bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of low cardiac output after isolated pericardiectomy: an observational study
Authors: Wang Jin , Zhang Xiaohong , Liu Xingrong , Pei Lijian , Zhang Yuelun , Yu Chunhua , Huang Yuguang
Published: August 2022

Background

Low cardiac output is the main cause of perioperative death after pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis. We investigated the associated risk factors and consequences.

Methods

We selected constrictive pericarditis patients undergoing isolated pericardiectomy from January 2013 to January 2021. Postoperative low cardiac output was defined as requiring mechanical circulatory support or more than one inotrope to maintain a cardiac index > 2.2 L •min−1 •m−2 without hypoperfusion, despite adequate filling status. Uni- and multivariable analysis were used to identify factors associated with low cardiac output. Cox regression was used to identify factors associated with length of hospital stay.

Results

Among 212 patients with complete data, 55 (25.9%) developed low cardiac output within postoperative day 1 (quartiles 1 and 2), which caused seven of the nine perioperative deaths. The rates of atrial arrhythmia, renal dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, modest-to-severe hyponatremia, and hyperbilirubinemia caused by constrictive pericarditis were 9.4%, 12.3%, 49.1%, 10.4%, and 81.6%. The mean preoperative central venous pressure and cardiac index were 18 ± 5 cmH2O and 1.87 ± 0.45 L•min−1•m−2. Univariable analysis showed that low cardiac output patients had higher rates of atrial arrhythmia (OR 3.32 [1.35, 8.17], P = 0.007), renal dysfunction (OR 4.24 [1.94, 9.25], P < 0.001), hypoalbuminemia (OR 1.99 [1.06, 3.73], P = 0.031) and hyponatremia (OR 6.36 [2.50, 16.20], P < 0.001), greater E peak velocity variation (difference 2.8 [0.7, 5.0], P = 0.011), higher central venous pressure (difference 3 [2,5] cmH2O, P < 0.001) and lower cardiac index (difference − 0.27 [− 0.41, − 0.14] L•min−1•m−2, P < 0.001) than patients without low cardiac output. Multivariable regression showed that atrial arrhythmia (OR 4.04 [1.36, 12.02], P = 0.012), renal dysfunction (OR 2.64 [1.07, 6.50], P = 0.035), hyponatremia (OR 3.49 [1.19, 10.24], P = 0.023), high central venous pressure (OR 1.17 [1.08, 1.27], P < 0.001), and low cardiac index (OR 0.36 [0.14, 0.92], P = 0.032) were associated with low cardiac output (AUC 0.79 [0.72–0.86], P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that hyperbilirubinemia (HR 0.66 [0.46, 0.94], P = 0.022), renal dysfunction (HR 0.51 [0.33, 0.77], P = 0.002), and low cardiac output (HR 0.42 [0.29, 0.59], P < 0.001) were associated with length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

Early recognition and management of hyponatremia, renal dysfunction, fluid retention, and hyperbilirubinemia may benefit constrictive pericarditis patients after pericardiectomy.
Antioxidant procyanidin B2 protects oocytes against cryoinjuries via mitochondria regulated cortical tension
Authors: Zhuan Qingrui , Li Jun , Du Xingzhu , Zhang Luyao , Meng Lin , Luo Yuwen , Zhou Dan , Liu Hongyu , Wan Pengcheng , Hou Yunpeng , Fu Xiangwei
Published: August 2022

Background

Irreversible cryodamage caused by oocyte vitrification limited its wild application in female fertility preservation. Antioxidants were always used to antagonist the oxidative stress caused by vitrification. However, the comprehensive mechanism underlying the protective role of antioxidants has not been studied. Procyanidin B2 (PCB2) is a potent natural antioxidant and its functions in response to vitrification are still unknown. In this study, the effects of PCB2 on vitrified-thawed oocytes and subsequent embryo development were explored, and the mechanisms underlying the protective role of PCB2 were systematically elucidated.

Results

Vitrification induced a marked decline in oocyte quality, while PCB2 could improve oocyte viability and further development after parthenogenetic activation. A subsequent study indicated that PCB2 effectively attenuated vitrification-induced oxidative stress, rescued mitochondrial dysfunction, and improved cell viability. Moreover, PCB2 also acts as a cortical tension regulator apart from strong antioxidant properties. Increased cortical tension caused by PCB2 would maintain normal spindle morphology and promote migration, ensure correct meiosis progression and finally reduce the aneuploidy rate in vitrified oocytes. Further study reveals that ATP biosynthesis plays a crucial role in cortical tension regulation, and PCB2 effectively increased the cortical tension through the electron transfer chain pathway. Additionally, PCB2 would elevate the cortical tension in embryo cells at morula and blastocyst stages and further improve blastocyst quality. What’s more, targeted metabolomics shows that PCB2 has a beneficial effect on blastocyst formation by mediating saccharides and amino acids metabolism.

