bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of transmissibility and measures effectiveness of SARS in 8 regions, China, 2002-2003
Authors: Rui Jia , Qu Huimin , Zhang Shuo , Liu Hong , Wei Hongjie , Abudunaibi Buasiyamu , Li Kangguo , Zhao Yunkang , Liu Qiao , Fang Kang , Gavotte Laurent , Frutos Roger , Chen Tianmu
Published: August 2023

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a form of atypical pneumonia which took hundreds of lives when it swept the world two decades ago. The pathogen of SARS was identified as SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and it was mainly transmitted in China during the SARS epidemic in 2002-2003. SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have emerged from the SARS metapopulation of viruses. However, they gave rise to two different disease dynamics, a limited epidemic, and an uncontrolled pandemic, respectively. The characteristics of its spread in China are particularly noteworthy. In this paper, the unique characteristics of time, space, population distribution and transmissibility of SARS for the epidemic were discussed in detail.

Methods

We adopted sliding average method to process the number of reported cases per day. An SEIAR transmission dynamics model, which was the first to take asymptomatic group into consideration and applied indicators of R0, Reff, Rt to evaluate the transmissibility of SARS, and further illustrated the control effectiveness of interventions for SARS in 8 Chinese cities.

Results

The R0 for SARS in descending order was: Tianjin city (R0 = 8.249), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi Province, Hebei Province, Beijing City, Guangdong Province, Taiwan Province, and Hong Kong. R0 of the SARS epidemic was generally higher in Mainland China than in Hong Kong and Taiwan Province (Mainland China: R0 = 6.058 ± 1.703, Hong Kong: R0 = 2.159, Taiwan: R0 = 3.223). All cities included in this study controlled the epidemic successfully (Reff<1) with differences in duration. Rt in all regions showed a downward trend, but there were significant fluctuations in Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Taiwan Province compared to other areas.

Conclusion

The SARS epidemic in China showed a trend of spreading from south to north, i.e., Guangdong Province and Beijing City being the central regions, respectively, and from there to the surrounding areas. In contrast, the SARS epidemic in the central region did not stir a large-scale transmission. There were also significant differences in transmissibility among eight regions, with R0 significantly higher in the northern region than that in the southern region. Different regions were able to control the outbreak successfully in differences time.
Host genetic backgrounds: the key to determining parasite-host adaptation
Authors: Ye Caixia , Zhang Lianhua , Tang Lili , Duan Yongjun , Liu Ji , Zhou Hongli
Published: August 2023

Parasitic diseases pose a significant threat to global public health, particularly in developing countries. Host genetic factors play a crucial role in determining susceptibility and resistance to infection. Recent advances in molecular and biological technologies have enabled significant breakthroughs in understanding the impact of host genes on parasite adaptation. In this comprehensive review, we analyze the host genetic factors that influence parasite adaptation, including hormones, nitric oxide, immune cells, cytokine gene polymorphisms, parasite-specific receptors, and metabolites. We also establish an interactive network to better illustrate the complex relationship between host genetic factors and parasite-host adaptation. Additionally, we discuss future directions and collaborative research priorities in the parasite-host adaptation field, including investigating the impact of host genes on the microbiome, developing more sophisticated models, identifying and characterizing parasite-specific receptors, utilizing patient-derived sera as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and developing novel treatments and management strategies targeting specific host genetic factors. This review highlights the need for a comprehensive and systematic approach to investigating the underlying mechanisms of parasite-host adaptation, which requires interdisciplinary collaborations among biologists, geneticists, immunologists, and clinicians. By deepening our understanding of the complex interactions between host genetics and parasite adaptation, we can develop more effective and targeted interventions to prevent and treat parasitic diseases. Overall, this review provides a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working in the parasitology field and offers insights into the future directions of this critical research area.
How to produce a diagnostic opinion at a distance? New forms of tele-expertise use in France and their transformational effects on healthcare practices in dermatology
Authors: Trupia Dilara Vanessa , Mathieu-Fritz Alexandre , Duong Tu Anh
Published: August 2023

