bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival and virulence of Acinetobacter baumannii in microbial mixtures
Authors: Tayabali Azam F. , Dirieh Yasmine , Groulx Emma , Elfarawi Nusaybah , Di Fruscio Sabrina , Melanson Kristina , Moteshareie Houman , Al-Gafari Mustafa , Navarro Martha , Bernatchez Stéphane , Demissie Zerihun , Anoop Valar
Published: September 2024

Acinetobacter species such as A. venetianus and A. guillouiae have been studied for various biotechnology applications, including bioremediation of recalcitrant and harmful environmental contaminants, as well as bioengineering of enzymes and diagnostic materials. Bacteria used in biotechnology are often combined with other microorganisms in mixtures to formulate efficacious commercial products. However, if the mixture contained a closely related Acinetobacter pathogen such as A. baumannii (Ab), it remains unclear whether the survival and virulence of Ab would be masked or augmented. This uncertainty poses a challenge in ensuring the safety of such biotechnology products, since Ab is one of the most significant pathogens for both hospital and community -acquired infections. This research aimed to investigate the growth and virulence of Ab within a mixture of 11 bacterial species formulated as a mock microbial mixture (MM). Growth challenges with environmental stressors (i.e., temperature, pH, sodium, iron, and antibiotics) revealed that Ab could thrive under diverse conditions except in the presence of ciprofloxacin. When cultured alone, Ab exhibited significantly more growth in the presence of almost all the environmental stressors than when it was co-incubated with the MM. During the exposure of A549 lung epithelial cells to the MM, Ab growth was stimulated compared to that in standard mammalian culture media. Cytotoxicity caused by Ab was suppressed in the presence of the MM. Lymphocytes were significantly reduced in mice exposed to Ab with or without MM via intravenous injection. The levels of the splenic cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and MIP-1α were significantly reduced 24 h after exposure to Ab + MM. This study demonstrated that the presence of the MM marginally but significantly reduced the growth and virulence of Ab, which has implications for the safety of mixtures of microorganisms for biotechnological applications. Furthermore, these findings expand our understanding of the virulence of Ab during host–pathogen interactions.
​Fusarium Protein Toolkit: a web-based resource for structural and variant analysis of Fusarium species
Authors: Kim Hye-Seon , Haley Olivia C. , Portwood II John L. , Harding Stephen , Proctor Robert H. , Woodhouse Margaret R. , Sen Taner Z. , Andorf Carson M.
Published: September 2024

Background

​​The genus Fusarium poses significant threats to food security and safety worldwide because numerous species of the fungus cause destructive diseases and/or mycotoxin contamination in crops. The adverse effects of climate change are exacerbating some existing threats and causing new problems. These challenges highlight the need for innovative solutions, including the development of advanced tools to identify targets for control strategies.

Description

In response to these challenges, we developed the Fusarium Protein Toolkit (FPT), a web-based tool that allows users to interrogate the structural and variant landscape within the Fusarium pan-genome. The tool displays both AlphaFold and ESMFold-generated protein structure models from six Fusarium species. The structures are accessible through a user-friendly web portal and facilitate comparative analysis, functional annotation inference, and identification of related protein structures. Using a protein language model, FPT predicts the impact of over 270 million coding variants in two of the most agriculturally important species, Fusarium graminearum and F. verticillioides. To facilitate the assessment of naturally occurring genetic variation, FPT provides variant effect scores for proteins in a Fusarium pan-genome based on 22 diverse species. The scores indicate potential functional consequences of amino acid substitutions and are displayed as intuitive heatmaps using the PanEffect framework.

Conclusion

FPT fills a knowledge gap by providing previously unavailable tools to assess structural and missense variation in proteins produced by Fusarium. FPT has the potential to deepen our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms in Fusarium, and aid the identification of genetic targets for control strategies that reduce crop diseases and mycotoxin contamination. Such targets are vital to solving the agricultural problems incited by Fusarium, particularly evolving threats resulting from climate change. Thus, FPT has the potential to contribute to improving food security and safety worldwide.
Genome-wide transcriptome and gene family analysis reveal candidate genes associated with potassium uptake of maize colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Authors: Xu Yunjian , Yan Yixiu , Zhou Tianyi , Chun Jianhui , Tu Yuanchao , Yang Xinyu , Qin Jie , Ou Luyan , Ye Liang , Liu Fang
Published: September 2024

Background

Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and development. Maize (Zea mays) is a widely planted crops in the world and requires a huge amount of K fertilizer. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are closely related to the K uptake of maize. Genetic improvement of maize K utilization efficiency will require elucidating the molecular mechanisms of maize K uptake through the mycorrhizal pathway. Here, we employed transcriptome and gene family analysis to elucidate the mechanism influencing the K uptake and utilization efficiency of mycorrhizal maize.

