bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting Sugar Balance as the Impact of Land-Use/Land-Cover Change Dynamics in a Sugarcane Producing Regency in East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Artikanur Salis Deris , Widiatmaka Widiatmaka , Setiawan Yudi , Marimin Marimin
Published: February 2022

Lamongan Regency is one of Indonesia’s regencies in Indonesia that contribute to the country’s sugarcane and sugar production. Land-use/land-cover changes (LULC) have happened in various areas, including Lamongan Regency in East Java, Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the impact of land-use/land-cover change (LULCC) in 2007–2031 on the sugar balance in the Lamongan Regency in 2031. The LULC forecast in 2031 was made using R studio using the CLUE-s function in the LULCC package. Following that, the sugar requirements and sugar balance in Lamongan Regency in 2031 were forecasts. The kappa accuracy of the LULC model tested in 2019 was 0.81 when using the CLUE-s model in R studio’s LULCC package. The findings of the LULC prediction in Lamongan Regency for 2031 indicated that there could be significant changes in LULC, resulting in an estimated reduction in 1,687.5 ha sugarcane, influenced by LULC competition for built-up areas. The Built-up areas in Lamongan Regency have exploded in size as a result of population. An increase in built-up areas and a reduction in sugarcane plantations as a result of LULCC are expected to diminish the sugar balance in Lamongan Regency by 10,470.76 tons in 2031 when compared to 2019. The results of this study can be utilized to prevent uncontrolled LULCC in the future to meet sugar needs in Lamongan Regency and at the national level.
Light Attraction in Carabid Beetles: Comparison Among Animals From the Inner City and a Dark Sky Reserve
Authors: Kaunath Vera , Eccard Jana A.
Published: February 2022

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is altering the behaviour of nocturnal animals in a manifold of ways. Nocturnal invertebrates are particularly affected, due to their fatal attraction to ALAN. This selective pressure has the potential to reduce the strength of the flight-to-light response in insects, as shown recently in a moth species. Here we investigated light attraction of ground beetles (Coleoptera:Carabidae). We compared among animals (three genera) from a highly light polluted (HLP) grassland in the centre of Berlin and animals collected at a low-polluted area in a Dark Sky Reserve (DSR), captured using odour bait. In an arena setting tested at night time, HLP beetles (n= 75 across all genera) showed a reduced attraction towards ALAN. Tested during daytime, HLP beetles were less active in an open field test (measured as latency to start moving), compared to DSR (n= 143). However, we did not observe a reduced attraction towards ALAN within the species most common at both sides,Calathus fuscipes(HLP = 37, DSR = 118 individuals) indicating that not all species may be equally affected by ALAN. Reduced attraction to ALAN in urban beetles may either be a result of phenotypic selection in each generation removing HLP individuals that are attracted to light, or an indication for ongoing evolutionary differentiation among city and rural populations in their light response. Reduced attraction to light sources may directly enhance survival and reproductive success of urban individuals. However, decrease in mobility may negatively influence dispersal, reproduction and foraging success, highlighting the selective pressure that light pollution may have on fitness, by shaping and modifying the behaviour of insects.
Quantifying Spillover of an Urban Invasive Vector of Plant Disease: Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri) in California Citrus
Authors: Bayles Brett R. , Thomas Shyam M. , Simmons Gregory S. , Daugherty Matthew P.
Published: February 2022

Urban environments frequently play an important role in the initial stages of biological invasions, often serving as gateways for non-native species, which may propagate to nearby natural and agricultural ecosystems in the event of spillover. In California, citrus trees are a dominant ornamental and food plant in urban and peri-urban environments. We studied the invasion dynamics of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), which became widespread in urban areas of southern California starting in 2008, to understand the factors driving its more recent invasion in commercial citrus groves. Using a multi-year monitoring database, we applied a suite of models to evaluate the rate at which groves accrued their firstD. citridetection and the cumulative number of detections thereafter. Grove characteristics and landscape context proved to be important, with generally higher invasion rates and more cumulative detections in groves that were larger, had more edge, or had more perforated shapes, with greater urbanization intensity favoring more rapid invasion, but with inconsistent effects of distance to roads among models. Notably, distance to urban or other grove occurrences proved to be among the most important variables. During the early phase ofD. citriinvasion in the region, groves closer to urban occurrences were invaded more rapidly, whereas more recently, invasion rate depended primarily on proximity to grove occurrences. Yet, proximity to urban and grove occurrences contributed positively to cumulativeD. citridetections, suggesting a continued influx from both sources. These results suggest that inherent features of agroecosystems and spatial coupling with urban ecosystems can be important, temporally dynamic, drivers of biological invasions. Further consideration of these issues may guide the development of strategic responses toD. citri's ongoing invasion.
Using Data-Limited Methods to Assess the Status of Bartail Flathead Platycephalus indicus Stocks in the Bohai and Yellow Seas
Authors: Zheng Lei , Wang Yuanchao , Liu Shude , Liang Cui , Xian Weiwei
Published: February 2022

