bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of abiotic factors on incubation of Baikal omul eggs in the Selenga River (Lake Baikal Basin)
Authors: Bazova N V , Bazov A V
Published: November 2021

Abiotic factors affecting the choice of spawning sites for the Baikal omul (Coregonus migratorius) in the Selenga River over 27 years were studied. A total of 3,450 samples were collected using the Dulkeit scraper in Decembers of 1987-2014, at 24 trans-sections in the Selenga River channel over a total length of 410 km. At each sampling site we recorded omul egg density, substrate particle size, water depth, water flow velocity, and ice thickness. Omul eggs were found mainly on hard substrates (sand, gravel, pebbles, and pebble-cobbles combinations). Omul has been found to avoid spawning at depths less than 1.5 m and greater than 6.0 m. Water velocity and ice thickness did not strongly influence the choice of site. Omul eggs were found at flow rates of 0.05-0.7 m/s with a maximum at 0.1 m/s.
The history of small mammal fauna of Western Transbaikalia: a brief review
Authors: Erbajeva M A , Borisova N G , Alexeeva N V
Published: November 2021

The history of the Western Transbaikalia terrestrial fauna of small mammals from the Neogene to the Holocene was traced based on fossil-bearing localities. The main factors influencing the development of the Transbaikalia biota and the environment were the gradually increasing climate cooling and aridization for the last four million years in the region.
Postfire changes in chortobiont insects community at experimental plots in Southern Transbaikalia (Daursky Nature Reserve)
Authors: Korsun O V
Published: November 2021

The purpose of the research is to study the features of the abundance of the chortobiont insect community in the burnt and unburned plots of the plain grasslands of the Torey depression in Southern Transbaikalia. In a number of cases, the diversity in the burned-out plots turned out to be significantly lower. This tendency remains throughout June and July, suggesting the importance of dry, dead grass, which serves as a shelter for invertebrates, providing better protection from predators and high temperatures. However, the species Trigonotylus longitarsus (Hemiptera, Miridae), on the contrary, showed an increase in abundance in the burnt plots.
Diversity of littoral zoobenthos in Lake Arakhley (Transbaikalia) during the arid phase
Authors: Matafonov P V
Published: November 2021

There is little data available on the zoobenthos of the Baikal region’s eastern periphery water bodies in low-water years. The taxonomic diversity of zoobenthos of the littoral zone of a deep lake (Arakhley, Transbaikalia) was studied in an extremely low-water year, 2017. The zoobenthos of the lake littoral zone was represented by 44 taxa. Chironomids accounted for 41% of the zoobenthos taxonomic diversity, 14% each – gastropods and leeches. The taxonomic diversity of the littoral zoobenthos in different parts of the lake varied from 19 to 24 taxa and averaged 22.3 ± 1.97 taxa. The relationship between taxonomic diversity and depth in Lake Arakhley is described by polynomial dependence. Deviations from the relationship identified at the periphery of vegetation thickets were due to the ecotone effect. Obtained data shows the state of zoobenthos taxonomic diversity under conditions of climate aridization and the reduction of littoral sandy habitats.
Two species of Leymus (Poaceae) are artificial as inferred from the molecular-genetic data
Authors: Badmaeva N K
Published: November 2021

The results of studying taxonomic relationships between five species of the aggregate Leymus secalinus (Georgi) Tzvel. of the genus Leymus Hochst. are presented. The research is based on the study of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region obtained by sequencing the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers, and on the anatomical and morphological data. A molecular-genetic study of the L. secalinus aggregate has revealed that the two species L. ovatus and L. jenisseiensis are artificial.
Ecosystem, vegetation and soil diversity of the mountain forest-steppe of West Altai (a case study of the Tigirek State Natural Reserve)
Authors: Smirnova M A , Bocharnikov M V
Published: November 2021

The quantitative assessment of ecosystem diversity is a basic tool for the evaluation of its resilience to anthropogenic loads and climatic changes. Our work is devoted to the large-scale predictive ecosystem mapping of hard-to-reach West Altai Mountain areas as well as vegetation, soil, and ecosystem quantitative diversity assessment (basing on Shannon and Simpson indices). The key site (7x4.5 km area) located in the Tigirek State Natural Reserve in the humid climate of the windward part of Altai. The predominance of shrub meadow communities and forb meadows on Gleyic Chernozems and Gleyic Chernic Phaeozems, Gleyic Cambisols, as well as the development of larch forests on the slopes of shady exposures on Greyzemic Chernozems are the regional specificities of the forest-steppe Altai ecosystem. Steppe communities (located on the Haplic Chernozems, Cambisols, and Leptosols), occupy less than 2% of the key site. The studied mountain forest-steppe ecosystem of West Altai is characterized by an extremely high level of spatial diversity: the Shannon index is 3.28, the Simpson is 0.95; an increase in soil diversity leads to a linear increase in vegetation diversity.
Amphiphilic properties of humic substances in soils of the southern Vitim Plateau (Transbaikalia, Eastern Siberia)
Authors: Milkheev E Yu , Tsybenov Yu B
Published: November 2021

