bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the openings of aircraft composite laminated wing beam web under shear load
Authors: Zhang X L , Wang J C , Xu Q , Wang Y Y , Li C Y
Published: May 2022

In this paper, experiments and finite element methods are used to study the openings of the composite wing spar web of a civil aircraft. First, according to the design principles of composite laminates, determine the layup sequence and layup ratio of the spar, and then lay the beam webs and the beam edge strips integrally; then, calculate the equivalent of the spar by using the classic laminate theory Material properties, the method to calculate the equivalent elastic modulus of composite laminates of different thicknesses is derived; then, the influence of opening shape and opening angle on the strength of composite wing spar web under shear load is analyzed. Finally, the reinforcement design is carried out on the opening position. This research method not only solves specific engineering design problems, but also proposes a set of practical, cost-effective and efficient design methods for composite material opening shapes, which has a certain generality. Its design ideas and methods provide technical support for civil aircraft structural design.
Normative Data for Healthy French-Speaking Persons Aged 80 Years and Older for the DTLA Language Screening Test
Authors: Macoir Joël , Fossard Marion , Lefebvre Laurent , Monetta Laura , Renard Antoine , Tran Thi Mai , Wilson Maximiliano A
Published: May 2022

The Detection Test for Language Impairments in Adults and the Aged (DTLA) is a quick, sensitive, and standardized screening test designed to assess language disorders in adults and elderly people. The test was specifically developed to detect linguistic impairment associated with major neurocognitive disorders. In 2017, we established normative data on 545 healthy individuals between 50 and 80 years old from four French-speaking countries: Belgium, Canada (Quebec), France, and Switzerland.

Objective

The objective of the present study was to develop norms for the population older than 80 years of age for the DTLA.

Method

We extend the original normative data to include 149 healthy, community-dwelling, French-speaking adults aged 80 years old and older from the same countries.

Results

For the total score of the screening test, we calculated the 5th, 15th, 25th, and 50th percentiles for two education groups. The analyses allowed the identification of cutoff and alert scores based on education level.

Conclusions

With the present study, solid normative data for the DTLA derived from the performance of 694 healthy, community-dwelling adults, and elderly people are now available to clinicians and researchers.
Color under pressure: how multiple factors shape defensive coloration
Authors: Postema Elizabeth G , Lippey Mia K , Armstrong-Ingram Tiernan
Published: May 2022

Behavioral ecologists have long studied the role of coloration as a defense against natural enemies. Recent reviews of defensive coloration have emphasized that these visual signals are rarely selected by single predatory receivers. Complex interactions between signaler, receiver, and environmental pressures produce a striking array of color strategies—many of which must serve multiple, sometimes conflicting, functions. In this review, we describe six common conflicts in selection pressures that produce multifunctional color patterns, and three key strategies of multifunctionality. Six general scenarios that produce conflicting selection pressures on defensive coloration are: (1) multiple antagonists, (2) conspecific communication, (3) hunting while being hunted, (4) variation in transmission environment, (5) ontogenetic changes, and (6) abiotic/physiological factors. Organisms resolve these apparent conflicts via (1) intermediate, (2) simultaneous, and/or (3) plastic color strategies. These strategies apply across the full spectrum of color defenses, from aposematism to crypsis, and reflect how complexity in sets of selection pressures can produce and maintain the diversity of animal color patterns we see in nature. Finally, we discuss how best to approach studies of multifunctionality in animal color, with specific examples of unresolved questions in the field.
Heterogeneous data integration methods for patient similarity networks
Authors: Gliozzo Jessica , Mesiti Marco , Notaro Marco , Petrini Alessandro , Patak Alex , Puertas-Gallardo Antonio , Paccanaro Alberto , Valentini Giorgio , Casiraghi Elena
Published: May 2022

Patient similarity networks (PSNs), where patients are represented as nodes and their similarities as weighted edges, are being increasingly used in clinical research. These networks provide an insightful summary of the relationships among patients and can be exploited by inductive or transductive learning algorithms for the prediction of patient outcome, phenotype and disease risk. PSNs can also be easily visualized, thus offering a natural way to inspect complex heterogeneous patient data and providing some level of explainability of the predictions obtained by machine learning algorithms. The advent of high-throughput technologies, enabling us to acquire high-dimensional views of the same patients (e.g. omics data, laboratory data, imaging data), calls for the development of data fusion techniques for PSNs in order to leverage this rich heterogeneous information. In this article, we review existing methods for integrating multiple biomedical data views to construct PSNs, together with the different patient similarity measures that have been proposed. We also review methods that have appeared in the machine learning literature but have not yet been applied to PSNs, thus providing a resource to navigate the vast machine learning literature existing on this topic. In particular, we focus on methods that could be used to integrate very heterogeneous datasets, including multi-omics data as well as data derived from clinical information and medical imaging.
ODGI: understanding pangenome graphs
Authors: Guarracino Andrea , Heumos Simon , Nahnsen Sven , Prins Pjotr , Garrison Erik
Published: May 2022

Motivation

Pangenome graphs provide a complete representation of the mutual alignment of collections of genomes. These models offer the opportunity to study the entire genomic diversity of a population, including structurally complex regions. Nevertheless, analyzing hundreds of gigabase-scale genomes using pangenome graphs is difficult as it is not well-supported by existing tools. Hence, fast and versatile software is required to ask advanced questions to such data in an efficient way.

