bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EP186 - Blood transfusion documentation in surgical patients - are we doing it correctly? An audit on the blood transfusion documentation in surgical patients at a district general hospital in the United Kingdom
Authors: Pal Shreya , Limbu Dison Feyang , Pangeni Anang , Shrestha Ashish
Published: September 2024

Aim

Transfusion of blood products is commonly indicated in surgical patients, especially in patients with gastro-intestinal bleeding, gastro-intestinal cancers, and trauma patients. However, the documentation regarding blood transfusion in these patients often does not meet the guidelines.

The aim of this clinical audit was to improve the blood transfusion (BT) related documentation in patients of general surgery (GS) at a district general hospital (DGH) in the United Kingdom, in accordance with the national guidelines (Administration of blood components: a British Society for Haematology Guideline) and the local trust guidelines.

Method

For the 1st-cycle of the audit, we did retrospective study of all adult patients admitted under GS in our DGH from 1st July 2023 to 15th August 2023 (6weeks) who received BT, and their electronic records were assessed with regards to documentation regarding the following criteria: decision to transfuse, patient's consent and understanding, post-transfusion effect and discharge notes. Following this, we had a discussion with the junior doctors in the department, who do these documentation, to make them aware of the BT guidelines, and to improve adherence. The 2nd-cycle included retrospective data collection from 1st September 2023 to 15th October 2023 (6 weeks).

Results

BT-documentation during the 2nd-cycle showed significant improvement to adherence above 80% in most of the criteria where it needed improvement in the 1st-cycle.

Conclusion

This clinical audit successfully improved the BT-documentation adherence to the guidelines, showing that through simple educational methods, the documentation practices could be improved significantly. Our plans for subsequent improvement includes posters in the departmental resource room to increase the awareness, and to re-audit in December 2023.
EP232 - Delayed Discharges – How do we compare post pandemic?
Authors: Kemp Alison , Selvachandran Haran , Gossedge Gemma
Published: September 2024

Aims

A delayed discharge is when a patient is declared medically fit for discharge (MFFD), yet still requiring an inpatient bed as other circumstances prevent leaving the hospital.

This 2nd cycle audit was to assess the proportion of inpatients that are MFFD in comparison to the previous data collected in 2019, assessing level of improvement, implications of cost on the NHS and reasons for delayed discharge.

Methodology

The data was collected on the 27th of February 2023 encompassing 17 different wards in the hospital, compared to the 1st cycle on 26th February 2019. Analysis covered; Specialty, Age, Reason for the delay, Gender and Number of Days delayed. The number of inpatients on the day (n=432), of which 78 were MFFD (18%). The procurement team provided a figure of £392 for cost per bed per night.

Results

Findings showed approximately 1 in 5.5 patients had a delayed discharged in 2023 in comparison to that of 1 in 4 patients as seen in 2019. With estimated costs incurred being approximately £31,000 on the day cost in the 2nd cycle in comparison to £27,000 in the 1st cycle. The Audit highlighted the most common reason for delay in discharge was Completion of Assessment (Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy/Social Worker) and Further Non-Acute NHS Care.

Conclusion

Even though there was considerable improvement in the number of people experiencing a delayed discharge, the estimated costing was still appreciably higher. To improve financial sustainability taking advantage of Government funding would see £200milion put towards the safe discharge of patients.
EP290 - Is the Breast Multidisciplinary Meeting Dying?
Authors: Nazeer Mehvish , Olayanju Olalekan , Chianakwalam Chiledu
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Care by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) is the gold standard for patients with cancer. It is mandated by the National Cancer Plan in 2000. However, the concept has been hampered by the increasing workload, shortage of radiologists and pathologists and changing patterns of working since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Method

We carried out a prospective study of the Breast MDT in a single unit looking at the workload and attendance between April 2022 and August 2023.

Percentage absences of key specialists were recorded and workload was calculated by using an online statistics software.

Results

There was a total of 72 MDT meetings over the 17 months. Percentage absences were oncology (2.8%), Pathology (2.8%), and radiology (15%). The median number of patients increased from 58 from April to December 2022 to 68 from January to August 2023.

Conclusion

There are several headwinds affecting the breast MDT including shortage of ancillary support specialists and increasing workload. To remain effective, Breast MDTs would need to evolve to continue providing excellent care to breast cancer patients
EP354 - Acute pancreatitis – an unusual cause
Authors: Saraee Danial , Kaur Geetinder
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Drugs are responsible for only 0.1%-2% of acute pancreatitis. Whilst the link between some drugs and pancreatitis is well-established, (steroids, azathioprine), we found only one previous case-report linking testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to pancreatitis. We report a case of acute pancreatitis secondary to TRT.

Case Report

A 55-year-old man presented with history of upper abdominal pain. He denied alcohol/illicit drug use, no recent infection/changes to medication. His amylase was raised; CT scan confirmed acute pancreatitis. When interrogating his past medical history for a cause, we learned of his bilateral orchidectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for seminoma in 1993, following which, he was on Testogel. He was managed conservatively, with success.

Discussion

Although drug-related causes of pancreatitis are uncommon, management is easy with identification/cessation of the causative agent. Therefore, a detailed medical history (including exposure to toxins and medication changes) is important. In our patient, an extensive surgical, medical and social history, CT and bloods excluded other main causes of acute pancreatitis i.e. alcohol, gallstones/infection, hypertriglyceridemia, toxins and trauma. The WHO database of “drugs suspected to cause pancreatitis” includes evidence from published literature, mostly case reports. Testosterone does not feature amongst the 525 drugs mentioned.

Conclusion

Our anecdotal evidence may provide a possible link between TRT and pancreatitis, however further research is needed to ascertain a definite causality. Reporting such potential links is important due to increased TRT use recently as treatment for female-to-male sex transition and young adults for performance enhancement, as well as remaining the primary treatment for hypogonadism.
EP442 - An Audit on the Application of Enhanced Recovery Post Emergency Laparotomy
Authors: Basit Nawshin , Satchidanand Rajesh , Azam Muhammad
Published: September 2024

Aim

This audit aims to evaluate the efficiency of NG tube and catheter removal post emergency laparotomies, assess the occurrence of postoperative complications, and analyse hospital practices related to enhanced recovery in the context of emergency laparotomies.

Methods

Data was collected retrospectively from [Hospital Name] for a specified time period, including patient demographics, surgical details, time to NG tube and catheter removal, postoperative complications, and adherence to enhanced recovery protocols. The audit included a thorough review of medical records, nursing notes, and relevant documentation.

Results

Preliminary findings indicate variations in the time taken for NG tube and catheter removal across emergency laparotomy cases. The occurrence of postoperative complications, such as infections, delayed recovery, and prolonged hospital stays, was also assessed. Furthermore, an analysis of hospital practices, including the implementation of enhanced recovery protocols, was conducted.

Conclusion

The results of this audit will contribute valuable insights into the effectiveness of current practices related to NG tube and catheter management post emergency laparotomies. The findings may highlight areas for improvement in enhancing recovery, optimising patient outcomes, and minimising complications. Recommendations for refining hospital protocols and promoting timely interventions will be proposed based on the audit results, with the ultimate goal of improving the overall quality of care for patients undergoing emergency laparotomies.
Increased expression of proton pump and allergic inflammation genes predicts PPI failure in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Bose Paroma , Zhang Wenwu , Mehrpouya-Bahrami Pegah , Collins Katrina , Zhao Jennifer , Cannon Anthony M , Albright Eric , Idrees Muhammad T , Perkins Anthony , Gupta Sandeep K , Hon Emily C , Kaplan Mark H
Published: September 2024

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are one of the standards of care of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) treatment, though PPI response rates are variable ranging from 23 to 63% in pediatric studies. We sought to determine if expression of select genes in esophageal mucosa can predict PPI responsiveness in EoE. Children with a new diagnosis of EoE (15 or more eosinophils/hpf on esophageal biopsy) were prospectively treated with 8 weeks of PPI therapy before follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Children with <15 eosinophils/hpf on follow-up were classified as having PPI-Responsive EoE (PPI-R) and ≥ 15 eosinophils/hpf as PPI-Nonresponsive EoE (PPI-NR). Using the Nanostring nCounter Analysis System, mRNA expression of a custom panel of genes was measured in esophageal biopsies. Immunohistochemical staining of biopsies was performed. Among children with EoE, 32% (8/25) had PPI-R EoE. ATP12A, ATP4A, tryptase-beta 2 (TPSB2), CLC and IL13 had higher expression in PPI-NR EoE compared to PPI-R EoE or controls. Immunohistochemical staining of ATP12A was higher among PPI-R EoE and PPI-NR EoE, compared to non-EoE controls. In this study, PPI-NR EoE had significantly higher baseline gene expression of mast cell, cytokine, proton pump, and eosinophil genes compared to PPI-R EoE. PPIs may be involved in an inflammatory cascade of mast cell activation that stimulates IL-13 release, which upregulates ATP12A and ATP4A that leads to eosinophil recruitment. Histologic PPI failure may occur when increased gene expression of these components is high and cannot be overcome pharmacologically, especially in the case of proton pump genes.
Prediction of cardiovascular markers and diseases using retinal fundus images and deep learning: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Li Livie Yumeng , Isaksen Anders Aasted , Lebiecka-Johansen Benjamin , Funck Kristian , Thambawita Vajira , Byberg Stine , Andersen Tue Helms , Norgaard Ole , Hulman Adam
Published: September 2024

Rapid development in deep learning for image analysis inspired studies to focus on predicting cardiovascular risk using retinal fundus images. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe studies using retinal fundus images and deep learning to predict cardiovascular risk markers and diseases. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on 17 November 2023. Abstracts and relevant full-text articles were independently screened by two reviewers. We included studies that used deep learning for the analysis of retinal fundus images to predict cardiovascular risk markers or cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and excluded studies only using predefined characteristics of retinal fundus images. Study characteristics were presented using descriptive statistics. We included 24 articles published between 2018 and 2023. Among these, 23 (96%) were cross-sectional studies and eight (33%) were follow-up studies with clinical CVD outcomes. Seven studies included a combination of both designs. Most studies (96%) used convolutional neural networks to process images. We found nine (38%) studies that incorporated clinical risk factors in the prediction and four (17%) that compared the results to commonly used clinical risk scores in a prospective setting. Three of these reported improved discriminative performance. External validation of models was rare (21%). There is increasing interest in using retinal fundus images in cardiovascular risk assessment with some studies demonstrating some improvements in prediction. However, more prospective studies, comparisons of results to clinical risk scores, and models augmented with traditional risk factors can strengthen further research in the field.
Size fractionation informs microbial community composition and interactions in the eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Thompson Madeleine A , Valentine David L , Peng Xuefeng
Published: September 2024

Marine microorganisms are drivers of biogeochemical cycles in the world’s oceans, including oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). Using a metabarcoding survey of the 16S rRNA gene, we investigated prokaryotic communities, as well as their potential interactions with fungi, at the coastal, offshore, and peripheral OMZ of the eastern tropical North Pacific. Water samples were collected along a vertical oxygen gradient, and large volumes were filtered through three size fractions, 0.22, 2, and 22 µm. The changes in community composition along the oxygen gradient were driven by Planctomycetota, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, and Gammaproteobacteria; most are known degraders of marine polysaccharides and usually associated with the large particle-associated (LPA) community. The relative abundance of Nitrososphaerota, Alphaproteobacteria, Actinomycetota, and Nitrospinota was high in free-living and small particle-associated (SPA) communities. Network analyses identified putative interactions between fungi and prokaryotes in the particle-associated fractions, which have been largely overlooked in the ocean. In the SPAnetwork analysis, fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) had exclusively negative connections with SAR11 nodes. In the LPA network analysis, fungal ASVs displayed both negative and positive connections with Pseudomonadota, SAR324, and Thermoplasmatota. Our findings demonstrate the utility of three-stage size-fractioned filtration in providing novel insights into marine microbial ecology.
The ambiguous impact of populist trade discourses on the international economic order
Authors: Meislová Monika Brusenbauch , Chryssogelos Angelos
Published: September 2024

The relationship between populism and free trade has historically been a complex one. This article argues that populism affects trade not by expressing consistent economic preferences, but by operating as a discourse that articulates external policies as a struggle for popular recognition. We analyse trade discourses of Donald Trump and Brexiteers following their victories in the 2016 United States presidential election and the referendum on European Union membership in the United Kingdom. These populist movements expressed opposing trade preferences: Trumpism was identified with protectionism, while Brexiteers supported free trade. However, they both articulated trade as a way to regain popular sovereignty from elites and hostile outsiders. A discursive approach helps identify a common logic in how populists articulate foreign relations despite pursuing nominally opposing policies. While this populist logic pertains primarily to domestic mobilization, it has implications for the international order as well, as evidenced in the persistence of protectionist instincts in the US under President Biden and the acceptance of a ‘global’ trade policy outside the EU as the new frame of reference for UK external economic relations.
Left populism and foreign policy: Bernie Sanders and Podemos
Authors: Eklundh Emmy , Stengel Frank A , Wojczewski Thorsten
Published: September 2024

This article analyses how populism is conceptualized and studied in International Relations (IR) and argues that it should be seen as a political logic instead of a political ideology. It does so by demonstrating that ‘populist foreign policy’ looks radically different in analyses of the populist left, refuting the possibility of any distinctly ‘populist’ foreign policy positions. We argue that large parts of IR scholarship practise a form of concept-stretching that undermines the quality of analysis as well as the ability to make meaningful policy recommendations. Using the empirical case-studies of the politician Bernie Sanders in the United States and the political party Podemos in Spain, the article demonstrates that populism does not translate into any shared ideological positions, but is a way of formulating and performing—in these cases—leftist politics through which political actors can interpellate and mobilize different societal groups and demands behind their political projects. In particular, the analysis debunks common assumptions about populism's alleged effects on foreign policy and dangers to pluralist democracy, and shows that populism neither necessarily opposes multilateralism, migration and global public good provision nor formulates an authoritarian claim to power.
Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Have Replaced Rotavirus as Main Causes of Childhood Diarrhea in Rwanda After 10 Years of Rotavirus Vaccination
Authors: Munyemana Jean Bosco , Kabayiza Jean Claude , Nilsson Staffan , Andersson Maria E , Lindh Magnus
Published: September 2024

The causes of diarrhea after 10 years of rotavirus vaccination in Rwanda were investigated with real-time polymerase chain reaction in 496 children with diarrhea and 298 without. Rotavirus was detected in 11% of children with diarrhea (odds ratio, 2.48; P = .002). Comparison of population attributable fractions (PAFs) shows that Shigella (PAF, 11%) and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli producing labile toxin (PAF, 12%) have replaced rotavirus as the main causative agents. The PAF for rotavirus had declined from 41% prevaccination to 6.5% postvaccination, indicating that rotavirus has become one among several similarly important causes of childhood diarrhea in Rwanda. A rotavirus genotype shift to G3P[8] points at the importance of continued genotype surveillance.
Virtual active power sensor for eolic self-consumption installations based on wind-related variables
Authors: Díaz-Longueira Antonio , Arcano-Bea Paula , Casado-Vara Roberto , Piñón-Pazos Andrés-José , Jove Esteban
Published: September 2024

Green energy production is expanding in individual and large-scale electricity grids, driven by the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This research performs a comparative analysis of several linear and non-linear regression models, intending to identify the most effective method to estimate the active power produced for a mini wind turbine using meteorological variables, looking for a reliable virtual sensor. The modeling process followed a feature selection step before applying eight machine learning techniques whose results were statistically analysed to determine the best performance. The implemented virtual sensor accurately estimated the active power, being an interesting tool for anomaly detection, maintenance management or decision-making.
Impact of cyclophosphamide on the morphological and histological changes in polyglycolic acid spacers
Authors: Tsuzuki Yusuke , Kamei Michi , Iwata Hiromitsu , Takeda Risa , Kimura Hiroaki , Aiba Hisaki , Murase Takayuki , Tsuchiya Takahiro , Sasaki Ryohei , Hiwatashi Akio
Published: September 2024

In radiotherapy for pediatric abdominal tumors, determining the effect of concurrent chemotherapy on polyglycolic acid (PGA) spacers is crucial; yet this effect has not been validated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of cyclophosphamide (CPA) chemotherapy on the PGA spacer using a rat model. Twenty-four rats were implanted with the spacer, and morphological changes in the spacer were assessed on CT for both the CPA-dosed group (40 mg/kg) and the control group. The size and volume of the spacer were quantified using CT, while the degree of adhesion and microscopic examination of the tissue were determined using pathology specimens. Morphologically, the size of the spacer decreased over time in both the CPA-dosed and control groups, with no significant differences observed between groups. No significant differences in adhesion were observed between the two groups. Macrophages were observed around the PGA fibers, suggesting their involvement in the degradation of the PGA spacer. These results suggest that CPA does not cause significant clinically problematic degradation or adverse tissue reactions to the PGA spacer. This study reinforced the benefits of PGA spacers; however, future research focusing on in vivo longitudinal monitoring of individual rats, as well as on humans, is required.
Mixtures of Dirichlet processes for joint spatial modelling of transcranial magnetic stimulation mapping data
Authors: Egbon Osafu Augustine , Heumann Christian , Nascimento Diego Carvalho , Louzada Francisco
Published: September 2024

A patient’s responses to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) pulses on the motor cortex have a complex spatial pattern, making it challenging to understand the response patterns across multiple patients. We developed a mixture of Dirichlet process models to distinguish between patient-specific and shared spatial patterns across multiple patients to provide insight into consistent response patterns essential for developing personalized treatment procedures. The Metropolis–Hastings within Gibbs sampler of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm was developed for estimation. The model was used to analyse the TMS data of 3 healthy subjects. The study revealed that the primary motor cortex of the hand consistently emerges as a promising region for eliciting optimal responses. This area serves as a key target for brain mapping using TMS to identify cortical hotspots. However, the excitability patterns in this region can vary significantly among patients.
Nucleotides and nucleotide derivatives as signal molecules in plants
Authors: Witte Claus-Peter , Herde Marco
Published: September 2024

In reaction to a stimulus, signaling molecules are made, generate a response, and are then degraded. Nucleotides are classically associated with central metabolism and nucleic acid biosynthesis, but there are a number of nucleotides and nucleotide derivatives in plants to which this simple definition of a signaling molecule applies in whole or at least in part. These include cytokinins and chloroplast guanosine tetraposphate (ppGpp), as well as extracellular canonical nucleotides such as extracellular ATP (eATP) and NAD+ (eNAD+). In addition, there is a whole series of compounds derived from NAD+ such as ADP ribose (ADPR), and ATP–ADPR dinucleotides and their hydrolysis products (e.g. pRib-AMP) together with different variants of cyclic ADPR (cADPR, 2´-cADPR, 3´-cADPR), and also cyclic nucleotides such as 3´,5´-cAMP and 2´,3´-cyclic nucleoside monophosphates. Interestingly, some of these compounds have recently been shown to play a central role in pathogen defense. In this review, we highlight these exciting new developments. We also review nucleotide derivatives that are considered as candidates for signaling molecules, for example purine deoxynucleosides, and discuss more controversial cases.
Temporal trends in asteroid behaviour: a machine learning and N-body integration approach
Authors: Bora Chetan Abhijnanam , Kushvah Badam Singh , Mouli Gunda Chandra , Yousuf Saleem
Published: September 2024

Asteroids pose significant threats to Earth, necessitating early detection for potential deflection. Leveraging machine learning (ML), we classify asteroids into near-Earth Asteroids (particularly Atens, Amors, Apollos, and Apoheles) and non-near-Earth asteroids, further categorizing them based on hazard potential. Training the seven models on a comprehensive data set of 4687 asteroids, we achieve high accuracy in prediction. The predictive capability of these models is critical for informed decision-making in planetary defense strategies. We apply different regularization techniques to prevent overfitting and validate the models using a large unseen data set. A rigorous long-term N-body integration spanning 1 Myr is executed utilizing the Mercury N-body integrator to illuminate the evolution of asteroid properties over extended temporal scales. Following this integration process, the best-performing ML model is employed to classify asteroids based on their orbital characteristics and hazardous status respectively. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of ML in asteroid classification and prediction, paving the way for large-scale applications. By dividing a 1 Myr integration into intervals, we uncover temporal trends in asteroid behaviour, revealing insights into hazard evolution and ejection patterns. Notably, initially, hazardous asteroids tend to transition to non-hazardous states over time, elucidating key dynamics in planetary defense. We illustrate these findings through plotted graphs, providing valuable insights into asteroid dynamics. These insights are instrumental in advancing our understanding of long-term asteroid behaviour, with significant implications for future research and planetary protection efforts.
Photospheric signatures of CME onset
Authors: Aslam O P M , MacTaggart D , Williams T , Fletcher L , Romano P
Published: September 2024

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are solar eruptions that involve large-scale changes to the magnetic topology of an active region. There exists a range of models for CME onset which are based on twisted or sheared magnetic field above a polarity inversion line (PIL). We present observational evidence that topological changes at PILs, in the photosphere, form a key part of CME onset, as implied by many models. In particular, we study the onset of 30 CMEs and investigate topological changes in the photosphere by calculating the magnetic winding flux, using the artop code. By matching the times and locations of winding signatures with CME observations produced by the almanac code, we confirm that these signatures are indeed associated with CMEs. Therefore, as well as presenting evidence that changes in magnetic topology at the photosphere are a common signature of CME onset, our approach also allows for the finding of the source location of a CME within an active region.
Trinucleotide cap analogs with triphosphate chain modifications: synthesis, properties, and evaluation as mRNA capping reagents
Authors: Warminski Marcin , Depaix Anais , Ziemkiewicz Kamil , Spiewla Tomasz , Zuberek Joanna , Drazkowska Karolina , Kedzierska Hanna , Popielec Agnieszka , Baranowski Marek R , Sklucka Marta , Bednarczyk Marcelina , Smietanski Miroslaw , Wolosewicz Karol , Majewski Bartosz , Serwa Remigiusz A , Nowis Dominika , Golab Jakub , Kowalska Joanna , Jemielity Jacek
Published: September 2024

The recent COVID-19 pandemics have demonstrated the great therapeutic potential of in vitro transcribed (IVT) mRNAs, but improvements in their biochemical properties, such as cellular stability, reactogenicity and translational activity, are critical for further practical applications in gene replacement therapy and anticancer immunotherapy. One of the strategies to overcome these limitations is the chemical modification of a unique mRNA 5′-end structure, the 5′-cap, which is responsible for regulating translation at multiple levels. This could be achieved by priming the in vitro transcription reaction with synthetic cap analogs. In this study, we combined a highly efficient trinucleotide IVT capping technology with several modifications of the 5′ cap triphosphate bridge to synthesize a series of 16 new cap analogs. We also combined these modifications with epigenetic marks (2′-O-methylation and m6Am) characteristic of mRNA 5′-ends in higher eukaryotes, which was not possible with dinucleotide caps. All analogs were compared for their effect on the interactions with eIF4E protein, IVT priming, susceptibility to decapping, and mRNA translation efficiency in model cell lines. The most promising α-phosphorothiolate modification was also evaluated in an in vivo mouse model. Unexpected differences between some of the analogs were analyzed using a protein cell extract pull-down assay.
The English Bible: History and Translations
Authors: Beard Brady
Published: September 2024

Far from an innocuous task, the translation of the Bible into vernacular English generates a history of politics, personalities, printings, and complex translation practices. Spanning nearly 1,100 years, the conversation and desire among academics and church leaders to translate the Bible into English is vast and contains a veritable who’s who of monarchs, politicians, philosophers, theologians, priests, mystics, and laypersons from the English-speaking world. The study of the Bible in English depends on historical, literary, biblical, sociological, and bibliographic methods. Aside from linguistic tools, knowledge of biblical studies, and translation theory, researchers must seek to understand the production of the Bible in English as it was shaped by the geopolitical and socioreligious realities governing England, the Americas, and the British Empire.
Juvenile Waiver
Authors: Levett Lora , Haigh Cassidy , Perez Gissel
Published: September 2024

Since the 1980s, the United States has implemented policies designed to expand the transfer of juvenile defendants to the adult criminal court system, increasing the likelihood that they will be tried and sentenced as adults. As such, scholars have devoted considerable resources to investigating the legal landscape of waiver, including exploration of the various mechanisms by which a juvenile can be transferred or tried directly in adult criminal court (i.e., prosecutorial waiver, judicial waiver, or legislative mandate) and legal and non-legal factors that influence whether a juvenile will be waived. Scholarship has also examined the theoretical underpinnings of the effectiveness of waiver as a deterrent, examining outcomes or consequences associated with waiver versus retention in or decertification to the juvenile justice system. Other research has examined how these variables may be moderated by characteristics of the offender (e.g., race and ethnicity). Further, the research has also focused on examining public perceptions of waiver, both in the context of general perceptions of juveniles and stereotypical perceptions of juvenile defendants and in the context of juror and jury decision making in juvenile waiver cases. In addition to examining antecedents, consequences, and public perceptions of waiver, researchers have also suggested several reforms designed to improve outcomes for juveniles in the criminal justice system.
Notation
Authors: Zazulia Emily
Published: September 2024

The earliest artifacts containing musical notation date from about 3,500 years ago. In the intervening ages, humans from various cultures have invented myriad methods for representing sounds in writing. The scholarship on notation unsurprisingly skews toward Western music, particularly Western art music, since notation has been such an important tool for the creation, preservation, dissemination, and hegemony of this repertoire. Even non-Western traditions are often written about from a Western perspective. This can have distorting effects because of an unfortunate historical assumption that the use of notation was proof of a musical tradition’s sophistication, rationality, and superiority. Indeed, the use of musical notation has traditionally been the exception, not the rule. Today, scholars are engaged in a new appraisal of what counts as music notation, often opting for a capacious definition. Scholars of media and mediation are showing that the boundary between music notation and direct methods of sound recording is less firm than once thought. Likewise, the relationship between orality and literacy is increasingly framed as two sides of the same coin. While this reference will flag areas for broader reading, it will largely limit the scope of entries to those that concern written methods of music notation, rather than scholarship based on an all-embracing or metaphorical definition. For ease of use, it is organized according to topic, chronology, and geography, but its contents can be read profitably through thematic issues that cross categories. For instance, concerns over notation’s descriptive versus prescriptive roles pop up frequently, as do questions of what knowledge a performer must possess in order to read a given notational system. Issues of music theory also show up often, since the particular form notation takes is intimately tied to the nature of the music it is used for. This, in turn, complicates efforts at transcription, particularly across musical systems. And as the primary medium for the physical and material fixing of a famously ephemeral entity, notation frequently inspires semiotic and philosophical inquiry.
Baltic Crusades
Authors: Selart Anti
Published: September 2024

In the context of the Baltic Crusades, the “Baltic” (“Livonian”) roughly corresponds to the territory of modern republics Estonia and Latvia. The region was settled by Finnic-speaking peoples (Estonian groups, Livs, and Finnic Curonians) in its northern and, to some extent also in its western part, and by Baltic-speaking groups (Letts, Semgallians, Selonians, Baltic Curonians) in the south. As the original center of the crusading conquest lay in the Liv settlement area, the toponym “Livonia” spread to the whole territory. During the thirteenth century, five ecclesiastic territories formed there. The most significant part of the country was controlled by the Teutonic Order, which started its activities here in 1237. The archbishop of Riga and bishops of Tartu, Saaremaa, and Curonia were, besides their ecclesiastical duties, territorial lords as well. Northern Estonia was part of the Danish realm until 1346, when it was sold to the Teutonic Order. Traditionally, the authors start their historical narrative of the Baltic Crusades in 1180/1200, when, according to the chronicle by Henry of Livonia, the activities of German missionaries on the lower reaches of the Daugava River started. However, this Germanocentric interpretation tends to shade the Scandinavian efforts to connect the attempt to control the Baltic areas with the crusading ideology which started a few decades earlier. Livonia was eventually conquered by 1300/1310. The crusading warfare continued until 1400 against Lithuania, first of all as the “Preussenreisen” (the expeditions of western European knights against Lithuania) organized by the Teutonic Order. Especially in the English-language publications, the whole history of the Livonian medieval bishoprics and the Livonian Teutonic Order until their dissolution during the Livonian War in 1558–1562 have been treated under the heading of Baltic Crusades, yet the crusading ideology had only sporadic and minor importance in Livonia after the fourteenth century.
Mary McCarthy
Authors: Wilson Niehaus Sophia
Published: September 2024

Mary McCarthy (b. 1912–d. 1989) was an American essayist, novelist, critic, and public intellectual known for her biting satire and incisive criticism. From the 1930s to 1980s, her book reviews and other essays appeared in periodicals such as Partisan Review, Harper’s, The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books. The Group, McCarthy’s 1963 novel about the lives of eight Vassar College graduates, was considered scandalous for its satirical and frank depiction of sex, contraception, and the private lives of women; it is now regarded as a classic of postwar fiction. Born in Seattle to an Irish-Catholic father and half-Jewish, half-Protestant mother, Mary McCarthy was the oldest of four children. She was six years old when her parents died in 1918 during the flu epidemic. In Memories of a Catholic Girlhood (1957), she recalls the shock of becoming an orphan followed by years of abuse at the hands of sadistic guardians and her loss of religious faith at age twelve. McCarthy attended Vassar and graduated in 1933. Soon she married an aspiring playwright (whom she would divorce three years later) and grew close to a circle of leftist intellectuals that included Dwight Macdonald, William Phillips, Philip Rahv, and Nicola Chiaromonte. She married the critic Edmund Wilson in 1938; the same year, the couple had one son, Reuel. In the midst of their tumultuous marriage, McCarthy––with Wilson’s encouragement––published her first work of fiction, The Company She Keeps (1942). One of the collection’s stories, “The Man in the Brooks Brothers Shirt,” was considered daring for its description of the heroine’s casual sexual encounter with a married Midwestern businessman in a Pullman car. In the 1940s and 1950s, McCarthy’s record, at once finely observed and satirically recreated, of political, social, and indeed conjugal life in America, gained recognition in works such as The Oasis (1949), The Groves of Academe (1952), and A Charmed Life (1955). By the time of the publication of The Group in 1963, McCarthy had left New York to live in Paris, France and Castine, Maine. She contributed regularly to the New York Review of Books, including reports on the Vietnam War and Watergate hearings. She also published two more novels, Birds of America (1971) and Cannibals and Missionaries (1979). In a much discussed cause célèbre, McCarthy accused Lillian Hellman of being a “dishonest writer” on a live recording of the Dick Cavett Show in 1980; Hellman sued for libel but died before the case could go to trial.
Aquaporin CmPIP2;3 links H2O2 signal and antioxidation to modulate trehalose-induced cold tolerance in melon seedlings
Authors: Han Yuqing , Luo Fei , Liang Adan , Xu Dongdong , Zhang Hongyi , Liu Tao , Qi Hongyan
Published: September 2024

Cold stress severely restricts the growth and development of cold-sensitive crops. Trehalose (Tre), known as the “sugar of life”, plays key roles in regulating plant cold tolerance by triggering antioxidation. However, the relevant regulatory mechanism remains unclear. Here, we confirmed that Tre triggers apoplastic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and thus plays key roles in improving the cold tolerance of melon (Cucumis melo var. makuwa Makino) seedlings. Moreover, Tre treatment can promote the transport of apoplastic H2O2 to the cytoplasm. This physiological process may depend on aquaporins. Further studies showed that a Tre-responsive plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2;3 (CmPIP2;3) had strong H2O2 transport function and that silencing CmPIP2;3 significantly weakened apoplastic H2O2 transport and reduced the cold tolerance of melon seedlings. Yeast library and protein–DNA interaction technology were then used to screen 2 Tre-responsive transcription factors, abscisic acid–responsive element (ABRE)–binding factor 2 (CmABF2) and ABRE-binding factor 3 (CmABF3), which can bind to the ABRE motif of the CmPIP2;3 promoter and activate its expression. Silencing of CmABF2 and CmABF3 further dramatically increased the ratio of apoplastic H2O2/cytoplasm H2O2 and reduced the cold tolerance of melon seedlings. This study uncovered that Tre treatment induces CmABF2/3 to positively regulate CmPIP2;3 expression. CmPIP2;3 subsequently enhances the cold tolerance of melon seedlings by promoting the transport of apoplastic H2O2 into the cytoplasm for conducting redox signals and stimulating downstream antioxidation.
A hierarchical ubiquitination-mediated regulatory module controls bamboo lignin biosynthesis
Authors: Yang Kebin , Li Ziyang , Zhu Chenglei , Liu Yan , Li Hui , Di Xiaolin , Song Xinzhang , Ren Haiqing , Gao Zhimin
Published: September 2024

The lignocellulosic feedstock of woody bamboo shows promising potential as an alternative to conventional wood, attributed to its excellent properties. The content and distribution of lignin serve as the foundation of these properties. While the regulation of lignin biosynthesis in bamboo has been extensively studied at the transcriptional level, its posttranslational control has remained poorly understood. This study provides a ubiquitinome dataset for moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), identifying 13,015 ubiquitinated sites in 4,849 unique proteins. We further identified Kelch repeat F-box protein 9 (PeKFB9) that plays a negative role in lignin biosynthesis. Heterologous expression of PeKFB9 resulted in reduced accumulation of lignin and decreased phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities. Both in vitro and in vivo assays identified interaction between PeKFB9 and PePAL10. Further examination revealed that SCFPeKFB9 mediated the ubiquitination and degradation of PePAL10 via the 26S proteasome pathway. Moreover, PebZIP28667 could bind to the PePAL10 promoter to significantly inhibit its transcription, and ubiquitination of PebZIP28667 weakened this inhibition. Collectively, our findings reveal a PeKFB9-PePAL10/PebZIP28667-PePAL10 module that acts as a negative regulator of lignin biosynthesis. This study advances our understanding of posttranslational regulation in plant lignification, which will facilitate the improvement of the properties of bamboo wood and the breeding of varieties.
The lysogenic filamentous Pseudomonas bacteriophage phage Pf slows mucociliary transport
Authors: Burgener Elizabeth B , Cai Pamela C , Kratochvil Michael J , Rojas-Hernandez Laura S , Joo Nam Soo , Gupta Aditi , Secor Patrick R , Heilshorn Sarah C , Spakowitz Andrew J , Wine Jeffrey J , Bollyky Paul L , Milla Carlos E
Published: September 2024

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major pulmonary pathogen causing chronic pulmonary infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The P. aeruginosa filamentous and lysogenic bacteriophage, Pf phage, is abundant in the airways of many people with CF and has been associated with poor outcomes in a cross-sectional cohort study. Previous studies have identified roles for Pf phage in biofilm formation, specifically forming higher-order birefringent, liquid crystals when in contact with other biopolymers in biofilms. Liquid crystalline biofilms are more adherent and viscous than those without liquid crystals. A key feature of biofilms is to enhance bacterial adherence and resist physical clearance. The effect of Pf phage on mucociliary transport is unknown. We found that primary CF and non-CF nasal epithelial cells cultured at air–liquid interface treated with Pf phage exhibit liquid crystalline structures in the overlying mucus. On these cell cultures, Pf phage entangles cilia but does not affect ciliary beat frequency. In both these in vitro cell cultures and in an ex vivo porcine trachea model, introduction of Pf phage decreases mucociliary transport velocity. Pf phage also blocks the rescue of mucociliary transport by CF transmembrane conductance regulator modulators in CF cultures. Thus, Pf phage may contribute to the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa-associated CF lung disease via induction of liquid crystalline characteristics to airway secretions, leading to impaired mucociliary transport. Targeting Pf phage may be useful in treatment CF as well as other settings of chronic P. aeruginosa infections.
Association of gut commensal translocation with autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Katsushima Masao , Nakayama Yoichi , Yoshida Tsuneyasu , Nishida Yuri , Shirakashi Mirei , Nakashima Ran , Yoshifuji Hajime , Ito Shinji , Satoh Junko , Yamamoto Masaki , Watanabe Ryu , Emori Takashi , Kamiya Tomonori , Nitahara Yuko , Nakagama Yu , Ohtani Naoko , Kido Yasutoshi , Morinobu Akio , Hashimoto Motomu
Published: September 2024

Objective

Bacterial translocation across the gut barrier has been implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of translocated bacteria in the context of molecular mimicry by utilizing lupus model mice and blood samples from untreated SLE patients.

Methods

Bacterial translocation was evaluated using nonselective cultured mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) from B6SKG mice, a lupus model characterized by impaired TCR signalling and gut dysbiosis. The relationships of detected pathobionts with autoantibody production were examined using in vivo experiments, ELISA, immunoblotting and epitope mapping.

Results

Culture-based bacterial profiling in MLNs demonstrated that Lactobacillus murinus was enriched in B6SKG mice with elevated anti-dsDNA IgG levels. Subcutaneous injection of heat-killed L. murinus induced anti-dsDNA IgG production without altering T- or B-cell subset composition. Immunoblotting and mass spectrometry analysis identified a peptide ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter as a molecular mimicry antigen, with its cross-reactivity in lupus mice confirmed by serological assays and in vivo immunization. The L. murinus ABC transporter exhibited surface epitopes that were cross-reactive with sera from lupus mice and patients. The ABC transporter from R. gnavus, known for its pathogenic role in lupus patients, had a similar epitope sequence to that of the L. murinus ABC transporter and reacted with lupus sera.

Conclusion

ABC transporters from gut bacteria can serve as cross-reactive antigens that may promote anti-dsDNA antibody production in genetically susceptible mice. These findings underscore the role of commensal-derived molecular mimicry and bacterial translocation in lupus pathogenesis.
The Limits of the Metapopulation: Lineage Fragmentation in a Widespread Terrestrial Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Authors: Waldron Brian P , Watts Emily F , Morgan Donald J , Hantak Maggie M , Lemmon Alan R , Lemmon Emily C Moriarty , Kuchta Shawn R
Published: September 2024

In vicariant species formation, divergence results primarily from periods of allopatry and restricted gene flow. Widespread species harboring differentiated, geographically distinct sublineages offer a window into what may be a common mode of species formation, whereby a species originates, spreads across the landscape, then fragments into multiple units. However, incipient lineages usually lack reproductive barriers that prevent their fusion upon secondary contact, blurring the boundaries between a single, large metapopulation-level lineage and multiple independent species. Here, we explore this model of species formation in the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), a widespread terrestrial vertebrate with at least 6 divergent mitochondrial clades throughout its range. Using anchored hybrid enrichment data, we applied phylogenomic and population genomic approaches to investigate patterns of divergence, gene flow, and secondary contact. Genomic data broadly match most mitochondrial groups but reveal mitochondrial introgression and extensive admixture at several contact zones. While species delimitation analyses in Bayesian Phylogenetics and Phylogeography supported 5 lineages of P. cinereus, genealogical divergence indices (gdi) were highly sensitive to the inclusion of admixed samples and the geographic representation of candidate species, with increasing support for multiple species when removing admixed samples or limiting sampling to a single locality per group. An analysis of morphometric data revealed differences in body size and limb proportions among groups, with a reduction of forelimb length among warmer and drier localities consistent with increased fossoriality. We conclude that P. cinereus is a single species, but one with highly structured component lineages of various degrees of independence.