bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A ferritin nanoparticle vaccine based on the hemagglutinin extracellular domain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus elicits protective immune responses in mice and pigs
Authors: Tang Pan , Cui Enhui , Cheng Jinghua , Li Benqiang , Tao Jie , Shi Ying , Jiao Jiajie , Du Enqi , Wang Jingyu , Liu Huili
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Swine influenza viruses (SIVs) pose significant economic losses to the pig industry and are a burden on global public health systems. The increasing complexity of the distribution and evolution of different serotypes of influenza strains in swine herds escalates the potential for the emergence of novel pandemic viruses, so it is essential to develop new vaccines based on swine influenza.

Methods

Here, we constructed a self-assembling ferritin nanoparticle vaccine based on the hemagglutinin (HA) extracellular domain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus using insect baculovirus expression vector system (IBEVS), and after two immunizations, the immunogenicities and protective efficacies of the HA-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine against the swine influenza virus H1N1 strain in mice and piglets were evaluated.

Results

Our results demonstrated that HA-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine induced more efficient immunity than traditional swine influenza vaccines. Vaccination with the HA-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine elicited robust hemagglutinin inhibition titers and antigen-specific IgG antibodies and increased cytokine levels in serum. MF59 adjuvant can significantly promote the humoral immunity of HA-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine. Furthermore, challenge tests showed that HA-Ferritin nanoparticle vaccine conferred full protection against lethal challenge with H1N1 virus and significantly decreased the severity of virus-associated lung lesions after challenge in both BALB/c mice and piglets.

Conclusion

Taken together, these results indicate that the hemagglutinin extracellular-based ferritin nanoparticle vaccine may be a promising vaccine candidate against SIVs infection.
The effect of gD-derived peptides on T cell immune response mediated by BTLA-HVEM protein complex in melanoma patients
Authors: Wojciechowicz Karolina , Kuncewicz Katarzyna , Rutkowski Jacek , Jassem Jacek , Wardowska Anna , Spodzieja Marta
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The effector function of T cells is regulated via immune checkpoints, activating or inhibiting the immune response. The BTLA-HVEM complex, the inhibitory immune checkpoint, may act as one of the tumor immune escape mechanisms. Therefore, interfering with the binding of these proteins can prove beneficial in cancer treatment. Our study focused on peptides interacting with HVEM at the same place as BTLA, thus disrupting the BTLA-HVEM interaction. These peptides’ structure and amino acid sequences are based on the gD protein, the ligand of HVEM. Here, we investigated their immunomodulatory potential in melanoma patients.

Methods

Flow cytometry analyses of activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of T cells from patients were performed. Additionally, we evaluated changes within the T cell memory compartment.

Results

The most promising compound – Pep(2), increased the percentages of activated T cells and promoted their proliferation. Additionally, this peptide affected the proliferation rate and apoptosis of melanoma cell line in co-culture with T cells.

Discussion

We conclude that the examined peptide may act as a booster for the immune system. Moreover, the adjuvant and activating properties of the gD-derived peptide could be used in a combinatory therapy with currently used ICI-based treatment. Our studies also demonstrate that even slight differences in the amino acid sequence of peptides and any changes in the position of the disulfide bond can strongly affect the immunomodulatory properties of compounds.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy induces an efficient antitumor response to control murine melanoma depending on MyD88 signaling
Authors: Borges Vinícius M. , Marinho Fábio V. , Caldeira Christiane V. A. , de Queiroz Nina M. G. P. , Oliveira Sergio C.
Published: May 2024

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the first line treatment for bladder cancer and it is also proposed for melanoma immunotherapy. BCG modulates the tumor microenvironment (TME) inducing an antitumor effective response, but the immune mechanisms involved still poorly understood. The immune profile of B16-F10 murine melanoma cells was assessed by infecting these cells with BCG or stimulating them with agonists for different innate immune pathways such as TLRs, inflammasome, cGAS-STING and type I IFN. B16-F10 did not respond to any of those stimuli, except for type I IFN agonists, contrasting with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) that showed high production of proinflammatory cytokines. Additionally, we confirmed that BCG is able to infect B16-F10, which in turn can activate macrophages and spleen cells from mice in co-culture experiments. Furthermore, we established a subcutaneous B16-F10 melanoma model for intratumoral BCG treatment and compared wild type mice to TLR2-/-, TLR3-/-, TLR4-/-, TLR7-/-, TLR3/7/9-/-, caspase 1-/-, caspase 11-/-, IL-1R-/-, cGAS-/-, STING-/-, IFNAR-/-, MyD88-/-deficient animals. These results in vivo demonstrate that MyD88 signaling is important for BCG immunotherapy to control melanoma in mice. Also, BCG fails to induce cytokine production in the co-culture experiments using B16-F10 and BMDMs or spleen cells derived from MyD88-/- compared to wild-type (WT) animals. Immunotherapy with BCG was not able to induce the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the TME from MyD88-/- mice, impairing tumor control and IFN-γ production by T cells. In conclusion, MyD88 impacts on both innate and adaptive responses to BCG leading to an efficient antitumor response against melanoma.
Prokaryotic community structure and key taxa in the Arabian Sea’s oxygen minimum zone
Authors: Li Ding , Wang Liping , Jiang Fan , Zeng Xiang , Xu Qinzeng , Zhang Xuelei , Zheng Qiang , Shao Zongze
Published: May 2024

Microbial communities within oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) play crucial roles in the marine biogeochemical cycling. Arabian Sea (AS) has one of the largest OMZs among the global oceans, however, knowledge about the microbial ecology of the AS OMZ remained limited. In the present study, 44 water samples collected from six stations across the AS, spanning from the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) layer to 4000m depth were analyzed. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes revealed the structural diversity of bacterial and archaeal communities, influenced primarily by depth and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. Distinct community compositions were observed across different oxygen gradients, with shifts in the relative abundance of key taxa. Notably, Desulfosarcinaceae, UBA10353, Nitrospina, SUP05, Sva0996_marine_group, Microtrichaceae, and Nitrosopumilus emerged as bioindicator taxa in the AS hypoxic zones. Co-occurrence network analysis identified SAR324, Alteromonadaceae, and Sphingomonadaceae as keystone taxa. The spatial and depth-wise distribution patterns revealed that Desulfosarcinaceae was predominantly found in the hypoxic zones of the Arabian Sea, whereas UBA10353, Nitrospina, SUP05, Microtrichaceae and SAR324 were ubiquitous across AS, Bay of Bengal (BOB), and Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) OMZs, with OTU-level niche differentiation observed for the latter two. Functional profiling using FAPROTAX predicted higher metabolic potential for nitrogen and sulfur in the OMZ compared to other layers of the AS. Our findings provide valuable insights into the distribution, structure, and diversity of microbial communities in the AS OMZ, highlighting the ecological roles of key taxa in hypoxic environments. The established sequence database offers a foundation for further research into the complex interactions within these microbial ecosystems.
Accident black spot clustering oriented maritime search and rescue resource allocation and optimization
Authors: Sun Yang , Hou ChengYang , Chen XinQiang , Wang Yanhao , Dai Lihao , Hu QinYou
Published: May 2024

Efficient and rapid deployment of maritime search and rescue(MSAR) resources is a prerequisite for maritime emergency search and rescue, in order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of MSAR. This paper proposes an integrated approach for emergency resource allocation. The approach encompasses three main steps: identifying accident black spots, assessing high-risk areas, and optimizing the outcomes through a synergistic combination of an optimization algorithm and reinforcement learning. In the initial step, the paper introduces the iterative self-organizing data analysis technology (ISODATA) for identifying accident spots at sea. A comparative analysis is conducted with other clustering algorithms, highlighting the superiority of ISODATA in effectively conducting dense clustering. This can effectively carry out dense clustering, instead of the situation where the data spots are too dispersed or obvious anomalies that affect the clustering. Furthermore, this approach incorporates entropy weighting to reassess the significance of accident spots by considering both the distance and the frequency of accidents. This integrated approach enhances the allocation of search and rescue forces, ensuring more efficient resource utilization. To address the MSAR vessel scheduling problem at sea, the paper employs the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II combined with reinforcement learning (NSGAII-RL). Comparative evaluations against other optimization algorithms reveal that the proposed approach can save a minimum of 7% in search and rescue time, leading to enhanced stability and improved efficiency in large-scale MSAR operations. Overall, the integrated approach presented in this paper offers a robust solution to the ship scheduling problem in maritime search and rescue operations. Its effectiveness is demonstrated through improved resource allocation, enhanced timeliness, and higher efficiency in responding to maritime accidents.
Environmental DNA metabarcoding reveals fish diversity, community assembly and one invasive species prevalence in a National Park of Liaohe in September
Authors: Xin Ni , Li Zhao , Jiang Yong-Wei , Wang Hui , Tan Juan , Li Yang , Sun Bing-Jiao , Lin Xiao-Long
Published: May 2024

The escalating environmental changes are imposing multiple pressures on biodiversity conservation, thereby, more attention has been paid to fish diversity and community assembly patterns. Fish diversity in Liaohe River has deteriorated significantly due to overfishing, environmental pollution and other reasons, in addition, no fish survey related research has been published in Liaohe National Park in recent years. In order to study the diversity of fish species in the area and to investigate the presence of any invasive species. This study used eDNA metabarcoding to explore the distribution and diversity of fish communities in the Liaohe National Park. The study showed that a total of 54 species of fish from six orders, 14 families, and 39 genera were detected, meantime, the invasive species Lepomis cyanellus was found at two sampling sites. The α-diversity results showed that estuarine sites had the highest species diversity. The spatial structure of fish communities in the upstream and downstream reaches were similar as indicated by non-metric multidimensional scaling. In our study, the fish community is influenced by both deterministic and stochastic processes, with the stochastic processes being the main factor. The potential existence of L. cyanellus in Liaohe National Park might be resulted from aquaculture, ornamental pet trade, other economic fish farming, artificial release. The relatively low number of fish species in this study may be attributed to the limited number of sampling events and sampling sites. In addition to these factors, over exploitation of resources, water pollution, and the invasion of alien species have directly impacted the biodiversity of aquatic life. The results of this study lay a foundation for the future biodiversity investigation in National Parks of China, meantime, the use of eDNA monitoring is crucial to prevent, to control and limit the spreading of invasive species in advance.
Bacterial diversity in the biofilms on mariculture polystyrene foam at Xiamen’s coast
Authors: Zhang Benjuan , Liu Renju , Xu Haiming , Zhao Sufang , Wang Jiannan , Shao Zongze
Published: May 2024

Expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly used as floating material in mariculture, could be a significant source of coastal PS waste. Prolonged floating in seawater leads to the formation of dense biofilms, which could disperse into the oceanic environment and spread to water bodies even the seabed as EPS deteriorates into microplastics. To understand the bacterial community structure in EPS surface biofilms, this study employed high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the biofilms on EPS foams used in offshore mariculture aside Xiamen. Analysis of 24 biofilm samples from different seasons revealed significant differences in bacterial community structures. However, we have identified the core groups of the EPS biofilm, including Flavobacteriaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Halomonadaceae, Exiguobacteriaceae, Vibrionaceae, and Pseudoalteromonadaceae. The Halomonadaceae and Exiguobacteriaceae are particularly attracted to the subtropical EPS material. In addition, groups with potential of degrading PS were identified, such as Alcanivorax, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Exiguobacterium, Brevundimonas, and Bacillus, as well as the potential fish pathogen Acinetobacter johnsonii. The microbial biofilms formed on floating EPS demonstrate high diversity and are strongly influenced by environmental conditions. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the interactions of bacteria in the biofilm with widely used and dispersed floating materials in the oceans.
Therapeutic potential of single-nucleotide polymorphism-mediated IL6R inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis treatment
Authors: Chen Ding-Qiang , Xu Wen-Bin , Que Zhi-Qiang , Xiao Ke-Yi , Sun Nai-Kun , Cai Di-Xin , Feng Jin-Yi , Rui Gang
Published: May 2024

Objective

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multiple-effect cell factor implicated in the etiopathogenesis of several rheumatologic disorders. The blockade of the IL-6 pathway via IL6R inhibitors effectively treats these disorders. However, the clinical significance of the IL6R blockade for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) therapy remains controversial. With advances in genomics, increasing evidence has revealed the role of heritability in the etiology of disease, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses are being used more broadly to infer causation. Therefore, this MR study aims to evaluate the potential therapeutic utility of IL6R-targeted approaches in AS.

Methods

The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was used as an exposure factor, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was used as a positive control. As-related genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were used as the primary outcome of drug-targeted MR analyses to test the relation between IL6R blockers and AS. Inverse variance weighting (IVW) is the primary analytical approach. Various sensitivity tests were performed to check the robustness and trustworthiness of the causality estimation, including consistency, heterogeneity, and pleiotropy analyses. In addition, repeated analysis was conducted using different GWAS data related to exposures and outcomes to examine the results for stability.

Results

According to the IVW results, IL6R inhibitors significantly reduced the risk of AS in ukb-b-18194 (OR: 0.995, 95% CI 0.993–0.996, P = 5.12 × 10−08) and ukb-a-88 (OR: 0.994, 95% CI 0.993–0.996, P = 6.25 × 10−15). Moreover, repeated analyses were performed using different exposure-related GWAS data, yielding similar results, ukb-b-18194 (OR: 0.995, 95% CI 0.993–0.997, P = 1.25 × 10−06) and ukb-a-88 (OR: 0.995, 95% CI 0.994–0.997, P = 7.81 × 10−09). Heterogeneity analyses and pleiotropy analyses indicated no significant heterogeneity or pleiotropy.

Conclusion

This MR analysis result further validates that the IL-6 pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of AS and that the inhibition of IL6R reduces the risk of AS. These findings may guide future studies and provide more favorable drug treatment options for people at high risk of AS.
Adult ovarian and sellar region mixed germ cell tumor: a case report and literature review
Authors: Chen Dawei , Zhang Anling , Xue Kun , Liu Shuyu , Yan Xu
Published: May 2024

Mixed germ cell tumors (mGCTs) involving both the ovaries and sellar region have been rarely reported; thus, they pose significant challenges in clinical management. Our report of a case of a 26-year-old female with left ovarian mGCTs (dysgerminoma + yolk sac tumor) who presented with postoperative headaches and blurred vision contributes new information to the literature on treating mGCTs, which can lead to standardized regimens and sequencing guidelines. A physical examination revealed right temporal hemianopia, and elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein were detected in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sellar region revealed a space-occupying lesion. Pathological examination of the tumor after endoscopic transnasal resection confirmed the diagnosis of mGCTs (germinomas + yolk sac tumor). The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy at reduced dosages. During follow-up, tumor markers remained within normal limits, and there was no evidence of tumor recurrence on sellar region MRI. This case highlights the rarity of the simultaneous occurrence of ovarian and sellar region mGCTs and emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary management.
Subpleural pulmonary nodule marking with patent blue V dye prior to surgical resection
Authors: Červeňák Vladimír , Chovanec Zdeněk , Berková Alena , Cimflová Petra , Kelblová Martina , Čundrle Ivan , Hanslík Tomáš , Resler Jan , Součková Lenka , Jankaničová Natália , Vaníček Jiří
Published: May 2024

Background and objective

Subpleural located pulmonary nodules are perioperatively invisible to the surgeon. Their precise identification is conventionally possible by palpation, but often at the cost of performing a thoracotomy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the success rate and feasibility of the pre-operative CT-guided marking subpleural localized nodule using a mixture of Patent Blue V and an iodine contrast agent prior to the extra-anatomical video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection in patients for whom the primary anatomical resection in terms of segmentectomy or lobectomy was not indicated.

Methods

The data of consecutive patients with pulmonary nodules located ≤ 30 mm from the parietal pleura, who were indicated for VATS extra-anatomical resection between 2017 to 2023, were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. All patients indicated for VATS resection underwent color marking of the area with the pulmonary lesion under CT-guided control immediately before the surgery. The primary outcome was the marking success. Morphological lesion characteristics, time from marking to the surgery, procedure related complications, final histology findings and 30day mortality were analyzed. Additionally, we assessed the association of the successful marking and the patient’s smoking history.

Results

A total of 62 lesions were marked. The successful marking was observed in 56/62 (90.3%) patients. The median time from the lesion marking to the beginning of surgery was 75.0 (IQR 65.0-85.0) minutes. The procedure related pneumothorax was observed in 6 (9.7%) patients, intraparenchymal hematoma in 1 (1.6%) patient. No statistically significant association of the depth of the subpleural lesion’s location, occurrence of complications or time from the marking to surgery and the successful marking was observed. The 30day mortality was zero. No association of smoking and successful marking was observed.

Conclusions

The method of marking the subpleural pulmonary lesions under CT-guided control with a mixture of Patent Blue V and iodine contrast agent is a safe and effective method with minimal complications. It provides surgeons the precise visualization of the affected pulmonary parenchyma before the planned extra-anatomical VATS resection.
Inside the kaleidoscope: unravelling the “feeling different” experience of bicultural bilinguals
Authors: Purpuri Silvia , Mulatti Claudio , Filippi Roberto , Treccani Barbara
Published: May 2024

This article explores the phenomenon of “feeling different” experienced by bicultural bilingual individuals when they switch between their two different languages. Available data suggests that this experience is genuine and holds substantive value, not merely anecdotal. While on one hand, such a feeling may stem from the fact that the two languages were acquired at different times in individuals’ lives (with all that entails in terms of efficiency and empowerment in using the two languages), on the other hand, it seems to entail deeper differences linked to the differential activation of cultural values, behavioral patterns, and expectations when the two languages are used. Its manifestations seem to be influenced by a variety of factors beyond just language choice, including the context in which this choice is performed. Results of studies investigating the experience of feeling different also suggest that it can lead to a sense of exclusion, isolation or marginalization within one’s own community. However, this experience more often yields positive outcomes, with individuals perceiving it as enriching and contributing positively to both their personal development and the broader societal fabric. Amid contemporary challenges related to immigration, the study of biculturalism and related psychological phenomena, such as the “feeling different” experience, becomes imperative, as it may provide insights into how individuals navigate the complexities linked to their cultural identities.
Social context during moral decision-making impacts males more than females
Authors: Pilcher June J. , Smith Phillip D.
Published: May 2024

Moral judgments are often viewed as the outcome of affective and deliberative processes that could be impacted by social factors and individual characteristics. The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction between gender and social context on moral judgment. Participants included 315 undergraduate students (67.3% female). The participants completed the Moral Decision-Making Task while seated at row tables facing the front of the room or round tables facing other participants. The results indicated that males responded in a more utilitarian manner (harm one to save five) than females for moral impersonal (MI) and moral personal (MP) dilemmas regardless of seating arrangements. When seated at round tables, all participants were more likely to respond deontologically (cause no harm) to the moral impersonal dilemmas. In addition, we calculated a moral reasoning difference score for each participant as the difference between the MI and MP scores to represent additional reactivity due to the idea of taking direct action. The moral reasoning difference score was consistent for females but indicated a more deontological response from males at round tables and a more utilitarian response from males at row tables. These results suggest that males are more utilitarian than females and are more likely to be influenced by social context when responding to moral dilemmas. More broadly, the current results indicate that moral judgments are affected by social context particularly in males in ways that have not been incorporated in many models of moral decision making.
Beyond words: an investigation of fine motor skills and the verbal communication spectrum in autism
Authors: Simarro Gonzalez Marian , Ni Gessica , Lam Valerie , Demopoulos Carly
Published: May 2024

Introduction

This study investigated the associations between fine motor skills and expressive verbal abilities in a group of 97 autistic participants (age 8-17, mean=12.41) and 46 typically developing youth (age 8-17, mean=12.48).

