bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the CHIVA and the ASVAL Method
Authors: Recek Cestmir
Published: February 2022

In this article, the CHIVA and ASVAL methods are assessed from the hemodynamic point of view. The CHIVA method comprises complicated, unusual terminology and new perceptions, such as closed and open shunts, fractionation of the hydrostatic pressure, subdivision of the venous network. The principal part of the CHIVA theory is the drainage of venous blood from the thigh saphenous system into the deep lower leg veins through the preserved saphenous trunk after high ligation at the saphenofemoral junction, which is considered as a beneficial, physiological phenomenon. In reality, this is recurrent reflux producing ambulatory venous hypertension. The main impact of the CHIVA procedure is the elimination of the saphenous reflux by high ligation at the saphenofemoral junction; thus it can be presumed that the CHIVA procedure yields similar results like the crossectomy.

The ASVAL procedure is de facto the modification of the old Madelung method that was the prevalent surgical procedure before the Trendelenburg era in the 19th century. The results after ASVAL were not checked by plethysmography; there is a good case to suppose that the results after the ASVAL method would comply with those after sclerotherapy.
A Pandemic of Webinars in the COVID Era—Can It be the Way Forward?
Authors: Thenmozhi Senthilvelan , Girija Subramanian , Viswanathan K. Neelakantan , Badrinath Aritakulu Kuppuswamy
Published: February 2022

Introduction Conferences are important and sometimes mandatory to update the clinician with latest knowledge. Attending conferences requires planning, expenditure, and leave from work. Webinars have become the new normal in the coronavirus disease (COVID) era. We surveyed the esteemed medical fraternity on their opinion on webinars.

Methods This was conducted as an online survey (Survey Monkey) through personal electronic mails and social media with 24 questions. Details on demographic profile, specialization and affiliation, experience, choice of frequency of webinar sessions, suitable platform, mode of intimation of webinars, number of days for prior intimation, appropriate timing of the day and week, and ideas on payment options were enquired. Need for technical assistance, choice of topic for discussions, methods to make webinars more interactive, availability of recorded content, and impact on clinical practice were also assessed.

Results A total of 235 medical professionals voiced their opinion; 67% were < 35 years of age and 49% were residents. An average of 2 to 3 webinars per month (33.8%), conducted on weekdays (63%), after 6 p.m. (54%) in the form of case discussion (67.3%) or lectures from experts (55%) with at least 7 days' notice (41.7%) was the most common choice; free webinars were the wish of 56.1% participants and 28% felt webinars would definitely impact practice.

Conclusion Webinars are welcoming even after the COVID era and should go hand-in-hand with conventional conferences. Virtual learning experience should be optimized by proper scheduling of multiple simultaneous events and converting them into interlinked or serial events.
Early-Term Results of Rapid-Deployment Aortic Valve Replacement versus Standard Bioprosthesis Implantation Combined with Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Taghiyev Zulfugar T. , Bechtel Matthias , Schlömicher Markus , Useini Dritan , Taghi Hamid Naraghi , Moustafine Vadim , Strauch Justus T.
Published: February 2022

Objectives Aortic stenosis is highly prevalent among patients with concomitant coronary artery disease. Surgical aortic valve replacement with coronary artery bypass grafting is usually the treatment of choice for patients with severe aortic stenosis and significant coronary disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome and hemodynamic results of the implantation of rapid-deployment valves (Rapid-Deployment Edwards Intuity Valve System [RDAVR]) versus conventional sutured valves (CSAVR) in combined surgery.

Methods Between January 2012 and January 2017, 120 patients underwent replacement via RDAVR and 133 patients underwent replacement using CSAVR with concomitant coronary bypass grafting. Clinical and echocardiographic data were compared.

Results The mean age was 76 ± 7 for RDAVR patients and 74 ± 6 years for CSAVR patients (p = 0.054); 48% in the RDAVR group were female versus 17% in the CSAVR group (p <0.002). Other characteristics such as diabetes mellitus, body-mass index, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, nicotine consumption, and extracardiac arteriopathy were similar. Coronary three-vessel disease was more common in the RDAVR group (42.5 vs. 27.8%, p = 0.017). Both mean EuroSCORE II (6.6 ± 5.4 vs. 4.3 ± 3.0, p = 0.001) and STS score (5.4 ± 4.4 vs. 3.4 ± 2.4, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in the RDAVR group. Mean cross-clamp time (82 ± 25 vs. 100 ± 30 minutes, p < 0.001) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (119 ± 38 vs. 147 ± 53 minutes, p < 0.001) were shorter with RDAVR. The mean number of bypass grafts, length of hospital and ICU stays, and mechanical ventilation time were not statistically significant different. Hospital mortality was 2.5% for RDAVR and 9.7% for CSAVR (p = 0.019). There was a similar rate of stroke (5.8 vs. 6.0%, p = 0.990) and postoperative delirium (14.1 vs. 15.8%, p = 0.728). Mean gradients were 8.2 ± 4.1 mm Hg in the RDAVR group vs. 11.3 ± 4.6 mm Hg in the CSAVR group (p = 0.001) at discharge.

