and economical while providing a valuable tool that can be used to grade cast saw use performance in trainees.

Methods:

Cylindrical wax models were used as an analog for a pediatric upper extremity. The wax models were casted in a proscribed reproducible fashion for consistency. Two groups, the first consisting of 15 experienced cast saw users and the second consisting of 15 inexperienced individuals, completed 4 sequential longitudinal cuts in the casted wax models. After removal of the cast material, marks left by the cast saw in the wax were counted and measured. Indentation length, maximum depth, and maximum width were measured on each wax model. The total length of the cast saw indentations per cast saw user was also calculated.

Results:

For the inexperienced cast saw users, the average total length of the cast saw indentations was 526.56 mm, average maximum depth was 1.91 mm, and average maximum width was 3.24 mm. For experienced cast saw users, the average total length of the cast saw indentations was 156.57 mm with an average maximum depth of 1.06 mm and average maximum width of 2.19 mm. Receiver operating characteristic curves of the total number of errors, total error length, maximum error depth, and maximum error width show effective discrimination of experienced from inexperienced trainees.

Conclusions:

This study provides valid evidence supporting a cost-effective, time-efficient, and easily reproducible educational simulation module that can objectively measure cast saw the performance in trainees. This model demonstrates construct validity and can distinguish novice from experienced cast saw users. It is sensitive enough to identify mistakes even in the most experienced cast saw users, creating a platform that can provide performance-based feedback to cast saw users of all experience levels.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—diagnostic test.
Reoperations After Decompression With or Without Fusion for L3-4 Spinal Stenosis With Degenerative Spondylolisthesis
Authors: Joelson Anders , Nerelius Fredrik , Holy Marek , Sigmundsson Freyr G.
Published: October 2021

Study Design:

Register study with prospectively collected data.

Objective:

The aim was to investigate reoperation rates at the index level and the adjacent levels after surgery for lumbar L3-4 spinal stenosis with concomitant degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

Summary of Background Data:

There are different opinions on how to surgically address lumbar spinal stenosis with DS. The potential benefit of fusion surgery should be weighed against the risks of future reoperations because of adjacent segment degeneration. Data on the reoperation rate at adjacent segments after single level L3-4 fusion surgery are limited.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 372 patients, who underwent surgery for lumbar L3-4 spinal stenosis with DS (slip >3 mm) between 2007 and 2012, were followed between 2007 and 2017 to identify reoperations at the index level and adjacent levels. The reoperation rate for decompression and fusion was compared with the reoperation rate for decompression only. Patient-reported outcome measures before and 1 year after surgery were evaluated.

Results:

The reoperation rate at the index level (L3-4) was 3.5% for decompression and fusion and 5.6% for decompression only. At the cranial adjacent level (L2-3), the corresponding numbers were 6.6% and 4.2%, respectively, and the caudal adjacent level (L4-5), the corresponding numbers were 3.1% and 4.9%, respectively. The effect sizes of change were larger for decompression and fusion compared with decompression only. The effect sizes of change were similar for leg pain and back pain.

Conclusions:

We could not identify any differences in reoperation rates at the cranial or caudal adjacent segment after decompression and fusion compared with decompression only for L3-4 spinal stenosis with DS. The improvement in back pain is similar to the improvement in leg pain after surgery for L3-4 spinal stenosis with DS.
Case Report: Polyneuropathy Pituitary Apoplexy with Normal Perimetry and Initially Normal Neuroimaging
Authors: Sowka Joseph W. , Wu Tsung-Hao
Published: October 2021

SIGNIFICANCE

Pituitary apoplexy is a syndrome with a varied appearance, which carries a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. It is important to recognize the potential numerous symptoms and clinical findings, urgently investigate with the proper neuroimaging tests, and coordinate care with the appropriate specialists without delay.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to describe a patient with worsening headache and ophthalmoparesis attributable to pituitary apoplexy who initially had reportedly a normal neuroimaging result and were diagnosed with migraine.

CASE REPORT

A 39-year-old Hispanic man with a history of migraine developed a new and worsening headache. He presented to a hospital emergency department where he underwent a non–contrast-enhanced computed tomography and MRI, whose results were subsequently interpreted as normal. His headache was attributed to migraine, and he was medicated as such and discharged. Three days later, he developed horizontal and vertical diplopia and sought a second opinion. His visual acuity and visual fields were normal. He manifested a right pupil–sparing, external partial cranial nerve III palsy and concurrent right sixth nerve palsy. He also complained of worsening headache and lethargy. He was immediately referred for contrast-enhanced MRI and magnetic resonance angiography with suspicion of pituitary apoplexy. Subsequent imaging revealed a hemorrhagic pituitary macroadenoma consistent with pituitary apoplexy that was expanding laterally into the right cavernous sinus. He underwent immediate neurosurgical surgical repair.

