bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unilateral auricular multiple trichoepitheliomas: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Al-Ani Raid M. , Kubaisi Thamir A
Published: April 2023

Background

Trichoepithelioma is a rare benign tumor. It could be an inherited or acquired condition. Trichoepithelioma has mostly involved the face with bilateral multiple lesions. Involvement of the auricle by this tumor is extremely rare encountered in clinical practice.

Case presentation

A 36-year-old female presented to the Dermatology Clinic with painless right auricular papules 4 years ago. Examination revealed multiple non-tender, firm, rounded, dome-shaped, flesh-colored, pink, and shiny papules. There was mild bleeding from the lesions after trivial trauma. There was no family history of similar problem. No abnormality was found on other examinations. An excisional biopsy of one lesion was performed under local anesthesia. The histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of trichoepithelioma. The lesions under local anesthesia were excised with primary closure of the wound. No recurrence was seen during 2 years of follow-up.

Conclusion

Only five cases of trichoepitheliomas that affected the auricle were reported in the PubMed database. Four of them are affecting both auricles as well as other parts of the body, particularly the face. The fifth case was with a unilateral single giant auricular lesion. Our case was with non-familial multiple unilateral auricular trichoepitheliomas. The tumors responded well on surgical excision and primary closure.
Unilateral hearing loss: case report on the insidious consequence of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis
Authors: Zainal Abidin Muhammad Hosni , Abdul Wahab Azwan Halim
Published: April 2023

Background

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis constitutes 1% of the head and neck manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. The rarity of the disease along with its non-specific presentation may pose a challenge in diagnosis.

Case presentation

We present a case of a 33-year-old patient who presented with a gradual onset of unilateral hearing loss. Endoscopic examination revealed leukoplakic lesions over the bilateral torus tubarius with audiological assessment revealing a mixed hearing loss in the left ear. Patient completed a 6-month course of anti-tuberculous therapy with a complete resolution of nasopharyngeal lesions and hearing loss.

Conclusion

We hypothesize that tuberculosis of the nasopharynx may not only lead to impaired middle ear ventilation but also damage to the ossicular chain and inner ear structures.
Predictive signs of dysgraphia: graphesthesia as a soft sensory finding in children with writing difficulties in Arabic language
Authors: Sidhom Rania Makram , Orabi Ghada Tarek
Published: April 2023

Background

Dysgraphia is one of the learning disabilities that require a complex set motor actions. It affects writing skills in the form of poor handwriting, spelling problems, and difficulty in writing thoughts and ideas. Children with learning disabilities often show some soft neurological signs as graphesthesia. The aim of this work is to study graphesthesia as a predictive sign that could be associated with developmental dysgraphia.

Results

Graphesthesia test showed significant difference when applied on dysgraphic children compared to children with normal leaning development.

Conclusion

Graphesthesia is a soft neurological sign that showed to be affected in Arabic dysgraphic children and could be used as a quick predictive test for dysgraphia before applying the formal graded tests.
Oxygenation alleviates waterlogging-caused damages to cherry rootstocks
Authors: Wang Yuxuan , Xu Yan , Xu Jieming , Sun Wanxia , Lv Zhengxin , Manzoor Muhammad Aamir , Liu Xunju , Shen Zhiyu , Wang Jiyuan , Liu Ruie , Whiting Matthew D. , Jiu Songtao , Zhang Caixi
Published: April 2023

Waterlogging has occurred more frequently in recent years due to climate change, so it is a huge threat to crop yield and quality. Sweet cherry, a fruit tree with a high economic value, is sensitive to waterlogging stress. One of the most effective methods for enhancing the waterlogging tolerance of sweet cherries is to select waterlogging-tolerant rootstocks. However, the waterlogging tolerance of different cherry rootstocks, and the underlying mechanism remains uncharacterized. Thus, we first evaluated the waterlogging resistance of five sweet cherry rootstocks planted in China. The data showed that ‘Gisela 12’ and ‘Colt’ were the most waterlogging-sensitive and -tolerant among the five tested varieties, respectively. Oxygenation effectively alleviated the adverse impacts of waterlogging stress on cherry rootstocks. Moreover, we found that the waterlogging group had lower relative water content, Fv/Fm value, net photosynthetic rate, and higher antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas the oxygenated group performed better in all these parameters. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that numerous DEGs were involved in energy production, antioxidant metabolism, hormone metabolism pathways, and stress-related transcription factors. These findings will help provide management strategies to enhance the waterlogging tolerance of cherry rootstocks and thereby achieve higher yield and better quality of cherries.

