bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Cognitive Interviewing to Design Interventions for Implementation in Oncology Settings
Authors: Hirschey Rachel , Nance Jennifer , Wangen Mary , Bryant Ashley Leak , Wheeler Stephanie B. , Herrera Juliana , Leeman Jennifer
Published: January 2021

Background

Implementation of effective interventions into clinical practice is slow, in large part, because researchers do not sufficiently attend to the realities of nurses who implement interventions.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to provide an exemplar of how cognitive interviewing—an important and underused method for developing nursing research—can be used to design survey items and assess multilevel implementation factors.

Methods

We utilized the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to create a survey to assess factors that influence how oncology nurses deliver physical activity interventions. Two rounds of cognitive interviews were conducted with five purposively selected oncology nurses to assess survey items’ clarity and effectiveness at eliciting desired information. We used a cognitive interviewing coding scheme to code data and revise unclear items. Participants completed the revised survey online and underwent a second interview to provide additional feedback.

Results

Seven important changes were made to the survey: how to assess nurses’ perceptions of other nurses’ beliefs and practices; language to capture data relating to nursing leadership and administration; increased detail to assess factors related to nurses’ workplaces; language related to capturing factors related to policy; language to capture data related to equity, disparities, and cultural tailoring; terms replacement with language used by nurses; and strategy to capture data about nurses’ knowledge of national physical activity recommendations for cancer survivors.

Discussion

Cognitive interviewing can be applied to develop survey items that capture real-world experiences and perspectives of practicing nurses. This is an essential step in developing nursing interventions that are ready to be implemented and increasing the uptake of evidence-based nursing care. Cognitive interviewing can be used across nursing settings, populations, and interventions to develop understandings of attitudes, attributes, characteristics, and perceptions for a variety of nursing interventions.
Carrageenan as a Preventive Agent Against Human Papillomavirus Infection: A Narrative Review
Authors: Laurie Cassandra , El-Zein Mariam , Coutlée François , de Pokomandy Alexandra , Franco Eduardo L.
Published: January 2021

Carrageenan, an extract from red algae, was identified over a decade ago as a potent inhibitor of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in vitro. After this discovery, several studies evaluated carrageenan's anti-HPV activity in cells, experimental animals, and humans. We reviewed the evidence for carrageenan's anti-HPV activity. Studies had to be in vitro, in vivo, or in humans and report on carrageenan's anti-HPV activity. Of the 39 records identified in PubMed and 29 records in Clinicaltrials.gov, 22 records were included after screening: 8 in vitro (including 2 ex vivo), 3 in vivo, 5 in vitro and in vivo, 3 clinical studies, and 3 trial protocols. A total of 12 studies evaluated carrageenan exclusively, whereas 7 considered carrageenan combined with additional antiviral or other agents. One study protocol will evaluate carrageenan exclusively, and 2 others will evaluate carrageenan-combination products. Most clinical studies evaluated carrageenan's ability to prevent HPV acquisition (n = 4), whereas one study explored its ability to promote clearance of existing infection (defined as the absence of HPV DNA detection). Carrageenan's anti-HPV activity was observed consistently across study designs, except in 2 studies: 1 in vitro study where 2 of the HPV types tested were not significantly inhibited by carrageenan and 1 phase IIB trial in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. This review supports the premise that carrageenan, alone or in combination with other antiviral agents, might be a potential prevention strategy complementary to HPV vaccination for women.
Intraosseous or Peripheral IV Access in Pediatric Cardiac Arrest? Results From the French National Cardiac Arrest Registry*
Authors: Recher Morgan , Baert Valentine , Escutnaire Joséphine , Le Bastard Quentin , Javaudin François , Hubert Hervé , Leteurtre Stéphane
Published: January 2021

Objectives:

Despite the evolving recommendations that favor the use of intraosseous access in pediatric resuscitation, the impact of vascular access type on survival in young children has not been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the intravascular injection route on the return on spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital admission (0 day), and 30 days or survival to hospital discharge, by comparing survival rates in young children having intraosseous and peripheral IV access. The second aim was to compare the rates of favorable neurologic outcome after 30 days or survival to hospital discharge.

Design:

This was a multicenter retrospective comparative study between July 2011 and October 2018.

Setting:

Based on the French cardiac arrest registry data.

Patients:

All prepubescent (males < 12 yr old, females < 10 yr old) victims of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Interventions:

Patients with adrenaline administration by intraosseous versus peripheral venous technique were compared, using propensity score matching.

Measurements and Main Results:

The analysis included 603 prepubescent patients, 351 (58%) in the intraosseous group and 252 (42%) in the peripheral IV group. Intraosseous group patients were younger, lighter, with more medical cause for arrest. The intraosseous group had lower survival rates at 30 days or hospital discharge (n = 6; 1.7%) than the peripheral IV group (n = 12; 4.8%) (p = 0.030). After matching, 101 pairs of patients were created. No difference was observed on return of spontaneous circulation or 0-day survival rates (odds ratio = 1.000 [95% CI, 0.518–1.930]; odds ratio = 0.946 [95% CI, 0.492–1.817], respectively) and on 30 days or hospital discharge survival (n = 3 in both groups) (odds ratio = 1.000 [95% CI, 0.197–5.076]). Meaningful statistical evaluation of neurologic status among survivors was precluded by inadequate numbers.

