bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment on Neural Correlates of Attention
Authors: Melara Robert D , Ahles Tim A , Prashad Neelam , Fernbach Madalyn , Edelman Jay A , Root James
Published: July 2022

Objective

Cognitive dysfunction has been observed consistently in a subset of breast cancer survivors. Yet, the precise physiological and processing origins of dysfunction remain unknown. The current study examined the utility of methods and procedures based on cognitive neuroscience to study cognitive change associated with cancer and cancer treatment.

Methods

We used electroencephalogram and behavioral measures in a longitudinal design to investigate pre- versus post-treatment effects on attention performance in breast cancer patients (n = 15) compared with healthy controls (n = 24), as participants completed the revised Attention Network Test, a cognitive measure of alerting, orienting, and inhibitory control of attention.

Results

We found no group differences in behavioral performance from pretest to posttest, but significant event-related potential effects of cancer treatment in processing cue validity: After treatment, patients revealed decreased N1 amplitude and increased P3 amplitude, suggesting a suppressed early (N1) response and an exaggerated late (P3) response to invalid cues.

Conclusions

The results suggest that treatment-related attentional disruption begins in early sensory/perceptual processing and extends to compensatory top-down executive processes.
Validation of and Normative Data of the DVAQ-30, a New Video-Naming Test for Assessing Verb Anomia
Authors: Macoir J , Routhier S , Auclair-Ouellet N , Wilson M A , Hudon C
Published: July 2022

Objective

Anomia is usually assessed using picture-naming tests. While many tests evaluate anomia for nouns, very few tests have been specifically designed for verb anomia. This article presents the DVAQ-30, a new naming test for detecting verb anomia in adults and elderly people.

Method

The article describes three studies. Study 1 focused on the DVAQ-30 development phase. In Study 2, healthy participants and individuals with post-stroke aphasia, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or primary progressive aphasia were assessed using the DVAQ-30 to establish its convergent and discriminant validity, test–retest reliability, and internal consistency. In Study 3, a group of adults and elderly Quebec French-speaking adults were assessed to obtain normative data.

Results

The DVAQ-30 had good convergent validity and distinguished the performance of healthy participants from that of participants with pathological conditions. The test also had good internal consistency, and the test–retest analysis showed that the scores had good temporal stability. Furthermore, normative data were collected on the performance of 244 participants aged 50 years old and over.

Conclusions

The DVAQ-30 fills an important gap and has the potential to help clinicians and researchers better detect verb anomia associated with pathological aging and post-stroke aphasia.
Trail Making Test Error Analysis in Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer’s Dementia With and Without Depression
Authors: Hafiz Nicklas J , Lohse Andrea , Haas Rico , Reiche Simon , Sedlaczek Lara , Brandl Eva J , Riemer Thomas G
Published: July 2022

Objective

Standard evaluation of the Trail Making Test (TMT) only incorporates completion times. However, the analysis of different error types may provide more insight into underlying cognitive processes and could also increase diagnostic accuracy. This cross-sectional observational study compared three different TMT error types and assessed their diagnostic utility in patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) with or without depression.

Method

We evaluated 618 outpatients of a memory clinic with SCD (N = 190), MCI (N = 210), or AD (N = 218). Of these, 157 had comorbid depression. TMT completion times, total error rates, and the three error types “sequencing error,” “perseverative error,” and “proximity error” were examined.

Results

Results indicated that patients with MCI or AD committed more errors on TMT B, and specifically more perseverative errors than patients with SCD (p < 0.001). Depression was not associated with any TMT error type. Including TMT errors in models predicting diagnosis group by TMT completion times did not increase predictive accuracy, measured by areas under the curve.

Conclusions

The findings do not indicate any impact of comorbid depression on TMT errors. Moreover, TMT error analysis does not seem to provide additional diagnostic utility for SCD, MCI, and AD diagnoses.
GE-Impute: graph embedding-based imputation for single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Wu Xiaobin , Zhou Yuan
Published: July 2022

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) has been widely used to depict gene expression profiles at the single-cell resolution. However, its relatively high dropout rate often results in artificial zero expressions of genes and therefore compromised reliability of results. To overcome such unwanted sparsity of scRNA-seq data, several imputation algorithms have been developed to recover the single-cell expression profiles. Here, we propose a novel approach, GE-Impute, to impute the dropout zeros in scRNA-seq data with graph embedding-based neural network model. GE-Impute learns the neural graph representation for each cell and reconstructs the cell–cell similarity network accordingly, which enables better imputation of dropout zeros based on the more accurately allocated neighbors in the similarity network. Gene expression correlation analysis between true expression data and simulated dropout data suggests significantly better performance of GE-Impute on recovering dropout zeros for both droplet- and plated-based scRNA-seq data. GE-Impute also outperforms other imputation methods in identifying differentially expressed genes and improving the unsupervised clustering on datasets from various scRNA-seq techniques. Moreover, GE-Impute enhances the identification of marker genes, facilitating the cell type assignment of clusters. In trajectory analysis, GE-Impute improves time-course scRNA-seq data analysis and reconstructing differentiation trajectory. The above results together demonstrate that GE-Impute could be a useful method to recover the single-cell expression profiles, thus enabling better biological interpretation of scRNA-seq data. GE-Impute is implemented in Python and is freely available at https://github.com/wxbCaterpillar/GE-Impute.
ToxSTAR: drug-induced liver injury prediction tool for the web environment
Authors: Shin Hyun Kil , Chun Hang-Suk , Lee Sangwoo , Park Se-Myo , Park Daeui , Kang Myung-Gyun , Hwang Sungbo , Oh Jung-Hwa , Han Hyoung-Yun , Kim Woo-Keun , Yoon Seokjoo
Published: July 2022

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a challenging endpoint in predictive toxicology because of the complex reactive metabolites that cause liver damage and the wide range of mechanisms involved in the development of the disease. ToxSTAR provides structural similarity-based DILI analysis and in-house DILI prediction models that predict four DILI subtypes (cholestasis, cirrhosis, hepatitis and steatosis) based on drug and drug metabolite molecules.

Availability and implementation

ToxSTAR is freely available at https://toxstar.kitox.re.kr/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
BioCaster in 2021: automatic disease outbreaks detection from global news media
Authors: Meng Zaiqiao , Okhmatovskaia Anya , Polleri Maxime , Shen Yannan , Powell Guido , Fu Zihao , Ganser Iris , Zhang Meiru , King Nicholas B , Buckeridge David , Collier Nigel
Published: July 2022

BioCaster was launched in 2008 to provide an ontology-based text mining system for early disease detection from open news sources. Following a 6-year break, we have re-launched the system in 2021. Our goal is to systematically upgrade the methodology using state-of-the-art neural network language models, whilst retaining the original benefits that the system provided in terms of logical reasoning and automated early detection of infectious disease outbreaks. Here, we present recent extensions such as neural machine translation in 10 languages, neural classification of disease outbreak reports and a new cloud-based visualization dashboard. Furthermore, we discuss our vision for further improvements, including combining risk assessment with event semantics and assessing the risk of outbreaks with multi-granularity. We hope that these efforts will benefit the global public health community.

Availability and implementation

BioCaster web-portal is freely accessible at http://biocaster.org.
Estimated Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score: An Automated Decision Aid for Statin Therapy
Authors: Sampson Maureen , Wolska Anna , Amar Marcelo , Ueda Masako , Dunbar Richard , Soffer Daniel , Remaley Alan T
Published: July 2022

Background

Estimation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk is a key step in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, but it requires entering additional risk factor information into a computer. We developed a simplified ASCVD risk score that can be automatically calculated by the clinical laboratory when a fasting standard lipid panel is reported.

Methods

Equations for an estimated ASCVD (eASCVD) risk score were developed for 4 race/sex groups (non-Hispanic White/Black, men/women), using the following variables: total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and age. The eASCVD score was derived using regression analysis to yield similar risk estimates as the standard ASCVD risk equations for non-diabetic individuals not on lipid-lowering therapy in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (n = 6027).

Results

At a cutpoint of 7.5%/10-year, the eASCVD risk score had an overall sensitivity of 69.1% and a specificity of 97.5% for identifying statin-eligible patients with at least intermediate risk based on the standard risk score. By using the sum of other risk factors present (systolic blood pressure >130 mmHg, blood pressure medication use, and cigarette use), the overall sensitivity of the eASCVD score improved to 93.7%, with a specificity of 92.3%. Furthermore, it showed 90% concordance with the standard risk score in predicting cardiovascular events in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (n = 14 742).

Conclusions

Because the automated eASCVD risk score can be computed for all patients with a fasting standard lipid panel, it could be used as an adjunctive tool for the primary prevention of ASCVD and as a decision aid for statin therapy.
Clinical pharmacists’ perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy services in Hong Kong
Authors: Sin Conor Ming-Ho , Huynh Chi , Maidment Ian D
Published: July 2022

Objectives

To identify barriers and facilitators that influenced the implementation of paediatric clinical pharmacy service (CPS) in Hong Kong’s public hospitals from clinical pharmacists’ perspective.

Methods

A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews of clinical pharmacists who practiced in paediatrics in public hospitals in Hong Kong. Interview schedule was designed based on determined themes identified in previous research and pilot testing was performed. The coding process was performed by two researchers with the resulting topics organised by thematic analysis. Consensus was reached amongst the researchers for the identification of themes that emerged during the interviews. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guideline was followed to ensure the complete and transparent reporting of this research. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the research ethics committee of the relevant institutions.

