bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orthoplastic reconstruction in children: are the risk factors similar to those observed in adults?
Authors: Iamaguchi Raquel Bernardelli , Cartolano Ricardo , Silva Gustavo Bersani , Torres Luciano Ruiz , Cho Alvaro Baik , Wei Teng Hsiang , de Rezende Marcelo Rosa , Mattar Rames
Published: July 2021

Free flaps in the pediatric population are less common and when indicated the expectations to avoid amputation are high. The objective of this study is to describe indications and results of free flaps for limb reconstruction. Patients undergoing microsurgical free flaps in an orthopedic hospital were consecutively included in this cross-sectional study, from 2014 to 2020. Data regarding personal medical history, intraoperative microsurgical procedure and laboratory tests were collected. Patients under 18 years of age were included. Complications and free flap outcomes were observed during follow-up. This study included 23 free flaps in 23 patients with orthoplastic reconstruction. The free flap was performed as a reconstructive elevator concept. The most common indications were skin or bone defects caused by trauma (nine patients), tumor (six patients) and congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (four patients). The most indicated flap was a vascularized fibular flap in 10 patients, followed by an anterolateral thigh flap in 5 patients. Complications were observed in five patients. In total 93% of patients with inferior limb reconstruction walked at the final evaluation. Among risk factors studied, cases had a higher incidence of complications (P = 0.03) when only the superficial venous system was used. Free flaps in children are well-tolerated and indications are restricted to precise indications to provide alternatives to amputations and improve patient’s function. We observed an increase in the incidence of complications when only superficial veins were used for free flap outflow in children.
Selective internal radiation therapy in older patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Benguerfi Soraya , Estrade Florian , Lescure Céline , Rolland Yan , Palard Xavier , Le Sourd Samuel , Pracht Marc , Bourien Héloïse , Muzellec Léa , Le Du Fanny , Garin Etienne , Edeline Julien
Published: July 2021

Background

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is applied to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a disease with increased incidence in the elderly. However, SIRT has rarely been specifically studied in elderly population. The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy and safety of SIRT in elderly HCC patients.

Methods

We studied retrospectively data from patients treated with SIRT for HCC. Clinical and laboratory data were retrieved. We used 70-years old as threshold between younger and elderly populations, to compare outcomes.

Results

A total of 222 patients treated with SIRT for HCC were studied, of which 134 patients were younger and 88 older. Median overall survival (OS) was not significantly different between younger and elderly group: 15.6 months (95% CI, 11.7–19.5) and 14.8 months (95% CI, 9.4–20.3) (P = 0.86). Age was not associated with OS in multivariable analysis, with a Hazard ratio of 1.09 (95% CI, 0.82–1.45, P = 0.55). Results of progression-free survival and responses were also similar in both groups. Toxicities were similar between the two groups, including the occurrence of radioembolization-induced liver disease (11.5 vs. 11.4%, P = 0.97).

Conclusion

SIRT appears to be a well-tolerated treatment with the same efficacy in elderly compared to younger patients in HCC. Our study is the first to study its impact with glass microspheres. This warrants confirmation in large prospective studies.
Need for recovery and physician well-being in emergency departments: national survey findings
Authors: Cottey Laura , Roberts Tom , Graham Blair , Horner Daniel , Latour Jos M. , Enki Doyo , Lyttle Mark D. , Stevens Kara N.
Published: July 2021

Background and importance

Need for recovery (NFR) describes an individual’s need to physically and psychologically recuperate following a period of work. Physicians working in emergency departments (EDs) have higher NFR scores than other occupational groups. Increased NFR may precede occupational burnout and identification provides opportunities for early interventions.

Objective

To identify the incidence of well-being characteristics for ED physicians and to determine if NFR score is associated with these characteristics, whilst adjusting for potential confounders.

Design

This is a secondary analysis of a survey study. Responses to 11 items were summated into the NFR score, from 0 (lowest NFR) to 100. Additional items (n = 44) explored well-being, demographic and occupational characteristics.

Setting and participants

Physicians working within 112 EDs in the UK and Ireland were surveyed in June–July 2019.

Outcome measure and analysis

The outcome measure was self-perceptions of well-being including; current burnout, risk of future burnout and feeling overwhelmed at work. Descriptive statistics are presented alongside findings of a multiple regression analysis.

Main results

In 4365 participants, the self-perceived incidence of current burnout, high risk of future burnout and feeling overwhelmed at work more than once a week was 24.8, 62.7 and 45.1%, respectively. For every unfavourable response of the NFR scale there was an increase in odds of 34.0% (95% CI, 31.0–37.1) for frequency of feeling overwhelmed; 53.8% (95% CI, 47.5–60.4) for current burnout; 56.2% (95% CI, 51.1–61.6) for high risk of future burnout.

Conclusion

This study confirms an association between increased NFR score and self-perceived well-being characteristics. Factors previously reported to reduce NFR could therefore be important initiatives to improve well-being of the ED workforce.
Review: The Top Five Peripheral Vision Tools in Sport
Authors: Vater Christian , Strasburger Hans
Published: July 2021

SIGNIFICANCE

This study summarizes the empirical evidence on the use of peripheral vision for the most-researched peripheral vision tools in sports.

The objective of this review was to explain if and how the tools can be used to investigate peripheral vision usage and how empirical findings with these vision tools might be transferred to sports situations. The data sources used in this study were Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PubMed. We additionally searched the manufacturers' Web pages and used Google Scholar to find full texts that were not available elsewhere. Studies were included if they were published in a peer-reviewed journal, were written in English language, and were conducted in a sports context. From the 10 searched tools, we included the 5 tools with most published studies. In our topical search, we identified 93 studies for the five most-used peripheral vision tools. Surprisingly, none of these studies used eye-tracking methods to control for the use of peripheral vision. Best “passive” control is achieved by tools using (foveal) secondary tasks (Dynavision D2 and Vienna Test System). Best transfer to sports tasks is expected for tools demanding action responses (FitLight, Dynavision D2). Tools are likely to train peripheral monitoring (NeuroTracker), peripheral reaction time (Dynavision D2, Vienna Test System), or peripheral preview (FitLight), whereas one tool did not show any link to peripheral vision processes (Nike SPARQ Vapor Strobe).
Efficacy of a Digital Sports Vision Training Program for Improving Visual Abilities in Collegiate Baseball and Softball Athletes
Authors: Shekar Sandhya Uma , Erickson Graham B. , Horn Fraser , Hayes John R. , Cooper Scott
Published: July 2021

SIGNIFICANCE

Dynamic reactive sports involve visual abilities such as visual acuity, depth perception, contrast sensitivity, and visual-motor reaction speed. This randomized, double-blinded control design showed no significant improvement in the visual parameters among athletes after training on a digital sports vision training program.

PURPOSE

There is a need for evidence supporting the efficacy of recently developed digital training programs.

METHODS

Thirty-two athletes from National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III softball and baseball teams were randomly divided into experimental and placebo training groups, undergoing three 20-minute training sessions per week for 3 weeks. The experimental group trained on procedures designed to improve dynamic visual acuity and depth perception, and the placebo group trained on procedures designed to have no direct impact on those same parameters. All measures were recorded at baseline, post-training, and after a month of no training. The athletes also completed a questionnaire to determine the efficacy of the placebo effect.

RESULTS

There was no significant effect of evaluation type (post-training and follow-up) and condition (experimental and placebo) on any of the visual parameters. However, stereoacuity, contrast sensitivity, depth perception, and dynamic visual acuity showed minimum effect sizes of 0.5. Fifteen of 16 athletes in the placebo group thought they trained on experimental procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant improvement differences were seen between experimental and placebo training groups. However, stereoacuity, contrast sensitivity, and depth perception achieved minimum clinical relevance.
PTEN Loss and ARID1A Mutation in an HPV-positive Metastatic Adenocarcinoma Diagnosed Almost 18 yr After an Intact Cone Excision for Endocervical Adenocarcinoma In Situ
Authors: Aisagbonhi Omonigho , Zare Somaye Y. , Hasteh Farnaz , Binder Pratibha , Roma Andres A. , Fadare Oluwole
Published: July 2021

There have been previous reports of neoplasms with the morphology of endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) that secondarily involve the ovaries, presumably through transtubal spread, with a smaller subset metastasizing to distant sites. These ovarian metastases have been discovered up to 7 yr postexcision of the endocervical lesion, consistent with the known potential for overtly invasive cervical carcinomas to recur late after primary curative management. Herein, we present a case of a premenopausal woman with a pelvic mass classified as metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated endocervical adenocarcinoma (p16-block immunoreactive, high-risk HPV positive by in situ hybridization with PTEN loss, ARID1A, and PBRM1 mutations detected by qualitative next-generation sequencing), identified 17.7 yr (212 mo) after a fertility-sparing cone excision with negative margins for endocervical AIS [HPV-associated, p16-block immunoreactive; PTEN, and BAF250a (ARID1a) expression retained]. Our case highlights: (1) the potential for a subset of lesions with the morphology of AIS to metastasize, and the extraordinarily long timeframe (almost 18 y, the longest reported to date) during which metastases may still be identified; (2) alterations in PTEN and ARID1A may play a role in the progression of a subset of endocervical carcinomas; and (3) the need for studies to evaluate the utility of incorporating ovarian/pelvic imaging into surveillance protocols following fertility-sparing excisions or ovarian-preserving hysterectomies, during the management of endocervical adenocarcinomas, as well as the need to counsel patients about the small but real risk of delayed discovery of ovarian metastases following fertility-preserving surgeries for AIS.
Urine Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA as a Marker of Weight Loss and Body Composition in Older Adults With HIV
Authors: Johnston Carrie D. , Siegler Eugenia L. , Rice Michelle C. , Derry Heather M. , Hootman Katie C. , Zhu Yuan-Shan , Burchett Chelsie O. , Gupta Samir K. , Choi Mary E. , Glesby Marshall J.
Published: July 2021

Background:

Older adults with HIV (OAH) experience more comorbidities and geriatric syndromes than their HIV-negative peers, perhaps because of chronic inflammation. Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cfmtDNA) released from cells undergoing necrosis-mediated cell death potentially acts as both a mediator and marker of inflammatory dysregulation. We hypothesized that urinary cfmtDNA would be associated with frailty, body composition, and fall history in OAH.

