bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toileting Resistance Among Preschool-Age Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Wiggins Lisa D. , Nadler Cy , Hepburn Susan , Rosenberg Steven , Reynolds Ann , Zubler Jennifer
Published: February 2022

Objective:

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may achieve continence later than other children. Little is known about factors associated with toileting resistance in children with ASD and other developmental delays/disabilities (DD). We sought to describe toileting resistance in children with ASD and DD and those from the general population (POP) and identify factors associated with toileting resistance in children with ASD and DD.

Method:

Families and children aged 24 to 68 months were enrolled in the Study to Explore Early Development, a multisite case-control study on ASD. Children with ASD (N = 743) and DD (N = 766) and those from the POP (N = 693) who were 48 months or older were included in this study. Parents reported toileting resistance, gastrointestinal issues, behavior problems, and ASD symptoms in their children. Children completed an in-person evaluation to determine ASD status and developmental level.

Results:

Toileting resistance was more common among children with ASD (49.1%) than children with DD (23.6%) and those from the POP (8.0%). Diarrhea and deficits in social awareness were significantly associated with toileting resistance in children with ASD and DD. Constipation, expressive language delays, and low social motivation were significantly associated with toileting resistance only in children with ASD; very low visual reception skills and oppositional behaviors were significantly associated with toileting resistance in only children with DD (all p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion:

Evaluating gastrointestinal issues, developmental delays, and social deficits before toileting training may help identify children with atypical development who are likely to present with toileting resistance. These evaluations can be incorporated into health supervision visits.
The Adenylate Cyclase Activator Forskolin Potentiates the Positive Inotropic Effect of the Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Milrinone But Not of the Calcium Sensitizer Levosimendan nor of Its Hemodynamically Active Metabolites: An Apparent Conundrum
Authors: Levijoki Jouko , Pollesello Piero , Grossini Elena , Papp Zoltán
Published: February 2022

OR-1855 and OR-1896 are 2 hemodynamically active metabolites of the inodilator levosimendan, with calcium sensitizing activity, but their mechanism of action is still not fully understood. It has been previously reported that the positive inotropic effect of levosimendan is not potentiated by the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin, whereas forskolin does potentiate the effects of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor milrinone. To ascertain whether the active metabolites follow the same pattern of levosimendan, the positive inotropic effects of OR- 1855 and OR-1896 were studied in guinea-pig-isolated papillary muscle in the presence and absence of forskolin. OR-1855 and OR-1896 were also tested as inhibitors of PDE-III and PDE-IV. Our results show that 0.1 µM forskolin did not potentiate the positive inotropic effect of OR-1855 or OR-1896, as in the case of the parent compound levosimendan. As in previous studies, the positive inotropic effect of milrinone was markedly potentiated in the presence of forskolin. From these data, we propose an explanation for the divergent behavior of the calcium sensitizing drugs and PDE inhibitors.
Vision Loss Secondary to COVID-19 Associated Bilateral Cerebral Venous Sinus Thromboses
Authors: Omari Amro , Kally Peter , Schimmel Olivia , Kahana Alon
Published: February 2022

A young, morbidly obese woman with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection requiring hospitalization presented with visual and neurologic complications secondary to bilateral cerebral venous sinus thromboses. With elevated intracranial pressure and severe papilledema, she rapidly progressed to complete bilateral vision loss despite anticoagulation, therapeutic lumbar punctures with lumbar drain, bilateral optic nerve sheath fenestrations, and endovascular thrombectomy. It is possible that obese patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection may be at greater risk of hypercoagulable cerebrovascular complications. It is impossible to know if an even more rapid response would have led to a different outcome, but we report this case in the hope that publishing this and similar cases may result in improved treatment protocols to preserve vision.
Microdebridement of Intranasal Cysts Associated With Congenital Dacryocystoceles
Authors: Magoon Katie , Landau Prat Daphna , Guo Michelle , Revere Karen , Katowitz William R.
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

The surgical management of congenital dacryocystoceles has evolved in recent decades. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of endoscopic examination and powered microdebridement in the management of nasal cysts associated with congenital dacryocystoceles.

Methods:

In this retrospective case series, all patients with congenital dacryocystoceles who underwent surgical intervention under general anesthesia at a single institution over a 12-year period (2009–2020) were included.

Results:

Thirty-seven lacrimal drainage systems from 29 patients were included, 8 patients (28%) had bilateral dacryocystoceles. Twenty-two (76%) were females, and 5 (17%) patients had a history of prematurity. Mean (±SD) age at diagnosis was 15 ± 28 days, and 1.4 ± 1.7 months at surgical intervention. Mean follow-up was 7.5 months. The right side was more commonly involved (20 [69%] OD vs. 17 [59%] OS). Dacryocystitis was diagnosed at presentation in 23 lacrimal drainage systems (62%). Intraoperatively, intranasal cysts were observed in 32 lacrimal drainage systems (86%), and a powered microdebrider was used to excise each cyst. In 6 of the 21 supposed unilateral cases (29%), a contralateral cyst was identified and treated. The average birth age of patients with intranasal cysts was 39 weeks versus 36 weeks of patients without (p = 0.03). Surgical success was found in 36 of 37 sides treated (97%); one case (3%) underwent unilateral endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy during the follow-up period due to persistent symptoms.

