bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carnivores (Carnivora)
Authors: Eizirika Eduardo , Murphyc William J
Published: November 2023

The Order Carnivora contains a diverse set of mammals, including well-known species such cats, dogs, lions, bears, and seals, as well as enigmatic animals such as the stink badgers (Mydaus spp.), the African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata), and the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox). 7ere are currently 286 recognized species of living carnivorans (e.g., Fig. 1), which vary widely in morphology, ecology, physiology, and behavior (1, 2). Size range among carnivoran species is broader than in any other mammalian order, with body weight varying 1000 times among its representatives. theOrder Carnivora has a relatively rich paleontological record. theearliest fossils, dating from the Paleocene (66–56 Ma), are usually placed in the extinct families Viverravidae and Miacidae (3), both of which likely comprise early branching lineages relative to the living taxa (4). thecarnivoran fossil record from the Paleocene to the Oligocene (34–23 Ma) is conAned to Eurasia and North America (4), supporting the view that this mammalian order has had its origin in Laurasia. Only in the Miocene (23–5 Ma) do carnivoran families appear in the fossil records of Africa and South America, indicating an initial period of intercontinental dispersal in this group. Here we review the current understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times among carnivoran families, focusing exclusively on living lineages, and emphasizing results from recent studies.
Island Repair, Non-Repair, and the Organization of the Grammar∗
Authors: Lasnik Howard
Published: November 2023

The phenomenon of island violation amelioration by ellipsis as in (1), first discovered by Ross (1969), has recently been the focus of much investigation, by Merchant (2001) and Lasnik (2001b), among many others.

(1) Irv and someone were dancing together, but I don’t know who (∗Irv and were dancing together). [Coordinate Structure Constraint]
Presentism and Ockham’s Way Out
Authors: Finch Alicia
Published: November 2023

Presentism is, roughly, the thesis that only present objects exist; eternalism is, roughly, the thesis that past, present, and future objects exist. Ockham’s way out purports to be a way out of fatalist arguments for the impossibility of free action. Fatalist arguments come in two varieties: logical and theological.
Spirituality, Expertise, and Philosophers
Authors: Frances Bryan
Published: November 2023

We all can identify many contemporary philosophy professors we know to be theists of some type or other. We also know that often enough their non-theistic beliefs are as epistemically upstanding as the non-theistic beliefs of philosophy professors who aren’t theists. In fact, the epistemic-and-non-theistic lives of philosophers who are theists are just as epistemically upstanding as the epistemic-and-non-theistic lives of philosophers who aren’t theists. Given these and other, similar, facts, there is good reason to think that the pro-theistic beliefs of theistic philosophers are frequently epistemically upstanding. Given their impeccable epistemic credentials on non-theistic matters, the amount of careful thought that lies behind their theism, the large size of the community of philosophical theists, as well as other, similar facts, it would be surprising if all or even most of their pro-theistic beliefs were epistemically blameworthy in some or other significant sense tied to charges such as ‘He should know better than to believe that’ (so mere false belief need not be blameworthy in this sense; the use of ‘blameworthy’ will be clarified below). Of course some of the pro-theistic beliefs of some theistic philosophers are epistemically blameworthy; the mere large numbers of fallible theistic philosophers almost guarantees it. My point here is that it would be unexpected if most of the pro-theistic beliefs of theistic philosophers were epistemically blameworthy.
Ontology, Analyticity, and Meaning: the Quine – Carnap Dispute
Authors: Soames Scott
Published: November 2023

In the middle of the twentieth century a dispute erupted between the chief architect of Logical Empiricism, Rudolf Carnap, and Logical Empiricism̓s chief reformer, Willard van Orman Quine — who was attempting to save what he took to be its main insights by recasting them in a more acceptable form. Though both eschewed metaphysics of the traditional apriori sort, and both were intent on making the investigation of science the center of philosophy, they disagreed about how to do so. Part of the disagreement involved the nature of ontological disputes.
Shared decision-making in mental health
Authors: Simon Daniela , Wills, Celia E , Härter Martin
Published: November 2023

