Publications by authors named "Burger J"

For birds breeding in the Arctic, nest success is affected by the timing of nest initiation, which is partially determined by local conditions such as snow cover. However, conditions during the non-breeding season can carry over to affect the timing of breeding. We used tracking and breeding data from 248 individuals of 8 species and subspecies of Arctic-breeding shorebirds to estimate how the timing of nest initiation is related to local conditions like snowmelt phenology versus prior conditions, measured by the timing and speed of migration.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Although idiopathic scoliosis is a common three-dimensional deformity, there is a lack of studies evaluating the associations between the aortic-vertebral distance (AVD) and spinal deformities in all planes. The study therefore aimed to evaluate how the coronal and sagittal curvature, vertebral rotation and aortic-vertebral angle (AVA) affect the AVD in idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods: The AVD, AVA, vertebral rotation and curve angles were measured on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and radiographs in 46 patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis Lenke types 1 and 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chemical modifications of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and proteins expand their topological repertoire, and together with the plethora of bound ligands, fine-tune ribosomal function. Detailed knowledge of this natural composition provides important insights into ribosome genesis and function and clarifies some aspects of ribosomopathies. The discovery of new structural properties and functional aspects of ribosomes has gone hand in hand with cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and its technological development.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: There is a paucity of research on the incidence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of , and spp. (ESKAPE) pathogens in Africa because of the inadequate establishment of AMR surveillance systems.

Objective: This study reports on the incidence and AMR of bloodstream ESKAPE pathogens at a referral hospital in northern South Africa.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib is an effective treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). While it rapidly reduces lymph node and spleen size, it initially increases the number of lymphocytes in the blood due to cell redistribution. A previously published mathematical model described and quantified those cell kinetics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the era of precision medicine with increasing amounts of sequenced cancer and non-cancer genomes of different ancestries, we here enumerate the resulting polygenic disease entities. Based on the cell number status, we first identified six fundamental types of polygenic illnesses, five of which are non-cancerous. Like complex, non-tumor disorders, neoplasms normally carry alterations in multiple genes, including in 'Drivers' and 'Passengers'.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) combinations have produced excellent outcomes in patients with standard-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Herein, the authors update their long-term results with the regimen of ATO-ATRA and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) in standard-risk and high-risk APL.

Methods: This was a phase 2 trial of patients with newly diagnosed APL.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This research is on lactating mothers in the city of Chah Bahar in Iran. This descriptive-analytical and questionnaire study selected a random sample of 80 mothers to examine mercury levels in their hair, milk, and saliva. The average concentration of mercury in milk, hair and saliva of mothers was 1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prevention of severe COVID-19 disease by SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk patients, such as immuno-compromised individuals, can be achieved by administration of antibody prophylaxis, but producing antibodies can be costly. Plant expression platforms allow substantial lower production costs compared to traditional bio-manufacturing platforms depending on mammalian cells in bioreactors. In this study, we describe the expression, production and purification of the originally human COVA2-15 antibody in plants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) leads to economically damaging stem pitting in certain citrus varieties, but the mechanisms behind this damage are still not entirely understood.
  • Researchers used infectious clones of CTV to investigate how stem pitting occurs in 'Duncan' grapefruit and 'Mexican' lime by replacing specific open reading frames (ORFs) that are thought to influence this condition.
  • The study found that certain ORFs, particularly p18 and p23, were associated with increased stem pitting, and the analysis of metabolites revealed significant differences in compounds related to stress response, offering potential insights for improving CTV management techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The aurochs (Bos primigenius), now extinct, was a critical species in prehistoric Eurasian and North African ecosystems and is the ancestor of today's cattle, playing a significant role in providing food and labor for humans over thousands of years.
  • - Researchers analyzed 38 ancient genomes, identifying four distinct aurochs populations (European, Southwest Asian, North Asian, and South Asian) that adapted to climate changes and human impacts throughout history.
  • - The genetic study revealed that North Asian and European aurochs populations were separated until they mixed after the last glacial period, with domestication originating from a small group of individuals from Southwest Asia, leading to a hybridization with various aurochs strains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Many shorebird populations are in decline, and contaminants may be affecting their feeding, migration, and breeding success.
  • - The study focused on trace element concentrations in red knots, sanderlings, and ruddy turnstones during spring migration in Delaware Bay, comparing levels between 2011-2012 and 2019, and found significant increases in arsenic, selenium, and mercury.
  • - The research suggests that shorebirds can serve as bioindicators for monitoring toxic trace elements in estuaries, providing early warnings of environmental changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dual-chamber leadless pacemakers (LLPMs) consist of two implants, one in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle. Inter-device communication, required for atrioventricular (AV) synchrony, however, reduces the projected longevity of commercial dual-chamber LLPMs by 35-45%. This work analyzes the power-saving potential and the resulting impact on AV-synchrony for a novel LLPM synchronization protocol.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Athlete monitoring systems (AMSs) provide a centralized platform for integrating, processing, analyzing, and graphing various monitoring data to help coaches manage the rigorous demands of elite men's basketball players, who frequently participate in high-stress games with minimal recovery time. This review synthesizes current challenges in deploying AMSs, underscores their role in injury prevention and performance optimization, and discusses technological advances that could enhance their utility. Key challenges include selecting appropriate monitoring methods based on human and financial resources, accuracy of data collection, real-time data processing, and personalization of training regimens.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endovascular interventions often fail due to restenosis, primarily caused by smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, leading to intimal hyperplasia (IH). Current strategies to prevent restenosis are far from perfect and impose significant collateral damage on the fragile endothelial cell (EC), causing profound thrombotic risks. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a co-enzyme and signaling substrate implicated in redox and metabolic homeostasis, with a pleiotropic role in protecting against cardiovascular diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Social and community service organizations (SCSOs) may be a promising new environment to more successfully reach people with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP) for smoking cessation support. However, studies that investigate clients' perspectives of the suitability of SCSOs as a setting to discuss smoking are scarce. This study aimed to (i) investigate the suitability of smoking cessation support provided by SCSOs, according to people with a low SEP, and (ii) explore their reasons for considering it suitable or unsuitable.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Deuterated ("heavy") water labeling in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) demonstrates that IGHV unmutated and ZAP-70+ patients have higher blood and tissue CLL death rates on ibrutinib therapy, resulting in lower measurable residual disease levels with long-term ibrutinib treatment. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

While there is no consensus on optimal treatment management for the rare condition of odontoid invagination with cervicothoracic scoliosis, skull traction for 12 weeks followed by combined posterior and anterior spinal fusion can be a feasible option. However, surgeons should be prepared for significant intraoperative and postoperative challenges.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evolutionary biology is poised for a third major synthesis. The first presented Darwin's evidence from natural history. The second incorporated genetic mechanisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There is a need to assess whether ecological resources are being protected on large, federal lands. The aim of this study was to present a methodology which consistently and transparently determines whether two large Department of Energy (U.S.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF