bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Post-CABG Deep Sternal Wound Infection: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Early versus Late Referral to a Plastic Surgery Unit in a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Sahasrabudhe Parag B. , Pradhan Mugdha D. , Panse Nikhil , Jagtap Ranjit
Published: July 2021

Background Deep sternal wound infections (DSWI) following median sternotomy are initially treated by the cardiothoracic surgeons and are referred to a plastic surgical unit late in the course of time.

Methods This is a retrospective review done in a tertiary care teaching institute from January 2005 to June 2018 and the data of 72 patients who had DSWI out of 4,214 patients who underwent median sternotomy for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was collected with respect to the duration between CABG and presentation of DSWI as well as time of referral to a plastic surgery unit. We defined early referral as < or equal to 15 days from presentation and late referral as > 15 days. Both groups were compared with respect to multiple parameters as well as early and late postoperative course, postoperative complications, and mortality.

Results The early group had 33 patients, while the late group had 39 patients. The number of procedures done by the cardiothoracic team before referral to the plastic surgery unit is significant (p = 0.002). The average duration from the presentation of DSWI to definitive surgery was found to be 16.58 days in the early group and 89.36 days in the late group. The rest of the variables that were compared in both the groups did not have significant differences.

Conclusion There is no statistical difference between early and late referral to plastic surgery in terms of mortality and morbidity. Yet, early referrals could lead to highly significant reduction in total duration of hospital stay, wound healing, and costs. Early referral of post-CABG DSWIs to Plastic surgeons by the cardiothoracic surgeons is highly recommended.
Spinal Arachnoiditis Ossificans: A Case-Based Update
Authors: Brunner Anna , Leoni Marlene , Eustacchio Sandro , Kurschel-Lackner Senta
Published: July 2021

Arachnoiditis ossificans is a rare disease, characterized by intradural ossifications, representing the end stage of chronic adhesive arachnoiditis. We describe the case of a 55-year-old patient who developed symptoms of a cauda equina syndrome after an open microdiscectomy at the L5 to S1 segment. A subsequent exploratory surgery revealed an intradural concentric bony structure with partly incorporated and partly adherent nerve roots. A partial removal of the intradural calcifications was performed. Postoperatively, the patient showed neurological improvement. The removed intradural calcifications were submitted for histological analysis and proved to be normal bone tissue, notably containing yellow bone marrow. To our knowledge, the presence of yellow bone marrow within bony cavities of arachnoiditis ossificans has not previously been reported.
Pediatric Miller Fisher Syndrome and Ocular Myasthenia Gravis (A Reminder of Clinical Mimicry): A Case Report
Authors: Barsoum Zakaria
Published: July 2021

Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is a rare immune-mediated neuropathy that often presents with diplopia and bilateral external ophthalmoplegia. Other neurological deficits may occur such as ataxia and areflexia but not in all cases. Although MFS is a clinical diagnosis, serological confirmation is possible by identifying the anti-GQ1b antibody found in the majority of patients. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder of the availability of acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction. Ocular myasthenia gravis is a disease subtype characterized by variable patterns of weakness of extraocular muscles, eyelid elevator, and orbicular muscle in which the initial sign in most adults and children is ptosis. We report a child with MFS who presented with clinical signs suggestive of ocular myasthenia gravis, but in whom the correct diagnosis was made on the basis of serological testing for the anti-GQ1b antibody. We aim to highlight the similarity between the two rare conditions and address the importance of early liaison with neurologists and ophthalmologists in reaching to the proper diagnosis.
Black coal, thin ice: the discursive legitimisation of Australian coal in the age of climate change
Authors: Stutzer Roman , Rinscheid Adrian , Oliveira Thiago D. , Loureiro Pedro Mendes , Kachi Aya , Duygan Mert
Published: July 2021

Despite mounting urgency to mitigate climate change, new coal mines have recently been approved in various countries, including in Southeast Asia and Australia. Adani’s Carmichael coal mine project in the Galilee Basin, Queensland (Australia), was approved in June 2019 after 9 years of political contestation. Counteracting global efforts to decarbonise energy systems, this mine will substantially increase Australia’s per capita CO2 emissions, which are already among the highest in the world. Australia’s deepening carbon lock-in can be attributed to the essential economic role played by the coal industry, which gives it structural power to dominate political dynamics. Furthermore, tenacious networks among the traditional mass media, mining companies, and their shareholders have reinforced the politico-economic influence of the industry, allowing the mass media to provide a venue for the industry’s outside lobbying strategies as well as ample backing for its discursive legitimisation with pro-coal narratives. To investigate the enduring symbiosis between the coal industry, business interests, the Australian state, and mainstream media, we draw on natural language processing techniques and systematically study discourses about the coal mine in traditional and social media between 2017 and 2020. Our results indicate that while the mine’s approval was aided by the pro-coal narratives of Queensland’s main daily newspaper, the Courier-Mail, collective public sentiment on Twitter has diverged significantly from the newspaper’s stance. The rationale for the mine’s approval, notwithstanding increasing public contestation, lies in the enduring symbiosis between the traditional economic actors and the state; and yet, our results highlight a potential corner of the discursive battlefield favourable for hosting more diverse arguments.
Quirks of bullet-fast microjets better understood through experiments
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: July 2021

