bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Industry Engagement approaches for academic projects leading to internships, placements, and entrepreneurships
Authors: Pandey Jitendra , Azeem Mohammed Abdul
Published: January 2023

A popular pedagogical approach in engineering education that has been proven to be successful in building problem-solving, design, and collaborative abilities is project-based learning. Giving students freedom to choose the type and scope of the projects they want to work on has apparent advantages but doing so without professional advice or a defined plan of action can lead to confusion, frustration, and unmet expectations. Additionally, engineering schools must give their students the chance to interact with industry during their studies, which can be challenging owing to logistical and time constraints. This paper describes a case study in which undergraduate computer science and computer engineering students met with business professionals to get feedback during the last stage of project implementation. Students presented their concepts to faculty members and industry guests on campus in the form of a project poster. The success of the strategy in raising students' self-efficacy and performance is attested to by internships, employability, and evaluation results, as well as by the satisfaction of the participants. The proposed research continues with suggestions for engineering educators who want to put similar initiatives into practice as well as a brief description of the authors' future goals.
Integrin α6 targeted cancer imaging and therapy
Authors: Zhang Wenbiao , Ye Jiacong , Li Xinling , Li Yinghe , Feng Guokai
Published: January 2023

Integrins represent ideal targets for molecular imaging and targeted therapy of cancer and their role in cancer has been reviewed extensively elsewhere. Except for αVβ3 and αVβ5, the remaining integrins were not systematically considered and tested as potential therapeutic targets. In recent years, the studies on integrin α6 as a cancer imaging and therapeutic target are increasing, due to their highly expressed in several cancers, and their expression has been associated with poor survival. Integrin α6 appears to be a particularly attractive target for cancer imaging and therapy, and therefore we have developed a wide array of integrin α6-target molecular probes for molecular imaging and targeted therapy of different cancers. Despite the studies on integrin α6 as a cancer imaging and therapeutic target increasing in recent years, most of them were derived from preclinical mouse models, revealing that much more can be done in the future. The development of integrin α6 drugs may now be at an important point, with opportunities to learn from previous research, to explore new approaches. In this review, we will briefly introduce integrin α6 and highlighted the recent advances in integrin α6 targeted imaging and therapeutics in cancer.
Tubercular Subdural Empyema with Tubercular Abscess: Lessons Learnt
Authors: Pannem Rajkumar , Kanderia Ridham Ashokbhai , Arora Rajnish Kumar , Mittal Radhey Shyam
Published: January 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the major health care problems in many developing countries. Among various forms of TB, central nervous system (CNS) TB causes significant morbidity and mortality. CNS TB can present in various forms: cerebritis, abscess, meningitis, tuberculoma, calcified granuloma, meningitis, or hydrocephalus. But subdural empyema is a very rare form of presentation. Very few cases have been reported till now in the literature. So, high level of suspicion, thorough microbiological and histological investigations to diagnosis, and early and timely inception of anti-TB medication are keys in its management. Here, we are presenting a case of tubercular subdural empyema that was successfully treated with surgical evacuation and anti-TB medication.
Comparison of Bretschneider HTK and Blood Cardioplegia (4:1): A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Ak Koray , Dericioğlu Okan , Midi Ahmet , Kararmaz Alper , Er Zafer , Doğusan Zeynep , Arsan Sinan
Published: January 2023

Background We compared the effect of intermittent blood and histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution of Bretschneider on myocardial histopathology and perioperative outcome.

Methods Forty adult cardiac surgery patients were grouped into two (n = 20 for each): (1) Intermittent blood cardioplegia (IBC): had repeated cold 4:1 blood cardioplegia and (2) HTK: had a single dose of cold HTK for cardioprotection. Creatine kinase (CK)-MB, Troponin-I (cTn-I), pH, and lactate were studied in coronary sinus blood before and after aortic cross-clamping (AXC) and systemic blood at postoperative 6th, 24th, and 48th hours. Myocardial biopsy was performed before and after AXC for light microscopy. Vacuolation, inflammation, edema, and glycogen were graded semiquantitatively (from 0 to 3). The myocardial apoptotic index was evaluated via the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling.

Results There were no differences in perioperative clinical outcomes between the groups. The coronary sinus samples after AXC were more acidotic (7.15 ± 0.14 vs. 7.32 ± 0.07, p = 0.001) and revealed higher CK-MB (21.0 ± 12.81 vs. 12.60 ± 11.80, p = 0.008) in HTK compared with IBC. The HTK had significantly a higher amount of erythrocyte suspension intraoperatively compared with IBC (0.21 ± 0.53 vs. 1.68 ± 0.93 U, p = 0.001). Microscopically, myocardial edema was more pronounced in HTK compared with IBC after AXC (2.25 ± 0.91 vs. 1.50 ± 0.04, p = 0.013). While a significant increase in the apoptotic index was seen after AXC in both groups (p = 0.001), no difference was detected between the groups (p = 0.417).

