bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of acute and chronic nociception in subchronically administered MK-801-induced rat model of schizophrenia
Authors: Güneri Sinem , Scheel-Krüger Jørgen , Luo Fei
Published: September 2021

Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia have been reported to exhibit atypically low pain sensitivity and to vary in their experience of chronic pain. To the best of our knowledge, there has yet to be an animal study that provides information concerning the relationship between models of schizophrenia and pain. In the present study, we investigated several distinct nociceptive behaviors in a translational rat model of schizophrenia (0. 5 mg/kg MK-801, twice a day for 7 days followed by a 7-day washout period). The presence of the expected cognitive deficit was confirmed with novel object recognition (NOR) paradigm prior to nociception testing. MK-801–treated rats with lack of novelty interest in NOR testing showed: hyposensitivity to thermal and mechanical stimuli; short-term hypoalgesia followed by augmented hyperalgesia in response to formalin-induced spontaneous nociception and increased thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in the complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced chronic pain model. In conclusion, MK-801 induced antinociception effects for thermal stimuli in rats that were consistent with the decreased pain sensitivity observed in schizophrenia patients. Additionally, the amplified biphasic response exhibited by the MK-801 group in the formalin-induced spontaneous nociception test affirms the suitability of the test as a model of acute to delayed pain transition.
Prognostic Value of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Parameters in Ventricular Assist Device Therapy
Authors: Dorken Gallastegi Ander , Ergi Güneş D. , Kahraman Ümit , Yağmur Burcu , Çinar Ece , Karapolat Hale , Nalbantgil Sanem , Engin Çağatay , Yağdi Tahir , Özbaran Mustafa
Published: September 2021

Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameters are established prognosticators in heart failure. However, the prognostic value of preimplantation and postimplantation CPET parameters in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is unclear and it is evaluated in this study. Adult patients who were implanted with an LVAD and underwent CPET during the preimplantation or postimplantation period were retrospectively analyzed. Five CPET parameters were calculated: vO2 max, oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES), VE/vCO2 Slope, VE/vCO2 min, and VE/vCO2 max. The relationship between CPET parameters and postimplantation outcomes was evaluated with multivariable analysis. Pre and postimplantation CPET cohorts included 191 and 122 patients, respectively. Among preimplantation CPET parameters: vO2 max and OUES were associated with 1, 3, and 5 year mortality, VE/vCO2 min was associated with 3 and 5 year mortality, whereas VE/vCO2 Slope was associated with 5 year mortality. From postimplantation CPET parameters: vO2 max was an independent predictor of 3 and 5 year mortality, whereas VE/vCO2 max was an independent predictor of 3 year mortality following LVAD implantation. Preimplantation CPET parameters have a prognostic value for long-term survival following LVAD implantation, whereas their association with early postimplantation outcomes appears to be weaker. Postimplantation vO2 max and VE/vCO2 max values are associated with survival on device support and may provide a second chance for prognostication in patients without preimplantation CPET data.
Acellular Dermal Matrix–Associated Contracture: A Clinical and Histologic Analysis of Patients Undergoing Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Kearney Aaron M. , Yan Yufan , Bricker Jonathan T. , Pincus Jennifer L. , Alghoul Mohammed S.
Published: September 2021

Background:

Capsular contracture is a well-recognized complication following prosthetic breast reconstruction. It has been the authors’ observation that some patients undergoing breast reconstruction experience contracture specifically of the acellular dermal matrix placed at the time of their tissue expander insertion. The goal of the authors’ study was to identify clinical and histologic findings associated with the development of acellular dermal matrix–associated contracture.

Methods:

The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients undergoing bilateral implant-based breast reconstruction performed by the senior author (M.S.A.). Patients were excluded if they had radiation therapy to the breast. Patients with suspected acellular dermal matrix–associated contracture were identified by clinical photographs and review of operative notes. Histologic analysis was performed on specimens taken from two patients with acellular dermal matrix contracture.

Results:

The authors included a total of 46 patients (92 breasts), of which 19 breasts had suspected acellular dermal matrix–associated contracture. Acellular dermal matrix contracture was less common in direct-to-implant reconstruction (4.2 percent versus 26.5 percent; p = 0.020) and more common in breasts that had seromas (0 percent versus 15.8 percent; p = 0.001) or complications requiring early expander replacement. Contracted acellular dermal matrix had less vascularity and a lower collagen I–to–collagen III ratio, and was twice as thick as noncontracted acellular dermal matrix.

Conclusions:

The authors have described a distinct phenomenon of acellular dermal matrix–associated contracture that occurs in a small subset of breasts where acellular dermal matrix is used. This merits further investigation. Future work will be required to better characterize the clinical factors that make acellular dermal matrix–associated contracture more likely to occur.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Risk, III.
Management dilemmas in Nocardia brain infection
Authors: Lebeaux David , Coussement Julien , Bodilsen Jacob , Tattevin Pierre
Published: September 2021

Purpose of review

Brain nocardiosis is a rare but severe infection mostly occurring among immunocompromised patients. In this review, we present recent data on this infection and address some of the common clinical dilemmas encountered in patients with brain nocardiosis.