Conclusions:

Congenital dacryocystoceles are associated with intranasal cysts in most cases. Surgical intervention with microdebrider is associated with a favorable outcome. Bilateral endonasal examination is ideal in all cases.
Blink Reflex in Neurotrophic Keratopathy: An Electrophysiological Evaluation
Authors: Syed Sara Fatima , Marshall Andrew , Hossain Parwez , Sadiq Saghir Ahmed
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

Neurotrophic keratitis (NK) is a rare condition which may result in visual loss. This case review investigates if there may be an association between NK and the blink reflex in the absence of facial nerve palsy and lagophthalmos.

Methods:

This is a retrospective case review of 5 patients with trigeminal nerve damage referred to the oculoplastic department with suspected anesthetic corneae. Information on etiology, symptoms, duration, associated medical conditions, medications, examination findings including Mackie stage of keratopathy, management of keratopathy, and blink electrophysiology results was obtained.

Results:

All 5 patients demonstrated absence of corneal sensation. All patients had preserved facial nerve function with no evidence of lagophthalmos. Keratopathy ranged from Mackie stage 0–2. Management ranged from ocular lubricants to Botulinum-toxin-induced ptosis. Blink studies demonstrated reduction in amplitude as well as increased latency in 2 patients, conferring reduced blink strength. Two patients demonstrated an absent blink reflex on the affected side. One patient had blink latency within the normative range; this patient recovered corneal sensation and was discharged.

Conclusions:

Our finding of reduced amplitude in blink studies offers both a factor in pathogenesis of NK and a potential therapeutic target. Additionally, blink studies may provide prognostic information for recovery and therefore guide management. We suggest performing blink electrophysiology in patients with trigeminal nerve damage to assess nerve function.
Clinical and refractive outcomes after topography-guided refractive surgery planned using Phorcides surgery planning software
Authors: Stulting R. Doyle , Lobanoff Mark , Mann Paul M. , Wexler Stephen , Stonecipher Karl , Potvin Richard
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate prospectively the clinical outcomes of topography-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery performed with Contoura Vision using the Wavelight excimer laser and planned with the Phorcides Analytical Engine.

Setting:

Four clinical practices in the U.S.

Design:

Prospective single-arm interventional study.

Methods:

130 eyes of 65 patients with myopia or myopic astigmatism were enrolled in a prospective study of visual and refractive outcomes after treatment with Contoura Vision using the Wavelight EX500 excimer laser to achieve optimal distance vision. At 3 months postoperatively, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction, and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were measured and compared with previously published studies.

Results:

At 3 months postoperatively, 100%, 89%, and 28% of eyes achieved UDVA of 20/20, 20/15, and 20/12.5 or better, respectively. 92% of eyes had postoperative UDVA equal to or better than their preoperative CDVA. Postoperative CDVA was equal to, 1 line better, or 2 lines better than the preoperative CDVA in 53%, 40%, and 6% of eyes, respectively. Only 1 eye lost 1 line of CDVA, and no eyes lost more than 1 line of CDVA. A statistically significant decrease was noted in subjective visual complaints, including glare, halos, difficulty driving at night, reading difficulty, starbursts, fluctuation in vision, and light sensitivity.

Conclusions:

The Phorcides Analytical Engine can be used to optimize visual outcomes for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism.
Long-term results in patients with iris-fixated foldable phakic intraocular lenses for myopia and astigmatism
Authors: Marta Ana , Leite João , Abreu Ana Carolina , Monteiro Sílvia , Pinto Céu
Published: February 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate the long-term results of iris-fixated foldable phakic intraocular lens (pIOL) implantation for the management of myopia and astigmatism.

Setting:

Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Oporto, Portugal.

Design:

Prospective clinical study.

Methods:

Patients who underwent Artiflex Myopia or Artiflex Toric iris-fixed pIOL implantation for the treatment of myopia or astigmatism between 2003 and 2011 were included. Refractive stability, refractive predictability, safety, efficacy, and cumulative probability of success were evaluated at 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years of follow-up.

Results:

5-year, 10-year, and 15-year follow-ups were completed by 199 of 217 (91.7%), 187 of 217 (86.2%), and 43 of 45 (95.6%) eyes implanted with pIOLs, respectively. The mean spherical equivalent was −8.36 ± 2.75 diopters (D), −0.11 ± 0.31 D, −0.33 ± 0.62 D, and −0.80 ± 1.32 D preoperatively and after 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years after surgery. At 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years after surgery, 100%, 95.6%, and 81.6% were within ±1.00 D. The safety and efficacy indexes were 1.07 and 1.06 at 5 years, 1.04 and 0.99 at 10 years, and 1.05 and 1.00 at 15 years of follow-up, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed survival rates of 97% at 5 years, 73% at 10 years, and 43% at 15 years of follow-up.

Conclusions:

Long-term results demonstrated that the implantation of Artiflex pIOLs was a stable, predictable, and effective procedure at 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years of follow-up. Annual follow-up visits to evaluate endothelial cell density and anterior chamber depth decrease, to alert patients to this need in the preoperative evaluation, is recommended.
Assessing the Prognostic Value of the ChOLE Classification in Predicting the Severity of Acquired Cholesteatoma
Authors: Eggink Maura C. , de Wolf Maarten J. F. , Ebbens Fenna A. , Dikkers Frederik G. , van Spronsen Erik
Published: February 2022

Objective:

To assess the prognostic value of the ChOLE classification in predicting the severity of acquired cholesteatoma.

Method:

A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing primary cholesteatoma surgery in our tertiary referral center. The primary outcome measures were analyzed in three groups of follow up (FU): residual cholesteatoma in group A, FU > 52 weeks after last-look surgery or MRI-DWI; recurrent cholesteatoma in group B, FU > 52 weeks after last outpatient visit; and adverse events (AE) in group C, FU > 12 weeks after surgery. Cholesteatomata were staged according to the ChOLE classification. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to determine the prognostic value of the classification in predicting cholesteatoma severity, while correcting for FU.

Results:

No significant differences were observed between the various stages of the ChOLE classification and residual or recurrent cholesteatoma rate, nor the occurrence of AE. Cholesteatoma extension to the sinus tympani or widespread in the mastoid, as well as absence of the stapes superstructure were predictive of residual disease. Sclerotic mastoids had a lower risk of residual disease than mastoids with good or poor pneumatization and ventilation. Poorly ventilated and poorly pneumatized mastoids were associated with increased risk of recurrence. Widespread cholesteatoma in the mastoid as well as presence of preoperative extracranial complications were correlated with an increased risk of AE.

Conclusion:

The ChOLE classification does not predict residual nor recurrent disease, nor the occurrence of AE, in our study population. Risk factors for severe cholesteatoma were identified, potentially useful for the development of future classifications.
Detection of Extracochlear Electrodes Using Stimulation-Current- Induced Non-Stimulating Electrode Voltage Recordings With Different Electrode Designs
Authors: de Rijk Simone R. , Hammond-Kenny Amy , Tam Yu C. , Eitutis Susan T. , Garcia Charlotte , Carlyon Robert P. , Bance Manohar
Published: February 2022

Hypothesis:

Stimulation-Current-Induced Non-Stimulating Electrode Voltage Recordings (SCINSEVs) can help detect extracochlear electrodes for a variety of Cochlear Implant (CI) devices.

Background:

Extracochlear electrodes (EEs) occur in 9 to 13% of cochlear implantations and commonly go unnoticed without imaging. Electrodes on the electrode array located extracochlearly are associated with non-auditory stimulation and a decrease in speech outcomes. We have previously shown that SCINSEVs, with hardware and software from one manufacturer, could detect EEs. Here, we test the generalizability to other manufacturers.

Methods:

Fresh-frozen human cadaveric heads were implanted with Cochlear Ltd. CI522 (CI-A) and MED-EL's FLEX24 (CI-B) electrodes. Contact impedances and SCIN- SEVs were measured, with Cochlear Ltd. research Custom Sound software (Transimpedance Matrix) and MED-EL's clinical MAESTRO (Impedance Field Telemetry), for full insertion and EEs in air, saline and soft tissue. An automated detection tool was optimized and tested for these implants. Intra-operative SCINSEVs with EEs were collected for clinical purposes for six patients.

Results:

The pattern of SCINSEVs changed in the transition zone from intracochlear to extracochlear electrodes, even with low contact impedances on EEs. Automated detection in the cadaveric specimens, with two or more EEs in saline or soft tissue, showed a mean 91% sensitivity and specificity for CI-A and 100% sensitivity and specificity for CI-B. Quantification of EEs showed significant correlations of r 
= 0.69 between estimated and actual EEs for CI-A and r = 0.76 for CI-B.

Conclusion:

The applicability of SCINSEVs to detect extra- cochlear electrodes could be expanded to other cochlear implant companies despite differences in electrode array design and measurement software.
Spironolactone Ameliorates Cochlear Implant Induced Endolymphatic Hydrops
Authors: Creber Nathan J. , Eastwood Hayden T. , Hampson Amy J. , Lo Jonathon , Zhang Dongcheng , Chambers Scott A. , Bester Christo W. , Thorne Peter R. , O’Leary Stephen J.
Published: February 2022

Background

Endolymphatic hydrops (EH) has been observed in both animal and human cochleae following cochlear implant (CI) surgery. We tested whether EH could be eliminated by administration of mineralocorticoid steroid antagonist spironolactone and explored the electrophysiological consequences of this.

Methods

Sixty-four adult guinea pigs underwent cochlear implantation with a dummy electrode. Animals then survived either 2, 7, or 28 days. Auditory function was monitored by recording electrocochleography from the round window membrane preimplantation, and on the last day of the experiment. Spironolactone or control solution was added to animals’ feed for 7 days (if they survived that long) beginning immediately prior to surgery. The presence of EH was determined using thin-sheet laser imaging microscopy.

Results

Treatment with spironolactone resulted in significant reduction in EH in the second cochlear turn 7 days postimplantation. In all animals, the compound action potential (CAP) threshold was elevated 2 days postimplantation, but for most frequencies had recovered substantially by 28 days. There was no treatment effect on CAP thresholds. SP/AP ratios were elevated at day 2. The amplitude growth of the CAP did not differ between test and control groups at any time after implantation.

