bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon stored in live ponderosa pines in the Sierra Nevada will not return to pre-drought (2012) levels during the 21st century due to bark beetle outbreaks
Authors: Robbins Zachary J. , Xu Chonggang , Jonko Alex , Chitra-Tarak Rutuja , Fettig Christopher J. , Costanza Jennifer , Mortenson Leif A. , Aukema Brian H. , Kueppers Lara M. , Scheller Robert M.
Published: March 2023

Outbreaks of several bark beetle species can develop rapidly in response to drought and may result in large transfers of carbon (C) stored in live trees to C stored in dead trees (10s of Tg C yr-1in the western U.S. alone), which over time will be released back to the atmosphere. The western pine beetle (WPB) outbreak incited by the 2012–2015 mega-drought in the Sierra Nevada, California, U.S., could portend more frequent and/or severe bark beetle outbreaks as the temperature warms and drought frequency and intensity increase in the future. However, changes in the frequency and/or severity (resultant levels of host tree mortality) of beetle outbreaks are difficult to predict as outbreaks are complex with non-linear and eruptive processes primarily driven by interactions among beetle populations, the demography of hosts and other tree species, and climate and weather. Using an insect phenology and tree defense model, we projected the future likelihood of WPB outbreaks in the Sierra Nevada with climate drivers from different Earth System Models. Our goal was to understand how host (ponderosa pine, PIPO) recovery and future warming and drought affect the frequency and severity of WPB outbreaks and their C consequences. Our projections suggested that by 2100 the C stored in live PIPO (mean: 1.98 kg C m-2,95% CI: 1.74–2.21 kg C m-2) will not return to levels that occurred before the 2012–2015 drought (2012: ∼2.30 kg C m-2) due to future WPB outbreaks. However, differences in climate models indicate a wide range of possible WPB outbreak frequencies and severities. Our results suggest that total plot basal area is the most significant factor in the mortality rate of PIPO by WPB in any given year, followed by drought severity and temperature. High levels of host basal area, higher temperature, and extreme drought all contribute to the frequency and severity of future WPB outbreaks. While PIPO basal area may decline under increased drought and warming, limiting high-stand basal area (>60 m2 ha-1) may reduce the severity of future WPB outbreaks in the Sierra Nevada.
Spatial-temporal pattern of desertification in the Selenge River Basin of Mongolia from 1990 to 2020
Authors: Xu Shuxing , Wang Juanle , Altansukh Ochir , Chuluun Togtokh
Published: March 2023

Land degradation is the most serious environmental challenge in the Mongolian Plateau, an important arid and semiarid region east of the Eurasian continent. The Selenge River Basin is not only the main catchment area of Baikal Lake, the largest fresh water lake, but also the main concentration area of agriculture and animal husbandry in Mongolia. Under the common influence of global warming and human activities, desertification has become more prominent in this basin, threatening the ecological security and sustainable development of the Mongolian Plateau. In this study, we selected NDVI, Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index, topsoil grain size index and Albedo as feature space indicators, and retrieved the desertification process from 1990 to 2020 in the Selenge River Basin of Mongolia based on a novel feature space monitoring index. A 30-m resolution desertification map of the Selenge River Basin was retrieved based on optimal feature space models for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Then, the spatial-temporal dynamic changes and driving mechanism of desertification. The results show that: 1) Compared with the other four feature space models, the point-to-line Albedo-MSAVI feature space model has the highest recognition accuracy of 84.89% for desertification in the basin. 2) The desertification level of the Selenge River basin is mainly low and medium on the whole, the high desertification is mainly located in BULGAN and HOVSGOL provinces in the middle-upper reaches of the basin, and the severe desertification is mainly located in TOV province and Ulaanbaatar in the middle-lower reaches of the basin. 3) From 1990–2020, desertification degree in the Selenge River Basin has further deteriorated, and the area of high and serve desertified land has expanded significantly. Within the stage, 1990–2015 was a period of rapid increase in desertification. However, from 2015–2020, recovery takes the dominant position. The regions with high conversion frequency of desertification degree are mainly concentrated in the central and southeastern of the Selenge River basin. The joint effects of large fluctuations in temperature, overgrazing and population migration aggravate the desertification degree in this region. The research results can provide the desertification retrieving method recommendation and land degradation nutrition measures decision support in the Selenge River Basin and the whole Mongolian Plateau.
Spatial facilitation and competition regulate tree species assembly in a tropical dry forest
Authors: Salazar Villegas Mike H. , Wiegand Thorsten , González-M Roy , Rodriguez-Buritica Susana , Qasim Mohammed , Csaplovics Elmar
Published: March 2023

