bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Profiling of the Lysine Crotonylome in Different Pluripotent States
Authors: Lv Yuan , Bu Chen , Meng Jin , Ward Carl , Volpe Giacomo , Hu Jieyi , Jiang Mengling , Guo Lin , Chen Jiekai , Esteban Miguel A. , Bao Xichen , Cheng Zhongyi
Published: March 2021

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be expanded in vitro in different culture conditions, resulting in a spectrum of cell states with distinct properties. Understanding how PSCs transition from one state to another, ultimately leading to lineage-specific differentiation, is important for developmental biology and regenerative medicine. Although there is significant information regarding gene expression changes controlling these transitions, less is known about post-translational modifications of proteins. Protein crotonylation is a newly discovered post-translational modification where lysine residues are modified with a crotonyl group. Here, we employed affinity purification of crotonylated peptides and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to systematically profile protein crotonylation in mouse PSCs in different states including ground, metastable, and primed states, as well as metastable PSCs undergoing early pluripotency exit. We successfully identified 3628 high-confidence crotonylated sites in 1426 proteins. These crotonylated proteins are enriched for factors involved in functions/processes related to pluripotency such as RNA biogenesis, central carbon metabolism, and proteasome function. Moreover, we found that increasing the cellular levels of crotonyl-coenzyme A (crotonyl-CoA) through crotonic acid treatment promotes proteasome activity in metastable PSCs and delays their differentiation, consistent with previous observations showing that enhanced proteasome activity helps to sustain pluripotency. Our atlas of protein crotonylation will be valuable for further studies of pluripotency regulation and may also provide insights into the role of metabolism in other cell fate transitions.
Microseismicity and Lava Flows Hint at Magmato‐Tectonic Processes Near the Southern Tip of the Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center in the Lau Basin
Authors: Schmid F. , Cremanns M. , Augustin N. , Lange D. , Petersen F. , Kopp H.
Published: March 2021

Spreading centers in the proximity of back‐rolling subduction zones constitute an ideal natural laboratory to investigate the interaction of magmatism and tectonism during the early evolution of back‐arc basins. Using 32 days of ocean bottom seismometer data, we located 697 micro‐earthquakes at the southern Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center (S‐FRSC). The majority of epicenters concentrate along the central region of the axial valley, marking the active ridge axis. Only odd events were associated with the prominent faults bounding the axial valley. About 450 events are spatially clustered around 17°42′S and their waveforms show a pronounced similarity. Most of these events are associated with a 138 h lasting earthquake swarm. The tectonic structure of the ridge axis in the S‐FRSC resembles a series of left‐stepping en echelon segments, expressed at the seafloor by numerous volcanic ridges. The recorded earthquake swarm is located at the stepover of two en echelon segments suggesting that the earthquake swarm is mainly tectonically driven. The events directly beneath our seismic network indicate a maximum depth of brittle faulting down to about 14 km below the seafloor. This is within the maximum depth range of brittle faulting at ultraslow mid‐ocean ridges. Since the thickness of the brittle lithosphere is mainly controlled by temperature, our results suggest a sub‐axial thermal structure similar to that of ultraslow mid‐ocean ridges of similar opening rates.
Formation and Evolution of a Freshwater Plume in the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic in February 2020
Authors: Reverdin G. , Olivier L. , Foltz G. R. , Speich S. , Karstensen J. , Horstmann J. , Zhang D. , Laxenaire R. , Carton X. , Branger H. , Carrasco R. , Boutin J.
Published: March 2021

In February 2020, a 120‐km‐wide freshwater plume was documented by satellite and in situ observations near the Demerara Rise (7°N/54°W‐56°W). It was initially stratified in the upper 10 m with a freshwater content of 2–3 m of Amazon water distributed down to 40 m. On February 2nd, ship transects indicate an inhomogeneous shelf structure with a propagating front in its midst, whereas minimum salinity close to 30 pss was observed close to the shelf break on February 5th. The salinity minimum eroded in time but was still observed 13–16 days later with 33.3 pss minimum value up to 400 km from the shelf break. At this time, the mixed layer depth was close to 20 m. The off‐shelf flow lasted 10 days, contributing to a plume area extending over 100,000 km2 and associated with a 0.15 Sv (106 m3 s−1) freshwater transport. The off‐shelf plume was steered northward by a North Brazil Current ring up to 12°N and then extended westward toward the Caribbean Sea. Its occurrence followed 3 days of favorable wind direction closer to the Amazon estuary, which contributed to north‐westward freshwater transport on the shelf. Other such events of freshwater transport in January–March are documented since 2010 in salinity satellite products in 7 out of 10 years, and in 6 of those years, they were preceded by a change in wind direction between the Amazon estuary and the Guianas favoring the north‐westward freshwater transport toward the shelf break.
Impacts of Extreme Air Pollution Meteorology on Air Quality in China
Authors: Yang Jianbo , Shao Min
Published: March 2021

