bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language Barriers in Organismal Biology: What Can Journals Do Better?
Authors: Nolde-Lopez B , Bundus J , Arenas-Castro H , Román D , Chowdhury S , Amano T , Berdejo-Espinola V , Wadgymar S M
Published: January 2023

Synopsis

In the field of organismal biology, as in much of academia, there is a strong incentive to publish in internationally recognized, highly regarded, English-language journals to promote career advancement. This expectation has created a linguistic hegemony in scientific publishing, whereby scholars for whom English is an additional language face additional barriers to achieving the same scientific recognition as scholars who speak English as a first language. Here, we surveyed the author guidelines of 230 journals in organismal biology with impact factors of 1.5 or greater for linguistically inclusive and equitable practices and policies. We looked for efforts that reflect first steps toward reducing barriers to publication for authors globally, including the presence of statements that encouraged submissions from authors of diverse nationalities and backgrounds, policies regarding manuscript rejection based on perceived inadequacies of the English language, the existence of bias-conscious reviewer practices, whether translation and editing resources or services are available, allowance for non-English abstracts, summaries, or translations, and whether journals offer license options that would permit authors (or other scholars) to translate their work and publish it elsewhere. We also directly contacted a subset of journals to verify whether the information on their author guidelines page accurately reflects their policies and the accommodations they would make. We reveal that journals and publishers have made little progress toward beginning to recognize or reduce language barriers. Counter to our predictions, journals associated with scientific societies did not appear to have more inclusive policies compared to non-society journals. Many policies lacked transparency and clarity, which can generate uncertainty, result in avoidable manuscript rejections, and necessitate additional time and effort from both prospective authors and journal editors. We highlight examples of equitable policies and summarize actions that journals can take to begin to alleviate barriers to scientific publishing.
Vibroacoustic Response of the Tympanic Membrane to Hyoid-Borne Sound Generated during Echolocation in Bats
Authors: Snipes C C G , Carter R T
Published: January 2023

Synopsis

The hyoid apparatus in laryngeally echolocating bats is unique as it forms a mechanical connection between the larynx and auditory bullae, which has been hypothesized to transfer the outgoing echolocation call to the middle ear during call emission. Previous finite element modeling (FEM) found that hyoid-borne sound can reach the bulla at an amplitude likely heard by echolocating bats; however, that study did not model how or if the signal could reach the inner ear (or cochlea). One route that sound could take is via stimulation of the eardrum—similarly to that of air-conducted sound. We used micro computed tomography (μCT) data to build models of the hyoid apparatus and middle ear from six species of bats with variable morphology. Using FEM, we ran harmonic response analyses to measure the vibroacoustic response of the tympanic membrane due to hyoid-borne sound generated during echolocation and found that hyoid-borne sound in all six species stimulated the eardrum within a range likely heard by bats. Although there was variation in the efficiency between models, there are no obvious morphological patterns to account for it. This suggests that hyoid morphology in laryngeal echolocators is likely driven by other associated functions.
Efficacy of zinc glycinate reducing zinc oxide on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs challenged with F18+ Escherichia coli
Authors: Jang Ki Beom , Moita Vitor Hugo C , Martinez Nicolas , Sokale Adebayo , Kim Sung Woo
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of zinc glycinate (ZnGly) supplementation reducing zinc oxide (ZnO) in feeds on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs challenged with F18+Escherichia coli (E. coli). In total, 72 nursery pigs (BW 6.5 ± 0.5 kg) were allotted in a randomized complete block design to nine treatments: (1) NC: no challenge/no supplement; (2) PC: E. coli challenge/no-supplement; (3) E. coli challenge/ZnO at 2,500 mg/kg; (4, 5, and 6) E. coli challenge/ZnGly at 400, 800, and 1,200 mg/kg; and (7, 8, and 9) E. coli challenge/ZnGly at 400 mg/kg and ZnO at 700, 1,400, and 2,357 mg/kg. Pigs were fed for 28 d based on two phases (phase 1: 14 d and phase 2: 14 d). On day 7, challenged groups were orally inoculated with F18+E. coli at 6 × 109 CFU/mL whereas NC received saline solution. The PC showed reduced ADG (P = 0.076) and G:F (P = 0.055) during phase 1 and increased fecal score (P < 0.05) during the first week of postchallenge when compared with NC, whereas supplementation of ZnGly from 0 to 1,200 mg/kg linearly increased (P = 0.092) G:F and decreased (P < 0.05) the fecal score of the pigs challenged with F18+E. coli. Supplementation of ZnGly from 0 to 1,200 mg/kg had quadratic effects on TNF-α (P = 0.065; minimum 1.13 pg/mg at 850 mg/kg ZnGly), IL-8 (P = 0.093; minimum 0.53 ng/mg at 494 mg/kg), and protein carbonyl (P = 0.054; minimum 2.30 pg/mg at 675 mg/kg) and linearly increased mRNA expressions of ZIP4 (P = 0.057) and ZnT5 (P = 0.075) in the jejunum of the pigs. Supplementation of ZnGly from 0 to 1,200 mg/kg linearly increased (P < 0.05) the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and had quadratic effects on Cyanobacteria (minimum 0.67% at 625 mg/kg ZnO) and Proteobacteria (maximum 45.6 g/d at 735 mg/kg) at the phylum level, with linearly decreased (P < 0.05) Enterobacteriaceae at the family level in the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota of the pigs. There was no difference in growth performance during the overall period, although pigs fed with ZnO at 2,500 mg/kg had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs fed with ZnGly at 400 mg/kg during the first week of the post challenge period. In conclusion, ZnGly could be an alternative to the pharmaceutical use of ZnO without negatively affecting the growth of nursery pigs by enhancing intestinal Zn absorption, reducing intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, and providing positive changes in jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota.
Variations in the 24 h temporal patterns and time budgets of grazing, rumination, and idling behaviors in grazing dairy cows in a New Zealand system
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Wasim , Draganova Ina , Henry Morel Patrick Charles , Todd Morris Stephen
Published: January 2023

