bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The carbon footprint of healthcare settings: A systematic review
Authors: Rodríguez‐Jiménez Lucas , Romero‐Martín Macarena , Spruell Timothy , Steley Zoe , Gómez‐Salgado Juan
Published: May 2023

Healthcare systems are responsible for 4%–5% of the emissions of greenhouse gases worldwide. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol divides carbon emissions into three scopes: scope 1 or direct emissions secondary to energy use; scope 2 or indirect emissions secondary to purchased electricity; and scope 3 for the rest of indirect emissions.

Aim

To describe the environmental impact of health services.

Design

A systematic review was conducted in the Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases. Studies that focused their analysis on a functional healthcare unit and which included. This review was conducted from August to October 2022.

Results

The initial electronic search yielded a total of 4368 records. After the screening process according to the inclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in this review. The reviewed studies found that between 15% and 50% of the total emissions corresponded to scopes 1 and 2 emissions, whereas scope 3 emissions ranged between 50% and 75% of the total emissions. Disposables, equipment (medical and non‐medical) and pharmaceuticals represented the higher percentage of emissions in scope 3.

Conclusion

Most of the emissions corresponded to scope 3, which includes the indirect emission occurring as a consequence of the healthcare activity, as this scope includes a wider range of emission sources than the other scopes.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care

Interventions should be carried out by the healthcare organizations responsible of Greenhouse Gas emissions, and also every single individual that integrates them should make changes. The use of evidence‐based approaches to identify carbon hotspots and implement the most effective interventions in the healthcare setting could lead to a significant reduction of carbon emissions.

Impact

This literature review highlights the impact that healthcare systems have on climate change and the importance of adopting and carrying out interventions to prevent its fast development.

Reporting Method

This review adhered to PRISMA guideline. PRISMA 2020 is a guideline designed for systematic reviews of studies that analyse the effects of heath interventions, and aim is to help authors improve the reporting of systematic review and meta‐analyses.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.
Expression of FBXW11 in normal and disease‐associated osteogenic cells
Authors: Dalle Carbonare Luca , Gomez Lira Macarena , Minoia Arianna , Bertacco Jessica , Orsi Silvia , Lauriola Angela , Li Vigni Veronica , Gandini Alberto , Antoniazzi Franco , Zipeto Donato , Mottes Monica , Bhandary Lekhana , Guardavaccaro Daniele , Valenti Maria Teresa
Published: May 2023

The ubiquitin‐proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis by degrading a multitude of key regulatory proteins. FBXW11, also known as b‐TrCP2, belongs to the F‐box family, which targets the proteins to be degraded by UPS. Transcription factors or proteins associated with cell cycle can be modulated by FBXW11, which may stimulate or inhibit cellular proliferation. Although FBXW11 has been investigated in embryogenesis and cancer, its expression has not been evaluated in osteogenic cells. With the aim to explore FBXW11gene expression modulation in the osteogenic lineage we performed molecular investigations in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and osteogenic cells in normal and pathological conditions. In vitro experiments as well as ex vivo investigations have been performed. In particular, we explored the FBXW11 expression in normal osteogenic cells as well as in cells of cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) patients or osteosarcoma cells. Our data showed that FBXW11 expression is modulated during osteogenesis and overexpressed in circulating MSCs and in osteogenically stimulated cells of CCD patients. In addition, FBXW11 is post‐transcriptionally regulated in osteosarcoma cells leading to increased levels of beta‐catenin. In conclusion, our findings show the modulation of FBXW11 in osteogenic lineage and its dysregulation in impaired osteogenic cells.
Challenges and opportunities for bioimage analysis core‐facilities
Authors: Soltwedel Johannes Richard , Haase Robert
Published: May 2023

Recent advances in microscopy imaging and image analysis motivate more and more institutes worldwide to establish dedicated core‐facilities for bioimage analysis. To maximise the benefits research groups at these institutes gain from their core‐facilities, they should be established to fit well into their respective environment. In this article, we introduce common collaborator requests and corresponding potential services core‐facilities can offer. We also discuss potential competing interests between the targeted missions and implementations of services to guide decision makers and core‐facility founders to circumvent common pitfalls.
Forecasting seed production in perennial plants: identifying challenges and charting a path forward
Authors: Journé Valentin , Hacket‐Pain Andrew , Oberklammer Iris , Pesendorfer Mario B. , Bogdziewicz Michał
Published: May 2023

Interannual variability of seed production, known as masting, has far‐reaching ecological impacts including effects on forest regeneration and the population dynamics of seed consumers. Because the relative timing of management and conservation efforts in ecosystems dominated by masting species often determines their success, there is a need to study masting mechanisms and develop forecasting tools for seed production. Here, we aim to establish seed production forecasting as a new branch of the discipline. We evaluate the predictive capabilities of three models – foreMast, ΔT, and a sequential model – designed to predict seed production in trees using a pan‐European dataset of Fagus sylvatica seed production. The models are moderately successful in recreating seed production dynamics. The availability of high‐quality data on prior seed production improved the sequential model's predictive power, suggesting that effective seed production monitoring methods are crucial for creating forecasting tools. In terms of extreme events, the models are better at predicting crop failures than bumper crops, likely because the factors preventing seed production are better understood than the processes leading to large reproductive events. We summarize the current challenges and provide a roadmap to help advance the discipline and encourage the further development of mast forecasting.
Safety and Efficacy of Cortical Bone Trajectory Screw Fixation Combined with Facet Fusion for the Treatment of Lumbar Degenerative Disease
Authors: Kong Xiaoqian , Li Bohan , Xu Leixin , Li Jianmin , Gao Chunzheng , Wu Dongjin , Ma Shengzhong , Song Yang , Zhao Jie , Wang Xiaoyun
Published: May 2023

