bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An explanation for negligible senescence in animals
Authors: Xia Canwei , Møller Anders Pape
Published: June 2022

Negligible or negative senescence occurs when mortality risk is stable or decreases with age, and has been observed in some wild animals. Age‐independent mortality in animals may lead to an abnormally long maximum individual lifespans and be incompatible with evolutionary theories of senescence. The reason why there is no evidence of senescence in these animals has not been fully understood. Recovery rates are usually very low for wild animals with high dispersal ability and/or small body size (e.g., bats, rodents, and most birds). The only information concerning senescence for most of these species is the reported lifespan when individuals are last seen or caught. We deduced the probability density function of the reported lifespan based on the assumption that the real lifespan corresponding to Weibull or Gompertz distribution. We show that the magnitude of the increase in mortality risk is largely underestimated based on the reported lifespans with low recovery probability. The risk of mortality can aberrantly appear to have a negative correlation with age when it actually increases with increasing lifespan. We demonstrated that the underestimated aging rate for wild animals with low recovery probability can be generalizable to any aging models. Our work provides an explanation for the appearance of negligible senescence in many wild animals. Humans attempt to obtain insights from other creatures to better understand our own biology and its gain insight into how to enhance and extended human health. Our advice is to take a second glance before admiring the negligible senescence in other animals. This ability to escape from senescence is possibly only as beautiful illusion in animals.
Row crop fields provide mid‐summer forage for honey bees
Authors: Silliman Mary R. , Schürch Roger , Malone Sean , Taylor Sally V. , Couvillon Margaret J.
Published: June 2022

Honey bees provide invaluable economic and ecological services while simultaneously facing stressors that may compromise their health. For example, agricultural landscapes, such as a row crop system, are necessary for our food production, but they may cause poor nutrition in bees from a lack of available nectar and pollen. Here, we investigated the foraging dynamics of honey bees in a row crop environment. We decoded, mapped, and analyzed 3459 waggle dances, which communicate the location of where bees collected food, for two full foraging seasons (April–October, 2018–2019). We found that bees recruited nestmates mostly locally (<2 km) throughout the season. The shortest communicated median distances (0.474 and 0.310 km), indicating abundant food availability, occurred in July in both years, which was when our row crops were in full bloom. We determined, by plotting and analyzing the communicated locations, that almost half of the mid‐summer recruitment was to row crops, with 37% (2018) and 50% (2019) of honey bee dances indicating these fields. Peanut was the most attractive in July, followed by corn and cotton but not soybean. Overall, row crop fields are indicated by a surprisingly large proportion of recruitment dances, suggesting that similar agricultural landscapes may also provide mid‐summer foraging opportunities for honey bees.
Mitogenomic phylogeny of Typhlocybinae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) reveals homoplasy in tribal diagnostic morphological traits
Authors: Yan Bin , Dietrich Christopher H. , Yu Xiaofei , Jiao Meng , Dai Renhuai , Yang Maofa
Published: June 2022

The subfamily Typhlocybinae is a ubiquitous, highly diverse group of mostly tiny, delicate leafhoppers. The tribal classification has long been controversial and phylogenetic methods have only recently begun to test the phylogenetic status and relationships of tribes. To shed light on the evolution of Typhlocybinae, we performed phylogenetic analyses based on 28 newly sequenced and 19 previously sequenced mitochondrial genomes representing all currently recognized tribes. The results support the monophyly of the subfamily and its sister‐group relationship to Mileewinae. The tribe Zyginellini is polyphyletic with some included genera derived independently within Typhlocybini. Ancestral character state reconstruction suggests that some morphological characters traditionally considered important for diagnosing tribes (presence/absence of ocelli, development of hind wing submarginal vein) are homoplastic. Divergence time estimates indicate that the subfamily arose during the Middle Cretaceous and that the extant tribes arose during the Late Cretaceous. Phylogenetic results support establishment of a new genus, Subtilissimia Yan & Yang gen. nov., with two new species, Subtilissimia fulva Yan & Yang sp. nov. and Subtilissimia pellicula Yan & Yang sp. nov.; but indicate that two previously recognized species of Farynala distinguished only by the direction of curvature of the processes of the aedeagus are synonyms, that is, Farynala dextra Yan & Yang, 2017 equals Farynala sinistra Yan & Yang, 2017 syn. nov. A key to tribes of Typhlocybinae is provided.
Sequence comparison of the mitochondrial genomes of five brackish water species of the family Neritidae: Phylogenetic implications and divergence time estimation
Authors: Miao Jing , Feng Jiantong , Liu Xiaojuan , Yan Chengrui , Ye Yingying , Li Jiji , Xu Kaida , Guo Baoying , Lü Zhenming
Published: June 2022

