bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of time-varying magnetic fields and temperature of helium gas exit during a quench of a human magnetic resonance system
Authors: Pace Nicola , Ricci Leonardo , Scotoni Mario , Perinelli Alessio , Jovicich Jorge
Published: May 2019

The quench of a human magnetic resonance imaging system is a critical event that may occur spontaneously, as an accident or purposely in response to an emergency. Although a magnet’s quench presents its own risks, little experimental data is available in this respect. In this study, the programmed quench of a human MRI scanner was used to measure the induced time varying magnetic fields (

d
B

/

d
t

) inside the bore in order to evaluate cardiac stimulation risks during a quench. Additionally, we measured the exit temperature of the helium gas, to evaluate potential implications in quench pipe design. The maximum

d
B

/

d
t

was 360 mT s−1 at the center of the magnet, far below the cardiac stimulation threshold (20 T s−1). The helium exit temperature reached 35 K, perhaps implying further considerations about quench pipe designs. Replication of similar experiments on programmed quenches, specially in high-field MRI systems, will be useful to further characterize quench risks.
Harmonization of Training, Training Requirements, Board Certification, and Practice of Hematopathology
Authors: Swerdlow Steven H , Monaghan Sara A , Douglas Aaron R , Johnson Kristen , Johnson Rebecca L
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Hematopathology (HP) is a rapidly changing field with insufficient data to provide guidance to program directors (PDs), the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or the American Board of Pathology.

Methods

Two surveys were performed—one for HP PDs and one, given twice, for HP diplomates doing Maintenance of Certification/Continuing Certification reporting in 2017 to 2018.

Results

Bone marrow (BM), lymph node (LN), and flow cytometry interpretations and peripheral blood/fluid reviews are performed by more than 80% of hematopathologists and are the areas with the greatest amount of training. A smaller proportion of hematopathologists is involved in other HP-related activities. Most PDs believed fellows should perform BM procedures. Interpretation of 400 or more LNs and 500 BMs was PDs’ median expectations for fellows. PDs and HP diplomates considered coagulation and benign RBC disorders overemphasized on the certification examination.

Conclusions

These results highlight how varied the practice of HP is and can provide guidance to HP PDs, those responsible for assessing HP programs, and the American Board of Pathology.
Exploiting ambiguity in community development: lesson from the UK Coalition government (2010–2015)
Authors: Reynolds Andie
Published: May 2019

This article scrutinizes the ambiguous nature of community development (CD) in England. It does so by drawing attention to CD’s porous boundaries in relation to its allied community-based practices. Empirical evidence is provided – from national policy-making and the policy and practice in a case study local authority in England – that the Coalition government (2010–2015) exploited the ambiguity of CD by re-shaping its practices as social enterprise, volunteering and community organizing. This was to achieve a ‘new’ permutation of neoliberalism where civil society and its citizens provide local public services instead of ‘relying’ on state intervention and resources. The article concludes that the CD academic and practitioner field both shapes and is shaped by competing discourses of CD ‘fighting’ for hegemonic articulation. Yet, to the detriment of the field, this is rarely acknowledged nor engaged with.
Differential Structure of Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons in the Human and Mouse
Authors: Benavides-Piccione Ruth , Regalado-Reyes Mamen , Fernaud-Espinosa Isabel , Kastanauskaite Asta , Tapia-González Silvia , León-Espinosa Gonzalo , Rojo Concepcion , Insausti Ricardo , Segev Idan , DeFelipe Javier
Published: May 2019

Pyramidal neurons are the most common cell type and are considered the main output neuron in most mammalian forebrain structures. In terms of function, differences in the structure of the dendrites of these neurons appear to be crucial in determining how neurons integrate information. To further shed light on the structure of the human pyramidal neurons we investigated the geometry of pyramidal cells in the human and mouse CA1 region—one of the most evolutionary conserved archicortical regions, which is critically involved in the formation, consolidation, and retrieval of memory. We aimed to assess to what extent neurons corresponding to a homologous region in different species have parallel morphologies. Over 100 intracellularly injected and 3D-reconstructed cells across both species revealed that dendritic and axonal morphologies of human cells are not only larger but also have structural differences, when compared to mouse. The results show that human CA1 pyramidal cells are not a stretched version of mouse CA1 cells. These results indicate that there are some morphological parameters of the pyramidal cells that are conserved, whereas others are species-specific.
MycoResistance: a curated resource of drug resistance molecules in Mycobacteria
Authors: Dai Enyu , Zhang Hao , Zhou Xu , Song Qian , Li Di , Luo Lei , Xu Xinyu , Jiang Wei , Ling Hong
Published: May 2019