Shared decision-making (SDM) was originally described as an approach for physician-patient communication in the context of health decisions for which several treatment options exist (Charles et al., 1997). Positive outcomes of SDM including increased patient knowledge, satisfaction, and treatment adherence have been reported for various “physical” health conditions, but less research has been done on SDM for mental health conditions. Research on SDM in mental health care is a high priority for quality-of-life, autonomy, and health outcomes reasons (Wills and Holmes-Rovner 2006b), and results of early studies are favourable regarding the potential of SDM to improve mental health care (Loh et al., 2007; Swanson et al., 2007). SDM is highly relevant in mental health care due to the presence of multiple treatment decision options and the preferences of many consumers to participate in decision-making (Hamann et al., 2005). With its focus on mutual information sharing and respect for individual preferences, SDM can be an empowerng experience, assisting mental health recovery for people who have encountered stigmatization and discrimination due to mental illness (Pinninti and Bokkala-Pinninti, 2007). In the US, the incorporation of mental health consumer preferences into person-centered treatment focused on recovery is supported by the President’s New Freedom Commission Report (Hogan, 2003). Consumer participation in decision-making is also advocated by international clinical practice guidelines for mental disorders, e.g. in the UK and Germany, as well as training manuals (Härter et al., 2007, Härter et al., 2008, NICE 2002; Lehman et al., 2004). Individual values, explicit negotiation, empowerment, and self-determination are essential values for the treatment of people with mental illness and have been in the focus of psychiatric rehabilitation for decades (Anthony, Cohen and Pierce 1980; Anthony, Cohen and Farkas 1999; Deegan and Drake 2006; Lazare, Eisenthal and Wasserman 1975). SDM is also consistent with a fundamental assumption that rehabilitation is done with the person and not to the person (Schauer, Everett and del Vecchio, 2007).
Physician-Assisted Death: Not Just for Rich Countries∗
Authors: Delden Johannes J M van , Battin Margaret P
Published: November 2023

There is broad recognition of the fact that continuing medical treatment is not always beneficial to the patient, nor need it always be what the patient wants. This has led to a debate about the way physicians may or may not be involved in the end of life of patients. On what grounds can they withhold or withdraw treatment? Could there be a justification for the active ending of life of the patient? This debate is certainly not typical for any one country, rather it has, we believe, a global character. Much of this debate has been done in developed countries, but in developing countries (e.g. Colombia) the debate is present as well, even when not considered a top priority regarding public health issues and even though there are no reliable data about the prevalence of end-of-life decisions.
Embryo as Epiphenomenon: Some Cultural, Social, and Economic Forces Driving the Stem Cell Debate
Authors: Green Ronald M
Published: November 2023

On July 19, 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have greatly expanded federal funding for human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research and permitted the derivation of new hESC lines from frozen embryos remaining from IVF. Bush announced his veto surrounded by eighteen families who had ‘ ‘adopted ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘snowflake babies, ‘ ‘ frozen IVF embryos not used by other couples to have children.
The Role and Influence of Religions in Bioethics∗
Authors: ller Denis Mü
Published: November 2023

Ipropose to treat the question of the role and influence of religions in bioethics from three successive points of view. After (I) sketching a general framework for taking into account the theoretical dilemmas posed by the relationships between religion, basic ethics, and applied bioethics, I briefly offer (II) the example of the transplantation of organs and the understanding of gift that illustrate the stakes and implications of the theoretical controversy, and then (III), speaking from the Protestant tradition, I propose my own normative thesis with respect to these relationships.
On the Derivation and Meaning of Spinoza’s Conatus Doctrine
Authors: Viljanen Valtteri
Published: November 2023

Spinoza’s conatus doctrine, the main proposition of which states, ‘each thing, to the extent it is in itself[quantum in se est], strives[conatur] to persevere in its being’ (EIIIP6; translation modified),has been the subject of growing interest. This is understandable, for Spinoza holds that this striving is the innermost essence of all things, human beings included (EIIIP7); in other words, Spinozistic things are all strivers of different kinds.
Thomas and Thomism
Authors: Kenny Anthony
Published: November 2023

In 1879 Pope Leo XIII did two remarkable things. He published the encyclical Aeterni Patris commending the study of St Thomas Aquinas, and in the same year he appointed as Cardinal John Henry Newman. These two actions, in the eyes of many, gave two contradictory signals. In elevating Newman, who had been close to the inopportunist party at the Vatican Council, and had been an object of suspicion to the Curia of Pio Nono, Pope Leo was taken by many to indicate a more liberal attitude to the modern world. On the other hand, by giving St Thomas Aquinas a newly privileged position in the Catholic Church, the Pope seemed to be taking Catholicism back to the Middle Ages.
Debt Relief Initiatives, Development Assistance and Service Delivery in Africa
Authors: Development Bank African
Published: November 2023

The African Development Bank commissioned four case studies on Debt Relief Initiatives, Development Assistance and Service Delivery in Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda from the last quarter of 2006 to mid 2007. The objective of the study was to appraise the extent to which debt relief resources are being used to improve social service delivery. There is strong agreement from all four case studies that debt relief created flexibility in governments spending by playing the role of flexible and predictable budget support. In this context, governments acquired more degrees of freedom to allocate debt relief resources in line with their own objectives. In all four countries debt relief resources were more easily transformed into MDG-related spending than tied aid. The case studies had a consensus in identifying the accountability of public institutions to civil society, through community monitoring or execution of expenditures, as the most effective means of enhancing spending effectiveness. This formed the basis for the success observed in program implementation. From the findings of the case studies it is clear that debt relief can lead to enhanced service delivery provided certain conditions prevail. These conditions can be influenced by donors as well as the willingness of beneficiary governments to undertake reforms. The general observation across the case studies is that debt relief has a major positive impact on service delivery, and progress towards the MDGs, when beneficiaries: (i) have high capacity in MDG spending, (ii) are highly accountable, and (iii) receive stable and high-quality aid.
Archimedeanism and Why Metaethics Matters
Authors: Bloomfield Paul
Published: November 2023

