bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of virtual reality interventions on haemodialysis patients: A scoping review
Authors: Omonaiye Olumuyiwa , Smyth Wendy , Nagle Cate
Published: January 2021

Background

An understanding of the potential of virtual reality to affect the level of engagement in self‐care and health‐related quality of life is required for patients receiving haemodialysis.

Objective

This scoping review aimed to collate, summarise, and report on related study findings to identify evidence gaps and draw conclusions from the existing literature.

Methods

The methodological steps outlined in the Arksey and O'Malley framework combined with modifications of Levac and colleagues guided this systematic scoping review. MEDLINEComplete, Embase, CINAHLComplete and PsychINFO databases were searched. Additionally, hand searches of key articles and journals were performed.

Results

From the database searches, 610 studies were identified with 11 meeting the inclusion criteria; another study was added after searching reference lists of included articles, resulting in 12 included articles. The quality, study design and type of virtual reality intervention varied. Only three studies used immersive virtual reality. Several studies demonstrated significant improvement in the physical activity level and a reduction in fatigue in patients during haemodialysis, with no adverse events. Despite the demands of haemodialysis sessions, this study showed that virtual reality interventions may improve the level of haemodialysis patients' adherence and engagement with treatment.

Conclusions

Findings favour the use of virtual reality to improve physical health and engagement with treatment. However, there is a need for more rigorous study designs within different clinical settings to provide high‐quality evidence regarding other ways that virtual reality interventions could improve the quality of life of haemodialysis patients.
Parental perceived child sleep problems: A concept analysis
Authors: Dai Ying , Liu Jianghong
Published: January 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to delineate a conceptual analysis of parental perceived child sleep problems.

Design and Methods

Rodger's evolutionary approach to concept analysis was employed. A systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, and PsycINFO was conducted from inception to June 2020. Peer‐reviewed papers written in English focusing on parental perception of their children's sleep problems were included.

Results

A total of 47 papers were included for analysis. Parental perceived child sleep problems can be defined as parental reliance on their observations and beliefs, and perceived locus of control to appraise an array of children's sleep‐related signs and behaviors, which may contain bias but still reflects certain aspects of children's sleep health status. A wide range of physiological, psychosocial, familial, environmental, and cultural factors may contribute to parental perceived child sleep problems, which may further contribute to parent–child dyads' physical and mental health as well as the whole family's general wellness.

Practice Implications

Defining the concept of parental perceived child sleep problems facilitate health professionals a foundation for consistent use, understanding, and evaluation of parent‐reported child sleep outcome. Future research on the standard conceptual and operational definition of parental perceived child sleep problem, and its potential antecedents and consequences is warranted. The characteristic of parental perceived sleep problems, together with child sleep history and objective sleep measures should be integrated to evaluate child sleep health.
A generalized approach for sperm cryopreservation in the genus Pomoxis: Sperm cryopreservation and fertilization efficiency of black‐stripe black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Authors: Shirley Christian A. , Colvin Michael E. , Tiersch Terrence R. , Allen Peter J.
Published: January 2021

Approaches for white crappie, Pomoxis annularis sperm cryopreservation have led to interest in applying similar methods to black‐stripe black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus. Their rarity in wild populations makes them a preferred phenotype for hatchery use. Sperm cryopreservation procedures were compared between black‐stripe black crappie and white crappie for sperm motility and egg fertilization rate. There was no difference in black‐stripe black crappie sperm motility after thawing between 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 45% motility) and 10% methanol (50% motility). However, fertilization rates were higher (p < .001) for sperm cryoprotected with 5% DMSO (38 ± 8%) than 10% methanol (22 ± 7%). Hatchery use requires sperm‐to‐egg ratios and fertilizing potential of single doses (i.e., 0.5 ml straw). Using black‐stripe black crappie sperm (2.5 × 108 sperm/ml; 5% DMSO), the highest fertilization (27%) was found using single straws with 785 eggs (0.25 ml); total sperm:egg ratio: 159,000:1; motile sperm:egg ratio: 71,700:1. Therefore, sperm of two Pomoxis species could be cryopreserved using 350 mOsmol/kg Hanks' balanced salt solution as an extender, 5% DMSO as a cryoprotectant, cooling at 40°C/min, and thawing for 8 s at 40°C to maintain sperm motility and fertility. Basic protocols can be generalized within a genus if variables such as sperm concentration, process timing, and sample volumes are controlled.
Design piracy in the United States: Time to fashion a remedy?
Authors: Wickens Alice
Published: January 2021

This article considers whether the Copyright Act of 1976 should be extended to include fashion design, and if so, on what basis. Part I contains an analysis of what “fashion” means and why innovation in this field should be promoted. It considers the current protection given to fashion designs in Europe and the United States, as well as the proposed amendment to the latter's copyright law. Part II evaluates the most prominent arguments against the extension of copyright to fashion designs. Here it will be noted that all too frequently, critics of protection base their arguments on an erroneous portrait of the fashion industry, whereby neither technology nor young designers are taken into account. It will be shown that these assumptions about the fashion industry fail to describe the market reality; whereby technological advances mean copies can beat originals to the shops, that these copies may be indistinguishable from the original, and that it is the emerging designers who suffer the most. Part III proposes it is time to create a solution fit for fashion design. It explains why unique and innovative fashion designs are deserving of intellectual property legislation, and proposes what kind of protection is the most appropriate. It concludes that the time‐limited copyright regime provided in the Innovative Design Protection Act best balances the competing interests of designers and consumers. The Conclusion underscores the importance of passing this legislation, which would fashion a remedy able protect innovation, and truly achieve the aim of the U.S. Constitution, at last.
Why Baja? A bioenergetic model for comparing metabolic rates and thermoregulatory costs of gray whale calves (Eschrichtius robustus)
Authors: Sumich James L.
Published: January 2021

