bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behavioral and Neuropathological Changes After Toxoplasma gondii Ocular Conjunctival Infection in BALB/c Mice
Authors: Soares Gabrielly Lisboa da Silva , Leão Ellen Rose Leandro Ponce de , Freitas Sinara Franco , Alves Raissa Maria Carvalho , Tavares Naiana de Paula , Costa Maria Vitória Nascimento , Menezes Gabriel Castro de , Oliveira Jhonnathan Henrique Palheta de , Guerreiro Luma Cristina Ferreira , Assis Alexa Camila Lopes de , Araújo Sanderson Corrêa , Franco Felipe Tuji de Castro , Anaissi Ana Karyssa Mendes , Carmo Ediclei Lima do , Morais Rafaela dos Anjos Pinheiro Bogoevich , Demachki Samia , Diniz José Antonio Picanço , Nunes Heloisa Marceliano , Anthony Daniel C. , Diniz Daniel Guerreiro , Diniz Cristovam Wanderley Picanço
Published: March 2022

Ocular infection with Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis in mice. However, following ocular infection with tachyzoites, the cause of the accompanying progressive changes in hippocampal-dependent tasks, and their relationship with the morphology and number of microglia, is less well understood. Here, in 6-month-old, female BALB/c mice, 5 μl of a suspension containing 48.5 × 106 tachyzoites/ml was introduced into the conjunctival sac; control received an equal volume of saline. Before and after instillation, all mice were subject to an olfactory discrimination (OD) test, using predator (cat) feces, and to an open-field (OF) task. After the behavioral tests, the animals were culled at either 22 or 44 days post-instillation (dpi), and the brains and retinas were dissected and processed for immunohistochemistry. The total number of Iba-1-immunolabeled microglia in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus was estimated, and three-dimensional reconstructions of the cells were evaluated. Immobility was increased in the infected group at 12, 22, and 43 dpi, but the greatest immobility was observed at 22 dpi and was associated with reduced line crossing in the OF and distance traveled. In the OD test, infected animals spent more time in the compartment with feline fecal material at 14 and at 43 dpi. No OD changes were observed in the control group. The number of microglia was increased at 22 dpi but returned to control levels by 44 dpi. These changes were associated with the differentiation of T. gondii tachyzoites into bradyzoite-enclosed cysts within the brain and retina. Thus, infection of mice with T. gondii alters exploratory behavior, gives rise to a loss in predator’s odor avoidance from 2 weeks after infection, increased microglia number, and altered their morphology in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.
The Integral Nature of Encounter Rate in Predicting Livestock Depredation Risk
Authors: Hoffmann Claire F. , Pilfold Nicholas W. , Ruppert Kirstie A. , Letoluai Ambrose , Lenguya Laiyon , Limo Isaac , Montgomery Robert A.
Published: March 2022

Carnivore depredation of livestock is one of the primary drivers of human-carnivore conflict globally, threatening the well-being of livestock owners, and fueling large carnivore population declines. Interventions designed to reduce carnivore depredation typically center around predictions of depredation risk. However, these spatial risk models tend to be informed by data depicting the number of livestock attacked by carnivores. Importantly, such models omit key stages in the predation sequence which are required to predict predation risk, or in this case depredation risk. Applying the classic predation risk model defined by Lima and Dill demonstrates that depredation risk is dependent upon quantifying the rates at which carnivores encounter livestock before attacking. However, encounter rate is challenging to estimate, necessitating novel data collection systems. We developed and applied such a system to quantify carnivore-livestock encounters at livestock corrals (i.e., bomas) across a 9-month period in Central Kenya. Concurrently, we monitored the number of livestock attacked by carnivores at these bomas. We calculated carnivore-livestock encounter rates, attack rates, and depredation risk at the boma. We detected 1,383 instances in which carnivores encountered livestock at the bomas. However, we only recorded seven attacks. We found that the encounter rate and attack rate for spotted hyenas were almost six and three times higher than that for any other species, respectively. Consequently, spotted hyenas posed the greatest depredation risk for livestock at the boma. We argue that better understanding of carnivore-livestock encounter rates is necessary for effective prediction and mitigation of carnivore depredation of livestock.
Thoracoscopic Trans-mitral Septal Myectomy for Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy in the Elderly
Authors: Wei Peijian , Liu Jian , Ma Jiexu , Liu Yanjun , Tan Tong , Wu Hongxiang , Zhu Wei , Chen Zhao , Chen Jimei , Zhuang Jian , Guo Huiming
Published: March 2022

Background

The thoracoscopic trans-mitral approach can not only facilitate exposure of the ventricular septum, mitral valve, and subvalvular apparatus, it also enables the surgeons to perform concomitant mitral valve intervention. This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of thoracoscopic trans-mitral septal myectomy in elderly patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).

Methods

We reviewed the demographic to clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent thoracoscopic trans-mitral septal myectomy in our center between April 2019 and April 2021. The population was divided into a younger group (<60 years) and an elderly group (≥60 years).

