bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prospects for developing efficient targets for the xenomonitoring and control of Simulium damnosum s.l., the major vectors of onchocerciasis in Africa
Authors: Koala Lassane , Tirados Inaki , Nikiema Achille S. , Thomsen Edward , McCall Philip J. , Dabire Roch K.
Published: July 2022

Despite the ethical issues concerning the continued use of Human Landing Catches (HLC) to monitor the Simulium damnosum complex for epidemiological monitoring of onchocericasis, few attempts to develop alternatives have been reported. In studies on a wild population of S. damnosum in Burkina Faso, we tested visual targets (different sizes and shapes) and olfactory stimuli (CO2, and POCA and BG‐lure® odour blends) for their ability to attract and collect host seeking blackflies. At each trap, blackflies were caught with appropriately sized electrocuting grids and results from Latin square design tests were compared. Throughout, HLCs captured more blackflies than the targets. Of the traps tested, small targets (0.0625 and 0.5 m2) were the most efficient visual lure in terms of the number of S. damnosum captured per unit area 1.7–5× more than larger targets. Overall, results suggested that sticky black targets of horizontal rectangular shape (0.125–0.5 m2) and baited with a POCA and/or CO2 mixture could provide a cheap practical field alternative to HLC for onchocerciasis xenomonitoring, subject to confirmation that the design has no inherent bias for certain members of the S. damnosum species complex.
Mixed‐method acceptability evaluation of a co‐designed bundled intervention to support communication for patients with an advanced airway in the intensive care unit during a pandemic
Authors: Istanboulian Laura , Rose Louise , Yunusova Yana , Dale Craig
Published: July 2022

Background

Although bundled communication interventions are recommended to address communication barriers for patients with an advanced airway in the intensive care unit (ICU) such interventions have not been evaluated in pandemic conditions.

Aim

To evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of a co‐designed bundled intervention to support communication with adult patients with an advanced airway in ICU in pandemic conditions.

Study Design

Prospective, convergent mixed method design in a single centre medical‐surgical ICU in Toronto, Canada between September 2021–March 2022. After the use of the co‐designed bundled communication intervention quantitative data were collected from health care providers using validated acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility measures and analysed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were collected from providers, patients and families using semi‐structured interviews and analysed using content analysis applying the theoretical framework of acceptability. Joint table analysis enabled the integration of the two data sets.

Results

A total of 64 (41.3%) HCPs responded to the survey: 54 (84.4%) rated the intervention acceptable; 55 (85.9%) appropriate; and 49 (76.6%) feasible for use in this context. Qualitative data (23 interviews: 13 healthcare providers, 6 families and 4 patients) and the joint table analysis extended the understanding that intervention acceptability was related to positive affective attitudes and reduced communication frustration. Appropriateness and feasibility were promoted through intervention alignment with values, ability to personalize tools, and ease of access. Recommendations to improve the acceptability included adaptation for immobilized and/or restrained patients, additional education, and integration into existing workflows.

Conclusions

This mixed method evaluation of a co‐designed bundled intervention to support patient communication in the ICU during pandemic conditions demonstrated high rated and described acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility by participants.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

A co‐designed communication intervention demonstrating stakeholder acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility can be implemented into clinical practice in pandemic and other infection prevention and control contexts.
Exploring the pathophysiology of LARS after low anterior resection for rectal cancer with high‐resolution colon manometry
Authors: Asnong Anne , Tack Jan , Devoogdt Nele , De Groef An , Geraerts Inge , D'Hoore André
Published: July 2022

Background

A total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer—although nerve‐ and sphincter‐sparing—can give rise to significant bowel symptoms, commonly referred to as low anterior resection syndrome (LARS). The exact pathophysiology of this syndrome still remains largely unknown, and the impact of radical surgery on colonic motility has only been scarcely investigated.

Methods

High‐resolution colon manometry was performed in patients, 12–24 months after restoration of transit. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with major LARS and no/minor LARS, according to the LARS‐score. Colonic motor patterns were compared, and the relationship of these patterns with the LARS‐scores was investigated.

Key Results

Data were analyzed in 18 patients (9 no/minor LARS, 9 major LARS). Cyclic short antegrade motor patterns did occur more in patients with major LARS (total: p = 0.022; post‐bisacodyl: p = 0.004) and were strongly correlated to LARS‐scores after administering bisacodyl (p < 0.001). High amplitude propagating contractions (HAPC's) that started in the proximal colon and ended in the mid‐section of the colon occurred significantly less in patients with major LARS compared with patients with no/minor LARS (p = 0.015).

