bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution modelling of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus (Linnaeus, 1766) with novel climate change indicators
Authors: Bennett David , Richard Freddie Jeanne
Published: July 2021

The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus has been declining in both abundance and range since the mid-twentieth century. The eastern edge of its range has contracted from the Ural Mountains to eastern Germany. Habitat loss and fragmentation has been the most supported theory to explain the observed decline. Climate change has been implicated in declines of other terrestrial mammals, but not investigated for E. quercinus. To better understand the factors influencing the distribution of this species and to map habitat suitability for E. quercinus across Europe, we created a Maxent species distribution model. Among the main environmental variables used for the modelling, two novel climate change indicator variables were produced to indicate the degree of climate change between the early twentieth century and the present. Areas of high suitability were mapped, and variable importance estimated using jackknife tests and variable contribution metrics. The climate change indicators outperformed many conventional variables, which could indicate that climate change is a factor behind the current distribution of E. quercinus. We also analysed the land use types where presence points of E. quercinus were located and whether they were in areas of “high nature value farmland”. Over 30% of all spatially filtered presence points corresponded to high nature value farmland areas. Our results could indicate a role for changing climate (particularly in temperature) in the range decline E. quercinus, and for high nature value farmland practices in conserving this species. Field studies and improved monitoring for this species are recommended to confirm both possible findings.
Overcoming challenges to removing inappropriate penicillin allergy labels: A quality improvement report
Authors: Fuller Risa N. , Baker Mary Grace , Desai Mauli B. , Saunders-Hao Patricia L. , Agarwal Shradha , Patel Gopi , Agrawal Saloni , Schaefer Sarah H.
Published: July 2021

Over 3 months, we provided monthly education to internal medicine residents and distributed resources regarding penicillin-allergy history taking. Allergy information in the electronic record was updated more often during the intervention compared to the period before the intervention (16.1% vs 10.9%; P = .02). Education and interdepartmental collaboration have the potential to affect provider behavior.
Arbitrariness as Discrimination
Authors: Pinto Meital
Published: July 2021

The law uses ‘discrimination’ to denote practices of exclusion and distinction that are wrongful from a legal point of view. Anti-discrimination doctrines around the world use the concept of ‘wrongful distinctions’ to enumerate the ways in which irrelevant distinctions between individuals or groups are made and to explain their illegality. But how should the term ‘irrelevant’ be understood in this context? Most legal systems around the world use the term ‘irrelevant’ only in denunciation of distinctions based on ‘common,’ ‘classic,’ or ‘suspicious’ grounds, such as race-based or sex-based distinctions.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence after exposures in shared patient rooms in a tertiary-care center in Iowa, July 2020–May 2021
Authors: Trannel Alexandra M. , Kobayashi Takaaki , Dains Angelique , Abosi Oluchi J. , Jenn Kyle E. , Meacham Holly , Sheeler Lorinda L. , Etienne William , Kukla Mary E. , Alsuhaibani Mohammed , Holley Stephanie , Strandberg Kelsey , Marra Alexandre R. , Kritzman Jeffrey , Ford Bradley , Wellington Melanie , Diekema Daniel J. , Salinas Jorge L.
Published: July 2021

The incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure in shared patient rooms was low at our institution: 1.8 per 1,000 shared-room patient days. However, the secondary attack rate (21.6%) was comparable to that reported in household exposures. Lengthier exposures were associated with SARS-CoV-2 conversion. Hospitals should implement measures to decrease shared-room exposures.
Attempted suicide: does lethality matter?
Authors: Doherty A. M. , Moore S. , Corcoran N. , Malone K. M.
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

To investigate whether high-lethality suicide attempters align to the demographic and clinical features observed in completed suicide in the national and international literature, and whether low-lethality attempters more closely align with the clinical profile of non-attempter ideators.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of adult suicide ideators and attempters presenting to an urban tertiary care hospital was performed. Suicide ideators (n = 50) and attempters (n = 50) were coded for variables including demographics and clinical characteristics (e.g. psychiatric diagnosis and previous suicide attempt). Method and lethality of suicide attempt were coded using the medical Lethality Rating Scale.

Results:

High-lethality attempters were more likely to be younger in age than low-lethality attempters (p = 0.026) and ideators (p = 0.041). The lethality scores of suicide attempts were significantly inversely correlated with age (p = 0.017).

Conclusions:

Our study adds to the small but increasing body of literature investigating the characteristics of high-lethality suicide attempters and suggests younger adult age is a risk factor for a high-lethality attempt. Further understanding of this unique group would be aided by widespread agreement on the definition of a high-lethality suicide attempt and longitudinal studies of this cohort.
Dietary and body-mass reconstruction of the Miocene neotropical batNotonycteris magdalenensis(Phyllostomidae) from La Venta, Colombia
Authors: López-Aguirre Camilo , Czaplewski Nicholas J. , Link Andrés , Takai Masanaru , Hand Suzanne J.
Published: July 2021

With 14 species recorded, the Miocene La Venta bat fauna is the most diverse bat paleocommunity in South America. It includes the oldest plant-visiting bat in the New World and some of the earliest representatives of the extant families Phyllostomidae, Thyropteridae, and Noctilionidae. La Venta'sNotonycteris magdalenensisis an extinct member of the subfamily Phyllostominae, a group of modern Neotropical animalivorous bats, and is commonly included in studies of the evolution of Neotropical bats, but aspects of its biology remain unclear. In this study, we used multivariate dental topography analysis (DTA) to reconstruct the diet ofN. magdalenensisby quantitatively comparing measures of molar complexity with those of 25 modern noctilionoid species representing all major dietary habits in bats. We found clear differences in molar complexity between dietary guilds, indicating that DTA is potentially an informative tool to study bat ecomorphology. Our results suggestN. magdalenensiswas probably an omnivore or insectivore, rather than a carnivore like its modern relativesChrotopterus auritusandVampyrum spectrum. Also, we reconstructed the body mass ofN. magdalenensisto be ~95 g, larger than most insectivorous bats, but smaller than the largest carnivorous bat (V. spectrum). Our results confirm thatN. magdalenensiswas not a specialized carnivore. It remains to be demonstrated that the specialized carnivory ecological niche was occupied by the same lineage of phyllostomines from at least the middle Miocene. Combining our diet and body-mass reconstructions, we suggest thatN. magdalenensisexhibits morphological pre-adaptations crucial for the evolution of specialized carnivory.
Dignity equals distance? Pursuing dignity in care for older adults
Authors: Hansen Agnete Meldgaard
Published: July 2021

This paper explores how dignity is articulated and pursued by care workers in two currently prominent policy initiatives seeking to reform Danish care services for older people. Based on ethnographic case studies of ‘reablement’ practices and the use of ‘welfare technologies’, the paper shows how these attempts to create dignified care services transform interactions between care recipients and care workers. The analysis is inspired by a socio-material perspective on dignity as ‘crafted’ and ‘co-laboured’ in daily practices, in an interplay between multiple human and non-human actors. In the cases studied, dignity is articulated as closely related to older people's increasing autonomy and independence of formal care, and is pursued through enhancing care recipients’ self-care ability, and through technological automation of care tasks. However, these articulations and pursuits of dignity do not stand alone. When everyday care practices are closely examined, dignity is also pursued by care workers as increased co-operation and equality between care workers and care recipients, as de-objectification, and as promotion of enjoyment and quality of life. In these practices, care is ambivalently positioned as both a potential threat to dignity, and as a prerequisite to achieving it. The paper concludes by discussing the risks of policy agendas pursuing a narrow understanding of dignity as simply independence of care.
What is an education paper?
Authors: KRISHNAMURTHI SHRIRAM
Published: July 2021

We recently renamed our “education” track’s papers from Education Pearl to Education Matters. This would be a good time to explain our vision for the track as a whole, as well as this specific renaming.
Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with deficient posterior-inferior or inferior vena cava rim under echocardiography only: a feasibility and safety analysis
Authors: Huang Liu Liu , Wu Ji , Chen Mai , Jiang Chun Lan , Zeng De C. , Su Chun Xiao , Zheng Bao Shi
Published: July 2021

Background:

The safe closure of atrial septal defect with deficient posterior-inferior or inferior vena cava rim is a controversial issue. Few studies have been conducted on the closure of atrial septal defect with deficient posterior-inferior or inferior vena cava rim without fluoroscopy. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of echocardiography-guided transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect with deficient posterior-inferior or inferior vena cava rim.

Methods:

The data of 136 patients who underwent transcatheter atrial septal defect closure without fluoroscopy from March 2017 to March 2020 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were classified into the deficient (n = 45) and sufficient (n = 91) posterior-inferior or inferior vena cava rim groups. Procedure and the follow-up results were compared between the two groups.

Results:

Atrial septal defect indexed diameter and the device indexed diameter in the deficient rim group were both larger than that in the sufficient rim group (22.12 versus 17.38 mm/m2, p < 0.001; 24.77 versus 21.21 mm/m2, p = 0.003, respectively). There was no significant difference in the success rate of occlusion between two groups (97.78% in the deficient rim group versus 98.90% in the sufficient rim group, p = 1.000). During follow-up, the incidence of severe adverse cardiac events was not statistically significant (p = 0.551).

Conclusions:

Atrial septal defect with deficient posterior-inferior or inferior vena cava rim can safely undergo transcatheter closure under echocardiography alone if precisely evaluated with transesophageal or transthoracic echocardiography and the size of the occluder is appropriate. The mid-term results after closure are similar to that for an atrial septal defect with sufficient rim.
Incidence and risk factor of vocal cord paralysis following slide tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Kaneko Naoki , Hasegawa Tomomi
Published: July 2021

Background:

Slide tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) has been shown to improve post-operative outcomes, but the incidence and risk factors of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) following slide tracheoplasty remain unclear. This study aimed to review our experience of slide tracheoplasty for CTS with a focus on post-operative VCP.

Methods:

Twenty-eight patients, who underwent tracheal reconstruction with or without cardiovascular repair at Kobe Children’s Hospital between June, 2016 and March, 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. They were divided into two groups based on the presence of a pulmonary artery sling (PA sling). Perioperative variables were compared between the two groups.

Results:

Twenty-one of the 28 patients underwent concomitant repair for associated cardiovascular anomalies, including 15 patients with PA sling. The overall incidence of VCP following slide tracheoplasty was 28.6%. The incidences of VCP were 46.7% in patients with CTS and PA sling, which were 14.3% in CTS patients without cardiovascular anomalies. The only risk factor associated with VCP following slide tracheoplasty was a concomitant repair for PA sling. Post-operatively, the duration of nasogastric tube feeding in patients with VCP was significantly longer than that in patients without VCP.

Conclusions:

The incidence of VCP following slide tracheoplasty for CTS was high, especially in concomitant repair cases for PA sling. Routine screening and evaluation of VCP soon after post-operative extubation is required for its appropriate management.
Socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake in Chile: a systematic review
Authors: Vega-Salas María Jesús , Caro Paola , Johnson Laura , Papadaki Angeliki
Published: July 2021

Objective:

Understanding the socio-economic inequalities in dietary intake is crucial when addressing the socio-economic gradient in obesity rates and non-communicable diseases. We aimed to systematically assess the association between socio-economic position (SEP) and dietary intake in Chile.

Design:

We searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature from inception until 31 December 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Sciences and LILACS databases. Observational studies published in English and Spanish, reporting the comparison of at least one dietary factor between at least two groups of different SEP in the general Chilean population, were selected. Two researchers independently conducted data searches, screening and extraction and assessed study quality using an adaptation of the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.

Results:

Twenty-one articles (from eighteen studies) were included. Study quality was considered low, medium and high for 24, 52 and 24 % of articles, respectively. Moderate-to-large associations indicated lower intake of fruit and vegetables, dairy products and fish/seafood and higher pulses consumption among adults of lower SEP. Variable evidence of association was found for energy intake and macronutrients, in both children and adults.

Conclusions:

Our findings highlight some socio-economic inequalities in diets in Chile, evidencing an overall less healthy food consumption among the lower SEP groups. New policies to reduce these inequalities should tackle the unequal distribution of factors affecting healthy eating among the lower SEP groups. These findings also provide important insights for developing strategies to reduce dietary inequalities in Chile and other countries that have undergone similar nutritional transitions.
GEOMETRICAL AND MEASURE-THEORETIC STRUCTURES OF MAPS WITH A MOSTLY EXPANDING CENTER
Authors: Yang Jiagang
Published: July 2021

In this article we study physical measures for
$\operatorname {C}^{1+\alpha }$
partially hyperbolic diffeomorphisms with a mostly expanding center. We show that every diffeomorphism with a mostly expanding center direction exhibits a geometrical-combinatorial structure, which we call skeleton, that determines the number, basins and supports of the physical measures. Furthermore, the skeleton allows us to describe how physical measures bifurcate as the diffeomorphism changes under
$C^1$
topology.

Moreover, for each diffeomorphism with a mostly expanding center, there exists a
$C^1$
neighbourhood, such that diffeomorphism among a
$C^1$
residual subset of this neighbourhood admits finitely many physical measures, whose basins have full volume.

We also show that the physical measures for diffeomorphisms with a mostly expanding center satisfy exponential decay of correlation for any Hölder observes. In particular, we prove that every
$C^2$
, partially hyperbolic, accessible diffeomorphism with 1-dimensional center and nonvanishing center exponent has exponential decay of correlations for Hölder functions.
Currency regimes and external competitiveness: the role of institutions, trade agreements and monetary frameworks
Authors: Aman Zunaira , Mallick Sushanta , Nemlioglu Ilayda
Published: July 2021

The literature lacks consensus on the role of currency regimes in explaining external competitiveness. Countries not only differ in terms of currency regimes, but can also have different institutional arrangements, namely trade agreements and inflation targeting (IT) frameworks in addition to the overall quality of governance. Hence, using the real effective exchange rate and by covering 35 developing countries over the period 1975–2014, we investigate the role of currency regimes in explaining the degree of misalignment while considering institutional factors. First, we find that intermediate regimes limit the currency misalignment with greater financial openness (FO). Second, non-reciprocal preferential trade agreements improve price competitiveness, whereas free trade and reciprocal ones can only be beneficial with a higher degree of FO. Third, misalignments in fixed regimes decline in the presence of stronger institutions or in countries with an IT type of monetary policy framework. The above results remain robust to alternative specifications.
Determining Zygosity in Infant Twins – Revisiting the Questionnaire Approach
Authors: Hardiansyah Irzam , Hamrefors Linnea , Siqueiros Monica , Falck-Ytter Terje , Tammimies Kristiina
Published: July 2021

Accurate zygosity determination is a fundamental step in twin research. Although DNA-based testing is the gold standard for determining zygosity, collecting biological samples is not feasible in all research settings or all families. Previous work has demonstrated the feasibility of zygosity estimation based on questionnaire (physical similarity) data in older twins, but the extent to which this is also a reliable approach in infancy is less well established. Here, we report the accuracy of different questionnaire-based zygosity determination approaches (traditional and machine learning) in 5.5 month-old twins. The participant cohort comprised 284 infant twin pairs (128 dizygotic and 156 monozygotic) who participated in the Babytwins Study Sweden (BATSS). Manual scoring based on an established technique validated in older twins accurately predicted 90.49% of the zygosities with a sensitivity of 91.65% and specificity of 89.06%. The machine learning approach improved the prediction accuracy to 93.10%, with a sensitivity of 91.30% and specificity of 94.29%. Additionally, we quantified the systematic impact of zygosity misclassification on estimates of genetic and environmental influences using simulation-based sensitivity analysis on a separate data set to show the implication of our machine learning accuracy gain. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the feasibility of determining zygosity in very young infant twins using a questionnaire with four items and builds a scalable machine learning model with better metrics, thus a viable alternative to DNA tests in large-scale infant twin studies.
Integrated management of living mulches for weed control: A review
Authors: Bhaskar Vinay , Westbrook Anna S. , Bellinder Robin R. , DiTommaso Antonio
Published: July 2021

Living mulches are cover crops grown simultaneously with and in close proximity to cash crops. Advantages of living mulches over dead cover crops may include increased weed suppression, reduced erosion and leaching, better soil health, and greater resource-use efficiency. Advantages of living mulches over synthetic mulches may include enhanced agroecosystem biodiversity and suitability for a wider range of cropping systems. A major disadvantage of this practice is the potential for competition between living mulches and cash crops. The intensity and outcome of mulch-crop competition depend on agroecosystem management as well as climate and other factors. In this review, we consider the management of living mulches for weed control in field and vegetable cropping systems of temperate environments. More than 50 yr of research have demonstrated that mechanical or chemical suppression of a living mulch can limit mulch-crop competition without killing the mulch and thereby losing its benefits. Such tactics can also contribute to weed suppression. Mechanical and chemical regulation should be combined with cultural practices that give the main crop a competitive advantage over the living mulch, which, in turn, outcompetes the weeds. Promising approaches include crop and mulch cultivar selection; changes to planting time, density, and planting pattern; and changes to fertilization or irrigation regimes. A systems approach to living mulch management, including an increased emphasis on the interactions between management methods, may increase the benefits and lower the risks associated with this practice.
Evaluating Variable‐Resolution CESM Over China and Western United States for Use in Water‐Energy Nexus and Impacts Modeling
Authors: Xu Zexuan , Di Vittorio Alan , Zhang Jie , Rhoades Alan , Xin Xiaoge , Xu Hongmei , Xiao Chan
Published: July 2021

Climate models are critical tools to study earth system processes and are often further downscaled to provide refined‐resolution data sets for regional water‐energy impact analyses. In this study, the Variable‐Resolution Community Earth System Model (VR‐CESM), a new dynamical downscaling method, is employed to generate 1/8° simulations for China and the western United States over 1970–2006. Precipitation, temperature, snowpack, radiation, and wind speed are compared with two 1° global climate models, regional climate model ensemble, and reference data sets to evaluate their fidelity. Simulated precipitation skill is dependent upon the reference data sets used, a slight (<+10%) and spatially consistent wet bias in China during summer and the western United States during winter. Precipitation bias in VR‐CESM is the smallest among models and demonstrates the added value provided by resolution refinement. However, temperature biases are generally greater than precipitation due to more complicated interactions among processes. VR‐CESM simulates +2°C warm bias in the low‐elevation regions in China but −2°C cold bias in mountains. However, DJF cold bias (−2.23°C to−3.37°C) and JJA warm bias (+1.13°C to +1.87°C) exist in the western United States. The modeling skills of precipitation and temperature at various topographies are similar in the two evaluated regions. The cold bias was likely affected by downward shortwave radiation deficit (−15%) and slow bias of surface wind speeds (−16% to −29%). Despite the wet and cold bias, snow water equivalent and snow cover are underestimated in mountains. We conclude that VR‐CESM outperforms other models evaluated and provides the best estimation of downscaled climate model data for water‐energy studies.
Interplay between interleukin-6 signaling and the vascular endothelium in cytokine storms
Authors: Kang Sujin , Kishimoto Tadamitsu
Published: July 2021

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a crucial role in host defense against infection and tissue injuries and is a bioindicator of multiple distinct types of cytokine storms. In this review, we present the current understanding of the diverse roles of IL-6, its receptors, and its signaling during acute severe systemic inflammation. IL-6 directly affects vascular endothelial cells, which produce several types of cytokines and chemokines and activate the coagulation cascade. Endothelial cell dysregulation, characterized by abnormal coagulation and vascular leakage, is a common complication in cytokine storms. Emerging evidence indicates that a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, tocilizumab, can effectively block IL-6 signaling and has beneficial effects in rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile systemic idiopathic arthritis, and Castleman’s disease. Recent work has also demonstrated the beneficial effect of tocilizumab in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy-induced cytokine storms as well as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we highlight the distinct contributions of IL-6 signaling to the pathogenesis of several types of cytokine storms and discuss potential therapeutic strategies for the management of cytokine storms, including those associated with sepsis and COVID-19.
Inflammation and tumor progression: signaling pathways and targeted intervention
Authors: Zhao Huakan , Wu Lei , Yan Guifang , Chen Yu , Zhou Mingyue , Wu Yongzhong , Li Yongsheng
Published: July 2021

Cancer development and its response to therapy are regulated by inflammation, which either promotes or suppresses tumor progression, potentially displaying opposing effects on therapeutic outcomes. Chronic inflammation facilitates tumor progression and treatment resistance, whereas induction of acute inflammatory reactions often stimulates the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and antigen presentation, leading to anti-tumor immune responses. In addition, multiple signaling pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT), toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways, cGAS/STING, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK); inflammatory factors, including cytokines (e.g., interleukin (IL), interferon (IFN), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), chemokines (e.g., C-C motif chemokine ligands (CCLs) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligands (CXCLs)), growth factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β), and inflammasome; as well as inflammatory metabolites including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, thromboxane, and specialized proresolving mediators (SPM), have been identified as pivotal regulators of the initiation and resolution of inflammation. Nowadays, local irradiation, recombinant cytokines, neutralizing antibodies, small-molecule inhibitors, DC vaccines, oncolytic viruses, TLR agonists, and SPM have been developed to specifically modulate inflammation in cancer therapy, with some of these factors already undergoing clinical trials. Herein, we discuss the initiation and resolution of inflammation, the crosstalk between tumor development and inflammatory processes. We also highlight potential targets for harnessing inflammation in the treatment of cancer.
Circulating HMGB1 is elevated in veterans with Gulf War Illness and triggers the persistent pro-inflammatory microglia phenotype in male C57Bl/6J mice
Authors: Garza-Lombó Carla , Thang Morrent , Greve Hendrik J. , Mumaw Christen L. , Messenger Evan J. , Ahmed Chandrama , Quinn Emily , Sullivan Kimberly , Block Michelle L.
Published: July 2021

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptom peripheral and CNS condition with persistent microglial dysregulation, but the mechanisms driving the continuous neuroimmune pathology are poorly understood. The alarmin HMGB1 is an autocrine and paracrine pro-inflammatory signal, but the role of circulating HMGB1 in persistent neuroinflammation and GWI remains largely unknown. Using the LPS model of the persistent microglial pro-inflammatory response, male C57Bl/6J mice injected with LPS (5 mg/kg IP) exhibited persistent changes in microglia morphology and elevated pro-inflammatory markers in the hippocampus, cortex, and midbrain 7 days after LPS injection, while the peripheral immune response had resolved. Ex vivo serum analysis revealed an augmented pro-inflammatory response to LPS when microglia cells were cultured with the 7-day LPS serum, indicating the presence of bioactive circulating factors that prime the microglial pro-inflammatory response. Elevated circulating HMGB1 levels were identified in the mouse serum 7 days after LPS administration and in the serum of veterans with GWI. Tail vein injection of rHMGB1 in male C57Bl/6 J mice elevated TNFα mRNA levels in the liver, hippocampus, and cortex, demonstrating HMGB1-induced peripheral and CNS effects. Microglia isolated at 7 days after LPS injection revealed a unique transcriptional profile of 17 genes when compared to the acute 3 H LPS response, 6 of which were also upregulated in the midbrain by rHMGB1, highlighting a distinct signature of the persistent pro-inflammatory microglia phenotype. These findings indicate that circulating HMGB1 is elevated in GWI, regulates the microglial neuroimmune response, and drives chronic neuroinflammation that persists long after the initial instigating peripheral stimulus.
Clinical course of epilepsy and white matter abnormality linked to a novel DYRK1A variant
Authors: Okazaki Tetsuya , Yamada Hiroyuki , Matsuura Kaori , Kasagi Noriko , Miyake Noriko , Matsumoto Naomichi , Adachi Kaori , Nanba Eiji , Maegaki Yoshihiro
Published: July 2021

Epilepsy and white matter abnormality have been reported in DYRK1A-related intellectual disability syndrome; however, the clinical course has yet to be elucidated. Here, we report the clinical course of an 18-year-old male with a novel heterozygous DYRK1A variant (NM_001396.4: c.957C>G, p.Tyr319*); based on previous reports, epilepsy with this syndrome tends to be well controlled. Follow-up MRIs of the patient’s lesion revealed slightly reduced signal intensity compared to the first image.
Blastocyst formation, embryo transfer and breed comparison in the first reported large scale cloning of camels
Authors: Olsson P. O. , Tinson A. H. , Al Shamsi N. , Kuhad K. S. , Singh R. , Son Y. B. , Jeong Y. , Jeong Y. W. , Cai L. , Sakaguchi K. , Kim S. , Choi E. J. , Yu X. , Hwang W. S.
Published: July 2021

Cloning, through somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), has the potential for a large expansion of genetically favorable traits in a population in a relatively short term. In the present study we aimed to produce multiple cloned camels from racing, show and dairy exemplars. We compared several parameters including oocyte source, donor cell and breed differences, transfer methods, embryo formation and pregnancy rates and maintenance following SCNT. We successfully achieved 47 pregnancies, 28 births and 19 cloned offspring who are at present healthy and have developed normally. Here we report cloned camels from surgical embryo transfer and correlate blastocyst formation rates with the ability to achieve pregnancies. We found no difference in the parameters affecting production of clones by camel breed, and show clear differences on oocyte source in cloning outcomes. Taken together we demonstrate that large scale cloning of camels is possible and that further improvements can be achieved.
In-silico investigation towards the non-invasive optical detection of blood lactate
Authors: Chatterjee Subhasri , Budidha Karthik , Qassem Meha , Kyriacou Panicos A.
Published: July 2021

This paper uses Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the interaction of short-wave infrared (SWIR) light with vascular tissue as a step toward the development of a non-invasive optical sensor for measuring blood lactate in humans. The primary focus of this work was to determine the optimal source-detector separation, penetration depth of light at SWIR wavelengths in tissue, and the optimal light power required for reliable detection of lactate. The investigation also focused on determining the non-linear variations in absorbance of lactate at a few select SWIR wavelengths. SWIR photons only penetrated 1.3 mm and did not travel beyond the hypodermal fat layer. The maximum output power was only 2.51% of the input power, demonstrating the need for a highly sensitive detection system. Simulations optimized a source-detector separation of 1 mm at 1684 nm for accurate measurement of lactate in blood.
Using deep learning to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy
Authors: Gong Julia , Holsinger F. Christopher , Noel Julia E. , Mitani Sohei , Jopling Jeff , Bedi Nikita , Koh Yoon Woo , Orloff Lisa A. , Cernea Claudio R. , Yeung Serena
Published: July 2021

Surgeons must visually distinguish soft-tissues, such as nerves, from surrounding anatomy to prevent complications and optimize patient outcomes. An accurate nerve segmentation and analysis tool could provide useful insight for surgical decision-making. Here, we present an end-to-end, automatic deep learning computer vision algorithm to segment and measure nerves. Unlike traditional medical imaging, our unconstrained setup with accessible handheld digital cameras, along with the unstructured open surgery scene, makes this task uniquely challenging. We investigate one common procedure, thyroidectomy, during which surgeons must avoid damaging the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), which is responsible for human speech. We evaluate our segmentation algorithm on a diverse dataset across varied and challenging settings of operating room image capture, and show strong segmentation performance in the optimal image capture condition. This work lays the foundation for future research in real-time tissue discrimination and integration of accessible, intelligent tools into open surgery to provide actionable insights.
Multilevel information fusion for cryptographic substitution box construction based on inevitable random noise in medical imaging
Authors: Khan Muhammad Fahad , Saleem Khalid , Alshara Mohammed Ali , Bashir Shariq
Published: July 2021

Block cipher has been a standout amongst the most reliable option by which data security is accomplished. Block cipher strength against various attacks relies on substitution boxes. In literature, extensively algebraic structures, and chaotic systems-based techniques are available to design the cryptographic substitution boxes. Although, algebraic and chaotic systems-based approaches have favorable characteristics for the design of substitution boxes, but on the other side researchers have also pointed weaknesses in these approaches. First-time multilevel information fusion is introduced to construct the substitution boxes, having four layers; Multi Sources, Multi Features, Nonlinear Multi Features Whitening and Substitution Boxes Construction. Our proposed design does not hold the weakness of algebraic structures and chaotic systems because our novel s-box construction relies on the strength of true random numbers. In our proposed method true random numbers are generated from the inevitable random noise of medical imaging. The proposed design passes all the substitution box security evaluation criteria including Nonlinearity, Bit Independence Criterion (BIC), Strict Avalanche Criterion (SAC), Differential Approximation Probability (DP), Linear Approximation Probability (LP), and statistical tests, including resistance to Differential Attack, Correlation Analysis, 2D, 3D histogram analysis. The outcomes of the evaluation criteria validate that the proposed substitution boxes are effective for block ciphers; furthermore, the proposed substitution boxes attain better cryptographic strength as compared to very recent state-of-the-art techniques.
In-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico assessment of radical scavenging and cytotoxic activities of Oliveria decumbens essential oil and its main components
Authors: Jamali Tahereh , Kavoosi Gholamreza , Jamali Yousef , Mortezazadeh Saeed , Ardestani Susan K.
Published: July 2021

We aimed to explore and compare new insights on the pharmacological potential ofOliveria decumbenceessential oil (OEO) and its main components highlighting their antioxidant activity in-vitro, in-vivo, and in-silico and also cytotoxic effects of OEO against A549 lung cancer cells. At first, based on GC–MS analysis, thymol, carvacrol,p-cymene, and γ-terpinene were introduced as basic ingredients of OEO and their in-vitro antioxidant capacity was considered by standard methods. Collectively, OEO exhibited strong antioxidant properties even more than its components. In LPS-stimulated macrophages treated with OEO, the reduction of ROS (Reactive-oxygen-species) and NO (nitric-oxide) and down-regulation of iNOS (inducible nitric-oxide-synthase) and NOX (NADPH-oxidase) mRNA expression was observed and compared with that of OEO components. According to the results, OEO, thymol, and carvacrol exhibited the highest radical scavenging potency compared top-cymene, and γ-terpinene. In-silico Molecular-Docking and Molecular-Dynamics simulation indicated that thymol and carvacrol but nop-cymene and γ-terpinene may establish coordinative bonds in iNOS active site and thereby inhibit iNOS. However, they did not show any evidence for NOX inhibition. In the following, MTT assay showed that OEO induces cytotoxicity in A549 cancer cells despite having a limited effect on L929 normal cells. Apoptotic death and its dependence on caspase-3 activity and Bax/Bcl2 ratio in OEO-treated cells were established by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, colorimetric assay, and western blot analysis. Additionally, flow cytometry studies demonstrated increased levels of ROS in OEO-treated cells. Therefore, OEO, despite showing antioxidant properties, induces apoptosis in cancer cells by increasing ROS levels. Collectively, our results provided new insight into the usage of OEO and main components, thymol, and carvacrol, into the development of novel antioxidant and anti-cancer agents.
Computing the orientational-average of diffusion-weighted MRI signals: a comparison of different techniques
Authors: Afzali Maryam , Knutsson Hans , Özarslan Evren , Jones Derek K.
Published: July 2021

Numerous applications in diffusion MRI involve computing the orientationally-averaged diffusion-weighted signal. Most approaches implicitly assume, for a given b-value, that the gradient sampling vectors are uniformly distributed on a sphere (or ‘shell’), computing the orientationally-averaged signal through simple arithmetic averaging. One challenge with this approach is that not all acquisition schemes have gradient sampling vectors distributed over perfect spheres. To ameliorate this challenge, alternative averaging methods include: weighted signal averaging; spherical harmonic representation of the signal in each shell; and using Mean Apparent Propagator MRI (MAP-MRI) to derive a three-dimensional signal representation and estimate its ‘isotropic part’. Here, these different methods are simulated and compared under different signal-to-noise (SNR) realizations. With sufficiently dense sampling points (61 orientations per shell), and isotropically-distributed sampling vectors, all averaging methods give comparable results, (MAP-MRI-based estimates give slightly higher accuracy, albeit with slightly elevated bias as b-value increases). As the SNR and number of data points per shell are reduced, MAP-MRI-based approaches give significantly higher accuracy compared with the other methods. We also apply these approaches to in vivo data where the results are broadly consistent with our simulations. A statistical analysis of the simulated data shows that the orientationally-averaged signals at each b-value are largely Gaussian distributed.
Early modifications of the gut microbiome in children with hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Masetti Riccardo , Biagi Elena , Zama Daniele , Muratore Edoardo , D’Amico Federica , Leardini Davide , Turroni Silvia , Prete Arcangelo , Brigidi Patrizia , Pession Andrea
Published: July 2021

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD) represents a dramatic complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly in children. Recent evidence has suggested a role for the gut microbiome (GM) in the context of HSCT and its related complications, but no data are available on the relationship between GM and SOS/VOD. Here, we conducted a retrospective case–control study in allo-HSCT pediatric patients developing or not SOS/VOD and profiled their GM over time, from before the transplant up to 72 days after. A rich and diverse GM before HSCT was found to be associated with a reduced likelihood of developing SOS/VOD. Furthermore, prior to transplant, patients not developing SOS/VOD showed an enrichment in some typically health-associated commensals, such as Bacteroides, Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae. Their levels remained overall higher until post-transplant. This high-diversity configuration resembles that described in other studies for other HSCT-related complications, including graft-versus-host disease, potentially representing a common protective GM feature against HSCT complications.
Renal denervation does not affect hypertension or the renin-angiotensin system in a rodent model of juvenile-onset polycystic kidney disease: clinical implications
Authors: Li Sheran , Hildreth Cara M. , Rahman Ahmed A. , Barton Sean A. , Wyse Benjamin F. , Lim Chai K. , Pilowsky Paul M. , Phillips Jacqueline K.
Published: July 2021

We examined the effect of total and afferent renal denervation (RDN) on hypertension and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in a rodent model of juvenile-onset polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Lewis Polycystic Kidney (LPK) and control rats received total, afferent or sham RDN by periaxonal application of phenol, capsaicin or normal saline, respectively, and were monitored for 4-weeks. Afferent RDN did not affect systolic blood pressure (SBP) determined by radiotelemetry in either strain (n = 19) while total RDN significantly reduced SBP in Lewis rats 4-weeks post-denervation (total vs. sham, 122 ± 1 vs. 130 ± 2 mmHg,P = 0.002, n = 25). Plasma and kidney renin content determined by radioimmunoassay were significantly lower in LPK vs. Lewis (plasma: 278.2 ± 6.7 vs. 376.5 ± 11.9 ng Ang I/ml/h; kidney: 260.1 ± 6.3 vs. 753.2 ± 37.9 ng Ang I/mg/h,P < 0.001, n = 26). These parameters were not affected by RDN. Intrarenal mRNA expression levels of renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2, and angiotensin II receptor type 1a were significantly lower, whereas ACE1 expression was significantly higher in the LPK vs. Lewis (allP < 0.05, n = 26). This pattern of intrarenal RAS expression was not changed by RDN. In conclusion, RDN does not affect hypertension or the RAS in the LPK model and indicates RDN might not be a suitable antihypertensive strategy for individuals with juvenile-onset PKD.
Characterization of microglial transcriptomes in the brain and spinal cord of mice in early and late experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis using a RiboTag strategy
Authors: Acharjee Shaona , Gordon Paul M. K. , Lee Benjamin H. , Read Justin , Workentine Matthew L. , Sharkey Keith A. , Pittman Quentin J.
Published: July 2021

