bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal impact of asymptomatic malaria/HIV-1 co-infection on Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte transcript expression and transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes
Authors: Roberds Ashleigh , Kifude Carolyne , Oyieko Janet , Ocholla Stephen , Mutunga James , Oullo David , Waga Charles , Li Zhaozhang , Luckhart Shirley , Stewart V. Ann
Published: September 2022

Despite significant developments towards malaria reduction, parasite transmission in the common context of HIV-1 co-infection and treatment for one or both infections has not been fully characterized. This is particularly important given that HIV-1 and malaria chemotherapies have the potential to alter gametocyte burden and mosquito infectivity. In this study, we examined 782 blood samples collected from a longitudinal cohort of 300 volunteers with asymptomatic parasitemia seeking HIV testing or treatment in the endemic region of Kisumu, Kenya, to define the impacts of HIV-1-malaria co-infection, antiretroviral therapy (ART) plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS) and the antimalarials artemether/lumefantrine (AL) on Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte transcript prevalence and parasite transmission to the African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Volunteers were assigned to three distinct HIV-1 groups: HIV-1 positive on treatment, HIV-1 positive newly diagnosed, and HIV-1 negative. Volunteers were monitored monthly over the course of six months. Using our highly sensitive digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) assay of three gametocyte specific transcript markers, we detected gametocyte transcripts in 51.1% of 18S positive volunteers across all study groups and time points. After correcting for multiple comparisons, the factors of HIV-1 status, time, CD4+ T-cell levels and hematocrit were not predictive of gametocyte prevalence or transmission. However, among those volunteers who were newly diagnosed with HIV-1 and malaria positive by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) at enrollment, the initiation of ART/TS and AL treatment was associated with a significant reduction in gametocyte transcript prevalence in the subsequent month when compared to HIV-1 negative volunteers treated with AL. To assess gametocyte transmissibility, volunteer blood samples were used in standard membrane feeding assays (SFMA) with laboratory-reared A. gambiae, with evidence of transmission confirmed by at least one of 25 dissected mosquitoes per sample positive for at least one midgut oocyst. HIV-1 status, CD4+ T-cell levels and hematocrit were not significantly associated with successful transmission to A. gambiae. Analysis of SMFA blood samples revealed that 50% of transmission-positive blood samples failed to test positive by Plasmodium-specific 18S ribosomal RNA quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 35% failed to test positive for any gametocyte specific transcript marker by droplet digital (ddPCR), documenting that transmission occurred in the absence of molecular parasite/gametocyte detection. Overall, these findings highlight the complexity of HIV-1 malaria co-infection and the need to further define the unpredictable role of asymptomatic parasitemia in transmission to mosquitoes.
Genomic characterization of two metagenome-assembled genomes of Tropheryma whipplei from China
Authors: Lv Zhongdong , Chen Yong , Zhou Houqing , Chen Zhonglin , Yao Qianru , Ren Jiali , Liu Xianglu , Liu Shuang , Deng Xiaomei , Pang Yingchen , Chen Weijun , Yang Huiling , Xu Ping
Published: September 2022

Whipple’s disease is a rare chronic systemic disease that affects almost any organ system of the body caused by the intracellular bacterium Tropheryma whipplei, which is found ubiquitously in the environment. Sequencing of the T. whipplei genome has revealed that it has a reduced genome (0.93 Mbp), a characteristic shared with other intracellular bacteria. Until our research started, 19 T. whipplei strains had been sequenced from cultures originated in France, Canada, and Germany. The genome of T. whipplei bacterium has not been studied in Asia yet. Here, two metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of T. whipplei from China were reconstructed through metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and genome binning. We also provided genomic insights into the geographical role and genomic features by analyzing the whole genome. The whole-genome phylogenetic tree was constructed based on single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distance calculations and then grouped by distance similarity. The phylogenetic tree shows inconsistencies with geographic origins, thus suggesting that the variations in geographical origins cannot explain the phylogenetic relationships among the 21 T. whipplei strains. The two Chinese strains were closely related to each other, and also found to be related to strains from Germany (T. whipplei TW08/27) and France (T. whipplei Bcu26 and T. whipplei Neuro1). Furthermore, the Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) matrix also showed no association between geographic origins and genomic similarities. The pan-genome analysis revealed that T. whipplei has a closed pan-genome composed of big core-genomes and small accessory genomes, like other intracellular bacteria. By examining the genotypes of the sequenced strains, all 21 T. whipplei strains were found to be resistant to fluoroquinolones, due to the genetic mutations in genes gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE. The 21 T. Whipplei strains shared the same virulence factors, except for the alpC gene, which existed in 7 out of the 21 T. whipplei strains. When comparing 21 entire T. whipplei pan-genomes from various nations, it was discovered that the bacterium also possessed a closed genome, which was a trait shared by intracellular pathogens.
Nasal and cutaneous mucormycosis in two patients with lymphoma after chemotherapy and target therapy: Early detection by metagenomic next-generation sequencing
Authors: Zhang Qing , Liu Xingchen , Liu Yanyan , Wang Huiqin , Zhao Ran , Lv Xiaodong , Wei Xudong , Zhou KeShu
Published: September 2022

