bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large-scale deployment of SIT-based technology in a Brazilian city prevented Dengue outbreak
Authors: de Castro Poncio Lisiane , dos Anjos Filipe Apolinário , de Oliveira Deborah A. , Rosa Aline , Silva Bianca Piraccini , Rebechi Débora , da Costa Franciscato Diego Alan , de Souza Cláudio , Paiva Uilson , Mazurechen Marilu , de Araújo Ribeiro Rafael , Basile Priscila , Rezende Erikon Leandro , Paldi Nitzan
Published: September 2022

Background

Dengue is a global problem that seems to be worsening, as hyper-urbanization associated with climate change has led to a significant increase in the abundance and geographical spread of its principal vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The current available solutions, including vaccines and traditional vector-control methods, have not been able to stop the spread of dengue which shows the urgent need to implement alternative technologies as practical solutions. We recently presented ‘Natural Vector Control’ (NVC), a new Sterile Insect Technology-based method that uses massive releases of sterile male mosquitoes produced from the combined treatment with dsRNA and thiotepa. In a previous pilot trial, two intervention periods over two epidemiological seasons were carried out, in which the control and treated areas were alternated between the epidemiological seasons, and we demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the method in suppressing the Ae. aegypti vector population and in blocking the occurrence of an outbreak of dengue in the treated areas. Here, we expand the use of the “Natural Vector Control” program in a large-scale 2-year period intervention carried out in an entire city located in southern Brazil.

Methods

Sterile male mosquitoes were produced from locally sourced Ae. aegypti mosquitoes by using a treatment that includes double-stranded RNA and thiotepa. Weekly massive releases of sterile male mosquitoes were performed in predefined areas of Ortigueira from December 2020 to July 2022. Mosquito monitoring was performed by using ovitraps during the entire period of intervention. Dengue incidence data in Ortigueira and neighboring cities was obtained from the Brazilian National Disease Surveillance system.

Results

During the two epidemiological seasons, the intervention in Ortigueira resulted in up to 98.7% suppression of live progeny of field Ae. aegypti mosquitoes recorded over time. More importantly, the program protected Ortigueira from a dengue outbreak that occurred in the neighboring cities: the dengue incidence in Ortigueira was 97% lower compared to 4 control cities.

Conclusions

The Natural Vector Control method has again been shown to be a safe and efficient way to suppress Ae. aegypti field populations and prevent the occurrence of a dengue outbreak. Importantly, it has been shown to be applicable for large-scale, real-life conditions.
Widespread, perception-related information in the human brain scales with levels of consciousness
Authors: Vigotsky Andrew D. , Jabakhanji Rami , Branco Paulo , Iannetti Gian Domenico , Baliki Marwan N. , Apkarian A. Vania
Published: September 2022

How does the human brain generate coherent, subjective perceptions—transforming yellow and oblong visual sensory information into the perception of an edible banana1? This is a hard problem. The standard viewpoint posits that anatomical and functional networks integrate local, specialized processing across the brain to somehow construct unique percepts. Here, we provide evidence for a novel organizational concept by uncovering task-specific information distributed across the human brain. First, we show that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can uncover task-specific information throughout the neocortex, even across voxels traditionally discarded as “noise” (t-statistics ≈ 0), challenging the sensitivity of traditional linear, univariate analytical approaches. Remarkably, task-specific signals could also be uncovered from across-subject variances and were ubiquitous even in the subcortex and cerebellum. Finally, we show that the widespread signal in regions remote from a task’s primary and secondary sensory cortices depends on the level of sedation, suggesting it is related to perception†rather than sensory stimulus encoding. We hypothesize that these widespread, task-specific, and consciousness level-dependent signals may be the basis for coherent, subjective perceptions.
Synthetic maize centromeres transmit chromosomes across generations
Authors: Dawe R. Kelly , Gent Jonathan I. , Zeng Yibing , Zhang Han , Fu Fang-Fang , Swentowsky Kyle W. , Kim Dong won , Wang Na , Liu Jianing , Piri Rebecca D.
Published: September 2022

Centromeres are long, often repetitive regions of genomes that bind kinetochore proteins and ensure normal chromosome segregation. Engineering centromeres that function in vivo has proven to be difficult. Here we describe a LexA-CENH3 tethering approach that activates functional centromeres at maize synthetic repeat arrays containing LexO binding sites. The synthetic centromeres are sufficient to cause chromosome breakage and release of chromosome fragments that are passed through meiosis and into progeny. Several independent chromosomes were identified, each with newly created centromeres localized over the repeat arrays where they were directed. The new centromeres were self-sustaining and stably transmitted chromosomes to progeny in the absence of the LexA-CENH3 activator. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of using synthetic centromeres for karyotype engineering applications.
A novel mechanobiological model of bone metastasis reveals that mechanical stimulation inhibits the pro-osteoclastogenic effects of breast cancer cells
Authors: Kumar Vatsal , Naqvi Syeda M. , Verbruggen Anneke , McEvoy Eoin , McNamara Laoise M.
Published: September 2022

