Capacity to form common mycorrhizal networks reduces the positive impact of clonal integration between plants.

Both clonal plant capabilities for physiological integration and common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can influence the distribution of nutrients and growth among interconnected individuals. Using a microcosm model system, we aimed to disentangle how CMNs interact with clonal integration to influence plant growth and development. We grew Sphagneticola trilobata clones with isolated root systems in individual, adjacent containers while preventing, disrupting, or allowing clonal integration aboveground via spacers and belowground CMNs to form.

Unexpected sustained soil carbon flux in response to simultaneous warming and nitrogen enrichment compared with single factors alone.

Recent observations document that long-term soil warming in a temperate deciduous forest leads to significant soil carbon loss, whereas chronic soil nitrogen enrichment leads to significant soil carbon gain. Most global change experiments like these are single factor, investigating the impacts of one stressor in isolation of others. Because warming and ecosystem nitrogen enrichment are happening concurrently in many parts of the world, we designed a field experiment to test how these two factors, alone and in combination, impact soil carbon cycling.

Fungal community composition predicts forest carbon storage at a continental scale.

Forest soils harbor hyper-diverse microbial communities which fundamentally regulate carbon and nutrient cycling across the globe. Directly testing hypotheses on how microbiome diversity is linked to forest carbon storage has been difficult, due to a lack of paired data on microbiome diversity and in situ observations of forest carbon accumulation and storage. Here, we investigated the relationship between soil microbiomes and forest carbon across 238 forest inventory plots spanning 15 European countries.

Teaching Tracheostomy Tube Changes: Comparison of Operant Learning Versus Traditional Demonstration.

Objective: Tracheostomy tube change is a multistep skill that must be performed rapidly and precisely. Despite the critical importance of this skill, there is wide variation in teaching protocols.

Methods: An innovative operant conditioning teaching methodology was employed and compared to traditional educational techniques.

Plasmapheresis Versus Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Patients With Autoimmune Neuromuscular and Neuro-immunological Conditions.

Objectives: Plasmapheresis (PLEX) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) are commonly used to treat autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, including myasthenia gravis, acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, and other autoimmune neurological disorders. The side effect profiles of these therapies vary, and concern has been raised regarding the safety of PLEX in the elderly population. In this study, we have examined the pattern of PLEX and IVIg use for autoimmune neurological disorders at a single facility and in a national database, focusing on the complications in elderly patients.

Enumerating soil biodiversity.

Soil is an immense habitat for diverse organisms across the tree of life, but just how many organisms live in soil is surprisingly unknown. Previous efforts to enumerate soil biodiversity consider only certain types of organisms (e.g.

Novel Application of Hydrodissection in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gangrenous Gallbladders.

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for gangrenous gallbladders (GGBs) can be challenging and represent a significant number of LC cases, necessitating more efficacious surgical techniques. Currently, the standard treatment for GGBs is blunt dissection which can have high iatrogenic complication rates. To our knowledge, this is the first large retrospective study conducted on the novel application of hydrodissection (HD) in LCs for GGBs.

In-patient comorbidities in inclusion body myositis: a United States national in-patient sample-based study.

Objectives: Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the most common idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) above the age of 50 with a distinct clinical phenotype of progressive, painless, asymmetric weakness predominantly involving the long finger flexors and quadriceps. In this study, we compared comorbidities in IBM with other IIMs (i.e.

Defending Earth's terrestrial microbiome.

Microbial life represents the majority of Earth's biodiversity. Across disparate disciplines from medicine to forestry, scientists continue to discover how the microbiome drives essential, macro-scale processes in plants, animals and entire ecosystems. Yet, there is an emerging realization that Earth's microbial biodiversity is under threat.

Telmisartan Tablets Repackaged into Dose Administration Aids: Physicochemical Stability under Tropical Conditions.

Dose administration aids (DAAs) are commonly used to assist patients with chronic disease to manage multiple medications and thus improve adherence. Several brands of telmisartan, commonly prescribed for hypertension, are available in Australia. Manufacturer's storage advice is to leave tablets in the blister strip until administered to patients.

Specific Denitrifying and Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Bacteria Assisted the Recovery of Anammox Community From Nitrite Inhibition.

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) by autotrophic anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) is a biological process used to remove reactive nitrogen from wastewater. It has been repeatedly reported that elevated nitrite concentrations can severely inhibit the growth of AnAOB, which renders the anammox process challenging for industrial-scale applications. Both denitrifying (DN) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) bacteria can potentially consume excess nitrite in an anammox system to prevent its inhibitory effect on AnAOB.

Forest tree growth is linked to mycorrhizal fungal composition and function across Europe.

Most trees form symbioses with ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) which influence access to growth-limiting soil resources. Mesocosm experiments repeatedly show that EMF species differentially affect plant development, yet whether these effects ripple up to influence the growth of entire forests remains unknown. Here we tested the effects of EMF composition and functional genes relative to variation in well-known drivers of tree growth by combining paired molecular EMF surveys with high-resolution forest inventory data across 15 European countries.

Outpatient Versus Inpatient Anterior Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Multisite, Comparative Analysis of Patient Safety Measures.

Background: The frequency and complexity of spinal surgery performed in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) is increasing. However, safety and efficacy data of most spinal procedures adapted to the ASC are sparse and have focused on anterior cervical surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare the 90-day complication and readmission rates of anterior lumbar spine surgery performed in an ASC or inpatient setting.

Impact of iStent Micro-Bypass Shunt on Medicare Part B Glaucoma Surgical Expenditure.

Purpose: To examine the impact of the iStent (Glaukos) on the recent glaucoma surgical expenditure for Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

Design: Retrospective, observational, population-based analysis.

Participants: All applicable cases in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Part B Summary Data Files.

Fungal community structure and function shifts with atmospheric nitrogen deposition.

Fungal decomposition of soil organic matter depends on soil nitrogen (N) availability. This ecosystem process is being jeopardized by changes in N inputs that have resulted from a tripling of atmospheric N deposition in the last century. Soil fungi are impacted by atmospheric N deposition due to higher N availability, as soils are acidified, or as micronutrients become increasingly limiting.

Plant invasion impacts on fungal community structure and function depend on soil warming and nitrogen enrichment.

The impacts of invasive species on biodiversity may be mitigated or exacerbated by abiotic environmental changes. Invasive plants can restructure soil fungal communities with important implications for native biodiversity and nutrient cycling, yet fungal responses to invasion may depend on numerous anthropogenic stressors. In this study, we experimentally invaded a long-term soil warming and simulated nitrogen deposition experiment with the widespread invasive plant Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) and tested the responses of soil fungal communities to invasion, abiotic factors, and their interaction.

GlaucoMap - Distribution of Glaucoma Surgical Procedures in the United States.

Purpose: To understand the distribution of trabeculectomies, glaucoma drainage implants (GDI) and micro-invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS) performed in the United States through geospatial mapping.

Methods: We performed an observational cohort study to evaluate glaucoma surgeries in patients age ≥65. The most recently released data from Centers for Medicare Part B Carrier Summary Files were queried to determine the number of glaucoma surgeries performed per state during the year of 2017.

High-throughput investigation of molecular and cellular biomarkers in NMOSD.

Objective: To identify candidate biomarkers associated with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) using high-throughput technologies that broadly assay the concentrations of serum analytes and frequencies of immune cell subsets.

Methods: Sera, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and matched clinical data from participants with NMOSD and healthy controls (HCs) were obtained from the Collaborative International Research in Clinical and Longitudinal Experience Study NMOSD biorepository. Flow cytometry panels were used to measure the frequencies of 39 T-cell, B-cell, regulatory T-cell, monocyte, natural killer (NK) cell, and dendritic cell subsets in unstimulated PBMCs.

Clinical and economic burden of neurofibromatosis type 2 in the United States.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and cost-associated risk factors for hospital stays for Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) patients in the past decade.

Patients And Methods: A multi-year cross-sectional study was performed using the National Inpatient Sample. Patients with a diagnosis code of NF2 according to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification coding system were queried from 2006-2014.

In Situ Simulation to Assess Pediatric Tracheostomy Care Safety: A Novel Multicenter Quality Improvement Program.

Objectives: Our objectives were (1) to use in situ simulation to assess the clinical environment and identify latent safety threats (LSTs) related to the management of pediatric tracheostomy patients and (2) to analyze the effects of systems interventions and team factors on LSTs and simulation performance.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective study to assess LSTs related to pediatric tracheostomy care management was conducted in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs). LSTs were identified through equipment checklists and in situ simulations via structured debriefs and blinded ratings of team performance.