bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of soil shear strength in gully systems: A case‐study in the Wangjiagou (WJG) watershed on the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Zhu Tongxin , Xu Xiangzhou , Zhu A‐Xing , Wang Xiaoping
Published: May 2020

Soil erodibility is one of the major parameters for soil erosion prediction and conservation planning. Soil shear strength is an effective indicator of soil erodibility. Although shear strength has been extensively measured on agricultural lands, very limited measurements have been made within gullies. In this study, shear strength was measured at various geomorphic positions of gullies, in different types of deposits and gullies, as well as in inter‐gully areas in the Wangjiagou watershed on the Loess Plateau. In total, over 5,000 measurements were taken in the field prior to the rainy seasons in 2006 and 2008. The results demonstrated: (a) there is a drastic difference in soil shear strength among different types of geomorphic features and deposits in the gullies, with the highest on gully sidewalls and the lowest in new dry flow materials (a mean value of 110.7 vs. 1.3 kPa); (b) Among different types of gullies, the mean shear strength of headwater gully and hillside gully shows no statistically significant difference (14.8 vs. 14.3 kPa), but is much smaller than that of valleyside gully (26.4 kPa); (c) Soil shear strength has much greater variation in the gully area than in the inter‐gully area, with a standard deviation of 28.3 versus 12.3 kPa. Different erosion/deposition processes play a major role in the spatial heterogeneity of soil shear strength in the gully area, whereas land use and tillage practices are the controlling factors in the inter‐gully area; (d) All types of mass failures reduce soil shear strength dramatically, and therefore increase subsequent water erosion.
DECAY DYNAMICS IN MOLECULAR BEAMS
Authors: Hansen Klavs
Published: May 2020

The phenomenon of power law decays in molecular beams is reviewed. The transition from a canonical to a microcanonical description of the decay is analyzed, and the appearance of the power law decay derived. Deviations from a power law often contain information on parallel competing processes. This is illustrated with examples where thermal radiation or dark unimolecular channels are the competing processes. Also corrections to the power law due to finite heat capacities and from nonideal energy distributions are derived. Finally, the consequences for the interpretation of action spectroscopy data are reviewed. © 2020 The Authors. Mass Spectrometry Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev
The relationship between severity of obstructive sleep apnea and maxillofacial morphology and BMI; from the point of view of sex and age distribution
Authors: Amitani Kiriko , Takeyama Masaki , Nihara Jun , Takahashi Kojiro , Ohshima Yasuyoshi , Kobayashi Tadaharu , Saito Isao
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is generally more common in men than in women, so many studies have only involved male OSA patients as subjects. However, a certain proportion of OSA patients are female, and few studies have addressed this population. Maxillofacial morphology and obesity are now being shown to be intimately connected with OSA, but the details remain unclear. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the clinical features of OSA in men and women of different ages, with a focus on maxillofacial morphology and body mass index (BMI).

Methods

The subjects comprised 112 patients (56 men and 56 women) randomly selected from adult patients in the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital. We investigated the results of lateral cephalogram measurements and polysomnography (PSG) conducted before the start of OSA treatment. We then divided the patients by age (with 50 years as the cutoff value) and sex, and performed statistical comparisons among these four groups.

Results

The findings showed that the hyoid bone was lower in men aged ≥50 compared with <50, and the cross‐sectional area of the tongue was larger. This suggested that aging changes in maxillofacial morphology may be a risk factor in men. In women, however, only slight morphological differences were found between the two age groups.

Conclusions

This comparative study of sex and age groups in OSA patients suggests that the different groups have different clinical characteristics and may have different risk factors for developing OSA.
Occurrence of a mucocele in a submandibular gland containing a sialolith: A case report
Authors: Yoshikawa Kyohei , Noguchi Kazuma , Yamanegi Koji , Nakanishi Masumi , Takaoka Kazuki , Kishimoto Hiromitsu
Published: May 2020

Mucoceles usually originate from minor salivary glands. They rarely develop from the submandibular gland, and the location of all previously reported submandibular gland mucoceles is extra‐glandular. To the best of our knowledge, no reports have described a localized mucocele occurring within the submandibular gland. We herein present an extremely rare case of a localized mucocele including a sialolith that occurred in the submandibular gland. Extirpation of the submandibular gland including both the mucocele and sialolith was performed, and no postoperative complications occurred during the 2‐year follow‐up.
Fetal brain and placental programming in maternal obesity: A review of human and animal model studies
Authors: Shook Lydia L. , Kislal Sezen , Edlow Andrea G.
Published: May 2020

Both human epidemiologic and animal model studies demonstrate that prenatal and lactational exposure to maternal obesity and high‐fat diet are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Neurodevelopmental outcomes described in offspring of obese women include cognitive impairment, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, disordered eating, and propensity for reward‐driven behavior, among others. This review synthesizes human and animal data linking maternal obesity and high‐fat diet consumption to abnormal fetal brain development, and neurodevelopmental and psychiatric morbidity in offspring. It highlights key mechanisms by which maternal obesity and maternal diet impact fetal and offspring development, and sex differences in offspring programming. In addition, we review placental effects of maternal obesity, and the role the placenta might play as an indicator vs mediator of fetal programming.
Pregnancy outcomes associated with chorioamnion membrane separation severity following fetoscopic laser surgery for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Bergh Eric P. , Moise Kenneth J. , Johnson Anthony , Papanna Ramesha
Published: May 2020

