bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Unilateral Axillary Nodal Uptake Both at 68Ga-DOTATOC and 18F-FDG PET/CT After 1 Week From COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Guglielmo Priscilla , Muccioli Simona , Berti Sara , Sartorello Alida , Pesella Fiammetta , Gregianin Michele
Published: September 2021

Recently, vaccination against COVID-19 has gained wide diffusion, especially among vulnerable individuals, such as cancer patients. At the same time, patients have been undergoing PET/CT examinations after vaccination in an increasing number, and cases of false-positive axillary nodal uptake have been described, mostly at 18F-FDG PET. Here, we describe the case of both 68Ga-DOTATOC and 18F-FDG axillary nodal uptake in a young woman affected by a metastatic retroperitoneal paraganglioma.
Pupils returning to primary schools in England during 2020: rapid estimations of punctual COVID-19 infection rates
Authors: Aspinall W. P. , Sparks R. S. J. , Woodhouse M. J. , Cooke R. M. , Scarrow J. H. ,   the CoMMinS Project
Published: September 2021

Drawing on risk methods from volcano crises, we developed a rapid COVID-19 infection model for the partial return of pupils to primary schools in England in June and July 2020, and a full return in September 2020. The model handles uncertainties in key parameters, using a stochastic re-sampling technique, allowing us to evaluate infection levels as a function of COVID-19 prevalence and projected pupil and staff headcounts. Assuming average national adult prevalence, for the first scenario (as at 1 June 2020) we found that between 178 and 924 [90% CI] schools would have at least one infected individual, out of 16 769 primary schools in total. For the second return (July), our estimate ranged between 336 (2%) and 1873 (11%) infected schools. For a full return in September 2020, our projected range was 661 (4%) to 3310 (20%) infected schools, assuming the same prevalence as for 5 June. If national prevalence fell to one-quarter of that, the projected September range would decrease to between 381 (2%) and 900 (5%) schools but would increase to between 2131 (13%) and 9743 (58%) schools if prevalence increased to 4× June level. When regional variations in prevalence and school size distribution were included in the model, a slight decrease in the projected number of infected schools was indicated, but uncertainty on estimates increased markedly. The latter model variant indicated that 82% of infected schools would be in areas where prevalence exceeded the national average and the probability of multiple infected persons in a school would be higher in such areas.
Post hoc
, our model projections for 1 September 2020 were seen to have been realistic and reasonable (in terms of related uncertainties) when data on schools' infections were released by official agencies following the start of the 2020/2021 academic year.
Local versus site-level effects of algae on coral microbial communities
Authors: Briggs Amy A. , Brown Anya L. , Osenberg Craig W.
Published: September 2021

Microbes influence ecological processes, including the dynamics and health of macro-organisms and their interactions with other species. In coral reefs, microbes mediate negative effects of algae on corals when corals are in contact with algae. However, it is unknown whether these effects extend to larger spatial scales, such as at sites with high algal densities. We investigated how local algal contact and site-level macroalgal cover influenced coral microbial communities in a field study at two islands in French Polynesia, Mo'orea and Mangareva. At 5 sites at each island, we sampled prokaryotic microbial communities (microbiomes) associated with corals, macroalgae, turf algae and water, with coral samples taken from individuals that were isolated from or in contact with turf or macroalgae. Algal contact and macroalgal cover had antagonistic effects on coral microbiome alpha and beta diversity. Additionally, coral microbiomes shifted and became more similar to macroalgal microbiomes at sites with high macroalgal cover and with algal contact, although the microbial taxa that changed varied by island. Our results indicate that coral microbiomes can be affected by algae outside of the coral's immediate vicinity, and local- and site-level effects of algae can obscure each other's effects when both scales are not considered.
Mitochondrial DNA sequencing of a wet-collection syntype demonstrates the importance of type material as genetic resource for lantern shark taxonomy (Chondrichthyes: Etmopteridae)
Authors: Straube Nicolas , Preick Michaela , Naylor Gavin J. P. , Hofreiter Michael
Published: September 2021

After initial detection of target archival DNA of a 116-year-old syntype specimen of the smooth lantern shark,
Etmopterus pusillus
, in a single-stranded DNA library, we shotgun-sequenced additional 9 million reads from this same DNA library. Sequencing reads were used for extracting mitochondrial sequence information for analyses of mitochondrial DNA characteristics and reconstruction of the mitochondrial genome. The archival DNA is highly fragmented. A total of 4599 mitochondrial reads were available for the genome reconstruction using an iterative mapping approach. The resulting genome sequence has 12 times coverage and a length of 16 741 bp. All 37 vertebrate mitochondrial loci plus the control region were identified and annotated. The mitochondrial NADH2 gene was subsequently used to place the syntype haplotype in a network comprising multiple
E. pusillus
samples from various distant localities as well as sequences from a morphological similar species, the shortfin smooth lantern shark
Etmopterus joungi
. Results confirm the almost global distribution of
E. pusillus
and suggest
E. joungi
to be a junior synonym of
E. pusillus
. As mitochondrial DNA often represents the only available reference information in non-model organisms, this study illustrates the importance of mitochondrial DNA from an aged, wet collection type specimen for taxonomy.
Evaluating participant responses to a virtual reality experience using reinforcement learning
Authors: Llobera Joan , Beacco Alejandro , Oliva Ramon , Şenel Gizem , Banakou Domna , Slater Mel
Published: September 2021

