bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with moderate septal thickness and mitral regurgitation: long-term surgical results
Authors: Lapenna Elisabetta , Nisi Teodora , Carino Davide , Bargagna Marta , Ruggeri Stefania , Zancanaro Edoardo , Del Forno Benedetto , Schiavi Davide , Agricola Eustachio , Castiglioni Alessandro , Alfieri Ottavio , De Bonis Michele 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of different surgical strategies in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) with septal thickness ≤18 mm and systolic anterior motion (SAM)-related moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

METHODS
Seventy-six HOCM patients with septal thickness 17 [16; 18] mm, resting left ventricle outflow tract gradient 60 [41; 85] mmHg and SAM-related MR ≥2+/4+, underwent septal myectomy alone (54%) or mitral valve (MV) surgery ± myectomy (46%).

RESULTS
No hospital death and no ventricular septal defect occurred. Patients undergoing MV surgery ± myectomy had longer cardiopulmonary bypass and X-clamp times (77 [60–106] vs 51 [44–62] min, P &lt; 0.001 and 56 [45–77] vs 32 [28–41] min, P &lt; 0.001) and higher incidence of low output syndrome (11% vs 0%, P = 0.04). Follow-up was 98.6% complete, median 8 years [3–11]. There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival (P = 0.069) with survival rates at 9 years of 96 ± 4% in the myectomy alone group and 81 ± 8% in the MV surgery ± myectomy one. At 9 years, cumulative incidence function of cardiac death was 12 ± 6% in the MV surgery ± myectomy group vs 0% in the myectomy one, P = 0.06. Multivariable analysis identified age and previous septal alcoholization as predictors of cardiac death (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–1.1, P = 0.004 and HR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.0–8.3, P = 0.042). The 9-year cumulative incidence function of recurrence of MR ≥2+, with death as competing risk, was 3 ± 2.8% in the MV surgery ± myectomy group vs 25 ± 6.9% in the myectomy one, P = 0.005.

CONCLUSIONS
In HOCM patients with moderate septal thickness and SAM-related MR, as the degree of septal hypertrophy decreases, addressing the abnormalities of the MV apparatus may become necessary to provide a durable resolution of left ventricle outflow tract obstruction and SAM-related MR. However, performing myectomy alone, whenever possible, seems to be associated to a better postoperative course and a trend towards lower cardiac mortality at follow-up, despite a higher rate of residual moderate MR.
Persistent end-diastolic forward flow after pulmonary valve replacement in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Tominaga Yuji , Taira Masaki , Kido Takashi , Kanaya Tomomitsu , Araki Kanta , Watanabe Takuji , Sakaniwa Ryoto , Toda Koichi , Kuratani Toru , Ueno Takayoshi , Sawa Yoshiki 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The clinical significance of persistent end-diastolic forward flow (EDFF) after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) remains unclear in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of these patients and the impact of persistent EDFF on outcomes.

METHODS
Of 46 consecutive patients who underwent PVR for moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation between 2003 and 2019, 23 (50%) did not show EDFF before PVR [group (−)]. In the remaining 23 patients with EDFF before PVR, EDFF was diminished after PVR in 13 (28%) [group (+, −)] and persisted in 10 (22%) [group (+, +)]. The following variables were compared between these 3 groups: (i) preoperative right ventricular (RV) and right atrial volumes measured by magnetic resonance imaging, haemodynamic parameters measured by cardiac catheterization and the degree of RV myocardial fibrosis measured by RV biopsy obtained at PVR and (ii) the post-PVR course, development of atrial arrhythmia and need for intervention.

RESULTS
A high RV end-diastolic pressure, a greater right atrial volume index and a greater RV end-systolic volume index before PVR and a high degree of RV fibrosis were significantly associated with persistent EDFF 1 year after PVR. Persistent EDFF was a significant risk factor for postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmia, and catheter ablation and pacemaker implantation were required more frequently in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS
Persistent EDFF after PVR could predict a worse prognosis, especially an increased risk of arrhythmia. Close follow-up is required in patients with persistent EDFF for early detection of arrhythmia and prompt reintervention if necessary.

