bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CO-EXPRESSED WITH PSI ASSEMBLY1 (CEPA1) is a photosystem I assembly factor in Arabidopsis
Authors: Rolo David , Sandoval-Ibáñez Omar , Thiele Wolfram , Schöttler Mark A , Gerlach Ines , Zoschke Reimo , Schwartzmann Joram , Meyer Etienne H , Bock Ralph
Published: February 2024

Photosystem I (PSI) forms a large macromolecular complex of ∼580 kDa that resides in the thylakoid membrane and mediates photosynthetic electron transfer. PSI is composed of 18 protein subunits and nearly 200 co-factors. The assembly of the complex in thylakoid membranes requires high spatial and temporal coordination, and is critically dependent on a sophisticated assembly machinery. Here, we report and characterize CO-EXPRESSED WITH PSI ASSEMBLY1 (CEPA1), a PSI assembly factor in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The CEPA1 gene was identified bioinformatically as being co-expressed with known PSI assembly factors. Disruption of the CEPA1 gene leads to a pale phenotype and retarded plant development but does not entirely abolish photoautotrophy. Biophysical and biochemical analyses revealed that the phenotype is caused by a specific defect in PSI accumulation. We further show that CEPA1 acts at the post-translational level and co-localizes with PSI in nonappressed thylakoid membranes. In native gels, CEPA1 co-migrates with thylakoid protein complexes, including putative PSI assembly intermediates. Finally, protein–protein interaction assays suggest cooperation of CEPA1 with the PSI assembly factor PHOTOSYSTEM I ASSEMBLY3 (PSA3). Together, our data support an important but nonessential role of CEPA1 in PSI assembly.
Synthetically derived BiAux modulates auxin co-receptor activity to stimulate lateral root formation
Authors: González-García Mary Paz , Sáez Angela , Lanza Mónica , Hoyos Pilar , Bustillo-Avendaño Estefano , Pacios Luis F , Gradillas Ana , Moreno-Risueno Miguel A , Hernaiz María José , del Pozo Juan C
Published: February 2024

The root system plays an essential role in plant growth and adaptation to the surrounding environment. The root clock periodically specifies lateral root prebranch sites (PBS), where a group of pericycle founder cells (FC) is primed to become lateral root founder cells and eventually give rise to lateral root primordia or lateral roots (LRs). This clock-driven organ formation process is tightly controlled by modulation of auxin content and signaling. Auxin perception entails the physical interaction of TRANSPORT INHIBITOR RESPONSE 1 (TIR1) or AUXIN SIGNALING F-BOX (AFBs) proteins with AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) repressors to form a co-receptor system. Despite the apparent simplicity, the understanding of how specific auxin co-receptors are assembled remains unclear. We identified the compound bis-methyl auxin conjugated with N-glucoside, or BiAux, in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that specifically induces the formation of PBS and the emergence of LR, with a slight effect on root elongation. Docking analyses indicated that BiAux binds to F-box proteins, and we showed that BiAux function depends on TIR1 and AFB2 F-box proteins and AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 7 activity, which is involved in FC specification and LR formation. Finally, using a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) heterologous expression system, we showed that BiAux favors the assemblage of specific co-receptors subunits involved in LR formation and enhances AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID 28 protein degradation. These results indicate that BiAux acts as an allosteric modulator of specific auxin co-receptors. Therefore, BiAux exerts a fine-tune regulation of auxin signaling aimed to the specific formation of LR among the many development processes regulated by auxin.
Meaningful interventions: Applying a citizen-centric approach to problem-solving in community policing
Authors: van Steden Ronald , den Hartog Jordi
Published: February 2024

Citizens generally express confidence in the police organization, but satisfaction with police services can diminish after voluntary contact with an officer. It appears that officers sometimes struggle to understand what citizens expect and need from them. Victims of crime may not necessarily wish to punish an offender; they may just want to be heard and have their problem resolved. In response, the Dutch police have introduced a pilot to provide ‘meaningful interventions’, such as conflict mediation, as a way to bridge institutional and citizen perspectives successfully. This article presents a qualitative evaluation of the pilot by applying the EMMIE framework, which stands for Effect, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation, and Economics, to the available data. In conclusion, meaningful interventions show promise in better aligning police service delivery with the needs and expectations of citizens. Future research is necessary to gain a fuller evidence-based analysis of how meaningful interventions work.
Do scientific research funds support emerging topic research in Chinese humanities and social sciences?
Authors: Xiang Jianqin
Published: February 2024

Although the research funding policy has promoted the output and effect of research, whether it can identify innovative research topics and promote discipline development is worth investigating in depth. Taking Chinese humanities and social sciences (HSS) as an example, this study uses the latent Dirichlet allocation topic model to identify the topics of the HSS projects and papers funded by China’s national research funds. The analysis reveals the effect of research funding policy on research topics in both topic selection and funding intensity: (1) the types of projects with strict restrictions on topics significantly guide the direction of research topics; (2) projects with less funding are more likely to result in emerging topic research; and (3) compared with social sciences and key universities, the funded projects of humanities and other institutions are more likely to focus on emerging topics.
Multigenerational Drought Reveals a Stable Wheat Seed Fungal Community
Authors: Becker Lindsey E. , Cubeta Marc A.
Published: February 2024