We applied Catch and Maximum Sustainable Yield (CMSY), Bayesian Schaefer model (BSM), and Abundance Maximum Sustainable Yield (AMSY) methods to estimate the status of Platycephalus indicus stocks in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, assessed model performance, and determined the impact of priors derived from expert knowledge on the performance of each model. Results showed that P. indicus stock in the Bohai Sea had collapsed, while that in the Yellow Sea stock was recovering. With the input of an expert prior derived from the length-based Bayesian biomass (LBB) estimation method, the CIs of each model narrowed, but the changes in biomass trajectory were not significant, and the estimates of B/BMSY were differed compared with model results using default rules. These three models can be used to evaluate data-limited stocks to reflect stock dynamics when reliable inputs are available. However, the ranges of priors, which are preferably obtained from other stock assessment tools, should be carefully established.
Feedbacks Between Ocean Productivity and Organic Iron Complexation in Reaction to Changes in Ocean Iron Supply
Authors: Völker Christoph , Ye Ying
Published: February 2022

Low concentrations of iron, an important micronutrient for photosynthetic organisms, limit growth in large parts of the ocean. The solubility and availability of iron is to a large degree determined by organic iron-binding molecules, so-called ligands. While ligands come from a variety of sources, many of them are produced in autotrophic or heterotrophic production in the ocean, leading to the possibility of feedbacks between marine primary production and iron availability. The diversity of ligands, reaching from siderophores, small molecules involved in bacterial iron uptake, to breakdown products and long-lived macromolecules like humic substances, means that feedbacks could be both negative and positive or there may even be no feedback at all. Here we investigate first, how the cycling of this ligand pool can be described simplistically in a model such that it reproduces the observed global distribution of dissolved iron and phosphorus as closely as possible. We show that inclusion of a ligand similar to refractory dissolved organic carbon leads to an improved agreement to observations in our model. Inclusion of a second, shorter-lived siderophore-like ligand does not strongly affect this agreement. In a second step we then study how feedbacks affect how iron distribution and oceanic productivity react to changes in external supply of iron. We show that, to be consistent with present-day iron distribution, the dominant feedback is positive, increasing the sensitivity of global biological productivity and hence carbon cycling to changes in iron supply. The strength of the feedback increases with increasing ligand life-time. The negative feedback associated with siderophore-like ligands has the potential to mitigate the positive feedback, especially at the surface and for global export production, but more research on the production and decay of siderophores is needed for a better quantification. Ocean biogeochemical models that assume a constant ligand concentration and hence neglect possible feedbacks may therefore underestimate the reaction of the global carbon cycle to the strong increase in dust deposition under future or glacial climate conditions.
Assessment of Australian Sea Lion Bycatch Mortality in a Gillnet Fishery, and Implementation and Evaluation of an Effective Mitigation Strategy
Authors: Goldsworthy Simon D. , Page Brad , Hamer Derek J. , Lowther Andrew D. , Shaughnessy Peter D. , Hindell Mark A. , Burch Paul , Costa Daniel P. , Fowler Shannon L. , Peters Kristian , McIntosh Rebecca R. , Bailleul Frederic , Mackay Alice I. , Kirkwood Roger , Holman Dirk , Bryars Simon
Published: February 2022

Globally, the bycatch of marine mammals in fisheries represents the greatest source of human-caused mortality that threatens the sustainability of many populations and species. The Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is an endangered species, whose populations off South Australia (SA) have been subject to bycatch in a demersal gillnet fishery targeting sharks since the 1960s. A comprehensive assessment was undertaken of sea lion bycatch mortality that combined independent fishery observer data with species distribution models (underpinned by satellite tracking, abundance data and population modeling) to model the relationship between at-sea foraging effort and bycatch rate. Combined with the distribution of fishing effort, these models enabled the overall level of bycatch mortality to be estimated by age, sex and subpopulation, facilitating population viability analyses that indicated most subpopulations were declining, and subject to unsustainable levels of bycatch mortality. To reduce this mortality, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority implemented an Australian Sea Lion Management Strategy that included an independent observer program (ultimately 100% electronic monitoring of gillnet fishing off SA), permanent spatial gillnet closures around all sea lion breeding sites, bycatch mortality limits that triggered temporal (18 months) spatial closures when zone-specific bycatch trigger limits were reached, and incentives for gillnet fishers to switch to an alternate fishing method (longlines). The Strategy had immediate impacts on the fishery: it resulted in significant reductions in gillnet fishing effort and on the reported bycatch of sea lions. In the next decade, there was an estimated 98% reduction in sea lion bycatch mortality from gillnet interactions and an apparent stabilization of the decline in sea lion pup abundances at some impacted breeding sites. There was an almost complete transition in the fishery from gillnets to longlines, and fishing catches returned to pre-management levels. The successful implementation of management measures to mitigate sea lion bycatch mortality in the gillnet fishery off SA was rapid, science informed, adaptive, comprehensive, and backed by strong compliance and monitoring of the fishery. It provides an important case study which demonstrates how management measures can be effectively applied to mitigate bycatch mortality of marine mammals and other marine protected species.
AquaGWAS: A Genome-Wide Association Study Pipeline for Aquatic Animals and Its Application to Reference-Required and Reference-Free Genome-Wide Association Study for Abalone
Authors: Deng Chao , Peng Wenzhu , Ma Zhi , Ke Caihuan , You Weiwei , Wang Ying
Published: February 2022

