bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the vegetation's temporal–spatial response to meteorological and hydrogeological drought in drylands
Authors: Mohamadi Sedigheh , Mianabadi Ameneh , Anvari Sedigheh
Published: June 2023

As the most constraining environmental factor of vegetation development in arid areas, soil moisture is mainly supplied by precipitation and groundwater resources. Considering the varying sensitivity of different plant communities to precipitation and groundwater‐induced water shortages, the communities' management requires the study of the effects of both meteorological and hydrogeological droughts on vegetation. Therefore, this study sought to model the effects of meteorological and hydrogeological droughts on vegetation indices obtained from MODIS satellite images in the Sirjan plain from 2000 to 2019. To this end, vegetation communities were first identified and separated based on extensive field operations, taking into account the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) at the plant communities' scale. Then, meteorological drought was calculated using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the hydrogeological drought was also measured by Groundwater Resource Index (GRI) via the Kriging technique. Finally, the relationship was modelled using Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR). The results revealed that SPI at a 6‐month time scale (as an important index) played a significant role in elaborating the changes in VCI in eight communities out of 18 ones at the 6‐month scale, acting as a strong and reliable estimator. Moreover, 61.6% of VCI changes in Artemisia sieberi‐Seidlitzia rosmarinus community were explained with GRI and SPI at a 6‐month time scale, indicating the dependence on groundwater and precipitation. Nonetheless, some communities (i.e. six cases) were unresponsive. These findings draw our attention to the importance of considering the special reaction of each plant community in the management.
Estimating nitrous oxide emissions based on TN discharge from municipal wastewater treatment plants: A case study for the city of Xiamen, China
Authors: Bai Ruolin , Jin Lei , Fu Haiyan , Zhuang Mazhan , Wei Yi
Published: June 2023

Mitigation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is of primary importance to meet the targets of reducing carbon footprints of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This paper takes the N2O discharged from a case study of wastewater treatment plants as the main research object, and then develops a novel algorithm, which can accurately estimate the amount of N2O release, and then applies it to the local wastewater treatment plants. According to the results, the nitrous oxide emission flux and the emission factors (EFs) are discussed. The results include the following: (1) The total amount of N2O discharged from Xiamen wastewater treatment plants between 2018 and 2019 was 3881.29 kg and 3642.97 kg, respectively; (2) the production of N2O emissions based on the total nitrogen (TN) algorithm in the existing wastewater treatment factories in Xiamen was obtained based on the research EFs; and (3) by controlling other factors of WWTPs process such as chemical oxygen demand /nitrogen (COD)/ (N) ratio, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, pH value (the degree of concentration of hydrogen ions), and solids retention time (SRT) in the wastewater treatment process, selecting a secondary wastewater treatment process with an economical and reasonable approach can reduce N2O emissions in the wastewater treatment process. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transcriptional development of the hippocampus and the dorsal–intermediate–ventral axis in rats
Authors: Olsen Lene C. , Galler Meital , Witter Menno P. , Sætrom Pål , O'Reilly Kally C.
Published: June 2023

Risk and resilience for neuropsychiatric illnesses are established during brain development, and transcriptional markers of risk may be identifiable in early development. The dorsal–ventral axis of the hippocampus has behavioral, electrophysiological, anatomical, and transcriptional gradients and abnormal hippocampus development is associated with autism, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and mood disorders. We previously showed that differential gene expression along the dorsoventral hippocampus in rats was present at birth (postnatal day 0, P0), and that a subset of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was present at all postnatal ages examined (P0, P9, P18, and P60). Here, we extend the analysis of that gene expression data to understand the development of the hippocampus as a whole by examining DEGs that change with age. We additionally examine development of the dorsoventral axis by looking at DEGs along the axis at each age. Using both unsupervised and supervised analyses, we find that the majority of DEGs are present from P0 to P18, with many expression profiles presenting peaks or dips at P9/18. During development of the hippocampus, enriched pathways associated with learning, memory, and cognition increase with age, as do pathways associated with neurotransmission and synaptic function. Development of the dorsoventral axis is greatest at P9 and P18 and is marked by DEGs associated with metabolic functions. Our data indicate that neurodevelopmental disorders like epilepsy, schizophrenia and affective disorders are enriched with developmental DEGs in the hippocampus, regardless of dorsoventral location, with the greatest enrichment of these clinical disorders seen in genes whose expression changes from P0‐9. When comparing DEGs from the ventral and dorsal poles, the greatest number of neurodevelopmental disorders is enriched with DEGs found at P18. Taken together, the developing hippocampus undergoes substantial transcriptional maturation during early postnatal development, with expression of genes involved in neurodevelopmental disorders also showing maximal expression changes within this developmental period.
Caregiver perspectives on a water safety toolkit for child supervision
Authors: Morgan Erin R. , Sakamoto Isabell , Ardelean Alan , Diaz‐Rohena Alejandra , Falk Allison , Starnes Cara , Rivara Frederick P. , Vavilala Monica
Published: June 2023

Issue Addressed

Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths among children and adolescents globally. Adult supervision is one method to decrease the risk of drowning among youth.

