bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transmission matrix inference via pseudolikelihood decimation
Authors: Ancora Daniele , Leuzzi Luca
Published: August 2022

Recently, significant efforts in medical imaging are towards the exploitation of disordered media as optics tools. Among several approaches, the transmission matrix description is promising for characterizing complex structures and, currently, has enabled imaging and focusing through disorder. In the present work, we report a statistical mechanics description of the transmission problem. We convert a linear input–output transmission recovery into the statistical inference of an effective interaction matrix. We do this by relying on a pseudolikelihood maximization process based on random intensity observations. Our aim is to bridge results from spin-glass theory to the field of disordered photonics, uncovering insights from the scattering problem and encouraging the development of novel imaging techniques for better medical investigations.
Wigner time delays and Goos–Hänchen shifts of 2D quantum vortices scattered by potential barriers
Authors: Mazanov Maxim , Bliokh Konstantin Y
Published: August 2022

We consider reflection and transmission of 2D quantum wavepackets with phase vortices (also known in optics as spatiotemporal vortex pulses) at potential step-like, delta-function, and rectangular barriers. The presence of a vortex significantly modifies the Wigner time delays and Goos–Hänchen shifts, previously studied for Gaussian-like wavepackets. In particular, the scattered wavepackets undergo non-zero time delays and lateral shifts even for purely real scattering coefficients, when the standard Wigner and Artmann formulae vanish. We derive analytical expressions for the vortex-induced times delays and spatial shifts and verify these with numerical calculations of the Schrödinger equation. The time delays and shifts are resonantly enhanced in the vicinity of the critical-angle incidence for a step-like potential and near transmission resonances for a rectangular barrier.
Recent advances in flexible force sensors and their applications: a review
Authors: Chen Yu-Wen , Pancham Padmanabh Pundrikaksha , Mukherjee Anupam , Martincic Emile , Lo Cheng-Yao
Published: August 2022

In this paper, five sensing mechanisms including capacitive, piezoresistive, inductive, piezoelectric, and optical are reviewed in details with representative literature. Basic functions of flexible force sensors (such as normal force, shear force, shear angle, torsional angle, and rotational angle) with additional physical quantities (such as environmental temperature, gesture, vibration, and bending) are discussed and categorized clearly in this article. In addition, materials used in the flexible force sensors as electrodes, substrates, and deformable dielectrics are also highlighted and summarized. Furthermore, structural design, specifications of sensitivity, spatial resolution, dynamic window and cyclic life are unambiguously outlined. Meanwhile, key design considerations are listed and evaluated in this review to indicate major contributions to the characteristics of the flexible force sensors. Notable challenges, potential business, and examples of commercial players in the market are also listed. This article offers a stepping stone for those who plan to enter this fields by revisiting the outcomes from the past decades.
Neural insights into sweet taste transduction and hunger-induced taste modification in mice
Authors: Nakajima Ken-ichiro
Published: August 2022

Feeding is one of the most fundamental activities in the survival and reproduction of animals. During feeding, the gustatory system functions as a gatekeeper to evaluate food quality. Accumulated evidence in the field of taste research has shown that 5 basic tastes (sweet, umami, sour, bitter, and salty) are sensed by the corresponding taste receptors expressed in taste receptor cells on the tongue. In contrast, brain mechanisms that transduce or modify taste information have been less studied. In this review, I introduce our recent findings on the sweet taste transduction in the brainstem of mice and explain the hypothalamic neuronal network regulating hunger-induced taste modification. Finally, future perspectives are discussed.
CLNN-loop: a deep learning model to predict CTCF-mediated chromatin loops in the different cell lines and CTCF-binding sites (CBS) pair types
Authors: Zhang Pengyu , Wu Yingfu , Zhou Haoru , Zhou Bing , Zhang Hongming , Wu Hao
Published: August 2022

Motivation

Three-dimensional (3D) genome organization is of vital importance in gene regulation and disease mechanisms. Previous studies have shown that CTCF-mediated chromatin loops are crucial to studying the 3D structure of cells. Although various experimental techniques have been developed to detect chromatin loops, they have been found to be time-consuming and costly. Nowadays, various sequence-based computational methods can capture significant features of 3D genome organization and help predict chromatin loops. However, these methods have low performance and poor generalization ability in predicting chromatin loops.

Results

Here, we propose a novel deep learning model, called CLNN-loop, to predict chromatin loops in different cell lines and CTCF-binding sites (CBS) pair types by fusing multiple sequence-based features. The analysis of a series of examinations based on the datasets in the previous study shows that CLNN-loop has satisfactory performance and is superior to the existing methods in terms of predicting chromatin loops. In addition, we apply the SHAP framework to interpret the predictions of different models, and find that CTCF motif and sequence conservation are important signs of chromatin loops in different cell lines and CBS pair types.

