bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual patient-centered target-driven intervention to improve clinical outcomes of diabetes, health literacy, and self-care practices in Nepal: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Pardhan Shahina , Upadhyaya Tirthalal , Smith Lee , Sharma Tara , Tuladhar Sarita , Adhikari Bhojraj , Kidd John , Sapkota Raju
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To examine the effectiveness of a culturally and linguistically appropriate, patient-centered, target-driven lifestyle intervention with video education training in improving clinical outcomes, health literacy, and diabetic self-care practices in newly diagnosed patients in Nepal.

Methods

A total of 110 participants with newly and consequently diagnosed Type 2 were randomly allocated into intervention (mean age = 45 ± 9.7 years) and control (mean age = 47 ± 12.5 years) groups. Intervention group participants were trained on a culturally and linguistically appropriate diabetic video education program and were given a customized dietary and physical activity plan with specific targets to practice at home. Participants’ compliance was monitored weekly via telephone calls. Both groups received the usual treatment from their doctor and were followed up after three months. Outcome measures included changes in: i. diabetic health literacy, diet, and physical activity measured using self-reported questionnaires; and ii. blood glucose (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1c), cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index, and visual acuity. Clinical outcome measures were blinded from randomization and intervention allocation.

Results

After three months, HbA1c decreased to 6.1% from the baseline value of 7.2% in the intervention group compared to 6.6% in the control group from the baseline value of 7.1% (p <0.05). The intervention group had mean total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein of 174 and 95.5 mg/dL, which were significantly lower than 186 and 107.5 mg/dL in the control group. Daily white rice consumption decreased by 36.5% in the intervention vs. 4% in the control group (p <0.05). After three months, the intervention group participants exercised more than the control group (p <0.05). All intervention group participants self-initiated retinal screening checks since the baseline visit among which 13% showed early diabetic retinopathy signs compared to 0% in the control group. Health literacy improvement in the intervention group was found to be sustained after three months too.

Conclusions

A culturally appropriate, target-driven lifestyle intervention with video education training is effective in improving clinical outcomes, health literacy, and self-care practice in newly diagnosed diabetic patients in Nepal, i.e., at a time period when effective diabetes control is vital to prevent further complications. The training intervention could be rolled out nationwide in order to reduce the risk of diabetic-related complications and improve people’s quality of life and productivity.
Optimization method of wind power consumption based on thermal storage tanks against the background of stepped carbon trading
Authors: Hou Junyu , Yuan Zhi , Wang Weiqing , He Shan
Published: January 2023

In the context of Chinese efforts to achieve the goal of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” for the “Three North” area heating season, thermal power units, due to their unique operation mode of “fixing electricity by heat” and the resulting problem of insufficient wind power consumption by the night system, were proposed as an optimization method for wind power consumption based on thermal storage tanks in the context of stepped carbon trading. The optimization method is applied to thermal power plants and considers the constraints of cogeneration unit thermoelectric coupling, electrical power balance, and thermal power balance. Taking the lowest total cost of thermal power plants as the objective function, the Cplex solver in Matlab is used to solve the objective function. The wind power consumption by the system, the CO2 emissions of thermal power plants, and the economy of the system are analyzed in different scenarios. The calculation example results show that the model proposed in this article not only improves the wind power consumption rate of the system and reduces the CO2 emission of the thermal power plant but also improves the economy.
Challenges and potential solutions of grid-forming converters applied to wind power generation system—An overview
Authors: Huang Liang , Wu Chao , Zhou Dao , Chen Liang , Pagnani Daniela , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: January 2023

As the capacity of wind power generation increases, grid-forming (GFM) wind turbine generators are deemed as promising solutions to support the system frequency for future low inertia power grids. So far, the GFM converter with a nearly ideal dc voltage source has been studied thoroughly. However, when the GFM converter is applied to wind power applications, there are some realistic problems and challenges, such as coordinating wind turbine control and GFM control, limited energy to support the grid, variable wind speed, etc. These problems still need more discussion. In this paper, an overview of challenges and potential solutions of GFM converters applied to wind power generation systems are provided, where different energy reserving schemes, GFM control schemes, and overcurrent protection schemes are compared and discussed. Finally, a few perspectives on future trends are shared according to the authors’ knowledge.
Photocatalytic degradation of glyphosate using Ce/N co-doped TiO2 with oyster shell powder as carrier under the simulated fluorescent lamp
Authors: Zhang Wei , You Qizheng , Shu Jinkai , Wang Aihe , Lin Hai , Yan Xuchao
Published: January 2023

