bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Health Information Technology for Early Detection of Patient Deterioration on Mortality and Length of Stay in the Hospital Acute Care Setting: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Herasevich Svetlana , Lipatov Kirill , Pinevich Yuliya , Lindroth Heidi , Tekin Aysun , Herasevich Vitaly , Pickering Brian W. , Barwise Amelia K.
Published: April 2022

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of health information technology (HIT) for early detection of patient deterioration on patient mortality and length of stay (LOS) in acute care hospital settings.

Data Sources:

We searched MEDLINE and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus from 1990 to January 19, 2021.

Study Selection:

We included studies that enrolled patients hospitalized on the floor, in the ICU, or admitted through the emergency department. Eligible studies compared HIT for early detection of patient deterioration with usual care and reported at least one end point of interest: hospital or ICU LOS or mortality at any time point.

Data Extraction:

Study data were abstracted by two independent reviewers using a standardized data extraction form.

Data Synthesis:

Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool data. Among the 30 eligible studies, seven were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 23 were pre-post studies. Compared with usual care, HIT for early detection of patient deterioration was not associated with a reduction in hospital mortality or LOS in the meta-analyses of RCTs. In the meta-analyses of pre-post studies, HIT interventions demonstrated a significant association with improved hospital mortality for the entire study cohort (odds ratio, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.70–0.87]) and reduced hospital LOS overall.

Conclusions:

HIT for early detection of patient deterioration in acute care settings was not significantly associated with improved mortality or LOS in the meta-analyses of RCTs. In the meta-analyses of pre-post studies, HIT was associated with improved hospital mortality and LOS; however, these results should be interpreted with caution. The differences in patient outcomes between the findings of the RCTs and pre-post studies may be secondary to confounding caused by unmeasured improvements in practice and workflow over time.
Student Ultrasound Interest Group: A Novel Method of Introducing Ultrasound to Physician Assistant Students
Authors: Lolar Sara
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

This study describes a student ultrasound interest group (SUIG) in a resource-limited physician assistant (PA) program. The benefits of PA student attitudes and knowledge of ultrasound (US) are described.

Methods:

Participation in the SUIG was voluntary. Didactics included free online access medical education (FOAMed) materials. Initial scanning sessions focused on the Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) exam and were led by a faculty champion with limited US experience. A survey on attitudes and a basic US knowledge test were administered before and after the first session and again 2 months later.

Results:

Thirty-seven students (76% female, mean age 26.4) participated in the initial FAST scanning sessions. All participants agreed that the SUIG session was useful. There was a slight increase in confidence after SUIG sessions (1.27 vs 2.92 on a 5-point scale), and 94% reported increased motivation to seek out ultrasound opportunities on clinical rotations. The average score on the knowledge test increased from 37% to 90% after the scanning sessions; the average score waned over time to 80% after 2 months.

Conclusion:

SUIGs are a valuable way to introduce US to PA students using limited resources. Even minimal exposure can increase PA student confidence and knowledge.
Scoping Review of Mechanical Testing of the Structural and Material Properties of Lower-Limb Prosthetic Sockets
Authors: Baer Gila , Fatone Stefania
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Lower-limb amputations account for most cases seen by certified prosthetists in the United States. Fundamental to the success of a lower-limb prosthesis is the socket, and fundamental to the success of a socket is safety and durability. Currently, there are no standards specific to ensuring the safety and durability of lower-limb prosthetic sockets. The purpose of this scoping review was to describe the mechanical testing procedures used to date to assess the structural and material properties of lower-limb prosthetic sockets, with a view to informing the development of future standards.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases and the Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal website to identify relevant articles. Articles published in English were included if they used mechanical testing to assess the socket and/or socket material and presented those test results.

Results

Fourteen articles were included in this review. They described 30 different mechanical test protocols, consisting of 12 different types of mechanical tests. The most common mechanical tests conducted were tensile, static load, and cyclic load testing. Of the 30 test protocols, 20 referenced current standards that do not include sockets within their scope and modified them in various ways to allow testing of sockets. Of the 14 included articles, 8 described using a mock residual limb during testing, all of which were unique in their composition.

Conclusion

Individual researchers modified existing, nonsocket standards in varying ways to adopt them for use in testing lower-limb prosthetic sockets. This scoping review describes information that may inform the development of socket-specific test protocols.

Clinical Relevance

Future research is needed to determine which tests are good indicators of clinical safety and durability in order to link quantitative results of mechanical testing to the safety and durability of everyday socket use.
The Effect of Single and Multiple Split-Toe Designs on Cross-Slope Adaptability of Prosthetic Feet: A Finite Element Simulation Study
Authors: Maitland Murray E. , Allyn Katheryn J. , Ficanha Evandro M. , Colvin James M. , Wernke Matthew M.
Published: April 2022

Introduction

During activities of daily living, the foot-to-ground contact orientation changes in the frontal plane. The adaptability of a prosthetic foot in the frontal plane may improve functional mobility, comfort, and safety. Current prosthetic feet may or may not have a longitudinal split in the toe portion of the foot. The single-split (two-toe) prosthetic foot has been recommended for adaptability on uneven ground compared with feet without longitudinal splits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of single and multiple split-toe cantilever spring designs of prosthetic feet on cross-slopes using finite element simulation.