A bioenergetic model is developed from empirically derived equations of morphometric, ventilatory and thermoregulatory variables to compare estimated field metabolic rates (FMR) of gray whale calves to estimates of unregulated body heat losses and consequent required thermogenesis at birth, natal lagoon departure, and weaning. Estimates of FMR are based on rates of oxygen consumption. Body surface and ventilatory heat fluxes are evaluated separately, then combined to estimate minimum total heat losses from birth to weaning at three ambient water temperature regimes typical of winter natal lagoons and Oregon coastal waters and arctic conditions during summer.

Modeled heat losses of neonates in winter lagoons are half their estimated mean FMR. Neonates in good body condition appear to be capable of tolerating heat losses experienced in 10°C water without additional thermogenic activities above their estimated resting metabolic rates. This study provides new evidence that no thermoregulatory advantage accrues to neonates or to their mothers by being born in warm winter natal lagoons or by remaining there several weeks longer than other gray whales. Consequently, avoidance or reduced risk of killer whale predation seems a more likely candidate than reduced heat loss as the principal fitness benefit of low‐latitude winter migrations.
Polyploid phylogenetics
Authors: Rothfels Carl J.
Published: January 2021

Polyploidy is a dominant feature of extant plant diversity. However, major research questions, including whether polyploidy is important to long‐term evolution or is just ‘evolutionary noise’, remain unresolved due to difficulties associated with the generation and analysis of data from polyploid lineages. Many of these difficulties have been recently overcome, such that it is now often relatively straightforward to infer the full and often reticulate phylogenetic history of groups with recently formed polyploids. This nascent field of ‘polyploid phylogenetics’ allows researchers to tackle long‐standing questions of polyploid macroevolution, supplies the foundation for mechanistic models of ploidy change, and provides the opportunity to include a more complete and representative sample of plant taxa in our analyses in general.
CHYR1 ubiquitinates the phosphorylated WRKY70 for degradation to balance immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Liu Huanhuan , Liu Bao , Lou Shangling , Bi Hao , Tang Hu , Tong Shaofei , Song Yan , Chen Ningning , Zhang Han , Jiang Yuanzhong , Liu Jianquan
Published: January 2021

It is critically important for plants to control the trade‐off between normal growth and pathogen immunity. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here we report such a mechanism controlled by WRKY70 and its partner CHYR1 in Arabidopsis.

We found that both levels of the WRKY70 target gene SARD1 and the phosphorylated forms of WRKY70 were increased in WRKY70OE plants upon Pst DC3000 infection. Mechanistically, phosphorylation of WRKY70 at Thr22 and Ser34 occurs, which then activates SARD1 expression through binding to a WT box.

Phosphorylated WRKY70 is degraded by 26S proteasome via CHYR1 when resuming normal growth after infection. In addition, nonphosphorylated WRKY70 represses SARD1 expression by binding to both W (inhibitory activity site) and WT (active activity site) boxes.

The binding of WRKY70 to alternative cis‐elements of SARD1 through a phosphorylation‐mediated switch controlled by CHYR1 contributes to modulating the balance between immunity and growth.
Trivializing Informational Consequence
Authors: Santorio Paolo
Published: January 2021

This paper investigates the link between informational consequence and credence. I first suggest a natural constraint, namely that informational consequence should preserve certainty: on any rational credence distribution, when the premises of an informational inferences have credence 1, the conclusion also has credence 1. Then I show that the certainty‐preserving constraint leads to triviality. In particular, the following three claims are incompatible: (i) informational consequence is extensionally distinct from classical consequence; (ii) informational inferences preserve certainty; (iii) credences obey (a subset of) classical Bayesian constraints. The proof is straightforward, but the theoretical implications are substantial. Informational theorists need to either give up the idea that credence applies to epistemic discourse, or develop a nonclassical theory of credence and credal update. Moreover, the result also suggests that there is a connection between informational consequence and triviality results, including classical triviality results like Lewis's.
Transcriptome analysis revealed differences in the microenvironment of spermatogonial stem cells in seminiferous tubules between pre‐pubertal and adult buffaloes
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Yuan , Li Ting‐Ting , Liu Ya‐Ru , Geng Shuang‐Shuang , Luo Ao‐Lin , Jiang Ming‐Sheng , Liang Xing‐Wei , Shang Jiang‐Hua , Lu Ke‐Huan , Yang Xiao‐Gan
Published: January 2021

