bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alveolar cytokines and interferon autoantibodies in COVID-19 ARDS
Authors: Jonassen Trine B. , Jørgensen Sofie E. , Mitchell Nikki H. , Mogensen Trine H. , Berg Ronan M. G. , Ronit Andreas , Plovsing Ronni R.
Published: March 2024

Background

Type I interferon (IFN-I) and IFN autoantibodies play a crucial role in controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. The levels of these mediators have only rarely been studied in the alveolar compartment in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) but have not been compared across different ARDS etiologies, and the potential effect of dexamethasone (DXM) on these mediators is not known.

Methods

We assessed the integrity of the alveolo-capillary membrane, interleukins, type I, II, and III IFNs, and IFN autoantibodies by studying the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) volumes, alveolar concentration of protein, and ELF-corrected concentrations of cytokines in two patient subgroups and controls.

Results

A total of 16 patients with CARDS (four without and 12 with DXM treatment), eight with non-CARDS, and 15 healthy controls were included. The highest ELF volumes and protein levels were observed in CARDS. Systemic and ELF-corrected alveolar concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 appeared to be particularly low in patients with CARDS receiving DXM, whereas alveolar levels of IL-8 were high regardless of DXM treatment. Alveolar levels of IFNs were similar between CARDS and non-CARDS patients, and IFNα and IFNω autoantibody levels were higher in patients with CARDS and non-CARDS than in healthy controls.

Conclusions

Patients with CARDS exhibited greater alveolo-capillary barrier disruption with compartmentalization of IL-8, regardless of DXM treatment, whereas systemic and alveolar levels of IL-6 were lower in the DXM-treated subgroup. IFN-I autoantibodies were higher in the BALF of CARDS patients, independent of DXM, whereas IFN autoantibodies in plasma were similar to those in controls.
Transcriptome analysis of Bipolaris sorokiniana - Hordeum vulgare provides insights into mechanisms of host-pathogen interaction
Authors: Basak Poulami , Gurjar Malkhan Singh , Kumar Tej Pratap Jitendra , Kashyap Natasha , Singh Dinesh , Jha Shailendra Kumar , Saharan Mahender Singh
Published: March 2024

Spot blotch disease incited by Bipolaris sorokiniana severely affects the cultivation of barley. The resistance to B. sorokiniana is quantitative in nature and its interaction with the host is highly complex which necessitates in-depth molecular analysis. Thus, the study aimed to conduct the transcriptome analysis to decipher the mechanisms and pathways involved in interactions between barley and B. sorokiniana in both the resistant (EC0328964) and susceptible (EC0578292) genotypes using the RNA Seq approach. In the resistant genotype, 6,283 genes of Hordeum vulgare were differentially expressed out of which 5,567 genes were upregulated and 716 genes were downregulated. 1,158 genes of Hordeum vulgare were differentially expressed in the susceptible genotype, out of which 654 genes were upregulated and 504 genes were downregulated. Several defense-related genes like resistant gene analogs (RGAs), disease resistance protein RPM1, pathogenesis-related protein PRB1-2-like, pathogenesis-related protein 1, thaumatin-like protein PWIR2 and defensin Tm-AMP-D1.2 were highly expressed exclusively in resistant genotype only. The pathways involved in the metabolism and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were the most prominently represented pathways in both the resistant and susceptible genotypes. However, pathways involved in MAPK signaling, plant-pathogen interaction, and plant hormone signal transduction were highly enriched in resistant genotype. Further, a higher number of pathogenicity genes of B. sorokiniana was found in response to the susceptible genotype. The pathways encoding for metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, ABC transporters, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were highly expressed in susceptible genotype in response to the pathogen. 14 and 11 genes of B. sorokiniana were identified as candidate effectors from susceptible and resistant host backgrounds, respectively. This investigation will offer valuable insights in unraveling the complex mechanisms involved in barley- B. sorokiniana interaction.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for Alzheimer’s disease: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analysis
Authors: Xue Hua , Li Ya-xin , Xiao Ya-song , Fan Wen-hui , He Hong-xian
Published: March 2024

Objective

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition that significantly impacts both individuals and society. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for AD by summarizing the evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs).

Methods

SRs/MAs of rTMS for AD were collected by searching Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CNKI, VIP, Sino-Med, and Wanfang databases. The search was conducted from database creation to January 23, 2024. Methodological quality, reporting quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Assessing Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2), Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS) tool and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). In addition, the quality of evidence for outcome measures was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).

Results

Eight SRs/MAs included in this study met the inclusion criteria. Based on the AMSTAR-2, 4 of the SRs/MA were classified as low quality, while the remaining 4 were deemed to be of very low quality. The PRISMA analysis revealed that out of the 27 items reporting, 16 achieved full reporting (100%). However, there were still some deficiencies in reporting, particularly related to protocol and registration, search strategy, risk of bias, and additional analysis. The ROBIS tool indicated that only 3 SRs/MAs had a low risk of bias. The GRADE assessment indicated that 6 outcomes were of moderate quality (18.75%), 16 were of low quality (50%), and 10 were classified as very low quality (31.25%).

Conclusion

Based on the evidence collected, rTMS appears to be effective in improving cognitive function in AD patients, although the methodological quality of the SRs/MAs reduces the reliability of the conclusions and the overall quality is low. However, based on the available results, we still support the value of rTMS as an intervention to improve cognitive function in AD. In future studies, it is necessary to confirm the efficacy of rTMS in AD patients and provide more reliable and scientific data to contribute to evidence-based medicine.
Inhibition of phospholipase D promotes neurological function recovery and reduces neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury in mice
Authors: Ke Han , Bai Fan , Li Zihan , Zhu Yanbing , Zhang Chunjia , Li Yan , Talifu Zuliyaer , Pan Yunzhu , Liu Wubo , Xu Xin , Gao Feng , Yang Degang , Du Liangjie , Yu Yan , Li Jianjun
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severely disabling disease. Hyperactivation of neuroinflammation is one of the main pathophysiological features of secondary SCI, with phospholipid metabolism playing an important role in regulating inflammation. Phospholipase D (PLD), a critical lipid-signaling molecule, is known to be involved in various physiological processes, including the regulation of inflammation. Despite this knowledge, the specific role of PLD in SCI remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we constructed mouse models of SCI and administered PLD inhibitor (FIPI) treatment to investigate the efficacy of PLD. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing and protein microarray analysis of spinal cord tissues were conducted to further elucidate its mechanism of action.

Results

The results showed that PLD expression increased after SCI, and inhibition of PLD significantly improved the locomotor ability, reduced glial scarring, and decreased the damage of spinal cord tissues in mice with SCI. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that inhibition of PLD altered gene expression in inflammation regulation. Subsequently, the protein microarray analysis of spinal cord tissues revealed variations in numerous inflammatory factors. Biosignature analysis pointed to an association with immunity, thus confirming the results obtained from transcriptome sequencing.

Discussion

Collectively, these observations furnish compelling evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory effect of FIPI in the context of SCI, while also offering important insights into the PLD function which may be a potential therapeutic target for SCI.
Gait instability, ophthalmoplegia, and chorea with orofacial dyskinesia in a man with anti-Ri antibodies: a case report
Authors: Shioda Mukuto , Fujita Hiroaki , Onuma Hiroki , Sakuramoto Hirotaka , Hamaguchi Mai , Suzuki Keisuke
Published: March 2024

A 79-year-old man was admitted for 2 weeks of dizziness, followed by diplopia, involuntary movement and progressive gait disturbances. Neurologic examination revealed horizontal and vertical gaze paresis, bilateral choreiform movement with orofacial dyskinesia, and limb/truncal ataxia. MRI revealed fluid-attenuated inversion recovery image-hyperintense signal abnormalities in the dorsal midbrain, pontine and medulla. Within another few days, the patient developed type II acute respiratory failure requiring artificial invasive ventilation. Because autoimmune encephalitis was suspected, he received intravenous immunoglobulin therapy followed by intravenous methylprednisolone, but only his ophthalmoplegia improved minimally. Serological tests were positive for anti-Ri onconeural antibodies. CT-guided mediastinal lymph node biopsy was performed and revealed small cell lung carcinoma. We report the rare manifestation of anti-Ri antibody-associated paraneoplastic neurological syndrome (PNS), and this case can alert us to the importance of respiratory management in this diverse neurologic disease. Furthermore, PNSs positive for anti-Ri antibodies should be added to the list of differential diagnoses of chorea with orofacial dyskinesia.
β-amyloid accumulation enhances microtubule associated protein tau pathology in an APPNL-G-F/MAPTP301S mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Jiang Lulu , Roberts Rebecca , Wong Melissa , Zhang Lushuang , Webber Chelsea Joy , Libera Jenna , Wang Zihan , Kilci Alper , Jenkins Matthew , Ortiz Alejandro Rondón , Dorrian Luke , Sun Jingjing , Sun Guangxin , Rashad Sherif , Kornbrek Caroline , Daley Sarah Anne , Dedon Peter C. , Nguyen Brian , Xia Weiming , Saito Takashi , Saido Takaomi C. , Wolozin Benjamin
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The study of the pathophysiology study of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been hampered by lack animal models that recapitulate the major AD pathologies, including extracellular -amyloid (A) deposition, intracellular aggregation of microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT), inflammation and neurodegeneration.

Methods

The humanized APPNL-G-F knock-in mouse line was crossed to the PS19 MAPTP301S, over-expression mouse line to create the dual APPNL-G-F/PS19 MAPTP301S line. The resulting pathologies were characterized by immunochemical methods and PCR.