Materials and Methods

Model construction (material data, geometry, and mesh) and simulations were performed using Ansys LS Dyna. A virtual mass of 75 kg, representing body mass, was fixed to the proximal pylon. Foot variations with one to six toes were created by modifying the base geometry with zero to five splits. Walking surfaces that were either flat or a 15-degree cross-slope was virtually fixed in space. The simulation was started at midstance with the pylon in a vertical position and was continued for 0.2 seconds. An initial velocity of 1 m/s was applied to the proximal mass. Lateral deviation, and vertical displacement and mediolateral contact forces of the simulated body mass were calculated. Von Mises stresses, indicating the potential for material failure, were evaluated.

Results

On level ground, after 0.2-second simulation, feet were comparable in outcomes. On a 15-degree cross-slope, lateral deviation of the body mass decreased with increasing splits from 15.5 mm with no splits to 6.9 mm with the five-split variation. Consistent with this finding, maximal and average forces at the pylon-body mass connection also decreased with increasing splits. Von Mises stress values increased at the proximal toes with increasing splits consistent with narrowing of each toe.

Discussion and Conclusions

The current study showed that the benefit of increasing the number of toes was most significant with the first split and diminishing returns as the number of splits increased beyond three. Adaptability of split-toe variations may have benefits beyond cross-slopes because there are many instances during activities of daily living where the foot-to-ground angle may change. These findings should be tested using other research methods such as biomechanical studies of multiple split-toe prosthetic feet, and if these results are supported, clinical trials may be warranted.

Clinical Relevance

This study supports the use of split-toe prosthetic feet for people who want more frontal plane adaptability during gait or who have lateral pressures at the socket. The study predicts that prosthetic feet with more than one split could provide more adaptability and should be explored for clients.
Effect of Time Outdoors and Near-viewing Time on Myopia Progression in 9- to 11-year-old Children in Chongqing
Authors: Fan Yujie , Liao Juan , Liu Shichun , Cai Xueqin , Lv Sha , Yang Qiao , Dong Yaoxi , Li Hua , Song Shengfang
Published: April 2022

SIGNIFICANCE

We used an Akeso device to record the visual behavior of children with myopia in two learning modes. We found that online class mode may increase near-viewing time and reduce outdoor time compared with the traditional school mode and may be responsible for accelerating myopia progression.

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore the effects of visual behavior in different learning modes on myopia progression among children 9 to 11 years old.

METHODS

Forty-nine children were included and requested to use a wearable device to objectively record visual behavior in real time from November 2019 to November 2020; participants took online classes from mid-February to early May 2020 during this period. Data (including glasses-wearing time, outdoor time, and near-viewing time) were collected during two 14-day periods, which included the online class learning mode (March 2 to 15, 2020) and the traditional school mode (May 20 to June 2, 2020). Spherical equivalent refraction and axial length were obtained at baseline, at 6-month intervals, and 1 year later.

RESULTS

Outdoor time during online class mode (median, 9.5 minutes; interquartile range, 0.75 to 48 minutes) was significantly lower than during the school mode (median, 29 minutes; interquartile range, 11.50 to 50 minutes; P < .001). The mean ± standard deviation of near-viewing time was significantly different between online class mode (396.58 ± 114.41 minutes) and school mode (376.52 ± 93.99 minutes; P = .007, F = 19.56). In comparison with the baseline examination (−2.33 ± 0.81 D), mean spherical equivalent refraction in oculus dexter corresponding to the 6-month examination was decreased (−2.94 ± 0.83 D, P = .001), indicating a significant increase in myopia during online class mode.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence of the association of learning mode and myopia progression. Accelerated progression of myopia in online class mode may be related to increased near-viewing time and decreased time spent in outdoor activities.
Surface Electromyography of the Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid during Computer Work with Presbyopic Corrections
Authors: Kolbe Oliver , Bitterlich Kathrin , Lahne Johanna , Degle Stephan , Anders Christoph
Published: April 2022

SIGNIFICANCE

During computer work in controlled laboratory conditions, wearing multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) showed no lower muscle load but increased subjective perception of comfort with equivalent visual quality and comparable tolerance.

PURPOSE

Because musculoskeletal complaints are frequent among computer workers, this study used the muscle electrophysiological activity of shoulder and neck muscles in presbyopic computer workers who received either progressive addition lenses for general purpose (GP-PALs) or MFCLs.

METHODS

For this crossover study, 11 presbyopic computer workers aged 55 ± 4 years (mean ± standard deviation) were equipped with GP-PALs and MFCLs in a randomized order. Surface electromyography signals were recorded bilaterally from shoulder and neck muscles during short-term computer work tasks using an optimally adjusted visual display unit workplace. The amplitude probability distribution function, the number and total duration of EMG gaps, and sustained low-level muscle activity periods of the surface electromyography signals were calculated. Comfort and correction type preferences were assessed. Head inclination was objectively evaluated.

