bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning Based Prediction Model for Closed-Loop Small Bowel Obstruction Using Computed Tomography and Clinical Findings
Authors: Goyal Riya , Mui Leonora W. , Riyahi Sadjad , Prince Martin R. , Lee Hwayoung K.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The aim of the study was to develop a prediction model for closed-loop small bowel obstruction integrating computed tomography (CT) and clinical findings.

Methods

The radiology database and surgical reports from 2 suburban teaching hospitals were retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing surgery for suspected closed-loop small bowel obstruction (CLSBO). Two observers independently reviewed the CT scans for the presence of imaging features of CLSBO, blinded to the surgically confirmed diagnosis and clinical parameters. Random forest analysis was used to train and validate a prediction model for CLSBO, by combining CT and clinical findings, after randomly splitting the sample into 80% training and 20% test subsets.

Results

Surgery confirmed CLSBO in 185 of 223 patients with clinically suspected CLSBO. Age greater than 52 years showed 2.82 (95% confidence interval = 1.13–4.77) times higher risk for CLSBO (P = 0.021). Sensitivity/specificity of CT findings included proximal dilatation (97/5%), distal collapse (96/2%), mesenteric edema (94/5%), pneumatosis (1/100%), free air (1/98%), and portal venous gas (0/100%). The random forest model combining imaging/clinical findings yielded an area under receiver operating curve of 0.73 (95% confidence interval = 0.58–0.94), sensitivity of 0.72 (0.55–0.85), specificity of 0.8 (0.28–0.99), and accuracy of 0.73 (0.57–0.85). Prior surgery, age, lactate, whirl sign, U/C-shaped bowel configuration, and fecalization were the most important variables in predicting CLSBO.

Conclusions

A random forest model found clinical factors including prior surgery, age, lactate, and imaging factors including whirl sign, fecalization, and U/C-shaped bowel configuration are helpful in improving the prediction of CLSBO. Individual CT findings in CLSBO had either high sensitivity or specificity, suggesting that accurate diagnosis requires systematic assessment of all CT signs.
Preoperative Helical Dynamic Enhanced Multidetector Row Computed Tomography: Can It Be a Prognostic Indicator in Early-Stage Non–small Cell Lung Cancer?
Authors: Moon Jung Won , Yi Chin A , Lee Kyung Soo , Woo Sook Young , Kwon O Jung , Yang Ehwa , Kim Jae-Hun , Han Joungho
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography in patients with stage IA non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 139 patients (77 men, 62 women; mean age, 59 years) with stage IA NSCLC who underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Data on age, pathologic subtype, peak enhancement, and net enhancement of primary lung cancer were collected and correlated with 5-year survival.

Results

Peak enhancement had a significant correlation with overall survival in the univariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18, confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.38; P = 0.04) and in the multivariable analysis (HR, 1.19; CI, 1.01–1.39; P = 0.04). Patients with peak enhancement of 90 Hounsfield unit or higher had a significantly increased risk of death compared with patients with less enhancement after curative surgery (HR, 4.15; CI, 1.23–13.95; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Our study confirmed the prognostic significance of peak enhancement as an indicator for the overall survival of stage IA NSCLC.
Multimodality Multisystem Imaging of Pregnancy-Related Changes: Featuring Neurologic, Cardiothoracic, Breast, Gynecologic, and Musculoskeletal Issues
Authors: Dishuck Carolyn F. , Bass Rachel Z. , Allen Elizabeth M. , Andrikopoulou Efstathia F. , Galgano Samuel J. , Milner Desmin M. , Wright Ashley , Porter Kristin K.
Published: March 2022

Pregnancy and the puerperium are a time of significant physiologic change, and with an average of 4 million births in the United States yearly, radiologists encounter pregnancy-related imaging findings regularly. While many of these findings represent physiologic changes, a significant number represent pathology, making it paramount for radiologists to distinguish between the two. This case-based article reviews imaging findings within the nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, breast, gynecologic, musculoskeletal, digestive, hematologic, and integumentary systems throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Correlation and Agreement for Foot Muscle and Adipose Tissue Measurements
Authors: Commean Paul K. , Mueller Michael J. , Chen Ling , Wolfsberger Mary A. , Hastings Mary K.
Published: March 2022

Background

Volumetric measures of intrinsic foot muscle and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) infiltration are important in understanding foot injury and disease. We questioned whether measures of muscle and fat derived from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) would be comparable.

Methods

This study determined the correlation and level of agreement between CT and MR measurements of foot muscle and IMAT from 32 subjects with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy. Volumetric CT and DIXON 3T MR scans were obtained. Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle volumes used to create the IMAT to muscle ratio were obtained by segmenting the forefoot muscle compartment from each modality.

Results

Computed tomography IMAT ratios were significantly correlated (r = 0.85, P < 0.0001) with MR IMAT ratios. Computed tomography and MR IMAT ratio mean difference between CT and MR was small (0.044 unit, Bland-Altman plots).

Conclusions

The CT and MR IMAT ratio measurements were highly correlated, indicating both modalities represent tissue quantification similarly.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: 1
Management of Patients With Common Bile Duct Dilatation Without a Sonographic Evident Cause: Evaluating the Yield of Subsequent Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Findings Correlated With Causative Pancreaticobiliary Pathology
Authors: Bezuidenhout Abraham Fourie , Lee Kristy , Nakhaei Masoud , Schawkat Khoschy , Wei Jesse , Lee Karen , Mortele Koenraad
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The aims of the study were to evaluate the yield of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with common bile duct (CBD) dilatation without a sonographic evident cause and to investigate sonographic and laboratory findings at presentation that might predict identification of underlying pancreaticobiliary pathology.

Methods

Included were consecutive patients in whom MRI was performed for further evaluation of CBD dilatation detected on ultrasound (US), without a sonographic evident cause, from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2014. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with and without identified underlying causative pancreaticobiliary pathology. Ultrasound findings and laboratory results at presentation were compared between groups to identify findings suggestive of underlying pancreaticobiliary pathology.

Results

Fifty-seven patients, with a mean age of 54 ± 16 years including 37 females (65%), underwent MRI. Specific pancreaticobiliary causes for CBD dilatation were identified in 38 patients (66%, 31 benign and 7 malignant). In the remaining patients, no cause was identified in 17 (30%) and MRIs were nondiagnostic in 2 patients. Magnetic resonance imaging accuracy for correctly identifying the underlying cause of CBD dilatation was 91%. Patients with associated intrahepatic bile duct dilatation on US and elevated alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were more likely to have underlying pancreaticobiliary pathology (P < 0 .05). No patient with initial negative MRI had pancreaticobiliary malignancy.

Conclusions

Magnetic resonance imaging seems to be an accurate noninvasive method for identifying the underlying cause in most patients with CBD dilatation on US and in excluding pancreaticobiliary malignancy. Patients with associated intrahepatic bile duct dilatation and/or elevated liver enzymes are at higher risk of harboring underlying pancreaticobiliary pathology.
Computed Tomography Assessment of Sarcopenic Myosteatosis for Predicting Overall Survival in Colorectal Carcinoma: Systematic Review
Authors: Franco Valle Kevin , Lubner Meghan G. , Pickhardt Perry J.
Published: March 2022

Background

As the US population ages, cancer incidence and prevalence are projected to increase. In the last decade, there has been an increased interest in the opportunistic use of computed tomography (CT) scan data to predict cancer prognosis and inform treatment based on body composition measures, especially muscle measures for sarcopenia.

Objective

This article aimed to perform a systematic review of current literature related to CT assessment of muscle attenuation values for myosteatosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival prediction.

Results

Initial broad search of CT and CRC yielded 4234 results. A more focused search strategy narrowed this to 129 research papers, and 13 articles met the final inclusion criteria. Twelve of 13 studies found a statistically significant decrease in overall survival according to Hounsfield unit (HU)–based sarcopenia, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.36 to 2.94 (mean, 1.78). However, the specific criteria used to define myosteatosis by CT varied widely, with attenuation thresholds ranging from 22.5 to 47.3 HU, often further subdivided by sex and/or body mass index.

Conclusions

Current evidence suggests that a strong association between CT-based muscle attenuation values for myosteatosis assessment correlates with overall survival in CRC. However, more research is needed to verify these findings and determine appropriate threshold values for more diverse patient populations. Because CRC patients are staged and followed by CT, the opportunity exists for routine objective myosteatosis assessment in the clinical setting.
Suicide Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients is Associated With Suboptimal Vitamin D Levels
Authors: Calderón Espinoza Ivette , Chavarria-Avila Efrain , Pizano-Martinez Oscar , Martínez-García Erika Aurora , Armendariz-Borunda Juan , Marquez-Aguirre Ana Laura , Llamas-García Arcelia , Corona-Sánchez Esther Guadalupe , Toriz González Guillermo , Vazquez-Del Mercado Monica
Published: March 2022

Background/Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients might experience anxiety and depressive symptoms. Deficient vitamin D levels may be a trigger for these conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of depression, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal risk or ideation in patients with RA associated with vitamin D serum levels.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we recruited RA patients older than 18 years, classified into 3 groups according to serum vitamin D levels: sufficient, ≥30 ng/mL; insufficient, 20–29 ng/mL; and deficient, <20 ng/mL. Based on the self-reported Plutchik and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, we evaluated the association of suicidal risk, depression, and anxiety with the vitamin D levels in RA and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire.

Results

We studied 72 patients with RA between January and October 2019. We found an inverse correlation between Plutchik score and suicidal risk with inadequate vitamin D levels, but not with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Suicidal ideation was associated with a higher score on the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality-of-Life Questionnaire.