Analyzing the spatial association pattern among species can help to better understanding the mechanisms that drive forest dynamics and assembly. We applied techniques of spatial point pattern analysis to data from a fully mapped plot of tropical dry forest (TDF) in Colombia to assess the spatial association network among the eight most abundant species and we tested the hypothesis that species traits related to the ability to cope with drought stress could explain the observed spatial association patterns. We conducted three analyses, first we classified the types of spatial association patterns of species pairs against a null model of spatial independence, second, we used a heterogeneous Poisson (HP) null-model to assess competitive and facilitative interactions, and finally, we integrated the spatial association network with a traits space spanned by hydraulic functional traits. Overall, the proportion of significant negative and positive associations were low and we found at smaller spatial scales (5 m) prevalence of positive association patterns (11%) and at intermediate scales (16 m) negative interactions (13%). The dominant, evergreen and bird-dispersed species Trichilia oligofoliata, which followed a hydraulically save strategy, was involved in most positive associations at small scales, whereas the evergreen large statured species Aspidosperma polyneuron, which also follows a conservative resource-use strategy, was involved in most negative interactions. In TDFs where water stress is prevalent, tree community assembly and spatial patterns formation are regulated by environmental heterogeneity (e.g., topography), and both facilitative and competitive processes act simultaneously, but at different spatial scales and involving different species. Our findings highlight the potential importance of the examined association patterns, not only for our understanding of community assembly, but also to provide restoration directions.
The impact of cytoreductive nephrectomy on survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving immunotherapy: An evidence-based analysis of comparative outcomes
Authors: Li Kun-peng , Chen Si-yu , Wang Chen-yang , Li Xiao-ran , Yang Li
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The prognostic impact of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the era of immunotherapy is yet to be determined. The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between CN and outcomes in the setting of mRCC treated with immunotherapy.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of the Science, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies published in English up to December 2022. The results were presented as hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) was extracted to assess their relevance. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022383026).

Results

A total of 2397 patients were included in eight studies. The CN group was observed to be correlated with superior OS compared to the No CN group (HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.39–0.71, p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis according to the type of immunotherapy, sample size, and treatment line of immune checkpoint inhibitor revealed that CN group had a superior OS in all subgroups.

Conclusion

CN is associated with a better outcome in terms of OS benefit in selected patients with mRCC treated by immunotherapy, but further studies are required to verify the conclusions.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022383026.
Biologically Important Areas II for cetaceans within U.S. and adjacent waters - Updates and the application of a new scoring system
Authors: Harrison Jolie , Ferguson Megan C. , New Leslie , Cleary Jesse , Curtice Corrie , DeLand Sarah , Fujioka Ei , Halpin Patrick N. , Tyson Moore Reny B. , Van Parijs Sofie M.
Published: March 2023

Building on earlier work identifying Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for cetaceans in U.S. waters (BIA I), we describe the methodology and structured expert elicitation principles used in the “BIA II” effort to update existing BIAs, identify and delineate new BIAs, and score BIAs for 25 cetacean species, stocks, or populations in seven U.S. regions. BIAs represent areas and times in which cetaceans are known to concentrate for activities related to reproduction, feeding, and migration, as well as known ranges of small and resident populations. In this BIA II effort, regional cetacean experts identified the full extent of any BIAs in or adjacent to U.S. waters, based on scientific research, Indigenous knowledge, local knowledge, and community science. The new BIA scoring and labeling system improves the utility and interpretability of the BIAs by designating an overall Importance Score that considers both (1) the intensity and characteristics underlying an area’s identification as a BIA; and (2) the quantity, quality, and type of information, and associated uncertainties upon which the BIA delineation and scoring depend. Each BIA is also scored for boundary uncertainty and spatiotemporal variability (dynamic, ephemeral, or static). BIAs are region-, species-, and time-specific, and may be hierarchically structured where detailed information is available to support different scores across a BIA. BIAs are compilations of the best available science and have no inherent regulatory authority. BIAs may be used by international, federal, state, local, or Tribal entities and the public to support planning and marine mammal impact assessments, and to inform the development of conservation and mitigation measures, where appropriate under existing authorities. Information provided online for each BIA includes: (1) a BIA map; (2) BIA scores and label; (3) a metadata table detailing the data, assumptions, and logic used to delineate, score, and label the BIA; and (4) a list of references used in the assessment. Regional manuscripts present maps and scores for the BIAs, by region, and narratives summarizing the rationale and information upon which several representative BIAs are based. We conclude with a comparison of BIA II to similar international efforts and recommendations for improving future BIA assessments.
Variations in fish community composition and trophic structure under multiple drivers in the Beibu Gulf
Authors: Peng Shuai , Wang Xuehui , Du Feiyan , Sun Dianrong , Wang Yuezhong , Chen Pimao , Qiu Yongsong
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Beibu Gulf is a semi-enclosed bay with important ecological and economic value of the northwestern South China Sea (SCS). It proved to be a stressed ecosystem and therefore clearly vulnerable to further external disturbances.

Methods

Data from 26 fishery bottom trawl surveys in the Beibu Gulf from 2006 to 2018 are analyzed to reveal changes in the fish abundance, dominant species composition, diversity, mean trophic level (MTL), and fishing-in-balance (FiB) index.

Results

Fish abundance decreased significantly (p< 0.05) with increased anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., fishing intensity and land-derived pollutants), with catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreasing from 40.69 kg·h−1 in 2006 to 15.84 kg·h−1 in 2018. Dominant species composition has changed dramatically from 2006 to 2018, with fish communities shifting from demersal to pelagic species, and from large and high-trophic-level species to small and low-trophic-level species. Meanwhile, Margalef’s richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity indexes trend downward. The MTL declines from 3.82 in 2006 to 3.71 in 2018 (at 0.08 trophic level per decade), and decreasing with the decrease of the proportion of high-trophic fish and demersal fish in total catch (p< 0.05). A FiB index tends to be less than 0, this index declines with decreasing MTL and fish abundance (p< 0.05).

Discussion

Overall, fish stocks in the Beibu Gulf continue to decline and are currently overexploited. Multiple external disturbances, such as fishing (including overfishing, dominance of trawl fishery, and ‘skipper effect’), habitat disturbance, pollution, and temperature changes, may have contributed to significant changes in fish communities and trophic structure in the Beibu Gulf.
Novel photocatalytic coating for corrosion mitigation in 304LSS of dry storage canisters
Authors: Sathasivam Kamalasekaran , Wang Mei-Ya , Anbalagan Aswin kumar , Lee Chih-Hao , Yeh Tsung-Kuang
Published: March 2023

Type 304L stainless steel (304LSS) is one of the candidate canister materials for storing radioactive spent fuels, usually near seashore environments along with nuclear power plants. During the prolonged exposure of dry storage canisters to saline environments, they are highly susceptible to chloride induced stress corrosion cracking. Failure of a dry storage canister not only would release radioactive isotopes into the environment, but would also lead to a costly replacement of the cracked canister. The objective of this study is to develop a multilayered titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite coating on a 304LSS substrate. With ultraviolet (UV) illumination, this coating would act as a barrier and simultaneously offer cathodic protection against corrosion in the substrate alloy. The composite coating consists of a plain amorphous TiO2 coating over another cerium-doped (Ce-doped) TiO2 coating. Electronic currents generated by photo-catalytic reaction of the amorphous TiO2 coating under UV illumination were measured. Photo-electrochemical analyses and surface morphology observations were conducted to evaluate the performance of the Ce-doped coatings on corrosion mitigation. Optimal amounts of cerium doping that offered better photo-cathodic protection were also explored. Results indicated that the Ce-doped TiO2 coating exhibited a better performance on photo-cathodic protection for 304L stainless steel in aerated 3.5% NaCl solutions than the one without cerium doping. The underlying Ce-doped TiO2 coating was effectively charged during UV illumination, and it was able to continuously release electrons even after the UV was switched off, thus providing uninterrupted photo-cathodic protection for the coated 304L stainless steel substrate.
Microscopic mechanism study of the creep properties of soil based on the energy scale method
Authors: Yuan Jie , Wang Tao Jin , Chen Jian , Huang jian An
Published: March 2023

The study of the creep properties of soils is of great importance for the management of future settlements and the safe use of buildings. However, starting from the micro level is an effective way to explore the creep mechanism of soft soil. In this paper, the influence of the mineral composition and the mineral content on the structure and creep properties of soft soil was analyzed at the microscopic level and the energy scale method was proposed. Then, the energy scale method was used to analyze and discuss the results of the direct shear creep test. The discussion showed that 1) the average viscosity coefficient of kaolin was greater than that of bentonite, which decreased with an increase of kaolin and bentonite; 2) the thickness of adsorbed water or the double electric layer (DEL) on the particle surface was positively correlated with the soft soil creep; and 3) λ was positively correlated with the adsorbed water content and negatively correlated with the average viscosity coefficient of the soft soil. λ characterized the adsorption capacity of the particles at the micro level; hence, the energy scale method can explain the mechanism of the soft soil creep at the microscopic level and also quantitatively describe the influencing law of the basic characteristics of the particles on the properties of the soft soil creep.
Fracture characteristics of a cement concrete pavement plate considering subgrade modulus decay based on a meshless finite block method
Authors: Wei Hui , Zhou Yu , Huang Wang , Wen Pihua , Li Jue
Published: March 2023

The decrease in the subgrade modulus immersed in rainwater can significantly increase the fracture risk of a cement concrete pavement plate. The aim of this study was to develop a meshless finite block method (MFBM) to reveal the failure mechanism of a cement concrete pavement due to the weakening of the subgrade modulus. A normal distribution function was adopted in this study to represent the distribution of the subgrade modulus at the bottom of the cement concrete pavement plate. The settlement results show that the progressive softening model of soil subgrade is more suitable to represent subgrade modulus decay. The maximum stress of the cement concrete pavement mainly concentrates at 1.05–1.15 m of the plate edge. The weak fracture position is influenced by the subgrade modulus reduction, the size of the immersion range, and the pavement and subgrade thickness. When improving the subgrade modulus, adding plate thickness appropriately can effectively control the cracking of the cement concrete pavement. Compared with the finite element model, it is proved that the proposed MFBM has an advantage in the solution of pavement fracture with high accuracy and less computation time. In addition, findings in this study may provide evidence for understanding the effect of the subgrade modulus on the durable pavement design.
Case report: Muscular tuberculosis with lower-extremity muscular masses as the initial presentation: Clinicopathological analysis of two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Zhu Xiao-wei , Luan Xing-hua , Jiang Kai-li , Zhang Chao , Liu Shi-hua , Cao Li , Zhong Ping , Liu Zhi-yan
Published: March 2023

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a threat to public health that mostly affects people in developing countries. TB presenting as a soft tissue mass is rare and is usually seen in patients with muscular tuberculosis (MT).

Case presentation

In this study, we present the clinical, radiographic, and pathological features of two cases and retrospective evaluations of an additional 28 patients who were diagnosed with MT. More patients were men (60.9%) than women (39.1%), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.6:1. The average age among male and female patients was 38.9 and 30.1 years, respectively. MT usually presents with painful or painless muscular nodules on the lower limbs. Imaging findings, including ultrasound, CT, and MRI, can be used to identify lesions and sites for biopsy. The most typical histopathological feature of MT is granulomatous inflammation with caseous necrosis and epithelioid granulomata. Acid-fast bacilli stain and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are helpful in identifying tubercle bacillus.

Conclusion

We describe two MT cases with lower-extremity muscular masses as the initial presentation. The results suggest that muscle biopsy and pathological analysis remain necessary for diagnosis. Most of the patients could be cured with standard antituberculosis therapy.
Serum syndecan-1 concentration in hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome: A case report
Authors: Nishio Ayane , Kamidani Ryo , Okada Hideshi , Suzuki Keiko , Suzuki Kodai , Miyake Takahito , Okamoto Haruka , Doi Tomoaki , Suzuki Akio , Yoshida Shozo , Ogura Shinji
Published: March 2023

Background

Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome occurs in pregnant and postpartum individuals. We observed serum syndecan-1 (SDC-1) levels, which is a component of the glycocalyx, in a patient with HELLP syndrome from admission to the postpartum period and examined their association as reflecting the pathophysiology related to endothelial injury.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old primiparous female patient without a previous medical history at a gestational age of 37 weeks and 6 days was transferred to our hospital the morning after a visit to a previous hospital with headache and nausea. Elevated transaminase, platelet count, and proteinuria were noted. Head magnetic resonance imaging revealed a caudate nucleus hemorrhage and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. After she delivered her newborn through an emergency cesarean section, she was admitted to the intensive care unit. On day 4 post-delivery, the patient’s D-dimer concentration was elevated, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography was performed. The results indicated pulmonary embolism, and heparin administration was initiated. The serum SDC-1 level was highest on day 1 post-delivery and quickly decreased subsequently; however, it remained elevated during the postpartum period. Her condition gradually improved, and she was extubated on day 6 and discharged from the ICU on day 7 post-delivery.

Conclusion

We measured SDC-1 concentration in a patient with HELLP syndrome and found that the clinical course correlated with SDC-1 levels, indicating that SDC-1 is elevated immediately before and after pregnancy termination in patients with HELLP syndrome. Therefore, SDC-1 fluctuations, combined with the elevation of the D-dimer level, may be a potential marker for the early detection of HELLP syndrome and estimation of the syndrome’s severity in the future.
Transmission of pancreatic adenocarcinoma by a single multiorgan donor to two kidney transplant recipients: A case report
Authors: Belčič Mikič Tanja , Mlinšek Gregor , Oblak Manca , Kandus Aljoša , Buturović-Ponikvar Jadranka , Hawlina Simon , Milanez Tomaž , Kojc Nika , Frelih Maja , Arnol Miha
Published: March 2023

We present two cases of transmission of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma from a single donor to two kidney transplant recipients. Autopsy of the donor revealed a pancreatic adenocarcinoma that had already spread locally to the regional lymph nodes and had not been detected at the time of organ procurement. Both recipients were carefully monitored, as neither consented to graft nephrectomy. In one patient, the tumor was discovered on surveillance biopsy of the graft approximately 14 months after transplantation, and in the second patient, ultrasound-guided aspiration needle biopsy of a growing formation in the lower pole of the graft revealed poorly differentiated metastatic adenocarcinoma. Both patients were successfully treated with graft nephrectomy and complete discontinuation of immunosuppression. None of the follow-up imaging showed persistent or recurrent malignancy, and both patients were candidates for re-transplantation. These exceptional cases of donor-derived pancreatic adenocarcinoma suggest that removal of the donor organ and restoration of immunity may lead to complete recovery.
An impact of age on respiratory syncytial virus infection in air-liquid-interface culture bronchial epithelium
Authors: Ito Kazuhiro , Daly Leah , Coates Matthew
Published: March 2023

Background

Elderly people are known to be vulnerable to virus infection. However, this has not been appropriately tested in in vitro studies due to a lack of appropriate virus infection models. In this report, we investigated the impact of age on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in pseudostratified air-liquid-interface (ALI) culture bronchial epithelium, which more closely mimic human airway epithelium morphologically and physiologically, than submerged cancer cell line cultures.