Objective

The mainstream lumbar fusion surgeries have various shortcomings, such as complex operation, much invasion, and loss of lumbar function. How to minimize the surgical injury and to achieve better therapeutic effects has become the goal pursued by spine surgeons. This study introduces a cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw fixation combined with facet fusion (FF), evaluates its safety and efficacy, and explores its advantages, in order to provide a reference for treatment of patients with single‐level lumbar stenosis or grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, radiological, and operative data of 167 patients with single‐level lumbar stenosis or grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis who underwent FF or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) from January 2013 to September 2019 in the spine surgery department of the Second Hospital of Shandong University. Patients were divided into four groups according to surgical method: group CBT‐FF, CBT screw combined with FF; group PS‐FF, pedicle screw (PS) combined with FF; group CBT‐TLIF, CBT screw combined with TLIF; and group PS‐TLIF, PS combined with TLIF. The operation time, estimated intraoperative blood loss, complications after surgery, visual analog scale (VAS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI) of the four groups were compared. The fusion was evaluated by anteroposterior and lateral X‐ray, CT scan, and three‐dimensional reconstruction.

Results

Twelve months after surgery, the fusion rate of four groups had no significantly statistical differences (p = 0.914). VAS and ODI scores were lower after surgery than before. Low back pain VAS scores 1 week after surgery in group CBT‐FF and group CBT‐TLIF were significantly lower than those in group PS‐FF and group PS‐TLIF (pCF/PF = 0.001, pCF/PT = 0.000, pPF/CT = 0.049, pCT/PT = 0.000). Low back pain VAS score 3 months after surgery was significantly lower in group CBT‐FF than group PS‐FF and group PS‐TLIF (pCF/PF = 0.045, pCF/PT = 0.008). ODI score 1 week after surgery was significantly lower in group CBT‐FF than group PS‐FF, group CBT‐TLIF, and group PS‐TLIF (pCF/PF = 0.000, pCF/CT = 0.005, pCF/PT = 0.000, pCT/PT = 0.015). ODI score 3 months after surgery was significantly lower in group CBT‐FF than group PS‐FF, group CBT‐TLIF, and group PS‐TLIF (pCF/PF = 0.001, pCF/CT = 0.002, pCF/PT = 0.000). Incidence of complications did not significantly differ among the groups.

Conclusion

CBT screw fixation combined with FF is a safe and efficacious procedure for patients with single‐level lumbar stenosis or grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis. This minimally invasive approach of lumbar fusion can be simply and easily performed. Patients who undergo CBT screw fixation combined with FF recovered faster than TLIF.
Natural born violence? Understanding street‐level bureaucrats' use of violence: Police officers and protests
Authors: Alcadipani Rafael , Lotta Gabriela , Cohen Nissim
Published: May 2023

What factors influence street‐level bureaucrats' (SLBs) use of violence? To answer this question, we focus on police officers, a typical example of SLBs, who can lawfully use violence whenever they deem it necessary. Based on ethnographic work among Brazilian police officers dealing with protests, we analyze how violence erupts in the interaction between police officers and protesters. We contribute to the literature by suggesting that no single factor alone can explain the actions of SLBs regarding the use of violence, as previous research has posited. We demonstrate how the interplay between four factors explains the use of violence by SLBs: (1) institutional logic, (2) type of situation, (3) desire for revenge and having fun, and (4) lack of accountability. As such, we propose a more complex account of SLB's use of violence.
Disasters and social vulnerability determinants of federal subsidiarity assistance
Authors: Ahmadu Aisha S. , Nukpezah Julius A. , French P. Edward , Menifield Charles E.
Published: May 2023

Subsidiarity assistance creates opportunities for the federal government to intervene in subnational affairs, supplement emergency response, and reduce jurisdictional vulnerabilities. Recognizing the differential effects that disaster events and revenue sharing could have on states, the research investigates the determinants of federal subsidiarity assistance grants to states in the context of American federalism. This study draws from disaster impact scholarship and social vulnerability theory for theoretical context to understand the determinants of short‐term and long‐term public assistance grants and intergovernmental transfers, which constitute federal subsidiarity assistance to subnational governments. Using panel data on 50 U.S. states over a 17‐year time period, findings show that disasters trigger federal subsidiarity assistance for disaster‐induced short‐term and long‐term public assistance grants; however, social vulnerability more likely explains intergovernmental transfers to states.
Are special districts strategic complements or strategic substitutes?
Authors: Goodman Christopher B. , Carroll Deborah A.
Published: May 2023