How to produce a diagnostic opinion at a distance, without seeing and examining patients? This is the challenge of tele-expertise (TLX), defined first in legal terms, as one of the five telemedicine acts in France. It consists of a particular form of healthcare practice in which a physician, known as the “requester”, solicits remotely the opinion of another practitioner, a specialist known as the “requested”, by sharing with him/her clinical information and photographs that he/she produces for this purpose, based on the medical examination of the patient. This practice is certainly not new; it is inherent to any medical activity where it develops outside of any legislative and regulatory framework, between practitioners who already know each other more or less well. So the novelty of the recent forms of TLX as a legally recognized medical act in its own right, relies mainly on the development of secure file exchange platforms within territorialized care networks, the systematization of these practices beyond the networks of acquaintances and their coverage by the health insurance. The purpose of this article is to describe the various usages of this new form of TLX, as well as to understand how they contribute to the in-depth transformation of care practices and organizations. It suggests doing so in the specific case of dermatology, through a qualitative study based on semi-directive interviews approximately with fifty French dermatologists, mainly requested experts, practicing TLX both in the context of private practice and in a hospital setting. The results of this empirical study are presented in three parts. First, we will consider the specificity of dermatological practice and describe the particular ways in which TLX is being implemented in this field, as a new framework. Then, we will report on the multiples efforts and skills needed to produce a diagnostic opinion remotely. We will lastly present various uses that dermatologists develop of TLX in different socio-organizational configurations. We will finally discuss how these uses transform the usual practices of dermatologists, not only by creating a new type of activity, but also by allowing them to participate differently in the organization of care pathways.
Carbohydrate compositional trends throughout Holocene sediments of an alpine lake (Lake Cadagno)
Authors: Gajendra Niroshan , Berg Jasmine S. , Vogel Hendrik , Deng Longhui , Wolf Sarah M. , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Dubois Nathalie , Schubert Carsten J. , Lever Mark A.
Published: August 2023

Carbohydrates are a ubiquitous constituent of organisms and contribute significantly to sedimentary organic carbon pools. Yet, the factors that control the degradation and long-term preservation of sedimentary carbohydrates are not well understood. Here, we investigate carbohydrate pool sizes and chemical compositions in high-altitude, meromictic Lake Cadagno (Switzerland) over a 13,500-year-old sedimentary succession that has recorded past changes from oxic to anoxic conditions and consists mostly of intercalations of lacustrine sediments and terrestrial-derived sediments. Analyses of the organic matter chemical composition by pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) show that carbohydrates are selectively preserved over other organic matter constituents over time. The carbohydrate pyrolysis products levosugars (potentially cellulose-derived) and (alkyl)furans and furanones (potentially pectin-derived) dominate both lacustrine and terrestrially derived sediment layers, suggesting aquatic and terrestrial-derived sources of these compounds. Carbohydrate monomer analyses indicate galactose and glucose as dominant monomers and show no clear differences between aquatic and terrestrial organic matter. No clear impacts of past changes in redox conditions on carbohydrate compositions were observed. Our study shows that carbohydrates are a major contributor to sedimentary organic carbon burial in Lake Cadagno and indicates the effective preservation of both aquatic and terrestrial derived carbohydrates over millennia in lake sediments.
Research on thermal infrared anomaly characteristics of moderate strong earthquakes in northeast China
Authors: Li Mengying , Zhang Zhihong , Yang Shichao , Kong Xiangrui , Jiao Mingruo
Published: August 2023

In this article, the daily brightness temperature data from January 2006 to May 2020 of China’s geostationary meteorological satellite FY-2E/G were used to identify the brightness temperature differences before deep and shallow earthquakes in the study area using wavelet transform and the relative wavelet power spectrum (RWPS) methods. The objective was to explore the characteristics of thermal infrared (TIR) radiation anomaly changes before deep and shallow earthquakes in Northeast China by carrying out anomaly extraction and data analysis. The research has shown that five significant earthquakes experienced TIR radiation anomalies in the vicinity of the epicenter approximately 1–2 months before the event. The amplitude of the anomaly ranged from seven to twenty times higher than average, and the anomaly lasted about 3 months. The infrared radiation anomaly characteristics before the earthquake were especially significant in the case of two earthquakes in the Songyuan area. From the research, it was concluded that the TIR radiation anomaly could act as a short-term precursor for earthquake prediction. The method employed in this study would provide great support for predicting deep and shallow earthquakes in Northeast China using satellite thermal infrared technology.
Supporting multilingual learners’ reading competence: a multiple case study of teachers’ instruction and student learning and motivation
Authors: Gallagher Melissa A. , Beck Jori S. , Ramirez Erin M. , Barber Ana Taboada , Buehl Michelle M.
Published: August 2023

Supporting students’ reading competence (i.e., their comprehension and vocabulary) is complex, particularly when working with multilingual learners, and involves implementing instructional practices to support their behavioral engagement in reading as well as their reading motivation. The purpose of this mixed methods case study was to examine changes in multilingual learners’ reading comprehension, academic vocabulary, reading engagement, and reading motivation after participating in a 7-week intervention called United States History for Engaged Reading (USHER) and then examine qualitative data to explain why these changes may have occurred. We found changes in the reading comprehension of MLs across all four teachers’ classes, and variable changes in academic vocabulary, reading engagement, and reading motivation. We highlight specific instructional practices that may have led to these changes, including engaging students in discussions during explicit vocabulary instruction, allowing students choice and the opportunity to collaborate, and making the content relevant by relating it to students’ lives, among others.
Potential of biomethane-based energy production from livestock waste biomass resources in Ethiopia
Authors: Tolessa Amsalu
Published: August 2023

