bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of rare cell populations in autofluorescence lifetime image data
Authors: Cardona Elizabeth N. , Walsh Alex J.
Published: January 2022

Drug‐resistant cells and anti‐inflammatory immune cells within tumor masses contribute to tumor aggression, invasion, and worse patient outcomes. These cells can be a small proportion (<10%) of the total cell population of the tumor. Due to their small quantity, the identification of rare cells is challenging with traditional assays. Single cell analysis of autofluorescence images provides a live‐cell assay to quantify cellular heterogeneity. Fluorescence intensities and lifetimes of the metabolic coenzymes reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide allow quantification of cellular metabolism and provide features for classification of cells with different metabolic phenotypes. In this study, Gaussian distribution modeling and machine learning classification algorithms are used for the identification of rare cells within simulated autofluorescence lifetime image data of a large tumor comprised of tumor cells and T cells. A Random Forest machine learning algorithm achieved an overall accuracy of 95% for the identification of cell type from the simulated optical metabolic imaging data of a heterogeneous tumor of 20,000 cells consisting of 70% drug responsive breast cancer cells, 5% drug resistant breast cancer cells, 20% quiescent T cells and 5% activated T cells. High resolution imaging methods combined with single‐cell quantitative analyses allows identification and quantification of rare populations of cells within heterogeneous cultures
An energy efficient resource allocation and transmit antenna selection scheme in mm‐wave using massive multiple‐input multiple‐output technology
Authors: Singh Charanjeet , Kishoreraja Parasuram Chandrasekaran
Published: January 2022

The massive multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) improves the reliability of transmission and capacity of the channel. Resource allocation (RA) and transmit antenna selection (TAS) can minimize the complexity in implementation and hardware costs. In this research, both the RA and the TAS of wireless communication in millimeter‐wave (mm‐wave) with massive MIMO technology are considered. Two different solutions are developed for this research such as the deep learning method for efficient resource allocation process and optimization algorithm for TAS process. Here, the RA process is done with the help of attention‐based capsule auto‐encoder (ACAE) architecture which allocates the radio resources like power, space, time and frequency to all the available users in the system. Further, battle royale optimization (BRO) algorithm is utilized to select an efficient antenna from multiple antennas at BS. This optimization algorithm optimally selects an efficient antenna so that, user equipment (UEs) can create high quality links and achieves a reduced power consumption rate of the whole architecture. The overall system performance depends on the selection of optimal antenna which in terms enhances spectral efficiency (SE), energy efficiency (EE), reliability, and diversity gain of MIMO technology. In this way, both RA and optimal antenna selection schemes are performed to maximize the overall performance of wireless communication with massive MIMO technology for 5G wireless communication applications. The implementation of the proposed methodology is evaluated on MATLAB. Finally, the efficiency of the developed method is improved with respect to the capacity, EE, and SE.
Adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy for hybrid electric ship
Authors: Gao Diju , Jiang Haoyang , Shi Weifeng , Wang Tianzhen , Wang Yide
Published: January 2022

In recent years, with the development of battery technology, hybrid electric ship (HES), as a promising solution to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions, has become a research hotspot. However, frequent use of the battery will accelerate the aging of the battery, and the replacement of scrapped battery will increase the cost of the ship. Therefore, it is necessary to consider delaying battery aging into the energy control strategy of HES. The equivalent consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is a feasible energy control strategy because it can be implemented in real time. However, under the condition of uncertain initial state of charge (SOC) of the battery, ECMS cannot effectively reduce the fuel consumption unless the equivalent factor (EF) is optimized in real time. In this paper, an adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy (A‐ECMS) is proposed, which extracts the global optimal EF trajectory from the dynamic programming (DP) solution and uses the back propagation (BP) neural network to adjust the EF in real time. A trade‐off between the fuel consumption and battery aging is made in the cost function by introducing a weight coefficient. Finally, the effectiveness and the adaptability of the proposed strategy are verified in MATLAB.
Selection of superior genotypes of Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) as revealed by fruit‐related traits
Authors: Mirheidari Farhad , Khadivi Ali , Saeidifar Abdolvahid , Moradi Younes
Published: January 2022

The nutritional and medicinal benefits of Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. have led to its attention. Here, morphological and pomological diversity of this species was investigated. Most of the characters recorded showed considerable differences among the genotypes studied. The range of ripening data was from mid‐February to mid‐March. Fruit weight ranged between 15.68 and 33.62 g with an average of 24.17. Strong diversity was observed among the genotypes in terms of fruit skin ground color, ranging from light green to orange. There were significant correlations between some characters especially between the traits related to fruit size. Principal component analysis (PCA) classified the traits into 12 main components, justifying 75.07% of the total variance. The studied genotypes were grouped into two main clusters, indicating strong diversity among them. The present information might be used to choose the genotypes with the desired traits. Twenty‐one genotypes were promising because of high values of fruit weight, fruit taste, fruit skin color, and fruit quality, and thus, they can be recommended for direct cultivation and also to be used in breeding programs. The genotypes with superior traits can be further used for improvement through selection and hybridization to get desired traits.
Tinospora Cordifolia (Giloy)–Induced Liver Injury During the COVID‐19 Pandemic—Multicenter Nationwide Study From India
Authors: Kulkarni Anand V. , Hanchanale Pavan , Prakash Vikash , Kalal Chetan , Sharma Mithun , Kumar Karan , Bishnu Saptarshi , Kulkarni Aditya V. , Anand Lovkesh , Patwa Ajay Kumar , Kumbar Sandeep , Kainth Sumeet , Philips Cyriac Abby ,   for the Liver Research Club India
Published: January 2022

Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) is an herbal supplement commonly used in the Indian alternative medicine system Ayurveda. This herb has been promoted to the public in India as an immune booster to prevent novel coronavirus disease 2019. However, small reports have recently shown an association between Giloy use and the development of herb‐induced liver injury (HILI) with autoimmune features in some patients. This large retrospective Indian multicenter study spanning 13 centers at nine locations was designed to identify features and outcomes of HILI temporally associated with Giloy use. Chemical and toxicological analyses of retrieved Giloy samples using state‐of‐the‐art methods were also performed. We report 43 patients, of whom more than half were female, with a median time from initial Giloy consumption to symptom onset of 46 days. Patients presented with acute hepatitis, acute worsening of chronic liver disease (CLD, the most common clinical presentation), or acute liver failure. Causality assessment revealed probable liver injury in 67.4%. The most common autoantibody detected was anti‐nuclear antibody. Liver biopsy in a subset revealed HILI associated with autoimmune features and hepatocyte and canalicular cholestasis and neutrophilic and eosinophilic infiltration. Conclusion: Giloy is associated with acute hepatitis with autoimmune features and can unmask autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in people with silent AIH‐related CLD. Further studies on the safety (and efficacy) of untested but heavily promoted herbals in alternative systems of medicine are an unmet need in the interests of public health and are especially important during this global health emergency.
Ceramic‐based dielectric metamaterials
Authors: Luo Weijia , Yan Sen , Zhou Ji
Published: January 2022

Dielectric metamaterials based on ceramics have attracted considerable interest in the past few years owing to their low dielectric loss, simple structure, excellent multifield tunability, and good environmental adaptability. They are considered to be promising alternative to metal‐based metamaterials and can lead to a new strategy for the development of passive devices. In this review, the recent progress of ceramic‐based dielectric metamaterials in electromagnetic applications, energy applications, non‐Hermitian systems, and natural materials with near‐zero or negative refraction are summarized. The design principle and mechanism, as well as manufacturing technologies, are also introduced, and the current development trend of ceramic‐based dielectric metamaterials are proposed.
Quantifying the absolute number of cancer deaths that would be avoided if cancers were diagnosed prior to progressing to distant metastasis, New South Wales, Australia 1985‐2014
Authors: Yu Xue Qin , Dasgupta Paramita , Baade Peter
Published: January 2022

Our study measures the impact of diagnosing cancers early before they metastasise on reducing the burden of cancer death. A cohort of 716 501 people aged 15 to 89 years diagnosed with a solid cancer in New South Wales, Australia, during 1985 to 2014 were followed‐up to December 2015. Crude probabilities of cancer death by stage at diagnosis were calculated for all solid cancers combined and five individual cancers using flexible parametric relative survival models. These probabilities were used to estimate the number of avoided cancer deaths within 10 years of diagnosis in three 10‐year diagnostic periods if all cases with known distant stage were instead diagnosed at an earlier stage. Cancers are known to be diagnosed at distant stage composed ~16% of all solid cancers diagnosed during 2005 to 2014. Assuming all these cases were instead diagnosed at regional stage, an annual average of 2064 cancer deaths would have been potentially avoided within 10 years of diagnosis. This equated to ~21% of modelled observed deaths. Alternatively, if half of all known distant cases diagnosed during 2005 to 2014 were diagnosed as regional and half as localised, the average number of deaths avoided per year would increase to 2677 (~28%). Estimates varied by diagnostic period, sex and cancer type, reflecting both the different stage distributions for the cancer types, and the respective survival differences between cancer stages. While prevention is the most effective pillar of cancer control, these findings quantify the potential benefits of diagnosing all cancer types when they are less advanced to reduce the burden of cancer mortality.
Risk of malignancy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A population‐based cohort study from China
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Zhang Mengmeng , Chen Xuanfu , Guo Mingyue , Zhou Runing , Lv Hong , Li Yue , Tan Bei , Li Ji , Xu Hui , Zheng Weiyang , Yang Hong , Qian Jiaming
Published: January 2022

