bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasma syndecan‐1 concentration as a biomarker for endothelial glycocalyx degradation in septic adult horses
Authors: Hobbs Kallie J. , Johnson Philip J. , Wiedmeyer Charles E. , Schultz Loren , Foote Christopher A.
Published: July 2022

Background

Limited information is available regarding endothelial glycocalyx degradation during sepsis in horses. Plasma syndecan‐1 concentrations are increased in consequence of sepsis in other species and have been useful for prognostication.

Objectives

To determine whether plasma syndecan‐1 levels are increased in adult horses affected with sepsis.

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Adult horses were assigned to one of three groups based on results of physical and laboratory examinations, clinical diagnosis, and results of previously described SIRS classification: Group 1 horses included healthy, nonseptic horses; Group 2 included horses in which clinical illness was identified but that were not considered to be septic; Group 3 included horses with a clinical diagnosis of sepsis. Plasma syndecan‐1 concentration was determined in blood obtained at admission into the hospital for each horse, using an equine specific ELISA. Data were analysed using ANOVA and linear regression (p ≤ 0.05).

Results

One hundred and ninety‐one horses were included and divided into three groups. Scores for SIRS were highest for Group 3 horses and lowest in Groups 1 and 2. Plasma syndecan‐1 concentrations in Group 3 horses (50.73 ± 84.24 μg/ml; n = 42) were greater than those for Group 1 (15.69 ± 11.28 μg/ml; n = 66) and Group 2 (16.88 ± 15.30 μg/ml; n = 83). There was no difference regarding syndecan concentrations between Groups 1 and 2.

Main limitations

Retrospective study design, solitary time point of measurement for each patient, and lack of a widely accepted consensus regarding definitive diagnosis of sepsis in adult horses.

Conclusions

Circulating plasma levels of syndecan‐1, a biochemical marker of endothelial glycocalyx damage, are increased in septic adult horses.
Soil seed bank responses to edge effects in temperate European forests
Authors: Gasperini Cristina , Bollmann Kurt , Brunet Jörg , Cousins Sara A. O. , Decocq Guillaume , De Pauw Karen , Diekmann Martin , Govaert Sanne , Graae Bente J. , Hedwall Per‐Ola , Iacopetti Giovanni , Lenoir Jonathan , Lindmo Sigrid , Meeussen Camille , Orczewska Anna , Ponette Quentin , Plue Jan , Sanczuk Pieter , Spicher Fabien , Vanneste Thomas , Vangansbeke Pieter , Zellweger Florian , Selvi Federico , Frenne Pieter De
Published: July 2022

Aim

The amount of forest edges is increasing globally due to forest fragmentation and land‐use changes. However, edge effects on the soil seed bank of temperate forests are still poorly understood. Here, we assessed edge effects at contrasting spatial scales across Europe and quantified the extent to which edges can preserve the seeds of forest specialist plants.

Location

Temperate European deciduous forests along a 2,300‐km latitudinal gradient.

Time period

2018–2021.

Major taxa studied

Vascular plants.

Methods

Through a greenhouse germination experiment, we studied how edge effects alter the density, diversity, composition and functionality of forest soil seed banks in 90 plots along different latitudes, elevations and forest management types. We also assessed which environmental conditions drive the seed bank responses at the forest edge versus interior and looked at the relationship between the seed bank and the herb layer species richness.

Results

Overall, 10,108 seedlings of 250 species emerged from the soil seed bank. Seed density and species richness of generalists (species not only associated with forests) were higher at edges compared to interiors, with a negative influence of C : N ratio and litter quality. Conversely, forest specialist species richness did not decline from the interior to the edge. Also, edges were compositionally, but not functionally, different from interiors. The correlation between the seed bank and the herb layer species richness was positive and affected by microclimate.

Main conclusions

Our results underpin how edge effects shape species diversity and composition of soil seed banks in ancient forests, especially increasing the proportion of generalist species and thus potentially favouring a shift in community composition. However, the presence of many forest specialists suggests that soil seed banks still play a key role in understorey species persistence and could support the resilience of our fragmented forests.
Formation of multiple flagella caused by a mutation of the flagellar rotor protein FliM in Vibrio alginolyticus
Authors: Homma Michio , Takekawa Norihiro , Fujiwara Kazushi , Hao Yuxi , Onoue Yasuhiro , Kojima Seiji
Published: July 2022

Marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus forms a single flagellum at a cell pole. In Vibrio, two proteins (GTPase FlhF and ATPase FlhG) regulate the number of flagella. We previously isolated the NMB155 mutant that forms multiple flagella despite the absence of mutations in flhF and flhG. Whole‐genome sequencing of NMB155 identified an E9K mutation in FliM that is a component of C‐ring in the flagellar rotor. Mutations in FliM result in defects in flagellar formation (fla) and flagellar rotation (che or mot); however, there are a few reports indicating that FliM mutations increase the number of flagella. Here, we determined that the E9K mutation confers the multi‐flagellar phenotype and also the che phenotype. The co‐expression of wild‐type FliM and FliM‐E9K indicated that they were competitive in regard to determining the flagellar number. The ATPase activity of FlhG has been correlated with the number of flagella. We observed that the ATPase activity of FlhG was increased by the addition of FliM but not by the addition of FliM‐E9K in vitro. This indicates that FliM interacts with FlhG to increase its ATPase activity, and the E9K mutation may inhibit this interaction. FliM may control the ATPase activity of FlhG to properly regulate the number of the polar flagellum at the cell pole.
Multistage zircon growth recording polyphase metamorphic evolution caused by pulsed granitoid intrusions into a low‐P/T type metamorphic belt: P–T–D–t evolution of migmatites in the Ryoke belt, southwest Japan
Authors: Kawakami Tetsuo , Ichino Tomoe , Kazuratachi Keiichi , Sakata Shuhei , Takatsuka Kota
Published: July 2022

