bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hippo signaling activates hedgehog signaling by Taz-driven Gli3 processing
Authors: Tang Chao , Wang Jirong , Yao Minli , Ji Xing , Shi Wei , Xu Chengyun , Zeng Ling-Hui , Wu Ximei
Published: February 2023

The overlapping roles of Hippo and Hedgehog signaling in biological functions and diseases prompt us to investigate their potential interactions. Activation of Hippo signaling enhances the transcriptional output of Hedgehog signaling, and the role of Hippo signaling in regulating Hedgehog signaling relies on the Hippo pathway key effector, Taz. Interestingly, Taz exhibits a gradient expression across the posterior-to-anterior of limb bud mesoderms, similar to Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Importantly, Taz drives PKA to phosphorylate Gli3, resulting in the Gli3 processing into its repressor and attenuation of Hedgehog signaling in the Shh-independent manner. Specifically, Taz deletion in mouse embryonic limb bud mesenchyme not only enhances the Hedgehog signaling but partially restores the phenotypes from Shh deletion in causing severe defects of anteroposterior patterning and digit number and identity. Together, these results uncover Taz-dependent Gli3 processing as a hitherto uncharacterized mechanism controlling Hedgehog signaling, highlighting its cross-regulation by Hippo signaling.
A smartphone-based zero-effort method for mitigating epidemic propagation
Authors: Wang Qu , Fu Meixia , Wang Jianquan , Sun Lei , Huang Rong , Li Xianda , Jiang Zhuqing
Published: February 2023

A large number of epidemics, including COVID-19 and SARS, quickly swept the world and claimed the precious lives of large numbers of people. Due to the concealment and rapid spread of the virus, it is difficult to track down individuals with mild or asymptomatic symptoms with limited human resources. Building a low-cost and real-time epidemic early warning system to identify individuals who have been in contact with infected individuals and determine whether they need to be quarantined is an effective means to mitigate the spread of the epidemic. In this paper, we propose a smartphone-based zero-effort epidemic warning method for mitigating epidemic propagation. Firstly, we recognize epidemic-related voice activity relevant to epidemics spread by hierarchical attention mechanism and temporal convolutional network. Subsequently, we estimate the social distance between users through sensors built-in smartphone. Furthermore, we combine Wi-Fi network logs and social distance to comprehensively judge whether there is spatiotemporal contact between users and determine the duration of contact. Finally, we estimate infection risk based on epidemic-related vocal activity, social distance, and contact time. We conduct a large number of well-designed experiments in typical scenarios to fully verify the proposed method. The proposed method does not rely on any additional infrastructure and historical training data, which is conducive to integration with epidemic prevention and control systems and large-scale applications.
The landscape overview of CD47-based immunotherapy for hematological malignancies
Authors: Yang Hua , Xun Yang , You Hua
Published: February 2023

Extensive clinical and experimental evidence suggests that macrophages play a crucial role in cancer immunotherapy. Cluster of differentiation (CD) 47, which is found on both healthy and malignant cells, regulates macrophage-mediated phagocytosis by sending a "don't eat me" signal to the signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) receptor. Increasing evidence demonstrates that blocking CD47 interaction with SIRPα can enhance cancer cell clearance by macrophages. Additionally, inhibition of CD47/SIRPα interaction can increase antigen cross-presentation, leading to T-cell priming and an activated adaptive antitumor immune response. Therefore, inhibiting CD47/SIRPα axis has a significant impact on tumor immunotherapy. Studies on CD47 monoclonal antibodies are at the forefront of research, and impressive results have been obtained. Nevertheless, hematotoxicity, especially anemia, has become the most common adverse effect of the CD47 monoclonal antibody. More specific targeted drugs (i.e., bispecific antibodies, SIRPα/Fc fusion protein antibodies, and small-molecule inhibitors) have been developed to reduce hematotoxicity. Here, we review the present usage of CD47 antagonists for the treatment of lymphomas and hematologic neoplasms from the perspectives of structure, function, and clinical trials, including a comprehensive overview of the drugs in development.
Veronicastrum wulingense (Plantaginaceae), a new species from Southwestern Hubei, China
Authors: Ding Shi-Xiong , Jiang Hui , Tian Jing , Ren Jing , Mutie Fredrick Munyao , Waswa Emmanuel Nyongesa , Hu Guang-Wan , Wang Qing-Feng
Published: February 2023

Background

The genus Veronicastrum Heist. ex Fabr. are mainly distributed in East Asia, and only Veronicastrum virginicum (L.) Farw. is disjunctively distributed in eastern North America. The south area of China (extending to Taiwan Island) is the richest in Veronicastrum species. It is of medicinal importance in China as traditional herbs used to treat ascites diseases that caused by schistosomiasis. During field investigation of plant resources in Pingbaying National Forest Park, Southwestern Hubei, China, an unknown flowering population of Veronicastrum was discovered from thick humus layers adjacent to rocks under broad-leaved forests by walkways. They were collected and morphological characters assesed for further taxonomic treatment. Molecular analysis was also conducted to ascertain its phylogenetic position in the genus Veronicastrum.

Results

This species is similar to Veronicastrum liukiuense (Ohwi) T.Yamaz. from the Ryukyu Islands, but can be distinctly differed by its axillary inflorescences (versus terminal on short leafy branches), pedicels up to 2.5 mm (versus sessile), corollas purple to purple-red (versus white tinged with pale purple) and florescence June to July (versus September to October). Also, phylogenetic studies showed the species was an independent clade in the genus Veronicastrum based on the maximum likelihood (ML) analyses using two different matrix sequences of concatenated molecular markers. The plastid genome of this new species is also reported in this study for the first time.