Results

We now report on a double transgenic APPNL-G-F/PS19 MAPTP301S mouse that at 6 months of age exhibits robust A plaque accumulation, intense MAPT pathology, strong inflammation and extensive neurodegeneration. The presence of A pathology potentiated the other major pathologies, including MAPT pathology, inflammation and neurodegeneration. MAPT pathology neither changed levels of amyloid precursor protein nor potentiated A accumulation. Interestingly, study of immunofluorescence in cleared brains indicates that microglial inflammation was generally stronger in the hippocampus, dentate gyrus and entorhinal cortex, which are regions with predominant MAPT pathology. The APPNL-G-F/MAPTP301S mouse model also showed strong accumulation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which was recently shown to be elevated in the AD brain. m6A primarily accumulated in neuronal soma, but also co-localized with a subset of astrocytes and microglia. The accumulation of m6A corresponded with increases in METTL3 and decreases in ALKBH5, which are enzymes that add or remove m6A from mRNA, respectively.

Discussion

Our understanding of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been hampered by lack animal models that recapitulate the major AD pathologies, including extracellular -amyloid (A) deposition, intracellular aggregation of microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT), inflammation and neurodegeneration. The APPNL-G-F/MAPTP301S mouse recapitulates many features of AD pathology beginning at 6 months of aging, and thus represents a useful new mouse model for the field.
Rheology, physicochemical properties, and microstructure of fish gelatin emulsion gel modified by γ-polyglutamic acid
Authors: Xie Huan , Sha Xiao-Mei , Yuan Ping , Li Jia-Le , Hu Zi-Zi , Tu Zong-Cai
Published: March 2024

In this work, the effect of the addition of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) on the rheology, physicochemical properties, and microstructure of fish gelatin (FG) emulsion gel was investigated. Samples of the emulsion gel were evaluated for rheological behavior and stability prior to gelation. The mechanical properties and water-holding capacity (WHC) of the emulsion were determined after gelation. The microstructure of the emulsion gel was further examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results indicated a gradual increase in the apparent viscosity and gelation temperature of the emulsion at a higher concentration of γ-PGA. Additionally, frequency scan results revealed that on the addition of γ-PGA, FG emulsion exhibited a stronger structure. The emulsion containing 0.1% γ-PGA exhibited higher stability than that of the control samples. The WHC and gel strength of the emulsion gel increased on increasing the γ-PGA concentration. CLSM images showed that the addition of γ-PGA modified the structure of the emulsion gel, and the droplets containing 0.1% γ-PGA were evenly distributed. Moreover, γ-PGA could regulate the droplet size of the FG emulsion and its size distribution. These findings suggest that the viscoelasticity and structure of FG emulsion gels could be regulated by adjusting the γ-PGA concentration. The γ-PGA-modified FG emulsion gel also exhibited improved rheology and physicochemical properties. The results showed that γ-PGA-modified FG emulsion gel may find potential applications in food, medicine, cosmetics, and other industries.
Intake of foods high in saturated fats, vegetarian dietary pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with body weight in Peruvian university students
Authors: Saintila Jacksaint , Ruiz Mamani Percy G. , Ramos-Vera Cristian , Serpa-Barrientos Antonio , Oblitas-Guerrero Susan M. , Lizarraga-De-Maguiña Isabel G. , Calizaya-Milla Yaquelin E.
Published: March 2024

Background

The prevalence of obesity continues to increase among university students and the general population. Consumption of a diet high in saturated fats could be one of the risk factors.

Objective

The consumption of foods high in saturated fats, the vegetarian diet pattern, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with excess body weight (overweight/obesity) were evaluated in Peruvian university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out selecting 5,608 Peruvian university students through no probabilistic convenience sampling. The survey was carried out during the months of February and April 2022. The Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between diet (saturated fats intake and dietary pattern) and sociodemographic factors with excess body weight in a cross-sectional analysis.

Results

It was observed that students who reported high consumption of foods high in saturated fats (ORB = 1.14) and those who had a non-vegetarian dietary pattern (ORB = 2.76) were found to be more likely to have excess body weight. On the contrary, students who reported adherence to the vegetarian diet pattern for more than 5 years were less likely to be overweight or obese (ORB = 0.84). Being ≥26 years of age (ORB = 3.28), living in urban areas (ORB = 1.68) and coastal areas of the country (ORB = 1.17), and enrolled in the engineering faculty (ORB = 1.19), were significantly associated with excess body weight.

Conclusion

The findings of the current study evidenced several factors associated with excess body weight in university students. Therefore, it is necessary to promote and implement healthy lifestyle programs, considering sociodemographic and dietary aspects such as age and dietary intake to control and prevent obesity in university students.
Radiomics model based on intratumoral and peritumoral features for predicting major pathological response in non-small cell lung cancer receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy
Authors: Huang Dingpin , Lin Chen , Jiang Yangyang , Xin Enhui , Xu Fangyi , Gan Yi , Xu Rui , Wang Fang , Zhang Haiping , Lou Kaihua , Shi Lei , Hu Hongjie
Published: March 2024

Objective

To establish a radiomics model based on intratumoral and peritumoral features extracted from pre-treatment CT to predict the major pathological response (MPR) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy.

Methods

A total of 148 NSCLC patients who underwent neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy from two centers (SRRSH and ZCH) were retrospectively included. The SRRSH dataset (n=105) was used as the training and internal validation cohort. Radiomics features of intratumoral (T) and peritumoral regions (P1 = 0-5mm, P2 = 5-10mm, and P3 = 10-15mm) were extracted from pre-treatment CT. Intra- and inter- class correlation coefficients and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used to feature selection. Four single ROI models mentioned above and a combined radiomics (CR: T+P1+P2+P3) model were established by using machine learning algorithms. Clinical factors were selected to construct the combined radiomics-clinical (CRC) model, which was validated in the external center ZCH (n=43). The performance of the models was assessed by DeLong test, calibration curve and decision curve analysis.

Results

Histopathological type was the only independent clinical risk factor. The model CR with eight selected radiomics features demonstrated a good predictive performance in the internal validation (AUC=0.810) and significantly improved than the model T (AUC=0.810 vs 0.619, p<0.05). The model CRC yielded the best predictive capability (AUC=0.814) and obtained satisfactory performance in the independent external test set (AUC=0.768, 95% CI: 0.62-0.91).

Conclusion

We established a CRC model that incorporates intratumoral and peritumoral features and histopathological type, providing an effective approach for selecting NSCLC patients suitable for neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy.
The significance of machine learning in neonatal screening for inherited metabolic diseases
Authors: Yang Xiangchun , Ding Shuxia , Zhang Jianping , Hu Zhuojie , Zhuang Danyan , Wang Fei , Wu Shanshan , Chen Changshui , Li Haibo
Published: March 2024

Background

Neonatal screening for inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) has been revolutionized by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). This study aimed to enhance neonatal screening for IMDs using machine learning (ML) techniques.

Methods

The study involved the analysis of a comprehensive dataset comprising 309,102 neonatal screening records collected in the Ningbo region, China. An advanced ML system model, encompassing nine distinct algorithms, was employed for the purpose of predicting the presence of 31 different IMDs. The model was compared with traditional cutoff schemes to assess its diagnostic efficacy. Additionally, 180 suspected positive cases underwent further evaluation.

Results

The ML system exhibited a significantly reduced positive rate, from 1.17% to 0.33%, compared to cutoff schemes in the initial screening, minimizing unnecessary recalls and associated stress. In suspected positive cases, the ML system identified 142 true positives with high sensitivity (93.42%) and improved specificity (78.57%) compared to the cutoff scheme. While false negatives emerged, particularly in heterozygous carriers, our study revealed the potential of the ML system to detect asymptomatic cases.

Conclusion

This research provides valuable insights into the potential of ML in pediatric medicine for IMD diagnosis through neonatal screening, emphasizing the need for accurate carrier detection and further research in this domain.
Sex-specific changes in protein expression of membrane transporters in the brain cortex of 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Puris Elena , Saveleva Liudmila , Auriola Seppo , Gynther Mikko , Kanninen Katja M. , Fricker Gert
Published: March 2024

Membrane transporters playing an important role in the passage of drugs, metabolites and nutrients across the membranes of the brain cells have been shown to be involved in pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, little is known about sex-specific changes in transporter protein expression at the brain in AD. Here, we investigated sex-specific alterations in protein expression of three ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and five solute carriers (SLC) transporters in the prefrontal cortex of a commonly used model of familial AD (FAD), 5xFAD mice. Sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based quantitative targeted absolute proteomic analysis was applied for absolute quantification of transporter protein expression. We compared the changes in transporter protein expressions in 7-month-old male and female 5xFAD mice versus sex-matched wild-type mice. The study revealed a significant sex-specific increase in protein expression of ABCC1 (p = 0.007) only in male 5xFAD mice as compared to sex-matched wild-type animals. In addition, the increased protein expression of glucose transporter 1 (p = 0.01), 4F2 cell-surface antigen heavy chain (p = 0.01) and long-chain fatty acid transport protein 1 (p = 0.02) were found only in female 5xFAD mice as compared to sex-matched wild-type animals. Finally, protein expression of alanine/serine/cysteine/threonine transporter 1 was upregulated in both male (p = 0.02) and female (p = 0.002) 5xFAD mice. The study provides important information about sex-specific changes in brain cortical transporter expression in 5xFAD mice, which will facilitate drug development of therapeutic strategies for AD targeting these transporters and drug delivery research.
A review on personal calibration issues for video-oculographic-based gaze tracking
Authors: Liu Jiahui , Chi Jiannan , Yang Zuoyun
Published: March 2024

Personal calibration is a process of obtaining personal gaze-related information by focusing on some calibration benchmarks when the user initially uses a gaze tracking system. It not only provides conditions for gaze estimation, but also improves gaze tracking performance. Existing eye-tracking products often require users to conduct explicit personal calibration first, thereby tracking and interacting based on their gaze. This calibration mode has certain limitations, and there is still a significant gap between theoretical personal calibration methods and their practicality. Therefore, this paper reviews the issues of personal calibration for video-oculographic-based gaze tracking. The personal calibration information in typical gaze tracking methods is first summarized, and then some main settings in existing personal calibration processes are analyzed. Several personal calibration modes are discussed and compared subsequently. The performance of typical personal calibration methods for 2D and 3D gaze tracking is quantitatively compared through simulation experiments, highlighting the characteristics of different personal calibration settings. On this basis, we discuss several key issues in designing personal calibration. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review on personal calibration issues for video-oculographic-based gaze tracking. It aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the research status of personal calibration, explore its main directions for further studies, and provide guidance for seeking personal calibration modes that conform to natural human-computer interaction and promoting the widespread application of eye-movement interaction.
The hope wheel: a model to enable hope-based pedagogy in Climate Change Education
Authors: Finnegan William , d’Abreu Cathy
Published: March 2024

In response to concerns about climate anxiety and distress, researchers and practitioners in both education and psychology have been investigating the importance of engaging climate hope in Climate Change Education (CCE). Synthesizing recent multidisciplinary research, alongside insights from the development of educational programs, this article proposes a new theoretical model for pedagogies of hope in CCE. The Hope Wheel presents three foundational elements: handrails for educators to hold on to while constructively engaging with climate change (honesty, awareness, spaceholding, action), guardrails for educators to be sensitive to when implementing the handrails (climate anxiety, mis-/disinformation, false hope), and lenses to encourage educators to explore connections between complex societal and planetary challenges (complexity, justice, perspectives, creativity, and empathy). This working model aims to support educators by distilling current learnings from the literature into a visual guide. It depicts essential elements to include, as well as avoid, in order to engage honest, hope-oriented CCE for transformative learning in the face of the climate crisis.
Intraindividual time-varying dynamic network of affects: linear autoregressive mixed-effects models for ecological momentary assessment
Authors: Pooseh Shakoor , Kalisch Raffael , Köber Göran , Binder Harald , Timmer Jens
Published: March 2024

An interesting recent development in emotion research and clinical psychology is the discovery that affective states can be modeled as a network of temporally interacting moods or emotions. Additionally, external factors like stressors or treatments can influence the mood network by amplifying or dampening the activation of specific moods. Researchers have turned to multilevel autoregressive models to fit these affective networks using intensive longitudinal data gathered through ecological momentary assessment. Nonetheless, a more comprehensive examination of the performance of such models is warranted. In our study, we focus on simple directed intraindividual networks consisting of two interconnected mood nodes that mutually enhance or dampen each other. We also introduce a node representing external factors that affect both mood nodes unidirectionally. Importantly, we disregard the potential effects of a current mood/emotion on the perception of external factors. We then formalize the mathematical representation of such networks by exogenous linear autoregressive mixed-effects models. In this representation, the autoregressive coefficients signify the interactions between moods, while external factors are incorporated as exogenous covariates. We let the autoregressive and exogenous coefficients in the model have fixed and random components. Depending on the analysis, this leads to networks with variable structures over reasonable time units, such as days or weeks, which are captured by the variability of random effects. Furthermore, the fixed-effects parameters encapsulate a subject-specific network structure. Leveraging the well-established theoretical and computational foundation of linear mixed-effects models, we transform the autoregressive formulation to a classical one and utilize the existing methods and tools. To validate our approach, we perform simulations assuming our model as the true data-generating process. By manipulating a predefined set of parameters, we investigate the reliability and feasibility of our approach across varying numbers of observations, levels of noise intensity, compliance rates, and scalability to higher dimensions. Our findings underscore the challenges associated with estimating individualized parameters in the context of common longitudinal designs, where the required number of observations may often be unattainable. Moreover, our study highlights the sensitivity of autoregressive mixed-effect models to noise levels and the difficulty of scaling due to the substantial number of parameters.
Associations between respiratory function, balance, postural control, and fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis: an observational study
Authors: Sanchez-Ruiz Rodrigo , de la Plaza San Frutos Marta , Sosa-Reina M. Dolores , Sanz-Esteban Ismael , García-Arrabé Maria , Estrada-Barranco Cecilia
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Fatigue, postural control impairments, and reduced respiratory capacities are common symptoms in persons diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, there is a paucity of evidence establishing correlations among these factors. The aim of this study is to analyze respiratory function in persons with MS compared to the control group as well as to analyze the relationship between fatigue, respiratory function and postural control in persons with MS.

Materials and methods

A total of 17 persons with MS and 17 healthy individuals were enrolled for this cross-sectional study. The evaluated parameters included fatigue assessed using the Visual Analog Scale-fatigue (VAS-F) and the Borg Dyspnea Scale, postural control assessed through the Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS); and respiratory capacities measured by Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, Diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragmatic thickness.

