bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aging differentially affects LTCC function in hippocampal CA1 and piriform cortex pyramidal neurons
Authors: Maziar Aida , Critch Tristian N R H Y , Ghosh Sourav , Rajani Vishaal , Flynn Cassandra M , Qin Tian , Reinhardt Camila , Man Kwun Nok Mimi , Lee Amy , Hell Johannes W , Yuan Qi
Published: March 2022

Aging is associated with cognitive decline and memory loss in humans. In rats, aging-associated neuronal excitability changes and impairments in learning have been extensively studied in the hippocampus. Here, we investigated the roles of L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) in the rat piriform cortex (PC), in comparison with those of the hippocampus. We employed spatial and olfactory tasks that involve the hippocampus and PC. LTCC blocker nimodipine administration impaired spontaneous location recognition in adult rats (6–9 months). However, the same blocker rescued the spatial learning deficiency in aged rats (19–23 months). In an odor-associative learning task, infusions of nimodipine into either the PC or dorsal CA1 impaired the ability of adult rats to learn a positive odor association. Again, in contrast, nimodipine rescued odor associative learning in aged rats. Aged CA1 neurons had higher somatic expression of LTCC Cav1.2 subunits, exhibited larger afterhyperpolarization (AHP) and lower excitability compared with adult neurons. In contrast, PC neurons from aged rats showed higher excitability and no difference in AHP. Cav1.2 expression was similar in adult and aged PC somata, but relatively higher in PSD95− puncta in aged dendrites. Our data suggest unique features of aging-associated changes in LTCCs in the PC and hippocampus.
Effects of round-to-nearest and stochastic rounding in the numerical solution of the heat equation in low precision
Authors: Croci M , Giles M B
Published: March 2022

Motivated by the advent of machine learning, the last few years have seen the return of hardware-supported low-precision computing. Computations with fewer digits are faster and more memory and energy efficient but can be extremely susceptible to rounding errors. As shown by recent studies into reduced-precision climate simulations, an application that can largely benefit from the advantages of low-precision computing is the numerical solution of partial differential equations (PDEs). However, a careful implementation and rounding error analysis are required to ensure that sensible results can still be obtained. In this paper we study the accumulation of rounding errors in the solution of the heat equation, a proxy for parabolic PDEs, via Runge–Kutta finite difference methods using round-to-nearest (RtN) and stochastic rounding (SR). We demonstrate how to implement the scheme to reduce rounding errors and we derive a priori estimates for local and global rounding errors. Let $u$ be the unit roundoff. While the worst-case local errors are $\mathcal{O}(u)$ with respect to the discretization parameters (mesh size and timestep), the RtN and SR error behaviour is substantially different. In fact, the RtN solution always stagnates for small enough $\varDelta t$, and until stagnation the global error grows like $\mathcal{O}(u\varDelta t^{-1})$. In contrast, we show that the leading-order errors introduced by SR are zero-mean, independent in space and mean-independent in time, making SR resilient to stagnation and rounding error accumulation. In fact, we prove that for SR the global rounding errors are only $\mathcal{O}(u\varDelta t^{-1/4})$ in one dimension and are essentially bounded (up to logarithmic factors) in higher dimensions.
Experts’ View on the Future Outlook on the Materialization, Expectations and Implementation of Digital Twins in Healthcare
Authors: De Maeyer Christel , Markopoulos Panos
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we examine how experts in digital transformation of healthcare envision the application of digital twins (DTs). The concept of a DT refers to a digital replica of potential and actual physical assets, processes, people, places, systems and devices that can be used for various purposes including scientific experiments, simulations and prediction of intervention outcomes. DTs are an emerging technological vision and while evocative as a term it holds different promises and connotations for different application areas and may evolve in very different directions. To examine how these directions can develop and impact healthcare, we used the Delphi method to reach a consensus among experts on three different research questions we put forward, namely how experts see the materialization, expectations and implementation of a DT in healthcare. We followed up with a survey with open questions to the experts aiming for a deeper consideration on the top ranked topics from the Delphi study.
Comparison of gastrointestinal side effects from different doses of azithromycin for the treatment of gonorrhoea
Authors: Ong Jason J , Aguirre Ivette , Unemo Magnus , Kong Fabian Y S , Fairley Christopher K , Hocking Jane S , Chow Eric P F , Tieosapjaroen Warittha , Ly Jenny , Chen Marcus Y
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Azithromycin is commonly used to treat Neisseria gonorrhoeae. We compared its gastrointestinal side effects using 1 g single, 2 g single or 2 g split (i.e. 1 g plus 1 g 6–12 h later) dosing, representing our clinic’s changing guidelines over the study period.

Methods

We recruited consecutive sexual health clinic patients who received azithromycin (and 500 mg ceftriaxone) for uncomplicated gonorrhoea. Each patient received a text message 48 h after their attendance to complete a questionnaire.

