bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression pattern of perilipins in human brain during aging and in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Conte Maria , Medici Valentina , Malagoli Davide , Chiariello Antonio , Cirrincione Alice , Davin Annalisa , Chikhladze Maia , Vasuri Francesco , Legname Giuseppe , Ferrer Isidre , Vanni Silvia , Marcon Gabriella , Poloni Tino Emanuele , Guaita Antonio , Franceschi Claudio , Salvioli Stefano
Published: July 2021

Aims

Perilipins are conserved proteins that decorate intracellular lipid droplets and are essential for lipid metabolism. To date, there is limited knowledge on their expression in human brain or their involvement in brain aging and neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to characterise the expression levels of perilipins (Plin1–Plin5) in different cerebral areas from subjects of different age, with or without signs of neurodegeneration.

Methods

We performed real‐time RT‐PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy analyses in autoptic brain samples of frontal and temporal cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus from subjects ranging from 33 to 104 years of age, with or without histological signs of neurodegeneration. To test the possible relationship between Plins and inflammation, correlation analysis with IL‐6 expression was also performed.

Results

Plin2, Plin3 and Plin5, but not Plin1 and Plin4, are expressed in the considered brain areas with different intensities. Plin2 appears to be expressed more in grey matter, particularly in neurons in all the areas analysed, whereas Plin3 and Plin5 appear to be expressed more in white matter. Plin3 seems to be expressed more in astrocytes. Only Plin2 expression is higher in old subjects and patients with early tauopathy or Alzheimer's disease and is associated with IL‐6 expression.

Conclusions

Perilipins are expressed in human brain but only Plin2 appears to be modulated with age and neurodegeneration and linked to an inflammatory state. We propose that the accumulation of lipid droplets decorated with Plin2 occurs during brain aging and that this accumulation may be an early marker and initial step of inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Eating on the night shift: A need for evidence‐based dietary guidelines?
Authors: D’Annibale Maria , Hornzee Nicky , Whelan Megan , Guess Nicola , Hall Wendy , Gibson Rachel
Published: July 2021

Increasing 24‐h demand for products, services and health care is resulting in a substantial portion of the workforce engaging in shift work. Observational studies suggest an association between shift work exposure and increased incidence of cardiometabolic disease. Shift workers report less healthy diets compared to day workers. As diet is a modifiable behaviour, it is important to understand how it might mediate the relationship between shift work and health. We reviewed online dietary advice for shift workers by searching for existing guidelines for shift workers published by websites of credible sources, for example institutions or government agencies. Based on the 26 guidelines retrieved, the most common categories of advice were eating patterns (n = 25), general healthy eating and/or specific food groups (n = 22), control of caffeine intake (n = 23) and maintaining hydration/fluid intake (n = 17). Although the majority of publicly available advice for shift workers follows general healthy eating guidelines, there are inconsistencies in the recommendations around the frequency of eating and snacking. Few studies have investigated modification of diet quality in shift workers. With the goal of adding to the evidence base, the Shift‐eat study is a feasibility trial designed to test whether dietary intakes in line with UK healthy eating recommendations during night work improve markers of health (interstitial glucose and heart rate variability) in free‐living shift‐working employees. Shift work is unavoidable and necessary for many industries. With an increasing section of the population employed in jobs requiring shift work, consistent dietary guidance based on evidence from shift‐working populations is urgently needed to support maintenance of health and wellbeing in employees working outside standard daytime hours.
Physical functioning in patients with chronic kidney disease stage G3b‐5 in Japan: The reach‐J CKD cohort study
Authors: Okubo Reiko , Kondo Masahide , Tsunoda Ryoya , Nagai Kei , Kai Hirayasu , Saito Chie , Hoshino Junichi , Okada Hirokazu , Narita Ichiei , Wada Takashi , Kashihara Naoki , Robinson Bruce , Yamagata Kunihiro
Published: July 2021

Aim

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important public health problem. Recently, CKD has been found to be associated with poor physical functioning in community‐dwelling elderly individuals. However, the physical functioning of non‐dialysis (ND) patients with advanced CKD treated by nephrologists is unknown.

Methods

Patients with ND‐CKD stage G3b‐5 who participated in a nationwide Reach‐J CKD cohort study were included in this study. Physical functioning and physical activity were assessed by the Katz Index, Lawton‐Body instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scale, and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire of the international CKD Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (CKDopps) questionnaires. Dichotomies between good and poor physical functioning and physical activity scores were explored.

Results

Among 1628 patients, 84.3% had good physical functioning. Poor physical functioning was more common with older age (p < .001), higher CKD stage (p < .05), and comorbid conditions such as diabetes (p < .001), cardiovascular disease (p < .05), cerebrovascular disease (p < .001), and cancer (non‐skin) (p < .05). Forty percent of the patients were inactive. Physical inactivity was more common with older age (p < .001) and higher CKD stage (p < .001).

Conclusion

A minority, but sizeable proportion of patients with advanced CKD treated by nephrologists in Japan have some disability in ADLs/IADLs. Nephrologists need to routinely assess the physical functioning and physical activity of patients with advanced CKD to provide individualized guidance and comprehensive support to these patients for their daily life.
Optimal control of harvest timing in discrete population models
Authors: Grey Skylar , Lenhart Suzanne , Hilker Frank M. , Franco Daniel
Published: July 2021

Harvest plays an important role in management decisions, from fisheries to pest control. Discrete‐time models enable us to explore the importance of timing of management decisions, including the order of events of particular actions. We derive novel mechanistic models featuring explicit within‐season harvest timing and level. We explore optimization of within‐season harvest level and timing through optimal control of these population models. With a fixed harvest level, harvest timing is taken as the control. Then both harvest timing and level are used as controls. We maximize an objective functional which includes management goals of maximizing yield, maximizing stock, and minimizing costs associated with both harvest intensity and harvest timing. While standard models with compensatory population dynamics predict it is best to harvest as early as possible in the season, we find instances where harvesting later in the season is optimal. Furthermore, we discover interesting oscillations in the population size, which would be unexpected in the model without time‐varying controls.

Recommendations for Resource Managers:

This paper presents a novel model with variable harvest timing, which can be used as a tool to manage populations.

While the usual population models identify harvesting at the beginning of the season as the best timing to maximize yield and/or population size, accounting for harvest costs related to timing can give rise to optimal harvest time at some intermediate point in the season.

Controlling the level and the timing of harvest separately when maximizing the yield while minimizing the costs of management can lead to oscillation patterns in the population. Such oscillations would not be seen in these models without these time‐varying controls.

The level of harvest intensity in a population can affect the optimal time to implement the harvest.
High density intramural mapping of post‐infarct premature ventricular contractions and ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Downar Eugene , Janse Michiel J. , Bhaskaran Abhishek , Niri Ahmed , Velluppillai Arulalan , Massé Stéphane , Nanthakumar Kumaraswamy
Published: July 2021

Background

Spontaneous ventricular premature contractions (PVCs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the acute post infarct milieu is assumed to be due to automaticity. However, the mechanism has not been studied with intramural mapping.

Objective

To study the mechanism of spontaneous PVCs with high density intramural mapping in a canine model, and to test the hypothesis that post‐infarct PVCs and VT are due to re‐entry rather than automaticity.

Methods

In 15 anesthetized dogs, using 768 intramural unipolar electrograms, simultaneous recordings were made. After 20 min of stabilization, recordings were made during the first 10 min of ischemia, and activation maps of individual beats were constructed. Acute ischemia was produced by clamping the left anterior descending coronary artery proximal to the first diagonal branch.

Results

In all experiments ST‐T alternans was present. Spontaneous ventricular beats occurred in five of 15 dogs where the earliest ectopic activity was manifested in the endocardium, well within the ischemic zone. From there, activity spread rapidly along the subendocardium, with endo‐to epicardial spread along the non‐ischemic myocardium. Epicardial breakthrough always occurred at the border of the ischemic myocardium. In three dogs, delayed potentials were observed, which were earliest at the ischemic epicardium and extended transmurally with increasing delay towards the endocardium, where they culminated in a premature beat. A similar sequence was observed in VT that followed.

Conclusion

Graded responses that occur with each sinus beat intramurally, when able to propagate from epicardium to endocardium are the mechanism of PVCs and VT in post‐infarct myocardium.
Impact of surgical weight loss on novel P‐wave‐related variables which are nominated as predictors of atrial arrhythmias
Authors: Ibisoglu Ersin , Boyraz Bedrettin , Güneş Saime Turgut , Savur Ümeyir , Naki Tekin Deniz Dilan , Erdoğan Aslan , Özdenkaya Yaşar , Erdoğan Emrah , Çeğilli Ercan , Olgun Fatih Erkam , Güneş Hacı Murat
Published: July 2021

Background

Bariatric surgery has been associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in obese patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the alterations of novel P‐wave related atrial arrhythmia predictors in patients who achieved effective weight loss with bariatric surgery.

Methods

The study included 58 patients who underwent bariatric surgery. We measured heart rate, PR, P wave (PW) max, PW min, Average P axis, P wave peak time (PWPT) in lead D2 and lead V1, terminal force in lead V1 (V1TF), and we estimated P wave dispersion (PWdis) interval both pre‐operation and 6 months after operation.

Results

Heart rate, PR, PW max, PW min, PWdis, Average P axis, PWPTD2, PWPTV1 and V1TF values, which were close to the upper limit in the pre‐op period, showed statistically significant decreases at 6 months after the operation. The most prominent changes were observed in PW dis (51.15 ± 9.70 ms vs. 48.79 ± 9.50 ms, p = .010), PWPTD2 (55.75 ± 6.91 ms vs. 50.59 ± 7.67 ms, p < .001), PWPTV1 (54.10 ± 7.06 ms vs. 48.05 ± 7.64 ms, p < .001) and V1TF (25 [43.1%] vs. 12 [20.7%], p < .001).

