bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostics of ovarian cancer via metabolite analysis and machine learning
Authors: Yao Jerry Z , Tsigelny Igor F , Kesari Santosh , Kouznetsova Valentina L
Published: April 2023

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the second most common cancer of the female reproductive system. Due to the asymptomatic nature of early stages of OC and an increasingly poor prognosis in later stages, methods of screening for OC are much desired. Furthermore, screening and diagnosis processes, in order to justify use on asymptomatic patients, must be convenient and non-invasive. Recent developments in machine-learning technologies have made this possible via techniques in the field of metabolomics. The objective of this research was to use existing metabolomics data on OC and various analytic methods to develop a machine-learning model for the classification of potentially OC-related metabolite biomarkers. Pathway analysis and metabolite-set enrichment analysis were performed on gathered metabolite sets. Quantitative molecular descriptors were then used with various machine-learning classifiers for the diagnostics of OC using related metabolites. We elucidated that the metabolites associated with OC used for machine-learning models are involved in five metabolic pathways linked to OC: Nicotinate and Nicotinamide Metabolism, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, Aminoacyl-tRNA Biosynthesis, Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine Biosynthesis, and Alanine, Aspartate and Glutamate Metabolism. Several classification models for the identification of OC using related metabolites were created and their accuracies were confirmed through testing with 10-fold cross-validation. The most accurate model was able to achieve 85.29% accuracy. The elucidation of biological pathways specific to OC using metabolic data and the observation of changes in these pathways in patients have the potential to contribute to the development of screening techniques for OC. Our results demonstrate the possibility of development of the machine-learning models for OC diagnostics using metabolomics data.
Meningitis caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producingEscherichia coliin infants in France: a case series
Authors: Lignieres Gabriel , Rybak Alexis , Levy Corinne , Birgy André , Bechet Stéphane , Bonacorsi Stéphane , Cohen Robert , Madhi Fouad
Published: April 2023

Objectives

We report the first case series focusing on clinical and biological characteristics of meningitis caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in infants.

Methods

Between 2001 and 2020, data on all cases of E. coli meningitis were prospectively collected from a network of 259 paediatric wards and 168 microbiology laboratories in France. We analysed the clinical and biological characteristics, short-term complications and long-term sequelae of ESBL-producing E. coli meningitis cases in patients <6 months old.

Results

In total, 548 cases of E. coli paediatric meningitis were reported. ESBL-producing E. coli represented 12 (2.2%) cases. We included 10 patients aged <6 months old. Eight (80%) patients presented at least one sign of clinical severity: six needed mechanical ventilation, three presented signs of shock and one was in a coma. The overall short-term prognosis was good, with only one meningitis-attributed death in the first hours of care. All surviving children received carbapenems for a median of 21 days (range 9–28). Two relapses occurred, including one in a patient who received only 14 days of imipenem. We reported no long-term sequelae at a median follow-up of 20 months.

Conclusions

Meropenem seems to be the treatment of choice for ESBL-producing E. coli meningitis in children and needs to be given as early as possible (<48 h) and for at least 21 days. Maternal colonization or infection with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae needs to be reported to the neonatal or paediatric ICU team, in order to adapt the empirical antibiotic therapy.
Use of the electronic medical record to screen for high-risk geriatric patients in the emergency department
Authors: Saxena Saket , Meldon Stephen , Hashmi Ardeshir Z , Muir McKinsey , Ruwe Jeffrey
Published: April 2023

Older adults with multimorbidities have the highest rate of emergency department (ED) usage. These patients are typically on numerous medications, may have underlying dementia, and often present with falls and delirium. Identifying these high-risk older adults for possible intervention is challenging in the ED setting since available screening methods are manual and resource-intensive. The objective is to study the electronic medical record (EMR) use for identifying high-risk older adults in ED. This feasibility study is conducted in an academic ED with 67 000 total and 24% geriatric (age ≥ 65 years) annual visits, American College of Emergency Physician (ACEP) accredited Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department with an ED-based geriatric consultation program by incorporating criteria from existing manual geriatric screening instruments and the 4M framework into an automated EMR screen to identify high-risk geriatric patients. ED providers are then alerted by an EMR Best Practice Alert (BPA) if high-risk status is identified. Initial development and impact on geriatric ED consults are reported. During the study period, 7450 patient encounters occurred; 1836 (24.6%) encounters involved patients who were 65 years or older. A total of 1398 (76.1%) high-risk ED encounters resulted in BPA alerts using the EMR automated screen. BPA alerts resulted in 82 (5.9%) geriatric evaluations. We conclude that using the EMR to automate screening for older adults for high-risk geriatric conditions in the ED is feasible. An automated EMR screen with a BPA to ED providers identified a well-defined cohort of older patients appropriate for further ED geriatric evaluation.
Lethal and sublethal effects of toxic bait formulations on Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and implications for integrated fruit fly management
Authors: Piovesan Bruna , Contreras Miranda Javier Antonio , Gonçalves Rafael da Silva , Daniel Nörnberg Sandro , Bernardi Daniel , Botton Marcos , Nava Dori Edson
Published: April 2023