Counterintuitive predictions of microjet behavior confirmed with liquid and solid tin microjets experiments.
Rocking and rolling in a wind tunnel
Authors: Larter Raima
Published: July 2021

Ping pong balls in a wind tunnel allow the first experimental measurement of the threshold at which Aeolian entrainment occurs.
The stability optimization algorithm of second-order magnetic gradient tensor
Authors: Wang Bo , Ren Guoquan , Li Zhining , Li Qingzhu
Published: July 2021

In order to improve the stability of the second-order magnetic gradient tensor data under magnetic interference, a stability optimization algorithm based on the improved central difference method is proposed in this paper, and a new measuring device is designed according to the new algorithm. In the simulation, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the old and new methods under different noise conditions is studied, and the results show that the proposed method is more stable. In the experiment, the measurement was carried out in a site with complex magnetic interference, and the positioning results were analyzed through the RMSE. The RMSE of the positioning results obtained by the traditional method and the proposed method was (3.3782, 1.3482, 0.3337) and (0.3988, 0.0070, 0.0510), respectively. The simulation and the experiment showed the superiority of the proposed method.
Photocatalytic and water-splitting properties of TiO2 and Ag–TiO2 films in the visible light region
Authors: Tai Ly Ngoc , Long Pham Duy , Hong Le Ngo Thi , Van Hong Le , Linh Pham The , Khuyen Bui Xuan , Tung Bui Son , Lam Vu Dinh
Published: July 2021

The structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and Ag–TiO2 thin films grown by a hydrothermal method were studied by using an x-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive x ray, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that all films were of single-phase and the Ag presence enhanced catalytic and water-splitting performances in the visible light region. In particular, the methylene blue solution was disintegrated up to 99% after 12 and 8 h for TiO2 and Ag–TiO2 films, respectively. Meanwhile, the splitting efficiency increased from 0.3% for TiO2 to 1% for Ag–TiO2. These performances demonstrate the great potential of Ag–TiO2 films in photocatalytic and water-splitting applications.
Modality across genres in Spanish as a heritage language
Authors: Magaña Dalia
Published: July 2021

Writers’ use of modality, an interpersonal linguistic resource commonly used for expressing probability, reveals key information about their claims. Most research on modality addresses L2 English learners, leaving a gap in research in advanced language development in other languages. This paper addresses this gap by studying how heritage language (HL) speakers of Spanish express doubt and probability in Spanish and how the lexicogrammatical features they use across genres reveal how they express these meanings. Drawing on Systemic Functional Linguistics and pragmatics, this study examines modality in 125 texts written in Spanish by HL students in the U.S., including narratives, expositions, article reviews, personal responses, and research papers. The results reveal that students use the most modality resources in personal responses and the least in reviews. This work offers insights about the interpersonal resources writers choose to express their argumentative stance and the socio-pragmatic competence in writing among HL students.
Architecture, aesthetics, class and library attendance: An overlooked threshold for visiting public libraries
Authors: Mathysen Dennis , Glorieux Ignace
Published: July 2021

Several researchers have applied Bourdieu’s concept of habitus to studies regarding the experience of space and architecture, concluding that respondents often experience surroundings very differently, depending on their social class. Therefore, it can become problematic when public institutions opt for an architectural style that could discourage members of lower/working classes to visit. We believe this to be the case for public libraries, which are housed increasingly frequent in very abstract, iconic buildings. In this article, we present different analyses into this topic performed on data that was gathered in a large scale user survey in public libraries in Flanders and a literature review that explores both the subject of iconic architecture and the relationship between class, architecture and aesthetics.
Regulation of the order–disorder phase transition in a Cs2NaFeCl6 double perovskite towards reversible thermochromic application
Authors: Li Wenzhe , Rahman Naveed Ur , Xian Yeming , Yin Hang , Bao Yunkai , Long Yi , Yuan Songyang , Zhang Yangyi , Yuan Yaxuan , Fan Jiandong
Published: July 2021

