bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short‐term intensive insulin as induction and maintenance therapy for the preservation of beta‐cell function in early type 2 diabetes (RESET‐IT Main): A 2‐year randomized controlled trial
Authors: Retnakaran Ravi , Emery Alexandra , Ye Chang , Harris Stewart B. , Reichert Sonja M. , McInnes Natalia , Gerstein Hertzel C. , Thorpe Kevin E. , Kramer Caroline K. , Zinman Bernard
Published: May 2021

Aim

To test the hypothesis that the addition of periodic courses of short‐term intensive insulin therapy (IIT) could enhance the effect of metformin (MET) maintenance therapy on preservation of beta‐cell function following induction IIT.

Methods

In this multicentre, randomized controlled trial, 108 adults with type 2 diabetes (median 1.3 years’ duration; HbA1c 6.6% ± 0.6%) were randomized to 3 weeks of induction IIT (glargine, lispro) followed by MET maintenance, either with or without periodic 2‐week courses of IIT every 3 months for 2 years. Beta‐cell function was assessed by the Insulin Secretion Sensitivity Index‐2 (ISSI‐2) at an oral glucose tolerance test every 3 months.

Results

In both arms, induction IIT increased ISSI‐2, improved whole‐body insulin sensitivity and reduced hepatic insulin resistance (all P ≤ .0004). The primary outcome of baseline‐adjusted ISSI‐2 at 2 years was not improved by the addition of intermittent IIT (MET + IIT) and was slightly higher in the MET arm (baseline‐adjusted difference −35 [95% CI: −66, –3]), with three additional beta‐cell measures showing no significant differences. Baseline‐adjusted HbA1c at 2 years did not differ between MET and MET + IIT (6.3% ± 0.1% vs. 6.4% ± 0.1%, P = .46), with 32.6% of participants in each arm maintaining HbA1c of 6.0% or less at 2 years.

Conclusion

Although initial induction IIT induces metabolic improvement, subsequent repeat courses of IIT every 3 months do not further enhance the effect of MET maintenance therapy on beta‐cell function.
Effects of vegetarian versus Mediterranean diet on kidney function: Findings from the CARDIVEG study
Authors: Dinu Monica , Colombini Barbara , Pagliai Giuditta , Giangrandi Ilaria , Cesari Francesca , Gori Annamaria , Giusti Betti , Marcucci Rossella , Sofi Francesco
Published: May 2021

Background

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a lacto‐ovo‐vegetarian diet (VD), compared to a Mediterranean diet (MD), on kidney function in a group of subjects with medium‐to‐low cardiovascular risk profile.

Methods

We analysed 107 subjects (82 women, 25 men; median age 52) who followed a VD (n = 54) and a MD (n = 53) for 3 months in the CARDIVEG study, a randomized, open, crossover trial that compared the effects of these 2 diets on cardiovascular disease risk.

Results

The effect of the two diets on kidney function markers was evaluated by conducting a general linear model for repeated measurements adjusted for possible confounding factors such as age, sex, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, hypertension, LDL cholesterol, glucose and body weight change. A significant reduction in creatinine (−5.3%; P < .001), urea nitrogen levels (−9%; P = .001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (−8.7%; P = .001) and BUN/creatinine ratio (−5.8%; P < .001), and an increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (+3.5%; P = .001) was observed during the VD period. On the contrary, no significant changes were noted in the MD group. Variations obtained in the two dietary interventions were significantly different (P < .0001) for creatinine levels, BUN/creatinine and eGFR, for which opposite trends were observed in the VD and MD groups.

Conclusions

In a selected group of subjects with medium‐to‐low cardiovascular risk profile, a 3 month VD period determined significant improvements in kidney function markers. Further trials are needed to confirm these results.
Locomotory responses to olfactory cues during host‐finding can inform environmental safety assessments of biological weed control agents
Authors: Fung Jessica M. , Nepal Karuna , Kafle Basu D. , Eigenbrode Sanford D. , Schwarzländer Mark
Published: May 2021

In weed biological control programs, the safety assessment of an agent currently relies on no‐choice and choice feeding, development, and oviposition cage tests. However, confined conditions restrict insect behavior, potentially producing false positive host‐use results that can prematurely disqualify agents, reducing opportunities for successful weed biocontrol. To minimize risks of nontarget attack and maximize successful biocontrol outcomes, it is useful to investigate an agent’s pre‐contact responses to olfactory cues from target and nontarget plant species during host‐selection. Here, we tested how the locomotory behavior of the biocontrol agent Mogulones crucifer Pallas (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) differed when exposed to olfactory cues from its host, the invasive herbaceous Cynoglossum officinale L. (Boraginaceae), versus cues from closely related nontarget species. We used olfactometer behavioral assays, comparing M. crucifer responses to volatiles from C. officinale and nontarget plant species. We observed and measured the duration of resting and walking behaviors, as well as frequencies of arrestment or persisted resting, by M. crucifer in response to these odor sources. In total, 22 confamilial plant species were tested, including five species federally listed as threatened or endangered (T&E) in the USA. Mogulones crucifer consistently responded to C. officinale volatiles with greater duration of resting and frequencies of arrestment behavior compared to other plant species. In contrast, M. crucifer behavior was unaffected by odors of confamilials of C. officinale or responded with repellence to these odors in the olfactometer. These data suggest that in the invaded North American range, M. crucifer is unlikely to use nontarget olfactory cues to find or come into contact with tested nontarget plants, including the tested T&E species. Results from this study improve predictions of M. crucifer’s host‐use in the introduced range and illustrate the potential of this novel approach as a component of pre‐release environmental safety assessments of weed biocontrol agents.
2018 Condon Prize for Best Student Essay in Psychological Anthropology “It Hurts Good”: Ethical Highs, From Addiction to Ultramarathon Running
Authors: Cecale Courtney
Published: May 2021