Methods

We sought to assess the acceptability of a Water Watcher toolkit among children's caregivers. The toolkit consists of a badge—to designate the adult(s) responsible for supervision during water activities—and a smartphone application. When activated, the application blocks incoming calls, text messages and other applications, for example, mobile games and social media, as well as providing a button to quickly dial 911 and information for guided cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We conducted online and in‐person semi‐structured interviews of 16 adults residing in Washington State, United States and providing supervision to a child under 18 years of age for at least 20 h per week. Interview guides were developed based on the Health Belief Model and we performed content analysis on interview transcripts using an inductive approach.

Results

When asked about Water Watcher tools, respondents generally reacted favourably towards the intervention, citing benefits of formally delegating a responsible party during group activities and elimination of distractions. Primary challenges to using the toolkit were social acceptability, competence with technology, and the independence of older children (i.e., those 13‐ to 17‐years‐old).

Conclusions

Caregivers recognized the importance of minimizing distractions, and many liked the strategy to formally designate responsibility for child supervision during aquatic recreation.

So What?

Interventions such as the Water Watcher toolkit are generally considered acceptable and expanding access to these resources could reduce the burden of unintentional drownings.
Perceived quality of sleep across the menopausal transition: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Maxwell Rose A. , Reisinger‐Kindle Keith M. , Rackett Traci M. , Yaklic Jerome L. , Czerwinski Stefan A. , Lee Miryoung
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

To compare sleep quality among naturally and surgically post‐menopausal women, and to identify lifestyle factors that predict sleep quality in pre, peri, and postmenopausal women.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of data collected from 429 women who participated in Fels Longitudinal Study data. Sleep quality, based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, demographics, medical history, depression, quality of life, and physical activity levels were included in the analysis.

Results

The four study groups did not differ on overall sleep quality with either scale (p = 0.61). Both Post‐M groups were more likely to have a major sleep problem than the Peri‐M and Pre‐M groups (p < 0.001), and to have a history of restless leg syndrome (p = 0.016), but the two Post‐M groups did not differ on these problems. Predictors of sleep quality included depression, bodily pain, vitality, and surgical menopause (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Menopause is associated with sleep disrupting conditions. This study did not find any significant differences in sleep quality among the three reproductive stages or for natural versus surgical menopause. Women may benefit from addressing other lifestyle factors associated with poor sleep quality including mental health factors.
Eosinophil: An innate immune cell with anti‐filarial vaccine and biomarker potential
Authors: Kwarteng Alexander , Mensah Caleb , Osei‐Poku Priscilla
Published: June 2023

Background

Filarial infections continue to pose a great challenge in endemic countries. One of the central goals in the fight against human filarial infections is the development of strategies that will lead to the inhibition of microfilariae (mf) transmission. Keeping mf under a certain threshold within endemic populations will stop transmission and eliminate the infection.

Method

A narrative review was carried out to identify the possibilities and limitations of exploring the use of eosinophil responses as an anti‐filarial vaccine, and biomarker for the detection of filarial infections. An extensive literature search was performed in online scientific databases including PubMed Central, PubMed, BioMed Central, with the use of predefined search terms.

Results

A better understanding of the parasite‐host interactions will lead to the development of improved and better treatment or vaccine strategies that could eliminate filariasis as soon as possible. Highlighted in this review is the explorative use of eosinophil‐producing CLC/Galectin‐10 as a potential biomarker for filarial infections. Also discussed are some genes, and pathways involved in eosinophil recruitments that could be explored for anti‐filarial vaccine development.

Conclusion

In this short communication, we discuss how eosinophil‐regulated genes, pathways, and networks could be critical in providing more information on how reliably a front‐line immune player could be exploited for anti‐filarial vaccine development and early infection biomarker.
Thermodynamic stability analysis of non‐Fourier model‐based bio‐heat transfer in laser‐irradiated cylindrical‐shaped multilayered biological tissue
Authors: Kishore Pankaj , Kumar Sumit
Published: June 2023

The present research focuses on examining the thermic response of living tissue in the form of a triple‐layered cylindrical structure when subjected to laser light and the compatibility analysis of non‐Fourier heat transfer with thermodynamics second law. The temperature field in the triple‐layered cylindrical living tissue subjected to laser light is determined by numerically solving the transient radiative transfer equation in conjunction with the dual phase lag (DPL) based bioheat equation. Once the temperature field is known, the equilibrium and nonequilibrium entropy production rate (EPR) is calculated based on the hypothesis of classical irreversible thermodynamics and extended irreversible thermodynamics, respectively. The present results are verified against the data from the literature and found a good match between them. A comparative analysis of the Fourier and non‐Fourier models is accomplished. The equilibrium and nonequilibrium EPR values for the Fourier model are found to be positive. While the equilibrium EPR is negative for non‐Fourier heat conduction and does not satisfy the thermodynamics second law, nonequilibrium EPR is always a positive value for Fourier, DPL, and hyperbolic models and satisfies thermodynamics second law. It has been investigated how thermal relaxation times affect the temperature field and EPRs in tissue are subjected to laser light.
Picosecond laser‐induced hybrid groove structures on Ti‐6Al‐4V bio‐alloy to accelerate osseointegration
Authors: Kedia S. , Checker R. , Sandur S. K. , Nilaya J. P.
Published: June 2023