Conclusion RDAVR combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be performed extremely safely. Cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times can be significantly reduced with rapid deployment aortic valve system in the scenario of combined CABG. RDAVR resulted in lower gradients than CSAVR in patients implanted with prostheses of the same size.
Casting light on citizens’ conceptions of what is ‘political’
Authors: Görtz Carl , Zorell Carolin V. , Fitzgerald Jennifer
Published: February 2022

Existing studies suggest that what people do and do not think of as being ‘politics’, varies a lot. Some citizens embrace narrow understandings, regarding only few issues as ‘political’. While others hold broad conceptions. What remains unclear is to what extent citizens agree on the contents, i.e., which topics are ‘political’. Using representative survey data from the U.S. (N = 1000), this article illustrates the overlaps and differences in conceptions of politics that different groups of citizens hold. Specifically, the results of a cluster analysis reveal five groups. The citizens within each group share similar conceptions of politics, while across groups conceptions differ. We find one group considering everything as political, one not regarding anything as such, and a third one identifying only tax-cuts as ‘political’. In between these extremes, two groups identify politics in terms of rather demarcated spheres of issues: domestic, or cross-border/global issues. Further analyses point to important differences in the groups’ socio-demographic profiles, political interest, and political behaviors. This shows, in their minds, people draw boundaries around politics in quite varied, yet principled, ways. This comes with a meaningful diversity in citizens’ connection to the political world around them, and with important implications for their roles within it.
Relational Sociology and Comparative Law
Authors: Conti Joseph A
Published: February 2022

Relational sociology, or the idea that relationships are the starting point for empirical research, offers comparative law distinctive analytical frameworks, heuristics, and methods. This Article proposes that these could advance traditional goals of comparative law by reconceiving fundamental categories of law, state, and society in relational terms while broadening the scope of useful comparison, and adopting a processual view of legal communities, legal knowledge, and culture rooted in practical action. It also highlights how comparative law offers sociology opportunities for deeper engagement with law, culture, transnationalism, and the dynamics of different normative orders. A relational analysis of disciplinary knowledge production suggests that deeper cross-disciplinary engagement has been limited less by shared interests than by the structures of academic knowledge production.
A nonproteinogenic amino acid, β-tyrosine, accumulates in young rice leaves via long-distance phloem transport from mature leaves
Authors: Sakamoto Shunta , Yoshikawa Takanori , Teraishi Masayoshi , Yoshinaga Naoko , Ochiai Kumiko , Kobayashi Masaru , Schmelz Eric A , Okumoto Yutaka , Mori Naoki
Published: February 2022

Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare produces a nonproteinogenic amino acid (3R)-β-tyrosine from l-tyrosine by tyrosine aminomutase (OsTAM1). However, physiological and ecological function(s) of β-tyrosine have remained obscure. Often an improved understanding of metabolite localization and transport can aid in design of experiments to test physiological functions. In the current study, we investigated the distribution pattern of β-tyrosine in rice seedlings and found that β-tyrosine is most abundant in the youngest leaves. Based upon observations of high TAM1 activity in mature leaves, we hypothesized that β-tyrosine is transported from mature leaves to young leaves. Patterns of predominant mature synthesis and young leaf accumulation were supported by stable isotope studies using labeled β-tyrosine and the removal of mature leaves. Stem exudate analyses was also consistent with β-tyrosine transport through phloem. Thus, we identify young leaves as a key target in efforts to understand the biological function(s) of β-tyrosine in rice.
Characterization of 3 phylogenetically distinct membrane-bound d-gluconate dehydrogenases of Gluconobacter spp. and their biotechnological application for efficient 2-keto-d-gluconate production
Authors: Kataoka Naoya , Saichana Natsaran , Matsutani Minenosuke , Toyama Hirohide , Matsushita Kazunobu , Yakushi Toshiharu
Published: February 2022

We identified a novel flavoprotein–cytochrome c complex d-gluconate dehydrogenase (GADH) encoded by gndXYZ of Gluconobacter oxydans NBRC 3293, which is phylogenetically distinct from previously reported GADHs encoded by gndFGH and gndSLC of Gluconobacter spp. To analyze the biochemical properties of respective GADHs, Gluconobacter japonicus NBRC 3271 mutant strain lacking membranous d-gluconate dehydrogenase activity was constructed. All GADHs (GndFGH, GndSLC, and GndXYZ) were successfully overexpressed in the constructed strain. The optimal pH and KM value at that pH of GndFGH, GndSLC, and GndXYZ were 5, 6, and 4, and 8.82 ± 1.15, 22.9 ± 5.0, and 11.3 ± 1.5 m m, respectively. When the mutants overexpressing respective GADHs were cultured in d-glucose-containing medium, all of them produced 2-keto-d-gluconate, revealing that GndXYZ converts d-gluconate to 2-keto-d-gluconate as well as other GADHs. Among the recombinants, the gndXYZ-overexpressing strain accumulated the highest level of 2-keto-d-gluconate, suggesting its potential for 2-keto-d-gluconate production.
Distribution regression in duration analysis: an application to unemployment spells
Authors: Delgado Miguel A , García-Suaza Andrés , Sant’Anna Pedro H C
Published: February 2022

This article proposes inference procedures for distribution regression models in duration analysis using randomly right-censored data. This generalizes classical duration models by allowing situations where explanatory variables’ marginal effects freely vary with duration time. The article discusses applications to testing uniform restrictions on the varying coefficients, inferences on average marginal effects, and others involving conditional distribution estimates. Finite sample properties of the proposed method are studied by means of Monte Carlo experiments. Finally, we apply our proposal to study the effects of unemployment benefits on unemployment duration.
Seed Damage by the Neotropical Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus heros (F.) to Resistant Soybean Cultivars with the Block Technology Versus a Susceptible Cultivar
Authors: Pastorio Oliveira Weslley , Lucini Tiago , Ricardo Panizzi Antônio
Published: February 2022

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted with the Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), to evaluate and compare adult damage at two infestation levels (2 and 4 adults/plant) and feeding behavior on seeds of three resistant soybean cultivars bearing the Block technology (‘BRS 1003 IPRO’, ‘BRS 543 RR’, and ‘BRS 391’) compared to a susceptible cultivar (‘BRS 5601 RR’). No difference in number or weight of damaged seeds (as percentages) was found among the cultivars at either infestation level. Differences were only observed between infestation levels within cultivar; higher values were reported with 4 adults/plant, except for ‘BRS 543 RR’. At 2 adults/plant, total seed area damaged (mm2) and percentage of seed area damaged were significantly lower only on ‘BRS 1003 IPRO’; significant differences among cultivars were found in damage to internal but not external seed surfaces. At 4 adults/plant, all Block cultivars differed from ‘BRS 5601 RR’ in overall seed damage, and greater percent damage occurred on both seed surfaces on ‘BRS 5601 RR’. Electropenetrography (EPG) demonstrated that adults reached and fed in the seeds of all soybean cultivars. However, the feeding event duration in seeds of Block cultivars was much shorter than on ‘BRS 5601 RR’, which likely explains differences between internal and external seed damage. Furthermore, the total duration of feeding activities on seeds of Block cultivars was ca. 4–6 times shorter than on the susceptible cultivar; these two EPG feeding variables account for the lower seed damage observed for the Block cultivars. These cultivars represent an important new strategy for pest control on soybean.
Heartbeat tracking task performance, an indicator of interoceptive accuracy, is associated with improvement of exercise tolerance in patients undergoing home-based cardiac rehabilitation
Authors: Miyazaki Shinjiro , Kanbara Kenji , Kunikata Jun , Tobiume Atsushi , Hayashino Shusei , Namba Tsunetatsu , Matsumoto Ichiro , Takagi Yuichiro , Minamino Tetsuo
Published: February 2022

Aims

Interoception is the sensing function of physiological conditions and is crucial in self-regulation and decision-making. We examined the association of heartbeat tracking task performance, an indicator of interoceptive accuracy, with the degree of improvement in exercise tolerance in patients undergoing home-based cardiac rehabilitation.

Methods and results

Participants underwent baseline peak oxygen uptake (VO2) measurements and a heartbeat tracking task. The heartbeat tracking task score varies between 0 and 1, with higher scores indicating a better heartbeat perception. After 6 months of home-based exercise training, peak VO2 was measured again, and the percentage change (%Δ peak VO2) relative to the peak VO2 at baseline was calculated. Univariate regression analysis was performed to examine the association between %Δ peak VO2 and the heartbeat tracking task score. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the predictors of %Δ peak VO2. Of 120 participants, 100 patients (age 65.9 ± 11.9 years; 86% male) were included. There was a significant positive association between %Δ peak VO2 and the heartbeat tracking task score at baseline (R2 = 0.236, P < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, the percentage of measured peak VO2 to the predicted value (%predicted peak VO2) (β = −0.248, P = 0.002), exercise adherence (β = 0.364, P < 0.001), and heartbeat tracking task score at baseline (β = 0.372, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with %Δ peak VO2.

Conclusions

Heartbeat tracking task performance, an indicator of interoceptive accuracy, at baseline is associated with the degree of improvement in exercise tolerance.
Associations between cardiovascular risk factors, biomarkers, and left ventricular mechanical dispersion: insights from the ACE 1950 Study
Authors: Aagaard Erika N , Lyngbakken Magnus N , Kvisvik Brede , Berge Trygve , Pervez Mohammad O , Ariansen Inger , Tveit Arnljot , Steine Kjetil , Røsjø Helge , Omland Torbjørn
Published: February 2022

Aims

Mechanical dispersion measures left ventricular contraction heterogeneity and is associated with the risk of sudden cardiac death. However, the associations between mechanical dispersion and cardiovascular risk factors in early mid-life, and established biomarkers of sub-clinical myocardial injury and dysfunction are not known. We aimed to examine this in the general population.

Methods and results

During 2012–15, we included 2527 Norwegian individuals from the general population born in 1950, with measurements of mechanical dispersion by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) available. Mechanical dispersion was calculated as the standard deviation of the contraction duration of 17 strain segments. We assessed the associations between mechanical dispersion, concentrations of hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP, and cardiovascular risk factors collected at a national health screening survey two decades earlier. At echocardiography baseline, median age was 64 (interquartile range 63.5–64.5) years, 49.8% were women, 59.1% had hypertension, and 5.9% reported established coronary artery disease. Median mechanical dispersion was 38.0 (29.5–47.0) ms, median hs-cTnT concentration 6 (4–8) ng/L, and the median NT-proBNP concentration 54 (34–93) ng/L. Mechanical dispersion was associated with both hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP concentrations in multivariable models adjusted for clinical and echocardiographic variables. High body mass index, serum triglyceride concentrations, and low resting heart rate at Age 40 were independently associated with increased mechanical dispersion two decades later.