Methods:

OAH completed frailty testing, a psychosocial survey, body composition assessment, and measurement of urine cfmtDNA and urine albumin:creatinine in this cross-sectional study. Urine cfmtDNA was measured by quantative polymerase chain reaction and normalized to urinary creatinine.

Results:

Across 150 participants, the mean age was 61 years (SD 6 years), half identified as Black, one-third were women, and 93% had HIV-1 viral load <200 copies/mL. Two-thirds met criteria for a prefrail or frail state. Those with unintentional weight loss had higher urine cfmtDNA concentrations (P = 0.03). Higher urine cfmtDNA was inversely associated with the skeletal muscle index (β = −0.19, P < 0.01) and fat mass index (β = −0.08, P = 0.02) in separate multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and presence of moderate–severe albuminuria.

Conclusions:

In this cross-sectional study of OAH, higher levels of urine cfmtDNA were more common in subjects with less robust physical condition, including unintentional weight loss and less height-scaled body mass of fat and muscle. These findings suggest urine cfmtDNA may reflect pathophysiologic aging processes in OAH, predisposing them to geriatric syndromes. Longitudinal investigation of urine cfmtDNA as a biomarker of geriatric syndromes is warranted.
A Rare Cause of SCC Antigen Elevation
Authors: Huchet Virginie , Cockenpot Vincent , Lesnik Maria , Luporsi Marie , Jehanno Nina
Published: July 2021

We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) elevation in the follow-up of a uterine cervical cancer. The examination showed an FDG-avid mass of the left nasal cavity with left maxillary sinusitis and no other site of abnormal FDG uptake. Surgical resection of the nasal polyp was performed, and pathological examination of the specimen revealed an inverted sinonasal papilloma. SCC Ag returned to normal after surgery. Inverted sinonasal papilloma is a rare cause of SCC Ag elevation, which can be depicted by 18F-FDG PET/CT.
False-Positive 123I-Uptake Mimics Metastatic Lung Disease in a Patient With Interstitial Lung Disease Secondary to Scleroderma
Authors: Posocco David , Kamat Bhishak , Dadparvar Simin
Published: July 2021

A 59-year-old woman with a history of papillary thyroid cancer status post total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation therapy presented with lower back pain and leg weakness. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed homogenously enhancing lesions at L1–L2 and L3–L4. Subsequent whole-body 123I-Na scan demonstrated significant 123I retention in the mid to distal esophagus, as well as diffuse uptake in basal segments of the lungs bilaterally. SPECT/CT of the lumbar vertebra was unremarkable. Although 123I-Na uptake often indicates metastatic recurrence, these findings were better explained by nonspecific radioiodine uptake secondary to systemic complications of the patient’s underlying scleroderma.
Development and Validation of the Stroke Symptom Cluster Scale Among Korean Stroke Survivors
Authors: Song Rhayun , Ahn Sukhee , Jang Taejeong , Oh Jiwon , Sohn Min Kyun
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to develop and validate the Stroke Symptom Cluster Scale for Korean Adults (SSCS-K) for stroke survivors.

Design

An exploratory sequential study with a mixed-methods design was performed.

Methods

In the development stage, a qualitative study with in-depth interviews was conducted with 27 stroke patients. The validation stage involved analyzing the psychometric properties from 288 stroke patients.

Findings

The SSCS-K comprising 65 items in six dimensions (mobility, cognition, sensory, mood, communication, and swallowing difficulty) demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .92–.94). Confirmatory factor analyses with a six-factor solution showed that it explained 62% of the variance in stroke symptoms. The concurrent validity was confirmed with the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (r = .38–.83, p < .001).

Conclusion

The SSCS-K has strong psychometric properties as a measure to assess clustered symptoms in stroke survivors during their long-term rehabilitation.

Clinical Relevance

Rehabilitation nurses may consider the SSCS-K as a useful tool for assessing symptoms of stroke survivors.
Gangliosides combined with mild hypothermia provides neuroprotection in a rat model of traumatic brain injury
Authors: Li Zhaolin , Zhang Hongwei , Cao Cangzhu , Qian Tao , Li Hong
Published: July 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major cause of disability and death in modern society. In this study, we explored the neuroprotection role of the combination of gangliosides (GM) and mild hypothermia (MH) and the potential effect on oxidative stress injuries in a rat model of TBI. All 50 rats were randomized to five groups: (1) NC group: undergoing surgery without hit; (2) TBI group: undergoing surgery with hit; (3) GM group: TBI treated with gangliosides; (4) MHT group: TBI treated with MH; (5) GM+MHT group: TBI treated with gangliosides and MH. Spatial learning impairments, neurological function injury, Evans Blue leakage, brain MRI and oxidative stress injuries were assessed. The protein levels of Cleaved-caspase 3 and CytC were also detected. Both GM and MHT could rescue TBI-induced spatial learning impairments, improve neurological function injury and brain edema. In addition, the combination of them has a better therapeutic effect. Through the MRI, we found that compared with the TBI group, the brain tissue edema area of GM group, MHT group, and GM+MHT group was smaller, the occupancy effect was weakened, and the midline was slightly shifted. Compared with the GM group and MHT group, these changes in the GM+MHT group were much smaller. GM combined with MH-alleviated TBI-induced oxidative stress injuries and apoptosis. Our study reveals that GM and MH potentially provide neuroprotection via the suppression of oxidative stress injuries and apoptosis after TBI in rats.
Decreased spasticity of Baishaoluoshi Decoction through the BDNF/TrKB-KCC2 pathway on poststroke spasticity rats
Authors: Xie Le , Xie Yao , Mao Guo , Cao Sijia , Fang Rui , Zhou Shen , Jiang Junlin , Yao Ting , Fan Jianhu , Liu Dong , Wu Dahua , Ge Jinwen
Published: July 2021