Understanding the potential of biomass sources and their types, quality, and regional distribution is crucial for modern energy production. This study evaluates the biomethane energy potential of livestock waste from six different categories of livestock across all Ethiopian regions using livestock statistics (2020–21), standard procedures, publicly accessible data, and literature. To evaluate the bioenergy potentials, the amount of dry matter per head, collection efficiency, biogas yields of respective livestock waste, and the calorific value of biogas and biomethane were used. The total biomethane and corresponding bioenergy potential of livestock residues in Ethiopia are estimated to be 3,321 hm3 y-1 and 118,906 TJ y-1, respectively. The biomethane combustion in a combined heat and power system is expected to produce roughly 11.4 TWh y-1 of electricity and 13.9 TWh y-1 of thermal energy. The estimated electrical energy could supply 11%, 31%, and 81% of Ethiopia’s total primary energy consumption, production, and total electricity generated in Ethiopia in 2019, respectively. The finding demonstrates that biomethane-based energy production via anaerobic digestion based on livestock waste has the potential to meet a significant portion of Ethiopia’s current energy needs.
Mapping universities-communities partnerships in the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Leal Filho Walter , Dibbern Thais , Viera Trevisan Laís , Coggo Cristofoletti Evandro , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta , Matandirotya Newton , Sierra Javier , Shulla Kalterina , Buttriss Gary , L’Espoir Decosta Patrick , Mbah Marcellus Forh , Sanni Maruf
Published: August 2023

The establishment of partnerships between universities and communities can significantly support the implementation of initiatives related to sustainability as a whole and help to realize some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Despite the usefulness of mapping of partnerships, there is a perceived necessity for studies, which may shed some light on these interactions, and the many advantages they offer. Against this background, this paper reports on a study which has assessed the extent to which partnerships between universities and communities may assist in achieving the SDGs. Methodologically, by means of a bibliometric analysis and the use of a set of enlightening case studies, the paper introduces some of the partnerships being implemented today and draws the lessons learned, which may be helpful in future initiatives. A total of eight initiatives are presented and discussed during the paper. The results suggest that more joint efforts are needed, as part of efforts to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs at the university level, including a list of measures that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) could apply to address those goals. Overall, this research contributes to the sustainability area by providing empirical evidence, insights, and recommendations for fostering partnerships between universities and communities. It adds to the existing body of knowledge and understanding of how collaborative efforts can contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs.
An empirical analysis of the impact of ESG on financial performance: the moderating role of digital transformation
Authors: Fu Tao , Li Jiangjun
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations have become increasingly important in the financial market and serve as concrete manifestations of sustainable development within a sector. Most corporate leaders have adopted ESG concerns as an important strategy to enhance their financial performance. Therefore, this study investigated whether ESG affects corporate financial performance, and if this relationship is moderated by digital transformation.

Method: We used A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2021 as samples to test this mechanism.

Results: Regression analysis showed that ESG positively and significantly affects corporate financial performance, and digital transformation drives this promoting effect. Furthermore, we found that the positive effect of current ESG on financial performance in the lag period will gradually weaken. Specifically, the heterogeneity test results show that the enhancement effect of ESG on financial performance is significant for non-state-owned companies but insignificant for state-owned companies; the same is true for companies located in the eastern region compared with those in the midwestern region. Finally, the enhancement effect of ESG on the financial performance of polluting firms is stronger than that on non-polluting firms.

Conclusion: These findings will be useful for firms and government departments in formulating relevant policies.
Minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in solid tumors using circulating tumor DNA: a systematic review
Authors: Zhu Lemei , Xu Ran , Yang Leilei , Shi Wei , Zhang Yuan , Liu Juan , Li Xi , Zhou Jun , Bing Pingping
Published: August 2023

Minimal residual disease (MRD) refers to a very small number of residual tumor cells in the body during or after treatment, representing the persistence of the tumor and the possibility of clinical progress. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a DNA fragment actively secreted by tumor cells or released into the circulatory system during the process of apoptosis or necrosis of tumor cells, which emerging as a non-invasive biomarker to dynamically monitor the therapeutic effect and prediction of recurrence. The feasibility of ctDNA as MRD detection and the revolution in ctDNA-based liquid biopsies provides a potential method for cancer monitoring. In this review, we summarized the main methods of ctDNA detection (PCR-based Sequencing and Next-Generation Sequencing) and their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, we reviewed the significance of ctDNA analysis to guide the adjuvant therapy and predict the relapse of lung, breast and colon cancer et al. Finally, there are still many challenges of MRD detection, such as lack of standardization, false-negatives or false-positives results make misleading, and the requirement of validation using large independent cohorts to improve clinical outcomes.
Segmentation of tooth enamel microstructure images using classical image processing and U-Net approaches
Authors: Fogalli Giovani Bressan , Line Sérgio Roberto Peres , Baum Daniel
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in human organism, formed by prism layers in regularly alternating directions. These prisms form the Hunter–Schreger Band (HSB) pattern when under side illumination, which is composed of light and dark stripes resembling fingerprints. We have shown in previous works that HSB pattern is highly variable, seems to be unique for each tooth and can be used as a biometric method for human identification. Since this pattern cannot be acquired with sensors, the HSB region in the digital photograph must be identified and correctly segmented from the rest of the tooth and background. Although these areas can be manually removed, this process is not reliable as excluded areas can vary according to the individual‘s subjective impression. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop an algorithm that automatically selects the region of interest (ROI), thus, making the entire biometric process straightforward.

