bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The lumbar spinal endplate lesions grades and association with lumbar disc disorders, and lumbar bone mineral density in a healthy Chinese cohort
Authors: Pei Jingzhe , Yu Aihong , Geng Jian , Liu Yandong , Wang Ling , Shi Jia , Zhou Fengyun , Zhang Tianyu , Huang Pengju , Cheng Xiaoguang
Published: December 2022

Background

Lumbar vertebral endplates lesions (LEPLs), as one of the etiology of low back pain (LBP) which is one of the most common causes of health care cost, have an unclear pathogenesis. Although it gradually regarded as the focus in recent years, almost all studies have focused on symptomatic people, not healthy people. Therefore, our study was designed to determine the prevalence and distribution patterns of LEPLs and their associations with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), and lumbar vertebral volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in a health cohort.

Methods

Seven hundred and fifty healthy participants aged 20–60 years were enrolled in the study from a study on the degeneration of the spine and knee. In this observational study, a lumbar quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and MRI scan were performed among participants within 48 hours. T2-weighted sagittal lumbar MRI images for all included subjects were identified for LEPLs by two independent observers based on morphological and local characteristics. Lumbar vertebral vBMD was measured with QCT. The age, BMI, waistline, hipline, lumbar vBMD, LDD, and LDH were measured to investigate their associations with LEPLs.

Results

The prevalence was higher among the male subjects. 80% of endplates were recognition as no lesions with a significant difference between female (75.6%) and male subjects (83.4%) (p < 0.001). The most common lesions were “wavy/irregular” and “notched”, and “fracture” is most involved in L3-4 inferior endplate both in two genders. Lesions were found to be associated with LDH (≥ 2 levels: OR = 6.859, P < 0.001; 1 level༚ OR = 2.328, P = 0.002 in men. OR = 5.004, P < 0.001༛ OR = 1.805, P = 0.014 in women) reference for non-LDH, and hipline in men(OR = 1.123, P < 0.001). Weighted kappas of 0.66 and 0.87 were, respectively, assessed for the inter-and intra-observer reliabilities of the classification system.

Conclusions

Endplate lesions are also the common findings on lumbar MRIs in general people, particularly in men, and the presence, and advance from slightly to severely could be mainly attributed to LDH and men’s higher hipline.
Assessment of an instrument scale measuring the knowledge of antiretroviral therapy among HIV cases
Authors: Xu Di , Shi Yuhua , Pan Ling , Duan Qiongli , Huang Nengmei , Liu Pengcheng , Han Jing , Liu Zhongfu , Li Jian , Liu Hongjie
Published: December 2022

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is currently the most effective measure to treat people were living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHs) and reduce HIV transmission. While there are many factors that reduce adherence to ART, PLHs’ knowledge about ART may determine the level of adherence. It is necessary to design and assess an instrument scale that measures the knowledge of antiretroviral therapy among HIV cases.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV cases in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the latent factors of antiretroviral therapy knowledge scale. Internal consistency was assessed separately for the scale and its dimensions by estimating Cronbach’s alphas, split-half reliability and Spearman's correlation coefficient. ANOVAs were used to compare the scores of different dimensions with sociodemographic characteristics.
Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed in two independent samples: a development sample (N = 205) and a validation sample (N = 205). According to factor loadings, four factors were extracted. They had high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.70 - 0.95) and good construct validity (standardized factor loading range: 0.46–0.86) in the scale. Goodness of fit indices indicated that a four-factor solution fit the data at an accepted level (χ2/degree ratio=1.980, RMSEA=0.069, GFI=0.909, CFI=0.957, NFI=0.917, TLI=0.944). ANOVAs indicated that the score was higher among HIV cases who were Han, had spouses/partners, were non-famers or migrant workers, initiated ART, and had a high school or above education.
Conclusion: The psychometric assessment indicated that this ART knowledge scale had accepted internal consistency and discriminant construct validity. It can be used to assess the knowledge of antiretroviral therapy for HIV cases.
Virtual reality in medical emergencies training: benefits, perceived stress, and learning success
Authors: Mühling Tobias , Späth Isabelle , Backhaus Joy , Milke Nathalie , Oberdörfer Sebastian , Meining Alexander , Latoschik Marc Erich , König Sarah
Published: December 2022

