bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional divergence in the skull morphometry of adult male Galapagos sea lion
Authors: Izurieta-Benitez Salomé , Riofrío-Lazo Marjorie , Torres Jorge , Jimenez-Uzcategui Gustavo , Urquía Diego O , Páez-Rosas Diego
Published: February 2022

The skull often reveals adaptation to ecological and environmental influences. Food availability affects the somatic growth of otariids, and population abundance can influence male intrasexual competition. We hypothesized there would be regional differences between Galapagos sea lion (GSL, Zalophus wollebaeki) rookeries as a result of variance in ecosystem metrics and population abundance. We used skull measures related to individual size and aggressiveness. We analyzed 19 linear measures for size and 15 for aggressiveness taken on 49 adult male skulls of GSL collected in four bioregions of the archipelago. Nine skull measures had a significant effect on individual clustering into bioregions (P < 0.001). The most discriminating measures were snout length, supraorbital process width, nasal length, and canine width. We found a significant relationship between skull grouping patterns and chlorophyll-α levels (proxy marine productivity and body growth) and GSL population abundance (proxy of agonistic behavior) of each bioregion, as well as with the interaction between both variables (P < 0.001). Our results suggest significant regional differences in GSL skull morphometry, which could be associated with resource availability and level of male intrasexual competition in the archipelago. This information is important for understanding the life history of this species.
Phlebotomine Sandfly (Diptera: Psychodidae) Fauna and The Association Between Climatic Variables and The Abundance of Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato in an Intense Transmission Area for Visceral Leishmaniasis in Central Western Brazil
Authors: de Souza Fernandes Wagner , de Oliveira Moura Infran Jucelei , Falcão de Oliveira Everton , Etelvina Casaril Aline , Petilim Gomes Barrios Suellem , Lopes de Oliveira Samuel Lucas , Gutierrez de Oliveira Alessandra
Published: February 2022

The presence, abundance, and distribution of sandflies are strongly influenced by climate and environmental changes. This study aimed to describe the sandfly fauna in an intense transmission area for visceral leishmaniasis and to evaluate the association between the abundance of Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Lutz & Neiva 1912) (Diptera: Psychodidae) and climatic variables. Captures were carried out 2 yr (July 2017 to June 2019) with automatic light traps in 16 sites of the urban area of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state. The temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), precipitation (mm3), and wind speed (km/h) were obtained by a public domain database. The Wilcoxon test compared the absolute frequencies of the species by sex. The association between climatic variables and the absolute frequency of Lu. longipalpis s.l. was assessed using the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. A total of 1,572 sandflies into four species were captured. Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. was the most abundant species and presented a significant correlation with the average temperature, humidity, and wind speed in different periods. Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. was captured in all months, showing its plasticity in diverse weather conditions. We emphasize the importance of regular monitoring of vectors and human and canine cases, providing data for surveillance and control actions to continue to be carried out in the municipality.
Case of rapid aortic remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for retrograde type A aortic dissection
Authors: Kikuchi Yuta , Tsutsui Masahiro , Ishido Kohei , Narita Masahiko , Ushioda Ryohei , Shirasaka Tomonori , Ishikawa Natsuya , Kamiya Hiroyuki
Published: February 2022

The proper surgical strategy for retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) is still controversial, and some studies have reported the efficacy of frozen elephant trunk and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with acute type A aortic dissection using enhanced computed tomography. The false lumen at the arch and ascending aorta was thrombosed, and the primary entry was placed in the descending aorta. In addition, there were malperfusions of the right renal artery and both iliac arteries. We performed TEVAR using the right femoral artery combined with the petticoat technique. At 11 days postoperatively, we observed rapid aortic remodeling at the arch and ascending aorta. The patient was discharged uneventfully after 14 days. We believe that TEVAR for RTAD is effective in appropriate patients. However, the accumulation of the number of cases and accurate strategies for patient selection are in demand.
N-body simulations of planetary formation
Authors: Beaugé C , Aarseth S J
Published: February 2022

We have performed numerical simulations of the last stage of terrestrial planetary formation using an N-body code similar to that of Lecar & Aarseth. An improved treatment of collisions has been applied, which allows fragmentation and cratering, as well as accretion. Initial models consist of 200 bodies of total mass 2.3 x 1028 g, distributed in a two-dimensional ring of size 1 au with initial circular orbits about the Sun. Planetary embryos begin to form by accretion in the early stages when the relative velocities are small. This growth is slowed down by the fragmentation process, which occurs when the typical eccentricities have reached ⋍ 0.04. Eventually, a small number of massive embryos emerge, and subsequently accrete nearly all the fragments. Final configurations of three different models yield four principal bodies with moderate eccentricities on a time-scale of ⋍ 5 x 105 yr (equivalent to ∽ 108 yr in a 3D model), and the corresponding parameters are qualitatively similar to those of the terrestrial planets.
Non-radial pulsations of neutron stars with a crust
Authors: Finn Lee Samuel
Published: February 2022

