bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasmodium knowlesi in pig-tailed macaques: a potential new model for malaria vaccine research
Authors: Shears Melanie J. , Reynolds Rebekah A. , Duncombe Caroline J. , Watson Felicia N. , Staubus Weston J. , Chavtur Chris , Seilie Annette M. , Tran Tuan M. , Chakravarty Sumana , Hoffman Stephen L. , Murphy Sean C.
Published: December 2023

Background

Plasmodium knowlesi is an established experimental model for basic and pre-clinical malaria vaccine research. Historically, rhesus macaques have been the most common host for malaria vaccine studies with P. knowlesi parasites. However, rhesus are not natural hosts for P. knowlesi, and there is interest in identifying alternative hosts for vaccine research. The study team previously reported that pig-tailed macaques (PTM), a natural host for P. knowlesi, could be challenged with cryopreserved P. knowlesi sporozoites (PkSPZ), with time to blood stage infection equivalent to in rhesus. Here, additional exploratory studies were performed to evaluate PTM as potential hosts for malaria vaccine studies. The aim was to further characterize the parasitological and veterinary health outcomes after PkSPZ challenge in this macaque species.

Methods

Malaria-naïve PTM were intravenously challenged with 2.5 × 103 PkSPZ and monitored for blood stage infection by Plasmodium 18S rRNA RT-PCR and thin blood smears. Disease signs were evaluated by daily observations, complete blood counts, serum chemistry tests, and veterinary examinations. After anti-malarial drug treatment, a subset of animals was re-challenged and monitored as above. Whole blood gene expression analysis was performed on selected animals to assess host response to infection.

Results

In naïve animals, the kinetics of P. knowlesi blood stage replication was reproducible, with parasite burden rising linearly during an initial acute phase of infection from 6 to 11 days post-challenge, before plateauing and transitioning into a chronic low-grade infection. After re-challenge, infections were again reproducible, but with lower blood stage parasite densities. Clinical signs of disease were absent or mild and anti-malarial treatment was not needed until the pre-defined study day. Whole blood gene expression analysis identified immunological changes associated with acute and chronic phases of infection, and further differences between initial challenge versus re-challenge.

Conclusions

The ability to challenge PTM with PkSPZ and achieve reliable blood stage infections indicate this model has significant potential for malaria vaccine studies. Blood stage P. knowlesi infection in PTM is characterized by low parasite burdens and a benign disease course, in contrast with the virulent P. knowlesi disease course commonly reported in rhesus macaques. These findings identify new opportunities for malaria vaccine research using this natural host-parasite combination.

Graphical Abstract
Head-to-head comparison of two loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) kits for diagnosis of malaria in a non-endemic setting
Authors: Ivarsson Anna-Clara , Fransén Elin , Broumou Ioanna , Färnert Anna , Persson Kristina E. M. , Söbirk Sara Karlsson
Published: December 2023

Background

Light microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) have long been the recommended diagnostic methods for malaria. However, in recent years, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) techniques have been shown to offer superior performance, in particular concerning low-grade parasitaemia, by delivering higher sensitivity and specificity with low laboratory capacity requirements in little more than an hour. In this study, the diagnostic performance of two LAMP kits were assessed head-to-head, compared to highly sensitive quantitative real time PCR (qPCR), in a non-endemic setting.

Methods

In this retrospective validation study two LAMP kits; Alethia® Illumigene Malaria kit and HumaTurb Loopamp™ Malaria Pan Detection (PDT) kit, were evaluated head-to-head for detection of Plasmodium-DNA in 133 biobanked blood samples from suspected malaria cases at the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of Region Skåne, Sweden to determine their diagnostic performance compared to qPCR.

Results

Of the 133 samples tested, qPCR detected Plasmodium DNA in 41 samples (defined as true positives), and the two LAMP methods detected 41 and 37 of those, respectively. The results from the HumaTurb Loopamp™ Malaria PDT kit were in complete congruence with the qPCR, with a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 91.40–100%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI 96.07–100%). The Alethia® Illumigene Malaria kit had a sensitivity of 90.24% (95% CI 76.87–97.28) and a specificity of 95.65% (95% CI 89.24–98.80) as compared to qPCR.

Conclusions

This head-to-head comparison showed higher performance indicators of the HumaTurb Loopamp™ Malaria PDT kit compared to the Alethia® illumigene Malaria kit for detection of malaria.
Longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid measurements show glial hypo- and hyperactivation in predementia Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Nordengen Kaja , Kirsebom Bjørn-Eivind , Richter Grit , Pålhaugen Lene , Gísladóttir Berglind , Siafarikas Nikias , Nakling Arne , Rongve Arvid , Bråthen Geir , Grøntvedt Gøril Rolfseng , Gonzalez Fernando , Waterloo Knut , Sharma Kulbhushan , Karikari Thomas , Vromen Eleonora M. , Tijms Betty M. , Visser Pieter J. , Selnes Per , Kramberger Milicia G. , Winblad Bengt , Blennow Kaj , Fladby Tormod
Published: December 2023

Background

Brain innate immune activation is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but degrees of activation may vary between disease stages. Thus, brain innate immune activation must be assessed in longitudinal clinical studies that include biomarker negative healthy controls and cases with established AD pathology. Here, we employ longitudinally sampled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) core AD, immune activation and glial biomarkers to investigate early (predementia stage) innate immune activation levels and biomarker profiles.

