bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy and economic evaluation of screening tests for undiagnosed COPD among hypertensive individuals in Brazil
Authors: Martins S. M. , Dickens A. P. , Salibe-Filho W. , Albuquerque Neto A. A. , Adab P. , Enocson A. , Cooper B. G. , Sousa L. V. A. , Sitch A. J. , Jowett S. , Adams R. , Cheng K. K. , Chi C. , Correia-de-Sousa J. , Farley A. , Gale N. , Jolly K. , Maglakelidze M. , Maghlakelidze T. , Stavrikj K. , Turner A. M. , Williams S. , Jordan R. E. , Stelmach R.
Published: December 2022

In Brazil, prevalence of diagnosed COPD among adults aged 40 years and over is 16% although over 70% of cases remain undiagnosed. Hypertension is common and well-recorded in primary care, and frequently co-exists with COPD because of common causes such as tobacco smoking, therefore we conducted a cross-sectional screening test accuracy study in nine Basic Health Units in Brazil, among hypertensive patients aged ≥40 years to identify the optimum screening test/combinations to detect undiagnosed COPD. We compared six index tests (four screening questionnaires, microspirometer and peak flow) against the reference test defined as those below the lower limit of normal (LLN-GLI) on quality diagnostic spirometry, with confirmed COPD at clinical review. Of 1162 participants, 6.8% (n = 79) had clinically confirmed COPD. Peak flow had a higher specificity but lower sensitivity than microspirometry (sensitivity 44.3% [95% CI 33.1, 55.9], specificity 95.5% [95% CI 94.1, 96.6]). SBQ performed well compared to the other questionnaires (sensitivity 75.9% [95% CI 65.0, 84.9], specificity 59.2% [95% CI 56.2, 62.1]). A strategy requiring both SBQ and peak flow to be positive yielded sensitivity of 39.2% (95% CI 28.4, 50.9) and specificity of 97.0% (95% CI 95.7, 97.9). The use of simple screening tests was feasible within the Brazilian primary care setting. The combination of SBQ and peak flow appeared most efficient, when considering performance of the test, cost and ease of use (costing £1690 (5554 R$) with 26.7 cases detected per 1,000 patients). However, the choice of screening tests depends on the clinical setting and availability of resources.

ISRCTN registration number: 11377960.
Bioengineered intestinal tubules as a tool to test intestinal biological efficacy of lettuce species
Authors: Jochems Paulus G. M. , Heming Bo , Lapin Dmitry , Moonen Naomi E. L. , Van den Ackerveken Guido , Masereeuw Rosalinde
Published: December 2022

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is one of the most consumed and cultivated vegetables globally. Its breeding is focused on the improvement of yield and disease resistance. However, potential detrimental or beneficial health effects for the consumer are often not targeted in the breeding programs. Here, a bioengineered intestinal tubule was used to assess the intestinal efficacy of extracts from five plant accessions belonging to four Lactuca species. These four species include the domesticated L. sativa, closely related wild species L. serriola, and phylogenetically more distant wild relatives L. saligna and L. virosa. We assessed the epithelial barrier integrity, cell viability, cell attachment, brush border enzyme activity, and immune markers. Extracts from L. sativa cv. Salinas decreased cell attachment and brush border enzyme activity. However, extracts from the non-edible wild species L. saligna and L. virosa reduced the epithelial barrier functions, cell attachment, cell viability, and brush border enzyme activity. Since wild species represent a valuable germplasm pool, the bioengineered intestinal tubules could open ways to evaluate the safety and nutritional properties of the lettuce breeding material originating from crosses with wild Lactuca species.
A phase I/II randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of a self-amplifying Covid-19 mRNA vaccine
Authors: Low Jenny G. , de Alwis Ruklanthi , Chen Shiwei , Kalimuddin Shirin , Leong Yan Shan , Mah Tania Ken Lin , Yuen Natalene , Tan Hwee Cheng , Zhang Summer L. , Sim Jean X. Y. , Chan Yvonne F. Z. , Syenina Ayesa , Yee Jia Xin , Ong Eugenia Z. , Sekulovich Rose , Sullivan Brian B. , Lindert Kelly , Sullivan Sean M. , Chivukula Pad , Hughes Steven G. , Ooi Eng Eong
Published: December 2022

Coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) pandemic have demonstrated the importantance of vaccines in disease prevention. Self-amplifying mRNA vaccines could be another option for disease prevention if demonstrated to be safe and immunogenic. Phase 1 of this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (N = 42) assessed the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity in healthy young and older adults of ascending levels of one-dose ARCT-021, a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine against Covid-19. Phase 2 (N = 64) tested two-doses of ARCT-021 given 28 days apart. During phase 1, ARCT-021 was well tolerated up to one 7.5 μg dose and two 5.0 μg doses. Local solicited AEs, namely injection-site pain and tenderness were more common in ARCT-021vaccinated, while systemic solicited AEs, mainly fatigue, headache and myalgia were reported in 62.8% and 46.4% of ARCT-021 and placebo recipients, respectively. Seroconversion rate for anti-S IgG was 100% in all cohorts, except for the 1 μg one-dose in younger adults and the 7.5 μg one-dose in older adults. Anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibody titers showed a general increase with increasing dose, and overlapped with titers in Covid-19 convalescent patients. T-cell responses were also observed in response to stimulation with S-protein peptides. Taken collectively, ARCT-021 is immunogenic and has favorable safety profile for further development.
Gapless genome assembly of East Asian finless porpoise
Authors: Yin Denghua , Chen Chunhai , Lin Danqing , Zhang Jialu , Ying Congping , Liu Yan , Liu Wang , Cao Zhichen , Zhao Chenxi , Wang Chenhe , Liang Liping , Xu Pao , Jian Jianbo , Liu Kai
Published: December 2022

In recent years, conservation efforts have increased for rare and endangered aquatic wildlife, especially cetaceans. However, the East Asian finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), which has a wide distribution in China, has received far less attention and protection. As an endangered small cetacean, the lack of a chromosomal-level reference for the East Asian finless porpoise limits our understanding of its population genetics and conservation biology. To address this issue, we combined PacBio HiFi long reads and Hi-C sequencing data to generate a gapless genome of the East Asian finless porpoise that is approximately 2.5 Gb in size over its 21 autosomes and two sex chromosomes (X and Y). A total of 22,814 protein-coding genes were predicted where ~97.31% were functionally annotated. This high-quality genome assembly of East Asian finless porpoise will not only provide new resources for the comparative genomics of cetaceans and conservation biology of threatened species, but also lay a foundation for more speciation, ecology, and evolutionary studies.

Measurement(s)
Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri • Gapless genome assembly • sequence annotation

Technology Type(s)
MGISEQ. 2000 • PacBio HiFi Sequencing • Hi-C

Sample Characteristic - Organism
Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri

Sample Characteristic - Environment
seawater

Sample Characteristic - Location
Yellow Sea near Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, China
An open time-series simulated dataset covering various accidents for nuclear power plants
Authors: Qi Ben , Xiao Xingyu , Liang Jingang , Po Li-chi Cliff , Zhang Liguo , Tong Jiejuan
Published: December 2022

Nuclear energy plays an important role in global energy supply, especially as a key low-carbon source of power. However, safe operation is very critical in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Given the significant impact of human-caused errors on three serious nuclear accidents in history, artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly been used in assisting operators with regard to making various decisions. In particular, data-driven AI algorithms have been used to identify the presence of accidents and their root causes. However, there is a lack of an open NPP accident dataset for measuring the performance of various algorithms, which is very challenging. This paper presents a first-of-its-kind open dataset created using PCTRAN, a pre-developed and widely used simulator for NPPs. The dataset, namely nuclear power plant accident data (NPPAD), basically covers the common types of accidents in typical pressurised water reactor NPPs, and it contains time-series data on the status or actions of various subsystems, accident types, and severity information. Moreover, the dataset incorporates other simulation data (e.g., radionuclide data) for conducting research beyond accident diagnosis.
Monocyte distribution width as a pragmatic screen for SARS-CoV-2 or influenza infection
Authors: Badaki-Makun Oluwakemi , Levin Scott , Debraine Arnaud , Hernried Benjamin , Malinovska Alexandra , Smith Aria , Toerper Matthew , Fenstermacher Katherine Z. J. , Cottle Taylor , Latallo Malgorzata , Rothman Richard E. , Hinson Jeremiah S.
Published: December 2022

Monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a novel marker of monocyte activation, which is known to occur in the immune response to viral pathogens. Our objective was to determine the performance of MDW and other leukocyte parameters as screening tests for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infection. This was a prospective cohort analysis of adult patients who underwent complete blood count (CBC) and SARS-CoV-2 or influenza testing in an Emergency Department (ED) between January 2020 and July 2021. The primary outcome was SARS-CoV-2 or influenza infection. Secondary outcomes were measures of severity of illness including inpatient hospitalization, critical care admission, hospital lengths of stay and mortality. Descriptive statistics and test performance measures were evaluated for monocyte percentage, MDW, white blood cell (WBC) count, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR). 3,425 ED patient visits were included. SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed during 1,922 visits with a positivity rate of 5.4%; influenza testing was performed during 2,090 with a positivity rate of 2.3%. MDW was elevated in patients with SARS-Cov-2 (median 23.0U; IQR 20.5–25.1) or influenza (median 24.1U; IQR 22.0–26.9) infection, as compared to those without (18.9U; IQR 17.4–20.7 and 19.1U; 17.4–21, respectively, P < 0.001). Monocyte percentage, WBC and NLR values were within normal range in patients testing positive for either virus. MDW identified SARS-CoV-2 and influenza positive patients with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 (95% CI 0.79–0.86) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.77–0.88), respectively. At the accepted cut-off value of 20U for MDW, sensitivities were 83.7% (95% CI 76.5–90.8%) for SARS-CoV-2 and 89.6% (95% CI 80.9–98.2%) for influenza, compared to sensitivities below 45% for monocyte percentage, WBC and NLR. MDW negative predictive values were 98.6% (95% CI 98.0–99.3%) and 99.6% (95% CI 99.3–100.0%) respectively for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW), available as part of a routine complete blood count (CBC) with differential, may be a useful indicator of SARS-CoV-2 or influenza infection.
Association between atherosclerosis, hearing recovery, and hearing in the healthy ear in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a retrospective chart analysis
Authors: Tsuzuki Nobuyoshi , Wasano Koichiro , Oishi Naoki , Hentona Ko , Shimanuki Marie , Nishiyama Takanori , Hiraga Yoshihiko , Ueno Masafumi , Suzuki Narihisa , Shinden Seiichi , Ogawa Kaoru , Ozawa Hiroyuki
Published: December 2022