Glyphosate is currently one of the most used organophosphorus herbicides in the world and its accumulation and translocation in soil and wave causes environmental pollution and biological health problems. A new approach to the problem is provided by the preparation of cerium and nitrogen co-doped titanium dioxide composite nano-photocatalysts loaded on modified oyster shell powder (CeNT@Oys) by a simple hydrothermal synthesis. The physicochemical and optoelectronic properties are analyzed using SEM, BET, XRD, Raman, FTIR, UV-vis DRS, XPS characterization techniques and a range of photoelectrochemical techniques. The results show that the addition of modified oyster shell powder increases its specific surface area, while Ce-N-TiO2 is an anatase crystal composed of Ce doped in the form of interstitial and surface, interstitial form of N, and the co-doping of Ce and N elements gives it the property of being excited by visible light. The photocatalytic activity of the different catalysts was evaluated by degrading 50 mg/L glyphosate solution under simulated sunlight. The catalyst was determined to be reusable by five repeated degradation experiments. Based on quenching experiments and the electron paramagnetic resonance tests, the effective active species of glyphosate degraded by the catalyst was determined and the mechanism of glyphosate degradation by photocatalyst was proposed. Finally, the degradation pathway for the photocatalytic degradation of PMG by CeNT@Oys was determined by HPLC-MS/MS determine of the intermediate products.
Synergistic effects aided the growth of black locust in reclaimed areas of semi-arid open-pit coal mines
Authors: Shi Zeyu , Bai Zhongke , Guo Donggang , Ma Xu , Chen Meijing , Li Shuai
Published: January 2023

The mining of mineral resources has caused serious damage to the ecosystems of mining areas, resulting in the degradation of large areas of vegetation. In the Loess Plateau in particular, the ecological environment is fragile, and soil erosion is serious. It is urgent to restore vegetation and to improve the quality of the damaged environment. In the process of restoring the vegetation in the Pingshuo opencast mining area, this paper investigates the growth rates of species and the factors that affect these rates. The results showed that the maximum growth rate ofRobinia pseudoacaciawas 0.25 m/year in Mingled stand and 0.23 m/year in pure stand. The growth rate ofR. pseudoacaciain Mingled stand was higher than that in pure stand, and the diversity indicators in the Mingled stand plots were higher than those in the pure stand plots. The stepwise regression analysis of the species diversity index, soil, and climate with the growth rate of the two plots showed that Margalef’s richness index had a significant effect on the growth rate ofR. pseudoacaciain Mingled stands. This indicates that theR. pseudoacaciain our study area grows faster in mingled stand and that theUlmus pumilaandAilanthus altissimathat belong to the broad-leaved forest will grow together withR. pseudoacacia. The configuration pattern of broad-leaved pure stand is more singular than that of broad-leaved mingled stand, so the pure stand is not more suitable for vegetation restoration in the mining area.
A rare case report of waldenström macroglobulinemia converted to serum low IgM
Authors: Xiang Yuan , Fang Shi-Qiang , Liu Yi-Wen , Wang Hui , Lu Zhong-Xin
Published: January 2023

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare chronic lymphoproliferative disease, accounting for less than 2% of hematological malignancies. It is characterized by plasma cytoid lymphocyte infiltration in bone marrow and abnormal increase of monoclonal IgM in peripheral blood. Only 5%–10% of cases of WM secrete monoclonal IgG and IgA components or do not secrete monoclonal long immunoglobulin. This case is the first to report of serum protein recombination from lgM and Igkappa band mutation to abnormal lgG and Igkappa band after 6 years of treatment in a male patient with WM.
NK cell-derived exosomes enhance the anti-tumor effects against ovarian cancer by delivering cisplatin and reactivating NK cell functions
Authors: Luo Heyong , Zhou Yanhua , Zhang Jing , Zhang Yingchun , Long Shiqi , Lin Xiaojin , Yang Anqing , Duan Jiangyao , Yang Na , Yang Zhiru , Che Qiyuan , Yang Yuxin , Guo Ting , Zi Dan , Ouyang Weiwei , Yang Wei , Zeng Zhu , Zhao Xing
Published: January 2023

Exosomes are membranous vesicles actively secreted by almost all cells and they deliver certain intracellular molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids, to target cells. They are also considered to be good carriers for drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, high permeability, low immunogenicity, and low toxicity. Exosomes from immune cells were also reported to have immunomodulatory activities. Herein we evaluated the application of exosomes derived from expanded natural killer cells (eNK-EXO) for the treatment of ovarian cancer (OC). We demonstrate that eNK-EXO express typical protein markers of natural killer (NK) cells, can be preferentially uptaken by SKOV3 cells, and display cytotoxicity against OC cells. Furthermore, eNK-EXO loaded with cisplatin could sensitize drug-resistant OC cells to the anti-proliferation effect of cisplatin. In addition, we show that eNK-EXO could activate NK cells from immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the mechanism of which is explored by transcriptional analysis. In summary, eNK-EXO exhibit anti-tumor activity against OC on its own, could be used to deliver cisplatin and enhance its cytotoxic effect against drug-resistant OC cells and also reverse the immunosuppression of NK cells, which may lead to great prospect of using eNK-EXO in the treatment of OC in the clinic. Our work also builds a strong foundation for further evaluation of eNK-EXO in other solid tumor therapies.
C-reactive protein isoforms as prognostic markers of COVID-19 severity
Authors: Molins Blanca , Figueras-Roca Marc , Valero Oliver , Llorenç Víctor , Romero-Vázquez Sara , Sibila Oriol , Adán Alfredo , García-Vidal Carolina , Soriano Alex
Published: January 2023

C-reactive protein (CRP), an active regulator of the innate immune system, has been related to COVID-19 severity. CRP is a dynamic protein undergoing conformational changes upon activation in inflammatory microenvironments between pentameric and monomeric isoforms. Although pentameric CRP is the circulating isoform routinely tested for clinical purposes, monomeric CRP shows more proinflammatory properties. Therefore, we aimed to determine the potential of monomeric CRP in serum as a biomarker of disease severity in COVID-19 patients (admission to intensive care unit [ICU] and/or in-hospital mortality). We retrospectively determined clinical and biological features as well as pentameric and monomeric CRP levels in a cohort of 97 COVID-19 patients within 72h of hospital admission. Patients with severe disease had higher levels of both pentameric and monomeric CRP. However, multivariate analysis showed increased mCRP but not pCRP to be independently associated to disease severity. Notably, mCRP levels higher than 4000 ng/mL (OR: 4.551, 95% CI: 1.329-15.58), together with number of co-morbidities, low lymphocyte count, and procalcitonin levels were independent predictors of disease severity in the multivariate model. Our results show the potential of mCRP levels as a marker of clinical severity in COVID-19 disease.
Longitudinal monitoring of mRNA-vaccine-induced immunity against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Monzon-Posadas Werner O. , Zorn Jasmin , Peters Kathrin , Baum Maximilian , Proksch Hannah , Schlüter Celina Beta , Menting Tanja , Pušnik Jernej , Streeck Hendrik
Published: January 2023

Background

Worldwide vaccination campaigns significantly reduced mortality caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection and diminished the devastating effects of the pandemic. The first approved vaccines are based on novel mRNA technology and elicit potent immune responses offering high levels of protection from severe disease.

Methods

Here we longitudinally assessed adaptive immune responses during a 12-month follow-up period after the initial immunization with 2 doses of mRNA vaccines and after the booster dose in blood and saliva.

Results

Our findings demonstrate a rapid waning of the anti-spike IgG titers between months 3 and 6 after the initial vaccination (1.7- and 2.5-fold decrease in plasma and saliva, respectively; P<0.0001). Conversely, the frequency of spike-specific memory B cells increased during this period (2.4-fold increase; P<0.0001) while the frequency of spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells remained stable for all assessed functions: cytotoxicity, IFNγ, IL-2, and TNFα expression. Booster vaccination significantly improved the antibody response in plasma and saliva, with the most profound changes observed in the neutralization capacity against the currently circulating omicron variant (25.6-fold increase; P<0.0001). The positive effect of booster vaccination was also evident for spike-specific IgG+ memory B cell (2.4-fold increase; P<0.0001) and cytotoxic CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses (1.7- and 1.9-fold increase respectively; P<0.05).

Conclusions

Collectively, our findings offer a detailed insight into the kinetics of adaptive immune response following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and underline the beneficial effects of a booster vaccination.
Expression pattern of genes involved in biomineralization in black and orange mantle tissues of pearl oyster, Pinctada persica
Authors: Parvizi Fatemeh , Akbarzadeh Arash , Farhadi Ahmad , Arnaud-Haond Sophie , Ranjbar Mohammad Sharif
Published: January 2023

A few species of mollusks display color variation in their soft tissues. In pearl oysters, the color polymorphism in mantle tissue is associated with the color and radiance of shell and pearl. The study of biomineralization related genes in mantle tissue of pearl oysters can be used as a suitable approach to better identify the molecular mechanisms that influence shell and pearl quality and color variations. In this study, we investigated the expression of biomineralization-related genes in black and orange mantle morphotypes of pearl oyster, Pinctada persicain both warm and cool seasons using quantitative real-time PCR. Our results showed that the genes involved in biomineralization of the prismatic and nacre layer, i.e.;ASP, KRMP, MRNP34, SHELL, SHEM1B, LINKINE, PIF, SHEM5, NACREIN, and in pigmentation (TYR2A) were significantly higher expressed in orange phenotype compared to those of black one. The higher expression ofASP,KRMP,SHEM5,LINKINEandNACREINin orange phenotype was only observed in warm season, butPIF,SHELL,SHEM1B, andTYR2Awere upregulated in both warm and cool seasons. These results suggest the existence of different genetic processes between the two color morphs ofP. persicaand the more active role of genes in orange morphotype, particularly in warmer season. This study provides better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying biomineralization in pearl oysters.
Using fishers’ knowledge to determine the spatial extent of deep-water spawning of capelin (Mallotus villosus) in Newfoundland, Canada
Authors: Bliss Laura M. , Dawe Natalya , Carruthers Erin H. , Murphy Hannah M. , Davoren Gail K.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

On the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelf, Canada, capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a key forage fish that migrates annually from offshore to spawn within coastal embayments. Although capelin are thought to primarily spawn on beaches in this region, they also spawn subtidally in deeper water (5–40 m), where their eggs remain throughout incubation. The spatial extent of subtidal (i.e. “deep-water”) spawning habitat in coastal Newfoundland is unknown and is a research priority for fishers and management.

Methods

We collaborated with capelin fishers to identify putative deep-water spawning sites as a first step in determining the contribution of deep-water spawning to capelin recruitment. Given limited fine-scale coastal bathymetry and seabed habitat type data, which impeded spatial modeling to determine suitable capelin spawning habitat, this science-industry research collaboration was key to addressing this knowledge gap.

Results

Through two years of multi-bay fisher interviews, 84% of interviewed fishers (56 interviewees) reported having observed deep-water spawning and identified a broad distribution of putative spawning sites throughout coastal Newfoundland. The majority of fishers indicated inter-annual variation in beach and deep-water spawning habitat use, and most interviewees linked this variation to temperature and capelin abundance. Further collaborations with fishers during boat-based surveys, we sampled 136 unique sites within 12 search areas in eastern Placentia Bay and 26 unique sites within six search areas in Bonavista Bay. Underwater video surveys combined with sediment sampling revealed seven previously undocumented deep-water spawning sites.

Conclusion

The deep-water spawning areas derived from these fisher interviews can now be used to build a time series for monitoring capelin spawning habitat use alongside citizen-based beach monitoring data, as a general capelin stock health indicator in a weight of evidence approach for the science advisory process.
Bacterial communities exhibit apparent phosphate concentration-related patterns of community composition, alpha diversity, and phylogenetic structure in the subtropical Daya Bay
Authors: Chen Ye , Ma Guibin , Wu Chuangfeng , Peng Yuyang , Song Xingyu , Wu Qinglong L. , Han Bo-Ping , Ren Lijuan
Published: January 2023

Increasing anthropogenic activities have caused serious environmental problems and undesirable ecological impacts on bay ecosystems. However, much remains to be learned regarding marine bacterial community assembly and its underlying mechanisms under intensive anthropogenic activities in subtropical bays. In this study, we used the community assembly theory to analyze bacterial community distributions in the subtropical Daya Bay, where the habitats are subject to serious thermal discharge and excessive nutrient load. We found the community assembly of bacterial in the Daya Bay was dominantly shaped by environmental factor of seawater phosphate, followed by temperature, and silicate. High phosphate concentration significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Gammaprotecteria, but reduced the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Alphaproteobacteria. Moreover, higher phosphate concentration was found significantly and positively correlated with higher bacterial alpha diversity. Compared with stochastic processes, we found higher phosphate concentration imposed stronger deterministic processes (primarily homogeneous selection) in structuring bacterial community assembly in the subtropical Daya bay, and bacterial communities tended to be higher phylogenetically clustered in higher phosphate-concentration habitats. In summary, we proposed that phosphate is a major environmental determinant in the subtropical Daya Bay and influenced the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes in bacterial community assembly.
Influence of mesoscale eddies on the cross-shelf phosphate transport of the Kuroshio Current northeast of Taiwan: A modeling study
Authors: Xu Lingjing , Yang Dezhou , Feng Xingru , Sun Junchuan , Gao Guandong , Cui Xuan , Yin Baoshu
Published: January 2023

The Kuroshio Current flows northeastward along the East China Sea (ECS) shelf break, carrying a large amount of nutrients, and is thus an important source of nutrients for the ECS. The mainstream and transport of the Kuroshio Current are significantly affected by mesoscale eddies. However, the influence of mesoscale eddies on the Kuroshio nutrient input into the ECS is unknown. We add constructed cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies to a hydrodynamic model to explore the influence of mesoscale eddies on cross-shelf Kuroshio phosphate input into the ECS. This model suitably reproduces the fate of mesoscale eddies and the variation in the Kuroshio Current during eddy-current interactions. The simulation results reveal that during the strong interaction between the Kuroshio Current and mesoscale eddy east of Taiwan, the cyclonic eddy reduces the on-shelf phosphate flux, while the anticyclonic eddy increases the Kuroshio phosphate input to the ECS. When the anticyclonic eddy moves to the Okinawa Trough, it reduces the Kuroshio phosphate input into the ECS.These basic features are not sensitive to the initial latitude of the eddy center east of Taiwan. The change in cross-shelf phosphate flux is caused by the changes in cross-shelf velocity and phosphate concentration along the shelf. Momentum balance analyses suggest that the change in cross-shelf velocity is mainly caused by the change in the pressure gradient term due to eddy-induced changes in sea surface height in the horizontal direction and isotherm tilting in the vertical direction. The advection-diffusion equation analysis shows that the change in phosphate concentration along the shelf is attributed to changes in the upper horizontal advection and lower vertical advection of phosphate, which are induced by the upper phosphate change and vertical velocity change along the shelf, respectively. This study has important implications for the possible response of the ECS ecosystem to mesoscale eddies that are partly triggered by enhanced typhoons east of Taiwan under global warming.
Inferring habitat use of the Pacific White Shark using vertebral chemistry
Authors: Mohan John A. , Romo-Curiel Alfonsina E. , Herzka Sharon Z. , Wells R. J. David , Miller Nathan R. , Sosa-Nishizaki Oscar , García-Rodríguez Emiliano
Published: January 2023