Bone is highly susceptible to cancer metastasis, and both tumour and bone cells enable tumour invasion through a “vicious cycle” of biochemical signalling. Tumor metastasis into bone also alters biophysical cues to both tumour and bone cells, which are highly sensitive to their mechanical environment. However, the mechanobiological feedback between these cells that perpetuates this cycle has not been studied. Here, we develop highly novel in vitro and computational models to provide an advanced understanding of how tumor growth is regulated by the synergistic influence of tumour-bone cell signaling and mechanobiological cues. In particular, we develop the first multicellular healthy and metastatic bone models, which can account for physiological mechanical signals within a custom bioreactor. These models successfully recapitulated mineralization, mechanobiological responses, osteolysis and metastatic activity. Ultimately we demonstrate that mechanical stimulus provided protective effects against tumor-induced osteolysis, confirming the importance of mechanobiological factors in bone metastasis development.
Loss of estrogen unleashing neuro-inflammation increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women
Authors: Li Fuhai , Oh Inez , Kumar Sayantan , Eteleeb Abdallah , Gupta Aditi , Buchser William , Xiong Chengjie , Cole Sessions F. , McDade Eric , Karch Celeste M. , Harari Oscar , Payne Philip R. , Cruchaga Carlos
Published: September 2022

The risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in women is about 2 times greater than in men. The estrogen hypothesis is being accepted as the essential sex factor causing the sex difference in AD. Also, the recent meta-analysis using large-scale medical records data indicated estrogen replacement therapy. However, the underlying molecular targets and mechanisms explaining this sex difference in AD disease development remain unclear. In this study, we identified that estrogen treatment can strongly inhibition of neuro-inflammation signaling targets, using the systems pharmacology model; and identified ESR1/ESR2 (the receptors of estrogen) are topologically close to the neuroinflammation biomarker genes using signaling network analysis. Moreover, the estrogen level in women decreased to an extremely lower level than in men after age 55. Pooling together the multiple pieces of evidence, it is concluded that the loss of estrogen unleashing neuro-inflammation increases the women’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These analysis results provide novel supporting evidence explaining the potential mechanism of the anti-neuroinflammation role of estrogen causing the sex difference of AD. Medications boosting the direct downstream signaling of ESR1/ESR2, or inhibiting upstream signaling targets of neuroinflammation, like JAK2 inhibitors, on the signaling network can be potentially effective or synergistic combined with estrogen for AD prevention and treatment.
Interrogating endothelial barrier regulation by temporally resolved kinase network generation
Authors: Wei Ling , Dankwa Selasi , Vijayan Kamalakannan , Smith Joseph D. , Kaushansky Alexis
Published: September 2022

Vascular leak is a common disease complication, yet the signaling networks regulating barrier integrity are incompletely understood. We developed a novel methodology, Temporally REsolved KInase Network Generation (TREKING), which combines a 28-kinase inhibitor screen with machine learning and network reconstruction to build time-resolved, functional phosphosignaling networks. We demonstrated the utility of TREKING for identifying pathways mediating barrier integrity following thrombin stimulation with or without tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activation in brain endothelial cells. TREKING assigned distinct barrier phenotypes to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and revealed a condition-specific MAPKAPK2/MK2 switch kinase pathway with early barrier-disruptive activity in both inflammatory conditions, but late barrier-restorative activity exclusively in the absence of TNF pre-conditioning. MAPKAPK2/MK2 was activated with expected distinct kinetics under the two inflammatory conditions and late activation was linked to a MAP3K20/ZAK-MAPK14/p38α-MAPKAPK2/MK2 pathway. Beyond MAPKs, TREKING predicts extensive interconnected networks that control barrier integrity and is a tool for dissecting complex temporal phosphosignaling networks across biological systems.
Detection of rifampicin resistance in sputum samples by PCR-ELISA
Authors: Bellido-Pantoja Rosa , Pacheco-Ascencio Edson , Valencia-Torres Eddy , Caceres-Rey Omar
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs like Rifampicin and Isoniazid generating a public health problem. Using molecular techniques, such as PCR-ELISA, is an alternative that will detect resistance to RIF easily and economically.

Objective

Optimize a PCR-ELISA that can detect resistance to RIF in sputum samples.

Method

A PCR-ELISA was standardized to amplify a 255bp of rpoB gene that encodes resistance to RIF. Different parameters were optimized: hybridization temperatures, and probe concentration, among others. The technique’s analytical sensitivity, specificity, and concordance against GenotypeMTBDRplus v2 were evaluated using 20 samples in a pilot assay.

Results

A PCR-ELISA was optimized for the detection of resistance mutations; the analytical sensitivity of the PCR-ELISA was 4ng of PCR product for the H445D and H445Y probes while for the S450L probe the sensitivity was 0.4 ng of PCR product respectively. The technique has a specificity of 100%. Two mutations, S450W and L452P, were not detected by our system. In the pilot assay, a “good agreement” (k=0.737) was obtained between both techniques.