Methods and results

The transcriptomes of maize were studied with and without AMF inoculation and under different K conditions. AM symbiosis increased the K concentration and dry weight of maize plants. RNA sequencing revealed that genes associated with the activity of the apoplast and nutrient reservoir were significantly enriched in mycorrhizal roots under low-K conditions but not under high-K conditions. Weighted gene correlation network analysis revealed that three modules were strongly correlated with K content. Twenty-one hub genes enriched in pathways associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and anthocyanin biosynthesis were further identified. In general, these hub genes were upregulated in AMF-colonized roots under low-K conditions. Additionally, the members of 14 gene families associated with K obtain were identified (ARF: 38, ILK: 4, RBOH: 12, RUPO: 20, MAPKK: 89, CBL: 14, CIPK: 44, CPK: 40, PIN: 10, MYB: 174, NPF: 79, KT: 19, HAK/HKT/KUP: 38, and CPA: 8) from maize. The transcript levels of these genes showed that 92 genes (ARF:6, CBL:5, CIPK:13, CPK:2, HAK/HKT/KUP:7, PIN:2, MYB:26, NPF:16, RBOH:1, MAPKK:12 and RUPO:2) were upregulated with AM symbiosis under low-K conditions.

Conclusions

This study indicated that AMF increase the resistance of maize to low-K stress by regulating K uptake at the gene transcription level. Our findings provide a genome-level resource for the functional assignment of genes regulated by K treatment and AM symbiosis in K uptake-related gene families in maize. This may contribute to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of maize response to low K stress with AMF inoculation, and provided a theoretical basis for AMF application in the crop field.
The associations between social support and mental health among Chinese immigrant pregnant and parenting women
Authors: Tian Grace , Rojas Natalia M. , Norton Jennifer M. , Barajas-Gonzalez R. Gabriela , Montesdeoca Jacqueline , Kerker Bonnie D.
Published: September 2024

Background

While it is recognized that social support can alleviate mental health symptoms, this relationship is not well-understood among Chinese pregnant and parenting immigrants in the United States. This study aims to bridge this gap by exploring the relationships between different types of social support and women’s anxiety and depression, and examining how these associations vary with pregnancy status.

Methods

Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Simplified Chinese or Mandarin between March-June 2021 among 526 women who were pregnant and/or parenting a child under five years. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety, Depression, and Social Support scales were used to measure anxiety, depression, and social support levels. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson’s correlations were employed for analysis. Hierarchical regression was conducted to investigate the main and interaction effects of social support types and pregnancy status on mental health outcomes.

Results

Compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women reported higher mean scores for anxiety (non-pregnant: 55, pregnant: 59, p < 0.01) and depression (non-pregnant: 54, pregnant: 56, p = 0.02). Instrumental support displayed a significant main effect in relation to anxiety (β=-0.13, p = 0.01) and depression (β=-0.16, p < 0.01); emotional support exhibited a significant main effect solely on depression (β=-0.13, p = 0.01). Notably, the interaction effects between pregnancy status and both instrumental (β=-0.28, p = 0.01) and emotional support (β=-0.42, p < 0.01) were significant for anxiety. In contrast, informational support did not exhibit a significant impact on either anxiety or depression.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that tailoring support to the cultural context is crucial, especially for pregnant women in this Chinese immigrant community, with instrumental and emotional support being particularly beneficial in mitigating maternal anxiety.
The state of decentralization of the healthcare system and nutrition programs in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: an organizational study
Authors: Viphonephom Phonevilay , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Reinharz Daniel
Published: September 2024

Background

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), a lower-middle income country, has a higher malnutrition rate than other Southeast Asian countries. The decentralization of healthcare is a determinant of the effectiveness of programs to reduce malnutrition, but no study has focused on this factor in this country. This organizational study explores the state of decentralization of the healthcare system in Lao PDR that underlies the nutrition programs in the country.

Methods

A qualitative study, which is based on a neo-institutional theory conceptual framework, explored factors related to dominant structure (laws, regulations, resources) and interpretative schemes (dominant ideas and beliefs) that characterize the nutrition services provided in the Lao healthcare system. Twenty-four semistructured interviews were performed with representatives of healthcare institutions involved in nutrition programs at different government levels, external donors and civil society organizations. The interviews were completed with relevant documents. The analysis focused on the convergence of interpretative schemes of the organizations concerned and the coherence between the structure underpinning the nutrition programs and the interpretative schemes.

Results

Services deployed to reduce malnutrition in the Lao PDR remain largely centralized, despite factors specific to the country that led it to promote decentralization of its services. The convergence of interpretive schemes and the coherence between the observed structure and the interpretative schemes of actors at all governance levels ensure the stability of this state of decentralization, which has persisted for almost 50 years.

Conclusion

Nutrition programs in the Laos PDR are largely under the responsibility of the central government. The transformations in the healthcare system, notably with the use of new information technologies and the fact that the provinces are populated by a growing number of professionals trained in nutrition in addition to factors that push the system to be decentralized, such as ethnic diversity, the increasing availability of human resources in provinces, and the use of communication technologies, are not strong enough to change the balance of power between governance levels. The deconcentration that characterizes decentralization is therefore likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Impact of transportation in freshwater and brackish water on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) resistance
Authors: Abd El-Galil Mohamed Abd El Aziz Ahmed , Abd-Elaal Hassan Hala Ali Alsagheer , Abd Alhamed Ahmed Fatma Elzahraa , Abd Allah Mousa Mohamed , Emam Arafah M. , Osman Ahmed Elsayed
Published: September 2024

Background

Oreochromis niloticus has great economic value and potential for farming and development. Transportation of fish was done for breeding or trading purpose and it is a challenging aspect of aquaculture. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transportation in freshwater and brackish water on the resistance of O. niloticus as well as transportation stress mitigation effect of NaCl. Four equal groups were used; each of 50 fish, the 1st group served as the control (P 1), while the 2nd group (PT 2) was transported in water without salt, the 3rd (PT 3) and 4th (PT 4) groups were transported in water containing 5 gL− 1 and 10 gL− 1 salt respectively. PT 2, PT 3 and PT 4 were transported for 5 h without any rest or sedative drugs.