The use of toxic baits has become one of the main methods of management of fruit flies in Brazil. The application of toxic baits may cause side effects on the native parasitoid Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Based on the results, formulations made from the food attractants 3% Biofruit, 1.5% Ceratrap, 1.25% Flyral, 3% Isca Samaritá, 3% Isca Samaritá Tradicional, and 7% sugarcane molasses associated with the Malathion 1000 EC and the ready-to-use toxic bait Gelsura (containing the active ingredient alpha-cypermethrin) were classified as harmful (class 4) to D. areolatus (mortality > 85% at 96 HAE). In contrast, for toxic baits formulated with insecticide phosmet, the mortality ranged from 38% to 72%, classified as slightly harmful or moderately harmful. However, when phosmet was added to the 3% Samaritá Tradicional bait, the mortality was only 3.9% (class 1—harmless), similar to the toxicity observed for the Success 0.02 CB ready-to-use bait (0.24 g a.i. spinosad/l) (<5% mortality). Although toxic baits were formulated with spinosyn-based insecticides, all toxic bait formulations were classified as harmless or slightly harmful (<50% mortality) to D. areolatus, with the exception of 1.5% Ceratrap + spinetoram and 7% Sugarcane molasses + spinosad (≈ 60% mortality—moderately harmful). In addition, these formulations did not show sublethal effects in reducing the parasitism and emergence rate of the F1 generation of D. areolatus in A. fraterculus larvae. The results serve as a basis for the correct use of toxic food baits without affecting the biological control.
Legal Dilemmas of Climate Action
Authors: Bogojević Sanja
Published: April 2023

How we frame environmental problems and their solutions matters. Under the UK Net Zero Strategy and the European Green Deal, climate action—as a policy- and regulatory response to climate change—is framed overwhelmingly positive and coupled with the ambitions to generate growth, facilitate innovation, improve health and wellbeing, ensure inclusiveness and much else. This is done to project climate ambitions as part of a win–win scenario where no one is left behind. Yet it is unclear how each of the different aims relate to each other, which risks creating legal dilemmas, and possibly undermining climate action altogether.
Where are the Voices and Experiences of Persons with Disabilities/Disabled People in Transitional Justice Research and Practice?
Authors: Clark Janine Natalya
Published: April 2023

The ever-expanding field of transitional justice has, to date, largely overlooked the issue of disability, even though there is growing research on disability and armed conflict. Relatedly, little attention has been given to the accessibility of transitional justice processes. This Policy and Practice Note, the idea for which developed from the author’s own personal experiences and reflections as a transitional justice scholar with a physical disability, points to unexplored synergies between the human rights and social models of disability (reflected within the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), on one hand, and transitional justice, on the other. It also highlights and discusses three important dimensions of accessibility—processual, contextual and methodological—that could be usefully explored within transitional justice scholarship and practice to give the issue of disability the recognition and prominence that it deserves.
CD200Fc limits dendritic cell and B-cell activation during chronic allergen exposures
Authors: Patoine Dany , Bouchard Karine , Blais-Lecours Pascale , Courtemanche Olivier , Huppé Carole-Ann , Marsolais David , Bissonnette Elyse Y , Lauzon-Joset Jean-Francois
Published: April 2023

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by Th2, conventional dendritic cell, and B-cell activation. In addition to excessive inflammation, asthma pathogenesis includes dysregulation of anti-inflammatory pathways, such as the CD200/CD200R pathway. Thus, we investigated whether a CD200R agonist, CD200Fc, could disrupt the inflammatory cascade in chronic allergic asthma pathogenesis using a mice model of experimental asthma. Mice were exposed to house dust mites for 5 wk, and CD200Fc treatment was initiated after chronic inflammation was established (starting on week 4). We demonstrate that chronic house dust mite exposure altered CD200 and CD200R expression on lung immune cell populations, including upregulation of CD200 on alveolar macrophages and reduced expression of CD200 on conventional dendritic cells. CD200Fc treatment does not change bronchoalveolar cellular infiltration, but it attenuates B-cell activation and skews the circulating immunoglobulin profile toward IgG2a. This is accompanied by reduced activation of conventional dendritic cells, including lower expression of CD40, especially on conventional dendritic cell subset 2 CD200R+. Furthermore, we confirm that CD200Fc can directly modulate conventional dendritic cell activation in vitro using bone marrow–derived dendritic cells. Thus, the CD200/CD200R pathway is dysregulated during chronic asthma pathogenesis, and the CD200R agonist modulates B-cell and dendritic cell activation but, in our chronic model, is not sufficient to alter inflammation measured in bronchoalveolar lavage.
Particle beam therapy versus photon radiotherapy for extrahepatic biliary cancer—systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yamazaki Hideya , Kimoto Takuya , Teramukai Satoshi , Fujikawa Kei , Shibuya Kei , Suzuki Motohisa , Terashima Kazuki , Iizumi Takashi , Wakatsuki Masaru , Suzuki Osamu , Fukumoto Takumi , Ohtsuka Masayuki
Published: April 2023

Particle beam therapy (PT) is a potentially promising approach to the treatment of extrahepatic biliary cancer (EBC) because of its unique dose distribution using the Bragg peak. However, the superiority of PT to photon radiotherapy (XT) remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare PT and XT for the treatment of EBC. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), which was pooled using a random-effects model. Nine articles comprising a total of 1558 patients (seven XT articles, n = 1488 patients; two PT articles, n = 70 patients) were screened. In addition, we compared the outcomes of XT and PT with the outcomes available from a prospective data registry (proton-net). The 1-year OS probability rates were 55, 65 and 72% for the XT group, PT group and PT registry, respectively. The 2-year OS probability rates were 26, 38 and 38% for the XT group, PT group and PT registry, respectively. The 3-year OS probability rates were 12, 35 and 18% for the XT group, PT group and PT registry, respectively. Although the difference between the 1-year OS rates of the XT group and PT registry was statistically significant, no other significant superiority was observed among these groups. In conclusion, the efficacy of PT was not superior to that of XT during this meta-analysis.
Hypothesis testing for shapes using vectorized persistence diagrams
Authors: Moon Chul , Lazar Nicole A
Published: April 2023

Topological data analysis involves the statistical characterization of the shape of data. Persistent homology is a primary tool of topological data analysis, which can be used to analyze topological features and perform statistical inference. In this paper, we present a two-stage hypothesis test for vectorized persistence diagrams. The first stage filters vector elements in the vectorized persistence diagrams to enhance the power of the test. The second stage consists of multiple hypothesis tests, with false positives controlled by false discovery rates. We demonstrate the flexibility of our method by applying it to a variety of simulated and real-world data types. Our results show that the proposed hypothesis test enables accurate and informative inferences on the shape of data compared to the existing hypothesis testing methods for persistent homology.
The Photographs of A. B. Ovenstone and the Reinvention of the Scottish Amateur Tradition
Authors: Blair Lindsay
Published: April 2023

This paper sets out to establish a contextual understanding of the body of work created by the little-researched amateur photographer Andrew Begbie Ovenstone (1851–1935) and to problematize the status of the Victorian amateur photographer in the Scottish Photographic tradition. Whilst acknowledging the generally accepted ‘social documentary’ characteristics of the Scottish photographic tradition, this paper argues that because they were less motivated by a moral or social agenda, amateur photographers like Ovenstone offer us a more nuanced perspective on late-Victorian society. One of the primary questions to be addressed is the extent to which Ovenstone’s photographs conform to convention and how far they show signs of an original perspective. Glasgow’s burgeoning sense of cultural identity, the prevailing attitude of Empire including notions of ‘self-fashioning’ and ‘othering’, as well as the didactic propensities of the photographic magazines of the day all had an important influence on the Victorian amateur photographer. Ovenstone’s photographs indicate the effect of these powerful forces. However, alongside the forces of convention, Ovenstone reveals himself to have been a genuine experimentalist. He kept two sets of albums, one of which reveals the ‘public’ amateur photographer who adhered to the conventions, tastes and aspirations of the day, whilst another set of more ‘private’ albums reveal a photographer of distinctive and original characteristics. The paper questions the narrow ascendent canon within the Scottish Victorian photographic tradition and shows that the role of the amateur photographer outside of that tradition is still undervalued and under researched.
Serum expression of tumor marker CA242 in patients with different gynecological diseases
Authors: Zhu Jing , Li Huidan
Published: April 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of CA242 in different types of gynecological diseases and its clinical significance.

Methods

A total of 1021 patients with gynecological diseases and 499 healthy female controls were included in the study. The serum CA242 levels were detected and median value, −log10P value, and positive rate were calculated. Serum CA125 and HE4 levels of patients with ovarian lesions were measured, and the predictive value for ovarian cancer was statistically analyzed.

Results

Higher serum CA242 levels were observed in patients with mature teratoma, ovarian cancer, and other gynecological tumor diseases than in healthy controls. In contrast, the CA242 levels in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, uterine polyps, or endometrial hyperplasia were comparable to that of controls. Moreover, serum CA242 expression was increased in malignant uterine and ovarian diseases compared with benign ones (P < .05). Specifically, combining CA242, CA125, and HE4 yielded a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve than single biomarkers (P < .05).

Conclusion

Heterogeneous increases in tumor marker CA242 expression levels are observed in different gynecological diseases, suggesting its potential value for clinical diagnosis.
Chemical Analysis for Alkali Ion–exchanged Glass Using Atom Probe Tomography
Authors: Kim Se-Ho , Stephenson Leigh T , Schwarz Torsten , Gault Baptiste
Published: April 2023

The developing flexible ultrathin glass for use in foldable displays has attracted widespread attention as an alternative to rigid electronic smartphones. However, the detailed compositional effects of chemically strengthened glass are not well understood. Moreover, the spatially resolved chemistry and depth of the compression layer of tempered glass are far from clear. In this study, commonly used X-ray spectroscopy techniques and atom probe tomography (APT) were used comparatively to investigate the distribution of constituent elements in two representative smartphone glass samples: non- and chemically tempered. APT has enabled sub-nanoscale analyses of alkali metals (Li, Na, K, and Ca) and this demonstrates that APT can be considered as an alternative technique for imaging the chemical distribution in glass for mobile applications.
Creating a Culture to Support Well-Being and Performance
Authors: Kilen Emily S , Johnson W Rainey
Published: April 2023

Cultures that cultivate psychological safety support professional development and personal well-being. Two cases are contrasted to highlight the value of servant leadership in creating psychologically safe cultures through caring and trust. Servant leaders demonstrate humility and vulnerability and invest in those they lead. Caring leaders create a positive workplace.
Low Complexity Regions in Proteins and DNA are Poorly Correlated
Authors: Enright Johanna M , Dickson Zachery W , Golding G Brian
Published: April 2023

Low complexity sequences (LCRs) are well known within coding as well as non-coding sequences. A low complexity region within a protein must be encoded by the underlying DNA sequence. Here, we examine the relationship between the entropy of the protein sequence and that of the DNA sequence which encodes it. We show that they are poorly correlated whether starting with a low complexity region within the protein and comparing it to the corresponding sequence in the DNA or by finding a low complexity region within coding DNA and comparing it to the corresponding sequence in the protein. We show this is the case within the proteomes of five model organisms: Homo sapiens, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Arabidopsis thaliana. We also report a significant bias against mononucleic codons in LCR encoding sequences. By comparison with simulated proteomes, we show that highly repetitive LCRs may be explained by neutral, slippage-based evolution, but compositionally biased LCRs with cryptic repeats are not. We demonstrate that other biological biases and forces must be acting to create and maintain these LCRs. Uncovering these forces will improve our understanding of protein LCR evolution.
AZD8186 in Combination With Paclitaxel in Patients With Advanced Gastric Cancer: Results From a Phase Ib/II Study (KCSG ST18-20)
Authors: Suh Koung Jin , Ryu Min-Hee , Zang Dae Young , Bae Woo Kyun , Lee Hye Seung , Oh Hyeon Jeong , Kang Minsu , Kim Ji-Won , Kim Bum Jun , Mortimer Peter G S , Kim Hee Jung , Lee Keun-Wook
Published: April 2023

Background

Loss of PTEN function leads to increased PI3Kβ signaling. AZD8186, a selective PI3Kβ/δ inhibitor, has shown anti-tumor activity in PTEN-deficient preclinical models. This phase 1b/2 study was conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of AZD8186 and paclitaxel combination in patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer (MRGC).

Methods

In the phase Ib dose-escalation, subjects with advanced solid tumors received oral AZD8186 (60 mg or 120 mg; twice daily (BID); 5 days on/2 days off) plus intravenous paclitaxel (70 mg/m2 or 80 mg/m2; days 1, 8, and 15) every 4 weeks. In the phase II part, MRGC patients with PTEN loss or PTEN/PIK3CB gene abnormality were enrolled and received recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of AZD8186 plus paclitaxel. Primary endpoints were to determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and RP2D in phase Ib and 4-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate in phase II.

Results

In phase Ib, both MTD and RP2D were determined at paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 and AZD8186 120 mg BID. In phase II, 18 patients were enrolled [PTEN loss (n = 18) and PIK3CB mutation (n = 1)]. The 4-month PFS rate was 18.8% (3 of 16 evaluable patients) and further enrollment stopped due to futility.

Conclusion

Although the combination of AZD8186 and paclitaxel was well tolerated, limited clinical efficacy was observed.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04001569.
Survival Analysis of 1140 Patients with Biliary Cancer and Benefit from Concurrent Renin-Angiotensin Antagonists, Statins, or Aspirin with Systemic Therapy
Authors: Gunchick Valerie , McDevitt Rachel L , Choi Elizabeth , Winslow Katherine , Zalupski Mark M , Sahai Vaibhav
Published: April 2023

Background

Patients with advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs) have poor prognoses and limited therapeutic options. Renin-angiotensin antagonists (ACE-I/ARBs), statins, and aspirin may have potential anti-tumorigenic effects and decrease mortality per retrospective analyses in some solid tumors.

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of ACE-Is/ARBs, statins, and/or aspirin concurrent to first-line systemic therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic BTC.

Methods

Adult patients at University of Michigan with pathologic confirmation of BTC between January 2010 and December 2020 were included in this retrospective analysis.

Results

Of 1140 patients who met eligibility, a total of 509 patients received one or more concomitant medication(s) of interest in conjunction with systemic therapy for advanced cancer. In the total cohort, the overall survival for locally advanced patients (N = 305) was 16.3 months (95% CI: 12.1-18.6), and metastatic patients (N = 512) 8.6 months (95% CI: 7.6-9.5); P < .0001. Within this concomitant medication cohort, patients with locally advanced stage (n = 132) experienced significantly longer progression-free survival (9.8 vs 4.5; P < 0.0001), and overall survival (17.4 vs 10.6; P < 0.0001) than those with metastatic (n = 297) cancer, respectively. Patients who received ACE-Is/ARBs, statins, and/or aspirin (n = 245) versus not (n = 264) concurrent with systemic anti-cancer therapy did not experience improved progression-free (5.5 vs 5.5 months; hazard ratio (HR) 1.1; P = 0.51), or overall survival (12.3 vs 12.6 months; HR 1.1; P = 0.18), respectively.

Conclusion

In contrast to prior studies, no progression free or overall survival benefit in patients with advanced BTC from concurrent use of ACE-I/ARBs, statin, and/or aspirin with systemic therapy was observed when assessed by BTC subtype or specific systemic therapy regimen.
OsRbohI Regulates Rice Growth and Development via Jasmonic Acid Signalling
Authors: Qi Jiaxuan , Yang Shuaiqi , Salam Abdul , Yang Chunyan , Khan Ali Raza , Wu Junyu , Azhar Wardah , Gan Yinbo
Published: April 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules, generated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases encoded by respiratory burst oxidase homologs. The functions of the OsRbohs gene family in rice are diverse and poorly understood. OsRbohI was recently identified as a newly evolved gene in the rice OsRbohs gene family. However, the function of OsRbohI in regulating rice growth is not yet reported. In this study, our results indicate that knockout (KO) OsRbohI mutants showed significantly shorter shoot and primary roots, along with lower ROS content than the control lines, whereas the overexpression (OE) lines displayed contrasting results. Further experiments showed that the abnormal length of the shoot and root is mainly caused by altered cell size. These results indicate that OsRbohI regulates rice shoot and root growth through the ROS signal. More importantly, RNA-seq analysis and jasmonic acid (JA) treatment demonstrated that OsRbohI regulates rice growth via the JA synthesis and signaling pathways. Compared with the control, the results showed that the KO mutants were more sensitive to JA, whereas the OE lines were less sensitive to JA. Collectively, our results reveal a novel pathway in which OsRbohI regulates rice growth and development by affecting their ROS homeostasis through JA synthesis and signaling pathway.
Universalists, Republicans and Rationalists: Exploring Health Sector Solidarity and Its Boundary through the Comparative Experience of Overseas Taiwanese
Authors: Yeh Ming-Jui , Yang Yi-Hua , Lin Yi-Ren
Published: April 2023

Through users’ cross-system comparative experience engaging with the health systems in Taiwan and other countries, this article probes into their understandings and value judgments and specifically their reasonings for the ‘solidarity with whom?’ question in the health sector solidarity. With the cross-system comparison approach, the study adopted semi-structured interviews with 30 Taiwanese participants who have studied, lived or worked abroad and engaged with the health system in Canada, the USA or the UK. This approach offers the opportunity for one to evaluate the health system in the home country from a relative viewpoint from the host country. The participants suggested that the boundary of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) should be as inclusive as possible, covering all legal residents in Taiwan regardless of their status, and that the citizens should share more financial responsibility. The ethical reasons for supporting the NHI include recognizing health sector solidarity among people, considering the coverage as a protection of the human right to health, humanitarian reasons and self-interest. Three archetypes of users emerged from the synthesis: Universalists, Rationalists and Republicans. The cross-system comparative experience makes the participants have more supportive attitudes toward the ideals of health sector solidarity.
Modulating auxin response stabilizes tomato fruit set
Authors: Israeli Alon , Schubert Ramona , Man Nave , Teboul Naama , Serrani Yarce Juan Carlos , Rosowski Emily E , Wu Miin-Feng , Levy Matan , Efroni Idan , Ljung Karin , Hause Bettina , Reed Jason W , Ori Naomi
Published: April 2023

Fruit formation depends on successful fertilization and is highly sensitive to weather fluctuations that affect pollination. Auxin promotes fruit initiation and growth following fertilization. Class A auxin response factors (Class A ARFs) repress transcription in the absence of auxin and activate transcription in its presence. Here, we explore how multiple members of the ARF family regulate fruit set and fruit growth in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Arabidopsis thaliana, and test whether reduction of SlARF activity improves yield stability in fluctuating temperatures. We found that several tomato Slarf mutant combinations produced seedless parthenocarpic fruits, most notably mutants deficient in SlARF8A and SlARF8B genes. Arabidopsis Atarf8 mutants deficient in the orthologous gene had less complete parthenocarpy than did tomato Slarf8a Slarf8b mutants. Conversely, Atarf6 Atarf8 double mutants had reduced fruit growth after fertilization. AtARF6 and AtARF8 likely switch from repression to activation of fruit growth in response to a fertilization-induced auxin increase in gynoecia. Tomato plants with reduced SlARF8A and SlARF8B gene dosage had substantially higher yield than the wild type under controlled or ambient hot and cold growth conditions. In field trials, partial reduction in the SlARF8 dose increased yield under extreme temperature with minimal pleiotropic effects. The stable yield of the mutant plants resulted from a combination of early onset of fruit set, more fruit-bearing branches and more flowers setting fruits. Thus, ARF8 proteins mediate the control of fruit set, and relieving this control with Slarf8 mutations may be utilized in breeding to increase yield stability in tomato and other crops.
Moralization and extremism robustly amplify myside sharing
Authors: Marie Antoine , Altay Sacha , Strickland Brent
Published: April 2023

