bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear effects at the electrode-tissue interface of deep brain stimulation electrodes
Authors: Sridhar K , Evers J , Lowery M
Published: February 2024

Objective. The electrode-tissue interface provides the critical path for charge transfer in neurostimulation therapies and exhibits well-established nonlinear properties at high applied currents or voltages. These nonlinear properties may influence the efficacy and safety of applied stimulation but are typically neglected in computational models. In this study, nonlinear behavior of the electrode-tissue interface impedance was incorporated in a computational model of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to simulate the impact on neural activation and safety considerations. Approach. Nonlinear electrode-tissue interface properties were incorporated in a finite element model of DBS electrodes in vitro and in vivo, in the rat subthalamic nucleus, using an iterative approach. The transition point from linear to nonlinear behavior was determined for voltage and current-controlled stimulation. Predicted levels of neural activation during DBS were examined and the region of linear operation of the electrode was compared with the Shannon safety limit. Main results. A clear transition of the electrode-tissue interface impedance to nonlinear behavior was observed for both current and voltage-controlled stimulation. The transition occurred at lower values of activation overpotential for simulated in vivo than in vitro conditions (91 mV and 165 mV respectively for current-controlled stimulation; 110 mV and 275 mV for voltage-controlled stimulation), corresponding to an applied current of 30 μA and 45 μA, or voltage of 330 mV at 1 kHz. The onset of nonlinearity occurred at lower values of the overpotential as frequency was increased. Incorporation of nonlinear properties resulted in activation of a higher proportion of neurons under voltage-controlled stimulation. Under current-controlled stimulation, the predicted transition to nonlinear behavior and Faradaic charge transfer at stimulation amplitudes of 30 μA, corresponds to a charge density of 2.29 μC cm−2 and charge of 1.8 nC, well-below the Shannon safety limit. Significance. The results indicate that DBS electrodes may operate within the nonlinear region at clinically relevant stimulation amplitudes. This affects the extent of neural activation under voltage-controlled stimulation and the transition to Faradaic charge transfer for both voltage- and current-controlled stimulation with important implications for targeting of neural populations and the design of safe stimulation protocols.
Non-equilibrium entanglement asymmetry for discrete groups: the example of the XY spin chain
Authors: Ferro Florent , Ares Filiberto , Calabrese Pasquale
Published: February 2024

Entanglement asymmetry is a novel quantity that, using entanglement methods, measures how much a symmetry is broken in a part of an extended quantum system. So far, it has only been used to characterise the breaking of continuous Abelian symmetries. In this paper, we extend the concept to cyclicZNgroups. As an application, we consider the XY spin chain, in which the ground state spontaneously breaks theZ2spin parity symmetry in the ferromagnetic phase. We thoroughly investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of this symmetry after a global quantum quench, generalising known results for the standard order parameter.
Radial evolution in a reaction–diffusion model
Authors: Silveira Sofia M , Alves Sidiney G
Published: February 2024

In this work, we investigate an off-lattice version of the diffusion-reaction model,

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. We consider extensive numerical simulation of the radial system obtained from a single seed. Observed fluctuations in such an evolving system are characterized by a circular region occupied by particles growing over an empty one. We show that the fluctuating front separating the two regions belongs to the circular subclass of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang universality class.
The DEAP-3600 liquid argon optical model and NEST updates
Authors: Westerdale S. ,   the DEAP-3600 and NEST collaborations
Published: February 2024

As liquid argon (LAr) detectors are made at progressively larger sizes, accurate models of LAr optical properties become increasingly important for simulating light transport, understanding signals, and developing analyses.
The refractive index, group velocity, and Rayleigh scattering length are particularly important for vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and visible photons in detectors with diameters much greater than one meter.
While optical measurements in the VUV are sparse, recent measurements of the group velocity of 128 nm photons in LAr provide valuable constraints on these parameters.
These calculations are further complicated by the dependence of optical parameters on thermodynamic properties that might fluctuate or vary throughout the argon volume.
This manuscript presents the model used by DEAP-3600, a dark matter direct detection experiment at SNOLAB using a 3.3 tonne LAr scintillation counter.
Existing data and thermodynamic models are synthesized to estimate the wavelength-dependent refractive index, group velocity, and Rayleigh scattering length within the detector, and parameters' uncertainties are estimated.
This model, along with in situ measurements of LAr scintillation properties, is benchmarked against data collected in DEAP-3600, providing a method for modeling optical properties in large LAr detectors and for propagating their uncertainties through downstream simulations.
Updates are also presented of the Noble Element Simulation Technique (NEST) software, widely used to model scintillation and ionization signals in argon- and xenon-based detectors.
Unravelling spatiotemporal patterns of solar photovoltaic plants development in China in the 21st century
Authors: Wang Zirui , Hao Zhen , Jia Xiaofeng , Zhao Wenqiong , Du Yun , Ling Feng
Published: February 2024