Mucormycosis is a conditionally pathogenic fungal disease with high morbidity that mainly affects patients with decreased immunity. Diagnosis relies on the histopathological examination of microorganisms with the typical structure of mucormycetes in tissues and subsequent confirmation via culture. Early detection of causative microorganisms is critical to rapidly administer appropriately targeted antibiotics. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is an innovative and sensitive technique used to identify pathogenic strains. Here we used mNGS to timely diagnose an infection with Lichtheimia ramosa and Mucor irregularis in two patients with hematologic malignancies; the infections manifested as nasal and cutaneous infections and developed after chemotherapy and small molecule targeted therapy. Following treatment with amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate complex, the symptoms were reduced significantly, and both patients obtained successful outcomes. Additionally, we searched and summarized the current medical literature on the successful diagnosis of mucormycosis using mNGS. These cases indicated that mNGS, a novel culture-independent method, is capable of rapid, sensitive, and accurate identification of pathogens. mNGS may be a complementary method for the early identification of mucormycosis, allowing for appropriate and timely antibiotic administration and thus improving patient outcomes.
Clinical value of plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells Epstein–Barr Virus DNA dynamics on prognosis of allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Zhou Xi , Lu Xuan , He Jing , Xu Ziwei , Li Qian , Ye Pian , Zhong Zhaodong , Shi Wei , Yan Han , You Yong , Hu Yu , Wang Huafang
Published: September 2022

The application of intracellular and extracellular Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has been poorly characterized. We conducted a combined prospective-retrospective study of 300 patients who underwent allo-HSCT between 2016 to 2019 in our center and monitored for EBV DNA within the first year after HSCT. Combining the optimal cut-off value of EBV DNA load (7.3×104 copies/106 cells) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and qualitative detection in plasma (400 copies/mL) allowed for the better differentiation of EBV-related posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-PTLD), with increased sensitivity (100%) and specificity (86%), and provided the effective risk stratification of EBV DNA level according to their impact on transplant outcomes. By multivariate analysis, patients with intermediate-level of EBV DNA load (low EBV DNA load in PBMCs or high load in PBMCs but negative in plasma) was associated with superior overall survival (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.03-3.57, p=0.039) and lower transplant-related mortality (HR 3.35, 95% CI 1.31-8.58, p=0.012) compared to those with high-level (high load in PBMCs and positive in plasma). Notably, high EBV-level group had poor reconstitution of CD4+ and CD8+T cells, and both low and high EBV-level groups showed abnormally increase in IL-10 level within one year. Additionally, patients with peak EBV DNA load in PBMCs during 3-12 months had a higher incidence of chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) than those within 3 months post transplantation (17.4% vs 13.7%, p=0.029). Collectively, EBV DNA in PBMCs can synergistically predict the risk of EBV-PTLD and GVHD. The intermediate-level of EBV DNA presented in plasma and PBMCs might contribute to a better reconstitution of T cells associated with favorable prognosis of allo-HSCT.
Efficient generation of mNeonGreen Plasmodium falciparum reporter lines enables quantitative fitness analysis
Authors: Hoshizaki Johanna , Jagoe Hannah , Lee Marcus C. S.
Published: September 2022

CRISPR editing has enabled the rapid creation of fluorescent Plasmodium transgenic lines, facilitating a deeper understanding of parasite biology. The impact of genetic perturbations such as gene disruption or the introduction of drug resistance alleles on parasite fitness is typically quantified in competitive growth assays between the query line and a wild type reference. Although fluorescent reporter lines offer a facile and frequently used method to measure relative growth, this approach is limited by the strain background of the existing reporter, which may not match the growth characteristics of the query strains, particularly if these are slower-growing field isolates. Here, we demonstrate an efficient CRISPR-based approach to generate fluorescently labelled parasite lines using mNeonGreen derived from the LanYFP protein in Branchiostoma lanceolatum, which is one of the brightest monomeric green fluorescent proteins identified. Using a positive-selection approach by insertion of an in-frame blasticidin S deaminase marker, we generated a Dd2 reporter line expressing mNeonGreen under the control of the pfpare (P. falciparum Prodrug Activation and Resistance Esterase) locus. We selected the pfpare locus as an integration site because it is highly conserved across P. falciparum strains, expressed throughout the intraerythrocytic cycle, not essential, and offers the potential for negative selection to further enrich for integrants. The mNeonGreen@pare line demonstrates strong fluorescence with a negligible fitness defect. In addition, the construct developed can serve as a tool to fluorescently tag other P. falciparum strains for in vitro experimentation.
The role of cholesterol in invasion and growth of malaria parasites
Authors: Maier Alexander G. , van Ooij Christiaan
Published: September 2022

