bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Myb transcription factor, PgMyb308-like, enhances the level of shikimate, aromatic amino acids, and lignins, but represses the synthesis of flavonoids and hydrolyzable tannins, in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
Authors: Dhakarey Rohit , Yaritz Uri , Tian Li , Amir Rachel
Published: February 2022

Pomegranate fruit peels are highly abundant in metabolites derived from the shikimate pathway, such as hydrolyzable tannins (HTs) and flavonoids. These metabolites are beneficial to human health (commercial juice is enriched with peel metabolites), and also protect the fruit from environmental stresses. To understand the transcriptional control of shikimate pathway-related metabolites in pomegranate, we cloned and characterized a subgroup S4 R2R3 Myb transcription factor, PgMyb308-like. Overexpressing PgMyb308-like in pomegranate hairy roots increased the accumulation of shikimate, aromatic amino acids, isoferulic acid, and total lignins, but led to reduced gallic acid and its downstream products HTs, as well as multiple flavonoids. Changes in these metabolites are supported by the increased expression of 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase and shikimate dehydrogenase 1 (PgSDH1) (the SDH isoform associated with shikimate biosynthesis), and the reduced expression of PgSDH4 (the SDH isoform suggested to produce gallic acid). Transcriptome analysis of PgMyb308-like-overexpressing hairy roots further revealed reprogramming of cell wall-related genes, while overexpression of PgMyb308-like in Arabidopsis thaliana plants uncovered its distinct role in a different genetic and metabolic background. These results together suggest that PgMyb308-like activates genes in the shikimate pathway and lignin biosynthesis, but suppresses those involved in the production of HTs and flavonoids.
Potato StLecRK-IV.1 negatively regulates late blight resistance by affecting the stability of a positive regulator StTET8
Authors: Guo Lei , Qi Yetong , Mu Yang , Zhou Jing , Lu Wenhe , Tian Zhendong
Published: February 2022

Plant receptor-like kinases (RLKs) regulate many processes in plants. Many RLKs perform significant roles in plant immunity. Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) are a large family of RLKs. However, the function of most LecRLKs is poorly understood. In this study, we show that a potato LecRLK, StLecRK-IV.1, is involved in plant immunity against Phytophthora infestans. As a negative regulator of immunity, StLecRK-IV.1 is downregulated by P. infestans and activated by abscisic acid. The transient expression of StLecRK-IV.1 in Nicotiana benthamiana enhanced P. infestans leaf colonization significantly. In contrast, the size of disease lesions caused by P. infestans was reduced by virus-induced gene silencing of the StLecRK-IV.1 ortholog in N. benthamiana, NbLecRK-IV.1, as well as in potato plants with stable RNA interference of StLecRK-IV.1. Tetraspanin-8 (StTET8) was identified to be interacting with StLecRK-IV.1 using a membrane yeast two-hybrid system, which was further verified by co-immunoprecipitation, a luciferase complementation assay, and a bimolecular fluorescence complementation test. StTET8 is a positive immune regulator that restrains P. infestans infection. The co-expression of StLecRK-IV.1 with StTET8 antagonized the positive roles of StTET8 against P. infestans. Moreover, the co-expression of StTET8 with StLecRK-IV.1 affected the stability of StTET8, which was confirmed by a western blot assay and confocal assay. Taken together, our work first reveal that a potato L-type lectin RLK, StLecRK-IV.1, negatively regulates plant immunity by targeting a positive regulator, StTET8, through affecting its stability.
‘All England Was Present at that Siege’: Imperial Defences and Island Stories in British Culture
Authors: Wallace Brian
Published: February 2022

In 2018, a controversy over the commemoration of Rorke’s Drift in a London Tube station demonstrated the tensions inherent in twenty-first-century imperial memory. This article traces how imperial sieges like Rorke’s Drift, Lucknow, and Mafeking played a central role in shaping Victorian Britain’s imperial self-image, with besieged garrisons celebrated as microcosms of their island homeland in a patriotic vision deployed to justify and popularize often-controversial imperial wars. Drawing on sources including diaries, journalism, art, theatre, and political rhetoric, it demonstrates how these racially-charged siege narratives still shape nostalgic postcolonial visions of empire through popular culture like the 1964 film Zulu.
Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Queen Nest Searching Occurs Independent of Ovary Developmental Status
Authors: Sarro Erica , Tripodi Amber , Woodard S Hollis
Published: February 2022

Synopsis

Studies on the physiological states of wild-caught organisms are essential to uncovering the links between ecological and physiological processes. Bumble bee queens emerge from overwintering in the spring. At this time, queens develop their ovaries and search for a nest site in which to start a colony. Whether these two processes, ovary development and nest-searching, interact with or influence one another remains an unresolved question in behavioral physiology. We explored the hypothesis that ovary development and nest-searching might be mechanistically connected, by testing whether (1) ovary development precedes nest-searching behavior; (2) nest occupation precedes ovary development; or (3) ovary development and nest-searching occur independently, in bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) queens. We collected queens either nest-searching (and thus prior to occupying a nest) or pollen-collecting (and thus provisioning an occupied nest) and measured their degree of ovary activation. We further screened these queens for parasites or other symbionts, to identify additional factors that may impact their reproductive success at this time. We found that queens searched for and occupied nests at all stages of ovary development, indicating that these processes occur independently in this system. Nest-searching queens were more likely to have substantial mite loads than pollen-collecting queens, who had already located and occupied a nest. However, mite loads did not significantly predict ovary developmental status. Collectively, our work shows that nesting status and symbionts alone are insufficient to explain the variation in spring bumble bee queen ovary development. We propose that ovary development and nest-searching occur opportunistically, which may enable queens to begin laying eggs earlier in the season than if these processes occurred in discrete succession.
Both/And or Neither/Nor? On the Prospect of “New Cosmopolitanism” to Serve as a Middle Ground between Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism
Authors: Rolf Jan Niklas
Published: February 2022

Over the course of the past three decades, Western politics has gone from one extreme to another. Whereas the immediate post-Cold War years were marked by a cosmopolitan heyday, in recent years we are witnessing a nationalist backlash. Given this heightened political polarization, the quest for a viable middle ground becomes all the more pressing. The unlikely candidate that this article considers is the body of thought that has been termed “new cosmopolitanism,” but that on closer inspection is neither new nor cosmopolitan. Tracing its dualistic conception in Stoicism and Kantianism, it is argued that “new cosmopolitanism” is much richer and more modest than its label suggests. Whether this qualifies it to serve as a middle ground between cosmopolitanism and nationalism, however, depends on the readiness of “new cosmopolitans” to make practical either/or choices where both/and or neither/nor categories do not hold. Treating the Olympic Games as a microcosm, the article explores whether the biannual festivals of humankind and nationhood hold any lessons for “new cosmopolitans” in that regard.
Application of persuasive systems design principles to design a self-management application user interface for Hispanic informal dementia caregivers: user preferences and perceptions
Authors: Lucero Robert J , Yoon Sunmoo , Suero-Tejeda Niurka , Arcia Adriana , Iribarren Sarah , Mittelman Mary , Luchsinger Jose , Bakken Suzanne
Published: February 2022

Objective

We designed an mHealth application (app) user interface (UI) prototype informed by participatory design sessions, persuasive systems design (PSD) principles, and Lorig and Holman’s self-management behavior framework to support self-management activities of Hispanic informal dementia caregivers and assessed their perceptions and preferences regarding features and functions of the app.

Materials and Methods

Our observational usability study design employed qualitative methods and forced choice preference assessments to identify: (1) the relationship between user preferences for UI features and functions and PSD principles and (2) user preferences for UI design features and functions and app functionality. We evaluated 16 pairs of mHealth app UI prototype designs. Eight paper-based paired designs were used to assess the relationship between PSD principles and caregiver preferences for UI features and functions to support self-management. An Apple iPad WIFI 32GB was used to display another 8 paired designs and assess caregiver preferences for UI functions to support the self-management process.

Results

Caregivers preferred an app UI with features and functions that incorporated a greater number of PSD principles and included an infographic to facilitate self-management. Moreover, caregivers preferred a design that did not depend on manual data entry, opting instead for functions such as drop-down list, drag-and-drop, and voice query to prioritize, choose, decide, and search when performing self-management activities.

Conclusion

Our assessment approaches allowed us to discern which UI features, functions, and designs caregivers preferred. The targeted application of PSD principles in UI designs holds promise for supporting personalized problem identification, goal setting, decision-making, and action planning as strategies for improving caregiver self-management confidence.
‘Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act’ of India: An Analysis of Substantive Access to Rights of a Transgender Community
Authors: Bhattacharya Shamayeta , Ghosh Debarchana , Purkayastha Bandana
Published: February 2022

The amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of India in 2019 address non-binary persons’ constitutional rights, recognition of their gender identity, and non-discrimination laws across institutional spaces (for example, family, workplace, education, and healthcare). The Act discusses legal rights in isolation of praxis, structural support and, more importantly, lacks guidelines needed to substantively access rights. Such a disconnection relegates human rights to merely legal changes with limited practice. In this article, we discuss the achievements and failures of the act from the perspective of a transgender community in India, and the impact it has had on their lives from its formulation in 2014. Although non-binary communities are recognized, they face severe abuse and discrimination. We analyse accounts of 15 transgender persons’ lived experiences and challenges they faced in claiming their rights in Kolkata, a metropolis in eastern India. We used the framework of substantive access to rights, that is, the actual ability to practice and access documented rights, to critically discuss our findings across family, work, education, and healthcare spaces, often showing the gaps between achieved legal status, and the practical realities on the ground. We provide several recommendations to bridge these gaps—improving educational equity for non-binary people, including transgender specific training for healthcare providers and, more importantly, increasing the adequate representation of non-binary people in the positions of negotiation. The road to claiming social and economic rights following legal rights for non-binary gender communities cannot be achieved without overcoming their erasure within families and hypervisibility in public spaces.
Impact of Hypnotic Drug Zolpidem Tartrate on the Development of Forensic FlySarcophaga ruficornis(Diptera: Sarcophagidae)
Authors: Ahmed Al-Keridis Lamya , Al Galil Fahd Mohammed Abd , Al-Mekhlafi Fahd A , Wadaan Muhammad A , Al-Khalifa Mohammed S
Published: February 2022

The flesh fly Sarcophaga ruficornis (Fabricius) is one of the fly species of significant medical and forensic importance since it is one of the most common flesh flies used in forensic investigations. Zolpidem tartrate is a sedative-hypnotic drug used for the short-term treatment of insomnia in adults and its use has been implicated in many suicide cases worldwide. Fresh chopped liver of buffalo Bubalus bubalis (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) containing different concentrations of Zolpidem tartrate was given to S. ruficornis larvae to evaluate the effect of Zolpidem tartrate on the developmental rate of the different stages, life cycle duration, and the morphological parameters. The findings have shown significant variation in the time required for the different developmental stages and total life cycle duration, which correlated positively with the Zolpidem tartrate concentration in different cultures. Compared to the control, the morphological parameters were negatively correlated with the concentration of Zolpidem tartrate in the treated cultures. The obtained results indicate that the Zolpidem tartrate retards larval development and alters the estimation of the total developmental duration. Thus, when Zolpidem tartrate may be the cause of death, the entomological evidence needs to be analyzed so it takes zolpidem-related changes to the mPMI into account.
Morphological Description of the Female, Pupa, and Fourth-Instar Larva and Redescription of the Male of Culex (Melanoconion) aliciae (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Bangher Débora N , Rossi Gustavo C , Almirón Walter R , Stein Marina
Published: February 2022

The female, pupa, and fourth-instar larva of Culex (Melanoconion) aliciae are described for the first time, and the male is redescribed. The cibarium, female and male genitalia, pupa, and fourth-instar larva are illustrated. Information on distribution, bionomics, and taxonomy is also included. Males of Cx. aliciae Duret and Cx. martinezi Casal & Garcia are indistinguishable, except for the appearance of the ninth tergal lobes. The female of Culex martinezi has not been described before. The females of Culex aliciae can be recognized by characteristics of the occipital scales, cibarium, and genitalia. The larva of Cx. aliciae and Cx. martinezi can be distinguished from characters of the thorax and abdomen.
Stellar mass as the ‘glocal’ driver of galaxies’ stellar population properties
Authors: Zibetti Stefano , Gallazzi Anna R
Published: February 2022

The properties of the stellar populations in a galaxy are known to correlate with the amount and the distribution of stellar mass. We take advantage of the maps of light-weighted mean stellar age $\mathit {\mathrm{ Age}_{\mathrm{ wr}}}$ and metallicity $\mathit {\mathrm{ Z}_{*\mathrm{ wr}}}$ for a sample of 362 galaxies from the integral-field spectroscopic survey CALIFA (summing up to $\gt 600\, 000$ individual regions of ∼1 kpc linear size), produced in our previous works, to investigate how these local properties react to the local stellar-mass surface density μ* and to the global total stellar mass M* and mean stellar-mass surface density 〈μ*〉e. We establish the existence of (i) a dual μ*–$\mathit {\mathrm{ Age}_{\mathrm{ wr}}}$ relation, resulting in a young sequence and an old ridge, and (ii) a μ*–$\mathit {Z_{*wr}}$ relation, overall independent of the age of the regions. The global mass parameters (M* and, possibly secondarily, 〈μ*〉e) determine the distribution of μ* in a galaxy and set the maximum attainable μ*, which increases with M*. M* affects the shape and normalization of the local relations up to a threshold mass of $\sim 10^{10.3}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, above which they remain unchanged. We conclude that stellar mass is a ‘glocal’ (i.e. simultaneously global and local) driver of the stellar population properties. We consider how the local and global mass–age and mass–metallicity relations are connected, and in particular discuss how it is possible, from a single local relation, to produce two different global mass–metallicity relations for quiescent and star-forming galaxies, respectively, as reported in the literature. Structural differences in these two classes of galaxies are key to explain the duality in global scaling relations and appear as essential in modelling the baryonic cycle of galaxies.
Magnetic field strength in cosmic web filaments
Authors: Carretti Ettore , Vacca V , O’Sullivan S P , Heald G H , Horellou C , Röttgering H J A , Scaife A M M , Shimwell T W , Shulevski A , Stuardi C , Vernstrom T
Published: February 2022

We used the rotation measure (RM) catalogue derived from the LOFAR Two-metre Sky Survey Data Release 2 (LoTSS DR2) at 144 MHz to measure the evolution with redshift of the extragalactic RM (RRM: Residual RM) and the polarization fraction (p) of sources in low-density environments. We also measured the same at 1.4 GHz by cross-matching with the NRAO VLA Sky Survey RM catalogue. We find that RRM versus redshift is flat at 144 MHz, but, once redshift-corrected, it shows evolution at high significance. Also, p evolves with redshift with a decrement by a factor of ∼8 at z ∼ 2. Comparing the 144-MHz and 1.4-GHz data, we find that the observed RRM and p are most likely to have an origin local to the source at 1.4 GHz, while a cosmic web filament origin is favoured at 144 MHz. If we attribute the entire signal to filaments, we infer a mean rest-frame RRM per filament of RRM$_{\rm 0,f} = 0.71 \pm 0.07 \, \, \rm rad\, m^{-2}$ and a magnetic field per filament of Bf = 32 ± 3 nG. This is in agreement with estimates obtained with a complementary method based on synchrotron emission stacking, and with cosmological simulations if primordial magnetic fields are amplified by astrophysical source field seeding. The measurement of an RRM0, f supports the presence of diffuse baryonic gas in filaments. We also estimated a conservative upper limit of the filament magnetic turbulence of $\sigma _{\rm RRM_{\rm 0,f}} =0.039 \pm 0.001 \, \, \rm rad\, m^{-2}$, concluding that the ordered magnetic field component dominates in filaments.
Cosmic-kite: auto-encoding the cosmic microwave background
Authors: de los Rios Martín
Published: February 2022

In this work, we present the results of the study of the cosmic microwave background temperature–temperature power spectrum through auto-encoders in which the latent variables are the cosmological parameters. This method was trained and calibrated using a data set composed of 80 000 power spectra from random cosmologies computed numerically with the camb code. Due to the specific architecture of the auto-encoder, the encoder part is a model that estimates the maximum-likelihood parameters from a given power spectrum. On the other hand, the decoder part is a model that computes the power spectrum from the cosmological parameters and can be used as a forward model in a fully Bayesian analysis. We show that the encoder is able to estimate the true cosmological parameters with a precision varying from $\approx 0.004 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ to $\approx 0.2 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ (depending on the cosmological parameter), while the decoder computes the power spectra with a mean percentage error of $\approx 0.0018 {{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ for all the multipole range. We also demonstrate that the decoder recovers the expected trends when varying the cosmological parameters one by one, and that it does not introduce any significant bias on the estimation of cosmological parameters through a Bayesian analysis. These studies gave place to the cosmic-kite python software, which is publicly available and can be downloaded and installed from https://github.com/Martindelosrios/cosmic-kite. Although this algorithm does not improve the precision of the measurements compared with the traditional methods, it reduces significantly the computation time and represents the first attempt towards forcing the latent variables to have a physical interpretation.
Quantifying the risk and dosimetric variables of symptomatic brainstem injury after proton beam radiation in pediatric brain tumors
Authors: Upadhyay Rituraj , Liao Kaiping , Grosshans David R , McGovern Susan L , Frances McAleer Mary , Zaky Wafik , Chintagumpala Murali M , Mahajan Anita , Nana Yeboa Debra , Paulino Arnold C
Published: February 2022

Background

Brainstem toxicity after radiation therapy (RT) is a devastating complication and a particular concern with proton radiation (PBT). We investigated the incidence and clinical correlates of brainstem injury in pediatric brain tumors treated with PBT.

Methods

All patients <21 years with brain tumors treated with PBT at our institution from 2007–2019, with a brainstem Dmean >30 Gy and/or Dmax >50.4 Gy were included. Symptomatic brainstem injury (SBI) was defined as any new or progressive cranial neuropathy, ataxia, and/or motor weakness with corresponding radiographic abnormality within brainstem.

Results

A total of 595 patients were reviewed and 468 (medulloblastoma = 200, gliomas = 114, ependymoma = 87, ATRT = 43) met our inclusion criteria. Median age at RT was 6.3 years and median prescribed RT dose was 54Gy [RBE]. Fifteen patients (3.2%) developed SBI, at a median of 4 months after RT. Grades 2, 3, 4, and 5 brainstem injuries were seen in 7, 5, 1, and 2 patients respectively. Asymptomatic radiographic changes were seen in 51 patients (10.9%). SBI was significantly higher in patients with age ≤3 years, female gender, ATRT histology, patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue, and those not receiving craniospinal irradiation. Patients with SBI had a significantly higher V50–52. In 2014, our institution started using strict brainstem dose constraints (Dmax ≤57 Gy, Dmean ≤52.4 Gy, and V54≤10%). There was a trend towards decrease in SBI from 4.4% (2007-2013) to 1.5% (2014–2019) (P = .089) without affecting survival.

Conclusion

Our results suggest a low risk of SBI after PBT for pediatric brain tumors, comparable to photon therapy. A lower risk was seen after adopting strict brainstem dose constraints.
Design of Financial Incentive Programs for Smoking Cessation: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Breen Rachel J , Palmer Matthew A , Frandsen Mai , Ferguson Stuart G
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Financial incentive programs promote smoking cessation. However, the incentive amount which should be provided—and how this may interact with other program characteristics—is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the design of incentive programs for smoking cessation on current smokers’ perceptions of programs and willingness to enroll.

Method

An online discrete choice experiment was conducted amongst adult current smokers residing in the United Kingdom (N = 430). Hypothetical incentive programs were described using five attributes (incentive amount, incentive type, frequency of sessions, reward schedules, program location). Participants responded to a series of choice sets comprised of two hypothetical programs. For each set, participants selected their preferred program. They then specified whether they would enroll in their preferred program if it were available. Analyses also considered the effect of participant income on preferences.

Results

Overall, participants preferred higher amounts over lower amounts, cash over vouchers, healthcare settings over workplaces, and consistent amounts over an escalating schedule. One session per week was the most preferred session frequency. Willingness to enroll increased quadratically with the incentive amount, although this increase slowed for higher amounts. Although middle- and high-income smokers preferred slightly higher amounts (cf. low-income participants), enrollment choices did not differ by income.

Conclusion

The characteristics of incentive programs influence smokers’ perceptions of programs and willingness to enroll. Higher amounts may encourage greater enrollment rates, but there will likely be a ceiling point beyond which increasing the incentive amount does not meaningfully increase enrollments.

Implications

There is increasing evidence incentive programs aid smoking cessation. Yet, the variety in previous program designs means how to best structure programs, including optimal incentive amount and the impact of the design on potential enrollment rates, remains unclear. This study suggests enrollments may be highest when incentive amounts are higher, rewards of a consistent amount in cash are provided, and sessions occur once per week in a healthcare setting. Although higher-income participants may desire higher incentive amounts compared to lower-income participants, this may not translate into differences in willingness to enroll.
CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 promotes seed germination by destabilizing RGA-LIKE 2 in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lee Byoung-Doo , Yim Yehyun , Cañibano Esther , Kim Suk-Hwan , García-León Marta , Rubio Vicente , Fonseca Sandra , Paek Nam-Chon
Published: February 2022

Under favorable moisture, temperature, and light conditions, gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis is induced and triggers seed germination. A major mechanism by which GA promotes seed germination is by promoting the degradation of the DELLA protein RGA-LIKE 2 (RGL2), a major repressor of germination in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds. Analysis of seed germination phenotypes of constitutive photomorphogenic 1 (cop1) mutants and complemented COP1-OX/cop1-4 lines in response to GA and paclobutrazol (PAC) suggested a positive role for COP1 in seed germination and a relation with GA signaling. cop1-4 mutant seeds showed PAC hypersensitivity, but transformation with a COP1 overexpression construct rendered them PAC insensitive, with a phenotype similar to that of rgl2 mutant (rgl2-SK54) seeds. Furthermore, cop1-4 rgl2-SK54 double mutants showed a PAC-insensitive germination phenotype like that of rgl2-SK54, identifying COP1 as an upstream negative regulator of RGL2. COP1 interacted directly with RGL2, and in vivo this interaction was strongly enhanced by SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 1. COP1 directly ubiquitinated RGL2 to promote its degradation. Moreover, GA stabilized COP1 with consequent RGL2 destabilization. By uncovering this COP1–RGL2 regulatory module, we reveal a mechanism whereby COP1 positively regulates seed germination and controls the expression of germination-promoting genes.
The MOTION Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Objective Real-World Outcomes for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Patients Treated with the mild® Procedure: One-Year Results
Authors: Deer Timothy R , Costandi Shrif J , Washabaugh Edward , Chafin Timothy B , Wahezi Sayed E , Jassal Navdeep , Sayed Dawood
Published: February 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study is to provide Level-1 objective, real-world outcome data for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis suffering from neurogenic claudication secondary to hypertrophic ligamentum flavum.

Design

The MOTION Study is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial comparing the mild® Procedure (minimally invasive lumbar decompression; Vertos Medical, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) as a first-line therapy in combination with nonsurgical conventional medical management (CMM) vs CMM alone as the active control.

Methods

Patients in the test group received the mild Procedure at baseline. Both the mild+CMM group and the control group were allowed unrestricted access to conventional real-world therapies. Patient-reported outcomes included the Oswestry Disability Index, the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale. A validated Walking Tolerance Test, the incidence of subsequent lumbar spine interventions, and the occurrence of adverse events were used to measure objective outcomes.

Results

Sixty-nine patients in each group were analyzed at 1-year follow-up. No device- or procedure-related adverse events were reported in either group. Results from all primary and secondary outcome measures showed statistical significance in favor of mild+CMM.

Conclusions

One-year results of this Level-1 study demonstrated superiority of mild+CMM over CMM alone for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who were suffering from neurogenic claudication secondary to hypertrophic ligamentum flavum. Use of the validated Walking Tolerance Test to objectively measure increased ability to walk without severe symptoms provided evidence of statistically significantly better outcomes for mild+CMM than for CMM alone. With no reported device or procedure-related adverse events, the long-standing safety profile of the mild Procedure was reaffirmed. mild is a safe, durable, minimally invasive procedure that has been shown to be effective as an early interventional therapy for patients suffering from symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis.
Mood and Anxiety Symptoms in Persons Taking Prescription Opioids: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Leung Janni , Santo Thomas , Colledge-Frisby Samantha , Mekonen Tesfa , Thomson Kate , Degenhardt Louisa , Connor Jason P , Hall Wayne , Stjepanović Daniel
Published: February 2022

Objective

To review evidence from longitudinal studies on the association between prescription opioid use and common mood and anxiety symptoms.

Design

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO for search terms related to opioids AND (depression OR bipolar OR anxiety OR post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]). Findings were summarized narratively, and random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool effect sizes.

Results

We identified 10,290 records and found 10 articles that met our inclusion criteria. Incidence studies showed that people who used prescription opioids had an elevated risk of any mood outcome (adjusted effect size [aES] = 1.80 [95% confidence interval = 1.40–2.30]) and of an anxiety outcome (aES = 1.40 [1.20–1.80]) compared with those who did not use prescription opioids. Associations with depression were small and not significant after adjustment for potential confounders (aES = 1.18 [0.98–1.41]). However, some studies reported an increased risk of depressive symptoms after increased (aES = 1.58 [1.30–1.93]) or prolonged opioid use (aES = 1.49 [1.19–1.86]).

Conclusions

Mental health should be considered when opioids are prescribed because some patients could be vulnerable to adverse mental health outcomes.
Displaced Persons’ Experiences of Trauma and Responses to Contemporary Crisis in Europe: An Oral History of Engagement with Refugees
Authors: Stroja Jessica
Published: February 2022

The contemporary refugee crisis is an ongoing global concern. For the many East European displaced persons who were resettled in Queensland following the Second World War, these events are particularly poignant. Their prior experiences of violence, incarceration and encampment are being echoed in current developments, and contribute to their approach towards these events today. While scholars have considered generalised public attitudes towards refugees, little comparative research exists to assess the impact of this situation on displaced persons in Australia. Even less knowledge exists to inform practitioners’, scholars’, and policy makers’ understanding of how former refugees are engaging with this current crisis, and thus how resettled refugees can be supported as they reconcile their own experiences of violence and loss with public debate surrounding the validity of refugees’ claims for asylum. This article shows that the displacement and trauma of post-war Polish, Ukrainian, and Latvian displaced persons retain an ongoing influence on their perceptions of crisis and displacement in the present. It reveals a unique response to mass refugee movements that speaks to their own experiences as displaced persons. This reflects the way in which these displaced families’ remembered experiences have become crucial to their engagement with contemporary events and refugees.
Neural correlates of negative emotion processing in subthreshold depression
Authors: Zhang Shu , Zhang Yuan , Ma Wenhao , Qi Zhangzhang , Wang Ying , Tao Qian
Published: February 2022

Subthreshold depression (SD) is regarded as a major risk factor for major depression. However, little is known about the neural mechanism of negative emotion processing in SD. The study aimed to examine the different neural correlates for negative emotion processing in SD and health controls (HCs) and to investigate changes in functional connectivity in SD compared with HC. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses of SD and HC were captured while performing a passive viewing task, which comprised a negative condition and a masked condition. A total of 42 SD and 32 HC adolescents participated in the study. Between-group comparisons revealed significant reduced activations in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG), middle frontal gyrus and middle cingulate gyrus. Region of interest (ROI) analyses did not find correlations between contrast values of the ROIs and depressive symptoms. In addition, we found a significant increased functional connectivity between the SFG and caudate, pallidum and insula, which was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms in the SD group (P < 0.05). Altered functional connectivity between the SFG and caudate, pallidum and insula may underlie the pathology of SD. This is the first study to investigate neural mechanisms of negative emotion processing in SD using task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Unboxing knowledge in collaboration between academia and society: A story about conceptions and epistemic uncertainty
Authors: Jonsson Anna , Grafström Maria , Klintman Mikael
Published: February 2022

Policymakers increasingly emphasize knowledge collaboration between academia and society as important means to generate innovations and solve complex issues. However, while recent literature on such collaboration suggests that knowledge needs to be integrated and generated across disciplines and sectors, there are surprisingly few studies that define what is meant by ‘knowledge’ or focus on the process of generating knowledge. Subsequently, the aim of this paper is to unbox ‘knowledge’ in knowledge collaboration by focusing specifically on how knowledge is understood by heterogenous actors during the process of generating knowledge. We build on insights from an in-depth case study and contribute to the literature on knowledge collaboration by bringing in theory on boundary work that specifically addresses the knowledge generation process. We argue that to better meet the expectations of collaboration, there is a need for more discussions and focus on the participating stakeholders’ heterogenous epistemological as well as ontological understanding.
Synergistic Effects of a Root-Endophytic Trichoderma Fungus and Bacillus on Early Root Colonization and Defense Activation Against Verticillium longisporum in Rapeseed
Authors: Hafiz Fatema Binte , Moradtalab Narges , Goertz Simon , Rietz Steffen , Dietel Kristin , Rozhon Wilfried , Humbeck Klaus , Geistlinger Joerg , Neumann Günter , Schellenberg Ingo
Published: February 2022

Rhizosphere-competent microbes often interact with plant roots and exhibit beneficial effects on plant performance. Numerous bacterial and fungal isolates are able to prime host plants for fast adaptive responses against pathogen attacks. Combined action of fungi and bacteria may lead to synergisms exceeding effects of single strains. Individual beneficial fungi and bacteria have been extensively studied in Arabidopsis thaliana, but little is known about their concerted actions in the Brassicaceae. Here, an in-vitro system with oilseed rape (Brassica napus) was established. Roots of two different cultivars were inoculated with well-characterized fungal (Trichoderma harzianum OMG16) and bacterial (Bacillus velezensis FZB42) isolates alone or in combination. Microscopic analysis confirmed that OMG16 hyphae entered root hairs through root hair tips and formed distinct intracellular structures. Quantitative PCR revealed that root colonization of OMG16 increased up to 10-fold in the presence of FZB42. Relative transcript levels of the ethylene- and jasmonic acid–responsive genes PDF1.2, ERF2, and AOC3 were recorded in leaves by quantitative reverse transcription PCR to measure induced systemic resistance in tissues distant from the roots. Combined action of OMG16 and FZB42 induced transcript abundances more efficiently than single inoculation. Importantly, microbial priming reduced Verticillium longisporum root infection in rapeseed by approximately 100-fold compared with nonprimed plants. Priming also led to faster and stronger systemic responses of the defense genes PDF1.2, ERF2, AOC3, and VSP2.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Salicylic Acid and Phytoalexin Induction by a Bacterium that Causes Halo Blight in Beans
Authors: Cooper Bret , Campbell Kimberly B. , Garrett Wesley M.
Published: February 2022

Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola is a bacterium that causes halo blight in beans. Different varieties of beans have hypersensitive resistance to specific races of P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola. During hypersensitive resistance, also known as effector-triggered immunity (ETI), beans produce hormones that signal molecular processes to produce phytoalexins that are presumed to be antibiotic to bacteria. To shed light on hormone and phytoalexin production during immunity, we inoculated beans with virulent and avirulent races of P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola. We then used mass spectrometry to measure the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), the primary hormone that controls immunity in plants, and other hormones including jasmonate, methyljasmonate, indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, cytokinin, gibberellic acid, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. SA, but no other examined hormone, consistently increased at sites of infection to greater levels in resistant beans compared with susceptible beans at 4 days after inoculation. We then monitored 10 candidate bean phytoalexins. Daidzein, genistein, kievitone, phaseollin, phaseollidin, coumestrol, and resveratrol substantially increased alongside SA in resistant beans but not in susceptible beans. In vitro culture assays revealed that SA, daidzein, genistein, coumestrol, and resveratrol inhibited P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola race 5 culture growth. These results demonstrate that these phytoalexins may be regulated by SA and work with SA during ETI to restrict bacterial replication. This is the first report of antibiotic activity for daidzein, genistein, and resveratrol to P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola. These results improve our understanding of the mechanistic output of ETI toward this bacterial pathogen of beans.
Clinical Investigation of Fertility After Uterine Artery Embolization
Authors: Serres-Cousine Olivier , Kuijper Fiene Marie , Curis Emmanuel , Atashroo Diana
Published: February 2022

(Abstracted from Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021;225:403.e1–403.e22)

The most common tumors of the reproductive tract are uterine myomas (leiomyomata, fibroids). These benign tumors are often symptomatic in women of reproductive age and can affect fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth.
Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Among Pregnant Women With and Without COVID-19 Infection: The INTERCOVID Multinational Cohort Study
Authors: Villar José , Ariff Shabina , Gunier Robert B. , Thiruvengadam Ramachandran , Rauch Stephen , Kholin Alexey , Roggero Paola , Prefumo Federico , do Vale Marynéa Silva , Cardona-Perez Jorge Arturo , Maiz Nerea , Cetin Irene , Savasi Valeria , Deruelle Philippe , Easter Sarah Rae , Sichitiu Joanna , Soto Conti Constanza P. , Ernawati Ernawati , Mhatre Mohak , Teji Jagjit Singh , Liu Becky , Capelli Carola , Oberto Manuela , Salazar Laura , Gravett Michael G. , Cavoretto Paolo Ivo , Nachinab Vincent Bizor , Galadanci Hadiza , Oros Daniel , Ayede Adejumoke Idowu , Sentilhes Loïc , Bako Babagana , Savorani Mónica , Cena Hellas , García-May Perla K. , Etuk Saturday , Casale Roberto , Abd-Elsalam Sherief , Ikenoue Satoru , Aminu Muhammad Baffah , Vecciarelli Carmen , Duro Eduardo A. , Usman Mustapha Ado , John-Akinola Yetunde , Nieto Ricardo , Ferrazi Enrico , Bhutta Zulfiqar A. , Langer Ana , Kennedy Stephen H. , Papageorghiou Aris T.
Published: February 2022

(Abstracted from JAMA Pediatr 2021;175:817–826)

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the extent of the risks of a COVID infection during pregnancy were unknown. During the start of the pandemic, there were only a few studies published comparing outcomes between pregnant women with and without COVID-19 infections.
The Computations of a Traumatized Mind: A Latent Cause Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Rigoli Francesco
Published: February 2022

In cognitive psychology, a recent perspective based on the notion of latent cause (LC) has offered new insight on how learning and memory work. Here I explore the implications of this novel perspective to understand posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The proposal is that, because of a propensity to interpret events as manifestations of multiple LCs (a propensity facilitated by experiencing traumas in childhood), PTSD patients form an LC associated with the trauma and that this LC is responsible for typical symptoms of the illness (specifically, intrusive symptoms and associated fear). Later, after the trauma, some patients develop a second LC, now associated with the presence of trauma-related cues combined with absence of danger. Development of the latter LC would interfere with extinction and explain why, for some patients, exposure to trauma-related cues (even when supported by interventions such as exposure protocols) fails to provide much improvement. This proposal has potential clinical implications, raising the possibility that some patients might benefit from exposure to mildly painful aspects of the trauma in conjunction with trauma-related cues.
Q Fever Masquerading as Legionnaires Disease in an Endovascular Stent Infection
Authors: Hynes Allyson M. , O'Donnell Judith A. , Aly Ahmed H. , Blackstock Christopher D. , Kalapatapu Venkat R. , Martin Niels D.
Published: February 2022

Background

Legionellosis in the setting of preexisting endovascular prosthetic graft may represent a Coxiella burnetii infection as antibody cross-reactivity exists.

Methods

We present a 63-year-old man status-post endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with a history of ankylosing spondylitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease asthma, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia who presented with clinical symptoms of legionellosis. This was confirmed with a positive urine antigen test.

Results

He completed a 21-day course of azithromycin for Legionella. His leukocytosis and liver function tests normalized, but he had continued lethargy and a persistently elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein. Imaging showed a radiographically infected EVAR graft (placed 10 months prior). The EVAR was explanted and the operating room cultures grew C. burnetii. Prolonged hydroxychloroquine and doxycycline therapy were required for vascular manifestations of Coxiella as azithromycin provides inappropriate coverage.

Conclusions

Persistent constitutional symptoms in the setting of an EVAR require expanded investigation, especially in the setting of legionellosis.
Edwardsiella tarda Bacteremia With Tubo-Ovarian Abscess
Authors: Gardner Austin B. , Dunn Timothy N. , White Cameron M. , Franco Ricardo , Buenaventura Sofia , Boozer Margaret
Published: February 2022

Edwardsiella tarda infection is infrequently encountered in humans. Exposure most often occurs through consumption of raw seafood or activities in bodies of fresh or brackish water, and systemic infections can have a high mortality rate. We present the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. She was septic and was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics after cultures were drawn. Imaging showed pyosalpinx/tubo-ovarian abscess that was refractory to systemic antibiotics and ultimately required surgical management. Two blood cultures and an intraoperative abscess culture grew pan-susceptible E. tarda. Postoperatively, the patient's clinical status quickly improved, and she was doing well at her follow-up visit. To the best of our knowledge, cases of E. tarda bacteremia in the setting of tubo-ovarian abscess have not previously been reported, and this case is particularly unusual in that the patient is young and without predisposing chronic medical conditions.
Life-Threatening Capnocytophaga canimorsus Sepsis Associated With Ustekinumab Use for Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Holtzapple Zachary , Ellis Wilfred J. G.
Published: February 2022

Capnocytophage canimorsus is a gram-negative rod bacterium that composes the microbial biome in the oral cavity of some canines and felines. It is mostly seen in patients with underlying disorder such as asplenia, general alcohol abuse, and cirrhosis. It can lead to multiple complications for patients that include meningitis, endocarditis, and sepsis. The history and the broad differential are important details for clinicians because of its slow-growing nature during blood culturing. Broad-spectrum antibiotics and life support are considered the mainstays of treatment for a patient presenting with unknown sepsis that may be caused by C. canimorsus. The authors present the risk factors, clinical picture, and treatment for the encounter of a patient with sepsis secondary to C. canimorsus.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy for the Treatment of Vestibular Migraine, and the Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on Outcome: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Stancel-Lewis Jack , Lau Joanne Wai Ling , Male Amanda , Korres George , Rogel-Salazar Jesus , Pavlou Marousa , Bamiou Doris-Eva
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common condition; individuals experience dizziness with migraine symptoms. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has been reported as an effective treatment for VM, however, evidence is limited. VM and traumatic brain injury (TBI) can co-occur, and some suggest that TBI can induce VM. There is limited evidence on the effect a history of TBI has on VRT in patients with VM.

Methods:

Retrospective case series of 93 (f = 63, m = 30) participants with VM and underwent VRT (mean age 48.62; SD 15.92). Pre- and post-treatment self-reported outcome measures and functional gait assessment were extracted from the participants health records and evaluated. The impact of TBI on VRT outcome in participants with VM was analyzed. Individuals with TBI and no history of migraine (n = 40) were also extracted to act as a control.

Results:

VRT significantly improved self-reported dizziness on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), with a mean change of –18 points (p < 0.000) and +5 points on the functional gait assessment (FGA) (p < 0.000) in patients with VM. A history of TBI significantly impacted outcome on the DHI (p = 0.018) in patients with VM.

VRT significantly improved all outcome measures for individuals with TBI, with a mean change of –16 points on the DHI (p = 0.001) and +5 points on the FGA (p < 0.000). VM presence significantly impacted outcome.

Conclusion:

VRT should be considered as a treatment option to reduce dizziness and the risk of falls in individuals with VM. TBI may negatively impact VRT outcomes in individuals with VM.