Conclusion

Established risk factors at Age 40 are associated with mechanical dispersion two decades later, and mechanical dispersion is cross-sectionally associated with biomarkers of subclinical myocardial injury and dysfunction.
The effects of weak selection on neutral diversity at linked sites
Authors: Charlesworth Brian
Published: February 2022

The effects of selection on variability at linked sites have an important influence on levels and patterns of within-population variation across the genome. Most theoretical models of these effects have assumed that selection is sufficiently strong that allele frequency changes at the loci concerned are largely deterministic. These models have led to the conclusion that directional selection for selectively favorable mutations, or against recurrent deleterious mutations, reduces nucleotide site diversity at linked neutral sites. Recent work has shown, however, that fixations of weakly selected mutations, accompanied by significant stochastic changes in allele frequencies, can sometimes cause higher diversity at linked sites when compared with the effects of fixations of neutral mutations. This study extends this work by deriving approximate expressions for the mean conditional times to fixation and loss of mutations subject to selection, and analyzing the conditions under which selection increases rather than reduces these times. Simulations are used to examine the relations between diversity at a neutral site and the fixation and loss times of mutations at a linked site that is subject to selection. It is shown that the long-term level of neutral diversity can be increased over the purely neutral value by recurrent fixations and losses of linked, weakly selected dominant or partially dominant favorable mutations, or linked recessive or partially recessive deleterious mutations. The results are used to examine the conditions under which associative overdominance, as opposed to background selection, is likely to operate.
Better Ask Your Neighbor: Renegotiating Media Trust During the Russian–Ukrainian Conflict
Authors: Pasitselska Olga
Published: February 2022

During violent conflict, the evaluation of information sources often presents a complex challenge. Social interactions play a critical role for mediating audiences’ trust as they negotiate contested information spreading across the media and social networks. This study uses focus groups and individual interviews, conducted in the propaganda-saturated environment of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict, to investigate how audiences develop and negotiate practices for assigning trust to the mediated and social sources. It identifies three verification practices, each based on a different notion of pragmatic trust: Reliance on ideologically close sources; skepticism toward individual sources while trusting media as institution; or institutional distrust and cynical disillusionment. Each practice is embedded in participants’ social environment, which both supplies information and helps negotiating appropriate verification practices. The article concludes by discussing implications for studies of media trust and socially shaped understanding of the media.
BioCro II: a software package for modular crop growth simulations
Authors: Lochocki Edward B , Rohde Scott , Jaiswal Deepak , Matthews Megan L , Miguez Fernando , Long Stephen P , McGrath Justin M
Published: February 2022

The central motivation for mechanistic crop growth simulation has remained the same for decades: to reliably predict changes in crop yields and water usage in response to previously unexperienced increases in air temperature and CO2 concentration across different environments, species and genotypes. Over the years, individual process-based model components have become more complex and specialized, increasing their fidelity but posing a challenge for integrating them into powerful multiscale models. Combining models is further complicated by the common strategy of hard-coding intertwined parameter values, equations, solution algorithms and user interfaces, rather than treating these each as separate components. It is clear that a more flexible approach is now required. Here we describe a modular crop growth simulator, BioCro II. At its core, BioCro II is a cross-platform representation of models as sets of equations. This facilitates modularity in model building and allows it to harness modern techniques for numerical integration and data visualization. Several crop models have been implemented using the BioCro II framework, but it is a general purpose tool and can be used to model a wide variety of processes.
Taking Love and Care Seriously: An Emergent Research Agenda for Remaking Worlds in the Wake of Violence
Authors: Krystalli Roxani , Schulz Philipp
Published: February 2022

While research on armed conflict focuses primarily on violence and suffering, this article explores the practices of love and care that sit alongside these experiences of harm. Motivated by our omissions to pay sufficient attention to love and care in our research to date, we ask: How can centering practices of love and care illuminate different pathways for understanding the remaking of worlds in the wake of violence? Building on interdisciplinary literature, we conceptualize love and care as practices and potential sites of politics that shape how people survive and make sense of violence as well as imagine and enact lives in its wake. Drawing from our respective research in Colombia and Uganda, we argue that paying attention to love and care expands scholarly understandings of the sites associated with remaking a world, draws attention to the simultaneity of harms and care, sheds light on the textured meanings of politics and political work, and highlights ethical and narrative dilemmas regarding how to capture these political meanings without reducing their intricacies. For each of the pillars of our argument, we propose a set of questions and avenues that can shape emergent research agendas on taking love and care seriously in contexts of armed conflict.
The Shortcomings of International Humanitarian Law in Access Negotiations: New Strategies and Ways Forward
Authors: Breslawski Jori
Published: February 2022