Objective

We tested the hypothesis that increasing severity of chorioamnion membrane separation (CAS) after fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS) for twin‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is associated with worse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

Prospective cohort of patients undergoing FLS for TTTS between 2011 and 2018. CAS was defined as separation of fetal membranes from the uterine wall on post‐operative ultrasound. Patient groups were defined: Group 1: No CAS; Group 2: CAS lower than 50th centile; Group 3: CAS upper than 50th centile or complete CAS. Comparative analysis was performed.

Results

Of 387 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 29 (7.5%) had CAS (median 9.8 mm [4.9‐30.8 mm]). Group 1 patients were more likely to undergo FLS at later gestational age, had increased recipient maximum vertical pocket, and higher amnioreduction volume than Group 3. Group 3 had higher rates of preterm premature rupture of membrane, delivered earlier and were more likely to terminate than Group 1. Group 2 had fewer neonatal survivors than Group 1. Survival analysis for gestational age at delivery and Cox proportional hazards model indicated increased risk for early delivery in Groups 2 and 3 compared with Group 1.

Conclusions

Patients with CAS ≥9.8 mm or complete CAS after FLS for TTTS had worse obstetric and neonatal outcomes.
Neurodevelopmental impairment at 3 years of age after fetoscopic laser surgery for twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Matsushima Sachio , Ozawa Katsusuke , Sugibayashi Rika , Ogawa Kohei , Tsukamoto Keiko , Miyazaki Osamu , Wada Seiji , Ito Yushi , Sago Haruhiko
Published: May 2020

Background

Data on neurodevelopmental outcomes of children surviving after fetoscopic laser surgery (FLS) for twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) are scarce.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated children surviving after FLS for TTTS at 16 to 26 weeks' gestation between 2003 and 2014. Children were evaluated by standardized neurologic examinations using the Kyoto Scale 2001 at a corrected age of 3 years ± 6 months. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) was defined as cerebral palsy (CP), bilateral blindness, bilateral deafness or a developmental quotient (DQ) < 70 points. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at term‐equivalent age.

Results

A total of 188 children from 110 twin pregnancies were evaluated. NDI was detected in 16/188 (8.5%) children, including six cases of CP (3.2%). No children had bilateral blindness or deafness. An earlier gestational age at delivery was associated with a higher incidence of NDI (P < .001). Abnormal brain MRI findings were detected in 9/16 (56%) of children with NDI, including 6/6 (100%) with CP.

Conclusion

The incidence of NDI in children following FLS at 3 years old was 8.5%. Prematurity is a strong risk factor for NDI. Brain MRI may predict the development of CP.
Congenital syphilis: A contemporary update on an ancient disease
Authors: Rac Martha W. F. , Stafford Irene A. , Eppes Catherine S.
Published: May 2020

Congenital syphilis (CS) rates reached a 20‐year high in the United States in 2018. Unlike previous years, most babies diagnosed with CS were born to mothers who received prenatal care, indicative of the need for better provider education and guideline adherence. Current rates suggest that screening for syphilis should be performed at the first prenatal care visit and twice during the third trimester. There are two diagnostic algorithms available for use in the United States (traditional and reverse) and providers must understand how to perform each algorithm. Treatment should be administered according to stage of syphilis per Centers for Disease Control recommendations with best neonatal outcomes seen when treatment is initiated >30 days before delivery. Benzathine Penicillin G remains the only recommended treatment of syphilis during pregnancy. In viable pregnancies, a pretreatment ultrasound is recommended to identify sonographic evidence of fetal infection and treatment should be initiated with continuous fetal monitoring to evaluate for the Jarisch‐Herxheimer reaction which can cause preterm labor and fetal distress. After adequate syphilotherapy, a fourfold decline in maternal nontreponemal titers may not be observed by delivery and does not correlate with rates of CS.
Couples experiences of receiving uncertain results following prenatal microarray or exome sequencing: A mixed‐methods systematic review
Authors: Harding Eleanor , Hammond Jennifer , Chitty Lyn S. , Hill Melissa , Lewis Celine
Published: May 2020

Background

Tests in pregnancy such as chromosomal microarray analysis and exome sequencing are increasing diagnostic yield for fetal structural anomalies, but have greater potential to result in uncertain findings. This systematic review investigated the experiences of prospective parents about receiving uncertain results from these tests.

Methods

A systematic search of three electronic databases was conducted. Data extraction was performed for studies that met the eligibility and quality criteria. Results were synthesised following the principles of thematic analysis.

Results

Fourteen studies (10 qualitative, 4 quantitative) were included. Findings were grouped into three overarching themes. Sources of uncertainty included the testing procedure, the diagnosis and prognosis, and health professionals' own uncertainty. The clinical impact of the uncertainty included parents struggling to make clinical decisions with the information available, the emotional impact included decisional‐regret, shock, worry and feeling overwhelmed. To manage the uncertainty, parents sought support from healthcare professionals, friends, family, the internet and other parents as well as remaining hopeful.

Conclusions

Prospective parents experience a myriad of uncertainties in the prenatal setting, which must be handled sensitively. Future research should explore optimal ways of managing uncertainty to minimise harm. Recommendations are made for discussing uncertainty during pre‐ and post‐test counseling.
Role of cytosolic, tyrosine‐insensitive prephenate dehydrogenase in Medicago truncatula
Authors: Schenck Craig A. , Westphal Josh , Jayaraman Dhileepkumar , Garcia Kevin , Wen Jiangqi , Mysore Kirankumar S. , Ané Jean‐Michel , Sumner Lloyd W. , Maeda Hiroshi A.
Published: May 2020

l‐Tyrosine (Tyr) is an aromatic amino acid synthesized de novo in plants and microbes downstream of the shikimate pathway. In plants, Tyr and a Tyr pathway intermediate, 4‐hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP), are precursors to numerous specialized metabolites, which are crucial for plant and human health. Tyr is synthesized in the plastids by a TyrA family enzyme, arogenate dehydrogenase (ADH/TyrAa), which is feedback inhibited by Tyr. Additionally, many legumes possess prephenate dehydrogenases (PDH/TyrAp), which are insensitive to Tyr and localized to the cytosol. Yet the role of PDH enzymes in legumes is currently unknown. This study isolated and characterized Tnt1‐transposon mutants of MtPDH1 (pdh1) in Medicago truncatula to investigate PDH function. The pdh1 mutants lacked PDH transcript and PDH activity, and displayed little aberrant morphological phenotypes under standard growth conditions, providing genetic evidence that MtPDH1 is responsible for the PDH activity detected in M. truncatula. Though plant PDH enzymes and activity have been specifically found in legumes, nodule number and nitrogenase activity of pdh1 mutants were not significantly reduced compared with wild‐type (Wt) during symbiosis with nitrogen‐fixing bacteria. Although Tyr levels were not significantly different between Wt and mutants under standard conditions, when carbon flux was increased by shikimate precursor feeding, mutants accumulated significantly less Tyr than Wt. These data suggest that MtPDH1 is involved in Tyr biosynthesis when the shikimate pathway is stimulated and possibly linked to unidentified legume‐specific specialized metabolism.
Oligomerization of a symmetric β‐trefoil protein in response to folding nucleus perturbation
Authors: Tenorio Connie A. , Parker Joseph B. , Blaber Michael
Published: May 2020

Gene duplication and fusion events in protein evolution are postulated to be responsible for the common protein folds exhibiting internal rotational symmetry. Such evolutionary processes can also potentially yield regions of repetitive primary structure. Repetitive primary structure offers the potential for alternative definitions of critical regions, such as the folding nucleus (FN). In principle, more than one instance of the FN potentially enables an alternative folding pathway in the face of a subsequent deleterious mutation. We describe the targeted mutation of the carboxyl‐terminal region of the (internally located) FN of the de novo designed purely‐symmetric β‐trefoil protein Symfoil‐4P. This mutation involves wholesale replacement of a repeating trefoil‐fold motif with a “blade” motif from a β‐propeller protein, and postulated to trap that region of the Symfoil‐4P FN in a nonproductive folding intermediate. The resulting protein (termed “Bladefoil”) is shown to be cooperatively folding, but as a trimeric oligomer. The results illustrate how symmetric protein architectures have potentially diverse folding alternatives available to them, including oligomerization, when preferred pathways are perturbed.
Cover Image, Volume 76, Issue 6
Authors: Brosnan James T , Vargas José J , Spesard Bruce , Netzband Derek , Zobel John M , Chen Jinyi , Patterson Eric L
Published: May 2020

The front cover image is based on the Research Article Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) resistance to indaziflam applied early‐postemergence by James T Brosnan et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5740.

image
Biological disease‐modifying drugs for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: May 2020

There are now nine biological disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis – seven monoclonal antibodies and two fusion proteins. This article summarises their indications, efficacy, place in therapy and adverse effects.
Three‐dimensional pathways of dust over the Sahara during summer 2011 as revealed by new Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer observations
Authors: Cuesta Juan , Flamant Cyrille , Gaetani Marco , Knippertz Peter , Fink Andreas H. , Chazette Patrick , Eremenko Maxim , Dufour Gaëlle , Di Biagio Claudia , Formenti Paola
Published: May 2020

We present a new characterisation of the three‐dimensional (3D) distribution of dust over the Sahara during summer, exemplified for June 2011. Our approach, called AEROIASI, is based on the innovative retrieval of vertical profiles of the dust extinction coefficient from daily cloud‐free hyperspectral Infrared Atmospheric Sounder Interferometer (IASI) satellite observations. AEROIASI observations clearly agree with other widely used measurements (from lidar and radiometers). The 3D characterisation is focused on the dust maximum in June 2011, located in the central Sahara (17–23°N, 1–7°E) and linked to the major atmospheric dynamical drivers associated with the West African Monsoon (WAM) system. AEROIASI shows the near‐surface dust load to be dominated by five major emission events occurring every 3–4 days. These all occur when the study region is under the influence of northward bursts of the WAM and convection‐related cold pools, likely associated with orographic forcing by the Aïr Mountains. During the earliest (June 10) and the dustiest (June 17) cases, northward advection of moisture over the hotspot is favoured by the superposition of cyclonic circulations related to an extratropical disturbance northwest of the Sahara and to the Saharan heat low over Mauritania, respectively. Convection over the hotspot also triggers wave‐like disturbances that travel westwards. The three dustiest events are characterised by elongated dust fronts moving northwards, with a leading edge spanning 200–300 km horizontally and extending from the surface up to 2 km of altitude. Further south, the dust layer progressively elevates to 3.5 km along the slanted isentropes at the interface of the monsoon and the harmattan, increasingly losing contact with the ground. When northerlies blow over the study region, elevated dust layers at 3–5 km are observed, which are transported southwards within the Saharan air layer and westwards along the northern edge of the African easterly jet (after June 13).
Using Megha‐Tropiques satellite data to constrain humidity in regional convective simulations: A northern Australian test case
Authors: Prasad Abhnil A. , Sherwood Steven C. , Brogniez Hélène
Published: May 2020

Convective initiation and growth are sensitive to atmospheric conditions, especially humidity, in ways that need to be understood and quantified. It is not clear, however, how well current observations and modelling systems can serve to test this understanding. We simulate multiple cases of convergent cloud lines observed during January 2016 over northeastern Australia using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model (version 3.7.1), initialized by and nudged to reanalysis data. Overall, WRF appears to skilfully simulate the convergence lines. However, the associated convective clouds as seen by satellite were not properly captured by the model. The model humidity was tested against the current version (V3‐00) of the Megha‐Tropiques satellite, which although up to 30% too moist in the lowest retrieved layer over the dry continental interior compared to radiosondes, is usually accurate to within ±10% near the cloud lines. Unperturbed WRF simulations were found to be 10–20% too dry in this region. Compensating for this humidity bias via the model initialization produced more realistic simulations of clouds and convection, and this had a comparable or larger impact than changing model physics. This result highlights the importance of observations of water vapour that are accurate and have good spatial coverage, especially in the lower troposphere, for properly constraining simulations of convective environments and for model evaluation of moist processes.
Giant intrapulmonary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour
Authors: Desdiani Desdiani , Darifah Siti , Azali Chairul
Published: May 2020

Pulmonary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are extremely rare soft tissue sarcomas that develop from the cell constituting the nerve sheaths, approximately 5–10% of all soft tissue sarcomas. We present a rare case of primary lung MPNST in an adult female non‐smoker patient, in whom surgical thoracotomy approach has obtained a good control of the disease. Low‐grade MPNST was established from excisional biopsy followed by immunohistochemistry.
A review of computer‐assisted orthopaedic surgery systems
Authors: Wang Monan , Li Donghui , Shang Xiping , Wang Jian
Published: May 2020

Background

Computer‐assisted orthopaedic surgery systems have great potential, but no review has focused on computer‐assisted surgery systems for the spine, hip, and knee.

Methods

A systematic search was performed in Web of Science and PubMed. We searched the literature on computer‐assisted orthopaedic surgery systems from 2008 to the present and focused on three aspects of systems: training, planning, and intraoperative navigation.

Results and discussion

In this review study, we reviewed 34 surgical training systems, 31 surgical planning systems, and 41 surgical navigation systems. The functions and characteristics of the surgical systems were compared and analysed, and the current concerns about and the impact of the surgical systems on doctors and surgery were clarified.

Conclusion

Computer‐assisted orthopaedic surgery systems are still in the development stage. Future surgical training systems should include synthetic models with patient anatomy. Surgical planning systems with automatic planning should be developed, and surgical navigation systems with multimodal fusion, robotic assistance and imaging should be developed.
Sport and International Management: Exploring research synergy
Authors: Szymanski Mike , Wolfe Richard A. , Danis Wade , Lee Fiona , Uy Marilyn A.
Published: May 2020

The objective of this article is to indicate how international business (IB) research can benefit from using sport as a research context. We present the rationale for studying organizational phenomena within sport, with a focus on benefits specific to IB research, and present examples wherein sport is used to study organizational phenomena relevant to IB. Among the examples we present, we focus on the influence of identity integration on performance of multinational teams, the influence of international experience on performance of multinational teams, and the influence of cultural differences on emotions in organizations. We conclude with suggestions for future research.
Changing faces of stress: Impact of heat and arsenite treatment on the composition of stress granules
Authors: Frydrýšková Klára , Mašek Tomáš , Pospíšek Martin
Published: May 2020