The conservation and management of highly migratory sharks relies on understanding age-related movements and nursery habitat utilization. We reconstructed the habitat use and migratory history of young White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias), a highly protected species, by utilizing natural chemical tracers (element:Ca ratios and stable isotope analysis, SIA) in vertebral cartilage growth bands. Two nursery areas in the northeastern Pacific are known, but migration patterns of immature White Sharks within the Gulf of California (GC) and natal philopatry are poorly understood. Vertebrae from coastal Mexican artisanal fisheries off central Baja California in the Pacific (12 neonates and juveniles; 139-280 cm total length) and the GC (3 subadults; 289-355 cm TL) were analyzed to characterize (1) trophic histories from collagen δ13C and δ15N values, and (2) in utero patterns and post-birth environmental histories from element:Ca time-series. Mean δ15N values from vertebral edges of GC sharks, representing the most recent feeding, was +5‰ higher than in the Pacific, reflecting the intense denitrification that permeates the regional food web and supporting SIA as tracers of migration between regions. A subadult from the GC likely resided within the system throughout its life, and two subadults migrated into the GC. Most neonate and juvenile sharks caught in the Pacific had SIA that did not overlap with those of the GC, but a single subadult likely migrated to the GC. Element:Ca ratios displayed ontogenetic trends, with Li:Ca, Zn:Ca, and Ba:Ca significantly higher before the birth mark in sharks captured in the GC. Edge values were significantly higher in Zn:Ca and Ba:Ca in the GC compared to the Pacific, suggesting elemental ratios may serve as tracers of migration between regions. Subadult sharks collected from GC displayed elevated maternal Zn:Ca and Ba:Ca, suggesting mothers may have resided in the GC for an extensive period pre-birth. Some White Sharks may reside within the GC from birth until at least the subadult stage (ca. 3 m TL), and there may be an unidentified nursery. Chemical tracers, coupled with genomic and tagging studies, should improve understanding of the importance of the GC to White Shark populations in the northeast Pacific.
Analysis of the accuracy of using ERA5 reanalysis data for diagnosis of evaporation ducts in the East China Sea
Authors: Qiu Zhijin , Zhang Cheng , Wang Bo , Hu Tong , Zou Jing , Li Zhiqian , Chen Shizhe , Wu Sheng
Published: January 2023

Evaporation ducts are a phenomenon that occurs with extremely high frequency at the boundary between the atmosphere and the ocean. Because they directly affect the propagation of electromagnetic waves, it is necessary to study their various characteristics. Since it is difficult to conduct large-scale observations at sea, many researchers use reanalysis data for this task instead of observation data. However, there have been no studies verifying accuracy of this analysis method for the diagnosis of evaporation ducts. Therefore, in this work, observations of the low-altitude atmospheric refractivity profile were carried out over the East China Sea on board the research vessel Xiangyanghong 18 in April 2021. First, the differences between different evaporation duct models were examined based on the meteorological and hydrological data obtained at different heights. It was concluded that the diagnostic accuracy of the evaporation duct model is low in stable conditions and a low-wind-speed environment. Under the same conditions, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) model showed high diagnostic accuracy when compared with other models. Second, Taylor plots were used to verify the accuracy of the reanalysis data and the observation data. It was concluded that the single-parameter precision of the reanalysis data is relatively high, and there were strong correlations with the observation data. Finally, the observation and reanalysis data were used to compare and analyze the false-report rate, the missing-report rate, and the accuracy of the diagnosed evaporation duct height using the NPS model. The false-report rate and missing-report rate were found to be 1.93% and 1.52%, respectively. The average diagnosis deviation was 3.34 m. The Pearson correlation coefficient was found to be close to 1. The results indicate that it is basically feasible to analyze the characteristics of evaporation ducts based on the NPS model using reanalysis data.
Terrigenous particles regulate autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial assembly and induce humic-like FDOM accumulation in seawater
Authors: Zhang Lianbao , Liu Yeping , Chen Li , Song Hui
Published: January 2023

Climate change can increase riverine discharge, which will promote terrigenous particle transportation and deeply impact microbe-mediated biogeochemical processes in the estuarine ecosystem. However, little is known about the long-term impacts of terrigenous particles on autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial community structures due to in situ continuous particle input. To solve this problem, a large-volume indoor incubation experiment was set up for over 40 days to simulate terrigenous particle input scenario. The activity and community structures of keystone groups were largely correlated with biochemical components derived from the terrigenous particles. The ecosystem was maintained by chemoautotrophic nitrifiers before the addition of terrigenous particles. The system was then functionally dominated by heterotrophic microorganisms after the input of terrigenous particles because terrigenous particles created environments that allowed heterotrophs to proliferate better than chemoautotrophs. The input of terrigenous particles increased the relative intensity of humic-like compounds mainly through releasing nutrients and biological labile organic matter to the seawater, which promoted the microbial transformation of organic matter. This study illustrates that terrigenous particles can impact the balance between heterotrophic and chemoautotrophic microbes and play an important role in humic-like compound transformation in seawater.
Flexible and open-source programs for quantitative image analysis in microbial ecology
Authors: Pasulka Alexis L. , Hood Jonathan F. , Michels Dana E. , Wright Mason D.
Published: January 2023

