bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Juvenile downstream migration patterns of an anadromous fish, allis shad (Alosa alosa), before and after the population collapse in the Gironde system, France
Authors: Boussinet Elodie , Nachón David José , Sottolichio Aldo , Lochet Aude , Stoll Stefan , Bareille Gilles , Tabouret Helene , Pécheyran Christophe , Acolas Marie‐Laure , Daverat Françoise
Published: January 2024

Diadromous fish have exhibited a dramatic decline since the end of the 20th century. The allis shad (Alosa alosa) population in the Gironde‐Garonne‐Dordogne (GGD) system, once considered as a reference in Europe, remains low despite a fishing ban in 2008. One hypothesis to explain this decline is that the downstream migration and growth dynamics of young stages have changed due to environmental modifications in the rivers and estuary. We retrospectively analysed juvenile growth and migration patterns using otoliths from adults caught in the GGD system 30 years apart during their spawning migration, in 1987 and 2016. We coupled otolith daily growth increments and laser ablation inductively‐coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements of Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, and Mn:Ca ratios along the longest growth axis from hatching to an age of 100 days (i.e., during the juvenile stage). A back‐calculation allowed us to estimate the size of juveniles at the entrance into the brackish estuary. Based on the geochemistry data, we distinguished four different zones that juveniles encountered during their downstream migration: freshwater, fluvial estuary, brackish estuary, and lower estuary. We identified three migration patterns during the first 100 days of their life: (a) Individuals that reached the lower estuary zone, (b) individuals that reached the brackish estuary zone, and (c) individuals that reached the fluvial estuary zone. On average, juveniles from the 1987 subsample stayed slightly longer in freshwater than juveniles from the 2016 subsample. In addition, juveniles from the 2016 subsample entered the brackish estuary at a smaller size. This result suggests that juveniles from the 2016 subsample might have encountered more difficult conditions during their downstream migration, which we attribute to a longer exposure to the turbid maximum zone. This assumption is supported by the microchemical analyses of the otoliths, which suggests based on wider Mn:Ca peaks that juveniles in 2010s experienced a longer period of physiological stress during their downstream migration than juveniles in 1980s. Finally, juveniles from the 2016 subsample took longer than 100 days to exit the lower estuary than we would have expected from previous studies. Adding a new marker (i.e., Ba:Ca) helped us refine the interpretation of the downstream migration for each individual.
Adapting dysphagia meals for acceptance among a broader group of older adults
Authors: Honnens de Lichtenberg Broge Eva , Wendin Karin , Bredie Wender L. P.
Published: January 2024

Acceptance of texture‐modified meals in healthy older adults with pre‐clinical symptoms of dysphagia may facilitate gradually transitioning to a soft diet. Little is known about the sensory attractiveness of such meals in home living older adults. This study aimed to examine liking among a group of healthy, independent older adults for texture modified chicken breasts and gravy. A secondary aim was to evaluate liking in relation to olfactory‐ and taste function. Texture‐modified chicken breasts were prepared to appear identical to the unmodified chicken breasts. This is a new approach which aims to improve visual appearance of the meal compared to existing texture‐modified meals. Ordinary chicken breasts obtained significantly higher liking scores across all sensory parameters compared to the texture‐modified products. Texture modified chicken breasts need further adjustment for a broad acceptance. Adding flavor‐enhanced gravy did not change the liking pattern. This study supports the notion that texture plays a central role for meal acceptance.

Practical Applications

Healthy older adults find the modified texture of chicken breasts acceptable. The unique technique applied to modify the texture uses fresh ingredients while offering improved flavor and appearance, which increases the acceptability of meals in a social context. These meals represent an acceptable alternative for older adults in a preclinical state of dysphagia who require meals comparable to unmodified chicken breasts.
Experiences of general home visiting nurses regarding patients with suicidal ideation in Japan: Results from semi‐structured interviews
Authors: Chijiiwa Tomoko , Ishimura Kayoko
Published: January 2024

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject?

The leading reason for suicide attempts in Japan is health problems, among which depression is the most common, followed by physical illnesses.

Patients with physical illness and suicide ideation are not rare among patients receiving home‐based care.

General home visiting nurses (GHVNs) without knowledge, skills or experience in psychiatric care are required to provide care for patients with physical illness who are at risk of suicide in Japan.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge?

More detailed understanding of GHVNs' experiences and perspectives on working with suicidal patients in home care.

This study enriches our understanding of how suicide prevention strategies should be developed for GHVNs.

What are the implications for practice?

Focusing education on therapeutic communication skills and meanings with relationships with patients is required by GHVNs.

Training for suicide risk assessment and guidelines appropriate to GHVNs' situation is crucial.

Establishing a liaison service system with a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatric home‐visiting nurses, is necessary for home healthcare to achieve continuity of care.

Introduction

In Japan, even a general home visiting nurse (GHVN) lacking psychiatric experience and training can provide home nursing care to patients at risk of suicide. Little attention is given to nursing care for suicide by GHVNs who care for patients with physical illness. However, these patients with suicidal ideation for home care are surprisingly common.

Aim/Question

We explored the experiences of GHVNs who cared for patients with suicidal ideation and focused on the nurses' perceptions and interactions.

Method

We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 15 GHVNs. We discussed the nurses' experiences caring for patients with suicidal ideation, their perceptions during these interactions and their response.

Results

General home visiting nurses were perplexed upon learning of the patient's suicidal ideation. They interacted with such patients by ‘avoiding the core of the matter’ while focusing on maintaining a relationship with them.

Discussion

Not addressing the patient's suicidal thoughts will not only disable the suicide risk assessment but also lead to patient isolation. Suicide prevention care needs to consider the unique characteristics of home care.

Implications for Practice

General home visiting nurses require training in suicide risk assessment and communication skills. Establishing a liaison service, including psychiatric home visiting nurses, is necessary to achieve continuity of care.
Adrenalectomy for the treatment of hypotension in a cat with phaeochromocytoma associated with caudal vena cava syndrome
Authors: Kang J. , Cheon J. , Yoon H. , Kim N. , Heo S.
Published: January 2024

An 11‐year‐old spayed female, Persian cat was referred to the Jeonbuk Animal Medical Center for evaluation of a 2‐month history of lethargy and anorexia. Physical examination revealed tachycardia and hypotension. Abdominal imaging via sonography and CT identified a right adrenal gland mass causing severe deviation and compression of the caudal vena cava. After stabilising the blood pressure and heart rate through positive inotropes and fluid therapy, right adrenalectomy was performed. Surgery confirmed the adrenal gland mass was severely compressing the caudal vena cava. Histopathological examination revealed that the mass was a pheochromocytoma. After adrenalectomy, blood pressure and heart rate stabilised and remained unaffected 8 months postsurgery. This report describes a rare case of an adrenal pheochromocytoma leading to caudal vena cava compression in a cat presenting with hypotension.
Realism and Complexity
Authors: Porpora Douglas V.
Published: January 2024

I will argue that from a CR perspective, social reality is complex. It just is not complex in the ways CT suggests. Even emergence, according to CR, is more complex and stronger than CT suggests. First wave CR is enough to advance the issue considerably, but I will also examine dialectical CR as a further attempt within CR to take account of complexity.
Urban wind field prediction based on sparse sensors and physics‐informed graph‐assisted auto‐encoder
Authors: Gao Huanxiang , Hu Gang , Zhang Dongqin , Jiang Wenjun , Tse K. T. , Kwok K. C. S. , Kareem Ahsan
Published: January 2024

The urban flow wind field is a critical element for downstream research, such as mitigation of urban wind disasters, assessment of urban wind environment, and urban drone route planning. However, it is impractical to arrange a large number of sensors to monitor an urban wind flow field. Hence, acquiring the entire urban wind flow field via sparse sensors would be highly valuable. To date, no scheme including deep learning (DL) model has been specifically designed for this purpose. This study presents an innovative approach to reconstruct complex high‐resolution urban wind fields based on sparse sensors, using a physics‐informed graph neural network (GNN)‐assisted auto‐encoder. The proposed method leverages the relationship between sensors and their surrounding environment enabled by deep mining capabilities of GNNs. As a result, the utilization and emphasis on sparse sensors data are significantly enhanced. The continuity equation of fluid flow is incorporated into the loss function of the convolution neural network to improve the stability and performance of the model. The findings suggest that, in contrast to prevalent generative DL models, the proposed model yields an approximate 50% reduction in root mean square error for reconstructing high‐resolution urban wind fields for multiple wind attack angles.
A rare case of dialysis associated reaction presenting with urticarial vasculitis and haemoglobinuria
Authors: Jayaprakash Varadharajan , Mathew Gerry George , Muthukarupiah Suganya , Sailapathy Sreedhar , Ramakrishnan Ramachandran
Published: January 2024

Dialysis associated reactions presenting with urticarial vasculitis is rarely reported in medical literature. We report a 61‐year‐old gentleman who developed sudden onset dyspnea with diffuse erythema within 20 min of haemodialysis. Patient was started on Azilsartan 3 days prior to this clinical event. Labs revealed features of hemolysis and urine was positive for hemoglobinuria. All dialysis related factors responsible for this reaction were ruled out. Due to non‐resolution of skin rash, skin biopsy was attempted which revealed fibrinoid necrosis of occasional vessels with predominant lymphocytic infiltration suggestive of drug induced urticarial vasculitis. Complement levels were normal. He was managed with steroids, anti‐histaminic, discontinuation of azilsartan and change of dialyzer membrane. This case highlights a rare dermatological presentation of Type A dialysis associated reaction involving azilsartan with differential diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Searching new targets for the control of Black Rot: following the role of host factors modulating the infection process of Phyllosticta ampelicida
Authors: Tisch C. , Kortekamp A. , Nick P.
Published: January 2024

Black Rot is a grapevine disease caused by the ascomycete Phyllosticta ampelicida. Neglected so far, this is developing into a pertinent problem in organic viticulture as resistant varieties are still lacking. Here, we follow cellular details of the infection process in the susceptible vinifera variety Müller‐Thurgau and screen the ancestral European wild grapevine (V. vinifera sylvestris) for resistance to Black Rot.

Using a standardized infection assay, we follow fungal development using LTSEM and quantify key stages on different hosts using fluorescence microscopy.

There is considerable variation in susceptibility, which is associated with more rapid leaf maturation. Hyphal growth on different carbon sources shows a preference for pectins over starch, cellulose or xylans. In the resistant sylvestris genotypes Ketsch 16 and Ketsch 18 we find that neither spore attachment nor appressorium formation, but hyphal elongation is significantly inhibited as compared to Müller‐Thurgau. Moreover, defence‐related oxidative burst and accumulation of phenolic compounds is stimulated in the resistant genotypes.

We arrive at a model, where more rapid maturation of the cell wall in these sylvestris genotypes sequesters pectins as major food source and thus block hyphal elongation. This paves the way for introgression of genetic factors responsible for cell wall maturation into V. vinifera to develop Black Rot‐resistant varieties of grapevine.
Drought reduces productivity and anti‐herbivore defences, but not mycorrhizal associations, of perennial prairie forbs
Authors: Duell E. B. , Baum K. A. , Wilson G. W. T.
Published: January 2024

During drought, plants allocate resources to aboveground biomass production and belowground carbohydrate reserves, often at the expense of production of defence traits. Additionally, drought has been shown to alter floral resources, with potential implications for plant–pollinator interactions. Although soil symbionts, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, can alleviate drought stress in plants, certain levels of drought may negatively impact this relationship, with potential cascading effects.

Because of their importance to plant and animal community diversity, we examined effects of drought on biomass production, physical defence properties, nectar production, and associated AM fungal abundance of five common prairie forb species in a greenhouse study.

Reduced soil moisture decreased vegetative biomass production. Production of trichomes and latex decreased under drought, relative to well‐watered conditions. Ruellia humilis flowers produced less nectar under drought, relative to well‐watered conditions. Intra‐radical AM fungal colonization was not significantly affected by drought, although extra‐radical AM fungal biomass associated with S. azurea decreased following drought.

Overall, grassland forb productivity, defence, and nectar production were negatively impacted by moderate drought, with possible negative implications for biotic interactions. Reduced flower and nectar production may lead to fewer pollinator visitors, which may contribute to seed limitation in forb species. Reduced physical defences increase the likelihood of herbivory, further decreasing the ability to store energy for essential functions, such as reproduction. Together, these results suggest drought can potentially impact biotic interactions between plants and herbivores, pollinators, and soil symbionts, and highlights the need for direct assessments of these relationships under climate change scenarios.
Nectar‐mediated avian pollination in Cattleya (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae)
Authors: Pansarin E. R.
Published: January 2024

Orchids are notable for the variety of rewards produced for their pollinators. Nevertheless, many species are rewardless and pollinated by food‐deceptive strategies. This is the case for Cattleya, a Neotropical genus of more than 100 species supposedly pollinated by food‐deception.

Here, I studied a member of the clade Sophronitis (Cattleya cernua) in forest areas of southeastern Brazil. The study included analyses of floral morphology, light microscopy of secretory tissues, histochemistry of flower resources, and measurements of nectar volume and concentration. Data on pollinators and mechanisms of pollination were collected in the field by means of film records, while breeding systems were studied using experimental treatments applied to cultivated specimens.

The flower traits of Cattleya cernua show strong adaptation to avian pollination. Flowers produce 1–7 μl of a moderately concentrated nectar (17–50%). A secretory tissue at the distal portion of the cuniculus is responsible for nectar secretion. Secreted nectar is stored in the nectar chamber. Pollinaria deposition on the apex of bird beaks allows both short‐ and long‐billed birds to pollinate the flowers. Plants from the studied population were fully self‐compatible but pollinator‐dependent. Pollinator frequency was higher than in food‐deceptive Cattleya.

As far as is known, this is the first record of nectar production in Cattleya. The discovery of a reward‐producing species (C. cernua) within a genus entirely pollinated by food‐deception strategies (Cattleya) provides clues and new insights into understanding the diversification of Laeliinae across the Neotropics.
The Psb27 Assembly Factor and Histidine‐252 of the D1 Protein Modify Energy Transfer to Photosystem II in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Forsman Jack A. , Sheridan Kevin J. , Singh Harvinder , Brown Toby J. , Vass Imre , Summerfield Tina C. , Eaton‐Rye Julian J.
Published: January 2024

Photosystem II (PS II) is responsible for light‐driven water splitting in oxygenic photosynthesis. The Psb27 protein, an assembly factor required for biogenesis of PS II, is found associated with hydrophilic regions of the CP43 core antenna protein in the thylakoid lumen. CP43 and the D1 reaction center protein provide ligands for the Mn4CaO5 oxygen‐evolving complex (OEC). Release of Psb27 coincides with conformational changes that enable successful light‐driven assembly of the OEC. This stage in biogenesis also requires changes to allow electron transfer between plastoquinone electron acceptors on the opposite side of the membrane. We have introduced charge‐swap mutations to target the binding of Psb27 to CP43 during assembly. Here, we show that perturbation of the Psb27‐CP43 interaction results in elevated fluorescence, indicating enhanced energy transfer to PS II in fully assembled complexes. In a Psb27:Arg78 to Glu mutant, D1:His252 spontaneously mutated to Gln. D1:His252 is in the DE loop that contributes to quinone binding and protonation. Mutations targeting D1:His252 produced mutants with elevated PS II‐specific fluorescence that exceeded that observed in our Psb27 mutants and this was attenuated when the Psb27 charge‐swap mutations were introduced into H252Q cells. Perturbation of Psb27 binding to CP43 therefore modified structural changes on the opposite side of the membrane resulting from mutation of D1:His252. The peripheral phycobilisome antenna is lost during thylakoid isolation and thylakoids from our mutants did not display the increased PS II‐specific fluorescence. Hence Psb27 binding to CP43 during photoassembly of the OEC can modify phycobilisome‐dependent energy transfer into PS II.
Clinical study on low‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of walking dysfunction following stroke through three‐dimensional gait analysis
Authors: Shu Xinxin , Yu Hong , Zhou Yuda , Zhou Siwei , Chen Bei
Published: January 2024

Background

The recovery of walking capacity is of great significance in stroke rehabilitation. We evaluated changes in post‐stroke gait function after low‐frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF‐rTMS) treatment.

