bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triglyceride, fatty acid profile, antioxidant characteristics, vitamins, lipid oxidation and induction period of ice cream produced from cow and Buffalo Milk
Authors: Khan Imran Taj , Nadeem Muhammad , Ullah Rahman , Imran Muhammad
Published: November 2022

In this study, ice creams were produced from cow and buffalo milk using 15% sugar, 13% fat, 11% milk solids not fat, and 0.5% cremodan (TS 39.5%). Triglycerides from C26 to C36 were significantly higher in buffalo milk ice cream than cow milk ice cream. Milk type and storage both affected the fatty acid composition of ice cream samples. Concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids in cow and buffalo milk ice cream samples were 24.4% and 29.9%, respectively. Total antioxidant capacity of buffalo milk ice cream was 18% higher than cow milk ice cream. Concentrations of vitamin A and E were significantly higher in buffalo milk ice cream samples. Buffalo milk ice cream had lower peroxide value and higher oxidative stability than cow milk ice cream. Induction period of cow and buffalo milk ice cream was 8.55 h and 10.79 h with no difference in sensory properties of both types of ice creams.

Practical applications

Buffalo milk is widely used for the production of several value‐added dairy products and is the major source of milk in some Asian countries. However, due to limited research work, buffalo milk processing industry could not develop, and buffalo milk based dairy products are not available in markets of these countries. This research work can be helpful for the dairy industries to produce ice cream from buffalo milk at commercial level.
GmFtsH25 overexpression increases soybean seed yield by enhancing photosynthesis and photosynthates
Authors: Wang Li , Yang Yuming , Yang Zhongyi , Li Wenlong , Hu Dezhou , Yu Huilian , Li Xiao , Cheng Hao , Kan Guizhen , Che Zhijun , Zhang Dan , Zhang Hengyou , Wang Hui , Huang Fang , Yu Deyue
Published: November 2022

Increasing plant photosynthetic capacity is a promising approach to boost yields, but it is particularly challenging in C3 crops, such as soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Here, we identified GmFtsH25, encoding a member of the filamentation temperature‐sensitive protein H protease family, as a major gene involved in soybean photosynthesis, using linkage mapping and a genome‐wide association study. Overexpressing GmFtsH25 resulted in more grana thylakoid stacks in chloroplasts and increased photosynthetic efficiency and starch content, while knocking out GmFtsH25 produced the opposite phenotypes. GmFtsH25 interacted with photosystem I light harvesting complex 2 (GmLHCa2), and this interaction may contribute to the observed enhanced photosynthesis. GmFtsH25 overexpression lines had superior yield traits, such as yield per plant, compared to the wild type and knockout lines. Additionally, we identified an elite haplotype of GmFtsH25, generated by natural mutations, which appears to have been selected during soybean domestication. Our study sheds light on the molecular mechanism by which GmFtsH25 modulates photosynthesis and provides a promising strategy for improving the yields of soybean and other crops.
Phenolic glycolipid‐1 of Mycobacterium leprae is involved in human Schwann cell line ST8814 neurotoxic phenotype
Authors: Girardi Karina do Carmo de Vasconcelos , Mietto Bruno Siqueira , dos Anjos Lima Karoline , Atella Geórgia Correa , da Silva Débora Santos , Pereira Antonio Marcos Rodrigues , Rosa Patrícia Sammarco , Lara Flavio Alves
Published: November 2022

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae infection in Schwann cells. Axonopathy is considered a hallmark of leprosy neuropathy and is associated with the irreversible motor and sensory loss seen in infected patients. Although M. leprae is recognized to provoke Schwann cell dedifferentiation, the mechanisms involved in the contribution of this phenomenon to neural damage remain unclear. In the present work, we used live M. leprae to infect the immortalized human Schwann cell line ST8814. The neurotoxicity of infected Schwann cell‐conditioned medium (SCCM) was then evaluated in a human neuroblastoma cell lineage and mouse neurons. ST8814 Schwann cells exposed to M. leprae affected neuronal viability by deviating glial 14C‐labeled lactate, important fuel of neuronal central metabolism, to de novo lipid synthesis. The phenolic glycolipid‐1 (PGL‐1) is a specific M. leprae cell wall antigen proposed to mediate bacterial–Schwann cell interaction. Therefore, we assessed the role of the PGL‐1 on Schwann cell phenotype by using transgenic M. bovis (BCG)‐expressing the M. leprae PGL‐1. We observed that BCG‐PGL‐1 was able to induce a phenotype similar to M. leprae, unlike the wild‐type BCG strain. We next demonstrated that this Schwann cell neurotoxic phenotype, induced by M. leprae PGL‐1, occurs through the protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. Interestingly, the pharmacological inhibition of Akt by triciribine significantly reduced free fatty acid content in the SCCM from M. leprae‐ and BCG‐PGL‐1‐infected Schwann cells and, hence, preventing neuronal death. Overall, these findings provide novel evidence that both M. leprae and PGL‐1, induce a toxic Schwann cell phenotype, by modifying the host lipid metabolism, resulting in profound implications for neuronal loss. We consider this metabolic rewiring a new molecular mechanism to be the basis of leprosy neuropathy.

