bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variability in Fetal Fraction Estimation: Comparing Fetal Fractions Reported by Noninvasive Prenatal Testing Providers Globally
Authors: Becking Ellis C , Linthorst Jasper , Patton Simon , Gutowska-Ding Weronika , Goodall Rebecca , Khawaja Farrah , Morgan Fiona , Deans Zandra , Chitty Lyn S , Bekker Mireille N , Scheffer Peter G , Sistermans Erik A
Published: December 2022

Background

Fetal fraction (FF) measurement is considered important for reliable noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). Using minimal FF threshold as a quality parameter is under debate. We evaluated the variability in reported FFs of individual samples between providers and laboratories and within a single laboratory.

Methods

Genomic quality assessment and European Molecular Genetics Quality Network provide joint proficiency testing for NIPT. We compared reported FFs across all laboratories and stratified according to test methodologies. A single sample was sequenced repeatedly and FF estimated by 2 bioinformatics methods: Veriseq2 and SeqFF. Finally, we compared FFs by Veriseq and SeqFF in 87 351 NIPT samples.

Results

For each proficiency test sample we observed a large variability in reported FF, SDs and CVs ranging from 1.7 to 3.6 and 17.0 to 35.8, respectively. FF measurements reported by single nucleotide polymorphism-based methods had smaller SDs (0.5 to 2.4) compared to whole genome sequencing-based methods (1.8 to 2.9). In the internal quality assessment, SDs were similar between SeqFF (SD 1.0) and Veriseq v2 (SD 0.9), but mean FF by Veriseq v2 was higher compared to SeqFF (9.0 vs 6.4, P 0.001). In patient samples, reported FFs were on average 1.12-points higher in Veriseq than in SeqFF (P 0.001).

Conclusions

Current methods do not allow for a reliable and consistent FF estimation. Our data show estimated FF should be regarded as a laboratory-specific range, rather than a precise number. Applying strict universal minimum thresholds might result in unnecessary test failures and should be used with caution.
Communicative labor resistance practices: organizing digital news media unions and precarious work
Authors: Salamon Errol
Published: December 2022

Unionization among newsworkers has increased in the U.S. since 2015. This article develops a relational theoretical framework to examine communicative labor resistance practices. It is grounded in critical organizational communication, social movement studies, sociology of work, and labor studies, responding to how newsworkers’ union resistance has been undertheorized in extant journalism and media studies research. It argues that communicative labor resistance practices should be based on three propositions: a dialectical process and continual cycle of organizing unions’ resistance and exploitative precarious work; the relationship among heterogenous alternative digital communication labor resistance practices; and a relational approach to digitally-mediated communicative material conditions and discursive forms of resistance rhetoric in social movement genres of organizational communication that mutually co-produce and constitute unions’ resistance practices and organizational self-structuring. This framework has implications for understanding precarious work, class, professional identity, and journalism’s democratic role in society, and for doing labor resistance-oriented communication research.
Sex differences in the etiology and burden of heart failure across country income level: analysis of 204 countries and territories 1990–2019
Authors: Wei Sunny , Miranda J Jamie , Mamas Mamas A , Zühlke Liesl J , Kontopantelis Evan , Thabane Lehana , Van Spall Harriette G C
Published: December 2022

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a global epidemic.

Objective

To assess global sex differences in HF epidemiology across country income levels.

Methods and results

Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data from 204 countries and territories 1990–2019, we assessed sex differences in HF prevalence, etiology, morbidity, and temporal trends across country sociodemographic index or gross national income. We derived age-standardized rates. Of 56.2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 46.4–67.8 million) people with HF in 2019, 50.3% were females and 69.2% lived in low- and middle-income countries; age-standardized prevalence was greater in males and in high-income countries. Ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease were top causes of HF in males and females, respectively. There were 5.1 million (95% UI 3.3–7.3 million) years lived with disability, distributed equally between sexes. Between 1990 and 2019, there was an increase in HF cases, but a decrease in age-standardized rates per 100 000 in males (9.1%, from 864.2 to 785.7) and females (5.8%, from 686.0 to 646.1). High-income regions experienced a 16.0% decrease in age-standardized rates (from 877.5 to 736.8), while low-income regions experienced a 3.9% increase (from 612.1 to 636.0), largely consistent across sexes. There was a temporal increase in age-standardized HF from hypertensive, rheumatic, and calcific aortic valvular heart disease, and a decrease from ischaemic heart disease, with regional and sex differences.

Conclusion

Age-standardized HF rates have decreased over time, with larger decreases in males than females; and with large decreases in high-income and small increases in low-income regions. Sex and regional differences offer targets for intervention.
Same-day discharge after transvenous lead extraction: feasibility and outcomes
Authors: Atteya Gourg , Alston Michael , Sweat Austin , Saleh Moussa , Beldner Stuart , Mitra Raman , Willner Jonathan , John Roy M , Epstein Laurence M
Published: December 2022

Aims

Same-day discharge (SDD) is safe for patients undergoing electrophysiology procedures. There is no existing data regarding SDD for patients undergoing transvenous lead extraction (TLE). We report our experience with SDD for patients undergoing TLE.

