bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management of the middle turbinate during and after sinus surgery
Authors: Tang Dennis M. , Roxbury Christopher R. 
Published: December 2021

Purpose of review
Treatment of the middle turbinate (MT) during and after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been controversial. Historically, there has been concern that resection of the MT may result in smell loss and frontal sinus stenosis. However, these concerns must be balanced by knowledge that a residual diseased MT may result in surgical failure. This review discusses the current evidence on treatment of the MT during and after ESS.

Recent findings
Several review articles have shown the safety of performing MT resection. Studies have not shown increase rates of frontal sinus stenosis, olfactory loss, or empty nose syndrome. However, the benefit of MT resection is highly debated. There have also been many recent advances and technological developments to assist in management of the postoperative MT.

Summary
The literature supports the safety of performing MT resection, however, the benefit of resection over preservation is controversial. New technologies and techniques exist that may aid in preventing postoperative MT lateralization.
Vision, Driving Exposure, and Collisions in Bioptic Drivers
Authors: Zhou Alicia M. , Flom Roanne E. , Raasch Thomas W. , Segerstrom Ellen E. , Dougherty Bradley E. 
Published: December 2021

SIGNIFICANCE
Lack of knowledge regarding the mileage driven by drivers with low vision who use bioptic telescopes could obscure the relationship between vision and road safety. This study provides data suggesting that worse vision is correlated with less mileage driven but more collisions per mile in bioptic drivers.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether vision or demographic factors predict mileage driven in bioptic drivers and per-mile motor vehicle collision rate and also to compare the collision rate of bioptic drivers with previous estimates for the general population.

METHODS
Driver data were collected retrospectively from clinic records. Collision data were collected from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles database. Subjects were also asked to estimate their yearly mileage. Regression models were used to investigate relationships between vision and collision rates.

RESULTS
Seventy-three licensed Ohio bioptic drivers (36 male) were included. Mean ± standard deviation age was 51 ± 16 years. Mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.67 (approximately 20/100). Mean log contrast sensitivity was 1.57. Mean reported annual mileage was 9746. Age, sex, and previous (nonbioptic) driving experience were not associated with mileage. LogMAR visual acuity was inversely related to mileage (P = .02), and contrast sensitivity (P = .01) and horizontal visual field (P = .02) were directly associated with mileage. Visual acuity (P = .02) and visual field (P = .005), but not contrast sensitivity (P = .19), were associated with number of collisions.

CONCLUSIONS
Visual acuity, visual field, and contrast sensitivity were associated with driving exposure in bioptic drivers (with drivers with poorer vision reporting lower annual mileage), and poorer visual acuity and visual field were associated with more collisions. The per-mile collision rate for bioptic drivers was within the range of that previously reported for fully sighted drivers, although higher than would be expected for fully sighted drivers of similar age distribution.
Measurement and Analysis of Whole-surface Power Distribution in Single Tilted Spectacle Lenses
Authors: Huang Ching-Yao 
Published: December 2021

SIGNIFICANCE
Face-form tilt spectacles are sometimes tilted such that the optical properties of the embedded prescription lenses and the lens power change. If the lens power is not plano, the vision quality of the wearer may be affected.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to measure the whole-surface power distributions of tilted spectacle lenses for different lens powers and tilt angles.

METHODS
Spherical spectacle lenses with a refractive index of 1.56 and powers of −4.00 D, −2.00 D, plano, +2.00 D, and +4.00 D were measured. Their whole-surface power distributions were measured at different tilt angles, up to 20°, using a commercially available Hartmann wavefront aberrometer. The measured data were limited within a 40-mm diameter and analyzed to obtain contour plots of the spherical equivalent (M) and astigmatism (J).

RESULTS
The measured whole-surface power profiles of the nontilted lenses showed both M and J as being symmetrical and increasing outward up to −0.52 and +0.24 D, respectively, for the −4.00 D lens and +0.22 and +0.05 D, respectively, for the +4.00 D lens, corresponding to the spherical design. The profiles of the tilted lenses showed both M and J as unevenly increasing from the center to the peripheral area along the downward tilt direction; however, the plano lens exhibited no effect of tilt on both M and J. The powers at the optical center of the lens increased with tilt angle and lens power. The maximum differences for M and J at a 15° tilt angle in the −4.00 D lens were −2.46 and +1.43 D, respectively. Conversely, at a 17° tilt angle, the maximum differences in the +4.00 D lens were +0.96 D in M and +0.46 D in J.