We report contrasting pressure–temperature–time (P–T–t) paths of migmatites developed in the highest‐grade metamorphic zone (Grt–Crd zone) and the contact metamorphic zone (Crd–Kfs zone) of the Mikawa area, Ryoke belt, southwest Japan to discuss the complex P–T–D–t evolution of the middle crust that experienced pulsed granitoid intrusions. In the Grt–Crd zone, sillimanite‐grade high‐T metamorphic condition prevailed from ca. 97 to 87 Ma, followed by cooling to ~500 °C, ~4 kbar. The intrusion of gneissose granitoids below the Grt–Crd zone isobarically reheated the Grt–Crd zone rocks again to the sillimanite‐grade high‐T condition at ca. 84 Ma. This was followed by ca. 71–70 Ma contact metamorphism. Ductile deformation that formed and folded the foliation of migmatites started before ca. 89 Ma and continued at least until ca. 84 Ma in the Grt–Crd zone. On the other hand, ca. 74 Ma age of the Crd–Kfs zone migmatite developed around the Inagawa Granodiorite in addition to ca. 70 Ma age of a syn‐tectonic pegmatite vein revealed that the intrusion of “75–69 Ma granitoids” caused partial melting and locally triggered low‐strain ductile deformation in their contact aureoles. Comparison with other areas of the Ryoke belt suggests that plutono‐metamorphic evolution of the Mikawa and Aoyama areas are similar with each other in that ca. 80 Ma reheating events (i.e., contact metamorphism) are observed, while absence of separate reheating event postdating peak metamorphism in the Yanai area is a rather uncommon feature in the Ryoke belt.
Alternative in vitro models used in the main safety tests of cosmetic products and new challenges
Authors: Filaire Edith , Nachat‐Kappes Rachida , Laporte Camille , Harmand Marie‐Françoise , Simon Marina , Poinsot Christian
Published: July 2022

Background

Guided by ethical considerations and regulatory requirements such as the 7th Amendment to the European Cosmetics Directive N° 1223/2009, the cosmetic industry has developed and evaluated alternative test strategies such as in vitro assays, in silico approaches for toxicological endpoints and efficacy of cosmetic products and cosmetics ingredients. In consequence, the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has proposed a list of validated cell‐based in vitro models for predicting the safety and toxicity of cosmetic ingredients. These models have been demonstrated as valuable and effective tools to overcome the limitations of animal in vivo studies. For example, 3D human skin equivalent models are used to evaluate skin irritation potential; and excised human skin is used as the gold standard for the evaluation of dermal absorption.

Objective

This review presents, in relation to the regulatory requirements, the main alternative in vitro models used in the safety tests of cosmetic products, focusing on skin sensitization, skin corrosion, skin irritation and skin absorption, with advantages and limitations of each model. Recent innovative 3D cell technologies such as Organ‐on‐a‐Chip (OoC) models that can bring significant improvements for toxicology and efficacy testing are also presented.

Conclusion

The development of OoC technology is promising for assessing the toxicity of substances contained in cosmetics, particularly for repeated dose toxicity, for which no alternative in vitro methods are currently available. Nevertheless, aside from the challenges, the technology needs to be validated and accepted by regulatory organizations as an effective method. Collaboration between researchers, regulatory organizations and industry would be required to achieve this validation.
Multivariate analysis: An essential for studying complex glasses
Authors: Sargin Irmak , McCloy John S. , Beckman Scott P.
Published: July 2022

Understanding the impact of individual compositional components on the devitrification of complex multicomponent glasses, for example, 10–50+ oxides, typically requires numerous studies to examine each component's impact. Here we apply exploratory data analysis (EDA) to a heterogeneous data set of silicate glasses to determine the cations’ individual and interacting effects on the crystallization of nepheline (nominally NaAlSiO4). Our data consisted of 795 simulated high‐level nuclear waste glasses composed of, on average, 50 oxide components. We determine the interactions in the heterogeneous data that cause deviations from the behavior found in simplified composition studies. Using both univariate and bivariate EDA techniques, we demonstrate the importance of including calculated structural glass parameters on nepheline's devitrification, including field strength, cation‐to‐anion radius ratio, and single‐bond strength. We also show that studies with simplified glass compositions may fall short in generating knowledge directly transferrable to complex glass compositions. The method used in this study has the potential to inform experimental design for simplified compositions (∼6+ oxides) that can generate knowledge directly transferrable to complex, multivariable compositions. The observations reported here have broad implications for any study attempting to map the physical properties of a complex glass containing numerous cations.
Percutaneous jugular leadless pacemaker implantation in a pediatric patient
Authors: Kumthekar Rohan N. , Augostini Ralph S. , Kamp Anna N. , Kertesz Naomi J.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Leadless cardiac pacing has not been widely utilized in pediatric patients, in part due to concerns regarding size of the delivery sheath and the potential for vascular injury.