The microenvironment in the seminiferous tubules of buffalo changes with age, which affects the self‐renewal and growth of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and the process of spermatogenesis, but the mechanism remains to be elucidated. RNA‐seq was performed to compare the transcript profiles of pre‐pubertal buffalo (PUB) and adult buffalo (ADU) seminiferous tubules. In total, 17,299 genes from PUB and ADU seminiferous tubules identified through RNA‐seq, among which 12,271 were expressed in PUB and ADU seminiferous tubules, 4,027 were expressed in only ADU seminiferous tubules, and 956 were expressed in only PUB seminiferous tubules. Of the 17,299 genes, we identified 13,714 genes that had significant differences in expression levels between PUB and ADU through GO enrichment analysis. Among these genes, 5,342 were significantly upregulated and possibly related to the formation or identity of the surface antigen on SSCs during self‐renewal; 7,832 genes were significantly downregulated, indicating that genes in PUB seminiferous tubules do not participate in the biological processes of sperm differentiation or formation in this phase compared with those in ADU seminiferous tubules. Subsequently, through the combination with KEGG analysis, we detected enrichment in a number of genes related to the development of spermatogonial stem cells, providing a reference for study of the development mechanism of buffalo spermatogonial stem cells in the future. In conclusion, our data provide detailed information on the mRNA transcriptomes in PUB and ADU seminiferous tubules, revealing the crucial factors involved in maintaining the microenvironment and providing a reference for further in vitro cultivation of SSCs.
Preparing Nursing Contexts for Evidence‐Based Practice Implementation: Where Should We Go From Here?
Authors: Cassidy Christine E. , Flynn Rachel , Shuman Clayton J.
Published: January 2021

Background

Context is important to the adoption and sustainability of evidence‐based practices (EBPs). Currently, most published implementation efforts address context in relation to one specific EBP or a bundle of related EBPs. Since EBP and implementation are ongoing and dynamic, more discussion is needed on preparing nursing contexts to be more conducive to implementation generally.

Aim

To discuss the need to create contexts that are more adaptable to ongoing change due to the dynamic nature of EBPs and the ever‐changing healthcare environment.

Methods

This paper builds on a collection of our previous work, as nursing implementation scientists representing the Canadian and American healthcare contexts, and a literature review of the implementation science, knowledge translation, and sustainability literatures from 2006 to 2019.

Results

We argue for a different way of thinking about the influence of context and implementation of EBPs. We contend that nursing contexts must be prepared to be more flexible and conducive to ongoing EBP implementation more generally. Contexts that embrace, facilitate, and have the capacity for change may be more likely to effectively de‐implement ineffective interventions or implement and sustain new EBPs. We outline future directions to build a program of research on preparing the soil for implementation of EBPs, including building capacity among nurses, supporting organizations to embrace change, co‐producing research evidence, and contributing to implementation science.

Linking Evidence to Action

Supporting contexts to adopt and sustain evidence in nursing practice is essential for bridging the evidence to practice gap and improving outcomes for patients, clinicians, and the health system. Moving forward, we need to develop a better understanding of how to create contexts that embrace change prior to the implementation of EBPs in order sustain improvements to patient and health system outcomes.
The level of distribution of the Thue–Morse sequence
Authors: Spiegelhofer Lukas
Published: January 2021

The level of distribution of a complex-valued sequence $b$ measures the quality of distribution of $b$ along sparse arithmetic progressions $nd+a$. We prove that the Thue–Morse sequence has level of distribution $1$, which is essentially best possible. More precisely, this sequence gives one of the first nontrivial examples of a sequence satisfying a Bombieri–Vinogradov-type theorem for each exponent $\theta <1$. This result improves on the level of distribution $2/3$ obtained by Müllner and the author. As an application of our method, we show that the subsequence of the Thue–Morse sequence indexed by $\lfloor n^c\rfloor$, where $1 < c < 2$, is simply normal. This result improves on the range $1 < c < 3/2$ obtained by Müllner and the author and closes the gap that appeared when Mauduit and Rivat proved (in particular) that the Thue–Morse sequence along the squares is simply normal.
Injurious status of Schizotetranychus schizopus (Zacher, 1913) (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Indian Thorny Bamboo

Authors: Vibija C. P. , Neravathu Ramani
Published: January 2021

Spider mites, especially members of Schizotetranychus represent a common and dominant group of bamboo pests, enjoying worldwide distribution. The present paper highlights the feeding attributes of a notorious species of bamboo spider mite, viz. Schizotetranychus schizopus (Zacher, 1913) infesting the Indian Thorny Bamboo, Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss. Observations on feeding behavior of the mite were completed in the laboratory by collecting mite specimens from infested leaves of bamboo plants grown in Calicut University Botanical Garden. The species showed initial colonization on the abaxial surface of bamboo leaves, adjacent to the midrib and feeding activity of the members of the colony resulted in the development of damage symptoms like chlorotic spots, white patches, yellowing etc. Comparative analysis of the biochemical constituents of mite infested and uninfested leaves of B. bambos revealed significant alterations. Mite infested bamboo leaves presented significantly reduced values of chlorophyll fluorescence (30.10% loss in Fv/Fm ratio) thereby indicating a decline of photosynthetic efficiency. Significant reduction in total carbohydrate (58.87%) and total protein (21.02%) contents also could be accounted in mite infested leaves. Meanwhile, mite infestation was found to enhance the production of stress compounds such as Total Phenol (22.86%) and Proline (69.05%). An increase in the uptake of micro and macronutrients like Potassium (18.87%), Calcium (36.66%), Copper (48.76%) and Zinc (19.62%) was also observed in mite infested leaves. Despite this, the uptake of nutrients such as Phosphorus (8.22%), Magnesium (3.55%), Sulphur (1.54%), Iron (11.46%), Manganese (13.64%) and Boron (30.09%) significantly decreased owing to mite infestation. Significant decrease in moisture content also was evident in the mite infested bamboo leaves. The results of the study helped to evidence the biotic stress induced by the mite on its bamboo host, by promoting enhanced production of Total Phenol, Proline, Potassium, Calcium, Copper and Zinc which would play a substantial role in the defense mechanism of the plant.
Vibro-acoustic modeling, numerical and experimental study of the resonator and its contribution to the timbre of Sarasvati veena, a South Indian stringed instrument
Authors: Chauhan Chandrashekhar , Singru P. M. , Vathsan Radhika
Published: January 2021

This paper is part of a special issue on Modelling of Musical Instruments. The Sarasvati veena is a South Indian plucked string wooden lute, whose unique timbre is characterized by the presence of nearly all harmonics, in the range from 0 to 2800 Hz, the augmentation of the second and third harmonic and the revival of higher harmonics with time. This can be attributed to the shape of its extended bridge and its wooden resonator. In this work, the vibrational modes of the resonator are studied and the corresponding frequencies related to the musical tones generated while playing the veena. Numerical modal analysis is performed by the finite element method on a computer-aided design model of the resonator top plate as well as the air cavity within the dome-shaped structure. The results are compared to the experiment for validation. The resonator modes provide support to the harmonics of the string vibrations and give rise to the typical timbre of the instrument. We also find that other mode frequencies of the resonator support microtones that are used in Indian raga music. This gives scientific basis to the role of the timbre of the veena in supporting the development and sustenance of South Indian classical music.
Musculoskeletal Injury History Is Associated With Lower Physical and Mental Health in a Historical Cohort of Former National Football League Players
Authors: Kerr Zachary Y. , Prim Julianna , DeFreese J.D. , Thomas Leah C. , Simon Janet E. , Carneiro Kevin A. , Marshall Stephen W. , Guskiewicz Kevin M.
Published: January 2021

Context: Little research has examined health-related quality of life in former National Football League (NFL) players. Objective: Examine the association of musculoskeletal injury history and current self-reported physical and mental health in former NFL players. Setting: Cross-sectional questionnaire. Patients or Other Participants: Historical cohort of 2,103 former NFL players that played at least one season between 1940 and 2001. Intervention: Players were grouped by self-reported professional career musculoskeletal injury history and whether injuries affected current health: (1) no musculoskeletal injury history; (2) musculoskeletal injury history, currently affected by injuries; and (3) musculoskeletal injury history, not currently affected by injuries. Main Outcome Measure: The Short Form 36 Measurement Model for Functional Assessment of Health and Well-Being (SF-36) yielded physical and mental health composite scores (PCS and MCS, respectively); higher scores indicated better health. Multivariable linear regression computed mean differences (MD) among injury groups. Covariates included demographics, playing history characteristics, surgical intervention for musculoskeletal injuries, and whether injury resulted in premature end to career. MD with 95% CI excluding 0.00 were deemed significant. Results: Overall, 90.3% reported at least one musculoskeletal injury during their professional football careers, of which 74.8% reported being affected by their injuries at time of survey completion. Adjusting for covariates, mean PCS in the “injury and affected” group was lower than the “no injury” (MD = −3.2; 95% CI: −4.8, −1.7) and “injury and not affected” groups (MD = −4.3; 95% CI: −5.4, −3.3); mean MCS did not differ. Conclusion: Many players reported musculoskeletal injuries, highlighting the need for developing and evaluating injury management interventions.
Single- Versus Dual-Task Functional Movement Paradigms: A Biomechanical Analysis
Authors: Lempke Landon B. , Oh Jeonghoon , Johnson Rachel S. , Schmidt Julianne D. , Lynall Robert C.
Published: January 2021

Context: Laboratory-based movement assessments are commonly performed without cognitive stimuli (ie, single-task) despite the simultaneous cognitive processing and movement (ie, dual task) demands required during sport. Cognitive loading may critically alter human movement and be an important consideration for truly assessing functional movement and understanding injury risk in the laboratory, but limited investigations exist. Objective: To comprehensively examine and compare kinematics and kinetics between single- and dual-task functional movement among healthy participants while controlling for sex. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory. Patients (or Other Participants): Forty-one healthy, physically active participants (49% female; 22.5 ± 2.1 y; 172.5 ± 11.9 cm; 71.0 ± 13.7 kg) enrolled in and completed the study. Intervention(s): All participants completed the functional movement protocol under single- and dual-task (subtracting by 6s or 7s) conditions in a randomized order. Participants jumped forward from a 30-cm tall box and performed (1) maximum vertical jump landings and (2) dominant and (3) nondominant leg, single-leg 45° cuts after landing. Main Outcome Measures: The authors used mixed-model analysis of variances (α = .05) to compare peak hip, knee, and ankle joint angles (degrees) and moments (N·m/BW) in the sagittal and frontal planes, and peak vertical ground reaction force (N/BW) and vertical impulse (Ns/BW) between cognitive conditions and sex. Results: Dual-task resulted in greater peak vertical ground reaction force compared with single-task during jump landing (mean difference = 0.06 N/BW; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01 to 0.12; P = .025) but less force during dominant leg cutting (mean difference = −0.08 N/BW; 95% CI, −0.14 to −0.02; P = .015). Less hip-flexion torque occurred during dual task than single task (mean difference = −0.09 N/BW; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.02). No other outcomes were different between single and dual task (P ≥ .053). Conclusions: Slight, but potentially important, kinematic and kinetic differences were observed between single- and dual-task that may have implications for functional movement assessments and injury risk research. More research examining how various cognitive and movement tasks interact to alter functional movement among pathological populations is warranted before clinical implementation.
New Endohyphal Relationships between Mucoromycota and
Burkholderiaceae
Representatives
Authors: Okrasińska Alicja , Bokus Aleksandra , Duk Katarzyna , Gęsiorska Aleksandra , Sokołowska Blanka , Miłobędzka Aleksandra , Wrzosek Marta , Pawłowska Julia
Published: January 2021

