bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of microstructure, texture and residual stress of AZ31 Mg alloy in hot extrusion process
Authors: Kang Lei , Liu Weirong , Zhang Xiongbo , Chen Leng
Published: June 2021

In this work, we have investigated the microstructure, texture, and residual stress of AZ31 Mg alloy at several higher extrusion temperatures (360 °C, 380 °C, 400 °C) and speeds (1 m min−1, 2 m min−1, 3 m min−1). Results show that the bimodal microstructure can be observed in all extruded Mg alloys, consisting of the fine grains in dynamic recrystallization (DRX) zone and the coarse grains in non-dynamic recrystallization (non-DRX) zone. The non-monotonic relation between average grain diameter and extrusion speed has been found. It is attributed to the promoted nucleation and inhibited grain growth at higher extrusion speed. The bimodal microstructure can maintain the stability of sharp {0002} basal texture. Schmid Factor (SF) is calculated to explain the mechanism of basal texture formation. By employing XRD with cosα method, the residual stress has been measured. The major origin of residual stress release at higher extrusion temperature is the grain growth, rather than the strengthening of basal texture. The anisotropy of residual stress distribution is related to the coupling effect of grain growth and evolution of basal texture of extruded Mg alloys.
First detection of low field microwave absorption in the disordered multiferroic double perovskite BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3
Authors: Sibanda Brian , Mahule Tebogo Sfiso , Delmonte Davide , Sala Andrea , Gilioli Edmondo , Srinivasu V V
Published: June 2021

BiFe0.5Mn0.5O3 (BFMO) is an intriguing magnetic double perovskite, only obtainable through high pressure-high temperature synthesis. It shows bulk multiferroic properties, namely the coexistence between a spin canted antiferromagnetic structure superimposed to an externally induced electric polarization at least from 77 K. In particular, the system is characterized by a significant weak ferromagnetic hysteresis loop and by a very rare phenomenon: the spontaneous magnetization reversal (MRV) versus temperature in the low field regime. To clarify the BFMO exotic magnetic phase in the low field regime, the Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and the low field microwave absorption (LFMA) techniques were used, providing the first observation of LFMA in the bulk BFMO as an additional functionality of this material. A striking feature is that the hysteresis in LFMA signals vanishes above 45 K, while the bulk M-H loop hysteresis, measured in the same field range of LFMA, persists till room temperature. The temperature at which LFMA hysteresis vanishes qualitatively matches the position of the magnetic susceptibility’s second derivative peak, corresponding to the temperature at which the local second order mechanism responsible for MRV is maximum. The line shape of LFMA completely changes above 45 K and the ESR linewidth starts decreasing above this temperature, indicating the role of defect/disorder induced inhomogeneity. The temperature evolution of LFMA hysteresis and line shapes as a measure of the competition between Fe- and Mn-rich clusters suggests a sort of local frustration at the microscopic scale, responsible for the peculiar magnetization reversal of this system.
Two detection results of Khovanov homology on links
Authors: Li Zhenkun , Xie Yi , Zhang Boyu
Published: June 2021

We prove that Khovanov homology with

Z

/

2

\mathbb {Z}/2

–coefficients detects the link L7n1 and detects the union of a trefoil and its meridian.
Solutions with snaking singularities for the fast diffusion equation
Authors: Fila Marek , King John , Takahashi Jin , Yanagida Eiji
Published: June 2021

We construct solutions of the fast diffusion equation, which exist for all

t
∈

R

t\in \mathbb {R}

and are singular on the set

Γ
(
t
)
≔
{
ξ
(
s
)
;
−
∞
>
s
≤
c
t
}

\Gamma (t)≔\{ \xi (s) ; -\infty >s \leq ct \}

,

c
>
0

c>0

, where

ξ
∈

C
3

(

R

;

R

n

)

\xi \in C^3(\mathbb {R};\mathbb {R}^n)

,

n
≥
2

n\geq 2

. We also give a precise description of the behavior of the solutions near

Γ
(
t
)

\Gamma (t)

.
PDBe aggregated API: programmatic access to an integrative knowledge graph of molecular structure data
Authors: Nair Sreenath , Váradi Mihály , Nadzirin Nurul , Pravda Lukáš , Anyango Stephen , Mir Saqib , Berrisford John , Armstrong David , Gutmanas Aleksandras , Velankar Sameer
Published: June 2021

The PDBe aggregated API is an open-access and open-source RESTful API that provides programmatic access to a wealth of macromolecular structural data and their functional and biophysical annotations through 80+ API endpoints. The API is powered by the PDBe graph database (https://pdbe.org/graph-schema), an open-access integrative knowledge graph that can be used as a discovery tool to answer complex biological questions.

Availability and implementation

The PDBe aggregated API provides up-to-date access to the PDBe graph database, which has weekly releases with the latest data from the Protein Data Bank, integrated with updated annotations from UniProt, Pfam, CATH, SCOP and the PDBe-KB partner resources. The complete list of all the available API endpoints and their descriptions are available at https://pdbe.org/graph-api. The source code of the Python 3.6+ API application is publicly available at https://gitlab.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe-kb/services/pdbe-graph-api.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A low-dimensional structure of neurological impairment in stroke
Authors: Bisogno Antonio Luigi , Favaretto Chiara , Zangrossi Andrea , Monai Elena , Facchini Silvia , De Pellegrin Serena , Pini Lorenzo , Castellaro Marco , Basile Anna Maria , Baracchini Claudio , Corbetta Maurizio
Published: June 2021

Neurological deficits following stroke are traditionally described as syndromes related to damage of a specific area or vascular territory. Recent studies indicate that, at the population level, post-stroke neurological impairments cluster in three sets of correlated deficits across different behavioural domains. To examine the reproducibility and specificity of this structure, we prospectively studied first-time stroke patients (n = 237) using a bedside, clinically applicable, neuropsychological assessment and compared the behavioural and anatomical results with those obtained from a different prospective cohort studied with an extensive neuropsychological battery. The behavioural assessment at 1-week post-stroke included the Oxford Cognitive Screen and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. A principal component analysis was used to reduce variables and describe behavioural variance across patients. Lesions were manually segmented on structural scans. The relationship between anatomy and behaviour was analysed using multivariate regression models. Three principal components explained ≈50% of the behavioural variance across subjects. PC1 loaded on language, calculation, praxis, right side neglect and memory deficits; PC2 loaded on left motor, visual and spatial neglect deficits; PC3 loaded on right motor deficits. These components matched those obtained with a more extensive battery. The underlying lesion anatomy was also similar. Neurological deficits following stroke are correlated in a low-dimensional structure of impairment, related neither to the damage of a specific area or vascular territory. Rather they reflect widespread network impairment caused by focal lesions. These factors showed consistency across different populations, neurobehavioural batteries and, most importantly, can be described using a combination of clinically applicable batteries (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Oxford Cognitive Screen). They represent robust behavioural biomarkers for future stroke population studies.
Reassessment of the Fiscal Multiplier in Developing Countries: Regime-Switching Model
Authors: Hlaváček Michal , Ismayilov Ilgar , Zeynalov Ayaz
Published: June 2021

The existing literature on fiscal policy has mainly employed linear models that found a small fiscal multiplier in developing economies. These findings challenge the importance and effectiveness of fiscal policy for these countries. However, linear models are not capable of distinguishing the size of a fiscal multiplier in the different phases of economic cycles. Responding to previous studies that confirm the regime dependency of a fiscal multiplier, we develop a non-linear panel threshold vector autoregression model to measure the size of the fiscal multiplier for developing countries. Our findings confirm asymmetry in the response of GDP to government expenditure shock during periods of recovery and downturn. Our main result shows that the response of GDP to government expenditure shock during a recovery period in developing countries is double that for developed ones. Our results also confirm a significantly larger fiscal multiplier during recovery than in an economic downturn. (JEL codes: E32, E62, G15, and C54)
Effect of scan angle on ALS metrics and area-based predictions of forest attributes for balsam fir dominated stands
Authors: van Lier Olivier R , Luther Joan E , White Joanne C , Fournier Richard A , Côté Jean-François
Published: June 2021

In this study, we assessed the effect of airborne laser scanning (ALS) scan angle on point cloud metrics and the estimation of forest attributes in balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) dominated forests of western Newfoundland, Canada. We collected calibration data from ground plot locations representing varying scan angles from two flight lines: within 4° of nadir in one flight line, and either 11–20° from nadir (low scan angle plots: L), or 21–30° from nadir (high scan angle plots: H) in an adjacent flight line. We computed three sets of ALS point cloud metrics for each ground plot using ALS data from: individual flight lines (near-nadir and off-nadir) and data from all available flight lines (up to 4) combined (aggregated, as commonly used in an operational inventory context). We generated three sets of models for each of the L and H plots using the ALS metric sets, and applied the models to independent validation data. We analysed the effect of scan angle on both the ALS metrics and performance statistics for area-based models generated using the L and H datasets. Our results demonstrate that off-nadir scan angles significantly affected (P < 0.05) specific metrics from both L (i.e. coefficient of variation (COVAR)) and H (i.e. maximum height, 95th percentile of height, mean height) plots, although the effects were trivial (mean absolute differences were ≤ 0.01 for COVAR and < 0.3 m for the height metrics). Forest attribute predictions using these and other metrics were also significantly affected (P < 0.05), namely gross merchantable volume (GMV), total volume (TVOL) and aboveground tree biomass (AGB) from L; and Lorey’s mean height (HGT), mean diameter at breast height (DBH), and GMV from H. We further demonstrated that combining ALS data from all available flight lines significantly increased errors for the predictions of HGT, GMV, and TVOL using L, and significantly reduced errors of HGT using H when compared to errors resulting from models developed with near-nadir data. While the differences in prediction errors were significant, they were small, with differences in mean absolute prediction errors all <1.3 per cent. Based on our results, we concluded that the effects of large scan angles, up to 30° off-nadir, on area-based forest attribute predictions were minimal in this study, which used ALS metrics calculated from ALS returns with a height above ground >2 m for balsam fir-dominated forests. This result may provide for operational efficiencies in implementing enhanced forest inventories in this particular forest environment.
Defining the consequences of endogenous genetic variation within a novel family of Schizosaccharomyces pombe heterochromatin nucleating sequences
Authors: Joshi Arati , Musicante Meryl J , Wheeler Bayly S
Published: June 2021