Conclusion IBC and HTK have a similar clinical outcome and protective effect, except for more pronounced myocardial edema and increased need for intraoperative transfusion with HTK.
Comparison of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration with Fine-Needle Biopsy for Solid Gastrointestinal Lesions: A Randomized Crossover Single-Center study
Authors: Afzalpurkar Shivaraj , Rai Vijay Kumar , Sonthalia Nikhil , Rodge Gajanan , Tewary Awanesh , Goenka Mahesh
Published: January 2023

Background/Aims The purpose of this study was to compare the results of endoscopic ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) performed at the same site in a single session in the same patient.

Methods Consecutive patients with solid gastrointestinal lesions referred for EUS evaluation underwent EUS-FNA and FNB using 22G needles with three and two passes, respectively, in the same session. Patients were randomized to one group having EUS-FNA first followed by EUS-FNB, while other group had EUS-FNB first followed by EUS-FNA.

Results Total 50 patients (31 male) of mean age 56.58 ± 14.2 years and mean lesion size of 2.6 (±2) cm were included. The Kappa agreement for final diagnosis for FNA and FNB was 0.841 and 0.61, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of FNA versus FNB were 85.19 versus 62.96% and 100 versus 100%, respectively, in comparison with final diagnosis.

Conclusion Both EUS-FNA and FNB are equally safe when compared between the two techniques simultaneously in same lesion. EUS-FNA is better than FNB in terms of sensitivity, diagnostic accuracy, and tissue yield for solid GI lesion. However, the specificity and positive predictive value were equally good for both the modalities.
Performance of the Mean, Highest, and Admission Day Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Scores As Outcome Predictors in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Maity Debasis , Samanta Moumita , Sen Sandipan , SinhaMahapatra Tapan Kumar , Mallick Asim Kumar
Published: January 2023

The pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA) score has been recently validated from its adult version having included the six clinical and biochemical parameters of organ dysfunction (respiratory, coagulation, cardiovascular, neurological, hepatic, and renal) and adapting age-adjusted cutoffs. Our goal was to find out which among the pSOFA scores (recorded on admission, highest score, and the mean score i.e., pSOFA1, pSOFAh, and pSOFAm respectively) performed better to predict mortality among the patients admitted in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). This prospective observational study was conducted on 104 patients (1 month to 12 years of age) admitted in the eight bedded PICU of a tertiary care hospital in India who met the inclusion criteria. The highest values of serial pSOFA scores were recorded on every alternate day starting from the day of admission up to day 9. The mean and median values of the pSOFA1, pSOFAm, and pSOFAh were higher in the nonsurvivor group than in the survivors. The mean pSOFA (with a diagnostic accuracy of 92.3% at a mean cut-off value of 12.8) has outperformed the other two pSOFA scores. In this exploratory analysis, the pSOFAm is the best tool in predicting the mortality outcome of any critically ill child. The use of the pSOFA score at admission and the mean values helps the clinician to quantify the organ dysfunction, and it may be helpful for the clinicians to take steps for further management. It may be useful to communicate to the parents of the sick child for prognostication too. The pSOFA1 also reflects well on the early prognostication when multiple pSOFA scores are unavailable. In the resource constraint settings, one may rely on the pSOFA1 and the approximate pSOFAm value may be predicted from the pSOFA1 as pSOFAm=[(1.03 XpSOFA1) – 0.9] within limitations.
Extensive study of magneto-optical and optical properties of Cd1−xMnxTe between 675 and 1025 nm
Authors: Tyborski Christoph , Hassan Muhammad T. , Flisgen Thomas , Schiemangk Max , Wicht Andreas
Published: January 2023

We determine Faraday rotations and measure the optical reflection and transmission from magneto-optical Cd1−xMnxTe crystals with various stoichiometric ratios. For wavelengths between 675 and 1025 nm, we derive Verdet constants, optical loss coefficients, and the complex indices of reflection that are relevant measures to find suitable stoichiometric ratios of Cd1−xMnxTe for the realization of miniaturized optical isolators. By reflection and transmission measurements, we determine the stoichiometric ratios of several different Cd1−xMnxTe crystals and discuss the observed dependence of the optical properties on the stoichiometric ratio with respect to their use in optical isolators. Finally, we show the relevant figure of merit, i.e., the ratio of Verdet constants and optical loss coefficients for Cd1−xMnxTe crystals with Mn contents ranging from x = 0.14 to x = 0.50.
Density of amorphous sputtered Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films
Authors: Zhang Q. , Lian C. , Xu Q. , Yu Y. , Skowronski M.
Published: January 2023

The density, crystallinity, and microstructure of reactively sputtered amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films have been assessed as a function of deposition temperature. The continuous density increase was observed with increasing substrate temperature between room temperature and 200 °C. The films deposited at room temperature are amorphous and exhibit a columnar structure with a lateral size of cells in the 10–15 nm range. Cells consist of high-density interior with boundaries with the density lower by ∼9% due to incorporation of pores. The pores and the columnar microstructure can be eliminated by deposition at 80 °C while still preserving the amorphous phase. The density of pore- and stress-free amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 is 6.16 g/cm3 and is only 1.5% lower than the crystalline Ge2Sb2Te5 with NaCl structure.
Potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria to improve crop productivity and adaptation to a changing climate
Authors: Kelbessa Bekele Gelena , Dubey Mukesh , Catara Vittoria , Ghadamgahi Farideh , Ortiz Rodomiro , Vetukuri Ramesh Raju
Published: January 2023

