bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proguanil and atovaquone use is associated with lower colorectal cancer risk: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Zhang Naiqi , Sundquist Jan , Sundquist Kristina , Ji Jianguang
Published: November 2022

Background

Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) are at a high risk of developing CRC. Preclinical studies suggest that the anti-malaria drug proguanil and atovaquone might play a role in preventing CRC, but population-based evidence is still lacking.

Methods

By accessing a couple of nationwide Swedish registers, we performed a cohort study to explore whether using proguanil and atovaquone might associate with a lower risk of CRC by adopting a new-user study design. Adults who have 1 or more first-degree relatives (parents or siblings) diagnosed with CRC were identified and linked with the Prescribed Drug Register to evaluate their administration history of proguanil and atovaquone. Survival analysis of the time to CRC diagnosis with Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

A total of 16,817 incident proguanil/atovaquone users were identified and matched with 168,170 comparisons, who did not use proguanil/atovaquone, on the ratio of 1:10. We found a significant negative association between proguanil/atovaquone use and risk of CRC (adjusted HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62–0.93). Test for trend showed significant dose- and duration-response correlations (P< 0.001). The association was more pronounced in CRC diagnosed at an advanced stage than at an early stage (adjusted HR, 0.69 vs.0.81).

Conclusions

This national-wide population-based cohort study showed that the use of proguanil and atovaquone was associated with a reduced risk of CRC among individuals with a family history of CRC.
Pan-cancer analysis of UBE2T with a focus on prognostic and immunological roles in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cao Kui , Ling Xiaodong , Jiang Xiangyu , Ma Jianqun , Zhu Jinhong
Published: November 2022

Background

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 T (UBE2T) is a potential oncogene. However, Pan-cancer analyses of the functional, prognostic and predictive implications of this gene are lacking.

Methods

We first analyzed UBE2T across 33 tumor types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. We investigated the expression level of UBE2T and its effect on prognosis using the TCGA database. The correlation between UBE2T and cell cycle in pan-cancer was investigated using the single-cell sequencing data in Cancer Single-cell State Atlas (CancerSEA) database. The Weighted Gene Co-expression Network analysis (WGCNA), Univariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression models, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were applied to assess the prognostic impact of UBE2T-related cell cycle genes (UrCCGs). Furthermore, the consensus clustering (CC) method was adopted to divide TCGA-lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients into subgroups based on UrCCGs. Prognosis, molecular characteristics, and the immune panorama of subgroups were analyzed using Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA). Results derived from TCGA-LUAD patients were validated in International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC)-LUAD data.

Results

UBE2T is highly expressed and is a prognostic risk factor in most tumors. CancerSEA database analysis revealed that UBE2T was positively associated with the cell cycle in various cancers(r > 0.60, p < 0.001). The risk signature of UrCCGs can reliably predict the prognosis of LUAD (AUC1 year = 0.720, AUC3 year = 0.700, AUC5 year = 0.630). The CC method classified the TCGA-LUAD cohort into 4 UrCCG subtypes (G1–G4). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated that G2 and G4 subtypes had worse survival than G3 (Log-rank test PTCGA training set < 0.001, PICGC validation set < 0.001). A comprehensive analysis of immune infiltrates, immune checkpoints, and immunogenic cell death modulators unveiled different immune landscapes for the four subtypes. High immunophenoscore in G3 and G4 tumors suggested that these two subtypes were immunologically “hot,” tending to respond to immunotherapy compared to G2 subtypes (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

UBE2T is a critical oncogene in many cancers. Moreover, UrCCG classified the LUAD cohort into four subgroups with significantly different survival, molecular features, immune infiltrates, and immunotherapy responses. UBE2T may be a therapeutic target and predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy sensitivity.
Acceptability of pre-referral rectal artesunate for severe malaria in children under 5 years by health workers and caregivers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Uganda
Authors: Awor Phyllis , Kimera Joseph , Athieno Proscovia , Tumukunde Gloria , Okitawutshu Jean , Tshefu Antoinette , Omoluabi Elizabeth , Signorell Aita , Brunner Nina , Kalenga Jean-Claude , Akano Babatunde , Ayodeji Kazeem , Okon Charles , Yusuf Ocheche , Delvento Giulia , Lee Tristan , Burri Christian , Lengeler Christian , Hetzel Manuel W.
Published: November 2022

Background

For children below 6 years with suspected severe malaria attending a health care provider unable to provide parenteral malaria treatment, pre-referral rectal artesunate (RAS) is recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent death and disability. A number of African countries are in the process of rolling out quality-assured RAS for pre-referral treatment of severe malaria at community-level. The success of RAS depends, among other factors, on the acceptability of RAS in the communities where it is being rolled-out. Yet to date, there is limited literature on RAS acceptability. This study aimed to determine the acceptability of RAS by health care providers and child caregivers in communities where quality assured RAS was rolled out. This study was nested within the comprehensive multi-country observational research project Community Access to Rectal Artesunate for Malaria (CARAMAL), implemented in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, and Uganda between 2018 and 2020. Data from three different sources were analysed to understand RAS acceptability: interviews with health workers during three health care provider surveys (N = 341 community health workers and 467 primary health facility workers), with caregivers of children < 5 years of age during three household surveys (N = 9332 caregivers), and with caregivers of children < 5 years of age who were treated with RAS and enrolled in the CARAMAL Patient Surveillance System (N = 3645 caregivers).