Methods

Stroke patients were randomly assigned to control (conventional treatment)/LF‐rTMS (LF‐rTMS treatment based on conventional treatment) groups. Gait spatiotemporal parameters/affected side joint motion angle/affected side dynamic parameters were analyzed by 3D gait analyses. Motor evoked potential (MEP)/central motor conduction time (CMCT) changes were detected. Correlations between MEP latency/CMCT and gait parameters after LF‐rTMS were analyzed by Pearson analysis.

Results

The two groups exhibited boosted stride speed/frequency/length, affected side stride length/swing phase percentage/hip/knee/ankle joint plantar flexion angle, and affected side ahead ground reaction force/ upward ground reaction force (AGRF/UGRF)/ankle joint plantar flexion moment, along with reduced affected side gait period/stance phase percentage after treatment, and the LF‐rTMS group manifested better efficacy. MEP latency/CMCT of stroke patients treated with LF‐rTMS was adversely linked to stride speed, affected side stride length/swing phase percentage/knee flexion angle, AGRF and UGRF, and positively correlated with affected side stance phase percentage.

Conclusion

LF‐rTMS significantly improved gait spatiotemporal parameters/affected joint motion angles/neurophysiologic parameters (MEP latency/CMCT) in patients with post‐stroke walking dysfunction. MEP latency/CMCT after LF‐rTMS treatment were prominently correlated with gait parameters. Relative to the traditional scale assessment, we provided a more accurate, objective and reliable evaluation of the effects of LF‐rTMS on lower limb mobility and functional recovery effects in stroke patients from the perspective of 3D gait analysis and neurophysiology, which provided more evidence to support the clinical application of LF‐rTMS in post‐stroke walking dysfunction treatment.
Educating students about the ethical principles underlying the interpretation of infographics
Authors: Nazeer Khan Salma Banu , Bilgin Ayse Aysin , Richards Deborah , Formosa Paul
Published: January 2024

Infographics are visual storytelling techniques used to communicate complex information. However, infographics can be misleading if they are not created ethically. When universities teach how to create infographics, they often do so without emphasizing the ethical issues underlying infographics. To address this gap, we designed a study to educate statistics and data science students about the ethics of infographics by using Rest model's three stages: awareness, orientation, and intention. Students' awareness of the ethical issues underlying infographics was captured before and after sensitizing them to five ethical principles derived from the AI4People's framework applied to a data science context. The students were then exposed to scenarios with ethical dilemmas. Their identification of the ethical principles in these scenarios was measured. The results showed a significant increase in students' awareness of the ethical issues underpinning the interpretation of infographics, suggesting that ethical training of current users and future designers would be beneficial.
Shouting affects temporal properties of the speech amplitude envelope
Authors: Dimos Kostis , He Lei , Dellwo Volker
Published: January 2024

Distinguishing shouted from non-shouted speech is crucial in communication. We examined how shouting affects temporal properties of the amplitude envelope (ENV) in a total of 720 sentences read by 18 Swiss German speakers in normal and shouted modes; shouting was characterised by maintaining sound pressure levels of ≥80 dB sound pressure level (dB-SPL) (C-weighted) at a 1-meter distance from the mouth. Generalized additive models revealed significant temporal alterations of ENV in shouted speech, marked by steeper ascent, delayed peak, and extended high levels. These findings offer potential cues for identifying shouting, particularly useful when fine-structure and dynamic range cues are absent, for example, in cochlear implant users.
Acute Responses to Repeated-Sprint Training in Hypoxia Combined With Whole-Body Cryotherapy: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Mihailovic Thibaud , Groslambert Alain , Bouzigon Romain , Feaud Simon , Millet Grégoire P. , Gimenez Philippe
Published: January 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate acute psychophysiological responses to repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) combined with whole-body cryotherapy (WBC). Method: Sixteen trained cyclists performed 3 sessions in randomized order: RSH, WBC-RSH (WBC pre-RSH), and RSH-WBC (WBC post-RSH). RSH consisted of 3 sets of 5 × 10-second sprints with 20-second recovery at a simulated altitude of 3000 m. Power output, muscle oxygenation (tissue saturation index), heart-rate variability, and recovery perception were analyzed. Sleep quality was assessed on the nights following test sessions and compared with a control night using nocturnal ActiGraphy and heart-rate variability. Results: Power output did not differ between the conditions (P = .27), while the decrease in tissue saturation index was reduced for WBC-RSH compared to RSH-WBC in the last set. In both conditions with WBC, the recovery perception was higher compared to RSH (WBC-RSH: +15.4%, and RSH-WBC: +21.9%, P < .05). The number of movements during the RSH-WBC night was significantly lower than for the control night (−18.7%, P < .01) and WBC-RSH (−14.9%, P < .05). RSH led to a higher root mean square of the successive differences of R-R intervals and high-frequency band during the first hour of sleep compared to the control night (P < .05) and RSH-WBC (P < .01). Conclusions: Inclusion of WBC in an RSH session did not modify the power output but could improve prolonged performance in hypoxia by maintaining muscle oxygenation. A single RSH session did not deteriorate sleep quality. WBC, particularly when performed after RSH, positively influenced recovery perception and sleep.
“Compatriot” or “Stateless”: Iranian State-Owned Media and Social Media Depictions of Iranian Refugee Kimia Alizadeh’s Match at the Tokyo Olympic Games
Authors: Latififard Mahdi , Billings Andrew C. , Sadri Sean R. , Yadegari Amin
Published: January 2024

The only Iranian woman to ever win an Olympic medal, Taekwondo Athlete Kimia Alizadeh, immigrated to Germany and became a refugee participant for the 2020/2021 Tokyo Games, competing against her former compatriot, teammate, and friend. This study content analyzes four Iranian media sources as they rendered the story of a former national hero-turned-refugee. A total of 15 frame categories were applied to each of the media sources: (a) Twitter (n = 5,662), (b) television (n = 103), (c) radio (n = 117), and (d) newspapers/digital-native news (n = 119). Television was found to adopt the most critical tones of Alizadeh, with social media, newspapers, and radio offering assessments that ranged from neutral to positive. Interestingly, social media and newspaper frames were significantly correlated, while other media sources were not.
Mechanical morphotype switching as an adaptive response in mycobacteria
Authors: Eskandarian Haig Alexander , Chen Yu-Xiang , Toniolo Chiara , Belardinelli Juan M. , Palcekova Zuzana , Hom Lesley , Ashby Paul D. , Fantner Georg E. , Jackson Mary , McKinney John D. , Javid Babak
Published: January 2024

Invading microbes face a myriad of cidal mechanisms of phagocytes that inflict physical damage to microbial structures. How intracellular bacterial pathogens adapt to these stresses is not fully understood. Here, we report the discovery of a virulence mechanism by which changes to the mechanical stiffness of the mycobacterial cell surface confer refraction to killing during infection. Long-term time-lapse atomic force microscopy was used to reveal a process of “mechanical morphotype switching” in mycobacteria exposed to host intracellular stress. A “soft” mechanical morphotype switch enhances tolerance to intracellular macrophage stress, including cathelicidin. Both pharmacologic treatment, with bedaquiline, and a genetic mutant lacking
uvrA
modified the basal mechanical state of mycobacteria into a soft mechanical morphotype, enhancing survival in macrophages. Our study proposes microbial cell mechanical adaptation as a critical axis for surviving host-mediated stressors.
The chemokine receptor CXCR3 promotes CD8
+
T cell–dependent lung pathology during influenza pathogenesis
Authors: Guo Kai , Yombo Dan J. K. , Wang Zhihan , Navaeiseddighi Zahrasadat , Xu Jintao , Schmit Taylor , Ahamad Nassem , Tripathi Jitendra , De Kumar Bony , Mathur Ramkumar , Hur Junguk , Sun Jie , Olszewski Michal A. , Khan Nadeem
Published: January 2024

The dual role of CD8
+
T cells in influenza control and lung pathology is increasingly appreciated. To explore whether protective and pathological functions can be linked to specific subsets, we dissected CD8
+
T responses in influenza-infected murine lungs. Our single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis revealed notable diversity in CD8
+
T subpopulations during peak viral load and infection-resolved state. While enrichment of a Cxcr3
hi
CD8
+
T effector subset was associated with a more robust cytotoxic response, both CD8
+
T effector and central memory exhibited equally potent effector potential. The scRNA-seq analysis identified unique regulons regulating the cytotoxic response in CD8
+
T cells. The late-stage CD8
+
T blockade in influenza-cleared lungs or continuous CXCR3 blockade mitigated lung injury without affecting viral clearance. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of wild-type CD8
+
T cells exacerbated influenza lung pathology in Cxcr3
−/−
mice. Collectively, our data imply that CXCR3 interception could have a therapeutic effect in preventing influenza-linked lung injury.
S100A9 exerts insulin-independent antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects
Authors: Ursino Gloria , Lucibello Giulia , Teixeira Pryscila D. S. , Höfler Anna , Veyrat-Durebex Christelle , Odouard Soline , Visentin Florian , Galgano Luca , Somm Emmanuel , Vianna Claudia R. , Widmer Ariane , Jornayvaz François R. , Boland Andreas , Ramadori Giorgio , Coppari Roberto
Published: January 2024

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by insulin deficiency leading to hyperglycemia and several metabolic defects. Insulin therapy remains the cornerstone of T1DM management, yet it increases the risk of life-threatening hypoglycemia and the development of major comorbidities. Here, we report an insulin signaling–independent pathway able to improve glycemic control in T1DM rodents. Co-treatment with recombinant S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) enabled increased adherence to glycemic targets with half as much insulin and without causing hypoglycemia. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the hyperglycemia-suppressing action of S100A9 is due to a Toll-like receptor 4–dependent increase in glucose uptake in specific skeletal muscles (i.e., soleus and diaphragm). In addition, we found that T1DM mice have abnormal systemic inflammation, which is resolved by S100A9 therapy alone (or in combination with low insulin), hence uncovering a potent anti-inflammatory action of S100A9 in T1DM. In summary, our findings reveal the S100A9-TLR4 skeletal muscle axis as a promising therapeutic target for improving T1DM treatment.
Doxycycline versus cephalexin treatment of presumed streptococcal skin and soft tissue infection among adults presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Taylor Eric , Nailor Michael D. , Feider Michelle , Sullivan Shannon , Goodlet Kellie J.
Published: January 2024