Abiotic and biotic stresses negatively affect the growth and yield of crops worldwide. It is estimated that abiotic and biotic stresses account for global food crop losses of 50% and 30%, respectively. With the rapidly growing world population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the issue of food security is becoming a global concern. Climate change, which has its roots in industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural activities, further exacerbates food crop losses. Various innovative agricultural technologies, such as stress-tolerant varieties, smart irrigation systems, and shifting cropping calendars, have been used to both increase crop productivity and mitigate the effects of various stresses, but most of these strategies are time-intensive and costly. Therefore, strategies that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly, as well as economical, are required to face the challenge of providing the world’s human population with adequate food. In this context, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have the potential to increase crop productivity by mitigating the effects of various abiotic and biotic stresses associated with climate change. This approach can also improve the sustainability of agroecosystems by reducing the use of unsustainable agrochemicals, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This review presents current information on how PGPR can mitigate the impacts of abiotic and biotic stresses, associated with climate change, food security, as well as the mechanisms underlying PGPR-induced tolerance to these stresses.
Gravitational waves and neutrino oscillations in Chern-Simons
axion gravity
Authors: Lambiase Gaetano , Mastrototaro Leonardo , Visinelli Luca
Published: January 2023

We investigate the modifications in the neutrino flavor oscillations under the influence
of a stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB), in a scenario in which General Relativity is
modified by an additional Chern-Simons (CS) term. Assuming that the dark matter halo is in the
form of axions, the CS coupling modifies the pattern of the neutrino flavor oscillations at Earth
up to a total suppression in some frequency range. At the same time, the SGWB in the halo could
stimulate the axion decay into gravitons over a narrow frequency range, leading to a potentially
detectable resonance peak in the enhanced SGWB strain. A consistent picture would require these
features to potentially show up in neutrino detection from supernovae, gravitational wave
detectors, and experiments aimed at the search for axions in the Milky Way halo.
Resonant interactions among two-dimensional nonlinear localized waves and lump molecules for the (2+1)-dimensional elliptic Toda equation
Authors: Pang Fuzhong , Gegen Hasi , Zhao Xuemei
Published: January 2023

The (2+1)-dimensional elliptic Toda equation is a high-dimensional generalization of the Toda lattice and a semi-discrete Kadomtsev–Petviashvili I equation. This paper focuses on investigating the resonant interactions between two breathers, a breather/lump and line solitons as well as lump molecules for the (2+1)-dimensional elliptic Toda equation. Based on the N-soliton solution, we obtain the hybrid solutions consisting of line solitons, breathers and lumps. Through the asymptotic analysis of these hybrid solutions, we derive the phase shifts of the breather, lump and line solitons before and after the interaction between a breather/lump and line solitons. By making the phase shifts infinite, we obtain the resonant solution of two breathers and the resonant solutions of a breather/lump and line solitons. Through the asymptotic analysis of these resonant solutions, we demonstrate that the resonant interactions exhibit the fusion, fission, time-localized breather and rogue lump phenomena. Utilizing the velocity resonance method, we obtain lump–soliton, lump–breather, lump–soliton–breather and lump–breather–breather molecules. The above works have not been reported in the (2+1)-dimensional discrete nonlinear wave equations.
Investigation of the possibility of a new detector based on SiPM in nuclear forensics
Authors: Holik M. , Ahmadov F. , Sadygov A. , Ahmadov G. , Naghiyev J. , Sadygov Z. , Yilmaz E. , Urban O. , Berikov D.
Published: January 2023

The development of nuclear technologies, the production and active use of radioisotopes, and the production of radiopharmaceuticals, medical isotopes and other radioactive materials are increasing every year. Therefore, the importance of ensuring the safety of highly active isotopes, as well as providing the necessary instruments for measuring and identifying radioactive materials, must be taken into account. Modern equipment such as high purity germanium detectors (HPGe) is costly and requires specialized staff skills as well as special operating conditions such as low temperatures and high voltages. It is proposed to explore the possibilities of using a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) with a deep pixel structure in nuclear gamma spectrometry, which will make it possible to increase the efficiency of scintillation detectors. The paper presents the results of a study of the newest silicon photomultipliers MAPD-3NM II assembled in a 16-element matrix, which was the detector part of the proposed LaBr3(Ce) scintillation spectrometer. The study was carried out using radioisotopes of uranium. The aim of the research is to reveal the possibility of differentiating depleted and natural uranium materials from each other without using special software by means of the proposed set of equipment.
Three-dimensional numerical study of acoustic streaming phenomenon in rectangular resonator
Authors: Malecha Ziemowit
Published: January 2023

