bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observation of ferrimagnetic ordering in chemically synthesized 2D Cr2S3 nanosheets
Authors: Debnath Anup , Mondal Tuhina , Mahapatra Gouranga , Kapuria Arijit , Saha Shyamal K.
Published: April 2023

It is established that 2D magnetic materials are the ideal platform for building up modern-day electronic and spintronic devices. The popular ways to achieve 2D magnetic materials are mechanical exfoliation and chemical vapor deposition. However, the direct chemical synthesis route of such magnetic 2D materials on a large scale is relatively unexplored. This article reports an easy and cost-effective facile chemical synthesis with a proper capping agent and magnetic study of free-standing 2D Cr2S3 nanosheets and Cr2S3 nanoparticles within the temperature range of 2–300 K under the magnetic field of up to 5 T. Although few magnetic results on 2D Cr2S3 are available in the literature, there is enough scope to work for an in-depth understanding of the magnetic aspects of this 2D material. Here, ferrimagnetic ordering with a sufficiently high coercivity of up to 0.139 T at 2 K along with a tendency to the saturation in magnetization down to a certain temperature limit is observed. Contrary to the strong antiferromagnetic coupling with a Néel temperature, as observed by previous researchers, is also observed for this chemically synthesized 2D Cr2S3 nanosheets. A transition temperature of 117 K is observed for the Cr2S3 nanosheets, whereas for Cr2S3 nanoparticles, a transition temperature of 101.7 K is observed with negligible coercivity. This facile synthesis technique may be applied to achieve other non-van der Waals type 2D magnetic materials. These kinds of non-van der Waals type 2D magnets will be useful to modern-day spintronic devices.
Complex exciton dynamics with elevated temperature in a GaAsSb/GaAs quantum well heterostructure
Authors: Li Hang , Wang Ying , Guo Yingnan , Wang Shufang , Fu Guangsheng , Mazur Yuriy I. , Ware Morgan E. , Salamo Gregory J. , Liang Baolai
Published: April 2023

Exciton dynamics in a GaAsSb/GaAs quantum well (QW) heterostructure were investigated via both steady state and transient photoluminescence. The measurements at 10 K demonstrated the coexistence of localized excitons (LEs) and free excitons (FEs), while a blue-shift resulting from increased excitation intensity indicated their spatially indirect transition (IT) characteristics due to the type-II band alignment. With increasing temperature from 10 K, the LEs and FEs redistribute, with the LEs becoming less intense at relatively higher temperature. With increasing temperature to above 80 K, electrons in GaAs are able to overcome the small band offset to enter inside GaAsSb and recombine with holes; thus, a spatially direct transition (DT) appeared. Hence, we are able to reveal complex carrier recombination dynamics for the GaAsSb/GaAs QW heterostructure, in which the “S” shape behavior is generated not only by the carrier localization but also by the transformation from IT to DT with elevated temperature.
Life-history characteristics and climate correlates of dioecious plant species in central southern Australia
Authors: Draper J. T. , Delean S. , Conran J. G. , Weinstein P. , Simpson B. S.
Published: April 2023

Context The proportion of dioecious species can vary considerably among climates and habitats. However, studies often involve isolated communities or large diverse areas and fail to capture how proportions vary across diverse landscapes. Aims To identify (1) life-history associations of terrestrial dioecious plant species in central southern Australia, (2) whether proportion of dioecy varies spatially across central southern Australia, and (3) whether proportion of dioecy is correlated with life-history and/or climate factors. Methods Species growth form, pollination mechanisms and seed-dispersal features were extracted from herbarium databases to determine potential dioecy-linked traits. Distribution data for native terrestrial species in 66 Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation of Australia subregions were extracted from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium to calculate the proportion of total native species richness that are dioecious. Climate data for each subregion were also obtained from Terrestrial Ecology Research Network databases to investigate relationships among climate, life-history traits and dioecy. Key results Woodiness, abiotic pollination and endozoochory were more prevalent in dioecious than non-dioecious taxa. Proportion of dioecy ranged from 1.7% to 8.5% among subregions and correlated negatively with annual temperature range, January to March rainfall and precipitation seasonality and with average annual daily mean, minimum, maximum and average annual minimum temperature. The highest-ranked models of dioecy incorporated the additive effects of the relative proportion of woody species and either annual temperature ranges, January to March rainfall or average annual daily maximum temperature. Conclusions Dioecy was associated with woodiness, abiotic pollination and endozoochory, in line with studies of other flora, with the model of stable temperature range and woodiness being the highest-ranked model of dioecy. Implications Areas with higher proportions of dioecy can be targeted for future investigations into dioecious plant ecology to aid conservation and ecosystem management.
Depressed myocardial cross-bridge cycling kinetics in a female guinea pig model of diastolic heart failure
Authors: Dewan Sukriti , Witayavanitkul Namthip , Kumar Mohit , Mayer Beth J. , Betancourt Lauren , Cazorla Olivier , de Tombe Pieter P.
Published: April 2023

Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with diastolic heart failure (DHF), a syndrome in which systolic function is preserved but cardiac filling dynamics are depressed. The molecular mechanisms underlying DHF and the potential role of altered cross-bridge cycling are poorly understood. Accordingly, chronic pressure overload was induced by surgically banding the thoracic ascending aorta (AOB) in ∼400 g female Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs (AOB); Sham-operated age-matched animals served as controls. Guinea pigs were chosen to avoid the confounding impacts of altered myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression seen in other small rodent models. In vivo cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography; cardiac hypertrophy was confirmed by morphometric analysis. AOB resulted in left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy and compromised diastolic function with normal systolic function. Biochemical analysis revealed exclusive expression of β-MHC isoform in both sham control and AOB LVs. Myofilament function was assessed in skinned multicellular preparations, skinned single myocyte fragments, and single myofibrils prepared from frozen (liquid N2) LVs. The rates of force-dependent ATP consumption (tension-cost) and force redevelopment (Ktr), as well as myofibril relaxation time (Timelin) were significantly blunted in AOB, indicating reduced cross-bridge cycling kinetics. Maximum Ca2+ activated force development was significantly reduced in AOB myocytes, while no change in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity was observed. Our results indicate blunted cross-bridge cycle in a β-MHC small animal DHF model. Reduced cross-bridge cycling kinetics may contribute, at least in part, to the development of DHF in larger mammals, including humans.
Magnetotransport property of oxygen-annealed Fe1+y
Te thin films
Authors: Meng Miao , Liu Siqian , Song Dongsheng , Zhang Xi , Du Haifeng , Huang Haoliang , Liu Huaying , Sun Zhangao , Mei Chenguang , Yang Huaixin , Tian Huanfang , Lu Yalin , Zhang Yuzhong , Li Jianqi , Zhao Yonggang
Published: April 2023

Fe-based superconductors are one of the current research focuses. FeTe is unique in the series of FeSe1−x
Te
x
, since it is nonsuperconducting near the FeTe side in the phase diagram in contrast to the presence of superconductivity in other region. However, FeTe thin films become superconducting after oxygen annealing and the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we report the temperature dependences of resistivity, Hall effect and magnetoresistance (MR) of a series of FeTe thin films with different amounts of excess Fe and oxygen. These properties show dramatic changes with excess Fe and oxygen incorporation. We found the Hall coefficients are positive for the oxygen-annealed samples, in contrast to the transition from positive to negative below 50 K for the vacuum-annealed samples. For all samples, both the resistivity and Hall coefficient show a dramatic drop, respectively, at around 50 K–75 K, implying coexistence of superconductivity and antiferromagnetic order for the oxygen-annealed samples. The vacuum-annealed samples show both positive and negative values of MR depending on temperature, while negative MR dominates for the oxygen-annealed samples. We also found that oxygen annealing reduces the excess Fe in FeTe, which has been neglected before. The results are discussed in terms of several contributions, and a comparison is made between the oxygen-annealed FeTe thin films and FeSe1−x
Te
x
. This work is helpful for shedding light on the understanding of oxygen-annealed FeTe thin films.
High nitrogen polymer in silver polynitrides
Authors: Liu Ran , Wang Dongxue , Xu Dan , Jin Bo , Liu Miao , Liu Ran , Wang Yuanyuan , Li Yi , Liu Shuang , Yao Zhen , Niu Shifeng , Wang Peng
Published: April 2023

The Ag–N system is enriched by proposing four polymeric structures in first-principles calculations at high-pressure. The proposed P-1-AgN2 and P21/c-AgN2 not only break the new record in the polymeric configuration of MN2 compound, but also in the energy density. In the MN2 stoichiometric ratio, the infinite armchair-antiarmchair chain and the layered polymer structure are reported for the first time in P-1-AgN2 and P21/c-AgN2, indicating that the highly polymerized structure can also be formed in nitrides with low nitrogen content at high pressure. The mechanism of structure evolution behaviors of AgN2 under pressure is revealed by the analysis of atomic orbital hybridization. Meanwhile, the high energy densities are obtained in P-1-AgN2 (1.76 kJ g−1) and P21/c-AgN2 (2.01 kJ g−1) compared to all the reported MN2 nitrides. In addition, the infinite band-shaped structure and infinite curve layer structure are obtained in P-1-AgN5 and C2/m-AgN6, respectively. The energy densities of P-1-AgN5 (3.82 kJ g−1) and C2/m-AgN6 (4.51 kJ g−1) are comparable to or larger than that of TNT (4.3 kJ g−1). Moreover, P-1-AgN2, P21/c-AgN2, P-1-AgN5, and C2/m-AgN6 exhibit excellent explosive performance in terms of detonation velocity and detonation pressure.
A fully digital coincidence Doppler broadening spectrometer based on FPGA
Authors: Dong Junqi , Wang Zhu , Liao Yuan , Zhang Mengxin , Qian Qiufei , Zou Fenghua , Shao Yundong , Zou Wusheng , Xiong Rui
Published: April 2023

In this article, we implemented a fully digital Coincidence Doppler Broadening (CDB)
spectrometer consisting of two HPGe detectors, a fully digital processing and acquisition board,
and a dedicated software system. The Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) on the board extracts
energy and time stamp of digitized pulses from HPGe detectors, and communicates with the dedicated
software by which the single channel spectrums and 2D coincidence spectrum were produced. We
designed an instruction set dedicated to the CDB Spectrometer and the controller module in FPGA so
that the FPGA subsystem is fully controllable and configurable. The trapezoidal pulse shaping
algorithm was implemented in FPGA whose arguments are all configurable through the dedicated
software by the instruction set. We examined the long-term stability of the spectrometer by 511 keV peak position of both channels. The 2D Gaussian fitting is performed on coincidence spectrum
by the software to correct the peak drift of both channels. The results show that this method
effectively improves the Doppler-broadened spectrum, by which the peak-to-background ratio
increases from 7.0 × 105 to 1.9 × 106.
The impact of cognitive function on physical activity, physical function and quality of life in older adults following a hip fracture
Authors: Runde Henrik A , Taraldsen Kristin , Follestad Turid , Saltvedt Ingvild , Johnsen Lars G
Published: April 2023

Objective

To determine the impact of cognitive function on physical activity (PA), physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults within the first year after hip fracture (HF) surgery.

Methods

We included 397 home-dwelling individuals aged 70 years or older with the ability to walk 10 m before the fracture. Cognitive function was measured at 1 month and other outcomes were assessed at 1, 4 and 12 months postoperatively. Mini-Mental State Examination was used to assess cognitive function, accelerometer-based body-worn sensors to register PA, Short Physical Performance Battery to test physical function and EuroQol-5-dimension-3-level to estimate the HRQoL. Data were analysed by linear mixed-effects models with interactions and ordinal logistic regression models.

Results

Cognitive function, adjusted for the pre-fracture ability to perform activities of daily living, comorbidity, age and gender, had an impact on PA [b = 3.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.20–5.23, P < 0.001] and physical function (b = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.04–0.11, P < 0.001; b = 0.12, 95% CI: 0.09–0.15, P < 0.001; and b = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.10–0.18, P < 0.001 at 1, 4 and 12 months, respectively). The cognitive function did not have a considerable impact on HRQoL.

Conclusions

For older adults with HFs, cognitive function 1 month postoperatively had a significant impact on PA and physical function in the first postoperative year. For the HRQoL, little or no evidence of such an effect was found.
Spatial expression patterns of genes encoding sugar sensors in leaves of C4 and C3 grasses
Authors: Benning Urs F , Chen Lily , Watson-Lazowski Alexander , Henry Clemence , Furbank Robert T , Ghannoum Oula
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

The mechanisms of sugar sensing in grasses remain elusive, especially those using C4 photosynthesis even though a large proportion of the world's agricultural crops utilize this pathway. We addressed this gap by comparing the expression of genes encoding components of sugar sensors in C3 and C4 grasses, with a focus on source tissues of C4 grasses. Given C4 plants evolved into a two-cell carbon fixation system, it was hypothesized this may have also changed how sugars were sensed.

Methods

For six C3 and eight C4 grasses, putative sugar sensor genes were identified for target of rapamycin (TOR), SNF1-related kinase 1 (SnRK1), hexokinase (HXK) and those involved in the metabolism of the sugar sensing metabolite trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) using publicly available RNA deep sequencing data. For several of these grasses, expression was compared in three ways: source (leaf) versus sink (seed), along the gradient of the leaf, and bundle sheath versus mesophyll cells.

Key Results

No positive selection of codons associated with the evolution of C4 photosynthesis was identified in sugar sensor proteins here. Expressions of genes encoding sugar sensors were relatively ubiquitous between source and sink tissues as well as along the leaf gradient of both C4 and C3 grasses. Across C4 grasses, SnRK1β1 and TPS1 were preferentially expressed in the mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, respectively. Species-specific differences of gene expression between the two cell types were also apparent.

Conclusions

This comprehensive transcriptomic study provides an initial foundation for elucidating sugar-sensing genes within major C4 and C3 crops. This study provides some evidence that C4 and C3 grasses do not differ in how sugars are sensed. While sugar sensor gene expression has a degree of stability along the leaf, there are some contrasts between the mesophyll and bundle sheath cells.
A scalable unsupervised learning of scRNAseq data detects rare cells through integration of structure-preserving embedding, clustering and outlier detection
Authors: Mallick Koushik , Chakraborty Sikim , Mallik Saurav , Bandyopadhyay Sanghamitra
Published: April 2023