Centromeres are essential for genetic inheritance—they prevent aneuploidy by providing a physical link between DNA and chromosome segregation machinery. In many organisms, centromeres form at sites of repetitive DNAs that help establish the chromatin architecture required for centromere function. These repeats are often rapidly evolving and subject to homogenization, which causes the expansion of novel repeats and sequence turnover. Thus, centromere sequence varies between individuals and across species. This variation can affect centromere function. We utilized Schizosaccharomyces pombe to assess the relationship between centromere sequence and chromatin structure and determine how sensitive this relationship is to genetic variation. In S. pombe, nucleating sequences within centromere repeats recruit heterochromatin via multiple mechanisms, which include RNA-interference (RNAi) . Heterochromatin, in turn, contributes to centromere function through its participation in three essential processes; establishment of a kinetochore, cohesion of sister chromatids, and suppression of recombination. Here, we show that a centromere element containing RevCen, a target of the RNAi pathway, establishes heterochromatin and gene silencing when relocated to a chromosome arm. Within this RevCen-containing element (RCE), a highly conserved domain is necessary for full heterochromatin nucleation but cannot establish heterochromatin independently. We characterize the 10 unique RCEs in the S. pombe centromere assembly, which range from 60% to 99.6% identical, and show that all are sufficient to establish heterochromatin. These data affirm the importance of centromere repeats in establishing heterochromatin and suggest there is flexibility within the sequences that mediate this process. Such flexibility may preserve centromere function despite the rapid evolution of centromere repeats.
Codon usage bias and dinucleotide preference in 29 Drosophila species
Authors: Kokate Prajakta P , Techtmann Stephen M , Werner Thomas
Published: June 2021

Codon usage bias, where certain codons are used more frequently than their synonymous counterparts, is an interesting phenomenon influenced by three evolutionary forces: mutation, selection, and genetic drift. To better understand how these evolutionary forces affect codon usage bias, an extensive study to detect how codon usage patterns change across species is required. This study investigated 668 single-copy orthologous genes independently in 29 Drosophila species to determine how the codon usage patterns change with phylogenetic distance. We found a strong correlation between phylogenetic distance and codon usage bias and observed striking differences in codon preferences between the two subgenera Drosophila and Sophophora. As compared to the subgenus Sophophora, species of the subgenus Drosophila showed reduced codon usage bias and a reduced preference specifically for codons ending with C, except for codons with G in the second position. We found that codon usage patterns in all species were influenced by the nucleotides in the codon’s 2nd and 3rd positions rather than the biochemical properties of the amino acids encoded. We detected a concordance between preferred codons and preferred dinucleotides (at positions 2 and 3 of codons). Furthermore, we observed an association between speciation, codon preferences, and dinucleotide preferences. Our study provides the foundation to understand how selection acts on dinucleotides to influence codon usage bias.
Mantis: flexible and consensus-driven genome annotation
Authors: Queirós Pedro , Delogu Francesco , Hickl Oskar , May Patrick , Wilmes Paul
Published: June 2021

Background

The rapid development of the (meta-)omics fields has produced an unprecedented amount of high-resolution and high-fidelity data. Through the use of these datasets we can infer the role of previously functionally unannotated proteins from single organisms and consortia. In this context, protein function annotation can be described as the identification of regions of interest (i.e., domains) in protein sequences and the assignment of biological functions. Despite the existence of numerous tools, challenges remain in terms of speed, flexibility, and reproducibility. In the big data era, it is also increasingly important to cease limiting our findings to a single reference, coalescing knowledge from different data sources, and thus overcoming some limitations in overly relying on computationally generated data from single sources.

Results

We implemented a protein annotation tool, Mantis, which uses database identifiers intersection and text mining to integrate knowledge from multiple reference data sources into a single consensus-driven output. Mantis is flexible, allowing for the customization of reference data and execution parameters, and is reproducible across different research goals and user environments. We implemented a depth-first search algorithm for domain-specific annotation, which significantly improved annotation performance compared to sequence-wide annotation. The parallelized implementation of Mantis results in short runtimes while also outputting high coverage and high-quality protein function annotations.

Conclusions

Mantis is a protein function annotation tool that produces high-quality consensus-driven protein annotations. It is easy to set up, customize, and use, scaling from single genomes to large metagenomes. Mantis is available under the MIT license at https://github.com/PedroMTQ/mantis.
A qualitative examination of responses from a survey of pharmacy staff in Georgia regarding access to Narcan®
Authors: Griner Thomas , Strasser Sheryl
Published: June 2021

Georgia state lawmakers enacted legislation designed to reduce opioid overdose deaths by increasing public access to rescue products, such as Narcan®. This article explores whether pharmacy employees have effectively adopted such changes into pharmacy practice. We analyzed unsolicited remarks noted during a parent telephone survey of 120 Georgia pharmacy staff regarding price, availability and barriers to layperson purchase of Narcan®. Comments regarding dispensing requirements and challenges in obtaining inventory and changes in communication style were recorded. Around 15% were unfamiliar with Narcan® as an opioid overdose reversal agent or were unaware of their pharmacy’s policies governing its sale. Nearly half of those contacted did not have Narcan® in stock with some reporting that receiving Narcan® would take several days after placing an order. Over half specified requirements for purchasing Narcan® not required by law. Fewer than 15% had Narcan® available and imposed no unnecessary requirements for its purchase. During approximately 10% of the survey calls, respondents used a tone of voice or made comments suggestive of bias. We conclude that non-compliance with current laws, lack of familiarity with Narcan® and negative communication tendencies that suggest implicit bias and stigmatizing behaviors could ultimately inhibit access to opioid overdose treatment.
Impact of cardiac fibrosis and collagens on right ventricular failure and acute kidney injury in patients after continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Tie Hongtao , Welp Henryk , Martens Sven , Seiler Martina , Albers Petra , Mueller Klaus-Michael , Li Zhenhan , Martens Sabrina
Published: June 2021

OBJECTIVES

We aim to investigate the impact of cardiac fibrosis and collagens on right ventricular failure (RVF) and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients receiving continuous flow left ventricular assist devices.

METHODS

Heart tissues from 34 patients were obtained from continuous flow left ventricular assist device insertion sites and corresponding clinical data were collected. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to the extent of the cardiac fibrosis or collagens.

RESULTS

Overall, 18 patients developed RVF with 14 receiving right ventricular assist device (RVAD), and 22 patients developed AKI with 12 needing new-onset renal replacement therapy. Higher collagen I (Col1) was significantly associated with increased incidences of RVF (76.5% vs 29.4%, P = 0.015), RVAD support (64.7% vs 17.6%, P = 0.013) and stage 3 AKI (58.8% vs 17.6%, P = 0.032), and patients with higher Col1 were more prone to renal replacement therapy (52.9% vs 17.6%, P = 0.071). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that Col1 had good predictive effects on RVF [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.806, P = 0.002], RVAD support (AUC = 0.789, P = 0.005), stage 3 AKI (AUC = 0.740, P = 0.020) and renal replacement therapy (AUC = 0.731, P = 0.028) after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device. Moreover, patients with higher Col1 had significantly longer postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of intensive care unit stay and hospital length of stay (all P < 0.05). Cardiac fibrosis, collagen III (Col3) and Col1/Col3 shared similar results or trends with Col1.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac fibrosis and related collagens in the apical left ventricular tissue are associated with increased risks of RVF, RVAD use and worse renal function. Further study is warranted owing to the small sample size.
Type 2 immunity is maintained during cancer-associated adipose tissue wasting
Authors: Lenehan Patrick J , Cirella Assunta , Uchida Amiko M , Crowley Stephanie J , Sharova Tatyana , Boland Genevieve , Dougan Michael , Dougan Stephanie K , Heckler Max
Published: June 2021

Objectives: Cachexia is a systemic metabolic disorder characterized by loss of fat and muscle mass, which disproportionately impacts patients with gastrointestinal malignancies such as pancreatic cancer. While the immunologic shifts contributing to the development of other adipose tissue (AT) pathologies such as obesity have been well described, the immune microenvironment has not been studied in the context of cachexia.

Methods: We performed bulk RNA-sequencing, cytokine arrays, and flow cytometry to characterize the immune landscape of visceral AT (VAT) in the setting of pancreatic and colorectal cancers.

Results: The cachexia inducing factor IL-6 is strongly elevated in the wasting VAT of cancer bearing mice, but the regulatory type 2 immune landscape which characterizes healthy VAT is maintained. Pathologic skewing toward Th1 and Th17 inflammation is absent. Similarly, the VAT of patients with colorectal cancer is characterized by a Th2 signature with abundant IL-33 and eotaxin-2, albeit also with high levels of IL-6.

