bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards a common lexicon for equity, diversity, and inclusion work in academic medicine
Authors: Rodríguez José E. , Figueroa Edgar , Campbell Kendall M. , Washington Judy C. , Amaechi Octavia , Anim Tanya , Allen Kari-Claudia , Foster Krys E. , Hightower Maia , Parra Yury , Wusu Maria H. , Smith William A. , Villarreal Mary Ann , Pololi Linda H.
Published: October 2022

Differential rewarding of work and experience has been a longtime feature of academic medicine, resulting in a series of academic disparities. These disparities have been collectively called a cultural or minority “tax,” and, when considered beyond academic medicine, exist across all departments, colleges, and schools of institutions of higher learning–from health sciences to disciplines located on university campuses outside of medicine and health. A shared language can provide opportunities for those who champion this work to pool resources for larger impacts across the institution. This article aims to catalog the terms used across academic medicine disciplines to establish a common language describing the inequities experienced by Black, Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Women, and other underrepresented people as well as queer, disabled, and other historically marginalized or excluded groups. These ideas are specific to academic medicine in the United States, although many can be used in academic medicine in other countries. The terms were selected by a team of experts in equity, diversity, and inclusion, (EDI) who are considered national thought leaders in EDI and collectively have over 100 years of scholarship and experience in this area.
Genetic liability to obesity and peptic ulcer disease: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Zhoubin , Chen Heng , Chen Ting
Published: October 2022

Background

Epidemiological evidence relating obesity to peptic ulcer disease (PUD) has been mixed. Here we sought to determine the causality in the association of obesity with PUD risk using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods

This study was based on summary-level data for body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and PUD derived from large genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Single nucleotide polymorphisms significantly associated with BMI and WHR (P < 5 × 10–8) were leveraged as instrumental variables. Causal estimates were pooled using several meta-analysis methods. In addition, multivariable MR was employed to account for covariation between BMI and WHR, as well as to explore potential mediators.

Results

Genetically predicted higher BMI has a causal effect on PUD, with an OR of 1.34 per SD increase in BMI (~ 4.8 kg/m2) (P = 9.72 × 10–16). Likewise, there was a 35% higher risk of PUD (P = 2.35 × 10–10) for each SD increase in WHR (0.09 ratio). Complementary analyses returned consistent results. Multivariable MR demonstrated that adjustment for WHR largely attenuated the BMI-PUD association. However, the causal association of WHR with PUD risk survived adjustment for BMI. Both the associations remained robust upon adjustment for several traditional risk factors. Replication analyses using different instrumental variants further strengthened the causal inference. Besides, we found no evidence for the causal association in the reverse analyses from PUD to BMI/WHR.

Conclusions

This MR study revealed that obesity (notably abdominal obesity) is causally associated with higher PUD risk. Programs aimed at weight loss may represent therapeutic opportunities for PUD.
Apolipoprotein-A is a potential prognostic biomarker for severe aplastic anemia patients treated with ATG-based immunosuppressive therapy: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Liu Qi , Dong Huijie , Li Yuzhu , Shen Yingying , Hong Yilei , Chen Ying , Liu Shan , Wu Xiaolian , Liu Wenbin , Hu Huijin , Zhao Yuechao , Lin Shenyun , Shen Yiping , Zhou Yuhong , Ye Baodong , Wu Dijiong
Published: October 2022

Background

Anti-thymoglobulin (ATG)-based immunosuppressive treatment (IST) is the standard first-line management for patients with severe AA/very severe AA (SAA/VSAA) and is not suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The response predictor was not fully investigated.

Objective

The present study attempted to explore other characteristics, such as serum lipid changes, during ATG-based IST and analyzed their significance in predicting IST response and survival.

Methods

A total of 61 newly diagnosed SAA/VSAA patients who received ATG-based IST were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2019. The blood lipid levels, immunoglobulins, and peripheral T lymphocytes were retrospectively collected, and their correlations with IST response, estimated 8.5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed.

Results

The overall response (OR)/complete remission (CR) at 3, 6, and 9 months was 24.6%/6.6%, 52.5%/14.8%, and 65.6%/23.0%, respectively. Based on the 9-month response effect, patients were divided into IST-response (IST-R) and IST-nonresponse (IST-NR) groups. The subgroup baseline characteristics showed that the disease severity grade, absolute neutrophil granulocyte count (ANC), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apolipoprotein-A (Apo-A) differed between the IST-R and IST-NR groups. Patients with lower Apo-A (< 1.205 g/L) level pretreatment had a better event-free survival (EFS), and a moderate negative correlation was established between the pretreatment Apo-A and 9-month response (P = 0.004). In addition, the T-cell subset and immunoglobulin analyses showed that the responsive patients had a low serum IgA level, which decreased further after therapy. Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was established between the 3-month IgA and 9-month response (P = 0.006).

Conclusion

Serum Apo-A is a prognostic biomarker for newly diagnosed < 60-year-old SAA/VSAA patients who received ATG-based IST (registered atchictr.org.cn as # ChiCTR2100052979).
Deeper insight into the role of IL-17 in the relationship beween hypertension and intestinal physiology
Authors: Yang Ze-Jun , Wang Tian-Tian , Wang Bo-Ya , Gao Han , He Cheng-Wei , Shang Hong-Wei , Lu Xin , Wang Ying , Xu Jing-Dong
Published: October 2022

With the incidence of hypertension increasing worldwide, more and more the mechanisms of hypertension from the perspective of immunity have found. Intestinal microbiota as well as its metabolites relationship with hypertension has attracted great attention from both clinicians and investigators. However, the associations of hypertension with lesions of a large number of immune factors including IL-17, MCP-1, IL-6, TGF-β, IL-10 and others have not been fully characterized. In this review, after introducing the immune factors as the most potent anti/pro-hypertension agents known, we provide detailed descriptions of the IL-17 involved in the pathology of hypertension, pointing out the underlying mechanisms and suggesting the clinical indications.
Impact of audible pops associated with spinal manipulation on perceived pain: a systematic review
Authors: Moorman Annelieke Cesanne , Newell David
Published: October 2022

Objectives

An audible pop is the sound that can derive from an adjustment in spinal manipulative therapy and is often seen as an indicator of a successful treatment. A review conducted in 1998 concluded that there was little scientific evidence to support any therapeutic benefit derived from the audible pop. Since then, research methods have evolved considerably creating opportunities for new evidence to emerge. It was therefore timely to review the evidence.

Methods

The following electronic databases were searched for relevant studies pertaining to the impact of audible pops in spinal manipulative therapy: PubMed, Index to Chiropractic Literature (ICL), Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Web-of-Science. The main outcome was pain. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias and quality of the evidence using the Downs and Black checklist. Results of the included literature were synthesized into a systematic review.

Results

Five original research articles were included in the review, of which four were prospective cohort studies and one a randomized controlled trial. All studies reported similar results: regardless of the area of the spine manipulated or follow-up time, there was no evidence of improved pain outcomes associated with an audible pop. One study even reported a hypoalgesic effect to external pain stimuli after spinal manipulation, regardless of an audible pop.

Conclusions

Whilst there is still no consensus among chiropractors on the association of an audible pop and pain outcomes in spinal manipulative therapy, knowledge about the audible pop has advanced. This review suggests that the presence or absence of an audible pop may not be important regarding pain outcomes with spinal manipulation.
Spatial transcriptomics tools allow for regional exploration of heterogeneous muscle pathology in the pre-clinical rabbit model of rotator cuff tear
Authors: Ruoss Severin , Esparza Mary C. , Vasquez-Bolanos Laura S. , Nasamran Chanond A. , Fisch Kathleen M. , Engler Adam J. , Ward Samuel R.
Published: October 2022

Background

Conditions affecting skeletal muscle, such as chronic rotator cuff tears, low back pain, dystrophies, and many others, often share changes in muscle phenotype: intramuscular adipose and fibrotic tissue increase while contractile tissue is lost. The underlying changes in cell populations and cell ratios observed with these phenotypic changes complicate the interpretation of tissue-level transcriptional data. Novel single-cell transcriptomics has limited capacity to address this problem because muscle fibers are too long to be engulfed in single-cell droplets and single nuclei transcriptomics are complicated by muscle fibers’ multinucleation. Therefore, the goal of this project was to evaluate the potential and challenges of a spatial transcriptomics technology to add dimensionality to transcriptional data in an attempt to better understand regional cellular activity in heterogeneous skeletal muscle tissue.

Methods

The 3′ Visium spatial transcriptomics technology was applied to muscle tissue of a rabbit model of rotator cuff tear. Healthy control and tissue collected at 2 and 16 weeks after tenotomy was utilized and freshly snap frozen tissue was compared with tissue stored for over 6 years to evaluate whether this technology is retrospectively useful in previously acquired tissues. Transcriptional information was overlayed with standard hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains of the exact same histological sections.

Results

Sequencing saturation and number of genes detected was not affected by sample storage duration. Unbiased clustering matched the underlying tissue type-based on H&E assessment. Connective-tissue-rich areas presented with lower unique molecular identifier counts are compared with muscle fibers even though tissue permeabilization was standardized across the section. A qualitative analysis of resulting datasets revealed heterogeneous fiber degeneration–regeneration after tenotomy based on (neonatal) myosin heavy chain 8 detection and associated differentially expressed gene analysis.

Conclusions

This protocol can be used in skeletal muscle to explore spatial transcriptional patterns and confidently relate them to the underlying histology, even for tissues that have been stored for up to 6 years. Using this protocol, there is potential for novel transcriptional pathway discovery in longitudinal studies since the transcriptional information is unbiased by muscle composition and cell type changes.
Expanding perigraft seroma after ascending aorta replacement
Authors: Kanemitsu Shinji , Sakamoto Shunsuke , Teranishi Satoshi , Mizumoto Toru
Published: October 2022

Background

Perigraft seroma is a persistent and sterile fluid confined within a fibrous pseudomembrane surrounding a graft that develops after graft replacement. Development of perigraft seroma is an uncommon complication that occurs after the surgical repair of the thoracic aorta using woven polyester grafts. mechanism underlying perigraft seroma formation remains unclear.

