bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Versus Delayed Mobilization Postoperative Protocols for Lateral Ankle Ligament Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Vopat Matthew L. , Tarakemeh Armin , Morris Brandon , Hassan Maaz , Garvin Pat , Zackula Rosey , Mullen Scott , Schroeppel John Paul , Vopat Bryan G.
Published: June 2020

Background:

The majority of patients with an acute lateral ankle ligamentous injury are successfully treated nonoperatively with functional rehabilitation; however, a small proportion of these patients experience persistent chronic instability and may require surgical intervention. Delayed primary repair of the ruptured ligaments is most commonly indicated for these patients. Optimal rehabilitation after lateral ankle ligament repair remains unknown, as surgeons vary in how they balance protection of the surgical repair site with immobilization against the need for ankle joint mobilization to restore optimal postoperative ankle range of motion.

Purpose:

To compare early and delayed mobilization (EM and DM, respectively) postoperative protocols in patients undergoing primary lateral ankle ligament repair to determine optimal evidence-based rehabilitation recommendations.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a meta-analysis using the PubMed/Ovid MEDLINE database was performed (October 11, 1947 to October 16, 2017), searching for articles involving lateral ankle ligament repair. Postoperative protocols were reviewed and divided into 2 categories: EM (within 3 weeks of surgery) and DM (more than 3 weeks post surgery). Return to sport (RTS), outcome scores (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society [AOFAS] ankle-hindfoot scale and Karlsson score), radiographic outcomes (talar tilt and anterior drawer), and complications of both populations were recorded and statistically analyzed.

Results:

A total of 28 of 1574 studies met the criteria for the final analysis, comprising 1457 patients undergoing primary lateral ankle ligament repair. The postoperative AOFAS score was significantly greater in the EM versus DM group (98.8 vs 91.9, respectively; P < .001), as was the postoperative Karlsson score (92.2 vs 90.0, respectively; P < .001). However, the EM group had significantly greater postoperative laxity on both the anterior drawer test (6.3 vs 3.9 mm, respectively; P < .001) and talar tilt test (5.1° vs 4.5°, respectively; P < .001). Also, the DM group had significantly lower rates of overall complications (3.1% vs 11.4%, respectively; P < .001) and skin wound complications (1.3% vs 3.8%, respectively; P = .005). RTS was not significantly different between groups ( P = .100).

Conclusion:

Patients with EM postoperative protocols demonstrated improved functional outcomes; however, the EM group had increased objective laxity and a higher complication rate. Additional randomized studies are needed to definitively evaluate early versus delayed rehabilitation protocol timetables to optimize functional outcomes without compromising long-term stability.
Cost Drivers Associated With Anterior Shoulder Stabilization Surgery
Authors: Li Lambert T. , Bokshan Steven L. , Levins James G. , Owens Brett D.
Published: June 2020

Background:

Arthroscopic Bankart repair, open Bankart repair, and the Latarjet procedure are common treatments for anterior shoulder instability; however, little is known of costs by patient- and surgeon-specific factors. This study aimed to identify areas where cost reduction may be achieved.

Hypothesis:

Increased total charges will be associated with low-volume surgeons and surgical facilities, hospital-owned facilities, open surgical techniques, and patients with at least 1 comorbidity.

Study Design:

Economic and decision analysis; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

The 2014 State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Databases from 6 states were utilized. There were 3 Current Procedural Terminology codes (23455, 23462, 29806) used to identify open Bankart repair, the Latarjet procedure, and arthroscopic Bankart repair, respectively. Patient demographic and surgical variables were evaluated on a univariate basis, and all significant factors were then included in the multiple linear regression to determine which factors had the largest effect on cost. Total charges billed for the encounter were used as a proxy for cost of surgery.

Results:

For open Bankart repair, arthroscopic Bankart repair, and the Latarjet procedure, longer operative times increased costs, and high-volume surgical facilities had decreased charges. For the arthroscopic Bankart group, additional factors that increased charges included postoperative hospital admission (US$11,516; P < .001), patient residence in a ZIP code with a below-median income (US$2909; P < .001), presence of a comorbidity (US$1982; P < .001), male sex (US$1545; P = .003), Hispanic race (US$2493; P = .005), and use of regional anesthesia (US$1898; P = .025). Additional cost drivers for the Latarjet procedure included postoperative hospital admission (US$7028; P = .022) and older age (US$187/y; P = .039).

Conclusion:

Postoperative admission to the hospital was the largest cost driver for arthroscopic Bankart repair and the Latarjet procedure. Low-volume facilities were the largest cost driver for open Bankart repair. High-volume surgery centers had lower costs when compared with low-volume surgery centers. Regional anesthesia increased costs in the arthroscopic Bankart group. These findings may help to show where cost savings can be achieved, particularly considering increasing trends toward bundled health care payments.
Impact of Simulator-Based Crisis Resource Management Training on Collective Orientation in Anaesthesia: Pre-Post Survey Study With Interprofessional Anaesthesia Teams
Authors: Flentje Markus , Eismann Hendrik , Sieg Lion , Hagemann Vera , Friedrich Lars
Published: June 2020

Theory:

Individuals have different qualities, levels of willingness, and degrees of engagement for working in teams. This behaviour is termed ‘Collective Orientation’ (CO). Collective orientation can be trained and has a positive influence on team processes. Here, we investigated the effect of a simulator-based, Crisis Resource Management team training upon the participants’ CO.

Hypotheses:

We hypothesized (1) the scales of CO and Presence for lab-based microworld research (PLBMR) are applicable to the German anaesthesia teams, (2) the CO can be influenced by means of simulation training, (3) the training effect is dependent on sex and/or profession, and (4) the change of CO depends on the perceived presence of the participants in the scenario.

Method:

In a pre-post study, 66 nurses and doctors from various anaesthetic departments took part in a 1-day training course to improve non-technical skills. The primary outcome was the mean difference between the CO measured (via questionnaires) immediately before (T1) and after (T2) training. The change was then tested for dependence upon other variables, such as sex, professional group, and immersion into the simulation scenarios.

Results:

Collective orientation improved significantly after training (mean difference: 0.2; P < .001; dz = 0.53). Considering the subscales, affiliation increased significantly ( P < .001; dz = 0.59), whereas dominance remained unchanged. Furthermore, no correlation was found regarding sex, professional group, or immersion into the simulation scenarios.

Conclusions:

Our study demonstrated that simulation-based training improves the participants’ COs, primarily by increasing affiliation. Subjective scenario reality did not significantly influence this. Nonetheless, it remains unclear as to what factors categorically resulted in this benefit. The shared experience in the course by all team members might trigger the effects. However, further studies are needed to identify the modifiable factors that can improve teamwork attitudes.
Walking accessibility to neighbourhood open space in a multi-level urban environment of Hong Kong
Authors: Tang Bo-Sin , Wong Kenneth KH , Tang Kenneth SS , Wai Wong Siu
Published: June 2020

This study presents the spatial analysis of walking accessibility to a public facility in a hilly, multi-level urban environment. Our spatial database includes street topography, physical impedances, formal crossings, and designated access points in assessing the network distance of all private residential buildings to public open space in Hong Kong. Pedestrian movement of uneven speed on walkways of varying gradients is assessed. The study concludes that, compared with our method, conventional buffer analysis and network distance analysis over-estimate the walking accessibility of private housing to neighbourhood open space in Hong Kong by about 2–8%. Despite Hong Kong’s compact built environment, about 15% of the total number of residential blocks cannot reach a neighbourhood open space within 5 minutes of walking (equivalent to the local planning standard of 400 metres of walking on a flat terrain). These open space-deficient neighbourhoods comprise mostly the affluent or middle-class households in gated housing estates and in low-rise housing, but also some neighbourhoods of underprivileged families in old urban tenement buildings. Our assessment reveals the spatial bias of land use planning policy leading to these blackspots of open space shortfall in the territory. It requires urban planners to pay attention to the geographical barriers of a pedestrian network in redressing the inequitable distribution and achieving a pedestrian-friendly 3D city.
Further study on thermal deformation reduction for CFRP-based improved ball screws
Authors: Gao Xiangsheng , Guo Yueyang , Wang Min , Zan Tao
Published: June 2020

To determine the thermal deformation of ball screw in actual working condition, a novel method for determining thermal deformation of ball screws in complicated working condition is proposed based on G-code and finite-element (FE) method. In the complicated working condition, it is difficult to obtain and import the nut movement into FE model due to the complex nut movement. In this research, the nut movement is directly determined from G-code by MATLAB code programming. The nut location is recorded with time in a file. The thermal parameters can be determined according to the nut speed with time as well. In the implicit FE analysis, the nut location is read from the input file instead of nut location calculation before every time step. And then, the effect of factors, such as working condition and materials, on thermal deformation reduction of ball screw is studied. The thermal deformation reduction of ball screws under different rotational speed, actual working condition, and different axial elastic modulus of composites is discussed, which can provide the guidelines to evaluate the thermal deformation reduction and design the composite in improved ball screws.
Functionally graded wood filler–recycled polypropylene composite: Effect of mechanical loading on deflection of cantilever beam
Authors: Bahri MAS , Ratnam MM , Khalil HPS Abdul
Published: June 2020

Structures made from natural fiber–polypropylene composite material usually have uniform mechanical properties throughout. In some applications, such as in products with snap-fit assembly, it is desirable to have lower stiffness in some parts of the structure while having significantly higher stiffness at other parts of the same structure. In this research, the effect of changing the material arrangement and composition in a cantilever beam made from functionally graded natural filler–recycled polypropylene (FGNF-RPP) composite on the deflection behavior was investigated under static mechanical loads. The composite material was made using 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% waste wood sawdust as a filler and arranged in different sequences to fabricate beams having 30–40, 20–30–40, and 10–20–30–40 hybrid sections along the length. The deflection behavior was investigated by both experiment and finite element modeling. The results showed that the 30–40 setup produced the least deflection when the 40% end of the beam was fixed, while the 10–20–30–40 setup produced the highest stiffness when fixed at the 40% section. The study has shown that the FGNF-RPP structure can be custom-designed to obtain different stiffness along the same structure, thus making it possible to design products with varying stiffness.
Ground motion prediction equation for crustal earthquakes in Taiwan
Authors: Phung Van-Bang , Loh Chin Hsiung , Chao Shu Hsien , Chiou Brian SJ , Huang Bor-Shouh
Published: June 2020