Solar energy, as an environmentally sustainable power source, is gaining increasing popularity worldwide, driving a surge in the number of solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. China, which has a prominent role in this domain, requires continuous updates to its PV plant data for spatiotemporal analyses. However, there remains an absence of a comprehensive and timely dataset of PV plants across China, leaving PV installation dates and other crucial attributes for comprehensive analyses underexplored. This study leverages Sentinel-2 data as a primary source to propose an optimized deep learning approach for PV plant extraction in China. Statistical analyses of PV plant attributes, including its installation date, size, site slope, and site land cover, were implemented from multiple data sources. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to unravel their spatiotemporal development patterns in the 21st century. The results indicate that as of 2023, China boasts 4347 PV plants, collectively spanning 4146 km2, which are predominantly concentrated in Northwest and North China. 2016 and 2017 marked substantial growth in China’s PV plants, while other years exhibited stability. These plants exhibit the distinct spatial characteristics of installing smaller PV plants on flat terrain covered by vegetation or barren land. Over time, a notable trend in the installation of China’s PV plants has been the increasing preference for establishing larger ones in smooth terrain, with a focus on preventing damage to natural resources. The results reveal China’s optimization of PV plant site selection and construction strategies, aligning with global environmental goals and sustainable energy practices.
Co-axial hydrogel spinning for facile biofabrication of prostate cancer-like 3D models
Authors: Guimarães Carlos F , Liu Shiqin , Wang Jie , Purcell Emma , Ozedirne Tugba , Ren Tanchen , Aslan Merve , Yin Qingqing , Reis Rui L , Stoyanova Tanya , Demirci Utkan
Published: February 2024

Glandular cancers are amongst the most prevalent types of cancer, which can develop in many different organs, presenting challenges in their detection as well as high treatment variability and failure rates. For that purpose, anticancer drugs are commonly tested in cancer cell lines grown in 2D tissue culture on plastic dishes in vitro, or in animal models in vivo. However, 2D culture models diverge significantly from the 3D characteristics of living tissues and animal models require extensive animal use and time. Glandular cancers, such as prostate cancer—the second leading cause of male cancer death—typically exist in co-centrical architectures where a cell layer surrounds an acellular lumen. Herein, this spatial cellular position and 3D architecture, containing dual compartments with different hydrogel materials, is engineered using a simple co-axial nozzle setup, in a single step utilizing prostate as a model of glandular cancer. The resulting hydrogel soft structures support viable prostate cancer cells of different cell lines and enable over-time maturation into cancer-mimicking aggregates surrounding the acellular core. The biofabricated cancer mimicking structures are then used as a model to predict the inhibitory efficacy of the poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor, Talazoparib, and the antiandrogen drug, Enzalutamide, in the growth of the cancer cell layer. Our results show that the obtained hydrogel constructs can be adapted to quickly obtain 3D cancer models which combine 3D physiological architectures with high-throughput screening to detect and optimize anti-cancer drugs in prostate and potentially other glandular cancer types.
Effect of depth ratio on Faraday instability in a binary liquid system
Authors: Choudhary K P , Das S P , Tiwari Shaligram
Published: February 2024

The response of two incompressible and immiscible liquids of comparable densities at different depth ratios in a rectangular container subject to parametric sinusoidal forcing, similar to Faraday waves, has been considered in the present study. The effect of various depth ratios on the instability threshold and the flow field are investigated for (0, 2) and (0, 4) modes. Numerical simulation has been performed using OpenFOAM to solve Navier-Stokes equations. A source term is added in the interFoam module of OpenFOAM to take the effect of the oscillating container without using any dynamic mesh function. The threshold amplitude and wavenumbers are validated following the linear Floquet analysis of Kumar and Tuckerman (1994 J. Fluid Mech.
279 49–68). The Floquet analysis showed a substantial shift in natural frequency (reduction) and an increase in threshold amplitude when the interface is in close proximity to the wall. The response amplitude follows a square law with the forcing amplitude for all the depth ratios considered in the present study. The wave amplitude response above the threshold curve is found to be an exponential function of liquid depths and forcing parameters.
A review on the types of nanomaterials and methodologies used for the development of biosensors
Authors: Ghosh Sourav , Sagayam K Martin , Haldar Dibyajyoti , Anton Jone A Amir , Acharya Biswaranjan , Gerogiannis Vassilis C , Kanavos Andreas
Published: February 2024

Biosensors have gained significant attention in various fields such as food processing, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. With the continuous advancements in research and technology, a wide variety of biosensors are being developed to cater to diverse applications. However, the effective development of nanobiosensors, particularly the synthesis of nanomaterials, remains a crucial step. Many nanobiosensors face challenges related to instability and selectivity, making it difficult to achieve proper packaging. While some biosensors have been successfully implemented in commercial settings, there is a pressing need to address their limitations and advance their capabilities. The next generation of biosensors, based on nanomaterials, holds promise in overcoming these challenges and enhancing the overall performance of biosensor devices. The commercial viability of these biosensors will rely on their accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. This review paper provides an overview of various types of nanomaterials and their applications in the development of nanobiosensors. The paper highlights a comparison of different nanomaterial-based biosensors, discussing their advantages, limitations, and performance characteristics.
Modeling and solving for vibration and buckling of circular functionally graded dielectric plates reinforced by graphene platelets considering complex conditions
Authors: Zhang Jinghua , Cao Chenxi , Ma Liansheng
Published: February 2024

