bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Really Matters for Supervision Training Workshops? A Realist Evaluation
Authors: Nguyen Van N.B. , Rees Charlotte E. , Ottrey Ella , Davis Corinne , Pope Kirsty , Lee Sarah , Waller Susan , Palermo Claire
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Supervision training supports health care supervisors to perform their essential functions. Realist evaluations are increasingly popular for evaluating complex educational interventions, but no such evaluations exist appraising supervision workshops. Building on an earlier realist synthesis of supervision training, the authors evaluated whether supervision workshops work, for whom and under what circumstances, and why.

Method

The authors conducted a 2-stage realist evaluation during 2018–2019 to refine and develop program theory. The intervention involved half-day, face-to-face supervision workshops as part of an Australian state-wide government-funded program for health care and human services supervisors. Data collection involved realist interviews with 10 workshop developers (stage 1) and 43 supervisors (stage 2). The authors employed team-based data analysis using realist logic to refine and develop program theory by identifying contexts, mechanisms, outcomes, and context-mechanism-outcome configurations.

Results

Despite their brevity, the supervision workshops had many reported benefits for supervisors (e.g., improved satisfaction) through various perceived mechanisms pertaining to pedagogy (e.g., mixed pedagogies), workshops (e.g., optimal duration), and individuals (e.g., supervisor engagement). However, they also yielded negative reported outcomes (e.g., suboptimal knowledge gains) brought about by assorted perceived mechanisms related to pedagogy (e.g., suboptimal peer learning), workshops (e.g., content irrelevance), and individuals (e.g., suboptimal facilitator competence). Such mechanisms were thought to be triggered by diverse contexts including supervisors’ levels of experience, sector, and workplace supervision cultures.

Conclusions

While the findings partly support the realist synthesis of supervision training and previous realist evaluations of faculty development, this realist evaluation extends this literature considerably. Health care educators should employ mixed pedagogies (e.g., didactic teaching, peer learning), relevant content, optimal workshop duration, and competent/engaging facilitators. Educators also need to tailor workshops according to supervisors’ contexts including the sectors and supervision cultures in which supervision is practiced, and supervisors’ levels of experience (e.g., experienced supervisors appreciated workshop brevity).
Factors Which Predict Adverse Outcomes in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Procedures in the Nonelderly Adult Population
Authors: Rodrigues Adrian J. , Jokhai Rayyan , Varshneya Kunal , Stienen Martin N. , Veeravagu Anand
Published: April 2022

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort.

Objective:

The largest published cohort of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) patients was queried to better characterize demographic and operative factors that predict 90-day complication and 2-year reoperation risk.

Summary of Background Data:

The MarketScan Database was queried from 2007 to 2016 to identify adult patients until 65 years, who underwent an ACDF procedure using International Classification of Diseases 9th Version (ICD-9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. MarketScan is a national insurance claims database that contains millions of patient records across all 50 states.

Methods:

Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with complications until 90 days and reoperations until 2 years.

Results:

Of 138,839 ACDF procedures, 8500 patients (6.1%) experienced a complication within 90 days of the ACDF, and 7433 (5.4%) underwent surgical revision by 2 years. While the use of anterior cervical plating did not predict 2-year reoperation, it was associated with dramatically reduced 90-day complication risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.32; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–0.34; P<0.001). Upon multivariate analysis, female sex (aOR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.79–0.87; P<0.001) was associated with decreased risk of 2-year reoperation, while depression predicted a 50% increase in reoperation risk (aOR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.43–1.59; P<0.001). The single largest factor associated with reoperation risk, however, was the presence of a 90-day postoperative complication (aOR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.66–1.94; P<0.001).

Conclusion:

Increased patient comorbidities and the use of bone morphogenic protein were found to increase the risk for postoperative complications, while cervical plating was associated with a strong decline in this risk. In addition, poor patient mental health outweighed the adverse of impact of other comorbidities on 2-year revision risk. The presence of a postoperative complication was the key modifiable risk factor associated with reoperation risk. Conclusions from this study may help surgeons better identify high-risk ACDF patients for more careful patient selection, counseling, informed consent, and management.
Changes in Survival Outcomes of Patients With Neuroendocrine Neoplasms Over the Past 15 Years
Authors: Abdel-Rahman Omar , Pham Truong-Minh , Pokhrel Arun , Ruether Dean , Sawyer Michael B.
Published: April 2022

Background:

The past 2 decades have observed a number of advances in therapeutic approaches to patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). This study aims to assess whether survival outcomes have changed among patients with NENs over the past 15 years, in a real-world, population-based study.

Materials and Methods:

We accessed administrative databases within the province of Alberta, Canada, and we reviewed patients with invasive NENs diagnosed 2004 to 2019. Patients were classified according to the year of diagnosis into 3 groups: 2004 to 2008; 2009 to 2013; and 2014 to 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to compare overall survival (OS) according to different baseline characteristics (including the year of diagnosis). Multivariable Cox regression modeling was used to examine factors associated with the risk of death in this cohort.