Stress granules (SGs), hallmarks of the cellular adaptation to stress, promote survival, conserve cellular energy, and are fully dissolved upon the cessation of stress treatment. Different stresses can initiate the assembly of SGs, but arsenite and heat are the best studied of these stresses. The composition of SGs and posttranslational modifications of SG proteins differ depending on the type and severity of the stress insult, methodology used, cell line, and presence of overexpressed and tagged proteins. A group of 18 proteins showing differential localization to SGs in heat‐ and arsenite‐stressed mammalian cell lines is described. Upon severe and prolonged stress, physiological SGs transform into more solid protein aggregates that are no longer reversible and do not contain mRNA. Similar pathological inclusions are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. SGs induced by heat stress are less dynamic than SGs induced by arsenite and contain a set of unique proteins and linkage‐specific polyubiquitinated proteins. The same types of ubiquitin linkages have been found to contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We propose heat stress‐induced SGs as a possible model of an intermediate stage along the transition from dynamic, fully reversible arsenite stress‐induced SGs toward aberrant SGs, the hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. Stress‐ and methodology‐specific differences in the compositions of SGs and the transition of SGs to aberrant protein aggregates are discussed.

This article is categorized under:

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA–Protein Complexes

RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization
The Sernbo score as a predictor of 1-year mortality after hip fracture: a registry study on 55,716 patients
Authors: Mellner Carl , Hedström Margareta , Hommel Ami , Sköldenberg Olof , Eisler Thomas , Mukka Sebastian
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Patients sustaining a hip fracture have a high mortality rate during the first postoperative year and the Sernbo score may stratify patients into a high, intermediate and low risk of death during this period. We assessed its predictive properties on patients from the National Swedish Hip Fracture Register.

Patients and methods

55,716 hip fracture patients, 69% women older than 65 years at surgery (registered between 2010 and 2015) with complete Sernbo scores and mortality data were studied. Receiver-operating characteristics analyses (ROC) were used. Validation of Sernbo score was performed.

Results

The overall 1-year mortality rate was 26%—and 17%, 27.4% and 55.6% in the low, intermediate and high-risk groups, respectively. The ROC analysis indicated a predictive ability of the Sernbo score, with an AUC of 0.69 (CI 0.68–0.69).

Conclusion

In this registry-based study, the easy-to-use Sernbo scoring system proved to be appropriate and useful way to identify hip fracture patients with a high-risk mortality during the first postoperative year.
Electrophysiological correlates of gist perception: a steady-state visually evoked potentials study
Authors: Radtke Elise L. , Schöne Benjamin , Martens Ulla , Gruber Thomas
Published: May 2020

Gist perception refers to perceiving the substance or general meaning of a scene. To investigate its neuronal mechanisms, we used the steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) method—an evoked oscillatory cortical response at the same frequency as a visual stimulus flickered at this frequency. Two neighboring stimuli were flickered at different frequencies f1 and f2, for example, a drawing of a sun on the left side of the screen flickering at 8.6 Hz and the drawing of a parasol on the right side of the screen flickering at 12 Hz. SSVEPs enabled us to separate the responses to the two distinct stimuli by extracting oscillatory brain responses at f1 and f2. Additionally, it allowed to investigate intermodulation frequencies, that is, the brain’s response at a linear combination of f1 and f2 (here at f1 + f2 = 20.6 Hz) as an indicator of processing shared aspects of the input, that is, gist perception (here: a beach scene). We recorded high-density EEG of 18 participants. Results revealed clear and separable neuronal oscillations at f1 and f2. Additionally, occipital electrodes showed increased amplitudes at the intermodulation frequency in related as compared to unrelated pairs. The increase in intermodulation frequency was associated with bilateral temporal and parietal lobe activation, probably reflecting the interaction of local object representations as a basis for activating the gist network. The study demonstrates that SSVEPs are an excellent method to unravel mechanisms underlying the processing within multi-stimulus displays in the context of gist perception.
Prescription analgesia and adjuvant use by pain severity at admission among nursing home residents with non-malignant pain
Authors: Lapane Kate L. , Hume Anne L. , Morrison Reynolds A. , Jesdale Bill M.
Published: May 2020

Objective

We estimated the use of prescribed analgesics and adjuvants among nursing home residents without cancer who reported pain at their admission assessment, in relation to resident-reported pain severity.

Methods

Medicare Part D claims were used to define 3 classes of analgesics and 7 classes of potential adjuvants on the 21st day after nursing home admission (or the day of discharge for residents discharged before that date) among 180,780 residents with complete information admitted between January 1, 2011 and December 9, 2016, with no cancer diagnosis.

Results

Of these residents, 27.9% reported mild pain, 46.6% moderate pain, and 25.6% reported severe pain. The prevalence of residents in pain without Part D claims for prescribed analgesic and/or adjuvant medications was 47.3% among those reporting mild pain, 35.7% among those with moderate pain, and 24.8% among those in severe pain. Among residents reporting severe pain, 33% of those ≥ 85 years of age and 35% of those moderately cognitively impaired received no prescription analgesics/adjuvants. Use of all classes of prescribed analgesics and adjuvants increased with resident-reported pain severity, and the concomitant use of medications from multiple classes was common.

Conclusion

Among nursing home residents with recognized pain, opportunities to improve the pharmacologic management of pain, especially among older residents, and those living with cognitive impairments exist.
Single dose epidural hydromorphone in labour pain: maternal pharmacokinetics and neonatal exposure
Authors: Puhto Terhi , Kokki Merja , Hakomäki Henriikka , Spalding Michael , Gunnar Teemu , Alahuhta Seppo , Vakkala Merja
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Epidural hydromorphone could be useful in obstetric analgesia as there is a need for a more water-soluble opioid than sufentanil or fentanyl with prolonged analgesic effect. To our knowledge, the pharmacokinetics of epidural hydromorphone has not been evaluated in parturients.

Materials and methods

In this pilot study, seven healthy parturients were given a single epidural dose of hydromorphone for labour pain. One parturient received 1.5 mg, two 0.75 mg and four 0.5 mg of hydromorphone hydrochloride. Dose was decreased due to nausea and pruritus. Hydromorphone’s effect, adverse effects and plasma concentrations were evaluated. Neonatal drug exposure was evaluated by umbilical vein and artery opioid concentration at birth. Neonatal outcomes were assessed using Apgar and the Neurologic Adaptive Capacity Score (NACS).

Results

All patients received additional levobupivacaine doses on parturients’ requests. The first dose was requested at a median of 163 min (range 19–303 min) after hydromorphone administration. A total of 12 opioid related expected adverse events were reported by seven parturients. All newborn outcomes were uneventful. Hydromorphone’s distribution and elimination after single epidural dose seem similar to that reported for non-pregnant subjects after intravenous hydromorphone administration, but further research is required to confirm this observation.

Conclusions

The optimal dose of hydromorphone in labour pain warrants further evaluation.
MRI follow-up after magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound for non-invasive thalamotomy: the neuroradiologist’s perspective
Authors: Keil Vera C. , Borger Valeri , Purrer Veronika , Groetz Simon F. , Scheef Lukas , Boecker Henning , Schild Hans H. , Kindler Christine , Schmitt Angelika , Solymosi Laszlo , Wüllner Ullrich , Pieper Claus C.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) systems are increasingly used to non-invasively treat tremor; consensus on imaging follow-up is poor in these patients. This study aims to elucidate how MRgFUS lesions evolve for a radiological readership with regard to clinical outcome.

Methods

MRgFUS-induced lesions and oedema were retrospectively evaluated based on DWI, SWI, T2-weighted and T1-weighted 3-T MRI data acquired 30 min and 3, 30 and 180 days after MRgFUS (n = 9 essential tremor, n = 1 Parkinson’s patients). Lesions were assessed volumetrically, visually and by ADC measurements and compared with clinical effects using non-parametric testing.

Results

Thirty minutes after treatment, all lesions could be identified on T2-weighted images. Immediate oedema was rare (n = 1). Lesion volume as well as oedema reached a maximum on day 3 with a mean lesion size of 0.4 ± 0.2 cm3 and an oedema volume 3.7 ± 1.2 times the lesion volume. On day 3, a distinct diffusion-restricted rim was noted that corresponded well with SWI. Lesion shrinkage after day 3 was observed in all sequences. Lesions were no longer detectable on DWI in n = 7/10, on T2-weighted images in n = 4/10 and on T1-weighted images in n = 4/10 on day 180. No infarcts or haemorrhage were observed. There was no correlation between lesion size and initial motor skill improvement (p = 0.99). Tremor reduction dynamics correlated strongly with lesion shrinkage between days 3 and 180 (p = 0.01, R = 0.76).

Conclusion

In conclusion, cerebral MRgFUS lesions variably shrink over months. SWI is the sequence of choice to identify lesions after 6 months. Lesion volume is arguably associated with intermediate-term outcome.
Left and Right Ventricular Impairment Shortly After Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Terol Covadonga , Kamphuis Vivian P. , Hazekamp Mark G. , Blom Nico A. , Ten Harkel Arend D. J.
Published: May 2020

Surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is usually performed in the first months of life with low early postoperative mortality. During long-term follow-up, however, both right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) performances may deteriorate. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and speckle tracking echocardiography (ST) can unmask a diminished RV and LV performance. The objective of the current study was to assess the cardiac performance before and shortly after corrective surgery in ToF patients using conventional, TDI and ST echocardiographic techniques. Thirty-six ToF patients after surgery were included. Transthoracic echocardiography including TDI and ST techniques was performed preoperatively and at hospital discharge after surgery (10 days to 4 weeks after surgery). Median age at surgery was 7.5 months [5.5–10.9]. Regarding the LV systolic function there was a significant decrease in interventricular septum (IVS) S′ at discharge as compared to preoperatively (pre IVS S′ = 5.4 ± 1.4; post IVS S′ = 3.9 ± 1.2; p < 0.001) and in global longitudinal peak strain (GLS) (pre = − 18.3 ± 3.4; post = − 14.2 ± 4.1; p = 0.003); but not in the fractional shortening (FS). Both conventional and TDI parameters showed a decrease in diastolic function at discharge. Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion and RV S′ were significantly lower before discharge. When assessing the RV diastolic performance, only the TDI demonstrated a RV impairment. There was a negative correlation between age at surgery and postoperative LV GLS (R = − 0.41, p = 0.031). There seems to be an impairment in left and right ventricle performance at discharge after ToF corrective surgery compared to preoperatively. This is better determined with TDI and ST strain imaging than with conventional echocardiography.
Fear of the dark? A mesopredator mitigates large carnivore risk through nocturnality, but humans moderate the interaction
Authors: Haswell Peter M. , Kusak Josip , Jones Katherine A. , Hayward Matt W.
Published: May 2020