Methods

We present a case of leadless pacemaker implantation via internal jugular vein without a surgical cutdown.

Results

A leadless pacemaker was successfully implanted in the right ventricle via internal jugular approach in a pediatric patient with congenital heart disease.

Conclusion

This is a novel approach to leadless pacemaker implantation that could broaden the utilization of this technology to the vulnerable population of children, especially those with congenital heart disease.
Improved survival in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure undergoing catheter ablation compared to medical treatment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Romero Jorge , Gabr Mohamed , Alviz Isabella , Briceno David , Diaz Juan Carlos , Rodriguez Daniel , Patel Kavisha , Polanco Dalvert , Trivedi Chintan , Mohanty Sanghamitra , Della Rocca Domenico , Lakkireddy Dhanunjaya , Natale Andrea , Di Biase Luigi
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Increasing evidence has suggested improved outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with heart failure (HF) undergoing catheter ablation (CA) as compared to medical therapy. We sought to investigate the benefit of CA on outcomes of patients with AF and HF as compared to medical therapy.

Methods and Results

A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials was performed for clinical studies evaluating the benefit of CA for patients with AF and HF. Primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included atrial‐arrhythmia recurrence and improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Eight randomized controlled trials were included with a total of 2121 patients (mean age: 65 ± 5 years; 72% male). Mean follow‐up duration was 32.9 ± 14.5 months. All‐cause mortality in patients who underwent CA was significantly lower than in the medical treatment group (8.8% vs. 13.5%, RR 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51−0.83, p = .0005). A 35% relative risk reduction and 4.7% absolute risk reduction in all‐cause mortality was observed with CA. Rates of all‐atrial arrhythmia recurrence were significantly lower in the CA group (39.9% vs. 69.6%, RR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.40−0.76, p = .0003). Improvement in LVEF was significantly higher in patients undergoing CA (+9.4 ± 7.6%) as compared to conventional treatment (+3.3 ± 8%) (mean difference 6.2, 95% CI: 3.6−8.8, p < .00001).

Conclusion

CA for AF in patients with HF decreases all‐cause mortality, improves all‐atrial arrhythmia recurrence rate and LVEF when compared to medical management. CA should be considered the treatment of choice to improve survival in this select group of patients. Nonetheless, the benefit of CA in patients with severely reduced ejection fraction and New York Heart Association class IV HF has not been clearly elucidated.
Lead‐related infective endocarditis with vegetations: Prevalence and impact of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing transvenous lead extraction
Authors: Bontempi Luca , Arabia Gianmarco , Salghetti Francesca , Cerini Manuel , Dell'Aquila Andrea , Milidoni Antonino , Ahmed Ashraf , Cersosimo Angelica , Giacopelli Daniele , Mitacchione Gianfranco , Raweh Abdallah , Muneretto Claudio , Curnis Antonio
Published: July 2022

Introduction

The prevalence and impact of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with lead‐related infective endocarditis undergoing transvenous lead extraction (TLE) are unknown.

Methods

Twenty‐five consecutive patients with vegetations ≥10 mm at transoesophageal echocardiography were prospectively studied. Contrast‐enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) was performed before (pre‐TLE) and after (post‐TLE) the lead extraction procedure.

Results

Pre‐TLE CT identified 18 patients (72%) with subclinical PE. The size of vegetations in patients with PE did not differ significantly from those without (median 20.0 mm [interquartile range: 13.0–30.0] vs. 14.0 mm [6.0–18.0], p = 0.116). Complete TLE success was achieved in all patients with 3 (2–3) leads extracted per procedure. There were no postprocedure complications related to the presence of PE and no differences in terms of fluoroscopy time and need for advanced tools. In the group of positive pre‐TLE CT, post‐TLE scan confirmed the presence of silent PE in 14 patients (78%). There were no patients with new PE formation. Large vegetations (≥20 mm) tended to increase the risk of post‐TLE subclinical PE (odds ratio 5.99 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–38.6], p = 0.059). During a median 19.4 months follow‐up, no re‐infection of the implanted system was reported. Survival rates in patients with and without post‐TLE PE were similar (hazard ratio: 1.11 [95% CI: 0.18–6.67], p = 0.909).

Conclusion

Subclinical PE detected by CT was common in patients undergoing TLE with lead‐related infective endocarditis and vegetations but was not associated with the complexity of the procedure or adverse outcomes. TLE procedure seems safe and feasible even in patients with large vegetations.
Achievement rate and learning curve of left bundle branch capture in left bundle branch area pacing procedure performed to demonstrate output‐dependent QRS transition
Authors: Shimeno Kenji , Tamura Shota , Hayashi Yusuke , Abe Yukio , Naruko Takahiko , Fukuda Daiju
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Recently, output‐dependent QRS transition was reported to be required to confirm left bundle branch (LBB) capture in LBB area pacing (LBBAP) procedure. This study aimed to evaluate the achievement rate and the learning curve of LBB capture in LBBAP procedure performed with the goal of demonstrating output‐dependent QRS transition, and investigate predictors of LBB capture.

Methods and Results

The LBBAP procedure was performed in 126 patients with bradyarrhythmia. LBB capture was defined as a demonstration of output‐dependent QRS transition. The following pacing definitions were used for evaluation: (1) LBBAP, which met the previously reported LBBAP criteria, (2) LBB pacing (LBBP), LBB capture was confirmed, and (3) available LBBP, LBB threshold was clinically usable (<3 V at 0.4 ms). The learning curve was evaluated by division into three time‐periods. The achievement rates of LBBAP, LBBP, and available LBBP were 88.1%, 41.2%, and 35.7%, respectively. The achievement rates of all three pacing definitions significantly increased with experience (p < .01), but the achievement rate of available LBBP was still 50% in the third period. As predictors of LBB capture, the interval between LBB‐Purkinje potential and QRS onset ≥22 ms had high specificity of 98.3%, while R wave peak time in V6 < 68 ms had insufficient sensitivity of 79% and specificity of 68%.

Conclusion

Even if LBB capture was aimed in LBBAP procedure, it was not easy to achieve, and there was a clear learning curve. Much of LBBAP may be left ventricular septal pacing that does not capture LBB.
Hemodynamic response and safety of vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance in patients with permanent pacemakers or implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators
Authors: Miller Lauren , Airapetov Sergei , Pillai Ajay , Kalahasty Gautham , Ellenbogen Kenneth A. , Gregory Hundley W. , Trankle Cory R.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Vasodilator stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a powerful diagnostic modality, but data toward its use in patients with permanent pacemakers (PPMs) or implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs) is limited.

Methods and Results

Patients with ICDs (>1% pacing) or PPMs who underwent regadenoson single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and all patients with ICDs or PPMs who underwent stress CMR were retrospectively identified. SPECT tests were analyzed for hemodynamic responses and new pacing requirements; CMR studies were examined for safety, device characteristics and programming, hemodynamic responses, and image quality. Changes from baseline were evaluated with the Related‐Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Of 67 patients (median age 65 [IQR 58–72] years, 31 [46%] female, 31 [46%] Black), 47 underwent SPECT and 20 CMR. With regadenoson SPECT, 89% of patients experienced tachycardic responses above resting heart rates (+19 [13–32] beats per minute, p < .01). During stress CMR, 10 (50%) devices were asynchronously paced approximately 10 beats per minute above resting rates, and the remaining were temporarily deactivated. Those with asynchronous pacing had no changes in heart rates, whereas patients with deactivated devices had near uniform heart rate accelerations. Image quality was diagnostic in the majority of stress CMR sequences, with nonconditional ICDs contributing 40 of 57 (70%) of nondiagnostic segments.

Conclusion

This data supports the safety of vasodilator stress CMR with promising diagnostic quality images in patients with CMR conditional ICDs and PPMs. Despite a near uniform tachycardic response to regadenoson in the SPECT environment, high rates of asynchronous pacing during vasodilator stress CMR did not result in competitive pacing or adverse arrhythmic events. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and confirm the diagnostic and prognostic performance of stress CMR in these individuals.
Lymphocyte subsets and Langerhans cells in the skin of kidney transplant recipients under three different immunosuppressive regimens
Authors: Quaresma M.V. , Azevedo L.S. , Pereira N.V. , Saldanha M.G. , David‐Neto E. , Sotto M.N.
Published: July 2022

Background

Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are at increased risk of developing skin cancer; however, the role of immunosuppression is not yet fully understood. In this study, we evaluated the immunohistochemical changes in the skin of RTRs under three different immunosuppression regimens: mTOR inhibitors (mTORi), sirolimus or everolimus, mycophenolic acid (MPA) precursors such as mycophenolate sodium or mofetil, or azathioprine (AZA).

Methods

We evaluated biopsies of sun‐exposed and sun‐protected skin for immunohistochemical quantification of B lymphocytes (CD20+), T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+), and Langerhans cells (LCs) (CD1a+) in 30 RTRs and 10 healthy controls. The RTRs were divided into three groups: mTORi (n = 10), MPA (n = 10), and AZA (n = 10).

Results

No differences were observed in the number of B lymphocytes. However, a significant decrease in the number of T lymphocytes and LCs was observed in both sun‐protected and sun‐exposed skin in the AZA and MPA groups, although to a lesser degree in the latter group. The skin of the mTORi group did not differ from that of the control group in terms of the number of B and T lymphocytes and LCs.

Conclusions

Patients treated with mTORi exhibit preserved cellular elements related to cutaneous immune surveillance. The use of AZA induced a greater degree of skin immunosuppression than in the control group, as demonstrated by the decrease in T lymphocytes and LCs.
Exploring the most visible websites on cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma—revealing limited quality of patient health information on the internet
Authors: Özistanbullu D. , Weber R. , Kleemann J. , Jäger M. , Kippenberger S. , Kaufmann R. , Meissner M.
Published: July 2022

Background

Patients diagnosed with cancer frequently search the Internet for health information. Yet, the quality of CTCL online information has not been investigated so far.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify and assess the most visible websites on CTCL.

Methods

An Internet search on the top three search engines Google, Yahoo and Bing was performed for the terms ‘cutaneous T‐cell‐lymphoma’, ‘mycosis fungoides’ and ‘Sézary syndrome’. After selecting the most frequented websites suitable for patients' information, we investigated content quality, readability and popularity. Eighty‐nine websites were evaluated for HONcode quality certification, social media popularity, Alexa popularity rank, topicality and readability levels. Furthermore, the websites' content on 13 major topics according to guidelines on CTCL was assessed.

Results

Twenty‐three (25.8%) websites were HONcode certified. Evaluated websites were difficult to read requiring at least 9 years of US school education to properly understand the information. More than half of all websites (57.3%) have not been updated for three or more years (or did not contain any update information). We found greatly varying quality and popularity of online patient information. Out of 1157 topics (equivalent to 13 different topics on 89 websites), 59.44% were mentioned on the websites. Of these, 40% contained incorrect or incomplete information. Publicly provided websites presented the different topics more thoroughly. We could further show that HONcode certified websites received better quality and readability scores.

Conclusions

We found major shortcomings regarding readability, completeness and reliability of websites on CTCL. Nevertheless, highly selected websites on CTCL can serve as a valuable and reliable source of patient information. As a consequence, oncologists have an obligation to be aware of and guide their patients to available websites that contain reliable and appropriate information.
Compound variants of FKTN, POMGNT1, and LAMB1 gene identified by prenatal whole‐exome sequencing in three fetuses with congenital hydrocephalus
Authors: Li Meng , Fu Huayu , Li Jiao , Meng Dahua , Zhang Qiang , Fei Dongmei
Published: July 2022

Congenital hydrocephalus (CH) is a severe birth defect, and genetics components is an important etiology. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) has been proven to be a feasible approach for prenatal diagnosis of CH. In this study, we carried out WES on three fetuses with cerebral ventriculomegaly. After bioinformation analysis and data filtering, three compound variants, c.919C>T(p.Arg307Ter)/c.1100del(p.Phe369fs) in FKTN, c.1449_1450insACAACG/c.1490G>C(p.Arg497Pro) in POMGNT1, and c.2690+1G>A/c.1447C>T(p.Arg483Cys) in LAMB1 were detected in the three fetuses. All the six variants were classified as likely pathogenic or pathogenic in accordance with the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics‐Association for Molecular Pathology guidelines. This study provides support for the potential of WES for the accurate prenatal diagnosis of fetal hydrocephalus and further demonstrated the genetic heterogeneity in patients with CH. The novel variants (c.1449_1450insACAACG and c.1490G>C in POMGNT1, c.2690+1G>A in LAMB1) expanded the gene mutational spectrum of CH and contributes to genetics counseling and pregnancy management.
How Social Structures Influence the Labour Market Participation of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Bourdieusian Perspective
Authors: Hennekam Sophie , Richard Sarah , Özbilgin Mustafa
Published: July 2022

Adopting a Bourdieusian perspective, this paper examines the social structures that influence the labour market participation of individuals with mental illness. We draw on 257 qualitative surveys completed by individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions in Europe, North America, Oceania, Africa, and Asia. We employed thematic analysis to analyse the data. The findings reveal that the interplay of capital endowments, symbolic violence, habitus and illusio shape the labour market participation of individuals with mental illness. Capital endowments of individuals with mental illness are afforded less value in the labour market and these individuals internalize, legitimize and normalize their disadvantaged position, blaming themselves rather than questioning the social structures leading to the challenges they encounter. We highlight that social structures condition the opinion these individuals have of themselves and how this affects how they navigate the labour market. In sum, we show that Bourdieu's concepts provide a useful lens to study inequalities in the labour market, as they reveal the social structures that produce, sustain and reinforce the social order that disadvantages individuals with mental illness.
Effect of masseter muscle mass on the rate of experimental tooth movement in rats
Authors: Arizono‐Shimada Keira , Hotokezaka Hitoshi , Morita Yukiko , Ino‐Kondo Airi , Ueda‐Ichinose Yuika , Nashiro Yukako , Hotokezaka Yuka , Yoshimi Keiko , Kiliaridis Stavros , Yoshida Noriaki
Published: July 2022

Background

Previous clinical observational studies have suggested that orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is related, at least partly, to the mass and/or capabilities of the masticatory muscles.

Objectives

Our study aimed to examine the influence of masticatory muscle mass on the OTM in an animal experimental model in which the masseter muscle was modulated by botulinum neurotoxin type A (BTX) injection.

Methods

Eighteen Wistar rats were equally divided into two groups: BTX injection and control. BTX was injected bilaterally into the masseter muscles. Three days after the injection, the maxillary left first molars were orthodontically moved for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, micro‐computed tomography was performed to evaluate the rate of OTM and bone morphometry. The masseter muscles were weighed and prepared for histological analyses.

Results

The masseter muscle mass in the BTX group was less than that in the control group, and histological findings showed atrophy of muscle fibres. The rate of OTM was significantly higher in the BTX group than in the control group. Furthermore, a negative correlation was detected between masseter muscle mass and OTM in the BTX group. Bone morphometry showed no difference between the control and BTX groups.

Conclusion

Decreased masseter muscle mass was found to be closely related to an increase in the rate of OTM in rats using BTX injection to modify the masseter muscle mass. Masseter muscle mass could be a predictive factor for OTM in rats injected with BTX.
From Play to Language: Infants’ Actions on Objects Cascade to Word Learning
Authors: Suarez‐Rivera Catalina , Linn Emily , Tamis‐LeMonda Catherine S.
Published: July 2022

Infants build knowledge by acting on the world. We conducted an ecologically grounded test of an embodied learning hypothesis: that infants’ active engagement with objects in the home environment elicits caregiver naming and cascades to learning object names. Our home‐based study extends laboratory‐based theories to identify real‐world processes that support infant word learning. Frame‐by‐frame coding of 2‐hr video recordings of 32 mothers and their 18‐ to 23‐month‐old infants focused on infant manipulation and mother and infant naming of 245 unique objects. Objects manipulated by infants and/or named by mothers were more likely to appear in infants’ vocabularies and spontaneous speech relative to nonmanipulated objects and objects that mothers did not name. Furthermore, the vocabularies of 5,520 infants hosted on Wordbank revealed an early age of acquisition of words for objects that mothers named and infants manipulated. Infants actively build object–word mappings from everyday engagements with objects in the context of social interactions.
Longitudinal Predictors of Listening Comprehension in Bilingual Primary School‐Aged Children
Authors: Valentini Alessandra , Serratrice Ludovica
Published: July 2022

Research on monolingual children has shown that listening comprehension is predicted by a range of language and cognitive skills; less is known about predictors of listening comprehension in bilingual children and about the role of language input. This study presents longitudinal data on predictors of English listening comprehension in 100 bilingual children between the ages of 5;8 and 6;8 years. The children were tested three times on their literal and inferential comprehension of stories. Vocabulary, morphosyntax, attention, and memory were included as predictors of listening comprehension alongside a measure of English input. The children showed growth over time in both literal questions and global inference questions, with performance on local inferences remaining stable over time. Vocabulary depth and morphological knowledge explained listening comprehension abilities in all types of questions, but not their growth; that is, all children improved in comprehension over time regardless of their initial morphological and vocabulary depth skills. English input had a mediated effect on listening comprehension via morphological knowledge and vocabulary depth, but no direct effect.
Deep convolutional neural networks for onychomycosis detection using microscopic images with KOH examination
Authors: Yilmaz Abdurrahim , Göktay Fatih , Varol Rahmetullah , Gencoglan Gulsum , Uvet Huseyin
Published: July 2022

Background

The diagnosis of superficial fungal infections is still mostly based on direct microscopic examination with potassium hydroxide solution. However, this method can be time consuming, and its diagnostic accuracy rates vary widely depending on the clinician's experience.

Objectives

This study presents a deep neural network structure that enables the rapid solutions for these problems and can perform automatic fungi detection in grayscale images without dyes.

Methods

One hundred sixty microscopic full field photographs containing the fungal element, obtained from patients with onychomycosis, and 297 microscopic full field photographs containing dissolved keratin obtained from normal nails were collected. Smaller patches containing fungi (n = 1835) and keratin (n = 5238) were extracted from these full field images. In order to detect fungus and keratin, VGG16 and InceptionV3 models were developed by the use of these patches. The diagnostic performance of models was compared with 16 dermatologists by using 200 test patches.

Results

For the VGG16 model, the InceptionV3 model and 16 dermatologists, mean accuracy rates were 88.10 ± 0.8%, 88.78 ± 0.35% and 74.53 ± 8.57%, respectively; mean sensitivity rates were 75.04 ± 2.73%, 74.93 ± 4.52% and 74.81 ± 19.51%, respectively; and mean specificity rates were 92.67 ± 1.17%, 93.78 ± 1.74% and 74.25 ± 18.03%, respectively. The models were statistically superior to dermatologists according to rates of accuracy and specificity but not to sensitivity (p < .0001, p < .005 and p > .05, respectively). Area under curve values of the VGG16 and InceptionV3 models were 0.9339 and 0.9292, respectively.

Conclusion

Our research demonstrates that it is possible to build an automated system capable of detecting fungi present in microscopic images employing the proposed deep learning models. It has great potential for fungal detection applications based on AI.
Green natural nail polish modified with essential oils to treat onychomycosis
Authors: Di Vito Maura , Scafuro Claudia , Mariotti Melinda , Garzoli Stefania , Torelli Riccardo , Zhiri Abdesselam , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Bugli Francesca
Published: July 2022

Background

Onychomycosis (OM) accounts for about 50% of nail disorders in industrialised countries. Essential oils (EOs), aromatic natural compounds, are known for their antimicrobial activity.

Objective

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of seven EOs and a commercial MIX against 10 dermatophytes responsible for OM to select the most effective ones to be included in a preventive or curative formulation based on a green natural nail polish (GNNP).

Methods

Micro‐broth dilution tests in line with EUCAST guidelines and olfactory satisfaction test were performed to select the best natural compounds previously analysed by SPME coupled with GC‐MS. The same method was used to evaluate the release over time of the active compounds present in the two modified‐GNNPs made by adding the best natural compound selected (the C. citratus EO) and the MIX. Furthermore, to evaluate the preventive and curative activity of modified‐GNNPs, ex vivo experiments on healthy or colonised nails were performed.

Results and Conclusions

Data showed that MIX‐modified‐GNNP had preventive activity as it inhibits the fungal growth by releasing its active ingredients for 7 days, while the OE‐modified GNNP acts as a natural drug showing cytocidal activity on nails colonised by dermatophytes, but it requires two weekly applications.
Interplay between R2R3 MYB‐type activators and repressors regulates proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in banana (Musa acuminata)
Authors: Rajput Ruchika , Naik Jogindra , Stracke Ralf , Pandey Ashutosh
Published: July 2022

Proanthocyanidins are oligomeric flavonoids that promote plant disease resistance and benefit human health. Banana is one of the world's most extensively farmed crops and its fruit pulp contain proanthocyanidins. However, the transcriptional regulatory network that fine tunes proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in banana remains poorly understood.

We characterised two proanthocyanidin‐specific R2R3 MYB activators (MaMYBPA1–MaMYBPA2) and four repressors (MaMYBPR1–MaMYBPR4) to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in banana.

Heterologous expression of MaMYBPA1 and MaMYBPA2 partially complemented the Arabidopsis thaliana proanthocyanidin‐deficient transparent testa2 mutant. MaMYBPA1 and MaMYBPA2 interacted physically with MaMYCs to transactivate anthocyanin synthase, leucoanthocyanidin reductase, and anthocyanidin reductase genes in vitro and form functional MYB–bHLH–WD Repeat (MBW) complexes with MaTTG1 to transactivate these promoters in vivo.

Overexpression of MaMYBPAs alone or with MaMYC in banana fruits induced proanthocyanidin accumulation and transcription of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis‐related genes. MaMYBPR repressors are also shown to interact with MaMYCs forming repressing MBW complexes, and diminished proanthocyanidin accumulation. Interestingly overexpression of MaMYBPA induces the expression of MaMYBPR, indicating an agile regulation of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis through the formation of competitive MBW complexes. Our results reveal regulatory modules of R2R3 MYB‐ that fine tune proanthocyanidin biosynthesis and offer possible targets for genetic manipulation for nutritional improvement of banana.
The additional PRC2 subunit and Sin3 histone deacetylase complex are required for the normal distribution of H3K27me3 occupancy and transcriptional silencing in Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Lin Chuyu , Wu Zhongling , Shi Huanbin , Yu Jinwei , Xu Mengting , Lin Fucheng , Kou Yanjun , Tao Zeng
Published: July 2022

Development in higher organisms requires proper gene silencing, partially achieved through trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3). However, how the normal distribution of this modification is established and maintained and how it affects gene expression remains unclear, especially in fungi. Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) catalyses H3K27me3 to assemble transcriptionally repressed facultative heterochromatin and is crucial in animals, plants, and fungi.

Here, we report on the critical role of an additional PRC2 subunit in the normal distribution of H3K27me3 occupancy and the stable maintenance of gene repression in the rice fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae. P55, identified as an additional PRC2 subunit, is physically associated with core subunits of PRC2 and is required for a complete level of H3K27me3 modification.

Loss of P55 caused severe global defects in the normal distribution of H3K27me3 and transcriptional reprogramming on the H3K27me3‐occupied genes. Furthermore, we found that the Sin3 histone deacetylase complex was required to sustain H3K27me3 occupancy and stably maintain gene repression by directly interacting with P55.

Our results revealed a novel mechanism by which P55 and Sin3 participate in the normal distribution of facultative heterochromatic modifications and the stable maintenance of gene repression in eukaryotes.
Impact of warmer and drier conditions on tree photosynthetic properties and the role of species interactions
Authors: Didion‐Gency Margaux , Gessler Arthur , Buchmann Nina , Gisler Jonas , Schaub Marcus , Grossiord Charlotte
Published: July 2022

Increased temperature and prolonged soil moisture reduction have distinct impacts on tree photosynthetic properties. Yet, our knowledge of their combined effect is limited. Moreover, how species interactions alter photosynthetic responses to warming and drought remains unclear.

Using mesocosms, we studied how photosynthetic properties of European beech and downy oak were impacted by multi‐year warming and soil moisture reduction alone or combined, and how species interactions (intra‐ vs inter‐specific interactions) modulated these effects.

Warming of +5°C enhanced photosynthetic properties in oak but not beech, while moisture reduction decreased them in both species. Combined warming and moisture reduction reduced photosynthetic properties for both species, but no exacerbated effects were observed. Oak was less impacted by combined warming and limited moisture when interacting with beech than in intra‐specific stands. For beech, species interactions had no impact on the photosynthetic responses to warming and moisture reduction, alone or combined.

Warming had either no or beneficial effects on the photosynthetic properties, while moisture reduction and their combined effects strongly reduced photosynthetic responses. However, inter‐specific interactions mitigated the adverse impacts of combined warming and drought in oak, thereby highlighting the need to deepen our understanding of the role of species interactions under climate change.
Phylogenetic distribution and expression pattern analyses identified a divergent basal body assembly protein involved in land plant spermatogenesis
Authors: Koshimizu Shizuka , Minamino Naoki , Nishiyama Tomoaki , Yoro Emiko , Sato Mayuko , Wakazaki Mayumi , Toyooka Kiminori , Ebine Kazuo , Sakakibara Keiko , Ueda Takashi , Yano Kentaro
Published: July 2022

Land plant spermatozoids commonly possess characteristic structures such as the spline, which consists of a microtubule array, the multilayered structure (MLS) in which the uppermost layer is a continuum of the spline, and multiple flagella. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning spermatogenesis remain to be elucidated.

