bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piloting an Innovative System-Level Intervention for Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Social Risk
Authors: Wagner David V. , Stoeckel Maggie , Hansen Trevor , Muir Linda , Harris Michael A.
Published: June 2023

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) program for youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and high social risk.

Method:

This study examined the implementation of NICH with four adolescents of racial and ethnic diversity with high social risk and IBD, using a retrospective pretest–posttest design. Chart reviews captured descriptions of the course of treatment and healthcare utilization data for one year prior to and one year post NICH service initiation, including the presence and frequency of hospital admissions, ED visits, and the number of days spent in the hospital. Demographic information and medical appointment attendance data were also collected.

Results:

EHR records indicated that NICH services were tailored to account for factors specific to IBD as well as youth and family culture. All four youths demonstrated improvements in health, and most youths evidenced reductions in acute care use and associated costs, increased engagement in recommended preventative care, and improved disease management.

Conclusions:

NICH is a promising intervention for youth with IBD who are experiencing disease management difficulties due to social factors and represents an alternative approach to care for this population.

Implications for Impact Statement

This case series examines how an alternative program to office-based services (Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare: NICH) could be feasibly used for youth with IBD and high social risk. Youth generally evidenced fewer acute complications and improved outpatient medical attendance, reported improved quality of life, and demonstrated reduced healthcare costs one year following NICH enrollment. Findings indicated NICH is a promising service for youth with IBD and specifically for youth with IBD from underserved and underrepresented populations.
Light People: Professor Liangcai Cao
Authors: Sun Tingting
Published: June 2023

Editorial

Holography utilizes the principles of wave interference and diffraction to record and reconstruct images, which can highly restore the three-dimensional features of objects and provide an immersive visual experience. Dennis Gabor proposed the concept of holography in 1947 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971. Holography has gradually developed into two major research directions: digital holography (DH) and computer-generated holography (CGH). Holography has empowered the development of fields such as 6G communication, intelligent healthcare, and commercial MR headsets. In recent years, the general solution to optical inverse problems contained in holography also provides theoretical support for its wide integration with computational lithography, optical metamaterials, optical neural networks, orbital angular momentum (OAM), and other areas. This demonstrates its enormous potential for research and application. We are delighted to invite Professor Liangcai Cao from Tsinghua University, a leading scientist in the field of holography, to give us a profound interpretation of the opportunities and challenges of holography. In the interview, Prof. Cao will take us on a journey through the history of holography, share fascinating stories from his academic visits and exchanges, and shed light on the mentor and tutor culture in teaching. Through this episode of “Light People,” we will have the privilege of getting to know Prof. Cao on a deeper level.
CNTNAP2 intracellular domain (CICD) generated by γ-secretase cleavage improves autism-related behaviors
Authors: Zhang Jing , Cai Fang , Lu Renbin , Xing Xiaoliang , Xu Lu , Wu Kunyang , Gong Zishan , Zhang Qing , Zhang Yun , Xing Mengen , Song Weihong , Li Jia-Da
Published: June 2023

As the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in children, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in language development, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors or inflexible interests. Contactin associated protein like 2 (CNTNAP2), encoding a single transmembrane protein (CNTNAP2) with 1331 amino acid residues, is a widely validated ASD-susceptible gene. Cntnap2-deficient mice also show core autism-relevant behaviors, including the social deficits and repetitive behavior. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying dysfunction CNTNAP2 and ASD remain elusive. In this study, we found a motif within the transmembrane domain of CNTNAP2 was highly homologous to the γ-secretase cleavage site of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), suggesting that CNTNAP2 may undergo proteolytic cleavage. Further biochemical analysis indicated that CNTNAP2 is cleaved by γ-secretase to produce the CNTNAP2 intracellular domain (CICD). Virally delivery of CICD to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in Cntnap2-deficient (Cntnap2−/−) mice normalized the deficit in the ASD-related behaviors, including social deficit and repetitive behaviors. Furthermore, CICD promoted the nuclear translocation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) to regulate the transcription of genes, such as Prader Willi syndrome gene Necdin. Whereas Necdin deficiency led to reduced social interaction in mice, virally expression of Necdin in the mPFC normalized the deficit in social preference of Cntnap2−/− mice. Our results thus reveal a critical function of CICD and highlight a role of the CNTNAP2-CASK-Necdin signaling pathway in ASD.
Radiochemistry for positron emission tomography
Authors: Rong Jian , Haider Achi , Jeppesen Troels E. , Josephson Lee , Liang Steven H.
Published: June 2023