While constrained by endogenous rhythms, morphology and ecology, animals may still exhibit flexible activity patterns in response to risk. Temporal avoidance of interspecific aggression can enable access to resources without spatial exclusion. Apex predators, including humans, can affect mesopredator activity patterns. Human context might also modify temporal interactions between predators. We explored activity patterns, nocturnality and the effects of human activity upon a guild of carnivores (grey wolf,Canis lupus; Eurasian lynx,Lynx lynx; red fox,Vulpes vulpes) using travel routes in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. Humans were diurnal, foxes nocturnal and large carnivores active during the night, immediately after sunrise and before sunset. Carnivore activity patterns overlapped greatly and to a similar extent for all pairings. Activity curves followed expectations based on interspecific killing, with activity peaks coinciding where body size differences were small (wolf and lynx) but not when they were intermediate (foxes to large carnivores). Carnivore activity, particularly fox, overlapped much less with that of diurnal humans. Foxes responded to higher large carnivore activity by being more nocturnal. Low light levels likely provide safer conditions by reducing the visual detectability of mesopredators. The nocturnal effect of large carnivores was however moderated and reduced by human activity. This could perhaps be due to temporal shielding or interference with risk cues. Subtle temporal avoidance and nocturnality may enable mesopredators to cope with interspecific aggression at shared spatial resources. Higher human activity moderated the effects of top-down temporal suppression which could consequently affect the trophic interactions of mesopredators.

Significance statement

Temporal partitioning can provide an important mechanism for spatial resource access and species coexistence. Our findings show that carnivores partition the use of shared travel routes in time, using the cover of darkness to travel safely where their suppressors (large carnivores) are more active. We however observed fox nocturnality to be flexible, with responses depending on the activity levels but also the composition of apex predators. High human activity modified the top-down temporal suppression of mesopredators by large carnivores. The use of time by predators can have demographic and trophic consequences. Prey accessibility and susceptibility can be temporally variable. As such, the ecosystem services and the ecological roles of predators may be affected by human time use as well as that of intraguild competitors. Temporal interactions should not be overlooked when evaluating human use and conservation priorities in protected areas.
Behavioural correlations and aggression in praying mantids
Authors: Fisher Adam M. , Holwell Gregory I. , Price Tom A. R.
Published: May 2020

Distinct behaviours can co-vary within individuals. As such, the magnitude of certain behaviours may be partly predicted by other behaviours, rather than the environment. This can constrain behaviours, potentially reducing behavioural variability. Pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism, the consumption of potential mates before copulation, can lead to females remaining unmated, particularly if males are rare. One possible explanation for the persistence of pre-copulatory cannibalism is that sexual cannibalism is correlated with high levels of aggression towards prey. Here, we test this in two species of praying mantis: the highly cannibalisticMiomantis caffraand the less cannibalisticOrthodera novaezealandiae. If cannibalism inM. caffrais linked to aggression towards prey, we predicted that (1)M. caffrawould be more aggressive towards prey thanO. novaezealandiae, (2) femaleM. caffrawould be more aggressive than males, (3) aggression towards prey would be correlated across juvenile and adult instars forM. caffrabut notO. novaezealandiae, and (4) aggression towards prey would be associated with a propensity for sexual cannibalism among individualM. caffra. We found evidence supporting predictions one and two, but not predictions three and four. Surprisingly, aggression was shown to be repeatable and correlated across instars forO. novaezealandiaebut notM. caffra. Our results suggest sexual cannibalism is not a product of behavioural co-variation, even in clades where sexual cannibalism is common. This suggests that sexual cannibalism evolves due to the direct benefits it brings to females, rather than being a by-product of high aggression towards heterospecific prey.