Graphical Abstract
Efficacy of low carbohydrate and ketogenic diets in treating mood and anxiety disorders: systematic review and implications for clinical practice
Authors: Dietch Daniel M. , Kerr-Gaffney Jess , Hockey Meghan , Marx Wolfgang , Ruusunen Anu , Young Allan H. , Berk Michael , Mondelli Valeria
Published: April 2023

Background

There is mounting interest in the potential efficacy of low carbohydrate and very low carbohydrate ketogenic diets in various neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Aims

To conduct a systematic review and narrative synthesis of low carbohydrate and ketogenic diets (LC/KD) in adults with mood and anxiety disorders.

Method

MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for articles from inception to 6 September 2022. Studies that included adults with any mood or anxiety disorder treated with a low carbohydrate or ketogenic intervention, reporting effects on mood or anxiety symptoms were eligible for inclusion. PROSPERO registration CRD42019116367.

Results

The search yielded 1377 articles, of which 48 were assessed for full-text eligibility. Twelve heterogeneous studies (stated as ketogenic interventions, albeit with incomplete carbohydrate reporting and measurements of ketosis; diet duration: 2 weeks to 3 years;n= 389; age range 19 to 75 years) were included in the final analysis. This included nine case reports, two cohort studies and one observational study. Data quality was variable, with no high-quality evidence identified. Efficacy, adverse effects and discontinuation rates were not systematically reported. There was some evidence for efficacy of ketogenic diets in those with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and possibly unipolar depression/anxiety. Relapse after discontinuation of the diet was reported in some individuals.

Conclusions

Although there is no high-quality evidence of LC/KD efficacy in mood or anxiety disorders, several uncontrolled studies suggest possible beneficial effects. Robust studies are now needed to demonstrate efficacy, to identify clinical groups who may benefit and whether a ketogenic diet (beyond low carbohydrate) is required and to characterise adverse effects and the risk of relapse after diet discontinuation.
Inactivation of Cops5 in Smooth Muscle Cells Causes Abnormal Reproductive Hormone Homeostasis and Development in Mice
Authors: Huang Qian , Man Yonghong , Li Wei , Zhou Qi , Yuan Shuo , Yap Yi Tian , Nayak Neha , Zhang Ling , Song Shizheng , Dunbar Joseph , Leff Todd , Yang Xu , Zhang Zhibing
Published: April 2023

COP9 constitutive photomorphogenic homolog subunit 5 (COPS5), also known as Jab1 or CSN5, has been implicated in a wide variety of cellular and developmental processes. By analyzing male germ cell–specific COPS5-deficient mice, we have demonstrated previously that COPS5 is essential to maintain male germ survival and acrosome biogenesis. To further determine the role of Cops5 in peritubular myoid cells, a smooth muscle lineage surrounding seminiferous tubules, we herein derived mice conditionally deficient for the Cops5 gene in smooth muscle cells using transgenic Myh11-Cre mice. Although these conditional Cops5-deficient mice were born at the expected Mendelian ratio and appeared to be normal within the first week after birth, the homozygous mice started to show growth retardation after 1 week. These mice also exhibited a variety of developmental and reproductive disorders, including failure of development of reproductive organs in both males and females, spermatogenesis defects, and impaired skeletal development and immune functions. Furthermore, conditional Cops5-deficient mice revealed dramatic impairment of the endocrine system associated with testicular functions, including a marked reduction in serum levels of gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone), testosterone, insulin-like growth factor 1, and glucose, but not vasopressin. All homozygous mice died before age 67 days in the study. Collectively, our results provide novel evidence that Cops5 in smooth muscle lineage plays an essential role in postnatal development and reproductive functions.
The evolution of gastrulation morphologies
Authors: Nájera Guillermo Serrano , Weijer Cornelis J.
Published: April 2023

During gastrulation, early embryos specify and reorganise the topology of their germ layers. Surprisingly, this fundamental and early process does not appear to be rigidly constrained by evolutionary pressures; instead, the morphology of gastrulation is highly variable throughout the animal kingdom. Recent experimental results demonstrate that it is possible to generate different alternative gastrulation modes in single organisms, such as in early cnidarian, arthropod and vertebrate embryos. Here, we review the mechanisms that underlie the plasticity of vertebrate gastrulation both when experimentally manipulated and during evolution. Using the insights obtained from these experiments we discuss the effects of the increase in yolk volume on the morphology of gastrulation and provide new insights into two crucial innovations during amniote gastrulation: the transition from a ring-shaped mesoderm domain in anamniotes to a crescent-shaped domain in amniotes, and the evolution of the reptilian blastoporal plate/canal into the avian primitive streak.
Close encounters of three kinds: impacts of leg, wing and body collisions on flight performance in carpenter bees
Authors: Burnett Nicholas P. , Combes Stacey A.
Published: April 2023