Conclusion

The morphological and molecular evidences support the recognition of Veronicastrum wulingense as a new species.
Quantification of venadaparib, a novel PARP inhibitor, in the rat and dog plasma using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Lee Myongjae , Jang Eunhye , Lee Jungwoo , Choi SungKu , Lee Won Sik , Baek Nam Seok , Lee Sungsook , Park Young-Whan , Lee Jong-Hwa , Chung Suk-Jae
Published: February 2023

Venadaparib (VEN), a next-generation inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases, is under development for oral use in patients having cancers with deoxyribonucleic acid repair defects. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive and robust analytical method for quantifying VEN in a small volume of plasma samples from rats and dogs, and to assess the feasibility of the assay for application in pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies. Plasma samples were subjected to deproteination, and an aliquot was injected into an LC–MS/MS system. VEN and imipramine were analyzed in the positive ion mode and quantified by monitoring the transition at m/z 407.2 → 70.0 for VEN and 281.2 → 86.1 for imipramine. The lower and upper limits of the assay were determined to be 1 and 1000 ng/mL, respectively, with acceptable linearity (r2 > 0.995). Validation parameters, such as accuracy, precision, dilution, recovery, matrix effect, and stability, were within acceptable ranges. This method was adequately applied to the characterization of pharmacokinetics of VEN in rats and dogs at the oral dose of 30 and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. These findings suggest that the validated assay is applicable to the kinetic studies of VEN with a small volume of plasma samples from the animals.
Cultivation and application of nicotine-degrading bacteria and environmental functioning in tobacco planting soil
Authors: Wang Yiting , Luo Xiangyan , Chu Peng , Shi Heli , Wang Rui , Li Jiale , Zheng Shixue
Published: February 2023

Nicotine, a toxic and addictive alkaloid from tobacco, is an environmental pollutant. However, nicotine-degrading bacteria (NDB) and their function in tobacco planting soil are not fully understood. First, 52 NDB strains belonging to seven genera were isolated from tobacco soil. The most dominant genera were Flavobacterium (36.5%), Pseudomonas (30.8%), and Arthrobacter (15.4%), and Chitinophaga and Flavobacterium have not been previously reported. Then, two efficient NDB strains, Arthrobacter nitrophenolicus ND6 and Stenotrophomonas geniculata ND16, were screened and inoculated in the compost fertilizer from tobacco waste. The nicotine concentrations were reduced from 1.5 mg/g (DW) to below the safety threshold of 0.5 mg/g. Furthermore, strain ND6 followed the pyridine pathway of nicotine degradation, but the degrading pathway in strain ND16 could not be determined according to genomic analysis and color change. Finally, the abundance of nicotine-degrading genes in tobacco rhizosphere soil was investigated via metagenomic analysis. Five key genes, ndhA, nctB, kdhL, nboR, and dhponh, represent the whole process of nicotine degradation, and their abundance positively correlated with soil nicotine concentrations (p < 0.05). In conclusion, various NDB including unknown species live in tobacco soil and degrade nicotine efficiently. Some key nicotine-degrading genes could be used in monitoring nicotine degradation in the environment. The fermentation of compost from tobacco waste is a promising application of efficient NDB.

Graphical Abstract
A genetic tool to express long fungal biosynthetic genes
Authors: Kirchgaessner Leo , Wurlitzer Jacob M. , Seibold Paula S. , Rakhmanov Malik , Gressler Markus
Published: February 2023

Background

Secondary metabolites (SMs) from mushroom-forming fungi (Basidiomycota) and early diverging fungi (EDF) such as Mucoromycota are scarcely investigated. In many cases, production of SMs is induced by unknown stress factors or is accompanied by seasonable developmental changes on fungal morphology. Moreover, many of these fungi are considered as non-culturable under laboratory conditions which impedes investigation into SM. In the post-genomic era, numerous novel SM genes have been identified especially from EDF. As most of them encode multi-module enzymes, these genes are usually long which limits cloning and heterologous expression in traditional hosts.

Results

An expression system in Aspergillus niger is presented that is suitable for the production of SMs from both Basidiomycota and EDF. The akuB gene was deleted in the expression host A. niger ATNT∆pyrG, resulting in a deficient nonhomologous end-joining repair mechanism which in turn facilitates the targeted gene deletion via homologous recombination. The ∆akuB mutant tLK01 served as a platform to integrate overlapping DNA fragments of long SM genes into the fwnA locus required for the black pigmentation of conidia. This enables an easy discrimination of correct transformants by screening the transformation plates for fawn-colored colonies. Expression of the gene of interest (GOI) is induced dose-dependently by addition of doxycycline and is enhanced by the dual TetON/terrein synthase promoter system (ATNT) from Aspergillus terreus. We show that the 8 kb polyketide synthase gene lpaA from the basidiomycete Laetiporus sulphureus is correctly assembled from five overlapping DNA fragments and laetiporic acids are produced. In a second approach, we expressed the yet uncharacterized > 20 kb nonribosomal peptide synthetase gene calA from the EDF Mortierella alpina. Gene expression and subsequent LC–MS/MS analysis of mycelial extracts revealed the production of the antimycobacterial compound calpinactam. This is the first report on the heterologous production of a full-length SM multidomain enzyme from EDF.