RESULTS

Multifocal contact lenses elicited no significant lower muscle load than GP-PALs. The number of sustained low-level muscle activity periods longer than 60 seconds was similar between visual aids. The total amount of gaps was significantly higher with MFCLs (44 gaps) compared with progressive addition lenses for general purpose (15 gaps) in all analyzed periods for all participants. However, there were no significant differences for the median in the intraindividual comparisons (P = .22, dz = 0.52). Multifocal contact lenses scored statistically significant higher in comfort values with equivalent visual quality and comparable tolerance (P = .003, dz
= 1.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Although the study failed to show clear results, wearing MFCLs seems to enhance working comfort compared with GP-PALs subjectively.
Ocular and Nonocular Adverse Events during 3 Years of Soft Contact Lens Wear in Children
Authors: Gaume Giannoni Amber , Robich Matt , Berntsen David A. , Jones-Jordan Lisa A. , Mutti Donald O. , Myers Jill , Shaw Kimberly , Walker Maria K. , Walline Jeffrey J.
Published: April 2022

SIGNIFICANCE

Children are being fitted at younger ages with soft contact lenses for myopia control. This 3-year investigation of adverse events related to contact lens wear in 7- to 11-year-old participants helps optometrists understand what to expect when fitting children with soft contact lenses.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to report the frequency and type of ocular and nonocular adverse events related to soft contact lens wear in children.

METHODS

Seven- to 11-year-old children wore soft contact lenses for 3 years. Adverse events were defined by a slit-lamp examination finding of grade 3 or worse; parental report of a clinically meaningful change (determined by the examiner) in eyes, vision, or health; or a clinically meaningful response (determined by examiner) to a symptom checklist. Adverse events were categorized and reported by examiners and finalized by the Executive Committee. The presence or absence of an infiltrate and a list of diagnoses was determined at the conclusion of the study.

RESULTS

The 294 participants wore their contact lenses 73.0 ± 26.5 hours per week, and 220 (74.8%) encountered at least 1 adverse event. Of the 432 adverse events, 75.2% were ocular, and 24.8% were nonocular. Contact lens wear was probably or definitely related to 60.6% of the ocular and 2.8% of the nonocular adverse events. None of the ocular adverse events were serious or severe or caused permanent contact lens discontinuation. The corneal infiltrate incidence was 185 cases per 10,000 patient-years of wear (95% confidence interval, 110 to 294). The incidence of moderate ocular adverse events that were definitely or probably related to contact lens wear was 405 cases per 10,000 patient-years of wear (95% confidence interval, 286 to 557).

CONCLUSIONS

The adverse events experienced by 7- to 11–year-old myopic children rarely required meaningful treatment and never led to permanent discontinuation of contact lens wear or loss of best-corrected vision.
Virtual Neurocognitive Testing in Craniofacial Surgery
Authors: Wu Robin T. , Park Kitae E. , Chandler Ludmila , Ahmad Maham , Allam Omar , Timberlake Andrew T. , Persing John A. , Alperovich Michael
Published: April 2022

Digital communication platforms have had an impact on plastic surgery research. Although neurocognitive testing is an important tool for understanding the long-term developmental outcomes of congenital craniofacial conditions, testing has been geographically limited because of its interactive nature. Virtual neurocognitive testing is a facsimile version of in-person testing that allows researchers to overcome this limitation with high fidelity. Ten school-age subjects completed a neurocognitive assessment battery measuring intelligence quotient, academic achievement, and visuomotor skills at an average age of 7.8 ± 1.4 years. The subjects then retook the same battery through an identical virtual testing method approximately 1 year after the initial test. There were no significant differences in verbal intelligence quotient (p = 0.878), performance intelligence quotient (p = 0.813), and full-scale intelligence quotient (p = 0.982) scores obtained through in-person and virtual tests. There were no significant differences between academic achievement letter and word recognition (p = 0.999), math computation (p = 0.619), reading comprehension (p = 0.963), and spelling (p = 0.344) scores. There were no significant differences in visuomotor integration (p = 0.158), visual perception (p = 0.798), and motor coordination (p = 0.796) scores obtained through the two methods. The median at-home time to set up study equipment for the virtual testing was 5.0 minutes (interquartile range, 2.3 minutes). Seventy percent of participants reported that they preferred participating in research from home. All participants stated that the virtual research study was an overall positive experience. Virtual neurocognitive testing is an effective method of performing high-fidelity neurocognitive assessments while overcoming geographic barriers.
Altered Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation in Young Women With Borderline Personality Disorder: An Echocardiographic Study
Authors: Engemann Luisa , Aweimer Assem , Ewers Aydan , Afshari Faegheh , Maiß Clara , Kern Katharina , Lücke Thomas , Mügge Andreas , Brüne Martin
Published: April 2022

Objective

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by intense mood swings, impulsivity, self-injurious behavior, poor anger control, fear of abandonment, and unstable interpersonal relationships. BPD is also associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, whereby the underlying mechanisms are insufficiently understood. Accordingly, the present study set out to examine whether individuals with BPD would show abnormal myocardial deformation and to explore the role of potential risk factors, including maladaptive stress responsivity, childhood trauma, and current stress exposure.