The vibration and bucking behaviors of circular functionally graded (FG) dielectric plates reinforced by graphene platelets (GPL) under external electric fields are studied at the presence of many complex factors such as dielectric effect, pre-stress, gradient slope, imperfect bonding between GPL and matrix material, interface electron tunneling and Maxwell–Wagner-Sillars (MWS) polarization. Based on the effective medium theory and linear rule of mixtures, material properties of the GPL reinforced composites (GPLRC) are calculated. Dynamic differential equations of the circular FG-GPLRC dielectric plates are numerically solved by the differential quadrature method, and natural frequencies and critical loads are obtained. Trans-scale analyses for the influences of the volume fraction, geometric size, gradient distributed pattern and gradient slope on the percolation threshold, permittivity and the vibration or buckling characteristics are provided. Furthermore, variations of the natural frequencies and critical loads with electric field parameters, the pre-stress and thickness of the interphase layer are also discussed. Results show that the natural frequencies and critical loads of the plates can be changed artificially and effectively by adjusting the external electric field, pre-stress and the parameters of GPL. The larger the diameter to thickness ratio of GPL, the bigger the equivalent permittivity and the smaller the percolation threshold. When the volume fractions of GPL are less than the threshold, the mechanical properties dominate the vibration and buckling. However, when the volume fractions are bigger than the threshold, the electrical properties have significant influences. Therefore, higher macro mechanical properties can be obtained by changing the microstructure of the materials.
Species-agnostic transfer learning for cross-species transcriptomics data integration without gene orthology
Authors: Park Youngjun , Muttray Nils P , Hauschild Anne-Christin
Published: February 2024

Novel hypotheses in biomedical research are often developed or validated in model organisms such as mice and zebrafish and thus play a crucial role. However, due to biological differences between species, translating these findings into human applications remains challenging. Moreover, commonly used orthologous gene information is often incomplete and entails a significant information loss during gene-id conversion. To address these issues, we present a novel methodology for species-agnostic transfer learning with heterogeneous domain adaptation. We extended the cross-domain structure-preserving projection toward out-of-sample prediction. Our approach not only allows knowledge integration and translation across various species without relying on gene orthology but also identifies similar GO among the most influential genes composing the latent space for integration. Subsequently, during the alignment of latent spaces, each composed of species-specific genes, it is possible to identify functional annotations of genes missing from public orthology databases. We evaluated our approach with four different single-cell sequencing datasets focusing on cell-type prediction and compared it against related machine-learning approaches. In summary, the developed model outperforms related methods working without prior knowledge when predicting unseen cell types based on other species’ data. The results demonstrate that our novel approach allows knowledge transfer beyond species barriers without the dependency on known gene orthology but utilizing the entire gene sets.
Deqformer: high-definition and scalable deep learning probe design method
Authors: Cai Yantong , Lv Jia , Li Rui , Huang Xiaowen , Wang Shi , Bao Zhenmin , Zeng Qifan
Published: February 2024

Target enrichment sequencing techniques are gaining widespread use in the field of genomics, prized for their economic efficiency and swift processing times. However, their success depends on the performance of probes and the evenness of sequencing depth among each probe. To accurately predict probe coverage depth, a model called Deqformer is proposed in this study. Deqformer utilizes the oligonucleotides sequence of each probe, drawing inspiration from Watson–Crick base pairing and incorporating two BERT encoders to capture the underlying information from the forward and reverse probe strands, respectively. The encoded data are combined with a feed-forward network to make precise predictions of sequencing depth. The performance of Deqformer is evaluated on four different datasets: SNP panel with 38 200 probes, lncRNA panel with 2000 probes, synthetic panel with 5899 probes and HD-Marker panel for Yesso scallop with 11 000 probes. The SNP and synthetic panels achieve impressive factor 3 of accuracy (F3acc) of 96.24% and 99.66% in 5-fold cross-validation. F3acc rates of over 87.33% and 72.56% are obtained when training on the SNP panel and evaluating performance on the lncRNA and HD-Marker datasets, respectively. Our analysis reveals that Deqformer effectively captures hybridization patterns, making it robust for accurate predictions in various scenarios. Deqformer leads to a novel perspective for probe design pipeline, aiming to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in probe design tasks.
PractiCPP: a deep learning approach tailored for extremely imbalanced datasets in cell-penetrating peptide prediction
Authors: Shi Kexin , Xiong Yuanpeng , Wang Yu , Deng Yifan , Wang Wenjia , Jing Bingyi , Gao Xin
Published: February 2024

Motivation

Effective drug delivery systems are paramount in enhancing pharmaceutical outcomes, particularly through the use of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). These peptides are gaining prominence due to their ability to penetrate eukaryotic cells efficiently without inflicting significant damage to the cellular membrane, thereby ensuring optimal drug delivery. However, the identification and characterization of CPPs remain a challenge due to the laborious and time-consuming nature of conventional methods, despite advances in proteomics. Current computational models, however, are predominantly tailored for balanced datasets, an approach that falls short in real-world applications characterized by a scarcity of known positive CPP instances.

