bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Working correlates of protection predict SchuS4-derived-vaccine candidates with improved efficacy against an intracellular bacterium, Francisella tularensis
Authors: De Pascalis Roberto , Frey Blake , Rice Helen M. , Bhargava Varunika , Wu Terry H. , Peterson Ross L. , Conlan J. Wayne , Sjöstedt Anders , Elkins Karen L.
Published: August 2022

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is classified as Tier 1 Select Agent with bioterrorism potential. The efficacy of the only available vaccine, LVS, is uncertain and it is not licensed in the U.S. Previously, by using an approach generally applicable to intracellular pathogens, we identified working correlates that predict successful vaccination in rodents. Here, we applied these correlates to evaluate a panel of SchuS4-derived live attenuated vaccines, namely SchuS4-ΔclpB,ΔclpB-ΔfupA,ΔclpB-ΔcapB, andΔclpB-ΔwbtC. We combined in vitro co-cultures to quantify rodent T-cell functions and multivariate regression analyses to predict relative vaccine strength. The predictions were tested by rat vaccination and challenge studies, which demonstrated a clear relationship between the hierarchy of in vitro measurements and in vivo vaccine protection. Thus, these studies demonstrated the potential power a panel of correlates to screen and predict the efficacy ofFrancisellavaccine candidates, and in vivo studies in Fischer 344 rats confirmed that SchuS4-ΔclpBandΔclpB-ΔcapBmay be better vaccine candidates than LVS.
An evaluation of temporal and club angle parameters during golf swings using low cost video analyses packages
Authors: Hunter Henry H. , Ugbolue Ukadike C. , Sorbie Graeme G. , Lam Wing-Kai , Grace Fergal M. , Dello Iacono Antonio , Liang Minjun , Dutheil Frédéric , Gu Yaodong , Baker Julien S.
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare swing time and golf club angle parameters during golf swings using three, two dimensional (2D) low cost, Augmented-Video-based-Portable-Systems (AVPS) (Kinovea, SiliconCoach Pro, SiliconCoach Live). Twelve right-handed golfers performed three golf swings whilst being recorded by a high-speed 2D video camera. Footage was then analysed using AVPS-software and the results compared using both descriptive and inferential statistics. There were no significant differences for swing time and the golf phase measurements between the 2D and 3D software comparisons. In general, the results showed a high Intra class Correlation Coefficient (ICC > 0.929) and Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha (CCA > 0.924) reliability for both the kinematic and temporal parameters. The inter-rater reliability test for the swing time and kinematic golf phase measurements on average were strong. Irrespective of the AVPS software investigated, the cost effective AVPS can produce reliable output measures that benefit golf analyses.
Prognostic values of high sensitivity cardiac troponin T and I for long-term mortality in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Noppakun Kajohnsak , Ratnachina Kannika , Osataphan Nichanan , Phrommintikul Arintaya , Wongcharoen Wanwarang
Published: August 2022

Previous studies using contemporary cardiac troponin (cTn) assays have shown conflicting results in predictability of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in hemodialysis patients. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic values of high-sensitivity cTnT (hs-cTnT) and hs-cTnI for long-term mortality and MACEs in asymptomatic chronic hemodialysis patients. 198 asymptomatic patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (age 62.4 ± 14.8 years) were enrolled. Pre-dialysis hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI levels were measured. The study outcomes were long-term all-cause mortality and MACEs. Median values of hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI were 61.1 ng/L (IQR 36.6–102.0) and 18.4 ng/L (IQR 9.5–36.6), respectively. During a median follow-up of 13.5 months, 30 (15.1%) patients developed MACEs, and 20 (10.1%) patients died. The patients in highest quartile of hs-cTnT level (≥ 102 ng/L) had increased risk of long-term mortality (HR 3.34; 95%CI 1.39–8.04, P = 0.005). However, hs-cTnI levels above highest quartile (≥ 36 ng/L) was not significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality. Nevertheless, elevated level of hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI was associated with increased risk of MACEs. We demonstrated that higher level of hs-cTnT, but not hs-cTnI, was associated with increased risk of long-term mortality. Nevertheless, higher level of hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI both were associated with greater risk of long-term MACEs.
Association between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat in healthy older men and women
Authors: Miller Natalie Ella , Steptoe Andrew
Published: August 2022

Depressive symptoms are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and inflammation may contribute to this relationship. Pericardial fat, a highly metabolically active fat depot, is implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD, but its association with depressive symptoms is unclear. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat over a three-year period. Participants were 543 healthy men and women (mean age = 62.9 years) without history or objective signs of coronary heart disease from the Whitehall II cohort. In men, depressive symptoms were positively associated with pericardial fat at baseline after adjustment for sociodemographics, waist to hip ratio and conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Inflammation, indexed by plasma interleukin 6 concentration, accounted for 17% of this association. Longitudinally, depressive symptoms did not predict pericardial fat three years later in men once baseline levels of pericardial fat were accounted for. No significant associations between depressive symptoms and pericardial fat were found in women. Overall, our findings suggest that greater pericardial fat might be a mechanism by which depressive symptoms are associated with increased risk for CVD in men, and inflammation may also lie on this pathway.
Size structure of the coral Stylophora pistillata across reef flat zones in the central Red Sea
Authors: Rich Walter A. , Carvalho Susana , Cadiz Ronald , Gil Gloria , Gonzalez Karla , Berumen Michael L.
Published: August 2022