Methods

RSV A2 was inoculated apically to the bronchial epithelium obtained from 8 donors with different ages (28–72 years old), and time-profiles of viral load and inflammatory cytokines were analyzed.

Results

RSV A2 replicated well in ALI-culture bronchial epithelium. The viral peak day and peak viral load were similar between donors at ≤60 years old (n = 4) and  > 65 years old (n = 4; elderly group), but virus clearance was impaired in the elderly group. Furthermore, area under the curve (AUC) analysis, calculated from viral load peak to the end of sample collection (from Day 3 to 10 post inoculation), revealed statistically higher live viral load (PFU assay) and viral genome copies (PCR assay) in the elderly group, and a positive correlation between viral load and age was observed. In addition, the AUCs of RANTES, LDH, and dsDNA (cell damage marker) were statistically higher in the elderly group, and the elderly group showed a trend of higher AUC of CXCL8, CXCL10 and mucin production. The gene expression of p21CDKN1A (cellular senescence marker) at baseline was also higher in the elderly group, and there was a good positive correlation between basal p21 expression and viral load or RANTES (AUC).

Conclusion

Age was found to be a key factor affecting viral kinetics and biomarkers post virus infection in an ALI-culture model. Currently, novel or innovative in vitro cell models are introduced for virus research, but when virus studies are conducted, similarly to working with other clinical samples, the age balance is important to obtain more accurate results.
Behavioral regulation by perineuronal nets in the prefrontal cortex of the CNTNAP2 mouse model of autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Gandhi Tanya , Liu Chin-Chi , Adeyelu Tolulope T. , Canepa Cade R. , Lee Charles C.
Published: March 2023

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) arise from altered development of the central nervous system, and manifest behaviorally as social interaction deficits and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Alterations to parvalbumin (PV) expressing interneurons have been implicated in the neuropathological and behavioral deficits in autism. In addition, perineuronal nets (PNNs), specialized extracellular matrix structures that enwrap the PV-expressing neurons, also may be altered, which compromises neuronal function and susceptibility to oxidative stress. In particular, the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which regulates several core autistic traits, relies on the normal organization of PNNs and PV-expressing cells, as well as other neural circuit elements. Consequently, we investigated whether PNNs and PV-expressing cells were altered in the PFC of the CNTNAP2 knockout mouse model of ASD and whether these contributed to core autistic-like behaviors in this model system. We observed an overexpression of PNNs, PV-expressing cells, and PNNs enwrapping PV-expressing cells in adult CNTNAP2 mice. Transient digestion of PNNs from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by injection of chondroitinase ABC in CNTNAP2 mutant mice rescued some of the social interaction deficits, but not the restricted and repetitive behaviors. These findings suggest that the neurobiological regulation of PNNs and PVs in the PFC contribute to social interaction behaviors in neurological disorders including autism.
Sex differences in functional brain networks involved in interoception: An fMRI study
Authors: Alfano Vincenzo , Cavaliere Carlo , Di Cecca Angelica , Ciccarelli Giuseppina , Salvatore Marco , Aiello Marco , Federico Giovanni
Published: March 2023

Interoception can be described as the ability to perceive inner body sensations and it is different between biological sex. However, no previous research correlated this ability with brain functional connectivity (FC) between males and females. In this study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate FC of networks involved in interoception among males and females in a sample of healthy volunteers matched for age. In total, 67 participants (34 females, mean age 44.2; 33 males, mean age 37.2) underwent a functional MRI session and completed the Self-Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) that tests the interoceptive awareness. To assess the effect of sex on scores obtained on the SAQ we performed a multivariate analysis of variance. A whole-brain seed-to-seed FC analysis was conducted to investigate the correlation between SAQ score and FC, and then to test differences in FC between males and females with SAQ score as a covariate. MANOVA revealed a significant difference in SAQ scores between males and females with higher values for the second ones. Also, significant correlations among interoception scores and FC in Salience network and fronto-temporo-parietal brain areas have been detected, with a sharp prevalence for the female. These results support the idea of a female advantage in the attention toward interoceptive sensations, suggesting common inter-network areas that concur to create the sense of self.
Ferroptosis is a new therapeutic target for spinal cord injury
Authors: Bai Xin-Yue , Liu Xiao-Long , Deng Zhi-Zhong , Wei Dong-Min , Zhang Die , Xi Hui-Lin , Wang Qing-Yan , He Meng-Ze , Yang Yan-Ling
Published: March 2023