Bacteria living within fungal hyphae present an example of one of the most intimate relationships between fungi and bacteria. Even though there are several well-described examples of such partnerships, their prevalence within the fungal kingdom remains unknown.
Triclosan Tolerance Is Driven by a Conserved Mechanism in Diverse
Pseudomonas
Species
Authors: McFarland Alexander G. , Bertucci Hanna K. , Littman Erica , Shen Jiaxian , Huttenhower Curtis , Hartmann Erica M.
Published: January 2021

Closely related species are typically assumed to demonstrate similar phenotypes driven by underlying conserved genotypes. When monitoring for the effect of antimicrobials on the types of species that may be selected for, this assumption may prove to be incorrect, and identification of additional genetic markers may be necessary.
Plasmodium falciparum
Guanylyl Cyclase-Alpha and the Activity of Its Appended P4-ATPase Domain Are Essential for cGMP Synthesis and Blood-Stage Egress
Authors: Nofal Stephanie D. , Patel Avnish , Blackman Michael J. , Flueck Christian , Baker David A.
Published: January 2021

The clinical manifestations of malaria arise due to successive rounds of replication of
Plasmodium
parasites within red blood cells. Once mature, daughter merozoites are released from infected erythrocytes to invade new cells in a tightly regulated process termed egress.
Colistin Heteroresistance Is Largely Undetected among Carbapenem-Resistant
Enterobacterales
in the United States
Authors: Band Victor I. , Satola Sarah W. , Smith Richard D. , Hufnagel David A. , Bower Chris , Conley Andrew B. , Rishishwar Lavanya , Dale Suzanne E. , Hardy Dwight J. , Vargas Roberto L. , Dumyati Ghinwa , Kainer Marion A. , Phipps Erin C. , Pierce Rebecca , Wilson Lucy E. , Sorensen Matthew , Nilsson Erik , Jordan I. King , Burd Eileen M. , Farley Monica M. , Jacob Jesse T. , Ernst Robert K. , Weiss David S.
Published: January 2021

Heteroresistance is an underappreciated phenomenon that may be the cause of some unexplained antibiotic treatment failures. Misclassification of heteroresistant isolates as susceptible may lead to inappropriate therapy.
Twists and Turns in the Salicylate Catabolism of
Aspergillus terreus
, Revealing New Roles of the 3-Hydroxyanthranilate Pathway
Authors: Martins Tiago M. , Martins Celso , Guedes Paula , Silva Pereira Cristina
Published: January 2021

Aspergilli are versatile cell factories used in industry for the production of organic acids, enzymes, and pharmaceutical drugs. To date, bio-based production of organic acids relies on food substrates.
Quadriplegia and rhabdomyolysis as a presenting feature of Conn’s syndrome
Authors: Kollipara Sumanth , Ravindra Shruthi , Pai Kanthilatha , Shetty Sahana
Published: January 2021

Conn’s syndrome is an important endocrine cause for secondary hypertension. Hypokalaemia paralysis and rhabdomyolysis with accelerated hypertension may be the presenting symptoms of Conn’s syndrome. Here, we present one such case of a 38-year-old woman presenting with accelerated hypertension and acute onset quadriplegia. On biochemical evaluation, she was found to have severe hypokalaemia, metabolic alkalosis and elevated creatinine phosphokinase. Further evaluation revealed an elevated aldosterone renin ratio suggestive of primary hyperaldosteronism which was localised to left adrenal adenoma on contrast-enhanced CT. Patient’s blood pressure and serum potassium levels normalised after resection of the adrenal adenoma.
Impacted urethral stone presenting as urinary retention in a child
Authors: Hoffmann Kelly Storm , Godse Alok
Published: January 2021

A seven-year-old boy was referred to our Accident and Emergency department with a history of urinary retention secondary to urinary tract infection and an inability to pass a urethral catheter. He had been treated a month before for suspected pyelonephritis by the referring hospital. Attempts at urethral catheterisation failed, and he was taken to theatre for cystourethroscopy and catheter placement. At this time, an impacted urethral stone was discovered. Because it could not be dislodged, a suprapubic catheter was placed, and the child was brought back at a later date for definitive management. Investigations revealed a pure calcium oxalate stone that was secondary in origin. There has been no recurrence during a follow-up period of 6 months.