Results

We wrote Optimized Dynamic Genome/Graph Implementation (ODGI), a novel suite of tools that implements scalable algorithms and has an efficient in-memory representation of DNA pangenome graphs in the form of variation graphs. ODGI supports pre-built graphs in the Graphical Fragment Assembly format. ODGI includes tools for detecting complex regions, extracting pangenomic loci, removing artifacts, exploratory analysis, manipulation, validation and visualization. Its fast parallel execution facilitates routine pangenomic tasks, as well as pipelines that can quickly answer complex biological questions of gigabase-scale pangenome graphs.

Availability and implementation

ODGI is published as free software under the MIT open source license. Source code can be downloaded from https://github.com/pangenome/odgi and documentation is available at https://odgi.readthedocs.io. ODGI can be installed via Bioconda https://bioconda.github.io/recipes/odgi/README.html or GNU Guix https://github.com/pangenome/odgi/blob/master/guix.scm.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
GLIDER: function prediction from GLIDE-based neighborhoods
Authors: Devkota Kapil , Schmidt Henri , Werenski Matt , Murphy James M , Erden Mert , Arsenescu Victor , Cowen Lenore J
Published: May 2022

Motivation

Protein function prediction, based on the patterns of connection in a protein–protein interaction (or association) network, is perhaps the most studied of the classical, fundamental inference problems for biological networks. A highly successful set of recent approaches use random walk-based low-dimensional embeddings that tend to place functionally similar proteins into coherent spatial regions. However, these approaches lose valuable local graph structure from the network when considering only the embedding. We introduce GLIDER, a method that replaces a protein–protein interaction or association network with a new graph-based similarity network. GLIDER is based on a variant of our previous GLIDE method, which was designed to predict missing links in protein–protein association networks, capturing implicit local and global (i.e. embedding-based) graph properties.

Results

GLIDER outperforms competing methods on the task of predicting GO functional labels in cross-validation on a heterogeneous collection of four human protein–protein association networks derived from the 2016 DREAM Disease Module Identification Challenge, and also on three different protein–protein association networks built from the STRING database. We show that this is due to the strong functional enrichment that is present in the local GLIDER neighborhood in multiple different types of protein–protein association networks. Furthermore, we introduce the GLIDER graph neighborhood as a way for biologists to visualize the local neighborhood of a disease gene. As an application, we look at the local GLIDER neighborhoods of a set of known Parkinson’s Disease GWAS genes, rediscover many genes which have known involvement in Parkinson’s disease pathways, plus suggest some new genes to study.

Availability and implementation

All code is publicly available and can be accessed here: https://github.com/kap-devkota/GLIDER.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Dendritic cells metabolism: a strategic path to improve antitumoral DC vaccination
Authors: Currivan Emma , Finlay David , Moreira Diana
Published: May 2022

The critical role developed by dendritic cell (DC) in the orchestration of immune response explains its exploitation in different therapeutic approaches as potential vaccine tools. Various clinical trials dissect its role in different types of solid cancers. However, there is a lack of comprehension regarding the potential impact of DC metabolic pathways on the effectiveness of DC vaccine. In this review, we intend to dissect how metabolism could be a critical component of DC vaccine formulation, exploring opportunities to improve: (i) processing and cross-presentation of tumour antigens; (ii) DC migration, and (iii) DC immunogenic profile. Overall, we aim to open the discussion to explore new avenues/paths where DC metabolism might be considered a core component of antitumour DC vaccine with this review.
Learning when effort matters: neural dynamics underlying updating and adaptation to changes in performance efficacy
Authors: Grahek Ivan , Frömer Romy , Prater Fahey Mahalia , Shenhav Amitai
Published: May 2022

To determine how much cognitive control to invest in a task, people need to consider whether exerting control matters for obtaining rewards. In particular, they need to account for the efficacy of their performance—the degree to which rewards are determined by performance or by independent factors. Yet it remains unclear how people learn about their performance efficacy in an environment. Here we combined computational modeling with measures of task performance and EEG, to provide a mechanistic account of how people (i) learn and update efficacy expectations in a changing environment and (ii) proactively adjust control allocation based on current efficacy expectations. Across 2 studies, subjects performed an incentivized cognitive control task while their performance efficacy (the likelihood that rewards are performance-contingent or random) varied over time. We show that people update their efficacy beliefs based on prediction errors—leveraging similar neural and computational substrates as those that underpin reward learning—and adjust how much control they allocate according to these beliefs. Using computational modeling, we show that these control adjustments reflect changes in information processing, rather than the speed–accuracy tradeoff. These findings demonstrate the neurocomputational mechanism through which people learn how worthwhile their cognitive control is.
Target-specific sentiment analysis method combining word-masking data enhancement and adversarial learning
Authors: Liu Xiaoyang , Dai Shanghong , Fiumara Giacomo , De Meo Pasquale
Published: May 2022

Target-specific sentiment analysis is an emerging topic in the field of text mining but current approaches to deriving the polarity of a sentence suffer from two main drawbacks: on one hand, we lack of a large and well-curated corpus, and on the other hand, current solutions based on deep learning are particularly vulnerable to the attack of adversarial samples. A novel target-specific sentiment classification method is proposed. Firstly, the method of masking target entities is applied to replace synonyms and insert words randomly; secondly, the target-specific sentiment classification model of adversarial learning is constructed with six baseline models; finally, we combine data enhancement and adversarial learning to construct target-specific sentiment classification model. Experimental results show that Macro-F1 values are improved by 0.30–2.91, 0.88–2.42 and 0.13–1.94% compared to the six baseline models by using Laptop14, Restaurant14 and Twitter original datasets, respectively, using Adversarial learning. Using word-masking data enhancement samples and Adversarial learning from Laptop14, Restaurant14 and Twitter shows that Macro-F1 values are improved by 0.9–2.64, 1.59–3.09 and 0.18–1.71% compared to the six baseline (SC), respectively. Our method can effectively improve the quality of samples, it improves the classification performance and the capability of adversarial samples defense.
The Gut Microbiota Metabolite Succinate Promotes Adipose Tissue Browning in Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Monfort-Ferré Diandra , Caro Aleidis , Menacho Margarita , Martí Marc , Espina Beatriz , Boronat-Toscano Albert , Nuñez-Roa Cati , Seco Jesús , Bautista Michelle , Espín Eloy , Megía Ana , Vendrell Joan , Fernández-Veledo Sonia , Serena Carolina
Published: May 2022

Background and Aims

Crohn’s disease [CD] is associated with complex microbe–host interactions, involving changes in microbial communities, and gut barrier defects, leading to the translocation of microorganisms to surrounding adipose tissue [AT]. We evaluated the presence of beige AT depots in CD and questioned whether succinate and/or bacterial translocation promotes white-to-beige transition in adipocytes.

Methods

Visceral [VAT] and subcutaneous [SAT] AT biopsies, serum and plasma were obtained from patients with active [n = 21] or inactive [n = 12] CD, and from healthy controls [n = 15]. Adipose-derived stem cells [ASCs] and AT macrophages [ATMs] were isolated from VAT biopsies.

Results

Plasma succinate levels were significantly higher in patients with active CD than in controls and were intermediate in those with inactive disease. Plasma succinate correlated with the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Expression of the succinate receptor SUCNR1 was higher in VAT, ASCs and ATMs from the active CD group than from the inactive or control groups. Succinate treatment of ASCs elevated the expression of several beige AT markers from controls and from patients with inactive disease, including uncoupling protein-1 [UCP1]. Notably, beige AT markers were prominent in ASCs from patients with active CD. Secretome profiling revealed that ASCs from patients with active disease secrete beige AT-related proteins, and co-culture assays showed that bacteria also trigger the white-to-beige switch of ASCs from patients with CD. Finally, AT depots from patients with CD exhibited a conversion from white to beige AT together with high UCP1 expression, which was corroborated by in situ thermal imaging analysis.

Conclusions

Succinate and bacteria trigger white-to-beige AT transition in CD. Understanding the role of beige AT in CD might aid in the development of therapeutic or diagnostic interventions.
Impact of pre-existing vascular disease on clinical outcomes
Authors: Weight Nicholas , Moledina Saadiq , Zoccai Giuseppe Biondi , Zaman Sarah , Smith Triston , Siller-Matula Jolanta , Dafaalla Mohamed , Rashid Muhammad , Nolan James , Mamas Mamas A
Published: May 2022

Aims

Little is known about the outcomes and processes of care of patients with non-ST-segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who present with ‘polyvascular’ disease.

Methods and results

We analysed 287 279 NSTEMI patients using the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project registry. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were analysed according to history of affected vascular bed—coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD)—with comparison to a historically disease-free control group, comprising 167 947 patients (59%). After adjusting for demographics and management, polyvascular disease was associated with increased likelihood of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) [CAD odds ratio (OR): 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.12; P = 0.02] (CeVD OR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.12–1.27; P < 0.001) (PVD OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.13–1.33; P < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (CeVD OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.16–1.32; P < 0.001) (PVD OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.21–1.46; P < 0.001). Patients without vascular disease were less frequently discharged on statins (PVD 88%, CeVD 86%, CAD 90%, and control 78%), and those with moderate [ejection fraction (EF) 30–49%] or severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (EF < 30%) were less frequently discharged on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (CAD 82%, CeVD 77%, PVD 77%, and control 74%). Patients with polyvascular disease were less likely to be discharged on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) (PVD 78%, CeVD 77%, CAD 80%, and control 87%).

