bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental change and connectivity drive coral reef fish abundance in the Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Warmuth Laura M , Kelly Stephen , Samoilys Melita A , Popova Ekaterina , Head Catherine E I , Bonsall Michael B
Published: October 2024

Worldwide, coral reefs are facing risk from climate change. The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) harbours about 16% of global coral reefs with highly reef-dependent local communities. Coastal protection and food security depend on effective conservation management, which requires understanding species abundances. Here, we explore how fish group distribution and abundance across the WIO, categorized by their trophic function, are explained by oceanographic connectivity, sea surface temperature (SST), and chlorophyll a. We designed a proportional oceanographic connectivity metric describing the relative strength of connectivity between all WIO coral reefs and each survey site. We created statistical models for four trophic groups: grazers and detritivores, herbivorous excavators, corallivores, and primary piscivores across 51 sites in the WIO. We show that SST and chlorophyll a are strong predictors of all trophic fish groups and that the proportional oceanographic connectivity metric improved the model predictions significantly for grazers and detritivores and excavators. For excavators, peak abundances were predicted at medium connectivity, and for grazers and detritivores, at low and medium connectivity, suggesting that larvae dispersal predominates at a local scale. Decision making should include connectivity for efficient conservation area prioritization, for which our proportional oceanographic connectivity metric is a valid and useful parameter.
Identifying AWaRe indicators for appropriate antibiotic use: a narrative review
Authors: Funiciello Elisa , Lorenzetti Giulia , Cook Aislinn , Goelen Jan , Moore Catrin E , Campbell Stephen M , Godman Brian , Tong Deborah , Huttner Benedikt , Chuki Pem , Sharland Michael
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Quality indicators (QIs) are widely used tools for antibiotic stewardship programmes. The Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) system has been developed by the WHO to classify antibiotics based on their spectrum of activity and potential selection of antibiotic resistance. This review aimed to identify existing indicators for optimal antibiotic use to inform the development of future AWaRe QIs.

Methods

A literature search was performed in PubMed. We included articles describing QIs for hospital and primary healthcare antibiotic use. We extracted information about (i) the type of infection; (ii) setting; (iii) target for quality assessment; and (iv) methodology used for the development. We then identified the indicators that reflected the guidance provided in the AWaRe system.

Results

A total of 773 indicators for antibiotic use were identified. The management of health services and/or workers, the consumption of antibiotics, and antibiotic prescribing/dispensing were the principal targets for quality assessment. There was a similar distribution of indicators across primary and secondary care. For infection-specific indicators, about 50% focused on respiratory tract infections. Only a few QIs included information on review treatment or microbiological investigations. Although only 8 (1%) indicators directly cited the AWaRe system in the wording of the indicators, 445 (57.6%) indicators reflected the guidance provided in the AWaRe book.

Conclusions

A high number of indicators for appropriate antibiotic use have been developed. However, few are currently based directly on the WHO AWaRe system. There is a clear need to develop globally applicable AWaRe based indicators that can be integrated into antibiotic stewardship programmes.
Clotrimazole-induced shifts in vaginal bacteriome and lipid metabolism: insights into recovery mechanisms in vulvovaginal candidiasis
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Pu Xiaowen , Gu Zhengrong
Published: October 2024

Aims

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant proportion of women worldwide, with recurrent episodes leading to detrimental effects on quality of life. While treatment with clotrimazole is common, the specific alterations it evokes in the vaginal bacteriome and metabolome were previously underexplored.

Methods and results

In this prospective study, we enrolled reproductive-age women diagnosed with single VVC and conducted comprehensive analyses of vaginal fungi, bacteriome, and metabolome before and after local clotrimazole treatment. We observed a significant reduction in Candida albicans and notable improvements in vaginal cleanliness. Advanced sequencing revealed substantial shifts in the vaginal bacteriome, with an increase in Lactobacillus-dominant communities post-treatment. Our findings identified 17 differentially abundant bacterial species, including notable decreases in pathogenic anaerobes such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Dialister micraerophilus, and Aerococcus christensenii, suggesting a restoration of a healthier microbial balance. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis revealed significant changes in 230 metabolites, particularly within lipid metabolism pathways, with marked downregulation of lipid-related compounds linked to inflammation. Correlation studies indicated a strong interplay between lipid metabolites and specific bacterial species, emphasizing the influence of clotrimazole treatment on microbial and metabolic interactions. Importantly, predictive models using microbiota and metabolite signatures demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing pre- and post-treatment states.

