bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk of Transmission and Viral Shedding From the Time of Infection for Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Households
Authors: Otomaru Hirono , Sornillo Johanna Beulah T , Kamigaki Taro , Bado Samantha Louise P , Okamoto Michiko , Saito-Obata Mariko , Inobaya Marianette T , Segubre-Mercado Edelwisa , Alday Portia P , Saito Mayuko , Tallo Veronica L , Quiambao Beatriz P , Oshitani Hitoshi , Cook Alex R
Published: July 2021

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection worldwide, but reports of temporal changes in the risk of transmission among close contacts has been scarce. This study aimed to examine an association between the viral load trajectory and transmission risk to develop a better control strategy for the disease spread. We conducted a household-based prospective cohort study in Biliran Province, the Philippines, and enrolled 451 participants to observe the development of acute respiratory infection. Including the cases found at the health-care facility, we analyzed the data of viral loads with symptom records obtained from 172 followed participants who had household member positive for RSV with a rapid test during an RSV outbreak in 2018–2019. We developed a model estimating a temporal change in the viral shedding from the infection and evaluated transmission dynamics. We found that most transmission events occurred within approximately 7 days of the household exposure, including potential presymptomatic transmissions. The inferred risk of infection among those younger than 5 years was 3.5 times higher than that of those older than 5 years. This finding suggested that the initial week after the household exposure is particularly important for preventing RSV spread.
Comparative evaluation of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine with different fatty acids on nephrotoxicity in vancomycin-induced mice
Authors: Shi Hao-Hao , Wang Cheng-Cheng , Ding Lin , Mao Xiang-Zhao , Xue Chang-Hu , Yanagita Teruyoshi , Zhang Tian-Tian , Wang Yu-Ming
Published: July 2021

Phospholipids reportedly alleviate drug-induced acute kidney injury. However, no study has compared the effect of phospholipids with different fatty acids and polar heads on drug-induced nephrotoxicity. In the present study, we aimed to compare the possible nephroprotection afforded by phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine with different fatty acids in a mouse model of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity. Pretreatment with phospholipids rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) doubled the survival time when compared with the model group. Moreover, phospholipids rich in DHA/EPA significantly reduced the serum levels of renal function biomarkers and ameliorated kidney pathologies. In terms of alleviating renal damage, no significant differences were observed between different polar heads in DHA-enriched phospholipids, while phosphatidylserine from soybean was better than phosphatidylcholine in mitigating renal injury. Furthermore, DHA/EPA-enriched phospholipids inhibited vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity mainly by inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress. These results provide a scientific basis for phospholipids as potential ingredients to prevent acute kidney injury.
The interleukin 6 trans-signaling increases prostaglandin E2 production in human granulosa cells
Authors: Li Sai-Jiao , Chang Hsun-Ming , Xie Jiamin , Wang Jeremy H , Yang Jing , Leung Peter C K
Published: July 2021

As a potent autocrine regulator, the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL6) is expressed in granulosa cells and is involved in the modulation of various follicular functions, including follicular development and ovulation. At present, the detailed molecular mechanisms by which IL6 regulates the event of ovulation remain to be elucidated. In the present study, primary and immortalized (SVOG) human granulosa–lutein (hGL) cells were used to investigate the effects of IL6 on the expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and the subsequent synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that instead of classic signaling, IL6/soluble form of the IL6 receptor (sIL-6Ralpha) trans-signaling induced the expression of PTGS2 and production of PGE2 in both SVOG cells and primary hGL cells. Moreover, IL6/sIL-6Ralpha activated the phosphorylation of Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which in turn induced STAT3 nuclear translocation. In addition, these effects were suppressed by the addition of inhibitors (AG490 for JAK2 and C188-9 for STAT3) and by the small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of STAT3. In addition, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) acts as a negative-feedback regulator in IL6/sIL-6Ralpha-induced cellular activities, including the activation and nuclear translocation of STAT3, upregulation of PTGS2 expression, and increase in PGE2 production in SVOG cells. In conclusion, IL6 trans-signaling upregulates the expression of PTGS2 and increases the production of PGE2 via the JAK2/STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway in hGL cells. Our findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which IL6 trans-signaling may potentially modulate the event of ovulation in human ovaries.
Look Who's Talking: Teaching and Discourse Practices across Discipline, Position, Experience, and Class Size in STEM College Classrooms
Authors: Alkhouri Jourjina Subih , Donham Cristine , Pusey Téa S , Signorini Adriana , Stivers Alexander H , Kranzfelder Petra
Published: July 2021

Students are more likely to learn in college science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classrooms when instructors use teacher discourse moves (TDMs) that encourage student engagement and learning. However, although teaching practices are well studied, TDMs are not well understood in college STEM classrooms. In STEM courses at a minority-serving institution (MSI; n = 74), we used two classroom observation protocols to investigate teaching practices and TDMs across disciplines, instructor types, years of teaching experience, and class size. We found that instructors guide students in active learning activities, but they use authoritative discourse approaches. In addition, chemistry instructors presented more than biology instructors. Also, teaching faculty had relatively high dialogic, interactive discourse, and neither years of faculty teaching experience nor class size had an impact on teaching practices or TDMs. Our results have implications for targeted teaching professional development efforts across instructor and course characteristics to improve STEM education at MSIs.
Extracellular vesicles as distinct biomarker reservoirs for mild traumatic brain injury diagnosis
Authors: Beard Kryshawna , Yang Zijian , Haber Margalit , Flamholz Miranda , Diaz-Arrastia Ramon , Sandsmark Danielle , Meaney David F , Issadore David
Published: July 2021

Mild traumatic brain injury does not currently have a clear molecular diagnostic panel to either confirm the injury or to guide its treatment. Current biomarkers for traumatic brain injury rely mainly on detecting circulating proteins in blood that are associated with degenerating neurons, which are less common in mild traumatic brain injury, or with broad inflammatory cascades which are produced in multiple tissues and are thus not brain specific. To address this issue, we conducted an observational cohort study designed to measure a protein panel in two compartments—plasma and brain-derived extracellular vesicles—with the following hypotheses: (i) each compartment provides independent diagnostic information and (ii) algorithmically combining these compartments accurately classifies clinical mild traumatic brain injury. We evaluated this hypothesis using plasma samples from mild (Glasgow coma scale scores 13–15) traumatic brain injury patients (n = 47) and healthy and orthopaedic control subjects (n = 46) to evaluate biomarkers in brain-derived extracellular vesicles and plasma. We used our Track Etched Magnetic Nanopore technology to isolate brain-derived extracellular vesicles from plasma based on their expression of GluR2, combined with the ultrasensitive digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, Single-Molecule Array. We quantified extracellular vesicle-packaged and plasma levels of biomarkers associated with two categories of traumatic brain injury pathology: neurodegeneration and neuronal/glial damage (ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1, glial fibrillary acid protein, neurofilament light and Tau) and inflammation (interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and tumour necrosis factor alpha). We found that GluR2+ extracellular vesicles have distinct biomarker distributions than those present in the plasma. As a proof of concept, we showed that using a panel of biomarkers comprised of both plasma and GluR2+ extracellular vesicles, injured patients could be accurately classified versus non-injured patients.
Microarray profiling emphasizes transcriptomic differences between hippocampal in vivo tissue and in vitro cultures
Authors: King Declan , Skehel Paul A , Dando Owen , Emelianova Katie , Barron Rona , Wishart Thomas M
Published: July 2021

Primary hippocampal cell cultures are routinely used as an experimentally accessible model platform for the hippocampus and brain tissue in general. Containing multiple cell types including neurons, astrocytes and microglia in a state that can be readily analysed optically, biochemically and electrophysiologically, such cultures have been used in many in vitro studies. To what extent the in vivo environment is recapitulated in primary cultures is an on-going question. Here, we compare the transcriptomic profiles of primary hippocampal cell cultures and intact hippocampal tissue. In addition, by comparing profiles from wild type and the PrP 101LL transgenic model of prion disease, we also demonstrate that gene conservation is predominantly conserved across genetically altered lines.
Relapse of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale Malaria With and Without Primaquine Treatment in a Nonendemic Area
Authors: Wångdahl Andreas , Sondén Klara , Wyss Katja , Stenström Christine , Björklund David , Zhang Jessica , Hervius Askling Helena , Carlander Christina , Hellgren Urban , Färnert Anna
Published: July 2021

Background

The effect of primaquine in preventing Plasmodium vivax relapses from dormant stages is well established. For Plasmodium ovale, the relapse characteristics and the use of primaquine is not as well studied. We set to evaluate the relapsing properties of these 2 species, in relation to primaquine use among imported malaria cases in a nonendemic setting.

Methods

We performed a nationwide retrospective study of malaria diagnosed in Sweden 1995–2019, by reviewing medical records of 3254 cases. All episodes of P. vivax (n = 972) and P. ovale (n = 251) were selected for analysis.

Results

First time relapses were reported in 80/857 (9.3%) P. vivax and 9/220 (4.1%) P. ovale episodes, respectively (P < .01). Without primaquine, the risk for relapse was higher in P. vivax, 20/60 (33.3%), compared to 3/30 (10.0%) in P. ovale (hazard ratio [HR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–12.0). In P. vivax, patients prescribed primaquine had a reduced risk of relapse compared to episodes without relapse preventing treatment, 7.1% vs 33.3% (HR 0.2, 95% CI .1–.3). In P. ovale, the effect of primaquine on the risk of relapse did not reach statistical significance, with relapses seen in 2.8% of the episodes compared to 10.0% in patients not receiving relapse preventing treatment (HR 0.3, 95% CI .1–1.1).

Conclusions

The risk of relapse was considerably lower in P. ovale than in P. vivax infections indicating different relapsing features between the two species. Primaquine was effective in preventing P. vivax relapse. In P. ovale, relapse episodes were few, and the supportive evidence for primaquine remains limited.
Complete heart block associated with Remdesivir in COVID-19: a case report
Authors: Selvaraj Vijairam , Bavishi Chirag , Patel Simaben , Dapaah-Afriyie Kwame
Published: July 2021

Background

Since the pandemic began in 2020, Remdesivir has been widely used for the treatment of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Here, we describe a case of a patient with COVID-19 who developed transient complete atrioventricular (AV) block and bradycardia after initiating treatment with Remdesivir.