Microglia play an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and the mouse model of MS, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). To more fully understand the role of microglia in EAE we characterized microglial transcriptomes before the onset of motor symptoms (pre-onset) and during symptomatic EAE. We compared the transcriptome in brain, where behavioral changes are initiated, and spinal cord, where damage is revealed as motor and sensory deficits. We used a RiboTag strategy to characterize ribosome-bound mRNA only in microglia without incurring possible transcriptional changes after cell isolation. Brain and spinal cord samples clustered separately at both stages of EAE, indicating regional heterogeneity. Differences in gene expression were observed in the brain and spinal cord of pre-onset and symptomatic animals with most profound effects in the spinal cord of symptomatic animals. Canonical pathway analysis revealed changes in neuroinflammatory pathways, immune functions and enhanced cell division in both pre-onset and symptomatic brain and spinal cord. We also observed a continuum of many pathways at pre-onset stage that continue into the symptomatic stage of EAE. Our results provide additional evidence of regional and temporal heterogeneity in microglial gene expression patterns that may help in understanding mechanisms underlying various symptomology in MS.
Spreading predictability in complex networks
Authors: Zhao Na , Wang Jian , Yu Yong , Zhao Jun-Yan , Chen Duan-Bing
Published: July 2021

Many state-of-the-art researches focus on predicting infection scale or threshold in infectious diseases or rumor and give the vaccination strategies correspondingly. In these works, most of them assume that the infection probability and initially infected individuals are known at the very beginning. Generally, infectious diseases or rumor has been spreading for some time when it is noticed. How to predict which individuals will be infected in the future only by knowing the current snapshot becomes a key issue in infectious diseases or rumor control. In this report, a prediction model based on snapshot is presented to predict the potentially infected individuals in the future, not just the macro scale of infection. Experimental results on synthetic and real networks demonstrate that the infected individuals predicted by the model have good consistency with the actual infected ones based on simulations.
Differences in clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and survival outcomes between older and younger breast cancer patients
Authors: Abdel-Razeq Hikmat , Iweir Sereen , Abdel-Razeq Rashid , Rahman Fadwa Abdel , Almasri Hanan , Bater Rayan , Taqash Ayat , Abdelkhaleq Hadeel
Published: July 2021

In developing countries, breast cancer is diagnosed at a much younger age. In this study we investigate the dichotomies between older and young breast cancer patients in our region. The study involved two cohorts; older patients (≥ 65 years, n = 553) and younger ones (≤ 40 years, n = 417). Statistical models were used to investigate the associations between age groups, clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes. Compared to younger patients, older patients were more likely to present with advanced-stage disease (20.6% vs. 15.1%, p = .028). However, among those with non-metastatic disease, younger patients tended to have more aggressive pathological features, including positive axillary lymph nodes (73.2% vs. 55.6%, p < .001), T-3/4 (28.2% vs. 13.8%, p < .001) and HER2-positive disease (29.3% vs. 16.3%, p < .001). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was significantly better for the younger (72.1%) compared to the older (67.6%), p = .035. However, no significant difference was observed in disease-free survival (DFS) between the two groups.In conclusion, younger patients with breast cancer present with worse clinical and pathological features, albeit a better OS rate. The difference in DFS between the two groups was not insignificant, suggesting that older women were more likely to die from non-cancer related causes.
Room-temperature deformation of single crystals of ZrB2 and TiB2 with the hexagonal AlB2 structure investigated by micropillar compression
Authors: Chen Zhenghao , Paul Bhaskar , Majumdar Sanjib , Okamoto Norihiko L. , Kishida Kyosuke , Inui Haruyuki , Otani Shigeki
Published: July 2021

The plastic deformation behavior of single crystals of two transition-metal diborides, ZrB2 and TiB2 with the AlB2 structure has been investigated at room temperature as a function of crystal orientation and specimen size by micropillar compression tests. Although plastic flow is not observed at all for their bulk single crystals at room temperature, plastic flow is successfully observed at room temperature by the operation of slip on {1$${\bar{1}}$$

1

¯

00}<11$${\bar{2}}$$

2

¯

3> in ZrB2 and by the operation of slip on {1$${\bar{1}}$$

1

¯

00}<0001> and {1$${\bar{1}}$$

1

¯

00}<11$${\bar{2}}$$

2

¯

0> in TiB2. Critical resolve shear stress values at room temperature are very high, exceeding 1 GPa for all observed slip systems; 3.01 GPa for {1$${\bar{1}}$$

1

¯

00}<11$${\bar{2}}$$

2

¯

3> slip in ZrB2 and 1.72 GPa and 5.17 GPa, respectively for {1$${\bar{1}}$$

1

¯

00}<0001> and {1$${\bar{1}}$$

1

¯

00}<11$${\bar{2}}$$

2

¯

0> slip in TiB2. The identified operative slip systems and their CRSS values are discussed in comparison with those identified in the corresponding bulk single crystals at high temperatures and those inferred from micro-hardness anisotropy in the early studies.