KU Scholarly Papers Funded by the KU Open Access Fund

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https://hdl.handle.net/1808/11675

KU's One-University Open Access Fund program is designed to heighten the visibility and accessibility of the University's scholarship. The fund, $50,000 over two years, supports KU authors who publish in open access journals. This is a two-year pilot program, with funding divided evenly between each year, and managed by KU Lawrence and KUMC librarians. The Open Access Fund is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, Dr. Jeffrey Vitter; Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, Dr. Steve Warren; Acting KUMC Executive Vice Chancellor, Dr. Steve Stites; and Dr. Paul Terranova, KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information please visit http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml. The papers listed here were published in open access journals and funded by the KU Open Access Fund.

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Team science: A syllabus for success on big projects
(Wiley Online Library, 2023-07-31) Peterson, Delaney M.; Flynn, Sarah M.; Lanfear, Riley S.; Smith, Chelsea; Swenson, Logan J.; Belskis, Alice M.; Cook, Stephen C.; Wheeler, Christopher T.; Wilhelm, Jessica F.; Burgin, Amy J.
Interdisciplinary teams are on the rise as scientists attempt to address complex environmental issues. While the benefits of team science approaches are clear, researchers often struggle with its implementation, particularly for new team members. The challenges of large projects often weigh on the most vulnerable members of a team: trainees, including undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. Trainees on big projects have to navigate their role on the team, with learning project policies, procedures, and goals, all while also training in key scientific tasks such as co-authoring papers. To address these challenges, we created and participated in a project-specific, graduate-level team science course. The purposes of this course were to: (1) introduce students to the goals of the project, (2) build trainees' understanding of how big projects operate, and (3) allow trainees to explore how their research interests dovetailed with the overall project. Additionally, trainees received training regarding: (1) diversity, equity & inclusion, (2) giving and receiving feedback, and (3) effective communication. Onboarding through the team science course cultivated psychological safety and a collaborative student community across disciplines and institutions. Thus, we recommend a team science course for onboarding students to big projects to help students establish the skills necessary for collaborative research. Project-based team science classes can benefit student advancement, enhance the productivity of the project, and accelerate the discovery of solutions to ecological issues by building community, establishing a shared project vocabulary, and building a workforce with collaborative skills to better answer ecological research questions.
Likely Geographic Distributional Shifts among Medically Important Tick Species and Tick-Associated Diseases under Climate Change in North America: A Review
(MDPI, 2021-03-05) Peterson, Andrew T.; Raghavan, Ram K.; Peterson, Andrew T.
Ticks rank high among arthropod vectors in terms of numbers of infectious agents that they transmit to humans, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Increasing temperature is suspected to affect tick biting rates and pathogen developmental rates, thereby potentially increasing risk for disease incidence. Tick distributions respond to climate change, but how their geographic ranges will shift in future decades and how those shifts may translate into changes in disease incidence remain unclear. In this study, we have assembled correlative ecological niche models for eight tick species of medical or veterinary importance in North America (Ixodes scapularis, I. pacificus, I. cookei, Dermacentor variabilis, D. andersoni, Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus), assessing the distributional potential of each under both present and future climatic conditions. Our goal was to assess whether and how species’ distributions will likely shift in coming decades in response to climate change. We interpret these patterns in terms of likely implications for tick-associated diseases in North America.
