bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing an Interprofessional Health Care Improvement Portfolio: Results From a Consensus Panel Process
Authors: Godwin Kyler M. , Horstman Molly J. , Chao Samantha , Dolansky Mary , Al Mohajer Mayar , Naik Aanand D.
Published: October 2021

The increased focus on professional-led, continuous health care improvement has not produced formalized processes for identifying, recognizing, and rewarding excellence in quality improvement. Moreover, the team-based nature of improvement requires a mechanism to document interprofessional contributions. In 2018, the authors created a health care improvement portfolio to document and demonstrate individual impact for the purpose of promotion. A draft portfolio was developed from a review of the literature and publicly available quality improvement and educational portfolios. The portfolio was further refined through a 2-round, modified Delphi consensus process with a panel of interprofessional experts across North America. In the first round, 35 panelists gave feedback through open-ended comments on the design and content of the portfolio. In the second round, 34 panelists rated the comprehensiveness and clarity of the portfolio on a scale of 1–9 (1 = lowest, 9 = highest) and provided comments. Consensus was defined as an average score over 8.0. Panelists in the second round achieved consensus, with average scores of 8.4 in comprehensiveness and 8.3 in clarity (range, 6–9). The finalized portfolio includes the following sections: personal statement; health care improvement training and certification; leadership and administrative roles; health care improvement project activities; health care improvement coaching, teaching, and curricular activities; health care improvement honors, awards, and recognitions; and supporting documents. The portfolio facilitates the documentation of health care professionals’ contributions to and impact in health care improvement and covers the breadth of interprofessional health care improvement (i.e., projects, leadership, education, scholarship). The portfolio can be tailored to an individual’s area of specific expertise. While this portfolio was originally developed for interprofessional faculty at academic institutions, the content and structure of the portfolio are easily adapted for health care providers in other health care settings.
Unobserved Observers: Nurses’ Perspectives About Sharing Feedback on the Performance of Resident Physicians
Authors: Bhat Chirag , LaDonna Kori A. , Dewhirst Sebastian , Halman Samantha , Scowcroft Katherine , Bhat Silke , Cheung Warren J.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Postgraduate training programs are incorporating feedback from registered nurses (RNs) to facilitate holistic assessments of resident performance. RNs are a potentially rich source of feedback because they often observe trainees during clinical encounters when physician supervisors are not present. However, RN perspectives about sharing feedback have not been deeply explored. This study investigated RN perspectives about providing feedback and explored the facilitators and barriers influencing their engagement.

Method

Constructivist grounded theory methodology was used in interviewing 11 emergency medicine and 8 internal medicine RNs at 2 campuses of a tertiary care academic medical center in Ontario, Canada, between July 2019 and March 2020. Interviews explored RN experiences working with and observing residents in clinical practice. Data collection and analysis were conducted iteratively. Themes were identified using constant comparative analysis.

Results

RNs felt they could observe authentic day-to-day behaviors of residents often unwitnessed by supervising physicians and offer unique feedback related to patient advocacy, communication, leadership, collaboration, and professionalism. Despite a strong desire to contribute to resident education, RNs were apprehensive about sharing feedback and reported barriers related to hierarchy, power differentials, and a fear of overstepping professional boundaries. Although infrequent, a key stimulus that enabled RNs to feel safe in sharing feedback was an invitation from the supervising physician to provide input.

Conclusions

Perceived hierarchy in academic medicine is a critical barrier to engaging RNs in feedback for residents. Accessing RN feedback on authentic resident behaviors requires dismantling the negative effects of hierarchy and fostering a collaborative interprofessional working environment. A critical step toward this goal may require supervising physicians to model feedback-seeking behavior by inviting RNs to share feedback. Until a workplace culture is established that validates nurses’ input and creates safe opportunities for them to contribute to resident education, the voices of nurses will remain unheard.
Dismantling Structural Stigma Related to Mental Health and Substance Use: An Educational Framework
Authors: Sukhera Javeed , Knaak Stephanie , Ungar Thomas , Rehman Maham
Published: October 2021

Stigma related to mental health and substance use (MHSU) is a well-established construct that describes how inequitable health outcomes can result from prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization. Although there is a body of literature on educational approaches to reduce stigma, antistigma education for MHSU has primarily focused on stigma at the social, interpersonal/public, and personal (self-stigma) levels, with little attention to the problem of structural stigma. Structural stigma refers to how inequity is manifested through rules, policies, and procedures embedded within organizations and society at large. Structural stigma is also prominent within clinical learning environments and can be transmitted through role modeling, resulting in inequitable treatment of vulnerable patient populations. Addressing structural stigma through education, therefore, has the potential to improve equity and enhance care. A promising educational approach for addressing structural stigma is structural competency, which aims to enhance health professionals’ ability to recognize and respond to social and structural determinants that produce or maintain health disparities. In this article, the authors propose a framework for addressing structural MHSU stigma in health professions education that has 4 key components and is rooted in structural humility: recognizing structural forms of stigma; reflecting critically on one’s own assumptions, values, and biases; reframing language away from stereotyping toward empathic terms; and responding with actions that actively dismantle structural MHSU stigma. The authors propose evidence-informed and practical suggestions on how structural competency may be applied within clinical learning environments to dismantle structural MHSU stigma in organizations and society at large.
Women in Medicine: The Limits of Individualism in Academic Medicine
Authors: Sharma Malika , Rawal Shail
Published: October 2021