Humic substances of soils are considered as a multicomponent system of amphiphilic (exhibiting both hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties) substances. Humic substances from soils of different genesis in the south of the Vitim Plateau (quasigley chernozem – Turbic Chernozem Molliglossic and brown soil – Stagnic Phaeozem Molliglossic) were studied. Using the hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Octyl-Sepharose® CL-4B, we separated a mixture of humic (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) due to their different ability to enter into hydrophobic interactions with the gel matrix. A higher percentage of hydrophobic compounds was revealed in HAs of quasigley chernozem, compared to HAs of brown soils, and FAs. The fulvic acid sample showed a lower capacity for hydrophobic interactions than the humic acid sample.
Fabrication of MSC-laden composites of hyaluronic acid hydrogels reinforced with MEW scaffolds for cartilage repair
Authors: Galarraga Jonathan H , Locke Ryan C , Witherel Claire E , Stoeckl Brendan D , Castilho Miguel , Mauck Robert L , Malda Jos , Levato Riccardo , Burdick Jason A
Published: November 2021

Hydrogels are of interest in cartilage tissue engineering due to their ability to support the encapsulation and chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, features such as hydrogel crosslink density, which can influence nutrient transport, nascent matrix distribution, and the stability of constructs during and after implantation must be considered in hydrogel design. Here, we first demonstrate that more loosely crosslinked (i.e. softer, ∼2 kPa) norbornene-modified hyaluronic acid (NorHA) hydrogels support enhanced cartilage formation and maturation when compared to more densely crosslinked (i.e. stiffer, ∼6–60 kPa) hydrogels, with a >100-fold increase in compressive modulus after 56 d of culture. While soft NorHA hydrogels mature into neocartilage suitable for the repair of articular cartilage, their initial moduli are too low for handling and they do not exhibit the requisite stability needed to withstand the loading environments of articulating joints. To address this, we reinforced NorHA hydrogels with polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers produced via melt-electrowriting (MEW). Importantly, composites fabricated with MEW meshes of 400 µm spacing increased the moduli of soft NorHA hydrogels by ∼50-fold while preserving the chondrogenic potential of the hydrogels. There were minimal differences in chondrogenic gene expression and biochemical content (e.g. DNA, GAG, collagen) between hydrogels alone and composites, whereas the composites increased in compressive modulus to ∼350 kPa after 56 d of culture. Lastly, integration of composites with native tissue was assessed ex vivo; MSC-laden composites implanted after 28 d of pre-culture exhibited increased integration strengths and contact areas compared to acellular composites. This approach has great potential towards the design of cell-laden implants that possess both initial mechanical integrity and the ability to support neocartilage formation and integration for cartilage repair.
An optical processor for matrix-by-vector multiplication: an application to the distance geometry problem in 1D
Authors: Hengeveld S B , Rubiano da Silva N , Gonçalves D S , Souto Ribeiro P H , Mucherino A
Published: November 2021

We present the architecture of a new optical processor specialized in matrix-by-vector multiplication via the manipulation of the light wavefront. This processor can reach up to 1.2 Giga MAC (multiply-accumulate) operations per second using commercially available devices. Moreover, this architecture is compatible with a hardware upgrade with the potential to achieve a processing speed of above Tera MAC per second. We initially present the optical processor and then discuss the use of such a processor for tackling a special class of the one-dimensional distance geometry problem, which is a well-known NP-hard problem.
Positivity and Hankel transforms
Authors: Zhang Ruiming
Published: November 2021

In this work we prove that some integrals of special functions are positive by applying the Plancherel theorem for Hankel transforms and positivity of the modified Bessel functions. We also prove that, except an extra elementary factor, Hankel transforms map subsets of completely monotonic functions into complete monotonic functions.
Biosynthesis of poly(glycolate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) in Escherichia coli expressing sequence-regulating polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase and medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyalkanoic acid coenzyme A ligase
Authors: Tomita Hiroya , Satoh Keigo , Nomura Christopher T , Matsumoto Ken'ichiro
Published: November 2021

Chimeric polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase PhaCAR is characterized by the capacity to incorporate unusual glycolate (GL) units and spontaneously synthesize block copolymers. The GL and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) copolymer synthesized by PhaCAR is a random-homo block copolymer, poly(GL-ran-3HB)-b-poly(3HB). In the present study, medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) units were incorporated into this copolymer using PhaCAR for the first time. The coenzyme A (CoA) ligase from Pseudomonas oleovorans (AlkK) serves as a simple 3HHx-CoA supplying route in Escherichia coli from exogenously supplemented 3HHx. NMR analyses of the obtained polymers revealed that 3HHx units were randomly connected to 3HB units, whereas GL units were heterogeneously distributed. Therefore, the polymer is composed of 2 segments: P(3HB-co-3HHx) and P(GL-co-3HB-co-3HHx). The thermal and mechanical properties of the terpolymer indicate no contiguous P(3HB) segments in the material, consistent with the NMR results. Therefore, PhaCAR synthesized the novel block copolymer P(3HB-co-3HHx)-b-P(GL-co-3HB-co-3HHx), which is the first block polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprising 2 copolymer segments.
PoET: automated approach for measuring pore edge tension in giant unilamellar vesicles
Authors: Leomil Fernanda S C , Zoccoler Marcelo , Dimova Rumiana , Riske Karin A
Published: November 2021

Motivation

A reliable characterization of the membrane pore edge tension of single giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) requires the measurement of micrometer sized pores in hundreds to thousands of images. When manually performed, this procedure has shown to be extremely time-consuming and to generate inconsistent results among different users and imaging systems. A user-friendly software for such analysis allowing quick processing and generation of reproducible data had not yet been reported.