Conclusions

A PCR-ELISA was standardized for the detection of the 3 more frequent mutations in Peru associated with resistance to RIF simultaneously, the most frequent being S450L.
Wildfire smoke exposure and early childhood respiratory health: a study of prescription claims data
Authors: Dhingra Radhika , Keeler Corinna , Staley Brooke S. , Jardel Hanna V. , Ward-Caviness Cavin , Rebuli Meghan E. , Xi Yuzhi , Rappazzo Kristen , Hernandez Michelle , Chelminski Anne , Jaspers Ilona , Rappold Ana G.
Published: September 2022

Wildfire smoke is associated with short-term respiratory outcomes including asthma exacerbation in children. As investigations into developmental wildfire smoke exposure on children’s longer-term respiratory health are sparse, we investigated associations between developmental WSE and first use of respiratory medications. Prescription claims from IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database were linked with wildfire smoke plume data from NASA satellites based on Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). A retrospective cohort of live infants (2010-2016) born into MSAs in six western states, having prescription insurance, and whose birthdate was estimable from claims data was constructed (N=184,703); of these, gestational age was estimated for 113,154 infants. MSA, gestational age, and birthdate were used to estimate average weekly smoke exposure days (smoke-day) for each developmental period: three trimesters, and two sequential 12-week periods post-birth. Medications treating respiratory tract inflammation were classified using active ingredient and mode of administration into three categories: : ‘upper respiratory’, ‘lower respiratory’, ‘systemic anti-inflammatory’. To evaluate associations between wildfire smoke exposure and medication usage, Cox models associating smoke-days with first observed prescription of each medication category were adjusted for infant sex, birth-season, and birthyear with a random intercept for MSA. Smoke exposure during postnatal periods was associated with earlier first use of upper respiratory medications (1-12 weeks: hazard ratio (HR)=1.094 per 1-day increase in average weekly smoke-day, 95%CI: (1.005,1.191); 13-24 weeks: HR=1.108, 95%CI: (1.016,1.209)); sex-specific HRs varied by post-birth exposure window. Protective associations were observed during gestational windows for both lower respiratory and systemic anti-inflammatory medications; it is possible that these associations may be a consequence of live-birth bias. These findings suggest wildfire smoke exposure during early postnatal developmental periods impact subsequent early life respiratory health.
The impact of cross-reactive immunity on the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants
Authors: Thompson R.N. , Southall E. , Daon Y. , Lovell-Read F.A. , Iwami S. , Thompson C.P. , Obolski U.
Published: September 2022

A key feature of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with different transmission characteristics. However, when a novel variant arrives in a host population, it will not necessarily lead to many cases. Instead, it may fade out, due to stochastic effects and the level of immunity in the population. Immunity against novel SARS-CoV-2 variants may be influenced by prior exposures to related viruses, such as other SARS-CoV-2 variants and seasonal coronaviruses, and the level of cross-reactive immunity conferred by those exposures. Here, we investigate the impact of cross-reactive immunity on the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in a simplified scenario in which a novel SARS-CoV-2 variant is introduced after an antigenically related virus has spread in the population. We use mathematical modelling to explore the risk that the novel variant invades the population and causes a large number of cases, as opposed to fading out. If cross- reactive immunity is complete (i.e. someone infected by the previously circulating virus is no longer susceptible to the novel variant), the novel variant must be more transmissible than the previous virus to invade the population. However, in a more realistic scenario in which cross-reactive immunity is partial, we show that it is possible for novel variants to invade, even if they are less transmissible than previously circulating viruses. This is because partial cross-reactive immunity effectively increases the pool of susceptible hosts that are available to the novel variant compared to complete cross-reactive immunity. Furthermore, if previous infection with the antigenically related virus assists the establishment of infection with the novel variant, as has been proposed following some experimental studies, then even variants with very limited transmissibility are able to invade the host population. Our results highlight that fast assessment of the level of cross-reactive immunity conferred by related viruses on novel SARS-CoV-2 variants is an essential component of novel variant risk assessments.
A PDLP-NHL3 complex integrates plasmodesmal immune signaling cascades
Authors: Tee Estee E. , Johnston Matthew G. , Papp Diana , Faulkner Christine
Published: September 2022

The plant immune system relies on the perception of molecules that signal the presence of a microbe threat. This triggers signal transduction that mediates a range of cellular responses via a collection of molecular machinery including receptors, small molecules, and enzymes. One response to pathogen perception is the restriction of cell-to-cell communication by plasmodesmal closure. We previously found that while chitin and flg22 trigger specialized immune signaling cascades in the plasmodesmal plasma membrane, both execute plasmodesmal closure via callose synthesis at the plasmodesmata. Therefore, the signaling pathways ultimately converge at or upstream of callose synthesis. To establish the hierarchy of signaling at plasmodesmata and characterize points of convergence in microbe elicitor-triggered signaling, we profiled the dependence of plasmodesmal responses triggered by different elicitors on a range of plasmodesmal signaling machinery. We identified that, like chitin, flg22 signals via RBOHD to induce plasmodesmal closure. Further, we found that PDLP1, PDLP5 and CALS1 are common to microbe- and SA-triggered responses, identifying PDLPs as a candidate signaling nexus. To understand how PDLPs relay a signal to CALS1, we screened for PDLP5 interactors and found NHL3, which is also required for chitin-, flg22- and SA-triggered plasmodesmal responses and PDLP-mediated activation of callose synthesis. We conclude that a PDLP-NHL3 complex acts as an integrating node of plasmodesmal signaling cascades, transmitting multiple immune signals to activate CALS1 and plasmodesmata closure.