Regulating cell growth, extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization of artificial implants are some important parameters that decide the longevity of implants in the body. Picosecond laser‐induced hybrid groove structures have been shown to improve these properties of the Ti‐6Al‐4V bio‐alloy. Two hybrid structures containing groove patterns with periodic and non‐periodic substructures therein were generated on Ti‐6Al‐4V by varying the extent of laser pulse overlapping on sample surface. Laser‐induced alteration in surface topography, chemical composition and wettability of Ti‐6Al‐4V resulted in 3‐fold increase in the rate of hydroxyapatite growth, 2.5‐fold increment in protein adsorption and 2‐fold enhancement in cell adhesion in comparison to pristine sample. While the periodic substructure was found to guide cell growth, the nonperiodic sub structure offered homogenous growth leading to higher overall cell density on the substrate surface.
A survey of amalgam use to guide dental education curriculums
Authors: Khodayari Aynaz , Jessani Abbas , Adeniyi Abiola , Anderson Greg , Tam Laura E. , De Souza Grace M.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To identify behavioral, preferential, and professional factors influencing the use of amalgam in private practices; and to compare the incidence of the placement of amalgam versus composite resin restorations in the province of Ontario and its pedagogical implications on dental curricula.

Methods

Participants responded anonymously to a 23‐question online survey about their current use of dental amalgam and composite resins as well as their opinions regarding both dental materials. The explanatory variables were associated bivariately with the outcome variables, and the most significant predictors were identified using the multivariate analysis.

Results

Higher percentages of amalgam use were reported among clinicians who trained in Canada only (P = .009), who graduated before 1980 (p = <.001) and who work outside private practice (p = <.001). Familiarity with amalgam was higher among clinicians who are female (p = <.001), older (p = <.001), trained only in Canada (p = .017), who graduated prior to 2000 (p = <.001), and who work in locations with populations over 100,000 (p = .042). Familiarity with composite resin was higher among clinicians who graduated more recently (p = .002). A higher percentage of females (p = <.001), younger clinicians (p = <.001), recent graduates (p = <.001), and clinicians who work in private practice (p = .043) suggested that over 50% of dental student training time be allocated to amalgam.

Conclusions

Decreased amalgam use was reported by later dental graduates and private practitioners; this may be impacted by familiarity with dental amalgam. As amalgam remains a safe and effective dental material, its removal may not be prudent. Dental educators play a crucial role in the future of amalgam opinion and use.
Investigation of some new main group metal complexes of hydrazine and 2‐mercaptopyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid mixed–ligands
Authors: Kumar K. , Murugesan S. , Muneeswaran T. , Ramakritinan C. M.
Published: June 2023

Synthesis of some new coordination complexes of main group metals (Ba, Ca, Mg, Sr, and Pb) with 2‐mercaptopyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid (H2Mpc) and hydrazine mixed ligands and their characterization through various chemical and spectral analyses are described in this article. With the help of analytical data obtained from mass, elemental (CHNS), hydrazine content, and metal content analysis, the molecular formulae of the complexes have been proposed as [Ba(N2H4)2(HMpc)H2O], [Ca(N2H4)2(HMpc)(H2O)2], [Sr(N2H4)(HMpc)(H2O)3], [Mg(N2H4)4(HMpc)].4H2O and [Pb(N2H4)5(HMpc)2]. The vibrational (FT‐IR and Raman) spectral data exposes that the 2‐mercaptopyridine‐3‐carboxylic acid coordinates with metal ion via both carboxylate‐O and thiolate‐S in the mode of bi‐dentate dianion while the hydrazine acts as bridging bi‐dentate. On thermal decomposition, these complexes dehydrate to give metal 2‐mercaptopyridine‐3‐carboxylate intermediates, which on further decomposition (heating upto 750°C) give the metal carbonates in the cases of Ba, Ca and Sr, and metal oxides for Mg and Pb. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of the ligand and its complexes are studied against five bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and four fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Penicilium variance).
Palaeoenvironmental history of the Middle Pleistocene deposits at Gilson, Warwickshire, England: part of the High Speed Two railway route alignment
Authors: Gibson Sebastian M. , Field Michael H. , Gibbard Philip L.
Published: June 2023