Conclusions and Inferences

The occurrence of more cyclic short antegrade motor patterns and less HAPC's (from the proximal to the mid‐colon) is more prevalent in patients with major LARS. These findings help to understand the differences in pathophysiology in patients developing major versus no/minor bowel complaints after TME for rectal cancer.
Development of a pediatric anesthesia fellowship curriculum in Australasia by the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia of New Zealand and Australia (SPANZA) education sub committee
Authors: Kaur Balvindar , Taylor Elsa Medland
Published: July 2022

There has been a recognized need to develop a curriculum for pediatric anesthesia training in Australia and New Zealand. The drivers are safe care for children, clear standards of care for children within and outside of quaternary centres, and clarity of the expertise and skill of the practitioner. Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) made up of multiple competencies and sub‐competencies are useful for the description and assessment of contemporary medical education. We have developed an EPA‐based curriculum that is not prescriptive in the number or range of EPAs that should be completed. Individuals can shape their learning and training to the EPAs that will support their ability to provide high‐quality safe care in the wide variety of institutions that they may be employed in after their pediatric fellowship. Institutions can use the curriculum to describe the skill set required for their institution and location. This paper will explain the process behind the development of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia in New Zealand and Australia (SPANZA) guidelines of a curriculum for pediatric anesthesia fellowship based on EPAs.
Management of pediatric pemphigus vulgaris with rituximab: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Mistry Bhavik Dipak , Leis Maria , Lee David Michael , Levy Rebecca
Published: July 2022

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), an acquired autoimmune bullous disease, is caused by autoantibodies targeting desmosomal proteins in the skin and mucous membranes. Recent data from the adult PV population supports the use of rituximab, a chimeric anti‐CD20 IgG1 antibody, as a primary treatment strategy, but limited data exist regarding treatment in the pediatric population. We report the case of a 13‐year‐old male with PV treated successfully with systemic corticosteroids and rituximab, and review the literature supporting the treatment of pediatric PV with rituximab.
Environmental risk assessment of non‐native salmonid escapes from net pens in the Chilean Patagonia
Authors: Soto Doris , Arismendi Ivan , Olivos J. Andres , Canales‐Aguirre Cristian B. , Leon‐Muñoz Jorge , Niklitschek Edwin J. , Sepúlveda Maritza , Paredes Felipe , Gomez‐Uchida Daniel , Soria‐Galvarro Yuri
Published: July 2022

Here, we review extensive information to estimate environmental risks from escaped non‐native salmonids based on the assessments of hazard, sensitivity and exposure of discrete water bodies in Chile. In 2020, the country harvested about 1 million tons salmonids from net pens located along 1500 km of highly biodiverse coastline. We base our analysis on existing scientific information and authors' expert opinions including an assessment of knowledge gaps and uncertainties. Risks of environmental impacts differed by salmon species, being lowest for Atlantic salmon due to its estimated lower survival, lower ability to feed after escaping and lower reproductive capacity in the wild compared to coho salmon and rainbow trout. Overall risks due to escapes of any of the species were highest in areas of both high farming intensity and low capacity of mitigating escapes (by wild predators and fishers) such as Aysén District. At same time, risk was higher in the most farmed areas that also presented suitable habitats to support reproduction and juvenile salmonid rearing. However, the risk estimation certainty differed among species being lowest for Atlantic salmon due to insufficient monitoring of their fate in the wild. Monitoring the fate and impacts of escaped salmonids, specially in higher risk areas is recommended to improve risk projections and to prevent and mitigate further impacts. Since Atlantic and coho salmon are not yet successful invaders in Chile, research attention is urgently needed to assess the environmental consequences of escapes of these species. The present approach can be applied to any aquaculture system given the availability of information on farmed species and receiving ecosystems.
Further resource multiplication at more advanced ages? Interactions between education, parental socioeconomic status, and age in their impacts upon health
Authors: Settels Jason
Published: July 2022

While scholarship has shown that socioeconomic status creates fine‐grained gradients in health, there is debate regarding whether having higher amounts of one socioeconomic resource amplifies (resource multiplication) or reduces (resource substitution) the health benefits of one's other socioeconomic resources. A further question is whether these processes are accentuated or diminished at more advanced ages. Using the 2016 and 2018 waves of the United States General Social Survey (N = 2995) and logistic regression analyses, this study reveals processes of resource multiplication between respondents' education and both parental education and parental occupational prestige in their effects upon self‐rated health. Furthermore, these processes are accentuated at more advanced ages. Additionally, these interactive effects remain significant after controlling for respondent‐level total family income and occupational prestige, suggesting mechanisms beyond actualized socioeconomic circumstances. These findings raise concerns regarding less educated older persons coming from less advantaged backgrounds. Accordingly, policies and programs should help equalize social circumstances early in the life course, to produce more salubrious trajectories with advancing age.
Reduction of bundle sheath size boosts cyclic electron flow in C4Setaria viridis acclimated to low light
Authors: Bellasio Chandra , Ermakova Maria
Published: July 2022

When C4 leaves are exposed to low light, the CO2 concentration in the bundle sheath (BS) cells decreases, causing an increase in photorespiration relative to assimilation, and a consequent reduction in biochemical efficiency. These effects can be mitigated by complex acclimation syndromes, which are of primary importance for crop productivity but are not well studied. We unveil an acclimation strategy involving the coordination of electron transport processes. First, we characterize the anatomy, gas exchange and electron transport of C4 Setaria viridis grown under low light. Through a purposely developed biochemical model, we resolve the photon fluxes and reaction rates to explain how the concerted acclimation strategies sustain photosynthetic efficiency. Our results show that a smaller BS in low‐light‐grown plants limited leakiness (the ratio of CO2 leak rate out of the BS over the rate of supply via C4 acid decarboxylation) but sacrificed light harvesting and ATP production. To counter ATP shortage and maintain high assimilation rates, plants facilitated light penetration through the mesophyll and upregulated cyclic electron flow in the BS. This shade tolerance mechanism, based on the optimization of light reactions, is possibly more efficient than the known mechanisms involving the rearrangement of carbon metabolism, and could potentially lead to innovative strategies for crop improvement.
Rearrangement with the nkd2 promoter contributed to allelic diversity of the r1 gene in maize (Zea mays)
Authors: Wu Hao , Li Guosheng , Zhan Junpeng , Zhang Shanshan , Beall Brandon D. , Yadegari Ramin , Becraft Philip W.
Published: July 2022

The maize red1 (r1) locus regulates anthocyanin accumulation and is a classic model for allelic diversity; changes in regulatory regions are responsible for most of the variation in gene expression patterns. Here, an intrachromosomal rearrangement between the distal upstream region of r1 and the region of naked endosperm 2 (nkd2) upstream to the third exon generated a nkd2 null allele lacking the first three exons, and the R1‐st (stippled) allele with a novel r1 5′ promoter region homologous to 5′ regions from nkd2‐B73. R1‐sc:124 (an R1‐st derivative) shows increased and earlier expression than a standard R1‐g allele, as well as ectopic expression in the starchy endosperm compartment. Laser capture microdissection and RNA sequencing indicated that ectopic R1‐sc:124 expression impacted expression of genes associated with RNA modification. The expression of R1‐sc:124 resembled nkd2‐W22 expression, suggesting that nkd2 regulatory sequences may influence the expression of R1‐sc:124. The r1‐sc:m3 allele is derived from R1‐sc:124 by an insertion of a Ds6 transposon in intron 4. This insertion blocks anthocyanin regulation by causing mis‐splicing that eliminates exon 5 from the mRNA. This allele serves as an important launch site for Ac/Ds mutagenesis studies, and two Ds6 insertions believed to be associated with nkd2 mutant alleles were actually located in the r1 5′ region. Among annotated genomes of teosinte and maize varieties, the nkd2 and r1 loci showed conserved overall gene structures, similar to the B73 reference genome, suggesting that the nkd2‐r1 rearrangement may be a recent event.
Primary repair of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug‐associated full thickness gastrointestinal ulcers in 11 dogs
Authors: Dobberstein Rachel E. A. , Oblak Michelle L. , Brisson Brigitte A. , Singh Ameet , Moens Noel M. M. , Ayoub Sabrina
Published: July 2022

Objective

To report the outcomes of dogs that underwent primary repair of gastroduodenal perforations associated with the administration of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID). A secondary objective was to identify clinicopathological findings that predisposed dogs to postoperative death.

Study design

Retrospective study.

Animals

Eleven dogs with complete gastric or duodenal perforation related to administration of an NSAID that underwent primary surgical repair.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed for dogs that presented with peritonitis due to a complete gastroduodenal perforation while receiving NSAIDs between November, 2011 and January, 2021. Data collected included patient characteristics, clinical signs, clinicopathological results, surgical details, and postoperative management and outcome.

Results

All dogs were large breeds (mean weight 42 kg; range 22‐75 kg), with a mean age of 7.35 years. Nine dogs from a total of 11 (82 %) received a concurrent corticosteroid and NSAID, or a higher dose/frequency/length of NSAID administration than recommended by the manufacturer. All gastroduodenal perforations were found in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Eight of 11 (73%) dogs survived to discharge. The median postoperative duration of follow up was 444 days (range 2‐1460 days). No association was detected between ulcer size or location and mortality.

Conclusion

Most dogs who underwent primary repair of complete gastroduodenal ulcers survived. Gastroduodenal perforations were generally due to the administration of higher or longer doses of NSAIDs, or concurrent administration of another NSAID or corticosteroid.

Clinical significance

Primary closure may be associated with a high success rate in dogs with full thickness gastroduodenal ulcers.
Relación entre el consumo de refrescos y bebidas endulzadas o azucaradas y la cantidad de calorías ingeridas en niños, niñas y adolescentes una revisión sistemática de la literatura
Authors:   , Gallego Torres Yeny Alejandra
Published: July 2022

Introducción: El consumo de bebidas endulzadas se ha convertido en un tópico de gran importancia y controversia para diferentes esferas de la sociedad. Las necesidades nutricionales cambiantes de la población han llevado a diferentes países a tomar medidas y desarrollar intervenciones relacionadas con el consumo de bebidas. Así mismo la evidencia científica disponible se ha enfocado principalmente en la asociación del consumo con el desarrollo de obesidad y sobrepeso, arrojando resultados contradictorios. Es por ello que el objetivo de esta investigación fue describir la relación existente entre el consumo de bebidas endulzadas o azucaradas y la cantidad de calorías ingeridas de niños, niñas y adolescentes, teniendo en cuenta que los niveles de ingesta calórica son un condicionante fisiológico en el desarrollo de la obesidad o sobrepeso.
Evaluación de la pertinencia de los programas de pregrado en Administración de Empresas que ofrecen las instituciones de educación superior en Bogotá D.C.
Authors:   , Gómez Piraban Pablo Rudesindo
Published: July 2022