Neritids are ancient gastropod species which can live in marine, brackish water, and freshwater environments. In this study, we sequenced and annotated the mitochondrial genomes of five brackish water neritids (i.e., Clithon corona, Clithon lentiginosum, Clithon squarrosum, Neritina iris, and Septaria lineata). The mitogenomes ranged from 15,618 to 15,975 bp, and all contain 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes, with a closed ring structure. We calculated the Ka/Ks values of all 13 PCGs of Neritidae species, all ratios are less than 1, under purification selection. Phylogenetic analysis of the 13 PCGs showed that Neritimorpha is a sister group with Vetigastropoda and Caenogastopoda, genus Clithon is a sister group with Neritina and Septaria. Estimation of divergence time for all species of Neritidae showed that the main differentiation of Neritidae occurred in Cenozoic period (65 Mya), C. corona and C. lentiginosum were differentiated in the Cenozoic Neogene, the other three species diverged in the Cenozoic Paleogene. These results will help to better understand the evolutionary position of Neritidae and provide reference for further phylogenetic research on Neritidae species.
Shotgun metagenomics of soil invertebrate communities reflects taxonomy, biomass, and reference genome properties
Authors: Schmidt Alexandra , Schneider Clément , Decker Peter , Hohberg Karin , Römbke Jörg , Lehmitz Ricarda , Bálint Miklós
Published: June 2022

Metagenomics – shotgun sequencing of all DNA fragments from a community DNA extract – is routinely used to describe the composition, structure, and function of microorganism communities. Advances in DNA sequencing and the availability of genome databases increasingly allow the use of shotgun metagenomics on eukaryotic communities. Metagenomics offers major advances in the recovery of biomass relationships in a sample, in comparison to taxonomic marker gene‐based approaches (metabarcoding). However, little is known about the factors which influence metagenomics data from eukaryotic communities, such as differences among organism groups, the properties of reference genomes, and genome assemblies.

We evaluated how shotgun metagenomics records composition and biomass in artificial soil invertebrate communities at different sequencing efforts. We generated mock communities of controlled biomass ratios from 28 species from all major soil mesofauna groups: mites, springtails, nematodes, tardigrades, and potworms. We shotgun sequenced these communities and taxonomically assigned them with a database of over 270 soil invertebrate genomes.

We recovered over 95% of the species, and observed relatively high false‐positive detection rates. We found strong differences in reads assigned to different taxa, with some groups (e.g., springtails) consistently attracting more hits than others (e.g., enchytraeids). Original biomass could be predicted from read counts after considering these taxon‐specific differences. Species with larger genomes, and with more complete assemblies, consistently attracted more reads than species with smaller genomes. The GC content of the genome assemblies had no effect on the biomass–read relationships. Results were similar among different sequencing efforts.

The results show considerable differences in taxon recovery and taxon specificity of biomass recovery from metagenomic sequence data. The properties of reference genomes and genome assemblies also influence biomass recovery, and they should be considered in metagenomic studies of eukaryotes. We show that low‐ and high‐sequencing efforts yield similar results, suggesting high cost‐efficiency of metagenomics for eukaryotic communities. We provide a brief roadmap for investigating factors which influence metagenomics‐based eukaryotic community reconstructions. Understanding these factors is timely as accessibility of DNA sequencing and momentum for reference genomes projects show a future where the taxonomic assignment of DNA from any community sample becomes a reality.
Introduced honey bees increase host plant abundance but decrease native bumble bee species richness and abundance
Authors: Su Ruijun , Dai Wenfei , Yang Yulian , Wang Xuelin , Gao Rui , He Mengying , Zhao Chuan , Mu Junpeng
Published: June 2022

Long‐term variation in the population density of introduced honey bees (Apis mellifera) has been shown to be associated with variations in floral traits in alpine lotus (Saussurea nigrescens). However, it remains to be determined whether a high density of honey bees affects the abundance of nectariferous plants and the species richness and abundance of native bumble bees. We predicted that a high density of introduced honey bees lasting three decades would decrease the species richness and abundance of native bumble bees but increase the abundance of honey bee host plant species. Here, field experiments were conducted to examine the diversity of nectariferous plants and native bumble bees along the typical gradients of honey bee density (high density of honey bees close to the apiary and low density of honey bees distant from the apiary). We investigated nectariferous plant abundance, floral and seed traits, and bumble bee species richness and abundance at sites with either high or low honey bee densities in an alpine meadow. Our results demonstrate that an increased population of introduced honey bees is associated with increased host plant abundance and flower/capitulum number per plant but decreased nectar volume per flower, seed mass, and species richness and abundance of native bumble bees. The bumble bee visitation rate was positively correlated with nectar volume per flower at sites close to and far from apiaries. The honey bee visitation rate was positively correlated with flower/capitulum number per plant at sites close to apiaries and nectar volume per flower at sites far from apiaries. Seed mass was negatively correlated with nectariferous plant abundance. Our findings show that introduced honey bees decrease the species richness and abundance of native bumble bees, attributed to an evolutionarily decrease in nectar resources among honey bee host plant species, but increase the abundance of nectariferous plants, attributed to the production of many small seeds by plants. This suggests that long‐term high‐density beekeeping affects the biodiversity of honey bee host plants and native bumble bees. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms of maintaining the biodiversity of nectariferous plants and native bumble bees.
Global longitudinal strain and outcome after endoscopic mitral valve repair
Authors: Kotrc Martin , Bartunek Jozef , Benes Jan , Beles Monika , Vanderheyden Marc , Casselman Filip , Ondrus Tomas , Mo Yujing , Praet Frank Van , Penicka Martin
Published: June 2022

Aims

Identification of heart failure (HF) patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) that benefit from mitral valve (MV) repair remains challenging. We have focused on the role of left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV‐GLS) and reservoir left atrial longitudinal strain (LASr) for the prediction of long‐term survival and reverse remodelling in patients with SMR undergoing endoscopic MV repair.