The investigation of a hillside at Gilson (Lat. 52.510341, Long. ‐1.718313), southwest of Coleshill, Warwickshire (within the High Speed Two railway ‘Delta Junction’ compound), England, has yielded evidence of sedimentation during a temperate stage. The site's stratigraphy starts with the aggregation of cold‐climate sand and gravels deposited during the Anglian Stage within the proto‐Tame and proto‐Blythe palaeovalleys. A warm‐climate period is recorded by the infill of organic material representing the second half of the Hoxnian interglacial Stage. Picea, Abies and Pinus dominate vegetation within a swamp‐like environment, before a Pinus forest develops in the upper part of the organic sequence. The following cold‐climate period saw incision and aggregation of the surrounding region throughout much of the Wolstonian and Devensian Stages, where much of the overlying silt, sand and gravel were reworked under intense periglacial conditions. Presented here is a geophysical examination of the shallow basin by ground‐penetrating radar undertaken to understand the spatial distribution and stratigraphical history of the basin. The deposits at Gilson provide a valuable stratigraphic marker in the glacial sequence of the English West Midlands and are correlated to similar deposits at neighbouring Quinton and Nechells. At these regional sites organic accumulation occurred for most of the temperate stage, infilling lake basins. These sequences indicate an environment dominated by pollen of Abies, Quercus, Ulmus and Corylus woodland vegetation. These assemblages differ markedly from those typically found in the last interglacial and confirm correlation to the Middle Pleistocene Hoxnian interglacial Stage (c. MIS 11c).
Denoising Raman spectra using a single layer convolutional model trained on simulated data
Authors: Gil Eddie M. , Cheburkanov Vsevolod , Yakovlev Vladislav V.
Published: June 2023

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful means of revealing chemical and structural information about a sample and acquiring chemically specific images. Such images often suffer from low signal to noise ratios (SNR). In this report, a novel way to improve the SNR using machine learning tools based on simulated data. The proposed approach offers an alternative to time consuming acquisition and labeling of large data sets and can be readily applied to unknown systems. Here, the efficacy of a single layer denoising network trained only on simulated data was evaluated, and it was found that the proposed model was able to provide a substantial improvement in SNR.
Reworking Classification of First Branchial Cleft Anomalies
Authors: Wilson John , Jaju Alok , Wadhwani Nitin , Gorelik Michael , Johnston Douglas , Rastatter Jeffrey , Bhushan Bharat , Hazkani Inbal , Fudyma Iga , Maddalozzo John
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical features of first branchial cleft anomalies (BCAs) and their relationship to pre‐operative imaging, pathologic data, and post‐operative surveillance outcomes. Additional aims were to assess the validity of the Work classification and describe features of recurrent cysts.

Methods

Records for 56 children (34 females, 22 males; age at surgery of 5.6 ± 4.4 years) collected over a 12‐year period (2009–2021) were reviewed. Imaging and pathologic slides were re‐reviewed in a blinded fashion by experts in those respective areas. Parents were contacted via telephone to obtain extended follow‐up. An alternate classification method based on the presence (type II) or absence (type I) of parotid involvement is provided.

Results

Only 55% of first BCAs could be successfully classified using Work's method. First BCAs within the parotid were more likely to present with recurrent infections, involve scarred tissue planes and lymphadenopathy, and demonstrate enlarged lymphoid follicles on pathology. The overall recurrence rate was 16%, and recurrence was 5.3 times more likely when external auditory canal cartilage was not resected. Preoperative imaging was useful for predicting the extent of surgery required and the presence of scarred tissue planes.

Conclusion

First BCAs within the parotid gland involve more difficult and extensive surgical resection and the potential for morbidity related to facial nerve dissection. Appropriately aggressive surgical resection, which may include the resection of involved ear cartilage, is necessary to prevent morbidity related to recurrence.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:459–465, 2024
Treatment of buccal mucosal carcinomas: A survey amongst head and neck surgeons in the Netherlands
Authors: Adriaansens Carleen M. E. M. , Noorlag Rob , de Bree Remco , van Es Robert J. J.
Published: June 2023

Objective

Currently, there is no up‐to‐date guideline for the treatment of buccal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (BMSCC) in the Netherlands. A questionnaire was used to investigate the opinions of Dutch head and neck surgeons on BMSCC of the cheek treatment.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to all 91 head and neck surgeons in the Netherlands. Their opinions on surgical tumor‐free margins, through‐and‐through defects, and indications for local adjuvant therapy were questioned.

Results

The response rate was 51%. To prevent a through‐and‐through defect, 67% of the surgeons would accept a deep clinical (macroscopic) margin of ≤5 mm. The less adverse histological characteristics a tumor has, the less consensus there is amongst the surgeons for local adjuvant treatment in case of close margins.