Methods and results

The study group included patients undergoing TLE between February 2020 and July 2021 without an infectious indication. A modified SDD protocol for device implants/ablations was applied to TLE patients. Patient characteristics, extraction details, outcomes, and complications were reviewed. Of 239 patients undergoing TLE, 210 were excluded (94 infections and 116 did not meet SDD criteria). Of the remaining 29 patients, seven stayed due to patient preference and 22 were discharged home the same day. The SDD group had an average age of 65.9 ± 12 (47–84), 41% female, and LVEF of 52.2 ± 18% (10–80). The indication for TLE was malfunction (20), upgrade (4), advisory lead (2), and magnetic resonance imaging compatibility (1). Extractions included four implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), 17 pacemakers (PPM), and one cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)-P system. The leads were 9.6 years (1.5–21.7) old, and 1.8 leads were removed per patient (1–3); the lead extraction difficulty (LED) score was 11.6 ± 7. Twenty underwent cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) re-implantation (2 ICD, 3 CRT-D, 13 PPM, and 2 CRT-P). For CIED re-implants, patients sent a remote transmission the next day, and all patients received a next-day call. There were no procedure or device-related issues, morbidities, or mortalities in the 30 days after discharge.

Conclusion

Same-day discharge after TLE for non-infectious aetiologies is safe and feasible in a select group of patients with early procedure completion who meet strict SDD criteria.
LMAS: evaluating metagenomic short de novo assembly methods through defined communities
Authors: Mendes Catarina Inês , Vila-Cerqueira Pedro , Motro Yair , Moran-Gilad Jacob , Carriço João André , Ramirez Mário
Published: December 2022

Background

The de novo assembly of raw sequence data is key in metagenomic analysis. It allows recovering draft genomes from a pool of mixed raw reads, yielding longer sequences that offer contextual information and provide a more complete picture of the microbial community.

Findings

To better compare de novo assemblers for metagenomic analysis, LMAS (Last Metagenomic Assembler Standing) was developed as a flexible platform allowing users to evaluate assembler performance given known standard communities. Overall, in our test datasets, k-mer De Bruijn graph assemblers outperformed the alternative approaches but came with a greater computational cost. Furthermore, assemblers branded as metagenomic specific did not consistently outperform other genomic assemblers in metagenomic samples. Some assemblers still in use, such as ABySS, MetaHipmer2, minia, and VelvetOptimiser, perform relatively poorly and should be used with caution when assembling complex samples. Meaningful strain resolution at the single-nucleotide polymorphism level was not achieved, even by the best assemblers tested.

Conclusions

The choice of a de novo assembler depends on the computational resources available, the replicon of interest, and the major goals of the analysis. No single assembler appeared an ideal choice for short-read metagenomic prokaryote replicon assembly, each showing specific strengths. The choice of metagenomic assembler should be guided by user requirements and characteristics of the sample of interest, and LMAS provides an interactive evaluation platform for this purpose. LMAS is open source, and the workflow and its documentation are available at https://github.com/B-UMMI/LMAS and https://lmas.readthedocs.io/, respectively.
Evaluation of resazurin microplate method for rapid detection of vancomycin and linezolid resistance in Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates
Authors: Zeng Weiliang , Han Yijia , Zheng Xiangkuo , Yao Zhuocheng , Xu Chunquan , Zhang Xiaotuan , Tang Miran , Shen Mo , Zhou Tieli
Published: December 2022

Background

Vancomycin and linezolid resistance among enterococci is an increasing problem due to a lack of alternative antibiotics. Early identification of vancomycin-resistant and linezolid-resistant strains can help prevent the spread of resistance to these antibiotics. Hence, early, rapid and accurate detection of vancomycin and linezolid resistance is critical.

Objectives

The resazurin microplate method (RMM) was developed for detecting vancomycin and linezolid susceptibility among Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) clinical isolates, and its performance was further evaluated.

Methods

A total of 209 non-duplicate clinical isolates and three strains from the faeces of domestic animals, including 142 E. faecalis (71 linezolid non-susceptible and 71 linezolid susceptible) and 70 E. faecium (23 vancomycin non-susceptible, 23 vancomycin susceptible, 12 linezolid non-susceptible and 12 linezolid susceptible), were tested using RMM.

Results

The susceptibility of E. faecium to vancomycin was detected within 5 h, with high susceptibility (23/23) and specificity (23/23). The susceptibility of E. faecalis and E. faecium to linezolid was detected within 4 h, with specificities of 98.59% and 100% and susceptibilities of 94.37% and 58.33% for E. faecalis and E. faecium, respectively.

