bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Basal cell carcinoma—a clinical indicator of immunosuppression
Authors: Scurtu Lucian G. , Petrica Marian , Scurtu Francesca , Simionescu Anca Angela , Popescu Marco I. , Simionescu Olga
Published: March 2024

Background

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are skin-derived carcinomas. The literature strongly connects SCC with acquired immunosuppression. Current data regarding BCC’s association with immunosuppressive comorbidities are vague. The primary objective of this study was to establish the correlations between BCC and immunosuppressive comorbidities of patients. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 275 patients with a histopathological proven diagnosis of BCC from October 2019 to October 2023. Demographic data, BCC characteristics, and patients’ comorbidities were analyzed. Comorbidities were classified as non-immunosuppressant and immunosuppressant (primary and secondary immunodeficiencies).

Results

We recorded 292 BCCs from 275 patients (142 females, 133 males), with equally distributed skin phototypes. 66.44% of the BCCs were detected in patients with various comorbidities (p < 0.001), of which 81.44% had immunosuppressive comorbidities (p < 0.001). All the immunosuppressive comorbidities were secondary and included diabetes mellitus (47.55%), history of solid or hematogenous cancer in the last 5 years (26.57%), chronic kidney disease (8.39%), chronic infections (9.09%), and antirheumatic immunosuppressive therapies (8.39%) (p < 0.001). BCC patients with immunosuppressive comorbidities did not develop larger BCCs (p = 0.2577) or more aggressive subtypes (p = 0.4269) and BCC did not arise earlier in their life (p < 0.001). BCC on the nasal pyramid was frequent in cancer history patients (p = 0.008). The ulcerated form of BCC is more confined to patients with chronic kidney disease (p = 0.006). Multiple BCCs are more frequent in patients with secondary immunodeficiencies (p = 0.027).

Conclusion

BCC represents a clinical indicator of secondary immunodeficiency. Further research should establish if cancer screening campaigns may be beneficial in BCC patients.
Comprehensive genome sequence analysis of Ralstonia solanacearum gd-2, a phylotype I sequevar 15 strain collected from a tobacco bacterial phytopathogen
Authors: Xiao Zhiliang , Li Guangcan , Yang Aiguo , Liu Zhengwen , Ren Min , Cheng Lirui , Liu Dan , Jiang Caihong , Wen Liuying , Wu Shengxin , Cheng Yazhi , Yu Wen , Geng Ruimei
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Plant bacterial wilt is an important worldwide disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum which is a complex of species.

Methods

In this study, we identified and sequenced the genome of R. solanacearum strain gd-2 isolated from tobacco.

Results

Strain gd-2 was identified as R. solanacearum species complex (RSSC) phylotype I sequevar 15 and exhibited strong pathogenicity to tobacco. The genome size of gd-2 was 5.93 Mb, including the chromosomes (3.83 Mb) and the megaplasmid (2.10 Mb). Gene prediction results showed that 3,434 and 1,640 genes were identified in the chromosomes and plasmids, respectively. Comparative genomic analysis showed that gd-2 exhibited high conservation with ten highly similar strain genomes and the differences between gd-2 and other genomes were mainly located at positions GI12-GI14. 72 type III effectors (T3Es) were identified and RipAZ2 was a T3E specific to gd-2 compared with other eight sequenced strain.

Discussion

Our study provides a new basis and evidence for studying the pathogenic mechanism of R. solanacearum.
Investigation of porcine circovirus type 2 and porcine circovirus type 3 infections based on dual TaqMan fluorescent quantitative PCR method and genetic evolutionary analysis of these two viruses
Authors: Cao Mengxiang , Wei Yanwu , Shi Weilin , Feng Li , Huang Liping
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the pathogen of Porcine Circovirus Associated Diseases. Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a novel porcine circovirus associated with porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) and reproductive failure. PCV2 is clearly pathogenic, while the pathogenicity of PCV3 remains controversial, so it is crucial to monitor the prevalence of PCV2 and PCV3 in healthy and diseased pigs to investigate the effects of PCV3 and PCV2 on the health status of pigs.

Methods

Here, we developed a PCV2 and PCV3 dual TaqMan quantitative PCR (qPCR) method to test samples from healthy and diseased pigs, to clarify the differences in the positive rates and viral copy numbers of PCV2 and PCV3, and to analyze the genetic evolution and molecular characterization of the viral genomes obtained with sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, homology and structural analysis of Cap proteins, and selection pressure analysis.

Results

We successfully established a dual TaqMan qPCR method for PCV2 and PCV3 with good repeatability, specificity and sensitivity. In total, 1,385 samples from 15 Chinese provinces were tested with the established qPCR. The total positive rates were 37.47% for PCV3 and 57.95% for PCV2, and the coinfection rate for was 25.49%. The positive rates of PCV3 and PCV2 in 372 healthy pigs were 15.05 and 69.89%, respectively, and the coinfection rate was 12.90%. The positive rates of PCV3 and PCV2 in 246 diseased pigs were 55.69 and 83.33%, respectively, and the coinfection rate was 47.97%. Eighteen PCV3 genomes and 64 PCV2 genomes were identified, including nine each of the PCV3a-1 and PCV3b genotypes, eight of PCV2a, 16 of PCV2b, and 40 of PCV2d. The amino acid identity within the PCV3 Cap proteins was 94.00–100.0%, whereas the PCV2 Cap proteins showed an identity of 81.30–100.0%. PCV3 Cap was most variable at amino acid sites 24, 27, 77, 104 and 150, whereas PCV2 Cap had 10–13 unique sites of variation between genotypes.

Discussion

These results clarify the prevalence and variations of PCV2 and PCV3 in healthy and diseased pigs, which will provide a basis for the prevention and control of the two viral infections.
Synthetic exendin-4 disrupts responding to reward predictive incentive cues in male rats
Authors: Wakabayashi Ken T. , Baindur Ajay N. , Feja Malte , Suarez Mauricio , Chen Karie , Bernosky-Smith Kimberly , Bass Caroline E.
Published: March 2024

Synthetic exendin-4 (EX4, exenatide), is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used clinically to treat glycemia in Type-2 diabetes mellitus. EX4 also promotes weight loss and alters food reward-seeking behaviors in part due to activation of GLP-1 receptors in the mesolimbic dopamine system. Evidence suggests that GLP-1 receptor activity can directly attenuate cue-induced reward seeking. Here, we tested the effects of EX4 (0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 μg/kg, i.p.) on incentive cue (IC) responding, using a task where rats emit a nosepoke response during an intermittent reward-predictive IC to obtain a sucrose reward. EX4 dose-dependently attenuated responding to ICs and increased the latencies to respond to the IC and enter the sucrose reward cup. Moreover, EX4 dose-dependently decreased the total number of active port nosepokes for every cue presented. There was no effect of EX4 on the number of reward cup entries per reward earned, a related reward-seeking metric with similar locomotor demand. There was a dose-dependent interaction between the EX4 dose and session time on the responding to ICs and nosepoke response latency. The interaction indicated that effects of EX4 at the beginning and end of the session differed by the dose of EX4, suggesting dose-dependent pharmacokinetic effects. EX4 had no effect on free sucrose consumption behavior (i.e., total volume consumed, bout size, number of bouts) within the range of total sucrose volumes obtainable during the IC task (~3.5 ml). However, when rats were given unrestricted access for 1 h, where rats obtained much larger total volumes of sucrose (~30 ml), we observed some dose-dependent EX4 effects on drinking behavior, including decreases in total volume consumed. Together, these findings suggest that activation of the GLP-1 receptor modulates the incentive properties of cues attributed with motivational significance.
Dynamics of parkinsonian oscillations mediated by transmission delays in a mean-field model of the basal ganglia
Authors: Asadi Atefeh , Madadi Asl Mojtaba , Valizadeh Alireza , Perc Matjaž
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Neural interactions in the brain are affected by transmission delays which may critically alter signal propagation across different brain regions in both normal and pathological conditions. The effect of interaction delays on the dynamics of the generic neural networks has been extensively studied by theoretical and computational models. However, the role of transmission delays in the development of pathological oscillatory dynamics in the basal ganglia (BG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is overlooked.

Methods

Here, we investigate the effect of transmission delays on the discharge rate and oscillatory power of the BG networks in control (normal) and PD states by using a Wilson-Cowan (WC) mean-field firing rate model. We also explore how transmission delays affect the response of the BG to cortical stimuli in control and PD conditions.

Results

Our results show that the BG oscillatory response to cortical stimulation in control condition is robust against the changes in the inter-population delays and merely depends on the phase of stimulation with respect to cortical activity. In PD condition, however, transmission delays crucially contribute to the emergence of abnormal alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta band (13–30 Hz) oscillations, suggesting that delays play an important role in abnormal rhythmogenesis in the parkinsonian BG.

Discussion

Our findings indicate that in addition to the strength of connections within and between the BG nuclei, oscillatory dynamics of the parkinsonian BG may also be influenced by inter-population transmission delays. Moreover, phase-specificity of the BG response to cortical stimulation may provide further insight into the potential role of delays in the computational optimization of phase-specific brain stimulation therapies.
Exploring brain network oscillations during seizures in drug-naïve patients with juvenile absence epilepsy
Authors: Tan Linjie , Tang Haoling , Luo Hua , Chen Xiu , Zheng Zhong , Ruan Jianghai , Zhang Dechou
Published: March 2024

Objective

We aimed to investigate the brain network activity during seizures in patients with untreated juvenile absence epilepsy.

Methods

Thirty-six juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) patients with a current high frequency of seizures (more than five seizures during a 2 h EEG examination) were included. Each participant underwent a 2 h video EEG examination. Five 10 s EEG epochs for inter-ictal, pre-ictal, and post-ictal, and five 5 s EEG epochs for ictal states were extracted. Five 10 s resting-state EEG epochs for each participant from a sex- and age-matched healthy control (HC) were enrolled. The topological parameters of the brain networks were calculated using a graph theory analysis.

Results

Compared with the resting state of the HC group, the global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficients of the JAE group decreased in the inter-ictal state. In addition, the ictal state showed significantly increased global and local efficiency and clustering coefficients (p < 0.05) and a decreased small-world index and the shortest path length (p < 0.05) in the theta and alpha bands, compared to the remaining states within the JAE group. Moreover, subgroup analysis revealed that those JAE patients with typical 3 Hz discharges had upgraded global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficients in both delta and beta1 bands, compared to those JAE patients with non-3 Hz discharges during seizures.

Conclusion

The present study supported the idea that the changes in the EEG brain networks in JAE patients are characterized by decreased global and local efficiency and clustering coefficient in the alpha band. Moreover, the onset of seizures is accompanied by excessively enhanced network efficiency. JAE patients with different ictal discharge patterns may have different functional network oscillations.
Objective preclinical measures for bone conduction implants
Authors: Wils Irina , Geerardyn Alexander , Putzeys Tristan , Fierens Guy , Denis Kathleen , Verhaert Nicolas
Published: March 2024

The study evaluates the accuracy of predicting intracochlear pressure during bone conduction stimulation using promontory velocity and ear canal pressure, as less invasive alternatives to intracochlear pressure. Stimulating with a percutaneous bone conduction device implanted in six human cadaveric ears, measurements were taken across various intensities, frequencies, and stimulation positions. Results indicate that intracochlear pressure linearly correlates with ear canal pressure (R2 = 0.43, RMSE = 6.85 dB), and promontory velocity (R2 = 0.47, RMSE = 6.60 dB). Normalizing data to mitigate the influence of stimulation position leads to a substantial improvement in these correlations. R2 values increased substantially to 0.93 for both the ear canal pressure and the promontory velocity, with RMSE reduced considerably to 2.02 (for ear canal pressure) and 1.94 dB (for promontory velocity). Conclusively, both ear canal pressure and promontory velocity showed potential in predicting intracochlear pressure and the prediction accuracy notably enhanced when accounting for stimulation position. Ultimately, these findings advocate for the continued use of intracochlear pressure measurements to evaluate future bone conduction devices and illuminate the role of stimulation position in influencing the dynamics of bone conduction pathways.
Utilization of peripheral nerve feedback at a preconscious level
Authors: Chowdhury Nabeel Hasan , Tyler Dustin James
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Sensorimotor integration is important, if not required, when using our hands. The integration of the tactile and motor systems is disrupted in individuals with upper limb amputations because their connection to their fingertips is lost. Direct cortical stimulation allows for modality and location matched perceptions; however, studies show that the time to process and act upon direct cortical feedback significantly exceeds the time to do the same with naturally produced tactile feedback. Direct cortical stimulation does not engage multiple parallel structures in the brain stem meant to integrate tactile feedback with signals from the motor system at a sub-perceptual or pre-perceptual level before the somatosensory cortex is involved. While reasonable to assume, it is not known if the artificially generated signals will engage the same peripheral tactile pathways to the pre-perceptual and perceptual structures as natural tactile sensation. Our hypothesis is that pre-perceptual structures will process the electrically generated neural activity as it would naturally generated neural activity.

Methods

In this study, stimulation of the median nerve in multiple subjects’ residual limbs produced modal, and location matched sensory perceptions in their hands. We found the time to process different stimuli using simple reaction time tests in three different formats.

Results

We showed the minimum time to process peripheral nerve stimulation and initiate a motor plan is similar to naturally generated tactile feedback and is processed upwards of 50 – 175 ms faster than visual feedback alone. We also found the effect of stimulation intensity on the rate of feedback processing follows the same trend of natural sensory feedback, Piéron’s law indicating that the unimodal processing of PNS is similar to natural touch. Finally, we found that tactile feedback given to a pre-perceptual level is again used in the motor plan.

Discussion

Taken together, we conclude that peripheral nerve stimulation engages the pre-perceptual pathways of the brain, and hence demonstrate advantages of peripheral restoration of sensory inputs.
Prediction and visualization map for physicochemical indices of kiwifruits by hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Meng Qinglong , Tan Tao , Feng Shunan , Wen Qingchun , Shang Jing
Published: March 2024

Soluble solid content (SSC), firmness, and color (L*, a*, and b*) are important physicochemical indices for assessing the quality and maturity of kiwifruits. Therefore, this research aimed to realize the nondestructive detection and visualization map for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits at different maturity stages by hyperspectral imaging coupled with the chemometrics. To further improve the detection accuracy and working efficiency of the models, competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and successive projection algorithm were employed to choose feature wavelengths for predicting the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was designed to develop simplified detection models based on feature wavelengths for determining the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits. The results showed that 32, 18, 26, 29, and 32 feature wavelengths were extracted from 256 full wavelengths to predict the SSC, firmness, L*, a*, and b*, respectively, with the CARS algorithm. Not only was the working efficiency of the CARS-MLR model improved, but the prediction accuracy of the CARS-MLR model for determining the physicochemical indices was also at its relative best. The residual predictive deviations of the CARS-MLR model for determining the SSC, firmness, L*, a*, and b* were 3.09, 2.90, 2.32, 2.74, and 2.91, respectively, which were all above 2.3. Compared with the model based on the full spectra, the CARS-MLR model could be used to predict the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits. Finally, the visualization map for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits at different maturity stages was generated by calculating the spectral response of each pixel on the kiwifruit samples with the CARS-MLR model. This made the detection for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits more intuitive. This study demonstrates that hyperspectral imaging coupled with the chemometrics is promising for the nondestructive detection and visualization map for the physicochemical indices of kiwifruits, and also provides a novel theoretical basis for the nondestructive detection of kiwifruit quality.
Case report: Targeted treatment strategies for Erdheim-Chester disease
Authors: Gulyás Anita , Pinczés László Imre , Mátyus János , Végh Edit , Bedekovics Judit , Tóth Judit , Barna Sándor , Hunya Zsolt , Szabó Imre Lőrinc , Gazdag Annamária , Illés Árpád , Magyari Ferenc
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare disease that belongs to the group of Dendritic and histiocytic neoplasms. Only 2000 cases have been reported worldwide. It can present with a wide range of symptoms, making a differential diagnosis especially difficult. The primary and most important diagnostic tool is a biopsy of the affected organ/tissue. Nowadays the analysis of different mutations affecting the BRAF and MAPK pathways makes it possible to use targeted treatments, such as vemurafenib, dabrafenib, or cobimetinib.

Objective

Our aim is to present the results of three male patients treated in our hematology department.

Results

Our BRAF mutation-positive patient presented with retroperitoneal tissue proliferation and diabetes insipidus. The initial therapy of choice was dabrafenib. After 3 months of treatment, 18F-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans showed regression, and after 2 years of treatment, no disease activity was detected. In our second patient, a recurrent febrile state (not explained by other reasons) and diabetes insipidus suggested the diagnosis. A femoral bone biopsy confirmed BRAF-negative ECD. The first-line therapy was interferon-alpha. After 3 months of treatment, no response was observed on 18FDG-PET/CT, and treatment with cobimetinib was started. The control 18FDG-PET/CT imaging was negative. Our third patient was evaluated for dyspnea, and a CT scan showed fibrosis with hilar lymphadenomegaly. A lung biopsy confirmed BRAF-negative ECD. We started treatment with interferon-alpha, but unfortunately, no improvement was observed. Second-line treatment with cobimetinib resulted in a partial metabolic response (PMR) according to control 18FDG-PET/CT.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that an appropriately chosen treatment can lead to a good therapeutic response, but dose reduction may be necessary due to side effects. With advanced targeted therapeutic treatment options, survival and quality of life are significantly improved.
Tislelizumab induced dual organs dysfunction in a patient with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Yang Bo , Gou Wei , Lan Naiying , Shao Qing , Hu Weifeng , Xue Cheng , Liu Nanmei
Published: March 2024

Background

Tislelizumab, a humanized IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody has been approved in China and Europe. According to the published clinical research, tislelizumab shows satisfactory safety profile. No severe hepatotoxicity or acute kidney injury were reported.

Case presentation

We presented a case study of a 74-year-old man who developed acute kidney injury (grade 3) and acute liver injury (grade 4) after being administered tislelizumab for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We reviewed the patient’s history, physical examination, and laboratory findings and provided comprehensive differentials of the possible causes of the toxicities. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were confirmed clinically. We also discussed the management of toxicities associated with ICIs and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to care.

Conclusions

The case highlights the importance of close monitoring and prompt management of toxicities associated with ICIs and the need for further research to better understand the risk factors for these toxicities and to identify effective treatments for them.
Efficacy of botanical lozenges in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wu Yi , Zhang Feng , Kuang Dan , Li Dan , Yan Jiai , Yang Ju , Wang Qinyue , Wang Yingyu , Sun Jing , Liu Yiran , Xia Yanping , Cao Hong
Published: March 2024

Background: In clinical practice, antibiotics and/or inhaled or oral hormone preparations are the first line of treatment for chronic pharyngitis. However, this therapeutic regimen is not satisfactory enough. At present, medicinal plants as dietary supplements or functional foods are widely recognized for the treatment and prevention of different diseases.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the botanical lozenge made from several medicinal plant extracts in the treatment of chronic pharyngitis and its effects on patients’ illness perception and adherence to treatment.

Methods: Patients with chronic pharyngitis were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 52) or the control group (n = 51). Patients were given botanical lozenges prepared from the extracts of medicinal plants such as Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey ex A.M.Lu and Zhi Y. Zhang [Cucurbitaceae; Siraitiae fructus], Lonicera japonica Thunb [Caprifoliaceae; Lonicerae japonicae flos], Platycodon grandiflorus (Jacq.) A. DC [Campanulaceae; Platycodon radix], and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC [Fabaceae; Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma] or placebos made of starch for 15 days. The improvement of pharyngeal symptoms and signs, illness perception, and adherence to treatment were evaluated at the end of the intervention.