Results

The serum cortisol of O. niloticus significantly increased at 0 h and then decreased at 12 and 24 h post transportation in the PT 2 group and non-significantly increased at all point times in the PT 3 and PT 4 groups comparing to P 1 group. Mucin2 gene (MUC2) expression was non-significantly up regulated in the PT 2 group and down regulated in the PT 3 and PT 4 groups at 0 h comparing with P 1 group, but at 12 and 24 h it was significantly up regulated in the PT 2, PT 3 and PT 4 groups. The β Defensin-1 (β D1) and 2 (β D2) genes expression was non-significantly down-regulated in the PT 2 group and significantly up regulated in the PT 3 and PT 4 groups at 0 h., while at 12 and 24 h was significantly down regulated in the PT 2 group and non-significantly down regulated in the PT 3 and PT 4 groups, it significantly down regulated in the PT 2 and PT 3 group and non-significantly down regulated in the PT 4 group at 24 h. Non-significant up regulation in interleukin − 1β (IL-1β) gene expression was reported in the PT 2 group and non-significant down regulation in the PT 3 and PT 4 groups at 0 h. However, significant up regulation was recorded in the PT 2, PT 3 and PT 4 groups at 12 and 24 h. The Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF–α) gene expression was non-significantly up regulated in the PT 2 group and non-significantly down regulated in the PT 3 and PT 4 groups at 0 h. However, it was significantly up regulated in the PT 2, PT 3 and PT 4 groups at 12 and 24 h.

Conclusion

The results of this study confirmed the stressful effect of transportation on O. niloticus as well as the transportation stress mitigation effect of NaCl.
Milk yield prediction in Friesian cows using linear and flexible discriminant analysis under assumptions violations
Authors: Moawed Sherif A. , Mahrous Esraa , Elaswad Ahmed , Gouda Hagar F. , Fathy Ahmed
Published: September 2024

Background

The application of novel technologies is now widely used to assist in making optimal decisions. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and flexible discriminant analysis (FDA) in classifying and predicting Friesian cattle’s milk production into low ($$\:<$$4500 kg), medium (4500–7500 kg), and high ($$\:>$$7500 kg) categories. A total of 3793 lactation records from cows calved between 2009 and 2020 were collected to examine some predictors such as age at first calving (AFC), lactation order (LO), days open (DO), days in milk (DIM), dry period (DP), calving season (CFS), 305-day milk yield (305-MY), calving interval (CI), and total breeding per conception (TBRD).

Results

The comparison between LDA and FDA models was based on the significance of coefficients, total accuracy, sensitivity, precision, and F1-score. The LDA results revealed that DIM and 305-MY were the significant (P < 0.001) contributors for data classification, while the FDA was a lactation order. Classification accuracy results showed that the FDA model performed better than the LDA model in expressing accuracies of correctly classified cases as well as overall classification accuracy of milk yield. The FDA model outperformed LDA in both accuracy and F1-score. It achieved an accuracy of 82% compared to LDA’s 71%. Similarly, the F1-score improved from a range of 0.667 to 0.79 for LDA to a higher range of 0.81 to 0.83 for FDA.

Conclusion

The findings of this study demonstrated that FDA was more resistant than LDA in case of assumption violations. Furthermore, the current study showed the feasibility and efficacy of LDA and FDA in interpreting and predicting livestock datasets.
Fetal malnutrition among neonates in African countries: a CAN score systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mussa Ibsa , Debella Adera , Maruta Melat B. , Getachew Tamirat , Regassa Lemma Demissie , Gamachu Mulugeta , Deressa Alemayehu , Mohammed Fethia , Birhanu Abdi , Fekredin Zakaria Hamdi , Eyeberu Addis
Published: September 2024

Background

To reduce neonatal mortality, it is necessary to identify neonates with fetal malnutrition at birth using the clinical assessment score (CAN score). Furthermore, comprehensive summary data that shows burden of fetal malnutrition in Africa is scarce. As a result, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess fetal malnutrition among newborns in Africa.

Method

The PRISMA guidelines were used for this study. Articles were obtained from databases and websites. The outcome of the study was fetal malnutrition, as determined using the CAN score. The meta-analysis of the primary and secondary outcomes was performed using Stata version 18 statistical software. The pooled prevalence with a 95% CI was estimated using the random effect method with the Der Simonian Liard model.

Results

This meta-analysis and systematic review included 5356 newborns from 13 studies. The pooled prevalence of fetal malnutrition (FM) among newborns diagnosed using the CAN score in Africa was 19% [95% CI: 17, 22]. Based on subgroup analysis by publication year, the lowest prevalence of fetal malnutrition 17% (95% CI: 9–27) was observed in the studies published in the years 2020–2023. Maternal and fetal factors were significantly associated with fetal malnutrition.