Most wars now take place within states instead of between them. In many cases, this requires humanitarians to contend with non-state armed groups in order to access civilians. While armed groups are widely perceived as a threat to the delivery of humanitarian aid, they vary in the extent to which they allow or hinder humanitarian access. Current understandings of this variation revolve around armed groups’ motivations to comply with international humanitarian law (IHL). However, most humanitarians acknowledge that using IHL in negotiations for humanitarian access with armed groups is not a viable strategy. I argue that scholars should broaden their study of humanitarian access by investigating the viability of other strategies and, in particular, the strategy of community acceptance. Drawing upon interviews with humanitarian practitioners, this article discusses the shortcomings of IHL in access negotiations with armed groups, the promises of community acceptance, and the implications of these arguments.
Reference Intervals for Thyrotropin Hormone in the General Andean Population of Quito-Ecuador Using Electrochemiluminescence Assay
Authors: Villagómez Torres Diana , Sáenz-Flor Klever V , Velepucha Pablo S , Cordova Andree O
Published: February 2022

Background

Thyroid function is one of the most current procedures in the evaluation of endocrine function performed in daily practice; the reference intervals for thyrotropin (TSH) depend on the assay technology and the instruments in each laboratory. The main objective of this study is to determine the thyrotropin reference values in patients considered as euthyroid, living in the Andean region, at 2850 meters above sea level (Quito, Ecuador).

Methods

A cross-sectional, analytical, epidemiological study was conducted using a sample of 595 healthy adult volunteer donors from the Military Hospital Blood Bank in Quito-Ecuador. Serum samples were analyzed for thyrotropin levels using electrochemiluminescence. The reference values were calculated using recommendations from the CLSI C28A3 guide.

Results

The mean age of the overall sample was 35.7 (7.2) years, 50.9% (n = 303) were women. TSH recovered in the total sample showed a median of 2.64 mIU/L (2.5th–97.5th percentiles: 0.91–8.35 mIU/L); after removing outliers the reference values for the studied population were 0.87 to 5.21 mIU/L, without differences by sex.

Conclusions

General laboratory practice should improve harmonization of TSH assays. This is a must in daily clinical practice, since it would allow us to share real reference intervals in an established population and may be related to the presence or absence of thyroid pathology.
Whole genome sequence analyses-based assessment of virulence potential and antimicrobial susceptibilities and resistance of Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from commercial swine and cattle probiotic products
Authors: Shridhar Pragathi B , Amachawadi Raghavendra G , Tokach Mike , Patel Isha , Gangiredla Jayanthi , Mammel Mark , Nagaraja T G
Published: February 2022

Enterococcus faecium is one of the more commonly used bacterial species as a probiotic in animals. The organism, a common inhabitant of the gut of animals and humans, is a major nosocomial pathogen responsible for a variety infections in humans and sporadic infections in animals. In swine and cattle, E. faecium-based probiotic products are used for growth promotion and gut functional and health benefits. The objective of this study was to utilize whole genome sequence-based analysis to assess virulence potential, detect antimicrobial resistance genes, and analyze phylogenetic relationships of E. faecium strains from commercial swine and cattle probiotics. Genomic DNA extracted from E. faecium strains, isolated from commercial probiotic products of swine (n = 9) and cattle (n = 13), were sequenced in an Illumina MiSeq platform and analyzed. Seven of the nine swine strains and seven of the 13 cattle strains were identified as Enterococcus lactis, and not as E. faecium. None of the 22 probiotic strains carried major virulence genes required to initiate infections, but many carried genes involved in adhesion to host cells, which may benefit the probiotic strains to colonize and persist in the gut. Strains also carried genes encoding resistance to a few medically important antibiotics, which included aminoglycosides [aac(6ʹ)-Ii, aph(3ʹ)-III, ant(6)-Ia], macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (msrC), tetracyclines [tet(L) and tet(M)], and phenicols [cat-(pc194)]. The comparison of the genotypic to phentypic AMR data showed presence of both related and unrelated genes in the probiotic strains. Swine and cattle probiotic E. faecium strains belonged to diverse sequence types. Phylogenetic analysis of the probiotic strains, and strains of human (n = 29), swine (n = 4), and cattle (n = 4) origin, downloaded from GenBank, indicated close clustering of strains belonging to the same species and source, but a few swine and cattle probiotic strains clustered closely with other cattle and human fecal strains. In conclusion, the absence of major virulence genes characteristic of the clinical E. faecium strains suggests that these probiotic strains are unlikely to initiate opportunistic infection. However, the carriage of AMR genes to medically important antibiotics and close clustering of the probiotic strains with other human and cattle fecal strains suggests that probiotic strains may pose risk to serve as a source of transmitting AMR genes to other gut bacteria.
Visualization of Reelin Secretion from Primary Cultured Neurons by Bioluminescence Imaging
Authors: Nakao Yousuke , Yokawa Satoru , Kohno Takao , Suzuki Takahiro , Hattori Mitsuharu
Published: February 2022