Demographic analyses offer insight into the state of a population. Here, we surveyed different reef flat zones (exposed, midreef and sheltered) of six reefs over a cross-shelf gradient to characterize the population structure of Stylophora pistillata, a coral species which dominates reef flats in the central Red Sea. Phototransects were conducted at each reef flat zone, and the density of S. pistillata, the planar area of each colony, and the occurrence of partial mortality were calculated using the program ImageJ. Each colony was also assigned a color morph (yellow, purple or mixed colors). Density and mean size were extremely variable, both among reef flat zones and reefs, but overall, both metrics were lower on the midshelf reefs. The yellow color morph accounted for nearly 90% of colonies surveyed and dominated most reef flats assessed, with the exception of one site where 81% of colonies were purple morphs. There were no spatial trends in the percentage of colonies suffering partial mortality, but overall there is a positive correlation with size class and proportion of colonies with partial mortality. Despite few trends emerging from assessing individual parameters, a PERMANOVA analysis revealed differences among reef flat zones in most of the reefs, highlighting the importance of multivariate analysis. The data presented here serve as a baseline for monitoring and may identify possible future demographic changes to this important coral species in a region increasingly affected by bleaching events.
Hypoxia mimetics restore bone biomineralisation in hyperglycaemic environments
Authors: Rezaei Azadeh , Li Yutong , Turmaine Mark , Bertazzo Sergio , Howard Christopher A. , Arnett Timothy R. , Shakib Kaveh , Jell Gavin
Published: August 2022

Diabetic patients have an increased risk of fracture and an increased occurrence of impaired fracture healing. Diabetic and hyperglycaemic conditions have been shown to impair the cellular response to hypoxia, via an inhibited hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α pathway. We investigated, using an in vitro hyperglycaemia bone tissue engineering model (and a multidisciplinary bone characterisation approach), the differing effects of glucose levels, hypoxia and chemicals known to stabilise HIF-1α (CoCl2 and DMOG) on bone formation. Hypoxia (1% O2) inhibited bone nodule formation and resulted in discrete biomineralisation as opposed to the mineralised extracellular collagen fibres found in normoxia (20% O2). Unlike hypoxia, the use of hypoxia mimetics did not prevent nodule formation in normal glucose level. Hyperglycaemic conditions (25 mM and 50 mM glucose) inhibited biomineralisation. Interestingly, both hypoxia mimetics (CoCl2 and DMOG) partly restored hyperglycaemia inhibited bone nodule formation. These results highlight the difference in osteoblast responses between hypoxia mimetics and actual hypoxia and suggests a role of HIF-1α stabilisation in bone biomineralisation that extends that of promoting neovascularisation, or other system effects associated with hypoxia and bone regeneration in vivo. This study demonstrates that targeting the HIF pathway may represent a promising strategy for bone regeneration in diabetic patients.
Identification of key candidate genes for IgA nephropathy using machine learning and statistics based bioinformatics models
Authors: Al Mehedi Hasan Md. , Maniruzzaman Md. , Shin Jungpil
Published: August 2022

Immunoglobulin-A-nephropathy (IgAN) is a kidney disease caused by the accumulation of IgAN deposits in the kidneys, which causes inflammation and damage to the kidney tissues. Various bioinformatics analysis-based approaches are widely used to predict novel candidate genes and pathways associated with IgAN. However, there is still some scope to clearly explore the molecular mechanisms and causes of IgAN development and progression. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify key candidate genes for IgAN using machine learning (ML) and statistics-based bioinformatics models. First, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using limma, and then enrichment analysis was performed on DEGs using DAVID. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) was constructed using STRING and Cytoscape was used to determine hub genes based on connectivity and hub modules based on MCODE scores and their associated genes from DEGs. Furthermore, ML-based algorithms, namely support vector machine (SVM), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to identify the discriminative genes of IgAN from DEGs. Finally, the key candidate genes (FOS, JUN, EGR1, FOSB, and DUSP1) were identified as overlapping genes among the selected hub genes, hub module genes, and discriminative genes from SVM, LASSO, and PLS-DA, respectively which can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of IgAN.
Eye-tracking training improves the learning and memory of children with learning difficulty
Authors: Chan Agnes S. , Lee Tsz-Lok , Sze Sophia L. , Yang Natalie S. , Han Yvonne M. Y.
Published: August 2022

