bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of wearable camera use to improve the accuracy of dietary assessment among adults
Authors: Scott Judith L. , Vijayakumar Aswathy , Woodside Jayne V. , Neville Charlotte E.
Published: September 2022

Traditional methods of dietary assessment are prone to measurement error, with energy intake often under-reported. The 24-h recall is widely used in dietary assessment, however, its reliance on self-report without verification of consumption can result in inaccuracies in true nutrient intake. Wearable cameras may provide a complementary approach to improve self-report accuracy by providing an objective and passive measure of food consumption. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a wearable camera improves the accuracy of a 24-h recall compared with a 24-h recall alone in twenty adults aged 18–65 years. The study also explored limitations associated with wearable cameras. Participants wore the camera for 1 d and a 24-h recall was then conducted the following day, before and after viewing the camera images. Dietary data were analysed using Nutritics dietary analysis software, while eating habits were assessed by a self-report questionnaire. Energy and nutrient intakes were compared between the recall alone and the camera-assisted recall. Results showed a significant increase in mean energy intake with the camera-assisted recall compared with the recall alone (9677⋅8 ± 2708⋅0 kJ/dv. 9304⋅6 ± 2588⋅5 kJ/d, respectively,P= 0⋅003). Intakes of carbohydrates, total sugars and saturated fats were also significantly higher with the camera-assisted recall. In terms of challenges, there were occasionally technological issues such as proper positioning of the camera by the participants. In conclusion, reporting of energy and nutrient intake may be enhanced when a traditional method of dietary assessment, the 24-h recall, is assisted by a wearable camera.
Historical use of silver nitrate for the management of epistaxis – evidence-based practice?
Authors: Green M , Tailor H , Keh S
Published: September 2022

Objective

Epistaxis is one of the most common emergencies presenting to the ENT service, and silver nitrate cautery is the mainstay of epistaxis treatment in most centres worldwide. This review aimed to ascertain the historical evidence behind current common practice.

Method

A review was conducted of historical published literature pertaining to epistaxis management.

Results

Silver in medicine dates back to 4000 BC, with silver nitrate first being used in 69 BC. Modern medical use for epistaxis is documented in case reports over the last 200 years.

Conclusion

The precise origin and evidence-based practice of using silver nitrate for epistaxis is not well-established or understood. The mechanism of action is questionable; novel research of silver nitrate for this common ENT emergency presentation may be required.
Beta diversity, prevalence, and specificity of avian haemosporidian parasites throughout the annual cycle of Chilean Elaenia (Elaenia chilensis), a Neotropical austral migrant
Authors: Fecchio Alan , Dias Raphael I. , De La Torre Gabriel M. , Bell Jeffrey A. , Sagario M. Cecilia , Gorosito Cristian A. , dos Anjos Carolina C. , Lugarini Camile , Piacentini Vítor Q. , Pinho João B. , Kirchgatter Karin , Ricklefs Robert E. , Schunck Fabio , Cueto Victor R.
Published: September 2022

Migratory birds are implicated in dispersing haemosporidian parasites over great geographic distances. However, their role in sharing these vector-transmitted blood parasites with resident avian host species along their migration flyway is not well understood. We studied avian haemosporidian parasites in 10 localities where Chilean Elaenia, a long-distance Neotropical austral migrant species, spends part of its annual cycle to determine local parasite transmission among resident sympatric host species in the elaenia's distributional range across South America. We sampled 371 Chilean Elaenias and 1,818 birds representing 243 additional sympatric species from Brazilian wintering grounds to Argentinian breeding grounds. The 23 haemosporidian lineages found in Chilean Elaenias exhibited considerable variation in distribution, specialization, and turnover across the 10 avian communities in South America. Parasite lineage dissimilarity increased with geographic distance, and infection probability byParahaemoproteusdecreased in localities harbouring a more diverse haemosporidian fauna. Furthermore, blood smears from migrating Chilean Elaenias and local resident avian host species did not contain infective stages ofLeucocytozoon, suggesting that transmission did not take place in the Brazilian stopover site. Our analyses confirm that this Neotropical austral migrant connects avian host communities and transports haemosporidian parasites along its distributional range in South America. However, the lack of transmissive stages at stopover site and the infrequent parasite lineage sharing between migratory host populations and residents at breeding and wintering grounds suggest that Chilean Elaenias do not play a significant role in dispersing haemosporidian parasites, nor do they influence local transmission across South America.
In vitro system for the growth and asexual multiplication of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci
Authors: García Lucía Celia Abril , Pérez Matías Gastón , Ancarola María Eugenia , Rosenzvit Mara Cecilia , Cucher Marcela Alejandra
Published: September 2022

Taenia solium is the aetiological agent of cysticercosis, a zoonosis that causes severe health and economic losses across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The most serious manifestation of the disease is neurocysticercosis, which occurs when the larval stage (cysticercus) establishes in the central nervous system. Using Taenia crassiceps as an experimental model organism for the study of cysticercosis, we aimed to identify the in vitro conditions necessary to allow parasite development at the short- and long terms. First, cysticerci were incubated for 15 days in different media and parasite densities. The number of buddings and cysticerci diameter were measured to evaluate asexual multiplication and parasite growth, respectively. Vitality was determined by trypan blue staining and morphology analysis. As a result, high cysticerci density and medium containing FBS and the excretion/secretion (E/S) products of feeder cells induced parasite survival, growth and multiplication. Then, the long-term (5 weeks) incubation of the parasites in co-culture with feeder cells was evaluated. Consequently, the mammalian cell lines induced a significant increase in total parasite volume while axenic cultures did not show any statistically significant change over time. In this study, the proper conditions to maintain T. crassiceps in vitro are described for the first time in a simpler and more controlled setting other than experimental infections. In addition, it was shown that cysticerci growth, survival and asexual multiplication depend on a complex network of secreted factors from both parasite and host.
Hadrian's Wall and its Continental Hinterland
Authors: Reddé Michel , Mees Allard
Published: September 2022