Flying insects often forage among cluttered vegetation that forms a series of obstacles in their flight path. Recent studies have focused on behaviors needed to navigate clutter while avoiding all physical contact and, as a result, we know little about flight behaviors that do involve encounters with obstacles. Here, we challenged carpenter bees (Xylocopa varipuncta) to fly through narrow gaps in an obstacle course to determine the kinds of obstacle encounters they experience, as well as the consequences for flight performance. We observed three kinds of encounters: leg, body and wing collisions. Wing collisions occurred most frequently (in about 40% of flights, up to 25 times per flight) but these had little effect on flight speed or body orientation. In contrast, body and leg collisions, which each occurred in about 20% of flights (1–2 times per flight), resulted in decreased flight speeds and increased rates of body rotation (yaw). Wing and body collisions, but not leg collisions, were more likely to occur in wind versus still air. Thus, physical encounters with obstacles may be a frequent occurrence for insects flying in some environments, and the immediate effects of these encounters on flight performance depend on the body part involved.
Low production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species after anoxia and reoxygenation in turtle hearts
Authors: Bundgaard Amanda , Gruszczyk Anja V. , Prag Hiran A. , Williams Catherine , McIntyre Angela , Ruhr Ilan M. , James Andrew M. , Galli Gina L. J. , Murphy Michael P. , Fago Angela
Published: April 2023

Extremely anoxia-tolerant animals, such as freshwater turtles, survive anoxia and reoxygenation without sustaining tissue damage to their hearts. In contrast, for mammals, the ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury that leads to tissue damage during a heart attack is initiated by a burst of superoxide (O2·−) production from the mitochondrial respiratory chain upon reperfusion of ischemic tissue. Whether turtles avoid oxidative tissue damage because of an absence of mitochondrial superoxide production upon reoxygenation, or because the turtle heart is particularly protected against this damage, is unclear. Here, we investigated whether there was an increase in mitochondrial O2·− production upon the reoxygenation of anoxic red-eared slider turtle hearts in vivo and in vitro. This was done by measuring the production of H2O2, the dismutation product of O2·−, using the mitochondria-targeted mass-spectrometric probe in vivo MitoB, while in parallel assessing changes in the metabolites driving mitochondrial O2·− production, succinate, ATP and ADP levels during anoxia, and H2O2 consumption and production rates of isolated heart mitochondria. We found that there was no excess production of in vivo H2O2 during 1 h of reoxygenation in turtles after 3 h anoxia at room temperature, suggesting that turtle hearts most likely do not suffer oxidative injury after anoxia because their mitochondria produce no excess O2·− upon reoxygenation. Instead, our data support the conclusion that both the low levels of succinate accumulation and the maintenance of ADP levels in the anoxic turtle heart are key factors in preventing the surge of O2·− production upon reoxygenation.
Pulling wire to avoid misinsertion of filament and vascular damage improves ischemic stroke models' success rate and repeatability
Authors: Yang Fei , Zhang ZhiYun , Wan WeiPing , Wang Zhen , Li LanQing , Li ShuMin , Fu Hao , Yang Wenzhi , Chen Rong , Zhang Rongping , Shi XiNan , Wang Jian
Published: April 2023

Background: Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) ischemia-reperfusion in rats is a commonly used in vivo model in stroke research, but the problems of long time-consuming, unstable neurological injury and high mortality are not conducive to an experimental animal study. In this study, the success rate of the MCAO model in rats was improved by changing the surgical approach and giving preoperative as well as postoperative care support.

Methods: Place A-wire below the common carotid artery (CCA) to ligate the proximal end of the CCA, B-wire to fix the filament, and C-wire to pull the filament through the bifurcation of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the external carotid artery (ECA). After temporarily clamping the ICA, insert the filament into the CCA incision, then drag the C-wire to reduce the angle between the CCA and the pterygoid artery (PPA) to avoid filament insertion into the PPA. Push forward the head of the filament to the middle cerebral artery (MCA), ventral thalamic artery (VTA), and anterior choroidal segment to block the blood supply. Neurological function scoring, triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Nissl staining were applied to evaluate the model success or failure, the infarct area and neuro damage.

Results: Compared with the traditional Zea longa mapping method, our method significantly reduced modeling time and surgical trauma and improved postoperative survival rate and success rate. Furthermore, our method is more consistent in terms of infarct area, and there was a significant reduction in Nissl bodies.

Conclusions: The wire-lifting method pulls the vessel, reduces the angle between the CCA and the PPA, facilitates the insertion of the filament into the MCA to avoid the accidental insertion of the filament into the PPA, reduces the surgical trauma, and saves the model preparation time, which can effectively improve the survival rate and modeling success rate.
Role of health system strengthening (HSS) in reducing neonatal mortality in Bangladesh: A document review
Authors: Matin Md. Ziaul , Sharmin Shamina , Kim Minjoon , Sayem ASM , Rahman Fazlur , Abdullah Abu Sayeed MD , Sheikh Sifat Parveen , Khan Moonmoon Islam , Halim MA
Published: April 2023

Background: The majority of neonatal deaths occur in  low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. This study explored the role of health system strengthening (HSS) in reducing neonatal mortality.

Methods: The document review was the method to conduct this study. The secondary data, including the reports and protocols, were reviewed to find out the success, challenges and scope of the improvement of HSS interventions in reducing neonatal deaths. The analysis was performed descriptively.

Results: The National Neonatal Health Strategy was found adopted in Bangladesh including the policies and strategies for newborn health and newborn health service delivery. The evidence-based newborn care initiatives were found to cover the essential newborn care, application of chlorohexidine in newborn care, role of post-natal care in reducing child death, management of birth asphyxia, use of Antenatal Corticosteroid (ACS) for the prevention of complication related to preterm and Kangaroo Mother Care.

Conclusions: The health system strengthening with improving the quality of newborn care is very much essential at facilities both at urban and rural settings to reduce neonatal mortality in Bangladesh.
Gaussian process models for geographic controls in phylogenetic trees
Authors: Hartmann Frederik , Jäger Gerhard
Published: April 2023

Background: Geographical confounding in phylogenetic inference models has long been an issue. Often models have great difficulty detecting whether congruences or similarities between languages in phylogenetic datasets stem from common genetic descent or geographical proximity effects such as language contact.

Methods: In this study, we introduced a distance-based Gaussian process approach with latent phylogenetic distances that can detect potential geographic contact zones and subsequently account for geospatial biases in the resulting tree topologies. 

Results: We found that this approach is able to determine potential high-contact areas, making it possible to calculate the strength of this influence on both the tree-level (clade support) and the language-level (pairwise distances).

Conclusions: Gaussian Process models are useful tools to address geographical confounding in phylogenetic analyses. The approach has advantages and disadvantages similar to comparable distance-based approaches, yet with this method, the level of confounding can be gauged and linguistic contact zones can be identified.
The genome sequence of the Black Rustic, Aporophyla nigra (Haworth, 1809)
Authors: Lees David ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aporophyla nigra (the Black Rustic; Arthropoda, Insecta, Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 736.9 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.0 kilobases in length.
Latest clinical research
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: April 2023

The latest studies of interest to primary care clinicians rounded up by Mark Greener
Holistic treatment of pressure ulcers in community settings
Authors: Nazarko Linda
Published: April 2023

Linda Nazarko looks at what nurses need to know when managing patients with these common injuries
Correlation of serum protein and lipid profile with OSMF severity among the rural population of Southern India
Authors:   Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Kothrepally, opp. Shiv Sagar Lake, Vikarabad, Telangana, India., Rao Deshpande Kopparesh , Kumar Panda Swarup ,   Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India., Jena Itishri ,   Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India., Sanghamitra Bhanja Sangeeta ,   Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India., Ranjan Nayak Sarthak ,   Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India., Ray Subhashree ,   Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences & SUM Hospital, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Published: April 2023

Background: Carcinogenesis is mostly observed due to alterations in serum protein and lipid levels. Objectives: In this present study, serum protein and lipid profile are to be evaluated in OSMF patients and compared with various clinical stages of OSMF. Materials and methods: Out of 100 study subjects, 45 OSMF patients were selected as cases; 55 apparently healthy individuals were chosen as controls. The level of serum total protein, albumin, and globulin; high density lipoprotein (HDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured by COBAS-6000 autoanalyzer. The obtained data were processed with an independent sample t-test. Results: Statistically significant reduction in serum total protein and albumin, LDL, HDL, TC, and TG levels were detected in all stages of OSMF patients in comparison with controls, whereas changes in serum VLDL level were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The current study showed significant alterations in serum protein and lipid profile, with advancement in the clinical stages of OSMF. In the future, the alterations in these parameters might possess a diagnostic significance and can be utilized as a biochemical indicator for the detection of neoplastic processes like OSMF.
Centered PSD matrices with thin spectrum are M-matrices
Authors: Devriendt Karel
Published: April 2023

We show that real, symmetric, centered (zero row sum) positive semidefinite matrices of order $n$ and rank $n-1$ with eigenvalue ratio $\lambda_{\max}/\lambda_{\min}\leq n/(n-2)$ between the largest and smallest nonzero eigenvalue have nonpositive off-diagonal entries, and that this eigenvalue criterion is tight. The result is relevant in the context of matrix theory and inverse eigenvalue problems, and we discuss an application to Laplacian matrices.
On low-dimensional partial isometries
Authors: He Qixiao , Spitkovsky Ilya , Suleiman Ibrahim
Published: April 2023

Two statements concerning $n$-by-$n$ partial isometries are being considered: (i) these matrices are generic, if unitarily irreducible, and (ii) if nilpotent, their numerical ranges are circular disks. Both statements hold for $n\leq 4$ but fail starting with $n=5$.
Flora da Bahia: Caprifoliaceae
Authors: Lira Mariana Macario de , Carneiro-Torres Daniela Santos , Oliveira Reyjane Patricia de
Published: April 2023