Case presentation

Herein, we describe the case of 77-year-old man who underwent repeat sternotomy for the treatment of large perigraft seroma 1 year after ascending aorta replacement for acute type A dissection. After removing a cloudy yellow fluid, we covered the prosthetic graft with fibrin glue and wrapped it with a new graft. Bacterial culture and laboratory examination of the fluid confirmed the final diagnosis of perigraft seroma, and there was no evidence of recurrence. The area in which fluid accumulated around the graft shrunk 1 year after surgery.

Conclusions

The cause of a expanding perigraft after repair of the thoracic aorta remains unknown. Physicians should be aware that chronic expanding mediastinal seroma with Dacron grafts is one of the rare postoperative complications of thoracic aortic surgery. Applying fibrin glue to the graft surface might effectively prevent the recurrence of perigraft seroma.
The effects of synbiotic supplementation on enteral feeding tolerance, protein homeostasis, and muscle wasting of critically ill adult patients: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Seifi Najmeh , Rezvani Reza , Sedaghat Alireza , Nematy Mohsen , Khadem-Rezaiyan Majid , Safarian Mohammad
Published: October 2022

Background

Enteral feeding intolerance, energy-protein malnutrition, and muscle wasting are common conditions in the critical care setting. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on enteral feed volume, energy and protein homeostasis, and muscle mass maintenance in critically ill adult patients.

Methods

A consecutive of 42 patients admitted to the Edalatian Medical ICU, requiring enteral nutrition (EN), were prospectively randomized to receive the synbiotic capsule (containing a combination of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, and fructooligosaccharides) or placebo (21 patients in each group) for a maximum of 14 days. Enteral intolerance and energy homeostasis were evaluated on a daily basis. Nitrogen balance and 24-h urine creatinine excretion were recorded on days 1 and 14. Mid-arm circumference was recorded every 3 days.

Results

Mean EN volume, energy, and protein intake per day were 962.5 ± 533.82 ml, 770 ± 427.05 kcal, and 38.5 ± 21.35 g (fourth day) vs. 590 ± 321.1 ml, 472 ± 256.81 kcal, and 23.6 ± 12.84 g (first day) in the synbiotic group (p < 0.05). Changes in the placebo group were not statistically significant. On day 1, nitrogen balance (NB) was − 19.84 ± 8.03 in the synbiotic vs. − 10.99 ± 9.12 in the placebo group (p = 0.003). On day 14, NB was − 14.18 ± 13.05 in the synbiotic and − 9.59 ± 7.71 in the placebo group (p = 0.41). Mid-arm circumference (MAC), 24-h urine creatinine, and creatinine-height index were almost steady in the synbiotic group, while they decreased in the placebo group.

Conclusion

Overall, it can be concluded that enteral nutrition supplemented with synbiotics has no statistically significant effect on energy and protein homeostasis and muscle mass maintenance of critically ill patients on day 14, but it can increase enteral feed volume and energy and protein intake during the first 4 days of ICU admission.

Trial registration

The trial protocol has been approved in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials on March 17, 2019. The registration reference is IRCT20190227042857N1.
The different faces of metastatic melanoma in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Serrao Eva Mendes , Costa Ana Maria , Ferreira Sergio , McMorran Victoria , Cargill Emma , Hough Caroline , Shaw Ashley S. , O’Carrigan Brent , Parkinson Christine A. , Corrie Pippa G. , Sadler Timothy J.
Published: October 2022

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, with tendency to spread to any organ of the human body, including the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The diagnosis of metastases to the GIT can be difficult, as they may be clinically silent for somewhile and may occur years after the initial melanoma diagnosis. CT imaging remains the standard modality for staging and surveillance of melanoma patients, and in most cases, it will be the first imaging modality to identify GIT lesions. However, interpretation of CT studies in patients with melanoma can be challenging as lesions may be subtle and random in distribution, as well as sometimes mimicking other conditions. Even so, early diagnosis of GIT metastases is critical to avoid emergency hospitalisations, whilst surgical intervention can be curative in some cases. In this review, we illustrate the various imaging presentations of melanoma metastases within the GIT, discuss the clinical aspects and offer advice on investigation and management. We offer tips intended to aid radiologists in their diagnostic skills and interpretation of melanoma imaging scans.
Diffusion imaging could aid to differentiate between glioma progression and treatment-related abnormalities: a meta-analysis
Authors: van den Elshout Rik , Scheenen Tom W. J. , Driessen Chantal M. L. , Smeenk Robert J. , Meijer Frederick J. A. , Henssen Dylan
Published: October 2022

Background

In a considerable subgroup of glioma patients treated with (chemo) radiation new lesions develop either representing tumor progression (TP) or treatment-related abnormalities (TRA). Quantitative diffusion imaging metrics such as the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) and Fractional Anisotropy (FA) have been reported as potential metrics to noninvasively differentiate between these two phenomena. Variability in performance scores of these metrics and absence of a critical overview of the literature contribute to the lack of clinical implementation. This meta-analysis therefore critically reviewed the literature and meta-analyzed the performance scores.