This article examines how ultra marathon running produces an altered state of consciousness for young men in the United States who were formerly addicted to narcotics. Through an ethnographic analysis, this study shows how running ultra marathons produces therapeutic modes of attention, akin to the experiences associated with drug use, that offers relief from the everyday pains of life. More importantly, participants secured comparable therapeutic relief without the biopolitical consequences, stigma, and threats to their interpersonal relationships that previously marked their experiences with drug use. In teasing out some of the similarities between these therapeutic modalities, this study complicates what it means to be high, while centering attention as a means through which relief is sought in everyday life.
The structural mechanism for the nucleoside tri‐ and diphosphate hydrolysis activity of Ntdp from Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Wang Zhenhua , Shen Hui , He Binbin , Teng Maikun , Guo Qiong , Li Xu
Published: May 2021

Staphylococcus aureus is a well‐known clinical pathogenic bacterium. In recent years, due to the emergence of multiple drug‐resistant strains of S. aureus in clinical practice, S. aureus infections have become an increasingly severe clinical problem. Ntdp (nucleoside tri‐ and diphosphatase, also known as Sa1684) is a nucleotide phosphatase that has a significant effect on the proliferation of S. aureus colonies and the killing ability of the host. Here, we identified the nucleoside tri‐ and diphosphate hydrolysis activity of Ntdp and obtained the three‐dimensional structures of apo‐Ntdp and three substrate analog (ATPγS, GDPβS, and GTPγS) complexes of Ntdp. Through structural analysis and biochemical verification, we illustrated the structural basis for the divalent cation selectivity, substrate recognition model, and catalytic mechanism of Ntdp. We also revealed a possible basal functional pattern of the DUF402 domain and hypothesized the potential pathways by which the protein regulates the expression of the two‐component regulatory factor agr and the downstream virulence factors. Overall, the above findings provide crucial insights into our understanding of the Ntdp functional mechanism in the infection process.
Segregation‐controlled densification and grain growth in rare earth‐doped Y2O3
Authors: Kindelmann Moritz , Ran Ke , Rheinheimer Wolfgang , Morita Koji , Mayer Joachim , Bram Martin , Guillon Olivier
Published: May 2021

Cation doping of Y2O3 is an established approach for tailoring densification and grain growth during sintering. However, the segregation of doped cations to the grain boundary and their impact on processing are still not completely understood. Segregation can be driven by electrostatic effects due to charge mismatch with the host lattice or elastic effects induced by ion size mismatch. While segregation is caused by thermodynamics, it impacts diffusion and the kinetics of grain boundaries during densification and microstructure evolution. In this study, we utilize two isovalent dopants (La3+ and Gd3+), that is we focus on the elastic component of segregation. We investigate the densification as well as the grain growth kinetics of both doped and undoped Y2O3 during field‐assisted sintering/spark plasma sintering (FAST/SPS). While Gd3+ is showing no significant effect on densification, La3+ resulted in a strongly reduced sintering activity. Furthermore, the analysis of the grain growth behavior during sintering and on predensified samples revealed a decrease in the grain growth coefficient, with La3+ having the strongest impact. The structure and chemistry at the grain boundary were observed by aberration‐corrected TEM. While no structural change was caused by doping, the chemical analysis showed a strong segregation of La3+ to the grain boundary, which could not be observed for Gd3+. The results indicate that segregated La3+ causes a drastic decrease in grain boundary migration rates through solute drag as well as much slower sintering kinetics, likely caused by a decrease in the grain boundary self‐diffusion due to segregation. This study further underlines the importance of the elastic contribution to cation segregation and establishes a clear relationship to grain growth and sintering kinetics, which are both decreased by segregation.
Geographic variation in body size and plumage colour according to diet composition in a nocturnal raptor
Authors: Romano Andrea , Séchaud Robin , Roulin Alexandre
Published: May 2021

Predator–prey interactions are amongst the strongest selective forces that promote the evolution of local phenotypes in both predators and prey. However, intraspecific spatial covariation in phenotypic traits between predators and prey has been rarely investigated, especially at a large geographic scale. Here, we studied the covariation between prey composition and some phenotypic traits, such as wing length, bill length and plumage colour, of a widely‐distributed nocturnal predator, the western barn owl Tyto alba. By using 3100 specimens collected across its entire range of distribution, spanning from Europe to Middle East and Africa, we showed that wing length positively covaries with prey size, but not with taxonomic composition. This finding suggests that larger prey might have selected for larger body size and/or that larger individuals might be more selective in hunting large prey. In addition, we also found that paler‐plumaged populations generally hunt larger prey. Paler barn owls might be thus better specialized in capturing averagely larger prey and/or mainly hunt in habitats where larger prey are more abundant. In addition, considering that paler individuals are generally larger than brownish ones, it is possible that paler plumage colour might have evolved as a by‐product of selection towards a large body size, which in turn have emerged in response to prey size composition. However, irrespectively of the direction of causality and the phenotypic target of selection, we showed that predator–prey interactions can affect spatial phenotypic variation by promoting the evolution of local adaptations.
The impact of changing home blood pressure monitoring cutoff from 135/85 to 130/80 mmHg on hypertension phenotypes
Authors: Feitosa Audes D.M. , Mota‐Gomes Marco A. , Barroso Weimar S. , Miranda Roberto D. , Barbosa Eduardo C.D. , Brandão Andréa A. , Nobre Fernando , Mion Decio , Amodeo Celso , Lima‐Filho José L. , Sposito Andrei C. , Nadruz Wilson
Published: May 2021