Methods

Participants completed assessments of motor and verbal communication skills, including finger tapping speed, grooved pegboard, grip strength, visual-motor integration tasks, and measures of speech and communication skills. ASD group performance on motor tests was compared to controls. Non-parametric tests were used to analyze group differences and correlations between motor and verbal communication skills. Based on prior research, we hypothesized that individuals on the autism spectrum would exhibit deficits in fine motor speed, dexterity, pencil motor control, but not manual motor strength. Additionally, we expected that impaired fine motor skills would be linked to poorer performance on standardized measures of verbal abilities.

Results

The results indicated that 80% of autistic participants demonstrated an impairment on at least one measure of motor skills, and as a group, they exhibited significantly poorer fine motor performance compared to the non-ASD group in dominant hand finger tapping speed, bilateral fine motor dexterity measured via the grooved pegboard task, and pencil motor coordination and visual-motor integration measured on the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration-Sixth Edition. Moreover, impaired fine motor skills were associated with poorer performance on standardized clinical measures of verbal abilities, including articulation errors, receptive and expressive language and vocabulary, rapid naming, oromotor sequencing, and parent reported functional communication skills and social communication symptoms.

Discussion

Overall,our findings suggest there is a high prevalence of fine motor impairments in ASD, and these impairments were associated with a range of verbal abilities. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these associations and develop targeted interventions to address both fine motor and verbal impairments in ASD.
Adverse childhood experiences among people with schizophrenia at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a comparative study
Authors: Assefa Fentahun Birhanu , Belete Mossie Tilahun , Damtew Hailu Rekik , Bete Tilahun , Moges Demeke Solomon
Published: May 2024

Background

People who have encountered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are predisposed to developing schizophrenia, experiencing exacerbated symptoms, and facing an elevated risk of disease relapse. It is imperative to evaluate the prevalence of ACEs to comprehend the specific attributes of this condition and enable the implementation of suitable interventions.

Aims

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACEs and its determinants among people with schizophrenia and the patient attendants in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Method

A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out at the Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from April 26 to June 10, 2023. A total of 291 individuals with schizophrenia and 293 individuals from the patient attendants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. A proportional odds model ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with ACEs.

Results

The occurrence of at least one ACE among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was 69.4%, while patient attendants had a 46.8%, as indicated by the Chi-square test, which showed a significant difference at p <0.05. The study findings indicated that individuals with schizophrenia who have encountered four or more ACEs are more inclined to have lower educational attainment (AOR: 4.69 [1.94 - 11.61]), low resilient coping mechanisms (AOR: 2.07 [1.11 - 3.90]), and poor social support (AOR: 3.93 [2.13 - 7.32]). Conversely, factors such as rural residency, illiteracy, and heightened attachment-related anxiety were found to be notably associated with the patient attendants.

Conclusion

In this study, the substantial prevalence of ACEs emphasized the necessity for ACE screening and the implementation of evidence-based interventions to address and alleviate the overall burden of ACEs.
Motor development-focused exercise training enhances gross motor skills more effectively than ordinary physical activity in healthy preschool children: an updated meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Xinchen , Zhou Bo
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The growth of certain human brain structures peaks at early ages, and complex motor interventions could positively facilitate this process. This study aims to offer an updated meta-analysis regarding the effectiveness of motor development-focused exercise training on gross motor skills in preschool children.

Methods

We searched English- and Chinese-language electronic databases as of March 2024. The main eligibility criteria were as follows: participants were healthy children aged 3 to 6 years old, and the experimental design was a randomized controlled trial, with the control arm participating in either free play or ordinary physical education curriculum. We conducted a Hartung-Knapp random-effects meta-analysis of the standardized mean difference for locomotor, object control, or gross motor quotient.

Results

The search identified 23 eligible studies, of which approximately 75% were considered to have a low risk of bias. Compared with active control, exercise training showed a large to very large effect size. Cohen’s d values were 1.13, 1.55, and 1.53 for locomotor, object control, and gross motor quotient, respectively. From a probabilistic viewpoint, these effect sizes correspond to events that are “very likely to occur” and “almost sure to occur.” Due to variations in intervention programs, all outcome measures showed high heterogeneity.