What happens to general‐purpose local government spending for service provision when a special district enters the public service market? Theoretically, special districts can act either as complements by supplementing existing service provision spending or as substitutes by supplanting current service provision spending. We find a substitution effect using fixed effects regression on urban counties in the United States from 1972 to 2017. Special districts replace spending for public service provision by county governments; however, we find no similar result for municipal governments. But the results are nuanced—findings are confined mainly to public services that tend to cover large land areas, like fire protection, sewerage, and solid waste management. Furthermore, we find evidence that day‐to‐day operations drive observed substitution, and that county size is an important factor depending on the functional service area.
Parent training for 842 families experiencing disruptive child behavior across 19 Danish community sites: A benchmark effectiveness study
Authors: Greve Lea T. , Fentz Hanne N. , Trillingsgaard Tea
Published: May 2023

Interactional processes between child and parents, in particular harsh and coercive parenting practices, have been established as important factors maintaining and shaping the developmental trajectory of disruptive child behavior. The Incredible Years Parent Training (IYPT) is a well‐established evidence‐based program targeting negative parent‐child interactions in families with children exhibiting high levels of disruptive behaviors. There are, however, few studies investigating the effectiveness of the IYPT when implemented in established practice settings independently from research environments. Also, very little evidence exists for the program's effectiveness for school‐aged children. The IYPT was administered to consecutive groups of parents (N = 842) across 19 Danish community sites during the period from 2012 to 2019. Pre and post data were collected using the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). By means of a benchmark approach, the effectiveness of the intervention was compared with that of two European effectiveness randomized controlled trials. Large effect sizes were seen from pre to post for both parent‐reported number of problematic disruptive child behaviors (ECBI Problem subscale; d = 1.51, p = 0.000, 95% CI [9.06–10.01]) and frequency of these behaviors (ECBI Intensity subscale; d = 1.15, p = 0.000, 95% CI [29.33–32.73]). Treatment effects found in this study are comparable to or larger than those found in previous effectiveness studies and show the IYPT to be an effective intervention when implemented across a range of different community settings in a large community sample of children across an age span of 2 to 12 years.
Embracing a Radically Transformative Intellectual Approach
Authors: Arriaga Felicia
Published: May 2023

This article analyses how, as a child in a mixed status family in North Carolina, I was essentially born into the field. I come from the community I study and I am both a scholar and analyst of that community, as well as a civic leader in it, by, for example, serving on a local Human Rights Commission and working with coalitions that sought to vote out of office sheriffs whose policies were causing deportations and family separations, and voting in better sheriffs. I rightly describe myself as taking a radically transformative intellectual approach and see no conflict with my role as a scholar. My scholarly, publicly engaged, and community leader work emerge from intertwined strands in my personal history, a history that led to my personal insights, scholarly analyses, and civic leadership and action on the issues of sheriffs and their role in promoting deportations and family separations.
Pseudophosphatase STYXL1 depletion enhances glucocerebrosidase trafficking to lysosomes via ER stress
Authors: Patel Saloni , Bhatt Anshul Milap , Bhansali Priyanka , Setty Subba Rao Gangi
Published: May 2023

Pseudophosphatases are catalytically inactive but share sequence and structural similarities with classical phosphatases. STYXL1 is a pseudophosphatase that belongs to the family of dual‐specificity phosphatases and is known to regulate stress granule formation, neurite formation and apoptosis in different cell types. However, the role of STYXL1 in regulating cellular trafficking or the lysosome function has not been elucidated. Here, we show that the knockdown of STYXL1 enhances the trafficking of β‐glucocerebrosidase (β‐GC) and its lysosomal activity in HeLa cells. Importantly, the STYXL1‐depleted cells display enhanced distribution of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), late endosome and lysosome compartments. Further, knockdown of STYXL1 causes the nuclear translocation of unfolded protein response (UPR) and lysosomal biogenesis transcription factors. However, the upregulated β‐GC activity in the lysosomes is independent of TFEB/TFE3 nuclear localization in STYXL1 knockdown cells. The treatment of STYXL1 knockdown cells with 4‐PBA (ER stress attenuator) significantly reduces the β‐GC activity equivalent to control cells but not additive with thapsigargin, an ER stress activator. Additionally, STYXL1‐depleted cells show the enhanced contact of lysosomes with ER, possibly via increased UPR. The depletion of STYXL1 in human primary fibroblasts derived from Gaucher patients showed moderately enhanced lysosomal enzyme activity. Overall, these studies illustrated the unique role of pseudophosphatase STYXL1 in modulating the lysosome function both in normal and lysosome‐storage disorder cell types. Thus, designing small molecules against STYXL1 possibly can restore the lysosome activity by enhancing ER stress in Gaucher disease.
Thematic and Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou Poems: A Review of Literature
Authors: K Preethi , N Gayathri
Published: May 2023

Poetry is a form of creative art, through which many writers express their emotions, feelings, and also their bitter experiences to the world. Poetry, along with autobiography helped in the revelation of self, especially among African-Americans. Black women writers, in particular, have experienced many trials and tribulations while struggling for identity and freedom in the land of America. As women were considered inferior since the early period, their writings reflect deeply on their life stories and create a positive self-identity. Qualitative descriptive method is commonly used in the reviewed articles. This article examines the existing research on Angelou’s poems with the explored areas such as racism, gender issues, figurative analysis, feminism, stylistics, etc., and identifies the characteristics of self-portrait in them.
Benchmarking of protein interaction databases for integration with manually reconstructed signalling network models
Authors: Van de Graaf Matthew W. , Eggertsen Taylor G. , Zeigler Angela C. , Tan Philip M. , Saucerman Jeffrey J.
Published: May 2023