Malaria parasites are unicellular eukaryotic pathogens that develop through a complex lifecycle involving two hosts, an anopheline mosquito and a vertebrate host. Throughout this lifecycle, the parasite encounters widely differing conditions and survives in distinct ways, from an intracellular lifestyle in the vertebrate host to exclusively extracellular stages in the mosquito. Although the parasite relies on cholesterol for its growth, the parasite has an ambiguous relationship with cholesterol: cholesterol is required for invasion of host cells by the parasite, including hepatocytes and erythrocytes, and for the development of the parasites in those cells. However, the parasite is unable to produce cholesterol itself and appears to remove cholesterol actively from its own plasma membrane, thereby setting up a cholesterol gradient inside the infected host erythrocyte. Overall a picture emerges in which the parasite relies on host cholesterol and carefully controls its transport. Here, we describe the role of cholesterol at the different lifecycle stages of the parasites.
Comparison of interferon gamma release assay and CXCL9 gene expression assay for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in African lions (Panthera leo)
Authors: Gumbo Rachiel , Sylvester Tashnica T. , Parsons Sven D. C. , Buss Peter E. , Warren Robin M. , van Helden Paul D. , Miller Michele A. , Kerr Tanya J.
Published: September 2022

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection has been identified in both domestic and wild animals and may threaten the conservation of vulnerable species including African lions (Panthera leo). There is a need to develop accurate ante-mortem tools for detection of M. bovis infection in African big cat populations for wildlife management and disease surveillance. The aim of this study was to compare the performances of two immunological assays, the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold Plus (QFT) Mabtech Cat interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) and QFT CXCL9 gene expression assay (GEA), which have both shown diagnostic potential for M. bovis detection in African lions. Lion whole blood (n=47), stimulated using the QFT platform, was used for measuring antigen-specific CXCL9 expression and IFN-γ production and to assign M. bovis infection status. A subset (n=12) of mycobacterial culture-confirmed M. bovis infected and uninfected African lions was used to compare the agreement between the immunological diagnostic assays. There was no statistical difference between the proportions of test positive African lions tested by the QFT Mabtech Cat IGRA compared to the QFT CXCL9 GEA. There was also a moderate association between immunological diagnostic assays when numerical results were compared. The majority of lions had the same diagnostic outcome using the paired assays. Although the QFT Mabtech Cat IGRA provides a more standardized, commercially available, and cost-effective test compared to QFT CXCL9 GEA, using both assays to categorize M. bovis infection status in lions will increase confidence in results.
Urban built form shapes avian richness in green spaces
Authors: Rogers Morgan L.
Published: September 2022

Urban biodiversity plays an important role in ecological processes and ecosystem services within cities, making conservation a priority in many municipal sustainability plans. Urban green spaces (UGS) have been a key strategy for conservation by providing habitat for wildlife, including avian communities. While the ecological attributes necessary to enhance the habitability of UGS for avian communities are relatively well known, an understanding of how variation in the surrounding urban matrix influences avian richness outcomes in these spaces, is less understood. As new urban areas continue to develop and UGS become increasingly important habitat areas, urban designers and planners will need a better understanding of the ways in which urban built form patterns at the matrix-level influence avian biodiversity outcomes at the site-level in UGS. To that end, this study investigates the influence of 4 urban built form matrix-level variables , capturing three-dimensional (3D) configuration patterns, and 6 UGS site-level variables on total avian richness and avian richness by foraging guild using generalized linear model methods in 22 UGS. This analysis was conducted using high resolution land cover data, LiDAR data, and twenty years of bird occurrence data from the eBird community science program in well-surveyed UGS in Los Angeles, California. The size of the UGS was the best predictor of richness patterns across all groups, confirming previous findings. However, several urban form metrics, when included with UGS size, improved model prediction for Carnivores, Insectivores, and Omnivore foraging guilds, indicating that urban built form does influence some avian groups within UGS. The results of this study suggest that the most important factor for avian richness in UGS is the size of the green space, but that urban built form plays a role too, especially when considered from a 3D perspective.
Comparative analysis of different FOPI approximations and number of terms used on simulations of a battery-powered, field-oriented induction motor based electric vehicle traction system
Authors: Elsaadany Mazen , Elahi Muhammad Qasim , AtaAllah Faris , Rehman Habibur , Mukhopadhyay Shayok
Published: September 2022