Epifluorescence microscopy is an essential tool for obtaining reliable estimates of the abundance of marine microorganisms including viruses. However, computational analysis is required to gain consistent and quantitative data from digital microscopy images. Many imaging programs are proprietary and cost-prohibitive. The currently available free imaging programs are often platform specific and/or lack the flexibility to analyze microscopy images from natural samples, such as the planktonic environment, which can contain challenges such as debris and high background signals. Here we describe two MATLAB-based open-source image analysis programs that work across computer platforms and provide the tools to analyze a range of image types and cell sizes with a user-friendly interface. The Microbial Image Analysis (MiA) program aims to provide flexibility for the selection, identification, and quantification of cells that vary in size and fluorescence intensity within natural microbial communities. The Viral Image Analysis (ViA) program aims to provide an effective means for quantifying viral abundances from epifluorescence images as well as enumerating the intensity of a primary and secondary stain. In this paper, we provide an overview of the functionality of the MiA and ViA programs and highlight specific program features through several microbial image case studies.
The community profiles of symbiotic bacteria at the different life stages of coral Dipsastraea favus
Authors: Xu Jianjun , Chai Guangjun , Xiao Yilin , Xie Ziqiang , Yang Xiaodong , Liao Baolin , Xiao Baohua , Li Zhiyong
Published: January 2023

Corals live in a symbiotic relationship with various bacteria that are fundamental to host fitness, health, and survival. Though the diversity of symbiotic bacteria has been revealed in the early life stages of some corals, the dynamic bacterial community profiles of one coral are still poorly characterized, particularly the stage-specific bacteria. In this study, the bacterial communities in the patent, eggs, and 4-day-old planula larvae of a hermaphrodite coral Dipsastraea favus were investigated by high-throughput sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA gene. As a result, dynamic profiles of bacterial community in the parent, eggs and larvae of D. favus were suggested. The bacterial diversity in the planula larvae was a bit higher than that in the D. favus parent, and distinct stage-specific symbiotic bacteria were detected, e.g., Oceanospirillaceae, Kordia, and Legionellaceae in D. favus larvae, and Kiloniellales and Prosthecochloris in adult D. favus. The dynamic change of bacterial community in coral adults and larvae may expand our understanding of the complex relationship between coral host and its symbiotic microbiota.
Amplitude modulations of seasonal variability in the Karimata Strait throughflow
Authors: Nie Yicong , Li Shujiang , Wei Zexun , Xu Tengfei , Pan Haidong , Nie Xunwei , Zhu Yaohua , Susanto R. Dwi , Agustiadi Teguh , Trenggono Mukti
Published: January 2023

The Karimata Strait (KS) throughflow between the South China Sea (SCS) and Java Sea plays an essential role in heat and freshwater budget in the SCS and dual roles in strengthening/reducing the primary Indonesian throughflow (ITF) in the Makassar Strait. A sustained long-term monitoring of the ITF is logistically challenging and expensive; therefore, proxies are needed. Here, we use a combination of in situ measurement of the KS throughflow and satellite-derived sea surface height (SSH) and sea surface wind (SSW) to determine the interannual and decadal modulations in seasonal amplitude of the KS throughflow associated with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Linear regression, correlation, harmonic and power spectrum analyses are used. The results manifest that there are significant interannual to decadal modulations in the seasonal amplitude of the KS throughflow. The modulations of the seasonal amplitude in the volume and heat transports range 1.36-1.92 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s-1) and 126.41-173.36 TW (1 TW = 1012 W), respectively, with a significant cycle of ~9 years. From 1994 to 2020, the seasonal amplitude of volume transport through the KS shows an increasing trend of 37.75 ± 15.69 mSv decade-1 (1 mSv = 103 m3 s-1). The seasonal amplitude of the heat transport also increases, at a rate of 4.78 ± 1.52 TW decade-1. The KS volume transport is positively correlated with PDO and ENSO indices (r2 = 0.69 and r2 = 0.58), with a lag of 12 and 10 months, respectively. The results of composite analysis suggest that the interannual variability of the KS transport is related to the interannual anomalies of the SSH gradient and the local SSW fields in boreal winter.
Characterization of tin-plated steel
Authors: Pandey Shatrudhan , Mishra Karan Kumar , Ghosh Pampa , Singh Abhishek Kumar , Jha Sanjay Kumar
Published: January 2023

Tinplating on steel is a useful industrial process extensively used for food packaging. Cold-rolled annealed steel coated with tin gives the steel corrosion resistance property and a beautiful luster. Tinplating on steel is a complex process where rolled and annealed steel sheets are cleaned with acid to remove rust, grease, or oil from the surface. Pure tin is electrodeposited on this freshly prepared surface after the electrodeposition of tin on the steel strip; the surface becomes lustrous, the color of pure tin appears, and the finish is called matte. Very often, the flowing heat treatment is just about the tin melting point of 232°C–265°C. After electrodeposition, pure tin deposits on the steel surface; however, a chemical reaction between tin and iron occurs during the brightening treatment. This process results in iron–tin intermetallic formation; their orientation grain structure and orientation of substrate steel all have a synergistic effect on the final properties of tin-coated steel. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study this parameter in detail. A total of five commercially produced tin-plated steel have been selected for the present purpose, and both tin coating and substrate steel have been thoroughly characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the crystallographic texture point of view; however, the best result has been discussed in this paper. The different phases of tin and the iron–tin compound have been identified using XRD, X-ray, and a texture goniometer that are used to find out the crystallographic texture observed in the presence of FeSn2, FeSn, and Sn in tin coating; the volume fraction of these phases is observed to vary from one sample to another. This variation may affect tinplating steel’s final property, which can be studied in the future work.
Monitoring the patient–ventilator asynchrony during non-invasive ventilation
Authors: Longhini Federico , Bruni Andrea , Garofalo Eugenio , Tutino Simona , Vetrugno Luigi , Navalesi Paolo , De Robertis Edoardo , Cammarota Gianmaria
Published: January 2023

Patient–ventilator asynchrony is a major issue during non-invasive ventilation and may lead to discomfort and treatment failure. Therefore, the identification and prompt management of asynchronies are of paramount importance during non-invasive ventilation (NIV), in both pediatric and adult populations. In this review, we first define the different forms of asynchronies, their classification, and the method of quantification. We, therefore, describe the technique to properly detect patient–ventilator asynchronies during NIV in pediatric and adult patients with acute respiratory failure, separately. Then, we describe the actions that can be implemented in an attempt to reduce the occurrence of asynchronies, including the use of non-conventional modes of ventilation. In the end, we analyzed what the literature reports on the impact of asynchronies on the clinical outcomes of infants, children, and adults.
Clinical experience: Outcomes of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in five stroke patients
Authors: Ercelen Nesrin , Karasu Nilgun , Kahyaoglu Bulent , Cerezci Onder , Akduman Rana Cagla , Ercelen Defne , Erturk Gizem , Gulay Gokay , Alpaydin Nagihan , Boyraz Gizem , Monteleone Berrin , Kural Zekiye , Silek Hakan , Temur Sibel , Bingol Canan Aykut
Published: January 2023

Stem cell therapy, which has promising results in acute disorders such as stroke, supports treatment by providing rehabilitation in the chronic stage patients. In acute stroke, thrombolytic medical treatment protocols are clearly defined in neurologic emergencies, but in neurologic patients who miss the “thrombolytic treatment intervention window,” or in cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, our hands are tied, and we are still unfortunately faced with hopeless clinical implementations. We consider mesenchymal stem cell therapy a viable option in these cases. In recent years, novel research has focused on neuro-stimulants and supportive and combined therapies for stroke. Currently, available treatment options are limited, and only certain patients are eligible for acute treatment. In the scope of our experience, five stroke patients were evaluated in this study, who was treated with a single dose of 1–2 × 106cells/kg allogenic umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) with the official confirmation of the Turkish Ministry of Health Stem Cell Commission. The patients were followed up for 12 months, and clinical outcomes are recorded. NIH Stroke Scale/Scores (NIHSS) decreased significantly (p= 0.0310), and the Rivermead Assessment Scale (RMA) increased significantly (p= 0.0234) for all patients at the end of the follow-up. All the patients were followed up for 1 year within a rehabilitation program. Major clinical outcome improvements were observed in the overall clinical conditions of the UC-MSC treatment patients. We observed improvement in the patients’ upper extremity and muscle strength, spasticity, and fine motor functions. Considering recent studies in the literature together with our results, allogenic stem cell therapies are introduced as promising novel therapies in terms of their encouraging effects on physiological motor outcomes.
MRI-derived radiomics to guide post-operative management of glioblastoma: Implication for personalized radiation treatment volume delineation
Authors: Chiesa S. , Russo R. , Beghella Bartoli F. , Palumbo I. , Sabatino G. , Cannatà M. C. , Gigli R. , Longo S. , Tran H. E. , Boldrini L. , Dinapoli N. , Votta C. , Cusumano D. , Pignotti F. , Lupattelli M. , Camilli F. , Della Pepa G. M. , D’Alessandris G. Q. , Olivi A. , Balducci M. , Colosimo C. , Gambacorta M. A. , Valentini V. , Aristei C. , Gaudino S.
Published: January 2023

Background

The glioblastoma’s bad prognosis is primarily due to intra-tumor heterogeneity, demonstrated from several studies that collected molecular biology, cytogenetic data and more recently radiomic features for a better prognostic stratification. The GLIFA project (GLIoblastoma Feature Analysis) is a multicentric project planned to investigate the role of radiomic analysis in GB management, to verify if radiomic features in the tissue around the resection cavity may guide the radiation target volume delineation.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyze from three centers radiomic features extracted from 90 patients with total or near total resection, who completed the standard adjuvant treatment and for whom we had post-operative images available for features extraction. The Manual segmentation was performed on post gadolinium T1w MRI sequence by 2 radiation oncologists and reviewed by a neuroradiologist, both with at least 10 years of experience. The Regions of interest (ROI) considered for the analysis were: the surgical cavity ± post-surgical residual mass (CTV_cavity); the CTV a margin of 1.5 cm added to CTV_cavity and the volume resulting from subtracting the CTV_cavity from the CTV was defined as CTV_Ring. Radiomic analysis and modeling were conducted in RStudio. Z-score normalization was applied to each radiomic feature. A radiomic model was generated using features extracted from the Ring to perform a binary classification and predict the PFS at 6 months. A 3-fold cross-validation repeated five times was implemented for internal validation of the model.

Results

Two-hundred and seventy ROIs were contoured. The proposed radiomic model was given by the best fitting logistic regression model, and included the following 3 features: F_cm_merged.contrast, F_cm_merged.info.corr.2, F_rlm_merged.rlnu. A good agreement between model predicted probabilities and observed outcome probabilities was obtained (p-value of 0.49 by Hosmer and Lemeshow statistical test). The ROC curve of the model reported an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.68–0.88).

Conclusion

This is the first hypothesis-generating study which applies a radiomic analysis focusing on healthy tissue ring around the surgical cavity on post-operative MRI. This study provides a preliminary model for a decision support tool for a customization of the radiation target volume in GB patients in order to achieve a margin reduction strategy.
Conventional and three-dimensional photography as a tool to map distribution patterns of in-transit melanoma metastases on the lower extremity
Authors: Müller Kilian , Berking Carola , Voskens Caroline , Heppt Markus V. , Heinzerling Lucie , Koch Elias A. T. , Kramer Rafaela , Merkel Susanne , Schuler-Thurner Beatrice , Schellerer Vera , Steeb Theresa , Wessely Anja , Erdmann Michael
Published: January 2023

Background

In melanoma, in-transit metastases characteristically occur at the lower extremity along lymphatic vessels.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate conventional or three-dimensional photography as a tool to analyze in-transit metastasis pattern of melanoma of the lower extremity. In addition, we assessed risk factors for the development of in-transit metastases in cutaneous melanoma.

Methods

In this retrospective, monocentric study first we compared the clinical data of all evaluable patients with in-transit metastases of melanoma on the lower extremity (n = 94) with melanoma patients without recurrence of disease (n = 288). In addition, based on conventional (n = 24) and three-dimensional photography (n = 22), we defined the specific distribution patterns of the in-transit metastases on the lower extremity.

Results

Using a multivariate analysis we identified nodular melanoma, tumor thickness, and ulceration as independent risk factors to develop in-transit metastases ITM (n = 94). In patients with melanoma on the lower leg (n = 31), in-transit metastases preferentially developed along anatomically predefined lymphatic pathways. In contrast when analyzing in-transit metastases of melanoma on the foot (n = 15) no clear pattern could be visualized. In addition, no difference in distance between in-transit metastases and primary melanoma on the foot compared to the lower leg was observed using three-dimensional photography (n = 22).

Conclusion

A risk-adapted follow-up of melanoma patients to detect in-transit metastases can be applied by knowledge of the specific lymphatic drainage of the lower extremity. Our current analysis suggests a more complex lymphatic drainage of the foot.
Photodynamic therapy for skin carcinomas: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ou-Yang Yun , Zheng Yaowu , Mills Kerry E.
Published: January 2023

Background

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is increasingly used for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, it is unknown whether photodynamic therapy is more effective than other commonly used treatment modalities for these cancers.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the relative efficacy and safety of PDT compared with placebo or other interventions for the treatment of skin carcinomas.

Methods

Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. We included randomized controlled trials comparing the PDT with other interventions in adults skin BCC or SCC that reported on lesion response, recurrence, cosmetic appearance, or safety outcomes.

Results

Seventeen unique randomized controlled trials, representing 22 study arms from 21 publications were included. The included trials included 2,166 participants, comparing methyl aminolevulinic (MAL) PDT (six studies) or aminolevulinic acid (ALA) PDT (two studies). Comparators included placebo, surgery, hexaminolevulinic (HAL) PDT, erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet ablative factional laser (YAG-AFL) PDT, fluorouracil, and imiquimod. There were few studies available for each comparison. Mantel-Haenszel fixed effects risk ratios were calculated for response, recurrence, cosmetic outcomes, and adverse events. MAL-PDT had similar response rates to surgery, ALA-PDT, fluorouracil and imiquimod at 3- and 12 months post-intervention. The rate of recurrence was similar, showing few differences at 12 months, but at later time points (24–60 months), fewer lesions recurred with surgery and imiquimod than with PDT. PDT also caused more adverse events and pain than other interventions. However, PDT treatment was more likely to receive a “good” or “excellent” rating for cosmetic appearance than surgery or cryotherapy.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that the choice of treatment modality for BCC or SCC is best chosen in the context of the location and size of the lesion, the socioeconomic circumstances of the patient, as well as the patient’s preferences. We call for more high quality studies to be done, in order to enable more reliable interpretations of the data.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=368626, identifier CRD42022368626.
18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography for large vessel vasculitis in clinical practice
Authors: Nassarmadji Kladoum , Vanjak Anthony , Bourdin Venceslas , Champion Karine , Burlacu Ruxandra , Mouly Stéphane , Sène Damien , Comarmond Cloé
Published: January 2023

Diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and monitoring disease activity in patients with large vessel vasculitis (LVV) can be challenging. Early recognition of LVV and treatment adaptation is essential because vascular complications (aneurysm, dilatations, ischemic complications) or treatment related side effects can occur frequently in these patients. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT) is increasingly used to diagnose, follow, and evaluate treatment response in LVV. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current evidence on the value of 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT for diagnosis, follow, and treatment monitoring in LVV.