The article presents a three-dimensional numerical study of the large-amplitude, acoustically driven streaming flow in rectangular resonator for different frequencies of the acoustic wave and different temperature regime, isothermal and 60 K temperature difference between the top and bottom walls. The utilized numerical model was based on the Navier–Stokes compressible equations, the ideal gas model, and finite volume discretization. The oscillating wall of the resonator was modeled as a dynamically moving boundary of the numerical domain. The size of the resonators was adjusted to fit one period of the acoustic wave. The research revealed a stationary pair of streaming vortices in the resonator with a characteristic three-dimensional structure. Their intensity was much greater in the case of nonisothermal flow. The study of the impact of side walls on the intensity of streaming revealed its gradual decrease with approaching the walls, creating a quasiparabolic profile in the resonator. Interestingly, the relationship between the intensity of streaming and the frequency of the acoustic wave turned out to be not trivial and two maxima for different frequencies could be observed.
Quantum memories for fundamental science in space
Authors: Mol Jan-Michael , Esguerra Luisa , Meister Matthias , Bruschi David Edward , Schell Andreas Wolfgang , Wolters Janik , Wörner Lisa
Published: January 2023

Investigating and verifying the connections between the foundations of quantum mechanics and general relativity will require extremely sensitive quantum experiments. To provide ultimate insight into this fascinating area of physics, the realization of dedicated experiments in space will sooner or later become a necessity. Quantum technologies, and among them quantum memories in particular, are providing novel approaches to reach conclusive experimental results due to their advanced state of development backed by decades of progress. Storing quantum states for prolonged time will make it possible to study Bell tests on astronomical baselines, to increase measurement precision for investigations of gravitational effects on quantum systems, or enable distributed networks of quantum sensors and clocks. We here promote the case of exploiting quantum memories for fundamental physics in space, and discuss both distinct experiments as well as potential quantum memory platforms and their performance.
Internal lipid bilayer friction coefficient from equilibrium canonical simulations
Authors: Benazieb Othmene , Berezovska Lisa , Thalmann Fabrice
Published: January 2023

A fundamental result in the theory of Brownian motion is the Einstein-Sutherland relation between mobility and diffusion constant. Any classical linear response transport coefficient obeys a similar Einstein-Helfand relation. We show in this work how to derive the interleaflet friction coefficient of lipid bilayer by means of an adequate generalisation of the Einstein relation. Special attention must be paid in practical cases to the constraints on the system center of mass position that must be enforced when coupling the system to thermostat.
Fracture toughness of nano-zirconia filled aluminum matrix composites: an experimental and numerical analysis
Authors: Shekhawat Deepika , Agarwal Pankaj , Patnaik Tapan Kumar , Singh Amit , Patnaik Amar
Published: January 2023

During the service life of components, they encounter several cyclic loadings that consequently generate stress which encourages crack interaction ultimately deteriorating materials’ performance. The present study aims to investigate the fracture behaviour of aluminium 6061 reinforced with 0–15 wt% ZrO2 particles (at step of 5 wt%) fabricated using stir casting technique. Compositional analysis through x-ray diffraction was performed on the prepared composite samples. The fracture toughness of prepared composites is investigated through bending test by using single edge notch bend (SENB) specimens. In addition, the computation of fracture toughness was also performed by finite element analysis (FEA) approach, and the numerical results obtained from the FEA were compared with the experimental value. Furthermore, fractography and microstructural tests were carried out in order to investigate the influence of reinforcement weight percentage on the failure behaviour of the composites that had been prepared. The results show that with inclusion of ZrO2 (15 wt%) in aluminum 6061 matrix the maximum fracture toughness of 500.83 MPa.mm0.5 was observed. The study performed through FEA highlights the stress phenomena and result are in good agreement with the experimental results.
Optimizing training trajectories in variational autoencoders via latent Bayesian optimization approach
*
Authors: Biswas Arpan , Vasudevan Rama , Ziatdinov Maxim , Kalinin Sergei V
Published: January 2023

Unsupervised and semi-supervised ML methods such as variational autoencoders (VAE) have become widely adopted across multiple areas of physics, chemistry, and materials sciences due to their capability in disentangling representations and ability to find latent manifolds for classification and/or regression of complex experimental data. Like other ML problems, VAEs require hyperparameter tuning, e.g. balancing the Kullback–Leibler and reconstruction terms. However, the training process and resulting manifold topology and connectivity depend not only on hyperparameters, but also their evolution during training. Because of the inefficiency of exhaustive search in a high-dimensional hyperparameter space for the expensive-to-train models, here we have explored a latent Bayesian optimization (zBO) approach for the hyperparameter trajectory optimization for the unsupervised and semi-supervised ML and demonstrated for joint-VAE with rotational invariances. We have demonstrated an application of this method for finding joint discrete and continuous rotationally invariant representations for modified national institute of standards and technology database (MNIST) and experimental data of a plasmonic nanoparticles material system. The performance of the proposed approach has been discussed extensively, where it allows for any high dimensional hyperparameter trajectory optimization of other ML models.
Silver nanoparticles elevate mutagenesis of eukaryotic genomes
Authors: Wu Kun , Li Haichao , Wang Yaohai , Liu Dan , Li Hui , Zhang Yu , Lynch Michael , Long Hongan
Published: January 2023