Methods

Fifty female patients diagnosed with BPD and 50 controls matched for sex and age underwent echocardiography to determine the global longitudinal strain (GLS) of the left ventricle. In addition, childhood trauma, chronic stress, and “allostatic load” were determined, as well as borderline symptom severity and common risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Results

Aside from a significantly greater GLS in BPD patients, a multivariable regression analysis revealed that allostatic load (β = 0.225, p = .048) was significantly associated with GLS, with childhood trauma (β = 0.279, p = .062) approaching significance. Conversely, smoking (p = .867), chronic stress (p = .193), and borderline symptom severity (p = .342) were not associated with GLS, even though bivariate correlations were significant.

Conclusions

Somatically healthy women with BPD display subtle signs of increased GLS, which is associated with allostatic load as an indicator of the “wear-and-tear” of the body. The association between childhood trauma with GLS was of similar strength but did not reach the threshold for statistical significance. This finding may support the need for primary prevention of somatic consequences of maladaptive stress responsivity in psychiatric patients.
Categorizing Comorbid Risk for People Living With HIV: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Olivieri-Mui Brianne , Shi Sandra , McCarthy Ellen P. , Montano Monty , Wilson Ira , Oh Gahee , Manjourides Justin , Kim Dae Hyun
Published: April 2022

Background:

Categorizing clinical risk amidst heterogeneous multimorbidity in older people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) may help prioritize and optimize health care engagements.

Methods:

PLWH and their prevalent conditions in 8 health domains diagnosed before January 1, 2015 were identified using 2014–2016 Medicare claims and the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse. Latent profile analysis identified 4 distinct clinical subgroups based on the likelihood of conditions occurring together [G1: healthy, G2: substance use (SU), G3: pulmonary (PULM), G4: cardiovascular conditions (CV)]. Restricted mean survival time regression estimated the association of each subgroup with the 365 day mean event-free days until death, first hospitalization, and nursing home admission. Zero-inflated Poisson regression estimated hospitalization frequency in 2-year follow-up.

Results:

Of 11,196 older PLWH, 71% were male, and the average age was 61 (SD 9.2) years. Compared with healthy group, SU group had a mean of 30 [95% confidence interval: (19.0 to 40.5)], PULM group had a mean of 28 (22.1 to 34.5), and CV group had a mean of 22 (15.0 to 22.0) fewer hospitalization-free days over 1 year. Compared with healthy group (2.8 deaths/100 person-years), CV group (8.4) had a mean of 4 (3.8 to 6.8) and PULM group (7.9) had a mean of 3 (0.7 to 5.5) fewer days alive; SU group (6.0) was not different. There was no difference in restricted mean survival time for nursing home admission. Compared with healthy group, SU group had 1.42-fold [95% confidence interval: (1.32 to 1.54)], PULM group had 1.71-fold (1.61 to 1.81), and CV group had 1.28-fold (1.20 to 1.37) higher rates of hospitalization.

Conclusion:

Identifying clinically distinct subgroups with latent profile analysis may be useful to identify targets for interventions and health care optimization in older PLWH.
Early Impact of MMaT-3 Policy on Liver Transplant Waitlist Outcomes for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Shaikh Anjiya , Goli Karthik , Rich Nicole E. , Benhammou Jihane N. , Khaderi Saira , Hernaez Ruben , Agopian Vatche G. , Vierling John M. , Kim Donghee , Ahmed Aijaz , Goss John A. , Rana Abbas , Kanwal Fasiha , Cholankeril George
Published: April 2022

Background.

To reduce the disparity in access to liver transplant (LT), United Network for Organ Sharing implemented an exception policy in May 2019, which capped hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exception score to the median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) at transplant within the donor service area minus 3 points (MMaT-3) after the 6-mo wait period. We aimed to evaluate how this policy affected HCC waitlist outcomes.

Methods.

Using United Network for Organ Sharing data, we analyzed waitlist outcomes in HCC patients at the time they received exception points from in the pre-MMaT era (August 15, 2017, to November 15, 2018) and MMaT era (June 1, 2019, to August 30, 2020). Comparisons were made within the HCC group and HCC versus non-HCC (at time of listing) groups in the pre-MMaT and MMaT eras and regions were grouped as low, medium, and high MELD based on MMaT.

Results.

HCC group: LT probability within HCC patients decreased by 20% (subhazard ratio [sHR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.85) between the eras and decreased by 41% in low MELD regions (sHR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.52-0.66). Waitlist dropout was unchanged. Matched HCC versus non-HCC groups: HCC patients had 80% higher LT probability (sHR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.71-1.99) than non-HCC patients in the pre-MMaT era; which decreased to a 14% higher LT probability in MMaT era. In low and medium regions, HCC patients had over twofold higher LT probability in the pre-MMaT era, which decreased to a ~20% higher probability (sHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06-1.23) in the MMaT era. After implementation of the acuity circle policy, HCC patients had lower LT probability (sHR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.94) than non-HCC patients.

Conclusions.

The geographic disparity between HCC and non-HCC patients has improved with the MMaT-3 policy. Despite lower LT probability for HCC patients, waitlist dropout was not adversely impacted.
Robotic-assisted Versus Open Technique for Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Comparison Using Propensity Score Matching for Intention to Treat
Authors: Tinney Francis , Ivanics Tommy , Stracke Joel , Malinzak Lauren , Elsabbagh Ahmed M. , McEvoy Tracci , Nagai Shunji , Yoshida Atsushi
Published: April 2022

Background.

Living donor robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is an alternative to open kidney transplantation (OKT), but experience with this technique is limited in the United States.

Methods.

A retrospective review of living donor kidney transplants performed between 2016 and 2018 compared RAKT with OKT with regard to recipient, donor, and perioperative parameters. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed on recipient/donor age, sex, body mass index, race, preoperative dialysis, and calculated panel reactive antibodies.

Results.

Outcomes of patient survival, graft survival, and postoperative complications were assessed for 139 transplants (47 RAKT and 92 OKT). Propensity score analysis (47:47) showed that RAKT recipients had longer warm ischemic times (49 versus 40 min; P < 0.001) and less blood loss (100 versus 150 mL; P = 0.005). Operative time and length of stay were similar between groups. Postoperative serum creatinine was similar during a 2-y follow-up. Post hoc analysis excluding 4 open conversions showed lower operative time with RAKT (297 versus 320 min; P = 0.04) and lower 30-d (4.7% versus 23.4%; P = 0.02) and 90-d (7% versus 27.7%; P = 0.01) Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 complications.

Conclusions.

Our findings suggest that RAKT is a safe alternative to OKT.
Sphingomonas radiodurans sp. nov., a novel radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from the north slope of Mount Everest
Authors: Liu Yang , Chen Tuo , Cui Xiaowen , Xu Yeteng , Hu Shixin , Zhao Yidan , Zhang Wei , Liu Guangxiu , Zhang Gaosen
Published: April 2022

A bacterial strain, designated S9-5T, was isolated from moraine samples collected from the north slope of Mount Everest at an altitude of 5 500 m above sea level. A polyphasic study confirmed the affiliation of the strain with the genus

Sphingomonas

. Strain S9-5T was an aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium that could grow at 10–40 °C, pH 5–8 and with 0–9 % (w/v) NaCl. Q-10 was its predominant respiratory menaquinone. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid and eight unidentified lipids comprised the polar lipids of strain S9-5T. Its major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
 ω7c and/or C18 : 1
 ω6c) and C16 : 0. The G+C content was 65.75mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences showed that strain S9-5T was phylogenetically closely related to

Sphingomonas panaciterrae

DCY91T (98.17 %),

Sphingomonas olei

K-1-16T (98.11 %) and

Sphingomonas mucosissima

DSM 17494T (97.39 %). The average nucleotide identity values among strain S9-5T and

Sphingomonas panaciterrae

DCY91T,

Sphingomonas olei

K-1-16T and

Sphingomonas mucosissima

DSM 17494T were 78.82, 78.87 and 78.29 %, respectively. Based on the morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain S9-5T (=JCM 34750T=GDMCC 1.2714T) should represent a novel species of the genus

Sphingomonas

, for which we propose the name Sphingomonas radiodurans sp. nov.
History and classification of Aigai virus (formerly Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus genotype VI)
Authors: Papa (Άννα Παπά) Anna , Marklewitz Marco , Paraskevopoulou (Σοφία Παρασκευοπούλου) Sofia , Garrison Aura R. , Alkhovsky (Альховский Сергей Владимирович) Sergey V. , Avšič-Županc Tatjana , Bente Dennis A. , Bergeron Éric , Burt Felicity , Di Paola Nicholas , Ergünay Koray , Hewson Roger , Mirazimi Ali , Sall Amadou Alpha , Spengler Jessica R. , Postler Thomas S. , Palacios Gustavo , Kuhn Jens H.
Published: April 2022

Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the medically most important member of the rapidly expanding bunyaviral family Nairoviridae. Traditionally, CCHFV isolates have been assigned to six distinct genotypes. Here, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Nairoviridae Study Group outlines the reasons for the recent decision to re-classify genogroup VI (aka Europe-2 or AP-92-like) as a distinct virus, Aigai virus (AIGV).
Metabolite profiles across populations of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) highlight the specificity and inducibility of phytochemical response to glyphosate stress
Authors: Sandhu Pawanjit Kaur , Leonard Elizabeth , Nandula Vijay , Tharayil Nishanth
Published: April 2022