Spinal cord injury is a serious traumatic disease. As Ferroptosis has been increasingly studied in recent years, it has been found to be closely related to the pathophysiological processes of spinal cord injury. Iron overload, reactive oxygen species accumulation, lipid peroxidation and glutamate accumulation associated with Ferroptosis are all present in spinal cord injury, and thus Ferroptosis is thought to be involved in the pathological processes secondary to spinal cord injury. This article highlights the relationship between Ferroptosis and spinal cord injury, lists substances that improve spinal cord injury by inhibiting Ferroptosis, and concludes with a discussion of the problems that may be encountered in the clinical translation of Ferroptosis inhibitors as a means of enabling their faster use in clinical treatment.
The value of the MIND diet in the primary and secondary prevention of hypertension: A cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study from NHANES analysis
Authors: Song Yanjun , Chang Zhen'ge , Cui Kongyong , Song Chenxi , Cai Zhongxing , Shi Boqun , Dong Qiuting , Dou Kefei
Published: March 2023

Background

The Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension for neurodegenerative delay (MIND) has been regarded as a novel healthy dietary pattern with huge benefits. However, its value in preventing and treating hypertension has not been investigated. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of adhering to the MIND diet on the prevalence of hypertension in the entire population and long-term mortality in hypertensive patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional and longitudinal study, 6,887 participants consisting of 2,984 hypertensive patients in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys were analyzed and divided into 3 groups according to the MIND diet scores (MDS; groups of MDS-low [<7.5], MDS-medium [7.5–8.0] and MDS-high [≥8.5]). In the longitudinal analysis, the primary outcome was all-cause death and the secondary outcome was cardiovascular (CV) death. Hypertensive patients received a follow-up with a mean time of 9.25 years (median time: 111.1 months, range 2 to 120 months). Multivariate logistics regression models and Cox proportional hazards models were applicated to estimate the association between MDS and outcomes. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) was used to estimate the dose–response relationship.

Results

Compared with the MDS-low group, participants in the MDS-high group presented a significantly lower prevalence of hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58, 0.97, p = 0.040) and decreased levels of systolic blood pressure (β = −0.41, p = 0.033). Among hypertensive patients, 787 (26.4%) all-cause death consisting of 293 (9.8%) CV deaths were recorded during a 10-year follow-up. Hypertensive patients in the MDS-high group presented a significantly lower prevalence of ASCVD (OR = 0.71, 95% CI, 0.51, 0.97, p = 0.043), and lower risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.69, 95% CI, 0.58, 0.81, p < 0.001) and CV death (HR = 0.62, 95% CI, 0.46, 0.85, p for trend = 0.001) when compared with those in the MDS-low group.

Conclusion

For the first time, this study revealed the values of the MIND diet in the primary and secondary prevention of hypertension, suggesting the MIND diet as a novel anti-hypertensive dietary pattern.
Metabolomic analysis of the effects of a mixed culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the physicochemical and quality characteristics of apple cider vinegar
Authors: Li Ya-Nan , Luo Yue , Lu Zhen-Ming , Dong Yan-Lin , Chai Li-Juan , Shi Jin-Song , Zhang Xiao-Juan , Xu Zheng-Hong
Published: March 2023

Introduction

This study compared differences in physicochemical characteristics of the vinegar made by a mixed culture (MC) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and a pure culture (PC) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Methods

The fermentation process was monitored, and metabolomics analysis by Liquid Chromagraphy-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) was applied to the compositional differences between PC and MC vinegars, combined with quantification of organic acids, amino acids and B vitamins.

Results

A total of 71 differential metabolites including amino acids, organic acids and carbohydrates, and six possible key metabolic pathways were identified. MC enhanced the malic acid utilization and pyruvate acid metabolism during fermentation, increasing substrate-level phosphorylation, and supplying more energy for cellular metabolism. Higher acidity at the beginning of acetic acid fermentation, resulting from lactic acid production by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in MC, suppressed the cellular metabolism and growth of Acetobacter pasteurianus, but enhanced its alcohol metabolism and acetic acid production in MC. MC vinegar contained more vitamin B, total flavonoids, total organic acids, amino acids and had a higher antioxidant capacity. MC enhanced the volatile substances, particularly ethyl lactate, ethyl caprate and ethyl caproate, which contributed to a stronger fruity aroma.

Discussion

These results indicated the mixed culture in alcoholic fermentation can effectively enhance the flavor and quality of apple cider vinegar.
Development and validation of a combined hypoxia and ferroptosis prognostic signature for breast cancer
Authors: Zhong Jianxin , Shen Xi , Zhou Junjie , Yu Heping , Wang Birong , Sun Jianbin , Wang Jing , Liu Feng
Published: March 2023

Background

Hypoxia is involved in tumor biological processes and disease progression. Ferroptosis, as a newly discovered programmed cell death process, is closely related to breast cancer (BC) occurrence and development. However, reliable prognostic signatures based on a combination of hypoxia and ferroptosis in BC have not been developed.