Conclusion

Nearly one-fifth of neonates delivered in Africa were found to have fetal malnutrition based on the clinical evaluation of nutritional status. It has also been established that maternal malnutrition, a lack of proper treatment during pregnancy, maternal malnutrition, and newborn morbidities were associated with fetal malnutrition. To prevent fetal malnutrition, integrated efforts should be made for early maternal infection screening. Furthermore, maternal nutritional therapy should be explored for malnourished pregnant women.
Aggressive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering for primary prevention: still an elusive goal
Authors: Sepehrinia Matin , Homayounfar Reza , Farjam Mojtaba
Published: September 2024

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality globally. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays an important role in CVD pathophysiology. Research has shown the safety and efficacy of keeping LDL at very low levels for CVD prevention. Therefore, experts recommend intense LDL-lowering approaches starting at young ages, promoting the mantras “the lower, the better” and “the earlier, the better.” This commentary discusses the challenges regarding applying aggressive LDL-lowering approaches in the general population, including pharmacological efficacy and side effects, the cost-effectiveness of interventions, and patient adherence to treatment regimens.
A scoping review of health literacy in rare disorders: key issues and research directions
Authors: Stenberg Una , Westfal Lydia , Dybesland Rosenberger Andreas , Ørstavik Kristin , Flink Maria , Holmen Heidi , Systad Silje , Westermann Karl Fredrik , Velvin Gry
Published: September 2024

Background

The ability to find, understand, appraise and utilise health information is crucial among individuals living with rare disorders. The aim of this study was to give a comprehensive overview of the literature on health literacy in adult persons with rare disorders.

Methods

We applied a scoping review methodology and performed a systematic search in 2021 in bibliographic databases. Searches were conducted in Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycInfo (Ovid), CINAHL (ebsco), and ERIC (Ovid). References were sorted and evaluated for inclusion using EndNote and Covidence. This review was guided by the question “What are the characteristics of research on health literacy in rare disorders?”

Results

The database searches yielded 75 eligible reports. A total of 6223 individuals with rare disorders were represented alongside 1707 caregivers. The reports in this review have included study participants representing a total of 80 different rare disorders with unique ORPHA and ICD-10 codes. The results revealed that persons with rare disorders often exhibit gaps in health literacy through a lack of knowledge and access to information related to self-management, their own diagnosis and health, as well as daily coping and social rights. In addition, the importance of aid and information from healthcare personnel and the significance of getting social support from others in the same situation were accentuated.

Conclusion

This review emphasizes the importance of reinforcing health literacy among persons with rare disorders through peer support and education. This is the first review to give a comprehensive and state-of-the-art overview of literature investigating health literacy among persons with rare disorders and offers a basis for further research.
Health service utilization, economic burden and quality of life of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis in China
Authors: Kang Qi , Fang Yuhang , Yang Yan , Li Dingguo , Zheng Lin , Chen Xinyi , Tu Xiaowen , Jin Chunlin
Published: September 2024

Background

Patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) often face delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options and high healthcare costs, that may significantly affect patients' quality of life. The objective of this study was to understand medical service utilization related to diagnosis and treatment, economic burden during diagnosis period, and health-related quality of life among MPS patients in China.

Methods

A series of patients diagnosed with MPS registered in the national patient organization were recruited for a cross-sectional survey from May to July 2019. Information were collected from patients or their parents via phone interview, including demographic data, utilization of services related to diagnosis and treatment, total cost during the period of MPS diagnosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL was assessed by PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scale (PedsQL) and 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) depending on the age of patients with MPS and compared with the general Chinese population.

Results

A total of 180 MPS patients (50, 67, 15, 46, 1 and 1 for type I, II, III, IV, VI and VII), with a mean age of 9.54 years and 137 (76.11%) males, were included in analysis. The mean age at first visit to a medical doctor for MPS related symptoms was 3.65 ± 2.58 years old, while only 12 patients (6.67%) were diagnosed on their first visit. The mean diagnostic delay, which is defined as the time between the first visit to a medical doctor for MPS related symptoms and the final diagnosis, was 9.42 months, with no significant difference between types. The average number of misdiagnosis was 4.56. Before the confirmed diagnosis, the patients made an average of 6.31 visits and visited 4.3 hospitals. During diagnosis period, the mean of ¥81,086.72 direct medical costs accounted for 63.75% of the total cost. Only 32.78% of the patients had ever received specific treatments. The mean scores of PedsQL and SF-36 of patients were significantly lower than the Chinese norms. Household annual income per person, specific treatment use and MPS subtype were significantly associated HRQoL of patients.

Conclusion

The results highlight challenges faced by MPS patients in terms of diagnosis, access to specific treatments, economic burden and low HRQoL. There is an urgent need to improve early detection and diagnosis, create fair and consistent mechanisms to increase access to specialized treatment and reduce the economic burden of MPS patients in China.
CSF neurogranin levels as a biomarker in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Jurasova Vanesa , Andel Ross , Katonova Alzbeta , Veverova Katerina , Zuntychova Terezie , Horakova Hana , Vyhnalek Martin , Kolarova Tereza , Matoska Vaclav , Blennow Kaj , Hort Jakub
Published: September 2024

Background

There is initial evidence suggesting that biomarker neurogranin (Ng) may distinguish Alzheimer’s disease (AD) from other neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, we assessed (a) the discriminant ability of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Ng levels to distinguish between AD and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) pathology and between different stages within the same disease, (b) the relationship between Ng levels and cognitive performance in both AD and FTLD pathology, and (c) whether CSF Ng levels vary by apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism in the AD continuum.