Conclusions

This research highlights clotrimazole’s dual role in effectively clearing Candida infection and promoting a healthier vaginal microenvironment, paving the way for novel microbial and metabolomic-based diagnostic approaches to enhance VVC management and understand its underlying mechanisms.
The use of visual and olfactory cues by adult Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) while foraging
Authors: Liu Jie , Tallat Mariam , Sun Saili , Wang Gensong , Li Guoping , Feng Hongqiang
Published: October 2024

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a notorious invasive insect pest. It is very important to understand the foraging behavior of this pest to develop more effective lures to monitor the immigration of this pest. In this study, the use of visual and olfactory cues in the foraging behavior of S. frugiperda was investigated through an attraction experiment in which color (produced from 8 different colored artificial flowers), odor (produced from honey water), and odorous color (produced from artificial flowers supplemented with honey water) were used. When we used 8 different colors to elicit adult responses, S. frugiperda showed a significant color preference despite limited activity (i.e., the total number of visits to the attractant), with black being the most preferred color, followed by orange preferred by both sexes and blue and green preferred only by females. When honey water was used as an attractant, S. frugiperda had relatively greater odor activity than color activity. When we sprayed the artificial flowers with honey, S. frugiperda showed even greater activity in terms of odor color than in terms of color or odor. Compared with male S. frugiperda, female adult S. frugiperda presented greater activity in response to all types of attractants. These findings suggest that S. frugiperda adults rely primarily on olfaction for foraging, with vision as a secondary sense, and that the combined use of olfactory and visual cues increases foraging efficiency. These results provide reference data for designing trapping strategies to monitor and control S. frugiperda.
Enforceability of trade mark rights in Metaverse: where virtual worlds meet legal realities
Authors: Charmeil Timothée
Published: October 2024

While Metaverse is a virtual world, trade mark law is a reality. Consequently, Metaverse cannot undermine trade mark law, which is being given the opportunity to demonstrate its plasticity once again. There is therefore no need to create any false suspense: trade mark law is enforceable in the virtual world. However, the modalities of this enforceability are uncertain and thus merit in-depth study. The central question, currently the focus of much heated debate, is whether right owners need to register a new Metaverse-specific trade mark. In our view, such a registration is not only unnecessary but also dangerous. It is pointless because the courts have already confirmed that protection for real products and services extends to equivalent virtual products and services. Consequently, the infringement action loses none of its effectiveness in Metaverse. Malicious users believing they are living a dream in Metaverse could be in for a rude awakening. Finally, if re-registering a specific trade mark in Metaverse is not only useless but also dangerous, this is because one can easily lose one’s right to prohibit in the virtual world. Ultimately, re-registering a new trade mark specific to a virtual world entails a major risk: one that will prove to be very real.
Regenerative therapies for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review, Bayesian network meta-analysis, and meta-regression
Authors: Hinojosa-Gonzalez David E , Saffati Gal , Orozco Rendon Daniela , La Troy , Kronstedt Shane , Muthigi Akhil , Khera Mohit
Published: October 2024

Background

Current guidelines advocate a shared decision-making process approach to erectile dysfunction management, and while there is growing interest in regenerative therapies such as stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma injections, and low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction, comparative data on the efficacy of these modalities are limited.

Aim

This systematic review and network meta-analysis aims to compare stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma injections, and low-intensity shockwave therapy for managing erectile dysfunction and quantify their impact on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).

Methods

In January 2024, a systematic search of online databases was performed to identify randomized clinical trials related to stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma injections, and low-intensity shockwave therapy in erectile dysfunction. Eligible articles reported outcomes using the IIEF score. Data were inputted into Review Manager 5.4 for pairwise meta-analysis. Data were then used to build a network in R Studio. These networks were used to model 200 000 Markov Chains via MonteCarlo sampling. The results are expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% credible intervals (CrI). Meta-regression was used to adjust for PDE5is use.

Outcomes

Impact on the International Index of Erectile Function.

Results

A total of 16 studies involving 907 patients were analyzed. The standardized mean difference (SMD) vs control for stem cell therapy was 0.92 [95% CrI –0.49, 2.3]. For platelet-rich plasma, the SMD vs control was 0.83 [95% CrI 0.15, 1.5], and for low-intensity shockwave therapy, the SMD vs control was 0.84 [95% CrI 0.49, 1.2]. When stratifying low-intensity shockwave therapy by dose, the SMD vs control at 0.15 mJ/mm2 was 1.1 [95% CrI 0.36, 1.9], while at 0.09 mJ/mm2, it was 0.75 [95% CrI 0.26, 1.2]. Meta-regression adjusting for the administration of PDE5 inhibitors yielded non-significant results.

Clinical implications

The findings suggest that stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and low intensity shockwave therapy, particularly at 0.15 and 0.09 mJ/mm2, may offer improvements in erectile function.

Strengths and limitations

The strength is the robust statistical methods. Limitations are in heterogeneity in control groups and follow-up durations among included studies.

Conclusion

Shockwave therapy and platelet-rich plasma demonstrated statistically significant improvements, though the clinical relevance and extent of their impact remain questionable. Further research is necessary to determine the efficacy of stem cell therapies for erectile function.
Extracting efficient exact real number computation from proofs in constructive type theory
Authors: Konečný Michal , Park Sewon , Thies Holger
Published: October 2024

Exact real computation is an alternative to floating-point arithmetic where operations on real numbers are performed exactly, without the introduction of rounding errors. When proving the correctness of an implementation, one can focus solely on the mathematical properties of the problem without thinking about the subtleties of representing real numbers. We propose a new axiomatization of the real numbers in a dependent type theory with the goal of extracting certified exact real computation programs from constructive proofs. Our formalization differs from similar approaches, in that we formalize the reals in a conceptually similar way as some mature implementations of exact real computation. Primitive operations on reals can be extracted directly to the corresponding operations in such an implementation, producing more efficient programs. We particularly focus on the formalization of partial and nondeterministic computation, which is essential in exact real computation. We prove the soundness of our formalization with regards to the standard realizability interpretation from computable analysis and show how to relate our theory to a classical formalization of the reals. We demonstrate the feasibility of our theory by implementing it in the Coq proof assistant and present several natural examples. From the examples we have automatically extracted Haskell programs that use the exact real computation framework AERN for efficiently performing exact operations on real numbers. In experiments, the extracted programs behave similarly to native implementations in AERN in terms of running time and memory usage.
Polar alignment of a dusty circumbinary disc–II. Application to 99 Herculis
Authors: Smallwood Jeremy L , Lin Min-Kai , Nealon Rebecca , Aly Hossam , Longarini Cristiano
Published: October 2024

We investigate the formation of dust traffic jams in polar-aligning circumbinary discs. In our first paper, we found as the circumbinary disc evolves towards a polar configuration perpendicular to the binary orbital plane, the differential precession between the gas and dust components leads to multiple dust traffic jams. These dust traffic jams evolve to form a coherent dust ring. In part two, we use 3D smoothed particle hydrodynamical simulations of gas and dust to model an initially highly misaligned circumbinary disc around the 99 Herculis (99 Her) binary system. Our results reveal that the formation of these dust rings is observed across various disc parameters, including the disc aspect ratio, viscosity, surface density power-law index, and temperature power-law index. The dust traffic jams are long-lived and persist even when the disc is fully aligned polar. The midplane dust-to-gas ratio within the rings can surpass unity, which may be a favourable environment for planetesimal formation. Using 2D inviscid shearing box calculations with parameters from our 3D simulations, we find streaming instability modes with significant growth rates. The streaming instability growth time-scale is less than the tilt oscillation time-scale during the alignment process. Therefore, the dust ring will survive once the gas disc aligns polar, suggesting that the streaming instability may aid in forming polar planets around 99 Her.
MethyLasso: a segmentation approach to analyze DNA methylation patterns and identify differentially methylated regions from whole-genome datasets
Authors: Balaramane Delphine , Spill Yannick G , Weber Michaël , Bardet Anaïs Flore
Published: October 2024

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mark involved in the regulation of gene expression, and patterns of DNA methylation anticorrelate with chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding. DNA methylation can be profiled at the single cytosine resolution in the whole genome and has been performed in many cell types and conditions. Computational approaches are then essential to study DNA methylation patterns in a single condition or capture dynamic changes of DNA methylation levels across conditions. Toward this goal, we developed MethyLasso, a new approach to segment DNA methylation data. We use it as an all-in-one tool to perform the identification of low-methylated regions, unmethylated regions, DNA methylation valleys and partially methylated domains in a single condition as well as differentially methylated regions between two conditions. We performed a rigorous benchmarking comparing existing approaches by evaluating the agreement of the regions across tools, their number, size, level of DNA methylation, boundaries, cytosine–guanine content and coverage using several real datasets as well as the sensitivity and precision of the approaches using simulated data and show that MethyLasso performs best overall. MethyLasso is freely available at https://github.com/bardetlab/methylasso.
MAPbrain: a multi-omics atlas of the primate brain
Authors: Zhuo Liangchen , Wang Mengdi , Song Tingrui , Zhong Suijuan , Zeng Bo , Liu Zeyuan , Zhou Xin , Wang Wei , Wu Qian , He Shunmin , Wang Xiaoqun
Published: October 2024

The brain is the central hub of the entire nervous system. Its development is a lifelong process guided by a genetic blueprint. Understanding how genes influence brain development is critical for deciphering the formation of human cognitive functions and the underlying mechanisms of neurological disorders. Recent advances in multi-omics techniques have now made it possible to explore these aspects comprehensively. However, integrating and analyzing extensive multi-omics data presents significant challenges. Here, we introduced MAPbrain (http://bigdata.ibp.ac.cn/mapBRAIN/), a multi-omics atlas of the primate brain. This repository integrates and normalizes both our own lab's published data and publicly available multi-omics data, encompassing 21 million brain cells from 38 key brain regions and 436 sub-regions across embryonic and adult stages, with 164 time points in humans and non-human primates. MAPbrain offers a unique, robust, and interactive platform that includes transcriptomics, epigenomics, and spatial transcriptomics data, facilitating a comprehensive exploration of brain development. The platform enables the exploration of cell type- and time point-specific markers, gene expression comparison between brain regions and species, joint analyses across transcriptome and epigenome, and navigation of cell types across species, brain regions, and development stages. Additionally, MAPbrain provides an online integration module for users to navigate and analyze their own data within the platform.
A novel interpretable deep learning-based computational framework designed synthetic enhancers with broad cross-species activity
Authors: Li Zhaohong , Zhang Yuanyuan , Peng Bo , Qin Shenghua , Zhang Qian , Chen Yun , Chen Choulin , Bao Yongzhou , Zhu Yuqi , Hong Yi , Liu Binghua , Liu Qian , Xu Lingna , Chen Xi , Ma Xinhao , Wang Hongyan , Xie Long , Yao Yilong , Deng Biao , Li Jiaying , De Baojun , Chen Yuting , Wang Jing , Li Tian , Liu Ranran , Tang Zhonglin , Cao Junwei , Zuo Erwei , Mei Chugang , Zhu Fangjie , Shao Changwei , Wang Guirong , Sun Tongjun , Wang Ningli , Liu Gang , Ni Jian-Quan , Liu Yuwen
Published: October 2024

Enhancers play a critical role in dynamically regulating spatial-temporal gene expression and establishing cell identity, underscoring the significance of designing them with specific properties for applications in biosynthetic engineering and gene therapy. Despite numerous high-throughput methods facilitating genome-wide enhancer identification, deciphering the sequence determinants of their activity remains challenging. Here, we present the DREAM (DNA cis-Regulatory Elements with controllable Activity design platforM) framework, a novel deep learning-based approach for synthetic enhancer design. Proficient in uncovering subtle and intricate patterns within extensive enhancer screening data, DREAM achieves cutting-edge sequence-based enhancer activity prediction and highlights critical sequence features implicating strong enhancer activity. Leveraging DREAM, we have engineered enhancers that surpass the potency of the strongest enhancer within the Drosophila genome by approximately 3.6-fold. Remarkably, these synthetic enhancers exhibited conserved functionality across species that have diverged more than billion years, indicating that DREAM was able to learn highly conserved enhancer regulatory grammar. Additionally, we designed silencers and cell line-specific enhancers using DREAM, demonstrating its versatility. Overall, our study not only introduces an interpretable approach for enhancer design but also lays out a general framework applicable to the design of other types of cis-regulatory elements.
Recovery from rituximab-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia in children with nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Hirano Daishi , Fujimaru Takuya , Sako Mayumi , Tanaka Seiji , Inaba Aya , Uchimura Toru , Kamei Koichi , Kubota Takuo , Ohta Toshiyuki , Okamoto Takayuki , Tanaka Hiroshi , Hamada Riku , Ito Shuichi
Published: October 2024

Background

There are limited data on the long-term outcomes and risk factors for non-recovery after development of rituximab (RTX)-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia among children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (NS).

Methods

A nationwide Japanese survey was conducted to determine the prognosis of patients with childhood-onset idiopathic NS who developed persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia after RTX administration. Specifically, predictors of IgG level recovery and risk factors for serious infection were examined.

Results

The cohort comprised 118 patients (66.1% boys; median age at initial RTX administration, 7.5 years). Among the 121 patients diagnosed with persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia, only 31 (26.3%) recovered within a median observation period of 2.8 years; approximately 70% of patients continued to exhibit persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia. Among the patients who recovered from hypogammaglobulinaemia, the median time to recovery was 14.1 months. Patients with a history of steroid-resistant NS were less likely to recover from persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia (hazard ratio 0.28; 95% confidence interval 0.09–0.87). In addition, of the 118 eligible patients, 18 (15.3%) developed serious infections requiring hospitalization, and the main risk factor for infection during hypogammaglobulinaemia was agranulocytosis (a well-known adverse effect of RTX in children).

Conclusions

A significant portion of patients with RTX-associated persistent hypogammaglobulinaemia did not exhibit recovery even after 1 year. Moreover, the data indicate that patients with a history of steroid-resistant NS have a significantly lower probability of recovering from this condition. Agranulocytosis under hypogammaglobulinaemia was significantly associated with an elevated risk of serious infections.
Demystifying Obesity: Understanding, Prevention, Treatment, and Stigmas
Authors: Minari Tatiana Palotta , Manzano Carolina Freitas , Yugar Louise Buonalumi Tácito , Sedenho-Prado Luis Gustavo , de Azevedo Rubio Tatiane , Tácito Lúcia Helena Bonalumi , Pires Antônio Carlos , Vilela-Martin José Fernando , Cosenso-Martin Luciana Neves , Ludovico Nelson Dinamarco , Fattori André , Yugar-Toledo Juan Carlos , Moreno Heitor , Pisani Luciana Pellegrini
Published: October 2024

Obesity is a complex chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. There is still significant stigma associated with it, which can lead to discrimination and create additional barriers for people who are already in treatment. On the other hand, it is noted that it can have serious implications for health and predisposition to noncommunicable chronic diseases. In this sense, the objective of this study was to carry out a narrative review involving all current elements for understanding, prevention, treatment, and debate of stigmas related to obesity. A search was conducted in 2024 for original articles, randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines in the following databases: Pubmed, Scielo, Web of Science, CrossRef, and Google Scholar. The publication period was from 2014 to 2024. Obesity is influenced by a complex combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. It is encouraging to see that various emerging points have been identified across different fields such as histology, physiology, genetics, weight loss, and public policy. These obesity areas certainly warrant attention and future studies. Researchers can delve into these topics to deepen their understanding and potentially uncover novel insights. The management should be multifactorial and individualized for each patient. Public policies also play a crucial role in combating obesity, including health promotion, prevention of excessive weight gain, early diagnosis, and proper care of patients. It is crucial that society begins to see the disease as an extremely complex element and not as a moral failure or lack of willpower. This requires a change in the way people talk about obesity, as well as practices that support people instead of stigmatizing them. Obesity does not have a specific address, color, or race. It belongs to everyone and should be regarded as a global public health problem.
SMAC mimetic BV6 acts in synergy with mTOR inhibitor to increase cisplatin sensitivity in ovarian cancer
Authors: Chen Qi , Zhang Hong
Published: October 2024

The objective of this study is to observe the antitumor efficacy of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC) mimetic bivalent smac mimetic (BV6) in combination with target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor on DDP (cisplatin) sensitivity. Ovarian cancer cells were exposed to cisplatin, BV6, DDP + BV6, and DDP + BV6 + mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin. Using proteomics and bioinformatics, protein expression profiles in ovarian cancer were determined. Bagg Albino color nude mice were treated with DDP or BV6 alone or in combination, or BV6 + DDP + Rapamycin. The effects of different treatments on ovarian cancer cells and tumor growth were evaluated in vivo and in vitro. Proteomics and bioinformatics analysis revealed significant changes of protein kinase (AKT)/mTOR pathway. Consistently, western blot data indicated that AKT/mTOR axis was gradually activated in BV6-treated ovarian cancer cells and attenuated the cytotoxic effect of BV6. Functional assays showed that DDP or BV6 treatment alone significantly enhanced the sensitivity and inhibited the migration of ovarian cancer cells, but without any synergistic effects. In addition, combination with BV6 and mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin significantly decreased cell viability and inhibited migration of ovarian cancer cells exposed to DDP. Consistently, the xenograft model showed that co-treatment with Rapamycin with BV6 had significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. Our study demonstrated that SMAC analogue BV6 exhibits a strong anticancer effect on ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo. Combination with Rapamycin overcomes the activation of mTOR pathway by BV6 and increases the chemosensitivity to DDP. These data suggest a potential application of triple combination with DDP + BV6 + Rapamycin in clinical management of ovarian cancer.
Ultra-Low-Field Portable MRI and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Preclinical Safety Testing
Authors: Kang Jin Kook , Etchill Eric , Verdi Kate , Velez Ana K. , Kearney Sean , Dodd-o Jeffrey , Bush Errol , By Samantha , Boskamp Eddy , Wilcox Christopher , Choi Chun Woo , Kim Bo Soo , Whitman Glenn J. R. , Cho Sung-Min
Published: October 2024

CONTEXT:

Conventional MRI is incompatible with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulas and pumps. Ultra-low-field portable MRI (ULF-pMRI) with 0.064 Tesla may provide a solution, but its safety and compatibility is unknown.

HYPOTHESIS:

ULF-pMRI does not cause significant displacement and heating of ECMO cannulas and does not affect ECMO pump function.

METHODS AND MODELS:

ECMO cannulas in various sizes were tested ex vivo using phantom models to assess displacement force and heating according to the American Society for Testing and Materials criteria. ECMO pump function was assessed by pump flow and power consumption. In vivo studies involved five female domestic pigs (20–42 kg) undergoing different ECMO configurations (peripheral and central cannulation) and types of cannulas with an imaging protocol consisting of T2-weighted, T1-weighted, FLuid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery, and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences.

RESULTS:

Phantom models demonstrated that ECMO cannulas, both single lumen with various sizes (15–24-Fr) and double lumen cannula, had average displacement force less than gravitational force within 5 gauss safety line of ULF-pMRI and temperature changes less than 1°C over 15 minutes of scanning and ECMO pump maintained stable flow and power consumption immediately outside of the 5 gauss line. All pig models showed no visible motion due to displacement force or heating of the cannulas. ECMO flow and the animals’ hemodynamic status maintained stability, with no changes greater than 10%, respectively.

INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS:

ULF-pMRI is safe and feasible for use with standard ECMO configurations, supporting its clinical application as a neuroimaging modality in ECMO patients.
Spiritual Well-Being Levels and Self-Care Agency of Patients Receiving Chemotherapy With Port Catheter
Authors: Burucu Rukiye , Türkben Polat Hilal
Published: October 2024

This study was conducted to determine the levels of Patients’ spiritual well-being (SWB) and self-care agency (SCA) of patients receiving chemotherapy with a port catheter. It was a correlational and observational study. Data were collected between December 2021 and March 2022. The sample was 88 people. Of the participants; 59.1% were women, 88.6% were married, 38.6% were primary school graduates, 47.7% were unemployed, and 51.1% had income equal to their expenses. Furthermore, 38.6% patients had breast cancer diagnosis and 52.3% did not have any chronic diseases. Both scale scores were affected by different variables and there was a positive correlation between SCA and SWB. Better SWB positively affected SCA. Patient age and duration after cancer diagnosis affected SCA and SWB. Notably, SCA and SWB levels of the patients may change with age and disease progression, and patients should also be monitored in this respect.
Effects of an App-Based Visitation Program for Mothers of High-Risk Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Yu Nameun , Yu Mi
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

This study established an app-based visitation program for mothers of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)—constrained by COVID-19 visitation restrictions—and assessed its impact on neonatal perception, maternal-infant attachment, and parental stress.

Background:

High-risk infants in the NICU encounter heightened challenges, exacerbated by COVID-19 restrictions, leading to heightened maternal stress, impaired neonatal perception, and hindered mother-infant attachment.

Methods:

A quasi-experimental study was conducted with 40 mothers (20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group) unable to visit the NICU of a tertiary general hospital in South Korea. The experimental group utilized the Dodam-Dodam smartphone application, while the control group received neonatal information through telephone calls and text messages. Data collection occurred in July 2022 (control) and September 2022 (experimental) using research instruments (parent’s neonatal perception, maternal-infant attachment, and parental stressor scale: NICU, visiting program satisfaction). Descriptive statistics and tests (χ2, Fisher’s exact, Shapiro-Wilk, parametric independent t and paired t tests, and nonparametric tests: Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon’s signed-rank) were employed for analysis.

Results:

The Dodam-Dodam application significantly impacted maternal-infant attachment parental stress scores and program satisfaction in the experimental group, except for neonatal perception.

Conclusions:

The Dodam-Dodam application was more efficacious than traditional visiting programs in enhancing maternal-infant attachment, increasing maternal satisfaction and reducing parental stress within NICU settings amid restricted visitation.

Implications for Practice and Research:

Recommendations include app-based NICU visitation, exploring app variations, studying diverse populations, and providing optimal information provision.
Revisiting the Prognostic Influences of Donor-Recipient Size Mismatch in Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Nakayama Toshihiro , Akabane Miho , Imaoka Yuki , Esquivel Carlos O. , Melcher Marc L. , Sasaki Kazunari
Published: October 2024

Background.

Liver transplantation (LT) outcomes are influenced by donor-recipient size mismatch. This study re-evaluated the impact on graft size discrepancies on survival outcomes.

Methods.

Data from 53 389 adult LT recipients from the United Network for Organ Sharing database (2013–2022) were reviewed. The study population was divided by the body surface area index (BSAi), defined as the ratio of donor body surface area (BSA) to recipient BSA, into small-for-size (BSAi < 0.78), normal-for-size (BSAi 0.78–1.24), and large-for-size (BSAi > 1.24) grafts in deceased donor LT (SFSD, NFSD, and LFSD). Multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted.

Results.

The frequency of size mismatch in deceased donor LT increased over the past 10 y. SFSD had significantly worse 90-d graft survival (P < 0.01), and LFSD had inferior 1-y graft survival among 90-d survivors (P = 0.01). SFSD was hazardous within 90 d post-LT because of vascular complications. Beyond 1 y, graft size did not affect graft survival. LFSD risk within the first year was mitigated with lower model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) 3.0 scores (<35) or shorter cold ischemia time (<8 h).

Conclusions.

The negative impacts on donor-recipient size mismatch on survival outcomes are confined to the first year post-LT. SFSD is associated with a slight decrease in 90-d survival rates. LFSD should be utilized more frequently by minimizing cold ischemia time to <8 h, particularly in patients with MELD 3.0 scores below 35. These findings could improve donor-recipient matching and enhance LT outcomes.
Mice with Reduced PAR4 Reactivity show Decreased Venous Thrombosis and Platelet Procoagulant Activity
Authors: Knauss Elizabeth A. , Guci Johana , Luc Norman , Disharoon Dante , Huang Grace H. , Gupta Anirban Sen , Nieman Marvin T.
Published: October 2024

Background

Hypercoagulation and thrombin generation are major risk factors for venous thrombosis. Sustained thrombin signaling through PAR4 promotes platelet activation, phosphatidylserine exposure, and subsequent thrombin generation. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in PAR4 (rs2227376) changes proline to leucine extracellular loop 3 (P310L), which decreases PAR4 reactivity and is associated with a lower risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a GWAS meta-analysis.

Objective

The goal of this study is to determine the mechanism for the association of rs2227376 with reduced risk for VTE in using mice with a homologous mutation (PAR4-P322L).

Methods

Venous thrombosis was examined using our recently generated PAR4-P322L mice in the inferior vena cava stasis and stenosis models. Coagulation and clot stability was measured using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Thrombin generating potential was measured in platelet-rich plasma. Phosphatidylserine surface expression and platelet-neutrophil aggregates were analyzed using flow cytometry.

Results

PAR4P/Land PAR4L/Lhad reduced incidence and size of venous clots at 48 hours. PAR4P/Land PAR4L/Lplatelets had progressively decreased phosphatidylserine in response to thrombin and convulxin, which led to decreased thrombin generation and decreased PAR4-mediated platelet-neutrophil aggregation.

Conclusions

The leucine allele in extracellular loop 3, PAR4-322L leads to fewer procoagulant platelets and decreased endogenous thrombin potential. This decreased ability to generate thrombin offers a mechanism for PAR4’s role in VTE highlighting a key role for PAR4 signaling.
Detecting ecosystem trends in response to climate and disturbance across continental plot networks: a power analysis
Authors: Guerin Greg R. , Martín-Forés Irene , Gallagher Rachael V. , Munroe Samantha E.M. , Sparrow Ben
Published: October 2024

Plant communities are dynamic: cyclical, directional and stochastic changes in species composition make interpretation of responses complex. The multi-dimensionality of ecological change is reduced by ecosystem indicators that quantify functional responses to environmental drivers. However, thresholds of detectable change in indicators may vary by ecosystem or the spatial configuration of monitoring sites within regions.

We quantified the power of a continental terrestrial ecosystem plot network (TERN Ausplots, Australia) to detect change in ecological indicators linked to disturbance and climate: community temperature index (CTI), proportional abundance of photosynthetic pathways (C4%), and species abundance distribution (SAD). We simulated trend and noise scenarios and calculated power and effect size across spatial clusters of plots using linear mixed effects models. We then assessed factors that influenced change detection capacity.

Power varied substantially across the network. Trends with a minimum magnitude of 0.5–3.0°C in CTI, 0.01–0.3 in C4% and 0.1–0.5 in the SAD sigma were detectable, depending on cluster identity and noise. Increased plot replication within a spatial cluster increased power and lower variance among baseline replicates increased effect size for CTI and C4% but not SAD. Latitudinal patterns in change detection capacity emerged for CTI and C4%. The effect size of increasing CTI was greater in the tropics due to lower among-plot variance, while power to detect increasing C4% was higher in the temperate south, where C4is rare.

Indicators reveal trends in complex ecological data that can inform decision-making. Increasing spatial replication and minimising spatial variation by stratifying plots to the same ecological community enhance change detection, albeit with different effectiveness by indicator. The results suggest change detection differs by location, irrespective of sampling factors such as number of plots. Strategies and thresholds for change detection may therefore apply unequally across environments and should be considered by region and response parameter.
Intestinal microbiota changes due toGiardia intestinalisinfections in a longitudinal Ecuadorian birth cohort and impact on cobalamin biosynthesis
Authors: Damania Ashish , Arévalo-Cortés Andrea , Lopez Andrea , Seco-Hidalgo Victor , Garcia-Ramon Diana , Lefoulon Emilie , Long Courtney , Drake Evan , Slatko Barton , Cooper Philip J , Mejia Rojelio
Published: October 2024

Background

Giardia intestinalisis a protozoal parasite infecting the gastrointestinal tract worldwide. Chronic infections/reinfections are common, with adverse nutritional consequences for critical growth during the first five years of life. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is absorbed primarily in the ileum of the small intestine, whereGiardiatrophozoites attach and replicate. Bacteria activate bioavailable vitamin B12, which is essential for human DNA synthesis and development. A disturbance in cobalamin biosynthesis caused by giardiasis may contribute to impairment of childhood development and growth.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We performed a longitudinal analysis on 61 Ecuadorian children using multi-parallel real-time quantitative PCR and whole genome sequencing. Children had increasedGiardiaDNA burden from ages 3 to 5 (p = 0.0012) and 7.58 times more frequentGiardiainfections (1.31 to 34.33, P = 0.0176). There was an increased alpha diversity/Giardiafg/µl in three-year-olds compared to age-matched non-infected (30.20 vs 4.37, p = 0.050), but decreased alpha diversity/Giardiafg/µl in five-year-olds compared to age-matched non-infected children (0.21 vs 4.31, p = 0.021). Alpha diversity/Giardiafg/µl was also decreased in samples collected longitudinally from the same children at five compared to 3 years (p = 0.031). Cobalt transport protein (CbiN) (FDR < 0.003) and IPR011822 (Cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase) sequences were decreased in infected children (p < 0.002) and among those with greatestGiardiaburdens (p < 0.001).

Conclusion/Significance

Giardia intestinalisinfection may affect bacterial diversity in the ileum where vitamin B12 is activated, as suggested by a reduced proportion of Cobalt transport protein component (CbiN) gene sequences in the gut microbiome of infected children. These findings are potentially important to our understanding of howGiardiainfections may affect childhood growth.
Heart Block Identification from 12-Lead ECG: Exploring the Generalizability of Self-Supervised AI
Authors: Bergamaschi Teya S. , Stultz Collin M. , Alam Ridwan
Published: October 2024

Timely diagnosis and treatment of heart blocks are critical for preventing fatal outcomes in patients with cardiac conduction disorders. Expert analysis of clinical 12-lead electro-cardiograms (ECG) remains the standard diagnosis apparatus. In this study, we propose a self-supervised deep learning model that can detect evidence of heart blocks in ECG signals. We build a multichannel residual neural network (KRes) and train this model in a self-supervised contrastive fashion leveraging 3.6 million ECG from patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to learn robust ECG representations. We evaluate the utility of such representations on a large public dataset, PTB-XL, through fine-tuning and linear probing for identifying heart blocks. To compare, we also build a baseline supervised model by adapting KRes. The training data contains a subset of 10.6 thousand PTB-XL ECG from patients with and without heart block patterns, and a holdout set of 1319 ECG is used for evaluation. We compare the performances of the finetuning and the linear probing of the self-supervised representations with that of the supervised model using the area under the receiver-operating curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values, and found those performing equally well. Moreover, we repeat the training cycles of the three pipelines while reducing the number of training samples and demonstrate that the performance of the self-supervised representations remain steady even when labeled data is limited. This research underscores the potential of self-supervised learning in cardiac diagnostics, emphasizing generalizability and performance across diverse datasets and clinical settings, especially in data-scarce paradigms.
Serum total cholesterol and fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage in 120,000 Japanese: a pooled analysis of data from 12 cohorts
Authors: Satoh Atsushi , Arima Hisatomi , Tanaka-Mizuno Sachiko , Fujiyoshi Akira , Kadota Aya , Miura Katsuyuki , Ueshima Hirotsugu , Okamura Tomonori , Murakami Yoshitaka ,   EPOCH JAPAN Research Group
Published: October 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to clarify the association between serum total cholesterol and fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage in Japanese men and women.

Methods

The study involved a pooled analysis of data from 12 well-qualified cohort studies conducted in Japan. A total of 120,973 participants (70,947 women and 50,026 men) aged 18– 96 years at baseline underwent follow-up for a median of 12.7 years. The participants were classified according to their serum total cholesterol levels: <4.14 mmol/L (<160 mg/dL), 4.14–4.64 mmol/L (160–180 mg/dL), 4.65–5.16 mmol/L (180–199 mg/dL), 5.17–5.68 mmol/L (200–219 mg/dL), 5.69–6.20 mmol/L (220–239 mg/dL), and ≥6.21 mmol/L (≥240 mg/dL). The outcome of the analysis was death from subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Results

During the median follow-up of 12.7 years, 261 participants died from subarachnoid hemorrhage. In women, both low (<5.69 mmol/L [<220 mg/dL]) and high (≥6.21 mmol/L [≥240 mg/dL]) serum total cholesterol levels were significantly associated with a higher risk of fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with the reference group (5.69–6.20 mmol/L [220–239 mg/dL]). These associations remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors. In contrast, no associations were observed in men.

Conclusions

Both low and high serum total cholesterol levels were associated with a higher risk of fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage in 70,947 female participants from 12 cohort studies throughout Japan.
Oxygen deprivation implicated in rapid coral mortality – an emerging perilous threat to coral reefs
Authors: Dhillon Max S. , Klein Shannon G. , Parry Anieka J. , Moret Alessandro , Duarte Carlos M. , Aranda Manuel
Published: October 2024

Tropical coral reefs are undergoing unprecedented degradation1, primarily due to the increasing intensity and frequency of marine heatwaves with climate change2-4. Coral bleaching is a well-known ramification of marine heatwaves, but rapid coral mortality is an emerging paradigm that visually manifests as the ‘sloughing’ of tissue from the coral skeleton. Unlike coral bleaching, coral tissue sloughing precludes any prospect of holobiont recovery beyond the initial onset1,5,6, indicating a life-or-death tipping point. Here, we experimentally confirm this phenomenon occurs when temperatures increase within temporal windows of hours to days, consistent with field observations7,8. Through microscale measurements of dissolved oxygen in the diffusive boundary layers of two abundant, keystone reef-building corals, we demonstrate that rapid temperature increases coincide with intrinsic oxygen deprivation, occurring before gross tissue disintegration or coral tissue sloughing. We propose that this distinct phenomenon arises from rapid heating, rendering the coral holobiont incapable of engaging in reactive processes to counteract the combined effects of heightened aerobic demands and impaired photosynthetic function. The passive diffusion of O2from the surrounding bulk water is likely insufficient to meet the holobiont’s requirements, as explained by the Einstein–Smoluchowski kinetic theory of gases and Brownian motion9,10. These insights into coral tissue sloughing underscore the complexity of holobiont responses to stress and biophysical consequences of heatwaves. A granular understanding of these mechanisms is urgently needed, particularly regarding how heating rates may change under future climate scenarios, to re-evaluate the potentially under-recognised threats facing coral reefs.
Stabilization of HSA32, an aggregation-prone protein, by the protein disaggregase HSP101 plays a critical role in maintaining acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Mitra Suma , Yu Shih-Jiun , Liu Nai-Yu , Hsu Chuan-Chih , Li Hong-Yi , Borah Akankshita , Shen Yu-Yen , Wu Shang-hao , Hsu Yang-Hsin , Fu Hongyong , Charng Yee-yung
Published: October 2024

Heat acclimation confers acquired thermotolerance (AT), and heat-acclimation memory (HAM) is the maintenance of AT for some time. In Arabidopsis and rice, the heat-stress-associated 32-kDa protein (HSA32) and the protein disaggregase heat shock protein101 (HSP101) form a positive feedback loop at the protein level to maintain AT; HSA32 mitigates HSP101 degradation, and HSP101 positively regulates the accumulation of HSA32. Here, we report the underpinning mechanism regarding how HSP101 affects the HSA32 level in Arabidopsis. We found that, without HSP101, nascent HSA32 was rapidly degraded, and the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, inhibited the degradation. In response to heat stress, the nascent HSA32-GFP fusion protein was present in liquid condensates and diffused in the cytosol after returning to non-stress temperature. Proximity labeling with HSA32-TurboID identified HSP101 and five other protein chaperones and co-chaperones as the primary interactors. Disturbing the interaction between HSA32 and HSP101 destabilized HSA32 and compromised HAM. HSA32 is predicted as a TIM-barrel protein with three intrinsically disordered regions of high aggregation propensity. Recombinant HSA32 expressed inE. coliwas partitioned into insoluble fractions, suggesting that HSA32 is aggregation-prone. Our findings highlight how the interplay between an aggregation-prone protein and a protein disaggregase can maintain plant stress memory.