Results

RAS acceptability was high among all interviewed stakeholders in the three countries. After the roll-out of RAS, 97–100% heath care providers in DRC, 98–100% in Nigeria and 93–100% in Uganda considered RAS as very good or good. Majority of caregivers whose children had received RAS for pre-referral management of severe malaria indicated that they would want to get the medication again, if their child had the same illness (99.8% of caregivers in DRC, 100% in Nigeria and 99.9% in Uganda). In three household surveys, 67–80% of caregivers whose children had not previously received RAS considered the medication as useful.

Conclusion

RAS was well accepted by health workers and child caregivers in DRC, Nigeria and Uganda. Acceptability is unlikely to be an obstacle to the large-scale roll-out of RAS in the studied settings.
Poor semen parameters are associated with abnormal methylation of imprinted genes in sperm DNA
Authors: Song Bing , Chen Yujie , Wang Chao , Li Guanjian , Wei Zhaolian , He Xiaojin , Cao Yunxia
Published: November 2022

Background

Altered sperm DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes as well as certain spermatogenesis-related genes has been proposed as a possible mechanism of male subfertility. Some reports suggest that there is an elevated risk of congenital diseases, associated with imprinted genes, in children conceived via intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, due to the involvement of spermatozoa with aberrant imprinted genes obtained from infertile men.

Methods

In this study, the DNA methylation status of the promoter regions of six imprinted genes, namely potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 (KCNQ1), maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2), KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1), mesoderm specific transcript (MEST), and paternally expressed gene 3 (PEG3), were detected by a next generation sequencing-based multiple methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis of sperm samples obtained from 166 men who sought fertility evaluation in our Reproductive Medicine Center. Thereafter, the semen samples were classified into subgroups according to sperm motility and DNA integrity status.

Results

As compared to the normozoospermic group, the samples of the asthenospermic group exhibited significant hypermethylation in two CpG sites ofIGF-2and significant hypomethylation in one CpG site ofKCNQ1as well as three CpG sites ofMEST(P < 0.05). However, we did not observe any significant differences in the overall methylation levels of these six imprinted genes (P > 0.05). Additionally, we found that 111 of 323 CpG sites were hypomethylated in the group with DNA fragmentation index (DFI) ≥ 30% as compared to the group with DFI < 30% (P < 0.05). In this case, there were significant differences in the overall methylation levels ofMEG3,IGF-2,MEST, andPEG3(P < 0.05), but not in that ofKCNQ1OT1andKCNQ1(P > 0.05). Hence, aberrant methylation patterns of imprinted genes were more prevalent in males with poor sperm quality, especially in those with severe sperm DNA damage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, abnormal DNA methylation of some CpG sites of imprinted genes are associated with poor sperm quality, including asthenospermia and severe sperm DNA impairment.
Reach-to-grasp kinematics and kinetics with and without visual feedback in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhang Jianhong , Xiao Yunling , Li Zong-Ming , Wei Na , Lin Leitong , Li Ke
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) on the reach-to-grasp kinematics and kinetics with and without visual supervision of the grasping arm and hand. Seventeen patients who had been diagnosed with early-stage AD and 17 age- and gender-matched, cognitive normal (CN) adults participated in the experiment. A mirror operating system was designed to block the visual feedback of their grasping hand and forearms but to virtually show grasped targets. The target for reach-to-grasp kinematics was a reflective marker installed on a base; and the target for reach-to-grasp kinetics was a custom-made apparatus installed with two six-component force/torque transducers. Kinematics and kinetic parameters were used to quantify the reach-to-grasp performances. Results showed that the early-stage AD remarkably decreased the reaching speed, reduced the grasping accuracy and increased the transportation variability for reach-to-grasp kinematics. For kinetic analysis, early-stage AD extended the preload duration, disturbed the grip and lift forces coordination, and increased the feedforward proportion in the grasping force control. The AD-related changes in the reach-to-grasp kinematic and kinetic parameters depended on visual feedback and were associated with nervous system function according to correlation analyses with the neuropsychological testing. These results suggest that the abnormal kinematic and kinetic characteristics may correlate with the neuropsychological status of early-stage AD, and that the reach-to-grasp kinematic and kinetic maneuver could potentially be used as a novel tool for non-invasive screening or evaluation of early-stage AD.
Zishen Pill alleviates diabetes in Db/db mice via activation of PI3K/AKT pathway in the liver
Authors: Wu You , Sun Boju , Guo Xiaoyuan , Wu Lili , Hu Yaomu , Qin Lingling , Yang Tao , Li Mei , Qin Tianyu , Jiang Miao , Liu Tonghua
Published: November 2022

Background

The rising global incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) highlights a need for new therapies. The Zishen Pill (ZSP) is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction that has previously shown hypoglycemic effects in C57BL/KsJ-db/db mice, although the therapeutic mechanism remains unknown. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of ZSP’s hypoglycemic effects using db/db mice.

