bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Raman laser induced self-organization with topology in a dipolar condensate
Authors: Dong Biao , Zhang Yong-Chang
Published: January 2023

We investigate the ground states of a dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) subject to Raman laser induced spin-orbit coupling with mean-field theory. Owing to the interplay between spin-orbit coupling and atom-atom interactions, the BEC presents remarkable self-organization behavior and thus hosts various exotic phases including vortex with discrete rotational symmetry, stripe with spin helix, and chiral lattices with C4 symmetry. The peculiar chiral self-organized array of square lattice, which spontaneously breaks both U(1) and rotational symmetries, is observed when the contact interaction is considerable in comparison with the spin-orbit coupling. Moreover, we show that the Raman-induced spin-orbit coupling plays a crucial role in forming rich topological spin textures of the chiral self-organized phases by introducing a channel for atoms to turn on spin flipping between two components. The self-organization phenomena predicted here feature topology owing to spin-orbit coupling. In addition, we find long-lived metastable self-organized arrays with C6 symmetry in the case of strong spin-orbit coupling. We also present a proposal to observe these predicted phases in ultracold atomic dipolar gases with laser-induced spin-orbit coupling, which may stimulate broad theoretical as well as experimental interest.
Transcranial electrical stimulation: How can a simple conductor orchestrate complex brain activity?
Authors: Krause Matthew R. , Vieira Pedro G. , Pack Christopher C.
Published: January 2023

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is one of the oldest and yet least understood forms of brain stimulation. The idea that a weak electrical stimulus, applied outside the head, can meaningfully affect neural activity is often regarded as mysterious. Here, we argue that the direct effects of tES are not so mysterious: Extensive data from a wide range of model systems shows it has appreciable effects on the activity of individual neurons. Instead, the real mysteries are how tES interacts with the brain’s own activity and how these dynamics can be controlled to produce desirable therapeutic effects. These are challenging problems, akin to repairing a complex machine while it is running, but they are not unique to tES or even neuroscience. We suggest that models of coupled oscillators, a common tool for studying interactions in other fields, may provide valuable insights. By combining these tools with our growing, interdisciplinary knowledge of brain dynamics, we are now in a good position to make progress in this area and meet the high demand for effective neuromodulation in neuroscience and psychiatry.
Information theoretic evidence for layer- and frequency-specific changes in cortical information processing under anesthesia
Authors: Pinzuti Edoardo , Wollstadt Patricia , Tüscher Oliver , Wibral Michael
Published: January 2023

Nature relies on highly distributed computation for the processing of information in nervous systems across the entire animal kingdom. Such distributed computation can be more easily understood if decomposed into the three elementary components of information processing, i.e. storage, transfer and modification, and rigorous information theoretic measures for these components exist. However, the distributed computation is often also linked to neural dynamics exhibiting distinct rhythms. Thus, it would be beneficial to associate the above components of information processing with distinct rhythmic processes where possible. Here we focus on the storage of information in neural dynamics and introduce a novel spectrally-resolved measure of active information storage (AIS). Drawing on intracortical recordings of neural activity in ferrets under anesthesia before and after loss of consciousness (LOC) we show that anesthesia- related modulation of AIS is highly specific to different frequency bands and that these frequency-specific effects differ across cortical layers and brain regions.

We found that in the high/low gamma band the effects of anesthesia result in AIS modulation only in the supergranular layers, while in the alpha/beta band the strongest decrease in AIS can be seen at infragranular layers. Finally, we show that the increase of spectral power at multiple frequencies, in particular at alpha and delta bands in frontal areas, that is often observed during LOC (’anteriorization’) also impacts local information processing—but in a frequency specific way: Increases in isoflurane concentration induced a decrease in AIS in the alpha frequencies, while they increased AIS in the delta frequency range < 2Hz. Thus, the analysis of spectrally-resolved AIS provides valuable additional insights into changes in cortical information processing under anaesthesia.
Bayesian reconstruction of memories stored in neural networks from their connectivity
Authors: Goldt Sebastian , Krzakala Florent , Zdeborová Lenka , Brunel Nicolas
Published: January 2023

The advent of comprehensive synaptic wiring diagrams of large neural circuits has created the field of connectomics and given rise to a number of open research questions. One such question is whether it is possible to reconstruct the information stored in a recurrent network of neurons, given its synaptic connectivity matrix. Here, we address this question by determining when solving such an inference problem is theoretically possible in specific attractor network models and by providing a practical algorithm to do so. The algorithm builds on ideas from statistical physics to perform approximate Bayesian inference and is amenable to exact analysis. We study its performance on three different models, compare the algorithm to standard algorithms such as PCA, and explore the limitations of reconstructing stored patterns from synaptic connectivity.
Risk of fracture in adults with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: A national cohort study
Authors: Axelsson Kristian F. , Litsne Henrik , Kousoula Konstantina , Franzén Stefan , Eliasson Björn , Lorentzon Mattias
Published: January 2023

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a risk factor for fracture but the evidence regarding the impact of T2DM on fracture risk is conflicting. The objective of the study was to determine if patients with T2DM have increased fracture risk and if T2DM-related risk factors could be identified.

Methods and findings

In this national cohort study in Sweden, we investigated the risk of fracture in 580,127 T2DM patients, identified through the national diabetes register including from both primary care and hospitals, and an equal number of population-based controls without diabetes matched for age, sex, and county from 2007 to 2017. The mean age at entry was 66.7 years and 43.6% were women. During a median follow-up time of 6.6 (interquartile range (IQR) 3.1 to 9.8) years, patients with T2DM had a marginally but significantly increased risk of major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) (hazard ratio (HR) 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00 to 1.03)) and hip fracture (HR 1.06 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.08)) compared to controls, associations that were only minimally affected (HR 1.05 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.06) and HR 1.11 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.14), respectively) by multivariable adjustment (age, sex, marital status, and an additional 20 variables related to general morbidity, cardiovascular status, risk of falls, and fracture). In a multivariable-adjusted Cox model, the proportion of the risk for all fracture outcomes (Heller’s R2) explained by T2DM was below 0.1%. Among the T2DM patients, important risk factors for fracture were a low BMI (<25 kg/m2), long diabetes duration (≥15 years), insulin treatment, and low physical activity. In total, 55% of the T2DM patients had none of these risk factors and a significantly lower fracture risk than their respective controls. The relatively short mean duration of T2DM and lack of bone density data, constitute limitations of the analysis.

Conclusion

In this study, we observed only a marginally increased fracture risk in T2DM, a condition that explained less than 0.1% of the fracture risk. Consideration of the herein identified T2DM-related risk factors could be used to stratify T2DM patients according to fracture risk.
Diel activity patterns of vector mosquito species in the urban environment: Implications for vector control strategies
Authors: Wilke André B. B. , Mhlanga Adequate , Kummer Allisandra G. , Vasquez Chalmers , Moreno Maday , Petrie William D. , Rodriguez Art , Vitek Christopher , Hamer Gabriel L. , Mutebi John-Paul , Ajelli Marco
Published: January 2023

Mathematical models have been widely used to study the population dynamics of mosquitoes as well as to test and validate the effectiveness of arbovirus outbreak responses and mosquito control strategies. The objective of this study is to assess the diel activity of mosquitoes in Miami-Dade, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas, the most affected areas during the Zika outbreak in 2016–2017, and to evaluate the effectiveness of simulated adulticide treatments on local mosquito populations. To assess variations in the diel activity patterns, mosquitoes were collected hourly for 96 hours once a month from May through November 2019 in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and Brownsville, Texas. We then performed a PERMANOVA followed by a SIMPER analysis to assess whether the abundance and species richness significantly varies at different hours of the day. Finally, we used a mathematical model to simulate the population dynamics of 5 mosquito vector species and evaluate the effectiveness of the simulated adulticide applications. A total of 14,502 mosquitoes comprising 17 species were collected in Brownsville and 10,948 mosquitoes comprising 19 species were collected in Miami-Dade County. Aedes aegypti was the most common mosquito species collected every hour in both cities and peaking in abundance in the morning and the evening. Our modeling results indicate that the effectiveness of adulticide applications varied greatly depending on the hour of the treatment. In both study locations, 9 PM was the best time for adulticide applications targeting all mosquito vector species; mornings/afternoons (9 AM– 5 PM) yielded low effectiveness, especially for Culex species, while at night (12 AM– 6 AM) the effectiveness was particularly low for Aedes species. Our results indicate that the timing of adulticide spraying interventions should be carefully considered by local authorities based on the ecology of the target mosquito species in the focus area.
Data-driven systems to detect physical weakening from daily routine: A pilot study on elderly over 80 years old
Authors: Abbas Manuel , Saleh Majd , Somme Dominique , Le Bouquin Jeannès Régine
Published: January 2023

The use of telemonitoring solutions via wearable sensors is believed to play a major role in the prevention and therapy of physical weakening in older adults. Despite the various studies found in the literature, some elements are still not well addressed, such as the study cohort, the experimental protocol, the type of research design, as well as the relevant features in this context. To this end, the objective of this pilot study was to investigate the efficacy of data-driven systems to characterize older individuals over 80 years of age with impaired physical function, during their daily routine and under unsupervised conditions. We propose a fully automated process which extracts a set of heterogeneous time-domain features from 24-hour files of acceleration and barometric data. After being statistically tested, the most discriminant features fed a group of machine learning classifiers to distinguish frail from non-frail subjects, achieving an accuracy up to 93.51%. Our analysis, conducted over 570 days of recordings, shows that a longitudinal study is important while using the proposed features, in order to ensure a highly specific diagnosis. This work may serve as a basis for the paradigm of future monitoring systems.
Predicting reliability through structured expert elicitation with the repliCATS (Collaborative Assessments for Trustworthy Science) process
Authors: Fraser Hannah , Bush Martin , Wintle Bonnie C. , Mody Fallon , Smith Eden T. , Hanea Anca M. , Gould Elliot , Hemming Victoria , Hamilton Daniel G. , Rumpff Libby , Wilkinson David P. , Pearson Ross , Singleton Thorn Felix , Ashton Raquel , Willcox Aaron , Gray Charles T. , Head Andrew , Ross Melissa , Groenewegen Rebecca , Marcoci Alexandru , Vercammen Ans , Parker Timothy H. , Hoekstra Rink , Nakagawa Shinichi , Mandel David R. , van Ravenzwaaij Don , McBride Marissa , Sinnott Richard O. , Vesk Peter , Burgman Mark , Fidler Fiona
Published: January 2023

