bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the essential nature of Rab1B in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: He Kai , Wang Qiangqiang , Gao Xuwen , Tang Tao , Ding Huiyong , Long Shaojun
Published: November 2023

Background

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii encodes a dozen Rab proteins, which are parts of the small GTPase superfamily and regulate intracellular membrane trafficking. Our previous study showed that depletion of Rab1B caused severe defects regarding parasite growth and morphological structure, yet early defects of endocytic trafficking and vesicle sorting to the rhoptry in T. gondii are not expected to have a strong effect. To understand this discrepancy, we performed an integrated analysis at the level of transcriptomics and metabolomics.

Methods

In the study, tetracycline-inducible TATi/Ty-Rab1B parasite line treated with ATc at three different time points (0, 18 and 24 h) was used. We first observed the morphological changes caused by Rab1B depletion via transmission electron technology. Then, high-throughput transcriptome along with non-targeted metabolomics were performed to analyze the RNA expression and metabolite changes in the Rab1B-depleted parasite. The essential nature of Rab1B in the parasite was revealed by the integrated omics approach.

Results

Transmission electron micrographs showed a strong disorganization of endo-membranes in the Rab1B-depleted parasites. Our deep analysis of transcriptome and metabolome identified 2181 and 2374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 30 and 83 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) at 18 and 24 h of induction in the tetracycline-inducible parasite line, respectively. These DEGs included key genes associated with crucial organelles that contain the rhoptry, microneme, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The analysis of qRT-PCR verified some of the key DEGs identified by RNA-Seq, supporting that the key vesicular regulator Rab1B was involved in biogenesis of multiple parasite organelles. Functional enrichment analyses revealed pathways related to central carbon metabolisms and lipid metabolisms, such as the TCA cycle, glycerophospholipid metabolism and fatty acid biosynthesis and elongation. Further correlation analysis of the major DEMs and DEGs supported the role of Rab1B in biogenesis of fatty acids (e.g. myrisoleic acid and oleic acid) (R > 0.95 and P < 0.05), which was consistent with the scavenging role in biotin via the endocytic process.

Conclusions

Rab1B played an important role in parasite growth and morphology, which was supported by the replication assay and transmission electron microscopy observation. Our multi-omics analyses provided detailed insights into the overall impact on the parasite upon depletion of the protein. These analyses reinforced the role of Rab1B in the endocytic process, which has an impact on fatty acid biogenesis and the TCA cycle. Taken together, these findings contribute to our understanding of a key vesicular regulator, Rab1B, on parasite metabolism and morphological formation in T. gondii.

Graphical Abstract
Regenerative effects of platelet-rich plasma releasate injection in rabbit discs degenerated by intradiscal injection of condoliase
Authors: Hasegawa Takahiro , Akeda Koji , Yamada Junichi , Kawaguchi Koki , Takegami Norihiko , Fujiwara Tatsuhiko , Natsume Takahiro , Ide Koichiro , Matsuyama Yukihiro , Sudo Akihiro
Published: November 2023

Background

Intradiscal condoliase injection is an alternative therapeutic option for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, it is often associated with disc degeneration. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated the regenerative potential of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in disc degeneration. Thus, we hypothesized that the intradiscal injection of PRP releasate (PRPr), a soluble releasate isolated from PRP, has the potential to regenerate degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) induced by condoliase. This study examined the regenerative effects of PRPr on rabbit IVDs degenerated following condoliase injection.

Methods

Eleven New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Condoliase (12.5 mU/10 μl) was injected into two non-contiguous discs (L2-L3 and L4-L5), and L3-L4 disc was left intact as a non-injection control. Saline (20 μl) or PRPr (20 μl) was randomly injected into L2-L3 and L4-L5 discs 4 weeks after the condoliase injection. Disc height (DH) was radiographically monitored biweekly from the day of condoliase injection to 16 weeks post-injection. Changes in DH were expressed as percentage DH (%DH) normalized to the baseline DH. Sixteen weeks after condoliase injection, all rabbits were euthanized, and subjected to MRI and histological analyses.

Results

Intradiscal injection of condoliase induced a significant decrease in %DH (L2-L3 and L4-L5) to 52.0% at week 4. However, the %DH began to return to normal after saline injection and reached 76.3% at week 16. In the PRPr group, %DH began to recover to normal after the PRPr injection and was restored to 95.5% at week 16. The MRI-modified Pfirrmann grade of the PRPr group was significantly lower than that of the saline group (P < 0.01). Histological analyses showed progressive degenerative changes, including reduction of the NP area and condensation of the matrix in the saline and PRPr groups. The histological score of the PRPr group was significantly lower than that of the saline group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

PRPr has great potential to enhance the regeneration of degenerated rabbit IVDs induced by condoliase. The results of this preclinical study suggest that PRPr injection therapy may be indicated for patients with LDH who have poor recovery from disc degeneration after chemonucleolysis treatment with condoliase.
The role of non-canonical Hippo pathway in regulating immune homeostasis
Authors: Tang Dagang , Xu Huan , Du Xing
Published: November 2023