Wheat ( Triticum spp.) is a staple food crop, providing a fifth of the world's protein and caloric needs. Our research examines the impact of multigeneration postflowering drought stress on the wheat seed endophytic fungal community. Understanding how wheat seed fungal communities respond to drought stress over several generations can improve our knowledge of legacy drought stress. In this article, we aim to identify seed-associated fungi that play critical roles within the wheat seed under drought stress conditions. We examined the endophytic seed fungal communities of three winter wheat cultivars, Catawba, Shirley, and USG 3640. Moderate drought was imposed on a subset of plants immediately after flowering, with plants relieved from drought stress after 1 week. Seeds harvested from generation 1 were planted for a second generation of drought experiments. When examining the postflowering drought impact on wheat physiology, drought-exposed plants consistently exhibited lower daily transpiration rates, chlorophyll-a values, and seed yield compared with control plants, indicating that drought implementation was successful. Internal transcribed spacer 1 metabarcoding revealed that wheat seed fungal community species richness decreased during postanthesis drought stress across both generations. We also observed that generation accounted for variation in fungal species richness and community structure, independent of drought treatment. The most abundant taxa recovered across all cultivars, treatments, and generations included Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Epicoccum. These results support our hypothesis that postanthesis drought shapes the wheat seed fungal community.
Hearing Loss and Dementia: Where to From Here?
Authors: Dawes Piers , Munro Kevin J.
Published: February 2024

Victorian era psychologists were the first to comment on associations between sensory and cognitive function. More recently, hearing loss has been shown as a marker of risk for dementia. However, it is not known whether this association represents a causal impact of hearing loss, nor whether treating hearing loss may help prevent dementia. Most studies on relationships between hearing loss and cognitive outcomes are observational, are at risk of confounding, and cannot reach conclusions about causation. A recent high quality randomized controlled trial, relatively uncommon in audiology, reported no impact of a comprehensive hearing intervention in mitigating cognitive decline in older adults. Although secondary analysis revealed potential benefits in a sub-sample of adults, this finding may be spurious. Encouraging policymakers, patients, and other health care practitioners to address hearing loss in terms of dementia prevention may be inappropriate on the grounds of both relevance at individual level and lack of clear evidence of benefit. In addition, advocating need to address hearing loss in terms of mitigating dementia risk may reduce the importance of addressing hearing loss in its own right. Linking hearing loss to dementia risk may also exacerbate the stigma of hearing loss, inadvertently discouraging people from seeking help for hearing. We suggest that treating hearing loss may have important benefits in preventing or delaying diagnosis of dementia via improving orientation and functioning in daily life, without changing the underlying pathology. Rather than linking hearing loss to dementia risk, we suggest a positive message focusing on the known benefits of addressing hearing loss in terms of improved communication, quality of life, and healthy aging.
Recovery Curves for Lisfranc ORIF Using PROMIS Physical Function and Pain Interference
Authors: Dong Willie , Sroka Oliver , Campbell Megan , Thorne Tyler , Siebert Matthew , Rothberg David , Higgins Thomas , Haller Justin , Marchand Lucas
Published: February 2024

Objective:

To determine the postoperative trajectory and recovery of patients who undergo Lisfranc ORIF using PROMIS physical function (PF) and pain interference (PI).

Methods:

Design:

Retrospective cohort study

Setting:

Level 1 trauma center

Patient Selection Criteria:

Patients who underwent Lisfranc ORIF between January 2002 and December 2022 with documented PROMIS PF and/or PI scores after surgery.

Outcome Measures and Comparisons:

PROMIS PF and PI were mapped over time up to 1 year after surgery. A sub-analysis was performed to compare recovery trajectories between high and low energy injuries.

Results:

A total of 182 patients were included with average age of 38.7 (SD 15.9) years (59 high energy and 122 low energy injuries). PROMIS PF scores at 0-weeks, 6-weeks, 12-weeks, 24-weeks, and 48-weeks were 30.2, 31.4, 39.2, 43.9, and 46.7, respectively. There was significant improvement in PROMIS PF between 6-12 weeks (p<0.001), 12-24 weeks (p<0.001), and 24-48 weeks (p=0.022). A significant difference in PROMIS PF between high and low energy injuries was seen at 0-weeks (28.4 vs.31.4, p=0.010). PROMIS PI scores, at 0-weeks, 6-weeks, 12-weeks, 24-weeks, and 48-weeks were 62.2, 58.5, 56.6, 55.7, and 55.6, respectively. There was significant improvement in PROMIS PI 0-6 weeks (p=0.016). A significant difference in PROMIS PI between high and low energy injuries was seen at 48-weeks with scores of (58.6 vs. 54.2, p=0.044).