We successfully identified candidate genes involved in spermatogenesis, deeply divergent BLD10s, by computational analyses combining multiple methods and omics data. We then examined the functions of BLD10s in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha and the moss Physcomitrium patens.

MpBLD10 and PpBLD10 are required for normal basal body (BB) and flagella formation. Mpbld10 mutants exhibited defects in remodeling of the cytoplasm and nucleus during spermatozoid formation, and thus MpBLD10 should be involved in chromatin reorganization and elimination of the cytoplasm during spermiogenesis.

We identified orthologs of MpBLD10 and PpBLD10 in diverse Streptophyta and found that MpBLD10 and PpBLD10 are orthologous to BLD10/CEP135 family proteins, which function in BB assembly. However, BLD10s evolved especially quickly in land plants and MpBLD10 might have acquired additional functions in spermatozoid formation through rapid molecular evolution.
Floral and reproductive traits are an independent dimension within the plant economic spectrum of temperate central Europe
Authors: E‐Vojtkó Anna , Junker Robert R. , de Bello Francesco , Götzenberger Lars
Published: July 2022

Major dimensions of plant ecological strategies have been widely studied bringing forward the concept of ‘economic spectra’ of plants. Sexual reproductive traits, ‘floral traits’, have been largely neglected in this context, despite their strong link to fitness. Here, we aimed at integrating floral traits into the dimensionality of plant form and function so far dominated by vegetative traits.

We used principal component analyses and constructed trait networks to assess the correlation structure of leaf, belowground, plant size‐related, and floral traits. We studied forbs within two independent datasets; one compiled from central European trait databases and one sampled in the Austrian Alps.

Floral traits defined the second dimension of trait variability within both datasets, while plant size determined the first dimension. Floral traits were largely independent from the leaf economic spectrum. Flower size, however, positively scaled with plant size and leaf size. Mating system was the most well‐connected trait across modules of plant tissue/organ types. The independence of floral traits was consistent also after accounting for phylogenetic relationships between species.

Floral traits explained a unique part of the variation in plant form and function and thus, likely play a distinctive ecological role within the whole plant economic spectrum.
Mitotically heritable epigenetic modifications of CmMYB6 control anthocyanin biosynthesis in chrysanthemum
Authors: Tang Mingwei , Xue Wanjie , Li Xueqi , Wang Lishan , Wang Min , Wang Wanpeng , Yin Xue , Chen Bowei , Qu Xueting , Li Jingyao , Wu Yi , Gao Xinyu , Wei Xiaofeng , Bu Fanqi , Zhang Lingyu , Sui Zhuoran , Ding Bing , Wang Yu , Zhang Qingzhu , Li Yuhua , Zhang Yang
Published: July 2022

Flower color, which is determined by various chemical pigments, is a vital trait for ornamental plants, in which anthocyanin is a major component. However, the epigenetic regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis remains poorly understood.

During chrysanthemum cultivation, we found a heterochromatic chrysanthemum accession (YP) whose progeny generated by asexual reproduction contained both yellow‐flowered (YP‐Y) and pink‐flowered (YP‐P) plants. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms of different flower colors in the YP plant progeny.

Metabolome and transcriptome analyses revealed that the difference in flower color between YP‐Y and YP‐P was caused by expression variation of the anthocyanin biosynthesis gene CmMYB6. Bisulfite sequencing revealed that methylation at the CmMYB6 promoter, especially in the CHH context, was higher in YP‐Y than YP‐P. After demethylation of the CmMYB6 promoter using the dCas9‐TET1cd system, the flower color returned from yellow to pink.

Furthermore, the methylation status of the CmMYB6 promoter was higher in YP‐Y over three consecutive generations, indicating that this methylation status was heritable mitotically. Finally, investigation of other chrysanthemum cultivars showed that the methylation of CmMYB6 decreased gradually with the increase in anthocyanin content. These results lay an epigenetic foundation for the improvement of flower color in horticultural plants.
Noninvasive diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma by multi‐level deep residual learning on optical coherence tomography images
Authors: Yuan Wei , Yang Jinsuo , Yin Boya , Fan Xingyu , Yang Jing , Sun Haibin , Liu Yanbin , Su Ming , Li Sen , Huang Xin
Published: July 2022

Background

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most severe cancers in the world, and its early detection is crucial for saving patients. There is an inevitable necessity to develop the automatic noninvasive OSCC diagnosis approach to identify the malignant tissues on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images.

Methods

This study presents a novel Multi‐Level Deep Residual Learning (MDRL) network to identify malignant and benign(normal) tissues from OCT images and trains the network in 460 OCT images captured from 37 patients. The diagnostic performances are compared with different methods in the image‐level and the resected patch‐level.

Results

The MDRL system achieves the excellent diagnostic performance, with 91.2% sensitivity, 83.6% specificity, 87.5% accuracy, 85.3% PPV, and 90.2% NPV in image‐level, with 0.92 AUC value. Besides, it also implements 100% sensitivity, 86.7% specificity, 93.1% accuracy, 87.5% PPV, and 100% NPV in the resected patch‐level.

Conclusion

The developed deep learning system expresses superior performance in noninvasive oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis, compared with traditional CNNs and a specialist.