Results

To navigate this shortfall, we introduce PractiCPP, a novel deep-learning framework tailored for CPP prediction in highly imbalanced data scenarios. Uniquely designed with the integration of hard negative sampling and a sophisticated feature extraction and prediction module, PractiCPP facilitates an intricate understanding and learning from imbalanced data. Our extensive computational validations highlight PractiCPP’s exceptional ability to outperform existing state-of-the-art methods, demonstrating remarkable accuracy, even in datasets with an extreme positive-to-negative ratio of 1:1000. Furthermore, through methodical embedding visualizations, we have established that models trained on balanced datasets are not conducive to practical, large-scale CPP identification, as they do not accurately reflect real-world complexities. In summary, PractiCPP potentially offers new perspectives in CPP prediction methodologies. Its design and validation, informed by real-world dataset constraints, suggest its utility as a valuable tool in supporting the acceleration of drug delivery advancements.

Availability and implementation

The source code of PractiCPP is available on Figshare at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25053878.v1.
Engineered Wnt7a ligands rescue blood–brain barrier and cognitive deficits in a COVID-19 mouse model
Authors: Trevino Troy N , Fogel Avital B , Otkiran Guliz , Niladhuri Seshadri B , Sanborn Mark A , Class Jacob , Almousawi Ali A , Vanhollebeke Benoit , Tai Leon M , Rehman Jalees , Richner Justin M , Lutz Sarah E
Published: February 2024

Respiratory infection with SARS-CoV-2 causes systemic vascular inflammation and cognitive impairment. We sought to identify the underlying mechanisms mediating cerebrovascular dysfunction and inflammation following mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection.

To this end, we performed unbiased transcriptional analysis to identify brain endothelial cell signalling pathways dysregulated by mouse adapted SARS-CoV-2 MA10 in aged immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice in vivo.

This analysis revealed significant suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, a critical regulator of blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity. We therefore hypothesized that enhancing cerebrovascular Wnt/β-catenin activity would offer protection against BBB permeability, neuroinflammation, and neurological signs in acute infection. Indeed, we found that delivery of cerebrovascular-targeted, engineered Wnt7a ligands protected BBB integrity, reduced T-cell infiltration of the brain, and reduced microglial activation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, this strategy also mitigated SARS-CoV-2 induced deficits in the novel object recognition assay for learning and memory and the pole descent task for bradykinesia.

These observations suggest that enhancement of Wnt/β-catenin signalling or its downstream effectors could be potential interventional strategies for restoring cognitive health following viral infections.
PTCH1 mutation as a potential predictive biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Deng Shuangya , Gu Haoran , Chen ZongYao , Liu Yaqin , Zhang Qin , Chen Dongsheng , Yi Shengen
Published: February 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become prominent therapies for gastrointestinal cancer (GC). However, it is urgent to screen patients who can benefit from ICIs. Protein patched homolog 1 (PTCH1) is a frequently altered gene in GC. We attempt to explore the association between PTCH1 mutation and immunotherapy efficacy. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) cohort (n = 236) with GC (esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancers) patients receiving ICIs was used for discovery and the Peking University Cancer Hospital (PUCH) GC cohort (n = 92) was used for validation. Overall survival (OS) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) of the PTCH1 mutant-type (PTCH1-MUT) and PTCH1 wild-type (PTCH1-WT) groups were compared. Furthermore, GC data were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas to assess the potential mechanisms. In the MSKCC cohort, PTCH1-MUT group showed significantly better OS (P = 0.017) and higher TMB. Multivariate analysis showed that PTCH1 mutation was associated with better OS. In the PUCH cohort, PTCH1-MUT group showed significantly longer OS (P = 0.036) and progression-free survival, and higher durable clinical benefit and TMB. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that PTCH1-MUT group had significantly higher distributions of CD8 T cells, CD4 T cells, NK cells, mast cells and M1 cells. The PTCH1-MUT group showed significantly higher expression of most immune-related genes. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that the PTCH1-MUT group had enriched INF-γ response, INF-α response, glycolysis and reactive oxygen species pathway gene sets. PTCH1 mutation may represent a potential biomarker for predicting ICIs response in GC. Nevertheless, prospective cohort studies should be performed to further validate our results.
‘I know how to live from what the hill gives’: biocultural uses, tensions and partial reconstructions around the common goods of the Cerro Caracol urban park
Authors: Cid-Aguayo Beatriz E , Oliveros Verónica , Vargas Diego Oñate , Gajardo Anahi , Silva Graciela , Pinela Joaquín , Vejar Pablo
Published: February 2024

In the south-central Chilean city of Concepción, an irregular urban settlement named ‘Agüita de la Perdiz’ (Partridge Creek) built on the slopes of Cerro Caracol (Snail Hill) has become an emblematic neighbourhood, located within an urban biodiversity hotspot. The richness and biodiversity of the landscape have been used in different ways by the inhabitants of Concepción, but in the case of the Agüita de la Perdiz residents, it is also part of their way of life, representing an unusual people–nature relationship in urban spaces. We analyze the relationship between the community and the hill, with its forest, fauna, waters and recreational areas; the successive territorial dispossessions and the various conflicts involved in the operation of the Metropolitan Park, created to protect the hill; and the efforts led by community members to recompose their relationship with the hill. The case problematizes urban bioculture, from a political ecology of commons perspective, and co-management approaches for conservation.
EEG biomarkers of behavioral inhibition in patients with depression who committed violent offenses: a Go/NoGo ERP study
Authors: Xian Zhuohang , Liu Hao , Gu Yan , Hu Zeqing , Li Gangqin
Published: February 2024

Understanding the neurobiological correlates of behavioral inhibition in patients with depression who committed violent offenses could contribute to the prediction and prevention of violence. The present study recruited 29 depressed patients with violent offenses (VD group), 27 depressed patients without violent behavior (NVD group), and 28 healthy controls (HC group) to complete a visual Go/NoGo task, during which their responses and electroencephalography were simultaneously recorded using an event-related potentiometer. The results showed that the VD group made more commission errors and responded more slowly relative to the NVD and HC groups. The P3 amplitude of the VD group was reduced in the frontal and central brain regions compared to the HC group and increased in the parietal regions compared to the NVD group. In comparison to Go stimuli, NoGo stimuli induced longer P3 latencies in frontal regions in both the VD and NVD groups; however, this difference was not statistically significant in the HC group. These results provide electrophysical evidence of behavioral inhibition deficits in patients with depression, especially in those with violent behaviors. The reduced P3 amplitude in the frontal-central regions, increased P3 amplitude in the parietal regions, and increased NoGo P3 latency may be potential electrophysiological features that can predict violent behavior in patients with depression.
The influence of self-esteem on interpersonal and competence evaluations: electrophysiological evidence from an ERP study
Authors: Li Mei , Zhong Bowei , Li Jin , Li Jialu , Zhang Xukai , Luo Xi , Li Hong
Published: February 2024

Using event-related potentials, this study examined how self-esteem affects neural responses to competence (interpersonal) feedback when the need for relatedness (competence) is thwarted or met. Participants with low and high self-esteem acted as advisors who selected one of two options for a putative advisee. Subsequently, they passively observed the advisee, accepted, or rejected their advice (i.e. interpersonal feedback) and received correct or incorrect outcomes (i.e. competence feedback). When interpersonal feedback was followed by competence feedback, high self-esteem participants showed a smaller P3 following incorrect than correct outcomes, irrespective of whether the advice had been accepted or rejected. However, low self-esteem participants showed this P3 effect only when the advice was rejected, and the P3 difference disappeared when the advice was accepted. When competence feedback was followed by interpersonal feedback, both low self-esteem and high self-esteem individuals showed a larger P2 for rejection than for acceptance and a larger late potential component for incorrect than correct outcomes. These findings suggest that when interpersonal feedback is followed by competence feedback, low self-esteem and high self-esteem individuals have a desire for self-positivity. When competence feedback is followed by interpersonal feedback, they may have motives for self-change. Our findings shed light on the motivational mechanisms for self-esteem and feedback.
New Manual Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay Validated on Tongue Swabs Collected and Processed in Uganda Shows Sensitivity That Rivals Sputum-based Molecular Tuberculosis Diagnostics
Authors: Steadman Amy , Andama Alfred , Ball Alexey , Mukwatamundu Job , Khimani Khushboo , Mochizuki Tessa , Asege Lucy , Bukirwa Alice , Kato John Baptist , Katumba David , Kisakye Esther , Mangeni Wilson , Mwebe Sandra , Nakaye Martha , Nassuna Irene , Nyawere Justine , Nakaweesa Annet , Cook Catherine , Phillips Patrick , Nalugwa Talemwa , Bachman Christine M , Semitala Fred Collins , Weigl Bernhard H , Connelly John , Worodria William , Cattamanchi Adithya
Published: February 2024

Background

Sputum-based testing is a barrier to increasing access to molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB). Many people with TB are unable to produce sputum, and sputum processing increases assay complexity and cost. Tongue swabs are emerging as an alternative to sputum, but performance limits are uncertain.

Methods

From June 2022 to July 2023, we enrolled 397 consecutive adults with cough >2 weeks at 2 health centers in Kampala, Uganda. We collected demographic and clinical information, sputum for TB testing (Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and 2 liquid cultures), and tongue swabs for same-day quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing. We evaluated tongue swab qPCR diagnostic accuracy versus sputum TB test results, quantified TB targets per swab, assessed the impact of serial swabbing, and compared 2 swab types (Copan FLOQSWAB and Steripack spun polyester).

Results

Among 397 participants, 43.1% were female, median age was 33 years, 23.5% were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus, and 32.0% had confirmed TB. Sputum Xpert Ultra and tongue swab qPCR results were concordant for 98.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 96.2–99.1) of participants. Tongue swab qPCR sensitivity was 92.6% (95% CI: 86.5 to 96.0) and specificity was 99.1% (95% CI: 96.9 to 99.8) versus microbiological reference standard. A single tongue swab recovered a 7-log range of TB copies, with a decreasing recovery trend among 4 serial swabs. Swab types performed equivalently.

Conclusions

Tongue swabs are a promising alternative to sputum for molecular diagnosis of TB, with sensitivity approaching sputum-based molecular tests. Our results provide valuable insights for developing successful tongue swab–based TB diagnostics.
An unusual complication after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report
Authors: Abril Molina Alba , Fernández Quero Mónica , López Haldón José E , Villa Gil Ortega Manuel , Díaz Fernández José F
Published: February 2024

Background

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an unusual complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The risk factors are not well understood but may include oversizing, calcification amount and location, left-ventricular chamber morphology, and valve-in-valve (ViV) procedures. Percutaneous treatment is challenging but is usually the preferred option.

Case summary

An 80-year-old woman with two previous surgical aortic valve replacements was admitted to our Cardiology Department for decompensated heart failure. New bioprosthesis degeneration (19 mm Mitroflow™, Sorin Group, Canada) was observed with severe intraprosthetic aortic regurgitation. After evaluation, the heart team chose to perform ViV TAVI. Because of the high risk of coronary obstruction, chimney stenting of both coronary arteries was performed. A 23 mm self-expandable Navitor™ valve (Abbott, IL, USA) was implanted, but the Mitroflow™ valve had to be cracked to minimize the persistent high gradient. During valve fracture, the non-compliant balloon broke and a small iatrogenic VSD appeared. However, the patient remained stable, so conservative management was selected. During follow-up, she developed severe haemolytic anaemia and heart failure; therefore, percutaneous closure of the iatrogenic VSD was performed twice, which was a difficult challenge.

Discussion

A viable alternative to redo surgery is ViV TAVI. Risks include higher rates of prosthesis–patient mismatch and coronary obstruction. Occasionally, bioprosthetic valve fracture is required, particularly in small bioprostheses, to achieve low gradients. Anecdotally, fracture has led to annular rupture and VSD. Most VSDs are small and without clinical or haemodynamic repercussions; however, in symptomatic cases, percutaneous closure is a viable alternative to surgery.
Four-dimensional analysis of aortic root motion in normal population using retrospective multiphase computed tomography
Authors: Yuan Xun , Kan Xiaoxin , Li Jianpeng , Yan Yang , Mirsadraee Saeed , Mittal Tarun , Shah Andrew , Saunders Debbie , Xu Xiao Yun , Nienaber Christoph A
Published: February 2024

Aims

Aortic root motion is suspected to contribute to proximal aortic dissection. While motion of the aorta in four dimensions can be traced with real-time imaging, displacement and rotation in quantitative terms remain unknown. The hypothesis was to show feasibility of quantification of three-dimensional aortic root motion from dynamic CT imaging.

Methods and results

Dynamic CT images of 40 patients for coronary assessment were acquired using a dynamic protocol. Scans were ECG-triggered and segmented in 10 time-stepped phases (0–90%) per cardiac cycle. With identification of the sinotubular junction (STJ), a patient-specific co-ordinate system was created with the z-axis (out-of-plane) parallel to longitudinal direction. The left and right coronary ostia were traced at each time-step to quantify downward motion in reference to the STJ plane, motion within the STJ plane (in-plane), and the degree of rotation. Enrolled individuals had an age of 65 ± 12, and 14 were male (35%). The out-of-plane motion was recorded with the largest displacement of 10.26 ± 2.20 and 8.67 ± 1.69 mm referenced by left and right coronary ostia, respectively. The mean downward movement of aortic root was 9.13 ± 1.86 mm. The largest in-plane motion was recorded at 9.17 ± 2.33 mm and 6.51 ± 1.75 mm referenced by left and right coronary ostia, respectively. The largest STJ in-plane motion was 7.37 ± 1.96 mm, and rotation of the aortic root was 11.8 ± 4.60°.

Conclusion

In vivo spatial and temporal displacement of the aortic root can be identified and quantified from multiphase ECG-gated contrast-enhanced CT images. Knowledge of normal 4D motion of the aortic root may help understand its biomechanical impact in patients with aortopathy and pre- and post-surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
Cardiovascular disease in transgender people: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: van Zijverden Lieve Mees , Wiepjes Chantal Maria , van Diemen Jeske Joanna Katarina , Thijs Abel , den Heijer Martin
Published: February 2024

Objective

Hormone therapy in transgender people might be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate whether the risk of CVD is increased in transgender people compared with people of the same birth sex.

Design and methods

PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched until July 2022. Studies evaluating cardiovascular events in transgender women or men were included. Primary outcomes were stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The risk for transgender women versus cisgender men and for transgender men versus cisgender women was analysed through random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

Twenty-two studies involving 19 893 transgender women, 14 840 transgender men, 371 547 cisgender men, and 434 700 cisgender women were included. The meta-analysis included 10 studies (79% of transgender women and 76% of transgender men). In transgender women, incidence of stroke was 1.8%, which is 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.8) times higher than in cisgender men. Incidence of MI was 1.2%, with a pooled relative risk of 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8-1.2). Venous thromboembolism incidence was 1.6%, which is 2.2 (95% CI, 1.1-4.5) times higher. Stroke occurred in 0.8% of transgender men, which is 1.3 (95% CI, 1.0-1.6) times higher compared with cisgender women. Incidence of MI was 0.6%, with a pooled relative risk of 1.7 (95% CI, 0.8-3.6). For VTE, this was 0.7%, being 1.4 (95% CI, 1.0-2.0) times higher.

Conclusions

Transgender people have a 40% higher risk of CVD compared with cisgender people of the same birth sex. This emphasizes the importance of cardiovascular risk management. Future studies should assess the potential influence of socio-economic and lifestyle factors.
Ideologies and practices of the use of L1 in L2 vocabulary tasks
Authors: Altalhab Sultan , Said Fatma F S
Published: February 2024

This qualitative study sets out to understand the beliefs, functions, and practices of using L1 among EFL learners while they learned new L2 vocabulary. Forty-two Saudi male university students were randomly assigned to 21 pairs and asked to complete three reading comprehension tasks. All pair interactions were audio-recorded. Afterward, interviews were conducted with 21 students. The results suggest that the use of L1 in L2 vocabulary tasks assists students in understanding the meaning of new words. They also revealed the complex sociocultural nature of peer-to-peer collaborative interaction and the role L1 plays in L2 vocabulary learning. The interviews revealed that some participants thought that L1 should not be used in the L2 class, a belief that contradicted their actions. The paper calls for Saudi L2 educational contexts to embrace translanguaging as a beneficial practice that enhances student L2 acquisition and reduces the emotional stress of using L1 in the classroom.
Nutrient enrichment increases virulence in an opportunistic environmental pathogen, with greater effect at low bacterial doses
Authors: Pulkkinen Katja , Taskinen Jouni
Published: February 2024

Eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems is associated with an increased risk of pathogen infection via increased pathogen growth and host exposure via increased pathogen doses. Here, we studied the effect of nutrients on the virulence of an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of fish, Flavobacterium columnare, in challenge experiments with rainbow trout fingerlings. We hypothesized that removing all nutrients by washing the bacteria would reduce virulence as compared to unwashed bacteria, but adding nutrients to the tank water would increase the virulence of the bacterium. Nutrient addition and increase in bacterial dose increased virulence for both unwashed and washed bacteria. For unwashed bacteria, the addition of nutrients reduced the survival probability of fish challenged with low bacterial doses more than for fish challenged with higher bacterial doses, suggesting activation of bacterial virulence factors. Washing and centrifugation reduced viable bacterial counts, and the addition of washed bacteria alone did not lead to fish mortality. However, a small addition of nutrient medium, 0.05% of the total water volume, added separately to the fish container, restored the virulence of the washed bacteria. Our results show that human-induced eutrophication could trigger epidemics of aquatic pathogens at the limits of their survival and affect their ecology and evolution by altering the dynamics between strains that differ in their growth characteristics.
Orofacial assessment as digital path for forensic and legal evidence record
Authors: Nunes Tiago , Ribeiro Rita , Almiro Pedro A , Fontes Rebeca , Machado Ricardo , Abreu João , Corte-Real Ana
Published: February 2024

In forensic scenarios, such as armed conflicts or mass disasters, the oral cavity can be a valuable source of identification information relevant to legal issues. In many European Union countries, it is mandatory to register dental records for identification purposes. A pilot and quasi-experimental study was performed. The study aims to analyze two methodologies, photography and wireless intraoral (IO) laser scanner, in the scope of the orofacial record in forensic pathology, highlighting their impact on human identification. The IO scanner i700 (Medit, Lusobionic, Portugal) and Canon 5D-Full Frame equipment were used to record the individual status, living patients (n = 5), and forensic cases (n = 5). IO and extraoral anatomical structures were recorded following six parameters: time, mineralized and soft detail, communication, extra devices, and distortion. The statistical analysis was performed in accordance with a scoring system and Mann–Whitney (P < 0.05) analysis. The photography method recorded extraoral data for all samples (score range between 15 and 23). The time elapsed to complete an IO scan in forensic cases was shorter than with photography, without requiring additional sources of light or mirror devices. Living patients and corpses identified statistically significant differences. It can be concluded that laser scanners are a valuable tool in the field of forensic pathology and can be used to record and analyze anatomic-morphological data for identification purposes accurately.