CONCLUSIONS
Tilt angle and lens power strongly affect the power profiles of tilted spectacle lenses.
Lower Neurocognitive Functioning in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Children Compared With That in HIV-Unexposed Children
Authors: Benki-Nugent Sarah F. , Yunusa Rabi , Mueni Alice , Laboso Tony , Tamasha Nancy , Njuguna Irene , Gómez Laurén , Wamalwa Dalton C. , Tapia Kenneth , Maleche-Obimbo Elizabeth , Bangirana Paul , Boivin Michael J. , John-Stewart Grace C. 
Published: December 2021

Background:
Perinatal HIV and antiretroviral therapy exposure may influence neurocognitive outcomes, although evidence is mixed and most studies are limited to outcomes in the first 24 months. We compared neurocognitive outcomes in school-aged children who were HIV exposed uninfected (CHEU) with those in children who were HIV unexposed uninfected (CHUU).

Setting:
Children were recruited from a health center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods:
Key inclusion criteria were children aged 5–12 years and confirmed child and maternal HIV status; for CHEU, mothers reported knowing HIV-positive status before or at delivery of the index child. Children underwent a detailed battery of neuropsychological tests and behavioral assessment, and comparisons of scores between CHEU and CHUU were conducted using linear regression.

Results:
Among 56 CHEU and 65 CHUU, the median age and sex distributions were 6.8 and 7.0 years (P = 0.8) and 48% and 60% girls (P = 0.2), respectively. In analyses adjusted for child's age and sex and caregiver's age, education, and household rent, CHEU had significantly lower mean z scores for global cognitive ability than CHUU [−0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.64 to −0.05; P = 0.02], short-term memory (−0.44, 95% CI: −0.76 to −0.12; P = 0.008), delayed memory (−0.43, 95% CI: −0.79 to −0.08; P = 0.02), attention (−0.41, 95% CI: −0.78 to −0.05; P = 0.03), and processing speed (−0.76, 95% CI: −1.37 to −0.16; P = 0.01). Models adjusted for child nutritional status, household food security, and orphanhood yielded similar results.

Conclusions:
Children exposed to HIV had poorer long-term neurocognitive outcomes than CHUU. These data suggest that long-term studies of neurocognitive and educational attainment in CHEU are warranted.
Neopterin Relates to Lifetime Depression in Older Adults With HIV on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Saloner Rowan , Savini Natalie , Letendre Scott L. , Moore David J. , Montoya Jessica L. 
Published: December 2021

Background:
Chronic inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of depression in persons with HIV (PWH). Neopterin, a biomarker of HIV-related immune activation that partially normalizes with antiretroviral therapy (ART), correlates with major depressive disorder (MDD) and subclinical depressive symptoms in persons without HIV and acutely infected, young PWH. The sensitivity of neopterin, however, to both lifetime and current depression is poorly understood in older PWH on suppressive ART.

Methods:
Participants were 70 PWH and 35 persons without HIV (HIV−) who were at least 50 years old and completed standardized neurobehavioral and neuromedical assessments. Depressive symptoms in the past 2 weeks, measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and lifetime MDD diagnoses, defined as meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria for a depressive episode at any point in one's lifetime, were separately modeled as a function of plasma neopterin levels in the full sample and by HIV serostatus.

Results:
Compared with HIV− adults, PWH had higher neopterin levels (P < 0.001) and BDI-II scores (P < 0.01) and were more likely to have lifetime MDD (P < 0.01). Higher neopterin related to lifetime MDD, but only in PWH, even after controlling for clinically relevant comorbidities and treatment factors in logistic regression (odds ratio = 3.11, P = 0.002). Higher neopterin correlated with higher BDI-II scores in the full sample (rs = 0.25; P = 0.010), but not within either group (PWH: rs = 0.03, P = 0.819; HIV−: rs = 0.09, P = 0.588).

Conclusion:
Neopterin was associated with lifetime MDD, but not current depressive symptoms in older PWH on suppressive ART. This may reflect a legacy of inflammation-related disruptions to amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis, similar to prior observations. Identification of biopsychosocial and resilience factors underlying the null association between neopterin and current depression in older PWH is warranted.
Vestibular function testing in the 21st century: video head impulse test, vestibular evoked myogenic potential, video nystagmography; which tests will provide answers?
Authors: Rosengren Sally M. , Young Allison S. , Taylor Rachael L. , Welgampola Miriam S. 
Published: December 2021

Purpose of review
To most neurologists, assessing the patient with vertigo is an unpleasant and worrisome task. A structured history and focused examination can be complemented by carefully selected laboratory tests, to reach an early and accurate diagnosis. We provide evidence-based recommendations for vestibular test selection.

Recent findings
The video head impulse test (vHIT), cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) and home-video nystagmography are four modern, noninvasive methods of assessing vestibular function, which are equally applicable in the hospital and office-practice. Collectively, they enable assessment of all five vestibular end-organs. The prevalence and patterns of test abnormalities are distinct for each vestibular disorder. We summarize typical abnormalities encountered in four common vestibular syndromes.

Summary
In the context of acute vestibular syndrome, an abnormal vHIT with low gain and large amplitude refixation saccades and an asymmetric oVEMP separates innocuous vestibular neuritis from stroke. In episodic spontaneous vertigo, high-velocity ictal nystagmus and asymmetric cVEMP help separate Ménière's disease from vestibular migraine. In chronic imbalance, all three tests help detect unilateral or bilateral vestibular loss as the root cause. Recurrent positional vertigo requires no laboratory test and can be diagnosed and treated at the bedside, guided by video nystagmography.
Experimental evolution under varying sex ratio and nutrient availability modulates male mating success in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Sepil Irem , Perry Jennifer C. , Dore Alice , Chapman Tracey , Wigby Stuart 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBiased population sex ratios can alter optimal male mating strategies, and allocation to reproductive traits depends on nutrient availability. However, there is little information on how nutrition interacts with sex ratio to influence the evolution of pre-copulatory and post-copulatory traits separately. To address this omission, here we test how male mating success and reproductive investment evolve under varying sex ratios and adult diet in Drosophila melanogaster using an experimental evolution approach. We found that sex ratio and nutrient availability interacted to determine male pre-copulatory performance. Males from female-biased populations were slow to mate when they evolved on a protein-restricted diet. On the other hand, we found direct and non-interacting effects of sex ratio and nutrient availability on post-copulatory success, without interactions between them. Males that evolved on a protein-restricted diet were poor at suppressing female remating. Males that evolved under equal sex ratios fathered more offspring and were better at supressing female remating, relative to males from male-biased or female-biased populations. These results support the idea that sex ratios and nutrition interact to determine the evolution of pre-copulatory mating traits, but independently influence the evolution of post-copulatory traits.
A novel bacterial protease inhibitor adjuvant in RBD-based COVID-19 vaccine formulations increases neutralizing antibodies, specific germinal center B cells and confers protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Coria Lorena M. , Saposnik Lucas M. , Castro Celeste Pueblas , Castro Eliana F. , Bruno Laura A. , Stone William B. , Pérez Paula S. , Darriba M. Laura , Chemes Lucia B. , Alcain Julieta , Mazzitelli Ignacio , Varese Augusto , Salvatori Melina , Auguste Albert J. , Álvarez Diego E , Pasquevich Karina A. , Cassataro Juliana 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn this work we evaluated recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) based vaccine formulation prototypes with potential for further clinical development. We assessed different formulations containing RBD plus Alum, AddaS03, AddaVax or the combination of Alum and U-Omp19: a novel Brucella spp. protease inhibitor vaccine adjuvant. Results show that the vaccine formulation composed of U-Omp19 and Alum as adjuvants have a better performance: it significantly increased mucosal and systemic neutralizing antibodies in comparison to antigen plus Alum, AddaVax or AddaS03. Antibodies induced with the formulation containing U-Omp19 not only increased their neutralization capacity against the wild-type virus but also cross neutralized alpha, lambda and gamma variants with similar potency. Also, addition of U-Omp19 to vaccine formulation increased the frequency of RBD-specific geminal center B cells and plasmablasts. Additionally, U-Omp19+Alum formulation induced RBD-specific Th1 and CD8+ T cell responses in spleens and lungs. Finally, this vaccine formulation conferred protection against an intranasal SARS-CoV-2 challenge of K18-hACE2 mice.
Interfacing Spinal Motor Units in Non-Human Primates Identifies a Principal Neural Component for Force Control Constrained by the Size Principle
Authors: Del Vecchio Alessandro , Jones Rachael H. A. , Schofield Ian S. , Kinfe Thomas M , Ibáñez Jaime , Farina Dario , Baker Stuart N. 
Published: December 2021

