bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MEDIUM-TERM PERFLUORO-N-OCTANE AS RESCUE POSTOPERATIVE TAMPONADE FOR VERY COMPLEX RETINAL DETACHMENTS
Authors: Shukla Dhananjay , Dhawan Anuradha , Kalliath Jay
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

To report the anatomical and functional outcomes of medium-term perfluoro-n-octane (PFO) tamponade as a rescue procedure in very complex retinal detachments (RDs).

Methods:

We reviewed the case records of 35 consecutive patients who underwent vitrectomy for very complex RDs due to diverse etiologies. The surgical complexity was so graded because of the intraoperative failure to ascertain complete retinal reattachment; perfluoro-n-octane was used as rescue tamponade for 2 to 4 weeks. The second intervention included additional membrane peeling, retinectomy, endophotocoagulation, and gas/silicone oil tamponade. The minimum follow-up was 3 months after the final intervention: the primary outcome was retinal reattachment and the secondary outcome was change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results:

The most common presentations were severe trauma with retinal incarceration, preretinal and subretinal hemorrhage, or chronic/recurrent RDs with anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Preoperative BCVA was ≤counting fingers in 31 (88.6%) patients. Complete retinal attachment without any tamponade was achieved in 33 (94.3%) eyes. best-corrected visual acuity improved in 30 (85.7%) eyes: 16 (45.7%) had BCVA ≥20/200 and 21 (60%) regained ambulatory vision (≥5/200). Two eyes developed keratopathy, and four needed antiglaucoma medications.

Conclusion:

We achieved excellent anatomical outcomes and acceptable functional outcomes in nearly inoperable RDs with few side effects. Medium-term perfluoro-n-octane tamponade can be used as a salvage procedure in very complex RDs where intraoperative reattachment cannot be ensured.
Incidence of Postoperative CSF Leaks in Class III Obese Patients Undergoing Middle Cranial Fossa Approach for Spontaneous CSF Leak Repair
Authors: Cutri Raffaello M. , Shibata Seiji B. , Zhang Huan , Gantz Bruce J. , Hansen Marlan R.
Published: February 2023

Objective

To determine the safety and effectiveness of the middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach for spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak (sCSF-L) repair in class III obese patients. To also assess the need for prophylactic lumbar drain (LD) placement in this patient population.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary Academic Center.

Patients

All patients older than 18 years undergoing sCSF-L repair with an MCF approach.

Intervention

An MCF craniotomy for sCSF-L repair.

Main outcome measure

Rate of complications and postoperative leaks.

Results

There were no perioperative complications in 78.9% (56/71) of cases. The surgical complication rate was 12.5% (2/16), 10% (2/20), and 22.2% (6/27) in class I, class II, and class III obese patients. There was no statistically significant difference in complications among these three groups. The most common postoperative complication was a persistent CSF leak in the acute postoperative period with an overall rate of 9.9% (7/71) with six of the seven patients requiring postoperative LD placement. The percentage of postoperative CSF leaks in nonobese, class I, class II, and class III patients were 25% (2/8), 12.5% (2/16), 0% (0/20), and 11.1% (3/27), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of postoperative CSF leaks among the four groups (chi-square, p = 0.48). In all cases, the acute postoperative CSF leaks resolved in the long term and did not require further surgical repair.

Conclusions

We determine that MCF craniotomy repair for sCSF-Ls is safe in patients with class III obesity, and the incidence of postoperative CSF leaks did not vary among other obesity classes. We also find that prophylactic placement of LDs is not routinely needed in this population.
Treatment Options in Mal de Débarquement Syndrome: A Scoping Review
Authors: Kinkhabwala Corin M. , Yuen Erick , Brennan Emily , Cadena Angel , Rizk Habib G.
Published: February 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study was to review current treatment options available for mal de debarquement syndrome (MdDS).

Data Sources

Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review guidelines, we performed systematic search queries for MdDS-related texts. Documents must have been in the English language, and the time frame was all documents up until May 23, 2022.

Methods

Studies were selected if they were published in a peer-reviewed journal and if one of the primary objectives was the assessment of treatment for MdDS. The quality and validity of all documents were assessed by two independent co-investigators. Conflicts were resolved by a third investigator.

Results

One hundred ninety-four unique references were identified and underwent review. Ninety-seven were selected for full-text review, and 32 studies were ultimately included. Data were stratified by treatment methodology for MdDS. The categories used were pharmacologic, physical therapy, and neuromodulating stimulation.

Conclusions

Improvement in patient-reported outcomes is reported with several treatment modalities including specific protocols of vestibular rehabilitation, neuromodulating stimulation, and pharmacologic management with several types of neurotropic drugs.
Cochlear Implantation Outcomes in Adults With Single-Sided Deafness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Daher Ghazal S. , Kocharyan Armine , Dillon Margaret T. , Carlson Matthew L.
Published: February 2023

Objective

To assess spatial hearing, tinnitus, and quality-of-life outcomes in adults with single-sided deafness (SSD) who underwent cochlear implantation.

Databases Reviewed

PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched from January 2008 to September 2021 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Methods

Studies reporting spatial hearing, tinnitus, and quality-of-life outcomes in adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients (≥18 yr old) with SSD were evaluated. Study characteristics, demographic data, spatial hearing (speech recognition in noise, sound source localization), tinnitus (severity, loudness), and quality-of-life outcomes were collected.

Results

From an initial search of 1,147 articles, 36 studies that evaluated CI use in 796 unique adults with SSD (51.3 ± 12.4 yr of age at time of implantation) were included. The mean duration of deafness was 6.2 ± 9.6 years. There was evidence of improvement for speech recognition in noise using different target-to-masker spatial configurations, with the largest benefit observed for target-to-masker configurations assessing head shadow (mean, 1.87–6.2 dB signal-to-noise ratio). Sound source localization, quantified as root-mean-squared error, improved with CI use (mean difference [MD], −25.3 degrees; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], −35.9 to −14.6 degrees; p < 0.001). Also, CI users reported a significant reduction in tinnitus severity as measured with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (MD, −29.97; 95% CI, −43.9 to −16.1; p < 0.001) and an improvement in spatial hearing abilities as measured with the Spatial, Speech, and Qualities of Hearing questionnaire (MD, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.7 to 2.8; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Cochlear implantation and CI use consistently offer improvements in speech recognition in noise, sound source localization, tinnitus, and perceived quality of life in adults with SSD.
Preoperative Anxiety Levels and Postoperative Middle Ear Surgery Pain Levels
Authors: Carmel Neiderman Narin Nard , Frisch Mor , Oron Yahav , Handzel Ophir , Abu Eta Rani , Muhanna Nidal , Eshel Ron , Cohen Barak , Cavel Oren , Ungar Omer J.
Published: February 2023

Objective

This study aimed to characterize self-reported postoperative pain after tympanoplasty and tympanomastoidectomy and correlate pain severity with the patient's preoperative anxiety state.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary referral medical center.

Patients

Adult patients undergoing any middle ear surgery between July 2018 and July 2019.

Main Outcome Measures

Patient responses to an otology questionnaire (OQ) for scoring pain intensity on a visual analog scale preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 1–4, 21, and 63. The responses were correlated with anxiety state (assessed by State-Trait Personality Inventory [STPI] scores) and clinical and operative data, including surgical technique–related details.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled (mean age ± standard deviation, 40 ± 19.7 yr, 26 men). Their median preoperative (baseline) visual analog scale pain score was 6 on POD1, 5 on POD3, and 1 at 3 and 7 weeks. Their median preoperative OQ score was 32 of 70 (45.7%), 37 of 70 (52.8%) on POD1, 33 of 70 (47.1%) on POD3, 6 of 70 (8.5%) at 3 weeks, and 6 of 70 at 7 weeks. Their overall mean preoperative anxiety level (STPI score) was 2.63 ± 1.50. STPI scores were significantly higher among patients who reported OQ scores equal to or higher than the median during PODs 1 to 4 in comparison to patients who reported OQ scores lower than the median. The α Cronbach correlation between anxiety and postoperative pain scores on POD1 was 0.97.

Conclusion

Preoperative anxiety levels are closely associated with postoperative pain levels after any middle ear surgery. Measures to control preoperative anxiety are warranted to alleviate postoperative pain.
Designing a Prolonged Method of Therapeutic Delivery to Support Rehabilitation From Ototoxic Damage in a Schwann Cell Model
Authors: Hong Michelle K. , Echanique Kristen A. , Hoffman Larry F. , Kita Ashley E.
Published: February 2023

Hypothesis

The ototoxicity of gentamicin and cisplatin can be evaluated with a Schwann cell model to screen for otoprotective agents that can be encapsulated into poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles for drug delivery to the inner ear.

Background

Aminoglycosides and cisplatin are widely prescribed but known to cause ototoxicity. There is strong evidence that compromise to Schwann cells ensheathing inner ear afferent neurons results in inner ear dysfunction mimicking drug-induced ototoxicity. There is a need for a model for ototoxic demyelination to screen medications for protective potential and to subsequently target and tune the delivery of any promising agents.

Methods

RT4-D6P2T rat schwannoma cells were used as a Schwann cell model to assess gentamicin and cisplatin toxicity and to screen for protective agents. Cell viability was evaluated with the MTT cell proliferation assay. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was encapsulated into a PLGA microparticle, and its elution profile was determined.

Results

The estimated 50% lethal concentration dose for gentamicin was 805.6 μM, which was 46-fold higher than that for cisplatin (17.5 μM). In several trials, cells dosed with NAC and cisplatin demonstrated a 22.6% (p < 0.001) increase in cell viability when compared with cisplatin alone. However, this protective effect was not consistent across all trials. NAC was encapsulated into a PLGA microparticle and elution plateaued at 5 days.

Conclusion

When dosed at their respective therapeutic ranges, cisplatin is more likely than gentamicin to induce damage to the Schwann cell model. Although NAC demonstrates an uncertain role in protecting against cisplatin-induced Schwann cell cytotoxicity, this study establishes a method to screen for other otoprotective medications to encapsulate into a tunable microparticle for localized drug delivery.
Factors Associated With Delirium in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis*
Authors: Ista Erwin , Traube Chani , de Neef Marjorie , Schieveld Jan , Knoester Hennie , Molag Marja , Kudchadkar Sapna R. , Strik Jacqueline ,   on behalf of the Dutch Multidisciplinary Pediatric Delirium Guideline Group
Published: February 2023

OBJECTIVES:

Pediatric delirium (PD) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by a complex interplay between predisposing factors (e.g., age, cognitive impairment), acute illness, and environmental triggers. PD is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to systematically review and evaluate factors associated with PD in hospitalized pediatric patients.

DATA SOURCES:

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Ovid Medline, Web- of-Science, Cochrane, CIHNAL, and Google Scholar databases was conducted for relevant studies (1990–2022).

STUDY SELECTION:

We included studies that compared pediatric patients with and without delirium. Reviews, editorials, congress abstracts, or studies that did not report factors for PD were excluded. No restrictions were imposed on language.

Data Extraction:

Title and abstract were independently screened by two reviewers. Individual characteristics, study design, and outcomes were independently extracted.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Categorical dichotomous data were summarized across groups using Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios (ORs) with 95% 95% CIs. Either fixed-effect or random effects models were used as indicated by the results of a heterogeneity test. Of 1,846 abstracts, 24 studies were included. We identified 54 factors studied in univariate analyses, and 27 of these were associated with PD in multivariable analyses. In pooled analyses, greater odds of PD were associated with developmental delay (OR 3.98; 95% CI 1.54–10.26), need for mechanical ventilation (OR 6.02; 95% CI 4.43–8.19), use of physical restraints (OR 4.67; 95% CI 1.82–11.96), and receipt of either benzodiazepines (OR 4.10; 95% CI 2.48–6.80), opiates (OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.89–4.37), steroids (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.47–2.77), or vasoactive medication (OR 3.68; 95% CI 1.17–11.60).

CONCLUSIONS:

In this meta-analysis, we identified seven factors associated with greater odds of developing delirium during pediatric critical illness.
“The Cost of Doing Business: An Appraisal of Relative Value Units in Plastic Surgery and Other Surgical Subspecialties”
Authors: Shim Jalene Y , Stoffel Victoria , Neubauer Daniel , Gosman Amanda A , Matros Evan , Reid Chris M
Published: February 2023

Background:

The relationship between procedural complexity and RVUs awarded has been previously studied within some specialties, but it has not yet been compared across different surgical disciplines. This study aims to analyze the association of RVUs with operative time as a surrogate for complexity across surgical specialties, with a focus on plastic surgery.

Methods:

A retrospective review of surgical cases was conducted with the 2019 NSQIP database. The top 10 most performed procedures per surgical specialty were identified based on case volume. Only cases with a single CPT code were analyzed. A sub-analysis of plastic surgery procedures was also conducted to include unilateral and bilateral procedures with a frequency of greater than 20.

Results:

Overall, operative time correlated strongly with work RVU (R = 0.86). Orthopedic surgery had one of the shortest average operative times with the greatest wRVU per hour, in contrast to plastic surgery with the greatest average operative time and one of the lowest wRVU per hour. Of the plastic surgery procedures analyzed, only 5 were valued on par with the average calculated from all other specialties. The most poorly rewarded procedure for time spent is the unilateral free flap breast reconstruction.

Conclusions:

Of all the specialties, plastic surgery has the lowest RVU per hour and the highest average operative time, leading to severe potential undervaluation compared to other specialties. Our study suggests that further reevaluation of the current RVU system may be needed to account for complexity more equitably as well as encourage value-based care.
SARS-CoV-2 live virus neutralization after four COVID-19 vaccine doses in people with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Cheung Peter K. , Lapointe Hope R. , Sang Yurou , Ennis Siobhan , Mwimanzi Francis , Speckmaier Sarah , Barad Evan , Dong Winnie , Liang Richard , Simons Janet , Lowe Christopher F. , Romney Marc G. , Brumme Chanson J. , Niikura Masahiro , Brockman Mark A. , Brumme Zabrina L.
Published: February 2023

Objective:

Limited data exist regarding the immune benefits of fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses in people with HIV (PWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly now that most have experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We quantified wild-type, Omicron-BA.5 and Omicron-BQ.1-specific neutralization up to 1 month post-fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose in 63 (19 SARS-CoV-2-naive and 44 SARS-CoV-2-experienced) PWH.

Design:

A longitudinal observational cohort.

Methods:

Quantification of wild-type-, Omicron-BA.5, and Omicron-BQ.1-specific neutralization using live virus assays.

Results:

Participants received monovalent (44%) and bivalent (56%) mRNA fourth doses. In COVID-19-naive PWH, fourth doses enhanced wild-type and Omicron-BA.5-specific neutralization modestly above three-dose levels (P = 0.1). In COVID-19-experienced PWH, fourth doses enhanced wild-type specific neutralization modestly (P = 0.1) and BA.5-specific neutralization substantially (P = 0.002). Consistent with humoral benefits of ’hybrid’ immunity, COVID-19-experienced PWH exhibited the highest neutralization post-fourth dose, wherein those with Omicron-era infections displayed higher wild-type specific (P = 0.04) but similar BA.5 and BQ.1-specific neutralization than those with pre-Omicron-era infections. Nevertheless, BA.5-specific neutralization was significantly below wild-type in everyone regardless of COVID-19 experience, with BQ.1-specific neutralization lower still (bothP < 0.0001). In multivariable analyses, fourth dose valency did not affect neutralization magnitude. Rather, an mRNA-1273 fourth dose (versus a BNT162b2 one) was the strongest correlate of wild-type specific neutralization, while prior COVID-19, regardless of pandemic era, was the strongest correlate of BA.5 and BQ.1-specific neutralization post-fourth dose.