Results:

We included a total of 3431 patients in the study cohort. Using multivariable Cox regression analysis, the following factors were associated with worse survival: older age at diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.45; 95% CI [confidence interval]: 2.74-4.35), male sex (HR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.21-1.56), lung primary site (HR for lung vs. appendicular primary: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.01-1.92), Stage 4 disease (HR: 2.80; 95% CI: 2.38-3.30), South zone of the province (HR for South zone vs. Calgary zone: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.49-2.30), and higher comorbidity index (HR for ≥3 vs. 0: 2.66; 95% CI: 2.19-3.24). Although Kaplan-Meier method showed significant difference in OS according to diagnosis period, multivariable regression model showed that the period of diagnosis did not appear to impact OS (HR for diagnosis period 2004 to 2009 vs. 2014 to 2019: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.89-1.22).

Conclusions:

Over the study period (2004 to 2019), patients diagnosed during later periods did not appear to experience better OS compared with patients diagnosed at an earlier time.
Skin Preservation in the Debridement of Necrotizing Fasciitis: A Demonstrative Case Report
Authors: AlMarshad Felwa A. , Shah Mardan Qutaiba N. M. , Mahabbat Nehal A. , Ijaz Attiya , Bashaweeh Rahaf , Mrad Mohamed Amir , Al-Qattan Mohammad M. , Hashem Fuad K.
Published: April 2022

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare yet potentially fatal soft-tissue, polymicrobial infection. Aggressive debridement of the fascia and overlying skin as well as antimicrobial coverage constitute the mainstay of management, often leaving large skin defects. However, we demonstrate in this paper a case of a young woman who developed NF after liposuction and was treated by fascial debridement with minimal skin excision. Skin preservation will reduce the morbidity and improve the final aesthetic outcome.
Hybrid Nasal Filler: Combining Agarose Gel and Hyaluronic Acid for Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty
Authors: Buhsem Omer , Kirazoglu Ahmet
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Given its structural properties, it would be a mistake to assume that a single type of filler fits perfectly to each anatomical region of the nose in nonsurgical rhinoplasty procedures. Therefore, we aimed to develop a hybrid treatment model by applying two different structural types of fillers. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a hydrophilic material, and agarose gel (AG), a nonhydrophilic and high G-prime material, were used in the study according to their advantages and disadvantages.

Methods:

Patients who presented to the office desiring filler treatment for nonsurgical correction of the nose in a 2-year period were enrolled in the study. HA was used intradermally 0.1 ml per each point in the tip defining points and supratip. Injections of 0.4–0.7 and 0.4–0.6 ml AG were used supraperiosteally in the radix and nasal spine, respectively. Clinical improvement was evaluated two weeks later using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale from 1 to 5 (1: exceptional improvement; 5: worsened patient). Patient satisfaction was evaluated on a scale from 0 to 10 (0: not satisfied; 10: very satisfied).

Results:

A total of 32 patients (mean age: 27 years) were enrolled in the study. Mean score of patient satisfaction was 9.09 of 10 after injection and 9 of 10 after 2 weeks. Clinical evaluation scores after injection were 1.72 of 5 and 1.69 of 5 on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale. No major complication was observed.

Conclusion:

The HA and AG filler hybrid concept applied in different anatomical locations represents a safe and convenient option for nonsurgical rhinoplasty procedures.
MACULAR THICKNESS BY USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Authors: Hashemi Hassan , Khabazkhoob Mehdi , Heydarian Samira , Emamian Mohammad Hassan , Fotouhi Akbar
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

To determine the distribution of macular and cube thickness and their normal range in the students aged 9 years to 15 years and to investigate their associated demographic and biometric factors.

Methods:

This study was based on the data of the second phase of the Shahroud School Children Eye Cohort Study, conducted in 2018. After measurements of visual acuity, biometry, and subjective and cycloplegic refraction, retinal examination was performed using the Zeiss Cirrus HD 4000 optical coherence tomography.

Results:

The data of 5,043 right eyes were analyzed after applying the exclusion criteria. The central macular thickness was 239 ± 19.35 μm. The mean cube volume and cube thickness were 9.94 ± 0.44 and 278 ± 12.20, respectively. According to multiple linear regression analysis, the central macular thickness was significantly lower in girls (coefficient [β]: −9.18; P < 0.001) and rural students (β: 3.86; P < 0.001) and had a direct association with axial length (β: 5.19; P < 0.001), lens thickness (β: 5.33; P = 0.003), and mean keratometry (β: 2.41; P < 0.001). The cube volume was lower in girls (β: −0.13; P < 0.001) and higher in rural students (β: 0.05; P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Macular thickness was slightly higher in Iranian children. Sex, living place, axial length, lens thickness, and mean keratometry were the main associated factors with macular thickness.
“Listen to me, learn from me”: a priority setting partnership for shaping interdisciplinary pain training to strengthen chronic pain care
Authors: Slater Helen , Jordan Joanne E. , O'Sullivan Peter B. , Schütze Robert , Goucke Roger , Chua Jason , Browne Allyson , Horgan Ben , De Morgan Simone , Briggs Andrew M.
Published: April 2022