Methods

We used two different approaches: a classical image processing method which we called anisotropy-based segmentation (ABS) and a machine learning method known as U-Net, a fully convolutional neural network. Both approaches were applied to a set of extracted tooth images.

Results

U-Net with some post processing outperformed ABS in the segmentation task with an Intersection Over Union (IOU) of 0.837 against 0.766.

Discussion

Even with a small dataset, U-Net proved to be a potential candidate for fully automated in-mouth application. However, the ABS technique has several parameters which allow a more flexible segmentation with interactive adjustments specific to image properties.
Oncogenic Ras and ΔNp63α cooperate to recruit immunosuppressive polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells in a mouse model of squamous cancer pathogenesis
Authors: Sakakibara Nozomi , Clavijo Paúl E. , Sievers Cem , Gray Veronica C. , King Kathryn E. , George Andrea L. , Ponnamperuma Roshini M. , Walter Beatriz A. , Chen Zhong , Van Waes Carter , Allen Clint T. , Weinberg Wendy C.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Amplification of human chromosome 3q26-29, which encodes oncoprotein ΔNp63 among other isoforms of the p63 family, is a feature common to squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of multiple tissue origins. Along with overexpression of ΔNp63, activation of the protooncogene, RAS, whether by overexpression or oncogenic mutation, is frequently observed in many cancers. In this study, analysis of transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) demonstrated that expression of TP63 mRNA, particularly ΔNp63 isoforms, and HRAS are significantly elevated in advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCCs), suggesting pathological significance. However, how co-overexpressed ΔNp63 and HRAS affect the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) is incompletely understood.

Methods

Here, we established and characterized an immune competent mouse model using primary keratinocytes with retroviral-mediated overexpression of ΔNp63α and constitutively activated HRAS (v-rasHa G12R) to evaluate the role of these oncogenes in the immune TME.

Results

In this model, orthotopic grafting of wildtype syngeneic keratinocytes expressing both v-rasHa and elevated levels of ΔNp63α consistently yield carcinomas in syngeneic hosts, while cells expressing v-rasHa alone yield predominantly papillomas. We found that polymorphonuclear (PMN) myeloid cells, experimentally validated to be immunosuppressive and thus representing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs), were significantly recruited into the TME of carcinomas arising early following orthotopic grafting of ΔNp63α/v-rasHa-expressing keratinocytes. ΔNp63α/v-rasHa-driven carcinomas expressed higher levels of chemokines implicated in recruitment of MDSCs compared to v-rasHa-initiated tumors, providing a heretofore undescribed link between ΔNp63α/HRAS-driven carcinomas and the development of an immunosuppressive TME.

Conclusion

These results support the utilization of a genetic carcinogenesis model harboring specific genomic drivers of malignancy to study mechanisms underlying the development of local immunosuppression.
Exploratory study of macrophage polarization and spatial distribution in colorectal cancer liver metastasis: a pilot study
Authors: Khanduri Isha , Maru Dipen M. , Parra Edwin R.
Published: August 2023

Background

The liver is the most typical site of metastatic disease for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), and up to half the patients with CRC will develop colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). Studying the tumor microenvironment, particularly macrophages and their spatial distribution, can give us critical insight into treatment.

Methods

Ten CLMs (five treatment-naïve and five post–neoadjuvant chemotherapy) were stained with multiplex immunofluorescence panels against cytokeratins, CD68, Arg1, CD206, CD86, CD163, PD-L1, and MRP8-14. Densities of cell phenotypes and their spatial distribution in the tumor center and the normal liver–tumor interface were correlated with clinicopathological variables.

Results

M2 macrophages were the predominant subtype in both the tumor center and the periphery, with a relatively higher density at the periphery. The larger tumors, more than 3.9 cm, were associated with higher densities of total CD68+ macrophages and CD68+CD163+ CD206neg and CD68+CD206+ CD163neg M2 macrophage subtypes. Total macrophages in the tumor periphery demonstrated significantly greater proximity to malignant cells than did those in the tumor center (p=0.0371). The presence of higher than median CD68+MRP8-14+CD86neg M1 macrophages in the tumor center was associated with poor overall survival (median 2.34 years) compared to cases with lower than median M1 macrophages at the tumor center (median 6.41 years) in univariate analysis.

Conclusion

The dominant polarization of the M2 macrophage subtype could drive new therapeutic approaches in CLM patients.
The influence of angiopoietin-like protein 3 on macrophages polarization and its effect on the podocyte EMT in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Ma Yanli , Chen Yu , Xu Hong , Du Ni
Published: August 2023

Background

Podocyte injury, which involves the podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, is a crucial factor contributing to the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and proteinuria. Our study aimed to examine the protective properties of Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (Angptl3) knockout on podocyte damage and macrophage polarization in DN mice and podocytes treated with HG. Furthermore, we also sought to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for these effects.

Methods

DN was induced in B6;129S5 mice through intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Subsequently, the changes in renal function, podocyte apoptosis, inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and interleukin-1β [IL-1β]), IL-10, TGF-β1, IL-1Ra, IL-10Ra, and nephrin were evaluated. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism underlying the role of Angptl3 in macrophages polarization, podocyte injury, podocyte EMT.

Results

Our findings revealed that Angptl3 knockout significantly attenuated STZ or HG-induced renal dysfunction and podocyte EMT. In both in vivo and in vitro studies, Angptl3 knockout led to (1) promote the transformation of M1 type macrophages into M2 type macrophages; (2) amelioration of the reduced expression of nephrin, synaptopodin, and podocin; (3) inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and release of IL-1β; and (4) regulation of α-SMA expression via the macrophage polarization. (5) After HG treatment, there was an increase in pro-inflammatory factors and foot cell damage. These changes were reversed upon Angptle knockdown.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that the knockout of Angptl3 alleviates podocyte EMT and podocyte injury by regulating macrophage polarization.
Direct endothelial ENaC activation mitigates vasculopathy induced by SARS-CoV2 spike protein
Authors: Romero Maritza J. , Yue Qian , Singla Bhupesh , Hamacher Jürg , Sridhar Supriya , Moseley Auriel S. , Song Chang , Mraheil Mobarak A. , Fischer Bernhard , Zeitlinger Markus , Chakraborty Trinad , Fulton David , Gan Lin , Annex Brian H. , Csanyi Gabor , Eaton Douglas C. , Lucas Rudolf
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Although both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ARDS can be accompanied by significantly increased levels of circulating cytokines, the former significantly differs from the latter by its higher vasculopathy, characterized by increased oxidative stress and coagulopathy in lung capillaries. This points towards the existence of SARS-CoV2-specific factors and mechanisms that can sensitize the endothelium towards becoming dysfunctional. Although the virus is rarely detected within endothelial cells or in the circulation, the S1 subunit of its spike protein, which contains the receptor binding domain (RBD) for human ACE2 (hACE2), can be detected in plasma from COVID-19 patients and its levels correlate with disease severity. It remains obscure how the SARS-CoV2 RBD exerts its deleterious actions in lung endothelium and whether there are mechanisms to mitigate this.

Methods

In this study, we use a combination of in vitro studies in RBD-treated human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-MVEC), including electrophysiology, barrier function, oxidative stress and human ACE2 (hACE2) surface protein expression measurements with in vivo studies in transgenic mice globally expressing human ACE2 and injected with RBD.

Results

We show that SARS-CoV2 RBD impairs endothelial ENaC activity, reduces surface hACE2 expression and increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tissue factor (TF) generation in monolayers of HL-MVEC, as such promoting barrier dysfunction and coagulopathy. The TNF-derived TIP peptide (a.k.a. solnatide, AP301) -which directly activates ENaC upon binding to its a subunit- can override RBD-induced impairment of ENaC function and hACE2 expression, mitigates ROS and TF generation and restores barrier function in HL-MVEC monolayers. In correlation with the increased mortality observed in COVID-19 patients co-infected with S. pneumoniae, compared to subjects solely infected with SARS-CoV2, we observe that prior intraperitoneal RBD treatment in transgenic mice globally expressing hACE2 significantly increases fibrin deposition and capillary leak upon intratracheal instillation of S. pneumoniae and that this is mitigated by TIP peptide treatment.
Patterns of winter occurrence of three sympatric killer whale populations off eastern Vancouver Island, Canada, based on passive acoustic monitoring
Authors: Pilkington James F. , Stredulinsky Eva H. , Gavrilchuk Katherine , Thornton Sheila J. , Ford John K. B. , Doniol-Valcroze Thomas
Published: August 2023

Understanding habitat use patterns of animal populations across space and time is fundamental to identifying ecological requirements, and informing threat mitigation and conservation strategies. Persistent data gaps tend to occur with cryptic species in difficult-to-access environments, where the use of appropriate monitoring tools is indispensable for detection. Three populations of threatened and endangered killer whales occur year-round in waters off British Columbia, Canada; however, their winter habitat use patterns are not well known. Here we quantify wintertime use of the northern Strait of Georgia by these sympatric killer whale populations, revealing the importance of this previously understudied region. Using a network of passive acoustic monitoring devices deployed over three winter periods, we examine site-specific and regional patterns of occurrence of Bigg’s, and Southern and Northern Resident killer whales. All three populations frequented these waters in nearly every month from November to April, and across all study years. Bigg’s killer whales were detected most frequently, followed by Southern Residents, then Northern Residents. Population-specific differences in site use was apparent, with Southern Resident detections occurring more often than expected off the southwest side of Texada Island, while Northern Residents appeared to favor the east side of Texada Island. Remarkably, the patterns of winter use we observe in this region by Resident killer whale populations have seemingly persisted for at least 50 years. Additionally, we evaluate and discuss the effect of using multiple simultaneous recorders to characterize habitat use patterns. Lastly, we present a data-driven approach for estimating acoustic residence time, describe inter-population differences in winter residency in the northern Strait of Georgia, and discuss implications for critical habitat designation. This study fills important knowledge gaps related to killer whale winter occurrence off western Canada, highlighting the significance of the northern Strait of Georgia for these at-risk populations.
Evaluation of engineering properties of clayey sand bio-mediated with terrazyme enzyme
Authors: Nadeem Muhammad , Ullah Sami , Chen Shanxiong , Alkahtani Meshel Q. , Khan Mohammad Arsalan , Salih Rania , Jian Li , Mursaleen Mohammad , Islam Saiful , Ahmad Jamal
Published: August 2023

Soil stabilization is a practical approach for enhancing the suitability of problematic soil in construction projects. This study focusses on analyzing the impact of the bio-enzyme Terrazyme on the engineering properties of Mirpur soil, which exhibits inadequate performance as subgrade soil, particularly in moist conditions. The study investigates key engineering characteristics, including unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), maximum dry density (MDD), Atterberg’s Limits, and compressibility index. Additionally, X-Ray Diffraction and SEM analysis were conducted to identify the mineral composition and particle structure of Mirpur soil. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of Terrazyme enhanced the engineering properties of the soil. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the efficacy of bio-mediated soil stabilization techniques.
Vision-related quality of life among patients with keratoconus: a cross sectional study
Authors: Al Zabadi Hamzeh , Shehadeh Mohammad , Amro Lubna , Ghattass Nadeen , Taha Ibrahim
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of life of keratoconus patients residing in Nablus city, Palestine. Furthermore, we investigated the possible correlation between Pentacam topographic indices and the quality of life of patients with keratoconus.

Methods

This cross-sectional study evaluated keratoconus patients at An-Najah University Hospital in 2019, diagnosed through clinical examination and corneal tomography. A control group was randomly selected from non-keratoconus patients with normal tomography. The NEI-VFQ-25 questionnaire was administered during face-to-face interviews to compare both groups. NEI-VFQ-25 assesses vision-related quality of life and is a validated tool.

Results

Keratoconus patients’ quality of life is significantly impacted, mainly in near and distant vision, general vision, mental health, and social health, but not in general health, ocular pain, color vision, role difficulties, or dependency. Visual acuity is significantly affected in both eyes of keratoconus patients.

Conclusion

Patients with keratoconus exhibit a decreased quality of life related to vision, with physical, emotional, and social impairments demonstrated by the NEI-VFQ-25 when compared to controls. Since keratoconus patients are typically young adults in their productive years, understanding their concerns about their future is an important public health aspect that can aid in modifying their treatments. By addressing the specific needs of this patient population, healthcare providers can better support their long-term well-being and quality of life.
Automating venous thromboembolism risk assessment: a dual-branch deep learning method using electronic medical records
Authors: Yang Jianhua , He Jianfeng , Zhang Hongjiang
Published: August 2023

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a prevalent cardiovascular disease. Although risk assessment and preventive measures are effective, manual assessment is inefficient and covers a small population in clinical practice. Hence, it is necessary to explore intelligent methods for VTE risk assessment.

Methods

The Padua scale has been widely used in VTE risk assessment, and we divided its assessment into disease category judgment and comprehensive clinical information judgment according to the characteristics of the Padua scale. We proposed a dual-branch deep learning (DB-DL) assessment method. First, in the disease category branch, we propose a deep learning-based Padua disease classification model (PDCM) for determining patients' Padua disease categories by considering patients' diagnosis, symptoms, and symptom weights. In the branch of comprehensive clinical information, we use the Chinese lexical analysis (LAC) word separation technique, combined with professional corpus and rules, to extract and judge the comprehensive clinical factors in the electronic medical record (EMR).

Results

We validated the accuracy of the method with the Padua assessment results of 7,690 Chinese clinical EMRs. First, our proposed method allows for a fully automated assessment, and the average time to assess one patient is only 0.37 s. Compared to the gold standard, our method has an Area Under Curve (AUC) value of 0.883, a specificity value of 0.957, and a sensitivity value of 0.816 for assessing the Padua risk patient class.

Conclusion

Our DB-DL assessment method automates VTE risk assessment, thereby addressing the challenges of time-consuming evaluation and limited population coverage. Thus, this method is highly clinically valuable.
Silver nanoparticles with plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane coating on 3D printed substrates are non-cytotoxic and effective against respiratory pathogens
Authors: Machková Anna , Vaňková Eva , Obrová Klára , Fürhacker Paola , Košutová Tereza , Lion Thomas , Hanuš Jan , Scholtz Vladimír
Published: August 2023

Due to the emerging resistance of microorganisms and viruses to conventional treatments, the importance of self-disinfecting materials is highly increasing. Such materials could be silver or its nanoparticles (AgNPs), both of which have been studied for their antimicrobial effect. In this study, we compared the biological effects of AgNP coatings with and without a plasma-polymerized hexamethyldisiloxane (ppHMDSO) protective film to smooth silver or copper coatings under three ambient conditions that mimic their potential medical use (dry or wet environments and an environment simulating the human body). The coatings were deposited on 3D printed polylactic acid substrates by DC magnetron sputtering, and their surface morphology was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. Cytotoxicity of the samples was evaluated using human lung epithelial cells A549. Furthermore, antibacterial activity was determined against the Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and antiviral activity was assessed using human rhinovirus species A/type 2. The obtained results showed that overcoating of AgNPs with ppHMDSO creates the material with antibacterial and antiviral activity and at the same time without a cytotoxic effect for the surrounding tissue cells. These findings suggest that the production of 3D printed substrates coated with a layer of AgNPs-ppHMDSO could have potential applications in the medical field as functional materials.
Methods for detection and identification of beer-spoilage microbes
Authors: Oldham Ryanne C. , Held Michael A.
Published: August 2023

It is critical that breweries of all sizes routinely monitor the microbiome of their process to limit financial losses due to microbial contamination. Contamination by beer-spoiling microbes (BSMs) at any point during the brewing process may lead to significant losses for breweries if gone undetected and allowed to spread. Testing and detection of BSMs must be routine and rapid, and because even small breweries need the capability of BSM detection and identification, the method also needs to be affordable. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are responsible for most spoilage incidents, many of which have been shown to enter the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state under conditions present in beer such as cold or oxidative stress. These bacteria are invisible to traditional methods of detection using selective media. This article describes several methods of BSM detection and identification that may be useful in the majority of craft breweries. While there are several genomic methods that meet some or many qualifications of being useful in craft breweries, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) currently best meets the desired method characteristics and holds the most utility in this industry, specifically SYBR Green qPCR. qPCR is a targeted method of detection and identification of microbes that is affordable, rapid, specific, sensitive, quantitative, and reliable, and when paired with valid DNA extraction techniques can be used to detect BSMs, including those in the VBNC state.
Roles of sulfate-reducing bacteria in sustaining the diversity and stability of marine bacterial community
Authors: An Liyun , Yan Ying-Chun , Tian Hai-Long , Chi Chang-Qiao , Nie Yong , Wu Xiao-Lei
Published: August 2023

Microbes play central roles in ocean food webs and global biogeochemical processes. Yet, the information available regarding the highly diverse bacterial communities in these systems is not comprehensive. Here we investigated the diversity, assembly process, and species coexistence frequency of bacterial communities in seawater and sediment across ∼600 km of the eastern Chinese marginal seas using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our analyses showed that compared with seawater, bacterial communities in sediment possessed higher diversity and experienced tight phylogenetic distribution. Neutral model analysis showed that the relative contribution of stochastic processes to the assembly process of bacterial communities in sediment was lower than that in seawater. Functional prediction results showed that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were enriched in the core bacterial sub-communities. The bacterial diversities of both sediment and seawater were positively associated with the relative abundance of SRB. Co-occurrence analysis showed that bacteria in seawater exhibited a more complex interaction network and closer co-occurrence relationships than those in sediment. The SRB of seawater were centrally located in the network and played an essential role in sustaining the complex network. In addition, further analysis indicated that the SRB of seawater helped maintain the high stability of the bacterial network. Overall, this study provided further comprehensive information regarding the characteristics of bacterial communities in the ocean, and provides new insights into keystone taxa and their roles in sustaining microbial diversity and stability in ocean.
Identification of isomeric cyclo(leu-pro) produced by Pseudomonas sesami BC42 and its differential antifungal activities against Colletotrichum orbiculare
Authors: Kim Jiwon , Kim Jin-Cheol , Sang Mee Kyung
Published: August 2023

Pseudomonas spp. produce various antimicrobial substances, including cyclic peptides, which have been shown to suppress fungal pathogens. In a previous study, Pseudomonas sesami BC42 was selected to control anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare in cucumber plants, and the bioactive extract of strain BC42 inhibited fungal growth and development. In this work, preparative thin-layer chromatography was conducted to identify the antifungal compounds in the extract of strain BC42, and the portion of the extract that exhibited antifungal activity was further analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Three different isomers of the cyclic dipeptide, cyclo(Leu-Pro), were identified: cyclo(l-Leu-l-Pro), cyclo(d-Leu-d-Pro), and cyclo(d-Leu-l-Pro). Among these, 100 μg/mL of cyclo(l-Leu-l-Pro) significantly and more effectively inhibited the germination of conidia and appressorium formation and reduced leaf lesion size caused by C. orbiculare, relative to the control; cyclo(d-Leu-d-Pro) significantly reduced conidia germination and lesion occurrence, however, cyclo(d-Leu-l-Pro) did not exhibit antifungal activity. Therefore, the cyclo(l-Leu-l-Pro) and cyclo(d-Leu-d-Pro) derived from P. sesami BC42 may be a promising candidate for biocontrol applications in agriculture.
Insights into the mechanisms of microbiome and metabolome changes mediated by understory interplanting mode in Polygonatum sibiricum
Authors: Wang Yue , Zhang Jin , Sun Jiabo , Li Guoqing , Wang Qian , Zhao Yanxia , Ma Changjian , Han Jinlong
Published: August 2023

Background

Polygonatum sibiricum is an understory economic plant, and its dried rhizome is a traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose of this study was to connect the quality improvement of the understory plant P. sibiricum with specific microorganisms.

Methods

Amplicon and metabolome sequencing were conducted for P. sibiricum interplanted under three types of trees and in the field, and the relationship between the microbiome and secondary metabolism was explored.

Results

Principal component analysis (PCA) divided field cultivated and understory interplanted groups into two classes. A total of 95 different metabolites were found, with four expression patterns. The alpha diversity of rhizosphere bacteria and endosphere fungi in the understory interplanted group was significantly higher than that in the farmland cultivated group. There were 276 different rhizosphere microorganism genera among the four groups; however, only 33 different endosphere genera were observed, indicating that endophytic microbial diversity was relatively stable within the P. sibiricum rhizome, especially for endosphere bacteria. Cointertia analysis (CoIA) suggested that the metabolite changes in P. sibiricum induced by interplanting under different trees were more strongly affected by rhizosphere microorganisms than by endosphere microorganisms. In addition, the interactions between rhizosphere microorganisms and metabolites in the farmland group were weakened compared with those in the underplanted groups. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that Aspergillus and Ellin6067 had the greatest influence on the metabolites. Myrmecridium, as a shared microbe in the rhizosphere and endosphere, had interaction effects with the largest number of microbes.

Conclusion

This study revealed the interactions between the microbes and metabolites in P. sibiricum and systematically explored the mechanism underlying their correlation, which was mediated by the understory interplanting mode. This study provides feasible strategies for improving the medicinal value of P. sibiricum by regulating microorganisms.
Assessment of the prevalence, serotype, and antibiotic resistance pattern of Salmonella enterica in integrated farming systems in the Maryland-DC area
Authors: Alvarado-Martinez Zabdiel , Julianingsih Dita , Tabashsum Zajeba , Aditya Arpita , Tung Chuan-Wei , Phung Anna , Suh Grace , Hshieh Katherine , Wall Matthew , Kapadia Sarika , Canagarajah Christa , Maskey Saloni , Sellers George , Scriba Aaron , Biswas Debabrata
Published: August 2023

Implementation of organic/pasture farming practices has been increasing in the USA regardless of official certification. These practices have created an increasingly growing demand for marketing safe products which are produced through these systems. Products from these farming systems have been reported to be at greater risk of transmitting foodborne pathogens because of current trends in their practices. Salmonella enterica (SE) is a ubiquitous foodborne pathogen that remains a public health issue given its prevalence in various food products, but also in the environment and as part of the microbial flora of many domestic animals. Monitoring antibiotic resistance and identifying potential sources contamination are increasingly important given the growing trend of organic/pasture markets. This study aimed to quantify prevalence of SE at the pre- and post-harvest levels of various integrated farms and sites in Maryland-Washington D.C. area, as well as identify the most prevalent serovars and antibiotic resistance patterns. Samples from various elements within the farm environment were collected and screened for SE through culture and molecular techniques, which served to identify and serotype SE, using species and serovar-specific primers, while antibiotic resistance was evaluated using an antibiogram assay. Results showed a prevalence of 7.80% of SE pre-harvest and 1.91% post-harvest. These results also showed the main sources of contamination to be soil (2.17%), grass (1.28%), feces (1.42%) and unprocessed produce (1.48%). The most commonly identified serovar was Typhimurium (11.32%) at the pre-harvest level, while the only identified serovar from post-harvest samples was Montevideo (4.35%). With respect to antibiotic resistance, out of the 13 clinically relevant antibiotics tested, gentamycin and kanamycin were the most effective, demonstrating 78.93 and 76.40% of isolates, respectively, to be susceptible. However, ampicillin, amoxicillin and cephradine had the lowest number of susceptible isolates with them being 10.95, 12.36, and 9.83%, respectively. These results help inform farms striving to implement organic practices on how to produce safer products by recognizing areas that pose greater risks as potential sources of contamination, in addition to identifying serotypes of interest, while also showcasing the current state of antibiotic efficacy and how this can influence antibiotic resistance trends in the future.