The emergence and spread of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is of global concern. To improve the understanding of drug resistance in Mycobacteria, numerous studies have been performed to discover diagnostic markers and genetic determinants associated with resistance to anti-tuberculosis drug. However, the related information is scattered in a massive body of literature, which is inconvenient for researchers to investigate the molecular mechanism of drug resistance. Therefore, we manually collected 1707 curated associations between 73 compounds and 132 molecules (including coding genes and non-coding RNAs) in 6 mycobacterial species from 465 studies. The experimental details of molecular epidemiology and mechanism exploration research were also summarized and recorded in our work. In addition, multidrug resistance and extensively drug resistance molecules were also extracted to interpret the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for cross resistance among anti-tuberculosis drugs. Finally, we constructed an omnibus repository named MycoResistance, a user friendly interface to conveniently browse, search and download all related entries. We hope that this elaborate database will serve as a beneficial resource for mechanism explanations, precise diagnosis and effective treatment of drug-resistant mycobacterial strains.
Mode of death in Shapiro syndrome: a case report
Authors: Braams Natalia Joanna , Hendriks Matthijs L , van Halm Vokko P
Published: May 2019

Background

Shapiro syndrome is extremely rare and is characterized by the triad of spontaneous periodic hypothermia, hyperhidrosis and agenesis of the corpus callosum, resulting in neurological and psychological disorders. The exact mechanism of this syndrome is unknown and treatment consists of controlling the periodic attacks. This case report describes a case of Shapiro syndrome presenting with ventricular fibrillation (VF) who was treated with dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy.

Case summary

A 45-year-old man, suffering from Shapiro syndrome with frequent hypothermic attacks, was admitted to the emergency department with an out of hospital cardiac arrest caused by VF due to hypothermia. To prevent cardiac death during future hypothermic attacks with VF, the patient was treated with a dual chamber ICD. Within 1 month after ICD implantation the patient had two events of ventricular tachycardia/VF during hypothermia, which were both successfully terminated by an ICD shock. One year after ICD implantation the patient suffered from an uncontrolled urinary tract infection and the patient passed away. Post-mortem interrogation of the ICD did not reveal further episodes of VF and showed a higher supraventricular heartrate in the last days before his death, probably due to a sinus tachycardia driven by the infection. It was concluded that the most likely cause of death was an uncontrolled sepsis.

Discussion

The current case showed that ICD therapy can be successful in treating VF episodes in patients with unexpected periods of hypothermia.
O soberana luz: a spiritual madrigal and a Mass for Philip IV, monarch of the Hispanic kingdoms
Authors: Villanueva Serrano Francesc
Published: May 2019

The polyphonic models for five of the six imitation or parody Masses published by the Portuguese composer Filipe de Magalhães in his Missarum liber (Lisbon, 1636) are well known. However, for the sixth, O soberana luz, only tentative musical or contextual connections with works by other composers have been suggested, none of which satisfy the criteria for them to be considered as a model. In this article, I reveal that the homonymous spiritual madrigal by Stefano Limido is undoubtedly the piece that Magalhães used as the basis for his Mass. In addition, Magalhães’s general compliance with Pedro Cerone’s theoretical recommendations of 1613 for compositions of this type is demonstrated. In light of this information, new ideas are put forward—and previous ones re-evaluated—about the creative context of both works in the courtly circles of Philip IV, who was at that time the absolute sovereign of the Iberian Peninsula. An edition of the previously unpublished madrigal by Limido is included in the Appendix.
German Trade Unions in the Nineteenth Century: Sociological Foundations in Comparative Perspective*
Authors: Welskopp Thomas
Published: May 2019

The article explores the origins of trade unions in the nineteenth-century industrializing German economy. In German territories—in contrast to the United Kingdom and the United States—the labour movement emerged as a political movement, from which trade unions developed relatively late, under the auspices of Social Democratic Party initiatives, remaining under threat throughout the 1870s. We therefore have particular reason to examine the sociological foundations that account for the development of German trade unions in general, which is done here with a broad comparative perspective.
Inflammaging: Age and Systemic, Cellular, and Nuclear Inflammatory Biology in Older Adults
Authors: Piber Dominique , Olmstead Richard , Cho Joshua Hyong-Jin , Witarama Tuff , Perez Christian , Dietz Nicholas , Seeman Teresa E , Breen Elizabeth C , Cole Steve W , Irwin Michael R
Published: May 2019

Systemic inflammation is associated with increasing age. Yet, there are limited data about the association between age and systemic inflammation within older adults, and whether older age is also associated with cellular and nuclear signaling markers of inflammation. In community-dwelling older adults (N = 262, 60–88 years), systemic levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II; levels of toll-like receptor-4–stimulated monocytic production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α; and resting nuclear levels of activated nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1, STAT3, STAT5) were evaluated. Adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, multivariate linear regression tested the association between age and each inflammatory marker. Age was positively associated with increased levels of interleukin-6 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II (p’s < .05) and with increases in STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5 activation (p’s < .05). However, no relationship was found between age and C-reactive protein, toll-like receptor-4–stimulated interleukin-6/tumor necrosis factor alpha α production, or nuclear factor kappa B. Within a community-dwelling sample of older adults, older age is associated with increases in STAT activation, along with increases of systemic inflammatory cytokines. In older adults, heterogeneity in age-related increases in inflammatory disease risk may be related to individual variability in inflammation.
The Evolution of a Single Toe in Horses: Causes, Consequences, and the Way Forward
Authors: McHorse Brianna K , Biewener Andrew A , Pierce Stephanie E
Published: May 2019