The Hippo pathway is a crucial signaling pathway that is highly conserved throughout evolution for the regulation of organ size and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Initial studies have primarily focused on the canonical Hippo pathway, which governs organ development, tissue regeneration, and tumorigenesis. In recent years, extensive research has revealed that the non-canonical Hippo pathway, centered around Mst1/2 as its core molecule, plays a pivotal role in immune response and function by synergistically interacting with other signal transduction pathways. Consequently, the non-canonical Hippo pathway assumes significant importance in maintaining immune system homeostasis. This review concentrates on the research progress of the non-canonical Hippo pathway in regulating innate immune cell anti-infection responses, maintaining redox homeostasis, responding to microenvironmental stiffness, and T-cell differentiation.
Role of macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition in chronic liver injury and liver fibrosis
Authors: Xia Suhong , Huang Yujie , Zhang Yu , Zhang Mingyu , Zhao Kai , Han Ping , Tian Dean , Liao Jiazhi , Liu Jingmei
Published: November 2023

Background

Chronic liver injury contributes to liver fibrosis, which is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. ECM is mainly composed of myofibroblasts. Recently, macrophage-to-myofibroblasts transition (MMT), has been identified as a novel origin for myofibroblasts. However, the potential functions of MMT in chronic liver injury and liver fibrosis remain unknown.

Methods

To clarify the transformation of fibrotic cells in hepatic fibrosis, liver specimens were collected from people at different stages in the progression of hepatic fibrosis and stained with immunofluorescence. Models of hepatic fibrosis such as the CCL4 model, HFD-induced NAFLD model, MCD-induced NAFLD model and ethanol-induced AFLD model were demonstrated and were stained with immunofluorescence.

Results

Here, we uncovered macrophages underwent MMT in clinical liver fibrosis tissue samples and multiple animal models of chronic liver injury. MMT cells were found in specimens from patients with liver fibrosis on the basis of co-expression of macrophage (CD68) and myofibroblast (a-SMA) markers. Moreover, macrophages could transform into myofibroblasts in CCL4-induced liver fibrosis model, high-fat diet (HFD) and methionine-choline-deficient diet (MCD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) model, and ethanol-induced alcoholic fatty liver diseases (AFLD) model. In addition, we highlighted that MMT cells mainly had a predominant M2 phenotype in both human and experimental chronic liver injury.

Conclusions

Taken together, MMT acts a crucial role in chronic liver injury and liver fibrosis.
Hypoglossal canal: an osteological and morphometric study on a collection of dried skulls in an Italian population: clinical implications
Authors: Guarna Massimo , Lorenzoni Paola , Franci Daniela , Aglianò Margherita
Published: November 2023

Background

The hypoglossal canal is a dual bone canal at the cranial base near the occipital condyles. The filaments of the hypoglossal nerve pass through the canal. It also transmits the meningeal branch of the ascending pharyngeal artery, the venous plexus and meningeal branches of the hypoglossal nerve. The hypoglossal nerve innervates all the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue except the palatoglossal and is fundamental in physiological functions as phonation and deglutition. A surgical approach to the canal requires knowledge of the main morphometric data by neurosurgeons.

Methods

The present study was carried out on 50 adult dried skulls: 31 males: age range 18–85 years; 19 females: age range 26–79 years. The skulls came from the ''Leonetto Comparini'' Anatomical Museum. The skulls belonged to people from Siena (Italy) and its surroundings (1882–1932) and, therefore, of European ethnicity. The present study reports (a) the osteological variations in hypoglossal canal (b) the morphometry of hypoglossal canal and its relationship with occipital condyles. One skull had both the right and left hypoglossal canals occluded and, therefore, could not be evaluated. None of the skulls had undergone surgery.

Results

We found a double canal in 16% of cases, unilaterally and bilaterally in 2% of cases. The mean length of the right and left hypoglossal canals was 8.46 mm. The mean diameter of the intracranial orifice and extracranial orifice of the right and left hypoglossal canals was 6.12 ± 1426 mm, and 6.39 ± 1495 mm. The mean distance from the intracranial end of the hypoglossal canal to the anterior and posterior ends of occipital condyles was 10,76 mm and 10,81 mm. The mean distance from the intracranial end of the hypoglossal canal to the inferior end of the occipital condyles was 7,65 mm.

Conclusions

The study on the hypoglossal canal adds new osteological and morphometric data to the previous literature, mostly based on studies conducted on different ethnic groups.The data presented is compatible with neuroradiological studies and it can be useful for radiologists and neurosurgeons in planning procedures such as transcondilar surgery. The last purpose of the study is to build an Italian anatomical data base of the dimensions of the hypoglossal canal in dried skulls..
Surgery-induced gut microbial dysbiosis promotes cognitive impairment via regulation of intestinal function and the metabolite palmitic amide
Authors: Pan Cailong , Zhang Huiwen , Zhang Lingyuan , Chen Lu , Xu Lu , Xu Ning , Liu Xue , Meng Qinghai , Wang Xiaoliang , Zhang Zhi-Yuan
Published: November 2023

Background

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND) are the most common postoperative complications with few therapeutic options. Gut microbial dysbiosis is associated with neurological diseases; however, the mechanisms by which the microbiota regulates postoperative gastrointestinal and cognitive function are incompletely understood.