Conclusion

There is no consensus amongst Dutch head and neck surgeons about the optimal treatment for BMSCC of the cheek. There are different opinions on acceptable resection margins, indications for a through‐and‐through defect, and indications for adjuvant treatment. BMSCC of the cheek treatment should be more uniform and less surgeon dependent.

Level of evidence

N/A
3D‐printed degradable hydroxyapatite bioactive ceramics for skull regeneration
Authors: Gui Xingyu , Zhang Boqing , Su Zixuan , Zhou Zhigang , Dong Zhihong , Feng Pin , Fan Chen , Liu Ming , Kong Qingquan , Zhou Changchun , Fan Yujiang , Zhang Xingdong
Published: June 2023

Hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramics have been extensively employed as bone tissue scaffolds owing to their biodegradability and osteoinductivity. In our work, HA, a significant component of natural bone tissue used as the raw material to produce porous scaffolds employing three‐dimensional (3D)‐printing technology. Physical and chemical properties, porosity, and compression resistance of the scaffolds were investigated in vitro. The scaffold was confirmed to have a large number of interconnected pore structures on the surface and inside HA scaffolds showed good cell compatibility and cell adhesion in cell text. To analyze the effect of the scaffold on bone repair and regeneration in vivo, the large‐size defect of beagle skull was repaired with a 3D printing group and an autologous bone group (ABG) for 8 months. Images and histological analysis of the 3D printing group indicated better integration with adjacent tissues. However, there were obvious gaps in the ABG, which indicates weak bone regeneration ability of this group due to unmatched implant dimension. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed that 3D‐printed scaffolds had a highly vascularized structure. This study indicates that 3D‐printed bioceramics scaffolds that are osteoinductivity and biodegradable have great potential in maxillofacial bone regeneration.
Movement Disorders in PURA Syndrome: A Video Case Series
Authors: Crippa Ana C.S. , Bacheladenski Eli Paula , Rodrigues Danielle C.B. , Ferreira Letícia Pugim , Meira Alex T. , Franklin Gustavo L.
Published: June 2023

Background

PURA syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by neonatal hypotonia, neurodevelopmental delay, facial dysmorphism, epileptic seizures, complex movement disorders, among other features. Although many pathogenic variants have been reported, there is currently no clear genotype–phenotype association identified.

Cases

Four patients diagnosed with PURA syndrome, despite carrying different pathogenic variants, presented a similar mixed hyperkinetic movement disorder. The phenomenology presented a complex set of symptoms, including chorea, interspersed with dystonic and uncoordinated movements. All patients presented also hypotonia, nystagmus, feeding difficulties, craniofacial dysmorphisms. Hypersomnolence and breathing problems were common and observed in three patients, while seizures were found in three patients.

Conclusions

PURA syndrome may be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with severe hypotonia, feeding difficulties and severe developmental delay with epileptic seizures, that start to develop a mixed hyperkinetic movement disorder. These complex movements may be an important clue for the diagnosis of this rare disorder.
Community detection and clustering characteristics analysis of the stock market
Authors: Xing Jia , Li Binghui , Yang Yuehan
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we study and analyze the community detection algorithms and the related evaluation metrics to explore the clustering characteristics of China's stock market. We build the stock market network by the constituent companies of the CSI 300 index and study the tightness between nodes. We first choose an appropriate adjacency matrix, which is obtained by the relation coefficient. Then, based on the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the adjacency matrix, we analyze the optimal network based on the directed spectral clustering on the ratio of eigenvectors and the spectral clustering followed by local refinement. The optimal network is chosen based on the best clustering effect according to the clustering effectiveness indexes Calinski–Harabasz and Davies–Bouldin. We explore the community structure in the stock market and study the influence of each community. Through the index out‐degree and in‐degree, we also obtain the most important companies in the market. Different from the traditional strategies that are always based on qualitative methods and undirected networks, this paper explores the characteristics of how to detect China's stock market. Specifically, we offer suitable strategies and measurements to evaluate the clustering results objectively and fairly. The qualities of community detection are measured too. Based on the above analysis, we further provide valuable insights by exploring the characteristics of the stock market.
Exploration of the link between COVID‐19 and alcoholic hepatitis from the perspective of bioinformatics and systems biology
Authors: Huang Tengda , Yu Bingxuan , Zhou Xinyi , Pan Hongyuan , Du Ao , Bai Jincheng , Li Xiaoquan , Jiang Nan , He Jinyi , Yuan Kefei , Wang Zhen
Published: June 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has been suggested to purpose threats to health of mankind. Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a life‐threatening acute and chronic liver failure that takes place in sufferers who drink excessively. During the epidemic, AH has an increasing incidence of severe illness and mortality. The intrinsic relationship of molecular pathogenesis, as well as common therapeutic strategies for two diseases are still poorly understood. The transcriptome of the COVID‐19 and AH has been compared to obtain the altered genes and hub genes were screened out through protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Via gene ontology (GO), pathway enrichment, and transcription regulator analysis, a deeper appreciation of the interplay mechanism between hub genes were established. Finally, gene‐disease and gene–drug analysis were displayed to instruct the clinical treatments. With 181 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of AH and COVID‐19 were obtained, 10 hub genes were captured. Follow‐up studies located that these 10 genes typically mediated the diseases occurrence by regulating the activities of the immune system. Other results suggest that the common pathways of the two ailments are enriched in regulating the function of immune cells and release of immune molecules. The top 10 drug candidates have been chosen primarily, some of which have been proved effective in treating AH sufferers infected with COVID‐19. This study reveals the common pathogenesis of COVID‐19 and AH and assist to discover necessary therapeutic targets to combat the ongoing pandemic induced via SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and acquire promising remedy strategies for the two diseases.
Usefulness of indocyanine green angiography in the intraoperative evaluation of recipient vessels for microsurgical lower extremity reconstruction in ischemic vasculopathy: Report of three cases
Authors: Ammar Hamad M. , Kim Jina , Lee Kyeong‐Tae
Published: June 2023