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Risk factors for stunting in children who are HIV‐exposed and uninfected after Option B+ implementation in Malawi
Authors: Toledo Gabriela , Landes Megan , van Lettow Monique , Tippett Barr Beth A. , Bailey Heather , Crichton Siobhan , Msungama Wezi , Thorne Claire
Published: November 2022

Evidence suggests children HIV‐exposed and uninfected (CHEU) experience poor growth. We analysed child anthropometrics and explored factors associated with stunting among Malawian CHEU. Mothers with HIV and their infants HIV‐exposed were enroled in a nationally representative prospective cohort within the National Evaluation of Malawi's Prevention of Mother‐to‐Child HIV Transmission Programme after Option B+ implementation (2014–2018). Anthropometry was measured at enrolment (age 1–6 months), visit 1 (approximately 12 months), and visit 2 (approximately 24 months). Weight‐for‐age (WAZ) and length‐for‐age (LAZ) z‐scores were calculated using World Health Organization Growth Standards; underweight and stunting were defined as WAZ and LAZ more than 2 standard deviations below the reference median. Multivariable logistic regression restricted to CHEU aged 24 months (±3 months) was used to identify factors associated with stunting. Among 1211 CHEU, 562/1211 attended visit 2, of which 529 were aged 24 months (±3 months) and were included. At age 24 months, 40.4% of CHEU were stunted and/or underweight, respectively. In multi‐variable analysis, adjusting for child age and sex, the odds of stunting were higher among CHEU with infectious disease diagnosis compared to those with no diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio = 3.35 [95% confidence interval: 1.82–6.17]), which was modified by co‐trimoxazole prophylaxis (p = 0.028). Infant low birthweight was associated with an increased odds of stunting; optimal feeding and maternal employment were correlated with reduced odds. This is one of the first studies examining CHEU growth since Option B+. Interventions to improve linear growth among CHEU should address their multi‐faceted health risks, alongside maternal ART prescription, and follow‐up of mother‐child pairs.
Effects of vegetation type differences induced by human disturbance on the nutrition strategy and gut microbiota of Siberian roe deer
Authors: Yuan Zi‐ao , Zhong Lin‐qiang , Du Hai‐rong , Feng Jia‐nan , Liu Xin‐xin , Yuan Hong‐yi , Guo Jin‐hao , Liu Peng , Zhang Ming‐hai
Published: November 2022

The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is a widely distributed ungulate in northeast China. Due to a series of human disturbance activities such as large‐scale forest cutting, deforestation and reclamation, road construction in the past, the appearance and internal structure of forest vegetation in the habitat of Siberian roe have changed significantly. At the same time, Siberian roe population had a series of ecological adaptation responses in the face of such habitat changes. Therefore, two typical vegetation types with differences were selected in the Muling Forest, China. We used nutritional ecology and microbial metagenomic analysis techniques to compare the nutritional selection strategy and the structure and functional characteristics of faecal microbiota of Siberian roe groups in two vegetation types. The results showed that the α diversity of dietary and gut microbes of deer in Natural Forest was higher than that in Plantation Forest. However, the gut microbes of the Plantation Forest group contained more unique enzymes in the functional pathways of carbon metabolism and biosynthesis of amino acids. This study suggests that habitat type is associated with plant community composition, and contributes to changes in the intake proportions of major macronutrients by altering the availability, quality, and composition of certain edible plants. Feeding behaviour may be an important regulatory factor of gut microbiota structure and function of deer. The metabolic function of gut microbiota to different nutrients may affect the microbial community structure. Therefore, our results suggest that the gut microbes of Siberian roe may have coevolved with their diets, and reflect the adaptability of deer populations to environmental changes (e.g., vegetation type). Our study provides new insights into how spatial heterogeneity affects nutrition and microecosystems by describing the interactions among the environment, diet, and symbiotic gut microbes in wild ungulates.
Macroglossia in rapidly progressive inclusion body myositis
Authors: Yamasaki Yoshimune , Mukaino Akihiro , Yamashita Satoshi , Takeuchi Yousuke , Tawara Nozomu , Yoshida Ryoji , Honda Yumi , Yamashita Taro , Kakimoto Asako , Ueyama Hidetsugu , Ando Yukio
Published: November 2022

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a refractory muscle disease characterized by inflammatory and degenerative features in myofibers. Macroglossia is common in systemic amyloid light chain amyloidosis; however, no reports have been published on patients with IBM. We encountered a female patient with clinicopathologically defined IBM who exhibited relatively rapid progression of dysphagia, gait disturbance, and macroglossia. Muscle biopsy demonstrated endomysial mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates, fiber necrosis and regeneration with rimmed vacuoles, and sarcoplasmic inclusions of p62. Tongue biopsy demonstrated fiber degeneration with fatty replacement and fibrosis, nonnecrotic fibers surrounded and invaded by mononuclear cells, and sarcoplasmic dotlike inclusions of p62. Based on the parotid gland, lip, and muscle biopsy, she was diagnosed as having IBM with Sjögren's syndrome. She was treated with steroid pulse and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy followed by oral administration of prednisolone, which resulted in temporary clinical improvement. Macroglossia might be an indicator of immunotherapy effectiveness.
Initial neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio predicts radiation‐induced trismus in parotid gland cancer
Authors: Somay Efsun , Yilmaz Busra , Topkan Erkan , Kucuk Ahmet , Pehlivan Berrin , Selek Ugur
Published: November 2022

Objective

To investigate the link between pretreatment neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio(NLR) and the incidence of radiation‐induced trismus(RIT) in parotid gland cancers(PGC) patients after postoperative radiotherapy(PORT).