This paper assesses the effects which the building of Hadrian's Wall had on the patterns of supply and communication from the continent. Existing systems were strengthened rather than altered, and Hadrian's reign saw the full development of ports and military installations on the North Sea and Channel coasts. Navigation to Britain and sailing conditions on various routes are discussed, comparing their importance in the transport of wine, oil, exotic plants and samian ware and the movement of military personnel. Use of the Rhône–Rhine axis is emphasised for the movement of goods from Central Gaul and the Mediterranean, but other rivers in western and north-western Gaul were of some importance, as the details of samian distribution demonstrate. Finally, non-state organisation of the acquisition and distribution of commodities supplied to the army on Hadrian's Wall is strongly favoured.
Transmission roles of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases: a modelling study
Authors: Tan Jianbin , Ge Yang , Martinez Leonardo , Sun Jimin , Li Changwei , Westbrook Adrianna , Chen Enfu , Pan Jinren , Li Yang , Cheng Wei , Ling Feng , Chen Zhiping , Shen Ye , Huang Hui
Published: September 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) asymptomatic cases are hard to identify, impeding transmissibility estimation. The value of COVID-19 transmissibility is worth further elucidation for key assumptions in further modelling studies. Through a population-based surveillance network, we collected data on 1342 confirmed cases with a 90-days follow-up for all asymptomatic cases. An age-stratified compartmental model containing contact information was built to estimate the transmissibility of symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. The difference in transmissibility of a symptomatic and asymptomatic case depended on age and was most distinct for the middle-age groups. The asymptomatic cases had a 66.7% lower transmissibility rate than symptomatic cases, and 74.1% (95% CI 65.9–80.7) of all asymptomatic cases were missed in detection. The average proportion of asymptomatic cases was 28.2% (95% CI 23.0–34.6). Simulation demonstrated that the burden of asymptomatic transmission increased as the epidemic continued and could potentially dominate total transmission. The transmissibility of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases is high and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases play a significant role in outbreaks.
The Wider World of Writing. Networks of People, Practice and Culture Underpinning Writing in Late Bronze Age Ugarit
Authors: Boyes Philip J.
Published: September 2022

Writing is a social practice, and as such is fundamentally entwined with a wide array of other forms of human activity, professional categories and aspects of cultural life. However, this is often not fully reflected in scholarly approaches to writing practices, which tend to focus almost exclusively on the act of inscription itself, and on the practices of literates alone. Taking as its case study the Late Bronze Age Syrian polity of Ugarit and focusing on the social and cultural aspects of the procurement of raw materials for writing, this article aims to explore some of the ways in which groups of people beyond the urban, literate elite facilitated, contributed to and shaped the nature of writing practices.
Towards the 0-statement of the Kohayakawa-Kreuter conjecture
Authors: Hyde Joseph
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we study asymmetric Ramsey properties of the random graph
$G_{n,p}$
. Let
$r \in \mathbb{N}$
and
$H_1, \ldots, H_r$
be graphs. We write
$G_{n,p} \to (H_1, \ldots, H_r)$
to denote the property that whenever we colour the edges of
$G_{n,p}$
with colours from the set
$[r] \,{:\!=}\, \{1, \ldots, r\}$
there exists
$i \in [r]$
and a copy of
$H_i$
in
$G_{n,p}$
monochromatic in colour
$i$
. There has been much interest in determining the asymptotic threshold function for this property. In several papers, Rödl and Ruciński determined a threshold function for the general symmetric case; that is, when
$H_1 = \cdots = H_r$
. A conjecture of Kohayakawa and Kreuter from 1997, if true, would fully resolve the asymmetric problem. Recently, the
$1$
-statement of this conjecture was confirmed by Mousset, Nenadov and Samotij.

Building on work of Marciniszyn, Skokan, Spöhel and Steger from 2009, we reduce the
$0$
-statement of Kohayakawa and Kreuter’s conjecture to a certain deterministic subproblem. To demonstrate the potential of this approach, we show this subproblem can be resolved for almost all pairs of regular graphs. This therefore resolves the
$0$
-statement for all such pairs of graphs.
Paediatrician’s guide to post-operative care for biventricular CHD: a review
Authors: Arthur Lindsay , Renno Markus S. , Altman Carolyn A. , Batlivala Sarosh P. , Glickstein Julie , Johnson Jonathan N. , Miller Jacob R. , Nguyen Quang-Tuyen , Selamet Tierney Elif Seda , Ronai Christina
Published: September 2022

Importance:

Paediatricians play an integral role in the lifelong care of children with CHD, many of whom will undergo cardiac surgery. There is a paucity of literature for the paediatrician regarding the post-operative care of such patients.

Observations:

The aim of this manuscript is to summarise essential principles and pertinent lesion-specific context for the care of patients who have undergone surgery or intervention resulting in a biventricular circulation.