Methods

Behavioral testing, MiSeq 16S rRNA gene sequencing, non-target metabolism, intestinal permeability detection, protein assays, and immunofluorescence staining were employed to discern the impacts of surgery on microbial profiles, intestinal barriers, serum metabolism, and the brain. Interventions in mice included fecal microbiota transplantation, the anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone, Lactobacillus supplementation, indole propionic acid supplementation, and palmitic amide administration.

Results

Surgery-induced cognitive impairment occurs predominantly in aged mice, and surgery-induced alterations in the microbiota composition profile exacerbate intestinal barrier disruption in aged mice. These adverse effects can be mitigated by transferring microbiota from young donors or by bolstering the intestinal barrier function using dexamethasone, Lactobacillus, or indole propionic acid. Moreover, microbiota composition profiles can be restored by transplanting feces from young mice to aged surgical mice, improving neuropathology and cognitive function, and these effects coincide with increased intestinal permeability. Metabolomic screening identified alterations in metabolites in mouse serum after surgery, especially the increase in palmitic amide. Palmitic amide levels in serum and brain can be decreased by transplanting feces from young mice to aged surgical mice. Oral palmitic amide exacerbates cognitive impairment and neuropathological changes in mice.

Conclusions

Gut microbial dysbiosis in mice after surgery is a key mechanism leading to cognition dysfunction, which disrupts the intestinal barrier and metabolic abnormalities, resulting in neuroinflammation and dendritic spine loss. Intestinal barrier damage and high level of palmitic amide in old mice may be the cause of high incidence of PND in the elderly. Preoperative microbiota regulation and intestinal barrier restoration may be of therapeutic benefit in preventing PND.
Network intrusion detection using feature fusion with deep learning
Authors: Ayantayo Abiodun , Kaur Amrit , Kour Anit , Schmoor Xavier , Shah Fayyaz , Vickers Ian , Kearney Paul , Abdelsamea Mohammed M.
Published: November 2023

Network intrusion detection systems (NIDSs) are one of the main tools used to defend against cyber-attacks. Deep learning has shown remarkable success in network intrusion detection. However, the effect of feature fusion has yet to be explored in how to boost the performance of the deep learning model and improve its generalisation capability in NIDS. In this paper, we propose novel deep learning architectures with different feature fusion mechanisms aimed at improving the performance of the multi-classification components of NIDS. We propose three different deep learning models, which we call early-fusion, late-fusion, and late-ensemble learning models using feature fusion with fully connected deep networks. Our feature fusion mechanisms were designed to encourage deep learning models to learn relationships between different input features more efficiently and mitigate any potential bias that may occur with a particular feature type. To assess the efficacy of our deep learning solutions and make comparisons with state-of-the-art models, we employ the widely accessible UNSW-NB15 and NSL-KDD datasets specifically designed to enhance the development and evaluation of improved NIDSs. Through quantitative analysis, we demonstrate the resilience of our proposed models in effectively addressing the challenges posed by multi-classification tasks, especially in the presence of class imbalance issues. Moreover, our late-fusion and late-ensemble models showed the best generalisation behaviour (against overfitting) with similar performance on the training and validation sets.
Continuous chest compressions are associated with higher peak inspiratory pressures when compared to 30:2 in an experimental cardiac arrest model
Authors: Mälberg Johan , Marchesi Silvia , Spangler Douglas , Hadziosmanovic Nermin , Smekal David , Rubertsson Sten
Published: November 2023

Background

Ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has long been a part of the standard treatment during cardiac arrests. Ventilation is usually given either during continuous chest compressions (CCC) or during a short pause after every 30 chest compressions (30:2). There is limited knowledge of how ventilation is delivered if it effects the hemodynamics and if it plays a role in the occurrence of lung injuries. The aim of this study was to compare ventilation parameters, hemodynamics, blood gases and lung injuries during experimental CPR given with CCC and 30:2 in a porcine model.

Methods

Sixteen pigs weighing approximately 33 kg were randomized to either receive CPR with CCC or 30:2. Ventricular fibrillation was induced by passing an electrical current through the heart. CPR was started after 3 min and given for 20 min. Chest compressions were provided mechanically with a chest compression device and ventilations were delivered manually with a self-inflating bag and 12 l/min of oxygen. During the experiment, ventilation parameters and hemodynamics were sampled continuously, and arterial blood gases were taken every five minutes. After euthanasia and cessation of CPR, the lungs and heart were removed in block and visually examined followed by sampling of lung tissue which were examined using microscopy.

Results

In the CCC group and the 30:2 group, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was 58.6 and 35.1 cmH2O (p < 0.001), minute volume (MV) 2189.6 and 1267.1 ml (p < 0.001), peak expired carbon dioxide (PECO2) 28.6 and 39.4 mmHg (p = 0.020), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) 50.2 and 61.1 mmHg (p = 0.013) and pH 7.3 and 7.2 (p = 0.029), respectively. Central venous pressure (CVP) decreased more over time in the 30:2 group (p = 0.023). All lungs were injured, but there were no differences between the groups.

Conclusions

Ventilation during CCC resulted in a higher PIP, MV and pH and lower PECO2 and PaCO2, showing that ventilation mode during CPR can affect ventilation parameters and blood gases.
Ancient slabs beneath Arctic and surroundings: Izanagi, Farallon, and in-betweens
Authors: Toyokuni Genti , Zhao Dapeng
Published: November 2023

A detailed 3-D tomographic model of the whole mantle beneath the northern hemisphere (north of ~ 30°N latitude) is obtained by inverting a large amount of P-wave arrival time data (P, pP, and PP) to investigate transition of subducted slabs beneath Eurasia–Arctic–North America. We apply an updated global tomographic method that can investigate the whole mantle 3-D structure beneath a target area with high resolution comparable to that of regional tomography. The final tomographic model is obtained by performing independent calculations for 12 different target areas and stitching together the results. Our model clearly shows the subducted Izanagi and Farallon slabs penetrating into the lower mantle beneath Eurasia and North America, respectively. In the region from Canada to Greenland, a stagnant slab lying below the 660-km discontinuity is revealed. Because this slab has a texture that seems to be due to subducted oceanic ridges, the slab might be composed of the Farallon and Kula slabs that had subducted during ~60–50 Ma. During that period, a complex rift system represented by division between Canada and Greenland was developed. The oceanic ridge subduction and hot upwelling in the big mantle wedge above the stagnant slab caused a tensional stress field, which might have induced these complex tectonic events.
Caveolin-1 is critical for hepatic iron storage capacity in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Deng Guang-Hui , Wu Chao-Feng , Li Yun-Jia , Shi Hao , Zhong Wei-Chao , Hong Mu-Keng , Li Jun-Jie , Zhao Jia-Min , Liu Chang , Qin Meng-Chen , Zeng Zhi-Yun , Zhang Wei-Min , Yung Ken Kin Lam , Lv Zhi-Ping , Gao Lei
Published: November 2023

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with disordered lipid and iron metabolism. Our previous study has substantiated the pivotal role of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in protecting hepatocytes and mediating iron metabolism in the liver. This study aimed to explore the specific mechanisms underlying the regulation of iron metabolism by Cav-1 in NAFLD.

Methods

Hepatocyte-specific Cav-1 overexpression mice and knockout mice were used in this study. Cav-1-knockdown of RAW264.7 cells and mouse primary hepatocytes were performed to verify the changes in vitro. Moreover, a high-fat diet and palmitic acid plus oleic acid treatment were utilized to construct a NAFLD model in vivo and in vitro, respectively, while a high-iron diet was used to construct an in vivo iron overload model. Besides, iron concentration, the expression of Cav-1 and iron metabolism-related proteins in liver tissue or serum were detected using iron assay kit, Prussian blue staining, Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemical staining and ELISA. The related indicators of lipid metabolism and oxidative stress were evaluated by the corresponding reagent kit and staining.

Results

Significant disorder of lipid and iron metabolism occurred in NAFLD. The expression of Cav-1 was decreased in NAFLD hepatocytes (P < 0.05), accompanied by iron metabolism disorder. Cav-1 enhanced the iron storage capacity of hepatocytes by activating the ferritin light chain/ferritin heavy chain pathway in NAFLD, subsequently alleviating the oxidative stress induced by excess ferrous ions in the liver. Further, CD68+CD163+ macrophages expressing Cav-1 were found to accelerate iron accumulation in the liver, which was contrary to the effect of Cav-1 in hepatocytes. Positive correlations were also observed between the serum Cav-1 concentration and the serum iron-related protein levels in NAFLD patients and healthy volunteers (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings confirm that Cav-1 is an essential target protein that regulates iron and lipid metabolic homeostasis. It is a pivotal molecule for predicting and protecting against the development of NAFLD.
Comparative Study of the Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Nutritional Practices Among International Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes: A Sample of 1420 Participants from 14 Countries
Authors: Taheri Morteza , Saad Helmi Ben , Washif Jad Adrian , Reynoso-Sánchez Luis Felipe , Mirmoezzi Masoud , Youzbashi Leila , Trabelsi Khaled , Moshtagh Mozhgan , Muñoz-Helú Hussein , Mataruna-Dos-Santos Leonardo Jose , Seghatoleslami Ali , Torabi Farnaz , Soylu Yusuf , Kurt Cem , Vancini Rodrigo Luiz , Delkash Shabnam , Rezaei Marjan Sadat , Ashouri Mahdi , Tahira Shazia , Sayyah Mansour , Chtourou Hamdi , Dergaa Ismail , Strahler Jana , Guimarães-Mataruna Andressa Fontes , Lebaron Tyler W. , Ezdini Ebrahim Shaabani , Alizade Ardeshir , Zouhal Hassane , Tarnava Alexander T. , Clark Cain , Bigdeli Nooshin , Ammar Achraf , Eken Özgür , Ayed Karim Ben , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Nobari Hadi , Thuany Mabliny , Weiss Katja , Knechtle Beat , Irandoust Khadijeh
Published: November 2023

Background

Although several studies have shown that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown has had negative impacts on mental health and eating behaviors among the general population and athletes, few studies have examined the long-term effects on elite and sub-elite athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health and eating behaviors in elite versus sub-elite athletes two years into the pandemic. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and April 2022, involving athletes from 14 countries, using a convenient non-probabilistic and snowball sampling method. A total of 1420 athletes (24.5 ± 7.9 years old, 569 elites, 35% women, and 851 sub-elites, 45% women) completed an online survey-based questionnaire. The questionnaire included a sociodemographic survey, information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21) for mental health assessment, and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants (REAP-S) for assessing eating behavior.

Results

The results showed that compared to sub-elite athletes, elite athletes had lower scores on the DASS-21 (p = .001) and its subscales of depression (p = .003), anxiety (p = .007), and stress (p < .001), as well as a lower REAP-S score indicating lower diet quality (p = .013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, two years into the pandemic, elite athletes were likelier to have better mental health profiles than sub-elite athletes but surprisingly had lower diet quality.
Dengue-induced Guillain–Barre syndrome: a case series
Authors: Imtiaz Hina , Khan Ayisha Farooq , Khan Sara
Published: November 2023

Background

Dengue virus is an RNA virus that is associated with a myriad of neurological manifestations. Less than 5% of patients develop neuromuscular complications. Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon neurological sequelae of dengue fever. Studies have shown acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) to be the most common variants associated with dengue fever in Asian countries. Very few cases have been reported from Pakistan to date.

Case presentation

We present four adult patients with dengue-associated GBS. The time interval between onset of symptoms of dengue fever and development of lower limb weakness in all patients was between 6 and 20 days. Dengue was diagnosed based on either serology or dengue NS1 antigen testing. Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) (n = 1), AMAN (n = 1), and AMSAN (n = 2) variants were identified. One patient had a coexisting myopathy which has not been previously reported. All patients showed good recovery after treatment with plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulins.

Conclusions

Our case series is valuable in contributing to the limited pool of reported cases of dengue fever complicated by GBS. Early detection of new onset symmetrical limb weakness during or after a dengue infection is imperative for early treatment and to limit disability.
Longitudinal metagenomic study reveals the dynamics of fecal antibiotic resistome in pigs throughout the lifetime
Authors: Ma Lingyan , Song Yuanyuan , Lyu Wentao , Chen Qu , Xiao Xingning , Jin Yuanxiang , Yang Hua , Wang Wen , Xiao Yingping
Published: November 2023

Background

The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) poses a substantial threat to environmental safety and human health. Herein, we present a longitudinal paired study across the swine lifetime from birth to market, coupled with metagenomic sequencing to explore the dynamics of ARGs and their health risk in the swine fecal microbiome.

Results

We systematically characterized the composition and distribution of ARGs among the different growth stages. In total, 829 ARG subtypes belonging to 21 different ARG types were detected, in which tetracycline, aminoglycoside, and MLS were the most abundant types. Indeed, 134 core ARG subtypes were shared in all stages and displayed a growth stage-associated pattern. Furthermore, the correlation between ARGs, gut microbiota and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) revealed Escherichia coli represented the main carrier of ARGs. We also found that in most cases, the dominant ARGs could be transmitted to progeny piglets, suggesting the potential ARGs generation transmission. Finally, the evaluation of the antibiotic resistance threats provides us some early warning of those high health risk ARGs.

Conclusions

Collectively, this relatively more comprehensive study provides a primary overview of ARG profile in swine microbiome across the lifetime and highlights the health risk and the intergenerational spread of ARGs in pig farm.

Graphical Abstract
Comparable performance of machine learning algorithms in predicting readmission and complications following total joint arthroplasty with external validation
Authors: Shaikh Hashim J. F. , Botros Mina , Ramirez Gabriel , Thirukumaran Caroline P. , Ricciardi Benjamin , Myers Thomas G.
Published: November 2023

Background

The purpose of the study was to use Machine Learning (ML) to construct a risk calculator for patients who undergo Total Joint Arthroplasty (TJA) on the basis of New York State Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) data and externally validate the calculator on a single TJA center.

Methods

Seven ML algorithms, i.e., logistic regression, adaptive boosting, gradient boosting (Xg Boost), random forest (RF) classifier, support vector machine, and single and a five-layered neural network were trained on the derivation cohort. Models were trained on 68% of data, validated on 15%, tested on 15%, and externally validated on 2% of the data from a single arthroplasty center.

Results

Validation of the models showed that the RF classifier performed best in terms of 30-d mortality AUROC (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic) 0.78, 30-d readmission (AUROC 0.61) and 90-d composite complications (AUROC 0.73) amongst the test set. Additionally, Xg Boost was found to be the best predicting model for 90-d readmission and 90-d composite complications (AUC 0.73). External validation demonstrated that models achieved similar AUROCs to the test set although variation occurred in top model performance for 90-d composite complications and readmissions between our test and external validation set.

Conclusion

This was the first study to investigate the use of ML to create a predictive risk calculator from state-wide data and then externally validate it with data from a single arthroplasty center. Discrimination between best performing ML models and between the test set and the external validation set are comparable.

Level of Evidence

III.
Do financing institutions consider operating performance in estimating cost of debt?
Authors: Miah Muhammad Shahin , Islam Mohammad Ariful , Amir Md. Khaled Bin
Published: November 2023

This paper examines the relationship between firm performance and cost of debt. More specifically this paper empirically shows that fund providers charge lower cost on debt for highly performing companies compared to lower performing companies. We argue that the profitable companies are more resilient, and they have more survivable capacity which impacts on the pricing of the cost of debt. In contrast, lower performing companies are more prone to financial distress or may have higher chances of non-repayment of loans thereby fund providers charge higher interest to compensate the risks. Consistently, analyzing 547 firm year observations for the period of 2015–2019 we find that the cost of debt is significantly lower for the highly performing companies compared to the lower performing companies. The negative relation between the cost of debt and firm performance is highly pronounced in smaller companies compared to bigger companies. It suggests that fund providers create opportunities for smaller companies thereby results in balanced growth in the economy. Our results are robust to a set of alternative measures of firm performance. This study has several policy implications and contributions to the literature of the cost of debt in developing economies.
Corticosteroid and antibiotic use in hospitalized patients in Lebanon with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Basma S. , Al-Hajje A. , Salameh P. , Nader I. , Henaine AM.
Published: November 2023

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with 90% of these deaths reported in low- and middle-income countries. In Lebanon, the prevalence of COPD is 9.7%. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends the use of antibiotics and corticosteroids in inpatients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The studies examining the level of conformity with the GOLD recommendations are rare, which increases the need for the current study.

Methods

A 3-month cross-sectional study was done. Patients included were those diagnosed with acute exacerbations of COPD and admitted to one of the selected hospitals in Beirut, of various nationalities and sexes, aged 18 to 89. Data were selected from patient files admitted between January 2020 and June 2022 using a data collection sheet. The SPSS version 24 statistics software was used to conduct statistical analysis.

Results

A total of 260 patients were recruited, with 86.7% receiving systemic corticosteroids, 24.3% respecting dose, and 81.8% respecting the appropriate duration of corticosteroid intake. 80% exhibited pulmonary indications for receiving antibiotics, and 56.53% had the necessary cardinal symptoms. Around 74.5% of patients use antibiotics for the recommended time of 5 to 7 days. Age (p value = 0.006), gender (p value = 0.049), alcohol consumption (p value = 0.018), and use of psychiatric medications (p value = 0.049) are correlated with the conformity index of corticosteroid administration. A correlation was observed between the duration of use of antibiotics with cardinal symptoms (p value = 0.003), CRP-value (p value = 0.007), and type of hospital (p value = 0.00).

Conclusion

This investigation revealed a need for correction in a deviation from the guidelines, shed light on existing clinical procedures, and emphasized the growing concern about the uncontrollable rate of antibiotic use and inadequate corticosteroid dosing.
Hearing profile of recovered severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV2) patients
Authors: Abdulghffar Abdulrahman Nabil Fathi , EL Fouly Hedayat El Sayed , EL Minawi Mohamed Sherif , Medhat Mariam Magdy
Published: November 2023

Background

Coronaviruses are large, encapsulated RNA viruses that can infect both humans and animals and cause minor respiratory illnesses. In December 2019, numerous cases of pneumonia of unknown origin were reported in Wuhan, China. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the cause of these cases, was discovered on January 6, 2020. The new coronavirus was declared an epidemic by the WHO on March, 2020. Several studies on COVID-19 have found that auditory complaints and hearing impairment can be detected using various tests.

Objectives

Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) were used to assess hearing in recovered SARS-CoV-2 patients. Also, to compare the presence of patient's auditory complaints with the test findings.

Methods

A case- control study was conducted, with each case and control group consisting of 58 people who were age and sex matched and ranged in age from 18 to 50 years. PTA, Extended PTA and, TEOAEs were used to evaluate hearing in both groups.

Results

PTA revealed a statistically significant difference in right ear thresholds at 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 4 kHz, and 8 kHz and left ear thresholds at 250 Hz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz, and 12.5 kHz between patients and controls. Additionally, a statistically significant difference in TEOAEs' overall reproducibility and amplitude between patients and controls was discovered. Affection for PTA and TEOAEs were related to the patient's complaints of hearing loss and tinnitus, respectively.

Conclusions

Whether a patient is symptomatic or not, COVID-19 may have a negative impact on their hearing.
Treatment of cerebral ventriculitis with a new self-irrigating catheter system: narrative review and case series
Authors: Stati Gloria , Migliorino Ernesto , Moneti Manuel , Castioni Carlo Alberto , Scibilia Antonino , Palandri Giorgio , Virgili Giulio , Aspide Raffaele
Published: November 2023

Cerebral ventriculitis is a life-threatening condition that requires prompt and effective pharmacological intervention. The continuous irrigation of the cerebral ventricles with fluid and its drainage is a system to remove toxic substances and infectious residues in the ventricles; this system is called IRRAflow®. We used this kind of ventricular irrigation/drainage system to treat two patients with post-surgical cerebral ventriculitis and a patient with bacterial meningitis complicated with ventriculitis. In this case series, we discuss the management of these three cases of cerebral ventriculitis: we monitored cytochemical parameters and cultures of the cerebrospinal fluid of patients during their ICU stay and we observed a marked improvement after irrigation and drainage with IRRAflow® system. Irrigation/drainage catheter stay, mode settings, and antibiotic therapies were different among these three patients, and neurological outcomes were variable, according to their underlying pathologies. IRRAflow® system can be applied also in other types of brain injury, such as intraventricular hemorrhage, intracranial abscess, subdural hematomas, and intracerebral hemorrhage, with the aim to remove the hematic residues and enhance the functional recovery of the patients. IRRAflow® seems a promising and useful tool to treat infectious and hemorrhagic diseases in neuro-intensive care unit.
Application of two-dimensional chaotic system and implementation of DSP
Authors: Wang Ying-Ying , Luo Hai-Jun
Published: November 2023

Given that the limited complexity of most current 2D maps undermines chaos-based practical applications, this paper proposes a 2D Logical Cosine Coupled Map (2D-LSCCM) and compares the bifurcation maps, Lyapunov exponent spectrum, and spectral entropy complexity of the classical 2D chaos model. Based on this model, this paper proposes an image encryption scheme using ascending alignment permutation and XOR pixel diffusion algorithm. After a series of tests, such as chi-square test, anti-attack test, key sensitivity test, and correlation test, the simulation findings show that the chaotic system proposed in this paper has excellent security performance compared with other systems. Moreover, a hardware platform based on DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and NIST test have been developed to analyze and test chaotic sequences.
Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Pediatric Patient With β-Thalassemia
Authors: Choleva Lauryn , Wilkes Meredith
Published: November 2023

β-Thalassemia is characterized by the abnormal synthesis of β-hemoglobin chains resulting in hemolytic anemia. Treatment involves frequent blood transfusions, which leads to deposition of iron in many organs, including endocrine glands. To date, several cases of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in patients with β-thalassemia have been reported in the adult literature, but there have been none in pediatrics. Here we report on an female adolescent with β-thalassemia who initially presented for evaluation of secondary amenorrhea. On examination, her thyroid gland was asymmetric, firm in consistency, with palpable lymph nodes along the right anterior cervical chain. A thyroid ultrasound revealed an enlarged right lobe containing 3 focal hypoechoic masses with calcific foci. Biopsy was consistent with PTC. She underwent total thyroidectomy and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis. Her postoperative course was uncomplicated and she was started on replacement therapy with levothyroxine. This is the first reported case of PTC in a pediatric patient with β-thalassemia. The incidence of thyroid cancer in patients with β-thalassemia is currently unknown; however, there may be utility in routine surveillance of this patient population.
Benjamin and the Archive Today
Authors: Landry Olivia
Published: November 2023

At a contemporary moment of sweeping scholarly interest in and interrogation of the archive, this brief essay returns to Walter Benjamin. Formulating the archive as a fugacious site of ruin and excavation, Benjamin’s approach presents an early counterposition to the modern view of the same as a bulwark of historical permanence and national stability. To illustrate the continuing relevance of Benjamin’s work, the essay turns to recent discussions of the topic “archives of migration” in the German transnational context. Distinct from official archives comprising collected and cataloged documents and objects, these archives present transient sites of negotiation, reterritorialization, and self-determination that work against national projects of historiography and their mechanisms of suppression. The example of bi’bak, a transnational project space in Berlin established in 2014, and its revival of the Turkish-language videotape culture in 1980s West Germany furthermore reanimate Benjamin’s commitment to media’s role in the archaeological processes of the archive, which set it loose.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Authors: Mukhida Leila
Published: November 2023

What if critique were understood as a form of Choose Your Own Adventure, the second-person young adult format in which readers are given the agency to decide what happens next in a story? To embark on critique as you would Choose Your Own Adventure is to be intentional in your orientations; it is to situate your framework, materials, and your self in relation to each other and to reflect on what this hermeneutic constellation produces and obscures. This article argues that transparency about critical positionality is a precondition for German studies to flourish and for epistemological abundance to endure. It asks what this might look like in practice, offering the reader three critical excursions through a single film, Angelina Maccarone’s Unveiled (2005).
More Than an Old Love Affair: Media Art and Walter Benjamin
Authors: Nitsche Jessica
Published: November 2023

One aspect of Walter Benjamin’s approach that can undoubtedly be described as visionary is the high value he accorded film among the arts. Today time-based, audiovisual media is viewed as an integral and extraordinarily important part of the art system, but when Benjamin’s essay “The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility” was enthusiastically rediscovered in the 1960s, this was by no means the case. Video artists of the first generation had to fight for recognition, and Benjamin’s writings matched their goals. This essay gets to the basis of the connection between media art and the figure of Walter Benjamin, examining his art- and media-related reflections, subjecting them to a critical examination, and at the same time attempting to make them productive for our understanding of contemporary conditions.
Where Next for New German Critique?
Authors: Umachandran Mathura
Published: November 2023

Birthdays are good moments for Janus-faced self-reflection: where have we been and where might we go? This essay undertakes such a reflective enterprise from the outsider perspective of a scholar trained in classics. It apprises a critique of German studies not in the mode of maudlin navel-gazing or in bitter lamentation of the decline of the humanities but in the hope that it is possible to sketch out and to build a more epistemically capacious field. Running a micro-experiment to demonstrate the narrow range of topics that have been thought proper to New German Critique, this essay enjoins those of us who study Europe’s past, both recent and distant, to imagine our relationships to our objects of study beyond that of haunting and of debt owed to tradition. With such flexing of the imagination, this essay makes suggestions for how disciplinary overhaul and an explicitly decolonial reckoning can offer hope of another fifty years of vibrant intellectual life in the pages of NGC.
Live Dead
Authors: Brackett John
Published: November 2023