Conclusion

This updated meta-analysis offers a realistic synthesis of the current evidence, leading to the conclusion that targeted motor skill exercise training can almost certainly enhance preschool children’s gross motor skills. Practical implications are discussed regarding the refinement of the instructional framework and the dissemination of these findings in preschool settings.
The Mind-Bending World of New Brain Technologies
Authors: Debad Susan J. , Blanke Olaf , Herbelin Bruno
Published: May 2024

Our amazing brains allow us to do incredible things, yet they remain mysterious in many ways. Researchers have discovered some situations in which the brain can be “fooled”, and these insights into the brain’s inner workings have led to some exciting new technologies, including virtual reality (VR). In addition to its well-known role in gaming and entertainment, VR has some amazing uses in the field of medicine. VR can help patients manage pain, and it can also help surgeons practice delicate procedures and guide them during operations. Other advances called brain-machine interfaces can listen to the brain’s chatter and translate thoughts into commands for computers or even robotic limbs, which could greatly improve the lives of people with certain disabilities. In this article, we will explain how researchers are using findings from cutting-edge brain research to produce exciting new technologies that can heal or even enhance the brain’s functions.
Persistence of passive immunity in calves receiving colostrum from cows vaccinated with a live attenuated lumpy skin disease vaccine and the performance of serological tests
Authors: Rittipornlertrak Amarin , Modethed Wittawat , Sangkakam Kanokwan , Muenthaisong Anucha , Vinitchaikul Paramintra , Boonsri Kittikorn , Pringproa Kidsadagon , Punyapornwithaya Veerasak , Kreausukon Khwanchai , Sthitmatee Nattawooti , Singhla Tawatchai
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to determine the persistent duration of maternal immunity against lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) in dairy calves born from vaccinated cows using a virus neutralization test (VNT). The performance of the VNT and an in-house-ELISA test was also determined. Thirty-seven pregnant cows from 12 LSD-free dairy farms in Lamphun province, Thailand were immunized with a homologous Neethling strain-based attenuated vaccine and calved from December 2021 to April 2022. Blood samples from dam-calve pairs were collected within the first week after calving. Subsequently, blood samples were taken from the calves at monthly intervals over a period of 4 months and tested for the humoral immune response using a VNT. The calf sera were also tested with an in-house ELISA test to estimate the accuracy of both tests using a Bayesian approach. For the results, antibodies against LSDV can persist in cows for 4–9 months post-vaccination. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies and LSDV-specific antibodies against LSDV were detected in the majority of calves (75.68%) during the first week after colostrum intake. However, the percentage of seropositive calves declined to zero by day 120, with seropositivity dropping below 50% after day 60. Only a small number of seropositive calves (approximately 13.51%) were observed on day 90. These findings indicated that passive immunity against LSDV can last up to 3 months. The median of posterior estimates for sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of the VNT were 87.3% [95% posterior probability interval (PPI) = 81.1–92.2%] and 94.5% (95% PPI = 87.7–98.3%), respectively. The estimated Se and Sp for the ELISA test were 83.1% (95% PPI = 73.6–92.6%) and 94.7% (95% PPI = 88.4–98.5%), respectively. In conclusion, this study illustrates the transfer and persistence of maternal passive immunity against LSDV to calves under field conditions. This highlights a potential three-month vaccination gap in calves born from vaccinated cows, while an in-house ELISA test can be used as an ancillary test for LSDV immune response detection. However, further research is required to assess the vaccination protocols for calves as young as 2 months old to precisely determine the duration of maternal immunity.
Genomic characterization of carbapenem and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from humans and dogs
Authors: Pachanon Ruttana , Khine Nwai Oo , Phumthanakorn Nathita , Wongsurawat Thidathip , Niyomtham Waree , Chatsuwan Tanittha , Hampson David J. , Prapasarakul Nuvee
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Carbapenem and colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, have become a growing global concern, posing a significant threat to public health. Currently, there is limited information about the genetic background of carbapenem and colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates infecting humans and dogs in Thailand. This study aimed to characterize carbapenem and colistin-resistant genes in six resistant K. pneumoniae clinical isolates (three from humans and three from dogs) which differed in their pulse field gel electrophoresis profiles.

Methods

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing were employed to identify and analyze the isolates.

Results and discussion

All six isolates were carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates with chromosomally carried blaSHV, fosA, oqxA and oqxB genes, as well as nine to 21 virulence genes. The isolates belonged to five multilocus sequence types (STs): one isolate from a human and one from a dog belonged to ST16, with the other two human isolates being from ST340 and ST1269 and the other two dog isolates were ST147 and ST15. One human isolate and two dog isolates harbored the same blaOXA-232 gene on the ColKP3 plasmid, and one dog isolate carried the blaOXA-48 gene on the IncFII plasmid. Notably, one human isolate exhibited resistance to colistin mediated by the mcr-3.5 gene carried on the IncFII plasmid, which co-existed with resistance determinants to other antibiotics, including aminoglycosides and quinolones. In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive characterization of both chromosome- and plasmid-mediated carbapenem and colistin resistance in a set of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates from unrelated humans and dogs in Thailand. The similarities and differences found contribute to our understanding of the potential widescale dissemination of these important resistance genes among clinical isolates from humans and animals, which in turn may contribute to outbreaks of emerging resistant clones in hospital settings.
Research on the mechanism of Guanyu Zhixie Granule in intervening gastric ulcers in rats based on network pharmacology and multi-omics
Authors: Ma Ting , Ji Peng , Wu Fan-Lin , Li Chen-Chen , Dong Jia-Qi , Yang Hao-Chi , Wei Yan-Ming , Hua Yong-Li
Published: May 2024

Objective

Guanyu Zhixie Granule (GYZXG) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound with definite efficacy in intervening in gastric ulcers (GUs). However, the effect mechanisms on GU are still unclear. This study aimed to explore its mechanism against GU based on amalgamated strategies.

Methods

The comprehensive chemical characterization of the active compounds of GYZXG was conducted using UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS. Based on these results, key targets and action mechanisms were predicted through network pharmacology. GU was then induced in rats using anhydrous ethanol (1 mL/200 g). The intervention effects of GYZXG on GU were evaluated by measuring the inhibition rate of GU, conducting HE staining, and assessing the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-4, Pepsin (PP), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT–qPCR) was used to verify the mRNA levels of key targets and pathways. Metabolomics, combined with 16S rRNA sequencing, was used to investigate and confirm the action mechanism of GYZXG on GU. The correlation analysis between differential gut microbiota and differential metabolites was conducted using the spearman method.

Results

For the first time, the results showed that nine active ingredients and sixteen targets were confirmed to intervene in GU when using GYZXG. Compared with the model group, GYZXG was found to increase the ulcer inhibition rate in the GYZXG-M group (p < 0.05), reduce the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, PP in gastric tissue, and increase the levels of IL-10, IL-4, and EGF. GYZXG could intervene in GU by regulating serum metabolites such as Glycocholic acid, Epinephrine, Ascorbic acid, and Linoleic acid, and by influencing bile secretion, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, and adipocyte catabolism. Additionally, GYZXG could intervene in GU by altering the gut microbiota diversity and modulating the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides, Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, and Ruminococcus. The differential gut microbiota was strongly associated with serum differential metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated a significant role of the HIF-1 signaling pathway in GYZXG’s intervention on GU. The changes in metabolites within metabolic pathways and the alterations in RELA, HIF1A, and EGF mRNA levels in RT-qPCR experiments provide further confirmation of this result.

Conclusion

GYZXG can intervene in GU induced by anhydrous ethanol in rats by regulating gut microbiota and metabolic disorders, providing a theoretical basis for its use in GU intervention.
Novel diagnostic processes and challenges in bronchoscopy
Authors: Pápai-Székely Zsolt , Grmela Gábor , Sárosi Veronika
Published: May 2024

Diagnostic bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of various respiratory conditions. This paper explores the advancements in technology that have revolutionized the field and focuses on the new diagnostic procedures in bronchoscopy that have emerged in recent years. These innovative techniques have expanded the diagnostic capabilities of bronchoscopy, allowing for more accurate and comprehensive evaluation of respiratory conditions. This paper will also discuss the challenges in the diagnostic process with bronchoscope.
Investigation on the Reduced-Order Model for the Hydrofoil of the Blended-Wing-Body Underwater Glider Flow Control with Steady-Stream Suction and Jets Based on the POD Method
Authors: Wang Huan , Du Xiaoxu , Hu Yuli
Published: May 2024

The rapid acquisition of flow field characterization information is crucial for closed-loop active flow control. The proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method is a widely used flow field downscaling modeling method to obtain flow characteristics effectively. Based on the POD method, a flow field reduced-order model (ROM) is constructed in this paper for the flow field control of a hydrofoil of a blended-wing-body underwater glider (BWB-UG) with stabilized suction and blowing forces. Compared with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, the computational time required to predict the target flow field using the established POD-ROM is only about 0.1 s, which is significantly less than the CFD simulation time. The average relative error of the predicted surface pressure is not more than 6.9%. These results confirm the accuracy and efficiency of the POD-ROM in reconstructing flow characteristics. The timeliness problem of fast flow field prediction in BWB-UG active flow control is solved by establishing a fast prediction model in an innovative way.
Benefits of Mushroom-Based Supplements on Growth Performance, Immunocompetence, and Meat Quality in Poultry
Authors: Suberu Safiu A. , Isikhuemhen Omoanghe S. , Ogundare Tunde E. , Ekunseitan Deji A. , Fasina Yewande O.
Published: May 2024

The restriction on the use of antibiotics in poultry has led to an increase in the use of natural products that could serve as alternatives to antibiotics. Mushrooms contain bioactive compounds that exhibit antifungal, antiparasitic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties. Hence, they are being tested, revealing as performance-enhancing natural feed additives for livestock. This review focused on the role of different species of mushrooms commonly used in poultry on the performance, immunomodulatory actions, cholesterolemic properties, and meat quality of poultry birds. Different studies reviewed show that mushrooms could positively impact poultry production, improve growth performance, modulate immune response, exert tissue antioxidant activity, influence intestinal morphology, enhance gut microbiome, and improve lipid profile. The variations in their efficacy could be attributed to the variations in physicochemical properties of different species and dosage levels applied in the experiments. However, the use of mushrooms as a natural product supplement is in its infancy, and more basic, pilot and large-scale research is required to make it a viable approach for improving immune responses in the poultry industry.
In Place of a Missing Place
Authors: Segal Noam
Published: May 2024