Conclusions

The results of our study indicated that bariatric surgery has positive effects on the regression of ECG parameters which are predictors of atrial arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF).
Internationalisation of education and its effect on economic growth and development
Authors: Chowdhury Mamta B
Published: July 2021

This study examines the effect of education export on economic growth and development, using Australia as a case study since it is one of the top destinations for international students. International education has played a vital role in Australia's economy over the last three decades, becoming the third‐largest export of Australia after iron ore and coal and earning AU$40.3 billion in 2019. The sector supports about 250,000 jobs and provides an important source of skilled migrants for Australia. This study employs the cointegration and error correction model and quarterly data from 1974 to 2019 to analyse the effect of internationalisation of education on the Australian economy. The results suggest a long‐run positive relationship and a short‐run dynamic effect of international education on the economic growth and employment of Australia. The findings of this study have far‐reaching implications for other education‐exporting countries. Policy recommendations suggest taking proactive, flexible and innovative approaches to attract international students, and diversifying the market can support growth of the sector and enhance the economy‐wide spillover effects. The study further proposes sound and timely policies to promote the internationalisation of education to augment not only economic growth but also long‐run development for both education‐exporting and education‐receiving countries.
Impacts of herbicide sequences and vertical tuber distribution on the chemical control of yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.)
Authors: De Ryck Sander , Reheul Dirk , De Cauwer Benny
Published: July 2021

Cyperus esculentus is an invasive perennial sedge threatening agricultural production. In Belgium, best in‐crop control options involve, amongst other methods, growing maize in monoculture which allows the sequential use of selective herbicides with activity against C. esculentus. Two pot experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of genetically different clones and chemical control strategy on C. esculentus control. Additionally, the effect of two vertical tuber distributions (uniform in the 0–26 cm layer or non‐uniform with 60% of the tubers in the 6 cm top‐layer) was studied. Strategies were based on S‐metolachlor, dimethenamid‐P, mesotrione, bentazon, pyridate, nicosulfuron, glyphosate, halosulfuron‐methyl, foramsulfuron and thiencarbazon‐methyl used in mixture and/or sequence and applied at different crop stages. Control efficacy was measured by analysing tuber number, dry tuber biomass and above‐ground dry biomass. Tuber number of clones treated by chemical control strategies was up to 100% lower and up to 41% higher relative to the untreated control. Clones showed up to 74% percentage point difference in control of tuber number. In both experiments, strategies with pre‐plant incorporated dimethenamid‐P followed by two post‐emergence applications of mesotrione and pyridate, in 5–6 leaf and 8–9 leaf stage of maize, was most effective and consistent across C. esculentus clones. In general, C. esculentus control was up to 27% better in plots with high proportion of superficially buried mother tubers than in plots with more uniform vertical mother tuber distribution. Hence, the vertical tuber distribution may significantly affect the performance of C. esculentus herbicidal strategies. Overall, chemical control strategies should be complemented with alternative methods (e.g. competitive cropping systems and non‐inversion tillage) to achieve satisfactory control.
DEFINING AND DEFENDING THE HUMANITIES
Authors: Harrison Peter
Published: July 2021

In response to Willem Drees's What Are the Humanities For?, this article compares the ways in which, historically, the humanities and natural sciences have established their relevance and social legitimacy. Initially, from the period of the scientific revolution, the sciences had usually sought to justify themselves in terms of the moral and religious goals characteristic of the humanities. During the nineteenth century, however, considerations of practical utility came to displace the more traditional forms of justification. These new criteria have made it increasingly difficult for humanities disciplines to establish their legitimacy. This situation is related to patterns of secularization and also has implications for science‐religion relations. Along with the secularization of the humanities, their increasing pluralization has also weakened their capacity to present a united front. The humanities are perhaps not as coherent as Drees suggests, although a rhetoric of coherence might well be crucial for establishing their contemporary relevance.
Modeling Sources of Asymmetry in the Volatility of the Moroccan Dirham Exchange Rate
Authors: Ahmed KHATTAB , Yahya SALMI
Published: July 2021

The main objective of this paper is to study the sources of asymmetry in the volatility of the bilateral exchange rates of the Moroccan dirham (MAD), against the EUR and the USD using the asymmetric econometric models of the ARCH-GARCH family. An empirical analysis was conducted on daily central bank data from March 2003 to March 2021, with a sample size of 4575 observations. Central bank intervention in the foreign exchange (interbank) market was found to affect the asymmetry in the volatility of the bilateral EUR/MAD and USD/MAD exchange rates. Specifically, sales of foreign exchange reserves by the monetary authority cause a fall in the exchange rate, which means that the market response to shocks is asymmetric. Finally, the selection criterion (AIC) allowed us to conclude that the asymmetric model AR(1)-TGARCH(1,1) is adequate for modeling the volatility of the exchange rate of the Moroccan dirham.
Pollen grains are suitable alternative food for rearing the commercially used predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Authors: Yazdanpanah Shima , Fathipour Yaghoub , Riahi Elham
Published: July 2021

