bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrocardiographic findings at presentation and clinical outcome in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Lanza Gaetano Antonio , De Vita Antonio , Ravenna Salvatore Emanuele , D’Aiello Alessia , Covino Marcello , Franceschi Francesco , Crea Filippo
Published: July 2020

Aims

The main severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection are pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome. Recent studies, however, reported that cardiac injury, as assessed by troponin levels, is associated with a worse outcome in these patients. No study hitherto assessed whether the simple standard electrocardiogram (ECG) may be helpful for risk stratification in these patients.

Methods and results

We studied 324 consecutive patients admitted to our Emergency Department with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Standard 12-lead ECG recorded on admission was assessed for cardiac rhythm and rate, atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction, abnormal Q/QS wave, ST segment and T wave changes, corrected QT interval, and tachyarrhythmias. At a mean follow-up of 31 ± 11 days, 44 deaths occurred (13.6%). Most ECG variables were significantly associated with mortality, including atrial fibrillation (P = 0.002), increasing heart rate (P = 0.002), presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB; P < 0.001), QRS duration (P <0 .001), a QRS duration of ≥110 ms (P < 0.001), ST segment depression (P < 0.001), abnormal Q/QS wave (P = 0.034), premature ventricular complexes (PVCs; P = 0.051), and presence of any ECG abnormality [hazard ratio (HR) 4.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.40–8.76; P < 0.001]. At multivariable analysis, QRS duration (P = 0.002), QRS duration ≥110 ms (P = 0.03), LBBB (P = 0.014) and presence of any ECG abnormality (P = 0.04) maintained a significant independent association with mortality.

Conclusion

Our data show that standard ECG can be helpful for an initial risk stratification of patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease.
Rewilding the small stuff: the effect of ecological restoration on prokaryotic communities of peatland soils
Authors: Andras Jason P , Rodriguez-Reillo William G , Truchon Alexander , Blanchard Jeffery L , Pierce Erin A , Ballantine Katherine A
Published: July 2020

To investigate the effect that restoration has on the microbiome of wetland soils, we used 16S amplicon sequencing to characterize the soil prokaryotic communities of retired cranberry farms that were restored to approximate the peat wetlands they once were. For comparison, we also surveyed the soil communities of active cranberry farms, retired cranberry farms and natural peat wetlands that were never farmed. Our results show that the prokaryotic communities of active cranberry farms are distinct from those of natural peat wetlands. Moreover, 4 years after restoration, the prokaryotic community structure of restored cranberry farms had shifted, resulting in a community more similar to natural peat wetlands than to active farms. Meanwhile, the prokaryotic communities of retired cranberry farms remained similar to those of active farms. The observed differences in community structure across site types corresponded with significant differences in inferred capacity for denitrification, methanotrophy and methanogenesis, and community composition was also correlated with previously published patterns of denitrification and carbon sequestration measured from the same soil samples. Taken together, these results suggest that ecological restoration efforts have the potential to restore ecosystem functions of soils and that they do so by ‘rewilding’ the communities of resident soil microbes.
Real-time detection of changes in yeast plasma membrane potential using genetically encoded voltage indicator proteins
Authors: Limapichat Walrati , Pornthanakasem Wichai , Satitthammachart Chatchaya , Chitnumsub Penchit , Leartsakulpanich Ubolsree
Published: July 2020

In yeast, adaptation to varying conditions often requires proper regulation of the plasma membrane potential. To determine yeast membrane potential change, optical methods involving potentiometric dyes have been supplemental to the direct electrode-based method. However, the hydrophobic nature of the dyes and their slow distribution across the membrane still limits their utilization. Genetically encoded voltage indicator (GEVI) proteins employed in neuroscience offer a tantalizing alternative for monitoring yeast membrane potential change. In this work, several widely used GEVI proteins were assessed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for their expression and function as a voltage reporter. Among them, only ArcLight and Accelerated Sensor of Action Potential (ASAP) proteins could be expressed and transported to the plasma membrane. While the voltage-sensing capability was demonstrated for both ArcLight and ASAP, ArcLight fluorescence was sensitive to the intracellular pH change concurrently with the voltage change. Therefore, we established that ASAP is the more suitable GEVI protein for reporting yeast membrane potential change. This voltage-sensing reporter for yeast based on ASAP offers a new effective strategy for real-time optical detection of yeast membrane potential change, which potentially facilitates many areas of yeast research including optimizing growth conditions for industrial use and investigating yeast ion transport system.
Organizations matter in local governance: evidence from health sector decentralization in Honduras
Authors: Root Elisabeth Dowling , Zarychta Alan , Tapia Bertha Bermudez , Grillos Tara , Andersson Krister , Menken Jane
Published: July 2020