Results

A very high correlation was observed between the Borg Dyspnoea Scale and the BBS (r = −0.768), TUG (0.867), and Mini-BESTest (r = −0.775). The VAS-F exhibited an almost perfect correlation solely with the TUG (0.927). However, none of the variables related to fatigue exhibited any correlation with the respiratory variables under study. Balance-related variables such as BBS and Mini-BESTest demonstrated a very high and high correlation. Respectively, with respiratory function variables MEP (r = 0.783; r = 0.686), FVC (r = 0.709; r = 0.596), FEV1 (r = 0.615; r = 0.518). BBS exhibited a high correlation with diaphragmatic excursion (r = 0.591). Statistically significant differences were noted between the persons with MS group and the control group in all respiratory and ultrasound parameters except for diaphragmatic thickness.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that decreased postural control and balance are associated with both respiratory capacity impairments and the presence of fatigue in persons with MS. However, it is important to note that the alterations in respiratory capacities and fatigue are not mutually related, as indicated by the data obtained in this study. Discrepancies were identified in abdominal wall thickness, diaphragmatic excursion, and respiratory capacities between persons with MS and their healthy counterparts.
Antimicrobial Treatment Challenges in the Management of Infective Spondylodiscitis Associated with Hemodialysis: A Comprehensive Review of Literature and Case Series Analysis
Authors: Ratiu Ioana A. , Moisa Corina F. , Țiburcă Laura , Hagi-Islai Edy , Ratiu Anamaria , Bako Gabriel Cristian , Ratiu Cristian Adrian , Stefan Liana
Published: March 2024

Infective spondylodiscitis (ISD), the infection of vertebral bodies and surrounding tissues, is a rare complication with major impact on the long-term survival of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although the most frequent etiology is staphylococcal, identifying these pathogens in blood cultures and biopsy cultures is often difficult. This paper aims to present suitable antibiotic combinations for the treatment of these patients, which is usually challenging in the case of an unidentified pathogen. We presented the therapies applied for 13 HD patients and 19 patients without chronic kidney disease (CKD), diagnosed with ISD between 2013 and 2023 in Bihor County. The percentage of positive blood cultures was low in both groups (30.78% HD vs. 15.78% non-HD). The average length of antibiotic therapy was 5.15 weeks in HD patients and 6.29 weeks in non-HD patients. The use of Carbapenem alone (e.g., Meropenem) for an average of 19.6 days for patients in HD when the pathogen was not identified has proven to be efficient in most cases, similarly to using Vancomycin and Fluoroquinolone/Cephalosporines in combination. Regarding the non-CKD patients, the use of Clindamycin in various combinations for an average of 30.3 days has proven to be efficient in more than 90% of cases of ISD with a nonidentified pathogen. Within 2 years after ISD was diagnosed, 12 of the 13 HD patients passed away, mainly due to cardiovascular causes. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines in the literature concerning the empiric treatment of ISD in the particular case of HD patients. Upon checking the literature on PubMed and Google Scholar, only 10 studies provided relevant data regarding ISD treatment for HD patients. More data about the treatment and evolution of these patients is needed in order to elaborate a truly relevant metanalysis.
Examining the Performance of Various Pretrained Convolutional Neural Network Models in Malware Detection
Authors: Abdulazeez Falah Amer , Ahmed Ismail Taha , Hammad Baraa Tareq
Published: March 2024

A significant quantity of malware is created on purpose every day. Users of smartphones and computer networks now mostly worry about malware. These days, malware detection is a major concern in the cybersecurity area. Several factors can impact malware detection performance, such as inappropriate features and classifiers, extensive domain knowledge, imbalanced data environments, computational complexity, and resource usage. A significant number of existing malware detection methods have been impacted by these factors. Therefore, in this paper, we will first identify and determine the best features and classifiers and then use them in order to propose the malware detection method. The comparative strategy and proposed malware detection procedure consist of four basic steps: malware transformation (converting images of malware from RGB to grayscale), feature extraction (using the ResNet-50, DenseNet-201, GoogLeNet, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet models), feature selection (using PCA method), classification (including GDA, KNN, logistic, SVM, RF, and ensemble learning), and evaluation (using accuracy and error evaluation metrics). Unbalanced Malimg datasets are used in experiments to validate the efficacy of the results that were obtained. According to the comparison findings, KNN is the best machine learning classifier. It outperformed the other classifiers in the Malimg datasets in terms of both accuracy and error. In addition, DenseNet201 is the best pretrained model in the Malimg dataset. Therefore, the proposed DenseNet201-KNN methods had an accuracy rate of 96% and a minimal error rate of 3.07%. The proposed methods surpass existing state-of-the-art approaches. The proposed feature extraction is computationally quicker than most other methods since it uses a lightweight design and fewer feature vector dimensions.
Parametric Numerical Study and Multi-Objective Optimization of Composite Curing through Infrared Radiation
Authors: Gkertzos Petros , Kotzakolios Athanasios , Katsidimas Ioannis , Kostopoulos Vassilis
Published: March 2024

Composite curing through infrared radiation (IR) has become a popular autoclave alternative due to lower energy costs and short curing cycles. As such, understanding and measuring the effect of all parameters involved in the process can aid in selecting the proper constituents as well as curing cycles to produce parts with a high degree of cure and low curing time. In this work, a numerical model that takes inputs such as part geometry, material properties, curing-related properties and applied curing cycle is created. Its outputs include the degree of cure, maximum curing temperature and total curing time. A genetic algorithm and a design of experiments (DOE) sequence cover the range of each input variable and multiple designs are evaluated. Correlations are examined and factor analysis on each output is performed, indicating that the most important inputs are activation energy, specimen precuring, applied curing temperature and curing duration, while all the others can be considered constant. Finally, response surfaces are created in order to effectively map and provide estimations of the design space, resulting in a curing cycle optimizer given certain restrictions over the input parameters.
Co-ultraPEALut in Subjective Cognitive Impairment Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: An Exploratory Retrospective Study
Authors: Cenacchi Valentina , Furlanis Giovanni , Menichelli Alina , Lunardelli Alberta , Pesavento Valentina , Manganotti Paolo
Published: March 2024

Neurological involvement following coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is thought to have a neuroinflammatory etiology. Co-ultraPEALut (an anti-inflammatory molecule) and luteolin (an anti-oxidant) have shown promising results as neuroinflammation antagonists. The aim of this study was to describe cognitive impairment in patients with post-COVID-19 treated with co-ultraPEALut. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Prospective–Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and a subjective assessment were administered at baseline and after 10 months. Patients treated with co-ultraPEALut were retrospectively compared with controls. Twenty-six patients treated with co-ultraPEALut showed a significant improvement in PRMQ (T0: 51.94 ± 10.55, T1: 39.67 ± 13.02, p < 0.00001) and MoCA raw score (T0: 25.76 ± 2.3, T1: 27.2 ± 2, p 0.0260); the MoCA-adjusted score and the FSS questionnaires also showed an improvement, even though it was not statistically significant; and 80.77% of patients reported a subjective improvement. In the control subjects (n = 15), the improvement was not as pronounced (PRMQ T0: 45.77 ± 13.47, T1: 42.33 ± 16.86, p 0.2051; FSS T0: 4.95 ± 1.57, T1: 4.06 ± 1.47, p 0.1352). Patients treated with co-ultraPEALut and corticosteroids were not statistically different from those treated with co-ultraPEALut alone. Neuro-post-COVID-19 patients treated with co-ultraPEALut scored better than controls in MoCA and PRMQ questionnaires after 10 months: this may support the importance of neuroinflammation modulation for neuro-long-COVID-19.
The Kumagai Method Utilizing the Pigeon Bottle Feeder with a Long Nipple: A Descriptive Study for the Development of Feeding Techniques for Children with Cleft Lip and/or Palate
Authors: Ueki Shingo , Kumagai Yukari , Hirai Yumi , Nagatomo Eri , Miyauchi Shoko , Inoue Takuro , An Qi , Miyata Junko
Published: March 2024

We aimed to identify the steps involved in the Kumagai method—an experimental nursing procedure to feed children with cleft lip and/or palate, using a feeder with a long nipple. We conducted a descriptive study, enrolling five specialist nurses who have mastered the Kumagai method. Their approaches were examined using structured interviews. Moreover, the participants were asked to perform the sequence of actions involved in this method while describing each step. Therefore, we were able to explore the Kumagai method in depth and step-by-step, including the following aspects: correct infant posture; correct feeding bottle holding position; nipple insertion into the child’s mouth; and feeding process initiation, maintenance, and termination. Each step comprises several clinically relevant aspects aimed at encouraging the infant to suck with a closed mouth and stimulating chokubo-zui, i.e., simulation of the natural tongue movement during breastfeeding in children without a cleft palate. In conclusion, when performed correctly, the Kumagai method improves feeding efficiency in children with cleft lip and/or palate. Feeders with long nipples are rarely used in clinical practice; the Kumagai method might popularize their use, thereby improving the management of feeding practices for children with cleft lip and/or palate.
Association between Thyroid Function and Insulin Resistance Indices in Korean Adolescents: Findings from the 2014–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Mun Eunji , Lee Hye Ah , Choi Jung Eun , Lee Rosie , Kim Kyung Hee , Park Hyesook , Kim Hae Soon
Published: March 2024

Aim: This study investigated the sex-specific association between thyroid function and various insulin resistance (IR) indices, including noninsulin-based IR indices, in euthyroid adolescents. Methods: A total of 465 adolescents (aged 12–18 years; 255 boys and 210 girls) based on data from the 2014–2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Serum thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) and free thyroxine (fT4) were used to assess thyroid function, whereas the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), glucose/insulin ratio (GIR), triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index, and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio were used to assess IR. The relationship between thyroid function and IR was analyzed using multiple linear regressions stratified by sex, considering obesity status. Results: The relationship between thyroid function and IR varied depending on sex and was more pronounced in the overweight/obesity subgroup for both boys and girls. In overweight and obese boys and girls, fT4 was significantly associated with HOMA-IR and QUICKI with conflicting association directions. TSH was also positively associated with the TyG index in both sexes. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the relationship between thyroid function and IR in adolescents might vary depending on sex, and the degree of association was significant in obese adolescents.
An Elevated IL10 mRNA Combined with Lower TNFA mRNA Level in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Peripheral Blood
Authors: Vasilev Georgi , Vasileva Viktoria , Ivanova Mariana , Stanilova Spaska , Manolova Irena , Miteva Lyuba
Published: March 2024

We aimed to investigate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes TNFA, IL6, IL12B, IL23, IL18 and immunoregulatory genes FOXP3, TGFB1, and IL10 in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level. The total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to perform TaqMan-based assays to quantify mRNAs from 8 target genes. IL23A was upregulated (1.7-fold), whereas IL6 (5-fold), FOXP3 (4-fold), and IL12B (2.56-fold) were downregulated in patients compared to controls. In addition, we found a strong positive correlation between the expression of FOXP3 and TNFA and a moderate correlation between FOXP3 and TGFB1. These data showed the imbalance of the T helper (Th) 1/Th17/ T regulatory (Treg) axis at a systemic level in RA. In cases with active disease, the IL10 gene expression was approximately 2-fold higher; in contrast, the expression of FOXP3 was significantly decreased (3.38-fold). The main part of patients with higher disease activity expressed upregulation of IL10 and downregulation of TNFA. Different disease activity cohorts could be separated based on IL10, TNFA and IL12B expression combinations. In conclusion, our results showed that active disease is associated with an elevated IL10 and lower TNFA mRNA level in peripheral blood cells of RA patients.
Revisiting the Crystallography of {225}γ Martensite: How EBSD Can Help to Solve Long-Standing Controversy
Authors: Malet Loïc , Godet Stéphane
Published: March 2024

Explaining the crystallography of iron alloys martensite with a {225}γ habit plane remains a challenging task within the phenomenological theory of martensite crystallography. The purpose of this study is to re-examine the martensite formed in a Fe-8Cr-1.1C alloy using EBSD, which has a better angular resolution than the conventional transmission electron diffraction techniques previously used. The results show that the single morphological plates, which hold a near {225}γ habit plane, are bivariant composites made up of two twin-related variants. It is shown that a {113}γ plane is systematically parallel to one of the three common 112α planes between the two twin-related crystals. This observation suggests that the lattice invariant strain of transformation occurs through a dislocation glide on the {113}γ ⟨110⟩γ system, rather than through twinning as is commonly accepted. Based on this assumption, the predictions of Bowles and Mackenzie’s original theory are in good agreement with the crystallographic features of {225}γ martensite. Unexpectedly, it is the high shear solution of the theory that gives the most accurate experimental predictions.
Lifestyle Profiles of Italian Oncology Nurses according to Sex, Work Experience and Shift: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Vitale Elsa , Rizzo Alessandro
Published: March 2024

(1) Background: Several researchers have highlighted a higher incidence of overweight and obesity among nurses, and others have analyzed the quality of nurses’ eating habits and their related physical activity levels. The present study assessed the differences in personal habits among Italian oncology nurses according to sex, work experience and shift. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed during September–October 2023. A Google Moduli questionnaire was created and divulgated through Facebook and Instagram “Nurseallface” social pages. (3) Results: A total of 306 Italian oncology nurses agreed to participate in this study. Significant differences were reported between sex and the nutrition dimension (p = 0.018); male nurses reported higher levels in this dimension (2.69 ± 0.43) than females (2.56 ± 0.49). By considering the role of work experience in the health-promoting lifestyle profile, significant differences were recorded in the physical activity sub-dimension (p < 0.001), especially among nurses employed for more than 30 years who reported higher levels of physical activity (5.25 ± 0.23) than the other groups. By considering the shift role in the health-promoting lifestyle profile, significant differences were recorded with a health-promoting lifestyle general score (p = 0.046), especially among nurses employed only during the morning shift who recorded higher levels in health-promoting lifestyle than the others (one shift: 2.49 ± 0.29 vs. two shifts: 2.47 ± 0.24 vs. three shifts: 2.41 ± 0.25). Additionally, significant differences were reported in the physical activity dimension (p = 0.017), since nurses employed only during the morning shift recorded higher levels of physical activity than the others (one shift: 2.96 ± 1.28 vs. two shifts: 2.55 ± 0.94 vs. three shifts: 2.48 ± 1.20). Finally, a significant difference was recorded in the nutrition dimension (p = 0.017), since nurses employed during the morning and the afternoon shifts recorded higher levels of nutrition than the others (two shifts: 2.73 ± 0.39 vs. one shift: 2.63 ± 0.43 vs. three shifts: 2.56 ± 0.51). (4) Conclusions: Nurses represent the motive of healthcare organizations. Promoting healthy lifestyles among nurses would help healthcare organizations to have a healthy workforce, and nurses themselves can be advocates for policies to improve patient lifestyles and improve chronic disease prevention.