We develop a ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) for estimating horizontal ground motion amplitudes caused by crustal earthquakes, based on an integrated data set that includes strong motion recordings mainly from Taiwan earthquakes and only from large magnitude earthquakes in the NGA-West2 database. This GMPE is developed for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis study, which is introduced as a part of Taiwan Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee Level 3 projects. The functional form developed by Chiou and Youngs was carefully studied to determine the key modeling parameters needed to regress against ground motion in the target region. Using this functional form, the GMPE achieves considerable improvement over previously developed Taiwan GMPEs. In particular, the use of a high-order function in magnitude scaling enables representation of the saturation effects of large earthquakes. Moreover, consideration of focal mechanisms, depth effects, and dip effects are used to correct the magnitude scaling; consideration of nonlinear site amplification is conditioned on VS30 and reference ground motion on rock; and consideration of basin depth effect is a function of Z1.0 in correlation with VS30. In addition, ground motion data used in this study are not only expanded by more than three times as many earthquakes and records compared with a previous Taiwan model but also provide the metadata of these records that were not available or were previously incomplete. In this study, we compare the proposed model with the NGA-West2 models and discuss the regional difference in ground motion in terms of spectral shape, magnitude scaling, distance scaling, depth scaling, style of faulting, and site effects. We provide median and single standard deviations of peak ground acceleration and 5% damped pseudospectral acceleration response ordinates of the orientation-independent average horizontal component of ground motion (RotD50) for the spectral period of 0.01–10 s.
Damping modification factors for the design of seismic isolation systems in Peru
Authors: Fernandez-Davila Victor I. , Mendo Arnold R.
Published: June 2020

This study proposed a simple nonlinear equation to estimate damping modification factors (DMFs) to modify the elastic response spectral values for damping ratios between 10% and 50%. The DMFs are computed from the displacement, acceleration, and velocity response spectral of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems of 198 earthquake acceleration time histories from 40 earthquakes events of Peruvian database, grouped into three types of soil: hard soil, intermediate soil, and soft soil. For each soil group, 11 scaled records were selected according to the ASCE 7-16 standard to match the design spectrum of the Peruvian technical standard for seismically isolated structures E.031. Simplified approximate nonlinear period-dependent expressions were provided to compute DMFs from the Peruvian strong-motion database and were compared with DMFs available in the literature and national seismic design codes. The study showed discrepancies with the regulations worldwide.
The Worthy Human Being as Prosuming Subject: ‘Projectified Selves’ in Emancipatory Project Studies
Authors: Berglund Karin , Lindgren Monica , Packendorff Johann
Published: June 2020

The projectified self is suggested in this article as a way to advance emancipatory project studies toward improved understandings of how individuals in contemporary neoliberal societies are urged to become self-controlling, self-improving, self-commercializing, life-compartmentalizing, and deadline driven. We propose (1) a developed theoretical foundation for studies of the projectified self, based on recent writings on enterprising selves, and (2) the notion of prosumption as a concept for how the worthiness of this projectified self is constructed in a simultaneous process of project-based production and consumption. This is discussed in relation to the on-going studies of social media entrepreneurs.
Sex-specific and age-related seasonal variations regarding incidence and in-hospital mortality of pulmonary embolism in Germany
Authors: Keller Karsten , Hobohm Lukas , Münzel Thomas , Konstantinides Stavros V. , Lankeit Mareike
Published: June 2020

Background

Studies have reported seasonal variations regarding the incidence and the short-term mortality of pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of this study was to identify sex-specific and age-related differences in seasonal patterns regarding hospitalisations and mortality of PE patients.

Methods

We analysed the impact of seasons on incidence and in-hospital mortality of male and female hospitalised PE patients in Germany (2005–2015) based on the German nationwide inpatient sample.

Results

The German nationwide inpatient sample comprised 885 806 hospitalisations due to PE (2005–2015). Seasonal variations of both incidence (p=0.021) and in-hospital mortality (p<0.001) were of significant magnitude. Quarterly annual incidence (25.5versus23.7 of 100 000 citizens per year, p=0.021) and in-hospital mortality (17.0%versus16.7%, p=0.008) were higher in winter than in summer. Risk of in-hospital mortality in winter was slightly higher (OR 1.03 (95% CI 1.01–1.06), p=0.015) compared to summer, independently of sex, age and comorbidities. Additionally, we observed sex-specific differences during seasons: the highest number of hospitalisations of PE patients of both sexes was during winter, whereas the nadir of male patients was in spring and that of female patients was in summer. Both sexes showed a maximum of in-hospital mortality in spring. Seasonal variation regarding incidence and mortality was pronounced in older patients.

Conclusion

Incidence and the in-hospital mortality of PE patients showed a significant seasonal variation with sex-specific differences. Although it has to be hypothesised that the seasonal variation of PE is multifactorially dependent, variation in each season was not explained by seasonal differences regarding age, sex and the prevalence of important comorbidities.
In Situ-Formed and Low-Temperature-Deposited Nb:TiO2 Compact-Mesoporous Layer for Hysteresis-Less Perovskite Solar Cells with High Performance
Authors: Yu Miao , Sun Haoxuan , Huang Xiaona , Yan Yichao , Zhang Wanli
Published: June 2020

Recently, reported perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high power conversion efficiency (PCE) are mostly based on mesoporous structures containing mesoporous titanium oxide (TiO2) which is the main factor to reduce the overall hysteresis. However, existing fabrication approaches for mesoporous TiO2generally require a high-temperature annealing process. Moreover, there is still a long way to go for improvement in terms of increasing the electron conductivity and reducing the carrier recombination. Herein, a facile one-step, in situ, and low-temperature method was developed to prepare an Nb:TiO2compact-mesoporous layer which served as both scaffold and electron transport layer (ETL) for PSCs. The Nb:TiO2compact-mesoporous ETL-based PSCs exhibit suppressed hysteresis, which is attributed to the synergistic effect of the increased interface surface area caused by nano-pin morphology and the improved carrier transportation caused by Nb doping. Such a high-quality compact-mesoporous layer allows the PSCs assembled using optimized 2% Nb-doped TiO2to achieve a remarkable PCE of 19.74%. This work promises an effective approach for creating hysteresis-less and high-efficiency PSCs based on compact-mesoporous structures with lower energy consumption and cost.
Effects of forest bathing on pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adults: a review of the literature
Authors: Yau Katherine Ka-Yin , Loke Alice Yuen
Published: June 2020

The aim in this literature review was (1) to explore the physiologically and psychologically therapeutic benefits of forest bathing on adults suffering from pre-hypertension or hypertension, and (2) to identify the type, duration, and frequency of an effective forest bathing intervention in the management of pre-hypertension and hypertension, so as to provide directions for future interventions or research. The electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsyINFO, and the China Academic Journals (CAJ) offered through the Full-text Database (CNKI) were searched for relevant studies published from the inception of the databases to April 2019. Of the 364 articles that were identified, 14 met the criteria for inclusion in this review. The synthesis of the findings in the included studies revealed that forest bathing interventions were effective at reducing blood pressure, lowering pulse rate, increasing the power of heart rate variability (HRV), improving cardiac-pulmonary parameters, and metabolic function, inducing a positive mood, reducing anxiety levels, and improving the quality of life of pre-hypertensive or hypertensive participants. Forest walking and forest therapy programs were the two most effective forest bathing interventions. Studies reported that practicing a single forest walking or forest therapy program can produce short-term physiological and psychological benefits. It is concluded that forest bathing, particularly forest walking and therapy, has physiologically and psychologically relaxing effects on middle-aged and elderly people with pre-hypertension and hypertension.
Proteome-Wide Analyses Reveal the Diverse Functions of Lysine 2-Hydroxyisobutyrylation in Oryza sativa
Authors: Xue Chao , Qiao Zhongying , Chen Xu , Cao Penghui , Liu Kai , Liu Shuai , Ye Lu , Gong Zhiyun
Published: June 2020

Background

Lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib), a newly identified post-translational modification, is known to regulate transcriptional activity in animals. However, extensive studies of the lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylome in plants and animals have yet to be performed.

Results

In this study, using LC-MS/MS qualitative proteomics strategies, we identified 4163 Khib sites on 1596 modified proteins in rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings. Motif analysis revealed 10 conserved motifs flanking the Khib sites, and subcellular localization analysis revealed that 44% of the Khib proteins are localized in the chloroplast. Gene ontology function, KEGG pathway, and protein domain enrichment analyses revealed that Khib occurs on proteins involved in diverse biological processes and is especially enriched in carbon metabolism and photosynthesis. Among the modified proteins, 20 Khib sites were identified in histone H2A and H2B, while only one site was identified in histone H4. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis further demonstrated that Khib participates in diverse biological processes including ribosomal activity, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and metabolic pathways. In addition, a comparison of lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation, acetylation, and crotonylation in the rice proteome showed that 45 proteins with only 26 common lysine sites are commonly modified by three PTMs. The crosstalk of modified sites and PPI among these PTMs may form a complex network with both similar and different regulatory mechanisms.

Conclusions

In summary, our study comprehensively profiles the lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylome in rice and provides a better understanding of its biological functions in plants.
Transcriptome Sequencing and iTRAQ of Different Rice Cultivars Provide Insight into Molecular Mechanisms of Cold-Tolerance Response in Japonica Rice
Authors: Jia Yan , Liu Hualong , Qu Zhaojun , Wang Jin , Wang Xinpeng , Wang Zhuoqian , Yang Liang , Zhang Dong , Zou Detang , Zhao Hongwei
Published: June 2020

Background

Rice (Oryza sativaL.) is one of the most important crops cultivated in both tropical and temperate regions. However, it has a high sensitivity to cold stress and chilling stress limits its nitrogen uptake and metabolism. To identify the genes and pathways involved in cold tolerance, specifically within nitrogen metabolism pathways, we compared gene and protein expression differences between a cold-tolerant cultivar, Dongnong428 (DN), and a cold-sensitive cultivar, Songjing10 (SJ).

