bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Olfactory function in the trace amine-associated receptor family (TAARs) evolved twice independently
Authors: Dieris Milan , Kowatschew Daniel , Korsching Sigrun I.
Published: April 2021

Olfactory receptor families have arisen independently several times during evolution. The origin of taar genes, one of the four major vertebrate olfactory receptor families, is disputed. We performed a phylogenetic analysis making use of 96 recently available genomes, and report that olfactory functionality has arisen twice independently within the TAAR family, once in jawed and once in jawless fish. In lamprey, an ancestral gene expanded to generate a large family of olfactory receptors, while the sister gene in jawed vertebrates did not expand and is not expressed in olfactory sensory neurons. Both clades do not exhibit the defining TAAR motif, and we suggest naming them taar-like receptors (tarl). We have identified the evolutionary origin of both taar and tarl genes in a duplication of the serotonergic receptor 4 that occurred in the most recent common ancestor of vertebrates. We infer two ancestral genes in bony fish (TAAR12, TAAR13) which gave rise to the complete repertoire of mammalian olfactory taar genes and to class II of the taar repertoire of teleost fish. We follow their evolution in seventy-one bony fish genomes and report a high evolutionary dynamic, with many late gene birth events and both early and late gene death events.
Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis reveals the complex molecular mechanisms underlying stone cell formation in Korla pear
Authors: Mamat Aisajan , Tusong Kuerban , Xu Juan , Yan Peng , Mei Chuang , Wang Jixun
Published: April 2021

Korla pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis Yü) is a landrace selected from a hybrid pear species in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in China. In recent years, pericarp roughening has been one of the major factors that adversely affects fruit quality. Compared with regular fruits, rough-skin fruits have a greater stone cell content. Stone cells compose sclerenchyma tissue that is formed by secondary thickening of parenchyma cell walls. In this work, we determined the main components of stone cells by isolating them from the pulp of rough-skin fruits at the ripening stage. Stone cell staining and apoptosis detection were then performed on fruit samples that were collected at three different developmental stages (20, 50 and 80 days after flowering (DAF)) representing the prime, late and stationary stages of stone cell differentiation, respectively. The same batches of samples were used for parallel transcriptomic and proteomic analysis to identify candidate genes and proteins that are related to SCW biogenesis in Korla pear fruits. The results showed that stone cells are mainly composed of cellulose (52%), hemicellulose (23%), lignin (20%) and a small amount of polysaccharides (3%). The periods of stone cell differentiation and cell apoptosis were synchronous and primarily occurred from 0 to 50 DAF. The stone cell components increased abundantly at 20 DAF but then decreased gradually. A total of 24,268 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1011 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified from the transcriptomic and proteomic data, respectively. We screened the DEGs and DAPs that were enriched in SCW-related pathways, including those associated with lignin biosynthesis (94 DEGs and 31 DAPs), cellulose and xylan biosynthesis (46 DEGs and 18 DAPs), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) metabolic processes (10 DEGs and 3 DAPs), apoplastic ROS production (16 DEGs and 2 DAPs), and cell death (14 DEGs and 6 DAPs). Among the identified DEGs and DAPs, 63 significantly changed at both the transcript and protein levels during the experimental periods. In addition, the majority of these identified genes and proteins were expressed the most at the prime stage of stone cell differentiation, but their levels gradually decreased at the later stages.
Autocrine IGF2 programmes β-cell plasticity under conditions of increased metabolic demand
Authors: Sandovici Ionel , Hammerle Constanze M. , Virtue Sam , Vivas-Garcia Yurena , Izquierdo-Lahuerta Adriana , Ozanne Susan E. , Vidal-Puig Antonio , Medina-Gómez Gema , Constância Miguel
Published: April 2021

When exposed to nutrient excess and insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cells undergo adaptive changes in order to maintain glucose homeostasis. The role that growth control genes, highly expressed in early pancreas development, might exert in programming β-cell plasticity in later life is a poorly studied area. The imprinted Igf2 (insulin-like growth factor 2) gene is highly transcribed during early life and has been identified in recent genome-wide association studies as a type 2 diabetes susceptibility gene in humans. Hence, here we investigate the long-term phenotypic metabolic consequences of conditional Igf2 deletion in pancreatic β-cells (Igf2βKO) in mice. We show that autocrine actions of IGF2 are not critical for β-cell development, or for the early post-natal wave of β-cell remodelling. Additionally, adult Igf2βKO mice maintain glucose homeostasis when fed a chow diet. However, pregnant Igf2βKO females become hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic, and their conceptuses exhibit hyperinsulinemia and placentomegalia. Insulin resistance induced by congenital leptin deficiency also renders Igf2βKO females more hyperglycaemic compared to leptin-deficient controls. Upon high-fat diet feeding, Igf2βKO females are less susceptible to develop insulin resistance. Based on these findings, we conclude that in female mice, autocrine actions of β-cell IGF2 during early development determine their adaptive capacity in adult life.
Ileal transposition helps to regulate plasma hepatokine levels in obese Zucker (Crl:ZUC(ORL)-Leprfa) rats
Authors: Stygar Dominika , Sawczyn Tomasz , Dulska Agnieszka , Chełmecka Elżbieta , Mielańczyk Łukasz , Matysiak Natalia , Kukla Michał , Idzik Maciej , Augustyniak Jan , Gabriel Andrzej , Karcz Konrad , Jochem Jerzy
Published: April 2021

We studied the long-term effect of ileal transposition (IT) metabolic surgery on the hepatokines: retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4), α-2-HS-glycoprotein (aHSG/fetuin-A), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels, glucose metabolism, body weight, liver histology, as well as total lipids concentration in muscle, liver, and fat tissue of obese Zucker (Crl:ZUC(ORL)-Leprfa) rats. 14 adult males were randomly submitted either to IT or SHAM (control) surgery. Pre-operative hepatokines plasma levels were not significantly different in rats submitted to IT or SHAM protocol. Three months after the procedures the plasma levels of RBP4, aHSG, FGF21, and CRP were significantly lower in IT-operated animals when compared to SHAM-operated group. Three and 12 weeks after the IT and SHAM surgery, the AUCOGTT were significantly lower than AUCOGTT before the surgery. HOMA-IR was lower in rats after IT surgery in comparison to the SHAM-operated rats. Muscle and liver total lipids concentration was reduced after the IT procedure when compared to pre-IT conditions. IT had a significant reductive impact on the body weight in comparison to SHAM surgery in the 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th week after the surgery. We conclude that IT reduces hepatokines’ plasma concentrations, muscle and liver total lipids concentration but not the inflammatory processes in the liver of Zucker (Crl:ZUC(ORL)-Leprfa) rats.
Image quality is resilient against tube voltage variations in post-mortem skeletal radiography with a digital flat-panel detector
Authors: Notohamiprodjo S. , Roeper K. M. , Treitl K. M. , Hoberg B. , Wanninger F. , Verstreepen L. , Mueck F. G. , Maxien D. , Fischer F. , Peschel O. , Wirth S.
Published: April 2021

In recent phantom studies low-contrast detectability was shown to be independent from variations in tube voltage in digital radiography (DR) systems. To investigate the transferability to a clinical setting, the lower extremities of human cadavers were exposed at constant detector doses with different tube voltages in a certain range, as proposed in the phantom studies. Three radiologists independently graded different aspects of image quality (IQ) in a comparative analysis. The grades show no correlation between IQ and kV, which means that the readers were not able to recognize a significant IQ difference at different kV. Signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios showed no significant differences in IQ despite the kV-setting variations. These findings were observed from a limited kV range setting. Higher kV-settings resulted in lowest patient exposure at constant IQ. These results confirm the potential of DR-systems to contribute to standardization of examination protocols comparable to computed tomography. This may prevent the trend to overexpose. Further investigations in other body regions and other DR-systems are encouraged to determine transferability.
Cell penetration efficiency analysis of different atomic force microscopy nanoneedles into living cells
Authors: Penedo Marcos , Shirokawa Tetsuya , Alam Mohammad Shahidul , Miyazawa Keisuke , Ichikawa Takehiko , Okano Naoko , Furusho Hirotoshi , Nakamura Chikashi , Fukuma Takeshi
Published: April 2021

Over the last decade, nanoneedle-based systems have demonstrated to be extremely useful in cell biology. They can be used as nanotools for drug delivery, biosensing or biomolecular recognition inside cells; or they can be employed to select and sort in parallel a large number of living cells. When using these nanoprobes, the most important requirement is to minimize the cell damage, reducing the forces and indentation lengths needed to penetrate the cell membrane. This is normally achieved by reducing the diameter of the nanoneedles. However, several studies have shown that nanoneedles with a flat tip display lower penetration forces and indentation lengths. In this work, we have tested different nanoneedle shapes and diameters to reduce the force and the indentation length needed to penetrate the cell membrane, demonstrating that ultra-thin and sharp nanoprobes can further reduce them, consequently minimizing the cell damage.
Evidence for intermolecular forces involved in ladybird beetle tarsal setae adhesion
Authors: Hosoda Naoe , Nakamoto Mari , Suga Tadatomo , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: April 2021

Why can beetles such as the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata walk vertically or upside-down on a smooth glass plane? Intermolecular and/or capillary forces mediated by a secretion fluid on the hairy footpads have commonly been considered the predominant adhesion mechanism. However, the main contribution of physical phenomena to the resulting overall adhesive force has yet to be experimentally proved, because it is difficult to quantitatively analyse the pad secretion which directly affects the adhesion mechanism. We observed beetle secretion fluid by using inverted optical microscopy and cryo-scanning electron microscopy, which showed the fluid secretion layer and revealed that the contact fluid layer between the footpad and substrate was less than 10–20 nm thick, thus indicating the possibility of contribution of intermolecular forces. If intermolecular force is the main physical phenomenon of adhesion, the force will be proportional to the work of adhesion, which can be described by the sum of the square roots of dispersive and polar parts of surface free energy. We measured adhesion forces of ladybird beetle footpads to flat, smooth substrates with known surface free energies. The adhesive force was proportional to the square-root of the dispersive component of the substrate surface free energy and was not affected by the polar component. Therefore, intermolecular forces are the main adhesive component of the overall adhesion force of the ladybird beetle. The footpads adhere more strongly to surfaces with higher dispersive components, such as wax-covered plant leaves found in the natural habitat of ladybird beetles. Based on the present findings, we assume ladybird beetles have developed this improved performance as an adaptation to the variety of plant species in its habitat.
Oncogenic role of MiR-130a in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Mallela Karthik , Shivananda Swamy , Gopinath Kodaganur S. , Kumar Arun
Published: April 2021

Aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is attributed to the pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In recent years, increasing evidence suggests the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in oral carcinogenesis by acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. TSC1, as a component of the above pathway, regulates several cellular functions such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Downregulation of TSC1 is reported in oral as well as several other cancers and is associated with an unfavourable clinical outcome in patients. Here we show that oncogenic miR-130a binds to the 3′UTR of TSC1 and represses its expression. MiR-130a-mediated repression of TSC1 increases cell proliferation, anchorage independent growth and invasion of OSCC cells, which is dependent on the presence of the 3′UTR in TSC1. We observe an inverse correlation between the expression levels of miR-130a and TSC1 in OSCC samples, suggesting that their interaction is physiologically relevant. Delivery of antagomiR-130a to OSCC cells results in a significant decrease in xenograft size. Taken together, the findings of the study indicate that miR-130a-mediated TSC1 downregulation is not only a novel mechanism in OSCC, but also the restoration of TSC1 levels by antagomiR-130a may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OSCC.
Prospective multicenter study on the incidence of surgical site infection after emergency abdominal surgery in China
Authors: Li Ze , Li Hui , Lv Pin , Peng Xingang , Wu Changliang , Ren Jianan , Wang Peige
Published: April 2021

There is still a lack of relevant studies on surgical site infection (SSI) after emergency abdominal surgery (EAS) in China. This study aims to understand the incidence of SSI after EAS in China and discuss its risk factors. All adult patients who underwent EAS in 47 hospitals in China from May 1 to 31, 2018, and from May 1 to June 7, 2019, were enrolled in this study. The basic information, perioperative data, and microbial culture results of infected incision were prospectively collected. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of SSI after EAS, and the secondary outcome variables were postoperative length of stay, ICU admission rate, ICU length of stay, 30-day postoperative mortality, and hospitalization cost. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors. The results were expressed as the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. A total of 953 patients [age 48.8 (SD: 17.9), male 51.9%] with EAS were included in this study: 71 patients (7.5%) developed SSI after surgery. The main pathogen of SSI was Escherichia coli (culture positive rate 29.6%). Patients with SSI had significantly longer overall hospital (p < 0.001) and ICU stays (p < 0.001), significantly higher ICU admissions (p < 0.001), and medical costs (p < 0.001) than patients without SSI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male (P = 0.010), high blood glucose level (P < 0.001), colorectal surgery (P < 0.001), intestinal obstruction (P = 0.045) and surgical duration (P = 0.007) were risk factors for SSI, whereas laparoscopic surgery (P < 0.001) was a protective factor. This study found a high incidence of SSI after EAS in China. The occurrence of SSI prolongs the patient's hospital stay and increases the medical burden. The study also revealed predictors of SSI after EAS and provides a basis for the development of norms for the prevention of surgical site infection after emergency abdominal surgery.
Ability of artificial intelligence to detect T1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from endoscopic videos and the effects of real-time assistance
Authors: Shiroma Sho , Yoshio Toshiyuki , Kato Yusuke , Horie Yoshimasa , Namikawa Ken , Tokai Yoshitaka , Yoshimizu Shoichi , Yoshizawa Natsuko , Horiuchi Yusuke , Ishiyama Akiyoshi , Hirasawa Toshiaki , Tsuchida Tomohiro , Akazawa Naoki , Akiyama Junichi , Tada Tomohiro , Fujisaki Junko
Published: April 2021

Diagnosis using artificial intelligence (AI) with deep learning could be useful in endoscopic examinations. We investigated the ability of AI to detect superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) from esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) videos. We retrospectively collected 8428 EGD images of esophageal cancer to develop a convolutional neural network through deep learning. We evaluated the detection accuracy of the AI diagnosing system compared with that of 18 endoscopists. We used 144 EGD videos for the two validation sets. First, we used 64 EGD observation videos of ESCCs using both white light imaging (WLI) and narrow-band imaging (NBI). We then evaluated the system using 80 EGD videos from 40 patients (20 with superficial ESCC and 20 with non-ESCC). In the first set, the AI system correctly diagnosed 100% ESCCs. In the second set, it correctly detected 85% (17/20) ESCCs. Of these, 75% (15/20) and 55% (11/22) were detected by WLI and NBI, respectively, and the positive predictive value was 36.7%. The endoscopists correctly detected 45% (25–70%) ESCCs. With AI real-time assistance, the sensitivities of the endoscopists were significantly improved without AI assistance (p < 0.05). AI can detect superficial ESCCs from EGD videos with high sensitivity and the sensitivity of the endoscopist was improved with AI real-time support.
Rising prevalence of HIV infection and associated risk factors among young Thai Men in 2018
Authors: Jose Julius Eleazar dC. , Sakboonyarat Boonsub , Mungthin Mathirut , Nelson Kenrad E. , Rangsin Ram
Published: April 2021

The prevalence of HIV among young Thai men stabilized at 0.5% from 2005 to 2011. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the male army conscripts in 2018 at 36 military training units nationwide. All new conscripts in each selected unit were invited to participate in the study. Questionnaires were used to determine risk factors to HIV infection that had been developed from related risk factors studies among young Thai men. Among 4629 participants, 44 (1.0%) HIV positive individuals were identified. The proportion subject reporting a history of sex with another man was 10.1%. The prevalence of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) was 4.0%. The proportion of consistent condom use with a male partner was 39.7%. The risk factors of HIV infection included having sex with another man, history of sexually transmitted infection and history of sex in exchange for gifts/money. Only 1.4% of MSM used pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). HIV prevention programs including PrEP in Thailand should be emphasized among MSM in both rural and urban settings.
Genetic homogeneity of the critically endangered fan mussel, Pinna nobilis, throughout lagoons of the Gulf of Lion (North-Western Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Peyran Claire , Boissin Emilie , Morage Titouan , Nebot-Colomer Elisabet , Iwankow Guillaume , Planes Serge
Published: April 2021