Methods

Participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) (n = 33), amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) due to AD (n = 109), AD dementia (n = 67), MCI due to FTLD (n = 25), and FTLD dementia (n = 29) were recruited from the Czech Brain Aging Study. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) assessed Ng levels in diagnostic subgroups. Linear regressions evaluated the relationship between CSF Ng levels, memory scores, and APOE polymorphism.

Results

Ng levels were higher in aMCI-AD patients compared to MCI-FTLD (F[1, 134] = 15.16, p < .001), and in AD-dementia compared to FTLD-dementia (F[1, 96] = 4.60, p = .029). Additionally, Ng levels were higher in FTLD-dementia patients compared to MCI-FTLD (F[1, 54]= 4.35, p = .034), lower in SCD participants compared to aMCI-AD (F[1, 142] = 10.72, p = .001) and AD-dementia (F[1, 100] = 20.90, p < .001), and did not differ between SCD participants and MCI-FTLD (F[1, 58]= 1.02, p = .491) or FTLD-dementia (F[1, 62]= 2.27, p = .051). The main effect of diagnosis across the diagnostic subgroups on Aβ1−42/Ng ratio was significant too (F[4, 263]=, p < .001). We found a non-significant association between Ng levels and memory scores overall (β=-0.25, p = .154) or in AD diagnostic subgroups, and non-significant differences in this association between overall AD APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers (β=-0.32, p = .358).

Conclusions

In this first study to-date to assess MCI and dementia due to AD or FTLD within one study, elevated CSF Ng appears to be an early biomarker of AD-related impairment, but its role as a biomarker appears to diminish after dementia diagnosis, whereby dementia-related underlying processes in AD and FTLD may begin to merge. The Aβ1−42/Ng ratio discriminated AD from FTLD patients better than Ng alone. CSF Ng levels were not related to memory in AD or FTLD, suggesting that Ng may be a marker of the biological signs of disease state rather than cognitive deficits.
The initiation and early development of apical–basal polarity in Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Arias Padilla Luisa F. , Munera Lopez Jonathan , Shibata Aika , Murray John M. , Hu Ke
Published: September 2024

The body plan of the human parasite Toxoplasma gondii has a well-defined polarity. The minus ends of the 22 cortical microtubules are anchored to the apical polar ring, which is a putative microtubule-organizing center. The basal complex caps and constricts the parasite posterior end and is crucial for cytokinesis. How this apical–basal polarity is initiated is unknown. Here, we have examined the development of the apical polar ring and the basal complex using expansion microscopy. We found that substructures in the apical polar ring have different sensitivities to perturbations. In addition, apical–basal differentiation is already established upon nucleation of the cortical microtubule array: arc forms of the apical polar ring and basal complex associate with opposite ends of the microtubules. As the nascent daughter framework grows towards the centrioles, the apical and basal arcs co-develop ahead of the microtubule array. Finally, two apical polar ring components, APR2 and KinesinA, act synergistically. The removal of individual proteins has a modest impact on the lytic cycle. However, the loss of both proteins results in abnormalities in the microtubule array and in highly reduced plaquing and invasion efficiency.
Hydration layer dynamics and association mechanisms of food and antifreeze proteins
Authors: Μπροτζάκης Ζαχαρίας-Φαίδων
Published: September 2024

Δισεκατομμύρια γεγονότα αλληλεπιδράσεων πρωτεϊνών συμβαίνουν στο σώμα μας ανά μονάδα χρόνου, όπως αυτά που ρυθμίζουν την κυτταρική επικοινωνία, τα ενδοκυτταρικά μονοπάτια σηματοδότησης ή την έναρξη της διαδικασίας αυτοσυναρμολόγησης (self-assembly), όπως η κατασκευή ιστών, κ.λπ. Ο χρόνος τέτοιων διεργασιών/μεταβάσεων είναι αργός (μs-s), σε σύγκριση με τις δονήσεις ατόμων (fs), κινήσεις αμινοξικών πλευρικών αλυσίδας (ps-ns) και τέτοια συμβάντα ονομάζονται σπάνια. Η αιτία αυτού του εύρους χρονικών διεργασιών είναι ότι οι αλληλεπιδράσεις των πρωτεΐνη ή/και του διαλύτης πρέπει να διαταραχθούν και να αναδημιουργηθούν προκειμένου να πραγματοποιηθούν πιο σπάνιες διεργασίες/μεταβάσεις. Γνώση των ατομικιστικών αλληλεπιδράσεων αλλά και των αντίστοιχων σπάνιων μεταβάσεων είναι ζωτικής σημασίας για την κατανόηση και τον έλεγχο τους μέσω πειραμάτων. Το νερό είναι σημαντικός παράγοντας που διευκολύνει την αναδίπλωση των πρωτεϊνών, συμμετέχει στην αναγνώριση κρυστάλλων πάγου (αντιπηκτικές πρωτεΐνες) και διαμεσολαβεί τις αλληλεπιδράσεων πρωτεϊνών. Ο στόχος της διδακτορικής διατριβής είναι τριπλός. Πρώτα για να κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα τον ρόλο της δομής και δυναμικής του νερού στη στοιβάδα ενυδάτωσης μεμονωμένων πρωτεϊνών, δεύτερον για να κατανοήσουμε το μηχανισμό πρόσδεσης και τα πρώτα βήματα του μηχανισμού αυτοσυναρμολόγησης διατροφικών και αντιψυκτικών πρωτεϊνών, και τρίτον να κατανοήσουν τον ρόλο του νερού αυτών των μηχανισμών. Χρησιμοποιώντας προσομοιώσεις μοριακής δυναμικής, είμαστε σε θέση να διερευνήσουμε και να συσχετίσουμε τη δομή δεσμών υδρογόνου (παράμετρος τετράεδρής τάξης) με τη δυναμική αναπροσανατολισμού του νερού γύρω από υδρόφιλες και υδρόφοβες πρωτεϊνικές ομάδες, καθώς και την επίδραση της πρωτεϊνικής αναδίπλωσης στη δυναμική του νερού. Επιπλέον, με τη χρήση Δειγματοληψίας Μεταβατικών Τροχιών (Transition Path Sampling) και Μοριακής Δυναμικής (Molecular Dynamics) μελετούμε ατομιστικά το μηχανισμό αυτοσυναρμολόγησης αντιπηκτικών πεπτιδίων σε νανοσωληνίσκους, καθώς και τη θερμοδυναμική σταθερότητά τους σε συνάρτηση με το μέγεθος τους. Τέλος, μελετήσαμε τον μηχανισμό διμερισμού σφαιρικών πρωτεϊνών, χαρακτηρίσαμε τις σημαντικές αλληλεπιδράσεις που καταλύουν τη διεργασία καθώς και το ρόλο του νερού ως συντεταγμένης αντίδρασης κατά τη συσσωμάτωση του διμερούς. Αυτό έγινε εφικτό με την ανάπτυξη και χρήση καινοτόμας υπολογιστικής μεθοδολογίας Μοντε Καρλο δειγματοληψίας μεταβατικών τροχιών η οποία δειγματοληπτεί αποτελεσματικά σπάνιες μοριακές μεταβάσεις (με ασύμμετρα ενεργειακά φράγματα) που δίνει ταυτόχρονα πρόσβαση στην περιοχή μεταβατικής κατάστασης (transition state region).
Fear of malignant fungating wounds
Authors: Eyres Jacqueline
Published: September 2024

Background:

The poor prognosis and clinical presentation of malignant fungating wounds (MFWs) can lead to service users experiencing various dimensions of fear.

Aim:

This article encourages district nurses (DNs) to explore the psychological factors associated with MFWs in the community setting.

Method:

The reviewed literature discusses DN practice, with supplementary sources utilised to provide a wider perspective on the multifaceted nature of the subject.

Findings:

Guidelines advocate that DNs should promptly initiate dialogue to address fears, establish trust and enable service users with MFWs to express concerns, thus facilitating a holistic provision of care. It is crucial to leverage the multidisciplinary team and engage with other agencies to provide support for service users. Effective leadership qualities play a vital role in initiating practice changes that ultimately benefit service users, while also considering clinical governance aspects.
Studying infancy
Authors: Willis Richard
Published: September 2024

Richard Willis, visiting professor at the University of South Wales, reviews a book which showcases up-to-date theoretical work currently being produced within the field of childhood studies
UAV-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping to Segment Individual Apple Tree Row Based on Geometrical Features of Poles and Colored Point Cloud
Authors: Mao Wulan , Murengami Bryan , Jiang Hanhui , Li Rui , He Long , Fu Longsheng
Published: September 2024

Highlights

Integrating RGB values and 3D coordinates of fruit trees provided phenotype-related data.

The use of point clouds projection in tree rows segmentation has been confirmed.

Using geometric features increased the accuracy of removing poles in an orchard.

Segmenting fruit trees after removing poles on a single tree row was more accurate than traditional segmentation method.

UAV equipped with LiDAR and a camera is promising for orchard high-throughput phenotyping.

Abstract. High-throughput phenotyping (HTP) of fruit trees is important for providing crop geometrical information to evaluate their high yield genotypes. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is suitable for HTP by obtaining remote sensing data of large modern apple orchards, where each tree row needs to be segmented before segmenting a single tree. This study aims to develop a method for segmenting each row without noise (ERWON) of apple trees based on integrating RGB values and three-dimensional coordinates by UAV. A robust, real-time, RGB-colored, and LiDAR-inertial-visual tightly-coupled state estimation network was used to form a dense map of the orchard, which provided datasets of colored point clouds. Supporting poles were removed from the point clouds based on the consistent number of half upper parts and lower parts. Random sampling and an effective local feature aggregator were trained to segment ERWON after pole segmentation. Results showed that a precision of 0.971, a recall of 0.984, and an intersection-over-union of 0.817 for ERWON segmentation were achieved. This method proposed a potential solution for addressing the challenge of accurately and efficiently segmenting ERWON in large orchards. It is expected to be helpful for obtaining general parameters, such as geometric, morphological, and textural characteristics, as well as more specific parameters relevant to a particular phenotyping task. Keywords: Apple trees, Detection, Point cloud, RGB-colored, Segmentation.
Life-Threatening Transfusion Reaction in Post-operative Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Unique Case and Comprehensive Insights
Authors:   Department of Orthopedics, Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Gohil Kushal , Gawhale Sangeet ,   Department of Orthopedics, Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Ghag Niranjan Sunil ,   Department of Orthopedics, Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Chavan Karthik Subhas ,   Department of Orthopedics, Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India., Surjuse Abhay Sudam ,   Department of Orthopedics, Grant Government Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Blood transfusions are essential for managing blood loss in surgical patients but can lead to life-threatening reactions. This report presents a severe transfusion reaction in a post-operative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patient, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring and timely intervention. Case Report: A 70-year-old male with a history of bilateral knee pain underwent right-sided TKA. Pre-operative evaluations were normal. Post-surgery, significant blood loss led to a one-pint-packed red blood cell transfusion. The patient developed fever, chills, palpitations, and rapid breathing, indicating a transfusion reaction. Despite immediate treatment, the patient’s condition deteriorated, requiring intensive care unit admission. Complications included acute kidney injury, metabolic acidosis, thrombocytopenia, pleural effusion, and aspiration pneumonitis. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome developed, necessitating hemodialysis. Despite comprehensive care, the patient passed away. Conclusion: This case highlights the critical need for rigorous pre-transfusion screening, vigilant monitoring, and immediate intervention in managing severe transfusion reactions in post-operative TKA patients. Comprehensive patient care strategies are essential to mitigate the multifocal complications associated with transfusion reactions. Additional research is needed to understand and prevent such life-threatening reactions. Keywords: Total knee arthroplasty, transfusion reaction, acute kidney injury, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, patient monitoring.
“From the Cabinets of mere vertuosi into the busy world”: Thomas Pennant’s Natural Philosophical Networks and the Creation of British Zoology , 1752–1766
Authors: Jones Ffion Mair , Beeley Philip , Ryan Yann
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: The essay investigates the work of the Welsh natural historian Thomas Pennant from 1752 up to his 1765 tour of Continental Europe and the completed publication of his first major scientific work, British Zoology , a year later. It focuses thereby on a time when Pennant actively sought correspondences with naturalists within Britain and abroad and created an extensive network that included figures such as Benjamin Stillingfleet, Emanuel Mendes da Costa, and Carl Linnaeus. Working with rich metadata drawn from Pennant’s correspondence, the essay seeks to gain a deeper understanding of how the epistolary medium fed into his scientific oeuvre and contributed to establishing his name on the Continent as a British virtuoso of the highest rank. Light is thrown on the etiquette and practicalities of specimen exchange against the backdrop of European wars, the roles played by British and European learned societies, and the importance of book exchange, including the effort to expand the boundaries of knowledge through the acquisition of new publications.
Afterword: Looking Forward to Networking the Early Modern World of Epistolary Contact
Authors: van Miert Dirk
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT: Although historical network research has been part of historical research for decades, the rise of the internet has raised awareness of the digital and quantitative possibilities of network analysis. The data and methods supplied and applied in the essays collected in this special issue show that these promises are now starting to be fulfilled. However, current research still struggles to move beyond case studies into large-scale assessments. Burdensome datafication will allow us to link data and critically assess our archives in descriptive modes, but is also a condition for the application of more analytical tools and artificial intelligence.
Quevedo "redivivo" en una sátira política inédita a favor de Juan José de Austria
Authors: Plata Parga Fernando
Published: September 2024

Resumen: Edición crítica, con introducción y notas, de una sátira política en verso inédita y anónima compuesta en 1669. El locutor es Quevedo, quien hace un alegato en favor de la legitimidad de Juan José de Austria, hijo de Felipe IV, y un ataque al valimiento de Nithard, recién caído, todo ello en el marco del pulso político entre don Juan José y Mariana de Austria en la primera mitad de ese año.
Sensibilização intercultural no ensino de linguacultura brasileira para estrangeiros (LCBE)
Authors: Da Silva Amorim Marcelo , Barbosa Ricardo Alexandre Peixoto , De Souza Dayana Bento
Published: September 2024

Resumo: Este artigo reflete o trabalho desenvolvido no curso aqui referido como TCEPLE, ofertado em uma Instituição de Ensino Superior Federal no Brasil, com o intuito de promover formação complementar a discentes de graduação com interesse em atuar no ensino de português para estrangeiros. Objetivamos discutir e compreender três questões cruciais suscitadas ao longo da disciplina: o que os licenciandos entendem por aulas interculturalmente sensíveis; qual importância atribuem ao desenvolvimento desse tipo de aula no ensino de PLE; e que papéis julgam necessário o professor desempenhar em tais aulas. Para isso, adotaremos como fundamentação teórica os trabalhos de Kramsch, Byram e Bennett, dentre outros. Em termos metodológicos, descreveremos os momentos mais importantes do mencionado curso: a. recensão teórica sobre sensibilização, cultura e interculturalidade e b. elaboração de planos de aulas, desenvolvimento de microaulas e produção escrita dos licenciandos, cujos resultados, colhidos por meio de questionários, são aqui analisados e comentados. Preliminarmente, antecipamos que os licenciandos, futuros docentes, entendem que as aulas interculturalmente sensíveis abrangem uma ampla gama de comportamentos, atitudes e conhecimentos.
Richard Lynch, S.J. on the community of Being
Authors: Salas Victor
Published: September 2024

Abstract: This study considers the thought of Baroque Jesuit philosopher Richard Lynch regarding the community of being. Insofar as he extends the analogy of being to include not only real being but also beings of reason, some have suggested that Lynch embraces a supertranscendental conception of being. Such an account of being would ultimately construe being in terms of the "thinkable" or objectivity, rather than actual, extramental reality. The author argues that, despite his affirmation of the community of being, Lynch does not advance a supertranscendental metaphysics. The reason for this is the peculiar meaning he attributes to beings of reason, which, he thinks, are ultimately resolved in terms of real being. For Lynch, then, the community of being remains fixed to the structures of what is truly real.
F. H. Bradley and the Metaphysics of Nonreductive Physicalism
Authors: Morris Kevin
Published: September 2024

Abstract: With a few exceptions, F. H. Bradley has become a forgotten figure in the history of philosophy. The author argues that Bradley's thoughts on relations are at least relevant to assessing the status of nonreductive physicalism as a comprehensive metaphysic and, moreover, that they can be seen to raise some nontrivial challenges to nonreductive physicalism so understood. In pursuing this line of thought, he considers two of Bradley's regresses in Appearance and Reality —the better known "chain" regress and the lesser known "fission" regress—and explains their relevance to nonreductive physicalism.
Topical Influence: Reiterative Code-Switching in the Kufr Qassem Deaf Community
Authors: Stamp Rose , Omar-Hajdawood Duaa , Novogrodsky Rama
Published: September 2024

Abstract: Reiterative code-switching, when one lexical item from one language is produced immediately after a semantically equivalent lexical item in another language, is a frequent phenomenon in studies of language contact. Several spoken language studies suggest that reiteration functions as a form of accommodation, amplification (emphasis), reinforcement, or clarification; however, its function in sign language seems less clear. In this study, we investigate reiterative code-switching produced in semispontaneous conversations while manipulating two important factors: interlocutor and topic. Ten bilinguals of Kufr Qassem Sign Language (KQSL), a local sign language used in central Israel, and Israeli Sign Language (ISL), the national sign language of Israel, participated in a semispontaneous conversation task in three interlocutor conditions, with: (1) another bilingual, (2) a KQSL-dominant signer, and (3) an ISL-dominant signer. They were given "local" (e.g., traditions in Kufr Qassem) and "global" (e.g., travel) topics to discuss. A total of 673 code-switches were found in the data, of which sixty-seven were reiterative. Interlocutor was found to be a significant predictor of the presence of reiterative code-switching, with more reiterations observed when participants interacted with a KQSL-dominant signer or bilingual than with an ISL-dominant signer. These results suggest that reiteration serves an accommodative function. Yet, this does not explain reiterations found in the bilingual-bilingual condition. We show that, in these cases, reiteration plays other roles beyond accommodation, including amplification.
Interdigital waveguide grating antenna array for an optical phased array
Authors: Yuan Ye , Jiang Chenghao , Zhu Jingguo
Published: September 2024

To address the issues of beam divergence, emission loss, and field of view (FOV) limitation for an optical phased array (OPA), we propose a novel, to our knowledge, interdigital waveguide grating antenna (WGA) array. This array comprises four WGAs with varying etching periods, where antennas with identical periods are interleaved to achieve bidirectional scanning fields. By selecting antennas with different periods, the entire array enables longitudinal wide-field stitching scanning. Furthermore, to enhance directivity, the WGAs in the array utilize a Si3N4-Si dual-layer structure, breaking the vertical symmetry of traditional antennas to reduce light leakage to the substrate. As a result, a high directivity of 97.4% is achieved, with a waveguide emission length at 21.37 mm, and a far-field longitudinal divergence angle of 0.0037°. Ultimately, we simulate the pointing performance of the entire interdigital array. The results demonstrate a longitudinal scanning range of up to 103.44° with a tuning precision of 1.03°/nm.
Optics Continuum introduces Application Notes: editorial
Authors: Nunzi Conti Gualtiero , Dawes Judith M.
Published: September 2024

The Deputy Editor and the Editor-in-Chief of Optics Continuum announce a new paper category, Application Notes, for the journal.
Backtracking: Improved methods for identifying the source of a deliberate release of Bacillus anthracis from the temporal and spatial distribution of cases
Authors: Shingleton Joseph , Mustard David , Dyke Steven , Williams Hannah , Bennett Emma , Finnie Thomas
Published: September 2024

Reverse epidemiology is a mathematical modelling tool used to ascertain information about the source of a pathogen, given the spatial and temporal distribution of cases, hospitalisations and deaths. In the context of a deliberately released pathogen, such as Bacillus anthracis (the disease-causing organism of anthrax), this can allow responders to quickly identify the location and timing of the release, as well as other factors such as the strength of the release, and the realized wind speed and direction at release. These estimates can then be used to parameterise a predictive mechanistic model, allowing for estimation of the potential scale of the release, and to optimise the distribution of prophylaxis.

In this paper we present two novel approaches to reverse epidemiology, and demonstrate their utility in responding to a simulated deliberate release of B. anthracis in ten locations in the UK and compare these to the standard grid-search approach. The two methods—a modified MCMC and a Recurrent Convolutional Neural Network—are able to identify the source location and timing of the release with significantly better accuracy compared to the grid-search approach. Further, the neural network method is able to do inference on new data significantly quicker than either the grid-search or novel MCMC methods, allowing for rapid deployment in time-sensitive outbreaks.