Method

Data of PGC patients who had oral examinations before and after PORT were reviewed retrospectively. We comprised patients who had maximum mouth opening (MMO) assessments before and after PORT and complete blood count test on the first day of PORT. MMO of ≤35 mm was considered as RIT. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to search for an ideal NLR threshold value that might be linked to RIT rates.

Results

Fifty‐one patients were included, with a RIT incidence of 15.7%. The NLR cutoff that showed a link with the prevalence of RIT in the ROC curve analysis was 2.7[Area under the curve (AUC):82.0%; sensitivity:87.5%; specificity:74.4%]. The patients were divided into groups based on this value:Group 1: NLR≤2.7 (N = 34) and;NLR >2.7 (N = 17). In comparative analysis, the incidence of RIT was found to be statistically higher in the NLR >2.7 than counterpart (35.2%vs.5.8%;rs:0.79; p < .001). Also, a mean temporomandibular joint dose ≥51.0Gy was linked to increased RIT rates (p < .001).

Conclusion

This study showed that high pre‐PORT NLR levels were a robust and independent predictor of significantly elevated rates of RIT.
A Novel Method of Making Hinges Using a Newly Designed Sharp Rongeur to Enhance Radiological and Clinical Outcomes in French‐Door Cervical Expansive Laminoplasty
Authors: Chen Ningning , Yu Lanzhe , Liu Xizhe , Chen Guoliang , Li Yanrun , Zou Xuenong , He Dacheng , Yang Jiaming , Cui Shangbin , Wang Le , Liu Shaoyu , Wei Fuxin
Published: November 2022

Objective

Although the lamina open angle of making hinges is closely related to the outcomes of French‐door laminoplasty (FDL) for treatment of cervical spondylosis, there have been no methods to predict the lamina open angle preoperatively as yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of predicting the laminal open angle using our newly designed sharp rongeur, and to compare the postoperative outcomes and complications between the methods of making hinges using the newly designed sharp rongeur and the traditional high‐speed micro‐drill during the FDL.

Methods

This was a single‐center retrospective study. Following the approval of the institutional ethics committee, a total of 39 patients (Male: 28; Female: 11) diagnosed with cervical spondylos who underwent FDL in our institution between January 2018 and May 2019 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups based on the method of making hinges (sharp rongeur: 22 cases; high‐speed micro‐drill: 17 cases). The average age at surgery was 59.1 years (range: 16–85 years). The radiological parameters, clinical outcomes, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale score, and the recovery rate of mJOA were recorded and compared between the groups, respectively. The radiological parameters and clinical measurements at pre‐ and post‐operation stages were compared using the paired‐sample t‐test, the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, and the Friedman's test, and variables in the two groups were analyzed using an unpaired Student's t‐test or a Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

The average follow‐up period was 20.4 months (range: 14.0–25.9 months), the postoperative open angle was 60.13° ± 3.69° in the rongeur group with 22.78° ± 4.34° of angular enlargement, which was significantly lower than that of 68.96° ± 1.00° in the micro‐drill group with 32.75° ± 4.22° of angular enlargement (U = 19.000, p < 0.001). The rongeur group showed a higher fusion rate (34.1% vs 14.7%, χ2 = 11.340, p = 0.001), and a lower fracture rate of the lamina (7.8% vs 25.5%, χ2 = 14.185, p < 0.001) at 1‐month post‐surgery, compared to the micro‐drill group. There were no significant differences in the clinical outcomes and postoperative complications between the two groups (p > 0.05), except in the recovery rate of mJOA scores (0.836 ± 0.138 vs 0.724 ± 0.180, U = 115.000, p = 0.042) and neck disability index (NDI) at the final follow‐up (7.55 ± 10.65 vs 14.71 ± 8.72, U = 94.000, p = 0.008).

Conclusions

The special sharp rongeur with a tip angle of 20° could be a preferred method to make hinges during FDL, which can predict the laminal open angle accurately and enlarge it to about 23°, thus reducing the fracture rate and accelerating the bony fusion of hinges compared with the outcomes of the traditional micro‐drill method.
Fish disease and intestinal microbiota: A close and indivisible relationship
Authors: Medina‐Félix Diana , Garibay‐Valdez Estefanía , Vargas‐Albores Francisco , Martínez‐Porchas Marcel
Published: November 2022

The gut microbiota is currently one of the most studied ‘organs’ in animals, and fish are no exception. A complex diversity of microbes, including bacteria, archaea, yeast and fungus, constitute the gut microbiota, creating a complex interaction with their host and accomplishing multiple beneficial functions, such as food digestion, nutrient absorption, immune system, endocrine and stress response. The microbiota–pathogen interaction protects the host by mounting colonization resistance, competing for nutrients and space. Changes in the balance of the microbiota community could affect their structure and homeostasis, inducing dysbiosis. In addition, invading pathogens can induce dysbiosis by evading the host's defence barriers, acquiring nutrients from the fish host, using metabolites produced by the microbiota and producing toxins. In this regard, understanding the interactions within the fish gut microbiota is essential to prevent pathogen establishment in the host. Hence, this review describes the close and indivisible relationships and interactions between gut microbiota and pathogens that could lead to dysbiosis and disease.
Monetary Incentives and Early Initiation of Antenatal Care: A Matched‐Pair, Parallel Cluster‐Randomized Trial in Zambia
Authors: Chama‐Chiliba Chitalu Miriam , Hangoma Peter , Cantet Natalia , Funjika Patricia , Koyi Grayson , Alzúa Maria Laura
Published: November 2022

Monetary incentives are often used to increase the motivation and output of health service providers. However, the focus has generally been on frontline health service providers. Using a cluster randomized trial, we evaluate the effect of monetary incentives provided to community‐based volunteers on early initiation of antenatal care (ANC) visits and deliveries in health facilities in communities in Zambia. Monetary incentives were assigned to community‐based volunteers in treatment sites, and payments were made for every woman referred or accompanied in the first trimester of pregnancy during January–June 2020. We find a significant increase of about 32 percent in the number of women completing ANC visits in the first trimester but no effect on service coverage rates. The number of women accompanied by community‐based volunteers for ANC in the first trimester increased by 33 percent. The number of deliveries in health facilities also increased by 22 percent. These findings suggest that the use of health facilities during the first trimester of pregnancy can be improved by providing community‐based volunteers with monetary incentives and that such incentives can also increase deliveries in health facilities, which are key to improving the survival of women and newborns.
Differences in the coordination and its variability among foot joints during running in neutral foot and flatfoot
Authors: Takabayashi Tomoya , Edama Mutsuaki , Inai Takuma , Kubo Masayoshi
Published: November 2022

Flatfoot is a well‐known foot deformity, with a prevalence of 11.2%–29.0% among adults. Running injuries can occur in individuals with flatfoot; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We investigated the coordination pattern and variability among foot joints while running by comparing participants with neutral foot and with flatfoot. Participants with neutral foot (n = 15) and flatfoot (n = 15) were asked to run at their preferred speed. Using the modified vector coding technique, the coupling angle between the foot joints, representing interjoint coordination, was calculated and categorized into four coordination patterns. The standard deviation of the coupling angle was computed to measure the coordination variability during the stance phase. There were no differences in the spatiotemporal parameters (speed, step length, and cadence) between the groups. In the sagittal rearfoot and sagittal midfoot coordination patterns, the flatfoot group showed a significantly greater proportion of anti‐phase with proximal dominancy and a lower proportion of in‐phase with proximal dominancy than the neutral foot group during early stance. Coordination variabilities between the sagittal rearfoot and sagittal midfoot (midstance), between the sagittal midfoot and sagittal forefoot (early stance), and between the frontal rearfoot and sagittal midfoot (midstance) were greater in the flatfoot group than in the neutral foot group. This may explain why those with flatfoot are likely to experience running injuries.
Overconfident, resentful, and misinformed: How racial animus motivates confidence in false beliefs
Authors: Benegal Salil , Motta Matt
Published: November 2022

Objective

We examine the role of racial resentment in motivating Americans to express confidence in misinformed beliefs on racialized scientific issues.

Methods

We study survey data from the 2020 American National Election Study. We examine respondents’ endorsement of misinformation on different scientific issues and their reported confidence in these views.

Results

We find that racial resentment plays a strong role in leading Americans to hold confidently misinformed views about highly racialized policy issues (e.g., the occurrence of anthropogenic climate change or the origins of the COVID‐19 pandemic), but not on less racialized issues (e.g., childhood vaccine safety).

Conclusions

Our work underscores the often‐overlooked importance of intergroup attitudes in shaping overconfidence and helps resolve theoretical tensions in the study of misinformation acceptance.
Evolution and Trend of Research on the Hydrogeomorphological Processes on Roads in the Last Decades: a Review
Authors: Antoneli Valdemir , Mazur Jeferson Eslei , Thomaz Edivaldo Lopes , Bednarz João Anésio
Published: November 2022

Over time, roads have become an important study object. Several studies were carried out to understand the importance of roads on the hydrogeomorphological dynamics on hillslopes and watershed. Nonetheless, new gaps and new research methods emerged as research progressed on this subject. Therefore, to understand the evolution and new challenges of research on roads, a bibliographic review was prepared based on 300 articles searched in the Scopus platform considering the last two decades (2001–2010 and 2011–2020). We use keywords that refer to roads in the search field, e.g., soil erosion on roads, delivery rate, bank, rails, highways, abandoned roads, and road rehabilitation. The data were tabulated and separated according to the following themes: data collection method, study purposes, road types, and geographic location. Our main conclusions were a) in the 2000s, around 60% of surveys were carried out on unpaved roads and rural roads, mainly in roadbed features; b) In the 2010, occurred a decentralization on the research on rural roads from mainstream countries as US and Australia to Latin American countries e.g., Brazil and Middle East e.g., Iran; c) the studies in emerging countries, mostly tested known research methods in different landscapes of tropical climate; d) a new research perspective in recent decades have emerged, focusing on the influence of roads on the landscape’s dynamics. Finally, roads are recognized as a humanmade landscape signature and studies about nature and biodiversity conservation, particularly at watershed scale, must considered this anthropogenic feature.
Malaria en la costa pacífica colombiana
Authors: Galindo-Buitrago José Israel , Jiménez Barbosa Wilson Giovanni
Published: November 2022

Objetivo: explorar los factores sociales y de prestación de servicios de salud asociados al fenómeno de la Malaria en la costa pacífica del Departamento de Nariño (CPDN) con base en las vivencias de pacientes, líderes sociales y autoridades del sector salud de este territorio. Materiales y métodos: se realizó una investigación cualitativa empleando como metodología Teoría Fundamentada; la técnica de recolección de datos fue la entrevista en profundidad, las cuales se realizaron en el Municipio de Tumaco – Nariño a 36 personas distribuidas en tres grupos: que habían tenido Malaria, líderes comunitarios de áreas endémicas que hayan realizado trabajo social con Malaria y personal de salud que desempeñe labores directas de atención en Malaria. Resultados: se establecieron cuatro categorías selectivas que expresan la realidad del territorio y dan comprensión al fenómeno, a saber: Historia de un Olvido; Malaria: Realidad Tolerada en la CPDN; Atención en Salud de la Malaria: entre Luces y Sombras y; Tumaco Distrito Especial, Industrial y Biodiverso: ¿Un mejor futuro? Conclusión: la Malaria aun es una “realidad social” del diario vivir de las comunidades de la CPDN. Aceptación dada como resultado del abandono histórico del Estado, quien ausente deja al devenir la salud y la enfermedad de estos grupos humanos. Por lo que, para transformar esta realidad se requiere comprender el fenómeno de la Malaria en esta región del país a partir del entendimiento de la historia y de la realidad social que en ella se vive para poder transformarla.
Revisión narrativa del caso de la vacuna contra el VPH en El Carmen de Bolívar, Colombia (2014-2021)
Authors: Baltar-Moreno Adolfo , Puello-Sarabia Cielo , Carrazco-Delgado Brenda Fernanda
Published: November 2022

Introducción: en 2014 centenares de mujeres adolescentes del municipio rural de El Carmen de Bolívar (Colombia) experimentaron extraños síntomas tras ser vacunadas con Gardasil, una de las vacunas contra el Virus del Papiloma Humano (VPH). Las autoridades sanitarias no hallaron un vínculo causal entre la vacunación y los síntomas, por lo que atribuyeron el fenómeno a una posible reacción psicógena masiva. Las familias de las afectadas rechazaron esta hipótesis. El caso reveló la existencia de una controversia entre la comunidad científica colombiana en torno a la seguridad de la vacuna. La persistencia en el tiempo del problema de salud y su carácter masivo influyeron en un drástico descenso de la cobertura de vacunación, y la Corte Constitucional dictaminó en 2017 el uso obligatorio del consentimiento informado durante el procedimiento de vacunación.
Metodología: se presenta una revisión narrativa de carácter integral actualizada sobre la literatura publicada entre 2014 y 2021. Se realizó una síntesis de la información científica disponible en Medline, Pubmed, Cochrane, Scielo, Redalyc y Google Scholar.
Resultados: fueron identificados 37 textos y se estableció una categorización de análisis en 4 grupos: una posible reacción psicógena masiva, una posible reacción adversa a la vacuna, la necesidad de ampliar el enfoque epistemológico para comprender el fenómeno y una controversia en el campo científico colombiano.
Conclusiones: la revisión evidencia que la aplicación de la vacuna contra el VPH generó un problema de salud pública cuya naturaleza sigue siendo objeto de controversia, debido a una dificultad para identificar un diagnóstico etiológico de los síntomas de las afectadas.
Structure optimization of Spindt-type emitter fabricated by triode high power pulsed magnetron sputtering
Authors: Nakano Takeo , Taniguchi Hyuga , Dei Nanako , Ozawa Makoto , Mian Md. Suruz , Oya Kei , Murakami Katsuhisa , Nagao Masayoshi
Published: November 2022

Spindt-type emitters were fabricated with cavities made of Al/Mo/SiO2 using the triode high power pulsed magnetron sputtering method. We explored the process parameters (gas pressure and voltage of the additional cap electrode) to optimize the sharpness of the emitter shape. We found that the intermediate pressure and voltage were suited to obtain sharp emitters. Further, we elucidated the crucial effect of the cavity dimensions, such as the cavity depth and hole diameter in the cavity ceiling, on the emitter shape. At a cavity depth of 480 nm, the aspect ratio (AR) of the emitter increased monotonously with an increase in the hole diameter. With a large hole diameter (900 nm) and even shallower cavity (380 nm depth), we attempted to reoptimize the process parameters. Consequently, a very sharp emitter cone structure with an AR exceeding 1.3 was obtained. The cap voltage that produced the optimum AR was found to decrease for the larger-hole and shallower-depth cavities. Finally, the applicability of the process for preparing a working emitter is discussed.
Adaptive Regulation in a Stable Performance Environment: Trial-To-Trial Consistency in Cue Sports Performance
Authors: Pan Jing Wen , Kong Pui Wah , Komar John
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to investigate individual trial-to-trial performance in three tests to define adaptive regulation as a key feature of expertise in nine-ball. Thirty-one male players were assigned into the low-skilled (n = 11), intermediate (n = 10), or high-skilled groups (n = 10). The power control, cue alignment, and angle tests were selected to assess participants’ ability to control the power applied in shots, strike the ball straight, and understand the ball paths, respectively. Error distance and correction of error distance were identified for each shot using 2D video analysis. Results of one-way analysis of variance showed that the high-skilled group performed better in two out of the three tests than the other two groups (p = .010 for the cue alignment test; p = .002 for the angle test). However, the adaptation effect represented by the decreased error distances across trials was not observed. Pearson correlation revealed only a few significant correlations between the error distance and its correction within each participant in all tests (p < .05), and hence, the hypothesis that “low correction happened after small error and vice versa” is not supported.
Uncovering the biological basis of control energy: Structural and metabolic correlates of energy inefficiency in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: He Xiaosong , Caciagli Lorenzo , Parkes Linden , Stiso Jennifer , Karrer Teresa M. , Kim Jason Z. , Lu Zhixin , Menara Tommaso , Pasqualetti Fabio , Sperling Michael R. , Tracy Joseph I. , Bassett Dani S.
Published: November 2022

Network control theory is increasingly used to profile the brain’s energy landscape via simulations of neural dynamics. This approach estimates the control energy required to simulate the activation of brain circuits based on structural connectome measured using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, thereby quantifying those circuits’ energetic efficiency. The biological basis of control energy, however, remains unknown, hampering its further application. To fill this gap, investigating temporal lobe epilepsy as a lesion model, we show that patients require higher control energy to activate the limbic network than healthy volunteers, especially ipsilateral to the seizure focus. The energetic imbalance between ipsilateral and contralateral temporolimbic regions is tracked by asymmetric patterns of glucose metabolism measured using positron emission tomography, which, in turn, may be selectively explained by asymmetric gray matter loss as evidenced in the hippocampus. Our investigation provides the first theoretical framework unifying gray matter integrity, metabolism, and energetic generation of neural dynamics.
Unified theory of the anomalous and topological Hall effects with phase-space Berry curvatures
Authors: Verma Nishchhal , Addison Zachariah , Randeria Mohit
Published: November 2022

Spontaneously broken time-reversal symmetry in magnetic materials leads to a Hall response, with a nonzero voltage transverse to an applied current, even in the absence of external magnetic fields. It is common to analyze the Hall resistivity of chiral magnets as the sum of two terms: an anomalous Hall effect arising from spin-orbit coupling and a topological Hall signal coming from skyrmions, which are topologically nontrivial spin textures. The theoretical justification for such a decomposition has long remained an open problem. Using a controlled semiclassical approach that includes all phase-space Berry curvatures, we show that the solution of the Boltzmann equation leads to a Hall resistivity that is just the sum of an anomalous term arising from momentum-space curvature and a topological term related to the real-space curvature. We also present numerically exact results from a Kubo formalism that complement the semiclassical approach.
Microscale mobile surface double layer in a glassy polymer
Authors: Yuan Hailin , Yan Jinsong , Gao Ping , Kumar Sanat K. , Tsui Ophelia K. C.
Published: November 2022

This study examines the origin of the widely different length scales,
h
t
—nanometers to micrometers—that have been observed for the propagation of the near-surface enhanced mobility in glassy polymers. Mechanical relaxations of polystyrene films with thicknesses,
h
, from 5 nm to 186 μm have been studied. For
h
< ~1 μm, the films relaxed faster than the bulk and the relaxation time decreased with decreasing
h
below ~100 nm, consistent with the enhanced dynamics originating from a near-surface nanolayer. For
h
> ~1 μm, a bulk-like relaxation mode emerged, while the fast mode changed to one that extended over ~1 μm from the free surface. These findings evidence that the mobile surface region is inhomogeneous, comprising a nanoscale outer layer and a slower microscale sublayer that relax by different mechanisms. Consequently, measurements probing the enhanced mobility of different mechanisms may find vastly different
h
t
’s as shown by the literature.
Cryo-EM structure of the human sodium-chloride cotransporter NCC
Authors: Nan Jing , Yuan Yafei , Yang Xuemei , Shan Ziyang , Liu Huihui , Wei Feiwen , Zhang Wei , Zhang Yanqing
Published: November 2022

The sodium-chloride cotransporter NCC mediates the coupled import of sodium and chloride across the plasma membrane, playing vital roles in kidney extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure control. Here, we present the full-length structure of human NCC, with 2.9 Å for the transmembrane domain and 3.8 Å for the carboxyl-terminal domain. NCC adopts an inward-open conformation and a domain-swap dimeric assembly. Conserved ion binding sites among the cation-chloride cotransporters and the Na2 site are observed in our structure. A unique His residue in the substrate pocket in NCC potentially interacts with Na1 and Cl1 and might also mediate the coordination of Na2 through a Ser residue. Putative observed water molecules are indicated to participate in the coordination of ions and TM coupling. Together with transport activity assays, our structure provides the first glimpse of NCC and defines ion binding sites, promoting drug development for hypertension targeting on NCC.
Immune checkpoint therapy: Forging ahead
Authors: Sharma Padmanee , Allison James P.
Published: November 2022

Spatiotemporal immune monitoring in clinical trials and reverse translation will help to determine optimal combination immune therapies to cure cancer.
Predominance of Escherichia-Shigella in Gut Microbiome and Its Potential Correlation with Elevated Level of Plasma Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Patients with Tuberculous Meningitis
Authors: Li Shanshan , Guo Jidong , Liu Rongmei , Zhang Fuzhen , Wen Shu’an , Liu Yi , Ren Weicong , Zhang Xuxia , Shang Yuanyuan , Gao Mengqiu , Lu Jie , Pang Yu
Published: November 2022

As the most severe form of tuberculosis, the pathogenesis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is still unclear. Gut microbiota dysbiosis plays an important role in a variety of central nervous system diseases.
Modular Inducible Multigene Expression System for Filamentous Fungi
Authors: Baldin Clara , Kühbacher Alexander , Merschak Petra , Wagener Johannes , Gsaller Fabio
Published: November 2022

In recent years, inducible promoters have gained increasing interest for industrial or laboratory use and have become key instruments for protein expression, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering. Constitutive, high-expressing promoters can be used to achieve high expression yields; however, the continuous overexpression of specific proteins can lead to an unpredictable metabolic burden.
Evaluation of 30-day mortality in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy in a tertiary hospital: a 3-year retrospective survey
Authors: Chatelanat Olivier , Spahr Laurent , Bichard Philippe , Bochatay Laurent , Goossens Nicolas , Bastid Caroline , Frossard Jean-Louis
Published: November 2022

Objective

Despite international guidelines recommendations to use mortality as a quality criterion for gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, recent studies reporting these data are lacking. Our objective was to report death causes and rate following GI endoscopies in a tertiary university hospital.

Design

We retrospectively reviewed all GI procedures made between January 2017 and December 2019 in our tertiary hospital in Switzerland. Data from patients who died within 30 days of the procedure were recorded.

Results

Of 18 233 procedures, 251 patients died within 30 days following 345 (1.89%) procedures (244/9180 gastroscopies, 53/5826 colonoscopies, 23/2119 endoscopic ultrasound, 19/911 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, 6/197 percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomies). Median age was 70 years (IQR 61–79) and 173/251 (68.92%) were male. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5 (IQR 3–7), and 305/345 procedures (88.4%) were undertaken on patients with an ASA score ≥3. Most frequent indications were suspected GI bleeding (162/345; 46.96%) and suspected cancer or tumourous staging (50/345; 14.49%). Major causes of death were oncological progression (72/251; 28.68%), cardiopulmonary failure or cardiac arrest of unkown origin (62/251; 24,7%) and liver failure (20/251; 7.96%). No deaths were caused by complications such as perforation or bleeding.

Conclusions

Progression of malignancies unrelated to the procedure was the leading cause of short-term death following a GI procedure. After improvements in periprocedural care in the last decades, we should focus on patient selection in this era of new oncological and intensive care therapies. Death rate as a quality criterion is subject to caution as it depends on indication, setting and risk benefit ratio.
Cerebral and cognitive modifications in retired professional soccer players: TC-FOOT protocol, a transverse analytical study
Authors: Kepka Sabrina , Lersy François , Godet Julien , Blanc Frederic , Bilger Mathias , Botzung Anne , Kleitz Catherine , Merignac Jeanne , Ohrant Emmanuel , Garnier Franck , Pietra François , Noblet Vincent , Deck Caroline , Willinger Remy , Kremer Stéphane
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. This contact sport carries the risk of exposure to repeated head impacts in the form of subconcussions, defined as minimal brain injuries following head impact, with no symptom of concussion. While it has been suggested that exposure to repetitive subconcussive events can result in long-term neurophysiological modifications, and the later development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the consequences of these repeated impacts remain controversial and largely unexplored in the context of soccer players.

Methods and analysis

This is a prospective, single-centre, exposure/non-exposure, transverse study assessing the MRI and neuropsychological abnormalities in professional retired soccer players exposed to subconcussive impacts, compared with high-level athletes not exposed to head impacts. The primary outcome corresponds to the results of MRI by advanced MRI techniques (diffusion tensor, cerebral perfusion, functional MRI, cerebral volumetry and cortical thickness, spectroscopy, susceptibility imaging). Secondary outcomes are the results of the neuropsychological tests: number of errors and time to complete tests. We hypothesise that repeated subconcussive impacts could lead to morphological lesions and impact on soccer players’ cognitive skills in the long term.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been obtained and the study was approved by the Comité de Protection des Personnes (CPP) No 2021-A01169-32. Study findings will be disseminated by publication in a high-impact international journal. Results will be presented at national and international imaging meetings.

Trial registration number

NCT04903015.
Individual-level and community-level determinants of use of maternal health services in Northwest Ethiopia: a prospective follow-up study
Authors: Zelka Muluwas Amentie , Yalew Alemayehu Worku , Debelew Gurmesa Tura
Published: November 2022

Objective

The use of maternal health services is an important indicator of maternal health and socioeconomic development. Evidence on individual-level and community-level determinants of use of maternal health services in Benishangul Gumuz Region was not well known so far. Hence, this study fills this gap.

Design

A prospective follow-up study

Setting

This study was conducted from March 2020 to January 2021 in Northwest Ethiopia.

Participants

A total of 2198 pregnant women participated in the study.