The fan mussel, Pinna nobilis, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, is a critically endangered species facing mass mortality events in almost all of its populations, following the introduction of the parasite Haplosporidium pinnae. Such a unique pandemic in a marine organism, which spreads rapidly and with mortality rates reaching up to 100%, could lead to the potential extinction of the species. Only few regions, involving lagoon habitats, remain healthy throughout the entire Mediterranean Sea. This study describes the genetic structure of P. nobilis across the Gulf of Lion, including confined locations such as lagoons and ports. A total of 960 samples were collected among 16 sites distributed at 8 localities, and then genotyped using 22 microsatellite markers. Genetic diversity was high in all sites with mean allele numbers ranging between 10 and 14.6 and with observed heterozygosities (Ho) between 0.679 and 0.704. No genetic differentiation could be identified (FST ranging from 0.0018 to 0.0159) and the percentages of related individuals were low and similar among locations (from 1.6 to 6.5%). Consequently, all fan mussels, over the entire coastline surveyed, including those in the most geographically isolated areas, belong to a large genetically homogeneous population across the Gulf of Lion. Considering the ongoing mass mortality context, this result demonstrates that almost all of the genetic diversity of P. nobilis populations is still preserved even in isolated lagoons, which might represent a refuge habitat for the future of the species.
Dual plating or dual plating combined with compression bolts for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures: a retrospective comparative study
Authors: Wang Zhongzheng , Wang Yuchuan , Tian Siyu , Tan Zhanchao , Deng Xiangtian , Zhao Kuo , Zheng Zhanle , Chen Wei , Hou Zhiyong , Zhang Yingze
Published: April 2021

The aim of this study was to compare secondary loss of reduction outcomes in dual plating fixation and dual plating combined with compression bolt fixation for bicondylar tibial plateau fractures (TPFs). We performed a retrospective study from January 2015 to April 2019. A consecutive series of 72 bicondylar TPFs underwent surgical treatment and was divided into two groups: group 1 (dual plating, n = 46) and group 2 (dual plating combined with compression bolts, n = 26). The outcomes collected included demographic characteristics, imaging characteristics, intraoperative indicators, clinical outcomes and reduction quality after surgery. Functional outcome was rated according to the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score and Lysholm score. The secondary loss of reduction rate in group 2 was reduced compared with that in group 1 (P = 0.025), and the mean HSS score of group 2 was higher than that of group 1 (P = 0.013). The rate of complications was 30.4% (14/46) in group 1 and 30.8% (8/26) in group 2 (P = 0.976). Compared with single dual plating fixation, dual plating combined with compressing bolt fixation reduced the secondary loss of reduction rate for patients with bicondylar TPFs and showed better functional outcomes.
Sequential activation of thioglycosides enables one-pot glycosylation
Authors: Cai Lei , Meng Lingkui , Zeng Jing , Wan Qian
Published: April 2021

This review describes recent developments in relative reactivity value (RRV) controlled sequential glycosylation, pre-activation based iterative glycosylation, and sulfoxide activation initiated one-pot glycosylation.
“Broken-hearted” carbon bowl via electron shuttle reaction: energetics and electron coupling
Authors: Leith Gabrielle A. , Rice Allison M. , Yarbrough Brandon J. , Kittikhunnatham Preecha , Mathur Abhijai , Morris Nicholas A. , Francis Megan J. , Berseneva Anna A. , Dhull Poonam , Adams Richard D. , Bobo M. Victoria , Vannucci Aaron A. , Smith Mark D. , Garashchuk Sophya , Shustova Natalia B.
Published: April 2021

An electron shuttle contributed to breaking corannulene's heart through a unique one-step reductive CC bond cleavage in the traditionally robust π-bowl. The heartbreak did not stop there as “broken analogs” were developed through a solution-phase route.
Construction of a 3D aluminum flake framework with a sponge template to prepare thermally conductive polymer composites
Authors: Wei Baojie , Chen Xi , Yang Shuangqiao
Published: April 2021

Thermally conductive and insulation polymer composites were constructed with a 3D aluminum flake framework by using a sponge template.
Retraction: Polycaprolactone composites with TiO2 for potential nanobiomaterials: tunable properties using different phases
Authors: Simpson Anna
Published: April 2021

Retraction of ‘Polycaprolactone composites with TiO2 for potential nanobiomaterials: tunable properties using different phases’ by Kamal K. Gupta et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 12844–12853, DOI: 10.1039/C2CP41789H.
Enhanced biocatalytic degradation of lignin using combinations of lignin-degrading enzymes and accessory enzymes
Authors: Rashid Goran M. M. , Bugg Timothy D. H.
Published: April 2021

Combinations of lignin-oxidizing enzymes and accessory enzymes show enhanced activity for product formation from polymeric lignin.
Construction of hollow In2S3/CdIn2S4heterostructures with high efficiency for Cr(vi) reduction
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Chen Dongyun , Li Najun , Li Hua , Xu Qingfeng , He Jinhui , Lu Jianmei
Published: April 2021

