bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of 1,5-Anhydroglucitol and 2-Hour Glucose with Major Clinical Outcomes in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Authors: Warren Bethany , Lee Alexandra K , Ballantyne Christie M , Hoogeveen Ron C , Pankow James S , Grams Morgan E , Köttgen Anna , Selvin Elizabeth
Published: April 2020

Background

1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a novel biomarker of glycemic control proposed to monitor recent hyperglycemic excursions in persons with diabetes. The clinical utility of 1,5-AG outside of diagnosed diabetes is unclear, but it may identify people at high risk for diabetes and its complications. We compared associations of 1,5-AG with 2-h glucose for risk of major clinical complications.

Research Design and Methods

We prospectively followed 6644 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study participants without diagnosed diabetes for incident diagnosed diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality for ∼20 years. We assessed associations of 1,5-AG and 2-h glucose (modeled categorically and continuously with restricted cubic splines) with adverse outcomes using Cox models and evaluated improvement in risk discrimination using Harrell’s c-statistic.

Results

1,5-AG <10 µg/mL was statistically significantly associated with incident diabetes (HR: 2.70, 95% CI 2.31, 3.15), and showed suggestion of association with the other outcomes compared to 1,5-AG ≥10 µg/mL. Continuous associations of 1,5-AG with outcomes displayed a clear threshold effect, with risk associations generally observed only <10 µg/mL. Comparing associations of 1,5-AG and 2-h glucose with outcomes resulted in larger c-statistics for 2-h glucose than 1,5-AG for all outcomes (difference in c-statistic [2-h glucose -1,5-AG] for diagnosed diabetes: 0.17 [95%CI, 0.15, 0.19]; chronic kidney disease 0.02 [95%CI 0.00, 0.05]; cardiovascular disease 0.03 [95%CI, 0.00, 0.06]; and all-cause mortality 0.04 [95%CI, 0.02, 0.06]).

Conclusions

In this community-based population without diagnosed diabetes, low 1,5-AG was modestly associated with major clinical outcomes and did not outperform 2-h glucose.
Bilateral peritonsillar abscess: a case study and literature review
Authors: Alsubaie Hemail M , Alsmadi Maisa B , Aljuaid Eidah F
Published: April 2020

While peritonsillar abscesses are the most common deep neck infections, bilateral forms are rare. A peritonsillar abscess occurs when pus accumulates in the peritonsillar space, located between the tonsils and superior constrictor muscle, causing medial displacement of the uvula, trismus, odynophagia or even upper airway obstruction. High clinical suspicion is needed to diagnose bilateral peritonsillar abscess due to frequent history, computerized tomography scan of the neck with IV contrast facilitates accurate diagnose and a full assessment of the patient. Incision and drainage are needed to evacuate the pus along with systemic antibiotics to relieve patient symptoms followed by interval tonsillectomy, which usually done after 6 weeks.
Subsidised by junk foods: factors influencing body condition in stray cats (Felis catus)
Authors: Crawford H M , Calver M C , Fleming P A
Published: April 2020

Domestic cats (Felis catus) are one of the most widely distributed and successful carnivores globally. While cats are popular pets, many unowned, ‘stray’ cats live freely in anthropogenic environments at high densities where they make use of anthropogenic resources. These stray cats present a management challenge due to concerns about wildlife predation, pathogen transmission, public nuisance and threats to cat welfare (e.g. vehicle collisions). In Australia, there are few studies of strays compared with pet cats or feral cats (free-roaming cats in rural areas that are independent of resources provided by humans). To contribute original data about stray cat biology, the carcasses of 188 euthanised stray cats were collected from Perth, Western Australia. Cats were assessed for general health, age, reproduction, diet and gastrointestinal parasite biomass. The influence of cat demographics, collection location, season, parasite biomass, diet and history of supplemental feeding by people were tested against body condition. Overall, strays were physically healthy and reproductive, with few life-threatening injuries or macroscopic evidence of disease; however, helminths were extremely common (95% of cats) and pose a threat. Nearly 40% of strays consumed wildlife, including two species of endemic marsupial. Alarmingly, 57.5% of strays were scavenging vast amounts of refuse, including life-threatening items in volumes that blocked their gastrointestinal tracts. These findings illustrate that strays need to be removed from anthropogenic environments for their own health and welfare and to prevent continued breeding. Targeted control programmes should prioritise removal of cats from areas where refuse is common and where valued native fauna exist.
Internal kinematics of M10 and M71
Authors: Barth Nicholas A , Gerber Jeffrey M , Boberg Owen M , Friel Eileen D , Vesperini Enrico
Published: April 2020

