bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
(English) Dreams Versus (Hebrew) Reality: Henry Roth’s Call it Sleep as ‘Jewish-American Minor Literature’
Authors: Zuckerstatter Shiri 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
This article examines Henry Roth’s Call It Sleep as a particular example of minor literature written in America while suggesting a new term: ‘Jewish-American minor literature’. It has been argued that Jewish-American literature is not minor literature in Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari’s terms mainly due to the openness of American English to other ethnic languages such as Yiddish.1 However, this article shows that it is Hebrew, and not Yiddish, that functions as ‘minor language’ in the text—both as a language spoken by a minority and according to Deleuze and Guattari’s concept, as it undermines the theme of linguistic assimilation governing the surface structure of the book. Yet this ‘subversive’ Hebrew is neither transcribed/transliterated in the text, nor is it referred to or talked about in the novel. Rather, it is ‘hidden’ behind the English lines of the book. In fact, it is the emerging of such ‘concealed’ Hebrew hollowing out the idea of Americanisation in the text that turns Call It Sleep into what I call ‘Jewish-American minor literature’.2 Inviting further research, this article may open the door for a new research field investigating (whether there are any) other appearances of covert Hebrew words in additional Jewish-American works written exclusively in English and whether these works too can be considered as ‘Jewish-American minor literature’.
The Effect of Preoperative Methylprednisolone on Postoperative Delirium in Older Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Xiang Xiao-bing , Chen Hao , Wu Ying-li , Wang Ke , Yue Xiang , Cheng Xin-qi 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Background
Preoperative administration of methylprednisolone reduced circulating markers of endothelial activation. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate whether a single preoperative dose of methylprednisolone reduced the rate of postoperative delirium (POD) in older patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery and its association with the shedding of endothelial glycocalyx markers.

Methods
About 168 patients, aged 65–80 years and scheduled for laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, were randomized to 2 mg/kg methylprednisolone (Group M, n = 84) or equivalent dose of placebo (Group C, n = 84). The primary outcome was the incidence of delirium during the first 5 days after surgery, assessed by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). POD severity was rated daily using CAM-Severity (CAM-S). Levels of syndecan-1, heparan sulfate, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured at baseline, 1 day, and 3 days after surgery.

Results
Compared with placebo, methylprednisolone greatly reduced the incidence of delirium at 72 hours following surgery (9 [10.7%] vs 20 [23.8%], p = .03, OR = 2.22 [95% CI 1.05–4.59]). No between-group difference was found in the cumulative CAM-S score (p = .14). The levels of heparan sulfate, syndecan-1, and TNF-α in Group M were lower than that in Group C (p &lt; .05 and p &lt; .01), while the level of BDNF in Group M was higher than that in Group C (p &lt; .01).

Conclusions
Preoperative administration of methylprednisolone does not reduce the severity of POD, but may reduce the incidence of delirium after gastrointestinal surgery in older patients, which may be related to a reduction in circulating markers of endothelial degradation, followed by the increase of BDNF level.

Clinical Trials Registration Number
Chinese Clinical Trial.gov, ChiCTR2000028792. Registered January 4, 2020. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=47807
Potential Value of Electroacupuncture in the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms of COVID-19
Authors: Yu Xianqiang 
Published: August 2021