Methods

Systematic searching was carried out in PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library. Using predefined criteria, papers were reviewed. Diagnostic accuracy values of suitable papers were meta-analyzed quantitatively.

Results

Of 1252 identified papers, 10 ADC papers, totaling 414 patients, and 4 FA papers, with 154 patients were eligible for meta-analysis. Mean ADC values of the patients in the TP/TRA groups were 1.13 × 10−3mm2/s (95% CI 0.912 × 10–3–1.32 × 10−3mm2/s) and 1.38 × 10−3mm2/s (95% CI 1.33 × 10–3–1.45 × 10−3mm2/s, respectively. Mean FA values of TP/TRA was 0.19 (95% CI 0.189–0.194) and 0.14 (95% CI 0.137–0.143) respectively. A significant mean difference between ADC and FA values in TP versus TRA was observed (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Quantitative ADC and FA values could be useful for distinguishing TP from TRA on a meta-level. Further studies using serial imaging of individual patients are warranted to determine the role of diffusion imaging in glioma patients.
Magnetic resonance imaging patterns of paediatric brain infections: a pictorial review based on the Western Australian experience
Authors: Yang Chi-Wei Robin , Mason Michael , Parizel Paul M. , Warne Richard
Published: October 2022

Paediatric brain infections are relatively uncommon, but it is important for radiologists to recognise the disease and provide accurate differential diagnoses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in determining the most likely causative pathogen—either in the setting of an unwell child with acute infectious encephalitis, or in the evaluation of a child for sequela of prior infection. Image analysis can, however, be difficult since a particular pathogen can cause variable MRI findings across different geographic environments, and conversely, a particular appearance on MRI may be caused by a variety of pathogens. This educational review aims to identify some of the key MRI patterns seen in paediatric brain infections and present example cases encountered in Western Australia. Based on (i) the predominant type of signal abnormality (restricted diffusion versus T2 hyperintensity) and (ii) the distribution of signal abnormality throughout the brain, this review presents a framework of six key MRI patterns seen in paediatric brain infections, with an emphasis on acute infectious encephalitis. There is general utility to these MRI patterns—each suggestive of a group of likely diagnostic possibilities which can be calibrated according to institution and local environment. The pattern-based framework of this review can be easily transitioned into daily radiological practice, and we hope it facilitates the formation of accurate differential diagnoses in paediatric brain infections.
ADSCs-derived exosomes ameliorate hepatic fibrosis by suppressing stellate cell activation and remodeling hepatocellular glutamine synthetase-mediated glutamine and ammonia homeostasis
Authors: Wu Baitong , Feng Jiuxing , Guo Jingyi , Wang Jian , Xiu Guanghui , Xu Jiaqi , Ning Ke , Ling Bin , Fu Qingchun , Xu Jun
Published: October 2022

Background

Hepatic fibrosis is a common pathologic stage in chronic liver disease development, which might ultimately lead to liver cirrhosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs)-based therapies show excellent therapeutic potential in liver injury disease owing to its superior properties, including tissue repair ability and immunomodulation effect. However, cell-based therapy still limits to several problems, such as engraftment efficiency and immunoreaction, which impede the ADSCs-based therapeutics development. So, ADSCs-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), especially for exosomes (ADSC-EXO), emerge as a promise cell-free therapeutics to ameliorate liver fibrosis. The effect and underlying mechanisms of ADSC-EXO in liver fibrosis remains blurred.

Methods

Hepatic fibrosis murine model was established by intraperitoneal sequential injecting the diethylnitrosamine (DEN) for two weeks and then carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for six weeks. Subsequently, hepatic fibrosis mice were administrated with ADSC-EXO (10 μg/g) or PBS through tail vein infusion for three times in two weeks. To evaluate the anti-fibrotic capacity of ADSC-EXO, we detected liver morphology by histopathological examination, ECM deposition by serology test and Sirius Red staining, profibrogenic markers by qRT-PCR assay. LX-2 cells treated with TGF-β (10 ng/ml) for 12 h were conducted for evaluating ADSC-EXO effect on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). RNA-seq was performed for further analysis of the underlying regulatory mechanisms of ADSC-EXO in liver fibrosis.

Results

In this study, we obtained isolated ADSCs, collected and separated ADSCs-derived exosomes. We found that ADSC-EXO treatment could efficiently ameliorate DEN/CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by improving mice liver function and lessening hepatic ECM deposition. Moreover, ADSC-EXO intervention could reverse profibrogenic phenotypes both in vivo and in vitro, including HSCs activation depressed and profibrogenic markers inhibition. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis further determined that decreased glutamine synthetase (Glul) of perivenous hepatocytes in hepatic fibrosis mice could be dramatically up-regulated by ADSC-EXO treatment; meanwhile, glutamine and ammonia metabolism-associated key enzyme OAT was up-regulated and GLS2 was down-regulated by ADSC-EXO treatment in mice liver. In addition, glutamine synthetase inhibitor would erase ADSC-EXO therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrated that ADSC-derived exosomes could efficiently alleviate hepatic fibrosis by suppressing HSCs activation and remodeling glutamine and ammonia metabolism mediated by hepatocellular glutamine synthetase, which might be a novel and promising anti-fibrotic therapeutics for hepatic fibrosis disease.
A general cardinalized probability hypothesis density filter
Authors: Shen Xinglin , Song Zhiyong , Fan Hongqi , Fu Qiang
Published: October 2022

Based on random finite set, the probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter and the cardinalized PHD (CPHD) filter have been proposed for multitarget tracking as they are computational tractable. But the classical PHD and CPHD filter is not applicable when a target generates multiple detections. The general PHD filter was proposed to apply the PHD filter to arbitrary clutter and target measurement process. However, as a filter with better performance than the PHD filter, the CPHD filter for multiple-detection tracking is not proposed except the extended target CPHD filter and the multisensor CPHD filter. In our work, the general CPHD filter, which allows the clutter process and target measurement process to be arbitrary and performs better than the general PHD filter, is proposed. The proposed general CPHD filter is the general form of all kinds of CPHD filters, as well as all kinds of PHD filters and Bernoulli filters. In the simulation, the multiple-detection model of the over-the-horizon radar is used to demonstrate the tracking performance. The simulation results show that the proposed filter improves the accuracy of the state estimates and reduces the variance of the estimated number of targets.
Integration intrapreneurship: implementing innovation in a public healthcare organization
Authors: Moss Perrin , Hartley Nicole , Russell Trevor
Published: October 2022

Aim

As global events impact the way organizations operate and innovate in response to regional, workforce and consumer needs, the concept of intrapreneurism is attracting growing interest from policymakers and executives, particularly within the healthcare sector. The aim of this study was to capture the key learnings from the implementation of a telementoring pilot, to understand how intrapreneurship can embed innovation within an established organization to effect more integrated healthcare.

Purpose

A qualitative approach was used with a phenomenological lens to explore the key learnings of the Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) pilot implementation to provide an understanding of what the project team’s strategies and tactics were during the process of embedding a new business innovation. The implementation and piloting of Project ECHO®, a telementoring model, in a large-scale public healthcare organization in Queensland, Australia, was investigated as an exemplar of integration intrapreneurship.

Findings

Through an inductive approach, this qualitative study found the implementation of the Project ECHO® pilot had specific dimensions and strategies/tactics which were exemplars of intrapreneurism. The organizational context and workforce characteristics described in this study presented new knowledge of how intrapreneurs implemented an innovation to address fragmentation of healthcare service delivery, professional isolation and instances of low-value care. This research contributes to a better understanding of the strategic and tactical approaches to implementing intrapreneurial innovations within a public healthcare organization, with learnings that can be adapted by intrapreneurs in other contexts.
Novel trends of genome evolution in highly complex tropical sponge microbiomes
Authors: Kelly Joseph B. , Carlson David E. , Low Jun Siong , Thacker Robert W.
Published: October 2022

Background

Tropical members of the sponge genusIrciniapossess highly complex microbiomes that perform a broad spectrum of chemical processes that influence host fitness. Despite the pervasive role of microbiomes inIrciniabiology, it is still unknown how they remain in stable association across tropical species. To address this question, we performed a comparative analysis of the microbiomes of 11Irciniaspecies using whole-metagenomic shotgun sequencing data to investigate three aspects of bacterial symbiont genomes—the redundancy in metabolic pathways across taxa, the evolution of genes involved in pathogenesis, and the nature of selection acting on genes relevant to secondary metabolism.

Results

A total of 424 new, high-quality bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were produced for 10 CaribbeanIrciniaspecies, which were evaluated alongside 113 publicly available MAGs sourced from the Pacific speciesIrcinia ramosa. Evidence of redundancy was discovered in that the core genes of several primary metabolic pathways could be found in the genomes of multiple bacterial taxa. Across hosts, the metagenomes were depleted in genes relevant to pathogenicity and enriched in eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) that likely mimic the hosts’ molecular patterning. Finally, clusters of steroid biosynthesis genes (CSGs), which appear to be under purifying selection and undergo horizontal gene transfer, were found to be a defining feature ofIrciniametagenomes.