Multifunctional lead-free double perovskites demonstrate remarkable potential towards applications in various fields. Herein, an environmentally-friendly, low-cost, high-throughput Cs2NaFeCl6 single crystal with exceedingly high thermal stability is designed and grown. It obtains a cubic lattice system in the temperature range of 80–500 K, accompanied by a completely reversible chromatic variation ranging from yellow to black. Importantly, the intriguing thermochromism is proved to own extremely high reproducibility (over 1000 cycles) without a hysteretic effect, originating from its structural flexibility that including (i) the noteworthy distortion/deformation of [NaCl6]5− and [FeCl6]3− octahedra; (ii) order–disorder arrangement transition of [NaCl6]5− and [FeCl6]3− octahedra as the function of temperature. This study paves the way towards a new class of smart windows and camouflage coatings with an unprecedented colour range based on a Cs2NaFeCl6 perovskite.
Urease inhibitors: opportunities for meeting EU national obligations to reduce ammonia emission ceilings by 2030 in EU countries
Authors: Hu Yuncai , Schmidhalter Urs
Published: July 2021

Anthropogenic NH3 emissions, primarily from agriculture, have led to significant damage to human health and ecosystems. In the European Union (EU), the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive 2016/2284/EU sets ambitious reduction targets by more than 30% for some countries by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. As urease inhibitors (UIs) can reduce the NH3 emission from urea by up to 70%, Germany has enforced their addition to granular urea by the national Fertilizer Ordinance since 2020. Therefore, this study investigates the implementation of UIs for urea fertilizers via national policy regulations to evaluate their contribution to achieving the 2030 targets in the EU countries. The results indicate that the contribution of UIs for countries with high reduction targets can reach 20%–60% of the required NEC reduction. The assessment of costs and benefits of UI implementation demonstrates that the ratio of benefits to costs can reach 70. Therefore, we recommend that adding UIs to urea fertilizers is one of the best strategies for mitigation of NH3 emissions not only in the EU but also in other regions such as China.
An efficient electrochemical sensor based on CeVO4-CuWO4nanocomposite for methyldopa
Authors: Halakoei Hadi , Ghalkhani Masoumeh , Sobhani-Nasab Ali , Rahimi-Nasrabadi Mehdi
Published: July 2021

A novel modified electrode based on cerium vanadate and copper tungstate (CeVO4-CuWO4) nanocomposite was prepared as a sensitive sensor for the methyldopa. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscope (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques were applied for the evaluation of the electrochemical performance of the sensor. The enhanced active surface area, electro-catalytic activity, and expedient conductivity provided by the CeVO4-CuWO4nanocomposite led to the peak current increment with a well-resolved anodic peak for methyldopa in the presence of potential interferences. The CeVO4-CuWO4nanocomposite-based modified electrode successfully measured methyldopa over a wide concentration range of 0.02–400μM with the low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.006μM. The findings of the methyldopa sensing in human serum samples verified the proper efficiency of the proposed sensor.
An assessment of magnesium AZ31 coronary stents manufacture
Authors: Nuñez-Nava Mariana , Vazquez Elisa , Ortega-Lara Wendy , Rodriguez Ciro A , García-López Erika
Published: July 2021

AZ31 magnesium coronary stents were studied through a manufacturing process chain involving laser cutting, acid pickling, and dip coating. The purpose of this study was to evaluate surface thickness and geometrical dimensions of stents after processing. Stents were dip coated in a solution using PCL with 1% of TiO2. Additionally, AZ31 coronary stents were dynamically tested using a degradation system based on peristaltic pumps. Our results indicate that coated stents degraded slower than AZ31 uncoated control stents. After 4 weeks of dynamic degradation under flowing Hank’s solution, coated stents lost only ∼9% in weight while uncoated stents lost ∼27% in weight. Stents were qualitatively evaluated after four weeks of degradation. Our results demonstrate the formation of micro-pores after one and two weeks of degradation for coated stents. Lamination was observed after three weeks of degradation, meanwhile, uncoated stents resulted with notches and an irregular surface caused by degradation.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Alcohol and Other Substance Use Disorders in Young Adulthood: Findings from a Canadian Nationally Representative Survey
Authors: Fuller-Thomson Esme , Lewis Danielle A , Agbeyaka Senyo
Published: July 2021

Aim

(a) To document the prevalence and odds of (i) alcohol use disorders, (ii) cannabis use disorders, (iii) other drug use disorders and (iv) any substance use disorder (SUD), among young adults with and without ADHD, and (b) to investigate the degree to which the association between ADHD and SUDs is attenuated by socio-demographics, early adversities and mental health.

Method

Secondary analysis of the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (CCHS-MH). The sample included 6872 respondents aged 20–39, of whom 270 had ADHD. The survey response rate was 68.9%.

Measurements

Substance Use Disorder: World Health Organization’s Composite International Diagnostic Interview criteria, SUDs, were derived from lifetime algorithms for alcohol, cannabis and other substance abuse or dependence. ADHD was based on self-report of a health professional’s diagnosis.