Conclusions: Wasting AT during the development of cachexia may not undergo drastic changes in immune composition like those seen in obese AT. Our approach provides a framework for future immunologic analyses of cancer associated cachexia.
Risk Is Relative: Heterogeneous Responses to Institutional Risks for Foreign Investment
Authors: Beazer Quintin H , Blake Daniel J
Published: June 2021

Are economic actors equally sensitive to institutional conditions? While existing research recognizes that institutions can have varying effects on actors’ interests, the implicit assumption is that actors are homogeneous in how sensitive they are to their institutional environment. We investigate this assumption in the context of foreign direct investment, arguing that actors from countries with weaker institutions will be less affected by information about host country institutional conditions—both good and bad. We test this argument using survey data from a diverse group of managers-in-training at an international business school. We find that when asked to evaluate a potential foreign investment location, respondents from developing countries are significantly less sensitive to information about the host country’s courts than their counterparts from developed economies. In contrast, we find that economic actors from both developed and developing countries respond similarly to information about the stability of economic policies. The findings suggest that sensitivity to the risks and safeguards of certain institutional conditions vary systematically across actors, depending on both the home environment to which economic actors have been exposed and the type of host institution.
Bioethics in China’s Biosecurity Law: forms, effects, and unsettled issues
Authors: Wang Leifan , Wang Fangzhong , Zhang Weiwen
Published: June 2021

The Biosecurity Law has laid down a regulatory framework on bioethics in China, from raising awareness through education, requiring researchers to conform to ethical principles and conduct ethical reviews on biomedical research, to giving special attention to human genetic resources. The law constructively leaves a wide range of discretion to medical institutions and professionals in ethical decision-making, adaptive to the biotechnology-ethics-regulation dynamics. This regulatory strategy poses crucial institutional challenges in its implementation, particularly on how to safeguard institutional review boards (IRB), a core mechanism in the governance, to effectively protect human subjects but not unnecessarily hinder the progress of biomedical research. Further measures need to clarify important issues on the IRB-based governance, including legal status of the IRB review decision, potential liabilities, and protections of the IRB members.
Exclusive Rights Stimulate Design Around: How Circumventing Edison’s Lamp Patent Promoted Competition and New Technology Development
Authors: Katznelson Ron D , Howells John
Published: June 2021

Designing around patents is prevalent but not often appreciated as a means by which patents promote economic development through competition. We provide a novel empirical study of the extent and timing of designing around patent claims. We study the filing rate of incandescent lamp-related patents during 1878–1898 and find that the enforcement of Edison’s incandescent lamp patent in 1891–1894 stimulated a surge of patenting. We studied the specific design features of the lamps described in these lamp patents and compared them with Edison’s claimed invention to create a count of noninfringing designs by filing date. Most of these noninfringing designs circumvented Edison’s patent claims by creating substitute technologies to enable participation in the market. Our forward citation analysis of these patents shows that some had introduced pioneering prior art for new fields. This indicates that invention around patents is not duplicative research and contributes to dynamic economic efficiency. We show that the Edison lamp patent did not suppress advance in electric lighting and the market power of the Edison patent owner weakened during this patent’s enforcement. We propose that investigation of the effects of design around patents is essential for establishing the degree of market power conferred by patents.

JEL: D21 - Firm Behavior: Theory, D22 - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis, K11 - Property Law, K21 - Antitrust Law, L12 - Monopoly; Monopolization Strategies, N8 - Micro-Business History, O31 - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives, O32 - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D, O33 - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences, O34 - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
Random Choice from Likelihood: The Case of Chuj (Mayan)
Authors: Alonso-Ovalle Luis , Royer Justin
Published: June 2021

Research on modality has recently broadened beyond the verbal domain, unearthing questions about the cross-categorial nature of modality ( Arregui et al. 2017), for instance: To what extent do DP and VP modals mirror each other? Chuj, an understudied Mayan language, provides an ideal vantage point to answer this question with respect to random choice modality. Random choice indefinites convey, roughly, that an agent made an indiscriminate choice. In Chuj, random choice indefinite DPs involve a morpheme (komon) that can also appear as a verbal modifier (Royer & Alonso-Ovalle 2019), inviting a comparison between categories. We argue that both in DPs and VPs, komon conveys information about the likelihood of the event described, but that the modal component of komon is nevertheless tied to its syntactic position. VP-komon conveys that the most expected worlds where the described event happens are no more expected than the most expected worlds where it does not. DP-komon conveys a similar modal component, but hardwires a comparison between the likelihood of the event described, which involves an individual in the extension of the NP, and that of alternative events determined by considering alternative individuals in the extension of that NP. The characterization of the modal component of komon contributes to the characterization of random choice modality and brings into question whether this type of modality should be taken to be a unified category, since none of the previous proposals on the nature of random choice modality tie it to the expression of likelihood.
To Reflex or Not to Reflex: A Time and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Autocontrol with Reflex DAT versus Direct DAT
Authors: Lollie Trang , Suciu Voicu , Ward Dawn C , Ziman Alyssa , McGonigle Andrea M
Published: June 2021

Objective

Performing autocontrol with a reflex direct antiglobulin test (DAT) or directly performing IgG DAT only for alloantibody detection has been a matter of institutional preference. The aim of this study is to evaluate antibody identification (ABID), local cost, and staff time savings of both processes.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all positive indirect antiglobulin tests with corresponding ABID, DAT, autocontrol, and patients with newly identified antibodies in 2014 and 2016. The number of tests performed, ABID, and the cost differences between methods were compared. Cost analysis was estimated from direct material costs, labor costs, and time spent per ABID workup.