Conclusions

Despite the high prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in RA patients, a Plutchik low correlation coefficient with inadequate serum levels of vitamin D was found. However, in the analysis of covariance, we were able to find that vitamin D levels remain associated with a reduction of suicide ideation. Further studies are needed to identify a risk profile for early psychological interventions to improve the quality of life in RA patients.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome as Risk Factors for Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young Patients
Authors: Whittier Millan , Bautista Sanchez Rocio , Arora Shilpa , Manadan Augustine Mathew
Published: March 2022

Objective

This study aimed to compare the odds of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients aged 18 to 40 years to patients older than 40 years with and without secondary diagnoses of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) while controlling for traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.

Methods

Data were extracted from the National Inpatient Sample database from 2016 to 2018. The National Inpatient Sample was searched for hospitalizations of adult patients with ACS as the principal diagnosis, with and without SLE or APLS as secondary diagnoses. Age was divided categorically into 2 groups: adults aged 18 to 40 years and those older than 40 years. The primary outcome was the development of ACS. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounders.

Results

There were 90,879,561 hospital discharges in the 2016 to 2018 database. Of those, 55,050 between the ages of 18 to 40 years and 1,966,234 aged older than 40 years were hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of ACS. Traditional CV risk factors were associated with ACS hospitalizations in both age groups. In multivariate analysis of the 18 to 40 years age group, both SLE (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.814–2.625) and APLS (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.546–3.087) were strongly associated with ACS hospitalizations. After the age of 40 years, there were no increased odds of ACS hospitalizations for SLE or APLS.

Conclusions

In the younger population, SLE and APLS were strongly associated with ACS hospitalizations in addition to the traditional CV risk factors. In the older age group, traditional CV risk factors dominated and diluted the effect of SLE and APLS.
18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Sarcomatoid Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Yang Ting , Zou Min-Hong , Zou Qiong , Jiao Ju , Zhang Yong
Published: March 2022

Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma is a rare subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma. We present a 53-year-old man with a hepatic IV/VIII segment neoplasm whose tumor markers were all in the reference range. The neoplasm presented intense uptake of 18F-FDG and was confirmed as sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. After 6 cycles of PD-1 treatment, no recurrence or metastasis was found by follow-up CT over 2 years. Thus, we reported a case of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma with complete remission to PD-1 treatment and provided some help for the diagnosis and treatment of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma.
Primary Solitary Tuberculosis in the Hepatic Round Ligament Detected by 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT
Authors: Deng Ying , Wu Junhao , Xu Chuanqi , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2022

A 45-year-old woman recently complained of abdominal pain, poor appetite, and weight loss. Her serum ferritin, CA199, and CA242 levels were elevated. 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT revealed a subcapsular mass in the liver, which showed a significant FAPI uptake without other abnormal activity. Postoperative pathological examination confirmed tuberculosis in the hepatic round ligament.
Group composition of individual personalities alters social network structure in experimental populations of forked fungus beetles
Authors: Cook Phoebe A. , Baker Olivia M. , Costello Robin A. , Formica Vincent A. , Brodie Edmund D.
Published: March 2022

Social network structure is a critical group character that mediates the flow of information, pathogens and resources among individuals in a population, yet little is known about what shapes social structures. In this study, we experimentally tested whether social network structure depends on the personalities of individual group members. Replicate groups of forked fungus beetles (Bolitotherus cornutus) were engineered to include only members previously assessed as either more social or less social. We found that individuals expressed consistent personalities across social contexts, exhibiting repeatable numbers of interactions and numbers of partners. Groups composed of more social individuals formed networks with higher interaction rates, higher tie density, higher global clustering and shorter average shortest paths than those composed of less social individuals. We highlight group composition of personalities as a source of variance in group traits and a potential mechanism by which networks could evolve.
A biomechanical investigation of the efficiency hypothesis of hafted tool technology
Authors: Coe Dominic , Barham Larry , Gardiner James , Crompton Robin
Published: March 2022

The transition from hand-held to hafted tool technology marked a significant shift in conceptualizing the construction and function of tools. Among other benefits, hafting is thought to have given users a significant biomechanical and physiological advantage in undertaking basic subsistence tasks compared with hand-held tools. It is assumed that addition of a handle improved the (bio)mechanical properties of a tool and upper limb by offering greater amounts of leverage, force and precision. This controlled laboratory study compares upper limb kinematics, electromyography and physiological performance during two subsistence tasks (chopping, scraping) using hafted and hand-held tools. Results show that hafted tool use elicits greater ranges of motion, greater muscle activity and greater net energy expenditure (EE) compared with hand-held equivalents. Importantly, however, these strategies resulted in reduced relative EE compared with the hand-held condition in both tasks. More specifically, the hafted axe prompted use of two well-known biomechanical strategies that help produce larger velocities at the distal end of the limb without requiring heavy muscular effort, thus improving the tool's functional efficiency and relative energy use. The energetic and biomechanical benefits of hafting arguably contributed to both the invention and spread of this technology.
The biomechanics of the locust ovipositor valves: a unique digging apparatus
Authors: Das Rakesh , Gershon Shmuel , Bar-On Benny , Tadayon Maryam , Ayali Amir , Pinchasik Bat-El
Published: March 2022