Availability and implementation

The source code of CLNN-loop is freely available at https://github.com/HaoWuLab-Bioinformatics/CLNN-loop and the webserver of CLNN-loop is freely available at http://hwclnn.sdu.edu.cn.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Short-term high-fat diet consumption increases body weight and body adiposity and alters brain stem taste information processing in rats
Authors: Kovacs Peter , Hajnal Andras
Published: August 2022

Diet-induced obesity is known to develop whether exposed to a high-energy diet (HED) or a high-fat diet (HFD). However, it is still not clear whether the elevated energy content or the macronutrient imbalance is the key factor in early disease progression. Therefore, this study compared the short-term effects of 2 widely used rodent obesogenic diets, an HFD with 60 kcal% fat content and a carbohydrate-based HED, on the body weight, body fat content, glucose tolerance, and neuronal taste responses in rats. We found that only HFD induced an early significant body weight increase compared with the control normal diet (ND) group, starting on week 4, and resulting in a significantly elevated body adiposity compared with both the ND and HED groups. Oral glucose tolerance test revealed no difference across groups. Subsequently, we also found that HFD resulted in a significant body weight gain even under energy-restricted (isocaloric to ND) conditions. In vivo electrophysiological recordings revealed that only the ad libitum HFD and not the isocaloric-HFD altered the brain stem gustatory neural responses to oral taste stimulation. In conclusion, this study showed that increased fat intake might result in significant body weight gain even under isocaloric and metabolically healthy conditions and demonstrated changes in central taste processing in an early stage of dietary obesity. A better understanding of these initial physiological changes may offer new drug targets for preventing obesity.
Efficient eigenvalue counts for tree-like networks
Authors: Guzman Grover E C , Stadler Peter F , Fujita André
Published: August 2022

Estimating the number of eigenvalues $\mu_{[a,b]}$ of a network’s adjacency matrix in a given interval $[a,b]$ is essential in several fields. The straightforward approach consists of calculating all the eigenvalues in $O(n^3)$ (where $n$ is the number of nodes in the network) and then counting the ones that belong to the interval $[a,b]$. Another approach is to use Sylvester’s law of inertia, which also requires $O(n^3)$. Although both methods provide the exact number of eigenvalues in $[a,b]$, their application for large networks is computationally infeasible. Sometimes, an approximation of $\mu_{[a,b]}$ is enough. In this case, Chebyshev’s method approximates $\mu_{[a,b]}$ in $O(|E|)$ (where $|E|$ is the number of edges). This study presents two alternatives to compute $\mu_{[a,b]}$ for locally tree-like networks: edge- and degree-based algorithms. The former presented a better accuracy than Chebyshev’s method. It runs in $O(d|E|)$, where $d$ is the number of iterations. The latter presented slightly lower accuracy but ran linearly ($O(n)$).
Colonies of ants allocate exploratory individuals to where they are ecologically needed
Authors: Madrzyk Max , Pinter-Wollman Noa
Published: August 2022

Individual differences in behavior have large consequences for the way in which ecology impacts fitness. Individuals differ in how they explore their environment and how exploratory behavior benefits them. In group-living animals, behavioral heterogeneity can be beneficial because different individuals perform different tasks. For example, exploratory individuals may discover new food sources and recruit group members to exploit the food, while less exploratory individuals forgo the risks of exploration. Here we ask how individual variation in exploratory behavior affects the ability of Argentine ant Linepithema humile colonies to (1) locate novel food sources, (2) exploit known food resources, and (3) respond to disruptions while foraging. To address these questions, we conducted field experiments on L. humile foraging trails in which we manipulated food availability near and at the foraging trails and disrupted the foraging trails. We sampled individuals based on their response to the perturbations in the field and tested their exploratory behavior in the lab. We found that exploratory individuals benefit the colony by locating novel foods and increasing resource exploitation, but they do not play an important role in the recovery of a foraging trail after disruption. Thus, the benefits of behavioral heterogeneity to the group, specifically in exploratory behavior, differ across ecological contexts.
Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line treatment for postoperative recurrent EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma: a multi-institutional retrospective study
Authors: Miyata Ryo , Hamaji Masatsugu , Kawaguchi Atsushi , Shimazu Yumeta , Ikeda Masaki , Ishikawa Masashi , Kayawake Hidenao , Menju Toshi , Kobayashi Masashi , Okumura Norihito , Sakaguchi Yasuto , Sonobe Makoto , Matsumoto Akira , Shoji Tsuyoshi , Katakura Hiromichi , Sumitomo Ryota , Huang Cheng-Long , Takahashi Mamoru , Aoyama Akihiro , Muranishi Yusuke , Kono Tomoya , Miyahara Ryo , Date Naoki , Fujinaga Takuji , Miyamoto Ei , Nakagawa Tatsuo , Fukada Takahisa , Sakai Hiroaki , Date Hiroshi
Published: August 2022

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) as first-line treatment for postoperative recurrent EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Using a multi-institutional database, we performed a retrospective chart review to identify all patients who had undergone complete resection of stage I–III EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma at 11 acute care hospitals between 2009 and 2016 and had received first-line EGFR-TKI treatment for postoperative recurrence. Adverse events, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for PFS and OS.

RESULTS

The study sample comprised 154 patients with a median age of 69. The total numbers of events were 101 for PFS and 60 for OS. The median PFS and OS were 26.1 and 55.4 months, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, EGFR ex 21 L858R mutation (HR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.15–2.55) and shorter disease-free intervals (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96–0.99) were significantly associated with shorter PFS. Age (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.07), smoking history (HR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.35–3.94) and pathological N2 disease at the initial surgery (HR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.32–4.00) were significantly associated with shorter OS.