Horses are a classic example of macroevolution in three major traits—large body size, tall-crowned teeth (hypsodonty), and a single toe (monodactyly)—but how and why monodactyly evolved is still poorly understood. Existing hypotheses usually connect digit reduction in horses to the spread and eventual dominance of open-habitat grasslands, which took over from forests during the Cenozoic; digit reduction has been argued to be an adaptation for speed, locomotor economy, stability, and/or increased body size. In this review, we assess the evidence for these (not necessarily mutually exclusive) hypotheses from a variety of related fields, including paleoecology, phylogenetic comparative methods, and biomechanics. Convergent evolution of digit reduction, including in litopterns and artiodactyls, is also considered. We find it unlikely that a single evolutionary driver was responsible for the evolution of monodactyly, because changes in body size, foot posture, habitat, and substrate are frequently found to influence one another (and to connect to broader potential drivers, such as changing climate). We conclude with suggestions for future research to help untangle the complex dynamics of this remarkable morphological change in extinct horses. A path forward should combine regional paleoecology studies, quantitative biomechanical work, and make use of convergence and modern analogs to estimate the relative contributions of potential evolutionary drivers for digit reduction.
Environmentally Accurate Microplastic Levels and Their Absence from Exposure Studies
Authors: Cunningham Eoghan M , Sigwart Julia D
Published: May 2019

Microplastics (synthetic polymers; <5 mm) are ubiquitous, in the environment and in the news. The associated effects of microplastics on flora and fauna are currently only established through laboratory-based exposure trials; however, such studies have come under scrutiny for employing excessive concentrations with little environmental relevance. This critical review is intended to summarize key issues and approaches for those who are considering the need for local microplastics research, both in terms of environmental pollution and the impacts on aquatic species. A meta-analysis of results from published experimental (n = 128) and environmental (n = 180) studies allowed us to compare the reported impacts from experiments that expose organisms to microplastics, and the concentrations of environmental microplastics found in the wild. The results of this meta-analysis highlight three issues that should be modified in future work (1) use of extreme dosages, (2) incompatible and incomparable units, and (3) the problem of establishing truly informative experimental controls. We found that 5% of exposure trials examined did not use any control treatment, and 82% use dramatically elevated dosages without reference to environmental concentrations. Early studies in this field may have been motivated to produce unequivocal impacts on organisms, rather than creating a robust, environmentally relevant framework. Some of the reported impacts suggest worrying possibilities, which can now inspire more granular experiments. The existing literature on the extent of plastic pollution also has limited utility for accurately synthesizing broader trends, as has been raised in previous reviews; environmental extraction studies use many different units, among which only 76% (139/180) could be plausibly converted for comparison. Future research should adopt the units of microparticles/kg (of sediment) or mp/L (of fluid) to improve comparability. Now that the global presence of microplastic pollution is well established, with more than a decade of research, new studies should focus on comparative aspects rather than the presence of microplastics. Robustly designed, controlled, hypothesis-driven experiments based on environmentally relevant concentrations are needed now to understand our future in the new plastic world.
Investments in Unsettled Maritime Boundary Contexts: The Role of Bilateral Investment Treaties in Delivering Certainty
Authors: Khamsi Kathryn
Published: May 2019

Interest in offshore investment is growing: the oil and gas sector has been developing offshore reserves for some time; more recently, the renewable energy sector has also been investing offshore. In that context, this paper considers the legal uncertainties that overlapping sovereign claims in offshore areas create for investments. It then canvasses the commitments that States can accord to address these legal uncertainties, whether unilaterally or through inter-State authorities that jointly regulate areas subject to overlapping claims. This paper is then principally devoted to considering the role of bilateral investment treaties in enforcing such commitments, and otherwise addressing the legal uncertainties generated by overlapping maritime claims. By way of conclusion, this paper considers analogies to other situations where investments are subject to the sovereign rights of more than one State.
Monodromy of Hyperplane Sections of Curves and Decomposition Statistics over Finite Fields
Authors: Entin Alexei
Published: May 2019

For a projective curve $C\subset \textbf{P} ^n$ defined over a finite field $\textbf{F} _q$ we study the statistics of the $\textbf{F} _q$-structure of a section of $C$ by a random hyperplane defined over $\textbf{F} _q$ in the $q\to \infty $ limit. We obtain a very general equidistribution result for this problem. We deduce many old and new results about decomposition statistics over finite fields in this limit. Our main tool will be the calculation of the monodromy of transversal hyperplane sections of a projective curve.
AdjointL-Functions for GL(3) and U2,1
Authors: Hundley Joseph , Zhang Qing
Published: May 2019

We show that the finite part of the adjoint $L$-function (including contributions from all non-archimedean places, including ramified places) is holomorphic in ${\textrm{Re}}(s) \ge 1/2$ for a cuspidal automorphic representation of ${\textrm{GL}}_3$ over a number field. This improves the main result of [21]. We obtain more general results for twisted adjoint $L$-functions of both ${\textrm{GL}}_3$ and quasisplit unitary groups. For unitary groups, we explicate the relationship between poles of twisted adjoint $L$-functions, endoscopy, and the structure of the stable base change lifting.
The number needed to benefit: estimating the value of predictive analytics in healthcare
Authors: Liu Vincent X , Bates David W , Wiens Jenna , Shah Nigam H
Published: May 2019

Predictive analytics in health care has generated increasing enthusiasm recently, as reflected in a rapidly growing body of predictive models reported in literature and in real-time embedded models using electronic health record data. However, estimating the benefit of applying any single model to a specific clinical problem remains challenging today. Developing a shared framework for estimating model value is therefore critical to facilitate the effective, safe, and sustainable use of predictive tools into the future. We highlight key concepts within the prediction-action dyad that together are expected to impact model benefit. These include factors relevant to model prediction (including the number needed to screen) as well as those relevant to the subsequent action (number needed to treat). In the simplest terms, a number needed to benefit contextualizes the numbers needed to screen and treat, offering an opportunity to estimate the value of a clinical predictive model in action.
Alcohol Intoxication and the Postburn Gastrointestinal Hormonal Response
Authors: Idrovo Juan-Pablo , Shults Jill A , Curtis Brenda J , Chen Michael M , Kovacs Elizabeth J
Published: May 2019

Gastrointestinal hormones are essential in postburn metabolism. Since near 50% of burn victims test positive for blood alcohol levels at hospital admission and have inferior outcomes compared to nonintoxicated burn patients; we hypothesized that the gastrointestinal hormone secretion is compromised in intoxicated burn victims. To test our theory, we quantified gastrointestinal hormones serum levels in a combine ethanol intoxication and burn injury mouse model. Thus, mice received a daily dose of ethanol for 3 days, rested 4 days, and were given ethanol 3 additional days. Mice underwent 15% TBSA scald burn 30 minutes after their last ethanol dose. Serum samples were collected 24 hours after burn injury. Nonintoxicated burned mice exhibited an increase in glucose, insulin, ghrelin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, leptin, and resistin by 1.4-, 3-, 13.5-, 6.2-, 9.4-, and 2.4-fold, respectively, compared to sham vehicle mice (P < .05). Burn injury also reduced serum gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) by 32% compared to sham-injured, vehicle-treated mice. Leptin, resistin, glucagon-like peptide-1, as well as insulin, were not different from sham groups when intoxication preceded burn injury. Nevertheless, in burned mice treated with ethanol, gastric inhibitory polypeptide and glucagon serum levels exhibited a significant fold increase of 3.5 and 4.7, respectively. With these results, we conclude that 24 hours after burn injury, mice developed significant changes in gastrointestinal hormones, along with hyperglycemia. Moreover, the combined insult of burn and ethanol intoxication led to additional hormonal changes that may be attributed to a potential pancreatic dysfunction. Further multiday studies are required to investigate the etiology, behavior, and clinical significance of these hormonal changes.
Lesion Localization Using Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: Where Did I Go Wrong?
Authors: Gupta Dipti , Friedewald Sarah M
Published: May 2019

The scroll bar on digital breast tomosynthesis has become an imperative tool that breast imaging radiologists rely on for help in identify lesions on the orthogonal view, targeting breast ultrasound, and performing challenging biopsies for one-view findings. The ability to predict the lesion location using the scroll bar not only saves time in the diagnostic setting but also reduces screening recalls when a finding can be confirmed as dermal. It is important, however, to recognize settings in which the location prediction can be misleading, such as for lesions in thin breast tissue or the anterior portion of the breast or if the breast is not appropriately positioned. In these situations, radiologists can use other diagnostic tools for problem solving.
Baculoviral Expression of Presumptive OP-Resistance Mutations in BmAChE1 of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and Biochemical Resistance to OP Inhibition
Authors: Temeyer Kevin B , Schlechte Kristie G , McDonough William P
Published: May 2019

The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini), transmits bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis, and is endemic to Mexico, Latin and South America. Rhipicephalus (B.) microplus infestations within the United States are a continuing threat to U.S. cattle producers. An importation barrier between Texas and Mexico keeps the ticks from re-entering the United States. All cattle imported into the United States are dipped in an organophosphate (OP) acaricide and hand inspected for presence of ticks. Tick resistance has developed to most available acaricides, including coumaphos, the OP used in the cattle dip vats. OP-resistance can result from one or more mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), resulting in production of an altered AChE resistant to OP inhibition. Previous research reported a large number of BmAChE1 mutations associated with OP resistance. We report baculovirus expression of recombinant tick BmAChE1 (rBmAChE) enzymes containing a single resistance-associated mutation, to assess their contribution to OP inhibition resistance. Surprisingly, of the naturally occurring BmAChE1 resistance-associated mutations, only D188G resulted in markedly reduced sensitivity to OP-inhibition suggesting that OP-insensitivity in BmAChE1 may result from the D188G mutation, or may possibly result from multiple mutations, each contributing a small decrease in OP sensitivity. Furthermore, an OP-insensitivity mutation (G119S) found in mosquitoes was expressed in rBmAChE1, resulting in 500-2000-fold decreased sensitivity to OP inhibition. Recombinant BmAChE1 with the G119S mutation demonstrated the lack of any structural prohibition to broad and high-level OP-insensitivity, suggesting potential increases in tick OP-resistance that would threaten the U.S. importation barrier to ticks.
Is That Still the Same? Has that Changed? On the Accuracy of Measuring Change with Dependent Interviewing
Authors: Jäckle Annette , Eckman Stephanie
Published: May 2019