Results

Patients received 1 g single (n = 271), 2 g single (218) or 2 g split (105) doses. Vomiting was less common for 1 g versus 2 g single dose [1.1% versus 3.7%; risk difference (RD): −2.6%; 95% CI: −0.2 to −5.4] and 2 g split versus 2 g single dose (0.9% versus 3.7%; RD: −2.8%; 95% CI: −0.3 to −5.8). Nausea was less common for 1 g versus 2 g single dose (13.7% versus 43.1%; RD: −29.5%; 95% CI: −21.7 to −37.2) and 2 g split versus 2 g single dose (16.4% versus 43.1%; RD: −26.8; 95% CI: −17.2 to −36.3). Diarrhoea was less common for 1 g versus 2 g single dose (25.5% versus 50.9%; RD: −25.5%; 95% CI: −17.0 to −33.9) and 2 g split versus 2 g single dose (30.9% versus 50.9%; RD: −20.0; 95% CI: −9.1 to −30.9). Almost all were willing to retake the same dosing for gonorrhoea in the future: 97% for 1 g single; 94% for 2 g single; and 97% for 2 g split dose.

Conclusions

Azithromycin 2 g split dose for gonorrhoea resulted in significantly less vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea than a 2 g single dose.
An efficient algorithm for reasoning over OWL EL ontologies with nominal schemas
Authors: Carral David , Zalewski Joseph , Hitzler Pascal
Published: March 2022

Nominal schemas have been proposed as an extension to Description Logics (DL), the knowledge representation paradigm underlying the Web Ontology Language (OWL). They provide for a very tight integration of DL and rules. Nominal schemas can be understood as syntactic sugar on top of OWL. However, this naive perspective leads to inefficient reasoning procedures. In order to develop an efficient reasoning procedure for the language ${\mathcal {E}\mathcal {L}\mathcal {V}^{++}}$, which results from extending the OWL profile language OWL EL with nominal schemas, we propose a transformation from ${\mathcal {E}\mathcal {L}\mathcal {V}^{++}}$ ontologies into Datalog-like rule programs that can be used for satisfiability checking and assertion retrieval. The use of this transformation enables the use of powerful Datalog engines to solve reasoning tasks over ${\mathcal {E}\mathcal {L}\mathcal {V}^{++}}$ ontologies. We implement and then evaluate our approach on several real-world, data-intensive ontologies, and find that it can outperform state-of-the-art reasoners such as Konclude and ELK. As a lesser side result we also provide a self-contained description of a rule-based algorithm for ${\mathcal {E}\mathcal {L}^{++}}$, which does not require a normal form transformation.
Bilateral Atypical Tension-sided Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in a Military Recruit
Authors: Heig Todd , Mombell Kyle , Deafenbaugh Bradley
Published: March 2022

A case report of a Marine Recruit with bilateral atypical tensile-sided femoral neck stress fracture. The patient was treated nonoperatively with protected weightbearing following an established protocol that included close observation with serial exams and advanced imaging. He recovered uneventfully and was able to return to running. He was eventually diagnosed with bilateral femoral acetabular impingement syndrome at the end of his treatment course demonstrating a growing association warranting further investigation.
IGR J18249−3243: a new GeV-emitting FR II and the emerging population of high-energy radio galaxies
Authors: Bruni G , Bassani L , Persic M , Rephaeli Y , Malizia A , Molina M , Fiocchi M , Ricci R , Wieringa M H , Giroletti M , Panessa F , Bazzano A , Ubertini P
Published: March 2022

The advent of new all-sky radio surveys such as the VLA Sky Survey and the Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey, performed with the latest generation radio telescopes, is opening new possibilities on the classification and study of extragalactic γ-ray sources, specially the underrepresented ones like radio galaxies. In particular, the enhanced sensitivity (sub-mJy level) and resolution (a few arcsec) provides a better morphological and spectral classification. In this work, we present the reclassification of a Fermi/Large Area Telescope (LAT) source as a new Fanaroff–Riley II radio galaxy from the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory sample found to emit at GeV energies. Through a broad-band spectral fitting from radio to γ-ray, we find that the commonly invoked jet contribution is not sufficient to account for the observed γ-ray flux. Our modelling suggests that the observed emission could mainly originate in the lobes (rather than in the radio core) by inverse Compton scattering of radio-emitting electrons off the ambient photon fields. In addition, we cross-correlated the latest generation radio surveys with a list of Fermi/LAT candidate misaligned AGN from the literature, finding four new radio galaxies with a double-lobed morphology. Additional four objects could be classified as such thanks to previous studies in the literature, for a total of nine new radio galaxies with GeV emission presented in this work. We foresee that further objects of this class might be found in the near future with the advent of the Square Kilometer Array, populating the GeV sky.
New candidates for magnetar counterparts from a deep search with theHubble Space Telescope
Authors: Chrimes A A , Levan A J , Fruchter A S , Groot P J , Kouveliotou C , Lyman J D , Tanvir N R , Wiersema K
Published: March 2022