In the 21st century, more than ever before, issues facing women in medicine, such as pay equity and workplace harassment, are being explored and attended to by physicians and health care institutions. Discussions about women in medicine almost exclusively center around women physicians, even though most women in medicine are, in fact, not physicians. In addition, these discussions typically focus on gender, often failing to consider how race, class, and other dimensions of identity influence the experiences of women in medicine. In this article, the authors argue that neoliberal feminism is the dominant strand of feminism in the discourse of women in medicine. With its focus on the individual and a conception of success defined in largely economic terms, neoliberal feminism fails to consider the broader conditions in which women are situated and, therefore, limits structural criticism and the possibility for all women to engage in social justice. The authors suggest that the pandemic is an opportunity to pursue a more expansive vision of feminism in medicine. They propose intersectional feminism as a theoretical framework that can widen the understanding of what is possible: moving from individual actions resulting in incremental change to collective action that can transform systems. Intersectional feminism enables a push for structures, institutions, and practices that support all workers, including basic income, labor protections, public childcare, accessible health care, transportation justice, and migrant rights. In so doing, intersectional feminism calls for solidarity with and among women both within and outside of medicine.
The conquest of lung cancer in Central Europe
Authors: Klastersky Jean A.
Published: October 2021

Purpose of review

Discussed the main approaches for lung control and point out differences among Central Europe and other countries.

Recent findings

Three main approaches exist: smoking ban, early computed tomography screening and access to novel therapies; major differences exist between Central Europe and some other countries.

A major effort will be needed from Central Europe countries in all three approaches; it will require strong involvement from the political authorities.
Is Chemotherapy Associated with Improved Overall Survival in Patients with Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma? A SEER Database Analysis
Authors: Cranmer Lee D. , Chau Bonny , Mantilla Jose G. , Loggers Elizabeth T. , Pollack Seth M. , Kim Teresa S. , Kim Edward Y. , Kane Gabrielle M. , Thompson Matthew J. , Harwood Jared L. , Wagner Michael J.
Published: October 2021

Background

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma is a chondrosarcoma subtype associated with high rates of recurrence and a poor prognosis. Others have proposed treatment of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma using osteosarcoma protocols, including perioperative chemotherapy. However, the rarity of this condition poses difficulties in undertaking single- institution studies of sufficient sample size.

Question/purpose

Is perioperative chemotherapy associated with improved overall survival in patients with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma?

Methods

We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 1973 to 2016 database for patients with a diagnosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (n = 308). As dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma was only classified as a distinct entity in SEER starting in 2000, only patients treated in 2000 and later were included. We excluded from our analyses those patients with distant disease at diagnosis, a primary site of disease other than bone or joints, and those who did not receive cancer-directed surgery. These criteria yielded 185 dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma patients for inclusion. We used Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association of clinical, demographic, and treatment characteristics on overall survival (OS).

Results

After controlling for confounding variables, including age, sex, tumor size, stage, grade, location, and radiation treatment status, and after adjusting for missing data, no overall survival benefit was associated with receipt of chemotherapy in patients with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (hazard ratio 0.75 [95% confidence interval 0.49 to 1.12]; p = 0.16).

Conclusion

Chemotherapy treatment of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma was not associated with improved OS. These results must be viewed cautiously, given the limited granularity of information on chemotherapy treatment, the concerns regarding chemotherapy misclassification in SEER data, and the small sample of patients with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, all of which limit the power to detect a difference. Our findings are nevertheless consistent with those of prior reports in which no benefit of chemotherapy could be detected. Lack of clear benefit from perioperative chemotherapy in dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma argues that it should be used only after careful consideration, and ideally in the context of a clinical trial.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.
Sebaceous Carcinomas: A Clinicopathological Comparison of Ocular and Extraocular Variants
Authors: Plaza Jose A. , Chung Catherine , Salim Sadia , Gru Alejandro , Sangueza Martin
Published: October 2021

Sebaceous carcinomas (SC) are rare tumors and are currently classified into ocular and extraocular variants. Both variants of SC have very different clinical behavior and different histomorphologic appearance; however, published data are confounding as literature describes prognosis of both variants is similar or even that extraocular variants are more aggressive. In this study we evaluated the clinical and the histopathology of ocular and extraocular SC to confirm the difference between them. We performed a retrospective review of SC in which we studied the clinical and histomorphologic features of 106 cases, including 39 cases of ocular SC and 67 cases of extraocular SC. Only 2/67 cases of extraocular SC had multiple recurrences and none of them metastasized as opposed to our cases of ocular SC wherein 21/39 cases were locally aggressive with multiple recurrences and 5 cases metastasized. Histologically, both neoplasms showed major distinct morphologic features including poor differentiation in cases of ocular SC and well-differentiated tumors in the extraocular anatomic sites. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case series of SC that compares the clinicopathologic features of ocular and extraocular variants. Awareness of such discrepancy is key to understand this disease and to possibly diagnose and manage these patients accordingly.
Emotional Activation in Simulation
Authors: O'Regan Stephanie A. , Ekelund Kim , Watterson Leonie M.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The degree of emotional activation required for optimal learning in either hands-on or observer roles is unclear, as is the level of stress that impedes learning. Measuring emotional activation is time-consuming, and many scales measure threat or anxiety without considering pleasurable activation. This study examined emotional activation in the observer and hands-on roles in 2 different scenario designs.

Methods

This study was a 2-cohort, parallel study of graduate nurses and doctors completing 2 different courses in managing the deteriorating patient. We examined emotional activation by role across 2 scenario designs. We measured emotional activation on 3 anchored measures scales: the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Cognitive Appraisal Index, and the Affect Grid with data analysis using analysis of variance and repeated measures.

Results

Hands-on learners experienced higher anxiety, threat, and arousal levels and less pleasure than observers in both scenario designs. There were no differences in pre-emotional and postemotional activation in immersive scenarios for either role and increased arousal and decreased threat and anxiety in the hands-on role in the pause-and-discuss scenario design.

Conclusions

Hands-on learners were more emotionally activated than observers in both scenario designs. There was significant perceived anxiety, threat, and pleasurable arousal in both roles and both scenario designs. Pause-and-discuss scenarios demonstrated similar levels of activation as the immersive scenario design. The Affect Grid provided a quick subjective view of arousal and pleasure in simulation participants, potentially providing educators with an indication of whether emotional activation is positive (excitement) or negative (stressful) and may be helpful in educational planning and future research.
Efficacy of Computer-Based Simulation as a Modality for Learning Pediatric Disaster Triage for Pediatric Emergency Nurses
Authors: Levy Arielle R. , Khalil Elene , Chandramohan Minuoja , Whitfill Travis M. , Cicero Mark X.
Published: October 2021

Summary Statement

Pediatric disaster triage (PDT) is challenging for healthcare personnel. Mistriage can lead to poor resource utilization. In contrast to live simulation, screen-based simulation is more reproducible and less costly. We hypothesized that the screen-based simulation “60 Seconds to Survival” (60S) to learning PDT will be associated with improved triage accuracy for pediatric emergency nursing personnel.

During this prospective observational study, 138 nurse participants at 2 tertiary care emergency departments were required to play 60S at least 5 times over 13 weeks. Efficacy was assessed by measuring the learners' triage accuracy, mistriage, and simulated patient outcomes using JumpStart.

Triage accuracy improved from a median of 61.1 [interquartile range (IQR) = 48.5–72.0] to 91.7 (IQR = 60.4–95.8, P < 0.0001), whereas mistriage decreased from 38.9 (IQR = 28.0–51.5) to 8.3 (IQR = 4.2–39.6, P < 0.0001), demonstrating a significant improvement in accuracy and decrease in mistriage. Screen-based simulation 60S is an effective modality for learning PDT by pediatric emergency nurses.
C-reactive protein as a triage tool for adults with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis in South Africa: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Calderwood Claire J , Reeve Byron WP , Mann Tiffeney , Palmer Zaida , Nyawo Georgina , Mishra Hridesh , Abubakar Ibrahim , Noursadeghi Mahdad , Theron Grant , Gupta Rishi K
Published: October 2021

Background

Identification of an accurate, low-cost triage test for pulmonary TB among people presenting to healthcare facilities is an urgent global research priority. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) for TB triage among symptomatic adult outpatients, irrespective of HIV status.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled adults reporting at least one (for people with HIV) or two (for people without HIV) symptoms of cough, fever, night sweats, or weight loss at two TB clinics in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants provided sputum for culture and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of CRP (measured using a laboratory-based assay) against a TB-culture reference standard as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and sensitivity and specificity at pre-specified thresholds. We assessed clinical utility using decision curve analysis, benchmarked against WHO recommendations.

Results

Of 932 included individuals, 255 (27%) had culture-confirmed TB and 389 (42%) were living with HIV. CRP demonstrated an AUROC of 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.77–0.83), with sensitivity 93% (89–95%) and specificity 54% (50–58%) using a primary cut-off of ≥10mg/L. Performance was similar among people with HIV to those without. In decision curve analysis, CRP-based triage offered greater clinical utility than confirmatory testing for all up to a number willing to test threshold of 20 confirmatory tests per true positive TB case diagnosed.