Significance Statement

Plants close plasmodesmata to restrict cell-to-cell communication after pathogen perception and in response to a range of stresses. All these stimuli trigger callose deposition at the plasmodesmal neck, suggesting a convergence of signaling. We have defined the hierarchy of molecular components and signals required to mediate plasmodesmal closure in immune responses, identifying a PDLP-NHL3 complex as a critical node that integrates multiple signaling cascades to regulate plasmodesmata.
Alcohol use, physical activity, and muscle strength moderate the relationship between body composition and frailty risk among people living with HIV
Authors: Levitt Danielle E. , Simon Liz , Lin Hui‐Yi , Siggins Robert W. , Ferguson Tekeda F. , Molina Patricia E. , Welsh David A.
Published: September 2022

Background

Antiretroviral therapy has improved life expectancy among people living with HIV (PLWH). Despite increased longevity, PLWH are at increased risk of age‐related comorbidities, including frailty. We examined the relationship between body composition and frailty among PLWH, and moderation of this relationship by substance use, physical activity (PA), and physical function.

Methods

Participants (n = 341; 71% male, 48 ± 10 years, body mass index (BMI) = 27.3 ± 7.0 kg/m2) enrolled in the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV (NOAH) study underwent measures of body composition, muscle strength, and gait speed. Whole blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) was measured, and substance use and PA were self‐reported. Frailty risk measures included the 58‐Item Deficit Index (DI58) and the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index 1.0, where higher scores indicate greater frailty risk.

Results

Multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and race showed that higher fat‐free mass index (FFMI), body fat (%), waist‐to‐hip ratio, and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 vs. < 25.0 kg/m2 were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with decreased frailty risk measured by the VACS Index, whereas adjusted analyses showed no association between body composition variables and the DI58 score. Recent alcohol use, muscle strength, and PA, but not lifetime alcohol use or gait speed, significantly moderated associations between body composition variables and frailty risk with medium‐to‐large effect sizes. Subgroup analyses revealed a negative relationship between DI58 and FFMI among people with PEth > 8 ng/ml and negative relationships of VACS Index with FFMI and WHR in people with lower muscle strength. Overweight or obese BMI categories were positively associated with DI58 in people with lower muscle strength or higher PA level but negatively associated in those with higher muscle strength.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that body composition has significant modulatory effects on frailty risk in PLWH, where obesity increases the risk of frailty and greater muscle mass may be protective, even in individuals who use alcohol. These results highlight the importance of considering body composition, physical activity, and physical function in assessing frailty risk in PLWH, particularly among individuals who use alcohol. Moreover, they support the implementation of physical activity interventions to ameliorate the risk of frailty in aging PLWH.
Utility of optical coherence tomography in basal cell naevus syndrome: A case report
Authors: Ho Genevieve , Schwartz Rodrigo J. , Melhoranse‐Gouveia Bruna , Guitera Pascale , O'Sullivan Niamh A. , Cheung Veronica K. Y. , Ch'ng Sydney , Martin Linda K.
Published: September 2022

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a useful non‐invasive diagnostic tool for diagnosing and monitoring treatment of basal cell carcinomas. We describe the use of OCT in a patient with Basal Cell Naevus Syndrome. Through measuring tumour depth on OCT, management of individual tumours was triaged accordingly using 0.4 mm tumour depth as a cut‐off for surgical and non‐surgical management. OCT has potential to reduce unnecessary excisions and associated morbidity in this population of patients.
The Role of Marital Status in the Online Lending Market: Evidence from the Renrendai Platform
Authors: Huang Wenli , Chen Anyun , Qian Yanhong
Published: September 2022

Based on data from the Renrendai platform in China, this paper studies the impacts of marital status on funding success and default. Probit models are employed to perform the main regressions. The empirical results show that married borrowers have the highest rate of funding success, followed by divorced and single borrowers. Although the default risk of divorced borrowers is higher than that of married borrowers, it is not different from that of single borrowers. In addition, this paper uncovers an important joint effect of marital status and education on online lending.
Evaluation of the therapeutic role of allopurinol on bisphenol S gastric and renal toxicity in adult male albino rats: An in vivo study
Authors: Khalifa Fatma Nada , Hosny Sara Adel , Matter Lamiaa Mohammed , Ramadan Nagwa Mahmoud , Fattah Amani Abdel , Moawad Asmaa Mohammad
Published: September 2022

Bisphenol S (BPS) is used as an alternative to bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and thermal receipt sheet manufacturing. We examined the toxic effects of BPS on gastric and renal functions, as well as the efficacy of allopurinol as a treatment. Albino rats were given only BPS (30 and 120 mg/kg BW/day), and some were treated with allopurinol prior to sacrifice. Gastric and renal specimens were evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically, and blood from the tail vein was analysed for levels of gastrin, uric acid (UA), erythropoietin and 8‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG). Gastrin levels decreased while erythropoietin, UA and 8‐OHdG levels increased significantly. The severity of gastric and renal damage observed in BPS‐treated animals increased with increasing doses. The mean percentage of COX‐2 immunoreactivity and the mean number of CD45 immunoreactive cells were significantly increased in the stomach and kidney of BPS rats. Allopurinol ameliorated the biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical alterations induced by BPS, with superior protection at lower doses. Allopurinol can reverse the effects of BPS on the stomach and kidneys.
La concession familiale Bamiléké: un exemple d'architecture endogène au Cameroun
Authors: Elamé Joseph Esoh , Landry Tagne Tocheu Norbert
Published: September 2022