Protein interaction databases are critical resources for network bioinformatics and integrating molecular experimental data. Interaction databases may also enable construction of predictive computational models of biological networks, although their fidelity for this purpose is not clear. Here, we benchmark protein interaction databases X2K, Reactome, Pathway Commons, Omnipath and Signor for their ability to recover manually curated edges from three logic‐based network models of cardiac hypertrophy, mechano‐signalling and fibrosis. Pathway Commons performed best at recovering interactions from manually reconstructed hypertrophy (137 of 193 interactions, 71%), mechano‐signalling (85 of 125 interactions, 68%) and fibroblast networks (98 of 142 interactions, 69%). While protein interaction databases successfully recovered central, well‐conserved pathways, they performed worse at recovering tissue‐specific and transcriptional regulation. This highlights a knowledge gap where manual curation is critical. Finally, we tested the ability of Signor and Pathway Commons to identify new edges that improve model predictions, revealing important roles of protein kinase C autophosphorylation and Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation of CREB in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. This study provides a platform for benchmarking protein interaction databases for their utility in network model construction, as well as providing new insights into cardiac hypertrophy signalling.

image

Key points

Protein interaction databases are used to recover signalling interactions from previously developed network models.

The five protein interaction databases benchmarked recovered well‐conserved pathways, but did poorly at recovering tissue‐specific pathways and transcriptional regulation, indicating the importance of manual curation.

We identify new signalling interactions not previously used in the network models, including a role for Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation of CREB in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
Comparison of Operation and Maintenance of Floating 14 MW Turbines and Twin 10 MW Turbines
Authors: Avanessova Nadezda , Land James , Lee Alistair , Lazakis Iraklis , Thomson Camilla
Published: May 2023

Turbine ratings in the past decade have grown unexpectedly fast. In 2021, Siemens Gamesa and GE revealed their new 14 MW turbine models, and it is predicted that this is not yet the rating limit that turbines can reach. Increased turbine ratings can also be achieved by putting two turbines on a single foundation. This study analyzes how operation and maintenance (O&M) would differ if a floating wind farm had twin 10 MW turbines installed on each substructure, instead of a single 14 MW turbine. This study demonstrates how the strategic O&M simulation tool compass can be used to perform this comparison. Assumptions regarding the O&M of twin turbines were estimated with the major floating twin turbine developer Hexicon AB. This study analyzed four cases—a case with 35 twin 10 MW turbines, and three cases with 50 single 14 MW turbines—to understand the potential effect of increased consumable costs, spare part lead times, and maintenance durations. All cases had the same wind farm capacity of 700 MW. The results show that O&M for cases with single turbines is at least 4.5% more expensive than the case with twin turbines. The case with twin turbines also resulted in a higher availability than any other case. Additionally, results showed that operational expenditure (OPEX) for the cases with single turbines is at least 6.0% higher in scenarios with single turbines than in the twin turbine scenario. The biggest cost contributors to the difference between scenarios were craft costs, particularly cable laying vessels and tugs. Due to the higher number of cables required for the scenario with single turbines, there is more frequent mobilization of cable vessels for cable repairs.
Experimental Analysis of the Influential Factors on Mixed Convection Flow in Horizontal Pipes
Authors: Sharma Amrita , Sontakke Smita , Kothadia Hardik B. , Singh Shobhana , Mondal Bobin
Published: May 2023

It has been speculated that a forced pipe flow is always assisted by free convection owing to the dependency of fluid properties on its temperature. The purpose of the current study is to experimentally examine the effect of different-sized smooth horizontal pipes on mixed convection of water in internal flows under uniform heat flux (UHF) wall conditions. Infrared thermal imaging is used to measure outer surface temperature in axial and circumferential directions. Reynolds number range is taken between 1000 and 18,000 on three test sections of the diameter of 8 mm, 13.8 mm, and 17.8 mm. The outcome of varying tube diameter, mass flux, and heat flux on mixed flow characteristics is studied. The strength of free convection is illustrated by the ratio of top to bottom local heat transfer coefficient. It is found to be maximum at the tube outlet by 50% and 80% for 8 mm and 13.8 mm tube diameter than the inlet. This enhanced the laminar Nusselt number by 3 to 6 times the analytical value of Nu = 4.36 under UHF condition. The Nusselt number increases with the increase in the tube diameter. The Nusselt number increased by 36% when the surface area increased from a tube diameter of 8 mm to 17.8 mm. Also, the temperature distribution in the turbulent regime remains constant from the highest point to the bottom point. However, it significantly differs in laminar flow. A suitable correlation is suggested for the variation of the Nusselt number under the laminar regime showing the emphasis of free convection on forced convection.
Effect of Rib Blockage Ratio and Arrangements on Impingement Heat Transfer in Double-Wall Cooling
Authors: Kong Dehai , Ma Zhenyuan , Li Wei , Guo Tao , Liu Cunliang
Published: May 2023