Recent findings

Strategies used to approach a patient with suspected brain nocardiosis include the ’conservative strategy’ (without early neurosurgery) and the ’neurosurgical strategy’ (with early aspiration or excision of brain abscess[es]). The advantages and disadvantages of both strategies are summarised. Our opinion is that the use of the ’conservative strategy’ should be limited to well-selected patients presenting with an easily accessible extra-neurological lesion(s) and have brain abscesses at low risk of treatment failure. In terms of antimicrobial therapy, we summarise the data supporting the use of a multidrug regimen in patients with brain nocardiosis.

Last, we list possible reasons for treatment failure in patients with brain nocardiosis and suggest interventions to overcome them.

Literature is scarce regarding brain nocardiosis, as a consequence of the rarity of this disease. A multidisciplinary and individualised management is required to optimise the outcome of patients with brain nocardiosis.
Proangiogenic functions of osteopontin-derived synthetic peptide RSKSKKFRR in endothelial cells and postischemic brain
Authors: Guo Ya-ning , Guo Qun , Zhang Qi , Ren Lei , Ren Xiao-yu , Nie Mu-lan , Xu Lu , Long Qian-mei , Guo Yi-fan , Zhao Wei , Wang Dong , Guo Yi-shan , Jin Yin-chuan
Published: September 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of a newly discovered osteopontin-derived synthetic peptide “RSKKFRR” in a rat model of ischemic stroke.

Methods

A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups. The model of ischemic stroke was made up of the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MACO). The rats were divided into sham operation group (Sham), control group (MACO + PBS) and treatment group (MACO + OPNpt9), eight rats in each group. In the control group and the treatment group, PBS or OPNpt9 was injected into the nasal cavity after MACO once a day, and the area of new blood vessels and the recovery of nerve function were observed 14 days later. Whether the proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs were promoted by OPNpt9 was tested. The expression levels of related proangiogenic factors were also detected.

Results

OPNpt9 was found to contribute to cerebral microvascular remodeling and neurological improvement in ischemic rats while promoting endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation in vitro. These effects were mediated by activation of the p-ERK/MMP-9/VEGF pathway.

Conclusion

In conclusion, OPNpt9 promotes angiogenesis and neurological recovery after ischemic stroke.
Nurse and Health Care Aide Knowledge of Urinary Continence Promotion and Management In Hospitalized Older People
Authors: Hunter Kathleen F. , Dahlke Sherry
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE:

The aims of this study were to determine if there was a change in medical unit nursing staffs' knowledge about lower urinary tract symptoms following an education presentation and whether the education session met their learning needs.

DESIGN:

Single-group, before-after study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

The study sample comprised 21 licensed nurses and 16 health care aides from 3 medical units in a tertiary care hospital in western Canada.

METHODS:

Participants completed pre- and post-true/false questionnaires developed for the project to assess lower urinary tract symptom knowledge, and a questionnaire to determine whether the education session met staff learning needs.

RESULTS:

Knowledge was moderate on the pretest in both groups, with licensed nurses showing a significant improvement after the education intervention. Health care aides did not have a significant change in knowledge; they persisted in their belief that incontinence is a normal change of aging.

CONCLUSIONS:

Health care aides need targeted education and enhanced care processes to shift their knowledge and thinking about continence.
Crushed Corticosteroid Tablets in Peristomal Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Authors: Burlando Martina , Paravisi Andrea , Bodini Giorgia , Cozzani Emanuele , Parodi Aurora
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND:

Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum (PPG) is a variant of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). It results from a pathergy response to trauma from effluent from the ostomy or secondary to trauma caused by removal of the ostomy appliance adhesive in contact with the skin. Currently, no evidence-based guidelines for the management of PPG exist. This case study reports a dramatic response to crushed corticosteroid tablets in a patient who proved refractory to first- and second-line treatments of her PPG and several surgeries.

CASE:

Ms T. was a 39-year-old woman with Crohn's disease who underwent several ileostomies, developed PPG, and failed treatment with adalimumab. Her PPG was successfully treated topically with crushed prednisone tablets.

CONCLUSION:

We found that crushed corticosteroid tablets were an effective treatment of PPG, due to the ability to reduce pain and allow adhesion of the ostomy appliance.
Epidemiology of binge eating disorder: prevalence, course, comorbidity, and risk factors
Authors: Keski-Rahkonen Anna
Published: September 2021

Purpose of review

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a new diagnosis in the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

Recent findings

DSM-5 BED is currently estimated to affect 1.5% of women and 0.3% of men worldwide; a lifetime diagnosis of DSM-5 BED is reported by 0.6–1.8% of women and 0.3–0.7% of men. In adolescence, BED is even more prevalent, but often transient. Many adults with BED report longstanding symptoms; less than half are recognized in healthcare. Commonly co-occurring conditions include obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. In a nationally representative US-based study, up to 23% of individuals with BED had attempted suicide, and virtually all (94%) reported lifetime mental health symptoms: 70% mood disorders, 68% substance use disorders, 59% anxiety disorders, 49% borderline personality disorder, and 32% posttraumatic stress disorder. Data on mortality are scarce, but the standardized mortality ratio of BED is estimated to be 1.5–1.8. Various minority statuses, deprivation, violence, trauma, and major mental illness may increase the risk of BED.