A fully relativistic treatment of non-radial pulsational modes of spherical stars with solid crusts is presented. This work complements Schumaker & Thorne’s relativistic treatment of torsional modes. The strain tensor for arbitrary even-parity elastic deformations of a spherical star is derived. A Hookean law is assumed to relate the stress to the strain, and the pulsational equations and their boundary condition; are derived from the Einstein Field Equations (EFE) and the equations of motion. The EFE and equations of motion are then used to find the Lagrangian density and an action principle for the pulsational problem. This action principle may prove useful in future studies of the stability of non-radial pulsational modes for stars with a solid crust.
The mass distribution of comets and meteoroid streams and the shower/sporadic ratio in the incident visual meteoroid flux
Authors: Hughes David W
Published: February 2022

The large dust particles that comets emit as they decay produce meteoroid streams. If the Earth passes close to the centre of a meteoroid stream, a shower of meteors is produced in the atmosphere and the intensity of this shower can be quantified by the maximum zenithal hour rate (ZHR) of the meteors that are observed. If, as seems reasonable, the dust/snow mass ratio and the mass distribution of the dust particles are similar in all comets, then comets and meteoroid streams are expected to have similar mass distribution indices. This expectation has been confirmed for the more massive comets and streams by comparing the distribution of shower ZHRs with the distribution of cometary masses. The later distribution is also used to predict the expected numbers of minor meteor showers, with low ZHRs, that are present in what was previously referred to as the sporadic background. It is concluded that on a typical ‘non-shower’ night, (20 ±3) per cent of the observed visual meteors belong to minor showers, and the remaining percentage are truly sporadic.

Statistical variations in the numbers of massive short-period comets and thus massive meteoroid streams will lead to significant variations in the decay products of these objects. It is thus expected that this effect will cause the sporadic meteor flux and the brightness of the zodiacal cloud to vary by around 30-40 per cent over time periods of the order of 103-105 yr.
A VLA and MERLIN study of extragalactic radio sources with one-sided structure
Authors: Saikia D J , Junor W , Cornwell T J , Muxlow T W B , Shastri P
Published: February 2022

To investigate the nature of extragalactic radio sources with extended emission on only one side of the active nucleus, we have observed a sample of suspected candidates with both the VLA and MERLIN. In this paper, we present observations of 13 sources which were either suspected of being ‘one-sided’ or were known to have lobes of very different surface brightnesses. Many of the candidates were found to have emission on both sides of the nucleus. Using our observations as well as those available in the literature, we have compiled a sample of 4C quasars having one-sided radio structure. We have then compared some of their properties with a sample of 4C quasars which are two-sided, in order to determine whether their apparently onesided structure is due to relativistic beaming in sources inclined at small angles to the line-of-sight. We find that the median values of fc, the fraction of emission from the core used as a statistical measure of source orientation, and l, their projected linear sizes are consistent with the hypothesis that the one-sided quasars are seen at smaller angles to the line-of-sight than the two-sided ones. We also suggest that the ϕ-fc relation for quasars, where ϕ is the angle between the core polarization vector and the overall radio axis, is consistent with this model, and discuss how the lobe depolarization properties may be useful for further investigations of this interpretation. The velocities required to explain the apparently one-sided quasars in the relativistic beaming framework are in the range of ˜ 0.2-0.8 c. The scarcity of highluminosity, Fanaroff-Riley class II radio galaxies with one-sided structure is consistent with the suggestion that they are at larger angles to the line-of-sight than quasars. In this case, the core-dominated radio galaxies are possibly the lowluminosity, Fanaroff-Riley class I radio galaxies seen at small angles to the line-ofsight, manifesting themselves as BL Lac objects in the more extreme cases.
The changing soft X-ray light curve of the AM Her system MR Serpentis (PG 1550 + 191)
Authors: Angelini L , Osborne J P , Stella L
Published: February 2022

We report the first soft X-ray light curves of the AM Her system MR Ser, all obtained within a 4-month interval in 1984. The source was serendipitously detected on three occasions by the EXOSA T low-energy telescope, and one observation was made in which MR Ser was the target. MR Ser was probably in a high optical state throughout, although it was seen at half the previous intensity in the final observation. The folded light curves change remarkably between the different observations. In April the soft X-ray light curve showed a minimum around linear polarization phase ϕ = 0.0, and a less pronounced short dip close to phase ϕ ˜ 0.3. In the other observations a broad minimum in the phase range ϕ = 0.3–0.5 is seen. We attribute all the features around phase ϕ ˜ 0.3 to the accretion stream. Some of the changes in shape of the soft X-ray light curve are similar to those of QQ Vul, V834 Cen and possibly AM Her itself. From the observation in which MR Ser was the target, we derive an upper limit to the soft X-ray temperature of kTbb < 120 eV, noting, however, that surface flux limits suggests kTbb < 53 eV. The source was not seen in the medium energy detector. The hard and soft X-ray data do not allow us to comment on the possibility of a ‘soft X-ray problem’ in this system.
Giant Viruses Encode Actin-Related Proteins
Authors: Da Cunha Violette , Gaia Morgan , Ogata Hiroyuki , Jaillon Olivier , Delmont Tom O , Forterre Patrick
Published: February 2022