Medical graduates lack procedural skills experience required to manage emergencies. Recent advances in virtual reality (VR) technology enable the creation of highly immersive learning environments representing easy-to-use and affordable solutions for training with simulation. However, the feasibility in compulsory teaching, possible side effects of immersion, perceived stress, and didactic benefits have to be investigated systematically. VR-based training sessions using head-mounted displays alongside a real-time dynamic physiology system were held by student assistants for small groups followed by debriefing with a tutor. In the pilot study, 36 students rated simulation sickness. In the main study, 97 students completed a virtual scenario as active participants (AP) and 130 students as observers (OBS) from the first-person perspective on a monitor. Participants completed questionnaires for evaluation purposes and exploratory factor analysis was performed on the items. The extent of simulation sickness remained low to acceptable among participants of the pilot study. In the main study, students valued the realistic environment and guided practical exercise. AP perceived the degree of immersion as well as the estimated learning success to be greater than OBS and proved to be more motivated post training. With respect to AP, the factor “sense of control” revealed a typical inverse U-shaped relationship to the scales “didactic value” and “individual learning benefit”. Summing up, curricular implementation of highly immersive VR-based training of emergencies proved feasible and found a high degree of acceptance among medical students. This study also provides insights into how different conceptions of perceived stress distinctively moderate subjective learning success.
Interindividual variation of the organism - as an indicator for assessing the severity of heat stroke in an experimental study of Wistar rats
Authors: Dervisevic Emina , Dervisevic Lejla , Ajanović Zurifa , Salihbegović Adis , Mujarić Ekrema , Katica Muhamed
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Sudden deaths during efforts that are multifactorial and associated with exposure of the body to high temperatures beyond the power of thermoregulatory mechanisms are increasingly common. Autopsies are often performed, but the evidence is insufficient and non-specific. The research aimed to determine the core temperature values of rats exposed to different water temperatures (37°C, 41°C, 44°C), before the start of the experiment (Tb), after immersion in water (Tu), after 20 minutes of exposure (Tu) and at death. (Ts) rats for hyperthermia and heat stroke.
Material and Method: Forty rats were divided into five groups depending on the temperature and length of exposure to water: control group-CG37, G41-hyperthermia- group which exposure whosewas a 20 minutes at 41°C, G41-heat stroke- group exposed until death at 41°C, G44- hyperthermia- group which exposure time was 20 minutes on 44°C, G44- heat stroke- group exposed until death on 44°C. A RET-4 probe was used to measure the core temperature of rats.
Results: Significant changes in the body temperature of rats were observed during the lethal outcome, p<0.0005. After exposure to water temperature for a period of 20 minutes, depending on the group, it was observed that the body temperatures of rats differed significantly between G37 and G41, KG37 and G44, p<0.0005 and G41 and G44, p<0.0005. A significant difference was also observed in the postmortem temperature of groups G41 and G44, p=0.01. a significant difference between body temperatures in groups CG37, G41-hyperthermia, G41- heat stroke, G44-hyperthermia and G44-heat stroke (p<0.0005), and the significance of the differences in the CG37 group was p=0.044.
Conclusion: Exposure of albino rats to different water temperatures also led to a change in the internal temperature; normothermia was established through thermoregulation in the control group, and in the other groups, hyperthermia and heat stress occurred.
The effect of problem-solving and assertiveness training on self-esteem and mental health of female adolescents: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Golshiri Parastoo , Mostofi Alireza , Rouzbahani Shiva
Published: December 2022

Background

Children and adolescents are the assets of the society and their mental and physical health ensures the future health of next generations. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of problem-solving and assertiveness skill training on improving self-esteem and mental health in high school female students of Isfahan city in 2019.

Methods

This study was a randomized clinical trial. The target population was 10th grade female high school students in Isfahan city of Iran. 96 students of a female public high school were entered the study allocated to two groups, 32 for intervention group and 64 for control group. Six 90-minute sessions were considered for problem-solving and assertiveness skill training which included lectures, question and answer, movie displaying, brainstorming and role-play. The Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory Questionnaire (CSEI) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) were used in order to evaluate the variables of the study before and one month after the intervention.

Results

Mean scores of the self-esteem variable changed significantly in the intervention group compared to control group before (25.2 ± 2.905) and after (29.9 ± 4.155) the intervention(p < 0.05). Mean scores of mental health also changed significantly before (27.67 ± 5.42) and after (19.033 ± 4.9) the intervention in comparison with the control group(p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings of the present study showed that educational intervention based on problem-solving and assertiveness may enhance self-esteem and mental health in students. Future studies are needed to confirm and determine the structure of these associations.
Trial Registration:
IRCT Code: IRCT20171230038142N9
Registration Date: 07/07/2019
Ethics Code: IR.MUI.MED.REC.1398.130
The impact of long-term care needs on the socioeconomic deprivation of older people and their families: results from a scoping review
Authors: CASANOVA GEORGIA , Martarelli Rossella , Belletti Francesco , Lamura Giovanni
Published: December 2022