CONCLUSIONS

New or worsening headache with signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism should immediately be investigated for pituitary apoplexy. Other possible findings include involvement of cranial nerves III through VI because of cavernous sinus involvement and visual deficits if the optic chiasm or intracranial portion of the optic nerve is involved. However, growth may be lateral, and no visual deficits may be found, as in this case. Multiple concurrent cranial neuropathies should increase suspicion for cavernous sinus involvement.
HIV Disease Dynamics and Markers of Inflammation and CNS Injury During Primary HIV Infection and Their Relationship to Cognitive Performance
Authors: Longino August A. , Paul Robert , Wang Yixin , Lama Javier R. , Brandes Peter , Ruiz Eduardo , Correa Cecilia , Keating Sheila , Spudich Serena S. , Pilcher Christopher , Vecchio Alyssa , Pasalar Siavash , Bender Ignacio Rachel A. , Valdez Rogelio , Dasgupta Sayan , Robertson Kevin , Duerr Ann
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Early systemic and central nervous system viral replication and inflammation may affect brain integrity in people with HIV, leading to chronic cognitive symptoms not fully reversed by antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study examined associations between cognitive performance and markers of CNS injury associated with acute HIV infection and ART.

Methods:

HIV-infected MSM and transgender women (average age: 27 years and education: 13 years) enrolled within 100 days from the estimated date of detectable infection (EDDI). A cognitive performance (NP) protocol was administered at enrollment (before ART initiation) and every 24 weeks until week 192. An overall index of cognitive performance (NPZ) was created using local normative data. Blood (n = 87) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; n = 29) biomarkers of inflammation and neuronal injury were examined before ART initiation. Regression analyses assessed relationships between time since EDDI, pre-ART biomarkers, and NPZ.

Results:

Adjusting for multiple comparisons, shorter time since EDDI was associated with higher pre-ART VL and multiple biomarkers in plasma and CSF. NPZ scores were within the normative range at baseline (NPZ = 0.52) and at each follow-up visit, with a modest increase through week 192. Plasma or CSF biomarkers were not correlated with NP scores at baseline or after ART.

Conclusions:

Biomarkers of CNS inflammation, immune activation, and neuronal injury peak early and then decline during acute HIV infection, confirming and extending results of other studies. Neither plasma nor CSF biomarkers during acute infection corresponded to NP scores before or after sustained ART in this cohort with few psychosocial risk factors for cognitive impairment.
Anthropometric Study of Human Ear: A Baseline Data for Ear Reconstruction
Authors: Prasetyo Arif Tri , Putri Indri Lakhsmi
Published: October 2021

Background:

Creation of an auricular framework plays the main role on first stage of microtia reconstruction. The size of framework is determined based on the size of the contralateral healthy ear and customized with Nagata theory. The height of rib that added behind the previous framework is the same with the projection of the normal ear. But the height of rib needed and framework in bilateral cases is unknown. A population based auricular framework pattern and projection are urgently needed.

Objectives:

This study aimed at determining the mean values of normal anthropometric measurement of external ear and projection of human ear in males and females and their comparison on either sides and in either sex.

Materials and Methods:

Measurements are taken from 524 subjects (96 men and 428 women) aged 17 to 35 years using a Vernier caliper. The parameters measured were total ear height, ear width, lobular height, lobular width, upper pole, middle upper pole, middle pole, lower middle pole, lower pole, each subject's right and left ears.

Results:

Comparisons between gender were performed by independent t test and paired t test for comparison between right and the left ear. All dimensions were significantly different between male and female (P 
< 0.05) except the right lobular height (P 
> 0.05). There was no significant difference both side among groups (P 
< 0.05) except total ear height on female group (P 
> 0.05). All projection dimensions were significantly different between male and female. There was no significant difference of auricular projection of right and left auricular on the male (P 
< 0.05) groups except the projection of lower pole. There were significant between auricular projection of right and left ears on the female groups (P 
> 0.05).

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that the normal anthropometric study will have implication in the ear reconstruction especially on bilateral cases as a baseline for reconstruction.
Infratemporal Fossa Chondroblastoma
Authors: Dimitrijević Milovan V. , Sopta Jelena P. , Todorović Nikola R. , Simić Ljubica
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Chondroblastoma is a rare, benign mesenchymal tumor that can behave local aggressive. It most often occurs in the area of the epiphyses of long tubular bones, whereas the appearance in the region of the head and neck is rare, only few reports were published in literature. The incidence of chondroblastoma of the craniofacial region is about 6.4%.

Clinical Report:

A 46-year-old patient was hospitalized due to growth and pain in the area of the left half of the face, and a tumor of the left infratemporal fossa was diagnosed by computed tomography. The patient was operated with a preauricular surgical approach, parotidectomy, and complete tumor removal was performed. Pathohistological examination revealed chondroblastoma.