Among 100 propensity score-matched emergency department patients receiving ≤14 days doxycycline versus cephalexin monotherapy for outpatient treatment of nonpurulent (presumed streptococcal) skin and soft tissue infection, a low rate of 14-day clinical failure was observed [6% each group; odds ratio (OR), 1.34 (0.21–8.69);
P
= 0.745], defined as hospital admission, i.v. antibiotic therapy, or change in oral antibiotic. Doxycycline may represent a reasonable therapeutic alternative for this indication in regions with low tetracycline resistance.
The histidine kinase NahK regulates pyocyanin production through the PQS system
Authors: Mendoza Alicia G. , Guercio Danielle , Smiley Marina K. , Sharma Gaurav K. , Withorn Jason M. , Hudson-Smith Natalie V. , Ndukwe Chika , Dietrich Lars E. P. , Boon Elizabeth M.
Published: January 2024

Many bacterial histidine kinases work in two-component systems that combine into larger multi-kinase networks. NahK is one of the kinases in the GacS Multi-Kinase Network (MKN), which is the MKN that controls biofilm regulation in the opportunistic pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. This network has also been associated with regulating many virulence factors
P. aeruginosa
secretes to cause disease. However, the individual role of each kinase is unknown. In this study, we identify NahK as a novel regulator of the phenazine pyocyanin (PYO). Deletion of
nahK
leads to a fourfold increase in PYO production, almost exclusively through upregulation of phenazine operon two (
phz2
). We determined that this upregulation is due to mis-regulation of all
P. aeruginosa
quorum-sensing (QS) systems, with a large upregulation of the
Pseudomonas
quinolone signal system and a decrease in production of the acyl-homoserine lactone-producing system,
las
. In addition, we see differences in expression of quorum-sensing inhibitor proteins that align with these changes. Together, these data contribute to understanding how the GacS MKN modulates QS and virulence and suggest a mechanism for cell density-independent regulation of quorum sensing.

IMPORTANCE

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a Gram-negative bacterium that establishes biofilms as part of its pathogenicity.
P. aeruginosa
infections are associated with nosocomial infections. As the prevalence of multi-drug-resistant
P. aeruginosa
increases, it is essential to understand underlying virulence molecular mechanisms. Histidine kinase NahK is one of several kinases in
P. aeruginosa
implicated in biofilm formation and dispersal. Previous work has shown that the nitric oxide sensor, NosP, triggers biofilm dispersal by inhibiting NahK. The data presented here demonstrate that NahK plays additional important roles in the
P. aeruginosa
lifestyle, including regulating bacterial communication mechanisms such as quorum sensing. These effects have larger implications in infection as they affect toxin production and virulence.
PQS and pyochelin in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
share inner membrane transporters to mediate iron uptake
Authors: Zhang Heng , Yang Jianshe , Cheng Juanli , Zeng Jing , Ma Xin , Lin Jinshui
Published: January 2024

Bacteria absorb different forms of iron through various channels to meet their needs. Our previous studies have shown that TseF, a type VI secretion system effector for Fe uptake, facilitates the delivery of outer membrane vesicle-associated
Pseudomonas
quinolone signal (PQS)-Fe
3+
to bacterial cells by a process involving the Fe(III) pyochelin receptor FptA and the porin OprF. However, the form in which the PQS-Fe
3+
complex enters the periplasm and how it is moved into the cytoplasm remain unclear. Here, we first demonstrate that the PQS-Fe
3+
complex enters the cell directly through FptA or OprF. Next, we show that inner membrane transporters such as FptX, PchHI, and FepBCDG are not only necessary for
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
to absorb PQS-Fe
3+
and pyochelin (PCH)-Fe
3+
but are also necessary for the virulence of
P. aeruginosa
toward
Galleria mellonella
larvae. Furthermore, we suggest that the function of PQS-Fe
3+
(but not PQS)-mediated quorum-sensing regulation is dependent on FptX, PchHI, and FepBCDG. Additionally, the findings indicate that unlike FptX, neither FepBCDG nor PchHI play roles in the autoregulatory loop involving PchR, but further deletion of
fepBCDG
and
pchHI
can reverse the inactive PchR phenotype caused by
fptX
deletion and reactivate the expression of the PCH pathway genes under iron-limited conditions. Finally, this work identifies the interaction between FptX, PchHI, and FepBCDG, indicating that a larger complex could be formed to mediate the uptake of PQS-Fe
3+
and PCH-Fe
3+
. These results pave the way for a better understanding of the PQS and PCH iron absorption pathways and provide future directions for research on tackling
P. aeruginosa
infections.