A hollow constructed photocatalyst, In2S3/CdIn2S4, was synthesized for visible-light-driven Cr(vi) reduction.
A flexible and lead-free BCZT thin film nanogenerator for biocompatible energy harvesting
Authors: Liu Shiyuan , Zhang Zhuomin , Shan Yao , Hong Ying , Farooqui Fatma , Lam Fu Shing , Liao Wei-Hsin , Wang Zuankai , Yang Zhengbao
Published: April 2021

High performance lead-free thin-film based piezoelectric nanogenerator.
Polydopamine functionalized VEGF gene-activated 3D printed scaffolds for bone regeneration
Authors: Chakka Jaidev L. , Acri Timothy , Laird Noah Z. , Zhong Ling , Shin Kyungsup , Elangovan Satheesh , Salem Aliasger K.
Published: April 2021

Bone is a highly vascularized organ and the formation of new blood vessels is essential to regenerate large critical bone defects.
High specific capacitance of a 3D-metal–organic framework-confined growth in CoMn2O4 nanostars as advanced supercapacitor electrode materials
Authors: Abazari Reza , Sanati Soheila , Morsali Ali , Dubal Deepak P.
Published: April 2021

An hybrid supercapacitor was fabricated on Co(ii)-TMU-63#30%CoMn2O4 nanocomposites (as the positive electrode) and AC (as the negative electrode), resulting in the high energy density of 38.54 W h kg−1 and power density of 2312.4 W kg−1.
Interpenetrating gels as conducting/adhering matrices enabling high-performance silicon anodes
Authors: Xia Tingting , Xu Chengfei , Dai Pengfei , Li Xiaoyun , Lin Riming , Tang Yawen , Zhou Yiming , Wu Ping
Published: April 2021

A simultaneous gelation methodology has been developed for the formation of PPy/PVA interpenetrating gels, serving as ideal conducting/adhering matrices for electrode materials including silicon anodes toward high-performance lithium storage.
Reversible multiplexing optical information storage and photoluminescence switching in Eu2+-doped fluorophosphate-based tunable photochromic materials
Authors: Lv Yang , Zhang Shaoan , Li Zhenzhang , Jin Yahong , Wu Haoyi , Ju Guifang , Chen Li , Hu Zhengfa , Hu Yihua
Published: April 2021

(Ca,Sr,Ba)5(PO4)3F:Eu2+materials exhibit luminescent switching upon tunable photochromic reaction, and have received increasing attention due to their potential applications in erasable optical storage.
Healthy Communication Partners Modify Their Speech When Conversing With Individuals With Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Lubold Nichola , Willi Megan M. , Borrie Stephanie A. , Barrett Tyson S. , Berisha Visar
Published: April 2021

Purpose

For individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), conversational interactions can be challenging. Efforts to improve the success of these interactions have largely fallen on the individual with PD. Successful communication, however, involves contributions from both the individual with PD and their communication partner. The current study examines whether healthy communication partners naturally engage in different acoustic–prosodic behavior (speech compensations) when conversing with an individual with PD and, further, whether such behavior aids communication success.

Method

Measures of articulatory precision, speaking rate, and pitch variability were extracted from the speech of healthy speakers engaged in goal-directed dialogue with other healthy speakers (healthy–healthy dyads) and with individuals with PD (healthy–PD dyads). Speech compensations, operationally defined as significant differences in healthy speakers' acoustic–prosodic behavior in healthy–healthy dyads versus healthy–PD dyads, were calculated for the three speech behaviors. Finally, the relationships between speech behaviors and an objective measure of communicative efficiency were examined.

Results

Healthy speakers engaged in speech characterized by greater articulatory precision and slower speaking rate when conversing with individuals with PD relative to conversations with other healthy individuals. However, these adaptive speech compensations were not predictive of communicative efficiency.

Conclusions

Evidence that healthy speakers naturally engage in speech compensations when conversing with individuals with PD is novel, yet consistent with findings from studies with other populations in which conversation can be challenging. In the case of PD, these compensatory behaviors did not support communication outcomes. While preliminary in nature, the results raise important questions regarding the speech behavior of healthy communication partners and provide directions for future work.
Diagnosing skin cancer via C‐means segmentation with enhanced fuzzy optimization
Authors: Durgarao Nagayalanka , Sudhavani Ghanta
Published: April 2021

The early detection of cancer decreases the death rate as well, but mostly the disorder symptoms are unpredictable. Numerous skin cancer detection techniques are available in the dice, yet the effectiveness remains unachieved. This paper aims to introduce a skin cancer detection technique that characterizes the nature of cancer: normal, benign or malignant. The proposed technique includes three stages like Segmentation, Feature Extraction, and Classification. Here, the Fuzzy C‐means Clustering (FCM) is used to segment the given input image. Then, the features are mined from the segmented image using Local Vector Pattern (LVP) and Local Binary Pattern (LBP). Subsequently, the Fuzzy classifier is used to do the classification process that gets the extracted features (LVP+LBP) as the input. The classifier outputs the nature of the image. As the primary contribution of this work, the limits of membership functions in the Fuzzy classifier are optimally selected by a new improved Rider Optimization Algorithm (ROA) termed as Distance Oriented ROA (DOROA). The performance of the proposed DOROA model is compared over other conventional models in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, Negative Predictive Value (NPV), F1‐score and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), False positive rate (FPR), False Negative Rate (FNR), and False Discovery Rate (FDR).
Arbitrary clutter extended target probability hypothesis density filter
Authors: Shen Xinglin , Zhang Luping , Hu Moufa , Xiao Shanzhu , Tao Huamin
Published: April 2021

Based on the random finite set (RFS) framework and the probability hypothesis density (PHD) filter, the extended target PHD (ET‐PHD) filter is proposed for multiple extended target tracking. However, the clutter process in the ET‐PHD filter is modelled as Poisson RFS, which is reasonable for only some scenarios in reality. An easily implemented ET‐PHD filter for arbitrary clutter process, has not yet been studied. In this work, another form of the general PHD filter, suitable for arbitrary clutter and target measurement is derived using a probability generating functional (PGFL)‐based RFS framework. The proposed filter is equivalent to the general PHD filter proposed by Clark and Mahler, but it is easily implemented in an arbitrary clutter process because its clutter process is denoted by the probability density function . Then, an arbitrary clutter ET‐PHD (AC‐ET‐PHD) filter is simplified from the general PHD filter derived by us. To reduce the computational complexity of the proposed filter, a variant of the distance partitioning algorithm is put forward. Simulation results show that the AC‐ET‐PHD filter can be applied to the scenarios with the non‐Poisson clutter process, which means that it will be useful for multiple extended targets tracking in a more complicated clutter process.
Implementing the MULTI-VP coronal model in EUHFORIA: Test case results and comparisons with the WSA coronal model
Authors: Samara E. , Pinto R. F. , Magdalenić J. , Wijsen N. , Jerčić V. , Scolini C. , Jebaraj I. C. , Rodriguez L. , Poedts S.
Published: April 2021

Context.In this study, we focus on improving EUHFORIA (European Heliospheric Forecasting Information Asset), a recently developed 3D magnetohydrodynamics space weather prediction tool. The EUHFORIA model consists of two parts covering two spatial domains: the solar corona and the inner heliosphere. For the first part, the semiempirical Wang-Sheeley-Arge (WSA) model is used by default; this model employs the potential field source surface and Schatten current sheet models to provide the necessary solar wind plasma and magnetic conditions above the solar surface, at 0.1 AU, which serve as boundary conditions for the inner heliospheric part. Herein, we present the first results of the implementation of an alternative coronal model in EUHFORIA, the so-called MULTI-VP model.

Aims.After we replace the default EUHFORIA coronal setup with the MULTI-VP model, we compare their outputs both at 0.1 AU and 1 AU, for test cases involving high speed wind streams (HSSs). We select two distinct cases in which the standard EUHFORIA setup failed to reproduce the HSS plasma and magnetic signatures at Earth to test the performance of MULTI-VP coupled with EUHFORIA-heliosphere.

Methods.To understand the quality of modeling with MULTI-VP in comparison with the default coronal model in EUHFORIA, we considered one HSS case during a period of low solar activity and another one during a period of high solar activity. Moreover, the modeling of the two HSSs was performed by employing magnetograms from different providers: one from the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) and the second from theWilcoxSpace Observatory (WSO). This way, we were able to distinguish differences arising not only because of the different models but also because of different magnetograms.

Results.The results indicate that when employing a GONG magnetogram, the combination MULTI-VP+EUHFORIA-heliosphere reproduces the majority of HSS plasma and magnetic signatures measured at L1. On the contrary, the standard WSA+EUHFORIA-heliosphere combination does not capture the arrival of the HSS cases at L1. When employing WSO magnetograms, MULTI-VP+EUHFORIA-heliosphere reproduces the HSS that occurred during the period of high solar activity. However, it is unclear if it models the HSS during the period of low solar activity. For the same magnetogram and periods of time, WSA+EUHFORIA-heliosphere is not able to capture the HSSs of interest.

Conclusions.The results show that the accuracy of the simulation output at Earth depends on the choice of both the coronal model and input magnetogram. Nevertheless, a more extensive statistical analysis is necessary to determine how precisely these choices affect the quality of the solar wind predictions.
Simultaneous photometric and CARMENES spectroscopic monitoring of fast-rotating M dwarf GJ 3270
Authors: Johnson E. N. , Czesla S. , Fuhrmeister B. , Schöfer P. , Shan Y. , Cardona Guillén C. , Reiners A. , Jeffers S. V. , Lalitha S. , Luque R. , Rodríguez E. , Béjar V. J. S. , Caballero J. A. , Tal-Or L. , Zechmeister M. , Ribas I. , Amado P. J. , Quirrenbach A. , Cortés-Contreras M. , Dreizler S. , Fukui A. , López-González M. J. , Hatzes A. P. , Henning Th. , Kaminski A. , Kürster M. , Lafarga M. , Montes D. , Morales J. C. , Murgas F. , Narita N. , Pallé E. , Parviainen H. , Pedraz S. , Pollacco D. , Sota A.
Published: April 2021

Context.Active M dwarfs frequently exhibit large flares, which can pose an existential threat to the habitability of any planet in orbit in addition to making said planets more difficult to detect. M dwarfs do not lose angular momentum as easily as earlier-type stars, which maintain the high levels of stellar activity for far longer. Studying young, fast-rotating M dwarfs is key to understanding their near stellar environment and the evolution of activity.

Aims.We study stellar activity on the fast-rotating M dwarf GJ 3270.