Atherosclerosis is reported to be a risk factor for the severity of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). We evaluated the hypothesis that atherosclerosis affects the hearing thresholds of both the affected and healthy sides of ISSNHL patients. We conducted multivariate analyses on retrospectively collected data of patients with ISSNHL (N = 762) to evaluate the relationship between known factors linked to atherosclerosis and hearing thresholds on affected and healthy sides and whether these factors are prognostic for hearing recovery. Older ages, vertigo or dizziness, diabetes mellitus, and congestive heart failure were significantly related to higher hearing thresholds on the affected side. Older ages, male, and vascular disease were significantly related to higher hearing thresholds on the healthy side. Vertigo or dizziness, severe hearing loss and hearing loss at high frequencies on the affected side, higher hearing thresholds on the healthy side, regular anticoagulant medication, and delayed steroid treatment were significantly related to lack of recovery. Since several atherosclerosis-related factors are associated with higher hearing thresholds on both affected and healthy sides in ISSNHL and higher hearing thresholds on the healthy side predict poorer prognosis, diagnosis, and predicting prognosis of ISSNHL may benefit from rigorous evaluation of patients’ cardiovascular comorbidities and hearing levels on both the healthy and affected sides.
The historical impact of anthropogenic air-borne sulphur on the Pleistocene rock art of Sulawesi
Authors: Gagan Michael K. , Halide Halmar , Permana Raden Cecep Eka , Lebe Rustan , Dunbar Gavin B. , Kimbrough Alena K. , Scott-Gagan Heather , Zwartz Dan , Hantoro Wahyoe S.
Published: December 2022

The Maros-Pangkep karst in southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia, contains some of the world’s oldest rock art. However, the Pleistocene images survive only as weathered patches of pigment on exfoliated limestone surfaces. Salt efflorescence underneath the case-hardened limestone substrate causes spall-flaking, and it has been proposed that the loss of artwork has accelerated over recent decades. Here, we utilise historical photographs and superposition constraints to show that the bulk of the damage was present before 1950 CE, and describe the role of anthropogenic sulphur emissions in promoting gypsum-salt efflorescence and rock art decay. The rock art shelters have been exposed to domestic fire-use and intensive rice cultivation with post-harvest burning of straw for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, both of which release chemically reactive sulphur oxides for gypsum formation, with cumulative effects. Analysis of time-lapse photography indicates that the rate of rock art loss may be on the decline, consistent with the history of fire-use in southwest Sulawesi. At present, vandalism and sulphur emissions from diesel-powered traffic and cement-based infrastructure development constitute localised threats. Our findings indicate that there are grounds for being cautiously optimistic that targeted conservation measures will ensure the longevity of some of our oldest artistic treasures.
Altered recognition of fearful and angry facial expressions in women with fibromyalgia syndrome: an experimental case–control study
Authors: Scarpina Federica , Ghiggia Ada , Vaioli Giulia , Varallo Giorgia , Capodaglio Paolo , Arreghini Marco , Castelnuovo Gianluca , Mauro Alessandro , Castelli Lorys
Published: December 2022

Evidence relative to facial emotion recognition and the role played by alexithymia in fibromyalgia syndrome is rare and heterogeneous. In this work, we investigated this ability in fibromyalgia investigating the implicit behaviour in the facial emotion recognition task, focusing on fear and anger. Twenty women with fibromyalgia and twenty healthy women as controls performed a facial emotion recognition of fearful and angry expressions. Their implicit behaviour was scored in accordance with the redundant target effect. The level of alexithymic traits through a standard psychological questionnaire and its effect on behavioral performance were also assessed. Participants affected by fibromyalgia reported a lower level of accuracy in recognizing fearful and angry expressions, in comparison with the controls. Crucially, such a difference was not explained by the different levels of alexithymic traits between groups. Our results agreed with some previous evidence suggesting an altered recognition of others’ emotional facial expressions in fibromyalgia syndrome. Considering the role of emotion recognition on social cognition and psychological well-being in fibromyalgia, we underlined the crucial role of emotional difficulties in the onset and maintenance of the symptoms life-span.
Loss of the Ash2l subunit of histone H3K4 methyltransferase complexes reduces chromatin accessibility at promoters
Authors: Barsoum Mirna , Stenzel Alexander T. , Bochyńska Agnieszka , Kuo Chao-Chung , Tsompanidis Alexander , Sayadi-Boroujeni Roksaneh , Bussmann Philip , Lüscher-Firzlaff Juliane , Costa Ivan G. , Lüscher Bernhard
Published: December 2022

Changes in gene expression programs are intimately linked to cell fate decisions. Post-translational modifications of core histones contribute to control gene expression. Methylation of lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4) correlates with active promoters and gene transcription. This modification is catalyzed by KMT2 methyltransferases, which require interaction with 4 core subunits, WDR5, RBBP5, ASH2L and DPY30, for catalytic activity. Ash2l is necessary for organismal development and for tissue homeostasis. In mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), Ash2l loss results in gene repression, provoking a senescence phenotype. We now find that upon knockout of Ash2l both H3K4 mono- and tri-methylation (H3K4me1 and me3, respectively) were deregulated. In particular, loss of H3K4me3 at promoters correlated with gene repression, especially at CpG island promoters. Ash2l loss resulted in increased loading of histone H3 and reduced chromatin accessibility at promoters, accompanied by an increase of repressing and a decrease of activating histone marks. Moreover, we observed altered binding of CTCF upon Ash2l loss. Lost and gained binding was noticed at promoter-associated and intergenic sites, respectively. Thus, Ash2l loss and reduction of H3K4me3 correlate with altered chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding. These findings contribute to a more detailed understanding of mechanistic consequences of H3K4me3 loss and associated repression of gene transcription and thus of the observed cellular consequences.
Genotypic and phenotypic profiles of EYS gene-related retinitis pigmentosa: a retrospective study
Authors: Suvannaboon Ragkit , Pawestri Aulia Rahmi , Jinda Worapoj , Tuekprakhon Aekkachai , Trinavarat Adisak , Atchaneeyasakul La-ongsri
Published: December 2022