As replications of individual studies are resource intensive, techniques for predicting the replicability are required. We introduce the repliCATS (Collaborative Assessments for Trustworthy Science) process, a new method for eliciting expert predictions about the replicability of research. This process is a structured expert elicitation approach based on a modified Delphi technique applied to the evaluation of research claims in social and behavioural sciences. The utility of processes to predict replicability is their capacity to test scientific claims without the costs of full replication. Experimental data supports the validity of this process, with a validation study producing a classification accuracy of 84% and an Area Under the Curve of 0.94, meeting or exceeding the accuracy of other techniques used to predict replicability. The repliCATS process provides other benefits. It is highly scalable, able to be deployed for both rapid assessment of small numbers of claims, and assessment of high volumes of claims over an extended period through an online elicitation platform, having been used to assess 3000 research claims over an 18 month period. It is available to be implemented in a range of ways and we describe one such implementation. An important advantage of the repliCATS process is that it collects qualitative data that has the potential to provide insight in understanding the limits of generalizability of scientific claims. The primary limitation of the repliCATS process is its reliance on human-derived predictions with consequent costs in terms of participant fatigue although careful design can minimise these costs. The repliCATS process has potential applications in alternative peer review and in the allocation of effort for replication studies.
A linear reciprocal relationship between robustness and plasticity in homeostatic biological networks
Authors: Hatakeyama Tetsuhiro S. , Kaneko Kunihiko
Published: January 2023

In physics of living systems, a search for relationships of a few macroscopic variables that emerge from many microscopic elements is a central issue. We evolved gene regulatory networks so that the expression of core genes (partial system) is insensitive to environmental changes. Then, we found the expression levels of the remaining genes autonomously increase to provide a plastic (sensitive) response. A feedforward structure from the non-core to core genes evolved autonomously. Negative proportionality was observed between the average changes in core and non-core genes, reflecting reciprocity between the macroscopic robustness of homeostatic genes and plasticity of regulator genes. The proportion coefficient between those genes is represented by their number ratio, as in the “lever principle”, whereas the decrease in the ratio results in a transition from perfect to partial adaptation, in which only a portion of the core genes exhibits robustness against environmental changes. This reciprocity between robustness and plasticity was satisfied throughout the evolutionary course, imposing an evolutionary constraint. This result suggests a simple macroscopic law for the adaptation characteristic in evolved complex biological networks.
Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the biocontrol mechanism of Bacillus velezensis E68 against Fusarium graminearum DAOMC 180378, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight
Authors: Liang Nathan , Charron Jean-Benoît , Jabaji Suha
Published: January 2023

Fusarium graminearumis the causal agent of Fusarium Head Blight, a serious disease affecting grain crops worldwide. Biological control involves the use of microorganisms to combat plant pathogens such asF.graminearum. Strains ofBacillus velezensisare common biological control candidates for use againstF.graminearumand other plant pathogens, as they can secrete antifungal secondary metabolites. Here we study the interaction betweenB.velezensisE68 andF.graminearumDAOMC 180378 by employing a dual RNA-seq approach to assess the transcriptional changes in both organisms. In dual culture,B.velezensisup-regulated genes related to sporulation and phosphate stress and down-regulated genes related to secondary metabolism, biofilm formation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle.F.graminearumup-regulated genes encoding for killer protein 4-like proteins and genes relating to heavy metal tolerance, and down-regulated genes relating to trichothecene biosynthesis and phenol metabolism. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between a biocontrol bacterium and a phytopathogenic fungus.
Genetic fecal source identification in urban streams impacted by municipal separate storm sewer system discharges
Authors: Diedrich Adam , Sivaganesan Mano , Willis Jessica R. , Sharifi Amirreza , Shanks Orin C.
Published: January 2023

Municipal stormwater systems are designed to collect, transport, and discharge precipitation from a defined catchment area into local surface waters. However, these discharges may contain unsafe levels of fecal waste. Paired measurements of Escherichia coli, precipitation, three land use metrics determined by geographic information system (GIS) mapping, and host-associated genetic markers indicative of human (HF183/BacR287 and HumM2), ruminant (Rum2Bac), dog (DG3), and avian (GFD) fecal sources were assessed in 231 urban stream samples impacted by two or more municipal stormwater outfalls. Receiving water samples were collected twice per month (n = 24) and after rain events (n = 9) from seven headwaters of the Anacostia River in the District of Columbia (United States) exhibiting a gradient of impervious surface, residential, and park surface areas. Almost 50% of stream samples (n = 103) were impaired, exceeding the local E. coli single sample maximum assessment level (410 MPN/100 ml). Fecal scores (average log10 copies per 100 ml) were determined to prioritize sites by pollution source and to evaluate potential links with land use, rainfall, and E. coli levels using a recently developed censored data analysis approach. Dog, ruminant, and avian fecal scores were almost always significantly increased after rain or when E. coli levels exceeded the local benchmark. Human fecal pollution trends showed the greatest variability with detections ranging from 9.1% to 96.7% across sites. Avian fecal scores exhibited the closest connection to land use, significantly increasing in catchments with larger residential areas after rain events (p = 0.038; R2 = 0.62). Overall, results demonstrate that combining genetic fecal source identification methods with GIS mapping complements routine E. coli monitoring to improve management of urban streams impacted by stormwater outfalls.
Evaluation of machine learning algorithms for the prognosis of breast cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database
Authors: Wu Ruiyang , Luo Jing , Wan Hangyu , Zhang Haiyan , Yuan Yewei , Hu Huihua , Feng Jinyan , Wen Jing , Wang Yan , Li Junyan , Liang Qi , Gan Fengjiao , Zhang Gang
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Many researchers used machine learning (ML) to predict the prognosis of breast cancer (BC) patients and noticed that the ML model had good individualized prediction performance.