Conclusions

EH can be suppressed by antagonism of mineralocorticoid receptors in the week after cochlear implantation. Reduction in EH did not lead to any change in hearing, and there was no indication of synaptopathy signalled by reduced CAP amplitude at high sound intensities. We found no electrophysiological evidence that EH early after implantation impacts negatively upon preservation of residual hearing.
Chlamydia trachomatis Variants Escaping Detection in the Aptima Combo 2 Assay in the United States
Authors: Katz Samantha S. , Danavall Damien C. , Morris Monica R. , Herrod Bridgett P. , Dale Suzanne E. , Nye Melinda B. , Kersh Ellen N. , Kirkcaldy Robert D. , Raphael Brian H.
Published: February 2022

Background

The Aptima Combo 2 (AC2) assay manufactured by Hologic, Inc., detects Neisseria gonorrhoeae and/or Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in urogenital and extragenital specimens by targeting either a 16S rRNA (N. gonorrhoeae) or 23S rRNA (CT) region. In 2019, a mutation (C1515T) in the 23S rRNA region was reported to cause false-negative/equivocal results in specimens collected in Finland. Specimens containing this variant (Fl-nvCT) were also discovered internationally. Working with specimens submitted to a large commercial laboratory, we sought to determine if this variant was also present in the United States.

Methods

A subset (n = 401) of specimens tested with the AC2 assay collected during a 5-week period in late 2019/early 2020 were evaluated using an updated AC2 assay.

Results

Although the FI-nvCT variant was not detected within this specimen panel, 2 CT variants containing 23S rRNA mutations (A1518G, G1526A) were identified. The updated AC2 assay targeting an additional region of the 23S rRNA detected both of these variants. A retrospective study of >18 million AC2 results tested between 2018 and 2019 did not display a decrease in CT positivity.

Conclusions

Although we did not detect the Fl-nvCT variant among US specimens, we show evidence that the low occurrence of similar diagnostic-escape mutants can be detected with an updated AC2 assay using multiple 23S rRNA targets.
Cerebral Blood Flow of the Frontal Lobe in Untreated Children with Trigonocephaly versus Healthy Controls: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study
Authors: de Planque Catherine A. , Petr Jan , Gaillard Linda , Mutsaerts Henk J. M. M. , van Veelen Marie-Lise C. , Versnel Sarah L. , Dremmen Marjolein H. G. , Mathijssen Irene M. J.
Published: February 2022

Background:

Craniofacial surgery is the standard treatment for children with moderate to severe trigonocephaly. The added value of surgery to release restriction of the frontal lobes is unproven, however. In this study, the authors aim to address the hypothesis that the frontal lobe perfusion is not restricted in trigonocephaly patients by investigating cerebral blood flow.

Methods:

Between 2018 and 2020, trigonocephaly patients for whom a surgical correction was considered underwent magnetic resonance imaging brain studies with arterial spin labeling to measure cerebral perfusion. The mean value of cerebral blood flow in the frontal lobe was calculated for each subject and compared to that of healthy controls.

Results:

Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 36 trigonocephaly patients (median age, 0.5 years; interquartile range, 0.3; 11 female patients) were included and compared to those of 16 controls (median age, 0.83 years; interquartile range, 0.56; 10 female patients). The mean cerebral blood flow values in the frontal lobe of the trigonocephaly patients (73.0 ml/100 g/min; SE, 2.97 ml/100 g/min) were not significantly different in comparison to control values (70.5 ml/100 g/min; SE, 4.45 ml/100 g/min; p = 0.65). The superior, middle, and inferior gyri of the frontal lobe showed no significant differences either.

Conclusions:

The authors’ findings suggest that the frontal lobes of trigonocephaly patients aged less than 18 months have a normal cerebral blood flow before surgery. In addition to the very low prevalence of papilledema or impaired skull growth previously reported, this finding further supports the authors’ hypothesis that craniofacial surgery for trigonocephaly is rarely indicated for signs of raised intracranial pressure or restricted perfusion for patients younger than 18 months.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Risk, II.
Traumatic brain injury provokes low fibrinolytic activity in severely injured patients
Authors: Meizoso Jonathan P. , Moore Hunter B. , Moore Ernest E. , Gilna Gareth P. , Ghasabyan Arsen , Chandler James , Pieracci Fredric M. , Sauaia Angela
Published: February 2022

Background

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in combination with shock has been associated with hypocoagulability. However, recent data suggest that TBI itself can promote a systemic procoagulant state via the release of brain-derived extracellular vesicles. The objective of our study was to identify if TBI was associated with differences in thrombelastography indices when controlling for other variables associated with coagulopathy following trauma. We hypothesized that TBI is independently associated with a less coagulopathic state.

Methods

Prospective study includes all highest-level trauma activations at an urban Level I trauma center, from 2014 to 2020. Traumatic brain injury was defined as Abbreviated Injury Scale head score greater than 3. Blood samples were drawn at emergency department admission. Linear regression was used to assess the role of independent predictors on trauma induced coagulopathy. Models adjusted for Injury Severity Score (ISS), shock (defined as ED SBP<70, or ED SBP<90 and ED HR>108, or first hospital base deficit >10), and prehospital Glasgow Coma Scale score.