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) affects 1:5000 individuals worldwide. Interestingly, variations in 271 RP-related genes are indicated to vary among populations. We aimed to evaluate the genetic prevalence and phenotypic profiles of Thai patients with RP. The clinical and whole exome sequencing data of 125 patients suggestive of inherited retinal diseases (IRD), particularly non-syndromic RP, were assessed. We found a total of 258 variants (63% of which remained unavailable in the ClinVar database) in 91 IRD-associated genes. Among the detected genes, the eyes shut homolog (EYS) gene showed the highest prevalence. We also provide insights into the genotypic, baseline, and follow-up clinical presentations of seven patients with disease-causing EYS variations. This study could provide comprehension of the prevalence of RP-related genes involved in the Asian population. It might also provide information to establish advanced and personalised therapy for RP in the Thai population.
ACE2 polymorphisms impact COVID-19 severity in obese patients
Authors: Jalaleddine Nour , Bouzid Amal , Hachim Mahmood , Sharif-Askari Narjes Saheb , Mahboub Bassam , Senok Abiola , Halwani Rabih , Hamoudi Rifat A. , Al Heialy Saba
Published: December 2022

A strong association between obesity and COVID-19 complications and a lack of prognostic factors that explain the unpredictable severity among these patients still exist despite the various vaccination programs. The expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the main receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is enhanced in obese individuals. The occurrence of frequent genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inACE2is suggested to increase COVID-19 severity. Accordingly, we hypothesize that obesity-associatedACE2polymorphisms increase the severity of COVID-19. In this study, we profiled eight frequently reportedACE2SNPs in a cohort of lean and obese COVID-19 patients (n = 82). We highlight the significant association of rs2285666, rs2048683, rs879922, and rs4240157 with increased severity in obese COVID-19 patients as compared to lean counterparts. These co-morbid-associated SNPs tend to positively correlate, hence proposing possible functional cooperation toACE2regulation. In obese COVID-19 patients, rs2285666, rs879922, and rs4240157 are significantly associated with increased blood nitrogen urea and creatinine levels. In conclusion, we highlight the contribution ofACE2SNPs in enhancing COVID-19 severity in obese individuals. The results from this study provide a basis for further investigations required to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of COVID-19 associated SNPs in COVID-19 obese patients.
Hemorrhage segmentation in mobile-phone retinal images using multiregion contrast enhancement and iterative NICK thresholding region growing
Authors: Chandhakanond Patsaphon , Aimmanee Pakinee
Published: December 2022

Hemorrhage segmentation in retinal images is challenging because the sizes and shapes vary for each hemorrhage, the intensity is close to the blood vessels and macula, and the intensity is often nonuniform, especially for large hemorrhages. Hemorrhage segmentation in mobile-phone retinal images is even more challenging because mobile-phone retinal images usually have poorer contrast, more shadows, and uneven illumination compared to those obtained from the table-top ophthalmoscope. In this work, the proposed KMMRC-INRG method enhances the hemorrhage segmentation performance with nonuniform intensity in poor lighting conditions on mobile-phone images. It improves the uneven illumination of mobile-phone retinal images using a proposed method, K-mean multiregion contrast enhancement (KMMRC). It also enhances the boundary segmentation of the hemorrhage blobs using a novel iterative NICK thresholding region growing (INRG) method before applying an SVM classifier based on hue, saturation, and brightness features. This approach can achieve as high as 80.18%, 91.26%, 85.36%, and 80.08% for recall, precision, F1-measure, and IoU, respectively. The F1-measure score improves up to 19.02% compared to a state-of-the-art method DT-HSVE tested on the same full dataset and as much as 58.88% when considering only images with large-size hemorrhages.
Experimental evidence that rill-bed morphology is governed by emergent nonlinear spatial dynamics
Authors: Morgan Savannah , Huffaker Ray , Giménez Rafael , Campo-Bescos Miguel A. , Muñoz-Carpena Rafael , Govers Gerard
Published: December 2022

Past experimental work found that rill erosion occurs mainly during rill formation in response to feedback between rill-flow hydraulics and rill-bed roughness, and that this feedback mechanism shapes rill beds into a succession of step-pool units that self-regulates sediment transport capacity of established rills. The search for clear regularities in the spatial distribution of step-pool units has been stymied by experimental rill-bed profiles exhibiting irregular fluctuating patterns of qualitative behavior. We hypothesized that the succession of step-pool units is governed by nonlinear-deterministic dynamics, which would explain observed irregular fluctuations. We tested this hypothesis with nonlinear time series analysis to reverse-engineer (reconstruct) state-space dynamics from fifteen experimental rill-bed profiles analyzed in previous work. Our results support this hypothesis for rill-bed profiles generated both in a controlled lab (flume) setting and in an in-situ hillside setting. The results provide experimental evidence that rill morphology is shaped endogenously by internal nonlinear hydrologic and soil processes rather than stochastically forced; and set a benchmark guiding specification and testing of new theoretical framings of rill-bed roughness in soil-erosion modeling. Finally, we applied echo state neural network machine learning to simulate reconstructed rill-bed dynamics so that morphological development could be forecasted out-of-sample.
Adhesion of Rhodococcus bacteria to solid hydrocarbons and enhanced biodegradation of these compounds
Authors: Ivshina Irina B. , Krivoruchko Anastasiia V. , Kuyukina Maria S. , Peshkur Tatyana A. , Cunningham Colin J.
Published: December 2022

Adhesive activities of hydrocarbon-oxidizingRhodococcusbacteria towards solid hydrocarbons, effects of adhesion on biodegradation of these compounds by rhodococcal cells and adhesion mechanisms ofRhodococcusspp. were studied in this work. It was shown that efficiency ofRhodococcuscells’ adhesion to solidn-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) varied from 0.0 to 10.6·106 CFU/cm2.R. erythropolisIEGM 212 andR. opacusIEGM 262 demonstrated the highest (≥ 4.3·106 CFU/cm2) adhesion. The percentage biodegradation of solid hydrocarbons (n-hexacosane and anthracene as model substrates) byRhodococcuscells was 5 to 60% at a hydrocarbon concentration of 0.2% (w/w) after 9 days and strongly depended on cell adhesive activities towards these compounds (r ≥ 0.71,p < 0.05). No strict correlation between the adhesive activities of rhodococcal cells and physicochemical properties of bacteria and hydrocarbons was detected. Roughness of the cell surface was a definitive factor ofRhodococcuscell adhesion to solid hydrocarbons. Specific appendages with high adhesion force (≥ 0.6 nN) and elastic modulus (≥ 6 MPa) were found on the surface ofRhodococcuscells with high surface roughness. We hypothesized that these appendages participated in the adhesion process.
Autoencoders for sample size estimation for fully connected neural network classifiers
Authors: Gulamali Faris F. , Sawant Ashwin S. , Kovatch Patricia , Glicksberg Benjamin , Charney Alexander , Nadkarni Girish N. , Oermann Eric
Published: December 2022

Sample size estimation is a crucial step in experimental design but is understudied in the context of deep learning. Currently, estimating the quantity of labeled data needed to train a classifier to a desired performance, is largely based on prior experience with similar models and problems or on untested heuristics. In many supervised machine learning applications, data labeling can be expensive and time-consuming and would benefit from a more rigorous means of estimating labeling requirements. Here, we study the problem of estimating the minimum sample size of labeled training data necessary for training computer vision models as an exemplar for other deep learning problems. We consider the problem of identifying the minimal number of labeled data points to achieve a generalizable representation of the data, a minimum converging sample (MCS). We use autoencoder loss to estimate the MCS for fully connected neural network classifiers. At sample sizes smaller than the MCS estimate, fully connected networks fail to distinguish classes, and at sample sizes above the MCS estimate, generalizability strongly correlates with the loss function of the autoencoder. We provide an easily accessible, code-free, and dataset-agnostic tool to estimate sample sizes for fully connected networks. Taken together, our findings suggest that MCS and convergence estimation are promising methods to guide sample size estimates for data collection and labeling prior to training deep learning models in computer vision.
Has increased telehealth access during COVID-19 led to over-utilization of primary care?
Authors: Venkatesh Kaushik P. , Raza Marium M. , Kvedar Joseph
Published: December 2022

Telehealth use for primary care has skyrocketed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Enthusiasts have praised this new medium of delivery as a way to increase access to care while potentially reducing spending. Over two years into the pandemic, the question of whether telehealth will lead to an increase in primary care utilization and spending has been met with contradictory answers. Some evidence suggests that telehealth may be used as an addition to in-person visits. Others like Dixit et al. have found that telehealth can actually substitute for in-person care rather than contribute to overutilization. As telehealth continues to evolve, outcomes, utilization, and quality of care should be closely monitored.
Tissue registration and exploration user interfaces in support of a human reference atlas
Authors: Börner Katy , Bueckle Andreas , Herr Bruce W. , Cross Leonard E. , Quardokus Ellen M. , Record Elizabeth G. , Ju Yingnan , Silverstein Jonathan C. , Browne Kristen M. , Jain Sanjay , Wasserfall Clive H. , Jorgensen Marda L. , Spraggins Jeffrey M. , Patterson N. Heath , Weber Griffin M.
Published: December 2022

Seventeen international consortia are collaborating on a human reference atlas (HRA), a comprehensive, high-resolution, three-dimensional atlas of all the cells in the healthy human body. Laboratories around the world are collecting tissue specimens from donors varying in sex, age, ethnicity, and body mass index. However, harmonizing tissue data across 25 organs and more than 15 bulk and spatial single-cell assay types poses challenges. Here, we present software tools and user interfaces developed to spatially and semantically annotate (“register”) and explore the tissue data and the evolving HRA. A key part of these tools is a common coordinate framework, providing standard terminologies and data structures for describing specimen, biological structure, and spatial data linked to existing ontologies. As of April 22, 2022, the “registration” user interface has been used to harmonize and publish data on 5,909 tissue blocks collected by the Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP), the Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions program (SPARC), the Human Cell Atlas (HCA), the Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP), and the Genotype Tissue Expression project (GTEx). Further, 5,856 tissue sections were derived from 506 HuBMAP tissue blocks. The second “exploration” user interface enables consortia to evaluate data quality, explore tissue data spatially within the context of the HRA, and guide data acquisition. A companion website is at https://cns-iu.github.io/HRA-supporting-information/.
Common protein-coding variants influence the racing phenotype in galloping racehorse breeds
Authors: Han Haige , McGivney Beatrice A. , Allen Lucy , Bai Dongyi , Corduff Leanne R. , Davaakhuu Gantulga , Davaasambuu Jargalsaikhan , Dorjgotov Dulguun , Hall Thomas J. , Hemmings Andrew J. , Holtby Amy R. , Jambal Tuyatsetseg , Jargalsaikhan Badarch , Jargalsaikhan Uyasakh , Kadri Naveen K. , MacHugh David E. , Pausch Hubert , Readhead Carol , Warburton David , Dugarjaviin Manglai , Hill Emmeline W.
Published: December 2022

Selection for system-wide morphological, physiological, and metabolic adaptations has led to extreme athletic phenotypes among geographically diverse horse breeds. Here, we identify genes contributing to exercise adaptation in racehorses by applying genomics approaches for racing performance, an end-point athletic phenotype. Using an integrative genomics strategy to first combine population genomics results with skeletal muscle exercise and training transcriptomic data, followed by whole-genome resequencing of Asian horses, we identify protein-coding variants in genes of interest in galloping racehorse breeds (Arabian, Mongolian and Thoroughbred). A core set of genes,G6PC2, HDAC9, KTN1, MYLK2, NTM, SLC16A1andSYNDIG1, with central roles in muscle, metabolism, and neurobiology, are key drivers of the racing phenotype. Although racing potential is a multifactorial trait, the genomic architecture shaping the common athletic phenotype in horse populations bred for racing provides evidence for the influence of protein-coding variants in fundamental exercise-relevant genes. Variation in these genes may therefore be exploited for genetic improvement of horse populations towards specific types of racing.
Half-millennium evidence suggests that extinction debts of global vertebrates started in the Second Industrial Revolution
Authors: Liao Ziyan , Peng Shushi , Chen Youhua
Published: December 2022

Extinction debt describes the time-lagged process of species extinction, which usually requires dozens to hundreds of years to be paid off. However, due to the lack of long-term habitat data, it is indeterminate how strong the signal of extinction debts is at the global scale and when the debts started. Here, by compiling the geographical distributions of 6120 reptiles, 6047 amphibians, and 4278 mammals and correlating them with annual forest cover data from 1500 to 1992, we show that the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution (the mid-19thcentury) was the earliest signal of cumulative extinction debts for global forest-dwelling vertebrate groups. More importantly, the impact of global protected areas on mitigating accumulated vertebrate extinction debt is not as immediate as that of mitigating reduced forest cover but rather suffers from pronounced time-lag effects. As the disequilibrium of vertebrate richness and forested habitat is currently taking place, preventive actions should be taken to promote a well-balanced status among forest restoration, protected areas, and biodiversity conservation to slow the accumulating debts for global forest-dwelling vertebrates.
Projective diffeomorphic mapping of molecular digital pathology with tissue MRI
Authors: Stouffer Kaitlin M. , Witter Menno P. , Tward Daniel J. , Miller Michael I.
Published: December 2022

Reconstructing dense 3D anatomical coordinates from 2D projective measurements has become a central problem in digital pathology for both animal models and human studies. Here we describe Projective Large Deformation Diffeomorphic Metric Mapping (LDDMM), a technique which projects diffeomorphic mappings of dense human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) atlases at tissue scales onto sparse measurements at micrometre scales associated with histological and more general optical imaging modalities. We solve the problem of dense mapping surjectively onto histological sections by incorporating technologies for crossing modalities that use nonlinear scattering transforms to represent multiple radiomic-like textures at micron scales, together with a Gaussian mixture-model framework for modeling tears and distortions associated to each section. We highlight the significance of our method through incorporation of neuropathological measures and MRI, of relevance to the development of biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and one instance of the integration of imaging data across the scales of clinical imaging and digital pathology.
Zinc pyrovanadate nanorods with excellent peroxidase-like activity at physiological pH for the colorimetric assay of H2O2 and epinephrine
Authors: Liu Yaru , Hao Pingping , Liu Zhenchao , Li Guijiang , Fan Gaochao , Xie Min , Liu Qingyun
Published: December 2022

A simple colorimetric sensing platform based on the excellent peroxidase-like activity of Zn3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O nanorods at physiological pH to detect H2O2 and epinephrine.
Rapid quality evaluation of Chinese herbal medicines using a miniature mass spectrometer: Lygodium japonicum (Thunb.) Sw. as an example
Authors: Gu Xuan , Jia Shanshan , Hu Wangmin , Cui Mengdi , Hou Junling , Wang Rufeng , Zhang Mei
Published: December 2022

The quality of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) raw materials is essential. In this work, we developed a rapid analytical method for the quality evaluation of CHM based on paper spray ionization (PSI)-mini-MS/MS.
An air-stable radical with a redox-chameleonic amide
Authors: Peltier Jesse L. , Serrato Melinda R. , Thery Valentin , Pecaut Jacques , Tomás-Mendivil Eder , Bertrand Guy , Jazzar Rodolphe , Martin David
Published: December 2022

Amides are redox stereoelectronic chameleons, which can act as strong acceptors and allow for the design of air-stable radicals.
Highly selective γ-alkoxylation, γ-amination and γ-alkylation of unbiased enals by means of photoredox catalysis
Authors: Banoun Camille , Bourdreux Flavien , Dagousset Guillaume
Published: December 2022

No more α/γ regioselectivity issues with radicals.
Dope it with germanium: selective access to functionalized Si5Ge heterocycles
Authors: Köstler Benedikt , Bae Hyunwoo , Gilmer Jannik , Virovets Alexander , Lerner Hans-Wolfram , Albert Philipp , Fantuzzi Felipe , Wagner Matthias
Published: December 2022

The mixed Si5Ge heterocycle (SiCl2)5(GeMe2) and its Cl− diadduct were synthesized in a highly selective fashion. The assembly mechanism was investigated to explain why precisely one GeMe2 group is incorporated, and reactivity studies were performed.
Ab initio molecular dynamics study of proton transport in imidazolium-based ionic liquids with added imidazole
Authors: Moses Aurelia A. , Arntsen Christopher
Published: December 2022

Development of efficient anhydrous proton-conducting materials would expand the operational temperature ranges of hydrogen fuels cells (HFCs) and eliminate their dependence on maintaining sufficient hydration levels to function efficiently.
Probing borafluorene B–C bond insertion with gold acetylide and azide
Authors: Li Yijie , Shen Yu-Hsuan , Esper Alec M. , Tidwell John R. , Veige Adam S. , Martin Caleb D.
Published: December 2022

The reaction of Ph3PAuN3 with 9-Ph-9-borafluorene resulted in complexation of the azide to boron while a gold acetylide reacted with 9-Ph-9-borafluorene to insert the acetylide carbon to access a six-membered boracycle with an exocyclic double bond.
A theoretical study of the ligand-controlled palladium-catalysed regiodivergent synthesis of dibenzosilepin derivatives
Authors: Yan Xueyuan , Yang Miao , She Yuan-Bin , Yang Yun-Fang
Published: December 2022

The mechanism and origin of the regioselectivity of ligand-controlled palladium-catalysed reigodivergent synthesis of silicon-bridged π-conjugated compounds were elucidated with density functional theory calculations.
Assessing and managing environmental hazards of polymers: historical development, science advances and policy options
Authors: Groh Ksenia J. , Arp Hans Peter H. , MacLeod Matthew , Wang Zhanyun
Published: December 2022

Approaches to regulatory assessment and management of polymers are reviewed and opportunities for improvements are highlighted based on a critical appraisal of current science on their environmental fate and effects.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and lipometabolic disturbance induced by the co-effect of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper impede early life stage development of zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Yu Haibo , Li Jialin , Zhang Xiaotian , Li Yanyao , Ye Limin , Wang Chi , Li Pengju , Dong Shuanglin , Gao Qinfeng
Published: December 2022

The co-exposure of NPs and Cu with environmentally-relevant concentration induced mitochondrial dysfunction and lipometabolic disturbance and consequently affected the development and survival of zebrafish at early life stages.
Utilization of quince (Cydonia oblonga) seeds for production of mucilage: functional, thermal and rheological characterization
Authors: Yousuf Sabreena , Maktedar Shrikant S.
Published: December 2022

Optimum extraction conditions for QSM were found to be pH value of 9, extraction temperature of 60 °C, extraction time of 15 min and W/S ratio of 19 : 1. The mucilage obtained exhibited very good functional, thermal and rheological properties.
Updating thestatus quoon the extraction of bioactive compounds in agro-products using a two-pot multivariate design. A comprehensive review
Authors: Boateng Isaac Duah , Kuehnel Lucas , Daubert Christopher R. , Agliata Joseph , Zhang Wenxue , Kumar Ravinder , Flint-Garcia Sherry , Azlin Mustapha , Somavat Pavel , Wan Caixia
Published: December 2022

Extraction is regarded as the most crucial stage in analyzing bioactive compounds.
Polysaccharides from the seeds of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. attenuate DSS-induced colitis in mice via improving gut barrier homeostasis and alleviating gut microbiota dybiosis
Authors: Qin Ningbo , Liu Hongxu , Cao Yu , Wang Zhen , Ren Xiaomeng , Xia Xiaodong
Published: December 2022

The polysaccharides from seeds of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice.
Large-scale oxygen order phase transitions and fast ordering kinetics at moderate temperatures in Nd2NiO4+δ electrodes
Authors: Maity Sumit Ranjan , Ceretti Monica , De Barros Ruben , Keller Lukas , Schefer Jürg , Cervellino Antonio , Rodríguez Velamazan J. Alberto , Paulus Werner
Published: December 2022

Structural evolution of Nd2NiO4.23 with temperature, indicating several 1st order phase transitions with sub-mesoscopic oxygen ordering and instant ordering kinetics below 800 K.
Liquid-precursor-intermediated synthesis of atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides
Authors: Guan Huiyan , Zhao Bei , Zhao Weiwei , Ni Zhenhua
Published: December 2022

LPI-CVD growth not only avoids the use of solid powders, but also enables the uniform distribution of precursors on the substrate, which are favorable for the monolayer synthesis, substitution doping and corresponding heterostructures of 2D TMDs.
Two carbazole disulfonamide-diamide macrocycles with semi-flexible meta-xylyl linkages for anion recognition
Authors: Li Junhong , Yuan Lisha , Yang Qinrong , Zhang Ningjin , Bao Xiaoping
Published: December 2022

Two novel carbazole disulfonamide-diamide macrocycles 1 and 2 with semi-flexible meta-xylyl linkages were designed, synthesized, and assessed for their anion binding properties, via1H NMR and UV-vis titration studies.
Structure-correlated excitation wavelength-dependent optical properties of ZnO nanostructures for multifunctional applications
Authors: Banerjee Dhritiman , Banerjee Payal , Kar Asit Kumar
Published: December 2022

Excitation wavelength-dependent visible emissions from ZnO nanostructures demonstrate that defect states are insufficient to explain their optical properties.
Ultra-fast and robust capture of fluoride by an amino terephthalic acid-facilitated lanthanum-based organic framework: insight into performance and mechanisms
Authors: Singh Neha , Srivastava Ila , Mohapatra Ashwini Kumar , Singh Abhas , Dwivedi Jaya , Sankararamakrishnan Nalini
Published: December 2022

A sorbent consisting of a lanthanum-loaded metal–organic framework, involving terephthalic acid (La@TPA) and amino terephthalic acid (La@ATPA) as organic linkers, was synthesized and evaluated for fluoride (F) removal from groundwater.
Optical chirality of vortex beams at the nanoscale
Authors: Green Dale , Forbes Kayn A.
Published: December 2022