Methods and results

The study population consisted of 110 patients (age 67 ± 11 years, 66% men) with symptomatic SMR undergoing isolated MV repair using a minimally invasive surgical approach. Speckle tracking‐derived LV‐GLS and LASr were assessed in apical views using vendor‐independent software. Over a median of 7.7 years (IQRs 2.9–11.2), 64 patients (58%) died. Significant reverse LV (↓ LVESVI >10 mL/m2), LA (↓ LAVI >10 mL/m2) remodelling or both were observed in 43 (39%), 37 (34%) and 19 (17%) patients, respectively. LV‐GLS (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58–0.79, P < 0.001) and LASr (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.97, P < 0.01) but not LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and LA volume index (LAVi) emerged as independent predictors of all‐cause mortality in Cox regression analysis. LV‐GLS was the only independent predictor of LV reverse remodelling (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.05–1.43, P < 0.001) whereas LAVi and LASr were both independent predictors of LA reverse remodelling (both P < 0.05). In patients with atrial fibrillation at baseline, only LASr was an independent predictor (P < 0.05) of LA reverse remodelling.

Conclusions

In patients with SMR undergoing endoscopic MV repair, LV‐GLS and LASr are independently associated with long‐term survival and reverse remodelling and may be helpful in selecting SMR patients who may benefit from this procedure.
Excited‐State Dynamics of Phosphorescent Trinuclear Re(I) Complexes
Authors: Cheng Shun‐Cheung , Chan Shing‐Lun , Phillips David Lee , Ko Chi‐Chiu
Published: June 2022

The excited‐state dynamics of cyanide‐bridged trinuclear carbonyl rhenium(I) complexes with general formula of [Re]p[Re]c[Re]p {[Re]c=[(−NC)ReI(CO)2(phen)(CN−)]; [Re]p=[−ReI(CO)2(L L)(La)], L L= diimine or diphosphine, La=triphenylphosphine or carbonyl ligand} and the monomeric peripheral control complexes have been elucidated through a study with ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy. The time constants for the energy transfer between the MLCT excited states of the peripheral and central Re(I) chromophores (ca. 0.56–0.78 ps) are typical for other cyanide‐bridged polynuclear transition metal complexes. The emissive excited states and the absorption transient have been characterized by nanosecond transient Raman spectroscopy.
Synthesis of 3α,6β‐Dihydroxyandrostan‐17‐one 3‐Glucuronides for the Detection of Testosterone Misuse
Authors: Thomas Komba , Khymenets Olha , Pozo Oscar J. , McLeod Malcolm D.
Published: June 2022

The convenient synthesis of two 3‐glucuronide conjugates of 6β‐hydroxyandrosterone (6OH‐And‐3G 2) and 6β‐hydroxyetiocholanolone (6OH‐Etio‐3G 3) is reported. The conjugates are identified as long‐term markers of endogenous androgenic anabolic steroid abuse in doping control studies. Their resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis by E. coli β‐glucuronidase means they may be missed by conventional GC‐MS analysis protocols. One promising strategy to quantify these markers is by direct methods, which requires sufficient quantities of high purity reference materials. Our convergent synthesis features concurrent stereoselective introduction of 5α/5β hydrogen and 6β‐hydroxy groups on the steroid skeleton, and a mild Schmidt trichloroacetimidate glycosylation strategy.
Pain‐autonomic interaction is a reliable measure of pain habituation in healthy subjects
Authors: De Schoenmacker Iara , Leu Chiara , Curt Armin , Hubli Michèle
Published: June 2022

Background

Habituation is a response decrement resulting from repeated stimuli. Reduced habituation to noxious stimuli is considered to be a proxy for central sensitization in subjects with chronic pain. Despite numerous investigations of pain habituation in relation to central sensitization, there is no consensus on the most sensitive and reliable readout, as well as analysis approach. Therefore, this study compared the usability and reliability of different readouts and habituation analysis approaches to measure pain habituation in response to repetitive heat simulation.

Methods

Three blocks of 20 contact heat stimuli were applied on the volar forearm of 20 healthy subjects on two separate visits. Habituation was assessed by three different readouts: pain ratings, contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) and heat‐induced sympathetic skin responses (SSRs). In addition, two different habituation analysis approaches were used: between the three stimulation blocks (between‐block) and within the first stimulation block (within‐block).