É apresentada aqui a Flora de Caprifoliaceae para o estado da Bahia, Brasil. É reconhecida uma espécie nativa: Valeriana scandens. São apresentados descrição morfológica, ilustração, comentários e mapa de distribuição geográfica da espécie na Bahia.
Deep-learning-based path computation without routing convergence in optical satellite networks
Authors: Jing Yinji , Yi Longteng , Zhao Yongli , Wang Hua , Wang Wei , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2023

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks, which are composed of multiple inter-connected satellites, have become important infrastructure for future communications. Benefiting from the high bandwidth and anti-interference of satellite laser communication, optical satellite networks, in which satellite links are lasers, can provide global Internet services and have become a research trend. The orbit at a lower altitude has advantages such as low latency, low cost, and easy deployment in LEO optical satellite networks. Meanwhile, the movement of satellites is fast and thus will result in frequent changes for ground–satellite links. The conventional static routing strategy cannot perceive the network state; therefore, the static routing is inapplicable in the case of link failure or congestion. Dynamic routing can ensure the accuracy of the network connection by routing convergence. However, the routing table needs to be updated frequently because of the highly dynamic topology, resulting in the increase in signaling overhead. To compute routing paths accurately while reducing the update frequency of the routing table, this paper proposes a path computation model based on deep learning. By learning the mapping relation of previous services and the routing paths, the model can directly output the routing path according to the current service request. Using this method, the path computation tasks depend less on the frequently updated routing table. The simulation results show that the paths computed by the proposed method are almost the same as the paths computed by Dijkstra’s algorithm, the average accuracy rate is above 90%, and the highest accuracy rate can reach 98.8%. Compared with traditional path computation, the proposed method needs to collect a large amount of previous data for training, and the training time is about several hours.
Demonstration of Type A volume Bragg gratings inscribed with a femtosecond Gaussian-Bessel laser beam
Authors: Harb Joelle , Talbot Lauris , Petit Yannick , Bernier Martin , Canioni Lionel
Published: April 2023

To our knowledge, we report on the first demonstration of Type A VBGs inscribed in silver-containing phosphate glasses by femtosecond laser writing. The gratings are inscribed plane-by-plane by scanning the voxel of a 1030 nm Gaussian-Bessel inscription beam. This results in a refractive-index modification zone, induced by the appearance of silver clusters, extending over a much larger depth than those obtained with standard Gaussian beams. As a result, a high diffraction efficiency of 95% at 632.8 nm is demonstrated for a 2-µm period transmission grating with a 150-µm effective thickness indicating a strong refractive-index modulation of 1.78 × 10−3. Meanwhile, a refractive-index modulation of 1.37 × 10−3 was observed at a wavelength of 1.55 µm. Thus, this work opens the avenue for highly effective femtosecond-written VBGs suitable for industrial applications.
Preparation and testing of laterally graded multilayer with a double genetic algorithm and root mean square error optimization in differential deposition
Authors: Yan Ruyu , Li Ming , Hou Qingyan , Yu Zezhong , Li Pengcheng , Ji Bin , Liu Peng , Yue Shuaipeng , Chang Guangcai
Published: April 2023

Lateral graded multilayer can realize reflection, collimation and focusing of hard X-ray, and are currently the research frontier and hotspot of synchrotron radiation and high-performance X-ray sources. To reduce the d-spacing error of graded multilayers, a root mean square error optimization method based on double genetic algorithm (DGA-RMSE) is proposed. The theoretical d-spacing distribution is obtained by optical design, and the range is 1.9 ∼ 3.1 nm. The optimized d-spacing distribution is obtained by convolution of particle beam function and continuous monotonic rate distribution line (RDL) which is constructed in the form of a polynomial. The GA is applied to optimize variables from the polynomial twice, and the RMSE of thickness error is optimized and converged to 0.0065 nm. The final thickness error which is measured by the grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity (GIXRR) is consistent with the theoretical calculation. The results show that DGA-RMSE can precisely select polynomial function of RDL, reducing the error in high-precision magnetron sputtering and mask technology.
Sub-kHz high-order mode Brillouin random fiber laser based on long-period fiber grating and distributed Rayleigh scattering in a half-open linear cavity
Authors: Zhang Liang , Wei Zizhou , Li Yichun , Shou Haozhe , Wang Han , Zhu Mengshi , Zeng Xianglong , Chen Wei , Pang Fufei , Wang Tingyun
Published: April 2023

