bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biophysical models unravel associations between glucocorticoids and thermoregulatory costs across avian species
Authors: Rubalcaba Juan G. , Jimeno Blanca
Published: October 2021

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are metabolic hormones that regulate physiological and behavioural responses to environmental change and mediate homeostasis maintenance in vertebrates. Despite the assumption that GCs covary with energy metabolism, we yet lack a mechanistic understanding of how environmental factors such as temperature modulate GC variation through their effect on organismal energy balance. In particular, the mechanisms linking temperature‐dependent metabolic rate and GCs at broad spatial scales and across species remain poorly investigated.

Here we used biophysical models to calculate thermoregulatory costs (i.e. the amount of heat required to keep body temperature in homeostasis) of free‐living birds as a function of environmental conditions, body size, shape and insulating layer of feathers. We then investigated the link between ambient temperature, cost of thermoregulation and baseline plasma GC concentrations in a comparative study including GC data from 94 bird species from HormoneBase.

We found a significant, positive association between thermoregulatory costs and baseline GC concentrations. Interestingly, models including thermoregulatory costs better explained GC variation when compared to those including ambient temperature as a predictor variable. This result suggests that body size and shape fundamentally modulate energy requirements for thermoregulation and thereby GC concentrations in the wild.

By providing a mechanistic description of the link between ambient temperature and thermoregulatory costs, biophysical models provide a tool to predict the impact of environmental conditions on energy metabolism. Our work demonstrates that differences in thermoregulation modulate variation in GC concentrations across a broad climatic gradient.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Making sense of experiences in suicide helpline calls: Offering empathy without endorsing suicidal ideation
Authors: Iversen Clara
Published: October 2021

The question of how people make sense of experiences in relation to health is central to medical sociology and lies at the heart of suicide helpline practice. This article draws on a corpus of 900 audio‐recorded suicide helpline calls to examine how call‐takers respond to the challenge of reframing callers' suicidal ideation while still treating their experiences as legitimate. Conversation analysis of a subselection of calls revealed two call‐taker practices, involving the framing of the caller's suicidal ideation as (1) being ambivalent or (2) having legitimate feelings in a difficult situation. While callers resisted the former, ‘feeling formulations’ laid the interactional foundations for exploring alternatives to suicide. This may be because call‐takers' empathy increased their rights to subtly negotiate callers' experiences. By focusing on recipients' contributions in these critical interactional moments, the article widens the sociological approach to examining sense‐making of health experiences as a thoroughly social process.
Stillbirth or neonatal death before 45 post‐menstrual weeks in relation to gestational duration in pregnancies at 39 weeks of gestation or beyond: the impact of parity and body mass index. A national cohort study
Authors: Lindegren L , Stuart A , Herbst A , Källén K
Published: October 2021

Objective

To investigate the risk of stillbirth or neonatal death before 45 post‐menstrual weeks in relation to gestational duration, stratified by body mass index (BMI) and parity.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register.

Population

Singleton, cephalic births at between 39+0 and 42+2 weeks of gestation, 2005–2016 (n = 892 339).

Methods

Relative risk ratios for mortality in relation to gestational duration were stratified by parity and BMI, and were adjusted for maternal age, smoking, country of birth and educational level.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome: stillbirth or neonatal death before 45 post‐menstrual weeks. Secondary outcome: stillbirth.

Results

Among children of primiparous women, children born at 41+3 weeks of gestation, or later, were at increased risk of stillbirth or neonatal death before 45 post‐menstrual weeks compared with children born between 39+0 and 40+2 weeks of gestation (aRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.10–1.52). For primiparous women with BMIs of <25, 25–29.9 and 30 kg/m2, the corresponding aRRs were: 1.04 (95% CI 0.81–1.34), 1.25 (95% CI 0.94–1.66) and 1.52 (95% CI 1.10–2.10), respectively. No significant increase in risk with gestational age was detected for multiparous women, regardless of BMI class. Among primipara, the risk of stillbirth increased with gestational duration in all BMI classes, with the highest risk increase for BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, from 0.8/1000 at 40+3–40+6 weeks of gestation to 4.0/1000 at 42+0–42+2 weeks of gestation.

Conclusions

At 41+3–42+2 weeks of gestation, pregnancy duration was associated with an increased risk for stillbirth or neonatal death before 45 post‐menstrual weeks among primiparous women, especially among women who were obese. For multiparous women, no significant association between gestational duration and mortality was found.

Tweetable abstract

In term pregnancies the risk for stillbirth and neonatal death is affected by gestational age, parity and BMI.
Recent amendments to Queensland legislation make mental health presentations to hospital emergency departments more difficult to scrutinise
Authors: Clough Alan R , Evans Angela , Grant Kristy , Graham Veronica , Catterall Janet , Lakeman Richard , Gilroy John , Pratt Gregory , Petrucci Joe , Stone Richard
Published: October 2021

The Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Queensland Ambulance Service may detain and transport persons experiencing major disturbances in their mental capacity to an ED for urgent care. Queensland's new mental health legislation (March 2017) makes this legal intervention difficult to scrutinise. For a large non‐metropolitan region, QPS records for emergency examination orders (EEOs) and emergency examination authorities (EEAs) were compared with annual reports of Queensland's Director of Mental Health and Chief Psychiatrist. From 2009–2010 to March 2017, QPS‐registered EEOs totalled 12 903 while annual reports attributed 9441 to QPS (27% fewer). From March 2017 to 2019–2020, QPS‐registered EEAs totalled 6887. Annual reports declared 1803 EEAs in total for this period, without distinguishing those registered by QPS from the Queensland Ambulance Service. Past year proportions of EEOs, however, indicate perhaps ~1100 originated with QPS (84% fewer). Information crucial for considered emergency mental healthcare responses for thousands of people is no longer readily available.
Fast and accurate distance‐based phylogenetic placement using divide and conquer
Authors: Balaban Metin , Jiang Yueyu , Roush Daniel , Zhu Qiyun , Mirarab Siavash
Published: October 2021

Phylogenetic placement of query samples on an existing phylogeny is increasingly used in molecular ecology, including sample identification and microbiome environmental sampling. As the size of available reference trees used in these analyses continues to grow, there is a growing need for methods that place sequences on ultra‐large trees with high accuracy. Distance‐based placement methods have recently emerged as a path to provide such scalability while allowing flexibility to analyse both assembled and unassembled environmental samples. In this study, we introduce a distance‐based phylogenetic placement method, APPLES‐2, that is more accurate and scalable than existing distance‐based methods and even some of the leading maximum‐likelihood methods. This scalability is owed to a divide‐and‐conquer technique that limits distance calculation and phylogenetic placement to parts of the tree most relevant to each query. The increased scalability and accuracy enables us to study the effectiveness of APPLES‐2 for placing microbial genomes on a data set of 10,575 microbial species using subsets of 381 marker genes. APPLES‐2 has very high accuracy in this setting, placing 97% of query genomes within three branches of the optimal position in the species tree using 50 marker genes. Our proof‐of‐concept results show that APPLES‐2 can quickly place metagenomic scaffolds on ultra‐large backbone trees with high accuracy as long as a scaffold includes tens of marker genes. These results pave the path for a more scalable and widespread use of distance‐based placement in various areas of molecular ecology.
5‐hydroxytryptamine in migraine: The puzzling role of ionotropic 5‐HT3 receptor in the context of established therapeutic effect of metabotropic 5‐HT1 subtypes
Authors: Giniatullin Rashid
Published: October 2021

5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT; serotonin) is traditionally considered as a key mediator implicated in migraine. Multiple 5‐HT receptor subtypes contribute to a variety of region‐specific functional effects. The raphé nuclei control nociceptive inputs by releasing 5‐HT in the brainstem, whereas dural mast cells provide the humoral source of 5‐HT in the meninges. Triptans (5‐HT1B/D agonists) and ditans (5‐HT1F agonists) are the best established 5‐HT anti‐migraine agents. However, activation of meningeal afferents via ionotropic 5‐HT3 receptors results in long‐lasting excitatory drive suggesting a pro‐nociceptive role for these receptors in migraine. Nevertheless, clinical data do not clearly support the applicability of currently available 5‐HT3 antagonists to migraine treatment. The reasons for this might be the presence of 5‐HT3 receptors on inhibitory interneurons dampening the excitatory drive, a lack of 5‐HT3A–E subunit‐selective antagonists and gender/age‐dependent effects. This review is focusing on the controversial role of 5‐HT3 receptors in migraine pathology and related pharmacological perspectives of 5‐HT ligands.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Migraine and Headache Therapy (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.3/issuetoc
Energy‐based time derivative damage accumulation model under uniaxial and multiaxial random loadings
Authors: Tien Shih‐Chuan , Wei Haoyang , Chen Jie , Liu Yongming
Published: October 2021

A new fatigue life prediction method using the energy‐based approach under uniaxial and multiaxial random loadings is proposed. The uniqueness of the proposed model is based on a time‐derivative damage accumulation unlike classical cycle‐based damage accumulation models. Thus, damage under arbitrary random loading can be directly obtained using time‐domain integration without cycle counting. First, a brief review of existing models is given focusing on their applicability to uniaxial/multiaxial, constant/random, and high cycle fatigue/low cycle fatigue loading regimes. Next, formulation of time‐derivative damage model is discussed in detail under uniaxial random loadings. Then, an equivalent energy concept for general multiaxial loading conditions is used to convert the random multiaxial loading to an equivalent random uniaxial loading, where the time‐derivative damage model can be used. Finally, the proposed model is validated with extensive experimental data from open literature and in‐house testing under various constant and random spectrum loadings.
EBV+ high‐grade B cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements: a multi‐institutional study
Authors: Liu Hui , Xu‐Monette Zijun Y , Tang Guilin , Wang Wei , Kim Young , Yuan Ji , Li Yu , Chen Weina , Li Yanping , Fedoriw George Y , Zhu Feng , Fang Xiaosheng , Luedke Catherine , Medeiros L Jeffrey , Young Ken H , Hu Shimin
Published: October 2021

Aims

It is unknown whether Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection can occur in high‐grade B cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, also known as double‐ or triple‐hit lymphoma (DHL/THL).