Results

Significant between‐block habituation for SSRs (p < 0.001), but not for pain ratings (p = 1.000) and CHEPs (p = 0.078) was found. There was significant within‐block habituation for pain ratings (p = 0.012) and SSRs (p < 0.001), but not for CHEPs (p = 0.246). Only the between‐block habituation of heat‐induced SSR was reliable between the two visits (first to second block: intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.58, p = 0.030; first to third block: ICC = 0.64, p = 0.015).

Conclusion

Heat‐induced SSR as a measure of pain‐autonomic interaction revealed the strongest pain habituation and showed the highest test–retest reliability.
Neuropathic‐like pain symptoms in inflammatory hand osteoarthritis lower quality of life and may not decrease under prednisolone treatment
Authors: van der Meulen Coen , van de Stadt Lotte A. , Kroon Féline P.B. , Kortekaas Marion C. , Boonen Annelies E.R.C.H. , Böhringer Stefan , Niesters Marieke , Reijnierse Monique , Rosendaal Frits R. , Riyazi Naghmeh , Starmans‐Kool Mirian , Turkstra Franktien , van Zeben Jendé , Allaart Cornelia F. , Kloppenburg Margreet
Published: June 2022

Background

Pain is common in hand osteoarthritis (OA) and multiple types may occur. We investigated the prevalence, associated patient characteristics, influence on health‐related quality of life (HR‐QoL) and response to anti‐inflammatory treatment of neuropathic‐like pain in inflammatory hand OA.

Methods

Data were analysed from a 6‐week, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial investigating prednisolone treatment in 92 patients with painful inflammatory hand OA. Neuropathic‐like pain was measured with the painDETECT questionnaire. Associations between baseline characteristics and baseline neuropathic‐like pain were analysed with ordinal logistic regression, association of baseline neuropathic‐like pain symptoms with baseline HR‐QoL with linear regression, painDETECT and visual analogue scale (VAS) change from baseline to week 6 and interaction of painDETECT with prednisolone efficacy on VAS pain change from baseline to week 6 with generalized estimating equations (GEE).

Results

Of 91 patients (79% female, mean age 64) with complete painDETECT data at baseline, 53% were unlikely to have neuropathic‐like pain, 31% were indeterminate and 16% were likely to have neuropathic‐like pain. Neuropathic‐like pain was associated with female sex, less radiographic damage and more comorbidities. Patients with neuropathic‐like pain had lower HR‐QoL (PCS‐6.5 [95% CI −10.4 to −2.6]) than those without. Neuropathic‐like pain symptoms remained under prednisolone treatment and no interaction was seen between painDETECT and prednisolone efficacy on VAS pain.

Conclusions

In this study, 16% of inflammatory hand OA patients had neuropathic‐like pain. They were more often female, had more comorbidities and had lower QoL than those without. Neuropathic‐like pain symptoms remained despite prednisolone treatment and did not seem to affect the outcome of prednisolone treatment.

Significance

Pain is the dominant symptom in hand OA, with an unclear aetiology. In this study, we found that neuropathic‐like pain may play a role in hand OA, that it showed associations with female sex, younger age and more comorbidities and that it lowered health‐related quality of life in hand OA. Neuropathic‐like pain in hand OA seems resistant to prednisolone therapy but did not seem to interfere with the treatment of inflammatory pain with prednisolone.
Seismic risk analysis of electrical substations based on the network analysis method
Authors: Liang Huangbin , Blagojevic Nikola , Xie Qiang , Stojadinovic Bozidar
Published: June 2022

Electrical substations are critical elements of a power grid, enabling the transmission and distribution of electric power from power generators to the end‐users. Experiences from previous earthquakes have shown that electrical substations can be damaged due to ground shaking, reducing their functionality and potentially preventing the generated electric power from reaching end‐users. To assess the seismic vulnerability of a substation, a modular quantitative assessment method is proposed. In this method, the relation between the functionality state of a substation and the damage state of its components was established through the connection matrix technique. A substation is viewed as a network system, whose topology is defined by the connections among various pieces of electrical equipment (i.e., the components), represented in the connection matrix. The maximum allowable power transmission capacity of the substation after an earthquake is adopted as the system functionality metric, which is jointly determined by the power input, transform, and output capacity of the substation. The seismic vulnerability of an electrical substation is quantified by probabilistically calculating its postearthquake functionality when exposed to various earthquake intensities using Monte Carlo sampling. Finally, the risk of substation functionality loss is quantified by integrating the seismic hazard curve with the seismic vulnerability model of the substation. Two realistic case studies on a distribution substation and a transmission substation, with the same equipment configuration but different power delivery paths, were performed using the proposed method. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis regarding the equipment fragility parameters is conducted, providing a risk‐informed basis for improving the seismic performance of the substation system.
An improved underwater wireless sensor network communication using Internet of Things and signal to noise ratio analysis
Authors: Nellore Kapileswar , Polasi Phani Kumar
Published: June 2022