Methods

Db/db mice were divided into two groups: model group and ZSP group, while wt/wt mice were used as a normal control. ZSP was given to mice by gavage for 40 days. During treatment, blood glucose level and body weight were monitored continuously. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at day 35. Blood and tissue samples were collected at the end of treatment for further analyses. Mice liver samples were analyzed with mRNA transcriptomics using functional annotation and pathway enrichment to identify potential mechanisms that were then explored with qPCR and Western Blot techniques.

Results

ZSP treatment significantly reduced weight gain and glycemic severity in db/db mice. ZSP also partially restored the glucose homeostasis in db/db mice and increased the hepatic glycogen content. Transcriptomic analyses showed ZSP increased expression of genes involved in glycolysis including Hk2, Hk3, Gck and Pfkb1, and decreased expression of G6pase. Additionally, the gene and protein expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway, and Csf1 and Flt3 mRNA expression were significantly upregulated in ZSP group.

Conclusion

ZSP treatment reduced the severity of diabetic symptoms in db/db mice. ZSP increased expression of genes associated with glycogen synthesis and glycolysis, and decreased gluconeogenesis via the enhancement of the PI3K/AKT signaling in the liver.
Scaffold Generator: a Java library implementing molecular scaffold functionalities in the Chemistry Development Kit (CDK)
Authors: Schaub Jonas , Zander Julian , Zielesny Achim , Steinbeck Christoph
Published: November 2022

The concept of molecular scaffolds as defining core structures of organic molecules is utilised in many areas of chemistry and cheminformatics, e.g. drug design, chemical classification, or the analysis of high-throughput screening data. Here, we present Scaffold Generator, a comprehensive open library for the generation, handling, and display of molecular scaffolds, scaffold trees and networks. The new library is based on the Chemistry Development Kit (CDK) and highly customisable through multiple settings, e.g. five different structural framework definitions are available. For display of scaffold hierarchies, the open GraphStream Java library is utilised. Performance snapshots with natural products (NP) from the COCONUT (COlleCtion of Open Natural prodUcTs) database and drug molecules from DrugBank are reported. The generation of a scaffold network from more than 450,000 NP can be achieved within a single day.
Reinforcement learning empowered multi-AGV offloading scheduling in edge-cloud IIoT
Authors: Liu Peng , Liu Zhe , Wang Ji , Wu Zifu , Li Peng , Lu Huijuan
Published: November 2022

The edge-cloud computing architecture has been introduced to industrial circles to ensure the time constraints for industrial computing tasks. Besides the central cloud, various numbers of edge servers (ESes) are deployed in a distributed manner. In the meantime, most large factories currently use auto guided vehicles (AGVs). They usually travel along a given route and can help offload tasks to ESes. An ES maybe accessed by multiple AGVs, thus incurring offloading and processing delays due to resource competition. In this paper, we investigate the offloading scheduling issue for cyclical tasks and put forth the Multi-AGV Cyclical Offloading Optimization (MCOO) algorithm to reduce conflicts. The solution divides the offloading optimization problem into two parts. Firstly, the load balancing algorithm and greedy algorithm are utilized to find the optimal allocation of tasks for a single AGV under limited conditions. Then, multiple AGVs are asynchronously trained by applying the Reinforcement Learning-based A3C algorithm to optimize the offloading scheme. The simulation results show that the MCOO algorithm improves the global offloading performance both in task volume and adaptability compared with the baseline algorithms.
Gryllus bimaculatus extract protects against palmitate-induced β-cell death by inhibiting ceramide synthesis
Authors: Park Ie Byung , Kim Min Hee , Han Jung-Soon , Park Woo-Jae
Published: November 2022

Type I diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of β-cells, leading to severe insulin deficiency. Environmental factors and genetic predisposition are implicated in β-cell destruction, which is the final step in a cascade of complex events. Possible triggers of β-cell destruction are activation of Fas, activation of perforin, increased generation of reactive oxygen species, increased production of inflammatory cytokines, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, we examined whether Gryllus bimaculatus (GB) extract could prevent palmitate-induced β-cell apoptosis. Exposure to GB extract prevented palmitate-induced death of MIN6 cells, a mouse pancreatic β-cell line. Palmitate increased total ceramide levels with the elevation of ceramide synthase (CerS)1, CerS4, and CerS6 expressions. Treatment with GB extract decreased the levels and expressions of ceramides related to insulin resistance. CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression, but not CerS1 overexpression, increased palmitate-induced MIN6 cell death by increasing ceramide synthesis. Oppositely, inhibition of ceramide synthesis by fumonisin B1 treatment partially recovered palmitate-induced MIN6 cell death. Furthermore, GB extract reduced ER stress (phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α), NF-κB–iNOS signaling, and the phosphorylation of MAP kinase (JNK, p38). GB extract reduced pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression but increased anti-apoptotic Bcl2 expression. In addition, CerS4 and CerS6 overexpression aggravated impairment of insulin secretion by palmitate, but GB extract recovered it. In conclusion, GB could be a functional food that improves palmitate-induced β-cell death and insulin secretion.
Cross-generational bacterial strain transfer to an infant after fecal microbiota transplantation to a pregnant patient: a case report
Authors: Wei Shaodong , Jespersen Marie Louise , Baunwall Simon Mark Dahl , Myers Pernille Neve , Smith Emilie Milton , Dahlerup Jens Frederik , Rasmussen Simon , Nielsen Henrik Bjørn , Licht Tine Rask , Bahl Martin Iain , Hvas Christian Lodberg
Published: November 2022

Background

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) effectively prevents the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Long-term engraftment of donor-specific microbial consortia may occur in the recipient, but potential further transfer to other sites, including the vertical transmission of donor-specific strains to future generations, has not been investigated. Here, we report, for the first time, the cross-generational transmission of specific bacterial strains from an FMT donor to a pregnant patient with CDI and further to her child, born at term, 26 weeks after the FMT treatment.