Results: The total score of pharyngeal symptoms of patients in the experimental group (3.33 ± 2.33) was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.20 ± 2.93) (p < 0.01). In comparison to the control group (3.43 ± 1.43), the total pharyngeal signs score of patients in the experimental group (2.69 ± 1.59) was considerably lower (p < 0.01). The improvement rates of pharyngeal itching, dry throat, pharyngeal foreign body sensation, aggravation due to excessive speaking, and congestion of pharyngeal mucosa in the experimental group were 73.81%, 67.50%, 67.57%, 65.22% and 44%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, patients taking botanical lozenges had better illness perception and adherence to treatment than those taking placebos (p < 0.05). Patients with low adherence to treatment showed less personal control, concerns, and understanding of chronic pharyngitis (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Botanical lozenges not only aided patients in recovering from chronic pharyngitis but also improved their positive perceptions of the disease, which helped them adhere to their treatment regimen.

Clinical Trial Registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR2200062139].
Under-canopy afforestation after 10 years: assessing the potential of converting monoculture plantations into mixed stands
Authors: Gao Yuan , Zhang Zhidong , Lu Deliang , Zhou Ying , Liu Qiang
Published: March 2024

Under-canopy afforestation using different tree species is a key approach in close-to-nature management to improve the structural and functional stability of plantation forests. However, current research on understory afforestation mainly focuses on the seedling stage, with limited attention to saplings or young trees. In this study, we evaluated the growth characteristics and leaf traits of 14-year-old Pinus sylvestris var. Mongolica trees under four different upper forest density (UFD) treatments: 0 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 100%, CK), 150 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 51.9%, T1), 225 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 43.2%, T2), and 300 trees/hm2 (canopy openness 28.4%, T3). We found that the survival rate of P. sylvestris in the T3 was significantly lower than in the other treatments, with a decrease of 30.2%, 18.3%, and 19.5% compared to CK, T1, and T2, respectively. The growth of P. sylvestris in the T1 treatment exhibited superior performance. Specifically, T1 showed a significant increase of 18.8%, 5.5%, and 24.1% in tree height, diameter at breast height, and crown width, respectively, compared to the CK. The mean trunk biomass ratio in the understory was significantly higher than that in full light by 15.4%, whereas the mean leaf biomass ratio was significantly lower by 12.3%. Understory P. sylvestris trees tended to allocate more biomass to the trunk at the expense of decreasing leaf biomass, which would facilitate height growth to escape the shading environment, although the promotion was relatively limited. Leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf thickness, mesophyll tissue thickness, epidermis thickness, and leaf carbon content were the highest in the CK and tended to decrease with increasing UFD, indicating that a high-light environment favored leaf growth and enhanced carbon accumulation. In summary, young P. sylvestris trees adapted to moderate shading conditions created by the upper canopy, and the T1 treatment was optimal for the growth of understory P. sylvestris. This study provides insights into different adaptive strategies of young P. sylvestris trees to changes in light environment, providing practical evidence for under-canopy afforestation using light-demanding trees during pure plantation transformation.
Families adapting to COVID-19 in urban Bangladesh: “It felt like the sky fell apart and we were in shock”
Authors: Nandonik Ahmed Jojan , Das Pooja Shangjucta , Kabir Zarina Nahar , Kiriam Shoshannah
Published: March 2024

Background

The COVID-19 epidemic has especially impacted the urban population in Bangladesh. Studies on COVID-19 have primarily focused on the patient’s perspective. It is important to understand the experience of family members who adopt caregiving roles, as the experience of COVID-19 also impacts, and is impacted by, household members. This study aimed to explore the challenges, preventative practices, health-seeking behaviour, and perspectives of navigating the health care system from the perspective of family members of persons who had recovered from COVID-19 during its initial outbreak in Bangladesh.

Methods

Participants of this qualitative study were family members (n = 7) of persons who had recovered from COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed). Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted over telephone. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results

Analysis revealed three key themes: changes in everyday practices and choice of health care, challenges and constraints, and unexpected positive outcomes. All the themes had temporal dimension to them with four distinct phases: early stage of COVID-19, strict lockdown phase, COVID-19 diagnosis and illness period and post COVID-19 recovery.

Conclusion

The importance of maintaining social contact for psychological wellbeing during critical times was evident in the study. Online communication and social media enabled participants to remain ‘socially connected’ which further supported their mental health. Increased attention to hygiene practices both before, during and subsequent to COVID-19 infections within families was reported. Physical distancing in case of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case was found logistically and socially impractical in a densely populated city.
Monolingual and bilingual infants' attention to talking faces: evidence from eye-tracking and Bayesian modeling
Authors: Lemonnier Sophie , Fayolle Benjamin , Sebastian-Galles Nuria , Brémond Roland , Diard Julien , Fort Mathilde
Published: March 2024

Introduction

A substantial amount of research from the last two decades suggests that infants' attention to the eyes and mouth regions of talking faces could be a supporting mechanism by which they acquire their native(s) language(s). Importantly, attentional strategies seem to be sensitive to three types of constraints: the properties of the stimulus, the infants' attentional control skills (which improve with age and brain maturation) and their previous linguistic and non-linguistic knowledge. The goal of the present paper is to present a probabilistic model to simulate infants' visual attention control to talking faces as a function of their language learning environment (monolingual vs. bilingual), attention maturation (i.e., age) and their increasing knowledge concerning the task at stake (detecting and learning to anticipate information displayed in the eyes or the mouth region of the speaker).

Methods

To test the model, we first considered experimental eye-tracking data from monolingual and bilingual infants (aged between 12 and 18 months; in part already published) exploring a face speaking in their native language. In each of these conditions, we compared the proportion of total looking time on each of the two areas of interest (eyes vs. mouth of the speaker).

Results

In line with previous studies, our experimental results show a strong bias for the mouth (over the eyes) region of the speaker, regardless of age. Furthermore, monolingual and bilingual infants appear to have different developmental trajectories, which is consistent with and extends previous results observed in the first year. Comparison of model simulations with experimental data shows that the model successfully captures patterns of visuo-attentional orientation through the three parameters that effectively modulate the simulated visuo-attentional behavior.

Discussion

We interpret parameter values, and find that they adequately reflect evolution of strength and speed of anticipatory learning; we further discuss their descriptive and explanatory power.
COVID-19, new challenges to human safety: a global review
Authors: Aikebaier Saierdaer
Published: March 2024

In the context of sustainable human development, human safety has gradually shifted from traditional state and political conflict to social conflict and horizontal inequality, and the pandemic has exacerbated this variation risk. This narrative review includes literature from 40 countries on five continents since 2020, explored and tidy up the impacts of pandemics on human safety based on three perspectives: personal safety, family safety and social safety, refined the macroscopic concept of human safety. The comprehensibility of the global review conclusions is enhanced by combining it with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Finally, some novel and comparative results are included to broaden the understanding of the impact of the pandemic, and help policymaker better understand human safety changes from a new perspective.
Fungal footprints in oral cancer: unveiling the oral mycobiome
Authors: Monteiro Jessica Sonal , Kaushik Kriti , de Arruda José Alcides Almeida , Georgakopoulou Eleni , Vieira Angelica Thomaz , Silva Tarcilia A. , Devadiga Darshana , Anyanechi Charles E. , Shetty Sameep
Published: March 2024

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck cancer, with a high mortality rate. There is growing evidence supporting a link between oral cancer and the microbiome. The microbiome can impact various aspects of cancer, such as pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. While there is existing information on bacteria and its connection to oral cancer, the fungi residing in the oral cavity represent a significant component of the microbiome that remains in its early stages of exploration and understanding. Fungi comprise a minuscule part of the human microbiome called the mycobiome. Mycobiome is ubiquitous in the human body but a weakened immune system offers a leeway space for fungi to showcase its virulence. The role of mycobiome as a colonizer, facilitator, or driver of carcinogenesis is still ambiguous. Reactivating the mycobiome that undergoes collateral damage associated with cancer treatment can be watershed event in cancer research. The coordinated, virulent, non-virulent behavior of the fungi once they reach a critical density must be hacked, considering its diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications in cancer. This review highlights the diversity of the mycobiome and its potential role in oral cancer.
Spectral imaging of grass species in arid ecosystems of Namibia
Authors: Bantelmann Paul , Wyss Daniel , Pius Elizabeth Twitileni , Kappas Martin
Published: March 2024

Grasslands across the African continent are under pressure from climate change and human activities, particularly in arid ecosystems. From a remote sensing perspective, these ecosystems have not received much scientific attention, especially in Namibia. To address this knowledge gap, various remote sensing methods were implemented using new generation spaceborne imaging spectrometers amongst others. Therefore, this research provides a first methodological approach aimed at mapping and evaluating the distribution of grasslands within two private nature reserves, namely, the NamibRand Nature Reserve (NRNR) and ProNamib Nature Reserve (PNNR) with surrounding farmlands on the edge of Namib Sand Sea. The multi-sensor approach utilizes Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF) and incorporated spectral information collected in the field to analyze grasslands. The research involves a sensor comparison of multispectral Sentinel-2 and PlanetScope data, hyperspectral data from Environmental Mapping and Analysis Programme (EnMAP) and PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) and an additional data fusion product derived from Sentinel-2 and EnMAP imagery based on a Smoothing Filter-based Intensity Modulation Hypersharpening method (SFIM-HS). Additionally, a unique spectral library of collected field spectra was established and inter-species spectral separability and intra-species spectral homogeneity was analyzed. This library presents newly published spectra of individual species. Due to dry initial conditions, the calculated spectral separability of individual grasses is limited, making only a mean endmember feasible for partial unmixing. The validation results of satellite comparison show that data fusion products (R2 = 0.51 with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); R2 = 0.66 with Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI)) are more suitable for mapping arid grasslands than multispectral or hyperspectral data (all R2 < 0.35). More research is required and potential methodological adjustments are discussed to further investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of arid grasslands and to aid conservation efforts in the Greater Sossusvlei-Namib Landscape in line with the United Nations Decade of Restoration.
Case report: Nighttime media restriction for pediatric insomnia
Authors: Arai Yusuke , Sasayama Daimei , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Watanabe Jun , Kuraishi Yuta , Koido Mika , Washizuka Shinsuke
Published: March 2024

This report describes the case of a 13-year-old boy with chronic insomnia and increased daytime sleepiness linked to excessive nocturnal media use. Implementing a restriction on digital device usage after 9 pm led to a significant improvement in the sleep duration with no adverse event. Throughout the 16-week treatment period, the total sleep time of the patient normalized, and the daytime sleepiness problem was resolved. This is an indication that the treatment was effective. This case emphasizes the potential of nighttime screentime restriction in treating pediatric chronic insomnia and highlights the importance of addressing screen time in sleep disorder management.
Study on tiered storage algorithm based on heat correlation of astronomical data
Authors: Ye Xin-Chen , Zhang Hai-Long , Wang Jie , Zhang Ya-Zhou , Du Xu , Wu Han
Published: March 2024

With the surge in astronomical data volume, modern astronomical research faces significant challenges in data storage, processing, and access. The I/O bottleneck issue in astronomical data processing is particularly prominent, limiting the efficiency of data processing. To address this issue, this paper proposes a tiered storage algorithm based on the access characteristics of astronomical data. The C4.5 decision tree algorithm is employed as the foundation to implement an astronomical data access correlation algorithm. Additionally, a data copy migration strategy is designed based on tiered storage technology to achieve efficient data access. Preprocessing tests were conducted on 418GB NSRT (Nanshan Radio Telescope) formaldehyde spectral line data, showcasing that tiered storage can potentially reduce data processing time by up to 38.15%. Similarly, utilizing 802.2 GB data from FAST (Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope) observations for pulsar search data processing tests, the tiered storage approach demonstrated a maximum reduction of 29.00% in data processing time. In concurrent testing of data processing workflows, the proposed astronomical data heat correlation algorithm in this paper achieved an average reduction of 17.78% in data processing time compared to centralized storage. Furthermore, in comparison to traditional heat algorithms, it reduced data processing time by 5.15%. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is positively correlated with the associativity between the algorithm and the processed data. The tiered storage algorithm based on the characteristics of astronomical data proposed in this paper is poised to provide algorithmic references for large-scale data processing in the field of astronomy in the future.
Association of biosecurity and hygiene practices with avian influenza A/H5 and A/H9 virus infections in turkey farms
Authors: Islam Ariful , Islam Monjurul , Dutta Pronesh , Rahman Md Ashiqur , Al Mamun Abdullah , Khan AKM Dawlat , Samad Mohammed Abdus , Hassan Mohammad Mahmudul , Rahman Mohammed Ziaur , Shirin Tahmina
Published: March 2024

High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks pose a significant threat to the health of livestock, wildlife, and humans. Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are enzootic in poultry in many countries, including Bangladesh, necessitating improved farm biosecurity measures. However, the comprehension of biosecurity and hygiene practices, as well as the infection of AIV in turkey farms, are poorly understood in Bangladesh. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of AIV subtypes and their association with biosecurity and hygiene practices in turkey farms. We collected oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs from individual turkeys from 197 farms across 9 districts in Bangladesh from March to August 2019. We tested the swab samples for the AIV matrix gene (M gene) followed by H5, H7, and H9 subtypes using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). We found 24.68% (95% CI:21.54–28.04) of turkey samples were AIV positive, followed by 5.95% (95% CI: 4.33–7.97) for H5, 6.81% (95% CI: 5.06–8.93) for H9 subtype and no A/H7 was found. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we determined 10 significant risk factors associated with AIV circulation in turkey farms. We found that the absence of sick turkeys, the presence of footbaths, the absence of nearby poultry farms, concrete flooring, and the avoidance of mixing newly purchased turkeys with existing stock can substantially reduce the risk of AIV circulation in turkey farms (odds ratio ranging from 0.02 to 0.08). Furthermore, the absence of nearby live bird markets, limiting wild bird access, no visitor access, improved floor cleaning frequency, and equipment disinfection practices also had a substantial impact on lowering the AIV risk in the farms (odds ratio ranging from 0.10 to 0.13). The results of our study underscore the importance of implementing feasible and cost-effective biosecurity measures aimed at reducing AIV transmission in turkey farms. Particularly in resource-constrained environments such as Bangladesh, such findings might assist governmental entities in enhancing biosecurity protocols within their poultry sector, hence mitigating and potentially averting the transmission of AIV and spillover to humans.
Isolation and genomic characterization of chicken infectious anemia virus in Jiangsu province of China during 2020–2022
Authors: Zhang Jun , Ma Li , Li Tuofan , Xie Quan , Wan Zhimin , Qin Aijian , Ye Jianqiang , Shao Hongxia , Wang Shengnan
Published: March 2024

As an immunosuppressive disease virus, chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) mainly infects chickens, causing aplastic anemia and systemic lymphoid tissue atrophy. In recent years, the prevalence of CIAV in the poultry industry globally has caused huge economic losses. In this study, a total of 223 clinical samples, including anal swabs, tissues, blood, and vaccines, were collected from 19 broiler farms or breeding companies in Jiangsu province, with symptoms of significant anemia and immunosuppression during 2020–2022. Among them, 75 samples (75/223, 33.6%) were positive for CIAV in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and 20 CIAV strains were successfully isolated. The phylogenetic trees of the 20 isolates and 42 CIAV strains deposited in GenBank formed four distinct groups (A-D). And the isolates mainly belonged to Group A but with high genetic diversity. Analysis for VP1 indicated that these isolates possess key characteristics of highly pathogenic strains. Meanwhile, VP2 and VP3 were much conserved with much fewer mutations compare to VP1. The above epidemiological study of CIAV provides novel insights into molecular characterization of CIAV and lays the foundation for developing efficient strategies for control of CIAV in China.
Fogsebészeti beavatkozásra váró páciensek anamnesztikus adatainak változása az elmúlt 10 évben Magyarországon
Authors: Lászlófy Csaba , Bogdán Sándor , Magyar Nóra , Szűcs Attila , Pelyhe Liza , Németh Zsolt
Published: March 2024

Minden orvosi beavatkozás, így a fogászati és fogsebészeti beavatkozás előtt is kötelező a kórelőzmény felvétele.Tapasztalataink azt mutatják, hogy az utóbbi évtizedben megszaporodtak azok az anamnesztikus adatok, amelyeketkezeléseink során figyelembe kell vennünk. Nem csak azért, mert a pácienseink elöregedő társadalom tagjai, hanemazért is, mert a betegségeikre és/vagy kóros állapotukra előírt gyógyszerek is „szélesebb választékból” kerülnek ki, ésaz alkalmazásuk protokollja is változhat. Vizsgálatainkban ezeknek a tendenciáknak jártunk utána.
Imidacloprid Uptake and Leaching in the Critical Root Zone of a Florida Entisol
Authors: Uthman Qudus O. , Vasconez Miguel , Kadyampakeni Davie M. , Wang Yu , Athienitis Demetris , Qureshi Jawwad A.
Published: March 2024

Imidacloprid (IDP) products are applied via soil drenching in the citrus critical root zone (CCRZ) at 0–60 cm soil depth. This study aimed to determine the uptake and leaching of IDP in the CCRZ of a Florida Entisol. The treatments include: (1) a control with no IDP applied, (2) 1.6 g of active ingredient (a.i.) per tree (×2), and (3) 3.2 g a.i. per tree of IDP (×4). The treatments were applied to two trees within each experiment unit, replicated five times, and completely randomized. The IDP concentration in the Entisol was affected by the amount of water received within the sampling intervals. IDP movement in the Entisol was evident for the field trials in Fall 2021 and 2022, irrespective of the treatment. A total of 10 mm of daily irrigation was the major driver of IDP movement in Fall 2021 (September–December 2021), while 11.7 cm of cumulative rainfall plus 10 mm of daily irrigation were the major drivers for IDP in Fall 2022 (November–December 2022). The IDP uptake level by leaves was relatively low probably because of the relatively low temperature and humidity. More applications of IDP did not result in its higher uptake by citrus leaves in the Entisol. Given the persistence of IDP, there is a possibility of leaching, which could potentially contaminate the groundwater, surface water, and non-target organisms. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully manage the use of IDP in citrus production systems to mitigate the unintended environmental impacts.
Two New and One First Recorded Species of Xylaria Isolated from Fallen Leaves in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in China
Authors: Pan Xiaoyan , Chen Zongzhu , Lei Jinrui , Chen Xiaohua , Wu Tingtian , Li Yuanling , Chen Yiqing
Published: March 2024

Xylaria is a widely distributed genus in the Ascomycota phylum that can decompose wood. It is an essential decomposer in ecosystems and a source of bioactive secondary metabolites. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, this article thoroughly describes two new species discovered on the fallen leaves in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, along with illustrations and comparisons with similar species. Xylaria diaoluoshanensis is characterized by filamentous stromata with long infertile apexes, ascospores sometimes with non-cellular appendages. Xylaria fulvotomentosa differentiates itself from other Xylaria species that grow on fallen leaves by its stroma surface, being yellow tomentose. These two new species of the genus Xylaria were found by phylogenetic analysis using the ITS-β-tubulin-RPB2 sequence dataset. Furthermore, a species first discovered in China, X. petchii, is described. Finally, a search table for 44 species related to fallen leaves and petioles in the world is established.