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing industry that brings huge economic benefits. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is critical for aquaculture species’ productivity, sustainability, and product quality. The current integrated GWAS pipeline either includes only specific limited steps or requires a complex prerequisite environment and configurations. In this study, we developed AquaGWAS, a highly user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) GWAS pipeline, by integrating four well-known GWAS models. AquaGWAS is a complete GWAS pipeline from preprocessing, multiple choice of GWAS models, postprocessing to visualizations. AquaGWAS offers GUI easy running on Linux and automatically generates running command lines for high-performance computing (HPC) or non-GUI servers. AquaGWAS is free from installation, configurations, and complicated augment inputs. It offers whole packages of required reference files for 27 common aquatic species. Furthermore, aiming at the issue that the availability of genomic reference sequences limits single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection, we attempted to detect SNPs in Pacific abalone using classical alignment-based reference-required strategy and k-mer-based reference-free strategy combined with downstream AquaGWAS. On 222 resequencing data of Pacific abalone, two strategies detected 221,061 and 230,213 variants, respectively, with 180,161 common variants. The two strategies emphasized different variant situations: capturing variants missed by incomplete or inaccurate reference genomic sequence (k-mer-based) and capturing the indel variants having the baseline of genomic sequence (alignment-based). Combining the two strategies offers a complementary framework to obtain the accurate and complete GWAS analysis for non-model organism species. AquaGWAS is available at https://github.com/Ying-Lab/AquaGWAS.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Severe COVID-19 Associated With Sepsis and Septic Shock
Authors: Righetti Renato Fraga , Grams Samantha Torres , Costa Wesla Neves da Silva , Saraiva Leandro Teixeira , Salles Isabel Chateaubriand Diniz de , Yamaguti Wellington Pereira
Published: February 2022

Background

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be applied to critically ill patients. However, its results on muscle strength and functionality in patients with COVID-19 are unknown.

Objective

Evaluate the effects of intervention with NMES on muscle mass and functionality of patients with severe COVID-19 associated with sepsis and septic shock.

Methods

Seven patients with COVID-19 associated with sepsis or septic shock were selected, but only 5 patients completed all days of the intervention with NMES. The intervention was performed by a single physiotherapist on 7 consecutive days in a daily session of 40 min. The outcome measures were the femoris cross-sectional area; thickness of the anterior compartment of the quadriceps muscle; rectus femoris echogenicity; International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)-muscle strength; PFIT-s, DEMMI, and the SOMS; feasibility, and safety. The patients were evaluated on days 1, 5, and 8.

Results

The rectus femoris cross-sectional area decreased significantly from days 1 to 8, but showed maintenance of the thickness of the anterior compartment of the quadriceps muscle from days 1 to 8. The MRC score increased significantly from days 1 to 5 and kept this improvement until day 8. All patients showed an increase in the MRC score and reduction of the ICF-muscle strength, meaning improved muscle strength from days 1 to 8. The PFIT-s increased significantly from days 1 to 5 and improved until day 8 compared to day 5. DEMMI and SOMS score increased significantly on day 8 compared to days 1 and 5.

Conclusion

Rehabilitation with NMES showed improvement in muscle strength and functionality of patients in this study with a potential protective effect on muscle mass loss in patients with critical COVID-19 associated with sepsis and septic shock. This study is the first report of the potential effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients with severe COVID-19 associated with sepsis and septic shock.
Efficacy of Intravitreal Injection of Filtered Modified Low-Dose Triamcinolone Acetonide and Ranibizumab on Pseudophakic Cystoid Macular Edema
Authors: Tariq Farheen , Wang Yanfen , Ma Bo , He Yidan , Zhang Shu , Bai Ling
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To compare the visual and morphological effects between intravitreal injection of filtered modified 2 mg triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and 0. 5 mg ranibizumab in patients with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME).

Methods

A retrospective, interventional study was conducted from January 2015 to February 2020 involving patients with PCME after uneventful cataract surgery. A total of 25 patients (25 eyes) with PCME received an intravitreal injection of 0.22 μm filtered modified 2 mg TA, while 15 patients (15 eyes) received 0.5 mg ranibizumab injection. Central macular thickness (CMT), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), times of repeated injections, and other side effects were observed at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after injection; then, the data were compared with preinjection information in each group and between the two groups.