Results

We have developed a software (PoET) for automatic pore edge tension measurements on GUVs. The required image processing steps and the characterization of the pore dynamics are performed automatically within the software and its use allowed for a 30-fold reduction in the analysis time. We demonstrate the applicability of the software by comparing the pore edge tension of GUVs of different membrane compositions and surface charges. The approach was applied to electroporated GUVs but is applicable to other means of pore formation.

Availability and implementation

The complete software is implemented in Python and available for Windows at https://dx.doi.org/10.17617/3.7h.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Antisense therapies in neurological diseases
Authors: Brunet de Courssou Jean-Baptiste , Durr Alexandra , Adams David , Corvol Jean-Christophe , Mariani Louise-Laure
Published: November 2021

Advances in targeted regulation of gene expression allowed new therapeutic approaches for monogenic neurological diseases. Molecular diagnosis has paved the way to personalized medicine targeting the pathogenic roots: DNA or its RNA transcript. These antisense therapies rely on modified nucleotides sequences (single-strand DNA or RNA, both belonging to the antisense oligonucleotides family, or double-strand interfering RNA) to act specifically on pathogenic target nucleic acids, thanks to complementary base pairing. Depending on the type of molecule, chemical modifications and target, base pairing will lead alternatively to splicing modifications of primary transcript RNA or transient messenger RNA degradation or non-translation. The key to success for neurodegenerative diseases also depends on the ability to reach target cells. The most advanced antisense therapies under development in neurological disorders are presented here, at the clinical stage of development, either at phase 3 or market authorization stage, such as in spinal amyotrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, transthyretin-related hereditary amyloidosis, porphyria and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; or in earlier clinical phase 1 B, for Huntington's disease, synucleinopathies and tauopathies. We also discuss antisense therapies at the preclinical stage, such as in some tauopathies, spinocerebellar ataxias or other rare neurological disorders. Each subtype of antisense therapy, antisense oligonucleotides or interfering RNA, has proved target engagement or even clinical efficacy in patients; undisputable recent advances for severe and previously untreatable neurological disorders. Antisense therapies show great promise, but many unknowns remain. Expanding the initial successes achieved in orphan or rare diseases to other disorders will be the next challenge, as shown by the recent failure in Huntington disease or due to long-term preclinical toxicity in multiple system atrophy and cystic fibrosis. This will be critical in the perspective of new planned applications to premanifest mutation carriers, or other non-genetic degenerative disorders such as multiple system atrophy or Parkinson disease.
Quantification of visceral perfusion and impact of femoral cannulation: in vitro model of aortic dissection
Authors: Heo Woon , Lee Gyu-Han , Kim Tae-Hoon , Lee Youngjin , Huh Hyungkyu , Ha Hojin , Song Suk-Won , Yoo Kyung-Jong
Published: November 2021

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to simulate blood flow at an aortic dissection in an in vitro vascular model and assess the impact of the cannulation method on visceral perfusion.

METHODS

An aortic-dissection model with an acrylic aortic wall and silicone intimal flap was developed to study visceral perfusion under various cannulation conditions. The primary tear was placed in the proximal descending aorta and the re-entry site in the left common iliac artery. A cardiovascular pump was used to reproduce a normal pulsatile aortic flow and a steady cannulation flow. Axillary and axillary plus femoral cannulation were compared at flow rates of 3–7 l/min. Haemodynamics were analysed by using four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

Axillary cannulation (AC) was found to collapse the true lumen at the coeliac and superior mesentery arteries, while combined axillary and femoral cannulation did not change the size of the true lumen. Combined axillary and femoral cannulation resulted in a larger visceral flow than did AC alone. When axillary plus femoral cannulation was used, the visceral flow increased by 125% at 3 l/min, by 89% at 4 l/min, by 67% at 5 L/min, by 98% at 6 l/min and by 101% at 7 l/min, respectively, compared to those with the AC only.

CONCLUSIONS

Our model was useful to understanding the haemodynamics in aortic dissection. In this specific condition, we confirmed that the intimal flap motion can partially block blood flow to the coeliac and superior mesenteric arteries and that additional femoral cannulation can increase visceral perfusion.
Promoting active transport in rural communities through infrastructural modifications: the PABEM needs assessment tool
Authors: Hofer-Fischanger Kathrin , Tuttner Silvia , Amort Frank M , Helms Katja , Unger Julia , Hödl Josef , Strüver Anke , van Poppel Mireille N M
Published: November 2021

The design of the built environment in communities influences active transport and physical activity levels of citizens. Existing instruments for quantitatively assessing built environments were developed for use in urban areas and mainly by experts. Participative assessment of built environment modifications (PABEM) is a needs assessment tool that involves citizens and community decision-makers within a structured process for identifying needed changes to promote walking and cycling in rural areas. This article describes the development of the PABEM process and evaluates its initial use in three rural towns in Austria. PABEM consists of the following seven steps: (i) qualitative interviews; (ii) expert assessment of the built environment; (iii) citizen assessment of the built environment; (iv) social media interaction; (v) household questionnaire; (vi) participatory workshop; and (vii) evaluation and scoring workshop. The main modifications identified as necessary in rural towns were the revitalization of existing walking and cycling facilities and the construction of new barrier-free and safe sidewalks. In addition cycling routes to schools, to public transport facilities and to central public places as well as cleaner and inviting seating, a car-free school environment, speed reduction in town centres, more crosswalks and improved cleanliness in public places were also deemed necessary modifications. PABEM’s provisions to ensure collaborative participation of citizens and local decision-makers fostered a continuous dialogue about the requirements of the built environment, user needs and opportunities for realization throughout the whole process.
Health inequity and social determinants of healthcare utilization in the disadvantaged community of Hong Kong
Authors: Tan Joelle Hwee Inn , Goh Amelia Xin Chun , Yi Huso
Published: November 2021

Access to appropriate healthcare among disadvantaged populations in countries with universal healthcare requires a critical understanding of the relationships between poverty, social exclusion and health in the local context. The qualitative study explored the experiences of healthcare utilization in an inner-city impoverished community living in slum conditions in Hong Kong. Interviews with 40 slum residents in one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city explored the following domains: experience and perceptions of the community, housing conditions, informal social capital and support system, interactions with community workers, and experiences in utilizing social and healthcare services. Framework analysis was conducted to identify local themes under the model of healthcare utilization: approachability, acceptability, availability and accommodation, affordability and appropriateness. Despite the subsidized public healthcare system, multiple barriers were identified. Low literacy of healthcare systems was prevalent. Specifically, structural barriers relating mainly to the availability, accommodation and affordability of health services were salient to impede access to healthcare. The barriers related to healthcare providers primarily stemmed from the interactions of healthcare providers, perceived stigma and the lack of patient-centred care. In addition, poverty-related sociocultural norms and personal beliefs of healthcare were found to be significant barriers to healthcare access. Despite the well-established subsidized public healthcare system, healthcare inequity was evident. Lack of quality healthcare access needs to be addressed by providing social and educational resources that facilitate collective efficacy for healthcare, community engagement from public sectors and person-centred care with healthcare providers.
The process of adapting a sexual health intervention for Black early adolescents: a stakeholder engagement approach
Authors: McCabe K , Hotton A , Loyd A B , Floyd B , Donenberg G , Fletcher F E
Published: November 2021

Young Black women are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Notably, few sexual health interventions for Black girls have documented the process of utilizing stakeholder input from the Black community to culturally tailor content. We conducted formative work in Chicago to adapt a mother–daughter HIV/STI prevention intervention originally designed for Black adolescent girls aged 14–18 years to meet the needs of early adolescent girls aged 11–13 years. Our iterative process involved three phases: (i) soliciting feedback from an expert panel and community advisory board; (ii) conducting focus groups with experienced research participants; and (iii) theater testing a new curriculum in the target population. Key findings of this process indicate the importance of sophisticated community engagement strategies to shape research design and program implementation. Findings may be used to inform processes for future adaptation work, especially in sexual health programs for young Black girls and their mothers.
In the Shadow of the Gas Chambers: Social Dynamics and Everyday Life around the Killing Center at Bełżec (1941–1944)
Authors: Burzlaff Jan
Published: November 2021

The Nazis’ killing center at Bełżec (1941–1944) poses a fundamental challenge to Holocaust scholars. How can we write the history of a place that has been obliterated and whose records have been destroyed? Twelve untapped non-Jewish video testimonies provide new insights into aspects of daily life around Bełżec. This essay argues that strong social ties dictated who lived and died in the shadow of the gas chambers. The least well-known killing center radicalized social relations in the village, inflected by class, age, and gender. Ultimately, this essay seeks to pave the way for a more systematic approach to the much-debated notion of “social dynamics,” and encourages Holocaust scholars to tackle more directly non-Jewish testimonies.
Parent–child relationship quality and child psychological adjustment in families created using egg donation: children’s perspectives at age 5 years
Authors: Imrie S , Lysons J , Jadva V , Shaw K , Grimmel J , Golombok S
Published: November 2021

STUDY QUESTION

What are children’s perspectives of the quality of their relationships with their parents and their own psychological well-being in families created using egg donation?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Children’s scores indicated good parent–child relationship quality and high levels of psychological well-being, with children in families created using egg donation rating their relationships with their mothers as higher in warmth/enjoyment than children in a comparison group of families created using IVF.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

Little is known about how children in families created through egg donation view their family relationships and their own psychological well-being. Research with 7-and-10-year-olds in anonymous egg donation families has indicated good parent–child relationship quality from children’s perspectives, but studies have not involved younger children or those conceived following identity-release egg donation.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

This study included 50 children who had been born through egg donation and a comparison group of 43 children conceived through IVF with the parents’ own gametes. Data were collected between April 2018 and December 2019. The sample forms part of a larger longitudinal study examining family functioning in families created through fertility treatment.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Children were aged 5 years old and had been born into families with different-sex couple parents. All families were visited at home. Children were administered the Berkeley Puppet Interview, a standardized assessment of parent–child relationship quality and psychological well-being.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Children in egg donation families rated their relationships with their mothers as higher in warmth and enjoyment than did children in IVF families. No differences were found between the two family types in children’s ratings of the father–child relationship, or in children’s ratings of their own psychological well-being.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

It is possible that children who did not consent to take part in the research had less positive perceptions of their family and themselves than children who participated.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

The findings are relevant to UK clinics offering identity-release egg donation, to parents who have used egg donation to create their family and to individuals and couples considering their fertility treatment options. That children in egg donation families were more similar than different to children in IVF families in their self-concept and perception of their family relationships should prove reassuring.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

This research was supported by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award [208013/Z/17]. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.
Assay for the peptide:N-glycanase/NGLY1 and disease-specific biomarkers for diagnosing NGLY1 deficiency
Authors: Hirayama Hiroto , Suzuki Tadashi
Published: November 2021

Cytosolic peptide:N-glycanase (NGLY1 in mammals), a highly conserved enzyme in eukaryotes, catalyses the deglycosylation of N-glycans that are attached to glycopeptide/glycoproteins. In 2012, an autosomal recessive disorder related to the NGLY1 gene, which was referred to as NGLY1 deficiency, was reported. Since then, more than 100 patients have been identified. Patients with this disease exhibit various symptoms, including various motor deficits and other neurological problems. Effective therapeutic treatments for this disease, however, have not been established. Most recently, it was demonstrated that the intracerebroventricular administration of an adeno-associated virus 9 vector expressing human NGLY1 during the weaning period allowed some motor functions to be recovered in Ngly1−/− rats. This observation led us to hypothesize that a therapeutic intervention for improving these motor deficits or other neurological symptoms found in the patients might be possible. To achieve this, it is critical to establish robust and facile methods for assaying NGLY1 activity in biological samples, for the early diagnosis and evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of NGLY1 deficiency. In this mini review, we summarize progress made in the development of various assay methods for NGLY1 activity, as well as a recent progress in the identification of NGLY1 deficiency-specific biomarkers.
Length of Stay per Total Body Surface Area Burn Relative to Mechanism: A Pediatric Injury Quality Improvement Collaborative Study
Authors: Patterson Kelli N , Onwuka Amanda , Horvath Kyle Z , Fabia Renata , Giles Sheila , Marx Daniel , Aguayo Pablo , Ziegfeld Susan , Garcia Alejandro , Stewart F Dylan , Fritzeen Jennifer , Burd Randall S , Vitale Lisa , Klein Justin , Thakkar Rajan K
Published: November 2021

Studies on length of stay (LOS) per total body surface area (TBSA) burn in pediatric patients are often limited to single institutions and are grouped in ranges of TBSA burn which lacks specific detail to counsel patients and families. A LOS to TBSA burn ratio of 1 has been widely accepted but not validated with multi-institution data. The objective of this study is to describe the current relationship of LOS per TBSA burn and LOS per TBSA burn relative to burn mechanism with the use of multi-institutional data. Data from the Pediatric Injury Quality Improvement Collaborative (PIQIC) were obtained for patients across five pediatric burn centers from July 2018 to September 2020. LOS per TBSA burn ratios were calculated. Descriptive statistics and generalized linear regression which modeled characteristics associated with LOS per TBSA ratio are described. Among the 1267 pediatric burn patients, the most common mechanism was scald (64%), followed by contact (17%) and flame (13%). The average LOS/TBSA burn ratio across all cases was 1.2 (SD = 2.1). In adjusted models, scald burns and chemical burns had similar LOS/TBSA burn ratios of 0.8 and 0.9, respectively, whereas all other burns had a significantly higher LOS/TBSA burn ratio (p<0.0001). LOS/TBSA burn ratios were similar across races, although Hispanics had a slightly higher ratio at 1.4 days. These data establish a multi-institution LOS per TBSA ratio across PIQIC centers and demonstrate a significant variation in the LOS per TBSA burn relative to the burn mechanism sustained.
The DES view of the Eridanus supervoid and the CMB cold spot
Authors: Kovács A , Jeffrey N , Gatti M , Chang C , Whiteway L , Hamaus N , Lahav O , Pollina G , Bacon D , Kacprzak T , Mawdsley B , Nadathur S , Zeurcher D , García-Bellido J , Alarcon A , Amon A , Bechtol K , Bernstein G M , Campos A , Rosell A Carnero , Kind M Carrasco , Cawthon R , Chen R , Choi A , Cordero J , Davis C , DeRose J , Doux C , Drlica-Wagner A , Eckert K , Elsner F , Elvin-Poole J , Everett S , Ferté A , Giannini G , Gruen D , Gruendl R A , Harrison I , Hartley W G , Herner K , Huff E M , Huterer D , Kuropatkin N , Jarvis M , Leget P F , MacCrann N , McCullough J , Muir J , Myles J , Navarro-Alsina A , Pandey S , Prat J , Raveri M , Rollins R P , Ross A J , Rykoff E S , Sánchez C , Secco L F , Sevilla-Noarbe I , Sheldon E , Shin T , Troxel M A , Tutusaus I , Varga T N , Yanny B , Yin B , Zhang Y , Zuntz J , Aguena M , Allam S , Andrade-Oliveira F , Annis J , Bertin E , Brooks D , Burke D , Carretero J , Costanzi M , da Costa L N , Pereira M E S , Davis T , De Vicente J , Desai S , Diehl H T , Ferrero I , Flaugher B , Fosalba P , Frieman J , Gaztañaga E , Gerdes D , Giannantonio T , Gschwend J , Gutierrez G , Hinton S , Hollowood D L , Honscheid K , James D , Kuehn K , Lima M , Maia M A G , Marshall J L , Melchior P , Menanteau F , Miquel R , Morgan R , Ogando R , Paz-Chinchon F , Pieres A , Plazas A A , Monroy M Rodriguez , Romer K , Roodman A , Sanchez E , Schubnell M , Serrano S , Smith M , Soares-Santos M , Suchyta E , Swanson M E C , Tarle G , Thomas D , To C-H , Weller J
Published: November 2021

The Cold Spot is a puzzling large-scale feature in the Cosmic Microwave Background temperature maps and its origin has been subject to active debate. As an important foreground structure at low redshift, the Eridanus supervoid was recently detected, but it was subsequently determined that, assuming the standard ΛCDM model, only about 10–20 per cent of the observed temperature depression can be accounted for via its Integrated Sachs–Wolfe imprint. However, R ≳ 100 h−1Mpc supervoids elsewhere in the sky have shown ISW imprints AISW ≈ 5.2 ± 1.6 times stronger than expected from ΛCDM (AISW = 1), which warrants further inspection. Using the Year-3 redMaGiC catalogue of luminous red galaxies from the Dark Energy Survey, here we confirm the detection of the Eridanus supervoid as a significant underdensity in the Cold Spot’s direction at z < 0.2. We also show, with S/N ≳ 5 significance, that the Eridanus supervoid appears as the most prominent large-scale underdensity in the dark matter mass maps that we reconstructed from DES Year-3 gravitational lensing data. While we report no significant anomalies, an interesting aspect is that the amplitude of the lensing signal from the Eridanus supervoid at the Cold Spot centre is about 30 per cent lower than expected from similar peaks found in N-body simulations based on the standard ΛCDM model with parameters Ωm = 0.279 and σ8 = 0.82. Overall, our results confirm the causal relation between these individually rare structures in the cosmic web and in the CMB, motivating more detailed future surveys in the Cold Spot region.
Suppression of uterine and placental ferroptosis by N-acetylcysteine in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Hu Min , Zhang Yuehui , Ma Shuting , Li Juanli , Wang Xu , Liang Mengmeng , Sferruzzi-Perri Amanda Nancy , Wu Xiaoke , Ma Hongxia , Brännström Mats , Shao Linus R , Billig Håkan
Published: November 2021

The mechanisms that link hyperandrogenism and insulin (INS) resistance (HAIR) to the increased miscarriage rate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain elusive. Previous studies demonstrate that increased uterine and placental ferroptosis is associated with oxidative stress-induced fetal loss in a pre-clinical PCOS-like rat model. Here, we investigated the efficacy and molecular mechanism of action of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in reversing gravid uterine and placental ferroptosis in pregnant rats exposed to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and INS. Molecular and histological analyses showed that NAC attenuated DHT and INS-induced uterine ferroptosis, including dose-dependent increases in anti-ferroptosis gene content. Changes in other molecular factors after NAC treatment were also observed in the placenta exposed to DHT and INS, such as increased glutathione peroxidase 4 protein level. Furthermore, increased apoptosis-inducing factor mitochondria-associated 2 mRNA expression was seen in the placenta but not in the uterus. Additionally, NAC was not sufficient to rescue DHT + INS-induced mitochondria-morphological abnormalities in the uterus, whereas the same treatment partially reversed such abnormalities in the placenta. Finally, we demonstrated that NAC selectively normalized uterine leukemia inhibitory factor, osteopontin/secreted phosphoprotein 1, progesterone receptor, homeobox A11 mRNA expression and placental estrogen-related receptor beta and trophoblast-specific protein alpha mRNA expression. Collectively, our data provide insight into how NAC exerts beneficial effects on differentially attenuating gravid uterine and placental ferroptosis in a PCOS-like rat model with fetal loss. These results indicate that exogenous administration of NAC represents a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of HAIR-induced uterine and placental dysfunction.
Inflammation and physical dysfunction: responses to moderate intensity exercise in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Watson Emma L , Baker Luke A , Wilkinson Tom J , Gould Doug W , Xenophontos Soteris , Graham-Brown Matthew , Major Rupert W , Ashford Robert U , Viana Joao L , Smith Alice C
Published: November 2021

Background

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience skeletal muscle wasting, reduced levels of physical function and performance, and chronic systemic inflammation. While it is known that a relationship exists between inflammation and muscle wasting, the association between inflammation and physical function or performance in CKD has not been well studied. Exercise has anti-inflammatory effects, but little is known regarding the effect of moderate intensity exercise. This study aimed to (i) compare systemic and intramuscular inflammation between CKD stage G3b–5 and non-CKD controls; (ii) establish whether a relationship exists between physical performance, exercise capacity and inflammation in CKD; (iii) determine changes in systemic and intramuscular inflammation following 12 weeks of exercise; and (iv) investigate whether improving inflammatory status via training contributes to improvements in physical performance and muscle mass.

Methods

This is a secondary analysis of previously collected data. CKD patients stages G3b–5 (n = 84, n = 43 males) and non-CKD controls (n = 26, n = 17 males) underwent tests of physical performance, exercise capacity, muscle strength and muscle size. In addition, a subgroup of CKD participants underwent 12 weeks of exercise training, randomized to aerobic (AE, n = 21) or combined (CE, n = 20) training. Plasma and intramuscular inflammation and myostatin were measured at rest and following exercise.

Results

Tumour necrosis factor-α was negatively associated with lower $^{^{^{.}}}{\rm V}$O2Peak (P = 0.01), Rectus femoris-cross sectional area (P = 0.002) and incremental shuttle walk test performance (P < 0.001). Interleukin-6 was negatively associated with sit-to-stand 60 performances (P = 0.006) and hand grip strength (P = 0.001). Unaccustomed exercise created an intramuscular inflammatory response that was attenuated following 12 weeks of training. Exercise training did not reduce systemic inflammation, but AE training did significantly reduce mature myostatin levels (P = 0.02). Changes in inflammation were not associated with changes in physical performance.

Conclusions

Systemic inflammation may contribute to reduced physical function in CKD. Twelve weeks of exercise training was unable to reduce the level of chronic systemic inflammation in these patients, but did reduce plasma myostatin concentrations. Further research is required to further investigate this.
Is Adolescent E-Cigarette Use Associated With Subsequent Smoking? A New Look
Authors: Sun Ruoyan , Mendez David , Warner Kenneth E
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Prospective studies have consistently reported a strong association between e-cigarette use and subsequent cigarette smoking, but many failed to adjust for important risk factors.

Methods

Using longitudinal data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, we employed multivariable logistic regressions to assess the adolescent vaping-to-smoking relationship, with four regressions (Models 1–4) sequentially adding more risk factors.

Our sample included all waves (waves 1–5) of the PATH Study.

Results

The association between ever e-cigarette use and subsequent cigarette smoking decreased substantially in magnitude when adding more control variables, including respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, exposure to tobacco users, cigarette susceptibility, and behavioral risk factors. Using the most recent data (waves 4–4.5 and waves 4.5–5), this association was not significant in the most complete model (Model 4). Using wave 4.5–5 data, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for ever e-cigarette use at initial wave and subsequent past 12-month smoking declined from 4.07 (95% confidence interval [CI, 2.86−5.81) in Model 1, adjusting only for sociodemographic characteristics, to 1.35 (95% CI, 0.84−2.16) in Model 4, adjusting for all potential risk factors. Similarly, the aOR of ever e-cigarette use and past 30-day smoking at wave 5 decreased from 3.26 (95% CI, 1.81−5.86) in Model 1 to 1.21 (95% CI, 0.59−2.48) with all covariates (Model 4).

Conclusions

Among adolescent never cigarette smokers, those who had ever used e-cigarettes at baseline, compared with never e-cigarette users, exhibited modest or non-significant increases in subsequent past 12-month or past 30-day smoking when adjusting for behavioral risk factors.
Peddling for Profit
Authors: Schaefer Sarah C.
Published: November 2021

Chapter 5 moves to the United States at the turn of the twentieth century, where the entrepreneurial spirit and penchant for spectacle led to some of the most significant and idiosyncratic recuperations of Doré’s work and the most compelling evidence for the critical place biblical imagery has maintained in modern life. A combination of practical factors (the lack of international copyright laws, for instance, and the highly successful tour of works from the Doré Gallery) led to widespread appropriation of Doré’s imagery in a plethora of contexts, including traditional media such as stained glass and book illustration, as well as more recent developments such as the magic lantern. In the United States, the proliferation of Christian denominations and capitalist culture alike are uniquely bound up with the circulation of Doré’s images.
Contributions to Critical Care from Psychological Science and Practice
Authors: Merbitz Nancy , Fleishman Joan , Kamsky Hannah , Sundborg Stephanie , Tingey Jamie Lynne , Ciccolella Nancy , Warren Ann Marie
Published: November 2021

In this chapter we highlight findings and practices from Psychology that can be applied to mitigate the impact of critical illness and the ICU environment on patients, families and staff. The substantial accumulating evidence for detrimental health effects of traumatic stress is highly relevant for the care of patients on the ICU, who are potentially traumatized by the experience and who may bring a history of trauma with them. The fields of trauma psychology and rehabilitation psychology share foundational principles to guide patient-centered and systemic changes to ICU care, and these principles guided our selection and presentation of material. Our discussion of how to implement these principles within a healthcare system is informed by selected findings from social, organizational and behavioral psychology, which also are summarized.
Psychological Considerations in the Intersection of Infectious Disease with Critical Care Medicine
Authors: Highfield Julie , Morgan Matt , Twose Paul
Published: November 2021

This chapter discusses the intersection between infectious disease and critical care and how it has impacted the delivery of critical care medicine as well as the ability to provide rehabilitation and psychological intervention. It also considers the psychological implications for critical care staff, relationships at work and team dynamics, and the requirements for staff support. Specific issues encountered during worldwide pandemics are also reviewed, along with implications for future practice. The family of coronavirus illnesses are highlighted, including Middle East respiratory syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and coronavirus, which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Similarities and differences between practices in the United Kingdom and United States are also discussed.
Psychopharmacology in the Critical Care Setting
Authors: Nayak Sandeep , Brigham Jonathan , Gerstenblith Ted Avi , Prince Elizabeth
Published: November 2021

Psychotropic medications can be a powerful tool for enabling treatment of critically ill patients. However, a careful approach to psychopharmacology is necessary in the critical care setting. Special considerations include interactions with other medications and treatments, high levels of physiologic stress that alter metabolism, and the challenges of obtaining diagnostic clarity due to limitations in assessment and confounding factors during critical illness. This chapter outlines common consult questions posed by intensive care teams to psychiatry consultation teams, including management of agitation and sedation, poor participation in care, anxiety, continuation of outpatient medication regimens, and alternatives to oral medication.
Family and Psychosocial Considerations in Critical Care
Authors: Herrer Macarena Gálvez , Davidson Judy E. , La Calle Gabriel Heras
Published: November 2021

This chapter discusses the expanding movement to humanize critical care and intensive care settings. An international perspective is provided with regard to how patients, families, and professionals, along with health care managers and authorities, can redesign health care systems to overcome the obstacles of dehumanization in hospitals and health centers, with social interest at the core. The authors maintain that caring for all parties, including the family, that coexist in the health care system is critical to building an excellent and effective service.
Systemic Factors Impacting Mortality and End-of-Life Issues in Critical Care
Authors: Mercer Leo C. , Canary Valerie , Maxson Michelle
Published: November 2021

This chapter reviews issues related to mortality in the intensive care setting. Relevant literature is summarized and emphasizes the common need patients have for more frequent assessment, dependency on technology support, and psychosocial intervention. The authors stress the importance of interdisciplinary teams and the unique staffing and workforce challenges they encounter. Despite agreement on its importance, the authors maintain that end-of-life care is associated with a lack of consensus around its implementation at the bedside. The diversity within patient groups, diseases and conditions, and health care providers results in an environment in which the interplay of a growing number of variables influences the engagement of patients and families in discussions about end-of-life planning and care, futility, palliation, or withdrawal of support.
Ethical Considerations in Psychological Consultation to Critical Care Settings
Authors: Lewandowski Alan , Fronapfel Brighid , Spector Jack , Szczepkowski Kirk , Davidson Scott
Published: November 2021

This chapter discusses the ethical and professional standards affecting psychologists who provide consultation as members of interdisciplinary treatment teams in critical care and intensive care settings. The authors describe the unique characteristics of critical and intensive care units and how they contribute to complex life and death decisions, which in turn can result in unique moral, ethical, and clinical psychological dilemmas. In particular, this chapter focuses on the ethical quandaries that are commonly faced by psychologists in these highly specialized medical settings, and provides a mechanism for resolving ethical conflicts when they occur. Case examples are provided, each of which illustrate one of the ten ethical standards listed in the American Psychological Association’s code of ethics. Lastly, a model for maintaining ethical situational awareness in psychological consultations in critical care settings is proposed to serve as a guide for psychologists as they navigate and ultimately resolve challenging ethical dilemmas.
City of Women
Authors: Winkler Kevin
Published: November 2021

Two consecutive projects confirmed Tommy Tune’s vision and versatility. In 1981, Tune directed the American premiere of Caryl Churchill’s Cloud 9, his first non-musical. This “comedy of multiple orgasms,” as it was billed, featured a first act set in colonial Africa in 1880 and a second act in contemporary London a century later. Tune staged the first act with sketch-comedy speed and vaudeville humor, as the characters played out their sexual frustrations and transgressed boundaries of race and class. Once again, he used performance tropes of earlier eras to communicate a contemporary viewpoint. His direction of the second act was more somber and thoughtful as the characters, liberated from patriarchal oppression and allowed to express their sexuality freely, search for meaningful connections. While Cloud 9 was enjoying a long and successful run off-Broadway, Tune embarked on Nine, based on Federico Fellini’s film 8½, about a celebrated but creatively stalled Italian filmmaker. Tune insisted that the show be peopled by an all-female cast surrounding the filmmaker. On a stunning white-tiled spa setting made up of stationary boxes, the women—each dressed in black—were summoned from his mind and memories to comment upon and take part in the action. With Nine, Tune established a pattern of staging an entire show around a stationary obstacle (in this case, the boxes)––an obstacle he consistently overcame through imagination and daring. Nine was a stunning directorial achievement that solidified Tune’s stature as a creative mastermind of the Broadway musical.