This study investigated the impact of changing abnormal home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) cutoff from 135/85 to 130/80 mmHg on the prevalence of hypertension phenotypes, considering an abnormal office blood pressure cutoff of 140/90 mmHg. We evaluated 57 768 individuals (26 876 untreated and 30 892 treated with antihypertensive medications) from 719 Brazilian centers who performed HBPM. Changing the HBPM cutoff was associated with increases in masked (from 10% to 22%) and sustained (from 27% to 35%) hypertension, and decreases in white‐coat hypertension (from 16% to 7%) and normotension (from 47% to 36%) among untreated participants, and increases in masked (from 11% to 22%) and sustained (from 29% to 36%) uncontrolled hypertension, and decreases in white‐coat uncontrolled hypertension (from 15% to 8%) and controlled hypertension (from 45% to 34%) among treated participants. In conclusion, adoption of an abnormal HBPM cutoff of 130/80 mmHg markedly increased the prevalence of out‐of‐office hypertension and uncontrolled hypertension phenotypes.
Gestational high‐fat diet impaired demethylation of Pparα and induced obesity of offspring
Authors: Pang Haiyan , Ling Dandan , Cheng Yi , Akbar Rubab , Jin Luyang , Ren Jun , Wu Haiyan , Chen Bin , Zhou Yin , Zhu Hong , Zhou Yuzhong , Huang Hefeng , Sheng Jianzhong
Published: May 2021

Gestational and postpartum high‐fat diets (HFDs) have been implicated as causes of obesity in offspring in later life. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of gestational and/or postpartum HFD on obesity in offspring. We established a mouse model of HFD exposure that included gestation, lactation and post‐weaning periods. We found that gestation was the most sensitive period, as the administration of a HFD impaired lipid metabolism, especially fatty acid oxidation in both foetal and adult mice, and caused obesity in offspring. Mechanistically, the DNA hypermethylation level of the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (Pparα), and the decreased mRNA levels of ten‐eleven translocation 1 (Tet1) and/or ten‐eleven translocation 2 (Tet2) were detected in the livers of foetal and adult offspring from mothers given a HFD during gestation, which was also associated with low Pparα expression in hepatic cells. We speculated that the hypermethylation of Pparα resulted from the decreased Tet1/2 expression in mothers given a HFD during gestation, thereby causing lipid metabolism disorders and obesity. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that a HFD during gestation exerts long‐term effects on the health of offspring via the DNA demethylation of Pparα, thereby highlighting the importance of the gestational period in regulating epigenetic mechanisms involved in metabolism.
Exosomes derived from MSC pre‐treated with oridonin alleviates myocardial IR injury by suppressing apoptosis via regulating autophagy activation
Authors: Fu Minghuan , Xie Dili , Sun Ying , Pan Yuanyuan , Zhang Yunhe , Chen Xiaohan , Shi Yong , Deng Shengnan , Cheng Biao
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs)‐derived exosomes in ischaemia/reperfusion (IR)‐induced damage, and the role of oridonin in the treatment of IR. Exosomes were isolated from BMMSCs. Western blot analysis was done to examine the expression of proteins including CD63, CD8, apoptotic‐linked gene product 2 interacting protein X (AliX), Beclin‐1, ATG13, B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2), apoptotic peptidase activating factor 1 (Apaf1) and Bcl2‐associated X (Bax) in different treatment groups. Accordingly, the expression of CD63, CD81 and AliX was higher in BMMSCs‐EXOs and IR + BMMSCs‐EXOs + ORI groups compared with that in the BMMSCs group. And BMMSCs‐derived exosomes inhibited the progression of IR‐induced myocardial damage, while this protective effect was boosted by the pre‐treatment with oridonin. Moreover, Beclin‐1, ATG13 and Bcl‐2 were significantly down‐regulated while Apaf1 and Bax were significantly up‐regulated in IR rats. And the presence of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes partly alleviated IR‐induced dysregulation of these proteins, while the oridonin pre‐treatment boosted the effect of these BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. The inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of H9c2 cells induced by hypoxia/reperfusion (HR) were mitigated by the administration of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. Meanwhile, HR also induced down‐regulation of Beclin‐1, ATG13 and Bcl‐2 expression and up‐regulation of Apaf1 and Bax, which were mitigated by the administration of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. And oridonin pre‐treatment boosted the effect of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes. In conclusion, our results validated that BMMSCs‐derived exosomes suppressed the IR‐induced damages by participating in the autophagy process, while the pre‐treatment with oridonin could boost the protective effect of BMMSCs‐derived exosomes.
Anlotinib exerts anti‐cancer efficiency on lung cancer stem cells in vitro and in vivo through reducing NF‐κB activity
Authors: Li Zhuohong , Tian Juncai , Du Lei , Gao Ying , Wang Yao , You Fengming , Wang Li
Published: May 2021