Results

There were 46 and 20 patients in the younger and elderly groups, respectively. The majority of patients in the elderly group were female (39.1 vs. 80.0%, P < 0.01). Patients in the elderly group were more likely to be in New York Heart Association Class IV (2.2 vs. 80.0%, P < 0.01). The European System for Cardiac Operation Risk Evaluation II predicted mortality rates were significantly higher (3.97 ± 1.81 vs. 1.62 ± 0.86%, P < 0.01) in the elderly group. In the elderly group, a patient converted to median sternotomy due to left ventricular posterior free wall rupture following septal myectomy and mitral bioprosthetic valve replacement. The patient then underwent double-patch sandwich repair for rupture and mitral mechanical valve replacement and was eventually discharged. All patients in the elderly group were discharged, while one in the younger group died. No patient in the elderly group required permanent pacemaker implantation vs. one in the younger group. Patients in the elderly group were more likely to spend more time in the intensive care unit than those in the younger group (5.44 ± 5.80 days vs. 3.07 ± 2.72, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant intergroup difference in in-hospital mortality or complications. Importantly, the left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient was significantly decreased from 96.15 ± 32.89 mmHg to 8.2 ± 3.42 mmHg with no residual obstruction in the elderly group. The interventricular septal thickness was significantly decreased from 19.73 ± 3.14 mm to 11.30 ± 2.23 mm. Postoperative mitral regurgitation severity was significantly improved in the elderly group.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that thoracoscopic trans-mitral septal myectomy is a feasible option for selected elderly patients with satisfactory outcomes similar to those of young patients.
Assessing the Joint Impact of Climatic Variables on Meteorological Drought Using Machine Learning
Authors: Zheng Yuexin , Zhang Xuan , Yu Jingshan , Xu Yang , Wang Qianyang , Li Chong , Yao Xiaolei
Published: March 2022

With the intensification of climate change, the coupling effect between climate variables plays an important role in meteorological drought identification. However, little is known about the contribution of climate variables to drought development. This study constructed four scenarios using the random forest model during 1981–2016 in the Luanhe River Basin (LRB) and quantitatively revealed the contribution of climate variables (precipitation; temperature; wind speed; solar radiation; relative humidity; and evaporative demand) to drought indices and drought characteristics, that is, the Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), and Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI). The result showed that the R2 of the model is above 0.88, and the performance of the model is good. The coupling between climate variables can not only amplify drought characteristics but also lead to the SPEI, SPI, and EDDI showing different drought states when identifying drought. With the decrease in timescale, the drought intensity of the three drought indices became stronger and the drought duration shortened, but the drought frequency increased. For short-term drought (1 mon), four scenarios displayed that the SPEI and SPI can identify more drought events. On the contrary, compared with the SPEI and SPI, the EDDI can identify long and serious drought events. This is mainly due to the coupling of evaporative demand, solar radiation, and wind speed. Evaporation demand also contributed to the SPEI, but the contribution (6–13%) was much less than the EDDI (45–85%). For SPEI-1, SPEI-3, and SPEI-6, the effect of temperature cannot be ignored. These results are helpful to understand and describe drought events for drought risk management under the condition of global warming.
Influence of Inter-Particle Friction and Damping on the Dynamics of Spherical Projectile Impacting Onto a Soil Bed
Authors: Shen Weigang , Zhao Tao , Crosta Giovanni B. , Dai Feng , Dattola Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

This study investigates the dynamics of a spherical projectile impact onto a granular bed via numerical simulations by discrete element method (DEM). The granular bed is modeled as an assembly of polydisperse spherical particles and the projectile is represented by a rigid sphere. The DEM model is used to investigate the cratering process, including the dynamics of the projectile and energy transformation and dissipation. The cratering process is illustrated by tracking the motion of the projectile and granular particles in the bed. The numerical results show that the dynamics of the projectile follows the generalized Poncelet law that the final penetration depth is a power-law function of the falling height. The numerical results can match well the experimental data reported in the literature, demonstrating the reliability of the DEM model in analyzing the impact of a spherical projectile on a granular bed. Further analyses illustrate that the impact process consists of three main stages, namely the impact, penetration and collapse, as characterized by the evolution of projective velocity, strong force chains and crater shape. The initial kinetic and potential energy of the projectile is dissipated mainly by inter-particle friction which governs the projectile dynamics. The stopping time of projectile decreases as the initial impact velocity increases. The final penetration depth scales as one-third the power of total falling height and is inversely proportional to the macroscopic granular friction coefficient.
Modelling Fault Scarp Degradation to Determine Earthquake History on the Muztagh Ata and Tahman Faults in the Chinese Pamir
Authors: Lu Lejun , Zhou Yu , Zhang Peizhen , Cheng Xiao
Published: March 2022