Conclusions:

The type of injection route (intraosseous or peripheral venous access) does not appear to have an impact on survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a prepubescent population, but limitations of propensity matching limit a definitive conclusion.
Multifocal or Metastatic B-RAF (V600E) Glomus Tumor in the Parotid and Neck: A Case Report Including Cytologic, Histologic, and Molecular Features
Authors: Bai Shi , Hutchinson Lloyd M. , Akalin Ali , Faquin William C. , Vaezi Alec E. , Fischer Andrew H.
Published: January 2021

Glomus tumor is a perivascular mesenchymal neoplasm that usually occurs as a solitary painful lesion of the distal extremities. It can also rarely occur in other anatomic locations, for example, the nasal cavity, trachea, stomach, and kidney. Although most tumors are benign, metastasis occurs in a small subset. Criteria for aggressive behavior remain incompletely defined, and the issue of defining metastasis is complicated by the occurrence of multifocal tumors. Here, we report a case of a multifocal glomus tumor involving the parotid gland (2 cm), ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid-clavicular soft tissue (1.5 cm), and ipsilateral subcutaneous tissue overlying the mastoid process (<4 mm) in a young man in his mid-20s. All 3 lesions were identical histologically, with typical features of an otherwise benign glomus tumor with uniform diploid-appearing nuclei and no mitotic activity. Very focal infiltrative growth was present. A prominent hemangiopericytoma pattern was present throughout, but no vascular invasion outside the nodules was identified. Molecular genomic analysis revealed an identical BRAF V600E point mutation in all 3 tumors in a wild-type BRAF somatic background, with similar patterns of genomic gains in 3 loci, consistent with a clonal origin. Criteria for predicting the behavior of glomus tumor are reviewed.
Three-Dimensional Planes of Reference for Orbital Fractures
Authors: Ang Benson Wen Guang , Chiew Wenqi , Cai Elijah Zhengyang , Hing Angela Chai Ying , Lee Hanjing , Yap Yan Lin , Nallathamby Vigneswaran , Lim Jane , Sundar Gangadhara , Leow Wee Kheng , Lim Thiam Chye
Published: January 2021

Introduction:

Three-dimensional planes of reference for orbital fractures (3D-PROF) is a technique for isolating segments of the orbital cavity for 3D analyses.

Method:

Using 3D-PROF, the orbital floor, and medial wall were isolated on Meshlab (National Research Council, Pisa, Italy).

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the interobserver variability of 3D-PROF. Facial computed tomography scans of 20 patients with normal unilateral orbit were randomly selected. Four observers performed 3D-PROF to isolate the orbital floor.

The isolated orbital segments are evaluated for:

Results:

The intraclass correlation coefficient for the total surface area of the resultant bony segment was excellent (0.85, confidence interval 0.707–0.934, P < 0.01). All landmarks achieved a rate of preservation of at least 90% (18/20) for the observers, except for the infra-orbital rim where 1 observer achieved 85% (17/20).

Conclusion:

Three-dimensional planes of reference for orbital fractures, is an easy and reproducible technique for isolating regions of interest of the orbital cavity for preoperative planning.
Comparative Study of Three-Dimensional Volume Measurement for Facial Fat Grafting
Authors: Wu Rongwei , Jin Xiaolei , Yang Xiaonan , Yu Panxi , Qi Zuoliang
Published: January 2021

The three-dimensional (3D) volume measurement after facial fat grafting is of great significance to plastic surgeons. It has been ascertained that reliable results rely on the accurate measurement of 3D softwares. Some 3D softwares in literatures have proposed various ways to optimize each step of the procedure, including the pre- and post-operative image acquisition, alignment, calculation, and analysis. Good image alignment between pre- and post-scan is essential to quantify the volumetric change. Once the pre- and post-operative image alignment has slightly bias or deviation, the subsequent volume measurement would also be affected. To our knowledge, 2 types of 3D software have been widely applied in clinic, primarily based on the image-automatically alignment and image-manually alignment. This study aimed to compare the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of the Geomagic Qualify 12.0 software and the 3-Matic 7.0 software in a relatively ideal model of virtual facial fat grafting. A simulated facial fat grafting was first performed for 10 preoperative patients diagnosed with progressive hemifacial atrophy, and the known volumetric change was named as the true value (T value). Then, the facial volumetric change of every case was remeasured 10 times with above 2 kinds of software separately. The mean volumetric change was calculated as Q value and M value. The paired t test, intraclass correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis showed that the Geomagic Qualify 12.0 software demonstrated a statistically higher accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility in comparison with the 3-Matic 7.0 software.
Adult Maxillofacial Trauma Patterns in American Football
Authors: Cohn Jason E. , Melley Lauren E. , Lafferty David , Othman Sammy , Stucker Fred J. , Bundrick Paige
Published: January 2021

Introduction:

The authors aimed to identify and categorize adult maxillofacial trauma patterns in the setting of American football.

Methods:

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was accessed to identify adult patients presenting with football-related head and facial injuries from 2009 to 2018. Data surrounding each event were collected including age, injury type, injury location, and disposition of the patient. Chi-squared testing was performed to compare categorical variables, with a Bonferroni correction applied.

Results:

During the study period, 1784 total patients (national estimate = 65,052) were identified. The average age for this cohort was 27.26 (SD ± 8.49), with young adults (86.1%) and males (87.9%) sustaining the majority of injuries. Lacerations were the most common injury type (43.1%). Maxillofacial fractures comprised 15.8% of the sample, with nasal bone (52.8%) being the most common subtype. Female patients were significantly more likely to present with head injuries than men (46.8% versus 29.0%, P < 0.001). Young and middle-aged adults combined were more likely to be discharged from the emergency department, whereas the elderly were significantly less likely (P = 0.002). Patients with fractures were significantly more likely to be admitted to the hospital compared to all other types of injuries (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

An understanding of maxillofacial injuries while participating in American football is important in developing safety initiatives. To address these, it is crucial that providers understand the patterns of craniofacial injuries as they relate to American football trauma.
Effect of Horizontal Osteotomy Level on Complication Rates and Neurosensory Deficits After Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy
Authors: Suzen Muazzez , Uckan Sina , Munevveroglu Sumer , Ozel Abdullah
Published: January 2021

Horizontal osteotomy is one of the most critical step at sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and determination of the ideal height of this horizontal osteotomy is essential to avoid nerve and vessel injury.

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of the medial horizontal ramus cut as a risk factor for unfavorable outcomes in the SSRO.

Materials and Methods:

Sixty-four patients with dentofacial deformity who applied to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department between August 2018 and August 2019 and undergone orthognathic surgery were evaluated. Out of 64, 49 patients had SSRO with or without maxillary surgery and genioplasty. Twenty-six patient had postoperative computed tomography scan with 6-months follow-up. Finally, 26 patient with 52 SSRO sides were included in this study. Computed tomography scans were evaluated and classification according to osteotomy levels was made. Postoperative neurosensory deficit, bleeding, and intraoperative complications such as bad split, visible damage to inferior alveolar bundle were assessed. Age, gender, neurosensory deficit, bad splits were analyzed and correlated with the level of the osteotomies.

Results:

Fifteen osteotomies were above lingula, 24 between apex and base of lingula, and 14 below lingula. One bad split occurred, and no visible damage to the inferior alveolar bundle was seen. There was no significant difference between osteotomy groups in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores (P > 0.05) but in all groups; women's VAS scores are statistically significantly higher than men. (P: 0.036)

Conclusion:

There is no correlation between the horizontal osteotomy level and intraoperative or postoperative complications. The low medial horizontal osteotomy can be safely performed in SSRO.
Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Improves Ultrasound-Guided Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Insertion Skills of Practicing Nurses
Authors: Amick Ashley Elizabeth , Feinsmith Sarah E. , Davis Evan M. , Sell Jordan , Macdonald Valerie , Trinquero Paul , Moore Arthur G. , Gappmeier Victor , Colton Katharine , Cunningham Andrew , Ford William , Feinglass Joseph , Barsuk Jeffrey H.
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Difficult intravenous (IV) access (DIVA) is frequently encountered in the hospital setting. Ultrasound-guided peripheral IV catheter (USGPIV) insertion has emerged as an effective procedure to establish access in patients with DIVA. Despite the increased use of USGPIV, little is known about the optimal training paradigms for bedside nurses. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a novel, sustainable, USGPIV simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) curriculum for nurses.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort study of an USGPIV SBML training program for bedside nurses over a 12-month period. We evaluated skills and self-confidence before and after training and measured the proportion of the nurses achieving independent, proctor, and instructor status. Procedure logs and surveys were used to explore the nurse experience and utilization of USGPIV on real patients with DIVA 3 months after the intervention.

Results

Two hundred thirty-eight nurses enrolled in the study. The USGPIV skill checklist scores increased from median of 6.0 [interquartile range = 4.0–9.0 (pretest) to 29.0, interquartile range = 28–30 (posttest), P < 0.001]. The USGPIV confidence improved from before (mean = 2.32, SD = 1.17) to after (mean = 3.85, SD = 0.73, P < 0.001) training (5-point Likert scale). Sixty-two percent of the nurses enrolled achieved independent status, 47.5% became proctors, and 11.3% course trainers. At 3-month posttraining, the nurses had attempted a mean of 35.6 USGPIV insertions with an 89.5% success rate.