Single-cell RNA-seq analysis has become a powerful tool to analyse the transcriptomes of individual cells. In turn, it has fostered the possibility of screening thousands of single cells in parallel. Thus, contrary to the traditional bulk measurements that only paint a macroscopic picture, gene measurements at the cell level aid researchers in studying different tissues and organs at various stages. However, accurate clustering methods for such high-dimensional data remain exiguous and a persistent challenge in this domain. Of late, several methods and techniques have been promulgated to address this issue. In this article, we propose a novel framework for clustering large-scale single-cell data and subsequently identifying the rare-cell sub-populations. To handle such sparse, high-dimensional data, we leverage PaCMAP (Pairwise Controlled Manifold Approximation), a feature extraction algorithm that preserves both the local and the global structures of the data and Gaussian Mixture Model to cluster single-cell data. Subsequently, we exploit Edited Nearest Neighbours sampling and Isolation Forest/One-class Support Vector Machine to identify rare-cell sub-populations. The performance of the proposed method is validated using the publicly available datasets with varying degrees of cell types and rare-cell sub-populations. On several benchmark datasets, the proposed method outperforms the existing state-of-the-art methods. The proposed method successfully identifies cell types that constitute populations ranging from 0.1 to 8% with F1-scores of 0.91 0.09. The source code is available at https://github.com/scrab017/RarPG
Gut microbiota analysis and faecal transplantation to improve surgical outcomes
Authors: Cunningham A , Harris D A
Published: April 2023

This cutting edge review article provides an in-depth perspective focusing on manipulation of the human microbiome using the technique of faecal microbiota transplantation for the improvement of patient outcomes in surgical disease. Some of the most recent publications in this area are discussed, and commentary provided regarding their findings and future perspective.
Scratching the itch: how crude backscratchers turned into decorative ‘Ruyi’ sceptres symbolizing authority and power in ancient China
Authors: Zhu Jie , Mueller Simon M
Published: April 2023

We briefly describe and comment on the astonishing cultural evolution of crude backscratchers into ceremonial ‘Ruyi’ sceptres symbolizing authority and power in ancient China. Other aspects of scratching or being scratched in the context of hierarchical order observed in humans and primates are also mentioned.
Video Capsule Endoscopy can Identify Occult Luminal Crohn’s Disease in Patients with Isolated Perianal Fistulas
Authors: McCurdy Jeffrey D , Weng Robin , Parlow Simon , Dawkins Yvonne M , Brar Gurmun , Oliveira Liliana , Saloojee Nav , Murthy Sanjay , Kenshil Sana , Macdonald Blair , Sabri Elham , Moloo Husein , Sy Richmond
Published: April 2023

Background

Accurate tools to distinguish Crohn’s disease [CD] from cryptoglandular disease in patients with perianal fistulas without detectable luminal inflammation on ileocolonoscopy and abdominal enterography (isolated perianal fistulas [IPF]) are lacking. We assessed the ability of video capsule endoscopy [VCE] to detect luminal inflammation in patients with IPF.

Methods

We studied consecutive adults [>17 years] with IPF who were evaluated by VCE after a negative ileocolonoscopy and abdominal enterography between 2013 and 2022. We defined luminal CD by VCE as diffuse erythema, three or more aphthous ulcers, or a Lewis score greater than 135. We compared rates of intestinal inflammation in this cohort with age- and sex-matched controls without perianal fistulas, who underwent VCE for other indications. We excluded persons with pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or immunosuppressive treatments.

Results

A total of 45 patients with IPF underwent VCE without complications. Twelve patients [26%] met our definition of luminal CD. Luminal CD was more common in patients with IPF than in controls [26% vs 3%; p <0.01]. Among patients with IPF, male sex (OR [odds ratio], 9.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.1-79.4]), smoking (OR, 4.5; 95% CI [0.9-21.2]), abscess (OR, 6.3; 95% CI [1.5-26.8]), rectal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] (OR, 9.0; 95% CI [0.8-99.3]), and positive antimicrobial serology (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, [0.7-70.0]) were more common in those with a positive VCE study.

Conclusions

VCE detected small intestinal inflammation suggestive of luminal CD in approximately one-quarter of patients with IPF. Larger studies are required to validate these findings.
Residency and habitat use of European lobster (Homarus gammarus) within an offshore wind farm
Authors: Thatcher H , Stamp T , Wilcockson D , Moore P J
Published: April 2023

As offshore wind energy developments increase globally in response to climate change, it is important to gain an understanding of the effects they are having on the marine environment. Whilst there is growing information on the types of organisms present within these sites, our knowledge of how species interact with these sites is limited. For the first time we examined the movements and habitat utilization of a temperate decapod, the European Lobster Homarus gammarus, using acoustic telemetry within an offshore wind farm (OWF). Innovasea V9 acoustic transmitters were externally attached to 33 individuals (carapace length = 87–113  mm) at three turbine locations within an offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. Individuals were found to exhibit high residency to the tagging sites, with over half of tagged lobsters present at the tagging sites for 70% of the study period. Individual home ranges and core territories were calculated using 95% and 50% kernel density, respectively. Home ranges ranged from 9313.76 to 23 156.48m2 while core territories ranged from 1084.05 to 6037.38m2. Over 50% of all detections were recorded within 35 m of the scour protection. These results suggest that particular areas of habitat within fixed-turbine OWFs provide a suitable habitat for lobsters. We postulate that this is likely the result of artificial reef effects arising from the addition of artificial hard substate into previously soft sediment dominated habitats. Therefore, future fixed-turbine OWF developments across Europe may provide potential fishery opportunities as a result of artificial reef effects.
Genetic variation and elevated liver enzymes during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood
Authors: Stender Stefan , Davey Smith George , Richardson Tom G
Published: April 2023

Background

Genetic factors influence the risk of fatty liver disease (FLD) in adults. The aim of this study was to test if, and when, genetic risk factors known to affect FLD in adults begin to exert their deleterious effects during childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.

Methods

We included up to 4018 British children and adolescents from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort. Three genetic variants known to associate robustly with FLD in adults (PNPLA3 rs738409, TM6SF2 rs58542926 and HSD17B13 rs72613567) were tested for association with plasma levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) during childhood (mean age: 9.9 years), early adolescence (15.5 years), late adolescence (17.8 years), and early adulthood (24.5 years). We also tested the associations of a 17-variant score and whole-genome polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from associations in adults with plasma ALT and AST at the same four time points. Associations with elastography-derived liver steatosis and fibrosis were tested in early adulthood.

Results

Genetic risk factors for FLD (individually, combined into a 3-variant score, a 17-variant score and as a genome-wide PRS), were associated with higher liver enzymes, beginning in childhood and throughout adolescence and early adulthood. The ALT-increasing effects of the genetic risk variants became larger with increasing age. The ALT-PRS was associated with liver steatosis in early adulthood. No genetic associations with fibrosis were observed.

Conclusions

Genetic factors that promote FLD in adults associate with elevated liver enzymes already during childhood, and their effects get amplified with increasing age.
Social-psychological Aspects of Probability-based Online Panel Participation
Authors: Kocar Sebastian , Lavrakas Paul J
Published: April 2023

In this study, we use qualitative research methods to identify, discuss, and investigate the self-reported motivational factors and barriers in all stages of the probability-based online panel lifecycle—recruitment to the panel, wave-by-wave data collection, and voluntary attrition. Our data were gathered with qualitative in-depth interviews (IDIs). Between March 2020 and February 2021, panelists from the Life in Australia™ probability online panel were classified into four groups based on their previous panel response behavior and each was interviewed. The qualitative data were used to link the reported motivation for and barriers against joining and staying active in the panel with theories about survey participation. Evidence from the IDIs shows that motivations and barriers can be directly linked to social-psychological theories that explain panel/longitudinal survey participation, including how theories such as social-exchange theory, leverage-salience theory, and the reasoned action approach, are sufficiently robust to help understand the time dimension of survey participation and behavioral change of panel members. Our findings have practical implications for probability-based online panel management.
Nationality Status Determination in Asylum Procedures under the CEAS and the Potential Impact of the ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum’
Authors: Manzotti Cecilia
Published: April 2023

The determination of asylum seekers’ nationality, or lack thereof, is a key component of assessments of applications for international protection, and can prove difficult when asylum seekers do not submit any valid identity or travel documents, or are stateless or at risk of statelessness. This article investigates how nationality status determination is relevant and how it is regulated in the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) and in the ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum’ (the Pact), that is currently under negotiation in the European Union (EU). Under the CEAS, the determination of nationality is not only critical to assessing whether the applicant qualifies for international protection, but can also determine the type of procedure through which their application is examined, and accordingly the level of procedural guarantees to which they are entitled. Under the Pact, with the introduction of a pre-entry screening and the obligation to process asylum applications lodged by individuals from countries with low recognition rates through border procedures, the determination of the applicant’s nationality becomes even more critical. In fact, the Pact institutionalizes the channelling of asylum seekers into substandard procedures based on their nationality, a practice that has been widely used in ‘hotspots’ in Greece and Italy. This is even more problematic considering that the Pact, like the current CEAS, provides only very general rules relevant to establishing a claimant’s nationality status. This article sheds light on an overlooked aspect of asylum procedures, and calls for the development of specific guidance on nationality status determination in asylum procedures at the EU level.
Extracting social determinants of health from clinical note text with classification and sequence-to-sequence approaches
Authors: Romanowski Brian , Ben Abacha Asma , Fan Yadan
Published: April 2023

Objective

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are nonmedical factors that can influence health outcomes. This paper seeks to extract SDOH from clinical texts in the context of the National NLP Clinical Challenges (n2c2) 2022 Track 2 Task.

Materials and Methods

Annotated and unannotated data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) corpus, the Social History Annotation Corpus, and an in-house corpus were used to develop 2 deep learning models that used classification and sequence-to-sequence (seq2seq) approaches.

Results

The seq2seq approach had the highest overall F1 scores in the challenge’s 3 subtasks: 0.901 on the extraction subtask, 0.774 on the generalizability subtask, and 0.889 on the learning transfer subtask.

Discussion

Both approaches rely on SDOH event representations that were designed to be compatible with transformer-based pretrained models, with the seq2seq representation supporting an arbitrary number of overlapping and sentence-spanning events. Models with adequate performance could be produced quickly, and the remaining mismatch between representation and task requirements was then addressed in postprocessing. The classification approach used rules to generate entity relationships from its sequence of token labels, while the seq2seq approach used constrained decoding and a constraint solver to recover entity text spans from its sequence of potentially ambiguous tokens.

Conclusion

We proposed 2 different approaches to extract SDOH from clinical texts with high accuracy. However, accuracy suffers on text from new healthcare institutions not present in the training data, and thus generalization remains an important topic for future study.
Effects of borneol combined with astragaloside IV and Panax notoginseng saponins regulation of microglia polarization to promote neurogenesis after cerebral ischaemia
Authors: Ding Huang , Huang Xiao-Ping , Liu Xiao-Dan , Li Yan-Ling , Tang San , Xiong Hai-Long , Huang Mei-Ting , Li Ying , Liu Cai-Xia , Zhang Wei , Deng Chang-Qing
Published: April 2023

Objective

To study the effect of borneol combined with astragaloside IV and Panax notoginseng saponins (BAP) on promoting neurogenesis by regulating microglia polarization after cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion(CI/R) in rats.

Methods

A focal CI/R injury model was established. Evaluated the effects of BAP on ischaemic brain injury, on promoting neurogenesis, on inhibiting Inflammatory microenvironment and TLR4/MyD88/NFκB signalling pathway. A microglia oxygen-glucose deprivation reoxygenation (OGD/R) model was established that evaluated the effects of BAP on regulating the polarization of microglia and inflammatory microenvironment.

Results

BAP can inhibit the expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NFκB proteins, reduce IL-1β and increase IL-10, reduce M1 type microglia and increase M2 microglia. The proliferation of neural stem cells increased, synaptic gap decreased, synaptic interface curvature increased, expression of SYN and PSD95 proteins increased, which improved the neurological dysfunction and reduced the volume of cerebellar infarction and nerve cell injury.

Conclusion

BAP can reduce CI/R injury and promote neurogenesis, the effect is related to inhibition of the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NFκB, regulating the polarization of microglia from M1 type to M2 type and inhibition of inflammatory response.
Roles of pigment epithelium-derived factor in cardiomyocytes: implications for use as a cardioprotective therapeutic
Authors: Jones Isobel C , Dass Crispin R
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with patients having limited options for treatment. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an endogenous multifunctional protein with several mechanisms of action. Recently, PEDF has emerged as a potential cardioprotective agent in response to myocardial infarction. However, PEDF is also associated with pro-apoptotic effects, complicating its role in cardioprotection. This review summarises and compares knowledge of PEDF’s activity in cardiomyocytes with other cell types and draws links between them. Following this, the review offers a novel perspective of PEDF’s therapeutic potential and recommends future directions to understand the clinical potential of PEDF better.

Key findings

PEDF’s mechanisms as a pro-apoptotic and pro-survival protein are not well understood, despite PEDF’s implication in several physiological and pathological activities. However, recent evidence suggests that PEDF may have significant cardioprotective properties mediated by key regulators dependent on cell type and context.

Conclusions

While PEDF’s cardioprotective activity shares some key regulators with its apoptotic activity, cellular context and molecular features likely allow manipulation of PEDF’s cellular activity, highlighting the importance of further investigation into its activities and its potential to be applied as a therapeutic to mitigate damage from a range of cardiac pathologies.
Epidermoid cyst beneath the scar after total knee arthroplasty: a case report
Authors: Ying Liwei , Luo Hua , Ying Xiaofang , Zhu Zhong
Published: April 2023

The epidermal cysts are benign cysts most commonly found in the head, neck and trunk. An epidermal cyst of the knee is an unusual complication developed after total knee arthroplasty. Here, we present a case of an 83-year-old man with a palpable mass in the left knee located beneath the scar, 3 years after total knee arthroplasty. The patient underwent complete surgical excision of the mass. Histological analysis revealed an epidermoid cyst.
Herpes simplex virus colitis mimicking acute severe ulcerative colitis: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Cathomas Marionna , Rosenberg Robert , Burri Emanuel , Javier-Gonzalez Marianna , Weber Achim , Filipowicz Sinnreich Magdalena , Cathomas Gieri , Galli Raffaele
Published: April 2023

A 60-year-old female patient with longstanding left-sided ulcerative colitis presented with symptoms mimicking an acute flare and developed a colonic perforation shortly after starting steroid treatment. Following left hemicolectomy and Hartmann’s procedure, rescue treatment with infliximab was started. Within a few days, the patient developed hepatic failure. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the specimen revealed extensive necrotizing herpes simplex virus colitis, and liver biopsy demonstrated herpes simplex virus hepatitis. Sixteen days after admission, the patient died from multiorgan failure. This compelling case of severe herpes simplex virus colitis raises awareness of a rare but potentially detrimental infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
The inability of barley to germinate after submergence depends on hypoxia-induced secondary dormancy
Authors: Gómez-Álvarez Eva María , Tondelli Alessandro , Nghi Khac Nhu , Voloboeva Viktoriia , Giordano Guido , Valè Giampiero , Perata Pierdomenico , Pucciariello Chiara
Published: April 2023

Global climate change has dramatically increased flooding events, which have a strong impact on crop production. Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the most important cereals and its cultivation includes a broad range of different environments. We tested the capacity to germinate of a large barley panel after a short period of submergence followed by a period of recovery. We demonstrate that sensitive barley varieties activate underwater secondary dormancy because of a lower permeability to oxygen dissolved in water. In sensitive barley accessions, secondary dormancy is removed by nitric oxide donors. The results of a genome-wide association study uncovered a Laccase gene located in a region of significant marker-trait association that is differently regulated during grain development and plays a key role in this process. Our findings will help breeders to improve the genetics of barley, thereby increasing the capacity of seeds to germinate after a short period of flooding.
The transcription factor GhTCP7 suppresses petal expansion by interacting with the WIP-type zinc finger protein GhWIP2 in Gerbera hybrida
Authors: Ren Guiping , Li Lingfei , Patra Barunava , Li Na , Zhou Ye , Zhong Chunmei , Wang Yaqin , Yuan Ling , Wang Xiaojing
Published: April 2023

Petal size is a critical factor in plant reproduction and horticulture, and is largely determined by cell expansion. Gerbera hybrida is an important horticultural plant and serves as a model for studying petal organogenesis. We have previously characterized GhWIP2, a Trp-Ile-Pro (WIP)-type zinc protein, that constrains petal size by suppressing cell expansion. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and co-immunoprecipitation, we identified a TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) family transcription factor, GhTCP7, that interacts with GhWIP2 both in vitro and in vivo. Using reverse genetic approaches, we elucidated the function of the GhTCP7-GhWIP2 complex in controlling petal expansion. GhTCP7 overexpression severely reduced cell expansion and petal size, whereas GhTCP7 silencing resulted in increased cell expansion and petal size. GhTCP7 showed similar expression patterns to GhWIP2 in various types of G. hybrida petals. We further identified GhIAA26, which encodes an auxin signalling regulator, that is activated by the GhTCP7-GhWIP2 complex, leading to the suppression of petal expansion. Our findings reveal a previously unknown transcriptional regulatory mechanism that involves protein-protein interactions between two different transcription factor families to activate a negative regulator of petal organogenesis.
The salivary chaperone protein NlDNAJB9 of Nilaparvata lugens activates plant immune responses
Authors: Gao Haoli , Lin Xumin , Yuan Xiaowei , Zou Jianzheng , Zhang Huihui , Zhang Yixi , Liu Zewen
Published: April 2023

The brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) is a main pest on rice. It secretes saliva to regulate plant defense responses, when penetrating rice plant and sucking phloem sap through its stylet. However, the molecular mechanisms of BPH salivary proteins regulating plant defense responses remain poorly understood. A N. lugens DNAJ protein (NlDNAJB9) gene was highly expressed in salivary glands, and the knock down of NlDNAJB9 significantly enhanced honeydew excretion and fecundity of the BPH. NlDNAJB9 could induce plant cell death, and the overexpression of NlDNAJB9 gene in Nicotiana benthamiana induced calcium signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, jasmonic acid (JA) hormone signaling and callose deposition. The results from different NlDNAJB9 deletion mutants indicated that the nuclear localization of NlDNAJB9 was not necessary to induce cell death. The DNAJ domain was the key region to induce cell death, and the overexpression of DNAJ domain in N. benthamiana significantly inhibited insect feeding and pathogenic infection. NlDNAJB9 might interact indirectly with NlHSC70-3 to regulate plant defense responses. NlDNAJB9 and its orthologs were highly conserved in three planthopper species, and could induce ROS burst and cell death in plants. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of insect-plant interactions.
Sex, Drugs, and Social Media
Authors: Evans Dwight L. , Benton Tami D. , Ellison Katherine
Published: April 2023

This chapter provides some evidence-based tips for coping with the struggles of sex, drugs, and social media for children with bipolar disorder. Contemporary parents know that mental illness is real, so children are not exempted from the condition, and a wide variety of treatments can help make things better for them. Moreover, getting a diagnosis and appropriate treatment is the best hope for helping children with bipolar disorder behave more responsibly. The chapter highlights the significance of open communication and vigilance over online dangers. It also acknowledges how alcohol and drugs can dampen the benefits of medication.
Life After High School
Authors: Evans Dwight L. , Benton Tami D. , Ellison Katherine
Published: April 2023

This chapter discusses the preparation to help children with bipolar disorder for a life outside the comfort of home. It suggests making a plan as choices ahead might be overwhelming and transitions can be stressful for anyone involved. Other coping strategies also involve managing expectations and laying the foundation. Moreover, college should be considered with care since higher education is not the best choice for everyone. The chapter then looks into college mental health resources and considerations made when joining the workforce. It advises looking into government support for people disabled by mental illness, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Other Skills: Problem Solving and Relapse Prevention
Authors: Falk Avital , Bennett Shannon , Rozenman Michelle , Mohatt Justin , Bergman R. Lindsey
Published: April 2023

“Other Skills: Problem Solving and Relapse Prevention” details two additional skills useful in intensive treatment: problem solving and relapse prevention. First, the problem solving model and its many uses are applied to examples such as negotiating exposures, homework, and treatment compliance, and provided as a tool for patients to use on their own for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or non-OCD symptoms. Relapse prevention is described as a strategy to be used in anticipation of the end of treatment, with formal recommendations for components of relapse prevention to be discussed with all patients, and families.
Dyspnea, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Authors: Donesky DorAnne , Howard Julie
Published: April 2023

In addition to the physiological damage to the lungs inherent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), patients are often symptomatic because of deconditioning and the anxiety and panic inherent to living with chronic dyspnea. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence-based comprehensive intervention that has been shown to improve quality of life and symptoms for patients with chronic lung disease. Even patients with severe lung disease can tolerate exercise training that begins at a very low intensity with gradual progression of intensity and duration over time. In addition, pulmonary rehabilitation provides the reassurance of skilled clinicians who monitor patients during exercise and the encouragement of other participants who model vicarious success. The synergy of physiological conditioning, education, and psychosocial support available through pulmonary rehabilitation can contribute to significant improvements in quality of life and symptom status for patients with COPD.
Treating Chronic Dyspnea in Patients with Lung Cancer
Authors: Higgins Elizabeth A. , Ezemenari Susan , West Julia Arana
Published: April 2023

Dyspnea is a subjective sensation of shortness of breath and can be disabling for patients. It is a very common symptom that is often unrecognized in people with cancer. To optimally manage this distressing symptom, one must understand the pathophysiology and associated factors that contribute to dyspnea. Initial treatment of dyspnea should focus on optimizing the medical and pharmacological treatment of the cancer itself. Once the cancer treatment is optimized, other agents can be used. Opioids are the mainstay of pharmacological treatment and should be used to relieve suffering. Nonpharmacological methods such as the use of a handheld fan can also provide relief.
Reducing Dyspnea by Treating Ascites
Authors: Khan Habib A.
Published: April 2023

Ascites is the pathological accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The most common cause is cirrhosis followed by malignancies, heart failure, Budd-Chiari syndrome, and liver metastasis. The reported median survival after a diagnosis of malignancy-related ascites ranges from 1 to 4 months, except for ovarian and breast cancers, in which survival can be longer if anticancer treatments are available. Ascites contributes to the development of dyspnea by elevating the diaphragm and reducing pulmonary vital capacity. Treatment begins with the addressing the underlying cause if anti-cancer therapies are indicated. Additional treatments may include diuresis, vascular shunting, paracentesis, or drainage catheters.
Regional Anesthesia Equipment
Authors: Halaszynski Thomas
Published: April 2023

It is important for physicians who practice regional anesthesia to be aware of the proper setup and to know their supplies and equipment. For performing regional interventions, a location that is equipped with monitors and resuscitation equipment is necessary. In addition, standardized documentation protocols are paramount and should include anesthesia consent, pre-block checklist (correct block/appropriate site), and anesthesia assessment. Anesthesiologists who practice regional anesthesia should have a good understanding of their ultrasound machines and nerve stimulators in order to use them to their highest potential. Understanding physics basics, types of artifacts, and different modes enables the anesthesiologist to make the best use of the ultrasound. Knowledge of the nerve stimulator basics makes a difference in locating the nerve and or avoiding intraneural injection. The needles and catheters types and designs are important for facilitating the placement block, providing proper anesthesia, and providing safety.
Multimodal Analgesia
Authors: O’Neill Archana , Lirk Philipp
Published: April 2023

Adequate postoperative analgesia is an important goal of care to avoid both the acute as well as chronic complications of uncontrolled postoperative pain. Preventive analgesia has been identified as an approach to mitigate the phenomenon of central sensitization, which plays an important role in the development of chronic pain after surgery. As the over-reliance on opioids for pain control has led to issues such as opioid dependence and hyperalgesia, the role of multimodal analgesia has taken center stage in an effort to optimize perioperative pain control, reduce the chance of central sensitization, and avoid the detrimental effects of opioid overuse. Multiple classes of analgesic medications have been used to accomplish these tasks, and the aim of this chapter is to outline these medications, their mechanisms of action and key features, as well as the evidence behind their individual roles in multimodal analgesia.
Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity
Authors: Edobor Osemeke , Graff Veena , Grosh Taras
Published: April 2023

Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) is a life-threatening adverse event related to the administration of local anesthetics (LAs). Its presentation does not always follow the classic symptomatology of central nervous system excitatory symptoms followed by cardiotoxicity and arrest or collapse; many of the cases develop subtle symptoms that may go unreported. LAST happens if the LA level exceeds the capacity to be metabolized from the plasma and buffers are overwhelmed. The free fraction of the drug increases and the risks of accumulation and toxicity rise. Patients at the extremes of age, parturient, patients with end organ dysfunction, as well as those receiving high doses of LA due to concomitant administration, are at the highest risk. Also, the site of injection influences significantly the peak plasma concentration and the time to reach it. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine published an algorithm to treat LAST. Its pharmacologic treatment depends mainly on the administration of lipid emulsion. However, the resuscitation algorithm is different from other cardiac arrest scenarios. The best treatment of LAST is prevention; one must be vigilant concerning all the possible causes that contribute to LAST before planning a regional anesthetic nerve block.