The frequency of earthquakes on active faults is usually revealed by palaeoseismic trenching and geological dating. Nonetheless, field trenching and sampling are sometimes limited by difficulties in logistics, therefore impeding palaeoseismological studies. As surface rupture earthquakes create fault scarps that evolve with time, they may also provide important information about the timing of earthquakes. In this study, we provide a new approach to determine earthquake history based on the morphology of fault scarps. We select the Muztagh Ata and Tahman normal faults in the Chinese Pamir as a test area, on which fault scarps are well preserved but the earthquake history has not been quantified yet. We first simulate fault scarp degradation using a nonlinear transport model to obtain the empirical relationship between scarp width and its evolution time. We then measure 68 fault scarps from high-resolution topographic data derived from WorldView-2 stereo imagery. The measured fault scarps are clustered in four groups, each group possibly representing one earthquake event. Combining the time-width relationship and scarp width measurements, we infer that four earthquakes occurred at 0.1±0.4 kyrs before the present (BP), 2.1±0.5 kyrs BP, 2.9±0.4 kyrs BP and 4.9±0.5 kyrs BP, respectively. The first event is likely to be the most recent earthquake occurred on the faults, i.e., the 1895 Tashkurgan earthquake ( ∼0.13 kyrs BP). Based on the estimated earthquake recurrence intervals and vertical offsets, we obtain a vertical slip rate of 2.2±0.3 mm/yr on the Muztagh Ata and Tahman faults, conforming to previous geological rate estimates.
Quantitative Characterization for Pore Connectivity, Pore Wettability, and Shale Oil Mobility of Terrestrial Shale With Different Lithofacies—A Case Study of the Jurassic Lianggaoshan Formation in the Southeast Sichuan Basin of the Upper Yangtze Region in Southern China
Authors: Zhang Kun , Jiang Zhenxue , Song Yan , Jia Chengzao , Yuan Xuejiao , Wang Xueying , Zhang Liwen , Han Fengli , Yang Yiming , Zeng Yao , Liu Pei , Tang Liangyi , Chen Xuecheng , Zheng Zehao
Published: March 2022

Some major hydrocarbon-bearing basins are rich in shale with terrestrial facies in China, which may provide abundant terrestrial shale oil and gas resources. This work studied the Jurassic Lianggaoshan Formation in the Southeast Sichuan Basin of the upper Yangtze Region. Core samples were chosen for the total organic carbon content and mineral composition analyses to classify shale lithofacies. Afterward, pore connectivity, pore wettability, and shale oil mobility with different lithofacies were characterized by spontaneous imbibition, nuclear resonance, and centrifugation. Conclusions are as follows: the pore connectivity of organic-rich clay shale was mostly between moderate to good with oil-prone wettability and high mobile oil saturation. The organic-rich mixed shale has moderate to good pore connectivity, water-prone wettability, and the highest mobile oil saturation. Organic matter–bearing clay shale has bad to moderate pore connectivity. Meanwhile, its pore wettability covers oil wetting, mixed wetting, oil-prone wetting, and water-prone wetting. Its mobile oil saturation was moderate. Regarding organic matter–bearing mixed shale, the pore connectivity was bad to moderate with mixed-wetting pore wettability and moderate mobile oil saturation.
Study on Influence of Heavy Oil Reservoir Damage Caused by Multi-Component Thermal Fluid Huff and Puff
Authors: Yu Xinan , Liu Xilei , Chen Mingming , Wu Guanghuan , Li Xiaoping
Published: March 2022

Multi-component thermal fluid (MCTF) huff and puff technology is an innovative heavy oil development technology widely used in China offshore oilfields. MCTFs mainly include steam, N2 and CO2. Under high temperature and high pressure, the physical and chemical reactions between thermal fluids and rocks occur, damaging the reservoir permeability and production effect. In this paper, 16 groups of core comparison experiments were carried out by MCTF device, the influence of original permeability, temperature and component on reservoir damage was quantitatively studied, and a mathematical model was established. Finally, the influence of reservoir damage on heavy oil development was investigated through numerical simulation. The experimental study reveals that MCTF has an obvious damage effect on the reservoir, where temperature and PV dominate the damage degree; with the increase of MCTF injection volume (PV), the core permeability rapidly decreases initially and stabilizes later (>6 PV). The numerical simulation results show that reservoir damage could lead to a recovery drop by 6.9% during MCTF development; on the premise of considering reservoir damage, MCTF huff and puff will further improve oil recovery by 9.68% compared with pure steam. The research is of great significance for understanding the production law of MCTF huff and puff and helpful for promoting the development of offshore heavy oil reservoir.
Spatio-Temporal High-Resolution Subsoil Compaction Risk Assessment for a 5-Years Crop Rotation at Regional Scale
Authors: Kuhwald Michael , Kuhwald Katja , Duttmann Rainer
Published: March 2022

