bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the O-Glycoproteome of Tannerella forsythia
Authors: Veith Paul D. , Scott Nichollas E. , Reynolds Eric C.
Published: September 2021

Tannerella forsythia
is an oral pathogen associated with severe forms of periodontal disease characterized by destruction of the tooth’s supporting tissues, including the bone. The bacterium releases a variety of proteins associated with virulence on the surface of outer membrane vesicles.
B Cell Receptor Repertoire Analysis in Malaria-Naive and Malaria-Experienced Individuals Reveals Unique Characteristics of Atypical Memory B Cells
Authors: Braddom Ashley E. , Bol Sebastiaan , Gonzales S. Jake , Reyes Raphael A. , Musinguzi Kenneth , Nankya Felistas , Ssewanyana Isaac , Greenhouse Bryan , Bunnik Evelien M.
Published: September 2021

Malaria, caused by
Plasmodium
parasites, still contributes to a high global burden of disease, mainly in children under 5 years of age. Chronic and recurrent
Plasmodium
infections affect the development of B cell memory against the parasite and promote the accumulation of atypical memory B cells (atMBCs), which have an unclear function in the immune response.
Synovial Fluid-Induced Aggregation Occurs across Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates and is Mechanistically Independent of Attached Biofilm Formation
Authors: Staats Amelia , Burback Peter W. , Eltobgy Mostafa , Parker Dana M. , Amer Amal O. , Wozniak Daniel J. , Wang Shu-Hua , Stevenson Kurt B. , Urish Kenneth L. , Stoodley Paul
Published: September 2021

Bacterial infections of hip and knee implants are rare but devastating complications of orthopedic surgery. Despite a widespread appreciation of the considerable financial, physical, and emotional burden associated with the development of a prosthetic joint infection, the establishment of bacteria in the synovial joint remains poorly understood.
Phenotypic and Genetic Characterization of Flavobacterium psychrophilum Recovered from Diseased Salmonids in China
Authors: Li Shaowu , Chai Jingru , Knupp Christopher , Nicolas Pierre , Wang Di , Cao Yongsheng , Deng Furong , Chen Fuguang , Lu Tongyan , Loch Thomas P.
Published: September 2021

Flavobacterium psychrophilum
causes substantial economic losses in salmonid aquaculture worldwide. Although this bacterium is also believed to be a disease source in China, published reports of its presence do not yet exist.
The Gut Microbiota Protects Bees from Invasion by a Bacterial Pathogen
Authors: Steele Margaret I. , Motta Erick V. S. , Gattu Tejashwini , Martinez Daniel , Moran Nancy A.
Published: September 2021

Bacteria living within guts of animals can provide protection against infection by pathogens. Some pathogens have been shown to use a molecular weapon known as a T6SS to kill beneficial bacteria during invasion of the mouse gut.
Insights into the Lignocellulose-Degrading Enzyme System of
Humicola grisea
var.
thermoidea
Based on Genome and Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Steindorff Andrei Stecca , Serra Luana Assis , Formighieri Eduardo Fernandes , de Faria Fabrícia Paula , Poças-Fonseca Marcio José , de Almeida João Ricardo Moreira
Published: September 2021

Most studies regarding the use of fungi as enzyme producers for biomass deconstruction have focused on mesophile species, whereas the potential of thermophiles has been evaluated less. This study revealed, through genome and transcriptome analyses, the genetic repertoire of the biotechnological relevant thermophile fungus
Humicola grisea
.
Responses of physicians to an objective safety and quality knowledge test: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Burke Harry B , King Heidi B
Published: September 2021

Objective

For physicians to practice safe high quality medicine they must have sufficient safety and quality knowledge. Although a great deal is known about the safety and quality perceptions, attitudes and beliefs of physicians, little is known about their safety and quality knowledge. This study tested the objective safety and quality knowledge of practicing US primary care physicians.

Design

Cross-sectional objective test of safety and quality knowledge.

Setting

Primary care physicians practicing in the USA.

Participants

Study consisted of 518 US practicing primary care physicians who answered an email invitation. Fifty-four percent were family medicine and 46% were internal medicine physicians.The response rate was 66%.

Intervention

The physicians took a 24-question multiple-choice test over the internet.

Outcome

The outcome was the percent correct.

Results

The average number of correct answers was 11.4 (SD, 2.69), 48% correct. Three common clinical vignettes questions were answered correctly by 45% of the physicians. Five common radiation exposures questions were answered correctly by 40% of the physicians. Seven common healthcare quality and safety questions were answered correctly by 43% of the physicians. Seven Donabedian’s model of structure, process and outcome measure questions were answered correctly by 67% of the physicians. Two Institute of Medicine’s definitions of quality and safety questions were answered correctly by 19.5% of the physicians.

Conclusion

Forty-eight per cent of the physicians’ answers to the objective safety and quality questions were correct. To our knowledge, this is the first assessment of the objective safety and quality knowledge of practicing US primary care physicians.
Adolescent alcohol use in Estonia compared with Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden: results from cross-sectional surveys, 2003–2015
Authors: Kudre Daisy , Vorobjov Sigrid , Ringmets Inge , Pärna Kersti
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The aims of the study were (1) to describe trends in the prevalence of monthly alcohol use from 2003 to 2015 and (2) to analyse the associations between alcohol use and family-related and school-related factors, risk behaviours and perceived alcohol availability in Estonia compared with Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden.