Cet article aborde la question de l'architecture vernaculaire ou endogène dans les villes camerounaises à partir d'une étude de cas de la concession familiale Bamiléké en tant que forme bien spécifique d'organisation de l'habitat au sein de la communauté traditionnelle de Pète‐Bandjoun. Tel que décrit dans le texte, la concession comprend les unités spatiales suivantes: les espaces verts, la délimitation de la concession, la cour intérieure, la décharge familiale, l'environnement magico‐religieux, le cimetière familial, l'habitation autochtone et ses principales unités fonctionnelles (la cuisine, les toilettes, le grenier, etc.). Les auteurs proposent de considérer la concession familiale Bamiléké comme un important savoir endogène, un patrimoine culturel matériel et immatériel, qui doit être préservé et intégré aux processus actuels d'urbanisme.
Echocardiographic diagnosis of a large coronary artery fistula in a newborn
Authors: Masci Marco , Moras Patrizio , Campanale Cosimo Marco , Guk Yeva , Donato Valeria , Toscano Alessandra
Published: September 2022

Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a rare cause of heart murmur in newborns, with a very heterogeneous clinical presentation and unpredictable natural history. We described the case of a large neonatal CAF in an asymptomatic newborn. The patient did not show any symptoms of heart failure during a three‐month follow‐up. In this case, echocardiography was as accurate as CT scan in describing the anatomy and the course of CAF.
Closing the door in front of a torrential mitral regurgitation
Authors: Mansour Mohamad Jihad , Natalis Alexandre , Masson Jean‐Bernard , Potvin Jeannot , Romanelli Giovanni
Published: September 2022

Background

Treatment of symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) is challenging in patients who are not candidates for surgical intervention.

Case Description

We report the case of a 64‐year‐old female with multiple comorbidities who was found to have severe MR due to a large mitral valve non coaptation.

Conclusions

In this case report, we show the potential of transcatheter edge‐to‐edge mitral valve repair using MitraClip for the treatment of torrential MR due to a large mitral valve non‐coaptation in a patient with no prior history of coronary artery disease and in whom surgical intervention was not an option.
Mapping the graduating European dentist to established undergraduate dental education activities at Trinity College Dublin
Authors: van Harten Maria T. , O'Connell Brian , Duane Brett , Nolan Audrey
Published: September 2022

Introduction

“The Graduating European Dentist” Curriculum (GED) was adopted in 2020 by the Irish Dental Council as its new expectation for competencies. The Dublin Dental University Hospital (DDUH) sought to map the teaching activities for its undergraduate dental training programme to the GED. This paper describes the process developed for curriculum mapping.

Materials and Methods

Guided by historical mapping data and materials on the DDUH's virtual learning environment; teaching activities in a bespoke curriculum mapping system were edited, added and/or deleted to match existing teaching activities currently delivered by staff to students. These activities were then remapped to GED Learning Outcomes. Staff members with oversight responsibilities for a collection of activities then received and provided feedback on reports tabulating the preliminary map. Feedback from staff members around their activities was accommodated to produce an accurate reflection of teaching activities across the 5 years program.

Results

A process for mapping existing teaching activities to a new set of curriculum expectations using a bespoke application and several other widely available technologies was established. Informal feedback from staff has been positive and has raised ideas for future opportunities to improve the alignment of educational activities with learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Other dental schools may find this accounting of the DDUH's efforts useful in guiding their own curriculum mapping.
Artificial neural network and dataset optimization for implementation of linear system models in resource‐constrained embedded systems
Authors: Sami Abdul , Asif Ali , Imran Muhammad , Aziz Farah , Noor Muhammad Yasir
Published: September 2022

On‐board training of artificial neural network (ANN) is important in instances where real time data are required for model training. Provision of on‐board intelligence enables the developed systems to self‐recalibrate and enhances their efficiencies. In this work, investigations have been performed to determine optimized parameters of ANN model for linear systems. The performance parameters that is, model parameters, memory requirements, accuracy and processing time are chosen by considering the model to be installed on commercially available microcontrollers that have very limited on‐board memory. Minimum data requirements for training ANN models of linear systems are also explored for better performance. All dataset ranges are normalized in order to exclude the effects of range differences. It is shown that for linear systems, 1–3–1 architecture produces best results against ≤100 data points when Bayesian Regularization (BR) training function is used along with Log Sigmoid Activation function. Simulations for 1–3–1 architecture are then performed for datasets having 10, 25, 50 and 100 data points. The results show that training with 25 data points produces over‐all better performance than other datasets. A large dataset utilizes more training time and memory whereas a smaller dataset produces relatively lesser accuracy. The effects of clustered data and uniformly distributed data are also explored. It is found that total epochs in case of clustered data are significantly higher than uniformly distributed data. The combination of these optimized parameters that is, 1–3–1 architecture, with BR and Log function, for ≤100 data points can be used for the development and implementation of linear components or systems in resource‐constrained embedded systems.
Fatigue behavior and mechanism of dog‐bone‐shaped specimens of FV520B‐I in a very high cycle regime
Authors: Zhang Ming , Zhang Han , Li Mengli , Liu Long , Wang Pengfei
Published: September 2022