Metal nanoparticles, especially silver, have been used in various medical scenarios, due to their excellent antimicrobial effects. Recent studies have shown that AgNPs do not exert mutagenic effects on target bacteria, but the degree to which they compromise eukaryotic genomes remains unclear. To study this, we evaluated the mutagenic effects of AgNPs on the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe ATCC-16979, of which ∼23% genes are homologous to human ones, at single-nucleotide resolution, and whole-genome scale by running 283 mutation accumulation lines for ∼260,000 cell divisions in total. We also explored the action and mutagenesis mechanisms using differential gene-expression analysis based on RNAseq. Upon AgNPs treatment, the genomic base-substitution mutation rate of S. pombe at four-fold degenerate sites increased by 3.46×, and small indels were prone to occur in genomic regions that are not simple sequence repeats. The G:C → T:A transversion rate was also significantly increased, likely mostly from oxidative damage. Thus, in addition to their antimicrobial potency, AgNPs might pose slight genotoxicity threats to eukaryotic and possibly human genomes, though at a low magnitude.
The geometry of adversarial training in binary classification
Authors: Bungert Leon , García Trillos Nicolás , Murray Ryan
Published: January 2023

We establish an equivalence between a family of adversarial training problems for non-parametric binary classification and a family of regularized risk minimization problems where the regularizer is a nonlocal perimeter functional. The resulting regularized risk minimization problems admit exact convex relaxations of the type $L^1+\text{(nonlocal)}\operatorname{TV}$, a form frequently studied in image analysis and graph-based learning. A rich geometric structure is revealed by this reformulation which in turn allows us to establish a series of properties of optimal solutions of the original problem, including the existence of minimal and maximal solutions (interpreted in a suitable sense) and the existence of regular solutions (also interpreted in a suitable sense). In addition, we highlight how the connection between adversarial training and perimeter minimization problems provides a novel, directly interpretable, statistical motivation for a family of regularized risk minimization problems involving perimeter/total variation. The majority of our theoretical results are independent of the distance used to define adversarial attacks.
Chd5 Regulates the Transcription Factor Six3 to Promote Neuronal Differentiation
Authors: Shrestha Padmina , Jaganathan Anbalagan , Huilgol Dhananjay , Ballon Carlos , Hwangbo Yon , Mills Alea A
Published: January 2023

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 5 (Chd5) is an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler that promotes neuronal differentiation. However, the mechanism behind the action of Chd5 during neurogenesis is not clearly understood. Here we use transcriptional profiling of cells obtained from Chd5 deficient mice at early and late stages of neuronal differentiation to show that Chd5 regulates neurogenesis by directing stepwise transcriptional changes. During early stages of neurogenesis, Chd5 promotes expression of the proneural transcription factor Six3 to repress Wnt5a, a non-canonical Wnt ligand essential for the maturation of neurons. This previously unappreciated ability of Chd5 to transcriptionally repress neuronal maturation factors is critical for both lineage specification and maturation. Thus, Chd5 facilitates early transcriptional changes in neural stem cells, thereby initiating transcriptional programs essential for neuronal fate specification.
Multiplex PCR Assay for Rapid Identification of Monilinia rubi, the Causal Agent of Dry-Berry Disease of Caneberries
Authors: Weldon William A. , McGhee Gayle C. , DeLong Jeffery A. , Stockwell Virginia O.
Published: January 2023

Monilinia rubi is the causal agent of dry-berry disease of raspberry and blackberry in northern Washington state and western Canada. The symptoms are visible on green fruits and include necrotic and dried drupelets with progressive necrosis from the receptacle into the peduncle. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, isolation, and identification of the slow-growing fungal pathogen. Diagnosis is slow and difficult with late-season tissues because abiotic stresses or other diseases may cause similar symptoms, and the slow-growing pathogen is not easily isolated from tissues harboring fast-growing environmental fungi. A multiplex PCR assay with primers to amplify an ITS region and beta-tubulin was designed to provide a rapid method to identify the pathogen in culture and in infected berry tissues. For M. rubi and infected berries, two amplicons that differ in length by 400 bp are visualized on agarose gels. No bands were obtained from fungal outgroups or nonsymptomatic berries. For further confirmation of the pathogen and the disease, a single amplicon can be sequenced directly from the multiplex reaction and compared with reference sequences in GenBank. This rapid multiplex assay streamlines diagnosis of dry-berry disease, and its application could provide valuable information on the range of the pathogen, especially in other caneberry production regions.
The Practical Role of Induced Resistance for Crop Protection
Authors: Reglinski Tony , Havis Neil , Rees Helen J. , de Jong Huub
Published: January 2023

Plants have evolved a highly sophisticated immune system to resist pathogen attack comprising both preformed and inducible mechanisms. Over the last 50 years, various biological and chemical inducers have been used to artificially trigger the defense response in plants, thereby promoting an induced resistance (IR) to subsequent pathogen attack. IR has proven effective for disease control in laboratory and glasshouse conditions but has seldom equalled the level of protection offered by synthetic pesticides in the field. However, renewed interest in IR for crop protection is being driven by legislation to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals in agriculture. Inducers can contribute to integrated crop management strategies when used in combination with fungicides, bactericides, and with other biological control options. Integrating inducers in this way can reduce chemical inputs without loss of efficacy. Moreover, advances in our understanding of plant defense are informing the development of new inducers and guiding new strategies for their implementation in sustainable crop protection. This review will discuss the use of IR in selected cropping systems and describe opportunities for optimizing its potential, including the development of more effective inducers and their integration with conventional and cultural control options.
Applying the new guidelines to asthma management in children
Authors: Castagnoli Riccardo , Brambilla Ilaria , Giudice Michele Miraglia Del , Marseglia Gian Luigi , Licari Amelia
Published: January 2023

Purpose of review

This review aims to provide paediatricians with novel concepts from scientific evidence applicable to treating children with asthma. The latest guideline updates on paediatric asthma are discussed here, with a focus on the 2022 update of the GINA document.

Recent findings

Mild asthma remains to be an important challenge for the paediatrician, and the introduction of new evidence-based treatment strategies, particularly those symptom-driven, could have a significant impact on the paediatric population. The identification of predictive biomarkers, the definition of biological treatment response, the possible duration of these therapies in this age group, as well as their potential action on airway remodelling are desirable in the short term. As the number of available biological treatment options expands, paediatricians should be supported by further evidence in decision-making.

There is an urgent need to implement at multiple levels the latest therapeutic strategies proposed for asthma at all severities.
Intergenerational Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorder in Young Adult Male Rats with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Ju Ling-Sha , Zhu Jiepei , Brant Jason O. , Morey Timothy E. , Gravenstein Nikolaus , Seubert Christoph N. , Vasilopoulos Terrie , Setlow Barry , Martynyuk Anatoly E.
Published: January 2023

Background

The authors tested the hypothesis that the effects of traumatic brain injury, surgery, and sevoflurane interact to induce neurobehavioral abnormalities in adult male rats and in their offspring (an animal model of intergenerational perioperative neurocognitive disorder).

Methods

Sprague-Dawley male rats (assigned generation F0) underwent a traumatic brain injury on postnatal day 60 that involved craniectomy (surgery) under 3% sevoflurane for 40 min followed by 2.1% sevoflurane for 3 h on postnatal days 62, 64, and 66 (injury group). The surgery group had craniectomy without traumatic brain injury, whereas the sevoflurane group had sevoflurane only. On postnatal day 90, F0 males and control females were mated to generate offspring (assigned generation F1).

Results

Acutely, F0 injury rats exhibited the greatest increases in serum corticosterone and interleukin-1β and -6, and activation of the hippocampal microglia. Long-term, compared to controls, F0 injury rats had the most exacerbated corticosterone levels at rest (mean ± SD, 2.21 ± 0.64 vs. 7.28 ± 1.95 ng/ml, n = 7 - 8; P < 0.001) and 10 min after restraint (133.12 ± 33.98 vs. 232.83 ± 40.71 ng/ml, n = 7 - 8; P < 0.001), increased interleukin-1β and -6, and reduced expression of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (Nr3c1; 0.53 ± 0.08 fold change relative to control, P < 0.001, n = 6) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes. They also exhibited greater behavioral deficiencies. Similar abnormalities were evident in their male offspring, whereas F1 females were not affected. The reduced Nr3c1 expression in F1 male, but not female, hippocampus was accompanied by corresponding Nr3c1 promoter hypermethylated CpG sites in F0 spermatozoa and F1 male, but not female, hippocampus.

Conclusions

These findings in rats suggest that young adult males with traumatic brain injury are at an increased risk of developing perioperative neurocognitive disorder, as are their unexposed male but not female offspring.

Editor’s Perspective

What We Already Know about This Topic

What This Article Tells Us That Is New
Lipidomics in gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Wang Yi , Pan Xiong-Fei , Pan An
Published: January 2023

Purpose of review

Epidemiological and mechanistic studies have reported relationships between blood lipids, mostly measured by traditional method in clinical settings, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Recent advances of high-throughput lipidomics techniques have made available more comprehensive lipid profiling in biological samples. This review aims to summarize evidence from prospective studies in assessing relations between blood lipids and GDM, and discuss potential underlying mechanisms.

Recent findings

Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based analytical platforms are extensively used in lipidomics research. Epidemiological studies have identified multiple novel lipidomic biomarkers that are associated with risk of GDM, such as certain types of fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol, and lipoproteins. However, the findings are inconclusive mainly due to the heterogeneities in study populations, sample sizes, and analytical platforms. Mechanistic evidence indicates that abnormal lipid metabolism may be involved in the pathogenesis of GDM by impairing pancreatic β-cells and inducing insulin resistance through several etiologic pathways, such as inflammation and oxidative stress.