Conclusions

RMM had a good positive predictive value for the detection of vancomycin-non-susceptible E. faecium and linezolid-non-susceptible E. faecalis. It thus has the potential to become an alternative method for the rapid screening of these resistant pathogens in clinical practice.
The dangers of non-randomized, observational studies: experience from the COVID-19 epidemic
Authors: Hill Andrew , Mirchandani Manya
Published: December 2022

In regulatory evaluations, high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard for assessing the efficacy of medical interventions. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgent need for treatment options led to regulatory approvals being made based on evidence from non-randomized, observational studies. In this study we contrast results from observational studies and RCTs of six drugs to treat COVID-19 infection. Across a range of studies evaluating hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, ivermectin, aspirin, molnupiravir and tenofovir for COVID-19, there was statistically significant evidence of benefit from non-randomized observational studies, which was then not seen in RCTs. We propose that all observational studies need to be labelled as ‘non-randomized’ in the title. This should indicate that they are not as reliable for evaluating the efficacy of a drug and should not be used independently for regulatory approval decisions.
Detection of Cadmium and Lead in Kidney Stones. Associations with Patient Demographics, Stone Composition, and Smoking
Authors: Day Patrick L , Wermers Michelle , Pazdernik Vanessa , Jannetto Paul J , Bornhorst Joshua A
Published: December 2022

Background

Kidney stones are a highly prevalent disease worldwide. Additionally, both environmental and occupational exposure to Pb and Cd continue to be prevalent globally and can result in renal toxicity. The objective of this study was to examine the potential presence of Pb and Cd in kidney stones, and to assess for correlation with demographic factors including smoking, gender, age, and kidney stone matrix composition.

Methods

Patient kidney stones (n = 96) were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify the stone constituents. Cd and Pb concentrations (µg/g) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cd and Pb concentrations were correlated using bivariable and multivariable statistical analysis with demographic factors (age, gender, smoking status), and kidney stone composition.

Results

Kidney stone Cd (median 0.092 µg/g, range 0.014 to 2.46) and Pb concentrations (median 0.95 µg/g, range 0.060 to 15.4) were moderately correlated (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001). Cd concentrations were positively associated with patient history of smoking, patient age, and calcium oxalate monohydrate levels while negatively associated with struvite and uric acid/uric acid dihydrate. Pb concentrations were positively associated with females and apatite levels while negatively associated with uric acid/uric acid dihydrate. After holding constant other stone type composition levels, smoking status, and age, both Pb and Cd were positively associated with apatite and negatively associated with uric acid/uric acid dihydrate, struvite, and calcium carbonate.

Conclusions

Cd and Pb kidney stone concentrations are associated with specific kidney stone types. Cd and Pb kidney stone concentrations are both associated with smoking.
Promoting access to justice for victims of sexual violence in Vietnam
Authors: Phan Huong Thi Lan
Published: December 2022

Violence against women and girls remains a critical issue in Viet Nam. Women have suffered physical or sexual violence from their husbands throughout their lifetime, but this (especially sexual violence) has not been handled effectively for many reasons including legal gaps, culture, social norms, as well as the capacity of justice system. Being a member of CEDAW from 1982 and with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals, the Vietnamese government needs to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence and enable victims to access justice to claim their rights and legitimate interests. It is essential to identify the current issues around access to justice for victims of sexual abuse and find effective ways for Vietnam to handle these issues.
Developmental thyroid hormone action on pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing cells programs hypothalamic BMPR1A depletion and brown fat activation
Authors: Wu Zhaofei , Martinez M Elena , DeMambro Victoria , Francois Marie , Hernandez Arturo
Published: December 2022

Thyroid hormone excess secondary to global type 3 deiodinase (DIO3) deficiency leads to increased locomotor activity and reduced adiposity, but also to concurrent alterations in parameters of the leptin–melanocortin system that would predict obesity. To distinguish the underlying contributions to the energy balance phenotype of DIO3 deficiency, we generated mice with thyroid hormone excess targeted to pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing cells via cell-specific DIO3 inactivation. These mice exhibit a male-specific phenotype of reduced hypothalamic Pomc expression, hyperphagia, and increased activity in brown adipose tissue, with adiposity and serum levels of leptin and thyroid hormones remained normal. These male mice also manifest a marked and widespread hypothalamic reduction in the expression of bone morphogenetic receptor 1a (BMPR1A), which has been shown to cause similar phenotypes when inactivated in POMC-expressing cells. Our results indicate that developmental overexposure to thyroid hormone in POMC-expressing cells programs energy balance mechanisms in a sexually dimorphic manner by suppressing adult hypothalamic BMPR1A expression.
Three-dimensional electron tomography and recent expansion of its applications in materials science
Authors: Baba Norio , Hata Satoshi , Saito Hikaru , Kaneko Kenji
Published: December 2022

Electron tomography (ET) is a powerful tool for elucidating the properties and functionalities of materials. The innovative development of aberration-corrected electron microscopy in the early 21st century and the remarkable progress in the development of detectors, equipment and devices related to ET have resulted in substantial improvements in resolution. However, not only advances in hardware but also remarkable developments in reconstruction algorithms and related three-dimensional (3D) analysis methods have contributed to the resolution improvements. ET has its own problems, including the missing-wedge problem due to the limited tilt-angle range and the need to acquire numerous specimen-tilt images, the latter of which is time-consuming and can potentially damage the specimen. This review paper aims to (i) describe the established basic theories and definitions regarding 3D resolution of ET and practical 3D resolution measurement methods, (ii) discuss various reconstruction algorithms that effectively overcome the aforementioned problems and (iii) describe recent progress in the core of ET applications in materials science with respect to atomic ET, analytical ET and in-situ ET. The aforementioned ET problems have been addressed with each method developed in each field of application. Notably, in terms of aim (ii), recently developed reconstruction algorithms can reduce the number of projection images (specimen-tilt images) needed to attain a certain resolution without violating the Nyquist criterion. This approach is interpreted as a novel non-linear sampling theorem.
Generating a sentiment dictionary in R and dictionary-based sentiment analysis in Turkish texts
Authors: Alkan Bilal Barış , Karakus Leyla , Direkci Bekir
Published: December 2022