Findings

One in three young adults with ADHD had a lifetime alcohol use disorder (36%) compared to 19% of those without ADHD (P < 0.001). After adjusting for all control variables, those with ADHD had higher odds of developing alcohol use disorders (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.81), cannabis use disorders (OR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.00), other drug use disorders (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.95) and any SUD (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.28, 2.23). History of depression and anxiety led to the largest attenuation of the ADHD-SUD relationship, followed by childhood adversities and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions

Young adults with ADHD have a high prevalence of alcohol and other SUDs. Targeted outreach and interventions for this extremely vulnerable population are warranted.
Post-Mastectomy Surgical Pocket Irrigation With Triple Antibiotic Solution vs Chlorhexidine Gluconate: A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Surgical Site Infections in Immediate Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Nguyen Lyly , Afshari Ashkan , Green Japjit , Joseph Jeremy , Yao Jun , Perdikis Galen , Higdon Kent K
Published: July 2021

Background

Post-mastectomy pocket irrigation solution choice is debated and primarily surgeon dependent. We compare triple antibiotic solution (TAS) with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine surgical site infection (SSI) rates after utilizing TAS vs CHG for breast pocket irrigation in immediate tissue expander (TE) breast reconstruction.

Methods

A prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial was performed in patients (18-81 years old) who underwent bilateral mastectomy with TE reconstruction. In each patient, 1 mastectomy pocket was randomized to TAS and the other to CHG. Both the TE and the pocket were irrigated in the respective solution. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI. Secondary outcomes were rates of mastectomy flap necrosis, hematoma, and seroma.

Results

A total of 88 patients who underwent bilateral immediate breast reconstruction were enrolled. Demographic and operative characteristics were equivalent because each patient served as their own control. Between the TAS and CHG groups, the incidence of SSI did not differ (5 [4.5%] vs 7 [8.0%], P = 0.35), including minor infections (2 [2.3%] vs 1 [1.1%], P = 0.56), major infections (2 [2.3%] vs 6 [6.8%], P = 0.15), and those resulting in explantation (2 [2.3%] vs 5 [4.5%], P = 0.25). Necrosis, hematoma, or seroma formation also did not differ. No patients who developed SSI received radiation.

Conclusions

This study does not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in SSI between TAS and CHG irrigation, though TAS approached statistical significance for lower rates of infectious complications.

Level of Evidence: 2
Prolonged Consumption of Sweetened Beverages Lastingly Deteriorates Cognitive Functions and Reward Processing in Mice
Authors: Hamelin Héloïse , Poizat Ghislaine , Florian Cédrick , Kursa Miron Bartosz , Pittaras Elsa , Callebert Jacques , Rampon Claire , Taouis Mohammed , Hamed Adam , Granon Sylvie
Published: July 2021

We investigated the detrimental effects of chronic consumption of sweet or sweetened beverages in mice. We report that consumption of beverages containing small amounts of sucrose during several weeks impaired reward systems. This is evidenced by robust changes in the activation pattern of prefrontal brain regions associated with abnormal risk-taking and delayed establishment of decision-making strategy. Supporting these findings, we find that chronic consumption of low doses of artificial sweeteners such as saccharin disrupts brain regions’ activity engaged in decision-making and reward processes. Consequently, this leads to the rapid development of inflexible decisions, particularly in a subset of vulnerable individuals. Our data also reveal that regular consumption, even at low doses, of sweet or sweeteners dramatically alters brain neurochemistry, i.e., dopamine content and turnover, and high cognitive functions, while sparing metabolic regulations. Our findings suggest that it would be relevant to focus on long-term consequences on the brain of sweet or sweetened beverages in humans, especially as they may go metabolically unnoticed.
Structural Brain Changes and Associated Symptoms of ADHD Subtypes in Children
Authors: Mu ShuHua , Wu HuiJun , Zhang Jian , Chang ChunQi
Published: July 2021

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is presumed to be heterogeneous, but the best way to characterize this heterogeneity remains unclear. Although considerable evidence suggests that the 2 different types of ADHD, inattention and combined, have different cognitive and behavioral profiles, and underlying neurobiologies, we currently lack information on whether these subtypes reflect separated brain structure changes. Structural magnetic resonance imaging scans (N = 234), diagnostic, and demographic information were obtained from the ADHD-200 database. Of this sample, 138 were Typically Developing people, 37 were ADHD-Combined, and 59 were ADHD-Inattentive patients. Freesurfer segmentation methods were used to measure cortical thickness, area, and volume, subcortical volume and hipposubfield volume. ADHD-Inattentive patients showed milder clinical symptoms but more serious cognitive injury than ADHD-Combined patients. In addition, dissociable structural brain changes were found in different subtypes of ADHD, particularly in terms of decreased subcortical volume in ADHD-Combined patients compared with Typically Developing people. Clinical symptoms were predominantly related to smaller rh_caudalanteriorcingulate thickness and left-Pallidum volume, whereas verbal IQ injury was correlated strongly with smaller rh_insula area. These findings indicate that there are significant differences in clinical symptoms and gray matter damage between ADHD-Combined and -Inattentive patients. This supports the growing evidence of heterogeneity in the ADHD-Inattentive subtype and the evidence of brain structure differences.
Oxytocin Modulates Neural Individuation/Categorization Processing of Faces in Early Face-Selective Areas
Authors: Liu Yi , Wang Ding , Li Hong
Published: July 2021