Results

Annual costs and time saved by performing direct IgG DAT only were $8460 and 180 hours, respectively. The percentage of new ABID in 2014 and 2016 was identical (3.3%).

Conclusion

Removing autocontrol with reflex DATs at our center reduced costs and staff time while maintaining a comparable rate of positivity of ABID.
Determination of elemental distribution and evaluation of elemental concentration in single Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells using single cell-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Authors: Qin Wen , Stärk Hans-Joachim , Müller Susann , Reemtsma Thorsten , Wagner Stephan
Published: June 2021

Single-cell analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SC-ICP-MS) is a method to obtain qualitative and quantitative information of the elemental content and distribution of single cells. Six intrinsic target elements were analyzed in yeast cells at different cell growth phases cultured in medium with different phosphorus concentrations (0, 7, 14 mM) to study its effect on cell growth and composition. SC-ICP-MS results were compared with those obtained by the acid digestion and the average ratio was 0.81. The limits of detection of this method were 0.08, 2.54, 12.5, 0.02, 0.02, and 0.08 fg cell–1 for Mg, P, K, Mn, Cu, and Zn, respectively. During the exponential growth phase, the cells exhibited higher elemental contents, wider distribution for most elements, and larger cell size in comparison to the stationary growth phase. Phosphorus-free conditions reduced the average P content in single cells of stationary growth phase from 650 to 80 fg. Phosphorus deficiency led to decreasing intracellular concentrations not only of P but also of K and Cu, and to increasing Zn concentration after 48 h. Mg maintained its concentration at ∼0.11 fg µm–3 and did not change significantly under the three investigated conditions after 48 h. Accordingly, Mg content was successfully used to estimate the intracellular concentration of other intrinsic elements in single yeast cells. SC-ICP-MS is suited to determine target elements in single yeast cells, and allows the study of heterogeneity of cell composition and effects of stressors on the elemental content, distribution, and concentrations of intrinsic elements.
Police Accountability: A Case for Gaining Traction
Authors: Lersch Kim M
Published: June 2021

This commentary responds to the review of the state of police accountability written by Carol Archbold. In light of the tumultuous months of civil unrest in the U.S. triggered by several highly publicized incidents of police shootings of minority citizens, it may seem that police accountability efforts have been ineffective. This article takes a ‘glass half full’ view of police accountability, arguing that the state of affairs is not as bad as the media would have us believe.
Diminished Hepatocarcinogenesis by a Potent, High-Affinity Human PPARα Agonist in PPARA-Humanized Mice
Authors: Foreman Jennifer E , Koga Takayuki , Kosyk Oksana , Kang Boo-Hyon , Zhu Xiaoyang , Cohen Samuel M , Billy Laura J , Sharma Arun K , Amin Shantu , Gonzalez Frank J , Rusyn Ivan , Peters Jeffrey M
Published: June 2021

Ppara-null and PPARA-humanized mice are refractory to hepatocarcinogenesis caused by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) agonist Wy-14,643. However, the duration of these earlier studies was limited to approximately 1 year of treatment, and the ligand used has a higher affinity for the mouse PPARα compared to the human PPARα. Thus, the present study examined the effect of long-term administration of a potent, high-affinity human PPARα agonist (GW7647) on hepatocarcinogenesis in wild-type, Ppara-null, or PPARA-humanized mice. In wild-type mice, GW7647 caused hepatic expression of known PPARα target genes, hepatomegaly, hepatic MYC expression, hepatic cytotoxicity, and a high incidence of hepatocarcinogenesis. By contrast, these effects were essentially absent in Ppara-null mice or diminished in PPARA-humanized mice, although hepatocarcinogenesis was observed in both genotypes. Enhanced fatty change (steatosis) was also observed in both Ppara-null and PPARA-humanized mice independent of GW7647. PPARA-humanized mice administered GW7647 also exhibited increased necrosis after 5 weeks of treatment. Results from these studies demonstrate that the mouse PPARα is required for hepatocarcinogenesis induced by GW7647 administered throughout adulthood. Results also indicate that a species difference exists between rodents and human PPARα in the response to ligand activation of PPARα. The hepatocarcinogenesis observed in control and treated Ppara-null mice is likely mediated in part by increased hepatic fatty change, whereas the hepatocarcinogenesis observed in PPARA-humanized mice may also be due to enhanced fatty change and cytotoxicity that could be influenced by the minimal activity of the human PPARα in this mouse line on downstream mouse PPARα target genes. The Ppara-null and PPARA-humanized mouse models are valuable tools for examining the mechanisms of PPARα-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, but the background level of liver cancer must be controlled for in the design and interpretation of studies that use these mice.
Getting hit by the bus around the world – a global perspective on goal directed treatment of massive hemorrhage in trauma
Authors: Johannsen Stephan , Brohi Karim , Johansson Pär I. , Moore Ernest E. , Reinhold Ann-Kristin , Schöchl Herbert , Shepherd Joanna M. , Slater Ben , Stensballe Jakob , Zacharowski Kai , Meybohm Patrick
Published: June 2021

Purpose of review

Major trauma remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide with traumatic brain injury and uncontrolled traumatic bleeding as the main determinants of fatal outcome. Interestingly, the therapeutic approach to trauma-associated bleeding and coagulopathy shows differences between geographic regions, that are reflected in different guidelines and protocols.