Conclusions and relevance:

Familiarity with common issues following cardiac surgery or intervention, as well as key details regarding specific lesions and surgeries, will aid the paediatrician in providing optimal care for these patients.
Kant on Peace, Honor and the “Point of View” of Princes, 1755–1795
Authors: Higgins Olivier
Published: September 2022

By recovering the pre-critical foundations of Immanuel Kant's political idealism, this article elucidates his fundamental concern with reorienting the “point of view” of real princes and sovereigns to the cause of peace. I trace this priority to Kant's reading of Pierre Bayle, whose skepticism illustrated that the true nature of princes rendered Saint-Pierre's ideal of peace “not possible.” Beginning in 1756, Kant reframed perpetual peace as the ultimate political honor for those unmoved by strict moral necessity, promising them a legacy that was entwined with the providential course of human history. This appeal to honor identified the first necessary phase of political change, accounting for ruling motives that might otherwise lead to wars of conquest and expansion. This view of Kant's shrewd attempt to steer the “point of view” of real power, which persisted into his final political writings in the 1790s, challenges dominant readings of a Kantian politics concerned solely with the distant realization of ideal institutions.
Gemeinsame Entscheidungsfindung als Imperativ der modernen Medizin?
Authors: Holzer Felicitas , Biller-Andorno Nikola
Published: September 2022

Zusammenfassung. Shared Decision-Making (SDM) ist ein normatives Modell der Entscheidungsfindung im klinischen Kontext, bei dem Ärzt_in und Patient_in alternative Behandlungsoptionen abwägen und gemeinsam eine von dem Patienten oder der Patientin ausgehende Werteentscheidung treffen. Wichtig dabei ist, dass der Informationsaustausch frei und ungezwungen vonstattengeht und Vor- sowie Nachteile verschiedener Behandlungsoptionen sorgfältig abgewogen werden. Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, das Konzept des Shared Decision-Makings historisch und begrifflich einzuordnen und in einer normativen Theorie der Patient_innenautonomie zu verankern. Des Weiteren soll der Anwendungsbereich im klinischen Alltag genauer definiert und die Grenzen des SDM-Modells aufgezeigt werden. Dabei gilt es zu ermitteln, unter welchen Bedingungen Patient_in und Ärzt_in Entscheidungen gemeinsam treffen, welche Rolle der ärztlichen Fachperson dabei zukommt und wann die behandelte Person potenziell zu viel oder zu wenig am Entscheidungsprozess teilnimmt.
Shared Decision-Making in der Prävention
Authors: Neuner-Jehle Stefan
Published: September 2022

Zusammenfassung. Shared Decision-Making (SDM) ist besonders dort hilfreich, wo Entscheidungen Präferenz-sensitiv sind, das heisst wo die Präferenzen und Werte eines Patienten für das weitere Vorgehen entscheidend sind. Typischerweise sind dies Situationen, in denen der potenzielle Nutzen und der potenzielle Schaden nahe beieinander liegen. Präventive Aktivitäten zeichnen sich dadurch aus, dass der gegenwärtige Leidensdruck fehlt und der Benefit erst weit in der Zukunft liegt – ob sich also der gegenwärtige Aufwand wirklich lohnt, ist Präferenz-sensitiv. Der Ablauf von SDM im (präventiven) Beratungsgespräch kann in die drei Schritte «Team Talk», «Option Talk» und «Decision Talk» unterteilt werden. Für jeden Schritt zeige ich Beispiele, wie das Gespräch geführt werden kann. Nach einem Überblick zur Evidenzlage präsentiere ich vier konkrete Anwendungsbeispiele für SDM in der Prävention: Rauchstoppberatung, Lebensstil-Coaching, Impfberatung und Krebsscreening. Schliesslich thematisiere ich die Rolle von aktivierten Patienten bei SDM und weise auf die Gelegenheit für SDM bei Check-up-Untersuchungen hin. Für all diese Anwendungsbeispiele werden nützliche Instrumente und Links vorgestellt. Fazit: Wichtige SDM-Elemente wie Patientenzentriertheit, das Klären von Bedürfnissen/Zielen und gemeinsam getragene Verantwortung sind nicht nur in der Prävention, sondern auch für das gesamte Versorgungsspektrum von Patienten unverzichtbar.
Entscheidungsfindung in Gesprächen zu Reanimationsmassnahmen
Authors: Becker Christoph , Hunziker Sabina
Published: September 2022

Zusammenfassung. Die Entscheidungsfindung bezüglich allfälliger Reanimationsmassnahmen ist ein typisches Beispiel einer partizipatorischen Entscheidungsfindung bei der Ärzt_innen und Patient_innen gleichermassen zur Entscheidung beitragen. Um eine informierte Entscheidung zu treffen, bedarf es einer Wissensgrundlage, zum Beispiel über mögliche Konsequenzen mit Vor- und Nachteilen der jeweiligen Entscheidungsmöglichkeiten. Dabei sollte auch erörtert werden, was Reanimationsmassnahmen versus Fokussierung auf ein palliatives Vorgehen bedeuten; welche Präferenzen und Bedürfnissen hat der Patient oder die Patientin? Dies sind wichtige Faktoren, die sehr individuell sein können, und daher in die Entscheidung entsprechend einfliessen müssen. Das Leben zu verlängern und den Tod zu verhindern, hat für viele Menschen prinzipiell den höchsten Stellenwert, in manchen Situationen ist jedoch die Linderung von Leiden ein wichtigeres Ziel. Insbesondere bei polymorbiden Patient_innen mit lebenseinschränkenden, palliativen Erkrankungen zeigen Reanimationsmassnahmen häufig keinen Nutzen, sondern würden vielmehr eine Leidensverlängerung bedeuten. Hier ist es besonders wichtig, die limitierten therapeutischen Optionen und entsprechende palliative Möglichkeiten mit den betroffenen Patient_innen gut zu besprechen.
Gastrointestinal genetic reprogramming of vitamin A metabolic pathways in response of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
Authors: Sampaio Priscilla , Waitzberg Dan Linetzky , Machado Natasha Mendonça , de Miranda Torrinhas Raquel Susana Matos , Fonseca Danielle C. , Ferreira Beatriz A. M. , Marques Mariane , Barcelos Samira , Ishida Robson Kiyoshi , Guarda Ismael Francisco Mota Siqueira , de Moura Eduardo Guimarães Hourneaux , Sakai Paulo , Santo Marco Aurélio , Heymsfield Steven B. , Corrêa-Giannella Maria Lúcia , Passadore Mariana Doce , Sala Priscila
Published: September 2022