Oxytocin (OT) is known as a neuropeptide that promotes social adaptation. Individuating racial in-group members and viewing racial out-groups in categories is an adaptive strategy that evolved to aid effective social interaction. Nevertheless, whether OT modulates the neural individuation/categorization processing of racial in-group and out-group faces remain unknown. After intranasal OT or placebo administration, 46 male participants (OT: 24, placebo: 22) were presented with face pairs with the same or different identities or races in rapid succession. The neural repetition suppression (RS) effects to identity and race were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as indices of individuation/categorization face-processing. The results showed that while OT increased the RS effect to race, it decreased the RS effect to identity in the right fusiform face area. As for the left occipital face area, OT enlarged the differential RS effects to identities of in-group and out-group faces. Additionally, OT modulated the association of interdependence self-construal and the RS effects on identity and race. These findings bring to light preliminary evidence that OT can regulate neuronal specificity of identity and race in early face-selective regions and benefit adaptive individuation/categorization face-processing.
Time Course of Homeostatic Structural Plasticity in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation in Mouse Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Authors: Lu Han , Gallinaro Júlia V , Normann Claus , Rotter Stefan , Yalcin Ipek
Published: July 2021

Plasticity is the mechanistic basis of development, aging, learning, and memory, both in healthy and pathological brains. Structural plasticity is rarely accounted for in computational network models due to a lack of insight into the underlying neuronal mechanisms and processes. Little is known about how the rewiring of networks is dynamically regulated. To inform such models, we characterized the time course of neural activity, the expression of synaptic proteins, and neural morphology employing an in vivo optogenetic mouse model. We stimulated pyramidal neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice and harvested their brains at 1.5 h, 24 h, and $48\,\mathrm{h}$ after stimulation. Stimulus-induced cortical hyperactivity persisted up to 1.5 h and decayed to baseline after $24\,\mathrm{h}$ indicated by c-Fos expression. The synaptic proteins VGLUT1 and PSD-95, in contrast, were upregulated at $24\,\mathrm{h}$ and downregulated at $48\,\mathrm{h}$, respectively. Spine density and spine head volume were also increased at $24\,\mathrm{h}$ and decreased at $48\,\mathrm{h}$. This specific sequence of events reflects a continuous joint evolution of activity and connectivity that is characteristic of the model of homeostatic structural plasticity. Our computer simulations thus corroborate the observed empirical evidence from our animal experiments.
Myopericarditis and thyroiditis: a case report
Authors: Thomson Ross J , Rossberg Nora , Davar Joseph , Whelan Carol
Published: July 2021

Background

Hyperthyroidism is commonly associated with adverse cardiovascular effects, including tachydysrhythmia, heart failure, and hypertension, although the association between hyperthyroidism and myopericarditis is restricted to a small number of case reports.

Case summary

A 45-year-old Caucasian male with no past medical history was admitted with chest pain. The electrocardiogram demonstrated diffuse ST-segment elevation, the troponin T rose, and he was diagnosed with myopericarditis. He was noted to have markedly deranged thyroid function tests and a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism secondary to Graves’ disease was made. He was treated with Bisoprolol, Carbimazole, Prednisolone, Ibuprofen, and Colchicine, his symptoms resolved rapidly and he was discharged. Five weeks later he re-presented with similar symptoms and recurrent pericarditis was diagnosed. His symptoms settled with a repeat course of steroids.

Discussion

We hypothesize that there may be an underappreciated link between hyperthyroidism and myopericarditis. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms include viral infection, autoimmunity, or changes in myocardial fat metabolism. Suggested management consists of a combination of current guidelines for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and pericardial disease, with attention to certain disease–drug interactions. Further research is required to evaluate the true incidence of hyperthyroidism-associated myopericarditis, elucidate its pathophysiology and instruct management.
Genomic prediction for fusiform rust disease incidence in a large cloned population ofPinus taeda
Authors: Shalizi Mohammad Nasir , Cumbie W Patrick , Isik Fikret
Published: July 2021

In this study, 723 Pinus taeda L. (loblolly pine) clonal varieties genotyped with 16920 SNP markers were used to evaluate genomic selection for fusiform rust disease caused by the fungus Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme. The 723 clonal varieties were from five full-sib families. They were a subset of a larger population (1831 clonal varieties), field-tested across 26 locations in the southeast US. Ridge regression, Bayes B, and Bayes Cπ models were implemented to study marker-trait associations and estimate predictive ability for selection. A cross-validation scenario based on a random sampling of 80% of the clonal varieties for the model building had higher (0.71–0.76) prediction accuracies of genomic estimated breeding values compared with family and within-family cross-validation scenarios. Random sampling within families for model training to predict genomic estimated breeding values of the remaining progenies within each family produced accuracies between 0.38 and 0.66. Using four families out of five for model training was not successful. The results showed the importance of genetic relatedness between the training and validation sets. Bayesian whole-genome regression models detected three QTL with large effects on the disease outcome, explaining 54% of the genetic variation in the trait. The significance of QTL was validated with GWAS while accounting for the population structure and polygenic effect. The odds of disease incidence for heterozygous AB genotypes were 10.7 and 12.1 times greater than the homozygous AA genotypes for SNP11965 and SNP6347 loci, respectively. Genomic selection for fusiform rust disease incidence could be effective in P. taeda breeding. Markers with large effects could be fit as fixed covariates to increase the prediction accuracies, provided that their effects are validated further.
Ancient Adaptative Evolution of ACE2 in East Asians
Authors: Wang Wenqiang , Han Guan-Zhu
Published: July 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been posing an unprecedented challenge to global public health. SARS-CoV-2 and several other coronaviruses utilize angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as their entry receptors. The ACE2 gene has been found to experience episodic positive selection across mammals. However, much remains unknown about how the ACE2 gene evolved in human populations. Here, we use population genetics approaches to investigate the evolution of the ACE2 gene in 26 human populations sampled globally. We find the ACE2 gene exhibits an extremely low nucleotide diversity in the East Asian populations. Strong signals of selective sweep are detected in the East Asian populations, but not in the other human populations. The selective sweep in ACE2 is estimated to begin in East Asian populations ∼23,600 years ago. Our study provides novel insights into the evolution of the ACE2 gene within human populations.
Five centuries of cod catches in Eastern Canada
Authors: Schijns Rebecca , Froese Rainer , Hutchings Jeffrey A , Pauly Daniel
Published: July 2021

The fishery for Northern Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) off Newfoundland and Labrador, Eastern Canada, presents the most spectacular case of an exploited stock crashed in a few decades by an industrial bottom trawl fishery under a seemingly sophisticated management regime after half a millennium of sustainable fishing. The fishery, which had generated annual catches of 100000 to 200000 tonnes from the beginning of the 16th century to the 1950s,  peaked in 1968 at 810000 tonnes, followed by a devastating collapse and closure 24 years later. Since then, stock recovery may have been hindered by premature openings, with vessels targeting the remains of the cod population. Previous research paid little attention towards using multicentury time series to inform sustainable catches and recovery plans. Here, we show that a simple stock assessment model can be used to model the cod population trajectory for the entire period from 1508 to 2019 for which catch estimates are available. The model suggests that if fishing effort and mortality had been stabilized in the 1980s,  precautionary annual yields of about 200000 tonnes could have been sustained. Our analysis demonstrates the value of incorporating prior knowledge to counteract shifting baseline effects on reference points and contemporary perceptions of historical stock status.
Emergence of non-susceptibility during persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia in haematopoietic cell transplant recipients and haematological malignancy patients
Authors: Fontana Lauren , Hakki Morgan
Published: July 2021

Background

Systematic studies pertaining to the emergence of resistance during therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infections (BSIs) in haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients and haematological malignancy (HM) patients are lacking.

Objectives

To determine how frequently non-susceptibility emerges during therapy of P. aeruginosa BSIs and to compare these findings with non-HCT/HM patients.

Patients and methods

P. aeruginosa BSIs that occurred at our institution between 1 July 2012 and 31 October 2019 in HCT/HM patients and non-HCT/HM patients were identified. Episodes in which bacteraemia persisted while on appropriate therapy (‘persistent BSI’) were evaluated for emergence of non-susceptibility during therapy.

Results

In total, 96 BSI episodes among 86 HCT/HM patients were analysed. Eight persistent BSI episodes (8.3%) occurred in eight patients (9.3%). Repeat susceptibility testing was performed in seven (87.5%) of these episodes. Non-susceptibility to the treatment agent emerged in five (71.4%) episodes and to any antipseudomonal agent in seven (100%) episodes. The 21 day mortality rate associated with persistent BSI was 87.5% (seven of eight), and it was 80% (four of five) among persistent BSI episodes in which non-susceptibility to the treatment agent emerged on therapy. Non-susceptibility to any antipseudomonal agent during persistent BSI emerged significantly more frequently in HCT/HM patients compared with non-HCT/HM patients.

Conclusions

Non-susceptibility emerges frequently during persistent P. aeruginosa BSIs in HCT/HM patients, and this is associated with a high mortality rate. Our findings have implications for the management of persistent P. aeruginosa BSIs in these patients. Larger studies are needed to confirm and expand on our findings.
Validation of the MYChrOme™ Culture Plate for Detection and Differentiation of Rapid-Growing Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Potable and Non-Potable Water: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 062101
Authors: Fisher Katherine E , Chhabra Avneet K , Wickenberg Leah P , McCoy William F
Published: July 2021

Background

The MYChrOme™ Culture Plate is a chromogenic media for the detection and differentiation of rapid-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in water, aided by MYCOn™ decontamination to reduce background microbiota.