Dictionary-based sentiment analysis is a text mining application that allows comments about the sentimental states of the text or documents through the sentimental poles of the words. In recent years, it has become quite popular in many disciplines such as trade, health, education, usage for various purposes. It is applied in many languages depending on the sentiment dictionaries, which are the main component, are created. Unlike inflectional languages such as English and German, the number of dictionary-based sentiment analysis studies using the Turkish language, which is a sequencing language, is very limited. When the literature of sentiment analysis is examined separately in terms of the material used; it is seen that the number of studies on long-format literary texts, which have been functioning as sentiment transmission throughout history, is also quite limited. In the light of these knowledges, a comprehensive method of creating a domain-specific sentiment dictionary and applying dictionary-based sentiment analysis on Turkish texts is proposed in the R software.
Problematising diversity: The change that international lawyers (do not) want for international courts
Authors: de Carvalho Juliana Santos , Uriburu Justina
Published: December 2022

Scholars working on international courts and tribunals (ICTs) have recently seized the agenda of the diversity of the international judiciary and international institutions more broadly. Focusing, above all, on the lack of women in the different international benches around the world, they have criticised and proposed reforms to the composition of ICTs. This paper argues that the burgeoning literature on the diversity in ICTs expresses a particular politics of inclusion for the composition of the international judiciary. We begin by explaining the importance of looking into knowledge production in international legal scholarship as a site of (re)production of the field’s boundaries and situating the literature under study within the broader universe of the scholarship on ICTs. We then lay out this paper’s main contribution: a reconstruction and critical analysis of the normative commitments of the politics of inclusion underlying the literature on diversity in ICTs.
Nonfatal Injuries From Falls Among U.S. Military Personnel Deployed for Combat Operations, 2001-2018
Authors: Stern Caryn A , Liendo Jessica A , Graham Brock A , Johnson Grant M , Kotwal Russ S , Shackelford Stacy , Gurney Jennifer M , Janak Jud C
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Falls are a leading mechanism of injury. Hospitalization and outpatient clinic visits due to fall injury are frequently reported among both deployed and non-deployed U.S. Military personnel. Falls have been previously identified as a leading injury second only to sports and exercise as a cause for non-battle air evacuations.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study analyzed the Department of Defense Trauma Registry fall injury data from September 11, 2001 to December 31, 2018. Deployed U.S. Military personnel with fall listed as one of their mechanisms of injury were included for analysis.

Results

Of 31,791 injured U.S. Military personnel captured by the Department of Defense Trauma Registry within the study time frame, a total of 3,101 (9.8%) incurred injuries from falls. Those who had fall injuries were primarily 21 to 30 years old (55.4%), male (93.1%), Army (75.6%), and enlisted personnel (56.9%). The proportion of casualties sustaining injuries from falls generally increased through the years of the study. Most fall injuries were classified as non-battle injury (91.9%). Falls accounted for 24.2% of non-battle injury hospital admissions with a median hospital stay of 2 days. More non-battle-related falls were reported in Iraq-centric military operations (62.7%); whereas more battle-related falls were reported in Afghanistan-centric military operations (58.3%).

Conclusions

This study is the largest analysis of deployed U.S. Military personnel injured by falls to date. Highlighted are preventive strategies to mitigate fall injury, reduce workforce attrition, and preserve combat mission capability.

Level of Evidence

Level III Epidemiologic.
Modelling the CO streamers in the explosive ejection of Orion BN/KL region
Authors: Rodríguez-González A , Rivera-Ortiz P R , Castellanos-Ramírez A , Raga A C , Hernández-Martínez L , Cantó J , Zapata L A , Robles-Valdez F
Published: December 2022

We present reactive gasdynamic, axisymmetric simulations of dense, high-velocity clumps for modelling the CO streamers observed in Orion BN/KL. We have considered 15 chemical species, a cooling function for atomic and molecular gas, and heating through cosmic rays. Our numerical simulations explore different ejection velocities, interstellar medium density configurations, and CO content. Using the CO density and temperature, we have calculated the CO (J = 2 → 1) emissivity, and have built CO maps and spatially resolved line profiles, allowing us to see the CO emitting regions of the streamers and to obtain position velocity diagrams to compare with observations. We find that in order to reproduce the images and line profiles of the BN/KL CO streamers and H2 fingers, we need to have clumps that first travel within a dense cloud core, and then emerge into a lower-density environment.
The VISCACHA survey – VI. Dimensional study of the structure of 82 star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds
Authors: Rodríguez M Jimena , Feinstein C , Baume G , Dias B , Maia F S M , Santos J F C , Kerber L , Minniti D , Pérez-Villegas A , De Bórtoli B , Parisi M C , Oliveira R A P
Published: December 2022

We present a study of the internal structure of 82 star clusters located at the outer regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud using data of the VISCACHA Survey. Through the construction of the minimum spanning tree, which analyses the relative position of stars within a given cluster, it was possible to characterize the internal structure and explore the fractal or subclustered distribution for each cluster. We computed the parameters $\overline{m}$ (which is the average length of the connected segments normalized by the area), $\overline{s}$ (which is the mean points separation in units of cluster radius), and Q (the ratio of these components). These parameters are useful to distinguish between radial, homogeneous, and substructured distributions of stars. The dependence of these parameters with the different characteristics of the clusters, such as their ages and spatial distribution, was also studied. We found that most of the studied clusters present a homogeneous stellar distribution or a distribution with a radial concentration. Our results are consistent with the models, suggesting that more dynamically evolved clusters seem to have larger Q values, confirming previous results from numerical simulations. There also seems to be a correlation between the internal structure of the clusters and their galactocentric distances, in the sense that for both galaxies, the more distant clusters have larger Q values. We also paid particular attention to the effects of contamination by non-member field stars and its consequences finding that field star decontamination is crucial for these kinds of studies.
A Salmonella enterica Serovar Oranienburg Clone Caused a Cluster of Bacteremia Cases in Persons With No Recognizable Underlying Diseases in Japan
Authors: Ooka Tadasuke , Gotoh Yasuhiro , Hatanaka Shigeki , Yoshimori Miyuki , Nishitarumizu Kazutaka , Kojo Kanami , Kosakamoto Hiroki , Sameshima Koji , Kuroki Yoichi , Chibana Naomi , Doi Yuriko , Yoshino Shuji , Harada Tetsuya , Seto Kazuko , Ikeda Tetsuya , Miyanohara Hiroaki , Nakayama Koichiro , Gokuden Mutsuyo , Imuta Naoko , Kawamura Hideki , Ogura Yoshitoshi , Hayashi Tetsuya , Nishi Junichiro
Published: December 2022

Background

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Oranienburg (SO) is a foodborne pathogen but rarely causes systemic infections such as bacteremia. Between July and September 2018, bacteremia cases caused by SO were identified in 12 persons without any underlying medical conditions in the southern Kyushu area of Japan.

Methods

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed to investigate the genetic similarity of the 12 bacteremia-related strains and other Japanese isolates. Furthermore, a series of whole-genome sequence (WGS)–based phylogenetic analyses was performed with a global SO strain set (n = 1648).

Results

The resolution power of RAPD was insufficient to investigate the genetic similarity between the bacteremia-related strains and other strains. WGS-based phylogenetic analyses revealed that the bacteremia-related strains formed a tight cluster along with 2 strains isolated from asymptomatic carriers in 2018 in the same area, with a maximum within-cluster single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distance of 11. While several strains isolated in the United States and the United Kingdom were found to be closely related to the bacteremia-related strains, 2 strains isolated in 2016 in the southern Kyushu area were most closely related, with SNP distances of 4–11 and 5–10, and had the same plasmids as the bacteremia-related strains.

Conclusions

The 12 bacteremia cases identified were caused by a single SO clone. As none of the bacteremia patients had any underlying diseases, this clone may be prone to cause bacteremia. Although further analyses are required to understand its virulence, particular attention should be given to this clone and its close relatives in the surveillance of nontyphoidal salmonellae.
A Longitudinal Study of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Response in a Subset of United States Blood Donors
Authors: Tonnetti Laura , Dodd Roger Y , Burke Donna D , Saá Paula , Spencer Bryan R , Xu Meng , Haynes James M , Stramer Susan L
Published: December 2022

Background

Blood donors were tested for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); resulting antibody levels were monitored over time.

Methods

Donors reactive to anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1-total antibodies) participated in a follow-up study of 18 months. Testing for nucleocapsid antibodies distinguished between vaccination and infection. Vaccination and symptom information were collected for anti-S1-reactive donors by completing a survey.

Results

The majority of 249 followed donors were over 60 years old (54%), White (90%), and female (58%); 83% had not been vaccinated at enrollment, but by study completion, only 29% remained nonvaccinated. Of the 210 (84%) anti-N-reactive donors, 138 (66%) reported vaccination, whereas 37 (95%) of donors vaccinated and anti-N negative at enrollment remained uninfected. Vaccinated (2 doses) and infected donors showed a steady increase in anti-S1 that increased markedly for vaccinated donors after a booster and infected donors after vaccination (slightly higher for those with hybrid immunity), whereas anti-N levels declined. Most surveyed nonvaccinated donors (65%) reported symptoms, whereas 85% of vaccinated donors were asymptomatic. A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis was reported by 48 (31%) nonvaccinated and 3 (8%) vaccinated donors. Of asymptomatic donors, 38% never tested diagnostically for COVID-19, and 35% tested negative, suggesting an absence of knowledge of the infection.