Predictors of Device-Related Thrombus After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: TED-F2 Score
(Elsevier, 2024-06-14) Jiwani, Sania; Morgan, Ethan; Baghdadi, Sarah; Smith, Ross; Tabak, Carine; Parikh, Riya; Bajaj, Matthew; Enders, Robert; Uhlich, Cody; Baer, Jacob; Harvey, Christopher; Swope, Jeanine; Stokka, Stephanie; Bapat, Ashutosh; Gupta, Kamal; Wiley, Mark A.; Sheldon, Seth H.; Dendi, Raghuveer; Reddy, Madhu; Hockstad, Eric; Gunasekaran, Prasad; Noheria, Amit
Background Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion (LAAO) is performed to prevent LAA thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The risk of device-related thrombus (DRT) on the atrial side of the LAAO device is approximately 4%. Identifying patients at high risk of DRT would enable closer surveillance and more-aggressive anticoagulation to prevent post-LAAO DRT-related stroke. Methods From the LAAO registry at The University of Kansas Medical Center, we identified patients who developed DRT. We chose 3 unmatched controls per DRT case from LAAO recipients without DRT. Predictor variables were obtained from transesophageal echocardiogram reports and/or images, transthoracic echocardiogram reports, and chart review. Implant depth was measured from the limbus of the left atrial ridge to the centre of the atrial aspect of the LAAO device, on a 45° transesophageal echocardiogram view. Results We identified 26 patients with DRT (aged 77.7 ± 9.7 years; 34.6% female) and selected 78 unmatched controls without DRT. Univariate predictors of DRT, comprising a novel TED-F2 score, included history of venous Thromboembolism (23.1% vs 5.1%, P = 0.01), an LAA Emptying velocity ≤ 20 cm/s (45.8% vs 18.9%, P = 0.01), an implant Depth > 2 cm (34.6% vs 12.8%, P = 0.02), and presence of AF rhythm at time of device implantation (50.0 % vs 11.5%, P = 0.0001). A TED-F2 score of ≥ 3 was very strongly associated with DRT—odds ratio 12.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.8-41.1, P < 0.0001). Conclusions We propose a novel risk score to predict development of DRT after LAAO, comprising history of venous Thromboembolism, LAA Emptying velocity ≤ 20 cm/s, implant Depth > 2 cm (1 point each), and an AF rhythm at implantation (2 points). A TED-F2 risk score of ≥ 3 identified patients who are at greatly elevated risk of developing DRT.
Bone Density Variation in Rattails (Macrouridae, Gadiformes): Buoyancy, Depth, Body Size, and Feeding
(Oxford University Press, 2022-10-16) Martin, Rene P; Dias, Abigail S; Summers, Adam P; Gerringer, Mackenzie E
Extreme abiotic factors in deep-sea environments, such as near-freezing temperatures, low light, and high hydrostatic pressure, drive the evolution of adaptations that allow organisms to survive under these conditions. Pelagic and benthopelagic fishes that have invaded the deep sea face physiological challenges from increased compression of gasses at depth, which limits the use of gas cavities as a buoyancy aid. One adaptation observed in deep-sea fishes to increase buoyancy is a decrease of high-density tissues. In this study, we analyze mineralization of high-density skeletal tissue in rattails (family Macrouridae), a group of widespread benthopelagic fishes that occur from surface waters to greater than 7000 m depth. We test the hypothesis that rattail species decrease bone density with increasing habitat depth as an adaptation to maintaining buoyancy while living under high hydrostatic pressures. We performed micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans on 15 species and 20 specimens of rattails and included two standards of known hydroxyapatite concentration (phantoms) to approximate voxel brightness to bone density. Bone density was compared across four bones (eleventh vertebra, lower jaw, pelvic girdle, and first dorsal-fin pterygiophore). On average, the lower jaw was significantly denser than the other bones. We found no correlation between bone density and depth or between bone density and phylogenetic relationships. Instead, we observed that bone density increases with increasing specimen length within and between species. This study adds to the growing body of work that suggests bone density can increase with growth in fishes, and that bone density does not vary in a straightforward way with depth.
Phylogenetics of Archerfishes (Toxotidae) and Evolution of the Toxotid Shooting Apparatus
(Oxford University Press, 2022-03-21) Girard, M. G.; Davis, M. P.; Tan, H. H.; Wedd, D. J.; Chakrabarty, P.; Ludt, W. B.; Summers, A. P.; Smith, W. L.
Synopsis Archerfishes (Toxotidae) are variously found in the fresh- and brackish-water environments of Asia Pacific and are well known for their ability to shoot water at terrestrial prey. These shots of water are intended to strike their prey and cause it to fall into the water for capture and consumption. While this behavior is well known, there are competing hypotheses (blowpipe vs. pressure tank hypothesis) of how archerfishes shoot and which oral structures are involved. Current understanding of archerfish shooting structures is largely based on two species, Toxotes chatareus and T. jaculatrix. We do not know if all archerfishes possess the same oral structures to shoot water, if anatomical variation is present within these oral structures, or how these features have evolved. Additionally, there is little information on the evolution of the Toxotidae as a whole, with all previous systematic works focusing on the interrelationships of the family. We first investigate the limits of archerfish species using new and previously published genetic data. Our analyses highlight that the current taxonomy of archerfishes does not conform to the relationships we recover. Toxotes mekongensis and T. siamensis are placed in the synonymy of T. chatareus, Toxotes carpentariensis is recognized as a species and removed from the synonymy of T. chatareus, and the genus Protoxotes is recognized for T. lorentzi based on the results of our analyses. We then take an integrative approach, using a combined analysis of discrete hard- and soft-tissue morphological characters with genetic data, to construct a phylogeny of the Toxotidae. Using the resulting phylogenetic hypothesis, we then characterize the evolutionary history and anatomical variation within the archerfishes. We discuss variation in the oral structures and the evolution of the mechanism with respect to the interrelationships of archerfishes, and find that the oral structures of archerfishes support the blowpipe hypothesis but soft-tissue oral structures may also play a role in shooting. Finally, by comparing the morphology of archerfishes to their sister group, we find that the Leptobramidae has relevant shooting features in the oral cavity, suggesting that some components of the archerfish shooting mechanism are examples of co-opted or exapted traits.
Sex-Specific Outcomes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
(Sage Journals, 2022-02-23) Mok, Anthony C.; Fancher, Andrew J.; Vopat, Matthew L.; Baker, Jordan; Tarakemeh, Armin; Mullen, John P.; Templeton, Kim; Mulcahey, Mary K.; Vopat, Bryan G.
Background: Despite the significant difference between men and women in incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, there is a paucity of consistent information on the influence of patient sex on outcomes after ACL reconstruction. A previous meta-analysis has demonstrated that female patients have worse outcomes with regard to laxity, revision rate, Lysholm score, and Tegner activity score and are less likely to return to sports (RTS). Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate and compare sex-specific outcomes after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, PubMed Central, Embase, OVID, and Cochrane databases per PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The following search terms were used: “anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction” OR “ACL reconstruction” OR “anterior cruciate ligament” OR “ACL” AND “gender” OR “sex” OR “male” OR “female” AND “outcome” AND “2015-Present” to gather all relevant articles between 2015 and 2020. A risk-of-bias assessment and quality assessment was conducted on included studies. Results: Of 9594 studies initially identified, 20 studies with 35,935 male and 21,455 female patients were included for analysis. The 7 studies reporting International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores showed that male patients had statistically significantly higher postoperative scores (mean difference, 3.02 [95% CI, 1.19-4.84]; P< .01; I 2 = 66%), and 7 studies that reported the rate of ACL revision showed there was no significant difference between male and female patients (odds ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.45-1.60]; P = .61; I 2 = 94%). The 7 studies that reported rates of rerupture showed that males were significantly more likely than females to have a graft rerupture (odds ratio, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.22-1.50]; P < .01; I 2 = 0%). Male patients reported a higher RTS rate than did their female counterparts (59.82% compared with 42.89%); however, no formal statistical analysis could be done because of the variability in reporting techniques. Conclusion: Male and female patients with ACL injuries demonstrated similar outcomes regarding their rates of revision; however, male patients were found to have statistically significantly higher postoperative IKDC scores but at the same time higher rerupture rates. Our findings suggest that sex-based differences in outcomes after ACL reconstruction vary based on which metric is used. These results must be considered when counseling patients with ACL injuries.
Defining Misinformation and Related Terms in Health-Related Literature: Scoping Review
(JMIR, 2023-09-08) Mikati, Ibrahim K El; Hoteit, Reem; Harb, Tarek; Zein, Ola El; Piggott, Thomas; Melki, Jad; Mustafa, Reem A; Akl, Elie A
Background: Misinformation poses a serious challenge to clinical and policy decision-making in the health field. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified interest in misinformation and related terms and witnessed a proliferation of definitions. Objective: We aim to assess the definitions of misinformation and related terms used in health-related literature. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews by searching Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Epistemonikos databases for articles published within the last 5 years up till March 2023. Eligible studies were systematic reviews that stated misinformation or related terms as part of their objectives, conducted a systematic search of at least one database, and reported at least 1 definition for misinformation or related terms. We extracted definitions for the terms misinformation, disinformation, fake news, infodemic, and malinformation. Within each definition, we identified concepts and mapped them across misinformation-related terms. Results: We included 41 eligible systematic reviews, out of which 32 (78%) reviews addressed the topic of public health emergencies (including the COVID-19 pandemic) and contained 75 definitions for misinformation and related terms. The definitions consisted of 20 for misinformation, 19 for disinformation, 10 for fake news, 24 for infodemic, and 2 for malinformation. “False/inaccurate/incorrect” was mentioned in 15 of 20 definitions of misinformation, 13 of 19 definitions of disinformation, 5 of 10 definitions of fake news, 6 of 24 definitions of infodemic, and 0 of 2 definitions of malinformation. Infodemic had 19 of 24 definitions addressing “information overload” and malinformation had 2 of 2 definitions with “accurate” and 1 definition “used in the wrong context.” Out of all the definitions, 56 (75%) were referenced from other sources. Conclusions: While the definitions of misinformation and related terms in the health field had inconstancies and variability, they were largely consistent. Inconstancies related to the intentionality in misinformation definitions (7 definitions mention “unintentional,” while 5 definitions have “intentional”). They also related to the content of infodemic (9 definitions mention “valid and invalid info,” while 6 definitions have “false/inaccurate/incorrect”). The inclusion of concepts such as “intentional” may be difficult to operationalize as it is difficult to ascertain one’s intentions. This scoping review has the strength of using a systematic method for retrieving articles but does not cover all definitions in the extant literature outside the field of health. This scoping review of the health literature identified several definitions for misinformation and related terms, which showed variability and included concepts that are difficult to operationalize. Health practitioners need to exert caution before labeling a piece of information as misinformation or any other related term and only do so after ascertaining accurateness and sometimes intentionality. Additional efforts are needed to allow future consensus around clear and operational definitions. J Med Internet Res 2023;25:e45731 doi:10.2196/45731
Effects of negativity type and active involvement on the likelihood of responding to negativity in live stream chats
(Elsevier, 2024-03) Hall, Jeffrey A.; Mihailova, Teodora M.
This study explores whether chat negativity and the degree to which live chat rule sets encourage active (vs. passive) involvement influence participants' willingness to react to negative behavior within video game live streams. Using the Social Identity Model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE) and an experimental design, this study examines chat participants' likelihood of calling out and reporting negative behaviors. A 2x3 experimental design manipulated type of negativity (i.e., clear/ambiguous) and framing of community-specific rules of users' role in responding to norm violations (i.e., active involvement/passive involvement/control). Results suggest clear negativity was associated with a higher likelihood of calling out/reporting. Active involvement interacted with degree of negativity: when live chat rule sets encouraged active (vs. passive) involvement, participants were more likely to call out clear negativity and less likely to call out ambiguous negativity. Furthermore, there was support for the hypothesis that social identification moderated the relationship between type of negativity and likelihood of response, whereby participants with higher social identification were more likely to respond to clear negativity and less likely to respond to ambiguous negativity. Finally, participants’ perceptions of group norms in the hypothetical communities were affected by prior experience and chat activeness, but not by type of negativity or active (vs. passive) involvement.
Cold agglutinin disease: A case report with atypical clinical findings
(Sage Journals, 2023-08-22) Balaja, Warren; Schmidt, Paul; Fenando, Ardy
A female in her 60s presented to the allergy and immunology clinic for further investigation of ongoing dermatitis. She presented with chronic acrocyanosis, mainly in her left lower extremity, extending distally from her mid thigh with concurrent ulcerations in her foot resulting in immobility secondary to pain. She experienced these symptoms for years without a definitive diagnosis. The lack of diagnosis was due, in part, to her atypical symptoms and laboratory findings that required a high level of clinical suspicion to diagnose. Extensive autoimmune workup was largely unrevealing with the exception of a cold agglutinin titer of 1:250 and a positive anticomplement C3b direct antiglobulin test. A diagnosis of cold agglutinin disease was made and treatment with rituximab monotherapy was initiated.
Strangers helping strangers in a strange land: Vietnamese immigrant (expectant) mothers in the US use social media to navigate health issues in acculturation
(Sage Journals, 2023-05-22) Nguyen, Nhung
Trying to adapt to a new culture, Vietnamese (expectant) mothers in the USA gathered in few Facebook groups with thousands of members discussing pregnancy, health, and child caring issues. However, there is little research exploring how social support was given/taken among these (expectant) mothers. This empirical research aims at shedding light on how such mothers use social media groups for social support seeking/providing regarding health utilization during their acculturation process. Methods Drawing from Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Utilization, acculturation, and online social support conceptual frameworks, this study analyzes 18 in-depth interviews with immigrant Vietnamese (expectant) mothers in the United States on the use of social media in navigating health acculturation during their pregnancy and motherhood. Results Results show that these mothers give and take all forms of social support including informational, emotional, relational, and instrumental ones. Facebook groups do not provide the best environment for improving “bonding” social capital for its members. However, these groups provide a platform where “strangers help strangers” overcome various barriers to sufficiently understand and independently access and use the official healthcare system. The groups, hence, aid these women's pregnancy and their child(ren)'s health. The informational and emotional support provided by Facebook groups among (soon-to-be) mothers helped them tremendously in overcoming acculturative stress. Moreover, with better language skills, knowledge, and experience in using health and social security systems, help-seekers tend to be transformed into help providers to deliver support for those “newcomers.” Conclusions This research provides insights into personal experience on the uses of social media in navigating health behavior in the process of acculturation among Vietnamese immigrant (expectant) mothers in the United States. The research seeks to contribute to the conceptual frameworks and practical experience of behavioral model of health utitlization among immigrant Vietnamese ethnic immigrant pregnant women and mothers of babies and toddlers in navigating health during acculturation process in the United States. The limitations and future research suggestions are also discussed.
Evidence-based practice models and frameworks in the healthcare setting: a scoping review
(BMJ, 2023-05-22) Dusin, Jarrod; Melanson, Andrea; Mische-Lawson, Lisa
Objectives The aim of this scoping review was to identify and review current evidence-based practice (EBP) models and frameworks. Specifically, how EBP models and frameworks used in healthcare settings align with the original model of (1) asking the question, (2) acquiring the best evidence, (3) appraising the evidence, (4) applying the findings to clinical practice and (5) evaluating the outcomes of change, along with patient values and preferences and clinical skills. Design A Scoping review. Included sources and articles Published articles were identified through searches within electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus) from January 1990 to April 2022. The English language EBP models and frameworks included in the review all included the five main steps of EBP. Excluded were models and frameworks focused on one domain or strategy (eg, frameworks focused on applying findings). Results Of the 20 097 articles found by our search, 19 models and frameworks met our inclusion criteria. The results showed a diverse collection of models and frameworks. Many models and frameworks were well developed and widely used, with supporting validation and updates. Some models and frameworks provided many tools and contextual instruction, while others provided only general process instruction. The models and frameworks reviewed demonstrated that the user must possess EBP expertise and knowledge for the step of assessing evidence. The models and frameworks varied greatly in the level of instruction to assess the evidence. Only seven models and frameworks integrated patient values and preferences into their processes. Conclusion Many EBP models and frameworks currently exist that provide diverse instructions on the best way to use EBP. However, the inclusion of patient values and preferences needs to be better integrated into EBP models and frameworks. Also, the issues of EBP expertise and knowledge to assess evidence must be considered when choosing a model or framework.
Attitudes and Experiences of Clinicians After Mandated Implementation of Open Notes by the 21st Century Cures Act: Survey Study
(JMIR, 2023-02-28) Leonard, Sophia M.; Zackula, Rosalee; Wilcher, Jonathan
Background: On December 13, 2016, the US Congress enacted the 21st Century Cures Act (hereafter the Cures Act), which contained the Final Rule mandate that took effect on April 5, 2021. Since then, health systems have been required to provide patients digital access to their eHealth information “without delay” and without charge. Objective: This study aimed to assess clinicians’ initial experiences with, and attitudes toward, sharing visit notes with patients after being mandated to do so by the Cures Act and to determine clinician preferences regarding instant record release. Methods: This cross-sectional survey study was conducted between June 10, 2021, and August 15, 2021, at the University of Kansas Health System, a large academic medical center in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. Participants included clinicians currently employed by the health system, including resident and attending physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and critical care and emergency medicine registered nurses. Results: A total of 1574 attending physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, as well as 506 critical care and emergency medicine nurses, were sent invitations; 538 (34.18%) and 72 (14.2%), respectively, responded. Of 609 resident physicians, 4 (response rate not applicable because it was unknown how many residents viewed the website while the link was available) responded. The majority of respondents were attending physicians (402/614, 65.5%) and within the department of internal medicine (160/614, 26.1%). Most agreed that sharing visit notes was a good idea (355/613, 57.9%) and that it is important to speak with the patients before they accessed their records (431/613, 70.3%). Those who agreed that sharing visit notes is a good idea tended to view the practice as a useful tool for engaging patients (“Agree”: 139/355, 39.2%; “Somewhat agree”: 161/355, 45.4%; P<.001) and experience no change in the clinical value of their notes for other clinicians (326/355, 91.8%; P<.001). Those who disagreed (or were neutral) tended not to encourage patients to read their notes (235/258, 91.1%; P<.001) and were more likely to experience a change in their charting practice (168/257, 65.4%; P<.001) and increased time charting (99/258, 38.4%; P<.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study may be generalizable to institutions similar to the University of Kansas Health System, and the clinician testimonies gathered in this study may provide valuable insight into the initial opinions and experiences of clinicians at these institutions. In addition, these clinician experiences collected early in the transition period may be used to guide future health policy implementation and to understand how best to prepare clinicians for these changes in practice. J Med Internet Res 2023;25:e42021 doi:10.2196/42021
Who Posts on Instagram? Using Natural Language Processing to Assess the Relationship Between Training Background and Content of 700,000 Posts
(Oxford University Press, 2024-06-14) Etebari, Cameron A.; Braun, Sterling E.; Vazquez-Machado, Maria C.; Butterworth, James A.
Background Instagram (Menlo Park, CA) is a major platform for the dissemination of plastic surgery (PS) information, but the training background of users is difficult to ascertain. Objectives We sought to better characterize the source and content of PS-related posts on Instagram. Methods Metadata from publicly available Instagram posts containing PS relevant hashtags was collected from December 2018 to August 2020 using Node.js (Node.js Foundation, San Francisco, CA). The data was characterized by account type, and post topics were analyzed using a custom dictionary of PS procedures applied with natural language processing. All data analyses were performed with R (The R Foundation, Vienna, Austria). Results Board-certified plastic surgeons account for 38% of posts on Instagram, followed by organizations (31%), nonplastics-trained physicians (19%), facial plastics (5%), oculoplastics (1%), and nonphysician providers (5%). Oculoplastics had the highest engagement rate with their posts (3.7 ± 5.1), whereas plastic surgeons had the lowest (2.7 ± 4.2). Breast aesthetics was the predominant topic posted by plastic surgeons (42%, P < .001), and board certification phrases distinguished their posts from other account types (23%, P < .001). Nonphysician posts focused on nonsurgical aesthetics like Botox and fillers (80%). However, nonplastics-trained physicians and organizations significantly contributed to procedural subcategories in a similar distribution to plastic surgeons. Conclusions Board-certified plastic surgeons are not the predominant source of PS content on Instagram. Furthermore, posts by plastic surgeons have the lowest rate of engagement out of all account types studied. Although declarations of board certification distinguish content from plastics disciplines, they are only used in 21% of posts. Level of Evidence: 4
Genomic patterns in the dwarf kingfishers of northern Melanesia reveal a mechanistic framework explaining the paradox of the great speciators
(Oxford University Press, 2024-07-26) DeRaad, Devon A.; Files, Alexandra N.; DeCicco, Lucas H.; Martin, Rene P.; McCullough, Jenna M.; Holland, Piokera; Pikacha Jr., Douglas; Tigulu, Ikuo G.; Boseto, David; Lavery, Tyrone H.; Andersen, Michael J.; Moyle, Robert G.
The paradox of the great speciators describes a contradictory biogeographic pattern exhibited by numerous avian lineages in Oceania. Specifically, these lineages display broad geographic distributions across the region, implying strong over-water dispersal capabilities; yet, they also display repeated genetic and phenotypic divergence—even between geographically proximate islands—implying poor inter-island dispersal capabilities. One group originally cited as evidence for this paradox is the dwarf kingfishers of the genus Ceyx. Here, using genomic sequencing and comprehensive geographic sampling of the monophyletic Ceyx radiation from northern Melanesia, we find repeated, deep genetic divergence and no evidence for gene flow between lineages found on geographically proximate islands, providing an exceptionally clear example of the paradox of the great speciators. A dated phylogenetic reconstruction suggests a significant burst of diversification occurred rapidly after reaching northern Melanesia, between 3.9 and 2.9 MYA. This pattern supports a shift in net diversification rate, concordant with the expectations of the “colonization cycle” hypothesis, which implies a historical shift in dispersiveness among great speciator lineages during the evolutionary past. Here, we present a formalized framework that explains how repeated founder effects and shifting selection pressures on highly dispersive genotypes are the only ultimate causes needed to generate the paradox of the great speciators. Within this framework, we emphasize that lineage-specific traits and island-specific abiotic factors will result in varying levels of selection pressure against dispersiveness, caused by varying proximate eco-evolutionary mechanisms. Overall, we highlight how understanding patterns of diversification in the Ceyx dwarf kingfishers helped us generate a cohesive framework that provides a rigorous mechanistic explanation for patterns concordant with the paradox of the great speciators and the repeated emergence of geographic radiations in island archipelagoes across the globe.
Auditing the Representation of Female Athletes in Sports Medicine Research: Achilles Repair
(Sage Journals, 2024-05-31) Braman, Michael; Root, Cooper; Harmon, Ian; Long, Rachel; Vopat, Lisa; Vopat, Bryan; Herda, Ashley
Background: Establishing evidence-based recommendations specific to female athletes has been overlooked in sports medicine. Achilles tendon rupture is one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries, occurring in 15 to 55 per 100 000 people annually. Differences in injury rates could be due to hormonal effects, as estrogen receptors have been identified in tendons along with decreased tendon strain based on oral contraceptive use. The primary purpose of this study was to audit the representation of female athletes in the literature regarding Achilles repair. Methods: An electronic search was performed using PubMed to identify articles related to Achilles repair using the protocol by Smith et al. Studies were assessed by population, size, athletic caliber, study impact, research theme, and menstrual status. Results: Female representation across all studies was 1783 of 10 673 subjects (16.7%). Composition of included studies was predominantly mixed-sex cohorts with 131 of 169 (77.5%) included studies. Within mixed-sex cohort studies, the total representation of female athletes was 1654 of 8792 participants (18.9%). Thirty-two studies were male only, constituting 1540 participants, whereas 3 studies were female only composed of 86 athletes. Importantly, the disparity between male and female representation worsened as the athletic caliber of the study population increased, with 5.0% female representation in studies with professional athletes. No study collected data related to menstrual status and its potential relationship to Achilles rupture or postoperative outcomes. Conclusion: Mixed-sex cohort studies underrepresented female athletes, and male-only cohort studies were more common than female-only studies. These findings indicate a need for increased representation of female athletes as well as acknowledgment of menstrual status in research related to Achilles repair. Future studies should focus on representation of female athletes and data collection related to sex-specific hormones, hormonal contraceptive use, and menstrual status to improve treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures for female athletes.
Familial Alzheimer mutations stabilize synaptotoxic γ-secretase-substrate complexes
(Elsevier, 2024-02) Devkota, Sujan; Zhou, Rui; Nagarajan, Vaishnavi; Maesako, Masato; Do, Hung; Noorani, Arshad; Overmeyer, Caitlin; Bhattarai, Sanjay; Douglas, Justin T.; Saraf, Anita; Miao, Yinglong; Ackley, Brian D.; Shi, Yigong; Wolfe, Michael S.
Mutations that cause familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) are found in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin, the catalytic component of γ-secretase, that together produce amyloid β-peptide (Aβ). Nevertheless, whether Aβ is the primary disease driver remains controversial. We report here that FAD mutations disrupt initial proteolytic events in the multistep processing of APP substrate C99 by γ-secretase. Cryoelectron microscopy reveals that a substrate mimetic traps γ-secretase during the transition state, and this structure aligns with activated enzyme-substrate complex captured by molecular dynamics simulations. In silico simulations and in cellulo fluorescence microscopy support stabilization of enzyme-substrate complexes by FAD mutations. Neuronal expression of C99 and/or presenilin-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans leads to synaptic loss only with FAD-mutant transgenes. Designed mutations that stabilize the enzyme-substrate complex and block Aβ production likewise led to synaptic loss. Collectively, these findings implicate the stalled process—not the products—of γ-secretase cleavage of substrates in FAD pathogenesis.
Experimental evidence that nest orientation influences microclimate in a temperate grassland
(Dryad, 2024) Corimanya, Joanna L.; Smith, Emma B.; Boyle, W. Alice
Birds exhibit an assortment of behavioral strategies to cope with variable environmental conditions during reproduction, including altering nest construction behaviors. In species building enclosed domed nests, the microclimate within nests is influenced not only by its structure and the surrounding vegetation but also by the orientation of the nest opening. Many grassland-dependent birds build dome-shaped nests with clear directionality of openings. We studied two species in northeastern Kansas, United States that typically orient their nests east to northeast in this region. However, in a drought year, both Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) and Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) shifted orientations of their nests southward toward prevailing winds. We hypothesized that this shift reduced the deleterious effects of heat stress on parents and developing young by diminishing morning solar radiation and increasing cooling due to the prevailing southerly winds. To test this hypothesis, we measured temperature, humidity, and wind speed at pairs of unoccupied, field-collected sparrow and meadowlark nests, experimentally placed to face south or east (control) in a non-drought year. Nest orientation affected the daily microclimate patterns, with south-facing nests warming later in the day relative to east-facing nests. The temperature differences depended upon humidity, with south-facing nests being relatively cooler under more humid conditions. This work provides the first experimental evidence of the benefits of plasticity in nest construction under challenging thermoregulatory conditions and shows how ground-nesting birds may reduce thermoregulatory demands during incubation under climate variation.
Role of HNF4alpha-cMyc interaction in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy
(Frontiers, 2024-07-30) Kotulkar, Manasi; Paine-Cabrera, Diego; Venneman, Kaitlyn; Apte, Udayan
Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) is a highly conserved member of the nuclear receptor expressed at high levels in hepatocytes. HNF4α is important for normal liver development and the maintenance of hepatic differentiation (1). HNF4α regulates various metabolic processes, including bile acid and coagulation factor synthesis, lipid, glucose and amino acid metabolism, and expression of several drug metabolism genes (2–5). Recent studies have shown that HNF4α also regulates hepatocyte proliferation (6). Deletion of HNF4α results in increased spontaneous hepatocyte proliferation without liver injury, and it also promotes carcinogen-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (6). HNF4α negatively regulates several pro-mitogenic genes, including but not limited to the proto-oncogene cMyc (7). The liver has an exceptional ability to regenerate following drug-and diet-induced liver injury and surgical resection (8). Liver regeneration is a highly regulated process that involves cell proliferation and tissue remodeling. Partial hepatectomy (PHX) is the most common model for studying liver regeneration, in which approximately 70% of the liver is surgically removed and the remnant liver is allowed to regenerate (9). After PHX, hepatocytes leave the quiescence phase and start proliferating to contribute to the regeneration process. This model is clinically significant because PHX is a common therapy for several chronic liver diseases and is also the basis for successful living donor liver transplantation (10). Furthermore, understanding the mechanisms of the initiation and termination of hepatocyte proliferation is crucial because excessive proliferation can lead to carcinogenesis. Previous studies in our laboratory investigated the role of HNF4α in regulating liver regeneration after PHX (7). Our studies revealed that HNF4α is essential for the termination of liver regeneration. Other studies from our laboratory investigated the role of HNF4α-cMyc interaction in liver regeneration after drug-and diet-induced liver injury. We found that after acetaminophen-induced acute induced liver injury, HNF4α contributes to regeneration by downregulating the expression of cMyc and supports cytoprotection by inducing Nrf2 activity (11). During choline deficient and ethionine supplemented (CDE) diet-induced chronic liver injury, HNF4α protects against injury, which is exacerbated by cMyc (12). Both the acetaminophen overdose and CDE diet feeding models are different from PHX in the context of liver injury, inflammation, and regenerative cell type. In this study, we investigated the role of HNF4α-cMyc interaction in the regulation of liver regeneration after PHX, a model with significantly less inflammation.
Prevalence of Pathogenic Microbes within the Endometrium in Normal Weight vs. Obese Women with Infertility
(MDPI, 2024-06-06) Marsh, Courtney; Osei, Florence; King, Sarah
This study investigates the association between body mass index (BMI) and the composition of the endometrial microbiota in infertile women of childbearing age. This is a retrospective clinical study comparing the endometrial microbiota across body weight in 132 patients presenting for care at an infertility clinic. The reason for infertility was recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or implantation failure with a prior IVF cycle. Microbe analysis was completed by Igenomix Laboratory (Valencia, Spain) using two comprehensive panels. Patients were separated into three groups based on their results: normal, dysbiotic, and pathogenic. Prevalence of these groups was compared across BMI categories and statistical analysis was used to determine significance. Of the 132 endometrial samples collected, 80 (60.6%) were normal, 16 (12.1%) were dysbiotic, and 36 (27.3%) were pathogenic. Patients with a BMI ≥ 30 showed a statistically significant increase in pathogenic endometrium compared to normal weight controls (p = 0.029). Our conclusion is that the prevalence of pathogenic endometrium was significantly higher in the obese group compared with normal weight controls. There is a possible association between obesity and the endometrial microbiome. Keywords: microbiome; obesity; BMI; Lactobacillus; infertility; endometrium
Planning for Adaptation? Examining the Planning Integration for Hazard Risk Reduction
(MDPI, 2024-05-10) Wu, Yiwen; Lyles, Ward; Overstreet, Kelly; Sutley, Elaina
Integrated planning—including multiple planning practices for common purposes—is deemed essential for bringing stakeholders together for effective hazard risk reduction. Scholarly attempts to examine if and how distinct plans and planning processes are integrated have ebbed and flowed over time, with a recent resurgence in attention. Utilizing tools from network science, we analyzed four types of planning practices and uncovered considerable variations across local hazard risk-reduction support networks. Our findings reveal that certain communities relied heavily on a few critical actors for risk reduction, making them vulnerable to institutional turbulence. In turn, we point to growing needs for far-reaching and overlapping networks. Our study adds to the literature by integrating multiple planning practices to support more concerted local efforts in hazard risk reduction.

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