Extreme air pollution meteorological events (EAPMEs), such as atmospheric stagnation (AS), heat wave (HW), and temperature inversion, significantly affect regional air quality. In the present study, considerably increased EAPME frequency with clear spatial variations is identified in China from 1960 to 2019. Strong air quality sensitivities to EAPMEs are identified by combing air quality and meteorological observations. We found that HW greatly affects ozone concentration and may enhance the generation of fine particles. AS showed a noticeable but opposite impact on fine particle pollution between northern and southern China owing to the wintertime heating policy. EAPMEs may increase the probability of air pollution for pollution levels greater than 2. For example, the synthetic effects of multiple EAPMEs could increase the probability of summer ozone and winter fine particle pollution in China by factors of up to 5 and 2, respectively. Based on such information, more attention may be needed on the collaborative prediction of extreme meteorological events and air pollution episodes.
Near‐Global Variability of Stratospheric Water Vapor Observed by SAGE III/ISS
Authors: Park Mijeong , Randel William J. , Damadeo Robert P. , Flittner David E. , Davis Sean M. , Rosenlof Karen H. , Livesey Nathaniel , Lambert Alyn , Read William
Published: March 2021

The Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III instrument on the International Space Station (SAGE III/ISS) has been making high quality solar occultation measurements of stratospheric water vapor since June 2017. Here we evaluate the large‐scale geophysical variability of the SAGE III/ISS water vapor measurements for the first 3 years of observations (2017–2020) as part of data validation for retrieval version 5.1 (v5.1). Detailed comparisons of SAGE III/ISS v5.1 with the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) version 5 retrievals show overall excellent agreement in terms of seasonal mean structure and large‐scale variability. SAGE III/ISS data capture the well‐known seasonal variations in water vapor including the vertically propagating “tape recorder” in the tropics and lower stratospheric maxima linked to the NH summer monsoons. The high vertical resolution (∼2 km) measurements from SAGE III/ISS demonstrate contributions of the monsoons to the wet phase of “tape recorder” during the Northern Hemisphere (NH) summer. Interannual variations over the short data record are also consistent between SAGE III/ISS and MLS in the stratosphere between 16 and 30 km. We furthermore evaluate large‐scale variations in relative humidity (RH) derived from the high vertical resolution SAGE III/ISS water vapor measurements, highlighting the detailed seasonal behavior and links to thermal structure near the tropical tropopause. Spatial distributions of RH at the cold point tropopause (CPT) show a close link between high RH and the minimum CPT temperature in both the NH winter and summer, consistent with temperature control of water vapor near the tropopause.
A Scalable Semi‐Implicit Barotropic Mode Solver for the MPAS‐Ocean
Authors: Kang Hyun‐Gyu , Evans Katherine J. , Petersen Mark R. , Jones Philip W. , Bishnu Siddhartha
Published: March 2021

A scalable semi‐implicit barotropic mode solver for the ocean component of the model for prediction across scales has been implemented as a competitor to an existing explicit‐subcycling scheme to allow faster and more stable simulations while not sacrificing accuracy. The semi‐implicit solver adopts the pipelined preconditioned bi‐conjugate gradient stabilization algorithm as an iterative solver in conjunction with the restricted additive Schwarz preconditioner that accelerates the convergence rate of the iterative solver. The preconditioner is constructed from a linearized barotropic system that also reorders the system for optimal performance, while the semi‐implicit solver deals with the fully nonlinear barotropic system that requires reassembly of the coefficient matrix for every time step. Several numerical experiments, from simple one‐dimensional tests to three‐dimensional real‐world tests, demonstrate that the semi‐implicit solver has almost the same accuracy and better parallel scalability compared with the existing scheme while allowing faster and more stable simulations. The semi‐implicit solver accelerates the barotropic mode up to 2.9 times faster than the existing scheme on 16,320 processors, leading to an overall runtime speedup of 1.9.
Effect of Grain Shape on Quasi‐Static Fluid‐Fluid Displacement in Porous Media
Authors: Wang Zhongzheng , Pereira Jean‐Michel , Gan Yixiang
Published: March 2021

We study how grain shapes impact multiphase flow in porous media in the quasi‐static regime using an extended pore‐network model. The algorithm allows the explicit determination of different types of pore‐scale instabilities and tracks the interface motion during the fluid‐fluid displacement process. It also includes the volume capacitance model, such that both the evolution of capillary pressure signal and sizes of Haines jumps can be captured. Further, it considers the pinning of menisci at sharp edges of grains, through which the distribution of effective contact angles can be obtained. Simulations are carried out across a wide range of wetting conditions for different particle shapes. Our results show that the effective contact angle distribution during displacement widens as the grain becomes more angular, which consequently modifies the macroscopic fluid invasion morphology. By analyzing various characteristic metrics during displacement, including capillary pressure signal, Haines jump size distribution, and fractal dimension, our results highlight the profound influence of particle shape on the multiphase flow.
Coastal Ecosystems Under Pressure Worldwide
Authors: Malone Thomas , Malej Alenka , Faganeli Jadran
Published: March 2021

A new book explores how two river-dominated coastal estuaries are responding to the pressures of human expansion and climate change.
Racist Slurs in Place-Names Have to Go, Say Geoscientists
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: March 2021

An open letter from geoscientists supports a bill to remove racist slurs from federally recognized lakes, creeks, canyons, and other small landforms.
Riverbed Temperature and Heat Transport in a Hydropeaked River
Authors: Ferencz Stephen B. , Muñoz Sebastian , Neilson Bethany T. , Cardenas M. Bayani
Published: March 2021

Hydropeaking, the alternating storage and release of water from reservoirs for hydropower generation, perturbs the thermal regime of many large rivers. While its effects on river temperature have been long studied, impacts on the thermal regime of riverbeds remain mostly unknown, despite riverbed temperature affecting rates of nutrient cycling and habitat suitability for benthic organisms. This study combines detailed field observations and flow and heat transport modeling to assess the impact of hydropeaking on riverbed temperatures in a large regulated river. The field site was 12 km downstream from a dam that induces large daily flow variations. Vertical thermistor arrays were used to collect riverbed temperature data across the entire 70 m‐wide channel. The riverbed near the left bank was highly dynamic thermally, transitioning between river and groundwater temperatures over daily hydropeaking cycles. In contrast, the rest of the riverbed, including near the right bank, was similar in temperature to the river and had relatively stable temperatures. Modeling showed that the temperatures near the banks are explained by advective heat transport driven by hydrostatic changes in river level, while the temperatures over the rest of the channel can be explained mostly by conductive heating. Gaining groundwater conditions and high sediment hydraulic conductivity favor thermally dynamic zones near banks, while low hydraulic conductivity (below 1 m/d) and neutral or losing groundwater conditions result in muted temperature fluctuations, as observed at the right bank. These spatial patterns can help predict thermally sensitive processes in the riverbeds of hydropeaked or flooding rivers.
Improving the charge properties of the WO3 photoanode using a BiFeO3 ferroelectric nanolayer
Authors: Wang Mingqi , Zeng Qingyi , Chang Sheng , Li Shanshan , Hu Chun , Chen Zhihong
Published: March 2021

Coating WO3 nanoplates with BiFeO3 ferroelectric nanolayer can significantly enhances the photoanode’s charge density, and improves its charge transport and separation property and charges’ lifetime, leading to an enhanced PEC activity.
Mitochondria selective trackers for long-term imaging based on readily accessible neutral BODIPYs
Authors: Ramos-Torres Ágata , Avellanal-Zaballa Edurne , García-Garrido Fernando , Fernández-Martínez Ana B. , Prieto-Castañeda Alejandro , Agarrabeitia Antonia R. , Bañuelos Jorge , García-Moreno Inmaculada , Lucio-Cazaña Francisco-Javier , Ortiz María J.
Published: March 2021

Small neutral 8-aryl-3-formyl BODIPYs as highly bright and photostable fluorescent probes for selective and covalent staining of mitochondria.
Deep-ultraviolet transparent alkali metal–rare earth metal sulfate NaY(SO4)2·H2O as a nonlinear optical crystal: synthesis and characterization
Authors: Wu Chao , Lin Lin , Wu Tianhui , Huang Zhipeng , Zhang Chi
Published: March 2021

The first SHG-active alkali metal–rare earth metal sulfate NaY(SO4)2·H2O, which manifests a short ultraviolet cutoff edge below 200 nm and exhibits a phase-matching SHG response of 0.6 × KDP, has been obtained using a mild hydrothermal method.
Metal–organic framework-based functional catalytic materials for biodiesel production: a review
Authors: Cong Wen-Jie , Nanda Sonil , Li Hu , Fang Zhen , Dalai Ajay K. , Kozinski Janusz A.
Published: March 2021

Porous MOF-based nanocatalysts prepared by assembly of organic ligands and metal ions functionalized with acid/base/enzyme used for biodiesel production.
Wearable and washable light/thermal emitting textiles
Authors: Tian Zhihui , Zhang Heshan , Xiu Fei , Zhang Minjie , Zou Jiahao , Ban Chaoyi , Nie Yijie , Jiang Wenjie , Hu Bin , Liu Juqing
Published: March 2021

A light/thermal emitting e-textile with great mechanical stability based on a sandwich-structured tri-electrode device is reported, endowing it with great application potential in smart wearable electronics.
Analytical and empirical modelling of the origin and heliospheric propagation of coronal mass ejections, and space weather applications
Authors: Vršnak Bojan
Published: March 2021

The focus is on the physical background and comprehension of the origin and the heliospheric propagation of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), which can cause most severe geomagnetic disturbances. The paper considers mainly the analytical modelling, providing useful insight into the nature of ICMEs, complementary to that provided by numerical MHD models. It is concentrated on physical processes related to the origin of CMEs at the Sun, their heliospheric propagation, up to the effects causing geomagnetic perturbations. Finally, several analytical and statistical forecasting tools for space weather applications are described.
Primärärztliche Strategien und Zusammenarbeit während der
ersten Phase der COVID-19-Pandemie in Baden-Württemberg, Deutschland
Authors: Stengel Sandra , Roth Catharina , Breckner Amanda , Peters-Klimm Frank , Schwill Simon , Möllinger Sophia , Buhlinger-Göpfarth Nicola , Szecsenyi Joachim , Wensing Michel
Published: March 2021

Ziel der Studie Das Ziel der Arbeit war eine deskriptive frühzeitige
Momentaufnahme von Einleitung und Umsetzung ambulanter Strategien im
primärärztlichen Setting zur Bewältigung der frühen Phase der
COVID-19- Pandemie in Baden-Württemberg (Deutschland).

Methodik Im Juni 2020 erhielten alle 271 Corona-Anlaufstellen unter Trägerschaft
der Kassenärztlichen Vereinigung (16 Abstrichstellen, 204 Corona-Schwerpunktpraxen, 51
Zentrale Fieberambulanzen) sowie eine zufällig generierte Stichprobe von 400
Hausarztpraxen aus Baden-Württemberg einen papierbasierten Fragebogen. Die Daten wurden
anonym erhoben und deskriptiv ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt nahmen n=63 (15,8%) Hausarztpraxen und n=92
(33,9%) Corona-Anlaufstellen teil. 78,7% der Hausarztpraxen nutzten
Corona-Anlaufstellen (n=48). 92,1% hatten eine verpflichtende telefonische
Anmeldung für PatientInnen mit (vermuteter) COVID-19-Erkrankung (n=58)
implementiert. 81% boten bei leichtem Verlauf eine rein telefonische oder
videokonsultatorische Versorgung an (n=51). Parallel dazu wurden die neuen ambulanten
Corona-Anlaufstellen vorwiegend unter hausärztlicher Leitung (n=76,
82,6%) in Zusammenarbeit mit weiteren Akteuren, in fast der Hälfte der
Fälle bereits im März aufgebaut (n=42, 48,3%). Die am
häufigsten genannten Anmeldepfade waren gesteuert und konnten vorwiegend über
HausärztInnen (n=88, 95,7%) und Gesundheitsamt (n=74,
80,4%), aber auch durch weitere Akteure erfolgen. In 92,4% (n=85)
konnte eine telefonische Anmeldung erfolgen. Die mündliche Rückmeldung an die
PatientInnen (n=65, 77,4%) war der am häufigsten genannte
Rückmeldeweg. In weniger als der Hälfte der Corona-Anlaufstellen lagen
standardisierte Anmelde-, Dokumentations- und Rückmeldebögen vor. Die
Einschätzung der zukünftigen Versorgungsstrukturen von PatientInnen mit
(vermuteter) COVID-19-Erkrankung waren heterogen.

Schlussfolgerungen In einem gemeinsamen Kraftakt, mit Improvisation und Zusammenarbeit
gelang eine rasche Implementierung von Maßnahmen zur Patientenversorgung
während der Anfangsphase der Pandemie im primärärztlichen Setting. Aus
den Ergebnissen können Impulse für die primärärztliche
Versorgung in einer Pandemie abgeleitet werden.
2021 Update of the International Council for Standardization in Haematology Recommendations for Laboratory Measurement of Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Authors: Douxfils Jonathan , Adcock Dorothy M. , Bates Shannon M. , Favaloro Emmanuel J. , Gouin-Thibault Isabelle , Guillermo Cecilia , Kawai Yohko , Lindhoff-Last Edelgard , Kitchen Steve , Gosselin Robert C.
Published: March 2021

In 2018, the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) published a consensus document providing guidance for laboratories on measuring direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Since that publication, several significant changes related to DOACs have occurred, including the approval of a new DOAC by the Food and Drug Administration, betrixaban, and a specific DOAC reversal agent intended for use when the reversal of anticoagulation with apixaban or rivaroxaban is needed due to life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding, andexanet alfa. In addition, this ICSH Working Party recognized areas where additional information was warranted, including patient population considerations and updates in point-of-care testing. The information in this manuscript supplements our previous ICSH DOAC laboratory guidance document. The recommendations provided are based on (1) information from peer-reviewed publications about laboratory measurement of DOACs, (2) contributing author's personal experience/expert opinion and (3) good laboratory practice.
Molecular Characterization of Two Homozygous Factor VII Variants Associated with Intracranial Bleeding
Authors: Andersen Elisabeth , Chollet Maria Eugenia , Sletten Marit , Stavik Benedicte , Skarpen Ellen , Backe Paul Hoff , Thiede Bernd , Glosli Heidi , Henriksson Carola Elisabeth , Iversen Nina
Published: March 2021

Clinical parameters have been extensively studied in factor (F) VII deficiency, but the knowledge of molecular mechanisms of this disease is scarce. We report on three probands with intracranial bleeds at an early age, one of which had concomitant high titer of FVII inhibitor. The aim of the present study was to identify the causative mutations and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. All nine F7 exons were sequenced in the probands and the closest family members. A homozygous deletion in exon 1, leading to a frame shift and generation of a premature stop codon (p.C10Pfs*16), was found in proband 1. Probands 2 and 3 (siblings) were homozygous for a missense mutation in exon 8, resulting in a glycine (G) to arginine (R) substitution at amino acid 240 (p.G240R). All probands had severely reduced FVII activity (FVII:C < 1 IU/dL). Treatment consisted of recombinant FVIIa and/or plasma concentrate, and proband 1 developed a FVII inhibitor shortly after initiation of treatment. The FVII variants were overexpressed in mammalian cell lines. No FVII protein was produced in cells expressing the p.C10Pfs*16 variant, and the inhibitor development in proband 1 was likely linked to the complete absence of circulating FVII. Structural analysis suggested that the G to R substitution in FVII found in probands 2 and 3 would destabilize the protein structure, and cell studies demonstrated a defective intracellular transport and increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. The molecular mechanism underlying the p.G240R variant could be reduced secretion caused by protein destabilization and misfolding.
Left Hemiclamshell Approach for Posterior Aortic Arch Aneurysm
Authors: Moiroux-Sahraoui Alexander , Leprince Pascal , Demondion Pierre
Published: March 2021

The anatomical situation of posterior aortic arch aneurysms is a surgical challenge. The surgical approach should not only guarantee a safe dissection of the supra-aortic trunks and the descending aorta but also allow the cannulation for extracorporeal circulation. Indeed, protecting the cerebral flow is essential. Another challenge is to preserve both the phrenic and recurrent nerves while sparing chest wall muscles. A hemiclamshell approach for posterior aortic arch aneurysm seems to be a good compromise regarding these requirements.
A Rare Odontogenic Cyst in an Uncommon Area: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Behrad Samira , Safari Isa , Sohanian Shabnam , Ghanbarzadegan Arash
Published: March 2021

Objective Orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst is a rare developmental odontogenic cyst of the jaws. It is a less aggressive intraosseous cyst identified by an orthokeratinized epithelium.

Case Report A 50-year-old male patient with the chief complaint of swelling in the anterior part of his face, and, intraorally, there was diffuse swelling in the palatal cortex. On panoramic radiography, there was a well-defined unilocular radiolucency on the right side of the maxilla and palatal cortical expansion, and thinning of the buccal and palatal cortexes was observed. The histopathological examination revealed a pathologic cyst that was lined by a thick orthokeratinized epithelium. Therefore, the diagnosis was orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst.

Conclusion The orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst displays characteristic clinical, histopathological, and biological features that differ significantly from those of keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT), but it has a better prognosis and lower recurrence rate. Thus, other radiolucent lesions of the jaws, including keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT), must be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Pull-Through in Patients after Pelvic Anastomosis Leak Following Proctectomy: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Davoodabadi Hasan , Aldraji Mohammad , Farahani Abdolhosein Davoodabadi , Soltani Parnian , Alemrajabi Mehdi
Published: March 2021

Introduction Colorectal cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of mortality due to cancers. Anastomosis leak after proctectomy is a dangerous complication that must be managed carefully. The aim of the present study was to assess the procedure of resection and pull-through of the new rectum after anastomosis leak in patients after proctectomy.

Methods and Materials This was a cross-sectional study. Patients who visited the Firoozgar Hospital between 2015 and 2018 for rectal cancer surgery and had anastomosis leak entered the study. All patients underwent resection of the residue of rectum and pull-through of colon.

Results In the present study, out of the 110 cases who underwent proctectomy, 12 patients with postoperative anastomosis leak were reported. Five (41.7%) were male and 7 (58.3%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 41.5 ± 4.3 years (33–51). Resection of the new rectum and pull-through anastomosis were performed for these 12 patients. No major intraoperative complication occurred. Postoperative course was uneventful in all patients.

Discussion Resection of residue of rectum and pull-through in patients with anastomosis leak can be done after rectal cancer surgery. This method is superior to abdominopelvic resection in many aspects, especially regarding accessibility to the new rectum by rectal exam or endosonography to assess recurrence or a relative continence after closure of ostomy.
Outcome of Fecal Incontinence in Patients with Rectal Prolapse Undergoing the Altemeier Procedure with or without Posterior Levatorplasty
Authors: Bananzadeh Alimohammad , Razavi Hamed Shariat , Khodaei Shahin , Al-Qanbar Maytham Hameed , Tadayon Seyed Mohammad Kazem , Hosseini Seyed Vahid , Ghahramani Leila
Published: March 2021

Objective To compare the fecal incontinence status of patients submitted to theAltemeier procedure with or without posterior levatorplasty.

Materials and Methods Medical records of the patients who underwent the Altemeier procedure at Shahid Faghihi Hospital (in Shiraz, Iran) from 2014 to 2018 were retrospectively studied. Patients older than 17 years of age who underwent the Altemeier procedure due to complete rectal prolapse were considered. In some cases, the operation was performed with posterior levatorplasty. Rectal prolapse due to collagen or connective tissue disorders, anal/sacral anomalies, immunodeficiency, history of rectal surgery, and pelvic radiotherapy were the exclusion criteria of the present study. In addition to the demographics (including age, gender, and body mass index), the fecal incontinence status of each case was determined through the Wexner scale preoperatively and 12 months after the surgery. The incontinence scores were then compared against the baseline values of the two groups of patients: those with and those without posterior levatorplasty. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US), software, version 21.

Results In total, 53 patients (17 men and 36 women) with a mean age of 55.23 ± 18.24 years were analyzed. The comparison of the pre- and postoperative scores on the Wexner scale between the two groups revealed no statistically significant difference (p >0.05).

Conclusion Posterior levatorplasty during the Altemeier procedure did not result in significant improvement of the fecal incontinence outcome of the patients.
The Effect of Stool Transplantation on Weight Control in Obese Rats
Authors: Klas Cynthia Fontoura , Rebouças Rebeca Loureiro , Diosti Géssica de Mattos , Osman Kader , Carmona Luiz Felipe Paludo , Kubrusly Luiz Fernando , Marques Camila Moraes
Published: March 2021

Introduction Obesity is defined as a multifactorial metabolic syndrome in which there is an excessive number of fat cells within the tissues. It is discussed that intestinal microbiota might have a relevant relation with obesity, since it is relevantly altered in obese patients.

Objectives To assess the effect of stool transplantation (ST) in the condition of obesity and its outcomes in an experimental model of cafeteria diet by analyzing histology and weight gain.

Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups: control (CO), control with antibiotics (CO + ATB), obesity (CAF + ATB), stool transplantation (ATB + ST) and obesity with stool transplantation (CAF + ATB + ST). During the experiment, obesity induction groups received cafeteria diet, whereas the remaining groups had normal diet ad libitum. After 3 months, daily ST was carried out for 8 weeks by gavage procedure. The animals were euthanized, and the small intestine was harvested for further analysis.

Results It was observed that before starting the ST, the cafeteria and normal diet groups had significant weight difference (p < 0,0001). In the comparison between CAF + ATB and CAF + ATB + ST during the gavage period, the CAF + ATB + ST group presented lower weight gain (p = 0.0017). The histopathological evaluation show that the ATB + ST group did not present intestinal crypt distortion.

Conclusion Cafeteria diet resulted in an expected weight gain. In relation to the ST, it has been shown that the procedure is effective in reducing weekly weight gain. Apparently, there was no induction of disabsortive syndrome in nonobese animals that received ST.
Which Lighting Option Is the Best for Photography in Rhinoplasty?
Authors: Fernández-Pellón Rodrigo , Saghir Meshari , Jaber Ayman , Apaydin Fazil
Published: March 2021

Photography for preoperative analysis and follow-up is indispensable for the facial plastic surgeon. The use of strobe flash units, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, and their position related to axis of the patient can affect the nasal contours and nasal measurements. The aim of this study was to compare the rhinoplasty pictures taken under three different lighting settings and two different positioning at 30- and 45-degree angles, and with direct measurements taken by caliper from the subjects. Standardized rhinoplasty pictures from 10 patients were taken in frontal view in a studio. These pictures were taken under three different lighting settings: built-in flash of the camera, two strobe flashes, and two LED continuous lights placed at 30 to 45 degree angles to the patient. All the pictures were uploaded to Rhinobase 2.0. In five subjects, direct measurements were done by using a Vernier caliper and compared with the computer measurements. In this study, when comparing the light sources and the angles without taking single flash into account, no relation was found between strobe lights at 30 and 45 degrees and between LED lights at 30 and 45 degrees regarding tip width, base bony width, dorsum width, interalar width, and nasal length. However, a statistically significant difference was found when the angle was changed from 30 to 45 degrees for tip width, interalar width and nasal length. The use of two LED continuous lights or two strobe lights in a studio setting has given similar results. Changing the angles of the light sources from 30 to 45 degrees affected only the tip width and the interalar width; otherwise the rest of the nasal measurements did not show any significant changes. The pictures taken at 45-degree angles to the subject showed the closest values to the direct measurements done on the patient.
Pediatric Endoscopic Pilonidal Sinus Treatment (PEPSiT): Technical Description and Initial Experience
Authors: Mendes Carlos Ramon Silveira , Ferreira Luciano Santana de Miranda , Sapucaia Lucca Sarmiento Bahia , Sapucaia Filho Jose Raimundo Bahia
Published: March 2021

Pilonidal sinus is an acquired condition characterized by lesions at the median or paramedic intergluteal crease resulting form in grown hair at the subcutaneous, deep sacrococcygeal issue. Multiple surgical methods have been described, the optimal pilonidal sinus treatment remains controversial. The preset retrospective study reports outcome form pediatric endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment in patient under 18 years old.
Bilingual outcomes for a student with Down Syndrome in French immersion
Authors: Martin Sarah , Hodder Christina , Merritt Emily , Culliton Ashley , Pottie Erin , Kay-Raining Bird Elizabeth
Published: March 2021

This study investigated the French and English outcomes and experiences of one student with Down syndrome enrolled
in a Canadian French Immersion (FI) program. Testing in Grades 6 and 8 revealed development in both languages, higher English than
French skills, and progress across the two years in English only. English language and reading comparisons in Grade 8 showed the
bilingual student had similar or better English abilities than age-matched monolinguals with Down syndrome (DS) schooled in
English only. Interviews revealed that the parents were strong advocates for their son and worked closely with the school to
ensure accommodations were in place in FI that fostered his success. The interviews also offered some explanation for the lack of
French progress at second testing. This study provides the first evidence that FI can provide a path to bilingualism for students
with DS. The findings have implications for inclusive education.
Why do non-native English speakers show masked form priming when native speakers do not?
Authors: Taft Marcus , Li Junmin , Aryanti Thasya
Published: March 2021

Native English speakers do not show masked priming effects in lexical decision when a prime word is related to its target
purely on the basis of orthographic form (e.g., pillow-PILL, protest-PROTECT). There is strong evidence, however, that
non-native English speakers do show such form priming. This paper explores the possible cognitive mechanisms behind this difference between
native and non-native speakers. Taft and Li (2020) found that only non-native speakers (with
Chinese as their first language) showed priming when the nonword prime ended in the same embedded word as the word target (e.g.,
plerough-THOROUGH), but a newly reported experiment goes on to show priming for native speakers as well when the shared
letter-combination is not itself a word (e.g., celtoise-TORTOISE). This contrast in results leads to the interpretation
that native speakers have a specific mechanism for activating embedded words that is important when recognizing polymorphemic words through
their stems. It is suggested that non-native speakers, or at least those with Chinese as their first language, do not engage or are slow in
engaging such a mechanism. The form priming that they demonstrate arises from facilitated processing of the repeated letters rather than the
pre-activation of a lexical representation.
A spatiotemporal recommendation engine for malaria control
Authors: Guan Qian , Reich Brian J , Laber Eric B
Published: March 2021

Malaria is an infectious disease affecting a large population across the world, and interventions need to be efficiently applied to reduce the burden of malaria. We develop a framework to help policy-makers decide how to allocate limited resources in realtime for malaria control. We formalize a policy for the resource allocation as a sequence of decisions, one per intervention decision, that map up-to-date disease related information to a resource allocation. An optimal policy must control the spread of the disease while being interpretable and viewed as equitable to stakeholders. We construct an interpretable class of resource allocation policies that can accommodate allocation of resources residing in a continuous domain and combine a hierarchical Bayesian spatiotemporal model for disease transmission with a policy-search algorithm to estimate an optimal policy for resource allocation within the pre-specified class. The estimated optimal policy under the proposed framework improves the cumulative long-term outcome compared with naive approaches in both simulation experiments and application to malaria interventions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Gene expression-based biomarkers designating glioblastomas resistant to multiple treatment strategies
Authors: Menyhárt Otília , Fekete János Tibor , Győrffy Balázs
Published: March 2021

Despite advances in molecular characterization of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), only a handful of predictive biomarkers exist with limited clinical relevance. We aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in tumor samples collected at surgery associated with response to subsequent treatment, including temozolomide (TMZ) and nitrosoureas. Gene expression was collected from multiple independent datasets. Patients were categorized as responders/nonresponders based on their survival status at 16 months postsurgery. For each gene, the expression was compared between responders and nonresponders with a Mann–Whitney U-test and receiver operating characteristic. The package ‘roc’ was used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). The integrated database comprises 454 GBM patients from 3 independent datasets and 10 103 genes. The highest proportion of responders (68%) were among patients treated with TMZ combined with nitrosoureas, where FCGR2B upregulation provided the strongest predictive value (AUC = 0.72, P < 0.001). Elevated expression of CSTA and MRPS17 was associated with a lack of response to multiple treatment strategies. DLL3 upregulation was present in subsequent responders to any treatment combination containing TMZ. Three genes (PLSCR1, MX1 and MDM2) upregulated both in the younger cohort and in patients expressing low MGMT delineate a subset of patients with worse prognosis within a population generally associated with a favorable outcome. The identified transcriptomic changes provide biomarkers of responsiveness, offer avenues for preclinical studies and may enhance future GBM patient stratifications. The described methodology provides a reliable pipeline for the initial testing of potential biomarker candidates for future validation studies.
Second-generation laser balloon ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation assessed by continuous rhythm monitoring: the LIGHT-AF study
Authors: Rovaris Giovanni , Ciconte Giuseppe , Schiavone Marco , Mitacchione Gianfranco , Gasperetti Alessio , Piazzi Elena , Negro Gabriele , Montemerlo Elisabetta , Rondine Roberto , Pozzi Mattia , Casiraghi Mirko , De Ceglia Sergio , Giacopelli Daniele , Viecca Maurizio , Vicedomini Gabriele , Forleo Giovanni B , Pappone Carlo
Published: March 2021

Aims

Balloon-based technologies have been developed to simplify catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), to improve the clinical outcome of the procedure and to achieve durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of second-generation laser balloon (LB2) ablation in the treatment of AF using a continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring strategy. Atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATas) recurrences were assessed with implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) or devices.

Methods and results

All patients underwent LB2 ablation procedure. The primary endpoint was the first recurrence of any, >5.5 and >24 h duration ATas after the blanking period (90 days). In-hospital visits were performed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Seventy-three patients (68% male, mean age 59.8 ± 11.3) were included in the study. The average procedure, fluoroscopy, and laser ablation times were 81.5 ± 30.1, 21.5 ± 12.4, and 33.8 ± 9.7, respectively. All PVs were isolated using the LB2 with no need of touch-up using focal catheters. No major complications occurred during or after the procedures. The one-year freedom from recurrences was 66.9% (95% CI: 57.0–76.7%), 81.0% (69.5–88.5%), and 86.8% (76.1–92.9%) considering any, 5.5-h and 24-h cut-off duration, respectively. At 3, 6, and 12 months, any ATas was recorded in 22%, 32%, and 25% of patients, with a ≥5% arrhythmic burden documented in 4%, 5%, and 3%, respectively. Few patients reported AF-related symptoms (7%, 8%, and 5%).

Conclusion

LB2 ablation is a safe and effective procedure, showing a high freedom from recurrences and low arrhythmic burden as documented by a continuous rhythm monitoring strategy.
Local search or beyond? The influence of interfirm technological distance on co-innovation success
Authors: Huo Dong
Published: March 2021

In the interfirm co-innovation process, knowledge search spanning organizational boundaries is believed to be essential to innovation but is often technologically, geographically, and socially bounded. Given that spanning any type of boundary may lead to both decreased learning and increased creativity, its influence on co-innovation success remains unclear. Using a sample of 18,575 US utility patents co-invented by 6,595 dyads of firms during 1993–2002, the net effect of interfirm technological distance (which depicts cognitive boundary-spanning search) on the quality of a co-invented patent is found to depend largely on other types of boundary-spanning searches, such as cross-regional and cross-network partnerships. The net effect is negative when co-inventing partners are within the same region and network, whereas the net effect becomes positive when partners originate from distinct regions and networks. The findings advance the understanding of boundary-spanning searches of various types and their complicated interactions, suggesting that boundary spanning is crucial to co-innovation success.
Longitudinal Analysis of Human Memory T-Cell Response According to the Severity of Illness up to 8 Months After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection
Authors: Kang Chang Kyung , Kim Minji , Lee Soojin , Kim Gwanghun , Choe Pyoeng Gyun , Park Wan Beom , Kim Nam Joong , Lee Chang-Han , Kim Ik Soo , Jung Keehoon , Lee Dong-Sup , Shin Hyun Mu , Kim Hang-Rae , Oh Myoung-don
Published: March 2021

Background

Understanding the memory T-cell response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial for assessing the longevity of protective immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. However, the longitudinal memory T-cell response up to 8 months post–symptom onset (PSO) according to the severity of illness is unknown.

Methods

We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers or patients with COVID-19 who experienced asymptomatic, mild, or severe illness at 2, 5, and 8 months PSO. SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid, and membrane protein-stimulated PBMCs were subjected to flow cytometry analysis.

Results

A total of 24 patients (7 asymptomatic, 9 with mild disease, and 8 with severe disease) and 6 healthy volunteers were analyzed. SARS-CoV-2–specific OX40+CD137+CD4+ T cells and CD69+CD137+CD8+ T cells persisted at 8 months PSO. Also, antigen-specific cytokine-producing or polyfunctional CD4+ T cells were maintained for up to 8 months PSO. Memory CD4+ T-cell responses tended to be greater in patients who had severe illness than in those with mild or asymptomatic disease.

Conclusions

Memory response to SARS-CoV-2, based on the frequency and functionality, persists for 8 months PSO. Further investigations involving its longevity and protective effect from reinfection are warranted.
Feather Gene Expression Elucidates the Developmental Basis of Plumage Iridescence in African Starlings
Authors: Rubenstein Dustin R , Corvelo André , MacManes Matthew D , Maia Rafael , Narzisi Giuseppe , Rousaki Anastasia , Vandenabeele Peter , Shawkey Matthew D , Solomon Joseph
Published: March 2021

Iridescence is widespread in the living world, occurring in organisms as diverse as bacteria, plants, and animals. Yet, compared to pigment-based forms of coloration, we know surprisingly little about the developmental and molecular bases of the structural colors that give rise to iridescence. Birds display a rich diversity of iridescent structural colors that are produced in feathers by the arrangement of melanin-containing organelles called melanosomes into nanoscale configurations, but how these often unusually shaped melanosomes form, or how they are arranged into highly organized nanostructures, remains largely unknown. Here, we use functional genomics to explore the developmental basis of iridescent plumage using superb starlings (Lamprotornis superbus), which produce both iridescent blue and non-iridescent red feathers. Through morphological and chemical analyses, we confirm that hollow, flattened melanosomes in iridescent feathers are eumelanin-based, whereas melanosomes in non-iridescent feathers are solid and amorphous, suggesting that high pheomelanin content underlies red coloration. Intriguingly, the nanoscale arrangement of melanosomes within the barbules was surprisingly similar between feather types. After creating a new genome assembly, we use transcriptomics to show that non-iridescent feather development is associated with genes related to pigmentation, metabolism, and mitochondrial function, suggesting non-iridescent feathers are more energetically expensive to produce than iridescent feathers. However, iridescent feather development is associated with genes related to structural and cellular organization, suggesting that, while nanostructures themselves may passively assemble, barbules and melanosomes may require active organization to give them their shape. Together, our analyses suggest that iridescent feathers form through a combination of passive self-assembly and active processes.
Constituent order in silent gesture reflects the perspective of the producer
Authors: Kirton Fiona , Kirby Simon , Smith Kenny , Culbertson Jennifer , Schouwstra Marieke
Published: March 2021

Understanding the relationship between human cognition and linguistic structure is a central theme in language evolution research. Numerous studies have investigated this question using the silent gesture paradigm in which participants describe events using only gesture and no speech. Research using this paradigm has found that Agent–Patient–Action (APV) is the most commonly produced gesture order, regardless of the producer’s native language. However, studies have uncovered a range of factors that influence ordering preferences. One such factor is salience, which has been suggested as a key determiner of word order. Specifically, humans, who are typically agents, are more salient than inanimate objects, so tend to be mentioned first. In this study, we investigated the role of salience in more detail and asked whether manipulating the salience of a human agent would modulate the tendency to express humans before objects. We found, first, that APV was less common than expected based on previous literature. Secondly, salience influenced the relative ordering of the patient and action, but not the agent and patient. For events involving a non-salient agent, participants typically expressed the patient before the action and vice versa for salient agents. Thirdly, participants typically omitted non-salient agents from their descriptions. We present details of a novel computational solution that infers the orders participants would have produced had they expressed all three constituents on every trial. Our analysis showed that events involving salient agents tended to elicit AVP; those involving a non-salient agent were typically described with APV, modulated by a strong tendency to omit the agent. We argue that these findings provide evidence that the effect of salience is realized through its effect on the perspective from which a producer frames an event.