The emergence of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton is a critical yet puzzling step of eukaryogenesis. Actin and actin-related proteins (ARPs) are ubiquitous components of this cytoskeleton. The gene repertoire of the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA) would have therefore harbored both actin and various ARPs. Here, we report the presence and expression of actin-related genes in viral genomes (viractins) of some Imitervirales, a viral order encompassing the giant Mimiviridae. Phylogenetic analyses suggest an early recruitment of an actin-related gene by viruses from ancient protoeukaryotic hosts before the emergence of modern eukaryotes, possibly followed by a back transfer that gave rise to eukaryotic actins. This supports a coevolutionary scenario between pre-LECA lineages and their viruses, which could have contributed to the emergence of the modern eukaryotic cytoskeleton.
High Prevalence of RectalChlamydia trachomatisInfection With the Same Genotype as Urogenital Infection in Female Outpatients in Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics in China
Authors: Han Yan , Chen Kai , Liu Jing-Wei , Zhu Bang-Yong , Zhou Ke , Shi Mei-Qin , Xu Wen-Qi , Jhaveri Tulip A , Yin Yue-Ping , Chen Xiang-Sheng
Published: February 2022

Background

Little is known about rectal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in outpatients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in China. In this study, we aimed to explore the clinical and epidemiologic features of rectal CT infection in this population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending STD clinics in Tianjin and Guangxi provinces of China from June 2018 to August 2020. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were developed to explore the association of different risk factors for urogenital and rectal CT infection.

Results

The prevalence of urogenital and rectal CT was 11.2% (154/1374) and 4.9% (68/1377), respectively. The rectal CT prevalence among female and male patients was 7.8% (60/767) and 1.3% (8/610), respectively. The most common genotype in urogenital CT–positive samples was genotype E (29.9%), while the most common genotype among rectal CT–positive samples was genotype J (23.4%). More than 85% (52/60) of women infected with rectal CT were co-infected with urogenital CT. About 90.0% (36/40) of women shared similar genotypes between rectal and urogenital samples. Females and patients infected with urogenital CT were deemed to be at an increased risk for rectal CT infection. A high proportion of rectal CT infection had concurrent urogenital CT infection, especially in women, and most of the co-infections were shared among the same genotypes.

Conclusions

It would be prudent to encourage awareness and introduce detection tests and treatment strategies for rectal CT infection particularly in female patients visiting STD clinics in China.
The Pacific as the world’s greatest theater of bird migration: Extreme flights spark questions about physiological capabilities, behavior, and the evolution of migratory pathways
Authors: Piersma Theunis , Gill Robert E , Ruthrauff Daniel R , Guglielmo Christopher G , Conklin Jesse R , Handel Colleen M
Published: February 2022

The Pacific Basin, by virtue of its vastness and its complex aeroscape, provides unique opportunities to address questions about the behavioral and physiological capabilities and mechanisms through which birds can complete spectacular flights. No longer is the Pacific seen just as a formidable barrier between terrestrial habitats in the north and the south, but rather as a gateway for specialized species, such as shorebirds, to make a living on hemispherically distributed seasonal resources. This recent change in perspective is dramatic, and the research that underpins it has presented new opportunities to learn about phenomena that often challenge a sense of normal. Ancient Polynesians were aware of the seasonal passage of shorebirds and other landbirds over the Pacific Ocean, incorporating these observations into their navigational “tool kit” as they explored and colonized the Pacific. Some ten centuries later, systematic visual observations and tracking technology have revealed much about movement of these shorebirds, especially the enormity of their individual nonstop flights. This invites a broad suite of questions, often requiring comparative studies with bird migration across other ocean basins, or across continents. For example, how do birds manage many days of nonstop exercise apparently without sleep? What mechanisms explain birds acting as if they possess a Global Positioning System? How do such extreme migrations evolve? Through advances in both theory and tracking technology, biologists are poised to greatly expand the horizons of movement ecology as we know it. In this integrative review, we present a series of intriguing questions about trans-Pacific migrant shorebirds and summarize recent advances in knowledge about migratory behavior operating at temporal scales ranging from immediate decisions during a single flight, to adaptive learning throughout a lifetime, to evolutionary development of migratory pathways. Recent advances in this realm should stimulate future research across the globe and across a broad array of disciplines.
The maize single-nucleus transcriptome comprehensively describes signaling networks governing movement and development of grass stomata
Authors: Sun Guiling , Xia Mingzhang , Li Jieping , Ma Wen , Li Qingzeng , Xie Jinjin , Bai Shenglong , Fang Shanshan , Sun Ting , Feng Xinlei , Guo Guanghui , Niu Yanli , Hou Jingyi , Ye Wenling , Ma Jianchao , Guo Siyi , Wang Hongliang , Long Yu , Zhang Xuebin , Zhang Junli , Zhou Hui , Li Baozhu , Liu Jiong , Zou Changsong , Wang Hai , Huang Jinling , Galbraith David W , Song Chun-Peng
Published: February 2022