Children who experience difficulty in learning at mainstream schools usually are provided with remediation classes after school to facilitate their learning. The present study aims to evaluate an innovative eye-tracking training as possible alternative remediation. Our previous findings showed that children who received eye-tracking training demonstrated improved attention and inhibitory control, and the present randomized controlled study aims to evaluate if eye-tracking training can also enhance the learning and memory of children. Fifty-three primary school students with learning difficulty (including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disorder, specific language impairment and borderline intellectual functioning) were recruited and randomly assigned to either the Eye-tracking Training group or the after-school remediation class. They were assessed on their learning and memory using the Hong Kong List Learning Test before and after 8-month training. Twenty weekly parallel sessions of training, 50 min per session, were provided to each group. Children who received the eye-tracking training, not those in the control group, showed a significant improvement in memory as measured by the delayed recall. In addition, the Eye-Tracking Training group showed significantly faster learning than the control group. Also, the two groups showed a significant improvement in their reading abilities. In sum, eye-tracking training may be effective training for enhancing the learning and memory of children with learning difficulties.
Research on decoupling control for the longitudinal and lateral dynamics of a tractor considering steering delay
Authors: Miao Hequan , Diao Peisong , Xu Guangfei , Yao Wenyan , Song Zhicai , Wang Wenjun
Published: August 2022

To enhance the efficiency of tractor operation, the longitudinal and lateral dynamic control of a self-driving tractor is studied in this paper, and a control system that decouples control of the longitudinal and lateral movement of the tractor is proposed. The trajectory controller calculates the desired speed and desired yaw rate signals of each subsystem, and a PID controller regulates the longitudinal speed of the tractor. A pure pursuit algorithm calculates the desired front wheel angle of the tractor. To decrease the system time delay in the automatic steering system, an automatic steering scheme based on improved Smith predictive control is proposed. Through decoupling control of the longitudinal and lateral controllers, the tractor’s path tracking performance is assured.
Discovery of stripe rust resistance with incomplete dominance in wild emmer wheat using bulked segregant analysis sequencing
Authors: Klymiuk Valentyna , Chawla Harmeet Singh , Wiebe Krystalee , Ens Jennifer , Fatiukha Andrii , Govta Liubov , Fahima Tzion , Pozniak Curtis J.
Published: August 2022

Durable crop disease resistance is an essential component of global food security. Continuous pathogen evolution leads to a breakdown of resistance and there is a pressing need to characterize new resistance genes for use in plant breeding. Here we identified an accession of wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidumssp.dicoccoides), PI 487260, that is highly resistant to multiple stripe rust isolates. Genetic analysis revealed resistance was conferred by a single, incompletely dominant gene designated asYr84. Through bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-Seq) we identified a 52.7 Mb resistance-associated interval on chromosome 1BS. Detected variants were used to design genetic markers for recombinant screening, further refining the interval ofYr84to a 2.3–3.3 Mb in tetraploid wheat genomes. This interval contains 34 candidate genes encoding for protein domains involved in disease resistance responses. Furthermore, KASP markers closely-linked toYr84were developed to facilitate marker-assisted selection for rust resistance breeding.
The spike of SARS-CoV-2 promotes metabolic rewiring in hepatocytes
Authors: Mercado-Gómez Maria , Prieto-Fernández Endika , Goikoetxea-Usandizaga Naroa , Vila-Vecilla Laura , Azkargorta Mikel , Bravo Miren , Serrano-Maciá Marina , Egia-Mendikute Leire , Rodríguez-Agudo Rubén , Lachiondo-Ortega Sofia , Lee So Young , Eguileor Giné Alvaro , Gil-Pitarch Clàudia , González-Recio Irene , Simón Jorge , Petrov Petar , Jover Ramiro , Martínez-Cruz Luis Alfonso , Ereño-Orbea June , Delgado Teresa Cardoso , Elortza Felix , Jiménez-Barbero Jesús , Nogueiras Ruben , Prevot Vincent , Palazon Asis , Martínez-Chantar María L.
Published: August 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a multi-organ damage that includes hepatic dysfunction, which has been observed in over 50% of COVID-19 patients. Liver injury in COVID-19 could be attributed to the cytopathic effects, exacerbated immune responses or treatment-associated drug toxicity. Herein we demonstrate that hepatocytes are susceptible to infection in different models: primary hepatocytes derived from humanized angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 mice (hACE2) and primary human hepatocytes. Pseudotyped viral particles expressing the full-length spike of SARS-CoV-2 and recombinant receptor binding domain (RBD) bind to ACE2 expressed by hepatocytes, promoting metabolic reprogramming towards glycolysis but also impaired mitochondrial activity. Human and hACE2 primary hepatocytes, where steatosis and inflammation were induced by methionine and choline deprivation, are more vulnerable to infection. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system increases the susceptibility of primary hepatocytes to infection with pseudotyped viral particles. Metformin, a common therapeutic option for hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients known to partially attenuate fatty liver, reduces the infection of human and hACE2 hepatocytes. In summary, we provide evidence that hepatocytes are amenable to infection with SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus, and we propose that metformin could be a therapeutic option to attenuate infection by SARS-CoV-2 in patients with fatty liver.
Central Mediterranean rainfall varied with high northern latitude temperatures during the last deglaciation
Authors: Columbu Andrea , Spötl Christoph , Fohlmeister Jens , Hu Hsun-Ming , Chiarini Veronica , Hellstrom John , Cheng Hai , Shen Chuan-Chou , De Waele Jo
Published: August 2022