Conclusions

CRP approached the WHO-defined minimum performance for a TB triage test and showed evidence of clinical utility among symptomatic outpatients, irrespective of HIV status.
Psychiatric Manifestations and Associated Risk Factors among Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Okogbenin Esther O. , Seb-Akahomen Omonefe J. , Edeawe Osahogie I. , Ehimigbai Mary , Eboreime Helen , Odike Angela , Obagaye Michael O. , Aweh Benjamin E. , Erohubie Paul , Eriyo Williams O. , Inogbo Chinwe F. , Akhideno Peter , Eifediyi Gloria , Eifediyi Reuben , Asogun Danny , Okogbenin Sylvanus A.
Published: October 2021

Objective

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had devastating effects globally. These effects are likely to result in mental health problems at different levels. Although studies have reported the mental health burden of the pandemic on the general population and frontline health workers, the impact of the disease on the mental health of patients in COVID-19 treatment and isolation centres have been understudied in Africa. We estimated the prevalence of depression and anxiety and associated risk factors in hospitalized persons with COVID-19.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 489 patients with COVID-19 at the three government designated treatment and isolation centres in Edo State, Nigeria. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tool were used to assess depression and anxiety respectively. Binary logistic regression was applied to determine risk factors of depression and anxiety.

Results

Of the 489 participants, 49.1% and 38.0% had depressive and anxiety symptoms respectively. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and combination of both were 16.2%, 12.9% and 9.0% respectively. Moderate-severe symptoms of COVID-19, ≥14 days in isolation, worrying about the outcome of infection and stigma increased the risk of having depression and anxiety. Additionally, being separated/divorced increased the risk of having depression and having comorbidity increased the risk of having anxiety.

Conclusion

A substantial proportion of our participants experienced depression, anxiety and a combination of both especially in those who had the risk factors we identified. The findings underscore the need to address these risk factors early in the course of the disease and integrate mental health interventions into COVID-19 management guidelines.
The role of educational settings in the transmission chain of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020: a systematic review
Authors: Vardavas Constantine , Nikitara Katerina , Mathioudakis Alexander , Hilton-Boon Michele , Phalkey Revati , Leonardi-Bee Jo , Pharris Anastasia , Deogan Charlotte , Suk Jonathan E.
Published: October 2021

Background

School closures have been used as a core Non pharmaceutical intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic, however the role of educational settings in COVID-19 transmission is still unclear.

Methods

This systematic literature review assessed studies published between December 2019 and April 1, 2021 in Medline and Embase, which included studies that assessed educational settings from approximately January 2020 to January 2021. The inclusion criteria were based on the PCC framework (P-Population, C-Concept, C-Context). The studyPopulationwas restricted to people 1-17 years old (excluding neonatal transmission), theConceptwas to assess child-to-child and child-to-adult transmission, while theContextwas to assess specifically educational setting transmission clusters.

Results

Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria, ranging from daycare centers to high schools and summer camps, while eight studies assessed the re-opening of schools in the 2020-2021 school year. In principle although there is sufficient evidence that children can both be infected by and transmit SARS-CoV-2 in school settings, the SAR remain relatively low -when NPI measures are implemented in parallel. Moreover, although the evidence was limited there was an indication that younger children may have a lower SAR than adolescents.

Conclusions

Transmission in educational settings in 2020 was minimal -when NPI measures were implemented in parallel. However, with an upsurge of cases related to variants of concern, continuous surveillance and assessment of the evidence is warranted to ensure the maximum protection of the health of students and the educational workforce, while also minimising the numerous negative impacts that school closures may have on children.

Strengths and limitations of this study

This study provides a rapid review of the peer-reviewed literature pertaining to SARS-CoV-2 transmission by children within educational settings.

The review reflects the status quo of the previous school years (January 2020 -January 2021) due to the lag time between study implementation, peer review and publication.

The included studies represent child-to-child transmission within the context of previous SARS-CoV-2 strains and are not directly applicable to newer variants.
Changes in paediatric respiratory infections at a UK teaching hospital 2016-2021; impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Lumley Sheila F. , Richens Nicholas , Lees Emily , Cregan Jack , Kalimeris Elizabeth , Oakley Sarah , Morgan Marcus , Segal Shelley , Dawson Moya , Walker A. Sarah , Eyre David W. , Crook Derrick W. , Beer Sally , Novak Alex , Stoesser Nicole E. , Matthews Philippa C.
Published: October 2021

Objective

To describe the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the incidence of paediatric viral respiratory tract infection in Oxfordshire, UK.

Methods

Data on paediatric Emergency Department (ED) attendances (0-15 years inclusive), respiratory virus testing, vital signs and mortality at Oxford University Hospitals were summarised using descriptive statistics.

Results

Between 1-March-2016 and 30-July-2021, 155,056 ED attendances occurred and 7,195 respiratory virus PCRs were performed. Detection of all pathogens was suppressed during the first national lockdown. Rhinovirus and adenovirus rates increased when schools reopened September-December 2020, then fell, before rising in March-May 2021. The usual winter RSV peak did not occur in 2020/21, with an inter-seasonal rise (32/1,000 attendances in 0-3yr olds) in July 2021. Influenza remained suppressed throughout. A higher Paediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) was seen for attendees with adenovirus during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (p=0.04, Mann-Witney U test), no other differences in PEWS were seen.