Carcinogenesis is one of the major complications for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and causes poor prognosis. We aimed to describe cancer incidence in the Chinese IBD cohort compared to general population‐based cancer registration data and further explore associated risk factors for cancer occurrence in IBD patients. IBD inpatients from January 1998 to January 2018 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) were included in our study. Patients were followed‐up from the date of IBD diagnosis until either the date of first cancer diagnosis or January 2019. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of overall cancer and site‐specific cancers were calculated. A total of 869 Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and 516 Crohn's disease (CD) patients were finally included with median follow‐up time of 7 and 5 years, respectively. Fifty‐three cases developed malignancies. After standardization by age and gender, SIR of total cancer occurrence in IBD patients was 1.77 (95% CI, 1.33‐2.32). As for UC, digestive cancers (SIR 3.75; 95% CI, 2.29‐5.80), thyroid cancer (SIR 10.34; 95% CI, 4.72‐19.64) and hematological malignancies (SIR 6.25; 95% CI, 1.68‐16.00) had the highest incidence, which were prominent in young and middle‐aged patients. Use of steroids, immunosuppressants or infliximab did not present higher risk of malignancies in UC patients. There was no significant difference in cancer risk between CD patients and general population. In conclusion, the increased risks of multiple cancers are particularly prominent in Chinese UC patients and these findings can provide more targeted guidance for cancer monitoring in Chinese IBD patients.
Face recognition based on scale invariant feature transform and fuzzy reasoning
Authors: Tao Xiaojiao , Pan Dongyin
Published: January 2022

To alleviate the limitations that existing face recognition methods, this paper describes a new face recognition method based on scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) and fuzzy reasoning. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method yields a better performance in terms of the correct classification percentages compared with the recent face recognition algorithms.
Ciliary IFT88 Protects Coordinated Adolescent Growth Plate Ossification From Disruptive Physiological Mechanical Forces
Authors: Coveney Clarissa R , Samvelyan Hasmik J , Miotla-Zarebska Jadwiga , Carnegie Josephine , Chang Emer , Corrin C Jonty , Coveney Trystan , Stott Bryony , Parisi Ida , Duarte Claudia , Vincent Tonia L , Staines Katherine A , Wann Angus KT
Published: January 2022

Compared with our understanding of endochondral ossification, much less is known about the coordinated arrest of growth defined by the narrowing and fusion of the cartilaginous growth plate. Throughout the musculoskeletal system, appropriate cell and tissue responses to mechanical force delineate morphogenesis and ensure lifelong health. It remains unclear how mechanical cues are integrated into many biological programs, including those coordinating the ossification of the adolescent growth plate at the cessation of growth. Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles tuning a range of cell activities, including signaling cascades activated or modulated by extracellular biophysical cues. Cilia have been proposed to directly facilitate cell mechanotransduction. To explore the influence of primary cilia in the mouse adolescent limb, we conditionally targeted the ciliary gene Intraflagellar transport protein 88 (Ift88fl/fl) in the juvenile and adolescent skeleton using a cartilage-specific, inducible Cre (AggrecanCreERT2 Ift88fl/fl). Deletion of IFT88 in cartilage, which reduced ciliation in the growth plate, disrupted chondrocyte differentiation, cartilage resorption, and mineralization. These effects were largely restricted to peripheral tibial regions beneath the load-bearing compartments of the knee. These regions were typified by an enlarged population of hypertrophic chondrocytes. Although normal patterns of hedgehog signaling were maintained, targeting IFT88 inhibited hypertrophic chondrocyte VEGF expression and downstream vascular recruitment, osteoclastic activity, and the replacement of cartilage with bone. In control mice, increases to physiological loading also impair ossification in the peripheral growth plate, mimicking the effects of IFT88 deletion. Limb immobilization inhibited changes to VEGF expression and epiphyseal morphology in Ift88cKO mice, indicating the effects of depletion of IFT88 in the adolescent growth plate are mechano-dependent. We propose that during this pivotal phase in adolescent skeletal maturation, ciliary IFT88 protects uniform, coordinated ossification of the growth plate from an otherwise disruptive heterogeneity of physiological mechanical forces. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Saturated and Unsaturated Bone Marrow Lipids Have Distinct Effects on Bone Density and Fracture Risk in Older Adults
Authors: Woods Gina N. , Ewing Susan K. , Schafer Anne L. , Gudnason Vilmundur , Sigurdsson Sigurdur , Lang Thomas , Hue Trisha F. , Kado Deborah M. , Vittinghoff Eric , Rosen Clifford , Li Xiaojuan , Schwartz Ann V.
Published: January 2022

Greater bone marrow adiposity (BMAT) is associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral fractures; less is known about BMAT composition and bone. We studied BMAT composition and bone outcomes in 465 participants from the Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility (AGES)-Reykjavik study. BMAT saturation and unsaturation, measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy, were defined as the ratio of saturated (1.3 ppm peak) or unsaturated (5.3 ppm peak) lipid to total marrow contents, respectively. At baseline and follow-up visits, spine and hip BMD were assessed with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and vertebral fractures were identified with DXA. Incident clinical fractures were identified through medical records for up to 8.8 years of follow-up. Associations between BMAT composition and BMD, bone loss, and fractures were evaluated in adjusted regression models. At baseline, mean ± standard deviation (SD) participant age was 81.7 ± 4.3 years, mean BMAT unsaturation was 3.5% ± 1.0%, and mean saturation was 46.3% ± 7.2% in the full cohort (47.7% women). Each SD increase in BMAT saturation was associated with lower trabecular BMD: −23.6% (spine) and −13.0% (total hip) (all p < 0.0001). Conversely, BMAT unsaturation (per SD increase) was associated with higher trabecular BMD: +17.5% (spine) and +11.5% (total hip) (all p < 0.001). BMAT saturation (per SD increase) was associated with greater risk for prevalent (odds ratio [OR] 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11–1.92) and incident (OR 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03–2.34) vertebral fracture. BMAT unsaturation (per SD increase) was associated with lower risk for incident vertebral fracture (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38–0.89). In gender stratified analyses, BMAT saturation and unsaturation had opposite associations with incident clinical fracture among men. In general, saturated marrow lipids were associated with worse skeletal outcomes, whereas unsaturated lipids were associated with better outcomes. We recommend that future studies of marrow fat and skeletal health report measurements of saturated and unsaturated marrow lipids, rather than total marrow fat content alone. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Integrative multiomics and in silico analysis revealed the role of ARHGEF1 and its screened antagonist in mild and severe COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Jha Prakash , Singh Prithvi , Arora Shweta , Sultan Armiya , Nayek Arnab , Ponnusamy Kalaiarasan , Syed Mansoor Ali , Dohare Ravins , Chopra Madhu
Published: January 2022

COVID‐19 is a sneaking deadly disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). The rapid increase in the number of infected patients worldwide enhances the exigency for medicines. However, precise therapeutic drugs are not available for COVID‐19; thus, exhaustive research is critically required to unscramble the pathogenic tools and probable therapeutic targets for the development of effective therapy. This study utilizes a chemogenomics strategy, including computational tools for the identification of viral‐associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and molecular docking of potential chemical compounds available in antiviral, anticancer, and natural product‐based libraries against these DEGs. We scrutinized the messenger RNA expression profile of SARS‐CoV‐2 patients, publicly available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information–Gene Expression Omnibus database, stratified them into different groups based on the severity of infection, superseded by identification of overlapping mild and severe infectious (MSI)‐DEGs. The profoundly expressed MSI‐DEGs were then subjected to trait‐linked weighted co‐expression network construction and hub module detection. The hub module MSI‐DEGs were then exposed to enrichment (gene ontology + pathway) and protein–protein interaction network analyses where Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (ARHGEF1) gene conjectured in all groups and could be a probable target of therapy. Finally, we used the molecular docking and molecular dynamics method to identify inherent hits against the ARHGEF1 gene from antiviral, anticancer, and natural product‐based libraries. Although the study has an identified significant association of the ARHGEF1 gene in COVID19; and probable compounds targeting it, using in silico methods, these targets need to be validated by both in vitro and in vivo methods to effectively determine their therapeutic efficacy against the devastating virus.
Career motivation and satisfaction of dental hygiene students in associate versus bachelor degree programs: A national survey
Authors: Rabeeah Zainulabdeen , Carreno Jocelid G. , Kinney Janet S. , Inglehart Marita R.
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Entry‐level dental hygiene programs give associate (AD) and bachelor degrees (BD). The objectives were to compare how AD versus BD students differ in career‐related role models and information sources, career motivations, and satisfaction and to explore the relationships between career motivations and satisfaction.

Methods

Two hundred seventy‐one students in AD and 269 students in BD programs responded to a survey.

Results

AD students were older than BD students (26.71/23.6; p < 0.001). Both groups were most likely to name a nurse/dental hygienist (37.6%/37.3%) as role models in their families, were likely to have shadowed a dental hygienist (77.6%/75.0%), and had talked to a health professional (27.7%/23.7%) prior to program application. BD students decided earlier to become dental hygienists (17.20/19.97 years; p < 0.001) and were less likely to have been dental assistants before than AD students (28.3%/36.9%; p = 0.034). Both groups agreed strongly that they wanted to become dental hygienists to help patients (5‐point scale with 5 = agree strongly: 4.88/4.86), make a difference in the life of patients (4.88/4.86) and because it is a flexible career (4.83/4.80). Open‐ended responses showed that 62.4% of AD students compared to 35.3% of BD students choose their career because of lifestyle considerations (p < 0.001), while 47.2% of BD students versus 38.0% of AD students wanted to work in the healthcare field (p < 0.001). Both groups had high job satisfaction (3‐point scale: 2.94/2.97). For AD students, job satisfaction correlated with wanting to help patients (r = 0.49; p < 0.01) and with making a difference in the life of patients (r = 0.52; p < 0.001). For BD students, wanting to work in a team (r = 0.34; p < 0.001) and having a dentist in the family (r = 0.32; p < 0.001) correlated with job satisfaction.