Lay Summary
This letter elucidates the potential novel therapeutic value of electroacupuncture in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. As a classic treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, electroacupuncture has outstanding effects in the conditioning of gastrointestinal functions for COVID-19 gastrointestinal symptoms.
Increasing treatment enrollment among smokers who are not motivated to quit: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Vinci Christine , Lam Cho , Schlechter Chelsey R , Shono Yusuke , Vidrine Jennifer I , Wetter David W 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
There is a significant research-to-practice gap with respect to reaching underserved populations with evidence-based tobacco cessation treatments. Increasing enrollment in evidence-based treatments is necessary to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related health inequities. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate whether Motivation And Problem Solving (MAPS), a flexible, holistic counseling/navigation approach delivered via phone, and proactive provision of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) would improve Quitline enrollment among a sample of low SES smokers who were not motivated to quit. In a 3×2 factorial design, cigarette smokers (N = 603) were randomized to one of six treatment conditions (Standard Treatment, MAPS-6, or MAPS-12 by NRT or no NRT). Results indicated that both MAPS-6 and MAPS-12 increased Quitline enrollment compared to Standard Treatment (ps &lt; .03). There were no differences between MAPS conditions. NRT did not increase Quitline enrollment. MAPS is an effective intervention with the potential to be disseminated and implemented in healthcare and community settings to increase the reach of evidence-based interventions for tobacco cessation.
“Built‐in” PD‐1 blocker to rescue NK‐92 activity from PD‐L1–mediated tumor escape mechanisms
Authors: Mensali Nadia , Dillard Pierre , Fayzullin Artem , Köksal Hakan , Gaudernack Gustav , Kvalheim Gunnar , Inderberg Else Marit , Wälchli Sébastien 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSuccess of adoptive cell therapy mainly depends on the ability of immune cells to persist and function optimally in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Although present at the cancer site, immune cells become exhausted and/or inhibited, due to the presence of inhibitory receptors such as PD‐L1 on malignant cells. Novel genetic strategies to manipulate the PD1/PD‐L1 axis comprise (i) PD‐1 reversion where the receptor intracellular domain is replaced with an activating unit, (ii) the use of anti‐PD‐L1 CAR or (iii) the disruption of the PD‐1 gene. We here present an alternative strategy to equip therapeutic cells with a truncated PD‐1 (tPD‐1) to abrogate PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibition. We show that engagement of tPD‐1 with PD‐L1‐positive tumor unleashes NK‐92 activity in vitro. Furthermore, this binding was sufficiently strong to induce killing of targets otherwise not recognized by NK‐92, thus increasing the range of targets. In vivo treatment with NK‐92 tPD‐1 cells led to reduced tumor growth and improved survival. Importantly, tPD‐1 did not interfere with tumor recognition in PD‐L1 negative conditions. Thus, tPD‐1 represents a straightforward method for improving antitumor immunity and revealing new targets through PD‐L1 positivity.
Antihypertensive therapy in patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis
Authors: El Hussein Mohamed Toufic , Harvey Giuliana , Bueckert Alexi 
Published: August 2021

Abstract:
Patients with aortic stenosis are at risk for developing hypertension. The selection of antihypertensives is a topic of debate due to a lack of consensus regarding their safety. This article provides an overview of antihypertensives used in patients with aortic stenosis, focusing on renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and vasodilators.
Atlantoaxial Rotatory Fixation after Microtia Reconstruction Surgery
Authors: Takada Goro , Asato Hirotaka , Umekawa Kouhei , Kurabayashi Takashi , Sasaki Shoichi , Kaji Noriyuki 
Published: August 2021

Background:
Nontraumatic atlantoaxial rotatory fixation after microtia reconstruction surgery is a rare complication. Intraoperative cervical hyperextension and/or excessive rotation and postoperative inflammation have been reported as causes of atlantoaxial rotatory fixation. We herein describe cases of atlantoaxial rotatory fixation after microtia reconstruction surgery.

Methods:
This was a retrospective study of 80 patients (165 surgeries) who underwent microtia reconstruction surgery in Dokkyo Medical University Hospital between April 2006 and December 2012. The patient- and operation-related variables were obtained from medical charts. Neck radiographs and computed tomography scans of patients with atlantoaxial rotatory fixation were evaluated to check for cervical spine abnormalities.

Results:
Five cases of atlantoaxial rotatory fixation after microtia reconstruction surgery were recorded. Three of these five cases were diagnosed with Klippel-Feil syndrome after the onset of atlantoaxial rotatory fixation. No significant difference was found in the operative duration and other variables between patients with atlantoaxial rotatory fixation and those without. All patients immediately underwent conservative treatment and showed complete recovery and no recurrences.