The unique morphology of grass stomata enables rapid responses to environmental changes. Deciphering the basis for these responses is critical for improving food security. We have developed a planta platform of single nucleus RNA-sequencing by combined fluorescence-activated nuclei flow sorting, and used it to identify cell types in mature and developing stomata from 33,098 nuclei of the maize epidermis. Guard and subsidiary cells displayed differential expression of genes, besides those encoding transporters, involved in the abscisic acid, CO2, Ca2+, starch metabolism, and blue light signaling pathways, implicating coordinated signal integration in speedy stomatal responses, and of genes affecting cell wall plasticity, implying a more sophisticated relationship between guard and subsidiary cells in stomatal development and dumbbell-shaped guard cell formation. The trajectory of stomatal development identified in young tissues, and by comparison to the bulk RNA-seq data of the MUTE defective mutant in stomatal development, confirmed known features and shed light on key participants in stomatal development. Our study provides a valuable, comprehensive, and fundamental foundation for further insights into grass stomatal function.
Explaining public officials’ opinions on blockchain adoption: a vignette experiment
Authors: Cagigas Diego , Clifton Judith , Díaz-Fuentes Daniel , Fernández-Gutiérrez Marcos , Echevarría-Cuenca Juan , Gilsanz-Gómez Celia
Published: February 2022

Blockchain is emerging as one of the major disruptive technologies of our times. In the context of public administration, blockchain heralds major transformations of public service provision and has the potential to increase the transparency of, and citizens’ trust in, public administration and its services. However, the introduction of blockchain to public administrations means potentially changing aspects of the job performed by public officials, including their day-to-day activities and responsibilities, and even their very control over administrative processes. While some public officials may view blockchain positively as a means of improving current administrative practices, others may view it more negatively and resist it. The acceptance or otherwise of blockchain is, therefore, a fundamental issue for analysis. We conduct a vignette experiment to probe public officials’ opinions on the introduction of blockchain in the provision of public services in a local council. We follow an influential classification of blockchain configurations to analyze whether different configurations of blockchain affect public officials’ opinions toward its implementation. Results show that a more public configuration of certain aspects of the blockchain increases the likelihood that public officials will accept blockchain, while it is also associated with an increase in trust in public administration and its services.
COVID-19 and social inequality in China: the local–migrant divide and the limits of social protections in a pandemic
Authors: He Alex Jingwei , Zhang Chunni , Qian Jiwei
Published: February 2022

The existing literature suggests that external shocks, such as pandemics, stimulate people’s demand for social protections and prompt them to favor short-term social consumption over long-term investments. However, this argument may not apply fully in a society with an urban–rural divide in addition to an unequal welfare system. Through a telephone survey conducted in July 2020, this study sought to investigate public opinions on the social policy response to the coronavirus disease pandemic in China. Quantitative evidence showed large economic hardship among the respondents, who expressed a strong expectation for labor market interventions instead of social assistance. This study reveals that the preexisting inequalities in people’s access to welfare benefits have led local residents and migrants to develop differential preferences for social policies. This attitudinal heterogeneity is illustrative of the inequalities in the Chinese welfare system as well as of the labor market dynamics that have resulted from massive internal migration and the informalization of the workforce. The division between locals and migrants in China’s urban welfare system has shaped a demarcation of welfare preferences between the two groups through peculiar interpretive feedback effects.
Ultraviolet sensitivity of Casimir energy
Authors: Asai Yu , Sakamura Yutaka
Published: February 2022

We quantitatively estimate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) physics on the Casimir energy in a five-dimensional (5D) model on S1/Z2. If the cutoff scale of the 5D theory is not far from the compactification scale, the UV physics may affect the low-energy result. We work in the cutoff regularization scheme by introducing two independent cutoff scales for the spatial momentum in the non-compact space and for the Kaluza–Klein masses. The effects of the UV physics are incorporated as a damping effect of the contributions to the vacuum energy around the cutoff scales. We numerically calculate the Casimir energy and evaluate the deviation from the result obtained in the zeta-function regularization, which does not include information on the UV physics. We find that the result agrees well with the latter for Gaussian-type damping, while it can deviate for kink-type damping.
Is Economic Uncertainty a Valid Intertemporal CAPM State Variable?
Authors: Lin Qi
Published: February 2022

This paper evaluates whether economic uncertainty is consistent with the Merton (1973) intertemporal CAPM (ICAPM) theory. The economic uncertainty index of Jurado, Ludvigson and Ng (2015) consistently predicts a significant increase in stock market volatility. However, its innovation carries a statistically insignificant price of covariance risk in the cross-section, thereby failing to satisfy the Maio and Santa-Clara (2012) sign restrictions associated with the ICAPM. I also find robust evidence by using the level of the economic uncertainty index (JEL G10, G11, G12).