This illustrates that while rare, urethral stones do occur in children and should be considered in children presenting with urinary retention, haematuria and/or abdominal pain.
Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by silent infection of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci
Authors: Sugiyama Kayo , Watanuki Hirotaka , Futamura Yasuhiro , Matsuyama Katsuhiko
Published: January 2021

Surgery for prosthetic valve endocarditis in the mitral valve position is still challenging for surgeons. Reconstruction of the mitral annulus is useful for patients with a mitral annulus disputed by infection. Here, we report a redo mitral valve replacement using a collar-reinforced tissue valve, which was inserted into a mitral annulus reconstructed with a bovine patch. Though the preoperative blood culture detectedStreptococcus anginosus, the intraoperative culture detected methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS). MRCNS is rarely detected because of its indolent nature.
Pheochromocytoma crisis in a patient with newly diagnosed neurofibromatosis type 1
Authors: Murakami Hisashi , Sonoo Tomohiro , Hashimoto Hideki , Nakamura Kensuke
Published: January 2021

Pheochromocytoma occasionally engenders catecholamine-induced hypertension crisis. Pheochromocytoma is clinically identified in 0.1%–5.7% of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which is 10 times more frequently than in healthy individuals. This report describes a case of newly diagnosed NF1 presenting with pheochromocytoma crisis, with severe electrolyte depletion and deteriorating recurrent ventricular tachycardia storm. Characteristic skin lesions such as café-au-lait macules and neurofibromas contributed to the diagnosis of NF1 and pheochromocytoma. No recurrence of electrolyte depletion was found after the adrenalectomy. Primary care physicians must distinguish the characteristic skin lesions of NF1, such as café-au-lait macules and neurofibromas and recognise the risk for pheochromocytoma.
Oral S-ketamine effective after deep brain stimulation in severe treatment-resistant depression and extensive comorbidities
Authors: Veraart Jolien K E , Kamphuis Jeanine , Schlegel Mathis , Schoevers Robert A
Published: January 2021

This case report describes successful maintenance treatment with oral S-ketamine in a patient with severe depression, who previously was resistant to electroconvulsive therapy and deep brain stimulation, and who also had comorbid psychotic and obsessive compulsive symptoms.
Unexpected diagnosis of multiple sclerosing pneumocytomas in a patient with chondrosarcoma of the hand
Authors: Van Laer Sven L , Vandendriessche Annelore , Somville Johan , Van Schil Paul E
Published: January 2021

Sclerosing pneumocytomas are rare, benign pulmonary neoplasms that predominantly affect Asian female patients in the age category of 40–70 years, mostly non-smokers. We report on a 72-year-old Caucasian woman with chondrosarcoma of the hand who developed multiple bilateral progressive lung nodules suspicious of lung metastases. Staged lung resections were performed, and pathological diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of the resected specimens. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect gene mutations. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated sclerosing pneumocytomas, and NGS showed an IDH1 mutation. Eventually, the patient developed lung metastases for which rethoracotomy was performed. The differentiation of sclerosing pneumocytoma from lung cancer is a diagnostic challenge, and sclerosing pneumocytoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. Gene mutation analysis does not always show classical and common mutations, which should be kept in mind when interpreting its results.
Leiomyosarcoma mimicking acute appendicitis: a cautionary tale!
Authors: Dunphy Louise , Badea Raluca Daniela , Musa Fawaz , Chen Fabian
Published: January 2021

Appendiceal neoplasms are rare, occurring in <1.4% of all appendicectomy specimens. Carcinoid tumours and adenocarcinomas comprise the majority of cases, however, lymphomas or sarcomas may also arise within the appendix. Appendiceal leiomyosarcomas are rare and to date, there remains a relative dearth of cases reported in the literature. Leiomyosarcomas are derived from the smooth muscle cells or mesenchymal stem cells committed to this line of differentiation. However, their pathogenesis and underlying genetic mechanism remains to be fully elucidated. Unbalanced karyotypic defects are the only shared features observed across different leiomyosarcoma subtypes. Children with AIDS have a higher incidence compared with adults, where the main pathology in individuals with HIV is Kaposi’s sarcoma and B-cell lymphoma. Although surgical excision with clear margins remains the treatment of choice, a good response to treatment with gemcitabine, docetaxel and trabectedin has been observed. The authors present the case of a 23-year-old female presenting to the emergency department with acute appendicitis. She underwent a laparoscopic converted to an open appendectomy. Her operation was complicated by a pelvic collection requiring percutaneous drainage and an ileus. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a leiomyosarcoma, a rare mesenchymal tumour presenting in individuals with immune suppression. HIV serology was positive and she commenced anti-retroviral therapy. She remains under review in the Department of HIV Medicine.
Adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis of skull in a patient with synchronous papillary thyroid carcinoma and Castleman disease
Authors: Kim In Kyeong , Lee Kyoung Yul
Published: January 2021

We report an extremely rare case of adult Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) in a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and Castleman disease (CD). A 46-year-old man visited our hospital with anaemia; systemic imaging showed an abdominal and a left thyroid mass. Biopsy confirmed CD for the abdominal mass and PTC for the thyroid mass. Two months after, he presented with headache and a right parietal lump. Brain CT and enhanced MRI revealed an osteolytic mass with enhancement in the right parietal skull. Surgical removal and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of skull LCH. The BRAF mutation was positive on PTC and negative on CD and LCH. We conducted surgical resection only for PTC and LCH; surgical resection with siltuximab for multicentric CD. At the 25-month follow-up, there was no recurrence or progression. We may consider of syndromic nature of these diseases to establish a treatment strategy.
Claustrum hyperintensity: a rare radiological correlate in Niemann-Pick disease
Authors: Mukherjee Debaleena , Dubey Souvik , Ganguly Goutam , Pandit Alak
Published: January 2021

A 5-year-old male child of consanguineous parentage, without any adverse perinatal history, presented with progressive cognitive regression predominantly in the language and attention domains, for 2 years. He had simultaneous pyramidal and extrapyramidal involvement, frequent generalised tonic-clonic seizures and recurrent respiratory tract infections. Examination was significant for vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, coarse facial features and splenomegaly. Given the clinical features, in the background of consanguinity and mother’s history of spontaneous pregnancy losses, inborn errors of metabolism were suspected. Following relevant investigations including tailored genetic study, Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) was diagnosed. Interestingly, MRI brain showed bilateral T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery claustrum hyperintensities, which are more commonly associated with autoimmune encephalitis and febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome and not reported previously in NPC. Additionally, language regression as a presenting manifestation in NPC as opposed to classical dysarthria makes this case truly unique.
Predicting clinical outcome by indexed mitral valve tenting in functional mitral valve regurgitation
Authors: von Stumm Maria , Dudde Florian , Holst Theresa , Sequeira-Gross Tatjana , Pausch Jonas , Müller Lisa , Sinning Christoph R , Reichenspurner Hermann , Girdauskas E
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Mitral valve (MV) tenting parameters are indicators of left ventricular remodelling severity and may predict outcome in functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). We hypothesised that indexing of MV tenting area to body surface area (BSA), to mitral annulus diameter or gender-adjusted analysis of tenting parameters may improve their prognostic value.

Methods

We identified retrospectively 240 patients with consecutive FMR (mean age 68±10 years; men=135) from our institutional database who underwent isolated MV annuloplasty during a period of 7 years (2010–2016). Using preoperative two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic images, MV tenting parameters including tenting area, tenting height and annulus diameter were systematically assessed. Follow-up protocol consisted of chart review and structured clinical questionnaire. Primary study endpoint was the composite of death and adverse cardiac events (ie, MV reoperation, cardiac resynchronisation therapy implantation, ventricular assist device implantation or heart transplantation).

Results

BSA-indexed MV tenting area was identified as independent predictor of primary study endpoint (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1 to 3.5; p=0.02). After cut-off point analysis, BSA-indexed MV tenting area >1.35 cm2/m2was significantly associated with primary study outcome (HR 2.3; 95% CI 1.3 to 4.0; p=0.003). Annulus-indexed MV tenting area showed only a tendency towards primary study endpoint prediction (HR 2.8; 95% CI 0.6 to 12.6; p=0.17). Between female and male patients, BSA-indexed MV tenting area was similar (1.42±0.4 cm2/m2vs 1.45±0.4cm2/cm2; p=0.6) and gender was not associated with primary study outcome (HR 0.8; 95% CI 0.5 to 1.4; p=0.5).

Conclusion

In our FMR cohort, BSA-indexed MV tenting area showed the strongest association with negative outcomes following isolated MV annuloplasty. Patients with BSA-indexed MV tenting area >1.35cm2/m2could potentially benefit from additional surgical maneuvers addressing left ventricular remodelling.
Acute effects of hemp protein consumption on glycemic and satiety control: results of 2 randomized crossover trials
Authors: Mollard Rebecca C. , Johnston Alie , Serrano Leon Alejandra , Wang Haizhou , Jones Peter J. , MacKay Dylan S.
Published: January 2021

Research investigating hemp protein consumption on glycemic response is limited. The effects of hemp protein consumption on blood glucose (BG), insulin, and satiety compared with soybean protein and a carbohydrate control were examined. Two acute randomized repeated-measures crossover experiments were conducted. In both, participants consumed the following isocaloric treatments: 40 g of hemp protein (hemp40), 20 g of hemp protein (hemp20), 40 g of soybean protein (soy40), 20 g of soybean protein (soy20), and a carbohydrate control. In experiments 1 (n = 27) and 2 (n = 16), appetite and BG were measured before (0–60 min, pre-pizza) and after a pizza meal (80–200 min, post-pizza). In experiment 1, food intake was measured at 60 min by ad libitum meal; in experiment 2 a fixed meal was provided (based on body weight) and insulin was measured pre-pizza and post-pizza. In both experiments, BG response was affected by treatment (p < 0.01), time (p < 0.001) and time-by-treatment (p < 0.001) from 0–200 min. Protein treatments lowered 0–60-min BG overall mean and area under the curve compared with control (p < 0.05) dose-dependently. In experiment 2, hemp40 and soy40 lowered (p < 0.05) overall mean insulin concentrations compared with hemp20, soy20, and control pre-meal. Results suggest that hemp protein, like soybean, dose-dependently lowers postprandial BG and insulin concentrations compared with a carbohydrate control. Clinical trial registry: NCT02366598 (experiment 1) and NCT02458027 (experiment 2).

Novelty: Hemp protein concentrate dose-dependently leads to lower postprandial BG response compared with a carbohydrate control. No differences were seen between hemp and soy protein.
New methods to reconstruct $$X_{\mathrm{max}}$$ and the energy of gamma-ray air showers with high accuracy in large wide-field observatories
Authors: Conceição R. , Peres L. , Pimenta M. , Tomé B.
Published: January 2021

Novel methods to reconstruct the slant depth of the maximum of the longitudinal profile ($$X_{\mathrm{max}}$$Xmax) of high-energy showers initiated by gamma-rays as well as their energy ($$E_0$$E0) are presented. The methods were developed for gamma rays with energies ranging from a few hundred GeV to$$\sim 10$$∼10TeV. An estimator of$$X_{\mathrm{max}}$$Xmaxis obtained, event-by-event, from its correlation with the distribution of the arrival time of the particles at the ground, or the signal at the ground for lower energies. An estimator of$$E_0$$E0is obtained, event-by-event, using a parametrization that has as inputs the total measured energy at the ground, the amount of energy contained in a region near to the shower core and the estimated$$X_{\mathrm{max}}$$Xmax. Resolutions about$$40 \, (20)\,\mathrm{g/cm^2}$$40(20)g/cm2and about$$30 \, (20)\%$$30(20)%for, respectively,$$X_{\mathrm{max}}$$Xmaxand$$E_0$$E0at$$1 \, (10) \ \mathrm {TeV}$$1(10)TeVenergies are obtained, considering vertical showers. The obtained results are auspicious and can lead to the opening of new physics avenues for large wide field-of-view gamma-ray observatories. The dependence of the resolutions with experimental conditions is discussed.
An electromagnetic extension of the Schwarzschild interior solution and the corresponding Buchdahl limit
Authors: Sharma Ranjan , Dadhich Naresh , Das Shyam , Maharaj Sunil D.
Published: January 2021

We wish to construct a model for charged star as a generalization of the uniform density Schwarzschild interior solution. We employ the Vaidya and Tikekar ansatz (Astrophys Astron 3:325, 1982) for one of the metric potentials and electric field is chosen in such a way that when it is switched off the metric reduces to the Schwarzschild. This relates charge distribution to the Vaidya–Tikekar parameter, k, indicating deviation from sphericity of three dimensional space when embedded into four dimensional Euclidean space. The model is examined against all the physical conditions required for a relativistic charged fluid sphere as an interior to a charged star. We also obtain and discuss charged analogue of the Buchdahl compactness bound.
THE IMPACT OF INTELLIGENCE ON ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIME: A CROSS-COUNTRY STUDY
Authors: ACHIM MONICA VIOLETA , BORLEA SORIN NICOLAE , VĂIDEAN VIORELA LIGIA , RUS ALEXANDRA IOANA , DOBRE FLORIN
Published: January 2021

The aim of this paper is to explore the relationship between intelligence and economic and financial crimes. For this purpose, we use a cross-sectional sample of 182 countries for the time span of 2012–2017. Our research provides empirical evidence on the existence of a significant impact of intelligence upon economic and financial crimes. When we analyze the entire sample, we find that intelligent people are more prone to comply with the law and thus increase the efficiency of implementing government policies to reduce economic and financial crimes. However, when we conduct our analysis among the two subgroups of high- and low-income countries, different results are obtained. For high-income countries, we obtain evidence of a positive coefficient for the impact of intelligence on economic and financial crimes, meaning that increased intellectual capacities of people from these countries, including high professional knowledge and skills, are used to break the traditional technology in order to get illegal benefits. Our results conducted for the low-income countries' subsample do not support intelligence as being a determining factor for economic and financial crimes; in these countries, other determinants are more important for engaging in such activities. Our study may have important implications for the policymakers who must acknowledge that various policies in the field of economic and financial crimes need to be differentially adopted depending on the level of development of each country, which offers different ways of involvement in such crimes, related to the level of people's intelligence.
Hyperbolic worldsheets and worldlines of null Cartan curves in de Sitter 3-space
Authors: Zhou Qingxin , Xu Jingbo , Wang Zhigang
Published: January 2021

The hyperbolic worldsheets and the hyperbolic worldline generated by null Cartan curves are defined and their geometric properties are investigated. As applications of singularity theory, the singularities of the hyperbolic worldsheets and the hyperbolic worldline are classified by using the approach of the unfolding theory in singularity theory. It is shown that under appropriate conditions, the hyperbolic worldsheet is diffeomorphic to cuspidal edge or swallowtail type of singularity and the hyperbolic worldline is diffeomorphic to cusp. An important geometric invariant which has a close relation with the singularities of the hyperbolic worldsheets and worldlines is found such that the singularities of the hyperbolic worldsheets and worldlines can be characterized by the invariant. Meanwhile, the contact of the spacelike normal curve of a null Cartan curve with hyperbolic quadric or world hypersheet is discussed in detail. In addition, the dual relationships between the spacelike normal curve of a null Cartan curve and the hyperbolic worldsheet are described. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the spacelike normal curve of a null Cartan curve and the hyperbolic worldsheet are [Formula: see text]-dual each other.