The female locust has a unique mechanism for digging in order to deposit its eggs deep in the ground. It uses two pairs of sclerotized valves to displace the granular matter, while extending its abdomen as it propagates underground. This ensures optimal conditions for the eggs to incubate and provides them with protection from predators. Here, the direction-dependent biomechanics of the locust's major, dorsal digging valves are quantified and analysed under forces in the physiological range and beyond, considering the hydration level as well as the females' sexual maturation state. Our findings reveal that the responses of the valves to compression forces in the digging and propagation directions change upon sexual maturation to follow their function and depend on environmental conditions. In addition, mature females, which lay eggs, have stiffer valves, up to approximately 19 times the stiffness of the pre-mature locusts. The valves are stiffer in the major working direction, corresponding to soil shuffling and compression, compared with the direction of propagation. Hydration of the valves reduces their stiffness but increases their resilience against failure. These findings provide mechanical and materials guidelines for the design of novel non-drilling burrowing tools, including three-dimensionally printed anisotropic materials based on composites
Bedload transport: beyond intractability
Authors: Gomez Basil , Soar Philip J.
Published: March 2022

Scrutiny of multifarious field and laboratory data amassed over nine decades reveals four distinct bedload transport regimes and demonstrates the search for a universal formula is a fallacious pursuit. In only one regime, in which the supply of transportable material is unconstrained, does the transport rate in some rivers approximate the expected proportional relationship with dimensionless specific stream power (
ω
∗
). At the other extreme, transport occurs at or near the threshold of particle motion, and the availability of sediment is regulated by the characteristics of the bed surface. In each regime, there is an underlying variation of transport rates at a given discharge, that is neither obscured by long measurement times nor standardized methodologies, and to properly differentiate them, the bedload size must be known. We show a data-driven relationship based on measurements made over several years, across the entire flow range, that requires no
a priori
specification of the association between the transport rate and
ω
∗
, can reveal nonlinear trends that may otherwise be masked by omni-present temporal and spatial variability. The demise of the search for a universal formula will be accelerated by the development of idiomatic relations that embrace the specificity of rivers in each transport regime.
A type IVB pilin influences twitching motility and in vitro adhesion to epithelial cells in Burkholderia pseudomallei
Authors: Okaro Udoka , Mou Sherry , Lenkoue Geraldin , Williams Janice A. , Bonagofski Ari , Larson Peter , Kumar Raina , DeShazer David
Published: March 2022

Type IV pili are involved in adhesion, twitching motility, aggregation, biofilm formation and virulence in a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis and a Tier 1 biological select agent, is a Gram-negative bacterium with eight type IV pili-associated loci (TFP1 to TFP8). Most have not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigated BPSS2185, an uncharacterized TFP8 gene that encodes a type IVB pilus protein subunit. Using genetic deletion and complementation analysis in

B. pseudomallei

JW270, we demonstrate that BPSS2185 plays an important role in twitching motility and adhesion to A549 human alveolar epithelial cells. Compared to JW270, the JW270 ΔBPSS2185 mutant failed to display twitching motility and did not adhere to the epithelial cells. These phenotypes were partially reversed by the complementation of BPSS2185 in the mutant strain. The study also shows that BPSS2185 is expressed only during the onset of mature biofilm formation and at the dispersal of a biofilm, suggesting that the motility characteristic is required to form a biofilm. Our study is the first to suggest that the BPSS2185 gene in TFP8 contributes to twitching motility, adhesion and biofilm formation, indicating that the gene may contribute to

B. pseudomallei

virulence.
Physicochemical properties and biological activity of extract from
Dioscorea polystachya Turcz. bulbil by combined
treatments of enzyme and ethanol
Authors: Nam Dong-Geon , Im Jeong Yeon , Hwang Kyung-A , Choe Jeong-Sook , Im Pureum
Published: March 2022

The present study was performed to investigate the physicochemical properties and
biological activity of extract from Dioscorea polystachya
Turcz. bulbil (DPB), registered as novel food ingredients, via a combination
treatment using enzyme and ethanol. The results indicated an increase in the
degree of starch hydrolysis with an increase in the enzyme treatment time.
Furthermore, the treatment time exerted a significant effect on the marked
increase in browning index (BI), content of total soluble solids (TSS), and
useful component content (p<0.001). The contents of total polyphenols
(TP), total flavonoids, and crude saponin (CS) also increased with an increase
in the enzyme treatment time (p<0.001). It was determined that enzyme
treatment for more than 4 h was unnecessary. The increase in
α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was affected by the presence of TP and
CS during enzyme treatment. It was concluded that enzyme treatment was effective
for a minimum of 30 min and a maximum of 4 h. The present work demonstrated the
optimization of the useful and functional components of DPB via a complex
treatment using enzyme and ethanol. These profiles provide valuable data in the
selection and application of DPB for the development of functional food
materials.
Analysis of antioxidant activity, total phenol content, and flavonoid content of Abelmoschus manihot flower extracts
Authors: Kwon Hyun Ji , Beom Seok Hyun , Hyun Jin A , Kang Eun Bin , Park Ha Eun , Han Dong Geun , Choi Eun Young , An Bong-Jeon
Published: March 2022

In this study, we analyzed the antioxidant activity, total phenol, and flavonoid content of Abelmoschus manihot flowers by extracting, concentrating, and freezing the flower site with water and a 70% ethanol solution. The hydrothermal extract (AMW) and the 70% ethanol extract (AME) showed activities of ≥ 77% and ≥ 95% at 100 μg/mL, respectively, in ABTS+ radical scavenging assay. Electron donating availability experiments showed activities of AMW and AME of > 86% and ≥ 91% at 1,000 μg/mL, respectively. In the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, AME had a reduction force of approximately twice that of AMW at 1,000 μg/mL; moreover AME exhibited reduction force higher than that of AMW. In the SOD-like availability asset, both AMW and AME showed low activities. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were higher in AME than in AMW, although both have similar contents. As a result, AME exhibited higher antioxidant activity than AMW, while their phenol and flavonoid contents were similar. Therefore, A.manihot flower extracts can be considered good natural biological resources for use as raw materials for food and cosmetics.
Analysis of vitamin D content of frequently-consumed
foods
Authors: Lim Jong-Soon , Kim Hyun-Jeong , Lee Sang-Hoon , Choi Young-Min , Lee Sam-Pin
Published: March 2022

In the present study, the vitamin D content of frequently-consumed Korean foods
were evaluated to update the National Standard Food Composition Table (NSFCT)
that is published by the Korean Rural Development Administration. Total 181
types of frequently-consumed foods including cereals, beans, vegetables, meat
and, fish products, drinks, condiments, and mushrooms were analyzed by liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry. The standard materials, BCR-122 and SRM 3235,
exhibited recovery rates of 98.40% and 104.17%, respectively. All the analyses
were performed under the control line based on the quality control chart for
vitamin D2 and D3. Among the analysis of 181 species,
vitamin D was detected only in 16 species including mushrooms (Vit
D2), eggs and fish products (Vit D3). The vitamin
D2 content of mushroom ranged from 0 to 147.96
μg/100 g, with naturally dried Sparassis
crispa exhibiting the highest vitamin D2 content. In
mushroom of Sparassis crispa, Lentinula
edoles, Pleurotus eryngii, and Agaricus
bisporus the natural drying showed the superior to vitamin D
content compared to those of device drying. However, raw mushrooms except for
Auricularia auricula-judae did not contain vitamin
D2. The vitamin D3 content of eggs and fish products
ranged from 0 to 8.90 μg/100 g (solids part in canned
salmon). However, vitamin D was not detected in a majority of the
frequently-consumed foods under analysis, such as cereals, beans, vegetables,
nut and seeds, ginseng, fruits and seaweed, most fish products and animal
foods.
Quality characteristics of milk jam with black garlic
extract
Authors: Min Ji Hyun , Jeong Jae Hyun , Lee Seong Ju , Lee Jae Sun , Han Jong Woo , Lee Hee Doo , Jeong Taek-Gu
Published: March 2022

This study investigates the quality characteristics and antioxidant activities of
milk jam with black garlic extract at levels of 0%, 7.5%, 15.0%, 22.5% and
30.0%. The quality of the black garlic milk jam was evaluated on the color, pH,
total acidity, total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and
2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. In color,
lightness (L) and yellowness (b) of the milk jam samples decreased with
increasing black garlic extract levels, whereas redness (a) increased. At higher
black garlic extract levels, the pH of black garlic milk jam decreased from
6.46±0.07 to 5.44±0.01, and its total acidity increased from
0.277±0.037% to 0.399±0.026%. The total polyphenol and total
flavonoid contents of black garlic milk jam ranged from 144.76±3.51 to
263.41±2.34 mg GAE/100 g and 24.29±1.31 to 44.81±0.35 mg
QE/100 g, respectively. These values increased significantly (p<0.05),
depending on the black garlic extract level. The DPPH radical scavenging
activity was the highest the milk jam sample containing 30.0% black garlic
extract. The results of this study suggest that black garlic can be used as an
ingredient for functional foods.
Metal Coordinating Inhibitors of Rift Valley Fever virus Replication
Authors: Geerling Elizabeth , Murphy Valerie , Stone E. Taylor , Casals Andreu Gazquez , Hassert Mariah , O’Dea Austin T. , Cao Feng , Donlin Maureen J. , Elagawany Mohamed , Elgendy Bahaa , Pardali Vasiliki , Giannakopoulou Erofili , Zoidis Grigoris , Schiavone Daniel V. , Berkowitz Alex J. , Agyemang Nana B. , Murelli Ryan P. , Tavis John E. , Pinto Amelia K. , Brien James D.
Published: March 2022

Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is a veterinary and human pathogen and is an agent of bioterrorism concern. Currently, RVFV treatment is limited to supportive care, so new drugs to control RVFV infection are urgently needed. RVFV is a member of the Bunyavirales order, and replication of these viruses depends on the viral endonuclease activity of the viral L protein. Screening for RVFV replication inhibitors among compounds with divalent cation-coordinating motifs similar to known viral nuclease inhibitors identified 31 novel RVFV inhibitors with selective indexes from 5 – 402 and 50% effective concentrations of 0.54 – 56 µM in Vero cells, primarily α-Hydroxytropolones and N-Hydroxypyridinediones. Inhibitor activity and selective index was validated in the human cell line A549. To evaluate specificity, select compounds were tested against another Bunyavirus, La Crosse Virus (LACV). Conservation of the enzymatic activity such as the cap-snatching mechanism among the Bunyavirales implies that the α-Hydroxytropolone and N-Hydroxypyridinedione chemotypes hold potential for development into treatments for related pathogens, including Hantaan Virus, Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, and LACV. Keywords: Rift Valley Fever Virus 1, La Crosse virus 2, Cap-snatching endonuclease 3, Replication inhibitors 4, α-Hydroxytropolones 5, N-Hydroxypyridinediones 6.
An end-to-end deep learning method for rotamer-free protein side-chain packing
Authors: McPartlon Matt , Xu Jinbo
Published: March 2022

Protein side-chain packing (PSCP), the task of determining amino acid side-chain conformations, has important applications to protein structure prediction, refinement, and design. Many methods have been proposed to resolve this problem, but their accuracy is still unsatisfactory. To address this, we present AttnPacker, an end-to-end, SE(3)-equivariant deep graph transformer architecture for the direct prediction of side-chain coordinates. Unlike existing methods, AttnPacker directly incorporates backbone geometry to simultaneously compute all amino acid side-chain atom coordinates without delegating to a rotamer library, or performing expensive conformational search or sampling steps. Tested on the CASP13 and CASP14 native and non-native protein backbones, AttnPacker predicts side-chain conformations with RMSD significantly lower than the best side-chain packing methods (SCWRL4, FASPR, Rosetta Packer, and DLPacker), and achieves even greater improvements on surface residues. In addition to RMSD, our method also achieves top performance in side-chain dihedral prediction across both data sets.
Deep learning based feature extraction for prediction and interpretation of sharp-wave ripples
Authors: Navas-Olive Andrea , Amaducci Rodrigo , Jurado-Parras Teresa , Sebastian Enrique R , de la Prida Liset M
Published: March 2022

Local field potential (LFP) deflections and oscillations define hippocampal sharp-wave ripples (SWR), one of the most synchronous events of the brain. SWR reflect firing and synaptic current sequences emerging from cognitively relevant neuronal ensembles. Current spectral methods fail to capture their mechanistic complexity, thus limiting progress. Here, we show how one-dimensional convolutional networks operating over high-density LFP hippocampal recordings allowed for automatic identification of SWR. When applied to ultra-dense hippocampus-wide recordings, we discovered physiologically relevant processes associated to the emergence of SWR, prompting for novel classification criteria. To gain interpretability, we developed a method to interrogate the operation of the artificial network. We found it relied in feature-based specialization, which permit identification of spatially segregated oscillations and deflections, as well as synchronous population firing. Thus, using deep learning based approaches may change the current heuristic for a better mechanistic interpretation of these relevant neurophysiological events.
dialogi: Utilising NLP with chemical and disease similarities to drive the identification of Drug-Induced Liver Injury literature
Authors: Katritsis Nicholas M , Liu Anika , Youssef Gehad , Rathee Sanjay , MacMahon Méabh , Hwang Woochang , Wollman Lilly , Han Namshik
Published: March 2022

Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI), despite its low occurrence rate, can cause severe side effects or even lead to death. Thus, it is one of the leading causes for terminating the development of new, and restricting the use of already-circulating, drugs. Moreover, its multifactorial nature, combined with a clinical presentation that often mimics other liver diseases, complicate the identification of DILI-related literature, which remains the main medium for sourcing results from the clinical practice and experimental studies. In this work– contributing to the ‘Literature AI for DILI Challenge’ of the Critical Assessment of Massive Data Analysis (CAMDA) 2021– we present an automated pipeline for distinguishing between DILI-positive and negative papers. We used Natural Language Processing (NLP) to filter out the uninformative parts of a text, and identify and extract mentions of chemicals and diseases. We combined that information with small-molecule and disease embeddings, which are capable of capturing chemical and disease similarities, to improve classification performance. The former are directly sourced from the Chemical Checker (CC). For the latter, we collected data that encode different aspects of disease similarity from the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) thesaurus and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Following a similar procedure as the one used in the CC, vector representations for diseases were learnt and evaluated. Two Neural Network (NN) classifiers were developed: one that only accepts texts as input (baseline model) and an augmented classifier that also utilises chemical and disease embeddings (extended model). We trained, validated, and tested the models through a Nested Cross-Validation (NCV) scheme with 10 outer and 5 inner folds. During this, the baseline and extended models performed virtually identically, with macro F1-scores of 95.04 ± 0.61% and 94.80 ± 0.41%, respectively. Upon validation on an external, withheld, dataset, representing imbalanced data, the extended model achieved an F1-score of 91.14 ± 1.62%, outperforming its baseline counterpart, which got a lower score of 88.30 ± 2.44%. We make further comparisons between the classifiers and discuss future improvements and directions, including utilising chemical and disease embeddings for visualisation and exploratory analysis of the DILI-positive literature.
Coherent multi-level network oscillations create neural filters to favor quiescence over navigation in Drosophila
Authors: Raccuglia Davide , Suárez-Grimalt Raquel , Krumm Laura , Brodersen Cedric B , Ender Anatoli , Jagannathan Sridhar R. , Winter York , Yvon-Durocher Genevieve , Kempter Richard , Geiger Jörg RP , Owald David
Published: March 2022

For all animals, undisturbed periods of rest are essential for undergoing recuperative processes. How neural interactions create brain states capable of dissociating an animal from its external world to promote quiescence remains a fundamental question. Here, we show how coherent network oscillations can create neural filters that favor a quiescent brain state over a state that promotes navigation. Circadian regulation and excitability of the Drosophila sleep homeostat (dFSB) generate nighttime specific slow-wave coherence between neural networks mediating sleep need (R5) and networks gating locomotion (helicon cells). Optogenetically mimicking coherent activity reveals that temporally fine-tuned R5 oscillations promote a quiescent state and reduce responsiveness to visual stimuli by hierarchically overruling locomotion-promoting helicon cells. We uncover that R5 and helicon bidirectionally regulate behavioral responsiveness by providing antagonistic inputs to head direction targets (EPG). Thus, coherent oscillations can form the mechanistic basis of neural filters by temporally associating antagonistic inputs and therefore reducing the functional connectivity between locomotion gating and navigational networks.
Assessment of genetic diversity and SNP marker development within peanut germplasm in Taiwan by RAD-seq
Authors: Hsu Yu-Ming , Wang Sheng-Shan , Tseng Yu-Chien , Lee Shin-Ruei , Fang Hsiang , Hung Wei-Chia , Kuo Hsin-I , Dai Hung-Yu
Published: March 2022

The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) is an important oil crop but has a narrow genetic diversity. Molecular markers can be used to probe the genetic diversity of various germplasm. In this study, the restriction site associated DNA (RAD) approach was utilized to sequence 31 accessions of Taiwanese peanut germplasm, leading to the identification of a total of 17,610 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The origin of these 31 accessions is contrasted so the global subset (n = 17) has greater genetic diversity than the local subset (n = 14). Concerning botanical varieties, the var.fastigiatasubset has greater genetic diversity than the other two subsets of var.vulgarisand var.hypogaea, suggesting that novel genetic resources should be introduced into breeding programs to enhance genetic diversity. Principal component analysis (PCA) using genotyping data separated the 31 accessions into three clusters largely according to the botanical varieties, consistent with the PCA result for 282 accessions genotyped by 14 kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers developed in this study. The SNP markers identified in this work not only revealed the genetic relationship and population structure of current germplasm in Taiwan, but also offer an efficient tool for breeding and further genetic applications.
Do males know? Evidence-driven rainmaking mating strategy by male bonobos to meet the fertile window of females
Authors: Ryu Heungjin , Hashimoto Chie , Hill David A. , Mouri Keiko , Shimizu Keiko , Furuichi Takeshi
Published: March 2022

Female bonobos exhibit prolonged receptivity, one suggested function of which is to lower male mating competition. However, it is questionable whether easier access to receptive females can reduce male-male competition, given the exclusive nature of male reproductive success. We tested whether males could determine the fertile phase of females. We found that ovulation probability predicted male mating effort. High-ranking males copulated with females with higher fertility, and male-male agonistic interactions increased when there were fertile females in the party. When there were multiple females with maximal swelling, males concentrated their mating effort on females with an older infant whose maximal swelling started earlier, and they continued mating efforts until detumescence (rainmaking). These findings suggest that male bonobos distinguish between fertile and non-fertile phases of females and that having more receptive females in the party does not reduce male-male competition for fertile females.

Teaser

Males use the rainmaker’s rule to meet the periovulatory phase of the female bonobo for better reproductive success.
Childhood temperamental, emotional, and behavioral predictors of clinical mood and anxiety disorders in adolescence
Authors: Bakken Nora R. , Hannigan Laurie J. , Shadrin Alexey , Hindley Guy , Ask Helga , Reichborn-Kjennerud Ted , Tesli Martin , Andreassen Ole A. , Havdahl Alexandra
Published: March 2022

Background

Mood and anxiety disorders, often emerging during adolescence, account for a large share of the global burden of disability. Prospectively assessed premorbid early signs and trajectories can provide useful insights for early detection and development of these disorders.

Methods

Using the health registry linked Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) of 110,367 children, we here examine cross-sectional and longitudinal association between temperamental traits, emotional and behavioral problems in childhood (0.5-8 years) and diagnosis of mood or anxiety (emotional) disorders in adolescence (10-18 years). We included birth year and sex, retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, as covariates in all analyses.

Results

Logistic regression analyses showed consistent and increasing associations between childhood negative emotionality, behavioral and emotional problems and adolescent diagnosis of emotional disorders, present from 6 months of age (negative emotionality) and with similar magnitude of association for the associated traits. Latent profile analysis incorporating latent growth models identified five developmental profiles of emotional and behavioral problems. A profile of early increasing behavioral and emotional problems with combined symptoms at 8 years (1.3% of sample) was the profile most strongly associated with emotional disorders in adolescence (OR vs. reference: 5.00, 95% CI: 3.73-6.30).

Conclusions

We found a consistent and increasing association between negative emotionality, behavioral and emotional problems in early to middle childhood and mood and anxiety disorders in adolescence. A developmental profile coherent with early and increasing disruptive mood dysregulation across childhood was most predictive of adolescent emotional disorders. Our results highlight the importance of early emotional dysregulation and childhood as a formative period in the development of adolescent mood and anxiety disorders, supporting a potential for prevention and early intervention initiatives.
Withdrawal of Assisted Ventilation at the Patient’s Request in MND/ALS: A Retrospective Exploration of the Ethical and Legal Issues Concerning Relatives, Nurses and Allied Health Care Professionals
Authors: Phelps K. , Regen E. , McDermott C.J. , Oliver D.J. , Faull C.
Published: March 2022

Background

There is little literature focusing on the issues relatives and health professionals encounter when withdrawing assisted ventilation at the request of a patient with MND/ALS.

Aim

To explore with relatives, nurses and allied health professionals the ethical and legal issues that they had encountered in the withdrawal of ventilation at the request of a patient with MND/ALS.

Method

A retrospective qualitative interview study with 16 family members and 26 professionals. Data was analysed thematically and compared with results from a previous study with doctors.

Results

The events surrounding ventilation withdrawal were extraordinarily memorable for both HCPs and family members with clear recall of explicit details, even from years previously. The events had had a profound and lasting effect due to the emotional intensity of the experiences. Withdrawal of ventilation posed legal, ethical and moral challenges for relatives and health are professionals. Relatives looked to health care professionals for knowledge, guidance and reassurance on these issues, worried about how the withdrawal would be perceived by others, and found professional ignorance and disagreement distressing. Many health care professionals lacked theoretical knowledge and confidence on the legal and ethical considerations of withdrawal and struggled morally knowing the outcome of the withdrawal would be death. Health care professionals also worried about the perception of others of their involvement, which in turn influenced their practice. There was a lack of consistency in understanding across professions, and professionals often felt uncomfortable and anxious

Conclusions

Legal, ethical and practical guidance is needed and open discussion of the ethical challenges as well as education and support for health care professionals and relatives would improve the experience of all involved.
Health behaviours and their determinants among immigrants residing in Italy
Authors: Minchio Giovanni , Rusciani Raffaella , Costa Giuseppe , Sciortino Giuseppe , Spadea Teresa
Published: March 2022

Background

The mechanisms that influence the uptake of risky behaviours among immigrants are influenced by the interrelation between characteristics operating in different phases of their migratory experience. Characterizing their behavioural risk profile is needed to prioritize actions for prevention and health services organization. We therefore analysed health behaviours and their determinants among immigrants in Italy, jointly accounting for sociodemographic factors, migration pathways and integration indicators.

Methods

Data come from a national survey conducted in 2011-2012 on a sample of about 12000 households with at least one foreigner residing in Italy. The independent impact of a variety of sociodemographic, migratory and integration characteristics on obesity, smoking and daily alcohol consumption was assessed using multivariable Poisson models.

Results

The survey involved more than 15,000 first generation immigrants. Unhealthy lifestyles are more common among men than among women and vary widely by ethnic group. There is a significant impact of employment status and family composition, while the educational level loses importance. Longer duration of residence and younger age at arrival are associated with an increased behavioural risk. Among women we also observed an independent impact of the integration indicators, less important for men.

Conclusions

The profile of the main unhealthy lifestyles among migrants is shaped by cultural, socioeconomic and migratory characteristics, which differ by gender. Understanding these factors can help to design tailored preventive messages, necessary to interrupt the deterioration of migrants’ health capital. Low levels of integration have an additional negative impact on health, so inclusion and integration policies should complement health promotion strategies.