La investigación realizada revela aspectos muy
interesantes de los programas de pregrado en
Administración de Empresas que ofrecen las
instituciones de educación superior en Bogotá
D. C.. De una parte, se descartaron los rumores
existentes en el sentido de que los conocimientos
adquiridos por los estudiantes durante la
estancia en la Universidad no eran pertinentes
para el ejercicio profesional.
Re-existencia campesina en San Juan de Sumapaz : la construcción del territorio en defensa de la vida
Authors:   , Santamaria Bonilla Sindy Julieth
Published: July 2022

El objetivo principal de la presente investigación fue comprender cómo re-existen los campesinos y campesinas de San Juan de Sumapaz al construir territorio en defensa de la vida. Para lograrlo se creó un marco conceptual y metodológico que al denunciar la colonialidad ontológica, epistemológica y territorial presente en AbyaYala/América Latina asumió el conocimiento como una experiencia co-extensiva de los sujetos y a la realidad social como una red de comunicación que genera significados, a partir de las cuales se optó por la investigación histórica entorno a las categorías de re-existencia y territorio como elementos articuladores de otras como territorialidad, territorialización, orden territorial, conflicto y conflictividad. Así el trabajo etnográfico, las entrevistas semi-estructuradas, la lectura de prensa y la observación participante hicieron énfasis en los procesos y las trasformaciones, el mapeo de las relaciones y articulaciones entre las prácticas y los discursos. A partir de lo anterior la investigación evidenció la existencia de múltiples comunidades en AbyaYala/América Latina que insertas en el sistema capitalista no solo se oponen a él sino que hacen de sus prácticas particulares elementos de defensa de la vida. Bajo esa lógica se demostró en San Juan de Sumapaz la existencia de una conflictividad entre dos órdenes territoriales contrapuestos que ha determinado los diferentes conflictos vividos en la construcción territorial durante el siglo anterior y finalmente en el siglo XXI, la re-existencia de una comunidad que al compartir un contexto común de significados se convierte en alter-hegemónica construyendo formas de participación y producción colectivas, solidarias, auto gestionadas en defensa del ecosistema de páramo y la vida.
Prácticas de un modelo de gestión territorial emergente del patrimonio arqueológico distrital : experiencias y proyecciones público-comunitarias a partir del caso de la Hacienda el Carmen, localidad de Usme Bogotá (2007-2020)
Authors:   , Sanabria Acevedo Luis Alberto
Published: July 2022

Este trabajo es resultado de una investigación aplicada, dentro de la tipología de prácticas basadas en diagnósticos, a partir del problema de gobernanza difusa o indefinida que ha afectado la gestión del patrimonio en la Hacienda El Carmen (Usme, Bogotá). Indaga sobre la conexión entre patrimonio y territorio, enfocada desde la geografía humana y la calidad de vida, para hallar las claves de un Modelo de Gestión en dicha zona, hoy reconocida como Área Arqueológica Protegida AAP por parte del Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia ICANH. En dicho suelo yace evidencia material de una necrópolis prehispánica, perteneciente a la cultura muisca, descubierta en 2007 gracias a la denuncia de los campesinos habitantes de la localidad 5ª de Usme, quienes desde el hallazgo se organizaron en la Mesa de Patrimonio Ancestral, Cultural y Ambiental –Usmeka-, para la defensa de su territorio frente a la amenaza permanente de expansión urbana. Esta se materializó en el plan de la Operación Estratégica Nuevo Usme OENU, liderada por Metrovivienda, hoy Empresa de Renovación y Desarrollo Urbano ERU, para la construcción 53.000 viviendas de interés social y prioritario, con previsibles impactos negativos sobre el ecosistema y la calidad de vida de los habitantes antiguos y nuevos de la localidad.
Characterization of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli associated with urinary tract infections in Southern Colombia
Authors: Guerrero Ceballos Deisy Lorena , Burbano Rosero Edith Mariela , Ibargüen-Mondragon Eduardo
Published: July 2022

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is one of the largest medical concerns worldwide.One of the bacteria of critical priority is E. coli, since it presents different resistance mechanisms and some of its strains have evolved resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. We characterized 32 antibiotic resistant bacterial isolates from confirmed cases of urinary tract infections from an array of patients in Nariño, southern Colombia. Macro and microscopic descriptions of the 32 clinical isolates were conducted. Resistance profiles, biochemical, and molecular characterization (via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ERIC-PCR, and resistance genes) were performed. All the isolates were identified as E. coli and had resistance to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. This resistance was related to plasmids carryingthebla TEM, blaSHV1, and blaCTXM1genes.There were significant differences between the resistance proportions of the samples (p value:0.0000), mainly to penicillin, cefotoxin, and imipenem. Using ERIC-PCR, four clonal states were evidenced that corroborate a degree of genetic differentiation with in the isolate set.Antibiotic resistance observed in the isolates is associated with resistance genes present in the bacterial chromosome and plasmids.
A Novel Screw Modeling Approach to Study the Effects of Screw Parameters on Pullout Strength
Authors: Song Fei , Feng Wentian , Yang Dongyue , Li Guanghui , Iqbal Kamran , Liu Yuxuan , Yang Haisheng
Published: July 2022