BED is often invisible and overlooked, perhaps due to societal biases. For this reason, prevention, detection, and management of BED are closely linked with social justice and equity.
CG7379 and ING1 suppress cancer cell invasion by maintaining cell–cell junction integrity
Authors: Rusu Alexandra D. , Cornhill Zoe E. , Coutiño Brenda Canales , Uribe Marcos Castellanos , Lourdusamy Anbarasu , Markus Zsuzsa , May Sean T. , Rahman Ruman , Georgiou Marios
Published: September 2021

Approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths can be attributed to a tumour's ability to spread. We have identified CG7379, the fly orthologue of human ING1, as a potent invasion suppressor. ING1 is a type II tumour suppressor with well-established roles in the transcriptional regulation of genes that control cell proliferation, response to DNA damage, oncogene-induced senescence and apoptosis. Recent work suggests a possible role for ING1 in cancer cell invasion and metastasis, but the molecular mechanism underlying this observation is lacking. Our results show that reduced expression of CG7379 promotes invasion
in vivo
in
Drosophila
, reduces the junctional localization of several adherens and septate junction components, and severely disrupts cell–cell junction architecture. Similarly, ING1 knockdown significantly enhances invasion
in vitro
and disrupts E-cadherin distribution at cell–cell junctions. A transcriptome analysis reveals that loss of ING1 affects the expression of several junctional and cytoskeletal modulators, confirming ING1 as an invasion suppressor and a key regulator of cell–cell junction integrity.
Identification of novel microtubule inhibitors effective in fission yeast and human cells and their effects on breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Morishita Jun , Nurse Paul
Published: September 2021

Microtubules are critical for a variety of cellular processes such as chromosome segregation, intracellular transport and cell shape. Drugs against microtubules have been widely used in cancer chemotherapies, though the acquisition of drug resistance has been a significant issue for their use. To identify novel small molecules that inhibit microtubule organization, we conducted sequential phenotypic screening of fission yeast and human cells. From a library of diverse 10 371 chemicals, we identified 11 compounds that inhibit proper mitotic progression both in fission yeast and in HeLa cells. Anin vitroassay revealed that five of these compounds are strong inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. These compounds directly bind tubulin and destabilize the structures of tubulin dimers. We showed that one of the compounds, L1, binds to the colchicine-binding site of microtubules and exhibits a preferential potency against a panel of human breast cancer cell lines compared with a control non-cancer cell line. In addition, L1 overcomes cellular drug resistance mediated by βIII tubulin overexpression and has a strong synergistic effect when combined with the Plk1 inhibitor BI2536. Thus, we have established an economically effective drug screening strategy to target mitosis and microtubules, and have identified a candidate compound for cancer chemotherapy.
The evolution of deception
Authors: Sarkadi Ştefan , Rutherford Alex , McBurney Peter , Parsons Simon , Rahwan Iyad
Published: September 2021

Deception plays a critical role in the dissemination of information, and has important consequences on the functioning of cultural, market-based and democratic institutions. Deception has been widely studied within the fields of philosophy, psychology, economics and political science. Yet, we still lack an understanding of how deception emerges in a society under competitive (evolutionary) pressures. This paper begins to fill this gap by bridging evolutionary models of social good—public goods games(PGGs)—with ideas frominterpersonal deception theory(Buller and Burgoon 1996Commun. Theory6, 203–242. (doi:10.1111/j.1468-2885.1996.tb00127.x)) andtruth-default theory(Levine 2014J. Lang. Soc. Psychol.33, 378–392. (doi:10.1177/0261927X14535916); Levine 2019Duped: truth-default theory and the social science of lying and deception. University of Alabama Press). This provides a well-founded analysis of the growth of deception in societies and the effectiveness of several approaches to reducing deception. Assuming that knowledge is a public good, we use extensive simulation studies to explore (i) how deception impacts the sharing and dissemination of knowledge in societies over time, (ii) how different types of knowledge sharing societies are affected by deception and (iii) what type of policing and regulation is needed to reduce the negative effects of deception in knowledge sharing. Our results indicate that cooperation in knowledge sharing can be re-established in systems by introducing institutions that investigate and regulate both defection and deception using a decentralized case-by-case strategy. This provides evidence for the adoption of methods for reducing the use of deception in the world around us in order to avoid aTragedy of the Digital Commons(Greco and Floridi 2004Ethics Inf. Technol.6, 73–81. (doi:10.1007/s10676-004-2895-2)).
Optimal shutdown strategies for COVID-19 with economic and mortality costs: British Columbia as a case study
Authors: Barlow M. T. , Marshall N. D. , Tyson R. C.
Published: September 2021

Decision makers with the responsibility of managing policy for the COVID-19 epidemic have faced difficult choices in balancing the competing claims of saving lives and the high economic cost of shutdowns. In this paper, we formulate a model with both epidemiological and economic content to assist this decision-making process. We consider two ways to handle the balance between economic costs and deaths. First, we use the statistical value of life, which in Canada is about C$7 million, to optimize over a single variable, which is the sum of the economic cost and the value of lives lost. Our second method is to calculate the Pareto optimal front when we look at the two variables—deaths and economic costs. In both cases we find that, for most parameter values, the optimal policy is to adopt an initial shutdown level which reduces the reproduction number of the epidemic to close to 1. This level is then reduced once a vaccination programme is underway. Our model also indicates that an oscillating policy of strict and mild shutdowns is less effective than a policy which maintains a moderate shutdown level.
Aluminium (III) phthalocyanine chloride tetrasulphonate is an effective photosensitizer for the eradication of lung cancer stem cells
Authors: Crous Anine , Abrahamse Heidi
Published: September 2021

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are considered to contribute to the recurrence of lung cancer due to their stem-like nature and the involvement of genetic markers associated with drug efflux, regeneration and metastases. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cost-effective and non-invasive therapeutic application that can act as an alternative therapy for lung cancer when considering CSC involvement. Stem-like cells derived from the A549 lung cancer cell line, positive for CD133, CD56 and CD44 antigen markers, were characterized, intracellular localization of aluminium (III) phthalocyanine chloride tetrasulphonate (AlPcS
4
Cl) determined and its anti-cancer PDT effects were evaluated. Results confirmed that isolated cells were stem cell-like and subcellular localization of AlPcS
4
Cl in integral organelles involved in cell homeostasis supported the destruction of CSC. AlPcS
4
Cl's effectivity was demonstrated with CSC eradication showing a significant increase in cytotoxicity and cell death via apoptosis, caused by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. PDT could serve as a palliative treatment for lung cancer and improve prognosis by elimination of lung CSCs.
Characterizing the spatio-temporal threats, conservation hotspots and conservation gaps for the most extinction-prone bird family (Aves: Rallidae)
Authors: Lévêque Lucile , Buettel Jessie C. , Carver Scott , Brook Barry W.
Published: September 2021

With thousands of vertebrate species now threatened with extinction, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate the causes of wildlife collapse. Rails (Aves: Rallidae), being the most extinction-prone bird family globally, and with one-third of extant rail species now threatened or near threatened, are an emphatic case in point. Here, we undertook a global synthesis of the temporal and spatial threat patterns for Rallidae and determined conservation priorities and gaps. We found two key pathways in the threat pattern for rails. One follows the same trajectory as extinct rails, where island endemic and flightless rails are most threatened, mainly due to invasive predators. The second, created by the diversification of anthropogenic activities, involves continental rails, threatened mainly by agriculture, natural system modifications, and residential and commercial development. Indonesia, the USA, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Cuba were the priority countries identified by our framework incorporating species' uniqueness and the level of endangerment, but also among the countries that lack conservation actions the most. Future efforts should predominantly target improvements in ecosystem protection and management, as well as ongoing research and monitoring. Forecasting the impacts of climate change on island endemic rails will be particularly valuable to protect rails.
A giant nektobenthic radiodont from the Burgess Shale and the significance of hurdiid carapace diversity
Authors: Caron J.-B. , Moysiuk J.
Published: September 2021

Radiodonts, stem-group euarthropods that evolved during the Cambrian explosion, were among the largest and most diversified lower palaeozoic predators. These animals were widespread geographically, occupying a variety of ecological niches, from benthic foragers to nektonic suspension feeders and apex predators. Here, we describe the largest Cambrian hurdiid radiodont known so far,Titanokorys gainesi, gen. et sp. nov., from the Burgess Shale (Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia). Estimated to reach half a metre in length, this new species bears a very large ovoid-shaped central carapace with distinct short posterolateral processes and an anterior spine. Geometric morphometric analyses highlight the high diversity of carapace shapes in hurdiids and show thatTitanokorysbridges a morphological gap between forms with long and short carapaces. Carapace shape, however, is prone to homoplasy and shows no consistent relationship with trophic ecology, as demonstrated by new data, including a reappraisal of the poorly knownPahvantia. Despite distinct carapaces,Titanokorysshares similar rake-like appendages for sediment-sifting withCambroraster,a smaller but much more abundant sympatric hurdiid from the Burgess Shale.The co-occurrence of these two species on the same bedding planes highlights potential competition for benthic resources and the high diversity of large predators sustained by Cambrian communities.
Comparing full-field data from structural components with complicated geometries
Authors: Christian W. J. R. , Dean A. D. , Dvurecenska K. , Middleton C. A. , Patterson E. A.
Published: September 2021

A new decomposition algorithm based on QR factorization is introduced for processing and comparing irregularly shaped stress and deformation datasets found in structural analysis. The algorithm improves the comparison of two-dimensional data fields from the surface of components where data is missing from the field of view due to obstructed measurement systems or component geometry that results in areas where no data is present. The technique enables the comparison of these irregularly shaped datasets without the need for interpolation or warping of the data necessary in some other decomposition techniques, for example, Chebyshev or Zernike decomposition. This ensures comparisons are only made between the available data in each dataset and thus similarity metrics are not biased by missing data. The decomposition and comparison technique has been applied during an impact experiment, a modal analysis, and a fatigue study, with the stress and displacement data obtained from finite-element analysis, digital image correlation and thermoelastic stress analysis. The results demonstrate that the technique can be used to process data from a range of sources and suggests the technique has the potential for use in a wide variety of applications.
Marine derivatives preventwMUS81in silicostudies
Authors: Ngo Son Tung , Vu Khanh B. , Pham Minh Quan , Tam Nguyen Minh , Tran Phuong-Thao
Published: September 2021

The winged-helix domain of the methyl methanesulfonate and ultraviolet-sensitive 81 (wMUS81) is a potential cancer drug target. In this context, marine fungi compounds were indicated to be able to preventwMUS81 structure via atomistic simulations. Eight compounds such asD197(Tryptoquivaline U),D220(Epiremisporine B),D67(Aspergiolide A),D153(Preussomerin G),D547(12,13-dihydroxyfumitremorgin C),D152(Preussomerin K),D20(Marinopyrrole B) andD559(Fumuquinazoline K) were indicated that they are able to prevent the conformation ofwMUS81 via forming a strong binding affinity to the enzyme via perturbation approach. The electrostatic interaction is the dominant factor in the binding process of ligands towMUS81. The residues Trp55, Arg59, Leu62, His63 and Arg69 were found to frequently form non-bonded contacts and hydrogen bonds to inhibitors. Moreover, the influence of the ligandD197, which formed the lowest binding free energy towMUS81, on the structural change of enzyme was investigated using replica exchange molecular dynamics simulations. The obtained results indicated thatD197, which forms a strong binding affinity, can modify the structure ofwMUS81. Overall, the marine compounds probably inhibitwMUS81 due to forming a strong binding affinity to the enzyme as well as altering the enzymic conformation.
A theoretical model of Surtseyan bomb fragmentation
Authors: Greenbank Emma , McGuinness Mark J. , Schipper C. Ian
Published: September 2021

Surtseyan eruptions are an important class of mostly basaltic volcanic eruptions first identified in the 1960s, where erupting magma at an air–water interface interacts with large quantities of slurry, a mixture of previously ejected tephra that re-enters the crater together with water. During a Surtseyan eruption, hot magma bombs are ejected that initially contain pockets of slurry. Despite the formation of steam and anticipated subsequent high pressures inside these bombs, many survive to land without exploding. We seek to explain this by building and solving a simplified spherical mathematical model that describes the coupled evolution of pressure and temperature due to the flashing of liquid to vapour within a Surtseyan bomb while it is in flight. Analysis of the model provides a criterion for fragmentation of the bomb due to steam pressure build-up, and predicts that if diffusive steam flow through the porous bomb is sufficiently rapid the bomb will survive the flight intact. This criterion explicitly relates fragmentation to bomb properties, and describes how a Surtseyan bomb can survive in flight despite containing flashing liquid water, contributing to an ongoing discussion in volcanology about the origins of the inclusions found inside bombs.
Delayed buckling of spherical shells due to viscoelastic knockdown of the critical load
Authors: Stein-Montalvo Lucia , Holmes Douglas P. , Coupier Gwennou
Published: September 2021

We performed dynamic pressure buckling experiments on defect-seeded spherical shells made of a common silicone elastomer. Unlike in quasi-static experiments, shells buckled at ostensibly subcritical pressures, i.e. below the experimentally determined critical load at which buckling occurs elastically, often following a significant delay period from the time of load application. While emphasizing the close connections to elastic shell buckling, we rely on viscoelasticity to explain our observations. In particular, we demonstrate that the lower critical load may be determined from the material properties, which is rationalized by a simple analogy to elastic spherical shell buckling. We then introduce a model centred on empirical quantities to show that viscoelastic creep deformation lowers the critical load in the same predictable, quantifiable way that a growing defect would in an elastic shell. This allows us to capture how both the deflection at instability and the time delay depend on the applied pressure, material properties and defect geometry. These quantities are straightforward to measure in experiments. Thus, our work not only provides intuition for viscoelastic behaviour from an elastic shell buckling perspective but also offers an accessible pathway to introduce tunable, time-controlled actuation to existing mechanical actuators, e.g. pneumatic grippers.
Nematic liquid crystalline elastomers are aeolotropic materials
Authors: Mihai L. Angela , Wang Haoran , Guilleminot Johann , Goriely Alain
Published: September 2021