Abstract: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is one of the most performed bariatric surgical techniques. However, RYGB commonly results, as side effects, in nutritional deficiencies. This study aimed to examine changes in the expression of vitamin A pathway encoding genes in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and to evaluate the potential mechanisms associated with hypovitaminosis A after RYGB. Intestinal biopsies were obtained through double-balloon endoscopy in 20 women with obesity (age 46.9±6.2 years; body mass index [BMI] 46.5±5.3 kg/m2 [mean±SD]) before and three months after RYGB (BMI, 38.2±4.2 kg/m2). Intestinal mucosal gene microarray analyses were performed in samples using a Human GeneChip 1.0 ST array (Affymetrix). Vitamin A intake was assessed from 7-day food records and serum retinol levels were evaluated by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Our results showed the following genes with significant downregulation (p≤0.05): LIPF (−0.60), NPC1L1 (−0.71), BCO1 (−0.45), and RBP4 (−0.13) in the duodenum; CD36 (−0.33), and ISX (−0.43) in the jejunum and BCO1 (−0.29) in the ileum. No significant changes in vitamin A intake were found (784±694 retinol equivalents [RE] pre-operative vs. 809±753 RE post-operative [mean±SD]). Although patients were routinely supplemented with 3500 international units IU/day (equivalent to 1050 μg RE/day) of oral retinol palmitate, serum concentrations were lower in the post-operative when compared to pre-operative period (0.35±0.14 μg/L vs. 0.52±0.33 μg/L, respectively – P=0.07), both within the normal range. After RYGB, the simultaneous change in expression of GI genes, may impair carotenoid metabolism in the enterocytes, formation of nascent chylomicrons and transport of retinol, resulting in lower availability of vitamin A.
Making Waves
Authors: Micalizio Caryl-Sue
Published: September 2022

Sources of tsunamis are undersea, underground, and under the microscope in our October issue.
Effect of the Non‐Dipole Field on the Seasonal Variation of the Geomagnetic Sq(Y)
Authors: Tian Lin , Du Aimin , Huang Sheng , Luo Hao , Xu Wenyao , Ge Yasong
Published: September 2022

The annual mean (Sq0), annual (Sq1), and semiannual (Sq2) components of the monthly averaged daily amplitude of the geomagnetic Y component during quiet period over several solar cycles at 25 mid‐low latitudes observatories were separated by means of Fourier analysis. No obvious distinction is found for the morphology of the spatial distribution of these Sq(Y) components during solar quiet and active periods, except that they are more intense in high solar activity. We found that the longitudinal variations in the Southern Hemisphere were primarily attributed to the differences in the annual component (Sq1), which is stronger at the Eurasia and Australia anomaly zones than at the South Atlantic Ocean anomaly (SAA) zones. The positive correlation between Sq0 and geomagnetic vertical component Z suggests that the convection electric fields in the dynamo region play a key role in controlling the annual mean (Sq0). On the other hand, the Sq1 exhibits a positive correlation with geomagnetic horizontal component H, implying the interhemispheric field‐aligned currents (IHFACs) may contribute to difference of the annual variation amplitude at the different observatories. Sq2 is most prominent in the SAA region while rather weak at other positive anomaly zones (in total field), which indicates there is a negative correlation between the total field anomaly and the semiannual variations.
Expansion of Firn Aquifers in Southeast Greenland
Authors: Horlings Annika N. , Christianson Knut , Miège Clément
Published: September 2022

Surface melt produces more mass loss than any other process on the Greenland Ice Sheet. In some regions of Greenland with high summer surface melt and high winter snow accumulation, the warm porous firn of the percolation zone can retain liquid meltwater through the winter. These regions of water‐saturated firn, which may persist for longer than one year, are known as firn aquifers, commonly referred to as perennial firn aquifers. Here, we use airborne ice‐penetrating radar data from the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) to document the extent of four firn aquifers in the Helheim, Ikertivaq, and Køge Bugt glacier basins with more than six repeat radar flight lines from 1993 to 2018. All four firn aquifers first appear and/or show decadal‐scale inland expansion during this time period. Through an idealized energy‐balance calculation utilizing reanalysis data from the Modèle Atmosphérique Régionale (MAR) regional climate model, we find that these aquifer expansions are driven by decreasing cold content in the firn since the late 1990s and recently increasing high‐melt years, which has reduced the firn's ability for refreezing local meltwater. High‐melt years are projected to increase on the Greenland Ice Sheet and may contribute to the continued inland expansion of firn aquifers, impacting the ice sheet's surface mass balance and hydrological controls on ice dynamics.
Inhibiting ALK-TOPK signaling pathway promotes cell apoptosis of ALK-positive NSCLC
Authors: Xiao Juanjuan , Zhang Lu , Yi Huijun , Zou Ling , Mo Jianmei , Xue Feng , Zheng Jinhua , Huang Yingze , Lu Hui , Wu Hansheng , Xue Peipei , Zhang Xin , He Lifei , Li Zhaoxin , Pang Shigui , Qiao Guibin , Duan Qiuhong , Zhu Feng
Published: September 2022