Methods.We analyzed dedicated high cadence, simultaneous, photometric and high-resolution spectroscopic observations obtained with CARMENES of GJ 3270 over 7.7 h, covering a total of eight flares of which two are strong enough to facilitate a detailed analysis. We consult the TESS data, obtained in the month prior to our own observations, to study rotational modulation and to compare the TESS flares to those observed in our campaign.

Results.The TESS data exhibit rotational modulation with a period of 0.37 d. The strongest flare covered by our observing campaign released a total energy of about 3.6 × 1032erg, putting it close to the superflare regime. This flare is visible in theB,V, r, i,andzphotometric bands, which allows us to determine a peak temperature of about 10 000 K. The flare also leaves clear marks in the spectral time series. In particular, we observe an evolving, mainly blue asymmetry in chromospheric lines, which we attribute to a post-flare, corotating feature. To our knowledge this is the first time such a feature has been seen on a star other than our Sun.

Conclusions.Our photometric and spectroscopic time series covers the eruption of a strong flare followed up by a corotating feature analogous to a post-flare arcadal loop on the Sun with a possible failed ejection of material.
The multiwavelength properties of red QSOs: Evidence for dusty winds as the origin of QSO reddening
Authors: Calistro Rivera G. , Alexander D. M. , Rosario D. J. , Harrison C. M. , Stalevski M. , Rakshit S. , Fawcett V. A. , Morabito L. K. , Klindt L. , Best P. N. , Bonato M. , Bowler R. A. A. , Costa T. , Kondapally R.
Published: April 2021

Fundamental differences in the radio properties of red quasars (QSOs), as compared to blue QSOs, have been recently discovered, positioning them as a potential key population in the evolution of galaxies and black holes across cosmic time. To elucidate the nature of these objects, we exploited a rich compilation of broad-band photometry and spectroscopic data to model their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from the ultraviolet to the far-infrared and characterise their emission-line properties. Following a systematic comparison approach, we characterise the properties of the QSO accretion, obscuration, and host galaxies in a sample of ∼1800 QSOs at 0.2 < z < 2.5, classified into red and control QSOs and matched in redshift and luminosity. We find no strong differences in the average multiwavelength SEDs of red and control QSOs, other than the reddening of the accretion disk expected by the colour selection. Additionally, no clear link can be recognised between the reddening of QSOs and the interstellar medium as well as star formation properties of their host galaxies. Our modelling of the infrared emission using dusty torus models suggests that the dust distributions and covering factors in red QSOs are strikingly similar to those of the control sample, inferring that the reddening is not related to the torus and orientation effects. Interestingly, we detect a significant excess of infrared emission at rest-frame 2−5 μm, which shows a direct correlation with optical reddening. To explain its origin, we investigated the presence of outflow signatures in the QSO spectra, discovering a higher incidence of broad [O III] wings and high C IVvelocity shifts (> 1000 km s−1) in red QSOs as compared to the control sample. We find that red QSOs that exhibit evidence for high-velocity wind components present a stronger signature of the infrared excess, suggesting a causal connection between QSO reddening and the presence of hot dust distributions in QSO winds. We propose that dusty winds at nuclear scales are potentially the physical ingredient responsible for the optical colours in red QSOs, as well as a key parameter for the regulation of accretion material in the nucleus.
The G-dwarf distribution in star-forming galaxies: A tug of war between infall and outflow
Authors: Spitoni E. , Calura F. , Silva Aguirre V. , Gilli R.
Published: April 2021

In the past, the cumulative metallicity distribution function (CMDF) turned out to be a useful tool to constrain the accretion history of various components of the Milky Way. In this Letter, by means of analytical, leaky-box chemical evolution models (i.e. including both infall and galactic outflows), we study the CMDF of local star-forming galaxies that follow two fundamental empirical scaling relations, namely the mass-metallicity and main sequence relations. Our analysis shows that galactic winds, which are dominant mostly in low-mass systems, play a fundamental role in shaping this function and, in particular, in determining its steepness and curvature. We show that the CMDF of low-mass (M⋆/M⊙ ≤ 109.5) and high-mass (M⋆/M⊙ >  1010.5) galaxies substantially deviate from the results of a ‘closed-box’ model, as the evolution of the former (latter) systems is mostly dominated by outflows (infall). In the context of galactic downsizing, we show that downward-concave CMDFs (associated with systems with extremely small infall timescales and with very strong winds) are more frequent in low-mass galaxies, which include larger fractions of young systems and present more substantial deviations from equilibrium between gas accretion and reprocessing (either via star formation or winds).
Aktueller Stellenwert und Perspektiven der Positronen-Emissions-Tomografie/Computertomografie (PET/CT) in der Diagnostik und Therapie des Lungenkarzinoms
Authors: Blum Torsten Gerriet , Köcer Turna , Kollmeier Jens , Lips Carolin , Misch Daniel , Rafflenbeul Gesa , Pfannschmidt Joachim , Althoff Christian E. , Bauer Torsten T.
Published: April 2021

Dieser Übersichtsartikel stellt detailliert die derzeitigen Einsatzgebiete der Positronen-Emissions-Tomografie/Computertomografie (PET/CT) bei dem Management von Lungenkarzinom-Patient*innen dar. Hierbei werden Indikationen, Wertigkeit bei Dignitätsbeurteilung und Stadiierung sowie Nutzen, Limitationen und prognostische Relevanz dieses diagnostischen Hybridverfahrens beleuchtet.