Conclusions

SARS-CoV-2 caused major changes in the incidence of paediatric respiratory viral infection in Oxfordshire, with implications for clinical service demand, testing strategies, timing of palivizumab RSV prophylaxis, and highlighting the need to understand which public health interventions are most effective for preventing respiratory virus infections.
A video-based behavioural intervention associated with improved HPV knowledge and intention to vaccinate
Authors: Marshall Sarah , Moore Anne , Fleming Aoife , Sahm Laura J
Published: October 2021

Aims

The aim of this study was to design, develop and evaluate a theory and evidence-based intervention to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV vaccine knowledge, and intention to vaccinate, among parent-daughter dyads.

Methods

A theory and evidence-based online behavioural intervention, “Is the HPV vaccine for me?” was developed to improve HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge, and intention to vaccinate. The impact and feasibility of the intervention was evaluated in a prospective randomised controlled feasibility trial.

Results

A total of 49 parent-daughter dyads completed baseline knowledge assessment (n=24 control, n=25 intervention), and 35 dyads completed knowledge assessment at week 2 (n=17 control, n=18 intervention). The intervention was associated with a statistically significant increase in HPV, and HPV vaccine knowledge and intention to vaccinate. All intervention participants found the video interesting, while 96% found it useful.

Conclusions

This intervention was found to be affordable, practicable, effective (cost-effective), acceptable, safe, and equitable, in this feasibility study.
Annulment of antagonism shifts properties that are beneficial to plants in two-member consortia of Bacillus velezensis
Authors: Shao Jiahui , Liu Yan , Xie Jiyu , Štefanič Polonca , Lv Yu , Fan Ben , Mandic-Mulec Ines , Zhang Ruifu , Xu Zhihui , Shen Qirong
Published: October 2021

Bacillus spp. strains that are beneficial to plants are widely used in commercial biofertilizers and biocontrol agents for sustainable agriculture. Generally, functional Bacillus strains are applied as single strain communities since the principles of synthetic microbial consortia constructed with Bacillus strains remain largely unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the mutual compatibility directly affects the survival and function of two-member consortia composed of B. velezensis SQR9 and FZB42 in the rhizosphere. A mutation in the global regulator Spo0A of SQR9 markedly reduced the boundary phenotype with wild-type FZB42, and the combined use of the SQR9∆spo0A mutant and FZB42 improved biofilm formation, root colonization and the production of secondary metabolites that are beneficial to plants. We further confirmed the correlation between the swarm discrimination phenotype between the two consortia members and the effects that are beneficial to plants in a greenhouse experiment. Our results provide evidence that social interactions among bacteria could be an influencing factor in achieving a desired community-level function.

IMPORTANCE

Bacillus velezensis is one of the most widely applied bacteria in biofertilizers in China and Europe. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms of plant growth promotion and disease suppression by representative model strains are well established, such as B. velezensis SQR9 and FZB42. However, it remains extremely challenging to design efficient consortia based on these model strains. Here, we showed that swarm discrimination phenotype is one of the major determinants affects the performance of two-member Bacillus consortia in vitro and in the rhizosphere. Deletion in global regulatory gene spo0A of SQR9 reduced the strength of boundary formation with FZB42, result in the improved plant growth promotion performance of dual consortium. This knowledge provides new insights into efficient probiotics consortia design in Bacillus.
Bacterial, phytoplankton, and viral dynamics of meromictic Lake Cadagno offer insights into the Proterozoic ocean microbial loop
Authors: Saini Jaspreet S , Hassler Christel , Cable Rachel , Fourquez Marion , Danza Francesco , Roman Samuele , Tonolla Mauro , Storelli Nicola , Jacquet Stéphan , Zdobnov Evgeny M. , Duhaime Melissa B.
Published: October 2021

Lake Cadagno, a permanently stratified high-alpine lake with a persistent microbial bloom in its anoxic chemocline, has long been considered a model for the low-oxygen, high-sulfide Proterozoic ocean where early microbial life gave rise to Earth’s oxygenated atmosphere. Although the lake has been studied for over 25 years, the absence of concerted study of the bacteria, phytoplankton, and viruses, together with primary and secondary production, has hindered a comprehensive understanding of its microbial food web. Here, the identities, abundances, and productivity of microbes were evaluated in the context of Lake Cadagno biogeochemistry. Photo-synthetic pigments and chloroplast 16S rRNA gene phylogenies suggested high abundances of eukaryotic phytoplankton, primarilyChlorophyta, through the water column. Of these, a close relative ofAnkyra judayi, a high-alpine adapted chlorophyte, peaked with oxygen in the mixolimnion, whileClosteriopsis-related chlorophytes peaked in the chemocline and monimolimnion. Anoxygenic phototrophic sulfur bacteria, Chromatium, dominated the chemocline along withLentimicrobium, a newly observed genus of known fermenters. Secondary production peaked in the chemocline, suggesting anoxygenic primary producers depended on heterotrophic nutrient remineralization. Virus-to-microbe ratios spanned an order of magnitude, peaking with high phytoplankton abundances and at a minimum at the peak of Chromatium, dynamic trends that suggest viruses may play a role in the modulation of oxygenic and anoxygenic photo- and chemosynthesis in Lake Cadagno. Through the combined analysis of bacterial, eukaryotic, viral, and biogeochemical dynamics of Lake Cadagno, this study provides a new perspective on the biological and geochemical connections that comprised the food webs of the Proterozoic ocean.

IMPORTANCE

As a window to the past, the study offers insights into the role of microbial guilds of Proterozoic ocean chemoclines in the production and recycling of organic matter of sulfur- and ammonia-containing ancient oceans. The new observations described here suggest that eukaryotic algae were persistent in the low oxygen upper-chemocline in association with purple and green sulfur bacteria in the lower half of the chemocline. Further, this study provides the first insights into Lake Cadagno viral ecology. High viral abundances suggested viruses may be essential components of the chemocline where their activity may result in the release and recycling of organic matter. The framework developed in this study through the integration of diverse geochemical and biological data types lays the foundation for future studies to quantitatively resolve the processes performed by discrete populations comprising the microbial loop in this early anoxic ocean analogue.
Glucose uptake in mammalian cells measured by ICP-MS
Authors: Norman Natalie J. , Ghali Joyce , Radzyukevich Tatiana L. , Heiny Judith A. , Landero-Figueroa Julio
Published: October 2021

We developed a sensitive, ratiometric method to measure simultaneously 13C-labeled glucose and rubidium in biological samples using ICP-MS. The method uses probe-assisted ultra-sonication with water to extract 13C-[6C]-labeled-D-glucose and other polar analytes from mammalian tissues. It extracts >80% of the reference value for Rb and >95 % of 13C in a CRM spiked with 13C-[6C]-labeled-D-glucose in the micro-molar range. Using optimized instrument conditions, the method achieves a stable 13C/12C signal without spectral interferences. The 13C/12C signal is independent of sample composition and depends linearly on the concentration of 13C-[6C]-labeled-D-glucose in spiked samples. Overall, the method achieves a limit of detection of 10 µM for 6-C-labeled 13C glucose in biological tissues. This detection capability for carbon in biological matrices by ICP-MS opens a wider range of applications for ICP-MS in biomedical research. As proof-of-principle, we combined 13C detection with the multi-channel capability of ICP-MS to measure glucose and rubidium uptake in the same contracting skeletal muscles. Multi-isotope detection is needed to study many biological processes, including coupled membrane transport. These results demonstrate a capability for carbon detection by ICP-MS that can significantly advance studies of complex biological processes that require multi-isotope detection.
Hunting the plant surrender signal activating apoplexy in grapevines after Neofusicoccum parvum infection
Authors: Khattab Islam M. , Fischer Jochen , Kaźmierczak Andrzej , Thines Eckhard , Nick Peter
Published: October 2021

Apoplectic breakdown from Grapevines Trunk Diseases (GTDs) has become a serious challenge to viticulture in consequence to drought stress. We hypothesise that fungal aggressiveness is controlled by a chemical communication between host and colonising fungus.

We introduce the new concept of a “plant surrender signal” accumulating in host plants under stress and triggering aggressive behaviour of the strain Neofusicoccum parvum (Bt-67) causing Botryosphaeriaceae-related dieback in grapevines.

Using a cell-based experimental system (Vitis cells) and bioactivity-guided fractionation, we identify trans-ferulic acid, a monolignol precursor, as “surrender signal”. We show that this signal specifically activates secretion of the fungal phytotoxin Fusicoccin A. We show further that this phytotoxin, mediated by 14-3-3 proteins, activates programmed cell death in Vitis cells.

We arrive at a model pinpointing the chemical communication driving apoplexy in Botryosphaeriaceae-Vitis interaction and define the channelling of phenylpropanoid pathway from the lignin precursor, trans-ferulic acid to the phytoalexin transresveratrol as target for future therapy.
Sex Differences in Cortical Morphometry during Ageing: Examining the Interplay between Lifestyle and Reproductive Factors
Authors: Costantino Manuela , Bussy Aurélie , Pigeau Grace , Blostein Nadia , Devenyi Gabriel A. , Markello Ross D. , Patel Raihaan , Gervais Nicole , Chakravarty M. Mallar
Published: October 2021

Sex differences in neurodegenerative disorder prevalence have been attributed to life expectancy, modifiable risk factors related to lifestyle and the impact of changes in sex hormones and the reproductive system. Although these factors are known to interact with one another, they are often studied in isolation. Here, we used a multivariate approach to investigate how lifestyle, along with menopause and the number of children, interacts with cortical thickness (CT) in healthy adults. Using CT measures from T1-weighted scans (MPRAGE, 1 mm3voxels; 124 participants; 67 females; 40-70 years old) from the Cam-CAN dataset. Using a partial least squares decomposition, we identified patterns of covariance between CT and lifestyle factors, menopause and the number of children. In women, we identified significant patterns that linked education, socioeconomic status, social contact and length of reproductive period to CT in the left prefrontal cortex, as well as alcohol consumption, physical activity and menopausal status to CT in the frontal poles. Contrastingly, the results in men were driven by education and anxiety, and involved increased CT in the temporal poles. Our findings suggests that sex differences in cortical anatomy during brain ageing might be driven by interactions between contrasting lifestyles and the female-specific endocrine environment.
Shared and distinct genetic features in human and canine B-cell lymphomas
Authors: Coyle Krysta M , Hillman Tiana , Cheung Matthew , Grande Bruno M. , Bushell Kevin R. , Arthur Sarah E. , Alcaide Miguel , Thomas Nicole , Dreval Kostiantyn , Wong Stephanie , Campbell Krishanna , Morin Ryan D.
Published: October 2021

Animal models of human cancers are an important tool for the development and preclinical evaluation of therapeutics. Canine B-cell lymphoma (cBCL) is an appealing model for human mature B-cell neoplasms due to the high sequence similarity in cancer genes to humans and inactive telomerase in adult tissues. We performed targeted sequencing on 86 canine patients from the Canine Comparative Oncology Genomic Consortium, with 61 confirmed as B-cell lymphomas. We confirmed a high frequency of mutations in TRAF3 (45%) and FBXW7 (20%) as has been reported by our group and others. We also note a higher frequency of DDX3X (20%) and MYC (13%) mutations in our canine cohort.

We compared the pattern and incidence of mutations in cBCL to human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (hDLBCL) and human Burkitt lymphoma (hBL). Canine MYC mutations displayed a focal pattern with 80% of mutations affecting the conserved phosphodegron sequence in MYC box 1, which are known to stabilize MYC protein. We also note that MYC and FBXW7 mutations do not co-occur in our cBCL cohort, leading to the hypothesis that these mutations represent alternative approaches to stabilize MYC in canine lymphoma.

We observed striking differences in the pattern of DDX3X mutations in canine lymphoma as compared to hBL and uncovered a sex-specific pattern of DDX3X mutations in hBL that is not consistent with those identified in canine lymphomas.

In sum, we describe key differences between cBCL and human mature B-cell lymphomas which may indicate differences in the biology of these cancers. This should be considered in future studies of cBCL as a model of human lymphomas.
Dietary super-doses of cholecalciferol fed to aged laying hens illustrates limitation of 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol conversion
Authors: Warren Matthew F. , Pitman Pete M. , Hodgson Dellila D. , Thompson Nicholas C. , Livingston Kimberly A.
Published: October 2021

ABSRACT

Background

Older humans who take high levels of vitamin D supplementation for a prolonged time may be at risk of vitamin D toxicity. It is unclear how dietary super-doses (10,000x greater than requirement) can affect vitamin D status in aged animals. Aged laying hens could be a model to compare vitamin D supplementation effects with women in peri-or postmenopausal stages of life.

Objective

We investigated dietary super-dose impacts of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) on vitamin D status in aged laying hens in production.

Methods

Forty-eight 68 wk old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were individually housed in cages with eight hens per dietary treatment for eleven weeks. Hens were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups of dietary vitamin D3supplementation and fedad libitum. Supplementation levels were 400, 800, 7,400, 14,000, 20,000, and 36,000 IU D3/kg of feed. At the end of the study, all hens were euthanized and tissue samples and feces were collected. Plasma and egg yolk vitamin D metabolites, calcium and phosphorus composition of multiple sites, and tissue gene expression levels were measured.

Results

We observed that increasing dietary vitamin D3increased plasma vitamin D3and egg yolk vitamin D3(p < 0.0001 for both sites). We also observed an increase in plasma 24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol as dietary vitamin D3levels increased (p < 0.0001). The plasma 25-hydroxycholecalciferol:24,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol ratio exhibited an asymptotic relationship starting at the 14,000 IU/kg D3treatment.

Conclusions

Dietary super-doses of vitamin D3led to greater plasma and egg yolk vitamin D levels to show that aged laying hens can deposit excess vitamin D in egg yolk. We suggest future research should explore how 24-hydroxylation mechanisms are affected by vitamin D supplementation. Further understanding of 24-hydroxylation can help ascertain ways to reduce risk of vitamin D toxicity.
Labkit: Labeling and Segmentation Toolkit for Big Image Data
Authors: Arzt Matthias , Deschamps Joran , Schmied Christopher , Pietzsch Tobias , Schmidt Deborah , Haase Robert , Jug Florian
Published: October 2021

We present Labkit, a user-friendly Fiji plugin for the segmentation of microscopy image data. It offers easy to use manual and automated image segmentation routines that can be rapidly applied to single- and multi-channel images as well as to timelapse movies in 2D or 3D. Labkit is specifically designed to work efficiently on big image data and enables users of consumer laptops to conveniently work with multiple-terabyte images. This efficiency is achieved by using ImgLib2 and BigDataViewer as the foundation of our software. Furthermore, memory efficient and fast random forest based pixel classification inspired by the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (Weka) is implemented. Optionally we harness the power of graphics processing units (GPU) to gain additional runtime performance. Labkit is easy to install on virtually all laptops and workstations. Additionally, Labkit is compatible with high performance computing (HPC) clusters for distributed processing of big image data. The ability to use pixel classifiers trained in Labkit via the ImageJ macro language enables our users to integrate this functionality as a processing step in automated image processing workflows. Last but not least, Labkit comes with rich online resources such as tutorials and examples that will help users to familiarize themselves with available features and how to best use Labkit in a number of practical real-world use-cases.
Dysfunctional temporal stages of eye-gaze perception in adults with ADHD: a high-density EEG study
Authors: Mauriello Cheyenne , Pham Eleonore , Kumar Samika , Piguet Camille , Deiber Marie-Pierre , Aubry Jean-Michel , Dayer Alexandre , Michel Christoph M. , Perroud Nader , Berchio Cristina
Published: October 2021

ADHD have been associated with social cognitive impairments across the lifespan, but no studies have specifically addressed the presence of abnormalities in eye-gaze processing in the adult brain.