T-LAK cell-oriented protein kinase (TOPK) is a potential therapeutic target in tumors. However, its role in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been reported. Here, we found that TOPK was highly expressed in ALK-positive NSCLC. Additionally, ALK was identified as another upstream kinase of TOPK by in vitro kinase assay screening. Then, it was proven that ALK phosphorylated TOPK at Y74 in vitro and ex vivo, and the pathways downstream of ALK-TOPK were explored by phosphoproteomic analysis. Subsequently, we demonstrated that inhibiting TOPK enhanced tumor sensitivity to alectinib (an ALK inhibitor). The combination of alectinib and HI-032 (a TOPK inhibitor) suppressed the growth and promoted the apoptosis of ALK-positive NSCLC cells ex vivo and in vivo. Our findings reveal a novel ALK-TOPK signaling pathway in ALK-positive NSCLC. The combination of alectinib and HI-032 might be a promising therapeutic strategy for improving the sensitivity of ALK-positive NSCLC to targeted therapy.
HOXA5 inhibits the proliferation of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cells by enhancing MXD1 expression and activating the p53 pathway
Authors: Xiong Fei , Liu Wenzheng , Wang Xin , Wu Guanhua , Wang Qi , Guo Tong , Huang Wenhua , Wang Bing , Chen Yongjun
Published: September 2022

Homeobox A5 (HOXA5) is a transcription factor in mammalian and can regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis as well as tumorigenesis. However, little is known on whether and how HOXA5 can regulate the malignant behaviors of cholangiocarcinoma. The methylation levels of HOXA5 were evaluated by methylation microarray and bisulfite sequencing PCR. HOXA5 expression in tissue samples was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The proliferation of tumor cells was assessed by CCK-8, EdU, and nude mouse tumorigenicity assays. The invasion, apoptosis and cell cycling of tumor cells were evaluated by Wound healing assay and flow cytometry. The interaction between HOXA5 and the MXD1 promoter was examined by CUT & Tag assay, luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Hypermethylation in the HOXA5 promoter down-regulated HOXA5 expression in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECCA) tissues, which was correlated with worse overall survival. HOXA5 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation and tumor growth. HOXA5 overexpression enhanced MXD1 expression by directly binding to the MXD1 promoter in ECCA cells. MXD1 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and tumor growth while MXD1 silencing abrogated the HOXA5-mediated proliferation inhibition. HOXA5 overexpression increased p53 protein expression in an MXD1-dependent manner. HOXA5 and MXD1 acted as tumor suppressors to inhibit the mitosis of ECCA cells by enhancing the p53 signaling. Our findings may uncover molecular mechanisms by which the HOXA5/MXD1 axis regulates the progression of ECCA, suggesting that the HOXA5/MXD1 may be therapeutic targets for ECCA.
Multianalyte liquid biopsy to aid the diagnostic workup of breast cancer
Authors: Setayesh Sonia Maryam , Hart Olivia , Naghdloo Amin , Higa Nikki , Nieva Jorge , Lu Janice , Hwang Shelley , Wilkinson Kathy , Kidd Michael , Anderson Amanda , Velasco Carmen Ruiz , Kolatkar Anand , Matsumoto Nicholas , Nevarez Rafael , Hicks James B. , Mason Jeremy , Shishido Stephanie N. , Kuhn Peter
Published: September 2022

Breast cancer (BC) affects 1 in every 8 women in the United States and is currently the most prevalent cancer worldwide. Precise staging at diagnosis and prognosis are essential components for the clinical management of BC patients. In this study, we set out to evaluate the feasibility of the high-definition single cell (HDSCA) liquid biopsy (LBx) platform to stratify late-stage BC, early-stage BC, and normal donors using peripheral blood samples. Utilizing 5 biomarkers, we identified rare circulating events with epithelial, mesenchymal, endothelial and hematological origin. We detected a higher level of CTCs in late-stage patients, compared to the early-stage and normal donors. Additionally, we observed more tumor-associated large extracellular vesicles (LEVs) in the early-stage, compared to late-stage and the normal donor groups. Overall, we were able to detect reproducible patterns in the enumeration of rare cells and LEVs of cancer vs. normal donors and early-stage vs. late-stage BC with high accuracy, allowing for robust stratification. Our findings illustrate the feasibility of the LBx assay to provide robust detection of rare circulating events in peripheral blood draws and to stratify late-stage BC, early-stage BC, and normal donor samples.
Generation of a recombinant version of a biologically active cell-permeant human HAND2 transcription factor from E. coli
Authors: Haridhasapavalan Krishna Kumar , Sundaravadivelu Pradeep Kumar , Joshi Neha , Das Nayan Jyoti , Mohapatra Anshuman , Voorkara Udayashree , Kaveeshwar Vishwas , Thummer Rajkumar P.
Published: September 2022