What are the care-seeking priorities of people living with chronic pain and carers and how can these shape interdisciplinary workforce training to improve high-value pain care? Phase 1: Australian people living with chronic pain (n = 206; 90% female) and carers (n = 10; 40% female) described their pain care priorities (eDelphi, round 1). A coding framework was inductively derived from 842 pain care priorities (9 categories, 52 priorities), including validation; communication; multidisciplinary approaches; holistic care; partnerships; practitioner knowledge; self-management; medicines; and diagnosis. Phase 2: In eDelphi round 2, panellists (n = 170; valid responses) rated the importance (1 = less important; 9 = more important) of the represented framework. In parallel, cross-discipline health professionals (n = 267; 75% female) rated the importance of these same priorities. Applying the RAND-UCLA method (panel medians: 1-3: “not important,” 4-6: “equivocal,” or 7-9: “important”), “important” items were retained where the panel median score was >7 with panel agreement ≥70%, with 44 items (84.6%) retained. Specific workforce training targets included the following: empathic validation; effective, respectful, safe communication; and ensuring genuine partnerships in coplanning personalised care. Panellists and health professionals agreed or strongly agreed (95.7% and 95.2%, respectively) that this framework meaningfully reflected the importance in care seeking for pain. More than 74% of health professionals were fairly or extremely confident in their ability to support care priorities for 6 of 9 categories (66.7%). Phase 3: An interdisciplinary panel (n = 5) mapped an existing foundation-level workforce training program against the framework, identifying gaps and training targets. Recommendations were determined for framework adoption to genuinely shape, from a partnership perspective, Australian interdisciplinary pain training.
Differential prognoses among male and female patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liao Cheng-Yen , Lee Chun-Yang , Wei Cheng-Yi , Chao Yee , Huang Yi-Hsiang , Hou Ming-Chih , Su Yu-Hui , Wu Jaw-Ching , Su Chien-Wei
Published: April 2022

Background:

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is significantly higher in men than women. Nonetheless, the impact of sex disparities on HCC outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to compare the clinical manifestations and prognoses between male and female patients with HCC.

Methods:

This retrospective study enrolled 5337 consecutive patients (3976 men, 1361 women) who were diagnosed with HCC from 2007 to 2020. The prognostic factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results:

Male patients were younger upon HCC diagnosis (median age 64 vs 69 years; p < 0.001) with more favorable hepatic functional reserves (39.0% vs 35.1% albumin-bilirubin grade 1; p = 0.025) but had greater tumor burdens than the female patients. Furthermore, fewer male patients underwent curative therapies for HCC compared with the female patients (49.0% vs 57.0%; p < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 20.1 months (interquartile range, 5.8-47.3 months), 3133 patients died. The cumulative 5-year overall survival rates were 37.1% and 41.9% for male and female patients, respectively (p < 0.001). From the multivariate analysis, male sex was not an independent factor predictive of poor overall survival in all patients and in the subgroup analysis stratified by treatment modalities. When stratified by age, the female sex was an independent factor associated with lower mortality in younger (≤50 years) patients but not in older patients with HCC.

Conclusion:

Sex was not an independent predictor of the outcome of patients with HCC, especially for those aged more than 50 years.
Dosing of Mood Stabilizers for Bipolar Disorder Patients in the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns Consortium Study
Authors: Wang Yuxi , Chew Qian Hui , Lin Shih-Ku , Yang Shu-Yu , Ouyang Wen-Chen , Chen Chih-Ken , Park Seon-Cheol , Jang Ok-Jin , Park Jun Hyuk , Chee Kok-Yoon , Ding Kwong Sen , Chong Jamaline , Zhang Ling , Li Keqing , Zhu Xiaomin , Jatchavala Chonnakarn , Pariwatcharakul Pornjira , Kallivayalil Roy Abraham , Grover Sandeep , Avasthi Ajit , Ansari Moin , Maramis Margarita M. , Aung Paing Phyo , Sartorius Norman , Xiang Yu-Tao , Tan Chay-Hoon , Chong Mian-Yoon , Park Yong Chon , Kato Takahiro A. , Shinfuku Naotaka , Baldessarini Ross J. , Sim Kang
Published: April 2022

Background

Because use and dosing of mood stabilizers (MSs) to treat bipolar disorder (BD) patients in Asia are not well documented, we examined prevalence and clinical correlates of treatment of Asian BD patients with relatively high doses of MSs.

Methods

We conducted a pharmacoepidemiological survey across 13 Asian countries and territory in the Research on Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns Consortium. Mood stabilizer doses were converted to lithium carbonate equivalents (Li-eq milligrams per day). We compared relatively high (>900 Li-eq mg/day) versus lower MS doses by bivariate comparisons, followed by multivariable linear regression to identify factors associated with higher MS doses.

Results

Among 1647 participants, MS dose averaged 584 (confidence interval, 565–603 Li-eq mg/d). Preliminarily, the 13.1% of the subjects given greater than 900 mg/d versus those given lower doses were younger, male, currently hospitalized, not currently depressed, and reported lifetime suicidal ideation; they also received relatively high doses of antipsychotics, received electroconvulsive treatment within the previous 12 months, and had greater ratings of tremors and sedation. By linear regression modeling, the mean proportion given high doses of MS was associated significantly and independently with higher doses of antipsychotics, younger age, male sex, hospitalized, more years of illness, country, higher body mass index, recent electroconvulsive treatment, and being in illness remission.