The generalist predatory mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) is one of the most effective natural enemies on many crops in indoor cultivations. As supply of alternative food such as pollen is generally thought to enhance the reproductive and biological control performance of generalist predatory mites, the life table parameters of the predatory mite, N. cucumeris were determined  in laboratory at 25±1°C, 60±5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) hours when fed on seven different pollen (almond, bitter orange, maize, date palm, castor bean, sunflower, and bee-collected). Our results indicated that feeding the predator on castor bean, almond, date palm, and sunflower pollen led to better performance in terms of higher oviposition (38.18, 33.53, 32.87, and 29.48 eggs/female, respectively), intrinsic rate of increase (0.146, 0.129, 0.152, and 0.123 day-1, respectively) and net reproductive rate (19.55, 12.58, 14.93, and 14.06 eggs/individual, respectively), and shorter development time (7.08, 7.73, 7.19, and 9.30 days, respectively). Bitter orange and bee-collected pollen were not suitable diets for both development and reproduction of N. cucumeris. The shortest (7.08 days) and longest (16.09 days) development times were observed on castor bean and bee-collected pollen, respectively. Adult longevity varied from 6.88 days on maize to 60.4 days on castor bean pollen. The highest fecundity was obtained on almond, followed by date palm, and castor bean pollen, while feeding on maize pollen did not lead to oviposition. Overall, we found that castor bean along with date palm, almond, and sunflower pollen are suitable diets for large scale rearing of N. cucumeris for subsequent use in biological control of pests in greenhouses.
Ontogenetic description of Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Bram) (Acari: Melicharidae), newly recorded from lepidopteran insect cultures in Japan
Authors: Negm Mohamed W. , Gotoh Tetsuo
Published: July 2021

Proctolaelaps bickleyi (Bram) (Acari: Melicharidae) is an edaphic predatory mite commonly associates with insects. Although P. bickleyi has been reported from many countries worldwide, it is reported herein for the first time in Japan from laboratory cultures of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) and Cossus insularis (Staudinger) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae, Cossidae). Proctolaelaps bickleyi is redescribed and illustrated from females, males, deutonymphs, protonymphs and larvae. The morphological ontogeny of idiosomal and leg chaetotaxy is discussed and a key to the Japanese species of Proctolaelaps is provided.
New faunistical and taxonomic data on ptyctimous mites (Acari, Oribatida) of South Africa
Authors: Niedbala Wojciech , Hugo-Coetzee Elozabeth A. , Ermilov Sergey G.
Published: July 2021

The study is based on ptyctimous mites collected from Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Hogsback State Forest in South Africa. Eight new species from the genera Microtritia, Phthiracarus and Notophthiracarus are described; a list of other identified taxa, including five species from three genera and three families, is presented. Information on the distribution of Indotritia, Acrotritia, Microtritia, and Phthiracarus is presented.
A new genus of Cepheidae and reassessment of the family (Acari: Oribatida)
Authors: Bayartogtokh Badamdorj , Ermilov Sergey G.
Published: July 2021

The middle-derivative, brachypyline oribatid mite family Cepheidae is rather heterogeneous, but many species, even some genera in this family have been poorly diagnosed. Redefinition of hitherto known taxa is, essential for resolving species identity as well as supraspecific systematics. One of such inadequately described species is Cepheus pustulatus (Pearce, 1910), known from Hawaii, which we redescribe here, and a new genus Roycepheus is proposed, based on this species. Relationships of the genus Roycepheus are addressed using the principles of phylogenetic systematics. A table presents the key differences between genera of Cepheidae, and a diagnostic key to adults of these genera, is provided. We discuss the potential synonymies of Sphodrocepheus with Tritegeus, and Reticulocepheus as well as Oribatodes with Cepheus. However, to confirm these synonymies needs redefinition of these genera and examination of types species.
A new species of cave-dwelling Neocarus (Acari: Opilioacaridae) from Minas Gerais state, Brazil with a key to species of the genus
Authors: De Araújo Marcel Santos , Duarte Marcus Vinicius da Silva Agua , Bichuette Maria Elina
Published: July 2021

Neocarus jonasi n.sp. is described from three limestone caves of the Bambuí Group geomophological formation, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, with a combination of a higher number of palp genu and tibia r setae and palp tarsus sm and d setae. Its relationship to Neocarus spelaion and the importance of setae variation in Opilioacaridae is discussed. A key to the genus Neocarus is also provided.
Effects of male and female age on mating success in Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Morita Akimasa , Ullah Mohammad Shaef , Sugawara Reo , Gotoh Tetsuo
Published: July 2021

Females of most arthropods undergo multiple matings, most often with different males (polyandry) but sometimes with the same male (repeated matings). Arthropod seminal fluid contains components that are known to stimulate their fecundity and fertility. In spider mites, much is known about the paternal effects on offspring phenotypes, but nothing is known about how the age of males affects their fertility. In Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), the female offspring ratio is known to decrease with time. Here, we attempted to clarify whether the decrease is due to sperm deletion or a decrease in male fertility ability with age. Female age had significantly increase the fecundity. Older virgin females that mated with virgin males produced fewer female offspring. Female age at mating was negatively related to the mating time (= copulation time, sec) but not to the premating time (sec) after introduction of a virgin male. The mating time tended to decrease with increasing age at mating. Male fertility defined as the proportion of female offspring produced, and male fertility declines with male age and number of matings, even no female offspring produced in some cases. These results suggest that increased male age at mating is associated with sperm depletion, which in turn affects the number of progeny as well as the phenotype of the progeny in the subsequent generation.
A lifeline for immunotherapy
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: July 2021

