bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid and Accurate Campylobacter jejuni Detection With CRISPR-Cas12b Based on Newly Identified Campylobacter jejuni-Specific and -Conserved Genomic Signatures
Authors: Huang Yu , Gu Dan , Xue Han , Yu Jinyan , Tang Yuanyue , Huang Jinlin , Zhang Yunzeng , Jiao Xinan
Published: April 2021

Campylobacter jejuni is among the most prevalent foodborne zoonotic pathogens leading to diarrheal diseases. In this study, we developed a CRISPR-Cas12b-based system to rapidly and accurately detect C. jejuni contamination. Identification of C. jejuni-specific and -conserved genomic signatures is a fundamental step in development of the detection system. By comparing C. jejuni genome sequences with those of the closely related Campylobacter coli, followed by comprehensive online BLAST searches, a 20-bp C. jejuni-conserved (identical in 1024 out of 1037 analyzed C. jejuni genome sequences) and -specific (no identical sequence detected in non-C. jejuni strains) sequence was identified and the system was then assembled. In further experiments, strong green fluorescence was observed only when C. jejuni DNA was present in the system, highlighting the specificity of this system. The assay, with a sample-to-answer time of ∼40 min, positively detected chicken samples that were contaminated with a dose of approximately 10 CFU C. jejuni per gram of chicken, which was >10 times more sensitive than the traditional Campylobacter isolation method, suggesting that this method shows promise for onsite C. jejuni detection. This study provides an example of bioinformatics-guided CRISPR-Cas12b-based detection system development for rapid and accurate onsite pathogen detection.
Serum Cytokine Profiling Identifies Axl as a New Biomarker Candidate for Active Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
Authors: Ma Jianjuan , Dong Cong , Wei Shushan , Qiu Minzhi , Wu Penghui , Ou Changxing , Zhang Bomeng , Zhang Xueyan , Yan Jie , Zhang Qingling , Zhong Nanshan
Published: April 2021

Background: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) prognosis is generally favorable and is treated with combined corticosteroids/immunosuppressor(s) therapy. However, disease flares increase the number of clinical visits. Therefore, discovering new serum biomarkers for early identification of active EGPA is crucial.

Objective: To identify reliable serum biomarkers to measure EGPA activity.

Methods: The expression of 160 proteins was compared in sera from 15 inactive and 13 active EGPA patients by antibody-based microarray. Network-based analysis identified patterns in the different groups. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in active disease were identified, and the correlation between their serum levels and clinical parameters was assessed. DEPs were further analyzed for GO enrichment and KEGG pathways. Finally, DEP marker candidates were validated by ELISA and Bio-plex as well as against a second cohort of 22 inactive and 18 active EGPA patients.

Results: The active group presented higher peripheral and sputum eosinophil counts, FeNO, and FEV1 (% predicted) (P < 0.05). Network-based analysis showed scattered expression patterns in active subjects, but no significant bias in inactive subjects. Significant differences were observed in serum levels of 19 candidate markers, all of which were higher in active EGPA (P < 0.05). KEGG analysis indicated that DEPs were mainly involved in the MAPK, PI3K-Akt, RAS and Rap1 related pathways. Nine out of 19 candidate markers were positively correlated with peripheral eosinophil counts including FGF-7, SCF, GDNF, β-NGF, IGFBP-4, Axl, PIGF, Insulin, NT-4, ErbB3, OPN and BMP-4 (r = 0.693, r = 0.692, r = 0.687, r = 0.683, r = 0.671, r = 0.606, r = 0.571, r = 0.570, r = 0.516, respectively; P < 0.05), while two, CD14 and MCP-3, were negatively correlated (r = −0.644 and r = −0.515; P < 0.05). The higher expression of Axl, OPN, HCC-4, GDNF, and MCP-3 in active EGPA subjects was confirmed by ELISA and Custom Multiplex Bio-plex analyses.

Conclusion: The serum protein profiles were significantly different between active and inactive EGPA. The expression of the candidate proteins correlated with peripheral blood eosinophil count. Serum Axl, OPN, HCC-4, GDNF, and MCP-3 levels were consistently higher in active EGPA, independent of the assessment methods. Finally, Axl had the largest AUC, indicating that this cytokine may serve as novel biomarker for the diagnosis of active EGPA.
Post-translational Control of RNA-Binding Proteins and Disease-Related Dysregulation
Authors: Velázquez-Cruz Alejandro , Baños-Jaime Blanca , Díaz-Quintana Antonio , De la Rosa Miguel A. , Díaz-Moreno Irene
Published: April 2021

Cell signaling mechanisms modulate gene expression in response to internal and external stimuli. Cellular adaptation requires a precise and coordinated regulation of the transcription and translation processes. The post-transcriptional control of mRNA metabolism is mediated by the so-called RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which assemble with specific transcripts forming messenger ribonucleoprotein particles of highly dynamic composition. RBPs constitute a class of trans-acting regulatory proteins with affinity for certain consensus elements present in mRNA molecules. However, these regulators are subjected to post-translational modifications (PTMs) that constantly adjust their activity to maintain cell homeostasis. PTMs can dramatically change the subcellular localization, the binding affinity for RNA and protein partners, and the turnover rate of RBPs. Moreover, the ability of many RBPs to undergo phase transition and/or their recruitment to previously formed membrane-less organelles, such as stress granules, is also regulated by specific PTMs. Interestingly, the dysregulation of PTMs in RBPs has been associated with the pathophysiology of many different diseases. Abnormal PTM patterns can lead to the distortion of the physiological role of RBPs due to mislocalization, loss or gain of function, and/or accelerated or disrupted degradation. This Mini Review offers a broad overview of the post-translational regulation of selected RBPs and the involvement of their dysregulation in neurodegenerative disorders, cancer and other pathologies.
Detection and Aggregation of Listeria Monocytogenes Using Polyclonal Antibody Gold-Coated Magnetic Nanoshells Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates
Authors: Busch Robert T. , Karim Farzia , Sun Yvonne , Fry H. Christopher , Liu Yuzi , Zhao Chenglong , Vasquez Erick S.
Published: April 2021

Magnetic nanoshells with tailored surface chemistry can enhance bacterial detection and separation technologies. This work demonstrated a simple technique to detect, capture, and aggregate bacteria with the aid of end-functionalized polyclonal antibody gold-coated magnetic nanoshells (pAb-Lis-AuMNs) as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes. Listeria monocytogenes were used as the pathogenic bacteria and the pAb-Lis-AuMNs, 300 nm diameter, were used as probes allowing facile magnetic separation and aggregation. An optimized covalent bioconjugation procedure between the magnetic nanoshells and the polyclonal antibody was performed at pH six via a carbodiimide crosslinking reaction. Spectroscopic and morphological characterization techniques confirmed the fabrication of stable pAb-Lis-AuMNs. The resulting pAb-Lis-AuMNs acted as a SERS probe for L. monocytogenes based on the targeted capture via surface binding interactions and magnetically induced aggregation. Label-free SERS measurements were recorded for the minimum detectable amount of L. monocytogenes based on the SERS intensity at the 1388 cm−1 Raman shift. L. monocytogenes concentrations exhibited detection limits in the range of 104–107 CFU ml−1, before and after aggregation. By fitting these concentrations, the limit of detection of this method was ∼103 CFU ml−1. Using a low-intensity magnetic field of 35 G, pAb-Lis-AuMNs aggregated L. monocytogenes as demonstrated with microscopy techniques, including SEM and optical microscopy. Overall, this work presents a label-free SERS probe method comprised of a surface-modified polyclonal antibody sub-micron magnetic nanoshell structures with high sensitivity and magnetic induced separation that could lead to the fabrication of multiple single-step sensors.
npc2-Deficient Zebrafish Reproduce Neurological and Inflammatory Symptoms of Niemann-Pick Type C Disease
Authors: Wiweger Malgorzata , Majewski Lukasz , Adamek-Urbanska Dobrochna , Wasilewska Iga , Kuznicki Jacek
Published: April 2021

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease that is caused by a mutation of theNPC1orNPC2gene, in which un-esterified cholesterol and sphingolipids accumulate mainly in the liver, spleen, and brain. Abnormal lysosomal storage leads to cell damage, neurological problems, and premature death. The time of onset and severity of symptoms of NPC disease are highly variable. The molecular mechanisms that are responsible for NPC disease pathology are far from being understood. The present study generated and characterized a zebrafish mutant that lacks Npc2 protein that may be useful for studies at the organismal, cellular, and molecular levels and both small-scale and high-throughput screens. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we knocked out the zebrafish homolog ofNPC2. Five-day-oldnpc2mutants were morphologically indistinguishable from wildtype larvae. We found that livenpc2–/–larvae exhibited stronger Nile blue staining. Thenpc2–/–larvae exhibited low mobility and a high anxiety-related response. These behavioral changes correlated with downregulation of themcu(mitochondrial calcium uniporter) gene,ppp3ca(calcineurin) gene, and genes that are involved in myelination (mbpandmpz). Histological analysis of adultnpc2–/–zebrafish revealed that pathological changes in the nervous system, kidney, liver, and pancreas correlated with inflammatory responses (i.e., the upregulation ofil1,nfκβ, andmpeg; i.e., hallmarks of NPC disease). These findings suggest that thenpc2mutant zebrafish may be a model of NPC disease.
Localization of Epileptic Foci Based on Simultaneous EEG–fMRI Data
Authors: Sadjadi Seyyed Mostafa , Ebrahimzadeh Elias , Shams Mohammad , Seraji Masoud , Soltanian-Zadeh Hamid
Published: April 2021

Combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) enables a non-invasive investigation of the human brain function and evaluation of the correlation of these two important modalities of brain activity. This paper explores recent reports on using advanced simultaneous EEG–fMRI methods proposed to map the regions and networks involved in focal epileptic seizure generation. One of the applications of EEG and fMRI combination as a valuable clinical approach is the pre-surgical evaluation of patients with epilepsy to map and localize the precise brain regions associated with epileptiform activity. In the process of conventional analysis using EEG–fMRI data, the interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) are visually extracted from the EEG data to be convolved as binary events with a predefined hemodynamic response function (HRF) to provide a model of epileptiform BOLD activity and use as a regressor for general linear model (GLM) analysis of the fMRI data. This review examines the methodologies involved in performing such studies, including techniques used for the recording of EEG inside the scanner, artifact removal, and statistical analysis of the fMRI signal. It then discusses the results reported for patients with primary generalized epilepsy and patients with different types of focal epileptic disorders. An important matter that these results have brought to light is that the brain regions affected by interictal epileptic discharges might not be limited to the ones where they have been generated. The developed methods can help reveal the regions involved in or affected by a seizure onset zone (SOZ). As confirmed by the reviewed literature, EEG–fMRI provides information that comes particularly useful when evaluating patients with refractory epilepsy for surgery.
Glibenclamide Advantage in Treating Edema After Intracerebral Hemorrhage (GATE-ICH): Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized, Controlled, Assessor-Blinded Trial
Authors: Zhao Jingjing , Yang Fang , Song Changgeng , Li Li , Yang Xiai , Wang Xiaofeng , Yu Liping , Guo Jun , Wang Kangjun , Fu Feng , Jiang Wen
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Brain edema after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) plays a critical role in the secondary injury of ICH and may heighten the potential for a poor outcome. This trial aims to explore the efficacy of small doses of oral glibenclamide in perihematomal edema (PHE) and the prognosis of patients with ICH.

Methods and Analysis: The GATE-ICH trial is a multicenter randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial. A total of 220 adult patients with acute primary ICH in 28 study centers in China will be randomized to the glibenclamide group (glibenclamide plus guideline-recommended ICH management) or the control group (guideline-recommended ICH management). Multivariate logistic regression will be used to analyze the relationship between the treatments and primary outcome.

Study Outcomes: The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale ≥3) at 90 days after enrollment. The secondary efficacy outcomes include changes in the volume of ICH and PHE between the baseline and follow-up computed tomography scans as well as the clinical scores between the baseline and follow-up assessments.

Discussion: The GATE-ICH trial will assess the effects of small doses of oral glibenclamide in reducing the PHE after ICH and improving the 90-day prognosis of patients.

Clinical Trial Registration:www.clinicaltrials.gov., NCT03741530. Registered on November 8, 2018.

Trial Status: Protocol version: May 6, 2019, Version 5. Recruitment and follow-up of patients is currently ongoing. This trial will be end in the second quarter of 2021.
Gray Matter Sampling Differences Between Subdural Electrodes and Stereoelectroencephalography Electrodes
Authors: Tantawi Mohamed , Miao Jingya , Matias Caio , Skidmore Christopher T. , Sperling Michael R. , Sharan Ashwini D. , Wu Chengyuan
Published: April 2021

Objective: Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) has seen a recent increase in popularity in North America; however, concerns regarding the spatial sampling capabilities of SEEG remain. We aimed to quantify and compare the spatial sampling of subdural electrode (SDE) and SEEG implants.

Methods: Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who underwent invasive monitoring were included in this retrospective case-control study. Ten SEEG cases were compared with ten matched SDE cases based on clinical presentation and pre-implantation hypothesis. To quantify gray matter sampling, MR and CT images were coregistered and a 2.5mm radius sphere was superimposed over the center of each electrode contact. The estimated recording volume of gray matter was defined as the cortical voxels within these spherical models. Paired t-tests were performed to compare volumes and locations of SDE and SEEG recording. A Ripley's K-function analysis was performed to quantify differences in spatial distributions.

Results: The average recording volume of gray matter by each individual contact was similar between the two modalities. SEEG implants sampled an average of 20% more total gray matter, consisted of an average of 17% more electrode contacts, and had 77% more of their contacts covering gray matter within sulci. Insular coverage was only achieved with SEEG. SEEG implants generally consist of discrete areas of dense local coverage scattered across the brain; while SDE implants cover relatively contiguous areas with lower density recording.

Significance: Average recording volumes per electrode contact are similar for SEEG and SDE, but SEEG may allow for greater overall volumes of recording as more electrodes can be routinely implanted. The primary difference lies in the location and distribution of gray matter than can be sampled. The selection between SEEG and SDE implantation depends on sampling needs of the invasive implant.
Neuronal and Glial Distribution of Tau Protein in the Adult Rat and Monkey
Authors: Kanaan Nicholas M. , Grabinski Tessa
Published: April 2021

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein for which the physiological functions remain a topic of vigorous investigation. Additionally, tau is a central player in the pathogenesis of several diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and several frontotemporal dementias. A critical variable to understanding tau in physiological and disease contexts is its normal localization within cells of the adult CNS. Tau is often described as an axon-specific (or enriched) and neuron-specific protein with little to no expression in glial cells, all of which are untrue. Understanding normal tau distribution also impacts interpretation of experimental results and hypotheses regarding its role in disease. Thus, we set out to help clarify the normal localization of tau in the adult CNS of middle-aged rats and rhesus macaque using the hippocampus as a representative brain structure. The physiological concentration of tau in the rat hippocampus was 6.6 μM and in white matter was 3.6 μM as determined by quantitative sandwich ELISAs. We evaluated the cellular localization of tau using multiple tau-specific antibodies with epitopes to different regions, including Tau1, Tau5, Tau7, R1, and two novel primate-specific antibodies NT9 and NT15. In the rat and monkey, tau was localized within the somatodendritic and axonal compartments, as well as a subset of neuronal nuclei. Semi-quantitative fluorescence intensity measurements revealed that depending on the specific reagent used the somatodendritic tau is relatively equal to, higher than, or lower than axonal tau, highlighting differential labeling of tau with various antibodies despite its distribution throughout the neuron. Tau was strongly expressed in mature oligodendrocytes and displayed little to no expression in oligodendrocyte precursor cells, astrocytes or microglia. Collectively, the data indicate tau is ∼3 – 7 μM under physiological conditions, is not specifically enriched in axons, and is normally found in both neurons and mature oligodendrocytes in the adult CNS. The full landscape of tau distribution is not revealed by all antibodies suggesting availability of the epitopes is different within specific neuronal compartments. These findings set the stage for better understanding normal tau distributions and interpreting data regarding the presence of tau in different compartments or cell types within disease conditions.
Unbiased Label-Free Quantitative Proteomics of Cells Expressing Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Mutations in CCNF Reveals Activation of the Apoptosis Pathway: A Workflow to Screen Pathogenic Gene Mutations
Authors: Cheng Flora , De Luca Alana , Hogan Alison L. , Rayner Stephanie L. , Davidson Jennilee M. , Watchon Maxinne , Stevens Claire H. , Muñoz Sonia Sanz , Ooi Lezanne , Yerbury Justin J. , Don Emily K. , Fifita Jennifer A. , Villalva Maria D. , Suddull Hannah , Chapman Tyler R. , Hedl Thomas J. , Walker Adam K. , Yang Shu , Morsch Marco , Shi Bingyang , Blair Ian P. , Laird Angela S. , Chung Roger S. , Lee Albert
Published: April 2021

The past decade has seen a rapid acceleration in the discovery of new genetic causes of ALS, with more than 20 putative ALS-causing genes now cited. These genes encode proteins that cover a diverse range of molecular functions, including free radical scavenging (e.g., SOD1), regulation of RNA homeostasis (e.g., TDP-43 and FUS), and protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (e.g., ubiquilin-2 and cyclin F) and autophagy (TBK1 and sequestosome-1/p62). It is likely that the various initial triggers of disease (either genetic, environmental and/or gene-environment interaction) must converge upon a common set of molecular pathways that underlie ALS pathogenesis. Given the complexity, it is not surprising that a catalog of molecular pathways and proteostasis dysfunctions have been linked to ALS. One of the challenges in ALS research is determining, at the early stage of discovery, whether a new gene mutation is indeed disease-specific, and if it is linked to signaling pathways that trigger neuronal cell death. We have established a proof-of-concept proteogenomic workflow to assess new gene mutations, using CCNF (cyclin F) as an example, in cell culture models to screen whether potential gene candidates fit the criteria of activating apoptosis. This can provide an informative and time-efficient output that can be extended further for validation in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models and/or for mechanistic studies. As a proof-of-concept, we expressed cyclin F mutations (K97R, S195R, S509P, R574Q, S621G) in HEK293 cells for label-free quantitative proteomics that bioinformatically predicted activation of the neuronal cell death pathways, which was validated by immunoblot analysis. Proteomic analysis of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patient fibroblasts bearing the S621G mutation showed the same activation of these pathways providing compelling evidence for these candidate gene mutations to be strong candidates for further validation and mechanistic studies (such as E3 enzymatic activity assays, protein–protein and protein–substrate studies, and neuronal apoptosis and aberrant branching measurements in zebrafish). Our proteogenomics approach has great utility and provides a relatively high-throughput screening platform to explore candidate gene mutations for their propensity to cause neuronal cell death, which will guide a researcher for further experimental studies.
The Use of Telemedicine and Other Strategies by Registered Dietitians for the Medical Nutrition Therapy of Patients With Inherited Metabolic Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Singh Rani H. , Pringle Theresa , Kenneson Aileen
Published: April 2021

The clinical management of patients with inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) includes medical nutrition therapy (MNT) by a registered dietitian (RD). We utilized an online quantitative and qualitative survey to characterize the practices of RDs treating patients with IMDs during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify challenges and unmet needs. We received responses from 117 RDs. Results indicate that RDs are using alternate methods to engage this vulnerable population and provide MNT during the pandemic, including offering telemedicine appointments. Barriers to implementation of telemedicine include the limitations of virtual visits (inability to conduct physical exams and collect blood samples), time, patient knowledge of technology, audio problems, and patient access to internet, computers, or smartphones. RDs have addressed these barriers by extending prescriptions without a medical exam, relying on local facilities for blood draws, increasing the number of patients that use at-home filter papers for blood monitoring, and expanding the use of phone calls and emails. RDs identified patient education materials to facilitate telemedicine visits as a primary unmet need. Despite the reported barriers and limitations of telemedicine for MNT of IMDs, there was widespread satisfaction with the approach among RDs, with 96.9% reporting that they were somewhat or very satisfied with telemedicine. Although this survey focused on barriers, benefits of telemedicine for both RDs and patients were also reported. Identification of barriers and unmet needs can help clinics plan strategies to maximize telemedicine delivery models, to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, and to support sustained use of telemedicine post-pandemic.
miR-1301-3p Promotes Cell Proliferation and Facilitates Cell Cycle Progression via Targeting SIRT1 in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Luo Dakui , Fan Hao , Ma Xiang , Yang Chao , He Yu , Ge Yugang , Jiang Mingkun , Xu Zekuan , Yang Li
Published: April 2021

So far, many existing evidences indicate that microRNAs (miRNA) are closely associated with the tumorigenesis and progression of various tumors. It has been reported that miR-1301-3p is abnormally expressed in several malignant tumors. However, the role of miR-1301-3p in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear and is worth studying. Through qRT-PCR, the expression of miR-1301-3p and SIRT1 were detected in GC tissues and cells. The cell proliferation and cell cycle were measured through CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the target of miR-1301-3p. Though tumorigenesis assay, we monitored the effect of miR-1301-3p on GC cell growth in vivo. miR-1301-3p was upregulated in GC tissues and cells in our study. Overexpression of miR-1301-3p accelerated GC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis. Notably, altering the expression miR-1301-3p caused deregulation of Cyclin D1, CDK4, c-Myc and P21. Furthermore, SIRT1 was the direct target of miR-1301-3p by luciferase reporter assay. After transfecting with miR-1301-3p inhibitor, we found that knockdown of SIRT1 could enhance the ability of proliferation. Our results identify miR-1301-3p as a novel potential therapeutic target that is associated with the tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer.
Case Report: Expanding the Phenotypic Spectrum of Timothy Syndrome Type 1: A Sporadic Case With a de novo CACNA1C Pathogenic Variant and Segmental Ileal Dilatation
Authors: Nugud Ahmed A. , ELkholy Nermeen Mahmoud , Omar Awad Alkarim , Qazi Abid , Tzivinikos Christos , Chencheri Nidheesh , Khan Sabina , Ba'Ath Muhammad Eyad
Published: April 2021

Background: Long QT syndactyly syndrome (long QT syndrome type 8), also known as Timothy Syndrome (TS) was first described in 1994 with still <50 case reported in the literature. The full spectrum of the syndrome is not yet known.

Results: Here we report a girl who presented with new onset refractory seizures and an undiagnosed cause of intermittent abdominal distention. She also had syndactyly of her fingers and toes and was found to have prolonged QT. Upon further investigations she was found to have a de novo pathogenic variant in CACNA1C, along with Segmental Ileal Dilatation (SID), and subsequently diagnosed with Timothy syndrome.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, the association of Timothy Syndrome with Segmental Ileal Dilatation, was not described before.
Continuing Nuclear Data Research for Production of Accelerator-Based Novel Radionuclides for Medical Use: A Mini-Review
Authors: Qaim Syed M. , Hussain Mazhar , Spahn Ingo , Neumaier Bernd
Published: April 2021

Nuclear data are important for production and medical application of a radionuclide. This brief review concentrates on nuclear reaction cross-section data. The availability of standardized nuclear data for accelerator-based production of medical radionuclides is outlined. Some new directions in radionuclide applications, for example, theranostic approach, bimodal imaging, and radionuclide targeted therapy, are considered and the status of relevant nuclear data is discussed. The current trends in nuclear data research using accelerators are elaborated. The increasing significance of intermediate energy accelerators in production of therapeutic radionuclides is emphasized.
Feelings Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Patients Treated in the Oncology Clinics (Poland)
Authors: Grajek Mateusz , Działach Eliza , Buczkowska Marta , Górski Michał , Nowara Elzbieta
Published: April 2021

Background: The number of cancer patients is constantly growing. Both WHO and IARC report that this number may reach up to 24 million new diagnosed cases in the next two decades. The proposed treatment and especially the diagnosis can have a significant impact on an individual's approach to the disease, as well as on the patient's quality of life.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the quality of life, feelings, and fear of cancer-treating oncological patients, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and Methods: The study used the standardized WHOQOL quality of life questionnaire in a shortened version, the COVID-19 fear scale (FCV-19S), and the AIS disease acceptance scale (in terms of cancer-related sensations). The questionnaire survey was conducted among patients of cancer clinics (Poland). The study was conducted in two stages–before the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020). Data from 450 correctly completed questionnaires were analyzed statistically. The obtained data were statistically processed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test (p = 0.05).

Results: Among the surveyed patients of the cancer clinic, the quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased by 2%, compared to the period before the pandemic. The frequency of negative feelings associated with cancer increased during the COVID-19 pandemic–by 11% more men, and 4.4% of women determined the frequency of negative feelings to be 2–3 times a week. The level of fear associated with COVID-19 was moderate (57.1%), with women having a higher level of fear (12.5% higher than men).

Conclusion: The development of the epidemic is very important in terms of public health. COVID-19 should be considered as one of the factors that bring about sudden changes in the mental health of the population, which may result from the dynamic development of this disease, dramatic media coverage, and own experiences. It has been shown that the sudden appearance of such a large stressor causes a decrease in patients' quality of life and an increase in negative feelings associated with chronic disease.
The Evidence-Base for Psychodynamic Psychotherapy With Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Synthesis
Authors: Midgley Nick , Mortimer Rose , Cirasola Antonella , Batra Prisha , Kennedy Eilis
Published: April 2021

Despite a rich theoretical and clinical history, psychodynamic child and adolescent psychotherapy has been slow to engage in the empirical assessment of its effectiveness. This systematic review aims to provide a narrative synthesis of the evidence base for psychodynamic therapy with children and adolescents. Building on two earlier systematic reviews, which covered the period up to 2017, the current study involved two stages: an updated literature search, covering the period between January 2017 and May 2020, and a narrative synthesis of these new studies with those identified in the earlier reviews. The updated search identified 37 papers (28 distinct studies). When combined with papers identified in the earlier systematic reviews, this resulted in a combined total of 123 papers (82 distinct studies). The narrative synthesis of findings indicates that there is evidence of effectiveness for psychodynamic therapy in treating a wide range of mental health difficulties in children and adolescents. The evidence suggests this approach may be especially effective for internalizing disorders such as depression and anxiety, as well as in the treatment of emerging personality disorders and in the treatment of children who have experience of adversity. Both the quality and quantity of empirical papers in this field has increased over time. However, much of the research demonstrates a range of methodological limitations (small sample sizes, lack of control groups etc.), and only 22 studies were Randomized Controlled Trials. Further high-quality research is needed in order to better understand the effectiveness of psychodynamic psychotherapy for children and young people.
Glutamate and GABA Homeostasis and Neurometabolism in Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Sarawagi Ajay , Soni Narayan Datt , Patel Anant Bahadur
Published: April 2021

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of distress, disability, and suicides. As per the latest WHO report, MDD affects more than 260 million people worldwide. Despite decades of research, the underlying etiology of depression is not fully understood. Glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, respectively, in the matured central nervous system. Imbalance in the levels of these neurotransmitters has been implicated in different neurological and psychiatric disorders including MDD.1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful non-invasive method to study neurometabolites homeostasisin vivo. Additionally,13C-NMR spectroscopy together with an intravenous administration of non-radioactive13C-labeled glucose or acetate provides a measure of neural functions. In this review, we provide an overview of NMR-based measurements of glutamate and GABA homeostasis, neurometabolic activity, and neurotransmitter cycling in MDD. Finally, we highlight the impact of recent advancements in treatment strategies against a depressive disorder that target glutamate and GABA pathways in the brain.
Challenges and Opportunities of Immersive Technologies for Mindfulness Meditation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Döllinger Nina , Wienrich Carolin , Latoschik Marc Erich
Published: April 2021

Mindfulness is considered an important factor of an individual's subjective well-being. Consequently, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) has investigated approaches that strengthen mindfulness, i.e., by inventing multimedia technologies to support mindfulness meditation. These approaches often use smartphones, tablets, or consumer-grade desktop systems to allow everyday usage in users' private lives or in the scope of organized therapies. Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality (VR, AR, MR; in short: XR) significantly extend the design space for such approaches. XR covers a wide range of potential sensory stimulation, perceptive and cognitive manipulations, content presentation, interaction, and agency. These facilities are linked to typical XR-specific perceptions that are conceptually closely related to mindfulness research, such as (virtual) presence and (virtual) embodiment. However, a successful exploitation of XR that strengthens mindfulness requires a systematic analysis of the potential interrelation and influencing mechanisms between XR technology, its properties, factors, and phenomena and existing models and theories of the construct of mindfulness. This article reports such a systematic analysis of XR-related research from HCI and life sciences to determine the extent to which existing research frameworks on HCI and mindfulness can be applied to XR technologies, the potential of XR technologies to support mindfulness, and open research gaps. Fifty papers of ACM Digital Library and National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine (PubMed) with and without empirical efficacy evaluation were included in our analysis. The results reveal that at the current time, empirical research on XR-based mindfulness support mainly focuses on therapy and therapeutic outcomes. Furthermore, most of the currently investigated XR-supported mindfulness interactions are limited to vocally guided meditations within nature-inspired virtual environments. While an analysis of empirical research on those systems did not reveal differences in mindfulness compared to non-mediated mindfulness practices, various design proposals illustrate that XR has the potential to provide interactive and body-based innovations for mindfulness practice. We propose a structured approach for future work to specify and further explore the potential of XR as mindfulness-support. The resulting framework provides design guidelines for XR-based mindfulness support based on the elements and psychological mechanisms of XR interactions.
Cascading Effects of Birds and Bats in a Shaded Coffee Agroforestry System
Authors: Schmitt Lauren , Greenberg Russell , Ibarra-Núñez Guillermo , Bichier Peter , Gordon Caleb E. , Perfecto Ivette
Published: April 2021

Volant vertebrate insectivores, including birds and bats, can be important regulators of herbivores in forests and agro-ecosystems. Their effects can be realized directly through predation and indirectly via intraguild predation. This paper examines data from bird and bat exclosures in coffee farms in Chiapas, Mexico in order to determine their effect on herbivores. Arthropods were sampled in 32 exclosures (with 10 coffee plants in each) and their paired controls three times during 6 months. After 3 months, herbivore and spider abundance increased, underscoring the importance of both intertrophic predation between volant vertebrate insectivores and herbivores and intraguild predation between volant vertebrate insectivores and spiders. After 6 months, herbivore abundance increased in the exclosures, which is indicative of a direct negative effect of birds and bats on herbivores. We suggest that intraguild predation is important in this food web and that seasonality may change the relative importance of intraguild vs. intertrophic predation. Results suggest a dissipating trophic cascade and echo the growing body of evidence that finds birds and bats are regulators of herbivores in agro-ecosystems.
How Old Is My Dog? Identification of Rational Age Groupings in Pet Dogs Based Upon Normative Age-Linked Processes
Authors: Harvey Naomi D.
Published: April 2021

Behavioral development is a lifelong process where cognitive traits such as learning and memory may be expected to take quadratic or linear trajectories. It is common practice for operational purposes to reduce study subjects into chronological categories when conducting research. However, there are no agreed-upon thresholds for this practice, and the lack of standardization may hinder comparison between studies of normative and pathological aging. In this perspective review, chronological categories have been identified that can be considered to represent normative cognitive and neurological aging in domestic family dogs. These categories work to capture age-related developmental trajectories for the majority of dog breeds. It is encouraged that researchers studying cognition and behavior, pathological cognitive deficits, or welfare of dogs across age categories utilize the categories presented here to best enable comparison between studies. The proposed groups could also support education programs informing owners of what behavioral changes to expect in their dog as they age, but they cannot be used to reflect health-based needs associated with breed-specific morbidity. The use of the age categories proposed here highlights significant welfare issues for breeds with the shortest average lifespans (e.g., the Great Dane). Studies show no evidence of an increased rate of behavioral or cognitive aging in short-lived breeds, and the shortest-lived breeds are most likely to die when classified by the proposed categories as Mature Adults. Adoption of these chronological categories in future research would aid comparison between studies and identification of non-normative age-related pathologies.
KDAS-ReID: Architecture Search for Person Re-Identification via Distilled Knowledge with Dynamic Temperature
Authors: Lei Zhou , Yang Kangkang , Jiang Kai , Chen Shengbo
Published: April 2021

Person re-Identification(Re-ID) based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) achieves remarkable success with its fast speed. However, prevailing Re-ID models are usually built upon backbones that manually design for classification. In order to automatically design an effective Re-ID architecture, we propose a pedestrian re-identification algorithm based on knowledge distillation, called KDAS-ReID. When the knowledge of the teacher model is transferred to the student model, the importance of knowledge in the teacher model will gradually decrease with the improvement of the performance of the student model. Therefore, instead of applying the distillation loss function directly, we consider using dynamic temperatures during the search stage and training stage. Specifically, we start searching and training at a high temperature and gradually reduce the temperature to 1 so that the student model can better learn from the teacher model through soft targets. Extensive experiments demonstrate that KDAS-ReID performs not only better than other state-of-the-art Re-ID models on three benchmarks, but also better than the teacher model based on the ResNet-50 backbone.
Relationship Prediction Based on Graph Model for Steam Turbine Control Valve
Authors: Zhang Yi-Jing , Hu Li-Sheng
Published: April 2021

The control valve is an important piece of equipment in the steam turbine, which frequently suffers from the fault of the dead zone. The graph model is a promising method for dead zone detection, yet establishing an accurate and completed graph topology is not an easy task due to limited mechanism knowledge. Hence, a graph model is proposed to predict the links in the graph and estimate the relationship between variables of related equipment of the control valve. The graph convolution is conducted on the uncompleted graph to learn the low-level representations of the graph nodes, and the score function is used to evaluate the probability of the existence of links between a pair of graph nodes. Results demonstrate a test accuracy of 99.2% for the link prediction, and follow the principles of thermodynamics in the steam turbine. Consequently, the proposed graph model is capable of estimating the relationships for the steam turbine control valve, and other inter-connected industrial systems.
Biological Control of Pythium aphanidermatum, the Causal Agent of Tomato Root Rot by Two Streptomyces Root Symbionts
Authors: Hassanisaadi Mohadeseh , Shahidi Bonjar Gholam Hosein , Hosseinipour Akbar , Abdolshahi Roohollah , Ait Barka Essaid , Saadoun Ismail
Published: April 2021

Damping-off caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, as one of the most infamous plant diseases, is considered as a significant disease that causes severe damages in greenhouse and field crops in a vast range of hosts especially vegetables. The application of chemical fungicides as a common method to control this disease poses negative side effects on humans and the environmental components. Actinobacteria, especially members of the genus Streptomyces, are fascinating biocontrol agents and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, which exhibit safer alternative managements to control this disease. The present study aims to explore for bioactives soil Streptomyces isolates that are able to control P. aphanidermatum, which is the causal agent of damping-off in tomato. Out of a total of 116 actinobacteria isolates collected from the soil, 53 have showed an antagonistic activity against P. aphanidermatum, as deduced through in vitro dual cultures. Based on in vitro Petri plate seedling-bioassays (IPSB), from the 53 tested isolates in dual cultures, two isolates coded as H2 and H3, considered as the most bioactive agents, were selected to assess their biocontrol performances against P. aphanidermatum in the Sandwich bed-mix technique in greenhouse experiments. In vivo greenhouse statistical studies were performed to compare seven treatments using completely randomized design experiments. Metalaxyl fungicide was applied as the chemical-control treatment. To evaluate biocontrol efficiencies of the two Streptomyces symbionts, disease incidence recorded throughout the course of experiment and criteria of number of leaves, length of the plants, plant fresh and dry weights, were measured at the end of experiment and analyzed statistically. The resulted disease incidences for all treatments indicated that the two Streptomyces strains had PGPR activity, and they were effective in decreasing disease incidence and improving plant performances regarding number of leaves, height, and plant fresh and dry weights. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene, the strain H2 revealed a close relation to six Streptomyces species, namely S. badius, S. caviscabies, S. globisporus, S. parvus, S. sindenensis, and S. griseoplanus, with 99.9% similarity. The strain H3 also indicated a close relation of the same similarity to two species, namely S. flavogriseus and S. pratensis. In overall, collected data dictated that the two bioactive root symbiont Streptomyces strains effectively controlled the damping-off disease caused by P. aphanidermatum.
Seed Priming with Potassium Nitrate and Gibberellic Acid Enhances the Performance of Dry Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in North-Western India
Authors: Dhillon Buta Singh , Kumar Virender , Sagwal Pardeep , Kaur Navjyot , Singh Mangat Gurjit , Singh Sudhanshu
Published: April 2021

Poor early growth and uneven crop establishment are reported as the major bottlenecks in wide-scale adoption and optimal yield realization of dry direct-seeded rice (DSR). Seed priming can potentially help overcome these problems in DSR. Therefore, laboratory and field studies were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, during kharif/wet-season 2018 and 2019 to evaluate the effect of different priming techniques on germination, establishment, growth, and grain yield of rice under DSR conditions. The following priming treatments were evaluated: dry non-primed seed (control), hydropriming with distilled water, halopriming with 2.0% potassium nitrate, hormopriming with 50 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3), and osmopriming with polyethylene glycol (PEG)(−0.6 MPa), each with 12 and 24 h priming duration. In 2019, priming treatments were tested under two DSR establishment methods—conventional DSR (sowing in dry soil followed by irrigation) and soil mulch DSR (locally known as vattar DSR) (sowing in moist soil after pre-sowing irrigation), whereas in 2018, priming treatments were evaluated under conventional DSR only. In both years, halopriming and hormopriming resulted in a 7–11% increase in rice yields compared to non-primed dry seed (control). Osmopriming resulted in a 4% yield increase compared to control in 2018 but not in 2019. The higher yields in halopriming and hormopriming were attributed to higher and rapid germination/crop emergence, better root growth, and improvement in yield attributes. Priming effect on crop emergence, growth, and yield did not differ by DSR establishment methods and duration of priming. Conventional DSR and soil mulch DSR did not differ in grain yield, whereas they differed in crop emergence, growth, and yield attributes. These results suggest that halopriming with 2.0% potassium nitrate and hormopriming with 50 ppm GA3 has good potential to improve crop establishment and yield of rice in both conventional and soil mulch DSR systems.
Dissemination of Carbapenemases (OXA-48, NDM and VIM) Producing Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Marrakech, Morocco
Authors: Loqman Souad , Soraa Nabila , Diene Seydina M. , Rolain Jean-Marc
Published: April 2021

The emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) represent a major clinical problem and raise serious health concerns. The present study aimed to investigate and ascertain the occurrence of CRE among hospitalized patients of Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakech, Morocco. Biological samples were collected over a one-year period (2018). The bacterial isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disc diffusion and Etest. The modified Hodge test and combined disc diffusion test were used for phenotypic detection. CRE hydrolyzing enzyme encoding genes: blaOXA-48, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, and blaNDM were characterized by PCR and DNA sequencing. In total, 131 non-duplicate CRE clinical strains resistant to Ertapenem were isolated out of 1603 initial Enterobacteriaceae. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common species (59%), followed by Enterobacter cloacae (24%), E. coli (10%), Citrobacter freundii (3%), Klebsiellaoxycota (2%), Serratia marcescens (1%), and Citrobacter braakii (1%). Of these, 56.49%, 21.37%, 15.27%, 3.38%, and 3.05% were collected from blood, urine, pus, catheters and respiratory samples, respectively. Approximately 85.5% (112/131) of the isolates were carbapenemase producers (40 blaOXA-48, 27 blaNDM, 38 blaOXA-48 + blaNDM and 7 blaVIM). All metallo-β-lactamases isolates were NDM-1 and VIM-1 producers. This is the first documentation of blaOXA-48 genes from C. freundii and C. braakii in Morocco.