Conclusions

Healthy blood donors were vaccinated at high rates and remained mostly asymptomatic and noninfected, whereas approximately two thirds of infected donors reported symptoms. Anti-S1 levels increased while anti-N decreased over 18 months but remained comparable between vaccinated and hybrid immune individuals with dramatic anti-S1 increases after vaccination or boosting.
Mucilage protects the planktonic desmid Staurodesmus sp. against parasite attack by a chytrid fungus
Authors: Van Den Wyngaert Silke , Kainz Martin J , Ptacnik Robert
Published: December 2022

Zoosporic fungi of the phylum Chytridiomycota are ubiquitous parasites of phytoplankton in aquatic ecosystems, but little is known about phytoplankton defense strategies against parasitic chytrid attacks. Using a model chytrid-phytoplankton pathosystem, we experimentally tested the hypothesis that the mucilage envelope of a mucilage-forming desmid species provides protection against the parasitic chytrid Staurastromyces oculus. Mucilage-forming Staurodesmus cells were not accessible to the chytrid, whereas physical removal of the mucilage envelope rendered the same Staurodesmus sp. strain equally susceptible to chytrid infections as the original non-mucilage-forming host Staurastrum sp. Epidemic spread of the parasite only occurred in Staurastrum sp., whereas non-mucilage-bearing Staurodesmus sp. allowed for co-existence of host and parasite, and mucilage-bearing Staurodesmus sp. caused parasite extinction. In addition to the mucilage defense barrier, we also demonstrate the ability of both Staurastrum sp. and Staurodesmus sp. to resist infection by preventing chytrid development while still remaining viable and being able to reproduce and thus recover from an infection. This study extends our knowledge on phytoplankton defense traits and the functional role of mucilage in phytoplankton as a physical barrier against fungal parasites.
Let the Worst One Fail: A Credible Solution to the Too-Big-To-Fail Conundrum
Authors: Philippon Thomas , Wang Olivier
Published: December 2022

We study time-consistent bank resolution mechanisms. The key constraint is that governments cannot avoid bailouts that are ex post efficient. Contrary to common wisdom, we show that the government may still avoid moral hazard and implement the first-best allocation by using the distribution of bailouts across banks to provide incentives. We analyze properties of credible tournament mechanisms that provide support to the best-performing banks and resolve the worst-performing ones. We extend our mechanism and show that it continues to perform well when banks are imperfect substitutes, when they are differentially interconnected as long as bailout funds can be earmarked, and when their risk-taking is driven by overoptimism instead of moral hazard.
Artificial intelligence in osteoarthritis: repair by knee joint distraction shows association of pain, radiographic and immunological outcomes
Authors: Jansen Mylène P , Salzlechner Christoph , Barnes Eleanor , DiFranco Matthew D , Custers Roel J H , Watt Fiona E , Vincent Tonia L , Mastbergen Simon C
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Knee joint distraction (KJD) has been associated with clinical and structural improvement and SF marker changes. The current objective was to analyse radiographic changes after KJD using an automatic artificial intelligence-based measurement method and relate these to clinical outcome and SF markers.

Methods

Twenty knee osteoarthritis patients were treated with KJD in regular care. Radiographs and WOMAC were collected before and ∼1 year post-treatment. SF was aspirated before, during and after treatment; biomarker levels were assessed by immunoassay. Radiographs were analysed to obtain compartmental minimum and standardized joint space width (JSW), Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grades, compartmental joint space narrowing (JSN) scores, and osteophytosis and sclerosis scores. Results were analysed for the most affected compartment (MAC) and least affected compartment. Radiographic changes were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test for categorical and paired t-test for continuous variables. Linear regression was used to calculate associations between changes in JSW, WOMAC pain and SF markers.

Results

Sixteen patients could be evaluated. JSW, KL and JSN improved in around half of the patients, significant only for MAC JSW (P < 0.05). MAC JSW change was positively associated with WOMAC pain change (P < 0.04). Greater monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and lower TGFβ-1 increases were significantly associated with changes in MAC JSW (P < 0.05). MCP-1 changes were positively associated with WOMAC pain changes (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Automatic radiographic measurements show improved joint structure in most patients after KJD in regular care. MAC JSW increased significantly and was associated with SF biomarker level changes and even with improvements in pain as experienced by these patients.
Myricetin treatment has ameliorative effects in DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis mice under high-fat conditions
Authors: Gao Jie-Fang , Tang Liu , Luo Fei , Chen Lu , Zhang Yi-Yuan , Ding Hong
Published: December 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory cutaneous disorder. Obesity is associated with increased prevalence and severity of AD for reasons that remain poorly understood. Myricetin, a dietary flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables, is known to have anti-inflammatory effects, but its role in AD is unclear. Thus, we investigated the effects of obesity on exacerbation AD lesions and evaluated the effects of myricetin on obese AD. Mice were fed normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet, and then 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene was used to induce AD-like lesions. We found that obesity exacerbated AD lesions, and myricetin topical administration ameliorated symptoms and skin lesions of obsess AD mice, such as dermatitis scores, scratching behavior, epidermal thickness, and mast cell infiltration. In addition, myricetin reduced the levels of immunoglobulin E and histamine, inhibited the infiltration of CD4+T cells, and modulated the expression of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Th22 cytokines and pro-inflammatory factors (CCL17, CCL22, IL-1β, and TGF-β). Moreover, myricetin restored impaired barrier function by reducing transepidermal water loss, increasing lamellar body secretion, as well as upregulating the mRNA and protein expression of filaggrin. Western blot results showed that significantly increased levels of phosphorylated IκB and NF-κB p65 was observed in the obese AD mice compared with the AD mice fed ND, whereas the myricetin could downregulated the phosphorylations of IκB and NF-κB, and inhibited mRNA expression of iNOS and COX2. Taken together, our results suggest that myricetin treatment exhibits potentially protective effects against the obeseassociated AD by inhibiting inflammatory response and restoring skin barrier function.
Exploring Mentoring Relationships Among Novice Nurse Faculty: A Grounded Theory
Authors: Busby Katie Ruth , Draucker Claire Burke , Reising Deanna L.
Published: December 2022