Measurement and analysis of change is one of the primary reasons to conduct panel surveys, but studies have shown that estimates of change from panel surveys can be subject to measurement error, most commonly overreporting of change. For this reason, many panel surveys use a technique called proactive dependent interviewing, which reminds respondents of their answer in the previous wave, and has been shown to reduce the capturing of spurious change. However, so far very little guidance exists in the literature on how such questions should be worded. Here, we use data from three experimental studies to examine question wording effects with proactive dependent interviewing. Because we link data from one of the surveys to administrative records, we can examine not only different levels of change by format, but the accuracy of the change reports as well. Our results show that how questions about current status are worded affects the reporting of change. The overall results, including comparisons with administrative records, suggest that reminding respondents of their previous answer and then asking, “Is that still the case?” produces the most accurate data on change and stability experienced by respondents.
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Authors: Thurtell Matthew J. , Tomsak Robert L.
Published: May 2019

Part of the “What Do I Do Now?” series, Neuro-Ophthalmology uses a case-based approach to cover common and important topics in the examination, investigation, and management of afferent (visual), efferent (eye movement), eyelid, pupil, and orbital disorders. Each chapter provides a discussion of the diagnosis, key points to remember, and selected references for further reading. For this new edition, all cases and references have been updated and several new cases have been added. Neuro-Ophthalmology is an engaging collection of thought-provoking cases that clinicians can use when they encounter difficult patients. The volume is also a self-assessment tool that tests the reader’s ability to answer the question, “What do I do now?”
Age, Race, and At-Risk Drinking in an HIV-infected U.S. Military Cohort
Authors: Byrne Morgan , Deiss Robert , Mesner Octavio , Glancey Margaret , Ganesan Anuradha , Okulicz Jason , Kronmann Karl , Maves Ryan , Schofield Christina , Agan Brian , Macalino Grace
Published: May 2019

Introduction

There is a high prevalence of at-risk drinking in the U.S. military. Among HIV-infected individuals, alcohol abuse confers additional risk for adverse health outcomes. In the military, however, the characteristics of HIV-infected individuals who engage in high-risk drinking are not well defined. The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors associated with at-risk drinking in an HIV-positive longitudinal cohort of DoD beneficiaries.

Materials and Methods

Annual prevalence of at-risk drinking was calculated for members of the U.S. Military HIV Natural History Study who initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) during or after January 2006 through May 2014; each participant completed at least one self-reported alcohol survey within a year of HAART initiation. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with at-risk drinking.

Results

Sixty-six percent of subjects (495/752) reported at-risk drinking on at least one survey after HAART initiation. At-risk drinkers were more likely to be Active Duty compared to Retired (OR 0.65 95% CI [0.46, 0.92]). In multivariate models, Caucasian race (OR 3.30 95% CI [2.31, 4.71]); Hispanic/other race (OR 2.17 95% CI [1.51, 3.14]) and younger age (OR 0.61 per 10 years older, [95%CI 0.49, 0.75]) were significantly associated with at-risk drinking. Single relationship status (OR 1.51 95% CI [1.08, 2.13]) was also associated with at-risk drinking.

Conclusions

Consistent with general alcohol consumption patterns in the military, we found a high prevalence of at-risk drinking among individuals with HIV infection, which was associated most closely with young, non-African Americans. Targeting interventions toward this group will be important to reduce at-risk drinking and its potential for HIV-related complications.
On the origin of microbial magnetoreception
Authors: Lin Wei , Kirschvink Joseph L , Paterson Greig A , Bazylinski Dennis A , Pan Yongxin
Published: May 2019

A broad range of organisms, from prokaryotes to higher animals, have the ability to sense and utilize Earth's geomagnetic field—a behavior known as magnetoreception. Although our knowledge of the physiological mechanisms of magnetoreception has increased substantially over recent decades, the origin of this behavior remains a fundamental question in evolutionary biology. Despite this, there is growing evidence that magnetic iron mineral biosynthesis by prokaryotes may represent the earliest form of biogenic magnetic sensors on Earth. Here, we integrate new data from microbiology, geology and nanotechnology, and propose that initial biomineralization of intracellular iron nanoparticles in early life evolved as a mechanism for mitigating the toxicity of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as ultraviolet radiation and free-iron-generated ROS would have been a major environmental challenge for life on early Earth. This iron-based system could have later been co-opted as a magnetic sensor for magnetoreception in microorganisms, suggesting an origin of microbial magnetoreception as the result of the evolutionary process of exaptation.
Magnetohydrodynamic simulation code CANS+: Assessments and applications
Authors: Matsumoto Yosuke , Asahina Yuta , Kudoh Yuki , Kawashima Tomohisa , Matsumoto Jin , Takahashi Hiroyuki R , Minoshima Takashi , Zenitani Seiji , Miyoshi Takahiro , Matsumoto Ryoji
Published: May 2019