Results

Using isobaric tags for relative or absolute quantification (iTRAQ) with high-throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) techniques, we identified 5549 genes and 450 proteins in DN and 6145 genes and 790 proteins in SJ, which were differentially expressed during low water temperature (Tw) treatments. There were 354 transcription factor (TF) genes (212 downregulated, 142 upregulated) and 366 TF genes (220 downregulated, 146 upregulated), including 47 gene families, differentially expressed in DN under control (CKDN) vs. DN under low-Tw(D15DN) and SJ under control (CKSJ) vs. SJ under low-TwD15SJ, respectively. Genes associated with rice cold-related biosynthesis pathways, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, zeatin biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways, were significantly differentially expressed in both rice cultivars. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) associated with rice cold-related biosynthesis pathways, and particularly glutathione metabolism, were significantly differentially expressed in both rice cultivars. Transcriptome and proteome analysis of the nitrogen metabolism pathways showed that major genes and proteins that participated in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamine synthesis were downregulated under cold stress.

Conclusion

Cold stress conditions during reproductive growth, resulted in genes and proteins related to cold stress biosynthesis pathways being significantly differentially expressed in DN and SJ. The present study confirmed the known cold stress-associated genes and identified new putative cold-responsive genes. We also found that translational regulation under cold stress plays an important role in cold-tolerant DN. Low-Twtreatments affected N uptake and N metabolism in rice, as well as promoted Glu metabolism and the synthesis of ornithine and proline in cold-sensitive SJ.
ATLAS: a Snakemake workflow for assembly, annotation, and genomic binning of metagenome sequence data
Authors: Kieser Silas , Brown Joseph , Zdobnov Evgeny M. , Trajkovski Mirko , McCue Lee Ann
Published: June 2020

Background

Metagenomics studies provide valuable insight into the composition and function of microbial populations from diverse environments; however, the data processing pipelines that rely on mapping reads to gene catalogs or genome databases for cultured strains yield results that underrepresent the genes and functional potential of uncultured microbes. Recent improvements in sequence assembly methods have eased the reliance on genome databases, thereby allowing the recovery of genomes from uncultured microbes. However, configuring these tools, linking them with advanced binning and annotation tools, and maintaining provenance of the processing continues to be challenging for researchers.

Results

Here we present ATLAS, a software package for customizable data processing from raw sequence reads to functional and taxonomic annotations using state-of-the-art tools to assemble, annotate, quantify, and bin metagenome data. Abundance estimates at genome resolution are provided for each sample in a dataset. ATLAS is written in Python and the workflow implemented in Snakemake; it operates in a Linux environment, and is compatible with Python 3.5+ and Anaconda 3+ versions. The source code for ATLAS is freely available, distributed under a BSD-3 license.

Conclusions

ATLAS provides a user-friendly, modular and customizable Snakemake workflow for metagenome data processing; it is easily installable with conda and maintained as open-source on GitHub at https://github.com/metagenome-atlas/atlas.
Gene expression predictions and networks in natural populations supports the omnigenic theory
Authors: Chateigner Aurélien , Lesage-Descauses Marie-Claude , Rogier Odile , Jorge Véronique , Leplé Jean-Charles , Brunaud Véronique , Roux Christine Paysant-Le , Soubigou-Taconnat Ludivine , Martin-Magniette Marie-Laure , Sanchez Leopoldo , Segura Vincent
Published: June 2020

Background

Recent literature on the differential role of genes within networks distinguishes core from peripheral genes. If previous works have shown contrasting features between them, whether such categorization matters for phenotype prediction remains to be studied.

Results

We measured 17 phenotypic traits for 241 cloned genotypes from a Populus nigra collection, covering growth, phenology, chemical and physical properties. We also sequenced RNA for each genotype and built co-expression networks to define core and peripheral genes. We found that cores were more differentiated between populations than peripherals while being less variable, suggesting that they have been constrained through potentially divergent selection. We also showed that while cores were overrepresented in a subset of genes statistically selected for their capacity to predict the phenotypes (by Boruta algorithm), they did not systematically predict better than peripherals or even random genes.

Conclusion

Our work is the first attempt to assess the importance of co-expression network connectivity in phenotype prediction. While highly connected core genes appear to be important, they do not bear enough information to systematically predict better quantitative traits than other gene sets.
Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of Artemisia (Asteraceae) in East Asia: insights into evolutionary divergence and phylogenomic implications
Authors: Kim Goon-Bo , Lim Chae Eun , Kim Jin-Seok , Kim Kyeonghee , Lee Jeong Hoon , Yu Hee-Ju , Mun Jeong-Hwan
Published: June 2020

Background

Artemisiain East Asia includes a number of economically important taxa that are widely used for food, medicinal, and ornamental purposes. The identification of taxa, however, has been hampered by insufficient diagnostic morphological characteristics and frequent natural hybridization. Development of novel DNA markers or barcodes with sufficient resolution to resolve taxonomic issues ofArtemisiain East Asia is significant challenge.