Choosing reliable recipient vessels is crucial for successful free flap reconstruction of lower extremity defects, especially in patients with ischemic vasculopathy. This report describes our experience with the intraoperative use of indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) for selecting recipient vessels in lower extremity free flap reconstruction cases. Three patients with lower extremity defects and ischemic vasculopathy underwent free flap reconstruction. Intraoperatively, the candidate vessels were evaluated using ICGA. In the first case, a 10 × 6 cm defect on the anterior side of the lower third of the leg caused by minor trauma and associated with peripheral arterial occlusive disease was reconstructed using a super‐thin anterolateral thigh flap based on one perforator. In the second case, a 12 × 8 cm defect on the posterior side of the right lower leg caused by a dog bite and associated with severe atherosclerosis throughout all three major vessels in the lower leg was reconstructed using a muscle‐sparing latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap. In the third case, a 13.5 × 5.5 cm defect on the right lateral malleolar region, where the peroneus longus tendon was exposed due to Buerger's disease, was reconstructed using a one perforator‐based super‐thin anterolateral thigh flap. In all cases, ICGA was used to evaluate the functionality of the candidate recipient vessels. In two cases, the candidate vessels showed acceptable blood flow, and the operations proceeded as planned. In the third case, the planned vessels of posterior tibial vessels were not identified to have sufficient blood flow, and one of their branches showing enhancement in ICGA was selected and used as a recipient vessel. All flaps survived completely. No adverse events occurred during the follow‐up period of postoperative 3 months. Our results suggest that ICGA may be a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the quality of candidate recipient vessels in cases where their functionality cannot be guaranteed with conventional imaging modalities.
Human skin bacterial microbiota homeostasis: A delicate balance between health and disease
Authors: Zhu Yibin , Yu Xi , Cheng Gong
Published: June 2023

As the largest organ of the body, the skin acts as a barrier to prevent diseases and harbors a variety of beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, the skin bacterial microbiota plays a vital role in health and disease. Disruption of the barrier or an imbalance between symbionts and pathogens can lead to skin disorders or even systemic diseases. In this review, we first provide an overview of research on skin bacterial microbiota and human health, including the composition of skin bacteria in a healthy state, as well as skin bacterial microbiota educating the immune system and preventing the invasion of pathogens. We then discuss the diseases that result from skin microbial dysbiosis, including atopic dermatitis, common acne, chronic wounds, psoriasis, viral transmission, cutaneous lupus, cutaneous lymphoma, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Finally, we highlight the progress that utilizes skin microorganisms for disease therapeutics, such as bacteriotherapy and skin microbiome transplantation. A deeper knowledge of the interaction between human health and disease and the homeostasis of the skin bacterial microbiota will lead to new insights and strategies for exploiting skin bacteria as a novel therapeutic target.
Inverse problem for a time‐fractional differential equation with a time‐ and space‐integral conditions
Authors: Kirane Mokhtar , Lopushansky Andriy , Lopushanska Halyna
Published: June 2023

We study the inverse problem for a differential equation of order
with the time Caputo fractional derivative and a source with values in Schwartz‐type distributions. The generalized solution of the Cauchy problem for such an equation with initial values and a time‐dependent reaction coefficient are unknown. We find sufficient conditions for the unique solvability of the inverse problem under a time‐ and space‐integral overdetermination conditions.
A new fractional derivative operator and its application to diffusion equation
Authors: Sharma Ruchi , Goswami Pranay , Dubey Ravi Shanker , Belgacem Fethi Bin Muhammad
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a new fractional derivative operator is introduced with the help of Lonezo–Hartely function (G‐function). Further, with the help of this fractional derivative operator, a new fractional diffusion equation is proposed and solved analytically with the help of Laplace transform. Some applications related to the operator are also discussed in corollaries.
The effect of spill change on reliable absolute dosimetry in a synchrotron proton spot scanning system
Authors: Tan Hong Qi , Lew Kah Seng , Koh Calvin Wei Yang , Wibawa Andrew , Master Zubin , Beltran Chris J. , Park Sung Yong , Furutani Keith M.
Published: June 2023

Background

Absolute dosimetry measurement is an integral part of Treatment Planning System (TPS) commissioning and it involves measuring the integrated absorbed dose to water for all energies in a pencil beam scanning delivery system. During the commissioning of Singapore's first proton therapy center, a uniform scanned field with an Advanced Markus chamber method was employed for this measurement, and a large dose fluctuation of at least 5% was observed for 10% of the energy layers during repeated measurements.

Purpose

This study aims to understand the root cause of this fluctuation by relating the actual delivered spot information in the log file with the charge measurement by the ion chambers.

Methods

A dedicated pencil beam dose algorithm was developed, taking into account the log file parameters, to calculate the dose for a single energy layer in a homogeneous water phantom. Three energies, 70.2, 182.7, and 228.7 MeV were used in this study, with the 182.7 MeV energy exhibiting large dose fluctuation. The dose fluctuation was investigated as a function of detector's sizes (pinpoint 3D, Advanced Markus, PTW 34070, and PTW 34089) and water depth (2 , 6, and 20 cm). Twelve ion chambers measurements were performed for each chamber and depth. The comparison of the theoretically predicted integrated dose and the charge measurement served as a validation of the algorithm.

Results

About 5.9% and 9.6% dose fluctuation were observed in Advanced Markus and pinpoint 3D measurements at 2 cm depth for 182.7 MeV, while fluctuation of 1.6% and 1.1% were observed in Advanced Markus with 228.7 and 70.2 MeV at similar depth. Fluctuation of less than 0.1% was observed for PTW34070 and PTW 34089 for all energies. The fluctuation was found to diminish with larger spot size at 20 cm depth to 1.3% for 182.7 MeV. The theoretical and measured charge comparison showed a high linear correlation of for all datasets, indicating the fluctuation originated from the delivered spot characteristics. The cause of fluctuation was identified to be due to the spill change occurring close to the detector, and since the spot positional deviation profiles were different between two spills, this resulted in local hot spots between columns of spots. The actual position of spill change varies randomly during measurement, which led to a random occurrence of hot spot within the detector's sensitive volume and a fluctuating dose measurement.

Conclusion

This is the first report of a dose fluctuation greater than 5% in absolute dosimetry measurement with a uniform scanned field and the cause of the fluctuation has been conclusively determined. It is important to choose the MU and scanning pattern carefully to avoid spill change happening when the spot delivery is near the detector.
Dipolectric antenna for high‐field MRI
Authors: Wenz Daniel , Xin Lijing , Dardano Thomas , Kuehne Andre
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To introduce the dipolectric antenna: a novel RF coil design for high‐field MRI using a combination of a dipole antenna with a loop‐coupled dielectric resonator antenna.

Methods

Simulations in human voxel model Duke involving 8‐, 16‐, and 38‐channel dipolectric antenna arrays for brain MRI were conducted. An 8‐channel dipolectric antenna for occipital lobe MRI at 7 T was designed and constructed. The array was built of four dielectric resonator antennas (dielectric constant = 1070) and four segmented dipole antennas. In vivo MRI experiments were conducted in one subject, and the SNR performance was benchmarked against a commercial 32‐channel head coil.

Results

A 38‐channel dipolectric antenna array provided the highest whole‐brain SNR (up to a 2.3‐fold SNR gain in the center of the Duke's head vs. an 8‐channel dipolectric antenna array). Dipolectric antenna arrays driven in dipole‐only mode (with dielectric resonators used as receive‐only) yielded the highest transmit performance. The constructed 8‐channel dipolectric antenna array provided up to threefold higher in vivo peripheral SNR when compared with a 32‐channel commercial head coil.

Conclusion

Dipolectric antenna can be considered a promising approach to enhance SNR in human brain MRI at 7 T. This strategy can be used to develop novel multi‐channel arrays for different high‐field MRI applications.
Dietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae improves survival after thermal and osmotic challenge during sexual reversal of postlarval Nile Tilapia
Authors: Faust Miguel , Owatari Marco Shizuo , Almeida Maria Vitoria Santos , Santos Ariane Leite , Martins Wellington , Vicente Luiz Rodrigo Mota , Jatobá Adolfo
Published: June 2023

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the stress resistance and growth performance of postlarval Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus that were fed a diet supplemented with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic.

Methods

Two groups were established in triplicate: fish that were given a diet supplemented with probiotic and a control group that received a diet without probiotic. Two-hundred larvae were randomly distributed into each of six experimental units. Fish were fed six times daily. After 20 days, growth performance was determined, including survival, final weight, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, and effectiveness of sexual reversal. From these fish, 30 fingerlings (0.25 ± 0.02 g [mean ± SD]) per experimental unit were removed and used to perform stress tests (n = 180), with 10 fingerlings being subjected to three stressors (i.e., transport, osmotic shock, and thermal shock).