Main outcome measures

A multistage random sampling technique was used to select study subjects. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews using pretested semistructured questionnaires. Collected data were coded, cleaned and analysed using Stata software. Multilevel regression models were applied to determine individual-level and community-level factors of use of maternal health services.

Results

This study found that the proportions of women who visited recommended antenatal care (ANC), received skilled delivery care and postnatal care (PNC) were 66.1%, 58.3% and 58.6%, respectively. Being rural (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.82, 95% CI 1.35 to 10.78), having information on maternal health services (AOR=2.13, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.75), with a history of pregnancy-related problems (AOR=1.83, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.92) and women with decision-making power (AOR=1.74, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.68) were more likely to attend fourth ANC visits. Similarly, women who attended tertiary school (AOR=4.12, 95% CI 1.49 to 11.33) and who initiated the first ANC visit within 4–6 months of pregnancy (AOR=0.66, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.96) were determinants of skilled delivery care. Finally, women whose partners attended tertiary education (AOR=3.67, 95% CI 1.40 to 9.58), women with decision-making power (AOR=1.8, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.97), women who attended the fourth ANC visit (AOR=10.8, 95% CI 6.79 to 17.2), women received iron–folic acid during pregnancy (AOR=1.96, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.49) and women who received skilled delivery care (AOR=1.63, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.42) were more likely to get PNC services.

Conclusion

The proportion of women who attended ANC, received skilled delivery services and PNCs was low. Different individual-level and community-level factors that influenced the use of these services were discovered. Therefore, community-based interventions should target those identified factors to improve maternal health services.
Prospective cohort study of prevention of mother to child transmission of hepatitis B infection and 9 months follow-up of hepatitis B-exposed infants at Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Authors: Ndububa Dennis , Kuti Oluwafemi , Awowole Ibraheem , Adekanle Olusegun , Ijarotimi Oluwasegun , Makinde Olufemiwa , Adeyemi Adebanjo , Anyabolu Chineme , Ijadunola Macellina
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is central to WHO’s target of reducing hepatitis B infection in children to <0.1% by 2030. While Nigeria accounts for 8.3% of the global burden, interventional studies on prevention of MTCT of HBV are hardly available. This study aimed to assess the impact of prevention of MTCT interventions on vertical transmission of HBV among pregnant women in Nigeria.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

A University Teaching Hospitals Complex in Nigeria between 2015 and 2021.

Participants

10 866 pregnant women and their pre-existing children.

Interventions

Eligible pregnant women were screened for HBsAg using chromatographic immunoassay (Micropoint, USA). HbsAg-positive women had HBV serological assay done and their pre-existing children were screened. Women with HBV DNA ≥2 00 000 IU/mL and those positive for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) had 300 mg/day of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) in the third trimester. The newborns had hepatitis B vaccinesand HB immunoglobulin (HBIG) administered, followed by testing for HBsAg at 9 months postnatally.

Primary outcome measures

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection in pregnancy, and the incidence of MTCT of HBV.

Results

Overall, 395 women had chronic HBV infection, giving a prevalence of 3.64%. Their mean age was 31.51±5.71 years, with a median parity of 1.2. Thirteen women (5.2%) were positive for HBeAg, seven (3.1%) of the 225 pre-existing hepatitis B-exposed children were HbsAg positive and 17 women had prenatal TDF. Overall, 376 women completed the study, with mean birth weight of 3.21±1.86 kg and perinatal mortality rate of 29.2/1000 births. Hepatitis Bvaccine-HBIG combination was administered to 260 newborns, while the others had hepatitis B vaccine alone. All the children tested negative to the HbsAg at 9 months.

Conclusion

Eliminating MTCT of HBV infection through validated protocols in low and middle income countries with the highest burden of chronic HBV infections is feasible. National scale-up of such protocols is recommended.
Retrospective study on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on patients with type 2 diabetes in Northern Jordan
Authors: Alyahya Mohammad S , Okour Nadeen Saeed , Khader Yousef , Al‐sheyab Nihaya
Published: November 2022

Objective

During COVID-19 pandemic, complete lockdown of cities was one of the measures implemented by governments worldwide. Lockdown had a significant impact on people’s lifestyles and access and utilisation of health services. This study aimed to assess the impact of the lockdown on glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design and setting

This was a retrospective study, electronic medical records at a leading University Hospital in Northern Jordan were used to extract study data.

Participants

All outpatients with T2DM.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose and lipid profile for patients with T2DM, 6 months before and 6 months after the full COVID-19 lockdown.

Results

A total of 639 patients (289 (45.2%) males and 350 (54.8%) females) were included in this study. Their age ranged from 18 to 91 years, with a mean (SD) of 59.9 (13.8) years. The overall means of HbA1c (8.41 vs 8.20, <0.001), high-density lipoprotein (1.16 vs 1.12, <0.001), low-density lipoprotein (2.81 vs 2.49, <0.001) and total cholesterol (4.45 vs 4.25, p<0.001) levels were significantly higher in the period before lockdown compared with the period after the lockdown. However, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels were not affected significantly after the lockdown.

Conclusions

The glycaemic control and lipid profile had significantly improved after COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The availability of medication and medical advice delivery systems (monthly medicine deliveries) during the lockdown in Jordan might have positive impact on patients with diabetes.