CONCLUSIONS

First-line EGFR-TKI treatment was generally associated with favourable survival outcomes in patients with postoperative recurrent EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma. EGFR ex 21 L858R mutation may be an important prognostic factor for shorter PFS.
Early life adversity, reproductive history and breast cancer risk
Authors: Boddy Amy M , Rupp Shawn , Yu Zhe , Hanson Heidi , Aktipis Athena , Smith Ken
Published: August 2022

Background and objectives

Individuals who experience early life adversity are at an increased risk for chronic disease later in life. Less is known about how early life factors are associated with cancer susceptibility. Here, we use a life history framework to test whether early life adversity increases the risk of breast cancer. We predict that early life adversity can shift investment in somatic maintenance and accelerate the timing of reproduction, which may mediate or interact with the risk of breast cancer.

Methodology

We use population-wide data from the Utah Population Database (UPDB) and Utah Cancer Registry, leading to 24 957 cases of women diagnosed with breast cancer spanning 20 years (1990–2010) and 124 785 age-matched controls. We generated a cumulative early life adversity summation score to evaluate the interaction (moderation) and mediation between early life adversity, reproductive history and their association with breast cancer risk.

Results

Our analyses led to three key findings: (i) more early life adversity, when considered as a main effect, accelerates the time to first birth and death, (ii) early age at first birth and high parity decreases the risk of breast cancer and (iii) we find no association between early adversity and breast cancer risk either as a main effect or in its interaction with reproductive history.

Conclusion and implications

Early adversity elevates the risk of overall mortality through mechanisms other than breast cancer risk. This suggests early life factors can generate different effects on health. Future work should incorporate more complex view of life history patterns, including multiple life stages, when making predictions about cancer susceptibility.
Prelude to PATHWEIGH: pragmatic weight management in primary care
Authors: Wild Jessica , Kaizer Alexander , Willems Emileigh , Kramer Erik Seth , Perreault Leigh
Published: August 2022

Objective

Treatment of obesity-related diseases, rather than obesity itself, remains the mainstay of medical care. The current study examined a novel approach that prioritizes weight management in primary care to shift this paradigm.

Methods

PATHWEIGH is a weight management approach consisting of staff team training, workflow system management, and data capture from tools built into the electronic medical record (EPIC). PATHWEIGH was compared to standard of care (SOC) using two family medicine clinics in the same US healthcare system. Descriptive statistics compared patient-, provider-, and clinic-level factors between the groups among those with at least one weight-prioritized visit (WPV) and one follow-up weight over 14 months.

Results

Groups were similar in terms of total patient visits (7,353 vs. 7,984) and patients eligible for a WPV (i.e. >18 years + body mass index >25 kg/m2; 3,746 vs. 3,008, PATHWEIGH vs. SOC, respectively). However, more PATHWEIGH clinic patients (15.9% vs. 8.4%; P < 0.001) received at least one WPV. Although no difference was observed for average patient weight loss over 14 months (P = 0.991), the number of WPVs per patient was higher in PATHWEIGH (P < 0.001) and significantly associated with weight loss (P = 0.001), with an average decrease in weight of 0.55 kg per additional visit.

Conclusions

Results from the current study demonstrate early success in changing the paradigm from treating weight-related comorbidities to treating weight in primary care.
The use of weighted self-organizing maps to interrogate large seismic data sets
Authors: Meyer S G , Reading A M , Bassom A P
Published: August 2022

Modern microseismic monitoring systems can generate extremely large data sets with signals originating from a variety of natural and anthropogenic sources. These data sets may contain multiple signal types that require classification, analysis and interpretation: a considerable task if done manually. Machine learning techniques may be applied to these data sets to expedite and improve such analysis. In this study, we apply an unsupervised technique, the Self-Organizing Map (SOM), to high-volume data recorded by an in-mine microseismic network. This represents a good example of a large seismic data set that contains a wide range of signals, owing to the diversity of source processes occurring within the mine. The signals are quantified by extracting a number of features (temporal and spectral) from the waveforms which are provided as input data for the SOM. We develop and implement a weighted variant of the SOM in which the contributions of various different features to the training of the map are allowed to evolve. The standard and weighted SOMs are applied to the data, and the output maps compared. Both variants are able to separate source types based on the waveform characteristics, allowing for rapid, automatic classification of signals and the ability to find sources with similar waveforms. Fast classification of such signals provides practical benefit by automatically discarding waveforms associated with anthropogenic sources within the mine while seismic signals originating from genuine microseismic events, which constitute a small fraction of all signals, can be prioritized for subsequent processing and analysis. The weighted variant provides an exploratory tool through quantification of the contribution of different features to the clustering process. This helps to optimize the performance of the SOM through the identification of redundant features. Furthermore, those features that are assigned large weights are considered to be more representative of the source generation processes as they contribute more to the cluster separation process. We apply weighted SOMs to data from a mine recorded during two different time periods, corresponding to different stages of the mine development. Changes in feature importance and in the observed distribution of feature values indicate evolving source generation processes and may be used to support investigatory analysis. The weighted SOM therefore represents an effective tool to help manage and investigate large seismic data sets, providing both practical benefit and insight into underlying event mechanisms.
Distribution and evolution of the serine/aspartate racemase family in invertebrates. II. Frequent and widespread parallel evolution of aspartate racemase
Authors: Uda Kouji , Moe Luke A
Published: August 2022

