bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression analysis of the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) ARF, Aux/IAA, GH3, and SAUR gene families
Authors: Mathura Sarah R. , Sutton Fedora , Bowrin Valerie
Published: December 2023

Background

Auxins are known to have roles in the tuberization process in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam.) and these effects are mediated by various auxin signalling gene families. In this study, an analysis of the sweet potato genome was performed to identify the ARF, Aux/IAA, GH3, and SAUR auxin signalling gene family members in this crop.

Results

A total of 29 ARF, 39 Aux/IAA, 13 GH3, and 200 SAUR sequences were obtained, and their biochemical properties and gene expression profiles were analysed. The sequences were relatively conserved based on exon–intron structure, motif analysis, and phylogenetic tree construction. In silico expression analyses of the genes in fibrous and storage roots indicated that many sequences were not differentially expressed in tuberizing and non-tuberizing roots. However, some ARF, Aux/IAA, and SAUR genes were up-regulated in tuberizing storage roots compared to non-tuberizing fibrous roots while many GH3 genes were down-regulated. Additionally, these genes were expressed in a variety of plant parts, with some genes being highly expressed in shoots, leaves, and stems while others had higher expression in the roots. Some of these genes are up-regulated during the plant’s response to various hormone treatments and abiotic stresses. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmation of gene expression was also conducted, and the results were concordant with the in silico analyses. A protein–protein interaction network was predicted for the differentially expressed genes, suggesting that these genes likely form part of a complex regulatory network that controls tuberization. These results confirm those of existing studies that show that auxin signalling genes have numerous roles in sweet potato growth and development.

Conclusion

This study provides useful information on the auxin signalling gene families in Ipomoea batatas and suggests putative candidates for further studies on the role of auxin signalling in tuberization and plant development.
Confounding-adjustment methods for the causal difference in medians
Authors: Shepherd Daisy A. , Baer Benjamin R. , Moreno-Betancur Margarita
Published: December 2023

Background

With continuous outcomes, the average causal effect is typically defined using a contrast of expected potential outcomes. However, in the presence of skewed outcome data, the expectation (population mean) may no longer be meaningful. In practice the typical approach is to continue defining the estimand this way or transform the outcome to obtain a more symmetric distribution, although neither approach may be entirely satisfactory. Alternatively the causal effect can be redefined as a contrast of median potential outcomes, yet discussion of confounding-adjustment methods to estimate the causal difference in medians is limited. In this study we described and compared confounding-adjustment methods to address this gap.

Methods

The methods considered were multivariable quantile regression, an inverse probability weighted (IPW) estimator, weighted quantile regression (another form of IPW) and two little-known implementations of g-computation for this problem. Methods were evaluated within a simulation study under varying degrees of skewness in the outcome and applied to an empirical study using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children.

Results

Simulation results indicated the IPW estimator, weighted quantile regression and g-computation implementations minimised bias across all settings when the relevant models were correctly specified, with g-computation additionally minimising the variance. Multivariable quantile regression, which relies on a constant-effect assumption, consistently yielded biased results. Application to the empirical study illustrated the practical value of these methods.

Conclusion

The presented methods provide appealing avenues for estimating the causal difference in medians.
A novel patient-derived immortalised cell line of myxofibrosarcoma: a tool for preclinical drugs testing and the generation of near-patient models
Authors: Guerrieri Ania Naila , Bellotti Chiara , Penzo Marianna , Columbaro Marta , Pannella Micaela , De Vita Alessandro , Gambarotti Marco , Mercatali Laura , Laranga Roberta , Dozza Barbara , Vanni Silvia , Corsini Serena , Frisoni Tommaso , Miserocchi Giacomo , Ibrahim Toni , Lucarelli Enrico
Published: December 2023

Background

Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare malignant soft tissue sarcoma characterised by multiple local recurrence and can become of higher grade with each recurrence. Consequently, myxofibrosarcoma represents a burden for patients, a challenge for clinicians, and an interesting disease to study tumour progression. Currently, few myxofibrosarcoma preclinical models are available.

Methods

In this paper, we present a spontaneously immortalised myxofibrosarcoma patient-derived cell line (MF-R 3). We performed phenotypic characterization through multiple biological assays and analyses: proliferation, clonogenic potential, anchorage-independent growth and colony formation, migration, invasion, AgNOR staining, and ultrastructural evaluation.

Results

MF-R 3 cells match morphologic and phenotypic characteristics of the original tumour as 2D cultures, 3D aggregates, and on the chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryos. Overall results show a clear neoplastic potential of this cell line. Finally, we tested MF-R 3 sensitivity to anthracyclines in 2D and 3D conditions finding a good response to these drugs.

Conclusions

In conclusion, we established a novel patient-derived myxofibrosarcoma cell line that, together with the few others available, could serve as an important model for studying the molecular pathogenesis of myxofibrosarcoma and for testing new drugs and therapeutic strategies in diverse experimental settings.
Complications during elective cataract surgery: did the COVID-19 lockdown affect outcomes of ophthalmic surgery?
Authors: Hulsmans Nicky H. , Nuijts Rudy M. M. A. , Zegers Richard H. C.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

One of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was a worldwide lockdown of ophthalmic surgery procedures for several months in 2020. The present study aims to answer the following question: does an intermission of cataract surgery for two months cause an increase in complication rates?

Methods

In this retrospective clinical chart review, data was taken from Dutch cataract complication registration database that contains pre-, intra- and postoperative information of patients that underwent cataract surgery in the Netherlands. The amount as well as type of complications were extracted before and after the eight weeks surgical intermission period (SIP): six weeks before (SIP-6) and six weeks after this period (SIP+6) for the years 2016–2020.

Results

A significant decrease in complication rates was found between SIP-6 and SIP+6 in 2020. When SIP+6 2020 is compared to SIP+6 2019, a significant reduction is found. Overall, a downward trend in complication rates was observed in the period 2016–2020.

Conclusion

A two-months intermission of performing elective cataract surgery does not cause an increase in complications. In contrast, we observe a reduction of postoperative complications. This implicates that refraining from cataract surgery for two months might not compromise operative skills. The possible downward trend over the years can be partially explained by improved training, education and equipment, as well as an increased use of intracameral antibiotics during operation. Possible explanations for the reduction of complications after lockdown could be decreased time pressure as a consequence of a reduced number of operations at the restart of surgeries, and heightened awareness and cautiousness when resuming the operations.
Prevalence of internet addiction and anxiety, and factors associated with the high level of anxiety among adolescents in Hanoi, Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Dien Tran Minh , Chi Pham Thi Lan , Duy Pham Quang , Anh Le Ha , Ngan Nguyen Thi Kim , Hoang Lan Vu Thi
Published: December 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting isolation measures created an increase in the usage of smart devices and internet among adolescents. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of internet addiction, the prevalence of high level of anxiety as well as to examine factors associated with the high level of anxiety among adolescents in Hanoi, Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

Data was collected using respondent-driven sampling and Google online survey forms from a sample of 5,325 school students aged 11–17 in Hanoi between October and December 2021. A short scale consisting of 5 items was used to measure internet addiction and the GAD-7 was used to measure adolescent anxiety level.

Results

The findings revealed that 22.8% and 7.32% of adolescents experienced moderate and severe anxiety. About 32.7% of the study sample exhibited at least three internet addiction indicators. Logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors for high levels of adolescent anxiety. Being female, family experiencing economic difficulties, and exposure to domestic violence were associated with higher risk of anxiety disorder (OR 1.78, 1.45, and 2.89, respectively). Both average daily online time and internet addiction demonstrated gradient association with high level of anxiety.

Conclusion

The prevalence of internet addiction and high level of anxiety were high among adolescents in Hanoi, Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the importance of implementing measures at the family and school levels to promote a balanced and healthy approach to smart device use among adolescents.
A longitudinal analysis of the fluctuation of food stores in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Authors: de Freitas Patrícia Pinheiro , Lopes Mariana Souza , Costa Bruna Vieira de Lima , Sales Denise Marques , de Menezes Mariana Carvalho , Jaime Patrícia Constante , Lopes Aline Cristine Souza
Published: December 2023

Background

Changes in food environments have the potential to affect consumption, nutritional status, and health, and understanding these changes is of utmost importance. This study, therefore, aimed to examine the fluctuation of food stores that sell fruits and vegetables over five years in the health promotion service area of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods

This was an ecological study that used data from a food environment audit conducted in the realm of Brazilian PHC. Buffers of 1 mile (equivalent to 1600 m) were created around health promotion services to define food environments. All food stores and open-air food markets that sold fruits and vegetables (FV) within this buffer area were considered eligible. The data collection was performed during two periods: the baseline, in 2013, and after five years, in 2018. This study compares the fluctuation by the type of stores and according to the health vulnerability index (HVI).

Results

After 5 years, 35.2% of the stores were stable; 154 stores were closed, and 155 were opened. The stability was greater in low-vulnerability areas, and the fluctuation differed by type of store only for areas with high vulnerability. The number of supermarket decreased in high HVI territories; and local stores, showed greater stability when compared to specialized FV markets.

Conclusions

The differences in store fluctuations according to the vulnerability of areas demonstrate the importance of food supply policies considering the local characteristics to reduce inequities of access to healthy foods.
Femoral nerve palsy as a complication due to COVID-19 coagulopathy and iliopsoas muscle hematoma – case report
Authors: Tutak Sławomir , Bartosz Paweł , Burda Bartosz , Sztwiertnia Paweł , Białecki Jerzy
Published: December 2023

Background

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic is the main medical problem around the world from the end of 2019. We found until now many symptoms of this disease, but one of the most problematic was thrombosis. Wide recommendation on COVID-19 treatment was pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. In some papers we found that clinicians face the problem of bleeding in those patients. Is still unknown that coronavirus could led to the coagulopathy.