Conclusions:

After Lisfranc ORIF, patients can expect improvement in physical function up to one year after surgery, with the biggest improvement in PROMIS physical function scores between 6-12 weeks and PROMIS pain interference scores between 0-6 weeks after surgery. Regardless energy type, Lisfranc injuries seem to regain comparable physical function by 6-12 months after surgery. However, patients with higher energy Lisfranc injuries should be counseled that these injuries may lead to worse pain interference at one year after surgery as compared to lower energy injuries.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Randomized Controlled Trial to Compare Stapled Hemorroidopexy Plus Ligation Anopexy With Stapled Hemorroidepexy for Managing Grade III and IV Hemorroidal Disease
Authors: Elshazly Walid Galal , Abo Elros Mohmed Abdelhalim , Ali Amr Samir , Radwan Ahmed Mohamed
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

Despite the benefits of the Stapled hemorrhoidopexy in the short term, management of prolapsing hemorrhoids, the long-term results are still insufficient, regarding recurrent prolapse and patient satisfaction so in our current study we add ligation anopexy to stapled hemorroidopexy.

OBJECTIVE:

Valuation of adding ligation anopexy to stapled hemorroidopexy in improving short and long-term results in the treatment of grade III-IV hemorrhoids.

DATA SOURCES:

Between January 2018 and January 2020 we recruited 124 patients with grade III-IV hemorrhoids, at Alexandria main university hospital.

STUDY SELECTION:

Randomized controlled trial.

INTERVENTION(S):

One hundred twenty-four patients were blindly randomized into two equal groups, stapled hemorrhoidopexy (group I) and stapled hemorrhoidopexy plus ligation anopexy (group II).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Recurrence of hemorrhoids and patient satisfaction after a follow-up period of at least two years.

RESULTS:

The average operating time was noticeably less in stapled hemorroidopexy group. Meanwhile, postoperative pain, analgesia requirement, hemorrhoids symptoms score, return to work, complications rate, and quality of life 1 month after surgery were similar. Following a mean follow-up of 36 months (interval, 24-47), group I, 10 patients (16%) complained of recurrent external swelling and/or prolapse compared to 3 patients (5%) in group II (p = 0.0368) requiring redo surgery. No redo-surgery was required in group II, furthermore, long-term patient satisfaction was significantly better in group II.

LIMITATIONS:

Longer follow-up needed and single-center experience.

CONCLUSIONS:

Stapled hemorroidopexy compared to stapled hemorroidopexy plus ligation anopexy were similar at short-term results as regard complications rate, hemorrhoids symptoms score, return to work, and quality of life. Long-term results were significantly better as regard recurrence of external swelling and/or prolapse and patient satisfaction after stapled hemorroidopexy plus ligation anopexy. See Video Abstract.

Trial registration number:

Pan African Clinical Trials Registry identifier PACTR20180100293130.
Nonpenetrating Foldable Intrastromal Keratoprosthesis: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Kilian Raphael , Lammer Jan , Roberts Philipp , Rizzo Clara , Pedrotti Emilio , Marchini Giorgio , Schmidinger Gerald
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

To review the literature focusing on the clinical outcomes of KeraKlear (KK) (KeraMed), a foldable intrastromal keratoprosthesis.

Methods:

We searched 6 databases using 4 keywords: KeraKlear, Foldable Keratoprosthesis, Intrastromal Keratoprosthesis, and Non-penetrating Keratoprosthesis. Included studies had to be conducted in vivo on humans, published until January 3, 2023, and had to investigate the implantation of the KK. Eyes were considered at high risk of keratoprosthesis retention failure whenever there was an active inflammatory ocular surface disorder or in case of previous KK failure. We aimed at recording the postoperative complications, rate of prosthesis retention, and mean improvements in visual acuity.

Results:

We identified 144 publications, 6 of which (38 eyes) met the inclusion criteria. No randomized controlled trials were found, and some studies had significant limitations regarding sample size and follow-up duration. With a mean follow-up of 28 ± 18.8 months, postoperative complications of any kind occurred between 0% and 50% and 24% had an implant extrusion/needed a reoperation. The mean postoperative visual acuity improvement on the last follow-up was −0.83 ± 0.27 LogMAR, that is, −0.57 ± 0.3 for high-risk and −1.03 ± 0.25 for low-risk eyes, whereas 1 year after implantation, 50% of the prostheses were retained in the former and 81% in the latter group. None of the eyes developed glaucoma, endophthalmitis, or expulsive hemorrhages; none had to be eviscerated/enucleated.

Conclusions:

Despite the limited quality and quantity of evidence, the available literature seems to suggest the KK to be a valuable tool in the treatment of complicated corneal disorders. Because in many parts of the world, the access to corneal transplantation is limited, this prosthesis could represent a valid alternative.
Bilaterally subluxed diffractive intraocular lenses: big expectations and even bigger comorbidities
Authors: Fram Nicole R. , Assia Ehud , Venkateswaran Nandini , Micheletti John Morgan , Shafer Brian , Ahmed Iqbal Ike K. , Schallhorn Julie M. , Stewart Jay M.
Published: February 2024

A 78-year-old woman with an ocular history of cataract surgery with a diffractive intraocular lens (IOL) in each eye has developed fluctuating vision, greater in the right eye than the left eye, after 4 years. She has a history of inactive central serous retinopathy and a vision potential of 20/25 + 2 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye. She has well-controlled diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. She has enjoyed her spectacle independence for some time and wishes to have her vision restored.