Transcription factor HAND2 has a significant role in vascularization, angiogenesis, and cardiac neural crest development. It is one of the key cardiac factors crucial for the enhanced derivation of functional and mature myocytes from non-myocyte cells. Here, we report the generation of the recombinant human HAND2 fusion protein from the heterologous system. First, we cloned the full-length humanHAND2gene (only protein-coding sequence) after codon optimization along with the fusion tags (for cell penetration, nuclear translocation, and affinity purification) into the expression vector. We then transformed and expressed it inEscherichia colistrain, BL21(DE3). Next, the effect (in terms of expression) of tagging fusion tags with this recombinant protein at two different terminals was also investigated. Using affinity chromatography, we established the one-step homogeneous purification of recombinant human HAND2 fusion protein; and through circular dichroism spectroscopy, we established that this purified protein had retained its secondary structure. We then showed that this purified human protein could transduce the human cells and translocate to its nucleus. The generated recombinant HAND2 fusion protein showed angiogenic potential in the ex vivo chicken embryo model. Following transduction in MEF2C overexpressing cardiomyoblast cells, this purified recombinant protein synergistically activated the α-MHC promoter and induced GFP expression in the α-MHC-eGFP reporter assay. Prospectively, the purified bioactive recombinant HAND2 protein can potentially be a safe and effective molecular tool in the direct cardiac reprogramming process and other biological applications.
Diet moderates the effect of resting state functional connectivity on cognitive function
Authors: Gaynor Alexandra M. , Varangis Eleanna , Song Suhang , Gazes Yunglin , Noofoory Diala , Babukutty Reshma S. , Habeck Christian , Stern Yaakov , Gu Yian
Published: September 2022

Past research suggests modifiable lifestyle factors impact structural and functional measures of brain health, as well as cognitive performance, but no study to date has tested the effect of diet on resting state functional connectivity (rsFC), and its relationship with cognition. The current study tested whether Mediterranean diet (MeDi) moderates the associations between internetwork rsFC and cognitive function. 201 cognitively intact adults 20–80 years old underwent resting state fMRI to measure rsFC among 10 networks, and completed 12 cognitive tasks assessing perceptual speed, fluid reasoning, episodic memory, and vocabulary. Food frequency questionnaires were used to categorize participants into low, moderate, and high MeDi adherence groups. Multivariable linear regressions were used to test associations between MeDi group, task performance, and internetwork rsFC. MeDi group moderated the relationship between rsFC and fluid reasoning for nine of the 10 functional networks’ connectivity to all others: higher internetwork rsFC predicted lower fluid reasoning performance in the low MeDi adherence group, but not in moderate and high MeDi groups. Results suggest healthy diet may support cognitive ability despite differences in large-scale network connectivity at rest. Further research is warranted to understand how diet impacts neural processes underlying cognitive function over time.
Multilayer acoustic invisibility cloak based on composite lattice
Authors: Zaremanesh Mansour , Bahrami Ali
Published: September 2022

A concentric cylindrical cloak is showed here to achieve the acoustic cloaking phenomenon. The introduced structure consists of MNE layers and water in MNE substrate in the MHz frequency range. Due to avoiding the incoming acoustic waves by the shell, the object can be hidden inside the cylindrical area of any shape. In order to improve the quality of cloaking, we have optimized the desired shell by considering the manufacturing technology. We show that an optimized, acoustic cloak based on composite lattice structure can reduce the scattering of an object more than a 20-layer realization of acoustic cloak based on multilayer cylindrical structure. This design approach can substantially simplify the fabrication of cloaking shells. In this research, to study the acoustic distribution of the desired structure, finite element method (FEM) has been used to analyze the structure in two dimensions and a cloak of natural materials with isotropic properties has been designed using effective medium theory.
Development of spatially variant photonic crystals to control light in the near-infrared spectrum
Authors: Volk Andrew , Rai Amit , Agha Imad , Payne Tamara E. , Touma Jimmy E. , Gnawali Rudra
Published: September 2022

Spatially Variant Photonic Crystals (SVPCs) have shown the ability to control the propagation and direction of light in the near-infrared spectrum. Using a novel approach for simplified modeling and fabrication techniques, we designed unique, spatially-varied, unit-cell structures to develop photonic crystals that maintain self-collimation and direction of light for desired beam tuning applications. The finite-difference time-domain technique is used to predict the self-collimation and beam-bending capabilities of our SVPCs. These SVPC designs and the simulation results are verified in laboratory testing. The experimental evidence shows that two-dimensional SVPCs can achieve self-collimation and direct light through sharp bends. The simplicity and quality of these designs show their potential for widespread implementation in modern devices. These SVPCs will serve as a unique solution to optical systems for optical computing, multiplexing, data transfer, and more.
An open-source computational tool for measuring bacterial biofilm morphology and growth kinetics upon one-sided exposure to an antimicrobial source
Authors: Gingichashvili Sarah , Steinberg Doron , Sionov Ronit Vogt , Feuerstein Osnat , Cohen Noa E.
Published: September 2022

Bacillus subtilis biofilms are well known for their complex and highly adaptive morphology. Indeed, their phenotypical diversity and intra-biofilm heterogeneity make this gram-positive bacterium the subject of many scientific papers on the structure of biofilms. The “robustness” of biofilms is a term often used to describe their level of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and various mechanical and molecular inhibition/eradication methods. In this paper, we use computational analytics to quantify Bacillus subtilis morphological response to proximity to an antimicrobial source, in the form of the antiseptic chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine droplets, placed in proximity to Bacillus subtilis macrocolonies at different distances result in morphological changes, quantified using Python-based code, which we have made publicly available. Our results quantify peripheral and inner core deformation as well as differences in cellular viability of the two regions. The results reveal that the inner core, which is often characterized by the presence of wrinkled formations in the macrocolony, is more preserved than the periphery. Furthermore, the paper describes a crescent-shaped colony morphology which occurs when the distance from the chlorhexidine source is 0.5 cm, as well as changes observed in the growth substrate of macrocolonies exposed to chlorhexidine.
Comparison of the blood pressure management between sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists
Authors: Kobayashi Kazuo , Toyoda Masao , Hatori Nobuo , Sakai Hiroyuki , Furuki Takayuki , Sato Kazuyoshi , Terauchi Yasuo , Tamura Kouichi , Kanamori Akira
Published: September 2022