Methods

We included non-demented cases from a longitudinal observational cohort study, with CSF samples available at baseline (n = 535) and follow-up (n = 213), between 1 and 6 years from baseline (mean 2.8 years). We measured Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau181, and total-tau to determine Ab (A+), tau-tangle pathology (T+), and neurodegeneration (N+), respectively. We classified individuals into these groups: A−/T−/N−, A+/T−/N−, A+/T+ or N+, or A−/T+ or N+. Using linear and mixed linear regression, we compared levels of CSF sTREM2, YKL-40, clusterin, fractalkine, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-1, IL-18, and IFN-γ both cross-sectionally and longitudinally between groups. A post hoc analysis was also performed to assess biomarker differences between cognitively healthy and impaired individuals in the A+/T+ or N+ group.

Results

Cross-sectionally, CSF sTREM2, YKL-40, clusterin and fractalkine were higher only in groups with tau pathology, independent of amyloidosis (p < 0.001, A+/T+ or N+ and A−/T+ or N+, compared to A−/T−/N−). No significant group differences were observed for the cytokines CSF MCP-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL18 or IFN-γ. Longitudinally, CSF YKL-40, fractalkine and IFN-γ were all significantly lower in stable A+/T−/N− cases (all p < 0.05). CSF sTREM2, YKL-40, clusterin, fractalkine (p < 0.001) and MCP-1 (p < 0.05) were all higher in T or N+, with or without amyloidosis at baseline, but remained stable over time. High CSF sTREM2 was associated with preserved cognitive function within the A+/T+ or N+ group, relative to the cognitively impaired with the same A/T/N biomarker profile (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Immune hypoactivation and reduced neuron–microglia communication are observed in isolated amyloidosis while activation and increased fractalkine accompanies tau pathology in predementia AD. Glial hypo- and hyperactivation through the predementia AD continuum suggests altered glial interaction with Ab and tau pathology, and may necessitate differential treatments, depending on the stage and patient-specific activation patterns.
Interaction between childhood trauma experience and TPH2 rs7305115 gene polymorphism in brain gray matter volume
Authors: Li Wei , Li Qian , Zhang Peng , Liu Huaigui , Ye Zhaoxiang
Published: December 2023

Background

Childhood trauma is one of the most extensively studied and well-supported environmental risk factors for the development of mental health problems. The human tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) gene is one of the most promising candidate genes in numerous psychiatric disorders. However, it is now widely acknowledged that neither genetic variation nor environmental exposure alone can fully explain all the phenotypic variance observed in psychiatric disorders. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the interaction between the two factors in psychiatric research.

Methods

We enrolled a sizable nonclinical cohort of 786 young, healthy adults who underwent structural MRI scans and completed genotyping, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and behavioural scores. We identified the interaction between childhood trauma and the TPH2 rs7305115 gene polymorphism in the gray matter volume (GMV) of specific brain subregions and the behaviour in our sample using a multiple linear regression framework. We utilized mediation effect analysis to identify environment /gene-brain-behaviour relationships.

Results

We found that childhood trauma and TPH2 rs7305115 interacted in both behaviour and the GMV of brain subregions. Our findings indicated that the GMV of the right posterior parietal thalamus served as a significant mediator supporting relationship between childhood trauma (measured by CTQ score) and anxiety scores in our study population, and the process was partly modulated by the TPH2 rs7305115 gene polymorphism. Moreover, we found only a main effect of childhood trauma in the GMV of the right parahippocampal gyrus area, supporting the relationship between childhood trauma and anxiety scores as a significant mediator.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that early-life trauma may have a specific and long-term structural effect on brain GMV, potentially leading to altered cognitive and emotional processes involving the parahippocampal gyrus and thalamus that may also be modulated by the TPH2 gene polymorphism. This finding highlights the importance of considering genetic factors when examining the impact of early-life experiences on brain structure and function. Gene‒environment studies can be regarded as a powerful objective supplement for targeted therapy, early diagnosis and treatment evaluation in the future.
Plant diversity and ethnobotanical importance of home gardens in Ghana’s middle belt: a cross-sectional survey of the Sunyani municipality
Authors: Ofosu-Bamfo Bismark , Yawson Daniel , Asare Kwame Baffour , Dadeboe Vanessa Ohui , Buabeng Isaac Kojo , Aggrey Justice , Dapillah Dery Aaron , Boateng David Kojo , Offe Emmanuel , Alhassan Thomas Abudu
Published: December 2023

Background

Home gardens are a species-rich socioecological system with a diverse range of cultivated and naturally occurring plants with the potential to make contributions to address sustainable food, biodiversity and climate crisis. However, there is a dearth of information on the socio-demographic profile of home gardeners and the importance of home gardens to ethnobotany, food security and biodiversity. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the socio-demographic profile of home gardeners in the Sunyani municipality as a case in point for the middle belt of Ghana and to evaluate the diversity of plants in home gardens and their ethnobotanical importance.

Methods

A total of 12 suburbs were selected from three subzones in the Sunyani municipality. In each suburb, 25% of households were randomly selected and if they had a home garden, one adult in the house was interviewed. A list of all plants in the home garden and their uses was obtained from respondents. A Chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of home gardeners among various socio-demographic categories, and binomial logistic regression was employed to determine links between socio-demography and home garden attributes. The ethnobotany R package was used to evaluate the ethnobotanical importance of plants in home gardens.

Results

A total of 186 respondents were recruited for this study, 79 being females and 107 males. A total of 79 plant species were also identified belonging to 70 genera and 40 families. Trees were the most common plant life form in home gardens, followed by shrubs, herbs, vines, grasses and lianas. Ethnobotanical indices revealed the most important plants in home gardens to be staples, food supplements and medicinal plants. These were Musa paradisiaca, Caripa pabaya, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Manihot utilisima and Mangifera indica, Moringa oleifera, Citrus sinensis, Capsicum frutescens, Taraxacum officinale, Solanum aethiopicum, Cocos nucifera, Solanum torvum, Persea americana, Dioscorea alata and Elaeis guineensis.

Conclusion

Plants used as staples, food supplements and medicinal purposes emerged as the most culturally relevant scoring high on all ethnobotanical indices. Home gardens present an opportunity to address food security and nutrition needs of households and communities.
A protocol for a turbidimetric assay using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae thiamin biosynthesis mutant to estimate total vitamin B1 content in plant tissue samples
Authors: Strobbe Simon , Verstraete Jana , Fitzpatrick Teresa B. , Stove Christophe , Van Der Straeten Dominique
Published: December 2023

Background

Understanding thiamin (thiamine; vitamin B1) metabolism in plants is crucial, as it impacts plant nutritional value as well as stress tolerance. Studies aimed at elucidating novel aspects of thiamin in plants rely on adequate assessment of thiamin content. Mass spectrometry-based methods provide reliable quantification of thiamin as well as closely related biomolecules. However, these techniques require expensive equipment and expertise. Microbiological turbidimetric assays can evaluate the presence of thiamin in a given sample, only requiring low-cost, standard lab equipment. Although these microbiological assays do not reach the accuracy provided by mass spectrometry-based methods, the ease with which they can be deployed in an inexpensive and high-throughput manner, makes them a favorable method in many circumstances. However, the thiamin research field could benefit from a detailed step-by-step protocol to perform such assays as well as a further assessment of its potential and limitations.

Results

Here, we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae thiamin biosynthesis mutant thi6 is an ideal candidate to be implemented in a turbidimetric assay aimed at assessing the content of thiamin and its phosphorylated equivalents (total vitamer B1). An optimized protocol was generated, adapted from a previously established microbiological assay using the thi4 mutant. A step-by-step guidance for this protocol is presented. Furthermore, the applicability of the assay is illustrated by assessment of different samples, including plant as well as non-plant materials. In doing so, our work provides an extension of the applicability of the microbiological assay on top of providing important considerations upon implementing the protocol.

Conclusions

An inexpensive, user-friendly protocol, including step-by-step guidance, which allows adequate estimation of vitamer B1 content of samples, is provided. The method is well-suited to screen materials to identify altered vitamer B1 content, such as in metabolic engineering or screening of germplasm.
Biomechanical differences between two different shapes of oblique lumbar interbody fusion cages on whether to add posterior internal fixation system: a finite element analysis
Authors: Liu Jianchao , Geng Ziming , Wang Jian , Zhang Zepei , Zhang Xingze , Miao Jun
Published: December 2023

Background

Oblique lateral lumbar fusion (OLIF) is widely used in spinal degeneration, deformity and other diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical differences between two different shapes of OLIF cages on whether to add posterior internal fixation system, using finite element analysis.

Methods

A complete three-dimensional finite element model is established and verified for L3–L5. Surgical simulation was performed on the verified model, and the L4–L5 was the surgical segment. A total of the stand-alone group (Model A1, Model B1) and the BPSF group (Model A2, Model B2) were constructed. The four OLIF surgical models were: A1. Stand-alone OLIF with a kidney-shaped Cage; B1. Stand-alone OLIF with a straight cage; A2. OLIF with a kidney-shaped cage + BPSF; B2. Stand-alone OLIF with a straight cage + BPSF, respectively. The differences in the range of motion of the surgical segment (ROM), equivalent stress peak of the cage (ESPC), the maximum equivalent stress of the endplate (MESE) and the maximum stress of the internal fixation (MSIF) were compared between different models.

Results

All OLIF surgical models showed that ROM declines between 74.87 and 96.77% at L4–L5 operative levels. The decreasing order of ROM was Model A2 > Model B2 > Model A1 > Model A2. In addition, the ESPC and MESE of Model A2 are smaller than those of other OLIF models. Except for the left-bending position, the MSIF of Model B2 increased by 1.51–16.69% compared with Model A2 in each position. The maximum value of MESE was 124.4 Mpa for Model B1 in the backward extension position, and the minimum value was 7.91 Mpa for Model A2 in the right rotation. Stand-alone group showed significantly higher ROMs and ESPCs than the BPSF group, with maximum values of 66.66% and 70.59%. For MESE, the BPSF group model can be reduced by 89.88% compared to the stand-alone group model.