Reelin is a secreted glycoprotein important for brain development and synaptic plasticity in the adult brain. Some reports suggest that Reelin is secreted from the nerve terminals and functions as a neurotransmitter. However, the mechanism of Reelin secretion is unknown. In this study, we visualized Reelin secretion by bioluminescence imaging using a fusion protein of Reelin and Gaussia luciferase (GLase-Reelin). GLase-Reelin expressed in HEK293T cells was correctly processed and secreted. Luminescence signals from the secreted GLase-Reelin of primary cultured neurons were visualized by bioluminescence microscopy. Reelin secretory events were observed at neurites and cell bodies. Bioluminescence imaging was also performed before and after KCl depolarization to compare the secretory events of Reelin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The secretion of BDNF increased markedly shortly after depolarization. In contrast, the frequency of Reelin secretion did not change significantly by depolarization. Thus, Reelin secretion from neurites might not be regulated in a neuronal activity-dependent manner.
Case report: gastric sleeve surgery leads to new onset Crohn’s disease
Authors: Holinger Courtney , Skidmore Adam
Published: February 2022

We report on the case of a 23-year-old male, who developed diffuse gastrointestinal Crohn’s disease 2 months after gastric sleeve surgery. Prior to the surgery this patient had no previous symptoms of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). His only risk factor for IBD was a positive family history and he was otherwise well. As bariatric weight loss surgery becomes more widely practiced, there have been multiple sources indicating a possible causal link between bariatric surgery and new onset Crohn’s disease.
Galaxy luminosity functions at redshifts 0.6–1.2 in the Chandra Deep Field South
Authors: Sharma M , Page M J , Breeveld A A
Published: February 2022

We present the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) galaxy luminosity function (LF) and luminosity density (LD) measurements in the far-UV (1500 Å) wavelength, in the redshift range $z$ = 0.6–1.2. The UV LF is derived using XMM-Newton Optical Monitor (XMM-OM), UV (1600–4000 Å) observations of the Chandra Deep Field South, over an area of 396 arcmin2. Using the deep UV imaging of the CDFS, we identified >2500 galaxies in our sample with UVW1AB ≤ 24.5 mag. This sample, along with various other catalogues containing redshift information, is used to calculate the binned representation of the galaxy UV LF in the two redshift bins 0.6 ≤ $z$ < 0.8 and 0.8 ≤ $z$ < 1.2, having a wide range of 1500 Å rest-frame UV magnitudes (ΔM1500 ≃ 3), reaching ≃ 1–1.5 magnitudes fainter than previous studies at similar redshifts. The binned LF is described well by the Schechter function form. Using maximum-likelihood, the Schechter function is fitted to the unbinned data to obtain the best-fitting values of the the UV galaxy LF parameters. We find that characteristic magnitude M* brightens by 0.8 mag from $z$ = 0.7 to $z$ = 1, implying an increase in the star formation activity between these redshifts, as reported by past studies. Our estimate of the faint-end slope $-1.10^{+0.19}_{-0.18}$ is on the shallower side compared with previous studies at $z$ = 0.7, whereas a value of $-1.56^{+0.19}_{-0.18}$ estimated for $z$ = 1.0, agrees with previous results given the uncertainties.
Structural effects of m6A modification of the Xist A-repeat AUCG tetraloop and its recognition by YTHDC1
Authors: Jones Alisha N , Tikhaia Ekaterina , Mourão André , Sattler Michael
Published: February 2022

The A-repeat region of the lncRNA Xist is critical for X inactivation and harbors several N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications. How the m6A modification affects the conformation of the conserved AUCG tetraloop hairpin of the A-repeats and how it can be recognized by the YTHDC1 reader protein is unknown. Here, we report the NMR solution structure of the (m6A)UCG hairpin, which reveals that the m6A base extends 5′ stacking of the A-form helical stem, resembling the unmethylated AUCG tetraloop. A crystal structure of YTHDC1 bound to the (m6A)UCG tetraloop shows that the (m6A)UC nucleotides are recognized by the YTH domain of YTHDC1 in a single-stranded conformation. The m6A base inserts into the aromatic cage and the U and C bases interact with a flanking charged surface region, resembling the recognition of single-stranded m6A RNA ligands. Notably, NMR and fluorescence quenching experiments show that the binding requires local unfolding of the upper stem region of the (m6A)UCG hairpin. Our data show that m6A can be readily accommodated in hairpin loop regions, but recognition by YTH readers requires local unfolding of flanking stem regions. This suggests how m6A modifications may regulate lncRNA function by modulating RNA structure.
Association of Smoking Status With the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Young Adults: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea
Authors: Huh Youn , Han Kyungdo , Choi Min-Jung , Kim Jung Hwan , Kim Seon Mee , Nam Ga Eun
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The longitudinal evidence between detailed parameters of smoking status and type 2 diabetes among young adults has been limited. We evaluated this association in young Korean adults.

Methods

This nationwide cohort study included 3 026 551 adults aged 20 to 39 years who underwent Korean National Health Insurance Service health examinations in 2009 and were followed up until the end of 2017. The participants were categorized according to smoking status, smoking duration, and smoking amount. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for type 2 diabetes were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

Results

During 8.2 years of follow-up, 71 952 cases of type 2 diabetes newly developed. Compared with never-smokers, independently increased HRs of type 2 diabetes were observed in ex-smokers (1.06, 95% CI = 1.04–1.09) and current smokers (1.39, 1.36–1.42). In these two groups, the type 2 diabetes risk increased with greater smoking duration and amount (p for trend <.001). The HRs of type 2 diabetes were higher in current smokers than in ex-smokers at the same lifetime smoking amount. The associations between smoking status and incident type 2 diabetes were stronger in men, individuals who did not drink heavily, and those without obesity.