Conclusion:

Fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses, irrespective of valency, benefit PWH regardless of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results support recommendations that all adults receive a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose within 6 months of their third dose (or their most recent SARS-CoV-2 infection).
Deep Learning Denoising of Low-Dose Computed Tomography Chest Images: A Quantitative and Qualitative Image Analysis
Authors: Azour Lea , Hu Yunan , Ko Jane P. , Chen Baiyu , Knoll Florian , Alpert Jeffrey B. , Brusca-Augello Geraldine , Mason Derek M. , Wickstrom Maj L. , Kwon Young Joon (Fred) , Babb James , Liang Zhengrong , Moore William H.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To assess deep learning denoised (DLD) computed tomography (CT) chest images at various low doses by both quantitative and qualitative perceptual image analysis.

Methods

Simulated noise was inserted into sinogram data from 32 chest CTs acquired at 100 mAs, generating anatomically registered images at 40, 20, 10, and 5 mAs. A DLD model was developed, with 23 scans selected for training, 5 for validation, and 4 for test.

Quantitative analysis of perceptual image quality was assessed with Structural SIMilarity Index (SSIM) and Fréchet Inception Distance (FID). Four thoracic radiologists graded overall diagnostic image quality, image artifact, visibility of small structures, and lesion conspicuity. Noise-simulated and denoised image series were evaluated in comparison with one another, and in comparison with standard 100 mAs acquisition at the 4 mAs levels. Statistical tests were conducted at the 2-sided 5% significance level, with multiple comparison correction.

Results

At the same mAs levels, SSIM and FID between noise-simulated and reconstructed DLD images indicated that images were closer to a perfect match with increasing mAs (closer to 1 for SSIM, and 0 for FID).

In comparing noise-simulated and DLD images to standard-dose 100-mAs images, DLD improved SSIM and FID. Deep learning denoising improved SSIM of 40-, 20-, 10-, and 5-mAs simulations in comparison with standard-dose 100-mAs images, with change in SSIM from 0.91 to 0.94, 0.87 to 0.93, 0.67 to 0.87, and 0.54 to 0.84, respectively. Deep learning denoising improved FID of 40-, 20-, 10-, and 5-mAs simulations in comparison with standard-dose 100-mAs images, with change in FID from 20 to 13, 46 to 21, 104 to 41, and 148 to 69, respectively.

Qualitative image analysis showed no significant difference in lesion conspicuity between DLD images at any mAs in comparison with 100-mAs images. Deep learning denoising images at 10 and 5 mAs were rated lower for overall diagnostic image quality (P < 0.001), and at 5 mAs lower for overall image artifact and visibility of small structures (P = 0.002), in comparison with 100 mAs.

Conclusions

Deep learning denoising resulted in quantitative improvements in image quality. Qualitative assessment demonstrated DLD images at or less than 10 mAs to be rated inferior to standard-dose images.
Differentiating Benign From Malignant Cystic Renal Masses: A Feasibility Study of Computed Tomography Texture-Based Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Miskin Nityanand , Qin Lei , Silverman Stuart G. , Shinagare Atul B.
Published: February 2023

Objective

The Bosniak classification attempts to predict the likelihood of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) among cystic renal masses but is subject to interobserver variability and often requires multiphase imaging. Artificial intelligence may provide a more objective assessment. We applied computed tomography texture–based machine learning algorithms to differentiate benign from malignant cystic renal masses.

Methods

This is an institutional review board–approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant retrospective study of 147 patients (mean age, 62.4 years; range, 28–89 years; 94 men) with 144 cystic renal masses (93 benign, 51 RCC); 69 were pathology proven (51 RCC, 18 benign), and 75 were considered benign based on more than 4 years of stability at follow-up imaging. Using a single image from a contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography scan, mean, SD, mean value of positive pixels, entropy, skewness, and kurtosis radiomics features were extracted. Random forest, multivariate logistic regression, and support vector machine models were used to classify each mass as benign or malignant with 10-fold cross validation. Receiver operating characteristic curves assessed algorithm performance in the aggregated test data.

Results

For the detection of malignancy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the curve were 0.61, 0.87, 0.72, 0.80, and 0.79 for the random forest model; 0.59, 0.87, 0.71, 0.79, and 0.80 for the logistic regression model; and 0.55, 0.86, 0.68, 0.78, and 0.76 for the support vector machine model.

Conclusion

Computed tomography texture–based machine learning algorithms show promise in differentiating benign from malignant cystic renal masses. Once validated, these may serve as an adjunct to radiologists' assessments.
Current Status of Mineral and Bone Disorders in Transplant Recipients
Authors: Elder Grahame J.
Published: February 2023

Most patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing kidney transplantation are affected by the chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder. This entity encompasses laboratory abnormalities, calcification of soft tissues, and the bone abnormalities of renal osteodystrophy that together result in an increased risk of fracture, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Although many biochemical disturbances associated with end-stage kidney disease improve in the first year after transplantation, hyperparathyroidism commonly persists, and residual changes of renal osteodystrophy are slow to resolve. When superimposed on common, traditional risk factors, post-transplant glucocorticoid treatment, the possibility of tubular disturbances and post-transplant chronic kidney disease, rates of incident fracture remain high. This review examines hormonal and biochemical changes before and after kidney transplantation, fracture risk assessment tools and imaging modalities, a staged approach to management and concerns associated with antiresorptive and anabolic therapies. A multidisciplinary approach is proposed as the best means to improve patient-level outcomes.
G × G × E effect on phenotype expression in a non-conventional model organism, the unicellular slime mould
Physarum polycephalum
Authors: Nagarajan-Radha Venkatesh , Beekman Madeleine
Published: February 2023

In metazoans, the expression of key phenotypic traits is sensitive to two- and three-way interactions between variation in mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA and the external environment. Whether gene-
by
-environment interactions affect phenotypes in single-celled eukaryotes is poorly studied, except in a few species of yeast and fungi. We developed a genetic panel of the unicellular slime mould,
Physarum polycephalum
containing strains differing in mitochondrial and nuclear DNA haplotypes. The panel also included two strains harbouring a selfishly replicating mitochondrial-fusion (mF) plasmid that could affect phenotype expression. We assayed movement and growth rate differences among the strains across two temperature regimes: 24° and 28°C. We found that the slime mould's growth rate, but not movement, is affected by G × G × E interactions. Predictably, mtDNA × nDNA interactions significantly affected both traits. The inter-trait correlation across the strains in each temperature regime was positive. Surprisingly, the mF plasmid had no negative effects on our chosen traits. Our study is the first to demonstrate genetic regulation of phenotype expression in a unicellular slime mould. The genetic effect on phenotypes manifests via epistatic interactions with the thermal environment, thus shedding new light on the role of G × G × E interactions in trait evolution in protists.
Experiments are needed to quantify the main causes of insect decline
Authors: Weisser Wolfgang , Blüthgen Nico , Staab Michael , Achury Rafael , Müller Jörg
Published: February 2023

Sparked by reports of insect declines of unexpected extent, there has been a surge in the compilation and analysis of insect time series data. While this effort has led to valuable databases, disagreement remains as to whether, where and why insects are declining. The ‘why’ question is particularly important because successful insect conservation will need to address the most important drivers of decline. Despite repeated calls for more long-term data, new time series will have to run for decades to quantitatively surpass those currently available. Here we argue that experimentation in addition to quantitative analysis of existing data is needed to identify the most important drivers of insect decline. While most potential drivers of insect population change are likely to have already been identified, their relative importance is largely unknown. Researchers should thus unite and use statistical insight to set up suitable experiments to be able to rank drivers by their importance. Such a coordinated effort is needed to produce the knowledge necessary for conservation action and will also result in increased monitoring and new time series.
Luminance contrast provides metric depth information
Authors: Hibbard Paul B. , Goutcher Ross , Hornsey Rebecca L. , Hunter David W. , Scarfe Peter
Published: February 2023

The perception of depth from retinal images depends on information from multiple visual cues. One potential depth cue is the statistical relationship between luminance and distance; darker points in a local region of an image tend to be farther away than brighter points. We establish that this statistical relationship acts as a quantitative cue to depth. We show that luminance variations affect depth in naturalistic scenes containing multiple cues to depth. This occurred when the correlation between variations of luminance and depth was manipulated within an object, but not between objects. This is consistent with the local nature of the statistical relationship in natural scenes. We also showed that perceived depth increases as contrast is increased, but only when the depth signalled by luminance and binocular disparity are consistent. Our results show that the negative correlation between luminance and distance, as found under diffuse lighting, provides a depth cue that is combined with depth from binocular disparity, in a way that is consistent with the simultaneous estimation of surface depth and reflectance variations. Adopting more complex lighting models such as ambient occlusion in computer rendering will thus contribute to the accuracy as well as the aesthetic appearance of three-dimensional graphics.
Masticatory biomechanics of red and grey squirrels (Sciurus vulgarisandSciurus carolinensis) modelled with multibody dynamics analysis
Authors: Cox Philip G. , Watson Peter J.
Published: February 2023

The process of feeding in mammals is achieved by moving the mandible relative to the cranium to bring the teeth into and out of occlusion. This process is especially complex in rodents which have a highly specialized configuration of jaw adductor muscles. Here, we used the computational technique of multi-body dynamics analysis (MDA) to model feeding in the red (Sciurus vulgaris) and grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and determine the relative contribution of each jaw-closing muscle in the generation of bite forces. The MDA model simulated incisor biting at different gapes. A series of ‘virtual ablation experiments' were performed at each gape, whereby the activation of each bilateral pair of muscles was set to zero. The maximum bite force was found to increase at wider gapes. As predicted, the superficial and anterior deep masseter were the largest contributors to bite force, but the temporalis had only a small contribution. Further analysis indicated that the temporalis may play a more important role in jaw stabilization than in the generation of bite force. This study demonstrated the ability of MDA to elucidate details of red and grey squirrel feeding biomechanics providing a complement to data gathered viain vivoexperimentation.
No evidence that lionfish
Pterois miles
coordinate and reciprocate during hunts
Authors: Sarhan Hanaa , Bshary Redouan
Published: February 2023