Health systems strengthening is at the forefront of the global health agenda. Many health systems in low-resource settings face profound challenges, and robust causal evidence on the effects of health systems reforms is lacking. Decentralization has been one of the most prominent reforms, and after more than 50 years of implementation and hundreds of studies, we still know little about whether these policies improve, harm or are inconsequential for the performance of health systems in less-developed countries. A persistent problem in existing studies is the inability to isolate the effect of decentralization on health outcomes, struggling with heterogeneous meanings of decentralization and missing counterfactuals. We address these shortcomings with a quasi-experimental, longitudinal research design that takes advantage of a unique staggered reform process in Honduras. Using three waves of household survey data over 10 years for a matched sample of 65 municipalities in Honduras, we estimated difference-in-difference models comparing changes in outcomes over time between local health systems that were decentralized using one of three types of organizations [municipal governments, associations of mayors or non-governmental organization (NGOs)] and those that remained centrally administered. We find evidence of overall improvements between 2005 and 2016 in several service delivery-related outcomes, and additional improvements in decentralized municipalities governed by NGOs. NGO-led municipalities saw a 15% decrease in home delivery relative to centralized municipalities in 2016, a 12.5% increase in MCH facility delivery and a 7% increase in the use of a skilled birth attendant. There were no detectable positive treatment effects for vaccination, and a slight decline in the weight-for-length z-scores in NGO municipalities, but we find no systematic evidence of decentralization negatively impacting any maternal and child health outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of considering implementation context, namely organization type, when assessing the effects of decentralization reform.
Genome-wide association study of corneal biomechanical properties identifies over 200 loci providing insight into the genetic etiology of ocular diseases
Authors: Simcoe Mark J , Khawaja Anthony P , Hysi Pirro G , Hammond Christopher J ,   UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium
Published: July 2020

Corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor are parameters that reflect the dynamic biomechanical properties of the cornea and have been shown to be biomarkers of corneal disease. In this genome-wide association study of over 100 000 participants, we identified over 200 genetic loci, all but eight novel, significantly associated with either one or both of these traits. In addition to providing key insights into the genetic architecture underlying normal corneal function, these results identify many candidate loci in the study of corneal diseases that lead to severe visual impairment. Additionally, using Mendelian randomization, we were able to identify causal relationships between corneal biomechanics and intraocular pressure measurements, which help elucidate the relationship between corneal properties and glaucoma.
Reflection on modern methods: a common error in the segmented regression parameterization of interrupted time-series analyses
Authors: Xiao Hong , Augusto Orvalho , Wagenaar Bradley H
Published: July 2020

Interrupted time-series (ITS) designs are a robust and increasingly popular non-randomized study design for strong causal inference in the evaluation of public health interventions. One of the most common techniques for model parameterization in the analysis of ITS designs is segmented regression, which uses a series of indicators and linear terms to represent the level and trend of the time-series before and after an intervention. In this article, we highlight an important error often presented in tutorials and published peer-reviewed papers using segmented regression parameterization for the analyses of ITS designs. We show that researchers cannot simply use the product between their calendar time variable and the indicator variable indicating pre- versus post-intervention time periods to represent the post-intervention linear segment. If researchers use this often-presented parameterization, they will get an erroneous result for the level change in their time-series. We show that researchers must take care to use the product between their intervention variable and the time elapsed since the start of the intervention, rather than the time since the beginning of their study. Thus, the second linear segment of the time-series indexing the post-intervention level and trend should be zero before intervention implementation and begin by counting from zero, rather than counting from the time elapsed since the beginning of the study. We hope that this article can clarify segmented regression parameterization for the analysis of ITS designs and help researchers avoid confusing and erroneous results in the level changes of their time-series.
The Hodge Laplacian on axisymmetric domains and its discretization
Authors: Oh Minah
Published: July 2020

We study the mixed formulation of the abstract Hodge Laplacian on axisymmetric domains with general data through Fourier finite element methods (Fourier-FEMs) in weighted function spaces. Closed Hilbert complexes and commuting projectors are used as in the work of Arnold, Falk & Winther, (2010, Finite element exterior calculus: from Hodge theory to numerical stability. Bull. Amer. Math. Soc. (N.S.), 47, 281–354), by using the new family of finite element spaces for general axisymmetric problems introduced in Oh, (2015, de Rham complexes arising from Fourier-FEMs in axisymmetric domains. Comput. Math. Appl., 70, 2063–2073). In order to get stability results and error estimates for the discrete mixed formulation, we construct commuting projectors that can be applied to functions with low regularity.
An Exaggerated Monocyte-Derived Cytokine Response to Candida Hyphae in Patients With Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Authors: Rosati Diletta , Bruno Mariolina , Jaeger Martin , Kullberg Bart-Jan , van de Veerdonk Frank , Netea Mihai G , ten Oever Jaap
Published: July 2020

Background

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) affects up to 8% of women. The immunopathogenesis is poorly understood but it has been suggested that RVVC might be due to dysregulated innate immune response. The aim of this study was to compare cytokine profiles in stimulated primary mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RVVC and healthy individuals.

Methods

PBMCs isolated from RVVC patients (n = 24) and healthy volunteers (n = 30) were stimulated with unspecific and pathogen-specific antigens. Cytokine production was assessed after 24 hours, 48 hours, and 7 days using ELISA.