Positron emission tomography (PET) constitutes a functional imaging technique that is harnessed to probe biological processes in vivo. PET imaging has been used to diagnose and monitor the progression of diseases, as well as to facilitate drug development efforts at both preclinical and clinical stages. The wide applications and rapid development of PET have ultimately led to an increasing demand for new methods in radiochemistry, with the aim to expand the scope of synthons amenable for radiolabeling. In this work, we provide an overview of commonly used chemical transformations for the syntheses of PET tracers in all aspects of radiochemistry, thereby highlighting recent breakthrough discoveries and contemporary challenges in the field. We discuss the use of biologicals for PET imaging and highlight general examples of successful probe discoveries for molecular imaging with PET – with a particular focus on translational and scalable radiochemistry concepts that have been entered to clinical use.
Pathogen-specific innate immune response patterns are distinctly affected by genetic diversity
Authors: Häder Antje , Schäuble Sascha , Gehlen Jan , Thielemann Nadja , Buerfent Benedikt C. , Schüller Vitalia , Hess Timo , Wolf Thomas , Schröder Julia , Weber Michael , Hünniger Kerstin , Löffler Jürgen , Vylkova Slavena , Panagiotou Gianni , Schumacher Johannes , Kurzai Oliver
Published: June 2023

Innate immune responses vary by pathogen and host genetics. We analyze quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and transcriptomes of monocytes from 215 individuals stimulated by fungal, Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. We identify conserved monocyte responses to bacterial pathogens and a distinct antifungal response. These include 745 response eQTLs (reQTLs) and corresponding genes with pathogen-specific effects, which we find first in samples of male donors and subsequently confirm for selected reQTLs in females. reQTLs affect predominantly upregulated genes that regulate immune response via e.g., NOD-like, C-type lectin, Toll-like and complement receptor-signaling pathways. Hence, reQTLs provide a functional explanation for individual differences in innate response patterns. Our identified reQTLs are also associated with cancer, autoimmunity, inflammatory and infectious diseases as shown by external genome-wide association studies. Thus, reQTLs help to explain interindividual variation in immune response to infection and provide candidate genes for variants associated with a range of diseases.
Characterization of diffusing sub-10 nm nano-objects using single anti-resonant element optical fibers
Authors: Wieduwilt Torsten , Förster Ronny , Nissen Mona , Kobelke Jens , Schmidt Markus A.
Published: June 2023

Accurate characterization of diffusing nanoscale species is increasingly important for revealing processes at the nanoscale, with fiber-assisted nanoparticle-tracking-analysis representing a new and promising approach in this field. In this work, we uncover the potential of this approach for the characterization of very small nanoparticles (<20 nm) through experimental studies, statistical analysis and the employment of a sophisticated fiber and chip design. The central results is the characterization of diffusing nanoparticles as small as 9 nm with record-high precision, corresponding to the smallest diameter yet determined for an individual nanoparticle with nanoparticle-tracking-analysis using elastic light scattering alone. Here, the detectable scattering cross-section is limited only by the background scattering of the ultrapure water, thus reaching the fundamental limit of Nanoparticle-Tracking-Analysis in general. The obtained results outperform other realizations and allow access to previously difficult to address application fields such as understanding nanoparticle growth or control of pharmaceuticals.
Validating neural networks for spectroscopic classification on a universal synthetic dataset
Authors: Schuetzke Jan , Szymanski Nathan J. , Reischl Markus
Published: June 2023

To aid the development of machine learning models for automated spectroscopic data classification, we created a universal synthetic dataset for the validation of their performance. The dataset mimics the characteristic appearance of experimental measurements from techniques such as X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Raman spectroscopy among others. We applied eight neural network architectures to classify artificial spectra, evaluating their ability to handle common experimental artifacts. While all models achieved over 98% accuracy on the synthetic dataset, misclassifications occurred when spectra had overlapping peaks or intensities. We found that non-linear activation functions, specifically ReLU in the fully-connected layers, were crucial for distinguishing between these classes, while adding more sophisticated components, such as residual blocks or normalization layers, provided no performance benefit. Based on these findings, we summarize key design principles for neural networks in spectroscopic data classification and publicly share all scripts used in this study.
Distinct cortical and subcortical predictors of Purdue Pegboard decline in Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism
Authors: Wilkes Bradley J. , Tobin Emily R. , Arpin David J. , Wang Wei-en , Okun Michael S. , Jaffee Michael S. , McFarland Nikolaus R. , Corcos Daniel M. , Vaillancourt David E.
Published: June 2023

Objective measures of disease progression are critically needed in research on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and atypical Parkinsonism but may be hindered by both practicality and cost. The Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) is objective, has high test-retest reliability, and has a low cost. The goals of this study were to determine: (1) longitudinal changes in PPT in a multisite cohort of patients with PD, atypical Parkinsonism, and healthy controls; (2) whether PPT performance reflects brain pathology revealed by neuroimaging; (3) quantify kinematic deficits shown by PD patients during PPT. Parkinsonian patients showed a decline in PPT performance that correlated with motor symptom progression, which was not seen in controls. Neuroimaging measures from basal ganglia were significant predictors of PPT performance in PD, whereas cortical, basal ganglia, and cerebellar regions were predictors for atypical Parkinsonism. Accelerometry in a subset of PD patients showed a diminished range of acceleration and irregular patterns of acceleration, which correlated with PPT scores.
Association of women-specific health factors in the severity of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rao Shilpa C. , Li Yadi , Lapin Brittany , Pattipati Sreya , Ghosh Galvelis Kamalini , Naito Anna , Gutierrez Nicolas , Leal Thiago Peixoto , Salim Amira , Salles Philippe A. , De Leon Maria , Mata Ignacio F.
Published: June 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related neurological disorder known for the observational differences in its risk, progression, and severity between men and women. While estrogen has been considered to be a protective factor in the development of PD, there is little known about the role that fluctuations in hormones and immune responses from sex-specific health experiences have in the disease’s development and severity. We sought to identify women-specific health experiences associated with PD severity, after adjusting for known PD factors, by developing and distributing a women-specific questionnaire across the United States and creating multivariable models for PD severity. We created a questionnaire that addresses women’s specific experiences and their PD clinical history and deployed it through The Parkinson’s Foundation: PD Generation. To determine the association between women-specific health factors and PD severity, we constructed multivariable logistic regression models based on the MDS-UPDRS scale and the participants’ questionnaire responses, genetics, and clinical data. For our initial launch in November 2021, we had 304 complete responses from PD GENEration. Univariate and multivariate logistic modeling found significant associations between major depressive disorder, perinatal depression, natural childbirth, LRRK2 genotype, B12 deficiency, total hysterectomy, and increased PD severity. This study is a nationally available questionnaire for women’s health and PD. It shifts the paradigm in understanding PD etiology and acknowledging how sex-specific experiences may contribute to PD severity. In addition, the work in this study sets the foundation for future research to investigate the factors behind sex differences in PD.
‘Multi-omics’ data integration: applications in probiotics studies
Authors: Kwoji Iliya Dauda , Aiyegoro Olayinka Ayobami , Okpeku Moses , Adeleke Matthew Adekunle
Published: June 2023

The concept of probiotics is witnessing increasing attention due to its benefits in influencing the host microbiome and the modulation of host immunity through the strengthening of the gut barrier and stimulation of antibodies. These benefits, combined with the need for improved nutraceuticals, have resulted in the extensive characterization of probiotics leading to an outburst of data generated using several ‘omics’ technologies. The recent development in system biology approaches to microbial science is paving the way for integrating data generated from different omics techniques for understanding the flow of molecular information from one ‘omics’ level to the other with clear information on regulatory features and phenotypes. The limitations and tendencies of a ‘single omics’ application to ignore the influence of other molecular processes justify the need for ‘multi-omics’ application in probiotics selections and understanding its action on the host. Different omics techniques, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, used for studying probiotics and their influence on the host and the microbiome are discussed in this review. Furthermore, the rationale for ‘multi-omics’ and multi-omics data integration platforms supporting probiotics and microbiome analyses was also elucidated. This review showed that multi-omics application is useful in selecting probiotics and understanding their functions on the host microbiome. Hence, recommend a multi-omics approach for holistically understanding probiotics and the microbiome.
Lyophilization to enable distribution of ChAdOx1 and ChAdOx2 adenovirus-vectored vaccines without refrigeration
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Berg Adam , Joe Carina C. D. , Dalby Paul A. , Douglas Alexander D.
Published: June 2023

Distribution of vaccines which require refrigerated or frozen storage can be challenging and expensive. The adenovirus vector platform has been widely used for COVID-19 vaccines while several further candidate vaccines using the platform are in clinical development. In current liquid formulations, adenoviruses require distribution at 2–8 °C. The development of formulations suitable for ambient temperature distribution would be advantageous. Previous peer-reviewed reports of adenovirus lyophilization are relatively limited. Here, we report the development of a formulation and process for lyophilization of simian adenovirus-vectored vaccines based on the ChAdOx1 platform. We describe the iterative selection of excipients using a design of experiments approach, and iterative cycle improvement to achieve both preservation of potency and satisfactory cake appearance. The resulting method achieved in-process infectivity titre loss of around 50%. After drying, there was negligible further loss over a month at 30 °C. Around 30% of the predrying infectivity remained after a month at 45 °C. This performance is likely to be suitable for ‘last leg’ distribution at ambient temperature. This work may also facilitate the development of other product presentations using dried simian adenovirus-vectored vaccines.
Analyzing immune responses to varied mRNA and protein vaccine sequences
Authors: Park Hyeong-Jun , Bang Yoo-Jin , Kwon Sung Pil , Kwak Woori , Park Sang-In , Roh Gahyun , Bae Seo-Hyeon , Kim Jae-Yong , Kwak Hye Won , Kim Yongkwan , Yoo Soyeon , Kim Daegeun , Keum Gyochang , Bang Eun-Kyoung , Hong So-Hee , Nam Jae-Hwan
Published: June 2023

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, different types of vaccines, such as inactive, live-attenuated, messenger RNA (mRNA), and protein subunit, have been developed against SARS-CoV-2. This has unintentionally created a unique scenario where heterologous prime-boost vaccination against a single virus has been administered to a large human population. Here, we aimed to analyze whether the immunization order of vaccine types influences the efficacy of heterologous prime-boost vaccination, especially mRNA and protein-based vaccines. We developed a new mRNA vaccine encoding the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein of the influenza virus using the 3′-UTR and 5′-UTR of muscle cells (mRNA-HA) and tested its efficacy by heterologous immunization with an HA protein vaccine (protein-HA). The results demonstrated higher IgG2a levels and hemagglutination inhibition titers in the mRNA-HA priming/protein-HA boosting (R-P) regimen than those induced by reverse immunization (protein-HA priming/mRNA-HA boosting, P-R). After the viral challenge, the R-P group showed lower virus loads and less inflammation in the lungs than the P-R group did. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the heterologous prime-boost groups had differentially activated immune response pathways, according to the order of immunization. In summary, our results demonstrate that the sequence of vaccination is critical to direct desired immune responses. This study demonstrates the potential of a heterologous vaccination strategy using mRNA and protein vaccine platforms against viral infection.
Drivers of heterogeneity in synovial fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Smith Melanie H. , Gao Vianne R. , Periyakoil Preethi K. , Kochen Alejandro , DiCarlo Edward F. , Goodman Susan M. , Norman Thomas M. , Donlin Laura T. , Leslie Christina S. , Rudensky Alexander Y.
Published: June 2023

Inflammation of non-barrier immunologically quiescent tissues is associated with a massive influx of blood-borne innate and adaptive immune cells. Cues from the latter are likely to alter and expand activated states of the resident cells. However, local communications between immigrant and resident cell types in human inflammatory disease remain poorly understood. Here, we explored drivers of fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) heterogeneity in inflamed joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis using paired single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing, multiplexed imaging and spatial transcriptomics along with in vitro modeling of cell-extrinsic factor signaling. These analyses suggest that local exposures to myeloid and T cell-derived cytokines, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-1β or lack thereof, drive four distinct FLS states some of which closely resemble fibroblast states in other disease-affected tissues including skin and colon. Our results highlight a role for concurrent, spatially distributed cytokine signaling within the inflamed synovium.
Association between smoking and obstructive sleep apnea based on the STOP-Bang index
Authors: Jang Yun Seo , Nerobkova Nataliya , Hurh Kyungduk , Park Eun-Cheol , Shin Jaeyong
Published: June 2023

Smoking is a risk factor for respiratory diseases, and it worsens sleep quality due to nicotine stimulation and sudden nicotine withdrawal during sleep. This can increase the severity of OSA through alterations upper airway inflammation and neuromuscular function, arousal mechanisms, and sleep architecture. Therefore, it may lead to sleep-disrupted breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Herein, this study aims to research the association between smoking and OSA through the STOP-Bang index. In this study, total sample of 3442 participants (1465 men and 1977 women) were analyzed. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2020 by classifying adults into current, ex-, and non-smokers. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between smoking and OSA. Furthermore, multinomial regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of smoking cessation. For males, compared to the non-smokers, the odds ratios (OR) for the OSA were significantly higher in the ex-smokers (OR: 1.53, 95% confidence interval(CI) 1.01–2.32) and current smokers (OR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.10–2.89). In females, higher ORs were observed for OSA risk, similar to the non-smokers, smoking cessation, and pack-years. Among men, OSA was significantly associated with a moderate risk for ex-smokers (OR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.05–2.48) and a severe risk for current smokers (OR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.07–3.29). This study observed that smoking might contribute to OSA risk among adults. Smoking cessation can help to manage sleep quality properly.
The atmospheric relevance of primary alcohols and imidogen reactions
Authors: Douroudgari Hamed , Zarepour Hadi , Vahedpour Morteza , Jaberi Mahdi , Zarepour Mahdi
Published: June 2023

Organic alcohols as very volatile compounds play a crucial role in the air quality of the atmosphere. So, the removal processes of such compounds are an important atmospheric challenge. The main goal of this research is to discover the atmospheric relevance of degradation paths of linear alcohols by imidogen with the aid of simulation by quantum mechanical (QM) methods. To this end, we combine broad mechanistic and kinetic results to get more accurate information and to have a deeper insight into the behavior of the designed reactions. Thus, the main and necessary reaction pathways are explored by well-behaved QM methods for complete elucidation of the studying gaseous reactions. Moreover, the potential energy surfaces as  a main factor are computed for easier judging of the most probable pathways in the simulated reactions. Our attempt to find the occurrence of the considered reactions in the atmospheric conditions is completed by precisely evaluating the rate constants of all elementary reactions. All of the computed bimolecular rate constants have a positive dependency on both temperature and pressure. The kinetic results show that H-abstraction from the α carbon is dominant relative to the other sites. Finally, by the results of this study, we conclude that at moderate temperatures and pressures primary alcohols can degrade with imidogen, so they can get atmospheric relevance.
Predictive analysis of metabolic syndrome based on 5-years continuous physical examination data
Authors: Zou Guohan , Zhong Qinghua , OUYang Ping , Li Xiaoxi , Lai Xiaoying , Zhang Han
Published: June 2023

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a complex group of metabolic disorders. As MetS poses a significant challenge to global public health, predicting the occurrence of MetS and the development of related risk factors is important. In this study, we conducted a predictive analysis of MetS based on machine learning algorithms using datasets of 15,661 individuals. Five consecutive years of medical examination records were provided by Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China. The specific risk factors used included WC, WHR, TG, HDL-C, BMI, FGLU, etc. We proposed a feature construction method using the examination records over the past four consecutive years, combining the differences between the annual value and the normal limits of each risk factor and the year-to-year variation. The results showed that the feature set, which contained the original features of the inspection record and new features proposed in this study yielded the highest AUC of 0.944, implying that the new features could help identify risk factors for MetS and provide more targeted diagnostic advice for physicians.
Universal mtDNA fragment for Cervidae barcoding species identification using phylogeny and preliminary analysis of machine learning approach
Authors: Filip Ewa , Strzała Tomasz , Stępień Edyta , Cembrowska-Lech Danuta
Published: June 2023

The aim of the study was to use total DNA obtained from bone material to identify species of free-living animals based on the analysis of mtDNA fragments by molecular methods using accurate bioinformatics tools Bayesian approach and the machine learning approach. In our research, we present a case study of successful species identification based on degraded samples of bone, with the use of short mtDNA fragments. For better barcoding, we used molecular and bioinformatics methods. We obtained a partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene forCapreolus capreolus,Dama dama, andCervus elaphus, that can be used for species affiliation. The new sequences have been deposited in GenBank, enriching the existing Cervidae mtDNA base. We have also analysed the effect of barcodes on species identification from the perspective of the machine learning approach. Machine learning approaches of BLOG and WEKA were compared with distance-based (TaxonDNA) and tree-based (NJ tree) methods based on the discrimination accuracy of the single barcodes. The results indicated that BLOG and WEKAs SMO classifier and NJ tree performed better than TaxonDNA in discriminatingCervidaespecies, with BLOG and WEKAs SMO classifier performing the best.
Association between marital status and all-cause mortality of patients with metastatic breast cancer: a population-based study
Authors: Zhu Shouqiang , Lei Chong
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to investigate the association between marital status and the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Data of patients with MBC were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients were classified into married and unmarried groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis with the log-rank test was conducted to compare breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) between the groups. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional models were used to determine whether marital status was independently associated with OS, and the Fine–Gray subdistribution hazard method was performed to determine whether marital status was independently associated with BCSS. In total, 16,513 patients with MBC were identified, including 8949 married (54.19%) and 7564 unmarried (45.81%) patients. The married patients were significantly younger [median age (interquartile range), 59.0 (50.0–68.0) vs. 63.0 (53.0–75.0); p < 0.001] and received more aggressive treatments, such as chemotherapy (p < 0.001) and surgery (p < 0.001), than the unmarried patients. Moreover, married patients had higher 5-year BCSS (42.64% vs. 33.17%, p < 0.0001) and OS (32.22% vs. 21.44%, p < 0.0001) rates. Multivariable analysis revealed that marital status was an independent prognostic factor, and married status was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of breast cancer-specific (sub-hazard ratio, 0.845; 95% confidence interval, 0.804–0.888; p < 0.001) and all-cause (hazard ratio, 0.810; 95% confidence interval, 0.777–0.844; p < 0.001) mortality. Unmarried patients had a 15.5% increased risk of breast cancer-specific mortality and a 19.0% increased risk of overall mortality compared with married patients with MBC. BCSS and OS were superior in married populations compared with unmarried populations in most subgroups. Marital status was an independent prognostic indicator for survival in patients with MBC and was associated with significant survival benefits.
Validation of self-report of uterine fibroid diagnosis using a transvaginal ultrasound scan
Authors: Adebamowo Clement A. , Morhason-Bello Imran O. ,   The ACCME Research Group as part of the H3Africa Consortium, Famooto Ayotunde O. , Offiong Richard , Olaniyan Olayinka , Obende Kayode , Adebayo Amos , Ologun Sanni , Alabi Bunmi , Achara Peter , Adebamowo Sally N.
Published: June 2023

Self-report of uterine fibroids (UF) has been used for epidemiologic research in different environments. Given the dearth of studies on the epidemiology of UF in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is valuable to evaluate its performance as a potential tool for much needed research on this common neoplasm in SSA women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of self-report of UF compared with transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis (TVUS) among 486 women who are members of the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) Study Cohort in central Nigeria. We used log-binomial regression models to compute the classification, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of self-report compared to TVUS, adjusted for significant covariates. The prevalence of UF on TVUS was 45.1% (219/486) compared to 5.4% (26/486) based on self-report of abdominal ultrasound scan and 7.2% (35/486) based on report of healthcare practitioner’s diagnosis. Self-report correctly classified 39.5% of the women compared to TVUS in multivariable adjusted models. The multivariable adjusted sensitivity of self-report of healthcare worker diagnosis was 38.8%, specificity was 74.5%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 55.6%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 59.8%. For self-reported abdominal ultrasound diagnosis, the multivariable adjusted sensitivity was 40.6%, specificity was 75.3%, PPV was 57.4%, and NPV was 60.6%. Self-report significantly underestimates the prevalence of UF and is not accurate enough for epidemiological research on UF. Future studies of UF should use population-based designs and more accurate diagnostic tools such as TVUS.
Association between changes in serum alkaline phosphatase levels and radiographic progression in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Kim Tae-Hwan , Park Seo Young , Shin Ji Hui , Lee Seunghun , Joo Kyung Bin , Koo Bon San
Published: June 2023

This retrospective study evaluated the electronic medical records of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (January 2001–December 2018) to determine the relationship between serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels and radiographic changes over time. Longitudinal data, including serum ALP levels, were imputed by linear interpolation at 3-month intervals. Among the serum ALP levels calculated for 8 years prior to modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) measurement, those having the highest beta coefficient with the mSASSS were selected in the correlation between ALP and longitudinal mSASSS. Linear mixed models with the selected serum ALP levels, mSASSS, and clinical variables were investigated. We included 1122 patients (mean follow-up, 8.20 [standard deviation: 2.85] years). The serum ALP level from 5 years and 3 months prior showed the highest beta coefficient with the mSASSS. In the linear mixed model, the serum ALP level at 5 years and 3 months before radiographic changes was significantly associated with the mSASSS (β = 0.021, 95% confidence interval: 0.017–0.025,p < 0.001). Serum ALP levels measured approximately 5 years before may be a surrogate marker for predicting spinal radiographic changes. Long-term prospective clinical and experimental studies of > 5 years are required for biomarker discovery or therapeutic research on AS radiographic progression.
Characteristic of phosphorus rich compounds in the incinerated sewage sludge ashes: a case for sustainable waste management
Authors: Kasina Monika , Jarosz Kinga , Stolarczyk Mateusz , Göttlicher Jörg , Steininger Ralph , Michalik Marek
Published: June 2023

Growing concern over mineral resources supply forces us to search for alternative sources of Phosphorus. The possibility to recover phosphorus from incinerated sewage sludge ashes appears to be an important aspect in anthropogenic phosphorus cycle and sustainable economy. To make phosphorus recovery efficient it is important to learn the chemical and mineral composition of ash and phosphorus speciation. The phosphorus content in the ash was over 7%, what corresponds to medium rich phosphorus ores. The main phosphorus rich mineral phases were phosphate minerals. The most widespread was tri-calcium phosphate Whitlockite with various Fe, Mg and Ca proportions. In minority Fe–PO4 and Mg–PO4 were detected. Whitlockite commonly overgrown with hematite, influences negatively mineral solubility and thus recovery potential and indicates low bioavailability of phosphorus. Considerable amount of phosphorus was found in the low crystalline matrix where phosphorus content was around 10 wt% however low crystallinity and dispersed phosphorus also does not strengthen the potential to recover this element.
Inherent seizure susceptibility in patients with antihistamine-induced acute symptomatic seizure: a resting-state EEG analysis
Authors: Kim Hayom , Wang In-Nea , Park Jun-Su , Kim Keun-Tae , Kong Jooheon , Kim Jung Bin , Kim Dong-Joo
Published: June 2023

We compared neural activities and network properties between the antihistamine-induced seizures (AIS) and seizure-free groups, with the hypothesis that patients with AIS might have inherently increased neural activities and network properties that are easily synchronized. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) data were collected from 27 AIS patients and 30 healthy adults who had never had a seizure. Power spectral density analysis was used to compare neural activities in each localized region. Functional connectivity (FC) was measured using coherence, and graph theoretical analyses were performed to compare network properties between the groups. Machine learning algorithms were applied using measurements found to be different between the groups in the EEG analyses as input features. Compared with the seizure-free group, the AIS group showed a higher spectral power in the entire regions of the delta, theta, and beta bands, as well as in the frontal areas of the alpha band. The AIS group had a higher overall FC strength, as well as a shorter characteristic path length in the theta band and higher global efficiency, local efficiency, and clustering coefficient in the beta band than the seizure-free group. The Support Vector Machine, k-Nearest Neighbor, and Random Forest models distinguished the AIS group from the seizure-free group with a high accuracy of more than 99%. The AIS group had seizure susceptibility considering both regional neural activities and functional network properties. Our findings provide insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of AIS and may be useful for the differential diagnosis of new-onset seizures in the clinical setting.
A global analysis of violence against women defenders in environmental conflicts
Authors: Tran Dalena , Hanaček Ksenija
Published: June 2023

Women environmental defenders face retaliation for mobilizing against extractive and polluting projects, which perpetrate violence against Indigenous, minority, poor and rural communities. The issue matters because it highlights the gendered nature of extractive violence and the urgent need to address the systemic patterns of violence that affect women defenders, who are often overlooked and underreported. Here we analyse violence against women defenders in environmental conflicts around the world. We use data from the Environmental Justice Atlas and employ log-linear and binomial regressions to find statistically significant patterns in displacement, repression, criminalization, violent targeting and assassinations committed against women defenders in extractive conflicts. Statistical results indicate that violence against women defenders is concentrated among mining, agribusiness and industrial conflicts in the geographical South. Repression, criminalization and violent targeting are closely linked, while displacement and assassination appear as extreme outcomes when conflict violence worsens. Women defenders experience high rates of violence regardless of countries’ governance accountability and gender equality. This work contributes to the broader sustainability agenda by highlighting the need to address the impacts of extractive activities on women.
Compensation for atmospheric appropriation
Authors: Fanning Andrew L. , Hickel Jason
Published: June 2023

Research on carbon inequalities shows that some countries are overshooting their fair share of the remaining carbon budget and hold disproportionate responsibility for climate breakdown. Scholars argue that overshooting countries owe compensation or reparations to undershooting countries for atmospheric appropriation and climate-related damages. Here we develop a procedure to quantify the level of compensation owed in a ‘net zero’ scenario where all countries decarbonize by 2050, using carbon prices from IPCC scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5 °C and tracking cumulative emissions from 1960 across 168 countries. We find that even in this ambitious scenario, the global North would overshoot its collective equality-based share of the 1.5 °C carbon budget by a factor of three, appropriating half of the global South’s share in the process. We calculate that compensation of US$192 trillion would be owed to the undershooting countries of the global South for the appropriation of their atmospheric fair shares by 2050, with an average disbursement to those countries of US$940 per capita per year. We also examine countries’ overshoot of equality-based shares of 350 ppm and 2 °C carbon budgets and quantify the level of compensation owed using earlier and later starting years (1850 and 1992) for comparison.
C11orf54 promotes DNA repair via blocking CMA-mediated degradation of HIF1A
Authors: Tan Junyang , Wang Wenjun , Liu Xinjie , Xu Jinhong , Che Yaping , Liu Yanyan , Hu Jiaqiao , Hu Liubing , Li Jianshuang , Zhou Qinghua
Published: June 2023

C11orf54 is an ester hydrolase highly conserved across different species. C11orf54 has been identified as a biomarker protein of renal cancers, but its exact function remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that C11orf54 knockdown decreases cell proliferation and enhances cisplatin-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. On the one hand, loss of C11orf54 reduces Rad51 expression and nuclear accumulation, which results in suppression of homologous recombination repair. On the other hand, C11orf54 and HIF1A competitively interact with HSC70, knockdown of C11orf54 promotes HSC70 binding to HIF1A to target it for degradation via chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). C11orf54 knockdown-mediated HIF1A degradation reduces the transcription of ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2), which is a rate-limiting RNR enzyme for DNA synthesis and DNA repair by producing dNTPs. Supplement of dNTPs can partially rescue C11orf54 knockdown-mediated DNA damage and cell death. Furthermore, we find that Bafilomycin A1, an inhibitor of both macroautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy, shows similar rescue effects as dNTP treatment. In summary, we uncover a role of C11orf54 in regulating DNA damage and repair through CMA-mediated decreasing of HIF1A/RRM2 axis.
Insight into the formation of bismuth-tungsten carbonyl clusters
Authors: Beuthert Katrin , Peerless Benjamin , Dehnen Stefanie
Published: June 2023

Multimetallic clusters play a key role as models to doped metals, as candidates to new types of superatomic catalysts and as precursors to new multimetallic solids. Understanding formation pathways is an essential and necessary step forward in the development of cluster synthesis and research, yet remains considerably lacking owing to difficulty in identification of intermediates and the ill-defined nature of common starting materials. Here we show progress in this regard by investigating the reactivity of an intermetallic solid of nominal composition ‘K5Ga2Bi4’ with [W(cod)(CO)4] upon extraction with ethane-1,2-diamine (en) and 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (crypt-222). Several polybismuthide intermediates and by-products were identified along the reaction pathway, ultimately forming the new polybismuthide salt [K(crypt-222)]3[µ:η3-Bi3{W(CO)3}2]∙en∙tol. DFT calculations revealed plausible reaction schemes for the transformations taking place in the reaction mixture providing insight into the complex reactivity of ‘K5Ga2Bi4’ on the basis of in situ generation of Bi22−.
Multi pathways temporal distance unravels the hidden geometry of network-driven processes
Authors: Bontorin Sebastiano , De Domenico Manlio
Published: June 2023

Network-based interactions allow one to model many technological and natural systems, where understanding information flow between nodes is important to predict their functioning. The complex interplay between network connectivity and dynamics can be captured by scaling laws overcoming the paradigm of information spread being solely dependent on network structure. Here, we capitalize on this paradigm to identify the relevant paths for perturbation propagation. We introduce a multi-pathways temporal distance between nodes that overcomes the limitation of focussing only on the shortest path. This metric predicts the latent geometry induced by the dynamics in which the signal propagation resembles the traveling wave solution of reaction-diffusion systems. We validate the framework on a set of synthetic dynamical models, showing that it outperforms existing approaches in predicting arrival times. On a set of empirical contact-based social systems, we show that it can be reliably used also for models of infectious diseases spread - such as the Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible - with remarkable accuracy in predicting the observed timing of infections. Our framework naturally encodes the concerted behavior of the ensemble of paths connecting two nodes in conveying perturbations, with applications ranging from regulatory dynamics within cells to epidemic spreading in social networks.
Flux-flow instability across Berezinskii Kosterlitz Thouless phase transition in KTaO3 (111) based superconductor
Authors: Kumar Ojha Shashank , Mandal Prithwijit , Kumar Siddharth , Maity Jyotirmay , Middey Srimanta
Published: June 2023

The nature of energy dissipation in 2D superconductors under perpendicular magnetic field at small current excitations has been extensively studied over the past two decades. However, dissipation mechanisms at high current drives remain largely unexplored. Here we report on the distinct behavior of energy dissipation in the AlOx/KTaO3 (111) system hosting 2D superconductivity in the intermediate disorder regime. The results show that below the Berezinskii Kosterlitz Thouless (BKT) phase transition temperature (TBKT), hot-spots and Larkin Ovchinnikov type flux-flow instability (FFI) are the major channels of dissipation, leading to pronounced voltage instability at large currents. Furthermore, such FFI leads to a rare observation of clockwise hysteresis in current-voltage characteristics within the temperature range TBKT < T < TC (TC is superconducting transition temperature). These findings deepen our understanding of how a BKT system ultimately transforms to a normal state under increasing current.
The incretin co-agonist tirzepatide requires GIPR for hormone secretion from human islets
Authors: El Kimberley , Douros Jonathan D. , Willard Francis S. , Novikoff Aaron , Sargsyan Ashot , Perez-Tilve Diego , Wainscott David B. , Yang Bin , Chen Alex , Wothe Donald , Coupland Callum , Tschöp Mattias H. , Finan Brian , D’Alessio David A. , Sloop Kyle W. , Müller Timo D. , Campbell Jonathan E.
Published: June 2023

The incretins glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) mediate insulin responses that are proportionate to nutrient intake to facilitate glucose tolerance1. The GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is an established drug target for the treatment of diabetes and obesity2, whereas the therapeutic potential of the GIP receptor (GIPR) is a subject of debate. Tirzepatide is an agonist at both the GIPR and GLP-1R and is a highly effective treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity3,4. However, although tirzepatide activates GIPR in cell lines and mouse models, it is not clear whether or how dual agonism contributes to its therapeutic benefit. Islet beta cells express both the GLP-1R and the GIPR, and insulin secretion is an established mechanism by which incretin agonists improve glycemic control5. Here, we show that in mouse islets, tirzepatide stimulates insulin secretion predominantly through the GLP-1R, owing to reduced potency at the mouse GIPR. However, in human islets, antagonizing GIPR activity consistently decreases the insulin response to tirzepatide. Moreover, tirzepatide enhances glucagon secretion and somatostatin secretion in human islets. These data demonstrate that tirzepatide stimulates islet hormone secretion from human islets through both incretin receptors.
Assessing social contracts for urban adaptation through social listening on Twitter
Authors: Doshi Deepal , Garschagen Matthias
Published: June 2023

Adapting to climate change impacts requires a coherent social contract in which different actors agree on a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities. An urgent requirement is to understand the imagined social contracts on expected roles and responsibilities, which is particularly relevant in cities where very diverse social groups come together. However, there is limited empirical evidence on these expectations as they are often tacit and hard to capture across large populations and heterogeneous groups. Here we assess the social contract on flood risk management in Mumbai, using the concept of social listening in combination with Twitter data. We find wide gaps between and within imagined social contracts. Sentiments such as frustration and apathy expressed in tweets explain these gaps and highlight the need to build trust for achieving accepted and effective social contracts for adaptation. Theoretical, empirical, and methodological lessons can be transferred to other cities and beyond.
High-resolution maps of carbon dioxide and moisture fluxes over an urban neighborhood
Authors: Velasco Erik , Segovia Elvagris , Roth Matthias
Published: June 2023

Mapping fluxes of CO2 and moisture at building to block scale is necessary to take informed action to mitigate climate change and reduce urban warming. This study used the aerodynamic resistance approach to build maps at fine spatial resolution.
Germinated and non-germinated cooked whole millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) flours show a promising effect on protein quality, biochemical profile and intestinal health in vivo
Authors: Magalhães Thauana Lorena Silva , da Silva Bárbara Pereira , Grancieri Mariana , Lúcio Haira Guedes , Toledo Renata Celi Lopes , Silva Barra Roberta Ribeiro , de Carvalho Carlos Wanderlei Piler , Martino Hércia Stampini Duarte
Published: June 2023

Cooked whole germinated millet flour (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) presented better protein quality than cooked whole non-germinated millet flour, and in addition improved the biochemical parameters and intestinal health variables in Wistar rats.