We present a new magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation package with the aim of providing accurate numerical solutions to astrophysical phenomena where discontinuities, shock waves, and turbulence are inherently important. The code implements the Harten–Lax–van Leer–discontinuitues (HLLD) approximate Riemann solver, the fifth-order-monotonicity-preserving interpolation (MP5) scheme, and the hyperbolic divergence cleaning method for a magnetic field. This choice of schemes has significantly improved numerical accuracy and stability, and saved computational costs in multidimensional problems. Numerical tests of one- and two-dimensional problems show the advantages of using the high-order scheme by comparing with results from a standard second-order total variation diminishing monotonic upwind scheme for conservation laws (MUSCL) scheme. The present code enables us to explore the long-term evolution of a three-dimensional accretion disk around a black hole, in which compressible MHD turbulence causes continuous mass accretion via nonlinear growth of the magneto-rotational instability (MRI). Numerical tests with various computational cell sizes exhibits a convergent picture of the early nonlinear growth of the MRI in a global model, and indicates that the MP5 scheme has more than twice the resolution of the MUSCL scheme in practical applications.
Patients with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex lesions are capable of discriminatory threat learning but appear impaired in cognitive regulation of subjective fear
Authors: Kroes Marijn C W , Dunsmoor Joseph E , Hakimi Mathew , Oosterwaal Sofie ,   NYU PROSPEC collaboration, Meager Michael R , Phelps Elizabeth A
Published: May 2019

Humans are able to cognitively regulate emotions by changing their thoughts. Neuroimaging studies show correlations between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activity and cognitive regulation of emotions. Here our objective was to investigate whether dlPFC damage is associated with impaired cognitive regulation of emotion. We therefore tested the ability of patients with dlPFC lesions (N = 6) and matched control participants (N = 19) to utilize a laboratory version of cognitive regulation training (CRT) to regulate subjective fear and autonomic threat responses following Pavlovian threat conditioning. We found that patients with dlPFC lesions were able to acquire conditioned threat but seemed impaired in their ability to utilize CRT to cognitively regulate subjective fear to a threatening stimulus. Despite inclusion of a limited number of lesion patients, our results suggest that the dlPFC is important for the cognitive regulation of subjective fear.
Total Inpatient Morphine Milligram Equivalents Can Predict Long-term Opioid Use After Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Ge David H. , Hockley Aaron , Vasquez-Montes Dennis , Moawad Mohamed A. , Passias Peter G. , Errico Thomas J. , Buckland Aaron J. , Protopsaltis Themistocles S. , Fischer Charla R.
Published: May 2019

Study Design.

A retrospective cohort study from a single institution.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to assess the thresholds for postoperative opioid consumption, which are predictive of continued long-term opioid dependence.

Summary of Background Data.

The specific sum total of inpatient opioid consumption as a risk factor for long-term use after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) has not been previously studied.

Methods.

Charts of patients who underwent a one, two, or three-level primary TLIF between 2014 and 2017 were reviewed. Total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) consumed was tabulated and separated into three categories based on ROC curve analysis of opioid utilization at 6-month follow-up. Multivariate binary regression analysis assessed these MME dosage categories. A further subanalysis grouped patients on the basis of whether they had used opioids preoperatively.

Results.

One hundred seventy-two patients met the inclusion criteria and were separated into groups who received less than 250 total inpatient MME (44%), between 250 and 500 total inpatient MME (26%), and greater than 500 total inpatient MME (27%). Patients undergoing a TLIF who received <250 total MME in the immediate postoperative period had a 3.73 (odds ratio) times smaller probability of requiring opioids at 6-month follow-up [P = 0.027, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.084–0.86]. Patients who received >500 total MME had a 4.84 times greater probability (P = 0.002, 95% CI 1.8–13) of requiring opioids at 6-month follow-up. A subanalysis demonstrated individuals with preoperative opioid use who received <250 total MME had a 7.09 times smaller probability (P = 0.033, 95% CI 0.023–0.85) of requiring opioids at 6-month follow-up while those who received >500 total MME had a 5.43 times greater probability (P = 0.033, 95% CI 1.6–18) of requiring opioids at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion.

Exceeding the threshold of 500 total MMEs in the immediate postoperative period after a TLIF is a significant risk factor that predicts continued opioid use at 6-month follow-up, particularly among patients with a history of preoperative opioid utilization.

Level of Evidence: 3
Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with the Two-step Technique: Procedure Optimization and Three-year Follow-up in 26 Surgeries
Authors: Al Zarouni Marwan
Published: May 2019

Background:

Complex or recurrent abdominal wall defects may be the result of trauma, infection, tumor resection, or a previous failed attempt at closure, among other causes. This article describes a new surgical technique that better addresses these defects and provides safety and efficacy data from 26 consecutive surgeries with a 3-year follow-up.