Our previous studies showed that invertebrate animal serine racemase (SerR) and aspartate racemase (AspR) evolved from a common ancestral gene and are widely distributed. However, the overall molecular evolutionary background of these genes has remained unclear. In the present study, we have cloned, expressed and characterized five SerR and three AspR genes from six invertebrate species. The coexistence of SerR and AspR paralogs has been observed in some species, and the presence of both SerR and AspR is here confirmed in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano, the feather star Anneissia japonica, the ark shell Anadara broughtonii and the sea hare Aplysia californica. Comparison of the gene structures revealed the evolution of SerR and AspR. The ancestral species of metazoans probably had a single SerR gene, and the first gene duplication in the common ancestor species of the eumetazoans occurred after the divergence of porifera and eumetazoans, yielding two SerR genes. Most eumetazoans lost one of the two SerR genes, while the echinoderm A. japonica retained both genes. Furthermore, it is clear that invertebrate AspR genes arose through parallel evolution by duplication of the SerR gene followed by substitution of amino acid residues necessary for substrate recognition in multiple lineages.
Rehabilitation for elderly patients with cancer
Authors: Tsuji Tetsuya
Published: August 2022

If physical functions are impaired in patients with cancer owing to the progression of the disease and the treatment processes, their activities of daily living (ADLs) decline; thus, the quality of life is impacted. Elderly patients with cancer constitute a group with diverse basic physical, mental and social skill levels owing to aging. Given that there are potential risks of frailty and sarcopenia, their physical functions and ADL are prone to decline. Furthermore, there are many cases in which patients live alone, isolated from the society or face social problems. Therefore, in the treatment of elderly patients with cancer, geriatric assessment is used to comprehensively assess comorbidity, physical functions and psychophysiological/social/environmental situations and a system that provides supportive care is required. As part of this process, cancer rehabilitation plays an important role in prevention of complications, functional recovery and maintenance and improvement of physical functions and ADL until the time of palliative care. To provide rehabilitation, utmost attention must be paid to issues unique to elderly people, such as frailty, sarcopenia, dementia, delirium, pain management, depression and undernutrition/dysphagia.
Magnetization controlled by crystallization in soft magnetic Fe-Si-B-P-Cu alloys
Authors: Nakajima Hiroshi , Osako Akihiro , Yodoshi Noriharu , Yamada Yoshiharu , Tsukasaki Hirofumi , Harada Ken , Sakai Yuki , Shigematsu Kei , Nishikubo Takumi , Azuma Masaki , Mori Shigeo
Published: August 2022

Soft magnetic materials have low coercive fields and high permeability. Recently, nanocrystalline alloys obtained using annealing amorphous alloys have attracted much interest since nanocrystalline alloys with small grain sizes of tens of nanometers exhibit low coercive fields comparable to that of amorphous alloys. Since nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials attain remarkable soft magnetic properties by controlling the grain size, the crystal grains’ microstructure has a substantial influence on the soft magnetic properties. In this research, we examined the magnetic properties of Fe-Si-B-P-Cu nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys obtained by annealing amorphous alloys. During crystallization, the observation findings reveal the correlation between the generated microstructures and soft magnetic properties.
Immersive Virtual Reality for Pain Control and Anxiolysis During IV Blood Draws in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Perdue Matthew J , Umar Mohamad A , Walker Jerimiah D , Kubena Bryan
Published: August 2022

Objective

To evaluate immersive virtual reality’s (IVR) effectiveness as a distraction in reducing perceived pain and anxiety among adults undergoing intravenous (IV) blood draw.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, we recruited adult patients 18-50 years of age scheduled for routine blood draws at the phlebotomy lab and randomized them into experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent IV blood draw with IVR, and the control group underwent IV blood draw with standard practice. Before the procedure, subjects rated their anxiety level and the pain they “expected” to experience during blood draw. Immediately afterward, the subjects rated their actual “perceived” pain level. We measured the “expected” and the “perceived” pain and anxiety scores using a 100 mm visual analog scale. The primary outcome was the difference in “perceived” pain scores (0-100) between the two cohorts. Secondary outcomes were differences between the anxiety scores and the “expected” and “perceived” pain between the two cohorts, as well as degree of satisfaction with IVR during the blood draw and willingness to use IVR in future procedures.

Results

Fifty-nine subjects completed the study, 31 in the experimental group and 28 in the control group. For the primary outcome, the control group reported a perceived median pain score of 6.5 vs. the experimental group of 5; P = .55. For the secondary outcomes, the median anxiety scores were 22 (6.25-45.75) and 24 (2.00-35.00) for the control and the experimental groups, respectively, P = .44. The control group reported an expected median pain score of 20 vs. a perceived score of 6.5; P = .25, and the experimental group reported an expected median pain score of 22 vs. a perceived score of 5; P < .01. Median Likert scores were 5 (1-5) for satisfaction and preference for future use during painful procedures.