Methods

A pregnant woman (gestation week 12 + 5) with CDI was treated with FMT via colonoscopy. She gave vaginal birth at term to a healthy baby. Fecal samples were collected from the feces donor, the mother (before FMT, and 1, 8, 15, 22, 26, and 50 weeks after FMT), and the infant (meconium at birth and 3 and 6 months after birth). Fecal samples were profiled by deep metagenomic sequencing for strain-level analysis. The microbial transfer was monitored using single nucleotide variants in metagenomes and further compared to a collection of metagenomic samples from 651 healthy infants and 58 healthy adults.

Results

The single FMT procedure led to an uneventful and sustained clinical resolution in the patient, who experienced no further CDI-related symptoms up to 50 weeks after treatment. The gut microbiota of the patient with CDI differed considerably from the healthy donor and was characterized as low in alpha diversity and enriched for several potential pathogens. The FMT successfully normalized the patient’s gut microbiota, likely by donor microbiota transfer and engraftment. Importantly, our analysis revealed that some specific strains were transferred from the donor to the patient and then further to the infant, thus demonstrating cross-generational microbial transfer.

Conclusions

The evidence for cross-generational strain transfer following FMT provides novel insights into the dynamics and engraftment of bacterial strains from healthy donors. The data suggests FMT treatment of pregnant women as a potential strategy to introduce beneficial strains or even bacterial consortia to infants, i.e., neonatal seeding.
Phosphoproteomics revealed cellular signals immediately responding to disruption of cancer amino acid homeostasis induced by inhibition of l-type amino acid transporter 1
Authors: Okanishi Hiroki , Ohgaki Ryuichi , Xu Minhui , Endou Hitoshi , Kanai Yoshikatsu
Published: November 2022

Background

Cancer-upregulated l-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1; SLC7A5) supplies essential amino acids to cancer cells. LAT1 substrates are not only needed for cancer rapid growth, but involved in cellular signaling. LAT1 has been proposed as a potential target for cancer treatment—its inhibitor, JPH203, is currently in clinical trials and targets biliary tract cancer (BTC). Here, we revealed to what extent LAT1 inhibitor affects intracellular amino acid content and what kind of cellular signals are directly triggered by LAT1 inhibition.

Methods

Liquid chromatography assay combined with o-phthalaldehyde- and 9-fluorenyl-methylchloroformate-based derivatization revealed changes in intracellular amino acid levels induced by LAT1 inhibition with JPH203 treatment in three BTC cell lines. Tandem mass tag-based quantitative phosphoproteomics characterized the effect of JPH203 treatment on BTC cells, and suggested key regulators in LAT1-inhibited cells. We further studied one of the key regulators, CK2 protein kinase, by using Western blot, enzymatic activity assay, and co-immunoprecipitation. We evaluated anticancer effects of combination of JPH203 with CK2 inhibitor using cell growth and would healing assay.

Results

JPH203 treatment decreased intracellular levels of LAT1 substrates including essential amino acids of three BTC cell lines, immediately and drastically. We also found levels of some of these amino acids were partially recovered after longer-time treatment. Therefore, we performed phosphoproteomics with short-time JPH203 treatment prior to the cellular compensatory response, and revealed hundreds of differentially phosphorylated sites. Commonly downregulated phosphorylation sites were found on proteins involved in the cell cycle and RNA splicing. Our phosphoproteomics also suggested key regulators immediately responding to LAT1 inhibition. Focusing on one of these regulators, protein kinase CK2, we revealed LAT1 inhibition decreased phosphorylation of CK2 substrate without changing CK2 enzymatic activity. Furthermore, LAT1 inhibition abolished interaction between CK2 and its regulatory protein NOLC1, which suggests regulatory mechanism of CK2 substrate protein specificity controlled by LAT1 inhibition. Moreover, we revealed that the combination of JPH203 with CK2 inhibitor resulted in the enhanced inhibition of proliferation and migration of BTC cells.

Conclusion

This study provides new perspectives on LAT1-dependent cellular processes and a rationale for therapeutics targeting reprogrammed cancer metabolism.
Bullying victimization and its associated factors among adolescents in Illu Abba Bor Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tarafa Hunde , Alemayehu Yadeta , Bete Tilahun , Tarecha Debela
Published: November 2022

Background

Bullying victimization is a repetitive exposure to negative actions from one or more students over time. Bullying victim adolescents have higher levels of mental health problems, worse mental health outcomes, and lowered social status than non-victim adolescents. Literature on bullying among adolescents in Ethiopia is limited. This study aimed to assess the magnitude of bullying victimization and its associated factors among adolescents.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 847 adolescents in Mettu town. A Stratified sampling technique was used to select eligible Study participants from September, 1 to 30, 2020. Linear regression analysis model was used; first bivariate analysis was performed to see the association of each independent variable with bullying victimization. Variables with (P < 0.25) in bivariate analysis were entered into a multivariate linear regression model to identify the association of each independent variable with bullying victimization. The statistical significance was considered atPvalue < 0.05.