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Prevalence of COVID‐19 vaccine reactogenicity among Bangladeshi physicians
Authors: Majumder Md. Anwarul Azim , Lutfor Afzalunnessa Binte , Rabbi Ahbab Mohammad Fazle , Alam A. B. M. Muksudul , Rahman Mizanur , Saha Narayan , Campbell Michael H. , Haque Mainul , Nessa Kamrun , Khondoker Mohib Ullah , Das Tapas Ranjan , Rahman Sayeeda , Jahan Fauzia , Mashreky Saidur Rahman , Wahab Abrar , Siddiqui Md. Tosaddeque Hossain , Hinkson‐Lacorbiniere Karisha , Ivy Roksana , Islam Rezaul , Haider Yusuf , Omar Eliza , Ahmed S. M. Moslehuddin , Reza A. M. Selim , Daud A. K. M. , Choudhury Muiz Uddin Ahmed , Hossain Md. Abed , Pappu Abdul Matin , Jahan Nusrat , Razzaque Mohammed S.
Published: February 2022

Increased COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy presents a major hurdle in global efforts to contain the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of adverse events after the first dose of the Covishield (AstraZeneca) vaccine among physicians in Bangladesh. A cross‐sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire for physicians (n = 916) in Bangladesh. Physicians who received at least one dose of the COVID‐19 vaccine were included. The study was carried out from April 12 to May 31, 2021. More than 58% of respondents (n = 533) reported one or more adverse events. Soreness of the injected arm (71.9%), tiredness (56.1%), fever (54.4%), soreness of muscles (48.4%), headache (41.5%) and sleeping more than usual (26.8%) were the most commonly reported adverse events. Most vaccine‐related reactogenicities were reported by the younger cohorts (<45 years). The majority of respondents reported severity of reactogenicity as “mild,” experienced on the day of vaccination, and lasting for 1–3 days. The most common reactogenicity was pain at the injection site; the second most common was tiredness. Almost half (49.2%) of the physicians took acetaminophen (paracetamol) to minimize the effects of vaccine reactogenicity. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that physicians with diabetes and hypertension (OR = 2.729 95% CI: 1.282–5.089) and asthma with other comorbidities (OR = 1.885 95% CI: 1.001–3.551) had a significantly higher risk of vaccine‐related reactogenicities than physicians without comorbidities. Further safety studies with larger cohorts are required to monitor vaccine safety and provide assurance to potential vaccine recipients.
Gender-affirming Mastectomy with Concurrent Oncologic Mastectomy
Authors: Boyd Carter J. , Blasdel Gaines , Rifkin William J. , Guth Amber A. , Axelrod Deborah M. , Bluebond-Langner Rachel
Published: February 2022

Background:

Transmasculine individuals may not have undergone gender-affirming mastectomy and retain natal breast tissue. Our center offers simultaneous oncologic mastectomy with gender-affirming reconstruction to patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer. This study is the first reported series of concurrent gender-affirming and oncologic mastectomies.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing gender-affirming mastectomy at a single institution from February 2017 to October 2021 was performed. Patients were included who had breast cancer diagnoses or pathologic lesions preoperatively. Demographic factors, comorbidities, surgical details, and oncologic history were collected. Both plastic surgery and breast surgery were present for the gender-affirming oncologic mastectomies.

Results:

Five patients were identified who presented for gender-affirming mastectomy in the context of breast pathologies. Average patient age was 50.2 ± 14.8 years, and no patients used testosterone at any time. Two (40%) patients had a prior breast surgery that included a breast reduction in one patient and breast conserving lumpectomies in another. Sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed in all patients. Only one patient had a positive sentinel lymph node and was subsequently referred for postoperative radiation and chemotherapy. No oncologic recurrence has been detected with 20.6 and 10.0 months of mean and median follow-up.

Conclusions:

When performed in a multidisciplinary and collaborative setting with breast surgeons and plastic surgeons, oncologic mastectomy can be performed safely while concurrently offering patients an aesthetic gender-affirming reconstructive outcome.
Exploring characteristics of specialization as moderators of the link between specialization and patient experience of care
Authors: Schneider Annika Maren , Wild Eva-Maria
Published: February 2022

Background

Hospitals are increasingly pursuing specialization as a strategy to operate efficiently while delivering high-quality care. To date, however, evidence is lacking on whether hospital specialization has a consistent effect on patients’ experience of care or whether different specialization characteristics influence how specialization works.

Purpose

This study investigates whether specialization characteristics, that is, the within-specialty concentration and the within-specialty urgency score, moderate the link between hospital specialization and patient experience of care.

Methodology

We use patient-reported and administrative data from German hospitals between 2014 and 2017, with orthopedic and trauma care as the research setting. Our sample consists of 157,458 patient observations nested within 483 hospitals. We apply random-intercept multilevel modeling.

Results

Our results indicate that the effect of specialization on patient experience of care (a) decreases as the within-specialty concentration increases and (b) increases as the within-specialty urgency score increases.

Conclusion

This study provides novel insights into the specialization characteristics that make hospital specialization in orthopedic and trauma care particularly effective at improving patient experiences.