ABSTRACTMotor units convert the last neural code of movement into muscle forces. The classic view of motor unit control is that the central nervous system sends common synaptic inputs to motoneuron pools and that motoneurons respond in an orderly fashion dictated by the size principle. This view however is in contrast with the large number of dimensions observed in motor cortex which may allow individual and flexible control of motor units. Evidence for flexible control of motor units may be obtained by tracking motor units longitudinally during the performance of tasks with some level of behavioural variability. Here we identified and tracked populations of motor units in the brachioradialis muscle of two macaque monkeys during ten sessions spanning over one month during high force isometric contractions with a broad range of rate of force development (1.8 – 38.6 N·m·s-1). During the same sessions we recorded intramuscular EMG signals from 16 arm muscles of both limbs and elicited the full recruitment through neural stimulation of the median and deep radial nerves. We found a very stable recruitment order and discharge characteristics of the motor units over sessions and contraction trials. The small deviations from orderly recruitment were observed between motor units with close recruitment thresholds, and only during high rate of force development. Moreover, we also found that one component explained more than ~50% of the motor unit discharge rate variance, and that the remaining components could be described as a time-shifted version of the first, as it could be predicted from the interplay between the size principle of recruitment and one common input. In conclusion, our results show that motoneurons recruitment is determined by the interplay of the size principle and common input and that this recruitment scheme is not violated over time nor by the speed of the contractions.
Deep Mutational Engineering of broadly-neutralizing and picomolar affinity nanobodies to accommodate SARS-CoV-1 & 2 antigenic polymorphism
Authors: Laroche Adrien , Orsini Delgado Maria Lucia , Cuniasse Philippe , Dubois Steven , Sierocki Raphaël , Gallais Fabrice , Debroas Stéphanie , Bellanger Laurent , Simon Stéphanie , Maillère Bernard , Nozach Hervé 
Published: December 2021

AbstractWe report in this study the molecular engineering of nanobodies that bind with picomolar affinity to both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domains (RBD) and are highly neutralizing. We applied Deep Mutational Engineering to VHH72, a nanobody initially specific for SARS-CoV-1 RBD with little cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 antigen. We first identified all the individual VHH substitutions that increase binding to SARS-CoV-2 RBD and then screened highly focused combinatorial libraries to isolate engineered nanobodies with improved properties. The corresponding VHH-Fc molecules show high affinities for SARS-CoV-2 antigens from various emerging variants and SARS-CoV-1, block the interaction between ACE2 and RBD and neutralize the virus with high efficiency. Its rare specificity across sarbecovirus relies on its peculiar epitope outside the immunodominant regions. The engineered nanobodies share a common motif of three amino acids, which contribute to the broad specificity of recognition. These nanobodies appears as promising therapeutic candidates to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Horizontal Transfer and Evolution of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for Benzoxazinoid
Authors: Wu Dongya , Jiang Bowen , Ye Chu-Yu , Timko Michael P. , Fan Longjiang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBenzoxazinoids are a class of protective and allelopathic plant secondary metabolites, first identified in maize (Zea mays) and subsequently shown to be encoded by a biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC), the Bx cluster. Data mining of mining 40 high-quality grass genomes identified complete Bx clusters (containing genes Bx1 to Bx5 and Bx8) in three genera (Zea, Echinochloa and Dichanthelium) in the Panicoideae and partial clusters in the Triticeae. The Bx cluster originated from gene duplication of native analogues of Bx genes and chromosomal translocation. An ancient Bx cluster including additional Bx genes (e.g., Bx6) is found in ancestral Panicoideae. The ancient Bx cluster was gained by the Triticeae ancestor via a horizontal transfer (HT) event from the ancestral Panicoideae and later separated into three parts on different chromosomes. Bx6 appears to have been under less constrained selection during evolution of the Panicoideae as evidenced by the fact that was translocated ∼1.31-Mb away from the Bx cluster in Z. mays, moved to other chromosomes in Echinochloa, and even lost in Dichanthelium. Further investigation indicated that intense selection and polyploidization shaped the evolutionary trajectory of the Bx cluster in the grass family. This study provides the first case of HT of BGCs among plants and sheds new insights on the evolution of BGCs.SignificanceBiosynthetic gene clustering and horizontal gene transfer are two evolutionary inventions for rapid adaption by organisms. Horizontal transfer of a gene cluster has been reported in fungi and bacteria, but not in plants up to now. By mining the genomes of 40 monocot species, we deciphered the organization of Bx gene cluster, a biosynthetic gene cluster for benzoxazinoids in grasses. We found that the Bx cluster was formed by gene duplication of native analogues of individual Bx genes and directional translocation. More importantly, the Bx cluster in Triticeae was inherited from the Panicoideae via horizontal transfer. Compared with the native analogues, Bx clusters in grasses show constrained purifying selection underscoring their significance in environmental adaption.
Access to healthcare as an important moderating variable for understanding geography of immunity levels for COVID-19 - preliminary insights from Poland
Authors: Jarynowski Andrzej , Belik Vitaly 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundBiases in COVID-19 burden and uncertainty in estimation of the corresponding epidemiologic indexes is a known and common phenomenon in infectious diseases. We investigated to what extent healthcare access (HCA) related supply/demand interfered with registered data on COVID-19 in Poland.Material and methodsWe run a multiple linear regression model with interactions to explain geographic variation in seroprevalence, hospitalizations (on voivodeship – NUTS-2 level) and current (beginning of the 4th wave – 15.09-21.11.2021) case notifications/crude mortality (on poviat – old NUTS-4 level). We took vaccination coverage and cumulative case notifications up to the so called 3rd wave as predictor variables and supply/demand (HCA) as moderating variables.ResultsHCA with interacting terms (mainly demand) explained to the great extent the variance of current incidence and most variance of current mortality. HCA (mainly supply) is significantly moderating cumulative case notifications till the 3rd wave explaining the variance in seroprevalence and hospitalization.ConclusionsSeeking causal relations between vaccination-or infection-gained immunity level and current infection dynamics could be misleading without understanding socio-epidemiologic context such as the moderating role of HCA (sensu lato). After quantification, HCA could be incorporated into epidemiologic models for improved prediction of real disease burden.
Dose-response relationship of extended-release methylphenidate for ADHD in adults: post-hoc analysis based on a systematic review
Authors: Boesen K , Jørgensen KJ , Gøtzsche PC 
Published: December 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo assess potential dose-response relationships of extended-release methylphenidate for ADHD in adults on efficacy outcomes.Study design and settingPost-hoc analysis based on a systematic review of extended-release methylphenidate (https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012857). Using data from clinical trials comparing multiple fixed-dose methylphenidate groups with placebo, we conducted subgroup meta-analyses for available efficacy outcomes.Results and conclusionFive trials used a fixed-dose design with multiple methylphenidate groups receiving different doses. All trials were pivotal industry sponsored studies conducted to obtain marketing authorisation. We analysed four efficacy outcomes: Selfrated ADHD symptoms (5 trials, 1807 participants), investigator-rated ADHD symptoms (5 trials, 1904 participants), quality of life (4 trials, 1158 participants), and peer-rated ADHD symptoms (2 trials, 879 participants). There were no dose-response relationships for any outcome.