Objective

K+–Cl− cotransporter-2 (KCC2), which primarily extrudes chloride in mature neurons, triggers hemiplegia limb spasticity after ischemic stroke by affecting neuronal excitability. Our previous study revealed that the Chinese herb Baishaoluoshi Decoction decreases hemiplegia limb spasticity in poststroke spasticity (PSS) patients. This study aimed at elucidating on the effects of Baishaoluoshi Decoction on the BDNF/TrKB-KCC2 pathway in PSS rat models.

Methods

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was adopted for the establishment of PSS rat models. Muscle tension was evaluated by Modified Ashworth Scale. Nissl staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to measure the protective effects of Baishaoluoshi Decoction on ischemic injury-induced neuronal damage due to MCAO. Expression levels of BDNF, TrKB, and KCC2 in brain tissues around the infarct and brainstem were detected by immunohistochemical staining.

Results

It was found that Baishaoluoshi Decoction suppressed hemiplegia limb spasticity and alleviated the damage in neurons and synapses in PSS rat models. Importantly, the expression of BDNF, TrKB, and KCC2 in brain tissues around the infarct and brainstem were significantly upregulated after treatment with low-dose and high-dose Baishaoluoshi Decoction.

Conclusion

Suppression of spasticity by Baishaoluoshi Decoction in PSS rat models may be correlated with upregulated BDNF/TrKB-KCC2 pathway, which may be a complementary therapeutic strategy for PSS.
Dimension-reduction of dynamics on real-world networks with symmetry
Authors: Ward Jonathan A.
Published: July 2021

We derive explicit formulae to quantify the Markov chain state-space compression, or lumping, that can be achieved in a broad range of dynamical processes on real-world networks, including models of epidemics and voting behaviour, by exploiting redundancies due to symmetries. These formulae are applied in a large-scale study of such symmetry-induced lumping in real-world networks, from which we identify specific networks for which lumping enables exact analysis that could not have been done on the full state-space. For most networks, lumping gives a state-space compression ratio of up to107, but the largest compression ratio identified is nearly1012. Many of the highest compression ratios occur in animal social networks. We also present examples of types of symmetry found in real-world networks that have not been previously reported.
Understanding targeted energy transfer from a symmetry breaking perspective
Authors: Hong Dongxiao , Hill Thomas L. , Neild Simon A.
Published: July 2021

Targeted energy transfer (TET) represents the phenomenon where energy in a primary system is irreversibly transferred to a nonlinear energy sink (NES). This only occurs when the initial energy in the primary system is above a critical level. There is a natural asymmetry in the system due to the desire for the NES to be much smaller than the primary structure it is protecting. This asymmetry is also essential from an energy transfer perspective. To explore how the essential asymmetry is related to TET, this work interprets the realization of TET from a symmetry breaking perspective. This is achieved by introducing a symmetrized model with respect to the generically asymmetric original system. Firstly a classic example, which consists of a linear primary system and a nonlinearizable NES, is studied. The backbone curve topology that is necessary to realize TET is explored and it is demonstrated how this topology evolves from the symmetric case. This example is then extended to a more general case, accounting for nonlinearity in the primary system and linear stiffness in the NES. Exploring the symmetry-breaking effect on the backbone curve topologies, enables the regions in the NES parameter space that lead to TET to be identified.
Wavenumber-space band clipping in nonlinear periodic structures
Authors: Jiao Weijian , Gonella Stefano
Published: July 2021

In weakly nonlinear systems, the main effect of cubic nonlinearity on wave propagation is an amplitude-dependent correction of the dispersion relation. This phenomenon can manifest either as a frequency shift or as a wavenumber shift depending on whether the excitation is prescribed as an initial condition or as a boundary condition, respectively. Several models have been proposed to capture the frequency shifts observed when the system is subjected to harmonic initial excitations. However, these models are not compatible with harmonic boundary excitations, which represent the conditions encountered in most practical applications. To overcome this limitation, we present a multiple scales framework to analytically capture the wavenumber shift experienced by dispersion relation of nonlinear monatomic chains under harmonic boundary excitations. We demonstrate that the wavenumber shifts result in an unusual dispersion correction effect, which we term wavenumber-space band clipping. We then extend the framework to locally resonant periodic structures to explore the implications of this phenomenon on bandgap tunability. We show that the tuning capability is available if the cubic nonlinearity is deployed in the internal springs supporting the resonators.
Secondary instability in thin film flows under an inclined plane: growth of lenses on spatially developing rivulets
Authors: Ledda Pier Giuseppe , Gallaire François
Published: July 2021

The response of a thin film flowing under an inclined plane, modelled using the lubrication equation, is studied. The flow at the inlet is perturbed by the superimposition of a spanwise-periodic steady modulation and a decoupled temporally periodic but spatially homogeneous perturbation. As the consequence of the spanwise inlet forcing, the so-called rivulets grow downstream and eventually reach a streamwise-invariant state, modulated along the direction perpendicular to the flow. The linearized dynamics in the presence of a time-harmonic inlet forcing shows the emergence of a time-periodic flow characterized by drop-like structures (so-called lenses) that travel on the rivulet. The spatial evolution is rationalized by a weakly non-parallel stability analysis. The occurrence of the lenses, their spacing and thickness profile, is controlled by the inclination angle, flow rate, and the frequency and amplitude of the time-harmonic inlet forcing. The faithfulness of the linear analyses is verified by nonlinear simulations. The results of the linear simulations with inlet forcing are combined with the computations of nonlinear travelling lenses solutions in a double-periodic domain to obtain an estimate of the dripping length, for a large range of conditions.
More than words: word predictability, prosody, gesture and mouth movements in natural language comprehension
Authors: Zhang Ye , Frassinelli Diego , Tuomainen Jyrki , Skipper Jeremy I. , Vigliocco Gabriella
Published: July 2021

The ecology of human language is face-to-face interaction, comprising cues such as prosody, co-speech gestures and mouth movements. Yet, the multimodal context is usually stripped away in experiments as dominant paradigms focus on linguistic processing only. In two studies we presented video-clips of an actress producing naturalistic passages to participants while recording their electroencephalogram. We quantified multimodal cues (prosody, gestures, mouth movements) and measured their effect on a well-established electroencephalographic marker of processing load in comprehension (N400). We found that brain responses to words were affected by informativeness of co-occurring multimodal cues, indicating that comprehension relies on linguistic and non-linguistic cues. Moreover, they were affected by interactions between the multimodal cues, indicating that the impact of each cue dynamically changes based on the informativeness of other cues. Thus, results show that multimodal cues are integral to comprehension, hence, our theories must move beyond the limited focus on speech and linguistic processing.
Dogs follow human misleading suggestions more often when the informant has a false belief
Authors: Lonardo Lucrezia , Völter Christoph J. , Lamm Claus , Huber Ludwig
Published: July 2021

We investigated whether dogs (Canis familiaris) distinguish between human true (TB) and false beliefs (FB). In three experiments with a pre-registered change of location task, dogs (n= 260) could retrieve food from one of two opaque buckets after witnessing a misleading suggestion by a human informant (the ‘communicator’) who held either a TB or a FB about the location of food. Dogs in both the TB and FB group witnessed the initial hiding of food, its subsequent displacement by a second experimenter, and finally, the misleading suggestion to the empty bucket by the communicator. On average, dogs chose the suggested container significantly more often in the FB group than in the TB group and hence were sensitive to the experimental manipulation. Terriers were the only group of breeds that behaved like human infants and apes tested in previous studies with a similar paradigm, by following the communicator's suggestion more often in the TB than in the FB group. We discuss the results in terms of processing of goals and beliefs. Overall, we provide evidence that pet dogs distinguish between TB and FB scenarios, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying sensitivity to others' beliefs have not evolved uniquely in the primate lineage.
Fast environmental change and eco-evolutionary feedbacks can drive regime shifts in ecosystems before tipping points are crossed
Authors: Chaparro-Pedraza P. Catalina
Published: July 2021

Anthropogenic environmental changes are altering ecological and evolutionary processes of ecosystems. The possibility that ecosystems can respond abruptly to gradual environmental change when critical thresholds are crossed (i.e. tipping points) and shift to an alternative stable state is a growing concern. Here I show that fast environmental change can trigger regime shifts before environmental stress exceeds a tipping point in evolving ecological systems. The difference in the time scales of coupled ecological and evolutionary processes makes ecosystems sensitive not only to the magnitude of environmental changes, but also to the rate at which changes are imposed. Fast evolutionary change mediated by high trait variation can reduce the sensitivity of ecosystems to the rate of environmental change and prevent the occurrence of rate-induced regime shifts. This suggests that management measures to prevent rate-induced regime shifts should focus on mitigating the effects of environmental change and protecting phenotypic diversity in ecosystems.
Transgenerational non-genetic inheritance has fitness costs and benefits under recurring stress in the clonal duckweed
Spirodela polyrhiza
Authors: Huber Meret , Gablenz Saskia , Höfer Martin
Published: July 2021

Although non-genetic inheritance is thought to play an important role in plant ecology and evolution, evidence for adaptive transgenerational plasticity is scarce. Here, we investigated the consequences of copper excess on offspring defences and fitness under recurring stress in the duckweed
Spirodela polyrhiza
across multiple asexual generations
.
Growing large monoclonal populations (greater than 10 000 individuals) for 30 generations under copper excess had negative fitness effects after short and no fitness effect after prolonged growth under recurring stress. These time-dependent growth rates were likely influenced by environment-induced transgenerational responses, as propagating plants as single descendants for 2 to 10 generations under copper excess had positive, negative or neutral effects on offspring fitness depending on the interval between initial and recurring stress (5 to 15 generations). Fitness benefits under recurring stress were independent of flavonoid accumulations, which in turn were associated with altered plant copper concentrations. Copper excess modified offspring fitness under recurring stress in a genotype-specific manner, and increasing the interval between initial and recurring stress reversed these genotype-specific fitness effects. Taken together, these data demonstrate time- and genotype-dependent adaptive and non-adaptive transgenerational responses under recurring stress, which suggests that non-genetic inheritance alters the evolutionary trajectory of clonal plant lineages in fluctuating environments.
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure treatment on quality
characteristics of squid ‘Sikhae’ prepared with barley flour
during storage
Authors: Yang Jae Hun , Lee Na-Young
Published: July 2021

The changes in the quality of squid ‘Sikhae’ prepared with barley
flour by high hydrostatic pressure processing (HHP) were investigated. The pH
and amino nitrogen content (Amino-N) of the squid ‘Sikhae’
prepared with barley were 6.77 and 0.18%, respectively, and those on the 15 day
of storage were 4.79 and 0.31%, respectively. The volatile basic nitrogen (VBN)
content of the squid ‘Sikhae’ prepared with barley flour was 60.18
mg% in the untreated sample and 20.53 mg% in the HHP-processed sample on the 10
day of storage. The L* value of the ‘Sikhae’ prepared with
barley flour was found to be higher than that with millet. The total number of
bacteria in the squid ‘Sikhae’ prepared with barley flour was 8.26
CFU/g in the untreated sample and 5.90 CFU/g in the HHP-processed sample on the
5 day of storage. The change in the number of lactic acid bacteria according to
the storage period showed the highest value of 9.36 log CFU/g on the 15 day of
storage in the HHP-processed sample of the squid ‘Sikhae’ prepared
with barley. Therefore, HHP processing of the low-salt fermented squid
‘Sikhae’ prepared with barley positively affected quality with
increasing storage period.
Growth changes and antioxidant activities of Romaine lettuce with plasma discharge water and bioblock treatment
Authors: Jeon Seo-Young , Sung Jung-Min , Baek Seung-Hoon , Kwon Ki-Hyun
Published: July 2021

This study intended to analyze growth changes and antioxidant activities of Romaine lettuce by different treatments of microbubble plasma discharge water and bioblock (far-infrared radiation). Hydroponics were performed in smart farm environments, and the used Romaine lettuce was the Caesar's Green variety. The treatment conditions of Romaine lettuce (TRL) are as follows: TRL-1 was treated with plasma discharge water and 30 bioblocks, and TRL-2 was treated with plasma discharge water and 40 bioblocks. On the other hand, TRL-3 was not treated. Romaine lettuce was grown for a total of 49 days and the growth changes were measured at every seven days. In growth changes, TRL-2 was significantly higher (p<0.05) than other treatments in germination rate and weight, leaf length, and leaf count. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were analyzed as similar levels between the samples, but TRL-2 showed higher antioxidant activities in ABTS radical scavenging (%) compared to the other samples. As a result of this study, TRL-2 conditions are evaluated to affect the growth and antioxidant functions of Romaine lettuce.
Phytochemical components and physiological activities of purple
wheat bran ‘Arriheuk’ extracts
Authors: Jin Hee-Yeon , Jeon Sung-Hee , Kim Kyeong-Hoon , Kang Chon-Sik , Choi Han-Seok , Youn Young
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to identify the phytochemical compounds in purple wheat bran
‘Arriheuk’ extract, with water, 50% ethanol and 70% ethanol and
determine its physiological activities. Six types of flavonoids were identified
in ‘Arriheuk’ extract using a HPLC analysis. The highest total
polyphenol content was observed in the 70% ethanol extract, while the highest
total flavonoid content was obtained both from the water and the 70% ethanol
extracts of ‘Arriheuk’. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical
scavenging activity was significantly high in the 48-h water extract and the
12-h 70% ethanol extract, while the
2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radical
scavenging activity was not significantly different between the two extracts.
Cell viability, determined by the
3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, was
high for cells treated with 70% ethanol extract. The apoptosis protective
effect, confirmed by Hoechst staining, showed that the morphological features
were significantly reduced in cells treated with the 70% ethanol extract.
Oil-Red-O staining was used to confirm the protective effect of
‘Arriheuk’ extracts on the intracellular lipid accumulation in
cells, and the results showed the best inhibitory effect was observed at the 70%
ethanol extract. However, the effect decreased in a concentration dependent
manner. These results may improve the usage of ‘Arriheuk’ as a
food material in the future.
Forecasting admissions in psychiatric hospitals before and during Covid-19
Authors: Wolff Jan , Klimke Ansgar , Marschollek Michael , Kacprowski Tim
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has strong effects on most health care systems and individual services providers. Forecasting of admissions can help for the efficient organisation of hospital care. We aimed to forecast the number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and we compared the performance of machine learning models and time series models. This would eventually allow to support timely resource allocation for optimal treatment of patients.