The fatigue properties of dog‐bone‐shaped specimens of FV520B‐I base metal and the welded joint up to 109 cycles were obtained. The S–N curves of the dog‐bone‐shaped specimens were lower than that of the funnel‐shaped specimens, and the S–N curves of welded joint specimens moved downward compared with that of base metal specimens. For all types of specimens, cracks initiating from the surface matrix and cracks initiating from subsurface inclusions were the main cracking modes in the high cycle regime and the very high cycle regime, respectively. The Murakami model and the modified model were used to predict the fatigue strength at 109 cycles. The parameter D* = NG / Ns was used to characterize the competition of different cracking modes, and the expression of the critical radius rc was obtained. Combined with the Gumbel distribution curve of the inclusion size, the probabilities of subsurface cracking and surface cracking were obtained.
Burnout, quality of life and perceived patient adverse events among paediatric nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Khatatbeh Haitham , Al‐Dwaikat Tariq , Alfatafta Huda , Ali Amira Mohammed , Pakai Annamária
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This cross‐sectional, descriptive, correlational study aimed to measure burnout, quality of life (QOL) and perceptions of patient‐related adverse events among paediatric nurses amid the COVID‐19 pandemic and assess the relationships between these scores and participants' demographic and work‐related characteristics.

Background

The mental health of most nurses may severely suffer due to the significant adversities that they struggle with while they care for their patients amid the COVID‐19 pandemic. Mental distress negatively affects nurses' relationships and work performance, which may adversely influence the quality of care and patient safety.

Methods

A convenient sample of 225 Jordanian paediatric nurses completed a test batter comprising the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Brief Version of the World Health Organisation's Quality of Life questionnaire and the nurse‐perceived patient adverse events' questionnaire. This study was prepared and is reported according to the STROBE checklist.

Results

Paediatric nurses reported high levels of burnout, low QOL and high occurrence of hospital‐acquired infections. Participants' age and hospital/unit capacity were significantly associated with burnout and QOL.

Conclusion

Personal traits, perceived salary insufficiency and hospital/unit capacity represent factors that aggravate burnout, lower quality of life and worsen perceived patient safety among paediatric nurses.

Relevance to clinical practice

Policymakers should promote nurses' mental integrity and patient safety by addressing issues of workload and financial sufficiency and by provide interventions aimed to increase nurses' resilience.

Patient or public contribution

Patients or public were not involved in setting the research question, the outcome measures, the design or implementation of the study. However, paediatric nurses responded to the research questionnaires.
Asset Pricing with Cohort‐Based Trading in MBS Markets
Authors: FUSARI NICOLA , LI WEI , LIU HAOYANG , SONG ZHAOGANG
Published: September 2022

Agency mortgage‐backed securities (MBSs) with diverse characteristics are traded in parallel through individualized specified pool (SP) contracts and standardized to‐be‐announced (TBA) contracts with delivery flexibility. This parallel trading environment generates distinctive effects on MBS pricing and trading: (i) Although cheapest‐to‐deliver (CTD) issues are present in TBA trading and absent from SP trading by design, MBS heterogeneity associated with CTD discounts affects SP yields positively, with the effect stronger for lower‐value SPs; (ii) high selling pressure amplifies the effects of MBS heterogeneity on SP yields; and (iii) greater MBS heterogeneity dampens SP and TBA trading activities but increases their ratio.
Contracting with multiple suppliers: A multi‐item buyer's make versus buy decision
Authors: Chaturvedi Aadhaar
Published: September 2022

We consider a multi‐item buyer's make versus buy decision. The buyer sells two substitutable products with uncertain demand. Each product requires a different item, which the buyer procures from two separate suppliers (one for each item) who offer quantity‐payment contracts under asymmetric information. The buyer can make one of the items but not both. We compare the buyer's expected profit between buying both the items and making one item (and buying the other), when it can make the item at the same cost as the supplier, as well as gain reactive production capability by making. We find that the buyer's profit when buying both items is higher than for making one item if product substitutability is above a threshold (but not extremely high). This is because the interaction between the suppliers' contracts increases the buyer's informational rents more when buying from both suppliers, as compared to one supplier, as product substitutability increases. On the contrary, in the complete information scenario (and under wholesale price contracts), we find that the buyer will never prefer to buy both the items as compared to making one item, as long as product substitutability is not extremely high. These are novel findings on how inter‐linked contracts under incomplete information and product substitutability can influence a buyer's make versus buy decision in a counter‐intuitive manner. Managerially, these results imply that a multi‐product buyer may prefer to keep buying from its supplier even when it can produce the item at the same cost as the supplier.
How do macro‐ and micro‐level changes interact in the emergence of educational outcomes?
Authors: Blossfeld Pia Nicoletta
Published: September 2022