Screw loosening remains a prominent problem for osteoporotic patients undergoing pedicle screw fixation surgeries and is affected by screw parameters (e.g., diameter, pitch, and thread angle). However, the individual and interactive effects of these parameters on screw fixation are not fully understood. Furthermore, the current finite element modeling of a threaded screw is less computationally efficient. To address these issues, we (1) explored a novel “simulated threaded screw” approach (virtual threads assigned to the contact elements of a simplified screw) and compared its performance with threaded and simplified screws, and (2) examined this approach the individual and interactive effects of altering screw diameter (5.5–6.5 mm), pitch (1–2 mm) and half-thread angle (20–30 deg) on pullout strength of normal vertebrae. Results demonstrated that the “simulated threaded screw” approach equivalently predicted pullout strength compared to the “threaded screw” approach (R2 = 0.99, slope = 1). We further found that the pullout strength was most sensitive to the change in screw diameter, followed by thread angle, pitch, and interactions of diameter*pitch or diameter*angle. In conclusion, the “simulated threaded screw” approach can achieve the same predictive capability compared to threaded modeling of the screw. The current findings may serve as useful references for planning of screw parameters, so as to improve the complication of screw loosening.
Spatiotemporal gating of Stat nuclear influx by
Drosophila
Npas4 in collective cell migration
Authors: Wu Jhen-Wei , Wang Chueh-Wen , Chen Ruo-Yu , Hung Liang-Yi , Tsai Yu-Chen , Chan Yu-Ting , Chang Yu-Chiuan , Jang Anna C.-C.
Published: July 2022

Collective migration is important to embryonic development and cancer metastasis, but migratory and nonmigratory cell fate discrimination by differential activity of signal pathways remains elusive. In
Drosophila
oogenesis, Jak/Stat signaling patterns the epithelial cell fates in early egg chambers but later renders motility to clustered border cells. How Jak/Stat signal spatiotemporally switches static epithelia to motile cells is largely unknown. We report that a nuclear protein, Dysfusion, resides on the inner nuclear membrane and interacts with importin α/β and Nup153 to modulate Jak/Stat signal by attenuating Stat nuclear import. Dysfusion is ubiquitously expressed in oogenesis but specifically down-regulated in border cells when migrating. Increase of nuclear Stat by Dysfusion down-regulation triggers invasive cell behavior and maintains persistent motility. Mammalian homolog of Dysfusion (NPAS4) also negatively regulates the nuclear accumulation of STAT3 and cancer cell migration. Thus, our finding demonstrates that Dysfusion-dependent gating mechanism is conserved and may serve as a therapeutic target for Stat-mediated cancer metastasis.
CXCL9 and CXCL10 bring the heat to tumors
Authors: Reschke Robin , Gajewski Thomas F.
Published: July 2022

CXCL9 and CXCL10 can be produced by antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells or macrophages) and by tumor cells.

Hoch
et al.

demonstrated that CXCL9 and CXCL10 co-localize with LAG3
+
T cells expressing CCL4 or CXCL13 and contribute to the generation of a “hot” tumor microenvironment.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Orally Administered Letermovir Prophylaxis in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Royston Léna , Masouridi-Levrat Stavroula , Gotta Verena , Royston Eva , Pressacco-Brossier Caroline , Abi Aad Yasmine , Tonoli David , Karmime Abderrahim , Jayo Murielle , Van Delden Christian , Lescuyer Pierre , Pfister Marc , Chalandon Yves , Neofytos Dionysios
Published: July 2022

With balanced safety-efficacy profile, letermovir anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis is used in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (HSCTR). We assessed feasibility and usefulness of letermovir therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in HSCTR.
Toward Uncovering the Complexities of Bacterial Interspecies Communication and Competition on the Skin
Authors: Alonzo Francis
Published: July 2022

The skin is an inhospitable environment for microbial growth and survival. Hallmarks of the skin microenvironment include low moisture, high acidity, high lipid content, and paucity of essential nutrients, which together establish an antimicrobial barrier that defends against pathogens.
On the Occurrence and Multimerization of Two-Polypeptide Phage Endolysins Encoded in Single Genes
Authors: Pinto Daniela , Gonçalo Raquel , Louro Mariana , Silva Marta Sousa , Hernandez Guillem , Cordeiro Tiago N. , Cordeiro Carlos , São-José Carlos
Published: July 2022

Bacteriophages use endolysins to cleave the host bacteria cell wall, a crucial event underlying cell lysis for virion progeny release. These bacteriolytic enzymes are generally thought to work as single, monomeric polypeptides, but a few examples have been described in which a single gene produces two endolysin isoforms.
Role of TRAIL-R in Primary and Secondary Genital and Respiratory Chlamydia muridarum Infections in Mice
Authors: Pal Sukumar , Sheff Sydni , Al-Kuhlani Mufadhal , Ojcius David M. , de la Maza Luis M.
Published: July 2022