Continuum models describing ideal nematic solids are widely used in theoretical studies of liquid crystal elastomers. However, experiments on nematic elastomers show a type of anisotropic response that is not predicted by the ideal models. Therefore, their description requires an additional term coupling elastic and nematic responses, to account for aeolotropic effects. In order to better understand the observed elastic response of liquid crystal elastomers, we analyse theoretically and computationally different stretch and shear deformations. We then compare the elastic moduli in the infinitesimal elastic strain limit obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations with the ones derived theoretically, and show that they are better explained by including nematic order effects within the continuum framework.
Post-buckling dynamics of spherical shells
Authors: Mokbel Marcel , Djellouli Adel , Quilliet Catherine , Aland Sebastian , Coupier Gwennou
Published: September 2021

We explore the intrinsic dynamics of spherical shells immersed in a fluid in the vicinity of their buckled state, through experiments and three-dimensional axisymmetric simulations. The results are supported by a theoretical model that accurately describes the buckled shell as a two-variable-only oscillator. We quantify the effective ‘softening’ of shells above the buckling threshold, as observed in recent experiments on interactions between encapsulated microbubbles and acoustic waves. The main dissipation mechanism in the neighbouring fluid is also evidenced.
Collaboration enhances career progression in academic science, especially for female researchers
Authors: van der Wal Jessica E. M. , Thorogood Rose , Horrocks Nicholas P. C.
Published: September 2021

Collaboration and diversity are increasingly promoted in science. Yet how collaborations influence academic career progression, and whether this differs by gender, remains largely unknown. Here, we use co-authorship ego networks to quantify collaboration behaviour and career progression of a cohort of contributors to biennial International Society of Behavioral Ecology meetings (1992, 1994, 1996). Among this cohort, women were slower and less likely to become a principal investigator (PI; approximated by having at least three last-author publications) and published fewer papers over fewer years (i.e. had shorter academic careers) than men. After adjusting for publication number, women also had fewer collaborators (lower adjusted network size) and published fewer times with each co-author (lower adjusted tie strength), albeit more often with the same group of collaborators (higher adjusted clustering coefficient). Authors with stronger networks were more likely to become a PI, and those with less clustered networks did so more quickly. Women, however, showed a stronger positive relationship with adjusted network size (increased career length) and adjusted tie strength (increased likelihood to become a PI). Finally, early-career network characteristics correlated with career length. Our results suggest that large and varied collaboration networks are positively correlated with career progression, especially for women.
Limited plasticity in thermally tolerant ectotherm populations: evidence for a trade-off
Authors: Barley Jordanna M. , Cheng Brian S. , Sasaki Matthew , Gignoux-Wolfsohn Sarah , Hays Cynthia G. , Putnam Alysha B. , Sheth Seema , Villeneuve Andrew R. , Kelly Morgan
Published: September 2021

Many species face extinction risks owing to climate change, and there is an urgent need to identify which species' populations will be most vulnerable. Plasticity in heat tolerance, which includes acclimation or hardening, occurs when prior exposure to a warmer temperature changes an organism's upper thermal limit. The capacity for thermal acclimation could provide protection against warming, but prior work has found few generalizable patterns to explain variation in this trait. Here, we report the results of, to our knowledge, the first meta-analysis to examine within-species variation in thermal plasticity, using results from 20 studies (19 species) that quantified thermal acclimation capacities across 78 populations. We used meta-regression to evaluate two leading hypotheses. The climate variability hypothesis predicts that populations from more thermally variable habitats will have greater plasticity, while the trade-off hypothesis predicts that populations with the lowest heat tolerance will have the greatest plasticity. Our analysis indicates strong support for the trade-off hypothesis because populations with greater thermal tolerance had reduced plasticity. These results advance our understanding of variation in populations' susceptibility to climate change and imply that populations with the highest thermal tolerance may have limited phenotypic plasticity to adjust to ongoing climate warming.
Population-level consequences of inheritable somatic mutations and the evolution of mutation rates in plants
Authors: Lesaffre Thomas
Published: September 2021

Inbreeding depression, that is the decrease in fitness of inbred relative to outbred individuals, was shown to increase strongly as life expectancy increases in plants. Because plants are thought to not have a separated germline, it was proposed that this pattern could be generated by somatic mutations accumulating during growth, since larger and more long-lived species have more opportunities for mutations to accumulate. A key determinant of the role of somatic mutations is the rate at which they occur, which probably differs between species because mutation rates may evolve differently in species with constrasting life histories. In this paper, I study the evolution of the mutation rates in plants, and consider the population-level consequences of inheritable somatic mutations given this evolution. I show that despite substantially lower somatic and meiotic mutation rates, more long-lived species still tend to accumulate larger amounts of deleterious mutations because of the increased number of opportunities they have to acquire mutations during growth, leading to higher levels of inbreeding depression in these species. However, the magnitude of this increase depends strongly on how mutagenic meiosis is relative to growth, to the point of being close to non-existent in some situations.
Immune challenges increase network centrality in a queenless ant
Authors: Alciatore Giacomo , Ugelvig Line V. , Frank Erik , Bidaux Jérémie , Gal Asaf , Schmitt Thomas , Kronauer Daniel J. C. , Ulrich Yuko
Published: September 2021

Social animals display a wide range of behavioural defences against infectious diseases, some of which increase social contacts with infectious individuals (e.g. mutual grooming), while others decrease them (e.g. social exclusion). These defences often rely on the detection of infectious individuals, but this can be achieved in several ways that are difficult to differentiate. Here, we combine non-pathogenic immune challenges with automated tracking in colonies of the clonal raider ant to ask whether ants can detect the immune status of their social partners and to quantify their behavioural responses to this perceived infection risk. We first show that a key behavioural response elicited by live pathogens (allogrooming) can be qualitatively recapitulated by immune challenges alone. Automated scoring of interactions between all colony members reveals that this behavioural response increases the network centrality of immune-challenged individuals through a general increase in physical contacts. These results show that ants can detect the immune status of their nest-mates and respond with a general ‘caring’ strategy, rather than avoidance, towards social partners that are perceived to be infectious. Finally, we find no evidence that changes in cuticular hydrocarbon profiles drive these behavioural effects.
Converting Access Microbiology to an open research platform: community survey results
Authors: Howat Alexandra M. , Clark Justin
Published: September 2021

Following the Microbiology Society’s successful bid for a Learned Society Curation Award from the Wellcome Trust and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Society is converting our sound science, open access journal, Access Microbiology, to an open research platform. As part of this, we conducted a survey of our community to gauge current attitudes towards the platform and here we present some of these results. The majority of respondents (57 %) said they would always or sometimes want to remain anonymous on their peer review report, whilst 75 % of respondents said that as an author they would be happy to make the data underlying their research open. There was a clear desire for a range of research types that are often seen with sound science publications and rigorous research. An encouraging 94 % of respondents stated that the platform is somewhere they would consider publishing, demonstrating the enthusiasm in these respondents for a new publishing platform for their community. Given this data and that from our previous focus group research, the platform will launch as outlined in the original project proposal and adopt a transparent peer review model with an open data policy.
Assessment of COVID-19 intervention strategies in the Nordic countries using genomic epidemiology
Authors: Duchene Sebastian , Featherstone Leo , de Blasio Birgitte Freiesleben , Holmes Edward C. , Bohlin Jon , Pettersson John H.-O.
Published: September 2021

The Nordic countries, defined here as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, are known for their comparable demographics and political systems. Since these countries implemented different COVID-19 intervention strategies, they provide a natural laboratory for examining how COVID-19 policies and mitigation strategies affected the propagation, evolution and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We explored how the duration, the size and number of transmission clusters, defined as country-specific monophyletic groups in a SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic tree, differed between the Nordic countries. We found that Sweden had the largest number of COVID-19 transmission clusters followed by Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland. Moreover, Sweden and Denmark had the largest, and most enduring, transmission clusters followed by Norway, Finland and Iceland. In addition, there was a significant positive association between transmission cluster size and duration, suggesting that the size of transmission clusters could be reduced by rapid and effective contact tracing. Thus, these data indicate that to reduce the general burden of COVID-19 there should be a focus on limiting dense gatherings and their subsequent contacts to keep the number, size and duration of transmission clusters to a minimum. Our results further suggest that although geographical connectivity, population density and openness influence the spread and the size of SARS-CoV-2 transmission clusters, country-specific intervention strategies had the largest single impact.
Additional heterologous versus homologous booster vaccination in immunosuppressed patients without SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion after primary mRNA vaccination: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bonelli Michael , Mrak Daniel , Tobudic Selma , Sieghart Daniela , Koblischke Maximilian , Mandl Peter , Kornek Barbara , Simader Elisabeth , Radner Helga , Perkmann Thomas , Haslacher Helmuth , Mayer Margareta , Hofer Philipp , Redlich Kurt , Husar-Memmer Emma , Fritsch-Stork Ruth , Thalhammer Renate , Stiasny Karin , Winkler Stefan , Smolen Josef S. , Aberle Judith H. , Zeitlinger Markus , Heinz Leonhard X. , Aletaha Daniel
Published: September 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-induced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to exponentially rising mortality, particularly in immunosuppressed patients, who inadequately respond to conventional COVID-19 vaccination. In this blinded randomized clinical trial (EudraCT 2021-002348-57) we compare the efficacy and safety of an additional booster vaccination with a vector versus mRNA vaccine in non-seroconverted patients. We assigned 60 patients under rituximab treatment, who did not seroconvert after their primary mRNA vaccination with either BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna), to receive a third dose, either using the same mRNA or the vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (Oxford-AstraZeneca). Patients were stratified according to the presence of peripheral B-cells. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in the SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion rate between vector (heterologous) and mRNA (homologous) vaccinated patients by week four. Key secondary endpoints included the overall seroconversion and cellular immune response; safety was assessed at weeks one and four.

Seroconversion rates at week four were comparable between vector (6/27 patients, 22%) and mRNA (9/28, 32%) vaccine (p=0.6). Overall, 27% of patients seroconverted; specific T-cell responses were observed in 20/20 (100%) vector versus 13/16 (81%) mRNA vaccinated patients. Newly induced humoral and/or cellular responses occurred in 9/11 (82%) patients. No serious adverse events, related to immunization, were observed. This enhanced humoral and/or cellular immune response supports an additional booster vaccination in non-seroconverted patients irrespective of a heterologous or homologous vaccination regimen.
Benchmarking observational analyses before using them to address questions trials cannot answer: an application to coronary thrombus aspiration
Authors: Matthews Anthony A. , Dahabreh Issa J. , Fröbert Ole , Lindahl Bertil , James Stefan , Feychting Maria , Jernberg Tomas , Berglund Anita , Hernán Miguel A.
Published: September 2021

To increase confidence in the use of observational analyses when addressing effectiveness questions beyond those addressed by randomized trials, one can first benchmark the observational analyses against existing trial results. We use Swedish registry data to emulate a target trial similar to the TASTE randomized trial, which found no difference in the risk of death or myocardial infarction by 1 year with or without thrombus aspiration among individuals with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. We benchmark the emulation against the trial at 1 year, then extend the emulation’s follow up to 3 years and estimate effects in subpopulations underrepresented in the trial. As in the TASTE trial, the observational analysis found no differences in risk of outcomes by 1 year between groups (risk difference 0.7 (−0.7,2.0) and -0.2 (−1.3,1.0) for death and myocardial infarction respectively), so benchmarking was considered successful. We additionally show no difference in risk of death or myocardial infarction by 3 years, or within subpopulations by 1 year. Benchmarking against an index trial before using observational analyses to answer questions beyond those the trial could address allowed us to explore whether the observational data can be trusted to deliver valid estimates of treatment effects.
Symbiotic bacterial community ofDrosophila melanogasterchanges with nutritional modifications of the diet but can alleviate negative effects on larval phenotypes
Authors: Bombin Andrei , Cunneely Owen , Bombin Sergei , Eickman Kira , Ruesy Abigail , Cowan Rachael , Myers Abigail , Su Mengting , Mosley Jonathan , Ferguson Jane , Reed Laura
Published: September 2021

Obesity is an increasing pandemic and is caused by multiple factors including genotype, psychological stress, and gut microbiota. Our project investigated the effects produced by high fat and high sugar dietary modifications on microbiota and metabolic phenotype ofDrosophila melanogaster. Larvae raised on the high fat and high sugar diets exhibited bacterial communities that were compositionally and phylogenetically different from bacterial communities of the larvae raised on normal diets, especially if parental microbiota were removed. Several of the dominant bacteria taxa that are commonly associated with high fat and high sugar diets across model organisms and even human populations showed similar pattern in our results.CorynebacteriaceaeandErysipelotrichaceaewere connected with high fat food, whileEnterobacteriaceaeandLactobacillaceaewere associated with high sugar diets. In addition, we observed that presence of symbiotic microbiota often mitigated the effect that harmful dietary modifications produced on larvae, including elevated triglyceride concentrations and was crucial forDrosophilasurvival, especially on high sugar peach diets.
Naturalistic hyperscanning with wearable magnetoencephalography
Authors: Holmes Niall , Rea Molly , Hill Ryan M. , Boto Elena , Stuart Andrew , Leggett James , Edwards Lucy J. , Rhodes Natalie , Shah Vishal , Osborne James , Fromhold T. Mark , Glover Paul , Montague P. Read , Brookes Matthew J. , Bowtell Richard
Published: September 2021

The evolution of human cognitive function is reliant on complex social interactions which form the behavioural foundation of who we are. These social capacities are subject to dramatic change in disease and injury; yet their supporting neural substrates remain poorly understood. Hyperscanning employs functional neuroimaging to simultaneously assess brain activity in two individuals and offers the best means to understand the neural basis of social interaction. However, present technologies are limited, either by poor performance (low spatial/temporal precision) or unnatural scanning environment (claustrophobic scanners, with interactions via video). Here, we solve this problem by developing a new form of hyperscanning using wearable magnetoencephalography (MEG). This approach exploits quantum sensors for MEG signal detection, in combination with high-fidelity magnetic field control – afforded by a novel “matrix coil” system – to enable simultaneous scanning of two freely moving participants. We demonstrate our approach in a somatosensory task and an interactive ball game. Despite large and unpredictable subject motion, sensorimotor brain activity was delineated clearly in space and time, and correlation of the envelope of neuronal oscillations between people was demonstrated. In sum, unlike existing modalities, wearable-MEG combines high fidelity data acquisition and a naturalistic setting, which will facilitate a new generation of hyperscanning.