Conclusions

Dental hygiene students in AD versus BD programs differ in the factors that are associated with job satisfaction. Dental hygiene educators can utilize these findings when recruiting future students. The findings related to motivational determinants of job satisfaction can guide educational efforts.
Evolving approaches to prenatal genetic counseling for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the new treatment era
Authors: Zettler Bethany , Estrella Elicia , Liaquat Khalida , Lichten Lauren
Published: January 2022

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy with usually typical cognition. The first disease‐modifying therapy for SMA, nusinersen, was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2016 and leads to improved outcomes, especially when administered presymptomatically. Population‐wide carrier screening and newborn screening (NBS) are now recommended by several professional organizations to promote reproductive autonomy, early diagnosis, and treatment. Prenatal genetic counselors (GCs) are important providers of the SMA screening and diagnosis process, but the possible impact of nusinersen on their practice has not been explored. A survey of 182 prenatal GCs in the United States (US) assessed baseline knowledge of nusinersen and likelihood of discussing this option with prospective parents. The majority of GCs (94.5%) were aware of this drug, and almost all (87.3%) felt that this information would affect pregnancy management decisions. However, less than half of GCs (49.2%) felt confident discussing nusinersen, 45.1% were unaware if this treatment was available in their practice setting, and one in five (19.3%) did not know where to find information about SMA treatments. Participants were more confident and knowledgeable about NBS for SMA, and several indicated that NBS would reduce their emphasis on carrier screening and diagnostic testing, not recognizing that an early prenatal diagnosis can enable preparations for complex, time‐sensitive treatment. Only 5.0% of participants felt that a prenatal GC should discuss nusinersen with prospective parents. However, encouragingly, nearly all GCs who felt confident discussing this treatment option (86.4%) reported using this information weekly in their real‐world practice. These data highlight an opportunity to provide up‐to‐date education about SMA treatments, as well as the significant impacts of early diagnosis. Additionally, interdisciplinary communication and care may be appropriate to clarify healthcare resources available and support a variety of patient needs. Increasing awareness and confidence about available options can help prenatal GCs empower patient autonomy and shared decision‐making in the new era of disease‐modifying treatment for SMA.
Circ_0006006 facilitates non‐small cell lung cancer progression by modulating miR‐924/SRSF7 axis
Authors: Xu Qinfu , Shi Jiang , Zhang Long , Sheng Yanbing , Zhang Yang , Chu Dan , Xu Aiguo
Published: January 2022

Background

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an aggressive tumor with high mortality. Circular RNAs played crucial roles in the development of cancers, including NSCLC. In the present study, the action of circ_0006006 in NSCLC was investigated.

Methods

Using a real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the relative gene expression was detected. The structure of circ_0006006 was identified using RNase R digestion and actinomycin D treatment. The functional role of circ_0006006 in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and angiogenesis was explored using cell counting kit‐8, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, colony formation, wound healing, transwell, flow cytometry and tube formation assays, respectively. Using western blotting, the relative proteins expression was measured. Dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were employed to verify the correlation between microRNA‐924 (miR‐924) and circ_0006006 or serine/arginine‐rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7). Xenograft tumor experiment was used to investigate the effect of circ_0006006 on tumor growth in vivo. An immunohistochemistry assay was performed to detect Ki‐67, Bax, Bcl‐2 and SRSF7 expression in tissues of mice.

Results

Circ_0006006 was increased in NSCLC tissues and cells. Loss‐of‐function assays demonstrated that circ_0006006 silencing repressed proliferative ability, cell migration and invasion, and angiogenesis, as well as promoted cell apoptosis, in A549 and H1299 cells. Follow‐up mechanism experiments depicted that circ_0006006 sponged miR‐924 and miR‐924 inhibitor rescued the circ_0006006 knockdown‐mediated inhibition effect on the progression of NSCLC. Additionally, the inhibition effect of circ_0006006 knockdown on SRSF7 expression was reversed by miR‐924 inhibitor. Moreover, the suppressive effect of miR‐924 on NSCLC progression was reversed by SRSF7 overexpression. Xenograft tumor experiment unveiled that circ_0006006 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusions

Circ_0006006 stimulated NSCLC progression by targeting miR‐924 to regulate SRSF7 expression.
Organization of dermal glands and characteristic of secretion in the freshwater mite, Limnesia maculata (O. F. Müller, 1776) (Acariformes, Limnesiidae)
Authors: Shatrov Andrey B. , Soldatenko Elena V.
Published: January 2022

The presence of dermal glands is a synapomorphy in the freshwater mites—the large branch of the hyporder Parasitengonina. Dermal glands of the mite Limnesia maculata (O. F. Müller, 1776) (Acariformes, Limnesiidae) were studied using light and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) for the first time. Two types of dermal glands were recognized in adult mites—14 pairs of the uniformly organized common dermal glands scattered throughout the entire body volume, and one pair of the characteristic so‐called idiosomal dermal glands centrally located and stretched along the ventral body wall, supposedly corresponding to the epimeroglandularia 4. The common dermal glands are composed of a single large alveolus with the basally located columnar epithelium. An intra‐alveolar lumen is positioned above the epithelium and packed with a secretion in the form of long curved electron‐dense bands. These bands are directed to the excretory opening and released to the outside in the form of strongly coiled bands. The cytoplasm of the common dermal glands is filled with short RER cisterns and shows few characteristic Golgi bodies with round dense secretory granules at the distal pole. In contrast, a large elongated sac represents the idiosomal dermal glands having a relatively thin secretory epithelium on the periphery. The cuboidal epithelial cells contain areas with tightly packed RER cisterns and weakly recognized Golgi bodies. The apical cell surface bears irregular short microvilli. The large intra‐alveolar lumen always contains an electron‐dense secretion with myriads of small lighter particles. This kind of secretion was never seen released through the opening. The excretory opening of the common and the idiosomal dermal glands shows differences in its organization but basically is represented by a cuticular “bell” narrowing to the opening and showing a particular kind of valves at the inner side of the flaps of the orifice.
Flavor components in tobacco capsules identified through non‐targeted quantitative analysis
Authors: Lim Hyun‐Hee , Choi Kyeong‐Yun , Shin Ho‐Sang
Published: January 2022

Tobacco flavors increase the attractiveness of a tobacco brand and ultimately promote addiction. Information about what flavor and how much flavor is in flavor capsules can provide an effective way to regulate tobacco flavor. In this study, 128 flavor chemicals were identified and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using libraries and authentic standards. Validation of the developed method was performed for interference, detection limits, calibration curves, accuracy, and precision. Menthol was the main ingredient in all capsules, and the carcinogenic pulegone was detected. Detected menthofuran, benzyl alcohol, geraniol, and eugenol cause toxic or severe irritation, and detected lactones can increase nicotine addiction by inhibiting nicotine metabolism in smokers. Margin of exposures for carcinogenic pulegone and non‐carcinogenic menthol were well below safety thresholds, indicating a significant risk of inhalation exposure. It is desirable to prohibit the use of flavor capsules in consideration of human risk.
Memory polynomial based support vector regression dynamic behavioral model for Doherty power amplifiers
Authors: Wang Shijie , King Justin , Cai Jialin
Published: January 2022

In this article, a novel behavior modeling methodology for radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers (PAs) is introduced. The model is targeted towards strongly nonlinear Doherty power amplifiers (DPAs), combining the memory polynomial (MP) topology with the existing support vector regression (SVR) algorithm. The resulting novel model, is termed the memory polynomial support vector regression (MP‐SVR) model. Experimental validation proceeds by applying the proposed modeling method to both two standard gallium nitride (GaN) DPA with different nonlinearity, as well as a multi‐transistor GaN DPA. Compared with traditional Volterra based models, the standard SVR model, the augmented SVR (ASVR) model and the new augmented SVR (NASVR) model, the proposed MP‐SVR model gives superior prediction accuracy in both cases. This shows the efficacy of the proposed modeling method.
Projections of changes in maximum air temperature and hot days in Poland
Authors: Tomczyk Arkadiusz Marek , Piniewski Mikołaj , Eini Mohammad Reza , Bednorz Ewa
Published: January 2022

The aim of the study was to determine changes in maximum air temperature (Tmax) in summer, and occurrence of hot days in the period 1966–2020, as well as to forecast the direction and rate of changes in near and far future. The research showed an increase in Tmax in the summer season. In the analysed period, the changes intensified over the last 20 years, as suggested by, among others, the occurrence of the 10 warmest years in the study period, mostly after 2000. According to model projections, an increase in Tmax will be recorded both in the near and far future. The consequence of the current increase in Tmax has been an increase in the frequency of hot days. Further increase in the number of hot days in Poland is projected for the upcoming decades. The smallest changes are projected for areas with most intensive changes in Tmax, and the largest in areas with moderate changes in the Tmax.
Extreme Indian Ocean dipole and rainfall variability over Central Africa
Authors: Moihamette Foupouapegnigni , Pokam Wilfried Mba , Diallo Ismaila , Washington Richard
Published: January 2022

Using both observational and reanalysis datasets, this study examines the influence of extreme Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events on Central Africa (CA) rainfall from September to December over the period 1980–2016. It is shown that during extreme positive IOD events (hereafter pIOD), CA experiences enhanced moisture supply from the Indian Ocean that results in increased rainfall while the opposite process is recorded during the negative phase (hereafter nIOD), with the magnitude of pIOD events anomalies stronger than those of nIOD events. Furthermore, the inflow is strongest in the lower troposphere over the ocean while it is strongest in the mid‐troposphere over CA because much of the lower‐level inflow is blocked by the topography to the east of CA. The intensification of mid‐tropospheric moisture transport over CA is associated with the African Easterly Jet which is present during these months. From 1980 to 2016 the IOD and the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) showed a strong positive relationship so that extreme pIOD (nIOD) are mostly coincident with El Niño (La Niña). To assess the possible role of non‐ENSO influences on the IOD influence over CA, the linear relationship between the Niño‐3.4 and dipole mode index (DMI) was removed from the DMI. It appears that the influence of the pIOD on CA rainfall is significant with the non‐El Niño effect and this is characterized by an increase in moisture advection toward CA that contributes to an enhancement of rainfall intensity. However, the IOD seems to contribute strongly to the rainfall variability in the CA regions south of 5°N, especially over the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and over the area from Gabon to the Republic of Congo where about 20–32% of the total rainfall variance is associated with the IOD independently of ENSO from November to December.
Reducing the refuge effect: using private‐land hunting to mitigate issues with hunter access
Authors: Sergeyev Maksim , McMillan Brock R. , Hall Lucas K. , Hersey Kent R. , Jones Covy D. , Larsen Randy T.
Published: January 2022

Hunting pressure alters the spatial ecology of many ungulate species. During hunting periods, game species often select areas that have reduced hunter accessibility by increasing use of forest cover, remaining farther from roads, or moving to private land as a means of refuge. Our objectives were to determine if elk (Cervus canadensis) in central Utah, USA, shifted distribution towards areas of refuge (private land) in response to hunting and whether allocating hunting permits to refuge areas could reduce selection of refugia by elk. We captured 445 elk between January 2015 and March 2017 on the Wasatch Front in central Utah and fitted each individual with a global positioning system collar. We used logistic regression models and Bayesian change point analyses to determine differences in daily use of public land in response to the addition of private‐land hunting. We detected shifts in elk distribution at the beginning of the archery hunting season and during the rifle season, suggesting elk selected for private land as refuge from hunters. At the conclusion of the hunting season, we detected a shift back to public land. The addition of private‐land hunting increased use of public land by elk during the rifle season (from 29% in 2015 to 41% in 2016). Our results show that the distribution of elk across a matrix of public and private land can be influenced by manipulating hunting pressure. Hunter access, the ability of hunters to access target game species, can be a concern in areas with private‐land refuges. This can be particularly problematic when management strategies rely on hunter harvest to maintain population objectives; however, this problem can be mitigated by the introduction of hunting on private lands, if landowners provide hunter access.
Estimating allowable take for an increasing bald eagle population in the United States
Authors: Zimmerman Guthrie S. , Millsap Brian A. , Abadi Fitsum , Gedir Jay V. , Kendall William L. , Sauer John R.
Published: January 2022

Effectively managing take of wildlife resulting from human activities poses a major challenge for applied conservation. Demographic data essential to decisions regarding take are often expensive to collect and are either not available or based on limited studies for many species. Therefore, modeling approaches that efficiently integrate available information are important to improving the scientific basis for sustainable take thresholds. We used the prescribed take level (PTL) framework to estimate allowable take for bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) in the conterminous United States. We developed an integrated population model (IPM) that incorporates multiple sources of information and then use the model output as the scientific basis for components of the PTL framework. Our IPM is structured to identify key parameters needed for the PTL and to quantify uncertainties in those parameters at the scale at which the United States Fish and Wildlife Service manages take. Our IPM indicated that mean survival of birds >1 year old was high and precise (0.91, 95% CI = 0.90–0.92), whereas mean survival of first‐year eagles was lower and more variable (0.69, 95% CI = 0.62–0.78). We assumed that density dependence influenced recruitment by affecting the probability of breeding, which was highly imprecise and estimated to have declined from approximately 0.988 (95% CI = 0.985–0.993) to 0.66 (95% CI = 0.34–0.99) between 1994 and 2018. We sampled values from the posterior distributions of the IPM for use in the PTL and estimated that allowable take (e.g., permitted take for energy development, incidental collisions with human made structures, or removal of nests for development) ranged from approximately 12,000 to 20,000 individual eagles depending on risk tolerance and form of density dependence at the scale of the conterminous United States excluding the Southwest. Model‐based thresholds for allowable take can be inaccurate if the assumptions of the underlying framework are not met, if the influence of permitted take is under‐estimated, or if undetected population declines occur from other sources. Continued monitoring and use of the IPM and PTL frameworks to identify key uncertainties in bald eagle population dynamics and management of allowable take can mitigate this potential bias, especially where improved information could reduce the risk of permitting non‐sustainable take.
Effects of Carbonation on Swallowing: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Nagano Ayano , Maeda Keisuke , Shimizu Akio , Murotani Kenta , Mori Naoharu
Published: January 2022

Objectives

The effectiveness of the use of carbonation in preventing penetration/aspiration or enhancing swallowing function in adults remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of carbonation on improving swallowing function in adult subjects.

Methods

Literature published before March 2021 was inspected using MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, The Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Ichushi‐web databases. We searched for intervention studies or randomized control trials considering the effects of carbonated liquids on swallowing function. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool for assessing the risk of bias for randomized controlled trials and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies.

Results

The systematic review identified 19 studies with a total of 586 participants. The effects of carbonation on swallowing function are diverse. Overall, most studies showed that carbonation promotes swallowing function compared to other liquids. Five studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Meta‐analysis showed that carbonated liquids prevent aspiration (risk difference [RD] −0.27%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.44 to −0.10; I2 = 0%; number needed to treat 3.8, 95% CI 2.2 to 15.0; moderate quality of evidence) when compared to noncarbonated thin liquids. Carbonated liquids also increased the duration of swallowing apnea than did noncarbonated liquids (standardized mean difference 0.25 (mean difference 0.36 seconds), 95% CI 0.03 to 0.47; I2 = 0%; low quality of evidence).

Conclusions

Carbonation had favorable effects on swallowing function. Further in‐depth studies are needed to clarify the benefits of carbonation.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 132:1924–1933, 2022
Effect ofElymus nutans on the assemblage of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities enhanced by soil available nitrogen in the restoration succession of revegetated grassland on theQinghai‐TibetanPlateau
Authors: Shi Guoxi , Yang Yue , Liu Yongjun , Uwamungu Jean Yves , Liu Yanmei , Wang Yibo , Feng Huyuan , Yao Buqing , Zhou Huakun
Published: January 2022

The succession of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities during ecosystem development has received widespread attention, but the ecological mechanism that drives the succession of AMF communities during the restoration process in alpine meadow ecosystems remains unclear. Here, we treated ‘Black Beach’ (severely degraded alpine meadow) as the baseline for restoration (0 year), and selected the revegetated grassland ofElymus nutanswith different planting times (3, 7, 10, and 14 years) to analyze the species composition of the AMF community in mixed roots (at the whole‐plant‐community scale) and inE. nutansroots (at the single‐plant‐species scale). A total of 46 AMF phylotypes (mixed roots: 44;E. nutansroots: 46) were identified in both root systems, predominantly belonging to Glomeraceae. AMF species richness showed a single‐peak curve change across the restoration time and reached its peak at 3 years in both root systems. In mixed roots, the soil available nitrogen not only directly changed the AMF species composition but also indirectly changed the AMF species composition through plant richness. In theE. nutansroots, only the soil available nitrogen drove changes in AMF species composition through changes in plant richness. Our results indicate thatE. nutans, a key species in the restoration process of revegetated grassland, can enhance its regulation to assemble the AMF community through soil available nitrogen at the two research scales, suggesting that the scientific management of soil nitrogen availability during restoration succession could strengthen the mutual symbiosis of ‘plant‐AMF,’ thereby retarding the occurrence of secondary degradation of revegetated grassland.
SARS‐CoV‐2 triggered oxidative stress and abnormal energy metabolism in gut microbiota
Authors: Zhou Tuoyu , Wu Jingyuan , Zeng Yufei , Li Junfeng , Yan Jun , Meng Wenbo , Han Huawen , Feng Fengya , He Jufang , Zhao Shuai , Zhou Ping , Wu Ying , Yang Yanlin , Han Rong , Jin Weilin , Li Xun , Yang Yunfeng , Li Xiangkai
Published: January 2022

Specific roles of gut microbes in COVID‐19 progression are critical. However, the circumstantial mechanism remains elusive. In this study, shotgun metagenomic or metatranscriptomic sequencing was performed on fecal samples collected from 13 COVID‐19 patients and controls. We analyzed the structure of gut microbiota, identified the characteristic bacteria, and selected biomarkers. Further, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotations were employed to correlate the taxon alterations and corresponding functions. The gut microbiota of COVID‐19 patients was characterized by the enrichment of opportunistic pathogens and depletion of commensals. The abundance of Bacteroides spp. displayed an inverse relationship with COVID‐19 severity, whereas Actinomyces oris, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus parasanguini were positively correlated with disease severity. The genes encoding oxidoreductase were significantly enriched in gut microbiome of COVID‐19 group. KEGG annotation indicated that the expression of ABC transporter was upregulated, while the synthesis pathway of butyrate was aberrantly reduced. Furthermore, increased metabolism of lipopolysaccharide, polyketide sugar, sphingolipids, and neutral amino acids were found. These results suggested the gut microbiome of COVID‐19 patients was in a state of oxidative stress. Healthy gut microbiota may enhance antiviral defenses via butyrate metabolism, whereas the accumulation of opportunistic and inflammatory bacteria may exacerbate COVID‐19 progression.
Positive acetylcholine receptor antibody in nonmyasthenic patients
Authors: Sun Fang , Tavella‐Burka Sabrina , Li Jianbo , Li Yuebing
Published: January 2022

Introduction/Aims

In this study we aimed to determine the frequency of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) binding antibody positivity via neuroautoimmunity panel testing, and describe its occurrence in a group of nonmyasthenic disorders.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent neuroautoimmunity antibody panel testing from 2010 to 2018 at the Cleveland Clinic.

Results

A total of 10 855 patients received neuroautoimmunity antibody panel testing, and 224 (2.1%) patients were positive for AChR binding antibody. Fifty‐eight patients with a known myasthenia gravis (MG) diagnosis and 11 patients with incomplete follow‐up were excluded. Among the remaining 155 patients, 30 had newly diagnosed MG and 125 were nonmyasthenic. In 35 patients, MG was within the initial differential diagnosis based on the clinical presentation. In contrast to nonmyasthenic patients, myasthenic patients were more likely to have an initial clinical presentation raising suspicion for MG (73.3% vs 10.4%, P < .001), higher mean AChR binding antibody titer (8.2 ± 15.6 vs 0.4 ± 1.6 nmol/L, P = .011), and higher frequency of abnormal AChR modulating antibody (89.3% vs 23.9%, P < .001). A combination of AChR binding antibody of >0.5 nmol/L and modulating antibody of over 20% in patients with clinical suspicion of MG is virtually diagnostic of MG. A total of 31 (24.8%) nonmyasthenic patients carried coexisting autoimmune conditions.

Discussion

Elevated titers of AChR binding antibody can sometimes be found in nonmyasthenic patients. Combined analysis of clinical presentation, AChR binding antibody titer, and AChR‐modulating antibody results can be helpful in confirming an MG diagnosis.