IMPORTANCE

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
has evolved a number of strategies to acquire the iron it needs from its host, with the most common being the synthesis, secretion, and uptake of siderophores such as pyoverdine, pyochelin, and the quorum-sensing signaling molecule
Pseudomonas
quinolone signal (PQS). However, despite intensive studies of the siderophore uptake pathways of
P. aeruginosa
, our understanding of how siderophores transport iron across the inner membrane into the cytoplasm is still incomplete. Herein, we reveal that PQS and pyochelin in
P. aeruginosa
share inner membrane transporters such as FptX, PchHI, and FepBCDG to mediate iron uptake. Meanwhile, PQS and pyochelin-mediated signaling operate to a large extent via these inner membrane transporters. Our study revealed the existence of shared uptake pathways between PQS and pyochelin, which could lead us to reexamine the role of these two molecules in the iron uptake and virulence of
P. aeruginosa
.
Major urinary protein (
Mup
) gene family deletion drives sex-specific alterations in the house-mouse gut microbiota
Authors: Real Madalena V. F. , Colvin Melanie S. , Sheehan Michael J. , Moeller Andrew H.
Published: January 2024

The gut microbiota is shaped by host metabolism. In house mice (
Mus musculus
), major urinary protein (MUP) pheromone production represents a considerable energy investment, particularly in sexually mature males. Deletion of the
Mup
gene family shifts mouse metabolism toward an anabolic state, marked by lipogenesis, lipid accumulation, and body mass increases. Given the metabolic implications of MUPs, they may also influence the gut microbiota. Here, we investigated the effect of a deletion of the
Mup
gene family on the gut microbiota of sexually mature mice. Shotgun metagenomics revealed distinct taxonomic and functional profiles between wild-type and knockout males but not females. Deletion of the
Mup
gene cluster significantly reduced diversity in microbial families and functions in male mice. Additionally, a species of
Ruminococcaceae
and several microbial functions, such as transporters involved in vitamin B
5
acquisition, were significantly depleted in the microbiota of
Mup
knockout males. Altogether, these results show that MUPs significantly affect the gut microbiota of house mouse in a sex-specific manner.

IMPORTANCE

The community of microorganisms that inhabits the gastrointestinal tract can have profound effects on host phenotypes. The gut microbiota is in turn shaped by host genes, including those involved with host metabolism. In adult male house mice, expression of the major urinary protein (
Mup
) gene cluster represents a substantial energy investment, and deletion of the
Mup
gene family leads to fat accumulation and weight gain in males. We show that deleting
Mup
genes also alters the gut microbiota of male, but not female, mice in terms of both taxonomic and functional compositions. Male mice without
Mup
genes harbored fewer gut bacterial families and reduced abundance of a species of
Ruminococcaceae
, a family that has been previously shown to reduce obesity risk. Studying the impact of the
Mup
gene family on the gut microbiota has the potential to reveal the ways in which these genes affect host phenotypes.
Analysis of ‘One in a Million’ primary care consultation conversations using natural language processing
Authors: Pyne Yvette , Wong Yik Ming , Fang Haishuo , Simpson Edwin
Published: January 2024

Background

Modern patient electronic health records form a core part of primary care; they contain both clinical codes and free text entered by the clinician. Natural language processing (NLP) could be employed to generate these records through ‘listening’ to a consultation conversation.

Objectives

This study develops and assesses several text classifiers for identifying clinical codes for primary care consultations based on the doctor–patient conversation. We evaluate the possibility of training classifiers using medical code descriptions, and the benefits of processing transcribed speech from patients as well as doctors. The study also highlights steps for improving future classifiers.

Methods

Using verbatim transcripts of 239 primary care consultation conversations (the ‘One in a Million’ dataset) and novel additional datasets for distant supervision, we trained NLP classifiers (naïve Bayes, support vector machine, nearest centroid, a conventional BERT classifier and few-shot BERT approaches) to identify the International Classification of Primary Care-2 clinical codes associated with each consultation.

Results

Of all models tested, a fine-tuned BERT classifier was the best performer. Distant supervision improved the model’s performance (F1 score over 16 classes) from 0.45 with conventional supervision with 191 labelled transcripts to 0.51. Incorporating patients’ speech in addition to clinician’s speech increased the BERT classifier’s performance from 0.45 to 0.55 F1 (p=0.01, paired bootstrap test).

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that NLP classifiers can be trained to identify clinical area(s) being discussed in a primary care consultation from audio transcriptions; this could represent an important step towards a smart digital assistant in the consultation room.
ChatGPT in glioma adjuvant therapy decision making: ready to assume the role of a doctor in the tumour board?
Authors: Haemmerli Julien , Sveikata Lukas , Nouri Aria , May Adrien , Egervari Kristof , Freyschlag Christian , Lobrinus Johannes A , Migliorini Denis , Momjian Shahan , Sanda Nicolae , Schaller Karl , Tran Sebastien , Yeung Jacky , Bijlenga Philippe
Published: January 2024

Objective

To evaluate ChatGPT‘s performance in brain glioma adjuvant therapy decision-making.

Methods

We randomly selected 10 patients with brain gliomas discussed at our institution’s central nervous system tumour board (CNS TB). Patients’ clinical status, surgical outcome, textual imaging information and immuno-pathology results were provided to ChatGPT V.3.5 and seven CNS tumour experts. The chatbot was asked to give the adjuvant treatment choice, and the regimen while considering the patient’s functional status. The experts rated the artificial intelligence-based recommendations from 0 (complete disagreement) to 10 (complete agreement). An intraclass correlation coefficient agreement (ICC) was used to measure the inter-rater agreement.

Results

Eight patients (80%) met the criteria for glioblastoma and two (20%) were low-grade gliomas. The experts rated the quality of ChatGPT recommendations as poor for diagnosis (median 3, IQR 1–7.8, ICC 0.9, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.0), good for treatment recommendation (7, IQR 6–8, ICC 0.8, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.9), good for therapy regimen (7, IQR 4–8, ICC 0.8, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9), moderate for functional status consideration (6, IQR 1–7, ICC 0.7, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.9) and moderate for overall agreement with the recommendations (5, IQR 3–7, ICC 0.7, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.9). No differences were observed between the glioblastomas and low-grade glioma ratings.

Conclusions

ChatGPT performed poorly in classifying glioma types but was good for adjuvant treatment recommendations as evaluated by CNS TB experts. Even though the ChatGPT lacks the precision to replace expert opinion, it may serve as a promising supplemental tool within a human-in-the-loop approach.
Digital health and care: emerging from pandemic times
Authors: Peek Niels , Sujan Mark , Scott Philip
Published: January 2024

In 2020, we published an editorial about the massive disruption of health and care services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid changes in digital service delivery, artificial intelligence and data sharing that were taking place at the time. Now, 3 years later, we describe how these developments have progressed since, reflect on lessons learnt and consider key challenges and opportunities ahead by reviewing significant developments reported in the literature. As before, the three key areas we consider are digital transformation of services, realising the potential of artificial intelligence and wise data sharing to facilitate learning health systems. We conclude that the field of digital health has rapidly matured during the pandemic, but there are still major sociotechnical, evaluation and trust challenges in the development and deployment of new digital services.
SIGACT News Complexity Theory Column 119
Authors: Lee Volk Ben
Published: January 2024

After a short break, the complexity theory column is back! In this issue, Sevag Gharibian introduces us to the multifaceted nature of Quantum NP and its relation to Snow White (yes, it all makes sense if you read the column). Thanks a lot to Sevag for his dedication and thoroughness and the effort he put into his fantastic contribution.
Human liver afferent and efferent nerves revealed by 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution imaging
Authors: Chen Chien-Chia , Peng Shih-Jung , Chou Ya-Hsien , Lee Chih-Yuan , Lee Po-Huang , Hu Rey-Heng , Ho Ming-Chih , Chung Mei-Hsin , Hsiao Fu-Ting , Tien Yu-Wen , Tang Shiue-Cheng
Published: January 2024

We embed the human liver (vs. pancreas, positive control) in the high-refractive-index polymer for tissue clearing and antifade 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution neurohistology. The pancreas-liver comparison reveals: 1) sensory nerves in the hepatoportal space; 2) intralobular sympathetic innervation, including the nerve fibers and varicosities contacting the ballooning hepatocytes; and 3) parasympathetic innervation of the septal bile duct. Our results highlight the sensitivity and resolving power of 3-D/Airyscan super-resolution imaging in human liver neurohistology.
Multiformity of extracellular microelectrode recordings from Aδ neurons in the dorsal root ganglia: a computational modeling study
Authors: Madden Lauren R. , Graham Robert D. , Lempka Scott F. , Bruns Tim M.
Published: January 2024

We built a computational model of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia to investigate factors that influence the extracellular waveforms recorded by microelectrodes. Our model demonstrates how the unique structure of these neurons can lead to diverse and often multiphasic waveform profiles depending on the location of the recording contact relative to microanatomical neural components. Our model also provides insight into the neurophysiological function of axon glomeruli that are often present in these neurons.
Optimization of a Hybrid Off-Grid Solar PV—Hydro Power Systems for Rural Electrification in Cameroon
Authors: Iweh Chu Donatus , Semassou Guy Clarence , Ahouansou Roger Houèchénè
Published: January 2024

The use of decentralized renewable energy systems will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation especially in developing countries where grid expansion to most remote areas is uneconomical. The income levels of these off-grid communities are often low, such that there is a need for the delivery of cost-effective energy solutions through optimum control and sizing of energy system components. This paper aims at minimizing the net present cost (NPC) and the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). The study presents a hybrid power system involving a hydroelectric, solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery system for a rural community in Cameroon. The optimization of the system was done using HOMER Pro and validated using a meta-heuristic algorithm known as genetic algorithm (GA). The GA approach was programmed using the MATLAB software. After the HOMER simulation, the optimal power capacity of 3 kW solar PV, 334.89 Ah battery, and 32.2 kW microhydropower was used to meet the load. The village load profile had a daily energy usage of 431.32 kWh/day and a peak power demand of 38.49 kW. The optimized results showed an NPC and LCOE of $90,469.16 and 0.0453 $/kWh, respectively. The system configuration was tested against an increase in hydropower capacity, and it was observed that increasing the hydropower capacity has the ability to significantly reduce the LCOE as well as the battery and solar PV size. A comparative analysis of the two approaches showed that the optimization using GA was more cost-effective than HOMER Pro with the least LCOE of 0.0344 $/kWh and NPC of $86,990.94 as well as a loss of power supply probability (LPSP) of 0.99%. In addition, the GA method gave more hydropower generation than HOMER Pro. This supports the fact that stochastic methods are more realistic and economically viable. They also accurately predict system operation than deterministic methods.