Significance statement

In some animals, different behaviours co-vary within individuals. This may lead to the emergence of costly behaviours and reduce behavioural plasticity. It is theorized that pre-copulatory cannibalism is a costly behavioural by-product of selection for high levels of aggression towards prey. However, there are very few studies that explicitly test this. Here, we provide a behavioural comparison between two species of praying mantis that vary in their propensity to cannibalize and tested whether general aggression is linked cannibalism. We found that aggression towards prey in adults can be linked to juvenile aggression but not a propensity for cannibalism. Although cannibalism rates were higher in the species that was more aggressive towards prey, aggression towards prey was not linked to cannibalism within individuals. This suggests that pre-copulatory cannibalism is not a behavioural by-product but a result of direct selection.
Gone with the wind: Is signal timing in a neotropical katydid an adaptive response to variation in wind-induced vibratory noise?
Authors: Velilla Estefania , Muñoz Matías , Quiroga Nicol , Symes Laurel , ter Hofstede Hannah M. , Page Rachel A. , Simon Ralph , Ellers Jacintha , Halfwerk Wouter
Published: May 2020

Wind, a major source of environmental noise, forces invertebrates that communicate with plant-borne vibrations to adjust their signaling when communicating in windy conditions. However, the strategies that animals use to reduce the impact of wind noise on communication are not well studied. We investigated the effects of wind on the production of tremulatory signals in the neotropical katydid Copiphora brevirostris. First, we recorded katydid signaling activity and natural wind variation in the field. Additionally, we exposed katydid couples during their most active signaling time period to artificial wind of different levels, and we recorded the number of tremulations produced by the males. We found that wind levels are at their lowest between 2:00 and 5:00 in the morning, which coincides with peak signaling period for male katydids. Furthermore, we found that males produce significantly fewer tremulations when exposed to wind rather than acoustic noise or silence. Wind velocity significantly affected the number of tremulations produced during the wind treatment, with fewer tremulations produced with higher wind velocities. Our results show that katydids can time their vibratory signaling both in the short- and long-term to favorable sensory conditions, either through behavioral flexibility in response to short-term fluctuations in wind or as a result of an evolutionary process in response to predictable periods of low-wind conditions.

Significance statement

Animal communication can be hampered by noise across all sensory modalities. Most research on the effects of noise and the strategies to cope with it has focused on animals that use airborne sounds to communicate. However, although hundreds of thousands of invertebrates communicate with vibrational signals, we know very little about how noise affects this form of communication. For animals that rely on substrate-borne vibrations, wind represents the major source of environmental noise. Wind velocity levels can be predictable at a long-term scale (hours) but rather unpredictable at a short time scale (seconds). Both scales of variation are important for communication. Using a combination of field observations and lab experiments, we investigated the strategies used by a neotropical katydid Copiphora brevirostris to cope with vibrational noise induced by wind. Our results demonstrate that C. brevirostris times its signals at the long- and short-term range. Katydids signaled more at the times at night when wind velocity was lowest. Moreover, when exposed to wind gusts during their peak time of activity, katydids signaled more during the wind-free gaps.
Comparison of radial and meander-like breast ultrasound with respect to diagnostic accuracy and examination time
Authors: Jäggi-Wickes Claudia , Brasier-Lutz Pascale , Schaedelin Sabine , Burian Rosemarie , Schoenenberger Cora-Ann , Zanetti-Dällenbach Rosanna
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To prospectively compare the diagnostic accuracy of radial breast ultrasound (r-US) to that of conventional meander-like breast ultrasound (m-US), patients of a consecutive, unselected, mixed collective were examined by both scanning methods.

Methods

Out of 1948 dual examinations, 150 revealed suspicious lesions resulting in 168 biopsies taken from 148 patients. Histology confirmed breast cancers in 36 cases. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV were calculated for r-US and m-US. The examination times were recorded.

Results

For m-US and r-US, sensitivity (both 88.9%), specificity (86.4% versus 89.4%), accuracy (86.9% versus 89.3%), PPV (64.0% versus 69.6%), NPV (both 98.3%), false-negative rate (both 5.6%), and rate of cancer missed by one method (both 5.6%) were similar. The mean examination time for r-US (14.8 min) was significantly (p < 0.01) shorter than for m-US (22.6 min).

Conclusion

Because the diagnostic accuracy of r-US and m-US are comparable, r-US can be considered an alternative to m-US in routine breast US with the added benefit of a significantly shorter examination time.
COX-2-PGE2-EPs in gynecological cancers
Authors: Ye Yao , Wang Xipeng , Jeschke Udo , von Schönfeldt Viktoria
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors (COXibs) inhibit the progression of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer. However, concerning the adverse effects of NSAIDs and COXibs, it is still urgent and necessary to explore novel and specific anti-inflammation targets for potential chemoprevention. The signaling of cyclooxygenase 2-prostaglandin E2-prostaglandin E2 receptors (COX-2-PGE2-EPs) is the central inflammatory pathway involved in the gynecological carcinogenesis.

Methods

Literature searches were performed to the function of COX-2-PGE2-EPs in gynecological malignancies.

Results

This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of COX-2-PGE2-EPs signaling in endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer. Many studies demonstrated the upregulated expression of the whole signaling pathway in gynecological malignancies and some focused on the function of COX-2 and cAMP-linked EP2/EP4 and EP3 signaling pathway in gynecological cancer. By contrast, roles of EP1 and the exact pathological mechanisms have not been completely clarified. The studies concerning EP receptors in gynecological cancers highlight the potential advantage of combining COX enzyme inhibitors with EP receptor antagonists as therapeutic agents in gynecological cancers.

Conclusion

EPs represent promising anti-inflammation biomarkers for gynecological cancer and may be novel treatment targets in the near future.