Lipidomics is a powerful tool to study pathogenesis and biomarkers for GDM. Lipidomic biomarkers and pathways could help to identify women at high risk for GDM and could be potential targets for early prevention and intervention of GDM.
Gordonia sputi -associated bloodstream infection in a renal transplant patient with chronic indwelling central venous catheter: a case report and literature review
Authors: Lo Calvin Ka-Fung , Broderick Conor , Stefanovic Aleksandra , Connors William , Murray Melanie
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Although rare, human infections caused by Gordonia spp. have been reported especially within the immunocompromised population and those with long-term indwelling devices. We report a case of Gordonia spp. bacteremia in a renal transplant patient and present a literature review on microbiologic identification methods of this organism.
Case Presentation: A 62-year-old female renal transplant recipient admitted to hospital with a 2-month history of dry cough and fevers occurring weekly when receiving electrolyte replacement infusions via Groshong line. Over two weeks, blood cultures on multiple occasions repeatedly isolated a Gram-positive bacillus in aerobic bottle only, initially reported as Rhodococcus spp. by local microbiology laboratory. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed multiple ground-glass lung opacities suggestive of septic pulmonary emboli. As central line-associated blood stream infection was suspected, empiric antibiotics were initiated and the Groshong line was removed. The Gram-positive bacillus was later confirmed by reference laboratory as Gordonia sputi via 16S-rRNA sequencing. Vancomycin and ciprofloxacin for duration of six weeks was completed as targeted antimicrobial therapy. After treatment, she remained symptom-free with marked improvement on repeat CT chest imaging.
Conclusion: This case illustrates the challenges surrounding identification of Gordonia spp. and other aerobic actinomycetes.16S-rRNA gene sequencing may be a preferred identification method, especially when initial workup of a weakly acid-fast organism fails to identify or shows discrepant results using traditional diagnostic modalities.
Near-chromosome level genome assembly of devil firefish,Pterois miles
Authors: Kitsoulis Christos V. , Papadogiannis Vasileios , Kristoffersen Jon B. , Kaitetzidou Elisavet , Sterioti Aspasia , Tsigenopoulos Costas S. , Manousaki Tereza
Published: January 2023

Devil firefish (Pterois miles), a member of Scorpaenidae family, is one of the most successful marine non-native species, dominating around the world, that was rapidly spread into the Mediterranean Sea, through the Suez Canal, originating from the Indian Ocean. Even though lionfishes (Scorpaenidae) are identified among the most prosperous marine invaders, within this taxonomic group, the genomic resources are scant, while reference genome assemblies are totally absent. Here, we built and analyzed the first reference genome assembly ofP. milesand explored its evolutionary background. The resulting genome assembly consisted of 660 contigs and scaffolds (N50 = 14,5 Mb) with a total size of about 902 Mb, while delivering 98% BUSCO completeness. We identified and described the large amount of transposable elements present in the genome and based on genomic data we constructed the first teleost phylogeny which includes a member of genusPterois. The high-quality and contiguityde novogenome assembly built herein provides a valuable resource for future studies in species’ biology and ecology, lionfish phylogeny, the influence of transposable elements on the evolution of vertebrate genomes and fish toxins evolution.
Diverse methanotrophs from alpha and gammaproteobacteria dwell in a stone quarry: a study from Western India wetland
Authors: Mohite Jyoti A. , Manvi Shubha S. , Deshpande Shrinidhi , Patange Sanjana , Bahulikar Rahul A. , Pardhi Kajal , Rahalkar Monali C.
Published: January 2023

Freshwater wetlands are a rich habitat for aerobic or micro-aerophilic methanotrophs. In the present study, we sampled a wetland ecosystem from Western India, a stone quarry with water situated amidst a hill. The wetland is surrounded by the macrophyteTyphasp. (cat-tail). To study the methanotroph diversity in this ecosystem, we collected mud samples from the mini-lakes and rhizospheric soil ofTyphaby random sampling. A serial dilution enrichment in liquid followed by isolation on agarose plates in a methane-air atmosphere was used. The high abundance of methanotrophs was indicated by the fact that growth was obtained till dilutions: 10−9or 10−10. InTypharoot-associated soil, Type I methanotrophs:Methylomonas koyamaeand unculturedMethylococcuswere isolated from the lower dilutions: 10−3-10−6. Type II methanotrophsMethylocystis sp. andMethylosinusspp were isolated from the higher dilutions. TheMethylococcusstrain isolated was about 97.4% (16S rRNA gene similarity) related toMethylococcus capsulatusandMethylococcus geothermalisand was predicted to represent a putative novel species. Three more methanotrophs, non-axenic, related toMethylomagnum-Methylocaldum spp, Methylocucumis oryzae, andMethylocystisspp, were cultured. Their affiliation was predicted based on thepmoAgene sequence. The mud samples showed relatively less diversity and mainly yielded twoMethylomonasstrains related toM. koyamae.
Applying models of care for total hip and knee arthroplasty: External validation of a published predictive model to identify extended stay risk prior to lower-limb arthroplasty
Authors: Harrison-Brown Meredith , Scholes Corey , Ebrahimi Milad , Bell Christopher , Kirwan Garry
Published: January 2023

Introduction/Aims

Multiple predictive tools have been developed to identify patients requiring an extended hospital stay following lower limb arthroplasty. Use at new sites requires verification of appropriate data coverage and evidence of validity in a new population. The aim of this study was to externally validate a previously reported model for identifying patients requiring an extended (5+ day) stay following total hip or knee replacement in a medium-sized public hospital orthopaedic department.

Methods

Electronic medical records were accessed and retrospective data extracted from 200 randomly selected total hip or knee arthroplasty patients. Data fields were matched to the candidate model and organised for validation analysis. Model validation was assessed with model discrimination, calibration on both original (unadjusted) and adjusted forms of the candidate model. Decision curve analysis was conducted on the outputs of the adjusted model.

Results

The original model performed poorly in the validation dataset, grossly overestimating length of stay. Performance improved following adjustment of the model intercept and model coefficients, although the model remained poorly calibrated at low and medium risk threshold and net benefit of the adjusted model was modest.

Conclusion

Consideration of predictive models to improve resource allocation for postoperative management of arthroplasty patients should include practical assessment of discrimination, calibration and net benefit of intervention at a clinically acceptable threshold prior to implementation within their local setting. This forms a clinically meaningful assessment of the accuracy, as well as costs and benefits associated with the desired change in practice. The selection of an appropriate model for quality care improvement remains challenging.
Single-cell profiling of multiple myeloma reveals molecular response to FGFR3 inhibitor despite clinical progression
Authors: Croucher Danielle C. , Devasia Anup Joseph , Abelman Dor D. , Mahdipour-Shirayeh Ali , Li Zhihua , Erdmann Natalie , Tiedemann Rodger , Pugh Trevor J. , Trudel Suzanne
Published: January 2023

Genomic characterization of cancer has enabled identification of numerous molecular targets, which has led to significant advances in personalized medicine. However, with few exceptions, precision medicine approaches in the plasma cell malignancy multiple myeloma (MM) have had limited success, likely owing to the subclonal nature of molecular targets in this disease. Targeted therapies against FGFR3 have been under development for the past decade in the hopes of targeting aberrant FGFR3 activity in MM. FGFR3 activation results from the recurrent transforming event of t(4;14) found in ∼15% of MM patients, as well as secondaryFGFR3mutations in this subgroup. To evaluate the effectiveness of targeting FGFR3 in MM, we undertook a phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the small-molecule FGFR1–4 inhibitor, erdafitinib, in relapsed/refractory myeloma patients with or withoutFGFR3mutations (NCT02952573). Herein, we report on a single t(4;14) patient enrolled on this study who was identified to have a subclonalFGFR3stop-loss deletion. Although this individual eventually progressed on study and succumbed to their disease, the intended molecular response was revealed through an extensive molecular characterization of the patient's tumor at baseline and on treatment using single-cell genomics. We identified elimination of theFGFR3-mutant subclone after treatment and expansion of a preexisting clone with loss of Chromosome 17p. Altogether, our study highlights the utility of single-cell genomics in targeted trials as they can reveal molecular mechanisms that underlie sensitivity and resistance. This in turn can guide more personalized and targeted therapeutic approaches, including those that involve FGFR3-targeting therapies.
Digital transformation adoption in human resources management during COVID-19
Authors: Al-Alawi Adel Ismail , Messaadia Mourad , Mehrotra Arpita , Sanosi Sohayla Khidir , Elias Hala , Althawadi Aysha Hisham
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discover the factors related to human resource (HR) digital transformation (DT) in Bahrain during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to analyze the impact of e-human resource management (e-HRM) on organizational performance. These factors are funding, information technology (IT) infrastructure, technical support, digital skills or talents, organizational culture, employee resistance and top management support. These factors were tested to determine whether they affected HR DT in Bahrain during COVID-19. There are no findings in the researched literature regarding the proposed factors that affect HR DT in Bahrain during COVID-19 in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

For data collection, a quantitative method was applied by conducting an online survey and distributing it to HR executives and employees from multiple organizations in Bahrain, both in the private and public sectors.

Findings

This study proposes a DT adoption model based on seven factors extracted from the literature review. A questionnaire was deployed, and accurate data were collected, processed and then analyzed. The logit model shows determinants factor to the DT adoption where all variables have a positive effect.

Originality/value

Using technology in an organization’s HR practices, known as e-HRM or HR DT, is becoming more crucial since the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike European countries, the HR sector in Bahrain is not prepared to adopt the e-HRM process. This paper proposes a model that enables the HR sector to adopt digital technologies. This model is based on the key factors that enable an effective transition to the sector’s digitalization (e-HRM). Future research is sought to provide additional insights into the same factors and measure their effect on HR DT during COVID-19 in other countries.
The link between transformational leadership and the EFQM model elements
Authors: Tarí Juan José , Portela Maquieira Silvia , Molina-Azorín José F.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This work examines the relationship between transformational leadership and enablers and results of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model 2013 and the relationship between the EFQM model elements (enablers and results).

Design/methodology/approach

The work employs partial least squares (PLS) and empirical data from 102 hotels.

Findings

Transformational leadership is key to facilitate the enablers of the EFQM model (strategy, people, partnership and processes) and improve customer, employee and social results and organizational performance.

Originality/value

The present work expands previous studies that focus on analyzing the link between enablers and results of EFQM by showing that transformational leadership is an appropriate leadership style to foster the EFQM model elements. It empirically supports the view that transformational leadership is a facilitator that can foster the EFQM enablers and improve results in hotels. Thus, it also sheds light on the controversial link between transformational leadership and various performance measures (customer, employee and social results and organizational performance).