Key points
The Impact of Old Age Pension Eligibility on Alcohol Consumption: Evidence From a Population-Based Study in Rural South Africa
Authors: Jock Janet , Beidelman Erika T , Kobayashi Lindsay C , Tollman Stephen , Phillips Meredith , Kabudula Chodziwadziwa Whiteson , Rosenberg Molly
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

Alcohol causes more than 3 million deaths a year globally and contributes to over 5% of global disease and injury. Heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders among older adults have increased in the last 10–15 years. For individuals living in low-income countries, where wages are low and unemployment is high, old age pensions may provide a significant increase in household income. In turn, the receipt of supplementary income may increase spending on alcohol. Earlier life factors and socioeconomic status may affect alcohol consumption, making it difficult to directly assess the impact of income on alcohol consumption. This study reduces the potential for endogeneity with other life factors by exploiting an exogenous increase in income from old age pensions to isolate the impact of extra income on alcohol consumption for older adults.

Research Design and Methods

We used a regression discontinuity design to assess changes in drinking patterns among rural, low-income adults who were 3 years below and 3 years above South Africa’s Old Age Pension Grant eligibility threshold (age 60). We assessed this relationship separately by gender and for employed and unemployed individuals.

Results

We observed a significantly increased alcohol use associated with the Old Age Pension Grant eligibility for employed men (β = 4.57, 95% confidence interval: 1.72–12.14). We did not observe this same trend for unemployed men or for women.

Discussion and Implications

The analysis in this study indicates that increased income from reaching the pension eligibility age may contribute to an increase in alcohol consumption for employed men. Interventions, such as informational campaigns on the risks of alcohol consumption for older adults or age-appropriate health interventions to help individuals reduce alcohol consumption, targeted around the time of pension eligibility age for employed men may help to reduce alcohol-related harms in low-income, rural sub-Saharan African settings.
Elusive boundaries: using an attribute framework to describe systems for population physical activity promotion
Authors: Baugh Littlejohns Lori , Rasali Drona , McKee Geoffrey , Naiman Daniel , Faulkner Guy
Published: February 2024

The cost of physical inactivity is alarming, and calls for whole-of-system approaches to population physical activity promotion (PPAP) are increasing. One innovative approach to PPAP is to use a framework of interdependent attributes and associated dimensions of effective systems for chronic disease prevention. Describing system boundaries can be an elusive task, and this article reports on using an attribute framework as a first step in describing and then assessing and strengthening a provincial system for PPAP in British Columbia, Canada. Interviews were conducted with provincial stakeholders to gather perspectives regarding attributes of the system. Following this, two workshops were facilitated to document important stories about the current system for PPAP and link story themes with attributes. Results from interviews and workshops were summarized into key findings and a set of descriptive statements. One hundred and twenty-one statements provide depth, breadth and scope to descriptions of the system through the lens of an adapted framework including four attributes: (i) implementation of desired actions, (ii) resources, (iii) leadership and (iv) collaborative capacity. The attribute framework was a useful tool to guide a whole-of-system approach and turn elusive boundaries into rich descriptors of a provincial system for PPAP. Immediate implications for our research are to translate descriptive statements into variables, then assess the system through group model building and identify leverage points from a causal loop diagram to strengthen the system. Future application of this approach in other contexts, settings and health promotion and disease prevention topics is recommended.
Impact of educational intervention on mothers of infants with iron-deficiency anemia
Authors: Abu Alhaija Rania , Hasab Ali Abdel Halim , Ahmed El-Nimr Nessrin , Tayel Dalia Ibrahim
Published: February 2024

This intervention study aimed to assess mothers’ knowledge of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). It also measured the impact of a health education program on their level of knowledge and their infants’ IDA rates in rural areas of Nablus Governorate. Using a randomized pretest–posttest control group design, the efficacy of 3 months’ education program was examined against control group. Assessments were made at baseline and after 3 months of conducting the intervention. A structured interviewing questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge about IDA, and blood samples were collected from infants in both groups. Only 1.9% of mothers in the intervention group and 3.5% of mothers in the control group had good level of knowledge at baseline. After the educational intervention, a significant statistical difference was observed in the mean total knowledge score between the intervention and control groups (33.68 + 5.366 versus 26.12 + 5.243), and the intervention group was seven times more likely to have good knowledge (relative risk = 7.332). Regarding IDA rate, there was a decrease in the infants with IDA in the intervention group (relative risk = 0.671) compared to infants in the control group. The planned health education program was effective in improving mothers’ knowledge and reducing the risk of IDA among their infants.