Conclusion

Polyvascular disease patients had a higher incidence of in-hospital mortality and MACEs. Patients with no history of vascular disease were less likely to receive statins or ACE inhibitors/ARBs, but more likely to receive DAPT.
Long noncoding RNA GAS5 alleviates the inflammatory response of human periodontal ligament stem cells by regulating the NF-κB signalling pathway
Authors: Yang Qiaolin , Liu Peng , Han Yineng , Wang Chenxin , Huang Yipeng , Li Xiaobei , Zheng Yunfei , Li Weiran
Published: May 2022

Objectives

This study investigated the role of lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) in the inflammatory response of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) during periodontitis with attempts to its possible mechanisms.

Materials and methods

Gingiva samples were collected from healthy people and patients with periodontitis. The ligature-induced periodontitis model was established in mice. Cell transfection was utilized to knock down and overexpress GAS5 in PDLSCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization were performed to detect the GAS5 expression. In combination with high-throughput sequencing technology, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the effects of GAS5 on cytokines and proteins in the NF-κB pathway.

Results

GAS5 expression decreased in PDLSCs subjected to compressive force. GAS5 expression was downregulated in the gingiva tissues from patients with periodontitis. Consistent with the results of clinical samples, GAS5 expression decreased in the mouse ligature-induced periodontitis model. GAS5 expression was downregulated in PDLSCs under tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation. Knockdown and overexpression of GAS5 increased and decreased the expression of cytokines induced by TNF-α in PDLSCs, respectively. The sequencing results showed that overexpressing GAS5 was related to genes in the NF-κB pathway. Overexpressing GAS5 alleviated p65 phosphorylation and inhibited the entry of p65 into the nucleus in the TNF-α activated NF-κB pathway, whereas GAS5 knockdown resulted in contrasting results.

Conclusions

GAS5 alleviated the expression of cytokines in PDLSCs by inhibiting activation of the TNF-α-mediated NF-κB pathway. These findings provide new insight into the regulation of the PDLSCs inflammation response.
Post-transcriptional regulation during stress
Authors: Hernández-Elvira Mariana , Sunnerhagen Per
Published: May 2022

To remain competitive, cells exposed to stress of varying duration, rapidity of onset, and intensity, have to balance their expenditure on growth and proliferation versus stress protection. To a large degree dependent on the time scale of stress exposure, the different levels of gene expression control: transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational, will be engaged in stress responses. The post-transcriptional level is appropriate for minute-scale responses to transient stress, and for recovery upon return to normal conditions. The turnover rate, translational activity, covalent modifications, and subcellular localisation of RNA species are regulated under stress by multiple cellular pathways. The interplay between these pathways is required to achieve the appropriate signalling intensity and prevent undue triggering of stress-activated pathways at low stress levels, avoid overshoot, and down-regulate the response in a timely fashion. As much of our understanding of post-transcriptional regulation has been gained in yeast, this review is written with a yeast bias, but attempts to generalise to other eukaryotes. It summarises aspects of how post-transcriptional events in eukaryotes mitigate short-term environmental stresses, and how different pathways interact to optimise the stress response under shifting external conditions.
Genotype by environment interactions for chronic wasting disease in farmed US white-tailed deer
Authors: Seabury Christopher M , Lockwood Mitchell A , Nichols Tracy A
Published: May 2022

Despite implementation of enhanced management practices, chronic wasting disease in US white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) continues to expand geographically. Herein, we perform the largest genome-wide association analysis to date for chronic wasting disease (n = 412 chronic wasting disease-positive; n = 758 chronic wasting disease-nondetect) using a custom Affymetrix Axiom single-nucleotide polymorphism array (n = 121,010 single-nucleotide polymorphisms), and confirm that differential susceptibility to chronic wasting disease is a highly heritable (h2= 0.611 ± 0.056) polygenic trait in farmed US white-tailed deer, but with greater trait complexity than previously appreciated. We also confirm PRNP codon 96 (G96S) as having the largest-effects on risk (P ≤ 3.19E-08; phenotypic variance explained ≥ 0.025) across 3 US regions (Northeast, Midwest, South). However, 20 chronic wasting disease-positive white-tailed deer possessing codon 96SS genotypes were also observed, including one that was lymph node and obex positive. Beyond PRNP, we also detected 23 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (P-value ≤ 5E-05) implicating ≥24 positional candidate genes; many of which have been directly implicated in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and prion diseases. Genotype-by-environment interaction genome-wide association analysis revealed a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the lysosomal enzyme gene ARSB as having the most significant regional heterogeneity of effects on chronic wasting disease (P ≤ 3.20E-06); with increasing copy number of the minor allele increasing susceptibility to chronic wasting disease in the Northeast and Midwest; but with opposite effects in the South. In addition to ARSB, 38 significant genotype-by-environment single-nucleotide polymorphisms (P-value ≤ 5E-05) were also detected, thereby implicating ≥ 36 positional candidate genes; the majority of which have also been associated with aspects of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and prion diseases.
The dilemma of cytomegalovirus and hepatitis B virus interaction
Authors: Khan Muzammil M , Ali Mukarram J , Hanif Hira , Maqsood Muhammad H , Ahmad Imama , Alvarez Javier E G , Catana Maria-Andreea , Lau Daryl T Y
Published: May 2022