Recent findings

This article summarizes main principles in coagulation diagnostics and compares different strategies for treatment of massive hemorrhage after trauma in different regions of the world. How would a bleeding trauma patient be managed if they got hit by the bus in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Australia, or in Japan?

There are multiple coexistent treatment standards for trauma-induced coagulopathy in different countries and different trauma centers. Most of them initially follow a protocol-based approach and subsequently focus on predefined clinical and laboratory targets.
Surgical Predictors for Prevention of Postoperative Shoulder Imbalance in Lenke Type 2A Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Authors: Sato Tatsuya , Yonezawa Ikuho , Matsumoto Hiroko , Otomo Nao , Suzuki Teppei , Manabe Nodoka , Demura Satoru , Watanabe Kota , Saito Toshiki , Nohara Ayato , Kurakawa Takuto , Shimizu Takachika , Uno Koki , Matsumoto Morio , Kawakami Noriaki
Published: June 2021

Study Design.

Multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and surgical predictors of postoperative shoulder imbalance (PSI) in Lenke type 2A adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Summary of Background Data.

Although several studies have investigated the factors influencing PSI in Lenke type 2 curves, no studies have analyzed PSI-related factors considering upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and lumbar modifier type simultaneously.

Methods.

Patients with Lenke Type 2A AIS treated by spinal fusion were retrospectively identified and their data were extracted from six spine centers in Japan. Inclusion criteria were age between 10 and 20 years at surgery, UIV = T2, major curve 40° to 90°, and follow-up for 24 to 30 months after surgery. We analyzed patient characteristics, surgical characteristics, and preoperative and immediate-postoperative radiographic parameters. We defined patients with lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) equal or proximal to the last touching vertebra (LTV) as selective thoracic fusion (STF-LTV) and patients with LIV distal to the LTV as non-STF-LTV. t Tests, Mann–Whitney U test, χ
2 tests, Fisher exact tests, and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analyses.

Results.

Among the 99 consecutive patients with a mean follow-up of 25.6 months, PSI was seen in 27 (27.3%) patients immediately after and in 17 (17.2%) patients at 24 to 30 months. The univariate analysis revealed that the significant risk factors of PSI were preoperative radiographical shoulder height, non-STF-LTV, and high main thoracic curve (MTC) correction (immediate-postoperative MTC correction rate: ≥70%), with PSI incidence of 40.0%. The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that interaction term of non-STF-LTV and high MTC correction was an independent risk factor for PSI (non-STF-LTV and high MTC correction, odds ratio: 5.167, 95% confidence interval: 1.470–18.159, P = 0.010).

Conclusion.

To prevent PSI in Lenke Type 2A AIS patients, surgeons should avoid the combination of non-STF-LTV and high MTC correction in those surgeries with UIV as T2.

Level of Evidence: 4
Hybrid Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Interventions for Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Doyle Frank , Freedland Kenneth E. , Carney Robert M. , de Jonge Peter , Dickens Chris , Pedersen Susanne S. , Sorensen Jan , Dempster Martin
Published: June 2021

Objective

Depression is common in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and is associated with poor outcomes. Although different treatments are available, it is unclear which are best or most acceptable to patients, so we conducted a network meta-analysis of evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different depression treatments to ascertain relative efficacy.

Methods

We searched for systematic reviews of RCTs of depression treatments in CAD and updated these with a comprehensive search for recent individual RCTs. RCTs comparing depression treatments (pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, combined pharmacological/psychotherapeutic, exercise, collaborative care) were included. Primary outcomes were acceptability (dropout rate) and change in depressive symptoms 8 week after treatment commencement. Change in 26-week depression and mortality were secondary outcomes. Frequentist, random-effects network meta-analysis was used to synthesize the evidence, and evidence quality was evaluated following Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations recommendations.

Results

Thirty-three RCTs (7240 participants) provided analyzable data. All treatments were equally acceptable. At 8 weeks, combination therapy (1 study), exercise (1 study), and antidepressants (10 studies) yielded the strongest effects versus comparators. At 26 weeks, antidepressants were consistently effective, but psychotherapy was only effective versus usual care. There were no differences in treatment groups for mortality. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations ratings ranged from very low to low.

Conclusions

Overall, the evidence was limited and biased. Although all treatments for post-CAD depression were equally acceptable, antidepressants have the most robust evidence base and should be the first-line treatment. Combinations of antidepressants and psychotherapy, along with exercise, could be more effective than antidepressants alone but require further rigorous, multiarm intervention trials.

Systematic Review Registration: CRD42018108293 (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews)
Objective Scoring of Information Websites for Vascular Anomalies
Authors: Sohrabi Catrin , Sepehripour Sarvnaz , Lloyd Mark S.
Published: June 2021

One of the challenging aspects of caring for patients with vascular anomalies has been the use of inconsistent terminologies which has resulted in inconsistencies with treatment, miscommunication between clinicians, and subsequently patient misinformation and confusion. In this study, we objectively assessed the quality of online information on vascular anomalies. Our results emphasize the crucial role of vascular anomaly services in the communication and provision of patient information.
Personality in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Associations With Face Memory Deficit and Theory of Mind
Authors: Block Gabrielle , Jannati Ali , Maynard Taylor R. , Pascual-Leone Alvaro , O’Connor Margaret G.
Published: June 2021

Objective:

To examine the personality profiles of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a standard personality assessment and to investigate the association between personality, ASD-related face memory deficit (FMD), and theory of mind (ToM). In a broader context, to examine whether there are distinct clinical phenotypes in the ASD population that have implications for personality development and treatment.

Method:

Fifty-five adults with ASD and 22 neurotypical (NT) adults underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests, including measures of personality, face memory, and ToM. We compared ASD and NT groups in terms of their Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) profiles. Additional analyses focused on the association between specific PAI scales and FMD. Performance on the Eyes Test was compared across groups and was examined in relation to FMD.

Results:

Adults with ASD demonstrated significant elevations on several PAI scales compared with NT adults. The presence of FMD was associated with differing PAI profiles among the ASD adults. The ASD adults with FMD scored significantly higher on scales that are sensitive to positive impression management and treatment rejection and significantly lower on scales that are sensitive to borderline personality, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and stress. There was a significant association between performance on the Eyes Test and FMD in the ASD group.

Conclusion:

Adults with ASD have a unique personality profile. Further, ASD adults with FMD have reduced insight into their difficulties with emotional processing and may not be as sensitive as ASD adults without FMD to the emotions of others.
Relative abundance of nitrogen cycling microbes in coral holobionts reflects environmental nitrate availability
Authors: Tilstra Arjen , Roth Florian , El-Khaled Yusuf C. , Pogoreutz Claudia , Rädecker Nils , Voolstra Christian R. , Wild Christian
Published: June 2021

Recent research suggests that nitrogen (N) cycling microbes are important for coral holobiont functioning. In particular, coral holobionts may acquire bioavailable N via prokaryotic dinitrogen (N
2
) fixation or remove excess N via denitrification activity. However, our understanding of environmental drivers on these processes
in hospite
remains limited. Employing the strong seasonality of the central Red Sea, this study assessed the effects of environmental parameters on the proportional abundances of N cycling microbes associated with the hard corals
Acropora hemprichii
and
Stylophora pistillata.
Specifically, we quantified changes in the relative ratio between
nirS
and
nifH
gene copy numbers, as a proxy for seasonal shifts in denitrification and N
2
fixation potential in corals, respectively. In addition, we assessed coral tissue-associated Symbiodiniaceae cell densities and monitored environmental parameters to provide a holobiont and environmental context, respectively. While ratios of
nirS
to
nifH
gene copy numbers varied between seasons, they revealed similar seasonal patterns in both coral species, with ratios closely following patterns in environmental nitrate availability. Symbiodiniaceae cell densities aligned with environmental nitrate availability, suggesting that the seasonal shifts in
nirS
to
nifH
gene abundance ratios were probably driven by nitrate availability in the coral holobiont. Thereby, our results suggest that N cycling in coral holobionts probably adjusts to environmental conditions by increasing and/or decreasing denitrification and N
2
fixation potential according to environmental nitrate availability. Microbial N cycling may, thus, extenuate the effects of changes in environmental nitrate availability on coral holobionts to support the maintenance of the coral–Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.
Ecosystem-based adaptation in Lake Victoria Basin; synergies and trade-offs
Authors: Agol Dorice , Reid Hannah , Crick Florence , Wendo Hausner
Published: June 2021

Healthy ecosystems such as forests and wetlands have a great potential to support adaptation to climate change and are the foundation of sustainable livelihoods. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) can help to protect and maintain healthy ecosystems providing resilience against the impacts of climate change. This paper explores the role of EbA in reconciling socio-economic development with the conservation and restoration of nature in Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, East Africa. Using selected ecosystems in the Lake region, the paper identifies key EbA approaches and explores trade-offs and synergies at spatial and temporal scales and between different stakeholders. The research methods used for this study include site visits, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, participatory workshops and literature reviews. An analytical framework is applied to advance the understanding of EbA approaches and how they lead to synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem services provision at spatial and temporal scales and multiple stakeholders. Our results show that EbA approaches such as ecosystem restoration have the potential to generate multiple adaptation benefits as well as synergies and trade-offs occurring at different temporal and spatial scales and affecting various stakeholder groups. Our paper underscores the need to identify EbA trade-offs and synergies and to explore the ways in which they are distributed in space and time and between different stakeholders to design better environmental and development programmes.