Key findings

Of the 32 clinical pharmacists from across the study sites, 12 were interviewed. Five barriers and three facilitators were identified as main themes. The barriers that were identified which hindered service implementation include the service penetration into the healthcare system, practice environment constraints, lack of affirmation from the administrative stakeholders, governance of the profession and partnership with universities. The facilitators that were identified which enabled service implementation include other healthcare professionals’ trust and confidence in the service, the support from the pharmacy management team and clinical pharmacists’ self-efficacy.

Conclusions

Clinical pharmacists interviewed reported that the successful implementation of CPS in paediatrics in public hospitals in Hong Kong is an area of continued development with several key barriers identified.
Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses in the Slipper SnailCrepidulafornicataUncover Shell Matrix Genes Expressed During Adult and Larval Biomineralization
Authors: Batzel G O , Moreno B K , Lopez L S , Nguyen C K , Livingston B T , Joester D , Lyons D C
Published: July 2022

Synopsis

The gastropod shell is a composite composed of minerals and shell matrix proteins (SMPs). SMPs have been identified by proteomics in many molluscs, but few have been studied in detail. Open questions include (1) what gene regulatory networks regulate SMP expression, (2) what roles individual SMPs play in biomineralization, and (3) how the complement of SMPs changes over development. These questions are best addressed in a species in which gene perturbation studies are available; one such species is the slipper snail, Crepidula fornicata. Here, SEM and pXRD analysis demonstrated that the adult shell of C. fornicata exhibits crossed lamellar microstructure and is composed of aragonite. Using high-throughput proteomics we identified 185 SMPs occluded within the adult shell. Over half of the proteins in the shell proteome have known biomineralization domains, while at least 10% have no homologs in public databases. Differential gene expression analysis identified 20 SMP genes that are up-regulated in the shell-producing mantle tissue. Over half of these 20 SMPs are expressed during development with two, CfSMP1 and CfSMP2, expressed exclusively in the shell gland. Together, the description of the shell microstructure and a list of SMPs now sets the stage for studying the consequences of SMP gene knockdowns in molluscs.
Reconstructing Articular Cartilage in the Australopithecus afarensis Hip Joint and the Need for Modeling Six Degrees of Freedom
Authors: Wiseman Ashleigh L A , Demuth Oliver E , Pomeroy Emma , De Groote Isabelle
Published: July 2022

Synopsis

The postcranial skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis (AL 288–1) exhibits clear adaptations for bipedality, although there is some debate as to the efficiency and frequency of such upright movement. Some researchers argue that AL 288–1 walked with an erect limb like modern humans do, whilst others advocate for a “bent-hip bent-knee” (BHBK) gait, although in recent years the general consensus favors erect bipedalism. To date, no quantitative method has addressed the articulation of the AL 288–1 hip joint, nor its range of motion (ROM) with consideration for joint spacing, used as a proxy for the thickness of the articular cartilage present within the joint spacing which can affect how a joint moves. Here, we employed ROM mapping methods to estimate the joint spacing of AL 288–1’s hip joint in comparison to a modern human and chimpanzee. Nine simulations assessed different joint spacing and tested the range of joint congruency (i.e., ranging from a closely packed socket to loosely packed). We further evaluated the sphericity of the femoral head and whether three rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs) sufficiently captures the full ROM or if translational DOFs must be included. With both setups, we found that the AL 288–1 hip was unlikely to be highly congruent (as it is in modern humans) because this would severely restrict hip rotational movement and would severely limit the capability for both bipedality and even arboreal locomotion. Rather, the hip was more cartilaginous than it is in the modern humans, permitting the hip to rotate into positions necessitated by both terrestrial and arboreal movements. Rotational-only simulations found that AL 288–1 was unable to extend the hip like modern humans, forcing the specimen to employ a BHBK style of walking, thus contradicting 40+ years of previous research into the locomotory capabilities of AL 288–1. Therefore, we advocate that differences in the sphericity of the AL 288–1 femoral head with that of a modern human necessitates all six DOFs to be included in which AL 288–1 could osteologically extend the hip to facilitate a human-like gait.
The Fable and the Novel: Rethinking History of Korean Fiction from the Perspective of Narrative Aesthetics
Authors: Park Sohyeon
Published: July 2022

The genre of fable tends to be overlooked in the study of Korean literary history on the ground that the genre seems too archaic to reflect the aesthetic standards established in the modern European novel, in which the focus lies in the realistic representation of the individual or contemporary society. However, the genre was not completely abandoned by modern Korean writers. Few critics have noted the continuing role played by the rich Korean fable tradition, which eventually made the reinvention of the genre in the mass media possible. In particular, it is worth noting that there was the emergence of a new subgenre of fable in the late nineteenth century: that is, fabulous court case fiction, which is quite distinct from the Chinese literary tradition that had underprivileged imaginative narrative texts under the absolute domination of Confucian historiography. The genre of fabulous court case fiction makes us reconsider the plurality of narrative forms and various narrative functions. In this study, I examine how imaginative narrative texts such as fables simultaneously pursue the pleasure of storytelling and the purposes of both moral and specialized (legal) education.
Electronic health records and blockchain interoperability requirements: a scoping review
Authors: Schmeelk Suzanna , Kanabar Megha , Peterson Kevin , Pathak Jyotishman
Published: July 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review of publications that explored blockchain technology in the context of interoperability and challenges of electronic health record (EHR) implementations. We synthesize the literature regarding standards and security, specifically regulation, regulatory operability, and conformance to standards. We review open practitioner questions that were not addressed in the studies as directions for further research.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a literature search in the OVID databases (Medline and Embase) on terms blockchain, implementation, interoperability, EHRs, security, and standards. The search resulted in 152 nonduplicate, peer-reviewed manuscripts, of which 15 were relevant to our objective and included for synthesis.