Results

Both the TA and ranibizumab intravitreal injection can achieve improved BCVA and reduced CMT in patients with PCME (P < 0.05), with a trend toward greater improvement in the TA group, but the difference was only significant at 3 months (P < 0.05). IOP was in the normal range without any significant difference (P > 0.05). Thirty-three percent of patients in the ranibizumab group required repeated intravitreal injection compared to 4% in the TA group. Further stratified analysis showed that the better therapeutic effect of the TA group at 3 months after injection only existed in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), while not in patients without DM. There was no repeat injection in the TA group and 12.5% in the ranibizumab group for patients without DM, while 16.7% in the TA group and 57.1% in the ranibizumab group required repeated injection for patients with DM, which had a significant difference (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Intravitreal injection of filtered modified 2 mg TA is safe, effective, and an inexpensive alternative to antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents for patients with PCME, especially for patients concurrently with DM. A large number of clinical randomized controlled studies along with long-term follow-up observations are needed.
High Frequency of Post-Transfusion Microchimerism Among Multi-Transfused Beta-Thalassemic Patients
Authors: Matsagos Spyridon , Verigou Evgenia , Kourakli Alexandra , Alexis Spyridon , Vrakas Spyridon , Argyropoulou Constantina , Lazaris Vasileios , Spyropoulou Panagiota , Labropoulou Vasiliki , Georgara Nicoletta , Lykouresi Maria , Karakantza Marina , Alepi Chrysoula , Symeonidis Argiris
Published: February 2022

Background

Transfusion-associated microchimerism implies the presence of allogeneic hematopoietic cells in an individual, following the transfusion of a blood product. It is a transfusion-related adverse effect/long-term consequence, which has not been well-investigated among regularly transfused patients with thalassemia.

Patients and Methods

We investigated 64 regularly transfused, homozygous β-thalassemic patients and 21 never-transfused healthy volunteer blood donors (controls) for the presence of microchimerism in their sera, using real-time PCR targeting circulating allogeneic, both, Human Leukocyte Antigen-DR isotype (HLA-DR) and non-HLA alleles. The investigation was longitudinally repeated in patient subsets for more than 2 years. Results were correlated with clinical and laboratory parameters, peripheral blood lymphocyte immunophenotype, blood storage time, and donor's gender to identify potential contributing factors for microchimerism generation.

Results

Overall, microchimerism was detected in 52 of the 64 patients (81.2%) and in 6 of the 21 controls (28.5%, p = 0.0001). Forty-four patients (68.7%) exhibited long-term microchimerism (persisted for more than 6 months), confirmed at all time-points investigated. Microchimerism was more frequent among elderly, women, splenectomized and more heavily transfused patients, and among those who exhibit higher serum ferritin levels. In these patients, a distinct descending pattern of CD16dim+CD56dim+ natural killer (NK)-cells (p < 0.001) and an ascending pattern of CD4+CD25brightCD127– regulatory T-cells (p = 0.022) for increasing allelic burden were noticed, suggesting the establishment of recipient immune tolerance against the donor-derived chimeric alleles. Both splenectomized and non-splenectomized thalassemic patients exhibited the same trend. The storage time of transfused blood products and donor/gender mismatch had no impact on the development of microchimerism.

Discussion-Conclusive Remarks

Transfusion-associated microchimerism appears to be a very common complication among multi-transfused thalassemic patients. The potential clinical consequences of this phenomenon remain as yet unclear. Immune tolerance attributed to disease itself and to repeated transfusions might at least in part explain its appearance.
Metaexoproteomics Reveals Microbial Behavior in the Ocean’s Interior
Authors: Xie Zhang-Xian , He Yan-Bin , Zhang Shu-Feng , Lin Lin , Wang Ming-Hua , Wang Da-Zhi
Published: February 2022

The proteins present in the extracellular environment of cells, named the “exoproteome,” are critical for microbial survival, growth, and interaction with their surroundings. However, little is known about microbial exoproteomes in natural marine environments. Here, we used a metaproteomic approach to characterize the exoprotein profiles (10 kDa-0.2 μm) throughout a water column in the South China Sea. Viruses, together with Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria were the predominant contributors. However, the exoprotein-producing microbial communities varied with depth: SAR11 in the shallow waters, Pseudomonadales and Nitrososphaeria in the mesopelagic layer, and Alteromonadales, Rhizobiales, and Betaproteobacteria in the bathypelagic layer. Besides viral and unknown proteins, diverse transporters contributed substantially to the exoproteomes and varied vertically in their microbial origins, but presented similar patterns in their predicted substrate identities throughout the water column. Other microbial metabolic processes subject to vertical zonation included proteolysis, the oxidation of ammonia, nitrite and carbon monoxide, C1 metabolism, and the degradation of sulfur-containing dissolved organic matter (DOM). Our metaexoproteomic study provides insights into the depth-variable trends in the in situ ecological traits of the marine microbial community hidden in the non-cellular world, including nutrient cycling, niche partitioning and DOM remineralization.
Strong Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Obtained by the Green Synthesis in Viridibacillus sp. Extracts
Authors: Singh Priyanka , Mijakovic Ivan
Published: February 2022