It may seem that, in a forum such as this, it is only preaching to the choir to argue for the thesis that metaethics both exists as a discourse in its own right and is important too. It is not unfair to say that philosophers are more prone to reflection than most, so it would not be surprising to find metaethicists engaged in self-justification as a matter of course. We are familiar with moral philosophers asking why anyone should care about morality, and we expect morality to be able to justify itself to our satisfaction. Something similar would be expected for metaethics. Why should anyone care about metaethics? But this essay is not a defense of metaethics in the name of idle self-justification, nor is the forum necessarily filled with choir members.
Support and information
Authors: Harper Peter S
Published: November 2023

There are a number of support groups and associations that can help you understand and cope with myotonic dystrophy. These groups can help both the person that has been diagnosed and their loved ones. The essential characteristic of support groups is that they are run ‘by’ as well as ‘for’ patients and their families.
Fission, Freedom, and the Fall
Authors: Hudson Hud
Published: November 2023

I have learned that the following caveat does not tend to be heard unless it is shouted at the beginning: I take the story of Adam and Eve that appears in the early chapters of Genesis to be a myth. Nevertheless, I am largely in agreement with Peter van Inwagen when he writes:
Design Inferences in an Infinite Universe
Authors: Monton Bradley
Published: November 2023

This chapter addresses two main questions. First, how does one determine that something has the features it does as a result of design, as opposed to, for example, chance? Second, how are inferences to design affected when one makes the (plausible) assumption that the universe is spatially infinite? I will show that arguments for the existence of God based on the improbable development of life do not go through under the supposition that the universe is spatially infinite.
Detecting RNA:protein interactions and isolating cDNA clones by Northwestern screening
Authors: Wilusz Jeffrey
Published: November 2023

RNA:protcin interactions play key roles in cell biology (1, 2). These interprotcin-;, poly(A) signal recognition) (6, 7), and regulatory (e.g. Rev, TAT. iron-response elements) (8-10). Identification and characterization of RNA binding proteins at the biochemical and molecular levels is, therefore. pivotal to understanding many post-transcriptional processes. The goal of this chapter is to describe methods of detecting and cloning RNA binding proteins based on their ability to interact in a stable fashion with RNA substrates while immobilized on solid support matrices. Such detection of immobilized proteins with lahelled RNA molecules is often referred to as ‘Northwestern’ screening. Successful application of these methodologies can lead to the rapid identification and cloning of RNA binding proteins without the need for labour-intensive biochemical purification and conventional cloning approaches. These methods, therefore, may be especially useful for characterizing RNA hinding proteins of low abundance.
Sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation
Authors: Harding Stephen E , Winzer Donald J
Published: November 2023

There has been a general misconception amongst biochemists that the analytical ultracentrifuge does not provide an absolute means of molecular mass determination and hence of the characterization of interaction phenomena. This has arisen from a lack of awareness about the difference between the two types of experiment that can be performed in the analytical ultracentrifuge. (a) Sedimentation velocity: an experiment performed at sufficiently high speed for the centrifugation of solute away from the centre of rotation to be monitored as the rate of movement of a sedimenting boundary. For a given rotor speed, solvent viscosity and solvent density the rate of migration depends upon the overall size and shape of the macromolecule or macromolecule ligand complex.
Circular dichroism
Authors: Drake Alex F
Published: November 2023

Circular dichroism (optical activity) can only be observed for chiral molecules or in the case of molecule-ligand binding only if at least one of the interacting species is chiral. This is usually true in biochemistry particularly if a biological macromolecule such as a protein/peptide is involved. A natural protein/peptide is built from amino acid residues that are preferentially of one hand (normally L-configuration). Monitoring processes by circular dichroism (CD) offers the following main advantages:Induced circular dichroism occurs only as the result of interaction. In the extreme, a non-chiral molecule does not display any optical activity and CD is only observed on contact with a chiral molecule.
Introduction: zebrafish as a system to study development and organogenesis
Authors: Nüsslein-Volhard Christiane , Gilmour Darren T , Dahm Ralf
Published: November 2023

Until the beginning of the twentieth century classical zoology focused on the discovery and description of a large number of new species. The mode of early development, and the shape of larval stages, provided crucial parameters for the assessment of evolutionary descent and relationship to other species, more so than adult morphologies and traits. With time, zoologists interested in embryonic development per se displayed an increasing tendency to focus on particular organisms that were chosen for traits that made them amenable to experimental manipulation. Each of these organisms allowed a particular approach to be taken and together they gave rise to all of the major concepts in developmental biology. For example, from several marine organisms, such as sea urchins, eggs could be obtained in incredible numbers. Species with large robust embryos, such as amphibia and some insects, were amenable to the transplantation and ablation experiments that lead to the notion of organizing centres in embryos. Early understanding of cell lineage was gained from work on animals with invariant cell lineages that could be traced throughout development (Ascaris spp.). Some organisms were chosen for reasons that at first glance might seem insignificant. For instance, the presence of cortical pigment granules in egg cytoplasm of ascidians gave rise to the concept of cytoplasmic inheritance. Despite these advances, the incredible diversity of phenomena observed in the different systems made embryology an increasingly bewildering topic. Generalizations, or even useful comparisons, were often difficult, even within phyla. In particular, the molecules underlying these phenomena remained elusive, despite considerable efforts.
Looking at embryos
Authors: Schulte-Merker Stefan
Published: November 2023

The many advantages of zebrafish, such as its powerful genetics (Chapters 6 and 7) and experimental accessibility (Chapter 4), are described throughout this book and need no further elaboration. In this chapter we would like to focus on the one feature of zebrafish that brings all other advantages to full appreciation: this is the fact that zebrafish embryos are transparent, and that from the moment of fertilization onwards cellular and developmental processes, as well as organogenesis, can be observed in great detail. This is an extremely important asset and immensely facilitates the studies of development in this small teleost. Its transparency is also the reason why zebrafish are so successful as a system for performing genetic screens: while Drosophila larvae provide a cuticle pattern that allows a great readout for morphogenetic processes that occurred earlier in development, zebrafish are equally suited for screens. They do not have the epithelial hallmarks of a cuticle, but all cells and organs are easily visible, which results in a comparable ease of analysis. In this chapter we describe some of the methods required for observing embryos, for analysing gene expression, and for documenting data, both in life as well as in fixed material. This chapter provides the basic principles of performing in situ hybridization, either with or without simultaneous detection of a protein antigen in the same specimen, and describes performing antibody staining in embryos and larvae. We then cover preparing in situ or antibodystained specimens for microscopy, either without or with prior sectioning. Observing live embryos is described, as well as a protocol that prevents pigmentation in embryos. While staining protocols for cartilage and bone are contained in Chapter 3, the procedure for highlighting the vasculature of larvae is described in this chapter.
Manipulating gene expression in the zebrafish
Authors: Gilmour Darren T , Jessen Jason R , Lin Shou
Published: November 2023

The development of techniques to introduce and express recombinant DNA constructs is an important step in the establishment of any genetic model system. Such constructs can be used to express proteins transiently during development or to produce transgenic lines that express the construct in subsequent generations. Transformation allows one to assay the effects of expressing molecules in particular embryonic domains or at different time points during development. In addition, transgene constructs that express marker genes such as the green fluorescent protein (GFP) or IacZ under the control tissue of specific enhancers lead to the marking of particular cell types and greatly simplify the observation of these cells during morphogenesis (1). Such reporter constructs can also be used to identify cis-acting sequences and, in turn, the transacting factors that regulate tissue-specific transcription. Finally, given the great number of mutants that are available to the zebrafish community, one very important use for transformation will be in the rescue of embryonic phenotypes by the microinjection of candidate genomic regions or cDNAs. It is therefore likely that transformation techniques will play an increasingly important role in zebrafish research. The aim of this chapter is to describe the methods most commonly used to transform zebrafish embryos, complete with experimental procedures and full descriptions of the equipment used. We will also cover, albeit briefly, the recently developed morpholino knockdown technique that has revolutionized zebrafish research. As well as providing protocols, we will explain why particular methods are used and what one can expect while following them.
Identification and Pathogenicity of Fusarium Species Associated with Young Vine Decline in California
Authors: Bustamante Marcelo I. , Todd Colin , Elfar Karina , Hamid M. Imran , Garcia Jadran F. , Cantu Dario , Rolshausen Philippe E. , Eskalen Akif
Published: November 2023

Grapevine trunk diseases are caused by a broad diversity of fungal taxa that have serious impacts on the worldwide viticulture industry due to significant reductions in vineyards yield and lifespan. Field surveys carried out from 2018 to 2022 in California nurseries and young vineyards revealed a high incidence of Fusarium. Since Fusarium species are important pathogens of other perennial crops, the present study aimed to identify and determine the pathogenicity of the Fusarium species on grapevines. Morphology of the fungal colonies coupled with multilocus phylogenetic analyses using nucleotide sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) and the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) genes revealed the occurrence of 10 species clustering in six species complexes, namely F. fujikuroi (FFSC), F. oxysporum (FOSC), F. solani (FSSC), F. sambucinum (FSAMSC), F. incarnatum-equiseti (FIESC), and F. tricinctum (FTSC) species complexes. The species F. annulatum (FFSC) was the most prevalent in samples from both symptomatic young vineyards (73.5% incidence) and nursery propagation material (62.5% incidence). Pathogenicity of the 10 most frequent species was confirmed by fulfilling Koch’s postulates on living woody tissue of 1103 Paulsen rootstocks. Our results suggest that Fusarium spp. are involved in the development of young vine decline, probably as opportunistic pathogens when grapevines are under stress conditions.
Risk Factors for Postanesthetic Emergence Delirium in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: He Miao , Zhu Zhaoqiong , Jiang Min , Liu Xingxing , Wu Rui , Zhou Junjie , Chen Xi , Liu Chengjiang
Published: November 2023

Emergence delirium (ED) is delirium that occurs during or immediately after emergence from general anesthesia or sedation. Effective pharmacological treatments for ED are lacking, so preventive measures should be taken to minimize the risk of ED. However, the risk factors for ED in adults are unclear. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the evidence for risk factors for ED in adults. The PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Embase databases were searched for observational studies reporting the risk factors for ED in adults from inception to July 31, 2023. Twenty observational studies reporting 19,171 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Among the preoperative factors identified as risk factors for ED were age <40 or ≥65 years, male sex, smoking history, substance abuse, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score III or IV. Intraoperative risk factors for ED were the use of benzodiazepines, inhalational anesthetics, or etomidate, and surgical factors including abdominal surgery, frontal craniotomy (vs. other craniotomy approaches) for cerebral tumors, and the length of surgery. Postoperative risk factors were indwelling urinary catheters, the presence of a tracheal tube in the postanesthetic care unit or intensive care unit, the presence of a nasogastric tube, and pain. Knowledge of these risk factors may guide the implementation of stratified management and timely interventions for patients at high risk of ED. The majority of studies included in this review investigated only hyperactive ED and further research is required to determine risk factors for hypoactive and mixed ED types.
Chronic Hypertension and the Risk of Readmission for Postpartum Cardiovascular Complications
Authors: Rosenfeld Emily B. , Brandt Justin S. , Fields Jessica C. , Lee Rachel , Graham Hillary L. , Sharma Ruchira , Ananth Cande V.
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVE:

Preeclampsia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD, including heart disease and stroke) along the life course. However, whether exposure to chronic hypertension in pregnancy, in the absence of preeclampsia, is implicated in CVD risk during the immediate postpartum period remains poorly understood. Our objective was to estimate the risk of readmission for CVD complications within the calendar year after delivery for people with chronic hypertension.

METHODS:

The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Readmission Database (2010–2018) was used to conduct a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 15–54 years. International Classification of Diseases codes were used to identify patients with chronic hypertension and postpartum readmission for CVD complications within 1 year of delivery. People with CVD diagnosed during pregnancy or delivery admission, multiple births, or preeclampsia or eclampsia were excluded. Excess rates of CVD readmission among patients with and without chronic hypertension were estimated. Associations between chronic hypertension and CVD complications were determined from Cox proportional hazards regression models.

RESULTS:

Of 27,395,346 delivery hospitalizations that resulted in singleton births, 2.0% of individuals had chronic hypertension (n=544,639). The CVD hospitalization rate among patients with chronic hypertension and normotensive patients was 645 (n=3,791) per 100,000 delivery hospitalizations and 136 (n=37,664) per 100,000 delivery hospitalizations, respectively (rate difference 508, 95% CI 467–549; adjusted hazard ratio 4.11, 95% CI 3.64–4.66). The risk of CVD readmission, in relation to chronic hypertension, persisted for 1 year after delivery.

CONCLUSION:

The heightened CVD risk as early as 1 month postpartum in relation to chronic hypertension underscores the need for close monitoring and timely care after delivery to reduce blood pressure and related complications.
Intravenous Calcium to Decrease Blood Loss During Intrapartum Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Ansari Jessica R. , Yarmosh Alla , Michel Guillermina , Lyell Deirdre , Hedlin Haley , Cornfield David N. , Carvalho Brendan , Bateman Brian T.
Published: November 2023

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate whether prophylactic administration of 1 g of intravenous calcium chloride after cord clamping reduces blood loss from uterine atony during intrapartum cesarean delivery.

METHODS:

This single-center, block-randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind superiority trial compared the effects of 1 g intravenous calcium chloride with those of saline placebo control on blood loss at cesarean delivery. Parturients at 34 or more weeks of gestation requiring intrapartum cesarean delivery after oxytocin exposure in labor were enrolled. Calcium or saline placebo was infused over 10 minutes beginning 1 minute after umbilical cord clamping in addition to standard care with oxytocin. The primary outcome was quantitative blood loss, analyzed by inverse Gaussian regression. Planned subgroup analysis excluded nonatonic bleeding, such as hysterotomy extension, arterial bleeding, and occult placenta accreta. We planned to enroll 120 patients to show a 200-mL reduction in quantitative blood loss in planned subgroup analysis, assuming up to 40% incidence of nonatonic bleeding (80% power, α<0.05).