We demonstrate a narrow-linewidth high-order-mode (HOM) Brillouin random fiber laser (BRFL) based on a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) and distributed Rayleigh random feedback in a half-open linear cavity. The single-mode operation of the laser radiation with sub-kilohertz linewidth is achieved thanks to distributed Brillouin amplification and Rayleigh scattering along kilometer-long single mode fibers whilst a few mode fiber-based LPFGs enable the transverse mode conversion among a broadband wavelength range. Meanwhile, a dynamic fiber grating (DFG) is embedded and incorporated to manipulate and purify the random modes, which hence suppresses the frequency drift resulting from random mode hopping. Consequently, the random laser emission with either high-order scalar or vector modes can be generated with a high laser efficiency of 25.5% and an ultra-narrow 3-dB linewidth of 230 Hz. Furthermore, the dependence of the laser efficiency and frequency stability on the gain fiber length are also experimentally investigated. It is believed that our approach could provide a promising platform for a wide range of applications such as coherent optical communication, high-resolution imaging, highly sensitive sensing, etc.
The RSK2-RPS6 axis promotes axonal regeneration in the peripheral and central nervous systems
Authors: Decourt Charlotte , Schaeffer Julia , Blot Beatrice , Paccard Antoine , Excoffier Blandine , Pende Mario , Nawabi Homaira , Belin Stephane
Published: April 2023

Unlike immature neurons and the ones from the peripheral nervous system (PNS), mature neurons from the central nervous system (CNS) cannot regenerate after injury. In the past 15 years, tremendous progress has been made to identify molecules and pathways necessary for neuroprotection and/or axon regeneration after CNS injury. In most regenerative models, phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (p-RPS6) is up-regulated in neurons, which is often associated with an activation of the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. However, the exact contribution of posttranslational modifications of this ribosomal protein in CNS regeneration remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that RPS6 phosphorylation is essential for PNS and CNS regeneration in mice. We show that this phosphorylation is induced during the preconditioning effect in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and that it is controlled by the p90S6 kinase RSK2. Our results reveal that RSK2 controls the preconditioning effect and that the RSK2-RPS6 axis is key for this process, as well as for PNS regeneration. Finally, we demonstrate that RSK2 promotes CNS regeneration in the dorsal column, spinal cord synaptic plasticity, and target innervation leading to functional recovery. Our data establish the critical role of RPS6 phosphorylation controlled by RSK2 in CNS regeneration and give new insights into the mechanisms related to axon growth and circuit formation after traumatic lesion.
Dual contribution of ASIC1a channels in the spinal processing of pain information by deep projection neurons revealed by computational modeling
Authors: Chafaï Magda , Delrocq Ariane , Inquimbert Perrine , Pidoux Ludivine , Delanoe Kevin , Toft Maurizio , Brau Frederic , Lingueglia Eric , Veltz Romain , Deval Emmanuel
Published: April 2023

Dorsal horn of the spinal cord is an important crossroad of pain neuraxis, especially for the neuronal plasticity mechanisms that can lead to chronic pain states. Windup is a well-known spinal pain facilitation process initially described several decades ago, but its exact mechanism is still not fully understood. Here, we combine bothex vivoandin vivoelectrophysiological recordings of rat spinal neurons with computational modeling to demonstrate a role for ASIC1a-containing channels in the windup process. Spinal application of the ASIC1a inhibitory venom peptides mambalgin-1 and psalmotoxin-1 (PcTx1) significantly reduces the ability of deep wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons to develop windupin vivo. All deep WDR-like neurons recorded from spinal slices exhibit an ASIC current with biophysical and pharmacological characteristics consistent with functional expression of ASIC1a homomeric channels. A computational model of WDR neuron supplemented with different ASIC1a channel parameters accurately reproduces the experimental data, further supporting a positive contribution of these channels to windup. It also predicts a calcium-dependent windup decrease for elevated ASIC conductances, a phenomenon that was experimentally validated using the Texas coral snake ASIC-activating toxin (MitTx) and calcium-activated potassium channel inhibitory peptides (apamin and iberiotoxin). This study supports a dual contribution to windup of calcium permeable ASIC1a channels in deep laminae projecting neurons, promoting it upon moderate channel activity, but ultimately leading to calcium-dependent windup inhibition associated to potassium channels when activity increases.
A combined experimental-computational approach uncovers a role for the Golgi matrix protein Giantin in breast cancer progression
Authors: Ghannoum Salim , Fantini Damiano , Zahoor Muhammad , Reiterer Veronika , Phuyal Santosh , Leoncio Netto Waldir , Sørensen Øystein , Iyer Arvind , Sengupta Debarka , Prasmickaite Lina , Mælandsmo Gunhild Mari , Köhn-Luque Alvaro , Farhan Hesso
Published: April 2023

Our understanding of how speed and persistence of cell migration affects the growth rate and size of tumors remains incomplete. To address this, we developed a mathematical model wherein cells migrate in two-dimensional space, divide, die or intravasate into the vasculature. Exploring a wide range of speed and persistence combinations, we find that tumor growth positively correlates with increasing speed and higher persistence. As a biologically relevant example, we focused on Golgi fragmentation, a phenomenon often linked to alterations of cell migration. Golgi fragmentation was induced by depletion of Giantin, a Golgi matrix protein, the downregulation of which correlates with poor patient survival. Applying the experimentally obtained migration and invasion traits of Giantin depleted breast cancer cells to our mathematical model, we predict that loss of Giantin increases the number of intravasating cells. This prediction was validated, by showing that circulating tumor cells express significantly less Giantin than primary tumor cells. Altogether, our computational model identifies cell migration traits that regulate tumor progression and uncovers a role of Giantin in breast cancer progression.
Hypoxia as a potential cause of dyspareunia
Authors: Hurt Karel , Zahalka Frantisek , Zikan Michal , Rackova Jana , Rakovicova Ivana , Rakovic Jakub , Halad Martin
Published: April 2023

Dyspareunia is genital pain before, during or after penile-vaginal sexual intercourse. The prevalence of dyspareunia ranges from 8 to 22%. Sexual intercourse concomitant with a pelvic organic lesion is likely to cause pain in most cases. However, in these cases, the pain depends not only on sexual intercourse. In its basic definition, dyspareunia in women is considered an idiopathic affection without a typical organic constitution. It is only present with penile-vaginal penetration. Long-term hypoxia in perineal muscles can cause muscle and perimuscular changes, leading to chronic pain not sufficiently responding to standard therapy. During the entrance examination to our previous study on dyspareunia, we noted significantly lower pulse oximetry levels in the perineal area of affected women. We aimed to compare pulse oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO2) of dyspareunia-affected women to healthy, pain-free women. A retrospective study was performed. The study participants were women who had participated in our previously published study on dyspareunia. This retrospective study was approved by the Ethical Committee. The study included 62 women: 31 dyspareunia-affected women in the treatment group and 31 healthy women in the control group. Method: During their examinations, women in the dyspareunia and control groups were measured for SpO2. The procedure was performed in the vulvo-perineal rear region, involving the commissure and the bulbospongiosus muscle. Median and mean SpO2 were compared between the treatment and control groups. Testing for sample size accuracy was performed retroactively. Results: There were 31 participants in each group. The SpO2 data were skewed and did not follow a Gaussian distribution. The Mann-Whitney U test was run to determine differences in perineum oximetry between the treatment group and controls. The median SpO2 was 91 in the treatment group and 92 in the control group. This difference was statistically significant, p = 0.002. Sample size accuracy was assured by post hoc calculation. Conclusions: Idiopathic dyspareunia is inherent in cohabitation muscle pain that standard therapy could not explain nor treat. We detected clinically meaningfully decreased levels of SpO2 in affected patients. We compared pelvic oximetry between dyspareunia-affected women in the treatment and control groups. This comparison showed significant hypoxia in the perineal muscle area (p = 0.002). Our results may help us understand the source of this pain and guide treatment accordingly.
Uncertainty analysis and optimization for mild moxibustion
Authors: Liu Honghua , Huang Zhiliang , Wei Lei , Huang He , Li Qian , Peng Han , Liu Mailan
Published: April 2023

During mild moxibustion treatment, uncertainties are involved in the operating parameters, such as the moxa-burning temperature, the moxa stick sizes, the stick-to-skin distance, and the skin moisture content. It results in fluctuations in skin surface temperature during mild moxibustion. Existing mild moxibustion treatments almost ignore the uncertainty of operating parameters. The uncertainties lead to excessive skin surface temperature causing intense pain, or over-low temperature reducing efficacy. Therefore, the interval model was employed to measure the uncertainty of the operation parameters in mild moxibustion, and the uncertainty optimization design was performed for the operation parameters. It aimed to provide the maximum thermal penetration of mild moxibustion to enhance efficacy while meeting the surface temperature requirements. The interval uncertainty optimization can fully consider the operating parameter uncertainties to ensure optimal thermal penetration and avoid patient discomfort caused by excessive skin surface temperature. To reduce the computational burden of the optimization solution, a high-precision surrogate model was established through a radial basis neural network (RBNN), and a nonlinear interval model for mild moxibustion treatment was formulated. By introducing the reliability-based possibility degree of interval (RPDI), the interval uncertainty optimization was transformed into a deterministic optimization problem, solved by the genetic algorithm. The results showed that this method could significantly improve the thermal penetration of mild moxibustion while meeting the skin surface temperature requirements, thereby enhancing efficacy.
The influence of vancomycin on renal functions, the predictors and associated factors for nephrotoxicity
Authors: Altowayan Waleed M. , Mobark Mugahid A. , ALharbi Abdulmajed , Alduhami Abdullah Ali , Rabbani Syed Imam
Published: April 2023

Background

Vancomycin has been widely used in the last six decades to treat methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and other resistant gram-positive infections. The risk of vancomycin toxicity increases with the utilization of higher doses while treating the resistant form of bacterial infections. Nephrotoxicity is one of the major complications reported to be a hinderance in the prognosis of vancomycin therapy.