Conclusions:
Although atlantoaxial rotatory fixation is a rare complication, surgeons should consider it in patients with neck problems following microtia reconstruction surgery. A patient with microtia may have unrecognized Klippel-Feil syndrome. Patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome are more likely to develop atlantoaxial rotatory fixation, which may have severe consequences. Thus, it is crucial to preoperatively identify Klippel-Feil syndrome with neck radiography and to detect atlantoaxial rotatory fixation at the earliest.
Are US Plastic Surgery Residents Equipped to Face the Opioid Epidemic? A National Survey
Authors: Sharif-Askary Banafsheh , Abdou Salma A. , Singh Tanvee , Song David H. 
Published: August 2021

Summary:
The United States opioid epidemic is among this century’s most profound threats to public health and demands that all physicians consider their role in reversing its trajectory. Previous literature demonstrated that plastic surgery trainees lack vital practices that promote opioid stewardship. However, it is not understood why this practice gap exists. This is a national survey-based study evaluating the availability and effectiveness of opioid education in US plastic surgery programs. A total of 91 residents completed the survey. Our study found that there is an unmet need for practical and comprehensive training regarding safe opioid prescribing among plastic surgery trainees. “Informal training,” defined as the “learn as you go” method, was found to be more common than formal training and considerably more valuable according to trainees. Trainees cited real-world applicability of informal training and that it comes from teachers whom they know and trust as valuable attributes of this type of education. Furthermore, the severity of the opioid epidemic has not translated into improved trainee education, as there was no significant difference in knowledge on safe opioid prescribing practices between junior and senior residents. To change the course of the epidemic, plastic surgery programs need to better train younger generations who believe they are critical stakeholders. This study lays the framework for the “formalization of informal training,” and the creation of practical and efficacious educational initiatives.
Reduced T cell and antibody responses to inactivated coronavirus vaccine among males and individuals above 55 years old
Authors: Medeiros G.X. , Sasahara G.L. , Magawa J.Y , Nunes JPS , Bruno F.R. , Kuramoto A. , Almeida R.R. , Ferreira M.A. , Scagion G.P. , Candido E.D. , Leal F.B. , Oliveira D.B.L. , Durigon E.L. , Silva R.C.V. , Rosa D.S. , Boscardin S.B. , Coelho V.P.C. , Kalil J , Santos K.S. , Cunha-Neto E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundCoronaVac is an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that has been rolled out in several low and middle-income countries including Brazil, where it was the mainstay of the first wave of immunization of health care workers and the elderly population. We aimed to assess the T cell and antibody responses of vaccinees as compared to convalescent subjects.MethodsWe detected IgG against SARS-CoV-2 antigens, neutralizing antibodies against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, and used SARS-CoV-2 peptides to detect IFN-g and IL-2 specific T cell responses in a cohort of CoronaVac vaccinees (N=101) and convalescent (N=72) individuals.FindingsAmong vaccinees, 95% displayed T cell or antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 as compared to 99% convalescent individuals. However, we observed that among vaccinees, males and individuals 55 years or older developed significantly lower anti-RBD, anti-NP and neutralizing antibody responses as well as antigen-induced IL-2 production by T cells.InterpretationEven though some studies indicated Coronavac helped reduce mortality among elderly people, considering the current dominance of the gamma variant of concern (VOC) and potential increase of the delta VOC, in Brazil, our data support that Coronavac vaccinees above 55 years old Coronavac vaccinees above 55 years old could benefit from a heterologous third dose/booster vaccine to improve immune response and protection.FundingBrazilian Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation, Sao Paulo State Foundation for Scientific research (FAPESP), JBS S.A.
“The idea is to help people achieve greater success and liberty”: a qualitative study of expanded methadone take-home access in opioid use disorder treatment
Authors: Suen Leslie W. , Castellanos Stacy , Joshi Neena , Satterwhite Shannon , Knight Kelly R. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States (US) was already facing an epidemic of opioid overdose deaths. Overdose deaths continued to surge during the pandemic. To limit COVID-19 spread and to avoid disruptions in access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine and methadone, US federal and state agencies granted unprecedented exemptions to existing MOUD guidelines for Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs), including loosening criteria for unsupervised take-home doses. We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate the impact of these policy changes on MOUD treatment experiences for providers and patients at an OTP in California.MethodsWe interviewed 10 providers and 20 patients receiving MOUD. We transcribed, coded, and analyzed all interviews to identify emergent themes.ResultsProviders discussed clinical decision-making processes and experiences providing take-homes. Implementation of expanded take-home policies was cautious. Providers reported making individualized decisions, using patient factors to decide if benefits outweighed risks of overdose and misuse. Decision-making factors included patient drug use, overdose risk, housing status, and vulnerability to COVID-19. New patient groups started receiving take-homes and providers noted few adverse events. Patients who received take-homes reported increased autonomy and treatment flexibility, which in turn increased likelihood of treatment stabilization and engagement. Patients who remained ineligible for take-homes, usually due to ongoing non-prescribed opioid or benzodiazepine use, desired greater transparency and shared decision-making.ConclusionFederal exemptions in response to COVID-19 led to the unprecedented expansion of access to MOUD take-homes within OTPs. Providers and patients perceived benefits to expanding access to take-homes and experienced few adverse outcomes, suggesting expanded take-home policies should remain post-COVID-19. Future studies should explore whether these findings are generalizable to other OTPs and assess larger samples to quantify patient-level outcomes resulting from expanded take-home policies.
Loops, TADs, Compartments, and Territories are Elastic and Robust to Dramatic Nuclear Volume Swelling
Authors: Sanders Jacob T. , Golloshi Rosela , Terry Peyton H. , Nash Darrian G. , Xu Yang , Dekker Job , McCord Rachel Patton 
Published: August 2021

AbstractLayers of genome organization are becoming increasingly better characterized, but less is known about how these structures respond to perturbation or shape changes. Low-salt swelling of isolated chromatin fibers or nuclei has been used for decades to investigate the structural properties of chromatin. But, visible changes in chromatin appearance have not been linked to known building blocks of genome structure or features along the genome sequence. We combine low-salt swelling of isolated nuclei with genome-wide chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) and imaging approaches to probe the effects of chromatin extension genome-wide. Photoconverted patterns on nuclei during expansion and contraction indicate that global genome structure is preserved after dramatic nuclear volume swelling, suggesting a highly elastic chromosome topology. Hi-C experiments before, during, and after nuclear swelling show changes in average contact probabilities at short length scales, reflecting the extension of the local chromatin fiber. But, surprisingly, during this large increase in nuclear volume, there is a striking maintenance of loops, TADs, active and inactive compartments, and chromosome territories. Subtle differences after expansion are observed, suggesting that the local chromatin state, protein interactions, and location in the nucleus can affect how strongly a given structure is maintained under stress. From these observations, we propose that genome topology is robust to extension of the chromatin fiber and isotropic shape change, and that this elasticity may be beneficial in physiological circumstances of changes in nuclear size and volume.
An inexpensive setup for robust activity tracking in small animals: Portable Locomotion Activity Monitor (pLAM)
Authors: Sondhi Yash , Jo Nicolas J. , Alpizar Britney , Markee Amanda , Dansby Hailey E. , Currea J. P. , Fabian Samuel T. , Ruiz Carlos , Barredo Elina , Degennaro Matthew , Kawahara Akito Y. , Theobald Jamie C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAdvances in computer vision and deep learning have automated animal behaviour studies that previously required tedious manual input. However, tracking activity of small and fast flying animals remains a hurdle, especially in a field setting with variable light conditions. Commercial locomotor activity monitors (LAMs) can be expensive, closed source, and generally limited to laboratory settings.Here, we present a portable locomotion activity monitor (pLAM), a mobile activity detector to quantify small animal circadian activity. Our setup uses inexpensive components, is based on open-source motion tracking software, and is easy to assemble and use in the field. It runs off-grid, supports low-light tracking with infrared lights, and can implement arbitrary light cycle colours and brightnesses with programmable LEDs. We provide a user-friendly guide to assembling pLAM hardware and accessing its pre-configured software and guidelines for using it in other systems.We benchmarked pLAM for insects under various lab and field conditions, then compared results to a commercial activity detector. They offer broadly similar activity measures, but our setup captures flight and bouts of motion that are often missed by beam-breaking activity detection.pLAM will enable high-throughput quantification of small animal location and activity in a low-cost and accessible manner, crucial to studying behaviour that can help inform conservation and management decisions.
RNA-Seq is not required to determine stable reference genes for qPCR normalization
Authors: Sampathkumar Nirmal Kumar , Sundaram Venkat Krishnan , Danthi Prakroothi S , Barakat Rasha , Solomon Shiden , Mondal Mrityunjoy , Carre Ivo , El Jalkh Tatiana , Padilla-Ferrer Aïda , Grenier Julien , Massaad Charbel , Mitchell Jacqueline C 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAssessment of differential gene expression by qPCR is heavily influenced by the choice of reference genes. Although numerous statistical approaches have been proposed to determine the best reference genes, they can give rise to conflicting results depending on experimental conditions. Hence, recent studies propose the use of RNA-Seq to identify stable genes followed by the application of different statistical approaches to determine the best set of reference genes for qPCR data normalization. In this study, we demonstrate that the statistical approach to determine the best reference genes from randomly selected candidates is more important than the preselection of ‘stable’ candidates from RNA-Seq data. Using a qPCR data normalization workflow that we have previously established; we show that qPCR data normalization using randomly chosen conventional reference genes renders the same results as stable reference genes selected from RNA-Seq data. We validated these observations in two distinct cross-sectional experimental conditions involving human iPSC derived microglial cells and mouse sciatic nerves. These results taken together show that given a robust statistical approach for reference gene selection, stable genes selected from RNA-Seq data do not offer any significant advantage over commonly used reference genes for normalizing qPCR assays.
Rational Exploration of Fold Atlas for Human Solute Carrier Proteins
Authors: Xie Tengyu , Chi Ximin , Huang Bangdong , Ye Fangfei , Zhou Qiang , Huang Jing 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSolute carrier (SLC) superfamily is the largest group responsible for transmembrane transport of substances in human cells. It includes more than 400 members which are organized into 65 families according to their physiological function and sequence similarity. Different families of solute transporters can adopt the same or different folds that determine the working mechanism and reflect the evolutionary relationship between SLC members. Analysis of structural data in literatures shows that there are 13 different folds in the solute carrier superfamily covering 40 families and 343 members. To further study their working mechanism, we systematically explored the SLC superfamily to look for more folds. Based on our results, at least three new folds were found for SLC superfamily, and one was experimentally verified in the SLC44 family. Our work has laid a foundation and provided important insights for the systematic and comprehensive study on the structure and function of solute carriers.
Frequency-dependent hybridization contributes to habitat segregation in monkeyflowers
Authors: Toll Katherine , Lowry David B. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSpatial segregation of closely related species is usually attributed to differences in stress tolerance and competitive ability. For both animals and plants, reproductive interactions between close relatives can impose a fitness cost that is more detrimental to the rarer species. Frequencydependent mating interactions may thus prevent the establishment of immigrants within heterospecific populations, maintaining spatial segregation of species. Despite strong spatial segregation in natural populations, two sympatric California monkeyflowers(Mimulus nudatusandM. guttatus) survive and reproduce in the other’s habitat when transplanted reciprocally. We hypothesized that a frequency-dependent mating disadvantage maintains spatial segregation of these monkeyflowers during natural immigration. To evaluate this hypothesis, we performed two field experiments. First, we experimentally added immigrants in varying numbers to sites dominated by heterospecifics. Second, we reciprocally transplanted arrays of varying resident and immigrant frequencies. Immigrant seed viability decreased with conspecific rarity forM. guttatus, but notM. nudatus. We observed immigrant minority disadvantage for both species, but driven by different factors– frequency-dependent hybridization forM. guttatus, and competition for resources and/or pollinators forM. nudatus.Overall, our results suggest a major role for reproductive interference in spatial segregation that should be evaluated along with stress tolerance and competitive ability.