bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High Diazotrophic Diversity but Low N2 Fixation Activity in the Northern Benguela Upwelling System Confirming the Enigma of Nitrogen Fixation in Oxygen Minimum Zone Waters
Authors: Reeder Christian Furbo , Arévalo-Martínez Damian L. , Carreres-Calabuig Joan A. , Sanders Tina , Posth Nicole R. , Löscher Carolin Regina
Published: May 2022

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) have been suggested as a suitable niche for the oxygen-sensitive process of biological fixation of dinitrogen (N2) gas. However, most N2 fixation rates reported from such waters are low. This low N2 fixation activity has been proposed to result from the unusual community of N2 fixers, in which cyanobacteria were typically underrepresented. The Northern Benguela Upwelling System (North BUS) is part of one of the most productive marine ecosystems and hosts a well-developed OMZ. Although previous observations indicated low to absent N2 fixation rates, the community composition of diazotrophs needed to understand the North BUS has not been described. Here, we present a first detailed analysis of the diazotrophic diversity in the North BUS OMZ and the Angola tropical zone (ATZ), based on genetic data and isotope speciation. Consistent with a previous study, we detected a slight N deficit in the OMZ, but isotope data did not indicate any active or past N2 fixation. The diazotroph community in the North BUS was dominated by non-cyanobacterial microbes clustering with members of gamma-proteobacteria, as is typical for other OMZ regions. However, we found a strikingly high diversity of Cluster III diazotrophs not yet described in other OMZs. In contrast to previous observations, we could also identify cyanobacteria of the clades Trichodesmium sp., UCYN-A and Cyanothece sp., in surface waters connected to or above the OMZ, which were potentially active as shown by the presence of genes and transcripts of the key functional marker gene for N2 fixation, nifH. While the detection of diazotrophs and the absence of active N2 fixation (based on isotopic speciation) are consistent with other OMZ observations, the detected regional variation in the diversity and presence of cyanobacteria indicate that we still are far from understanding the role of diazotrophs in OMZs, which, however, is relevant for understanding the N cycle in OMZ waters, as well for predicting the future development of OMZ biogeochemistry in a changing ocean.
Tennessenoid A, an Unprecedented Steroid−Sorbicillinoid Adduct From the Marine-Derived Endophyte of Aspergillus sp. Strain 1022LEF
Authors: Zhao Dong-Lin , Wang Hai-Su , Gao Li-Wei , Zhang Peng
Published: May 2022

Marine natural products, characterized by fascinating drug-like functionalities and promising biological activities, are important base materials for innovative drugs and agrochemicals. Chemical investigations of the marine-algal-derived endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp. 1022LEF residing in the inner tissue of marine red alga yielded a novel polyketide-terpene hybrid metabolite, namely tennessenoid A (1), as well as six known biosynthetic congeners including two steroids, ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one (2) and (22E,24R)-3α-ureido-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraene (3), and four sorbicillinoid-based compounds, saturnispol G (4), trichodimerol (5), and dihydrotrichodimer ethers A and B (6 and 7). Their structures were unambiguously determined based on extensive 1D/2D NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analyses. Tennessenoid A (1) was characterized as an unprecedented steroid−sorbicillinoid adduct via a C−C bond, which was rarely-observed in natural products. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antifungal activities against eight plant pathogenetic fungi. 1, in particular, demonstrated broad-spectrum activities against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Fusarium oxysporum (Schl.) F.sp cucumerinum Owen, Coniella diplodiella Petrak et Sydow, Physalospora piricola Nose., Fusarium graminearum schw., Alternaria mali rob., Colletotrichum orbiculare Arx., and Alternaria porri (E11iott) Cifed., with the inhibition zone diameters ranging from 2 to 7 mm.
Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Elective High-Risk Percutaneous Coronary Interventions
Authors: Bai Ming , Lu Andong , Pan Chenliang , Hu Sixiong , Qu Wenjing , Zhao Jing , Zhang Bo
Published: May 2022

Background

The safety and feasibility of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) as mechanical circulatory support in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (HR-PCI) remain unclear.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with complex and high-risk coronary artery disease who underwent elective PCI with VA-ECMO support pre-operatively during March 2019–December 2020. Rates of VA-ECMO-related complications, complications during PCI, death, myocardial infarction, and stroke during hospitalisation and 1-year post-operatively were analysed.

Results

Overall, 36 patients (average age: 63.6 ± 8.9 years) underwent PCI. The average duration of VA-ECMO support was 12.5 (range, 3.0–26.3) h. Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation was used in 44.4% of patients. The SYNTAX score was 34.6 ± 8.4 pre-operatively and 10.8 ± 8.8 post-operatively (P < 0.001). Intraoperative complications included pericardial tamponade (N = 2, 5.6%), acute left-sided heart failure (N = 1, 2.8%), malignant arrhythmia requiring electrocardioversion (N = 2, 5.6%), and no deaths. Blood haemoglobin levels before PCI and 24 h after VA-ECMO withdrawal were 145.4 ± 20.2 g/L and 105.7 ± 21.7 g/L, respectively (P < 0.001). Outcomes during hospitalisation included death (N = 1, 2.8%), stroke (N = 1, 2.8%), lower limb ischaemia (N = 2, 5.6%), lower limb deep venous thrombosis (N = 1, 2.8%), cannulation site haematoma (N = 2, 5.6%), acute renal injury (N = 2, 5.6%), bacteraemia (N = 2, 5.6%), bleeding requiring blood transfusion (N = 5, 13.9%), and no recurrent myocardial infarctions. Within 1 year post-operatively, two patients (5.6%) were hospitalised for heart failure.

Conclusions

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation mechanical circulation support during HR-PCI is a safe and feasible strategy for achieving revascularisation in complex and high-risk coronary artery lesions. VA-ECMO-related complications require special attention.
Classification of Children's Heart Sounds With Noise Reduction Based on Variational Modal Decomposition
Authors: Zhang Anqi , Wang Jiaming , Qu Fei , He Zhaoming
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Children's heart sounds were denoised to improve the performance of the intelligent diagnosis.

Methods

A combined noise reduction method based on variational modal decomposition (VMD) and wavelet soft threshold algorithm (WST) was proposed, and used to denoise 103 phonocardiogram samples. Features were extracted after denoising and employed for an intelligent diagnosis model to verify the effect of the denoising method.

Results

The noise in children's phonocardiograms, especially crying noise, was suppressed. The signal-to-noise ratio obtained by the method for normal heart sounds was 14.69 dB at 5 dB Gaussian noise, which was higher than that obtained by WST only and the other VMD denoising method. Intelligent classification showed that the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the classification system for congenital heart diseases were 92.23, 92.42, and 91.89%, respectively and better than those with WST only.

Conclusion

The proposed noise reduction method effectively eliminates noise in children's phonocardiograms and improves the performance of intelligent screening for the children with congenital heart diseases.
Size-Dependent Interplay of Volume Exclusion Versus Soft Interactions: Cytochrome c in Macromolecular Crowded Environment
Authors: Parray Zahoor Ahmad , Ahmad Faizan , Chaudhary Anis Ahmad , Rudayni Hassan Ahmad , Al-Zharani Mohammed , Hassan Md. Imtaiyaz , Islam Asimul
Published: May 2022

Even though there are a great number of possible conformational states, how a protein generated as a linear unfolded polypeptide efficiently folds into its physiologically active form remained a fascinating and unanswered enigma inside crowded conditions of cells. In this study, various spectroscopic techniques have been exploited to know and understand the effect and mechanism of action of two different sizes of polyethylene glycols, or PEGs (molecular mass ∼10 and ∼20 kilo Daltons, kDa), on cytochrome c (cyt c). The outcomes showed that small size of the PEG leads to perturbation of the protein structure, and conversely, large size of the PEG has stabilizing effect on cyt c. Moreover, binding measurements showed that small size of PEG interacts strongly via soft interactions compared to the larger size of PEG, the latter being governed more by excluded volume effect or preferential exclusion from the protein. Overall, this finding suggests that conformations of protein may be influenced in cellular crowded conditions via interactions which depend upon the size of molecule in the environment. This study proposes that both volume exclusion and soft (chemical) interactions governs the protein’s conformation and functional activities. The cellular environment’s internal architecture as evident from crowder size and shape in this study has a significant role.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Neurological Disorders: A Focus on Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Authors: de Vasconcelos Pedro , Lacerda João F.
Published: May 2022

Hematopoietic stem cells have been investigated and applied for the treatment of certain neurological disorders for a long time. Currently, their therapeutic potential is harnessed in autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Autologous HSCT is helpful in immune-mediated neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis. However, clinical benefits derive more from the immunosuppressive conditioning regimen than the interaction between stem cells and the nervous system. Mainly used for hematologic malignancies, allogeneic HSCT explores the therapeutic potential of donor-derived hematopoietic stem cells. In the neurological setting, it has proven to be most valuable in Inborn Errors of Metabolism, a large spectrum of multisystem disorders characterized by congenital deficiencies in enzymes involved in metabolic pathways. Inborn Errors of Metabolism such as X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy present with brain accumulation of enzymatic substrates that result in progressive inflammatory demyelination. Allogeneic HSCT can halt ongoing inflammatory neural destruction by replacing hematopoietic-originated microglia with donor-derived myeloid precursors. Microglia, the only neural cells successfully transplanted thus far, are the most valuable source of central nervous system metabolic correction and play a significant role in the crosstalk between the brain and hematopoietic stem cells. After transplantation, engrafted donor-derived myeloid cells modulate the neural microenvironment by recapitulating microglial functions and enhancing repair mechanisms such as remyelination. In some disorders, additional benefits result from the donor hematopoietic stem cell secretome that cross-corrects neighboring neural cells via mannose-6-phosphatase paracrine pathways. The limitations of allogeneic HSCT in this setting relate to the slow turnover of microglia and complications such as graft-vs.-host disease. These restraints have accelerated the development of hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy, where autologous hematopoietic stem cells are collected, manipulated ex vivo to overexpress the missing enzyme, and infused back into the patient. With this cellular drug vehicle strategy, the brain is populated by improved cells and exposed to supraphysiological levels of the flawed protein, resulting in metabolic correction. This review focuses on the mechanisms of brain repair resulting from HSCT and gene therapy in Inborn Errors of Metabolism. A brief mention will also be made on immune-mediated nervous system diseases that are treated with this approach.
Preoperative Diagnosis and Molecular Characterization of Gliomas With Liquid Biopsy and Radiogenomics
Authors: Balana Carmen , Castañer Sara , Carrato Cristina , Moran Teresa , Lopez-Paradís Assumpció , Domenech Marta , Hernandez Ainhoa , Puig Josep
Published: May 2022

Gliomas are a heterogenous group of central nervous system tumors with different outcomes and different therapeutic needs. Glioblastoma, the most common subtype in adults, has a very poor prognosis and disabling consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification specifies that the typing and grading of gliomas should include molecular markers. The molecular characterization of gliomas has implications for prognosis, treatment planning, and prediction of treatment response. At present, gliomas are diagnosed via tumor resection or biopsy, which are always invasive and frequently risky methods. In recent years, however, substantial advances have been made in developing different methods for the molecular characterization of tumors through the analysis of products shed in body fluids. Known as liquid biopsies, these analyses can potentially provide diagnostic and prognostic information, guidance on choice of treatment, and real-time information on tumor status. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another good source of tumor data; radiomics and radiogenomics can link the imaging phenotypes to gene expression patterns and provide insights to tumor biology and underlying molecular signatures. Machine and deep learning and computational techniques can also use quantitative imaging features to non-invasively detect genetic mutations. The key molecular information obtained with liquid biopsies and radiogenomics can be useful not only in the diagnosis of gliomas but can also help predict response to specific treatments and provide guidelines for personalized medicine. In this article, we review the available data on the molecular characterization of gliomas using the non-invasive methods of liquid biopsy and MRI and suggest that these tools could be used in the future for the preoperative diagnosis of gliomas.
BCI-Based Consumers' Choice Prediction From EEG Signals: An Intelligent Neuromarketing Framework
Authors: Mashrur Fazla Rabbi , Rahman Khandoker Mahmudur , Miya Mohammad Tohidul Islam , Vaidyanathan Ravi , Anwar Syed Ferhat , Sarker Farhana , Mamun Khondaker A.
Published: May 2022

Neuromarketing relies on Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology to gain insight into how customers react to marketing stimuli. Marketers spend about$750 billion annually on traditional marketing camping. They use traditional marketing research procedures such as Personal Depth Interviews, Surveys, Focused Group Discussions, and so on, which are frequently criticized for failing to extract true consumer preferences. On the other hand, Neuromarketing promises to overcome such constraints. This work proposes a machine learning framework for predicting consumers' purchase intention (PI) and affective attitude (AA) from analyzing EEG signals. In this work, EEG signals are collected from 20 healthy participants while administering three advertising stimuli settings: product, endorsement, and promotion. After preprocessing, features are extracted in three domains (time, frequency, and time-frequency). Then, after selecting features using wrapper-based methods Recursive Feature Elimination, Support Vector Machine is used for categorizing positive and negative (AA and PI). The experimental results show that proposed framework achieves an accuracy of 84 and 87.00% for PI and AA ensuring the simulation of real-life results. In addition, AA and PI signals show N200 and N400 components when people tend to take decision after visualizing static advertisement. Moreover, negative AA signals shows more dispersion than positive AA signals. Furthermore, this work paves the way for implementing such a neuromarketing framework using consumer-grade EEG devices in a real-life setting. Therefore, it is evident that BCI-based neuromarketing technology can help brands and businesses effectively predict future consumer preferences. Hence, EEG-based neuromarketing technologies can assist brands and enterprizes in accurately forecasting future consumer preferences.
A Little Energy Goes a Long Way: Build an Energy-Efficient, Accurate Spiking Neural Network From Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Wu Dengyu , Yi Xinping , Huang Xiaowei
Published: May 2022

This article conforms to a recent trend of developing an energy-efficient Spiking Neural Network (SNN), which takes advantage of the sophisticated training regime of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and converts a well-trained CNN to an SNN. We observe that the existing CNN-to-SNN conversion algorithms may keep a certain amount of residual current in the spiking neurons in SNN, and the residual current may cause significant accuracy loss when inference time is short. To deal with this, we propose a unified framework to equalize the output of the convolutional or dense layer in CNN and the accumulated current in SNN, and maximally align the spiking rate of a neuron with its corresponding charge. This framework enables us to design a novel explicit current control (ECC) method for the CNN-to-SNN conversion which considers multiple objectives at the same time during the conversion, including accuracy, latency, and energy efficiency. We conduct an extensive set of experiments on different neural network architectures, e.g., VGG, ResNet, and DenseNet, to evaluate the resulting SNNs. The benchmark datasets include not only the image datasets such as CIFAR-10/100 and ImageNet but also the Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) image datasets such as DVS-CIFAR-10. The experimental results show the superior performance of our ECC method over the state-of-the-art.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Improves Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Post–cardiac Arrest Syndrome in the Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest Model in Rats
Authors: Kim Seonghye , Park Inwon , Lee Jae Hyuk , Kim Serin , Jang Dong-Hyun , Jo You Hwan
Published: May 2022

Cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction during post–cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) remains unclear, resulting in a lack of therapeutic options that protect against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. We aimed to assess mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus after cardiac arrest and whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can improve mitochondrial dysfunction and neurological outcomes. In an asphyxial cardiac arrest model, male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to the vagus nerve isolation (CA) or VNS (CA + VNS) group. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed 450 s after pulseless electrical activity. After the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), left cervical VNS was performed for 3 h in the CA + VNS group. Mitochondrial respiratory function was evaluated using high-resolution respirometry of the hippocampal tissue. The neurologic deficit score (NDS) and overall performance category (OPC) were assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h after resuscitation. The leak respiration and oxidative phosphorylation capacity of complex I (OXPHOS CI) at 6 h after ROSC were significantly higher in the CA + VNS group than in the CA group (p = 0.0308 and 0.0401, respectively). Compared with the trends of NDS and OPC in the CA group, the trends of those in the CA + VNS group were significantly different, thus suggesting a favorable neurological outcome in the CA + VNS group (p = 0.0087 and 0.0064 between times × groups interaction, respectively). VNS ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction after ROSC and improved neurological outcomes in an asphyxial cardiac arrest rat model.
Dietary Acid Load Is Positively Associated With Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Prospective Cohort of Chinese Pregnant Women
Authors: Zhao Rui , Zhou Leilei , Lei Gang , Wang Shanshan , Li Yan , Yang Xuefeng , Xiong Guoping , Hao Liping
Published: May 2022

Background

Growing evidence suggests that dietary acid load plays an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes. However, prospective studies on the relationship between dietary acid load and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are limited in the pregnant population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary acid load during early pregnancy on the risk of GDM in Chinese pregnant women.

Methods

A total of 1,327 pregnant women were enrolled from an ongoing prospective study of the Tongji Birth cohort (TJBC) in Wuhan, China. Dietary intake was assessed before 20 weeks using a 74-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The dietary acid load was estimated using potential renal acid load (PRAL), net endogenous acid production (NEAP), and animal protein to potassium ratio (A:P ratio). A 75g 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at 24-28 gestational weeks to diagnose GDM.

Results

The mean (standard deviation) values for PRAL score, NEAP score, and A:P ratio were 0.8 ± 11.3 mEq/day, 45.3 ± 16.5 mEq/day, and 9.8 ± 6.0, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation of dietary acid load with the intake of red meat, poultry, fish, and eggs, and a negative correlation with the intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes (all P < 0.05). Compared to the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of dietary acid load, including PRAL score (odds ratio [OR]: 2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38–3.71, P-trend = 0.002), NEAP score (OR: 2.02, 95% CI = 1.25–3.27, P-trend = 0.009), and A:P ratio (2.08, 95% CI = 1.30–3.31, P-trend = 0.005), significantly increased the risk of GDM. In addition, the dietary acid load was also significantly associated with an increase in 1-h and 2-h post-load blood glucose concentrations (all P-trend < 0.05).

Conclusion

We found a significant positive association between dietary acid load during early pregnancy and the risk of GDM in a Chinese population, suggesting that the reduction of food sources of dietary acid load may be an effective strategy for preventing the risk of GDM.
Anlotinib for Recurrent or Metastatic Primary Malignant Bone Tumor: A Multicenter, Single-Arm Trial
Authors: Tang Lina , Niu Xiaohui , Wang Zhen , Cai Qiqing , Tu Chongqi , Fan Zhengfu , Yao Yang
Published: May 2022

Objective

Anlotinib, a novel multitarget kinase inhibitor of VEGFR, FGFR, PDGFR and c-Kit, has proven to be effective and safe for refractory soft tissue sarcoma patients, but has not been examined in recurrent or metastatic primary malignant bone tumors in a clinical trial setting.

Methods

This is a multicenter single-arm trial. Patients with pathologically proven recurrent or metastatic primary malignant bone tumors were eligible. Anlotinib was administered orally at 12 mg per day. Each cycle consisted of 2 weeks of treatment followed by 1-week off-treatment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and overall survival (OS). Adverse events (AEs) were assessed per NCI CTCAE version 4.03.

Results

A total of 42 patients were enrolled. Median PFS was 5.3 months (95% CI 3.5-8.4 months) in the overall analysis, 4.8 months (95%CI 3.5-7.1 months) in osteosarcoma patients and 2.8 months [95%CI 1.3 months to not reached (NR)] in chondrosarcoma patients. The median OS was 11.4 months (95% CI 10.1 months to NR) in the overall analysis, not reached (95% CI, NR, NR) in osteosarcoma patients and 11.4 months (95% CI 1.8 to 21.1 months) in chondrosarcoma patients. The ORR was 9.52% and DCR was 78.57%. Grade 3 or above AEs occurred in 54.76% of the patients, and included hypertension (19.05%), hypertriglyceridemia (9.52%) and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (7.14%). No treatment-related death was reported.

Conclusion

Anlotinib demonstrated promising antitumor activities in recurrent or metastatic primary malignant bone tumors with manageable AEs.
Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Totally Versus Hybrid Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Oesophagectomy for Oesophageal Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Authors: Gu Yi-Min , Zhang Han-Lu , Yang Yu-Shang , Yuan Yong , Hu Yang , Che Guo-Wei , Chen Long-Qi , Wang Wen-Ping
Published: May 2022

Background

Few objective studies have compared totally minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy with hybrid procedure. Here we investigated whether the choice between totally and hybrid minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy influenced short-term outcomes and long-term patient survival.

Methods

Patients who underwent totally or hybrid minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy between January 2014 and December 2017 were propensity score matched in a 1:1 ratio. The short- and long-term outcomes between the two groups were compared before and after matching.

Results

Of 138 totally and 156 hybrid minimally invasive oesophagectomy patients were eligible, 104 patients from each group were propensity score matched. Totally minimally invasive oesophagectomy was associated significantly with less blood loss (median(IQR) 100(60–150) vs 120(120–200) ml respectively; P < 0.001), pneumonia (13.5 vs 25.0%; P = 0.035), pleural effusion (3.8 vs 13.5%; P = 0.014), and chest drainage (7.5(6–9) vs 8(7–9) days; P = 0.009) than hybrid procedure. There was no significant difference in 3-year overall survival rate and 3-year disease-free survival rate between the two group.

Conclusions

Totally minimally invasive Ivor Lewis oesophagectomy may improve short-term outcomes and specifically reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications compared with hybrid procedure. The long-term overall survival and disease-free survival rates between the two groups were similar.
Surgical Strategies and Outcomes for Intracranial Chondromas: A Retrospective Study of 17 Cases and Systematic Review
Authors: Liu Hongyuan , Cai Qing , Li Junting , Xue Yafei , Zhang Yunze , Li Zongping , Zhao Tianzhi , Wu Yingxi
Published: May 2022

Objective

To improve the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial chondromas (ICDs) by discussing the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of ICDs, as well as surgical methods and treatment strategies.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 17 patients diagnosed with ICDs who underwent microsurgery or endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery at the Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University and the Mianyang Central Hospital from January 2010 to November 2021. Clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, surgical treatments, and prognosis of these patients were analyzed.

Results

ICDs had often been misdiagnosed as craniopharyngioma, chordoma, schwannoma, cavernous hemangioma, pituitary adenoma, and meningioma before surgery. Of the 17 cases, gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 10 cases, subtotal resection (STR) in 5, and partial resection in 2. GTR of tumor was achieved in eight cases via the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) or the extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EEETA), and the remaining patients underwent craniotomies. Clinical symptoms were assessed 1 week after surgery, 10 cases were relieved at varying degrees, and four cases had no improvement. Postoperative complications included right-limb hemiparesis, diplopia, eyelid ptosis, pulmonary infection, subcutaneous hydrops, cerebrospinal-fluid leakage (CSFL), and intracranial infection (ICI). One patient received gamma knife treatment at 3 months after surgery, two patients died due to tumor progression, and the remaining patients had no tumor recurrence.

Conclusions

ICDs lack typical imaging features and are often misdiagnosed. The EETA or EEETA helps improve the surgical outcomes and GTR rates of ICDs at different sites.
The Machine Learning Model for Distinguishing Pathological Subtypes of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhao Hongyue , Su Yexin , Wang Mengjiao , Lyu Zhehao , Xu Peng , Jiao Yuying , Zhang Linhan , Han Wei , Tian Lin , Fu Peng
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Machine learning models were developed and validated to identify lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) using clinical factors, laboratory metrics, and 2-deoxy-2[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) radiomic features.

Methods

One hundred and twenty non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (62 LUAD and 58 LUSC) were analyzed retrospectively and randomized into a training group (n = 85) and validation group (n = 35). A total of 99 feature parameters—four clinical factors, four laboratory indicators, and 91 [18F]F-FDG PET/CT radiomic features—were used for data analysis and model construction. The Boruta algorithm was used to screen the features. The retained minimum optimal feature subset was input into ten machine learning to construct a classifier for distinguishing between LUAD and LUSC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors of the NSCLC subtype and constructed the Clinical model. Finally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy (ACC) was used to validate the machine learning model with the best performance effect and Clinical model in the validation group, and the DeLong test was used to compare the model performance.

Results

Boruta algorithm selected the optimal subset consisting of 13 features, including two clinical features, two laboratory indicators, and nine PEF/CT radiomic features. The Random Forest (RF) model and Support Vector Machine (SVM) model in the training group showed the best performance. Gender (P=0.018) and smoking status (P=0.011) construct the Clinical model. In the validation group, the SVM model (AUC: 0.876, ACC: 0.800) and RF model (AUC: 0.863, ACC: 0.800) performed well, while Clinical model (AUC:0.712, ACC: 0.686) performed moderately. There was no significant difference between the RF and Clinical models, but the SVM model was significantly better than the Clinical model. 

Conclusions

The proposed SVM and RF models successfully identified LUAD and LUSC. The results indicate that the proposed model is an accurate and noninvasive predictive tool that can assist clinical decision-making, especially for patients who cannot have biopsies or where a biopsy fails.
Disordered Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Tumor-Bearing Mice Altered Serum Metabolome Related to Fufangchangtai
Authors: Cai Mengmeng , Xiao Ya , Lin Zhibing , Lu Jinmiao , Wang Xiaoyu , Rahman Sajid Ur , Zhu Shilan , Chen Xiaoyu , Gu Jialin , Ma Yuzhu , Chen Zhaoguo , Huo Jiege
Published: May 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and serum metabolism using antineoplastic Fufangchangtai (FFCT) as the model prescription in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Tumor-bearing mice and normal mice were administered different doses of FFCT. The tumor volume of tumor-bearing mice was observed. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood, spleen, and tumor of mice were determined using a flow cytometer. The bacterial microbiota in stool samples from mice and the serum metabolomics of FFCT-treated mice and fecal microbiota transplantation mice were detected using 16s RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS), respectively.

Results: The tumor volume of mice showed no significant decrease after FFCT intervention. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes showed a significant increase under the intervention of FFCT. GM of colorectal tumor-bearing mice and healthy mice were determined, and the diversity and abundance of Firmicutes, Deferribacteres, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, we found that the levels of matrine, isogingerenone B, and armillaripin were significantly decreased in tumor-bearing mice after FFCT intervention, indicating that the tumor-induced dysbiosis of gut bacteria may affect the absorption and metabolism of FFCT. Under the intervention of FFCT, serum metabolism of mice transplanted with feces from CRC patients showed less metabolites related to FFCT than that from healthy people, indicating that GM could be a single factor affecting the metabolism of FFCT. Furthermore, we found that different doses of FFCT-treated mice had higher abundance of Roseburia, Turicibacter, and Flexispira than that in the non-intervention control group. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in FFCT-treated groups showed a similar trend compared to the healthy group, indicating that FFCT might correct the intestinal microenvironment by modulating gut microbiota in colorectal tumor-bearing mice.

Conclusion: The dysbiosis of GM in tumor-bearing mice reduced the serum metabolites related to FFCT, and FFCT could correct the disordered GM of colorectal tumor-bearing mice to exert efficacy.
A Smartphone-Based Sensor With an Uncooled Infrared Thermal Camera for Accurate Temperature Measurement of Pig Groups
Authors: Jiao Fu , Wang Kun , Shuang Feng , Dong Daming , Jiao Leizi
Published: May 2022

Low-cost uncooled infrared thermal cameras show a large application potential for the rapid diagnosis of pig diseases. However, with the increase in ambient temperature and absorbing infrared radiation, almost all of them produce severe thermal drift and provide poor accuracy of temperature measurement. In addition, the unknown surface emissivity on a pig’s body can also bring measuring errors. In this article, an uncooled infrared thermal camera with an accuracy of 3°C was used to develop a smartphone-based sensor for measuring the pig’s temperature. Based on this sensor, we proposed a system combined with internal calibration for real-time compensation of the thermal drift and altering spectrum for eliminating the influence of unknown surface emissivity to improve the accuracy of temperature measurement. After calibration, the accuracy of this sensor was improved from 3 to 0.3°C without knowing the emissivity. We used this sensor to successfully identify pigs with abnormal temperatures on a livestock farm, which indicated that our proposed methods may be widely employed for rapid temperature screening and diagnosis of pig diseases.
Passively Q-Switched and Mode-Locked Fiber Laser Based on a Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 Saturable Absorber
Authors: Wang Pengpeng , Zhu Cunguang
Published: May 2022

Exploring new saturable absorber (SA) materials with excellent performance to achieve Q-switching and mode-locking operations is a hot topic in ultrafast laser research. The impressive specific surface areas, structural tunability, and high thermal and chemical stability of the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) materials make them promising candidates as high-performance SAs. In this work, we demonstrated the potential of the ZIF-67 SAs for ultrafast fiber laser applications. The nonlinear optical absorption characteristics of the ZIF-67 SAs at the telecommunication band were investigated by using the balanced twin-detector method. By incorporating the ZIF-67 SAs into the Er3+-doped fiber laser cavity, stable Q-switching and mode-locking operations were achieved. The research results are essential for promoting the application of novel hybrid nanomaterials in ultrafast lasers.
Activation of the Nucleus Taeniae of the Amygdala by Umami Taste in Domestic Chicks (Gallus gallus)
Authors: Protti-Sánchez Francesca , Corrales Parada Carlos Daniel , Mayer Uwe , Rowland Hannah M.
Published: May 2022

In chickens, the sense of taste plays an important role in detecting nutrients and choosing feed. The molecular mechanisms underlying the taste-sensing system of chickens are well studied, but the neural mechanisms underlying taste reactivity have received less attention. Here we report the short-term taste behaviour of chickens towards umami and bitter (quinine) taste solutions and the associated neural activity in the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala, nucleus accumbens and lateral septum. We found that chickens had more contact with and drank greater volumes of umami than bitter or a water control, and that chicks displayed increased head shaking in response to bitter compared to the other tastes. We found that there was a higher neural activity, measured as c-Fos activation, in response to umami taste in the right hemisphere of the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala. In the left hemisphere, there was a higher c-Fos activation of the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala in response to bitter than in the right hemisphere. Our findings provide clear evidence that chickens respond differently to umami and bitter tastes, that there is a lateralised response to tastes at the neural level, and reveals a new function of the avian nucleus taeniae of the amygdala as a region processing reward information.
Climate Change Effects on Grapevine Physiology and Biochemistry: Benefits and Challenges of High Altitude as an Adaptation Strategy
Authors: Arias Leonardo A. , Berli Federico , Fontana Ariel , Bottini Rubén , Piccoli Patricia
Published: May 2022

Grapevine berry quality for winemaking depends on complex and dynamic relationships between the plant and the environment. Winemakers around the world are demanding a better understanding of the factors that influence berry growth and development. In the last decades, an increment in air temperature, CO2concentration and dryness occurred in wine-producing regions, affecting the physiology and the biochemistry of grapevines, and by consequence the berry quality. The scientific community mostly agrees in a further raise as a result of climate change during the rest of the century. As a consequence, areas most suitable for viticulture are likely to shift into higher altitudes where mean temperatures are suitable for grape cultivation. High altitude can be defined as the minimum altitude at which the grapevine growth and development are differentially affected. At these high altitudes, the environments are characterized by high thermal amplitudes and great solar radiations, especially ultraviolet-B (UV-B). This review summarizes the environmental contribution of global high altitude-related climatic variables to the grapevine physiology and wine composition, for a better evaluation of the possible establishment of vineyards at high altitude in climate change scenarios.
Association Mapping of Drought Tolerance Indices in Ethiopian Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum)
Authors: Negisho Kefyalew , Shibru Surafel , Matros Andrea , Pillen Klaus , Ordon Frank , Wehner Gwendolin
Published: May 2022

Ethiopia is a major producer of durum wheat in sub-Saharan Africa. However, its production is prone to drought stress as it is fully dependent on rain, which is erratic and unpredictable. This study aimed to detect marker-trait associations (MTAs) and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to indices. Six drought tolerance indices, i.e., drought susceptibility index (DSI), geometric mean productivity (GMP), relative drought index (RDI), stress tolerance index (STI), tolerance index (TOL), and yield stability index (YSI) were calculated from least-square means (lsmeans) of grain yield (GY) and traits significantly (p< 0.001) correlated with grain yield (GY) under field drought stress (FDS) and field non-stress (FNS) conditions. GY, days to grain filling (DGF), soil plant analysis development (SPAD) chlorophyll meter, seeds per spike (SPS), harvest index (HI), and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were used to calculate DSI, GMP, RDI, STI, TOL, and YSI drought indices. Accessions, DW084, DW082, DZ004, C037, and DW092 were selected as the top five drought-tolerant based on DSI, RDI, TOL, and YSI combined ranking. Similarly, C010, DW033, DW080, DW124-2, and C011 were selected as stable accessions based on GMP and STI combined ranking. A total of 184 MTAs were detected linked with drought indices at –log10p ≥ 4.0,79 of which were significant at a false discovery rate (FDR) of 5%. Based on the linkage disequilibrium (LD,r2≥ 0.2), six of the MTAs with a positive effect on GY-GMP were detected on chromosomes 2B, 3B, 4A, 5B, and 6B, explaining 14.72, 10.07, 26.61, 21.16, 21.91, and 22.21% of the phenotypic variance, respectively. The 184 MTAs were clustered into 102 QTLs. Chromosomes 1A, 2B, and 7A are QTL hotspots with 11 QTLs each. These chromosomes play a key role in drought tolerance and respective QTL may be exploited by marker-assisted selection for improving drought stress tolerance in wheat.
Genetic Mapping of the Gmpgl3 Mutant Reveals the Function of GmTic110a in Soybean Chloroplast Development
Authors: Yu Hui , Wang Qiushi , Zhang Zhirui , Wu Tao , Yang Xinjing , Zhu Xiaobin , Ye Yongheng , Leng Jiantian , Yang Suxin , Feng Xianzhong
Published: May 2022

The generation of oxygen and organic matter in plants mainly depends on photosynthesis, which directly affects plant growth and development. The chloroplast is the main organelle in which photosynthesis occurs. In this study, a Glycine max pale green leaf 3-1 (Gmpgl3-1) mutant was isolated from the soybean mutagenized population. The Gmpgl3-1 mutant presented with decreased chlorophyll contents, reduced chloroplast stroma thylakoids, reduced yields, and decreased numbers of pods per plant. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) together with map-based cloning revealed a single-nucleotide non-synonymous mutation at the 341st nucleotide of the first exon of the chloroplast development-related GmTic110a gene. The phenotype of the knockout plants was the same as that of the mutant. The GmTic110a gene was highly expressed in the leaves at various developmental stages, and its protein was localized to the inner chloroplast membrane. Split luciferase complementation assays and coimmunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments revealed that GmTic110a interacted with GmTic20, GmTic40a, and GmTic40b in tobacco leaves. These results indicated that the GmTic110a gene plays an important role in chloroplast development.
U.S. Women Faculty in the Social Sciences Also Face Gender Inequalities
Authors: Casad Bettina J. , Garasky Christina E. , Jancetic Taylor R. , Brown Anne K. , Franks Jillian E. , Bach Christopher R.
Published: May 2022

There is a national interest in United States women’s underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); however, gender inequality in the social sciences has not received similar attention. Although women increasingly earn postgraduate degrees in the social sciences, women faculty still experience gender inequities. Consistent gender inequities include slower career advancement, blunted salaries, unequal workloads, work-life conflict, systemic gender biases, underrepresentation in positions of power, and hostile work environments. Cultural biases suggest that once women have achieved parity, gender bias no longer exists. This review challenges that notion by providing evidence from social science domains in which women are well-represented but continue to face systemic gender biases. We examine cultural influences on gender representation and career advancement in psychology, economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology. We make interdisciplinary comparisons of career trajectories and salaries using national data, documenting patterns across the social sciences. For example, women economists face gendered standards in publishing, and women political scientists are less likely to have their work cited than men. Furthermore, data show that salaries become stagnant as the representation of women in these fields increases. These disparities reflect cultural biases in perceptions of women’s competence stemming from social role theory. We discuss best practices to address these problems, focusing on the ADVANCE organizational change programs funded by the National Science Foundation that target (a) improving academic climate, (b) providing professional development, and (c) fostering social networking. Federally supported interventions can reveal systemic gender biases in academia and reduce gender disparities for women academics in the social sciences.
Pregnant Women’s Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Influence Factors in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Changzhou, China
Authors: Wang Li , Yang Ni , Zhou Hua , Mao Xueqin , Zhou Ying
Published: May 2022

Background

With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, pregnant women’s psychological conditions have become a global challenge. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and analyze their influence factors among pregnant women in Changzhou, China during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide them with appropriate healthcare strategies.

Methods

Participants were 681 pregnant women who visited various obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Changzhou, China between 25 February 2020 and 7 March 2020. They were asked to complete an online survey. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to detect anxious and depressive symptoms. The chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out to examine the associated factors in these groups.

Results

Overall, the prevalence rates of anxiety and depression symptoms among pregnant women were 31.72 and 36.12%, respectively, but most of them were mild. Having an irregular diet with poor subjective sleep quality, perceiving little family support, spending too much time on news related to the coronavirus, and having severe subjective life impact by the coronavirus were related to anxiety and depression symptoms. In addition, lack of physical exercise and exposure to electronic screens over 5 h per day were associated with depression symptoms.

Conclusion

Pregnant women with an irregular diet, poor sleep quality, little family support, excessive attention to COVID-19 news, and lives impacted by the coronavirus severely are at high risk for anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This indicates that targeted measures to address mental health in pregnant women during the pandemic period are needed.
Vocal Attractiveness Matters: Social Preferences in Cooperative Behavior
Authors: Shang Junchen , Liu Zhihui
Published: May 2022

Research has shown the phenomenon that “what sounds beautiful is good” is a stereotype. It is not clear whether vocal attractiveness affects social decision-making in economic games. Using a modified trust game task, we investigated the neural mechanism of the influence of vocal attractiveness on cooperative decision-making. Participants first heard the voice (attractive or unattractive) of the partner. They had enough time to decide whether to cooperate with the partner for a chance to earn monetary rewards. The behavioral results showed that participants made more invest choices in the attractive partner condition, and they were more likely to cooperate with the female partners in the unattractive voice condition. The event-related potential (ERP) analysis for voice stimuli showed that attractive voices induced larger N1 amplitude than unattractive voices only in the male voice condition. And female voices elicited smaller N1 and larger P2 amplitudes than male voices in both the attractive and unattractive voices condition. A larger P3 amplitude was evoked by female voices and attractive voices. In addition, a more positive late positive complex (LPC) was induced by male voices and attractive voices. This study suggested that attractive voices facilitated cooperative behavior, providing evidence for the “beauty premium” effect of the attractive voices. Moreover, participants were more likely to cooperate with female partners. In the early stage, gender information and male vocal attractiveness were processed automatically, suggesting that male vocal attractiveness was processed preferentially than the female voice. In the late stage, participants allocated attention to both male and female vocal attractiveness.