On examination, her uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/50 in the right eye and 20/25 in the left eye and her uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) was J3 in the right eye and J1 in the left eye. Intraocular pressures (IOPs) measured 22 mm Hg in the right eye and 18 mm Hg in the left eye. Pupils had limited reactivity with irregularity in the right eye but no obvious relative afferent pupillary defect. Motility and confrontation visual fields were unremarkable in both eyes. Retinal acuity meter was 20/20 in both eyes, and manifest refraction was plano −1.25 × 105 20/40, J3 in the right eye and +0.50 × 20/25, J1 in the left eye.

Pertinent findings on slitlamp examination included temporal iris atrophy and transillumination defects greater in the right eye than the left eye, peripupillary pseudoexfoliative changes in both eyes, significant inferior subluxation of a diffractive 3-piece posterior chamber IOL in the capsular bag with lens-pitting peripherally and few central, moderate pseudophacodonesis, and an open posterior capsule in the right eye. In the left eye, she had mild inferior subluxation of a single-piece acrylic diffractive IOL in the capsular bag with moderate pseudophacodonesis and an open posterior capsule (Figure 1

JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202403000-00019/figure1/v/2024-02-20T193212Z/r/image-tiff

).

All other anterior segment findings were unremarkable. On dilated posterior examination, she had a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.50 in the right eye and 0.65 in the left eye without edema hemorrhage or pallor. There were attenuated vessels in both eyes, posterior vitreous detachment in both eyes, and a few small drusen peripherally in both eyes. There was retinal pigment epithelium irregularity and dropout parafoveal in the right eye and subfoveal in the left eye (Figure 2). There was no evidence of macular edema, subretinal fluid, choroidal thickening, or neovascular membranes. The periphery was unremarkable in both eyes.

JOURNAL/jcrs/04.03/02158034-202403000-00019/figure2/v/2024-02-20T193212Z/r/image-tiff

What testing would you obtain preoperatively to help guide your decision-making? How would you counsel the patient regarding comorbid conditions and expectations?
Dissecting the risk factors for hyperuricemia in vegetarians in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Kai-Chieh , Huang Sin-Yi , Tsai Wen-Hsin , Liu Hao-Wen , Liu Jia-Sin , Wu Chia-Lin , Kuo Ko-Lin
Published: February 2024

Background:

Vegetarian diets have been shown to lower the risks of hyperuricemia and gout. Little is known about the risk factors of hyperuricemia in vegetarians.

Methods:

This community-based retrospective case–control study was conducted to establish prediction models for hyperuricemia. From September 5, 2005, to December 31, 2016, 7331 adult vegetarians were recruited at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration greater than 7 mg/dL.

Results:

There were 593 (8.1%) vegetarians with hyperuricemia and 6738 (91.9%) without hyperuricemia. We stepwise built up three models for predicting hyperuricemia in vegetarians. The full model (model 3) has the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC, 85.52%). Additionally, the AUROC of model 3 is 77.97% and 84.85% in vegetarians with or without prior gout history, respectively. Moreover, male gender, hyperlipidemia, body mass index, and serum albumin are independent risk factors for hyperuricemia in vegetarians. In contrast, estimated glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria are independently associated with lower risks of hyperuricemia in vegetarians.

Conclusion:

Our study revealed that risk factors for hyperuricemia, which includes clinical characteristics, account for more than 85% of discriminatory performance in Taiwanese vegetarians. This model may be helpful for monitoring and preventing hyperuricemia in the population.
Deep learning-based workflow for automatic extraction of atria and epicardial adipose tissue on cardiac computed tomography in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Kuo Ling , Wang Guan-Jie , Su Po-Hsun , Chang Shih-Ling , Lin Yenn-Jiang , Chung Fa-Po , Lo Li-Wei , Hu Yu-Feng , Lin Chin-Yu , Chang Ting-Yung , Chen Shih-Ann , Lu Chia-Feng
Published: February 2024

Background:

Preoperative estimation of the volume of the left atrium (LA) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) on computed tomography (CT) images is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. We aimed to design a deep learning-based workflow to provide reliable automatic segmentation of the atria, pericardium, and EAT for future applications in the management of AF.

Methods:

This study enrolled 157 patients with AF who underwent first-time catheter ablation between January 2015 and December 2017 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Three-dimensional (3D) U-Net models of the LA, right atrium (RA), and pericardium were used to develop a pipeline for total, LA-EAT, and RA-EAT automatic segmentation. We defined fat within the pericardium as tissue with attenuation between −190 and −30 HU and quantified the total EAT. Regions between the dilated endocardial boundaries and endocardial walls of the LA or RA within the pericardium were used to detect voxels attributed to fat, thus estimating LA-EAT and RA-EAT.

Results:

The LA, RA, and pericardium segmentation models achieved Dice coefficients of 0.960 ± 0.010, 0.945 ± 0.013, and 0.967 ± 0.006, respectively. The 3D segmentation models correlated well with the ground truth for the LA, RA, and pericardium (r = 0.99 and p < 0.001 for all). The Dice coefficients of our proposed method for EAT, LA-EAT, and RA-EAT were 0.870 ± 0.027, 0.846 ± 0.057, and 0.841 ± 0.071, respectively.

Conclusion:

Our proposed workflow for automatic LA, RA, and EAT segmentation using 3D U-Nets on CT images is reliable in patients with AF.
Citrin deficiency due to SLC25A13 exon deletion in a Chinese infant: A case report
Authors: Liu Jialing , Lin Shuangzhu , Guan Shihui , Chen Qiandui , Wang Xinyao , He Yufei , Qi Yangfan , Feng Jinhua , Liu Yushu
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Citrin is a calcium-bound aspartate-glutamate carrier protein encoded by the gene SLC25A13, mutations of which can cause citrin deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder. The manifestations of citrin deficiency include neonatal intrahepatic choledeposits caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD: OMIM#605814), intermediate growth disorders and dyslipidemia caused by citrin deficiency, and citrullinemia type II (OMIM#603471) in adults. NICCD is a classical metabolic disorder that causes cholestasis in newborns.

Patient concern and clinical findings:

Here, we present the case of a 2-month-old male patient treated in our hospital on March 20, 2023, due to “postnatal skin xanthochromia and transaminases higher than normal values”. Since birth, the child’s skin had yellowed all over the body, and his condition did not improve after multiple medical treatments.

Diagnosis/Intervention/Outcomes:

The child underwent full exome gene testing at the age of 2 months and 13 days, and the results indicated heterozygous deletion of exon 3 of the SLC25A13 gene, while genetic testing of the parents revealed no gene mutations. The variant was preliminarily judged as being pathogenic according to the ACMG guidelines, and the patient was diagnosed with “citrin deficiency”. Skin yellowing eventually subsided, and liver function returned to normal without special treatment.

Conclusions:

Here, we report a rare case of citrin deficiency caused by a heterozygous deletion of the SLC25A13 gene. This case increases the clinical phenotypic profile of NICCD, suggesting that clinicians must be vigilant regarding such genetic metabolic diseases in the clinic for early diagnosis and treatment. NICCD should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis.
Characteristics of multiple early gastric cancer and gastric high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Chen Yudai , He Liping , Zheng Xiaoling
Published: February 2024

This study evaluated the clinical characteristics of multiple early gastric cancer (MEGC) and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection. The clinical profiles of 23 patients with MEGC treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection from January 2008 to June 2019 at the Fujian Provincial Hospital or Fujian Provincial Hospital South Branch were analyzed. The following information was extracted from clinical records: general data, preoperative conditions, and pathological data of each lesion after surgery. In total, 23 patients with MEGC or HGIN were evaluated (average age 64 ± 6 years, 17 (73.9%) males). MEGC and HGIN accounted for 4.9 percent of all cases, in which 19 (4.1%) were synchronous multiple cancers and 4 (0.8%) cases were metachronous multiple cancers. Lesions of synchronous and metachronous MEGC groups did not differ in age, sex, smoking history, alcohol consumption, family history of tumors, Helicobacter pylori infection, mucosal background atrophy, or intestinal metaplasia (P > .05). The vertical locations of primary and secondary lesions of MEGC were correlated (R = 0.395, P = .034). The primary and secondary lesions of MEGC shared the same macroscopic subtype (R = 0.590, P = .015), infiltration depth (R = 0.455, P = .014), and pathological subtype (R = 0.736, P < .001). MEGC and HGIN were located in close proximity. Pathologic types tended to be low-grade malignancies. The macroscopic type, histology type, and infiltration depth of the 2 lesions were significantly correlated. When detecting early gastric cancer, we should inspect the stomach and carefully consider the pathological characteristics, to improve the diagnosis of MEGC.
Incidence of intraoperative hypotension in older patients undergoing total intravenous anesthesia by remimazolam versus propofol: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jeon Yeong-Gwan , Kim Sujin , Park Ji-Hyoung , Lee Jonghoon , Song Sang A , Lim Hyun Kyo , Song Seung Woo
Published: February 2024

Background:

An increase in the frequency of surgeries among older individuals is observed in some countries. Hypotension is common and exaggerated in older patients and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Total intravenous anesthesia is commonly administered with propofol, while remimazolam has been suggested as an alternative to propofol because of advantages such as a more stable hemodynamic profile and less respiratory suppression. We conducted a single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the incidence of intraoperative hypotension between patients administered with remimazolam and propofol.

Methods:

A total of 132 patients, aged between 65 to 80 years and undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy or transurethral resection of bladder tumors were randomly assigned to the propofol or remimazolam group with a permuted block system while being blinded to the hypnotic agent. Remifentanil was administered via target-controlled infusion in both groups, with an initial effect-site concentration of 3.0 ng/mL and titration range of 1.5 to 4.0 ng/mL intraoperatively. The primary outcome of this study was the overall incidence of hypotension during general anesthesia.

Results:

Patients in the propofol group experienced higher intraoperative hypotension than those in the remimazolam group (59.7% vs 33.3%, P = .006). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that remimazolam administration was associated with reduced hypotension (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.16–0.73). Secondary outcomes such as recovery time, delirium, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were comparable in both groups.