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor (TRAIL-R) is involved in suppressing inflammatory responses. Bacterial pathogens such as
Chlamydia
spp. elicit inflammatory responses in humans following genital, ocular, and respiratory infections.
Proteomic Analysis of Methanococcus voltae Grown in the Presence of Mineral and Nonmineral Sources of Iron and Sulfur
Authors: Steward Katherine F. , Payne Devon , Kincannon Will , Johnson Christina , Lensing Malachi , Fausset Hunter , Németh Brigitta , Shepard Eric M. , Broderick William E. , Broderick Joan B. , Dubois Jen , Bothner Brian
Published: July 2022

Clusters of iron and sulfur are key components of the active sites of enzymes that facilitate microbial conversion of light or electrical energy into chemical bonds. The proteins responsible for transporting iron and sulfur into cells and assembling these elements into metal clusters are not well understood.
Spontaneous large liver haematoma with extensive intraperitoneal bleeding in a patient with COVID-19 infection
Authors: Songtanin Busara , Evans Abbie , Nugent Kenneth
Published: July 2022

Thrombotic complications during COVID-19 infections occur frequently, and anticoagulants to prevent and treat deep vein thrombosis appear to have a good safety profile in these patients. In addition, haemorrhagic complications during COVID-19 infections have also been reported. Hepatic inflammation can occur in COVID-19 infections as a direct consequence of cellular infection and cytopathy. Spontaneous subcapsular hepatic haematoma is extremely rare and can be life-threatening.

A woman in her 40s presented to the hospital with fever and shortness of breath and was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection with respiratory failure requiring intubation. On day 49 of hospitalisation, she developed melena and acute anaemia; her haemoglobin dropped from 97g/L (9.7g/dL) to 56g/L (5.6g/dL). Abdominal and pelvic CT scans showed a large subcapsular liver haematoma with retroperitoneal extension. The patient received blood transfusions and remained haemodynamically stable. She was eventually extubated and discharged home.
Immunopathogenesis and environmental triggers in coeliac disease
Authors: Levescot Anais , Malamut Georgia , Cerf-Bensussan Nadine
Published: July 2022

Coeliac disease (CD) is a frequent immune enteropathy induced by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. Its pathogenesis has been extensively studied and CD has emerged as a model disease to decipher how the interplay between environmental and genetic factors can predispose to autoimmunity and promote lymphomagenesis. The keystone event is the activation of a gluten-specific immune response that is driven by molecular interactions between gluten, the indispensable environmental factor, HLA-DQ2/8, the main predisposing genetic factor and transglutaminase 2, the CD-specific autoantigen. The antigluten response is however not sufficient to induce epithelial damage which requires the activation of cytotoxic CD8+intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL). In a plausible scenario, cooperation between cytokines released by gluten-specific CD4+T cells and interleukin-15 produced in excess in the coeliac gut, licenses the autoimmune-like attack of the gut epithelium, likely via sustained activation of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway in IEL. Demonstration that lymphomas complicating CD arise from IEL that have acquired gain-of-functionJAK1orSTAT3mutations stresses the key role of this pathway and explains how gluten-driven chronic inflammation may promote this rare but most severe complication. If our understanding of CD pathogenesis has considerably progressed, several questions and challenges remain. One unsolved question concerns the considerable variability in disease penetrance, severity and presentation, pointing to the role of additional genetic and environmental factors that remain however uneasy to untangle and hierarchize. A current challenge is to transfer the considerable mechanistic insight gained into CD pathogenesis into benefits for the patients, notably to alleviate the gluten-free diet, a burden for many patients.
Microbial determinants of effective donors in faecal microbiota transplantation for UC
Authors: Haifer Craig , Luu Laurence Don Wai , Paramsothy Sudarshan , Borody Thomas J , Leong Rupert W , Kaakoush Nadeem O
Published: July 2022

Objective

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has variable efficacy in treating UC. Recently, oral lyophilised FMT was found to induce remission in patients with UC, with one donor having 100% efficacy compared with a second donor (36% efficacy). We characterised differences in the gut microbiota of these two donors with the aim of improving FMT donor selection.

Design

Faecal samples from the two donors were collected over a period of 44 (donor 1) or 70 (donor 2) weeks. The microbiome and metabolome were profiled using shotgun metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics

Results

Gut microbiome long-term stability was highly evident in the effective donor. Donor microbiota species evenness was a robust feature associated with clinical efficacy across two clinical trials of FMT in UC, leading to increased donor species engraftment in patients. Alpha diversity and beta diversity of donor gut microbiotas significantly differed. 90 bacterial species and one archaeon were differentially abundant between donors, 44 of which were >0.1% in relative abundance. 17/44 species were enriched in the effective donor, 11 of which (64.7%) were assembled into high-quality genomes that were prevalent (≥75% samples) in that donor, and six showed evidence of engraftment in patients. Taxonomic differences between donors translated to substantial microbial functional differences that were validated using metabolomics.

Conclusion

Donor microbiota stability and species evenness were identified as novel metrics that were associated with therapeutic efficacy in UC, beyond individual microbial species or metabolites. These metrics may represent community resilience that translates to better engraftment in the host.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12619000611123.
Traumatic needle damage to nerves during regional anesthesia: presentation of a novel mechanotransduction hypothesis
Authors: McLeod Graeme A , Sadler Amy , Hales Tim G
Published: July 2022

Despite advances in needle positioning techniques, nerve damage still occurs after regional anesthesia. Recognized causes include local anesthetic toxicity, subperineural injection, high subepineural fluid injection pressures and subepineural hematoma after forceful needle-–nerve contact.