Objective

The cohort study was intended to establish a reliable data analysis model by comparing the performance of 10 common ML algorithms and the the traditional American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and used this model in Web application development to provide a good individualized prediction for others.

Methods

This study included 63145 BC patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database.

Results

Through the performance of the 10 ML algorithms and 7th AJCC stage in the optimal test set, we found that in terms of 5-year overall survival, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) had the highest area under the curve (AUC) value (0.831) and F1-score (0.608), and both sensitivity (0.737) and specificity (0.772) were relatively high. Besides, MARS showed a highest AUC value (0.831, 95%confidence interval: 0.820–0.842) in comparison to the other ML algorithms and 7th AJCC stage (all P < 0.05). MARS, the best performing model, was selected for web application development (https://w12251393.shinyapps.io/app2/).

Conclusions

The comparative study of multiple forecasting models utilizing a large data noted that MARS based model achieved a much better performance compared to other ML algorithms and 7th AJCC stage in individualized estimation of survival of BC patients, which was very likely to be the next step towards precision medicine.
Factors affecting chronic low back pain among high school baseball players in Japan: A pilot study
Authors: Nakao Hidetoshi , Imai Ryota , Hamada Taro , Imaoka Masakazu , Hida Mitsumasa , Morifuji Takeshi , Hashimoto Masashi
Published: January 2023

The prevalence of chronic lower back pain (CLBP) among baseball players is high. CLBP is associated with reduced participation in practice and games. This pilot study examined the factors associated with CLBP among high school baseball players in Fukui, Japan. The participants underwent two health examinations in high school: (1) as first-grade baseball players (baseline) and (2) as second-grade baseball players (follow-up); a total of 59 players who could be followed-up a year later were included in the study. Players were divided into three groups based on whether they had no lower back pain (LBP) (n = 30), improved LBP (n = 17), or CLBP (n = 12) after 1 year of follow-up. Players were evaluated on the physical and cognitive aspects of pain. The Number Rating System, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), body characteristics (age, height, weight, body mass index, and skeletal mass index), and a medical history questionnaire regarding spondylolysis and baseball loads were used to evaluate the players. Inventory scores were highest in the CLBP group, which indicated that this group had significant pain that affected their willingness to engage in baseball-related activities. The TSK scores in the CLBP group were worse on follow-up. High school baseball players with CLBP were more likely to have lumbar spondylolysis and kinesiophobia, which are also factors related to pain chronicity. Kinesiophobia and the presence of lumbar spondylolysis should be considered when creating an exercise program for high school baseball players with CLBP.
Transcriptional responses define dysregulated immune activation in Hepatitis C (HCV)-naïve recipients of HCV-infected donor kidneys
Authors: Steinbrink Julie M. , Miller Cameron , Myers Rachel A. , Sanoff Scott , Mazur Anna , Burke Thomas W. , Byrns Jennifer , Jackson Annette M. , Luo Xunrong , McClain Micah T.
Published: January 2023

Renal transplantation from hepatitis C (HCV) nucleic acid amplification test-positive (NAAT-positive) donors to uninfected recipients has greatly increased the organ donation pool. However, there is concern for adverse outcomes in these recipients due to dysregulated immunologic activation secondary to active inflammation from acute viremia at the time of transplantation. This includes increased rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia and allograft rejection. In this study, we evaluate transcriptional responses in circulating leukocytes to define the character, timing, and resolution of this immune dysregulation and assess for biomarkers of adverse outcomes in transplant patients. We enrolled 67 renal transplant recipients (30 controls, 37 HCV recipients) and performed RNA sequencing on serial samples from one, 3-, and 6-months post-transplant. CMV DNAemia and allograft rejection outcomes were measured. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was utilized to develop gene expression classifiers predictive of clinical outcomes. Acute HCV incited a marked transcriptomic response in circulating leukocytes of renal transplant recipients in the acute post-transplant setting, despite the presence of immunosuppression, with 109 genes significantly differentially expressed compared to controls. These HCV infection-associated genes were reflective of antiviral immune pathways and generally resolved by the 3-month timepoint after sustained viral response (SVR) for HCV. Differential gene expression was also noted from patients who developed CMV DNAemia or allograft rejection compared to those who did not, although transcriptomic classifiers could not accurately predict these outcomes, likely due to sample size and variable time-to-event. Acute HCV infection incites evidence of immune activation and canonical antiviral responses in the human host even in the presence of systemic immunosuppression. After treatment of HCV with antiviral therapy and subsequent aviremia, this immune activation resolves. Changes in gene expression patterns in circulating leukocytes are associated with some clinical outcomes, although larger studies are needed to develop accurate predictive classifiers of these events.
Machine learning for prediction of in-hospital mortality in lung cancer patients admitted to intensive care unit
Authors: Huang Tianzhi , Le Dejin , Yuan Lili , Xu Shoujia , Peng Xiulan
Published: January 2023

Backgrounds

The in-hospital mortality in lung cancer patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) is extremely high. This study intended to adopt machine learning algorithm models to predict in-hospital mortality of critically ill lung cancer for providing relative information in clinical decision-making.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) for a training cohort and data extracted from the Medical Information Mart for eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) database for a validation cohort. Logistic regression, random forest, decision tree, light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and an ensemble (random forest+LightGBM+XGBoost) model were used for prediction of in-hospital mortality and important feature extraction. The AUC (area under receiver operating curve), accuracy, F1 score and recall were used to evaluate the predictive performance of each model. Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values were calculated to evaluate feature importance of each feature.

Results

Overall, there were 653 (24.8%) in-hospital mortality in the training cohort, and 523 (21.7%) in-hospital mortality in the validation cohort. Among the six machine learning models, the ensemble model achieved the best performance. The top 5 most influential features were the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, albumin, the oxford acute severity of illness score (OASIS) score, anion gap and bilirubin in random forest and XGBoost model. The SHAP summary plot was used to illustrate the positive or negative effects of the top 15 features attributed to the XGBoost model.

Conclusion

The ensemble model performed best and might be applied to forecast in-hospital mortality of critically ill lung cancer patients, and the SOFA score was the most important feature in all models. These results might offer valuable and significant reference for ICU clinicians’ decision-making in advance.
The association between smartphone use and sleep quality, psychological distress, and loneliness among health care students and workers in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alzhrani Abdullah Muhammad , Aboalshamat Khalid Talal , Badawoud Amal Mohammmad , Abdouh Ismail Mahmoud , Badri Hatim Matooq , Quronfulah Baraa Sami , Mahmoud Mahmoud Abdulrahman , Rajeh Mona Talal
Published: January 2023

Background

The use of smartphones among the general public and health care practitioners, in particular, is ubiquitous. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction and sleep quality, psychological distress, and loneliness among health care students and workers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used an online questionnaire to collect data on smartphone addiction, sleep quality, psychological distress, and loneliness as well as demographic information.

Results

A total of 773 health care students and workers participated in the study, with an average age of 25.95 ± 8.35, and 59.6% female participants. The study found a positive significant association between smartphone addiction and psychological distress (F(1,771)= 140.8,P< 0.001) and emotional loneliness (F(1,771)= 26.70,P< 0.001). Additionally, a significant negative association between smartphone addiction and sleep quality was found (F(1,771)= 4.208,P= 0.041). However, there was no significant relationship between smartphone addiction and social loneliness (F (1,771) = 0.544,P< 0.461).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that smartphone addiction has a negative impact on psychological distress, sleep quality, and emotional loneliness among health care students and workers. It is important to promote strategies to reduce smartphone dependency in order to avoid the harmful consequences of smartphone addiction.
Effects of the menstrual cycle phase on anterior cruciate ligament neuromuscular and biomechanical injury risk surrogates in eumenorrheic and naturally menstruating women: A systematic review
Authors: Dos’Santos Thomas , Stebbings Georgina K. , Morse Christopher , Shashidharan Medha , Daniels Katherine A. J. , Sanderson Andy
Published: January 2023

Background

Eumenorrheic women experience cyclic variations in sex hormones attributed to the menstrual cycle (MC) which can impact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) properties, knee laxity, and neuromuscular function. This systematic review aimed to examine the effects of the MC on ACL neuromuscular and biomechanical injury risk surrogates during dynamic tasks, to establish whether a particular MC phase predisposes women to greater ACL injury risk.

Methods

PubMed, Medline, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched (May-July 2021) for studies that investigated the effects of the MC on ACL neuromuscular and biomechanical injury risk surrogates. Inclusion criteria were: 1) injury-free women (18–40 years); 2) verified MC phases via biochemical analysis and/or ovulation kits; 3) examined neuromuscular and/or biomechanical injury risk surrogates during dynamic tasks; 4) compared ≥1 outcome measure across ≥2 defined MC phases.

Results

Seven of 418 articles were included. Four studies reported no significant differences in ACL injury risk surrogates between MC phases. Two studies showed evidence the mid-luteal phase may predispose women to greater risk of non-contact ACL injury. Three studies reported knee laxity fluctuated across the MC; two of which demonstrated MC attributed changes in knee laxity were associated with changes in knee joint loading (KJL). Study quality (Modified Downs and Black Checklist score: 7–9) and quality of evidence were low to very low (Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation: very low).

Conclusion

It is inconclusive whether a particular MC phase predisposes women to greater non-contact ACL injury risk based on neuromuscular and biomechanical surrogates. Practitioners should be cautious manipulating their physical preparation, injury mitigation, and screening practises based on current evidence. Although variable (i.e., magnitude and direction), MC attributed changes in knee laxity were associated with changes in potentially hazardous KJLs. Monitoring knee laxity could therefore be a viable strategy to infer possible ACL injury risk.
Integrated network pharmacology and molecular modeling approach for the discovery of novel potential MAPK3 inhibitors from whole green jackfruit flour targeting obesity-linked diabetes mellitus
Authors: Maradesha Tejaswini , Martiz Reshma Mary , Patil Shashank M. , Prasad Ashwini , Babakr Abdullatif Taha , Silina Ekaterina , Stupin Victor , Achar Raghu Ram , Ramu Ramith
Published: January 2023

The current study investigates the effectiveness of phytocompounds from the whole green jackfruit flour methanol extract (JME) against obesity-linked diabetes mellitus using integrated network pharmacology and molecular modeling approach. Through network pharmacology, druglikeness and pharmacokinetics, molecular docking simulations, GO analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy analyses, it aims to look into the mechanism of the JME phytocompounds in the amelioration of obesity-linked diabetes mellitus. There are 15 predicted genes corresponding to the 11 oral bioactive compounds of JME. The most important of these 15 genes was MAPK3. According to the network analysis, the insulin signaling pathway has been predicted to have the strongest affinity to MAPK3 protein, which was chosen as the target. With regard to the molecular docking simulation, the greatest notable binding affinity for MAPK3 was discovered to be caffeic acid (-8.0 kJ/mol), deoxysappanone B 7,3’-dimethyl ether acetate (DBDEA) (-8.2 kJ/mol), and syringic acid (-8.5 kJ/mol). All the compounds were found to be stable inside the inhibitor binding pocket of the enzyme during molecular dynamics simulation. During binding free energy calculation, all the compounds chiefly used Van der Waal’s free energy to bind with the target protein (caffeic acid: 102.296 kJ/mol, DBDEA: -104.268 kJ/mol, syringic acid: -100.171 kJ/mol). Based on these findings, it may be inferred that the reported JME phytocompounds could be used for in vitro and in vivo research, with the goal of targeting MAPK3 inhibition for the treatment of obesity-linked diabetes mellitus.
Scoping review of cytolytic vaginosis literature
Authors: Kraut Roni , Carvallo Fabiola Diaz , Golonka Richard , Campbell Sandra M. , Rehmani Anoush , Babenko Oksana , Lee Mao-Cheng , Vieira-Baptista Pedro
Published: January 2023

Background

Cytolytic vaginosis (CV) is a little-known, controversial condition that is typically not considered for women presenting with vulvovaginitis symptoms. Objective: The objective of this scoping review was to identify and compile the global evidence on CV.

Methods

A medical librarian searched Prospero, Wiley Cochrane Library, Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline, EBSCO CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and Scopus, from inception to April 4, 2019 and updated to October 17, 2021. Studies were eligible if they discussed CV. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection and data extraction.

Results

Sixty-four studies were identified, with 67% of studies (n = 43) published since 2007. Studies were from around the world, including the United States (28%, n = 18), Brazil (11%, n = 7), Portugal (11%, n = 7), and China (11%, n = 7). Fifty percent of studies (n = 32) were reviews; the remainder were observational; and of these, 78% (n = 25) were cross-sectional. The most frequent topics included: diagnosis (19%, n = 12), prevalence (17%, n = 11), and overview of CV (50%, n = 32). Evidence for prevalence in symptomatic women (median prevalence of 5%, interquartile range 3%-8%) was based only on 16% of studies (n = 10) with minimal evidence on prevalence in asymptomatic women and across different geographic regions. Microbiological findings, including abundant lactobacilli and fragmented epithelial cells, were found useful to distinguish between CV and vulvovaginal candidiasis, and Lactobacillus crispatus was noted to dominate the vaginal flora in women with CV. Most studies used subjective criteria to diagnose CV as the condition lacks gold-standard microscopic criteria. The suggested primary treatment (baking soda irrigations) was largely based on expert opinion, and there was minimal evidence on associations between CV and other conditions.

Conclusion

Knowledge gaps currently exist in all realms of CV research. Additional research is needed to confirm the validity of CV and ensure that women are diagnosed and treated effectively.
Validity and reliability of the Professionalism Assessment Scale in Turkish medical students
Authors: Tanrıverdi Esra Çınar , Nas Mehmet Akif , Kaşali Kamber , Layık Mehmet Emin , El-Aty A. M. Abd
Published: January 2023

Medical professionalism is a basic competency in medical education. This study aimed to adapt the Professionalism Assessment Scale, which is used to evaluate the professionalism attitudes of medical students, into Turkish and to assess its validity and reliability. First, the scale’s translation-back-translation was performed and piloted on 30 students. Then, the final scale was applied to medical students to ensure the scale’s validity. The Penn State University College of Medicine Professionalism Questionnaire was used for external validation to assess criterion validity. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed for structure validity. Test-retest, item correlations, split-half analysis, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were evaluated to determine the scale’s reliability. SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 24.0 package programs were used for statistical analysis. The statistical significance level was accepted as P<0.05. The mean age of the participants was 21±2 years, and 50.5% (n = 166) were female. Three hundred thirty-five students were invited, and 329 participated in the study. The response rate was 98%. The mean total Professionalism Assessment Scale score was 96.36±12.04. The three-factor structure of the scale, “empathy and humanism,” “professional relationship and development,” and “responsibility,” was confirmed. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.94, and both the Spearman-Brown and Guttman split-half coefficients were 0.89. The three-factor structure of the scale, consisting of 22 items, explained 59.1% of the total variance. The intraclass correlation coefficient between test-retest measurements was 0.81. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a model suitable for the original version of the scale (χ2/sd = 2.814, RMSEA = 0.074). The Turkish version of the Professionalism Assessment Scale is a valid and reliable tool to determine the professionalism attitudes of medical students in Turkey.
Analyzing willingness for extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in refractory ventricular fibrillation
Authors: Kim Seon Koo , Park Ju Ok , Park Hang A. , Lee Choung Ah , Kim Sola , Wang Soon-Joo , Park Hye Ji , Lee Hye Ah
Published: January 2023

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) for refractory ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has recently been recommended for selected patients with favorable prognostic features. We aimed to identify factors affecting the willingness of emergency physicians to implement extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). We conducted a factorial survey with nine experimental vignettes by combining three different scene time intervals and transportation time intervals. Emergency physicians reported willingness to implement ECPR (1–100 points). Respondent characteristics that could affect the willingness were studied. Multilevel analysis of vignettes and respondent factors was conducted using a mixed-effects regression model. We obtained 486 vignette responses from 54 emergency physicians. In the case of longer scene time intervals, there was a significant difference in the willingness scores at 9 and 12 min transportation time intervals. When the pre-hospital time interval was > 40 min, emergency physicians demonstrated lower willingness to implement ECPR. Clinical experience of 15–19 years showed a significant favorable effect on willingness to implement extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). However, the mean willingness scores of EPs for ECMO implementation were more than 75 across all vignettes. In ECPR, the prehospital time interval is an important factor, and the willingness of emergency physicians to implement ECMO could be mutually affected by scene time intervals, transportation time intervals, and total prehospital time.
Verticillium dahliae Vta3 promotes ELV1 virulence factor gene expression in xylem sap, but tames Mtf1-mediated late stages of fungus-plant interactions and microsclerotia formation
Authors: Maurus Isabel , Harting Rebekka , Herrfurth Cornelia , Starke Jessica , Nagel Alexandra , Mohnike Lennart , Chen Ying-Yu , Schmitt Kerstin , Bastakis Emmanouil , Süß Marian T. , Leonard Miriam , Heimel Kai , Valerius Oliver , Feussner Ivo , Kronstad James W. , Braus Gerhard H.
Published: January 2023

Verticillium transcription activator of adhesion 3 (Vta3) is required for plant root colonization and pathogenicity of the soil-borne vascular fungus Verticillium dahliae. RNA sequencing identified Vta3-dependent genetic networks required for growth in tomato xylem sap. Vta3 affects the expression of more than 1,000 transcripts, including candidates with predicted functions in virulence and morphogenesis such as Egh16-like virulence factor 1 (Elv1) and Master transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). The genes encoding Elv1 and Mtf1 were deleted and their functions in V. dahliae growth and virulence on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were investigated using genetics, plant infection experiments, gene expression studies and phytohormone analyses. Vta3 contributes to virulence by promoting ELV1 expression, which is dispensable for vegetative growth and conidiation. Vta3 decreases disease symptoms mediated by Mtf1 in advanced stages of tomato plant colonization, while Mtf1 induces the expression of fungal effector genes and tomato pathogenesis-related protein genes. The levels of pipecolic and salicylic acids functioning in tomato defense signaling against (hemi-) biotrophic pathogens depend on the presence of MTF1, which promotes the formation of resting structures at the end of the infection cycle. In summary, the presence of VTA3 alters gene expression of virulence factors and tames the Mtf1 genetic subnetwork for late stages of plant disease progression and subsequent survival of the fungus in the soil.
Hegemonía hotelera. El rol del Estado en la reactivación de la tasa de beneficio hotelera tras la crisis de 2008
Authors: Blázquez Salom Macià , Murray Mas Ivan , Artigues Antonio Alberto
Published: January 2023

Se analiza el ejercicio de la hegemonía empresarial hotelera para reactivar su tasa de beneficios tras la crisis de 2008. El Estado –la administración autonómica- apoyó normativamente obras y reformas hoteleras antes prohibidas, abandonando el “contencionismo” y dispensándolas del cumplimiento de ciertos parámetros normativos. Este respaldo de la regulación pública burla la preservación de los principios de igualdad o de prohibición de la arbitrariedad mediante el alegato a la superación de la crisis, desestacionalizar y a la mejora de la sostenibilidad, la accesibilidad y la seguridad. La metodología de trabajo ha consistido en el análisis de la flexibilización normativa en las Islas Baleares y estadístico y cartográfico de los datos disponibles sobre las obras de reforma y ampliación de los hoteles de Mallorca (2009-2021). Los resultados demuestran que el capital fijo inmobiliario de la industria turística de Mallorca se ha renovado y ampliado, con un aumento de 19.434 plazas entre 2010 y 2021 (superior al registrado entre 1999 y 2010, de 16.117 plazas), y el incremento de categorías e inversión en obras de nueva planta y reformas. Dichos proyectos de reforma y ampliación se concentraron en los resorts de sol y playa y la ciudad histórica de Palma. El relanzamiento del ciclo turístico fue acompañado de la rentabilidad en términos de RevPar y de revalorización del capital hotelero. Es decir, se refleja un claro vínculo entre el circuito primario y el secundario.
A börtönoktatás hatékonyságának vizsgálata női fogvatartottak körében
Authors: Garai Imre
Published: January 2023

A modern értelmiségi hivatások, köztük a középiskolai tanárképzést
felügyelő szakértők csoportja a 19. második felében jöttek létre hazánkban.
Szakterületüket az állami végrehajtó hatalommal együtt annak bürokratikus
szabályzórendszerén keresztül monopolizálták. Ez az együttműködés azonban
az első világháború során és az azt követő időszakban felbomlott. A
tanulmány a középiskolai tanárképző intézethez kapcsolódó személyi
kinevezések, a tanulmányi rendben kezdeményezett változások és a
tornatanárképzés reformján keresztül vizsgálja azt, hogy az államhatalom
beavatkozásai a tanári hivatást felügyelő intézmények belügyeibe
deprofesszionalizálták- e a szakértői csoport egészét. A tanulmány egy
nagyobb vizsgálat első eredményeit adja közre, amely megközelítését
tekintve deduktív és idiografikus jellegű, levéltári és másodlagos
könyvészeti forrásokra támaszkodó kutatás. A kutatás elsődleges módszerei a
levéltári források dokumentumelemzése és a könyvészeti források áttekintő
elemzése voltak. A kutatási kérdések közül a miniszteriális igazgatási
szerv és a tanárképzés szakértői közötti kapcsolat természetének
változásaira vonatkozó aspektust tárgyalja jelen munka. Mind a személyi
kinevezések, mind a tanulmányi rendbe történő beavatkozás, illetve a
tornatanárképzés ügye is azzal fenyegettek, hogy az 1920 előtt kialakult
eszmei keretek, amelyek mentén a tanárképző szervek monopolizálták a
középiskolai tanárképzés felügyeletét, felbomlanak. A korábban kialakult
eszmei-ideológiai keretek megszűnése végső soron a szakértői kompetenciákon
alapuló működést korlátozta volna, így pedig azonnali
deprofesszionalizációhoz vezethettek. Ennek elkerülése egy fajsúlyos
politikai szereplő reformokban való érintetté válásával sikerült ugyan, ám
ez nem vetett véget a visszatérő állami beavatkozásoknak az ellenforradalmi
rendszer későbbi évtizedeiben.

A tanulmány egy nagyobb vizsgálat első eredményeit adja közre, amely
megközelítését tekintve deduktív és idiografikus jellegű, levéltári és
másodlagos könyvészeti forrásokra támaszkodó kutatás. A kutatás elsődleges
módszerei a levéltári források dokumentumelemzése és a könyvészeti források
áttekintő elemzése voltak. A kutatási kérdések közül a miniszteriális
igazgatási szerv és a tanárképzés szakértői közötti kapcsolat természetének
változásaira vonatkozó aspektus kerül tárgyalásra jelen munka keretei
között.

Mind a személyi kinevezések, mind a tanulmányi rendbe történő
beavatkozás, illetve a tornatanárképzés ügye is azzal fenyegettek, hogy az
1920 előtt kialakult eszmei keretek, amelyek mentén a tanárképző szervek
monopolizálták a középiskolai tanárképzés felügyeletét, felbomlanak. A
korábban kialakult eszmei-ideológiai keretek megszűnése végső soron a
szakértői kompetenciákon alapuló működést korlátozta volna, így pedig
azonnali deprofesszionalizációhoz vezethettek. Ennek elkerülése egy
fajsúlyos politikai szereplő a reformokban való érintetté válásával
sikerült ugyan, ám ez nem vetett véget a visszatérő állami beavatkozásoknak
az ellenforradalmi rendszer későbbi évtizedeiben.
Silk Protein Hydrolysate for Corrosion Mitigation of Mild Steel in 1 N H2SO4
Authors: Nijarubini V. , Mallika J. , Mantharasalan M.
Published: January 2023

In view as corrosion inhibitor, silk protein hydrolysate (SPH), a water-soluble hydrolysate obtained from silk protein (biopolymer) exhibits excellent protection to mild steel in 1 N H2SO4, especially at low concentration levels. Weight loss analysis propose a maximum efficiency for 10 ppm SPH at 303 K. Potentiodynamic polarization measurement revealed its functioning as a mixed-type inhibitor with enhanced polarization resistance. The best fits observed with Langmuir isotherm suggested the inhibitor-metal interaction to occur via physisorption mechanism. Surface examination through SEM (EDXS), water contact angle, AFM, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of protective film.