Conclusion:

Total intravenous anesthesia with remimazolam was associated with less intraoperative hypotension than propofol in older patients, with a comparable recovery profile.
Analysis of influencing factors of complications after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: An observational study
Authors: Chen Lexiang , Hu Mingfu , Huang Shanhu
Published: February 2024

To explore the influencing factors of complications after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR). A case retrospective analysis was conducted to collect clinical data of 212 patients with inguinal hernia who underwent LIHR in our hospital from July 2020 to October 2022. The patients were followed up by telephone and subsequent visit, and the enrolled patients were divided into the complication group (n = 36) and the non-complication group (n = 176) according to the presence or absence of complications. Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis, and the data with statistical significance between groups were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis model to investigate the risk factors for complications associated with LIHR. Common complications in patients undergoing LIHR included seroma, hematoma, urinary retention, unexplained chronic pain, etc. Body mass index (BMI), intraoperative blood loss, medical history time, hernia sac management, intraoperative adhesions, abnormal coagulation function, recurrent hernia, and hypertension were the influencing factors for complications after LIHR (χ2 = 6.809, 13.393, 5.371, 5.775, 4.128, 5.331, 4.920, and 6.675, P < .05). Multivariate analysis showed that BMI (odd ratio [OR] = 5.201, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.816–6.965, P < .05), intraoperative blood loss (OR = 2.512, 95% CI = 1.712–3.689, P < .05), intraoperative adhesions (OR = 6.352, 95% CI = 0.162–6.669, P < .05), abnormal coagulation function (OR = 6.352, 95% CI = 0.162–6.669, P < .05), recurrent hernia (OR = 2.208, 95% CI = 1.415–3.446, P < .05), and hypertension (OR = 3.365, 95% CI = 0.009–6.326, P < .05) were independent risk factors for complications after LIHR (P < .05). Common complications of LIHR included seroma, hematoma, urinary retention, etc. BMI, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative adhesions, abnormal coagulation function, recurrent hernia, and hypertension were risk factors for complications after LIHR.
Pausing to swarm: locust intermittent motion is instrumental for swarming-related visual processing
Authors: Aidan Yossef , Bleichman Itay , Ayali Amir
Published: February 2024

Intermittent motion is prevalent in animal locomotion. Of special interest is the case of collective motion, in which social and environmental information must be processed in order to establish coordinated movement. We explored this nexus in locust, focusing on how intermittent motion interacts with swarming-related visual-based decision-making. Using a novel approach, we compared individual locust behaviour in response to continuously moving stimuli, with their response in semi-closed-loop conditions, in which the stimuli moved either in phase with the locust walking, or out of phase, i.e. only during the locust's pauses. Our findings clearly indicate the greater tendency of a locust to respond and ‘join the swarming motion’ when the visual stimuli were presented during its pauses. Hence, the current study strongly confirms previous indications of the dominant role of pauses in the collective motion-related decision-making of locusts. The presented insights contribute to a deeper general understanding of how intermittent motion contributes to group cohesion and coordination in animal swarms.
Words and arbitrary actions in early object categorization: weak evidence for a word advantage
Authors: Bothe Ricarda , Trouillet Léonie , Elsner Birgit , Mani Nivedita
Published: February 2024

Both words and gestures have been shown to influence object categorization, often even overriding perceptual similarities to cue category membership. However, gestures are often meaningful to infants while words are arbitrarily related to an object they refer to, more similar to arbitrary actions that can be performed on objects. In this study, we examine how words and arbitrary actions shape category formation. Across three conditions (word cue, action cue, word–action cue), we presented infants (
N
= 90) with eight videos of single-category objects which vary in colour and other perceptual features. The objects were either accompanied by a word and/or an action that is being performed on the object. Infants in the word and action condition showed a decrease in looking over the course of the familiarization phase indicating habituation to the category, but infants in the word–action condition did not. At test, infants saw a novel object of the just-learned category and a novel object from another category side-by-side on the screen. There was some evidence for an advantage for words in shaping early object categorization, although we note that this was not robust across analyses.
Escape from fraught states in a coordination game
Authors: Tabor Whitney , Smith Garrett , Dankowicz Harry
Published: February 2024

Through a behavioural coordination game played by groups of humans and simulated with agent-based models, we investigated a social network dilemma that we call
fraughtness
. Seven players, connected to one another in various topologies via a computer network, each had to move a slider to the left or right along a horizontal bar on their screen. The goal was for all the players to move their slider to the same side. Players received feedback indicating the degree to which they and their neighbours agreed about the choice of side. When the topology had a hierarchical branching structure, the groups often got stuck in fraughtness: players on one branch favoured one side, while players on the other branch favoured the other; because all were receiving supportive local feedback, nobody wanted to change. Nevertheless, after being stuck in fraughtness for some time, most groups managed to escape it. Fraughtness is arguably an analog of generally negatively viewed social phenomena like polarization and echo chambers. Our analyses suggest that while fraughtness is problematic, it is closely linked to successful structure formation—it thus may be most effective to focus not on how to banish it, but on how to resolve it.
Riemannian geometry and molecular similarity I: spectrum of the Laplacian
Authors: Hall Stuart J. , Pirie Rachael , Cole Daniel J.
Published: February 2024

Ligand-based virtual screening aims to reduce the cost and duration of small molecule drug discovery campaigns. Shape similarity can be used to screen large databases, with the goal of predicting potential new hits by comparing with molecules with known favourable properties. This paper presents the theory underpinning RGMolSA, a new alignment-free and mesh-free surface-based molecular shape descriptor derived from the mathematical theory of Riemannian geometry. The treatment of a molecule as a series of intersecting spheres allows the description of its surface geometry using theRiemannian metric, obtained by considering the spectrum of the Laplacian. This gives a simple vector descriptor constructed of the weighted surface area and eight non-zero eigenvalues, which capture the surface shape. We demonstrate the potential of our method by considering a series of PDE5 inhibitors that are known to have similar shape as an initial test case. RGMolSA displays promise when compared with existing shape descriptors and in its capability to handle different molecular conformers.
Explorations of certain nonlinear waves of the Boussinesq and Camassa–Holm equations using physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Su Jing-Jing , Zhang Sheng , Lan Peng , Chen Xiaofeng
Published: February 2024

The Boussinesq and Camassa–Holm equations are, respectively, used to describe the bidirectional and unidirectional motions of small-amplitude waves on shallow water surfaces, but their wave dynamics remain a challenge for almost all conventional numerical methods. In this paper, we use physics-informed neural networks (PINNs), a mesh-free deep learning method, to accurately predict the soliton (peakon) interaction or rogue wave behaviours of both equations with only a few initial and boundary data, providing a method for solving certain numerically unstable fluid systems or extreme wave solutions of regular fluid systems. It is revealed that by decomposing both of the equations into lower-order coupled systems, one can obtain higher-precision wave behaviours, especially for the Camassa–Holm equation. To retrieve certain unknown hydraulic parameters based on the observed wave data, e.g. the water depth, we use a multiple PINN method and stably identify the dynamic parameters in the Boussinesq equation through the association of localized soliton and rogue wave solutions. Furthermore, we compare the PINNs with conventional high-precision time-splitting Fourier spectral (TSFS) method and find that to achieve the same split feature of the Y-shapedsoliton of the Boussinesq equation, PINNs require only one-third of the initial and boundary data of the TSFS method.
Energetic trade-offs in migration decision-making, reproductive effort and subsequent parental care in a long-distance migratory bird
Authors: Schindler Alexander R. , Fox Anthony D. , Wikle Christopher K. , Ballard Bart M. , Walsh Alyn J. , Kelly Seán B. A. , Cao Lei , Griffin Larry R. , Weegman Mitch D.
Published: February 2024

Migratory species trade-off long-distance movement with survival and reproduction, but the spatio-temporal scales at which these decisions occur are relatively unknown. Technological and statistical advances allow fine-scale study of animal decision-making, improving our understanding of possible causes and therefore conservation management. We quantified effects of reproductive preparation during spring migration on subsequent breeding outcomes, breeding outcomes on autumn migration characteristics and autumn migration characteristics on subsequent parental survival in Greenland white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons flavirostris). These are long-distance migratory birds with an approximately 50% population decline from 1999 to 2022. We deployed GPS-acceleration devices on adult females to quantify up to 5 years of individual decision-making throughout the annual cycle. Weather and habitat-use affected time spent feeding and overall dynamic body acceleration (i.e. energy expenditure) during spring and autumn. Geese that expended less energy and fed longer during spring were more likely to successfully reproduce. Geese with offspring expended more energy and fed for less time during autumn, potentially representing adverse fitness consequences of breeding. These behavioural comparisons among Greenland white-fronted geese improve our understanding of fitness trade-offs underlying abundance. We provide a reproducible framework for full annual cycle modelling using location and behaviour data, applicable to similarly studied migratory animals.
Extended incubation recesses in sanderlings are impacted by temperature and body condition
Authors: Etchart Léa , Lecomte Nicolas , Dechaume-Moncharmont François-Xavier , Moreau Jérôme , Lang Johannes , Pagnon Thomas , Sittler Benoit , Teixeira Maria , Bollache Loïc , Gilg Olivier
Published: February 2024

Complex incubation strategies have evolved to solve the trade-off between parent survival and care for their eggs with often brief departures (recesses) that maximize egg survival, and infrequent extended recesses maximizing adult condition. Here we examined incubation behaviour of sanderlings (
Calidris alba
), a species that exhibits both biparental and uniparental incubation behaviour. During 11 breeding seasons in Greenland, we have quantified incubation variability with thermologgers placed in nests. We estimated the impact of environmental conditions and individual characteristics on the occurrence and the duration of recesses. We found that extended recesses are a unique feature of uniparentals, and their frequency and duration increased in colder temperatures. The relationship was mediated by body condition, with individuals in poor condition performing longer extended recesses in colder temperatures. This suggests that extended recesses may represent a shift towards self-maintenance at the expense of the egg care, allowing birds to continue incubating under unfavourable conditions. Our study illustrates how extended recesses may be a key breeding strategy to overcome high energetic costs associated with incubation. Quantifying such behavioural flexibility paves the way for tracking future behavioural responses of individuals in the face of changing environments.
Five-year species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Malaysia, 2018–2022
Authors: Mohamad Azranyi Mahfuzah , Aziz Zirwatul Adilah , Ishak Dayana , Mohd Nais Nur Farahanis , Elias Zaidatul Akmar , Sulaiman Nurrul Atiqiah Fitri , Hashim Khairul Azan , Ismail Rohani , Nik Mahir Nik Jasmin , Ngeow Yun Fong , Zin Thaw
Published: February 2024

Introduction. Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) is a group of mycobacteria distinct from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. They can cause opportunistic infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals.

Gap Statement. Over the last few years, there has been a growing concern regarding the distribution and antimicrobial resistance of NTM in Malaysia. however, a comprehensive study to fully grasp the NTM situation has yet to be conducted.

Aim. This study aimed to investigate the species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of NTM isolated from clinical samples in Malaysia from 2018 to 2022.

Methodology. A retrospective analysis was conducted on NTM isolates obtained from various clinical specimens over a span of five years. The isolates were identified using phenotypic and molecular techniques, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles for clinically significant isolates were determined using minimum inhibitory concentration.

Results. The study revealed a diverse distribution of NTM species in Malaysia, with Mycobacteroides abscessus complex and Mycobacterium avium complex emerging as the most predominant. Furthermore, the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns showed varying degrees of resistance to commonly used antibiotics, highlighting the significance of treatment tailored to susceptibility testing results.

Conclusion. This study provides valuable perspective into the epidemiology of NTM in Malaysia. The information gained from this study should prove useful for empirically treating serious NTM infections prior to species identification and the availability of antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.
Characterizing the diversity and commensal origins of penA mosaicism in the genus Neisseria
Authors: Unitt Anastasia , Maiden Martin , Harrison Odile
Published: February 2024

Mosaic penA alleles formed through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) have been instrumental to the rising incidence of ceftriaxone-resistant gonococcal infections. Although interspecies HGT of regions of the penA gene between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and commensal Neisseria species has been described, knowledge concerning which species are the most common contributors to mosaic penA alleles is limited, with most studies examining only a small number of alleles. Here, we investigated the origins of recombinant penA alleles through in silico analyses that incorporated 1700 penA alleles from 35 513 Neisseria isolates, comprising 15 different Neisseria species. We identified Neisseria subflava and Neisseria cinerea as the most common source of recombinant sequences in N. gonorrhoeae penA. This contrasted with Neisseria meningitidis penA, for which the primary source of recombinant DNA was other meningococci, followed by Neisseria lactamica. Additionally, we described the distribution of polymorphisms implicated in antimicrobial resistance in penA, and found that these are present across the genus. These results provide insight into resistance-related changes in the penA gene across human-associated Neisseria species, illustrating the importance of genomic surveillance of not only the pathogenic Neisseria, but also of the oral niche-associated commensals from which these pathogens are sourcing key genetic variation.
High-resolution measurement of the electron affinity of cesium
Authors: Navarro Navarrete José E. , Nichols Miranda , Ringvall-Moberg Annie , Welander Jakob , Lu Di , Leimbach David , Kristiansson Moa K. , Eklund Gustav , Raveesh Meena , Chulkov Ruslan , Zhaunerchyk Vitali , Hanstorp Dag
Published: February 2024

Negative ions are unique quantum systems where electron correlation plays a decisive role in determining their properties. The lack of optically allowed transitions prevents traditional optical spectroscopy and the electron affinity is, therefore, for most elements, the only atomic quantity that can be determined with high accuracy. In this work, we present a high-precision experimental determination of the electron affinity of cesium. A collinear laser-ion beam apparatus was used to investigate the partial photodetachment cross section for the cesium anion, leaving the neutral atom in the 6p 2P3/2 excited state. A resonance ionization scheme was used to obtain final-state selectivity, which enabled the investigation of a sharp onset of the cross section associated with a Wigner s-wave threshold behavior. The electron affinity was determined to be 0.4715983(38)eV.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Spectral functions of the strongly interacting three-dimensional Fermi gas
Authors: Johansen Christian H. , Frank Bernhard , Lang Johannes
Published: February 2024

Computing dynamical properties of strongly interacting quantum many-body systems poses a major challenge to theoretical approaches. Usually, one has to resort to numerical analytic continuation of results on imaginary frequencies, which is a mathematically ill-defined procedure. Here we present an efficient method to compute the spectral functions of the two-component Fermi gas near the strongly interacting unitary limit directly in real frequencies. To this end, we combine the Keldysh path integral that is defined in real time with the self-consistent T-matrix approximation. The latter is known to predict thermodynamic and transport properties in good agreement with experimental observations in ultracold atoms. We validate our method by comparison with thermodynamic quantities obtained from imaginary-time calculations and by transforming our real-time propagators to imaginary time. By comparison with state-of-the-art numerical analytic continuation of the imaginary-time results, we show that our real-time results give qualitative improvements for dynamical quantities. Moreover, we show that no significant pseudogap regime exists in the self-consistent T-matrix approximation above the critical temperature Tc, an issue that has been under significant debate. We close by pointing out the versatile nature of our method as it can be extended to other systems, like the spin- or mass-imbalanced Fermi gas, other Bose-Fermi models, two-dimensional systems, and systems out of equilibrium.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024