Modifications of the phytochemical profile form a vital component of physiological stress adaptation in plants. However, the specificity and uniqueness of phytochemical changes with respect to the identity of stressors is less known. Here, we investigated the commonality and specificity of metabolic perturbations induced by a specific stressor – glyphosate, and a general stressor – drought, across multiple glyphosate-resistant (GR) and -susceptible (GS) biotypes of a dominant agricultural weed, Amaranthus palmeri. In the absence of stress, the native metabolite profile of GS- and GR-biotypes was similar, and amplification of the EPSPS gene in GR-biotypes did not translate to a higher abundance of downstream metabolites. Further, glyphosate treatment initially inhibited the shikimate pathway in both GS- and GR-biotypes, from which the GR-biotypes recovered, indicating inducibility in the functionalization of the EPSPS enzyme. The accumulation of phenylpropanoids produced downstream of the shikimate pathway, was higher in GR-biotypes than GS-biotypes, with a preferential accumulation of compounds with higher antioxidant potential. However, this increase was not observed in response to drought treatment, where the metabolic perturbations were pervasive but limited in magnitude compared to glyphosate stress. Overall, while native phytochemistry of A. palmeri was similar irrespective of the level of glyphosate susceptibility, the specific stressor, glyphosate, imparted metabolic perturbations that were localized but higher in magnitude, while the specificity of phytochemical response to the general stressor, drought, was minimal. Taken together, these results suggest that, at the metabolic level, the glyphosate resistance mechanism in A. palmeri is partly induced and specific to herbicide stress.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Understanding changes in physiology, especially those related to secondary metabolites with adaptogenic functions, is imperative to decipher the basis of stress adaptation in plants. This study provides critical information on native and stress-induced phytochemical differences between multiple glyphosate-resistant and -susceptible weed biotypes, thus, shedding light on the metabolome-level orchestration of gene amplification-mediated glyphosate resistance mechanism in an economically devastating weed, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri).
Multi-level monitoring of EME1-MUS81 in CPT induced nucleolar rDNA repair
Authors: Bakshi Karishma , Nagamalleswari Easa , Breucker Jan , Eisenhardt Nathalie , Tiwari Richa , González-Prieto Román , Fatouros Chronis , Chaugule Viduth K , Lee Heekyoung , Ilic Dragana , Trulsson Fredrik , Mittler Gerhard , Vertegaal Alfred C.O. , Pichler Andrea
Published: April 2022

We identified EME1, the regulatory subunit of the structure-specific endonuclease complex EME1-MUS81, as substrate for the sumoylated UBC9 and demonstrated synergistic functions in promoting Camptothecin (CPT)-induced nucleolar ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repair (Nagamalleswari et al, co-submitted). Sumoylation of EME1 appears complex involving mono- and poly-sumoylation. Hence, we addressed here whether these modifications differentially regulate EME1 functions by analyzing EME1-variant expressing cell lines including mono-sumo(1)ylation and poly-sumo(2)ylation mimetic fusions. We complemented our analysis with the regulated endogenous EME1 interactome and our observation that Trichostatin A (TSA) induced EME1 and UBC9 sumoylation. Our findings are substantiated by identifying several regulatory proteins and by detecting CPT-induced endogenous di- and poly-sumoylated EME1 in different cell fractions. Together, our data suggest that Histone H4 acetylation, two mono-sumoylation events, poly-sumoylation, ISG15 and ubiquitination sequentially and in mutual dependence tightly control the intracellular localization, recruitment to DNA lesions, enzymatic activity, withdrawal from DNA lesions and the stability of EME1.
Reanalysis shows the extreme decline effect does not exist in fish ocean acidification studies
Authors: Munday Philip L
Published: April 2022

A meta-analysis published in PLoS Biology by Clements et al. (2022) claims there is an extreme decline effect in studies published between 2009-2019 on the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) on fish behaviour. Here I show that the extreme decline effect reported by Clements et al. is a statistical artifact caused by the way they corrected for zero values in percentage data, which was more common in the earliest experiments compared with later studies. Furthermore, selective choices for excluding or including data, along with serious errors in the compilation of data and missing studies with strong effects, weakened the effect sizes reported for papers after 2010, further exacerbating the decline effect reported by Clements et al. When the data is reanalyzed using appropriate corrections for zero values in percentage and proportional data, and using a complete, corrected and properly screened data set, the extreme decline effect reported by Clements et al. no longer exists.
METACLUSTERplus - an R package for probabilistic inference and visualization of context-specific transcriptional regulation of biosynthetic gene clusters
Authors: Banf Michael
Published: April 2022

Fungi and plants reveal widespread occurrences of metabolic enzymes co-located on the chromosome, some already characterized as being biosynthetic pathways for specialized metabolites, such as terpenes synthesizing enzyme clusters in Lotus japonicus and Arabidopsis thaliana. These clusters display context-specific co-expression of clustered enzymes, indicating a shared transcriptional response in a spatial and condition specific manner, and co-regulation due to promoter binding by shared transcription factors may be one way to facilitate coordinated expression. To enhance our understanding of context-specific transcriptional gene cluster regulation, we redefine and augment this probabilistic framework, labelled METACLUSTERplus, integrating gene expression compendia, context-specific annotations, biosynthetic gene cluster definitions, as well as gene regulatory network architectures. Further, it provides a set of appealing and intuitive visualizations of inferred results for analysis and publication. METACLUSTERplus is available at https://github.com/mbanf/MetaclusterPlus.
Isolation and Divergence of Peromyscus melanotis Populations Across the Madrean Sky Islands in Arizona
Authors: Larsen Brendan B. , Otto Hans W. , Gryseels Sophie , Worobey Michael
Published: April 2022