Practice Implications

Although specialization is gaining popularity as a strategy for pooling scarce resources and facilitating high-quality health care, hospital managers and policymakers should consider that certain characteristics of specialization can influence the way that specialization works and how effective it is in improving patient experiences. Within the scope of orthopedic and trauma care, our study suggests that a low concentration of diagnoses within a service area and a high average level of medical urgency make specialization particularly effective at improving patient experiences.
Training in Paediatric Clinical Nutrition Across Europe
Authors: Papadopoulou Alexandra , Ribes‐Koninckx Carmen , Baker Alastair , Noni Maria , Koutri Eleni , Karagianni Maria‐Vasiliki , Protheroe Sue , Guarino Alfredo , Mas Emmanuel , Wilschanski Michael , Roman Enriqueta , Escher Johanna , Furlano Raoul I. , Posovszky Carsten , Hoffman Ilse , Veres Gabor , Bronsky Jiri , Hauer Almuthe Christine , Tjesic‐Drinkovic Duska , Fotoulaki Maria , Orel Rok , Urbonas Vaidotas , Kansu Aydan , Georgieva Miglena , Koletzko Berthold
Published: February 2022

Objectives/Background:

Disease‐related malnutrition is common in patients with chronic diseases and has detrimental effects, therefore, skills in nutrition care are essential core competencies for paediatric digestive medicine. The aim of this survey, conducted as part of a global survey of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition (PGHN) training in Europe, was to assess nutrition care‐related infrastructure, staff, and patient volumes in European PGHN training centres.

Methods:

Standardized questionnaires related to clinical nutrition (CN) care were completed by representatives of European PGHN training centres between June 2016 and December 2019.

Results:

One hundred training centres from 17 European countries, Turkey, and Israel participated in the survey. Dedicated CN clinics exist in 66% of the centres, with fulltime and part‐time CN specialists in 66% and 42%, respectively. Home tube feeding (HTF) andhome parenteral nutrition (HPN) programmes are in place in 95% and 77% of centres, respectively. Twenty‐four percent of centres do not have a dedicated dietitian and 55% do not have a dedicated pharmacist attached to the training centre. Even the largest centres with >5000 outpatients reported that 25% and 50%, respectively do not have a dedicated dietitian or pharmacist. Low patient numbers on HTF and HPN of <5 annually are reported by 13% and 43% of centres, respectively.

Conclusions:

The survey shows clear differences and deficits in Clinical Nutrition training infrastructure, including staff and patient volumes, in European PGHN training centres, leading to large differences and limitations in training opportunities in Clinical Nutrition.
High uric acid induced hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment involving intramitochondrial NF-κB inhibitor α/nuclear factor-κB pathway
Authors: Shi Chun , Guo Han , Liu Xintong
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Epidemiological research has indicated that hyperuricemia may impair cognitive ability; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study thus investigated the possible mechanism underlying hyperuricemia-related cognitive impairment.

Methods

Using hyperuricemic rats and high uric acid (UA) intracerebroventricularly treated mice, the current study elucidated whether and how high UA impaired cognitive ability and hippocampal mitochondrial bioenergetic function.

Results

Hyperuricemia induced UA uptake by hippocampal mitochondria, which impaired cognitive ability and disrupted the bioenergetic function of hippocampal mitochondria, indicated by reduced ATP production and decreased cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. Mechanistically, excess UA might trigger intramitochondrial NF-κB inhibitor α (IκBα)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway to downregulate the subunit III of COX (COXIII).

Conclusion

The results provided new insights into the mechanism underlying hyperuricemia-related cognitive decline.
FG7142 combined with restraint stress induces anxiogenic-like effects via downregulation gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptors expression in the hippocampus
Authors: Wei Xiaoyue , Wang Kezhu , Gao Jinfeng , Chen Shijian , Zeng Siying , Zhao Yuhong
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The existing anxiety animal models are susceptible to interference, and no single animal anxiety model can predict the future anxiolytic potential and profile of new putative anxiolytics. Therefore, to find a better anxiety animal model, we used FG7142, a nonselective benzodiazepine inverse agonist. This anxiety animal model was established by intraperitoneal injection of FG7142 combined with restraint stress.

Methods

Adult male C57BL/6J mice (18–20 g) were randomly classified into five groups (n = 10 per group), namely the control, restraint stress, restraint stress + 10 mg/kg FG7142, restraint stress + 20 mg/kg FG7142, restraint stress +30 mg/kg FG7142. The impact on behavior was explored by elevated plus maze, and marble burying test, followed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR enabled the elucidation of the possible mechanism.

Results

Compared with the control group and restraint stress group, intraperitoneal injection of FG7142 combined with restraint stress model group was found to induce anxiogenic-like behavior in elevated plus maze and marble burying test. Moreover, relative to the control group, significantly increased expression of c-fos in the hippocampus and amygdala in the model group was evident, whereas the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A mRNA was significantly decreased in the hippocampus.

