bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for early dislocation of the hip after periacetabular tumour resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction of the hemipelvis
Authors: Wang Han , Tang Xiaodong , Ji Tao , Yan Taiqiang , Yang Rongli , Guo Wei
Published: February 2021

Aims

There is an increased risk of dislocation of the hip after the resection of a periacetabular tumour and endoprosthetic reconstruction of the defect in the hemipelvis. The aim of this study was to determine the rate and timing of dislocation and to identify its risk factors.

Methods

To determine the dislocation rate, we conducted a retrospective single-institution study of 441 patients with a periacetabular tumour who had undergone a standard modular hemipelvic endoprosthetic reconstruction between 2003 and 2019. After excluding ineligible patients, 420 patients were enrolled. Patient-specific, resection-specific, and reconstruction-specific variables were studied using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The dislocation rate was 9.3% (n = 41). Dislocation was most likely to occur in the first three months after surgery. Four independent risk factors were found, one of which was older age at operation (p = 0.039). The odds ratios (ORs) of those aged ≥ 60 years and 30 to 60 years were 8.50 and 4.64, respectively, compared with those aged < 30 years. The other three risk factors were resection of gluteus maximus (p = 0.010, OR = 5.8), vertical shift of the centre of rotation (COR) of the hip by ≥ 20 mm (p = 0.008, OR = 3.60), and a type I+II+III pelvic resection (p = 0.014, OR = 3.04).

Conclusion

Hemipelvic endoprosthetic reconstruction after resection of a periacetabular tumour has a dislocation rate of 9.3% (n = 41). Patients are most likely to dislocate in the first three months after surgery. The risk is increased for older patients (especially those aged > 60 years) and for those with gluteus maximus resection, vertical shift of the COR ≥ 20 mm, and a type I+II+III pelvic resection. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(2):382–390.
Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification
Authors: MacDessi Samuel J. , Griffiths-Jones William , Harris Ian A. , Bellemans Johan , Chen Darren B.
Published: February 2021

Aims

A comprehensive classification for coronal lower limb alignment with predictive capabilities for knee balance would be beneficial in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This paper describes the Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee (CPAK) classification and examines its utility in preoperative soft tissue balance prediction, comparing kinematic alignment (KA) to mechanical alignment (MA).

Methods

A radiological analysis of 500 healthy and 500 osteoarthritic (OA) knees was used to assess the applicability of the CPAK classification. CPAK comprises nine phenotypes based on the arithmetic HKA (aHKA) that estimates constitutional limb alignment and joint line obliquity (JLO). Intraoperative balance was compared within each phenotype in a cohort of 138 computer-assisted TKAs randomized to KA or MA. Primary outcomes included descriptive analyses of healthy and OA groups per CPAK type, and comparison of balance at 10° of flexion within each type. Secondary outcomes assessed balance at 45° and 90° and bone recuts required to achieve final knee balance within each CPAK type.

Results

There was similar frequency distribution between healthy and arthritic groups across all CPAK types. The most common categories were Type II (39.2% healthy vs 32.2% OA), Type I (26.4% healthy vs 19.4% OA) and Type V (15.4% healthy vs 14.6% OA). CPAK Types VII, VIII, and IX were rare in both populations. Across all CPAK types, a greater proportion of KA TKAs achieved optimal balance compared to MA. This effect was largest, and statistically significant, in CPAK Types I (100% KA vs 15% MA; p < 0.001), Type II (78% KA vs 46% MA; p = 0.018). and Type IV (89% KA vs 0% MA; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

CPAK is a pragmatic, comprehensive classification for coronal knee alignment, based on constitutional alignment and JLO, that can be used in healthy and arthritic knees. CPAK identifies which knee phenotypes may benefit most from KA when optimization of soft tissue balance is prioritized. Further, it will allow for consistency of reporting in future studies. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(2):329–337.
Iliopsoas pathology after total hip arthroplasty: a young person’s complication
Authors: Howell Matthew , Rae Fraser J. , Khan Aman , Holt Graeme
Published: February 2021

Aims

Iliopsoas pathology is a relatively uncommon cause of pain following total hip arthroplasty (THA), typically presenting with symptoms of groin pain on active flexion and/or extension of the hip. A variety of conservative and surgical treatment options have been reported. In this retrospective cohort study, we report the incidence of iliopsoas pathology and treatment outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective review of 1,000 patients who underwent THA over a five-year period was conducted, to determine the incidence of patients diagnosed with iliopsoas pathology. Outcome following non-surgical and surgical management was assessed.

Results

In all, 24 patients were diagnosed as having developed symptomatic iliopsoas pathology giving an incidence of 2.4%. While the mean age for receiving a THA was 65 years, the mean age for developing iliopsoas pathology was 54 years (28 to 67). Younger patients and those receiving THA for conditions other than primary osteoarthritis were at a higher risk of developing this complication. Ultrasound-guided steroid injection/physiotherapy resulted in complete resolution of symptoms in 61% of cases, partial resolution in 13%, and no benefit in 26%. Eight out of 24 patients (who initially responded to injection) subsequently underwent surgical intervention including tenotomy (n = 7) and revision of the acetabular component (n = 1).

Conclusion

This is the largest case series to estimate the incidence of iliopsoas pathology to date. There is a higher incidence of this condition in younger patients, possibly due to the differing surgical indications. Arthoplasty for Perthes' disease or developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) often results in leg length and horizontal offset being increased. This, in turn, may increase tension on the iliopsoas tendon, possibly resulting in a higher risk of psoas irritation. Image-guided steroid injection is a low-risk, relatively effective treatment. In refractory cases, tendon release may be considered. Patients should be counselled of the risk of persisting groin pain when undergoing THA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(2):305–308.
High volumes of recent surgical admissions, time to surgery, and 60-day mortality
Authors: Nilsen Sara Marie , Asheim Andreas , Carlsen Fredrik , Anthun Kjartan Sarheim , Johnsen Lars Gunnar , Vatten Lars Johan , Bjørngaard Johan Håkon
Published: February 2021

Aims

Few studies have investigated potential consequences of strained surgical resources. The aim of this cohort study was to assess whether a high proportion of concurrent acute surgical admissions, tying up hospital surgical capacity, may lead to delayed surgery and affect mortality for hip fracture patients.

Methods

This study investigated time to surgery and 60-day post-admission death of patients 70 years and older admitted for acute hip fracture surgery in Norway between 2008 and 2016. The proportion of hospital capacity being occupied by newly admitted surgical patients was used as the exposure. Hip fracture patients admitted during periods of high proportion of recent admissions were compared with hip fracture patients admitted at the same hospital during the same month, on similar weekdays, and times of the day with fewer admissions.

Results

Among 60,072 patients, mean age was 84.6 years (SD 6.8), 78% were females, and median time to surgery was 20 hours (IQR 11 to 29). Overall, 14% (8,464) were dead 60 days after admission. A high (75th percentile) proportion of recent surgical admission compared to a low (25th percentile) proportion resulted in 20% longer time to surgery (95% confidence interval (CI) 16 to 25) and 20% higher 60-day mortality (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.4).

Conclusion

A high volume of recently admitted acute surgical patients, indicating probable competition for surgical resources, was associated with delayed surgery and increased 60-day mortality. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(2):264–270.
Subtalar arthroereisis for the treatment of the symptomatic paediatric flexible pes planus: a systematic review
Authors: Smith Christian , Zaidi Razi , Bhamra Jagmeet , Bridgens Anna , Wek Caesar , Kokkinakis Michail
Published: February 2021

Subtalar arthroereisis has a controversial history and has previously been associated with high failure rates and excessive complications. A database search for outcomes of arthroereisis for the treatment of symptomatic paediatric flexible pes planus provided 24 articles which were included in this review, with a total of 2550 feet operated on. Post-operative patient-reported outcome measures recorded marked improvement. Patient satisfaction was reported as excellent in 79.9%, and poor in 5.3%. All radiological measurements demonstrated improvement towards the normal range following arthroereisis, as did hindfoot valgus, supination, dorsiflexion and Viladot grade. Complications were reported in 7.1% of cases, with a reoperation rate of 3.1%. Arthroereisis as a treatment for symptomatic paediatric flexible pes planus produces favourable outcomes and high patient satisfaction rates with a reasonable risk profile. There is still a great deal of negativity and literature highlighting the complications and failures of arthroereisis, especially for older implants. The biggest flaws in the collective literature are the lack of high-quality prospective studies, a paucity of long-term data and the heterogeneity of utilized outcome measures between studies.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:118-129. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200076
The effect of three-dimensional (3D) printing on quantitative and qualitative outcomes in paediatric orthopaedic osteotomies: a systematic review
Authors: Raza Mohsen , Murphy Daniel , Gelfer Yael
Published: February 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is increasingly being utilized in various surgical specialities. In paediatric orthopaedics it has been applied in the pre-operative and intra-operative stages, allowing complex deformities to be replicated and patient-specific instrumentation to be used. This systematic review analyses the literature on the effect of 3D printing on paediatric orthopaedic osteotomy outcomes. A systematic review of several databases was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies evaluating the use of 3D printing technology in orthopaedic osteotomy procedures in children (aged ≤ 16 years) were included. Spinal and bone tumour surgery were excluded. Data extracted included demographics, disease pathology, target bone, type of technology, imaging modality used, qualitative/quantitative outcomes and follow-up. Articles were further categorized as either ‘pre-operative’ or ‘intra-operative’ applications of the technology. Twenty-two articles fitting the inclusion criteria were included. The reported studies included 212 patients. There were five articles of level of evidence 3 and 17 level 4. A large variety of outcomes were reported with the most commonly used being operating time, fluoroscopic exposure and intra-operative blood loss. A significant difference in operative time, fluoroscopic exposure, blood loss and angular correction was found in the ‘intra-operative’ application group. No significant difference was found in the ‘pre-operative’ category. Despite a relatively low evidence base pool of studies, our aggregate data demonstrate a benefit of 3D printing technology in various deformity correction applications, especially when used in the ‘intra-operative’ setting. Further research including paediatric-specific core outcomes is required to determine the potential benefit of this novel addition.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:130-138. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200092
Dislocation of rotating-hinge total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Encinas-Ullán Carlos A. , Gómez-Cardero Primitivo , Ruiz-Pérez Juan S. , Rodríguez-Merchán E. Carlos
Published: February 2021

The number of rotating-hinge total knee arthroplasties (RH-TKAs) is increasing. As a result, the number of complications related to these procedures will also increase. RH-TKAs have the theoretical advantage of reducing bone implant stresses and early aseptic loosening. However, these implants also have complication rates that cannot be ignored. If complications occur, the options for revision of these implants are limited. Dislocation of RH-TKAs is rare, with an incidence between 0.7% and 4.4%. If it occurs, this complication must be accurately diagnosed and treated quickly due to the high incidence of neurovascular complications. If the circulatory and neurological systems are not properly assessed or if treatment is delayed, limb ischemia, soft tissue death, and the need for amputation can occur. Dislocation of a RH-TKA is often a difficult problem to treat. A closed reduction should not be attempted, because it is unlikely to be satisfactory. In addition, in patients with dislocation of a RH-TKA, the possibility of component failure or breakage must be considered. Open reduction of the dislocation should be performed urgently, and provision should be made for revision (that is, the necessary instrumentation should be available) of the RH-TKA, if it proves necessary. The mobile part that allows rotation can have various shapes and lengths. This variance in design could explain why the reported outcomes vary and why there is a probability of tibiofemoral dislocation.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:107-112. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200093
Why shall I call you ze?
Authors: Borza Natalia
Published: February 2021

It was the Oxford University’s Students Union (OUSU) which first promoted the use of gender-inclusive pronouns to avoid gender-binarism in the English-speaking European academic life. OUSU finds it supportive if students declare their chosen pronouns by which they wish to be addressed at meetings (he, she or ze). Public attention turned to the emergence of the new pronoun. The present study aims to explore the social perception of the newly appearing gender-neutral neologism by mapping public attitude towards the idea of institutionally introducing a neopronoun (ze) in the English language for the sake of celebrating gender diversity. The discourse plane investigated in the research was comments given to online newspaper articles. The genre of comments provides insights into the opinions and feelings of the general public. A near-thousand comments of online dialogues displayed on the websites of six British newspapers (three broadsheets and three tabloids) during a one-year timespan (December 2016 – December 2017) were analysed qualitatively. Arguments on either discourse position were studied, hidden premises were uncovered. The results of the exploratory study reveal that there is a notable imbalance in the voicing of opinions: the promotion of the gender-neutral English pronoun is markedly underrepresented in the public (1.32%) while the set of arguments against its introduction is versatile. The findings of the analysis indicate that the voice of the people does not consider pronoun-binarism as a sign of exclusion or the marginalizing of gender-diverse people; however, the novel pronoun tends to excite shock and refusal in the public.
„Sie alle, Sie sind die Heldinnen und Helden in der Corona-Krise.“
Authors: Koch Daniel
Published: February 2021

In 2020, the topic “Corona” will be omnipresent in the media. The headlines are dominated by negative reports about death rates, exit restrictions and the economic downturn. However, there are also numerous encouraging reports about “Corona heroes” who are contributing to overcoming the crisis with their self-sacrificing commitment. But it is not only journalists who draw attention to their deeds. On Twitter, Instagram and Co., politicians, companies and private individuals also thank the “heroes of everyday Corona life”. These positive exceptional figures are examined in more detail in the article, with the focus on the communicative patterns of their staging. For a specific use of language does not simply depict reality unchanged, but always provides a perspective on reality. Thus, the investigation not only reveals insights into language, but also provides information about how our society deals with critical events. Because heroes – so the conviction – solve crises. They perform heroic deeds with which they alleviate the needs and worries of the people. At the same time, they show us what values and behaviour are necessary to cope with a delicate situation. Overall, the analyses show that “heroes” have been omnipresent since the beginning of the pandemic at the latest – and they are often portrayed in the style of superheroes. The fact that Germany is repeatedly described as “post-heroic” is difficult to understand against this background. Rather, we seem to live in a “superheroic society”.
February 2021 Imaging Case of the Month: An Indeterminate Solitary Nodule
Authors:   Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ USA, Panse Prasad , Jokerst Clinton , Gotway Michael
Published: February 2021

No abstract available. Article truncated after first page. Clinical History: A 43 -year-old woman with no past medical history presented to the Emergency Room with complaints of right chest wall pain extending into the right upper quadrant. The patient was a non-smoker, denied any allergies, and was not taking any prescription medications. Physical examination showed the patient to be afebrile with normal heart and respiratory rates and blood pressure = 110/75 mmHg. Her room air oxygen saturation was 99%. The patient’s complete blood count and serum chemistries showed normal values. Her liver function testing and renal function testing parameters were also within normal limits. Which of the following represents an appropriate next step for the patient’s management? 1. Perform abdominal ultrasound 2. Perform chest radiography 3. Perform unenhanced chest CT 4. More than one of the above 5. None of the above …
Subverting or Reasserting? Westworld (2016-) as an Ambiguous Critical Allegory of Gender Struggles
Authors: Sebastián-Martín Miguel
Published: February 2021