Objective

Evaluate the MYChrOme Culture Plates for the detection of rapid-growing NTM in potable and non-potable water as part of the AOAC Performance Tested Method(s)SM program.

Methods

Inclusivity and exclusivity of MYChrOme were evaluated with 50 target and 30 non-target organisms. Method robustness and lot stability of MYChrOme were analyzed. The candidate method was compared to a modified US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Method: U.S. FDA—Isolation and Identification of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Tattoo Inks using an equivalency test. The matrix study consisted of artificially contaminated potable water and naturally contaminated non-potable water. Independent laboratory testing was conducted to verify method performance in non-potable water.

Results

The inclusivity of MYChrOme was 94% within one week, and 98% within two weeks. The exclusivity was 96% for untreated samples and 100% for treated samples. The candidate method remained statistically equivalent for robustness and a three-month shelf-life was confirmed. For both matrixes, the candidate and reference methods were not equivalent, with more colonies enumerated on the candidate method except for one contamination level of the potable matrix.

Conclusion

The MYChrOme culture method can successfully detect and differentiate rapid-growing NTM in the matrixes tested, with sensitivity equivalent or higher than the reference method.

Highlights

The MYChrOme culture plate offers differentiation of rapid-growing NTM colonies, improved detection in non-potable samples with MYCOn decontamination, and results within 7 days.
LC-ESI-MS/MS Simultaneous Analysis Method Coupled with Cation-Exchange Solid-Phase Extraction for Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids on Five Kinds of Herbal Medicines
Authors: Jeong Se Hee , Choi Eun Young , Kim Jonghwan , Lee Chulhyun , Kang Juhye , Cho Sooyeul , Ko Kyung Yuk
Published: July 2021

Background

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are naturally occurring plant toxins associated with potential hepatic and carcinogenic diseases in humans and animals. The concern over PAs has increased as the consumption of herbal medicines has increased.

Objective

This study aimed to develop and validate a sensitive analytical method to determine 28 PAs in five herbal medicines using liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Additionally, this study identified and quantified the amount of PAs in 10 samples of each herbal medicine.

Methods

The pretreatment in the proposed LC-MS/MS analysis comprised solvent extraction using 0.05M H2SO4 in 50% methanol and clean-up step using an mixed-mode cationic exchange (MCX)-solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. The PA contents in herbal medicines were measured by using the developed method.

Results

The proposed method had recoveries ranging from 72.5–123.7% for the Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, 70.6–151.7% for Alba Chrysanthmi Flos, 80.6–130.9% for Leonuri Herba, 70.3–122.9% for Gastrodiae Rhizoma, and 67.1–106.9% for Glycyrrhizae Radix. Even though a few samples showed recoveries in unsatisfactory values, the proposed method indicated entirely sufficient recoveries and precision in most samples. In monitoring results, only Leonuri Herba contained two PAs, which indicated Retrorsine (4/10) of 84.7–120.9 μg/kg and Senkirkine (10/10) of 60.9–170.7 μg/kg.

Conclusion

The results obtained from this study demonstrate that the proposed method is fit for purpose to determine 28 PAs in herbal medicines. Therefore it could serve as a regulatory method capable of being used for controlling the risks of PAs in certain medicinal plants and dietary supplements.

Highlights

An LC-MS/MS method for the determination of 28 pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbal medicines was developed and validated through this study. The proposed method is considered as an useful method for monitoring pyroolizidine alkaloids in herbal medicines.
A Single-Institution Experience With Standardized Objective and Subjective Scar Evaluation While Undergoing Fractional Ablative Carbon Dioxide Laser Treatment
Authors: Travis Taryn E , Allely Rebekah A , Johnson Laura S , Shupp Jeffrey W
Published: July 2021

Laser treatment of burn scar has increased in recent years. Standard components of scar evaluation during laser scar revision have yet to be established. Patients who began laser scar revision from January 2018 to 2020, underwent at least three treatments, and completed evaluations for each treatment were included. Patients underwent fractional ablative carbon dioxide laser scar revision and pre- and postprocedure scar evaluations by a burn rehabilitation therapist, including Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, Vancouver Scar Scale, our institutional scar comparison scale, durometry, and active range of motion measurements. Twenty-nine patients began laser scar revision and underwent at least three treatments with evaluations before and after each intervention. All patients improved in at least one scar assessment metric after a single laser treatment. After the second and third treatments, all patients improved in at least three scar assessment metrics. Range of motion was the most frequently improved. Durometry significantly improved after the third treatment. Patients and observers showed some agreement in their assessment of scar, but observers rated overall scar scores better than patients. Patients acknowledged substantial scar improvement on our institutional scar comparison scale. Burn scar improves with fractional ablative laser therapy in a range of scar ages and skin types, as early as the first session. Improvements continue as additional sessions are performed. This work suggests baseline evaluation components for patients undergoing laser and a timeline for expected clinical improvements which may inform conversations between patients and providers when considering laser for the symptomatic hypertrophic scar.
Did Secure Communities Lead to Safer Communities? Immigration Enforcement, Crime Deterrence, and Geographical Externalities
Authors: Kang Songman , Song B K
Published: July 2021