Because of their enhanced performance, the fractional order proportional-integral (FOPI) controllers are becoming an appealing choice for controlling induction motor speed. To implement FOPI controllers, several fractional order integral approximations are available in the literature. The approximation used, and the order of approximation affects the speed tracking, transient response, and induction motor power consumption. This further affects the energy consumption analysis if simulations are conducted based on such approximations. In this paper an electric vehicle (EV) traction system is simulated to investigate the effect of such approximations on the simulations of a battery powered, induction motor driven EV system. The system consists of an indirect field-oriented induction motor, a lithium-ion battery bank, and a three-phase inverter. This work presents a quantitative analysis of the performance of FOPI controllers using different approximations, and order of approximations is presented. The controllers are evaluated based on speed tracking, transient response, computational time, and power consumption. Both step functions and standard drive cycles are used as the speed reference signal to evaluate the effects of using different approximations and different orders of approximation, when different references are used. This work establishes a reference set of simulations that can be used to infer the amount of error in battery state of charge, and state of health analysis conducted on such an EV system, when dealing with FOPI controllers under different approximations and related settings.
The diagnostic accuracy of contrast echocardiography in patients with suspected cardiac masses: A preliminary multicenter, cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Ying , Ren Weidong , Wang Xin , Xiao Yangjie , Feng Yueqin , Shi Pengli , Sun Lijuan , Wang Xiao , Yang Huan , Song Guang
Published: September 2022

Background

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast echocardiography (CE) in patients with suspected cardiac masses.

Methods

A multicenter, prospective study involving 108 consecutive patients with suspected cardiac masses based on transthoracic echocardiography performed between November 2019 and December 2020 was carried out. CE examinations were performed in all patients. The echocardiographic diagnosis was established according to the qualitative (echogenicity, boundary, morphology of the base, mass perfusion, pericardial effusion, and motility) and quantitative (area of the masses and peak intensity ratio of the masses and adjacent myocardium A1/A2) evaluations.

Results

Final confirmed diagnoses were as follows: no cardiac mass (n = 3), pseudomass (n = 3), thrombus (n = 36), benign tumor (n = 30), and malignant tumor (n = 36). ROC analysis revealed the optimal A1/A2 with cutoff value of 0.295 for a cardiac tumor from a thrombus, with AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 0.958 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.899–0.988), 100, 91.7, 95.7, and 100%, respectively. CE was able to distinguish malignant from benign tumors with an AUC of 0.953 (95% CI: 0.870–0.990). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that tumor area, base, and A1/A2 were associated with the risk of malignant tumor (OR = 1.003, 95% CI: 1.00003–1.005; OR = 22.64, 95% CI: 1.30–395.21; OR = 165.39, 95% CI: 4.68–5,850.94, respectively). When using A1/A2 > 1.28 as the only diagnostic criterion to identify the malignant tumor, AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 0.886 (95% CI: 0.784–0.951), 80.6, 96.7, 96.7, and 80.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

CE has the potential to accurately differentiate cardiac masses by combining qualitative and quantitative analyses. However, more studies with a large sample size should be conducted to further confirm these findings.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR1900026809.
Use of covered stents to treat complex cerebrovascular diseases: Expert consensus
Authors: Zhu Yueqi , Tan Huaqiao , Wu Zhongxue , Li Tielin , Ma Lianting , Liu Jianmin , Zhang Hongqi , Gu Yuxiang , Li Tianxiao , Guan Sheng , Xie Xiaodong , Jiang Chuhan , Zhao Zhenwei , Duan Chuanzhi , Wan Jieqing , Zhang Xiaolong , Feng Wenfeng , He Xuying , Shi Haibin , Wang Qiujing , Lin Dong , Li Qiuping , Jiang Weixi , Mao Guohua , Zhong Shu , Chen E. , Shi Huaizhang , Ren Shaohua , Wang Donghai , Liu Yizhi , Liu Zengpin , Wu Jianliang , Wang Feng , Hu Xuebin , Wang Jun , Zhang Fan , Cao Wenfeng , Yang Donghong , Zhang Qingrong , Wang Lei , Gu Binxian , Cheng Guangsen , Zhang Yongcheng , Fang Chun , Li Minghua
Published: September 2022

The treatment of complex cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) at the skull base, such as complex intracranial aneurysms, carotid-cavernous sinus fistulas, and intracranial artery traumatic injuries, is a difficult clinical problem despite advances in endovascular and surgical therapies. Covered stents or stent graft insertion is a new concept for endovascular treatment that focuses on arterial wall defect reconstruction, differing from endovascular lesion embolization or flow diverter therapies. In recent years, covered stents specifically designed for cerebrovascular treatment have been applied in the clinical setting, allowing thousands of patients with CCVDs to undergo intraluminal reconstruction treatment and achieving positive results, even in the era of flow diverters. Since there is no unified reference standard for the application of covered stents for treating CCVDs, it is necessary to further standardize and guide the clinical application of this technique. Thus, we organized authoritative experts in the field of neurointervention in China to write an expert consensus, which aims to summarize the results of covered stent insertion in the treatment of CCVDs and propose suitable standards for its application in the clinical setting. Based on the contents of this consensus, clinicians can use individualized intraluminal reconstruction treatment techniques for patients with CCVDs.
Machine learning-based prediction of the post-thrombotic syndrome: Model development and validation study
Authors: Yu Tao , Shen Runnan , You Guochang , Lv Lin , Kang Shimao , Wang Xiaoyan , Xu Jiatang , Zhu Dongxi , Xia Zuqi , Zheng Junmeng , Huang Kai
Published: September 2022

Background

Prevention is highly involved in reducing the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). We aimed to develop accurate models with machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict whether PTS would occur within 24 months.