The Madrean sky islands have been studied for decades due to their high biodiversity, which results from the intersection of biomes and their role as refugia for populations isolated on mountain tops during the last ice age. There has been controversy and confusion about the identification of Peromyscus sp. found in the montane forests on these sky islands, which is often assumed to be the widespread and ubiquitous P. maniculatus. Here, we provide mitochondrial phylogenetic data suggesting that all individuals of Peromyscus captured on three isolated mountains in southern Arizona are Peromyscus melanotis, a species previously thought endemic to Mexico. Furthermore, with molecular clock analyses on two mitochondrial loci we show these populations have been isolated from each other for ∼11,000-50,000 years, corresponding to the transition from the last ice age. These isolated populations represent important conservation targets due to habitat loss. In addition, we suggest that future genomic and ecological research is warranted to better understand these unique populations.
The Temporal Dynamics of Willed Attention in Vision
Authors: Nadra John G. , Bengson Jesse J. , Morales Alexander B. , Mangun George R.
Published: April 2022

Most models of attention distinguish between voluntary and involuntary attention, the latter being driven in a bottom-up fashion by salient sensory signals. Studies of voluntary visual-spatial attention have used informational or instructional cues, such as arrows, to induce or instruct observers to direct selective attention to relevant locations in visual space in order to detect or discriminate subsequent target stimuli. In everyday vision, however, voluntary attention is influenced by a host of factors, most of which are quite different from the laboratory paradigms that utilize attention-directing cues. These factors include priming, experience, reward, meaning, motivations, and high-level behavioral goals. Attention that is endogenously directed in the absence of external cues has been referred to as self-initiated attention, or in our prior work as “willed attention”. Such studies typically replace attention-directing cues with a “prompt” that signals the subject when to choose where they will attend in preparation for the upcoming target stimulus. We used a novel paradigm that was designed to minimize external influences (i.e., cues or prompts) as to where, as well as when, spatial attention would be shifted and focused. Participants were asked to view bilateral dynamic dot motion displays, and to shift their covert spatial attention to either the left or right visual field patch at a time of their own choosing, thus allowing the participants to control both when and where they attended on each trial. The task was to discriminate and respond to a pattern in the attended dot motion patch. Our goal was to identify patterns of neural activity in the scalp-recorded EEG that revealed when and where attention was focused. Using machine learning methods to decode attention-related EEG alpha band activity, we were able to identify the onset of voluntary (willed) shifts of visual-spatial attention, and to determine where attention was focused. This work contributes to our understanding of the neural antecedents of voluntary attention, opening the door for improved models of attentional control, and providing steps toward development of brain-computer interfaces using non-invasive electrical recordings of brain activity.
Loss of the repressor REST affects progesterone receptor function and promotes uterine leiomyoma pathogenesis
Authors: Cloud Ashley S. , Koohestani Faezeh , McWilliams Michelle M. , Ganeshkumar Sornakala , Gunewardena Sumedha , Graham Amanda , Nothnick Warren B. , Chennathukuzhi Vargheese M.
Published: April 2022

Uterine Leiomyomas (UL) are benign tumors that arise in the myometrial layer of the uterus. The standard treatment option for UL is hysterectomy, although hormonal therapies such as selective progesterone receptor modulators are often used as temporary treatment options to reduce symptoms or slow the growth of tumors. However, since the pathogenesis of UL is poorly understood and most hormonal therapies are not based on UL-specific, divergent hormone signaling pathways, hallmarks that predict long-term efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapies remain largely undefined. In a previous study, we reported aberrant expression of REST/NRSF target genes activate UL growth due to the near ubiquitous loss of REST. Here, we show that ablation of the Rest gene in mouse uterus leads to UL phenotype and gene expression patterns analogous to UL, including altered estrogen and progesterone signaling pathways. We demonstrate that many of the genes dysregulated in UL harbor cis-regulatory elements bound by REST and progesterone receptor (PGR) adjacent to each other. Crucially, we identify an interaction between REST and PGR in healthy myometrium and present a putative mechanism for the dysregulation of progesterone responsive genes in UL ensuing the loss of REST. Using three Rest conditional knockout mouse lines, we provide a comprehensive picture of the impact loss of REST has in UL pathogenesis and in altering the response of UL to steroid hormones.

Significance statement

Ablation of Rest gene in the mouse uterus, modelling the loss REST in uterine fibroids, results in tumor formation and gene expression patterns analogous to human UL, including altered estrogen and progesterone receptor (PGR) pathways. The current study provides a putative mechanism for the aberrant function of PGR in UL.
Toxoplasma scavenges mammalian host organelles through usurpation of host ESCRT-III and Vps4
Authors: Romano Julia D. , Mayoral Joshua , Guevara Rebekah B. , Rivera-Cuevas Yolanda , Carruthers Vern B. , Weiss Louis M. , Coppens Isabelle
Published: April 2022

Intracellular pathogens exploit cellular resources through host cell manipulation. Within its nonfusogenic parasitophorous vacuole (PV), Toxoplasma targets host nutrient-filled organelles and sequesters them into the PV through deep invaginations of the PV membrane (PVM) that ultimately detach from this membrane. Some of these invaginations are generated by an intravacuolar network (IVN) of parasite-derived tubules fusing with the PVM. Here, we examine the parasite usurpation of host ESCRT-III and Vps4 to create PVM buds and vesicles. CHMP4B associates with the PVM/IVN and dominant negative (DN) CHMP4B forms many long PVM invaginations containing CHMP4B filaments; the invaginations are shorter in IVN-deficient parasites, suggesting cooperation between IVN and ESCRT. In infected cells expressing Vps4-DN, enlarged intra-PV structures containing host endo-lysosomes accumulate, reflecting defects in PVM scission. Parasite mutants lacking TgGRA14 or TgGRA64 that interact with ESCRT have reduced CHMP4B-DN-induced PVM invaginations and intra-PV host organelles, with greater defects in a double-knockout, revealing the exploitation of ESCRT to scavenge host organelles by Toxoplasma.

The parasite Toxoplasma sequesters host nutrient-filled organelles into its parasitophorous vacuole through its exploitation of host ESCRT-III and Vps4 for vacuolar membrane-remodeling and fission processes utilizing the parasite proteins TgGRA14 and TgGRA64 that interact with ESCRT.
Thermophoresis of Molecules and Structures of different Sizes in Self-assembled Biomatrices
Authors: Liu Ping , Lin Weilin , Abele Fabian , Hanke Marcel , Xin Yang , Keller Adrian , Zhang Yixin
Published: April 2022

Upon subjecting biomolecules to non-equilibrium conditions, many biochemical and biophysical features such as biomolecular diffusion, protein folding, interaction kinetics, as well as enzyme-catalyzed reactions can be characterized in an aqueous solution. However, most assays under non-equilibrium conditions cannot be performed in complex self-assembled biomatrices (e.g. extracellular matrices) due to the limitations associated with sample handling, reaction design, and optical detection. Herein, we report the study of biomolecular thermodiffusion in non-covalently assembled synthetic or naturally derived hydrogels. This approach has been demonstrated with a large variety of analytes, including small molecules, polysaccharides, DNAs, DNA origami, and proteins in various polymer networks. The in-biomatrix method has also shown advantages over in-solution measurements: First, it allows us to analyze biomolecules in 3D matrices in a high-throughput fashion. Second, the aggregation of analytes can be remarkably prevented. Although the underlying physics of thermodiffusion is still not well-understood, we demonstrated that the thermodiffusion of surrounding networks will enhance the thermodiffusion of the analyte, an effect counteracting the hindered movement by the polymer network.
Poly[bis[μ2-4,4′-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)biphenyl-κ2
N:N′]dichloridonickel(II)]
Authors: Deng Min , Yin Yue , Wang Shan-Shan , Qi Xin-Yi , Zhu Ai-Xin
Published: April 2022

In the title compound, [NiCl2(C20H18N4)2]
n
, the Ni2+ cation is situated on an inversion center and is coordinated by two chloride ions and four imidazole N atoms of four different 4,4′-bis[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-1,1′-biphenyl (BIMB), forming a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. Each BIMB ligand adopts a linear linker to connect Ni2+ ions, forming a two-dimensional layer with an sql network. In the crystal, neighboring layers repeat in an ABAB stacking mode, and weak intermolecular C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds between alternate layers lead to a three-dimensional, twofold interpenetrated, supramolecular framework with a pcu topology net.
5-{[4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine–1,2,3,5-tetrafluoro-4,6-diiodobenzene (1/2)
Authors: Bosch Eric , Bowling Nathan P.
Published: April 2022

The treatment of 5-{[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine with a threefold excess of 1,2,3,5-tetrafluoro-4,6-diiodobenzene in dichloromethane solution led to the formation of the unexpected 1:2 title co-crystal, C14H13N3·2CF4I2. In the extended structure, two unique C—I...N halogen bonds from one of the 1,2,3,5-tetrafluoro-4,6-diiodobenzene molecules to the pyrimidine N atoms of the 5-{[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine molecule generate [110] chains and layers of these chains are π-stacked along the a-axis direction. The second 1,2,3,5-tetrafluoro-4,6-diiodobenzene molecule resides in channels formed parallel to the a-axis direction between stacks of 5-{[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]ethynyl}pyrimidine molecules and interacts with them via C—I...π(alkyne) contacts.
Influence of self-serving leadership on employees’ organizational deviance: a multilevel moderated mediation model
Authors: Guo Tao , Yao Nan , Zhang Lei
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of self-serving leadership on employees’ organizational deviance and its internal mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the data collected from 300 supervisor–employee dyads of five large enterprises in China, this research uses multilevel structural equation model to test the proposal hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that there is a positive relationship between self-serving leadership and employees’ organizational deviance, and ego depletion plays a mediating role between them. Moreover, this research also found that the relationship between self-serving leadership and ego depletion and the indirect effect of self-serving leadership on employees’ organizational deviance through ego depletion are negatively moderated by power distance orientation.

Originality/value

This study found a new antecedent variable of employees’ organizational deviance-self-serving leadership, and based on the ego depletion theory, deeply reveals the internal mechanism of self-serving leadership influencing employees’ organizational deviance, which has some enlightening significance for relevant theoretical research and management practice. In addition, this study also has unique advantages in data collection and analysis methods.