Conclusions

The system allows the assembly, targeted integration and expression of genes of > 20 kb size in A. niger in one single step. The system is suitable for evolutionary distantly related SM genes from both Basidiomycota and EDF. This uncovers new SM resources including genetically intractable or non-culturable fungi.
Acute arterial occlusive disease due to tumor thrombus from lung metastasis of breast cancer with cartilaginous and osseous metaplasia: a case report
Authors: Sato Ayana , Matsumoto Akiko , Naruse Saki , Isono Yuka , Maeda Yuka , Yamada Miki , Ikeda Tatsuhiko , Sasajima Yuko , Jinno Hiromitsu
Published: February 2023

Background

Tumor embolization due to venous infiltration of breast cancer pulmonary metastases is very rare.

Case presentation

A 72-year-old female was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was discontinued because of progressive disease, and a right mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed. The pathological analysis of surgical specimens revealed carcinoma with cartilaginous and/or osseous metaplasia. At 22 months after surgery, lung metastasis was observed, and 6 months after initiating treatment for lung metastases, she complained of sudden numbness in the left-lower limb with trouble walking. Ultrasonography showed an embolism in the left popliteal artery, and contrast computed tomography showed enlarged lung metastases and infiltration of the left-upper lobe disease into the left superior pulmonary vein and left atrium. Acute arterial occlusive disease in the left-lower limb caused by the tumor embolism was suspected, so an endovascular thrombectomy was performed. Tumor emboli were removed by embolectomy catheter.

Conclusion

This report of lung metastasis from breast cancer with cartilaginous and/or osseous metaplasia and acute lower-limb artery occlusion due to a tumor thrombus adds useful information to the literature on these extremely rare cases.
Peer-led recovery groups for people with psychosis in South Africa (PRIZE): protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial
Authors: Asher Laura , Rapiya Bongwekazi , Repper Julie , Reddy Tarylee , Myers Bronwyn , Hanlon Charlotte , Petersen Inge , Brooke-Sumner Carrie
Published: February 2023

Background

The available care for people with psychosis in South Africa is inadequate to support personal recovery. Group peer support interventions are a promising approach to foster recovery, but little is known about the preferences of service users, or the practical application of this care model, in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of integrating peer-led recovery groups for people with psychosis and their caregivers in South Africa into existing systems of care, and to determine key parameters in preparation for a definitive trial.

Methods

The study is set in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan district of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The design is an individually randomised parallel group feasibility trial comparing recovery groups in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) with TAU alone in a 1:1 allocation ratio. We aim to recruit 100 isiXhosa-speaking people with psychosis and 100 linked caregivers. TAU comprises anti-psychotic medication-focused outpatient care. The intervention arm will comprise seven recovery groups, including service users and caregiver participants. Recovery groups will be delivered in two phases: a 2-month phase facilitated by an auxiliary social worker, then a 3-month peer-led phase. We will use mixed methods to evaluate the process and outcomes of the study. Intervention acceptability and feasibility (primary outcomes) will be assessed at 5 months post-intervention start using qualitative data collected from service users, caregivers, and auxiliary social workers, along with quantitative process indicators. Facilitator competence will be assessed with the GroupACT observational rating tool. Trial procedures will be assessed, including recruitment and retention rates, contamination, and validity of quantitative outcome measures. To explore potential effectiveness, quantitative outcome data (functioning, unmet needs, personal recovery, internalised stigma, health service use, medication adherence, and caregiver burden) will be collected at baseline, 2 months, and 5 months post-intervention start.

Discussion

This study will contribute to the sparse evidence on the acceptability and feasibility of peer-led and recovery-oriented interventions for people with psychosis in LMIC when integrated into existing care systems. Results from this feasibility trial will inform preparations for a definitive trial and subsequent larger-scale implementation.

Trial registration

Pan-African Clinical Trials Register PACTR202202482587686. Registered on 28 February 2022. https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=21496.
Post-vitrectomy delayed retinal breaks in proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Venkatesh Ramesh , Parmar Yash , Mangla Rubble , Sharief Shama , Yadav Naresh Kumar , Chhablani Jay
Published: February 2023

Purpose

To report a series of cases of post-operative new secondary retinal breaks following vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

Methods

This retrospective case series included data of patients diagnosed with post-operative retinal breaks following uneventful vitrectomy surgery for PDR from January 2018 to December 2021.

Results

New post-vitrectomy retinal breaks in PDR were seen in 7% of eyes (n = 10/148 eyes; 10 patients). Age of study patients ranged from 45 to 69 years and there were 8 males. Vitreous surgery was performed for vitreous hemorrhage in six eyes, macular tractional retinal detachment in three eyes and epiretinal membrane in one eye. Tractional fibrovascular proliferation near the retinal break prior to its development was noted either pre- or intra-operatively in 8 eyes. Mean time interval between the vitreous surgery and secondary retinal break development was 6.4 months. Residual fibrous tissue post-surgery adjacent to the break was noted in 4 cases. Sclerosed retinal vessel was noted in 4 eyes and associated inner retinal thinning or schisis in 5 eyes. No retinal detachment was noted in any case. Prophylactic barrage was done in 4 eyes. Last follow-up interval ranged from 4 to 53 months and visual acuity ranged from 6/6 to 6/60. No subretinal fluid, traction or break enlargement was noted at the last visit.

Conclusion

Delayed post-operative retinal breaks following vitrectomy are uncommon in PDR eyes. Careful preoperative evaluation of the retinal proliferations, intraoperative dissection of the membranes and regular post-operative reviews are vital in anticipating the development of delayed post-vitrectomy retinal breaks. Observation could be the management strategy for these breaks.
Achieving herd immunity in South America
Authors: Lucero-Prisno Don Eliseo , Shomuyiwa Deborah Oluwaseun , Vicente Creuza Rachel , Méndez María José González , Qaderi Shohra , Lopez Jaifred Christian , Mogessie Yidnekachew Girma , Alacapa Jason , Chamlagai Lila , Ndayizeye Remy , Kinay Pelin
Published: February 2023

South America, once an epicenter of COVID-19, has stayed on the road of continued management of the pandemic. The region initially struggled to cope with the pandemic as it experienced spiraling numbers of infections and overwhelmed public health systems. South America has risen in its pandemic response to be the region with the highest global vaccination rate. The region posed a strong vaccination drive, with over 76% of its population fully vaccinated with the initial protocol. South America leveraged its deeply rooted vaccination culture and public health confidence among its population. Herd immunity is an integral concept in population infectious disease management. Attaining herd immunity is presently not feasible with available vaccines, but the high vaccination rate in the region depicts the acceptance of vaccination as a strategy for population protection. The availability of effective transmission-blocking vaccines, the continuous implementation of strategies that will enable the undisrupted supply of the vaccines, equity in access to the vaccines, improved vaccine acceptance, and trust in the vaccination and public health systems will help shepherd the region towards herd immunity. Local vaccine production backed with investment in infrastructure and international collaboration for research and knowledge development will also drive population safety.
A case of migraine misdiagnosed as epilepsy
Authors: Yang Yuting , Peng Xi , Chen Yangmei
Published: February 2023

Background

Migraine and epilepsy are both episodic disorders, with some overlapping symptoms, mechanisms and therapies. Clinically, there is a comorbid relationship between them. Some migraine patients may exhibit epileptic discharges by electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. Therefore, the two conditions are easily misdiagnosed.

Case presentation

We reported a 16-year-old female patient who was admitted to our hospital due to repeated headaches with disturbance of consciousness. Epileptic discharge was recorded by long-term EEG. The patient had been misdiagnosed as epilepsy, and had no response to anti-seizure medicines (ASMs). We revised her diagnosis and prescribed ibuprofen in her acute episode and prophylactic medicine, including flunarizine and amitriptyline in her interictal period. One week later, her headache disappeared.

Conclusions

This patient manifested with altered levels of consciousness during headache episodes, and the abnormal EEG results lead to the misdiagnosis as epilepsy. Clinicians should be cautious to the distinction between migraine and epilepsy.
Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on pain and shoulder range of motion in post-mastectomy pain syndrome patients: a randomized-control trial
Authors: Hanna Mira Hany Zaky , RezkAllah Soheir Shehata , Shalaby Amr Saadeldeen , Hanna Monir Zaki
Published: February 2023

Background

Post-mastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) is a highly prevalent complication after surgical treatment for breast cancer, and it affects the patient’s quality of life in aspects of losing shoulder full range of motion, pain, and depression. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is non-invasive brain stimulation technique that was used in numerous clinical applications and in pain reduction in cancer patients. However, the effectiveness of tDCS on PMPS has never been evaluated in an experimental study.

Aim

To investigate the effect of bilateral anodal tDCS of motor cortex (M1) on pain, depression, and shoulder range of motion (ROM) in post-mastectomy pain syndrome.

Study design

Randomized controlled trial.

Methods

A total of 30 female patients with post-mastectomy neuropathic pain were randomized into two groups; the intervention group which received bilateral tDCS on motor cortex (M1) and the control group that received sham bilateral tDCS on M1. As pain affects shoulder range of motion (ROM), shoulder ROM was measured by electronic goniometer pre- and post-tDCS application. In addition, the levels of pain and depression have been measured pre and post treatment. Pain has been measured with visual analogue scale (VAS) and depression with Beck-Depression-Inventory-BDI questionnaire (BDI).

Results

A significant difference was noted in group A regarding pain, depression and shoulder ROM (p= 0.001, p= 0.003, and p= 0.003, respectively). Between group comparison revealed a significant difference of VAS scores and shoulder flexion ROM between groups, the study group and the control group (p=0.041 and 0.048, respectively). Pain decreased by 32% and Shoulder flexion increased by 4.8% post-treatment while there were no significant difference in group B (p=0.567 and p=0.866, respectively).

Conclusions

The application of tDCS decreases the severity of pain and improves shoulder range of motion suffered by breast cancer patients after total mastectomy surgery.
3D gravity inversion based on mixed-norm regularization in spherical coordinates with application to the lunar Moscoviense Basin
Authors: Zhao Guangdong , Wang Xuben , Liu Jianxin , Chen Bo , Kaban Mikhail K. , Xu Zhengwei
Published: February 2023

Three-dimensional gravity inversion has been widely used to infer density structures and tectonic movements of the earth and Moon. However, two problems (the nonuniqueness and low depth resolution) of current gravity inversion methods still exist and are not completely resolved, which affect the reliability of the inversion results and the corresponding geologic interpretation. To improve the depth resolution of the 3D gravity inversion, we propose an efficient inversion method in spherical coordinates based on a mixed smooth and focused regularization with depth-weighting functions. In the inversion, we also use the kernel matrix equivalence strategy and the fast kernel-vector multiplication method based on a fast Fourier transform in each iteration to increase computational efficiency. Two synthetic inversion examples indicate that the proposed method can recover more complex density structures compared with the often used smooth-constraint inversion approach. Finally, the proposed inversion approach is applied to the latest lunar gravitational field model GL1500E to study the 3D density structures of the Moscoviense Basin. The inverted results indicate that the density structure with high-positive anomalies is principally distributed at depths ranging from 5 to 70 km, forming a giant asymmetrical high-density structure inclining from the southwest to the northeast. We may conclude that the Moscoviense Basin was formed by the double impact, where the second collision occurred in the southwest of the basin center of the first collision.
Wavefield simulation with the discontinuous Galerkin method for a poroelastic wave equation in triple-porosity media
Authors: Huang Jiandong , Yang Dinghui , He Xijun , Chang Yunfan
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we derive a new poroelastic wave equation in triple-porosity media and develop a weighted Runge-Kutta (RK) discontinuous Galerkin method (DGM) for solving it. Based on Biot’s theory and Lagrangian formulas, we obtain 3D Biot’s equations in a heterogeneous anisotropic triple-porosity medium. We also summarize poroelastic wave equations in single- and double-porosity media. The traditional two-phase theory is a special case of the porous theory. Compared with single- or dual-porosity wave equations, our triple-porosity wave equation generates more accurate wavefield information. The isotropic and anisotropic cases are considered. Subsequently, we formulate the new poroelastic equation into a first-order hyperbolic conservation system, which is suitable to be solved by DGM. An optimized local Lax-Friedrichs flux and an implicit-weighted RK time discretization scheme are used for this computation. We use two types of mesh elements — quadrilateral and unstructured triangular elements. We find that there are two kinds of slow P waves, P1 and P2 waves, in double-porosity media, whereas three kinds of slow P waves, P1, P2, and P3 waves, exist in three-porosity media. We also study the analytical and numerical solutions of propagation velocities for different waves in isotropic media without dissipation using the Jacobian matrix of DGM and provide a comparison of field variables about three types of wave equations. Finally, we conduct a series of examples to quantitatively investigate the propagation properties of seismic waves in isotropic and anisotropic multiporosity media computed by DGM. The slow P wave in multiporosity media with dissipation decays rapidly, which also will lead to phase distortion. Numerical results verify the correctness and applicability of our proposed new equation and indicate that the weighted RK DGM is a stable and accurate algorithm to simulate wave propagation in poroelastic media.
Seismic Tiles, a data format to facilitate analytics on seismic reflectors
Authors: Skjæveland Øyvind M. , Torset Sondre
Published: February 2023

Seismic Tiles is a new concept for representing seismic reflectors and attributes derived from seismic data, which makes it easy to automate seismic interpretation and analysis in general. Many subsurface problems can now be solved mostly automatically by computers, instead of mostly manually by humans, enabling the disruption of seismic interpretation at a scale similar to the disruption of road navigation facilitated by the closely analogous Google Map-style data structure. Some examples where this has been successfully implemented include screening for amplitude-variation-with-offset anomalies to identify prospects, automatic characterization of 4D effects according to rock physics modeling, and identifying faults and horizons verified by structural logic. Automation takes place not via machine learning but by direct and transparent application of well-known geophysical and geologic logic. This is achieved by automatically detecting all reflectors in the seismic data set and representing them by a set of tiles, which are small rectangular surfaces typically 200 m × 200 m in size. Tiles are calculated on a regular grid in lateral coordinates via a local 3D linear Radon transform. A set of tiles combine to describe a reflector surface, similar to how tiles in a bathroom combine to describe the walls and floor. Any attribute, from any seismic cube or other data sets, can be automatically extracted and assigned to the tiles and thus used in the logic. This logic can include the geometry of the tile itself and how it relates to tiles in the neighborhood, thus allowing easy implementation of any kind of interpretation logic that involves seismic reflectors. As the tile geometry and attributes are exposed to man and machine in a simple tabular data format, implementing logic using Seismic Tiles is easy, and much easier than applying logic directly on input in the form of raw seismic data.
Utilizing UAV-based hyperspectral imaging to detect surficial explosive ordnance
Authors: Tuohy Madison , Baur Jasper , Steinberg Gabriel , Pirro Jalissa , Mitchell Taylor , Nikulin Alex , Frucci John , de Smet Timothy S.
Published: February 2023

Across postconflict regions of the world, explosive ordnance (EO), which includes remnant antipersonnel land mines, antivehicle/tank mines, unexploded cluster munitions, improvised explosive devices, and explosive remnants of war (ERW) such as unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive ordnance, remains a critical humanitarian concern. Clearance and land release efforts anchored on manual geophysical detection and mechanical probing methods remain painstakingly slow, expensive, and dangerous to operators. As a result, postconflict regions impacted by EO contamination significantly lag in social and economic development. Developing, calibrating, and field testing more efficient detection methods for surficial EO is a crucial task. Unpiloted aerial systems featuring advanced remote sensing capabilities are a key technology that may allow the tide to turn in the EO crisis. Specifically, recent advances in hardware design have allowed for effective deployment of small, light, and less power consuming hyperspectral imaging (HSI) systems from small unpiloted aerial vehicles (UAVs). Our proof-of-concept study employs UAV-based HSI to deliver a safer, faster, and more cost-efficient method of surface land mine and ERW detection compared to current ground-based detection methods. Our results indicate that analysis of HSI data sets can produce spectral profiles and derivative data products to distinguish multiple ERW and mine types in a variety of host environments.
Seismic Soundoff: The global water crisis and how to stop it
Authors: Geary Andrew
Published: February 2023

Paul Bauman discusses his Global Sustainability Lecture, “A strategy for improving rural water supply development in Sub-Saharan Africa.” He highlights how water impacts all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He outlines the impact of 2 billion people living with water stress and how it could reach more than 5 billion in the next 10 years. Bauman also shares why every geoscientist needs to be aware of this crisis, how it impacts their work, and what actions can address the issue.
Self-Collection Cervical Screening in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Scoping Review of Implementation Evidence
Authors: Creagh Nicola Stephanie , Boyd Lucy Ann Patricia , Bavor Claire , Zammit Claire , Saunders Tessa , Oommen Anu Mary , Rankin Nicole Marion , Brotherton Julia Mary Louise , Nightingale Claire Elizabeth
Published: February 2023

PURPOSE

Although cervical cancer is a disease of inequity, it can be eliminated as a public health problem through vaccination, screening, and treatment. Human papillomavirus vaginal self-collection cervical screening is a high-performance test that can increase reach of screening. This review describes the different contexts and models of care used to pilot or implement self-collection within the Asia-Pacific, measures the extent that implementation outcome measures are reported and, where available, summarizes key implementation findings.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted by searching five databases of the peer-reviewed literature on June 20, 2022. Two researchers assessed eligibility and extracted data independently to the model of care used and the Conceptual Framework for Implementation Outcomes. A mixed-method consolidation of findings (quantitative: count and frequencies; qualitative: content analysis) was undertaken to narratively report findings.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven articles, comprising 50 unique studies from 11 countries and two special autonomous regions, were included; 82% were conducted in trials. The implementation of self-collection was conducted in low- (2%), lower-middle– (32%), upper-middle– (32%), and high-income (35%) settings, with 10 different delivery models used; 80% delivered through practitioner-supported models with diversity in how samples were processed, and treatment was offered. Acceptability (73%) and appropriateness (64%) measures were most reported, followed by adoption (57%), feasibility (48%), and fidelity (38%). Only 7% of articles reported implementation cost or penetration measures. No articles reported sustainability measures.

CONCLUSION

The literature confirms that self-collection cervical screening has been implemented within the Asia-Pacific region, with evidence demonstrating that it is acceptable and appropriate from the user's perspective. Well-designed, high-quality implementation trials and real-world evaluations of self-collection that report the breadth of implementation outcomes can support the progression toward the elimination of cervical cancer.
Clinical Evolution of Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma With Biochemical Incomplete Response After Initial Treatment
Authors: Prete Alessandro , Gambale Carla , Torregrossa Liborio , Ciampi Raffaele , Romei Cristina , Ramone Teresa , Agate Laura , Bottici Valeria , Cappagli Virginia , Molinaro Eleonora , Materazzi Gabriele , Elisei Rossella , Matrone Antonio
Published: February 2023

Context

The clinical response after surgery is a determinant in the management of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). In case of excellent or structural incomplete response, the follow-up strategies are well designed. Conversely, in case of biochemical incomplete response (BiR) the management is not clearly defined.

Objective

This work aimed to evaluate the overall and per-site prevalence of structural disease detection in sporadic MTC patients with BiR and to assess the predictive value of various clinical, biochemical, and genetic features.

Methods

We evaluated data of 599 consecutive patients surgically treated for sporadic MTC (2000-2018) and followed-up at the endocrine unit of the University Hospital of Pisa.

Results

After a median of 5 months from surgery, 145 of 599 (24.2%) patients were classified as BiR. Structural disease was detected in 64 of 145 (44.1%), after a median time of 3.3 years. In 73.6%, structural disease was detected at a single site, prevalently cervical lymph nodes. Among several others, at the time of first evaluation after surgery, only basal calcitonin (bCTN) and stage IVa/b were independent predictive factors. Also, structural disease was more frequent in patients with shorter CTN doubling time and somatic RET mutation.

Conclusion

In sporadic MTC patients with BiR, the risk of detection of structural disease was about 50% at 10 years. Higher bCTN levels and staging predicted the risk of detecting structural disease. According to these findings, stricter follow-up should be reserved for MTC with BiR and elevated values of bCTN and to those with an advanced stage. Long follow-up should be considered for all BiR patients since 50% of them develop structural disease within 10 years.
Use of Novel Automated Active Irrigation With Drainage Versus Passive Drainage Alone for Chronic Subdural Hematoma—A Propensity Score-Matched Comparative Study With Volumetric Analysis
Authors: Baig Ammad A. , Hess Ryan M. , Khan Asham , Cappuzzo Justin M. , Turner Ryan C. , Hashmi Eisa , Bregy Amade , Kuo Cathleen C. , Nyabuto Elizabeth , Goyal Aditya D. , Davies Jason M. , Levy Elad I. , Siddiqui Adnan H.
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:

Passive drainage post-surgical evacuation of symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is currently standard of care. High rates of infection, drain occlusion, and recurrence are associated complications.

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the use of a novel double-lumen active automated irrigation and aspiration system, IRRAflow (IRRAS), for patients with cSDH and compared procedural and clinical outcomes against passive drainage alone with propensity score matching (PSM) and volumetric analysis.

METHODS:

A prospectively maintained database was retrospectively searched for consecutive patients presenting with cSDH. One-to-one PSM of covariates (including baseline comorbidities and presentation hematoma volume) in active and passive irrigation groups was performed to adjust for treatment selection bias. Rates of hematoma clearance, catheter-related occlusion, and infection; number of revisions; and length of hospital stay were recorded.

RESULTS:

This study included 55 patients: active continuous irrigation-drainage-21 (21 post-PSM) and passive drainage-34 (21 post-PSM). For PSM groups, a significantly higher rate of hematoma clearance was obtained in the active irrigation-drainage group (0.5 ± 0.4 vs 0.4 ± 0.5 mL/day) and in the passive drainage group; odds ratio (OR) = 1.291 (CI: 1.062-1.570, P = .002) and a significantly lower rate of catheter-related infections (OR = 0.051; CI: 0.004-0.697, P = .039). A nonsignificantly lower hematoma expansion rate at discharge was noted in the active irrigation-drainage group (4.8% vs 23.8%; OR = 0.127; P = .186). No statistical difference in all-cause in-hospital mortality or discharge Glasgow Coma Scale score was observed between groups.

CONCLUSION:

Active and automated continuous irrigation plus drainage after cSDH surgical evacuation resulted in faster hematoma clearance and led to favorable clinical outcomes and low complication and revision rates compared with passive irrigation.
Targeting RNA with small molecules: lessons learned from Xist RNA
Authors: Nickbarg Elliott B. , Spencer Kerrie B. , Mortison Jonathan D. , Lee Jeannie T.
Published: February 2023

Although more than 98% of the human genome is noncoding, nearly all drugs on the market target one of about 700 disease-related proteins. However, an increasing number of diseases are now being attributed to noncoding RNA and the ability to target them would vastly expand the chemical space for drug development. We recently devised a screening strategy based upon affinity-selection mass spectrometry and succeeded in identifying bioactive compounds for the noncoding RNA prototype, Xist. One such compound, termed X1, has drug-like properties and binds specifically to the RepA motif of Xist in vitro and in vivo. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis reveals that X1 changes the conformation of RepA in solution, thereby explaining the displacement of cognate interacting protein factors (PRC2 and SPEN) and inhibition of X-chromosome inactivation. In this Perspective, we discuss lessons learned from these proof-of-concept experiments and suggest that RNA can be systematically targeted by drug-like compounds to disrupt RNA structure and function.
Η επίδραση των ενεργητικών πολιτικών απασχόλησης στον θεσμό της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης
Authors: Κρασοπούλου Παναγιώτα
Published: February 2023

Στην παρούσα εργασία επιχειρείται να διερευνηθεί ο τρόπος με τον οποίο επιδρούν οι ενεργητικές πολιτικές απασχόλησης στον θεσμό της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης. Στο πλαίσιο της ερευνητικής διαδικασίας εξετάζεται η ελληνική και ευρωπαϊκή νομοθεσία και νομολογία, που αποτελούν τη βάση των ρυθμίσεων που στοχεύουν στην ενίσχυση της απασχόλησης. Οι ενεργητικές πολιτικές απασχόλησης προσδιορίζονται από τον σκοπό τους, τον τρόπο χρηματοδότησης τους, καθώς και το ποσό και τη διάρκεια επιχορήγησης που προσφέρουν. Πραγματοποιούν την ενδυνάμωση της εργασίας σε περιοχή που επικρατεί χαμηλό βιοτικό επίπεδο ή έντονη υποαπασχόληση. Η επίδραση των ενεργητικών πολιτικών απασχόλησης στον θεσμό της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης εξαρτάται αποφασιστικά από τις επιλογές του νομοθέτη οι οποίες επιδιώκουν ταυτόχρονα κοινωνικούς και οικονομικούς στόχους.Πιο συγκεκριμένα, αρχικά, εξετάζονται τα όρια του περιθωρίου εκτίμησης του εθνικού νομοθέτη κατά τον σχεδιασμό των ενεργητικών πολιτικών απασχόλησης όπως αυτά τίθενται από το ενωσιακό και το ελληνικό δίκαιο. Παράλληλα, διερευνάται υπό ποιες προϋποθέσεις ο εθνικός νομοθέτης μπορεί να ενδυναμώσει την εργασία μέσω των κρατικών ενισχύσεων δεδομένου ότι η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση στοχεύει στη δημιουργία μίας εσωτερικής αγοράς απαλλαγμένης από κάθε είδους αθέμιτου ανταγωνισμού.Αφού προσδιοριστούν τα όρια δράσης του εθνικού νομοθέτη εξετάζεται η επίδραση που ασκούν τα χαρακτηριστικά και ο τρόπος χρηματοδότησης των ενεργητικών πολιτικών απασχόλησης στον θεσμό της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης. Η αναζήτηση στηρίζεται στον απαράβατο πυρήνα του θεσμού, μία περιοχή της οποίας η συρρίκνωση δεν είναι αποδεκτή. Τέλος, ερευνάται η επίδραση που ασκεί το ποσό και η διάρκεια επιχορήγησης των μέτρων που ενδυναμώνουν την εργασία στον θεσμό της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης. Βάση της έρευνας αποτελούν οι θεμελιώδεις αρχές της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης, η αρχή της οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας, η αρχή της κοινωνικής αλληλεγγύης και η αρχή της ανταποδοτικότητας.Ο προσδιορισμός των επιλογών του νομοθέτη που ενδυναμώνουν τον θεσμό της κοινωνικής ασφάλισης θα ωφελήσει στη διαφύλαξη των κοινωνικοασφαλιστικών δικαιωμάτων και στην καλύτερη αντιμετώπιση ανεργίας.
Αγία και Μεγάλη Συνοδος της Ορθοδόξου Εκκλησίας 2016
Authors: Λαδάς Ιωάννης
Published: February 2023

Ἡ Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Σύνοδος τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Ἐκκλησίας, ὡς μέγα ἱστορικὸ γεγονός, ἀποτελεῖ ὁρόσημο γιὰ τὴν ἱστορία τῆς Ἐκκλησίας καὶ προνόμιο τῆς δικῆς μας γενεᾶς. Ἀναντιρρήτως ἡ προπαρασκευαστικὴ περίοδος ὑπῆρξε μακρὰ γιὰ τὴν ἱστορία. Ὅμως, ὁ ἰσχυρισμὸς ὅτι ὁ διαρρεύσας χρόνος παρῆλθε ἄκαρπος θὰ ἦταν ἄδικος. Μάλιστα, ἐὰν κάποιος ἐπιλέξει νὰ ἀξιολογήσει τὸ ἔργο τῆς Συνόδου χωρὶς νὰ μελετήσει τὶς διεργασίες τῶν 93 ἐτῶν ποὺ προηγήθηκαν, σίγουρα θὰ ἀδικήσει τὰ πράγματα. Οἱ Ὀρθόδοξες Ἐκκλησίες ὅλο αὐτὸ τὸ διάστημα μετεῖχαν τῆς συνοδικῆς λειτουργίας ἑνὸς ἱεραρχικῶς συντεταγμένου σώματος τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας· βρῆκαν τὸν ἱερὸ χῶρο, ὅπου ὁ λόγος τους, οἱ ἐποικοδομητικὲς ἢ καὶ ἐριστικές τους ἀντιπαραθέσεις μετασχηματιζόταν σὲ ὑπεύθυνο διορθόδοξο διάλογο· προσπάθησαν νὰ ἀπέχουν μονομερῶν ἢ καὶ αὐθαιρέτων ἐνεργειῶν· προσάρμοσαν τὴν παρουσία τους στὸ πλαίσιο ποὺ ἔθεταν οἱ ἱεροὶ κανόνες, γιὰ νὰ μὴ ἀθετοῦνται τὰ καθιερωμένα ὅρια τῶν κανονικῶν σχέσεων· συνειδητοποίησαν τὸν ὑπερεθνικό τους χαρακτῆρα· ἐξέφρασαν τὴν ἀπόλυτη ἐσωτερική τους ἑνότητα, πάρα τὴν ἐθνολογικὴ καὶ γλωσσικὴ διάκριση καὶ παρὰ τὴ φαινομενικὰ ἐπιζήμια καὶ κινδυνώδη ἀποκέντρωση καὶ ἀνεξαρτησία τους· συνέσφιξαν ἀκόμη περισσότερο τοὺς μεταξύ τους δεσμούς· συνεργάσθηκαν στενότερα ἐπὶ τῶν διορθοδόξων καὶ τῶν διαχριστιανικῶν ζητημάτων· παρουσιάσθηκαν ὡς ὄγκος σεβαστὸς ἀπέναντι στὶς Ἐκκλησίες τῆς Δύσεως· καὶ παρεῖχαν τὴν ἐπιβλητικὴ μαρτυρία τῆς Ὀρθοδοξίας στὸ σύγχρονο κόσμο.
Kidney and liver histology in tumour-induced rats exposed to non-contact electric fields
Authors: Alamsyah Firman , Firdausi Nisrina , Nugraheni Subekti Evi Dwi , Fadhlurrahman Ahmad Ghitha , Nurhidayat Luthfi , Pratiwi Rarastoeti , Taruno Warsito Purwo
Published: February 2023

Background: There were an estimated 2.1 million breast cancer diagnoses in 2018 worldwide, which is about 11.6% of the total cancer incidence. A novel modality of cancer treatment based on exposure to non-contact electric fields has been developed to reduce cancer incidence. However, the safety of the electric field exposure was not fully investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to observe the safety of the electric field exposure on renal and liver structure.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into one control group and three treatment groups. Animals were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene for mammary tumour induction and exposed to non-contact electric fields individually for 10 hours a day for three weeks. Fresh samples of the kidney and liver were collected for observing structural damage in both organs. The two organs were prepared for histopathological cross-sectioning using the paraffin method and Hematoxylin & Eosin staining followed by histological scoring using the post-examination masking method.

Results: The damages found in the kidney were the following: thickening of Bowman capsule, karyolysis, karyorrexhis, pyknosis, cloudy swelling, epithelial sloughing, inflammation, haemorrhage, and congestion. The number of inflammation and haemorrhage in the kidney structure of the placebo group was the lowest and significantly different from the three other groups. All damages in the kidney were also found in the liver, but each showed different levels of damage. The damages in the kidney and liver caused by the exposure were not significant.

Conclusions: The non-contact electric fields were not harmful to renal and liver structure in tumour-induced rats. Instead, it may increase the renal function in normal rats.
Morphometric study of the lumbar vertebrae in dried anatomical collections
Authors: Ashish Sharad , Kalluraya P. , Pai Mangala , Murlimanju B.V. , Rao Y. , Prabhu Latha , Agrawal Amit
Published: February 2023

Background: The objective of this anatomical study was to perform the morphometry of dried lumbar vertebrae in human cadavers.

Methods: This study utilized 200 adult human cadaveric dried lumbar vertebrae. The digital Vernier calipers was used to perform the measurements. The height, antero-posterior length, transverse length of the body of the vertebrae, interpedicular distance at the lateral ends, lamina length, height and thickness, superior and inferior articular facet height and width, mid sagittal and transverse diameter of vertebral foramen, height, width and thickness of the pars inter-articularis were measured.

Results: The vertebral body’s anteroposterior length was more at the lower border than at the superior border (p < 0.01). The length of lamina was higher over the right in comparison to the left (p < 0.001). The height of lamina, width of inferior articular facet, diameter of lateral recess and thickness of pars inter-articularis were greater for the left sided specimens (p < 0.01). The statistical significance was not observed for the comparison of the remaining parameters (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: This anatomical study offered several dimensions of lumbar vertebrae, which are essential in the surgical practice. The implants at the lumbar vertebrae need to be manufactured based on the anatomical dimensions of that particular sample population.