RESULTS:

From April 2022 through March 2023, 828 laboring parturients provided consent and 120 participants were enrolled. Median blood loss was 840 mL in patients allocated to calcium chloride (n=60) and 1,051 mL in patients allocated to placebo (n=60), which was not statistically different (mean reduction 211 mL, 95% CI −33 to 410). In the planned subgroup analysis (n=39 calcium and n=40 placebo), excluding cases of surgeon-documented nonatonic bleeding, calcium reduced quantitative blood loss by 356 mL (95% CI 159–515). Rates of reported side effects were similar between the two groups (38% calcium vs 42% placebo).

CONCLUSION:

Prophylactic intravenous calcium chloride administered during intrapartum cesarean delivery after umbilical cord clamping did not significantly reduce blood loss in the primary analysis. However, in the planned subgroup analysis, calcium infusion significantly reduced blood loss by approximately 350 mL. These data suggest that this inexpensive and shelf-stable medication warrants future study as a novel treatment strategy to decrease postpartum hemorrhage, the leading global cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 05027048.
Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis: a 2023 update
Authors: Moretti Michele , Ferro Francesco , Baldini Chiara , Mosca Marta , Talarico Rosaria
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) is an immune complex mediated small vessel vasculitis characterized by the presence of cryoglobulins in serum, often associated with hepatitis C infection, systemic autoimmune diseases or hematological conditions. The focus of this review is to provide an update on new insights into pathogenesis, epidemiology and therapies of infectious and noninfectious type II and type III CV.

Recent findings

The introduction of new antiviral drugs for treatment of hepatitis C infection implied major changes in HCV-related CV, allowing to shed new lights on CV pathogenesis and mechanisms of relapse and, therefore, to increase the relevance of autoimmune diseases in CV epidemiology. Specific B-cell clones are involved in the production of pathogenic immune complexes that leads to small-vessel vasculitis. Therefore, both antiviral treatments [direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) and oral nucleot(s)ide analogues] and targeted anti-CD20 therapies (rituximab) prove to be safe and effective options, leading to a better prognosis. Association of Sjögren syndrome and CV defines a specific phenotype of patients, characterized by severe manifestations and poor outcome.

Removing viral stimulation on B-cells through direct-acting antivirals and blocking B-cells proliferation and differentiation with rituximab are the goals of treatment of CV. However, further research is needed to identify prognostic factors of refractory and relapsing disease.
Refractory keratitis from Beauveria bassiana—Successful treatment with intrastromal amphotericin B and micafungin
Authors: de la Presa Martin , McCafferty Brandon , Page Michael A.
Published: November 2023

A case of Beauveria bassiana keratitis refractory to treatment with topical and systemic antifungal agents that demonstrated high-sensitivity profiles was presented. Clinical resolution was achieved within 1 month after the implementation of intrastromal injections of amphotericin B and micafungin. Keratitis from B. bassiana is a rare fungal species without a well-defined management strategy. To our knowledge, no previous reports have described the effectiveness or therapeutic use of intrastromal micafungin. This case report highlights a previously unreported treatment for cases of refractory keratitis from this rare fungal infection.
Opacification of an accommodative silicone intraocular lens in asteroid hyalosis
Authors: Khair El Kareh Diana , Torres-Quinones Carlos , Pineda Roberto
Published: November 2023

A case of opacification of an accommodating silicone intraocular lens (IOL) (Crystalens AO) in a patient with asteroid hyalosis (AH) is presented. A review the literature on dystrophic calcification of silicone IOLs and suggested management for improving visual symptoms in patients with this complication is discussed. Pathology of the explanted IOL of a 57-year-old man confirmed the presence of calcium. A review of the literature disclosed 37 other cases (eyes) of dystrophic calcification in the context of AH. Various IOL designs and manufacturers were reported. Of the 37 cases reported, none included an accommodating silicone IOL implant. To the authors′ knowledge, this is the first reported case of an accommodating silicone IOL to opacify in the presence of AH. Based on the literature review, silicone IOLs are at risk for opacification and should be avoided or used with extreme caution in patients with AH. In addition, YAG capsulotomy might hasten posterior IOL calcification, rendering IOL exchange more challenging.
Bilateral implantation of a pinhole sulcus implant for intractable photophobia after uneventful cataract surgery
Authors: Derveaux Thierry
Published: November 2023

The case of a patient suffering from debilitating photophobia after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery with a monofocal IOL, unresponsive to conventional treatment, is discussed. The patient ultimately underwent bilateral implantation of a pinhole device primarily designed to correct corneal irregularities and responded well. Not unexpectedly, she experiences slow dark adaptation and occasionally has difficulties navigating in the dark. After 6 months of follow-up, the patient has not experienced problems that could be attributed to alterations of circadian rhythm, such as mood changes or sleep disorders. A monofocal defocus curve reveals 2.75 diopters of range of visual acuity better than or equal to 20/25.
Bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy after immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery
Authors: Li Anita Lai Wah , Yuen Hunter Kwok Lai
Published: November 2023

Nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) developing within months of cataract surgery has been reported to occur on rare occasions. Bilateral NAION after immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery is even more rarely reported. In the current literature, only a handful of such cases have been reported.
MicroRNAs for detecting occult genitourinary cancer
Authors: Tavares Nuno Tiago , Lobo João , Bagrodia Aditya
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

Genitourinary (GU) malignancies are a real burden in global health worldwide. Each model has its own clinical challenges, and the early screening and/or detection of occult cancer in follow-up is transversal to all of them. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as minimally invasive liquid biopsy cancer biomarkers, due to their stability and low degradation.

Recent findings

The different GU tumor models are in different stages concerning miRNAs as biomarkers for cancer detection. Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) already have a specific defined target, miR-371a-3p, that has shown high sensitivity and specificity in different clinical settings, and is now in final stages of preanalytical testing before entering the clinic. The other GU malignancies are in a different stage, with many liquid biopsy studies (both in urine and plasma/serum) being currently performed, but there is not an agreeable miRNA or set of miRNAs that is ready to follow the footsteps of miR-371a-3p in TGCTs.

Further studies with proper molecular characterization of miRNA profiles of GU malignancies and standardization of sampling, biobanking and formal analysis may aid in the advance and choosing of specific target sets to be used for occult cancer detection.
Nociceptive and Transcriptomic Responses in a Swine Diabetic Wound Model Treated With a Topical Angiotensin 1 Receptor Antagonist
Authors: Weiss Miriam N. , Mocci Evelina , Zhu Shijun , Davenport Matthew J. , English Emily , Renn Cynthia L. , Dorsey Susan G.
Published: November 2023

Background

Painful, treatment-resistant wounds are prevalent among diabetic patients and significantly affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Topical treatments may help alleviate pain without risk of dependence or side effects. However, there is a lack of topical wound compounds targeting pain-specific receptors. One possible target is proinflammatory angiotensin 1 receptor (AT1R), which is upregulated in diabetic skin and has been implicated in nociception.

Objectives

We investigated the effects of topical valsartan, an AT1R antagonist, on pain (nociceptive thresholds) and gene expression changes (transcriptomics) in a swine model of diabetic wounds.

Methods

Eight wounds were surgically induced in diabetic, hyperglycemic Yucatan miniature swine (n = 4). Topical AT1R antagonist was applied to wounds on one side and vehicle on the other side. Nocifensive testing was conducted at baseline and then weekly, beginning 7 days after wound induction. Mechanical and thermal stimuli were applied to the wound margins until a nocifensive reaction was elicited or a predetermined cutoff was reached. After 7 weeks of testing, tissue from the dorsal horn, dorsal root ganglion, and wounds were sequenced and analyzed with DESeq2. Unbiased pathway analyses using Metascape were conducted on differentially expressed genes.

Results

There was no significant difference in mechanical tolerance threshold between AT1R antagonist-treated and vehicle-treated wounds (p = .106). Thermal tolerance was significantly higher in AT1R antagonist-treated wounds compared to vehicle-treated (p = .015). Analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed enriched pathways of interest: interleukin-18 signaling in dorsal horn laminae IV–V and sensory perception of mechanical stimulus in wound tissue.

Discussion

In this study, wounds modeling diabetic ulcers were created in hyperglycemic swine and treated with a topical AT1R antagonist. AT1R-antagonist-treated wounds had a higher tolerance threshold than vehicle-treated wounds for thermal hyperalgesia, but not mechanical allodynia. Pathway analyses of differentially expressed genes revealed several pathways of interest for future pain research. Although further studies are needed to confirm the findings, this study can improve nursing care by providing information about a potential future treatment that may be used to decrease pain and improve HRQOL in patients with diabetic wounds.
Salipaludibacillus daqingensis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from an oilfield
Authors: Guo Liwei , Liu Jiading , Hou Qiang , Zhao Baisuo , Zhang Xiaoxia , Wang Haisheng
Published: November 2023

A novel alkaliphilic, Gram-stain-positive, moderately halophilic, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, motile, facultatively anaerobic bacterium (DQ-9T) was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Daqing oilfield in China, and characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain DQ-9T formed yellow pigment and grew occurred at salinities of 1–12 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 8 %) and at 10–40 °C (optimum, 30–35 °C), at pH 7.5–10.5 (optimum, pH 9.0–9.5). It was catalase-positive, but oxidase-negative. Based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, DQ-9T was classified into the genus

Salipaludibacillus

and exhibited the highest similarities (98.37 %) to

Salipaludibacillus neizhouensis

JSM 071004T. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain DQ-9T and the most closely related strain,

S. neizhouensis

DSM 19794T, were determined to be 72.0 and 21.6 %, respectively. The polar lipids were constituted by diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids (>5 %) comprised anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, and menaquinone-7 was identified as the primary respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content was 37.5 mol%. Through chemotaxonomic, physiological, and biochemical characterization, strain DQ-9T could be clearly distinguished from the closest

Salipaludibacillus

species. Based on provided data, strain DQ-9T is proposed to represent a novel species, Salipaludibacillus daqingensis sp. nov., within the genus

Salipaludibacillus

. The type strain is DQ-9T (=ACCC 60415T=KCTC 33936T).
Marinicella marina sp. nov. and Marinicella gelatinilytica sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment, and genome analysis and habitat distribution of the genus Marinicella
Authors: Zhang Jing , Lian Feng-Bai , Gao Yi-zhou , Du Zong-Jun , Wang Ming-Yi
Published: November 2023

Three

Marinicella

strains, X102, S1101T and S6413T, were isolated from sediment samples from different coasts of Weihai, PR China. All strains were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile. The predominant fatty acids of all strains were iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
ω7c/C16 : 1
ω6c) and the major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Strains X102 and S1101T shared 100 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, and strains S1101T/X102 and S6413T had 95.4 % similarity. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strains S1101T and X102 were 99.9 and 99.2 %, respectively. Strain S1101T had ANI values of 69.1–72.9% and dDDH values of 17.9–20.5 % to members of the genus

Marinicella

. Strain S6413T had ANI values of 69.1–77.5% and dDDH values of 17.6–21.5 % to members of the genus

Marinicella

. The results of phylogenetic and comparative genomic analysis showed that the three strains belong to two novel species in the genus

Marinicella

, and strains X102 and S1101T represented one novel species, and strain S6413T represented another novel species. The result of BOX-PCR and genomic analysis showed that X102 and S1101T were not the same strain. The phylogenetic analyses and genomic comparisons, combined with phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strongly supported that the three strains should be classified as representing two novel species of the genus

Marinicella

, for which the names Marinicella marina sp. nov. and Marinicella gelatinilytica sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strains of the two novel species are S1101T (=KCTC 92642T=MCCC 1H01359T) and S6413T (=KCTC 92641T=MCCC 1H01362T), respectively. In addition, all previously described isolates of

Marinicella

were isolated from marine environments, but our study showed that

Marinicella

is also distributed in non-/low-saline habitats (e.g. animal gut, soil and indoor surface), which broadened our perception of the environmental distribution of

Marinicella

.
Salinigranum marinum sp. nov. and Halohasta salina sp. nov., halophilic archaea isolated from sediment of a marine saltern and inland saline soil
Authors: Cheng Mu , Li Xin-Xin , Tan Shun , Ma Xue , Hu Yao , Hou Jing , Cui Heng-Lin
Published: November 2023

Two halophilic archaeal strains, ZS-10T and GSL13T, were isolated from the Zhoushan marine saltern in Zhejiang, and an inland saline soil from the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, PR China, respectively. The cells of strain ZS-10T were pleomorphic while those of strain GSL13T were rod-shaped. Both of them stained Gram-negative and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plates and their cells lysed in distilled water. The optimum growth of strain ZS-10T was observed at 40 °C, 3.4 M NaCl, 0.03 M MgCl2 and pH 7.5, while that of strain GSL13T was at 37 °C, 3.1 M NaCl, 0.5 M MgCl2 and pH 7.5. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses indicated that these two strains were related to

Salinigranum

and

Halohasta

, respectively. Strains ZS-10T and GSL13T could be differentiated from the current members of

Salinigranum

and

Halohasta

based on the comparison of diverse phenotypic characteristics. The average amino acid identity, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values among strain ZS-10T and current species of

Salinigranum

were 75.8–78.6 %, 80.6–81.9 % and 24.3–26.1 %, respectively. These values between strain GSL13T and current species of

Halohasta

were 78.4–80.8 %, 79.8–82.8% and 22.7–25.7 %, respectively, clearly below the threshold values for species demarcation. The polar lipids of strain ZS-10T were phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me) and sulphated mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-DGD-1), while those of strain GSL13T were phosphatidic acid, PG, PGP-Me, phosphatidylglycerol sulphate and S-DGD-1. The polar lipid profile of strain GSL13T was identical to those of

Halohasta

, whereas strain ZS-10T did not contain the minor glycolipids detected in the current

Salinigranum

species. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and genome-based results suggested that strains ZS-10T (=CGMCC 1.12868T=JCM 30241T) and GSL13T (=CGMCC 1.15214T=JCM 30841T) represent two novel species, for which the names Salinigranum marinum sp. nov. and Halohasta salina sp. nov. are proposed.