Soil compaction results whenever applied soil stress by machinery exceed the soil strength. Both, soil strength and stress, are spatially and temporally highly variable, depending on the weather situation, the current crop type, and the machinery used. Thus, soil compaction risk is very dynamic, changes from day to day and from field to field. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil compaction risk and to identify hot-spot areas of high soil compaction risk at regional scale. Therefore, we selected a study area (∼2,000 km2) with intensive arable farming in Northern Germany, having a high share of cereals, maize and sugar beets. Sentinel-2 images were used to derive the crop types for a 5-years crop rotation (2016–2020). We calculated the soil compaction risk using an updated version of the SaSCiA-model (Spatially explicit Soil Compaction risk Assessment) for each single day of the period, with a spatial resolution of 20 m. The results showed the dynamic changes of soil compaction risk within a year and throughout the entire crop rotation. The relatively dry years 2016 and 2018–2020 reduced the soil compaction risk even at high wheel loads applied to soil during maize and sugar beet harvest. Contrary, high precipitation in 2017 increased the soil compaction risk considerably. Focusing on the complete 5-year period, 2.7% of the cropland area was identified as hot-spots of soil compaction risk, where the highest soil compaction risk class (“extremely high”) occurred every year. Additionally, 39.8% of the cropland was affected by “extremely high” soil compaction at least in one of the 5 years. Although the soil compaction risk analysis does not provide information on the actual extent of the compacted area, the identification of risk areas within a period may contribute to understand the dynamics of soil compaction risk in crop rotation at regional scale and provide advice to mitigate further soil compaction in areas classified as high risk.
Microplastics as an Emerging Environmental Pollutant in Agricultural Soils: Effects on Ecosystems and Human Health
Authors: Yu Hong , Zhang Ying , Tan Wenbing , Zhang Zheng
Published: March 2022

Microplastics are <5 mm in size, made up of diverse chemical components, and come from multiple sources. Due to extensive use and unreasonable disposal of plastics, microplastics have become a global environmental issue and have aroused widespread concern about their potential ecological risks. This review introduces the sources, distribution and migration of microplastics in agricultural soil ecosystems. The effects of microplastics on soil physicochemical properties and nutrient cycling are also discussed. Microplastics can alter a series of key soil biogeochemical processes by changing their characteristics, resulting in multiple effects on the activities and functions of soil microorganisms. The effects of microplastics on soil animals and plants, the combined effects of microplastics and coexisting pollutants (organic pollutants and heavy metals), and their potential risks to human health are also discussed. Finally, prevention and control strategies of microplastic pollution in agricultural soil ecosystems are put forward, and knowledge gaps and future research suggestions about microplastic pollution are given. This review improves the understanding of environmental behavior of microplastics in agricultural soil ecosystems, and provides a theoretical reference for a better assessment of the ecological and environmental risks of microplastics.
Global Survey, Expressions and Association Analysis of CBLL Genes in Peanut
Authors: Ren Weifang , Zeng Zhaocong , Wang Sijian , Zhang Juncheng , Fang Jiahai , Wan Liyun
Published: March 2022

Cystathionine γ-synthase (CGS), methionine γ-lyase (MGL), cystathionine β-lyase (CBL) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CGL) share the Cys_Met_Meta_PP domain and play important roles in plant stress response and development. In this study, we defined the genes containing the Cys_Met_Meta_PP domain (PF01053.20) as CBL-like genes (CBLL). Twenty-nine CBLL genes were identified in the peanut genome, including 12 from cultivated peanut and 17 from wild species. These genes were distributed unevenly at the ends of different chromosomes. Evolution, gene structure, and motif analysis revealed that CBLL proteins were composed of five different evolutionary branches. Chromosome distribution pattern and synteny analysis strongly indicated that whole-genome duplication (allopolyploidization) contributed to the expansion of CBLL genes. Comparative genomics analysis showed that there were three common collinear CBLL gene pairs among peanut, Arabidopsis, grape, and soybean, but no collinear CBLL gene pairs between peanut and rice. The prediction results of cis-acting elements showed that AhCBLLs, AdCBLLs, and AiCBLLs contained different proportions of plant growth, abiotic stress, plant hormones, and light response elements. Spatial expression profiles revealed that almost all AhCBLLs had significantly higher expression in pods and seeds. All AhCBLLs could respond to heat stress, and some of them could be rapidly induced by cold, salt, submergence, heat and drought stress. Furthermore, one polymorphic site in AiCBLL7 was identified by association analysis which was closely associated with pod length (PL), pod width (PW), hundred pod weight (HPW) and hundred seed weight (HSW). The results of this study provide a foundation for further research on the function of the CBLL gene family in peanut.
Pyroptosis-Related Risk Signature Exhibits Distinct Prognostic, Immune, and Therapeutic Landscapes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhao Yidi , Song Qingya , Xu Fangshi , Zhou Yang , Zuo Xiaoli , Zhang Zhengliang
Published: March 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common abdominal cancer. The existing therapeutic approaches often fail to achieve satisfactory results. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death, provides new ideas for anticancer treatment. However, the roles of pyroptosis-related (PR) genes (PRGs) in HCC remain elusive.

Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (n = 22) were screened out using TCGA and GTEx databases. A novel PR risk signature was constructed through Lasso regression analysis. Its prognostic value was evaluated through a series of survival analyses and was tested in ICGC and GSE14520 cohorts. CIBERSORT, ssGSEA, and ESTIMATE methods were employed to determine the effects of the PR risk score on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIM). The TIDE scoring system, IMvigor210 cohort, GSE109211 dataset, and GSDC database were applied to explore the associations of the PR risk score with therapeutic effects. The biofunctions of WNK1 in hepatocellular cancer (HC) cells were confirmed through qPCR, colony formation, and Transwell assays.

Results: Overall, 22 of 45 PRGs (48.9%) were abnormally expressed in HCC samples. Then, a PR risk signature consisting of eight PRGs was constructed. A high PR risk score led to an unfavorable prognosis. The PR risk score was identified as an independent prognostic factor of HCC and could increase the decision-making benefit of the traditional TNM model. In addition, we established a nomogram containing the clinical stage and PR risk score to predict the survival rates of HCC patients. The prognostic value of the PR model was successfully validated in ICGC and GSE14520 cohorts. Moreover, high PR risk conferred the decreased infiltration level of CD8+ T cells and weakened the activities of “cytolytic activity” pathways. As for therapeutic correlation, a high PR risk score seemed to imply a poor efficacy of PD-1/L1 inhibitors and sorafenib. Finally, the overexpression of WNK1 could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HC cells.

Conclusions: The PR risk score was closely related to the prognosis, antitumor immune process, therapeutic outcomes, and malignant progression of HCC. WNK1, the core regulator of pyroptosis, possesses pro-oncogenic abilities, showing promise as a novel treatment target.
Identification of a Novel Glycosyltransferase Prognostic Signature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on LASSO Algorithm
Authors: Zhou Zhiyang , Wang Tao , Du Yao , Deng Junping , Gao Ge , Zhang Jiangnan
Published: March 2022

Although many prognostic models have been developed to help determine personalized prognoses and treatments, the predictive efficiency of these prognostic models in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, is less than ideal. Recently, aberrant glycosylation has been demonstrated to universally participate in tumour initiation and progression, suggesting that dysregulation of glycosyltransferases can serve as novel cancer biomarkers. In this study, a total of 568 RNA-sequencing datasets of HCC from the TCGA database and ICGC database were analysed and integrated via bioinformatic methods. LASSO regression analysis was applied to construct a prognostic signature. Kaplan–Meier survival, ROC curve, nomogram, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the predictive efficiency of the prognostic signature. GSEA and the “CIBERSORT” R package were utilized to further discover the potential biological mechanism of the prognostic signature. Meanwhile, the differential expression of the prognostic signature was verified by western blot, qRT–PCR and immunohistochemical staining derived from the HPA. Ultimately, we constructed a prognostic signature in HCC based on a combination of six glycosyltransferases, whose prognostic value was evaluated and validated successfully in the testing cohort and the validation cohort. The prognostic signature was identified as an independent unfavourable prognostic factor for OS, and a nomogram including the risk score was established and showed the good performance in predicting OS. Further analysis of the underlying mechanism revealed that the prognostic signature may be potentially associated with metabolic disorders and tumour-infiltrating immune cells.
Post-Infectious Autoimmunity in the Central (CNS) and Peripheral (PNS) Nervous Systems: An African Perspective
Authors: Ndondo Alvin Pumelele , Eley Brian , Wilmshurst Jo Madeleine , Kakooza-Mwesige Angelina , Giannoccaro Maria Pia , Willison Hugh J. , Cruz Pedro M. Rodríguez , Heckmann Jeannine M. , Bateman Kathleen , Vincent Angela
Published: March 2022

The direct impact and sequelae of infections in children and adults result in significant morbidity and mortality especially when they involve the central (CNS) or peripheral nervous system (PNS). The historical understanding of the pathophysiology has been mostly focused on the direct impact of the various pathogens through neural tissue invasion. However, with the better understanding of neuroimmunology, there is a rapidly growing realization of the contribution of the innate and adaptive host immune responses in the pathogenesis of many CNS and PNS diseases.

The balance between the protective and pathologic sequelae of immunity is fragile and can easily be tipped towards harm for the host. The matter of immune privilege and surveillance of the CNS/PNS compartments and the role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood nerve barrier (BNB) makes this even more complex. Our understanding of the pathogenesis of many post-infectious manifestations of various microbial agents remains elusive, especially in the diverse African setting. Our exploration and better understanding of the neuroimmunology of some of the infectious diseases that we encounter in the continent will go a long way into helping us to improve their management and therefore lessen the burden.

Africa is diverse and uniquely poised because of the mix of the classic, well described, autoimmune disease entities and the specifically “tropical” conditions. This review explores the current understanding of some of the para- and post-infectious autoimmune manifestations of CNS and PNS diseases in the African context. We highlight the clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment of these neurological disorders and underscore the knowledge gaps and perspectives for future research using disease models of conditions that we see in the continent, some of which are not uniquely African and, where relevant, include discussion of the proposed mechanisms underlying pathogen-induced autoimmunity. This review covers the following conditions as models and highlight those in which a relationship with COVID-19 infection has been reported: a) Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy; b) Measles-associated encephalopathies; c) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) neuroimmune disorders, and particularly the difficulties associated with classical post-infectious autoimmune disorders such as the Guillain-Barré syndrome in the context of HIV and other infections. Finally, we describe NMDA-R encephalitis, which can be post-HSV encephalitis, summarise other antibody-mediated CNS diseases and describe myasthenia gravis as the classic antibody-mediated disease but with special features in Africa.
Fullerene Reinforced Polymeric Nanocomposites for Energy Storage—Status and Prognoses
Authors: Kausar Ayesha
Published: March 2022

This review deals with the progress in the field of polymer/fullerene nanocomposites particularly for the energy storage applications. Fullerene is a unique zero dimensional nanocarbon nanomaterial. Fullerene proposes several unique structural, optical, electrical, thermal, mechanical and other superior physical features to the polymeric nanocomposites. Consequently, the high performance polymer/fullerene nanocomposites result from the amalgamation of the unique characteristics of fullerene with the functional polymers. Here, the advancements in the polymer/fullerene nanocomposites regarding their processing and properties, especially the electrical conductivity, charge storage capacities, charge density, power density, charge-discharge, and cyclic performance have been discussed. Moreover, the future and challenging prospects have been summarized anticipating the progress in the field of polymer/fullerene-based energy storage technology.
The Global, Regional, and National Burden and Trends of Infective Endocarditis From 1990 to 2019: Results From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Authors: Chen Huilong , Zhan Yuan , Zhang Kaimin , Gao Yiping , Chen Liyuan , Zhan Juan , Chen Zirui , Zeng Zhilin
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Infective endocarditis (IE) presents with increasing incidence and mortality in some regions and countries, as well as serious socioeconomic burden. The current study aims to compare and interpret the IE burden and temporal trends globally and in different regions from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

Data on the incidence, deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by IE were extracted and analyzed from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC) were adopted to quantify the change trends of age-standardized rates (ASRs). Besides, potential contributors of serious IE burden were also evaluated including age, gender, social-demographic index (SDI), and age-standardized incident rate (ASIR) in 1990.

Results

Globally, the number of IE cases and deaths has increased sharply during the past 30 years from 478,000 in 1990 to 1,090,530 in 2019 and from 28,750 in 1990 to 66,320 in 2019, and both presented an upward temporal trend annually (EAPC:1.2 for incidence and 0.71 for death). However, the EAPC of age-standardized DALYs demonstrated a negative temporal trend despite increasing DALYs from 1,118,120 in 1990 to 1,723,590 in 2019. Moreover, older patients and men were more severely affected. Meanwhile, different SDI regions had different disease burdens, and correlation analyses indicated that SDI presented a positive association with ASIR (R = 0.58, P < 0.0001), no association with age-standardized death rate (R = −0.06, P = 0.10), and a negative association with age-standardized DALYs (R = −0.40, P < 0.0001). In addition, the incidence of IE increased in most countries during the past 30 years (190 out of 204 countries). However, the change trends of deaths and DALYs were heterogeneous across regions and countries. Finally, we discovered positive associations of the EAPC of ASRs with the SDI in 2019 among 204 countries and territories but few associations with the ASIR in 1990.

Conclusion

Generally, the global burden of IE is increasing, and there is substantial heterogeneity in different genders, ages and regions, which may help policy-makers and medical staff respond to IE and formulate cost-effective interventional measures.
A Shaving Proteomic Approach to Unveil Surface Proteins Modulation of Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated From Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Authors: Montemari Anna Lisa , Marzano Valeria , Essa Nour , Levi Mortera Stefano , Rossitto Martina , Gardini Simone , Selan Laura , Vrenna Gianluca , Onetti Muda Andrea , Putignani Lorenza , Fiscarelli Ersilia Vita
Published: March 2022

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common rare disease caused by a mutation of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator gene encoding a channel protein of the apical membrane of epithelial cells leading to alteration of Na+ and K+ transport, hence inducing accumulation of dense and sticky mucus and promoting recurrent airway infections. The most detected bacterium in CF patients is Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) which causes chronic colonization, requiring stringent antibiotic therapies that, in turn induces multi-drug resistance. Despite eradication attempts at the first infection, the bacterium is able to utilize several adaptation mechanisms to survive in hostile environments such as the CF lung. Its adaptive machinery includes modulation of surface molecules such as efflux pumps, flagellum, pili and other virulence factors. In the present study we compared surface protein expression of PA multi- and pan-drug resistant strains to wild-type antibiotic-sensitive strains, isolated from the airways of CF patients with chronic colonization and recent infection, respectively. After shaving with trypsin, microbial peptides were analyzed by tandem-mass spectrometry on a high-resolution platform that allowed the identification of 174 differentially modulated proteins localized in the region from extracellular space to cytoplasmic membrane. Biofilm assay was performed to characterize all 26 PA strains in term of biofilm production. Among the differentially expressed proteins, 17 were associated to the virulome (e.g., Tse2, Tse5, Tsi1, PilF, FliY, B-type flagellin, FliM, PyoS5), six to the resistome (e.g., OprJ, LptD) and five to the biofilm reservoir (e.g., AlgF, PlsD). The biofilm assay characterized chronic antibiotic-resistant isolates as weaker biofilm producers than wild-type strains. Our results suggest the loss of PA early virulence factors (e.g., pili and flagella) and later expression of virulence traits (e.g., secretion systems proteins) as an indicator of PA adaptation and persistence in the CF lung environment. To our knowledge, this is the first study that, applying a shaving proteomic approach, describes adaptation processes of a large collection of PA clinical strains isolated from CF patients in early and chronic infection phases.
Tracking of Diversity and Evolution in the Brown Rot Fungi Monilinia fructicola, Monilinia fructigena, and Monilinia laxa
Authors: De Miccolis Angelini Rita Milvia , Landi Lucia , Raguseo Celeste , Pollastro Stefania , Faretra Francesco , Romanazzi Gianfranco
Published: March 2022

Monilinia species are among the most devastating fungi worldwide as they cause brown rot and blossom blight on fruit trees. To understand the molecular bases of their pathogenic lifestyles, we compared the newly assembled genomes of single strains of Monilinia fructicola, M. fructigena and M. laxa, with those of Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, as the closest species within Sclerotiniaceae. Phylogenomic analysis of orthologous proteins and syntenic investigation suggest that M. laxa is closer to M. fructigena than M. fructicola, and is closest to the other investigated Sclerotiniaceae species. This indicates that M. laxa was the earliest result of the speciation process. Distinct evolutionary profiles were observed for transposable elements (TEs). M. fructicola and M. laxa showed older bursts of TE insertions, which were affected (mainly in M. fructicola) by repeat-induced point (RIP) mutation gene silencing mechanisms. These suggested frequent occurrence of the sexual process in M. fructicola. More recent TE expansion linked with low RIP action was observed in M. fructigena, with very little in S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. The detection of active non-syntenic TEs is indicative of horizontal gene transfer and has resulted in alterations in specific gene functions. Analysis of candidate effectors, biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites and carbohydrate-active enzymes, indicated that Monilinia genus has multiple virulence mechanisms to infect host plants, including toxins, cell-death elicitor, putative virulence factors and cell-wall-degrading enzymes. Some species-specific pathogenic factors might explain differences in terms of host plant and organ preferences between M. fructigena and the other two Monilinia species.
The Prognostic Value of Lysine Acetylation Regulators in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Sun Liying , Zhang Jian , Wen Kai , Huang Shenglan , Li Dan , Xu Yongkang , Wu Jianbing
Published: March 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. lysine acetylation regulators (LARs) dynamically regulate Lysine acetylation modification which plays an important regulatory role in cancer. Therefore, we aimed to explore the potential clinical prognostic value of LARs in HCC.

Methods: Differentially expressed LARs in normal liver and HCC tissues were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) datasets. To identify genes with prognostic value and establish the risk characteristics of LARs, consensus clustering was employed. We used univariate Cox regression survival analysis and LASSO Cox regression based on LARs to determine the independent prognostic signature of HCC. CIBERSORT and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to estimate immune infiltration and functional enrichment analysis respectively. The expression of LAR was detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS and R software.

Results: In this study, the 33 LARs expression data and corresponding clinical information of HCC were obtained using TCGA and ICGC datasets. We found majority of the LARs were differentially expressed. Consensus cluster analysis was carried out based on the TCGA cohort, and three HCC subtypes (cluster 1, 2, and 3) were obtained. The LA3 subgroup had the worst clinical outcomes. Nine key LARs were identified to affect prognosis. The results showed that LARs signature has a strong independent prognostic value in HCC patients, whether in the training datasets or in the testing datasets. GSEA results showed that various tumor-related processes and pathways were abundant in the high-risk groups. RT-qPCR results showed that HAT1, HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC4, and HDAC11 were highly expressed in HCC cells.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that LARs play critical roles in HCC and are helpful for individual prognosis monitoring and clinical decision-making of HCC.
What’s Right and Wrong in Preclinical Science: A Matter of Principled Investigation
Authors: Smith Laura N.
Published: March 2022

The discovery of efficacious treatment options for neuropsychiatric conditions is a process that remains in jeopardy. Contributing to the failure of clinical trials, a strong positive bias exists in the reported results of preclinical studies, including in the field of neuroscience. However, despite clear recognition of major factors that lead to bias, efforts to address them have not made much meaningful change, receiving inadequate attention from the scientific community. In truth, little real-world value is currently attached to efforts made to oppose positive bias, and instead—partially driven by competitive conditions—the opposite has become true. Since pressures throughout our system of scientific discovery, particularly those tied to definitions of individual success, hold these damaging practices firmly in place, we urgently need to make changes to the system itself. Such a transformation should include a pivot away from explicit or tacit requirements for statistical significance and clean narratives, particularly in publishing, and should promote a priori power calculations as the determinant of final sample size. These systemic changes must be reinforced and upheld in responsible decisions made by individual scientists concerning the planning, analysis, and presentation of their own research.
Computational Approaches for Acute Traumatic Brain Injury Image Recognition
Authors: Lin Emily , Yuh Esther L.
Published: March 2022

In recent years, there have been major advances in deep learning algorithms for image recognition in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Interest in this area has increased due to the potential for greater objectivity, reduced interpretation times and, ultimately, higher accuracy. Triage algorithms that can re-order radiological reading queues have been developed, using classification to prioritize exams with suspected critical findings. Localization models move a step further to capture more granular information such as the location and, in some cases, size and subtype, of intracranial hematomas that could aid in neurosurgical management decisions. In addition to the potential to improve the clinical management of TBI patients, the use of algorithms for the interpretation of medical images may play a transformative role in enabling the integration of medical images into precision medicine. Acute TBI is one practical example that can illustrate the application of deep learning to medical imaging. This review provides an overview of computational approaches that have been proposed for the detection and characterization of acute TBI imaging abnormalities, including intracranial hemorrhage, skull fractures, intracranial mass effect, and stroke.
Neurologic Music Therapy Improves Participation in Children With Severe Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Santonja-Medina Clara Susana , Marrades-Caballero Eugenio , Santonja-Medina Fernando , Sanz-Mengibar Jose Manuel
Published: March 2022

Positive effects after neurologic music therapy (NMT) have been described regarding the motor function of children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to quantify improvements in participation, as well as complexity on task-related manual activities in children with severe bilateral CP. This analytic quasi-experimental study exposed 17 children with severe cerebral palsy to 13 NMT sessions to improve motor learning through therapeutic instrumental music performance (TIMP), using principally percussion musical instruments. Hoisan software video recording was used to quantify participation involved in creating music. In addition, the number of active movements performed in each NMT session was quantified. Significant improvements were found in the participation variables “visual contact,” “motor participation” and “motor participation repetitions.” Significant differences were also found in the subcategory “reaching and stroke,” “hitting with the hand” and “grasping and hitting.” The use of therapeutic of TIMP in children with severe CP improves participation during manual activities utilizing percussion instruments, therefore increasing the intensity of the psychomotor intervention.
Novel Coconut Vinegar Attenuates Hepatic and Vascular Oxidative Stress in Rats Fed a High-Cholesterol Diet
Authors: Malakul Wachirawadee , Seenak Porrnthanate , Jumroon Noppadon , Arikit Siwaret , Kumphune Sarawut , Nernpermpisooth Nitirut
Published: March 2022

Background

Hypercholesterolemia is an independent modifiable risk factor that accelerates the development of both non-alcoholic fatty liver and atherosclerosis. Coconut water contains a variety of phytochemicals that make it appealing for producing vinegar. Coconut vinegar is rapidly gaining popularity for health benefits in Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of daily supplementation of coconut vinegar on hepatic and vascular oxidative stress in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet (HCD).

Methods

Mature coconut water was fermented with coconut sap sugar using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Acetobacter aceti vat Europeans, respectively. Bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of coconut vinegar were examined in vitro. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups; the control group fed a standard diet (S), a group that received HCD (SC), a group that received HCD supplemented with coconut vinegar at a dose of 1 mL/kg/day (SCV), and a group that received HCD with atorvastatin at a dose of 30 mg/kg/day (SCA). After 8 weeks, serum metabolic profiles, fatty liver, hepatic, and vascular oxidative stress were determined.

Results

In in vitro studies, coconut vinegar was rich in phenolic compounds and organic acids. The antioxidant capacity of 30 μL of coconut vinegar was 181.55 ± 8.15 μM Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). In the HCD fed rats, daily supplementation of coconut vinegar reduced weight gain, serum triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar levels without renal or liver toxicity. In the liver, coconut vinegar reduced the accumulation of both hepatic cholesterol and hepatic triglyceride, and it also reduced hepatic 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) lipid peroxidation. In the aortic tissues, coconut vinegar increased nitric oxide bioavailability and reduced aortic 4-HNE lipid peroxidation.

Conclusion

Novel coconut vinegar is the source of antioxidants, and daily supplementation of coconut vinegar was found to attenuate dyslipidemia-induced hepatic and vascular oxidative stress by protective against cellular lipid peroxidation.