Conclusions

This novel USGPIV SBML curriculum improves nurses' insertion skills, self-confidence, and progresses patient care through USGPIV insertions on hospitalized patients with DIVA.
A Computer Vision Platform to Automatically Locate Critical Events in Surgical Videos
Authors: Mascagni Pietro , Alapatt Deepak , Urade Takeshi , Vardazaryan Armine , Mutter Didier , Marescaux Jacques , Costamagna Guido , Dallemagne Bernard , Padoy Nicolas
Published: January 2021

Objective:

The aim of this study was to develop a computer vision platform to automatically locate critical events in surgical videos and provide short video clips documenting the critical view of safety (CVS) in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Background:

Intraoperative events are typically documented through operator-dictated reports that do not always translate the operative reality. Surgical videos provide complete information on surgical procedures, but the burden associated with storing and manually analyzing full-length videos has so far limited their effective use.

Methods:

A computer vision platform named EndoDigest was developed and used to analyze LC videos. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the platform in automatically locating the manually annotated time of the cystic duct division in full-length videos was assessed. The relevance of the automatically extracted short video clips was evaluated by calculating the percentage of video clips in which the CVS was assessable by surgeons.

Results:

A total of 155 LC videos were analyzed: 55 of these videos were used to develop EndoDigest, whereas the remaining 100 were used to test it. The time of the cystic duct division was automatically located with a MAE of 62.8 ± 130.4 seconds (1.95% of full-length video duration). CVS was assessable in 91% of the 2.5 minutes long video clips automatically extracted from the considered test procedures.

Conclusions:

Deep learning models for workflow analysis can be used to reliably locate critical events in surgical videos and document CVS in LC. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical impact of surgical data science solutions for safer laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Ribavirin Improves NK Cell IFNγ Response During Sofosbuvir-based DAA Therapy in HCV-infected Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Adenugba Akinbami , Hornung Matthias , Weigand Kilian , Peschel Georg , Junger Henrik , Kupke Paul , Lang Hauke , Marquardt Jens U. , Zimmermann Tim , Geissler Edward K. , Schlitt Hans J. , Werner Jens M.
Published: January 2021

Background.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by activation of natural killer (NK) cells. Here, we asked whether HCV elimination by sofosbuvir-based direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and the addition of ribavirin (RBV) improve NK cell function in liver transplant (LTx) recipients.

Methods.

We analyzed NK cell degranulation and interferon (IFN)γ-response along with STAT1 and STAT4 phosphorylation in 29 HCV-infected LTx recipients and 17 HCV-infected patients during DAA treatment.

Results.

Compared with uninfected LTx recipients, NK cells from HCV-infected LTx recipients were polarized toward cytotoxicity with increased CD107a-degranulation (10.1% versus 14.6%; P = 0.0263) and reduced capacity to produce IFNγ (43.0% versus 26.7%; P = 0.0002). The altered phenotype of NK cells in HCV-infected LTx recipients was accompanied by increased STAT1 (44.6% versus 87.4%; P < 0.0001) and STAT1 phosphorylation (0.7% versus 8.9%; P = 0.0005) compared with pSTAT4 IFNα-induction (29.9% versus 17.6%; P = 0.0014). Successful DAA therapy did not affect CD107a-degranulation but decreased STAT1. RBV cotreatment with DAA therapy for HCV increased CD56Bright NK cell IFNγ-responses in LTx recipients (70.9% versus 89.2%; P = 0.002), and this correlated to an increase in the inducibility of pSTAT4 (MFI 157 versus 173; P = 0.0002).

Conclusions.

RBV cotreatment of HCV infection improved pSTAT4-dependent IFNγ-production in NK cells. This is relevant especially for immunocompromised patients such as LTx recipients or patients with end-stage liver disease.
Effect of pH regulation by sulfate-reducing bacteria on corrosion behaviour of duplex stainless steel 2205 in acidic artificial seawater
Authors: Tran T. T. T. , Kannoorpatti K. , Padovan A. , Thennadil S.
Published: January 2021

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can regulate environmental pH because of their metabolism. Because local acidification results in pitting corrosion, the potential capacity of pH regulation by SRB would have important consequences for electrochemical aspects of the bio-corrosion process. This study focused on identifying the effect of pH on the corrosion of duplex stainless steel 2205 in a nutrient-rich artificial seawater medium containing SRB species,
Desulfovibrio vulgaris
. Duplex stainless steel samples were exposed to the medium for 13 days at 37°C at pH ranging from 4.0 to 7.4. The open-circuit potential value, sulfide level, pH and number of bacteria in the medium were recorded daily. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization were used to study the properties of the biofilms at the end of the experiments and the corrosion behaviour of the material. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure the concentration of cations Fe, Ni, Mo, Mn, Cr in the experimental solution after 13 days. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used for surface analysis. The results showed the pH changed from acidic values set at the beginning of the experiment to approximately pH 7.5 after 5 days owing to bacterial metabolism. After 13 days, the highest iron concentration was in the solution that was initially at pH 4 accompanied by pitting on the stainless steel. Sulfur was present on all specimens but with more sulfur at pH 4 in the EDX spectra. EIS showed the film resistance of the specimen at pH 4 was much lower than at pH 7.4 which suggests the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel was better at higher pH. The results of this study suggest that the corrosion process for the first few days exposure at low pH was driven by pH in solution rather than by bacteria. The increasing pH during the course of the experiment slowed down the corrosion process of materials originally at low pH. The nature and mechanism of SRB attack on duplex stainless steel at different acidic environments are discussed.
Understanding the role of urban design in disease spreading
Authors: Brizuela Noel G. , García-Chan Néstor , Gutiérrez Pulido Humberto , Chowell Gerardo
Published: January 2021

Cities are complex systems whose characteristics impact the health of people who live in them. Nonetheless, urban determinants of health often vary within spatial scales smaller than the resolution of epidemiological datasets. Thus, as cities expand and their inequalities grow, the development of theoretical frameworks that explain health at the neighbourhood level is becoming increasingly critical. To this end, we developed a methodology that uses census data to introduce urban geography as a leading-order predictor in the spread of influenza-like pathogens. Here, we demonstrate our framework using neighbourhood-level census data for Guadalajara (GDL, Western Mexico). Our simulations show that daily mobility patterns can drive neighbourhood-level variations in the basic reproduction number
R
0
, which in turn give rise to robust spatiotemporal patterns in the spread of disease. To generalize our results, we ran simulations in hypothetical cities with the same population, area, schools and businesses as GDL but different land use zoning. Experiments in these synthetic cities demonstrate that the agglomeration of daily activities can influence the growth rate, size and timing of urban epidemics. Overall, these findings support the view that cities can be redesigned to limit the geographical scope of influenza-like outbreaks.
Modelling the effect of birth and feeding modes on the development of human gut microbiota
Authors: Xiong Xiyan , Loo Sara L. , Zhang Li , Tanaka Mark M.
Published: January 2021

The human gut microbiota is transmitted from mother to infant through vaginal birth and breastfeeding.
Bifidobacterium
, a genus that dominates the infants’ gut, is adapted to breast milk in its ability to metabolize human milk oligosaccharides; it is regarded as a mutualist owing to its involvement in the development of the immune system. The composition of microbiota, including the abundance of Bifidobacteria, is highly variable between individuals and some microbial profiles are associated with diseases. However, whether and how birth and feeding practices contribute to such variation remains unclear. To understand how early events affect the establishment of microbiota, we develop a mathematical model of two types of Bifidobacteria and a generic compartment of commensal competitors. We show how early events affect competition between mutualists and commensals and microbe-host-immune interactions to cause long-term alterations in gut microbial profiles. Bifidobacteria associated with breast milk can trigger immune responses with lasting effects on the microbial community structure. Our model shows that, in response to a change in birth environment, competition alone can produce two distinct microbial profiles post-weaning. Adding immune regulation to our competition model allows for variations in microbial profiles in response to different feeding practices. This analysis highlights the importance of microbe–microbe and microbe–host interactions in shaping the gut populations following different birth and feeding modes.
Tropical bats counter heat by combining torpor with adaptive hyperthermia
Authors: Reher Stephanie , Dausmann Kathrin H.
Published: January 2021

Many tropical mammals are vulnerable to heat because their water budget limits the use of evaporative cooling for heat compensation. Further increasing temperatures and aridity might consequently exceed their thermoregulatory capacities. Here, we describe two novel modes of torpor, a response usually associated with cold or resource bottlenecks, as efficient mechanisms to counter heat. We conducted a field study on the Malagasy batMacronycteris commersoniresting in foliage during the hot season, unprotected from environmental extremes. On warm days, the bats alternated between remarkably short micro-torpor bouts and normal resting metabolism within a few minutes. On hot days, the bats extended their torpor bouts over the hottest time of the day while tolerating body temperatures up to 42.9°C. Adaptive hyperthermia combined with lowered metabolic heat production from torpor allows higher heat storage from the environment, negates the need for evaporative cooling and thus increases heat tolerance. However, it is a high-risk response as the torpid bats cannot defend body temperature if ambient temperature increases above a critical/lethal threshold. Torpor coupled with hyperthermia and micro-torpor bouts broaden our understanding of the basic principles of thermal physiology and demonstrate how mammals can perform near their upper thermal limits in an increasingly warmer world.
Takeoff diversity in Diptera
Authors: Yarger Alexandra M. , Jordan Katherine A. , Smith Alexa J. , Fox Jessica L.
Published: January 2021

The order Diptera (true flies) are named for their two wings because their hindwings have evolved into specialized mechanosensory organs called halteres. Flies use halteres to detect body rotations and maintain stability during flight and other behaviours. The most recently diverged dipteran monophyletic subsection, the Calyptratae, is highly successful, accounting for approximately 12% of dipteran diversity, and includes common families like house flies. These flies move their halteres independently from their wings and oscillate their halteres during walking. Here, we demonstrate that this subsection of flies uses their halteres to stabilize their bodies during takeoff, whereas non-Calyptratae flies do not. We find that flies of the Calyptratae are able to take off more rapidly than non-Calyptratae flies without sacrificing stability. Haltere removal decreased both velocity and stability in the takeoffs of Calyptratae, but not other flies. The loss of takeoff velocity following haltere removal in Calyptratae (but not other flies) is a direct result of a decrease in leg extension speed. A closely related non-Calyptratae species (D. melanogaster) also has a rapid takeoff, but takeoff duration and stability are unaffected by haltere removal. Haltere use thus allows for greater speed and stability during fast escapes, but only in the Calyptratae clade.
Biogeography a key influence on distal forelimb variation in horses through the Cenozoic
Authors: MacLaren Jamie A.
Published: January 2021

Locomotion in terrestrial tetrapods is reliant on interactions between distal limb bones (e.g. metapodials and phalanges). The metapodial–phalangeal joint in horse (Equidae) limbs is highly specialized, facilitating vital functions (shock absorption; elastic recoil). While joint shape has changed throughout horse evolution, potential drivers of these modifications have not been quantitatively assessed. Here, I examine the morphology of the forelimb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of horses and their extinct kin (palaeotheres) using geometric morphometrics and disparity analyses, within a phylogenetic context. I also develop a novel alignment protocol that explores the magnitude of shape change through time, correlated against body mass and diet. MCP shape was poorly correlated with mass or diet proxies, although significant temporal correlations were detected at 0–1 Myr intervals. A clear division was recovered between New and Old World hipparionin MCP morphologies. Significant changes in MCP disparity and high rates of shape divergence were observed during the Great American Biotic Interchange, with the MCP joint becoming broad and robust in two separate monodactyl lineages, possibly exhibiting novel locomotor behaviour. This large-scale study of MCP joint shape demonstrates the apparent capacity for horses to rapidly change their distal limb morphology to overcome discrete locomotor challenges in new habitats.
Lunar rhythms in growth of larval fish
Authors: Shima Jeffrey S. , Osenberg Craig W. , Noonburg Erik G. , Alonzo Suzanne H. , Swearer Stephen E.
Published: January 2021

Growth and survival of larval fishes is highly variable and unpredictable. Our limited understanding of this variation constrains our ability to forecast population dynamics and effectively manage fisheries. Here we show that daily growth rates of a coral reef fish (the sixbar wrasse,
Thalassoma hardwicke
) are strongly lunar-periodic and predicted by the timing of nocturnal brightness: growth was maximized when the first half of the night was dark and the second half of the night was bright. Cloud cover that obscured moonlight facilitated a ‘natural experiment’, and confirmed the effect of moonlight on growth. We suggest that lunar-periodic growth may be attributable to light-mediated suppression of diel vertical migrations of predators and prey. Accounting for such effects will improve our capacity to predict the future dynamics of marine populations, especially in response to climate-driven changes in nocturnal cloud cover and intensification of artificial light, which could lead to population declines by reducing larval survival and growth.
Indoor dust as a matrix for surveillance of COVID-19 outbreaks
Authors: Renninger Nicole , Nastasi Nick , Bope Ashleigh , Cochran Samuel J. , Haines Sarah R. , Balasubrahmaniam Neeraja , Stuart Katelyn , Bivins Aaron , Bibby Kyle , Hull Natalie M. , Dannemiller Karen C.
Published: January 2021

Ongoing disease surveillance is a critical tool to mitigate viral outbreaks, especially during a pandemic. Environmental monitoring has significant promise even following widespread vaccination among high-risk populations. The goal of this work is to demonstrate molecular SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in bulk floor dust and related samples as a proof-of-concept of a non-invasive environmental surveillance methodology for COVID-19 and potentially other viral diseases. Surface swab, passive sampler, and bulk floor dust samples were collected from rooms of individuals infected with COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2 was measured with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and two digital PCR (dPCR) methods. Bulk dust samples had geometric mean concentration of 159 copies/mg-dust and ranged from non-detects to 23,049 copies/mg-dust detected using ddPCR. An average of 88% of bulk dust samples were positive for the virus among detection methods compared to 55% of surface swabs and fewer on the passive sampler (19% carpet, 29% polystyrene). In bulk dust, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 76%, 93%, and 97% of samples measured by qPCR, chip-based dPCR, and droplet dPCR respectively. Detectable viral RNA in the bulk vacuum bags did not measurably decay over 4 weeks, despite the application of a disinfectant before room cleaning. Future monitoring efforts should further evaluate RNA persistence and heterogeneity in dust. This study did not measure virus viability in dust or potential transmission associated with dust. Overall, this work demonstrates that bulk floor dust is a potentially useful matrix for long-term monitoring of viral disease outbreaks in high-risk populations and buildings.

Importance

Environmental surveillance to assess pathogen presence within a community is proving to be a critical tool to protect public health, and it is especially relevant during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, environmental surveillance tools also allow for the detection of asymptomatic disease carriers and for routine monitoring of a large number of people as has been shown for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring. However, additional monitoring techniques are needed to screen for outbreaks in high-risk settings such as congregate care facilities. Here, we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in bulk floor dust collected from rooms housing infected individuals. This analysis suggests that dust may be a useful and efficient matrix for routine surveillance of viral disease outbreaks.
Plasma β-amyloid in mild behavioural impairment – neuropsychiatric symptoms on the Alzheimer’s continuum
Authors: Miao Ruxin , Chen Hung-Yu , Gill Sascha , Naude James , Smith Eric E. , Ismail Zahinoor ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Simple markers are required to recognize older adults at higher risk for neurodegenerative disease. Mild behavioural impairment (MBI) and plasma β-amyloid (Aβ) have been independently implicated in the development of incident cognitive decline and dementia. Here we studied the associations between MBI and plasma Aβ42/Aβ40.

Methods

Participants with normal cognition (n = 86) or mild cognitive impairment (n = 53) were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. MBI scores were derived from Neuropsychiatric Inventory items. Plasma Aβ42/Aβ40ratios were assayed using mass spectrometry. Linear regressions were fitted to assess the association between MBI total score as well as MBI domain scores with plasma Aβ42/Aβ40.

Results

Lower plasma Aβ42/Aβ40was associated with higher MBI total score (p= 0.04) and greater affective dysregulation (p =0.04), but not with impaired drive/motivation (p =0.095) or impulse dyscontrol (p =0.29) MBI domains.

Conclusion

In persons with normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment, MBI was associated with low plasma Aβ42/Aβ40. Incorporating MBI into case detection can help capture preclinical and prodromal Alzheimer’s disease.
Proteomic and Metabolomic Investigation of COVID-19 Patients with Elevated Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase
Authors: Yan Haixi , Liang Xiao , Du Juping , He Zebao , Wang Yu , Lyu Mengge , Yue Liang , Zhang Fangfei , Xue Zhangzhi , Xu Luang , Ruan Guan , Li Jun , Zhu Hongguo , Xu Jiaqin , Chen Shiyong , Zhang Chao , Lv Dongqing , Lin Zongmei , Shen Bo , Zhu Yi , Qian Biyun , Chen Haixiao , Guo Tiannan
Published: January 2021

Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been established as a prognostic indicator given its differential expression in COVID-19 patients. However, the molecular mechanisms underneath remain poorly understood. In this study, 144 COVID-19 patients were enrolled to monitor the clinical and laboratory parameters over three weeks. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was shown elevated in the COVID-19 patients on admission and declined throughout disease course, and its ability to classify patient severity outperformed other biochemical indicators. A threshold of 247 U/L serum LDH on admission was determined for severity prognosis. Next, we classified a subset of 14 patients into high- and low-risk groups based on serum LDH expression and compared their quantitative serum proteomic and metabolomic differences. The results found COVID-19 patients with high serum LDH exhibited differentially expressed blood coagulation and immune responses including acute inflammatory responses, platelet degranulation, complement cascade, as well as multiple different metabolic responses including lipid metabolism, protein ubiquitination and pyruvate fermentation. Specifically, activation of hypoxia responses was highlighted in patients with high LDH expressions. Taken together, our data showed that serum LDH levels are associated COVID-19 severity, and that elevated serum LDH might be consequences of hypoxia and tissue injuries induced by inflammation.
Trends in lipid-modifying agent use in 83 countries
Authors: Blais Joseph E , Wei Yue , Yap Kevin KW , Alwafi Hassan , Ma Tian-Tian , Brauer Ruth , Lau Wallis CY , Man Kenneth KC , Siu Chung Wah , Tan Kathryn C , Wong Ian CK , Wei Li , Chan Esther W
Published: January 2021

Aims

Lipid-modifying agents (LMAs) are increasingly used to reduce lipid levels and prevent cardiovascular events, but the magnitude of their consumption in different world regions is unknown. We aimed to describe recent global trends in LMA consumption and to explore the relationship between country-level LMA consumption and cholesterol concentrations.

Methods and results

This cross-sectional and ecological study used monthly pharmaceutical sales data from January 2008 to December 2018, for 83 countries from the IQVIA Multinational Integrated Data Analysis System, and total and non–high-density lipoprotein (non– HDL) cholesterol concentrations from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was used to assess changes in LMA consumption over time. From 2008 to 2018, the use of LMAs increased from 7,468 to 11,197 standard units per 1000 inhabitants per year (CAGR 4.13%). Statins were the most used class of LMA and their market share increased in 75% of countries between 2008 and 2018. Fibrates were the most consumed nonstatin drugs. From 2013 to 2018, consumption of low-density lipoprotein lowering therapies increased (statins 3.99%; ezetimibe 4.01%; proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors 104.47%). Limited evidence supports a clear relationship between country-level changes in LMA consumption and total and non–HDL cholesterol concentrations in 2008 versus 2018.

Conclusion

Since 2008, global access to LMAs, especially statins, has improved. In line with international lipid guideline recommendations, recent trends indicate growth in the use of statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors. Country-level patterns of LMA use and total and non–HDL cholesterol varied considerably.
Association of Chronic Acid Suppression and Social Determinants of Health with COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Zhang Bing , Silverman Anna L. , Bangaru Saroja , Arneson Douglas , Dasharathy Sonya , Nguyen Nghia , Rodden Diane , Shih Jonathan , Butte Atul J. , El-Nachef Wael Noor , Boland Brigid S. , Rudrapatna Vivek A.
Published: January 2021

Acid suppressants are a widely-used class of medications previously linked to an increased risk of aerodigestive infections. However, prior studies of these medications as potentially reversible risk factors for COVID-19 have been conflicting. We performed a case-control study involving clinician-abstracted data from 900 health records across 3 US medical centers. We incorporated sociobehavioral predictors of infectious exposure using geomapping to publicly-available data. We found no evidence for an association between chronic acid suppression and incident COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio 1.04, 95% CI: 0.92-1.17, P=0.515). However, we identified several medical and social features as positive (Latinx ethnicity, BMI ≥ 30, dementia, public transportation use, month of the pandemic) and negative (female sex, concurrent solid tumor, alcohol use disorder) predictors of new-onset infection. These results place both medical and social factors on the same scale within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and underscore the importance of comprehensive models of disease.
Dynamics on the web: spiders use physical rules to solve complex tasks in mate search and competition
Authors: Haluts Amir , Garza Reyes Sylvia F. , Gorbonos Dan , Jordan Alex , Gov Nir S.
Published: January 2021

A long-standing question in animal behaviour is how organisms solve complex tasks. Here we explore how the dynamics of animal behaviour in the ubiquitous tasks of mate-search and competition can arise from a physics-based model of effective interactions. Male orb-weaving spiders of the genusTrichonephilaare faced with the daunting challenge of entering the web of a much larger and potentially cannibalistic female, approaching her, and fending off rival males. The interactions that govern the dynamics of males within the confined two-dimensional arena of the female’s web are dominated by seismic vibrations. This unifying modality allows us to describe the spiders as interacting active particles, responding only to effective forces of attraction and repulsion due to the female and rival males. Our model is based on a detailed analysis of experimental spider trajectories, obtained during the approach of males towards females, and amidst their interactions with rival males of different sizes. The dynamics of ’spider particles’ that emerges from our theory allows us to explain a puzzling relationship between the density of males on the web and the reproductive advantages of large males. Our results provide strong evidence that the simple physical rules at the basis of our model can give rise to complex fitness related behaviours in this system.
The Flowering Time RegulatorFLKControls Pathogen Defense inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Fabian Matthew , Gao Min , Zhang Xiao-Ning , Shi Jiangli , Kim Sung-Ha , Patel Priyank , Hu Anna R. , Lu Hua
Published: January 2021

Plant disease resistance is a complex process that is maintained in an intricate balance with development. Increasing evidence indicates the importance of post-transcriptional regulation of plant defense by RNA binding proteins. The K homology (KH) repeat is an ancient RNA binding motif found in proteins from diverse organisms. The role of KH domain proteins in pathogen resistance is not well known. From a genetic screen aimed to uncover novel defense genes in Arabidopsis, we identified a new allele of the canonical flowering regulatory gene,FLOWERING LOCUS KH Domain(FLK), encoding a putative triple KH-repeat protein. In addition to late flowering, theflkmutants exhibited decreased resistance to the bacterial pathogenPseudomonas syringaeand increased resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogenBotrytis cinerea. We found that theflkmutations compromised basal defense and defense signaling mediated by salicylic acid and led to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, likely throughFLK’s regulation of the ROS scavenging enzyme catalases. RNA-seq data revealed that major defense signaling genes are regulated byFLK, providing a molecular basis forFLK’s contribution to pathogen defense. Together our data support that FLK is a multifunctional protein regulating pathogen defense and development of plants.
The Arabidopsis Calcium Sensor Calmodulin-like 38 Regulates Stress Granule Autophagy and Dynamics during Low Oxygen Stress and Re-aeration Recovery
Authors: Field Sterling , Gulledge Whitney , Roberts Daniel M.
Published: January 2021

In response to the energy crisis resulting from submergence stress and hypoxia, Arabidopsis limits non-essential mRNAs translation, and accumulate cytosolic stress granules (SG). SGs are phase-separated mRNA-protein particles that partition transcripts for various fates: storage, degradation, or return to translation after stress alleviation. Here, it is shown that RNA stress granules are dynamically regulated during hypoxia stress and aerobic recovery via two phases of autophagy that require the AAA+ATPase CDC48 and the calcium sensor Calmodulin-like 38 (CML38). CML38 is a core hypoxia response-protein that associates with hypoxia-induced SGs. We show that CML38 is essential for SG autophagy during extended hypoxia. Further, cml38 mutants show disorganized SG morphology during extended hypoxia, suggesting a role in SG formation and maintenance. We also show that upon the return of aerobic conditions, intracellular calcium and CML38 are necessary for SG breakdown and turnover, and for upregulating autophagy.cml38mutants not only lose these responses, but also have aberrant, sustained autophagosome accumulation during the reoxygenation recovery phase. The findings suggest that CDC48 RNA granule autophagy (“granulophagy”) is conserved in plants, and that the hypoxia-induced calcium sensor CML38 regulates SG autophagy during anaerobic stress as well as during the reprogramming phase associated with reoxygenation.