Background
Long-term care (LTC), poverty, and socioeconomic deprivation are globally significant social issues. Ongoing population aging trends and the recent social and health emergencies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis have highlighted the need for macro-level LTC and welfare system sustainability strategies. At the micro level, the relationship between LTC needs and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation and poverty should be taken into account to promote more targeted and innovative policies worldwide. This scoping review explores the relationship between LTC needs, the health status of older people, and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation for their families in order to understand how the literature interprets these concepts and the relationship between them and to identify any potential gaps in this regard.
Methods
The methodology considers different relevant sources: a) the guidelines for ScR proposed by Lockwood et al. [1]; b) the Munn et al. [2] recommendations; c) the PRISMA guideline for Scoping Reviews [3]; and d) the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist [4]; Sixty-three papers are included in the frequency analysis of 9 identified categories to respond of aims.
Results
The findings reveal the existence of a debate that seeks to understand the different characteristics of the relationship between the investigated issues. Specific targets (such as older people, caregivers, and households) are used to identify LTC needs, while material deprivation or poverty is used to determine the conditions of deprivation. Relevant gaps in the literature are identified in terms of the concepts and approaches of the studies analyzed. The results indicate that the reciprocal relationship between LTC needs, supply, and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation is understudied.
Conclusions
The simplification strategy used in many studies to reduce the relationship’s complexity precludes an in-depth analysis and debate on some relevant aspects, including the crucial two-way relationship between LTC needs/supply and the risk of socioeconomic deprivation. Future studies should focus on the causal relationship between the two phenomena and identify any internal factors that may be involved.
Impacts of natural and anthropogenic forcings on historical and future changes in the global land-surface air temperature simulated by CMIP6–DAMIP
Authors: Xu Chuan , Zhao Tianbao , Zhang Jingpeng , Hua Lijuan , Tao Li
Published: December 2022

Detection and attribution of climate change are essential for understanding past, present, and future climate changes arising from either natural, unforced variability or in response to changes in natural and anthropogenic forcings. In this paper, we investigate the historical change and future projection of the global land-surface air temperature under natural and anthropogenic forcings based on all available model simulations from the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project (DAMIP) in the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). The results show that the increase in the global land-surface air temperature can be largely attributed to human activities. The effect of anthropogenic forcing (ANT) can be robustly detected and separated from the response to the natural external forcing (NAT). Greenhouse gas (GHG) is the primary contributor to anthropogenic climate warming, and the effect of GHG can be clearly detected and successfully attributed to the observed T increases. After re-scaling the T trends, the ANT- and GHG-induced global land warming is in the range of 0.6–1.6 °C/100 yr and 0.8–2.0 °C/100 yr, respectively. In the twenty-first century, GHG is still a decisive factor causing future climate warming under the Medium Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5) scenario, especially in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, causing large increases (decreases) in the frequency and magnitude of hot (cold) extremes in the late twenty-first century.
Does Renewable Energy effect the Environmental Sustainability? Nexus among Renewable Energy Consumption, Trade Openness, CO2 Emissions, Income Inequality and Economic Growth
Authors: Ramos-Meza Carlos Samuel , Arocutipa Javier Pedro Flores , Huallpa Jorge Jinchuña , Palomo Erika Eleana Corzo , Huarcaya Valery Kimiyo Gamero , Acuña Yeni Gutiérrez , Martinez Juan Carlos Valencia
Published: December 2022

This research explores the relationship among renewable energy consumption (REC), trade openness, carbon emanations, income inequality on economic growth. This study takes fifteen (15) OECD nations data set start from 1997 to 2020 by employing the AMG assessor, which takes into account slope heterogeneity (SH) and CSD. The empirical outcomes confirm a significant favorable long-run relationship between these nexus, except for Carbon emanations, which are adversely related with REC, respectively. Notwithstanding, it has discovered that there is bi-directional causality between income inequality and REC.JEL Classification:D47
Effects of higher-frequency out-of-bed mobilization training on the recovery of acute stroke patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yang Qian , Jin Lixia , Fu Tengfei , Shen Qiyuan , Huang Yiming , Ni Jiali , Chen Jun , Liu Bangzhong , Zhang Jian
Published: December 2022

Background Out-of-bed mobilization is a significant component within the rehabilitation of people early after stroke. A top priority in acute stroke rehabilitation research is determining the optimal dose of out-of-bed mobilization exercises, such as frequency and timing. However, there is little evidence of the appropriate frequency out-of-bed mobilization for acute stroke patients. Aims The aim of the study described in this protocol is to investigate the effect of higher-frequency out-of-bed mobilization on the functional recovery of acute stroke patients. Methods This is a prospective randomized three-arm trial with the assessor blinded to the study intervention. 45 patients met the inclusion criteria will be randomly allocated to three groups, which are separately usual care (1 mobilization session/d), Frequency 1 group (2 mobilization sessions/d) and Frequency 2 group (4 mobilization sessions/d). Outcomes: The primary outcome is the modified Rankin Scale and the secondary outcomes are Rivermead Mobility Index, Fugl-Meyer (Lower Limb), Barthel Index and adverse events incidence. Outcomes will be measured at three time points.Summary:The proposed study will be beneficial for determining the frequency of out-of-bed mobilization, filling the gaps in the acute rehabilitation research field and optimising the recovery of people early after stroke.Trial registration: The proposed study has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial on 11/03/2022, registry ID: ChiCTR2200057404.
Impact of Sexual Intercourse on Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hou Jin-Wei , Yuan Li-Hua , Cao Xian-Ling , Song Jing-Yan , Sun Zhen-Gao
Published: December 2022

Background: Exposure of the female reproductive tract to either seminal plasma or fluid component of the ejaculate is beneficial to achieving successful embryo implantation and normal embryo development. But whether the "physical" component of sexual intercourse during the peri-transfer period have any influence on frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) pregnancy outcomes is not clear.
Methods: We conducted a randomized trial that included 223 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at a university-affiliated reproductive center from 19 July 2018 to 24 February 2019. Enrolled patients undergoing IVF treatment were randomized either to engage sexual intercourse using the barrier contraception (Group A, n=116) or to abstain (Group B, n=107) one night before FET. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate.
Results: Patients having intercourse had higher clinical pregnancy rate (51.72% vs. 37.07%, P=0.045) and implantation rate (38.31% vs. 24.77%, P=0.005) compared to those did not engage intercourse. However, there was no significant difference of the spontaneous abortion rate between two groups (11.67% 33 vs. 14.63%, P=0.662).
Conclusions: Sexual intercourse before embryo transfer may improve the clinical pregnancy and implantation rates during FET cycles. However, it should be noted that patients choose only one time for sexual intercourse, that is, the night before embryo transfer.
Trial registration: The present study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/, ChiCTR1800017209).
Neochloris oleoabundans cell wall rupture through melittin peptide: a new approach to increase lipid recovery
Authors: Vargas-Perez Magda , Gonzalez-Horta Azucena , Mendoza-Hernandez Hiram , Elías-Santos Myriam , Acuña-Askar Karim , Galán-Wong Luis Jesús , Luna-Olvera Hugo Alberto
Published: December 2022

Objectives The cell wall of microalgae is a necessary barrier for its survival in aquatic environments. This barrier affects the recovery of lipids, representing one of the main difficulties in the development of microalgal biofuel production technology. In this context, this work aimed to test the effect of a new method based on melittin peptide as a pretreatment to cause cellular disruption in N. oleoabundans cultivated under different temperatures and nutrient concentrations.
Results Neochloris oleoabundans cells were grown at 32°C in the presence of high concentration of nitrate-phosphate, cell disruption degree being recorded at 83.6%. Also, two-fold increase in lipid recovery following melittin treatment and solvent extraction was observed. Furthermore, it was possible to verify the effect of melittin, both before and after treatment on the morphology of the cells. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal images of the melittin-treated microalgae revealed extensive cell damage with degradation of the cell wall and release of intracellular material.
Conclusions Melittin peptide produced a selective cell wall rupture effect with the highest percentage of cell disruption degree when N. oleoabundans under culture condition with nitrate-phosphate repletion at 32 °C favors cell wall susceptibility to cell disruption by melittin peptide, representing the first report on lipid recovery from microalgae. Melittin is a promising option for the enhancement of the recovery of lipids from microalgae.
Correlation Analysis of Fall Risk with Body Composition in the Tibetan Population
Authors: chen ying , Wen Youfeng , Xiao Yanjie , Ye Liping , Gao Xiaoping , Yao Jie , Song Jia , Liu Yingying , Li Xin , jiang yaqiong , zidan zidan
Published: December 2022

To understand the risk of falls in the high-altitude population, the skeletal muscle quality of the limbs of 705 Tibetan adults was measured according to the fall risk assessment scale. We found that the detection rate of fall risk in the Tibetan population was 24.5% in Shigatse, Lhasa, and the detection rate of fall risk increased significantly with age. The body composition of the group without fall risk was higher than that of the group with fall risk. The T value and bone strength index of the group without fall risk were higher than those of the group with fall risk, and the fracture risk was lower than that of the group with fall risk.
Horizontally-transferred T-DNA and haplotype-based phylogenetic analysis uncovers the origin of sweetpotato
Authors: Yan Mengxiao , Li Ming , Wang Yunze , Wang Xinyi , Moeinzadeh M-Hossein , Quispe-Huamanquispe Dora , Fan Weijuan , Wang Yuqin , Nie Haozhen , Wang Zhangying , Heider Bettina , Jarret Robert , Kreuze Jan , Gheysen Godelieve , Wang Hongxia , Vingron Martin , Bock Ralph , Yang Jun
Published: December 2022

The hexaploid sweetpotato is one of the most important root crops worldwide. However, its genetic origins remain controversial. In this study, we identified two likely progenitors of sweetpotato by analyzing the horizontally transferred IbT-DNA and a haplotype-based phylogenetic analysis. The diploid form of I. aequatoriensis contributed the B1 subgenome, the IbT-DNA2 and the lineage 2 type of the chloroplast genome to sweetpotato. The tetraploid progenitor of sweetpotato is I. batatas 4x, donating the B2 subgenome, IbT-DNA1 and the lineage 1 type of chloroplast genome. Sweetpotato is derived from reciprocal crosses between the diploid and the tetraploid progenitor, and a subsequent whole genome duplication. We also detected biased gene exchanges between subgenomes. The B1 to B2 subgenome conversions were almost 3-fold higher than the B2 to B1 subgenome conversions. This study sheds lights on the evolution of sweetpotato and paves the way for the improvement of the crop.
Implicit Biases in Refereeing: Lessons from NBA Referees
Authors: Pelechrinis Konstantinos
Published: December 2022

Implicit biases occur automatically and unintentionally and are particularly present when we have to make split second decisions. One such situations appears in refereeing, where referees have to make an instantaneous decision on a potential violation. In this work we revisit and extend some of the existing work on implicit biases in refereeing. In particular, we focus on refereeing in the NBA and examine three different types of implicit bias; (i) home-vs-away bias, (ii) bias towards individual players or teams, and, (iii) racial bias. For our study, we use play-by-play data and data from the Last Two Minutes reports the league office releases for games that were within 5 points in the last 2 minutes since the 2015 season. Our results indicate that the there is a bias towards the home team - particularly pronounced during the playoffs - but it has been reduced since the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, there is robust statistical evidence that specific players benefit from referee decisions more than expected from pure chance. However, we find no evidence of negative bias towards individual players, or towards specific teams. Finally, our analysis on racial bias indicates the absence of any bias.
Mechanical stretching induces fibroblasts apoptosis through activating Piezo1 and then destroying actin cytoskeleton
Authors: Li Yang , Liao Wenxin , Liu Tingting , Shen Fujin , Li Hong
Published: December 2022

Ligaments and muscles maintain the anatomical positions of pelvic floor organs. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when pelvic floor tissues are repeatedly stimulated with excessive mechanical tension that is beyond the capacity of ligaments or muscles to endure. In addition, cells respond mechanically to mechanical stimulation by reconstituting the Piezo1 and cytoskeletal system. This study sought to determine how Piezo1 and actin cytoskeletal contribute to MS-induced apoptosis in human anterior vaginal wall fibroblasts (hAVWFs) and the mechanisms involved. A four-point bending device was used to provide mechanical stretching to establish a cellular mechanical damage model . MS significantly induced apoptosis of hAVWFs from non-SUI patients, which exhibited apoptosis rates comparable to those of SUI patients, and silencing of Piezo1 decreased the MS-induced apoptosis. However, the disassembly of actin cytoskeleton suppressed the protective effect of Piezo1 silencing from MS. Based on these findings, Piezo1 links the actin cytoskeleton to apoptosis in hAVWFs, providing insight into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of SUI.
Bacteria-based multiplex system eradicates recurrent infections with drug-resistant bacteria via photothermal killing and protective immunity elicitation
Authors: Zhu Chen , Xu Youcui , Wu Yi , Hu Yi , Xu Mengran , Liu Yanyan , Ding Yuting , Wen Longping , Li Jiabin
Published: December 2022

Background: The high mortality associated with drug-resistant bacterial infections is an intractable clinical problem because of the low susceptibility of the bacteria involved to antibiotics and high incidence of recurrent infections.
Methods: Herein, a photosynthetic bacteria-based multiplex system composed of natural Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Rp) and Food and Drug Administration-approved aluminum adjuvant (Rp@Al), was developed to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections and prevent their recurrence. We examined its photothermal performance, in vitro and in vivo antibacterial ability; revealed its protective immunomodulatory effect; verified its prevention effect on recurrent infections; demonstrated the system safety.
Results: Rp@Al exhibits excellent photothermal properties with an effective elimination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In addition, Rp@Al elicits the activation of dendritic cells and further triggers a T helper 1 (TH1)/TH2 immune response, resulting in pathogen-specific immunological memory against recurrent MRSA infection. Upon second infection, Rp@Al-treated mice show significantly lower bacterial burden, faster abscess recovery, and higher survival under near-lethal infection doses than control mice.
Conclusions: This innovative multiplex system, with superior photothermal and immunomodulatory effects, presents great potential for the treatment and prevention of drug-resistant bacterial infections.
A weak-labelling and deep learning approach for in-focus object segmentation in 3D widefield microscopy
Authors: Li Rui , Kudryashev Mikhail , Yakimovich Artur
Published: December 2022

Three-dimensional information is crucial to our understanding of biological phenomena. The vast majority of biological microscopy specimens are inherently three-dimensional. However, conventional light microscopy is largely geared towards 2D images, while 3D microscopy and image reconstruction remain feasible only with specialized equipment and techniques. Inspired by the working principles of one such technique - confocal microscopy, we propose a novel approach to 3D widefield microscopy reconstruction through semantic segmentation of in-focus and out-of-focus pixels. For this, we explore a number of rule-based algorithms commonly used for software-based autofocusing and apply them to a dataset of widefield focal stacks. We propose a computation scheme allowing the calculation of lateral focus score maps of the slices of each stack using these algorithms. Furthermore, we identify algorithms preferable for obtaining such maps. Finally, to ensure the practicality of our approach, we propose a surrogate model based on a deep neural network, capable of segmenting in-focus pixels from the out-of-focus background in a fast and reliable fashion. The deep-neural-network-based approach allows a major speedup for data processing making it usable for online data processing.
N,N-Dimethylacetamide Targets Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease in In-vitro and Ex-vivo Models
Authors: Wei Zeng-Hui , Koya Jagadish , Acharekar Nikita , Trejos Jesus , Dong Xing-Duo , Schanne Francis A. , Ashby Charles R. , Reznik Sandra E.
Published: December 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic degenerative brain disorder with no clear pathogenesis or effective cure, accounting for 60–80% cases of dementia. In recent years, the importance of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders has come into focus. Previously, we made the serendipitous discovery that the widely used drug excipient N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) attenuates endotoxin-induced inflammatory responses in vivo. In the current work, we investigate the effect of DMA on neuroinflammation and its mechanism of action in in-vitro and ex-vivo models of AD. We show that DMA significantly suppresses the production of inflammatory mediators, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and various cytokines and chemokines, as well as amyloid-β (Aβ), in cultured microglia and organotypic hippocampal slices induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We also demonstrate that DMA inhibits Aβ-induced inflammation. Finally, we show that the mechanism of DMA’s effect on neuroinflammation is inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and we show how DMA dismantles the positive feedback loop between NF-κB and Ab synthesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that DMA, a generally regarded as safe compound that crosses the blood brain barrier, should be further investigated as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and neuroinflammatory disorders.
Lethal and sublethal heat-exposure of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius L.) causes alarm pheromone emission and elicits a movement response in nearby recipients
Authors: Ashbrook Aaron , Feder Jeffrey , Bennett Gary , Ginzel Matthew , Gondhalekar Ameya
Published: December 2022

Many gregarious insect species use aggregation and alarm pheromones. The bed bug, Cimex lectularius L., emits an alarm pheromone (AP), a 70/30 blend of (E)-2-hexenal and (E)-2-octenal, when threatened. Bed bugs avoid temperatures above 45 °C, which are lethal to bugs and used commercially as spatial heat treatments to manage infestations. However, the interaction of bed bug AP in heat avoidance has not been investigated. The goal of this research was to: 1) determine if bed bugs emit AP as an alarm response to heat exposure, and 2) quantify the behavioral responses of conspecifics to AP emitted by heat-exposed bed bugs. Using a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometer, we found that bed bugs responded to lethal and sublethal heat exposure by emitting AP. The Harlan laboratory population emitted more pheromone than a field collected population from McCall, FL. Harlan females emitted the most AP, followed by Harlan males, McCall females and males. In separate behavioral experiments, we showed that conspecifics (i.e., recipients) reacted to AP released by heat exposed bed bugs (i.e., emitters) by frantically moving within 50 mm and 100 mm test areas. The laboratory population recipients were more reactive to AP than bed bugs from the field population in 100 mm areas. Synthetic AP components tested in behavioral experiments caused identical effects as the natural AP blend released by heat-exposed bed bugs. Our finding that bed bugs emit AP after exposure to high temperatures has important implications for heat treatment-based pest management.
Potential utility of 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 as a broad-spectrum benign disease imaging agent—comparison with 18F-FDG and 99mTc-MDP
Authors: Li Yi , Deng Li , Feng Yue , Chen Yue , Lv Furong , Qiu Lin
Published: December 2022

Purpose
To compare the detection performance of 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and 18F-FDG PET/CT for patients with various benign diseases and that of 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT and 99mTc-MDP single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for patients with benign bone lesions.
Methods
In total, 111 patients underwent two types of radionuclide examination. This prospective study included 89 patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT and 22 patients who underwent 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT and 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT from January 2020 to June 2022. The lesion number, T value, and B value were recorded to calculate the true positive rate and T/B value. The detection performance of 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04, 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT for benign lesions was compared using the T/B value, T value (SUVmax in PET/CT), and true positive rate. Paired sample t-tests were conducted for comparisons.
Results
This study comprised 111 patients, 53 men and 58 women (mean age, 53 ± 15.75 years). 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT demonstrated a higher uptake and detection rate for fibrotic disease (SUVmax [FAPI vs FDG: 6.26 ± 1.61 vs 2.38 ± 1.26], p1<.001; T/B value [FAPI vs FDG: 9.38 ± 2.78 vs 1.95 ± 1.33], p2<.001; and true positive rate 100% vs 26.3%), infectious disease (T/B value [FAPI vs FDG: 14.15 ± 12.42 vs 6.70 ± 5.87], p2 < .05; and true positive rate 94% vs 82%), and benign tumour (T/B value [FAPI vs FDG: 6.49 ± 5.85 vs 1.96 ± 2.03], p2 < .05; and true positive rate 70% vs 52%) than 18F-FDG PET/CT. 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT demonstrated a lower uptake and comparable detection rate for benign bone disease (T/B value [FAPI vs FDG: 5.46 ± 2.91 vs 23.58 ± 15.37], p < .001; and true positive rate 90% vs 99%) when compared with 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT.
Conclusion
68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 could be used in the clinical setting as a benign disease imaging agent and a complement to traditional nuclide imaging agents.
Trial registration No.:
ChiCTR2100044131
Extraction, structural characterization, and biological activities of a new glucan from Codonopsis pilosula
Authors: Lu Shanshan , Gu Wei , Ma Qihan , Tian Rong , Qiu Rongli , Ma Lijie , Wu Yinzhi , Liu Mengxue , Tang Junjie
Published: December 2022

In this study, a powerful and rapid aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) method was used to extract polysaccharides fromCodonopsis pilosula. The ATPS process was investigated with response surface methodology (RSM). At an ammonium sulfate concentration of 17%, ethanol concentration of 30%, and extraction temperature of 40 °C at pH 6, the total extraction yield of polysaccharides reached (31.57 ± 1.28) %. After separation and purification using a DEAE-52 cellulose column and dextran gel G-200, homogenized polysaccharide CPP 2–4 with a molecular weight of 3.9⋅104kDa was obtained from the lower phase. The physicochemical properties and structural features confirmed that CPP 2–4 was an a-1,6-glucan. Activity studies showed that the IC50of CPP 2–4 for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging was 0.105 mg/mL. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays showed that CPP 2–4 had strong antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CPP 2–4 inhibited NO release in RAW264.7 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which indicated a certain anti-inflammatory effect. This study improved upon the low extraction rate of polysaccharides fromCodonopsis pilosulaand identified a glucan inCodonopsis pilosulafor the first time. This study contributes to a better understanding of the composition and structure of polysaccharides fromCodonopsis pilosula, provides a basis for the development ofCodonopsis pilosulapolysaccharides in food and health products, and provides data support for the medicine and food homology ofCodonopsis pilosula.
Generation of equatorial plasma bubble after the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption
Authors: Shinbori Atsuki , Sori Takuya , Otsuka Yuichi , Nishioka Michi , Perwitasari Septi , Tsuda Takuo , Kumamoto Atsushi , Tsuchiya Fuminori , Matsuda Shoya , Kasahara Yoshiya , Matsuoka Ayako , Nakamura Satoko , Miyoshi Yoshizumi , Shinohara Iku
Published: December 2022

Equatorial plasma bubbles are a phenomenon of plasma density depletion with small-scale density irregularities, normally observed in the equatorial ionosphere. This phenomenon, which impacts satellite-based communications, was observed in the Asia-Pacific region after the largest-on-record January 15, 2022 eruption of the Tonga volcano. We used satellite and ground-based ionospheric observations to demonstrate that an air pressure wave triggered by the Tonga volcanic eruption could cause the emergence of an equatorial plasma bubble. The most prominent observation result shows a sudden increase of electron density and height of the ionosphere several ten minutes to hours before the arrival of the air pressure wave in the lower atmosphere. After the ionospheric perturbations, plasma density depletion appeared in the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere. We stress that tracking of such ionospheric signals before the initial arrival of the air pressure wave helps us to predict the arrival and scale of Tsunami.
Experimental and numerical investigation of extrudate swell of polylactic acid via Extrusion-based Additive Manufacturing process
Authors: Wang Hong , rabhi faleh , Cherouat Abel , Gilbin Alexandre , Barriere Thierry
Published: December 2022

Extrusion swell is a rheological phenomenon of polymers that occurs after the extrusion die exit due to relaxation of the residual molecular stress. This phenomenon is essential to ensure the accuracy and stability of components manufactured by Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing (EAM) process. Extrudate swell can be affected by multiple factors including material properties and processing parameters that can be coupled and it is difficult to fully understand their effects, especially in absence of accurate online measurement devices. In this study, we investigated experimentally the extrudate swell as a function of the extrusion rate, melt temperature and nozzle diameter for polylactic acid (PLA) material. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Level Set (LS) method in COMSOL Multiphysics were used to simulate the polymer flow out of the extrusion nozzle. The simulation results match well with experimental results and show that the swell rate decreases with increasing temperature and nozzle diameter and decreasing extrusion rate. These results can be used to optimize the parameters of EAM processes.
Engineering exchange bias at the interface of self-polarized ultrathin ferroelectric BaTiO3 and ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3
Authors: Maity Tuhin , Bansal Manisha , Dolui Kapildeb , Zhang Di , He Zihao , Nataf Guillaume , Lovett Adam , Ghidini Massimo , Dhesi Sarnjeet , Lu Ping , Wang Haiyan , Li Weiwei , MacManus-Driscoll Judith
Published: December 2022

Atomic-scale interfaces of 3d transition-metal oxides are a fascinating landscape of atomic-scale interaction of spins, charge transfers, lattice distortions, and orbital reconstructions. Emergent physical phenomena originating at such interfaces have huge potential for next-generation nanoscale spintronic devices. Among them, exchange bias (EB) has been extensively studied owing to its importance for device applications such as high-density memory and magnetic sensor. Here, at the interface of epitaxially grown ferromagnetic La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) – ferroelectric BaTiO3 (BTO) bilayer thin films on SrTiO3 (STO) substrates, we demonstrate EB coupling (exchange bias shift, HE ~50 Oe at 2 K) without any conventional antiferromagnet. Such EB coupling is observed only for LSMO and BTO layers of <10 nm thickness. Importantly, we find that the EB coupling follows a conventional training effect, bias field dependency, and temperature dependency. By undertaking X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements of the epitaxial heterostructures, it is observed that Ti in the BTO exhibits magnetization at 2 K which can be reversibly switched between two distinct magnetization states on switching the magnetic field direction. High resolution electron microscopy and ab initio calculations show that the displacement of Ti4+ in the highly strained ultrathin BTO displaces the interfacial Mn4+ from its centrosymmetric position in LSMO, changing its d-orbital occupancy to favour an antiferromagnetic spin configuration. This in turn leads to an interfacial EB effect from ferroelectric polarization. This work represents an important step towards a new class of memory devices by controlled ferroic polarization and EB coupling in the same device.
Finerenone attenuates myocardial apoptosis, metabolic disturbance and myocardial fibrosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Jin Tao , Fu Xiangrui , Liu Ming , An Fengshuang
Published: December 2022

Background
Finerenone is a third-generation mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, which has shown good cardiac function improvement in patients with type 2 diabetes in large-scale clinical trials. However, its specific role in diabetic cardiomyopathy remains unclear. We explored the potential functions and mechanisms of finerenone in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Methods
After Sprague‐Dawley rats were induced with high-fat diet to produce insulin resistance, Streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally to induce type 2 diabetic rats (n=6, each group), and finerenone (1mg/kg/day) was treated for 8 weeks, and then detected cardiac structure and function and various indicators. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were used for in vitro culture to determine the direct effect of finerenone on cardiomyocytes stimulated by high glucose and high fatty acid.
Results
Compared with the control group, rats in the type 2 diabetes group exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and impaired cardiac function. Myocardium showed increased fibrosis and apoptosis. Finerenone attenuated these impairments without changing blood glucose levels. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, high concentrations of palmitic acid stimulated increased fatty acid uptake, as well as increased reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. Finerenone significantly improved fatty acid metabolism, reduced cellular inflammation levels, and decreased apoptosis.
Conclusions
By blocking the mineralocorticoid receptor, finerenone attenuates cardiac steatosis, myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis, and subsequent myocardial remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in type II diabetic rats.
Development of Multi-Biosignal Monitoring System for Spatial Disorientation Training Simulators
Authors: Jung Sung-Oh , Kim Youngbeom , Park Byoung-Ha
Published: December 2022

This study observes the changes in the biological signals of a passenger exposed to spatial disorientation (SD) by developing a system that monitors the biosignals of a subject using an SD virtual training simulator in real time. SD refers to the inability to determine one’s position, posture, and motion with respect to the body-fixed coordinate system under gravitational effects. SD occurs mainly at night or in environments where visual flight rules cannot be applied, and flight is not permitted. Many pilots experience SD episodes in flight, and SD accounts for more than 25% of medium- and large-scale aviation accidents. To overcome this challenge, an SD-inducing simulator has been built. A biological signal monitoring system that observes the biosignals of a passenger experiencing SD will be developed in the future to contribute to the study of the relationship between SD and biosignals.
Uncovering the Gene Profile of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Using Gradient Boosted Trees
Authors: Angelakis Athanasios , Nathoe Romar , Filippakis Michael
Published: December 2022

Applying the iterative methodology for dimensionality reduction using categorical gradient boosted trees, as it has been defined in [9], on a dataset consisted of 12708 genes expressions coming from 5052 individuals from 105 studies, we classify whether a person has acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or is healthy. A CatBoost model on the dataset with reduced dimensions of 72 genes reached a ROC- AUC score of 0.9973 and F1-score: 0.9983 using ten fold cross validation and ROC-AUC: 0.9988 and F1-score: 0.9988 on an inference dataset. The dimension of the genes used by the previous model is then further reduced by removing the genes that do not have any bibliographic reference to AML. A CatBoost model is trained on this final dataset consisting of 63 genes, providing a ROC-AUC score of 0.9941 and F1-score: 0.9973 on ten fold cross validation and ROC-AUC: 0.9942 and F1-score: 0.9964 showing that not all genes with a correlation to AML have been found yet. This work could be considered as complimentary to the work of [9] where they used probe-sets. We conclude that the iterative method defined in [9] can lead to the identification of the gene profile of AML and also to identification of genes associated to AML which have never been correlated to the disease before.