Recently, green silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs) have gained much attention in medical science due to their extraordinary effects against multidrug-resistant microorganisms. The strong antimicrobial nature of G-AgNPs corresponds to their unique physicochemical properties such as size, shape, surface charge, and active surface groups available to interact with the pathogens. The current study demonstrates a simple, environmentally friendly, and economical method to produce G-AgNPs from an environmental isolate of Viridibacillus sp. The produced G-AgNPs were characterized by various analytical methods, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), elemental mapping, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The reduction of Ag+ to Ag° was observed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, which demonstrated the formation of stable G-AgNPs with a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) band at the maximum of 430 nm. TEM analysis demonstrated that the G-AgNPs were spherical with a 5–30 nm size range. The produced G-AgNPs were stable for more than 1 year in an aqueous solution at 4°C. Importantly, G-AgNPs showed remarkable antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative pathogens- E. coli and P. aeruginosa with MIC values of 0.1 and 4 μg/mL and MBC values of 1 and 8 μg/mL, respectively. This level of antimicrobial activity is superior to other AgNPs reported in the literature.
Decreased Netrin-1 in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Ju Ting , Sun Lina , Fan Yuwei , Wang Tianhang , Liu Yanchen , Liu Dan , Liu Tianyi , Zhao Chang , Wang Wenxin , Chi Lijun
Published: February 2022

Background and Objective

Inflammatory mediators are closely associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Netrin-1 is an axon guidance protein and despite its capacity to function as a neuroimmune guidance signal, its role in AD or MCI is poorly understood. In addition, the association among netrin-1, cognitive impairment and serum inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis (TNF-α) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of IL-17, TNF-α and netrin-1in a cohort of AD and MCI patients, and to study the relationship between these cytokines and cognitive status, as well as to assess the possible relationships between netrin-1 levels and inflammatory molecules.

Methods

Serum concentrations of netrin-1, TNF-α and IL-17 were determined in 20 AD patients, 22 MCI patients and 22 healthy controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, neuropsychological evaluations and psychometric assessments were performed in all subjects.

Results

Serum netrin-1 levels were decreased in AD and MCI patients and were positively correlated with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. In contrast, serum TNF-α and IL-17 levels were elevated in AD and MCI cohorts and negatively correlated with MMSE scores. Serum netrin-1 levels were inversely related with TNF-α and IL-17 levels in AD, but not MCI, patients.

Conclusion

Based on the findings reported here, netrin-1 may serve as a marker for the early recognition of dementia and predict cognitive impairment.
Differential Probability Discounting Rates of Gamblers in an American Indian Population
Authors: Schneider Tadd D. , Gunville Jordyn A. , Papa Vlad B. , Brucks Morgan G. , Daley Christine M. , Martin Laura E. , Jarmolowicz David P.
Published: February 2022

Probability discounting, a subset of behavioral economic research, has a rich history of investigating choice behavior, especially as it pertains to risky decision making. Gambling involves both choice behavior and risky decision making which makes it an ideal behavior to investigate with discounting tasks. With proximity to a casino being one of the biggest risk factors, studies into the American Indian population have been a neglected population of study. Using outcome measures from a pre-scan probability discounting task, the current study equated the scan task to evaluate behavioral and neurobiological differences in gamblers vs. non-gamblers. Gamblers showed differences in behavioral tasks (lower discounting rates) but not in patterns of neural activation.
Association of Ischemic Core Imaging Biomarkers With Post-Thrombectomy Clinical Outcomes in the MR CLEAN Registry
Authors: Koopman Miou S. , Hoving Jan W. , Kappelhof Manon , Berkhemer Olvert A. , Beenen Ludo F. M. , van Zwam Wim H. , de Jong Hugo W. A. M. , Dankbaar Jan Willem , Dippel Diederik W. J. , Coutinho Jonathan M. , Marquering Henk A. , Emmer Bart J. , Majoie Charles B. L. M. ,   for the MR CLEAN Registry Investigators
Published: February 2022

Background: A considerable proportion of acute ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) are dead or severely disabled at 3 months despite successful reperfusion. Ischemic core imaging biomarkers may help to identify patients who are more likely to have a poor outcome after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) despite successful reperfusion. We studied the association of CT perfusion-(CTP), CT angiography-(CTA), and non-contrast CT-(NCCT) based imaging markers with poor outcome in patients who underwent EVT in daily clinical practice.

Methods: We included EVT-treated patients (July 2016–November 2017) with an anterior circulation occlusion from the Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands (MR CLEAN) Registry with available baseline CTP, CTA, and NCCT. We used multivariable binary and ordinal logistic regression to analyze the association of CTP ischemic core volume, CTA-Collateral Score (CTA-CS), and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) with poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) 5-6) and likelihood of having a lower score on the mRS at 90 days.

Results: In 201 patients, median core volume was 13 (IQR 5-41) mL. Median ASPECTS was 9 (IQR 8-10). Most patients had grade 2 (83/201; 42%) or grade 3 (28/201; 14%) collaterals. CTP ischemic core volume was associated with poor outcome [aOR per 10 mL 1.02 (95%CI 1.01–1.04)] and lower likelihood of having a lower score on the mRS at 90 days [aOR per 10 mL 0.85 (95% CI 0.78–0.93)]. In multivariable analysis, neither CTA-CS nor ASPECTS were significantly associated with poor outcome or the likelihood of having a lower mRS.

Conclusion: In our population of patients treated with EVT in daily clinical practice, CTP ischemic core volume is associated with poor outcome and lower likelihood of shift toward better outcome in contrast to either CTA-CS or ASPECTS.
Predictive Factors of Cerebral Aneurysm Rerupture After Clipping
Authors: Chang Yu-Jun , Liu Chi-Kuang , Cheng Chun-Yuan , Shih Yu-Cheng , Wang Shih-Chun , Lin Chung-Chih , Lin Chih-Ming
Published: February 2022

Background

We aimed to estimate the risk of rerupture after first-time aneurysmal clipping surgery, explore the possible related factors, and assess long-term physical functionality. We hypothesized that the modified Rankin scale (mRS) could serve as an effective substitute for Hunter and Hess scale.

Methods

This retrospective study included 171 patients with cerebral aneurysmal rupture who had completed aneurysmal clipping treatment and collected their demographic data and medical records. The outcome assessments include neuroimaging records, Hunter and Hess scale, and the mRS scale during hospitalization and follow-up after discharge. The mean length of follow-up was 4.28 years.

Results

After aneurysmal clipping treatment, 83 patients (48.5%) had subsequently ruptured aneurysms. The scores of the reruptured group on the Hunt and Hess scale and mRS were significantly higher than those of the non-reruptured group. Multiple Cox proportional-hazards regression also showed that postoperative mRS >2, smoking, and two or more aneurysms were potentially important risk factors leading to aneurysm rupture again [the corresponding hazard ratios (HRs) were 5.209, 2.109, and 2.775, respectively] in patients. In addition, the location of an aneurysm on the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) or the posterior communicating (Pcom) artery had a higher risk of rerupture (the corresponding HRs were 1.996 and 2.934, respectively).

Conclusions

Nearly half of the collected participants experienced the rerupture episode, who had undergone the second-time clipping surgery. Smoking and multiple aneurysms are potential risk factors for aneurysmal rerupture. Most aneurysms are located along the ICA, but aneurysms located at the ACA or Pcom site are most likely to rerupture. As compared with the Hunter and Hess scale, the mRS scale does not have inferior predicting power in following patients' long-term functionalities.
Time-Series Generative Adversarial Network Approach of Deep Learning Improves Seizure Detection From the Human Thalamic SEEG
Authors: Ganti Bhargava , Chaitanya Ganne , Balamurugan Ridhanya Sree , Nagaraj Nithin , Balasubramanian Karthi , Pati Sandipan
Published: February 2022

Seizure detection algorithms are often optimized to detect seizures from the epileptogenic cortex. However, in non-localizable epilepsies, the thalamus is frequently targeted for neuromodulation. Developing a reliable seizure detection algorithm from thalamic SEEG may facilitate the translation of closed-loop neuromodulation. Deep learning algorithms promise reliable seizure detectors, but the major impediment is the lack of larger samples of curated ictal thalamic SEEG needed for training classifiers. We aimed to investigate if synthetic data generated by temporal Generative Adversarial Networks (TGAN) can inflate the sample size to improve the performance of a deep learning classifier of ictal and interictal states from limited samples of thalamic SEEG. Thalamic SEEG from 13 patients (84 seizures) was obtained during stereo EEG evaluation for epilepsy surgery. Overall, TGAN generated synthetic data augmented the performance of the bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory (BiLSTM) performance in classifying thalamic ictal and baseline states. Adding synthetic data improved the accuracy of the detection model by 18.5%. Importantly, this approach can be applied to classify electrographic seizure onset patterns or develop patient-specific seizure detectors from implanted neuromodulation devices.
Markers of Carotid Plaque Destabilization in Patients With Sleep-Disordered Breathing
Authors: Lavie Lena , Si-On Erez , Hoffman Aaron
Published: February 2022

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a nightly respiratory condition characterized by intermittent hypoxia, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, most cellular markers of human carotid plaques in SDB have not yet been assessed. We aimed at characterizing the cellular, inflammatory, and nitro-oxidative stress markers in carotid plaques obtained from 25 patients undergoing endarterectomy and screened for SDB. Sleep studies were performed during their preoperative hospitalization night using the Watch-PAT 100 device. Oxygen desaturation index (ODI) was used for dividing patients into two groups. Fourteen patients with ODI >5 were designated as SDB and 11 patients with ODI ≤ 5 as non-SDB. Demographics, comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors, and medications were recorded. Cellular markers in plaques were analyzed by immunofluorescence using confocal microscopy. The expression of neutrophils was identified by CD66b+ and neutrophil elastase, macrophage-foam cells were identified by CD163+, and scavenger receptors by CD68+ and CD36+ expression. Additional markers included 3-nitrotyrosine, endothelial CD31, and smooth muscle cell-actin (SMC-actin). Plaques' lipids were determined by immunohistochemistry with Oil Red O staining. Notably, significantly higher values were found for SDB as compared to patients with non-SDB for 3-nitrotyrosine (p <0.004) and intracellular lipids' content (p <0.02), whereas SMC-actin was lower (p <0.006). There were no significant differences between patients with carotid-associated symptoms (symptomatic) and patients without carotid-associated symptoms (asymptomatic). However, a sub-group of symptomatic patients with co-existent SDB expressed the highest 3-nitrotyrosin, and intracellular lipids levels, and the lowest SMC-actin levels, whereas non-SDB/asymptomatic patients expressed the lowest 3-nitrotyrosin and lipids levels and the highest SMS-actin levels among all patients. Accordingly, ODI was lowest in non-SDB/asymptomatic patients and highest in SDB/symptomatic. In conclusion, plaques of patients with SDB were characterized by markedly increased levels of 3-nitrotyrosine and intracellular lipids content. Conversely, SMC-actin levels were significantly lower. These three markers, such as increased 3-nitrotyrosine and intracellular lipids and decreased SMC-actin are associated with plaque vulnerability and instability. These findings are in line with earlier reports demonstrating increased intima-media thickness in large cohorts of sleep apnea and patients with SDB, and thus, may indicate a higher susceptibility to plaque vulnerability and rapture in patients with SDB.
MRI-Based Classification of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients With Self-Supervised Contrastive Learning
Authors: Inglese Francesca , Kim Minseon , Steup-Beekman Gerda M. , Huizinga Tom W. J. , van Buchem Mark A. , de Bresser Jeroen , Kim Dae-Shik , Ronen Itamar
Published: February 2022

Introduction/Purpose

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic auto-immune disease with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations, including heterogeneous neuropsychiatric (NP) syndromes. Structural brain abnormalities are commonly found in SLE and NPSLE, but their role in diagnosis is limited, and their usefulness in distinguishing between NPSLE patients and patients in which the NP symptoms are not primarily attributed to SLE (non-NPSLE) is non-existent. Self-supervised contrastive learning algorithms proved to be useful in classification tasks in rare diseases with limited number of datasets. Our aim was to apply self-supervised contrastive learning on T1-weighted images acquired from a well-defined cohort of SLE patients, aiming to distinguish between NPSLE and non-NPSLE patients.

Subjects and Methods

We used 3T MRI T1-weighted images of 163 patients. The training set comprised 68 non-NPSLE and 34 NPSLE patients. We applied random geometric transformations between iterations to augment our data sets. The ML pipeline consisted of convolutional base encoder and linear projector. To test the classification task, the projector was removed and one linear layer was measured. Validation of the method consisted of 6 repeated random sub-samplings, each using a random selection of a small group of patients of both subtypes.

Results

In the 6 trials, between 79% and 83% of the patients were correctly classified as NPSLE or non-NPSLE. For a qualitative evaluation of spatial distribution of the common features found in both groups, Gradient-weighted Class Activation Maps (Grad-CAM) were examined. Thresholded Grad-CAM maps show areas of common features identified for the NPSLE cohort, while no such communality was found for the non-NPSLE group.

Discussion/Conclusion

The self-supervised contrastive learning model was effective in capturing common brain MRI features from a limited but well-defined cohort of SLE patients with NP symptoms. The interpretation of the Grad-CAM results is not straightforward, but indicates involvement of the lateral and third ventricles, periventricular white matter and basal cisterns. We believe that the common features found in the NPSLE population in this study indicate a combination of tissue loss, local atrophy and to some extent that of periventricular white matter lesions, which are commonly found in NPSLE patients and appear hypointense on T1-weighted images.
Dynamic Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analyses for Characterization of Phenolic Compounds and Their Biosynthetic Characteristics in Wheat Grain
Authors: Ma Dongyun , Xu Beiming , Feng Jianchao , Hu Haizhou , Tang Jianwei , Yin Guihong , Xie Yingxin , Wang Chenyang
Published: February 2022

Phenolic compounds are important bioactive phytochemicals with potential health benefits. In this study, integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis was used to analyze the metabolites and differentially expressed genes in grains of two wheat cultivars (HPm512 with high antioxidant activity, and ZM22 with low antioxidant activity) during grain development. A total of 188 differentially expressed phenolic components, including 82 phenolic acids, 81 flavonoids, 10 lignans, and 15 other phenolics, were identified in the developing wheat grains, of which apigenin glycosides were identified as the primary flavonoid component. The relative abundance of identified phenolics showed a decreasing trend with grain development. Additionally, 51 differentially expressed phenolic components were identified between HPm512 and ZM22, of which 41 components, including 23 flavonoids, were up-regulated in HPm512. In developing grain, most of the identified differentially expressed genes involved in phenolic accumulation followed a similar trend. Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis revealed that certain genes encoding structural proteins, glycosyltransferase, and transcription factors were closely related to metabolite accumulation. The relatively higher accumulation of phenolics in HPm512 could be due to up-regulated structural and regulatory genes. A sketch map was drawn to depict the synthetic pathway of identified phenolics and their corresponding genes. This study enhanced the current understanding of the accumulation of phenolics in wheat grains. Besides, active components and their related genes were also identified, providing crucial information for the improvement of wheat's nutritional quality.
Durable Effect of Pyrotinib and Metronomic Vinorelbine in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer With Leptomeningeal Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Chi Yajing , Shang Mao , Xu Liang , Gong Heyi , Tao Rongjie , Song Lihua , Zhang Baoxuan , Yin Sha , Cong Binbin , Li Huihui
Published: February 2022

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) are rare and catastrophic for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The prognosis of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) with LM is extremely poor. There is no high-quality evidence of treatment regimens in HER2-positive BC with LM yet. Here, we present a case of LM in a 50-year-old woman with HER2-positive BC. Immunohistochemistry revealed invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, HER2 3+, P53 positive 80%, and Ki-67 positive 35%. Reported for the first time, the patient was given pyrotinib-targeted therapy (400 mg, oral, every day), metronomic vinorelbine (40 mg, oral, three times a week), and intrathecal methotrexate (10 mg, infrequent and irregular use due to poor compliance) synchronously. The patient received and benefited from the treatment regimen for 16 months. And the quality of life, as self-reported, improved significantly. We also comprehensively summarized all the case reports, observational studies, and clinical trials related to HER2-positive BC with LM in the PubMed database and ClinicalTrials.gov. Intrathecal chemotherapy (methotrexate, cytarabine, thiotepa), intrathecal trastuzumab, whole-brain radiotherapy, and systemic therapy are commonly used treatment options according to a review of the literature and research. Pembrolizumab and trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201) as novel drugs are promising in LM. Furthermore, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as tucatinib and neratinib have exhibited good efficacy in HER2-positive BC with central nervous system (CNS) metastases and deserve further exploration. In our report, combining pyrotinib-targeted therapy with metronomic chemotherapy is a potential regimen, which has presented satisfactory therapeutic efficacy and also warrants additional investigation in HER2-positive BC with LM.
Functional Constipation and Dyssynergic Defecation in Children
Authors: Koppen Ilan J. N. , Benninga Marc A.
Published: February 2022

Defecation is a complex physiological process, which relies on intricate mechanisms involving the autonomic and somatic nervous system, the pelvic floor muscles, and the anal sphincter complex. Anorectal dysfunction may result in constipation, a bothersome defecation disorder that can severely affect daily lives of children and their families. In this review, we focus on different mechanisms underlying anorectal dysfunction and specific treatment options aimed at improving defecation dynamics in children with functional constipation.
Molecular Pharmacology and Novel Potential Therapeutic Applications of Fingolimod
Authors: Pournajaf Safura , Dargahi Leila , Javan Mohammad , Pourgholami Mohammad Hossein
Published: February 2022

Fingolimod is a well-tolerated, highly effective disease-modifying therapy successfully utilized in the management of multiple sclerosis. The active metabolite, fingolimod-phosphate, acts on sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) to bring about an array of pharmacological effects. While being initially recognized as a novel agent that can profoundly reduce T-cell numbers in circulation and the CNS, thereby suppressing inflammation and MS, there is now rapidly increasing knowledge on its previously unrecognized molecular and potential therapeutic effects in diverse pathological conditions. In addition to exerting inhibitory effects on sphingolipid pathway enzymes, fingolimod also inhibits histone deacetylases, transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 7 (TRMP7), cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α), reduces lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) plasma levels, and activates protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Furthermore, fingolimod induces apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, epigenetic regulations, macrophages M1/M2 shift and enhances BDNF expression. According to recent evidence, fingolimod modulates a range of other molecular pathways deeply rooted in disease initiation or progression. Experimental reports have firmly associated the drug with potentially beneficial therapeutic effects in immunomodulatory diseases, CNS injuries, and diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), epilepsy, and even cancer. Attractive pharmacological effects, relative safety, favorable pharmacokinetics, and positive experimental data have collectively led to its testing in clinical trials. Based on the recent reports, fingolimod may soon find its way as an adjunct therapy in various disparate pathological conditions. This review summarizes the up-to-date knowledge about molecular pharmacology and potential therapeutic uses of fingolimod.
Analysis on Spatial Variability of SRM Based on Real-Time CT and the DIC Method Under Uniaxial Loading
Authors: Wu Yanfang , Li Xiao , Zhang Luqing , Zhou Jian , Mao Tianqiao , Li Mingtao
Published: February 2022

Soil and rock mixture (SRM) consists of high-strength rock blocks and small-grained soils, which depend seriously on the rock size and the heterogeneity of structure. Because of inhomogeneous cementation between rock blocks, complex granulometric composition, and random distribution of rock blocks, these SRMs usually cause problems. Investigation of the localized deformation is critical for successful engineering designs, engineering safety assessment. In this work, uniaxial compression testing on the SRM with a rock block percentage of 40% (mass ratio) is performed under real-time computed tomography (CT) combined with digital image correlation (DIC) technology. Based on radial strain fields and shear fields, heterogeneity of strain fields and rock block motion is analyzed quantitatively by semi-variance. The results show that rock block is the main factor controlling the shear band geometry distribution. A localization strain band usually occurs along the soil and rock interfaces. From the experimental results by the DIC method, the damage factor is presented to describe the damage evolution of the SRM under uniaxial compression. The method proposed in this study can be used to quantitatively analyze the deformation characteristics of the SRM sample.