Longitudinal electromagnetic fields produced by strongly focused Laguerre-Gaussian and Bessel optical vortices are responsible for novel optical chirality of structured light at the nanoscale.
Carrier-filtering and phonon-blocking AgSnSe2-decorated grain boundaries to boost the thermoelectric performance of Cu2Sn0.9Co0.1S3
Authors: Chen Jiaxin , Gu Yan , Zhou Haitao , Pan Lin , Wang Yifeng , Wan Chunlei , He Shengping
Published: December 2022

Thermoelectric performance of Cu2Sn0.9Co0.1S3 was enhanced by synergic effects of electron ionized impurity scattering and phonon blocking due to the AgSnSe2-decorated grain boundaries, with a ZTmax of 0.93 at 773 K in Cu2Sn0.9Co0.1S3–3 wt% AgSnSe2.
Morphology of polypropylene/polystyrene composite particles prepared by seeded emulsion polymerization: influence of azo initiator intrinsic charge
Authors: Morimoto Ryohei , Suzuki Toyoko , Minami Hideto
Published: December 2022

The morphologies of polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) composite particles obtained using different type of the initiator in the seeded emulsion polymerization of styrene with multi-hollow PP seed particles.
Hydrogen bond stabilized β-Ni(OH)x–SO4 interlaminar materials for highly active supercapacitors
Authors: Li Tingting , Yang Shaokang , Zuo Yunpeng , Li Wei , Yue Hongwei , Kment Štěpán , Chai Yang
Published: December 2022

Porous β-Ni(OH)x–SO4 interlaminar material has been prepared with an expanded interplane spacing and in-plane porous channels, which exhibits advanced supercapacitor property with a high specific capacity of 212.5 mA h g−1 at 3 A g−1.
Cd(NH2SO3)2·xH2O (x= 0, 2): new sulfamates with a unique coordination environment and reversible phase transitions
Authors: Wang Xuefei , Lee Jihyun , Li Yang , Kuk Yunseung , Ok Kang Min
Published: December 2022

Centrosymmetric Cd(NH2SO3)2·2H2O and noncentrosymmetric Cd(NH2SO3)2reveal their temperature- and humidity-induced reversible phase transitions.
A study on the conformation-dependent colorimetric response of polydiacetylene supramolecules to external triggers
Authors: Cingil Hande E. , Beliktay Gizem , Tan Eric M. M.
Published: December 2022

Polydiacetylene (PDA) supramolecules exhibit a conformation-dependent colorimetric response to external triggers.
Aconitine synthesis studies. A modeling construction of the functionalized BCDE tetracyclic ring system
Authors: Guo Tianyuan , Peng Fuli , Song Xueqin , Lei Jiang , Yu Fangzhou , Chu Hongping , Yang Keyang , Xu Liang
Published: December 2022

A highly functionalized BCDE model ring system of aconitine has been synthesized for the first time via a strategy involving oxidative dearomatization/IMDA, Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement, Michael addition and reductive cyclization.
A ligand-enabled, copper(ii)-catalyzed, highly selective and efficient synthesis of 2E-alkenylfurans from ynenones
Authors: Zou Shao-Yu , Yang Fang , Zhao Xin , Ren Xin-Ge , Chen Zi-Sheng , Ji Kegong
Published: December 2022

A ligand-enabled copper(ii)-catalyzed highly selective and efficient for synthesis of 2E-alkenylfurans from ynenones.
Electrochemical tandem cyclization to access sulfonylated fused sultams via SO2 insertion with sodium metabisulfite
Authors: Sun Yun-Hai , Li Cheng-Jing , Xi Ji-Ming , Wei Zhong-Lin , Liao Wei-Wei
Published: December 2022

An electrochemical three-component transformation between N-cyanamide alkenes, Na2S2O5 and sulfonyl hydrazides is described, through which various sulfonylated fused sultams were prepared in a sustainable and modular fashion.
A π-extended phenanthrene-fused aza[7]helicenium as a novel chiroptically-active architecture in organic and aqueous media
Authors: Olivier Céline , Nagatomo Nao , Mori Tadashi , McClenaghan Nathan , Jonusauskas Gediminas , Kauffmann Brice , Kuwahara Yutaka , Takafuji Makoto , Ihara Hirotaka , Ferrand Yann
Published: December 2022

The synthesis and characterization of an original π-extended cationic azahelicene is reported.
Detection of respiratory inflammation biomarkers in non-processed exhaled breath condensate samples using reduced graphene oxide
Authors: Gholizadeh Azam , Black Kathleen , Kipen Howard , Laumbach Robert , Gow Andrew , Weisel Clifford , Javanmard Mehdi
Published: December 2022

In this work, we studied several important parameters regarding the standardization of a portable sensor of nitrite, a key biomarker of inflammation in the respiratory tract in untreated EBC samples.
Course letter grades and rates of D, W, F grades can introduce variability to course comparisons
Authors: James Nicole M.
Published: December 2022

Course grades are commonly used as an evaluation metric within institutions and as part of education research. However, using grades to compare across course sections may implicitly assume that grades are awarded similarly and consistently. This article details how different sections of the same course offered differing amounts of extra credit and adjusted letter grades to different extents at the end of the term (post hoc). In one section, extra credit altered the letter grades of 26.6% of students, and post hoc adjustments altered the letter grades of 35.4% of students. In contrast, in a concurrently-offered section, 1.7% of student grades changed due to extra credit, and 4.3% due to post hoc adjustments. This may complicate some grade-based assessments of instructors, curricula, pedagogical practices, or students. We hope this catalyzes further study into how widespread this phenomenon is, what mechanisms influence it, and what the implications are. Meanwhile, we suggest that education researchers might consider explicitly discussing any available evidence that grades are consistently awarded and/or the possible repercussions of any inconsistency. When not possible, this might be discussed as a study limitation.