bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying multimorbidity clusters in an unselected population of hospitalised patients
Authors: Robertson Lynn , Vieira Rute , Butler Jessica , Johnston Marjorie , Sawhney Simon , Black Corri
Published: March 2022

Multimorbidity (multiple coexisting chronic health conditions) is common and increasing worldwide, and makes care challenging for both patients and healthcare systems. To ensure care is patient-centred rather than specialty-centred, it is important to know which conditions commonly occur together and identify the corresponding patient profile. To date, no studies have described multimorbidity clusters within an unselected hospital population. Our aim was to identify and characterise multimorbidity clusters, in a large, unselected hospitalised patient population. Linked inpatient hospital episode data were used to identify adults admitted to hospital in Grampian, Scotland in 2014 who had ≥ 2 of 30 chronic conditions diagnosed in the 5 years prior. Cluster analysis (Gower distance and Partitioning around Medoids) was used to identify groups of patients with similar conditions. Clusters of conditions were defined based on clinical review and assessment of prevalence within patient groups and labelled according to the most prevalent condition. Patient profiles for each group were described by age, sex, admission type, deprivation and urban–rural area of residence. 11,389 of 41,545 hospitalised patients (27%) had ≥ 2 conditions. Ten clusters of conditions were identified: hypertension; asthma; alcohol misuse; chronic kidney disease and diabetes; chronic kidney disease; chronic pain; cancer; chronic heart failure; diabetes; hypothyroidism. Age ranged from 51 (alcohol misuse) to 79 (chronic heart failure). Women were a higher proportion in the chronic pain and hypothyroidism clusters. The proportion of patients from the most deprived quintile of the population ranged from 6% (hypertension) to 14% (alcohol misuse). Identifying clusters of conditions in hospital patients is a first step towards identifying opportunities to target patient-centred care towards people with unmet needs, leading to improved outcomes and increased efficiency. Here we have demonstrated the face validity of cluster analysis as an exploratory method for identifying clusters of conditions in hospitalised patients with multimorbidity.
Current state and call for action to accomplish findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of low carbon energy data
Authors: Schwanitz Valeria Jana , Wierling August , Biresselioglu Mehmet Efe , Celino Massimo , Demir Muhittin Hakan , Bałazińska Maria , Kruczek Mariusz , Paier Manfred , Suna Demet
Published: March 2022

With the continued digitization of the energy sector, the problem of sunken scholarly data investments and forgone opportunities of harvesting existing data is exacerbating. It compounds the problem that the reproduction of knowledge is incomplete, impeding the transparency of science-based targets for the choices made in the energy transition. The FAIR data guiding principles are widely acknowledged as a way forward, but their operationalization is yet to be agreed upon within different research domains. We comprehensively test FAIR data practices in the low carbon energy research domain. 80 databases representative for data needed to support the low carbon energy transition are screened. Automated and manual tests are used to document the state-of-the art and provide insights on bottlenecks from the human and machine perspectives. We propose action items for overcoming the problem with FAIR energy data and suggest how to prioritize activities.
Hybridized bands and stacking-dependent band edges in ferromagnetic Fe3GeTe2/CrGeTe3 moiré heterobilayer
Authors: Ko Eunjung
Published: March 2022

Owing to unique fundamental physics and device applications, twisted moiré physics in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layered magnetic materials has recently received particular attention. We investigate magnetic vdW Fe3GeTe2 (FGT)/CrGeTe3 (CGT) moiré heterobilayers with twist angles of 11° and 30° from first-principles. We show that the moiré heterobilayer is a ferromagnetic metal with an n-type CGT layer due to the dominant spin-majority electron transfer from the FGT layer to the CGT layer, regardless of various stacked structures. The spin-majority hybridized bands between Cr and Fe bands crossing the Fermi level are found regardless of stacking. The band alignment of the CGT layer depends on the effective potential difference at the interface. We show that an external electric field perpendicular to the in-plane direction modulates the interface dipole and band edges. Our study reveals a deeper understanding of the effects of stacking, spin alignment, spin transfer, and electrostatic gating on the 2D vdW magnetic metal/semiconductor heterostructure interface.
Study on isothermal crystallization kinetics of Zr55.7Cu22.4Ni7.2Al14.7 bulk amorphous alloy
Authors: Zhang Weijian , Tao Pingjun , Chen Yugan , Si Junfeng , Huang Zhenghua , Zhu Kunsen , Yang Yuanzheng
Published: March 2022

Zr55.7Cu22.4Ni7.2Al14.7 alloy bars were prepared by copper mold suction casting, and the structure and thermodynamic properties of the prepared specimens were characterized by X-ray diffractometer and differential scanning calorimeter. Furthermore, isothermal crystallization mechanism and crystallization activation energy were investigated by Johnson–Mehl–Avrami model and Arrhenius equation. The results show that the structure of the specimen is amorphous. The glass transition temperature (Tg), onset crystallization temperature (Tx) and crystallization peak temperature (Tp) are 713 K, 779 K, and 781 K, respectively, and supercooled liquid region ($$\Delta T\, = \,T_{x} - T_{g}$$

Δ
T

=

T
x

-

T
g

) is 66 K. The crystallization incubation times are shortened and the crystallization transformation rates increase with temperature rising. As the crystallization volume fraction increases, the crystallization nucleation rate shows a trend of first increasing and subsequently decreasing, while the activation energy decreases monotonously, in the same time, the crystallization behavior transforms from interface-controlled to diffusion-controlled growth. The thermal stability of amorphous alloy is also discussed.
Probiotics-loaded nanoparticles attenuated colon inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in colitis
Authors: Alkushi Abdullah. Glil , Abdelfattah-Hassan Ahmed , Eldoumani Haitham , Elazab Sara T. , Mohamed Sally A. M. , Metwally Aya Sh. , S.El-Shetry Eman , Saleh Ayman A. , ElSawy Naser A. , Ibrahim Doaa
Published: March 2022

Promising therapy is needed for treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) to overcome current treatment that inefficient and associated with unnecessary health risks. Recently, the concept of incorporating natural products into nanocarriers has been intended as a promising therapy for treating IBD via modulating their stability and bioavailability. Thus, we aimed to explore the potential alleviating effects of dietary nano-supplement combined with bacillus strains (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens; BANPs) in colitis model. Rats were orally gavaged by 5% DSS and the efficacy and mechanistic actions of BANPs were evaluated by assessing the severity of clinical signs and inflammatory and apoptosis response, histopathological and immunohistochemistry examination in colonic tissues. The severity of clinical signs was successfully alleviated and fecal Lcn-2 levels, an important colitic marker, were decreased in BANPs then free BA treated groups. In contrast, inflammatory markers overexpression IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα, COX-2, and iNOS in the colitic group were reduced more prominently in BANPs treated group, unlike free BA. The amelioration of BANPs to colon injury was also correlated with oxidative stress suppression along with restoring total antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, BANPs treatment modulated apoptotic markers as proved by downregulation of cytochrome c, and caspase-3 and upregulation of Bcl-2 and Bax than free BA. The severity of the histopathological alterations in the colon was greatly reduced in BANPs than free BA groups. Remarkably, over-expression of ki67 and IL-6 in colonic tissues were suppressed in BANPs group. These findings together highlighted the beneficial efficacy of BANPs in IBD treatment which are evidenced by colonic inflammation alleviation. Taken together, these results recommend that BANPs is a promising agent that encourages its possible therapeutic role in colitis treatment.
Gram-negative central line-associated bloodstream infection incidence peak during the summer: a national seasonality cohort study
Authors: Blot Koen , Hammami Naïma , Blot Stijn , Vogelaers Dirk , Lambert Marie-Laurence
Published: March 2022

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) cause increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs that are partially preventable. The phenomenon of seasonality among CLABSI rates has not been fully elucidated, but has implications for accurate surveillance and infection prevention trials. Longitudinal dynamic cohort of hospitals participating in hospital-wide and intensive care unit bloodstream infection surveillance for at least one full year over 2000 to 2014. Mixed-effects negative binomial regression analysis calculated the peak-to-low ratio between months as an adjusted CLABSI incidence rate ratio (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Multivariate regression models examined the associations between CLABSI pathogens and ambient temperature and relative humidity. The study population included 104 hospital sites comprising 11,239 CLABSI. Regression analysis identified a hospital-wide increase in total CLABSI during July–August, with a higher gram-negative peak-to-low incidence rate ratio (IRR 2.52 [95% CI 1.92–3.30], p < 0.001) compared to gram-positive bacteria (IRR 1.29 [95% CI 1.11–1.48], p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis replicated this trend for CLABSI diagnosed in the intensive care unit. Only gram-negative CLABSI rates were associated with increased temperature (IRR + 30.3% per 5 °C increase [95% CI 17.3–43.6], p < 0.001) and humidity (IRR + 22.9% per 10% increase [95% CI 7.7–38.3), p < 0.001). The incidence and proportion of gram-negative CLABSI approximately doubled during the summer periods. Ambient temperature and humidity were associated with increases of hospital-acquired gram-negative infections. CLABSI surveillance, preventive intervention trials and epidemiological studies should consider seasonal variation and climatological factors when preparing study designs or interpreting their results.
Metabolic benefits of methionine restriction in adult mice do not require functional methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA)
Authors: Thyne Kevin M. , Salmon Adam B.
Published: March 2022

Methionine restriction (MR) extends lifespan and improves several markers of health in rodents. However, the proximate mechanisms of MR on these physiological benefits have not been fully elucidated. The essential amino acid methionine plays numerous biological roles and limiting its availability in the diet directly modulates methionine metabolism. There is growing evidence that redox regulation of methionine has regulatory control on some aspects of cellular function but interactions with MR remain largely unexplored. We tested the functional role of the ubiquitously expressed methionine repair enzyme methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA) on the metabolic benefits of MR in mice. MsrA catalytically reduces both free and protein-bound oxidized methionine, thus playing a key role in its redox state. We tested the extent to which MsrA is required for metabolic effects of MR in adult mice using mice lacking MsrA. As expected, MR in control mice reduced body weight, altered body composition, and improved glucose metabolism. Interestingly, lack of MsrA did not impair the metabolic effects of MR on these outcomes. Moreover, females had blunted MR responses regardless of MsrA status compared to males. Overall, our data suggests that MsrA is not required for the metabolic benefits of MR in adult mice.
Cerebral aneurysms at major arterial bifurcations are associated with the arterial branch forming a smaller angle with the parent artery
Authors: Gao Bu-Lang , Hao Hong , Hao Weili , Ren Chun-Feng , Yang Lei , Han Yongfeng
Published: March 2022

Currently, the relationship of bifurcation morphology and aneurysm presence at the major cerebral bifurcations is not clear. This study was to investigate cerebral arterial bifurcation morphology and accompanied hemodynamic stresses associated with cerebral aneurysm presence at major cerebral arterial bifurcations. Cerebral angiographic data of major cerebral artery bifurcations of 554 anterior cerebral arteries, 582 internal carotid arteries, 793 middle cerebral arteries and 195 basilar arteries were used for measurement of arterial diameter, lateral and bifurcation angles and aneurysm deviation. Hemodynamic stresses were analyzed using computational fluid dynamic simulation. Significantly (P < 0.001) more aneurysms deviated toward the smaller branch and the smaller lateral angle than towards the larger branch and larger lateral angle at all four major bifurcations. At the flow direct impinging center, the total pressure was the greatest while the dynamic pressure, wall shear stress (WSS), vorticity and strain rate were the least. Peak 1 and Peak 2 were located on the branch forming a smaller and larger angle with the parent artery, respectively. The dynamic pressure (175.4 ± 18.6 vs. 89.9 ± 7.6 Pa), WSS (28.9 ± 7.4 vs. 15.7 ± 5.3 Pa), vorticity (9874.6 ± 973.4 vs. 7237.8 ± 372.7 1/S), strain rate (9873.1 ± 625.6 vs. 7648.3 ± 472.5 1/S) and distance (1.9 ± 0.8 vs. 1.3 ± 0.3 mm) between the peak site and direct flow impinging center were significantly greater at Peak 1 than at Peak 2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, aneurysms deviation and Peak 1 were always on the same side. In conclusion, the branch forming a smaller angle with the parent artery is associated with abnormally enhanced hemodynamic stresses to initiate an aneurysm at the bifurcation apex.
Rotating between ponatinib and imatinib temporarily increases the efficacy of imatinib as shown in a chronic myeloid leukaemia model
Authors: Lindström H. Jonathan G. , Friedman Ran
Published: March 2022

Targeted therapies for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) are effective, but rarely curative. Patients typically require treatment indefinitely, which gives ample time for drug resistance to evolve. Drug resistance issues are one of the main causes of death owing to CML, thus any means of preventing resistance are of importance. Drug rotations, wherein treatment is switched periodically between different drugs are one such option, and have been theorized to delay the onset of resistance. In vitro testing of drug rotation therapy is a first step towards applying it in animal or human trials. We developed a method for testing drug rotation protocols in CML cell lines based around culturing cells with a moderate amount of inhibitors interspersed with washing procedures and drug swaps. Drug rotations of imatinib and ponatinib were evaluated in a CML specific cell line, KCL-22. The growth of KCL-22 cells was initially reduced by a drug rotation, but the cells eventually adapted to the protocol. Our results show that ponatinib in a drug rotation temporarily sensitizes the cells to imatinib, but the effect is short-lived and is eventually lost after a few treatment cycles. Possible explanations for this observation are discussed.
Influence of growth temperature on dielectric strength of Al2O3 thin films prepared via atomic layer deposition at low temperature
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Lee Seung-Hun , Jo In Ho , Seo Jongsu , Yoo Yeong-Eun , Kim Jeong Hwan
Published: March 2022

Thin films grown via atomic layer deposition (ALD) suffer from insufficient growth rate and unreliability for temperature-sensitive electronic substrates. This study aimed to examine the growth characteristics and dielectric strength of ALD Al2O3 films grown at low temperatures (≤ 150 °C) for potential application in flexible electronic devices. The growth rate of the Al2O3 films increased from 0.9 to 1.1 Å/cycle with increasing temperature and saturated at growth temperatures ≥ 150 °C, which is the critical temperature at which a complete oxidation reaction occurred. The dielectric strength was also improved with increasing growth temperature, and the films grown at 150 °C showed a high breakdown field strength (~ 8.3 MV/cm), attributable to the decrease in the carbon impurities and oxygen defects, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Even at low growth temperatures (≤ 150 °C), ALD Al2O3 films showed an overall amorphous structure and extremely smooth surfaces regardless of the growth temperature.
Unenhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance may improve detection and prognostication of an occult heart involvement in asymptomatic patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Palumbo Pierpaolo , Ruscitti Piero , Cannizzaro Ester , Berardicurti Onorina , Conforti Alessandro , Di Cesare Annamaria , Di Cola Ilenia , Giacomelli Roberto , Splendiani Alessandra , Barile Antonio , Masciocchi Carlo , Cipriani Paola , Di Cesare Ernesto
Published: March 2022

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon autoimmune disease. Aim of the study was to detect the occult cardiac involvement in asymptomatic SSc patients of recent onset (indicative of a more aggressive disease) with unenhanced Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR). Our historical prospective study included naïve SSc patients of recent onset. Modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) and Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Damage Index (SCTC-DI) were calculated. Cardiac volumes and global myocardial strain were assessed and also compared with healthy group values. Pericardial involvement was further recorded. Thirty-one patients met inclusion criteria (54 ± 12 years; 1 M). Mean duration of disease was 6.8 years. All patients showed preserved systolic function. Higher incidence of pericardial involvement was founded in patients with disease accrual damage (OR: 9.6, p-value 0.01). Radial and longitudinal strain values resulted significantly different between healthy and SSc patients. GRS and GLS showed an independent predictive validity on damage accrual (HR: 1.22 and 1.47, respectively). Best C-index for disease progression was reached when strain values and pericardial evaluation were added to conventional risk factors (0.97, p-value: 0.0001). Strain analysis by CMR-TT may show a high capability both in identifying early cardiac involvement and stratifying its clinical aggressiveness, regardless of the standard damage indices and CMR contrast-dependent biomarker.
The quantum oscillations in different probe configurations in the $$\hbox {BiSbTe}_{{3}}$$ topological insulator macroflake
Authors: Huang Shiu-Ming , Lin Chien , You Sheng-Yu , Yan You-Jhih , Yu Shih-Hsun , Chou Mitch
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate quantum oscillations in $$\hbox {BiSbTe}_{{3}}$$

BiSbTe
3

topological insulator macroflakes in different probe configurations. The oscillation period in the local configuration is twice compared to the non-local configuration. The Aharonov–Bohm-like (AB-like) oscillation dominates the transport property in the local configuration and the Altshuler–Aronov–Spivak-like (AAS-like) oscillation dominates the transport property in the non-local configuration. The AB-like oscillation period is 0.21 T and the related loop diameter is 156 nm which is consistent with the reported phase coherence length in topological insulators. The Shubnikov–de Haas oscillation frequency is the same but oscillation peaks reveal a $$\pi$$
π
phase shift in the local and non-local configuration. The Berry phase is $$\pi$$
π
in the local configuration and 0 in non-local configuration.
Analysis of the causes of inferiority feelings based on social media data with Word2Vec
Authors: Liu Yu , Xu Chen , Kuai Xi , Deng Hao , Wang Kaifeng , Luo Qinyao
Published: March 2022

Feelings of inferiority are complex emotions that usually indicate perceived weakness and helplessness. A lack of timely and effective interventions may bring serious consequences to individuals with inferiority feelings. Due to privacy concerns, those people often hesitate to seek face-to-face help, but they usually spontaneously share their feelings on social media, which makes social media a good resource for ample inferiority-related data. We randomly selected a sample of posts indicating inferiority feelings to explore the causes of inferiority. Through language analysis and natural language processing, we constructed a Word2Vec model of inferiority based on social media data and applied it to the cause analysis of inferiority feelings. The main causes of inferiority feelings are personal experience, social interaction, love relationship, etc. People feeling inferior about their personal experiences usually are largely influenced by their ways of thinking and life attitudes. Social and emotional factors overlap somewhat in the development of inferiority. In love relationships, males are more prone to inferiority feeling than females. These findings will help relevant institutions and organizations better understand people with inferiority feelings and facilitate the development of targeted treatment for those with potential self-esteem problems.
Spatial–temporal patterns and risk factors for human leptospirosis in Thailand, 2012–2018
Authors: Chadsuthi Sudarat , Chalvet-Monfray Karine , Geawduanglek Suchada , Wongnak Phrutsamon , Cappelle Julien
Published: March 2022

Leptospirosis is a globally important zoonotic disease. The disease is particularly important in tropical and subtropical countries. Infections in humans can be caused by exposure to infected animals or contaminated soil or water, which are suitable for Leptospira. To explore the cluster area, the Global Moran’s I index was calculated for incidences per 100,000 population at the province level during 2012–2018, using the monthly and annual data. The high-risk and low-risk provinces were identified using the local indicators of spatial association (LISA). The risk factors for leptospirosis were evaluated using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with zero-inflation. We also added spatial and temporal correlation terms to take into account the spatial and temporal structures. The Global Moran’s I index showed significant positive values. It did not demonstrate a random distribution throughout the period of study. The high-risk provinces were almost all in the lower north-east and south parts of Thailand. For yearly reported cases, the significant risk factors from the final best-fitted model were population density, elevation, and primary rice crop arable areas. Interestingly, our study showed that leptospirosis cases were associated with large areas of rice production but were less prevalent in areas of high rice productivity. For monthly reported cases, the model using temperature range was found to be a better fit than using percentage of flooded area. The significant risk factors from the model using temperature range were temporal correlation, average soil moisture, normalized difference vegetation index, and temperature range. Temperature range, which has strongly negative correlation to percentage of flooded area was a significant risk factor for monthly data. Flood exposure controls should be used to reduce the risk of leptospirosis infection. These results could be used to develop a leptospirosis warning system to support public health organizations in Thailand.
Microwell bag culture for large-scale production of homogeneous islet-like clusters
Authors: Suenaga Ryo , Konagaya Shuhei , Yamaura Junji , Ito Ryo , Tanaka Satoshi , Ishizaki Yoichi , Toyoda Taro
Published: March 2022

Pluripotent stem-cell derived cells can be used for type I diabetes treatment, but we require at least 105–106 islet-like clusters per patient. Although thousands of uniform cell clusters can be produced using a conventional microwell plate, numerous obstacles need to be overcome for its clinical use. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel bag culture method for the production of uniform cell clusters on a large scale (105–106 clusters). We prepared small-scale culture bags (< 105 clusters) with microwells at the bottom and optimized the conditions for producing uniform-sized clusters in the bag using undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Subsequently, we verified the suitability of the bag culture method using iPSC-derived pancreatic islet cells (iPICs) and successfully demonstrate the production of 6.5 × 105 uniform iPIC clusters using a large-scale bag. In addition, we simplified the pre- and post-process of the culture—a degassing process before cell seeding and a cluster harvesting process. In conclusion, compared with conventional methods, the cluster production method using bags exhibits improved scalability, sterility, and operability for both clinical and research use.
Transcriptomic analysis of methyl jasmonate treatment reveals gene networks involved in drought tolerance in pearl millet
Authors: Ndiaye Adama , Diallo Amadou Oury , Fall Ndèye Coura , Diouf Rose Diambogne , Diouf Diaga , Kane Ndjido Ardo
Published: March 2022

Water deficit stress at the early stage of development is one of the main factors limiting pearl millet production. One practice to counteract this limitation would be to resort to the application of hormones to stimulate plant growth and development at critical stages. Exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) can improve drought tolerance by modulating signaling, metabolism, and photosynthesis pathways, therefore, we assumed that can occur in pearl millet during the early stage of development. To decipher the molecular mechanisms controlling these pathways, RNAseq was conducted in two pearl millet genotypes, drought-sensitive SosatC88 and drought-tolerant Souna3, in response to 200 μM of MeJA. Pairwise comparison between the MeJA-treated and non-treated plants revealed 3270 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among 20,783 transcripts in SosatC88 and 127 DEGs out of 20,496 transcripts in Souna3. Gene ontology (GO) classification assigned most regulated DEGs in SosatC88 to heme binding, oxidation–reduction process, response to oxidative stress and membrane, and in Souna3 to terpene synthase activity, lyase activity, magnesium ion binding, and thylakoid. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis reveals that DEGs in SosatC88 are related to the oxidation–reduction process, the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, the signal transduction, and the metabolism of terpenoids, while in Souna3, DEGs are related to the metabolism of terpenoids and the energy metabolism. Two genes encoding a diterpenoid biosynthesis-related (Pgl_GLEAN_10009413) and a Glutathione S transferase T3 (Pgl_GLEAN_10034098) were contra-regulated between SosatC88 and Souna3. Additionally, five random genes differentially expressed by RNAseq were validated using qPCR, therefore, they are potential targets for the development of novel strategies breeding schemes for plant growth under water deficit stress. These insights into the molecular mechanisms of pearl millet genotype tolerance at the early stage of development contribute to the understanding of the role of hormones in adaptation to drought-prone environments.
Identification of hub genes for adult patients with sepsis via RNA sequencing
Authors: Zhang Qian , Hu Yingchun , Wei Peiyao , Shi Liu , Shi Lei , Li Jianzhou , Zhao Yalei , Chen Yunru , Zhang Xi , Ye Feng , Liu Xiaojing , Lin Shumei
Published: March 2022

To screen out potential prognostic hub genes for adult patients with sepsis via RNA sequencing and construction of a microRNA–mRNA–PPI network and investigate the localization of these hub genes in peripheral blood monocytes. The peripheral blood of 33 subjects was subjected to microRNA and mRNA sequencing using high-throughput sequencing, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) were identified by bioinformatics. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (10 × Genomics) was further conducted. Among the samples from 23 adult septic patients and 10 healthy individuals, 20,391 genes and 1633 microRNAs were detected by RNA sequencing. In total, 1114 preliminary DEGs and 76 DEMs were obtained using DESeq2, and 454 DEGs were ultimately distinguished. A microRNA–mRNA–PPI network was constructed based on the DEGs and the top 20 DEMs, which included 10 upregulated and 10 downregulated microRNAs. Furthermore, the hub genes TLR5, FCGR1A, ELANE, GNLY, IL2RB and TGFBR3, which may be associated with the prognosis of sepsis, and their negatively correlated microRNAs, were analysed. The genes TLR5, FCGR1A and ELANE were mainly expressed in macrophages, and the genes GNLY, IL2RB and TGFBR3 were expressed specifically in T cells and natural killer cells. Parallel analysis of mRNAs and microRNAs in patients with sepsis was demonstrated to be feasible using RNA-seq. Potential hub genes and microRNAs that may be related to sepsis prognosis were identified, providing new prospects for sepsis treatment. However, further experiments are needed.
Mapping the purple menace: spatiotemporal distribution of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) along roadsides in northern New York State
Authors: Rogers Jessica , Humagain Kamal , Pearson Adam
Published: March 2022

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) is an invasive, herbaceous plant, frequently found in wetlands, creating monoculture stands, resulting in intensive management strategies in central New York, Ontario, and Quebec. The goal of this study was to identify the extent of infestations and to investigate factors that promote the spread of purple loosestrife. We attempted to answer several questions regarding level of infestation, connection to mowing, and influence of culverts. During flowering season in July and August, 2017–2019, we mapped infestations along 150 km (93 miles) of state highway between the Adirondack Park and the St. Lawrence River using the ESRI Collector app. The results of our preliminary analysis revealed significant increase in the number of plants (P < 0.001). In addition, a linear correlation analysis demonstrated a higher loosestrife density with an increase in plant species richness and a decrease in the distance to the closest infestation and wetland (P < 0.001 each). We found no statistical evidence that mowing promotes the spread of loosestrife. As expected, there were more individual infestations in highway ditches, but larger and denser infestations in wetlands (P = 0.003 in 2019). Culverts enable purple loosestrife to spread underneath highways and should be managed to prevent spread.
House dust mite exposure enhances immune responses to ovalbumin-induced intestinal allergy
Authors: Lin Jianli , Chen Desheng , Guan Lvxin , Chang Kexin , Li Dan , Sun Baoqing , Yang Pingchang , Liu Zhigang
Published: March 2022

House dust mites (HDM) are one of the important factors of airway allergic diseases, HDM allergens can be detected in the human gut mucosa, which induces local inflammation and increases intestinal epithelial permeability. This study tests a hypothesis that HDM contribute to the development of OVA (ovalbumin)-induced intestinal allergy. The serum levels of IgE against HDM in patients with food allergy were detected with UniCAP100 (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden); a mouse model of food allergy was developed with OVA and HDM as the specific antigens. Compared to healthy controls, patients with food allergy have higher levels of serum HDM-specific IgE. Compared to food allergy alone groups, the levels of HDM-specific IgE in patients with food allergy and asthma or allergic rhinitis were significantly higher. In mouse models, we found that HDM/OVA induced allergy-like symptoms, lower body temperature, and lower body weight. The levels of IgE, IgG1, mMCP-1 (mouse mast cell protease-1), IL-4 and IL-5 in the HDM and HDM + CT (cholera toxin) groups were higher than the control groups, and the levels of IgE, IgG1, IL-4 and IL-5 in the HDM, OVA and HDM + OVA groups were higher than the control groups. The pathological changes of intestinal tissues in the HDM and HDM + CT/the HDM, OVA and HDM + OVA groups were more severe, more eosinophil infiltration than the control groups. Moreover, exposure to HDM induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, and facilitated the development of intestinal allergy in mice. In conclusion, HDM exposure enhances immune responses to OVA-induced food allergy.
High resolution 2D beam steerer made from cascaded 1D liquid crystal phase gratings
Authors: de Blas Mario García , García Javier Pereiro , Andreu Sergio Vera , Arregui Xabier Quintana , Caño-García Manuel , Geday Morten Andreas
Published: March 2022

Optical beam steering (BS) has multiple applications in fields like target seeking and tracking, optical tweezers, billboard displays and many others. In this work, a two-dimensional beam deflector based on blaze gratings is presented. Phase-only 1D blaze gratings have been prepared using maskless Direct Laser Writing (DLW) resulting in high-resolution structures in indium-tin oxide (ITO) coated glass wafers. The device is composed of two identical 1D liquid crystal (LC) cells cascaded orthogonally back-to-back, with a resultant active area of 1.1 × 1.1 mm2. The 1D cells have been prepared with 144 pixels each with a 7.5 µm pitch. The total 288 pixels are driven by a custom made 12-bit Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) electronic driver, allowing for an arbitrarily high resolution. The system performance is documented, and the efficiency of the system has been tested. A maximum diagonal steering angle of ± 3.42° was achieved.
Atmospheric rivers fueling the intensification of fog and haze over Indo-Gangetic Plains
Authors: Verma Shivali , Ramana Muvva V. , Kumar Raj
Published: March 2022

Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) experiences persistent and widespread rise of fog and haze during the winter season. This has been attributed to the rise in pollution levels and water vapor, but the reason for enhancement in latter is not clear yet. We detect moisture incursion from Arabian Sea, a phenomenon called atmospheric rivers (AR), land-falling intermittently along 12–25° N corridor of the west-coast of India during winter; using satellite and reanalysis data. The total vertically integrated horizontal water vapor transport in AR-landfalls ranging from 0.7 × 108 to 2.2 × 108 kg/s; nearly five-orders of magnitude larger than the average discharge of liquid water from Indus River into Arabian Sea. These AR events are playing prominent role in enhancing water vapor over IGP region by 19 ± 5%; in turn fueling the intensification of fog and haze through aerosol-water vapor interaction. We found that AR events enhanced aerosol optical depths over IGP by about 29 ± 13%. The progression of moist-laden winds in ARs onto Himalayan Mountains contributes to the precipitation that explains the observed rise in the extreme flow of western Himalayan Rivers in winter. We conclude that these ARs likely contribute to the decline of snow albedo as pollution-mixed-ARs encounter Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan mountain region.
Prevalence of and factors associated with atypical presentation in bacteremic urinary tract infection
Authors: Komagamine Junpei , Yabuki Taku , Noritomi Daichi , Okabe Taro
Published: March 2022

A delay in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) is not uncommon. Atypical presentation is often cited as one of the causes of diagnostic delays. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence of atypical presentation and determined factors associated with atypical presentation at initial contact among patients with UTI. Therefore, a retrospective and prospective cohort study using chart review was conducted in two acute care hospitals. We included 285 consecutive patients hospitalized for bacteremic UTI. The primary outcome was atypical presentation, defined as the absence of any urinary tract symptom or sign at initial contact. Of all patients, the median age was 82 years, 186 (65.3%) were women, and 53 (18.6%) had dementia. Urinary tract symptoms and signs were absent at initial contact in 144 patients (50.5%; 95% CI 44.7–56.4%). The multivariable analysis revealed that older age, male sex, dementia, and early visit from symptom onset were significantly associated with an increased risk of atypical presentation. Patients with atypical presentation were less likely to receive a correct diagnosis at initial contact than patients with urinary tract symptoms and signs (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.17–0.51). Atypical presentation in patients with bacteremic UTI is common and negatively affects the correct diagnosis of UTI.
Foliar nutrient supplementation with micronutrient-embedded fertilizer increases biofortification, soil biological activity and productivity of eggplant
Authors: Bana Ram Swaroop , Jat Gograj Singh , Grover Minakshi , Bamboriya Shanti D. , Singh Deepak , Bansal Ruchi , Choudhary Anil K. , Kumar Vipin , Laing Alison M. , Godara Samarth , Bana Ramesh Chand , Kumar Hement , Kuri Bhola Ram , Yadav Achchhelal , Singh Teekam
Published: March 2022

Micronutrient malnutrition or hidden hunger remains a major global challenge for human health and wellness. The problem results from soil micro- and macro-nutrient deficiencies combined with imbalanced fertilizer use. Micronutrient-embedded NPK (MNENPK) complex fertilizers have been developed to overcome the macro- and micro-element deficiencies to enhance the yield and nutritive value of key crop products. We investigated the effect of foliar applications of an MNENPK fertilizer containing N, P, K, Fe, Zn and B in combination with traditional basal NPK fertilizers in terms of eggplant yield, fruit nutritive quality and on soil biological properties. Applying a multi-element foliar fertilizer improved the nutritional quality of eggplant fruit, with a significant increases in the concentration of Fe (+ 26%), Zn (+ 34%), K (+ 6%), Cu (+ 24%), and Mn (+ 27%), all of which are essential for human health. Increasing supply of essential micronutrients during the plant reproductive stages increased fruit yield, as a result of improved yield parameters. The positive effect of foliar fertilizing with MNENPK on soil biological parameters (soil microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase) also demonstrated its capacity to enhance soil fertility. This study suggests that foliar fertilizing with a multi-nutrient product such as MNENPK at eggplant flowering and fruiting stages, combined with the recommended-doses of NPK fertilizers is the optimal strategy to improve the nutritional quality of eggplant fruits and increase crop yields, both of which will contribute to reduce micronutrient malnutrition and hunger globally.
Improving the accuracy and robustness of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity measurement using a simplified tube-load model
Authors: Xu Lisheng , Zhou Shuran , Wang Lu , Yao Yang , Hao Liling , Qi Lin , Yao Yudong , Han Hongguang , Mukkamala Ramakrishna , Greenwald Stephen E.
Published: March 2022

Arterial stiffness, as measured by pulse wave velocity, for the early non-invasive screening of cardiovascular disease is becoming ever more widely used and is an independent prognostic indicator for a variety of pathologies including arteriosclerosis. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is regarded as the gold standard for aortic stiffness. Existing algorithms for cfPWV estimation have been shown to have good repeatability and accuracy, however, further assessment is needed, especially when signal quality is compromised. We propose a method for calculating cfPWV based on a simplified tube-load model, which allows for the propagation and reflection of the pulse wave. In-vivo cfPWV measurements from 57 subjects and numerical cfPWV data based on a one-dimensional model were used to assess the method and its performance was compared to three other existing approaches (waveform matching, intersecting tangent, and cross-correlation). The cfPWV calculated using the simplified tube-load model had better repeatability than the other methods (Intra-group Correlation Coefficient, ICC = 0.985). The model was also more accurate than other methods (deviation, 0.13 ms−1) and was more robust when dealing with noisy signals. We conclude that the determination of cfPWV based on the proposed model can accurately and robustly evaluate arterial stiffness.
Distribution and possible function of galanin about headache and immune system in the rat dura mater
Authors: Shimazaki Kenichiro , Yajima Takehiro , Ichikawa Hiroyuki , Sato Tadasu
Published: March 2022

Galanin (GAL) is a nociceptive transmitter or modulator in the trigeminal sensory system. In this study, GAL expression was investigated in the rat dura mater to demonstrate its possible function in headache using immunohistochemical techniques. The cerebral falx and cerebellar dura mater received abundant blood and nerve supply, and were significantly thicker compared to other portions in the cerebral dura mater. GAL-immunoreactivity was expressed by cell and nerve fiber profiles. Presumed macrophages and dendritic cells contained GAL-immunoreactivity, and co-expressed with CD11b-immunoreactivity. Many isolated and perivascular nerve fibers also showed GAL-immunoreactivity. In addition, GAL-immunoreactive nerve fibers were present in the vicinity of macrophages and dendritic cells with either GAL- or ED1-immunoreactivity. GAL-immunoreactive cells and nerve fibers were common in the cerebral falx and cerebellar dura mater and infrequent in other portions. And, GAL-immunoreactive nerve fibers usually co-expressed calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity. In the trigeminal ganglion, a substantial proportion of sensory neurons innervating the dura mater contained GAL-immunoreactivity (mean ± SD, 3.4 ± 2.2%), and co-expressed CGRP-immunoreactivity (2.7 ± 2.1%). The present study may suggest that GAL is associated with nociceptive transduction or modulation in the dura mater. GAL also possibly plays a role in the immune mechanism of the dura mater.
Formation of secondary organic aerosols from anthropogenic precursors in laboratory studies
Authors: Srivastava Deepchandra , Vu Tuan V. , Tong Shengrui , Shi Zongbo , Harrison Roy M.
Published: March 2022

Aerosols produced from the oxidation of volatile/semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs/SVOCs), known as secondary organic aerosol (SOA), account for a significant fraction of atmospheric airborne particles. This paper reviews the current understanding of SOA formation from gas-phase oxidation with a focus on anthropogenic precursors and their reaction products from atmospheric simulation chamber studies. The review summarises the major reaction products derived from main groups of SOA precursors (e.g., alkanes, aromatics), SOA yields and the factors controlling SOA formation. We highlight that lab-derived SOA yield depends strongly upon, not only the concentrations of SOA precursors and oxidants but also simulation conditions.
Machine learning of language use on Twitter reveals weak and non-specific predictions
Authors: Kelley Sean W. , Mhaonaigh Caoimhe Ní , Burke Louise , Whelan Robert , Gillan Claire M.
Published: March 2022

Depressed individuals use language differently than healthy controls and it has been proposed that social media posts can be used to identify depression. Much of the evidence behind this claim relies on indirect measures of mental health and few studies have tested if these language features are specific to depression versus other aspects of mental health. We analysed the Tweets of 1006 participants who completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression and 8 other mental health conditions. Daily Tweets were subjected to textual analysis and the resulting linguistic features were used to train an Elastic Net model on depression severity, using nested cross-validation. We then tested performance in a held-out test set (30%), comparing predictions of depression versus 8 other aspects of mental health. The depression trained model had modest out-of-sample predictive performance, explaining 2.5% of variance in depression symptoms (R2 = 0.025, r = 0.16). The performance of this model was as-good or superior when used to identify other aspects of mental health: schizotypy, social anxiety, eating disorders, generalised anxiety, above chance for obsessive-compulsive disorder, apathy, but not significant for alcohol abuse or impulsivity. Machine learning analysis of social media data, when trained on well-validated clinical instruments, could not make meaningful individualised predictions regarding users’ mental health. Furthermore, language use associated with depression was non-specific, having similar performance in predicting other mental health problems.
NT-CRISPR, combining natural transformation and CRISPR-Cas9 counterselection for markerless and scarless genome editing in Vibrio natriegens
Authors: Stukenberg Daniel , Hoff Josef , Faber Anna , Becker Anke
Published: March 2022

The fast-growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens has recently gained increasing attention as a novel chassis organism for fundamental research and biotechnology. To fully harness the potential of this bacterium, highly efficient genome editing methods are indispensable to create strains tailored for specific applications. V. natriegens is able to take up free DNA and incorporate it into its genome by homologous recombination. This highly efficient natural transformation is able to mediate uptake of multiple DNA fragments, thereby allowing for multiple simultaneous edits. Here, we describe NT-CRISPR, a combination of natural transformation with CRISPR-Cas9 counterselection. In two temporally distinct steps, we first performed a genome edit by natural transformation and second, induced CRISPR-Cas9 targeting the wild type sequence, and thus leading to death of non-edited cells. Through cell killing with efficiencies of up to 99.999%, integration of antibiotic resistance markers became dispensable, enabling scarless and markerless edits with single-base precision. We used NT-CRISPR for deletions, integrations and single-base modifications with editing efficiencies of up to 100%. Further, we confirmed its applicability for simultaneous deletion of multiple chromosomal regions. Lastly, we showed that the near PAM-less Cas9 variant SpG Cas9 is compatible with NT-CRISPR and thereby broadens the target spectrum.
Cell-type specific pallial circuits shape categorical tuning responses in the crow telencephalon
Authors: Ditz Helen M. , Fechner Julia , Nieder Andreas
Published: March 2022

The nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL), an integration centre in the telencephalon of birds, plays a crucial role in representing and maintaining abstract categories and concepts. However, the computational principles allowing pallial microcircuits consisting of excitatory and inhibitory neurons to shape the tuning to abstract categories remain elusive. Here we identified the major pallial cell types, putative excitatory projection cells and inhibitory interneurons, by characterizing the waveforms of action potentials recorded in crows performing a cognitively demanding numerical categorization task. Both cell types showed clear differences in their capacity to encode categorical information. Nearby and functionally coupled putative projection neurons generally exhibited similar tuning, whereas putative interneurons showed mainly opposite tuning. The results favour feedforward mechanisms for the shaping of categorical tuning in microcircuits of the NCL. Our findings help to decipher the workings of pallial microcircuits in birds during complex cognition and to compare them vis-a-vis neocortical processes in mammals.
Fluorobenzoic acid coformers to improve the solubility and permeability of the BCS class IV drug naftopidil
Authors: Mannava M. K. Chaitanya , Bommaka Manish K. , Dandela Rambabu , Solomon K. Anand , Nangia Ashwini K.
Published: March 2022

Fluorinated benzoic acids are reported as novel and effective coformers to improve the solubility and permeability of the BCS class IV drug naftopidil. Drug permeability increases with increasing number of F atoms on the coformer.