Methods

The study used nationally representative data of 15–16-year-old adolescents from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Data from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden collected in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 were utilised (n=57 779). The prevalence of monthly alcohol use including light and strong alcohol use was calculated for each study year. A χ2test for trend was used to evaluate statistically significant changes in alcohol use over the study period. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was used for assessing the association between alcohol use and explanatory factors. Marginal ORs with 95% CIs for each country were calculated.

Results

Monthly alcohol use decreased significantly among boys and girls in all countries from 2003 to 2015. In 2015, the prevalence of monthly alcohol use among boys was 36.1% in Estonia, 44.3% in Latvia, 32.4% in Lithuania, 32.3% in Finland and 22.4% in Sweden. Among girls, it was 39.1%, 45.9%, 35.6%, 31.8% and 29.1%, respectively. In all countries, higher odds of monthly alcohol use were observed among adolescents who skipped school, smoked cigarettes, used cannabis, perceived alcohol to be easy to access and had parents who did not know always/often about their child’s whereabouts on Saturday nights. Compared with Estonia, associations between alcohol use and explanatory factors were similar in Latvia and Lithuania but different in Finland and Sweden.

Conclusion

Results of cross-national comparison of alcohol use and explanatory factors could be effectively used to further decrease alcohol use among adolescents.
Potential solutions for screening, triage, and severity scoring of suspected COVID-19 positive patients in low-resource settings: a scoping review
Authors: Hirner Sarah , Pigoga Jennifer Lee , Naidoo Antoinette Vanessa , Calvello Hynes Emilie J , Omer Yasein O , Wallis Lee A , Bills Corey B
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Purposefully designed and validated screening, triage, and severity scoring tools are needed to reduce mortality of COVID-19 in low-resource settings (LRS). This review aimed to identify currently proposed and/or implemented methods of screening, triaging, and severity scoring of patients with suspected COVID-19 on initial presentation to the healthcare system and to evaluate the utility of these tools in LRS.

Design

A scoping review was conducted to identify studies describing acute screening, triage, and severity scoring of patients with suspected COVID-19 published between 12 December 2019 and 1 April 2021. Extracted information included clinical features, use of laboratory and imaging studies, and relevant tool validation data.

Participant

The initial search strategy yielded 15 232 articles; 124 met inclusion criteria.

Results

Most studies were from China (n=41, 33.1%) or the United States (n=23, 18.5%). In total, 57 screening, 23 triage, and 54 severity scoring tools were described. A total of 51 tools−31 screening, 5 triage, and 15 severity scoring—were identified as feasible for use in LRS. A total of 37 studies provided validation data: 4 prospective and 33 retrospective, with none from low-income and lower middle-income countries.

Conclusions

This study identified a number of screening, triage, and severity scoring tools implemented and proposed for patients with suspected COVID-19. No tools were specifically designed and validated in LRS. Tools specific to resource limited contexts is crucial to reducing mortality in the current pandemic.
Cohort profile: a migratory cohort study of US Marines who train in Australia
Authors: Chan-Cuzydlo Alyssa , Harrison Dustin J , Pike Brian L , Currie Bart J , Mayo Mark , Salvador Mark G , Hulsey William R , Azzarello Joseph , Ellis Jeffrey , Kim Daniel , King-Lewis William , Smith Jessica Nicole , Rodriguez Barbara , Maves Ryan C , Lawler James V , Schully Kevin L
Published: September 2021

Purpose

In 2012, US Marines and Sailors began annual deployments to Australia to participate in joint training exercises with the Australian Defence Force and other partners in the region. During their training, US service members are exposed to a variety of infectious disease threats not normally encountered by American citizens. This paper describes a cohort of US Marines and Sailors enrolled during five rotations to Australia between 2016 and 2020.

Participants

Study participation is strictly voluntary. Group informational sessions are held prior to deployment to describe the study structure and goals, as well as the infectious disease threats that participants may encounter while in Australia. All participants provided written informed consent. Consented participants complete a pre-deployment questionnaire to collect data including basic demographic information, military occupational specialty, travel history, family history, basic health status and personal habits such as alcohol consumption. Blood is collected for serum, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) processing. Data and specimen collection is repeated up to three times: before, during and after deployment.

Findings to date

From the five rotations that comprised the 2016–2020 Marine Rotational Force-Darwin, we enrolled 1289 volunteers. Enrolments during this period were overwhelmingly white male under the age of 24 years. Most of the enrollees were junior enlisted and non-commissioned officers, with a smaller number of staff non-commissioned officers and commissioned officers, and minimal warrant officers. Over half of the enrollees had occupational specialty designations for infantry.

Future plans

In the future, we will screen samples for serological evidence of infection withBurkholderia pseudomallei,Coxiella burnetii, Ross River virus, SARS-CoV-2 and other operationally relevant pathogens endemic in Australia. Antigenic stimulation assays will be performed on PBMCs collected from seropositive individuals to characterise the immune response to these infections in this healthy American population.
Economic burden and loss of quality of life from dry eye disease in Canada
Authors: Chan Clara , Ziai Setareh , Myageri Varun , Burns James G , Prokopich C Lisa
Published: September 2021

Objective

To describe the direct and indirect cost estimates of dry eye disease (DED), stratified by disease severity, and the impact of DED on quality of life (QoL) in Canadian patients.

