bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The interaction between changes of muscle activation and cortical network dynamics during isometric elbow contraction: a sEMG and fNIRS study
Authors: Wang Xiaohan , Luo Zichong , Zhang Mingxia , Zhao Weihua , Xie Songyun , Wong Seng Fat , Hu Huijing , Li Le
Published: April 2023

Objective: The relationship between muscle activation during motor tasks and cerebral cortical activity remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between brain network connectivity and the non-linear characteristics of muscle activation changes during different levels of isometric contractions.

Methods: Twenty-one healthy subjects were recruited and were asked to perform isometric elbow contractions in both dominant and non-dominant sides. Blood oxygen concentrations in brain from functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and surface electromyography (sEMG) signals in the biceps brachii (BIC) and triceps brachii (TRI) muscles were recorded simultaneously and compared during 80% and 20% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). Functional connectivity, effective connectivity, and graph theory indicators were used to measure information interaction in brain activity during motor tasks. The non-linear characteristics of sEMG signals, fuzzy approximate entropy (fApEn), were used to evaluate the signal complexity changes in motor tasks. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between brain network characteristic values and sEMG parameters under different task conditions.

Results: The effective connectivity between brain regions in motor tasks in dominant side was significantly higher than that in non-dominant side under different contractions (p < 0.05). The results of graph theory analysis showed that the clustering coefficient and node-local efficiency of the contralateral motor cortex were significantly varied under different contractions (p < 0.01). fApEn and co-contraction index (CCI) of sEMG under 80% MVC condition were significantly higher than that under 20% MVC condition (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the fApEn and the blood oxygen value in the contralateral brain regions in both dominant or non-dominant sides (p < 0.001). The node-local efficiency of the contralateral motor cortex in the dominant side was positively correlated with the fApEn of the EMG signals (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: In this study, the mapping relationship between brain network related indicators and non-linear characteristic of sEMG in different motor tasks was verified. These findings provide evidence for further exploration of the interaction between the brain activity and the execution of motor tasks, and the parameters might be useful in evaluation of rehabilitation intervention.
Facades-as-a-Service: Systemic managerial, financial, and governance innovation to enable a circular economy for buildings. Lessons learnt from a full-scale pilot project in the Netherlands
Authors: Azcárate-Aguerre Juan F. , den Heijer Alexandra C. , Arkesteijn Monique H. , Vergara d’Alençon Luz María , Klein Tillmann
Published: April 2023

Introduction: The challenge of the energy transition in the built environment has, in recent years, been exacerbated by rising awareness of the material resource limitations we face on the path towards sustainable development. In this context the concepts of Circular Economy (CE) and Product-Service Systems (PSS) have emerged as potentially complementary industrial and business strategies to overcome the interdependent material resource and clean energy challenges.

Research significance: Research in the field of circular and PSS-based construction frequently centres on the design and engineering of products, mainly through technical strategies such as design for disassembly and adaptability, and the use of the different “R’s” (Reuse, Repair, Remanufacturing, etc.) to extend and/or reset the service lives of building materials and components. Such an approach often ignores the fact that these strategies require changes in the management, financing, and governance aspects of products and therefore buildings, throughout their entire service-lives. This paper will focus on the systemic administrative (i.e. management, financing, and governance) challenges of the circular and servitisation transitions in the building and construction sector, to enable products which are “Circular by Design”, to effectively support regenerative processes.

Research question: The paper asks how traditional building products’ management, financing, and governance processes prevent or delay the implementation of CE and PSS models. It explores the demand side’s perspective (commissioners, building owners and facility managers), taking a systemic view to the search for new practical, strategic, and scalable administrative models.

Methodology: The research method applies the DAS model (De Jonge et al., 2009; Van der Zwart et al., 2009; den Heijer, 2011; den Heijer et al., 2016) to data gathered from focus group discussion and co-design sessions involving multidisciplinary teams of experts from both academy and industry, as well as literature. The research was conducted within the context of the TU Delft Facades-as-a-Service full-scale pilot project.

Results: The research has shown that, while PSS models to enable material circularity can be partially implemented within the current managerial, financial, and governance framework, this implementation is not efficient, effective, or scalable. This is because standard modes of operation in these disciplines are misaligned with that goal. The practical barriers resulting from this misalignment increase the complexity, risk perception, and therefore cost of PSS alternatives, and thus prevent their organic adoption despite increasing market interest. Recommendations are made for policymakers, financiers, suppliers, and building owners to overcome these barriers.
CD34+ HSPCs-derived exosomes contain dynamic cargo and promote their migration through functional binding with the homing receptor E-selectin
Authors: Isaioglou Ioannis , Aldehaiman Mansour M. , Li Yanyan , Lahcen Abdellatif Ait , Rauf Sakandar , Al-Amoodi Asma S. , Habiba Umme , Alghamdi Abdullah , Nozue Shuho , Habuchi Satoshi , Salama Khaled N. , Merzaban Jasmeen S.
Published: April 2023

Exosomes are tiny vesicles released by cells that carry communications to local and distant locations. Emerging research has revealed the role played by integrins found on the surface of exosomes in delivering information once they reach their destination. But until now, little has been known on the initial upstream steps of the migration process. Using biochemical and imaging approaches, we show here that exosomes isolated from both leukemic and healthy hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells can navigate their way from the cell of origin due to the presence of sialyl Lewis X modifications surface glycoproteins. This, in turn, allows binding to E-selectin at distant sites so the exosomes can deliver their messages. We show that when leukemic exosomes were injected into NSG mice, they traveled to the spleen and spine, sites typical of leukemic cell engraftment. This process, however, was inhibited in mice pre-treated with blocking E-selectin antibodies. Significantly, our proteomic analysis found that among the proteins contained within exosomes are signaling proteins, suggesting that exosomes are trying to deliver active cues to recipient cells that potentially alter their physiology. Intriguingly, the work outlined here also suggests that protein cargo can dynamically change upon exosome binding to receptors such as E-selectin, which thereby could alter the impact it has to regulate the physiology of the recipient cells. Furthermore, as an example of how miRNAs contained in exosomes can influence RNA expression in recipient cells, our analysis showed that miRNAs found in KG1a-derived exosomes target tumor suppressing proteins such as PTEN.
Evaluating the efficiency of a nomogram based on the data of neurosurgical intensive care unit patients to predict pulmonary infection of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Wu Di , Sha Zhuang , Fan Yibing , Yuan Jiangyuan , Jiang Weiwei , Liu Mingqi , Nie Meng , Wu Chenrui , Liu Tao , Chen Yupeng , Feng Jiancheng , Dong Shiying , Li Jin , Sun Jian , Pang Chongjie , Jiang Rongcai
Published: April 2023

Background

Pulmonary infection caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) is a common and serious complication after brain injury. There are no definitive methods for its prediction and it is usually accompanied by a poor prognosis. This study aimed to construct and evaluate a nomogram based on patient data from the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NSICU) to predict the probability of MDR-AB pulmonary infection.

Methods

In this study, we retrospectively collected patient clinical profiles, early laboratory test results, and doctors’ prescriptions (66 variables). Univariate and backward stepwise regression analyses were used to screen the variables to identify predictors, and a nomogram was built in the primary cohort based on the results of a logistic regression model. Discriminatory validity, calibration validity, and clinical utility were evaluated using validation cohort 1 based on receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). For external validation based on predictors, we prospectively collected information from patients as validation cohort 2.

Results

Among 2115 patients admitted to the NSICU between December 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, 217 were eligible for the study, including 102 patients with MDR-AB infections (102 cases) and 115 patients with other bacterial infections (115 cases). We randomly categorized the patients into the primary cohort (70%, N=152) and validation cohort 1 (30%, N=65). Validation cohort 2 consisted of 24 patients admitted to the NSICU between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 2022, whose clinical information was prospectively collected according to predictors. The nomogram, consisting of only six predictors (age, NSICU stay, Glasgow Coma Scale, meropenem, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio), had significantly high sensitivity and specificity (primary cohort AUC=0.913, validation cohort 1 AUC=0.830, validation cohort 2 AUC=0.889) for early identification of infection and had great calibration (validation cohort 1,2 P=0.3801, 0.6274). DCA confirmed that the nomogram is clinically useful.

Conclusion

Our nomogram could help clinicians make early predictions regarding the onset of pulmonary infection caused by MDR-AB and implement targeted interventions.
Immune heterogeneity in cardiovascular diseases from a single-cell perspective
Authors: Su Xin , Wang Li , Ma Ning , Yang Xinyu , Liu Can , Yang Fan , Li Jun , Yi Xin , Xing Yanwei
Published: April 2023

A variety of immune cell subsets occupy different niches in the cardiovascular system, causing changes in the structure and function of the heart and vascular system, and driving the progress of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The immune cells infiltrating the injury site are highly diverse and integrate into a broad dynamic immune network that controls the dynamic changes of CVDs. Due to technical limitations, the effects and molecular mechanisms of these dynamic immune networks on CVDs have not been fully revealed. With recent advances in single-cell technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, systematic interrogation of the immune cell subsets is feasible and will provide insights into the way we understand the integrative behavior of immune populations. We no longer lightly ignore the role of individual cells, especially certain highly heterogeneous or rare subpopulations. We summarize the phenotypic diversity of immune cell subsets and their significance in three CVDs of atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia and heart failure. We believe that such a review could enhance our understanding of how immune heterogeneity drives the progression of CVDs, help to elucidate the regulatory roles of immune cell subsets in disease, and thus guide the development of new immunotherapies.
Late-onset doxorubicin-induced congestive heart failure in an elderly cancer survivor: A case report
Authors: Suto Hirotaka , Suto Makiko , Inui Yumiko , Okamura Atsuo
Published: April 2023

Background

Recently, the survival rate of patients with cancer has improved annually due to advancements in cancer diagnosis and treatment technologies. Meanwhile, late-onset complications associated with cancer treatment significantly affect survival and quality of life. However, different from pediatric cancer survivors, there is no unified view on the follow-up of late complications in elderly cancer survivors. We reported a case of congestive heart failure as a late-onset complication of doxorubicin (DXR) in an elderly cancer survivor.

Case report

The patient is an 80-year-old woman with hypertension and chronic renal failure. She received six cycles of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma that started in January 201X-2. The total dose of DXR was 300 mg/m2, and a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) performed in October 201X-2, showed good left ventricular wall motion (LVWM). In April 201X, she suddenly developed dyspnea. Upon arrival at the hospital, a physical examination revealed orthopnea, tachycardia, and leg edema. A chest radiograph showed cardiac enlargement and pleural effusion. A TTE showed diffusely reduced LVWM and a left ventricular ejection fraction in the 20% range. After close examination, the patient was diagnosed with congestive heart failure due to late-onset DXR-induced cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion

Late-onset DXR-induced cardiotoxicity is considered high-risk from 250 mg/m2 or higher. Elderly cancer survivors are at higher risk of cardiotoxicity than non-elderly cancer survivors and may require closer follow-up.
Cardiovascular outcomes of cancer patients in rural Australia
Authors: Williams Trent D. , Kaur Amandeep , Warner Thomas , Aslam Maria , Clark Vanessa , Walker Rhonda , Ngo Doan T. M. , Sverdlov Aaron L.
Published: April 2023

Background

Cancer and heart disease are the two most common health conditions in the world, associated with high morbidity and mortality, with even worse outcomes in regional areas. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in cancer survivors. We aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular outcomes of patients receiving cancer treatment (CT) in a regional hospital.

Methods

This was an observational retrospective cohort study in a single rural hospital over a ten-year period (17th February 2010 to 19th March 2019). Outcomes of all patients receiving CT during this period were compared to those who were admitted to the hospital without a cancer diagnosis.

Results

268 patients received CT during the study period. High rates of cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension (52.2%), smoking (54.9%), and dyslipidaemia (38.4%) were observed in the CT group. Patients who had CT were more likely to be readmitted with ACS (5.9% vs. 2.8% p = 0.005) and AF (8.2% vs. 4.5% p = 0.006) when compared to the general admission cohort. There was a statistically significant difference observed for all cause cardiac readmission, with a higher rate observed in the CT group (17.1% vs. 13.2% p = 0.042). Patients undergoing CT had a higher rate of mortality (49.5% vs. 10.2%, p ≤ 0.001) and shorter time (days) from first admission to death (401.06 vs. 994.91, p ≤ 0.001) when compared to the general admission cohort, acknowledging this reduction in survival may be driven at least in part by the cancer itself.

Conclusion

There is an increased incidence of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including higher readmission rate, higher mortality rate and shorter survival in people undergoing cancer treatment in rural environments. Rural cancer patients demonstrated a high burden of cardiovascular risk factors.
Risk factors for in-hospital death in 2,179 patients with acute aortic dissection
Authors: Yuan Yue , Xia Zhiyu , Wang Lei , Sun Qi , Wang Wendan , Chai Chen , Wang Tiantian , Zhang Xiaowei , Wu Long , Tang Zehai
Published: April 2023

Background

This study aims to investigate the risk factors for in-hospital death in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) and to provide a straightforward prediction model to assist clinicians in determining the outcome of AAD patients.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was carried out on 2,179 patients admitted for AAD from March 5, 1999 to April 20, 2018 in Wuhan Union Hospital, China. The risk factors were investigated with univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

The patients were divided into two groups: Group A, 953patients (43.7%) with type A AAD; Group B, 1,226 patients (56.3%) with type B AAD. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 20.3% (194/953) and 4% (50/1,226) in Group A and B respectively. The multivariable analysis included the variables that were statistically significant predictors of in-hospital death (P < 0.05). In Group A, hypotension (OR = 2.01, P = 0.001) and liver dysfunction (OR = 12.95, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors. Tachycardia (OR = 6.08, P < 0.001) and liver dysfunction (OR = 6.36, P < 0.05) were independent risk factors for Group B mortality. The risk factors of Group A were assigned a score equal to their coefficients, and the score of −0.5 was the best point of the risk prediction model. Based on this analysis, we derived a predictive model to help clinicians determine the prognosis of type A AAD patients.

Conclusions

This study investigate the independent factors associated with in-hospital death in patients with type A or B aortic dissection, respectively. In addition, we develop the prediction of the prognosis for type A patients and assist clinicians in choosing treatment strategies.
Prediction models for major adverse cardiovascular events following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and subgroup-specific performance
Authors: Chen Weiyao , Tan Xin , Du Xiaoyu , Li Qin , Yuan Meng , Ni Hui , Wang Yuan , Du Jie
Published: April 2023

Background

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are at a high residual risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after revascularization. Risk factors modify prognostic risk in distinct ways in different STEMI subpopulations. We developed a MACEs prediction model in patients with STEMI and examined its performance across subgroups.

Methods

Machine-learning models based on 63 clinical features were trained in patients with STEMI who underwent PCI. The best-performing model (the iPROMPT score) was further validated in an external cohort. Its predictive value and variable contribution were studied in the entire population and subgroups.

Results

Over 2.56 and 2.84 years, 5.0% and 8.33% of patients experienced MACEs in the derivation and external validation cohorts, respectively. The iPROMPT score predictors were ST-segment deviation, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), age, hemoglobin, and white blood cell (WBC) count. The iPROMPT score improved the predictive value of the existing risk score, with an increase in the area under the curve to 0.837 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.784–0.889] in the derivation cohort and 0.730 (95% CI: 0.293–1.162) in the external validation cohort. Comparable performance was observed between subgroups. The ST-segment deviation was the most important predictor, followed by LDL-C in hypertensive patients, BNP in males, WBC count in females with diabetes mellitus, and eGFR in patients without diabetes mellitus. Hemoglobin was the top predictor in non-hypertensive patients.

Conclusion

The iPROMPT score predicts long-term MACEs following STEMI and provides insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms for subgroup differences.
Quantifying bubble-mediated transport by ebullition from aquatic sediments
Authors: Schwarz Michael , Marcon Lediane , Lorke Andreas
Published: April 2023

The widespread release of gas bubbles from aquatic sediments (ebullition) has been receiving growing scientific interest because of its globally relevant contribution to methane emissions. Besides being an efficient transport pathway for methane and other gases to the atmosphere, these bubbles have the potential to mobilize resources and pollutants previously buried in the sediment by carrying solutes and particles on their surface. The phenomenon of bubbles transporting substances other than gases is well studied in open water and widely used in technical applications, such as froth flotation or dissolved air floatation. Research on the transport capabilities of natural bubbles forming in, and being released from, aquatic sediments is exceedingly rare. Ebullition resulting from biogenic gas production in sediments is characterized by large spatial and temporal variability and bubble sizes exceed those typically used in technical applications. Here we summarize the current state of research concerning bubble mediated transport (BMT) from aquatic sediments and develop a perspective based on these findings and own experimental results. We present measurements from a shallow reservoir to explore methods to monitor BMT and gather data on ebullition over 1 year. We found consistent bubble size spectra, despite large temporal variations of ebullition fluxes. We highlight some of the inherent difficulties of research in this area and argue that more experiments are needed for improving empirical and mechanistic understanding of BMT.
Research on the risk evaluation of enterprises' carbon compliance failure
Authors: Wang Xu , Xu Ye , Li Wei
Published: April 2023

In order to mitigate global warming and help the country achieve its carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets at the earliest possible time, the emission-control companies should accomplish the carbon compliance in accordance with relevant national policies and regulations. However, these companies frequently face the failure risk of carbon compliance subjected to various factors, including the national carbon quota policy, local carbon market situation, the verification of carbon offset projects, as well as the effectiveness of carbon reduction technologies. To help the enterprises avoid the risk of carbon-compliance failure and design rational carbon asset management strategy, in this research, the innovative combination of interpretive structural modeling (ISM), Bayesian network model, risk calculation and sensitivity analysis method was formulated. Firstly, the ISM method was used to establish a hierarchical relationship of risk factors that contribute to the failure of carbon compliance. Secondly, the probability prediction model of carbon-compliance failure risk based on the Bayesian network model was established by aid of the Netica software. Thirdly, the risk value of enterprise's carbon compliance failure was quantitatively calculated based on its production operation and carbon asset management. Finally, the sensitivity analysis method was used to identify critical risk factors and design risk control measures for six well-known domestic enterprises, laying good foundation for improving the success rate of carbon compliance and facilitating low-carbon green transformation. Compared to traditional qualitative risk assessment method, this combined approach is capable of realizing the quantitative evaluation of failure risk based on comprehensive investigation and analysis of the production and operational situation, which provides effective technical support to enhance enterprise's compliance awareness and improve low carbon competitiveness.
Seasonal water source patterns in a northern Arizona pine forest
Authors: Kerhoulas Lucy P. , Umstattd Nicolas , Koch George W.
Published: April 2023

The relationships among stand density and seasonal plant water source patterns in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests are important for informed management decisions in a bimodal climate with increasing variability in winter and monsoon precipitation inputs. Winter precipitation recharges soil moisture, yet it has declined over the past 20 years in the southwestern United States, and monsoon precipitation is becoming more variable in both magnitude and timing. Near Flagstaff, Arizona in August 2013 (monsoon), October 2013 (post-monsoon), and May 2014 (post winter snow melt), we measured soil moisture, soil water δD at five depths, and xylem water δD in Muhlenbergia montana (a perennial C4 grass), Festuca arizonica (a perennial C3 grass), and P. ponderosa seedlings (< 2 years old), saplings (2–5 cm basal diameter), and mature trees (> 60 cm diameter at breast height) in treated (thinned and burned) and untreated (no thinning, no burning) stands. We found that soil moisture was higher at all soil depths in treated stands in May, after snow melt, and this pattern persisted through August in the deepest soil (60 cm). We also found that, in all sampling months, δD in xylem water of grasses and pine seedlings indicated use of shallower soil water than for pine saplings and mature trees, presumably due to differences in rooting depths. Additionally, in August, δD in xylem water of pine saplings and mature trees indicated greater reliance on a deeper water source in untreated stands than in treated stands, likely due to greater competition for shallow water in untreated stands. Our isotopic data indicate that grasses and seedlings used predominantly monsoon water in August and October, while pine saplings and mature trees used predominantly winter water during all sampling months. Importantly, our data indicate that regenerating trees (seedlings and saplings) used both winter and monsoon seasonal water sources, suggesting an increasingly important role for monsoon precipitation if winter precipitation inputs continue to decline. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that management actions can benefit forests via increased soil moisture, that overstory trees rely predominantly on winter precipitation, and that monsoon precipitation is important for herbaceous species and younger, regenerating overstory trees.
Prediction of HLA genotypes from single-cell transcriptome data
Authors: Solomon Benjamin D. , Zheng Hong , Dillon Laura W. , Goldman Jason D. , Hourigan Christopher S. , Heath James R. , Khatri Purvesh
Published: April 2023

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus plays a central role in adaptive immune function and has significant clinical implications for tissue transplant compatibility and allelic disease associations. Studies using bulk-cell RNA sequencing have demonstrated that HLA transcription may be regulated in an allele-specific manner and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has the potential to better characterize these expression patterns. However, quantification of allele-specific expression (ASE) for HLA loci requires sample-specific reference genotyping due to extensive polymorphism. While genotype prediction from bulk RNA sequencing is well described, the feasibility of predicting HLA genotypes directly from single-cell data is unknown. Here we evaluate and expand upon several computational HLA genotyping tools by comparing predictions from human single-cell data to gold-standard, molecular genotyping. The highest 2-field accuracy averaged across all loci was 76% by arcasHLA and increased to 86% using a composite model of multiple genotyping tools. We also developed a highly accurate model (AUC 0.93) for predicting HLA-DRB345 copy number in order to improve genotyping accuracy of the HLA-DRB locus. Genotyping accuracy improved with read depth and was reproducible at repeat sampling. Using a metanalytic approach, we also show that HLA genotypes from PHLAT and OptiType can generate ASE ratios that are highly correlated (R2 = 0.8 and 0.94, respectively) with those derived from gold-standard genotyping.
The mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome/pyroptosis activation and their role in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Zheng Xiaoqin , Wan Jia , Tan Gang
Published: April 2023

In the working-age population worldwide, diabetic retinopathy (DR), a prevalent complication of diabetes, is the main cause of vision impairment. Chronic low-grade inflammation plays an essential role in DR development. Recently, concerning the pathogenesis of DR, the Nod-Like Receptor Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in retinal cells has been determined as a causal factor. In the diabetic eye, the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated by several pathways (such as ROS and ATP). The activation of NPRP3 leads to the secretion of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18), and leads to pyroptosis, a rapid inflammatory form of lytic programmed cell death (PCD). Cells that undergo pyroptosis swell and rapture, releasing more inflammatory factors and accelerating DR progression. This review focuses on the mechanisms that activate NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis leading to DR. The present research highlighted some inhibitors of NLRP3/pyroptosis pathways and novel therapeutic measures concerning DR treatment.
The infectious salmon anemia virus esterase prunes erythrocyte surfaces in infected Atlantic salmon and exposes terminal sialic acids to lectin recognition
Authors: Fosse Johanna Hol , Andresen Adriana Magalhaes Santos , Ploss Frieda Betty , Weli Simon Chioma , Heffernan Inger Austrheim , Sapkota Subash , Lundgård Krister , Kuiper Raoul Valentin , Solhaug Anita , Falk Knut
Published: April 2023

Many sialic acid-binding viruses express a receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE) that removes the virus-targeted receptor and limits viral interactions with the host cell surface. Despite a growing appreciation of how the viral RDE promotes viral fitness, little is known about its direct effects on the host. Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) attaches to 4-O-acetylated sialic acids on Atlantic salmon epithelial, endothelial, and red blood cell surfaces. ISAV receptor binding and destruction are effectuated by the same molecule, the haemagglutinin esterase (HE). We recently discovered a global loss of vascular 4-O-acetylated sialic acids in ISAV-infected fish. The loss correlated with the expression of viral proteins, giving rise to the hypothesis that it was mediated by the HE. Here, we report that the ISAV receptor is also progressively lost from circulating erythrocytes in infected fish. Furthermore, salmon erythrocytes exposed to ISAV ex vivo lost their capacity to bind new ISAV particles. The loss of ISAV binding was not associated with receptor saturation. Moreover, upon loss of the ISAV receptor, erythrocyte surfaces became more available to the lectin wheat germ agglutinin, suggesting a potential to alter interactions with endogenous lectins of similar specificity. The pruning of erythrocyte surfaces was inhibited by an antibody that prevented ISAV attachment. Furthermore, recombinant HE, but not an esterase-silenced mutant, was sufficient to induce the observed surface modulation. This links the ISAV-induced erythrocyte modulation to the hydrolytic activity of the HE and shows that the observed effects are not mediated by endogenous esterases. Our findings are the first to directly link a viral RDE to extensive cell surface modulation in infected individuals. This raises the questions of whether other sialic acid-binding viruses that express RDEs affect host cells to a similar extent, and if such RDE-mediated cell surface modulation influences host biological functions with relevance to viral disease.
Optogenetic stimulation of the brainstem dorsal motor nucleus ameliorates acute pancreatitis
Authors: Thompson Dane A. , Tsaava Tea , Rishi Arvind , Nadella Sandeep , Mishra Lopa , Tuveson David A. , Pavlov Valentin A. , Brines Michael , Tracey Kevin J. , Chavan Sangeeta S.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Inflammation is an inherently self-amplifying process, resulting in progressive tissue damage when unresolved. A brake on this positive feedback system is provided by the nervous system which has evolved to detect inflammatory signals and respond by activating anti-inflammatory processes, including the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway mediated by the vagus nerve. Acute pancreatitis, a common and serious condition without effective therapy, develops when acinar cell injury activates intrapancreatic inflammation. Prior study has shown that electrical stimulation of the carotid sheath, which contains the vagus nerve, boosts the endogenous anti-inflammatory response and ameliorates acute pancreatitis, but it remains unknown whether these anti-inflammatory signals originate in the brain.

Methods

Here, we used optogenetics to selectively activate efferent vagus nerve fibers originating in the brainstem dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN) and evaluated the effects on caerulein-induced pancreatitis.

Results

Stimulation of the cholinergic neurons in the DMN significantly attenuates the severity of pancreatitis as indicated by reduced serum amylase, pancreatic cytokines, tissue damage, and edema. Either vagotomy or silencing cholinergic nicotinic receptor signaling by pre-administration of the antagonist mecamylamine abolishes the beneficial effects.

Discussion

These results provide the first evidence that efferent vagus cholinergic neurons residing in the brainstem DMN can inhibit pancreatic inflammation and implicate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway as a potential therapeutic target for acute pancreatitis.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation regulates neuroinflammation in neuropathic pain
Authors: Bai Yi-Wen , Yang Qi-Hao , Chen Pei-Jie , Wang Xue-Qiang
Published: April 2023

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a frequent condition caused by a lesion in, or disease of, the central or peripheral somatosensory nervous system and is associated with excessive inflammation in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a supplementary treatment for NP. In clinical research, rTMS of 5–10 Hz is widely placed in the primary motor cortex (M1) area, mostly at 80%–90% RMT, and 5–10 treatment sessions could produce an optimal analgesic effect. The degree of pain relief increases greatly when stimulation duration is greater than 10 days. Analgesia induced by rTMS appears to be related to reestablishing the neuroinflammation system. This article discussed the influences of rTMS on the nervous system inflammatory responses, including the brain, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and peripheral nerve involved in the maintenance and exacerbation of NP. rTMS has shown an anti-inflammation effect by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-10 and BDNF, in cortical and subcortical tissues. In addition, rTMS reduces the expression of glutamate receptors (mGluR5 and NMDAR2B) and microglia and astrocyte markers (Iba1 and GFAP). Furthermore, rTMS decreases nNOS expression in ipsilateral DRGs and peripheral nerve metabolism and regulates neuroinflammation.
Nitrification and denitrification processes in a zero-water exchange aquaculture system: characteristics of the microbial community and potential rates
Authors: Niu Shuhui , Zhang Kai , Li Zhifei , Wang Guangjun , Li Hongyan , Xia Yun , Tian Jingjing , Yu Ermeng , Gong Wangbao , Xie Jun
Published: April 2023

​The zero-water exchange aquaculture has been identified as a promising method of farming to decrease the environment pressure of aquaculture and to increase profits. However, the ecological functions (e.g., nitrogen removal) and microbial biodiversity of the zero-water exchange pond aquaculture system are relatively understudied. In the present study, the zero-water exchange pond aquaculture system were constructed to investigated the microbial communities, sediment potential nitrification and denitrification production rates. And five functional genes (AOA amoA, AOB amoA, nirS, nosZ, and hzsB) were used to quantify the abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms. The results showed that the sediment of the system had excellent potential nitrification-denitrification performance, with potential nitrification and denitrification rate were 149.77-1024.44 ng N g−1 h−1 and 48.32-145.01 ng N g−1 h−1, respectively. The absolute copy numbers of nitrogen functional genes and total bacterial 16S rRNA were 1.59×105-1.39×109 and 1.55×1010-2.55×1010copies g−1, respectively, with the dominant phyla, i.e., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, and Firmicutes. The relative abundances of the genera related to nitrification and denitrification, varied from 0.01% to 0.79% and from 0.01% to 15.54%, respectively. The potential nitrification rate was positively related to the sediment TOC concentration; and the potential denitrification rate had a positive correlation with sediment nitrate concentration. The genera Bacillus positively correlated with sediment NO3‐-N concentration, whereas Flavobacterium and Shewanella positively correlated with sediment NH4+-N concentration, which could be the functional bacteria for nitrogen removal. These findings may shed light on quantitative molecular mechanisms for nitrogen removal in zero-water exchange ponds, providing a sustainable solution to nitrogen pollution problem in the freshwater aquaculture ecosystems.
Token-Selective Vision Transformer for fine-grained image recognition of marine organisms
Authors: Si Guangzhe , Xiao Ying , Wei Bin , Bullock Leon Bevan , Wang Yueyue , Wang Xiaodong
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The objective of fine-grained image classification on marine organisms is to distinguish the subtle variations in the organisms so as to accurately classify them into subcategories. The key to accurate classification is to locate the distinguishing feature regions, such as the fish’s eye, fins, or tail, etc. Images of marine organisms are hard to work with as they are often taken from multiple angles and contain different scenes, additionally they usually have complex backgrounds and often contain human or other distractions, all of which makes it difficult to focus on the marine organism itself and identify its most distinctive features.

Related work

Most existing fine-grained image classification methods based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) cannot accurately enough locate the distinguishing feature regions, and the identified regions also contain a large amount of background data. Vision Transformer (ViT) has strong global information capturing abilities and gives strong performances in traditional classification tasks. The core of ViT, is a Multi-Head Self-Attention mechanism (MSA) which first establishes a connection between different patch tokens in a pair of images, then combines all the information of the tokens for classification.

Methods

However, not all tokens are conducive to fine-grained classification, many of them contain extraneous data (noise). We hope to eliminate the influence of interfering tokens such as background data on the identification of marine organisms, and then gradually narrow down the local feature area to accurately determine the distinctive features. To this end, this paper put forwards a novel Transformer-based framework, namely Token-Selective Vision Transformer (TSVT), in which the Token-Selective Self-Attention (TSSA) is proposed to select the discriminating important tokens for attention computation which helps limits the attention to more precise local regions. TSSA is applied to different layers, and the number of selected tokens in each layer decreases on the basis of the previous layer, this method gradually locates the distinguishing regions in a hierarchical manner.

Results

The effectiveness of TSVT is verified on three marine organism datasets and it is demonstrated that TSVT can achieve the state-of-the-art performance.
The effect of exercise intervention on improving sleep in menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Qian Jialu , Sun Shiwen , Wang Man , Sun Yaping , Sun Xiangyu , Jevitt Cecilia , Yu Xiaoyan
Published: April 2023

Background

Sleep disturbance is common in menopausal women and negatively affects their quality of life and could cause increased risks of other menopause-related diseases.

Objective

This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence regarding the effects of exercise interventions on improving sleep in menopausal women.

Methods

A comprehensive search in seven electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed on June 3, 2022. The systematic review included seventeen trials, ten of which provided data for the meta-analysis. The effects on outcomes were presented as mean differences (MDs) or standard mean differences (SMDs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used in quality assessment.

Results

The results suggest that exercise intervention significantly reduces insomnia severity (SMD = −0.91, 95% CI = −1.45 to −0.36, Z = 3.27, P = 0.001) and alleviates sleep problems (MD = −0.09, 95% CI = −0.17 to −0.01, Z = 2.20, P = 0.03). For sleep quality, the results showed that insignificant differences were found between the exercise intervention and the control groups (MD = −0.93, 95% CI = −2.73 to 0.87, Z = 1.01, P = 0.31). The results of the subgroup analysis indicated that more apparent effects of exercise intervention were found among women with sleep disorders than among women without sleep disorders. Which exercise intervention duration was more beneficial to sleep outcomes could not be judged. Overall, there was a moderate risk of bias in the primary studies.

Conclusion

According to this meta-analysis, exercise interventions can be recommended for menopausal women to improve their sleep. High-quality RCTs applying different types of exercise (e.g., walking, yoga, meditative exercise and so on) with different intervention durations as well as subjective and objective sleep assessment are warranted.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022342277, identifier: CRD42022342277.
Association between pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on PISQ-12—an analysis of data from a multicenter cross-sectional study on 735 nulliparae during pregnancy
Authors: Gao Lei , Xie Bing , Zhu Hongmei , Zhang Di , Fu Xiuhong , Li Hongjuan , Zhen Min , Qin Baoling , Chen Weipeng , Mao Xuying , Kong Lingrui , Wang Jianliu , Wu Guizhu , Sun Xiuli
Published: April 2023

Background

Pelvic floor muscle strength is well-known to be associated with female sexual function. However, there were a few studies that reported on the relationship between pelvic floor muscle strength and female sexual function in pregnant women, and the presented results were inconsistent. Nulliparae represent a specific cohort with simplicity to exclude confounding factors that are caused by parity. The present study aimed to explore the association of pelvic floor muscle strength and sexual function based on the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12) of nulliparae during pregnancy.

Methods

This is the second analysis of the baseline data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT), which aimed to study the protective efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training on stress urinary incontinence at 6th week postpartum (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618). Nulliparae aged 20–40 years with singleton pregnancy before 16 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study, and data, including participants' demographic information, the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS), and PISQ-12, were collected. Eligible nulliparae were divided into two groups: Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3. Demographic information of the two groups was compared. Sexual function based on the PISQ-12 scores of the two groups was compared. A comparison of the PISQ-12 scores between the two groups was calculated by the Mann–Whitney U-test using SPSS version 23.0.

Results

A total of 735 eligible nulliparae were enrolled in this study. Along with MOS grading up, PISQ-12 scores tended to get lower. Of the 735 nulliparae, there were 378 and 357 participants included in Group MOS > 3 and Group MOS ≤ 3, respectively. The PISQ-12 scores of Group MOS > 3 were significantly lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (11 vs. 12, p < 0.001). The scores of the frequency of feeling sexual desire, orgasm achievement, sexual excitement, sexual activity satisfaction, sexual intercourse pain, fear of urinary incontinence, and negative emotion reactions with the sexual intercourse of Group MOS > 3 were lower than those of Group MOS ≤ 3 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Pelvic floor muscle strength was positively associated with sexual function based on the questionnaire of young nulliparae during their first trimester. Up to half of the nulliparae during the first trimester were suffering from weak pelvic floor muscle strength and nearly a quarter of the nulliparae were facing this weakness combined with sexual dysfunction.

Trial registration

This study has been registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR2000029618).
Temporal proteomic profiling reveals functional pathways in vaccinia virus-induced cell migration
Authors: Lu Jiayin , Liu Wei , Chen Xue-Zhu , Wang Yiwen , Ying Tianlei , Qiao Liang , Liu Yan-Jun , Liu Baohong
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Viral diseases have always been intricate and persistent issues throughout the world and there is a lack of holistic discoveries regarding the molecular dysregulations of virus-host interactions. The temporal proteomics strategy can identify various differentially expressed proteins and offer collaborated interaction networks under pathological conditions.

Method

Herein, temporal proteomics at various hours post infection of Vero cells were launched to uncover molecular alternations during vaccinia virus (VACV)-induced cell migration. Different stages of infection were included to differentiate gene ontologies and critical pathways at specific time points of infection via bioinformatics.

Results

Bioinformatic results showed functional and distinct ontologies and pathways at different stages of virus infection. The enrichment of interaction networks and pathways verified the significances of the regulation of actin cytoskeleton and lamellipodia during VACV-induced fast cell motility.

Discussion

The current results offer a systematic proteomic profiling of molecular dysregulations at different stages of VACV infection and potential biomedical targets for treating viral diseases.
The incidence and predictors of in-stent stenosis after pipeline flow-diverter stenting for intracranial aneurysm treatment
Authors: You Wei , Lv Jian , Li Zifan , Chen Xiheng , Deng Dingwei , Tang Yudi , Li Youxiang , Sun Yong , Jiang Yuhua
Published: April 2023

Background and purpose

Data on in-stent stenosis (ISS) following the flow diverter (FD) implantation method are scarce and inconsistent. In the present study, we sought to determine the incidence of ISS and identify the factors that predict its severity via the use of ordinal logistic regression.

Methods

A retrospective review of our center's electronic database was conducted to identify all patients with intracranial aneurysms (IAs) who received pipeline embolization device (PED) implantation between 2016 and 2020. Patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, procedural information, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were reviewed. ISS was quantitatively assessed on angiographic follow-ups and graded as mild (<25%), moderate (25–50%), or severe (>50%). Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to determine the predictors of stenosis severity.

Results

A total of 240 patients with 252 aneurysms treated in 252 procedures were enrolled in this study. ISS has been detected in 135 (53.6%) lesions, with a mean follow-up time of 6.53 ± 3.26 months. The ISS was mild in 66 (48.9%) cases, moderate in 52 (38.5%) cases, and severe in 17 (12.6%) cases. All patients were asymptomatic, except for two of them with severe stenosis who presented with symptoms of acute cerebral thrombosis. Ordinal logistic regression identified that younger age and a longer procedure duration were independent predictors of a higher likelihood of ISS.

Conclusion

ISS is a common angiographic finding after PED implantation for IAs and is presented as a largely benign course through long-term follow-up. Patients who were younger in age and had a longer procedure duration were found to be at a greater risk of developing ISS.