Results

Of the 1,023 patients included, 291 (28%) suffered a TBI. Traumatic brain injury patients more often were female (26% vs. 19%, p = 0.01), had blunt trauma (83% vs. 43%, p < 0.0001), shock (33% vs. 25%, p = 0.009), and higher median ISS (29 vs. 10, p < 0.0001). Fibrinolysis shutdown (25% vs. 18%) was more common in the TBI group (p < 0.0001). When controlled for the confounding effects of ISS and shock, the presence of TBI independently decreases lysis at 30 minutes (LY30) (beta estimate: −0.16 ± 0.06, p = 0.004). This effect of TBI on LY30 persisted when controlling for sex and mechanism of injury in addition to ISS and shock (beta estimate: −0.13 ± 0.06, p = 0.022).

Conclusion

Traumatic brain injury is associated with lower LY30 independent of shock, tissue injury, sex, and mechanism of injury. These findings suggest a propensity toward a hypercoagulable state in patients with TBI, possibly due to fibrinolysis shutdown.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiologic; Level III.
A semi-parametric, state-space compartmental model with time-dependent parameters for forecasting COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths
Authors: O’Dea Eamon B. , Drake John M.
Published: February 2022

Short-term forecasts of the dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the period up to its decline following mass vaccination was a task that received much attention but proved difficult to do with high accuracy. However, the availability of standardized forecasts and versioned datasets from this period allows for continued work in this area. Here, we introduce the Gaussian infection state space with time dependence (GISST) forecasting model. We evaluate its performance in one to four weeks ahead forecasts of COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and deaths in the state of California made with official reports of COVID-19, Google’s mobility reports and vaccination data available each week. Evaluation of these forecasts with a weighted interval score shows them to consistently outperform a naive baseline forecast and often score closer to or better than a high-performing ensemble forecaster. The GISST model also provides parameter estimates for a compartmental model of COVID-19 dynamics, includes a regression submodel for the transmission rate and allows for parameters to vary over time according to a random walk. GISST provides a novel, balanced combination of computational efficiency, model interpretability and applicability to large multivariate datasets that may prove useful in improving the accuracy of infectious disease forecasts.
Reproduction dynamics of planktonic microbial eukaryotes in the open ocean
Authors: Weinkauf Manuel F. G. , Siccha Michael , Weiner Agnes K. M.
Published: February 2022

Understanding the biology of reproduction of an organismal lineage is important for retracing key evolutionary processes, yet gaining detailed insights often poses major challenges. Planktonic Foraminifera are globally distributed marine microbial eukaryotes and important contributors to the global carbon cycle. They cannot routinely be cultured under laboratory conditions across generations, and thus details of their life cycle remain incomplete. The production of flagellated gametes has long been taken as an indication of exclusively sexual reproduction, but recent research suggests the existence of an additional asexual generation in the life cycle. To gain a better understanding of the reproductive biology of planktonic Foraminifera, we applied a dynamic, individual-based modelling approach with parameters based on laboratory and field observations to test if sexual reproduction is sufficient for maintaining viable populations. We show that temporal synchronization and potentially spatial concentration of gamete release seems inevitable for maintenance of the population under sexual reproduction. We hypothesize that sexual reproduction is likely beneficial during the adaptation to new environments, while population sustenance in stable environments can be ensured through asexual reproduction.
Comparative study and discussion of diagenetic facies and conductivity characteristics based on experiments
Authors: Zhou Xueqing , Zhang Zhansong , Zhang Chaomo
Published: February 2022

The study of conduction mechanisms is the key to establishing physical derivations, resistivity simulations and saturation models. The purpose of this research is to clarify conduction mechanisms under different diagenetic facies and build suitable saturation evaluation models. Experimental data of tight gas sandstone from the Ordos Basin were analysed, including data from scanning electron microscopy, conventional core physical property analysis, core casting thin-section analysis, core mercury intrusion experimentation and rock electrical conductivity experimentation. Accordingly, the diagenetic minerals of the study block were examined, and the diagenetic facies were classified by the differences in the diagenetic properties across the study area. The reservoir was divided into three types of diagenetic facies: construction facies, cementation facies and destruction facies. On this basis, the conductivity characteristics and saturation models of different diagenetic facies within the study area were systematically discussed for the first time. A number of experiments showed that according to the type of diagenesis, the structure of the pores and the influence of the reservoir, a classification scheme for diagenetic facies (consisting of construction, cementation and destruction facies) can be established. According to the influence of the diagenesis of various diagenetic facies, theoretical pore structure models of the three diagenetic facies were established, in which the construction facies includes mainly dissolved feldspar pores and intergranular pores, the destruction facies includes clay residual intergranular pores and intergranular pores, and the cementation facies includes primarily residual intergranular pores. Based on these theoretical pore structure models, the construction facies was evaluated with a pore-connected vuggy conductivity model, the destruction facies was evaluated with a non-connected matrix pore conductivity model, and the cementation facies was evaluated with a residual intergranular pore conductivity model. Then, the rationality of each model and the effects of the parameters in each model on the final cementation exponent were analysed by simulation. The predicted cementation exponents of the diagenetic facies match the measured cementation exponents well and can guide the qualitative description of these characteristics in such reservoirs.
Exploring cocoa bean fermentation mechanisms by kinetic modelling
Authors: Moreno-Zambrano Mauricio , Ullrich Matthias S. , Hütt Marc-Thorsten
Published: February 2022

Compared with other fermentation processes in food industry, cocoa bean fermentation is uncontrolled and not standardized. A detailed mechanistic understanding can therefore be relevant for cocoa bean quality control. Starting from an existing mathematical model of cocoa bean fermentation we analyse five additional biochemical mechanisms derived from the literature. These mechanisms, when added to the baseline model either in isolation or in combination, were evaluated in terms of their capacity to describe experimental data. In total, we evaluated 32 model variants on 23 fermentation datasets. We interpret the results from two perspectives: (1) success of the potential mechanism, (2) discrimination of fermentation protocols based on estimated parameters. The former provides insight in the fermentation process itself. The latter opens an avenue towards reverse-engineering empirical conditions from model parameters. We find support for two mechanisms debated in the literature: consumption of fructose by lactic acid bacteria and production of acetic acid by yeast. Furthermore, we provide evidence that model parameters are sensitive to differences in the cultivar, temperature control and usage of steel tanks compared with wooden boxes. Our results show that mathematical modelling can provide an alternative to standard chemical fingerprinting in the interpretation of fermentation data.
Validated measures of semantic knowledge and semantic control: normative data from young and older adults for more than 300 semantic judgements
Authors: Wu Wei , Hoffman Paul
Published: February 2022

Recent studies suggest that knowledge representations and control processes are the two key components underpinning semantic cognition, and are also crucial indicators of the shifting cognitive architecture of semantics in later life. Although there are many standardized assessments that provide measures of the quantity of semantic knowledge participants possess, normative data for tasks that probe semantic control processes are not yet available. Here, we present normative data from more than 200 young and older participants on a large set of stimuli in two semantic tasks, which probe controlled semantic processing (feature-matching task) and semantic knowledge (synonym judgement task). We verify the validity of our norms by replicating established age- and psycholinguistic-property-related effects on semantic cognition. Specifically, we find that older people have more detailed semantic knowledge than young people but have less effective semantic control processes. We also obtain expected effects of word frequency and inter-item competition on performance. Parametrically varied difficulty levels are defined for half of the stimuli based on participants' behavioural performance, allowing future studies to produce customized sets of experimental stimuli based on our norms. We provide all stimuli, data and code used for analysis, in the hope that they are useful to other researchers.
Habitat isolation reduces intra- and interspecific biodiversity and stability
Authors: Steiner Christopher F. , Asgari Mitra
Published: February 2022

Fragmentation is predicted to reduce biodiversity and stability by increasing habitat isolation and impeding dispersal among patches. These effects may manifest at both the interspecific and intraspecific levels, yet few studies have simultaneously explored dispersal effects across levels of organization. We used field mesocosm experiments to examine how habitat isolation (in the form of dispersal rate) alters inter- and intraspecific stability and diversity in local zooplankton communities. We observed effects of increasing dispersal rate at both the intra- and interspecific levels. Increasing dispersal increased local species diversity and reduced mean temporal variability of populations. At the intraspecific level,Daphnia pulexclonal diversity was enhanced by dispersal and mean temporal variability of clone abundances through time was reduced.
Comment on: ‘A doubly anharmonic oscillator in an induced electric dipole system’
Authors: Fernández Francisco M.
Published: February 2022

We argue that recent conclusions about a doubly anharmonic oscillator appear to be wrong. The radial eigenvalue equation is conditionally solvable and the authors derived some analytical eigenvalues for states with polynomial solutions. The allowed discrete values of the cyclotron frequency or intensity of the uniform magnetic field are an artefact of the approach used to obtain such particular solutions. There are bound states when the angular velocity of the rotating reference frame is null, contrary to what the authors claimed.
On Stokes wave solutions
Authors: Zhao Kuifeng , Liu Philip L.-F.
Published: February 2022

Using a perturbation method with the aid of MATLAB®Symbolic Toolbox, a new set of Stokes wave solutions, up to the fifth order, are derived. The new solutions are expressed in terms of free surface profile, velocity potential and wave celerity (or frequency dispersion relation). The solutions in the deep water limit are also deduced and discussed. The new solutions are compared with the existing solutions up to the fifth order. Differences appear among the existing and the present solutions, starting at the third order. The causes for the differences are identified. The characteristic differences were highlighted in the figures for high order solutions of Stokes waves. Numerical examples are provided to quantify the differences between the new fifth-order solutions and Fenton’s, and Skjelbreia and Hendrickson’s solutions.
A study on resonant collision in the two-dimensional multi-component long-wave–short-wave resonance system
Authors: Rao Jiguang , Kanna T. , He Jingsong
Published: February 2022

This study focuses on the occurrence and dynamics of resonant collisions of breathers among themselves and with rational solitary waves in a two-dimensional multi-component long-wave–short-wave resonance system. These nonlinear coherent structures are described by a family of semi-rational solutions encompassing almost all known solitary waves with non-zero boundary conditions. In the case of resonant collision of parallel breathers, the original breathers split up into several new breathers or combine into a new breather. They also exhibit a mixed behaviour displaying a mixture of splitting and recombination processes. The lumps and line rogue waves—two distinct forms of rational solitary waves—can undergo partial and complete resonant collisions with breathers. In the partial resonant collisions, the lumps do not exit well before interaction but suddenly emerge from the breathers and finally keep existing for an infinite time after interaction, or they alter from existence to annihilation as one moves fromt→−∞tot→+∞. The line rogue waves arise and decay along ray waves instead of line waves. In the complete resonant collisions, the lumps first detach from breathers and then fuse into other breathers, while the line rogue waves appear and disappear along line segment waves of finite length, namely, both of the lumps and rogue waves are doubly localized in two-dimensional space as well as in time.
Finite-element and semi-analytical study of elastic wave propagation in strongly scattering polycrystals
Authors: Huang Ming , Huthwaite Peter , Rokhlin Stanislav I. , Lowe Michael J. S.
Published: February 2022

This work studies scattering-induced elastic wave attenuation and phase velocity variation in three-dimensional untextured cubic polycrystals with statistically equiaxed grains using the theoretical second-order approximation (SOA) and Born approximation models and the grain-scale finite-element (FE) model, pushing the boundary towards strongly scattering materials. The results for materials with Zener anisotropy indicesA > 1 show a good agreement between the theoretical and FE models in the transition and stochastic regions. In the Rayleigh regime, the agreement is reasonable for common structural materials with 1 < A <  3.2 but it deteriorates asAincreases. The wavefields and signals from FE modelling show the emergence of very strong scattering at low frequencies for strongly scattering materials that cannot be fully accounted for by the theoretical models. To account for such strong scattering atA > 1, a semi-analytical model is proposed by iterating the far-field Born approximation and optimizing the iterative coefficient. The proposed model agrees remarkably well with the FE model across all studied materials with greatly differing microstructures; the model validity also extends to the quasi-static velocity limit. For polycrystals withA < 1, it is found that the agreement between the SOA and FE results is excellent for all studied materials and the correction of the model is not needed.
Experimental cross species transmission of a major viral pathogen in bees is predominantly from honeybees to bumblebees
Authors: Tehel Anja , Streicher Tabea , Tragust Simon , Paxton Robert J.
Published: February 2022

Cross-species transmission of a pathogen from a reservoir to a recipient host species, spillover, can have major impacts on biodiversity, domestic species and human health.Deformed wing virus(DWV) is a panzootic RNA virus in honeybees that is causal in their elevated colony losses, and several correlative field studies have suggested spillover of DWV from managed honeybees to wild bee species such as bumblebees. Yet unequivocal demonstration of DWV spillover is lacking, while spillback, the transmission of DWV from a recipient back to the reservoir host, is rarely considered. Here, we show in fully crossed laboratory experiments that the transmission of DWV (genotype A) from honeybees to bumblebees occurs readily, yet we neither detected viral transmission from bumblebees to honeybees nor onward transmission from experimentally infected to uninoculated bumblebees. Our results support the potential for viral spillover from honeybees to other bee species in the field when robbing resources from heterospecific nests or when visiting the same flowers. They also underscore the importance of studies on the virulence of DWV in wild bee species so as to evaluate viral impact on individual and population fitness as well as viral adaption to new host species.
Matrilateral bias of grandparental investment in grandchildren persists despite the grandchildren's adverse early life experiences
Authors: Helle Samuli , Tanskanen Antti O. , Coall David A. , Danielsbacka Mirkka
Published: February 2022

Evolutionary theory predicts a downward flow of investment from older to younger generations, representing individual efforts to maximize inclusive fitness. Maternal grandparents and maternal grandmothers (MGMs) in particular consistently show the highest levels of investment (e.g. time, care and resources) in their grandchildren. Grandparental investment overall may depend on social and environmental conditions that affect the development of children and modify the benefits and costs of investment. Currently, the responses of grandparents to adverse early life experiences (AELEs) in their grandchildren are assessed from a perspective of increased investment to meet increased need. Here, we formulate an alternative prediction that AELEs may be associated with reduced grandparental investment, as they can reduce the reproductive value of the grandchildren. Moreover, we predicted that paternal grandparents react more strongly to AELEs compared to maternal grandparents because maternal kin should expend extra effort to invest in their descendants. Using population-based survey data for English and Welsh adolescents, we found evidence that the investment of maternal grandparents (MGMs in particular) in their grandchildren was unrelated to the grandchildren's AELEs, while paternal grandparents invested less in grandchildren who had experienced more AELEs. These findings seemed robust to measurement errors in AELEs and confounding due to omitted shared causes.
DNA isolation methods for Nanopore sequencing of the Streptococcus mitis genome
Authors: Pinzauti David , Iannelli Francesco , Pozzi Gianni , Santoro Francesco
Published: February 2022

Streptococcus mitis

is a Gram-positive bacterium, member of the oral commensal microbiota, which can occasionally be the etiologic agent of diseases such as infective endocarditis, bacteraemia and septicaemia. The highly recombinogenic and repetitive nature of the

S. mitis

genome impairs the assembly of a complete genome relying only on short sequencing reads. Oxford Nanopore sequencing can overcome this limitation by generating long reads, enabling the resolution of genomic repeated regions and the assembly of a complete genome sequence. Since the output of a Nanopore sequencing run is strongly influenced by genomic DNA quality and molecular weight, the DNA isolation is the crucial step for an optimal sequencing run. In the present work, we have set up and compared three DNA isolation methods on two

S. mitis

strains, evaluating their capability of preserving genomic DNA integrity and purity. Sequencing of DNA isolated with a mechanical lysis-based method, despite being cheaper and quicker, did not generate ultra-long reads (maximum read length of 59516 bases) and did not allow the assembly of a circular complete genome. Two methods based on enzymatic lysis of the bacterial cell wall, followed by either (i) a modified CTAB DNA isolation procedure, or (ii) a DNA purification after osmotic lysis of the protoplasts allowed the sequencing of ultra-long reads up to 107294 and 181199 bases in length, respectively. The reconstruction of a circular complete genome was possible sequencing DNAs isolated using the enzymatic lysis-based methods.
Vaccination of solid organ transplant recipients previously infected with SARS-CoV2 induces potent responses that extend to variants, including Omicron
Authors: Choudhary Alok , Lerman Mark , Calianese David , Khan Salman , Hunt Judson , Nikaein Afzal , Rosenberg Avi Z. , Silverberg Jonathan I. , Zyskind Israel , Honnen William , Jaijyan Dabbu K. , Kalu Erica , Pinter Abraham
Published: February 2022

Background

Multiple factors affecting COVID19 vaccine induced antibody responses in SARS-CoV2 uninfected immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients have been reported; however, there is still a lack of information on non-ACE2 competing cross-CoV2 neutralizing functional antibodies induced in these cohorts, and similarly the vaccine efficacy in prior CoV2-infected immunosuppressed individuals is not well understood.

Methods

COVID19 vaccine efficacy was compared in a panel of kidney and heart transplant recipients who were either CoV2 uninfected (n=63) or CoV2 infected (n=13) prior to receiving two or three doses of mRNA vaccines using pseudoviral neutralization assays against eight CoV2 strains (the CoV2_D614G ancestral strain, alpha, beta, gamma, delta, kappa, lambda, and omicron-BA1 variants), while plasma antibody titers were determined by ELISA using recombinant CoV2-RBD-wt proteins.

Results

Minimally protective neutralizing plasma antibody titers (IC50≥ 1:50) against the variants were recorded 7-14% and 25-35% after the second and third doses respectively, with Omicron being the most resistant. In contrast, all previously infected vaccinees possessed minimal protective plasma titers against D614G after either two or three vaccine doses, with 11/13 exhibiting strong protection (IC50≥ 1:500) and 10/13 exceeding the minimal protective titer against Omicron. Absorption of the selected plasma with immobilized parental RBD removed ≥ 90% of its neutralizing activity, indicating that the dominant neutralization targets were in the RBD.

Conclusions

This study showed that CoV2 infection followed by vaccination, but not vaccination alone, induces the presence of potent highly cross-reactive CoV2 neutralizing plasma antibodies that extend to Omicron variants, even in immunosuppressed SOTRs.
Single cell analysis of menstrual endometrial tissues defines phenotypes associated with endometriosis
Authors: Shih Andrew J. , Adelson Robert P. , Vashistha Himanshu , Khalili Houman , Nayyar Ashima , Puran Radha , Herrera Rixsi , Chatterjee Prodyot K. , Lee Annette T. , Truskinovsky Alexander M. , Elmaliki Kristine , DeFranco Margaret , Metz Christine N. , Gregersen Peter K.
Published: February 2022

Background

Endometriosis is a common, complex disorder which is underrecognized and subject to prolonged delays in diagnosis. It is accompanied by significant changes in the eutopic endometrial lining.

Methods

We have undertaken the first single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-Seq) comparison of endometrial tissues in freshly collected menstrual effluent (ME) from 33 subjects, including confirmed endometriosis patients (cases) and controls as well as symptomatic subjects (who have chronic symptoms suggestive of endometriosis but have not been diagnosed).

Results

We identify a unique subcluster of proliferating uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in ME-tissues from controls that is almost absent from endometriosis cases, along with a striking reduction of total uNK cells in the ME of cases (p<10-16). In addition, an IGFBP1+ decidualized subset of endometrial stromal cells are abundant in the shed endometrium of controls when compared to cases (p<10-16) confirming findings of compromised decidualization of cultured stromal cells from cases. By contrast, endometrial stromal cells from cases are enriched in cells expressing pro-inflammatory and senescent phenotypes. An enrichment of B cells in the cases (p=5.8 × 10-6) raises the possibility that some may have chronic endometritis, a disorder which predisposes to endometriosis.

Conclusions

We propose that characterization of endometrial tissues in ME will provide an effective screening tool for identifying endometriosis in patients with chronic symptoms suggestive of this disorder. This constitutes a major advance, since delayed diagnosis for many years is a major clinical problem in the evaluation of these patients. Comprehensive analysis of ME is expected to lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to endometriosis and other associated reproductive disorders such as female infertility.