Methods and results

Here we report 16 cases of EBV+ DHL/THL from screening 846 cases of DHL/THL and obtaining additional EBV+ cases through multi‐institutional collaboration: eight MYC and BCL2 DHL, six MYC and BCL6 DHL and two THL. There were eight men and eight women, with a median age of 65 years (range = 32–86). Two patients had a history of follicular lymphoma and one had AIDS. Nine of 14 patients had an International Prognostic Index of ≥3. Half of the cases showed high‐grade/Burkitt‐like morphology and the other half diffuse large B cell lymphoma morphology. Using immunohistochemistry, the lymphoma cells were positive for MYC (n = 14 of 16), BCL2 (n = 12 of 16), BCL6 (n = 14 of 16), CD10 (n = 13 of 16) and MUM1 (n = six of 14). Using Hans’ algorithm, 13 cases were classified as germinal centre B cell (GCB) and three as non‐GCB. The lymphomas frequently showed an EBV latency Type I with a median EBV‐encoded small RNAs of 80% positive cells (range = 20–100%). After a median follow‐up of 36.3 months (range = 2.0–41.6), seven patients died, with a median survival of 15.4 months (range = 3.4–47.3) after diagnosis of EBV+ DHL/THL. Five of six patients with MYC and BCL6 DHL were alive, including four in complete remission. In contrast, only four of 10 patients with MYC and BCL2 DHL or THL were alive, including two in complete remission. The median survival in patients with MYC and BCL6 DHL was unreached and was 21.6 months in patients with MYC and BCL2 DHL or THL.

Conclusions

EBV infection in DHL/THL is rare (~1.5%). Cases of EBV+ DHL/THL are largely similar to their EBV– counterparts clinicopathologically. Our findings expand the spectrum of EBV+ B cell lymphomas currently recognised in the World Health Organisation classification and suggest differences between EBV+ MYC and BCL2 DHL versus EBV+MYC and BCL6 DHL that may have therapeutic implications.
Impact of coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) on HIV testing and care provision across four continents
Authors: Rick Fernanda , Odoke Wilfred , van den Hombergh Jan , Benzaken Adele S. , Avelino‐Silva Vivian I.
Published: October 2021

Objectives

The coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic has been associated with severe disruptions in health care services, and nonpharmacological measures such as social distancing also have an impact on access to screening tests and on the long‐term care of patients with chronic conditions globally. We aimed to describe the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on HIV testing and treatment and to describe strategies employed to mitigate the impact of COVID‐19 on HIV care.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we used secondary data from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Global Quality Program from 44 countries in four continents (Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Africa), and compared information on HIV testing, percentage of positive results, number of in‐person appointments, and number of new enrolments in HIV care from 1 January 2020 to 31 August 2020 with the equivalent period in 2019.

Results

Despite marked inter‐country heterogeneities, we found that COVID‐19 was associated with a significant reduction in HIV testing, an increase in the percentage of positive tests, a reduction in the number of in‐person consultations and a reduction in the number of new enrolments in care, despite the implementation of several mitigation strategies. The impact of COVID‐19 differed across continents and key populations.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that, in the years to come, health care services must be prepared to respond to the impact of COVID‐19 on HIV testing and care. Providers and facilities should build on the lessons learned so far to further improve mitigation strategies and establish care priorities for both the pandemic and the post‐pandemic periods.
Assessment of physiological responses of bacteria to chlorine and UV disinfection using a plate count method, flow cytometry and viability PCR
Authors: Chiang Elaine L. C. , Lee Seunguk , Medriano Carl A. , Li Liyan , Bae Sungwoo
Published: October 2021

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the physiological responses of two gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus sphaericus) to ultraviolet (UV) and chlorine disinfection.

Methods and Results

Bacterial inactivation by UV and chlorine disinfection were evaluated with a plate count method for culturability, FCM and PMA-qPCR for membrane integrity and DyeTox13-qPCR for enzymatic activity, respectively. Both UV and chorine disinfection caused complete loss of culturability while membrane integrity remained intact after UV disinfection. Both DyeTox13-qPCR and PMA-qPCR showed high ΔCt values up to 8.9 after chlorine disinfection, indicating that both methods were able to distinguish non-treated from chlorine-treated cells. Although PMA-qPCR could not differentiate membrane integrity of cells on UV exposure, DyeTox13-qPCR showed significant differences in ΔCt values of 5.05 and 10.4 for gram-negative (E. coli) and gram-positive (Enterococcus) bacteria, respectively. However, DyeTox13-qPCR for gram-negative bacteria displayed relatively small differences in ΔCt values compared with gram-positive bacteria.

Conclusion

UV and chlorine disinfection led to changes in physiological state of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Particularly, UV disinfection could induce active but non-culturable (ABNC) for gram-negative bacteria and dormant cell for gram-positive bacteria where intact cells no longer showed the enzymatic activity.

Significance and Impact of the Study

UV and chlorine are commonly used to disinfect water, food and fomites to inactivate pathogenic bacteria. However, a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state of bacteria induced by disinfection may underestimate the health risks because of the potential resuscitation of VBNC cells. This study highlighted that bacteria could undergo different physiological (ABNC or dormant) states during UV and chlorine disinfection. In addition, viability PCR techniques could provide insight into the changes in physiological states during disinfection processes.
“I just didn't want to trust it at all”: Atrial fibrillation patient's treatment experience of rivaroxaban and warfarin
Authors: Sly Dan , Husted Margaret , McKeague Lynn , Everington Tamara
Published: October 2021

Background

In the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), anticoagulant medications such as warfarin and rivaroxaban are commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of ischaemic strokes, and other thromboembolic events. Research has highlighted advantages and disadvantages of each of these medications, but there remains an absence of qualitative evidence regarding the lived experiences of AF patients. The present study helps address this gap and obtain a greater understanding of the patient experience and beliefs surrounding their anticoagulant medication.