We explored whether moralization and attitude extremity may amplify a preference to share politically congruent (“myside”) partisan news and what types of targeted interventions may reduce this tendency. Across 12 online experiments (N = 6,989), we examined decisions to share news touching on the divisive issues of gun control, abortion, gender and racial equality, and immigration. Myside sharing was systematically observed and was consistently amplified when participants (i) moralized and (ii) were attitudinally extreme on the issue. The amplification of myside sharing by moralization also frequently occurred above and beyond that of attitude extremity. These effects generalized to both true and fake partisan news. We then examined a number of interventions meant to curb myside sharing by manipulating (i) the audience to which people imagined sharing partisan news (political friends vs. foes), (ii) the anonymity of the account used (anonymous vs. personal), (iii) a message warning against the myside bias, and (iv) a message warning against the reputational costs of sharing “mysided” fake news coupled with an interactive rating task. While some of those manipulations slightly decreased sharing in general and/or the size of myside sharing, the amplification of myside sharing by moral attitudes was consistently robust to these interventions. Our findings regarding the robust exaggeration of selective communication by morality and extremism offer important insights into belief polarization and the spread of partisan and false information online.
Rapid growth of Aitken-mode particles during Arctic summer by fog chemical processing and its implication
Authors: Kecorius Simonas , Hoffmann Erik H , Tilgner Andreas , Barrientos-Velasco Carola , van Pinxteren Manuela , Zeppenfeld Sebastian , Vogl Teresa , Madueño Leizel , Lovrić Mario , Wiedensohler Alfred , Kulmala Markku , Paasonen Pauli , Herrmann Hartmut
Published: April 2023

In the Arctic, new particle formation (NPF) and subsequent growth processes are the keys to produce Aitken-mode particles, which under certain conditions can act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCNs). The activation of Aitken-mode particles increases the CCN budget of Arctic low-level clouds and, accordingly, affects Arctic climate forcing. However, the growth mechanism of Aitken-mode particles from NPF into CCN range in the summertime Arctic boundary layer remains a subject of current research. In this combined Arctic cruise field and modeling study, we investigated Aitken-mode particle growth to sizes above 80 nm. A mechanism is suggested that explains how Aitken-mode particles can become CCN without requiring high water vapor supersaturation. Model simulations suggest the formation of semivolatile compounds, such as methanesulfonic acid (MSA) in fog droplets. When the fog droplets evaporate, these compounds repartition from CCNs into the gas phase and into the condensed phase of nonactivated Aitken-mode particles. For MSA, a mass increase factor of 18 is modeled. The postfog redistribution mechanism of semivolatile acidic and basic compounds could explain the observed growth of >20 nm h−1 for 60-nm particles to sizes above 100 nm. Overall, this study implies that the increasing frequency of NPF and fog-related particle processing can affect Arctic cloud properties in the summertime boundary layer.
A 15-year Review of 260 Children With Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: II. Management and Outcomes
Authors: Morlet Thierry , O’Reilly Robert , Pritchett Cedric , Venskytis Emily , Parkes William
Published: April 2023

Objectives:

Following a review of the demographic and clinical characteristics of all pediatric patients diagnosed with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) by a pediatric health care system from 2005 to 2020, the present report highlights the type and timing of intervention and outcomes in the same 260 patients with ANSD.

Design:

This was a retrospective study reviewing the demographic data, medical history, imaging studies, audiological and speech language data, type of audiological intervention (hearing aids or cochlear implants), and mode of communication in 260 pediatric patients diagnosed with ANSD over a 15-year period.

Results:

A significant decrease over time in the age at hearing aid fitting was observed. While a similar reduction in the age at implantation occurred over time, cochlear implantation is still rarely performed by 12 months of age in most ANSD patients. Among bilateral ANSD patients fitted with hearing aids, the majority (89.2%) did not benefit from conventional amplification and most received cochlear implants. Some hearing aid benefit for speech and language development was observed in 5.8%, though communication difficulties were persistent and most used a combination of oral and sign language for communication. Only six patients (5%) received significant benefit from their hearing aids for speech and language development.

Conclusions:

This review of ANSD management over a 15-year period reveals that hearing aids are not a viable option to develop speech and language for most infants and children with ANSD. This finding confirms previous reports and suggest that while hearing aid trials are warranted, children must be tracked closely so as to avoid delays in decision making. Cochlear implantation constitutes the major (if not only) rehabilitative intervention that allows for speech perception in patients who do not benefit from conventional amplification.
Outcome and Health-Related Quality of Life After Combined Anteroposterior Surgery Versus Anterior Surgery Alone in Subaxial Cervical Spine Fractures
Authors: Singh Aman , Blixt Simon , Edström Erik , Elmi-Terander Adrian , Gerdhem Paul
Published: April 2023

Study design.