A numerical study was conducted on the multiple jet impingement heat transfer of the double-wall cooling with high blockage ratio ribs of various configurations. Three different blockage ratios (BR = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5) and two rib arrangements relative to the effusion holes (l/Sx = 0.25 and 0.75) were thoroughly examined using the RANS method with the SST–KIC turbulence model, considering the Kato–Launder modification (K), intermittency (I), and crossflow (C) transition effects. The ratio of jet-to-target plate spacing to jet diameter (H/d) was fixed to be 1, and Reynolds numbers varied in the range of 4000–16,000. Furthermore, the computed data on the rib roughed wall were also compared with those on a flat plate for the double-wall cooling. The results demonstrate that the installation of the high blockage ribs significantly decreases the detrimental crossflow effect due to the blockage effect of the ribs and intensively disturbs the jet flow in flow passing over the ribs, thereby enhancing the heat transfer performance. For the impingement/effusion cooling, the arrangement of the rib downstream of the effusion holes (l/Sx = 0.25) shows more advantages, and the heat transfer level rises quickly as BR increases. The best thermal-hydraulic performance and heat transfer uniformity on the rib roughed target plate is both obtained at BR = 0.3, which can be increased by up to 10% and 8%, respectively, compared to those on the flat plate.
Science and the legal rights of nature
Authors: Epstein Yaffa , Ellison Aaron M. , Echeverría Hugo , Abbott Jessica K.
Published: May 2023

We review the use of science by lawmakers and courts in implementing or rejecting legal rights for nature in Ecuador, India, the United States, and other jurisdictions where some type of rights of nature have been recognized in the legal system. We then use the “right to evolve” to exemplify how interdisciplinary work can (i) help courts effectively define what this right might entail; (ii) inform how it might be applied in different circumstances; and (iii) provide a template for how scientists and legal scholars can generate the interdisciplinary scholarship necessary to understand and implement the growing body of rights-of-nature laws, and environmental law more generally. We conclude by pointing to what further research is needed to understand and effectively implement the growing body of rights-of-nature laws.
New partners reinvigorate a once-touted cancer treatment
Authors: Leslie Mitch
Published: May 2023

Decades after faltering, angiogenesis inhibitors show new promise when paired with checkpoint drugs
Hormogonium Development and Motility in Filamentous Cyanobacteria
Authors: Risser Douglas D.
Published: May 2023

Filamentous cyanobacteria exhibit some of the greatest developmental complexity observed in the prokaryotic domain. This includes the ability to differentiate nitrogen-fixing cells known as heterocysts, spore-like akinetes, and hormogonia, which are specialized motile filaments capable of gliding on solid surfaces.
State of the Art for Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis
Authors: Muzny Christina A. , Cerca Nuno , Elnaggar Jacob H. , Taylor Christopher M. , Sobel Jack D. , Van Der Pol Barbara
Published: May 2023

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginal discharge among reproductive-age women. It is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of acquisition of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), in addition to adverse birth outcomes.
Direct Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae by MALDI-TOF Analysis of Full Spectra Applying Machine Learning
Authors: Gato Eva , Arroyo Manuel J. , Méndez Gema , Candela Ana , Rodiño-Janeiro Bruno Kotska , Fernández Javier , Rodríguez-Sánchez Belén , Mancera Luis , Arca-Suárez Jorge , Beceiro Alejandro , Bou Germán , Oviaño Marina
Published: May 2023

MALDI-TOF MS is considered to be an important tool for the future development of rapid microbiological techniques. We propose the application of MALDI-TOF MS as a dual technique for the identification of bacteria and the detection of resistance, with no extra hands-on procedures.
Experimental Support for Human Papillomavirus Genome Amplification Early after Infectious Delivery
Authors: Zwolinska Katarzyna , Bienkowska-Haba Malgorzata , Scott Rona S. , Keiffer Timothy , Sapp Martin
Published: May 2023

It is being assumed that human papillomavirus (HPV) utilizes three different modes of replication during its life cycle: initial amplification during the establishment phase, genome maintenance, and differentiation-induced amplification. However, HPV16 initial amplification was never formally proven due to a lack of an infection model.
African Swine Fever Virus H240R Protein Inhibits the Production of Type I Interferon through Disrupting the Oligomerization of STING
Authors: Ye Guangqiang , Liu Hongyang , Liu Xiaohong , Chen Weiye , Li Jiangnan , Zhao Dongming , Wang Gang , Feng Chunying , Zhang Zhaoxia , Zhou Qiongqiong , Zheng Jun , Bu Zhigao , Weng Changjiang , Huang Li
Published: May 2023

African swine fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a highly contagious and acute hemorrhagic viral disease with a high mortality, approaching 100% in domestic pigs. However, the relationship between viral pathogenicity and immune evasion of ASFV is not fully understood, which limits the development of safe and effective ASF vaccines, specifically, live attenuated vaccines.
The Highly Conserved Stem-Loop II Motif Is Dispensable for SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Jiang Hongbing , Joshi Astha , Gan Tianyu , Janowski Andrew B. , Fujii Chika , Bricker Traci L. , Darling Tamarand L. , Harastani Houda H. , Seehra Kuljeet , Chen Hongwei , Tahan Stephen , Jung Ana , Febles Binita , Blatter Joshua A. , Handley Scott A. , Parikh Bijal A. , Wang David , Boon Adrianus C. M.
Published: May 2023