We present a study of the internal kinematics of two globular clusters, M10 (NGC 6254) and M71 (NGC 6838), using individual radial velocity (RV) measurements obtained from observations using the Hydra multiobject spectrograph on the WIYN 3.5 m telescope. We measured 120 RVs for stars in M10, of which 107 were determined to be cluster members. In M71, we measured 82 RVs and determined 78 of those measurements belonged to cluster members. Using the cluster members, we determine a mean RV of 75.9 ± 4.0 (s.d.) km s−1 and −22.9 ± 2.2 (s.d.) km s−1 for M10 and M71, respectively. We combined the Hydra RV measurements with literature samples and performed a line-of-sight rotational analysis on both clusters. Our analysis has not revealed a statistically significant rotation in either of these clusters with the exception of the inner region (10–117 arcsec) of M10 for which we find hints of a marginally significant rotation with amplitude Vrot = 1.14 ± 0.18 km s−1. For M10, we calculate a central velocity dispersion of σ0 = 5.44 ± 0.61 km s−1, which gives a ratio of the amplitude of rotation to the central velocity dispersion Vrot/σ0 = 0.21 ± 0.04. We also explored the rotation of the multiple stellar populations identified in M10 and M71 and found rotation (or lack thereof) in each population consistent with each other and the cluster global rotation signatures.
Left A2 Fusiform Aneurysm: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Hendricks Benjamin K , Spetzler Robert F
Published: April 2020

Anterior cerebral artery aneurysms within the A2 segment that are fusiform or giant A2 aneurysms with a wide neck often are not candidates for endovascular treatment and require surgical intervention. These lesions necessitate a bypass procedure to preserve distal flow along the anterior cerebral artery. This patient demonstrated a left-sided unruptured A2 fusiform aneurysm that necessitated a bypass procedure for management. The patient was positioned with the head rotated laterally to permit orientation of the interhemispheric fissure within the horizontal plane and achieve gravity retraction of the dependent hemisphere. The bilateral pericallosal branches were exposed and liberated from arachnoid adhesions to permit mobilization necessary for the side-to-side anastomosis. While the anastomosis was performed, the continuous suture loops were left loose to permit complete visualization of the inner and outer walls prior to the final tightening and tying of the anastomotic suture. Following the completion of the anastomosis, the temporary clips were removed. A permanent clip was placed on the distal A2 to prevent outflow from the parent artery and thereby allow for aneurysm thrombosis. The patient gave informed consent for surgery and video recording. Institutional review board approval was deemed unnecessary. Used with permission from Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona.
Proteasome Inhibition in Brassica napus Roots Increases Amino Acid Synthesis to Offset Reduced Proteolysis
Authors: Pereksta Dan , King Dillon , Saki Fahmida , Maroli Amith , Leonard Elizabeth , Suseela Vidya , May Sean , Castellanos Uribe Marcos , Tharayil Nishanth , Van Hoewyk Doug
Published: April 2020

Cellular homeostasis is maintained by the proteasomal degradation of regulatory and misfolded proteins, which sustains the amino acid pool. Although proteasomes alleviate stress by removing damaged proteins, mounting evidence indicates that severe stress caused by salt, metal(oids), and some pathogens can impair the proteasome. However, the consequences of proteasome inhibition in plants are not well understood and even less is known about how its malfunctioning alters metabolic activities. Lethality causes by proteasome inhibition in non-photosynthetic organisms stem from amino acid depletion, and we hypothesized that plants respond to proteasome inhibition by increasing amino acid biosynthesis. To address these questions, the short-term effects of proteasome inhibition were monitored for 3, 8 and 48 h in the roots of Brassica napus treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Proteasome inhibition did not affect the pool of free amino acids after 48 h, which was attributed to elevated de novo amino acid synthesis; these observations coincided with increased levels of sulfite reductase and nitrate reductase activities at earlier time points. However, elevated amino acid synthesis failed to fully restore protein synthesis. In addition, transcriptome analysis points to perturbed abscisic acid signaling and decreased sugar metabolism after 8 h of proteasome inhibition. Proteasome inhibition increased the levels of alternative oxidase but decreased aconitase activity, most sugars and tricarboxylic acid metabolites in root tissue after 48 h. These metabolic responses occurred before we observed an accumulation of reactive oxygen species. We discuss how the metabolic response to proteasome inhibition and abiotic stress partially overlap in plants.
Assessment practices of community-engaged institutions in the USA: Common claims and uncertain methods
Authors: Holton Valerie L. , Hinterlong James E. , Jettner Jennifer
Published: April 2020

Policymakers, accreditation bodies, students and their families, and other stakeholders increasingly press institutions of higher education to provide clear evidence of their value. Institutions emphasize their status as a public good claiming their role in developing human capital and informed citizens, enabling social class mobility, and fostering innovation. Proponents of community engagement (CE) weave together elements of these arguments into a perspective that encourages institutions to embrace mutually beneficial community–academic partnerships as key to all aspects of their missions. Proponents argue that through CE universities can strengthen their links to societal needs, maintain relevant content and curriculum, and ultimately communicate their value. This study involves 41 US institutions that have been recognized as community engaged through a national voluntary classification. To explore the state of the field, we critically examine their self-reported assessment methods, sources, frequency, and oversight. While most describe their CE initiatives and impacts in positive terms, few provide adequate detail about their findings or assessment practices to determine whether these claims are justified. Leaders in the field and across institutions should prioritize evaluating mutual benefit; coordinating assessment; enhancing assessment capacity; and acting on assessment. We conclude with implications for future research.
Dynamics of Visual Perceptual Echoes Following Short-Term Visual Deprivation
Authors: Schwenk Jakob C B , VanRullen Rufin , Bremmer Frank
Published: April 2020