Observational study on prospectively collected data.

Objectives.

To compare patient-reported outcomes and complications after anteroposterior surgery or anterior surgery in subaxial cervical spine fractures.

Summary of Background Data.

There is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical approach for subaxial cervical spine fractures. Although anterior surgery is often sufficient to restore stability, anteroposterior surgery is sometimes preferred in severe instability. The effects of a more extensive procedure on patient-reported outcomes have not been investigated. We hypothesized that patient-reported outcomes and complication rates were similar between these surgical approaches.

Materials and Methods.

Individuals treated with either a combined anteroposterior or anterior surgery alone between 2006 and 2016 and with at least 1-year follow-up were identified in the Swedish Spine Registry. Cases were matched 1:2 for age (±5 y). Outcomes were Neck Disability Index (NDI), EQ-5D-3L index, satisfaction, reoperations, and surgeon-reported and patient-reported complications within 90 days. Mann-Whitney U-tests and χ2 tests were used in statistical comparisons.

Results.

The median [interquartile range] number of instrumented vertebrae was 3 [2–5.5] in the anteroposterior group and 2 [2–3] in the anterior group (P<0.001). The mean±SD follow-up time was 3.5±2.3 years in the anteroposterior and 3.8±2.0 years in the anterior group (P=0.39), respectively. At follow-up, Neck Disability Index was 20 [6–37] in the anteroposterior group and 18 [3.5–40] in the anterior group (P=0.69), and the median EQ-5D-3L index was 0.73 [0.12–0.80] in the anteroposterior group and 0.75 [0.62–0.89] in the anterior group (P=0.27). Satisfaction with the treatment was reported by 90% in the anteroposterior group and by 87% in the anterior group (P=0.98). None of the individuals in the anteroposterior and 6 of the individuals in the anterior group were reoperated (P=0.18).

Conclusion.

Patients operated on with anteroposterior or anterior surgery for subaxial cervical spine fractures are equally satisfied and report similar health-related quality of life measures.
Prognostic Significance of Myocardial Blood Flow Quantification for Major Adverse Cardiac Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Pan Changjie , Yin Ruohan , Tang Xiaoqiang , Wang Tao , Hu Chunhong
Published: April 2023

Chronic coronary syndromes involve reduced myocardial blood flow (MBF). MBF is a reliable predictor of outcomes, independent of the presence of significant stenosis. Whether MBF can predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during long-term follow-up is unknown. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, and WANFANG were searched for papers published up to January 2021. The exposure was the incremental unit of stress MBF (mL/g/min) or low MBF versus high MBF. The imaging examinations included positron emission tomography/computed tomography and coronary magnetic resonance. The study outcome was the occurrence of MACE during follow-up, summarized as time-to-event hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Six studies (300 MACEs in 2326 patients) were included. Four studies presented stress MBF data by unit increments. The pooled HR showed that an increase in stress MBF by 1 mL/g/min is a protective factor for MACE (HR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.18–0.57; I2= 62.9%, Pheterogeneity= 0.044). Two studies reported stress MBF as low/high. The results showed that a high-stress MBF was protective against MACEs (HR = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.78; I2= 39.5%, Pheterogeneity= 0.199). Quantification of stress MBF using positron emission tomography/computed tomography and coronary magnetic resonance might have incremental predictive value for future MACEs in a population at intermediate to high cardiovascular risk. The results will require validation in large prospective randomized controlled trials.
Global Resilience in Plastic Surgery Study (GRIPS): Resilience is Associated with Lower Burnout Rates
Authors: Rodriguez-Unda Nelson A. , Mehta Ishan , Chopra Shiv , Vicente-Ruiz Miriam , Navia Alfonso , Fernandez-Diaz Oscar F.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Burnout has earned notoriety in medicine. It affects medical students, residents and surgeons, causing a decrease in career satisfaction, quality of life, and increased risk of depression and suicide. The effect of resilience against burnout is yet unknown in plastic surgery trainees.

Methods:

A survey was sent via email to the members of plastic surgery societies (ICOPLAST) and the trainees from (ASPS) Resident Council from November 2021 through January 2022. The data included: demographics, training program characteristics, physician wellness resources, and single item Maslach-Burnout Inventory and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale questionnaire.

Results:

One-hundred seventy-five plastic surgery trainees responded to the survey. Of these, 119 (68%) trainees from 24 countries completed the full survey. Most respondents 110 (92%) had heard of physician burnout, and almost half of respondents (45%) had burnout. The average Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale score varied significantly amongst trainees self-reporting burnout and those who did not (28.6 versus 31.3, P = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that increased work hours per week were associated with an increased risk of burnout (OR = 1.03, P = 0.04). Higher resilience score (OR = 0.92; P = 0.04) and access to wellness programs (OR = 0.60, P = 0.0004) were associated with lower risk of burnout.

Conclusions:

Burnout is prevalent across plastic surgery trainees from diverse countries. Increased work hours were associated with burnout, whereas access to wellness programs and higher resilience scores were “protective.” Our data suggest that efforts to build resilience may mitigate burnout in plastic surgery trainees.
Procedure Costs of Peripheral Nerve Graft Reconstruction
Authors: Raizman Noah M. , Endress Ryan D. , Styron Joseph F. , Emont Seth L. , Cao Zhun , Park Lawrence I. , Greenberg Jeffery A.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Peripheral nerve injuries not repaired in an effective and timely manner may lead to permanent functional loss and/or pain. For gaps greater than 5 mm, autograft has been the gold standard. Allograft has recently emerged as an attractive alternative, delivering comparable functional recovery without risk of second surgical site morbidities. Cost is an important factor when considering surgical options, and with a paucity of nerve repair cost data, this study aimed to compare allograft and autograft procedure costs.

Methods:

A retrospective cross-sectional observational study using the US all-payer PINC AI Healthcare Database examined facility procedure costs and cost drivers in patients undergoing allograft or autograft repair of an isolated single peripheral nerve injury between January 2018 and August 2020. Inpatient repairs were limited to nerve-specific DRGs. Multivariable regression evaluated risk-adjusted procedure cost differences.

Results:

Peripheral nerve graft repairs (n = 1363) were more frequent in the outpatient setting, and more than half involved the use of allograft nerve. Procedure costs for allograft and autograft repair were not significantly different in the outpatient (P = 0.43) or inpatient (P = 0.71) setting even after controlling for other risk factors. Operating room cost was significantly higher for autograft in outpatient (P < 0.0001) but not inpatient (P = 0.46), whereas allograft implant cost was significantly higher in both settings (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

No significant differences in procedure costs for autograft and allograft repair in inpatient and outpatient settings were found using real-world data. Future research should explore longer-term costs.
The Professional and Legal Relationship Between a Certified Nurse-midwife and Their Obstetricians/Gynecologist Physician Colleagues
Authors: Mckechnie Julie , McIntyre John L.
Published: April 2023

The article describes the relationship between a certified nurse-midwife and their supervising obstetrician. The article deals with the relationship of both parties and the requirement of a collaborative agreement in a majority of states. The legal responsibilities of both the certified nurse-midwife and obstetrician are discussed and how it impacts both providers. The key factor is the trust relationship between the parties involved and how this can lead to more diverse obstetrical care and access for patients in the United States.
The Impact of Malpractice Damage Caps on C-section Rates and Alternative Approaches
Authors: Safrin Sabrina
Published: April 2023

About half of the states in the United States have had noneconomic damage caps in place for at least 8 years. National aggregate data shows that women are just as likely to give birth by cesarean section (C-section) in states with damage caps as in ones without. For the most recent year studied, the national C-section rate for births in states with damage caps was 33.04% compared with a 32.10% ratefor births in states without caps. Other initiatives (malpractice insurance reform, accessible public disclosure of hospital C-section rates, and improved compensation for vaginal delivery) should be considered to reduce C-section rates.
PRIMARY VITREORETINAL LYMPHOMA MASQUERADING AS POSTOPERATIVE ENDOPHTHALMITIS IN A PREGNANT PATIENT WITH LONG-STANDING IDIOPATHIC PANUVEITIS
Authors: Konda Sri Meghana , Deaner Jordan D. , Proia Alan D. , Jaffe Glenn J.
Published: April 2023

Purpose:

To report primary vitreoretinal lymphoma after surgical 0.59 mg fluocinolone acetonide implant (FAi) exchange in a patient treated with adalimumab for idiopathic bilateral panuveitis.

Methods:

Retrospective case review.

Results:

A 37-year-old woman with bilateral idiopathic panuveitis, who had favorable responses to previous FAi surgical implants, presented with right eye recurrent intraocular inflammation and cystoid macular edema that partially responded to systemic adalimumab. Her FAi was replaced, given her previous favorable response. She developed postoperative ocular inflammation transiently responsive to two serial vitreous taps and injections of intravitreal antimicrobials and then worsening inflammation and new layered flocculant material. Diagnostic vitrectomy showed a few atypical lymphocytes and cultures were negative. At postdiagnostic vitrectomy Month 1, flocculant material recurred. Aqueous cytology and flow cytometry revealed large CD45-positive B cells suspicious for lymphoma. Postoperatively, she revealed that she was pregnant. She was treated with eight monthly intravitreal methotrexate injections and postpartum consolidation radiotherapy. Subsequent repeat cytology, flow cytometry, and corneal pathologic examination revealed large B cells that were CD20 positive, and next-generation sequencing detected a dominant monoclonal B-cell population, diagnostic of PVRL. Nineteen months after FAi exchange, she developed an area of enhancement in the lateral aspect of the right frontal lobe on brain MRI, consistent with central nervous system involvement.

Conclusion:

The authors present a unique case of PVRL masquerading as postoperative endophthalmitis after FAi exchange in an eye with chronic panuveitis treated with adalimumab immunosuppressive therapy. The authors hypothesize that there may be a causal relationship between adalimumab and PVRL.