bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marine mammals foraging around fishing gear or preying upon fishing catch and bait: it may not be “depredation”
Authors: Bearzi Giovanni , Reeves Randall R
Published: September 2022

Some populations of marine mammals (particularly odontocete cetaceans, and pinnipeds) have responded to the expansion of fisheries by modifying their behaviour to take advantage of the foraging opportunities provided by fishing. This has led to interactions that include forms of “depredation”, referring to the removal of, or damage to, marketable organisms as well as bait from fishing gear. The current scientific and technical usage of depredate or depredation appears inconsistent with some of the meanings found in dictionaries, such as to plunder (typically using force), pillage, ravage, lay waste, despoil, destroy, commit waste, or ransack. We suggest that the use of “depredation” when referring to marine mammal behaviour could strengthen misperception and misunderstanding, hardening notions that they are unfairly taking or destroying what is ours. Though most contemporary researchers do not mean to imply that predators are “stealing our fish”, continued reference to the mammals’ behaviour as depredation may reinforce, at least in some minds, the belief that fish and other marine resources “belong” only to humans. Alternative wording would help to prevent ambiguity in communications, especially outside the scientific community, and preserve recognition of the ecological roles that large marine predators play.
Modelling spatial variability of cultivated Saccharina latissima in a Dutch coastal bay shows benefits of co-cultivation with shellfish
Authors: Jiang Long , Jansen Henrice M , Broch Ole Jacob , Timmermans Klaas R , Soetaert Karline
Published: September 2022

Cultivation of Saccharina latissima, a brown macroalga, is fast developing in Europe and North America for the sustainable production of food and biorefinery materials and important ecosystem services. Prior studies have demonstrated large spatial variability in the yield and chemical composition of the cultivated S. latissima, even within a small coastal bay. Using a validated hydrodynamic-biogeochemical-kelp model, this study examined main drivers of the spatial variability in S. latissima growth dynamics in 40 hypothetical farms throughout a Dutch coastal bay, the Eastern Scheldt. Results indicate that temperature plays a primary role in driving the spatial variability. For example, S. latissima yield in the deeper and better flushed western part is more than double that in the eastern part, mainly due to its 2–3°C warmer seawater in winter. It is also found that S. latissima benefits from co-cultivation with shellfish, since nutrients excreted by shellfish replenish its nitrogen reserve, which fuels a relatively high growth rate in the nitrogen-depleted late spring. The model assessment offers insight into optimal potential locations of S. latissima farms in the Eastern Scheldt. Applicability of our modelling approach to other coastal ecosystems and possible further improvements for assisting in seaweed farming practice are discussed.
Heat-Induced Hatching of Red-Eyed Treefrog Embryos: Hydration and Clutch Structure Increase Behavioral Thermal Tolerance
Authors: Guevara-Molina Estefany Caroline , Gomes Fernando Ribeiro , Warkentin Karen M
Published: September 2022

Synopsis

Climate change is increasing both environmental temperatures and droughts. Many ectotherms respond behaviorally to heat, thereby avoiding damage from extreme temperatures. Within species, thermal tolerance varies with factors such as hydration as well as ontogenetic stage. Many tropical anurans lay terrestrial eggs, relying on environmental moisture for embryonic development. These eggs are vulnerable to dehydration, and embryos of some species can hatch prematurely to escape from drying eggs. Warmer temperatures can accelerate development and thus hatching, but excess heat can kill embryos. Thus, we hypothesize that embryos may show a behavioral thermal tolerance limit, hatching prematurely to avoid potentially lethal warming. If so, because warming and drying are often associated, we hypothesize this limit, measurable as a voluntary thermal maximum, may depend on hydration. We manipulated the hydration of the terrestrial eggs of Agalychnis callidryas, in intact clutches and egg-groups isolated from clutch jelly, then warmed them to assess if embryos hatch early as a behavioral response to high temperatures and whether their thermal tolerance varies with hydration or surrounding structure. We discovered that heating induces hatching; these embryos show a behavioral escape-hatching response that enables them to avoid potentially lethal warming. Hydrated eggs and clutches lost more water and warmed more slowly than dehydrated ones, indicating that hydration buffers embryos from environmental warming via evaporative cooling. Embryos in hydrated clutches tolerated greater warming before hatching and suffered higher mortality, suggesting their behavioral Thermal Safety Margin is small. In contrast, lower thermal tolerance protected dry embryos, and those isolated from clutch jelly, from lethal warming. Heat-induced hatching offers a convenient behavioral assay for the thermal tolerance of terrestrial anuran embryos and the interactive effects of warming and dehydration at an early life stage. This work expands the set of threats against which embryos use hatching in self-defense, creating new opportunities for comparative studies of thermal tolerance as well as integrative studies of self-defense mechanisms at the egg stage.
Time lag effect on solar radiation of tree sap flux density for different DBH ofLarix olgensis
Authors: Wang Zixuan , Sun Zhihu , Cui Jinyao
Published: September 2022