Results

No significant differences in cytokine production were found in T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, and Th17 immunity in response to both unspecific and pathogen-specific stimulations. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in response to C. albicans hyphae was significantly higher in patients than controls and within the patient group, a significant positive correlation was found between interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and both TNF-α and IL-6. Both IL-1β/IL-1Ra and TNF-α/IL-10 ratios in Candida hyphae-stimulated PBMCs were significantly higher in patients than controls.

Conclusions

Women affected by RVVC showed increased monocytes-derived cytokine production, which might contribute to an exaggerated vaginal immune response to Candida hyphae. RVVC patients show no defective Th-dependent adaptive immune response upon Candida stimulation.
Using cloud-based, open-source technology to evaluate, improve, and rapidly disseminate community-based intervention data
Authors: Mayfield Carlene A , Gigler Margaret E , Snapper Leslie , Jose Jainmary , Tynan Jackie , Scott Victoria C , Dulin Michael
Published: July 2020

Building Uplifted Families (BUF) is a cross-sector community initiative to improve health and economic disparities in Charlotte, North Carolina. A formative evaluation strategy was used to support iterative process improvement and collaborative engagement of cross-sector partners. To address challenges with electronic data collection through REDCap Cloud, we developed the BUF Rapid Dissemination (BUF-RD) model, a multistage data governance system supplemented by open-source technologies, such as: Stage 1) data collection; Stage 2) data integration and analysis; and Stage 3) dissemination. In Stage 3, results were disseminated through an interactive dashboard developed in RStudio using RShiny and Shiny Server solutions. The BUF-RD model was successfully deployed in a 6-month beta test to reduce the time lapse between data collection and dissemination from 3 months to 2 weeks. Having up-to-date preliminary results led to improved BUF implementation, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and greater responsiveness and alignment of program resources to specific participant needs.
Utilization of Standard Method Performance Requirements for the Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Environmental Samples
Authors: Perry Michael J. , Conlon Maureen A. , Egan Christina T.
Published: July 2020

Background

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is a long-standing public health problem. Infected animals shed the organism, resulting in aerosol transmission to humans. This organism can potentially be used as a bioterrorism weapon and is on the Department of Health and Human Service Select Agent List. Assay development for detecting C. burnetii in environmental samples has been limited.

Objective

We describe the use of Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR®) 2015.011 to detect Coxiella in air filters and liquids to validate additional environmental samples.

Method

SMPR 2015.011 was used to validate a real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) assay developed to detect C. burnetii DNA in powder samples submitted to the public health laboratory for biothreat analysis.

Results

Our laboratory developed an assay to detect the icd gene of C. burnetii. The LOD for the assay was 33 gene copies per rtPCR reaction in buffer and 260 in each of the three separate powdered samples.

Conclusions

The SMPR 2015.011 allowed validation of an assay to detect Coxiella nucleic acid in an environmental sample. The assay was sensitive, robust, specific, and able to detect this select agent in powders.

Highlights

Development of detection assays for agents that are difficult to culture and have limited validation material available can be problematic for manufacturers. Using the SMPR 2015.011 developed for the detection of Coxiella as well as the SMPR 2016.012 for the detection of Variola, we demonstrated that assays can be appropriately validated using alternative approaches.
Behavioral and cortisol responses to feeding frequency in pregnant sows under isocaloric intake
Authors: Manu Hayford , Lee Suhyup , Keyes Mike C , Cairns Jim , Baidoo Samuel K
Published: July 2020

The study focused on behavioral and cortisol responses to feeding frequency in pregnant sows under isocaloric intake. Twenty-four sows [(Landrace × Yorkshire); BW 216.70 ± 3.98 kg; parity 3.04 ± 0.53] were balanced for parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 feeding frequency regimes. Sows were fed corn–soybean meal-based diet 1× [0730 (Control), T1], 2× [half ration at 0730 and 1530 hours, T2], or 3× [one-third portion at 0730, 1130, and 1530 hours, T3] from days 30 to 60 of gestation. Sows received 7055 kcal ME/d during gestation from 2.21 kg of diet formulated to contain SID Lys/ME of 1.71 g/Mcal. Saliva samples were collected every 2 hr from 0630 to 1830 hours on day 52 and assayed for cortisol using ELISA procedure. Behavior data were collected for 7 d from day 53 of gestation by affixing a remote insights ear tag to each sow. Each sow had 120,960 data points categorized into: “Active”, “Feed,” or “Dormant”. Because of housing constraint, all sows were housed in individual stalls in the same room presenting a potential limitation of the study. The data were analyzed using PROC MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 for cortisol and behavior count data, respectively. Sow was the experimental unit. The area under the curve (AUC) is quantitative evaluation of response as threshold varies over all possible values. The T2 sows had reduced 12-hr cortisol AUC compared with control sows (P = 0.024) and T3 sows (P = 0.004), respectively. The T2 sows had lower 3 hr (P = 0.039) and 5 hr (P = 0.015) postfeeding cortisol AUC compared with control sows. Feed anticipatory activity (FAA), 24-hr total activity, and feeding activities (eating and/or sham chewing) were reduced for T2 sows relative to the control and T3 sows (P < 0.01). Consequently, T2 sows had lower 24-hr total activity (P < 0.001) and feeding activities (P < 0.001) AUC compared with both the control and T3 sows, respectively. The T3 sows had greater FAA (P < 0.001) and 24-hr total activity AUC (P = 0.010) compared with control sows. Our data although inconclusive due to small sample size, twice daily feeding appears to be the threshold that reduces sows’ total activity AUC, feeding activity AUC, and activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, reduced hunger, and exhibit potential to improve sow welfare in relation to once and thrice daily feeding regimes under isocaloric intake per kilogram live metabolic weight.
Volatile Essential Oils Can Be Used to Improve the Efficacy of Heat Treatments Targeting the Western Drywood Termite: Evidence from Simulated Whole House Heat Treatment Trials
Authors: Perry Daniel T , Choe Dong-Hwan
Published: July 2020