AIM

The aim of this study was to develop a theoretical framework that describes the mentoring process from the perspectives of novice nurse faculty.

BACKGROUND

Additional nurse faculty are needed to help combat the nurse faculty shortage, but many who enter the faculty role come from professional and educational backgrounds that may not equate to success with the tripartite faculty role. Mentoring is promoted as an intervention for career development. Little is known about the process of mentoring relationships and the transition among novice nurse faculty into academia.

METHOD

Grounded theory was used to interview full-time novice nurse faculty (N = 21) with three years or less in the faculty role from US nursing programs.

RESULTS

The theoretical framework Creating Mentorship Pathways to Navigate Academia captures the process of mentoring as experienced by novice nurse faculty.

CONCLUSION

Participants created mentorship pathways to navigate academia by acquiring knowledge, meeting expectations, and functioning in the faculty role.
Short-term outcomes of perilunate dislocations and perilunate fracture-dislocations: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Shariatzadeh Hooman , Najd Mazhar Farid , Hosseinzadeh Danial
Published: December 2022

Background:

Perilunate dislocations (PLD) and perilunate fracture-dislocations (PLFD) are rare, but serious wrist injuries. This study reports the radiographic and clinical outcomes of PLD/PLFD in a series of 30 patients.

Methods:

Thirty patients with PLD (n=4) or PLFD (n=26) and a mean follow-up of 17.2 mo (range 12 to 21) were included in this retrospective study. Radiographic outcomes included the scapholunate angle, scapholunate interval, and carpal height ratio. Clinical outcomes included the wrist range of motion (ROM), pinch, and grip strength. Wrist function was assessed by a modified Mayo wrist score.

Results:

At the final follow-up, the scapholunate angle and interval were above the normal value in 10 and three patients, respectively. The carpal height ratio was normal in all patients. The mean wrist flexion was 44.2±15.8 degrees. The mean wrist extension was 28.3±15.4 degrees. The mean radial deviation was 14.3±4.3 degrees. The mean ulnar deviation was 18.4±6.3 degrees. The mean grip strength was 50.4±11.6 lb. in the involved wrist and 54.6±13.3 lb. in the noninvolved wrist (P=0.27). The mean pinch strength was 9.1±2.1 lb. in the involved wrist and 9.5±1.8 lb. in the noninvolved wrist (P=0.15). The mean modified Mayo score of the patients was 65.5±10. Postoperative stiffness, pain, and carpal instability were observed in six, five, and nine patients, respectively.

Conclusions:

Surgical treatment of PLD/PLFD provides satisfactory radiographic outcomes. Clinical outcomes seem to be less satisfactory, even after prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV
Internal Fixation Versus Hemiarthroplasty for Nondisplaced Femoral Neck Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Sattari Shahab Aldin , Guilbault Ryan , MacMahon Aoife , Salem Hytham S. , Khanuja Harpal S.
Published: December 2022

Objective:

To compare internal fixation (IF) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA) for elderly individuals (ie, older than 65 years) with nondisplaced (ie, Garden type I or II) femoral neck fracture (FNF).

Data Source:

We searched English literature of MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase from inception to December 4, 2021.

Study Selection:

Eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) compared IF versus HA for elderly individuals with nondisplaced FNF. Primary outcomes were Harris hip score (HHS), quality of life per European Quality of Life 5 Dimension (EQ-5D), and mortality. Secondary outcomes were complications, reoperation, intraoperative bleeding, operation duration, and length of hospital stay.

Data Extraction:

Two authors separately extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.