The visual impulse-response function to random input as measured by EEG is dominated by the perceptual echo, a reverberation of stimulus information in the alpha range believed to represent active rhythmic sampling. How this response is generated on a cortical level is unknown. To characterize the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the echoes’ dynamics following short-term visual deprivation, which is known to modify the excitation/inhibition balance in visual cortex. We subjected observers to 150 min of light deprivation (LD) and monocular contrast deprivation (MD). Perceptual echoes were measured by binocular and dichoptic stimulation, respectively, and compared with a baseline condition. Our results show that the echo response is enhanced after LD, but not affected in temporal frequency or spatial propagation. Consistent with previous studies, MD shifted early response (0–150 ms) amplitudes in favor of the deprived eye, but had no systematic effect on the echoes. Our findings demonstrate that the echoes’ synchrony scales with cortical excitability, adding to previous evidence that they represent active visual processing. Their insensitivity to modulation at the monocular level suggests they are generated by a larger region of visual cortex. Our study provides further insight into how mechanisms of rhythmic sampling are implemented in the visual system.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries in Skeletally Immature Patients: A Meta-analysis Comparing Repair Versus Reconstruction Techniques
Authors: Knapik Derrick M. , Voos James E.
Published: April 2020

Background:

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery remains challenging in the skeletally immature patient. Despite the widespread use of physeal-sparing reconstruction techniques, there has been renewed interest in the ACL repair. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature to better understand outcomes following all-epiphyseal (AE) reconstruction to extraphyseal reconstruction, while also evaluating ACL repair outcomes in skeletally immature patients.

Methods:

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, all studies in the literature from January 1970 to August 2019 reporting on skeletally immature patients undergoing ACL surgery were identified. Inclusion criteria were pediatric patients with open physes indicative of skeletal immaturity sustaining complete ACL ruptures treated with AE reconstruction, extraphyseal reconstruction or ACL repair. Chronologic age, bone age, postoperative outcomes scores, return to sport rate, and the incidence of complications, namely reruptures, were analyzed.

Results:

A total of 14 studies comprising 443 patients were identified. No significant difference in chronologic age or postoperative outcome scores at final follow-up were appreciated between patients undergoing AE versus extraphyseal reconstruction. Return to activity rate was significant greater following extraphyseal reconstruction when compared with AE reconstruction. The incidence of any limb-length discrepancies and limb discrepancies measuring ≥10 mm were significant higher following AE reconstruction, while rerupture rates were more common following AE reconstruction.

Conclusions:

Patients undergoing AE reconstruction possessed significantly lower return to activity rates, higher incidences of limb-length discrepancies and more commonly experienced ACL reruptures when compared with patients undergoing extraphyseal reconstruction. Further investigations analyzing results following ACL repair in skeletally immature patients are warranted to allow for the comparison of outcomes with current physeal-sparing reconstruction techniques.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—systematic review-therapeutic study.
Anterior Decompression and Fusion Versus Laminoplasty for Cervical Myelopathy Caused by Soft Disk Herniation
Authors: Koakutsu Tomoaki , Aizawa Toshimi , Sasaki Morichika , Sekiguchi Akira , Morozumi Naoki , Ishii Yushin , Kokubun Shoichi , Hashimoto Ko , Kasama Fumio , Tanaka Yasuhisa , Sato Tetsuro , Itoi Eiji , Yamazaki Shin
Published: April 2020

Study Design:

A prospective multicenter study.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine whether laminoplasty (LP) is comparable for myelopathy caused by cervical disk herniation (CDH).

Summary of Background Data:

Anterior decompression and fusion (ADF) has conventionally been used for myelopathy caused by CDH with stable outcomes. However, recurrence of myelopathy due to adjacent segment degeneration are its drawbacks. The efficacy of LP without discectomy has been sporadically reported, but no long-term prospective study has been conducted to verify it.

Materials and Methods:

Patients with cervical myelopathy caused by CDH were studied. The first 30 patients and the next 30 patients were treated with ADF and LP, respectively. The outcomes were compared between the 22 ADF patients and the 20 LP patients who had completed the follow-up examination scheduled 10 years after surgery.

Results:

There was no statistically significant difference in the postoperative severity or recovery rate of myelopathy between the 2 groups 10 years after surgery. One patient in the ADF group underwent LP for secondary myelopathy due to adjacent segment degeneration 2 years after the surgery. Reoperation was not required for patients in the LP group. Postoperative neck pain was significantly more severe in the LP group than in the ADF group.