Methods and analysis

A prospective, multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted at six sites across Canada. Eligible patients completed a 20 min survey on demography, general health, disease severity, QoL and direct (resource utilisation and out-of-pocket expenses for the past 3–24 months) and indirect costs (absenteeism and presenteeism based on Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire responses). Subgroup analyses were performed according to DED severity and presence of Sjögren’s syndrome.

Results

Responses from 146 of 151 participants were included in the analysis. DED was rated as moderate or severe by 19.2% and 69.2% of patients, respectively. Total mean annual costs of DED were $C24 331 (Canadian dollars) per patient and increased with patient-reported disease severity. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) indirect costs for mild, moderate and severe disease were $C5961 ($C6275), $C16 525 ($C11 607), and $C25 485 ($C22,879), respectively. Mean (SD) direct costs were $C958 ($C1216), $C1303 ($C1574) and $C2766 ($C7161), respectively. QoL scores were lowest in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (8.2% of cohort) and those with severe DED.

Conclusion

This study provides important insights into the negative impact of DED in a Canadian setting. Severe DED was associated with higher direct and indirect costs and lower QoL compared with those with mild or moderate disease. Increased costs and poorer QoL were also evident for patients with DED plus Sjögren’s syndrome versus DED alone.
Hybrid type 1 effectiveness/implementation trial of the international Guide for Monitoring Child Development: protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Raut Abhishek , Mustafayev Revan , Srinivasan Roopa , Chary Anita , Ertem Ilgi , Grazioso Maria del Pilar , Gupta Subodh , Krishnamurthy Vibha , Lu Chunling , Maliye Chetna , Miller Ann C , Wagenaar Bradley H , Rohloff Peter
Published: September 2021

Introduction

More than 40% of children under 5 years of age in low-income and middle-income countries are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. The international Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) early intervention package is a comprehensive programme to address developmental difficulties using an individualised intervention plan for young children and their families. We will conduct a hybrid type 1 effectiveness–implementation evaluation of the GMCD intervention in rural India and Guatemala.

Methods and analysis

Using a cluster-randomised design, 624 children aged 0–24 months in 52 clusters (26 in India, 26 in Guatemala) will be assigned to usual care or the GMCD intervention plus usual care delivered by frontline workers for 12 months. After 12 months, the usual care arm will cross over to the intervention, which will continue for 12 additional months (24 total). The intervention will be delivered using a digital mobile device interface. Effectiveness will be assessed for developmental functioning (Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 3rd edition) and nurturing care (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Scale) outcomes. Implementation will be assessed using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework. Explanatory qualitative analysis guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research will explore determinants between clusters with high versus low implementation effectiveness.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and Maya Health Alliance; and by the Indian Council of Medical Research/Health Ministry Screening Committee. Key study findings will be published in international open-access journals.

Trial registration number

NCT04665297, CTRI/2020/12/029748.

Protocol version

1.0 (12 November 2020).
Impact of COVID-19 on opioid use in those awaiting hip and knee arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Farrow Luke , Gardner William T , Tang Chee Chee , Low Rachel , Forget Patrice , Ashcroft George Patrick
Published: September 2021

Background

COVID-19 has had a detrimental impact on access to hip and knee arthroplasty surgery. We set out to examine whether this had a subsequent impact on preoperative opioid prescribing rates for those awaiting surgery.

Methods

Data regarding patient demographics and opioid utilisation were collected from the electronic health records of included patients at a large university teaching hospital. Patients on the outpatient waiting list for primary hip and knee arthroplasty as of September 2020 (COVID-19 group) were compared with historical controls (Controls) who had previously undergone surgery. A sample size calculation indicated 452 patients were required to detect a 15% difference in opioid prescription rates between groups.

Results

A total of 548 patients (58.2% female) were included, 260 in the COVID-19 group and 288 in the Controls. Baseline demographics were similar between the groups. For those with data available, the proportion of patients on any opioid at follow-up in the COVID-19 group was significantly higher: 55.0% (143/260) compared with 41.2% (112/272) in the Controls (p=0.002). This remained significant when adjusted for confounding (age, gender, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, procedure and wait time). The proportion of patients on a strong opioid was similar (4.2% (11/260) vs 4.8% (13/272)) for COVID-19 and Controls, respectively. The median waiting time from referral to follow-up was significantly longer in the COVID-19 group compared with the Controls (455 days vs 365 days; p<0.0001).

Conclusion

The work provides evidence of potential for an emerging opioid problem associated with the influence of COVID-19 on elective arthroplasty services. Viable alternatives to opioid analgesia for those with end-stage arthritis should be explored, and prolonged waiting times for surgery ought to be avoided in the recovery from COVID-19 to prevent more widespread opioid use.
Activated osteoarthritis following immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: an observational study
Authors: Reid Pankti , Liew David FL , Akruwala Rajshi , Bass Anne R , Chan Karmela K
Published: September 2021

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy but can result in toxicities, known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), due to a hyperactivated immune system. ICI-related inflammatory arthritis has been described in literature, but herewith we introduce and characterize post-ICI-activated osteoarthritis (ICI-aOA). We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, observational study of patients with cancer treated with ICIs and diagnosed with ICI-aOA by a rheumatologist. ICI-aOA was defined by (1) an increase in non-inflammatory joint pain after ICI initiation, (2) in joints characteristically affected by osteoarthritis, and (3) lack of inflammation on exam. Cases were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) V.6.0 rubric for arthralgia. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors V.1.1 (v.4.03) guidelines determined tumor response. Results were analyzed using χ2tests of association and multivariate logistic regression. Thirty-six patients had ICI-aOA with a mean age at time of rheumatology presentation of 66 years (51–81 years). Most patients had metastatic melanoma (10/36, 28%) and had received a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy (31/36, 86%) with 5/36 (14%) combination therapy. Large joint involvement (hip/knee) was noted in 53% (19/36), small joints of hand 25% (9/36), and spine 14% (5/36). Two-thirds (24/36) suffered multiple joint involvement. Three of 36 (8%) had CTCAE grade 3, 14 (39%) grade 2 and 19 (53%) grade 1 manifestations. Symptom onset ranged from 6 days to 33.8 months with a median of 5.2 months after ICI initiation; five patients suffered from ICI-aOA after ICI cessation (0.6, 3.5, 4.4, 7.3, and 15.4 months after ICI cessation). The most common form of therapy was intra-articular corticosteroid injections only (15/36, 42%) followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs only (7/36, 20%). Twenty patients (56%) experienced other irAEs, with rheumatic and dermatological being the most common. All three patients with high-grade ICI-aOA also had another irAE diagnosis at some point after ICI initiation. ICI-aOA should be recognized as an adverse event of ICI immunotherapy. Early referral to a rheumatologist can facilitate the distinction between ICI induced inflammatory arthritis from post-ICI mechanical arthropathy, the latter of which can be managed with local therapy that will not compromise ICI efficacy.
Fifteen years of Canada’s Species at Risk Act: Evaluating research progress for aquatic species in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River basin1
Authors: Drake D. Andrew R. , Lamothe Karl A. , Thiessen Kristin E. , Morris Todd J. , Koops Marten A. , Pratt Thomas C. , Reid Scott M. , Jackson Donald A. , Mandrak Nicholas E.
Published: September 2021

More than 15 years have passed since Canada’s Species at Risk Act was enacted. To evaluate scientific progress in support of the Act, we identified research accomplishments up to 2017 for imperilled aquatic species in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River basin based on recovery documents and an expert survey, spanning 1182 activities across 68 research topics for 45 fish and mussel species. Greatest progress was observed for population ecology (38% of activities with major progress) and habitat science (28%), with comparably less progress on threats (mechanisms and impacts; 19%) and recovery (threat mitigation and reintroduction; 21%). As a result of lagging progress, threat and reintroduction topics were prioritized for a Canadian Freshwater Species at Risk Research Network (SARNET; 2017–2020), which focused on addressing key knowledge gaps with novel applications. This special issue outlines the SARNET projects, which span novel field, laboratory, and analytical activities. Continued research investment into novel and existing approaches is necessary to advance scientific achievements for fishes and mussels in support of the Species at Risk Act in Canada.
Causal Gödel-type metrics in non-local gravity theories
Authors: Nascimento J. R. , Petrov A. Yu. , Porfírio P. J.
Published: September 2021

It is well known that non-local theories of gravity have been a flourish arena of studies for many reasons, for instance, the UV incompleteness of General Relativity (GR). In this paper we check the consistency of ST-homogeneous Gödel-type metrics within the non-local gravity framework. The non-local models considered here are ghost-free but not necessarily renormalizable since we focus on the classical solutions of the field equations. Furthermore, the non-locality is displayed in the action through transcendental entire functions of the d’Alembert operator$$\Box $$□that are mathematically represented by a power series of the$$\Box $$□operator. We find two exact solutions for the field equations correspondent to the degenerate ($$\omega =0$$ω=0) and hyperbolic ($$m^{2}=4\omega ^2$$m2=4ω2) classes of ST-homogeneous Gödel-type metrics.
Methods for Expressing Robot Intent for Human–Robot Collaboration in Shared Workspaces
Authors: Lemasurier Gregory , Bejerano Gal , Albanese Victoria , Parrillo Jenna , Yanco Holly A. , Amerson Nicholas , Hetrick Rebecca , Phillips Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

Human–robot collaboration is becoming increasingly common in factories around the world; accordingly, we need to improve the interaction experiences between humans and robots working in these spaces. In this article, we report on a user study that investigated methods for providing information to a person about a robot’s intent to move when working together in a shared workspace through signals provided by the robot. In this case, the workspace was the surface of a tabletop. Our study tested the effectiveness of three motion-based and three light-based intent signals as well as the overall level of comfort participants felt while working with the robot to sort colored blocks on the tabletop. Although not significant, our findings suggest that the light signal located closest to the workspace—an LED bracelet located closest to the robot’s end effector—was the most noticeable and least confusing to participants. These findings can be leveraged to support human–robot collaborations in shared spaces.
Lexical Color Categories
Authors: Lindsey Delwin T. , Brown Angela M.
Published: September 2021