Este artículo analiza las tres primeras temporadas de la serie de HBO Westworld (2016-2020), considerándolas una alegoría crítica de las relaciones de género. Se presta especial atención a la construcción autorreflexiva de sus mundos de ciencia ficción y a dos de los arcos narrativos de los personajes principales, las androides femeninas (o ginoides) Dolores y Maeve. Más específicamente, el ensayo consiste en un examen dialéctico de las ambigüedades narrativas de la serie, por lo que su argumento es doble. Por un lado, se argumenta que Westworld está clara y conscientemente construida como una alegoría crítica y que, como tal, sus mundos de ciencia ficción escenifican luchas sociales reales (principalmente, aquellas entre géneros) para narrar posteriormente su (intento) de derrocamiento. Por otro lado, en contra de esta interpretación crítico-alegórica, pero completándola, también se argumenta que Westworld no es una narrativa inequívocamente crítica y que, si vamos a examinar sus potenciales alegóricos, debemos considerar también cómo su realización puede ser obstaculizada y/o contradicha por ciertas ambigüedades narrativas.
Electrically injected GaN-based microdisk towards an efficient whispering gallery mode laser
Authors: Mei Yang , Xie MinChao , Xu Huan , Long Hao , Ying LeiYing , Zhang BaoPing
Published: February 2021

III-nitrides based microdisks with the mushroom-type shape are key components for integrated nanophotonic circuits. The air gap undercut in the mushroom-type microdisk is essential for maintaining vertical optical confinement, but this structure is still facing the difficulty of electrical injection. In this work, we demonstrate an electrically injected GaN-based microdisk of such structure. The device is featured with a copper substrate and copper supporting pedestal, through which current can be efficiently injected into the microdisk with low leakage current (less than 10 nA). Bright emission at ∼420 nm was demonstrated from the microdisk under current injection. The copper substrate and supporting pedestal can also extract thermal energy out of the microdisk effectively, and the structure in this work shows a low thermal resistance of ∼788.86 K/W. Low threshold lasing action at ∼405 nm was realized under the optically pumped condition and the threshold energy is ∼35 nJ/pulse. Clear whispering gallery modes were observed and the Q factor is as high as 4504, indicating the high quality of the microdisk cavity. This work is the first step towards low threshold efficient electrically injected microdisk laser with a mushroom-type shape.
Ultrasound liquid crystal lens with enlarged aperture using traveling waves
Authors: Onaka Jessica , Iwase Takahiro , Fukui Marina , Koyama Daisuke , Matsukawa Mami
Published: February 2021

A new type of ultrasonically controlled concave liquid crystal lens based on traveling waves (TWs) with a divided electrode structure and an appropriate driving scheme is proposed in this Letter. The lens uses an annular piezoelectric ceramic divided into four parts for four-phase driving and consists of a liquid crystal layer in a sandwich structure between two circular glass substrates. The lens configuration was simulated by finite element analysis using the Ansys software. Here we discuss the use of TWs to expand the lens aperture and clarify the lens’ optical characteristics using a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor. The effective lens aperture using TWs was 4.4 mm, and the focal length was 3.8 m.
Microwave–photonic low-coherence interferometry for dark zone free distributed optical fiber sensing
Authors: Zhu Xuran , Hua Liwei , Lei Jincheng , Tang Jianan , Murdoch Lawrence , Xiao Hai
Published: February 2021

A microwave–photonic low-coherence interferometry (MPLCI) system is proposed for fully distributed optical fiber sensing. Assisted by an unbalanced Michelson interferometer, a low-coherence laser source is used to interrogate cascaded Fabry–Perot interferometers along with an optical fiber for a dark zone free (or spatially continuous) distributed measurement. By combining the advantages of microwaves and photonics, the MPLCI system can synergistically achieve high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. Our tests have confirmed a strain resolution of 95 n

ε

at the spatial resolution of 10 cm.
SNAP structures fabricated by profile design of in-fiber inscribed regions with a femtosecond laser
Authors: Yu Qi , Zhang Zhen , Shu Xuewen
Published: February 2021

Fabricating a surface nanoscale axial photonics (SNAP) microresonator with a specific profile is a challenging and important issue since its advent. We propose a powerful approach for the flexible fabrication of the SNAP structures with arbitrary profiles by a femtosecond laser. Our method is to design the profile of the length distribution of the inscribed lines to match the profile of the required SNAP microresonator, and to combine it with other fabrication parameters to precisely control the radius variation of the SNAP structure. In experiments, we demonstrate the design and fabrication of the SNAP structures with the parabolic, semi-parabolic, and bat profiles. The developed approach is expected to be universal for the fabrication of complex high Q-factor SNAP structures, which lays the groundwork for exploring the versatile performances of the SNAP devices.
Directional THz generation in hot Rb vapor excited to a Rydberg state
Authors: Lam Mark , Pal Sambit B. , Vogt Thibault , Kiffner Martin , Li Wenhui
Published: February 2021

We optically excite

85

R
b

atoms in a heated vapor cell to a low-lying Rydberg state

10

D

5

/

2

and observe directional terahertz (THz) beams at 3.3 THz and 7.8 THz. These THz fields are generated by amplified spontaneous emission from the

10

D

5

/

2

state to the

11

P

3

/

2

and

8

F

7

/

2

states, respectively. In addition, we observe ultraviolet (UV) light produced by four-wave mixing of optical pump lasers and the 3.3 THz field. We characterize the generated THz power over the detuning and power of pump lasers, and identify experimental conditions favoring THz and UV generation, respectively. Our scheme paves a new pathway towards generating high-power narrowband THz radiation.
Design principles for the glycoprotein quality control pathway
Authors: Brown Aidan I. , Koslover Elena F.
Published: February 2021

Newly-translated glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) often undergo cycles of chaperone binding and release in order to assist in folding. Quality control is required to distinguish between proteins that have completed native folding, those that have yet to fold, and those that have misfolded. Using quantitative modeling, we explore how the design of the quality-control pathway modulates its efficiency. Our results show that an energy-consuming cyclic quality-control process, similar to the observed physiological system, outperforms alternative designs. The kinetic parameters that optimize the performance of this system drastically change with protein production levels, while remaining relatively insensitive to the protein folding rate. Adjusting only the degradation rate, while fixing other parameters, allows the pathway to adapt across a range of protein production levels, aligning within vivomeasurements that implicate the release of degradation-associated enzymes as a rapid-response system for perturbations in protein homeostasis. The quantitative models developed here elucidate design principles for effective glycoprotein quality control in the ER, improving our mechanistic understanding of a system crucial to maintaining cellular health.
Oscillating and stable genome topologies underlie hepatic physiological rhythms during the circadian cycle
Authors: Mermet Jérôme , Yeung Jake , Naef Felix
Published: February 2021

The circadian clock drives extensive temporal gene expression programs controlling daily changes in behavior and physiology. In mouse liver, transcription factors dynamics, chromatin modifications, and RNA Polymerase II (PolII) activity oscillate throughout the 24-hour (24h) day, regulating the rhythmic synthesis of thousands of transcripts. Also, 24h rhythms in gene promoter-enhancer chromatin looping accompany rhythmic mRNA synthesis. However, how chromatin organization impinges on temporal transcription and liver physiology remains unclear. Here, we applied time-resolved chromosome conformation capture (4C-seq) in livers of WT and arrhythmic Bmal1 knockout mice. In WT, we observed 24h oscillations in promoter-enhancer loops at multiple loci including the core-clock genes Period1, Period2 and Bmal1. In addition, we detected rhythmic PolII activity, chromatin modifications and transcription involving stable chromatin loops at clock-output gene promoters representing key liver function such as glucose metabolism and detoxification. Intriguingly, these contacts persisted in clock-impaired mice in which both PolII activity and chromatin marks no longer oscillated. Finally, we observed chromatin interaction hubs connecting neighbouring genes showing coherent transcription regulation across genotypes. Thus, both clock-controlled and clock-independent chromatin topology underlie rhythmic regulation of liver physiology.
Fitness landscape of a dynamic RNA structure
Authors: Soo Valerie W. C. , Swadling Jacob B. , Faure Andre J. , Warnecke Tobias
Published: February 2021

RNA structures are dynamic. As a consequence, mutational effects can be hard to rationalize with reference to a single static native structure. We reasoned that deep mutational scanning experiments, which couple molecular function to fitness, should capture mutational effects across multiple conformational states simultaneously. Here, we provide a proof-of-principle that this is indeed the case, using the self-splicing group I intron from Tetrahymena thermophila as a model system. We comprehensively mutagenized two 4-bp segments of the intron. These segments first come together to form the P1 extension (P1ex) helix at the 5’ splice site. Following cleavage at the 5’ splice site, the two halves of the helix dissociate to allow formation of an alternative helix (P10) at the 3’ splice site. Using an in vivo reporter system that couples splicing activity to fitness in E. coli, we demonstrate that fitness is driven jointly by constraints on P1ex and P10 formation. We further show that patterns of epistasis can be used to infer the presence of intramolecular pleiotropy. Using a machine learning approach that allows quantification of mutational effects in a genotype-specific manner, we demonstrate that the fitness landscape can be deconvoluted to implicate P1ex or P10 as the effective genetic background in which molecular fitness is compromised or enhanced. Our results highlight deep mutational scanning as a tool to study alternative conformational states, with the capacity to provide critical insights into the structure, evolution and evolvability of RNAs as dynamic ensembles. Our findings also suggest that, in the future, deep mutational scanning approaches might help reverse-engineer multiple alternative or successive conformations from a single fitness landscape.
Comparative genomic and phenotypic characterization of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates from Siaya, Kenya
Authors: Kubicek-Sutherland Jessica Z. , Xie Gary , Shakya Migun , Dighe Priya K. , Jacobs Lindsey L. , Daligault Hajnalka , Davenport Karen , Stromberg Loreen R. , Stromberg Zachary R. , Cheng Qiuying , Kempaiah Prakasha , Ong’echa John Michael , Otieno Vincent , Raballah Evans , Anyona Samuel , Ouma Collins , Chain Patrick S. G. , Perkins Douglas J. , Mukundan Harshini , McMahon Benjamin H. , Doggett Norman A.
Published: February 2021

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a major global health concern that often causes bloodstream infections in areas of the world affected by malnutrition and comorbidities such as HIV and malaria. Developing a strategy to control the emergence and spread of highly invasive and antimicrobial resistant NTS isolates requires a comprehensive analysis of epidemiological factors and molecular pathogenesis. Here, we characterize 11 NTS isolates that caused bloodstream infections in pediatric patients in Siaya, Kenya from 2003–2010. Nine isolates were identified as S. Typhimurium sequence type 313 while the other two were S. Enteritidis. Comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic analyses were performed to compare these isolates to those previously identified in sub-Saharan Africa. We identified a S. Typhimurium isolate referred to as UGA14 that displayed novel plasmid, pseudogene and resistance features as compared to other isolates reported from Africa. Notably, UGA14 is able to ferment both lactose and sucrose due to the acquisition of insertion elements on the pKST313 plasmid. These findings show for the first time the co-evolution of plasmid-mediated lactose and sucrose metabolism along with cephalosporin resistance in NTS further elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms of invasive NTS phenotypes. These results further support the use of combined genomic and phenotypic approaches to detect and characterize atypical NTS isolates in order to advance biosurveillance efforts that inform countermeasures aimed at controlling invasive and antimicrobial resistant NTS.
Assessment of a small-scale fishery: Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) using a length metric method
Authors: Sierra Castillo Liliana , Fujiwara Masami
Published: February 2021

Small-scale fisheries are hard to assess because of the limited availability of data. Therefore, a method requiring easy-to-obtain catch-data is important for the assessment and management of small-scale fisheries. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fishing gear selectivity on a length-based metric method proposed by Froese by estimating three indicators using catch-data from Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) collected in Honduras. These indicators are (1) the percentage of mature individuals in the catch, (2) the percentage of fish within the range of estimated optimal lengths to be captured, and (3) the percentage of fish larger than the optimal length. These indicators determine the level of overfishing. The indicators were estimated separately for catch-data corresponding to gill nets, and each indicator was estimated with and without selectivity correction. Selectivity and mesh sizes of the fishing gear had a major impact on the estimation of indicators 1 and 2. As for indicator 3, it consistently showed a high level of exploitation. The three estimated indicators suggested that the Lane Snapper fishery in Honduras is experiencing overfishing. Overall, the method appears to be promising for the assessment of small-scale fisheries, but it should be used cautiously.
Transcriptomic analyses show that 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) promotes cold tolerance in cotton seedlings
Authors: Dou Lingling , Sun Yaru , Li Shuye , Ge Changwei , Shen Qian , Li Huaizhu , Wang Wenbo , Mao Jiayi , Xiao Guanghui , Pang Chaoyou
Published: February 2021

In plants, brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of steroidal hormones that are involved in numerous physiological responses. However, the function of BRs in cold tolerance in cotton has not been explored. In this study, cotton seedlings were treated with five concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L) of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBR) at 4°C. We measured the electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, proline content, and net photosynthesis rate (Pn) of the seedlings, which showed that EBR treatment increased cold tolerance in cotton in a dose-dependent manner, and that 0.2 mg/L is an optimum concentration for enhancing cold tolerance. The function of EBR in cotton cotyledons was investigated in the control 0 mg/L (Cold+water) and 0.2 mg/L (Cold+EBR) treatments using RNA-Seq. A total of 4,001 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 2,591 up-regulated genes and 1,409 down-regulated genes were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) and biochemical pathway enrichment analyses showed that EBR is involved in the genetic information process, secondary metabolism, and also inhibits abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene (ETH) signal transduction. In this study, physiological experiments showed that EBR can increase cold tolerance in cotton seedlings, and the comprehensive RNA-seq data shed light on the mechanisms through which EBR increases cold tolerance in cotton seedlings.
Force-velocity profiling in athletes: Reliability and agreement across methods
Authors: Lindberg Kolbjørn , Solberg Paul , Bjørnsen Thomas , Helland Christian , Rønnestad Bent , Thorsen Frank Martin , Haugen Thomas , Østerås Sindre , Kristoffersen Morten , Midttun Magnus , Sæland Fredrik , Paulsen Gøran
Published: February 2021

The aim of the study was to examine the test-retest reliability and agreement across methods for assessing individual force-velocity (FV) profiles of the lower limbs in athletes. Using a multicenter approach, 27 male athletes completed all measurements for the main analysis, with up to 82 male and female athletes on some measurements. The athletes were tested twice before and twice after a 2- to 6-month period of regular training and sport participation. The double testing sessions were separated by ~1 week. Individual FV-profiles were acquired from incremental loading protocols in squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and leg press. A force plate, linear encoder and a flight time calculation method were used for measuring force and velocity during SJ and CMJ. A linear regression was fitted to the average force and velocity values for each individual test to extrapolate the FV-variables: theoretical maximal force (F0), velocity (V0), power (Pmax), and the slope of the FV-profile (SFV). Despite strong linearity (R2>0.95) for individual FV-profiles, the SFV was unreliable for all measurement methods assessed during vertical jumping (coefficient of variation (CV): 14–30%, interclass correlation coefficient (ICC): 0.36–0.79). Only the leg press exercise, of the four FV-variables, showed acceptable reliability (CV:3.7–8.3%, ICC:0.82–0.98). The agreement across methods for F0 and Pmax ranged from (Pearson r): 0.56–0.95, standard error of estimate (SEE%): 5.8–18.8, and for V0 and SFV r: -0.39–0.78, SEE%: 12.2–37.2. With a typical error of 1.5 cm (5–10% CV) in jump height, SFV and V0 cannot be accurately obtained, regardless of the measurement method, using a loading range corresponding to 40–70% of F0. Efforts should be made to either reduce the variation in jumping performance or to assess loads closer to the FV-intercepts. Coaches and researchers should be aware of the poor reliability of the FV-variables obtained from vertical jumping, and of the differences across measurement methods.
Coastal drowning: A scoping review of burden, risk factors, and prevention strategies
Authors: Koon William , Peden Amy , Lawes Jasmin C. , Brander Robert W.
Published: February 2021

Objective

Coastal drowning is a global public health problem which requires evidence to support safety initiatives. The growing multidisciplinary body of coastal drowning research and associated prevention countermeasures is diverse and has not been characterised as a whole. The objective of this scoping review was to identify key concepts, findings, evidence and research gaps in the coastal drowning literature to guide future research and inform prevention activities.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review to identify peer reviewed studies published before May 2020 reporting either (i) fatal unintentional coastal drowning statistics from non-boating, -disaster or -occupational aetiologies; (ii) risk factors for unintentional fatal coastal drowning; or (iii) coastal drowning prevention strategies. Systematic searches were conducted in six databases, two authors independently screened studies for inclusion and one author extracted data using a standardised data charting form developed by the study team.

Results

Of the 146 included studies, the majority (76.7%) were from high income countries, 87 (59.6%) reported coastal drowning deaths, 61 (41.8%) reported risk factors, and 88 (60.3%) reported prevention strategies. Populations, data sources and coastal water site terminology in the studies varied widely; as did reported risk factors, which most frequently related to demographics such as gender and age. Prevention strategies were commonly based on survey data or expert opinion and primarily focused on education, lifeguards and signage. Few studies (n = 10) evaluated coastal drowning prevention strategies.

Discussion

Coastal drowning is an expansive, multidisciplinary field that demands cross-sector collaborative research. Gaps to be addressed in coastal safety research include the lack of research from lower resourced settings, unclear and inconsistent terminology and reporting, and the lack of evaluation for prevention strategies. Advancing coastal drowning science will result in a stronger evidence base from which to design and implement effective countermeasures that ultimately save lives and keep people safe.
Game theory to enhance stock management of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Abedrabboh Khaled , Pilz Matthias , Al-Fagih Zaid , Al-Fagih Othman S. , Nebel Jean-Christophe , Al-Fagih Luluwah
Published: February 2021

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare facilities have suffered from shortages in medical resources, particularly in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In this paper, we propose a game-theoretic approach to schedule PPE orders among healthcare facilities. In this PPE game, each independent healthcare facility optimises its own storage utilisation in order to keep its PPE cost at a minimum. Such a model can reduce peak demand considerably when applied to a variable PPE consumption profile. Experiments conducted for NHS England regions using actual data confirm that the challenge of securing PPE supply during disasters such as COVID-19 can be eased if proper stock management procedures are adopted. These procedures can include early stockpiling, increasing storage capacities and implementing measures that can prolong the time period between successive infection waves, such as social distancing measures. Simulation results suggest that the provision of PPE dedicated storage space can be a viable solution to avoid straining PPE supply chains in case a second wave of COVID-19 infections occurs.
Metabolomic/lipidomic profiling of COVID-19 and individual response to tocilizumab
Authors: Meoni Gaia , Ghini Veronica , Maggi Laura , Vignoli Alessia , Mazzoni Alessio , Salvati Lorenzo , Capone Manuela , Vanni Anna , Tenori Leonardo , Fontanari Paolo , Lavorini Federico , Peris Adriano , Bartoloni Alessandro , Liotta Francesco , Cosmi Lorenzo , Luchinat Claudio , Annunziato Francesco , Turano Paola
Published: February 2021

The current pandemic emergence of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses a relevant threat to global health. SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations, ranging from absence of symptoms to severe forms that need intensive care treatment. Here, plasma-EDTA samples of 30 patients compared with age- and sex-matched controls were analyzed via untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics and lipidomics. With the same approach, the effect of tocilizumab administration was evaluated in a subset of patients. Despite the heterogeneity of the clinical symptoms, COVID-19 patients are characterized by common plasma metabolomic and lipidomic signatures (91.7% and 87.5% accuracy, respectively, when compared to controls). Tocilizumab treatment resulted in at least partial reversion of the metabolic alterations due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In conclusion, NMR-based metabolomic and lipidomic profiling provides novel insights into the pathophysiological mechanism of human response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and to monitor treatment outcomes.
Antibiotics modulate attractive interactions in bacterial colonies affecting survivability under combined treatment
Authors: Cronenberg Tom , Hennes Marc , Wielert Isabelle , Maier Berenike
Published: February 2021

Biofilm formation protects bacteria from antibiotics. Very little is known about the response of biofilm-dwelling bacteria to antibiotics at the single cell level. Here, we developed a cell-tracking approach to investigate how antibiotics affect structure and dynamics of colonies formed by the human pathogenNeisseria gonorrhoeae. Antibiotics targeting different cellular functions enlarge the cell volumes and modulate within-colony motility. Focusing on azithromycin and ceftriaxone, we identify changes in type 4 pilus (T4P) mediated cell-to-cell attraction as the molecular mechanism for different effects on motility. By using strongly attractive mutant strains, we reveal that the survivability under ceftriaxone treatment depends on motility. Combining our results, we find that sequential treatment with azithromycin and ceftriaxone is synergistic. Taken together, we demonstrate that antibiotics modulate T4P-mediated attractions and hence cell motility and colony fluidity.
Endoribonuclease-mediated control of hns mRNA stability constitutes a key regulatory pathway for Salmonella Typhimurium pathogenicity island 1 expression
Authors: Lee Minho , Ryu Minkyung , Joo Minju , Seo Young-Jin , Lee Jaejin , Kim Hong-Man , Shin Eunkyoung , Yeom Ji-Hyun , Kim Yong-Hak , Bae Jeehyeon , Lee Kangseok
Published: February 2021

Bacteria utilize endoribonuclease-mediated RNA processing and decay to rapidly adapt to environmental changes. Here, we report that the modulation ofhnsmRNA stability by the endoribonuclease RNase G plays a key role inSalmonellaTyphimurium pathogenicity. We found that RNase G determines the half-life ofhnsmRNA by cleaving its 5′ untranslated region and that altering its cleavage sites by genome editing stabilizeshnsmRNA, thus decreasingS. Typhimurium virulence in mice. Under anaerobic conditions, the FNR-mediated transcriptional repression ofrncencoding RNase III, which degradesrngmRNA, and simultaneous induction ofrngtranscription resulted in rapidhnsmRNA degradation, leading to the derepression of genes involved in theSalmonellapathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) type III secretion system (T3SS). Together, our findings show that RNase III and RNase G levels-mediated control ofhnsmRNA abundance acts as a regulatory pathway upstream of a complex feed-forward loop for SPI-1 expression.
Tripartite Motif 22 (TRIM22) protein restricts herpes simplex virus 1 by epigenetic silencing of viral immediate-early genes
Authors: Reddi Tejaswini S. , Merkl Philipp E. , Lim So-Yon , Letvin Norman L. , Knipe David M.
Published: February 2021

Intrinsic resistance is a crucial line of defense against virus infections, and members of the Tripartite Ring Interaction Motif (TRIM) family of proteins are major players in this system, such as cytoplasmic TRIM5α or nuclear promyelocytic leukemia (PML/TRIM19) protein. Previous reports on the antiviral function of another TRIM protein, TRIM22, emphasized its innate immune role as a Type I and Type II interferon-stimulated gene against RNA viruses. This study shows that TRIM22 has an additional intrinsic role against DNA viruses. Here, we report that TRIM22 is a novel restriction factor of HSV-1 and limits ICP0-null virus replication by increasing histone occupancy and heterochromatin, thereby reducing immediate-early viral gene expression. The corresponding wild-type equivalent of the virus evades the TRIM22-specific restriction by a mechanism independent of ICP0-mediated degradation. We also demonstrate that TRIM22 inhibits other DNA viruses, including representative members of the β- and γ- herpesviruses. Allelic variants in TRIM22 showed different degrees of anti-herpesviral activity; thus, TRIM22 genetic variability may contribute to the varying susceptibility to HSV-1 infection in humans. Collectively, these results argue that TRIM22 is a novel restriction factor and expand the list of restriction factors functioning in the infected cell nucleus to counter DNA virus infection.
Residente’s ‘War’ and the reframing of terror
Authors: Robinson Cheri
Published: February 2021

The music video ‘Guerra’/‘War’ (Pérez Joglar or Residente 2017), directed and sung by the Puerto Rican musician Residente (René Pérez Joglar), features war-scarred landscapes, fleeing refugees, overcrowded camps and eerily idyllic suburban life. The discordant realities challenge viewers’ potential apathy towards ongoing conflicts and refugee crises while the rap lyrics in Spanish, when sung by the listener, conflate the singer with suffering groups, thus placing suffering and terror centre-stage through visuals and lyrics. This article proposes that Residente begins his music video with a narrative of terror, currently associated in popular discourses with refugees from areas in conflict, then overwhelms this narrative with one of suffering, which is subsequently followed by images of wealth, effectively reframing the terror factor through comparisons and stark contrasts. In addition to the perpetrators of terror, the viewer is confronted with refugees as the victims of terror, the hypocritical illusion of the security of suburban life and the realization that, in war, everyone loses.