Results

To establish a molecular basis for taxonomic identification and comparative phylogenomic analysis ofArtemisia, we newly determined 19 chloroplast genome (plastome) sequences of 18Artemisiataxa in East Asia, de novo-assembled and annotated the plastomes of two taxa using publicly available Illumina reads, and compared them with 11Artemisiaplastomes reported previously. The plastomes ofArtemisiawere 150,858–151,318 base pairs (bp) in length and harbored 87 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNAs, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes in conserved order and orientation. Evolutionary analyses of whole plastomes and 80 non-redundant protein-coding genes revealed that the noncodingtrnH-psbAspacer was highly variable in size and nucleotide sequence both between and within taxa, whereas the coding sequences ofaccDandycf1were under weak positive selection and relaxed selective constraints, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole plastomes based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses yielded five groups ofArtemisiaplastomes clustered in the monophyletic subgenusDracunculusand paraphyletic subgenusArtemisia, suggesting that the whole plastomes can be used as molecular markers to infer the chloroplast haplotypes ofArtemisiataxa. Additionally, analysis ofaccDandycf1hotspots enabled the development of novel markers potentially applicable across the family Asteraceae with high discriminatory power.

Conclusions

The complete sequences of theArtemisiaplastomes are sufficiently polymorphic to be used as super-barcodes for this genus. It will facilitate the development of new molecular markers and study of the phylogenomic relationships ofArtemisiaspecies in the family Asteraceae.
Response of grafting tobacco to low potassium stress
Authors: Hu Wei , Di Qing , Zhang Jie , Liu Jia , Shi Xiaojun
Published: June 2020

Background

In the previous study, we investigated the alleviation effect of grafting on potassium uptake in roots and tobacco growth inhibition under low potassium stress. However, the effect of grafting on the low potassium stress perception and coping mechanism of tobacco at the whole plant level is not clear now. In order to clearly understand the impact of grafting on potassium deficit responding mechanism in tobacco, a mutual grafting experiment has been conducted in two varieties of tobacco (‘Wufeng No.2’ and ‘Yunyan 87’) in different K supply level (5 mmol L− 1 and 0.5 mmol L− 1 K).

Results

The results show that compared with the self-rooted seedlings, grafting significantly increased the potassium content of the whole plant of Yunyan 87 (97.57 and 189.74% under normal potassium and low potassium conditions, respectively), and the increase in shoots was greater. The data of whole plant K content distribution and tobacco hypocotyls net K+ flux demonstrates that potassium stress makes plants more inclined to maintain K+ in the shoot rather than root. In addition, when K deficiency occurs, grafting could reduce the time required for downward net K+ flux in tobacco hypocotyl to decrease to stable levels. The results of net K+ flux in the roots indicated that K channel proteins and transporters play different roles in two rootstocks in terms of potassium tolerance. Transcription level analysis suggested that the increased circulating efficiency of K+ between the shoots and roots in tobacco constitutes one means to low potassium stress adaptation.

Conclusions

Grafting can activate more K+ channels in tobacco ‘Yunyan 87’, this means a more active K+ cycle, higher potassium content in shoot and faster response to low potassium stress signals in grafting tobacco. In addition, grafting can also change the K+ absorption mode of tobacco root from being dominated by HATS to being jointly responsible by HATS and LATS, greatly improving the ability of K+ transmembrane transportation on root surface under low potassium stress. These are undoubtedly the reasons why grafting tobacco performs better in coping with low potassium stress.
Dezocine prevents sufentanil-induced cough during general anesthesia induction: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Xiong Zhencheng , Yi Ping , Song Jipeng , Tan Mingsheng
Published: June 2020

Background

Sufentanil is one of the opioids currently used to induce general anesthesia, and cough is one of the most common complications. Many drugs have been used to prevent sufentanil-induced cough (SIC), and dezocine is one of them. Dezocine is an analgesic, acting as partial antagonist of κ-receptors and agonist of μ-receptors. The purpose of our meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy of dezocine on SIC.

Methods

We searched multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases (CNKI) to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. This meta-analysis focused on the incidence and severity of SIC after dezocine intervention, as well as adverse effects. This meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO with reference number ID: CRD 42020144943.

Results

Five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified, including 890 patients. Each study was a comparison of dezocine with an equal volume of 0.9% saline. When the injection dose of dezocine was 0.1 mg/kg, the incidence (pooled risk ratio (RR) = 0.03, [95% CI: 0.02 to 0.07], P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) and severity (mild: RR = 0.07, [95% CI: 0.03 to 0.18], P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%; moderate: RR = 0.05, [95% CI: 0.02 to 0.16], P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%; severe: RR = 0.04, [95% CI: 0.01 to 0.16], P < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) of SIC were significantly decreased. There were no statistically significant differences in vital signs between the two groups based on the results of the pooled analysis.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis showed that dezocine significantly reduced the incidence and severity of SIC in the induction of general anesthesia, but had no significant effect on vital signs. More high-quality RCTs are needed to complement existing conclusions.
Depressive symptomatology and personality traits in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Tóth-Vajna Gergely , Tóth-Vajna Zsombor , Balog Piroska , Konkolÿ Thege Barna
Published: June 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of depressive symptomatology and personality traits with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Methods

The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised of 300 individuals (Mage = 65.3 ± 8.7 years, 61.0% female) recruited from the offices of 33 general practitioners. Based on at-rest ankle-brachial index (ABI) values and claudication symptoms, four subsamples were formed: clear PAD-positive, clear PAD-negative, ABI-negative but symptomatic, and a non-compressible-artery group. The concurrent role of depression (assessed by a shortened version of the Beck Depression Inventory) and personality traits (measured by the Big Five Inventory) in predicting PAD status was examined using multinomial logistic regression – controlled for sex, age, hypertonia, diabetes, smoking, hazardous drinking, and body mass index.

Results

Depressive symptomatology was significant in predicting peripheral arterial disease status even after controlling for both traditional risk factors and personality traits. Among the Big Five personality traits, neuroticism showed a significant, positive relationship with PAD – independently of depression.

Conclusions

Patients with PAD – even those with asymptomatic forms of the disease – are at higher risk for suffering from depression compared to individuals without PAD, independently of neuroticism, other Big Five personality dimensions or traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
What is the level of uptake of partner notification services in HIV testing in selected health facilities in Gatanga Sub County, Muranga County – Kenya; a retrospective study
Authors: Kariuki Rewel Mwangi , Rithaa Gilbert Koome , Oyugi Elvis Omondi , Gachathi Daniel Muya
Published: June 2020

Background

Identification of people living with HIV is key in HIV prevention and control. Partner Notification service is a World Health Organization backed strategy of reaching out to sexual partners of people diagnosed with HIV for HIV testing. However, its adoption and success rate in Kenya remains unknown.

Methods

A cross sectional facility based study was undertaken in five purposely selected health facilities in Gatanga Sub county, Muranga County, Kenya. A retrospective review of patient medical records data for HIV positive index clients and their Sexual Partners conducted. Census approach was applied to extract data for study subjects from Partner Notification Services registers for the period covering January 2017 to August 2018. Epi Info software was used for data analysis.

Results

A total of 183 index clients were offered Partner notification services. The mean age of the indexed clients studied was 39(SD ±13.1). Females comprised 64% of clients studied. Of the 183 indexed clients, 89% accepted the services and elicited 216 sexual partners for tracing. The ratio of elicited sexual partners to index client was 1.3:1. Out of the 216 sexual partners, 77% were reached and tested. A total of 46 [32%] of the sexual partners elicited and traced, tested HIV positive. The most preferred approaches were provider referral (51%) and contract referral (45%). Dual referral (4%) was the least preferred approach.

Conclusions

Assisted Partner notification services is acceptable and an effective strategy of increasing HIV case identification and raising awareness to exposed sexual partners in low resource countries.
Clinical and CT findings of COVID-19: differences among three age groups
Authors: Wang Jian , Zhu Xiandi , Xu Zhihua , Yang Guangzhao , Mao Guoqun , Jia Yuzhu , Xie Zongyu , Wang Jing , Ao Weiqun
Published: June 2020

Background

The novel coronavirus pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) has spread around the world. We aimed to recapitulate the clinical and CT imaging features of COVID-19 and their differences in three age groups.

Methods

The clinical and CT data of patients with COVID-19 (n = 307) that had been divided into three groups (Group 1: < 40 years old; Group 2: 40 ≤ age < 60 years old; Group 3: ≥ 60 years old) according to age were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Of all patients, 114 (37.1%) had histories of epidemiological exposure, 48 (15.6%) were severe/critical cases, 31 had hypertension (10.1%), 15 had diabetes mellitus (4.9%), 3 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 1%). Among the three groups, severe/critical type, hypertension and diabetes occurred more commonly in the elderly group compared with Group 1&2 (P < 0.05, respectively). Cough and chest tightness/pain were more commonly appeared in Group 2&3 compared with Group 1 (P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with Group 1 and 2, there were more abnormal laboratory examination indexes (including CRP increase, abnormal percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes) in Group 3 (P < 0.05, respectively). CT images revealed that more lobes were affected and more subpleural lesions were involved in the elderly group, besides, crazy paving sign, bronchodilatation and pleural thickening were more commonly seen in the elderly group, with significant difference between Group 1&2, Group 2&3 (P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions

COVID-19 presented representative clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and CT findings, but three age groups possessed their own specific characteristics. Grasping the clinical and CT features stratified by age will be helpful for early definite diagnosis of COVID-19.
A pain in the neck: Salmonella spp. as an unusual cause of a thyroid abscess. A case report and review of the literature
Authors: AlYousef Maha K. , Al-Sayed Ahmed A. , Al Afif Ayham , Alamoudi Uthman , LeBlanc Jaclyn M. , LeBlanc Robin
Published: June 2020

Background

Thyroid gland infections are rare. Their incidence is estimated to be less than 1% in immunocompromised hosts. Most common pathogens isolated are Gram positive aerobic cocci. Infections with Gram negative facultative aerobes such asSalmonellaare rare.

Case presentation

A 55-year-old female with type II diabetes mellitus and a history of a colloid right thyroid lobe nodule presented with neck pain and fever. She was found to have a thyroid abscess 2 weeks following a non-specific diarrheal illness. A needle aspiration for symptomatic and diagnostic purposes was performed. Cultures grewSalmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg. She was treated with a 12-week course of oral antibiotics and serial aspiration.

Conclusion

A thyroid abscess is a rare occurrence; however, a high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis. The management is directed at minimizing morbidity. The mainstay treatment is medical, but surgery is sometimes necessary to achieve adequate source control, particularly when complications arise.
Sarcoidosis with cryptococcal infection apparently engaging only immune-privileged body compartments: a case report
Authors: van der Stoep Johannes H. , Sigstad Eva , Bredberg Anders
Published: June 2020

Background

Infection with the Cryptococcus neoformans yeast fungus is largely restricted to patients with HIV, sarcoidosis or immunosuppressive therapies. In sarcoidosis, there is intense local immune response in granuloma lesions, coupled with a paradoxical systemic anergy. An analysis of cryptococcal infection in sarcoidosis may therefore shed light on whether opportunistic pathogens preferentially engage immune-privileged tissues.

Case presentation

A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital after 2 months with palpitations and activity-related presyncope. A chest X-ray was normal, electrocardiography showed type-II atrioventricular-block, and there was a tentative diagnosis of myocarditis. Computed tomography reported minor hilar lymph glands and multiple nodular lesions in the lungs. Magnetic resonance imaging showed oedema and nodular structures in the heart, and fibrosis and granulomas were found in endomyocardial biopsies. The diagnosis was revised to cardiac sarcoidosis, and prednisone was initiated. In parallel, positron-emission tomography had revealed a marked uptake in the right thyroid lobe, a thyroid lobectomy was then performed, and the pathology showed a BRAF-positive papillary thyroid carcinoma. Four days postoperatively the patient developed symptoms suggestive of meningoencephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid and blood cultures yielded growth of C. neoformans. Fungal staining of the thyroid specimen revealed cryptococcal elements in the carcinoma and in granulomas close to the tumour. Notably, there was no evidence of cryptococci in the heart sarcoid sections or in the normal thyroid parenchyma.

The patient was successfully treated with antifungal agents and at the 2-year follow-up there was no evidence of thyroid cancer relapse.

Conclusion

This sarcoidosis patient had a remarkable clinic with evidence of cryptococcal infection only in body compartments commonly regarded to be immune-privileged. The findings suggest that an opportunistic and environmentally abundant pathogen, when infecting an immunocompromised host, primarily engages immunodeficient locations such as the brain, a tumour microenvironment and some forms of granuloma.
Radial artery diameterand and age related functional maturation of the radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Wan Zi-ming , Hu Bo , Lai Qi-quan , Gao Xue-jing , Tu Bo , Zhou Yu , Zhao Wen-bo
Published: June 2020

Background

Previous studies have not described the relationship between reducing radial artery diameter as well as increasing age and functional maturation of the radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (RCAVF) and no data identify these as linear relationship. The objective of this study was to perform trend analysis to assess these aspects.

Methods

Our retrospective cohort study enrolled and analyzed 353 follow-up cases that underwent first AVF creation. The artery and vein sizes were measured by ultrasound. We performed follow-up, a minimum of 3 months after surgery. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors inmaturation. Participant age was categorized into four groups (age ≤ 29, 30–49, 50–69, and 70–90 years). Radial artery diameter was categorized into four groups (≤ 1.9, >1.9 and ≤ 2.1, >2.1 and ≤ 2.4, >2.4 mm) according to median and interquartile ranges. We adjusted for confounders in four logistic models, and primary analyses were based on building ordered category models and tested P values for trends to estimate the relationship of radial artery diameter and each 20-year increase in age with risk of maturation.

Results

The mature RCAVF group included 301 cases, and the immature group included 52 cases. Radial artery diameter, age, and diabetes were independent risk factors of maturation. Odds ratios (ORs) associated with maturation reduced with increasing age, while ORs increased with increasing radial artery diameter. P values for trends(<0.05) were observed in all four models. A reduction in radial artery diameter and higher age were significantly associated with a higher incidence of immaturity after adjusting the multivariate models. The risks of immaturation were increased by more than 1.54 fold for each 20-year increase and increased by more than 1.34 fold for the smaller radial artery diameter group.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that a significantly higher immaturity risk of RCAVF was associated with increasing age and a reduction in radial artery diameter. Our study identified a linear exposure-response relationship of age and radial artery diameter with immaturity incident. A careful selection of patients will be helpful in improving AVF functional maturation.