Conclusions

Antioxidant PCB2 exhibits multi-protective roles in response to vitrification stimuli through mitochondria-mediated cortical tension regulation.
A partitioned material point method and discrete element method coupling scheme
Authors: Singer Veronika , Sautter Klaus B. , Larese Antonia , Wüchner Roland , Bletzinger Kai-Uwe
Published: August 2022

Mass-movement hazards involving fast and large soil deformation often include huge rocks or other significant obstacles increasing tremendously the risks for humans and infrastructures. Therefore, numerical investigations of such disasters are in high economic demand for prediction as well as for the design of countermeasures. Unfortunately, classical numerical approaches are not suitable for such challenging multiphysics problems. For this reason, in this work we explore the combination of the Material Point Method, able to simulate elasto-plastic continuum materials and the Discrete Element Method to accurately calculate the contact forces, in a coupled formulation. We propose a partitioned MPM-DEM coupling scheme, thus the solvers involved are treated as black-box solvers, whereas the communication of the involved sub-systems is shifted to the shared interface. This approach allows to freely choose the best suited solver for each model and to combine the advantages of both physics in a generalized manner. The examples validate the novel coupling scheme and show its applicability for the simulation of large strain flow events interacting with obstacles.
Modeling the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease by administering intracerebroventricular injections of human native Aβ oligomers to rats
Authors: Baerends Eva , Soud Katia , Folke Jonas , Pedersen Anna-Kathrine , Henmar Simon , Konrad Lisa , Lycas Matthew D. , Mori Yuki , Pakkenberg Bente , Woldbye David P. D. , Dmytriyeva Oksana , Pankratova Stanislava
Published: August 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of aggregated amyloid beta (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau along with a slow decline in cognitive functions. Unlike advanced AD, the initial steps of AD pathophysiology have been poorly investigated, partially due to limited availability of animal models focused on the early, plaque-free stages of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the early behavioral, anatomical and molecular alterations in wild-type rats following intracerebroventricular injections of human Aβ oligomers (AβOs). Bioactive human AD and nondemented control brain tissue extracts were characterized using ELISA and proteomics approaches. Following a bilateral infusion, rats underwent behavioral testing, including the elevated plus maze, social recognition test, Morris water maze and Y-maze within 6 weeks postinjection. An analysis of brain structure was performed with manganese-enhanced MRI. Collected brain tissues were analyzed using stereology, immunohistochemistry, ELISA and qPCR. No sensorimotor deficits affecting motor performance on different maze tasks were observed, nor was spatial memory disturbed in AD rats. In contrast, a significant impairment of social memory became evident at 21 days postinjection. This deficit was associated with a significantly decreased volume of the lateral entorhinal cortex and a tendency toward a decrease in the total brain volume. Significant increase of cleaved caspase-3-positive cells, microglial activation and proinflammatory responses accompanied by altered expression of synaptic markers were observed in the hippocampus of AD rats with immunohistochemical and qPCR approaches at 6 weeks postinjection. Our data suggest that the social memory impairment observed in AβO-injected rats might be determined by neuroinflammatory responses and synaptopathy. An infusion of native oligomeric Aβ in the rat brain represents a feasible tool to model early plaque-free events associated with AD.
Risk factors and prevention strategies for shoulder injuries in overhead sports: an updated systematic review
Authors: Hoppe Matthias Wilhelm , Brochhagen Joana , Tischer Thomas , Beitzel Knut , Seil Romain , Grim Casper
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The aim of this systematic review was to update the knowledge on risk factors and prevention strategies for shoulder injuries in overhead sports with special emphasis on methodological quality.

Methods

All methodological procedures were performed in line with a previous systematic review by Asker et al. (2018). The literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and SPORT-Discuss databases. Due to the risk of bias assessment, only studies with at least an acceptable methodological quality were included. A best-evidence synthesis was performed to clarify the evidence and direction of the risk factors and prevention strategies.

Results

A total of nine studies were included in the data extraction process. One study had a high and eight studies had an acceptable methodological quality. Seven cohort studies investigated risk factors and two randomised controlled trails evaluated prevention strategies. Moderate evidence was found for two non-modifiable (playing position, gender) and three modifiable factors (shoulder rotational strength, scapular dyskinesia, shoulder prevention programme) that were associated with the shoulder injury risk. All further risk factors had moderate and no association with risk (shoulder rotational ROM, joint position sense) or limited (history of shoulder/elbow pain, age, training experience, training volume, school grade, playing level), and conflicting evidence (setting).

Conclusions

There is moderate evidence for two non-modifiable (playing position, gender) and three modifiable factors (shoulder rotational strength, scapular dyskinesia, shoulder prevention programme) being associated with the shoulder injury risk in overhead sports.
Optimal complementary feeding practices among caregivers and their children aged 6–23 months in Kisoro district, Uganda
Authors: Birungi Tracy Lukiya , Ejalu David Livingstone
Published: August 2022

Background

There are many risk factors for stunting, and studies most often corroborate complementary feeding practices as a significant risk factor. Information on the prevalence of optimal complementary feeding practices and factors that lend to caregivers meeting their requirements in Kisoro district, a district with high stunting rates, is mostly lacking.

Methodology

An analytical cross-sectional study that used secondary data from a USAID-funded project. Entries for 384 caregivers of children aged 6–23 months in Kisoro district were abstracted from the project database. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20. The association between independent factors and optimal complementary feeding practices was determined using multivariable logistic regressions at the three levels of the Socio-Ecological Model.

Findings

Although 95% of the infants were introduced to semi-solid foods promptly, their diet was nutritionally inadequate as evidenced by the low minimum dietary diversity of 4.43%. Some of the key covariates associated with these outcomes included, the type of occupation (AOR = 21.21; CI = 2.03—221.26; p = 0.011), community groups (AOR = 0. 43; CI = 0.22—0.83; p = 0.012), not being married (AOR = 13.25; CI = 1.76—100.25; p = 0.012), age of the child (AOR = 2.21; CI = 1.1—4.45; p = 0.026); among others.

Conclusion

The prevalence of MAD and MDD was very low in Kisoro district, even compared to national figures, putting these children at a very high risk of stunting. Increased advocacy is needed to support the community-level implementation of the IYCF guidelines.
Semiquantitative CT imaging as a tool in improving detection of ground glass patches in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and for better follow-up
Authors: Kolta Marian Fayek Farid , Abouheif Mahmoud Alaa Abd-Elrehim Abd-Elaal , Abd El-Mageed Mohammed Raafat
Published: August 2022

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 influencing millions of people worldwide. It has clinical symptoms going from mild symptoms in about 80% of patients to a case mortality rate of about 2% in hospitalized patients associated with radiologic findings at chest CT which is showing multifocal bilateral ground glass opacities (GGO) and consolidative patches with subpleural and peri-bronchovascular predominant distribution. The role of chest CT in COVID-19 is very crucial, so this study hypothesized that increasing the accuracy and rapidity of CT in the detection of COVID-19-related pneumonia will offer rapid management and intervention of affected cases and gain better outcomes. The aim of this study is to offer and assess the ability of a software computer program in helping the radiologists in rapid detection of COVID-19 pneumonic criteria.

Results

This cross-sectional study involved 73 patients with clinical symptoms and real-time polymerase chain reaction test positive results diagnosed as COVID-19. They were referred to perform chest CT; their CT images were sent to a separate workstation to be automated and processed through the COVID-19 detector, and compared the finding of the radiologist and the COVID-19 detector. The median number of lesions was 2 among the studied participants ranging from 1 to 12 lesions. The most common affected site of the lesions was the lower lobes. There was a significant strong agreement (P value < 0.001, kappa = 0.923) between the radiologist and the semiquantitative CT assessment in the detection of GGO among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Also, there were 6 patients who underwent follow-up by semiquantitative CT and radiologist; the median number of lesions was 1 among the studied participants ranging from 1 to 8 lesions. There was a significant strong agreement (P value = 0.001, Kappa = 0.856) between the radiologist and the semiquantitative CT assessment in the detection of GGO during follow-up among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Conclusions

The tested computer program can accurately detect COVID-19 pneumonia as it has better visualization in detecting GGO for diagnosing and following up on COVID-19 pneumonia.
Validation of Machine Learning–Based Automated Surgical Instrument Annotation Using Publicly Available Intraoperative Video
Authors: Markarian Nicholas , Kugener Guillaume , Pangal Dhiraj J. , Unadkat Vyom , Sinha Aditya , Zhu Yichao , Roshannai Arman , Chan Justin , Hung Andrew J. , Wrobel Bozena B. , Anandkumar Animashree , Zada Gabriel , Donoho Daniel A.
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND:

Intraoperative tool movement data have been demonstrated to be clinically useful in quantifying surgical performance. However, collecting this information from intraoperative video requires laborious hand annotation. The ability to automatically annotate tools in surgical video would advance surgical data science by eliminating a time-intensive step in research.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify whether machine learning (ML) can automatically identify surgical instruments contained within neurosurgical video.

METHODS:

A ML model which automatically identifies surgical instruments in frame was developed and trained on multiple publicly available surgical video data sets with instrument location annotations. A total of 39 693 frames from 4 data sets were used (endoscopic endonasal surgery [EEA] [30 015 frames], cataract surgery [4670], laparoscopic cholecystectomy [2532], and microscope-assisted brain/spine tumor removal [2476]). A second model trained only on EEA video was also developed. Intraoperative EEA videos from YouTube were used for test data (3 videos, 1239 frames).

RESULTS:

The YouTube data set contained 2169 total instruments. Mean average precision (mAP) for instrument detection on the YouTube data set was 0.74. The mAP for each individual video was 0.65, 0.74, and 0.89. The second model trained only on EEA video also had an overall mAP of 0.74 (0.62, 0.84, and 0.88 for individual videos). Development costs were $130 for manual video annotation and under $100 for computation.

CONCLUSION:

Surgical instruments contained within endoscopic endonasal intraoperative video can be detected using a fully automated ML model. The addition of disparate surgical data sets did not improve model performance, although these data sets may improve generalizability of the model in other use cases.
Implementing blended learning for clinician teachers: a qualitative study identifying their needs and the impact on faculty development initiatives
Authors: Brits Elizabeth Kanita , Archer Elize , Strydom Sonja
Published: August 2022

Background: Learning Technologies has been a fast-growing field in Health Professions Education (HPE). Approaches to teaching, learning and assessment have been increasingly influenced by learning technologies which requires HPE teachers to adapt their teaching practices and, with that, identify areas for professional development. 