Conclusions

The results of our study demonstrated that there was no significantly lower perceived pain or anxiety when using IVR compared to standard practice in adults undergoing IV blood draw.
Running Gait Training Improves Outcomes at United States Air Force Basic Military Training
Authors: Fisher Reid , Kasper Korey , Trigg Steven , Davila Krystal , Mette G T , Rivera Krista , Danley Lyle , Salazar Alyssa , Cockerell Meredith
Published: August 2022

Introduction

The aim is to investigate the impact of large-group, motor learning–based running gait training on injury risk in United States Air Force (USAF) Basic Military Training (BMT).

Design

A prospective quasi-experimental program evaluation is used.

Materials and Methods

Medical providers taught running gait form to groups of trainees in the first week of training of BMT from August 2020 to March 2021. The main outcome measures included risk ratio of reported injuries, removal from training because of injury, and separation from service because of injury.

Results

Of BMT trainees, 2,205 underwent group, motor learning–based running gait training; this was compared with two intake groups (nA = 3,941 and nB = 2,041) who were only given introductions to sports medicine staff in a classroom setting. Reported pain complaints increased (χ2 = 27.4A and 20.83B, P < .001). Risk ratios for more severe injuries necessitating time out of training or separation from USAF were reduced, although these were statistically not significant (13%, P = .48 and 22%, P = .29, respectively). Leadership implemented gait training across BMT, and data from the following 8 weeks of intake (n = 6,223) demonstrated similar trends in increases in patient reports of pain (χ2 = 67.25, P < .001) but significantly reduced risk ratios of removal from training (32%, χ2 = 16.35, P < .001) or separation (32%, χ2 = 12.54, P < .001).

Conclusions

While not previously shown to mitigate injury, large-group, running gait training was associated with a significant reduction in injury severity defined by training delays and separation from service in USAF BMT.
Convection reconciles the difference in efficiencies between low-mass and high-mass common envelopes
Authors: Wilson E C , Nordhaus J
Published: August 2022

The formation pathways for gravitational-wave merger sources are predicted to include common envelope (CE) evolution. Observations of high-mass post-common envelope binaries suggest that energy transfer to the envelope during the CE phase must be highly efficient. In contrast, observations of low-mass post-CE binaries indicate that energy transfer during the CE phase must be highly inefficient. Convection, a process present in low-mass and high-mass stars naturally explains this dichotomy. Using observations of Wolf–Rayet binaries, we study the effects of convection and radiative losses on the predicted final separations of high-mass common envelopes. Despite robust convection in massive stars, the effect is minimal as the orbit decays well before convection can transport the liberated orbital energy to the surface. In low-mass systems, convective transport occurs faster then the orbit decays, allowing the system to radiatively cool, thereby lowering the efficiency. The inclusion of convection reproduces observations of low-mass and high-mass binaries and remains a necessary ingredient for determining outcomes of common envelopes.
Guided Imagery and Music in Patients With Chronic Daily Headache: A Pilot Study
Authors: Smyrnioti Maria Eleni , Arvaniti Chrysa , Kostopanagiotou Georgia , Batistaki Chrysanthi
Published: August 2022

Chronic daily headache (CDH) is a challenging condition that significantly affects functionality and quality of life. We wish to examine how patients suffering from persistent CDH respond to sound, in order to explore Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) as an alternative psychotherapeutic approach to pain. This is a mixed-methods study combining a quasi-experimental design with a matched comparison group and a case-series design. Initially, nine patients suffering from CDH and nine chronic pain patients received an individual, structured GIM session. Six CDH patients proceeded to receive eight GIM therapy sessions within 4–6 months. Levels of pain, depression, stress, and psychopathology traits were assessed pre- and postintervention. Patients suffering from CDH perceived music differently and had different types and qualities of imagery, compared with the comparison group. CDH patients post-intervention showed notable clinical improvement in anxiety and depression levels, overall distress and psychopathology symptoms, and number and duration of crises and frequency of visits to the Pain Clinic, 6 months postintervention. GIM therapy as an adjacent form of treatment can have a positive impact on psychological comorbidity, number and duration of pain episodes, and patient dependency on the Pain Clinic staff. It is suggested by the findings that (a) music and sound may instigate different paths of neural activation in patients suffering from CDH and that (b) GIM can be a powerful therapeutic tool for personal growth and self-actualization. With this pilot study, we hope to inform future research on CDH and introduce GIM as a way of achieving neuromodulation.
Low-level whole-brain radiation enhances theranostic potential of single-domain antibody fragments for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive brain metastases
Authors: Procissi Daniele , Jannetti Stephen A , Zannikou Markella , Zhou Zhengyuan , McDougald Darryl , Kanojia Deepak , Zhang Hui , Burdett Kirsten , Vaidyanathan Ganesan , Zalutsky Michael R , Balyasnikova Irina V
Published: August 2022

Background

Single-domain antibody fragments (aka VHH, ~ 13 kDa) are promising delivery systems for brain tumor theranostics; however, achieving efficient delivery of VHH to intracranial lesions remains challenging due to the tumor–brain barrier. Here, we evaluate low-dose whole-brain irradiation as a strategy to increase the delivery of an anti- human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) VHH to breast cancer-derived intracranial tumors in mice.

Methods

Mice with intracranial HER2-positive BT474BrM3 tumors received 10-Gy fractionated cranial irradiation and were evaluated by noninvasive imaging. Anti-HER2 VHH 5F7 was labeled with 18F, administered intravenously to irradiated mice and controls, and PET/CT imaging was conducted periodically after irradiation. Tumor uptake of 18F-labeled 5F7 in irradiated and control mice was compared by PET/CT image analysis and correlated with tumor volumes. In addition, longitudinal dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was conducted to visualize and quantify the potential effects of radiation on tumor perfusion and permeability.

Results

Increased 18F-labeled 5F7 intracranial tumor uptake was observed with PET in mice receiving cranial irradiation, with maximum tumor accumulation seen approximately 12 days post initial radiation treatment. No radiation-induced changes in HER2 expression were detected by Western blot, flow cytometry, or on tissue sections. DCE-MRI imaging demonstrated transiently increased tumor perfusion and permeability after irradiation, consistent with the higher tumor uptake of 18F-labeled anti-HER2 5F7 in irradiated mice.

Conclusion

Low-level brain irradiation induces dynamic changes in tumor vasculature that increase the intracranial tumor delivery of an anti-HER2 VHH, which could facilitate the use of radiolabeled VHH to detect, monitor, and treat HER2-expressing brain metastases.
Karrikin Receptor KAI2 Coordinates Salt Tolerance Mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Mostofa Mohammad Golam , Abdelrahman Mostafa , Rahman Md. Mezanur , Tran Cuong Duy , Nguyen Kien Huu , Watanabe Yasuko , Itouga Misao , Li Weiqiang , Wang Zhe , Mochida Keiichi , Tran Lam-Son Phan
Published: August 2022

Plants activate a myriad of signaling cascades to tailor adaptive responses under environmental stresses, such as salinity. While the roles of exogenous karrikins (KARs) in salt stress mitigation are well comprehended, genetic evidence of KAR signaling during salinity responses in plants remains unresolved. Here, we explore the functions of the possible KAR receptor KARRIKIN-INSENSITIVE2 (KAI2) in Arabidopsis thaliana tolerance to salt stress by investigating comparative responses of wild-type (WT) and kai2-mutant plants under a gradient of NaCl. Defects in KAI2 functions resulted in delayed and inhibited cotyledon opening in kai2 seeds compared with WT seeds, suggesting that KAI2 played an important role in enhancing seed germination under salinity. Salt-stressed kai2 plants displayed more phenotypic aberrations, biomass reduction, water loss and oxidative damage than WT plants. kai2 shoots accumulated significantly more Na+ and thus had a lower K+/Na+ ratio, than WT, indicating severe ion toxicity in salt-stressed kai2 plants. Accordingly, kai2 plants displayed a lower expression of genes associated with Na+ homeostasis, such as SALT OVERLY SENSITIVE (SOS) 1, SOS2, HIGH-AFFINITY POTASSIUM TRANSPORTER 1;1 (HKT1;1) and CATION–HYDROGEN EXCHANGER 1 (NHX1) than WT plants. WT plants maintained a better glutathione level, glutathione-related redox status and antioxidant enzyme activities relative to kai2 plants, implying KAI2’s function in oxidative stress mitigation in response to salinity. kai2 shoots had lower expression levels of genes involved in the biosynthesis of strigolactones (SLs), salicylic acid and jasmonic acid and the signaling of abscisic acid and SLs than those of WT plants, indicating interactive functions of KAI2 signaling with other hormone signaling in modulating plant responses to salinity. Collectively, these results underpin the likely roles of KAI2 in the alleviation of salinity effects in plants by regulating several physiological and biochemical mechanisms involved in ionic and osmotic balance, oxidative stress tolerance and hormonal crosstalk.
A deletion/duplication in theLigon lintless-2locus induces siRNAs that inhibit cotton fiber cell elongation
Authors: Naoumkina Marina , Thyssen Gregory N , Fang David D , Florane Christopher B , Li Ping
Published: August 2022

Most cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties have two types of seed fibers: short fuzz fiber strongly adhered to the seed coat, and long lint fiber used in the textile industry. The Ligon lintless-2 (Li2) cotton mutant has a normal vegetative phenotype but produces very short lint fiber on the seeds. The Li2 mutation is controlled by a single dominant gene. We discovered a large structural rearrangement at the end of chromosome D13 in the Li2 mutant based on whole-genome sequencing and genetic mapping of segregating populations. The rearrangement contains a 177-kb deletion and a 221-kb duplication positioned as a tandem inverted repeat. The gene Gh_D13G2437 is located at the junction of the inverted repeat in the duplicated region. During transcription such structure spontaneously forms self-complementary hairpin RNA of Gh_D13G2437 followed by production of small interfering RNA (siRNA). Gh_D13G2437 encodes a Ran-Binding Protein 1 (RanBP1) that preferentially expresses during cotton fiber elongation. The abundance of siRNA produced from Gh_D13G2437 reciprocally corresponds with the abundance of highly homologous (68%–98% amino acid sequence identity) RanBP1 family transcripts during fiber elongation, resulting in a shorter fiber phenotype in the Li2. Overexpression of Gh_D13G2437 in the Li2 mutant recovered the long lint fiber phenotype. Taken together, our findings revealed that siRNA-induced silencing of a family of RanBP1s inhibit elongation of cotton fiber cells in the Li2 mutant.
Extended ultrasound examination identifies more large vessel involvement in patients with giant cell arteritis
Authors: Bull Haaversen Anne Christine , Brekke Lene Kristin , Kermani Tanaz A , Molberg Øyvind , Diamantopoulos Andreas P
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To compare limited with a more extended ultrasound examination (anteromedial ultrasound, A2-ultrasound) to detect large vessel (LV) involvement in patients with newly diagnosed GCA.

Methods

Patients with new-onset GCA were included at the time of diagnosis. All patients were examined using limited ultrasound (ultrasound of the axillary artery as visualized in the axilla) and an extended A2-ultrasound method (which also includes the carotid, vertebral, subclavian and proximal axillary arteries), in addition to temporal artery ultrasound.

Results

One hundred and thirty-three patients were included in the study. All patients fulfilled the criteria according to a proposed extension of the 1990 ACR classification criteria for GCA and had a positive ultrasound examination at diagnosis. Ninety-three of the 133 GCA patients (69.9%) had LV involvement when examined by extended A2-ultrasound, compared with only 56 patients (42.1%) by limited ultrasound (P < 0.001). Twelve patients (9.0%) had vasculitis of the vertebral arteries as the only LVs involved. Five patients (3.8%) would have been missed as having GCA if only limited ultrasound was performed. Forty patients (30.0%) had isolated cranial GCA, 21 patients (15.8%) had isolated large vessel GCA and 72 patients (54.1%) had mixed-GCA.

Conclusion

Extended A2-ultrasound examination identified more patients with LV involvement than the limited ultrasound method. However, extended A2-ultrasound requires high expertise and high-end equipment and should be performed by ultrasonographers with adequate training.
Predictive value of the adjusted Global Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome Score on clinical recurrence in APS patients: a longitudinal study
Authors: Barilaro Giuseppe , Esteves Alexandra , Della Rocca Carlo , Perez-Isidro Albert , Araujo Olga , Pires da Rosa Gilberto , Ruiz-Ortiz Estibaliz , Tàssies Penella Dolors , Viñas Odette , Reverter Joan Carles , Cervera Ricard , Espinosa Gerard
Published: August 2022

Objective

To assess the effect of the average adjusted global APS score (aGAPSS) over time on recurrence of clinical manifestations in APS patients through a retrospective longitudinal study.

Material and methods

The study included 200 patients with APS. The aGAPSS was calculated for each patient at baseline and on a yearly basis for either up to 6 years (minimum 3 years) or just before the clinical event in patients who experienced clinical recurrence. The mean score per patient was computed. In patients under vitamin K antagonists (VKA) the percentage of time spent within the therapeutic range (TTR) was calculated. Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value of the aGAPSS with the strongest association with clinical recurrence.

Results

Higher average aGAPSS values were found in patients who experienced clinical recurrence in comparison to patients who did not [8.81 (95% CI 7.53, 10.08) vs 6.38 (95% CI 5.64, 7.12), P = 0.001], patients with thrombotic recurrence compared with patients with obstetric recurrence [9.48 (95% CI 8.14, 10.82) vs 4.25 (95% CI 0.85, 7.65), P = 0.006] and patients with arterial thrombosis compared with patients with venous thrombosis [10.66 (S.D. 5.48) vs 6.63 (S.D. 4.42), P = 0.01]. aGAPSS values >13 points were associated with the highest risk of recurrence in multivariate analysis [HR = 3.25 (95% CI 1.93, 5.45), P < 0.0001]. TTR was not statistically different between patients who had thrombosis recurrence and patients who had not.

Conclusions

Our data support the role of periodic (annual) monitoring of the aGAPSS score in predicting clinical recurrence in patients with APS.
SPECTROMETRY OF HIGH-ENERGY PHOTONS ON HIGH MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY LOMNICKÝ ŠTÍT DURING THUNDERSTORMS
Authors: Šlegl Jakub , Langer Ronald , Brunclík Tomáš , Mašek Petr , Strhárský Igor , Ambrožová Iva , Chum Jaroslav , Ploc Ondřej
Published: August 2022

Lomnický štít, Slovakia, 2634 m above sea level, is known to be a place of extreme electric fields measured during thunderstorms and is thus a suitable place for thunderstorm-related ionising radiation research. We present one of the strongest Thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGE) ever detected, which occurred on 12 September 2021. The TGE was detected with the SEVAN detector and also with the new Georadis RT-56 large volume gamma spectrometer. In the paper, we present spectra of the TGE measured with the spectrometer as well as SEVAN coincidence data supplemented by the data from electric field mill.
FREE-RELEASE OF LARGE-SCALE COMPONENTS AND FRAGMENTS OF AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF V1 NPP
Authors: Forgáč Matej , Vrban Branislav , Nečas Vladimír , Kleštinec Peter
Published: August 2022

The paper is reviewing the issue of releasing materials from the decommissioning activities of NPP V1 (VVER-440). The focus is on the process of auxiliary equipment fragmentation. Output materials are measured for surface contamination. According to the limit values, a decision is made on storage, decontamination or direct release into the environment. A special category of auxiliary equipment is large components (e.g. Concrete-container). Because of the low operational usability, there is assumption that measured values meet the limits for release into the environment. The decommissioning measuring devices cannot process materials that are not fragmented in the defined packaging files (max. 1 ton). An alternative is to measure surface contamination on the entire surface of the device manually using hand-held instruments. Fragmentation time as well as the production of secondary waste (cutting tools) are reduced, and the free-released large-scale component can be demolished outside the controlled area (conventional methods).
DETERMINING THE TRANSFER FACTORS FOR ESTIMATES OF THE RADIATION CONTAMINATION OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS
Authors: Procházka Jan , Škrkal Jan , Rulík Petr , Křováková Kateřina , Šímová Iva
Published: August 2022

The study aims to provide a basis for measures reducing the consequences of a nuclear accident in its late phase, when plant contamination occurs mainly through the root system. Samples of the above-ground biomass of crops and soil were taken in 2020 in the vicinity of the Temelín and Dukovany nuclear power plants (Czech Republic). The 137Cs activities were determined using gamma spectrometry, and the 90Sr activities were measured through beta radiation. From the obtained values, the radionuclide transfer factors (TFs) from soil to crop biomass were calculated. The average area activity of 137Cs in the soil around Dukovany and Temelín was 1700 and 2400 Bq m−2, respectively. The average area activity of 90Sr around Dukovany and Temelín was 211 and 184 Bq m−2, respectively. The TF 137Cs ranged from < 6.3 × 10−6 to 7.9 × 10−3, with a mean of 3.5 × 10−4 m2 kg−1, and the TF 90Sr ranged from 2.7 × 10−4 to 6 × 10−2, with a mean of 1.7 × 10−2 m2 kg−1.
MODELLING GLOBAL CARBON AND RADIOCARBON CYCLES
Authors: John David , Kundrát Pavel , Pachnerová Brabcová Kateřina , Molnár Mihály , Světlík Ivo
Published: August 2022

Carbon cycle receives growing attention, in particular in connection with the climate change. Radiocarbon (14C) serves not only as the well-known basis of a dating technique but also as a tracer of the global carbon cycle, enabling one to assess the sizes of diverse compartments, fluxes between them and the related characteristic times. Mathematical modelling of the carbon cycle helps integrate the measurements, estimate the roles of underpinning processes and provide predictions, for instance on future CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere for various emission scenarios. We present a model based on a single-box atmosphere, ocean surface layer, one-dimensional diffusive ocean and two-box biota. We discuss its validation against measured data, predictions on future CO2 levels and interpretation of past events on the radiocarbon calibration curve.
STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL MOISTURE AND GRAIN SIZE ON RADON EMANATION FROM SOIL USING AN ADVANCED MULTIGRAIN MODEL
Authors: Eckertová Terézia , Böhm Radoslav , Holý Karol
Published: August 2022

Among the most important factors that influence radon emanation from soil particles is the soil moisture and grain size. Both components, in its own way, modify the length of a trajectory that radon atom pass through in a volume of the soil pores. To better understand their impact on an emanation, we have developed our own computer program that can simulate the 222Rn emanation process in the soil environment, using an idea of a multigrain model. In our case, the central, radium-bearing soil grain is surrounded by 1330 adjacent grains of the same size forming a cubic structure and the moisture in a space of the soil pores is differently distributed. The simulation process is based on a two different distribution of 226Ra in soil grains (homogenous and heterogenous), while several variants of the thickness of an escape layer are analyzed for grains of different sizes and moisture contents.
Risk Evaluation of Benzovindiflupyr Resistance of Verticillium dahliae Population in Maine
Authors: Li Kedi , Wang Yan , Ge Tongling , Larkin Robert P. , Smart Alicyn , Johnson Steven B. , Hao Jianjun
Published: August 2022

Verticillium dahliae causes Verticillium wilt, resulting in significant losses to potato production. Benzovindiflupyr, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, effectively controls V. dahliae. However, frequent applications of the chemical may expedite the development of fungicide resistance in the pathogen population. To evaluate the risk of benzovindiflupyr resistance, 38 V. dahliae strains were obtained from diseased potatoes in Maine. The sensitivity of the field population was determined based on effective concentration for 50% inhibition (EC50), which ranged from 0.07 to 11.28 μg ml−1 with a median of 1.08. Segregated clusters of EC50 values indicated that Maine V. dahliae populations have developed benzovindiflupyr resistance. By exposing conidia of V. dahliae to a high concentration of benzovindiflupyr, 18 benzovindiflupyr-resistant mutants were obtained. To examine their fitness, the mutants were continuously subculture-transferred for up to 10 generations. Mycelial growth, conidial production, competitiveness, pathogenicity, and cross resistance of the 10th generation mutants were examined. Results showed that 50% of the resistant mutants retained an adaptive level in mycelial growth, and 60% maintained conidial production similar to their parents. Pathogenicity did not change for any of the mutants. No cross resistance was detected between benzovindiflupyr and either azoxystrobin, boscalid, fluopyram, or pyrimethanil. Thus, the resistance risk in V. dahliae to benzovindiflupyr should be considered in Maine potato production.