This study investigated the variations in the temporal distributions and the lengths of times utilized for grazing, ruminating, and idling behaviors by grazing dairy cows over 24 h. Spring-calved lactating dairy cows (N = 54) from three breeds, Holstein-Friesian (HFR), Jersey (JE), and KiwiCross (KC) in different lactations (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and with different breeding worth index values (103 < BW > 151) were selected. The cows were managed through a rotational grazing scheme and milked once a day at 0500 hours. The cows grazed mainly pasture and consumed additional feeds (maize silage and turnips) in the summer and autumn seasons. AfiCollar was used to record grazing and rumination behaviors (min/h) in the individual cows throughout the lactation period (~270 d). The time neither utilized for grazing nor rumination was counted as idling behavior (min/h). A repeat measure design with PROC MIXED was performed in SAS considering the effects of breed, lactation, individual cow, the hour of the day, season, day within the season, and supplementary feed within the season to evaluate the difference in grazing, rumination, and idling behaviors. Hour of the day, season, day within season, and supplementary feed had significant effects on grazing, rumination, and idling behaviors. Regardless of the season and supplementary feed, cows spent most of the daytime grazing and most of the nighttime ruminating. Grazing activity remained consistently high throughout the day with two peaks around dawn and dusk and a short peak around midnight. Rumination activity remained high from the late evening until early morning. Grazing and ruminating patterns were similar between different breeds and lactations, however, JE cows grazed slightly longer than HFR and KC, and first-lactation cows grazed slightly longer than those in higher lactations. The onset and cessation of grazing activity by the cows were adjusted according to varying day lengths by season. Cows finished grazing earlier when they consumed additional supplements or silage along with pasture. Cows from different breed groups and lactations spent most of their 24 h grazing followed by ruminating and idling. Season and supplementary feed potentially affected the variations in behavior time budgets. These findings should support improving measures for grazing management to address pasture allocation and additional feed demands, and animal welfare in varying environmental and/or managemental conditions.
The Supreme People’s Court of China ruled on the first pharmaceutical patent linkage case after the new Patent Law
Authors: Lu Hongxuyang
Published: January 2023

In the first case regarding the pharmaceutical patent linkage regime in China, the Supreme People’s Court of China ruled that the validity of a patent did not affect a pharmaceutical patent linkage case. Whether the technical solution of the generic drug falls within the scope of protection of a patent should be judged based on the submitted application for marketing authorization, instead of the actual technical solution implemented.
Tight-junction strand networks and tightness of the epithelial barrier
Authors: Saito Akira C , Higashi Tomohito , Chiba Hideki
Published: January 2023

Tight junctions (TJs) are cell–cell junction structures critical for controlling paracellular permeability. On freeze-fracture replica electron microscopy, they appear as a continuous network of fibrils (TJ strands). TJ strands function as zippers that create a physical barrier against paracellular diffusion of molecules. The morphology of the TJ strand network varies greatly between tissues, and in recent years, studies have highlighted the mechanisms regulating the morphology of TJ strand networks and on their relevance to barrier function. In this review, we discuss evidence regarding the components of the TJ strand and the mechanisms for creating the TJ strand network. Furthermore, we discuss and hypothesize how its morphology contributes to the establishment of the epithelial barrier.
Hypo- or hyperfunction? Differential relationships between compulsive sexual behavior disorder facets and sexual health
Authors: Glica Agnieszka , Wizła Magdalena , Gola Mateusz , Lewczuk Karol
Published: January 2023

Background

Previous studies linking compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and sexual health have shown mixed results, which could be due to the fact that different CSBD facets may have differential relationships with sexual functioning.

Aim

As CSBD is a multidimensional disorder, we wanted to investigate whether distinct CSBD domains are differentially related to sexual health.

Methods

Two online studies were conducted—the first on a convenience sample (812 Polish participants; mean [SD] age, 22.07 [5.91] years) and a replication study on a representative sample of Polish adults (n = 1526; 43.02 [14.37]). Hierarchical regression was employed with sexual functioning as a predicted variable and CSBD symptoms as predictors.

Outcomes

The Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder Scale was used to assess CSBD symptoms, and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale was used to measure sexual dysfunction.

Results

In study 1, CSBD salience (β = −.20, P < .001) predicted hyperfunction (ie, stronger sex drive, easier sexual arousal, easier vaginal lubrication/penile erection, easier ability to reach an orgasm, and more satisfying orgasms). Yet, CSBD negative consequences (β = .15, P = .001) and dissatisfaction (β = .22, P < .001) predicted hypofunction (ie, weaker sex drive, more difficulties in sexual arousal, greater difficulties in vaginal lubrication/penile erection, less ability to reach an orgasm, and less satisfying orgasms). Similar results were found in study 2: salience (β = −.26, P < .001) and relapse (β = −.11, P = .004) predicted hyperfunction, while negative consequences (β = .12, P < .001) and dissatisfaction (β = .12, P < .001) predicted hypofunction.

Clinical Implications

Our results stress the importance of assessing the severity of each group of symptoms in patients with CSBD to better understand possible difficulties in their sexual functioning.

Strengths and Limitations

Our studies are the first to evaluate the effects of each CSBD domain on sexual health. We also replicated results obtained from a convenience sample on a representative sample. The cross-sectional design of the current studies does not allow causal relations to be tested, so future longitudinal research should be carried out. We also gathered data from a general population—thus, it is important to replicate these results on patients diagnosed with CSBD.

Conclusion

Our research points out the differential impact of CSBD domains on sexual health: salience and relapse are related to sexual hyperfunction, while negative consequences and dissatisfaction to hypofunction.
In the midst of so much injustice, can there be a seat for energy justice at the Nigerian table?
Authors: Morocco-Clarke Ayodele
Published: January 2023

The end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st century recorded an increase in demands for accountability and justice on a plethora of levels. Social justice was a broad theme which was followed by environmental justice and climate justice. Energy justice is a relatively new phenomenon that advocates for the equitable sharing of both the benefits and burdens of energy sources and services. Nigeria, the largest producer of oil and gas on the African continent, has for decades been beset by issues of corruption, mismanagement of resources and wealth, a lack of accountability and a lopsided discriminatory distribution of the benefits, proceeds and profits from the Nigerian oil industry. The people of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which is the area responsible for Nigeria’s oil, feel impoverished by the exploitation of their land and left out of the profits, end products and projects which result from resources on their land. The regulation of the Nigerian energy industry is one facet of the industry that has come against heavy complaints and criticisms. The management of the country’s natural resources and the sources, generation, provision and distribution of energy (both domestic and industrial) within its geographical territory is an area that requires substantial work and overhaul. This work examines the tenets of energy justice and recommends the adoption of the restorative justice tenet as a path to improving the Nigerian energy system and correspondingly improving the environment and the lives and human rights of the people who live in the Niger Delta region.
The Gcn5-Ada2-Ada3 histone acetyltransferase module has divergent roles in pathogenesis of Candida glabrata
Authors: Lin Chi-Jan , Yang Sheng-Yung , Hsu Li-Hang , Yu Shang-Jie , Chen Ying-Lien
Published: January 2023

Candida glabrata is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and the second most prevalent species isolated from candidiasis patients. C. glabrata has intrinsic tolerance to antifungal drugs and oxidative stresses and the ability to adhere to mucocutaneous surfaces. However, knowledge about the regulation of its virulence traits is limited. The Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex modulates gene transcription by histone acetylation through the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) module comprised of Gcn5-Ada2-Ada3. Previously, we showed that the ada2 mutant was hypervirulent but displayed decreased tolerance to antifungal drugs and cell wall perturbing agents. In this study, we further characterized the functions of Ada3 and Gcn5 in C. glabrata. We found that single, double, or triple deletions of the HAT module, as expected, resulted in a decreased level of acetylation on histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) and defective growth. These mutants were more susceptible to antifungal drugs, oxidative stresses, and cell wall perturbing agents compared with the wild-type. In addition, HAT module mutants exhibited enhanced agar invasion and upregulation of adhesin and proteases encoding genes, whereas the biofilm formation of those mutants was impaired. Interestingly, HAT module mutants exhibited enhanced induction of catalases (CTA1) expression upon treatment with H2O2 compared with the wild-type. Lastly, although ada3 and gcn5 exhibited marginal hypervirulence, the HAT double and triple mutants were hypervirulent in a murine model of candidiasis. In conclusion, the HAT module of the SAGA complex plays unique roles in H3K9 acetylation, drug tolerance, oxidative stress response, adherence, and virulence in C. glabrata.
Enhancing cosmic shear with the multiscale lensing probability density function
Authors: Giblin Benjamin , Cai Yan-Chuan , Harnois-Déraps Joachim
Published: January 2023

We quantify the cosmological constraining power of the ‘lensing probability density function (PDF)’ – the one-point probability density of weak lensing convergence maps – by modelling this statistic numerically with an emulator trained on w cold dark matter cosmic shear simulations. After validating our methods on Gaussian and lognormal fields, we show that ‘multiscale’ PDFs – measured from maps with multiple levels of smoothing – offer considerable gains over two-point statistics, owing to their ability to extract non-Gaussian information: For a mock Stage-III survey, lensing PDFs yield 33 per cent tighter constraints on the clustering parameter $S_8=\sigma _8\sqrt{\Omega _{\rm m}/0.3}$ than the two-point shear correlation functions. For Stage-IV surveys, we achieve >90 per cent tighter constraints on S8, but also on the Hubble and dark energy equation-of-state parameters. Interestingly, we find improvements when combining these two probes only in our Stage-III set-up; in the Stage-IV scenario the lensing PDFs contain all information from the standard two-point statistics and more. This suggests that while these two probes are currently complementary, the lower noise levels of upcoming surveys will unleash the constraining power of the PDF.
Extended primordial black hole mass functions with a spike
Authors: Magaña J , Martín M San , Sureda J , Rubio M , Araya I , Padilla N
Published: January 2023

We introduce a modification of the Press–Schechter formalism aimed to derive general mass functions for primordial black holes (PBHs). In this case, we start from primordial power spectra (PPS) which include a monochromatic spike, typical of ultra slow-roll inflation models. We consider the PBH formation as being associated to the amplitude of the spike on top of the linear energy density fluctuations coming from a PPS with a blue index. By modelling the spike with a lognormal function, we study the properties of the resulting mass function spikes, and compare these to the underlying extended mass distributions. When the spike is at PBH masses, which are much lower than the exponential cut-off of the extended distribution, very little mass density is held by the PBHs within the spike, and it is not ideal to apply the Press–Schechter formalism in this case as the resulting characteristic overdensity is too different from the threshold for collapse. It is more appropriate to do so when the spike mass is similar to, or larger than the cut-off mass. Additionally, it can hold a similar mass density as the extended part. Such particular mass functions also contain large numbers of small PBHs, especially if stable PBH relics are considered, and they can provide ${\sim}1000\, {\rm M}_\odot$ seeds for the supermassive black holes at the centres of present-day galaxies. The constraints on the fraction of dark matter in PBHs for monochromatic mass functions are somewhat relaxed when there is an additional underlying extended distribution of masses.
Baryonic post-processing of N-body simulations, with application to fast radio bursts
Authors: Williams Ian M , Khan Adnan , McQuinn Matthew
Published: January 2023

Where the cosmic baryons lie in and around galactic dark matter haloes is only weakly constrained. We develop a method to quickly paint on models for their distribution. Our approach uses the statistical advantages of N-body simulations, while painting on the profile of gas around individual haloes in ways that can be motivated by semi-analytic models or zoom-in hydrodynamic simulations of galaxies. Possible applications of the algorithm include extragalactic dispersion measures to fast radio bursts (FRBs), the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect, baryonic effects on weak lensing, and cosmic metal enrichment. As an initial application, we use this tool to investigate how the baryonic profile of foreground galactic-mass haloes affects the statistics of the dispersion measure (DM) towards cosmological FRBs. We show that the distribution of DM is sensitive to the distribution of baryons in galactic haloes, with viable gas profile models having significantly different probability distributions for DM to a given redshift. We also investigate the requirements to statistically measure the circumgalactic electron profile for FRB analyses that stack DM with impact parameter to foreground galaxies, quantifying the size of the contaminating ‘two-halo’ term from correlated systems and the number of FRBs for a high significance detection. Publicly available python modules implement our CGMBrush algorithm.
Expanded MutaT7 toolkit efficiently and simultaneously accesses all possible transition mutations in bacteria
Authors: Mengiste Amanuella A , Wilson Robert H , Weissman Rachel F , Papa III Louis J , Hendel Samuel J , Moore Christopher L , Butty Vincent L , Shoulders Matthew D
Published: January 2023

Targeted mutagenesis mediated by nucleotide base deaminase–T7 RNA polymerase fusions has recently emerged as a novel and broadly useful strategy to power genetic diversification in the context of in vivo directed evolution campaigns. Here, we expand the utility of this approach by introducing a highly active adenosine deaminase–T7 RNA polymerase fusion protein (eMutaT7A→G), resulting in higher mutation frequencies to enable more rapid directed evolution. We also assess the benefits and potential downsides of using this more active mutator. We go on to show in Escherichia coli that adenosine deaminase-bearing mutators (MutaT7A→G or eMutaT7A→G) can be employed in tandem with a cytidine deaminase-bearing mutator (MutaT7C→T) to introduce all possible transition mutations simultaneously. We illustrate the efficacy of this in vivo mutagenesis approach by exploring mutational routes to antibacterial drug resistance. This work sets the stage for general application of optimized MutaT7 tools able to induce all types of transition mutations during in vivo directed evolution campaigns across diverse organisms.
Current advances in immunotherapy for atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT)
Authors: Tran Son , Plant-Fox Ashley S , Chi Susan N , Narendran Aru
Published: January 2023