To clarify the role of tree characteristics and slope positions in the time lag between tree stem sap flux density (Js) and solar radiation (Rs). Plants of different diameter classes in a Larix olgensis near-mature forest (31 years old) in the hilly area of the Sanjiang Plain were used. The relationships between the time lag Js–Rs and tree characteristics, adjacent tree characteristics and slope positions were evaluated. Though both Js and Rs exhibited diurnal variation, they were not synchronized, thus leading to a time lag between Js and Rs. During the growing season, the change in Js lagged behind the change in Rs by 21.1 ± 6.9 min. Compared with tree height and crown width, the time lag Js–Rs was more dependent on diameter at breast height (DBH). The time lag between Js and Rs showed a linear increase with DBH. Compared with the characteristics of neighboring trees, the time lags Js–Rs were more dependent on their own tree characteristics. A significant relationship was not observed between the time lag Js–Rs and soil volumetric water content. The effects of tree characteristics, adjacent tree characteristics and slope positions on the formation of the time lag Js–Rs were compared. The time lag of Js on Rs was mainly controlled by the tree characteristics (DBH). DBH is an important factor that affects the time lag between Js and Rs under sunny conditions during the growing season of L. olgensis.
Constraints on extragalactic transmitters via Breakthrough Listen observations of background sources
Authors: Garrett M A , Siemion A P V
Published: September 2022

The Breakthrough Listen Initiative has embarked on a comprehensive Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) survey of nearby stars in the Milky Way that is vastly superior to previous efforts as measured by a wide range of different metrics. SETI surveys traditionally ignore the fact that they are sensitive to many background objects, in addition to the foreground target star. In order to better appreciate and exploit the presence of extragalactic objects in the field of view, the aladin sky atlas and NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) were employed to make a rudimentary census of extragalactic objects that were serendipitously observed with the 100-m Green Bank Telescope observing at 1.1–1.9 GHz. For 469 target fields [assuming a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) radial field of view of 4.2 arcmin], NED identified a grand total of 143 024 extragalactic objects, including various astrophysical exotica e.g. active galactic nuclei (AGN) of various type, radio galaxies, interacting galaxies, and one confirmed gravitational lens system. Several nearby galaxies, galaxy groups, and galaxy clusters are identified, permitting the parameter space probed by SETI surveys to be significantly extended. Constraints are placed on the luminosity function of potential extraterrestrial transmitters assuming it follows a simple power law and limits on the prevalence of very powerful extraterrestrial transmitters associated with these vast stellar systems are also determined. It is demonstrated that the recent Breakthrough Listen Initiative, and indeed many previous SETI radio surveys, places stronger limits on the prevalence of extraterrestrial intelligence in the distant Universe than is often fully appreciated.
Effects of finite sizes of atomic nuclei on shear modulus and torsional oscillations in neutron stars
Authors: Sotani Hajime , Togashi Hajime , Takano Masatoshi
Published: September 2022

The shear modulus of neutron star matter is one of the important properties used for determining torsional oscillations in neutron stars. We take into account the effects of finite sizes of spherical nuclei on the shear modulus and examine the frequencies of crustal torsional oscillations. The shear modulus decreases owing to the finite-size effect, which in turn decreases the frequencies of torsional oscillations. In particular, the finite-size effect becomes more crucial for oscillations with a larger azimuthal quantum number and for neutron star models with a weaker density dependence of nuclear symmetry energy. In practice, when one identifies quasi-periodic oscillations from a neutron star, where magnetic effects are negligible, with crustal torsional oscillations, the finite-size effect can be more significant at frequencies higher than ∼100 Hz.
A multisimulation study of relativistic SZ temperature scalings in galaxy clusters and groups
Authors: Lee Elizabeth , Anbajagane Dhayaa , Singh Priyanka , Chluba Jens , Nagai Daisuke , Kay Scott T , Cui Weiguang , Dolag Klaus , Yepes Gustavo
Published: September 2022

The Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) effect is a powerful tool in modern cosmology. With future observations promising ever improving SZ measurements, the relativistic corrections to the SZ signals from galaxy groups and clusters are increasingly relevant. As such, it is important to understand the differences between three temperature measures: (a) the average relativistic SZ (rSZ) temperature, (b) the mass-weighted temperature relevant for the thermal SZ (tSZ) effect, and (c) the X-ray spectroscopic temperature. In this work, we compare these cluster temperatures, as predicted by the Bahamas & Macsis, IllustrisTNG, Magneticum, and The Three Hundred Project simulations. Despite the wide range of simulation parameters, we find the SZ temperatures are consistent across the simulations. We estimate a $\simeq 10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ level correction from rSZ to clusters with Y ≃ 10−4 Mpc−2. Our analysis confirms a systematic offset between the three temperature measures; with the rSZ temperature $\simeq 20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ larger than the other measures, and diverging further at higher redshifts. We demonstrate that these measures depart from simple self-similar evolution and explore how they vary with the defined radius of haloes. We investigate how different feedback prescriptions and resolutions affect the observed temperatures, and discover the SZ temperatures are rather insensitive to these details. The agreement between simulations indicates an exciting avenue for observational and theoretical exploration, determining the extent of relativistic SZ corrections. We provide multiple simulation-based fits to the scaling relations for use in future SZ modelling.
Effect of assessment methods on the determination of the critical wind speeds of high-speed trains
Authors: Yang Shiwei , Liu Rong , Liu Dongrun
Published: September 2022

Critical wind speed can play an important guiding role in developing an initial train operation schedule and knowledge of it may prevent safety risks for a train. Hence, the efficient and accurate calculation of the critical wind speeds of trains is critical. This study addresses this topic and focuses on the influence of different methods on the calculation of the critical wind speed. The result reveals that the five-mass and three-mass methods can both be used to determine the critical wind speed of a train more quickly with acceptable accuracy, but these two methods overestimate the crosswind safety risk of the train. With the increase of the train's operating speed, the nonlinearity of the vehicle system is further enhanced. In particular, the influence of the rolling motion between the car body and the bogie is more prominent, and the results of the five-mass method and the multi-body simulation method tend to be the closest. Last but not least, the damping parameters and inertial forces ignored by the quasi-static method will effectively reduce the wind forces transmitted to the track, resulting in a smaller overturning coefficient and higher critical wind speed.
First molecular phylogeny of the freshwater planarian genusGirardia(Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) unveils hidden taxonomic diversity and initiates resolution of its historical biogeography
Authors: Benítez-Álvarez Lisandra , Sluys Ronald , Leal-Zanchet Ana María , Leria Laia , Riutort Marta
Published: September 2022

The genus Girardia (Platyhelminthes: Tricladida) comprises several species of which some have spread from their original areas of distribution in the Americas to other parts of the globe. Due to great anatomical similarity between species, morphology-based phylogenetic analyses have struggled to resolve the affinities between species and species-groups. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that populations of Girardia may show only asexual reproduction by fissiparity and, thus, do not exhibit a copulatory apparatus, which hampers taxonomic identification of phylogenetic characters. In the present work, this problem has been resolved by constructing a molecular phylogeny of the genus. Although our samples do not include representatives of all known species, they cover a large part of the original distributional range of the genus Girardia. Our phylogenetic results suggest the presence of two main clades, which are genetically and karyologically highly differentiated. North and South American populations of G. tigrina actually constitute two sibling species that are not even closely related. The South American form is here described as a new species. The phylogenetic tree brings to light that Girardia arose on the South American portion of Gondwanaland, from which it, subsequently, dispersed to the Nearctic Region, probably more than once.
Assessing Resident Well-Being After the ABSITE: A Bad Time to Ask?
Authors: Cheung Elaine O. , Hu Yue-Yung , Jones Andrew , Ma Meixi , Schlick Cary Jo R. , Moskowitz Judith T. , Agarwal Gaurava , Bilimoria Karl Y.
Published: September 2022

Objectives:

Assess the association of residents’ exam performance and transient emotions with their reports of burnout, suicidality, and mistreatment.

Background:

An annual survey evaluating surgical resident well-being is administered following the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE). One concern about administering a survey after the ABSITE is that stress from the exam may influence their responses.

Methods:

A survey was administered to all general surgery residents following the 2018 ABSITE assessing positive and negative emotions (scales range from 0 to 12), as well as burnout, suicidality over the past 12 months, and mistreatment (discrimination, sexual harassment verbal/emotional or physical abuse) in the past academic year. Multivariable hierarchical regressions assessed the associations of exam performance and emotions with burnout, suicidality, and mistreatment.

Results:

Residents from 262 programs provided complete responses (N = 6987, 93.6% response rate). Residents reported high mean positive emotion (M = 7.54, SD = 2.35) and low mean negative emotion (M = 5.33, SD = 2.43). While residents in the bottom ABSITE score quartile reported lower positive and higher negative emotion than residents in the top 2 and 3 quartiles, respectively (P < 0.005), exam performance was not associated with the reported likelihood of burnout, suicidality, or mistreatment.

Conclusions:

Residents’ emotions after the ABSITE are largely positive. Although poor exam performance may be associated with lower positive and higher negative emotion, it does not seem to be associated with the likelihood of reporting burnout, suicidality, or mistreatment. After adjusting for exam performance and emotions, mistreatment remained independently associated with burnout and suicidality. These findings support existing evidence demonstrating that burnout and suicidality are stable constructs that are robust to transient stress and/or emotions.
Displaced Tibia Fractures in Adolescents: Closed Reduction and Casting Versus Flexible Intramedullary Nails
Authors: Rivera Asdrubal E. , Cummings Jason L. , Pereira Daniel E. , Oladeji Afolayan K. , Landau Andrew J. , Hosseinzadeh Pooya
Published: September 2022

Introduction:

Although there has been a recent trend towards the operative intervention of pediatric diaphyseal tibial fractures, there is sparse literature that supports this trend. This study compares the outcomes in children between 10 and 18 years of age with diaphyseal tibial fractures who undergo nonoperative treatment with closed reduction and casting (CRC) to those who undergo operative treatment with flexible intramedullary nailing.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients between 10 and 18 years of age who underwent treatment for tibia fractures at the authors home institution between 2005 and 2018. Radiographs and medical records were reviewed for the duration of immobilization, time to fracture healing and complications including delayed union, malunion, nonunion, and surgical site infection. All statistical analysis was performed using an αof 0.05.