Method

We set The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer cohort as training set and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) BC cohort as the validation set. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and COX regression approaches were used to construct ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) and hypoxia-related genes (HRGs) prognostic signature (HFRS). The CIBERSORT algorithm and ESTIMATE score were used to explore the relationship between HFRS and tumor immune microenvironment. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect protein expression in tissue samples. A nomogram was developed to advance the clinical application of HFRS signature.

Results

Ten ferroptosis-related genes and hypoxia-related genes were screened to construct the HFRS prognostic signature in TCGA BC cohort, and the predictive capacity was verified in METABRIC BC cohort. BC patients with high-HFRS had shorter survival time, higher tumor stage, and a higher rate of positive lymph node. Moreover, high HFRS was associated with high hypoxia, ferroptosis, and immunosuppression status. A nomogram that was constructed with age, stage, and HFRS signature showed a strong prognostic capability to predict overall survival (OS) for BC patients.

Conclusion

We developed a novel prognostic model with hypoxia and ferroptosis-related genes to predict OS, and characterize the immune microenvironment of BC patients, which might provide new cures for clinical decision-making and individual treatment of BC patients.
Scoring model to predict postoperative neurological deterioration in spinal schwannoma
Authors: Liu Zongchi , Xu Zihan , Shen Jie , Zhang Tiesong , Lin Hongwei , Zhou Lihui , Wu Fan , Zhang Luyuan , Weng Yuxiang , Zhan Renya , Zhu Yu , Gong Jiangbiao
Published: March 2023

Background

Spinal schwannomas (SSs) are benign tumors affecting the nerve sheath, accounting for 25% of spinal nerve root tumors. Surgery represents the mainstay of treatment for SS patients. Following surgery, approximately 30% of patients experienced developed new or worsening neurological deterioration, which probably represented an inevitable complication of nerve sheath tumor surgery. The objective of this study was to identify the rates of new or worsening neurological deterioration in our center and accurately predict the neurological outcomes of patients with SS by developing a new scoring model.

Methods

A total of 203 patients were retrospectively enrolled at our center. Risk factors associated with postoperative neurological deterioration were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis. β–coefficients for independent risk factors were used to define a numerical score to generate a scoring model. The validation cohort at our center was used to verify the accuracy and reliability of the scoring model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the scoring model.

Results

In this study, five measured variables were selected for the scoring model: duration of preoperative symptoms (1 point), radiating pain (2 points), tumor size (2 points), tumor site (1 point), and dumbbell tumor (1 point). The scoring model divided the spinal schwannoma patients into three categories: low risk (0-2 points), intermediate risk (3-5 points), and high risk (6-7 points), with predicted risks of neurological deterioration of 8.7%, 36%, and 87.5%, respectively. And the validation cohort confirmed the model with the predicted risks of 8.6%, 46.4%, and 66.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

The new scoring model might intuitively and individually predict the risk of neurological deterioration and may aid individualized treatment decision-making for SS patients.
Preserving the rectus femoris and improving limb function after total femoral prosthesis replacement following resection of femoral malignant tumors
Authors: Wu Fan , Fang Xiang , Yuan Dechao , Xiong Yan , Luo Yi , Zhang Wenli , Tu Chongqi , Duan Hong
Published: March 2023

Background

Current research is focused on the factors that influence the maintenance of limb function after total femoral replacement. This retrospective study investigated the difference in functional outcomes in patients with invasion of the rectus femoris vs. an intact rectus femoris that underwent total femoral replacement with a modular total femur prosthesis.

Methods

The medical records of patients who underwent total femoral replacement with a modular total femur prosthesis between July 2010 and March 2017 at our institute were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: group A had invasion of the rectus femoris and group B had an intact rectus femoris. Functional status was assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Rating Scale (MSTS) and the Harris Hip Score (HHS). Complications were assessed using the International Society of Limb Salvage classification that was published in 2011 and modified in 2014.

Results

The mean total MSTS score (23.0 ± 4.8 vs. 17.6 ± 3.1; P = 0.02) and the mean total HHS score (80.17 ± 6.24 vs. 55.38 ± 13.30; P = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with intact rectus femoris compared with patients with invasion of the rectus femoris. Patients with an intact rectus femoris achieved significantly better limb function (support and gait) and active range of motion (P < 0.05). The overall complication rate was 35.7%.

Conclusions

Functional outcomes after total femoral replacement were significantly better in patients with an intact rectus femoris compared with patients with invasion of the rectus femoris, possibly because more muscle mass can be preserved around the femur in patients with an intact rectus femoris.
Evaluation of limited-sampling strategies to calculate AUC(0–24) and the role of CYP3A5 in Chilean pediatric kidney recipients using extended-release tacrolimus
Authors: Galvez Carla , Boza Pía , González Mariluz , Hormazabal Catalina , Encina Marlene , Azócar Manuel , Castañeda Luis E. , Rojo Angélica , Ceballos María Luisa , Krall Paola
Published: March 2023

Background: Kidney transplantation (KTx) requires immunosuppressive drugs such as Tacrolimus (TAC) which is mainly metabolized by CYP3A5. TAC is routinely monitored by trough levels (C0) although it has not shown to be a reliable marker. The area-under-curve (AUC) is a more realistic measure of drug exposure, but sampling is challenging in pediatric patients. Limited-sampling strategies (LSS) have been developed to estimate AUC. Herein, we aimed to determine AUC(0–24) and CYP3A5 genotype in Chilean pediatric kidney recipients using extended-release TAC, to evaluate different LSS-AUC(0–24) formulas and dose requirements.