Secure Communities is a recently introduced immigration enforcement policy in the United States, intended to improve public safety by making it easier to identify and deport criminal immigrants and immigration violators. In this article, we examine the effect of Secure Communities on crime by utilizing the variation in its timing of activation across counties. We extend previous research by exploring potential crime spillovers associated with Secure Communities, in which its activation in one jurisdiction affects crime rates in a neighboring jurisdiction. Estimation results suggest that the activation of Secure Communities influenced crime rates in both the activated area and neighboring areas in important ways. We find that Secure Communities led to a significant crime reduction in the activated area if it is also activated in neighboring areas, but no significant local crime reduction is observed if not activated in neighboring areas. Likewise, its activation is often associated with significant crime spillovers into neighboring areas, but this displacement effect is often completely eliminated if Secure Communities is activated in the neighboring areas as well.
A thermodynamically nonlocal damage model using a surface-residual-based nonlocal stress
Authors: Huang Liyang , Yao Yin
Published: July 2021

In this research, a surface-residual-based nonlocal stress was introduced into nonlocal damage theory to describe the long-range actions among microstructures that were excluded in the definition of Cauchy stress. By using the surface-residual-based nonlocal stress tensor, a thermodynamically consistent nonlocal integral damage model was established to simulate the strain localization behavior for elastic-brittle damage problems. In this model, both the strain and the damage were taken as nonlocal variables in the free energy function, and the integral-type damage constitutive relationships and the evolution equation were derived via thermodynamic laws in order to ensure the self-consistency within the thermodynamic framework. Based on the nonlocal damage formulations using a real nonlocal stress concept, we simulated the strain localization phenomenon in an elastic bar subjected to uniaxial tension. The results showed clear localizing and softening features of strain in the damage zone, and the boundary effects arising from the nonlocal surface residual were illuminated. Furthermore, the strain localization behaviors for different internal characteristic lengths were simulated, through which we found that the characteristic length was comparable to the size of the strain localization zone.
Topical Review: Developmental Framework of Moderators of Family Conflict for Type 1 Diabetes Outcomes
Authors: Campbell MaryJane S , Berg Cynthia A
Published: July 2021

Objective

To present a developmental framework of family conflict in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) that aims to guide future research.

Methods

Developmental and pediatric literature are reviewed to highlight family factors that may modify the degree to which diabetes-related family conflict is related to adolescent health outcomes.

Results

Developmental literature suggests that family conflict is not inherently bad; rather, conflict that arises under optimal conditions (moderate frequency, warm and accepting relationships) can be adaptive for adolescents. However, family conflict is consistently associated with poor disease outcomes in youth with T1D, with few researchers examining specific moderators of these associations. In this topical review, we highlight moderators of family conflict and developmental outcomes identified in adolescents without chronic illness (e.g., cultural factors, parent–child relationship quality, conflict characteristics) and how these moderators may operate for a pediatric chronic illness such as T1D.

Conclusions

Incorporating conceptualizations of family conflict from mainstream developmental research has important implications for future research and intervention adaptations on family conflict in pediatric populations.
Interpolation for intermediate logics via injective nested sequents
Authors: Kuznets Roman , Lellmann Björn
Published: July 2021

We introduce a novel, semantically inspired method of constructing nested sequent calculi for propositional intermediate logics. Applying recently developed methods for proving Craig interpolation to these nested sequent calculi, we obtain constructive proofs of the interpolation property for most non-trivial interpolable intermediate logics, as well as Lyndon interpolation for Gödel logic. Finally, we provide a prototype implementation combining proof search and countermodel construction.
Two cases of gastric penetration by fish bones with differing courses
Authors: Masaoka Ryo , Masaoka Rion , Hayashi Kazunori , Suzuki Yuto , Katayama Yasumi , Tamano Masaya
Published: July 2021

Most foreign bodies swallowed accidentally are naturally excreted. Gastric penetration by a fish bone is rare due to anatomical and physiological features such as the thick stomach wall, wide lumen and gastric acid. The most common penetration site is the antral region. The clinical course of fish bone penetration of the gastric antrum may differ depending on the direction of penetration. In this report, two cases of gastric perforation by fish bones that followed different courses are presented. One case was treated conservatively with antibiotics alone, and another case was considered for surgery, due to increased hematoma and penetration of the fish bone into the pancreas. However, the patient’s comorbidities were so severe that surgery was not possible, resulting in meticulous follow-up. Diagnostic imaging was important in these cases.