Results:

One hundred forty one patients (81.8% males) were included in the final analysis. Patients treated with flexible nailing took an average of 7 weeks (P<0.001) longer than patients treated with CRC to achieve radiographic healing. The average time to full weight-bearing activities was longer by 1 week in the patients treated nonoperatively with CRC (P=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the malunion rates between the 2 groups (P=0.067), but delayed union and nonunion were exclusively seen in the flexible nailing group. There was a total of 40 complications among 33 (23.4%) patients, most of whom were in the CRC cohort (60.6%, n=20), but there was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the 2 cohorts.

Discussion:

Most adolescents presenting with closed diaphyseal tibial fractures of moderate severity can be successfully treated both nonoperatively with CRC and operatively with flexible intramedullary nailing. However, we recommend an initial attempt at nonoperative treatment be performed in these patients due to the association of more severe complications with flexible nailing.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Evaluation of Xenograft Efficacy in Immediate Prosthesis-based Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Sobti Nikhil , Vishwanath Neel , King Victor A. , Rao Vinay , Rhee Ben , Spake Carole S.L. , Borrelli Mimi R. , Akiki Ronald A. , Breuing Karl H.
Published: September 2022

Background:

The advent of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has revolutionized prosthesis-based breast reconstruction. However, paucity of human cadaveric tissue has resulted in limitation of supply and increased associated costs, prompting concerted effort to identify xenograft alternatives. Although studies have examined the safety of Artia, a porcine-derived ADM, few have evaluated its clinical efficacy as soft tissue reinforcement. This study uniquely evaluates the clinical efficacy of Artia in implant-based breast reconstruction.

Methods:

IRB-approved retrospective chart review was conducted to identify 243 consecutive TE-based procedures performed at a tertiary academic medical center between March 2017 and March 2021. Propensity matching was conducted to minimize differences between cohorts. Efficacy metrics, defined as initial tissue expander (TE) fill volume, number of TE fills, and time interval between exchange of TE for final implant, were compared between xenograft (Artia) and allograft (AlloDerm) groups.

Results:

Patients who underwent Artia-based breast reconstruction achieved superior initial TE fill volume relative to those who underwent AlloDerm-based breast reconstruction via univariate analysis (317.3 ± 185.8 mL versus 286.1 ± 140.4 mL, P < 0.01) when patient and operative characteristics were well-matched. However, linear regression analysis failed to demonstrate difference in efficacy metrics, such as initial TE fill volume (P = 0.31), ratio between initial TE fill volume and final implant size (P = 0.19), and number of TE fills (P = 0.76). Complication rates were comparable between groups.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that Artia can be used as a safe and efficacious alternative to human-derived ADM in immediate TE-based breast reconstruction.
An Account From a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner on Caring for a Transgender Survivor: A Case Report
Authors: Alcock Mallory , Hilario Carla T. , MacLennan D. Stewart
Published: September 2022

Transgender individuals represent a gender minority population that has been underserved within the healthcare system and underrepresented in population health and sexuality research, specifically as it pertains to sexual assault. This case report aims to explore how sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) approach the care of transgender people who have survived sexual assault. Key components and findings related to the SANE's encounter will be examined including an evaluation of the biases and assumptions held by the SANE and other healthcare providers. Concepts such as cisnormativity, heteronormativity, and intersectionality will be examined in terms of how these can shape the experience of the survivor, influence the care provided by SANEs, and interact with gender stereotypes and nonaffirming practices faced by transgender people. This case report highlights the importance of acknowledging and undermining nursing approaches that can (re)traumatize sexual assault survivors and explores ways in which SANEs can help to shift views of gender and bodies with the goal of providing better care for gender minority populations.
Qualitative Analysis Using Social Maps to Explore Young Women's Experiences With Social Support of their Oral PrEP Use in Kenya and South Africa
Authors: Katz Ariana W. K. , Roberts Sarah , Rousseau Elzette , Khoza Makhosazane Nomhle , Mogaka Felix , Bukusi Elizabeth , Delany-Moretlwe Sinead , Bekker Linda-Gail , Morton Jennifer F. , Johnson Rachel , Baeten Jared M. , Celum Connie , van der Straten Ariane
Published: September 2022

Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence is challenging. We explored African adolescent girls and young women's (AGYW) perceptions of the social influencers of their PrEP use and the social influencers' PrEP knowledge and support (six focus group discussions; 33 South African and Kenyan AGYW) in the Prevention Options for Women Evaluation Research demonstration project. Participants completed a social mapping exercise indicating strength and direction of influence of members in their social networks. Mothers and counselors were identified as positive influencers and most influential by >50% of participants, sex partners were labeled negative influencers or both positive and negative, and best friends were mostly positive influencers. HIV- and PrEP-related stigma were the major reasons influencers were identified as negative. Participants wanted their social networks to be better educated about PrEP by someone other than the AGYW themselves (e.g., clinic staff) and to support their PrEP use. To improve PrEP adherence, community- and peer-based PrEP sensitization and delivery interventions should be evaluated.
Artificial Intelligence Confirming Treatment Success: The Role of Gender- and Age-Specific Scales in Performance Evaluation
Authors: Georgievskaya Anastasia
Published: September 2022

In plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology, photographic data are an invaluable element of research and clinical practice. Additionally, the use of before and after images is a standard documentation method for procedures, and these images are particularly useful in consultations for effective communication with the patient. An artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach has been proven to have significant results in medical dermatology, plastic surgery, and antiaging procedures in recent years, with applications ranging from skin cancer screening to 3D face reconstructions, the prediction of biological age and perceived age. The increasing use of AI and computer vision methods is due to their noninvasive nature and their potential to provide remote diagnostics. This is especially helpful in instances where traveling to a physical office is complicated, as we have experienced in recent years with the global coronavirus pandemic. However, one question remains: how should the results of AI-based analysis be presented to enable personalization? In this paper, the author investigates the benefit of using gender- and age-specific scales to present skin parameter scores calculated using AI-based systems when analyzing image data.
Assessment of the Relation Between Craniofacial Tissue Profile-Morphology and Dermatoglyphics
Authors: Ortug Gursel , Işeri Haluk
Published: September 2022

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the convexity angle of facial tissue and fingerprint types by analyzing the connection between dermatoglyphic prints and facial structure. A total of 65 adults (24 females, 41 males) participated in the study. Each participant’s fingerprint was analyzed using conventional methods of observation upon the index finger of the dominant hand. Fingerprints were classified into 3 fundamental types: arch, whorl, or loop. Craniofacial profiling was performed with measurements of hard tissue (Gl’-A-Pg’) and soft tissue facial convexity (Gl-Sn-Pg) and total facial convexity (Gl-Prn-Pg) angles between 3 anthropological points determined on the lateral direct radiographs of the participants. Soft tissue convexity facial angle (Gl-Sn-Pg) values were found to be an average of 166.83° in females and an average of 162.05° in males. (Gl-Prn-Pg) values were found to be an average of 138.54° in females and 135.27° in males. The soft tissue profile of males showed a significantly convex structure compared with females. Also, the “whorl” type of fingerprint was found to be dominant in both sexes. There is no statistically significant difference in terms of soft tissue profile convexity in individuals belonging to the 3 different fingerprint groups. No statistically significant difference in soft tissue profile angular values between right-hand thumb and index fingerprint type groups were found among and between sexes. However, a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between the nose, lips, mouth, ear, and eyes and fingerprints of the same person may prove to be beneficial.
Partial Glossectomy Combined With Radiofrequency Ablation for Macroglossia in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome
Authors: Lan Dongyi , Gao Xingqiang , Zhang Songchunyuan , Li Jun , Dong Chenbin
Published: September 2022

Objective:

As the most common feature of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), macroglossia may influence the quality of life, maxillofacial growth, and speech development of children. The retrospective study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of partial glossectomy combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for macroglossia patients in BWS.

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted in BWS-derived macroglossia patients who underwent partial glossectomy combined with RFA from May 2019 to January 2021. In total, 35 patients consisting of 17 males and 18 females met the inclusion criteria and underwent surgery by the same plastic surgeon. Demographic characteristics, BWS features, operation details, preoperative and postoperative outcomes, satisfaction evaluations, and subgroup analysis were collected and assessed.

Results:

Of the 35 patients involved, the average age at the time of surgery was 14.05±8.08 months, and the average surgery duration was 48.17±6.72 minutes. Only 1 patient suffered ventral tongue wound dehiscence, and the rest of the patients did not develop any other complications. The severity and frequency of tongue protrusion, drooling, snoring, and feeding difficulty were significantly ameliorated. The patient’s parents showed satisfaction towards the overall surgery, tongue’s appearance, and tongue’s motor function. Tongue’s height decreased from 32.09±1.16 mm before the operation to 29.29±1.33 mm after the operation.

Conclusion:

The partial glossectomy combined RFA exerts a safe, effective and viable technique to treat BWS-derived macroglossia.
Biological Changes of Autologous Auricular Cartilage in Rhinoplasty
Authors: Wu Gaoyang , Sun Yiyu , Sheng Lingling , Dai Tingting , He Jinguang , Jiang Zhaohua , Cao Weigang , Li Shengli
Published: September 2022

Autologous auricular cartilage is used extensively as a good graft material in rhinoplasty. In this study, clinical specimens from patients who underwent revision rhinoplasty with auricular cartilage grafts were collected to compare the changes before and after auricular cartilage transplantation with the use of histologic, immunohistochemical, and quantitative assays. Patients who underwent revision rhinoplasty from 2018 to 2022 were analyzed. Fresh auricular cartilage left after surgery and auricular cartilage graft tissue were examined and compared. Compared with fresh auricular cartilage, local fibrosis was seen in the transplanted auricular cartilage with a slight decrease in elastic fibers, type II collagen, and extracellular matrix secretion. Quantitative assays showed a decrease in glycosaminoglycan, DNA, and total collagen content in the transplanted auricular cartilage tissue. The results of the study suggest that the histologic characteristics, cell functionality, and biochemical composition of the grafted cartilage changed to a certain extent after autologous auricular cartilage graft rhinoplasty. These results provide insights into the selection of graft/filler materials for rhinoplasty and what changes to expect.
Experimental Study on the Biological Outcome of Auricular Cartilage and Costal Cartilage at Different Time Periods After Autologous Cartilage Rhinoplasty
Authors: Wu Gaoyang , Sun Yiyu , Sheng Lingling , Dai Tingting , He Jinguang , Jiang Zhaohua , Cao Weigang , Li Shengli
Published: September 2022

Since autologous cartilage is a good transplant material, it is widely used in various fields of clinical medicine. In this study, we collected clinical specimens obtained at different numbers of years after transplantation and used histologic staining to explore the post-transplantation changes in auricular cartilage and costal cartilage. A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent primary autologous cartilage rhinoplasty and secondary rhinoplasty from 2017 to 2021, and the remaining autologous cartilage tissue after surgery was used for histologic testing. As time progressed after transplantation, the density of costal chondrocytes decreased first and then increased, while the secretion of type II collagen and extracellular matrix both decreased slightly. There was a clear boundary between the cartilage tissue and the surrounding connective tissue, and there was no ingrowth of blood vessels in the cartilage. Auricular cartilage showed a decrease in the integrity of the matrix edge. Moreover, local fibrosis was visible, and vascular ingrowth was observed at the edge of the cartilage. The content of type II collagen first increased and then decreased, and the cell secretion function was lower than that of normal chondrocytes. The results of the study suggest that the histologic outcome of elastic cartilage after transplantation is significantly different from that of hyaline cartilage. Moreover, costal cartilage was more stable than auricular cartilage after transplantation.
A highly divergent
Wolbachia
with a tiny genome in an insect-parasitic tylenchid nematode
Authors: Dudzic Jan P. , Curtis Caitlin I. , Gowen Brent E. , Perlman Steve J.
Published: September 2022

Wolbachia
symbionts are the most successful host-associated microbes on the planet, infecting arthropods and nematodes. Their role in nematodes is particularly enigmatic, with filarial nematode species either 100% infected and dependent on symbionts for reproduction and development, or not at all infected. We have discovered a highly divergent strain of
Wolbachia
in an insect-parasitic tylenchid nematode,
Howardula
sp., in a nematode clade that has not previously been known to harbour
Wolbachia
. While this nematode is 100% infected with
Wolbachia
, we did not detect it in related species. We sequenced the
Howardula
symbiont (
w
How) genome and found that it is highly reduced, comprising only 550 kilobase pairs of DNA, approximately 35% smaller than the smallest
Wolbachia
nematode symbiont genomes. The
w
How genome is a subset of all other
Wolbachia
genomes and has not acquired any new genetic information. While it has lost many genes, including genes involved in cell wall synthesis and cell division, it has retained the entire haem biosynthesis pathway, suggesting that haem supplementation is critical.
w
How provides key insights into our understanding of what are the lower limits of
Wolbachia
cells, as well as the role of
Wolbachia
symbionts in the biology and convergent evolution of diverse parasitic nematodes.
Matches and mismatches between the global distribution of major food crops and climate suitability
Authors: Mahaut Lucie , Pironon Samuel , Barnagaud Jean-Yves , Bretagnolle François , Khoury Colin K. , Mehrabi Zia , Milla Ruben , Phillips Charlotte , Rieseberg Loren H. , Violle Cyrille , Renard Delphine
Published: September 2022

Over the course of history, humans have moved crops from their regions of origin to new locations across the world. The social, cultural and economic drivers of these movements have generated differences not only between current distributions of crops and their climatic origins, but also between crop distributions and climate suitability for their production. Although these mismatches are particularly important to inform agricultural strategies on climate change adaptation, they have, to date, not been quantified consistently at the global level. Here, we show that the relationships between the distributions of 12 major food crops and climate suitability for their yields display strong variation globally. After investigating the role of biophysical, socio-economic and historical factors, we report that high-income world regions display a better match between crop distribution and climate suitability. In addition, although crops are farmed predominantly in the same climatic range as their wild progenitors, climate suitability is not necessarily higher there, a pattern that reflects the legacy of domestication history on current crop distribution. Our results reveal how far the global distribution of major crops diverges from their climatic optima and call for greater consideration of the multiple dimensions of the crop socio-ecological niche in climate change adaptive strategies.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Hepeviridae 2022
Authors: Purdy Michael A. , Drexler Jan Felix , Meng Xiang-Jin , Norder Heléne , Okamoto Hiroaki , Van der Poel Wim H. M. , Reuter Gábor , de Souza William M. , Ulrich Rainer G. , Smith Donald B.
Published: September 2022

The family Hepeviridae includes enterically transmitted small quasi-enveloped or non-enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses infecting mammals and birds (subfamily Orthohepevirinae) or fish (Parahepevirinae). Hepatitis E virus (genus Paslahepevirus) is responsible for self-limiting acute hepatitis in humans; the infection may become chronic in immunocompromised individuals and extrahepatic manifestations have been described. Avian hepatitis E virus (genus Avihepevirus) causes hepatitis–splenomegaly syndrome in chickens. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Hepeviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/hepeviridae.
A general approach to identify low-frequency variants within influenza samples collected during routine surveillance
Authors: Van Poelvoorde Laura A. E. , Delcourt Thomas , Vuylsteke Marnik , De Keersmaecker Sigrid C. J. , Thomas Isabelle , Van Gucht Steven , Saelens Xavier , Roosens Nancy , Vanneste Kevin
Published: September 2022

Influenza viruses exhibit considerable diversity between hosts. Additionally, different quasispecies can be found within the same host. High-throughput sequencing technologies can be used to sequence a patient-derived virus population at sufficient depths to identify low-frequency variants (LFV) present in a quasispecies, but many challenges remain for reliable LFV detection because of experimental errors introduced during sample preparation and sequencing. High genomic copy numbers and extensive sequencing depths are required to differentiate false positive from real LFV, especially at low allelic frequencies (AFs). This study proposes a general approach for identifying LFV in patient-derived samples obtained during routine surveillance. Firstly, validated thresholds were determined for LFV detection, whilst balancing both the cost and feasibility of reliable LFV detection in clinical samples. Using a genetically well-defined population of influenza A viruses, thresholds of at least 104 genomes per microlitre and AF of ≥5 % were established as detection limits. Secondly, a subset of 59 retained influenza A (H3N2) samples from the 2016–2017 Belgian influenza season was composed. Thirdly, as a proof of concept for the added value of LFV for routine influenza monitoring, potential associations between patient data and whole genome sequencing data were investigated. A significant association was found between a high prevalence of LFV and disease severity. This study provides a general methodology for influenza LFV detection, which can also be adopted by other national influenza reference centres and for other viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, this study suggests that the current relevance of LFV for routine influenza surveillance programmes might be undervalued.
Phase-Amplitude Coupling in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results from the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials
Authors: Peck Fleming , Naples Adam J. , Webb Sara J. , Bernier Raphael A. , Chawarska Katarzyna , Dawson Geraldine , Faja Susan , Jeste Shafali , Murias Michael , Nelson Charles A. , Shic Frederick , Sugar Catherine , Şentürk Damla , McPartland James C. , Levin April R. ,   the ABC-CT Network
Published: September 2022

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined behaviorally, but measures that probe underlying neural mechanisms may provide clues to biomarker discovery and brain-based patient stratification with clinical utility. Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) has been posited as a measure of the balance between top-down and bottom-up processing in cortex, as well as a marker for sensory processing and predictive coding difficulties in ASD. We evaluate differences in PAC metrics of resting-state brain dynamics between children with and without ASD and relate PAC measures to age and behavioral assessments.

Methods

We analyzed electroencephalography data collected by the Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials, including 225 (192 male) ASD and 116 (81 male) typically-developing children aged 6-11 years. We evaluated the strength and phase preference of PAC and the test-retest reliability of PAC across sessions.

Results

There was significantly increased alpha-gamma and theta-gamma PAC strength in ASD. When considering all participants together, we found significant associations of whole brain theta-gamma PAC strength with measures of social communication (Beta = 0.185; p = 0.006) and repetitive behaviors (Beta = 0.166; p = 0.009) as well as age (Beta = 0.233; p < 0.0001); however, these associations did not persist when considering the ASD group alone. There are also group differences in theta-gamma phase preference.

Conclusions

This large, rigorously collected sample indicated altered PAC strength and phase bias in ASD. These findings suggest opportunities for back-translation into animal models as well as clinical potential for stratification of brain-based subgroups in ASD.
Impact of Differential Vaccine Effectiveness on COVID-19 Hospitalization Cases: Projections for 10 Developed Countries where Booster Vaccines were Recommended
Authors: Maschio Michael , Fust Kelly , Lee Amy , Van de Velde Nicolas , Buck Philip O. , Kohli Michele A.
Published: September 2022

Background & Objectives

In a previous analysis, a decision-analytic model was used to analyze the clinical and economic impact of the differences in effectiveness between the two licensed mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccines, mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2, in 2022 for adults aged 18 years and older in the United States (US). In this analysis, the same model was used to estimate the impact that administering first booster doses with mRNA-1273 could have had on COVID-related hospitalizations and costs over a 6-month period in 10 developed countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom [UK], and US), considering updated effectiveness data.

Methods

The model was used to estimate number of hospitalizations and related costs using the actual vaccine distribution for the first COVID-19 booster from each country. These estimates were compared to a scenario where 100% of doses for that 6-month period was assumed to be mRNA-1273. The effectiveness of mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 was estimated from real world data from the UK.

Results

The total number of doses switched to the mRNA-1273 booster would range from 4.3 million in Spain to 39.4 million in Japan. The number of hospitalizations and associated hospitalization costs would be expected to fall in all countries, with the proportional decrease ranging from 1.1% (16,800 fewer) in Germany to 8.8% (25,100 fewer) in Australia.

Conclusions

Real-world effectiveness data suggest that a booster dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine may be more effective compared to other vaccines used for booster doses. Given this difference in effectiveness, results of this analysis demonstrate that switching to 100% mRNA-1273 boosters would have reduced the number of hospitalizations and associated costs in each country during the first 6 months of the omicron period.
The Quartet Data Portal: integration of community-wide resources for multiomics quality control
Authors: Yang Jingcheng , Liu Yaqing , Shang Jun , Chen Qiaochu , Chen Qingwang , Ren Luyao , Zhang Naixin , Yu Ying , Li Zhihui , Song Yueqiang , Yang Shengpeng , Scherer Andreas , Tong Weida , Hong Huixiao , Shi Leming , Xiao Wenming , Zheng Yuanting
Published: September 2022

The implementation of quality control for multiomic data requires the widespread use of well-characterized reference materials, reference datasets, and related resources. The Quartet Data Portal was built to facilitate community access to such rich resources established in the Quartet Project. A convenient platform is provided for users to request the DNA, RNA, protein, and metabolite reference materials, as well as multi-level datasets generated across omics, platforms, labs, protocols, and batches. Interactive visualization tools are offered to assist users to gain a quick understanding of the reference datasets. Crucially, the Quartet Data Portal continuously collects, evaluates, and integrates the community-generated data of the distributed Quartet multiomic reference materials. In addition, the portal provides analysis pipelines to assess the quality of user-submitted multiomic data. Furthermore, the reference datasets, performance metrics, and analysis pipelines will be improved through periodic review and integration of multiomic data submitted by the community. Effective integration of the evolving technologies via active interactions with the community will help ensure the reliability of multiomics-based biological discoveries. The Quartet Data Portal is accessible athttps://chinese-quartet.org.

Graphical Abstract
Perplexity about periodicity repeats perpetually: A response to Brookshire
Authors: Re Daniele , Tosato Tommaso , Fries Pascal , Landau Ayelet N.
Published: September 2022

Brookshire (2022) claims that previous analyses of periodicity in detection performance after a reset event suffer from extreme false-positive rates. Here we show that this conclusion is based on an incorrect implemention of a null-hypothesis of aperiodicity, and that a correct implementation confirms low false-positive rates. Furthermore, we clarify that the previously used method of shuffling-in-time, and thereby shuffling-in-phase, cleanly implements the null hypothesis of no temporal structure after the reset, and thereby of no phase locking to the reset. Moving from a corresponding phase-locking spectrum to an inference on the periodicity of the underlying process can be accomplished by parameterizing the spectrum. This can separate periodic from non-periodic components, and quantify the strength of periodicity.
A Multivalent Polyomavirus Vaccine Elicits Durable Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Macaques
Authors: Peretti Alberto , Scorpio Diana G. , Kong Wing-Pui , Pang Yuk-Ying S. , McCarthy Michael , Ren Kuishu , Jackson Moriah , Graham Barney S. , Buck Christopher B. , McTamney Patrick M. , Pastrana Diana V.
Published: September 2022

In 2019, there were about 100,000 kidney transplants globally, with more than a quarter of them performed in the United States. Unfortunately, some engrafted organs are lost to polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) caused by BK and JC viruses (BKPyV and JCPyV). Transplant patients are routinely monitored for BKPyV viremia, which is an accepted hallmark of nascent nephropathy. If viremia is detected, a reduction in immunosuppressive therapy is standard care, but the intervention comes with increased risk of immune rejection of the engrafted organ. Recent reports have suggested that transplant recipients with high levels of polyomavirus-neutralizing antibodies are protected against PyVAN. Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines, similar to approved human papillomaviruses vaccines, have an excellent safety record and are known to induce high levels of neutralizing antibodies associated and long-lasting protection from infection. In this study, we demonstrate that VLPs representing BKPyV genotypes I, II, and IV, as well as JCPyV genotype 2 produced in insect cells elicit robust antibody titers. In rhesus macaques, all monkeys developed neutralizing antibody titers above a previously proposed protective threshold of 10,000. A second inoculation, administered 19 weeks after priming, boosted titers to a plateau of ≥25,000 that was maintained for almost two years. No vaccine-related adverse events were observed in any macaques. A multivalent BK/JC VLP immunogen did not show inferiority compared to the single-genotype VLP immunogens. Considering these encouraging results, we believe a clinical trial administering the multivalent VLP vaccine in patients waiting to receive a kidney transplant is warranted to evaluate its ability to reduce or eliminate PyVAN.

HIGHLIGHTS

Recombinant virus-like particle vaccine was safely administered to rhesus macaques

Vaccination generated high-titer neutralizing antibody responses

Multivalent BK/JC polyomavirus vaccine was as effective as monovalent vaccines

High neutralizing titers were sustained for 92 weeks without appreciable decline