Darüber hinaus bietet diese Publikation einen Ausblick auf neue Radiotracer und mehrschichtige maschinelle Lernverfahren als konsequente Weiterentwicklungen der PET/CT, welche deren diagnostischen, prädiktiven und prognostischen Zusatznutzen zukünftig noch vergrößern wird.
Gewebebasierte Diagnostik des Lungenkarzinoms – Morphologie und molekulare Diagnostik
Authors: Mairinger Thomas
Published: April 2021

Die gewebebasierte Diagnostik des Lungenkarzinoms hat in der letzten Zeit mit der Einführung individualisierter Therapiemöglichkeiten an Bedeutung gewonnen. Die Basis der Diagnostik ist nach wie vor die lichtmikroskopische Beurteilung von histologischen Schnitten. Die Morphologie und das klinische Staging sind wegweisend für die weitere leitliniengerechten Therapie im Rahmen der sogenannten „individualisierten Therapie“ oder „Präzisionsmedizin“, bei der gezielt Veränderungen in intrazellulären Signalkaskaden therapeutisch beeinflusst werden.

Neben dem Eingriff in diese Signalkaskaden ist ein weiterer therapeutischer Ansatz der Versuch, mittels der Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitoren tumorimmunologische Reaktionen des körpereigenen Immunsystems zu initiieren bzw. zu ermöglichen. Die Stratifizierung von für diese Therapie geeigneten Patientengruppen erfolgt über den gewebebasierten immunhistochemischen Nachweis der entsprechenden membranösen Rezeptorexpression auf Tumor- oder Immunzellen.

Aus pathohistologischer Sicht spielen prädiktiv-diagnostisch sowohl Überexpression von Rezeptoren, als auch andere genetische und epigenetische Veränderungen (z. B. Inversionen, Translokationen, Methylierung etc.) in den Tumorzellen eine richtungsweisende Rolle.
Interprofessionelle Kooperation in nuklearmedizinischen Studien
Authors: Zippel Claus , Giesel Frederik L. , Kopka Klaus
Published: April 2021

Um neue Erkenntnisse in für Patienten nützliche Behandlungsansätze überführen zu können, werden in der nuklearmedizinischen Forschung und Entwicklung zunehmend klinische Studien initiiert. Damit diese Studien möglichst effizient und effektiv durchgeführt werden können, bedarf es der engen Kooperation und Kommunikation von Experten aus verschiedenen Berufsgruppen. In diesem Aufsatz beleuchten wir am Beispiel der prospektiv-multizentrischen DKTK-PSMA-Studie der Phasen-I/-II „[68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 in Hochrisiko-Prostatakrebs“, welche wesentlichen Professionen bei der Planung, Vorbereitung und Durchführung von nuklearmedizinischen Studien in Klinik bzw. Forschungseinrichtung involviert sein können und welche essenziellen Aufgaben diese zur Verwirklichung der Studie leisten. Darauf aufbauend führen wir allgemeine organisatorische Maßnahmen an, durch welche die interprofessionelle Kooperation und Kommunikation bei künftig weiteren Studien gefördert werden kann.
Editorial Risikostratifizierung
Authors: Oelzner Peter
Published: April 2021

Nahezu alle entzündlich-rheumatischen Erkrankungen sind gekennzeichnet durch
eine große Variabilität der Schwere des Krankheitsverlaufs mit
entsprechend differenter Prognose. Auch das Ansprechen auf die wachsenden
therapeutischen Interventionsmöglichkeiten ist von Patient zu Patient
unterschiedlich. Ferner sind individuelle Risikofaktoren bedeutsam für die
Wahrscheinlichkeit des Auftretens von Therapienebenwirkungen. Risikostratifizierung
zielt auf das frühzeitige Erkennen von Risiken für schwere
Krankheitsverläufe, Entwicklung bedrohlicher Organmanifestationen,
Therapieresistenz und Therapienebenwirkungen und die Ableitung entsprechender
Konsequenzen für Diagnostik und Therapie.
A Systematic Review of Anticoagulation Strategies for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in Critical Care
Authors: Nelson Alexandra Jayne , Johnston Brian W. , Waite Alicia Achiaa Charlotte , Lemma Gedeon , Welters Ingeborg Dorothea
Published: April 2021

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in critically ill patients. There is a paucity of data assessing the impact of anticoagulation strategies on clinical outcomes for general critical care patients with AF. Our aim was to assess the existing literature to evaluate the effectiveness of anticoagulation strategies used in critical care for AF.

Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and PubMed databases. Studies reporting anticoagulation strategies for AF in adults admitted to a general critical care setting were assessed for inclusion.

Results Four studies were selected for data extraction. A total of 44,087 patients were identified with AF, of which 17.8 to 49.4% received anticoagulation. The reported incidence of thromboembolic events was 0 to 1.4% for anticoagulated patients, and 0 to 1.3% in nonanticoagulated patients. Major bleeding events were reported in three studies and occurred in 7.2 to 8.6% of the anticoagulated patients and in up to 7.1% of the nonanticoagulated patients.

Conclusion There was an increased incidence of major bleeding events in anticoagulated patients with AF in critical care compared with nonanticoagulated patients. There was no significant difference in the incidence of reported thromboembolic events within studies between patients who did and did not receive anticoagulation. However, the outcomes reported within studies were not standardized, therefore, the generalizability of our results to the general critical care population remains unclear. Further data are required to facilitate an evidence-based assessment of the risks and benefits of anticoagulation for critically ill patients with AF.