Conclusions

These results indicated that FG7142 combined with restraint stress is sufficient to induce anxiety, and its mechanism is associated with downregulation of hippocampal gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subunit alpha1 and 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptors.
Shearwaters sometimes take long homing detours when denied natural outward journey information
Authors: Padget Oliver , Gillies Natasha , Syposz Martyna , Lockley Emma , Guilford Tim
Published: February 2022

The cognitive processes (learning and processing of information) underpinning the long-distance navigation of birds are poorly understood. Here, we used the homing motivation of the Manx shearwater to investigate navigational decision making in a wild bird by displacing them 294 km to the far side of a large island (the island of Ireland). Since shearwaters are reluctant to fly over land, the island blocked the direct route home, forcing a navigational decision. Further still, on the far side of the obstacle, we chose a release site where the use of local knowledge could facilitate a 20% improvement in route efficiency if shearwaters were able to anticipate and avoid a large inlet giving the appearance of open water in the home direction. We found that no shearwater took the most efficient initial route home, but instead oriented in the home direction (even once the obstacle became visible). Upon reaching the obstacle, four shearwaters subsequently circumnavigated the land mass via the long route, travelling a further 900 km as a result. Hence, despite readily orienting homewards immediately after displacement, shearwaters seem unaware of the scale of the obstacle formed by a large land mass despite this being a prominent feature of their regular foraging environment.
‘A man of intrigue’: Giles Rawlins, 1631?–1662
Authors: Lomas Benjamin
Published: February 2022

No person proposed to the early Royal Society has a less certain biography than Giles Rawlins. A ‘Mr. Rawlins’ was proposed as a candidate for election on 26 December 1660 in a group of seven. The other members of this group were Robert Boyle, Henry Oldenburg, John Denham, Elias Ashmole, John Evelyn and Nathaniel Henshaw. But whereas these six other men are greater or lesser luminaries of the Society, Rawlins is a blank. R. E. W. Maddison in 1960 could only ‘suggest’ his likely identity; and Michael Hunter in
The Royal Society and its Fellows
(1982 and 1994) went no further than Maddison.

1

Following my discovery in the National Library of Ireland of Rawlins's only autograph letter, it is possible for the first time to confirm his identity. Further, this discovery allows the reconstruction of the rest of Rawlins's life: his upbringing as the son of a minor diplomat; his work in the Interregnum as a cross-Channel royalist messenger; his consequent rise and reward in the Duke of York's household; and his death in one of the most notorious duels of the Restoration.
Protein phase separation hotspots at the presynapse
Authors: Lautenschläger Janin
Published: February 2022

Fundamental discoveries have shaped our molecular understanding of presynaptic processes, such as neurotransmitter release, active zone organization and mechanisms of synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling. However, certain regulatory steps still remain incompletely understood. Protein liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its role in SV clustering and active zone regulation now introduce a new perception of how the presynapse and its different compartments are organized. This article highlights the newly emerging concept of LLPS at the synapse, providing a systematic overview on LLPS tendencies of over 500 presynaptic proteins, spotlighting individual proteins and discussing recent progress in the field. Newly discovered LLPS systems like ELKS/liprin-alpha and Eps15/FCho are put into context, and further LLPS candidate proteins, including epsin1, dynamin, synaptojanin, complexin and rabphilin-3A, are highlighted.
Prevalence and resistance pattern of uropathogens from community settings of different regions: an experience from India
Authors: Mohapatra Sarita , Panigrahy Rajashree , Tak Vibhor , J. V. Shwetha , K. C. Sneha , Chaudhuri Susmita , Pundir Swati , Kocher Deepak , Gautam Hitender , Sood Seema , Das Bimal Kumar , Kapil Arti , Hari Pankaj , Kumar Arvind , Kumari Rajesh , Kalaivani Mani , R. Ambica , Salve Harshal Ramesh , Malhotra Sumit , Kant Shashi
Published: February 2022

Introduction. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections in clinical practice worldwide in both healthcare and community settings causing significant morbidity and mortality. It is one of the major conditions at the community level treated empirically and regarded as a potential cause of emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Limited information is available regarding community-acquired UTI (CA-UTI) from India.

Methodology. This is a first of its kind, multicentric-cross-sectional study at the community level targeting patients attending the out-patient department (OPD) of the community health centre (CHC) from four geographical regions (North, South, West and East) of India. The study had been designed to determine the epidemiology, antibiogram profile and identification of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producer and carbapenem resistant (CR) uropathogens. Samples were collected prospectively from UTI suspected patients coming at CHC and processed at the tertiary healthcare centres using a common standard operating procedure. Clinical history of all the patients exhibiting significant bacteriuria was collected and data was analysed.

Result. Overall, 250 out of a total of 2459 (10.1 %) urine samples were positive for bacteria with significant bacteriuria (adult: paediatrics, 6.7 : 1). Females were predominantly affected (male: female, 1 : 2.9). History of recent episode of UTI was observed as the commonest risk factor followed by diabetes mellitus. Altogether, 86 % of total cases were caused by

Escherichia coli

(68 %) and

Klebsiella pneumoniae

(17.6 %) together. Among the commonly used oral antibiotics for the Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), the highest resistance was observed against beta-lactams, first- and second-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and co-trimoxazole. Overall, the prevalence of ESBL producer and CR isolates were 44.8, and 4.3 %, respectively. However, the ESBL production, CR and nitrofurantoin resistance among the uropathogenic

E. coli

(UPEC) isolates was 52.8, 5.1 and 14 %, respectively. No resistance was found against fosfomycin among the UPEC isolates.