Decision rules underlying cooperative hunting can range from very simple to very complex. As lionfishes are naturally solitary hunters, an experimental study documenting active recruitment, coordination and alternating (potentially reciprocal) striking in dwarf lionfish
Dendrochirus zebra
received major attention. A hypothesis was that sophisticated coordinated hunting may also contribute to the successful invasion of another lionfish species,
Pterois miles
, in the Caribbean. However, we did not find recruitment signalling in
P. miles
in parts of its native range, the Red Sea. Here, we expand on these results, testing for coordinated movements and for alternation in strikes
.
We exposed subject pairs to inaccessible prey in three transparent housings. The two lionfish did not aggregate at the same prey housing or even share larger space units in the presence of prey. In a second experiment, we found that some alternation can be induced if prey items become alternately accessible at two corners, with each lionfish tending to monopolize one corner each. When the movement of prey is slow or even absent, we observed less alternation than expected by chance. In conclusion,
P. miles
in the Red Sea does not use any coordination to hunt prey.
Defect self-propulsion in active nematic films with spatially varying activity
Authors: Rønning Jonas , Marchetti M. Cristina , Angheluta Luiza
Published: February 2023

We study the dynamics of topological defects in active nematic films with spatially varying activity and consider two set-ups: (i) a constant activity gradient and (ii) a sharp jump in activity. A constant gradient of extensile (contractile) activity endows the comet-like +1/2 defect with a finite vorticity that drives the defect to align its nose in the direction of decreasing (increasing) gradient. A constant gradient does not, however, affect the known self-propulsion of the +1/2 defect and has no effect on the −1/2 that remains a non-motile particle. A sharp jump in activity acts like a wall that traps the defects, affecting the translational and rotational motion of both charges. The +1/2 defect slows down as it approaches the interface and the net vorticity tends to reorient the defect polarization so that it becomes perpendicular to the interface. The −1/2 defect acquires a self-propulsion towards the activity interface, while the vorticity-induced active torque tends to align the defect to a preferred orientation. This effective attraction of the negative defects to the wall is consistent with the observation of an accumulation of negative topological charge at both active/passive interfaces and physical boundaries.
Influence of twin-headed gemini micellar system on the study of methionine amino acid with ninhydrin in buffer solution
Authors: Alghamdi Yousef G. , Rub Malik Abdul , Kumar Dileep
Published: February 2023

The influence of double-headed gemini was examined in the present study by studying the amino acid methionine mixed with ninhydrin in CH
3
COOH-CH
3
COONa buffer solvent. The absorbance was monitored at fixed time intervals with UV-vis spectroscopy. An impact typical of surfactants was observed on the ninhydrin–methionine reaction and explained by a pseudo-phase model of micelles. The effect of different temperatures (343 to 363 K) was also determined. Based on data showing the impact of temperature on

k
ψ

, several relevant thermodynamic quantities, Δ
H
#
, Δ
S
#
, and
E
a
, were calculated using linear least-squares regression. In addition, the influence of the other reaction ingredients on the reaction, that is, pH and the concentration of ninhydrin and methionine, was studied. The CMC (critical micelle concentration) of pure geminis and the surfactant system with methionine and ninhydrin was evaluated at two temperatures, i.e. at 303 K and 353 K by conductivity measurements. The CMC values of pure gemini surfactants evaluated in the existing case at 303 K are concordant with the results stated before. Moreover, other parameters, including rates and binding constants, were calculated.
Testing the bounds of compassion in young children
Authors: Kirby James N. , Kirkland Kelly , Wilks Matti , Green Mitchell , Tanjitpiyanond Porntida , Chowdhury Nafisa , Nielsen Mark
Published: February 2023

Extensive research shows that, under the right circumstances, children are highly prosocial. Extending an already published paradigm, we aimed here to determine what factors might facilitate and inhibit compassionate behaviour. Across five experiments (N= 285), we provide new insight into the bounds of 4- to 5-year-old children's compassionate behaviour. In the first three experiments, we varied cost of compassion by changing the reward (Study 1), using explicit instructions (Study 2) and ownership (Study 3). In the final two experiments, we varied the target of the compassionate behaviour, examining adults compared with puppet targets (Study 4), and whether the target was an in-group member (Study 5). We found strong evidence that cost reduces compassionate responding. By contrast, the recipient of compassion did not appear to influence responding: children were equally likely to help a human adult and a puppet, and an in-group member and neutral agent. These findings demonstrate that for young children, personal cost appears to be a greater inhibitor to compassionate responding than who compassion is directed toward.
Dogs take into account the actions of a human partner in a cooperative task
Authors: Martínez Mayte , Robinson Lauren M. , Brosnan Sarah F. , Range Friederike
Published: February 2023