Patients and methods: We analyzed pediatric kidney recipients using different extended-release TAC brands to determine their trapezoidal AUC(0–24) and CYP3A5 genotypes (SNP rs776746). Daily TAC dose (TAC-D mg/kg) and AUC(0–24) normalized by dose were compared between CYP3A5 expressors (*1/*1 and *1/*3) and non-expressors (*3/*3). We evaluated the single and combined time-points to identify the best LSS-AUC(0–24) model. We compared the performance of this model with two pediatric LSS-AUC(0–24) equations for clinical validation.

Results: Fifty-one pharmacokinetic profiles were obtained from kidney recipients (age 13.1 ± 2.9 years). When normalizing AUC(0–24) by TAC-D significant differences were found between CYP3A5 expressors and non-expressors (1701.9 vs. 2718.1 ng*h/mL/mg/kg, p < 0.05). C0 had a poor fit with AUC(0–24) (r2 = 0.5011). The model which included C0, C1 and C4, showed the best performance to predict LSS-AUC(0–24) (r2 = 0.8765) and yielded the lowest precision error (7.1% ± 6.4%) with the lowest fraction (9.8%) of deviated AUC(0–24), in comparison to other LSS equations.

Conclusion: Estimation of LSS-AUC(0–24) with 3 time-points is an advisable and clinically useful option for pediatric kidney recipients using extended-release TAC to provide better guidance of decisions if toxicity or drug inefficacy is suspected. The different CYP3A5 genotypes associated with variable dose requirements reinforce considering genotyping before KTx. Further multi-centric studies with admixed cohorts are needed to determine the short- and long-term clinical benefits.
ResAttn-recon: Residual self-attention based cortical surface reconstruction
Authors: An Mujun , Chen Jianzhang , Cao Yankun , Tao Kemeng , Wang Jianlei , Wang Chun , Zhao Kun , Liu Zhi
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The accurate cerebral cortex surface reconstruction is crucial for the study of neurodegenerative diseases. Existing voxelwise segmentation-based approaches like FreeSurfer and FastSurfer are limited by the partial volume effect, meaning that reconstruction details highly rely on the resolution of the input volume. In the computer version area, the signed distance function has become an efficient method for 3D shape representation, the inherent continuous nature makes it easy to capture the fine details of the target object at an arbitrary resolution. Additionally, as one of the most valuable breakthroughs in deep learning research, attention is a powerful mechanism developed to enhance the performance of the encoder-decoder architecture.

Methods: To further improve the reconstruction accuracy of the cortical surface, we proposed ResAttn-Recon, a residual self-attention based encoder-decoder framework. In this framework, we also developed a lightweight decoder network with skip connections. Furthermore, a truncated and weighted L1 loss function are proposed to accelerate network convergence, compared to simply applying the L1 loss function.

Results: The intersection over union curve in the training process achieved a steeper slope and a higher peak (0.948 vs. 0.920) with a truncated L1 loss. Thus, the average symmetric surface distance (AD) for the inner and outer surfaces is 0.253 ± 0.051 and the average Hausdorff distance (HD) is 0.629 ± 0.186, which is lower than that of DeepCSR, whose absolute distance equals 0.283 ± 0.059 and Hausdorff distance equals 0.746 ± 0.245.

Discussion: In conclusion, the proposed residual self-attention-based framework can be a promising approach for improving the cortical surface reconstruction performance.
Frame vibration states identification for corn harvester based on joint improved empirical mode decomposition - Support vector machine method
Authors: Fu Jun , Chen Chao , Zhao Rongqiang , Chen Zhi , Li Dan , Qiao Yongliang
Published: March 2023

The frame of corn harvester is prone to vibration bending and torsional deformation due to the vibration caused by field road bumps and fluctuations. It poses a serious challenge to the reliability of machinery. Therefore it is critical to explore the vibration mechanism, and to identify the vibration states under different working conditions. To address the above problem, a vibration state identification method is proposed in this paper. An improved empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm was used to decrease noise for signals of high noise and non-stationary vibration in the field. The support vector machine (SVM) model was used for identification of frame vibration states under different working conditions. The results showed that: (1) an improved EMD algorithm could effectively reduce noise interference and restore the effective information of the original signal. (2) based on improved EMD – SVM method identify the vibration states of the frame with the accuracy of 99.21%. (3) The corn ears in grain tank were not sensitive to low order vibration, but had an absorption effect on high order vibration. The proposed method has the potential to be applied for accurately identifying vibration state and improving frame safety.