Conclusions

Among young adults, past and current smoking was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and there was a dose–response association of smoking amount and duration with type 2 diabetes development. Appropriate interventions to help young adults cease smoking may help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Implications

Smoking was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes among young adults, and the risk was shown to increase as amount and duration of smoking increased. Ceasing smoking in young adults may help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Does wearing arthritis gloves help with hand pain and function? A qualitative study into patients’ views and experiences
Authors: Prior Yeliz , Bartley Carol , Adams Jo , Firth Jill , Culley June , O’Neill Terence W , Hammond Alison
Published: February 2022

Objective

Arthritis gloves are frequently prescribed to people with undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis (UIA) or RA to help reduce hand pain and improve function. Nested within a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of arthritis gloves (Isotoner gloves vs loose-fitting placebo gloves) in people with RA and UIA, this qualitative study aimed to explore participants’ views on the impact of wearing arthritis gloves on their hand pain and function.

Methods

Semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted with purposively selected participants following 12 weeks of glove wearing. Participants and the interviewer were blinded to the treatment allocation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Participants (intervention: n = 10; control: n = 9) recruited from 13 National Health Service hospital sites in the UK participated in the interviews. Two main themes, with sub-themes, were elicited from the data: mechanisms determining glove use: ‘As soon as your joints get a bit warmer, the pain actually eases’ (thermal qualities; glove use in daily activities; glove use during sleep); and ambivalence about benefits of arthritis gloves: ‘I suppose a normal pair of gloves would do the same sort of thing?’ (are they a help or hindrance?; aesthetic appeal; future use of gloves).

Conclusion

Participants had ambivalent views on the impact of both the intervention and the loose-fitting placebo gloves on their hand pain and function, identifying warmth as the main benefit. Ordinary mid-finger-length gloves widely accessible from high street suppliers could deliver warmth and provide the perceived benefits to hand pain and function.

Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN25892131; registered 5 September 2016 : retrospectively registered.
Consuming Dividends
Authors: Bräuer Konstantin , Hackethal Andreas , Hanspal Tobin
Published: February 2022

This paper studies why investors buy dividend-paying assets and how they time consumption accordingly. We combine administrative bank data linking customers’ consumption and income to portfolio data and survey responses on financial behavior. We find that private consumption is excessively sensitive to dividend income. Investors across wealth, income, and age distributions increase spending precisely around days of dividend receipt. Our results are at odds with a number of existing rational and behavioral explanations, such as financial constraints and impulsiveness. Instead, consumption responses reflect “planned” excess sensitivity, driven by investors who select dividend portfolios, anticipate dividend income, and plan consumption accordingly.
Neurobehavioral morbidity of pediatric mild sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Yu Phoebe K , Radcliffe Jerilynn , Gerry Taylor H , Amin Raouf S , Baldassari Cristina M , Boswick Thomas , Chervin Ronald D , Elden Lisa M , Furth Susan L , Garetz Susan L , George Alisha , Ishman Stacey L , Kirkham Erin M , Liu Christopher , Mitchell Ron B , Kamal Naqvi S , Rosen Carol L , Ross Kristie R , Shah Jay R , Tapia Ignacio E , Young Lisa R , Zopf David A , Wang Rui , Redline Susan
Published: February 2022

Study Objectives

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with neurobehavioral dysfunction, but the relationship between disease severity as measured by the apnea-hypopnea index and neurobehavioral morbidity is unclear. The objective of our study is to compare the neurobehavioral morbidity of mild sleep-disordered breathing versus obstructive sleep apnea.

Methods

Children 3–12 years old recruited for mild sleep-disordered breathing (snoring with obstructive apnea-hypopnea index < 3) into the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring were compared to children 5–9 years old recruited for obstructive sleep apnea (obstructive apnea-hypopnea 2–30) into the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial. Baseline demographic, polysomnographic, and neurobehavioral outcomes were compared using univariable and multivariable analysis.

Results

The sample included 453 participants with obstructive sleep apnea (median obstructive apnea-hypopnea index 5.7) and 459 participants with mild sleep-disordered breathing (median obstructive apnea-hypopnea index 0.5). By polysomnography, participants with obstructive sleep apnea had poorer sleep efficiency and more arousals. Children with mild sleep-disordered breathing had more abnormal executive function scores (adjusted odds ratio 1.96, 95% CI 1.30–2.94) compared to children with obstructive sleep apnea. There were also elevated Conners scores for inattention (adjusted odds ratio 3.16, CI 1.98–5.02) and hyperactivity (adjusted odds ratio 2.82, CI 1.83–4.34) in children recruited for mild sleep-disordered breathing.

Conclusions

Abnormal executive function, inattention, and hyperactivity were more common in symptomatic children recruited into a trial for mild sleep-disordered breathing compared to children recruited into a trial for obstructive sleep apnea. Young, snoring children with only minimally elevated apnea-hypopnea levels may still be at risk for deficits in executive function and attention.

Trial Registration

Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy for Snoring (PATS), NCT02562040; Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT), NCT00560859
Proteomics Indicates Lactate Dehydrogenase Is Prognostic in Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Failure Patients and Reveals Altered Signaling Pathways
Authors: Vazquez Joel H , Kennon-McGill Stefanie , Byrum Stephanie D , Mackintosh Samuel G , Jaeschke Hartmut , Williams D Keith , Lee William M , Dranoff Jonathan A , McGill Mitchell R ,   Acute Liver Failure Study Group
Published: February 2022

Better biomarkers to predict death early in acute liver failure (ALF) are needed. To that end, we obtained early (study day 1) and later (day 3) serum samples from transplant-free survivors (n = 28) and nonsurvivors (n = 30) of acetaminophen-induced ALF from the NIH-sponsored Acute Liver Failure Study Group and from control volunteers (n = 10). To identify proteins that increase early in serum during ALF, we selected individuals from this cohort for whom alanine aminotransferase was lower on day 1 than day 3, indicating a time point before peak injury (n = 10/group). We then performed untargeted proteomics on their day 1 samples. Out of 1682 quantifiable proteins, 361 were ≥ 4-fold elevated or decreased in ALF patients versus controls and 16 of those were further elevated or decreased ≥ 4-fold in nonsurvivors versus survivors, indicating potential to predict death. Interestingly, 1 of the biomarkers was lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is already measured in most clinical laboratories. To validate our proteomics results and to confirm the prognostic potential of LDH, we measured LDH activity in all day 1 and 3 samples from all 58 ALF patients. LDH was elevated in the nonsurvivors versus survivors on both days. In addition, it had prognostic value similar to the model for end-stage liver disease and outperformed the King’s College Criteria, while a combination of model for end-stage liver disease and LDH together outperformed either alone. Finally, bioinformatics analysis of our proteomics data revealed alteration of numerous signaling pathways that may be important in liver regeneration. Overall, we conclude LDH can predict death in APAP-induced ALF.
Integrating Data FromIn VitroNew Approach Methodologies for Developmental Neurotoxicity
Authors: Carstens Kelly E , Carpenter Amy F , Martin Melissa M , Harrill Joshua A , Shafer Timothy J , Paul Friedman Katie
Published: February 2022

In vivo developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing is resource intensive and lacks information on cellular processes affected by chemicals. To address this, DNT new approach methodologies (NAMs) are being evaluated, including: the microelectrode array neuronal network formation assay; and high-content imaging to evaluate proliferation, apoptosis, neurite outgrowth, and synaptogenesis. This work addresses 3 hypotheses: (1) a broad screening battery provides a sensitive marker of DNT bioactivity; (2) selective bioactivity (occurring at noncytotoxic concentrations) may indicate functional processes disrupted; and, (3) a subset of endpoints may optimally classify chemicals with in vivo evidence for DNT. The dataset was comprised of 92 chemicals screened in all 57 assay endpoints sourced from publicly available data, including a set of DNT NAM evaluation chemicals with putative positives (53) and negatives (13). The DNT NAM battery provides a sensitive marker of DNT bioactivity, particularly in cytotoxicity and network connectivity parameters. Hierarchical clustering suggested potency (including cytotoxicity) was important for classifying positive chemicals with high sensitivity (93%) but failed to distinguish patterns of disrupted functional processes. In contrast, clustering of selective values revealed informative patterns of differential activity but demonstrated lower sensitivity (74%). The false negatives were associated with several limitations, such as the maximal concentration tested or gaps in the biology captured by the current battery. This work demonstrates that this multi-dimensional assay suite provides a sensitive biomarker for DNT bioactivity, with selective activity providing possible insight into specific functional processes affected by chemical exposure and a basis for further research.
Chemical Screening in an Estrogen Receptor Transactivation Assay With Metabolic Competence
Authors: Hopperstad Kristen , DeGroot Danica E , Zurlinden Todd , Brinkman Cassandra , Thomas Russell S , Deisenroth Chad
Published: February 2022

The U.S. EPA continues to utilize high-throughput screening data to evaluate potential biological effects of endocrine active substances without the use of animal testing. Determining the scope and need for in vitro metabolism in high-throughput assays requires the generation of larger data sets that assess the impact of xenobiotic transformations on toxicity-related endpoints. The objective of the current study was to screen a set of 768 ToxCast chemicals in the VM7Luc estrogen receptor transactivation assay (ERTA) using the Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes hepatic metabolism method. Chemicals were screened with or without metabolism to identify estrogenic effects and metabolism-dependent changes in bioactivity. Based on estrogenic hit calls, 85 chemicals were active in both assay modes, 16 chemicals were only active without metabolism, and 27 chemicals were only active with metabolism. Using a novel metabolism curve shift method that evaluates the shift in concentration-response curves, 29 of these estrogenic chemicals were identified as bioactivated and 59 were bioinactivated. Human biotransformation routes and associated metabolites were predicted in silico across the chemicals to mechanistically characterize possible transformation-related ERTA effects. Overall, the study profiled novel chemicals associated with metabolism-dependent changes in ERTA bioactivity, and suggested routes of biotransformation and putative metabolites responsible for the observed estrogenic effects. The data demonstrate a range of metabolism-dependent effects across a diverse chemical library and highlight the need to evaluate the role of intrinsic xenobiotic metabolism for endocrine and other toxicity-related health effects.