Color is a continuous variable, and humans can distinguish more than a million colors, yet world color lexicons contain no more than a dozen basic color terms. It has been understood for 160 years that the number of color terms in a lexicon varies greatly across languages, yet the lexical color categories defined by these terms are similar worldwide. Starting with the seminal study by Berlin and Kay, this review considers how and why this is so. Evidence from psychological, linguistic, and computational studies has advanced our understanding of how color categories came into being, how they contribute to our shared understanding of color, and how the resultant categories influence color perception and cognition. A key insight from the last 50 years of research is how human perception and the need for communication within a society worked together to create color lexicons that are somewhat diverse, yet show striking regularities worldwide.
Impact of Photoreceptor Loss on Retinal Circuitry
Authors: Lee Joo Yeun , Care Rachel A. , Della Santina Luca , Dunn Felice A.
Published: September 2021

Our sense of sight relies on photoreceptors, which transduce photons into the nervous system's electrochemical interpretation of the visual world. These precious photoreceptors can be disrupted by disease, injury, and aging. Once photoreceptors start to die, but before blindness occurs, the remaining retinal circuitry can withstand, mask, or exacerbate the photoreceptor deficit and potentially be receptive to newfound therapies for vision restoration. To maximize the retina's receptivity to therapy, one must understand the conditions that influence the state of the remaining retina. In this review, we provide an overview of the retina's structure and function in health and disease. We analyze a collection of observations on photoreceptor disruption and generate a predictive model to identify parameters that influence the retina's response. Finally, we speculate on whether the retina, with its remarkable capacity to function over light levels spanning nine orders of magnitude, uses these same adaptational mechanisms to withstand and perhaps mask photoreceptor loss.
Functional Organization of Extraocular Motoneurons and Eye Muscles
Authors: Horn Anja K.E. , Straka Hans
Published: September 2021

Eye movements are indispensable for visual image stabilization during self-generated and passive head and body motion and for visual orientation. Eye muscles and neuronal control elements are evolutionarily conserved, with novel behavioral repertoires emerging during the evolution of frontal eyes and foveae. The precise execution of eye movements with different dynamics is ensured by morphologically diverse yet complementary sets of extraocular muscle fibers and associated motoneurons. Singly and multiply innervated muscle fibers are controlled by motoneuronal subpopulations with largely selective premotor inputs from task-specific ocular motor control centers. The morphological duality of the neuromuscular interface is matched by complementary biochemical and molecular features that collectively assign different physiological properties to the motor entities. In contrast, the functionality represents a continuum where most motor elements contribute to any type of eye movement, although within preferential dynamic ranges, suggesting that signal transmission and muscle contractions occur within bands of frequency-selective pathways.
Morphology, Molecular Characterization, and Connections of Ganglion Cells in Primate Retina
Authors: Grünert Ulrike , Martin Paul R.
Published: September 2021

The eye sends information about the visual world to the brain on over 20 parallel signal pathways, each specialized to signal features such as spectral reflection (color), edges, and motion of objects in the environment. Each pathway is formed by the axons of a separate type of retinal output neuron (retinal ganglion cell). In this review, we summarize what is known about the excitatory retinal inputs, brain targets, and gene expression patterns of ganglion cells in humans and nonhuman primates. We describe how most ganglion cell types receive their input from only one or two of the 11 types of cone bipolar cell and project selectively to only one or two target regions in the brain. We also highlight how genetic methods are providing tools to characterize ganglion cells and establish cross-species homologies.
Nonlinear Identifiability Analysis of the Porous Electrode Theory Model of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Berliner Marc D. , Zhao Hongbo , Das Supratim , Forsuelo Michael , Jiang Benben , Chueh William H. , Bazant Martin Z. , Braatz Richard D.
Published: September 2021

Porous electrode theory (PET) is widely used to model battery cycling behavior by describing electrochemical kinetics and transport in solid particles and electrolyte, and modeling thermodynamics by fitting an open-circuit potential. The PET model consists of tightly coupled nonlinear partial differential-algebraic equations in which effective kinetic and transport parameters are fit to battery cycling data, and then the model is used to analyze the effects of variations in design parameters or operating conditions such as charging protocols. In a detailed nonlinear identifiability analysis, we show that most of the effective model parameters in porous electrode theory are not practically identifiable from cycling data for a lithium-ion battery. The only identifiable parameter that can be identified from C/10 discharge data is the effective solid diffusion coefficient, indicating that this battery is in the diffusion-limited regime at this discharge rate. A resistance in series correlation was shown for the practically unidentifiable parameters by mapping out the confidence region. Alternative experiments in addition to discharge cycles are required in order to uniquely determine the full set of parameters.
Revisiting Optical Reflectance from Au(111) Electrode Surfaces with Combined High-Energy Surface X-ray Diffraction
Authors: Linpé Weronica , Rämisch Lisa , Abbondanza Giuseppe , Larsson Alfred , Pfaff Sebastian , Jacobse Leon , Zetterberg Johan , Merte Lindsay , Stierle Andreas , Hegedues Zoltan , Lienert Ulrich , Lundgren Edvin , Harlow Gary S.
Published: September 2021