Results

Based on the search results, we analyzed the adoption of blockchain technology in the healthcare systems and challenges to EHR implementation of blockchain. From the synthesized research, we categorized and reported compelling factors of blockchain for EHR integration using current knowledge on blockchain research standardization and architectural challenges.

Discussion

Our research showed promise in implementing blockchain technology associated with EHRs, especially with Health Information Exchanges. The studies relevant for both EHR (n = 5) and blockchain (n = 10) reported compelling factors and limitations of the architecture. Security (n = 4) and interoperability (n = 4) features were reported as compelling requirements with lingering challenges. Standardization literature (n = 3) reported implementation challenges.

Conclusion

This study shows promise in implementing blockchain technology within EHR systems. The adoption is increasing; however, multiple implementation challenges remain from architectural perspectives (eg, scalability and performance), to security challenges (eg, legal requirements), and standard perspectives including patient-matching problems.
Plague, Pestilence and the Peninsula: International Humanitarian Law Concerns of North Korea’s Biological Weapons Program
Authors: Reynolds Jakob M
Published: July 2022

Suspected development of advanced biological weapons by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), despite its status as a party to both the Biological Weapons Convention and other nonproliferation agreements, bears significant implications for both public health and security around the globe. A steady decrease in resources and attention devoted to preparedness for biological attacks or outbreaks since 2001 has exacerbated the vulnerability of the USA and its allies to outbreaks of such pathogens, both from North Korean biological weapons and natural sources. This article assesses several International Humanitarian Law (IHL) issues raised by the prospect of an international armed conflict in which North Korea deploys biological weapons. Historical context is discussed to contextualize the various IHL issues raised by a potential armed conflict, which include United Nations Enforcement actions, anticipatory self-defense, protection of civilians, targeting and proportionality. Preparing for and responding to a potential biological weapons attack by North Korea presents a host of unique challenges for the USA and its allies. An international armed conflict involving the use of such weapons by North Korea against the USA or its allies would be devastating for civilians and military personnel alike. It is thus imperative to understand the IHL issues raised by such a conflict, including circumstances that would warrant pre-emptive use of force by the USA and its allies, the scale and scope of any military response, and the need to protect civilians throughout the Korean peninsula.
Two Microsatellite Types Within NAD6 Gene Help to Distinguish Populations and Infer the Migratory Route of the Invasive Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in China
Authors: Li Chao , Song Yingying , Li Lili , Tessnow Ashley E , Zhu Junsheng , Guan Xiumin , Guo Wenxiu , Cui Hongying , Lu Zengbin , Lv Suhong , Yu Yi , Men Xingyuan
Published: July 2022

Spodoptera frugiperda is a major agricultural pest that has invaded China since January 2019. Given that most of the individuals present in China carried the diagnostic rice-strain mtDNA (COI-RS), there was no efficient method to distinguish populations of S. frugiperda. In this study, we identified and characterized two variant microsatellite alleles in the mitochondrial NAD6 gene of S. frugiperda retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Center GenBank. We then sequenced partial NAD6 genes containing the microsatellite region and the diagnostic COI barcoding gene (used to distinguish the corn-strain and the rice-strain) of 429 invasive S. frugiperda individuals that were collected from the main infested regions in China during 2019–2020. Our data indicates that two kinds of interrupted repeat sequences, (ATA)4T(ATA)3 and (ATA)5T(ATA)3, exist in the microsatellite region which we defined as the deletion type (NAD6-D), and the insertion type (NAD6-I) based on the repeat units’ differentiation, respectively. The presence of these two microsatellite types in the mtDNA genome of S. frugiperda was further confirmed with the sequencing results in 429 samples. Moreover, NAD6-I and NAD6-D types were both present in individuals with COI-RS, while only NAD6-D type was detected in the COI-CS individuals. Interestingly, the two microsatellite types suggested a possible geographic distribution: the western migratory route (Yunan and Chongqing) was comprised exclusively of NAD6-I type, while both NAD6-I and NAD6-D types were identified in the predicted eastern migration trajectories (Hainan, Guangxi, Shandong, etc.). These results suggested that NAD6-D and NAD6-I types may be useful in distinguishing between populations, analyzing the evolutionary mechanism of mtDNA microsatellite polymorphism, inferring the migratory route of S. frugiperda in China, and developing precise and integrated control strategies for S. frugiperda.
Larval Competition Between Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Argentina: Coexistence and Implications in the Distribution of the Asian Tiger Mosquito
Authors: Lizuain Arturo Andrés , Maffey Lucia , Garzón Maximiliano , Leporace Marina , Soto Danny , Diaz Paula , Salomón Oscar Daniel , Santini María Soledad , Schweigmann Nicolás
Published: July 2022

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) are worldwide vectors of dengue and yellow fever viruses. These species coexist in many countries and the biotic interactions between them can influence their abundances and distributions. In Argentina, Ae. aegypti is widely distributed in the north and center regions of the country, with temperate and subtropical climate, while both are sympatric only in the northeastern area of the subtropical region. Interspecific and intraspecific larval competition for food was evaluated to assess if their interaction influences on patterns of abundance and distribution. Finite rates of increase and survivorship for each species were estimated and the effects of mosquito density ratio and detritus availability were determined. The Lambda (λ´) index of population performance of both showed there is no competitive exclusion pattern. However, survival of Ae. albopictus was negatively affected by the presence of Ae. aegypti. These results suggest one possible explanation for the codominance pattern of both species display in rural regions of the southernmost distribution of Ae. albopictus in South America. They also show Ae. aegypti as a potential biotic barrier for the expansion of Ae. albopictus as was reported in regions of the United States.
Impaired SERCA2a phosphorylation causes diabetic cardiomyopathy through impinging on cardiac contractility and precursor protein processing
Authors: Quan Chao , Zhu Sangsang , Wang Ruizhen , Chen Jiamou , Chen Qiaoli , Li Min , Su Shu , Du Qian , Liu Minjun , Wang Hong-Yu , Chen Shuai
Published: July 2022

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is currently a progressive and nonstoppable complication in type 2 diabetic patients. Metabolic insults and insulin resistance are involved in its pathogenesis; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not clearly understood. Here we show that calcium dysregulation can be both a cause and a consequence of cardiac insulin resistance that leads to DCM. A western diet induces the development of DCM through at least three phases in mice, among which an early phase depends on impaired Thr484-phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) elicited by insulin resistance. Mutation of SERCA2a-Thr484 to a nonphosphorylatable alanine delays calcium re-uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the cardiomyocytes and decreases cardiac function at the baseline. Importantly, this mutation blunts the early phase of DCM, but has no effect on disease progression in the following phases. Interestingly, impairment of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium re-uptake caused by the SERCA2a-Thr484 mutation inhibited processing of insulin receptor precursor through FURIN convertase, resulting in cardiac insulin resistance. Collectively, these data reveal a bidirectional relationship between insulin resistance and impairment of calcium homeostasis, which may underlie the early pathogenesis of DCM. Our findings have therapeutic implications for early intervention of DCM.
Four bright eclipsing binaries with γ Doradus pulsating components: CM Lac, MZ Lac, RX Dra, and V2077 Cyg
Authors: Southworth John , Van Reeth Timothy
Published: July 2022

The study of pulsating stars in eclipsing binaries holds the promise of combining two different ways of measuring the physical properties of a star to obtain improved constraints on stellar theory. Gravity (g) mode pulsations such as those found in γ Doradus stars can be used to probe rotational profiles, mixing, and magnetic fields. Until recently few γ Doradus stars in eclipsing binaries were known. We have discovered g-mode pulsations in four detached eclipsing binary systems from light curves obtained by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and present an analysis of their eclipses and pulsational characteristics. We find unresolved g-mode pulsations at frequencies 1–1.5 d−1 in CM Lac, and measure the masses and radii of the component stars from the TESS data and published radial velocities. MZ Lac shows a much richer frequency spectrum, including pressure modes and tidally excited g-modes. RX Dra is in the northern continuous viewing zone of TESS so has a light-curve covering a full year, but shows relatively few pulsation frequencies. For V2077 Cyg we formally measure four pulsation frequencies, but the available data are inadequate to properly resolve the g-mode pulsations. V2077 Cyg also shows total eclipses, with which we obtain the first measurement of the surface gravity of the faint secondary star. All four systems are bright and good candidates for detailed study. Further TESS observations are scheduled for all four systems, with much improved temporal baselines in the cases of RX Dra and V2077 Cyg.
Cross-platform analysis reveals cellular and molecular landscape of glioblastoma invasion
Authors: Chen Ann T , Xiao Yang , Tang Xiangjun , Baqri Mehdi , Gao Xingchun , Reschke Melanie , Sheu Wendy C , Long Gretchen , Zhou Yu , Deng Gang , Zhang Shenqi , Deng Yanxiang , Bai Zhiliang , Kim Dongjoo , Huttner Anita , Kunes Russell , Günel Murat , Moliterno Jennifer , Saltzman W Mark , Fan Rong , Zhou Jiangbing
Published: July 2022

Background

Improved treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) needs to address tumor invasion, a hallmark of the disease that remains poorly understood. In this study, we profiled GBM invasion through integrative analysis of histological and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 10 patients.