We hypothesize that subperineural injection is still possible, but less likely to be the cause of nerve damage because needle penetration of fascicles and mechanical damage is difficult to achieve. High-resolution (75 µm) 40 MHz micro-ultrasound images of pig axillae show short-bevelled 22 g, 0.7 mm wide block needles that are three times larger than the average fascicle. Fascicular bundles are extremely difficult to puncture because they spin away on needle contact. Histology from fresh cadavers after supposed intrafascicular injection shows fluid spread within perineurium and intrafascicular perineural septae, but no breach of endoneurium or axons.

We propose that mechanotransduction, the cellular changes that occur in response to force, contributes to nerve damage. Piezo ion channel proteins transduce force into electrical activity by rapid entry of cations into cells. Excessive Ca2+influx into cells has the potential to inhibit nerve regeneration. Cellular changes include regulation of gene expression. The forces associated with purposeful needle insertion are generally unknown. Our experiments in the soft embalmed Thiel cadaver showed a lognormal range of forces between 0.6 N and 16.8 N on epineural penetration.

We hypothesize that forceful needle injury may cause nerve damage by activation of Piezo receptors and release of intracellular Ca2+.
The Impact of City Cluster Development on the Inter-City Disparity: Evidence From China
Authors: YANG Mengyu , HU Bingxuan
Published: July 2022

City clusters are important carriers for China’s future urbanization and vital areas for promoting coordinated regional development and common prosperity. The authors first divide the city clusters into Types I, II, and III according to the characteristics of their development stages, and measure the degree of development of city clusters by using city-level night time light (NTL) data and inter-city commuting time, and empirically identify the types of China’s city clusters. On that basis, the authors examine the influence of city cluster development on the inter-city disparity from a perspective of urban agglomeration. The results show that the development of Type I city clusters can lead to the widest inter-city disparity, and that of Type II city clusters ranks the second place in this regard, while that of Type III city clusters can narrow the inter-city disparity. Furthermore, using the 268-year historical geographic data of the Qing Dynasty, the authors construct instrumental variables to address the endogeneity issues, and find that the above conclusions are robust. This study also finds that the factor allocation for the development of Types I and II city clusters is oriented towards labor, while that for Type III city clusters is oriented towards capital. Besides, different types of city clusters vary in the extent of correcting factor misallocation for their development. The differences in the orientation of factor allocation and the extent of factor misallocation correction constitute the main mechanism for the heterogeneous influence of city cluster development on the inter-city disparity. China’s city cluster development strategy should adopt a category-based approach to avoid homogenization, conform to the objective laws, and make greater use of central cities’ spatial spillover effects.
On Proof Complexity of Resolution over Polynomial Calculus
Authors: Khaniki Erfan
Published: July 2022

The proof system
Res (PC

d,R

) is a natural extension of the Resolution proof system that instead of disjunctions of literals operates with disjunctions of degree
d
multivariate polynomials over a ring
R
with Boolean variables. Proving super-polynomial lower bounds for the size of
Res
(
PC

1,
R

)-refutations of Conjunctive normal forms (CNFs) is one of the important problems in propositional proof complexity. The existence of such lower bounds is even open for
Res
(
PC
1,𝔽
) when 𝔽 is a finite field, such as 𝔽
2
. In this article, we investigate
Res
(
PC

d,R

) and tree-like
Res
(
PC

d,R

) and prove size-width relations for them when
R
is a finite ring. As an application, we prove new lower bounds and reprove some known lower bounds for every finite field 𝔽 as follows:

(1)

We prove almost quadratic lower bounds for
Res
(
PC

d

,𝔽)-refutations for every fixed
d
. The new lower bounds are for the following CNFs:

(a)

Mod
q
Tseitin formulas (
char
(𝔽)≠
q
) and Flow formulas,

(b)

Random
k
-CNFs with linearly many clauses.

(2)

We also prove super-polynomial (more than
n

k

for any fixed
k
) and also exponential (2

nϵ

for an ϵ > 0) lower bounds for tree-like
Res
(
PC

d
,𝔽

)-refutations based on how big
d
is with respect to
n
for the following CNFs:

(a)

Mod
q
Tseitin formulas (
char
(𝔽)≠
q
) and Flow formulas,

(b)

Random
k
-CNFs of suitable densities,

(c)

Pigeonhole principle and Counting mod
q
principle.

The lower bounds for the dag-like systems are the first nontrivial lower bounds for these systems, including the case
d
=1. The lower bounds for the tree-like systems were known for the case
d
=1 (except for the Counting mod
q
principle, in which lower bounds for the case
d
> 1 were known too). Our lower bounds extend those results to the case where
d
> 1 and also give new proofs for the case
d
=1.
A Technological Prospect for a Diagnostic Model in HBIM
Authors: Silva Felipe Bruno , Cuperschmid Ana Regina , Cerávolo Ana Lúcia , Fabrício Márcio
Published: July 2022

Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM)
and
BIM Collaboration Format (BCF)
offer new possibilities for recording damage and pathologies, since semantic data can be associated with a BIM model. This study investigates the potential of HBIM for the diagnostic documentation of modern cultural heritage via a case study carried out in the E1 Building, at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Aiming at a Diagnostic Model, this study investigates the use of BCF rather than a Damage Map produced in two-dimensional representation systems. A BCF platform was chosen to evaluate the available resources and their limitations. The main contribution of this research consists in showing that BIM use is feasible to develop diagnostic documentation. Although not all expected functionalities were identified in the selected platform, we confirmed that BCF is an open data format with the potential to semantically enrich an HBIM model. For future research projects, guidelines are suggested for developing specific HBIM software for the diagnostic documentation of cultural heritage.
Interactive augmented reality storytelling guided by scene semantics
Authors: Li Changyang , Li Wanwan , Huang Haikun , Yu Lap-Fai
Published: July 2022

We present a novel interactive augmented reality (AR) storytelling approach guided by indoor scene semantics. Our approach automatically populates virtual contents in real-world environments to deliver AR stories, which match both the story plots and scene semantics. During the storytelling process, a player can participate as a character in the story. Meanwhile, the behaviors of the virtual characters and the placement of the virtual items adapt to the player's actions. An input raw story is represented as a sequence of events, which contain high-level descriptions of the characters' states, and is converted into a graph representation with automatically supplemented low-level spatial details. Our hierarchical story sampling approach samples realistic character behaviors that fit the story contexts through optimizations; and an animator, which estimates and prioritizes the player's actions, animates the virtual characters to tell the story in AR. Through experiments and a user study, we validated the effectiveness of our approach for AR storytelling in different environments.
MatBuilder
Authors: Paulin Loïs , Bonneel Nicolas , Coeurjolly David , Iehl Jean-Claude , Keller Alexander , Ostromoukhov Victor
Published: July 2022

Many applications ranging from quasi-Monte Carlo integration over optimal control to neural networks benefit from high-dimensional, highly uniform samples. In the case of computer graphics, and more particularly in rendering, despite the need for uniformity, several sub-problems expose a low-dimensional structure. In this context, mastering sampling uniformity over projections while preserving high-dimensional uniformity has been intrinsically challenging. This difficulty may explain the relatively small number of mathematical constructions for such samplers. We propose a novel approach by showing that uniformity constraints can be expressed as an integer linear program that results in a sampler with the desired properties. As it turns out, complex constraints are easy to describe by means of stratification and sequence properties of digital nets. Formalized using generator matrix determinants, our new MatBuilder software solves the set of constraints by iterating the linear integer program solver in a greedy fashion to compute a problem-specific set of generator matrices that can be used as a drop-in replacement in the popular digital net samplers. The samplers created by MatBuilder achieve the uniformity of classic low discrepancy sequences. More importantly, we demonstrate the benefit of the unprecedented versatility of our constraint approach with respect to low-dimensional problem structure for several applications.
Rewriting geometric rules of a GAN
Authors: Wang Sheng-Yu , Bau David , Zhu Jun-Yan
Published: July 2022

Deep generative models make visual content creation more accessible to novice users by automating the synthesis of diverse, realistic content based on a collected dataset. However, the current machine learning approaches miss a key element of the creative process - the ability to synthesize things that go far beyond the data distribution and everyday experience. To begin to address this issue, we enable a user to "warp" a given model by editing just a handful of original model outputs with desired geometric changes. Our method applies a low-rank update to a single model layer to reconstruct edited examples. Furthermore, to combat overfitting, we propose a latent space augmentation method based on style-mixing. Our method allows a user to create a model that synthesizes endless objects with defined geometric changes, enabling the creation of a new generative model without the burden of curating a large-scale dataset. We also demonstrate that edited models can be composed to achieve aggregated effects, and we present an interactive interface to enable users to create new models through composition. Empirical measurements on multiple test cases suggest the advantage of our method against recent GAN fine-tuning methods. Finally, we showcase several applications using the edited models, including latent space interpolation and image editing.
CLIPasso
Authors: Vinker Yael , Pajouheshgar Ehsan , Bo Jessica Y. , Bachmann Roman Christian , Bermano Amit Haim , Cohen-Or Daniel , Zamir Amir , Shamir Ariel
Published: July 2022

Abstraction is at the heart of sketching due to the simple and minimal nature of line drawings. Abstraction entails identifying the essential visual properties of an object or scene, which requires semantic understanding and prior knowledge of high-level concepts. Abstract depictions are therefore challenging for artists, and even more so for machines. We present CLIPasso, an object sketching method that can achieve different levels of abstraction, guided by geometric and semantic simplifications. While sketch generation methods often rely on explicit sketch datasets for training, we utilize the remarkable ability of CLIP (Contrastive-Language-Image-Pretraining) to distill semantic concepts from sketches and images alike. We define a sketch as a set of Bézier curves and use a differentiable rasterizer to optimize the parameters of the curves directly with respect to a CLIP-based perceptual loss. The abstraction degree is controlled by varying the number of strokes. The generated sketches demonstrate multiple levels of abstraction while maintaining recognizability, underlying structure, and essential visual components of the subject drawn.