The cardiovascular and renal protective effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1Ras) are enhanced by low/controlled blood pressure (BP). However, the BP-lowering efficacy of SGLT-2is and GLP-1Ras have not been compared directly. We compared the rates of achieving target BP with SGLT-2i and GLP-1Ra treatments in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This retrospective study included 384 SGLT-2i- and 160 GLP-1Ra-treated patients with BP > 130/80 mmHg before treatment. Inverse probability weighting methods using propensity scores were used in this study. The integrated odds ratios (OR) for BP control rates were calculated and clinical changes were analyzed using a generalized linear model. SGLT-2i treatment resulted in significantly higher BP control rates than that in the GLP-1Ra treatment (integrated OR = 2.09 [1.80, 2.43]). Compared with GLP-1Ra, SGLT-2i treatment demonstrated significantly larger decreases in diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and body weight (− 3.8 mmHg, P = 0.006; − 4.1 mmHg, P = 0.01; and − 1.5 kg, P = 0.008, respectively) and increased annual estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 1.5 mL/min/1.73 m2/year, P = 0.04). In T2DM patients with poorly controlled BP, compared with GLP-1Ra, SGLT-2i treatment significantly improved BP management and increased eGFR.
Quantifying wood decomposition by insects and fungi using computed tomography scanning and machine learning
Authors: Seibold Sebastian , Müller Jörg , Allner Sebastian , Willner Marian , Baldrian Petr , Ulyshen Michael D. , Brandl Roland , Bässler Claus , Hagge Jonas , Mitesser Oliver
Published: September 2022

Wood decomposition is a central process contributing to global carbon and nutrient cycling. Quantifying the role of the major biotic agents of wood decomposition, i.e. insects and fungi, is thus important for a better understanding of this process. Methods to quantify wood decomposition, such as dry mass loss, suffer from several shortcomings, such as destructive sampling or subsampling. We developed and tested a new approach based on computed tomography (CT) scanning and semi-automatic image analysis of logs from a field experiment with manipulated beetle communities. We quantified the volume of beetle tunnels in wood and bark and the relative wood volume showing signs of fungal decay and compared both measures to classic approaches. The volume of beetle tunnels was correlated with dry mass loss and clearly reflected the differences between beetle functional groups. Fungal decay was identified with high accuracy and strongly correlated with ergosterol content. Our data show that this is a powerful approach to quantify wood decomposition by insects and fungi. In contrast to other methods, it is non-destructive, covers entire deadwood objects and provides spatially explicit information opening a wide range of research options. For the development of general models, we urge researchers to publish training data.
Cellulose nanofibers/polyvinyl alcohol blends as an efficient coating to improve the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties of paper
Authors: Huang Shancong , Wang Xiyun , Zhang Yu , Meng Yu , Hua Feiguo , Xia Xinxing
Published: September 2022

The effect of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coating on the hydrophobic, oleophobic, and strength properties of paper were investigated. The results showed that the size of bamboo fibers (BFs) decreased significantly and the crystallinity increased significantly after biological enzyme treatment. The average length of CNFs obtained by high pressure homogenization was 2.4 µm, the diameter was 28.7 nm, and the crystallinity was 63.63%. When the coating weight of PVA/CNF was 2.0 g/m2 and the CNF dosage was increased from 0.0% to 3.0%, the paper grease resistance grade was increased from 7 to 9, the Cobb value was decreased from 22.68 ± 0.29 g/m2 to 18.37 ± 0.63 g/m2, the contact angle was increased from 67.82° to 93.56°, and the longitudinal and transverse tensile index were increased from 67.72 ± 0.21 N m/g and 37.63 ± 0.25 N m/g to 68.61 ± 0.55 N m/g and 40.71 ± 0.78 N m/g, respectively. When the CNF dosage was 3.0% and the coating weight of PVA/CNF was 4.0 g/m2, the grease resistance grade of the paper was 12, the Cobb value was 21.80 ± 0.39 g/m2, and the longitudinal and transverse tensile indices were 72.11 ± 0.43 N m/g and 42.58 ± 0.48 N m/g, respectively. In summary, the increase of CNFs can effectively improve the lipophobicity, hydrophobicity and tensile strength of the PVA coated paper.
Comparison of single-shot EPI and multi-shot EPI in prostate DWI at 3.0 T
Authors: Tamada Tsutomu , Kido Ayumu , Ueda Yu , Takeuchi Mitsuru , Kanki Akihiko , Neelavalli Jaladhar , Yamamoto Akira
Published: September 2022