Conclusions:

Chondroblastoma of the craniofacial region is very rare pathohistological finding, characterized by slow and asymptomatic growth until it reaches the appropriate dimensions, the clinical symptomatology depends on the localization of the tumor. Computed tomography diagnostics provides important information about the location, size of the tumor, invasion of surrounding structures, and significantly contributes to the decision on the appropriate surgical approach. Diagnostic dilemma solving only final pathohistological verification.
Assessing Operative Skill in the Competency-based Education Era
Authors: Toale Conor , Morris Marie , Kavanagh Dara O.
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Decisions regarding the operative competence of surgical residents in the United Kingdom and Ireland are informed by operative workplace-based assessments (WBAs) and operative number targets for index procedures. This review seeks to outline the validity evidence of these assessment methods.

Methods:

A review of the MEDLINE (Pubmed), EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was undertaken in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute Protocol for Scoping Reviews (2020). Articles were included if they provided evidence of the validity of procedure-based assessments, direct observation of procedural skills, or indicative operative number targets. The educational impact of each article was evaluated using a modified Kirkpatrick model.

Results:

Twenty-eight articles outlining validity evidence of WBAs and operative number targets were synthesised by narrative review. Five studies documented users’ views on current assessment methods (Kirkpatrick level 1). Two articles recorded changes in attitudes towards current operative assessments (level 2a). Ten studies documented the ability of current assessments to record improvements in operative competence (level 2b). Ten studies measured a change in behaviour as a result of the introduction of these assessments (level 3). One article studied the ability of operative assessments to predict clinical outcomes (level 4b).

Conclusions:

Operative WBAs are reliable. Scores achieved correlate with both time spent in training and recorded operative experience. Trainers and residents have concerns regarding the subjectivity of these assessments and the opportunistic nature in which they are used. Operative number targets are not criterion-referenced, lack validity evidence, and may be set too low to ensure operative competence.
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Abdominal Computed Tomography in Diagnosing Internal Herniation Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Authors: Nawas May Al , Oor Jelmer E. , Goense Lucas , Hosman Stephanie F. M. , van der Hoeven Erik J. R. J. , Wijffels Niels A. T. , Riele Wouter W. te , Takkenberg Marijn , Wiezer Marinus J. , Derksen Wouter J. M.
Published: October 2021

Objective:

To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing internal herniation (IH) following Rouxen-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery.

Summary of Background Data:

IH is one of the most important and challenging complications following RYGB. Therefore, early and adequate diagnosis of IH is necessary. Currently, exploratory surgery is considered the gold standard in diagnosing IH. Although CT scans are frequently being used, the true diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing IH remains unclear.

Methods:

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for relevant articles describing the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal CT in diagnosing IH after RYGB. Data were extracted, recalculated, and pooled to report on the overall diagnostic accuracy of CT in diagnosing IH, and the diagnostic accuracy of specific radiological signs.

Results:

A total of 20 studies describing 1637 patients were included. seventeen studies provided data regarding the overall diagnostic accuracy: pooled sensitivity of 82.0%, specificity of 84.8%, positive predictive value of 82.7%, and negative predictive value of 85.8% were calculated. Eleven studies reported on specific CT signs and their diagnostic accuracy. The radiological signs with the highest sensitivity were the signs of venous congestion, swirl, and mesenteric oedema (sensitivity of 78.7%, 77.8%, and 67.2%, respectively).

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis demonstrates that CT is a reliable imaging modality for the detection of IH. Therefore, abdominal CT imaging should be added to the diagnostic work-up for RYGB patients who present themselves with abdominal pain suggestive of IH to improve patient selection for explorative surgery.
Bayesian Approach to Understand the Association Between Treatment Down-staging and Survival for Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: da Costa Wilson Luiz , Tran Cao Hop S. , Gu Xiangjun , Massarweh Nader N.
Published: October 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the association between staging concordance, treatment sequencing, and response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) on the survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Summary of Background Data:

NAT is increasingly utilized in the management of patients with PDAC, but it is unclear whether its benefit is contingent on tumor down-staging.

Methods:

This was a cohort study of stage I-III PDAC patients in the National Cancer Database (2006–2015) treated with upfront resection or NAT followed by surgery. We determined staging concordance using patients’ clinical and pathological staging data. For NAT patients, we used Bayesian analysis to ascertain staging concordance accounting for down-staging.

Results:

Among 16,597 patients treated at 979 hospitals, 13,982 had an upfront resection and 2,615 NAT followed by surgery. Overall survival (OS) at 5-years ranged from 26.0% (95% CI 24.9%–27.1%) among cT1-2N0 patients to 18.6% (17.9%–19.2%) among cT1-3N+ ones. Patients with cT3-4 or cN+ tumors had improved OS after NAT compared to upfront surgery (all p< 0.001), while there was no difference among patients with cT1-2N0 (P = 0.16) disease. Relative to accurately staged cT1-2-3N+ or cT4 patients treated with upfront surgery, NAT was associated with a lower risk of death [HR 0.46 (0.37–0.57) for N+; HR 0.56 (0.40–0.77) for T4 disease], even among those without tumor down-staging [HR 0.81 (0.73–0.90) for N+; HR 0.48 (0.39–0.60) for T4].

Conclusions:

NAT is associated with improved survival for PDAC, particularly for patients with more advanced disease and regardless of down-staging. Consideration should be given to recommending NAT for all PDAC patients.
Pandemic drugs at pandemic speed: infrastructure for accelerating COVID-19 drug discovery with hybrid machine learning- and physics-based simulations on high-performance computers
Authors: Bhati Agastya P. , Wan Shunzhou , Alfè Dario , Clyde Austin R. , Bode Mathis , Tan Li , Titov Mikhail , Merzky Andre , Turilli Matteo , Jha Shantenu , Highfield Roger R. , Rocchia Walter , Scafuri Nicola , Succi Sauro , Kranzlmüller Dieter , Mathias Gerald , Wifling David , Donon Yann , Di Meglio Alberto , Vallecorsa Sofia , Ma Heng , Trifan Anda , Ramanathan Arvind , Brettin Tom , Partin Alexander , Xia Fangfang , Duan Xiaotan , Stevens Rick , Coveney Peter V.
Published: October 2021

The race to meet the challenges of the global pandemic has served as a reminder that the existing drug discovery process is expensive, inefficient and slow. There is a major bottleneck screening the vast number of potential small molecules to shortlist lead compounds for antiviral drug development. New opportunities to accelerate drug discovery lie at the interface between machine learning methods, in this case, developed for linear accelerators, and physics-based methods. The twoin silicomethods, each have their own advantages and limitations which, interestingly, complement each other. Here, we present an innovative infrastructural development that combines both approaches to accelerate drug discovery. The scale of the potential resulting workflow is such that it is dependent on supercomputing to achieve extremely high throughput. We have demonstrated the viability of this workflow for the study of inhibitors for four COVID-19 target proteins and our ability to perform the required large-scale calculations to identify lead antiviral compounds through repurposing on a variety of supercomputers.
COVID-19, circadian rhythms and sleep: from virology to chronobiology
Authors: Liu Zulian , Ting Sharlene , Zhuang Xiaodong
Published: October 2021

Various aspects of our physiology and immune response to pathogens are under 24 h circadian control and its role in clinical and research practice is becoming increasingly recognized. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the causative agent of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people to date. Cross-disciplinary approaches and collaborative efforts have led to an unprecedented speed in developing novel therapies and vaccines to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Circadian misalignment and sleep disruption have a profound impact on immune function and subsequently on the ability of individuals to combat infections. This review summarizes the evidence on the interplay between circadian biology, sleep and COVID-19 with the aim to identify areas of translational potentials that may inform diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in this pandemic.
Insights into the impact on daily life of the COVID-19 pandemic and effective coping strategies from free-text analysis of people's collective experiences
Authors: Hampshire Adam , Hellyer Peter J. , Trender William , Chamberlain Samuel R.
Published: October 2021

There has been considerable speculation regarding how people cope during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, surveys requiring selection from prespecified answers are limited by researcher views and may overlook the most effective measures. Here, we apply an unbiased approach that learns from people's collective lived experiences through the application of natural-language processing of their free-text reports. At the peak of the first lockdown in the United Kingdom, 51 113 individuals provided free-text responses regarding self-perceived positive and negative impact of the pandemic, as well as the practical measures they had found helpful during this period. Latent Dirichlet Allocation identified, in an unconstrained data-driven manner, the most common impact and advice topics. We report that six negative topics and seven positive topics are optimal for capturing the different ways people reported being affected by the pandemic. Forty-five topics were required to optimally summarize the practical coping strategies that they recommended. General linear modelling showed that the prevalence of these topics covaried substantially with age. We propose that a wealth of coping measures may be distilled from the lived experiences of the general population. These may inform feasible individually tailored digital interventions that have relevance during and beyond the pandemic.
Influence of Br
−
/S
2−
site-exchange on Li diffusion mechanism in Li
6
PS
5
Br: a computational study
Authors: Sadowski Marcel , Albe Karsten
Published: October 2021

We investigate how low degrees of

Br

−

/

S

2
−

site-exchange influence the

Li

+

diffusion in the argyrodite-type solid electrolyte

Li

6

PS

5

Br

by
ab initio
molecular dynamics simulations. Based on the atomic trajectories of the defect-free material, a new mechanism for the internal

Li

+

reorganization within the

Li

+

cages around the

4
d

sites is identified. This reorganization mechanism is highly concerted and cannot be described by just one rotation axis. Simulations with

Br

−

/

S

2
−

defects reveal that

Li

+

interstitials (

L
ii
.

) are the dominant mobile charge carriers and originate from Frenkel pairs. These are formed because

B
rS
.

defects on the

4
d

sites donate one or even two

L
ii
.

to the neighbouring cages. The

L
ii
.

then carry out intercage jumps via interstitial and interstitialcy mechanisms. With that, one single

B
rS
.

defect enables

Li

+

diffusion over an extended spatial area explaining why low degrees of site-exchange are sufficient to trigger superionic conduction. The vacant sites of the Frenkel pairs, namely

V

Li

 
′

, are mostly immobile and bound to the

B
rS
.

defect. Because

S

Br

′

defects on

4
a

sites act as sinks for

L
ii
.

they seem to be beneficial only for the local

Li

+

transport. In their vicinity T4 tetrahedral sites start to get occupied. Because the

Li

+

transport was found to be rather confined if

S

Br

′

and

B
rS
.

defects are direct neighbours, their relative arrangement seems to be crucial for effective long-range transport.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Understanding fast-ion conduction in solid electrolytes’.
Fast-ion conduction and local environments in BIMEVOX
Authors: Stroud Harry J. , Mohn Chris E. , Hernandez Jean-Alexis , Allan Neil L.
Published: October 2021

The energy landscape of the fast-ion conductor Bi
4
V
2
O
11
is studied using density functional theory. There are a large number of energy minima, dominated by low-lying thermally accessible configurations in which there are equal numbers of oxygen vacancies in each vanadium–oxygen layer, a range of vanadium coordinations and a large variation in Bi–O and V–O distances. By dividing local minima in the energy landscape into sets of configurations, we then examine diffusion in each different layer using
ab initio
molecular dynamics. These simulations show that the diffusion mechanism mainly takes place in the 〈110〉 directions in the vanadium layers, involving the cooperative motion of the oxide ions between the O(2) and O(3) sites in these layers, but not O(1) in the Bi–O layers, in agreement with experiment. O(1) vacancies in the Bi–O layers are readily filled by the migration of oxygens from the V–O layers. The calculated ionic conductivity is in reasonable agreement with the experiment. We compare ion conduction in δ-Bi
4
V
2
O
11
with that in δ-Bi
2
O
3
.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Understanding fast-ion conduction in solid electrolytes’.
Fuzzy logic: about the origins of fast ion dynamics in crystalline solids
Authors: Gombotz M. , Hogrefe K. , Zettl R. , Gadermaier B. , Wilkening H. Martin. R.
Published: October 2021

Nuclear magnetic resonance offers a wide range of tools to analyse ionic jump processes in crystalline and amorphous solids. Both high-resolution and time-domain

 

1
,
2

H

,

 

6
,
7

Li

,

 

19

F

,

 

23

Na

NMR helps throw light on the origins of rapid self-diffusion in materials being relevant for energy storage. It is well accepted that

Li
+

ions are subjected to extremely slow exchange processes in compounds with strong site preferences. The loss of this site preference may lead to rapid cation diffusion, as is also well known for glassy materials. Further examples that benefit from this effect include, e.g. cation-mixed, high-entropy fluorides

( Ba, Ca) F
2

, Li-bearing garnets (

Li
7

La
3

Zr
2

O

12

) and thiophosphates such as

LiTi
2

(

PS
4

)

3

. In non-equilibrium phases site disorder, polyhedra distortions, strain and the various types of defects will affect both the activation energy and the corresponding attempt frequencies. Whereas in

(
Me, Ca
)

F
2

(

Me
=
Ba
,
 
Pb

)
cation
mixing influences F anion dynamics, in

Li
6

PS
5

X

(

X
=
Br
,
 
Cl
,
 
I

) the potential landscape can be manipulated by
anion
site disorder. On the other hand, in the mixed conductor

Li

4
+
x

Ti
5

O

12

cation-cation repulsions immediately lead to a boost in

Li
+

diffusivity at the early stages of chemical lithiation. Finally, rapid diffusion is also expected for materials that are able to guide the ions along (macroscopic) pathways with confined (or low-dimensional) dimensions, as is the case in layer-structured

RbSn
2

F
5

or

MeSnF
4

. Diffusion on fractal systems complements this type of diffusion.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Understanding fast-ion conduction in solid electrolytes’.
Luteimonas deserti sp. nov., a novel strain isolated from desert soil
Authors: Huang Xiao-Xian , Shang Jia , Xu Lian , Yang Rui , Sun Ji-Quan
Published: October 2021

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterial strain, named SJ-16T, was isolated from desert soil collected in Inner Mongolia, northern PR China. Strain SJ-16T grew at pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum, pH 8.0–9.0), 4–40 °C (optimum, 30–35 °C) and in the presence of 0–8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0–2 %). The strain was negative for catalase and positive for oxidase. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SJ-16T clustered with

Luteimonas chenhongjianii

100111T and

Luteimonas terrae

THG-MD21T, and had 98.8, 98.6, 98.3 and <97.9 % of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to strains

L. chenhongjianii

100111T,

L. terrae

THG-MD21T,

L. aestuarii

B9T and all other type strains of the genus

Luteimonas

, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c) and summed feature 9 (C16 : 0 10-methyl and/or iso-C17 : 1
 ω9c). Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major polar lipids, and ubiquinone-8 was the only respiratory quinone. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.3 mol%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values of strain SJ-16T to

L. chenhongjianii

100111T,

L. terrae

THG-MD21T,

L. rhizosphaerae

4-12T and

L. aestuarii

B9T were 36.9, 37.5, 24.0 and 21.1 %, and 80.9, 80.6, 80.7 and 76.3 %, respectively. Based on phenotypic, physiological and phylogenetic results, strain SJ-16T represents a novel species of the genus

Luteimonas

, for which the name Luteimonas deserti is proposed. The type strain is SJ-16T (=CGMCC 1.17694T=KCTC 82207T).
Clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs for the treatment of Candida parapsilosis infections: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Qin Jielin , Yang Han , Shan Zhiming , Jiang Lingzhi , Zhang Qingxian
Published: October 2021

Antifungal drugs have already been established as an effective treatment option for Candida parapsilosis infections, but there is no universal consensus on the ideal target for clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs for the treatment of C. parapsilosis infections. Few studies have directly compared the efficacies of antifungal drugs for the treatment of C. parapsilosis infections. We hypothesize that different antifungal drugs offer differing clinical efficacy and safety for the treatment of C. parapsilosis infections. We performed a comprehensive network meta-analysis on different strategies for C. parapsilosis infection treatment and compared the clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs as interventions for C. parapsilosis infections. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Technology of Chongqing VIP database, Wan Fang Data, and SinoMed databases were searched to identify appropriate randomized trials. Among the extracted C. parapsilosis cases, the survival and death rates with treatment of C. parapsilosis infection were compared among groups treated with different antifungal drugs. According to the evidence-network analysis, echinocandins were a better choice than other drugs for treating C. parapsilosis infections, and more importantly, caspofungin showed a more preferable effect for decreasing the risk of 30 day mortality. In conclusion, this study systematically evaluated the effectiveness and safety of antifungal drugs for the purpose of helping clinicians choose the most appropriate antifungal drugs. Future studies with larger samples are needed to evaluate the effects of patient factors on the clinical efficacy and safety of antifungal drugs for C. parapsilosis infections.
Effect of heterologous vaccination regimen with Ad5-nCoV CanSinoBio and BNT162b2 Pfizer in SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies titers
Authors: Romero-Ibarguengoitia Maria Elena , González Cantú Arnulfo , Hernández-Ruíz Yodira Guadalupe , Amerndariz-Vázquez Ana Gabriela , Rivera-Salinas Diego , Montelongo-Cruz Laura Patricia , del Río-Parra Gerardo Francisco , Barco-Flores Irene Antonieta , González-Facio Rosalinda , Sanz-Sánchez Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The efficacy with one dose Ad5-nCoV has been concerned. As a result, some patients have self-reported getting a boost with BNT. Therefore, this study aimed to compare SARS-CoV-2 spike 1-2 IgG antibodies in plasma samples between two groups: one group immunized with Ad5-nCoV and another with a heterologous vaccination regimen with Ad5-nCoV and BNT.

Methods

Prospective observational study included a subgroup analysis of patients who received the Ad5-nCoV immunization during the first trimester of 2021 in a Northern city of Mexico; and agreed to a follow-up for an entire year through SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies measurement samples. During the three months follow-up, some patients self-reported receiving a BNT boost. We report IgG levels from basal, 21-28 days after Ad5-nCoV dose, three months, and an additional 21-28 days after BNT boost.

Results

Seventeen patients 40 (16) years old, 52.9% men, were analyzed. We created four groups: (G1) patients vaccinated with Ad5-nCoV with no history of SARS-COV-2 (n=4), (G2) patients vaccinated with Ad5-nCoV and the first shot of BNT with no history of SARS-COV-2 (n=6), (G3) patients vaccinated with Ad5-nCoV with history of SARS-COV-2 (n=5), and (G4) patients vaccinated with Ad5-nCoV and the first shot of BNT with history of SARS-COV-2 (n=2).

The group immunized with a heterologous vaccine scheme reported higher antibodies after 21-28 days of follow-up after BNT boost. Median (IQR): G1 46.7 (-), G2 1077.5 (1901), G3 1158.5 (2673.5), and G4 2090 (-) (p<0.05). Headache was the most frequent adverse reaction when patients received Ad5-nCoV (n = 10, 83%), and pain at the injection site was the most frequent adverse reaction with BNT boost (n = 5, 83.3%).

Conclusion

Patients receiving a BNT boost after Ad5-nCoV had higher SARS-CoV-2 spike 1-2 IgG antibodies titers with no severe adverse reaction.

Author Approval

all authors read an approved the final version of the manuscript

Competing Interests

The authors have declared no competing interest

Funding

The research was supported by private funding provided by the hospital. No external funding was used.

Ethics statement

Ethics committee/local Institutional Review Board from the school of Medicine from Universidad de Monterrey gave ethical approval: Ref.:26022021-CN-1e-CI
Factors associated with the incidence rate of HIV viral rebound among children and adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in Malawi using the Laboratory Management information System: 2011-2020
Authors: Ng’ambi Wingston , Estill Janne , Jahn Andreas , Orel Erol , Chimpandule Tiwonge , Nyirenda Rose , Keiser Olivia
Published: October 2021

Objective

To describe the trends in the incidence rate of HIV VL rebound and assess the factors associated with the incidence rate of HIV VL rebound among the persons receiving ART in Malawi between 2011 and 2020.

Methods

We analyzed routinely collected patient-level HIV VL data extracted from the Malawi Laboratory Management Information System (LIMS). We fitted a multivariable Cox regression model of having HIV VL rebound (>1000 copies/mL) using a forward step-wise selection method, with age and sex entered as a priori variables. We presented both crude and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) of HIV VL rebound for the various independent variables. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

We evaluated 230,465 adults and children receiving ART and having at least one viral load test between 2011 and 2020. The median time between ART initiation and having a VL sample was 55 months (interquartile range: 25-92). The aHR for having HIV VL rebound were: 0.79 for females (95%CI:0.77-0.80, P<0.001) compared to males, 0.95 (95%CI: 0.94-0.98, P<0.001) for patients from rural compared to urban areas and 0.57 (95%CI:0.56-0.58, P<0.001) for routine compared to targeted VL tests. There was a decreasing trend in the aHR of patients having HIV VL rebound with increasing age.

Conclusion

This is the first national analysis of Malawi HIV VL data from LIMS. Our findings show the need to take into account the geographic and demographic characteristics of the patients in order to persistently suppress HIV VL and consequently achieve 95% HIV VL suppression by 2030.
The effect of training and workstation adjustability on teleworker discomfort during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: McAllister Megan J. , Costigan Patrick A. , Davies Joshua P. , Diesbourg Tara L.
Published: October 2021

Advancements in telework have increased occupational flexibility for employees and employers alike. However, while effective telework requires planning, the COVID-19 pandemic required many employees to quickly shift to working from home without making sure the requirements for telework were in place beforehand. This study evaluated the transition to telework on university faculty and staff and investigated the effect of one’s telework setup and ergonomics training on work-related discomfort in the at-home environment. Respondents reported increases in new or worsening pain since working from home of 24% and 51%, respectively, suggesting an immediate need for ergonomic interventions, including workstation evaluations, ergonomic training, and individual ergonomic assessments, for those who work from home.
Recoverability of Ancestral Recombination Graph Topologies
Authors: Hayman Elizabeth , Ignatieva Anastasia , Hein Jotun
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Recombination is a powerful evolutionary process that shapes the genetic diversity observed in the populations of many species. Reconstructing genealogies in the presence of recombination from sequencing data is a very challenging problem, as this relies on mutations having occurred on the correct lineages in order to detect the recombination and resolve the ordering of coalescence events in the local trees. We investigate the probability of reconstructing the true topology of ancestral recombination graphs (ARGs) under the coalescent with recombination and gene conversion. We explore how sample size and mutation rate affect the inherent uncertainty in reconstructed ARGs, which sheds light on the theoretical limitations of ARG reconstruction methods. We illustrate our results using estimates of evolutionary rates for several organisms; in particular, we find that for parameter values that are realistic for SARS-CoV-2, the probability of reconstructing genealogies that are close to the truth is low.
Integration of biosensor to a window-based control system for user emotion detection to static and dynamic visual contents of webpages
Authors: Isiaka Fatima M. , Adamu Awwal , Adamu Zainab
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Basic capturing of emotion on user experience of web applications and browsing is important in many ways. Quite often, online user experience is studied via tangible measures such as task completion time, surveys and comprehensive tests from which data attributes are generated. Prediction of users’ emotion and behaviour in some of these cases depends mostly on task completion time and number of clicks per given time interval. However, such approaches are generally subjective and rely heavily on distributional assumptions making the results prone to recording errors. This paper aims to propose a novel method – a window dynamic control system – that addresses the foregoing issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were obtained from laboratory experiments during which 44 volunteers had their synchronized physiological readings – skin conductance response, skin temperature, eye movement behaviour and users activity attributes taken by biosensors. The window-based dynamic control system (PHYCOB I) is integrated to the biosensor which collects secondary data attributes from these synchronized physiological readings and uses them for two purposes: for detection of both optimal emotional responses and users’ stress levels. The method’s novelty derives from its ability to integrate physiological readings and eye movement records to identify hidden correlates on a webpage.

Findings

The results from the analyses show that the control system detects basic emotions and outperforms other conventional models in terms of both accuracy and reliability, when subjected to model comparison – that is, the average recoverable natural structures for the three models with respect to accuracy and reliability are more consistent within the window-based control system environment than with the conventional methods.

Research limitations/implications

Graphical simulation and an example scenario are only provided for the control’s system design.

Originality/value

The novelty of the proposed model is its strained resistance to overfitting and its ability to automatically assess user emotion while dealing with specific web contents. The procedure can be used to predict which contents of webpages cause stress-induced emotions to users.
Evaluating the impact of pyrethroid insecticide resistance on reproductive fitness inSitobion avenae
Authors: Walsh Lael E. , Schmidt Olaf , Foster Stephen P. , Varis Coline , Grant Jim , Malloch Gaynor L. , Gaffney Michael T.
Published: October 2021

Resistance to insecticides used to control pests is an issue of increasing concern for agriculture. The grain aphid,Sitobion avenae, is a pest of cereals and grasses worldwide, and one of growing concern due to the evolution of resistance to certain insecticides. Resistance confers benefits to insects by enabling them to survive exposure to insecticide compounds; however, the mutations conferring resistance may also penalise the insect in pesticide‐free environments due to fitness costs associated with the new phenotype. Here we tested the hypothesis of a reproductive penalty linked to the knockdown resistance mutation (kdr) to pyrethroid insecticides. The mutation occurs predominantly in a single SA3 clone. To date, only heterozygous‐resistant forms (kdr‐SR) have been detected in populations in Ireland and the UK, and this suggests that a fitness penalty may preclude the formation of both male and female heterozygous‐resistant sexual forms. By designing an experiment which included a resistant and a non‐resistant clone, we were able to simulate reduced daylight and temperature conditions which, in nature, trigger sexual reproduction and therefore study the responses of each clone. This allowed us to detect the switch from asexual females to sexual females and males and report on the conditions associated with the production of sexual forms. The results showed that both aphid clones were able to produce sexual forms with no difference in the onset of sexual reproduction, although reproductive strategies differed between clones. The later onset of male forms in the SA3 clone may decrease the likelihood of mating interactions to create fully resistant (kdr‐RR) genotypes and this may constitute a fitness penalty due to pyrethroid resistance.
Group punishment does not always discount: Cultural difference in punishment of individuals and groups
Authors: Liu Hong‐Zhi , Wang Xiao‐Zhuang , Sun Xiaomin , Wei Zi‐Han
Published: October 2021

Various transgressions and crimes can be accomplished by individuals, but are also committed by groups. A similar transgression may have varying punishment intensities for individuals and groups, and this difference may also vary between the American and Chinese cultures. Using a questionnaire on bribery scenarios, two studies were carried out to examine the differences in punishment intensities for individuals and groups in the aforementioned two cultures. Results confirm that punishment intensities on individuals are harsher than those on groups in the American culture. In contrast, punishment intensities on individuals and groups are equally harsh in the Chinese culture. Further evidence indicates that the underlying mechanism can be attributed to the construal of agency, which mediates the moderating effect of cultural group (American vs. Chinese) on the relationship between transgression type (group vs. individual) and punishment intensity. Findings provide an in‐depth understanding of the cultural differences in the punishment of individuals and groups and their underlying mechanisms.
Non‐metabolic function of MTHFD2 activates CDK2 in bladder cancer
Authors: Liu Xi , Liu Shuangjie , Piao Chiyuan , Zhang Zhe , Zhang Xiaotong , Jiang Yuanjun , Kong Chuize
Published: October 2021

Bladder cancer is a common tumor with a high recurrence rate and high fatality rate, and its mechanism of occurrence and development remains unclear. Many proteins and metabolites reprogram at different stages of tumor development to support tumor cell growth. The moonlighting effect happens when a protein performs multiple functions simultaneously in a cell. In this study, we identified a metabolic protein, MTHFD2, which participates in the cell cycle by binding to CDK2 in bladder cancer. MTHFD2 has been shown to affect bladder cancer cell growth, which is independent of its metabolic function. We found that MTHFD2 was involved in cell cycle regulation and could encourage cell cycle progression by activating CDK2 and sequentially affecting E2F1 activation. In addition, moonlighting MTHFD2 might be regulated by the dynamics of the mitochondria. In conclusion, MTHFD2 localizes in the nucleus to perform a distinct function of catalyzing metabolic reactions. Moreover, the nuclear MTHFD2 activates CDK2 and promotes bladder cancer cell growth by modulating the cell cycle.