We have combined high-energy surface X-ray diffraction (HESXRD) with 2D surface optical reflectance (2D-SOR) to perform in situ electrochemical measurements of a Au(111) electrode in 0.1 M HClO4 electrolyte. We show that electrochemically induced changes to Au(111) surface during cyclic voltammetry can be simultaneously observed with 2D-SOR and HESXRD. We discuss how small one atom high 1x1 islands, accommodating excess atoms after the lifting of the surface reconstruction, can lead to discrepancies between the two techniques. The use of HESXRD allows us to simultaneously detect parts of the truncation rods from the (1 × 1) surface termination and the p x √3 electrochemically induced surface reconstruction, during cyclic voltammetry. The presence of reconstruction phenomena is shown to not depend on having an ideally prepared surface and can in fact be observed after going to very oxidizing potentials. 2D-SOR can also detect the oxidation of the Au surface, however no oxide peaks are detected in the HESXRD signal, which is evidence that any Au oxide is X-ray amorphous.
Single-cell analyses of human pancreas: characteristics of two populations of acinar cells in chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Blobner Brandon M. , Saloman Jami L. , Shelton Ohlsen Celeste A. , Brand Randall , Lafyatis Robert , Bottino Rita , Wijkstrom Martin , Zureikat Amer H. , Lee Kenneth K. , Singhi Aatur D. , Ross Mark A. , Stolz Donna , Whitcomb David C.
Published: September 2021

We conducted single cell RNA sequencing on pancreas tissue from five individuals. We identified eleven unique cell clusters including a large population of dedifferentiated cells as well as two unique clusters of acinar cells, one of which appears to exist in a transitional state. We also examined the cellular response of pancreas tissue to stimulation and identified affected genes and pathways, including pancreatic digestive enzymes.
ADAM10 partially protects mice against influenza pneumonia by suppressing specific myeloid cell population
Authors: Okamori Satoshi , Ishii Makoto , Asakura Takanori , Suzuki Shoji , Namkoong Ho , Kagawa Shizuko , Hegab Ahmed E. , Yagi Kazuma , Kamata Hirofumi , Kusumoto Tatsuya , Ogawa Takunori , Takahashi Hayato , Yoda Masaki , Horiuchi Keisuke , Hasegawa Naoki , Fukunaga Koichi
Published: September 2021

The influenza virus infection poses a serious health threat worldwide. Myeloid cells play pivotal roles in regulating innate and adaptive immune defense. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family of proteins contributes to various immune responses; however, the role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10) in influenza virus infection remains largely unknown. Herein, we investigated its role, focusing on myeloid cells, during influenza virus infection in mice. ADAM10 gene ( Adam10) flox/flox/Lyz2-Cre ( Adam10ΔLyz2) and control Adam10flox/flox mice were intranasally infected with 200 plaque-forming units of influenza virus A/H1N1/PR8/34. Adam10ΔLyz2 mice exhibited a significantly higher mortality rate, stronger lung inflammation, and a higher virus titer in the lungs than control mice. Macrophages and inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and CCL2, were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from Adam10ΔLyz2 mice following infection. CD11b+Ly6G–F4/80+ myeloid cells, which had an inflammatory monocyte/macrophage-like phenotype, were significantly increased in the lungs of Adam10ΔLyz2 mice. Adoptive transfer experiments suggested that these cells likely contributed to the poorer prognosis in Adam10ΔLyz2 mice. Seven days after infection, CD11b+Ly6G–F4/80+ lung cells exhibited significantly higher arginase-1 expression levels in Adam10ΔLyz2 mice than in control mice, whereas an arginase-1 inhibitor improved the prognosis of Adam10ΔLyz2 mice. Enhanced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)/GM-CSF receptor signaling likely contributed to this process. Collectively, these results indicate that myeloid ADAM10 protects against influenza virus pneumonia and may be a promising therapeutic target.
Dietary effects on urinary physicochemistry in Navy bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for the prevention of ammonium urate kidney stones
Authors: Meegan Jennifer M. , Ardente Amanda J. , Poindexter John R. , Baird Mark , Novick Brittany , Parry Celeste , Jensen Eric D. , Venn-Watson Stephanie , Sakhaee Khashayar , Smith Cynthia R.
Published: September 2021

Bottlenose dolphins are susceptible to developing ammonium urate (NH4U) kidney stones. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that diet influences the urinary physicochemistry risk factors associated with nephrolithiasis in dolphins. A comprehensive nutrient analysis was performed revealing that the baseline diet (BD) commonly fed to dolphins under professional care had a greater purine content and a more negative dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) when compared with a model diet consumed by free-ranging dolphins. A modified diet (MD) was formulated to include free-ranging diet fish species and achieve a more positive DCAD. The BD had a more negative DCAD (−52 mEq/Mcal metabolizable energy) when compared with the MD (+51 mEq/Mcal ME), which more closely approximated the DCAD of the free-ranging model diet (+152 mEq/Mcal ME). Six dolphins (with stones) were fed the BD followed by the MD for a minimum of 4 wk. At the end of each feeding trial, a 6-h continuous urine collection was performed to compare urine parameters of dolphins fed the BD versus MD. Dolphins consuming the MD demonstrated a significant decrease in urinary ammonium, net acid excretion, saturation index of ammonium urate, and phosphorous, and a significant increase in urinary citrate and net gastrointestinal (GI) alkali absorption, as compared with urine parameters assessed when fed the BD. Increasing the proportion of free-ranging diet fish species and optimizing the DCAD positively influenced some of the risk factors believed to be associated with NH4U kidney stone development in bottlenose dolphins under professional care.
Differential responsiveness of glabrous and nonglabrous skin to local transmural pressure elevations: impact of 5 weeks of iterative local pressure loading
Authors: Keramidas Michail E. , Kölegård Roger , Sundblad Patrik , Sköldefors Håkan , Eiken Ola
Published: September 2021

We examined the in vivo pressure-flow relationship in human cutaneous vessels during acute and repeated elevations of local transmural pressure. In 10 healthy men, red blood cell flux was monitored simultaneously on the nonglabrous skin of the forearm and the glabrous skin of a finger during a vascular pressure provocation, wherein the blood vessels of an arm were exposed to a wide range of stepwise increasing distending pressures. Forearm skin blood flux was relatively stable at slight and moderate elevations of distending pressure, whereas it increased approximately three- to fourfold at the highest levels ( P = 0.004). Finger blood flux, on the contrary, dropped promptly and consistently throughout the provocation ( P < 0.001). Eight of the subjects repeated the provocation trial after a 5-wk pressure-training regimen, during which the vasculature in one arm was exposed intermittently (40 min, 3 times/wk) to increased transmural pressure (from +65 mmHg week 1 to +105 mmHg week 5). The training regimen diminished the pressure-induced increase in forearm blood flux by ∼34% ( P = 0.02), whereas it inhibited the reduction in finger blood flux ( P < 0.001) in response to slight and moderate distending pressure elevations. The present findings demonstrate that during local pressure perturbations, the cutaneous autoregulatory function is accentuated in glabrous compared with in the nonglabrous skin regions. Prolonged intermittent regional exposures to augmented intravascular pressure blunt the responsiveness of the glabrous skin but enhance arteriolar pressure resistance in the nonglabrous skin.
Chronic binge alcohol and ovariectomy-mediated impaired insulin responsiveness in SIV-infected female rhesus macaques
Authors: Simon Liz , Torres Diego , Saravia Ari , Levitt Danielle E. , Vande Stouwe Curtis , McGarrah Heather , Coleman Larry , Dufour Jason P. , Amedee Angela M. , Molina Patricia E.
Published: September 2021

Aging people living with HIV (PLWH), especially postmenopausal women may be at higher risk of comorbidities associated with HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART), hypogonadism, and at-risk alcohol use. Our studies in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected male macaques demonstrated that chronic binge alcohol (CBA) reduced acute insulin response to glucose (AIRG), and at-risk alcohol use decreased HOMA-β in PLWH. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of ovariectomy (OVX) on glucose-insulin dynamics and integrity of pancreatic endocrine function in CBA/SIV-infected female macaques. Female macaques were administered CBA (12–15 g/kg/wk) or isovolumetric water (VEH) intragastrically. Three months after initiation of CBA/VEH administration, all macaques were infected with SIVmac251, and initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) 2.5 mo postinfection. After 1 mo of ART, macaques were randomized to OVX or sham surgeries ( n = 7 or 8/group), and euthanized 8 mo post-OVX (study endpoint). Frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests (FSIVGTT) were performed at selected time points. Pancreatic gene expression and islet morphology were determined at study endpoint. There was a main effect of CBA to decrease AIRG at Pre-SIV and study endpoint. There were no statistically significant OVX effects on AIRG ( P = 0.06). CBA and OVX decreased the expression of pancreatic markers of insulin docking and release. OVX increased endoplasmic stress markers. CBA but not OVX impaired glucose-insulin expression dynamics in SIV-infected female macaques. Both CBA and OVX altered integrity of pancreatic endocrine function. These findings suggest increased vulnerability of PLWH to overt metabolic dysfunction that may be exacerbated by alcohol use and ovarian hormone loss.
On the electrical passivity of astrocyte potassium conductance
Authors: Zhou Min , Du Yixing , Aten Sydney , Terman David
Published: September 2021

Predominant expression of leak-type K+ channels provides astrocytes a high membrane permeability to K+ ions and a hyperpolarized membrane potential that are crucial for astrocyte function in brain homeostasis. In functionally mature astrocytes, the expression of leak K+ channels creates a unique membrane K+ conductance that lacks voltage-dependent rectification. Accordingly, the conductance is named ohmic or passive K+ conductance. Several inwardly rectifying and two-pore domain K+ channels have been investigated for their contributions to passive conductance. Meanwhile, gap junctional coupling has been postulated to underlie the passive behavior of membrane conductance. It is now clear that the intrinsic properties of K+ channels and gap junctional coupling can each act alone or together to bring about a passive behavior of astrocyte conductance. Additionally, while the passive conductance can generally be viewed as a K+ conductance, the actual representation of this conductance is a combined expression of multiple known and unknown K+ channels, which has been further modified by the intricate morphology of individual astrocytes and syncytial gap junctional coupling. The expression of the inwardly rectifying K+ channels explains the inward-going component of passive conductance disobeying Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz constant field outward rectification. However, the K+ channels encoding the outward-going passive currents remain to be determined in the future. Here, we review our current understanding of ion channels and biophysical mechanisms engaged in the passive astrocyte K+ conductance, propose new studies to resolve this long-standing puzzle in astrocyte physiology, and discuss the functional implication(s) of passive behavior of K+ conductance on astrocyte physiology.
Correlation Analysis of Stocks and PMI Index Based on Logistic Regression Model
Authors: Kang Qiong
Published: September 2021

In order to explore the correlation between stocks and the PMI index, based on the generalized logistic loss and margin distribution, this paper designs a margin distribution logistic regression model that is easy to optimize, has robustness, and generalization ability, and gives a multiclass margin distribution logistic regression framework. This framework can be used to perform two‐classification, multiclassification, and feature selection tasks. Moreover, this paper gives a training algorithm for margin distribution logistic regression on large‐scale data sets through the pairwise stochastic gradient descent method. In addition, this paper combines the logistic regression model to construct a correlation analysis model between stocks and PMI index and uses the PMI data of the National Bureau of Statistics as a sample to design experiments to verify the performance of the system model constructed in this paper. From the experimental analysis, it can be seen that the algorithm constructed in this paper has a certain effect, and the strong correlation between PMI and stocks has been further verified.
Edge Location Method for Multidimensional Image Based on Edge Symmetry Algorithm
Authors: Li Chen
Published: September 2021

The most basic feature of an image is edge, which is the junction of one attribute area and another attribute area in the image. It is the most uncertain place in the image and the place where the image information is most concentrated. The edge of an image contains rich information. So, the edge location plays an important role in image processing, and its positioning method directly affects the image effect. In order to further improve the accuracy of edge location for multidimensional image, an edge location method for multidimensional image based on edge symmetry is proposed. The method first detects and counts the edges of multidimensional image, sets the region of interest, preprocesses the image with the Gauss filter, detects the vertical edges of the filtered image, and superposes the vertical gradient values of each pixel in the vertical direction to obtain candidate image regions. The symmetry axis position of the candidate image region is analyzed, and its symmetry intensity is measured. Then, the symmetry of vertical gradient projection in the candidate image region is analyzed to verify whether the candidate region is a real edge region. The multidimensional pulse coupled neural network (PCNN) model is used to synthesize the real edge region after edge symmetry processing, and the result of edge location of the multidimensional image is obtained. The results show that the method has strong antinoise ability, clear edge contour, and precise location.
Dracaena arborea (Dracaenaceae) Increases Sexual Hormones and Sperm Parameters, Lowers Oxidative Stress, and Ameliorates Testicular Architecture in Rats with 3 Weeks of Experimental Varicocele
Authors: Tchatat Petnga Yannick Baudouin , Tetsatsi Momo Aimé Césaire , Wankeu-Nya Modeste , Munyali Alumeti Désiré , Bonsou Fozin Georges Roméo , Deeh-Defo Patrick Brice , Ngadjui Esther , Watcho Pierre
Published: September 2021

Varicocele is a disease characterized by an abnormal dilation of the pampiniform plexus that drains the testis. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the curative effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Dracaena arborea on some reproductive and antioxidant markers in rats with experimental varicocele. Following varicocele induction, rats (5 per group) were randomly partitioned into untreated varicocele, vitamin E-treated (150 mg/kg), aqueous extract-treated (500 mg/kg), and ethanolic extract-treated (100 mg/kg) animals. Two other groups served as normal and sham-operated. After 2 or 4 weeks of treatments, body and sex organ weights, spermatozoa characteristics, antioxidant status, NO level, sex hormones, and testis histology were measured. Animals with 3 weeks of varicocele showed a significant (p < 0.05–0.001) decrease in body and sex organ weights, total proteins, sperm characteristics, testosterone concentration, SOD, catalase, and total peroxidase activities. An increase in the plasmatic FSH, LH, and testicular MDA and NO concentrations was also recorded. Moreover, marked disorganization of the testicular architecture was observed. Treatment with D. arborea significantly reversed these impairments due to varicocele. For instance, after 4 weeks, treatment with aqueous extract of D. arborea significantly (p < 0.05–0.001) increased testes and epididymis weights, sperm viability (89.12 ± 1.09 vs 68.22 ± 1.42), sperm density (148.50 ± 2.59 vs 110.25 ± 2.51), and sperm motility (68.16 ± 2.39 vs 55.88 ± 3.20) in the left side, compared with varicocele-untreated rats. The extract also significantly (p < 0.05–0.001) decreased malondialdehyde level (2.19 ± 0.04 vs 3.50 ± 0.13) but elevated catalase (0.97 ± 0.03 vs 0.55 ± 0.03), SOD (0.5 ± 0.03 vs 0.15 ± 0.03), and peroxidase (65.80 ± 2.9 vs 40.95 ± 2.44) activities. Present results showed that D. arborea extracts possess antioxidant effects and improve sperm quality in male rats with an existing varicocele.