Immunotherapy cross-resistance in relapsing tumors may be reversed by activating dendritic cells.
Intranasal ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/AZD1222 vaccination reduces viral shedding after SARS-CoV-2 D614G challenge in preclinical models
Authors: van Doremalen Neeltje , Purushotham Jyothi N. , Schulz Jonathan E. , Holbrook Myndi G. , Bushmaker Trenton , Carmody Aaron , Port Julia R. , Yinda Claude K. , Okumura Atsushi , Saturday Greg , Amanat Fatima , Krammer Florian , Hanley Patrick W. , Smith Brian J. , Lovaglio Jamie , Anzick Sarah L. , Barbian Kent , Martens Craig , Gilbert Sarah C. , Lambe Teresa , Munster Vincent J.
Published: July 2021

Intranasal vaccination of hamsters and rhesus macaques with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 reduces shedding of SARS-CoV-2 after challenge.
Sinorhizobium meliloti Functions Required for Resistance to Antimicrobial NCR Peptides and Bacteroid Differentiation
Authors: Nicoud Quentin , Barrière Quentin , Busset Nicolas , Dendene Sara , Travin Dmitrii , Bourge Mickaël , Le Bars Romain , Boulogne Claire , Lecroël Marie , Jenei Sándor , Kereszt Atilla , Kondorosi Eva , Biondi Emanuele G. , Timchenko Tatiana , Alunni Benoît , Mergaert Peter
Published: July 2021

The nitrogen-fixing symbiosis of legumes with rhizobium bacteria has a predominant ecological role in the nitrogen cycle and has the potential to provide the nitrogen required for plant growth in agriculture. The host plants allow the rhizobia to colonize specific symbiotic organs, the nodules, in large numbers in order to produce sufficient reduced nitrogen for the plants’ needs.
Aspergillus fumigatus Acetate Utilization Impacts Virulence Traits and Pathogenicity
Authors: Ries Laure Nicolas Annick , Alves de Castro Patricia , Pereira Silva Lilian , Valero Clara , dos Reis Thaila Fernanda , Saborano Raquel , Duarte Iola F. , Persinoti Gabriela Felix , Steenwyk Jacob L. , Rokas Antonis , Almeida Fausto , Costa Jonas Henrique , Fill Taicia , Sze Wah Wong Sarah , Aimanianda Vishukumar , Rodrigues Fernando José Santos , Gonçales Relber A. , Duarte-Oliveira Cláudio , Carvalho Agostinho , Goldman Gustavo H.
Published: July 2021

Aspergillus fumigatus
is an opportunistic fungal pathogen in humans. During infection,
A. fumigatus
is predicted to use host carbon sources, such as acetate, present in body fluids and peripheral tissues, to sustain growth and promote colonization and invasion.
Identification and Quantification of Bovine Digital Dermatitis-Associated Microbiota across Lesion Stages in Feedlot Beef Cattle
Authors: Caddey Ben , Orsel Karin , Naushad Sohail , Derakhshani Hooman , De Buck Jeroen
Published: July 2021

Previous work, primarily in dairy cattle, has identified various taxa associated with digital dermatitis (DD) lesions. However, there is a significant gap in our knowledge of DD microbiology in beef cattle.
Interaction of extensional, contractional, and strike-slip elements at Mount Diablo and the surrounding eastern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay area, California: A model-based analysis
Authors: Medwedeff* Donald A.
Published: July 2021

This study presents three regional cross sections, a structural map analysis, and a schematic map restoration. The sections are constrained by surface geology and petroleum wells and were developed using model-based methods to be consistent with the regional tectonic context and balancing concepts. Together, these products depict the geometry and kinematics of the major fault systems. Insights from this research include the following. Franciscan complex blueschist-facies rocks in the Mount Diablo region were unroofed west of their current location and subsequently thrust beneath the Great Valley sequence in the mid-Eocene. East Bay structures are complicated by overprinting of Neogene compression and dextral strike-slip motion on a Paleogene graben system. Net lateral displacement between the Hayward fault and the Central Valley varies from 26 km toward 341° to 29 km toward 010° in the southern and northern East Bay Hills, respectively. Uplift above a wedge thrust generates the principal Neogene structural high, which extends from Vallejo through Mount Diablo to the Altamont Ridge. Anomalous structural relief at Mount Diablo is due to strike-parallel thrusting on the crest of a fault-propagation fold formed on the west-verging roof thrust. Uplift that exposes the Coast Range ophiolite in the East Bay Hills is formed by oblique thrusting generated by slip transfer at the northern termination of the Calaveras fault. The Paleogene extensional fault system likely extends farther west than previously documented. An east-dipping branch of that system may underlie the Walnut Creek Valley. Three-dimensional restoration should be applied to constrain geologic frameworks to be used for seismic velocity modeling.
Bronchobiliary fistula: a rare postoperative complication of spilled gallstones from laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Guruvaiah Nanditha , Ponnatapura Janardhana
Published: July 2021