Conclusions

Compared with the traditional straight OLIF cage, the kidney-shaped OLIF cage can further improve the stability of the surgical segment, reduce ESPC, MESE and MSIF, and help to reduce the risk of cage subsidence.
The association between disability and physical performance, pain intensity, and pain-related anxiety in patients after lumbar decompression surgery: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sahebalam Mohamad , ShahAli Shabnam , Komlakh Khalil , Shanbehzadeh Sanaz
Published: December 2023

Background

Most patients with lumbar spinal stenosis improve significantly within 6 months of lumbar decompression surgery, however, unfavorable long-term disability may persist in some patients. It was unclear which potential influencing factors were more likely to be associated with disability. This study aimed to assess the association between disability and physical performance, pain, and pain-related anxiety in patients after lumbar decompression surgery.

Methods

Patients who underwent decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis were included. Participants completed the visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale-20 to collect pain intensity, disability, and pain-related anxiety information. For physical performance assessment, participants performed timed up and go (TUG), functional reach test (FRT), 6-min walking test, and modified Sorensen test, 6–12 months after lumbar decompression surgery. The associations were examined with bivariate and multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results

A total of 80 patients were included. A significant association between disability and pain-related anxiety, the FRT, and the modified Sorensen test scores was confirmed in multivariable analyses. Both bivariate (r = − 0.75) and multivariable (β = 0.60, 95% CI, 0.24, 0.54; P = 0.00) analyses confirmed that pain-related anxiety was the strongest indicator of disability. The association between disability and pain intensity, TUG, and 6-min walking test scores was not confirmed.

Conclusion

Pain-related anxiety should be considered in the rehabilitation programs after lumbar decompression surgery. The evaluation of all aspects of physical performance following lumbar decompression surgery is also recommended.
Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis: a bi-directional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Qu Yudun , Chen Shibo , Han Mengling , Gu Ziqi , Zhang Yujie , Fan Tianxiang , Zeng Muhui , Ruan Guangfeng , Cao Peihua , Yang Qian , Ding Changhai , Zhang Yan , Zhu Zhaohua
Published: December 2023

Objective

To investigate the causal relationship between low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoarthritis (OA) using Mendelian randomization (MR) design.

Methods

Two-sample bi-directional MR analyses were performed using summary-level information on OA traits from UK Biobank and arcOGEN. Sensitivity analyses including MR-Egger, simple median, weighted median, MR pleiotropy residual sum, and outlier approaches were utilized in conjunction with inverse variance weighting (IVW). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) colocalization analyses were used to investigate the potential mechanism and shared genes between osteoporosis (OP) and OA.

Results

The IVW method revealed that genetically predicted low femoral neck BMD was significantly linked with hip (β = 0.105, 95% CI: 0.023–0.188) and knee OA (β = 0.117, 95% CI: 0.049–0.184), but not with other site-specific OA. Genetically predicted low lumber spine BMD was significantly associated with OA at any sites (β = 0.048, 95% CI: 0.011–0.085), knee OA (β = 0.101, 95% CI: 0.045–0.156), and hip OA (β = 0.150, 95% CI: 0.077–0.224). Only hip OA was significantly linked with genetically predicted reduced total bone BMD (β = 0.092, 95% CI: 0.010–0.174). In the reverse MR analyses, no evidence for a causal effect of OA on BMD was found. GO enrichment analysis and eQTL analysis illustrated that DDN and SMAD-3 were the most prominent co-located genes.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that OP may be causally linked to an increased risk of OA, indicating that measures to raise BMD may be effective in preventing OA. More research is required to determine the underlying processes via which OP causes OA.
New characterization and safety evaluation of human limbal stem cells used in clinical application: fidelity of mitotic process and mitotic spindle morphologies
Authors: Zekušić Marija , Bujić Mihica Marina , Skoko Marija , Vukušić Kruno , Risteski Patrik , Martinčić Jelena , Tolić Iva M. , Bendelja Krešo , Ramić Snježana , Dolenec Tamara , Vrgoč Zimić Ivana , Puljić Dominik , Petric Vicković Ivanka , Iveković Renata , Batarilo Ivanka , Prosenc Zmrzljak Uršula , Hoffmeister Alan , Vučemilo Tiha
Published: December 2023

Background

Limbal stem cells (LSCs) are crucial for the regeneration of the corneal epithelium in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Thus, LSCs during cultivation in vitro should be in highly homogeneous amounts, while potency and expression of stemness without tumorigenesis would be desirable. Therefore, further characterization and safety evaluation of engineered limbal grafts is required to provide safe and high-quality therapeutic applications.

Methods

After in vitro expansion, LSCs undergo laboratory characterization in a single-cell suspension, cell culture, and in limbal grafts before transplantation. Using a clinically applicable protocol, the data collected on LSCs at passage 1 were summarized, including: identity (cell size, morphology); potency (yield, viability, population doubling time, colony-forming efficiency); expression of putative stem cell markers through flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Then, mitotic chromosome stability and normal mitotic outcomes were explored by using live-cell imaging. Finally, impurities, bacterial endotoxins and sterility were determined.

Results

Expression of the stemness marker p63 in single-cell suspension and in cell culture showed high values by different methods. Limbal grafts showed p63-positive cells (78.7 ± 9.4%), Ki67 proliferation (41.7 ± 15.9%), while CK3 was negative. Impurity with 3T3 feeder cells and endotoxins was minimized. We presented mitotic spindles with a length of 11.40 ± 0.54 m and a spindle width of 8.05 ± 0.55 m as new characterization in LSC culture. Additionally, live-cell imaging of LSCs (n = 873) was performed, and only a small fraction < 2.5% of aberrant interphase cells was observed; 2.12 ± 2.10% of mitotic spindles exhibited a multipolar phenotype during metaphase, and 3.84 ± 3.77% of anaphase cells had a DNA signal present within the spindle midzone, indicating a chromosome bridge or lagging chromosome phenotype.

Conclusion

This manuscript provides, for the first time, detailed characterization of the parameters of fidelity of the mitotic process and mitotic spindle morphologies of LSCs used in a direct clinical application. Our data show that p63-positive CK3-negative LSCs grown in vitro for clinical purposes undergo mitotic processes with extremely high fidelity, suggesting high karyotype stability. This finding confirms LSCs as a high-quality and safe therapy for eye regeneration in humans.
The clinical association between coagulation indexes, platelet-related parameters, and bone metastasis of newly diagnosed prostate cancer
Authors: Yu Zhiwei , Yuan Mingxue , Chen Guojun
Published: December 2023

Background

At present, much evidence shows that many cancers have a high risk of thrombosis. Several studies have shown the prognostic value of platelet-related parameters and coagulation indexes in prostate cancer (PCa). However, the association between platelet-related parameters, coagulation indexes and bone metastasis of Pca is unclear.

Methods

A total of 234 pathologically diagnosed patients with Pca were consecutively collected and stratified into the bone metastasis group and non-bone metastasis group according to the results of the bone scan. ROC curve analysis was used to explore the auxiliary predictive value of single and combined parameters for bone metastasis in Pca patients. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between platelet-related parameters, coagulation indexes, and bone metastasis of Pca.

Results

Platelet count (PLT), fibrinogen (Fib), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and D-dimer (DD) levels of the bone metastasis group were significantly higher than the non-bone metastasis group (P = 0.010, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). This study confirmed that PLT, PSA, DD and Fib have auxiliary predictive value for prostate cancer bone metastasis. After the combination of PLT, PSA, DD and Fib, the area under the curve, sensitivity and specificity increased significantly. The univariate logistic analysis demonstrated that PLT (OR: 1.008, P = 0.011), DD (OR: 2.690, P < 0.001), PSA (OR: 1.073, P < 0.001), Gleason score (OR: 7.060, P < 0.001), and Fib (OR: 2.082, P < 0.001) were significantly positively correlated with bone metastasis of Pca. Multivariate analysis showed that PSA (OR: 1.075, P < 0.001), DD (OR: 2.152, P < 0.001), Gleason score (OR: 2.904, P < 0.001), and Fib (OR: 1.706, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for bone metastasis of Pca after adjusting for Age, BMI and other confounding factors.

Conclusions

Higher platelet, D-dimer, prostate-specific antigen, Gleason score, and fibrinogen levels may predict a worse prognosis in patients with Pca. PLT, DD, and Fib, as readily available and relatively inexpensive indicators, help predict bone metastasis of Pca. It is suggested that PLT, DD and Fib may be helpful in the risk stratification of Pca.
Case report: first data on the foraging behaviour of velvet scoters (Melanitta fusca) in soft-bottom coastal waters of the southeast Baltic Sea
Authors: Forni Paola , Morkunas Julius , Daunys Darius
Published: December 2023

Background

The foraging behaviour of sea ducks has always been difficult to study due to their exclusive occupancy of coastal waters during the wintering season. In this study we investigated the foraging behaviour of seven wintering velvet scoters (Melanitta fusca) in Lithuanian soft-bottom coastal waters by attaching a solar-powered external GPS‐GSM transmitter to each individual bird. This transmitter data allowed us to analyse the dive phase parameters and feeding depths during December 2021 and March 2022.

Results

The results showed that velvet scoters dived deeper than a 30-m depth, with the dive duration lasting up to 90 s on average. The bottom duration increased rapidly in the first 5 m and then levelled off at around 40 s for deeper waters. The underwater duration varied between 2 and 7.5 h a day. The dive effort (as total underwater time) and the bottom duration of velvet scoters were related to the depth and prey biomass, although both factors were demonstrated to be interdependent. Moreover, the results showed that velvet scoters were less active in December than in March in terms of both average diving duration and diving frequency. The results also confirmed the high diurnal activity of the velvet scoter, although the birds demonstrated night activity in December and not in March.

Conclusion

This information on the velvet scoter’s foraging behaviour may have important implications for the conservation of the species, and provides new insights into the improvement of conservation measures for the species in the Baltic Sea.
Phagocytic cell death leads to enhanced release of pro-inflammatory S100A12 in familial Mediterranean fever
Authors: Varga G. , Schleifenbaum S. , Koenig U. , Waldkirch J. , Hinze C. , Kessel C. , Geluk W. , Pap T. , Lainka Elke , Kallinich Tilmann , Foell D. , Wittkowski H.
Published: December 2023

Background

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a prototypical autoinflammatory syndrome associated with phagocytic cell activation. Pyrin mutations are the genetic basis of this disease, and its expression has been shown in monocytes, granulocytes, dendritic cells, and synovial fibroblasts. Pyrin functions as a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor and forms a distinct pyrin inflammasome. The phagocyte-specific protein S100A12 is predominantly expressed in granulocytes and belongs to the group of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMP). S100A12 can be detected at massively elevated levels in the serum of FMF patients, even in clinically inactive disease. Whether this is crucial for FMF pathogenesis is as yet unknown, and we therefore investigated the mechanisms of S100A12 release from granulocytes of FMF patients presenting clinically inactive.

Results

We demonstrate that FMF neutrophils from patients in clinical inactive disease possess an intrinsic activity leading to cell death even in exogenously unstimulated neutrophils. Cell death resembles NETosis and is dependent on ROS and pore forming protein gasdermin D (GSDMD), as inhibitors for both are capable of completely block cell death and S100A12 release. When pyrin-activator TcdA (Clostridium difficile toxin A) is used to stimulate, neutrophilic cell death and S100A12 release are significantly enhanced in neutrophils from FMF patients compared to neutrophils from HC.

Conclusions

We are able to demonstrate that activation threshold of neutrophils from inactive FMF patients is decreased, most likely by pre-activated pyrin. FMF neutrophils present with intrinsically higher ROS production, when cultured ex vivo. This higher baseline ROS activity leads to increased GSDMD cleavage and subsequent release of, e.g., S100A12, and to increased cell death with features of NETosis and pyroptosis. We show for the first time that cell death pathways in neutrophils of inactive FMF patients are easily triggered and lead to ROS- and GSDMD-dependent activation mechanisms and possibly pathology. This could be therapeutically addressed by blocking ROS or GSDMD cleavage to decrease inflammatory outbreaks when becoming highly active.
Quantifying the influence of clay-bound water on wave dispersion and attenuation signatures of shale: An experimental study
Authors: Long Teng , Qin Xuan , Wei Qianqian , Zhao Luanxiao , Wang Yang , Chen Feng , Myers Michael T. , Zheng Yingcai , Han De-Hua
Published: December 2023

Understanding the elastic and attenuation signatures of shales is of considerable interest for unconventional reservoir characterization and sealing capacity evaluation for CO2 sequestration and nuclear waste disposal. We have conducted laboratory measurements on seven shale samples at seismic frequencies (2–100 Hz) to study the effects of clay-bound water (CBW) on their wave dispersion and attenuation signatures. With nuclear magnetic resonance and a helium porosimeter, the volume of CBW in the shale samples is quantified. The forced-oscillation measurement reveals that Young’s modulus exhibits a continuous dispersion trend from 2 to 100 Hz. The extensional attenuation ([Formula: see text]) shows a weak frequency and pressure dependence on effective pressure ranging from 5 to 35 MPa. The magnitude of extensional attenuation shows a positive correlation with CBW, with an [Formula: see text] value of 0.89. It is found that 4% of CBW in the rock frame causes approximately a 5% modulus increase from 2 to 100 Hz. We adopt a constant [Formula: see text] model for assigning frequency-dependent bulk and shear moduli to the CBW in the rock-physics modeling, which can fit the experimental data of modulus dispersion and attenuation well, indicating that the bulk and shear moduli of CBW in shales might behave viscoelastically.
Efficient reverse time migration method in tilted transversely isotropic media based on a pure pseudoacoustic wave equation
Authors: Han Jiale , Huang Jianping , Shen Yi , Yang Jidong , Mu Xinru , Chen Liang
Published: December 2023

In general, velocity anisotropy in shale media has been widely observed in laboratory and field work, which means that disregarding this characteristic can lead to inaccurate imaging locations when data are imaged with reverse time migration (RTM). Wavefields simulated with the conventional coupled pseudoacoustic wave equation may introduce S-wave noise and this equation is only valid in transversely isotropic media ([Formula: see text]). Certain decoupled qP-wave equations require the use of the pseudospectral method, which makes them computationally inefficient. To address these issues, we develop a new pure qP acoustic wave equation based on the acoustic assumption, which can be solved more efficiently using the finite-difference (FD) method. This equation can also be used in the forward-modeling process of RTM in tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. First, we perform a Taylor expansion of the root term in the pure qP-wave dispersion relation. This leads to an anisotropic dispersion relation that is decomposed into an elliptical anisotropic background factor and a circular correction factor. Second, we obtain the pure qP-wave equation in TTI media without a pseudodifferential operator. The new equation can be efficiently solved using FD methods and can be applied to RTM in TTI media with strong anisotropy. Our method indicates greater tolerance to numerical errors and is better suited for strong anisotropy, as compared with previously published methods. Numerical examples indicate the high kinematic and phase accuracy of our pure qP-wave equation along with its stability in TTI media characterized by ([Formula: see text]). By using a sag model and an overthrust TTI model, we determine the efficiency and accuracy of our TTI RTM.
Complex association between post-COVID-19 condition and anxiety and depression symptoms
Authors: Tebeka Sarah , Carcaillon-Bentata Laure , Decio Valentina , Alleaume Caroline , Beltzer Nathalie , Gallay Anne , Lemogne Cédric , Pignon Baptiste , Makovski Tatjana T. , Coste Joël
Published: December 2023

Background

To assess the associations between anxiety and depressive symptoms and post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) by exploring the direction of these associations and their relevance in the definition of PCC.

Methods

Nationwide survey among French adults, recruited between March and April, 2022, using a quota method to capture a representative sample of the general population with regard to sex, age, socioeconomic status, size of the place of residence, and region. We included all participants who met the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of PCC in addition to a random sample of participants infected with SARS-COV-2 for at least 3 months but without PCC. Self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms, chronic anxiety and depression (for more than 3 years), and anxiety and depression were measured using the GAD-2 and PHQ-2 questionnaires, respectively.

Results

In a sample of 1,095 participants with PCC and 1,021 participants infected with SARS-COV-2 without PCC, 21% had self-reported anxiety and 18% self-reported depression, whereas 33% and 20% had current measured symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. The high prevalence of these symptoms cannot only be explained by the characterization of PCC, as only 13.4% of anxiety symptoms and 7.6% of depressive symptoms met the WHO criteria for PCC. Only one participant met the WHO criteria based on self-reported anxiety or depressive symptoms alone, as these were always combined with other symptoms in patients with PCC. Chronic symptoms were associated with PCC (aOR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.00–1.61). In addition, measured anxiety was associated with PCC (aOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.02–1.62).

Conclusions

Pre-COVID-19 chronic anxiety and depression may play a role in the development of PCC or share vulnerability factors with it. Our results challenge the inclusion of anxiety and depression in the definition of PCC.
Effects of different cooking methods on the proximate and fatty acid composition of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Erdem Ömer Alper , Dinçer Mehmet Tolga
Published: December 2023

It is essential for human health to maintain a diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids, particularly polyunsaturated (PUFA), composed of omega-3. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), an important source of omega 3 long chain PUFAs, has a sizeable amount in international seafood trade because it is an abundant source of omega-3 long-chain PUFAs. Despite the fact that cooking fish to high temperatures alters its fat, protein, vitamin, and mineral content, cooked fish is preferred by consumers. The purpose of this research was to compare nutritional, physical and sensory properties of Atlantic salmon cooked in the oven, steamed and also a combination of the two cooking methods. Farmed Atlantic salmon was used to make steaks that were defrosted in the fridge the night before. Cooking methods applied were baking in the oven, steaming, and a combination of oven-baking and steaming. The results showed that the crude protein level of oven-baked salmon meat was greatest among all cooking methods. Heat treatment affected the fatty acid composition of Atlantic salmon flesh, as shown that the total saturated fatty acids of cooked fish groups were higher than those of raw salmon. It was determined that oven baking was the most effective heat treatment for maintaining all lipid characteristics of the meat, including the PUFA concentration and n-3/n-6 ratio. When EPA and DHA values of all cooking groups were compared, combination cooking group has lowest value than other cooking groups.
Parabolic Resonances in the Gospels and the Qurʾān
Authors: KARA Seyfeddin
Published: December 2023

There are apparent similarities between the parables contained in the Gospels and those found in the Qurʾān, which provide their audiences with illustrations of complex religious concepts and moral teachings through the imagery of everyday life. Based on the form-critical analysis of the Gospel Parable of the Sower and some Qurʾānic parables, this article aims to detect defining similarities and differences between the Gospels and Sūrat al-Baqarah and illuminate details about the historical and geographic context in which the two texts originated. Based on the findings of the comparison, this article will argue that the Qurʾānic text represents a genuine continuation of the biblical text.
Objections to Sam Harris’ Critic of Religion
Authors: GÜNDOĞAN Saim
Published: December 2023

Some thinkers of the modern period have reached the general opinion that the social appearance and social dynamics of religion have increased, and therefore, religion is on the rise. However, the historical and theological tensions between religions that sometimes lead to conflicts and the increase in disagreements between various sects of the same religion have led to an increase in criticism of religion as a whole in certain circles. Sam Harris is one of the important representatives of the new atheism, which is among the schools of thought that make these criticisms. In this study, I will discuss Harris’ criticism of religion in which he argues that religious belief has many harmful and negative aspects. Therefore, he defends the view that it is necessary to fight against religion and to completely remove the phenomenon of religion from people’s lives. This and other of Harris’ basic claims, grounds, evidence, and views on the subject will be discussed, the persuasiveness and philosophical value of his basic approach will be examined through comparisons with rational and philosophical evaluations, and prominent dilemmas, if any, will be identified. The consistency of Harris’ criticism of religious beliefs and the accuracy of these criticisms constitute the problematic of the study. The aim of this study is to examine the author’s views through criticism, consider comparisons of this subject, and create a synthesis based on different approaches to the subject. To present this synthesis, the basic framework of this study is an examination of his The End of Faith: The Separation of Religion and Reason, Morality without God: A Guide for Spirituality without Religion, and The Harms of Religion: Conflicting Truth Claims of Religions.
Ballroom Traditions in Suvorov Military Schools
Authors: Kazanskaya K.
Published: December 2023

The article proposes for discussion the problem of restoring the traditions of teaching dance to students of educational organizations of any type, in particular elementary schools, as well as holding dance meetings, evenings and balls in educational institutions. Using the example of the ballroom tradition, preserved as part of a large cultural and historical heritage in modern Suvorov military schools, the effectiveness of such events for the comprehensive development of a student’s personality, the formation of a culture of behavior, aesthetic taste, good manners, and courtesy in children and youth is proven.
Relationship Between Teaching Styles and Mathematics Achievement of Ibadan North Secondary School Students: Practical Application of Peer-Cooperative Learning to Improve Retention of STEM Majors
Authors: Aliu Hussein Omeiza , Raheem Hameed Oludamilare
Published: December 2023

Teachers and teaching styles are two important factors influencing students’ academic performance. In this action research study, we investigated the differential effectiveness of two teaching methods, conventional learning (CL) and peer-cooperative learning (PCL), on students’ academic performance in fractions. A sample of 120 tenth grade mathematics students from Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State in Nigeria was used for the study. The students were selected from three different secondary schools and grouped into two groups: the experimental (PCL) group and the control (CL) group, each having 60 students. A sample of 5 multiple-choice objective and 5 theory test questions titled Fraction Performance Test (FPT) was used to measure their academic performance after the treatment, and the assessment test scores were recorded. Descriptive statistics of the mean were used to answer the research question, while the two-way ANOVA technique was adopted for testing the research hypothesis at an alpha of 0.05. Summarily, the F (3, 116) statistic (= 8.55, p < .001) indicates significant differences in the effectiveness of the teaching methods. The mean scores also reveal that peer-cooperative learning was more effective than the conventional teaching approach. While the former proved to be a more efficacious treatment for female students, the latter was more suitable for male students. We recommend that different approaches be attempted by teachers, and the most effective in overcoming students’ resistance to learning and improving their academic performance be adopted.
Pérez Galdós, escritor nacional : el homenaje del 26 de marzo de 1883 y la nueva novela española
Authors: Jiménez Jesús Rubio
Published: December 2023

Resumen: El 26 de marzo de 1883 Pérez Galdós fue homenajeado con dos banquetes. Por su gran resonancia en toda España resultaron decisivos en la construcción de su imagen social de escritor nacional. Fue también la primera ocasión en que la nueva novela realista alcanzó un reconocimiento literario pleno. En este ensayo se reconstruye con detalle lo sucedido y su alcance tanto para el escritor como para la historia literaria. Abstract: On March 26, 1883, Pérez Galdós was honored with two banquets. Due to their great resonance throughout Spain, they were decisive in constructing his social image as a national writer. It was also the first occasion in which the new realist novel achieved full literary recognition. This essay reconstructs in detail the events of that day and their impact on both the writer and literary history.
Folded into the Archive: Racialized Textile Labours and the Work of Suffrage Memory
Authors: Kupfner Mariah
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Two textiles tell a story about the changing landscape of American suffrage politics and activism at the start of the twentieth century. They reveal new space for an embrace of normatively feminine crafts, as well as the disparate ways in which Black and white activists’ labours, legacies, and heirlooms were incorporated into literal archives and suffrage memory. Nettie Asberry’s lace coat and Abigail Duniway’s hexagon quilt—both completed for national exhibitions—insisted upon the public valuation of skills that were considered domestic and nostalgically feminine. These suffragists displayed their handiwork and asserted that their political labours and public activism could exist comfortably alongside their decorative needlework. This strategy marked a change in both individual and institutional attitudes towards the relationship between textiles and politics. Duniway and Asberry’s work has been remembered and archived unevenly, however, which reveals the challenges Black women faced in their efforts to include themselves in suffrage memory. Abstract: Deux textiles racontent l’évolution du paysage de la politique et du militantisme du suffrage américain au début du XXe siècle. Ils mettent en lumière la nouvelle manière dont les activités artisanales normativement féminines ont été embrassées ainsi que les façons disparates dont les travaux, les héritages et les objets du patrimoine familial des suffragistes Noires et blanches ont été intégrés aux archives littérales et à la mémoire du suffrage. Le manteau en dentelle de Nettie Asberry et la courtepointe hexagonale d’Abigail Duniway —tous deux confectionnés en vue d’être présentés à des expositions nationales —insistaient sur la valorisation publique de compétences considérées comme domestiques et nostalgiquement féminines. Ces suffragistes ont exhibé leurs travaux manuels et ont affirmé que leur action politique et leur activisme public pouvaient coexister confortablement avec leurs travaux d’aiguille décoratifs. Cette stratégie a notamment marqué un changement dans les attitudes individuelles et institutionnelles à l’égard de la relation entre les textiles et la politique. Cependant, les œuvres de Duniway et d’Asberry ont été inscrits dans la mémoire et archivés de manière inégale, révélant ainsi les défis auxquels les suffragistes Noires ont été confrontées dans leurs efforts pour s’inclure dans la mémoire du suffrage.