bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cultural Viewpoint Metaphors Resignification to Teach Programming
Authors: Corrêa Joseline Melo , Pereira Mota Marcelle
Published: November 2022

Technologies permeate contemporary society, and the ability to use computer science concepts in problem-solving is essential to everyone. This paper presents an epistemic tool of semiotic engineering whose meaning is resignified to the context of teaching programming to initial learners. Aiming to help these students absorb programming concepts, we structured a gradual form of presentation using the interaction with a new system as a journey through a new culture, based on the Cultural Viewpoint Metaphors theory. After that, we applied this resignification in an introductory programming workshop using visual programming and the BBC Micro:bit embedded device. Results from the workshop revealed that this gradual introduction could help novices in the programming concepts learning process, showing the potential of this approach in teaching programming.
Safety and Efficacy of Pure and a Nanosuspension of D-limonene for Controlling Pigeon Lice
Authors: Gadelhaq Sahar M , Aboelhadid Shawky M , Abdel-Baki Abdel-Azeem S , Hassan Khaled M , Arafa Waleed M , Ibrahium Samar M , Al-Quraishy Saleh , Hassan Ahmed O , Abd El-Kareem Shams G
Published: November 2022

This study investigated the safety and efficacy of two forms of D-limonene (DL) against Columbicola columbae (pigeon feather lice); pure and a nanoemulsion formulation (DLN). The cell cytotoxicity of the prepared forms of DL/DLN was investigated using skin cell lines. In vitro and ex vivo bioassays were applied on lice. The ex vivo bioassay was done on cut feathers containing lice eggs. The in vivo experiment was conducted on pigeons naturally infested by lice. The infested pigeons were treated with DL, DLN, or deltamethrin (D) as a positive control. Both forms of D-limonene were found to be safe when applied to the normal human skin fibroblast cell line, but DLN was toxic to skin cell carcinoma. The in vitro and ex vivo results of both DL and DLN forms were similar. All eggs treated with DL, DLN, and D failed to hatch (100%). The in vivo results showed complete elimination of lice 24 h post-treatment (PT), and biochemical analysis showed that the treated birds retained normal kidney and liver functions. Treated groups also showed improved productivity in the 4 months PT. In conclusion, DL and DLN are safe and effective in controlling feather lice infestation in pigeons and successful treatment encourages bird productivity.
Phytohormones in plant responses to boron deficiency and toxicity
Authors: Chen Xi , Smith Steven M , Shabala Sergey , Yu Min
Published: November 2022

Boron (B) is an essential element for plant growth. Many agricultural soils around the globe have either insufficient or excessive amounts of available B, with major implications for crop production. Understanding major limitations imposed by B nutritional disorders may allow breeding crops for improved B use efficiency as well as make them more resilient to excessive B, thus reducing yield penalties. It has become apparent that B-related physiological disorders are mediated in large part by their impact on plant hormone production and signaling. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge of the roles of hormones in plant responses to B and their impact on plant growth and development. The most significant effect of B deficiency is the inhibition of root elongation. Boron deficiency promotes the redistribution of auxin in the root elongation zone. Together with cytokinin signals and ethylene, this redistribution and modulation of auxin content triggers inhibition of the root cell elongation. Under B deficiency, root development is also regulated by brassinosteroids and jasmonic acid. Excess B can induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Abscisic acid and salicylic acid are both produced in response to B toxicity, and both can induce the antioxidant defense system to detoxify ROS. Another adaptation to B toxicity involves changes in the expression levels and activity of aquaporins in roots, thus reducing the uptake of water and delivery of B into the transpiration stream. In addition, abscisic acid mediates stomatal closure to further limit transpiration and the consequent accumulation of B in leaves.
Mediastinal Mass Discovered in the Second Trimester, a Rare Presentation of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Pregnancy
Authors: Purmalek Monica M , Kopelman Zachary A , Griffis Jeffery D , Mehlhaff Krista M , Gonzalez-Brown Veronica M
Published: November 2022

Newly diagnosed malignancy during pregnancy is rare affecting approximately 1 in 1,000 pregnancies. Breast followed by hematologic malignancies are most common. Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a lymphoid neoplasm which can present with lymphadenopathy or mediastinal mass and represents 6% of all malignancies diagnosed during pregnancy. Treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy with or without adjuvant radiation which poses significant challenges when diagnosed antepartum. We highlight a 28-year-old primigravida at 26 weeks gestation who presented to the emergency department in Japan with cough, dyspnea, and sore throat for 3-5 days. Initial chest radiography demonstrated a large perihilar mass with mediastinal shift. Follow-up CT chest revealed an anterior mediastinal mass measuring 8 cm × 19 cm × 16 cm with features concerning for aggressive lymphoma. The patient was subsequently transferred to a stateside tertiary care center for expedited workup. She underwent two core needle biopsies, both of which were non-diagnostic. Cardiothoracic surgery performed a cervical mediastinoscopy with excision of the enlarged right supraclavicular lymph node. Pathologic analysis revealed classical HL, nodular sclerosis subtype. Treatment was initiated with adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine with two cycles planned antepartum followed by additional cycles postpartum. The patient had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery at 38 weeks gestation. Diagnosis of HL in pregnancy is rare, and expedited diagnosis can be challenging as multiple diagnostic and treatment modalities may impact pregnancy. Management in pregnancy requires a multidisciplinary approach, and decisions regarding treatment and delivery timing should be weighed against risk to the fetus.
Long-term efficacy and safety of canakinumab in the treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Japanese patients: Results from an open-label Phase III study
Authors: Iwata Naomi , Nishimura Kenichi , Hara Ryoki , Imagawa Tomoyuki , Shimizu Masaki , Tomiita Minako , Umebayashi Hiroaki , Takei Syuji , Seko Noriko , Wakabayashi Ryota , Yokota Shumpei
Published: November 2022

Objectives

The objective of the study was to report the efficacy and safety of canakinumab treatment in Japanese patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) over a 48-week study period.

Methods

Patients were administered canakinumab 4 mg/kg (maximum dose 300 mg) every 4 weeks, with no dose adjustments. The key outcome measures included adapted American College of Rheumatology paediatric (aACR pedi) 30/50/70/90/100 response, proportion of patients with inactive disease, and corticosteroid (CS) tapering.

Results

In total, 16/19 (84.2%) patients received canakinumab for ≥96 weeks reaching end-of-study (EOS) visit without premature discontinuation. Regardless of the level of joint involvement at baseline, high aACR pedi responses were observed throughout the study; at the EOS, aACR pedi 90/100 response rates were 84.2%/63.2%, respectively. The proportion of patients who successfully tapered CSs at EOS was 66.7% (12/18), of which 10 patients were steroid-free. The most common adverse events were infections (238.3 events/100 patient-years). Serious adverse events were observed in 52.6%. The event (n=1) adjudicated as possible macrophage activation syndrome was preceded by sJIA flare. No deaths were reported.

Conclusions

Canakinumab treatment resulted in a sustained treatment response in sJIA patients over 48 weeks and was associated with CS tapering in majority of patients. No new safety findings were reported.
MatrisomeDB 2.0: 2023 updates to the ECM-protein knowledge database
Authors: Shao Xinhao , Gomez Clarissa D , Kapoor Nandini , Considine James M , Grams Christopher , Gao Yu (Tom) , Naba Alexandra
Published: November 2022

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex assembly of proteins that constitutes the scaffold organizing cells, tissues, and organs. Over the past decade, mass-spectrometry-based proteomics has become the method of choice to profile the composition of the ECM, or the matrisome, of tissues. To assist non-specialists with the reuse of ECM proteomic datasets, we released MatrisomeDB (https://matrisomedb.org) in 2020. Here, we report the expansion of the database to include 25 new curated studies on the ECM of 24 new tissues in addition to datasets on tissues previously included, more than doubling the size of the original database and achieving near-complete coverage of the in-silico predicted matrisome. We further enhanced data visualization by maps of peptides and post-translational-modifications detected onto domain-based representations and 3D structures of ECM proteins. We also referenced external resources to facilitate the design of targeted mass spectrometry assays. Last, we implemented an abstract-mining tool that generates an enrichment word cloud from abstracts of studies in which a queried protein is found with higher confidence and higher abundance relative to other studies in MatrisomeDB.
The European Nucleotide Archive in 2022
Authors: Burgin Josephine , Ahamed Alisha , Cummins Carla , Devraj Rajkumar , Gueye Khadim , Gupta Dipayan , Gupta Vikas , Haseeb Muhammad , Ihsan Maira , Ivanov Eugene , Jayathilaka Suran , Balavenkataraman Kadhirvelu Vishnukumar , Kumar Manish , Lathi Ankur , Leinonen Rasko , Mansurova Milena , McKinnon Jasmine , O’Cathail Colman , Paupério Joana , Pesant Stéphane , Rahman Nadim , Rinck Gabriele , Selvakumar Sandeep , Suman Swati , Vijayaraja Senthilnathan , Waheed Zahra , Woollard Peter , Yuan David , Zyoud Ahmad , Burdett Tony , Cochrane Guy
Published: November 2022

The European Nucleotide Archive (ENA; https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena), maintained by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), offers those producing data an open and supported platform for the management, archiving, publication, and dissemination of data; and to the scientific community as a whole, it offers a globally comprehensive data set through a host of data discovery and retrieval tools. Here, we describe recent updates to the ENA’s submission and retrieval services as well as focused efforts to improve connectivity, reusability, and interoperability of ENA data and metadata.
The initiation factor 3 (IF3) residues interacting with initiator tRNA elbow modulate the fidelity of translation initiation and growth fitness in Escherichia coli
Authors: Singh Jitendra , Mishra Rishi Kumar , Ayyub Shreya Ahana , Hussain Tanweer , Varshney Umesh
Published: November 2022

Initiation factor 3 (IF3) regulates the fidelity of bacterial translation initiation by debarring the use of non-canonical start codons or non-initiator tRNAs and prevents premature docking of the 50S ribosomal subunit to the 30S pre-initiation complex (PIC). The C-terminal domain (CTD) of IF3 can carry out most of the known functions of IF3 and sustain Escherichia coli growth. However, the roles of the N-terminal domain (NTD) have remained unclear. We hypothesized that the interaction between NTD and initiator tRNAfMet (i-tRNA) is essential to coordinate the movement of the two domains during the initiation pathway to ensure fidelity of the process. Here, using atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we show that R25A/Q33A/R66A mutations do not impact NTD structure but disrupt its interaction with i-tRNA. These NTD residues modulate the fidelity of translation initiation and are crucial for bacterial growth. Our observations also implicate the role of these interactions in the subunit dissociation activity of CTD of IF3. Overall, the study shows that the interactions between NTD of IF3 and i-tRNA are crucial for coupling the movements of NTD and CTD of IF3 during the initiation pathway and in imparting growth fitness to E. coli.
Enteroviral 2C protein is an RNA-stimulated ATPase and uses a two-step mechanism for binding to RNA and ATP
Authors: Yeager Calvin , Carter Griffin , Gohara David W , Yennawar Neela H , Enemark Eric J , Arnold Jamie J , Cameron Craig E
Published: November 2022

The enteroviral 2C protein is a therapeutic target, but the absence of a mechanistic framework for this enzyme limits our understanding of inhibitor mechanisms. Here, we use poliovirus 2C and a derivative thereof to elucidate the first biochemical mechanism for this enzyme and confirm the applicability of this mechanism to other members of the enterovirus genus. Our biochemical data are consistent with a dimer forming in solution, binding to RNA, which stimulates ATPase activity by increasing the rate of hydrolysis without impacting affinity for ATP substantially. Both RNA and DNA bind to the same or overlapping site on 2C, driven by the phosphodiester backbone, but only RNA stimulates ATP hydrolysis. We propose that RNA binds to 2C driven by the backbone, with reorientation of the ribose hydroxyls occurring in a second step to form the catalytically competent state. 2C also uses a two-step mechanism for binding to ATP. Initial binding is driven by the α and β phosphates of ATP. In the second step, the adenine base and other substituents of ATP are used to organize the active site for catalysis. These studies provide the first biochemical description of determinants driving specificity and catalytic efficiency of a picornaviral 2C ATPase.
New constraints on exotic spin-dependent interactions with an ensemble-NV-diamond magnetometer
Authors: Liang Hang , Jiao Man , Huang Yue , Yu Pei , Ye Xiangyu , Wang Ya , Xie Yijin , Cai Yi-Fu , Rong Xing , Du Jiangfeng
Published: November 2022

Laboratory search of exotic interactions is crucial for exploring physics beyond the standard model. We report new experimental constraints on two exotic spin-dependent interactions at the micrometer scale based on ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. A thin layer of NV electronic spin ensembles is synthesized as the solid-state spin quantum sensor, and a lead sphere is taken as the interacting nucleon source. Our result establishes new bounds for two types of exotic spin interactions at the micrometer scale. For an exotic parity-odd spin- and velocity-dependent interaction, improved bounds are set within the force range from 5 to 500 μm. The upper limit of the corresponding coupling constant $g_A^eg_V^N$ at 330 μm is more than 1000-fold more stringent than the previous constraint. For the P, T-violating scalar-pseudoscalar nucleon-electron interaction, improved constraints are established within the force range from 6 to 45 μm. The limit of the corresponding coupling constant $g_S^Ng_P^e$ is improved by more than one order of magnitude at 30 μm. This work demonstrates that a solid-state NV ensemble can be a powerful platform for probing exotic spin-dependent interactions.
Learning physics-consistent particle interactions
Authors: Han Zhichao , Kammer David S , Fink Olga
Published: November 2022

Interacting particle systems play a key role in science and engineering. Access to the governing particle interaction law is fundamental for a complete understanding of such systems. However, the inherent system complexity keeps the particle interaction hidden in many cases. Machine learning methods have the potential to learn the behavior of interacting particle systems by combining experiments with data analysis methods. However, most existing algorithms focus on learning the kinetics at the particle level. Learning pairwise interaction, e.g., pairwise force or pairwise potential energy, remains an open challenge. Here, we propose an algorithm that adapts the Graph Networks framework, which contains an edge part to learn the pairwise interaction and a node part to model the dynamics at particle level. Different from existing approaches that use neural networks in both parts, we design a deterministic operator in the node part that allows to precisely infer the pairwise interactions that are consistent with underlying physical laws by only being trained to predict the particle acceleration. We test the proposed methodology on multiple datasets and demonstrate that it achieves superior performance in inferring correctly the pairwise interactions while also being consistent with the underlying physics on all the datasets. While the previously proposed approaches are able to be applied as simulators, they fail to infer physically consistent particle interactions that satisfy Newton’s laws. Moreover, the proposed physics-induced graph network for particle interaction also outperforms the other baseline models in terms of generalization ability to larger systems and robustness to significant levels of noise. The developed methodology can support a better understanding and discovery of the underlying particle interaction laws, and hence, guide the design of materials with targeted properties.
HOXA5 is a key regulator of class 3 semaphorins expression in the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Martínez-Ramos Sara , Rafael-Vidal Carlos , Malvar-Fernández Beatriz , Rodriguez-Trillo Angela , Veale Douglas , Fearon Ursula , Conde Carmen , Conde-Aranda Javier , Radstake Timothy R D J , Pego-Reigosa Jose María , Reedquist Kris A , García Samuel
Published: November 2022

Objective

Class 3 semaphorins are reduced in the synovial tissue of RA patients and these proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study was to identify the transcription factors involved in the expression of class 3 semaphorins in the synovium of RA patients.

Methods

Protein and mRNA expression in synovial tissue from RA and individuals at risk (IAR) patients, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) was determined by ELISA, immunoblotting and quantitative PCR. TCF-3, EBF-1 and HOXA5 expression was knocked down using siRNA. Cell viability, migration and invasion were determined using MTT, calcein, wound closure and invasion assays, respectively.

Results

mRNA expression of all class 3 semaphorins was significantly lower in the synovium of RA compared with IAR patients. In silico analysis suggested TCF-3, EBF-1 and HOXA5 as transcription factors involved in the expression of these semaphorins. TCF-3, EBF-1 and HOXA5 silencing significantly reduced the expression of several class 3 semaphorin members in FLS and HUVEC. Importantly, HOXA5 expression was significantly reduced in the synovium of RA compared with IAR patients and was negatively correlated with clinical disease parameters. Additionally, TNF-α down-regulated the HOXA5 expression in FLS and HUVEC. Finally, HOXA5 silencing enhanced the migratory and invasive capacities of FLS and the viability of HUVEC.

Conclusion

HOXA5 expression is reduced during the progression of RA and could be a novel therapeutic strategy for modulating the hyperplasia of the synovium, through the regulation of class 3 semaphorins expression.
Serial changes in renal indices in chronic HCV patients with and without HIV co-infection receiving sofosbuvir and tenofovir-based therapies
Authors: Abdel Alem Shereen , El Garhy Naeema , El Khateeb Engy , Khalil Mahmoud , Cordie Ahmed , Elsharkawy Aisha , Fouad Rabab , Esmat Gamal , Abdelbary Mohammad Salah
Published: November 2022

Background

Sofosbuvir (SOF) is authorized for hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. The nephrotoxicity of SOF on HCV mono-infected and HCV–human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains controversial.

Methods

A prospective study including 159 HCV mono-infected and 124 HCV–HIV individuals (47 were ART naïve and 77 were tenofovir [TDF]-based ART) who presented with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 ml/min/1.73 m2 at baseline and were treated with SOF–daclatasvir for 12 weeks. The eGFR was estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation over the study period.

Results

HCV patients had a progressive decline in median levels of eGFR compared with HCV–HIV patients who were ART naïve and those receiving TDF-based ART during and after discontinuing SOF–DAC treatment (96, 109 and 114 at baseline vs 94, 117 and 108 at the end of treatment [EOT]) vs 95, 114 and 115 ml/min/1.73 m2 at 12 weeks after treatment [SVR12], respectively). Moreover, the rate of eGFR stage worsening was more pronounced in HCV mono-infected compared with HCV–HIV individuals who were ART naïve and those receiving TDF-based ART (21.4% vs 8.5% and 14.3% at EOT; 21.4% vs 2.1% and 6.5% at SVR12, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis showed that baseline variables were not independent predictors of eGFR stage worsening either at EOT or SVR12.

Conclusions

Because the changes in eGFR were minimal and not of clinical significance, and TDF was not associated with an increase in renal dysfunction, SOF-based direct-acting antivirals could be safely used in HCV mono-infected and HCV–HIV individuals, even in those on TDF-based ART.
Rapid and Scalable DNA Extraction and Real-Time PCR Assay from Boxwood Tissue for the Detection of Calonectria pseudonaviculata, Causal Agent of Boxwood Blight
Authors: Mana Ohkura M. , Scagel Carolyn F. , Weiland Jerry E.
Published: November 2022

Boxwood blight can be challenging to detect in the field, especially when symptoms are mild, thus requiring large numbers of plants to be screened. Therefore, a rapid diagnostic assay that can detect the pathogen from large amounts of plant tissue would be useful. Here, we present a crude DNA extraction protocol that is rapid and scalable. The DNA extraction protocol can process large volumes of tough boxwood tissue rapidly without using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or phenol-chloroform to remove inhibitors. Additionally, to detect the boxwood blight pathogen Calonectria pseudonaviculata, we developed a TaqMan probe to use with previously described PCR primers for a real-time PCR assay. The assay’s limit of detection was determined by diluting symptomatic boxwood leaves in nondiseased leaves and by adding spores to nondiseased leaves to simulate diagnostic scenarios. The assay was able to detect the pathogen in symptomatic leaves diluted up to 1 × 104- to 1 × 105-fold in nondiseased leaves and from as low as 1,000 to 10,000 spores added to 1.2 g of nondiseased leaves. The ability to extract DNA from large volumes of plant tissue facilitates screening more plant tissue using the real-time PCR assay without increasing the number of samples to process in the lab.
Cochlear Implantation in Children with Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct: A Systematic Review of Surgical Implications and Outcomes
Authors: Hansen Marie-Louise Uhre , Rye Rasmussen Eva , Cayé-Thomasen Per , Mey Kristianna
Published: November 2022

Objectives:

This study investigated age at implantation, improvement in hearing and speech perception outcomes, as well as surgical complications in pediatric cochlear implant recipients with Pendred Syndrome (PS) or non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct (NSEVA).

Design:

A systematic review of the literature between 1984 and 2021 was performed. Two independent reviewers performed abstract and full-text screening using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The inclusion criteria were: English language, cochlear implant, age at implantation available, age <18 years, PS, Mondini malformation, and enlarged vestibular aqueduct. Full-text analysis was completed using the National Institute of Health assessment tool for case series and case-control studies. Studies were also graded according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine grading system.

Results:

In total, 198 studies were identified and screened, and 55 studies were included for analysis. Audiological outcomes were available in 46 studies, and the four-frequency pure-tone audiogram average improved by 60 to 78 dB HL due to cochlear implantation. Auditory performance and speech intelligibility scores increased by 44%. The overall average implantation age was 60 months. The implantation age was 21 months lower in the studies where individuals were implanted after the year 2000 compared with those implanted before the year 2000. Perilymph gusher/oozing was the most common surgical incident reported, occurring in 187 of 1572 implantations.

Conclusions:

In children with PS/NSEVA, cochlear implantation improves pure-tone average by 60 to 78 dB HL and capacity of auditory performance/speech intelligibility by 44%. The implantation age for these children has decreased during the last two decades but is still somewhat higher than reported for unselected pediatric cochlear implantation. Perilymph gusher/oozing is the most common surgical complication.
Reducing Instrumentation for the Dorsal Approach to Plantar Plate Repair With a FiberLoop Suture Technique
Authors: Brackney Clark K. , Lesavage Lindsay , Powers Nicholas S.
Published: November 2022

The benefits of repairing a plantar plate tear are well described in the literature. Unfortunately, because of the anatomic location of the tear, repair with a dorsal incision is often quite difficult. To combat this, multiple published techniques, as well as industry-designed products, have been developed for visualization of the tear and suture passing. We present a novel method for dorsal repair of the plantar plate structures utilizing a straight needle FiberLoop suture and standard operative instrumentation. This technique greatly reduces the instrumentation and “fiddle factor” required for the repair.

Level of Clinical Evidence: Diagnostic Level V.
Predictors of National Physical Therapy Examination Failure in Graduates of a Blended Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Authors: Lazinski Melissa J. , Rockefeller Kathleen , Cheng M. Samuel
Published: November 2022

Introduction:

Passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a necessary step in progressing into a professional career. The purpose of this study was to identify student factors that predicted failure on the first attempt of the NPTE in graduates of a blended Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

Review of Literature:

Student factors that may affect NPTE outcomes have been studied in traditional physical therapist education programs but have not been studied in blended programs. Blended instruction is a delivery format that combines distance asynchronous learning and face-to-face synchronous learning in a complementary way.

Subjects:

Two hundred ten graduates from 6 consecutive cohorts of a DPT program taught in a blended format.

Methods.

Retrospective observational cohort design. Demographic, preadmission, and in-program academic data and NPTE pass/fail status were collected. Variables were analyzed with forward stepwise logistic regression for their ability to predict first-time NPTE failure. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to determine cut points of predictive variables.

Results.

Two regression analyses were conducted. First, an analysis of all variables identified 3 significant predictors: comprehensive examination score, cumulative third-year grade point average, and Graduate Record Examination Verbal Reasoning (GRE-V) score, which explained 43.2% of the variance. The second analysis excluded variables occurring late in matriculation to identify early occurring predictors. This yielded 2 early predictive variables, GRE-V score and academic difficulty, which explained 29.5% of the variance.

Discussion and Conclusion.

To our knowledge, this is the first study of predictors of NPTE outcomes in blended DPT program graduates. Like previous studies, a mix of preadmission and in-program factors predicted first-time NPTE failure. These findings may help inform admissions policies, academic advising processes, and academic warning policies in blended programs. Future research is needed to explore factors unique to blended educational settings and the qualities of the students they attract.
Multicenter Registry Using Propensity Score Analysis to Compare a Novel Transport/Preservation System to Traditional Means on Postoperative Hospital Outcomes and Costs for Heart Transplant Patients
Authors: Voigt Jeffrey D. , Leacche Marzia , Copeland Hannah , Wolfe Stanley B. , Pham Si M. , Shudo Yasuhiro , Molina Ezequiel , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Stukov Yuriy , Meyer Dan , Philpott Jonathan , Kawabori Masashi , Schroder Jacob , Silvestry Scott , D’Alessandro David
Published: November 2022

The standard method for cardiac allograft preservation for the past 50 years has been static storage using crushed ice. A heart transplant transportation system designed to improve preservation quality with temperature monitoring, the Paragonix SherpaPak Cardiac Transport System (SCTS), was evaluated for its impact on postoperative costs relative to conventional ice storage. Observational US multicenter registry data collected during the August 2015 to November 2021 timeframe from 12 transplant hospitals were analyzed using logistic regression analysis and propensity matching to balance measured baseline covariates and to reduce selection bias. Hospital cost and outcome data post-transplant were then evaluated using various statistical methods. One hundred seventy-four (174) patients were identified resulting in 87 matches. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The SCTS group had a significantly lower proportion of ICU days on post-transplant mechanical circulatory support (p < 0.0001); significantly fewer patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (p = 0.017); and significantly fewer patients experiencing severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) (p = 0.03). Overall hospital plus mechanical circulatory support post-transplant costs were significantly lower by $26.7K in the CTS cohort (p = 0.03). Use of the SCTS is associated with improved clinical outcomes resulting in significantly lower overall hospital care costs.
Kinetic and Dynamic Effects on Degradation of von Willebrand Factor
Authors: Jhun Choon-Sik , Xu Lichong , Siedlecki Christopher , Bartoli Carlo R. , Yeager Eric , Lukic Branka , Scheib Christopher M. , Newswanger Raymond , Cysyk Joshua P. , Shen Chan , Bohnenberger Karl , Weiss William J. , Rosenberg Gerson
Published: November 2022

The loss of high molecular weight multimers (HMWM) of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in aortic stenosis (AS) and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (cf-LVADs) is believed to be associated with high turbulent blood shear. The objective of this study is to understand the degradation mechanism of HMWM in terms of exposure time (kinetic) and flow regime (dynamics) within clinically relevant pathophysiologic conditions. A custom high-shear rotary device capable of creating fully controlled exposure times and flows was used. The system was set so that human platelet-poor plasma flowed through at 1.75 ml/sec, 0.76 ml/sec, or 0.38 ml/sec resulting in the exposure time (t

exp
) of 22, 50, or 100 ms, respectively. The flow was characterized by the Reynolds number (Re). The device was run under laminar (Re = 1,500), transitional (Re = 3,000; Re = 3,500), and turbulent (Re = 4,500) conditions at a given t

exp
followed by multimer analysis. No degradation was observed at laminar flow at all given t

exp
. Degradation of HMWM at a given t

exp
increases with the Re. Re (p < 0.0001) and t

exp
(p = 0.0034) are significant factors in the degradation of HMWM. Interaction between Re and t

exp
, however, is not always significant (p = 0.73).

http://links.lww.com/ASAIO/A920
End-of-Life in Pediatric Patients Supported by Ventricular Assist Devices: A Network Database Cohort Study
Authors: Hollander Seth A. , Pyke-Grimm Kimberly A. , Shezad Muhammad F. , Zafar Farhan , Cousino Melissa K. , Feudtner Chris , Char Danton S.
Published: November 2022

OBJECTIVES:

Most pediatric patients on ventricular assist device (VAD) survive to transplantation. Approximately 15% will die on VAD support, and the circumstances at the end-of-life are not well understood. We, therefore, sought to characterize patient location and invasive interventions used at the time of death.

DESIGN:

Retrospective database study of a cohort meeting inclusion criteria.

SETTING:

Thirty-six centers participating in the Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) Registry.

PATIENTS:

Children who died on VAD therapy in the period March 2012 to September 2021.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Of the 117 of 721 patients (16%) who died on VAD, the median (interquartile range) age was 5 years (1–16 yr) at 43 days (17–91 d) postimplant. Initial goals of therapy were bridge to consideration for candidacy for transplantation in 60 of 117 (51%), bridge to transplantation in 44 of 117 (38%), bridge to recovery 11 of 117 (9%), or destination therapy (i.e., VAD as the endpoint) in two of 117 (2%). The most common cause of death was multiple organ failure in 35 of 117 (30%), followed by infection in 12 of 117 (10%). Eighty-five of 92 (92%) died with a functioning device in place. Most patients were receiving invasive interventions (mechanical ventilation, vasoactive infusions, etc.) at the end of life. Twelve patients (10%) died at home.

CONCLUSIONS:

One-in-six pediatric VAD patients die while receiving device support, with death occurring soon after implant and usually from noncardiac causes. Aggressive interventions are common at the end-of-life. The ACTION Registry data should inform future practices to promote informed patient/family and clinician decision-making to hopefully reduce suffering at the end-of-life.
Evaluation of Inferior Intercavernous Sinus in Patients With Pituitary Microadenoma by Contrast-Enhanced SPACE Imaging
Authors: Zhao Xianjing , Wu Yue , Rui Wenting , Wang Jing , Wu Shiman , Zhang Qi , Hao Xiaozhu , Tang Ying , Ren Yan , Sun Huaping , Yao Zhenwei
Published: November 2022

Objective

Inferior intercavernous sinus (iICS) is a venous channel below the pituitary gland. Inferior intercavernous sinus injury is predisposed to cause venous bleeding during dura incision in transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a radiological assessment of iICS before transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary microadenoma.

Methods

A retrospective evaluation was performed on 156 patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging examinations in our hospital before endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary microadenoma. Both sagittal reformatted and coronal contrast-enhanced (CE) sampling perfection with application optimized contrast using different flip angle evolutions (SPACE) images were interpreted for the presence, shape, and size of the iICS.

Results

In CE SPACE, the iICS was identified in 72 patients (46.15%) with pituitary microadenoma. The iICS was appeared as a filiform-shaped hyperintense structure below the pituitary gland on coronal CE SPACE planes and a crescent-shaped hyperintense structure on sagittal CE SPACE planes. The mean ± SD width, depth, and height of iICS were 11.15 ± 3.47 mm, 5.29 ± 1.24 mm, and 1.41 ± 0.19 mm, respectively.

Conclusions

Contrast-enhanced SPACE may serve as a promising technique in evaluating iICS and individualized preoperative planning before transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary microadenoma.
Unusual Extramedullary Manifestation in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Strauss Dimitrios , Sachpekidis Christos , Dapunt Ulrike , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss Antonia
Published: November 2022

A 73-year-old man with multiple myeloma (initial diagnosis 21 months earlier) was referred to our center for a whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT. We detected a bilateral synchronous testicular manifestation, which was confirmed by histopathology after orchiectomy. Besides hypermetabolic lesions in the spine and ribs (most likely old fractures), known osteolysis showed no uptake. Extramedullary manifestation occurs in 13% to 20% of cases, among these 4% demonstrate testicular manifestation, which is associated with poor survival rates. Optimal therapy management is still unclear, due to limited data. To the authors’ knowledge, so far only 3 comparable cases have been described.
EFFECT OF IRRIGATION FLUID COMPOSITION ON HEMOSTASIS IN MOUSE BLEEDING MODELS
Authors: Alsaadi Nijmeh , Hassoune Adnan , Haldeman Shannon , Williamson Kelly M. , Plautz William , Hoteit Lara , Alvikas Jurgis , Andraska Elizabeth A. , Srinivasan Amudan J. , Bonaroti Jillian , Seshadri Anupamaa , Mota-Alvidrez Roberto , Scott Melanie J. , Gardner Paul A. , Snyderman Carl H. , Neal Matthew D.
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Intraoperative irrigation, usually with normal saline (NS), aids in bleeding identification and management. We investigated the effect of different irrigation fluids, with additives, on hemostasis using two bleeding models. Methods: C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to a tail bleed model or uncontrolled abdominal hemorrhage via liver laceration followed by abdominal cavity irrigation. We compared NS, lactated Ringer's (LR), and PlasmaLyte. We examined NS and LR at different temperatures. Normal saline or LR with calcium (Ca2+) or tranexamic acid (TXA) was studied. Results: Compared with room temperature (RT), increasing the temperature of the irrigation fluid to 37°C and 42°C reduced tail vein bleeding times substantially in both NS and LR (all P < 0.001), with no significant differences between the two fluids. At RT, LR, but not PlasmaLyte, substantially reduced bleeding times in comparison to NS (P < 0.0001). Liver injury blood loss was lower with LR (P < 0.01). Normal saline supplemented with 2.7 mEq/L of Ca2+ decreased bleeding time and blood loss volume (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) to similar levels as LR. Normal saline with 150 mg/mL of TXA markedly reduced bleeding time (P < 0.0001), and NS with 62.5 mg/mL TXA decreased blood loss (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Whereas Ca2+- and TXA-supplemented NS reduced bleeding, LR remained superior to all irrigation fluid compositions. As LR contains Ca2+, and Ca2+-supplemented NS mirrored LR in response, Ca2+ presence in the irrigation fluid seems key to improving solution's hemostatic ability. Because warming the fluids normalized the choice of agents, the data also suggest that Ca2+-containing fluids such as LR may be more suitable for hemostasis when used at RT.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Mymonaviridae 2022
Authors: Jiāng Dàohóng , Ayllón María A. , Marzano Shin-Yi L. , Kondō Hideki , Turina Massimo ,   ICTV Report Consortium
Published: November 2022

Typical members of the family Mymonaviridae produce filamentous, enveloped virions containing a single molecule of linear, negative-sense RNA of about about 10 kb, but some may not produce any virions. The family includes several genera, some with multiple species. Mymonavirids usually infect filamentous fungi, but a few have been identified associated with insects, oomycetes or plants. At least one virus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum negative-stranded RNA virus 1, induces hypovirulence in its fungal host. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Mymonaviridae, which is available at ictv.global/report/mymonaviridae.
PEPFAR Spending Types and Reduction in HIV Infection Rates
Authors: Walker Stephen
Published: November 2022

Since 2004, PEPFAR has invested over $100 billion in fighting HIV, primarily targeting sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the effectiveness of spending types as defined by the program. In this study, I take the spending data published by PEPFAR that was categorized into key focus areas that include (1) Care & Treatment, (2) Testing, (3) Prevention, (4) Socioeconomic, and (5) Above-site, Program Management and Other, and estimate the effectiveness of these categories on a key outcome variable: new HIV infections. I also estimate the same regressions along two dimensions: (1) pre and post PEPFAR 2.0 that was implemented in 2014, and (2) the 12 sub-Saharan focus countries versus the non-sub-Saharan countries. Data was collected from public sources including PEPFAR, the GHO, and the World Bank and a total of $61.5 billion in spending was identified from 2005-2021 covering 54 target countries.

Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s)

The marginal dollar spent on prevention activities experienced the highest incremental effect of reducing new HIV infections in targeted countries from 2005-2021. The coefficient on Prevention spending was -0.715 (t-stat of -2.83), which was highly significant at the 1 percent level. However, much of this effect was driven by pre-2014 spending before PEPFAR 2.0 was implemented. Post 2014, socioeconomic programs were measured to have the greatest marginal effect driven by non-sub-Saharan countries. Overall effectiveness of spending increased post PEPFAR 2.0 for non-Sub-Saharan countries but declined for sub-Saharan countries.
Health care workers’ internal bias toward men as HIV clients in Malawi and Mozambique: A qualitative study
Authors: Dovel Kathryn , Paneno Rose , Balakasi Kelvin , Hubbard Julie , Magaço Amílcar , Phiri Khumbo , Coates Thomas , Cornell Morna
Published: November 2022

Background

Men are underrepresented in HIV services throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Little is known about health care worker (HCW) perceptions of men as clients, which may directly affect the quality of care provided, and HCWs’ buy-in for male-specific interventions.

Methods

Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in 2016 with HCWs from 15 facilities across Malawi and Mozambique, and were originally conducted to evaluate barriers to universal treatment (not gender or internal bias). FGDs were conducted in local languages, recorded, translated to English, and transcribed. For this study, we focused on HCW perceptions of men as HIV clients, using inductive and deductive coding in Atlas.ti v.8, and analyzed codes using constant comparison methods.

Findings

20 FGDs with 154 HCWs working in HIV treatment clinics were included. Median age was 30 years, 59% were female, and 43% were providers versus support staff. HCWs held strong implicit bias against men as clients. Most HCWs believed men could easily navigate HIV services due to their elevated position within society, regardless of facility-level barriers faced. Men were described in pejorative terms as ill-informed and difficult clients who were absent from health systems. Men were largely seen as “bad clients” due to assumptions about men’s ‘selfish’ and ‘prideful’ nature, resulting in little HCW sympathy for men’s poor use of care.

Interpretation

Our study highlights a strong implicit bias against men as HIV clients, even when gender and implicit bias were not the focus of data collection. As a result, HCWs may have little motivation to implement male-specific interventions or improve provider-patient interactions with men. Framing men as problematic places undue responsibility on individual men while minimizing institutional barriers that uniquely affect them. Implicit bias in local, national, and global discourses about men must be immediately addressed.
Right bundle branch pacing: criteria, characteristics and outcomes
Authors: Jastrzębski Marek , Kiełbasa Grzegorz , Moskal Paweł , Bednarek Agnieszka , Rajzer Marek , Curila Karol , Burri Haran , Vijayaraman Pugazhendhi
Published: November 2022

Background

Targets for right-sided conduction system pacing (CSP) include His bundle and right bundle branch. ECG patterns, diagnostic criteria and outcomes of right bundle branch pacing (RBBP) are not known.

Objective

Our aims were to delineate electrocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics of RBBP and to compare outcomes between RBBP and His bundle pacing (HBP).

Methods

Patients with confirmed right CSP were divided according to the conduction system potential to QRS interval at the pacing lead implantation site. Six hypothesized RBBP criteria as well as pacing parameters, echocardiographic outcomes and all-cause mortality were analyzed.

Results

All analyzed criteria discriminated between HBP and LBBP: double QRS transition during threshold test, selective paced QRS different from conducted QRS, stimulus to selective QRS > potential-QRS, small increase in V6RWPT during QRS transition, equal capture thresholds of CSP and myocardium, and stimulus-V6R-wave peak time (V6RWPT) > potential-V6RWPT (adopted as diagnostic standard). Per this last criterion, RBBP was observed in 19.2% (64/326) patients who had been targeted for HBP, present mainly among patients with potential to QRS < 35 ms (90.6%, 48/53) and occasionally in the remaining patients (5.6%, 16/273). RBBP was characterized by longer QRS (by 10.5 ms), longer V6RWPT (by 11.6 ms) and better sensing (by 2.6 mV) compared to HBP. During median follow-up of 29 months, no differences in capture threshold, echocardiographic outcomes or mortality were found.

Conclusions

RBBP is a distinct CSP modality that is frequently observed when the pacing lead is positioned more distally along the right conduction system.
Comprative evaluation of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral load from campus sewage water
Authors: Pramanik Rinka , Bodawar Narendra , Brahme Aashay , Kamble Sanjay , Dharne Mahesh
Published: November 2022

Although the presence of SARS-CoV-2 fragments in raw sewage water are not much concerning, since it is a new pathogen and its fate in the environment is poorly understood; therefore efforts are needed for their effective removal. In under-developed countries with poor sewersheds and sanitation practices, the raw sewage water might come in contact with rivers and other water bodies and is generally used by the population for various purposes including drinking water. Hence it is important to properly treat sewage water to reduce public health risks, if any. Our study evaluated various advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for disinfection of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage water collected from the academic institutional residential campus. The present study is the first report showing hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) used to reduce the SARS-CoV-2 viral load from sewage water. Additionally, we have also evaluated hybrid techniques like HC/O3, HC/O3/H2O2, HC/H2O2,O3/UV, UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/O3,and O3/H2O2for the minimization of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load from sewage water. The sewage water treatment techniques were evaluated based on its viral concentration-reducing efficiency by comparing it with the same raw sewage water sample. However, ozone alone and its combination with other disinfecting techniques (like HC, UV, and H2O2) showed >95% SARS-CoV-2 specific RNA-reducing efficiency (also known as viral load). The AOPs treated sewage water was subjected to total nucleic acid isolation followed by RT-qPCR for viral load estimation. Interestingly, all sewage water treatment techniques used in this study significantly reduces both the SARS-CoV-2 viral load as well as PMMoV (faecal indicator) load.