This study investigated the neural basis of eye-gaze perception in adults with ADHD using event-related potentials (ERP). Twenty-three ADHD and 23 controls performed a delayed face-matching task with neutral faces that had either direct or averted gaze. ERPs were classified using microstate analyses.

ADHD and controls displayed similar P100 and N170 microstates. ADHD was associated with cluster abnormalities in the attention-sensitive P200 to direct gaze, and in the N250 related to facial recognition. For direct gaze, source localization revealed reduced activity in ADHD for the P200 in the left/midline cerebellum, as well as in a cingulate-occipital network at the N250. These results suggest brain impairments involving eye-gaze decoding in adults with ADHD, suggesting that neural deficits persist across the lifespan.
Methods for analyzing continuous conformational variability of biomolecules in cryo electron subtomograms: HEMNMA-3D vs. traditional classification
Authors: Harastani Mohamad , Jonic Slavica
Published: October 2021

Cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET) allows studying biological macromolecular complexes in cells by three-dimensional (3D) data analysis. The complexes continuously change their shapes (conformations) to achieve biological functions. The shape heterogeneity in the samples imaged in the cryo electron microscope is a bottleneck for comprehending biological mechanisms and developing drugs. Low signal-to-noise ratio and spatial anisotropy (missing wedge artefacts) make cryo-ET data particularly challenging for resolving the shape variability. Other shape variability analysis techniques simplify the problem by considering discrete rather than continuous conformational changes of complexes. Recently, HEMNMA-3D was introduced for cryo-ET continuous shape variability analysis, based on elastic and rigid-body 3D registration between simulated shapes and cryo-ET data. The simulated motions are obtained by normal mode analysis of a high- or low-resolution 3D reference model of the complex under study. The rigid-body alignment is achieved via fast rotational matching with missing wedge compensation. HEMNMA-3D provides a visual insight into molecular dynamics by grouping and averaging subtomograms of similar shapes and by animating movies of registered motions. This article reviews the method and compares it with existing literature on a simulated dataset for nucleosome shape variability.
Genome sequencing and comparative analysis of Ficus benghalensis and Ficus religiosa trees reveal evolutionary mechanisms of longevity
Authors: Chakraborty Abhisek , Mahajan Shruti , Bisht Manohar Singh , Sharma Vineet K.
Published: October 2021

Ficus benghalensis (Indian banyan tree) and Ficus religiosa (Peepal) trees are well-known for their long lifespan, traditional significance, and medicinal properties. Therefore, to understand the genomic and evolutionary aspect of these characteristics the whole genomes of these two Ficus species were sequenced using 10x Genomics and Oxford Nanopore sequencing platforms. The draft genome assemblies of F. benghalensis (392.89 Mbp genome containing 25,016 high-confidence coding genes), and F. religiosa (332.97 Mbp genome containing 23,929 high-confidence coding genes) were constructed. We also established the genome-wide phylogenetic position of the two Ficus trees with respect to 46 other Angiosperm plant species and studied the comparative population demographic history of these two species to show a population bottleneck event ~0.8 Mya for both the species. We also identified 7,468 orthogroups across 16 phylogenetically closer Eudicot plant species including F. benghalensis and F. religiosa. Comparative evolutionary analyses using these orthogroups, gene family expansion/contraction analysis, and gene duplication analysis showed adaptive evolution in genes involved in cellular pathways and mechanisms that are central to plant growth and development and provide genomic insights into longevity and ecological significance of these large woody trees.
Stable modulation of neuronal oscillations produced through brain-machine equilibrium
Authors: McNamara Colin G. , Rothwell Max , Sharott Andrew
Published: October 2021

Brain stimulation is predominantly delivered independent of ongoing activity, whereas closed-loop systems can modify activity through interaction. They have the unrealised potential to continuously bind external stimulation to specific dynamics of a neural circuit. Such manipulations are particularly suited to rhythmic activities, where neuronal activity is organised in oscillatory cycles. Here, we developed a fast algorithm that responds on a cycle-by-cycle basis to stimulate basal ganglia nuclei at predetermined phases of successive cortical beta cycles in parkinsonian rats. Using this approach, we demonstrate a stable brain-machine interaction. An equilibrium emerged between the modified brain signal and feedback-dependent stimulation pattern, which led to sustained amplification or suppression of the oscillation. Sustained beta amplification slowed movement speed by altering the mode of locomotion. Integrating an external stimulus with network activity in this way could be used to correct maladaptive activities and to define the role of oscillations in fundamental brain functions.