In prostate MRI, single-shot EPI (ssEPI) DWI still suffers from distortion and blurring. Multi-shot EPI (msEPI) overcomes the drawbacks of ssEPI DWI. The aim of this article was to compare the image quality and diagnostic performance for clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) between ssEPI DWI and msEPI DWI. This retrospective study included 134 patients with suspected PC who underwent 3.0 T MRI and subsequent MRI-guided biopsy. Three radiologists independently assessed anatomical distortion, prostate edge clarity, and lesion conspicuity score for pathologically confirmed csPC. Lesion apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and benign ADC were also calculated. In 17 PC patients who underwent prostatectomy, three radiologists independently assessed eight prostate regions by DWI score in PI-RADS v 2.1. Anatomical distortion and prostate edge clarity were significantly higher in msEPI DWI than in ssEPI DWI in the three readers. Lesion conspicuity score was significantly higher in msEPI DWI than in ssEPI DWI in reader 1 and reader 3. Regarding discrimination ability between PC with GS ≤ 3 + 4 and PC with GS ≥ 4 + 3 using lesion ADC, AUC was comparable between ssEPI DWI and msEPI DWI. For diagnostic performance of csPC using DWI score, AUC was comparable between msEPI DWI and ssEPI DWI in all readers. Compared with ssEPI DWI, msEPI DWI had improved image quality and similar or higher diagnostic performance.
High-throughput analysis of anti-poliovirus neutralization antibody titre in human serum by the pseudovirus neutralization test
Authors: Arita Minetaro , Iwai-Itamochi Masae
Published: September 2022

To monitor vulnerability of countries to poliovirus (PV) outbreaks, serosurveillance of anti-PV neutralization antibody is conducted by conventional PV neutralization test (cPNT), which uses live PV strains. We previously developed a pseudovirus PV neutralization test (pPNT) as an alternative to cPNT, which uses PV pseudovirus that expresses luciferase as a reporter in the infection without producing infectious PV. In the present study, we established a high-throughput pPNT (HTpPNT) for a large-scale serosurveillance. The HTpPNT system was evaluated with 600 human serum samples obtained from a broad range of age groups of healthy volunteers (ages of 0–89 years). HTpPNT showed high correlation with cPNT (R2 for anti-type 1, 2, and 3 PV neutralization antibody titres are 0.90, 0.84, and 0.90, respectively). By using HTpPNT, we analyzed relative neutralizing antibody titre of the sera against a type 1 PV wild-type strain (Mahoney strain) to that against the type 1 Sabin strain. As a result, a correlation between the age (≥ 60 years) and the relative neutralizing antibody titre was observed (n = 15–16, P = 0.0000023–0.041), while the types of PV vaccine (i.e., oral PV vaccine and Sabin strain-based IPV) had no effect. HTpPNT would serve as a useful alternative to cPNT in a large-scale serosurveillance.
Genetic contribution to cancer risk in patients with tooth loss: a genetic association study
Authors: Bezamat Mariana , Rothenberger Scott , Vieira Alexandre R.
Published: September 2022

Early-stage cancer diagnosis is critical for higher survival rates. Because early cancers can be difficult to detect, our focus is on the identification of cancer risk markers such as pleiotropic genes involved in the etiology of both craniofacial conditions and cancers. In this study we aimed to test if our previously detected association between ERN1 rs196929 marker and oral health outcomes would be detected in individuals diagnosed with cancer as well as in a subpopulation of individuals who also had one or more teeth missing due to dental caries, periodontal disease, or periapical lesions. We genotyped a total of 1,671 subjects and selected a subset of 1,421 subjects for stratified analysis of cancer types; three hundred and twelve self-reported a diagnosis of various cancer types and 1,109 reported never receiving a diagnosis of cancer. Our results showed a statistically significant association between the rs196929 in ERN1, and cancer overall in both the additive and dominant models (OR = 1.37, 95% C.I. 1.06–1.79, p = 0.014). When we stratified the analysis for each cancer type, our results show that the rs196929 ERN1 variant is associated with skin cancer (OR = 2.07, 95% C.I. 1.27–3.37, p = 0.003) and breast cancer (OR = 1.83, 95% C.I. 1.13–2.99, p = 0.013) in the subset of patients that had tooth loss. An additional nominal association between the rs196929 in ERN1 and male’s reproductive system cancers (OR = 1.96, 95% C.I. 1.07–3.59, p = 0.028) was identified. We hope that our study helps guide future genetic studies on these cancers and this specific genetic variant as well as drive attention to the potential for oral health outcomes to serve as indicators for cancer risk. The early identification of genetic markers and/or oral conditions that indicate increased cancer risk could positively impact cancer outcomes and survival rates with timely implementation of preventive and diagnostic measures. In conclusion, our results suggest that the genetic variant in ERN1 (rs196929) is associated with increased risk of skin and breast cancers.
Ageing and degeneration analysis using ageing-related dynamic attention on lateral cephalometric radiographs
Authors: Zhang Zhiyong , Liu Ningtao , Guo Zhang , Jiao Licheng , Fenster Aaron , Jin Wenfan , Zhang Yuxiang , Chen Jie , Yan Chunxia , Gou Shuiping
Published: September 2022

With the increase of the ageing in the world’s population, the ageing and degeneration studies of physiological characteristics in human skin, bones, and muscles become important topics. Research on the ageing of bones, especially the skull, are paid much attention in recent years. In this study, a novel deep learning method representing the ageing-related dynamic attention (ARDA) is proposed. The proposed method can quantitatively display the ageing salience of the bones and their change patterns with age on lateral cephalometric radiographs images (LCR) images containing the craniofacial and cervical spine. An age estimation-based deep learning model based on 14142 LCR images from 4 to 40 years old individuals is trained to extract ageing-related features, and based on these features the ageing salience maps are generated by the Grad-CAM method. All ageing salience maps with the same age are merged as an ARDA map corresponding to that age. Ageing salience maps show that ARDA is mainly concentrated in three regions in LCR images: the teeth, craniofacial, and cervical spine regions. Furthermore, the dynamic distribution of ARDA at different ages and instances in LCR images is quantitatively analyzed. The experimental results on 3014 cases show that ARDA can accurately reflect the development and degeneration patterns in LCR images.