Methods

Human histology samples, patient-derived xenograft mouse histology samples, and scRNA-seq data were collected from 10 GBM patients. Tumor invasion was characterized and quantified at the phenotypic level using hematoxylin and eosin and Ki-67 histology stains. Crystallin alpha B (CRYAB) and CD44 were identified as regulators of tumor invasion from scRNA-seq transcriptomic data and validated in vitro, in vivo, and in a mouse GBM resection model.

Results

At the cellular level, we found that invasive GBM are less dense and proliferative than their non-invasive counterparts. At the molecular level, we identified unique transcriptomic features that significantly contribute to GBM invasion. Specifically, we found that CRYAB significantly contributes to postoperative recurrence and is highly co-expressed with CD44 in invasive GBM samples.

Conclusions

Collectively, our analysis identifies differentially expressed features between invasive and nodular GBM, and describes a novel relationship between CRYAB and CD44 that contributes to tumor invasiveness, establishing a cellular and molecular landscape of GBM invasion.
Discovery of a new supergiant fast X-ray transient MAXI J0709−159 associated with the Be star LY Canis Majoris
Authors: Sugizaki Mutsumi , Mihara Tatehiro , Kobayashi Kohei , Negoro Hitoshi , Shidatsu Megumi , Pike Sean N , Iwakiri Wataru , Urabe Sota , Serino Motoko , Kawai Nobuyuki , Nakajima Motoki , Kennea Jamie A , Liu Zhu
Published: July 2022

We report on the discovery of a new supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT), MAXI J0709−159, and its identification with LY CMa (also known as HD 54786). On 2022 January 25, a new flaring X-ray object, named MAXI J0709−159, was detected by the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI). Two flaring activities were observed in two scans ∼3 hr apart, where the 2–10 keV flux reached 5 × 10−9 erg cm−2 s−1. During the period, the source exhibited a large spectral change, suggesting that the absorption column density NH increased from 1022 to 1023 cm−2. A NuSTAR follow-up observation on January 29 identified a new X-ray source with a flux of 6 × 10−13 erg cm−2 s−1 at a position consistent with LY CMa, which has been identified as a B supergiant as well as a Be star, located at a 3 kpc distance. The observed X-ray activity, characterized by short (≲several hours) duration, rapid (≲ a few seconds) variabilities accompanied by spectral changes, and a large luminosity swing (1032–1037 erg s−1), agree with those of SFXTs. On the other hand, optical spectroscopic observations of LY CMa reveal a broad Hα emission line, which may indicate the existence of a Be circumstellar disk. These results suggest that the optical companion, LY CMa, certainly has a complex circumstellar medium including dense clumps.
Psychometric Properties of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for People With Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the Elbow: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dabbagh Armaghan , Saeidi Sahar , MacDermid Joy C
Published: July 2022

Objective

The objective of this study was to systematically review, critically appraise, and synthesize evidence on the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for people with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow (UNE).

Methods

CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched for studies reporting on the psychometric properties of the PROMs used to assess pain, disability, and quality of life of people with UNE. Relevant data were extracted based on the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments 2018 checklist. Two authors independently rated the quality and risk of bias of the studies. A qualitative synthesis was performed according to the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments guidelines. The results were categorized based on the identified PROMs, and all the psychometric properties were summarized and presented.

Results

Eight included studies had a quality score of very good or higher. Among all the included PROMs, the Patient-Rated Ulnar Nerve Evaluation (PRUNE) was comprehensively evaluated in 4 studies and had high reliability, appropriate correlation to the physical component summary score of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (r = −0.68), excellent content (cognitive interviews), structural (factor analysis) and discriminative validities, and high responsiveness. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire was assessed in 5 studies and had appropriate properties, showing a high correlation with the 8-Item Short-Form Health Survey (r = 0.77) and PRUNE (r = 0.75) and moderate responsiveness.

Conclusions

The PRUNE was the most specific to UNE, had the most supporting studies and evidence of excellent reliability, validity, and responsiveness and therefore was the preferred PROM. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire demonstrated more limited validation across 5 studies and had moderate responsiveness. Information on other included PROMs was limited in terms of psychometric properties.

Impact

This study provides insight into which PROM is potentially more suitable for measuring outcomes related to UNE.
COCOPLOT: COlor COllapsed PLOTting software Using colour to view 3D data as a 2D image
Authors: Druett Malcolm K , Pietrow Alexander G M , Vissers Gregal J M , Robustini Carolina , Calvo Flavio
Published: July 2022

Most modern solar observatories deliver data products formatted as 3D spatiotemporal data cubes, that contain additional, higher dimensions with spectral and/or polarimetric information. This multidimensional complexity presents a major challenge when browsing for features of interest in several dimensions simultaneously. We developed the COlor COllapsed PLOTting (COCOPLOT) software as a quick-look and context image software, to convey spectral profile or time evolution from all the spatial pixels (x, y) in a 3D [nx, ny, nλ] or [nx, ny, nt] data cube as a single image, using colour. This can avoid the need to scan through many wavelengths, creating difference and composite images when searching for signals satisfying multiple criteria. Filters are generated for the red, green, and blue channels by selecting values of interest to highlight in each channel, and their weightings. These filters are combined with the data cube over the third dimension axis to produce an nx × ny × 3 cube displayed as one true colour image. Some use cases are presented for data from the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope and Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph, including H α solar flare data, a comparison with k-means clustering for identifying asymmetries in the Ca ii K line and off-limb coronal rain in IRIS C ii slit-jaw images. These illustrate identification by colour alone using COCOPLOT of locations including line wing or central enhancement, broadening, wing absorption, and sites with intermittent flows or time-persistent features. COCOPLOT is publicly available in both idl and python.
Is Omega-3 Index necessary for fish oil supplements for CVD risk prevention?
Authors: Luo Chen , Chen Zhenyue
Published: July 2022

Several large prospective cohort studies demonstrated an association between higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with low blood level of omega-3 fatty acids as well as low Omega-3 Index [<4% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)+ docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to total fatty acids in red blood cell membrane]. However, randomized controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids as either primary or secondary prevention have yielded controversial results. In this review, we summarize the evidence that supports or argues against the use omega-3 fatty acids, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms for the observed discrepancies (eg, differences in dosage, comparators and EPA levels or Omega-3 Index). Omega-3 Index is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular risk. The baseline Omega-3 Index can be used as a reference for whether and how much fish oil should be supplemented. To some degree, it can be used to explain why there are so much inconsistencies in clinical trials. Omega-3 Index could be a promising treatment target in clinical practice and in public health settings although there are still some barriers.

This review summarizes current evidences from both epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials of omega-3 fatty acids as primary and secondary prevention of CVD, and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of fish oil supplements on risk for CVD, and Omega-3 Index as a tool to identify subjects at high risk as well as a treatment target in CVD prevention.
Infectious Aneurysms Caused by Streptococcus Pyogenes in Children
Authors: Higuchi Toru , Ogawa Eiki , Ikeyama Takanari , Yasuda Kazushi , Murayama Hiroomi , Hasegawa Tadao , Ito Kenta
Published: July 2022

We describe the detailed clinical course of rapidly enlarging infective aneurysms during the treatment of endocarditis and purulent pericarditis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. We show that S. pyogenes aneurysms can enlarge rapidly within 1–2 days. Moreover, we highlight the benefit of transporting patients to a facility offering multidisciplinary treatment, even if vital signs stabilize to the point.
Bony Cartilaginous Graft in Unilateral Cleft Lip Rhinoplasty
Authors: Nguyen Chuong Dinh , Nguyen Tho Thi-Kieu , Tran Son Thiet , McDevitt Annette S. , Hodges John M.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Cleft rhinoplasty is a challenging form of nasal correction of both esthetic and functional deformities. The septal cartilage in many Asian patients are not sufficient and weak. Does a combination of the septal cartilage and the bony septum have both esthetic and functional benefits to secondary unilateral cleft rhinoplasty?

Patients and Methods:

Thirty patients with a unilateral cleft lip palate underwent open rhinoplasty from October 2018 to January 2021. After preserving a 10 mm L-strut, the posterior cartilaginous and bony septum were harvested as an integrative unit. The osteocartilaginous graft was used as a caudal septal extension graft and an extended spreader graft. Correcting the asymmetry of the tip and tip projection followed. The intraoperative harvested composite graft was analyzed. Acoustic rhinometry and the 3-dimensional anthropometric measurements of the external nose were assessed before and after surgery.

Results:

The osteocartilaginous unit was much larger than the cartilaginous part of this unit. The mean nasal tip height and the nasolabial angle increased significantly after surgery. The measurement of cross-sectional areas and volumes by acoustic rhinometry revealed that septorhinoplasty provided a significant increase in the function of both nasal cavities.

Conclusions:

This septal bony cartilaginous graft is effective for cleft lip nasal deformity when correcting the deviated septum, creating a supporting frame to correct the nasal tip asymmetry, improving function.
Multi-omics Analysis Identifying CD58 Plays Important Role on Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Xuan
Published: July 2022

The immunotherapy is a programming therapy of cancer, so new immunotherapy target genes would be urgently demanded at present. Although The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) provided more than 11,000 patients’ multi-omics data of more than 33 cancers, the heterogeneity of tumor tissue may still mask the immune-associated gene differential expression. In our study, to address the heterogeneity masked by the bulk RNA-Seq, TCGA data were first dividend into 26 types cancers by their high immune infiltration and low immune infiltration through single-sample gene set variation analysis to detect immune-associated gene, and single-cell RNA-Seq were than reanalyzed to prove the result we received in RNA-Seq. In order to verify our result in cell lines, a series of experiments were performed on two different microsatellite state cell lines: HCT116 (microsatellite instability high) and HT29 (microsatellite stability) because of colorectal cancer had its corresponding cell lines. Our results suggested that high expression levels of CD58, an immune-related gene, was masked by the bulk RNA-Seq and had a significant effect on the prognosis of patients with microsatellite instability high. The high expression of CD58 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells in HCT116, which had highly unstable microsatellites, but had no effect on HT29, which had stable microsatellites. The high CD58 expression combined with microsatellite instability high statuses were the important molecular targets in the selection of immunotherapy methods in colorectal cancer. In short, our study provides new insight into detecting immune-associated gene in different cancer bulk RNA-Seq.
Understanding the state-dependent impact of species correlated responses on community sensitivity to perturbations
Authors: Medeiros Lucas P. , Saavedra Serguei
Published: July 2022

Understanding how communities respond to perturbations requires us to consider not only changes in the abundance of individual species, but also correlated changes that can emerge through interspecific effects. However, our knowledge of this phenomenon is mostly constrained to populations at equilibrium, where interspecific effects are fixed. Here, we introduce a framework to disentangle the impact of species correlated responses on community sensitivity to perturbations when interspecific effects change over time due to non-equilibrium dynamics. We partition the volume expansion rate of perturbed abundances (community sensitivity) into contributions of individual species and of species correlations by converting the time-varying Jacobian matrix containing interspecific effects into a time-varying covariance matrix. Using population dynamics models, we demonstrate that species correlations change considerably across time and continuously alternate between reducing and having no impact on community sensitivity. Importantly, these alternating impacts depend on the abundance of particular species and can be detected even from noisy time series. We showcase our framework using two experimental predator-prey time series and find that the impact of species correlations is modulated by prey abundance—as theoretically expected. Our results provide new insights into how and when species interactions can dampen community sensitivity when abundances fluctuate over time.
Morphine Suppresses Peripheral Responses and Transforms Brain Myeloid Gene Expression to Favor Neuropathogenesis in SIV Infection
Authors: Fox Howard S. , Niu Meng , Morsey Brenda M. , Lamberty Benjamin G. , Emanuel Katy M. , Periyasamy Palsamy , Callen Shannon , Acharya Arpan , Kubik Gregory , Eudy James , Guda Chittibabu , Dyavar Shetty Ravi , Fletcher Courtney V. , Byrareddy Siddappa N. , Buch Shilpa
Published: July 2022

The twin pandemics of opioid abuse and HIV infection can have devastating effects on physiological systems, including on the brain. Our previous work found that morphine increased the viral reservoir in the brains of treated SIV-infected macaques. In this study, we investigated the interaction of morphine and SIV to identify novel host-specific targets using a multimodal approach. We probed systemic parameters and performed single-cell examination of the targets for infection in the brain, microglia and macrophages. Morphine treatment created an immunosuppressive environment, blunting initial responses to infection, which persisted during antiretroviral treatment. Antiretroviral drug concentrations and penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid and brain were unchanged by morphine treatment. Interestingly, the transcriptional signature of both microglia and brain macrophages was transformed to one of a neurodegenerative phenotype. Notably, the expression of osteopontin, a pleiotropic cytokine, was significantly elevated in microglia. This was especially notable in the white matter, which is also dually affected by HIV and opioids. Increased osteopontin expression was linked to numerous HIV neuropathogenic mechanisms, including those that can maintain a viral reservoir. The opioid morphine is detrimental to SIV/HIV infection, especially in the brain.
A mucin-regulated adhesin determines the intestinal biogeography and inflammatory character of a bacterial symbiont
Authors: Smith T. Jarrod , Sundarraman Deepika , Melancon Ellie , Desban Laura , Parthasarathy Raghuveer , Guillemin Karen
Published: July 2022

In a healthy gut, microbes are often aggregated with host mucus, yet the molecular basis for this organization and its impact on intestinal health are unclear. Mucus is a viscous physical barrier separating resident microbes from epithelia, but also provides glycan cues that regulate microbial behaviors. Using experimental evolution, we discovered a mucin-sensing pathway in an Aeromonas symbiont of zebrafish, Aer01. In response to the mucin-associated glycan N-acetylglucosamine, a sensor kinase regulates expression of a mucin-binding adhesin we named MbpA. When MbpA is disrupted, Aer01 colonizes to normal levels, but is largely planktonic and elicits increased intestinal inflammation, traits which are reversed by increasing cell surface MpbA. MbpA-like adhesins are common in human-associated bacteria and expression of an Akkermansia muciniphila MbpA-like adhesin in MbpA-deficient Aer01 restored lumenal aggregation and reversed its pro-inflammatory character. Our work demonstrates how resident bacteria use mucin glycans to modulate behaviors congruent with host health.