Method

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of 20 participants (10 warfarin, 10 rivaroxaban). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.

Results

Data analysis led to the generation of three key themes: positive perceptions of medication, distrust of alternatives, and inconsistencies in support experiences.

Conclusions

Positive perceptions of one anticoagulant medication (ACM) and distrust of alternatives may influence patients' confidence in switching medications. This is potentially problematic where there is a lack of patient engagement in medication changes, as seen during the COVID pandemic. Gaps in patient understanding of anticoagulation, including lack of clarity around medications selection and misconceptions about treatment, were evident. By addressing these misconceptions, clinicians may be better positioned to support people with AF in self‐management of their ACM.
Conservation implications of revised genetic structure resulting from new population discovery: the threatened eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) in Canada
Authors: Walter Ryan P. , Venney Clare J. , Mandrak Nicholas E. , Heath Daniel D.
Published: October 2021

Human activity can put non‐game fishes at higher risk of extinction because of inappropriate management action. Eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida), a small benthic fish classified as threatened across much of its northern range, inhabits increasingly fragmented sandy habitats and, as a non‐game fish, may be easily overlooked in conservation efforts. In this study, the authors use genotype data from nine microsatellite loci and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequencing data across its northern native range to re‐assess genetic structure and to characterize a newly discovered, geographically disjunct population. Previous microsatellite marker analyses had identified seven distinct population genetic clusters across the region sampled; the analysis of this study showed that the newly discovered population (West Lake, Ontario) exhibits a divergent structure. COI haplotype analysis suggests that a single haplotype recolonized the Great Lakes and surrounding water bodies after the Wisconsinan glacial period, and subsequent fluctuation in water levels and habitat fragmentation resulted in divergence of genetic clusters. Although the novel West Lake population has a common ancestral source with other populations in the broader region, its divergent genetic signature merits its consideration as a separate conservation unit. The analyses of this study highlight the potential conservation implications of the discovery of new populations, particularly those of at‐risk species, even within a region that has been genetically well characterized.
An approach to assessing immunoglobulin dependence in chronic inflammatory demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy
Authors: Kapoor Mahima , Compton Laura , Rossor Alex , Hutton Elsbeth , Manji Hadi , Lunn Mike , Reilly Mary , Carr Aisling
Published: October 2021

Regular immunoglobulin treatment maintains strength and prevents disability in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). Discrimination between active disease, with optimum symptom control on treatment, and disease in remission not requiring treatment is essential for therapeutic decision‐making and clinical trial design. To compare treatment cessation versus gradual dose reduction in assessment of disease activity (immunoglobulin dependence) in a cohort of stable CIDP patients on maintenance immunoglobulin treatment. An approach to restabilization of immunoglobulin‐dependent individuals is also described. Retrospective review of IVIg cessation or gradual reduction in 33 patients with stable CIDP on maintenance IVIg. Demographic, clinical and treatment data were collected; clinical monitoring data were recorded prospectively as part of routine clinical practice. A total of 21/33 patients (62.6%) were immunoglobulin dependent, (gradual dose reduction:11, cessation:10). Mean change in Inflammatory Rasch‐built Overall Disability Scale (I‐RODS) (−15, standard deviation [SD] 16) and Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC‐SS) (−4, SD: 4) was clinically and statistically meaningful (>75% exceeded minimum clinically important differences). Mean time to deterioration was 5.0 (SD: 4.6) months, shorter in cessation group (3.5 months) than gradual reduction group (8.8 months). All patients were restabilized to previous baseline (M: 2.3, SD: 4.3 months), half within 1 week of retreatment. A total of 12 patients (37.4%) remained stable without treatment for ≥2 years (remission). A total of 50% were identified rapidly by cessation and 50% by gradual dose reduction requiring mean 4.8 (SD: 2.8) years follow‐up and costing £113 623 per person Ig spend. No predictors of disease activity were identified. A treatment cessation trial with close clinical monitoring is an efficient, cost‐effective and safe approach to assessing disease activity in CIDP.
Neuroimaging features of diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34‐mutant: A case series and systematic review
Authors: Kurokawa Ryo , Baba Akira , Kurokawa Mariko , Pinarbasi Emile S. , Makise Naohiro , Ota Yoshiaki , Kim John , Srinivasan Ashok , Moritani Toshio
Published: October 2021

Background and Purpose

Diffuse hemispheric gliomas, H3 G34‐mutant (DHGs‐G34m), are newly recognized malignant brain tumors characterized by histone gene mutations. However, the neuroradiologic characteristics of these tumors require elucidation. We reviewed the demographic, clinical, and neuroradiological features of DHGs‐G34m.

Methods

Data were extracted using a database search in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar in June 2021. Studies assessing pathologically proven DHGs‐G34m with each patient's information and neuroradiological findings were included. After screening and reviewing 332 abstracts, 12 articles including 56 cases met the criteria. We also added the findings for three patients evaluated in our hospital. Two board‐certified radiologists reviewed all demographic, clinical, and neuroradiological findings of each study. One board‐certified pathologist reviewed all pathological data of each study. Kaplan–Meier analyses with log‐rank tests were performed to compare the survival between patients with different tumor margin characteristics (well‐delineated and ill‐defined).

Results

The median patient age at diagnosis was 19 years (range, 6–66 years), and 31/59 patients (52.5%) were men. Supratentorial tumors were observed in all patients (59/59, 100%). Frequent contact with leptomeninges (92.3%) and ependymal regions (87.5%) was observed. The 1‐ and 2‐year survival rates after initial surgery were 66.7% and 40.0%, respectively. DHGs‐G34m with ill‐defined and well‐delineated margins showed significant differences in survival (p = .04).

Conclusions

DHGs‐G34m occur most often in the supratentorial regions of adolescents. Prognosis varies among patients. Evaluation of tumor margins may provide prognostic value.
Werneria praetermissa (Compositae), a new species from northwestern Argentina and southernmost Bolivia
Authors: Calvo Joel
Published: October 2021

Werneria villosa is a species well defined by its yellow ray limbs. In the recent monograph of the genus Werneria, a few populations from northwestern Argentina displaying white ray limbs were tentatively also included in this species following previous authors and because of lack of information for making an accurate taxonomic decision. However, as a result of field‐work carried out in Salta and Jujuy, I have concluded that the plants with white ray limbs correspond to a distinct taxonomic entity and, accordingly, it is here described as the new species W. praetermissa. Detailed pictures of living plants, distribution maps and a dichotomous key to the Argentinian Werneria species is presented.
The critical role of nuclear factor I‐C in tooth development
Authors: Xu Chunmei , Xie Xudong , Zhao Lei , Wu Yafei , Wang Jun
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Nuclear factor I‐C (NFIC) plays a critical role in regulating epithelial‐mesenchymal crosstalk during tooth development. However, it remains largely unknown about how NFIC functions in dentin and enamel formation. In the present review, we aim to summarize the most recent discoveries in the field and gain a better understanding of the roles NFIC performs during tooth formation.

Subjects and Methods

Nfic−/− mice exhibit human dentin dysplasia type I (DDI)‐like phenotypes signified by enlarged pulp chambers, the presence of short‐root anomaly, and failure of odontoblast differentiation. Although loss of NFIC has little effect on molar crown morphology, researchers have detected aberrant microstructures of enamel in the incisors. Recently, accumulating evidence has further uncovered the novel function of NFIC in the process of enamel and dentin formation.

Results

During epithelial‐mesenchyme crosstalk, the expression of NFIC is under the control of SHH‐PTCH‐SMO‐GLI1 pathway. NFIC is closely involved in odontoblast lineage cells proliferation and differentiation, and the maintenance of NFIC protein level in cytoplasm is negatively regulated by TGF‐β signaling pathway. In addition, NFIC has mild effect on ameloblast differentiation, enamel mineralization and cementum formation.

Conclusions

NFIC plays an important role in tooth development and is required for the formation of dentin, enamel as well as cementum.
Spontaneous reduction age for ovarian hernia in early infancy
Authors: Fukuhara Masahiro , Onishi Shun , Handa Noritoshi , Sato Tomoe , Esumi Genshiro
Published: October 2021

Background

Many articles recommend early surgery for ovarian hernia to avoid the risk of ovarian torsion. However, while ovarian hernia is known to undergo spontaneous reduction (SR) in early infancy, few reports have described the timing of SR. We therefore investigated the clinical features of SR for ovarian hernia in early infancy.

Methods

A total of 610 girls were diagnosed with inguinal hernia between 2008 and 2018. We focused on infants who had an ovarian hernia onset in the first 3 months of age. We reviewed the age retrospectively at the onset of hernia and age at SR. The data were compared statistically using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Sixty‐one infants with inguinal hernia were included in this study. Thirty‐nine patients (64%) had ovarian hernia. The mean age at the onset of hernia was 44 ± 17 days of age. Thirty cases underwent SR (77%). A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that 75% of ovarian hernias underwent SR by 6 months of age. There were no cases of ovarian torsion.

Conclusions

Most cases of ovarian hernia underwent SR, so patients with ovarian hernia in early infancy might be treated by elective surgery after 6 months of age.
Novel technique for recanalization of severe hepaticojejunal obstruction using a transseptal needle in a pediatric liver transplant recipient
Authors: Sasaki Kengo , Ota Hideki , Miyagi Shigehito , Tokodai Kazuaki , Fujio Atsushi , Kashiwadate Toshiaki , Miyazawa Koji , Matsumura Muneyuki , Saitoh Yoshikatsu , Kanai Norifumi , Nishimaki Hiroyasu , Takase Kei , Unno Michiaki , Kamei Takashi
Published: October 2021

Background

Endoscopic and PTB interventions are common nonsurgical interventions for biliary anastomotic strictures that occur after liver transplantation. When these nonsurgical interventions fail, surgical re‐anastomosis is considered; however, this is quite invasive and can cause additional injury that may lead to graft loss. We report a case in which conventional nonsurgical interventions failed, but a new method that involve the use of a transseptal needle—a device to create a transseptal left‐heart access during cardiac catheter interventions—was successfully used in recanalization of the hepaticojejunal anastomotic obstruction.

Case

A 21‐year‐old man, who had received living‐donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia at the age of 23 months presented with recurrent cholangitis and liver dysfunction due to a biliary anastomotic stricture of the hepaticojejunostomy. Therapeutic interventions for biliary stricture, including the PTB approach, double‐balloon enteroscopic approach, and rendezvous approach failed. We then performed needle puncture of the anastomotic obstruction using a transseptal needle and succeeded in recanalizing the complete anastomotic obstruction. To perform the procedures safely, we evaluated the organ and needle positions using biplane fluoroscopy and placed a balloon in the afferent jejunal limb as a target for puncture. The 12 Fr catheter via the biliary route was removed 7 months after the procedure, without using a catheter, there was no recurrent stricture or cholangitis for 26 months.

Conclusion

Using a transseptal needle to manage hepaticojejunal anastomotic obstruction can reduce the number of patients who need surgical re‐anastomosis.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Gibbs Nikki
Published: October 2021

Applied Economics and Finance (AEF) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether AEF publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 8, Number 5 ALI DARUB KASSAR, Univ. of Baghdad, IraqAndrey Kudryavtsev, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley Academic College, IsraelAndualem Ufo Baza, Wolaita Sodo University, EthiopiaIan McFarlane, University of Reading, UKMarco Muscettola, Independent Researcher-Credit Risk Manager, ItalyPayal Chadha, University of Wales Prifysgol Cymru, KuwaitRajeev Rana, APB Govt. P.G. College, IndiaRichard Nguyen, Alliant International University, USASebastian Schich, Organisation for Economic Coopertaion and Development (OECD), FranceVictoria Cociug, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, MoldovaZi-Yi Guo, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., USA Nikki GibbsEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Applied Economics and FinanceRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://aef.redfame.com
Prototype for Knee-load Relief through Ischiatic Support
Authors: España-Aguilar Juan Pablo , Polanco-Aguilar Alejandra Paola , Yamhure-Kattah German
Published: October 2021

Objective: The objective of this work was to develop a passive exoskeleton prototype for the relief of knee-load employing ischiatic body weight support. Methods and materials: A functional prototype was developed and tested with three volunteers to analyze its potential effectiveness and effects on gait kinematics. The performance of the prototype was assessed using motion capture and pressure mapping systems, and a testing bench for the study of ischiatic body weight. Results and discussion: The results of the tests indicate that the prototype allows reducing the load supported by the knees and does not have a significant effect on the kinematics of the hip and knee joints. The process allowed the designers to identify possibilities of improvement mainly on reducing the restrictions imposed by the prototype to the motion of the ankles, especially on the midstance of the support phase. Conclusions: The passive exoskeleton prototype developed for ischiatic body weight support allows setting different percentages of knee-load relief. The prototype does not have a significant effect on the kinematics of the hip and knee joints. Nevertheless, improvements must be performed to reduce the restrictions to the motion of the ankles.
A propósito de las víctimas: ser(es) humanos desde cuerpos humanos
Authors: Marcos Jairo
Published: October 2021

La repolitización de los cuerpos por la que aboga este artículo defiende que los seres humanos no es que estén dotados de cuerpo, sino que son cuerpo. El ser humano es cuerpo viviente. Bajo esa problemática se plantea la cuestión acerca de las vidas que merecen la pena ser vividas, que hunde sus raíces en la pregunta por los cuerpos: ¿qué cuerpos sirven para devenir humanos? Para plantear la cuestión desde una filosofía transformadora y mediante un hilo decolonial, hay que partir de los cuerpos que sufren y hay que orientarse hacia futuros posibles donde la vida no sea el privilegio de unas corporalidades concretas. Dos posturas contemporáneas se abren paso en este debate vital: el feminismo cyborg (y su extremo, el transhumanismo) y el feminismo queer.
Las racionalidades nahua y de la modernidad
Authors: Godínez Terrones José de Jesús
Published: October 2021

Cuando llegaron los conquistadores al valle de México se asombraron de las creaciones de la cultura heredera de la tradición tolteca. En busca del reconocimiento de esta cultura, en este artículo se examina que palabras como verdad, pensar y dudar tienen una connotación muy diferente en la filosofía moderna europea, a la cultura del Anáhuac, que floreció en el Valle de México entre los siglos IX y XVI. Se presenta así una comparación del proceso para obtener el conocimiento verdadero en la racionalidad del mundo nahua del siglo XVI y en tres autores de la modernidad europea: Descartes, Kant y Hegel. Se encuentra que la modernidad presenta un sujeto dominante que fundamenta un pensamiento autorreferencial, mientras que en la cultura nahua el ideal es el hombre de “corazón de piedra y rostro sabio” que busca lo verdadero, “lo que tiene raíz”, y lo expresa a través de la poesía, “la flor y el canto”.
De regno o el trastorno tomista de la universalidad política
Authors: Gutiérrez Lopera Rafael Esteban
Published: October 2021

Este estudio versa sobre las alteraciones de ciertas ideas de la filosofía política aristotélica con ocasión de su cruce con la exégesis agustiniana de la doctrina cristiana, promovido por Tomás de Aquino en su Tratado sobre el reino (De regno). Lo que sigue es una revisión del lugar que le corresponde en la obra al carácter universal de la política, que en la filosofía de Aristóteles yacía ligado al naturalismo político y que en la recepción tomista parece proyectarse hacia un registro sobrenatural y divino. Para evaluar esta conjetura nos remitimos a las causas y fines atribuidos por Tomás al dominio del hombre sobre el hombre, intentando rastrear el lugar que ocupa la virtud política en el planteamiento. La hipótesis por sustentar es que la caracterización que hace Tomás del modelo político del reino implica una bifurcación en el fin hacia el que la comunidad política tiende, todo lo cual propiciaría la desuniverzalización de la política misma.
Parametric Effects of Heater Size, Contact Angle, and Surrounding Vessel Size on Pool Boiling Critical Heat Flux From Horizontal Surfaces
Authors: She Zhenyu , Dhir Vijay K.
Published: October 2021

Saturated water at one-atmosphere pressure was boiled on horizontal flat copper disks of diameters 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 cm, respectively. The contact angle was varied from about 10 to 80 deg by controlling thermal oxidation of the disks, while the surrounding vessel size was changed by placing glass tubes of different inner diameters around the disks. Nucleate boiling heat transfer data were obtained up to critical heat flux (CHF), where vapor removal pattern was photographed. Vapor jet diameter and the dominant wavelength at water–steam interface were measured from the photographs for the well wetted disks. For well wetted surfaces, the magnitude of CHF increased when the heater size was reduced from 2.0 to 1.0 cm. Improving the wettability enhanced the CHF substantially, whereas the increased size of the liquid-holding vessel had a smaller effect. The highest measured CHF is 233 W/cm2 or 2.11 times Zuber's CHF prediction for infinite horizontal flat plates. It was obtained on a 1.0-cm-diameter disk of contact angle about 10 deg surrounded by a large vessel. The CHF for this surface was increased from 203 to 233 W/cm2 when the ratio of heater size to surrounding vessel size was decreased from 1 to about 0.
Aerodynamics and Heat Transfer Inside a Gas Turbine Mid-Passage Gap
Authors: Shaikh Faisal , Rosic Budimir
Published: October 2021

Gas turbine blades and vanes are typically manufactured with small clearances between adjacent vane and blade platforms, termed the mid-passage gap. The mid-passage gap reduces turbine efficiency and causes significant additional heat load into the vane platform. This paper presents a new low-order analytical model to quantify the effects of the mid-passage gap on aerodynamics and heat transfer, based only on geometric features and the passage static pressure field. This model is used to calculate losses and heat transfer due to the gap and to derive ideal distributions of purge flow which prevent ingress into the gap. A further simplified estimation method for the effect of gap flow is also presented, so that for any machine the significance of the gap can be quickly assessed based only on geometry and operating conditions. The analysis is validated against both an experimental campaign in a high-speed linear cascade and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics.
Lithographically patterned stretchable metallic microwiring on electrospun nanofiber mats
Authors: Badhe Yutika , Rocha-Flores Pedro E. , Voit Walter E. , Remer David , Costella Lauren , Joshi-Imre Alexandra
Published: October 2021

Stretchable and flexible electronic applications require mechanically suitable electrical wiring. This article presents, for the first time, the microfabrication of photolithographically patterned microwiring on an electrospun nanofiber mat. The use of a photoresist-based technology allows for better than 10 μm pattern resolution on a good quality nanofiber mat, providing an order of magnitude smaller feature sizes than what has been published before. We demonstrate metallic wiring patterned from a 75 nm thick coating on top of the nanofiber mat. A silicone elastomer was incorporated to serve as a matrix material and form a composite substrate and an encapsulation layer on top of the microwiring. We demonstrate clean and anisotropic dry etching of the elastomer to open electrode sites that can be smaller than 10 μm in size. We speculate that these structures will be mechanically robust while being soft at the same time and provide the properties necessary for potential use in stretchable and flexible electronics.
Burden is in the eye of the beholder: Sensitivity of yellow fever disease burden estimates to modeling assumptions
Authors: Perkins T. Alex , Huber John H. , Tran Quan M. , Oidtman Rachel J. , Walters Magdalene K. , Siraj Amir S. , Moore Sean M.
Published: October 2021

Sensitivity to modeling assumptions and statistical uncertainty undermine confidence in disease burden estimates for yellow fever.
Strength through defects: A novel Bayesian approach for the optimization of architected materials
Authors: Vangelatos Zacharias , Sheikh Haris Moazam , Marcus Philip S. , Grigoropoulos Costas P. , Lopez Victor Z. , Flamourakis George , Farsari Maria
Published: October 2021

A substantial improvement in the strength of a material is made with a new optimization method applicable to many science problems.
Integrated single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics reveals strong germinal center–associated etiology of autoimmune risk loci
Authors: King Hamish W. , Wells Kristen L. , Shipony Zohar , Kathiria Arwa S. , Wagar Lisa E. , Lareau Caleb , Orban Nara , Capasso Robson , Davis Mark M. , Steinmetz Lars M. , James Louisa K. , Greenleaf William J.
Published: October 2021

Single-cell ATAC sequencing maps the cell type–specific regulatory potential of transcription factors and autoimmune disease risk loci.
MR-guided focused ultrasound enhances delivery of trastuzumab to Her2-positive brain metastases
Authors: Meng Ying , Reilly Raymond M. , Pezo Rossanna C. , Trudeau Maureen , Sahgal Arjun , Singnurkar Amit , Perry James , Myrehaug Sten , Pople Christopher B. , Davidson Benjamin , Llinas Maheleth , Hyen Chinthaka , Huang Yuexi , Hamani Clement , Suppiah Suganth , Hynynen Kullervo , Lipsman Nir
Published: October 2021

MRgFUS is a safe, noninvasive method to deliver spatially targeted monoclonal antibody across the BBB in patients with brain tumors.
Evaluation of the Impact of Antimicrobial Use Protocols in Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus-Infected Swine on Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns
Authors: Odland Carissa A. , Edler Roy , Noyes Noelle R. , Dee Scott A. , Nerem Joel , Davies Peter R.
Published: October 2021

Despite a recognized need for more longitudinal studies to assess the effects of antimicrobial use on resistance in food animals, they remain sparse in the literature, and most longitudinal studies of pigs have been observational. The current experimental study had the advantages of greater control of potential confounding, precise measurement of antimicrobial exposures which varied markedly between groups and tracking of pigs until market age.
Powassan Viruses Spread Cell to Cell during Direct Isolation from
Ixodes
Ticks and Persistently Infect Human Brain Endothelial Cells and Pericytes
Authors: Conde Jonas N. , Sanchez-Vicente Santiago , Saladino Nicholas , Gorbunova Elena E. , Schutt William R. , Mladinich Megan C. , Himmler Grace E. , Benach Jorge , Kim Hwan Keun , Mackow Erich R.
Published: October 2021

We isolated POWVs from LI deer ticks (
I. scapularis
) directly in VeroE6 cells, and sequencing revealed POWV-LI9 as a distinct lineage II POWV strain. Remarkably, inoculation of VeroE6 cells with POWV-containing tick homogenates resulted in infected cell foci in liquid culture, consistent with cell-to-cell spread.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperones in Viral Infection: Therapeutic Perspectives
Authors: Kohli Evelyne , Causse Sébastien , Baverel Valentin , Dubrez Laurence , Borges-Bonan Natalia , Demidov Oleg , Garrido Carmen
Published: October 2021

Viruses are intracellular parasites that subvert the functions of their host cells to accomplish their infection cycle. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-residing chaperone proteins are central for the achievement of different steps of the viral cycle, from entry and replication to assembly and exit. The most abundant ER chaperones are GRP78 (78-kDa glucose-regulated protein), GRP94 (94-kDa glucose-regulated protein), the carbohydrate or lectin-like chaperones calnexin (CNX) and calreticulin (CRT), the protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) and the DNAJ chaperones.
Identification of a Novel
bla
NDM
Variant,
bla
NDM-33,
in an Escherichia coli Isolate from Hospital Wastewater in China
Authors: Wang Tao , Zhou Yuan , Zou Chunhong , Zhu Zhichen , Zhu Jie , Lv Jingnan , Xie Xiaofang , Chen Liang , Niu Siqiang , Du Hong
Published: October 2021

Our study described a novel NDM-33 variant from an
E. coli
strain isolated from hospital sewage, where it was associated with human disease and antibiotic exposure. Importantly, hospital sewage was increasingly considered to be related to CRE hosts.
Heat Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes on Pecans, Macadamia Nuts, and Sunflower Seeds
Authors: Den Bakker Meghan , den Bakker Henk C. , Diez-Gonzalez Francisco
Published: October 2021

Listeria monocytogenes
is a major concern for the food industry in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods. In recent years, large-scale recalls have occurred with contaminated sunflower seeds and macadamia nuts that triggered product withdrawals.
Structural Basis of a Human Neutralizing Antibody Specific to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Receptor-Binding Domain
Authors: Yang Mei , Li Jiaqi , Huang Zhaoxia , Li Heng , Wang Yueming , Wang Xiaoli , Kang Sisi , Huang Xing , Wu Changwen , Liu Tong , Jia Zhenxing , Liang Junlang , Yuan Xiaohui , He Suhua , Chen Xiaoxue , Zhou Zhechong , Chen Qiuyue , Liu Siqi , Li Jing , Zheng Huiwen , Liu Xi , Li Kenan , Yao Xiaojun , Lang Bin , Liu Longding , Liao Hua-Xin , Chen Shoudeng
Published: October 2021

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious threat to global health and the economy, so it is necessary to find safe and effective antibody drugs and treatments.
Radiological characteristics of mixed composition intraorbital foreign body
Authors: Tong Jessica Y , Juniat Valerie , Patel Sandy , Selva Dinesh
Published: October 2021

Orbital trauma is commonly complicated by retention of intraorbital foreign bodies. A 39-year-old man presented following a penetrating injury to the right orbit, with CT evidence of foreign bodies in the right anterior and posterior medial orbit. The foreign bodies were found to be a mixed composition of metal and wood. Characterising wood on CT imaging is difficult due to its radiolucency and low density, which can be mistaken for air in the setting of traumatic orbital emphysema. Increasing the window width on bone window settings can be used to distinguish wood from air, which is crucial for facilitating its complete surgical removal.