Anlotinib is a multi‐target tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Previous studies confirmed that anlotinib exerts anti‐cancer efficiency. However, the functional roles of anlotinib on cancer stem cells (CSCs) are yet to be elucidated. In this study, lung CSCs were isolated and identified in vitro, and mouse xenografts were established in vivo. MTT assays, tumour sphere formation assays, TdT‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) staining, Annexin V‐FITC/PI staining, immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot were performed to investigate the anti‐cancer effects of anlotinib on lung CSCs. The results showed that anlotinib inhibits the growth of lung CSCs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, anlotinib induced apoptosis of these cells along with down‐regulated expression level of Bcl‐2 whereas up‐regulated Bax and cleaved caspase‐3 expression. It also sensitized lung CSCs to the cytotoxicity of cisplatin and paclitaxel; the tumour sphere formation and expression levels of multiple stemness‐associated markers, such as ALDH1 and CD133, were also decreased. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism indicated that anlotinib reduces the phosphorylated levels of NF‐κB p65 and IκB‐α in lung CSCs. Taken together, these findings suggested that anlotinib exerts potent anti‐cancer effects against lung CSCs through apoptotic induction and stemness phenotypic attenuation. The mechanism could be associated with the suppression of NF‐κB activity.
Systemic fungicides reduce the abundance of yeast‐like symbiotes and the performance of the planthopperDelphacodes kuscheli(Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: de la Fuente Daniela , Maciá Arnaldo , Brentassi María Eugenia , Toledo Andrea Vanesa
Published: May 2021

Delphacodes kuscheliis the main vector of Mal de Río Cuarto, the most important viral disease of maize in Argentina. This planthopper harbours obligate fungal mutualists, known as yeast‐like symbiotes (YLS), which play a key role in the host life cycle. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of six systemic fungicides, prothioconazole (P), prothioconazole & trifloxystrobin (PT), pyraclostrobin & epoxiconazole (PE), pyraclostrobin, epoxiconazole & fluxapyroxad (PEF), picoxystrobin & ciproconazole (PC), and tebuconazole (T) on the reduction of the abundance of YLS in nymphs and newly emerged adults, and the impact of such reduction on the vector performance. All fungicides, except PE, reduced the number of YLS in nymphs treated from 3rd instar five days after starting treatments. When 3rd instar nymphs were allowed to reach adulthood, the fungicides P, PT and PC caused the highest nymphal mortality, significantly reduced the number of YLS in newly emerged adults, lengthened development time and negatively affected morphometric variables of females. There was also a trend towards a higher occurrence of brachypters. In females, the fungicides P, PT and PC caused a greater reduction of YLS when nymphs were treated to these fungicides from 3rd instar compared with nymphs treated from 4th instar. In males, the YLS number was significantly less when nymphs were fed on plants treated with P, PT, PC, and T in 3rd instar. This showed that fungicide treatments caused a greater reduction of YLS when they were applied in early stages of development. Our results provide an effective method to reduce the abundance of YLS inD. kuscheli, contributing to understand the ecological role that these symbionts could be playing in the success of this maize planthopper pest.
Attraction of the biocontrol agent, Lema praeusta, towards two Commelinaceae weed volatiles
Authors: Das Swati , Koner Anamika , Mobarak Syed Husne , Barik Anandamay
Published: May 2021

Two Commelinaceae weeds, Commelina benghalensis L. and Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan, are abundant in rice fields of India. Larvae and adults of Lema praeusta (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) voraciously consume these two weeds. Synthetic herbicides are applied to control both weeds, but applications of these substances have harmful effects in environment and beneficial organisms. So, it is necessary to use native biocontrol agent to control these weeds. Hence, an attempt has been made to find volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from both weeds causing attraction of L. praeusta. Behavioural responses of L. praeusta towards volatile blends from undamaged (UD), insect‐damaged (ID: plants after 6 or 48 hr of continuous insect feeding) and mechanically damaged (MD) plants were conducted by Y‐tube olfactometer bioassays. Benzyl alcohol was predominant in VOCs of UD plants and M. nudiflora after 48 hr of insect feeding. Benzyl alcohol and cuminaldehyde were both predominant in VOCs of C. benghalensis after 48 hr of insect feeding. Females were more attracted towards volatile blends from plants after 48 hr of insect feeding compared to undamaged plants. Females showed attraction towards a synthetic blend of seven compounds—7.28 µg (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, 0.93 µg trans‐isolimonene, 19.18 µg benzyl alcohol, 0.16 µg undecane, 1.07 µg 1‐nonanol, 1.23 µg 1‐undecanol and 0.47 µg 1‐eicosene resembling the amounts released by C. benghalensis after 48 hr of insect feeding during 1 hr or a synthetic blend of six compounds—18.10 µg benzyl alcohol, 0.25 µg undecane, 0.56 µg 1‐nonanol, 1.37 µg 1‐undecanol, 0.35 µg 1‐eicosene and 2.19 µg phytol resembling the amounts released by M. nudiflora after 48 hr of insect feeding during 1 hr. This study concludes that both blends could be used to attract the biocontrol agent during early vegetative period of these two weeds, which could lead to eradication of weeds from rice fields.
Drug‐eluting bead chemoembolization for the treatment of nonresectable hepatic carcinoma in dogs: A prospective clinical trial
Authors: Rogatko Cleo P. , Weisse Chick , Schwarz Tobias , Berent Allyson C. , Diniz Marcio A.
Published: May 2021

Background

Effective treatment options for nonresectable hepatic carcinoma (HC) in dogs are limited.