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF) is defined as the abnormal connection between the biliary system and the bronchial tree, which presents clinically as an irritant cough with bilioptysis. Many conditions can lead to its development. We present a case of an acquired BBF in a 61-year-old man with a significant history of spilled gallstones from a prior laparoscopic cholecystectomy and subsequent presentation of intermittent right upper quadrant pain and recurrent pneumonia. Imaging studies revealed a liver and subdiaphragmatic abscess with right middle lobe pneumonia and a BBF traversing the right hemidiaphragm. The patient was surgically managed by takedown of fistula with drainage of the abscess and removal of spilled gallstone, followed by a resection of the right middle lobe. While previous studies indicate spilled gallstones are benign, this case demonstrates its potential for serious complications. Therefore, early diagnosis and proper management is essential as BBF has a high morbidity and mortality rate.
Graves’ disease and recurrence in ectopic thyroid tissue after total thyroidectomy
Authors: Cunha Clara , Ferrinho Catia , Saraiva Catarina , Duarte João Sequeira
Published: July 2021

We report a case of a 46-year-old woman who presented with a midline neck mass 2 years after total thyroidectomy for Graves’ disease. Despite levothyroxine treatment withdrawal, she remained biochemically with subclinical hyperthyroidism. Her thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies were consistently elevated. Neck ultrasonography revealed an infrahyoid solid nodule and pertechnetate scintigraphy confirmed an increased uptake at the same level, without any uptake in the thyroid bed. Treatment with methimazole 5 mg/day was initiated with clinical improvement and achievement of euthyroidism. After that, she received 10 mCi of radioactive iodine. Since then, she experienced regression of the neck mass and is doing well on a replacement dose of levothyroxine. Recurrence of Graves’ disease in ectopic thyroid following total thyroidectomy is extremely rare. This diagnose should be considered in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and remained with thyrotoxicosis despite decreasing the levothyroxine dose.
Migrating fish bone presenting as a neck fistula
Authors: Custódio Sara Fernandes , Branco Pedro , Sousa Pedro Machado , Escada Pedro Alberto
Published: July 2021

The case report describes an extremely rare finding of fish bone migration from the aerodigestive tract causing a neck fistula 2 years after its ingestion. Detailed case study and surgical treatment is presented. This case highlights the need for further assessment in presence of a high clinical suspicion of foreign body ingestion with a normal physical examination of the upper aerodigestive tract, to avoid serious and potential life-threatening complications later on.
I am blue: a toddler’s Raynaud’s phenomenon
Authors: Jeong Yae Sul , Menoch Margaret
Published: July 2021

Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a well-known disorder of self-limiting paroxysmal vasospasms occurring in small arteries of the digits, in the order of skin pallor (white), followed by cyanosis (blue), ending with hyperemia (red). These designative triphasic colour changes with exposure to cold, or emotional response is diagnostic in adults. RP is a very rare phenomenon in the young paediatric population as noted by Nigrovicet alwith 123 patients <19 year old in a large children’s centre over 10 years and only 4 patients being <2 years old, with 69% of these being primary RP. To our knowledge, this is the youngest documented case of Raynaud’s disease that has not required treatment.
COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes and practices: a mixed-mode cross-sectional survey in Liberia
Authors: Brown Wilson Josiah , Deckert Andreas , Shah Rupal , Kyei Nicholas , Copeland Dahn Lauretta , Doe-Rogers Rosalita , Hinneh Augustine Bowuo , Johnson Lydia Wortee , Natt Gudgy Dweh , Verdier Joseph Augustus , Vosper Adele , Louis Valérie R , Dambach Peter , Thomas-Connor Iona
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To examine the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of COVID-19 of rural and urban residents in Liberia to inform the development of local social and behaviour change communication strategies.

Design

Cross-sectional, mixed-mode (online and telephone) survey using non-probability sampling.

Setting

All 15 counties in Liberia with a focus on Maryland County.

Participants

From 28 May to 28 June 2020, data were collected from a total of 431 adults aged 18 years and older (telephone 288 (66.8%); online 143 (33.2%)) out of a total of 741 contacts.

Main outcome measures

KAP scores. Frequencies and proportions were calculated, followed by univariate and multivariable analyses to examine the association between KAP scores and the sociodemographic variables.

Results

Around 69% of the online survey respondents were younger than 35 years of age, compared with 56% in the telephone interviews. The majority (87%) of online respondents had completed tertiary education, compared with 77% of the telephone respondents. Male participants, on average, achieved higher knowledge (52%) and attitude scores (72%), in contrast to females (49% and 67%, respectively). Radio (71%) was the most cited source for COVID-19 information, followed by social media (63%). After controlling for sociodemographic variables, adaptive regression modelling revealed that survey mode achieved 100% importance for predicting knowledge and practice levels with regard to COVID-19.

Conclusions

The survey population demonstrated moderate COVID-19 knowledge, with significant differences between survey mode and educational level. Correct knowledge of COVID-19 was associated with appropriate practices in Maryland County. Generalisation of survey findings must be drawn carefully owing to the limitations of the sampling methods. Yet, given the differences in knowledge gaps between survey modes, sex, education, occupation and place of residence, it is recommended that information is tailored to different audiences.
Ophthalmic manifestations of proboscis lateralis
Authors: Sahu Ekta Singh , Shroff Pavan Humesh , Sahu Animesh , Bhargava Arun , Sharma Balkishan
Published: July 2021

Proboscis lateralis (PL) is a rare congenital malformation of the craniofacial structure with varied clinical associations. None of the studies documented a discrete review of ophthalmic presentations in PL. The principal aim of the present study is to explore the ophthalmic manifestations of PL. The ancillary goal is to derive a relationship between congenital deformity in PL and various ophthalmic anomalies. Databases were searched in order to obtain articles related to PL. A qualitative systematic analysis of 100 subjects was performed. In PL, eyelid coloboma (32.6%) is the most common ocular feature, followed by hypertelorism (25.3%), iris coloboma (22.4%), lacrimal system abnormality (20.7%), malpositioned eyebrow (14.4%) and retinochoroidal coloboma (12.9%). Sinonasal deformity is the most common systemic abnormality, detected in 87.9% of cases of PL, as compared with central nervous system involvement (56.2%) and other anomalies. The analysis showed a strong significant association between brain abnormalities and hypertelorism (p=0.000) and between brain abnormalities and micro-ophthalmia/anophthalmia (p=0.000). Statistically significant association was noted between cumulative ocular abnormalities and cumulative systemic abnormalities (p=0.001). The present study on PL reviewed the salient features of this rare congenital disorder. The study outcome provides a new aspect to concomitant ocular abnormalities. This study supports the view that other congenital anomalies in cases of PL had significant influence on certain ophthalmic anomalies.
Training and support for caring for a child’s gastrostomy: a survey with family carers
Authors: Page Bethan , Butler Siobhan , Smith Colette , Lee Alex CH , Vincent Charles A
Published: July 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore family carers’ experiences of training and ongoing support for caring for their child’s gastrostomy, and to get their views on how this could be improved.

Methods

A mixed-methods online survey with 146 family carers (eg, parents, grandparents) who care for a child with a gastrostomy. Family carers rated their own experience of training and support and made recommendations for how training and support could be improved for future families.

Results

The nature and extent of the training family carers reported receiving varied considerably. Many felt that the demonstrations they received in hospital were too brief. Two in five family carers rated their confidence caring for their child’s gastrostomy as very low in the first few weeks after surgery. Parents valued ongoing learning and support from other parents and support from community nurses. Videos and simulation practice were rated as useful formats of training, in addition to face-to-face supervised practice with a clinician. Parents liked how real life the example video shown was, and rated nearly all suggested video topics as ‘very helpful’, especially troubleshooting topics.

Conclusions

Our study found substantial variability in family carers’ descriptions of the training and support they received to care for their child’s gastrostomy. Training often did not meet family carers’ needs. We need to invest in better training and support for families and learn from their recommendations. Improvements to training and support for families (eg, through instructional videos) have the potential to improve family carers’ confidence and competence, and reduce the risk of problems and complications which cause harm to children and increase demand on National Health Service (NHS) resources.
PD-L1 targeting and subclonal immune escape mediated by PD-L1 mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Stein Alexander , Simnica Donjete , Schultheiß Christoph , Scholz Rebekka , Tintelnot Joseph , Gökkurt Eray , von Wenserski Lisa , Willscher Edith , Paschold Lisa , Sauer Markus , Lorenzen Sylvie , Riera-Knorrenschild Jorge , Depenbusch Reinhard , Ettrich Thomas J , Dörfel Steffen , Al-Batran Salah-Eddin , Karthaus Meinolf , Pelzer Uwe , Waberer Lisa , Hinke Axel , Bauer Marcus , Massa Chiara , Seliger Barbara , Wickenhauser Claudia , Bokemeyer Carsten , Hegewisch-Becker Susanna , Binder Mascha
Published: July 2021

Background

In patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), immune checkpoint blockade is ineffective, and combinatorial approaches enhancing immunogenicity need exploration.

Methods

We treated 43 patients with predominantly microsatellite stableRAS/BRAFwild-type mCRC on a phase II trial combining chemotherapy with the epidermal growth factor receptor antibody cetuximab and the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody avelumab. We performed next-generation gene panel sequencing for mutational typing of tumors and liquid biopsy monitoring as well as digital droplet PCR to confirm individual mutations. Translational analyses included tissue immunohistochemistry, multispectral imaging and repertoire sequencing of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Detected PD-L1 mutations were mechanistically validated in CRISPR/Cas9-generated cell models using qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, flow cytometry, complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity by natural killer cell degranulation assay and LDH release assay as well as live cell imaging of T cell mediated tumor cell killing.

Results

Circulating tumor DNA showed rapid clearance in the majority of patients mirroring a high rate of early tumor shrinkage. In 3 of 13 patients expressing the high-affinity Fcγ receptor 3a (FcγR3a), tumor subclones withPD-L1mutations were selected that led to loss of tumor PD-L1 by nonsense-mediated RNA decay inPD-L1K162fs and protein degradation inPD-L1L88S. As a consequence, avelumab binding and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity were impaired, while T cell killing of these variant clones was increased. Interestingly,PD-L1mutant subclones showed slow selection dynamics reversing on avelumab withdrawal and patients with such subclones had above-average treatment benefit. This suggested that thePD-L1mutations mediated resistance to direct antitumor effects of avelumab, while at the same time loss of PD-L1 reduced biological fitness by enhanced T cell killing limiting subclonal expansion.