Conclusion. The current study highlights the increasing incidence of AMR among uropathogens at the community-settings of India. A significant percentage of ESBL producers among the isolated UPEC and

K. pneumoniae

were observed. The currently available evidence supports the clinical recommendation of fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin for empiric therapy in CA-UTI in India.
Long-term outcome of corneal collagen crosslinking with riboflavin and UV-A irradiation for keratoconus
Authors: Seifert Franziska K. , Theuersbacher Johanna , Schwabe Dorothee , Lamm Olga S. , Hillenkamp Jost , Kampik Daniel
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To evaluate long-term outcomes of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) using riboflavin and UV-A irradiation and to determine when to repeat CXL.

Methods

In this retrospective consecutive interventional case series 131 eyes of 131 patients (95 male, 36 female, mean age 29.7±11.4 years) between 2006 and 2016 received standard CXL (Dresden protocol, epithelium-off) for progressive keratoconus. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and corneal tomography (K1, K2, Kmax) were repeatedly recorded 1 year (n=103 eyes) to 10 years (n=44) postoperatively. Only one eye per patient was included. Paired t-test or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used for parametric and nonparametric data, respectively.

Results

1 to 3 years preoperatively, median K2 significantly increased by 1.1D (p<0.001). Postoperatively, median K2 increased by 0.1D after 1 year, then decreased over the remaining postoperative period by 0.85D (p=0.021). Median apical corneal thickness decreased by 16µm (p=0.012) after 5 years and then returned to preoperative values. Mean CDVA showed a significant improvement (decrease in logMAR 0.12 after 10 years, p=0.010). Kmax fluctuated without significant change. CXL non-responders, defined by a postoperative increase in Kmax>2D, increased from 16% after 5 to 33% after 10 years. Risk factors for non-response were young age, high astigmatism, thin cornea, and atopic dermatitis. 4 eyes were re-treated 3–4 years after first CXL without complications and keratoconus stabilized thereafter.

Conclusions

CXL can slow or stop keratoconus progression. However, as the number of responders declines after 5 years, patients with risk factors may require re-treatment.
Disentangling the molecular mechanisms underlying the retrieval and extinction of morphine withdrawal-associated memories in the basolateral amygdala and dentate gyrus
Authors: Franco-García Aurelio , Fernández-Gómez Francisco José , Gómez-Murcia Victoria , Hidalgo Juana M. , Núñez Cristina , Milanés M. Victoria
Published: February 2022

Despite their indisputable efficacy for pain management, opiates prescription remains highly controversial due to their elevated addictive potential. Relapse in drug use is one of the principal problems for addiction treatment, being drug-associated memories among its main triggers. Consequently, the extinction of these memories has been proposed as a useful therapeutic tool. Hence, by using the conditioned place aversion (CPA) paradigm in rats we investigated some of the molecular mechanisms that occurred during the retrieval and extinction of morphine withdrawal memories in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), which control emotional and episodic memories, respectively. The retrieval of aversive memories associated with the abstinence syndrome paralleled with decreased mTOR activity and increased Arc and GluN1 expressions in the DG. Additionally, Arc mRNA levels in this nucleus very strongly correlated with the CPA score exhibited by the opiate-treated rats. On the other hand, despite the unaltered mTOR phosphorylation Arc augmented in the BLA. After the extinction test, Arc and GluN1 expressions raised in both the DG and BLA of control and morphine-treated animals. Remarkably, Homer1 expression in both areas correlated almost perfectly with the extinction showed by morphinedependent animals. Also, Arc expression in the DG correlated strongly with the extinction of the CPA manifested by the group treated with the opiate. Finally, our results support coordinated activity of some of these neuroplastic proteins for the extinction of morphine activity in a regional-dependent manner. Present data provide evidence of differential expression and activity of synaptic molecules during the retrieval and extinction of aversive memories of opiate withdrawal in amygdalar and hippocampal regions that will likely permit the development of therapeutic strategies able to minimize relapses induced by drug-associated aversive memories.
Analysis of Sexual vs Asexual Reproduction Using Four Measurements
Authors: Lin Feng , Lin Robert J.
Published: February 2022

The prevalence of sexual reproduction has long been an outstanding problem of evolutionary biology. In accordance with the mathematical approach employed by past researchers, we propose a mathematical framework to address this problem. We define and derive four measurements, diversity measure DVM, diffusion measure DFM, optimality measure OPM, and survivability measure SVM to compare sexual reproduction with asexual reproduction. We show that DVM increases exponentially in sexual reproduction, while only linearly in asexual reproduction. Hence, sexual reproduction allows species more opportunity to adapt. We also show that DFM is bounded in sexual reproduction and OPM is inversely related to DFM. Thus, sexual reproduction leads to smaller DFM and hence a larger OPM. We further show that SVM is a monotonic increasing function of OPM. Hence, sexual reproduction is better by virtue of producing a more homogeneous population.