Underwater acoustic (UWA) channels are widely regarded as one of the most challenging communication mediums. Low frequencies are best for acoustic propagation, and the bandwidth available for communication is extremely small. The worst channel situation often limits the efficiency of UWA communication systems due to the difficulty and time‐varying nature of the UWA channel. To solve the existing limitations related with underwater signal transmission and communication, an improved underwater communication system incorporated with Internet of Things (IoT) is proposed in this work. The proposed system utilizes the orthogonal signal division multiplexing modulation technique. Here the signal transmission process is achieved with the help of an IoT network system. An improved AdaBoost channel estimation algorithm is used to obtain the channel information. This work utilizes an improved stochastic gradient descent optimization method for selecting the suitable mode of signal transmission based on the estimated channel. Further, an adaptive recursive least square channel equalization algorithm is used for channel compensation. The simulation results are obtained with the help of the MATLAB platform. The performance is analyzed in terms of parameters such as signal to noise ratio, bit error rate, and mean square error. A comparison of the proposed method is also made with the existing methods. The evaluation results show that the proposed method performs better than the existing methods.
Transportation Electrification Gets a Boost in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Authors: Klingel Jeremy , von Loesecke Emily
Published: June 2022

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA or “Act”) into law. The IIJA is one of the largest infrastructure packages in recent history, including funding across three key areas: connectivity, decarbonization, and the creation of new economic opportunities. Connectivity investments fund the ways in which Americans connect with one another both physically and virtually. The IIJA intends to fund highways, roads, and bridges, and invest in public transit and water system upgrades, passenger rail, airports, and supply chain ports. It also provides opportunities for increased access to high‐quality broadband connectivity in otherwise underserved areas. While not the intended purpose of the Act, it does nonetheless provide funding that advances decarbonization efforts, including providing financial support for the expansion of renewable energy development, the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption, and the advancement of emerging technologies such as energy storage, blue hydrogen, geothermal, and advanced nuclear power generation. Finally, the IIJA is expected to create significant job growth, with a projected creation of 1.5 million jobs per year for the next 10 years.
Whole genome duplication in oral squamous cell carcinoma in patients younger than 50 years: implications for prognosis and adverse clinicopathological factors
Authors: Satgunaseelan Laveniya , Strbenac Dario , Willet Cali , Chew Tracy , Sadsad Rosemarie , Wykes James , Low Tsu‐Hui (Hubert) , Cooper Wendy A. , Lee C. Soon , Palme Carsten E. , Yang Jean Y. H. , Clark Jonathan R. , Gupta Ruta
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the young (<50 years), without known carcinogenic risk factors, is on the rise globally. Whole genome duplication (WGD) has been shown to occur at higher rates in cancers without an identifiable carcinogenic agent. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of WGD in a cohort of OSCC patients under the age of 50 years.

Methods

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 28 OSCC patients from the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute (SHNCI) biobank. An additional nine cases were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results

WGD was seen in 27 of 37 (73%) cases. Non‐synonymous, somatic TP53 mutations occurred in 25 of 27 (93%) cases of WGD and were predicted to precede WGD in 21 (77%). WGD was significantly associated with larger tumor size (p = 0.01) and was frequent in patients with recurrences (87%, p = 0.36). Overall survival was significantly worse in those with WGD (p = 0.05).

Conclusions

Our data, based on one of the largest WGS datasets of young patients with OSCC, demonstrates a high frequency of WGD and its association with adverse pathologic characteristics and clinical outcomes. TP53 mutations also preceded WGD, as has been described in other tumors without a clear mutagenic driver.
Associations between six dietary habits and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Deng Yunyang , Huang Junjie , Wong Martin C. S.
Published: June 2022

Diet is reported to be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but whether there is a causal relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential causal associations between dietary habits and HCC risk using Mendelian randomization in an East Asian population. From the BioBank Japan, we obtained summary‐level genome‐wide association studies data for the following six dietary habits: ever/never drinker (n = 165,084), alcohol consumption (n = 58,610), coffee consumption (n = 152,634), tea consumption (n = 152,653), milk consumption (n = 152,965), and yoghurt consumption (n = 152,097). We also obtained data on HCC (1866 cases and 195,745 controls). Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were associated with exposures (p < 5 × 10−8) were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). Five, two, and six SNPs were identified for ever/never drinkers, alcohol consumption, and coffee consumption. One SNP was used for consumption of tea, milk, and yoghurt. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by inverse variance weighted (for an IV with more than one SNP) or Wald ratio (for an IV with one SNP). Ever/never drinkers (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05–1.18; p < 0.001) and alcohol consumption (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.32–1.86; p < 0.001) were positively associated with HCC risk. Conversely, coffee consumption was inversely related to HCC risk (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.90; p = 0.007). Similar inverse associations were observed for consumption of tea, milk, and yoghurt, with ORs (95% CIs) of 0.11 (0.05–0.26), 0.18 (0.09–0.34), and 0.18 (0.09–0.34), respectively (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: There are potential causal associations between six dietary habits and HCC risk. Our findings inform clinical practice by providing evidence on the impact of dietary habits on HCC.
Modelling daily transmission losses in basin‐scale river system models under changing hydrological regimes
Authors: Kim Shaun S. H. , Hughes Justin D. , Marshall Lucy A. , Petheram Cuan , Sharma Ashish , Vaze Jai , Crosbie Russell S.
Published: June 2022