Methods

We used admission data from 9 psychiatric hospitals in Germany between 2017 and 2020. We compared machine learning models with time series models in weekly, monthly and yearly forecasting before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our models were trained and validated with data from the first two years and tested in prospectively sliding time-windows in the last two years.

Results

A total of 90,686 admissions were analysed. The models explained up to 90% of variance in hospital admissions in 2019 and 75% in 2020 with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The best models substantially outperformed a one-step seasonal naïve forecast (seasonal mean absolute scaled error (sMASE) 2019: 0.59, 2020: 0.76). The best model in 2019 was a machine learning model (elastic net, mean absolute error (MAE): 7.25). The best model in 2020 was a time series model (exponential smoothing state space model with Box-Cox transformation, ARMA errors and trend and seasonal components, MAE: 10.44), which adjusted more quickly to the shock effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Models forecasting admissions one week in advance did not perform better than monthly and yearly models in 2019 but they did in 2020. The most important features for the machine learning models were calendrical variables.

Conclusion

Model performance did not vary much between different modelling approaches before the COVID-19 pandemic and established forecasts were substantially better than one-step seasonal naïve forecasts. However, weekly time series models adjusted quicker to the COVID-19 related shock effects. In practice, different forecast horizons could be used simultaneously to allow both early planning and quick adjustments to external effects.
Reduced asymmetry of the hand knob area and decreased sensorimotor u-fiber connectivity in middle-aged adults with autism
Authors: Hau Janice , Baker Ashley , Chaaban Chantal , Kohli Jiwandeep S. , Keehn R. Joanne Jao , Linke Annika C. , Mash Lisa E. , Wilkinson Molly , Kinnear Mikaela K. , Müller Ralph-Axel , Carper Ruth A.
Published: July 2021

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently present with impairments in motor skills (e.g., limb coordination, handwriting and balance), which are observed across the lifespan but remain largely untreated. Many adults with ASD may thus experience adverse motor outcomes in aging, when physical decline naturally occurs. The ‘hand knob’ of the sensorimotor cortex is an area that is critical for motor control of the fingers and hands. However, this region has received little attention in ASD research, especially in adults after midlife. The hand knob area of the precentral (PrChand) and postcentral (PoChand) gyri was semi-manually delineated in 49 right-handed adults (25 ASD, 24 typical comparison [TC] participants, aged 41-70 years). Using multimodal (T1-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and resting-state functional) MRI, we examined the morphology, ipsilateral connectivity and laterality of these regions. Correlations between hand knob measures with motor skills and autism symptoms, and between structural and functional connectivity measures were also investigated. The right PrChand volume was greater, and typical leftward laterality of PrChand and PoChand volume was lower in the ASD than the TC group. Furthermore, we observed increased mean diffusivity of the right PoC-PrChand u-fibers in the ASD group. In the ASD group, right PoC-PrChand u-fiber volume was negatively associated with current autism severity, and positively associated with right PoC-PrChand functional connectivity (FC). Correlations of hand knob measures were observed with manual dexterity and coordination skills but did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Our findings suggest decreased morphological laterality and u-fiber connectivity of the sensorimotor network involved in hand function in middle-aged adults with ASD. The altered morphology may relate to atypical functional asymmetries found in ASD earlier in life, but additionally, could reflect an overreliance on right hemisphere motor circuits over time. The right PoC-PrChand u-fibers may underlie compensatory self-regulation of unwanted core motor behaviors seen in ASD.
Multi-Omic Analyses Characterize the Ceramide/Sphingomyelin Pathway as a Therapeutic Target in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Baloni Priyanka , Arnold Matthias , Moreno Herman , Nho Kwangsik , Buitrago Luna , Huynh Kevin , Brauner Barbara , Louie Gregory , Kueider-Paisley Alexandra , Suhre Karsten , Saykin Andrew J. , Ekroos Kim , Meikle Peter J. , Hood Leroy , Price Nathan D. ,   The Alzheimer’s disease Metabolomics Consortium, Doraiswamy P. Murali , Funk Cory C. , Kastenmüller Gabi , Baillie Rebecca , Han Xianlin , Kaddurah-Daouk Rima
Published: July 2021