RNA viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), contain functional structures to support virus replication, translation, and evasion of the host antiviral immune response. The 3′ untranslated region of early isolates of SARS-CoV-2 contained a stem-loop II motif (s2m), which is an RNA structural element that is found in many RNA viruses.
The AEGEAN-169 clade of bacterioplankton is synonymous with SAR11 subclade V (HIMB59) and metabolically distinct
Authors: Getz Eric W. , Lanclos V. Celeste , Kojima Conner Y. , Cheng Chuankai , Henson Michael W. , Schön Max Emil , Ettema Thijs J. G. , Faircloth Brant C. , Thrash J. Cameron
Published: May 2023

Bacterioplankton of the SAR11 clade are the most abundant marine microorganisms and consist of numerous subclades spanning order-level divergence (
Pelagibacterales
). The assignment of the earliest diverging subclade V (a.k.a. HIMB59) to the
Pelagibacterales
is highly controversial, with multiple recent phylogenetic studies placing them completely separate from SAR11. Other than through phylogenomics, subclade V has not received detailed examination due to limited genomes from this group. Here, we assessed the ecogenomic characteristics of subclade V to better understand the role of this group in comparison to the
Pelagibacterales
. We used a new isolate genome, recently released single-amplified genomes and metagenome-assembled genomes, and previously established SAR11 genomes to perform a comprehensive comparative genomics analysis. We paired this analysis with the recruitment of metagenomes spanning the open ocean, coastal, and brackish systems. Phylogenomics, average amino acid identity, and 16S rRNA gene phylogeny indicate that SAR11 subclade V is synonymous with the ubiquitous AEGEAN-169 clade and support the contention that this group represents a taxonomic family. AEGEAN-169 shared many bulk genome qualities with SAR11, such as streamlining and low GC content, but genomes were generally larger. AEGEAN-169 had overlapping distributions with SAR11 but was metabolically distinct from SAR11 in its potential to transport and utilize a broader range of sugars as well as in the transport of trace metals and thiamin. Thus, regardless of the ultimate phylogenetic placement of AEGEAN-169, these organisms have distinct metabolic capacities that likely allow them to differentiate their niche from canonical SAR11 taxa.

IMPORTANCE

One goal of marine microbiologists is to uncover the roles various microorganisms are playing in biogeochemical cycles. Success in this endeavor relies on differentiating groups of microbes and circumscribing their relationships. An early-diverging group (subclade V) of the most abundant bacterioplankton, SAR11, has recently been proposed as a separate lineage that does not share a most recent common ancestor. But beyond phylogenetics, little has been done to evaluate how these organisms compare with SAR11. Our work leverages dozens of new genomes to demonstrate the similarities and differences between subclade V and SAR11. In our analysis, we also establish that subclade V is synonymous with a group of bacteria established from 16S rRNA gene sequences, AEGEAN-169. Subclade V/AEGEAN-169 has clear metabolic distinctions from SAR11 and their shared traits point to remarkable convergent evolution if they do not share a most recent common ancestor.
Alterations in the Gut Microbiome and Metabolisms in Pregnancies with Fetal Growth Restriction
Authors: Tao Zixin , Chen Yun , He Fang , Tang Jiawei , Zhan Limei , Hu Haoyue , Ding Ziling , Ruan Shenghang , Chen Yutao , Chen Beier , Wang Yan , Guo Xiaoling , Xie Liwei , Zhong Mei , Huang Qitao
Published: May 2023

Downstream of the primary cause of fetal growth restriction are placental insufficiency and fetal malnutrition. Gut microbiota and metabolites appear to play an important role in the progression of gestation, while dysbiosis induces maternal and fetal complications.
Identification of Type 4B Secretion System Substrates That Are Conserved among Coxiella burnetii Genomes and Promote Intracellular Growth
Authors: Larson Charles L. , Pullman Willis , Beare Paul A. , Heinzen Robert A.
Published: May 2023

Coxiella burnetii
secretes effector proteins via a T4BSS that are required for successful infection. Over 150
C. burnetii
proteins are reported to be T4BSS substrates and often by default considered putative effectors, but few have assigned functions.
Evaluation of the NG-Test CARBA 5 Lateral Flow Assay with an IMP-27-Producing Morganella morganii and Other
Morganellaceae
Authors: Tarlton Nicole J. , Wallace Meghan A. , Potter Robert F. , Zhang Kailun , Dantas Gautam , Dubberke Erik R. , Burnham Carey-Ann D. , Yarbrough Melanie L.
Published: May 2023

The detection of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) is an important function of the clinical microbiology laboratory, where positive identifications have immediate implications for infection control and surveillance strategies in the inpatient setting and can inform appropriate selection of therapy among the various novel anti-CP-CRE agents. NG-Test CARBA 5 is a relatively new lateral flow assay used for detection of carbapenemases in CP-CRE.
Escherichia coli B-Strains Are Intrinsically Resistant to Colistin and Not Suitable for Characterization and Identification of
mcr
Genes
Authors: Schumann Anna , Cohn Alexa R. , Gaballa Ahmed , Wiedmann Martin
Published: May 2023

