bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing a novel portable oxidation–reduction potential and microbial fuel cell‐based sensor to monitor microbial growth
Authors: Teng Peng , Lin Yen‐Han
Published: July 2023

This study demonstrates the potential application of a portable 3D‐printed sensor to monitor microbial growth during soil bioremediation. Bacillus subtilis, a commonly found soil microorganism, is used to evaluate its growth characteristics. The integration of real‐time oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) reading and voltage output allows for a better illustration of microbial growth, with a focus on the mid‐exponential growth phase. This new technology can potentially increase the efficiency of soil bioremediation techniques by providing a better understanding of the microbial interactions and growth patterns involved.
Structure‐Activity Relationships, Tolerability and Efficacy of Microtubule‐Active 1,2,4‐Triazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines as Potential Candidates to Treat Human African Trypanosomiasis**
Authors: Monti Ludovica , Liu Lawrence J. , Varricchio Carmine , Lucero Bobby , Alle Thibault , Yang Wenqian , Ben‐Shalom Ido , Gilson Michael , Brunden Kurt R. , Brancale Andrea , Caffrey Conor R. , Ballatore Carlo
Published: July 2023

Tubulin and microtubules (MTs) are potential protein targets to treat parasitic infections and our previous studies have shown that the triazolopyrimidine (TPD) class of MT‐active compounds hold promise as antitrypanosomal agents. MT‐targeting TPDs include structurally related but functionally diverse congeners that interact with mammalian tubulin at either one or two distinct interfacial binding sites; namely, the seventh and vinca sites, which are found within or between α,β‐tubulin heterodimers, respectively. Evaluation of the activity of 123 TPD congeners against cultured Trypanosoma brucei enabled a robust quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) model and the prioritization of two congeners for in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK), tolerability and efficacy studies. Treatment of T. brucei‐infected mice with tolerable doses of TPDs significantly decreased blood parasitemia within 24 h. Further, two once‐weekly doses at 10 mg/kg of a candidate TPD significantly extended the survival of infected mice relative to infected animals treated with vehicle. Further optimization of dosing and/or the dosing schedule of these CNS‐active TPDs may provide alternative treatments for human African trypanosomiasis.
Photobleaching Kinetics and Effect of Solvent in the Photophysical Properties of Indocyanine Green for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Díaz Tovar Johan Sebastián , Kassab Giulia , Inada Natalia Mayumi , Bagnato Vanderlei Salvador , Kurachi Cristina
Published: July 2023

Indocyanine green is an attractive molecule for photodynamic therapy due to its near infrared absorption, resulting in a higher tissue penetration. However, its quantum yields of the triplet and singlet state have been reported to be low and then, reactive oxygen species are unlikely to be formed. Aiming to understand the ICG role in photodynamic response, its photobleaching behavior in solution has been studied under distinct conditions of CW laser irradiation at 780 and 808 nm, oxygen saturations and solvents. Sensitizer bleaching and photoproduct formation were measured by absorption spectroscopy and analyzed using the PDT bleaching macroscopic model to extract physical parameters. ICG photobleaching occurs even at lower oxygen concentrations, indicating that the molecule presents more than one way of degradation. Photoproducts were produced even in solution of less than 4 % oxygen saturation for both solvents and excitation wavelengths. Also, the amplitude of absorption related to J‐dimers was increased during irradiation, but only in 50 % PBS solution. The formation of photoproducts was enhanced in the presence of J‐type dimers under low oxygen concentration, and the quantum yields of triplet and singlet states were one order of magnitude and two times higher, respectively, when compared to ICG in distilled H2O.
It’s All Hands on Deck in the Battle Against Herbicide‐Resistant Weeds
Authors: Stahl Liz , Anderson Meaghan , Nicolai Dave , Peters Tom
Published: July 2023

While we know herbicide resistance is an inevitable fate in a system that relies heavily on herbicides, we can work together to focus on long‐term strategies to delay its development and spread. Managing for a single year is a key reason why we are in the situation we are in today. A review of how herbicide resistance issues developed over time provides some insight into this and also some guidance into how we can more effectively deal with the problems we face now and into the future. Farmers rely heavily on their advisers to provide sound agronomic recommendations, and we, as advisers, need to take that role seriously to broach the subject of long‐term weed management beyond individual‐year herbicide recommendations. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Copper‐Catalyzed Benzylic Functionalization of Lignin‐Derived Monomers
Authors: Lavrencic Lara , Dhawa Uttam , Blumenstein Arthur , Hu Xile
Published: July 2023

Within the field of lignin biorefining, significant research effort has been dedicated to the advancement of catalytic methods for lignocellulose depolymerization. However, another key challenge in lignin valorization is the conversion of the obtained monomers into higher value‐added products. To address this challenge, new catalytic methods that can fully embrace the inherent complexity of their target substrates are needed. Here, we describe copper‐catalyzed reactions for benzylic functionalization of lignin‐derived phenolics via intermediate formation of hexafluoroisopropoxy‐masked para‐quinone methides (p‐QMs). By controlling the rates of copper catalyst turnover and p‐QM release, we have developed copper‐catalyzed allylation and alkynylation reactions of lignin‐derived monomers to install various unsaturated fragments amenable to further synthetic applications.
The impact of biliary stents on the diagnostic yield of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration for solid pancreatic lesions: A single‐center retrospective study and meta‐analysis
Authors: Endo Go , Ishigaki Kazunaga , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Nakai Yousuke , Ishida Kota , Kurihara Kohei , Tange Shuichi , Takaoka Shinya , Tokito Yurie , Suzuki Yukari , Oyama Hiroki , Kanai Sachiko , Suzuki Tatsunori , Sato Tatsuya , Hakuta Ryunosuke , Saito Tomotaka , Takahara Naminatsu , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: July 2023

Background

Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) is widely used for the pathological diagnosis of solid pancreatic lesions but in cases with obstructive jaundice, transpapillary sampling can be performed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with transpapillary biliary stent placement. Thus, it is still controversial whether EUS‐FNA should be performed prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary stent placement or only after negative transpapillary sampling.

Methods

The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EUS‐FNA for solid pancreatic lesions with or without indwelling biliary stents were retrospectively studied in patients undergoing EUS‐FNA between January 2017 and December 2021. We also conducted a meta‐analysis including our data to compare the accuracy and sensitivity of EUS‐FNA with or without biliary stents.

Results

A total of 509 patients (40 with biliary stents and 469 without biliary stents) were included. The accuracy (77.5% vs. 94.5%, p < 0.001) and sensitivity (71.0% vs. 91.7%, p < 0.001) were lower in EUS‐FNA with biliary stents. A meta‐analysis confirmed that accuracy (odds ratio [OR] of 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29–0.62, p < 0.001) and sensitivity (OR of 0.46, 95% CI 0.33–0.64, p < 0.001) were lower in EUS‐FNA with biliary stents. There were no statistically significant differences between plastic stents and self‐expandable metallic stents for accuracy or sensitivity.

Conclusions

The presence of biliary stents had a negative impact on the diagnostic performance of EUS‐FNA, and EUS‐FNA prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary stent placement should be considered in cases with obstructive jaundice.
Microhabitat partitioning between sympatric intertidal fish species highlights the importance of sediment composition in gravel beach conservation
Authors: Wagner Maximilian , Benac Čedomir , Pamić Maja , Bračun Sandra , Ladner Martin , Plakolm Pia Clarissa , Koblmüller Stephan , Svardal Hannes , Brandl Simon J.
Published: July 2023

Gravel beaches in the Mediterranean ecoregion represent an economically important and unique habitat type. Yet, burgeoning tourism, intensive coastal development and artificial nourishment of beaches may jeopardize their ecological communities. To date, species that reside on gravel beaches and the consequences of beach alterations are poorly understood, which hampers the development of a sustainable coastal tourism industry along the region's shorelines. Using a simple collection method based on dredging buckets through the intertidal section of beaches, we quantified the microhabitat association of two sympatric clingfish species in the genus Gouania at seven natural and an artificial gravel beach based on sediment characteristics. We hypothesized that slender (G. pigra) and stout (G. adriatica) morphotypes would partition interstitial niche space based on sediment size, which may affect the vulnerability of the species to changes in gravel beach composition due to coastal development. We detected substantial differences in gravel composition within and among the sampled beaches which suggests scope for microhabitat partitioning in Gouania. Indeed, we found significant relationships between species identity and the presence/absence and abundance of individuals in hauls based on their positioning on PC1. Our results suggest that modifications of gravel beaches through coastal development, including beach nourishment, intensifying coastal erosion, or artificial beach creation, may have detrimental consequences for the two species if sediment types or sizes are altered. We posit that, given the simplicity and efficacy of our sampling method and the sensitivity of Gouania species to prevailing gravel composition, the genus could serve as an important indicator for gravel beach management in the Mediterranean ecoregion.
BioLake: A first assessment of lake temperature‐derived bioclimatic predictors for aquatic invasive species
Authors: Burner Ryan C. , Daniel Wesley M. , Engelstad Peder S. , Churchill Christopher J. , Erickson Richard A.
Published: July 2023

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) present major ecological and economic challenges globally, endangering ecosystems and human livelihoods. Managers and policy makers thus need tools to predict invasion risk and prioritize species and areas of concern, and they often use native range climate matching to determine whether a species could persist in a new location. However, climate matching for AIS often relies on air temperature rather than water temperature due to a lack of global water temperature data layers, and predictive power of models is seldom evaluated. We developed 12 global lake (water) temperature‐derived “BioLake” bioclimatic layers for distribution modeling of aquatic species and compared “climatch” climate matching predictions (from climatchR package) from BioLake with those based on BioClim temperature layers and with a null model. We did this for 73 established AIS in the United States, training the models on their ranges outside of the United States and Canada. Models using either set of climate layers outperformed the null expectation by a similar (but modest) amount on average, but some species were occasionally found in locations with low climatch scores. Mean US climatch scores were higher for most species when using air temperature. Including additional climate layers in models reduced mean climatch scores, indicating that commonly used climatch score thresholds are not absolute but can be context specific and may require calibration based upon climate data used. Although finer resolution global lake temperature data would likely improve predictions, our BioLake layers provide a starting point for aquatic species distribution modeling. Climate matching was most effective for some species that originated at low latitudes or had small ranges. Climatch scores remain useful but limited for predicting AIS risk, perhaps because current ranges seldom fully reflect climatic tolerances (fundamental niches). Managers could consider climate matching as one of a suite of tools that can be used in AIS prioritization.
C−S Cross‐Coupling of Aryldiazonium Salts with Thiols Mediated by Gold
Authors: Caballero‐Muñoz Alejandra , Rosas‐Ortega Miguel , Díaz‐Salazar Howard , Porcel Susana
Published: July 2023

In this work, the coupling of aryldiazonium salts with thiols mediated by the readily accessible gold complex Me2SAuCl is described. In the reported protocol, the addition of 2,2′‐bipyridine as a ligand leads to higher yields than phosphines. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under soft mildconditions and has a broad scope in both the aryldiazonium salt and the thiol. Notably, the coupling works with aryldiazonium salts containing two additional substituents.
Acid‐Controlled Regional Diverse Synthesis of CF3‐Containing Ketoimines and Application in the Construction of Bispiro[oxindole‐pyrrolidine‐benzothiophenone]s
Authors: Sun Shuo , Chen Danna , Guo Hai , Liu Yinghui , Liu Xia , Yan Wenjin , Huang Jinqi
Published: July 2023

Here described an acid‐controlled regional diverse synthesized process of CF3‐containing ketoimines by the condensation of benzo[b]thiophene‐2,3‐dione and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethlamine. The imines obtained at either the 2‐position or 3‐position can be further used as substrates in asymmetric organocatalyzed [3+2]‐cycloaddition reactions, leading to a library of regiodiverse bispiro‐compounds with 85–96 % yield and 65–99 % ee.
The excluded ordinary? A theory of populist radical right supporters’ position in society
Authors: Versteegen Peter Luca
Published: July 2023

Populist Radical Right (PRR) supporters see themselves as ordinary people, represent a broad societal spectrum, and overrepresent historically powerful majorities (e.g., whites, men). Simultaneously, members of these groups increasingly feel neglected or discriminated against. In article, I argue that some PRR supporters may feel excluded from society despite seeing themselves as ordinary people. Optimal Distinctiveness Theory posits that individuals must balance their countervailing needs to belong to the larger group while feeling recognized as unique subgroup members. While PRR supporters’ self‐perception as ordinary people suggests that they experience belonging to the larger society, subjective experiences of neglect and disrespect may leave their uniqueness need unsatisfied. I showcase this argument using semi‐structured interviews with German PRR supporters. I discuss avenues for future quantitative tests and raise a significant implication: if subjective lack of subgroup uniqueness contributes to PRR support, reminding majority members of their objective subgroup recognition could mitigate it.
Enhancement of dielectrophoresis‐based particle collection from high conducting fluids due to partial electrode insulation
Authors: Luna Ramona , Heineck Daniel , Hinestrosa Juan Pablo , Dobrovolskaia Irina , Hamilton Sean , Malakian Anna , Gustafson Kyle T. , Huynh Katherine T. , Kim Sejung , Ware Jason , Stimson Ella , Ross Christian , Schutt Carolyn E. , Ibsen Stuart D.
Published: July 2023

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a successful method to recover nanoparticles from different types of fluid. The DEP force acting on these particles is created by an electrode microarray that produces a nonuniform electric field. To apply DEP to a highly conducting biological fluid, a protective hydrogel coating over the metal electrodes is required to create a barrier between the electrode and the fluid. This protects the electrodes, reduces the electrolysis of water, and allows the electric field to penetrate into the fluid sample. We observed that the protective hydrogel layer can separate from the electrode and form a closed domed structure and that collection of 100 nm polystyrene beads increased when this occurred. To better understand this collection increase, we used COMSOL Multiphysics software to model the electric field in the presence of the dome filled with different materials ranging from low‐conducting gas to high conducting phosphate‐buffered saline fluids. The results suggest that as the electrical conductivity of the material inside the dome is reduced, the whole dome acts as an insulator which increases electric field intensity at the electrode edge. This increased intensity widens the high‐intensity electric field factor zone resulting in increased collection. This informs how dome formation results in increased particle collection and provides insight into how the electric field can be intensified to the increase collection of particles. These results have important applications for increasing the recovery of biologically‐derived nanoparticles from undiluted physiological fluids that have high conductance, including the collection of cancer‐derived extracellular vesicles from plasma for liquid biopsy applications.
Framing the benefits of European Union policy expansion on energy efficiency of buildings: A Swiss knife or a Trojan horse
Authors: von Malmborg Fredrik , Björklund Martin , Nordensvärd Johan
Published: July 2023

This paper analyzes through qualitative and quantitative analysis of European Union (EU) policy documents the framing of EU policy on energy‐efficient buildings from the 1970s to 2022. We find that it has been framed in different ways over the decades and the framing has expanded to include more and more benefits. Through this expansion, energy efficiency has been linked to other policy areas, such as security, environmental, economic, and social policy. The shifts in framing can be seen as responses to external events. The expansion can also be explained using two metaphors to analyze how the framing differs depending on political positioning. One where policy is seen as a Swiss knife, able to solve multiple political problems, and one where policy is seen as a Trojan horse, where new policy domains are snuck in by policymakers disguising it as energy efficiency policy to increase EU competency in relation to national governments.
Potential Poroelastic Triggering of the 2020 M5.0 Mentone Earthquake in the Delaware Basin, Texas, by Shallow Injection Wells
Authors: Tan Xinyu , Lui Semechah K. Y.
Published: July 2023

The Delaware Basin in Texas, one of the largest oil and gas production
sites in the US, has been impacted by widespread seismicity in recent
years. The M5.0 earthquake that occurred in March 2020 near the town of
Mentone is one of the largest induced earthquakes recorded in this
region. Characterizing the source parameters and triggering mechanism of
this major event is imperative to assess and mitigate future hazard
risk. A former study showed that this event may be attributed to the
deep injection nearby. Interestingly, the earthquake is located in
proximity to shallow injection wells with much larger total injection
volume. In this study, we investigate the role of these shallow
injection wells in the triggering of the M5.0 event despite their
farther distance from the mainshock. We perform source-parameter
inversion and earthquake relocation to determine the precise orientation
of the south-facing normal fault plane where the mainshock occurred,
followed by fully coupled poroelastic stress modeling of the change of
Coulomb Failure Stress (ΔCFS) on the fitted fault plane caused by
shallow injection in the region. Results show that shallow wells caused
up to 20 kPa of ΔCFS near the mainshock location, dominated by positive
poroelastic stress change. Such perturbation surpasses the general
triggering threshold of faults that are well aligned with the local
stress field and suggests the nonnegligible role of these shallow wells
in the triggering of the mainshock. We also discuss the complex effect
of poroelastic stress perturbation in the subsurface and highlight the
importance of detailed geomechanical evaluation of the reservoir when
developing relevant operational and safety policies.
Option pricing with overnight and intraday volatility
Authors: Liang Fang , Du Lingshan , Huang Zhuo
Published: July 2023

Efficiently exploiting the volatility information contained in price variations is important for pricing options and other derivatives. In this study, we develop a new and flexible option‐pricing model that explicitly specifies the joint dynamics of overnight and intraday returns. The application of multivariate Edgeworth–Sargan density enables us to derive analytical approximations for option valuation formulas. Empirically, the model improves significantly upon benchmark models using S&P 500 index options. In particular, its separate modeling of intraday and overnight return volatility leads to an out‐of‐sample gain of 7.24% in pricing accuracy compared with the modeling of the close‐to‐close return volatility as a whole. The improvements are more pronounced during highly volatile periods.
Spanking and parental verbal aggression during early childhood: Association with later academic achievement and the mediating role of executive function
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhang Liwei , Zhai Fuhua
Published: July 2023

Spanking and parental verbal aggression are potentially toxic stressors that can negatively affect children's academic achievement by disrupting mental skills like executive function. Yet little empirical evidence has been provided for this mediating pathway. This study used data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Cohort of 2010–2011 (n = 11,421) to examine the associations between early childhood exposure to spanking and parental verbal aggression and subsequent academic achievement. We also investigated the mechanism for these associations by exploring the mediating role of executive function within those associations. Findings revealed that spanking and parental verbal aggression in kindergarten and first grade were negatively associated with reading and math scores in fifth grade, controlling for demographics and initial academic performance. Executive function (i.e., inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory) accounted for more than half (50%–57%) and more than one fourth (24%–31%) of the total effects of spanking and verbal aggression on academic achievement, respectively. Findings provide important evidence for early intervention programs aiming to promote children's academic achievement and executive function by interfering or preventing harsh discipline.

Highlights

We examined the pathway from spanking and verbal aggression in early childhood to academic achievement in later school years through executive function.

Path analysis results show executive function was a significant mediator in the negative associations between academic achievement in fifth grade and early exposure to spanking and aggression.

Besides avoiding harsh parenting, intervention programs to support child academic achievement could also target promoting executive function development.
Gender equitable attitudes as a significant mediator of bystander intentions among sexual minority adolescents
Authors: López Gabriela , Bhuptani Prachi H. , Orchowski Lindsay M.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Bystander intervention is a promising approach for prevention of sexual violence. Assessing factors that may promote or hinder bystander intervention among sexual minority adolescents (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer) is essential, given high rates of violence among sexual minority youth. Prior research examining barriers and facilitators of bystander intervention intentions does not consider how factors may vary by sexual identity. As such, the current study aimed to (1) examine how barriers and facilitators of bystander intentions, bystander intentions, and bystander behavior vary between heterosexual and sexual minority high school adolescents and (2) explore mediators of the association between sexual identity and bystander intervention intentions. We proposed that students’ level of school connectedness, gender equitable attitudes, and anticipated positive consequences of bystander intervention (e.g., having a moral desire to help) would promote bystander intervention intentions, whereas binge drinking, and students anticipated negative consequences of bystander intervention (e.g., fear for one's own safety) would tend to weaken bystander intervention intentions.

Methods

Participants included 2,645 10th grade students (Mage = 15.37, SD = 0.61) recruited from high schools in the Northeast United States.

Results

Sexual minority youth reported higher bystander intentions, bystander behavior, anticipated positive consequences of bystander intervention, gender equitable attitudes, and binge drinking relative to heterosexual youth. Sexual minority youth had lower school connectedness than heterosexual youth. Anticipated negative consequences of bystander intervention did not vary by group. Parallel linear regression analyses found that only anticipated positive consequences of bystander intervention and gender equitable attitudes fully mediated the relationships between sexual identity and bystander intentions.

Conclusions

Bystander intervention programs may benefit from attending to specific facilitators of bystander intervention among sexual minority youth, such as gender equitable attitudes.
Confidential grief: How counselors cope with client suicide
Authors: Salpietro Lena , Ausloos Clark D. , Clark Madeline , Zacarias Rosalyn , Perez Jacob
Published: July 2023

We engaged in this study to better understand how counselors cope with and process client suicide. A researcher who also experienced a client suicide conducted interviews with licensed professional counselors (N = 7). Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, we identified eight superordinate themes: (a) professional counseling culture, (b) intense emotional reaction, (c) processing loss, (d) supports, (e) barriers, (f) impairment, (g) disillusionment, and (h) finding meaning. Findings have implications for the counseling profession, counselor educators, agencies and supervisors, counselors, and counselors‐in‐training.
Analytical quadrature method using recurrence formulas for two‐electron integrals of frequency‐dependent Breit interaction
Authors: Inoue Nobuki , Nakajima Takahito
Published: July 2023

A recursive scheme was proposed to calculate two‐electron integrals of frequency‐dependent Breit interactions in electronic structure calculations using Gaussian basis functions. As shown in a previous study [R. Ahlrichs, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 8 (2006) 3072–3077], the vertical recurrence relation for the two‐electron integrals of the general two‐body potential is valid. In addition, the authors have shown that the horizontal case is also valid. Explicit expressions for generalized molecular incomplete gamma function corresponding to the frequency‐dependent Gaunt and gauge potentials were then derived, along with their asymptotic formulas. In addition, an implementation for computing the generalized molecular incomplete gamma function was proposed. Through numerical calculations, the shape of the curves of the generalized molecular incomplete gamma functions were found to vary significantly from that of the zero‐energy case with the increase in the energy variable.
Characterizing suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviors, and service utilization among unhoused individuals using a health information exchange
Authors: Ho Zandra V. , Arias Sarah A. , Kunicki Zachary J. , Sarkar Indra Neil , Chen Elizabeth S.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Unhoused individuals have high rates of suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal behaviors (SB), but few have studied the relative timing of homelessness and SI/SB. Our study examines the potential to use state‐wide electronic health record data from Rhode Island's health information exchange (HIE) to identify temporal relationships, service utilization, and associations of SI/SB among unhoused individuals.

Methods

We use timestamped HIE data for 5368 unhoused patients to analyze service utilization and the relative timing of homelessness versus SI/SB onset. Multivariable models identified associations of SI/SB, hospitalization, and repeat acute care utilization within 30 days from clinical features representing 10,000+ diagnoses captured within the HIE.

Results

The onset of SI typically precedes homelessness onset, while the onset of SB typically follows. Weekly rates of suicide‐related service utilization increased over 25 times the baseline rate during the week before and after homelessness onset. Over 50% of encounters involving SI/SB result in hospitalization. Of those engaging in acute care for suicide‐related reasons, we found high rates of repeat acute care encounters.

Conclusion

HIEs are a particularly valuable resource for understudied populations. Our study demonstrates how longitudinal, multi‐institutional data from an HIE can be used to characterize temporal associations, service utilization, and clinical associations of SI and behaviors among a vulnerable population at scale. Increasing access to services that address co‐occurring SI/SB, mental health, and substance use is needed.
The use of a multicellular in vitro model to investigate uptake and migration of bacterial extracellular vesicles derived from the human gut commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
Authors: Modasia Amisha A. , Jones Emily J. , Martel L. Marie‐Pascale , Louvel Hélène , Couraud Pierre‐Olivier , Blackshaw L. Ashley , Carding Simon R.
Published: July 2023

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are increasingly seen as key signalling mediators between the gut microbiota and the host. Recent studies have provided evidence of BEVs ability to transmigrate across cellular barriers to elicit responses in other tissues, such as the central nervous system (CNS). Here we use a combination of single‐, two‐ and three‐cell culture systems to demonstrate the transmigration of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron derived BEVs (Bt‐BEVs) across gut epithelium and blood brain barrier (BBB) endothelium, and their subsequent acquisition and downstream effects in neuronal cells. Bt‐BEVs were shown to traffic to the CNS in vivo after intravenous administration to mice, and in multi‐cell in vitro culture systems to transmigrate across gut epithelial and BBB endothelial cell barriers, where they were acquired by both microglia and immature neuronal cells. No significant activation/inflammatory effects were induced in non‐differentiated neurons, in contrast to that observed in microglia cells, although this was notably less than that induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Overall, our findings provide evidence for transmigration of Bt‐BEVs across gut‐epithelial and BBB endothelial cell barriers in vivo and in vitro, and their downstream responses in neural cells. This study sheds light onto how commensal bacteria‐derived BEV transport across the gut‐brain axis and can be exploited for the development of targeted drug delivery.
Vidjil add‐on for MRD quantification of samples processed using the EuroClonality‐NGS protocol
Authors: Giusti Guilherme Navarro Nilo , Ribeiro Antonio Vítor , Jotta Patrícia Yoshioka , Thonier Florian , Yunes José Andrés , Meidanis João
Published: July 2023

Assessment of minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia by immune repertoire NGS requires spiking CDR3 sequences at known quantities into the patient's sample. Recently, the EuroClonality‐NGS group released one of the most comprehensive protocols for this purpose. ARResT/Interrogate is a closed‐source software for processing these NGS libraries, developed by this same group. Vidjil, an open‐source alternative, currently cannot handle libraries prepared using this protocol. Here, we present a Vidjil add‐on to solve this issue. EuroClonality‐NGS prepared samples analyzed with Vidjil and ARResT/Interrogate were highly concordant (r = 0.998) and presented low error (root‐mean‐square error, RMSE = 0.112).
Deep Learning for Discrimination of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Hypertensive Heart Disease on MRI Native T1 Maps
Authors: Wang Zi‐Chen , Fan Zhang‐Zhengyi , Liu Xi‐Yuan , Zhu Ming‐Jie , Jiang Shan‐Shan , Tian Song , Chen Bing‐Hua , Wu Lian‐Ming
Published: July 2023

Background

Native T1 and radiomics were used for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hypertensive heart disease (HHD) differentiation previously. The current problem is that global native T1 remains modest discrimination performance and radiomics requires feature extraction beforehand. Deep learning (DL) is a promising technique in differential diagnosis. However, its feasibility for discriminating HCM and HHD has not been investigated.

Purpose

To examine the feasibility of DL in differentiating HCM and HHD based on T1 images and compare its diagnostic performance with other methods.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

128 HCM patients (men, 75; age, 50 years ± 16) and 59 HHD patients (men, 40; age, 45 years ± 17).

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T; Balanced steady‐state free precession, phase‐sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) and multislice native T1 mapping.

Assessment

Compare HCM and HHD patients baseline data. Myocardial T1 values were extracted from native T1 images. Radiomics was implemented through feature extraction and Extra Trees Classifier. The DL network is ResNet32. Different input including myocardial ring (DL‐myo), myocardial ring bounding box (DL‐box) and the surrounding tissue without myocardial ring (DL‐nomyo) were tested. We evaluate diagnostic performance through AUC of ROC curve.

Statistical Tests

Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, ROC, and AUC were calculated. Independent t test, Mann–Whitney U‐test and Chi‐square test were adopted for HCM and HHD comparison. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

DL‐myo, DL‐box, and DL‐nomyo models showed an AUC (95% confidential interval) of 0.830 (0.702–0.959), 0.766 (0.617–0.915), 0.795 (0.654–0.936) in the testing set. AUC of native T1 and radiomics were 0.545 (0.352–0.738) and 0.800 (0.655–0.944) in the testing set.

Data Conclusion

The DL method based on T1 mapping seems capable of discriminating HCM and HHD. Considering diagnostic performance, the DL network outperformed the native T1 method. Compared with radiomics, DL won an advantage for its high specificity and automated working mode.

Level of Evidence

4

Technical Efficacy Stage

2
Return to Vocal Performance Following Microlaryngoscopy in Singers
Authors: Rives Hal , Clark Christine M. , Estes Christine M. , Sulica Lucian
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Although microlaryngoscopy has been recognized to be effective in addressing lesions in vocal performers, no detailed information regarding return to performance (RTP) following surgery exists. We describe our experience and offer proposals to establish standardized criteria for RTP among vocal performers.

Methods

Records for adult vocalists who underwent microlaryngoscopy for benign vocal fold (VF) lesions and had a clearly documented RTP date between 2006 and 2022 were reviewed. Patient demographics, diagnoses, interventions, and postsurgical care before and after RTP were described. The need for medical and procedural interventions and rate of reinjury were used to determine the success of RTP.

Results

Sixty‐nine vocal performers (average age: 32.8 years, 41 [59.4%] female, 61 [88.4%] musical theater) underwent surgery for 37 (53.6%) pseudocysts, 25 (36.2%) polyps, 5 (7.2%) cysts, 1 (1.4%) varix, and 1 (1.4%) mucosal bridge. Fifty‐seven (82.6%) underwent voice therapy. The average time to RTP was 65.0 ± 29.8 days. Prior to RTP, six (8.7%) experienced VF edema requiring oral steroids and one (1.4%) underwent a VF steroid injection. Within 6 months following RTP, eight (11.6%) received oral steroids for edema and three underwent procedural interventions (two steroid injections for edema/stiffness, one injection augmentation for paresis). One patient experienced pseudocyst recurrence.

Conclusions

Return to vocal performance at an average of 2 months following microlaryngoscopy for benign lesions appears overwhelmingly successful, with low rates of need for additional intervention. There is a need for validated instruments to better measure performance fitness to refine and possibly accelerate RTP.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 134:329–334, 2024
Learning health system benefits: Development and initial validation of a framework
Authors: Welch Lisa C. , Brewer Sarah K. , Schleyer Titus , Daudelin Denise , Paranal Rechelle , Hunt Joe D. , Dozier Ann M. , Perry Anna , Cabrera Alyssa B. , Gatto Cheryl L.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Implementation of research findings in clinical practice often is not realized or only partially achieved, and if so, with a significant delay. Learning health systems (LHSs) hold promise to overcome this problem by embedding clinical research and evidence‐based best practices into care delivery, enabling innovation and continuous improvement. Implementing an LHS is a complex process that requires participation and resources of a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare leaders, clinical providers, patients and families, payers, and researchers. Engaging these stakeholders requires communicating clear, tangible value propositions. Existing models identify broad categories of benefits but do not explicate the full range of benefits or ways they can manifest in different organizations.

Methods

To develop such a framework, a working group with representatives from six Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs reviewed existing literature on LHS characteristics, models, and goals; solicited expert input; and applied the framework to their local LHS experiences.

Results

The Framework of LHS Benefits includes six categories of benefits (quality, safety, equity, patient satisfaction, reputation, and value) relevant for a range of stakeholders and defines key concepts within each benefit. Applying the framework to five LHS case examples indicated preliminary face validity across varied LHS approaches and revealed three dimensions in which the framework is relevant: defining goals of individual LHS projects, facilitating collaboration based on shared values, and establishing guiding tenets of an LHS program or mission.

Conclusion

The framework can be used to communicate the value of an LHS to different stakeholders across varied contexts and purposes, and to identify future organizational priorities. Further validation will contribute to the framework's evolution and support its potential to inform the development of tools to evaluate LHS impact.
Mapping the service recovery research landscape: A bibliometric‐based systematic review
Authors: Mir Mahmood , Ashraf Rohail , Syed Tahir Abbas , Ali Sara , Nawaz Raheel
Published: July 2023

With businesses under increasing pressure to provide excellent customer service, postfailure recovery strategies have become critical for long‐term customer satisfaction and loyalty. The domain of service recovery has extensively been examined in academia; however, systematic studies that provide a consolidated overview remains scant. To this end, we provide a systematic review and synthesis of service recovery literature by conducting a bibliometric‐based cocitation analysis of 24,741 cited references from 1020 articles from across disciplines. The study identifies 10 major research clusters that represent different research streams of service recovery and explores their intellectual foundations. In addition, the research presents a conceptual framework to serve as a parsimonious guide for both practitioners and researchers. Furthermore, the study reveals a number of gaps in the existing literature and suggests promising directions for further investigation, including but not limited to: expanding methodological horizons in service recovery research, understanding service recovery mechanisms in Metaverse and synthetic environments, globalizing service recovery research, revitalizing service recovery processes in the age of artificial intelligence and robotics, investigating service recovery as an investment, and exploring service recovery in shared economies. Notably, this study serves managers, firstly, by providing them with a parsimonious structure of service recovery field that could help identify areas of improvement in their own service recovery systems and, secondly, by highlighting areas where academic knowledge base could inform industry solutions.
Clay‐associated microbial communities and their relevance for a nuclear waste repository in the Opalinus Clay rock formation
Authors: Mitzscherling Julia , Genderjahn Steffi , Schleicher Anja M. , Bartholomäus Alexander , Kallmeyer Jens , Wagner Dirk
Published: July 2023

Microorganisms are known to be natural agents of biocorrosion and mineral transformation, thereby potentially affecting the safety of deep geological repositories used for high‐level nuclear waste storage. To better understand how resident microbial communities of the deep terrestrial biosphere may act on mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of insulating clays, we analyzed their structure and potential metabolic functions, as well as site‐specific mineralogy and element composition from the dedicated Mont Terri underground research laboratory, Switzerland. We found that the Opalinus Clay formation is mainly colonized by Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, which are known for corrosive biofilm formation. Potential iron‐reducing bacteria were predominant in comparison to methanogenic archaea and sulfate‐reducing bacteria. Despite microbial communities in Opalinus Clay being in majority homogenous, site‐specific mineralogy and geochemistry conditions have selected for subcommunities that display metabolic potential for mineral dissolution and transformation. Our findings indicate that the presence of a potentially low‐active mineral‐associated microbial community must be further studied to prevent effects on the repository's integrity over the long term.
Nonlinear approximation of functions based on nonnegative least squares solver
Authors: Vabishchevich Petr N.
Published: July 2023

In computational practice, most attention is paid to rational approximations of functions and approximations by the sum of exponents. We consider a wide enough class of nonlinear approximations characterized by a set of two required parameters. The approximating function is linear in the first parameter; these parameters are assumed to be positive. The individual terms of the approximating function represent a fixed function that depends nonlinearly on the second parameter. A numerical approximation minimizes the residual functional by approximating function values at individual points. The second parameter's value is set on a more extensive set of points of the interval of permissible values. The proposed approach's key feature consists in determining the first parameter on each separate iteration of the classical nonnegative least squares method. The computational algorithm is used to rational approximate the function . The second example concerns the approximation of the stretching exponential function at by the sum of exponents.
Testing how information about cost‐effectiveness, cause preferences, and geographic preferences interact to affect philanthropic giving
Authors: Taggart Gabel , Cooper Kathryn E.
Published: July 2023

The broad instrumental philanthropy movement advocates for considerations of cost‐effective impact in donation decisions. Within that broader movement, the effective altruism movement goes as far as to advocate for cause neutrality and geographic neutrality when prioritizing cost‐effectiveness in charity. We present a survey experiment that examined how information about cost‐effectiveness, cause area preferences, and geographic preferences interact to affect philanthropic giving. The experiment varied these three dimensions in a hypothetical giving situation and found that cost‐effectiveness information had the strongest influence on hypothetical giving. Participants gave most when presented with charities that were shown to be highly cost‐effective, local/domestic, and that matched their preferred cause area. Understanding how these three considerations interact to affect donors is important as donors continue to desire more information about the cost‐effective impact of their donation.
Enhanced microwave absorption properties of magnetite nanoparticles decorated multi walled carbon nanotubes loaded polyaniline/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposites
Authors: Narayanasamy Kavitha , Chinnakkannu Karikal Chozhan , Sharma Devansh , Kannaiyan Dinakaran
Published: July 2023

Electromagnetic radiation interference (EMI) or pollution is increased significantly in proportion to the expansion of electronic and communication industries, which lead to the disturbance of the functioning of electronic gadgets and medical equipments, in addition to the human health damage. The Microwave absorbing (MA) composite comprised of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyaniline (PANI), carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and iron oxide (Fe3O4) has been developed with various proportions, denoted as PVA/PANI/MWCNT/Fe3O4 (1%, 3%, 5%). Fe3O4 was prepared using a hydrothermal method, and PVA/PANI/MWCNT/Fe3O4 (1%, 3%, 5%) nanocomposites was made by solvent casting techniques. The PVA composite films were also subjected to a range of analyses including IR, TGA, DTA, DTG, SEM, TEM, dielectric measurements and EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE), to describe their characteristics. The results of various studies indicate that the PVA/PANI/MWCNT/Fe3O4 (1%, 3%, 5%) composites possess enhanced thermal and dielectric characteristics, for instance the PVA/PANI/MWCNT/5% Fe3O4 blend nanocomposites possess 10% initial decomposition at 220°C and dielectric constant of 3.2 × 107 at 1 MHz. The total EMI SE value for the synthetic PVA/PANI/MWCNT/Fe3O4 was found at 9.2 and 10 GHz is 48 and 54 dB, respectively, exhibiting synergistic properties of the composites toward EMI shielding. The microwave absorption spectra indicate two absorption peaks in the region around 8 to 12 GHz, with the absorption reflection loss (RL) value of −20 dB at 10 GHz for the PVA/PANI/MWCNT/5% Fe3O4 nanocomposites.
Preparation and application of ZIF‐67/gelatin porous composite membrane via high internal phase emulsion
Authors: Pu Maoyuan , Cao Liqin , Zhang Li
Published: July 2023

The high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) template method is widely used to prepare porous functional materials because of its designable emulsion components and adjustable porosity. Herein, amphiphilic gelatin (GE) as the sole emulsion stabilizer, and no additional emulsifiers were added to prepare a stable GE‐HIPE membrane and its zeolitic imidazolate framework‐67 (ZIF‐67) hybrid composite membrane. The ZIF‐67/GE‐HIPE composite membrane has good lipophilicity by constructing dual micro‐nano structures by HIPE template and in situ growth of ZIF‐67. When ZIF‐67 was grown in situ, the water contact angle (CA) increased from 58.1 ± 2° for the GE membrane to 121 ± 1.9° for ZIF‐67/GE‐HIPE composite membranes. Besides, the minimum CA of organic solvent is 4.5 ± 0.7° (n‐hexane). The ZIF‐67/GE‐HIPE composite membranes exhibit good O/W emulsion separation properties and adsorption removal ability of organic pollutants. After 10 times of recycling emulsion separation, the emulsion separation capacity of the membrane was still greater than 99.4%. The lipophilic dye removal rate of the ZIF‐67/GE‐HIPE composite membrane was 2.37 times higher than that of GE‐HIPE, and the adsorption process conforms to the pseudo‐second‐order model. Thus, this work provides a strategy for the preparation of GE‐based hydrophobic modified membrane and also presents a typical treatment of adsorption‐separation of lipophilic substances.