Conclusion

The addition of avelumab to standard treatment appeared feasible and safe.PD-L1mutations mediate subclonal immune escape to avelumab in some patients with mCRC expressing high-affinity FcγR3a, which may be a subset experiencing most selective pressure. Future trials evaluating the addition of avelumab to standard treatment in MSS mCRC are warranted especially in this patient subpopulation.

Trial registration number

NCT03174405.
Vaping on TikTok: a systematic thematic analysis
Authors: Sun Tianze , Lim Carmen C.W. , Chung Jack , Cheng Brandon , Davidson Lily , Tisdale Calvert , Leung Janni , Gartner Coral E , Connor Jason , Hall Wayne D , Chan Gary C.K.
Published: July 2021

Introduction

The rising popularity of TikTok among adolescents may influence their awareness and perceptions of e-cigarette use via user-generated content. This study aimed to examine how e-cigarette/vaping-related videos are portrayed on TikTok.

Methods

The nine most viewed hashtag based keywords were used to identify popular e-cigarette/vaping-related videos on TikTok (n=1000) from its inception (earliest upload date: January 2019) to November 2020. Five researchers independently coded the number of views, likes, user category and theme.

Results

A final sample of 808 e-cigarette/vaping-related videos that met study criteria were included. Collectively, these videos were viewed over 1.5 billion times, with a median view count of 1 000 000 (range 112 900–78 600 000) and a median ‘likes’ count of 143 000 (range 10 000–1 000 000). A majority of the videos portrayed e-cigarette usepositively(63%; collectively viewed over 1.1 billion times).Neutraldepictions of e-cigarette use were viewed a total of 290 million times (24%) andnegativedepictions of e-cigarettes were viewed a total of 193 million times (13%). The video themes included (not mutually exclusively): ‘comedy and joke’ (52%; total of 618 million views), ‘lifestyle and acceptability’ (35%; 459 million), ‘marketing’ (29%; 392 million), ‘vaping tricks’ (20%; 487 million), ‘nicotine and addiction’ (20%; 194 million), ‘creativity’ (16%; 322 million) and ‘warning’ (11%; 131 million).

Conclusion

Our findings illustrated that positively framed e-cigarette and vaping-related postings available without age restrictions on TikTok—a rising video-sharing platform that is popular among adolescents—have been viewed many times. Effective age restrictions are needed to reduce adolescents’ potential exposure to videos that portray vaping positively.
Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase protects against the deleterious effects of sub-lethal sepsis and ethanol in the cardiorenal system
Authors: Sousa Arthur H. , Vale Gabriel T. do , Nascimento Jose A. , Awata Wanessa M.C. , Silva Carla B.P. , Assis Victor O. , Alves Juliano V. , Tostes Rita C. , Tirapelli Carlos R.
Published: July 2021

We tested the hypothesis that ethanol would aggravate the deleterious effects of sub-lethal cecal ligation and puncture (SL-CLP) sepsis in the cardiorenal system and that inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) would prevent such response. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with ethanol for 12 weeks. One hour before SL-CLP surgery, mice were treated with N6-(1-iminoethyl)-lysine (L-NIL, 5 mg/kg, i.p.), a selective inhibitor of iNOS. A second dose of L-NIL was administered 24 h after SL-CLP surgery. Mice were killed 48 h post surgery and the blood, the renal cortex, and the left ventricle (LV) were collected for biochemical analysis. L-NIL attenuated the increase in serum creatinine levels induced by ethanol, but not by SL-CLP. Ethanol, but not SL-CLP, increased creatine kinase (CK)-MB activity and L-NIL did not prevent this response. In the renal cortex, L-NIL prevented the redox imbalance induced by ethanol and SL-CLP. Inhibition of iNOS also decreased lipoperoxidation induced by ethanol and SL-CLP in the LV. L-NIL prevented the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species induced by ethanol and (or) SL-CLP in the cardiorenal system, suggesting that iNOS modulated some of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the deleterious effects of both conditions in the cardiorenal system.
Wick rotations in deformation quantization
Authors: Schmitt Philipp , Schötz Matthias
Published: July 2021

We study formal and non-formal deformation quantizations of a family of manifolds that can be obtained by phase space reduction from [Formula: see text] with the Wick star product in arbitrary signature. Two special cases of such manifolds are the complex projective space [Formula: see text] and the complex hyperbolic disc [Formula: see text]. We generalize several older results to this setting: The construction of formal star products and their explicit description by bidifferential operators, the existence of a convergent subalgebra of “polynomial” functions, and its completion to an algebra of certain analytic functions that allow an easy characterization via their holomorphic extensions. Moreover, we find an isomorphism between the non-formal deformation quantizations for different signatures, linking, e.g., the star products on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. More precisely, we describe an isomorphism between the (polynomial or analytic) function algebras that is compatible with Poisson brackets and the convergent star products. This isomorphism is essentially given by Wick rotation, i.e. holomorphic extension of analytic functions and restriction to a new domain. It is not compatible with the [Formula: see text]-involution of pointwise complex conjugation.