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are rare and aggressive embryonal tumors of central nervous system that typically affect children younger than 3 years of age. Given the generally poor outcomes of patients with ATRT and the significant toxicities associated with conventional multi-modal therapies, there is an urgent need for more novel approaches to treat ATRT, one such approach being immunotherapy. The recent rise of large-scale, multicenter interdisciplinary studies has delineated several molecular and genetic characteristics unique to ATRT. This review aims to describe currently available data on the tumor immune microenvironment of ATRT and its specific subtypes and to summarize the emerging clinical and preclinical results of immunotherapy-based approaches. It will also highlight the evolving knowledge of epigenetics on immunomodulation in this epigenetically influenced tumor, which may help guide the development of effective immunotherapeutic approaches in the future.
A case of Ehlers–Danlos syndrome presenting as short stature: a novel mutation in SLC39A13 causing spondylodysplastic Ehlers–Danlos syndrome
Authors: Agrawal Poorvi , Kaur Harpreet , Kondekar Alpana , Rathi Surbhi
Published: January 2023

Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder characterized by a varying degree of skin hyperextensibility and joint hypermobility. EDS is classified into 13 subtypes according to the most recent classification. These subtypes are clinically and genetically heterogenous. The spondylodysplastic subvariety of EDS (spEDS) is caused by homozygous mutations in B4GALT7, B3GALT6 and SLC39A13. To date, 13 individuals with molecularly diagnosed SLC39A13-related spEDS have been reported. The spEDS caused by biallelic pathogenic SLC39A13 variants are characterized by short stature, protuberant eyes with bluish sclera, finely wrinkled palms, hypermobile joints, hyperextensible skin and characteristic radiological findings. Herein, we report a case of 7-year-old-female child with spEDS associated with novel homozygous (pathogenic/likely pathogenic) missense variation of the SLC39A13 gene.
Observing thermal single-particle dynamics of ions and molecules in water with light
Authors: Aoki Kenichiro , Mitsui Takahisa
Published: January 2023

We observe thermal single-particle dynamics of ions and molecules in water through light extinction. The motions of particles appear as time-dependent intensity variations, characterized through their averaged spectra. The theoretical spectrum derived from random motions of one particle is found to describe the measured spectra. Since such spectra have not been observed previously and the corresponding theoretical formula is derived in this work, we obtain various physical properties from the observed spectra to corroborate our understanding of the phenomena. The diffusion constants of liquid mixtures and solutions, which correspond to binary diffusion and thermal diffusion, are extracted from the spectral measurements, and are found to be consistent with previous macroscopic measurements. We also estimate the sizes of the particles.
Reading Walter Scott’s Dramas
Authors: Cook Daniel
Published: January 2023

An active supporter of the theatre in Edinburgh and London, Walter Scott also extensively edited and commented on plays both ancient and modern. As a dramatist he wrote five original works, though he never achieved anything like the success he found with poetry and fiction. Only The House of Aspen, a Tragedy and Auchindrane; or, The Ayrshire Tragedy were staged, briefly, during the author’s lifetime. Written in collaboration with the actor Daniel Terry in 1817–1818, The Doom of Devorgoil, a Melo-drama was eventually rejected. Seemingly not even offered to theatres, Halidon Hill was published as a standalone work in 1822. A single-scene piece, Macduff’s Cross, appeared in a miscellany to fulfil an obligation to Joanna Baillie. Against the backdrop of Scott’s admitted failures as a dramatist, this essay examines the five playtexts in print, paying particular attention to different forms of residual theatricality still traceable in the works. Reading the plays entails due consideration of performance-focused paratexts, as well as scene divisions and speech prefixes, alongside a range of textual interruptions, emotionally descriptive stage directions, bookish motifs, and other print-centric devices.
Impact of a 24 h feed withdrawal on active nutrient transport, intestinal morphology and gene expression in the equine small and large intestine
Authors: Aldridge-Dean Blaire E , Lescun Timothy B , Radcliffe J Scott
Published: January 2023

Horses are often subjected to short term feed withdrawal (FW) pre- or post-surgery to reduce anesthetic complications. However, removing nutrients from the intestinal lumen may negatively impact intestinal health. Thirteen horses were used to determine the effects of a 24 h FW on gut barrier function, active nutrient transport, transporter gene expression and intestinal morphology. Following 0 or 24 h FW (0FW or 24FW, respectively), horses were euthanized via overdose of sodium- pentobarbital and –phenytoin, and segments of proximal jejunum (PJ), mid jejunum (MJ), ileum (Il) and right ventral colon (RVC) were harvested for histology (PJ and Il), gene expression, and active nutrient transport analysis. Active transport measurements were determined using modified Ussing chambers following the addition of glucose, phosphorus, glutamine and Gly-Sar. Carbachol induced chloride (Cl) ion secretion was measured to examine the diarrhetic response. Messanger RNA expression of the intestinal Na-dependent glucose cotransporter (SGLT1), fructose transporter (GLUT5), di- and tri-peptide transporter (PepT1) and neutral AA/glutamine transporter (ASCT2) were determined using RT-PCR. The GLM procedure of SAS was used to determine the effects of FW and responses among various intestinal sections. The horse served as the experimental unit. Villus heights (P < 0.002) and crypt depths (P < 0.02) in the Il were larger than in the PJ, though no differences were observed between 0FW and 24FW horses. Active glutamine absorption increased 82% in the PJ of 24FW horses compared to 0FW horses (P < 0.02). The mRNA expression of SGLT1 decreased (P < 0.05) moving aborally in the gastrointestinal tract. Horses subjected to 24FW had 82% less GLUT5 (P < 0.05) and 61% less PepT1 mRNA expression in the PJ, compared to 0FW horses. Interestingly, ASCT2 mRNA expression increased 164% from PJ to RVC (P = 0.05). However, a 36% decrease in ASCT2 mRNA expression was observed overall for 24FW horses. This data indicates that SGLT1, GLUT5, PepT1 and ASCT2 are expressed throughout the small intestine and RVC of the horse at varying concentrations, and that they can be differentially regulated by a 24 h FW. Data from this experiment also indicates that a 24 h FW results in up regulation of active glutamine absorption, presumably in an effort to supply glutamine as an energy substrate for enterocytes.
Initiation and adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy in children under 5 years of age in Manhiça, Southern Mozambique
Authors: Montoya i de Manuel-Rimbau Agnès , Nguenha Dinis , Mambuque Edson , Ehrlich Joanna , Munguambe Shilzia , Saavedra Belén , Matsena Teodimiro , Chiconela Hélio , Casellas Aina , López-Varela Elisa , Acacio Sozinho , Garcia-Basteiro Alberto L
Published: January 2023

The WHO recommends preventive treatment for all pediatric contacts of a confirmed TB case, but coverage remains low in many high TB burden countries. We aimed to assess the coverage and adherence of the isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) program among children under 5 years of age with household exposure to an adult pulmonary TB case in a rural district of Southern Mozambique. The estimated IPT coverage was 11.7%. A longer distance to the health center and lower age of the children hindered IPT initiation. Among patients who started IPT, 12/18 (69.9%) were adherent to the 6-month treatment.
Design of an Innovative Wireless Left Ventricular Assist Device Driven by either Extracorporeal Magnets or an Intracorporeal Battery Pack
Authors: Horie Hideyuki , Isoyama Takashi , Ishiyama Kazushi
Published: January 2023

This study aimed to design a new wireless left ventricular assist device (LVAD) that solved the driveline problem of current LVADs and the heat problem of the transcutaneous energy transfer system (TETS). Our new wireless LVAD consisted of two blood pumps capable of driving using extracorporeal magnets and an intracorporeal battery pack. When one pump was driven, the other pump was stopped. The battery pack was wirelessly and slowly charged using TETS with low-power transmission, whereas the magnetic pump was driven wirelessly by extracorporeal magnets. We demonstrated the feasibility of our system in a bench-top durability test for 7 days. The distance between the extracorporeal magnets and the magnetic pump was 27.5 mm. Our LVAD system had steadily provided sufficient pressure and flow volume (approximately 108 mmHg and 5.0 L/min, respectively) to the test loop for 7 days. Although loss of synchronism occurred once during the test, it recovered within a few minutes. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed wireless LVAD system. Further technical improvements are required in our system, such as downsizing the electric devices inside the body, to conduct an in vivo test for the next step.
Prognostic value of Intermountain Risk Score for short- and long-term mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock
Authors: Mert İlker Hayiroğlu , Faysal Saylik , Ahmet Çağdaş Yumurtaş , Murat Selçuk , Tufan Çinar
Published: January 2023

Background

There is a lack of current research examining the predictive value of the Intermountain Risk Score (IMRS) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) caused by cardiogenic shock. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the ability of IMRS to predict short- and long-term mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock triggered by STEMI.

Methods

The participants included 492 consecutive cardiogenic shock patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention following STEMI. The patients were separated into two groups depending on their survival status. The groups’ baseline characteristics, laboratory data, echocardiographic variables, and risk assessments were then compared. Next, the IMRS score was tested for its ability to predict both short- and long-term mortality. In order to assess its accuracy, the prognostic value of the IMRS was also compared that of the SYNTAX score II (SSII).

Results

After adjustment for the characteristics in the univariable study, multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that the IMRS and SSII were both independently associated with short- and long-term mortality in STEMI patients with cardiogenic shock. However, the receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that the IMRS outperformed the SSII in terms of predicting both short- and long-term mortality.

Conclusion

This preliminary investigation showed that IMRS can predict both short- and long-term mortality in individuals with STEMI accompanied by cardiogenic shock.
Evidence of Chemoresponsiveness in Unresectable Metastatic Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma
Authors: Corley Elizabeth A. , Pace Erika , Barnacle Alex M. , Patel Premal A. , Thway Khin , Chisholm Julia C.
Published: January 2023

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a soft tissue neoplasm of intermediate biological potential. Typically a slow-growing tumor, it can recur locally. Rarely, it manifests as a soft tissue sarcoma capable of metastasis. When metastases are nonamenable to local therapy, it is believed uniformly fatal. We present 3 patients with metastatic AFH who demonstrated a sustained response to chemotherapy; including one who achieved complete remission with cryoablation. These cases reinforce the potential value of chemotherapy in some patients with unresectable metastatic AFH and provide the first case in the literature of cryoablation in AFH.
Turkish Translation, Validation, and Reliability Analysis of Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Severity Module Version 2.0
Authors: Yilmaz Ozlem , Uslu Nuray Kizilkan , Ozgur Taner , Guller Dilek , Tumgor Gokhan , Usta Merve , Polat Esra , Ozkan Tanju Basarir , Baysoy Gokhan , Ugras Meltem Korkut , Baygul Arzu , Sackesen Cansin , Arikan Cigdem
Published: January 2023

Objectives and study:

The Paediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptom Severity Modules Version 2.0 (T-PEESv2.0) was developed in English as a valid, reliable questionnaire for follow up. This work aimed to develop a Turkish version of T-PEESv2.0 via translation and cultural adaptation and then to test its validation and reliability.

Methods:

The PEESv2.0 was translated into Turkish by standardized procedural steps completed in cooperation with the Mapi Research Trust. The final version of the questionnaire was submitted to eosinophilic oesophagitis patients or their parents at 2 times point separated by 1 week. An age-matched control group was used to test the discriminant validity. Construct validity was tested using the Wilcoxon test, and internal consistency was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. Test-retest reliability was measured with Cohen’s kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results:

One hundred twenty-eight participants (70 patients, 58 parents) were enrolled. Fifty-eight (39.1%) of them completed T-PEESv2.0-parent by proxy and 70 (54.7%) were T-PEESv2.0. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability were >0.70 for both questionnaires and for all domain (frequency and severity) and total scores. For discriminant validity analysis, subscale (frequency and domain) and total scores of the patient group were compared with those of the control group. The subscale and total scores were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

T-PEESv2.0 appeared to be valid and reliable, ready to be introduced as a clinical and research tool for the assessment of patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis.
An 18-Month-Old Child Suffering From Achalasia Cardia Successfully Treated With Pneumatic Dilation
Authors: Rashid Rafia , Arfin Md. Samsul , Alam Muhammad Baharul
Published: January 2023

Achalasia cardia is an idiopathic esophageal motility disorder. It is rare in children and infrequent in below school-going age groups. The “bird’s beak” appearance of the lower esophagus on the esophagogram (barium swallow) is a classical radiological finding in the cases of esophageal Achalasia. The goals of achalasia therapy are symptom relief and improvement of esophageal emptying to prevent megaesophagus. The most effective treatment options are pneumatic dilation and surgical myotomy (Heller’s myotomy). Pneumatic dilation is the initial treatment of choice and does not preclude myotomy. Here, we present our experience with a young child with achalasia cardia that was successfully treated with pneumatic dilation.
Kaposi Sarcoma of the Gastrointestinal Tract in an Adolescent With AIDS
Authors: Judy Wesley C. , Griffith Elliot , Palomo Pablo , Denham Jolanda M. , Douglas-Lindsay Dorothea , Shao Lei , Cadilla Adriana , Donnelly Margaret , Franciosi James P.
Published: January 2023

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has not been reported in an adolescent outside of Africa. We present a 16-year homosexual old male with AIDS, cutaneous KS, pulmonary KS, and gastrointestinal KS (GI-KS) lesions. Eighty percent of patients with GI-KS are asymptomatic, but our patient presented with a month-long history of dysphagia, abdominal pain, and hematochezia. Endoscopy with biopsies revealed multiple KS lesions within the stomach and lower GI tract. This novel case demonstrates the importance of considering early endoscopic screening in immunocompromised adolescents with cutaneous KS to improve morbidity and mortality.
Taylor–Couette flow of hard-sphere suspensions: overview of current understanding
Authors: Baroudi Lina , Majji Madhu V. , Peluso Stephen , Morris Jeffrey F.
Published: January 2023

Although inertial particle-laden flows occur in a wide range of industrial and natural processes, there is both a lack of fundamental understanding of these flows and continuum-level governing equations needed to predict transport and particle distribution. Towards this effort, the Taylor–Couette flow (TCF) system has been used recently to study the flow behaviour of particle-laden fluids under inertia. This article provides an overview of experimental, theoretical and computational work related to the TCF of neutrally buoyant non-Brownian suspensions, with an emphasis on the effect of finite-sized particles on the series of flow transitions and flow structures. Particles, depending on their size and concentration, cause several significant deviations from Newtonian fluid behaviour, including shifting the Reynolds number corresponding to transitions in flow structure and changing the possible structures present in the flow. Furthermore, particles may also migrate depending on the flow structure, leading to hysteretic effects that further complicate the flow behaviour. The current state of theoretical and computational modelling efforts to describe the experimental observations is discussed, and suggestions for potential future directions to improve the fundamental understanding of inertial particle-laden flows are provided.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Taylor–Couette and related flows on the centennial of Taylor’s seminal
Philosophical Transactions
paper (part 1)’.
Exploring the origin of turbulent Taylor rolls
Authors: Jeganathan Vignesh , Alba Kamran , Ostilla-Mónico Rodolfo
Published: January 2023

Since Taylor’s seminal paper, the existence of large-scale quasi-axisymmetric structures has been a matter of interest when studying Taylor–Couette flow. In this article, we probe their formation in the highly turbulent regime by conducting a series of numerical simulations at a fixed Reynolds number

Re

s

=
3.6
×

10
4

while varying the Coriolis parameter to analyse the flow characteristics as the structures arise and dissipate. We show how the Coriolis force induces a one-way coupling between the radial and azimuthal velocity fields inside the boundary layer, but in the bulk, there is a two-way coupling that causes competing effects. We discuss how this complicates the analogy of narrow-gap Taylor–Couette to other convective flows. We then compare these statistics with a similar shear flow without no-slip boundary layers, showing how this double coupling causes very different effects. We finish by reflecting on the possible origins of turbulent Taylor rolls.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Taylor–Couette and related flows on the centennial of Taylor’s seminal
Philosophical Transactions
paper (part 1)’.
Thermoelectric instabilities in a circular Couette flow
Authors: Meyer A. , Yoshikawa H. N. , Szabo P. S. B. , Meier M. , Egbers C. , Mutabazi I.
Published: January 2023

The stability of a non-isothermal circular Couette flow is analyzed when subjected to a dielectrophoretic force field. Outward and inward heating configurations are considered when the inner cylinder is rotating and the outer cylinder is at rest. In addition, an alternating voltage is applied between the two cylinders to induce a radial electric buoyancy that acts on the dielectric fluid. The linear stability analysis provides the threshold for the first transition to instability, as well as the corresponding wavenumber and frequency of the modes.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Taylor–Couette and related flows on the centennial of Taylor’s seminalPhilosophical Transactionspaper (part 1)’.
Triclosan-resistant small-colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus produce less capsule, less phenol-soluble modulins, and are attenuated in a Galleria mellonella model of infection
Authors: Altwiley Dina , Brignoli Tarcisio , Duggan Seána , Massey Ruth C.
Published: January 2023

In recent work we identified genes that confer the slow-growing and antibiotic-resistant small-colony variant (SCV) form of

Staphylococcus aureus

, as associated with the amount of capsule the bacteria produce. In this study we isolated a triclosan-resistant SCV (tr-SCV) and demonstrated that it produces significantly less capsule, an effect that appears to be mediated at the transcriptional stage. As with other SCVs, we found that the tr-SCV produces less toxins, and when compared to both a capsule and an Agr mutant we found the tr-SCV to be significantly attenuated in an insect model of infection.
The Sinorhizobium meliloti NspS-MbaA system affects biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide production and motility in response to specific polyamines
Authors: Chávez-Jacobo Víctor M. , Becerra-Rivera Víctor A. , Guerrero Gabriela , Dunn Michael F.
Published: January 2023

We previously showed that specific polyamines (PAs) present in the extracellular environment markedly affect extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production, biofilm formation and motility in

Sinorhizobium meliloti

Rm8530. We hypothesized that extracellular PA signals were sensed and transduced by the NspS and MbaA proteins, respectively, which are homologs of the PA-sensing, c-di-GMP modulating NspS-MbaA proteins described in

Vibrio cholerae

. Here we show that the decrease in biofilm formation and EPS production in the quorum-sensing (QS)-deficient

S. meliloti

wild-type strain 1021 in cultures containing putrescine or spermine did not occur in a 1021 nspS mutant (1021 nspS). The transcriptional expression of nspS in strain 1021 was significantly increased in cultures containing either of these polyamines, but not by exogenous cadaverine, 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP), spermidine (Spd) or norspermidine (NSpd). Cell aggregation in liquid cultures did not differ markedly between strain 1021 and 1021 nspS in the presence or absence of PAs. The

S. meliloti

QS-proficient Rm8530 wild-type and nspS mutant (Rm8530 nspS) produced similar levels of biofilm under control conditions and 3.2- and 2.2-fold more biofilm, respectively, in cultures with NSpd, but these changes did not correlate with EPS production. Cells of Rm8530 nspS aggregated from two- to several-fold more than the wild-type in cultures without PAs or in those containing Spm. NSpd, Spd and DAP differently affected swimming and swarming motility in strains 1021 and Rm8530 and their respective nspS mutants. nspS transcription in strain Rm8530 was greatly reduced by exogenous Spm. Bioinformatic analysis revealed similar secondary structures and functional domains in the MbaA proteins of

S. meliloti

and

V. cholerae

, while their NspS proteins differed in some residues implicated in polyamine recognition in the latter species. NspS-MbaA homologs occur in a small subset of soil and aquatic bacterial species that commonly interact with eukaryotes. We speculate that the

S. meliloti

NspS-MbaA system modulates biofilm formation, EPS production and motility in response to environmental or host plant-produced PAs.
Food irradiation technology: Prospects and future
applications
Authors: Asghar Sawera , Ayub Haris , Khalid Nauman
Published: January 2023

Food irradiation technology (FIT) is a non-thermal processing that covers all
significant aspects of food processing and preservation such as shelf-life
extension, natural flavour maintenance, chemical-free preservation, and pathogen
reduction. Excessive irradiation dosages can have negative consequences on food,
which may include a reduction in functional and sensory qualities. On the other
hand, the standard dose can have a positive influence, such as phytosanitary
treatments, detoxifying aflatoxins, reducing pathogenic microorganism growth,
reducing allergenicity of food allergens and increasing the product’s
shelf life. Consumer acceptance, prejudice, incorrect information, stringent
legal and regulatory restrictions, and a subsequent unwillingness of food makers
and the food trade to employ the latest technology are all impediments to
FIT.