Conclusions

These results illustrate patterns of genome evolution within highly complex microbiomes that illuminate how associations with hosts are maintained. The metabolic redundancy within the microbiomes could help buffer the hosts from changes in the ambient chemical and physical regimes and from fluctuations in the population sizes of the individual microbial strains that make up the microbiome. Additionally, the enrichment of ELPs and depletion of LPS and cellular motility genes provide a model for how alternative strategies to virulence can evolve in microbiomes undergoing mixed-mode transmission that do not ultimately result in higher levels of damage (i.e., pathogenicity) to the host. Our last set of results provides evidence that sterol biosynthesis inIrcinia-associated bacteria is widespread and that these molecules are important for the survival of bacteria in highly complexIrciniamicrobiomes.
Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief
Authors: Campbell Louisa , Smith Margaret
Published: October 2022

The Antonine Wall was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius around 142 CE and stretches for c. 60 km across the central belt of Scotland, marking the Empire’s most north-western frontier. This vanguard research reports on the materials referred to by Antiquarian sources as having been applied during the sixteenth century for the redecoration of an iconic Distance Sculpture that was once embedded into the mural barrier. Portable non-invasive technologies, including pXRF and in-situ microphotography were deployed. These techniques were further supplemented by micro-sampling for SEM/EDS, FTIR–ATR and microscopy of embedded cross-sections. The validity of applying these complementary techniques has been confirmed. They provide a comprehensive account of the polychromy present, including pigments that could have been applied during the Roman period and others that were only available from the fifteenth or sixteenth Centuries. The work has confirmed stratigraphic sequencing of the pigments which will, in due course, permit the digital reconstruction of how this Classical relief sculpture would have been adorned during the Renaissance.
COM-1 and Hongcheon: New monazite reference materials for the microspot analysis of oxygen isotopic composition
Authors: Kim Jeongmin , Park Changkun , Yi Keewook , Lee Shinae , Kim Sook Ju , Jung Min-Ji , Cheong Albert Chang-sik
Published: October 2022

Background

Monazite, a moderately common light rare earth element (LREE) and thorium phosphate mineral, has chemical, age, and isotopic characteristics that are useful in the investigation of the origin and evolution of crustal melts and fluid-﻿rock interactions. Multiple stages of growth and partial recrystallization commonly observed in monazite inevitably require microspot chemical and isotopic analyses, for which well-characterized reference materials are essential to correct instrumental biases. In this study, we introduce new monazite reference materials COM-1 and Hongcheon for the use in the microspot analysis of oxygen isotopic composition.

Findings

COM-1 and Hongcheon were derived from a late Mesoproterozoic (~ 1080 Ma) pegmatite dyke in Colorado, USA, and a Late Triassic (~ 230 Ma) carbonatite-hosted REE ore in central Korea, respectively. The COM-1 monazite has much higher levels of Th (8.77 ± 0.56 wt.%), Si (0.82 ± 0.07 wt.%) and lower REE contents (total REE = 49.5 ± 1.2 wt.%) than does the Hongcheon monazite (Th, 0.23 ± 0.11 wt.%; Si, < 0.1 wt.%; total REE, 59.9 ± 0.7 wt.%). Their oxygen isotopic compositions (δ18OVSMOW) were determined by gas-source mass spectrometry with laser fluorination (COM-1, 6.67 ± 0.08‰; Hongcheon-1, 6.60 ± 0.02‰; Hongcheon-2, 6.08 ± 0.07‰). Oxygen isotope measurements performed by a Cameca IMS1300-HR3 ion probe showed a strong linear dependence (R2 = 0.99) of the instrumental mass fractionation on the total REE contents.

Conclusions

We characterized chemical and oxygen isotopic compositions of COM-1 and Hongcheon monazites. Their internal homogeneity in oxygen isotopic composition and chemical difference provide an efficient tool for calibrating instrumental mass fractionation occurring during secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses.
An effective approach for accurate estimation of VLBI–GNSS local-tie vectors
Authors: Matsumoto Saho , Ueshiba Haruka , Nakakuki Tomokazu , Takagi Yu , Hayashi Kyonosuke , Yutsudo Toru , Mori Katsuhiro , Sato Yudai , Kobayashi Tomokazu
Published: October 2022

The local-tie vectors, which connect coordinate frames of different space geodetic techniques, are indispensable for the construction of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). To obtain the local-tie vector connecting very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) sites with high measurement accuracy, it is crucial to accurately determine the antenna invariant point (IVP), which does not change its position under any tracking conditions. In the 2018 co-location survey at Ishioka station, we employed two methods to determine the IVP; “inside” and “outside” methods. We observed a target mirror from inside or outside of the antenna and derived trajectories of the target used for estimation of the rotation axes. Both the methods successfully estimated the IVPs with the measurement error of less than 1 mm, meeting the requirement of measurement accuracy by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). The striking point is that the difference between the IVP positions was less than 1 mm, suggesting that both the methods could determine almost the same position independently. While they both can determine the IVPs with high measurement accuracy, it should be noted that the inside method substantially improved the operational efficiency. For the outside method, we had to repeat the target observations from four or more pillars around the VLBI antenna, with the reinstallation of a total station (TS) if needed. In contrast, for the inside method, we can observe the target from one place inside the antenna in a short time with only one TS no matter where the mirror is attached in the azimuth cabin. We concluded that the inside method is an effective and practical approach to accurately estimate the IVP.