Objectives

This hospital-based study aimed to highlight the influence of vancomycin on renal function with special emphasis on identifying the predictors and augmenting factors for nephrotoxicity.

Methodology

A cross-sectional, unicentric, hospital-based study was conducted at King Fahad Specialist Hospital (KFSH) in Qassim region in Saudi Arabia (KSA). It included 319 hospitalized patients who received vancomycin at intermittent doses (15 to 30 mg/kg IV per day) based on the diseased state. Data regarding vancomycin dose, frequency, duration and data of renal function tests and type of admission were analysed to evaluate their influence on the renal function using parameters such as blood urea, serum creatinine levels and creatinine clearance. One-way ANOVA and Spearman correlation test were used in the analysis of data.

Results

Both male and female patients treated with vancomycin had significantly (p<0.05) elevated blood urea and serum creatinine levels compared to baseline levels while creatinine clearance was non-significantly varied. Increasing age, increasing body weight, higher vancomycin dose and trough levels, increased vancomycin frequency and duration, critically ill patients and site of infection were factors associated with significant (p<0.05) increases in blood urea and serum creatinine levels with reduction in creatinine clearance.

Conclusion

Data suggested that vancomycin treatment reduced the renal function in patients and indicated its association with several predictors and confounding factors. The findings of the study might assist in identifying the patients under risk from the vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity and in designing the preventive strategies to reduce such complications.
Ginseng-containing traditional medicine preparations in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hu Jiaqi , Cheng Mengqi , Li Yue , Shi Bolun , He Shulin , Yao Ziang , Jiang Juling , Yu Huibo , He Zhongning , Zhao Yuwei , Zheng Honggang , Hua Baojin , Liu Rui
Published: April 2023

Background

Ginseng-containing traditional medicine preparations (G-TMPs) in combination with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy (FBC) are well-known treatments for advanced gastric cancer (AGC), with a superior efficacy to FBC alone. However, evidence regarding their efficacy remains limited. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of G-TMPs in combination with FBC for the treatment of AGC.

Methods

Eight electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using G-TMPs with FBC for the treatment of AGC. The primary outcome included the tumor response, while the secondary outcomes included the quality of life (QoL), proportions of peripheral blood lymphocytes, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and levels of cancer biomarkers. The quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed using GRADE profilers.

Results

A total of 1,960 participants were involved in the 26 RCTs included. Patients treated with FBC plus G-TMPs had better objective response (risk ratio [RR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13 to 1.35, p < 0.00001) and disease control (RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.19, p < 0.00001) rates than those treated with FBC alone. Additionally, the combination group had a better QoL, higher proportions of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and natural killer cells, as well as a higher CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio. Furthermore, lower levels of CA19-9, CA72-4, and CEA were confirmed in the combination treatment group. In addition, G-TMPs reduced the incidence of ADRs during chemotherapy.

Conclusion

In combination with FBC, G-TMPs can potentially enhance efficacy, reduce ADRs, and improve prognosis for patients with AGC. However, high-quality randomized studies remain warranted.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO Number: CRD42021264938.
The impact of government actions and risk perception on the promotion of self-protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Alvarez-Galvez Javier , Anastasiou Andreas , Lamnisos Demetris , Constantinou Marios , Nicolaou Christiana , Papacostas Savvas , Vasiliou Vasilis S. , McHugh Louise , Lubenko Jelena , Ruiz Francisco J. , Paez-Blarrina Marisa , Montesinos Francisco , Valdivia-Salas Sonsoles , Merwin Rhonda M. , Karekla Maria , Gloster Andrew T. , Kassianos Angelos P.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

We aim to understand the factors that drive citizens of different countries to adhere to recommended self-protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Survey data was obtained through the COVID-19 Impact project. We selected countries that presented a sufficiently complete time series and a statistically relevant sample for running the analysis: Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. To identify country-specific differences in self-protective behaviors, we used previous evidence and change-point detection analysis to establish variations across participating countries whose effect was then assessed by means of interrupted series analysis.

Results

A high level of compliance with health and governmental authorities’ recommendations were generally observed in all included countries. The level of stress decreased near the period when countries such as Cyprus, Greece or the United Kingdom relaxed their prevention behavior recommendations. However, this relaxation of behaviors did not occur in countries such as Germany, Ireland, or the United States. As observed in the change-point detection analysis, when the daily number of recorded COVID-19 cases decreased, people relaxed their protective behaviors (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland), although the opposite trend was observed in Switzerland.

Discussion

COVID-19 self-protective behaviors were heterogeneous across countries examined. Our findings show that there is probably no single winning strategy for exiting future health crises, as similar interventions, aimed to promote self-protective behaviors, may be received differently depending on the specific population groups and on the particular geographical context in which they are implemented.