Humans stand out for their capacity to flexibly cooperate, possibly because they understand their partners' role. Researchers have explored if such understanding is unique to humans by assessing whether non-human species wait to manipulate a cooperative apparatus until a delayed partner arrives. If animals do wait, then it is assumed that they recognize the need for a partner. However, success in these tasks may be the result of social facilitation, while failure may be due to poor inhibitory control. Moreover, this approach does not test if animals take their partners’ actions into account. Here we trained dogs to press a button simultaneously with their human partner. Afterwards, we tested them in several conditions to disentangle which elements of their partner's behaviour they take into account. Dogs waited to press the button until the delayed partner arrived, the button was available to the partner and the partner acted (pressed the button). We found no relationship between inhibitory control and success. We conclude that dogs are not merely reacting to the presence of their human partners, but are also taking their actions into account when coordinating with them.
Mucilaginibacter straminoryzae sp. nov., isolated from rice straw used for growing periphyton
Authors: Ko So-Ra , Le Ve Van , Kang Mingyeong , Oh Hee-Mock , Ahn Chi-Yong
Published: February 2023

A rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-negative bacterium, strain RS28T, was isolated from rice straw used as material for periphyton growth. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain RS28T was affiliated with the genus

Mucilaginibacter

and had the highest sequence similarity to

Mucilaginibacter ginkgonis

HMF7856T (96.47 %) and

Mucilaginibacter polytrichastri

DSM 26907T (96.12 %). Strain RS28T was found to grow at pH 5.5–8.0, 17–40 °C and in the presence of 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain RS28T contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids (> 10.0 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified aminophospholipids, three unidentified aminolipids and one unidentified lipid. The respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7. The genomic DNA G+C content was 44.7 mol%. Strain RS28T possessed six putative secondary metabolite gene clusters involved in the synthesis of resorcinol, NRPS-like, terpene, lassopeptide, T3PKS and arylpolyene. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic characteristics, strain RS28T represents a novel species of the genus

Mucilaginibacter

, for which the name Mucilaginibacter straminoryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RS28T (=KCTC 92039T=LMG 32424T).
Salipiger pentaromativorans sp. nov., a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium isolated from mangrove sediment
Authors: Li Jiangwei , Lai Qiliang , Hu Anyi , Liu Huijie , Qin Dan , Yang Xiaoyong , Tian Yun , Yu Chang-Ping
Published: February 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been recognized as a potential health risk and are widespread in nature due to their intrinsic chemical stability and high recalcitrance to degradation. A taxonomic study was carried out on strain P9T, which was isolated from a PAH-degrading consortium, enriched from the mangrove sediment from Zhangzhou, PR China. The isolate was chemoheterotrophic, aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, short-rod shaped, and motile by one polar flagellum. Growth was observed at salinities from 0.5–6.0 % (optimum, 3 %), at pH 4–9 (optimum, pH 7) and at 10–41 °C (optimum, 25–30 °C). It did not synthesize bacteriochlorophyll a. Catalase and oxidase activities were positive. Acid was produced from starch, amygdalin, arbutin, cellobiose, d-fructose, maltose, d-mannitol, melezitose, melibiose, raffinose, d-ribose, sucrose, trehalose, d-xylose, aesculin ferric citrate, gentiobiose, glycogen, l-arabinose, l-rhamnose, methyl α-d-glucopyranoside, methyl β-d-xylopyranoside, N-acetylglucosamine and salicin, and weakly positive for d-arabitol, d-galactose, lactose, turanose and glycerol. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain P9T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of

Salipiger

species and formed an independent cluster with

Salipiger profundus

, which was distinct from other members of the family

Rhodobacteraceae

. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain P9T was most closely related to

Salipiger bermudensis

HTCC 260T (96.7 %), and other species of the genus

Salipiger

(95.7–94.2 %). Strain P9T had the highest digital DNA–DNA hybridization value with

S. profundus

CGMCC 1.12377T (25.0 %) and the highest average nucleotide identity (ANIb and ANIm) values with

S. profundus

CGMCC 1.12377T(80.3 and 85.8 %, respectively). The sole respiratory quinone was quinone 10. The dominant fatty acids were C18 : 1
 ω7c (61.4 %), C16 : 0 (17.5 %) and C19 : 0
 ω8c cyclo (7.6 %). The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 65.8 mol%. In the polar lipid profile, phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, aminolipid, glycolipid and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major compounds. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain P9T represents a novel species of the genus

Salipiger

, for which the name Salipiger pentaromativorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P9T (=CCTCC AB 209290T=LMG 25701T=MCCC 1F01055T).
Cross-species activation of hydrogen cyanide production by a promiscuous quorum-sensing receptor promotes Chromobacterium subtsugae competition in a dual-species model
Authors: Loo Cheyenne , Koirala Pratik , Smith Nathan C. , Evans Kara C. , Benomar Saida , Parisi Isabelle R. , Oller Anna , Chandler Josephine R.
Published: February 2023