Clinical trial registration number
Institutional review board of Osaka University Hospital, number 16105
Exporting Pollution: Where Do Multinational Firms Emit CO2?
Authors: Ben-David Itzhak , Jang Yeejin , Kleimeier Stefanie , Viehs Michael 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Despite widespread awareness of the detrimental impact of CO2 pollution on the world climate, countries vary widely in how they design and enforce environmental laws. Using novel microdata about multinational firms' CO2 emissions across countries, we document that firms headquartered in countries with strict environmental policies perform their polluting activities abroad in countries with relatively weaker policies. These effects are largely driven by tightened environmental policies in home countries that incentivize firms to pollute abroad rather than lenient foreign policies that attract those firms. Although firms headquartered in countries with strict domestic environmental policies are more likely to export pollution to foreign countries, they nevertheless emit somewhat less overall CO2 globally.
Distinct rhizomicrobiota assemblages and plant performance in lettuce grown in soils with different agricultural management histories
Authors: Babin Doreen , Sommermann Loreen , Chowdhury Soumitra Paul , Behr Jan H , Sandmann Martin , Neumann Günter , Nesme Joseph , Sørensen Søren J , Schellenberg Ingo , Rothballer Michael , Geistlinger Joerg , Smalla Kornelia , Grosch Rita 
Published: February 2021

ABSTRACTA better understanding of factors shaping the rhizosphere microbiota is important for sustainable crop production. We hypothesized that the effect of agricultural management on the soil microbiota is reflected in the assemblage of the rhizosphere microbiota with implications for plant performance. We designed a growth chamber experiment growing the model plant lettuce under controlled conditions in soils of a long-term field experiment with contrasting histories of tillage (mouldboard plough vs cultivator tillage), fertilization intensity (intensive standard nitrogen (N) + pesticides/growth regulators vs extensive reduced N without fungicides/growth regulators), and last standing field crop (rapeseed vs winter wheat). High-throughput sequencing of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS2 regions amplified from total community DNA showed that these factors shaped the soil and rhizosphere microbiota of lettuce, however, to different extents among the microbial domains. Pseudomonas and Olpidium were identified as major indicators for agricultural management in the rhizosphere of lettuce. Long-term extensive fertilization history of soils resulted in higher lettuce growth and increased expression of genes involved in plant stress responses compared to intensive fertilization. Our work adds to the increasing knowledge on how soil microbiota can be manipulated by agricultural management practices which could be harnessed for sustainable crop production.
Genomic analyses of two Italian oyster mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius strains
Authors: Vidal-Diez de Ulzurrun Guillermo , Lee Yi-Yun , Stajich Jason E , Schwarz Erich M , Hsueh Yen-Ping 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Pleurotus mushrooms are among the most cultivated fungi in the world and are highly valuable for food, medicine, and biotechnology industries. Furthermore, Pleurotus species are carnivorous fungi; they can rapidly paralyze and kill nematodes when nutrient-deprived. The predator–prey interactions between Pleurotus and nematodes are still widely unexplored. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms and the genes involved in the carnivorous behavior of Pleurotus mushrooms remain a mystery. We are attempting to understand the interactions between Pleurotus mushrooms and their nematode prey through genetic and genomic analyses. Two single spores (ss2 and ss5) isolated from a fruiting body of Pleurotus pulmonarius exhibited significant differences in growth and toxicity against nematodes. Thus, using PacBio long reads, we assembled and annotated two high-quality genomes for these two isolates of P. pulmonarius. Each of these assemblies contains 23 scaffolds, including 6 (ss2) and 8 (ss5) telomere-to-telomere scaffolds, and they are among the most complete assembled genomes of the Pleurotus species. Comparative analyses identified the genomic differences between the two P. pulmonarius strains. In sum, this work provides a genomic resource that will be invaluable for better understanding the Italian oyster mushroom P. pulmonarius.
Application of an optimized annotation pipeline to theCryptococcus deuterogattiigenome reveals dynamic primary metabolic gene clusters and genomic impact of RNAi loss
Authors: Gröhs Ferrareze Patrícia Aline , Maufrais Corinne , Silva Araujo Streit Rodrigo , Priest Shelby J , Cuomo Christina A , Heitman Joseph , Staats Charley Christian , Janbon Guilhem 
Published: February 2021

AbstractEvaluating the quality of a de novo annotation of a complex fungal genome based on RNA-seq data remains a challenge. In this study, we sequentially optimized a Cufflinks-CodingQuary-based bioinformatics pipeline fed with RNA-seq data using the manually annotated model pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus deneoformans as test cases. Our results show that the quality of the annotation is sensitive to the quantity of RNA-seq data used and that the best quality is obtained with 5–10 million reads per RNA-seq replicate. We also showed that the number of introns predicted is an excellent a priori indicator of the quality of the final de novo annotation. We then used this pipeline to annotate the genome of the RNAi-deficient species Cryptococcus deuterogattii strain R265 using RNA-seq data. Dynamic transcriptome analysis revealed that intron retention is more prominent in C. deuterogattii than in the other RNAi-proficient species C. neoformans and C. deneoformans. In contrast, we observed that antisense transcription was not higher in C. deuterogattii than in the two other Cryptococcus species. Comparative gene content analysis identified 21 clusters enriched in transcription factors and transporters that have been lost. Interestingly, analysis of the subtelomeric regions in these three annotated species identified a similar gene enrichment, reminiscent of the structure of primary metabolic clusters. Our data suggest that there is active exchange between subtelomeric regions, and that other chromosomal regions might participate in adaptive diversification of Cryptococcus metabolite assimilation potential.
Research on photovoltaic system MPPT based on IFOINC algorithm
Authors: Du Yuhe , Liao Yu , Liu Yichu , Ji Jianwei 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Aiming at the shortcomings of traditional maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm in photovoltaic system, such as slow tracking speed, easy oscillation and low tracking accuracy, an improved fractional order incremental conductivity (IFOINC) method is proposed. The algorithm combines the variable step-size Peturb and Observe (P & O) method based on power prediction and fractional order conductance increment method. Firstly, the variable step-size P & O method based on power prediction is used to quickly track the MPP, and then the fractional order incremental conductance method is used to further search the MPP. The structure of photovoltaic system, the equivalent model of photovoltaic cells and the DC/DC converter are studied. The IFOINC algorithm is designed, and the MPPT simulation model of photovoltaic system is established. The simulation is carried out in MATLAB/Simulink software environment. The simulation results show that the tracking speed of IFOINC is improved by 42.3% compared with the variable step-size P & O method based on power prediction, and the tracking accuracy of 3.9% higher than that of the variable step-size P & O method, based on power prediction, and the oscillation is eliminated.
How to avoid unnecessary surgical treatment for neonatal small left colon syndrome
Authors: Ikeda Taro , Goto Shumpei , Hosokawa Takashi , Rikiyama Toshiki , Hosono Shigeharu , Takagi Kenjiro 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We report a case of neonatal small left colon syndrome (NSLCS) that underwent surgery. A female infant was born at 38 weeks of gestation. The mother had gestational diabetes requiring insulin therapy. The baby was admitted for respiratory distress. Abdominal distension was observed, and the gastric residue increased. Contrast enema revealed a small caliber of the left colon up to the splenic flexure. At 14 days, the full-thickness biopsy of the sigmoid and transverse colons was performed. Pathological diagnosis showed that the sigmoid colon had few ganglion cells, therefore the transverse colostomy was performed. At 6 months of age, a rectal biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease; the intestinal plexus and ganglion cells were normal. The surgery was changed from a pull-through to a stoma closure. The postoperative diagnosis was NSLCS, and the course up to 3 years was good without defecation or growth problems.
Unusual segmental ischemia of the small bowel from cocaine abuse
Authors: Grottesi Alfonso , Bianchi Leonello , Ranieri Francesco Maria , Puce Ernesto , Catarci Marco 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Cocaine abuse is rising in the young population, triggering uncommon and potentially life-threatening causes of acute abdomen in this age group. The authors present the case of a 30-year-old man with emergency admission due to abdominal pain, with no history of drug abuse. Several signs and symptoms elicited toxicologic blood screening, which disclosed high serum levels of cocaine and its metabolites. Twelve hours after admission, the onset of acute abdomen with signs of diffuse peritonitis prompted surgical exploration through a minimally invasive approach. Two segmental small bowel ischemic loops and diffuse peritonitis, but no bowel perforation, were identified and treated by laparoscopic peritoneal lavage with 5 l of heated saline and intravenous administration of sodium heparin, 10 000 IU. Postoperative course was uneventful with home discharge on postoperative day 5. High index of suspicion is required to establish a prompt diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon cocaine abuse-related disease.
Coevolutionary and Phylogenetic Analysis of Mimiviral Replication Machinery Suggest the Cellular Origin of Mimiviruses
Authors: Patil Supriya , Kondabagil Kiran 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Mimivirus is one of the most complex and largest viruses known. The origin and evolution of Mimivirus and other giant viruses have been a subject of intense study in the last two decades. The two prevailing hypotheses on the origin of Mimivirus and other viruses are the reduction hypothesis, which posits that viruses emerged from modern unicellular organisms; whereas the virus-first hypothesis proposes viruses as relics of precellular forms of life. In this study, to gain insights into the origin of Mimivirus, we have carried out extensive phylogenetic, correlation, and multidimensional scaling analyses of the putative proteins involved in the replication of its 1.2-Mb large genome. Correlation analysis and multidimensional scaling methods were validated using bacteriophage, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotic replication proteins before applying to Mimivirus. We show that a large fraction of mimiviral replication proteins, including polymerase B, clamp, and clamp loaders are of eukaryotic origin and are coevolving. Although phylogenetic analysis places some components along the lineages of phage and bacteria, we show that all the replication-related genes have been homogenized and are under purifying selection. Collectively our analysis supports the idea that Mimivirus originated from a complex cellular ancestor. We hypothesize that Mimivirus has largely retained complex replication machinery reminiscent of its progenitor while losing most of the other genes related to processes such as metabolism and translation.
Brassinosteroids Influence Arabidopsis Hypocotyl Graviresponses through Changes in Mannans and Cellulose
Authors: Somssich Marc , Vandenbussche Filip , Ivakov Alexander , Funke Norma , Ruprecht Colin , Vissenberg Kris , VanDer Straeten Dominique , Persson Staffan , Suslov Dmitry 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe force of gravity is a constant environmental factor. Plant shoots respond to gravity through negative gravitropism and gravity resistance. These responses are essential for plants to direct the growth of aerial organs away from the soil surface after germination and to keep an upright posture above ground. We took advantage of the effect of brassinosteroids (BRs) on the two types of graviresponses in Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls to disentangle functions of cell wall polymers during etiolated shoot growth. The ability of etiolated Arabidopsis seedlings to grow upward was suppressed in the presence of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) but enhanced in the presence of brassinazole (BRZ), an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis. These effects were accompanied by changes in cell wall mechanics and composition. Cell wall biochemical analyses, confocal microscopy of the cellulose-specific pontamine S4B dye and cellular growth analyses revealed that the EBL and BRZ treatments correlated with changes in cellulose fibre organization, cell expansion at the hypocotyl base and mannan content. Indeed, a longitudinal reorientation of cellulose fibres and growth inhibition at the base of hypocotyls supported their upright posture whereas the presence of mannans reduced gravitropic bending. The negative effect of mannans on gravitropism is a new function for this class of hemicelluloses. We also found that EBL interferes with upright growth of hypocotyls through their uneven thickening at the base.
Do Corticosteroid Injections for the Treatment of Pain Influence the Efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines?
Authors: Lee Haewon , Punt Jennifer A , Miller David C , Nagpal Ameet , Smith Clark C , Sayeed Yusef , Patel Jaymin , Stojanovic Milan P , Popescu Adrian , McCormick Zachary L ,   the Spine Intervention Society’s Patient Safety Committee
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Myth
Corticosteroid injection for the treatment of pain and inflammation is known to decrease the efficacy of the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Fact
There is currently no direct evidence to suggest that a corticosteroid injection before or after the administration of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine decreases the efficacy of the vaccine.
However, based on the known timeline of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression following epidural and intraarticular corticosteroid injections, and the timeline of the reported peak efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, physicians should consider timing an elective corticosteroid injection such that it is administered no less than 2 weeks prior to a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose and no less than 1 week following a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine dose, whenever possible.
The distinctive sleep pattern of the human calcarine cortex: a stereo-electroencephalographic study
Authors: Gorgoni Maurizio , Sarasso Simone , Moroni Fabio , Sartori Ivana , Ferrara Michele , Nobili Lino , De Gennaro Luigi 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Study Objectives
The aim of this study was to describe the spontaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) features of sleep in the human calcarine cortex, comparing them with the well-established pattern of the parietal cortex.

Methods
We analyzed presurgical intracerebral EEG activity in calcarine and parietal cortices during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in seven patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. The time course of the EEG spectral power and NREM vs REM differences was assessed. Sleep spindles were automatically detected. To assess homeostatic dynamics, we considered the first vs second half of the night ratio in the delta frequency range (0.5–4 Hz) and the rise rate of delta activity during the first sleep cycle.

Results
While the parietal area showed the classically described NREM and REM sleep hallmarks, the calcarine cortex exhibited a distinctive pattern characterized by: (1) the absence of sleep spindles; (2) a large similarity between EEG power spectra of NREM and REM; and (3) reduced signs of homeostatic dynamics, with a decreased delta ratio between the first and the second half of the night, a reduced rise rate of delta activity during the first NREM sleep cycle, and lack of correlation between these measures.

Conclusions
Besides describing for the first time the peculiar sleep EEG pattern in the human calcarine cortex, our findings provide evidence that different cortical areas may exhibit specific sleep EEG pattern, supporting the view of sleep as a local process and promoting the idea that the functional role of sleep EEG features should be considered at a regional level.
Nocardia bovistercoris sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from cow dung
Authors: Zhang Xue , Zhang Lida , Yu XiaoYan , Zhang Jing , Jiao Yanjie , Ju Hanxun , Wang Xiangjing , Zhao Junwei , Xiang Wensheng 
Published: February 2021

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain NEAU-351T, was isolated from cow dung collected from Shangzhi, Heilongjiang Province, northeast PR China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain NEAU-351T belonged to the genus

Nocardia

, with the highest similarity (98.96 %) to

Nocardia takedensis

DSM 44801T and less than 98.0 % identity with other type strains of the genus

Nocardia

. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. The major menaquinone was observed to contain MK-8(H4, ω-cycl) (78.2 %). The fatty acid profile mainly consisted of C16 : 0, C18 : 1
ω9c and 10-methyl C18 : 0. Mycolic acids were present. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain NEAU-351T was 68.1 mol%. In addition, the average nucleotide identity values between strain NEAU-351T and its reference strains,

Nocardia takedensis

DSM 44801T and

Nocardia arizonensis

NBRC 108935T, were found to be 81.4 and 82.9 %, respectively, and the level of digital DNA–DNA hybridization between them were 24.8 % (22.5–27.3 %) and 26.3 % (24–28.8 %), respectively. Here we report on the taxonomic characterization and classification of the isolate and propose that strain NEAU-351T represents a new species of the genus

Nocardia

, for which the name Nocardia bovistercoris is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-351T (=CCTCC AA 2019090T=DSM 110681T).