Graphical Abstract
Construction of Web-GIS for integrating geophysical survey data with geotechnical information in the San’in region, southwest Japan
Authors: Nishimura Isamu , Noguchi Tatsuya , Kagawa Takao
Published: October 2022

Constructing geotechnical information database to collect information such as geophysical survey results and borehole data and then sharing it among researchers and engineers will be useful for developing research on the subsurface structure and the prevention of disasters such as earthquakes and landslides. The geotechnical information includes analysis results based on geophysical surveys, seismic observations, and borehole data. This database can be visually displayed on a map using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The existing analysis results can be checked consecutively. This will allow us to consider new observation plans and to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the subsurface structure model analysis. Therefore, in this study, a database of geotechnical information was developed for the San’in, Japan region. The San’in, Japan region is the western part of Honshu on the Sea of Japan side and includes Tottori and Shimane prefectures. The database of geotechnical information includes the results of microtremor and gravity survey, estimation of the subsurface structure based on seismic records, and borehole data in Tottori and Shimane prefectures. We gather high dense survey points from multiple references in the San’in region, Japan, such that the average space intervals of single station microtremor, microtremor array, gravity survey, and borehole were around 0.1–1, 1–5, 1, and 0.1–1 km, respectively. Furthermore, the corresponding sites of each survey type were conducted over 6000, over 280, over 7500, and over 3700, respectively. In addition, we developed a system to display the database on a map in a web browser (Web-GIS). GIS, Leaflet, a JavaScript library, were used to display the database of geotechnical information using the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) tiled map as the base map. The developed database on the GIS system will be a useful tool that can be used by researchers, engineers, and other stakeholders in the future.

Graphical Abstract
Production of xylose through enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronoarabinoxylan from brewers’ spent grain
Authors: Rojas-Pérez Lilia C. , Narváez-Rincón Paulo C. , Rocha M. Angélica M. , Coelho Elisabete , Coimbra Manuel A.
Published: October 2022

Xylose is an abundant bioresource for obtaining diverse chemicals and added-value products. The production of xylose from green alternatives like enzymatic hydrolysis is an important step in a biorefinery context. This research evaluated the synergism among four classes of hydrolytic purified enzymes—endo-1,4-β-xylanase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase, β-xylosidase, and α-d-glucuronidase—over hydrolysis of glucuronoarabinoxylan (GAX) obtained from brewers’ spent grain (BSG) after alkaline extraction and ethanol precipitation. First, monosaccharides, uronic acids and glycosidic-linkages of alkaline extracted GAX fraction from BSG were characterized, after that different strategies based on the addition of one or two families of enzymes—endo-1,4-β-xylanase (GH10 and GH11) and α-l-arabinofuranosidase (GH43 and GH51)—cooperating with one β-xylosidase (GH43) and one α-d-glucuronidase (GH67) into enzymatic hydrolysis were assessed to obtain the best yield of xylose. The xylose release was monitored over time in the first 90 min and after a prolonged reaction up to 48 h of reaction. The highest yield of xylose was 63.6% (48 h, 40 ℃, pH 5.5), using a mixture of all enzymes devoid of α-l-arabinofuranosidase (GH43) family. These results highlight the importance of GH51 arabinofuranosidase debranching enzyme to allow a higher cleavage of the xylan backbone of GAX from BSG and their synergy with 2 endo-1,4-β-xylanase (GH10 and GH11), one β-xylosidase (GH43) and the inclusion of one α-d-glucuronidase (GH67) in the reaction system. Therefore, this study provides an environmentally friendly process to produce xylose from BSG through utilization of enzymes as catalysts.

Graphical Abstract
Shared decision-making and planning end-of-life care for patients with end-stage kidney disease: a protocol for developing and testing a complex intervention
Authors: Buur Louise Engelbrecht , Finderup Jeanette , Søndergaard Henning , Kannegaard Michell , Madsen Jens Kristian , Bekker Hilary Louise
Published: October 2022

Background

Internationally, it has been stressed that advance care planning integrated within kidney services can lead to more patients being involved in decisions for end-of-life care. In Denmark, there is no systematic approach to advance care planning and end-of-life care interventions within kidney services. A shared decision-making intervention for planning end-of-life care may support more effective treatment management between patients with end-stage kidney disease, their relatives and the health professionals. The purpose of this research is to find evidence to design a shared decision-making intervention and test its acceptability to patients with end-stage kidney disease, their relatives, and health professionals in Danish kidney services.

Methods

This research project will be conducted from November 2020 to November 2023 and is structured according to the UK Medical Research Council framework for complex intervention design and evaluation research. The development phase research includes mixed method surveys. First, a systematic literature review synthesising primary empirical evidence of patient-involvement interventions for patients with end-stage kidney disease making end-of-life care decisions will be conducted. Second, interview methods will be carried out with patients with end-stage kidney disease, relatives, and health professionals to identify experiences of involvement in decision-making and decisional needs when planning end-of-life care. Findings will inform the co-design of the shared decision-making intervention using an iterative process with our multiple-stakeholder steering committee. A pilot test across five kidney units assessing if the shared decision-making intervention is acceptable and feasible to patients, relatives, and health professionals providing services to support delivery of care in kidney services.

Discussion

This research will provide evidence informing the content and design of a shared decision-making intervention supporting patient-professional planning of end-of-life care for patients with end-stage kidney disease, and assessing its acceptability and feasibility when integrated within Danish kidney units. This research is the first step to innovating the involvement of patients in end-of-life care planning with kidney professionals.
Disarrangement and reorganization of the hippocampal functional connectivity during the spatial path adjustment of pigeons
Authors: Li Mengmeng , Cheng Shuguan , Fan Jiantao , Shang Zhigang , Wan Hong , Yang Lifang , Yang Long
Published: October 2022

Background

The hippocampus plays an important role to support path planning and adjustment in goal-directed spatial navigation. While we still only have limited knowledge about how do the hippocampal neural activities, especially the functional connectivity patterns, change during the spatial path adjustment. In this study, we measured the behavioural indicators and local field potentials of the pigeon (Columba livia, male and female) during a goal-directed navigational task with the detour paradigm, exploring the changing patterns of the hippocampal functional network connectivity of the bird during the spatial path learning and adjustment.

Results

Our study demonstrates that the pigeons progressively learned to solve the path adjustment task after the preferred path is blocked suddenly. Behavioural results show that both the total duration and the path lengths pigeons completed the task during the phase of adjustment are significantly longer than those during the acquisition and recovery phases. Furthermore, neural results show that hippocampal functional connectivity selectively changed during path adjustment. Specifically, we identified depressed connectivity in lower bands (delta and theta) and elevated connectivity in higher bands (slow-gamma and fast-gamma).

Conclusions

These results feature both the behavioural response and neural representation of the avian spatial cognitive learning process, suggesting that the functional disarrangement and reorganization of the connectivity in the avian hippocampus during different phases may contribute to our further understanding of the potential mechanism of path learning and adjustment.
Detecting a familiar person behind the surgical mask: recognition without identification among masked versus sunglasses-covered faces
Authors: Carlaw Brooke N. , Huebert Andrew M. , McNeely-White Katherine L. , Rhodes Matthew G. , Cleary Anne M.
Published: October 2022

Previous research has shown that even when famous people’s identities cannot be discerned from faces that have been filtered with monochromatic noise, these unidentifiable famous faces still tend to receive higher familiarity ratings than similarly filtered non-famous faces. Experiment 1 investigated whether a similar face recognition without identification effect would occur among faces whose identification was hindered through the wearing of a surgical mask. Among a mixture of famous and non-famous faces wearing surgical masks and hoods, participants rated how familiar each person seemed then attempted to identify the person. Though surgical masks significantly impaired identification of the famous faces, unidentified masked famous faces received higher familiarity ratings on average than the non-famous masked faces, suggesting that a sense of familiarity could still occur even when identification was impaired by the mask. Experiment 2 compared faces covered by surgical masks with faces covered by sunglasses. Though sunglasses impaired face identification more than surgical masks, the magnitude of the face recognition without identification effect was the same in both cases. This pattern suggests that holistic face processing is not a requirement for the sense of familiarity with a face, and that different facial feature types can contribute.
Comparison of pre-extubation propofol and midazolam to prevent emergence agitation in children—a prospective randomized study
Authors: Holyachi Renuka , Pratibha S. D. , Kagalkar Nirmala Devi , Karigar Shivanand L. , Gowni Geetha , Patil Vidya
Published: October 2022

Background

Emergence delirium is one of the most common and troublesome complications seen after inhalational anesthesia, with an estimated 20–80% incidence rate. It can lead to an increase in mortality, morbidity, and hospital stay, which indirectly reflects a major economic burden. The aim of our study is to compare the effect of propofol and two different doses of midazolam to prevent emergence agitation in children given 5 min before extubation. Seventy-five ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) Physical Status I–II patients aged 2–14 years who were scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia were included in the study. Patients in the study groups were randomized into three groups 25 in each group; group P (propofol of 0.5 mg/kg iv), group ML (midazolam low dose of 0.03 mg/kg iv), and group M (midazolam of 0.05 mg/kg iv) given 5 min before extubation. The primary objective was to study the effect of propofol and two different doses of midazolam for the prevention of emergence agitation in children. The secondary objective was to observe the complications like bronchospasm, laryngospasm, persistent cough, and desaturation in pediatric patients.

Results

The time taken for emergence from anesthesia after surgery in the propofol group was 5.11 ± 1.223 min and in the group midazolam low dose and midazolam time taken was 8.53 ± 2.326 min and 12.45 ± 2.145 min, respectively, and was found to be statistically significant. The incidence of delirium observed with a Cole score of >3 was seen in 14 (56%) patients in group P, 7 (28%), and 6 (24%) patients of groups ML and M, respectively.

Conclusions

Midazolam in low doses given before extubation is effective in preventing the emergence delirium during the postoperative period in pediatric patients without delay in recovery during general anesthesia.
An Instructor’s Guide to Including Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Undergraduate Biology Classroom
Authors: Greenall Rebeka F. , Bailey Elizabeth G.
Published: October 2022

Indigenous students are underrepresented in science, and researchers have called for integration of TEK into Western science. We summarize practical suggestions and caution from the literature for undergraduate biology instructors who want to make their course more equitable for Indigenous students.