Dysregulation of sphingomyelin (SM) and ceramide metabolism have been implicated in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Genome-wide and transcriptome wide association studies have identified various genes and genetic variants in lipid metabolism that are associated with AD. However, the molecular mechanisms of sphingomyelin and ceramide disruption remain to be determined. Evaluation of peripheral lipidomic profiles is useful in providing perspective on metabolic dysregulation in preclinical and clinical AD states. In this study, we focused on the sphingolipid pathway and carried out multi-omic analyses to identify central and peripheral metabolic changes in AD patients and correlate them to imaging features and cognitive performance in amyloidogenic mouse models. Our multi-omic approach was based on (a) 2114 human post-mortem brain transcriptomics to identify differentially expressed genes; (b) in silico metabolic flux analysis on 1708 context-specific metabolic networks to identify differential reaction fluxes; (c) multimodal neuroimaging analysis on 1576 participants to associate genetic variants in SM pathway with AD pathogenesis; (d) plasma metabolomic and lipidomic analysis to identify associations of lipid species with dysregulation in AD; (e) metabolite genome-wide association studies (mGWAS) to define receptors within pathway as potential drug target. Our findings from complementary approaches suggested that depletion of S1P compensated for AD cellular pathology, likely by upregulating the SM pathway, suggesting that modulation of S1P signaling may have protective effects in AD. We tested this hypothesis in APP/PS1 mice and showed that prolonged exposure to fingolimod, an S1P signaling modulator approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis, alleviated the cognitive impairment in mice. Our multi-omic approach identified potential targets in the SM pathway and suggested modulators of S1P metabolism as possible candidates for AD treatment.
The Tabula Sapiens: a multiple organ single cell transcriptomic atlas of humans
Authors:   The Tabula Sapiens Consortium, Quake Stephen R
Published: July 2021

Molecular characterization of cell types using single cell transcriptome sequencing is revolutionizing cell biology and enabling new insights into the physiology of human organs. We created a human reference atlas comprising nearly 500,000 cells from 24 different tissues and organs, many from the same donor. This atlas enabled molecular characterization of more than 400 cell types, their distribution across tissues and tissue specific variation in gene expression. Using multiple tissues from a single donor enabled identification of the clonal distribution of T cells between tissues, the tissue specific mutation rate in B cells, and analysis of the cell cycle state and proliferative potential of shared cell types across tissues. Cell type specific RNA splicing was discovered and analyzed across tissues within an individual.
An improved auxin-inducible degron system for fission yeast
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Ran , Zhao Lei , Suo Fang , Gao Yadong , Wu Qingcui , Qi Xiangbing , Du Li-Lin
Published: July 2021

Conditional degron technologies, which allow a protein of interest to be degraded in an inducible manner, are important tools for biological research, and are especially useful for creating conditional loss-of-function mutants of essential genes. The auxin-inducible degron (AID) technology, which utilizes plant auxin signaling components to control protein degradation in non-plant species, is a widely used small-molecular-controlled degradation method in yeasts and animals. However, the currently available AID systems still have room for further optimization. Here, we have improved the AID system for the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe by optimizing all three components: the AID degron, the small-molecule inducer, and the inducer-responsive F-box protein. We chose a 36-amino-acid sequence of the Arabidopsis IAA17 protein as the degron and employed three tandem copies of it to enhance efficiency. To minimize undesirable side effects of the inducer, we adopted a bulky analog of auxin, 5-adamantyl-IAA, and paired it with the F-box protein OsTIR1 that harbors a mutation (F74A) at the auxin-binding pocket. 5-adamantyl-IAA, when utilized with OsTIR1-F74A, is effective at concentrations thousands of times lower than auxin used in combination with wild-type OsTIR1. We tested our improved AID system on 10 essential genes and achieved inducible lethality for all of them, including ones that could not be effectively inactivated using a previously published AID system. Our improved AID system should facilitate the construction of conditional loss-of-function mutants in fission yeast.
Regulation of a bacterial histidine kinase by a phase separating scaffolding protein
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhao Wei , Duvall Samuel W. , Kowallis Kimberly A. , Childers W. Seth
Published: July 2021

Scaffolding proteins customize the response of signaling networks to support cell development and behaviors. We investigated how the bacterial scaffolding protein PodJ regulates the histidine kinase PleC involved in the asymmetric cell division of Caulobacter crescentus. We reconstituted the PleC-PodJ signaling complex through both heterologous expression in E. coli and in vitro studies. In vitro PodJ phase separates as a biomolecular condensate that recruits and inhibits PleC kinase activity. By constructing an in vivo PleC-CcaS chimeric histidine kinase reporter assay, we have demonstrated how PodJ leverages its intrinsically disordered region (IDR) to bind and regulate PleC-CcaS signaling. Moreover, we observed that full-length PodJL regulates PleC-CcaS signaling, while a truncated PodJs could not regulate signaling activity. These results support a model where PodJ biomolecular condensate formation regulates the localization and activity of the cell fate determining kinase PleC.
Exercise-induced changes in climbing performance
Authors: Riddle Nicole C , Watanabe Louis P
Published: July 2021

Exercise is recommended to promote health and prevent a range of diseases. However, how exercise precipitates these benefits is unclear, nor do we understand why exercise responses differ so widely between individuals. We investigate how climbing ability in Drosophila melanogaster changes in response to an exercise treatment. We find extensive variation in baseline climbing ability, and exercise-induced changes ranging from -13% to +20% in climbing ability. Climbing ability, and its exercise-induced change, are sex- and genotype-dependent. GWASs implicate "cell-cell signaling" genes in the control of climbing ability. We also find that animal activity does not predict climbing ability and that the exercise-induced climbing ability change cannot be predicted from the activity level induced by the exercise treatment. These results provide promising new avenues for further research into the molecular pathways controlling climbing activity and illustrate the complexities involved in trying to predict individual responses to exercise.