Many saprophytic bacteria have LuxR-I-type acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing systems that may be important for competing with other bacteria in complex soil communities. LuxR AHL receptors specifically interact with cognate AHLs to cause changes in expression of target genes. Some LuxR-type AHL receptors have relaxed specificity and are responsive to non-cognate AHLs. These promiscuous receptors might be used to sense and respond to AHLs produced by other bacteria by eavesdropping. We are interested in understanding the role of eavesdropping during interspecies competition. The soil saprophyte Chromobacterium subtsugae has a single AHL circuit, CviR-I, which produces and responds to N-hexanoyl-HSL (C6-HSL). The AHL receptor CviR can respond to a variety of AHLs in addition to C6-HSL. In prior studies we have utilized a coculture model with C. subtsugae and another soil saprophyte, Burkholderia thailandensis. Using this model, we previously showed that promiscuous activation of CviR by B. thailandensis AHLs provides a competitive advantage to C. subtsugae. Here, we show that B. thailandensis AHLs activate transcription of dozens of genes in C. subtsugae, including the hcnABC genes coding for production of hydrogen cyanide. We show that hydrogen cyanide production is population density-dependent and demonstrate that the cross-induction of hydrogen cyanide by B. thailandensis AHLs provides a competitive advantage to C. subtsugae. Our results provide new information on C. subtsugae quorum sensing and are the basis for future studies aimed at understanding the role of eavesdropping in interspecies competition.
Fitness effects of breeding strategy: implications for life history trait evolution and mouse husbandry
Authors: Garretson Alexis , Dumont Beth L.
Published: February 2023

Reproductive tactics can profoundly influence population reproductive success, but paradoxically, breeding strategy and female reproductive care often vary across a population. The causes and fitness impacts of this variation are not well understood. Using breeding records from the Collaborative Cross mouse population, we evaluate the effects of breeding configuration on reproductive output. Overall, we find that communal breeding in trios leads to higher output and that both trio-breeding and overlapping litters are associated with increased neonatal survival. However, we find significant strain-level variation in optimal breeding strategy and show that the tradeoff between strategies is weakly heritable. We further find that strain reproductive condition influences the ability to support multiple litters and alters the related evolutionary tradeoffs of communal breeding. Together, these findings underscore the role of genetics in regulating alternative reproductive tactics in house mice and emphasize the need to adopt animal husbandry practices tailored to strain backgrounds.
Quantifying Local Perceptions of Environmental Change and Links to Community-Based Conservation Practices
Authors: Clark Matt , Hamad Haji Masoud , Andrews Jeffrey , Hillis Vicken , Mulder Monique Borgerhoff
Published: February 2023

Approximately two billion people — a quarter of the earth’s population — directly harvest forest products to meet their daily needs. These individuals disproportionately experience the impacts of increasing climatic variability and global biodiversity loss, and must disproportionately alter their behaviors in response to these impacts. Much of the increasingly ambitious global conservation agenda relies on voluntary uptake of conservation behaviors in such populations. Thus, it is critical to understand how individuals in these communities perceive environmental change and use conservation practices as a tool to protect their well-being. To date however, there have been no quantitative studies of how individual perceptions of forest change and its causes shape real-world conservation behaviors in forest dependent populations. Here we use a novel participatory mapping activity to elicit spatially explicit perceptions of forest change and its drivers across 43 mangrove-dependent communities in Pemba, Tanzania. We show that perceptions of mangrove decline drive individuals to propose stricter limits on fuelwood harvests from community forests only if they believe that the resultant gains in mangrove cover will not be stolen by outsiders. Conversely, individuals who believe their community mangrove forests are at high risk of theft actually decrease their support for forest conservation in response to perceived forest decline. High rates of inter-group competition and mangrove loss are thus driving a ‘race to the bottom’ phenomenon in community forests in this system. This finding demonstrates a mechanism by which increasing environmental decline may cause communities to forgo conservation practices, rather than adopt them, as is often assumed in much community-based conservation planning. However, we also show that when effective boundaries are present, individuals are willing to limit their own harvests to stem such perceived decline.
Raman spectral analysis of microbial pigment compositions in vegetative cells and heterocysts of multicellular cyanobacterium
Authors: Ishihara Jun-ichi , Takahashi Hiroki
Published: February 2023

The one-dimensional multicellular cyanobacterium,Anabaenasp. PCC 7120, exhibits a simple topology consisting of two types of cells under the nitrogen-depleted conditions. Although the differentiated (heterocyst) and undifferentiated cells (vegetative cells) were distinguished by their cellular shapes, we found that their internal states, that is, microbial pigment compositions, were distinguished by using a Raman microscope. Almost of Raman bands of the cellular components were assigned to vibrations of the pigments; chlorophylla, β-carotene, phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin. We found that the Raman spectral measurement can detect the decomposition of both phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, which are components of the light-harvesting phycobilisome complex in the photosystem II. We observed that the Raman bands of phycocyanin and allophycocyanin exhibited more remarkable decrease in the heterocysts when compared to those of chlorophyllaand β-carotene. This result indicated the prior decomposition of phycobilisome in the heterocysts. Moreover, the Raman bands of allophycocyanin were more decreased in heterocysts when compared to those of phycocyanin, suggesting that the decomposition of phycocyanin was more strongly suppressed than allophycocyanin in heterocysts. We show that the Raman measurement is useful to detect the change of pigment composition in the cell differentiation.