Given the rise in multidrug, extensive drug, and pandrug resistance in bacteria and the increasing use of colistin to treat human infections, occurrence of
mcr
genes threatens human health, and characterization of these resistance genes becomes more important. We show that three commonly used heterologous expression strains are intrinsically resistant to colistin.
Antifungal Activity and Potential Action Mechanism of Allicin against Trichosporon asahii
Authors: Yang Xin , Bai Shuang , Wu Jiamin , Fan Yunlong , Zou Yuekun , Xia Zhikuan , Ao Junhong , Chen Tong , Zhang Mingwang , Yang Rongya
Published: May 2023

Systemic infection caused by
T. asahii
has recently been recognized as an important cause of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Invasive trichosporonosis remains a significant challenge for clinicians, due to the limited therapeutic options.
Comparison of
In Vitro
Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Imipenem-Relebactam against Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Wang Leilei , Zhang Xuefei , Zhou Xun , Yang Fan , Guo Qinglan , Wang Minggui
Published: May 2023

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance poses a particular challenge globally, and the concept of
P. aeruginosa
with “difficult-to-treat” resistance (DTR-
P. aeruginosa
) was proposed. Here,
P. aeruginosa
clinical isolates were highly susceptible to three β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, CZA, IMR, and ceftolozane-tazobactam.
SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for Anticoronavirus Drug Discovery
Authors: Royster Austin , Ren Songyang , Ma Yutian , Pintado Melissa , Kahng Eunice , Rowan Sean , Mir Sheema , Mir Mohammad
Published: May 2023

The lack of potent antiviral drugs for SARS-CoV-2 is a serious global health concern, especially with the explosive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide and the constant emergence of new mutant strains with improved human-to-human transmission. Although an effective coronavirus vaccine appears promising, the lengthy vaccine development processes in general and the emergence of new mutant viral strains with a potential to evade the vaccine always remain a serious concern.
Optimization of Phage-Antibiotic Combinations against Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
Authors: Kebriaei Razieh , Lehman Susan M. , Shah Rahi M. , Stamper Kyle C. , Kunz Coyne Ashlan J. , Holger Dana , El Ghali Amer , Rybak Michael J.
Published: May 2023

The extracellular polymeric matrix of biofilms presents an impediment to antibiotic diffusion, facilitating the emergence of multidrug-resistant populations. While most phage cocktails are designed for the planktonic state of bacteria, it is important to take the biofilm mode of growth (the predominant mode of bacterial growth in nature) into consideration, as it is unclear how interactions between any specific phage and its bacterial hosts will depend on the physical properties of the growth environment.
Inactivation of
ackA
and
pta
Genes Reduces GlpT Expression and Susceptibility to Fosfomycin in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Hirakawa Hidetada , Takita Ayako , Sato Yumika , Hiramoto Suguru , Hashimoto Yusuke , Ohshima Noriyasu , Minamishima Yoji A. , Murakami Masami , Tomita Haruyoshi
Published: May 2023

The spread of drug-resistant bacteria is a major threat in the field of medicine. Although fosfomycin is an old type of antimicrobial agent, it has recently come back into the limelight because of its effectiveness against many drug-resistant bacteria, including quinolone-resistant and ESBL-producing bacteria.
The Effect of Oral Iron Supplementation on Gut Microbial Composition: a Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial among Cambodian Women of Reproductive Age
Authors: Finlayson-Trick Emma , Nearing Jacob , Fischer Jordie AJ. , Ma Yvonne , Wang Siyun , Krouen Hou , Goldfarb David M. , Karakochuk Crystal D.
Published: May 2023

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published study to characterize the effects of oral iron supplementation on the gut microbiomes of Cambodian WRA. Our study found that iron supplementation with ferrous bisglycinate increases the relative abundance of
Enterobacteriaceae
, which is a family of bacteria that includes many Gram-negative enteric pathogens like
Salmonella
,
Shigella
, and
Escherichia coli
.
Classification of Edge Instabilities at Globus-M2 Tokamak
Authors: Solokha V. V. , Kurskiev G. S. , Yashin A. Yu. , Balachenkov I. M. , Varfolomeev V. I. , Voronin A. V. , Gusev V. K. , Goryainov V. Yu. , Dyachenko V. V. , Zhiltsov N. S. , Kiselev E. O. , Minaev V. B. , Novokhatsky A. N. , Petrov Yu. V. , Ponomarenko A. M. , Sakharov N. V. , Telnova A. Yu. , Tkachenko E. E. , Tokarev V. A. , Tolstyakov S. Yu. , Tukhmeneva E. A. , Khromov N. A. , Shchegolev P. B.
Published: May 2023

Among the peripheral instabilities observed at the Globus-M2 tokamak, two types of edge localized modes (ELMs) are brought into focus: ELMs synchronized and desynchronized with the sawtooth oscillations. The desynchronized ELMs appear in regimes that are characterized by high values of pressure in the pedestal, pped ≥ 3 kPa, and they are observed in discharges with the toroidal magnetic field BT > 0.6 T and plasma current IP > 0.3 MA. The desynchronized ELMs belong to the type-III/V with the dominating effect of the peeling mode. The synchronized ELMs were observed in a wider range of discharge parameters, including at BT < 0.6 T and IP < 0.3 MA. Calculations of the stability of the peeling-ballooning (PB) mode showed that at pedestal width ψnorm = 0.09 and pped > 3.5 kPa, destabilization of PB modes is possible without additional influence. Experimental data shows that the microtearing mode plays a dominant role in the pedestal. The microtearing mode does not allow the pedestal at Globus-M2 tokamak to reach the state of the unstable kinetic ballooning mode (KBM), which explains the low predictive power of the EPED model at this tokamak.
Hot Ion Mode in the Globus-M2 Spherical Tokamak
Authors: Kurskiev G. S. , Sakharov N. V. , Gusev V. K. , Minaev V. B. , Miroshnikov I. V. , Petrov Yu. V. , Telnova A. Yu. , Bakharev N. N. , Kiselev E. O. , Zhiltsov N. S. , Shchegolev P. B. , Balachenkov I. M. , Varfolomeev V. I. , Voronin A. V. , Goryainov V. Yu. , Dyachenko V. V. , Zhilin E. G. , Iliasova M. V. , Kavin A. A. , Konovalov A. N. , Krikunov S. V. , Lobanov K. M. , Melnik A. D. , Mineev A. B. , Novokhatsky A. N. , Patrov M. I. , Petrov A. V. , Ponomarenko A. M. , Skrekel’ O. M. , Solovei V. A. , Solokha V. V. , Tkachenko E. E. , Tokarev V. A. , Tolstyakov S. Yu. , Tukhmeneva E. A. , Khilkevitch E. M. , Khromov N. A. , Chernyshev F. V. , Shevelev A. E. , Shulyat’ev K. D. , Yashin A. Yu.
Published: May 2023

NBI-assisted plasma heating with one or two injectors of fast neutral atoms was studied at the Globus-M2 spherical tokamak at the toroidal magnetic fields of 0.8–0.9 T and plasma currents of 0.35–0.4 MA. Measurements of the spatial temperature and electron density distributions, performed using the Thomson scattering diagnostics, showed a twofold increase in heating of plasma electrons during the injection of neutral particles with energies of up to 45 keV at the beam power of 0.75 MW, as compared to the ohmic heating regime. Switching on the second additional beam with the particle energy of up to 30 keV and power of up to 0.5 MW resulted in obtaining the hot ion mode in the range of mean plasma densities of (1.6–10) × 1019 m−3. According to the data of active spectroscopy and neutral particle analyzer diagnostics, in the hot zone, the ion temperature reached 4 keV at the plasma density of 8 × 1019 m−3, which is more than 2.5 times higher than the electron temperature.
Schnitzler syndrome
Authors: Sankar Parvathy Ravi , Janamanchi Varalakshmi , Vondenberg Jaime , Calabrese Cassandra
Published: May 2023

A woman in her late 40s with a history of psoriatic arthritis presented to us with fever, migratory rash, cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy, and generalised myalgia. Her symptoms did not improve with steroids and her inflammatory markers were in the range of 2000 mg/dL for C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 71 mm/hour and ferritin of 4000 ng/mL. Infectious workup was negative. Haematological malignancy and autoimmune conditions were among the top differentials, and she was eventually diagnosed with Schnitzler syndrome. A multidisciplinary team consisting of internal medicine, rheumatology, infectious disease and haematology-oncology specialists was involved in the care of this patient. We highlight the diagnostic schema that was followed for this rare and unique constellation of symptoms.
Minimal important change and difference for knee osteoarthritis outcome measurement tools after non-surgical interventions: a systematic review
Authors: Silva M Denika C , Perriman Diana M , Fearon Angela M , Couldrick Jacqui M , Scarvell Jennie M
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To systematically review and provide estimates of the minimal important change (MIC) and difference (MID) for outcome tools in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) after non-surgical interventions.

Design

A systematic review.

Data sources

MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched up to 21 September 2021.

Eligibility criteria

We included studies that calculated MIC and MID using any calculation method including anchor, consensus and distribution methods, for any knee OA outcome tool after non-surgical interventions.

Data extraction and synthesis

We extracted reported MIC, MID and minimum detectable change (MDC) estimates. We used quality assessment tools appropriate to the studies’ methods to screen out low-quality studies. Values were combined to produce a median and range, for each method.

Results

Forty-eight studies were eligible (anchor-k=12, consensus-k=1 and distribution-k=35). MIC values for 13 outcome tools including Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)-pain, activities of daily living (ADL), quality of life (QOL) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC)-function were estimated using 5 high-quality anchor studies. MID values for 23 tools including KOOS-pain, ADL, QOL and WOMAC-function, stiffness and total were estimated using 6 high-quality anchor studies. One moderate quality consensus study reported MIC for pain, function and global assessment. MDC values from distribution method estimates for 126 tools including KOOS-QOL and WOMAC-total were estimated using 38 good-to-fair-quality studies.

Conclusion

Median MIC, MID and MDC estimates were reported for outcome tools in people with knee OA after non-surgical interventions. The results of this review clarify the current understanding of MIC, MID and MDC in the knee OA population. However, some estimates suggest considerable heterogeneity and require careful interpretation.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020215952.