The implementation of blended learning in HPE, has shown improvements in student performance. However, it seems as if there are challenges with the implementation of a blended learning approach and that there might be some needs that clinical teachers have that are not being addressed in order to implement blended learning successfully. 

Methods: We used a qualitative exploratory design to identify clinician teachers’ needs. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with a total of eight (n=8) module co-ordinators in the third year of the MBChB programme, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. 

Results: Results indicated the need for continuous technical and pedagogical support which refers to a longitudinal faculty development approach. Additionally, faculty development should include the support in structuring and rethinking the blended curriculum, as well as assisting in the clinicians’ development in their role and identity as a clinical teacher.  

Conclusions: These results reveal the importance of faculty development as a targeted longitudinal approach.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome - review
Authors: Metelski Jakub , Metelska Aleksandra , Sereda Dominika , Nieścior Hubert , Szwed Monika
Published: August 2022

Introduction and purpose

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES) is a constellation of symptoms that includes gastric ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic diarrhea. They are caused by the presence of gastrinoma, which is a neuroendocrine tumor that secretes gastrin. Gastrinoma is most often found in the duodenum and pancreas. ZES occurs sporadically in about 80% of cases, while in 20-25% it is a component of multiple endocrine neoplasms (MEN1). It is malignant in 60-90% of cases. The aim of the study is to present the typical clinical course of ZES, the diagnostic path and current therapeutic recommendations.

Description of the state of knowledge 

ZES is present in about 0.1% -1% of patients with peptic ulcer disease. The direct cause of symptoms in patients with ZES is excessive gastric secretion stimulated by ectopic gastrin. Excess gastric acid damages the gastric mucosa and small intestine and disrupts the transport of fats, leading to the development of diarrhea. Other common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, or more rarely severe complications of GERD or peptic ulcer disease. Diagnostics include measurement of fasting serum gastrin, measurement of gastric pH, and assessment of basal gastric acid production.

Summary 

In pharmacological treatment, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first-line drugs to control excessive gastric acid secretion in patients with ZES. Other therapeutic options include histamine receptor antagonists or somatostatin analogues. Surgical intervention remains the only possible causal treatment. In the case of sporadic ZES routine exploratory laparotomy with curative intent is recommended. In the group of patients with coexisting MEN-1 syndrome, surgical intervention is reserved for patients with tumors> 2 cm.
Technical Note—An Improved Analysis of LP-Based Control for Revenue Management
Authors: Chen Guanting , Li Xiaocheng , Ye Yinyu
Published: August 2022

Bounded Regret for LP-Based Revenue-Management Problems

In “An Improved Analysis of LP-Based Control for Revenue Management,” Chen, Li, and Ye study a class of quantity-based network revenue-management problems. The authors consider a stochastic setting where all the orders are i.i.d. sampled and the customers are of finite type. They focus on the classic LP-based adaptive algorithm and consider regret as the performance measure. They found that when the underlying LP is nondegenerate, the algorithm achieves a problem-dependent regret upper bound that is independent of the horizon/number of time periods T; when the underlying LP is degenerate, the algorithm achieves a tight regret upper bound that scales on the order of T log(T) and matches the lower bound up to a logarithmic order.
High-sensitivity modulation of electromagnetically induced transparency analog in a THz asymmetric metasurface integrating perovskite and graphene
Authors: Wang Tongling , Li Tengteng , Yao Haiyun , Lu Yuying , Yan Xin , Cao Maoyong , Liang Lanju , Yang Maosheng , Yao Jianquan
Published: August 2022

Active control of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) analog is desirable in photonics development. Here, we theoretically and experimentally proposed a novel terahertz (THz) asymmetric metasurface structure that can possess high-sensitivity modulation under extremely low power density by integrating perovskite or graphene. Using the novel metasurface structure with the perovskite coating, the maximum amplitude modulation depth (AMD) of this perovskite-based device reached 490.53% at a low power density of

12.8037
  

mW
/
cm

2

. In addition, after the novel THz metasurface structure was combined with graphene, this graphene-based device also achieved high AMD with the maximum AMD being 180.56% at

16.312
  

mW
/
cm

2

, and its transmission amplitude could be electrically driven at a low bias voltage. The physical origin of this modulation was explained using a two-oscillator EIT model. This work provides a promising platform for developing high-sensitivity THz sensors, light modulators, and switches.
Hybrid plasmonic–dielectric metal-nanowire coupler for high-efficiency broadband nonlinear frequency conversion
Authors: Nie Kui-Ying , Luo Song , Ren Fang-Fang , Chen Xuanhu , Gu Shulin , Chen Zhanghai , Zhang Rong , Ye Jiandong
Published: August 2022

Pursuing nanometer-scale nonlinear converters based on second harmonic generation (SHG) is a stimulating strategy for bio-sensing, on-chip optical circuits, and quantum information processing, but the light-conversion efficiency is still poor in such ultra-small dimensional nanostructures. Herein, we demonstrate a highly enhanced broadband frequency converter through a hybrid plasmonic–dielectric coupler, a ZnTe/ZnO single core–shell nanowire (NW) integrated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). The NW dimension has been optimized to allow the engineering of dielectric resonances at both fundamental wave and second harmonic frequencies. Meanwhile, the localized surface plasmon resonances are excited in the regime between the Ag NPs and ZnTe/ZnO dielectric NW, as evidenced by plasmon-enhanced Raman scattering and resonant absorption. These two contributors remarkably enhance local fields and consequently support the strong broadband SHG outputs in this hybrid nanostructure by releasing stringent phase-matching conditions. The proposed nanoscale nonlinear optical converter enables the manipulation of nonlinear light–matter interactions toward the development of on-chip nanophotonic systems.
Toward co-design of an AI solution for detection of diarrheal pathogens in drinking water within resource-constrained contexts
Authors: Hall-Clifford Rachel , Arzu Alejandro , Contreras Saul , Croissert Muguercia Maria Gabriela , de Leon Figueroa Diana Ximena , Ochoa Elias Maria Valeria , Soto Fernández Anna Yunuen , Tariq Amara , Banerjee Imon , Pennington Pamela
Published: August 2022

Despite successes on the Sustainable Development Goals for access to improved water sources and sanitation, many low and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to struggle with high rates of diarrheal disease. In Guatemala, 98% of water sources are estimated to have E. coli contamination. This project moves toward a novel low-cost approach to bridge the gap between the microbiologic identification of E. coli and the vast impact that this pathogen has on human health within marginalized communities using co-designed community-based tools, low-cost technology, and AI. An agile co-design process was followed with water quality stakeholders, community staff, and local graphic design artists to develop a community water quality education mobile app. A series of alpha- and beta-testers completed interactive demonstration, feedback, and in-depth interview sessions. A microbiology lab in Guatemala developed and piloted field protocols with lay community workers to collect and process water samples. A preliminary artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm was developed to detect the presence of E. coli in images generated from community-derived water samples. The mobile app emerged as a pictorial and audio-driven community-facing tool. The field protocol for water sampling and testing was successfully implemented by lay community workers. Feedback from the community workers indicated both desire and ability to conduct the water sampling and testing protocol under field conditions. However, images derived from the low-cost $2 microscope in field conditions were not of a suitable quality for AI object detection of E. coli, and additional low-cost technologies are being considered. The preliminary AI object detection algorithm from lab-derived images performed at 94% accuracy in identifying E. coli in comparison to the Chromocult gold-standard.
Design and validation of HIV peptide pools for detection of HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
Authors: Al-kolla Rita , Grifoni Alba , Crotty Shane , Sette Alessandro , Gianella Sara , Dan Jennifer
Published: August 2022

Reagents to monitor T cell responses to the entire HIV genome, based on well characterized epitopes, are missing. Evaluation of HIV-specific T cell responses is of importance to study natural infection, and therapeutic and vaccine interventions. Experimentally derived CD4+ and CD8+ HIV epitopes from the HIV molecular immunology database were developed into Class I and Class II HIV megapools (MPs). We assessed HIV responses in persons with HIV pre antiretroviral therapy (ART) (n = 17) and post-ART (n = 18) and compared these responses to 15 controls without HIV (matched by sex at birth, age, and ethnicity). Using the Activation Induced Marker (AIM) assay, we quantified HIV-specific total CD4+, memory CD4+, circulating T follicular helper, total CD8+ and memory CD8+ T cells. We also compared the Class I and Class II HIV MPs to commercially available HIV gag peptide pools. Overall, HIV Class II MP detected HIV-specific CD4+ T cells in 21/35 (60%) HIV positive samples and 0/15 HIV negative samples. HIV Class I MP detected an HIV-specific CD8+ T cells in 17/35 (48.6%) HIV positive samples and 0/15 HIV negative samples. Our innovative HIV MPs are reflective of the entire HIV genome, and its performance is comparable to other commercially available peptide pools. Here, we detected HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in people on and off ART, but not in people without HIV.
Characterisation of NLRP3 pathway-related neuroinflammation in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Pohlentz Malin S. , Müller Philipp , Cases-Cunillera Silvia , Opitz Thoralf , Surges Rainer , Hamed Motaz , Vatter Hartmut , Schoch Susanne , Becker Albert J. , Pitsch Julika
Published: August 2022

Objective

Inflammation of brain structures, in particular the hippocampal formation, can induce neuronal degeneration and be associated with increased excitability manifesting as propensity for repetitive seizures. An increase in the abundance of individual proinflammatory molecules including interleukin 1 beta has been observed in brain tissue samples of patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and corresponding animal models. The NLRP3-inflammasome, a cytosolic protein complex, acts as a key regulator in proinflammatory innate immune signalling. Upon activation, it leads to the release of interleukin 1 beta and inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration. Transient brain insults, like status epilepticus (SE), can render hippocampi chronically hyperexcitable and induce segmental neurodegeneration. The underlying mechanisms are referred to as epileptogenesis. Here, we have tested the hypothesis that distinct NLRP3-dependent transcript and protein signalling dynamics are induced by SE and whether they differ between two classical SE models. We further correlated the association of NLRP3-related transcript abundance with convulsive activity in human TLE hippocampi of patients with and without associated neurodegenerative damage.

Methods

Hippocampal mRNA- and protein-expression of NLRP3 and associated signalling molecules were analysed longitudinally in pilocarpine- and kainic acid-induced SE TLE mouse models. Complementarily, we studied NLRP3 inflammasome-associated transcript patterns in epileptogenic hippocampi with different damage patterns of pharmacoresistant TLE patients that had undergone epilepsy surgery for seizure relief.

Results

Pilocarpine- and kainic acid-induced SE elicit distinct hippocampalNlrp3-associated molecular signalling. Transcriptional activation of NLRP3 pathway elements is associated with seizure activity but independent of the particular neuronal damage phenotype in KA-induced and in human TLE hippocampi.

Significance

These data suggest highly dynamic inflammasome signalling in SE-induced TLE and highlight a vicious cycle associated with seizure activity. Our results provide promising perspectives for the inflammasome signalling pathway as a target for anti-epileptogenic and -convulsive therapeutic strategies. The latter may even applicable to a particularly broad spectrum of TLE patients with currently pharmacoresistant disease.
Reward type influences adults’ rejections of inequality in a task designed for children
Authors: McAuliffe Katherine , Benjamin Natalie , Warneken Felix
Published: August 2022

In the context of economic games, adults sacrifice money to avoid unequal outcomes, showing so-called inequity aversion. Child-friendly adaptations of these games have shown that children, too, show inequity aversion. Moreover, inequity aversion shows a clear developmental trajectory, with young children rejecting only disadvantageously unequal distributions and older children rejecting both disadvantageously and advantageously unequal distributions. However, based on existing work, it is difficult to compare adult and child responses to inequity because (1) adapting economic games to make them child-friendly may importantly alter the dynamics of the fairness interaction and (2) adult work typically uses abstract rewards such as money while work with children typically uses more concrete rewards like candy, stickers or toys. Here we adapted the Inequity Game—a paradigm designed to study children’s responses to inequality in isolation from other concerns—to test inequity aversion in adults (N = 104 pairs). We manipulated whether participants made decisions about concrete rewards (candy) or abstract rewards (tokens that could be traded in for money). We found that, like children, adults rejected unequal payoffs in this task. Additionally, we found that reward type mattered: adults rejected disadvantageous—but not advantageous—monetary distributions, yet rejected both disadvantageous and advantageous candy distributions. These findings allow us to draw clearer comparisons across child and adult responses to unfairness and help paint a fuller picture of inequity aversion in humans.
Perceiving fingerspelling via point-light displays: The stimulus and the perceiver both matter
Authors: Leannah Carly , Willis Athena S. , Quandt Lorna C.
Published: August 2022

Signed languages such as American Sign Language (ASL) rely on visuospatial information that combines hand and bodily movements, facial expressions, and fingerspelling. Signers communicate in a wide array of sub-optimal environments, such as in dim lighting or from a distance. While fingerspelling is a common and essential part of signed languages, the perception of fingerspelling in difficult visual environments is not well understood. The movement and spatial patterns of ASL are well-suited to representation by dynamic Point Light Display (PLD) stimuli in which human movement is shown as an array of moving dots affixed to joints on the body. We created PLD videos of fingerspelled location names. The location names were either Real (e.g., KUWAIT) or Pseudo-names (e.g., CLARTAND), and the PLDs showed either a High or a Low number of markers. In an online study, Deaf and Hearing ASL users (total N = 283) watched 27 PLD stimulus videos that varied by Word Type and Number of Markers. Participants watched the videos and typed the names they saw, along with how confident they were in their response. We predicted that when signers see ASL fingerspelling PLDs, language experience in ASL will be positively correlated with accuracy and self-rated confidence scores. We also predicted that Real location names would be understood better than Pseudo names. Our findings supported those predictions. We also discovered a significant interaction between Age and Word Type, which suggests that as people age, they use outside world knowledge to inform their fingerspelling success. Finally, we examined the accuracy and confidence in fingerspelling perception in early ASL users. Studying the relationship between language experience with PLD fingerspelling perception allows us to explore how hearing status, ASL fluency levels, and age of language acquisition affect the core abilities of understanding fingerspelling.
Contrasting hydrodynamic regimes of submerged pinnacle and emergent coral reefs
Authors: Galbraith Gemma F. , Cresswell Benjamin J. , McCormick Mark I. , Bridge Thomas C. , Jones Geoffrey P.
Published: August 2022

Hydrodynamics on coral reefs vary with depth, reef morphology and seascape position. Differences in hydrodynamic regimes strongly influence the structure and function of coral reef ecosystems. Submerged coral reefs on steep-sided, conical bathymetric features like seamounts experience enhanced water circulation as a result of interactions between currents and the abrupt physical structure. There may also be similar interactions between smaller pinnacles and regional water currents in offshore locations (crests > 10 m), while shallow reefs (crests <10 m) may be more subject to surface currents driven by wind, waves and tide. Here we tested whether coral pinnacles experienced stronger and more variable currents compared to emergent reefs at the same depth in both nearshore and offshore positions. Current speeds and temperature were monitored for 12 months at 11 reefs, representing the three different reef categories: submerged offshore pinnacles, emergent offshore reefs and emergent nearshore reefs. We found different patterns in current speeds and temperature among reef types throughout the year and between seasons. Submerged pinnacles exhibited stronger, more variable current speeds compared to both near and offshore emergent reefs. We found seasonal changes in current speeds for pinnacle and nearshore reefs but no variation in current strength on offshore reefs. Whilst instantaneous current directions did reflect the seascape position of individual sites, there was no difference in the directional variability of current speeds between reef types. Annual daily average temperatures at all reef types were not strongly seasonal, changing by less than 2 °C throughout the year. Daily temperature ranges at specific sites however, exhibited considerable variability (annual range of up to 6.5 °C), particularly amongst offshore emergent reefs which experienced the highest temperatures despite greater exposure to regional-scale circulation patterns. Additionally, we found a consistent mismatch between satellite sea surface temperatures and in-situ temperature data, which was on average 2 °C cooler throughout the annual study period. Our results suggest that distinct hydrodynamic processes occur on smaller submerged structures that are physically analogous to seamounts. Our findings highlight important nuances in environmental processes that occur on morphologically distinct coral reef habitats and these are likely to be important drivers for the community dynamics of organisms that inhabit these reefs.
Beyond the main function: An experimental study of the use of hardwood boomerangs in retouching activities
Authors: Martellotta Eva Francesca , Perston Yinika L. , Craft Paul , Wilkins Jayne , Langley Michelle C.
Published: August 2022

Retouched lithic tools result from the functional modification of their edges following knapping operations. The study of the later stages of the reduction sequence is fundamental to understanding the techno-functional features of any toolkit. In Australia, a gap exists in the study of the chaîne opératoire of lithic tools shaped or re-shaped through percussion retouching. In our previous works (Martellotta EF., 2021, Martellotta EF., 2022), we have presented evidence for the use of hardwood boomerangs for retouching purposes in Australian Aboriginal communities. Through a detailed experimental protocol, the present study demonstrates how boomerangs can function as retouchers. We found that the use-wear generated on the boomerang’s surface during retouch activity is comparable to retouch-induced impact traces observed on Palaeolithic bone retouchers, as well as to experimental bone retouchers generated in our replication experiments. Finally, we explore the role that microscopic lithic chips embedded in the retouchers’ surface play in the formation process of retouching marks. Our results address the need for a deeper investigation of percussion retouching techniques in Australian contexts, opening the possibility that uncommon objects—such as boomerangs—could be used for this task. This concept also highlights the broader topic of the highly diverse multipurpose application of many Indigenous tools throughout Australia. At the same time, the study reveals a deep functional connection between osseous and wooden objects—a topic rarely investigated in archaeological contexts.
Active and tunable nanophotonic metamaterials
Authors: Fan Kebin , Averitt Richard D. , Padilla Willie J.
Published: August 2022

Metamaterials enable subwavelength tailoring of light–matter interactions, driving fundamental discoveries which fuel novel applications in areas ranging from compressed sensing to quantum engineering. Importantly, the metallic and dielectric resonators from which static metamaterials are comprised present an open architecture amenable to materials integration. Thus, incorporating responsive materials such as semiconductors, liquid crystals, phase-change materials, or quantum materials (e.g., superconductors, 2D materials, etc.) imbue metamaterials with dynamic properties, facilitating the development of active and tunable devices harboring enhanced or even entirely novel electromagnetic functionality. Ultimately, active control derives from the ability to craft the local electromagnetic fields; accomplished using a host of external stimuli to modify the electronic or optical properties of the responsive materials embedded into the active regions of the subwavelength resonators. We provide a broad overview of this frontier area of metamaterials research, introducing fundamental concepts and presenting control strategies that include electronic, optical, mechanical, thermal, and magnetic stimuli. The examples presented range from microwave to visible wavelengths, utilizing a wide range of materials to realize spatial light modulators, effective nonlinear media, on-demand optics, and polarimetric imaging as but a few examples. Often, active and tunable nanophotonic metamaterials yield an emergent electromagnetic response that is more than the sum of the parts, providing reconfigurable or real-time control of the amplitude, phase, wavevector, polarization, and frequency of light. The examples to date are impressive, setting the stage for future advances that are likely to impact holography, beyond 5G communications, imaging, and quantum sensing and transduction.
Electrical conductivity of ZrCl4 solutions in molten LiCl, NaCl–KCl (1:1) and HfCl4 solutions in molten KCl
Authors: Salyulev Alexander B. , Potapov Alexei M.
Published: August 2022

The electrical conductivity of LiCl–ZrCl4, NaCl–KCl (1:1)–ZrCl4 and KCl–HfCl4 molten mixtures has been studied for the first time as a function of temperature (770–1100 K) and the concentrations of ZrCl4 (0–25 mol%) or HfCl4 (0–30 mol%). A conductometric cell of an original construction has been used. The electrical conductivity of these mixtures ranges from 0.9 to 3.1 S/cm. The increase in the temperature results in the increase in the electrical conductivity, whereas the increase in the ZrCl4 or HfCl4 concentration results in its decrease. The obtained results on the electrical conductivity of MCl–ZrCl4 (M – alkali metals) melts are summarized, taking into account our previous measurements, and discussed on the basis of the available data on the structure of such melts.
Impaired activation of transposable elements in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Authors: Sorek Matan , Meshorer Eran , Schlesinger Sharon
Published: August 2022

Emerging evidence shows that transposable elements (TEs) are induced in response to viral infections. This TE induction is suggested to trigger a robust and durable interferon response, providing a host defense mechanism. Here, we analyze TE expression changes in response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in different human cellular models. Unlike other viruses, SARS‐CoV‐2 infection does not lead to global upregulation of TEs in primary cells. We report a correlation between TEs activation and induction of interferon‐related genes, suggesting that failure to activate TEs may account for the weak interferon response. Moreover, we identify two variables that explain most of the observed diverseness in immune responses: basal expression levels of TEs in the pre‐infected cells and the viral load. Finally, analyzing the SARS‐CoV‐2 interactome and the epigenetic landscape around the TEs activated following infection, we identify SARS‐CoV‐2 interacting proteins, which may regulate chromatin structure and TE transcription. This work provides a possible functional explanation for SARS‐CoV‐2 success in its fight against the host immune system and suggests that TEs could serve as potential drug targets for COVID‐19.
Wet strength improvement of nanofibrillated cellulose film using polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin: The role of carboxyl contents
Authors: Im Wanhee , Park Shin Young , Lee Jegon , Yook Simyub , Lee Hak Lae , Youn Hye Jung
Published: August 2022

An approach to improve water resistance and wet strength of films from nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was investigated using polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) as a cross-linker. To increase the cross-linking reaction, carboxymethylation of pulp fiber was conducted as a chemical pretreatment. NFC was prepared by grinding, and the pass number required in the grinding process differed depending on the carboxyl contents introduced by the carboxymethylation process. First, PAE was added to the NFC suspension, and then NFC films were prepared by casting the suspension followed by heat treatment. The covalent bond formation between the azetidium groups of PAE and carboxyl groups of NFC was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis. The water contact angle indicated that hydrophobicity of PAE/NFC films remarkably increased by the carboxyl content of NFC indicating that the carboxyl groups interacted with the cationic PAE to give higher water contact angles. While the dry tensile strength of NFC films was not influenced by PAE, wet tensile strength was clearly improved with PAE.
Evolutionary characterization of clades 2.3.4.4 H5N6 and 2.3.2.1c H5N1 HPAI viruses in Vietnam (2013–2019) revealed distinct reassortants from distant spillovers
Authors: Trung Nam Nguyen , Hung Chi Nguyen , Hoang Ha Chu , Thi Roan Do , Bich Nga Nguyen Thi , Thanh Hoa Le
Published: August 2022

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5Nx viruses have continually undergone multiple evolutionary dynamics for the generation of various clades, subclades, and genotypes where 2.3.2.2c, and 2.3.4.4 become predominant and co-circulating in Vietnam from 2014 to date. In this study, fifteen H5 sequences in our study and 90 from others from different clades, 0, 1, 1.1, 2.3.2.1a, 2.3.2.1c, 2.3.4, 2.3.4.1, 2.3.4.2, 2.3.4.3 and 2.3.4.4 of H5N1, H5N2, H5N6, were characterized for hemagglutinin (HA) properties, genetic and phylogenetic analyses. Blast searching using the dataset of the full length of two H5N6 viruses revealed one strain, e.g., A/Duck/Vietnam/HT7/2014(H5N6) in May 2014, belonging to the Sichuan 2014-lineage of Group D (Minor). The other strain, A/Chicken/Vietnam/NT3/2017(H5N6)/or CkNT3-2017 in the Spring of 2017, belonged to the Japanese-Korean late 2016-cluster of Group C (Major). This cluster possessed 140NHETS-145del stretch of Leucine/Serine deletion at position 145 in HA1 (S/L145del), distinct from all the 2.3.4.4 H5N6 viruses known to date. There has been no report of the similar CkNT3-2017 of 2.3.4.4 reassortant in Vietnam prior to our study. The migration flyway might be the route for transportation of this novel H5N6 virus from Japan to Vietnam. In addition, the topology revealed another novel subclade of H5N6 (2018–2019) possibly, of the Vietnamese internal reassortments. The “H5Nx” viruses in Vietnam, in fact, have continually undergone multiple evolutionary processes in parallel with those lineages in China and East-Asia. Variations at the key sites in HA and altered genetic characteristics in novel HPAI H5Nx viruses in Vietnam present a caution for the vaccination program and the risk for human infection.