We report the discovery of six new magnetar counterpart candidates from deep near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging. The new candidates are among a sample of 19 magnetars for which we present HST data obtained between 2018 and 2020. We confirm the variability of previously established near-infrared counterparts, and newly identify candidates for PSR J1622−4950, Swift J1822.3−1606, CXOU J171405.7−381031, Swift J1833−0832, Swift J1834.9−0846, and AX J1818.8−1559 based on their proximity to X-ray localizations. The new candidates are compared with the existing counterpart population in terms of their colours, magnitudes, and near-infrared to X-ray spectral indices. We find two candidates for AX J1818 that are both consistent with previously established counterparts. The other new candidates are likely to be chance alignments, or otherwise have a different origin for their near-infrared emission not previously seen in magnetar counterparts. Further observations and studies of these candidates are needed to firmly establish their nature.
Changes in Smoking Status and Behaviors After the First 10 Months of COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia
Authors: Bella Adrianna , Swarnata Arya , Melinda Gea , Nurshadrina Dimitri Swasthika , Dartanto Teguh
Published: March 2022

Introduction

There remains inconclusive evidence on potential changes in smoking status and behaviors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-9) pandemic, especially in developing countries.

Aims and Methods

This study explores the direction of changes in smoking status and behaviors after 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia as well as examining the association between economic shocks and changes in smoking behaviors. Primary data were gathered through a phone survey targeting productive-age mobile-phone users in Indonesia (n = 1082). Descriptive analysis was employed to determine changes in smoking status and behaviors 10 months into the pandemic, while logistic regression analysis was used to investigate how employment shocks, financial strain, COVID-19-related indicators, and demographic characteristics were associated with smoking behaviors of people who continue smoking.

Results

Respondents experiencing changes in smoking status were dominated by people who persistently smoked during the pandemic, while those who quit, relapsed, and started smoking, was extremely small. Nevertheless, a considerable portion of people who continue smoking adjusted their smoking behaviors: 40.3% reduced smoking intensity and 25.3% switched to lower-price cigarettes. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that, among people who continue smoking, those who experienced financial strain during the pandemic had higher odds of reducing smoking intensity, while those who switched to lower job status had higher odds of switching to cheaper cigarettes.

Conclusions

The research has shown that smoking status and behaviors of people who continue smoking mostly remained unchanged after 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in employment and financial conditions during the pandemic were associated with modified smoking behaviors.

Implications

This study is the first to determine the direction and analyze the factors of changes in smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. This new understanding should help improve predicting the trends in smoking in future crises or pandemics in developing countries, specifically Indonesia. The discovered patterns on smokers’ reaction to an exogenous shock may provide evidence to support tobacco control policies in Indonesia.
The cardiac effects of hydroxychloroquine in immune-mediated rheumatologic diseases
Authors: Weidman-Evans Emily , Porter Mandy
Published: March 2022

Hydroxychloroquine, when used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus, has been found to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD). The drug also has been associated with cardiac adverse reactions such as conduction abnormalities. This article reviews the reduction of CVD and the cardiac adverse reactions associated with hydroxychloroquine.
Long-term effects of medication for opioid use disorder in children
Authors: Cox Jamie , Reid Nancy , Lander Laura
Published: March 2022

Opioid maintenance therapy in pregnant patients can result in children born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). These infants are at high risk for poor school performance, unemployment, and criminal activity because they never reach the neurocognitive levels of their peers. This article discusses the neurocognitive development consequences of medicated opioid use disorder on infants and children and methods to help them reach their potential into adulthood.
Recommendations for managing sexually transmitted infections
Authors: Curry Kim , Chandler Rasheeta , Kostas-Polston Elizabeth A. , Alexander Ivy , Orsega Susan , Johnson-Mallard Versie
Published: March 2022

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common and costly, with about 26 million STIs occurring each year in the US. Guidelines for the prevention and management of STIs are updated periodically. In 2021, the CDC updated its guidelines for the treatment of STIs. This article provides information on the most recent updates on managing STIs to help advanced practice nurses in their practice.
Fibromyalgia
Authors: St. John Amanda W. , Aebischer Jonathan H. , Friend Ronald , Jones Kim D.
Published: March 2022

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder commonly encountered by advanced practice registered nurses in primary and specialty care. Knowing how to recognize FM and its multiple pain and nonpain symptoms facilitates diagnosis. We propose a four-step approach to diagnosis that can reduce costly referrals and treatment delays, and describe evidence-based interventions.
Neuromonitoring for Proximal Fibular Osteochondroma Excision
Authors: Thacker Mihir M. , Pargas Carlos , Marky Christopher , Rogers Kenneth J. , DiNardo Anthony A. , Sestokas Anthony K.
Published: March 2022

Background:

The peroneal nerve is at risk when excising tumors in the proximal fibula. The rate of nerve injuries during proximal fibular tumor resection varies from 3% to 20%. Our goal was to report our experience with resection of osteochondromas in the proximal fibula and describe the technique and utility of neuromonitoring during excision of proximal fibular osteochondromas (PFO).

Methods:

Patients with a diagnosis of symptomatic PFO who had undergone excision at one institution from 1994 to 2018 were included. An institutional review board-approved retrospective review was performed. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was provided from 2006 on by a single group utilizing a multimodality protocol.

Results:

This study contains 29 patients who had excision of osteochondromas in the proximal fibula. Of these 29 consecutively monitored patients, there were 34 involved extremities. Intraoperative neuromonitoring alerts occurred in 10/29 (34.5%) procedures, which included 3 electromyography (EMG) (30%), 2 motor-evoked potential (20%), 1 somatosensory-evoked potential (10%), and 4 alerts with a combination of EMG/motor-evoked potential/somatosensory-evoked potential changes (40%). The interventions that were taken resulted in resolution of the neuromonitoring changes in all procedures. Postoperatively, we noted 2 (6.9%) new mild sensory deficits, which resolved during follow up. There were 3 patients in whom pre-existing sensory-motor deficits improved but not completely after surgery, 1 motor weakness, and 2 with residual paresthesia. In those initially presenting with paresis, there was improvement in 8 of the 8 extremities by the last follow-up visit. Pain as a symptom was resolved in all cases. There were no iatrogenic foot drop injuries. The average follow up was 32.2 months.

Conclusions:

Neuromonitoring during PFO excision demonstrated a high number of alerts, all of which resolved following timely corrective action. The use of neuromonitoring may help decrease the risk of iatrogenic postoperative neurological deficits following fibular osteochondroma surgery.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
Evaluation of the Cutaneous Silent Period in a Healthy Brazilian Population
Authors: Cunha Natalia S. C. , Grippe Talyta , Boechat-Barros Raphael , Fernandez Rubens N.M. , Brandão Pedro Renato P. , Chen Robert , Cardoso Francisco
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

To establish cutaneous silent period (CSP) normative values and investigate the variables that may influence them.

Methods:

We tested 41 healthy subjects. All subjects underwent nerve conduction studies, and we evaluated the CSP in both arms.

Results:

Four subjects did not have CSP and were excluded. The analyses were performed in the healthy group composed of 23 women and 14 men, with a mean age of 35 (range, 19–64) years. The CSP median duration was 23.2 milliseconds (ms), with 2 to 98th percentile at 11.3 and 48.7 ms. The median onset latency was 87.9 (range, 72.9–109) ms, and the median end latency was 112 (range, 93.8–138) ms. The CSP onset latency positively correlated with height, whereas CSP end latency and duration were weakly but significantly associated with age. Some measurements of ulnar nerve conduction study also correlated with CSP measures. The interrater coefficients for the primary measures of onset and end latency demonstrates the reproducibility of the method.

Conclusions:

The CSP with the fifth digit stimulation and recording from the abductor digiti minimi muscle is a valid diagnostic tool that can be used in clinical practice.
Intracellular Energy Controls Dynamics of Stress-induced Ribonucleoprotein Granules
Authors: Wang Tao , Tian Xibin , Jang Yura , Huang Paul , Na Chan Hyun , Wang Jiou
Published: March 2022

Energy metabolism and membraneless organelles have been implicated in human diseases including neurodegeneration. How energy stress regulates ribonucleoprotein particles such as stress granules (SGs) is still unclear. Here we identified a unique type of granules formed under energy stress and uncovered the mechanisms by which the dynamics of diverse stress-induced granules are regulated. Severe energy stress induced the rapid formation of energy-associated stress granules (eSGs), whereas moderate energy stress delayed the clearance of conventional SGs. The formation of eSGs or the clearance of conventional SGs was regulated by the mTOR-4EBP1-eIF4E pathway or eIF4A1, involving eIF4F complex assembly or RNA condensation, respectively. In ALS patients’ neurons or cortical organoids, the eSG formation was enhanced, and conventional SG clearance was impaired. These results reveal a critical role for intracellular energy in the regulation of diverse granules and suggest that an imbalance in these dynamics may contribute to the pathogenesis of relevant diseases.
Modeling the growth barriers of fresh produce supply chain in the Indian context
Authors: Singh Gaurvendra , Daultani Yash , Rajesh R. , Sahu Rajendra
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Over the years, the fruit and vegetable supply chain has encountered several challenges. From the harvesting stage until it reaches the consumer, a significant portion of fruits and vegetables gets wasted in the supply chain. As a result, the present study attempts to identify and analyze the growth barriers in the fresh produce supply chain (FPSC) in the Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated grey theory and DEMATEL based approach is used to analyze growth barriers in the FPSC. The growth barriers were analyzed and sorted based on their influence and importance relations.

Findings

The results emphasize that the most critical growth barriers in the FPSC that should be addressed to ensure food waste reduction are as follows: Lack of cold chain facilities (B2), lack of transportation or logistic facilities (B1), lack of collaboration and information sharing between supply chain partners (B3), lack of proper quality and safety protocols (B15), a lack of processing and packaging facilities (B14), and poor productivity and efficiency (B13). Results are also verified by conducting a sensitivity analysis.

Practical implications

The results are highly useful for policymakers to exploit growth barriers within the FPSC that require more attention. The obtained results show that the managers and policymakers need to utilize more funds to develop the cold chain facilities and logistics facilities to develop the FPSC. By improving the cold chain facilities, it is possible to improve the quality of food, make the food safe for human consumption, reduce waste, and increase the efficiency and productivity of the supply chain. Also, this study may encourage policymakers and industrial managers to adopt the most influential SCM practices for food waste reduction.

Originality/value

Many researchers have attempted to analyze the causes of food waste and growth barriers in the FPSC using various decision-making methods. Still, no attempts are made to explore the causal relations among various growth barriers in FPSC through the integrated Grey-DEMATEL technique. Also, we devise policy implications in the light of the new farm bills or the Indian agricultural acts of 2020. Lack of cold chain facilities (B2) was found to be the critical driving barrier in the FPSC, as it influences multiple barriers. Also, there is a dire need for cold chain facilities and transportation systems to enhance productivity and efficiency.
The role of knowledge sharing in hotel newcomer socialization: a formal intervention program
Authors: Lan Junbang , Wong Chi-Sum , Wong IpKin Anthony
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Hospitality managers face constant challenges in promoting hotel service principles such as innovation and flexibility to their new employees, as such knowledge is usually tacit in nature and hard to formalize. This study aims to suggest that this problem can be addressed by using a knowledge sharing group intervention. Specifically, the authors propose that knowledge sharing groups can enhance a newcomer’s job clarity and positive work attitude by encouraging a stronger sense of perceived importance of and affection toward the hotel service principles.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors designed a three-month knowledge sharing program in a five-star hotel chain in Hong Kong. Newcomers were randomly assigned into an experimental group (knowledge sharing group) (N= 235) and a control group (N= 233). The authors tested all the hypotheses via path analyses using Mplus 8.0.

Findings

The results revealed that employees of the experimental group showed a stronger sense of importance of and affection toward the service principles, which in turn resulted in higher levels of job clarity, satisfaction and commitment and lower levels of turnover intention.

Practical implications

This research provides hotel managers with practical knowledge regarding sharing programs as key socialization intervention mechanisms. By triggering the employees’ deeper understanding of hotel policy, this program can help hotels fortify high-quality service and develop realistic and useful materials for their future training activities.

Originality/value

Although hospitality scholars have consistently acknowledged the positive influence of knowledge sharing, field experimental research on the outcomes of knowledge management for the newcomer socialization process has been scanty. This study seeks to fill this gap by designing and testing a practical knowledge sharing intervention program in the hotel industry.
Managing suicidality in inpatient care: a rapid review
Authors: Evans Nicola , Edwards Deborah , Chick Phill
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this mixed methods rapid study was to identify the barriers and facilitators to implement relational and environmental risk management approaches to manage suicidality in inpatient services.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this within a short timeframe, a rapid review approach was chosen. Both research (qualitative and quantitative studies) and non-research material (policies, guidance and reports) were retrieved. The review was conducted across five databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, EMCARE, PsycINFO and CINAHL for English language citations within the last ten years (2009 –2019).

Findings

A total of 17 primary research papers and a further 73 reviews and grey literature were included. There was evidence that the removal of anti-ligature equipment, by which regular checks of the environment to identify and remove ligature points and increased levels of observation are carried out well, reduces suicide in hospital.

Research limitations/implications

There is a gap in research investigating “engagement activities” eliciting exactly what they are and determining how they might be effective. There is a need for new innovative ways for managing risk of suicide in hospitals that bring together meaningful engagement and maintaining safety.

Originality/value

Keeping people safe during an inpatient stay in a mental health service is a core function of mental health practitioners. This paper brings together what is already known about risk management and highlights areas for further investigation.
Can rolling composite wildflower blocks increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes better than wildflowers strips?
Authors: Eccard Jana A.
Published: March 2022

Biodiversity and abundance of wildlife has dramatically declined in agricultural landscapes. Sown, short‐lived wildflower (WF) strips along the margins of crop fields are a widespread and often subsidised in agri‐environmental schemes, intended to enhance biodiversity, provide refuges for wild plant and arthropod populations and to provide ecosystem services to crops. Meanwhile, WF elements are also criticised, since their functionality decreases with plant succession, the removal of aged WF strip poses an ecological trap for the attracted arthropod populations and only common and mobile species benefit. Further, insects in WF strips are impacted by pesticides from agricultural fields due to shared boundaries with crop fields and by edge effects.

The performance of the measure could be improved by combining several WF strips of different successional stages, each harbouring a unique community of plants and arthropods, into persistent, composite WF block, where successional stages exist in parallel. Monitoring data on many taxa in the literature shows, that a third of species are temporarily present in an ageing WF stip, thus offering composite WF blocks should increase cumulative species richness by 28%–39% compared to annual richness in WF strips. Persistence of composite WF blocks would offer reliable refuge for animal and plant populations, also supporting their predators and herbivores. Further, WF blocks have less boundaries to crops compared to WF strips of the same area, and are less impacted by edge effects and pesticides.

Policy implications. Here I suggest a change of conservation practice changing from successional WF strips to composite WF blocks. By regular removal and replacement of aged WF strips either within the block (rotational) or at its margins (rolling), the habitat heterogeneity in composite WF block could be perpetuated. Rolling composite WF blocks change locations over years, and the original location can be reconverted to arable land while a nearby WF block is still available to wildlife. A change in agricultural schemes would be necessary, since in some European countries clustered WF strips are explicitly not subsidised.
Pandemic Studies: Remote Learning During Covid
Authors: Mitra Sinjini , Stanley Denise
Published: March 2022

When the pandemic forced university students to study at home, Sinjini Mitra and Denise Stanley set out to understand the impact this would have on student experiences, course outcomes and future preferences
The Covid Communicators
Authors: Harkness Timandra
Published: March 2022

Two years ago, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, statisticians, epidemiologists and journalists around the world took up the challenge of trying to explain to the public exactly what was happening, and to draw insights from the mass of data being produced. Timandra Harkness interviews three individuals about their experiences of becoming Covid communicators
Vegetable fermentations brined with low salt for reclaiming food waste
Authors: Little Connor , Cruz‐Martínez Viviana , St. Fort Datricia Pearl , Pagán‐Medina Christian , Page Clinton A. , Perez‐Perez Yobet , Taveirne Michael E. , Lee Alice M. , Arroyo‐González Nancy , Santiago‐Ortiz Cariluz , Pérez‐Díaz Ilenys M.
Published: March 2022

Fermentation of eight vegetables was studied as an alternative for reclamation of surplus volumes. Fermentation performance was predicted by comparing the amounts of acid that could be produced from the intrinsic sugar content with that buffered by the fresh vegetable matrices prior to reaching an inhibitory pH for fermentative microbes (3.30). Native fermentations were brined with 345.0 mM sodium chloride, 40.0 mM calcium chloride, 6.0 mM potassium sorbate, and vinegar to adjust the initial pH to 4.70. High‐performance liquid chromatography analysis, pH, and carbon dioxide measurements and spiral plating on selective media were employed to monitor the progress of fermentations. The average colony counts for yeast and/or molds and Enterobacteriaceae declined to undetectable levels from 3.6 ± 1.5 log CFU/ml within 7 days of fermentation. The fermentation of sugars produced lactic, acetic, succinic, and/or malic acids, and ethanol. As predicted, the fermentation of vegetables with low sugar content, such as broccoli, green leaf lettuce, and green pea proceeded to completion. The fermentation of vegetables with a moderate sugar content, such as green bell pepper, red ripened tomato, and green bean were incomplete at pH 3.1 ± 0.2. The fermentation of high sugar vegetables including sweet potato and corn were expected and observed to be incomplete. It is concluded that the intrinsic sugar content and buffer capacity of surplus vegetables are relevant parameters in obtaining complete fermentations.

Practical Application

Vegetables are the second most wasted commodity in the United States and a substantial constituent of the global food waste. Development of fermentation to reclaim surplus vegetables from farms, grocery stores, and farmer's markets offers opportunities to ameliorate economic losses and environmental impact and add value to waste. The research described here suggests that a fraction of vegetables could be fermented in cover brines while others, with high sugar content, need specialized handling. Evidently, optimization of vegetable fermentation with starter cultures and added buffers represent an opportunity to stimulate complete bioconversions useful for reclaiming surplus volumes.
A dynamic ancestral graph model and GPU‐based simulation of a community based on metagenomic sampling
Authors: Griswold Cortland K.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we present an ancestral graph model of the evolution of a guild in an ecological community. The model is based on a metagenomic sampling design in that a random sample is taken at the community, as opposed the taxon, level and species are discovered by genetic sequencing. The specific implementation of the model envisions an ecological guild that was founded by colonization at some point in the past that then potentially undergoes diversification by natural selection. Within the graph, species emerge and evolve through the diversification process and their densities in the graph are dynamic and governed by both ecological drift and random genetic drift, as well as differential viability. We employ the 3% sequence divergence rule at a marker locus to identify operational taxonomic units. We then explore approaches to see whether there are indirect signals of the diversification process, including population genetic and ecological approaches. In terms of population genetics, we study the joint site frequency spectrum of OTUs, as well its associated statistics. In terms of ecology, we study the species (or OTU) abundance distribution. For both, we observe deviations from neutrality, which indicates that there may be signals of diversifying selection in metagenomic studies under certain conditions. The model is available as a GPU‐based computer program in C/C++ and using OpenCL, with the long‐term goal of adding functionality iteratively to model large‐scale eco‐evolutionary processes for metagenomic data.
Effects of topsoil transposition on the taxonomic and functional diversity of macrofauna of highly degraded soil
Authors: Parreira Beatriz de Vilhena , Beirão Marina , Antonini Yasmine , Leite Mariangela Garcia Praça
Published: March 2022

Topsoil transposition has been identified as an environmental restoration technique capable of accelerating regeneration in degraded areas. In addition to the seed bank, topsoil contains invertebrates and microorganisms essential in ecological succession. This study evaluated the temporal variation in the macrofauna community structure in an experiment with topsoil transposition. We hypothesized that the morphospecies richness, functional groups and macrofauna biomass would be higher in the plots with topsoil and native vegetation compared with plots with no topsoil. We further hypothesized that the composition of macrofauna community and the proportion of functional groups in the topsoil and the reference plots would become more similar over time. The community was compared between plots that received topsoil, plots that did not receive topsoil and plots in a natural vegetation, over 14 months. The macrofauna biomass and the diversity of functional groups were equivalent in the degraded area and the topsoil. The effect of treatment on richness depended on time, and it was possible to observe higher values of macrofauna richness in the topsoil compared with the degraded area in some months. The compositions of the macrofauna communities in the degraded area and the topsoil showed greater similarity to each other. In contrast, the reference area showed the greatest dissimilarity with the other treatments. In general, the macrofauna community in the topsoil remained more similar to the degraded area. However, in the topsoil plots, we found higher macrofauna richness during rainy months and an increase in predator biomass. In conclusion, the macrofauna community in the topsoil, which has changed over time, presented higher values of morphospecies richness in some months and the increase in predator biomass, indicating an increase in the complexity of the community. Besides, the topsoil can improve biodiversity, but this does not produce the natural communities found at reference sites, in a small‐time scale experiment.
Lag time to diagnosis as a predictor of mortality in children with extraocular retinoblastoma: Experience from a developing country
Authors: Nindyastuti Herlina , Rusmawatiningtyas Desy , Makrufardi Firdian , Supriyadi Eddy
Published: March 2022

Aim

To define the prevalence of mortality and identify factors associated with mortality in pediatric patients with extraocular retinoblastoma attending the tertiary hospital in Indonesia.

Methods

We retrospectively collected medical records from 2013 to 2019 of patients who were diagnosed with extraocular retinoblastoma. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the association of mortality predictors with patient outcomes (Hazard Ratio [HR], 95% CI) with significance set as p < .05.

Results

Overall, 60 patients were included in this study for a retrospective chart review, with 55% males and 45% females. The median age at diagnosis was 13 (5–24) months. About 60% of the patients did not survive, while 2‐year survival probability was 45%. The overall median survival time was 21.5 (7.25–40.75) months. Predictors of mortality were laterality (unilateral/bilateral): HR 2.15 (95% CI: 1.07–4.28; p = .03), nutritional status: HR 2.65 (95% CI: 1.34–5.25; p = .05), and lag time to diagnosis: HR 3.12 (95% CI: 1.56–6.2; p = .001).

Conclusion

Laterality, nutritional status and lag time to diagnosis were identified to be mortality predictors in extraocular retinoblastoma. The 2‐year survival for children with extraocular retinoblastoma was 45% with 21 months for median survival.
Long‐term efficacy of endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment: a single‐centre Australian experience
Authors: Hinksman Mathew , Naidu Sanjeev , Loon Kenneth , Grundy Josh
Published: March 2022

Background

Endoscopic pilonidal sinus treatment (EPSiT) is a novel minimally invasive technique for treating pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) involving endoscopic assessment and treatment. This retrospective, non‐randomized, observational study is the first Australian study of EPSiT and its largest long‐term study to date.

Methods

From January 2014 to November 2019, 137 patients with PSD underwent EPSiT. Seventy‐two had undergone previous surgery for PSD. Specialized Karl Storz video equipment (fistuloscope) was used. The rigid fistuloscope allowed direct visualization of cavities and secondary tracts. Cavities and tracts were then curetted endoscopically to remove all granulation tissues and hair/follicles. Ablation was then carried out under direct vision along with removal of debris. Patients were then followed up for a mean 56.2 months.

Results

72.2% (n = 91) of patients undergoing EPSiT achieved primary healing (needing nil further intervention) at a median of 6 weeks; 13.5% (n = 17) experienced healing followed by recurrence while 14.3% (n = 18) experienced non‐healing. Of the recurrence/non‐healing groups, 20/35 underwent repeat EPSiT with healing occurring in 18/20 patients at a median of 7 weeks. The balance of patients (n = 15) underwent other definitive procedures. The mean operating time was 34 min. There were no major complications and 85% of patients were discharged the same day. Eleven patients were lost to follow‐up.

Conclusion

EPSiT combines high efficacy of treatment for PSD along with relatively low rates of recurrence. The minimally invasive nature of the procedure means repeat procedures can be performed (where necessary) with low morbidity and a reasonable rate of success.
Mouse microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (Mitf) mutations affect the structure of the retinal vasculature
Authors: Daníelsson Stefán Broddi , García‐Llorca Andrea , Reynisson Hallur , Eysteinsson Thor
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Mice carrying pathogenic variants in the microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) gene show structural and functional changes in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. The purpose of this study was to assess the vascular changes in Mitf mice carrying pathogenic variants by determining their retinal vessel diameter.

Methods

Mice examined in this study were: B6‐Mitfmi‐vga9/+ (n = 6), B6‐Mitfmi‐enu22(398) /Mitfmi‐enu22(398) (n = 6) and C57BL/6J wild type mice (n = 6), all 3 months old. Fundus images were taken with a Micron IV camera after intraperitoneal injection of fluorescein salt. Images were adjusted to enhance contrast and a custom written MATLAB program used to extract the mean vascular diameter at a pre‐defined distance from the optic disc. The number of vessels, mean diameter and mean total diameter were examined.

Results

The mean diameter of retinal veins in Mitfmi‐enu22(398)/Mitfmi‐enu22(398) mice was 18.8% larger than in wild type (p = 0.026). No differences in the mean diameter of the retinal arteries were found between the genotypes. Mitfmi‐enu22(398)/Mitfmi‐enu22(398) mice have 17.2% more retinal arteries (p = 0.026), and 15.6% more retinal veins (p = 0.041) than wild type. A 24.8% increase was observed in the mean combined arterial diameter in mice with the Mitfmi‐enu22(398)/Mitfmi‐enu22(398) compared to wild type mice (p = 0.024). A 38.6% increase was found in the mean combined venular diameter in mice with the Mitfmi‐enu22(398)/Mitfmi‐enu22(398) pathogenic variation as compared to wild type (p = 0.004). The mean combined retinal venular diameter in the Mitfmi‐vga9/+ mice was 17.8% larger than in wild type (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

An increase in vascularization of the retina in Mitfmi‐enu22(398) /Mitfmi‐enu22(398) mice was found, indicating an increased demand for blood flow to the retina.
Body size and risk of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma by subtype: A pooled analysis from six prospective cohorts in the United States
Authors: Teras Lauren R. , Bertrand Kimberly A. , Deubler Emily L. , Chao Chun R. , Lacey James V. , Patel Alpa V. , Rosner Bernard A. , Shu Yu‐Hsiang , Wang Ke , Zhong Charlie , Wang Sophia S. , Birmann Brenda M.
Published: March 2022

In 2022, more than 100 000 non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) diagnoses are expected, yet few risk factors are confirmed. In this study, data from six US‐based cohorts (568 717 individuals) were used to examine body size and risk of NHL. Over more than 20 years of follow‐up, 11 263 NHLs were identified. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated associations with NHLs for adult body mass index (BMI), height, weight change, waist circumference and predicted fat mass. Adult height was broadly associated with NHL, but most strongly with B‐cell NHLs among non‐White participants (e.g. HRBLACK = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.62–2.62). However, the strongest association among the anthropometric traits examined was for young adult BMI and risk of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), particularly those who maintained a higher BMI into later adulthood. Individuals with BMI over 30 kg/m2 throughout adulthood had more than double the DLBCL risk (HR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.71–4.17) compared to BMI 18.5–22.9 kg/m2. Other anthropometric traits were not associated with NHL after controlling for BMI. These results suggest that sustained high BMI is a major driver of DLBCL risk. If confirmed, we estimate that up to 23.5% of all DLBCLs (and 11.1% of all NHLs) may be prevented with avoidance of young adult obesity.
Establishing subclasses of childhood eczema, their risk factors and prognosis
Authors: Lopez Diego J. , Lodge Caroline J. , Bui Dinh S. , Waidyatillake Nilakshi T. , Abramson Michael J. , Perret Jennifer L. , Su John C. , Erbas Bircan , Svanes Cecilie , Dharmage Shyamali C. , Lowe Adrian J.
Published: March 2022

Background

The heterogeneity of development and progression of eczema suggests multiple underlying subclasses for which aetiology and prognosis may vary. A better understanding may provide a comprehensive overview of eczema development and progression in childhood. Thus, we aimed to determine longitudinal eczema subclasses based on assessments and identify their associations with risk factors and allergic outcomes.

Methods

A total of 619 participants with a family history of allergic disease were assessed at 24 time‐points from birth to 12 years. At each time, eczema was defined as the report of current rash treated with topical steroid‐based preparations. Longitudinal latent class analysis was used to determine eczema subclasses. Subsequent analyses using regression models assessed the associations between eczema subclasses and potential risk factors and allergic outcomes at 18‐ and 25‐year follow‐ups (eczema, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic sensitization).

Results

We identified five eczema subclasses ‘early‐onset persistent’, ‘early‐onset resolving’, ‘mid‐onset persistent’, ‘mid‐onset resolving’ and ‘minimal eczema’. Filaggrin null mutations were associated with the early‐onset persistent (OR = 2.58 [1.09–6.08]) and mid‐onset persistent class (OR = 2.58 [1.32–5.06]). Compared with ‘minimal eczema’, participants from early‐onset persistent class had higher odds of eczema (OR = 11.8 [5.20–26.6]) and allergic rhinitis (OR = 3.13 [1.43–6.85]) at 18 and at 25 years eczema (OR = 9.37 [3.17–27.65]), allergic rhinitis (OR = 3.26 [1.07–9.93]) and asthma (OR = 2.91 [1.14–7.43]). Likewise, mid‐onset persistent class had higher odds of eczema (OR = 2.59 [1.31–5.14]), allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.70 [1.00–2.89]) and asthma (OR = 2.00 [1.10–3.63]) at 18 and at 25 years eczema (OR = 6.75 [3.11–14–65]), allergic rhinitis (OR = 2.74 [1.28–5.88]) and asthma (OR = 2.50 [1.25–5.00]). Allergic and food sensitization in early life was more common in those in the persistent eczema subclasses.

Conclusion

We identified five distinct eczema subclasses. These classes were differentially associated with risk factors, suggesting differences in aetiology, and also with the development of allergic outcomes, highlighting their potential to identify high‐risk groups for close monitoring and intervention.