Virtual reality applications depend on multiple factors, for example, quality of rendering, responsiveness, and interfaces. In order to evaluate the relative contributions of different factors to quality of experience, post-exposure questionnaires are typically used. Questionnaires are problematic as the questions can frame how participants think about their experience and cannot easily take account of non-additivity among the various factors. Traditional experimental design can incorporate non-additivity but with a large factorial design table beyond two factors. Here, we extend a previous method by introducing a reinforcement learning (RL) agent that proposes possible changes to factor levels during the exposure and requires the participant to either accept these or not. Eventually, the RL converges on a policy where no further proposed changes are accepted. An experiment was carried out with 20 participants where four binary factors were considered. A consistent configuration of factors emerged where participants preferred to use a teleportation technique for navigation (compared to walking-in-place), a full-body representation (rather than hands only), the responsiveness of virtual human characters (compared to being ignored) and realistic compared to cartoon rendering. We propose this new method to evaluate participant choices and discuss various extensions.
Non-biodegradable objects may boost microbial growth in water bodies by harnessing bubbles
Authors: Srivastava Atul , Kikuchi Kenji , Ishikawa Takuji
Published: September 2021

Given the ubiquity of bubbles and non-biodegradable wastes in aqueous environments, their transport through bubbles should be widely extant in water bodies. In this study, we investigate the effect of bubble-induced waste transport on microbial growth by using yeasts as model microbes and a silicone rubber object as model waste. Noteworthily, this object repeatedly rises and sinks in fluid through fluctuations in bubble-acquired buoyant forces produced by cyclic nucleation, growth and release of bubbles from object's surface. The rise–sink movement of the object gives rise to a strong bulk mixing and an enhanced resuspension of cells from the floor. Such spatially dynamic contaminant inside a nutrient-rich medium also leads to an increment in the total microbe concentration in the fluid. The enhanced concentration is caused by strong nutrient mixing generated by the object's movement which increases the nutrient supply to growing microbes and thereby, prolonging their growth phases. We confirm these findings through a theoretical model for cell concentration and nutrient distribution in fluid medium. The model is based on the continuum hypothesis and it uses the general conservation law which takes an advection–diffusion growth form. We conclude the study with the demonstration of bubble-induced digging of objects from model sand.
Exposure to food insecurity increases energy storage and reduces somatic maintenance in European starlings (
Sturnus vulgaris
)
Authors: Andrews Clare , Zuidersma Erica , Verhulst Simon , Nettle Daniel , Bateson Melissa
Published: September 2021

Birds exposed to food insecurity—defined as temporally variable access to food—respond adaptively by storing more energy. To do this, they may reduce energy allocation to other functions such as somatic maintenance and repair. To investigate this trade-off, we exposed juvenile European starlings (
Sturnus vulgaris
,
n
= 69) to 19 weeks of either uninterrupted food availability or a regime where food was unpredictably unavailable for a 5-h period on 5 days each week. Our measures of energy storage were mass and fat scores. Our measures of somatic maintenance were the growth rate of a plucked feather, and erythrocyte telomere length (TL), measured by analysis of the terminal restriction fragment. The insecure birds were heavier than the controls, by an amount that varied over time. They also had higher fat scores. We found no evidence that they consumed more food overall, though our food consumption data were incomplete. Plucked feathers regrew more slowly in the insecure birds. TL was reduced in the insecure birds, specifically, in the longer percentiles of the within-individual TL distribution. We conclude that increased energy storage in response to food insecurity is achieved at the expense of investment in somatic maintenance and repair.
Activation of the adhesion GPCR GPR133 (ADGRD1) by antibodies targeting the N-terminus
Authors: Stephan Gabriele , Frenster Joshua D. , Liebscher Ines , Placantonakis Dimitris G.
Published: September 2021

We recently demonstrated that GPR133 (ADGRD1), an adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (aGPCR) whose canonical signaling raises cytosolic cAMP, is necessary for growth of glioblastoma (GBM) and is de novo expressed in GBM relative to normal brain tissue. We showed that dissociation of autoproteolytically generated N-terminal and C-terminal fragments (NTF and CTF) of GPR133 at the plasma membrane promotes receptor activation and increases signaling. Toward developing biologics modulating GPR133 function, we tested antibodies against the N-terminus of GPR133 for effects on receptor signaling. Treatment of HEK293T cells overexpressing GPR133 with such antibodies increased cAMP levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of supernatants following antibody treatment revealed complexes of the antibodies with the autoproteolytically cleaved NTF of GPR133. Cells expressing a cleavage-deficient mutant GPR133 (H543R) did not respond to antibody stimulation, suggesting that the effect is cleavage-dependent. The antibody-mediated stimulation of wild-type GPR133, but not the cleavage-deficient H543R mutant, was reproducible in patient-derived GBM cells. These findings provide a paradigm for modulation of GPR133 function with biologics and support the hypothesis that NTF-CTF dissociation promotes receptor activation and signaling.
How to manage irritable bowel syndrome in children
Authors: Levy Elvira Ingrid , De Geyter Charlotte , Ouald Chaib Abdelhalim , Aman Berthold Albert , Hegar Badriul , Vandenplas Yvan
Published: September 2021

Aim

This paper discusses the risk factors and management of paediatric irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with a focus on the role of the gastrointestinal microbiome.

Methods

English articles of interest published in PubMed and Google Scholar were searched using subject heading and keywords of interest.

Results

Only few randomised controlled trials on the management of IBS in children have been published. The vast majority of these intervention trials target to change the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiome. Most studies are underpowered. Major heterogeneities in study designs such as differences in inclusion criteria, including patients with different pain‐related functional gastrointestinal disorders and differences in primary outcomes, make it impossible to formulate recommendations. Overall, few adverse events are reported what could indicate safety or point to suboptimal conduction of clinical trials and safety reporting. However, it can also not be excluded that some interventions such as the administration of selected probiotic products may result in benefit.

Conclusion

There is insufficient evidence to recommend any therapeutic intervention in paediatric IBS, including manipulation of the gastrointestinal tract microbiome, despite the evidence that dysbiosis seems an associated pathophysiologic factor. More designed prospective trials are needed since IBS is not a rare condition during childhood.
Association between ezetimibe usage and hepatitis C RNA levels in uninfected kidney transplant recipients who received hepatitis C infected kidneys
Authors: Azhar Ambreen , Binari Laura A. , Joglekar Kiran , Tsujita Makoto , Talwar Manish , Balaraman Vasanthi , Bhalla Anshul , Eason James D. , Hall Isaac E. , Rofaiel George , Forbes Rachel C. , Shaffer David , Concepcion Beatrice P. , Molnar Miklos Z.
Published: September 2021

Kidney transplantation (KT) from hepatitis C virus infected (HCV+) donors to HCV negative recipients achieve excellent graft function but have relatively higher rates of post‐KT co‐infections presumably due to prolonged HCV viremia in transmission‐and‐treat approach. Ezetimibe acts as an antagonist of Niemann‐Pick C1‐Like 1 receptor required for HCV entry and theoretically can reduce HCV viremia. However, no data is available to examine the role of ezetimibe as a bridge therapy between KT surgery and direct acting antiviral (DAA) initiation. A retrospective cohort study including 70 HCV+ to HCV negative KT recipients from Methodist University Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center was performed to determine the association between ezetimibe usage and HCV viremia. Twenty patients received ezetimibe daily while 50 patients did not. Primary outcome of study was mean HCV RNA level at 1–2 weeks post‐KT and before initiation of DAA. Median (IQR) viral load (VL) in log copies/ml was one log lower in ezetimibe group versus non‐ezetimibe group (4.1 [3.7–5.3] vs. 5.1 [4.4–5.5], P = .01), and highest VL was also lower in ezetimibe group (4.2 [3.7–5.4] vs. 5.4 [4.7–5.9], P = .006). We concluded that ezetimibe bridge therapy might be associated with reduction in HCV VL while waiting for DAA initiation in HCV+ to HCV negative KT recipients.
A phase I study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of ocular GLH8NDE in healthy male adults
Authors: Jung Jihyun , Huh Ki Young , Jin Xuanyou , Ha Ahnul , Park Ki Ho , Park Jun Sang , Kim Eunjung , Lee Jaehwi , Jang In‐Jin , Lee Howard
Published: September 2021

GLH8NDE, a derivative of eupatilin, is currently under development to treat dry eye disease. We conducted a randomized, double‐masked, placebo‐controlled, single‐ and multiple‐day study to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of ocular GLH8NDE in healthy male adults. Subjects randomly received topical ocular dosing of GLH8NDE or its matching placebo for a day, then for 7 consecutive days with a 62‐h washout at one of the following daily doses: 9, 18, 36 (Koreans), and 36 mg (Whites). The study drug was administered in divided doses over 10 h with 2‐ or 5‐h intervals. Thirty‐nine (97.5%) out of 40 subjects completed the study. A total of 17 subjects experienced 31 treatment‐emergent adverse events, all of which were mild in severity and recovered without sequelae. Neither pathological changes in eye compartments nor clinically significant systemic effects were observed. GLH8NDE was rapidly absorbed reaching the peak concentration within 0.25–0.75 h postdose. The systemic exposure as measured by area under the concentration‐time curve from time of administration up to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUClast) after single‐day administration of the same dose was 109% higher in Koreans than in Whites. In conclusion, GLH8NDE was safe and well‐tolerated in healthy Korean and White male adults at 9–36 mg/day after single‐ and multiple‐day administrations.
Morphological changes and reproductive costs in brooders of two mouthbrooding freshwater fishes
Authors: Abecia Janine E. , Luiz Osmar J. , Crook David A. , Banks Sam C. , Wedd Dion J. , King Alison J.
Published: September 2021

Parental care purportedly promotes individual reproductive success and improves offspring survival, but is thought to come at a cost to the adult carer. Reproductive costs can be physiological such as the resources parents spend on caring but also the morphological changes that are necessary to accomplish parental care activities. This study considers morphological and body condition changes in brooders of two paternal mouthbrooder fishes – which incubate eggs and guard young inside the buccal cavity – mouth almighty (Glossamia aprion) and blue catfish (Neoarius graeffei), from rivers of northern Australia. Potential costs associated with mouthbrooding were examined by quantifying body condition, feeding deterrence and changes in gut length and gill form across individuals from varying sex‐breeding state category (brooder males, nonbrooder males and females). Brooders of both species exhibited significantly lower values in some condition indices, and did not feed, suggesting that body reserves were being used and not renewed during mouthbrooding. Brooders of both species had shorter gut lengths than nonbrooders, potentially to reduce tissue maintenance costs during a time of restricted food intake and requirements. Both species also exhibited changes in gill form and structure compared to nonbrooders; indicating structural adaptive plasticity to mouthbrooding by allowing more space for egg brooding in the buccal cavity. For G. aprion and N. graeffei, caring for progeny seemingly required similar trade‐offs including nonphysiological activities (e.g. feeding) and responses, such as changes in condition, respiratory and digestive morphology, that potentially allowed brooders to compensate for parental care energy expenditure.
Altered albedo dominates the radiative forcing changes in a subtropical forest following an extreme snow event
Authors: Gnanamoorthy Palingamoorthy , Song Qinghai , Zhao Junbin , Zhang Yiping , Liu Yuntong , Zhou Wenjun , Sha Liqing , Fan Zexin , Deb Burman Pramit Kumar
Published: September 2021

Subtropical forests are important ecosystems globally due to their extensive role in carbon sequestration. Extreme climate events are known to introduce disturbances in the ecosystem that cause long‐term changes in carbon balance and radiation reflectance. However, how these ecosystem function changes contribute to global warming in terms of radiative forcing (RF), especially in the years following a disturbance, still needs to be investigated. We studied an extreme snow event that occurred in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest in south‐western China in 2015 and used 9 years (2011–2019) of net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) and surface albedo (α) data to investigate the effect of the event on the ecosystem RF changes. In the year of the disturbance, leaf area index (LAI) declined by 40% and α by 32%. The annual NEE was −718 ± 128 g C m−2 as a sink in the pre‐disturbance years (2011–2014), but after the event, the sink strength dropped significantly by 76% (2015). Both the vegetation, indicated by LAI, and α recovered to pre‐disturbance levels in the fourth post‐disturbance year (2018). However, the NEE recovery lagged and occurred a year later in 2019, suggesting a more severe and lasting impact on the ecosystem carbon balance. Overall, the extreme event caused a positive (warming effect) net RF which was predominantly caused by changes in α (90%–93%) rather than those in NEE. This result suggests that, compared to the climate effect caused by forest carbon sequestration changes, the climate effect of α alterations can be more sensitive to vegetation damage induced by natural disturbances. Moreover, this study demonstrates the important role of vegetation recovery in driving canopy reflectance and ecosystem carbon balance during the post‐disturbance period, which determines the ecosystem feedbacks to the climate change.
Improved oxidation resistance of Al2O3–SiC–C castables by introducing a small amount of andalusite fine powder
Authors: Fu Yunhe , Niu Zheng , Mu Yuandong , Hao Zhanhong , Wang Qingfeng , Parr Chris , Ye Guotian
Published: September 2021

In our previous study, high amounts of andalusite aggregates (about 19%) were used to improve the oxidation resistance of Al2O3–SiC–C castables, attributed to the transformation of andalusite. However, for andalusite aggregates with large particle size, only a small part of the silica‐rich glass phase (about 20%) is extruded onto the surface of the particles to block the pores. Theoretically, the smaller particle size promotes the conversion of andalusite, and more silica‐rich glass phase would be extruded to the particle surface to block the pores in the castables, which is speculated to favor the enhancement of the oxidation resistance of the castables. Therefore, in this work, andalusite fine powder (≤0.055 mm) was employed to substitute the same‐weight proportion of fused brown corundum fine powder in the castables. The results demonstrate that a small amount of andalusite fine powder can achieve the similar antioxidation enhancement compared with high addition content of andalusite aggregate. And the properties of castables fired at different temperatures proved that the thermal decomposition of andalusite fine powder into silica‐rich glass and mullite is the key reason of elevated oxidation resistance as well as the improvement of strength and thermal shock stability.
High‐temperature oxidation resistance and antifailure mechanism of MAO‐SG composite coating on TC4 titanium alloy
Authors: Chen Xiaowen , Hu Jie , Zhang Defen , Ren Peng , Liao Dandan , Xu Ruosi , Jiang Xuan
Published: September 2021

To refine microarc oxidation (MAO) coating surface micropores, and enhance the coating's toughness and oxidation resistance. In the process of MAO, negatively charged CeO2 particles are adsorbed and deposited into the coating under the action of electrophoresis, and a 6 g/L CeO2 doped MAO coating is prepared. Then, the Al2O3‐SiO2 composite sol‐gel seal coating was used to obtain the microarc oxidation‐sol‐gel composite coating (MAO‐SG). The TC4 substrate, undoped MAO coating, CeO2 doped MAO coating, and MAO‐SG composite coating were subjected to high‐temperature oxidation at 650, 750, and 850°C, respectively. The results show that the composite coating exhibits excellent high‐temperature oxidation resistance at three temperatures. Compared with the undoped MAO coating, the maximum oxidation weight gain per unit area of the MAO‐SG coating was reduced by 13.44%, 23.87%, and 38.16%, and the average oxidation rate was reduced by 17.15%, 50.98%, and 69.37%, respectively. The sol‐gel layer on the surface of the composite coating will decompose α‐Al2O3 at high temperatures, and form a dense protective layer on the surface of the MAO coating and protect the MAO coating, which greatly improves the high‐temperature oxidation resistance of the TC4 titanium alloy.
Using a low–molecular weight heparin–calibrated anti–factor Xa assay to assess the concentration of apixaban and rivaroxaban
Authors: von Horn Henrik , Rasmusson Agnes , Söderblom Lisbeth , Malmström Rickard E , Antovic Jovan
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)–inhibiting factor Xa (FXa‐DOAC) are being increasingly used as prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism and for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. In contrast to vitamin K antagonists, DOACs do not require monitoring in general. However, it is sometimes of value in the acute setting, for instance when considering a reversal agent in uncontrolled bleeding in patients on DOAC.

Methods

We evaluated if a low–molecular weight heparin (LMWH)–calibrated anti–factor Xa assay could be used to estimate FXa‐DOAC concentration in the concentration range <100 ng/mL by spiking known concentrations of FXa‐DOAC and from those result calculate the FXa‐DOAC concentration from the response of the LMWH assay. This procedure was then evaluated by comparing the result with a drug‐calibrated chromogenic assay and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) on clinical plasma samples from patients treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban.

Results

Although the measuring range was narrower for the LMWH‐calibrated assay, concentrations recalculated from the LMWH assay was comparable with those measured by the drug‐calibrated method when compared with LC‐MS/MS.

Conclusion

We suggest that an LMWH‐calibrated anti–factor Xa assay can be used after characterization of the response of FXa‐DOACs to give guidance on the concentration of apixaban and rivaroxaban. Shorter turnaround time than LC‐MS/MS and the greater availability than drug‐calibrated chromogenic assays could make this a valuable option in the acute setting.
Migrant networks, information flows and the place of residence: The case of Polish immigrants in the UK
Authors: Schwabe Michal , Weziak‐Bialowolska Dorota
Published: September 2021

Numerous studies in the field of international migration focus on utilizing migrant networks in migration process, outlining their role in the choice of destination country as well as in the job search process. However, relatively few of the studies discuss migrant networks’ role in the choice of a specific location within destination cities. This paper contributes to this research area by providing additional insights into the motives behind choosing place of residence by immigrants in contemporary European cities. In our paper, we use data of a tailor‐made survey of 610 Polish immigrants, who emigrated from Poland to the UK shortly after 2004, that is, after opening of the British labour market for Polish citizens. Our study results reveal that propensity towards living in the Polish neighbourhood is inversely correlated with migrants’ English language proficiency. Moreover, we discover that networking within the Polish diaspora is to a large extent limited to family and close acquaintances, which most likely results from the limited generalized trust towards other Poles. Based on our study results, we argue that settling in geographical proximity of migrant's ethnic group is likely to maintain its relevance in the contemporary cities, especially in case of immigrants with poor destination language skills.
Management of single subsegmental pulmonary embolism: a prospective observational study at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals, Auckland
Authors: Li Jian , Rolfe‐Vyson Vicki , Rowland Valerie , Woulfe Tracey , Merriman Eileen
Published: September 2021

Background

Single subsegmental pulmonary embolism is increasingly diagnosed but the benefit to anticoagulate in the absence of concurrent deep vein thrombosis is not consistently established.

Aims

To investigate the safety of an observational approach in patients with isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism and the utility of the second lower limb ultrasound after 7 days.

Methods

Prospective observational study of patients diagnosed with isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism between July 2016 and July 2020 at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals, Auckland. The primary outcome was the venous thromboembolism recurrence rate within 3 months of single subsegmental pulmonary embolism diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included all‐cause mortality, bleeding complications and the percentage of deep vein thrombosis diagnosed at serial compressive ultrasounds (CUS) of lower limbs.

Results

Among the 48 patients studied (two excluded due to revised diagnosis), no statistically significant differences were found in the baseline characteristics between the anticoagulated (n = 17) and observed (n = 31) groups. After patients with deep vein thrombosis were excluded, comparisons did not reveal significant differences in the primary outcome (0 vs 1 recurrent venous thromboembolism in the anticoagulated vs. observational groups respectively) and the secondary outcomes. In the observational cohort, 77.4% (n = 24) patients had repeat bilateral lower limb CUS after 7 days, and none had deep vein thrombosis diagnosed on the second CUS.

Conclusions

Withholding anticoagulation was a feasible management option for this cohort of patients with single subsegmental pulmonary embolisms with an absence of deep vein thrombosis. The utility of a second lower limb ultrasound is questionable and would warrant further assessment in a prospective study.
Addressing the Addressive Theory of Rights
Authors: Bowen Joseph
Published: September 2021

This article examines Rowan Cruft’s new Addressive Theory of Rights, put forward in his Human Rights, Ownership, and the Individual. We begin with an exposition of Cruft’s discussion of the nature of rights and directed duties. We see there are two elements to this: first, a series of arguments that no reductive account of rights succeeds and, second, an introduction to the Addressive Theory. I then offer three critical comments. First, that the two elements to Cruft’s discussion on the nature of rights and directed duties, the antireductivism and the introduction of the Addressive Theory, are independent. Second, that, because of the antireductivism, the Addressive Theory is unmotivated. Third, that part of the Addressive Theory itself, requiring first‐personal thought on the part of capable right holders, is redundant. I conclude by considering what we can learn from these three comments: that we should rethink whether to combine the Addressive Theory with a reductive theory of rights, which grounds rights in features of right‐holders as moral patients.
On Rights, Human Rights, and Property: A Response
Authors: Cruft Rowan
Published: September 2021

This article responds to papers by Joseph Bowen, Simon May, Zofia Stemplowska, and Nick Sage, focused on my monograph, Human Rights, Ownership, and the Individual (OUP, 2019). The book develops a new account of the nature of rights: as duties governed by ‘addressive’ norms of first‐ and second‐personal thinking. This account has implications for both human rights and property rights. It implies that human rights in law should be founded on pre‐legal moral rights grounded in how they serve the individual right‐holder. And it implies that much property, which is morally grounded only as a system serving collective goods, would be beneficially reconceived in non‐rights terms. The article defends the ‘addressive’ account of rights against Bowen’s and May’s arguments for the rival ‘Interest Theory’, and against May’s circularity charge. In response to Stemplowska (who builds on O’Neill), the article defends the place for pre‐legal moral rights to goods and services as foundations for socioeconomic human rights. In response to Sage, the article defends the view that while human rights are morally grounded for the right‐holder’s sake, most property rights constituting individual wealth in modern markets are not – and this throws doubt on such property's status as a right.
Evolutionary history of the roan antelope across its African range
Authors: Gonçalves Margarida , Siegismund Hans R. , van Vuuren Bettine Jansen , Ferrand Nuno , Godinho Raquel
Published: September 2021

Aim

Phylogeographic studies on savanna ungulates have extensively evaluated genetic patterns mostly related to Pleistocene climatic oscillations. We address this subject through a comprehensive assessment across the pan‐African range of the roan antelope, assessing whether climatic oscillations or natural physical barriers play a predominant role in the evolutionary history of the species. We also address the spatial concordance of the genetic structure with the currently recognized subspecies.

Location

Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Taxon

Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus).

Methods

We genotyped 43 microsatellite loci and sequenced whole‐mitochondrial genomes for 131 individuals across the species' entire African range. We performed spatial analyses of genetic diversity for contemporary and historical samples and calculated overall patterns of genetic differentiation and structure for both marker types. We also estimated the timing of divergence events and demographic trends, correlating these with the species’ biotic attributes as well as abiotic features shaping African savanna habitats.

Results

Our analyses uncovered highly structured clusters and contact zones across the distribution of the roan antelope, including five nuclear groups and four mitochondrial lineages. The north‐west group had the highest level of intra‐group diversity as well as inter‐group divergence and represents the oldest vicariant event. The central and southern groups had the lowest intra‐group diversity with low divergence values separating them, suggesting a more recent ancestry for these groups. All population groups showed signals of demographic stability over time showed signals of demographic stability over a demographic decline during the Holocene.

Main conclusions

The roan antelope exhibits significant population structure across its African range. This structure is largely associated with natural physical barriers, whereas contact zones could more easily be explained by climatic events. Based on estimates of genetic diversity, we propose a West African ancestry for this species with subsequent eastward and southern range expansions, as well as the persistence of stable population numbers within refugia. A general trend of population size decreases likely reflects Holocene extreme climatic events and increased human pressure.
The combined use of progressive and block freeze concentration in lactose‐free milk: Effect of process parameters and influence on the content of carbohydrates and proteins
Authors: Dantas Adriana , Quinteros Gisela J. , Darvishvand Shadi Yaribeigi , Blanco Mónica , Hernandez Eduard , Prudencio Elane Schwinden , Samsuri Shafirah
Published: September 2021

This work focuses on the study of the concentration of lactose‐free milk using a combination of progressive freezing concentration (PFC) with block freezing concentration (BFC). First, we investigated the PFC of skim lactose‐free milk applying response surface methodology. To analyze the influence of three factors (stirring rate, coolant temperature, and assay time) on the response variables (concentrate yield, efficiency of the process, concentration index, and average ice growth rate), a central composite design was used previously. It was found that all factors had a significate influence on the responses. Then, once the optimized condition for this step was chosen (time of 58 min, coolant temperature of −5°C, and mechanical stirring of 1,035 rpm), the ice obtained from it was subjected to a new freeze concentration cycle using the BFC assisted by vacuum. In the concentrated fraction of this cycle, protein and carbohydrate contents were equals to 6.7 g 100 g−1and 10.24 g 100 g−1, respectively. The results suggest that in PFC carbohydrates accumulate more in the concentrated phase, while in BFC it is the protein that has the greatest tendency to pass into the concentrated liquid. In this approach, we believe that it is possible to combine the two techniques (PFC + vacuum‐assisted BFC) to obtain concentrates, and that they can be used for the development of innovative lactose‐free dairy products.

Practical Applications

The use of concentration processes can facilitate the customization of milk products rich in proteins to meet specific requirements on nutritional and functional properties, for instance in bakery products, formulated food, ice‐cream, beverages, energy drinks, and others. Moreover, since most changes occur in an aqueous environment, the removal of some part of milk water results in its preservation. Within the concentration processes, the freeze concentration emerges swiftly thanks to its inherent features, involving low‐temperature processing and selective nature of the water removal step. Because of the low temperatures used in freeze concentration, this technology is gaining in popularity as an alternative technique to the standard concentration techniques currently used in dairy processing. It offers the most enhanced functional and sensorial qualities of concentrated milk because it decreases the quality deviation by minimizing the heat abuse on sensitive milk components, such as proteins, water‐soluble vitamins, and aromatics.
Evaluation of the association between the flow of firearms and mass shooting deaths
Authors: Miller Chip E. , Bryant Andrew
Published: September 2021

Mass shootings are a human‐made disaster that plagues the United States. However, data on mass shootings and firearm sales are not readily available in the United States. We compile a novel dataset to explore this issue by blending annual nationwide data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' records with mass shooting statistics over 33 years. This dataset overcomes limitations present in previous research on the topic of firearms and mass shootings. Our findings indicate a relationship between more deaths from mass shootings and the production of firearms (flow of firearms). We argue that this is due to an increase in demand derived from the salience of perceived mortality and consumer reactance. Implications on the gun control debate are discussed.
Covert Linguistic Racisms and the (Re‐)Production of White Supremacy
Authors: Kroskrity Paul V.
Published: September 2021

This article explores the potent role of covert linguistic racisms as practices critical for maintenance and transmission of white supremacy (Spears 1999, 2020). Though most Whites benefit from the structural violence of white supremacy, many disclaim their belief in racial hierarchies or participation in racist projects. Though they reject overt racism, they are more open to the effects of covert racism in reproducing racialized categories and naturalizing the patterns of political‐economic stratification associated with white supremacy. Covert racism is a product of a language ideological assemblage (Kroskrity 2018) involving raciolinguistic ideologies (Alim 2016; Rosa and Flores 2017) of the “white listening subject” (Rosa and Flores 2020), his/her “folk theory of racism” (Hill 2008), and the deployment of such features as indexicality and anonymity. Two instances of covert racism directed at Native Americans‐‐the academic pejoration of traditional narratives of the Indigenous Mono and Yokuts language communities of Central Cailfornia (Kroskrity 2015) and anonymous internet‐circulating jokes about Indians (Meek 2013). The indexical consistency of these racializing practices over time and scales of circulation are linked to settler‐colonialism and settler‐capitalism (Speed 2018b) as part of the larger project of white supremacy.
Genome‐wide Excision Repair Map of Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers in Arabidopsis and the Roles of CSA1 and CSA2 Proteins in Transcription‐coupled Repair†
Authors: Kaya Sezgi , Adebali Ogun , Oztas Onur , Sancar Aziz
Published: September 2021

Plants depend on light for energy production. However, the UV component in sunlight also inflicts DNA damage, mostly in the form of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and (6‐4) pyrimidine–pyrimidone photoproducts, which are mutagenic and lethal to the plant cells. These lesions are repaired by blue‐light‐dependent photolyases and the nucleotide excision repair enzymatic systems. Here, we characterize nucleotide excision repair in Arabidopsis thaliana genome‐wide and at single nucleotide resolution with special focus on transcription‐coupled repair and the role of the CSA1 and CSA2 genes/proteins in dictating the efficiency and the strand preference of repair of transcribed genes. We demonstrate that CSA1 is the dominant protein in coupling repair to transcription with minor contribution from CSA2.
Prozone rates in the solid‐phase platelet crossmatch assay and correlation with class I HLA antibody levels
Authors: Juskewitch Justin E. , Zuccarelli Micah D. , Clymer Kristie K. , Wakefield Laurie L. , Kreuter Justin D. , Gandhi Manish J.
Published: September 2021

Background

Solid‐phase platelet crossmatch (PXM) testing is used to help manage patients with platelet transfusion‐refractoriness. Recently, we published the first report of false‐negative PXM results from prozone effect that was mitigated using sample dilution. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of PXM prozone effect and the levels of class I HLA antibodies (HLA‐Abs) associated with positive PXM results and with false‐negative PXM results from prozone effect.

Study Design and Methods

A cross‐sectional study of patients undergoing PXM testing from July 2019 through December 2020 was performed. All PXM tests were run simultaneously using undiluted and 1:4 diluted patient plasma. Prozone effect was defined as a negative PXM result using undiluted patient plasma but a positive PXM result using 1:4 diluted patient plasma.

Results

Among 59 patients, 830 individual ABO‐compatible PXM results yielded an overall positivity rate of 25.8% (214/830) and a false‐negative rate from prozone effect of 4.7% (10/214). Among the 28 patients with class I HLA‐Ab testing and no other anti‐platelet antibodies, maximum HLA‐Ab mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was significantly associated with a positive PXM result (p < .0001; AUC approx. 0.9) and categorized into negative (<3700), indeterminate (3700–10300), and positive (>10300) maximum HLA‐Ab MFI zones. Maximum HLA‐Ab MFI, however, was not associated with prozone effect (p = .17; AUC approx. 0.6).

Discussion

While there is a strong predictive association between class I HLA‐Ab levels and positive PXM results, PXM prozone effect is a common occurrence not associated with class I HLA‐Ab levels, so additional testing with diluted samples should be considered.
A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study on the effectiveness of a single‐use negative pressure wound therapy system, compared to traditional negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of diabetic ulcers of the lower extremities
Authors: Kirsner Robert S. , Zimnitsky Dmitry , Robinson Michael
Published: September 2021

A multicenter, phase 4, randomized, comparative‐efficacy study in subjects with lower extremity wounds was carried out to compare wound closure rates, for a single‐use negative pressure wound therapy (s‐NPWT) versus traditional NPWT (t‐NPWT) systems over a 12‐week treatment period. From the initial population of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and venous leg ulcers (VLU), we analyzed a subgroup of patients with diabetes mellitus and leg and foot ulcers (either DFUs or VLUs in diabetics), termed, the diabetic lower extremity ulcers (DLEU). In the DLEU group, there were 95 patients in intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and 61 patients in per protocol (PP) populations, respectively. We found a significant difference in favor of s‐NPWT over t‐NPWT in the confirmed wound closures at 12 weeks both in ITT (p < 0.001) and PP populations (p = 0.017). Significantly higher wound closure rates in s‐NPWT group suggest that s‐NPWT should be preferred NPWT option for DLEU.
Acoustic characterisation of string instruments by internal cavity measurements
Authors: Gough Colin
Published: September 2021

The use of internal cavity sound measurements to characterise the acoustic properties of any hollow-bodied string instrument is described using the violin family as an example. Measurements are described using inexpensive sub-miniature electret microphones as sensors for the impact hammer, both internal and radiated sound, and bridge admittance. The excited vibrations of the body shell are shown to excite a rich spectrum of internal cavity resonances, which are strongly correlated with the radiated sound, particularly in the signature and transitional frequency ranges below around 1.5 kHz for the violin. Examples of how such measurements can be used as a working tool in the luthier's workshop and for research on the acoustics of string instruments of any kind or size are illustrated by measurements on the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Targeted Gene Insertion and Replacement in the Basidiomycete Ganoderma lucidum by Inactivation of Nonhomologous End Joining Using CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Tu Jun-Liang , Bai Xin-Yuan , Xu Yong-Liang , Li Na , Xu Jun-Wei
Published: September 2021

Functional genomic studies in
Ganoderma
have been hindered by the absence of adequate genome-engineering tools. Although CRISPR/Cas9 works well for gene disruption and deletion in
G. lucidum
, targeted gene insertion and replacement have remained a serious challenge due to the low efficiency of HR in these species, although such precise genome modifications, including site mutations, site-specific integrations, and allele or promoter replacements, would be incredibly valuable.
Olfactory Entry Promotes Herpesvirus Recombination
Authors: Xie Wanxiaojie , Bruce Kimberley , Farrell Helen E. , Stevenson Philip G.
Published: September 2021

All organisms depend on genetic diversity to cope with environmental change. Small viruses rely on frequent point mutations.
Exploring the Genomic Diversity and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum in a Vietnamese Population
Authors: Chung The Hao , Nguyen Ngoc Minh Chau , Tran Thi Hong Chau , Nguyen Thi Nguyen To , Pike Lindsay J. , Zellmer Caroline , Pham Duc Trung , Tran Tuan-Anh , Ha Thanh Tuyen , Van Minh Pham , Thwaites Guy E. , Rabaa Maia A. , Hall Lindsay J. , Baker Stephen
Published: September 2021

Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatumis a beneficial member of the human gut microbiota. The organism can modulate inflammation and has probiotic potential, but its characteristics are largely strain dependent and associated with distinct genomic and biochemical features.
The Certainty of Ambiguity in Visual Neural Representations
Authors: Brascamp Jan W. , Shevell Steven K.
Published: September 2021

Some images evoke bistable percepts: two different visual experiences seen in alternation while continuously viewing an unchanged stimulus. The Necker Cube and Rubin's Vase are classic examples, each of which gives alternating percepts of different shapes. Other bistable percepts are alternating colors or directions of motion. Although stimuli that result in salient bistability are rare and sometimes cleverly constructed to emphasize ambiguity, they have been influential for over 150 years, since the work of von Helmholtz, who considered them to be evidence for perceptual visual processes that interpret retinal stimuli. While bistability in natural viewing is uncommon, the main point of this review is that implicit ambiguity in visual neural representations is pervasive. Resolving ambiguity, therefore, is a fundamental and ubiquitous process of vision that routinely affects what we see, not an oddity arising from cleverly crafted images. This review focuses on the causes of widespread ambiguity, historical perspectives on it, and modern knowledge and theory about resolving it.