With rising concerns for water security and increasing interest in water resource development, accounting for river transmission losses in arid/semi‐arid region water budgets is a crucial yet challenging task. Transmission losses are usually confounded with many different processes and exacerbated by hydrologic and climatic non‐stationarity. A common deficiency in existing basin‐scale river system loss models is the poor representation of dynamic river losses into groundwater. To address this, a new conceptual model was developed to represent relevant river processes including rainfall to runoff transformation, river loss/gain to groundwater, river rainfall/evaporation and routing on a reach‐by‐reach basis. A critical process of the model is the exchange of water between the river and a groundwater store, called the river bed/bank store. The exchange to groundwater typically occurs with relatively high river volumes. Conversely, the store can discharge water back to the river when river volumes are relatively low. The model is designed to be transposable between different time‐periods, such as pre‐ and post‐development scenarios, assuming sufficient data exist during calibration. Using explicit Bayesian formulations, calibrations were performed against observed streamflow and remotely sensed evapotranspiration data. The new loss model was investigated using a test case in the Cooper Creek, Australia. The model performed overall better than a benchmark (flow vs. loss) model in a range of calibration/validation metrics. The new model provides river state and flux terms typically not available in basin‐scale models, and thus, is expected to be valuable during calibration/validation by allowing the use of alternative observed data types, for example, actual evapotranspiration or groundwater observations. Moreover, these extra terms could be very beneficial to water budget and ecological assessment studies.
The seventh solution: A commentary on Byers‐Heinlein, Bergmann, and Savalei (2022)
Authors: Sirois Sylvain
Published: June 2022

The target paper proposes six solutions to increase the reliability of infant research, with expected benefits for robustness and replicability. In this commentary, I highlight that signal detection theory can help the framing of reliability issues, and that reliability does not address the core problem of internal validity. The relative merits and challenges of the six solutions are reviewed. A seventh solution is proposed to address the validity issue that remained overlooked. The lack of general theories about the infant mind is probably the biggest obstacle to progress in the field. Instead of whether questions, asking how questions should be at the forefront of future research.
Resveratrol improves estrus disorder induced by bisphenol A through attenuating oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis
Authors: Jiao Jun‐Heng , Gao Lei , Yong Wen‐Long , Kou Zhong‐Yun , Ren Zhi‐Qiang , Cai Rui , Chu Gui‐Yan , Pang Wei‐Jun
Published: June 2022

Bisphenol A (BPA), as a widely used plasticizer, is easily absorbed by animals and humans. It has certain toxic effects on various tissues, including liver, heart, kidney, testis, and ovary. The toxic effects of BPA on animal reproduction have aroused widespread concern, but its regulatory mechanism and antidote in female animals estrus cycle remain unclear. In this study, the results displayed that BPA destroyed the normal estrus cycle of mice through decreasing the levels of progesterone and estradiol. Furthermore, BPA significantly increased the levels of oxidative stress, autophagy, and apoptosis in ovaries and granulosa cells. Interestingly, we found that the natural antioxidant resveratrol rescued estrus disorder and impaired estradiol secretion, reduced the abnormal reactive oxygen species accumulation, autophagy, and apoptosis in BPA exposed ovarian tissues. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy showed that resveratrol reduced BPA‐induced autophagic vesicles formation and flow cytometry showed that resveratrol inhibited the increase of apoptotic cells induced by BPA on granulosa cells. Therefore, the supplement of resveratrol could restore BPA‐induced estrus disorder by protecting ovarian granulosa cells. Overall, resveratrol is a potential drug to alleviate BPA‐induced estrous cycle disorders and ovarian damage.
Risk Factors for Tigecycline‐Associated Hepatotoxicity in Patients in the Intensive Care Units of 2 Tertiary Hospitals: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Jiang Tingting , Huang Xuhui , Liu Qinghua , Feng Hangwei , Huang Yiting , Lin Jian , Huang Long , Chen Shufang , Zhuang Yingfeng , Weng Cuilian
Published: June 2022

Tigecycline is a broad‐spectrum antibacterial agent. As the incidence of multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections has increased in intensive care units (ICUs) over the past decades, tigecycline is often used in ICUs. Information about tigecycline‐associated hepatotoxicity in ICU patients is limited. To investigate the potential risk factors for tigecycline‐associated hepatotoxicity in ICU patients, 148 patients from 2 centers who had received tigecycline for at least 4 days were retrospectively analyzed. Hepatotoxicity was classified according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (5.0) grading system. As a result, 33.8% of patients experienced hepatotoxicity events in the ICU. The multivariate analysis showed that an albumin concentration <25 g/L at baseline (odds ratio, 3.714; 95%CI, 1.082‐12.744; P = .037) and treatment duration (odds ratio, 1.094; 95%CI, 1.032‐1.160; P = .003) were significantly correlated with tigecycline‐associated hepatotoxicity. The median time to onset of hepatotoxicity was 8.0 days. The median duration ICU stay and the in‐hospital mortality rate were not different between the hepatotoxicity group and the nonhepatotoxicity group (33.5 days (interquartile range, 21.0‐72.0) vs 31.0 days (interquartile range, 21‐62.5), P = .850; 38.0% vs 43.8%; P = .504). Therefore, close monitoring of liver function is recommended for patients with baseline albumin concentrations <25 g/L or for patients who receive tigecycline therapy for >8 days.
Right ventricular postsystolic shortening: Resolution after opening a totally occluded right coronary artery
Authors: Saeed Sahrai , Karaji Iman , Skromme Kaia , Øksnes Anja , Larsen Terje H. , Bleie Øyvind
Published: June 2022

Acute myocardial ischemia induces reduced systolic shortening and causes postsystolic shortening (PSS). Right ventricular (RV) PSS in coronary artery disease has been less studied. We present here the case of a 51‐year‐old woman admitted with a non‐ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and significant PSS in the RV free‐wall segments on two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, suggesting ongoing ischemia. A cardiac CT demonstrated occluded proximal right coronary artery with a low‐attenuated/soft plaque, confirmed by coronary angiography which was treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. At 3‐week follow‐up, there was complete resolution of the RV‐PSS, with a more synchronized pattern of maximum myocardial shortening at systole.
Atmospheric circulation types controlling rainfall in the Central American Isthmus
Authors: Sáenz Fernán , Hidalgo Hugo G. , Muñoz Ángel G. , Alfaro Eric J. , Amador Jorge A. , Vázquez‐Aguirre Jorge L.
Published: June 2022

Rainfall mechanisms in the Central American Isthmus are controlled by complex physical interactions across spatial and temporal scales, which are reflected on the dynamics of atmospheric circulation patterns affecting the region. However, physical mechanisms and their relationships with thermodynamic distributions connected to overturning circulations remain elusive. Here, a set of six recurrent daily atmospheric patterns, or weather types (WT), is defined using a k‐means++ clustering algorithm on standardized fields of Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) and winds at 925, 850, and 200 hPa. The relationships between these weather types, their temporal characteristics, and anomalous distributions of moisture flux divergence, equivalent potential temperature (saturated and unsaturated), and observed rainfall are used to describe physical processes controlling the latter, for all seasons. Regional observed rainfall is analysed from a set of 174 automatic stations from all countries from Mexico to Panama. By modulating vertically integrated moisture fluxes, these weather types, and the different climate drivers linked to them, control the temporal and spatial rainfall characteristics in the region, especially over the Pacific side of the isthmus. During some stages of the regional rainy season, described by two weather types, thermal anomalies in convective quasi‐equilibrium characteristic of the upward branch of the Hadley cell force westerly flow over Central America, enhancing rainfall. While during other stages, the enhancement of the trades and the displacement of convection to the ITCZ area over the eastern tropical Pacific, characteristic of the midsummer drought, diminishes rainfall. This study sets the stage for a better understanding of the mechanistic relationship between these weather types and rainfall characteristics in general, like onset, demise, and duration of rainy seasons. Hence, these results can inform process‐based model diagnostics aiming at bias‐correcting climate predictions at multiple timescales.
Diverse middle school students’ future career autobiographies and socioeconomic status factors: A content analysis
Authors: Cook Jennifer M. , Storlie Cassandra A. , McDonald James
Published: June 2022

The future career autobiography (FCA) is a narrative, discovery‐based career intervention designed to assess individuals’ career hopes and dreams. In total, 134 low‐income, ethnically and racially diverse middle school students participated in an FCA intervention through a yearlong grant‐funded career development initiative. Using content analysis, we analyzed participants’ FCAs for socioeconomic status factors and lifestyle indicators. We found that participants articulated occupational and lifestyle factors more than education and income, and that there were differences based on biological sex, race, and ethnicity. We present pertinent results and discuss implications for counseling practice and future research.
Screening the bioactive compound fromCoptis chinensisinflorescence by immobilized peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐gamma
Authors: Sun Jingchun , Zhang Chaofeng
Published: June 2022

Coptis chinensisinflorescence is a by‐product ofCoptis chinensisFranch and riches in alkaloids. We screened the bioactive compounds in the by‐product through an immobilized peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma. The receptor was covalently immobilized on the macroporous silica gel through amino groups to generate the affinity stationary phase and was applied for screening. Berberine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine were identified as the retained components of the herb on the affinity column. We evaluated the binding of the three bioactive compounds with the receptor by nonlinear chromatography and molecular docking. The affinities of the compounds to the receptor were (1.42 ± 0.10) ×108/M, (4.88 ± 0.38) ×107/M, and (1.65 ± 0.13) ×107/M for berberine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine, with dissociation rate constants of (17.70 ± 0.03) ×10–3/S, (5.18 ± 0.25) ×10–2/S, and (15.7 ± 0.05) ×10–2/S, respectively. Cys285, Arg288, Ile326, Leu330, and His449 in the agonist binding pocket of the receptor participated in the formation of bioactive compound‐receptor conjugates. These data indicated that the immobilized receptor is a reliable alternative for screening the bioactive compounds. In addition,Coptis chinensisinflorescence has the potential to be a source for drug discovery.
A New Approach for Evaluating Palatine Tonsillar Hypertrophy in Children Based on Ultrasound: A Pilot Study
Authors: Geng Chenchen , Tian Shuxu , Song Qian , Yang Liu , Li Ye , Wang Huihui , Tian Xueping , Ge Ling
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To develop a novel ultrasound (US) plane to diagnose palatine tonsillar hypertrophy objectively in children.

Methods

Tonsillar ultrasonography of children (age 2–14 years) who had a clinical diagnosis of tonsillar hypertrophy or not were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical data (including gender, age, body mass index (BMI)), and volume (V) of tonsils measured by the US, were recorded. Furthermore, we found a new US plane to diagnose tonsillar hypertrophy and named it the submental oblique cross‐section. In this plane, diameters of the left tonsil, right tonsil, and central oropharynx were designated as T1, T2, and O. Then, we calculated the ratio by the formula (T1 + T2)/O.

Results

A total of 172 cases (85 hypertrophy and 87 non‐hypertrophy) were included in this study. There were no significant differences in gender (P = .844), age (P = .666), and BMI (P = .089) between the groups. In the non‐hypertrophy group, the V of both sides had a positive linear correlation with age or BMI. In contrast, there was no linear correlation between ratio and age or BMI. The area under the curve (AUC) of ratio and V was 0.970 (95%CI: 0.947–0.993) and 0.835 (95%CI: 0.778–0.893) by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, respectively. The optimal cutoff value of ratio for diagnosis of tonsillar hypertrophy was 2.293 (sensitivity = 88.2%, specificity = 95.4%).

Conclusions

We established a new US section to evaluate tonsillar hypertrophy. This approach could be easily acquired and provide a reference value to guide clinical practice.
Thyroid Nodule Margin Assessment Using ACR TI‐RADS: Adding Points for Macrolobulation Impairs Performance
Authors: Haug Logan P. , Dahiya Nirvikar , Young Scott W. , Patel Maitray D.
Published: June 2022

Objective

We evaluated the performance of ACR TI‐RADS when points for lobulated margins are applied only when the margins meet a quantified measure of margin microlobulation and not applied when nodules only demonstrate macrolobulation.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed ultrasound and pathology records (May 01, 2018 to July 31, 2020) to find all thyroid nodules at one institution characterized as having lobulated margins using the ACR TI‐RADS lexicon and subsequently undergoing fine needle aspiration (FNA). Nodule margins were evaluated to note the presence or absence of microlobulation, quantitatively defined as a protrusion with a base <2.5 mm in length. The impact to detection of malignant nodules and avoidance of benign FNA when margin points for lobulation were added only when microlobulated was analyzed.

Results

58 of 516 thyroid nodules undergoing US‐guided FNA were classified as lobulated, comprising the study population. 21 (36.2%) had microlobulated margins, with 12 of the 21 (57.1%) being malignant. Comparatively, of the 37 nodules showing only macrolobulated margins without microlobulation, only 2 (5.4%) were malignant (P < .0001). For 53 nodules ≥10 mm, 15 (28.3%) benign nodules would not have met size criteria for FNA had points for margins not been applied when only showing macrolobulation, whereas all 10 malignant nodules would still have been sampled.

Conclusion

Adding two points to the ACR TI‐RADS score for lobulated thyroid nodules should only apply when microlobulations are present.
Transvaginal Two‐Dimensional Ultrasound Evaluation as a Screening Tool for Levator ani Muscle Avulsion in Postpartum Women
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang HuiFang
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the agreement between two‐dimensional transvaginal ultrasound (2D‐TVUS) and transperineal tomographic ultrasound imaging on three‐dimensional (3D) volume in diagnosing levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion of postpartum women. Furthermore, we tested the repeatability of the 2D‐TVUS in measuring the LAM thickness.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed using the data sets from postpartum women. One doctor measured the thickness of the LAM on the images at the attachment to the arcus tendinous levator ani and the middle part using the 2D‐TVUS ultrasound data sets of postpartum women. These women were examined twice, at 42–56 days and 3–6 months postpartum. Intra‐observer repeatability was expressed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The other doctor judged whether there was avulsion in the LAM on the 2D‐TVUS and transperineal tomography imaging on the 3D volume. The inter‐method agreement was determined using Cohen's kappa coefficient (k).

Results

Thickness measurements of the middle part and attachment of the LAM by 2D‐TVUS showed excellent and good intra‐observer repeatability (ICC 0.84; 95% CI, 0.76–0.88, and ICC 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67–0.84, respectively). The overall agreement was 92% (Cohen's kappa was 0.79) between 2D‐TVUS and transperineal tomographic imaging. Compared to transperineal tomographic imaging in the diagnosis of LAM avulsion, the diagnostic sensitivity of 2D‐TVUS was 91.7%, the specificity was 92.1%.

Conclusions

The 2D‐TVUS technique, a simple and reproducible method for assessing LAM avulsion, may be helpful as a screening tool for LAM avulsion of postpartum women.