Case summary

A 72-year-old male with a history of atrial fibrillation and lung cancer was hospitalized for COVID-19. Electrocardiogram (ECG) on admission demonstrated atrial fibrillation and right bundle branch block. He was started on a course of Dexamethasone and Remdesivir. Within 24 h of starting Remdesivir, he was noted to be in atrial fibrillation with ventricular rates between 30 and 40 b.p.m. On Day 5 of Remdesivir therapy, ECG demonstrated complete AV block. Having completed the Remdesivir regimen, during the next 48 h, he was closely monitored, and the AV block resolved spontaneously. As he remained asymptomatic and had an adequate chronotropic response with activity, pacemaker implantation was not recommended.

Discussion

Despite the widespread use of Remdesivir, there is little known information about its cardiac toxicity. Daily ECGs and close cardiac surveillance of patients who develop severe bradycardia or AV block are essential. Discontinuation of the medication usually results in the resolution of these cardiac disturbances.
English beyond the pale: the language of outsiders
Authors: Widdowson Henry
Published: July 2021

In this contribution, I argue for a radical reappraisal of accepted ideas about how English is taught and tested. I am not alone in questioning the validity of the current orthodoxy. Others have expressed views that correspond or are consistent with the points I make here. What I have sought to do is to synthesize them in the formulation of a connected argument so as to bring out more directly what I take to be their essential significance in making the case for reform. There is no doubt a counter-argument, a case for the defence of orthodox ways of thinking. It is indeed my purpose to provoke it. That, after all, is, in two senses of the word, the point of the paper.
What works for vulnerable families? Interpretations of effective health promotion
Authors: Hogeling Lette , Lammers Christianne , Vaandrager Lenneke , Koelen Maria
Published: July 2021

Under the umbrella of the Healthy Futures Nearby programme, 46 small-scale projects were funded to promote changes in health-related behaviours (smoking, alcohol, diet and exercise) and to improve perceived health among vulnerable families in the Netherlands. The evaluation of these health-related multiple project programmes is often based on funder-defined outcomes and strategies. However, within the funded projects, assumptions about improving the health of vulnerable families based on local knowledge and experiences will also shape the project outcomes and strategies. These additional outcomes and strategies are project-specific interpretations of effective health promotion. Knowing these interpretations is crucial for the policy related and scientific relevance of the evaluation. Therefore, we aimed to determine the interpretations of each project and how they translate into relevant inputs for the overall evaluation of the programme. Based on 46 semi-structured group interviews with local project stakeholders, we produced a list of assumptions about what health promotion for vulnerable families should look like and then identified five main clusters: (i) strategies of offering pre-defined, health (behaviour)-related activities to families, (ii) actively involving vulnerable families in the initiative, (iii) assumptions about how health promotion should start with or include non-health-related topics, (iv) assumptions on how one should build on what already exists in the local context of the families and (v) assumptions on the role of the (health) professional in health promotion among vulnerable families. These project interpretations of effective health promotion provide inputs and priorities for the HFN programme’s overall evaluation.
Pre-catch and discard mortality in Northeast Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries: consequences for stock estimates and advice
Authors: Tenningen Maria , Zimmermann Fabian , Enberg Katja
Published: July 2021

Unaccounted mortality caused by discarding or pre-catch losses is a major challenge for fisheries management. In pelagic fisheries, a considerable proportion of catches may be lost due to intentional release of unwanted catch (slipping) or net bursts (fishing net tears due to the weight of the catch). Here we review and estimate ranges of discard and pre-catch mortality for two important pelagic fisheries, the Northeast Atlantic (NEA) mackerel and Norwegian spring spawning (NSS) herring, and explore the effects on stock estimates and catch advice. We show that mortality caused by discarding, slipping, and net bursts is unknown but probably corresponds to a considerable percentage of total registered catches. Including estimated unaccounted mortality into assessment models leads to underestimation of the stock levels by 3.7–19.5% and 2.8–6.8% for NEA mackerel and NSS herring, respectively, corresponding to up to several million tonnes of fish that die annually due to fishing without being landed. If discard and pre-catch mortality were eliminated, allowed catches could increase by 10–20%. We demonstrate that unaccounted mortality in pelagic fisheries may be substantial, affecting stock estimates and catch advice. This may undermine the sustainable management and efficient use of pelagic resources.
Hepatocyte-Derived L-Carnitine Restricts Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Loss Through an Immunosuppressive Effect on Germinal Center–Related Immune Cells
Authors: Gu Shuqin , Wang Weibin , Ye Guofu , Chen Chengcong , Zhou Yang , Guo Ling , Zhong Shihong , Li Xiaoyi , Fu Xin , Wen Chunhua , Tang Libo , Sun Jian , Hou Jinlin , Li Yongyin
Published: July 2021

Background

The outcome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is significantly affected by host immune response; herein, we aim to dissect the effect of L-carnitine (L-Cn) on germinal center (GC)–related immune cells and the influence on the prognosis of HBV infection.

Methods

In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed in patients with chronic HBV infection and a hydrodynamic injection mouse model.

Results

In vitro assays revealed that L-Cn significantly reduced GC-related immune responses and enhanced immunosuppressive profiles. Intriguingly, L-Cn released from lysed hepatocytes was associated with the degree of liver damage. Besides, the administration of L-Cn in an HBV mouse model resulted in delayed clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum and decreased GC formation in the spleen. Notably, patients with HBsAg loss showed decreased plasma L-Cn levels, and longitudinal observations found that low baseline levels of L-Cn were associated with a favorable treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Conclusions

The suppressive effect of hepatocyte-derived L-Cn on GC-related immune cells may contribute to the inability of HBsAg clearance in chronic HBV infection, indicating that L-Cn might serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HBV infection.
Resistance mechanisms and genetic relatedness among carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from three major hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam (2011–15)
Authors: Tran Hai Anh , Vu Thi Ngoc Bich , Trinh Son Tung , Tran Dieu Linh , Pham Ha My , Ngo Thi Hong Hanh , Nguyen Minh Thao , Tran Nhu Duong , Pham Duy Thai , Dang Duc Anh , Shibayama Keigo , Suzuki Masato , Yoshida Lay-Myint , Trinh Hong Son , Le Viet Thanh , Vu Phuong Thom , Luu Thi Vu Nga , Bañuls Anne-Laure , Trinh Khanh Linh , Tran Van Anh , Tran Huy Hoang , van Doorn H Rogier
Published: July 2021

Background

MDR bacteria including carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa are recognized as an important cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide. This investigation seeks to determine the molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance genes associated with carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa.

Methods

We conducted WGS and phylogenetic analysis of 72 carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolated from hospital-acquired infection patients from August 2011 to March 2015 in three major hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Results

We identified three variants of IMP gene, among which blaIMP-15 was the most frequent (n = 34) in comparison to blaIMP-26 (n = 2) and blaIMP-51 (n = 12). We observed two isolates with imipenem MIC >128 mg/L that co-harboured blaIMP-15 and blaDIM-1 genes and seven isolates (imipenem MIC > 128 mg/L) with a blaKPC-1 gene from the same hospital. MLST data shows that these 72 isolates belong to 18 STs and phylogenetic tree analysis has divided these isolates into nine groups.

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence that not only blaIMP-26 but other IMP variants such as blaIMP-15 and blaIMP-51 genes and several STs (ST235, ST244, ST277, ST310, ST773 and ST3151) have been disseminating in healthcare settings in Vietnam. In addition, we report the emergence of two isolates belonging to ST1240 and ST3340 that harboured two important carbapenemase genes (blaIMP-15 and blaDIM-1) and seven isolates belonging to ST3151 of P. aeruginosa that carried the blaKPC-1 gene in Vietnam, which could potentially cause serious restricted availability of treatment options in healthcare settings.
Online health information seeking, health literacy, and human papillomavirus vaccination among transgender and gender-diverse people
Authors: Pho Anthony T , Bakken Suzanne , Lunn Mitchell R , Lubensky Micah E , Flentje Annesa , Dastur Zubin , Obedin-Maliver Juno
Published: July 2021

Objective

The purpose of this study is to describe online health information seeking among a sample of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people compared with cisgender sexual minority people to explore associations with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and whether general health literacy and eHealth literacy moderate this relationship.

Materials and Methods

We performed a cross-sectional online survey of TGD and cisgender sexual minority participants from The PRIDE Study, a longitudinal, U.S.-based, national health study of sexual and gender minority people. We employed multivariable logistic regression to model the association of online health information seeking and HPV vaccination.

Results

The online survey yielded 3258 responses. Compared with cisgender sexual minority participants, TGD had increased odds of reporting HPV vaccination (aOR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.2) but decreased odds when they had looked for information about vaccines online (aOR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9). TGD participants had over twice the odds of reporting HPV vaccination if they visited a social networking site like Facebook (aOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.6). No moderating effects from general or eHealth literacy were observed.

Discussion

Decreased reporting of HPV vaccination among TGD people after searching for vaccine information online suggests vaccine hesitancy, which may potentially be related to the quality of online content. Increased reporting of vaccination after using social media may be related to peer validation.

Conclusions

Future studies should investigate potential deterrents to HPV vaccination in online health information to enhance its effectiveness and further explore which aspects of social media might increase vaccine uptake among TGD people.
Claw morphology, claw strength, and fighting behavior in the New River crayfishCambarus chasmodactylusJames, 1966 (Decapoda: Astacoidea: Cambaridae)
Authors: Graham Zackary A
Published: July 2021

Despite the diversity in the size, performance, and function of crustacean claws (chelae), our understanding of the functional morphology and evolution of these claws are lacking. Since crayfish claws are multi-function organs that face selection from fighting, mating, foraging, and predation, these pressures all interact to shape the claws morphology and performance. I studied a unique claw morphology, the exaggerated claw gape of the New River crayfish, Cambarus chasmodactylusJames, 1966, by investigating how this claw morphology relates to claw strength and fighting style. Claw length increased in both males and females as body size increased, although this trend was more pronounced in males, and maximal claw strength increased as claw length increased in both males and females. I describe the fighting behavior of the species in relation to previously studied species and speculate on how changes in claw morphology have led to changes in species-specific fighting style. Observations of fighting behavior in C. chasmodactylus revealed a previously undescribed claw grasping behavior, in which competitors grasp onto the manus of their opponent’s claw and laterally twist to flip their opponent. When assessing the relative role of claw size and claw strength on contest success in male individuals, individuals with larger, but not necessarily stronger claws were most likely to attain dominance. These results highlight the functional morphology of a unique claw morphology and provides initial evidence for how claw form relates to fighting style within decapod crustaceans.
RNAi-Mediated Screening of Selected Target Genes AgainstCulex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Khalil Sayed M S , Munawar Kashif , Alahmed Azzam M , Mohammed Ahmed M A
Published: July 2021

Culex quinquefasciatus, a member of the Culex pipiens complex, is widespread in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. It is a vector for lymphatic filariasis, Rift Valley fever, and West Nile virus. Studies have shown the deleterious effect of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of various lethal genes in model and agricultural pest insects. RNAi was proposed as a tool for mosquito control with a focus on Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae. In this study, we examined the effect of RNAi of selected target genes on both larval mortality and adult emergence of Cx. quinquefasciatus through two delivery methods: soaking and nanoparticles. Ten candidate genes were selected for RNAi based on their known lethal effect in other insects. Disruption of three genes, chitin synthase-1, inhibitor of apoptosis 1, and vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase, resulted in the highest mortality among the selected genes using the two treatment methods. Silencing the other seven genes resulted in a medium to low mortality in both assays. These three genes are also active against a wide range of insects and could be used for RNAi-based mosquito control in the future.
Hepatoprotective effect of Spirulina platensis against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in male rats
Authors: Mohamed Nema A , Hashem Mohamed A M , Alzahrani Abdullah M , Abdel-Moneim Ashraf M , Abdou Heba M
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Spirulina platensis (SP) is an edible Cyanobacterium with ethnomedicinal significance. This study aims at evaluating the beneficial effect of SP against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver toxicity in male rats.

Methods

Rats received intraperitoneal injections of CCl4 (2 ml/kg body weight [b.w.] per every other day) for 40 days, alone or in combination with oral treatments of SP (400 mg/kg b.w. per day).

Key findings

SP attenuated haematological disturbances, serum liver markers, hepatic necrosis and inflammation, and dyslipidemia in CCl4-intoxicated rats. SP also reduced CCl4-induced oxidative stress by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase and glutathione content, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation products and nitric oxide levels in the rat liver. Further investigations revealed that SP counteracted CCl4-induced increased hepatic levels of Ki-67 (a parameter of cell proliferation), interleukin-6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha and cyclooxygenase-2 messenger RNA expression. Noticeably, the supplementation of SP restored the decrease of proapoptotic p53 protein levels in the liver of rats treated with CCl4.

Conclusions

SP prevented liver damage in CCl4-treated rats via augmentation of antioxidant defense mechanisms and inhibition of inflammatory cytokines/mediators and antiproliferative effects.
What’s new in travellers’ diarrhoea: updates on epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment and long-term consequences
Authors: Adler Audrey V , Ciccotti Hailee R , Trivitt Spencer J H , Watson Roland C J , Riddle Mark S
Published: July 2021

Background

Travellers’ diarrhoea (TD) is the most common clinical syndrome affecting travellers. This narrative review summarizes key discoveries reported in the last two years related to TD and suggests areas for future research.

Methods

A PubMed literature search was conducted for novel data in TD research published between 12 January 2018 and 12 January 2020. Inclusion was based on contribution to epidemiology, aetiology, diagnostics, management and long-term consequences and relevance to public health, discovery and clinical practice.

Results

The initial literature search yielded 118 articles. We retrieved 72 and reviewed 31 articles for inclusion. The findings support our understanding that TD incidence varies by traveller group and environment with students and military-travel remaining moderately high risk, and control of food and water in mass gathering events remain an important goal. The growth of culture-independent testing has led to a continued detection of previously known pathogens, but also an increased detection frequency of norovirus. Another consequence is the increase in multi-pathogen infections, which require consideration of clinical, epidemiological and diagnostic data. Fluoroquinolone resistant rates continue to rise. New data on non-absorbable antibiotics continue to emerge, offering a potential alternative to current recommendations (azithromycin and fluoroquinolones), but are not recommended for febrile diarrhoea or dysentery or regions/itineraries where invasive pathogens are likely to cause illness. Recent studies investigated the interaction of the microbiome in TD prevention and consequences, and while discriminating features were identified, much uncertainty remains. The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) acquisition and carriage is increasing. Finally, continued research documents the post-infectious consequences, whereas mechanisms of reactive arthritis and post-infectious IBS necessitate further investigation.