Data Synthesis:

Three RCTs yielding 400 patients were enrolled, of which 203 (50.7%) underwent IF. Internal fixation was inferior to HA with respect to 6-month HHS [mean difference (MD) = −8.28 (−14.46, −2.10), P = 0.009] and 1-year EQ-5D [MD = −0.07 (−0.14, −0.00), P = 0.04]. The 2 techniques were comparable regarding length of hospital stay (day), HHS at 1 and 2 years, EQ-5D at 2 years, and mortality. IF was inferior to HA in implant-related complication [20.1% vs. 6.0%, relative risk (RR) = 3.18 (1.72, 5.88), P = 0.0002] and reoperation rate [20.1% vs. 6.0%, RR = 3.30 (1.79, 6.08), P = 0.0001]. Hemiarthroplasty had a greater blood loss (mL) [MD = −138.88 (−209.58, −68.18), P = 0.001] and operation duration (min) [MD = −23.27 (−44.95, −1.60), P = 0.04] compared with IF.

Conclusion:

HA is the preferred technique for nondisplaced FNF if early recovery, higher mobility, and better quality of life are priorities. The choice of fixation should be weighed on an individual patient level.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Prehospital Cardiovascular Autoregulatory Disturbances Correlate With the Functional Neuroanatomy of Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Clark Jillian M. , Bednarz Jana M. , Batchelor Peter E. , Skeers Peta , Freeman Brian J.C.
Published: December 2022

Study Design.

Retrospective study.

Objective.

The importance of attenuating the cardiovascular autoregulatory disturbances accompanying acute spinal cord injury (SCI) has long been recognized. This report assembles SCI emergency service data and correlates cardiovascular parameters to preserved functional neuroanatomy.

Summary of Background Data.

The nascent nature of evidence-based reporting of prehospital cardiovascular autoregulatory disturbances in SCI indicates the need to assemble more information.

Materials and Methods.

SCI data for <24 hours were extracted from ambulance and hospital records. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated. The International Standard for Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI) evaluates the primary outcome of motor incomplete injury (grades C/D) at acute presentation. Logistic regression was adjusted for multiple confounders that were expected to influence the odds of grade C/D.

Results.

A cohort of 99 acute SCI cases was retained; mean (SD) age 40.7±20.5 years, 88 male, 84 tetraplegic, 65 grades A/B (motor complete injury), triage time 2±1.6 hours. The lowest recorded prehospital MAP [mean (SD): 77.9±19, range: 45–145 mm Hg] approached the nadir for adequate organ perfusion. Thirty-four (52%) grade A/B and 10 (30%) C/D cases had MAP readings <85 mm Hg. In data adjusted for age, injury level, and triage time a 5 mm Hg increase in the lowest MAP value was associated with a 34% increase in the odds of having motor incomplete injury at acute presentation (adjusted odds ratio=1.34; 95% CI: 1.11–1.61; P=0.002).

Conclusion.

An important observation with implications for timely and selective cardiovascular resuscitation during SCI prehospital care involves significant negative associations between the depth of systemic hypotension and preserved functional neuroanatomy. Regardless of the mechanism, our confounder-adjusted logistic regression model extends in-hospital evidence and provides a conceptual bedside-bench framework for future investigations.
Improving ICU Risk Predictive Models Through Automation Designed for Resiliency Against Documentation Bias
Authors: Liu Xinggang , Armaignac Donna Lee , Becker Christian , Hiddleson Cheryl , Dubouchet Eduardo Martinez , Rincon Teresa , Amelung Pamela J. , French Robin , Scurlock Corey , Atallah Louis , Badawi Omar
Published: December 2022

Objectives:

Electronic health records enable automated data capture for risk models but may introduce bias. We present the Philips Critical Care Outcome Prediction Model (CCOPM) focused on addressing model features sensitive to data drift to improve benchmarking ICUs on mortality performance.

Design:

Retrospective, multicenter study of ICU patients randomized in 3:2 fashion into development and validation cohorts. Generalized additive models (GAM) with features designed to mitigate biases introduced from documentation of admission diagnosis, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and extreme vital signs were developed using clinical features representing the first 24 hours of ICU admission.

Setting:

eICU Research Institute database derived from ICUs participating in the Philips eICU telecritical care program.

Patients:

A total of 572,985 adult ICU stays discharged from the hospital between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included, yielding 509,586 stays in the final cohort; 305,590 and 203,996 in development and validation cohorts, respectively.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Model discrimination was compared against Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) IVa/IVb models on the validation cohort using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Calibration assessed by actual/predicted ratios, calibration-in-the-large statistics, and visual analysis. Performance metrics were further stratified by subgroups of admission diagnosis and ICU characteristics. Historic data from two health systems with abrupt changes in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) documentation were assessed in the year prior to and after data shift. CCOPM outperformed APACHE IVa/IVb for ICU mortality (AUROC, 0.925 vs 0.88) and hospital mortality (AUROC, 0.90 vs 0.86). Better calibration performance was also attained among subgroups of different admission diagnoses, ICU types, and over unique ICU-years. The CCOPM provided more stable predictions compared with APACHE IVa within an external cohort of greater than 120,000 patients from two health systems with known changes in GCS documentation.

Conclusions:

These mortality risk models demonstrated excellent performance compared with APACHE while appearing to mitigate bias introduced through major shifts in GCS documentation at two large health systems. This provides evidence to support using automated capture rather than trained personnel for capture of GCS data used in benchmarking ICUs on mortality performance.