Materials and methods

The clinical data used for model building were obtained from the Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis study and the external validation cohort was acquired from the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in China. The main outcome was defined as the occurrence of PTS events (Villalta score ≥5). Twenty-three clinical variables were included, and four ML algorithms were applied to build the models. For discrimination and calibration, F scores were used to evaluate the prediction ability of the models. The external validation cohort was divided into ten groups based on the risk estimate deciles to identify the hazard threshold.

Results

In total, 555 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were included to build models using ML algorithms, and the models were further validated in a Chinese cohort comprising 117 patients. When predicting PTS within 2 years after acute DVT, logistic regression based on gradient descent and L1 regularization got the highest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.83 (95% CI:0.76–0.89) in external validation. When considering model performance in both the derivation and external validation cohorts, the eXtreme gradient boosting and gradient boosting decision tree models had similar results and presented better stability and generalization. The external validation cohort was divided into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups with the prediction probability of 0.3 and 0.4 as critical points.

Conclusion

Machine learning models built for PTS had accurate prediction ability and stable generalization, which can further facilitate clinical decision-making, with potentially important implications for selecting patients who will benefit from endovascular surgery.
A concentric circles view of health data relations facilitates understanding of sociotechnical challenges for learning health systems and the role of federated data networks
Authors: Milne Richard , Sheehan Mark , Barnes Brendan , Kapper Janek , Lea Nathan , N'Dow James , Singh Gurparkash , Martín-Uranga Amelia , Hughes Nigel
Published: September 2022

The ability to use clinical and research data at scale is central to hopes for data-driven medicine. However, in using such data researchers often encounter hurdles–both technical, such as differing data security requirements, and social, such as the terms of informed consent, legal requirements and patient and public trust. Federated or distributed data networks have been proposed and adopted in response to these hurdles. However, to date there has been little consideration of how FDNs respond to both technical and social constraints on data use. In this Perspective we propose an approach to thinking about data in terms that make it easier to navigate the health data space and understand the value of differing approaches to data collection, storage and sharing. We set out a socio-technical model of data systems that we call the “Concentric Circles View” (CCV) of data-relationships. The aim is to enable a consistent understanding of the fit between the local relationships within which data are produced and the extended socio-technical systems that enable their use. The paper suggests this model can help understand and tackle challenges associated with the use of real-world data in the health setting. We use the model to understand not only how but why federated networks may be well placed to address emerging issues and adapt to the evolving needs of health research for patient benefit. We conclude that the CCV provides a useful model with broader application in mapping, understanding, and tackling the major challenges associated with using real world data in the health setting.
Quantitative bone imaging biomarkers and joint space analysis of the articular fossa in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis using artificial intelligence models
Authors: Mackie Tamara , Al Turkestani Najla , Bianchi Jonas , Li Tengfei , Ruellas Antonio , Gurgel Marcela , Benavides Erika , Soki Fabiana , Cevidanes Lucia
Published: September 2022

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) is a disease with a multifactorial etiology, involving many pathophysiological processes, and requiring comprehensive assessments to characterize progressive cartilage degradation, subchondral bone remodeling, and chronic pain. This study aimed to integrate quantitative biomarkers of bone texture and morphometry of the articular fossa and joint space to advance the role of imaging phenotypes for the diagnosis of Temporomandibular Joint Osteoarthritis (TMJ OA) in early to moderate stages by improving the performance of machine-learning algorithms to detect TMJ OA status. Ninety-two patients were prospectively enrolled (184 h-CBCT scans of the right and left mandibular condyles) and divided into two groups: 46 control and 46 TMJ OA subjects. No significant difference in the articular fossa radiomic biomarkers was found between TMJ OA and control patients. The superior condyle-to-fossa distance (p < 0.05) was significantly smaller in diseased patients. The interaction effects of the articular fossa radiomic biomarkers enhanced the performance of machine-learning algorithms to detect TMJ OA status. The LightGBM model achieved an AUC of 0.842 to diagnose the TMJ OA status with Headaches and Range of Mouth Opening Without Pain ranked as top features, and top interactions of VE-cadherin in Serum and Angiogenin in Saliva, TGF-β1 in Saliva and Headaches, Gender and Muscle Soreness, PA1 in Saliva and Range of Mouth Opening Without Pain, Lateral Condyle Grey-Level Non-Uniformity and Lateral Fossa Short Run Emphasis, TGF-β1 in Serum and Lateral Fossa Trabeculae number, MMP3 in Serum and VEGF in Serum, Headaches and Lateral Fossa Trabecular spacing, Headaches and PA1 in Saliva, and Headaches and BDNF in Saliva. Our preliminary results indicate that condyle imaging features may be more important in regards to the main effects, but the fossa imaging features may have a larger contribution in terms of interaction effects. More studies are needed to optimize and further enhance machine-learning algorithms to detect early markers of disease, improve prediction of disease progression and severity to ultimately better serve clinical decision support systems in the treatment of patients with TMJ OA.
A fractal relative permeability model for two-phase flow through unsaturated shale porous medium
Authors: Fengxia Li , Fanhui Zeng , Yunqi Shen , Yu Zhang
Published: September 2022

The accurate calculation of the two-phase relative permeability has a significant impact for effectively characterizing the fluid flow patterns of unsaturated shale reservoir. A new fractal relative permeability model is developed based on two-phase transport feature in confined nanopores, which is upscaled with the aid of fractal theory for two-phase flow through unsaturated shale porous medium. Unlike the earlier models, the presented models considered nanopore wettability, confined viscosity varies with the nanopore diameter (variable water phase viscosity), stress dependence effect, real gas effect, irreducible water saturation and tortuosity effect. The proposed model compares the permeability of single nanopore and multiple nanopores with earlier research, which shows that the fractal relative permeability model agrees well with earlier models and experimental data. The results show that the Monte Carlo model and Abaci experimental model studied by previous researchers are special cases of the proposed fractal model, thus showing that the proposed fractal model has obvious advantages. Further calculations show that 1) The gas phase’s relative permeability gradually decreases with the increase of water saturation; 2) Confined viscosity varies with the nanopore diameter has a greater influence on the inorganic pores and a smaller influence on the organic pores on the relative permeability; 3) The relative permeability of the intersection point in the organic pore is higher than that of the inorganic porous, but the water saturation at the intersection is less than that of inorganic pores. Therefore, it lays a solid foundation for revealing the two-phase flow law of shale porous media.
Varying processes, similar results: How composition influences fragmentation and subsequent feeding of large pyroclastic density currents
Authors: Bernard Olivier , Bouvet de Maisonneuve Caroline , Arbaret Laurent , Nagashima Kazuhide , Oalmann Jeffrey , Prabowo Arief , Ratdomopurbo Antonius
Published: September 2022

Unlike their silicic counterparts, mafic eruptions are known for being on the low-end of the explosivity spectrum with eruption styles commonly ranging from effusive to Hawaiian fire fountaining. However, there are increasing discoveries of large mafic Plinian eruptions, sometimes generating ignimbrites, suggesting that this phenomenon might not be so uncommon. So, what processes lead a mafic magma to fragment violently enough to generate extensive ignimbrites?

We sampled pumices from ignimbrites and PDCs with a compositional range from basaltic-andesite (Curacautín ignimbrite, Volcàn Llaima, Chile), andesite (Marapi, Indonesia) to trachyte (Gunungkawi ignimbrite, Batur, Indonesia). We use SEM imagery and X-ray Microtomography on pyroclasts from these deposits to characterize phenocryst, microlite and vesicle textures. From vesicle number densities we estimate fragmentation decompression rates in the range of 0.4–1.6 MPa/s for the three deposits. With a combination of EPMA and SIMS analyses we characterise pre-eruptive storage conditions. Based on the bulk and groundmass compositions, the storage temperature (1,050–1,100°C), pressure (50–100 MPa) and phenocryst content (1.0–2.5 vol%), we conclude that the basaltic-andesitic Curacautín magma was at sub-liquidus conditions, which allowed fast and widespread disequilibrium matrix crystallization (0–80 vol%) during ascent to the surface. Combined with the important decompression rate, this intense crystallization led to a magma bulk viscosity jump from 103 up to >107 Pa s and allowed it to fragment brittlely. Conversely, for the Marapi PDC and Gunungkawi ignimbrite, similar decompression rates coupled with larger initial bulk viscosities of 105–106 Pa s were sufficient to fragment the magma brittlely. The fragmentation processes for these latter two deposits were slightly different however, with the Marapi PDC fragmentation being mostly driven by vesicle overpressure, while a combination of bubble overpressure and intense strain-rate were the cause of fragmentation for the Gunungkawi ignimbrite. We conclude that mafic ignimbrites can form due to a combination of peculiar storage conditions that lead to strongly non-linear feedback processes in the conduit, particularly intense microlite crystallization on very short timescales coupled with intense decompression rates. Conversely, the high viscosity determined by pre-eruptive storage conditions, including temperature and volatile-content, are key in controlling the formation of more evolved magmas PDCs'.
Consider “HACKS” when designing hackathon challenges: Hook, action, collaborative knowledge sharing
Authors: Wallwey Cassie , Longmeier Meris M. , Hayde Donnelley , Armstrong Julia , Kajfez Rachel , Pelan Renee
Published: September 2022

Our world’s complex challenges increase the need for those entering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) disciplines to be able to creatively approach and collaboratively address wicked problems – complex problems with no “right” answer that span disciplines. Hackathons are environments that leverage problem-based learning practices so student teams can solve problems creatively and collaboratively by developing a solution to given challenges using engineering and computer science knowledge, skills, and abilities. The purpose of this paper is to offer a framework for interdisciplinary hackathon challenge development, as well as provide resources to aid interdisciplinary teams in better understanding the context and needs of a hackathon to evaluate and refine hackathon challenges. Three cohorts of interdisciplinary STEAM researchers were observed and interviewed as they collaboratively created a hackathon challenge incorporating all cohort-member disciplines for an online high school hackathon. The observation data and interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to distill the processes cohorts underwent and resources that were necessary for successfully creating a hackathon challenge. Through this research we found that the cohorts worked through four sequential stages as they collaborated to create a hackathon challenge. We detail the stages and offer them as a framework for future teams who seek to develop an interdisciplinary hackathon challenge. Additionally, we found that all cohorts lacked the knowledge and experience with hackathons to make fully informed decisions related to the challenge’s topic, scope, outcomes, etc. In response, this manuscript offers five hackathon quality considerations and three guiding principles for challenge developers to best meet the needs and goals of hackathon sponsors and participants.
Post-graduate medical education in the time of COVID-19: Not a remotely simple task
Authors: Romeo Giulio R. , Shaikh Yousaf A. , Middelbeek Roeland J. W.
Published: September 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has stimulated a rapid shift towards telemedicine, which has had tremendous repercussions on all domains of the healthcare ecosystem. The effects of the transition to telemedicine on post-graduate medical education and on patient care provided by trainees have not been fully elucidated. Focusing on the multifaceted scope of endocrinology teaching clinics, the experience garnered by endocrinology fellows, preceptors, and patients through the adoption of virtual visits has shed new light on relevant challenges that require specific attention. First, we identified a divergent trend in glycated hemoglobin in people with type 1 diabetes according to their use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Second, the patient’s perspective highlighted positive aspects, including expanded options for clinical care, but also limitations in communication with clinicians for people without access to videoconferencing tools or EHR-based portals. Finally, regarding medical training evaluation and skills-based learning, academic centers, professional organizations, and clinical educators should develop new teaching curricula suitable for a telemedicine-based environment. While simultaneously facing numerous pressures, fellows can potentially spearhead new models of care delivery and innovative approaches to clinical education leveraging telemedicine.
An automatic modeling approach for the potential evaluation of CO2 geological storage in the deep saline aquifer
Authors: Jing Tieya , Fu Jie , Zhou Juan , Ma Xin , Diao Yujie , Liu Ting , Fu Lei , Guo Jinxing
Published: September 2022

Geological storage of carbon dioxide is receiving more and more attention as one of the efficient carbon reduction technologies, as China’s carbon-neutral strategic plan moves forward. There is an increasing demand for more effective and thorough methodologies to assess the potential of CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers. This study proposes a method for evaluating the geological storage potential of CO2 in deep saline aquifers and constructs an automatic evaluation system for the comprehensive potential of CO2 geological storage using ArcGIS Model Builder visual modeling technology. The automatic evaluation system consists of four functional parts: information collating and database constructing, data pre-processing, model building evaluation and result validation evaluation. First, structured and unstructured data including underlying geology, tectonic geology, oil and gas geology, and drilling data are collated and established in a geodatabase. Second, pre-processing models of the deep saline reservoir-caprock data are established based on the analysis of the geological evolution history of the study area to determine the effective storage thickness, effective porosity, and the influence range of faults; kriging methods are then used to realize the spatial interpolation of the evaluation parameters. Third, the volume coefficient method is adopted to construct the underground storage space model and to establish the density distribution model of the supercritical CO2 with nonlinear function while taking into account four evaluation factors (i.e. area, effective porosity, effective thickness, effective coefficient) and two limiting factors (i.e. fault, burial depth). Finally, the geological storage potential of CO2 in the study area is evaluated with the classification of the potential level and compared with the numerical simulation results to verify the model’s accuracy. The model is first applied in this paper using a suitable target in China as a case study. The results show that this target area’s anticipated storage potential value reaches 52.557 Mt. The total precision error, according to a comparison of the numerical simulation results, is 8.20%. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the automatic GIS-based modeling approach is suitable for a comparable study of potential evaluation of CO2 geological storage in deep saline aquifers.
Asymptotic internal model based coordination of a flywheel energy storage matrix system
Authors: Cai He
Published: September 2022

This paper considers a dual objective distributed coordination problem for a flywheel energy storage matrix system. On one hand, the power output of the entire flywheel energy storage matrix system should track its reference command, which is generated by a linear command generator. On the other hand, the state-of-energy of all the flywheels should be balanced. In contrast to the existing result which employed a common state-of-energy generator as the external model by making use of global system information. By taking advantage of average consensus algorithms, a novel asymptotic internal model based control method is proposed in this paper which eliminates the need of the external model. It is proven that the steady-state of the asymptotic internal model turns out to be a common state-of-energy generator for all the flywheels under the composite average consensus algorithms, which lends itself to the solution to the dual objective distributed coordination problem. Comprehensive case studies in different scenarios are conducted to examine the performance of the proposed control method.
The impact of innovation on CO2 emissions: The threshold effect of financial development
Authors: Yu Danni , Soh Weini , Amin Noordin Bany Ariffin , Dato Haji Yahya Mohamed Hisham , Latif Badar
Published: September 2022

We show that innovative activities exacerbate environmental degradation based on data covering 52 countries between 1990 and 2014. Yet, innovative activities carried out in countries with greater financial development pose less environmental harm. Additionally, we show the equity market is more effective concerning dampening effect of innovation on carbon emissions. With a dynamic panel threshold method, we find that innovation is significantly associated with improvements in environmental quality when the private sector credit and market capitalization of listed domestic companies exceed threshold levels of about 65 and 16% as a share of GDP respectively. We also look into the relationship between financial structure and the innovation-pollution nexus. We show that innovation promotes environmental quality in countries that have a relatively more equity-based financial system. Our empirical evidence calls for policymakers to identify the optimal level of finance to mitigate pollution resulting from innovative activities and realign the financial structure in accordance with the innovation-pollution nexus.
Hydrochemical evaluation of water quality and its influencing factors in a closed inland lake basin of Northern China
Authors: Ren Xiaohui , Yu Ruihong , Kang Jianfang , Li Xiangwei , Wang Rui , Zhuang Shuai , Wang Dalun , Zhang Xiangyu
Published: September 2022

Understanding the water quality and its influencing factors of different water bodies is essential for managing water resources in closed inland lake basins in semi-arid regions. However, generally, groundwater or surface water is assessed separately, and the differences among different water bodies are neglected. This study assessed the water quality and its influencing factors of different water bodies in the Daihai Lake Basin (a closed inland lake basin in a semi-arid region) by analysing the hydrochemical data of groundwater, and spring, river, and lake waters in the dry and wet seasons. The dominant hydrochemical type of groundwater (81.48%), spring water (80%), and river water (83.33%) was HCO3–Ca•Mg, while that of lake water was Cl-Na (100%). Groundwater, spring water, and river water were suitable for drinking and agricultural irrigation; however, the groundwater quality was worse in the wet season than in the dry season. Na+ and Cl– majorly affected the lake water quality. The mean NO3– concentration in groundwater was 28.39 mg/L, and its non-carcinogenic hazard quotient indicated that high risk areas were mainly distributed in Tiancheng and northern Maihutu. The hydrochemical compositions of groundwater, spring water, and river water were mainly influenced by rock (silicate and carbonate) weathering and cation exchange, and agricultural activities were the main sources of groundwater NO3–. Moreover, the lake hydrochemical composition was mainly affected by evaporation and halite dissolution. Thus, groundwater NO3– pollution and lake water salinisation should be prioritised. These findings provide a more thorough understanding of water quality and its influencing factors in the closed inland lake basin in the semi-arid region, and can be used to develop the protection of ecosystems and water resources management strategies in the Daihai Lake Basin.
A morphologist, a modeler, and an endocrinologist consider sea turtle sex ratios in a changing climate. Some wine was involved
Authors: Heppell Selina S. , Wyneken Jeanette , Heppell Scott A.
Published: September 2022

Because the sex of sea turtles is determined by temperature during embryonic development, many populations are vulnerable to increased bias in primary sex ratios as global temperatures rise. Higher temperatures produce more females, and some populations are already showing years with all-female offspring production. But because sea turtles take decades to mature and have long adult lifespans, these primary sex ratio biases can take years to impact adult sex ratios, and the males from cohorts that are produced during cooler years may compensate for the sex ratio bias if they can breed more frequently and with multiple females. To date, little is known about male sea turtle reproductive behavior, making predictions of sex ratio skew impacts highly speculative. We used data from southern Florida loggerhead sea turtle nests to parameterize a simple population model to explore the effects of an increase in the proportion of female hatchlings over time on population trends, effective population size (Ne), and quasi-extinction probability. We also tested the effects of increasing the frequency of relatively high male production years to simulate potential mitigation strategies. While heuristic rather than predictive, our results expectedly show a rise in nest counts due to the increase in females over time, followed by population decline as males become limiting. Population collapse due to increased female bias will take many decades to occur, but sex ratio skew can have large impacts on Ne, and thus increase the potential for inbreeding. An increase in the frequency of male production years, even just one additional “good male year” per decade, can help mitigate these outcomes if the rate of feminization is not too rapid. Male breeding frequency and mating success are critical drivers of the results and must be prioritized for research.