This essay reflects on works chosen from the Sonnenfeld Collection at the Katzen Gallery at American University in Washington, DC—it originally accompanied an exhibition at that gallery in early 2021—to comment on the observations of several generations of Israeli artists on the land and its meaning for the culture and politics of Israel’s coming into existence and evolution during the first 70 years of its existence. Beginning with a pair of photographs of pioneers in the land in the fifteen years before statehood—and conceptually re-purposed by a contemporary Israeli artist in 2008—and moving through decade after decade of engagement with the landscape of Israel in both figurative and abstract modes, with and without humans present within these contexts, veering from brightly colored to virtually colorless images, including paintings and photographs, the essay traces a distance between earlier assertions of presence and the gradual emergence of questions regarding presence, absence, and identity. Israel, in its internal development, is both visually and thus verbally interwoven with the issue of its external relationship with its immediate neighbors and to the shifts between what comprises “internal” and “external”—”this” and “other”—as the context has metamorphosized from the 1930s to the 1950s to 1967 to 1993 to 2000 and to the present.
Assessing the Impacts of Mulching-Induced Warming Effects on Machine-Picked Cotton Zones
Authors: Dai Yuanshuai , Zhang Hui , Li Gang , Yang Mingfeng , Lv Xin
Published: May 2024

The 20th century saw notable fluctuations in global temperatures, which significantly impacted agricultural climate zones across the Earth. Focusing on Xinjiang, China, a leading region in machine-picked cotton production, we identified several key thermal indicators influencing the yield, including the sum of active temperatures ≥ 10 °C, the mean temperature in July, the climatological growing season length, the April–May sum of active temperatures, the last frost day, and the defoliant spray time. Using meteorological data from 58 weather stations in Xinjiang, we examined the spatiotemporal trends of these indicators during the 1981–2020 period. Additionally, we attempted to determine the effects of plastic mulching on the sowing area and the zoning area of machine-picked cotton in different suitable zones based on these indicators. In conclusion, the overall thermal resources in Xinjiang are exhibiting an upward trend and show a distribution pattern of “more in the south of Xinjiang than in the north of Xinjiang, and more in the plains and basins than in the mountains”. Under the plastic-mulching mechanism, the zoning area of the suitable zone has increased by 15.7% (2.15 × 103 km2), suggesting that climate warming and the widespread application of mulching technology provide unexplored potential for the most suitable regions for machine-picked cotton in Xinjiang, while the 14.5% (0.26 × 103 km2) and 7.8% (0.17 × 103 km2) reductions in the unsuitable and less suitable zones, respectively, suggest that the planting areas of machine-picked cotton in both the less suitable and unsuitable zones, particularly with the existing regional planning, continue to demonstrate an irrational expansion. Therefore, to sustain Xinjiang’s cotton industry’s resilience and productivity, policymakers need to prioritize proactive land management and sustainable land allocation practices in response to changing climate patterns to optimize cotton production.
Zooming into the Complex Dynamics of Electrodermal Activity Recorded during Emotional Stimuli: A Multiscale Approach
Authors: Lavezzo Laura , Gargano Andrea , Scilingo Enzo Pasquale , Nardelli Mimma
Published: May 2024

Physiological phenomena exhibit complex behaviours arising at multiple time scales. To investigate them, techniques derived from chaos theory were applied to physiological signals, providing promising results in distinguishing between healthy and pathological states. Fractal-like properties of electrodermal activity (EDA), a well-validated tool for monitoring the autonomic nervous system state, have been reported in previous literature. This study proposes the multiscale complexity index of electrodermal activity (MComEDA) to discern different autonomic responses based on EDA signals. This method builds upon our previously proposed algorithm, ComEDA, and it is empowered with a coarse-graining procedure to provide a view at multiple time scales of the EDA response. We tested MComEDA’s performance on the EDA signals of two publicly available datasets, i.e., the Continuously Annotated Signals of Emotion (CASE) dataset and the Affect, Personality and Mood Research on Individuals and Groups (AMIGOS) dataset, both containing physiological data recorded from healthy participants during the view of ultra-short emotional video clips. Our results highlighted that the values of MComEDA were significantly different (p-value < 0.05 after Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni’s correction) when comparing high- and low-arousal stimuli. Furthermore, MComEDA outperformed the single-scale approach in discriminating among different valence levels of high-arousal stimuli, e.g., showing significantly different values for scary and amusing stimuli (p-value = 0.024). These findings suggest that a multiscale approach to the nonlinear analysis of EDA signals can improve the information gathered on task-specific autonomic response, even when ultra-short time series are considered.