The Grateful Dead were one of the most successful live acts of the rock era. Performing more than 2,300 shows between 1965 and 1995, the Grateful Dead’s reputation as a “live band” was—and continues to be—sustained by thousands of live concert recordings from every era of the group’s long and colorful career. In Live Dead, musicologist John Brackett examines how live recordings—from the group’s official releases to fan-produced tapes, bootlegs to “Betty Boards,” and Dick’s Picks to From the Vault—have shaped the general history and popular mythology of the Grateful Dead for more than fifty years. Drawing on a diverse array of materials and documents contained in the Grateful Dead Archive, Live Dead details how live recordings became meaningful among the band and their fans not only as sonic souvenirs of past musical performances but also as expressions of assorted ideals, including notions of “liveness,” authenticity, and the power of recorded sound.
O FINANCIAMENTO EM CIÊNCIA, TECNOLOGIA & INOVAÇÃO
Authors: Castelo Samuel Leite , Moreira Aldemir Freire , Castelo Aline Duarte Moraes , Xavier Ana Kesia Alencar
Published: November 2023

Este estudo analisou os controles e a gestão do fomento da política pública de Ciência, Tecnologia & Inovação – CT&I promovida pela Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP). Foram realizadas entrevistas com gestores e o exame documental dos instrumentos de planejamento e de legislação correlata, bem como dos demonstrativos contábeis. O uso conjunto destas técnicas permite caracterizar esta pesquisa como um estudo de caso. O estudo apresenta a importância em investir na implementação da gestão de riscos e compliance nas atividades estratégicas das Instituições de fomento, pois ajudarão no processo de tomada de decisão e no atingimento dos objetivos institucionais. Os efeitos dessa abordagem incrementarão a eficácia das políticas públicas do Estado do Ceará voltadas para o desenvolvimento científico, tecnológico e inovação.
Este estudo analisou os controles e a gestão do fomento da política pública de Ciência, Tecnologia & Inovação – CT&I promovida pela Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (FUNCAP). Foram realizadas entrevistas com gestores e o exame documental dos instrumentos de planejamento e de legislação correlata, bem como dos demonstrativos contábeis. O uso conjunto destas técnicas permite caracterizar esta pesquisa como um estudo de caso. O estudo apresenta a importância em investir na implementação da gestão de riscos e compliance nas atividades estratégicas das Instituições de fomento, pois ajudarão no processo de tomada de decisão e no atingimento dos objetivos institucionais. Os efeitos dessa abordagem incrementarão a eficácia das políticas públicas do Estado do Ceará voltadas para o desenvolvimento científico, tecnológico e inovação.
Μεθοδολογίες επεξεργασίας και ανάλυσης δεδομένων για τις μικροοικονομικές και μακροοικονομικές επιπτώσεις στη διάρθρωση κεφαλαίου των επιχειρήσεων
Authors: Καλούδης Ανδρέας
Published: November 2023

Η παρούσα διατριβή, συνεισφέρει στην μελέτη της διάρθρωσης κεφαλαίου και εφαρμόζονται καινοτόμες μέθοδοι προκειμένου να κατανοηθεί κατά πόσο η μόχλευση επηρεάζεται από τις μικροοικονομικές και τις μακροοικονομικές μεταβλητές σε κάθε επίπεδο χρέους. O κύριος σκοπός αυτής της εργασίας είναι να παράσχει περισσότερα στοιχεία σχετικά με το πόσο «γρήγορα», σε διαφορετικές μακροοικονομικές καταστάσεις, οι εταιρείες προσαρμόζουν τη κεφαλαιακή τους διάρθρωση στους στόχους μόχλευσής τους. Αυτή η μελέτη επεκτείνει την εμπειρική έρευνα στο θέμα της κεφαλαιακής διάρθρωσης εστιάζοντας σε μια μέθοδο ποσοστιαίας παλινδρόμησης, για τη διερεύνηση της συμπεριφοράς των χαρακτηριστικών της επιχείρησης και των μακροοικονομικών παραγόντων σε όλα τα ποσοστά κατανομής της μόχλευσης (λογιστική μόχλευση και αγοραία μόχλευση). Επομένως, βασιζόμενοι στο μοντέλο μερικής προσαρμογής, διαπιστώνουμε ότι η ταχύτητα προσαρμογής κυμάνθηκε σε διαφορετικά στάδια της λογιστικής έναντι της αγοραίας μόχλευσης και μπορούμε να παρατηρήσουμε μεταβολές στη στατιστική σημαντικότητα καθώς και στο πρόσημο των μεταβλητών. Επιπλέον, ενώ οι μακροοικονομικές καταστάσεις αλλάζουν και συνεπώς εντοπίζουμε σαφείς διαφοροποιήσεις της συνεισφοράς και των επιπτώσεων των μικροοικονομικών μεταβλητών για την επιχείρηση και των μακροοικονομικών μεταβλητών μεταξύ των δεικτών μόχλευσης αγοράς και λογιστικού χρέους. Κατά συνέπεια, συμπεραίνουμε ότι σε διαφορετικές μακροοικονομικές καταστάσεις η φύση και η ωριμότητα του δανεισμού επηρεάζουν τη διατήρηση και την αντοχή της σχέσης μεταξύ καθοριστικών παραγόντων και δανεισμού.