Hypothesis/Objective

Objectives were to report outcomes, complications, and tumor responses via computed tomography (CT) assessment after drug‐eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB‐TACE) for nonresectable HC in dogs. The authors hypothesized that major complications would be uncommon and short‐term CT assessment would demonstrate stable disease or partial response.

Animals

Client‐owned dogs (n = 16) with nonresectable HC.

Methods

Prospective, single‐arm clinical trial. Drug‐eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization was performed to varying levels of blood flow stasis. Computed tomography imaging was compared before and approximately 12 weeks after initial treatment.

Results

Drug‐eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization was successfully administered in all attempts. Based on percent change in elliptical tumor volume response (mL), stable disease (8/13; 62%) was the most common outcome followed by partial response (3/13; 23%) and progressive disease (2/13; 15%) with a median of 74 days (range, 39‐125) after initial treatment. Median tumor volume (mL) after DEB‐TACE decreased in volume by 13% (range, 56% decrease to 77% increase). Mild complications consistent with postembolization syndrome occurred after 7/27 (26%) treatments. Major complications occurred after 3/27 (11%) treatments: hepatic abscess/septicemia (2) and cholecystitis/death (1), resulting in treatment‐induced death after 2/27 (7%) treatments. Median survival time after treatment was 337 days (range, 22‐1061). Dogs with a presenting complaint of weight loss (P = .02) had a significantly shorter median survival time (126 days; range, 46‐337) than those dogs without prior history of weight loss (582 days; range, 22‐1061).

Conclusions

Drug‐eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization for nonresectable HC is a feasible procedure, which promoted stable disease or partial response in 85% of dogs in this study sample.
Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer to treat an intracranial arteriovenous malformation in a dog
Authors: Culp William T. N. , Gratzek Ann , Burtch Merrianne , Dahlin Brian C. , Dong Paul R. , Phillips Kathryn L. , Sturges Beverly K. , Glaiberman Craig B. , Mitchell Jeffrey W. , Griffin Maureen A. , Gibson Erin A.
Published: May 2021

A 6‐year‐old neutered male German shepherd dog was evaluated for obtundation, blindness, and bilateral exophthalmos. A magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain was performed and identified an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with several feeding arterial branches, and venous drainage through the cavernous sinus. Venous vessels rostral to the AVM were severely distended and extended into the retrobulbar spaces. Liquid embolization by injection of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer was performed from access points in the maxillary arteries and internal carotid arteries. No intraprocedural complications were encountered, and the dog was discharged the next day. Bilateral enucleation eventually was performed because of exposure keratopathy. At 31 months post‐embolization, owners reported that the dog was doing very well clinically with high activity level and normal appetite, and the dog also appeared to be pain free. Although intracranial AVMs are very rare in companion animals, successful treatment using liquid embolization is possible and should be considered.
Resting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations in dogs with liver disease
Authors: Pena‐Ramos Jorge , Barker Lucy , Saiz Rocío , Walker David J. , Tappin Simon , Hare Cassia H. Z. , Roberts Madeleine L. , Williams Tim L. , Bexfield Nicholas
Published: May 2021

Background

Serum bile acids (SBAs) are frequently measured in dogs. However, there is limited data comparing SBAs in different liver diseases diagnosed according to standardized histological criteria.

Objectives

To compare resting and postprandial SBAs, and determine their sensitivity and specificity, for various liver diseases in dogs.

Animals

Three hundred and forty‐one client‐owned dogs with suspected liver disease that had a liver biopsy and SBAs measured.

Methods

Multicenter retrospective study. Cases were classified according to standardized histological criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of resting and postprandial SBAs for the diagnosis of each liver disease, and all liver diseases combined, were calculated.

Results

The median resting SBAs were highest in dogs with cirrhosis (98.8 μmol/L; range, 6‐135) and congenital circulatory anomalies (CCa; 79.45 μmol/L; 0.3‐705). The highest median postprandial concentrations were found in CCa (126 μmol/L; 0‐726) and chronic hepatitis (CH; 54.3 μmol/L; 0‐260). Using the cut‐off value of 10 μmol/L, the highest sensitivities of resting SBAs were recorded in dogs with CCa (87.5%; 95% confidence interval, 76.8‐94.4) and CH (81.1%; 71.5‐88.6). The sensitivities of postprandial SBAs were the highest in cholangitis (100%; 47.8‐100.0) and CCa (91.1%; 78.8‐97.5). The specificities of resting and postprandial SBAs for all diseases were 49.3% (37.6‐61.1) and 29.7% (15.9‐47.0), respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Postprandial SBAs are more sensitive but less specific than resting SBAs for the diagnosis of liver disease. There were dogs in all categories of liver disease with resting SBAs <10 and >90 μmol/L. Therefore, careful interpretation of both normal and elevated values is required.
BRASSINOSTEROID‐SIGNALLING KINASES 7 and 8 associate with the FLS2 immune receptor and are required for flg22‐induced PTI responses
Authors: Majhi Bharat Bhusan , Sobol Guy , Gachie Sarah , Sreeramulu Shivakumar , Sessa Guido
Published: May 2021

Pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) is typically initiated in plants by recognition of pathogen‐ or damage‐associated molecular patterns (PAMP/DAMPs) by cell surface‐localized pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Here, we investigated the role in PTI of Arabidopsis thaliana brassinosteroid‐signalling kinases 7 and 8 (BSK7 and BSK8), which are members of the receptor‐like cytoplasmic kinase subfamily XII. BSK7 and BSK8 localized to the plant cell periphery and interacted in yeast and in planta with FLS2, but not with other PRRs. Consistent with a role in FLS2 signalling, bsk7 and bsk8 single and bsk7,8 double mutant plants were impaired in several immune responses induced by flg22, but not by other PAMP/DAMPs. These included resistance to Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea, reactive oxygen species accumulation, callose deposition at the cell wall, and expression of the defence‐related gene PR1, but not activation of MAP kinases and expression of the FRK1 and WRKY29 genes. bsk7, bsk8, and bsk7,8 plants also displayed enhanced susceptibility to P. syringae and B. cinerea. Finally, BSK7 and BSK8 variants mutated in their myristoylation site or in the ATP‐binding site failed to complement defective phenotypes of the corresponding mutants, suggesting that localization to the cell periphery and kinase activity are critical for BSK7 and BSK8 functions. Together, these findings demonstrate that BSK7 and BSK8 play a role in PTI initiated by recognition of flg22 by interacting with the FLS2 immune receptor.
Can constraint closure provide a generalized understanding of community dynamics in ecosystems?
Authors: Peck Steven L. , Heiss Andrew
Published: May 2021

Ecological theorists have generated several yet unresolved disputes that try to untangle the difficulty in understanding the nature of complex ecological communities. In this paper, we combine two recent theoretical approaches that used together suggest a promising way to consider how evolutionary and ecological processes may be used to frame a general theory of community ecology and its functional stability. First, we consider the theoretical proposal by Vellend (2016) to focus on a small set of higher‐level evolutionary and ecological processes that act on species within an ecological community. These processes provide a basis for ecological theory similar to the way in which theoretical population genetics has focused on a small set of mathematical descriptions to undergird its theory. Second, we explore ideas that might be applied to ecosystem functioning developed by Moreno and Mossio's (2015) work on how biologically autonomous systems emerge from closure of relevant constraints. To explore the possibility that combining these two ideas may provide a more general theoretical understanding of ecological communities, we have developed a stochastic, agent‐based model, with agents representing species, that explores the potential of using evolutionary and ecological processes as a constraint on the flow of species through an ecosystem. We explore how these ideas help illuminate aspects of stability found in many ecological communities. These agent‐based modeling results provide in‐principle arguments that suggest that constraint closure, using evolutionary and ecological processes, explain general features of ecological communities. In particular, we find that our model suggests a perspective useful in explaining repeated patterns of stability in ecological evenness, species turnover, species richness and in measures of fitness.
Highly mobile seed predators contribute to interisland seed dispersal within an oceanic archipelago
Authors: Ando Haruko , Mori Yuka , Nishihiro Miho , Mizukoshi Kanon , Akaike Masaki , Kitamura Wataru , Sato Nozomu J.
Published: May 2021

Long‐distance dispersal (LDD) is an essential event for species colonization and expansion in oceanic island ecosystems. Endozoochory by birds is an important factor promoting the LDD of plant seeds, but its contribution to interisland seed dispersal is still unclear. Here, we show possible seed dispersal by a seed predator pigeon, the Japanese wood pigeon Columba janthina, among oceanic islands in the Izu archipelago, Japan. Although some previous studies showed that most seeds swallowed by this pigeon are crushed, intact seeds were found in 44.5% of pigeon feces, indicating the contribution of these birds to seed dispersal. Seasonal population fluctuations and movements by pigeons between neighbouring islands which are 4 km apart by pigeons can promote interisland seed dispersal. We found seeds from fruiting trees not located on the islands where the pigeon feces were collected, which could have been transported from another island. Although many tree species overlap their fruiting phenology with pigeon movement between islands, the seeds of only six species were dispersed by pigeons, and most of the dispersed seeds were from species with small seeds less than 1.5 mm in diameter. Fruit consumption and frequent interisland movement of Japanese wood pigeons might homogenize the distribution of plants with small seeds among neighboring islands. In contrast, their intensive seed consumption might disturb the recruitment of plants with large seeds and make their expansion to other islands difficult. Such effects of mutualistic (dispersal) and antagonistic (predation) interactions with highly mobile seed predators may modify plant distributions and gene flow in oceanic archipelagos.
Arthroscopy‐Assisted Treatment of Wear Debris Pseudotumor After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report
Authors: Jiang Hantao , Shen Liping , Lei Xinhuan , Chen Linglin , Zhu Rangteng
Published: May 2021

Background

Wear debris pseudotumors are a rare complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and have seldom been reported in the recent literature. There is no consensus on the best therapeutic method, but the high quality curative treatment, safe, low invasive treatments are required for the patients.

Case presentation

In this paper, we present the case of a 74‐year‐old man with a wear debris pseudotumor after TKA with symptoms of severe pain and functional disability of his right knee. X‐ray examination showed that the medial compartment of the right knee was narrowing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Doppler ultrasound both revealed a polycystic mass at the posteromedial side of the patient's right knee. Considering the bad health condition and the minimally invasive surgery requirement of this senior patient, arthroscopic knee debridement and percutaneous cystic mass suction were carried out simultaneously. Video arthroscopy of the right knee showed visible inflammatory soft tissue, obvious polyethylene fragments, wear of the polyethylene prothesis, and a broken polyethylene insert. The intraarticular polyethylene wear debris was removed as much as possible, and inflammatory soft tissue was debrided and sent for pathology. Postoperative pathology showed polyethylene debris in the soft tissue with an apparent multinucleated giant cell response, which was consistent with foreign body granuloma. All clinical manifestation was improved and Lysholm scores were significantly better at one year with this treatment, increasing from 32 points to 71 points.

Conclusion

After two years of follow‐up, the patient's knee joint was significantly relieved from soreness and pain, and walking was not significantly restricted. Our treatment could not address the root cause of the wear debris pseudotumor, which was due to prosthesis failure, but sometimes, such an approach is the safest, most economical, and most effective choice for patients who are intolerant to reoperation.
Experimental evidence about property tax word aversion
Authors: Brunner Eric J. , Robbins Mark D. , Simonsen Bill
Published: May 2021

A small but growing literature suggests that simply using the word “tax” can create a visceral negative reaction among citizens. We tested tax word aversion using a representative sample of US residents who are randomly placed into experimental conditions and asked parallel questions about their support for services (approval of a tax increase or a revenue increase). The only difference between the two questions is the word “tax.” We find that the use of the word “tax” lowers support by about six and eight percentage points for fire and school services, respectively. This direct test of tax word aversion is based on a strong experimental design and a sufficient number of observations (over 4000) that allow for precise impact estimates.
Accuracy of self‐reported birth outcomes relative to birth certificate data in an Internet‐based prospective cohort study
Authors: Wise Lauren A. , Wang Tanran R. , Wesselink Amelia K. , Willis Sydney K. , Chaiyasarikul Alina , Levinson Jessica S. , Rothman Kenneth J. , Hatch Elizabeth E. , Savitz David A.
Published: May 2021

Background

The accuracy of birth outcome data provided by Internet‐based cohort study participants has not been well studied.

Methods

We compared self‐reported data on birth characteristics in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an Internet‐based prospective cohort study of North American pregnancy planners, with birth certificate data. At enrolment, participants were aged 21‐45 years, attempting conception, and not using fertility treatment. Women completed online questionnaires during preconception, early and late pregnancy, and postpartum. We requested birth certificate data during 2014‐2019 from seven health departments in states with the most participants. After restricting to singleton births, we assessed specificity, sensitivity, and agreement comparing self‐reported data from postpartum questionnaires with birth certificate data for gestational age at delivery (GA) and birthweight (grams). Our primary measure of self‐reported GA (weeks) was calculated as [280‐(due date‐birth date)]/7. We used log‐binomial regression to assess predictors of agreement.

Results

We linked 85% (771/909) of women in selected states. Median age of women was 30 years (range: 21‐42), 84% had ≥ 16 years of education, nearly 96% were married, 12% had household incomes <$50 000, 32% were parous, and 85% identified as non‐Hispanic White. Median recall interval was 6 months. Among those with self‐reported data, 89% reported the same GA as the birth certificate and 98% reported GA within 1 week of the birth certificate. Self‐report of preterm birth (GA < 37 weeks) agreed with information from birth certificates for 100% of women; sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 99%. Self‐reported low birthweight (<2500 grams) agreed with birth certificates for 93% of women; sensitivity and specificity were 93% and ≥99%, respectively. Predictors of poorer agreement included higher parity and longer pregnancy attempt time for GA, and lower education and longer recall interval for birthweight.

Conclusion

Self‐reported data on GA and birthweight from an Internet‐based cohort showed high accuracy compared with birth certificates.
Hepatitis B virus prevalence in first‐time blood donors in Flanders, Belgium: Impact of universal vaccination and migration
Authors: De Brier Niels , Koc Özgür M. , De Buck Emmy , Muylaert An , Nevens Frederik , Vanbrabant Miek , Vandeloo Judith , Van Remoortel Hans , Robaeys Geert , Compernolle Veerle
Published: May 2021

Background

Transfusion‐transmissible infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) remain a major concern for the safety of blood transfusion. This cross‐sectional study aimed to assess the trend of HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among a first‐time donor population in a low endemic country.

Study Design and Methods

Between 2010 and 2018, blood samples were collected from first‐time donors presented at donor collection sites of Belgian Red Cross‐Flanders. They were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibodies (anti‐HBc), and HBV DNA, HIV and hepatitis virus C (HCV) antibodies and RNA, and syphilis antibodies.

Results

A total of 211,331 first‐time blood donors (43.7% males, median age 25 years) were analyzed. HBsAg prevalence decreased from 0.06% in 2010 to 0.05% in 2018 (p = .004) and this declining trend was accompanied by an increased number of donors in the HBV vaccinated birth cohort (p < .001). HBsAg prevalence was 0.33% in foreign‐born donors and 0.02% in Belgian natives (p < .001). Multivariate risk profiling showed that anti‐HBc positivity was significantly associated with mainly foreign‐born donors (odds ratio [OR] = 9.24) but also with older age (OR = 1.06), male gender (OR = 1.32), year of blood donation (OR = 0.94), and co‐infections with HCV (OR = 4.31) or syphilis (OR = 4.91).

Discussion

The decreasing trend in HBV prevalence could mainly be explained by the introduction of the universal HBV vaccination. Being born in endemic areas was the most important predictor for HBV infection while the co‐infections with syphilis suggest unreported sexual risk contacts.
Therapeutic plasma exchange to mitigate flunixin meglumine overdose in a cria
Authors: Dixon Claire E. , Kelley Denise , Froehlich Jacob Michael , Gruntman Alisha , Oura Trisha , Mazan Melissa R. , Labato Mary Anna
Published: May 2021

Objective

To describe the use of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in the treatment of flunixin meglumine overdose in a cria.

Case Summary

A 3‐day‐old alpaca cria was diagnosed with ureteral obstruction and agenesis resulting in severe bilateral hydronephrosis. During hospitalization, the cria inadvertently received a flunixin meglumine overdose of >65 mg/kg. Here, we report the use of lipid emulsion and TPE to mitigate flunixin meglumine toxicosis. TPE appeared to prevent any flunixin‐induced kidney or gastrointestinal injury, even in a patient with congenital defects of the urinary tract.

New Information Provided

This is the first report of the use of TPE in a cria.
Novel antimicrobial ointment for infected wound healing in an in vitro and in vivo porcine model
Authors: Hachem Ray , Parikh Umang M. , Reitzel Ruth , Rosenblatt Joel , Kaul Aditya , Vargas‐Cruz Nylev , Hill Lori , Moore Lisa , Meyer Jennifer , Chaftari Anne‐Marie , Gagea Mihai , Balaji Swathi , Raad Issam I.
Published: May 2021

Microbial contamination of wounds is a significant problem that delays healing, particularly when bacterial biofilms are present. A novel combination of pectinic acid (PG) + caprylic acid (CAP) was previously found in vitro to be highly effective in eradicating various pathogens in biofilms with minimal cytotoxicity. In this study, a novel wound ointment was formulated with PG + CAP and first assessed in vitro using a well‐established biofilm eradication model. In vitro, the PG + CAP ointment was shown to be efficacious in reducing the microbial biofilms. This ointment was then tested in vivo in two pilot porcine wound healing models, with and without Staphylococcus aureus microbial challenge. Ointments were applied to each wound daily, and healing by wound closure area measurement was assessed weekly over 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, pigs were sacrificed and wounds were scored for reepithelialization, inflammation, granulation tissue, and collagen deposition. We compared PG + CAP to hydroxyethylcellulose + glycerol ointment base (control) and MediHoney (comparator). In the porcine microbial challenge model, the novel antimicrobial PG + CAP wound ointment rapidly eradicated bacterial organisms embedded in wounds, was safe and well‐tolerated, and was associated with enhanced healing compared to ointment base and MediHoney. Specifically, the cumulative histopathology, reepithelialization of epidermis, and mature granulation tissue in the wound bed was significantly better with PG + CAP than with control and MediHoney treatments. This ointment warrants further study as a non‐antibiotic ointment for use in treating a wide array of infected wounds.
The influence of envelope shape on the lateralization of amplitude-modulated, low-frequency sound
Authors: Haywood Nicholas R. , Undurraga Jaime A. , McAlpine David
Published: May 2021

For abruptly gated sound, interaural time difference (ITD) cues at onset carry greater perceptual weight than those following. This research explored how envelope shape influences such carrier ITD weighting. Experiment 1 assessed the perceived lateralization of a tonal binaural beat that transitioned through ITD (diotic envelope, mean carrier frequency of 500 Hz). Listeners' left/right lateralization judgments were compared to those for static-ITD tones. For an 8 Hz sinusoidally amplitude-modulated envelope, ITD cues 24 ms after onset well-predicted reported sidedness. For an equivalent-duration “abrupt” envelope, which was unmodulated besides 20-ms onset/offset ramps, reported sidedness corresponded to ITDs near onset (e.g., 6 ms). However, unlike for sinusoidal amplitude modulation, ITDs toward offset seemingly also influenced perceived sidedness. Experiment 2 adjusted the duration of the offset ramp (25–75 ms) and found evidence for such offset weighting only for the most abrupt ramp tested. In experiment 3, an ITD was imposed on a brief segment of otherwise diotic filtered noise. Listeners discriminated right- from left-leading ITDs. In sinusoidal amplitude modulation, thresholds were lowest when the ITD segment occurred during rising amplitude. For the abrupt envelope, the lowest thresholds were observed when the segment occurred at either onset or offset. These experiments demonstrate the influence of envelope profile on carrier ITD sensitivity.
NOX4 links metabolic regulation in pancreatic cancer to endoplasmic reticulum redox vulnerability and dependence on PRDX4
Authors: Jain Pallavi , Dvorkin-Gheva Anna , Mollen Erik , Malbeteau Lucie , Xie Michael , Jessa Fatima , Dhavarasa Piriththiv , Chung Stephen , Brown Kevin R. , Jang Gun Ho , Vora Parth , Notta Faiyaz , Moffat Jason , Hedley David , Boutros Paul C. , Wouters Bradly G. , Koritzinsky Marianne
Published: May 2021

Reductive power in the cytosol of pancreatic cancer cells drives a dependency on the endoplasmic reticulum protein PRDX4.
Diachronic modeling of the population within the medieval Greater Angkor Region settlement complex
Authors: Klassen Sarah , Carter Alison K. , Evans Damian H. , Ortman Scott , Stark Miriam T. , Loyless Alyssa A. , Polkinghorne Martin , Heng Piphal , Hill Michael , Wijker Pelle , Niles-Weed Jonathan , Marriner Gary P. , Pottier Christophe , Fletcher Roland J.
Published: May 2021

The Greater Angkor Region was home to approximately 700,000 to 900,000 inhabitants at its apogee in the 13th century CE.
Engendering persistent organic room temperature phosphorescence by trace ingredient incorporation
Authors: Ding Bingbing , Ma Liangwei , Huang Zizhao , Ma Xiang , Tian He
Published: May 2021

Ultralong room temperature phosphorescence could be generated after adding trace-specific ingredients into organic compounds.