Results

From the total of 847 adolescents 819 were voluntarily involved in the study giving the response rate of 96.7%. The prevalence of bullying victimization in this study was 30.4%. Being male (β = 1.135,p = 0.001), physical abuse (β = 0.622,p ≤ 0.001), emotional abuse (β = 0.512,p ≤ 0.001), current substance use (β = 1.153,p = 0.005), psychological distress (β = 0.406,p ≤ 0.001) and having medical illness (β = 3.500,p ≤ 0.001) were significantly associated with bullying victimization.

Conclusions

Bullying victimization is quite common among adolescents and has both short- and long-term consequences. Bullying prevention treatments should focus on male adolescents and those who report being bullied. Anti-bullying policies in schools are critical for educating teachers, parents, and students about bullying.
The social system of the lava lizard, Microlophus atacamensis: the interplay between social structure and social organization
Authors: Utsumi Kaera , Staley Catherine , Núñez Herman , Eifler Maria A. , Eifler Douglas A.
Published: November 2022

Background

Animal social systems can be described through four main components: social structure, social organization, mating system, and care system. Social structure describes the relationships between individuals in a population, while social organization describes the group composition, size, and spatiotemporal variation of a population. We use the frameworks of social structure and social organization to study the social system ofMicrolophus atacamensis, a lizard found in the rocky intertidal zone along the Chilean coast. The areaM. atacamensisinhabits poses specific challenges stemming from their use of two distinct habitat types in the intertidal zone: they forage in the cool areas near the water’s edge and use large rocks in more inland areas for basking and refuge.

Methods

Our assessment of their social system focused on two separate populations: one to characterize social structure by means of focal observations and social network analysis, and a second to assess social organization via home range and core area analyses. Further, we examined the social system in two habitat types that comprise the intertidal zone: cobble fields and interspersed large rocks.

Results

Social network analysis revealed an interconnected network with a few highly central individuals. Body size influenced the outcomes of aggressive interactions, with interactions being more common in cobble fields where males had more associates and more repeated interactions than females. Spatial analyses revealed that the social organization ofM. atacamensisis characterized by (1) high home range overlap, specifically in the cobble fields and (2) relatively exclusive core areas dispersed across both habitat types.

Conclusion

A social system is composed of both cooperative and competitive behaviors. While our study focused on competitive interactions, the extent and influence of cooperative behaviors is still unclear and merits future research. We suggest thatM. atacamensishas a variable social system in which territoriality on large rocks affects access to stationary resources in that habitat (e.g., basking sites and refuges), while competition in the cobble fields could lay the foundation for a system of dominance relationships controlling access to variable food resources in cobble field areas of the intertidal zone.
Darier disease, hypertrophic / vegetating type
Authors: Cardoso Caroline Passos , Almeida Herbert Ives Barretto , Neves Nilma Antas , Leal Fabiola , Athanazio Daniel Abensur
Published: November 2022

Background

A hypertrophic / vegetating variant of Darier disease causing massive verruciform genital tumors is exceedingly rare.

Case presentation

A woman in her late 50s underwent wide resection of vulva and inguinal skin due to massive verruciform lesion. She had crusted / keratotic plaques with appearance of follicular keratosis keratosis (with a greasy, warty texture) in the back, neck, face, and extremities for 27 years. Previous biopsies from lesions elsewhere 27 years ago and along the years showed the same verruciform, pseudoepitheliomatous pattern, with no atypia. The diagnosis in those biopsies as well in the resected specimen was Darier disease, hypertrophic / vegetating type. All sampled areas showed the same pattern of parakeratosis, dyskeratosis (corps ronds and grains), suprabasal acantholysis and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with prominent anastomosing cords of elongated rete ridges (with a syringofibroadenoma silhouette). HPV hybridization situ was negative.

Conclusion

Awareness of hypertrophic variant of Darier disease is of important to avoid the diagnosis of malignant transformation in long term disease – which is an exceedingly rare event.
Average QP and QS estimation in marine sediments using a dense receiver array
Authors: Rørstadbotnen Robin André , Landrø Martin
Published: November 2022

A new spectral ratio method has been used to compute average P- and S-wave quality factors, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], for the sedimentary sequence below the “V”-shaped Oseberg permanent reservoir monitoring (PRM) system. Quality factors are important for a more accurate characterization of the subsurface and to obtain additional information on the physical processes within the earth, such as fluid content and partial melt. However, few methods compute the average Q-value in sediments for P and S waves in a region, which can be used as a constraint for attenuation models in more sophisticated inversion techniques such as full-waveform inversion or attenuation tomography. To address this, a spectral ratio method using two receiving stations, one installed on sediment and one installed on bedrock, has been developed. This has resulted in quality factor estimations ranging from approximately 64 to 137 for P waves and 29 to 123 for S waves using a subset of the 172 ocean-bottom nodes in the Oseberg PRM system and a seismometer in Bergen, Norway. The [Formula: see text] values are more scattered and hence more uncertain than the [Formula: see text] values due to the P-wave signal being close to the background noise level. In the study area, local earthquakes of magnitude as low as [Formula: see text] 2.4 can be used to obtain [Formula: see text] values and earthquakes of magnitude lower than 2.1 to find [Formula: see text] values, with the possibility of using lower magnitude events if the epicentral distances to the receivers are similar and smaller. Using this method, the average quality factor in sediment packages, for a variety of regions, can be estimated using appropriate raypath configurations connecting source and receiver.
Signal processing methods for crosswell electromagnetic imaging system
Authors: Zang Defu , Ji Yongli , Chao Yongsheng , Li Zhiqiang
Published: November 2022

The principle of crosswell electromagnetic (EM) imaging is similar to that of induction logging. The difference between them is that conventional induction logging can only measure the formation conductivity within a few meters around the well. However, crosswell EM imaging can be used in two wells with a separation distance of up to 1000 m. Several novel signal processing methods for crosswell EM imaging systems are developed for calibration, casing correction, and hybrid Jacobian matrix calculation. To conveniently perform calibration on the ground, the EM field formula in a vertical layered media is derived based on Maxwell equations, and the relationships between the received signal and frequency, formation conductivity, and transceiver spacing are subsequently derived. Furthermore, a new calibration method is developed. The EM field formula for a radial layered media is derived, and the analytical expressions describing the relationship between the receiving signal and borehole parameters, metal casing parameters, formation parameters, and receiver location are obtained. The effects of mud resistivity, metal casing position, metal casing resistivity, permeability, cement ring resistivity, transmitting frequency, and receiver location on the crosswell EM receiving signal are simulated. It is determined that only the casing required a correction. The influence of the metal casing is corrected by establishing a database. The difference between the corrected data and data obtained without a metal casing is less than 1%. There is a large error in the calculation of the Jacobian matrix in some regions when Green’s function was used. A hybrid Jacobian matrix calculation method combining local perturbation and a global Green’s function is developed, which significantly reduced the error and improved the inversion accuracy.
Circulating Tumor DNA as a Marker of Minimal Residual Disease After Radical Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: Marmorino Federica , Prisciandaro Michele , Giordano Mirella , Ortolan Elisa , Crucitta Stefania , Manca Paolo , Antoniotti Carlotta , Valenti Marta Maria , Danesi Romano , Conca Veronica , Mazzoli Giacomo , Boccaccino Alessandra , Carullo Martina , Martinetti Antonia , Sottotetti Elisa , Masi Gianluca , Sposito Carlo , Zaffaroni Nadia , Milione Massimo , Fontanini Gabriella , Del Re Marzia , Pietrantonio Filippo , Cremolini Chiara
Published: November 2022

PURPOSE

Prognostic tools to estimate the risk of relapse for patients with liver-limited metastatic colorectal cancer (LL-mCRC) undergoing resection with curative intent are needed. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a surrogate of postsurgical minimal residual disease is a promising marker in localized CRC. We explored the role of postoperative ctDNA as a marker of minimal residual disease in patients with radically resected LL-mCRC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy-six patients with LL-mCRC were retrospectively included. DNA from tumor tissue was sequenced, and one somatic mutation was then assessed by digital droplet polymerase chain reaction in plasma samples collected after surgery to identify the persistence of ctDNA. Relapse-free survival and postresection overall survival were compared between patients with positive vs negative postoperative ctDNA.

RESULTS

ctDNA was found in 39 (51%) of 76 patients with LL-mCRC. At a median follow-up of 77 months, 33 of 39 ctDNA-positive patients and 20 of 37 ctDNA-negative patients experienced disease relapse ( P = .008). ctDNA-positive patients reported significantly shorter RFS than ctDNA-negative ones (median RFS 12.7 v 27.4 months hazard ratio, 2.09, P = .008). In the multivariable model including other prognostic covariates, this association was still significant ( P = .046) and a trend toward shorter overall survival among ctDNA-positive patients was reported (hazard ratio, 1.65, P = .183).

CONCLUSION

The detection of postsurgical ctDNA is an independent negative prognostic marker and identifies patients at high risk of relapse after liver metastases resection.
Influence of interaction-generated anisotropy on the antiferromagnetic spin system on the octahedral lattice
Authors: Jurčišinová E. , Jurčišin M.
Published: November 2022

The phase diagram of the antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Ising-like model on the octahedral lattice with different strength of the nearest-neighbor interactions in all horizontal planes of the lattice in comparison to all nearest-neighbor interactions between them is investigated in the appropriate recursive lattice approximation. The existence of the intermediate phase that separates two dominant antiferromagnetic phases is shown and the nature of all phase transitions between various phases is determined. The sublattice as well as total magnetization properties of all phases of the model are studied. It is shown that the introduced interaction-generated anisotropy has strong impact on the very existence of the phenomenon of the weak ferromagnetism as well as on its magnetization properties in such pure antiferromagnetic spin systems.
Changing the Name of Diabetes Insipidus: A Position Statement of the Working Group for Renaming Diabetes Insipidus
Authors: Arima Hiroshi , Cheetham Timothy , Christ-Crain Mirjam , Cooper Deborah , Drummond Juliana , Gurnell Mark , Levy Miles , McCormack Ann , Newell-Price John , Verbalis Joseph G , Wass John ,   The Working Group for Renaming Diabetes Insipidus, Arima Hiroshi , Cheetham Timothy , Christ-Crain Mirjam , Gurnell Mark , Cooper Deborah , Drummond Juliana , Levy Miles , Gurnell Mark , McCormack Ann , Verbalis Joseph G , Newell-Price John , Wass John
Published: November 2022

Recent data show that patients with a diagnosis of diabetes insipidus (DI) are coming to harm. Here we give the rationale for a name change to arginine vasopressin deficiency and resistance for central and nephrogenic DI, respectively.
Patterning on the move: the effects of Hh morphogen source movement on signaling dynamics
Authors: Míguez D. G. , Iannini A. , García-Morales D. , Casares F.
Published: November 2022

Morphogens of the Hh-family trigger gene expression changes of receiving cells in a concentration-dependent manner to regulate their identity, proliferation, death or metabolism, depending on the tissue or organ. This variety of responses relies on a conserved signaling pathway. Its logic includes a negative feedback loop involving the Hh receptor Ptc. Here, using experiments and computational models we study and compare the different spatial signaling profiles downstream of Hh in several developing Drosophila organs. We show that the spatial distribution of Ptc and the activator transcription factor CiA in wing, antenna and ocellus show similar features, but markedly different from that in the compound eye (CE). We propose that these two profile types represent two time points along the signaling dynamics, and that the interplay between the spatial displacement of the Hh source in the CE and the negative feedback loop maintains the receiving cells effectively in an earlier stage of signaling. These results show how the interaction between spatial and temporal dynamics of signaling and differentiation processes may contribute to the informational versatility of the conserved Hh signaling pathway.
A tale of two fish tails: does a forked tail really perform better than a truncate tail when cruising?
Authors: Tack Nils B. , Gemmell Brad J.
Published: November 2022

Many fishes use their tail as the main thrust producer during swimming. This fin's diversity in shape and size influences its physical interactions with water as well as its ecological functions. Two distinct tail morphologies are common in bony fishes: flat, truncate tails which are best suited for fast accelerations via drag forces, and forked tails that promote economical, fast cruising by generating lift-based thrust. This assumption is based primarily on studies of the lunate caudal fin of Scombrids (i.e. tuna, mackerel), which is comparatively stiff and exhibits an airfoil-type cross-section. However, this is not representative of the more commonly observed and taxonomically widespread flexible forked tail, yet similar assumptions about economical cruising are widely accepted. Here, we present the first comparative experimental study of forked versus truncate tail shape and compare the fluid mechanical properties and energetics of two common nearshore fish species. We examined the hypothesis that forked tails provide a hydrodynamic advantage over truncate tails at typical cruising speeds. Using experimentally derived pressure fields, we show that the forked tail produces thrust via acceleration reaction forces like the truncate tail during cruising but at increased energetic costs. This reduced efficiency corresponds to differences in the performance of the two tail geometries and body kinematics to maintain similar overall thrust outputs. Our results offer insights into the benefits and tradeoffs of two common fish tail morphologies and shed light on the functional morphology of fish swimming to guide the development of bio-inspired underwater technologies.
Do Intramuscular Temperature and Fascicle Angle Affect Ultrasound Echo Intensity Values?
Authors: PINTO MATHEUS DAROS , SILVEIRA PINTO RONEI , NOSAKA KAZUNORI , BLAZEVICH ANTHONY JOHN
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Ultrasound-derived echo intensity (EI) has been used as a physiological marker for changes in skeletal muscle “quality” with physical training, disuse, aging, and neuromuscular disorders. However, the methodological and physiological factors influencing EI and its longitudinal change are still unclear. Here, we performed two separate experiments to investigate the effects of muscle temperature and fascicle angle, which are known to influence muscle tissue and sound wave properties and therefore affect EI.

Methods

In experiment 1 (n = 16, 28.0 ± 6.6 yr), vastus lateralis (VL) ultrasonographic images were acquired and intramuscular temperature continuously recorded for 15 min after 20 min of heating to 40.4°C ± 0.7°C using a microwave device. In experiment 2 (n = 17, 30.2 ± 9.8 yr), VL sonographic images were obtained with the knee both fully extended (0°) and flexed to 90° and EI and fascicle angle measured post hoc. Fascicle movement was tracked during the passive knee flexion to ensure that sonographic images were obtained at the same muscle region. Knee flexion reduced muscle thickness, and we therefore reran analyses calculating EI using identical dimensions to minimize this effect.

Results

EI decreased only immediately after the passive heating, and although a moderate, negative correlation was observed between EI and temperature (r
rm = −0.36), the effect of muscle temperature was small (β = 0.97 (−1.89 to −0.06) per degree Celsius, P = 0.051). Nonetheless, EI increased as fascicle angle decreased, and a large, negative correlation (r
rm = −0.85) was observed; the effect of fascicle angle on EI was large (β = 3.0 (−3.8 to −2.2) per degree, P < 0.01), and this was maintained when analyses were performed at a constant depth of the region of interest (β = 3.5 (−4.4 to −2.7) per degree, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

These findings support the hypothesis that fascicle angle meaningfully affects VL EI but provides weak evidence of a temperature effect in vivo. Thus, acute fascicle angle alterations should be accounted for in studies using EI measurements, and longer-term studies should consider whether changes in EI might be partly explained by a change in fascicle angle.
Evaluation of a new acrylic-lead shielding device for peripheral dose reduction during cone-beam computed tomography
Authors: Shimizu Hidetoshi , Sasaki Koji , Aoyama Takahiro , Iwata Tohru , Kitagawa Tomoki , Kodaira Takeshi
Published: November 2022

Objective:

To clarify the peripheral dose changes, especially in the eye lens and thyroid gland regions, using an acrylic-lead shield in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methods:

The acrylic-lead shield consists of system walls and a system mat. The radiophotoluminescence glass dosemeter was set on the eye lens and thyroid gland regions on the RANDO phantom. The system mat was laid under the RANDO phantom ranging from the top of the head to the shoulders, and then, the system walls shielded the phantom’s head. Additionally, the phantom was covered anteriorly with a band that had the same shielding ability as the system mat to cover the thyroid gland region. Protocols for CBCT imaging of the thoracic or pelvic region in clinical practice were used. The measurement was performed with and without the acrylic-lead shield.

Results:

The dose to the eye lens region was reduced by 45% using the system wall. Conversely, the dose to the thyroid gland was unchanged. The use of the system mat reduced the dose to the thyroid gland region by 47%, and the dose to the eye lens was reduced by 22%. The dose to the eye lens region decreased to the background level using the system walls and mat.

Conclusion:

The newly proposed device using an acrylic-lead shield reduced the peripheral dose in CBCT imaging.

Advances in knowledge:

Attention is focused on managing peripheral dose in image-guided radiation therapy. The peripheral dose reduction using the acrylic-lead shield is a new proposal in radiotherapy that has never been studied.
Πειραματική εκπαίδευση με διακίνηση ερωτηματολογίου για την επίδραση της φωτορύπανσης στην άγρια ζωή
Authors: Μαγουλά Αναστασία - Ελένη , Ξανθάκης Μιχαήλ
Published: November 2022

Κατά το σχολικό έτος 2021-2022, μαθητές διαφόρων σχολείων της πρωτοβάθμιας καιδευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης της Κεφαλονιάς εκπαιδεύτηκαν πειραματικά στοπρόγραμμα του Ε.Κ.Φ.Ε. Κεφαλονιάς και Ιθάκης σε συνεργασία με το ΦορέαΔιαχείρισης με τίτλο: «Άγρια Ζωή της Κεφαλονιάς και Φωτορύπανση», διεξάγονταςέρευνα για τις γνώσεις και απόψεις της μαθητικής κοινότητας της Κεφαλονιάς για τιςέννοιες της φωτορύπανσης και της άγριας ζωής της Κεφαλονιάς και πώς επηρεάζεταιη δεύτερη από την πρώτη. Για τους σκοπούς της έρευνας κατασκευάστηκε καιδιακινήθηκε στους μαθητές ερωτηματολόγιο για τη συλλογή των πρότερων γνώσεωνκαι απόψεων σχετικά με το θέμα , με στόχο τον προσδιορισμό της προθυμίας γιαπροστασία της βιοποικιλότητας της Κεφαλονιάς και του Σκοτεινού Ουρανού και έναερωτηματολόγιο μετά το τέλος της διεξαγωγής του προγράμματος για έλεγχο τηςεπιτυχίας της δράσης και αλλαγής των απόψεων των μαθητών.
Editorial
Authors: Αντωνόπουλος Νίκος
Published: November 2022

Το θέμα του 1ου Ετήσιου Ελληνόφωνου Επιστημονικού Συνεδρίου των Εργαστηρίων που θεραπεύουν το αντικείμενο της Επικοινωνίας σε Ελλάδα και Κύπρο: Η  περιβαλλοντική επικοινωνία με χρήση ήχου, εικόνας και κειμένου για τη  δημοσιογραφία/ πληροφόρηση-μαρκετιγκ / πολιτισμό / εκπαίδευση.

Σκοπός του Συνεδρίου cclabs είναι να προωθήσει τον γόνιμο και δημιουργικό διάλογο ανάμεσα στα Εργαστήρια Επικοινωνίας και Ενημέρωσης ελληνικών και κυπριακών πανεπιστημίων, στα μέλη της πανεπιστημιακής κοινότητας, σε ακαδημαϊκούς επιστήμονες, ερευνητές, φοιτητές, αποφοίτους, φορείς και εκπαιδευτικούς για να ανταλλάξουν ευρύτερους προβληματισμούς και να μοιραστούν τις εμπειρίες και τα ερευνητικά τους αποτελέσματα σε διάφορες πτυχές της επικοινωνίας και ενημέρωσης μέσω της χρήσης ήχου, εικόνας και κειμένου στα γνωστικά αντικείμενα της δημοσιογραφίας, πληροφόρησης, πολιτισμού καιεκπαίδευσης. Το Συνέδριο παρέχει επίσης μια διεπιστημονική πλατφόρμα σε ερευνητές, επαγγελματίες και εκπαιδευτικούς για να παρουσιάσουν και να συζητήσουν τις πιο πρόσφατες καινοτομίες και τάσεις, προκλήσεις και λύσεις στους τομείς της επικοινωνίας και ενημέρωσης.