Methods:

Prospective study in 18 men and 8 women with serious abdominal wall defects, who were surgically operated on using the two-step technique, which includes a first regenerative and closure step using a vacuum device (vacuum-assisted closure), and a second reconstructive step that does not require the use of any type of surgical mesh. The safety and efficacy results were evaluated through clinical examinations and questionnaires. The severity of patient-experienced pain and both patient and surgeon satisfaction were quantified on a scale from 0 to 10 points. The statistical calculations focused on the mean (m), range (r), and percentage (%).

Results:

The mean complete surface area of the abdominal wall defects was 250.2 cm2 (r = 78–770 cm2). The patient and surgeon satisfaction rates at the time of hospital discharge were m = 9.0 (r = 3–10) and m = 9.4 (r = 8–10), respectively. After 3 years, these rates were m = 7.2 (r = 3–10) and m = 9.8 (r = 9–10), respectively. No relevant complications were observed in any stage of the study and no recurrence was observed 3 years later. The main complaint of patients was the presence of hypertrophic scars from the surgical wound (57% of cases).

Conclusion:

The two-step technique is an excellent alternative for the repair of complete abdominal wall defects of up to 800 cm2 because it allows serious complications to be avoided, prevents recurrences, and shows high rates of both patient and surgeon satisfaction.
To Glue or Not to Glue? Analysis of Fibrin Glue for Split-thickness Skin Graft Fixation
Authors: Mullens Cody L. , Messa Charles A. , Kozak Geoffrey M. , Rhemtulla Irfan A. , Fischer John P.
Published: May 2019

Background:

Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is a commonly used tool in the plastic surgeon’s reconstructive armamentarium. Fibrin glue (FG) consists of a combination of clotting factors and thrombin whose key properties include adherence and hemostasis. This preliminary study aimed to assess clinical outcomes and cost of FG for STSG fixation in a general wound reconstruction.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted in all patients undergoing STSG placement by a single surgeon (JPF) from January 2016 to March 2018. Twenty patients were identified and matched by wound location and wound size. Patients were then divided into 2 groups based on the method of STSG fixation: FG (n = 10) or suture only (SO) (n = 10).

Results:

In patients with FG fixation, we observed trends of decreased adjusted operative times (34.9 versus 49.4 minutes, P = 0.612), a similar length of stay (2.8 versus 3.5 days, P = 0.306), and liberation from the use of negative pressure wound therapy (0 versus 10 wounds, P < 0.0001). There were no observed differences between the 2 groups in terms of graft-related complications at 180 days (1 complication FG versus 0 complications SO). Time to 100% graft take was also not different (20.2 versus 29.4 days, P = 0.405). Additionally, total direct cost ($16,542 FG versus $24,266 SO; P = 0.545) and total charges ($120,336 FG versus $183,750 SO; P = 0.496) were not statistically different between the FG and SO groups.

Conclusions:

In this preliminary comparative assessment, FG for STSG fixation has shown no difference in clinical outcomes to SO fixation, trends of decreased operative time, and afforded complete liberation from negative pressure wound therapy dressings.
Outcome Study after Nasal Alar/Peri-alar Subunit Reconstruction: Comparing Paramedian Forehead Flap to Nasolabial Flap
Authors: Genova Rafaella , Gardner Preston A. , Oliver Lauren N. , Chaiyasate Kongkrit
Published: May 2019

Objective:

Contours of the lower nasal third are unique and present challenges in surgical reconstruction. The nasal alar intricate curved anatomy makes the area easily compromised after Mohs surgery. Managing patient and surgeon expectations with regard to aesthetics and functionality remains the reconstructive goal. The purpose of the study was to compare patients’ perspective on aesthetics and functional outcomes of nasal alar reconstruction post Mohs ablative surgery using nasolabial or forehead flaps.

Methods:

A single surgeon’s results of 23 patients, who underwent nasal alar reconstruction post Mohs surgery, were included for analysis (15 forehead and 8 nasolabial flaps). Initially, 103 consecutive patients undergoing nasal reconstruction were reviewed, with 67 excluded due to nonalar subunit involvement and an additional 13 excluded for other discussed reasons. Mean follow-up period was 2.3 years. Evaluation of a patient satisfaction questionnaire assessed aesthetics and functionality and also surgical scar noticeability. Additionally, 3 board-certified plastic surgeons assessed postoperative images.

Results:

Twenty-three patients completed the survey. There was no statistically significant difference in gender ratio, follow-up time, or scar noticeability among groups. A difference was noted in both aesthetics and functionality score (P < 0.03) for both variables favoring forehead flaps. Results from the surgeon’s questionnaire also confirmed the superiority of forehead flaps concerning scar, alar contour/symmetry, and nostril opening symmetry.

Conclusions:

The forehead flap has a better functional and aesthetic outcome and an overall superior level of satisfaction post Mohs ablative surgery.
Solutions for management of angiotensin-converting enzyme–induced angioedema in a high risk population: a single center retrospective observational study
Authors: Bastien Alexandra , Townsend Dahlia , Nair Singh , Straker Tracey
Published: May 2019

Background:

There is an increasing rate of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-induced angioedema in the United States which has not plateaued since this side effect was first described in 1980. There are no studies reporting a plateau, decrease in the incidence or decrease in the rate of rise in high risk populations. High risk populations are defined as African Americans, female sex, and age older than 65.

Objectives:

The objective of this manuscript is to determine the incidence of angioedema in a high risk, urban population over a 7-year period, and to determine impactful solutions on its management by anesthesiologists.

Methods:

PubMed was queried with the keywords angioedema, ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema, and anesthesiology angioedema management. Subset keyword searches included angioedema incidence and high risk populations, and emergency room anesthesiology angioedema management. Our medical center’s data repository was queried to identify the number of emergency department visits between January 2007 and December 2013. We then queried the database to determine the number of cases that were diagnosed as angioedema. A subset of patients was identified that included all patients that presented with angioedema, and who had a current ACE inhibitor prescription. The medical records of the admitted patients were reviewed to determine whether angioedema was induced by an ACE inhibitor or another etiology. The annual occurrence rates of angioedema and ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema were then calculated. Analysis of the medical records also determined the extent of anesthesiology involvement.

Results:

There were a total of 478 cases of ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema during the 7-year period. The incidence of ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema rose from 0.17 in 2007 to 0.53 in 2013. There is no evidence of plateau for this rise and current rate of rise appears to be exponential. African Americans, female sex, and age 65 and younger were associated with a greater incidence of ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema. One hundred thirty-three patients that presented to the emergency department with ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema were admitted, and 22 of these patients required intubation. Anesthesiology was consulted 23 times, and performed 14 (63.6%) of the intubations.
Stimulus Unpredictability in Time, Magnitude, and Direction on Accommodation
Authors: Otero Carles , Aldaba Mikel , Díaz-Doutón Fernando , Vera-Diaz Fuensanta A. , Pujol Jaume
Published: May 2019

SIGNIFICANCE

The effect of predictability in changes of time, magnitude, and direction of the accommodation demand on the accommodation response latency and its magnitude are insignificant, which suggests that repetitive accommodative tasks such as the clinical accommodative facility test may not be influenced by potential anticipation effects.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stimulus' time, magnitude, and direction predictability, as well as their interactions, on accommodation latency and response magnitude.

METHODS

Monocular accommodative response and latency were measured in 12 young subjects for nine different conditions where the stimulus accommodative demand changed several times in a steplike fashion for a period of 120 seconds. Each change in accommodative demand could have different time duration (i.e., 1, 2, or 3 seconds), magnitude (1, 2, or 3 diopters), and/or direction (i.e., accommodation or disaccommodation). All conditions were created permuting the factors of time, magnitude, and direction with two levels each: random and not random. The baseline condition was a step signal from 0 to 2 diopters persisting for 2 seconds in both accommodative demands. After each condition, subjects were asked to provide a score from 1 to 5 in their perceived predictability.

RESULTS

Friedman test conducted on the perceived predictability of each condition resulted in statistically significant differences between the nine conditions (χ2 = 56.57, P < .01). However, repeated-measures analysis of variance applied to latency and accommodative response magnitude did not show significant differences (P > .05). In addition, no correlation was found between the perceived predictability scores and both latency and accommodative response magnitudes between the most predictable and the most unpredictable conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects were able to perceptually notice whether the stimulus was predictable or not, although our results indicate no significant effect of stimuli predictability on either the accommodation latency or its magnitude.
In Organ-confined Prostate Cancer, Tumor Quantitation Not Found to Aid in Prediction of Biochemical Recurrence
Authors: Ito Yujiro , Vertosick Emily A. , Sjoberg Daniel D. , Vickers Andrew J. , Al-Ahmadie Hikmat A. , Chen Ying-Bei , Gopalan Anuradha , Sirintrapun Sahussapont J. , Tickoo Satish K. , Eastham James A. , Scardino Peter T. , Reuter Victor E. , Fine Samson W.
Published: May 2019

In the eighth edition AJCC staging, all organ-confined disease is assigned pathologic stage T2, without subclassification. We investigated whether total tumor volume (TTV) and/or maximum tumor diameter (MTD) of the index lesion are useful in improving prediction of biochemical recurrence (BCR) in pT2 patients. We identified 1657 patients with digital tumor maps and quantification of TTV/MTD who had pT2 disease on radical prostatectomy (RP). Multivariable Cox regression models were used to assess whether TTV and/or MTD are independent predictors of BCR when adjusting for a base model incorporating age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen, RP grade group, and surgical margin status. If either tumor quantification added significantly, we calculated and reported the c-index. Ninety-five patients experienced BCR after RP; median follow-up for patients without BCR was 5.7 years. The c-index was 0.737 for the base model. Although there was some evidence of an association between TTV and BCR (P=0.088), this did not meet conventional levels of statistical significance and only provided a limited increase in discrimination (0.743; c-index improvement: 0.006). MTD was not associated with BCR (P>0.9). In analyses excluding patients with grade group 1 on biopsy who would be less likely to undergo RP in contemporary practice (622 patients; 59 with BCR), TTV/MTD was not a statistically significant predictor (P=0.4 and 0.8, respectively). Without evidence that tumor quantitation, in the form of either TTV or MTD of the index lesion, is useful for the prediction of BCR in pT2 prostate cancer, we cannot recommend its routine reporting.