Conclusions

Globally, TD remains an important travel health issue and advances in our understanding continue. More research is needed to mitigate risk factors where possible and develop risk-based management strategies to reduce antibiotic usage and its attendant consequences.
A feather on the hat: tracing the giant stellar stream around the Sombrero galaxy
Authors: Martínez-Delgado David , Román Javier , Erkal Denis , Schirmer Mischa , Roca-Fàbrega Santi , Laine Seppo , Donatiello Giuseppe , Jimenez Manuel , Malin David , Carballo-Bello Julio A
Published: July 2021

Recent evidence of extremely metal-rich stars found in the Sombrero galaxy (M104) halo suggests that this galaxy has undergone a recent major merger with a relatively massive galaxy. In this paper, we present wide-field deep images of the M104 outskirts obtained with a 18-cm amateur telescope with the purpose of detecting any coherent tidal features from this possible major merger. Our new data, together with a model of the M104 inner halo and scattered light from stars around the field, allow us to trace for the first time the full path of the stream on both sides of the disc of the galaxy. We fully characterize the ring-like tidal structure and we confirm that this is the only observable coherent substructure in the inner halo region. This result is in agreement with the hypothesis that M104 was created by a wet major merger more than 3.5 Gyr ago that heated up the stellar population, blurring all old substructure. We generated a set of numerical models that reproduce the formation of the observed tidal structure. Our best-fitting model suggests the formation of this stream in the last 3 Gyr is independent of the wet major merger that created the M104 system. Therefore, the formation of the tidal stream can put a constraint on the time when the major merger occurred.
Intrinsic metallicity variation in the intermediate mass type II globular cluster NGC 1261
Authors: Muñoz C , Geisler D , Villanova S , Sarajedini Ata , Frelijj H , Vargas C , Monaco L , O’Connell J
Published: July 2021

Globular Clusters (GCs) are now well known to almost universally show multiple populations (MPs). The HST UV Legacy Survey of a large number of Galactic GCs in UV filters optimized to explore MPs finds that a small fraction of GCs, termed Type II, also display more complex, anomalous behaviour. Several well-studied Type II GCs show intrinsic Fe abundance variations, suggesting that the other, less well-studied, Type II GCs should also exhibit similar behaviour. Our aim is to perform the first detailed metallicity analysis of NGC 1261, an intermediate mass Type II GC, in order to determine if this object shows an intrinsic Fe variation. We determined the Fe abundance in eight red giant members using Magellan-MIKE and UVES-FLAMES high-resolution, high S/N spectroscopy. The full range of [Fe/H] for the entire sample from the spectra is from −1.05 to −1.43 dex with an observed spread σobs = 0.133 dex. Compared with the total internal error of σtot = 0.06, this indicates a significant intrinsic metallicity spread of σint = 0.119 dex. We found a very similar variation in [Fe/H] using an independent method to derive the atmospheric parameters based on near-IR photometry. More importantly, the mean metallicity of the five presumed normal metallicity stars is −1.37 ± 0.02, while that of the three presumed anomalous/high metallicity stars is −1.18 ± 0.09. This difference is significant at the ∼2.4σ level. We find indications from existing data of other Type II GCs that several of them presumed to have real metallicity spreads may in fact possess none. The minimum mass required for a GC to acquire an intrinsic Fe spread appears to be ∼105M⊙. We find no strong correlation between mass and metallicity variation for Type II GCs. The metallicity spread is also independent of the fraction of anomalous stars within the Type II GCs and of GC origin.
Cygnus A jointly calibrated and imaged via non-convex optimization from VLA data
Authors: Dabbech A , Repetti A , Perley R A , Smirnov O M , Wiaux Y
Published: July 2021

Radio interferometric (RI) data are noisy undersampled spatial Fourier components of the unknown radio sky affected by direction-dependent antenna gains. Failure to model these antenna gains accurately results in a radio sky estimate with limited fidelity and resolution. The RI inverse problem has been recently addressed via a joint calibration and imaging approach that consists in solving a non-convex minimization task, involving suitable priors for the direction-dependent effects (DDEs), namely temporal and spatial smoothness, and sparsity for the unknown radio map via an ℓ1-norm prior, in the context of realistic RI simulations. Building on these developments, we propose to promote sparsity of the radio map via a log-sum prior, enforcing sparsity more strongly than the ℓ1 norm. The resulting minimization task is addressed via a sequence of non-convex minimization tasks composed of re-weighted ℓ1 image priors, which are solved approximately. We demonstrate the efficiency of the approach on RI observations of the celebrated radio galaxy Cygnus A obtained with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array at the frequency bands X, C, and S . More precisely, we showcase that the approach enhances data fidelity significantly while achieving high-resolution high-dynamic range radio maps, confirming the suitability of the priors considered for the unknown DDEs and radio image. As a clear qualitative indication of the high fidelity achieved by the data and the proposed approach, we report the detection of three background sources in the vicinity of Cyg A, at S band.
Mutually exclusive substrate selection strategy by human m3C RNA transferases METTL2A and METTL6
Authors: Mao Xue-Ling , Li Zi-Han , Huang Meng-Han , Wang Jin-Tao , Zhou Jing-Bo , Li Qing-Run , Xu Hong , Wang Xi-Jin , Zhou Xiao-Long
Published: July 2021

tRNAs harbor the most diverse posttranscriptional modifications. The 3-methylcytidine (m3C) is widely distributed at position C32 (m3C32) of eukaryotic tRNAThr and tRNASer species. m3C32 is decorated by the single methyltransferase Trm140 in budding yeasts; however, two (Trm140 and Trm141 in fission yeasts) or three enzymes (METTL2A, METTL2B and METTL6 in mammals) are involved in its biogenesis. The rationale for the existence of multiple m3C32 methyltransferases and their substrate discrimination mechanism is hitherto unknown. Here, we revealed that both METTL2A and METTL2B are expressed in vivo. We purified human METTL2A, METTL2B, and METTL6 to high homogeneity. We successfully reconstituted m3C32 modification activity for tRNAThr by METT2A and for tRNASer(GCU) by METTL6, assisted by seryl-tRNA synthetase (SerRS) in vitro. Compared with METTL2A, METTL2B exhibited dramatically lower activity in vitro. Both G35 and t6A at position 37 (t6A37) are necessary but insufficient prerequisites for tRNAThr m3C32 formation, while the anticodon loop and the long variable arm, but not t6A37, are key determinants for tRNASer(GCU) m3C32 biogenesis, likely being recognized synergistically by METTL6 and SerRS, respectively. Finally, we proposed a mutually exclusive substrate selection model to ensure correct discrimination among multiple tRNAs by multiple m3C32 methyltransferases.
BOLD asynchrony elucidates tumor burden in IDH-mutated gliomas
Authors: Petridis Petros D , Horenstein Craig I , Pereira Brianna , Wu Peter B , Samanamud Jorge , Marie Tamara , Boyett Deborah , Sudhakar Tejaswi D , Sheth Sameer A , McKhann Guy M , Sisti Michael B , Bruce Jeffrey N , Canoll Peter , Grinband Jack
Published: July 2021

Background

Gliomas comprise the most common type of primary brain tumor, are highly invasive, and often fatal. IDH-mutated gliomas are particularly challenging to image and there is currently no clinically accepted method for identifying the extent of tumor burden in these neoplasms. This uncertainty poses a challenge to clinicians who must balance the need to treat the tumor while sparing healthy brain from iatrogenic damage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using resting-state blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect glioma-related asynchrony in vascular dynamics for distinguishing tumor from healthy brain.

Methods

Twenty-four stereotactically localized biopsies were obtained during open surgical resection from ten treatment-naïve patients with IDH-mutated gliomas who received standard-of-care preoperative imaging as well as echo-planar resting-state BOLD fMRI. Signal intensity for BOLD asynchrony and standard-of-care imaging was compared to cell counts of total cellularity (H&E), tumor density (IDH1 & Sox2), cellular proliferation (Ki67), and neuronal density (NeuN), for each corresponding sample.

Results

BOLD asynchrony was directly related to total cellularity (H&E, P = 4 × 10–5), tumor density (IDH1, P = 4 × 10–5; Sox2, P = 3 × 10–5), cellular proliferation (Ki67, P = .002), and inversely related to neuronal density (NeuN, P = 1 × 10–4).

Conclusions

Asynchrony in vascular dynamics, as measured by resting-state BOLD fMRI, correlates with tumor burden and provides a radiographic delineation of tumor boundaries in IDH-mutated gliomas.
The Hostile Mediator Phenomenon
Authors: Yair Omer
Published: July 2021

Rival partisans tend to perceive ostensibly balanced news coverage as biased against their respective sides; this is known as the “hostile media phenomenon” (HMP). Yet complaints of hostile bias are common in contexts besides the media (e.g., law enforcement and academia). Does a process similar to the HMP occur outside the context of news coverage? And do perceptions of political bias in different contexts share certain similarities? This paper proposes that the HMP is a specific case of a more general hostile mediator phenomenon, where rival partisans perceive various public institutions and organizations that are expected to be neutral as biased against their respective sides. The paper starts by presenting a theoretical framework according to which partisans’ bias perceptions are affected by the threat to the power and status of their ingroup posed by a mediator’s actions. Evidence from three studies (total N = 4,164) shows that members of rival ideological camps in Israel perceived the Israeli attorney general and the Israeli police to be biased against their respective camps. An additional study (N = 2,172) shows that both Democrats and Republicans perceived the social network Facebook to be biased against their side. Moreover, an embedded, pre-registered survey experiment buttresses the causal claim that ingroup-threatening information increases perceptions of hostile bias. The implications of these findings for our understanding of people’s bias perceptions, as well as for citizens’ trust in public institutions and democratic stability more generally, are discussed.
L’harmonisation des processus d’intégration en Afrique noire francophone
Authors: François Sobze Serge
Published: July 2021

La construction d’une Afrique « politiquement unie » ! Tel est l’un des axes majeurs du projet d’intégration de l’Union africaine illustré dans son Agenda 2063. L’Afrique, par cette option, situe l’intégration politique au premier plan de ses objectifs et domaines prioritaires pour les dix premières années de son agenda. En revanche, elle ne peut y parvenir qu’à travers un partage des expériences qui rend compte de la symbiose qui existe entre les différents processus d’intégration et qui s’inspire soit de l’idée du foisonnement ou de la coexistence des organisations régionales d’intégration, soit de celle d’harmonisation ou de coordination des politiques nationales qui se dégagent des différents traités, que ce soit celui révisé de la CEMAC ou celui d’Abuja établissant la Communauté économique africaine. La présente étude entend expérimenter cette dynamique de convergence des schémas d’intégration régionale dans l’optique de mutualiser les intérêts pour une intégration collective et complète. Ainsi suggère-t-elle aux organisations régionales et sous-régionales l’option d’une approche prudente dans l’ébauche des politiques sanitaires d’intégration communes à l’effet d’affronter l’insécurité sanitaire actuelle occasionnée par la Covid-19. De ce fait, à travers une méthode juridique et une technique comparative des modèles d’intégration, l’étude interroge sur l’harmonisation des processus comme gage de formation de l’intégration régionale africaine. Il s’agit d’un procédé fédératif ayant pour finalité la construction d’un modèle africain d’intégration et qui paraît mieux adapté aux réalités endogènes résolument tournées vers la pluralité que vers l’unité du droit.
Community-Based Phenotypic Study of Safety, Tolerability, Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity of Emergency-Use-Authorized Vaccines Against COVID-19 and Viral Shedding Potential of Post-Vaccination Infections: Protocol for an Ambispective study
Authors: Gabashvili Irene S.
Published: July 2021

1

The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to a global pandemic that disrupted and impacted lives in unprecedented ways. Within less than a year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines developed by several research teams were emergency-use authorized and made their way to distribution sites across the US and other countries. COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials with thousands of participants before authorization, and were administered to over a billion people across the globe in the following 6 months. Post-authorization safety monitoring was performed using pre-existing systems (such as the World Health Organization’s platform VigiBase or US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, VAERS) and newly developed post-vaccination health checkers (such as V-safe in the US). Vaccinated individuals were also posting their experiences on multiple social media groups created on Facebook, Reddit, Telegram and other platforms, but the groups were often removed as “proliferating false claims”. These forms of reporting are susceptible to biases and misclassifications and do not reach all vaccinated individuals, raising questions about risks of exacerbating health inequalities as well as security and privacy vulnerabilities.

The objective of this paper is to present the protocol for a community-based participatory research approach enabling long-term monitoring of health effects, strengthening community participation via transparent messaging and support, and addressing challenges of transitioning to a new normal.
Hospital Preparedness and Response Framework during infection pandemic
Authors: Thapa Bikash Bikram
Published: July 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put an unprecedented burden to world health, economy and social life with possible long-term consequences. The velocity and mass of this infection pandemic had already overwhelmed every robust health care system in the world. The evidence pertaining to this novel infection pandemic is evolving, so are the challenges in terms of adequate preparedness and response. In this review, we enumerate the strategic and operational domains and build a functional framework for the management of hospital mass infection incidents due to COVID-19 and similar future pandemics. This functional framework could assist health policy maker and health care worker to implement, innovate, and translate preparedness and response to save valuable life and resources.
OCD symptom severity and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses in a Swedish genetic epidemiological obsessive-compulsive disorder cohort
Authors: Mahjani Behrang , Mahjani Christina Gustavsson , Reichenberg Abraham , Sandin Sven , Hultman Christina M. , Buxbaum Joseph D. , Grice Dorothy E.
Published: July 2021

Background

We have established an epidemiological obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) cohort in Sweden. Individuals contributed DNA for genotyping and sequencing and also completed a Swedish translation of the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), a self-report questionnaire for assessing the severity and type of symptoms of OCD. This study made use of the OCI-R data to examine the severity and symptom dimensions of OCD as well as comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders.

Methods

OCI-R data for 1,134 individuals were available for this study, 1,010 diagnosed with OCD, and 124 diagnosed with chronic tic disorders without OCD used as a comparison group. We first evaluated the psychometric properties of the Swedish translation of the OCI-R. Then, we linked data from the Swedish national registries to access and analyze psychiatric comorbidities of OCD.

Results

The Swedish translation of OCI-R demonstrated internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.9) and clear agreement with the OCI-R six-factor model. The mean total OCI-R score for females was significantly higher than for males. The most comorbid psychiatric condition to OCD were anxiety disorders (13.6%) and major depression (12%). We observed that individuals with OCD frequently had additional comorbid psychiatric disorders and that the severity of OCD was significantly higher in individuals with at least one additional psychiatric comorbidity compared to individuals with no psychiatric comorbidity.

Conclusion

We showed that the Swedish translation of the OCI-R has appropriate psychometric properties. Using an epidemiological framework, we were able to assess the severity and symptom dimensions of OCD and comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders.