bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel soft‐switching quadratic high voltage gain trans‐inverse DC/DC converter
Authors: Hasanpour Sara
Published: May 2024

This paper suggests a new non‐isolated high step‐up DC/DC converter with soft‐switching performance and low input current ripple for renewable energy generation systems. In this introduced circuit, a three‐winding coupled‐inductor combined with a quadratic boost circuit and voltage multiplier cell to obtain high voltage gains. The advanced features of the proposed topology are its ultra‐high voltage gain, soft‐switching performance, low voltage stress across the switching components, continuous input current with low ripple, and the existence of a common ground between the input source and output load. Due to the partial trans‐inverse property in the suggested topology, higher voltage gains can be achieved under smaller turns ratios of the coupled in comparison to the other typical topologies, which leads to efficiency improvement. Moreover, in this introduced circuit, the voltage stress on the single power switch is mitigated using a regenerative clamp circuit. The theory and operating principle of the suggested converter, along with the steady‐state analysis and efficiency interpretation of the proposed converter are discussed in detail. Finally, to verify the theoretical analysis, a 200 W (25 V/400 V) sample prototype is established.
Multimodal imbalanced‐data fault diagnosis method based on a dual‐branch interactive fusion network
Authors: He Jing , Yin Ling , Sheng Zhenwen
Published: May 2024

Bearing‐fault diagnosis in rotating machinery is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of mechanical systems. However, under complicated working conditions, the number of normal mechanical equipment samples can far exceed the number of faulty ones. When the data are so imbalanced, data fault diagnosis cannot be easily conducted using conventional deep learning methods. This study proposes a fault diagnosis method based on a dual‐branch interactive fusion network, which improves the accuracy and stability of bearing‐fault diagnosis. First, a dual‐branch feature representation network comprising an iterative attention‐feature fusion residual neural network and a long short‐term memory network is designed for extracting different modal features. Meanwhile, intermodal fusion of the extracted features is performed through multilayer perception. Based on the cost‐sensitive regularization loss, a new joint loss function is then designed for network training. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through comparative experiments, visualization analyses, ablation experiments, and generalization performance experiments.
Risk Factors for Recurrence after Surgical Resection of Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma
Authors: Delaine Eugénie , Gorostidi François , Guilcher Pierre , Lambercy Karma , Litzistorf Yann , Bron Luc , Reinhard Antoine
Published: May 2024

Introduction Sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP) is a rare benign epithelial tumor of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses that accounts for 0.4% and 4.7% respectively, of all tumors of this anatomical region.

Objective To analyze the outcomes after surgical resection of SNIP and identify the risk factors for recurrence in a Swiss tertiary center.

Methods We conducted a retrospective review of all cases of SNIP treated at the Lausanne university hospital between 2005 and 2018. All data available on the patients and tumors were collected for analysis. We studied the recurrence rate and looked for risk factors.

Results We included 57 patients with a mean age of 55.5 years. There were 46 primary cases (80.7%) and 11 recurrences (19.3%). Maxillary sinus was the most frequent location (33.3%). Approximately half of the patients (52.6%) presented with a T3 tumor according to the Krouse classification. The mean recurrence rate after surgery was of 17.5% and it was more frequent among the patients in the recurrence group (45.5%) than among the primary cases (10.9%), reaching statistical significance (odds ratio [OR] = 6.8; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.5–30.8; p = 0.0165). Most patients were treated endoscopically (94.7%). Frontal sinus location, higher Krouse stage, and combined approach seemed to increase the risk of recurrence, but without statistical significance.

Conclusion Difficult surgical access, as in the case of tumors located in the frontal sinus, higher stage of the disease, and previously operated cases carry the higher risk of incomplete resection and recurrence.
Mismatch Negativity in Children with Deficits in Auditory Abilities
Authors: Pinto Julia Dalcin , Temp Déborah Aurélio , Ferreira Laís , Souza Amália El Hatal de , Garcia Michele Vargas , Andrade Adriana Neves de , Biaggio Eliara Pinto Vieira
Published: May 2024

Introduction Mismatch negativity (MMN) represents a negative component of event-related potentials, which is mentioned by guidelines as an important tool to provide measurable data regarding the functionality of the auditory system in acoustic processing. However, the literature still lacks reliable data that can support the clinical use of this potential in the complementary diagnosis of central auditory processing (CAP) disorder (CAPD).

Objectives To analyze whether MMN assessment might be associated with the CAP behavioral test battery, as well as to assess the effects of auditory ability deficits on MMN responses in the pediatric population.

Methods In total, 45 age-matched children participated in the study. They were submitted to the CAP behavior assessment and to MMN. The children were tested with a combination of speech contrast consisting of acoustic syllables [da] versus [ta], governed by the oddball paradigm.

Results Mismatch negativity did not show a direct association with a single test but with the combination of the four tests used as a behavioral test battery to identify CAPD. The results also indicated that the auditory ability deficits influenced the measurement of MMN latency (p = 0.003*), but not the amplitude (p = 0.857) or the area (p = 0.577).

Conclusion Mismatch negativity was shown to be statistically associated with the battery of tests used to identify deficits in auditory abilities in the studied sample rather than with a single behavioral test. The deficits in auditory abilities were observed in the MMN latency. Mismatch negativity can be used to assess children with CAPD.
Assessment of the Use of Telemedicine by Brazilian Otolaryngologists through an Online Questionnaire
Authors: Felippu Alexandre Wady Debes , Morsch Thiago Picolli , Brandão Neto Deusdedit , Moretti Eduarda Montenegro , Felippu André Wady Debes , Cascio Filippo , Voegels Richard Louis
Published: May 2024

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted a transformation in medical practice, including the adoption of telemedicine in Brazil and globally. Otorhinolaryngology, a field at high risk of viral transmission, has witnessed an increasing use of telemedicine tools. However, the extent and challenges of telemedicine in this field in Brazil are not well understood. In the present study, we applied a questionnaire to Brazilian otorhinolaryngologists during the pandemic to assess telemedicine's advantages and challenges, shedding light on its integration and persistent issues in the field.

Objective To assess the usage profile of telemedicine in the clinical practice of otolaryngology in Brazil.

Methods The present was a cross-sectional observational study with convenience sampling. It was conducted as a web-based questionnaire distributed and advertised to Brazilian otorhinolaryngologists through social media posts on WhatsApp (Meta Platforms, Inc., Menlo Park, CA, USA), Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc.), Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc.), as well as direct messaging and email.

Results The sample size was 186 participants. A total of 69% of them had already provided or were currently providing telemedicine services, and 34% considered it a frequent or very frequent form of work at the time of data collection. In total, 90% of the respondents considered the lack of physical examination a problem in otolaryngological teleconsultations, while 64% reported frequently or very frequently resolving patient problems through teleconsultations.

Conclusion Telemedicine emerged in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as a promising tool for remote patient care. More studies are needed to elucidate its role in the context of limited physical examination.
The institutional logics of love: the order of passion in an intimate field
Authors: Friedland Roger , Roose Henk , Mohr John W.
Published: May 2024

We use Multiple Correspondence Analysis to capture the institutional logics of love and intimacy among a random sample of American university students. Comparing the theoretical assumptions of field theory and the institutional logics approach we explore whether institutional logics of intimacy exist, what kinds of practices are gathered in these logics, and whether these institutional logics are shaped by the actors’ field capitals,viz. gender and social class. Using survey data collected from a random sample of 1315 students from a large Pacific university (PU) we find that institutional logics of intimacy come in multiple forms: abstinence, loving sex and hookup sex, each characterized by its specific doings, feelings, and sayings. Our analyses further suggest that the logics of intimate practice have their own internal order, or grammar, which is only weakly conditioned by persons’ class or gender positions in the social structure. Although the perduring logics of intimacy are largely autonomous from persons’ positions in the field, the effects we do find largely echo Armstrong and Hamilton’s account of college life as a class project of young privileged women whose social networks formed through the Greek party scene (Armstrong and Hamilton inPaying for the Party. How College Maintains Inequality, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 2013). Constellations of meaningful practice, not distributions of capitals among persons, overwhelmingly organize the pathways of practice.
Read or skip privacy policies when installing apps on wearable devices: the roles of perceived necessity and threat clues
Authors: Pan Yu , Ruan Yiyin , Chang Mengyi , Lyu Dong , Li Yuhao
Published: May 2024

Wearable devices are increasingly integral to our daily lives but raise significant concerns about the security of personal data. In contrast, users often skip reading privacy policies when installing apps on wearable devices. This gap between the concerns and behaviors has spurred disputes regarding business ethics between app providers and users when private information is leaked. While much research has explored the reasons underlying users’ skipping behaviors on mobile phones or tablets, there has been limited attention given to wearable devices despite their prevalence. Unlike mobile phones or tablets, wearable devices often have limited capabilities, necessitating users to install essential apps and perceive a strong sense of necessity. This research, using both eye tracking and self-report methods, investigates how this perceived necessity affects users’ attention to privacy policies on wearable devices during app installations and how it interacts with the presence of threat clues – a key factor that influences behaviors toward privacy policies. In Study 1, eye tracking technology is applied to observe the variation in users’ attention toward privacy policies. Results indicate that when users perceive a high (vs. low) necessity for an app, they pay less attention to its privacy policy. This effect is amplified when there are strong threat clues present. In Study 2, based on the process-dissociation procedure (PDP), the cognitive mechanisms underlying user reading behavior are uncovered. The findings show that users with high perceived necessity are less inclined to engage in analytical processing when reading privacy policies, and this tendency is further strengthened by strong threat clues. This research supplements the existing literature on users’ behaviors toward privacy policies on wearable devices, and it also provides practical insights for prompting users to pay more attention to privacy policies and enjoy a secure digital experience.
The susceptibility of rare and threatened NSW species to the root-rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi: 2. The identification of species requiring protection or further research
Authors: McDougall Keith L. , Liew Edward C. Y.
Published: May 2024

Context The response of most native plant species in New South Wales (NSW) to infection by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands is unknown, which makes decisions about disease management difficult. Aims We aim to improve knowledge about the potential threat from P. cinnamomi by testing a further 32 threatened species for their response to the pathogen and developing a method for prioritising management and susceptibility testing. Methods Susceptibility to infection and host response were evaluated in glasshouse experiments where the pathogen was introduced to pots containing the threatened species, and the results were compared with control uninoculated pots. Our prioritisation used modelled habitat suitability for P. cinnamomi, proximity to known P. cinnamomi occurrences, and numbers of plant species populations at least 1 km apart to rank 928 rare and threatened plant species native to NSW for either management or susceptibility testing. Key results Phytophthora cinnamomi was re-isolated from the roots of 10 of the 32 species assessed, most of which also showed significant mortality or disease symptoms. Darwinia peduncularis B.G.Briggs, Hibbertia circinata K.L.McDougall & G.T.Wright, Isopogon fletcheri F.Muell., Phebalium speciosum I.Telford, Pultenaea baeuerlenii F.Muell. and Pultenaea parrisiae J.D.Briggs & Crisp were the most severely affected species. The effect of P. cinnamomi is known for only 63 rare and threatened species in NSW. The Greater Sydney region is a hotspot for rare and threatened plant species with a high priority for susceptibility testing. Conclusions The prognosis in the wild for rare and threatened plant species affected by P. cinnamomi depends on (1) habitat suitability for the pathogen, with subalpine and arid-zone species unlikely to be affected, (2) the number of unaffected populations, with two severely affected species that occur only on infested sites (Hibbertia circinata and Prostanthera marifolia R.Br.) facing extinction in the near future and (3) climate, with some species (e.g. Pomaderris delicata N.G.Walsh & Coates) apparently affected only in unusually wet years. Further susceptibility testing of rare and threatened species is required. This should be supported by taxonomic studies of genera (e.g. Hibbertia, Pultenaea) commonly affected by the pathogen. Implications Many more plant species in NSW are likely to be severely affected by P. cinnamomi than currently known, and may require active management of the disease for their long-term survival.
Childhood adversity and time to pregnancy in a preconception cohort
Authors: Lovett Sharonda M , Orta Olivia R , Boynton-Jarrett Renée , Wesselink Amelia K , Ncube Collette N , Nillni Yael I , Hatch Elizabeth E , Wise Lauren A
Published: May 2024

We examined the association between childhood adversity and fecundability (the per-cycle probability of conception), and the extent to which childhood social support modified this association. We used data from 6318 female participants aged 21-45 years in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a North American prospective preconception cohort study (2013-2022). Participants completed a baseline questionnaire, bimonthly follow-up questionnaires (until pregnancy or a censoring event), and a supplemental questionnaire on experiences across the life course including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and social support (using the modified Berkman-Syme Social Network Index [SNI]). We used proportional probabilities regression models to compute fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% CIs, adjusting for potential confounders and precision variables. Adjusted FRs for ACE scores 1-3 and ≥4 vs 0 were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.91), respectively. The FRs for ACE scores ≥4 vs 0 were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.94) among participants reporting high childhood social support (SNI ≥4) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.56-1.07) among participants reporting low childhood social support (SNI <4). Our findings confirm results from 2 previous studies and indicate that high childhood social support slightly buffered the effects of childhood adversity on fecundability.
Clinical Effect of Dermatologic Trephination Combined With Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Keloids
Authors: Chen Liang , Qin Xiao Ming , Wang Lin Qi , Wang Qiu Yu , Yang Kong Chao
Published: May 2024

Background

Keloids are excessive formations of scar tissue that develop at the site of a skin injury. Due to their invasive nature, they have a negative impact on the skin's appearance and are prone to recurrence, making them a challenging condition to treat with regard to skin aesthetics.

Objectives

The objective of this article was to compare the long-term effects of dermatologic trephination with nonsurgical treatments for scars and evaluate the clinical value of the treatments.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted of 48 patients who received keloid treatment in the Department of Dermatology and Department of Thoracic Surgery at our hospital from January 2021 to October 2023. Twenty-four patients received dermatologic trephination, and 24 patients received nonsurgical treatment. Outcome measures included scar appearance, scar healing time, pain and itching levels, and patient satisfaction.

Results

The healing time of patients receiving dermatologic trephination was significantly shorter than that of patients in the nonsurgical group. The degree of itching in patients undergoing dermatologic trephination was significantly lower than that of patients in the nonsurgical group. The satisfaction of patients who received dermatologic trephination was significantly higher than that of patients in the nonsurgical group.

Conclusions

In this study we demonstrated that trephination achieves better long-term results in keloid revision, including improved keloid appearance, itching symptoms, and patient satisfaction.

Level of Evidence: 3
RTCpredictor: identification of read-through chimeric RNAs from RNA sequencing data
Authors: Singh Sandeep , Shi Xinrui , Haddox Samuel , Elfman Justin , Ahmad Syed Basil , Lynch Sarah , Manley Tommy , Piczak Claire , Phung Christopher , Sun Yunan , Sharma Aadi , Li Hui
Published: May 2024

Read-through chimeric RNAs are being recognized as a means to expand the functional transcriptome and contribute to cancer tumorigenesis when mis-regulated. However, current software tools often fail to predict them. We have developed RTCpredictor, utilizing a fast ripgrep tool to search for all possible exon-exon combinations of parental gene pairs. We also added exonic variants allowing searches containing common SNPs. To our knowledge, it is the first read-through chimeric RNA specific prediction method that also provides breakpoint coordinates. Compared with 10 other popular tools, RTCpredictor achieved high sensitivity on a simulated and three real datasets. In addition, RTCpredictor has less memory requirements and faster execution time, making it ideal for applying on large datasets.
Using deep learning and large protein language models to predict protein–membrane interfaces of peripheral membrane proteins
Authors: Paranou Dimitra , Chatzigoulas Alexios , Cournia Zoe
Published: May 2024

Motivation

Characterizing interactions at the protein–membrane interface is crucial as abnormal peripheral protein–membrane attachment is involved in the onset of many diseases. However, a limiting factor in studying and understanding protein–membrane interactions is that the membrane-binding domains of peripheral membrane proteins (PMPs) are typically unknown. By applying artificial intelligence techniques in the context of natural language processing (NLP), the accuracy and prediction time for protein–membrane interface analysis can be significantly improved compared to existing methods. Here, we assess whether NLP and protein language models (pLMs) can be used to predict membrane-interacting amino acids for PMPs.

Results

We utilize available experimental data and generate protein embeddings from two pLMs (ProtTrans and ESM) to train classifier models. Overall, the results demonstrate the first proof of concept study and the promising potential of using deep learning and pLMs to predict protein–membrane interfaces for PMPs faster, with similar accuracy, and without the need for 3D structural data compared to existing tools.

Availability and implementation

The code is available at https://github.com/zoecournia/pLM-PMI. All data are available in the Supplementary material.
Impeller: a path-based heterogeneous graph learning method for spatial transcriptomic data imputation
Authors: Duan Ziheng , Riffle Dylan , Li Ren , Liu Junhao , Min Martin Renqiang , Zhang Jing
Published: May 2024

Motivation

Recent advances in spatial transcriptomics allow spatially resolved gene expression measurements with cellular or even sub-cellular resolution, directly characterizing the complex spatiotemporal gene expression landscape and cell-to-cell interactions in their native microenvironments. Due to technology limitations, most spatial transcriptomic technologies still yield incomplete expression measurements with excessive missing values. Therefore, gene imputation is critical to filling in missing data, enhancing resolution, and improving overall interpretability. However, existing methods either require additional matched single-cell RNA-seq data, which is rarely available, or ignore spatial proximity or expression similarity information.

Results

To address these issues, we introduce Impeller, a path-based heterogeneous graph learning method for spatial transcriptomic data imputation. Impeller has two unique characteristics distinct from existing approaches. First, it builds a heterogeneous graph with two types of edges representing spatial proximity and expression similarity. Therefore, Impeller can simultaneously model smooth gene expression changes across spatial dimensions and capture similar gene expression signatures of faraway cells from the same type. Moreover, Impeller incorporates both short- and long-range cell-to-cell interactions (e.g. via paracrine and endocrine) by stacking multiple GNN layers. We use a learnable path operator in Impeller to avoid the over-smoothing issue of the traditional Laplacian matrices. Extensive experiments on diverse datasets from three popular platforms and two species demonstrate the superiority of Impeller over various state-of-the-art imputation methods.

Availability and implementation

The code and preprocessed data used in this study are available at https://github.com/aicb-ZhangLabs/Impeller and https://zenodo.org/records/11212604.
SuPreMo: a computational tool for streamlining in silico perturbation using sequence-based predictive models
Authors: Gjoni Ketrin , Pollard Katherine S
Published: May 2024

The increasing development of sequence-based machine learning models has raised the demand for manipulating sequences for this application. However, existing approaches to edit and evaluate genome sequences using models have limitations, such as incompatibility with structural variants, challenges in identifying responsible sequence perturbations, and the need for vcf file inputs and phased data. To address these bottlenecks, we present Sequence Mutator for Predictive Models (SuPreMo), a scalable and comprehensive tool for performing and supporting in silico mutagenesis experiments. We then demonstrate how pairs of reference and perturbed sequences can be used with machine learning models to prioritize pathogenic variants or discover new functional sequences.

Availability and implementation

SuPreMo was written in Python, and can be run using only one line of code to generate both sequences and 3D genome disruption scores. The codebase, instructions for installation and use, and tutorials are on the GitHub page: https://github.com/ketringjoni/SuPreMo.
Digital Technology in Children’s Safeguarding Social Work Practice in the 21st Century: A Scoping Review
Authors: Behan-Devlin Josh
Published: May 2024

Digital technology plays an increasing role in children’s safeguarding social work practice, where there is a renewed emphasis on the recording and interpretation of data via digital technology, as well as the use of technology to communicate with families and colleagues, particularly since Covid-19. This scoping review delineated extant research investigating uses of digital technology in children’s safeguarding social work practice since 2000 in order to contextualise current emerging practices. The methodology used accounted for the heterogeneity of study designs whilst maintaining a rigorous approach to searching, selection and analysis. Literature searches were conducted in August and September 2022 identifying forty-three studies. Descriptive quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken to outline date, location, methodology, aspect of technology investigated, and key findings of included studies. The review generated two descriptive categories which reflect the included studies: electronic information systems and digital communications. These categories subsume a range of distinct platforms and applications whilst highlighting a tendency of the included studies to separate out their focus between these specific aspects of digital technology, with limited discourse between categories. Families’ perspectives are also missing from most research identified in the review.
Embedding Learning as a Practice of Value: Learning from the Experiences of Early Career Social Workers in Scotland
Authors: McCulloch Trish , Grant Scott , Daly Maura , Sen Robin , Ferguson Gillian
Published: May 2024

Across the Global North, professional learning for social workers has become a matter of concern. Efforts to ‘fix’ the problem have focused narrowly on formal methods of learning and show limited connect with recent research. In this article, we report on findings from a mixed-method longitudinal cohort study, which examined early career social workers experiences of learning over the first five years of professional practice. Drawing on a repeat-measure annual online survey, our findings provide an inside-view of how early career social workers in Scotland experience work-based learning over time and how professional learning for social workers can be enhanced. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis and reflexive thematic analysis respectively and integrated using a convergence coding matrix to identify meta-themes. Our findings support an integrative, developmental and ecological approach to professional learning, embedded in a value-led understanding of social work as practice. We invite the profession to embrace and embed learning as a ‘practice of value’, both as an antidote to managerial approaches to practice and learning and as a way of valuing the extraordinary work that social workers do.
Spatiotemporal variation in ecophysiological traits align with high resolution niche modelling in the short-range banded ironstone endemicAluta quadrata
Authors: Lewandrowski Wolfgang , Tudor Emily P , Ajduk Hayden , Tomlinson Sean , Stevens Jason C
Published: May 2024

Defining plant ecophysiological responses across natural distributions enables a greater understanding of the niche that plants occupy. Much of the foundational knowledge of species’ ecology and responses to environmental change across their distribution is often lacking, particularly for rare and threatened species, exacerbating management and conservation challenges. Combining high-resolution species distribution models (SDMs) with ecophysiological monitoring characterized the spatiotemporal variation in both plant traits and their interactions with their surrounding environment for the range-restricted Aluta quadrata Rye & Trudgen, and a common, co-occurring generalist, Eremophila latrobei subsp. glabra (L.S.Sm.) Chinnock., from the semi-arid Pilbara and Gascoyne region in northwest Western Australia. The plants reflected differences in gas exchange, plant health and plant water relations at sites with contrasting suitability from the SDM, with higher performance measured in the SDM-predicted high-suitability site. Seasonal differences demonstrated the highest variation across ecophysiological traits in both species, with higher performance in the austral wet season across all levels of habitat suitability. The results of this study allow us to effectively describe how plant performance in A. quadrata is distributed across the landscape in contrast to a common, widespread co-occurring species and demonstrate a level of confidence in the habitat suitability modelling derived from the SDM in predicting plant function determined through intensive ecophysiology monitoring programmes. In addition, the findings also provide a baseline approach for future conservation actions, as well as to explore the mechanisms underpinning the short-range endemism arid zone systems.
Computational simulation model of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair: a proof-of-concept study
Authors: Messika-Zeitoun David , Mousavi Jamal , Pourmoazen Mohammad , Cotte Florian , Dreyfus Julien , Nejjari Mohammed , Attias David , Kloeckner Martin , Ghostine Said , Pierrard Romain , Eker Armand , Levy Franck , Le Dolley Yvan , Houel Remi , Unni Rudy R , Burwash Ian G , Dryden Adam , Hynes Mark , Nicholson Donna , Labinaz Marino , Chan Vincent , Albertini Jean-Noel , Mesana Thierry
Published: May 2024

Aims

As transcatheter mitral valve (MV) interventions are expanding and more device types and sizes become available, a tool supporting operators in pre-procedural planning and the clinical decision-making process is highly desirable. We sought to develop a finite element computational simulation model to predict the results of transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) interventions.

Methods and results

We prospectively enrolled patients with secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) referred for a clinically indicated TEER. The 3D trans-oesophageal echocardiograms performed at the beginning of the procedure were used to perform the simulation. On the 3D dynamic model of the MV that was first obtained, we simulated the clip implantation using the same clip type, size, number, and implantation location that was used during the intervention. The 3D model of the MV obtained after the simulation of the clip implantation was compared with the clinical results obtained at the end of the intervention. We analysed the degree and location of residual MR and the shape and area of the diastolic MV area. We performed computational simulation on five patients. Overall, the simulated models predicted well the degree and location of the residual regurgitant orifice(s) but tended to underestimate the diastolic mitral orifice area.

Conclusion

In this proof-of-concept study, we present preliminary results on our algorithm simulating clip implantation in five patients with functional MR. We show promising results regarding the feasibility and accuracy in terms of predicting residual MR and the need to improve the estimation of the diastolic MV area.
Bacterial hosts of clinically significant beta-lactamase genes in Croatian wastewaters
Authors: Dekić Rozman Svjetlana , Puljko Ana , Karkman Antti , Virta Marko , Udiković-Kolić Nikolina
Published: May 2024

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provide a suitable environment for the interaction of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) from human, animal, and environmental sources. The aim was to study the influent and effluent of two WWTPs in Croatia to identify bacterial hosts of clinically important beta-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaVIM, blaOXA-48-like) and observe how their composition changes during the treatment process. A culture-independent epicPCR (Emulsion, Paired isolation and Concatenation Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used to identify the ARG hosts, and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to study the entire bacterial community. Different wastewater sources contributed to the significant differences in bacterial composition of the wastewater between the two WWTPs studied. A total of 167 genera were detected by epicPCR, with the Arcobacter genus, in which all ARGs studied were present, dominating in both WWTPs. In addition, the clinically important genera Acinetobacter and Aeromonas contained all ARGs examined. The blaOXA-48-like gene had the highest number of hosts, followed by blaVIM, while blaTEM had the narrowest host range. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ARG hosts were detected in both abundant and rare taxa. The number of hosts carrying investigated ARGs was reduced by wastewater treatment. EpicPCR provided valuable insights into the bacterial hosts of horizontally transmissible beta-lactamase genes in Croatian wastewater.
Elucidating the impact of Y chromosome microdeletions and altered gene expression on male fertility in assisted reproduction
Authors: Pazoki Nasrin , Salehi Mitra , Angaji Seyed Abdolhamid , Abdollahpour-Alitappeh Meghdad
Published: May 2024

Background

Genetic abnormalities like Y chromosome microdeletions are implicated in male infertility. This study investigated the association of azoospermia factor (AZF) region microdeletions with unsuccessful assisted reproductive techniques (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis study examined 80 Iranian oligospermic men (mean age 34 years) with prior failed ICSI and IVF cycles (IR.IAU.TNB.REC.1401.041). Semen analysis evaluated quantity/quality parameters based on World Health Organization guidelines. Participants were stratified by sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) levels into: control (SDF < 15%, n = 20), mild elevation (15% ≤ SDF ≤ 30%, n = 60), and high (SDF > 30%, n = 20). Multiplex PCR mapped AZF microdeletions in the high SDF group. The AZF-associated genes were selected by RNA Seq analysis, and the candidate genes were checked for expression level by real-time PCR.

Results

High SDF individuals exhibited poorer semen metrics, including 69% lower sperm concentration (P = 0.04) than those without SDF. Of this subset, 45% (9/20 men) harboured predominately AZF microdeletions. Men with AZF microdeletions showed higher SDF (32% vs 21%, P = 0.02) and altered AZF-associated genes expression. As USP9Y 3-fold, UTY 1.3-fold, and BPY2 1-fold revealed up-regulation, while IQCF1 8-fold, CDY 6.5-fold, DAZ 6-fold, and DDX3Y 1-fold underwent down-regulation. The PAWP gene was also down-regulated (5.7-fold, P = 0.029) in the IVF/ICSI failure group.

Conclusion

AZF microdeletions significantly impact male infertility and ART outcomes. High SDF individuals exhibited poorer semen metrics, with 45% AZF microdeletions. These microdeletions altered AZF-associated genes expression, affecting fertility mediator PAWP independently. Dual AZF and SDF screening enables personalized management in severe male infertility, potentially explaining IVF/ICSI failures.
Mutations in the non-catalytic polyproline motif destabilize TREX1 and amplify cGAS-STING signaling
Authors: Shim Abraham , Luan Xiaohan , Zhou Wen , Crow Yanick J , Maciejowski John
Published: May 2024

The cGAS-STING pathway detects cytosolic DNA and activates a signaling cascade that results in a type I interferon (IFN) response. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated exonuclease TREX1 suppresses cGAS-STING by eliminating DNA from the cytosol. Mutations that compromise TREX1 function are linked to autoinflammatory disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS). Despite key roles in regulating cGAS-STING and suppressing excessive inflammation, the impact of many disease-associated TREX1 mutations—particularly those outside of the core catalytic domains—remains poorly understood. Here, we characterize a recessive AGS-linked TREX1 P61Q mutation occurring within the poorly characterized polyproline helix (PPII) motif. In keeping with its position outside of the catalytic core or ER targeting motifs, neither the P61Q mutation, nor aggregate proline-to-alanine PPII mutation, disrupts TREX1 exonuclease activity, subcellular localization, or cGAS-STING regulation in overexpression systems. Introducing targeted mutations into the endogenous TREX1 locus revealed that PPII mutations destabilize the protein, resulting in impaired exonuclease activity and unrestrained cGAS-STING activation. Overall, these results demonstrate that TREX1 PPII mutations, including P61Q, impair proper immune regulation and lead to autoimmune disease through TREX1 destabilization.
Characterizing the Etiology of Recurrent Tuberculosis Using Whole Genome Sequencing: Alaska, 2008–2020
Authors: Springer Yuri P , Tompkins Megan L , Newell Katherine , Jones Martin , Burns Scott , Chandler Bruce , Cowan Lauren S , Kammerer J Steve , Posey James E , Raz Kala M , Rothoff Michelle , Silk Benjamin J , Vergnetti Yvette L , McLaughlin Joseph B , Talarico Sarah
Published: May 2024

Background

Understanding the etiology of recurrent tuberculosis (rTB) is important for effective tuberculosis control. Prior to the advent of whole genome sequencing (WGS), attributing rTB to relapse or reinfection using genetic information was complicated by the limited resolution of conventional genotyping methods.

Methods

We applied a systematic method of evaluating whole genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (wgSNP) distances and results of phylogenetic analyses to characterize the etiology of rTB in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) persons in Alaska during 2008 to 2020. We contextualized our findings through descriptive analyses of surveillance data and results of a literature search for investigations that characterized rTB etiology using WGS.

Results

The percentage of tuberculosis cases in AIAN persons in Alaska classified as recurrent episodes (11.8%) was 3 times the national percentage (3.9%). Of 38 recurrent episodes included in genetic analyses, we attributed 25 (65.8%) to reinfection based on wgSNP distances and phylogenetic analyses; this proportion was the highest among 16 published point estimates identified through the literature search. By comparison, we attributed 11 (28.9%) and 6 (15.8%) recurrent episodes to reinfection based on wgSNP distances alone and on conventional genotyping methods, respectively.

Conclusions

WGS and attribution criteria involving genetic distances and patterns of relatedness can provide an effective means of elucidating rTB etiology. Our findings indicate that rTB occurs at high proportions among AIAN persons in Alaska and is frequently attributable to reinfection, reinforcing the importance of active surveillance and control measures to limit the spread of tuberculosis disease in Alaskan AIAN communities.
The Meioflume: A New System for Observing the Interstitial Behavior of Meiofauna
Authors: Ballentine W M , Dorgan K M
Published: May 2024

Synopsis

Meiofauna (benthic invertebrates < 1 mm in size) facilitate sediment biogeochemical cycling, alter sediment microbial community structure, and serve as an important trophic link between benthic micro- and macrofauna, yet the behaviors that mechanistically link individuals to their ecological effects are largely unknown. Meiofauna are small and sediments are opaque, making observing the in situ activities of these animals challenging. We developed the Meioflume, a small, acrylic flow tunnel filled with grains of cryolite, a transparent sand analog, to simulate the in situ conditions experienced by meiofauna in an observable lab environment. The Meioflume has a working area (28.57 mm × 10.16 mm × 1 mm) that is small enough to quickly locate fauna and clearly observe behavior but large enough that animals are not tightly confined. When connected to a syringe press, the Meioflume can produce low velocity flows consistently and evenly across the width of its working area while retaining the contents. To demonstrate its functionality in observing the behavior of meiofauna, we placed individual meiofaunal animals (a protodrilid annelid, a harpacticoid copepod, and a platyhelminth flatworm) in Meioflumes and filmed their behavioral response to a sudden initiation of porewater flow. All animals were clearly visible within the flume and could be observed responding to the onset of flow. The design and construction of the Meioflume make it an accessible, affordable tool for researchers. This experimental system could be modified to address many questions in meiofaunal ecology, such as studying behavior in response to chemical cues, allowing us to observe meiofaunal behaviors to better understand their ecological effects.
Surfperches versus Damselfishes: Trophic Evolution in Closely Related Pharyngognath Fishes with Highly Divergent Reproductive Strategies
Authors: Cooper W J , Conith M R , Conith A J
Published: May 2024

Synopsis

Surfperches and damselfishes are very closely related ovalentarians with large reproductive differences. Damselfishes are typical of most Ovalentaria in that they lay demersal eggs that hatch into small, free-feeding larvae. Surfperches are unusual among ovalentarians and most acanthomorphs in having prolonged internal development. They are born at an advanced stage, some as adults, and bypass the need to actively feed throughout an extended period of ontogeny. Damselfishes and surfperches possess the same modifications of the fifth branchial arch that allow them to perform advanced food processing within the pharynx. This condition (pharyngognathy) has large effects on the evolution of feeding mechanics and trophic ecology. Although the evolution of pharyngognaths has received considerable attention, the effects of different reproductive strategies on their diversification have not been examined. We compared head shape evolution in surfperches and damselfishes using geometric morphometrics, principal component analyses, and multiple phylogenetic-comparative techniques. We found that they have similar mean head shapes, that their primary axes of shape variation are comparable and distinguish benthic-feeding and pelagic-feeding forms in each case, and that, despite large differences in crown divergence times, their head shape disparities are not significantly different. Several lines of evidence suggest that evolution has been more constrained in damselfishes: Head shape is evolving faster in surfperches, more anatomical traits have undergone correlated evolution in damselfishes, there is significant phylogenetic signal in damselfish evolution (but not surfperches), and damselfishes exhibit significant allometry in head shape that is not present in surfperches.
Antifungal mechanisms investigation of lactic acid bacteria against Aspergillus flavus: through combining microbial metabolomics and co-culture system
Authors: Yun Jeonghyun , Kim Tae Wan , Cho Chang-Won , Lee Jang-Eun
Published: May 2024

Aims

To develop antifungal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and investigate their antifungal mechanisms against Aspergillus flavus in aflatoxin (AF) production.

Methods and results

We isolated 179 LABs from cereal-based fermentation starters and investigated their antifungal mechanism against A. flavus through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and co-culture analysis techniques. Of the 179 isolates, antifungal activity was identified in Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus crustorum, and Weissella paramesenteroides. These LABs reduced AF concentration by (i) inhibiting mycelial growth, (ii) binding AF to the cell wall, and (iii) producing antifungal compounds. Species-specific activities were also observed, with P. pentosaceus inhibiting AF production and W. paramesenteroides showing AF B1 binding activity. In addition, crucial extracellular metabolites for selecting antifungal LAB were involved in the 2′,3′-cAMP-adenosine and nucleoside pathways.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that P. pentosaceus, L. crustorum, and W. paramesenteroides are key LAB strains with distinct antifungal mechanisms against A. flavus, suggesting their potential as biological agents to reduce AF in food materials.
Pneumonia diagnosis performance in the emergency department: a mixed-methods study about clinicians’ experiences and exploration of individual differences and response to diagnostic performance feedback
Authors: Butler Jorie M , Taft Teresa , Taber Peter , Rutter Elizabeth , Fix Megan , Baker Alden , Weir Charlene , Nevers McKenna , Classen David , Cosby Karen , Jones Makoto , Chapman Alec , Jones Barbara E
Published: May 2024

Objectives

We sought to (1) characterize the process of diagnosing pneumonia in an emergency department (ED) and (2) examine clinician reactions to a clinician-facing diagnostic discordance feedback tool.

Materials and Methods

We designed a diagnostic feedback tool, using electronic health record data from ED clinicians’ patients to establish concordance or discordance between ED diagnosis, radiology reports, and hospital discharge diagnosis for pneumonia. We conducted semistructured interviews with 11 ED clinicians about pneumonia diagnosis and reactions to the feedback tool. We administered surveys measuring individual differences in mindset beliefs, comfort with feedback, and feedback tool usability. We qualitatively analyzed interview transcripts and descriptively analyzed survey data.

Results

Thematic results revealed: (1) the diagnostic process for pneumonia in the ED is characterized by diagnostic uncertainty and may be secondary to goals to treat and dispose the patient; (2) clinician diagnostic self-evaluation is a fragmented, inconsistent process of case review and follow-up that a feedback tool could fill; (3) the feedback tool was described favorably, with task and normative feedback harnessing clinician values of high-quality patient care and personal excellence; and (4) strong reactions to diagnostic feedback varied from implicit trust to profound skepticism about the validity of the concordance metric. Survey results suggested a relationship between clinicians’ individual differences in learning and failure beliefs, feedback experience, and usability ratings.

Discussion and Conclusion

Clinicians value feedback on pneumonia diagnoses. Our results highlight the importance of feedback about diagnostic performance and suggest directions for considering individual differences in feedback tool design and implementation.