Conclusions

Relatively high doses of MSs for BD are prevalent, but vary markedly among Asian countries, and are particularly likely among young males, ill for many years, and given high doses of antipsychotics or ECT. These characteristics allow better identification of patient profiles that can guide treatment of BD patients.
Supporting Parents Through a Cleft Palate
Authors: Binford Leslie , Rice Mary Eve , Hamlin Amy , Wilson Debra Rose
Published: April 2022

The diagnosis of cleft anomalies evokes many emotions for parents, creating a significant psychosocial burden and ripple effect on the family. Parents report feeling fearful after diagnosis and overwhelmed on how to care for their child. They feel unprepared to manage the social response to a visible congenital malformation such as cleft lip and palate. Parents of children born with congenital malformations such as cleft palate have many obstacles to overcome in their child's lifetime, but many do not even know where to begin. Support for parents of children with palate should begin at diagnosis, as it takes time for these families to process how their child's congenital malformation will affect the quality of life of the family and the child. This article reviews the ways healthcare teams can support parents through diagnosis, coping, feeding, and surgical experiences and provides resources for providing care for these families.
Nurse practitioner preceptor education to increase role preparedness
Authors: Perryman Ka’Shiris W.
Published: April 2022

Background:

The public has become aware of the need for nurses and nurse practitioners in primary care with the widespread public health crisis. As the need for nurses and nurse practitioners grows, there is a need for the clinical educator and preceptor. However, preceptors have noted barriers to precepting such as time constraints, lack of preceptor role education, and role preparedness.

Local problem:

Currently, neither preceptor role development nor education has been implemented within a local institution. Preceptor vocalization led the charge for preceptor role development education within the institution.

Methods:

This quality improvement project focused on the preceptor role preparedness and education. A convenience sample was recruited from a large, diverse academic institution. The modified Clinical Supervision Self-Assessment Tool-Skills was utilized to determine the effectiveness of online education in preceptor role preparedness.

Interventions:

An online, self-directed, evidence-based preceptor education webpage with easily reproducible information related to collaborating with students and faculty situations. Literature, such as the One Minute Preceptor, Ask, Tell, Ask, and engaging student scenarios, was included from the literature review. A voice-recorded PowerPoint summarizing the webpage was included with a transcript for accessibility.

Results:

A paired t-test was used to assess the mean differences between the preintervention and postintervention periods. The results indicated the online preceptor education was effective.

Conclusions:

Preparing nurse practitioner preceptors for their roles benefits the health care system. An online, self-directed, evidence-based preceptor education webpage can be beneficial in future preceptor education planning.
PedBotHome: A Video Game–Based Robotic Ankle Device Created for Home Exercise in Children With Neurological Impairments
Authors: Coley Catherine , Kovelman Staci , Belschner Justine , Cleary Kevin , Schladen Manon , Evans Sarah Helen , Salvador Tyler , Monfaredi Reza , Fooladi Talari Hadi , Slagle Jacob , Rana Md Sohel
Published: April 2022

Purpose:

This pilot study assesses the feasibility of using PedBotHome to promote adherence to a home exercise program, the ability of the device to withstand frequent use, and changes in participant ankle mobility.

PedBotHome is a robotic ankle device with integrated video game software designed to improve ankle mobility in children with cerebral palsy.

Methods:

Eight participants enrolled in a 28-day trial of PedBotHome. Ankle strength, range of motion, and plantar flexor spasticity were measured pre- and posttrial. Performance was monitored remotely, and game settings were modified weekly by physical therapists.

Results:

Four participants met the study goal of 20 days of use. There were statistically significant improvements in ankle strength, spasticity, and range of motion.

Conclusions:

PedBotHome is a feasible device to engage children with static neurological injuries in ankle home exercise. This pilot study expands the paradigm for future innovative home-based robotic rehabilitation.
Incorporating Holistic Review in Recruitment in a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program
Authors: Chi Bradley , Krull Christine , Akamagwuna Unoma , Huang Donna
Published: April 2022

Traditional residency recruitment practices are vulnerable to unconscious biases, inequity, lack of diversity, and have limited ability to predict future clinical competency. Holistic review and evidence-based strategies, such as structured interviews and situational judgment tests, can mitigate these limitations. A physical medicine and rehabilitation residency program restructured its residency recruitment process using holistic review principles and evidence-based strategies during the 2020–2021 academic year. A subcommittee developed a weighted screening rubric based on Association of American Medical Colleges core competencies and semistructured interview questions targeting specific domains. Formal implicit bias training was provided. Screening scores determined interview invitations. Applicants participated in three different domain-focused semistructured interviews. Screening and interview scores were combined to form the program rank list. A postinterview anonymous questionnaire was sent to interviewees to obtain feedback. Four hundred eighty-nine applicants were screened (82 interview invitations, 80 interviewed, 8 matched). The respondents to the postinterview questionnaire found that interviews evaluated them objectively (90%) and improved their impression of the program (90%). The program’s match was consistent with previous matches. Interviewed applicants represented a racially diverse group. Most questionnaire respondents had a positive impression of the interview process. This article demonstrates incorporating holistic review into residency recruitment and provides specific resources to aid other institutions pursuing similar goals.
18F-Labeled WBC PET/CT Scan in a Case of Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme, Presented as Pyrexia of Unknown Origin
Authors: Das Subha Shankar , Malik Dharmender , Khanna Gaurav , Sen Ishita Bharat , Patir Rana
Published: April 2022

Neoplastic causes account for approximately 10% to 20% cases of PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin). The mechanisms by which malignancies induce fever are not fully understood. The release of pyrogenic cytokines either directly from tumor cells or from macrophages responding to tumor are likely to play a major role, which acts on the hypothalamus, causing a change in the thermostatic set point. We present a case of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, who presented with PUO. 18F-FDG–labeled leukocyte PET/CT scan done for localization of infective focus demonstrated significant tracer accumulation at the periphery of the recurrent brain lesion. Subsequent excisional biopsy from the lesion was suggestive of noninfected recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
Detecting Interval Distant Metastases With 18F-FDG PET/CT After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Kroese Tiuri E. , Ruurda Jelle P. , Bakker Anne S. , Jairam Jasvir , Mook Stella , van der Horst Sylvia , Meijer Gert J. , Haj Mohammad Nadia , van Rossum Peter S.N. , van Hillegersberg Richard
Published: April 2022

Purpose

Patients with esophageal cancer can develop distant metastases between the start of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and planned surgery (ie, interval distant metastases). 18F-FDG PET/CT restaging after nCRT detects interval distant metastases in ~8% of patients. This study aimed to identify patients for whom 18F-FDG PET/CT restaging after nCRT could be omitted using an existing prediction model predicting for interval distant metastases or by using clinical stage groups.

Patients and Methods

Patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who underwent baseline and restaging 18F-FDG PET/CT, nCRT, and were planned for esophagectomy between 2017 and 2021 were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective study. The primary outcome was the existing model’s external performance (ie, discrimination and calibration) for predicting interval distant metastases. The existing model predictors included tumor length, cN status, squamous cell carcinoma histology, and baseline SUVmax. The secondary outcome determined the clinical stage groups (AJCC/UICC eighth edition) for adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma for which the incidence of interval distant metastases was <10%.

Results

In total, 127 patients were included, of whom 17 patients developed interval distant metastases (13%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8%–21%) and 9 patients were deemed to have false-positive lesions on 18F-FDG PET/CT (7%; 95% CI, 2%–11%). Applying the existing model to this cohort yielded a discriminatory c-statistic of 0.56 (95% CI, 0.40–0.72). The calibration of the existing model was poor (ie, mostly underestimating the actual risk). The incidence of true-positive versus false-positive interval distant metastases for patients with clinical stage II disease was 5% versus 0%; clinical stage III, 14% versus 8%; and clinical stage IVa, 22% versus 9%.

Conclusions

The existing prediction model cannot reliably identify patients at risk for developing interval distant metastases after nCRT for esophageal cancer. Omission of 18F-FDG PET/CT restaging after nCRT could be considered in patients with clinical stage II esophageal cancer.
Tropical ant community responses to experimental soil warming
Authors: Bujan Jelena , Nottingham Andrew T. , Velasquez Esther , Meir Patrick , Kaspari Michael , Yanoviak Stephen P.
Published: April 2022

Climate change is one of the primary agents of the global decline in insect abundance. Because of their narrow thermal ranges, tropical ectotherms are predicted to be most threatened by global warming, yet tests of this prediction are often confounded by other anthropogenic disturbances. We used a tropical forest soil warming experiment to directly test the effect of temperature increase on litter-dwelling ants. Two years of continuous warming led to a change in ant community between warming and control plots. Specifically, six ant genera were recorded only on warming plots, and one genus only on control plots.Wasmannia auropuctata,a species often invasive elsewhere but native to this forest, was more abundant in warmed plots. Ant recruitment at baits was best predicted by soil surface temperature and ant heat tolerance. These results suggest that heat tolerance is useful for predicting changes in daily foraging activity, which is directly tied to colony fitness. We show that a 2-year increase in temperature (of 2–4°C) can have a profound effect on the most abundant insects, potentially favouring species with invasive traits and moderate heat tolerances.
Ocean acidification alters sperm responses to egg-derived chemicals in a broadcast spawning mussel
Authors: Lymbery Rowan A. , Brouwer Jill , Evans Jonathan P.
Published: April 2022

The continued emissions of anthropogenic carbon dioxide are causing progressive ocean acidification (OA). While deleterious effects of OA on biological systems are well documented in the growth of calcifying organisms, lesser studied impacts of OA include potential effects on gamete interactions that determine fertilization, which are likely to influence the many marine species that spawn gametes externally. Here, we explore the effects of OA on the signalling mechanisms that enable sperm to track egg-derived chemicals (sperm chemotaxis). We focus on the mussel
Mytilus galloprovincialis
, where sperm chemotaxis enables eggs to bias fertilization in favour of genetically compatible males. Using an experimental design based on the North Carolina II factorial breeding design, we test whether the experimental manipulation of seawater pH (comparing ambient conditions to predicted end-of-century scenarios) alters patterns of differential sperm chemotaxis. While we find no evidence that male–female gametic compatibility is impacted by OA, we do find that individual males exhibit consistent variation in how their sperm perform in lowered pH levels. This finding of individual variability in the capacity of ejaculates to respond to chemoattractants under acidified conditions suggests that climate change will exert considerable pressure on male genotypes that can withstand an increasingly hostile fertilization environment.
Body-axis organization in tetrapods: a model-system to disentangle the developmental origins of convergent evolution in deep time
Authors: Figueirido Borja , Serrano Francisco J. , Pérez-Ramos Alejandro , Esteban Juan Miguel , Ferrón Humberto G. , Martín-Serra Alberto
Published: April 2022

Convergent evolution is a central concept in evolutionary theory but the underlying mechanism has been largely debated since
On the Origin of Species
. Previous hypotheses predict that developmental constraints make some morphologies more likely to arise than others and natural selection discards those of the lowest fitness. However, the quantification of the role and strength of natural selection and developmental constraint in shaping convergent phenotypes on macroevolutionary timescales is challenging because the information regarding performance and development is not directly available. Accordingly, current knowledge of how embryonic development and natural selection drive phenotypic evolution in vertebrates has been extended from studies performed at short temporal scales. We propose here the organization of the tetrapod body-axis as a model system to investigate the developmental origins of convergent evolution over hundreds of millions of years. The quantification of the primary developmental mechanisms driving body-axis organization (i.e. somitogenesis, homeotic effects and differential growth) can be inferred from vertebral counts, and recent techniques of three-dimensional computational biomechanics have the necessary potential to reveal organismal performance even in fossil forms. The combination of both approaches offers a novel and robust methodological framework to test competing hypotheses on the functional and developmental drivers of phenotypic evolution and evolutionary convergence.
Forced proximity promotes the formation of enduring cooperative relationships in vampire bats
Authors: Razik Imran , Brown Bridget K. G. , Carter Gerald G.
Published: April 2022

Spatial assortment can be both a cause and a consequence of cooperation. Proximity promotes cooperation when individuals preferentially help nearby partners, and conversely, cooperation drives proximity when individuals move towards more cooperative partners. However, these two causal directions are difficult to distinguish with observational data. Here, we experimentally test if forcing randomly selected pairs of equally familiar female common vampire bats (
Desmodus rotundus
) into close spatial proximity promotes the formation of enduring cooperative relationships. Over 114 days, we sampled 682 h of interactions among 21 females captured from three distant sites to track daily allogrooming rates over time. We compared these rates before, during and after a one-week period, during which we caged random triads of previously unfamiliar and unrelated vampire bats in proximity. After the week of proximity when all bats could again freely associate, the allogrooming rates of pairs forced into proximity increased more than those of the 126 control pairs. This work is the first to experimentally demonstrate the causal effect of repeated interactions on cooperative investments in vampire bats. Future work should determine the relative importance of mere association versus interactions (e.g. reciprocal allogrooming) in shaping social preferences.
Artificial SA-I, RA-I and RA-II/vibrotactile afferents for tactile sensing of texture
Authors: Pestell Nicholas , Lepora Nathan F.
Published: April 2022

Robot touch can benefit from how humans perceive tactile textural information, from the stimulation mode to which tactile channels respond, then the tactile cues and encoding. Using a soft biomimetic tactile sensor (the TacTip) based on the physiology of the dermal–epidermal boundary, we construct two biomimetic tactile channels based on slowly adapting SA-I and rapidly adapting RA-I afferents, and introduce an additional sub-modality for vibrotactile information with an embedded microphone interpreted as an artificial RA-II channel. These artificial tactile channels are stimulated dynamically with a set of 13 artificial rigid textures comprising raised-bump patterns on a rotating drum that vary systematically in roughness. Methods employing spatial, spatio-temporal and temporal codes are assessed for texture classification insensitive to stimulation speed. We find: (i) spatially encoded frictional cues provide a salient representation of texture; (ii) a simple transformation of spatial tactile features to model natural afferent responses improves the temporal coding; and (iii) the harmonic structure of induced vibrations provides a pertinent code for speed-invariant texture classification. Just as human touch relies on an interplay between slowly adapting (SA-I), rapidly adapting (RA-I) and vibrotactile (RA-II) channels, this tripartite structure may be needed for future robot applications with human-like dexterity, from prosthetics to materials testing, handling and manipulation.
Multi-scale modelling reveals that early super-spreader events are a likely contributor to novel variant predominance
Authors: Goyal Ashish , Reeves Daniel B. , Schiffer Joshua T.
Published: April 2022

The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) has hampered international efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. VOCs have been characterized to varying degrees by higher transmissibility, worse infection outcomes and evasion of vaccine and infection-induced immunologic memory. VOCs are hypothesized to have originated from animal reservoirs, communities in regions with low surveillance and/or single individuals with poor immunologic control of the virus. Yet, the factors dictating which variants ultimately predominate remain incompletely characterized. Here we present a multi-scale model of SARS-CoV-2 dynamics that describes population spread through individuals whose viral loads and numbers of contacts (drawn from an over-dispersed distribution) are both time-varying. This framework allows us to explore how super-spreader events (SSE) (defined as greater than five secondary infections per day) contribute to variant emergence. We find stochasticity remains a powerful determinant of predominance. Variants that predominate are more likely to be associated with higher infectiousness, an SSE early after variant emergence and ongoing decline of the current dominant variant. Additionally, our simulations reveal that most new highly infectious variants that infect one or a few individuals do not achieve permanence in the population. Consequently, interventions that reduce super-spreading may delay or mitigate emergence of VOCs.
Testing the reproducibility and robustness of the cancer biology literature by robot
Authors: Roper Katherine , Abdel-Rehim A. , Hubbard Sonya , Carpenter Martin , Rzhetsky Andrey , Soldatova Larisa , King Ross D.
Published: April 2022

Scientific results should not just be ‘repeatable’ (replicable in the same laboratory under identical conditions), but also ‘reproducible’ (replicable in other laboratories under similar conditions). Results should also, if possible, be ‘robust’ (replicable under a wide range of conditions). The reproducibility and robustness of only a small fraction of published biomedical results has been tested; furthermore, when reproducibility is tested, it is often not found. This situation is termed ‘the reproducibility crisis', and it is one the most important issues facing biomedicine. This crisis would be solved if it were possible to automate reproducibility testing. Here, we describe the semi-automated testing for reproducibility and robustness of simple statements (propositions) about cancer cell biology automatically extracted from the literature. From 12 260 papers, we automatically extracted statements predicted to describe experimental results regarding a change of gene expression in response to drug treatment in breast cancer, from these we selected 74 statements of high biomedical interest. To test the reproducibility of these statements, two different teams used the laboratory automation system Eve and two breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231). Statistically significant evidence for repeatability was found for 43 statements, and significant evidence for reproducibility/robustness in 22 statements. In two cases, the automation made serendipitous discoveries. The reproduced/robust knowledge provides significant insight into cancer. We conclude that semi-automated reproducibility testing is currently achievable, that it could be scaled up to generate a substantive source of reliable knowledge and that automation has the potential to mitigate the reproducibility crisis.
Combined electromechanically driven pulsating flow of nonlinear viscoelastic fluids in narrow confinements
Authors: Kumar Vishal , Mukherjee Joydeb , Sinha Sudipta Kumar , Ghosh Uddipta
Published: April 2022

Controlled microscale transport is at the core of many scientific and technological advancements, including medical diagnostics, separation of biomolecules, etc., and often involves complex fluids. One of the challenges in this regard is to actuate flows at small scales in an energy efficient manner, given the strong viscous forces opposing fluid motion. We try to address this issue here by probing a combined time-periodic pressure and electrokinetically driven flow of a viscoelastic fluid obeying the simplified linear Phan-Thien–Tanner model, using numerical as well as asymptotic tools, in view of the fact that oscillatory fields are less energy intensive. We establish that the interplay between oscillatory electrical and mechanical forces can lead to complex temporal mass flow rate variations with short-term bursts and peaks in the flow rate. We further demonstrate that an oscillatory pressure gradient or an electric field, in tandem with another steady actuating force can indeed change the net throughput significantly—a paradigm that is not realized in Newtonian or other simpler polymeric liquids. Our results reveal that the extent of augmentation in the flow rate strongly depends on the frequency of the imposed actuating forces along with their waveforms. We also evaluate the streaming potential resulting from an oscillatory pressure-driven flow and illustrate that akin to the volume throughput, the streaming potential also shows complex temporal variations, while its time average gets augmented in the presence of a time-periodic pressure gradient in a nonlinear viscoelastic medium.
A stochastic mathematical model of 4D tumour spheroids with real-time fluorescent cell cycle labelling
Authors: Klowss Jonah J. , Browning Alexander P. , Murphy Ryan J. , Carr Elliot J. , Plank Michael J. , Gunasingh Gency , Haass Nikolas K. , Simpson Matthew J.
Published: April 2022

In vitro
tumour spheroids have been used to study avascular tumour growth and drug design for over 50 years. Tumour spheroids exhibit heterogeneity within the growing population that is thought to be related to spatial and temporal differences in nutrient availability. The recent development of real-time fluorescent cell cycle imaging allows us to identify the position and cell cycle status of individual cells within the growing spheroid, giving rise to the notion of a four-dimensional (4D) tumour spheroid. We develop the first stochastic individual-based model (IBM) of a 4D tumour spheroid and show that IBM simulation data compares well with experimental data using a primary human melanoma cell line. The IBM provides quantitative information about nutrient availability within the spheroid, which is important because it is difficult to measure these data experimentally.
Surface functionalization of poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrates facilitates culture of pre-implantation mouse embryos by blocking non-selective adsorption
Authors: Hawkins Jamar , Miao Xiaosu , Cui Wei , Sun Yubing
Published: April 2022

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used in biomedical settings such as microfluidics for its optical transparency, castability, gas permeability and relative biocompatibility. While PDMS devices with certain modifications or treatments have been used for mammalian pre-implantation embryo culture, it is unclear why native PDMS leads to significant embryo death. In this study, we employ Nile Red as a model hydrophobic small molecule to demonstrate that significant hydrophobic sequestration occurs on native PDMS substrates even with a bovine serum albumin-containing KSOM pre-equilibration. Our results suggest that this small molecule sequestration has detrimental effects on mouse embryo development in PDMS static culture wells, with 0% blastocyst development rates from embryos cultured on native PDMS. We found that prior saturation of the PDMS culture well with water vapour only rescues about 10% of blastocyst development rates, indicating osmolality alone is not responsible for the high rates of embryo arrest. We also present a safe and simple Pluronic F127 pretreatment for PDMS substrates that successfully circumvented the harmful effects of native PDMS, achieving a blastocyst and implantation rate akin to that of our polystyrene controls. Our results call into question how researchers and clinicians can account for the alterations in medium composition and embryo secretions when using hydrophobic substrates, especially in the mammalian embryo culture setting where minimum effective concentrations of peptides and amino acids are commonplace.
Attachment of bioinspired microfibrils in fluids: transition from a hydrodynamic to hydrostatic mechanism
Authors: Wang Yue , Hensel René , Arzt Eduard
Published: April 2022

Reversible and switchable adhesion of elastomeric microstructures has attracted significant interest in the development of grippers for object manipulation. Their applications, however, have often been limited to dry conditions and adhesion of such deformable microfibrils in the fluid environment is less understood. In the present study, we performed adhesion tests in silicone oil using single cylindrical microfibrils of a flat-punch shape with a radius of 80 µm. Stiff fibrils were created using three-dimensional printing of an elastomeric resin with an elastic modulus of 500 MPa, and soft fibrils, with a modulus of 3.3 MPa, were moulded in polyurethane. Our results suggest that adhesion is dominated by hydrodynamic forces, which can be maximized by stiff materials and high retraction velocities, in line with theoretical predictions. The maximum pull-off stress of stiff cylindrical fibrils is 0.6 MPa, limited by cavitation and viscous fingering, occurring at retraction velocities greater than 2 µm s−1. Next, we add a mushroom cap to the microfibrils, which, in the case of the softer material, deforms upon retraction and leads to a transition to a hydrostatic suction regime with higher pull-off stresses ranging from 0.7 to 0.9 MPa. The effects of elastic modulus, fibril size and viscosity for underwater applications are illustrated in a mechanism map to provide guidance for design optimization.
The epigenetic–metabolic interplay in gliomagenesis
Authors: Phasaludeen Bismi , Emerald Bright Starling , Ansari Suraiya Anjum
Published: April 2022

Although tumourigenesis occurs due to genetic mutations, the role of epigenetic dysregulations in cancer is also well established. Epigenetic dysregulations in cancer may occur as a result of mutations in genes encoding histone/DNA-modifying enzymes and chromatin remodellers or mutations in histone protein itself. It is also true that misregulated gene expression without genetic mutations in these factors could also support tumour initiation and progression. Interestingly, metabolic rewiring has emerged as a hallmark of cancer due to gene mutations in specific metabolic enzymes or dietary/environmental factors. Recent studies report an intricate cross-talk between epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming in cancer. This review discusses the role of epigenetic and metabolic dysregulations and their cross-talk in tumourigenesis with a special focus on gliomagenesis. We also discuss the role of recently developed human embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells-derived organoid models of gliomas and how these models are proving instrumental in uncovering human-specific cellular and molecular complexities of gliomagenesis.
DFT investigation on the application of pure and doped X12N12(X = B and Al) fullerene-like nano-cages toward the adsorption of temozolomide
Authors: Ndjopme Wandji Brice Laure , Tamafo Fouegue Aymard Didier , Nkungli Nyiang Kennet , Ntieche Rahman Abdoul , Wahabou Abdoul
Published: April 2022

The sensitivity of pure and doped X12N12(X = B and Al) fullerene-like nano-cages (FLNs) toward the anti-cancer drug temozolomide (TMZ) is probed herein at DFT/M06-2X-D3/6-311G(d,p) theoretical level in both gas phase and water. A noticeable affinity of the FLNs toward TMZ was observed along with the negative gas-phase adsorption energies −1.37 and −2.09 eV for the most stable configurations of pure B12N12and Al12N12pristines, respectively. Considerable charge transfer from TMZ to the FLNs was also revealed via NBO analysis and the Hirshfeld atomic charges, making the dipole moment vector of the molecular complexes to be oriented from the nano-cages to the TMZ moiety. Furthermore, a percentage decrease in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap (ΔEg) of 38.09 and 17.72% was obtained for the B12N12and Al12N12nano-cages, respectively. The percentage change in ΔEgwas found to be reduced upon doping and solvation of the FLNs. Finally, a recovery time in vacuum ultraviolet light of 1.06 s is found for the complex with pure B12N12, which in addition to the above-mentioned parameters make this boron nitride cage the best sensor for TMZ, among the FLNs considered in the present work.