Similarly to the effects of current climate change, the last deglaciation (Termination I) rapidly altered northern latitude temperatures and ice-sheet extent, as well as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. However, it is still unclear how these changes propagated and impacted the central Mediterranean continental rainfall variability. This prevents a full understanding on how global warming will affect Mediterranean areas in the future. Here, we present a high-resolution reconstruction of rainfall changes in the central Mediterranean across Termination I, based on a novel δ18O time series from a southern Italian stalagmite. Across Termination I the availability of Atlantic moisture varied in response to northern latitude temperature increases (decreases) and ice-sheet decreases (increases), promoting a higher (lower) intensity of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, and resulting in a relatively wetter (drier) climate in the Mediterranean. In the light of future warming, this study emphasises the role of high-latitude climate changes in causing rainfall variation in highly populated Mediterranean areas.
A knowledge graph representation learning approach to predict novel kinase–substrate interactions
Authors: Gavali Sachin , Ross Karen , Chen Chuming , Cowart Julie , Wu Cathy H.
Published: August 2022

In this work we present an approach to predict novel interaction partners for understudied kinases. Our approach involves constructing a biomedical knowledge graph and then using a triple walking algorithm to learn from this knowledge graph.
Fabrication of Mn/P co-doped hollow tubular carbon nitride by a one-step hydrothermal–calcination method for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants
Authors: Wang Dongbo , Dong Xiyuan , Lei Ye , Lin Changqing , Huang Dan , Yu Xin , Zhang Xuan
Published: August 2022

Efficient photocatalytic degradation of trace organic pollutants in aqueous environment by a hollow tubular carbon nitride co-doped with manganese and phosphorus under visible light.
Novel Emblica officinalis extract containing β-glucogallin vs. metformin: a randomized, open-label, comparative efficacy study in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with dyslipidemia
Authors: Majeed Muhammed , Mundkur Lakshmi , Paulose Shaji , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam
Published: August 2022

Comparative clinical trial shows higher efficacy of EOE containing β-glucogallin over metformin in newly diagnosed T2DM patients with dyslipidemia.
Correction: Actuated 3D microgels for single cell mechanobiology
Authors: Özkale Berna , Lou Junzhe , Özelçi Ece , Elosegui-Artola Alberto , Tringides Christina M. , Mao Angelo S. , Sakar Mahmut Selman , Mooney David J.
Published: August 2022

Correction for ‘Actuated 3D microgels for single cell mechanobiology’ by Berna Özkale et al., Lab Chip, 2022, 22, 1962–1970, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2LC00203E.
Direct growth of SnS2 nanowall photoanode for high responsivity self-powered photodetectors
Authors: Deng Shunlan , Chen Yi , Li Qi , Sun Jie , Lei Zhibin , Hu Peng , Liu Zong-Huai , He Xuexia , Ma Renzhi
Published: August 2022

SnS2 nanowall-based PEC-type photodetectors show the highest photoresponsivity of 1460 μA W−1 prepared by a facile hydrothermal approach, which also have a fast response time and excellent stability.
Diatomic terahertz metasurfaces for arbitrary-to-circular polarization conversion
Authors: Li Hui , Zheng Chenglong , Xu Hang , Li Jie , Song Chunyu , Li Jitao , Wu Liang , Yang Fan , Zhang Yating , Shi Wei , Yao Jianquan
Published: August 2022

A kind of all-silicon metasurface is demonstrated to realize the arbitrary-to-circular polarization conversions in the THz band through the mutual interference of monolayer achiral meta-atoms.
Terphenyl-based colorless and heat-resistant polyimides with a controlled molecular structure using methyl side groups
Authors: Fang Yunzhi , He Xiaojie , Kang Jun-Chen , Wang Le , Ding Tong-Mei , Lu Xuemin , Zhang Shu-Yu , Lu Qinghua
Published: August 2022

A methyl regulation strategy is proposed and verified to balance the optical and thermal properties of aromatic polyimides.
A characterization of chemistry learners’ engagement in data analysis and interpretation
Authors: Berg Stephanie A. , Moon Alena
Published: August 2022

Both graph comprehension and data analysis and interpretation are influenced by one's prior knowledge and experiences. To understand how one‘s prior knowledge and experiences interact with their analysis of a graph, we conducted think-aloud interviews with general chemistry students as they interpreted a graph to determine optimal conditions for an experiment. Afterwards, students engaged in a simulated peer review by reviewing three sample responses, which further revealed their reasoning. We deconstructed students’ analyses using Data-Frame Theory to identify the prior knowledge and experiences that informed and guided their analysis, as well as characterizing moments in which their analysis was influenced by different sources of information. Using template analysis, we present and discuss four themes: establishing the frame, observing and interacting with the data, data-frame interactions, and when frames change. From these findings, we discuss implications for utilizing students’ prior knowledge and experiences to aid in their data analysis and interpretation, as well as identify opportunities for future research.
Discovery of branching meroterpenoid biosynthetic pathways in Aspergillus insuetus: involvement of two terpene cyclases with distinct cyclization modes
Authors: Tang Jia , Matsuda Yudai
Published: August 2022

Branching meroterpenoid biosynthetic pathways were discovered in the fungus Aspergillus insuetus CBS 107.25, in which two terpene cyclases, InsA7 and InsB2, accept the same substrate but generate distinctly cyclized products.
Organocopper(ii) complexes: new catalysts for carbon–carbon bond formation via electrochemical atom transfer radical addition (eATRA)
Authors: Gonzálvez Miguel A. , Su Chuyi , Williams Craig M. , Bernhardt Paul V.
Published: August 2022

Electrochemical generation of a novel organocopper(ii) complex offers a new way to carry out atom transfer radical addition to alkenes under mild conditions with high yields and low catalyst loadings.
Transparent p-type CuI film based self-powered ultraviolet photodetectors with ultrahigh speed, responsivity and detectivity
Authors: Huang Yi , Tan Jin , Gao Gang , Xu Jianmei , Zhao Ling , Zhou Wei , Wang Qing , Yuan Shuoguo , Sun Jian
Published: August 2022

Transparent p-type CuI film based self-powered ultraviolet photodetectors exhibit excellent optoelectronic properties in self-powered mode, including large responsivity and detectivity, and a fast response speed.
Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Young Adults Who Stutter
Authors: Merlo Sandra , Jacobs Molly M. , Briley Patrick M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

Evidence of a linkage between developmental stuttering and insomnia has been suggested in earlier studies. This study explores the prevalence of four symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in individuals with and without stuttering.

Method:

Frequency of snoring/stoppage of breath, sleep fragmentation, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue were analyzed using data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally representative survey study following 13,564 U.S. respondents over 20 years. Binary and multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess the relationship between stuttering and all four OSA symptoms, controlling for sex, age, race, ethnicity, body mass index, and potentially confounding conditions. To account for the occurrence of multiple symptoms, a structural equation framework modeled the relationships between the symptoms, the control variables, and stuttering simultaneously.

Results:

The sample included 261 participants (1.7% of the total respondents) who identified themselves as people who stutter, composed of 169 men and 92 women. Compared with their fluent counterparts, individuals who stutter report that they snore or stop breathing during sleep (odds ratio [
OR
] = 1.41), experience sleep fragmentation (
OR
= 1.33), have difficulty concentrating (
OR
= 1.85), and experience fatigue (
OR
= 1.04). The structural equation framework indicated that snoring/stoppage of breath, sleep fragmentation, and difficulty concentrating are significantly and positively related to one another and to stuttering.

Conclusions:

Speech-language pathologists should be aware of these symptoms among young adults who stutter and consider that they are suggestive of OSA. Additional research is needed to fully assess the directionality of influence in the relationship of stuttering and symptoms of OSA.
Finite‐time attitude consensus control for multiple rigid spacecraft based on distributed observers
Authors: Qi Wen‐Nian , Wu Ai‐Guo , Huang Jing , Dong Rui‐Qi
Published: August 2022

The problem of attitude consensus control is addressed for multiple rigid spacecraft under a fixed interaction network where only a subset of followers can obtain the leader's state information. To estimate the attitude and angular velocity of the leader, a group of distributed finite‐time observers is constructed for each follower. Then fast non‐singular terminal sliding mode attitude controllers are proposed for followers based on the observed information. Rigorous proofs are presented to show the finite‐time attitude consensus performance of the closed‐loop multiple rigid spacecraft systems under the proposed consensus protocol including distributed observers and attitude controllers. Numerical simulations are provided to illustrate the performance of the proposed attitude consensus protocol.
X‐Ray medical image super‐resolution via self‐organization neural networks and geometric directional gradient
Authors: Ahmadian Khodabakhsh , Reza‐Alikhani Hamid‐reza
Published: August 2022

Nowadays, due to the rapid development of the Internet and communication networks, remote disease diagnosis by physicians utilizing medical images such as X‐rays have increased. However, the transmitted images lose their true quality and resolutions due to several factors, including noise and image compression techniques used to conserve memory space. This paper presents a novel clinical X‐ray image enhancement method based on self‐organizing neural networks, the ability of first‐order derivative operators to detect edges, and improved classification methods by enhancing image features and extending the nearest neighbor algorithms selection of the best similarity feature vector among all sample feature vectors. The proposed method employs first‐order image derivation operators to extract edge details and features from images. The feature vectors were preprocessed and segmented into various classes using self‐organizing neural networks. The best matching and most similar vectors among the feature vectors are retrieved via the nearest neighbor algorithm. In contrast to conventional and contemporary image super‐resolution techniques, the proposed method does not rely on the cost function. It is independent of error backpropagation methods because the competitive nature of the neural network is used to update the weight vectors rather than the gradient descent method. In addition, the performance and accuracy of the proposed image super‐resolution method were improved by increasing the number of feature components in the feature vectors through the use of the two‐dimensional image gradient. Furthermore, numerous image quality measurement criteria, such as structural similarity index (SSIM) and peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR), were used to compare the reconstructed images of the proposed algorithm with those of other image enhancement algorithms. The results show that the proposed image enhancement algorithms' high‐resolution and high‐quality reconstructed image significantly outperformed many other medical image enhancement algorithms in reconstructing the edges and boundaries of objects with a smooth slope, as deemed by expert personnel and compared with image quality measurement criteria.
A trust‐based mechanism for drones in smart cities
Authors: Rathee Geetanjali , Kumar Akshay , Kerrache Chaker Abdelaziz , Iqbal Razi
Published: August 2022

Smart cities equipped with intelligent devices can enhance the lifestyle and quality of humans by automatically and collaboratively acting as a sustainable resource to the ecosystem. In addition, the technological advancement can be further empowered by interconnecting various types of technologies, such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence, drones and robotics which will clearly improve the Quality of Services, energy efficiency and connectivity to the overall system. The integration of drones hovering over smart cities with the other devices in the smart city network brings a lot of benefits. However, it can also lead to various security and privacy concerns in the network. The aim of this article is to put forward a secure and safe smart city communication environment by proposing a trust establishment scheme for the ad hoc Unmanned Aerial Vehicles network. In which, malicious devices can be traced and blocked by analysing and evaluating their historical interactions within the system and calculating their trust values. A behaviour‐based and local trust value scheme is used to analyse the trust of each communicating device that is further associated with a blockchain distributed ledger. The proposed mechanism is measured over various networking and security metrics, including throughput, latency, accuracy and block updating compared to the existing state‐of‐the‐art solutions.
The polarization signals of the solar K I D lines and their magnetic sensitivity
Authors: Alsina Ballester E.
Published: August 2022

Aims. This work aims to identify the relevant physical processes in shaping the intensity and polarization patterns of the solar K I D lines through spectral syntheses, placing particular emphasis on the D2 line.

Methods. The theoretical Stokes profiles were obtained by numerically solving the radiative transfer problem for polarized radiation considering one-dimensional semi-empirical models of the solar atmosphere. The calculations account for scattering polarization, partial frequency redistribution (PRD) effects, hyperfine structure (HFS), J- and F-state interference, multiple isotopes, and magnetic fields of arbitrary strength and orientation.

Results. The intensity and circular polarization profiles of both D lines can be suitably modeled while neglecting both J-state interference and HFS. The magnetograph formula can be applied to both lines, without including HFS, to estimate weak longitudinal magnetic fields in the lower chromosphere. By contrast, modeling the scattering polarization signal of the D lines requires the inclusion of HFS. The amplitude of the D2 scattering polarization signal is strongly depolarized by HFS, but it remains measurable. A small yet appreciable error is incurred in the scattering polarization profile if PRD effects are not taken into account. Collisions during scattering processes have a clear depolarizing effect, although a quantitative analysis is left for a forthcoming publication. Finally, the D2 scattering polarization signal is particularly sensitive to magnetic fields with strengths around 10 G and it strongly depends on their orientation. Despite this, its center-to-limb variation relative to the amplitude at the limb is largely insensitive to the field strength and orientation.

Conclusions. These findings highlight the value of the K I D2 line polarization for diagnostics of the solar magnetism, and show that the linear and circular polarization signals of this line are primarily sensitive to magnetic fields in the lower chromosphere and upper photosphere, respectively.
Qualitätssicherung an Hybridsystemen
Authors: Schütze Christian
Published: August 2022

Die hybride Bildgebung in Form der SPECT/CT oder PET/CT bietet einen relevanten diagnostischen Vorteil durch die Kombination anatomischer mit funktioneller Bildgebung. Hierdurch wird neben der Möglichkeit der präzisen morphologischen Zuordnung funktioneller Prozesse auch eine Verbesserung der Bildgüte erzielt. Zur Sicherstellung einer einwandfreien Funktionsweise und konstant hohen Qualität der hybriden Bildgebung kommt der Qualitätssicherung an hybriden Systemen eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Hier gilt es, die Anforderungen an die einzelnen Komponenten zu beachten, wie auch die Anforderungen, die aus der Kombination beider Komponenten entstehen. Für alle 3 Teile (Computertomografie, nuklearmedizinscher Teil und hybride Bildgebung) gelten entsprechende regulatorische Grundlagen. Diese sind im folgenden Übersichtsartikel zusammengestellt. Darüber hinaus wird ein Überblick über die Prüfverfahren zur Abnahmeprüfung der Teilkomponenten sowie über die Konstanzprüfungen vermittelt. Es werden jedoch keine konkreten Erläuterungen zur Durchführung der einzelnen Prüfungen gegeben.
PET Rekonstruktionen – Harmonisierung, alte und neue Ansätze
Authors: Braune Anja
Published: August 2022

Nach einer einführenden Erklärung der Funktionsweise der Positronen-Emissions-Tomografie (PET) Diagnostik werden Inhalt und Ziel der Rekonstruktion von PET-Daten vorgestellt. Es wird dargelegt, welche physikalischen Prozesse die PET-Bildgebung beeinflussen und wie diese im Rahmen der Rekonstruktion von PET-Daten korrigiert werden können. Dazu gehören Korrekturen für zufällige, gestreute und absorbierte Photonen sowie Korrekturen für Totzeiteffekte des Detektors.

Die beiden gängigsten PET-Rekonstruktionsverfahren, die gefilterte Rückprojektion (Filtered Back Projection, FBP) und der iterative Rekonstruktionsalgorithmus, werden erklärt und die jeweiligen Vor- und Nachteile dargelegt. Auf zwei Beispiele der iterativen Rekonstruktionsmethode wird detaillierter eingegangen: das Verfahren der Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization (MLEM) und die aktuell in der klinischen PET-Bildgebung am häufigsten angewendete Methode der Ordered Subsets Expectation Maximization (OSEM) Rekonstruktion. Weiterhin werden verschiedene Möglichkeiten der Reduktion von Bildrauschen bei iterativen Rekonstruktionen vorgestellt, wie beispielsweise die Bayesian Penalized Likelihood (BPL) Methode.

Es wird auf technische Neuerungen hinsichtlich der Gerätetechnik und der Software von PET-Geräten eingegangen. Time of Flight (ToF) Messung und Point Spread Function (PSF) Modellierungen im Rahmen der Rekonstruktion werden erklärt und deren Vor- und Nachteile dargestellt. Abschließend werden neue Möglichkeiten der datengestützten Bewegungskorrektur (data-driven motion correction) und Ansätze mittels künstlicher Intelligenz aufgegriffen.
Clinical Utility of C-Reactive Protein and White Blood Cell Count for Scheduling an [18F]FDG PET/CT in Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis
Authors: Fröhlich Matthias , Werner Rudolf A. , Guggenberger Konstanze V. , Vogt Marius L. , Rowe Steven P. , Higuchi Takahiro , Schmalzing Marc , Tony Hans-Peter , Buck Andreas K. , Bley Thorsten A.
Published: August 2022

Objectives 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) PET/CT can be utilized in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), but pretest probability of established laboratory marker such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC) has not been defined yet. We aimed to elucidate the clinical utility of CRP and WBC for scheduling an [18F]FDG scan.

Methods 18 treatment-naïve GCA patients and 14 GCA subjects with anti-inflammatory treatment (glucocorticoids or comparable drugs), who underwent [18F]FDG PET/CT and who had no other inflammatory disease at time of scan, were identified. A semi-quantitative analysis in 11 vessel segments was conducted, with averaged jugular vein, healthy liver and lung tissue (Target-to-background ratio [TBR]VJ/liver/lung) serving as background. Derived TBR were then correlated with CRP and WBC at time of PET using Spearman’s correlation.

Results For all treatment-naïve patients, TBRVJ was 2.3±1.1 (95%CI, 2.2–2.5), TBRliver was 1.0±0.5 (95%CI, 0.9–1.0) and average TBRlung was 6.3±3.6 (95%CI, 5.8–6.8). No significant correlation was noted for either CRP (TBRVJ: R=–0.19; TBRliver: R=–0.03; TBRlung: R=–0.17; each P ≥ 0.44) or for WBC (TBRVJ: R=–0.40; TBRliver: R=–0.32; TBRlung: R=–0.37; each P ≥ 0.10). Similar results were recorded for patients under treatment at time of PET. Again, no significant correlation was reached for either CRP (TBRVJ: R=–0.17; TBRliver: R=–0.28; TBRlung: R=–0.09; each P ≥ 0.32) or WBC (TBRVJ: R=–0.06; TBRliver: R=–0.13; TBRlung: R=0.06; each P ≥ 0.65).

Conclusions In GCA patients with and without anti-inflammatory treatment, CRP and WBC did not substantially correlate with TBR at time of scan. Given the rather limited pretest probability of those parameters, such laboratory values may have less diagnostic utility to order an [18F]FDG PET/CT.
HPV High-risk Multiple Infection Is a Key Predictor of Cervical Dysplasia in Diagnostic LEEPs: a Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Authors: Wittenborn Julia , Kupec Tomas , Iborra Severine , Stickeler Elmar , Najjari Laila , Kennes Lieven N.
Published: August 2022

Objective This study aimed to identify predictors for the presence of cervical dysplasia in diagnostic LEEPs (Loop Electrical Excision Procedure) of the cervix.

Materials/Methods The study was designed as a retrospective single-institution cohort analysis of all patients who underwent LEEP without prior proof of high-grade intraepithelial
lesion (diagnostic LEEP) between 2015 and 2020 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Hospital Aachen. In order to identify the most meaningful predictive variables for
CIN status (CIN2+ or non-CIN2+), multivariate logistic regression was performed and a machine-learning method was used.

Results A total of 849 patients with an indication for loop excision of the cervix were assessed for eligibility. Finally, 125 patients without prior proof of CIN2+ were included
into the study. Based on the final multivariate logistic regression model, multiple high-risk HPV infections (p = 0.001), the presence of a T2 transformation zone (p = 0.003) and major
lesion changes (p = 0.015) as a result of the colposcopy examination were found to be statistically significant for CIN status based on the diagnostic LEEP. Subsequent ROC analysis showed a
high predictive value for the model of 88.35% (AUC). The machine-learning technique (recursive partitioning) identified similar variables as important for CIN status with an accuracy of
75%.

Conclusion For clinical decision-making, the result of the colposcopy examination (T2, major change) as well as the results of HPV testing (multiple high-risk HPV infections) are
stronger indicators for clinicians to perform diagnostic excisional procedures of the cervix than the presence of high-grade cytological abnormalities.
Casirivimab and Imdevimab for Pregnant Women Hospitalized for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Riccardo Buonomo A. , Gabriele Saccone , Nunzia Esposito , Isabella Di Filippo , Biagio Pinchera , Maria Foggia , Emanuela Zappulo , Agnese Giaccone , Nicola Schiano M. , Giulio Viceconte , Riccardo Scotto , Giuseppe Bifulco , Ivan Gentile
Published: August 2022

Objective Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of casirivimab/imdevimab therapy in pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring oxygen therapy.

Study Design This was a prospective case series study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of casirivimab/imdevimab therapy in unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19. Inclusion criteria were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection documented with polymerase chain reaction, pregnancy, severe COVID-19 requiring oxygen therapy, duration of symptoms of 10 days or less, and able to provide informed consent. Vaccinated women and those with mild-to-moderate disease were excluded from the study. Included patients received casirivimab and imdevimab as a single intravenous dose of 4,000/4,000 mg. Women were also treated with low molecular weight heparin, steroids, and antibiotics, if necessary. The primary outcome was maternal death. Secondary outcomes were the rate of adverse events during infusion or within 72 hours and the rate of abortion.

Results Thirteen hospitalized unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19 requiring oxygen and treated with casirivimab/imdevimab were included in the study. We observed no maternal death, and no patients required intubation or admission to the intensive care unit. No abortion or fetal loss was recorded. Nine pregnancies were still ongoing, and there were three cesarean deliveries and one vaginal delivery. Two were preterm deliveries (at 31 and 34 weeks), and two were term deliveries.

Conclusion Casirivimab/imdevimab therapy may be considered as a therapy in unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19.
Evaluation of State-Mandated Third Trimester Repeat HIV Testing in a Large Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Berhie Saba H. , Tsai Stacy , Miller Emily S. , Garcia Patricia M. , Yee Lynn M.
Published: August 2022

Objective The Illinois Perinatal HIV Prevention Act was passed to ensure universal HIV testing once during pregnancy and was extended in 2018 to add third trimester repeat HIV screening. The objectives of this analysis were to describe uptake of, and patient factors associated with, third trimester repeat HIV testing at a high-volume birthing center.

Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of people who delivered at a single tertiary care hospital in Illinois during 2018. Women who delivered before 27 weeks, had an intrauterine fetal demise, a known diagnosis of HIV, or no HIV test during pregnancy were excluded. Repeat testing was defined as an HIV test at or after 27 weeks' gestation after an earlier negative HIV test during the same pregnancy. The primary outcome was the proportion of people who received repeat testing prior to delivery. Bivariable analyses were performed to identify patient characteristics associated with documentation of repeat HIV testing.

Results Of 12,053 people eligible for inclusion, 3.4% (n = 414) presented without a documented third trimester repeat HIV test. The proportion of people with repeat testing improved from 80 to >99% in the first year. Patient factors were largely not associated with testing performance although multiparous people were more likely to have documented repeat testing.

Conclusion Rapid implementation of third trimester repeat HIV testing was achieved without disparity. Patient factors were largely not associated with testing performance which reinforces the goal of a universal screen to test all people equitably and effectively without bias.

Key Points
Can Hypoxia Alter the Anaerobic Capacity Measured by a Single
Exhaustive Exercise?
Authors: Foresti Yan Figueiredo , Higino Wonder Passoni , de Carvalho Carlos Dellavechia , Esequiel Guilherme Henrique , Costa Gabriel Peinado , Bertuzzi Rômulo , Papoti Marcelo
Published: August 2022

The present study aimed to compare the MAODALT in situations of
hypoxia and normoxia to confirm the method validity. Seventeen healthy and
physically active men participated in this study, aged 25.2±3.2 years.
All participants underwent four days of evaluation. The first day was performed
a body composition test, an incremental test to exhaustion to determine the
maximum oxygen uptake, familiarizing the hypoxia (H) and normoxia (N) situation
and the equipment used. On the second, third and fourth days, supramaximal
efforts were performed until exhaustion at 110% of maximum oxygen
uptake, in a situation of hypoxia
(FIO2=14.0%) and normoxia
(FIO2=20.9%). The anaerobic capacity
was considered the sum of energy supply of the alactic and lactic systens. The
absolute or relative anaerobic capacity values were not different
(H=3.9±1.1 L, N=3.8±0.9 L,
p=0.69), similarly no differences were found for the alactic
contribution (H=1.7±0.5 L,
N=1.5±0.5 L, p=0.30) and lactic contribution
(H=2.3±0.9 L, N=2.3±0.7 L,
p=0.85). It can be concluded that the anaerobic capacity measured by a
single exhaustive effort is not altered by hypoxia.
Extended Thromboprophylaxis in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure: A Post Hoc Analysis of the MAGELLAN Study
Authors: Spyropoulos Alex C. , Raskob Gary E. , Spiro Theodore E. , Lu Wentao , De Sanctis Yoriko , Albanese John , Mebazaa Alexandre , Barnathan Elliot S.
Published: August 2022

This post hoc subgroup analysis examined efficacy and safety outcomes with extended thromboprophylaxis rivaroxaban compared with in-hospital enoxaparin in 2,078 patients from the MAGELLAN study who had a hospitalization for heart failure or a history of heart failure and a lower risk of bleeding. A significant 36% reduction in the composite endpoint of asymptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremity, symptomatic DVT in the lower extremity (proximal or distal), symptomatic nonfatal pulmonary embolism, and venous thromboembolism-related death was observed with rivaroxaban. Major bleeding was low in both groups and not significantly increased with rivaroxaban.