Result

Fish that were fed the probiotic diet showed improved performance in final weight (16.6%) and survival (15.1%), as well as higher resistance to thermal (102.3%) and osmotic (27.5%) challenges, compared to control fish.

Conclusion

Saccharomyces cerevisiae improved growth performance and survival and had no effect on the rate of masculinization.
Fat distribution measurements by chemical shift‐encoded transition region extraction predict the risk of hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and metabolic syndrome in mice
Authors: Wu Hui‐Xuan , Lin Xiao , Cheng Chuan‐Li , Jiang Hong‐Li , Iqbal Junaid , Liu Jun , Zhou Hou‐De
Published: June 2023

Metabolically healthy or unhealthy obesity is closely related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). To validate a more accurate diagnostic method for obesity that reflects the risk of metabolic disorders in a pre‐clinical mouse model, C57BL/6J mice were fed high‐sucrose–high‐fat and chow diets for 12 weeks to induce obesity. MRI was performed and analysed by chemical shift‐encoded fat–water separation based on the transition region extraction method. Abdominal fat was divided into upper and lower abdominal regions at the horizontal lower border of the liver. Blood samples were collected, and the glucose level, lipid profile, liver function, HbA1c and insulin were tested. k‐means clustering and stepwise logistic regression were applied to validate the diagnosis of hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and MetS, and to ascertain the predictive effect of MRI‐derived parameters to the metabolic disorders. Pearson or Spearman correlation was used to assess the relationship between MRI‐derived parameters and metabolic traits. The receiver‐operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic effect of each logistic regression model. A two‐sided p value less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance for all tests. We made the precise diagnosis of obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and MetS in mice. In all, 14 mice could be diagnosed as having MetS, and the levels of body weight, HbA1c, triglyceride, total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher than in the normal group. Upper abdominal fat better predicted dyslipidaemia (odds ratio, OR = 2.673; area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve, AUCROC = 0.9153) and hyperglycaemia (OR = 2.456; AUCROC = 0.9454), and the abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was better for predicting MetS risk (OR = 1.187; AUCROC = 0.9619). We identified the predictive effect of fat volume and distribution in dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and MetS. The upper abdominal fat played a better predictive role for the risk of dyslipidaemia and hyperglycaemia, and the abdominal VAT played a better predictive role for the risk of MetS.
Farmers' land‐use decision‐making: A dynamical modelling approach that integrates qualitative knowledge about social norms into a quantitative model
Authors: Vortkamp Irina , Hilker Frank M.
Published: June 2023

The concept of the homo oeconomicus is often used to model human behaviour in economic contexts. However, other factors like tradition or the preference to comply with social norms can play a role in decision‐making processes.

To emphasize the need for incorporating non‐pecuniary values in economic models, we use data for participation in several agri‐environment schemes (AES) in Europe and show that dynamical patterns can not be simulated by models using the homo oeconomicus concept.

The presented data show gradually increasing participation levels in AES even if payment levels are constant. Furthermore, low participation levels are sometimes observed despite appropriate incentive schemes.

We propose and investigate a dynamic mathematical model to implement social norms in farmers' land‐use decision‐making in the face of AES. This socio‐economic model can help to explain the variety of observed behavioural patterns. It can generate multistable dynamics regarding the level of AES participation in the long‐term. We further assume that informative campaigns can modify farmers' perception of norms. Campaigns can have a stabilizing effect if strong enough.

The attempt of this work is to gain a better understanding of how the integration of social human behaviour in economic models affects simulation patterns.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Novel biocidal polyampholytes with guanidinium and carboxy groups
Authors: Gorbunova Marina , Zagumennova Darya , Lemkina Larisa
Published: June 2023

Polyampholytes are a promising class of multifunctional polymers containing both cationic and anionic groups. By varying the total charge of the copolymers, it is possible to significantly change the properties of the target macromolecule, such as molecular weight, solubility, reactivity, etc. In an attempt to create new polyampholytes, here the radical copolymerization of 2,2‐diallyl‐1,1,3,3‐tetraethylguanidinium chloride (AGC) with acrylic (AA), methacrylic (MAA), vinylacetic (VAA), and crotonic (CA) acids in bulk and in organic solvents has been studied and described. The relative reactivity of the unsaturated acids in the radical copolymerization with AGC in bulk appears to be MAA > AA > CA > VAA. It is shown that both AGC double bonds participate in copolymerization with unsaturated acids, forming a cyclolinear polymer chain including cis/trans‐stereoisomeric pyrrolidinium subunits. The kinetics of this polymerization has been studied. The possibility and prospects of chemical modifications of copolymers by drugs bearing an amino group are considered. Moreover, the copolymers under study, including the guanidinium moiety, are effective against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria.