bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated classification of ulcerative lesions in small intestine using densenet with channel attention and residual dilated blocks
Authors: Guo Xudong , Xu Lei , Liu Zhang , Hao Youguo , Wang Peng , Zhu Huiyun , Du Yiqi
Published: February 2024

Objective. Ulceration of the small intestine, which has a high incidence, includes Crohn’s disease (CD), intestinal tuberculosis (ITB), primary small intestinal lymphoma (PSIL), cryptogenic multifocal ulcerous stenosing enteritis (CMUSE), and non-specific ulcer (NSU). However, the ulceration morphology can easily be misdiagnosed through enteroscopy. Approach. In this study, DRCA-DenseNet169, which is based on DenseNet169, with residual dilated blocks and a channel attention block, is proposed to identify CD, ITB, PSIL, CMUSE, and NSU intelligently. In addition, a novel loss function that incorporates dynamic weights is designed to enhance the precision of imbalanced datasets with limited samples. DRCA-Densenet169 was evaluated using 10883 enteroscopy images, including 5375 ulcer images and 5508 normal images, which were obtained from the Shanghai Changhai Hospital. Main results. DRCA-Densenet169 achieved an overall accuracy of 85.27% ± 0.32%, a weighted-precision of 83.99% ± 2.47%, a weighted-recall of 84.36% ± 0.88% and a weighted-F1-score of 84.07% ± 2.14%. Significance. The results demonstrate that DRCA-Densenet169 has high recognition accuracy and strong robustness in identifying different types of ulcers when obtaining immediate and preliminary diagnoses.
Light curve modeling of the two short period eclipsing binaries ATO J009.3383 + 34.2329 and CRTS J004004.7 + 385531
Authors: Darwish Mohamed S , Abdelkawy Ali G A
Published: February 2024

In this study, we present a detailed photometric analysis of two short-period eclipsing binary systems, ATOJ009.3383 + 34.2329 and CRTSJ004004.7 + 385531. The photometric data for our analysis was obtained from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) catalogue at gri filters and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) database. Based on our analysis, we classify both systems as W Uma-type binaries, with A-subtype. To estimate the physical and geometrical parameters of these systems, we employ the PHEOBE code. This results in two totally eclipsing systems with degree of inclination (i) of around 68 and 88 deg, respectively. The ATOJ009.3383 + 34.2329 indicates a low mass ratio (q) binary with q = 0.107, while CRTSJ004004.7 + 385531 exhibits a moderate q value of 0.545. A cool spot on the surface of the secondary star of CRTSJ004004.7 + 385531 with a 30% cooler atmosphere of the surrounding surface is detected. This is explained by magnetic activity on the surface of CRTSJ004004.7 + 385531. Our findings reveal overcontact fill-out factor f with 54 and 52% for ATOJ009.3383 + 34.2329 and CRTSJ004004.7 + 385531, respectively. In addition to the light curve modeling, we calculate new epochs and ephemeris for both binary systems. The absolute parameters for the two systems are estimated. Eventually, the systems’ evolutionary status along ZAMS and TAMS are discussed.
Tackling the inverse problem in ellipsometry: analytic expressions for supported coatings with nonuniform refractive index profiles in the thin film and weak contrast limits
Authors: Toomey Ryan G
Published: February 2024

Ellipsometry is a powerful tool for the evaluation of the refractive index profile of a film or coating supported on a solid substrate. A well-acknowledged problem, however, is the inverse problem: Given a set of data, under what conditions can a refractive index profile be determined unambiguously? To this end, a series expansion of the Abeles matrix method has been applied to an arbitrary refractive index profile to determine analytic expressions of the ellipsometric ratio

ρ
.

Two types of expressions are found: The thin film limit in which the film thickness L is much less than the wavelength of the incident light beam (

L
≪
λ

) and the weak contrast limit in which the refractive index of the coating is very near the refractive index of the supporting substrate. In the thin film limit, the first two terms in the series expansion are relatively straight-forward, and they depend on two types of integrals involving the difference between the dielectric profile of the coating and the dielectric constant of the substrate. While higher order terms are possible, they are quite convoluted and do not assist in the inverse problem. In the weak contrast limit, however, the series expansion of

ρ

depends on the moments of the difference between the dielectric profile of the coating and the dielectric constant of the substrate, allowing an analytic expression that applies to coatings that are even much larger than the incident light beam. The expressions associated with both limits are verified through comparison to the numerical evaluation of

ρ

with the Abeles matrix method. The results demonstrate that through judicious selection of the substrate refractive index and incident wavelength, conditions can be created that permit critical insights into the inverse problem for either thin coatings or for coatings that are very near the refractive index of the substrate.
Excited state dynamics of P-H···H-B and P-H···H-Si hydride-hydride interactions and potential dehydrogenation reactions in frustrated lewis pair
Authors: Yang Yonggang , Zhang Xiaohe , Ding Lina , Liu Yang , Guan Tiantian , Liu Yufang
Published: February 2024

Dihydrogen interactions plays a crucial role in frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) strategy and promotes dehydrogenation reactions due to its low directionality and saturability. This work focuses on the excited-state dynamics of the P-H···H-B and P-H···H-Si intramolecular hydride-hydride interactions in 4-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-borane-5-dimesitylphosphino-9,9-dimethylxanthine (FPB-MP-MX) and 5-dimethylsilyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene-4-yl-diphenylphosphonium cation (MSi-PP-MX), respectively. The interaction between B-H, C-H and π electron of benzene ring are also considered. Upon photoexcitation to the first singlet (S1) state, the P-H···H-B of FPB-MP-MX and the P-H···H-Si of MSi-PP-MX are both strengthened, while B-H···π and C−H···π interaction are all weakened. These changes are induced by the charge transfer from the 9,9-dimethyl-xanthene moiety to the electron-deficient phosphorus cation and mesitylene group, which are demonstrated by the molecule orbital, electron–hole, and charge analysis. In addition, the potential energy curve of FPB-MP-MX scanned the P-H···H-B shows low energy barriers of 20.68 kcal mol−1 in the S0 state, implying the potential dehydrogenation reaction with lower energy of hydrogen product. In contrast to FPB-MP-MX, the potential energy curve of MSi-PP-MX scanned the P-H···H-Si has large energy barrier of 42.66 kcal mol−1 in the S0 state and 32.01 kcal mol−1 in the S1 state, which demonstrates the difficulty of dehydrogenation reaction. This works presents reasonable interpretation on the dynamics changes of dihydrogen bonding and dehydrogenation reaction of frustrated Lewis pairs upon photoexcitation.
Vector dark matter production during inflation and reheating
Authors: Cembranos Jose A.R. , Garay Luis J. , Parra-López Álvaro , Sánchez Velázquez Jose M.
Published: February 2024

Gravitational particle production of spectator fields due to the expansion universe during the inflationary and reheating phases of the early universe is of particular interest in the context of dark matter, since it allows to constrain the properties of the dark candidate by comparing the density of particles produced with the observed dark matter abundance. In such processes, tachyonic instabilities arise as a consequence of the coupling to the curvature, greatly enhancing mode production. In this work, we consider a massive vector field that is coupled to the curvature scalar and the Ricci tensor only, and study its gravitational production through inflation and reheating. We show how the mechanism is more efficient than in the case of a non-minimally coupled scalar field, giving rise to larger abundances. Moreover, we analyze the importance of the coupling to the Ricci tensor, which increases tachyonic instabilities in the system, and constrain the mass of the dark particle and the values of the coupling constants by comparing the corresponding abundance with observations.
An Algorithm to Mitigate Charge Migration Effects in Data from the Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph on the James Webb Space Telescope*
Authors: Goudfrooij Paul , Grumm David , Volk Kevin , Bushouse Howard
Published: February 2024

We present an algorithm that mitigates the effects of charge migration due to the “brighter-fatter effect” (BFE) that occurs for highly illuminated stars in the Teledyne HAWAII-2RG detectors used in the NIRCam, NIRISS, and NIRSpec science instruments aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The impact of this effect is most significant for photometry and spectrophotometry of bright stars in data for which the point-spread function (PSF) is undersampled, which is the case for several observing modes of the NIRISS instrument. The main impact of BFE to NIRISS data is incorrect count rate determinations for pixels in the central regions of PSFs of bright stars due to jump detections that are caused by charge migration from peak pixels to surrounding pixels. The effect is especially significant for bright compact sources in resampled, distortion-free images produced by the drizzle algorithm: quantitatively, apparent flux losses of >50% can occur in such images due to BFE. We describe the algorithm of the “charge_migration” mitigation step that has been implemented in version 10.0 of the operational JWST calibration pipeline as of 2023 December 5. We illustrate the impact of this step in terms of the resulting improvements of the precision of imaging photometry of point sources. The algorithm renders the effects of BFE on photometry and surface brightness measurements to stay within 1%.
Transport properties of Hall-type quantum states in disordered bismuthene
Authors: Zhou 周 Jiaojiao 娇娇 , Yu 余 Jiangying 江应 , Cheng 成 Shuguang 淑光 , Jiang 江 Hua 华
Published: February 2024

Bismuthene, an inherently hexagonal structure characterized by a huge bulk gap, offers a versatile platform for investigating the electronic transport of various topological quantum states. Using nonequilibrium Green’s function method and Landauer–Büttiker formula, we thoroughly investigate the transport properties of various Hall-type quantum states, including quantum spin Hall (QSH) edge states, quantum valley Hall kink (QVHK) states, and quantum spin–valley Hall kink (QSVHK) states, in the presence of various disorders. Based on the exotic transport features, a spin–valley filter, capable of generating a highly spin- and valley-polarized current, is proposed. The valley index and the spin index of the filtered QSVHK state are determined by the staggered potential and the intrinsic spin–orbit coupling, respectively. The efficiency of the spin–valley filter is supported by the spacial current distribution, the valley-resolved conductance, and the spin-resolved conductance. Compared with a sandwich structure for QSVHK, our proposed spin–valley filter can work with a much smaller size and is more accessible in the experiment.
Manipulating the electron dynamics in the non-sequential double ionization process of Ar atoms by an orthogonal two-color laser field
Authors: Wang 王 Pengzhao 鹏昭 , Qian 钱 Lijie 丽洁 , Sun 孙 Zhenrong 真荣 , Yang 杨 Yan 岩
Published: February 2024

Electron dynamics during non-sequential double ionization (NSDI) is one of the most attractive areas of research in the field of laser–atom or laser–molecule interaction. Based on the classic two-dimensional model, we study the process of NSDI of argon atoms driven by a few-cycle orthogonal two-color laser field composed of 800 nm and 400 nm laser pulses. By changing the relative phase of the two laser pulses, a localized enhancement of NSDI yield is observed at 0.5π and 1.5π, which could be attributed to a rapid and substantial increase in the number of electrons returning to the parent ion within extremely short time intervals at these specific phases. Through the analysis of the electron–electron momentum correlations within different time windows of NSDI events and the angular distributions of emitted electrons in different channels, we observe a more pronounced electron–electron correlation phenomenon in the recollision-induced ionization (RII) channel. This is attributed to the shorter delay time in the RII channel.
Fully spin-polarized, valley-polarized and spin-valley-polarized electron beam splitters utilizing zero-line modes in a three-terminal device
Authors: Lü 吕 Xiao-Long 小龙 , Yang 杨 Jia-En 加恩 , Xie 谢 Hang 航
Published: February 2024

Topological zero-line modes (ZLMs) with spin and valley degrees of freedom give rise to spin, valley and spin-valley transport, which support a platform for exploring quantum transport physics and potential applications in spintronic/valleytronic devices. In this work, we investigate the beam-splitting behaviors of the charge current due to the ZLMs in a three-terminal system. We show that with certain combinations of ZLMs, the incident charge current along the interface between different topological phases can be divided into different polarized currents with unit transmittance in two outgoing terminals. As a result, fully spin-polarized, valley-polarized and spin-valley-polarized electron beam splitters are generated. The mechanism of these splitters is attributed to the cooperative effects of the distribution of the ZLMs and the intervalley and intravalley scatterings that are modulated by the wave-vector mismatch and group velocity mismatch. Interestingly, half-quantized transmittance of these scatterings is found in a fully spin-valley-polarized electron beam splitter. Furthermore, the results indicate that these splitters can be applicable to graphene, silicene, germanene and stanene due to their robustness against the spin–orbit coupling. Our findings offer a new way to understand the transport mechanism and investigate the promising applications of ZLMs.
Quantification of active layer depth at multiple scales in Interior Alaska permafrost
Authors: Brodylo David , Douglas Thomas A , Zhang Caiyun
Published: February 2024

Much of Interior Alaska is underlain by permafrost that has been thawing at an unprecedented rate. Top-down expansion of the seasonally thawed ‘active layer’ and development of thermokarst features are increasing across the landscape. This can be attributed primarily due to a warming climate and disturbances like wildfires which have accelerated summer season permafrost thaw. Quantification of active-layer thickness (ALT) is critical to understanding the response of permafrost terrains to these disturbances. ALT measurements are time consuming, and point based. As a result, there are large uncertainties in ALT estimates at regional/global scales (100 km2 or larger) using field scale (1 m2) measurements as direct inputs for calibrating/validating large scale process-based or statistical/empirical models. Here we developed a framework to link field scale ALT measurements with satellite observations to a regional scale (100 km2) via an intermediary upscaling of field scale ALT to the local scale (1 km2) with fine-resolution airborne hyperspectral and light detection and ranging data, thus leading to a characterization of ALT across space and time at multiple scales. We applied an object-based machine learning ensemble approach to upscale field scale (1 m2) measurements to the local (1 km2) and regional scale (100 km2) and achieved encouraging results across three permafrost experimental sites in Interior Alaska that represent a variety of terrain types. Our study demonstrates that generating local scale data products is an effective approach to bridge the gap with field scale measurements and regional scale estimations as it seeks to reduce upscaling uncertainty.
Half a Century of Controversy: The Neutralist/Selectionist Debate in Molecular Evolution
Authors: Galtier Nicolas
Published: February 2024

The neutral and nearly neutral theories, introduced more than 50 yr ago, have raised and still raise passionate discussion regarding the forces governing molecular evolution and their relative importance. The debate, initially focused on the amount of within-species polymorphism and constancy of the substitution rate, has spread, matured, and now underlies a wide range of topics and questions. The neutralist/selectionist controversy has structured the field and influences the way molecular evolutionary scientists conceive their research.
Divergent Evolutionary Rates of Primate Brain Regions as Revealed by Genomics and Transcriptomics
Authors: Zhuang Xiao-Lin , Shao Yong , Chen Chun-Yan , Zhou Long , Yao Yong-Gang , Cooper David N , Zhang Guo-Jie , Wang Wen , Wu Dong-Dong
Published: February 2024

Although the primate brain contains numerous functionally distinct structures that have experienced diverse genetic changes during the course of evolution and development, these changes remain to be explored in detail. Here we utilize two classic metrics from evolutionary biology, the evolutionary rate index (ERI) and the transcriptome age index (TAI), to investigate the evolutionary alterations that have occurred in each area and developmental stage of the primate brain. We observed a higher evolutionary rate for those genes expressed in the non-cortical areas during primate evolution, particularly in human, with the highest rate of evolution being exhibited at brain developmental stages between late infancy and early childhood. Further, the transcriptome age of the non-cortical areas was lower than that of the cerebral cortex, with the youngest age apparent at brain developmental stages between late infancy and early childhood. Our exploration of the evolutionary patterns manifest in each brain area and developmental stage provides important reference points for further research into primate brain evolution.
Nodular fasciitis of the orbit: rapid growth phase post iatrogenic incisional trauma
Authors: McBurney Caroline , Zhang Susan , Morris Sharon
Published: February 2024

Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, reactive, myofibroblastic proliferative solitary lesion that commonly develops in the subcutaneous or superficial fascia. We present a case of a 35-year-old male with a rapidly enlarging upper eyelid mass postiatrogenic incisional trauma. Subsequent en toto excisional biopsy demonstrated NF. Given the rapid clinical course of this patient and the reactive nature of NF, we hypothesize that the initial incisional trauma likely incited an inflammatory response resulting in rapid proliferation and growth of the lesion. NF accounts for <1% of all orbital lesions, and is often a clinically and pathologically difficult diagnosis to make given its propensity to mimic other benign and malignant conditions. Therefore, we recommend that en toto biopsies of orbital lesions in this anatomical area be performed rather than incisional biopsies.
Unexpected pancreatic mixed neuroendocrine-nonneuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNEN)—reflection on a case report
Authors: Baía Catarina Alexandra Quintas , Sousa Alexandre , Sousa Fernanda , Santos Pedro , Varelas Ana Isabel , Afonso Luís Pedro , Monteiro Joana , Fernandes José Manuel , Santos Lúcio Lara , Abreu de Sousa Joaquim
Published: February 2024

The authors present a case involving a 51-year-old male who was diagnosed with a 4-cm mass in the body of the pancreas, initially suspected to be a ductal adenocarcinoma due to an elevated Ca 19.9 during routine analysis. Subsequent imaging studies confirmed a resectable disease without suspicious lymph nodes or distant metastasis, leading to the proposal of surgery. The patient underwent a laparoscopic distal splenopancreatectomy, which was uneventful. The histopathological examination revealed a 3.7-cm pancreatic mixed neuroendocrine neoplasia (MiNEN) with a predominant high-grade ductal adenocarcinoma component and a concurrent high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma, with negative margins. Two lymph node metastases were identified, each representing metastasis of one of the components. The tumor was classified as pT2N1M0. Currently, the patient is undergoing chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX. This case prompts reflection on the optimal treatment strategy for pancreatic MiNEN and raises the question of how the preoperative diagnosis could influence the patient’s outcome.
Pain memory in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis with a meta-regression
Authors: Cuenca-Martínez Ferran , Herranz-Gómez Aida , Varangot-Reille Clovis , Bajcar Elżbieta A. , Adamczyk Wacław M. , Suso-Martí Luis , Bąbel Przemysław
Published: February 2024

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the accuracy of memory of pain and the variables that may influence it in children with acute, experimental, and chronic pain. We conducted a search in electronic databases from inception to February 11, 2022. Twelve observational studies and 3 randomized controlled studies were included in the study. The main outcome measure was the accuracy of the memory of the pain intensity (experienced/recalled). To compare the outcomes reported by the studies, we calculated the standardized mean difference (SMD) over time for the continuous variables. The overall meta-analysis showed a small effect size in favor of an overestimation of experienced pain intensity (SMD = 0.28). Subanalyzing per pain context, there was a small effect size in favor of overestimation in the clinical context (SMD = 0.33), but there was no evidence of any change in the accuracy of memory of pain in the experimental context (SMD = 0.07). The mean age of the participants and the proportion of girls significantly predicted the accuracy of the memory of pain. The period since the experienced pain measurement, the intensity of expected and recalled fear, trait anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity did not significantly predict the accuracy of the memory of pain. Children showed an overestimation in pain memory between the experienced and recalled intensity of acute pain, especially in a clinical context. Furthermore, only gender and age were predictors of the accuracy of pain memory. These results highlight the relevance of pain memory to medical practice and future research.
Evaluation of three common scoring systems in COVID-19 patients: neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), and C-reactive protein (CRP)
Authors: Safarnezhad Tameshkel Fahimeh , Mandehgar-najafabadi Maryam , Ahmadzadeh Mozhgan , Anoushirvani Aliarash , Alibeik Nazanin , Dini Parisa , Perumal Dhayaneethie , Rahimian Neda , Karbalaie Niya Mohammad Hadi
Published: February 2024

Background:

As SARS-CoV-2 becomes a major global health, the authors aimed to predict the severity of the disease, the length of hospitalization, and the death rate of COVID-19 patients based on The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) criteria, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels to prioritize, and use them for special care facilities.

Methods:

In a retrospective study, 369 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in the ICU from March 2021 to April 2022, were evaluated. In addition to the APACHE II score, several of laboratory factors, such as CRP and NLR, were measured.

Results:

The values of CRP, NLR, and APACHE II scores were significantly higher in hospitalized and intubated patients, as well as those who died 1 month and 3 months after hospital discharge than those in surviving patients. The baseline NLR levels were the strongest factor that adversely affected death in the hospital, death 1 month and 3 months after discharge, and it was able to predict death, significantly.

Conclusion:

CRP, NLR, and APACHE II were all linked to prognostic factors in COVID-19 patients. NLR was a better predictor of disease severity, the need for intubation, and death than the other two scoring tools.
A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis on the use of autologous cartilage in the repair of orbital fractures
Authors: Abukhder Munir , Onions Elizabeth , Flaherty Erin , Tarassoli Sam , Hassan M Ridwanul , Whelan Rhys
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Fractures of the orbit are common injuries within the maxillofacial skeleton, and can often result in restrictions to ocular movement, diplopia, and enophthalmous if herniation of globe content occurs. Various studies have demonstrated the use of autologous cartilage grafts in the reconstruction of orbital fractures.

Methods:

A systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO, and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting for Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Comprehensive electronic search strategies of four databases were developed. Studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria by two independent reviewers.

Results:

Seven thousand one hundred seventy-one articles were identified following a comprehensive literature search. These articles were filtered for relevance and duplication, which reduced the number of articles to 16. A total of 259 patients underwent orbital reconstruction with the use of autologous cartilage. Conchal cartilage was harvested in 148 patients, auricular cartilage in 22 patients, nasoseptal cartilage in 72 patients, and costal cartilage in 17 patients. Thirty, seven, twelve, and four complications were observed in patients where cartilage was harvested from the concha, auricle, nasoseptum and rib, respectively. Most common complications included diplopia (n=23), infra-orbital para/anaesthesia (n=27), and enophthalmos (n=7). No failure of graft or donor site morbidity were observed in the studies.

Conclusion:

Autogenous materials such as cartilage can be used as an alternative for orbital reconstruction. Cartilage was considered by the authors to provide adequate structural support to the orbital contents, and that it was easy to harvest, shape, and position.
Giant endometrial polyp in a post-menopausal woman: a rare case report from Nepal
Authors: Pokhrel Kailash Mani , Pokhrel Popular , Mulmi Utsha , Khanal Kapil , Panthi Anup , Aryal Suraj , Ghimire Asmita
Published: February 2024

Introduction:

Endometrial polyps (EPs) result from the overgrowth of endometrial glands and stroma. Giant endometrial polyps, defined as those exceeding 4 cm, are rare, and their association with phytoestrogen (PE) intake is infrequently reported.

Case presentation:

The authors present a case of a giant endometrial polyp in a 59-year-old post-menopausal woman from Nepal. The patient presented with lower abdominal pain and a history of vaginal spotting. She was not under any drugs or medications, including hormones, but had a regular intake of PE-rich foods. Imaging revealed a giant endometrial polyp and a uterine fibroid. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO) were performed and histopathology examination confirmed the diagnosis of endometrial polyp and fibroid.

Discussion:

In our case, the patient’s increased age and PE-rich diet were identified as potential risk factors for the giant endometrial polyp. Giant endometrial polyps are rare, with limited cases reported to date, often associated with tamoxifen or raloxifene use. Phytoestrogens can exhibit oestrogenic effects, contributing to endometrial polyps. This case emphasizes the importance of further research to explain the relationship between phytoestrogen intake and giant endometrial polyps.

Conclusion:

Giant endometrial polyps are uncommon, and their association with phytoestrogen intake remains underexplored. Clinicians should consider dietary factors in history while evaluating endometrial polyps, and further research is necessary to explore the potential role of phytoestrogens in the development of giant endometrial polyps.
Richard Hader Visionary Leader Award 2023 Visionary Leader Finalist Russell Kaiser
Authors: Carr Donald
Published: February 2024

The following manuscript, selected as a finalist for the 2023 Richard Hader Visionary Leader Award entry, was submitted to Nursing Management in recognition of Russell Kaiser, MSN, BSN, RN, the CNO at The Colony ER Hospital in The Colony, Tex.
Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 Expression in CD163+ Tumor-associated Macrophages in Cancer Gland Rupture Microenvironment
Authors: Baş Yilmaz , Yilmaz Bayram , Acar Serhat Furkan , Karadağ İbrahim
Published: February 2024

In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship among cancer gland rupture microenvironment, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and prognosis in colon adenocarcinoma. A total of 122 patients were diagnosed with colon adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2019. PD-L1+ (clone 22C3) “macrophage scores” in the microenvironment of cancer gland rupture were calculated. The effects of these variables on prognosis were statistically analyzed. CD163+ TAMs were denser in the cancer gland rupture microenvironment. PD-L1+ TAMs were observed in the tumor periphery, and there was a significant difference between the rates of PD-L1 expression in TAMs and survival time (log-rank = 10.46, P = 0.015), clinical stage 2 (P = 0.038), and primary tumor 3 and primary tumor 4 cases (P = 0.004, P = 0.013). The risk of mortality was 4.070 times higher in patients with a PD-L1 expression rate of ≥1% in CD163+ TAMs. High PD-L1 expression in CD163+ TAMs is associated with poor overall survival. Therefore, blocking PD-L1 in CD163+ TAMs can be used as a target for immunotherapy.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists During Electroconvulsive Therapy
Authors: Espinoza Randall T. , Antongiorgi Zarah
Published: February 2024

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are an emerging class of medications transforming the management of diabetes mellitus and obesity, two highly prevalent and chronic medical conditions associated with significant morbidity and posing serious public health concerns. Although generally well tolerated and relatively safe to use, case reports of patients taking these medications while undergoing elective procedures with general anesthesia describe a potential heightened risk of regurgitation and pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents, deriving from the delayed gastric emptying effect of these agents. Based on increased recognition of this risk, the American Society of Anesthesiologists convened a task force to review available data, resulting in the promulgation of a new procedural management guideline for patients on these drugs and undergoing elective procedures with general anesthesia. However, this guideline pertains mostly to procedures and situations that are distinct from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This case report describes the experience of a patient on semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist for obesity, undergoing ECT, provides a general overview of this novel drug class, identifies issues specific to ECT management, and suggests potential adaptations to patient care over different phases of ECT practice.
Endocrine flexibility can facilitate or constrain the ability to cope with global change
Authors: Taff Conor C. , Baldan Davide , Mentesana Lucia , Ouyang Jenny Q. , Vitousek Maren N. , Hau Michaela
Published: February 2024

Global climate change has increased average environmental temperatures world-wide, simultaneously intensifying temperature variability and extremes. Growing numbers of studies have documented phenological, behavioural and morphological responses to climate change in wild populations. As systemic signals, hormones can contribute to orchestrating many of these phenotypic changes. Yet little is known about whether mechanisms like hormonal flexibility (reversible changes in hormone concentrations) facilitate or limit the ability of individuals, populations and species to cope with a changing climate. In this perspective, we discuss different mechanisms by which hormonal flexibility, primarily in glucocorticoids, could promote versus hinder evolutionary adaptation to changing temperature regimes. We focus on temperature because it is a key gradient influenced by climate change, it is easy to quantify, and its links to hormones are well established. We argue that reaction norm studies that connect individual responses to population-level and species-wide patterns will be critical for making progress in this field. We also develop a case study on urban heat islands, where several key questions regarding hormonal flexibility and adaptation to climate change can be addressed. Understanding the mechanisms that allow animals to cope when conditions become more challenging will help in predicting which populations are vulnerable to ongoing climate change.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments’.
Endocrine disruption in teleosts and amphibians is mediated by anthropogenic and natural environmental factors: implications for risk assessment
Authors: Kloas Werner , Stöck Matthias , Lutz Ilka , Ziková-Kloas Andrea
Published: February 2024

Environmental variation in the Anthropocene involves several factors that interfere with endocrine systems of wildlife and humans, presenting a planetary boundary of still unknown dimensions. Here, we focus on chemical compounds and other impacts of anthropogenic and natural origins that are adversely affecting reproduction and development. The main sink of these endocrine disruptors (EDs) is surface waters, where they mostly endanger aquatic vertebrates, like teleost fish and amphibians. For regulatory purposes, EDs are categorized into EATS modalities (oestrogenic, androgenic, thyroidal, steroidogenesis), only addressing endocrine systems being assessable by validated tests. However, there is evidence that non-EATS modalities—and even natural sources, such as decomposition products of plants or parasitic infections—can affect vertebrate endocrine systems. Recently, the disturbance of natural circadian light rhythms by artificial light at night (ALAN) has been identified as another ED. Reviewing the knowledge about EDs affecting teleosts and amphibians leads to implications for risk assessment. The generally accepted WHO-definition for EDs, which focuses exclusively on ‘exogenous substances' and neglects parasitic infections or ALAN, seems to require some adaptation. Natural EDs have been involved in coevolutionary processes for ages without resulting in a general loss of biodiversity. Therefore, to address the ‘One Health’-principle, future research and regulatory efforts should focus on minimizing anthropogenic factors for endocrine disruption.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments’.
Glucocorticoids and land cover: a largescale comparative approach to assess a physiological biomarker for avian conservation
Authors: Alaasam Valentina J. , Behnke Tessa L. , Grant Avery R. , Ouyang Jenny Q.
Published: February 2024

As humans alter landscapes worldwide, land and wildlife managers need reliable tools to assess and monitor responses of wildlife populations. Glucocorticoid (GC) hormone levels are one common physiological metric used to quantify how populations are coping in the context of their environments. Understanding whether GC levels can reflect broad landscape characteristics, using data that are free and commonplace to diverse stakeholders, is an important step towards physiological biomarkers having practical application in management and conservation. We conducted a phylogenetic comparative analysis using publicly available datasets to test the efficacy of GCs as a biomarker for large spatial-scale avian population monitoring. We used hormone data from HormoneBase (51 species), natural history information and US national land cover data to determine if baseline or stress-induced corticosterone varies with the amount of usable land cover types within each species' home range. We found that stress-induced levels, but not baseline, positively correlated with per cent usable land cover both within and across species. Our results indicate that GC concentrations may be a useful biomarker for characterizing populations across a range of habitat availability, and we advocate for more physiological studies on non-traditional species in less studied populations to build on this framework.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments’.
Endocrine responses to environmental variation
Authors: Little Alexander G. , Seebacher Frank
Published: February 2024

Hormones regulate most physiological functions and life history from embryonic development to reproduction. In addition to their roles in growth and development, hormones also mediate responses to the abiotic, social and nutritional environments. Hormone signalling is responsive to environmental changes to adjust phenotypes to prevailing conditions. Both hormone levels and receptor densities can change to provide a flexible system of regulation. Endocrine flexibility connects the environment to organismal function, and it is central to understanding environmental impacts and their effect on individuals and populations. Hormones may also act as a ‘sensor’ to link environmental signals to epigenetic processes and thereby effect phenotypic plasticity within and across generations. Many environmental parameters are now changing in unprecedented ways as a result of human activity. The knowledge base of organism–environmental interactions was established in environments that differ in many ways from current conditions as a result of ongoing human impacts. It is an urgent contemporary challenge to understand how evolved endocrine responses will modulate phenotypes in response to anthropogenic environmental impacts including climate change, light-at-night and chemical pollution. Endocrine responses play a central role in ecology, and their integration into conservation can lead to more effective outcomes.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments’.
Fish reproduction in a warming world: vulnerable points in hormone regulation from sex determination to spawning
Authors: Lema Sean C. , Luckenbach J. Adam , Yamamoto Yoji , Housh Madeline J.
Published: February 2024

Reproduction in fishes is sensitive to temperature. Elevated temperatures and anomalous ‘heat waves’ associated with climate change have the potential to impact fish reproductive performance and, in some cases, even induce sex reversals. Here we examine how thermal sensitivity in the hormone pathways regulating reproduction provides a framework for understanding impacts of warmer conditions on fish reproduction. Such effects will differ depending on evolved variation in temperature sensitivity of endocrine pathways regulating reproductive processes of sex determination/differentiation, gametogenesis and spawning, as well as how developmental timing of those processes varies with reproductive ecology. For fish populations unable to shift geographical range, persistence under future climates may require changes in temperature responsiveness of the hormone pathways regulating reproductive processes. How thermal sensitivity in those hormone pathways varies among populations and species, how those pathways generate temperature maxima for reproduction, and how rapidly reproductive thermal tolerances can change via adaptation or transgenerational plasticity will shape which fishes are most at risk for impaired reproduction under rising temperatures.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments’.
Myceligenerans pegani sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from Peganum harmala L. in Xinjiang, PR China
Authors: Li Xin , Yao YuXiang , Xia Zhanfeng , Luo XiaoXia , Zhang LiLi
Published: February 2024

An endophytic actinomycete designated TRM65318T, was isolated from the root of Peganum harmala L. Its taxonomic status was determined using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain TRM65318T is phylogenetically most closely related to Myceligenerans salitolerans XHU 5031T (98.15 %) and Myceligenerans xiligouense DSM 15700T (97.78 %). The peptidoglycan belonged to type A4α. The polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unknown lipids and three glycolipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6) and the whole-cell sugars contained glucose, mannose and galactose. Major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. Strain TRM65318T had a genome size of 5881012 bp with a genome G+C content of 71.79 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain TRM65318T and the most closely related species were much lower than the thresholds commonly used to define species. At the same time, differences in phenotypic and genotypic data showed that strain TRM65318T could be clearly distinguished from M. salitolerans XHU 5031T. Therefore, it is concluded that strain TRM65318T represents a novel species of the genus of Myceligenerans. The proposed name for this organism is Myceligenerans pegani sp. nov., with type strain TRM65318T (=CCTCC AA 2019057T=LMG 31679T).
Virus-host coevolutionary analyses of an Alphabaculovirus with a wide host range
Authors: Yang Xiaoqin , Peng Xiaowei , Lei Chengfeng , Min Yuanqin , Hu Jia , Sun Xiulian
Published: February 2024

Baculoviruses are highly host specific, and their host range is usually restricted to a single or a few closely related insect species, except for few virus species, e.g. Alphabaculovirus aucalifonicae and Alphabaculovirus mabrassicae. In this study, two new alphabaculovirus isolates were isolated from the larvae of Mamestra brassicae and Mythimna separata, which were named as Mamestra brassicae multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate QD (MbMNPV-QD) and Mythimna separata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate Hb (MyseMNPV-Hb), respectively. The Kimura two-parameter values based on the concatenated 38 core genes of baculovirus revealed that MbMNPV (isolates QD/CHb1/K1/CTa), MyseMNPV-Hb, Helicoverpa armigera multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearMNPV) and Mamestra configurata nucleopolyhedrovirus B (MacoNPV-B) were different isolates of a same virus species. A phylogenetic tree of baculoviruses and nudiviruses constructed from their 20 homologous gene sequences, and that of their isolated hosts constructed from 13 protein-coding genes of the insect mitochondrial genomes, were used to analyse the coevolution of baculoviruses with their isolated hosts. The results showed that M. brassicae was the most likely ancestral host of these virus isolates, included MbMNPV isolates, MyseMNPV-Hb, HearMNPV, and MacoNPV-B. Therefore, we concluded that these virus isolates belong to the existing virus species – Alphabaculovirus mabrassicae with M. brassicae as their ancestral host.
Efficacy evaluation of anti-DEC-IgY against antibiotic-resistant diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Indhuprakash Srichandrasekar Thuthikkadu , S Panchapakesan , C David Raj , Thirumalai Diraviyam
Published: February 2024

Introduction. The rise of multi-drug-resistant bacteria poses a global threat. In 2017, the World Health Organization identified 12 antibiotic-resistant ‘priority pathogens’, including Enterobacteriaceae, highlighting the menace of Gram-negative bacteria. Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC)-induced diarrhoea is particularly problematic for travellers and infants. In contrast to other antibiotic alternatives, passive immunotherapy is showing promise by providing immediate and precise protection. However, mammalian-sourced antibodies are costly, hindering large-scale production. Egg-laying chicken-derived IgY antibodies present a cost-effective, high-yield solution, revolutionizing antibody-based therapeutics compared to mammalian IgG.

Hypothesis/Gap Statement. This study hypothesized that developing anti-DEC-IgY could combat DEC infections effectively.

Aim. The primary aim was to develop anti-DEC-IgY and assess its potential in DEC-induced diarrhoeal management.

Method. Chickens were immunized with DEC antigens to induce an immune response. IgY antibodies were extracted from immune eggs and purified using ion-exchange column chromatography. Anti-DEC-IgY’s ability to inhibit DEC growth was evaluated through growth inhibition assays. Anti-DEC-IgY’s capacity to prevent E. coli adhesion was assessed using mice intestinal mucosa. In vivo experiments measured pathogen colonization reduction and infection severity reduction. P values were calculated to confirm statistical significance.

Result. The antibacterial efficacy of anti-DEC-IgY by growth inhibition assay demonstrated that 25 mg ml−1 of IgY could inhibit the DEC growth. The anti-adherence-property was tested using mice intestinal mucosa and found that anti-DEC-IgY could prevent the E. coli adhesion. In vivo results suggest that 12 mg ml−1 of IgY will reduce the pathogen colonization in intestine and reduce the severity of the infection. The P values between the experimental groups confirm the statistical significance of the findings.

Conclusion. The study findings suggest that IgY-based passive immunotherapy could be a potential strategy for managing the risks associated with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Additionally, this study paves the way for the development of IgY-related research and applications in India.
Pneumococcal population genomics changes during the early time period of conjugate vaccine uptake in southern India
Authors: Rafiqullah Iftekhar M. , Varghese Rosemol , Hellmann K. Taylor , Velmurugan Aravind , Neeravi Ayyanraj , Kumar Daniel Jones Lionel , Vidal Jorge E. , Kompithra Rajeev Z. , Verghese Valsan P. , Veeraraghavan Balaji , Robinson D. Ashley
Published: February 2024

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of invasive disease of young children in low- and middle-income countries. In southern India, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) that can prevent invasive pneumococcal disease began to be used more frequently after 2015. To characterize pneumococcal evolution during the early time period of PCV uptake in southern India, genomes were sequenced and selected characteristics were determined for 402 invasive isolates collected from children <5 years of age during routine surveillance from 1991 to 2020. Overall, the prevalence and diversity of vaccine type (VT) and non-vaccine type (NVT) isolates did not significantly change post-uptake of PCV. Individually, serotype 1 and global pneumococcal sequence cluster (GPSC or strain lineage) 2 significantly decreased, whereas serotypes 6B, 9V and 19A and GPSCs 1, 6, 10 and 23 significantly increased in proportion post-uptake of PCV. Resistance determinants to penicillin, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, fluoroquinolones and tetracycline, and multidrug resistance significantly increased in proportion post-uptake of PCV and especially among VT isolates. Co-trimoxazole resistance determinants were common pre- and post-uptake of PCV (85 and 93 %, respectively) and experienced the highest rates of recombination in the genome. Accessory gene frequencies were seen to be changing by small amounts across the frequency spectrum specifically among VT isolates, with the largest changes linked to antimicrobial resistance determinants. In summary, these results indicate that as of 2020 this pneumococcal population was not yet approaching a PCV-induced equilibrium and they highlight changes related to antimicrobial resistance. Augmenting PCV coverage and prudent use of antimicrobials are needed to counter invasive pneumococcal disease in this region.