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a global public health problem despite the availability of effective vaccine and antiviral therapy. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), another hepatotropic virus, is also very prevalent in the general population worldwide. Both HBV and CMV can persist in the host and have potential to reactivate especially with weakened host cellular immunity. Superimposed CMV infection can lead to severe HBV reactivation. The pathogenesis of the co-infection of HBV and CMV remains poorly understood. Studies reported conflicting results regarding the inhibitory effect of CMV on HBV replication. There is an unmet need on the management of co-infection of HBV and CMV; research initiatives dedicated to understanding their interactions are urgently needed.
Translational suppression via IFG-1/eIF4G inhibits stress-induced RNA alternative splicing in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Chomyshen Samantha C , Tabarraei Hadi , Wu Cheng-Wei
Published: May 2022

Splicing of precursor mRNA is an essential process for dividing cells, and splicing defects have been linked to aging and various chronic diseases. Environmental stress has recently been shown to modify alternative splicing, and molecular mechanisms that influence stress-induced alternative splicing remain unclear. Using an in vivo RNA splicing reporter, we performed a genome-wide RNAi screen in Caenorhabditis elegans and found that protein translation suppression via silencing of the conserved eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (IFG-1/eIF4G) inhibits cadmium-induced alternative splicing. Transcriptome analysis of an ifg-1-deficient mutant revealed an overall decrease in intronic and intergenic reads and prevented cadmium-induced alternative splicing compared to the wild type. We found that the ifg-1 mutant up-regulates >80 RNA splicing regulatory genes controlled by the TGF-β transcription factor SMA-2. The extended lifespan of the ifg-1 mutant is partially reduced upon sma-2 depletion and completely nullified when core spliceosome genes including snr-1, snr-2, and uaf-2 are knocked down. Depletion of snr-1 and snr-2 also diminished the enhanced cadmium resistance of the ifg-1 mutant. Together, these data describe a molecular mechanism through which translation suppression inhibits stress-induced alternative splicing and demonstrate an essential role for RNA splicing in promoting longevity and stress resistance in a translation-compromised mutant.
A network modeling approach provides insights into the environment-specific yield architecture of wheat
Authors: DeWitt Noah , Guedira Mohammed , Murphy Joseph Paul , Marshall David , Mergoum Mohamed , Maltecca Christian , Brown-Guedira Gina
Published: May 2022

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield is impacted by a diversity of developmental processes which interact with the environment during plant growth. This complex genetic architecture complicates identifying quantitative trait loci that can be used to improve yield. Trait data collected on individual processes or components of yield have simpler genetic bases and can be used to model how quantitative trait loci generate yield variation. The objectives of this experiment were to identify quantitative trait loci affecting spike yield, evaluate how their effects on spike yield proceed from effects on component phenotypes, and to understand how the genetic basis of spike yield variation changes between environments. A 358 F5:6 recombinant inbred line population developed from the cross of LA-95135 and SS-MPV-57 was evaluated in 2 replications at 5 locations over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The parents were 2 soft red winter wheat cultivars differing in flowering, plant height, and yield component characters. Data on yield components and plant growth were used to assemble a structural equation model to characterize the relationships between quantitative trait loci, yield components, and overall spike yield. The effects of major quantitative trait loci on spike yield varied by environment, and their effects on total spike yield were proportionally smaller than their effects on component traits. This typically resulted from contrasting effects on component traits, where an increase in traits associated with kernel number was generally associated with a decrease in traits related to kernel size. In all, the complete set of identified quantitative trait loci was sufficient to explain most of the spike yield variation observed within each environment. Still, the relative importance of individual quantitative trait loci varied dramatically. Path analysis based on coefficients estimated through structural equation model demonstrated that these variations in effects resulted from both different effects of quantitative trait loci on phenotypes and environment-by-environment differences in the effects of phenotypes on one another, providing a conceptual model for yield genotype-by-environment interactions in wheat.
Thermal conductivity, density and porosity of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks from the Lower and Higher Himalaya, Western Himalaya, India
Authors: Rao S Eswara , Ray Labani , Khan Tavheed , Ravi G
Published: May 2022

Thermal conductivity at ambient conditions is a vital parameter in the determination of heat flow, thermal modelling and various geoengineering purposes. We have measured thermal conductivity in the laboratory at ambient conditions using a steady-state method on 69 samples of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks from the Western Himalaya, India, for the first time covering major lithologies of the region. Density and porosity measurements have been carried out along with petrographic and geochemical studies to characterize these rocks. The investigated rocks include sandstone, limestone, dolomitic limestone, quartzite, slate, phyllite and schist. The average thermal conductivity is found to be the highest (5.4 W m–1 K–1) for quartzite, moderate (ranges between 3.2 and 4.2 W m–1 K–1) for sandstone, limestone and dolomitic limestone and lowest (ranges between 2.6 and 2.9 W m–1 K–1) for the slate, phyllite and schist. The average values of the porosity for the rocks are less than 2 per cent. The variations in thermal conductivity within each rock type more or less reflect the compositional change, rather than the porosity. The measured thermal conductivity of the sandstone and limestone is found much higher than usually observed in such rocks, while it is on the lower side in the case of quartzite, phyllite and schist. Moreover, sedimentary rocks have higher density and lower porosity than usually found in such rocks. In fact, in this region, the sedimentary rocks show a similar density to that of the metamorphic rocks. The average density in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks varies from 2590 to 2780 kg m–3 and 2630 to 2740 kg m–3, respectively. The study region comes under the seismic gap, and several hot springs also exist here. Therefore, the obtained results will be useful in thermal modelling, which is critical for the understanding of earthquake nucleation.
Impact of counseling visual multimedia on use of family planning methods among displaced Nigerian families
Authors: Anibueze Anselm U , Ugwuanyi John Chidi , Ikwuemesi Chukwuezugo Krydz , Onuora Chijioke , Ugwuoke Joel C , Apuke Oberiri Destiny , Gever Verlumun Celestine
Published: May 2022

Although there is evidence of increasing childbirth in internally displaced person (IDP) camps, limited literature exists on how to promote knowledge and use of modern family planning methods among this vulnerable group. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of visual multimedia in promoting knowledge and use of modern family planning methods among families in IDP camps in Nigeria. This study was a quasi-experiment of 470 individuals in IDP camps to determine the impact of visual multimedia in enhancing knowledge and intention to use modern family planning. The result of the study showed that at the pre-stage, participants in both the control and treatment groups reported low scores on knowledge and use of modern family planning methods. After the intervention and follow-up assessment, participants in the experimental group reported higher mean scores regarding knowledge and intention to use modern family planning methods while participants in the control group did not significantly improve. Animated visuals were found to be more effective than static pictures.
Whole-exome sequencing of 14 389 individuals from the ESP and CHARGE consortia identifies novel rare variation associated with hemostatic factors
Authors: Pankratz Nathan , Wei Peng , Brody Jennifer A , Chen Ming-Huei , de Vries Paul S , Huffman Jennifer E , Stimson Mary Rachel , Auer Paul L , Boerwinkle Eric , Cushman Mary , de Maat Moniek P M , Folsom Aaron R , Franco Oscar H , Gibbs Richard A , Haagenson Kelly K , Hofman Albert , Johnsen Jill M , Kovar Christie L , Kraaij Robert , McKnight Barbara , Metcalf Ginger A , Muzny Donna , Psaty Bruce M , Tang Weihong , Uitterlinden André G , van Rooij Jeroen G J , Dehghan Abbas , O'Donnell Christopher J , Reiner Alex P , Morrison Alanna C , Smith Nicholas L
Published: May 2022

Plasma levels of fibrinogen, coagulation factors VII and VIII and von Willebrand factor (vWF) are four intermediate phenotypes that are heritable and have been associated with the risk of clinical thrombotic events. To identify rare and low-frequency variants associated with these hemostatic factors, we conducted whole-exome sequencing in 10 860 individuals of European ancestry (EA) and 3529 African Americans (AAs) from the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Exome Sequencing Project. Gene-based tests demonstrated significant associations with rare variation (minor allele frequency < 5%) in fibrinogen gamma chain (FGG) (with fibrinogen, P = 9.1 × 10−13), coagulation factor VII (F7) (with factor VII, P = 1.3 × 10−72; seven novel variants) and VWF (with factor VIII and vWF; P = 3.2 × 10−14; one novel variant). These eight novel rare variant associations were independent of the known common variants at these loci and tended to have much larger effect sizes. In addition, one of the rare novel variants in F7 was significantly associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism in AAs (Ile200Ser; rs141219108; P = 4.2 × 10−5). After restricting gene-based analyses to only loss-of-function variants, a novel significant association was detected and replicated between factor VIII levels and a stop-gain mutation exclusive to AAs (rs3211938) in CD36 molecule (CD36). This variant has previously been linked to dyslipidemia but not with the levels of a hemostatic factor. These efforts represent the largest integration of whole-exome sequence data from two national projects to identify genetic variation associated with plasma hemostatic factors.
Mice lacking MBNL1 and MBNL2 exhibit sudden cardiac death and molecular signatures recapitulating myotonic dystrophy
Authors: Lee Kuang-Yung , Seah Carol , Li Ching , Chen Yu-Fu , Chen Chwen-Yu , Wu Ching-I , Liao Po-Cheng , Shyu Yu-Chiau , Olafson Hailey R , McKee Kendra K , Wang Eric T , Yeh Chi-Hsiao , Wang Chao-Hung
Published: May 2022

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is caused by expansions of C(C)TG repeats in the non-coding regions of the DMPK and CNBP genes, and DM patients often suffer from sudden cardiac death due to lethal conduction block or arrhythmia. Specific molecular changes that underlie DM cardiac pathology have been linked to repeat-associated depletion of Muscleblind-like (MBNL) 1 and 2 proteins and upregulation of CUGBP, Elav-like family member 1 (CELF1). Hypothesis solely targeting MBNL1 or CELF1 pathways that could address all the consequences of repeat expansion in heart remained inconclusive, particularly when the direct cause of mortality and results of transcriptome analyses remained undetermined in Mbnl compound knockout (KO) mice with cardiac phenotypes. Here, we develop Myh6-Cre double KO (DKO) (Mbnl1−/−; Mbnl2cond/cond; Myh6-Cre+/−) mice to eliminate Mbnl1/2 in cardiomyocytes and observe spontaneous lethal cardiac events under no anesthesia. RNA sequencing recapitulates DM heart spliceopathy and shows gene expression changes that were previously undescribed in DM heart studies. Notably, immunoblotting reveals a nearly 6-fold increase of Calsequestrin 1 and 50% reduction of epidermal growth factor proteins. Our findings demonstrate that complete ablation of MBNL1/2 in cardiomyocytes is essential for generating sudden death due to lethal cardiac rhythms and reveal potential mechanisms for DM heart pathogenesis.
Early home discharge after robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Spanjersberg Alexander , Hoek Leendert , Ottervanger Jan Paul , Nguyen Thi-Yen , Kaplan Emel , Laurens Roland , Singh Sandeep
Published: May 2022

OBJECTIVES

Robot-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been developed as a less invasive alternative for conventional CABG to enhance postoperative recovery, patient satisfaction and early discharge to home. Furthermore, it may provide a basis for hybrid coronary revascularization. To determine the feasibility of this procedure, we compared robot-assisted with conventional off-pump CABG.

METHODS

All consecutive patients undergoing a robot-assisted left internal mammary artery-to-left anterior descending coronary artery procedure were compared to consecutive patients undergoing conventional off-pump CABG for single-vessel disease from October 2016 to July 2019. The primary outcome was discharge to home within 5 days after the operation. Secondary outcomes were total hospital stay, reoperations within 48 h, transfusions, atrial fibrillation, 30-day mortality and quality of life 1 month postoperatively. A propensity matched cohort was assembled to correct for possible confounders.

RESULTS

A total of 107 patients who had robot-assisted CABG were compared to 194 patients who had conventional off-pump CABG. The primary outcome was reached in 51% of the robot-assisted group versus 19% of the conventional off-pump group (P < 0.01). The median postoperative hospital stay was 5 days for the robot-assisted group versus 7 days in the conventional off-pump group (P < 0.01). Other secondary outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups, and the quality of life 1 month after the operation was equal. The results after propensity matching were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Early discharge to home is more frequent for patients who have robot-assisted CABG than in those who have conventional off-pump CABG, with no difference in health-related quality of life. Therefore, this approach may reduce healthcare resources and provide a solid basis for hybrid coronary revascularization.
Pharmacists’ use of social media as aiding tools for reading and interpreting illegible prescriptions
Authors: Mathibe Lehlohonolo John , Haffejee Azraa , Mahlaba Nompumelelo , Mnqatu Zipho , Mtshali Zethembe , Noormohamed Salmaan , Sikhakhane Xolani Michael
Published: May 2022

Background

The ability to read and interpret a prescription is a crucial and rate-determining step for the provision of correct medicine(s), appropriate instructions to patients and for good practice of pharmacy in general. However, both in public and private healthcare settings, pharmacists continue to receive numerous illegible handwritten prescriptions. This is time consuming, and it poses serious legal and health consequences if prescriptions are read incorrectly, resulting in wrong medicines being dispensed.

Objectives

This study investigated the impact of using a WhatsApp Group to request assistance to read and interpret illegible prescriptions by pharmacists in South Africa.

Method

Communication records that span between June 2018 and October 2020 were included in this study. Two registered and practising pharmacists, who were not members of WhatsApp Group, verified the correctness of the responses to enquiries.

Key findings

The WhatsApp Group had 189 participants during the period of this study, and 136 enquiries were made. Only 10 enquiries did not receive responses, while 62, 32 and 32 enquiries received one, two and ≥3 responses, respectively. None of the responses to 29 images, or prescriptions that had received three or more responses, were deemed incorrect. The medians for the period of the first and subsequent responses were two minutes (with interquartile range of 1–4 min) and six minutes (with interquartile range of 3–14 min), respectively; and the difference (i.e., four minutes) was statistically significant (P <0.0001).

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that social media platforms such as WhatsApp Groups can be used effectively as tools for aiding in the interpretation of illegible prescriptions.
The South African competition agency response to COVID19
Authors: Bonakele Tembinkosi
Published: May 2022

South Africa, as with the rest of the world, faced an unexpected crisis on many levels with the onslaught of the Covid-19 virus. In addition to the human casualties, South Africa experienced a sharp rise in prices for essential goods, such as masks and sanitisers, threatening an economic crisis for South Africa's poor and unemployed. The South African Competition Commission chose to intervene using the regulatory tools available in competition law to tackle excessive pricing. This resulted in the investigation and prosecution of several companies for charging excessive prices for a range of goods and services such as masks, sanitisers and Covid-19 testing services.
Evaluation of real-world referential and probabilistic patient matching to advance patient identification strategy
Authors: Grannis Shaun J , Williams Jennifer L , Kasthuri Suranga , Murray Molly , Xu Huiping
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study sought both to support evidence-based patient identity policy development by illustrating an approach for formally evaluating operational matching methods, and also to characterize the performance of both referential and probabilistic patient matching algorithms using real-world demographic data.

Materials and Methods

We assessed matching accuracy for referential and probabilistic matching algorithms using a manually reviewed 30 000 record gold standard reference dataset derived from a large health information exchange containing over 47 million patient registrations. We applied referential and probabilistic algorithms to this dataset and compared the outputs to the gold standard. We computed performance metrics including sensitivity (recall), positive predictive value (precision), and F-score for each algorithm.

Results

The probabilistic algorithm exhibited sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and F-score of .6366, 0.9995, and 0.7778, respectively. The referential algorithm exhibited corresponding sensitivity, PPV, and F-score values of 0.9351, 0.9996, and 0.9663, respectively. Treating discordant and limited-data records as nonmatches increased referential match sensitivity to 0.9578. Compared to the more traditional probabilistic approach, referential matching exhibits greater accuracy.

Conclusions

Referential patient matching, an increasingly popular method among health IT vendors, demonstrated notably greater accuracy than a more traditional probabilistic approach without the adaptation of the algorithm to the data that the traditional probabilistic approach usually requires. Health IT policymakers, including the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), should explore strategies to expand the evidence base for real-world matching system performance, given the need for an evidence-based patient identity strategy.
Endoscopic surgery of a cavernous hemangioma in the external auditory canal
Authors: Jin Myung Ho , Kwak Min Young
Published: May 2022

Cavernous hemangioma of the external auditory canal (EAC) is a rare clinical finding. Endoscopic ear surgery has been successfully applied for various ear pathologies with a wider surgical sight, minimal canal cuts and precise manipulation of soft tissues. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman with hemangioma of EAC which increased in size without treatment for several years. She underwent excision of the hemangioma using transcanal endoscopic approach. The endoscopic transcanal approach allowed surgical resection of EAC cavernous hemangioma with wider views and minimally invasive techniques.
A case of an intramesenteric GIST accurately diagnosed and completely resected by PET-CT and laparoscopy after gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Authors: Sato Manabu , Sato Masayuki , Yokoyama Tadaaki , Kusaka Akiko , Suzuki Yukie , Fukuhara Kenji
Published: May 2022

We performed the accurate diagnosis and complete surgical resection of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor at the mesentery of the small bowel. Computed tomography (CT) in a 62-year-old man at 2 years after gastrectomy for gastric cancer showed a mesenteric tumor, with no other tumors noted. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) showed a maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) of 2.9 at the tumor. The presence of a single and low SUV max tumor allowed us to perform laparoscopic surgery. Partial resection of the tumor with an adequate margin was performed. The pathological findings showed c-kit positivity and a low Ki-67 proliferation index (<5%). In the present case, PET-CT and laparoscopic assessments were useful for accurately evaluating the surgical resectability of the mesenteric tumor after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. The low SUV max and laparoscopic findings led to complete surgical resection of a mesenteric tumor.
The transcription factor TaMYB31 regulates the benzoxazinoid biosynthetic pathway in wheat
Authors: Batyrshina Zhaniya S , Shavit Reut , Yaakov Beery , Bocobza Samuel , Tzin Vered
Published: May 2022

Benzoxazinoids are specialized metabolites that are highly abundant in staple crops, such as maize and wheat. Although their biosynthesis has been studied for several decades, the regulatory mechanisms of the benzoxazinoid pathway remain unknown. Here, we report that the wheat transcription factor MYB31 functions as a regulator of benzoxazinoid biosynthesis genes. A transcriptomic analysis of tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum) tissue revealed the up-regulation of two TtMYB31 homoeologous genes upon aphid and caterpillar feeding. TaMYB31 gene silencing in the hexaploid wheat Triticum aestivum significantly reduced benzoxazinoid metabolite levels and led to susceptibility to herbivores. Thus, aphid progeny production, caterpillar body weight gain, and spider mite oviposition significantly increased in TaMYB31-silenced plants. A comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of hexaploid wheat revealed that the TaMYB31 gene is co-expressed with the target benzoxazinoid-encoded Bx genes under several biotic and environmental conditions. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of abiotic stresses on benzoxazinoid levels and discovered a strong accumulation of these compounds in the leaves. The results of a dual fluorescence assay indicated that TaMYB31 binds to the Bx1 and Bx4 gene promoters, thereby activating the transcription of genes involved in the benzoxazinoid pathway. Our finding is the first report of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of the benzoxazinoid pathway in wheat.