This article uses data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) to examine how the composition of tertiary degree holders by social origin has changed across cohorts during a period of massive educational expansion. It also investigates how changes in the composition of social origins affect the proportion of downward mobility of children from academic families. The results of the empirical analysis reveal a surprising paradox: On the one hand, the rising share of children from academic families across cohorts has contributed to an increasing share of children from academic families among tertiary graduates. This is because of both the macro‐level proportion of children from academic families and the micro‐level probability of these children to obtain a tertiary degree have increased across cohorts. Thus, these macro‐level and micro‐level changes have reinforced each other. On the other hand, this change in the composition of social origin has also contributed to an increasing proportion of children from academic families who are downward mobile in successive cohorts. This is because the macro‐level share of children from academic families has increased more across cohorts than their downward mobility risk has decreased at the micro level. Thus, macro‐level changes were stronger and went in opposite direction to micro‐level changes.
A Violência Divina de Benjamin e o Caso de Coré – A Rebelião contra Moisés Como Primeira Cena do Messianismo (Números, 16)
Authors: Bojanic Petar
Published: September 2022

Texto originalmente publicado em: BOJANIC, Petar. Violence and messianism. Jewish Philosophy and the Great Conflicts of the 20th Century. Londres/Nova Iorque: Routledge, 2018. p. 99-114.
Application of deep-learning based techniques for automatic metrology on scanning and transmission electron microscopy images
Authors: Baderot J. , Grould M. , Misra D. , Clément N. , Hallal A. , Martinez S. , Foucher J.
Published: September 2022

Scanning or transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM) are standard techniques used during Research and Development (R&D) phases to study the structure and morphology of microscopic materials. Variety in object shapes and sizes are observed in such images to ensure robust micro- and nanomaterials critical dimension analysis. This way, precision and accuracy can be guaranteed during materials manufacturing processes. Such diversity and complexity in the data make it challenging to automatically extract the desired measurements of these microscopic structures. Existing tools in metrology often require many manual interactions, therefore being slow and prone to user errors. Proposed semiautomatic and automatic tools in the state-of-the-art are also limited and not designed to handle large variations across the images. Thus, the application of advanced machine or deep learning techniques could bring great efficiency in SEM/TEM image analysis and measurements for microscopic scale R&D processes. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of deep-learning based object detection and instance segmentation models to perform automatic and accurate metrology on microscopic images with high object variability. We also show that custom object detection models prepared using pretrained weights, finetuned on very limited custom data, can outperform detection models built using traditional methods. This is particularly useful in metrology for the semiconductor industry, where data scarcity is common. When the data are available, we observe that it can be useful to be able to generate a large number of quality annotations to use instance segmentation. This could allow the training of more complex deep learning models for particle recognition and analysis. Therefore, we propose a semiautomatic tool to help produce annotations and demonstrate its application in an instance segmentation task.
Exploratory Examination of Knee Self-Efficacy in Individuals With a History of ACL Reconstruction and Sport-Related Concussion
Authors: Genoese Francesca M. , Zynda Aaron J. , Ford Kayla , Hoch Matthew C. , Hoch Johanna M. , Covassin Tracey , Baez Shelby E.
Published: September 2022

Context: Knee self-efficacy and injury-related fear are associated with poor self-reported knee function and decreased physical activity (PA) after ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Limited research has explored contextual factors that may influence psychological responses in this population, such as history of sport-related concussion (SRC). After SRC, individuals may experience increased negative emotions, such as sadness and nervousness. However, it is unknown how SRC history may influence knee-self efficacy and injury-related fear in individuals with ACLR. The purpose of this study was to compare knee self-efficacy and injury-related fear in individuals after ACLR who present with and without history of SRC. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Forty participants ≥1 year postunilateral ACLR were separated by history of SRC (no SRC = 29, SRC = 11). The Knee Self-Efficacy Scale (KSES) and subscales measured certainty regarding performance of daily activities (KSES-ADL), sports/leisure activities (KSES-Sport), physical activities (KSES-PA), and future knee function (KSES-Future). The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 measured injury-related fear. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to examine between-group differences. Hedges g effect sizes and 95% confidence interval were used to examine clinically meaningful group differences. Results: Individuals with a history of ACLR and SRC demonstrated worse KSES-PA (7.5 [5.3]) compared with those without a history of SRC (8.1 [6.1], P = .03). No other statistically significant differences were observed. A medium effect size was present for the KSES-PA (0.62), KSES-ADL (0.42), KSES-Present (ADL + PA + Sport) (0.48), KSES-Total (0.53), and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia-11 (0.61) but must be interpreted with caution as 95% confidence interval crossed 0. Conclusions: This exploratory study indicated that individuals with a history of ACLR and SRC had worse knee self-efficacy for PA compared with those without history of SRC. Rehabilitation specialists should monitor knee self-efficacy deficits in the post-ACLR population and recognize the potential influence of cumulative injury history on rehabilitative outcomes.
The Best of Both Worlds: Discovery-Driven Learning through a Lab-Seminar Approach
Authors: Egan Marisa S. , Hogan Karen , Maupin-Furlow Julie , Pohlschroder Mechthild
Published: September 2022

Microbiology courses are often designed as either a lecture class with a laboratory component or a seminar-style class. Each type of course provides students with unique learning opportunities.
The Sialyl Lewis X Glycan Receptor Facilitates Infection of Subtype H7 Avian Influenza A Viruses
Authors: Guan Minhui , Olivier Alicia K. , Lu Xiaotong , Epperson William , Zhang Xiaojian , Zhong Lei , Waters Kaitlyn , Mamaliger Nataly , Li Lei , Wen Feng , Tao Yizhi J. , DeLiberto Thomas J. , Wan Xiu-Feng
Published: September 2022

In addition to causing outbreaks in domestic poultry, subtype H7 IAVs can cause sporadic spillover infections in lower mammals and humans. In this study, we showed that SLe
X
expression varies among wild dabbling ducks.
Calibrating Hepatitis E Virus Serological Assays Using Asymptomatic Specimens Obtained in Japan
Authors: Terahara Kazutaka , Li Tian-Cheng , Matsubayashi Keiji , Sakata Hidekatsu , Kato Takanobu , Naganuma Atsushi , Ogawa Koji , Honda Koichi , Itakura Jun , Akutsu Noriyuki , Tobita Hiroshi , Korenaga Masaaki , Kanto Tatsuya , Sugiyama Ryuichi , Suzuki Ryosuke , Hamaguchi Isao , Isogawa Masanori , Takahashi Yoshimasa
Published: September 2022

Accurate diagnosis of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is essential for public health surveillance and for preventing HEV-contaminated blood transfusion. Anti-HEV IgM or IgA is used as a reliable marker of recent HEV infection.
Root Growth of Transgenic Tobacco Plants with Overexpression of Expansin and Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase Genes under Cadmium Stress
Authors: Berezhneva Z. A. , Musin Kh. G. , Kuluev B. R.
Published: September 2022

Expansins and xyloglucan endotransglycosylases play an important role in the regulation of plant growth under optimal and stressful conditions. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing NtEXPA1 and NtEXPA5 expansin genes and NtEXGT xyloglucan endotransglycosylase of Nicotiana tabacum L. have been previously created by the authors. The aim of this work was the morphophysiological analysis of the roots of these transgenic tobacco plants under conditions of cadmium stress. Transgenic tobacco plants were characterized by increased root length compared to wild type plants, both under optimal conditions and when exposed to cadmium. The area of parenchyma cells of roots of transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing NtEXPA1 and NtEXPA5 expansin genes was greater than the wild type, while the cell sizes, on the contrary, were smaller in the case of the transgene NtEXGT. Overexpression of NtEXPA1,NtEXPA5, and NtEXGT genes contributed to an increase in the total antioxidant capacity and activity of ascorbate peroxidases and a decrease in the content of proline in the roots under the action of cadmium. In the shoots of plants transgenic for the expansin genes, a lower content of MDA was found both under optimal conditions and under the action of cadmium. Thus, it has been shown that NtEXPA1 and NtEXPA5 transgenes have a stimulating effect on the growth of tobacco roots under conditions of cadmium stress by enhancing cell expansion and a positive effect on the components of the antioxidant system. The NtEXGT gene is also involved in root growth under the action of cadmium, including through the effect on the antioxidant system.
Consumption of two meals per day is associated with increased intrapancreatic fat deposition in patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study
Authors: Niki Akiko , Baden Megu Y , Kato Sarasa , Mitsushio Kento , Horii Tomomi , Ozawa Harutoshi , Ishibashi Chisaki , Fujita Shingo , Kimura Takekazu , Fujita Yukari , Tokunaga Ayumi , Nammo Takao , Fukui Kenji , Kozawa Junji , Shimomura Iichiro
Published: September 2022

Introduction

This study aimed to identify the associations between lifestyle factors and intrapancreatic fat deposition in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods

The participants were 185 patients with type 2 diabetes who were hospitalized at Osaka University Hospital between 2008 and 2020 and underwent abdominal CT during hospitalization. Information regarding lifestyle factors, including the number of meals consumed per day, snacking habits, exercise habits, exercise at work, smoking habits, alcohol intake, insomnia, sleep apnea syndrome, and night-shift working, was acquired from self-administered questionnaires or medical records. We measured the mean CT values for the pancreas (P), liver (L), and spleen (S), and the visceral fat area (VFA), and quantified intrapancreatic and liver ectopic fat accumulation as P−S and L−S, respectively.

Results

After adjustment for age, sex, hemoglobin A1c, and body mass index (BMI), participants who consumed two meals per day had significantly lower P−S (higher intrapancreatic fat deposition, p=0.02) than those who consumed three meals per day. There were no significant associations between the number of meals consumed and liver ectopic fat accumulation and VFA (p=0.73 and p=0.67, respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with diabetes who consumed two meals per day showed greater intrapancreatic fat deposition than those who consumed three meals per day, even after adjustment for BMI. These findings support the current guideline for diabetes treatment that skipping meals should be avoided.