bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FIRST METATARSAL ROTATION AFTER SCARF OSTEOTOMY FOR HALLUX VALGUS
Authors: Najefi A. A. , Alsafi M. , Katmeh R. , Zaveri A. K. , Cullen N. , Patel S. , Malhotra K. , Welck M.
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Recurrence after surgical correction of hallux valgus may be related to coronal rotation of the first metatarsal. The scarf osteotomy is a commonly used procedure for correcting hallux valgus but has limited ability to correct rotation. Using weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT), we aimed to measure the coronal rotation of the first metatarsal before and after a scarf osteotomy, and correlate these to clinical outcome scores.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 16 feet (15 patients) who had a WBCT before and after scarf osteotomy for hallux valgus correction. On both scans, hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle, and anteroposterior/lateral talus-first metatarsal angle were measured using digitally reconstructed radiographs. Metatarsal pronation (MPA), alpha angle, sesamoid rotation angle and sesamoid position was measured on standardized coronal CT slices. Preoperative and postoperative(12 months) clinical outcome scores(MOxFQ and VAS) were captured.

Results

Mean HVA was 28.6±10.1 degrees preoperatively and 12.1±7.7 degrees postoperatively. Mean IMA was 13.7±3.8 degrees preoperatively and 7.5±3.0 degrees postoperatively. Before and after surgery, there were no significant differences in MPA (11.4±7.7 and 11.4±9.9 degrees, respectively; p = 0.75) or alpha angle (10.9±8.0 and 10.7±13.1 degrees, respectively; p = 0.83). There were significant improvements in SRA (26.4±10.2 and 15.7±10.2 degrees, respectively; p = 0.03) and sesamoid position (1.4±1.0 and 0.6±0.6, respectively; p = 0.04) after a scarf osteotomy. There were significant improvements in all outcome scores after surgery. Poorer outcome scores correlated with greater postoperative MPA and alpha angles (r= 0.76 (p = 0.02) and 0.67 (p = 0.03), respectively).

Conclusion

A scarf osteotomy does not correct first metatarsal coronal rotation, and worse outcomes are linked to greater metatarsal rotation. Rotation of the metatarsal needs to be measured and considered when planning hallux valgus surgery. Further work is needed to compare postoperative outcomes with rotational osteotomies and modified Lapidus procedures when addressing rotation.
FIVE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF THIRD-GENERATION PERCUTANEOUS CHEVRON AND AKIN OSTEOTOMIES (PECA) FOR HALLUX VALGUS
Authors: Lewis T. , Robinson P. W , Ray R. , Dearden P. MC , Goff T. AJ , Watt C. , Lam P.
Published: June 2024

Background

Recent large studies of third-generation minimally invasive hallux valgus surgery (MIS) have demonstrated significant improvement in clinical and radiological outcomes. It remains unknown whether these clinical and radiological outcomes are maintained in the medium to long-term. The aim of this study was to investigate the five-year clinical and radiological outcomes following third-generation MIS hallux valgus surgery.

Methods

A retrospective observational single surgeon case series of consecutive patients undergoing primary isolated third-generation percutaneous Chevron and Akin osteotomies (PECA) for hallux valgus with a minimum 60 month clinical and radiographic follow up. Primary outcome was radiographic assessment of the hallux valgus angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) pre-operatively, 6 months and ≥60 months following PECA. Secondary outcomes included the Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire, patient satisfaction, Euroqol-5D Visual Analogue Scale and Visual Analogue Scale for Pain.

Results

Between 2012 and 2014, 126 consecutive feet underwent isolated third-generation PECA. The mean follow up was 68.8±7.3 (range 60–88) months. There was a significant improvement in radiographic deformity correction; IMA improved from 13.0±3.0 to 6.0±2.6, (p < 0.001) and HVA improved from 27.5±7.6 to 7.8±5.1. There was a statistically significant but not clinically relevant increase of 1.2±2.6° in the HVA between 6 month and ≥60 month radiographs. There was an increase in IMA of 0.1±1.6º between 6 month and ≥60 month radiographs which was not statistically or clinically significant. MOXFQ Index score at ≥follow up was 10.1±17.0. The radiographic recurrence rate was 2.6% at final follow up. The screw removal rate was 4.0%.

Conclusion

Radiological deformity correction following third-generation PECA is maintained at a mean follow up of 68.8 months with a radiographic recurrence rate of 2.6%. Clinical PROMs and patient satisfaction levels are high and comparable to other third-generation studies with shorter duration of follow up.
Solving Surface-volume Integral Equations for PEC and Inhomogeneous/Anisotropic Materials with Multibranch Basis Functions
Authors: Liu Rui , Xiao Gaobiao , Hu Yuyang
Published: June 2024

Multibranch basis functions have been confirmed to be effective for local refinement of domain decomposition methods in the application of solving surface and volume integral equations. Surface-volume integral equations (SVIEs) are applied for solving the hybrid electromagnetic scattering problems involving perfect electric conductors (PEC) and dielectrics, especially inhomogeneous and anisotropic media. In this paper, multibranch Rao-Wilton-Glisson basis functions (MB-RWGs) are applied in conjunction with multibranch Schaubert-Wilton-Glisson basis functions (MB-SWGs) for solving the SVIEs. Block diagonal preconditioners (BDPs) are used to accelerate the iteration convergence based on generalized minimum residual (GMRES) algorithms. The numerical results demonstrate the accuracy of the multibranch basis functions in solving SVIEs, and also show that proper BDPs can accelerate the iteration convergency.
A Numerical Analysis of Conformal Energy Selective Surface Array with Synthetic Functions Expansion
Authors: Hu Ning , Xu Yanlin , Liu Peiguo
Published: June 2024

Energy selective surface (ESS) is a special kind of metasurface with great potential in high-power microwave protection. In this paper, the electromagnetic (EM) properties of an ESS array are analyzed with synthetic functions expansion (SFX) method. A cylindrical conformal ESS array based on an I-shape element is designed for demonstration. The Bistatic RCS as well as electric field distribution of the ESS array is calculated with SFX and traditional full-wave numerical methods. The results show that SFX exhibits great advantages in memory cost while maintaining the same level of accuracy and efficiency with the multi-layer fast multipole method (MLFMM). Besides, the EM performance of the designed ESS is calculated with an array with finite elements and unit cell with periodic boundaries, respectively. The results show a good agreement. The proposed method can also be applied to the analysis of other kinds of metasurfaces whose elements share similar geometries with periodic or quasi-periodic arrangement. Especially for large-scale arrays, this method could well overcome the difficulty of balancing accuracy, efficiency, and resource consumption.
Violence and Refugee Women's Resilience: Syrian Refugee Women in Lebanon During COVID-19
Authors: Al Zoubi Saja
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This research examines domestic and intimate partner violence (D/IPV) during the COVID-19 pandemic, within refugee households in Syrian informal tented settlements located in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. We examine how the socio-economic and political environment as well as anti-refugee practices, impact Syrian economic outcomes, contributing to a significant rise of D/IPV. Data analysis reveals refugee women's resilience and responses after experiencing violence, despite the absence of access to organizations and authorities that ensure their protection. The analysis discloses the gap in protection for women refugees, resulting from economic constraints, distrust of authorities and humanitarian organizations, lack/inadequacy of protection policies, widespread corruption and a political climate against refugees in Lebanon, a country ridden with instability and crisis. Interviews conducted with refugee women confirm that rebuilding trust with official authorities in Lebanon is the key first step to attaining protection. This paper emphasizes the role of international and national policies and practices, alongside access to international humanitarian and development organizations, in enhancing refugee women's resilience against violence. Résumé: Cette étude porte sur la violence domestique et la violence entre partenaires intimes (VD/VPI) pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, au sein des ménages de réfugiés dans les campements informels syriens situés dans la vallée de la Bekaa, au Liban. Nous examinons comment l'environnement socio-économique et politique, ainsi que les pratiques anti-réfugiés, ont un impact sur les résultats économiques des Syriens, contribuant à une augmentation significative de la violence domestique et intime (VD/VPI). L'analyse des données révèle la résilience des femmes réfugiées et les réponses qu'elles apportent après avoir subi des violences, malgré l'absence d'accès aux organisations et aux autorités qui assurent leur protection. L'analyse révèle les lacunes en matière de protection des femmes réfugiées, qui résultent des contraintes économiques, de la méfiance à l'égard des autorités et des organisations humanitaires, de l'absence ou de l'inadéquation des politiques de protection, de la corruption généralisée et d'un climat politique défavorable aux réfugiés au Liban, un pays en proie à l'instabilité et à la crise. Les entretiens menés avec les femmes réfugiées confirment que le rétablissement de la confiance avec les autorités officielles au Liban est la première étape essentielle pour obtenir une protection. Ce document souligne le rôle des politiques et des pratiques nationales et internationales, ainsi que l'accès aux organisations internationales d'aide humanitaire et de développement, dans le renforcement de la résilience des femmes réfugiées face à la violence.
The Ethnographic Pastoral Re-imagined: Embodiment and Inhabitation in Aboio and Sweetgrass
Authors: Brock Ashley
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: This article focuses on two experimental documentaries about herders and their animals. These films depict ways of life on the verge of extinction but depart from classical ethnographic and narrative conventions, instead calling for embodied modes of spectatorship. In so doing, I argue, they de-center the human perspective and make an implicit case for a working-class eco-politics grounded in interaction and interdependence between human and non-human subjects. Simultaneously, in reclaiming iconic landscapes of national cinema as inhabited ecosystems, these films contest the temporal displacement of such spaces and those who live there. Highlighting a revised version of salvage ethnography in twenty-first-century documentary filmmaking, this article thus signals a connection between posthumanist aesthetics and decolonial critiques of ethnography. In the films analyzed here, both endeavors hinge on embodied spectatorship and the perception of interconnection it engenders.
How Israel's Illiberal Democracy Became a Model for the Right
Authors: Schneider Suzanne
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: Amid the mass slaughter and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, it is easy to forget the political drama that gripped Israel only one year ago. After assuming power in December 2022, a new far-right government led by Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed a slate of judicial and administrative reforms that prompted a wave of anti-government protests. Concerned journalists, former U.S. and Israeli government officials, and major American Jewish organizations issued ominous warnings about democratic backsliding. Israel, it seemed, was heading in the direction of illiberal Hungary.
Parties and Movements A Roundtable on Left Politics
Authors: Berman Sheri , Mampilly Zachariah , Pagliarini Andre , Serpe Nick
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: For many socialists, the classic political model comes from the left-wing parties grounded in workers' movements that formed in Europe over a hundred years ago. Today, many of the left's broadest goals, and its primary antagonists, remain the same. But the conditions under which socialists pursue those goals have changed drastically. And the social and political climate varies greatly across our unequal planet. This conversation, held in October, brings together scholars who focus on different regions in order to help us understand the challenges that left political formations and popular movements face around the world. What do they hold in common? Where do their perspectives diverge? What brought them to this point—and where are they headed?
Another Defeat for Turkey's Opposition
Authors: Salinas Nikki
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: In May, Turkey re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His Justice and Development Party (AKP) has become increasingly authoritarian over his twenty years in power. In the run-up to the election, there was some hope a united front could unseat the president. But political divisions, along with significant state repression, resulted in yet another defeat for the opposition.
Sweden Turns Inward
Authors: Wirtén Per
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: I have only gloomy news from Sweden. Gang wars. Burnings of Qurans wrapped in bacon. Ballooning wealth inequality. My country has long been regarded as the homeland of the "middle way" between capitalism and socialism. Such a view is no longer tenable. Maybe it never was. In fact, Sweden is a country of extremes.
The Rusting Machine in the Garden: Posthumanist Perception of Place in the Novels of Jesmyn Ward
Authors: Howard Christopher
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: In The Machine in the Garden (1964), Leo Marx set American studies on a search for "a distinctively American theory of society" (4). Demonstrating how an image of mechanistic modernity first occurred then recurred throughout cultural depictions of a predominantly rural landscape, Marx examines the impact of industrialization on American society. This essay argues that contemporary southern fiction is displaying a similarly recurring motif of its own, a motif representative of a new perception of place for the region. Place, according to the southern studies conception as a region of constancy capable of informing our identities, no longer exists. The posthumanist subject instead inhabits a shared space suitable for their symbiotic coexistence, and contemporary authors are starting to depict this element of posthuman existence. Marx's machines recur anew, their rusting carcasses re-purposed by the coexisting elements around them. Rather than a shocking intrusion into the rural landscape, the rusting shells of the symbols of modern society are representative of the non-exceptionalism of the posthuman. Using Jesmyn Ward's Where the Line Bleeds, Salvage the Bones , and Sing, Unburied, Sing , this essay will consider how such imagery indicates a shift in the presentation of place in southern fiction.
Of Gaines and Genre: Plotting the Racial Borders in Southern Louisiana
Authors: Griffin Martin
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: Three works of fiction by Ernest J. Gaines, each from a different phase of his career, can be classified as significant exercises in using genre norms and styles of emplotment to achieve effects that remain obscured by the very relationship to genre that the novels embody. Of Love and Dust (1967) and A Gathering of Old Men (1983) often appear to simultaneously embrace and hide the elements of genre fiction that determine their narrative moves and plot dynamics. A particular narrative tactic in the third example, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1971), shows how Gaines deploys what one might call "genre identity" in his fiction as a means to complicate a conventional pattern. The realist mode of the novel, building up a perspective on Louisiana history that encompasses both the subjective and the broader collective frameworks of African American memory, is suspended briefly to give space to a subordinate narrative in a Southern Gothic mode.
Real-time breath gas analysis of methane using a multipass cell-based near-infrared gas sensor
Authors: Kong Rong , Huang Jie , Liu Peng , Zhou Xin
Published: June 2024

We demonstrated a near-infrared exhaled breath sensor for real-time methane measurements by using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS), which can enable the noninvasive diagnosis of intestinal tract problems. The core component of the near-infrared TDLAS sensor is a two-mirror-based multipass cell with nine-circle patterns. An optical path length of 23.4 m was achieved in a volume of 233.3 cm3, which effectively improved the detection sensitivity and shortened the gas exchange time. The minimum detection limit was 0.37 ppm by applying wavelength modulation spectroscopy, which was 12.4 times greater than that of direct absorption spectroscopy. In addition, combined with wavelength modulation spectroscopy, the two-mirror-based multipass cell enabled sub-second gas exchange time of 0.6 s. Methane breath experiments were conducted with six volunteers, and the real-time measurement results and concentrations at the end of exhalation were analyzed. This study demonstrates that the developed sensor has high sensitivity, high selectivity, and fast response for breath methane measurements and has promising potential for noninvasive, real-time, and point-of-care disease diagnosis in clinical applications.
Nonlinear dynamics of a laser diode subjected to both optical injection and optical feedback
Authors: Oliverio Lucas , Rontani Damien , Sciamanna Marc
Published: June 2024

We analyse theoretically the nonlinear dynamics of a single-mode laser diode subjected to both optical injection and optical feedback. Detailed mappings of the laser dynamics reveal that, due to optical feedback (OF), the locking boundaries resulting from optical injection (OI) shift towards larger negative detunings and higher injection rates and display a periodic pattern of the injection locking boundaries. We demonstrate how feedback induces a cascade of quasiperiodic bifurcations associated with abrupt dynamic changes, hence altering the route to locking. A close inspection of the laser optical spectra for increasing feedback rate reveals the complex interplay between undamped relaxation oscillations and external cavity frequencies.
Inversion of extinction coefficient for scattering media based on range-gated detection
Authors: Huang Feng , Qiu Shaoping , Ye ZhiBin , Liu Yu , Wang Pengfei
Published: June 2024

The extinction coefficient is an important parameter for describing light transmitting properties in the scattering medium. However, the single-point detection way and the large inversion error of the existing techniques cannot satisfy the need for spatial analysis and data application. A novel approach for inversion of extinction coefficient based on range-gated detection utilizing backward scattering of medium is proposed, and an inversion algorithm for extinction coefficient is established utilizing the backscattering signal of multiple adjacent spatial slices of the medium. The method can simultaneously invert transverse multiple-points extinction coefficient and longitudinal profile of extinction coefficient. Further, experiments are conducted in the scattering medium including fog and smoke based on the fabricated range-gated extinction-coefficient detection and inversion system, and the results demonstrate that inversion with the error less than 5% can be achieved at different detection distances, different concentrations and different kinds of scattering mediums. This approach offers a convenient, rapid and accurate means to acquire extinction coefficients, laying the foundation for the development of efficient environmental monitoring and high-quality defogging imaging.
Enhancing the efficiency of InGaN-based micro-LEDs using indium tin oxide p-electrodes
Authors: Altinkaya Cesur , Iida Daisuke , Ohkawa Kazuhiro
Published: June 2024

Here, we demonstrate replacing opaque Cr/Pt/Au metal p-electrodes with transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) p-electrodes to increase the light output of InGaN-based micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs). ITO p-electrodes exhibit high transmittance of ∼ 80% across the visible spectrum and low resistivity, while metal p-electrodes exhibit negligible transmittance and significant absorption. The 20 × 20 µm2 and 50 × 50 µm2 green micro-LED arrays with ITO p-electrodes yield 1.25 and 1.20 times improvement in light output power compared to conventional metal p-electrodes. The on-wafer external quantum efficiency (EQE) of ITO p-electrode devices reach 7.36% and 7.35% at a current density of ≤ 1.6 A/cm2 for 20 × 20 µm2 and 50 × 50 µm2 arrays, while the on-wafer EQE of metal-based ones remain at 5.98% and 6.16%, respectively. This work opens a straightforward yet universal strategy for enhancing micro-LEDs’ performance, as ITO p-electrodes can be seamlessly integrated into red, green, and blue micro-LED configurations.
Simplified channel model for indoor VLC systems
Authors: Zhao Qiong , Zhang Weilin , Chen Chen , Bai Bo
Published: June 2024

The channel model of indoor visible light communication (VLC) is primarily influenced by the receiver’s position and orientation. In this study, we decouple the effects of receiver position and orientation, treating them as independent random variables. This decoupling enables a clearer understanding of how each factor independently influences the channel model. Specifically, we focus on the impact of the azimuth angle, a critical component of orientation, on the VLC channel. We present a simplified channel model for indoor VLC systems based on partial orientation information. Theoretical analysis and simulation results collectively indicate that the accuracy of the simplified channel model is influenced by the field-of-view (FOV), with higher accuracy achieved at narrower FOVs. To evaluate practical performance, we compare our simplified model with the existing complete channel model in a two-user precoding system. Results show that our proposed simplified channel model maintains value, particularly in narrow-FOV scenarios. The research findings indicate that this simplified model is suitable for applications with high demands for channel accuracy in narrow-FOV indoor VLC systems, and can be extended to applications in wide-FOV systems where perfect channel information is not required.
Axially swept open-top light-sheet microscopy for densely labeled clinical specimens
Authors: Bishop Kevin W. , Erion Barner Lindsey A. , Baraznenok Elena , Lan Lydia , Poudel Chetan , Brenes David , Serafin Robert B. , True Lawrence D. , Vaughan Joshua C. , Glaser Adam K. , Liu Jonathan T. C.
Published: June 2024

Open-top light-sheet (OTLS) microscopy offers rapid 3D imaging of large optically cleared specimens. This enables nondestructive 3D pathology, which provides key advantages over conventional slide-based histology including comprehensive sampling without tissue sectioning/destruction and visualization of diagnostically important 3D structures. With 3D pathology, clinical specimens are often labeled with small-molecule stains that broadly target nucleic acids and proteins, mimicking conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) dyes. Tight optical sectioning helps to minimize out-of-focus fluorescence for high-contrast imaging in these densely labeled tissues but has been challenging to achieve in OTLS systems due to trade-offs between optical sectioning and field of view. Here we present an OTLS microscope with voice-coil-based axial sweeping to circumvent this trade-off, achieving 2 µm axial resolution over a 750 × 375 µm field of view. We implement our design in a non-orthogonal dual-objective (NODO) architecture, which enables a 10-mm working distance with minimal sensitivity to refractive index mismatches, for high-contrast 3D imaging of clinical specimens.
Bright ultra-broadband fiber-based biphoton source
Authors: Smirnov Maksim A. , Fedotov Ilya V. , Smirnova Anastasia M. , Khairullin Albert F. , Fedotov Andrei B. , Moiseev Sergey A.
Published: June 2024

In this Letter, we report a first, to the best of our knoqledge, experimental realization of a bright ultra-broadband (180 THz) fiber-based biphoton source with widely spectrally separated signal and idler photons. Such a two-photon source is realized due to the joint use of a broadband two-loop phase-matching of interacting light waves and high optical nonlinearity of a silica-core photonic crystal fiber. The high performance of the developed fiber source identifies it as an important and useful tool for a wide range of optical quantum applications.
Maternal obesity increases hypothalamic miR-505-5p expression in mouse offspring leading to altered fatty acid sensing and increased intake of high-fat food
Authors: Dearden Laura , Furigo Isadora C. , Pantaleão Lucas C. , Wong L W. P. , Fernandez-Twinn Denise S. , de Almeida-Faria Juliana , Kentistou Katherine A. , Carreira Maria V. , Bidault Guillaume , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Ong Ken K. , Perry John R. B. , Donato Jose , Ozanne Susan E.
Published: June 2024

In utero exposure to maternal obesity programs increased obesity risk. Animal models show that programmed offspring obesity is preceded by hyperphagia, but the mechanisms that mediate these changes are unknown. Using a mouse model of maternal obesity, we observed increased intake of a high-fat diet (HFD) in offspring of obese mothers that precedes the development of obesity. Through small RNA sequencing, we identified programmed overexpression of hypothalamic miR-505-5p that is established in the fetus, lasts to adulthood and is maintained in hypothalamic neural progenitor cells cultured in vitro. Metabolic hormones and long-chain fatty acids associated with obesity increase miR-505-5p expression in hypothalamic neurons in vitro. We demonstrate that targets of miR-505-5p are enriched in fatty acid metabolism pathways and overexpression of miR-505-5p decreased neuronal fatty acid metabolism in vitro. miR-505-5p targets are associated with increased BMI in human genetic studies. Intra-cerebroventricular injection of miR-505-5p in wild-type mice increased HFD intake, mimicking the phenotype observed in offspring exposed to maternal obesity. Conversely, maternal exercise intervention in an obese mouse pregnancy rescued the programmed increase of hypothalamic miR-505-5p in offspring of obese dams and reduced HFD intake to control offspring levels. This study identifies a novel mechanism by which maternal obesity programs obesity in offspring via increased intake of high-fat foods.
Functional connectivity changes in the brain of adolescents with internet addiction: A systematic literature review of imaging studies
Authors: Chang Max L. Y. , Lee Irene O.
Published: June 2024

Internet usage has seen a stark global rise over the last few decades, particularly among adolescents and young people, who have also been diagnosed increasingly with internet addiction (IA). IA impacts several neural networks that influence an adolescent’s behaviour and development. This article issued a literature review on the resting-state and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies to inspect the consequences of IA on the functional connectivity (FC) in the adolescent brain and its subsequent effects on their behaviour and development. A systematic search was conducted from two databases, PubMed and PsycINFO, to select eligible articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligibility criteria was especially stringent regarding the adolescent age range (10–19) and formal diagnosis of IA. Bias and quality of individual studies were evaluated. The fMRI results from 12 articles demonstrated that the effects of IA were seen throughout multiple neural networks: a mix of increases/decreases in FC in the default mode network; an overall decrease in FC in the executive control network; and no clear increase or decrease in FC within the salience network and reward pathway. The FC changes led to addictive behaviour and tendencies in adolescents. The subsequent behavioural changes are associated with the mechanisms relating to the areas of cognitive control, reward valuation, motor coordination, and the developing adolescent brain. Our results presented the FC alterations in numerous brain regions of adolescents with IA leading to the behavioural and developmental changes. Research on this topic had a low frequency with adolescent samples and were primarily produced in Asian countries. Future research studies of comparing results from Western adolescent samples provide more insight on therapeutic intervention.
Comparative RNA-seq analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana response to AtPep1 and flg22, reveals the identification of PP2-B13 and ACLP1 as new members in pattern-triggered immunity
Authors: Safaeizadeh Mehdi , Boller Thomas , Becker Claude
Published: June 2024

In this research, a high-throughput RNA sequencing-based transcriptome analysis technique (RNA-Seq) was used to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the wild type Arabidopsis seedlings in response to AtPep1, a well-known peptide representing an endogenous damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP), and flg22, a well-known microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP). We compared and dissected the global transcriptional landscape of Arabidopsis thaliana in response to AtPep1 and flg22 and could identify shared and unique DEGs in response to these elicitors. We found that while a remarkable number of flg22 up-regulated genes were also induced by AtPep1, 256 genes were exclusively up-regulated in response to flg22, and 328 were exclusively up-regulated in response to AtPep1. Furthermore, among down-regulated DEGs upon flg22 treatment, 107 genes were exclusively down-regulated by flg22 treatment, while 411 genes were exclusively down-regulated by AtPep1. We found a number of hitherto overlooked genes to be induced upon treatment with either flg22 or with AtPep1, indicating their possible involvement general pathways in innate immunity. Here, we characterized two of them, namely PP2-B13 and ACLP1. pp2-b13 and aclp1 mutants showed increased susceptibility to infection by the virulent pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 and its mutant Pst DC3000 hrcC (lacking the type III secretion system), as evidenced by increased proliferation of the two pathogens in planta. Further, we present evidence that the aclp1 mutant is deficient in ethylene production upon flg22 treatment, while the pp2-b13 mutant is deficient in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results from this research provide new information for a better understanding of the immune system in Arabidopsis.
yQTL Pipeline: A structured computational workflow for large scale quantitative trait loci discovery and downstream visualization
Authors: Li Mengze , Song Zeyuan , Gurinovich Anastasia , Schork Nicholas , Sebastiani Paola , Monti Stefano
Published: June 2024

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) denote regions of DNA whose variation is associated with variations in quantitative traits. QTL discovery is a powerful approach to understand how changes in molecular and clinical phenotypes may be related to DNA sequence changes. However, QTL discovery analysis encompasses multiple analytical steps and the processing of multiple input files, which can be laborious, error prone, and hard to reproduce if performed manually. To facilitate and automate large-scale QTL analysis, we developed the yQTL Pipeline, where the ‘y’ indicates the dependent quantitative variable being modeled. Prior to the association test, the pipeline supports the calculation or the direct input of pre-defined genome-wide principal components and genetic relationship matrix when applicable. User-specified covariates can also be provided. Depending on whether familial relatedness exists among the subjects, genome-wide association tests will be performed using either a linear mixed-effect model or a linear model. The options to run an ANOVA model or testing the interaction with a covariate are also available. Using the workflow management tool Nextflow, the pipeline parallelizes the analysis steps to optimize run-time and ensure results reproducibility. In addition, a user-friendly R Shiny App is developed to facilitate result visualization. It can generate Manhattan and Miami plots of phenotype traits, genotype-phenotype boxplots, and trait-QTL connection networks. We applied the yQTL Pipeline to analyze metabolomics profiles of blood serum from the New England Centenarians Study (NECS) participants. A total of 9.1M SNPs and 1,052 metabolites across 194 participants were analyzed. Using a p-value cutoff 5e-8, we found 14,983 mQTLs associated with 312 metabolites. The built-in parallelization of our pipeline reduced the run time from ~90 min to ~26 min. Visualization using the R Shiny App revealed multiple mQTLs shared across multiple metabolites. The yQTL Pipeline is available with documentation on GitHub at https://github.com/montilab/yQTLpipeline.
Association of multidrug-resistant bacteria and clinical outcomes in patients with infected diabetic foot in a Peruvian hospital: A retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Yovera-Aldana Marlon , Sifuentes-Hermenegildo Paola , Cervera-Ocaña Martha Sofia , Mezones-Holguin Edward
Published: June 2024

Objective

To evaluate the association of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with diabetic foot infection (DFI) in a Peruvian hospital.

Materials and methods

This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients treated in the Diabetic Foot Unit of a General Hospital in Lima, Peru. MDRB was defined by resistance to more than two pharmacological groups across six clinically significant genera. The primary outcome was death due to DFI complications and/or major amputation. Other outcomes included minor amputation, hospitalization, and a hospital stay longer than 14 days. Relative risks were estimated using Poisson regression for all outcomes.

Results

The study included 192 DFI patients with a mean age of 59.9 years; 74% were males. A total of 80.8% exhibited MDRB. The primary outcome had an incidence rate of 23.2% and 5.4% in patients with and without MDRB, respectively (p = 0.01). After adjusting for sex, age, bone involvement, severe infection, ischemia, diabetes duration, and glycosylated hemoglobin, MDRB showed no association with the primary outcome (RR 3.29; 95% CI, 0.77–13.9), but did with hospitalization longer than 14 days (RR 1.43; 95% CI, 1.04–1.98).

Conclusions

Our study found no association between MDRB and increased mortality and/or major amputation due to DFI complications, but did find a correlation with prolonged hospitalization. The high proportion of MDRB could limit the demonstration of the relationship. It is urgent to apply continuous evaluation of bacterial resistance, implement a rational plan for antibiotic use, and maintain biosafety to confront this threat.
Patterns and correlates of mental healthcare utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with pre-existing mental disorder
Authors: Lee Hyunjoon , Kennedy Chris J. , Tu Allison , Restivo Juliana , Liu Cindy H. , Naslund John A. , Patel Vikram , Choi Karmel W. , Smoller Jordan W.
Published: June 2024

How did mental healthcare utilization change during the COVID-19 pandemic period among individuals with pre-existing mental disorder? Understanding utilization patterns of these at-risk individuals and identifying those most likely to exhibit increased utilization could improve patient stratification and efficient delivery of mental health services. This study leveraged large-scale electronic health record (EHR) data to describe mental healthcare utilization patterns among individuals with pre-existing mental disorder before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify correlates of high mental healthcare utilization. Using EHR data from a large healthcare system in Massachusetts, we identified three “pre-existing mental disorder” groups (PMD) based on having a documented mental disorder diagnosis within the 6 months prior to the March 2020 lockdown, related to: (1) stress-related disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety) (N = 115,849), (2) serious mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorders) (N = 11,530), or (3) compulsive behavior disorders (e.g., eating disorder, OCD) (N = 5,893). We also identified a “historical comparison” group (HC) for each PMD (N = 113,604, 11,758, and 5,387, respectively) from the previous year (2019). We assessed the monthly number of mental healthcare visits from March 13 to December 31 for PMDs in 2020 and HCs in 2019. Phenome-wide association analyses (PheWAS) were used to identify clinical correlates of high mental healthcare utilization. We found the overall number of mental healthcare visits per patient during the pandemic period in 2020 was 10–12% higher than in 2019. The majority of increased visits was driven by a subset of high mental healthcare utilizers (top decile). PheWAS results indicated that correlates of high utilization (prior mental disorders, chronic pain, insomnia, viral hepatitis C, etc.) were largely similar before and during the pandemic, though several conditions (e.g., back pain) were associated with high utilization only during the pandemic. Limitations included that we were not able to examine other risk factors previously shown to influence mental health during the pandemic (e.g., social support, discrimination) due to lack of social determinants of health information in EHR data. Mental healthcare utilization among patients with pre-existing mental disorder increased overall during the pandemic, likely due to expanded access to telemedicine. Given that clinical correlates of high mental healthcare utilization in a major hospital system were largely similar before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, resource stratification based on known risk factor profiles may aid hospitals in responding to heightened mental healthcare needs during a pandemic.
Work addiction and social functioning: A systematic review and five meta-analyses
Authors: Kenyhercz Viktória , Mervó Barbara , Lehel Noémi , Demetrovics Zsolt , Kun Bernadette
Published: June 2024

As theoretical models suggest, work addiction has several adverse correlates and consequences, such as unfavorable personality traits, physical and psychological symptoms, and social conflicts. Both early and recent concepts emphasize that individuals with work addiction have more problematic social life due to obsessive overwork. This includes negative impacts on family, workplace, and other relationships. The present study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze all the empirical studies that examined the association between work addiction and any dimension of social life, as such an analysis has never been conducted before. Studies published from 1995 to 2022 were identified through a systematic search. 102 eligible studies were included in the review, with 75 studies contributing to five different meta-analyses. The results indicated significant associations between work addiction and: (1) lower work-life balance, (2) reduced social functioning, and increased difficulties in (3) family relationships, (4) intimate relationships, and (5) relationships with the community, friends, and colleagues. The associations were found to be independent of gender and age. The meta-analytic study highlights research gaps in the field and suggests future directions, including exploring attachment styles and early social relationships in work addiction, investigating the association between social and emotional competencies and work addiction, examining the role of escape motivation, and exploring the characteristics of the partners (spouses) of workaholics. Since the quality of social relationships and social support are crucial factors in physical and mental health, the prevention and intervention of work addiction should be prioritized in organizational and clinical settings.
Implications of germination tolerances on invasion potential of Arthraxon hispidus
Authors: Beall Michael C. , Barney Jacob N. , Welbaum Gregory E. , Reid J. Leighton
Published: June 2024

Arthraxon hispidus is an introduced, rapidly spreading, and newly invasive grass in the eastern United States, yet little is known about the foundational biology of this aggressive invader. Germination responses to environmental factors including salinity, pH, osmotic potential, temperature, and burial depth were investigated to better understand its germination niche. Seeds from six populations in the Mid-Atlantic US germinated 95% with an average mean time to germination of 3.42 days of imbibition in the dark at 23°C. Germination occurred across a temperature range of 8–37°C and a pH range of 5–10 (≥83%), suggesting that neither pH nor temperature will limit germination in many environments. Arthraxon hispidus germination occurred in high salinity (342 mM NaCl) and osmotic potentials as low as -0.83MPa. The NaCl concentration required to reduce germination by 50% exceeded salinity concentrations found in soil and some brackish water saltmarsh systems. While drought adversely affects A. hispidus, 50% germination occurred at osmotic potentials ranging from -0.25 to -0.67 MPa. Given the climatic conditions of North America, drought stress is unlikely to restrict germination in large regions. Finally, emergence greatly decreased with burial depth. Emergence was reduced to 45% at 1–2 cm burial depths, and 0% at 8 cm. Emergence depths in concert with adequate moisture, germination across a range of temperatures, and rapid germination suggests A. hispidus’ seed bank may be short-lived in moist environments, but further investigation is warranted. Given the broad abiotic tolerances of A. hispidus and a widespread native range, A. hispidus has the potential to germinate in novel territories beyond its currently observed invaded range.
A computational approach to identify phytochemicals as potential inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase: Molecular docking, ADME profiling and molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Azmal Mahir , Hossen Md. Sahadot , Shohan Md. Naimul Haque , Taqui Rashid , Malik Abbeha , Ghosh Ajit
Published: June 2024

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a crucial target in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Common anti-acetylcholinesterase drugs such as Galantamine, Rivastigmine, Donepezil, and Tacrine have significant inhibition potential. Due to side effects and safety concerns, we aimed to investigate a wide range of phytochemicals and structural analogues of these compounds. Compounds similar to the established drugs, and phytochemicals were investigated as potential inhibitors for AChE in treating AD. A total of 2,270 compound libraries were generated for further analysis. Initial virtual screening was performed using Pyrx software, resulting in 638 molecules showing higher binding affinities compared to positive controls Tacrine (-9.0 kcal/mol), Donepezil (-7.3 kcal/mol), Galantamine (-8.3 kcal/mol), and Rivastigmine (-6.4 kcal/mol). Subsequently, ADME properties were assessed, including blood-brain barrier permeability and Lipinski’s rule of five violations, leading to 88 compounds passing the ADME analysis. Among the rivastigmine analogous, [3-(1-methylpiperidin-2-yl)phenyl] N,N-diethylcarbamate showed interaction with Tyr123, Tyr336, Tyr340, Phe337, Trp285 residues of AChE. Tacrine similar compounds, such as 4-amino-2-styrylquinoline, exhibited bindings with Tyr123, Phe337, Tyr336, Trp285, Trp85, Gly119, and Gly120 residues. A phytocompound (bisdemethoxycurcumin) showed interaction with Trp285, Tyr340, Trp85, Tyr71, and His446 residues of AChE with favourable binding. These findings underscore the potential of these compounds as novel inhibitors of AChE, offering insights into alternative therapeutic avenues for AD. A 100ns simulation analysis confirmed the stability of protein-ligand complex based on the RMSD, RMSF, ligand properties, PCA, DCCM and MMGBS parameters. The investigation suggested 3 ligands as a potent inhibitor of AChE which are [3-(1-methylpiperidin-2-yl)phenyl] N,N-diethylcarbamate, 4-Amino-2-styrylquinoline and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Furthermore, investigation, including in-vitro and in-vivo studies, is needed to validate the efficacy, safety profiles, and therapeutic potential of these compounds for AD treatment.
Machine learning with taxonomic family delimitation aids in the classification of ephemeral beaked whale events in passive acoustic monitoring
Authors: Solsona-Berga Alba , DeAngelis Annamaria I. , Cholewiak Danielle M. , Trickey Jennifer S. , Mueller-Brennan Liam , Frasier Kaitlin E. , Van Parijs Sofie M. , Baumann-Pickering Simone
Published: June 2024

Passive acoustic monitoring is an essential tool for studying beaked whale populations. This approach can monitor elusive and pelagic species, but the volume of data it generates has overwhelmed researchers’ ability to quantify species occurrence for effective conservation and management efforts. Automation of data processing is crucial, and machine learning algorithms can rapidly identify species using their sounds. Beaked whale acoustic events, often infrequent and ephemeral, can be missed when co-occurring with signals of more abundant, and acoustically active species that dominate acoustic recordings. Prior efforts on large-scale classification of beaked whale signals with deep neural networks (DNNs) have approached the class as one of many classes, including other odontocete species and anthropogenic signals. That approach tends to miss ephemeral events in favor of more common and dominant classes. Here, we describe a DNN method for improved classification of beaked whale species using an extensive dataset from the western North Atlantic. We demonstrate that by training a DNN to focus on the taxonomic family of beaked whales, ephemeral events were correctly and efficiently identified to species, even with few echolocation clicks. By retrieving ephemeral events, this method can support improved estimation of beaked whale occurrence in regions of high odontocete acoustic activity.
Spatial population genetic structure of Caquetaia kraussii (Steindachner, 1878) evidenced by species-specific microsatellite loci in the middle and low basin of the Cauca River, Colombia
Authors: Cataño Tenorio Isaí , Joya Cristhian Danilo , Márquez Edna Judith
Published: June 2024

The adaptative responses and divergent evolution shown in the environments habited by the Cichlidae family allow to understand different biological properties, including fish genetic diversity and structure studies. In a zone that has been historically submitted to different anthropogenic pressures, this study assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of cichlid Caquetaia kraussii, a sedentary species with parental care that has a significant ecological role for its contribution to redistribution and maintenance of sedimentologic processes in its distribution area. This study developed de novo 16 highly polymorphic species-specific microsatellite loci that allowed the estimation of the genetic diversity and differentiation in 319 individuals from natural populations in the area influenced by the Ituango hydroelectric project in the Colombian Cauca River. Caquetaia kraussii exhibits high genetic diversity levels (Ho: 0.562–0.885; He: 0.583–0.884) in relation to the average neotropical cichlids and a three group-spatial structure: two natural groups upstream and downstream the Nechí River mouth, and one group of individuals with high relatedness degree, possibly independently formed by founder effect in the dam zone. The three genetic groups show recent bottlenecks, but only the two natural groups have effective population size that suggest their long-term permanence. The information generated is relevant not only for management programs and species conservation purposes, but also for broadening the available knowledge on the factors influencing neotropical cichlids population genetics.