Conclusions:

ADF and LP for cervical myelopathy caused by CDH achieve similarly favorable outcomes. Recurrence of myelopathy caused by adjacent segment degeneration is a disadvantage of ADF while residual neck pain is a disadvantage of LP.
Morel-Lavallée Lesion with Friction Burn: Management Using Veraflo Vac Dressing, Preserving Body Contour
Authors: Blome-Eberwein Sigrid A.
Published: April 2020

Summary: While the standard of care for subcutaneous degloving injuries (Morel Lavallee lesion) in conjunction with friction burns is drainage, wide excision and grafting, this case was treated with drainage and continuous lavage with the help of the noncompressible Veraflo Vac dressing. This led to rapid reattachment of the tissues and preservation of body contour long term.
Do Postoperative Antibiotics Improve Skin Reactivity Following Percutaneous Auditory Osseointegrated Implant Placement?
Authors: Kazi Aasif A. , Howell Jessica B. , Shaia Wayne T. , Coelho Daniel H.
Published: April 2020

Objective:

To determine if the routine use of postoperative antibiotics following percutaneous auditory osseointegrated implant placement reduces skin reactivity.

Study Design:

Retrospective matched case-controlled series.

Settings:

Tertiary academic medical center.

Subject and Methods:

A total of 44 patients who underwent percutaneous auditory osseointegrated implant placement were divided into those who received 5 days of postoperative antibiotics (AB) and those who received no antibiotics (NAB). All surgery was performed using the same surgical technique (Minimally Invasive Ponto Surgery). Variables recorded included patient demographics, Holgers skin reaction score, complications, and need for further intervention.

Results:

A total of 23 patients received prophylactic postoperative antibiotics (AB) while 21 patients did not (NAB). At the first postoperative visit (AB 12.7 d versus NAB 12.3 d, p = 0.9) there were no differences in average Holgers score (AB 0.3 ± 0.7 versus NAB 0.2 ± 0.5, p = 0.27). The odds ratio for skin reactivity at the first visit was 0.11 (95% CI 0.01–2.32). There were also no statistical differences in Holgers score (AB 0.05 ± 0.2 versus NAB 0.1 ± 0.3, p = 0.25) at most recent followup visit (AB mean 97.5 d versus NAB 102.8 d, p = 0.84). The odds ratio for skin reactivity at the most recent visit was 0.16 (95% CI 0.01–3.64).

Conclusions:

The use of postoperative antibiotics does not appear to confer significant difference in skin reactivity in patients receiving percutaneous osseointegrated auditory implants. Such findings support the theory that skin reactivity, when it does occur, may not be an infectious-mediated process.
Pediatric Lymphoma and Solid Tumors Associated With Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
Authors: Kara Buket , Koksal Yavuz
Published: April 2020

The aim of this study was to determine cancer susceptibility syndromes (CSSs) in children with lymphoma and solid tumors and to evaluate their effects on overall survival rates. Between 2006 and 2019, the oncologic charts of 672 patients who were followed-up with a diagnosis of lymphoma and solid tumor in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed. CSSs were detected in 42 children (6.25%). The most common CSS was DNA damage repair defects/genetic instability (in 18 of 42 patients with CSSs, 42.8%). In the patients with CSSs, 48 different cancers developed. The most common types of cancer were lymphoma (n: 10, 21%) and high-grade glial tumor (n: 9, 19%). The lymphoma subgroups were very rare childhood lymphomas, such as gray zone lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. The overall survival rates for patients with DNA damage repair defects/genetic instability; with CSSs other than DNA damage repair defects/patients with genetic instability syndrome; and without any CSS, were 9.7%, 65.1%, and 68.7%, respectively. The overall survival rate for patients with DNA damage repair defects/patients with genetic instability syndrome was lower than both patients with CSSs other than DNA damage repair defects/genetic instability syndrome (P=0.002) and those without any CSS (P<0.0001). CSSs should be kept in mind in children with cafe au lait spots; syndromic features; a family history of cancer, especially in siblings; and rare childhood cancers.
Rotational Thromboelastometry Profile in Children With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Authors: Anil Hülya , Harmanci Koray , Özdemir Zeynep C. , Bör Özcan , Gündüz Eren , Kocak Abdulkadir , Kaya Erdogan Hilal
Published: April 2020

The pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is incompletely understood. There is a growing interest in the role of the coagulation cascade in chronic urticaria. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) assay enables the global assessment of coagulation status. In the present study, we aimed to test the coagulation profile in children with CSU using ROTEM and correlate these parameters with those of a healthy group. A total of 24 children with active CSU (11 girls and 13 boys) 8 to 17 years of age and age-matched and sex-matched 30 healthy control participants were enrolled in the study. ROTEM assays (intrinsic thromboelastometry and extrinsic thromboelastometry) were used to measure and analyze coagulation time, clot formation time, and maximum clot firmness. The CSU patients and controls did not differ in age, sex, erythrocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts. Also, ROTEM parameters did not show any difference between the 2 groups. ROTEM is increasingly being used as a tool for monitoring coagulation status. In this study, ROTEM parameters did not show any difference between CSU patients and the healthy group. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings on a larger number of CSU patients.
Not Just Homeless, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Authors: Pieroni Jacopo , Pecori Alessio , Imperiale Daniele , Maule Simona
Published: April 2020

Over a 3-month period, a homeless person was admitted several times to emergency departments after displaying severe behavioral changes and paranoia. No psychiatric tests were performed but all other tests were repeatedly normal; antianxiety treatments or painkillers were the common outcome. It may seem that any diagnosis rested on the patient's immediately apparent social circumstances. Indeed, the patient was admitted to our internal medicine department after a diagnosis of acute delirium within a context of social disadvantage. This social predicament, namely, the patient's evident homelessness, proved to be a false but significant and overarching influence on several misdiagnoses until that moment. Subsequently, actual psychological observations, assessments and tests indicated and confirmed the presence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is an uncommon and fatal disease; however, early diagnosis can enable the implementation of an important palliative care program. The starkly impoverished social circumstances of a patient should never distract a medical practitioner from a comprehensive diagnosis. Homelessness, for example, may invite certain physical and mental considerations, but it must not overdetermine our response and must not obscure or detract from a wider diagnosis. Homelessness is not a medical condition.
Survey-based Work System Assessment to Facilitate Large-scale Dissemination of Healthcare Quality Improvement Programs
Authors: Xie Anping , Koontz Danielle W. , Voskertchian Annie , Fackler James C. , Milstone Aaron M. , Woods-Hill Charlotte Z.
Published: April 2020

Introduction:

The dissemination of quality improvement (QI) interventions to a broader range of healthcare settings requires a proactive assessment of local work systems and processes. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a survey-based work system assessment (WSA) tool to facilitate the dissemination of a program for optimizing blood culture (BC) use.

Methods:

Informed by findings from an onsite, interview-based WSA at 2 hospitals, a 50-item WSA survey was devised and administrated to 15 hospitals participating in a QI collaborative. WSA survey data were summarized, shared, and discussed with individual hospitals to inform the adaptation and implementation of the BC program. Physician champions leading the local QI team assessed the use of the WSA survey by completing an 8-item survey.

Results:

A total of 347 clinicians completed the WSA survey, and physician champions at 12 hospitals evaluated the use of the WSA survey. Both the WSA survey data and the evaluation of the WSA survey showed that the survey-based WSA tool could help participating hospitals understand their current BC ordering practices and identify potential barriers to implementing the program from the perspectives of different clinicians.

Conclusions:

We demonstrated how a survey-based tool could be used to facilitate WSA in the dissemination of a program for improving BC use to a multisite collaborative. A survey-based WSA tool can be used to facilitate future large-scale intervention dissemination efforts.
On the theory of magnetic hyperthermia: clusterization of nanoparticles
Authors: Abu-Bakr Ali F. , Zubarev Andrey Yu.
Published: April 2020

Experiments show that clusters consisting of nano-sized ferromagnetic particles strongly affect the intensity of heat production during magnetic hyperthermia. In this paper, a theoretical study and mathematical modelling of the heat production by clusters of single-domain ferromagnetic particles, immobilized in a host medium, are presented. Two situations of strong and weak magnetic anisotropy of the particles are considered. Our results show that, in the case of strong anisotropy, the clusterization weakens the thermal effect, whereas in the case of weak anisotropy it enhances it.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Patterns in soft and biological matters'.
Constructive role of noise and diffusion in an excitable slow–fast population system
Authors: Bashkirtseva I. , Pankratov A. , Slepukhina E. , Tsvetkov I.
Published: April 2020

We study the effects of noise and diffusion in an excitable slow–fast population system of the Leslie–Gower type. The phenomenon of noise-induced excitement is investigated in the zone of stable equilibria near the Andronov–Hopf bifurcation with the Canard explosion. The stochastic generation of mixed-mode oscillations is studied by numerical simulation and stochastic sensitivity analysis. Effects of the diffusion are considered for the spatially distributed variant of this slow–fast population model. The phenomenon of the diffusion-induced generation of spatial patterns-attractors in the Turing instability zone is demonstrated. The multistability and variety of transient processes of the pattern formation are discussed.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Patterns in soft and biological matters’.
Rheology of magnetic colloids containing clusters of particle platelets and polymer nanofibres
Authors: Abrougui Mariem Mekni , Srasra Ezzeddine , Lopez-Lopez Modesto T. , Duran Juan D. G.
Published: April 2020

Magnetic hydrogels (ferrogels) are soft materials with a wide range of applications, especially in biomedicine because (i) they can be provided with the required biocompatibility; (ii) their heterogeneous structure allows their use as scaffolds for tissue engineering; (iii) their mechanical properties can be modified by changing different design parameters or by the action of magnetic fields. These characteristics confer them unique properties for acting as patterns that mimic the architecture of biological systems. In addition, and (iv) given their high porosity and aqueous content, ferrogels can be loaded with drugs and guided towards specific targets for local (non-systemic) pharmaceutical treatments. The ferrogels prepared in this work contain magnetic particles obtained by precipitation of magnetite nanoparticles onto the porous surface of bentonite platelets. Then, the particles were functionalized by adsorption of alginate molecules and dispersed in an aqueous solution of sodium alginate. Finally, the gelation was promoted by cross-linking the alginate molecules with Ca
2+
ions. The viscoelastic properties of the ferrogels were measured in the absence/presence of external magnetic fields, showing that these ferrogels exhibited a strong enough magnetorheological effect. This behaviour is explained considering the field-induced strengthening of the heterogeneous (particle–polymer) network generated inside the ferrogel.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Patterns in soft and biological matters'.
Field-structured magnetic elastomers based on thermoplastic polyurethane for fused filament fabrication
Authors: Dohmen E. , Saloum A. , Abel J.
Published: April 2020

The utilization of ‘smart’ materials with adaptable properties or characteristics are a widespread research issue, offering potential for tailored solutions, weight reduction or added value of products through integrated functionality. Therefore, field controlled hybrid materials such as magnetorheological (MR) elastomers or electrorheological (ER) fluids are particularly valuable and within the focus of science and research. At the same time, additive manufacturing has had a strong influence on production processes over the past decade. Today a 3D printer can be found across all disciplines in almost every company, research institution and even in many private households. The Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) process is especially popular due to its low cost and simplicity. Within this work, a new approach for the generation of field-structured magnetic elastomers using the FFF process and a correspondingly developed prototype print head for implementation are presented and discussed. With its unique research landscape Dresden offers excellent conditions for the development of innovative processes and composite materials in the field of generative manufacture. In the ‘Dresden Concept’ network, experts from various disciplines collaborate and investigate the entire spectrum starting from biological materials, through lightweight fibre reinforced polymer composites, to high-temperature ceramics.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Patterns in soft and biological matters’.
Thin interface limit of the double-sided phase-field model with convection
Authors: Subhedar Amol , Galenko Peter K. , Varnik Fathollah
Published: April 2020

The thin interface limit of the phase-field model is extended to include transport via melt convection. A double-sided model (equal diffusivity in liquid and solid phases) is considered for the present analysis. For the coupling between phase-field and Navier–Stokes equations, two commonly used schemes are investigated using a matched asymptotic analysis: (i) variable viscosity and (ii) drag force model. While for the variable viscosity model, the existence of a thin interface limit can be shown up to the second order in the expansion parameter, difficulties arise in satisfying no-slip boundary condition at this order for the drag force model. Nevertheless, detailed numerical simulations in two dimensions show practically no difference in dendritic growth profiles in the presence of forced melt flow obtained for the two coupling schemes. This suggests that both approaches can be used for the purpose of numerical simulations. Simulation results are also compared to analytic theory, showing excellent agreement for weak flow. Deviations at higher fluid velocities are discussed in terms of the underlying theoretical assumptions.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Patterns in soft and biological matters’.
Cystoliths inFicusleaves: increasing carbon fixation in saturating light by light scattering off a mineral substrate
Authors: Pierantoni Maria , Paudel Indira , Rephael Batel , Tenne Ron , Brumfeld Vlad , Slomka Shai , Oron Dan , Addadi Lia , Weiner Steve , Klein Tamir
Published: April 2020

The manner in which leaves adapt to different light intensities is key for enabling plants to survive in diverse environments and in constantly changing conditions. Many studies have addressed this subject, but little attention has been given to the effect that mineral deposits in leaves can have on photosynthesis.

Here we study 6 species ofFicusand investigate how different cystolith configurations affect photosynthesis in both non-saturating and saturating light. We quantified the effect of light scattering by cystoliths on light absorption by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence intensity using microfluorimetry. We complement this by carbon assimilation measurements to directly estimate how light scattering by cystoliths affects the overall photosynthetic process.

We show that light waste is reduced when irradiance is on a cystolith compared to cystolith free tissue. Moreover, light is channeled into the center of the leaf where photosynthesis occurs more efficiently than in the outer layers. This, in turn, leads to more efficient CO2assimilation.

We conclude that cystoliths contribute to photosynthesis optimization under saturating light. Cystoliths reduce the wasted portion of absorbed light under saturating irradiance by scattering light into the light-deprived leaf center. The increased efficiency may well provide important benefits to plants that form mineral scatterers.
Age-stratified Infection Probabilities Combined with Quarantine-Modified SEIR Model in the Needs Assessments for COVID-19
Authors: Bongolan Vena Pearl , Antonio Minoza Jose Marie , de Castro Romulo , Sevilleja Jesus Emmanuel
Published: April 2020

We use the age-stratified COVID-19 infection and death distributions from China (more than 44,672 infectious as of February 11, 2020) as an estimate for a study area’s infection and morbidity probabilities at each age group. We then apply these probabilities into the actual age-stratified population to predict infectious individuals and deaths at peak. Testing with different countries shows the predicted infectious skewing with the country’s median age and age stratification, as expected. We added a Q parameter to the classic SEIR compartmental model to include the effect of quarantine (Q-SEIR). The projections from the age-stratified probabilities give much lower predicted incidences of infection than the Q-SEIR model. As expected, quarantine tends to delay the peaks for both Exposed and Infectious, and to ‘flatten’ the curve or lower the predicted values for each compartment. These two estimates were used as a range to inform planning and response to the COVID-19 threat.
Targeting the gut microbiome in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: de Leeuw Marcel A. , Duval Manuel X.
Published: April 2020

Background

Gut microbiota (GM) composition has been associated with acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD), however, current knowledge is insufficient to target the GM.

Methods

A relevant series of microbiome data sets were combined and reanalyzed, with resolution of species level changes in the GM.

Results

GM composition was found strongly correlated with aGvHD status after one month post stem cell infusion (R2=0.51). The predicted average biological safety level, indicative of antibiotic resistance, was found increased in aGvHD cases (p=1.6E-4). Using in silico modelling, we formulated a probiotic composition putatively competing with mortality and aGvHD associated species.

Implications

Supplementation with Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium breve is proposed as a prophylactic treatment alongside with prebiotics and an adapted antibiotics course.
Sperm-specific COX6B2 enhances oxidative phosphorylation, proliferation, and survival in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cheng Chun-Chun , Wooten Joshua , Gibbs Zane , McGlynn Kathleen , Mishra Prashant , Whitehurst Angelique W.
Published: April 2020

Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are genes whose expression is normally restricted to the testis but anomalously activated in cancer. In sperm, a number of CTAs promote energy generation, however whether these proteins contribute to tumor cell metabolism is not understood. Here we describe COX6B2, a sperm-specific component of cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV). COX6B2 is frequently expressed in human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and expression correlates with reduced survival time in patients. COX6B2, but not its somatic isoform COX6B1, enhances activity of complex IV, increasing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and NAD+generation.

Consequently, COX6B2-expressing cells display a proliferative advantage, particularly in low oxygen conditions. Conversely, depletion of COX6B2 attenuates OXPHOS and collapses mitochondrial membrane potential leading to cell death or senescence.

Furthermore, COX6B2 is both necessary and sufficient for growth of tumorsin vivo. Our findings reveal a previously unappreciated, tumor specific metabolic pathway hijacked from one of the most ATP-intensive processes in the animal kingdom: sperm motility.
Omics integration analyses reveal the early evolution of malignancy in breast cancer
Authors: Sarhadi Shamim , Salehzadeh-Yazdi Ali , Damaghi Mehdi , Zarghami Nosratallah , Wolkenhauer Olaf , Hosseini Hedayatollah
Published: April 2020

Background

The majority of cancer evolution studies are done on individual-based approaches that neglect population dynamics necessity for the global picture of cancer evolution in each cancer type. Here, we conducted a population-based study in breast cancer to understand the timing of malignancy evolution and its correlation to the genetic evolution of pathological stages.

Results

In an omics integrative approach, we integrated gene expression and genomic aberration data for pre-invasive (DCIS, early-stage) and post-invasive (IDC, late-stage) samples and investigated the evolutionary role of further genetic changes in late stages compared to the early ones. We found that single genetic alterations (SGAs) and copy number alterations (CNAs) conspire together for the fine-tuning of the operating signaling pathways of tumors inforwardandbackward evolutionmanners. Theforward evolutionapplies to new genetic changes that boost the efficiency of selected signaling pathways. Thebackward evolution, which we detected for CNAs, is a mean to reverse unwanted SGAs of earlier stages. Analyses of the integrated point mutation and gene expression data show that (i) our proposed fine-tuning concept is also applicable in metastasis, and (ii) metastasis diverges from primary tumor sometimes at the DCIS stage.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that malignant potency of breast tumors is constant over pre and post invasive pathological stages. Indeed, further genetic alterations in later stages do not establishde novomalignancy routes; however, they serve to fine-tune antecedent signaling pathways.
The FDA-approved drugs ticlopidine, sertaconazole, and dexlansoprazole can cause morphological changes inC. elegans
Authors: Galford Kyle F , Jose Antony M
Published: April 2020

Urgent need for treatments limit studies of therapeutic drugs before approval by regulatory agencies. Analyses of drugs after approval can therefore improve our understanding of their mechanism of action and enable better therapies. We screened a library of 1443 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs using a simple assay in the nematodeC. elegansand found three compounds that caused morphological changes. While the anticoagulant ticlopidine and the antifungal sertaconazole caused morphologically distinct pharyngeal defects upon acute exposure, the proton-pump inhibitor dexlansoprazole caused molting defects and required exposure during larval development. Such easily detectable defects in a powerful genetic model system advocate the continued exploration of current medicines using a variety of model organisms to better understand drugs already prescribed to millions of patients.
Patterns of discursive interactions between students and teachers in the biology learning process in High school: the use of social media
Authors: de Souza Scarlet Ferreira , Cintra Armellini Bárbara Rodrigues , La Luna Alexandre , Ramos Moreno Ana Carolina , Godinho Netto Martha Cristina Motta , de Cássia Café Ferreira Rita , Júnior Flávio Krzyzanowski
Published: April 2020

Increasingly, blending teaching has become a reality in a generation where the digital language is present in virtually every activity. In addition to allowing greater independence and encouraging students to learn at their own pace, blending teaching allows the student to easily access reliable information quickly. Therefore, new studies related to active learning methodology are fundamental. In this study we analyzed 69 interactions between high school students and their teachers in a biology learning activity using a social networking site and the methodology proposed by Mortimer and Scott. The results showed that the prior knowledge of students as well as questions posing challenges and problems to be solved, a very important approach in learning Science Methodology, were barely explored by teachers and mediators (17% and 1%, respectively). Our data demonstrated that the use of digital technology alone does not guarantee interactions that contribute to the learning process in the field of natural sciences. Proposals were also discussed so that these interactions become more diversified and interesting for students, arousing interest in research and promoting the knowledge of scientific methodology.
Fear of exponential growth in Covid19 data of India and future sketching
Authors: Mondal Supriya , Ghosh Sabyasachi
Published: April 2020

We have attempted to interpret existing n-cov positive data in India with respect to other countries - Italy, USA, China and South Korea. We have mainly zoomed in the exponential growth in a particular zone of time axis, which is well followed in the data profile of India and Italy but not in others. A deviation from exponential growth to Sigmoid function is analyzed in the data profile of China and South Korea. Projecting that pattern to time dependent data of total number and new cases in India, we have drawn three possible Sigmoid functions, which saturate to cases 104, 105, 106. Ongoing data has doubtful signal of those possibilities and future hope is probably in extension of lock-down and additional imposition of interventions.
SARS-CoV-2 detection with CRISPR diagnostics
Authors: Guo Lu , Sun Xuehan , Wang Xinge , Liang Chen , Jiang Haiping , Gao Qingqin , Dai Moyu , Qu Bin , Fang Sen , Mao Yihuan , Chen Yangcan , Feng Guihai , Gu Qi , Wang Liu , Wang Ruiqi Rachel , Zhou Qi , Li Wei
Published: April 2020

The novel coronavirus (CoV) disease termed COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) is causing a massive pandemic worldwide, threatening public health systems across the globe. During this ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, nucleic acid detection has played an important role in early diagnosis. Here we report a SARS-CoV-2 detection protocol using a CRISPR-based CRISPR diagnostic platform - CDetection (Cas12b-mediated DNA detection). By combining sample treatment protocols and nucleic acid amplification methods with CDetection, we have established an integrated viral nucleic acid detection platform - CASdetec (CRISPR-assisted detection). The detection limit of CASdetec for SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus is 1 × 104copies/mL, with no cross reactivity observed. Our assay design and optimization process can provide guidance for future CRISPR-based nucleic acid detection assay development and optimization.
Inhibition of histone acetyltranserase function radiosensitizes CREBBP/EP300 mutants via repression of homologous recombination, potentially targeting a novel gain of function
Authors: Kumar Manish , Molkentine David , Molkentine Jessica , Bridges Kathleen , Xie Tongxin , Yang Liang , Hefner Andrew , Gao Meng , Frederick Mitchell J. , Seth Sahil , Abdelhakiem Mohamed , Beadle Beth M. , Johnson Faye , Wang Jing , Shen Li , Heffernan Timothy , Sheth Aakash , Ferris Robert , Myers Jeffrey N. , Pickering Curtis R. , Skinner Heath D.
Published: April 2020

Despite radiation forming the curative backbone of over 50% of malignancies, there are no genomically-driven radiation sensitizers for clinical use. We performedin vivoshRNA screening to identify targets generally associated with radiation response as well as those exhibiting a genomic dependency. This identified the histone acetyltransferases CREBBP/EP300 as a target for radiosensitization in combination with radiation in cognate mutant tumors. Furtherin vitroandin vivostudies confirmed this phenomenon was due to repression of homologous recombination following DNA damage and can be reproduced using chemical inhibition of histone acetyltransferase (HAT), but not bromodomain function. Selected mutations in CREBBP lead to a hyperacetylated state that increases CBP and BRCA1 acetylation, representing a gain of function targets by HAT inhibition. Additionally, mutations in CREBBP/EP300 were associated with recurrence following radiation, in several squamous cell carcinoma cohorts. These findings represent both a novel mechanism of treatment resistance and the potential for genomically-driven treatment.
Mapping the unique and shared functions of oncogenic KRAS and RIT1 with proteome and transcriptome profiling
Authors: Lo April , Holmes Kristin , Mundt Filip , Moorthi Sitapriya , Fung Iris , Fereshetian Shaunt , Watson Jackie , Carr Steven A. , Mertins Philipp , Berger Alice H.
Published: April 2020

Aberrant activation of RAS oncogenes is prevalent in lung adenocarcinoma, with somatic mutation ofKRASoccurring in ∼30% of tumors. Recently, we identified somatic mutation of the RAS-family GTPaseRIT1in lung adenocarcinoma, but relatively little is known about the biological pathways regulated by RIT1 and how these relate to the oncogenic KRAS network. Here we present quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic profiles fromKRAS-mutant andRIT1-mutant isogenic lung epithelial cells and globally characterize the signaling networks regulated by each oncogene. We find that both mutant KRAS and mutant RIT1 promote S6 kinase, AKT, and RAF/MEK signaling, and promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and immune evasion via HLA protein loss. However, KRAS and RIT1 diverge in regulation of phosphorylation sites on EGFR, USO1, and AHNAK proteins. The majority of the proteome changes are related to altered transcriptional regulation, but a small subset of proteins are differentially regulated by both oncoproteins at the post-transcriptional level, including intermediate filament proteins, metallothioneins, and MHC Class I proteins. These data provide the first global, unbiased characterization of oncogenic RIT1 network and identify the shared and divergent functions of oncogenic RIT1 and KRAS GTPases in lung cancer.