Colonies of western drywood termites, Incisitermes minor (Hagen) (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae), are difficult to detect and treat due to their cryptic nature. The use of heated air to create lethal temperatures within infested wood serves as a nonchemical treatment option targeting whole structure or large portions of the structure. However, the presence of hard-to-heat areas and potential risk of damage for heat-sensitive items are recognized as important challenges. Here, we tested if a localized injection of volatile essential oil could be utilized to address the heat sink issue, potentially increasing the overall efficiency of heat treatments against drywood termites. Artificially infested wooden blocks were placed in several locations of the test building, and heat treatments were conducted. For the treatment group, a small amount of essential oil (methyl salicylate) was added in the blocks prior to the heat treatment. All blocks placed in uninsulated wall voids had 92–100% termite mortality by day 7. However, the presence of a large concrete wall in the subarea hindered heating of blocks therein, resulting 36–44% mortality by day 7 when there was no essential oil treatment. Incorporation of the essential oil substantially increased the control efficacy for the subarea, resulting in more than 90% mortality. This approach might also be helpful in reducing the risk of potential heat damage during heat treatment without compromising its control efficacy.
Match Bias or Nonignorable Nonresponse? Improved Imputation and Administrative Data In the CPS Asec
Authors: Hokayem Charles , Raghunathan Trivellore , Rothbaum Jonathan
Published: July 2020

We test an improved imputation technique, sequential regression multivariate imputation (SRMI), for the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement to address match bias. Furthermore, we augment the model with administrative tax data to test for nonignorable nonresponse. Using data from 2009, 2011, and 2013, we find that the current hot deck imputation used by the Census Bureau produces different distribution statistics, downward for poverty and inequality and upward for median income, relative to the SRMI model-based estimates. Our results suggest that these differences are a result of match bias, not nonignorable nonresponse. Nearly all poverty, median income, and inequality estimates are not significantly different when comparing imputation models with and without administrative data. However, there are clear efficiency gains from using administrative data.
Sirtuin activation targets IDH-mutant tumors
Authors: Miller Julie J , Fink Alexandria , Banagis Jack A , Nagashima Hiroaki , Subramanian Megha , Lee Christine K , Melamed Lisa , Tummala Shilpa S , Tateishi Kensuke , Wakimoto Hiroaki , Cahill Daniel P
Published: July 2020

Background

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)–mutant tumors exhibit an altered metabolic state and are critically dependent upon nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) for cellular survival. NAD+ steady-state levels can be influenced by both biosynthetic and consumptive processes. Here, we investigated activation of sirtuin (SIRT) enzymes, which consume NAD+ as a coenzyme, as a potential mechanism to reduce cellular NAD+ levels in these tumors.

Methods

The effect of inhibition or activation of sirtuin activity, using (i) small molecules, (ii) clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR associated protein 9 gene editing, and (iii) inducible overexpression, was investigated in IDH-mutant tumor lines, including patient-derived IDH-mutant glioma lines.

Results

We found that Sirt1 activation led to marked augmentation of NAD+ depletion and accentuation of cytotoxicity when combined with inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), consistent with the enzymatic activity of SIRT1 as a primary cellular NAD+ consumer in IDH-mutant cells. Activation of Sirt1 through either genetic overexpression or pharmacologic Sirt1-activating compounds (STACs), an existing class of well-tolerated drugs, led to inhibition of IDH1-mutant tumor cell growth.

Conclusions

Activation of Sirt1 can selectively target IDH-mutant tumors. These findings indicate that relatively nontoxic STACs, administered either alone or in combination with NAMPT inhibition, could alter the growth trajectory of IDH-mutant gliomas while minimizing toxicity associated with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic regimens.
Health care resource utilization and treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in the United States
Authors: Adil Syed M , Hodges Sarah E , Edwards Ryan M , Charalambous Lefko T , Yang Zidanyue , Kiyani Musa , Musick Alexis , Parente Beth A , Lee Hui-Jie , Peters Katherine B , Fecci Peter E , Lad Shivanand P
Published: July 2020

Background

The economic burden of cancer in the United States is substantial, and better understanding it is essential in informing health care policy and innovation. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) represents a late complication of primary cancer spreading to the leptomeninges.

Methods

The IBM MarketScan Research databases were queried for adults diagnosed with LC from 2001 to 2015, secondary to 4 primary cancers (breast, lung, gastrointestinal, and melanoma). Health care resource utilization (HCRU) and treatment utilization were quantified at baseline (1-year pre-LC diagnosis) and 30, 90, and 365 days post-LC diagnosis.

Results

We identified 4961 cases of LC (46.3% breast cancer, 34.8% lung cancer, 13.5% gastrointestinal cancer, and 5.4% melanoma). The median age was 57.0 years, with 69.7% female and 31.1% residing in the South. Insurance status included commercial (71.1%), Medicare (19.8%), and Medicaid (9.1%). Median follow-up was 66.0 days (25th percentile: 24.0, 75th percentile: 186.0) and total cumulative costs were highest for the gastrointestinal subgroup ($167 768) and lowest for the lung cancer subgroup ($145 244). There was considerable variation in the 89.6% of patients who used adjunctive treatments at 1 year, including chemotherapy (64.3%), radiotherapy (57.6%), therapeutic lumbar puncture (31.5%), and Ommaya reservoir (14.5%). The main cost drivers at 1 year were chemotherapy ($62 026), radiation therapy ($37 076), and specialty drugs ($29 330). The prevalence of neurologic impairments was 46.9%, including radiculopathy (15.0%), paresthesia (12.3%), seizure episode/convulsive disorder not otherwise specified (11.0%), and ataxia (8.0%).

Conclusions

LC is a devastating condition with an overall poor prognosis. We present the largest study of LC in this real-world study, including current treatments, with an emphasis on HCRU. There is considerable variation in the treatment of LC and significant health care costs.
Peer review audit of non-specialist occupational physician reports
Authors: Lalloo D , Gallagher J , Macdonald E B , McDonnell C , Vargas-Prada Figueroa S
Published: July 2020

Background

With declining specialist occupational physician (OP) numbers, there is increasing recognition of the importance of non-specialist physicians in occupational health (OH) service delivery, yet to date, this physician group remains understudied and their competency requirements poorly understood.

Aims

To evaluate the quality of a sample of non-specialist OH reports and compare these with specialist reports.

Methods

A retrospective peer review audit of a convenience sample of 200 consecutive non-specialist and specialist OH reports from an Irish OH service using an assessment form based on the modified Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters SAIL(OH)1.

Results

Of the 200 peer reviewed OH reports, 159 (80%) were from non-specialists. For all questions, 87% and above of non-specialist reports were ‘satisfactory’ or ‘above expected’. On the overall assessment, out of 10, the mean non-specialist report score was 6.8 (standard deviation (SD) 3–10) and the specialist score was 7.3 (SD 3–10). Comparatively, non-specialist reports highlighted legal/ethical issues marginally more and adhered slightly better to contractual/ethical/legal boundaries, while specialist reports fared better in addressing manager’s questions, in their structure and clarity and in covering all significant aspects of the case, particularly if the case was complex.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate a high standard of OH report quality in this sample of non-specialist OPs that is consistent across all key OH report components. Potential development areas are also identified that can inform education/training tailored to this physician group and assist in competency standard-setting.
Invasive Fungal Infections at Presentation of Untreated Hematologic Malignancies: Rare and Elusive
Authors: Spallone Amy , Hicklen Rachel S , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P
Published: July 2020

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a feared complication of hematologic malignancy (HM) treatment. Infrequently, the diagnosis of a new IFI contemporaneously with a new untreated HM has been sporadically described in case reports. We performed a comprehensive search of published literature and reviewed cases describing this synchronous disease phenomenon.
Supersoft X-ray phases of recurrent novae as an indicator of their white dwarf masses
Authors: Kato Mariko , Hachisu Izumi
Published: July 2020

We have examined the optical/X-ray light curves of seven well-observed recurrent novae, V745 Sco, M31N 2008-12a, LMC N 1968, U Sco, RS Oph, LMC N 2009a, T Pyx, and one recurrent nova candidate LMC N 2012a. Six novae out of the eight show a simple relation that the duration of supersoft X-ray source (SSS) phase is 0.70 times the total duration of the outburst (= X-ray turnoff time), i.e., tSSS = 0.70 toff, the total duration of which ranges from 10 to 260 d. These six recurrent novae show a broad rectangular X-ray light curve shape, the first half-period of which is highly variable in the X-ray count rate. The SSS phase also corresponds to an optical plateau phase that indicates a large accretion disk irradiated by a hydrogen-burning white dwarf (WD). The two other recurrent novae, T Pyx and V745 Sco, show a narrow triangular-shaped X-ray light curve without an optical plateau phase. Their relations between tSSS and toff are rather different from the above six recurrent novae. We also present theoretical SSS durations for recurrent novae with various WD masses and stellar metallicities (Z = 0.004, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.05) and compare them with the observed durations of these recurrent novae. We show that SSS duration is a good indicator of WD mass in recurrent novae with a broad rectangular X-ray light curve shape.
Requirements of Qa-SNARE LjSYP132s for Nodulation and Seed Development in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Sogawa Aoi , Takahashi Issei , Kyo Masaharu , Imaizumi-Anraku Haruko , Tajima Shigeyuki , Nomura Mika
Published: July 2020

SNAREs (soluble N-ethyl maleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) mediate membrane fusion of vesicle transport in eukaryotic cells. LjSYP132s are the members of Qa-SNAREs in Lotus japonicus. Two isoforms, LjSYP132a and LjSYP132b, are generated by alternative splicing. Immunoblot analysis detected strong expression of LjSYP132s in infected root nodules and seeds by posttranscriptional modification. In either LjSYP132a or LjSYP132b silenced roots (RNAi-LjSYP132a, RNAi-LjSYP132b), the infection thread (IT) was not elongated, suggesting that both LjSYP132a and LjSYP132b have a role in IT progression. The results were consistent with the data of qRT-PCR showing that both genes were expressed at the early stage of infection. However, during the nodulation, only LjSYP132a was induced. LjSYP132s protein was observed in the Mesorhizobium loti-inoculated roots of mutants, nfr1, castor and pollux, suggesting that LjSYP132s can be induced without Nod factor signaling. Accumulation of LjSYP132s in the peribacteroid membrane suggests the function of not only IT formation but also nutrient transport. In contrast, qRT-PCR showed that LjSYP132b was expressed in the seeds. A stable transgenic plant of LjSYP132b, R132b, was produced by RNAi silencing. In the R132b plants, small pods with a few seeds and abnormal tip growth of the pollen tubes were observed, suggesting that LjSYP132b has a role in pollen tube growth and nutrient transport in the plasma membrane of seeds.
Using Cognitive Mapping to Study the Relationship between News Exposure and Cognitive Complexity
Authors: Boukes Mark , A.W.J. van Esch Femke , A. Snellens Jeroen , C. Steenman Sebastiaan , Vliegenthart Rens
Published: July 2020

Cognitive complexity is a concept that allows scholars to distinguish unidimensional thinking from multidimensional thinking, which allows citizens to identify and integrate various perspectives of a topic. Especially in times of fake news, fact-free politics, and affective polarization, the news media would ideally foster such complex political understanding. The current paper introduces the method of cognitive mapping to measure cognitive complexity regarding citizens’ understanding of the financial crisis, one of the most pressing political issues of the past decades. Linking content-analytic data to panel-survey data, we examine how exposure to news about the crisis relates to cognitive complexity. A wide variety of news sources (print, television, and online) were analyzed to take the high-choice media environment into account. Results show that news consumption generally is related to a less cognitively complex understanding of the financial crisis. However, actual exposure to news about the crisis (combined measurement of content analysis and survey data) is positively related to cognitive complexity, particularly among less-educated citizens. In addition, the most prominent topics in news coverage were more frequently associated with the financial crisis, as reflected in the cognitive maps of less-educated citizens exposed to more crisis news. These findings demonstrate the potential of news media to increase citizens’ complexity of understanding, especially among the less educated.
An Application of Wall-Crossing to Noether–Lefschetz Loci
Authors: Feyzbakhsh S , Thomas R P , Voisin C
Published: July 2020

Consider a smooth projective 3-fold $X$ satisfying the Bogomolov–Gieseker conjecture of Bayer–Macrì–Toda (such as ${\mathbb{P}}^3$, the quintic 3-fold or an abelian 3-fold). Let $L$ be a line bundle supported on a very positive surface in $X$. If $c_1(L)$ is a primitive cohomology class, then we show it has very negative square.
Circulating adiponectin levels and systemic lupus erythematosus: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Dan Yi-Lin , Wang Peng , Cheng Zhongle , Wu Qian , Wang Xue-Rong , Wang De-Guang , Pan Hai-Feng
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Several studies have reported increased serum/plasma adiponectin levels in SLE patients. This study was performed to estimate the causal effects of circulating adiponectin levels on SLE.

Methods

We selected nine independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms that were associated with circulating adiponectin levels (P < 5 × 10−8) as instrumental variables from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis. The corresponding effects between instrumental variables and outcome (SLE) were obtained from an SLE GWAS analysis, including 7219 cases with 15 991 controls of European ancestry. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses with inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger regression, weighted median and weight mode methods were used to evaluate the causal effects.

Results

The results of inverse-variance weighted methods showed no significantly causal associations of genetically predicted circulating adiponectin levels and the risk for SLE, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.38 (95% CI 0.91, 1.35; P = 0.130). MR-Egger [OR 1.62 (95% CI 0.85, 1.54), P = 0.195], weighted median [OR 1.37 (95% CI 0.82, 1.35), P = 0.235) and weighted mode methods [OR 1.39 (95% CI 0.86, 1.38), P = 0.219] also supported no significant associations of circulating adiponectin levels and the risk for SLE. Furthermore, MR analyses in using SLE-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms as an instrumental variable showed no associations of genetically predicted risk of SLE with circulating adiponectin levels.

Conclusion

Our study did not find evidence for a causal relationship between circulating adiponectin levels and the risk of SLE or of a causal effect of SLE on circulating adiponectin levels.
The sound of silence: an EEG study of how musicians time pauses in individual and joint music performance
Authors: Zamm Anna , Debener Stefan , Konvalinka Ivana , Sebanz Natalie , Knoblich Günther
Published: July 2020

Pauses are an integral feature of social interaction. Conversation partners often pause between conversational turns, and musical co-performers often pause between musical phrases. How do humans coordinate the duration of pauses to ensure seamless interaction? A total of 40 trained pianists performed a simple melody containing fermatas (notated expressive pauses of unspecified duration) first alone (Solo) and then with a partner (Duet) while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. As predicted, Duet partners’ tone onset synchrony was reduced for tones following pauses. Pauses were shorter in Duet relative to Solo performance, and synchrony of partners’ Duet tone onsets was enhanced for tones following shorter pauses. EEG analysis revealed classic signatures of action preparation during pauses, namely decreases in the power of cortical beta oscillations (13–30 Hz, event-related desynchronization ERD). Beta ERD did not differ between pauses in Solo and Duet performance, but was enhanced for shorter relative to longer pauses, suggesting that reduced pause durations in Duet performance facilitated a neural state of enhanced action readiness. Together these findings provide novel insight into behavioural strategies by which musical partners resolve coordination challenges posed by expressive silence, and capture a clear neural signature of action planning during time-varying silences in natural music performance.
Sex differences in the human reward system: convergent behavioral, autonomic and neural evidence
Authors: Warthen Katherine G , Boyse-Peacor Alita , Jones Keith G , Sanford Benjamin , Love Tiffany M , Mickey Brian J
Published: July 2020

Several studies have suggested that females and males differ in reward behaviors and their underlying neural circuitry. Whether human sex differences extend across neural and behavioral levels for both rewards and punishments remains unclear. We studied a community sample of 221 young women and men who performed a monetary incentive task known to engage the mesoaccumbal pathway and salience network. Both stimulus salience (behavioral relevance) and valence (win vs loss) varied during the task. In response to high- vs low-salience stimuli presented during the monetary incentive task, men showed greater subjective arousal ratings, behavioral accuracy and skin conductance responses (P < 0.006, Hedges’ effect size g = 0.38 to 0.46). In a subsample studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging (n = 44), men exhibited greater responsiveness to stimulus salience in the nucleus accumbens, midbrain, anterior insula and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (P < 0.02, g = 0.86 to 1.7). Behavioral, autonomic and neural sensitivity to the valence of stimuli did not differ by sex, indicating that responses to rewards vs punishments were similar in women and men. These results reveal novel and robust sex differences in reward- and punishment-related traits, behavior, autonomic activity and neural responses. These convergent results suggest a neurobehavioral basis for sexual dimorphism observed in the reward system, including reward-related disorders.
Re-discovery and novel contributions to morphology and multigene phylogeny ofMyxophyllum steenstrupi(Ciliophora: Pleuronematida), an obligate symbiont of terrestrial pulmonates
Authors: Zhang Tengyue , Vďačný Peter
Published: July 2020

Myxophyllum steenstrupi is a symbiotic ciliate living in the body slime and mantle cavity of terrestrial pulmonates (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). In the present study, M. steenstrupi was re-discovered after almost 30 years and characterized using an integrative morpho-molecular approach for the first time. Myxophyllum is distinguished by a broadly ovate, about 140 × 115 μm-sized body, a nuclear apparatus typically composed of seven macronuclear nodules and a single micronucleus, a central contractile vacuole, a shallow oral cavity situated in the posterior body region and dense somatic ciliature with extensive thigmotactic field. According to the present phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial and five nuclear markers, M. steenstrupi is classified in the predominantly free-living order Pleuronematida (Oligohymenophorea: Scuticociliatia). This order also encompasses other taxa isolated from molluscs and traditionally classified along with Myxophyllum in the order Thigmotrichida. The proper classifications of Myxophyllum was hampered by the dramatic remodelling of its oral apparatus (reduction of the paroral membrane and adoral organelles, formation of vestibular kineties), a transformation that was likely induced by its firm association with terrestrial gastropods. The present study also documents that various ciliate lineages independently became commensals or parasites of various aquatic and terrestrial molluscs.
ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema causing small bowel obstruction
Authors: Melendez Megan , Grosel John M.
Published: July 2020

Mucosal angioedema of the face, lips, tongue, and throat is a well-recognized adverse reaction to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors that is experienced by a minority of patients. Rarely, this angioedema can involve the small bowel, and patients commonly present with abdominal pain and small bowel obstruction. Due to the increasing number of patients being treated for hypertension, clinicians should consider the diagnosis of small bowel angioedema secondary to ACE inhibitor use in all patients with this presentation who are using this class of medications.
Family-centered care for children with medical complexity
Authors: Lindstrom Kathy , Cady Rhonda , Bushaw Andrea
Published: July 2020

NPs piloted a family-centered goal-planning tool with a medically complex pediatric population during outpatient clinic visits. The tool was an effective reminder to discuss goals after trust and rapport are established between provider and family.
Minimizing the need for high dependency unit support in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery. Is enhanced recovery and the multidisciplinary team key?
Authors: Dass Debashis , Dhawan Rohit , Maybin James , Kiely Nigel T. , Davidson Neil T. , Trivedi Jayesh M.
Published: July 2020

Current trends in the surgical treatment of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) involve the use of high dependency unit (HDU) in the postoperative period. The British Scoliosis Society also recommends the availability of HDU support in the postoperative period for these patients. However, this practice may lead to unexpected theatre cancellations due to lack of availability of HDU bed on the day of surgery. We also hypothesize that this practice may eventually lead to longer inpatient stay for the patients. All AIS patients at our unit are managed on a paediatric ward postoperatively, without HDU support. The primary aim of the study therefore is to evaluate whether operating on AIS patients without HDU support is well tolerated practice. Secondary aims were to evaluate patient related outcomes, including length of stay (LOS), and postoperative analgesia requirements. Adolescents aged 12–17 years with idiopathic scoliosis deformity who were treated with posterior instrumented scoliosis (PIS) correction were included in this prospective cohort study. The study period was between 12 November 2012 and 6 August 2018. Twenty-two patients were included in the HDU group and 33 patients in the non-HDU group. These were two matched cohort groups. Data were collected on complication rates, LOS, analgesic requirements, time to bowel opening, and attainment of physiotherapy goals in the immediate postoperative period. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software R (3.4.3). There were no complications in the non-HDU group and one pneumothorax in the HDU group. There was a significant reduction in the LOS from 7.4 days (SD ±2.3, CI 0.012) days, to 5.8 (SD ±1.4, CI 0.01) days in the non-HDU group (P = 0.0001). There was no significant difference statistically or clinically in opiate usage between the HDU group, 115 mg (SD ±60.7, CI 0.8) and the non-HDU group 116 mg (SD ±55.8, CI 0.6) (P = 0.609). However, there was an improvement in pain scores in the non-HDU group where oral analgesics only were used (P = 0.002). A cost saving of £2038.80 per AIS case was made in the non-HDU group. AIS surgery can be performed safely without the need for HDU support in healthy adolescents. An oral analgesia-based enhanced recovery regime compares favourably to patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and indicates these patients can be managed safely with strong multidisciplinary support on a paediatric ward.
Femoral neck-shaft angle and bone age in 4- to 24-year-olds based on 1005 EOS three-dimensional reconstructions
Authors: O’Sullivan Ian R. , Schégl Ádám T. , Varga Péter , Than Péter , Vermes Csaba
Published: July 2020

The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between femoral neck-shaft angles (NSAs) and skeletal maturity in EOS reconstructions from a large population of children. Full-body three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions were generated from 1005 children and young adults (4–24 years old; 449 male, 556 female) using the EOS three-dimensional/3D scanner, with images taken during routine clinical practice. The true NSAs were measured and assessed for correlation with individuals’ chronological age and bone age, based on cervical vertebral morphology. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation, independent t-test and multiple linear regression. NSAs of older and younger individuals within each bone age group and chronological age were further assessed by t-test. NSA values fell from mean 131.89° ± 6.07° at 4 years old to 128.85° ± 4.46° at the age of 16, with only minor decreases thereafter. Significantly higher NSAs (3.16° and 4.45°, respectively) were found in those with a bone age advanced or delayed by more two or more stages compared to their peers of the same chronological age (P < 0.001; P < 0.001). Similarly, within most bone age stages, individuals of advanced or delayed chronological age exhibited elevated values (mean difference ranged from 2.9° to 8.9°, P < 0.05). Incorporation of bone age assessment into proximal femoral evaluation allowed identification of ‘fast maturing’ and ‘slow maturing’ sub-categories in developing children, with different expected NSAs. The earlier ossification seen in faster-maturing individuals may lead to the NSA becoming fixed in a more immature valgus conformation.
Association of radial head dislocation with fracture and acute plastic deformation of the ulna: unreported subtype of Monteggia fracture-dislocation in children
Authors: Fukuda Makoto , Hidaka Noriaki
Published: July 2020

Treatment of a Monteggia fracture-dislocation primarily includes anatomical reduction and fixation of the ulna. However, in rare cases, reduction of the radial head remains impossible even after performing this standard procedure. We have encountered patients with Monteggia fracture-dislocation whose radial head could be reduced by ‘overcorrecting’ the ulna. In this retrospective study, we aimed to propose an unreported subtype of Monteggia fracture-dislocation. Data of three patients (age 6, 14, and 16 years) with Monteggia fracture-dislocations whose radial head could not be reduced by anatomical fixation of the ulna were retrospectively reviewed. In all three patients, the radial head could not be reduced by anatomical reduction and internal fixation of the ulna even after confirmation of the absence of interposed tissue such as annular ligament in the radiocapitellar joint. However, the radial head could be reduced by fixation of the ulna in a posterior convex shape at the fracture site. At the final follow-up, stable reduction of the radial head was maintained in all patients. We hypothesized that these patients had simultaneous existence of a fracture and acute plastic deformity of the ulna. To the best of our knowledge, this pathological state has not been reported previously but it may not be extremely rare and may only be unrecognized. We believe that a new subtype, that is, type A + C, should be established based on Letts’ classification.