Case presentation

We described case report of patient who with COVID-19 disease present femoral nerve palsy caused by the iliopsoas hematoma. There were no deviations in coaguology parameters, patient got standard thromboprophylaxis, besides above probably COVID-19 was risk factor of hematoma formation. Non-operative treatment was applied, thrombophylaxis was discontinued. In the follow up in the radiological exam we saw reduction of the haematoma and patient report decrease of symptoms.

Conclusions

We should assess individually patient with COVID-19 according to thrombosis risk factors. Probably we should be more careful in ordering thrombophylaxis medications in COVID-19 patients.
Anatomic femoral tunnel position in medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction: anterior versus posterior
Authors: Yoon Kyoung Ho , Park Cheol Hee , Hwang Sung Hyun , Baek Hyunjae , Lee Hee Sung
Published: December 2023

Background

This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) between anatomic femoral tunnel positions at anterior and posterior footprints.

Methods

Fifty-seven patients who underwent MPFLR for patellofemoral instability with anterior or posterior femoral tunnels between 2014 and 2021 with at least 2 years of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Based on postoperative images, the femoral tunnel positions anterior to the line connecting the adductor tubercle and medial epicondyle were assigned to the anterior group, group A, and those posterior to the line to the posterior group, group P. Thirty-two patients were included in group A (mean age, 22.4 ± 8.8 years), and another 25 patients were included in group P (mean age, 21.1 ± 6.1 years). The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, Kujala score, and complications were evaluated. Radiologically, the Caton–Deschamps index (CDI), patellar tilt angle, and patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) using the Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) scale were evaluated. The patellofemoral cartilage status according to the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade, bone contusion, femoral tunnel enlargement, and MPFL graft signal intensity were also evaluated.

Results

All clinical scores significantly improved in both groups (p < 0.01). No differences were noted between the two groups in terms of their preoperative demographic data, postoperative clinical scores (IKDC, Lysholm, Tegner, and Kujala), complications, or radiological findings (CDI, patellar tilt angle, PFOA, bone contusion, femoral tunnel enlargement, and graft signal intensity). The ICRS grade for the medial facet of the patella progressed in group A (30%, p = 0.02) but not in group P (18%, p = n.s.). Additionally, no significant differences were observed in the other compartments of the patellofemoral joint.

Conclusions

The clinical outcomes were significantly improved in both groups; however, MPFLR with anterior femoral tunnel position had worse cartilage status on the medial facet of the patella than the posterior femoral tunnel position.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in Tehran – HAMRAH study
Authors: Ghaemmaghami Zahra , Firoozbakhsh Parisa , Gholami Delara , Khodabandelu Sajad , Baay Mohammadreza , Alemzadeh-Ansari Mohammad Javad , Mohebbi Bahram , Hosseini Zahra , Boudagh Shabnam , Pouraliakbar Hamidreza , Pasebani Yeganeh , Rafati Ali , Khalilpour Ehsan , Khalili Yasaman , Arabian Maedeh , Maleki Majid , Bakhshandeh Hooman , Sadeghipour Parham
Published: December 2023

Background

The aim of the current study is to assess the prevalence of different categories of thyroid dysfunction and their associated risk factors among the modern urban population of Tehran, the capital of Iran.

Methods

The present investigation is a sub-study of the HAMRAH study, a population-based prospective study designed to assess the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and their changes through a 10-year follow-up. 2228 (61% female) adults aged between 30 and 75 years old and with no overt cardiovascular diseases were selected through a multistage cluster randomized sampling. Blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxin (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) were measured with the aim of assessing the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function status among the modern urban Iranian population, and in order to report the total prevalence of participants with clinical hypo- or hyperthyroidism, the number of individuals taking thyroid-related drugs were added to the ones with overt thyroid dysfunction. A subgroup analysis was also performed to determine the associated risk factors of thyroid dysfunction.

Results

The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among the total population was 7% (95%CI: 5.9 − 8%) and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.1 − 0.6%) for subclinical and overt hypothyroidism, and 1.6% (95% CI: 1 − 2%) and 0.2% (95% CI: 0 − 0.3%) for subclinical and overt hyperthyroidism, respectively. Clinical thyroid dysfunction was detected in 10.3% of the study population (9.4% had clinical hypo- and 0.9% had clinical hyperthyroidism). In the subgroup analysis, thyroid dysfunction was significantly more prevalent among the female participants (P-value = 0.029).

Conclusions

In the current study, the prevalence of different categories of abnormal thyroid status, and also the rate of clinical hypo- and hyperthyroidism was assessed using the data collected from the first phase of the HAMRAH Study. In this study, we detected a higher prevalence of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism among the Iranian population compared to the previous studies.
The effect of root canal treatment and post-crown restorations on stress distribution in teeth with periapical periodontitis: a finite element analysis
Authors: Chen ShuoMin , Hong XinHua , Ye ZhangYan , Wu MengHan , Chen Liang , Wu LinMei , Wang Yilin , Chen YuGe , Wu JiaYu , Wang Jun , Zhang QinHui , Wu YuTian , Sun XiaoYu , Ding Xi , Huang ShengBin , Zhao ShuFan
Published: December 2023

Aim

To evaluate the effects of root canal treatment (RCT) and post-crown restoration on stress distribution in teeth with periapical bone defects using finite element analysis.

Methodology

Finite element models of mandibular second premolars and those with periapical bone defects (spherical defects with diameters of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm) were created using digital model design software. The corresponding RCT and post-crown restoration models were constructed based on the different sizes of periapical bone defect models. The von Mises stress and tooth displacement distributions were comprehensively analyzed in each model.

Results

Overall analysis of the models: RCT significantly increased the maximum von Mises stresses in teeth with periapical bone defects, while post-crown restoration greatly reduced the maximum von Mises stresses. RCT and post-crown restoration slightly reduced tooth displacement in the affected tooth. Internal analysis of tooth: RCT dramatically increased the maximum von Mises stress in all regions of the tooth, with the most pronounced increase in the coronal surface region. The post-crown restoration balances the internal stresses of the tooth and is most effective in periapical bone defect − 20-mm model. RCT and post-crown restoration slightly reduced the tooth displacement in all regions of the affected tooth.

Conclusions

Root canal treatment seemed not to improve the biomechanical state of teeth with periapical bone defects. In contrast, post-crown restoration might effectively balance the stress concentrations caused by periapical bone defects, particularly extensive ones.
Labor markets for health supply chain management in Rwanda: a qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Meier Erin , Brown Andrew N. , McHenry Bridget , Buki Inès K. Gege , Egharevba Michael , Kabatende Joseph
Published: December 2023

Background

Effective supply chains for health products require an adequate, skilled workforce for supply chain management (SCM). Rwanda faces challenges in human resources for SCM, including limited capacity for SCM at different levels. Understanding of the factors influencing the supply of and demand for SCM professionals in Rwanda is necessary to ensure the labor market contains an adequate workforce. This study identifies the perspectives of key stakeholders in the supply chain management sector about the factors influencing the supply of and demand for SCM professionals.

Methods

Data were collected in semi-structured group and one-on-one interviews with 39 key stakeholders involved in the supply chain management labor market between March and April 2019. Interviewees were categorized according to their role in the labor market as system actors, functional actors involved in the supply of SCM workers, and functional actors involved in the demand for SCM workers. Interviewees were asked open-ended questions about factors influencing the demand for and the supply of SCM workers, and recommendations for improvement. Interviews were analyzed thematically. One validation focus group was held and the results were also reviewed by the Ministry of Health in Rwanda.

Results

Stakeholders agreed that skills mismatch between SCM workers’ skills and the competencies jobs require impacts the supply of workers. A lack of career structure for SCM, lack of professional definitions for health supply chain management, and SCM curricula that do not match the needs of the workplace contribute to this gap. The demand for SCM professionals is poorly defined in terms of the numbers of professionals needed and the skills workers require. Financial limitations hinder demand for health SCM professionals.

Conclusions

This study adds to the understanding of factors influencing the SCM labor market in Rwanda by documenting perspectives from government ministries, professional organizations, universities, and employers from SCM organizations. Improving the SCM labor market in Rwanda and the availability of the skilled cadres required for the effective management of health supply chains in Rwanda requires a coordinated effort by the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, private SCM companies, professional associations, education sector, and policy makers.
Single-cell histone chaperones patterns guide intercellular communication of tumor microenvironment that contribute to breast cancer metastases
Authors: Xie Jindong , Deng Wei , Deng Xinpei , Liang Jie-Ying , Tang Yuhui , Huang Jun , Tang Hailin , Zou Yutian , Zhou Huamao , Xie Xiaoming
Published: December 2023

Background

Histone chaperones (HCs) are crucial for governing genome stability and gene expression in multiple cancers. However, the functioning of HCs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is still not clearly understood.

Methods

Self-tested single-cell RNA-seq data derived from 6 breast cancer (BC) patients with brain and liver metastases were reanalyzed by nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm for 36 HCs. TME subclusters were observed with BC and immunotherapy public cohorts to assess their prognosis and immune response. The biological effect of HSPA8, one of the HCs, was verified by transwell assay and wound-healing assays.

Results

Cells including fibroblasts, macrophages, B cells, and T cells, were classified into various subclusters based on marker genes. Additionally, it showed that HCs might be strongly associated with biological and clinical features of BC metastases, along with the pseudotime trajectory of each TME cell type. Besides, the results of bulk-seq analysis revealed that TME cell subclusters mediated by HCs distinguished significant prognostic value for BC patients and were relevant to patients’ immunotherapy responses, especially for B cells and macrophages. In particular, CellChat analysis exhibited that HCs-related TME cell subclusters revealed extensive and diverse interactions with malignant cells. Finally, transwell and wound-healing assays exhibited that HSPA8 deficiency inhibited BC cell migration and invasion.

Conclusions

Collectively, our study first dissected HCs-guided intercellular communication of TME that contribute to BC metastases.
Finite element analysis of basicervical femoral neck fracture treated with proximal femoral bionic nail
Authors: Cheng Xiaodong , Yang Yanjiang , Zhu Jian , Li Guimiao , Chen Wei , Wang Juan , Zhang Qi , Zhang Yingze
Published: December 2023

Background

Dynamic hip screws (DHS) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) were recommended for basicervical femoral neck fracture (BFNF), however, with high rate of postoperative femoral neck shortening. The proximal femoral bionic nail (PFBN) was designed to decrease the postoperative complications associated with DHS and PFNA. The aim of this study is to compare the biomechanical characters of DHS, PFNA, and PFBN for fixation of BFNF.

Methods

Using finite element analysis, we created a three-dimensional model of the BFNF for this investigation. The PFBN group, the PFNA group and the DHS + DS group were our three test groups. For each fracture group, the von Mises stress and displacements of the femur and internal fixation components were measured under 2100 N axial loads.

Results

The PFBN group demonstrated the lowest stress on the implants, significantly lower than the PFNA and DHS + DS groups. In terms of stress on the implants, the PFBN group exhibited the best performance, with the lowest stress concentration at 112.0 MPa, followed by the PFNA group at 124.8 MPa and the DHS + DS group at 149.8 MPa. The PFBA group demonstrated the smallest displacement at the fracture interface, measuring 0.21 mm, coupled with a fracture interface pressure of 17.41 MPa, signifying excellent stability.

Conclusions

Compared with DHS and PFNA, PFBN has advantages in stress distribution and biological stability. We believe the concept of triangle fixation will be helpful to reduce femoral neck shortening associated with DHS and PFNA and thus improve the prognosis of BFNF.
Hyperglycemia and glucose variability are associated with worse survival in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients: the prospective Maastricht Intensive Care Covid Cohort
Authors: van Herpt Thijs T.W. , van Rosmalen Frank , Hulsewé Hendrica P.M.G. , van der Horst-Schrivers Anouk N.A. , Driessen Mariëlle , Jetten Robin , Zelis Noortje , de Galan Bastiaan E. , van Kuijk Sander M.J. , van der Horst Iwan C.C. , van Bussel Bas C.T.
Published: December 2023

Background

Data on hyperglycemia and glucose variability in relation to diabetes mellitus, either known or unknown in ICU-setting in COVID-19, are scarce. We prospectively studied daily glucose variables and mortality in strata of diabetes mellitus and glycosylated hemoglobin among mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients.

Methods

We used linear-mixed effect models in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients to investigate mean and maximum difference in glucose concentration per day over time. We compared ICU survivors and non-survivors and tested for effect-modification by pandemic wave 1 and 2, diabetes mellitus, and admission HbA1c.

Results

Among 232 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, 21.1% had known diabetes mellitus, whereas 16.9% in wave 2 had unknown diabetes mellitus. Non-survivors had higher mean glucose concentrations (ß 0.62 mmol/l; 95%CI 0.20–1.06; ß 11.2 mg/dl; 95% CI 3.6–19.1; P = 0.004) and higher maximum differences in glucose concentrations per day (ß 0.85 mmol/l; 95%CI 0.37–1.33; ß 15.3; 95%CI 6.7–23.9; P = 0.001). Effect modification by wave, history of diabetes mellitus and admission HbA1c in associations between glucose and survival was not present. Effect of higher mean glucose concentrations was modified by pandemic wave (wave 1 (ß 0.74; 95% CI 0.24–1.23 mmol/l) ; (ß 13.3; 95%CI 4.3–22.1 mg/dl)) vs. (wave 2 (ß 0.37 (95%CI 0.25–0.98) mmol/l) (ß 6.7 (95% ci 4.5–17.6) mg/dl)).

Conclusions

Hyperglycemia and glucose variability are associated with mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients irrespective of the presence of diabetes mellitus.
Chest wall abscess and costochondritis due to Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis: a case report
Authors: Mokraoui Nassim R. , Ganim Rose , Paez Armando
Published: December 2023

Background

Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis infections usually cause self-limited gastrointestinal diseases. Extra-abdominal infections are often secondary to bacteremia in immunocompromised individuals and are relatively rare in immunocompetent hosts.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old Caucasian female initially presented to the thoracic surgery clinic due to a poorly healing wound on her chest. Her condition started after a mechanical fall hitting her chest with interval development of a tender lump that later spontaneously drained. A chest computed tomography scan with intravenous contrast demonstrated an abnormal infiltration with small foci of fluid and air consistent with a small abscess anterior to the left seventh costal cartilage. Aspirate culture of the abscess grew S. enterica serotype Choleraesuis susceptible to ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The patient had no prior history of signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal infection. Blood cultures were negative. With a background of penicillin allergy, she was treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and later with ceftriaxone due to persistent drainage of the wound. Follow-up chest computed tomography scan with intravenous (IV) contrast showed continued abnormal findings previously seen in the computed tomography scan with the appearance of a sinus tract. The patient subsequently underwent surgical debridement and partial resection of the left seventh costochondral cartilage and excision of the fistula. She had an uneventful recovery and complete resolution of her condition.

Conclusion

We report a rare case of chest wall abscess with associated costochondritis due to S. enterica serotype Choleraesuis in a patient with no evidence of immunodeficiency nor history of bacteremia. Extraintestinal infections due to Salmonella without documented bacteremia have been previously reported in the literature. History of local trauma to the affected area might contribute to the seeding of infection. Diagnosis is often accomplished by clinical evaluation and culture of the affected area. Treatment often involves targeted antibiotic therapy but may require surgical intervention to achieve source control and cure.
Lightweight target speaker separation network based on joint training
Authors: Wang Jing , Liu Hanyue , Xu Liang , Yang Wenjing , Yi Weiming , Liu Fang
Published: December 2023

Target speaker separation aims to separate the speech components of the target speaker from mixed speech and remove extraneous components such as noise. In recent years, deep learning-based speech separation methods have made significant breakthroughs and have gradually become mainstream. However, these existing methods generally face problems with system latency and performance upper limits due to the large model size. To solve these problems, this paper proposes improvements in the network structure and training methods to enhance the model’s performance. A lightweight target speaker separation network based on long-short-term memory (LSTM) is proposed, which can reduce the model size and computational delay while maintaining the separation performance. Based on this, a target speaker separation method based on joint training is proposed to achieve the overall training and optimization of the target speaker separation system. Joint loss functions based on speaker registration and speaker separation are proposed for joint training of the network to further improve the system’s performance. The experimental results show that the lightweight target speaker separation network proposed in this paper has better performance while being lightweight, and joint training of the target speaker separation network with our proposed loss function can further improve the separation performance of the original model.
The sacrificial record in burial pits of the late Shang Dynasty: evidences from the chroma and magnetic properties of the Sanxingdui site, Sichuan, China
Authors: Guo Yuming , Xiang Fang , Ran Honglin , Xie Zhenbin , Yang Qi , Huang Hengxu , Ding Li
Published: December 2023

The Sanxingdui site (4.4–2.9 ka B.P.) in southwestern China is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century, which contains numerous codes for interpreting the origin and development of the Yangtze River civilization. Remains found in Sanxingdui burial pits are keys to deciphering some of these codes. From the characters of the charcoal fragments, ashes and jades in the Sanxingdui buried pits, at the same time, comprehensively analyzing archaeological evidence and previous research results, we speculate that the temperature of ancient Shu people burning sacrifices could be 600–800 ℃. However, the values of magnetic properties and chroma of soils near the ash layers in the pits, and Guanghan Clay near the pits, do not show obvious changes caused by such high-temperature annealing. Combined with the geographical location of the pits and the accumulation characteristics of ash layers and artifacts in the pits, we consider that the Sanxingdui burial pits were not trash pits but sacrificial pits, and they were used for burying sacrifice after burning sacrifice. Although the ritual of burying sacrifice after burning sacrifice dates back to the Longshan period (4.3–4.0 ka B.P.) in China’s Central Plain, the Sanxingdui sacrificial pits, which began to occur in the late Shang Dynasty (~ 3.0 ka B.P.) with such a large scale, and the sacrifices unearthed from the pits, are unique. So, we believe that although influenced by the Central Plain culture, the ancient Shu people in the late Shang Dynasty have unique characteristics of culture and religion.
Impaired Growth Plate Maturation in XLH Is due to Both Excess FGF23 and Decreased 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Signaling
Authors: Yadav Prem Swaroop , Kobelski Margaret M , Martins Janaina S , Tao Tao , Liu Eva S , Demay Marie B
Published: December 2023

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common form of hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets. The genetic basis for XLH is loss of function mutations in the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase X-linked (PHEX), which leads to increased circulating fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). This increase in FGF23 impairs activation of vitamin D and attenuates renal phosphate reabsorption, leading to rickets. Previous studies have demonstrated that ablating FGF23 in the Hyp mouse model of XLH leads to hyperphosphatemia, high levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and is not associated with the development of rickets. Studies were undertaken to define a role for the increase in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels in the prevention of rickets in Hyp mice lacking FGF23. These mice were mated to mice lacking Cyp27b1, the enzyme responsible for activating vitamin D metabolites, to generate Hyp mice lacking both FGF23 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (FCH mice). Mice were fed a special diet to maintain normal mineral ion homeostasis. Despite normal mineral ions, Hyp mice lacking both FGF23 and Cyp27b1 developed rickets, characterized by an interrupted, expanded hypertrophic chondrocyte layer and impaired hypertrophic chondrocyte apoptosis. This phenotype was prevented when mice were treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D from day 2 until sacrifice on day 30. Interestingly, mice lacking FGF23 and Cyp27b1 without the PHEX mutation did not exhibit rickets. These findings define an essential PHEX-dependent, FGF23-independent role for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in XLH and have important therapeutic implications for the treatment of this genetic disorder.
Polskie edycje niemieckich baśni romantycznych. Od przekładu do wydania
Authors: Zarych Elżbieta
Published: December 2023

Przedmiotem artykułu są dwa zbiory baśni romantycznych opublikowanych w serii „Czarny Romantyzm”: Baśnie z Phantasusa Ludwiga Tiecka oraz Łubowickie baśnie i bajki Josepha von Eichendorffa. Mimo wspólnej serii i łączących ze sobą obydwie książki cech gatunkowych, zbiory te są zasadniczo odmienne, co zaważyło na decyzjach podejmowanych w trakcie ich przekładu oraz na ostatecznym kształcie tekstu. Zbiory te dowodzą też złożoności i istnienia różnych form baśni romantycznych w obrębie Kunstmärchen i Volksmärchen. Zbiór Tiecka to utwory pochodzące z pierwszego tomu jego największego dzieła, ukoronowania dojrzałej twórczości Phantasusa, wielokrotnie wydawane i cyzelowane przez autora. Mnogość wydań rodzi jednak pytanie o dobór właściwej podstawy tekstowej, nowatorstwo utworów, język zarówno prozy, jak i poezji, zastosowane chwyty, charakterystyczne dla Tiecka rozwiązania literackie zmuszają zaś tłumacza i edytora do misternego tkania tekstu polskiej wersji książki i opatrywania go komentarzami. Zbiór Eichendorffa to z kolei kilka utworów i fragmentów stworzonych we wczesnej młodości i pozostawionych w spuściźnie i niewydanych za życia pisarza. Opublikowane przez wnuka, komponowane w cykl, upiększane i opatrywane tytułami, zderzyły się z odnalezionym niedawno rękopisem podważającym wszystkie dotychczasowe decyzje edytorskie i translatorskie. Te dwa, tak podobne i różne pod wieloma względami zbiory baśni, ukazują cechy twórczości prezentowanych romantyków niemieckich, a także stawiają ważne pytania oraz podsuwają rozwiązania istotne dla dzieł Tiecka i Eichendorffa, edycji niemieckich baśni romantycznych i innych utworów powstałych w tej epoce oraz wydawanych w polskim przekładzie. Pokazują kryjące się w nich pułapki i dają liczne wskazówki edytorom i tłumaczom.
A Qualitative Investigation of Resilience among Collegiate Athletes Who Survived Childhood Maltreatment
Authors:   , Ramarushton James R.
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the current study was to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of high-functioning survivors of moderate or severe childhood maltreatment (CM) as related to the role of athletic participation in the development of their resilience. We emailed and screened Division I student-athletes from universities across the U. S. who did not meet criteria for a traumatic stress disorder. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach and constant comparison methodology, we obtained and analyzed interview data from 13 participants. The pathways through which participation in childhood athletics supported their coping include receiving social support from coaches and teammates, being present and engaged in their athletic participation, feeling relatively safe in their athletic environment, and spending time away from the main perpetrators of the CM. After applying concepts from existing literature to our data, we developed hypotheses to explain the processes by which participation in youth sport fosters resilience. For example, sport participation may provide opportunities for corrective emotional experiences that help young athletes heal. In addition, based on self-determination theory, maltreated elite athletes may benefit from sport participation because it meets their three basic needs (i.e., autonomy, mastery, and relatedness). We conclude this study with suggested implications for researchers and clinicians, as well as recommendations related to the training and education of coaches in terms of CM.
Protesting the "Right" Way: Exploring Respectability Politics and Support for Black Lives Matter
Authors:   , Goodwin Alexander Isaac
Published: December 2023

Black Lives Matter gained elevated levels of support following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. Despite temporary elevated levels of support, large segments of the populous are still reluctant and critical of the movement. This work aims to assess what role notions of respectability politics play in Black American support of Black Lives Matter. Respectability politics is consistently weaponized against members of oppressed groups including racial minorities, women, the LGBTQ community, and their related social movements. Analyzing the role of respectability politics in this context is a needed addition to the scholarly literature regarding social movement mobilization, as well as the interdisciplinary literature that has previously examined respectability in myriad forms. I hypothesize that unwillingness to support Black Lives Matter will be dependent on respectability politics as it relates to the perceived comportment and behavior police violence victims. This work included experimental analysis of the perceived respectability of a police brutality victim's "respectable" behavior being varied in the experimental treatment. I found support for my primary hypotheses that adherence to respectability politics correlated with diminished support for Black Lives Matter.
Connecting "Ray Brown's Bass Method" (1963) to "We Get Requests" (1964): A Comparative Analysis
Authors:   , Hitt Eric
Published: December 2023

This research serves two main purposes: to create an analyzed edition of Ray Brown's bass lines from the Oscar Peterson Trio's 1964 recording We Get Requests, and to better understand Brown's lines through the lens of Ray Brown's Bass Method. This comparative analysis identifies significant events in the recorded music that closely relate to or resemble exercises from the book. By analyzing the music from the lens of Ray Brown's Bass Method, performers, students, and educators will gain a stronger understanding of the application of select technical devices provided by Brown in his book. The most prominent techniques discussed include scales and intervals, major triads, minor triads, and chords, exercises in tenths, rhythm patterns with drops, and diminished patterns. These evidence-based conclusions have significant applications in jazz bass pedagogy by revealing potential relationships between technical ideals and practical use. Although these conclusions may seem of concern only to jazz bassists, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about the connection between pedagogy and performance.
"The Sometime Joy"
Authors:   , Duckworth Jonathan Louis
Published: December 2023

The work is a collection of poems entitled The Sometime Joy, comprising a mix of poems completed before and during my studies at UNT. The manuscript is my second completed full-length work after my first manuscript, the unpublished Night, Translated. The Sometime Joy shares many of the same themes with its predecessor, although stylistically the more recent work hews much more strongly toward the infusion of speculative and fantastical elements (just one example being the apocalyptic poem "Petal Storm"). The speculative components of the collection allow me to express and utilize the full range of my imagination, to use poetry to explore alternate existences and to create allegories, such as the "Market" series of poems, where capitalism is embodied as a chimerical beast that would fit in a horror film. The collection functions as my exploration of the intersections between folklore and pop culture, a series of meditations on the strangeness of human perspectives and how the relation between perceiver and the perceived alloys and transforms both. The collection also delves into horrific subjects varying from serried monsters (wendigos, the capitalist system, J. Edgar Hoover), the apocalypse, and the capacity of mundane humans to be cruel to each other, but also affirms the same imagination's potential to delight and sooth or poke fun. One of the central themes is embodiment and the human body and its components, seen through the "organ" sequence of poems that explore various human organs, as well as poems like the Market poems or "Hereby, Dragons" where concepts or abstractions are incarnated and embodied. Overall, the collection functions as an example of a contemporary poetry collection with an eclectic stylistic range and multiple linked sequences within the different sections.
Novice Programmers' Unproductive Persistence: Using Learning Analytics to Interrogate Learning Theories
Authors:   , Smith Julie Marie
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze which behaviors are or are not helpful for debugging when a novice is in a state of unproductive persistence. Further, this project will exploratorily use a variety of analytical techniques -- including association rule mining, process mining, frequent sequence mining, and machine learning-- in order to determine which approaches are useful for data analysis. For the study, programming process data from hundreds of novice programmers were analyzed to determine which behaviors were more or less likely to be correlated with escaping a state of unproductive persistence. Of these events, only three had a statistically significant difference in their rates of occurrence and large effect sizes: file, edit, and compile events. While the data set cannot reveal a user's motivation for a file event, the most logical explanation of these events is that the user is tracing the code. Thus, a higher rate of file events suggests that code tracing (with the goal of code comprehension) is a key behavior correlated with a student's ability to escape a state of unproductive persistence. On the other hand, editing events are far more common in unproductive states that are not escaped. A content analysis suggests that there are more trivial edits for users in an unescaped state of unproductive persistence. An important finding of this study is that an unproductive persistence is not just a phenomenon of the worst-performing students; rather, a third of users who completed the assignment had at least one unproductive state. This study also lends support to the idea that tinkering combined with code tracing is correlated with positive outcomes, but that less systematic tinkering is not effective behavior. Further, association rule mining and frequent sequence mining were effective tools for data analysis in this study. The findings from this study have two main practical implications for curriculum designers and instructors: (1) the need to normalize struggle and (2) possibilities for curriculum and tool development. This work is particularly important given that debugging is not normally a process evident to instructors, curriculum designers, tool developers, and computer science education researchers, either because it happens outside of class time and/or because it is a process and these stakeholders usually only see the end result; this project attempts to make the process of debugging more transparent.
Scriabin's "Prometheus" (1910): Problems and Solutions in a Transcription for Solo Piano
Authors:   , Powell Ted
Published: December 2023

Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) composed primarily for his instrument, the piano. He did, however, compose five major works for orchestra and a piano concerto. Scriabin's last work for orchestra, Prometheus: Poem of Fire, Op. 60 (1910), exemplifies his mature compositional style. The purpose of this dissertation is to contribute a solo transcription of Prometheus to the piano's rich literature in that genre. Furthermore, the dissertation aims to identify and examine the problems encountered in transcribing this work for solo piano and the decision-making that led to musically acceptable solutions. Throughout the process of arrangement, one major question became apparent: What informs the transcription? In turn, this question and its numerous answers served as a guide during the transcription's realization and are the focus of the project.