bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Source apportionment of water pollutants in Poyang Lake Basin in China using absolute principal component score–multiple linear regression model combined with land-use parameters
Authors: Hou Xikang , Gao Wei , Zhang Meng , Xia Rui , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Kai , Wang Xiao , Yang Kai , Chen Xiaofei , Deng Yu
Published: August 2022

Source apportionment of surface water is essential for effective pollution control and sustainable water management. Physical mechanism models usually need so much data and parameters for calibration that their application for complex hydrologic condition watershed becomes difficult. However, reverse source tracing methods only based on water quality parameters present a certain subjectivity and uncertainty. In this research, additional land-use parameters were applied as an auxiliary in principal component analysis (PCA) for accurate identification of pollution sources. Thirteen water quality parameters and two meteorology parameters were used in the PCA and absolute principal component score–multiple linear regression (APCS–MLR) model to quantitatively identify potential pollution sources and their contributions to surface water pollution of the Poyang Lake Basin, in which frequent flow and sediment flux exchange with Yangtze River make the river–lake relationship complex. The results showed that urban wastewater with 34% contribution and agricultural non-point sources with 16% contribution, were the major sources of pollution in water quality. TP and NH3–N, the most serious pollutants, causing agricultural non-point source pollutions with 40% contributions and urban wastewater with 21% contributions were the major sources in the Poyang Lake Basin. Urban wastewater with 60% contributions was the major source of organic contamination. It can be concluded that with associated land-use parameters, the GIS approach with the APCS–MLR model can improve the accuracy and certainty of source apportionment, providing aid decision information for managers on protection of surface water quality.
Trends of terrestrial water storage and actual evapotranspiration in Chinese inland basins and their main affecting factors
Authors: Liu Xuan , Liu Zhaofei , Wei Haoshan
Published: August 2022

The Chinese inland basins (CIBs) are vulnerable to global warming and human activities due to low precipitation and high potential evaporation. Terrestrial water storage (TWS) is an important component of the hydrological cycle and essential for evaluating the water resource security of the CIBs. Although some studies have focused on water storage trends in sub-basins of the CIBs, only few studies have analyzed water storage trends in the CIBs as a whole. In this study, trends and magnitudes of precipitation, TWS, and actual evapotranspiration (AET) were detected by the rank-based non-parametric Mann–Kendall test and trend magnitude method. Based on the hydrological budget of the closed inland basin, the monthly series of AET were simulated and the main factors affecting TWS changes in the CIBs and each closed basin were identified. Results showed that both precipitation and AET significantly increased in the CIBs. Precipitation decreased from the northwest and southeast regions to the central region in the CIBs. Moreover, the annual TWS in the CIBs significantly decreased mainly due to the increased AET. Approximately 60% AET increase was attributed to increased irrigation diversions. At the basin scale, similar to the CIBs, changes in AET were the predominant factor influencing changes in TWS in the Tarim basin (TRB), Turpan basin (TPB), and Hexi Corridor basin (HCB). Qiangtang Plateau basin (QPB) Qaidam basin (QDB) the increase in precipitation contributed more than 60% increase in TWS glacier melting and irrigation diversion.
Effects of typical artificial reefs on hydrodynamic characteristics and carbon sequestration potential in the offshore of Juehua Island, Bohai Sea
Authors: Shu Anping , Zhang Ziru , Wang Le , Sun Tao , Yang Wei , Zhu Jiapin , Qin Jiping , Zhu Fuyang
Published: August 2022

The ocean system provides abundant food resources and suitable habitats for numerous animal and plant species. However, the ecological health of the ocean system has deteriorated due to intensified human activities over the past decades. To mitigate negative effects, more research efforts are being directed toward marine ecological restoration programs at national and regional scales. As an effective method, artificial reefs are found to have an important role in restoring the ecological system by producing complex flow patterns and attracting more species to settle down. This study aims to select the offshore ground of Juehua Island in the Bohai Sea as an artificial reef–driven ecological restoration site, to tentatively estimate effects of square and M-shaped artificial reefs on localized flow fields, biomass production, and offshore carbon sink capacity. Meanwhile, a relatively complete carbon sink measurement system is accordingly proposed. Our results indicate that both temporal and spatial distribution of nutrients and habitat environments are dependent on flow characteristics modified by artificial reefs of different sizes, shapes, and configurations. Future ecological restoration measures in offshore waters should take carbon sink and relevant influencing factors into consideration.
Predicting prognosis and immune responses in hepatocellular carcinoma based on N7-methylguanosine-related long noncoding RNAs
Authors: Dai Yu-yang , Gao Yi-ping , Chen Lin-xin , Liu Jin-song , Zeng Cheng , Zhou Jian-dong , Wu Hong-lin
Published: August 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which has high rates of recurrence and metastasis and is the main reason and the most common tumor for cancer mortality worldwide, has an unfavorable prognosis. N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modification can affect the formation and development of tumors by affecting gene expression and other biological processes. In addition, many previous studies have confirmed the unique function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor progression; however, studies exploring the functions of m7G-related lncRNAs in HCC patients has been limited.

Methods: Relevant RNA expression information was acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov), and m7G-related lncRNAs were identified via gene coexpression analysis. Afterward, univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate regression analyses were implemented to construct an ideal risk model whose validity was verified using Kaplan–Meier survival, principal component, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and nomogram analyses. In addition, the potential functions of lncRNAs in the novel signature were explored through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) analyses and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). At last, in both risk groups and subtypes classified based on the expression of the risk-related lncRNAs, we analyzed the immune characteristics and drug sensitivity of patients.

Results: After rigorous screening processes, we built a model based on 11 m7G-related lncRNAs for predicting patient overall survival (OS). The results suggested that the survival status of patients with high-risk scores was lower than that of patients with low-risk scores, and a high-risk score was related to malignant clinical features. Cox regression analysis showed that the m7G risk score was an independent prognostic parameter. Moreover, immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy sensitivity differed between the risk groups.

Conclusion: The m7G risk score model constructed based on 11 m7G-related lncRNAs can effectively assess the OS of HCC patients and may offer support for making individualized treatment and immunotherapy decisions for HCC patients.
A consensus map for quality traits in durum wheat based on genome-wide association studies and detection of ortho-meta QTL across cereal species
Authors: Marcotuli Ilaria , Soriano Jose Miguel , Gadaleta Agata
Published: August 2022

The present work focused on the identification of durum wheat QTL hotspots from a collection of genome-wide association studies, for quality traits, such as grain protein content and composition, yellow color, fiber, grain microelement content (iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sulfur, calcium, cadmium), kernel vitreousness, semolina, and dough quality test. For the first time a total of 10 GWAS studies, comprising 395 marker-trait associations (MTA) on 57 quality traits, with more than 1,500 genotypes from 9 association panels, were used to investigate consensus QTL hotspots representative of a wide durum wheat genetic variation. MTA were found distributed on all the A and B genomes chromosomes with minimum number of MTA observed on chromosome 5B (15) and a maximum of 45 on chromosome 7A, with an average of 28 MTA per chromosome. The MTA were equally distributed on A (48%) and B (52%) genomes and allowed the identification of 94 QTL hotspots. Synteny maps for QTL were also performed in Zea mays, Brachypodium, and Oryza sativa, and candidate gene identification allowed the association of genes involved in biological processes playing a major role in the control of quality traits.
Comparable outcomes in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Pretransplant minimal residual disease-negative complete remission following chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy versus chemotherapy
Authors: Yang Ting-Ting , Meng Ye , Kong De-Lin , Wei Guo-Qing , Zhang Ming-Ming , Wu Wen-Jun , Shi Ji-Min , Luo Yi , Zhao Yan-Min , Yu Jian , Jing Rui-Rui , Zhao Meng-Yu , Zhao Hou-Li , Huang He , Hu Yong-Xian
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell (CAR-T) therapy followed by haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) markedly improves the long-term survival of patients with refractory/relapsed (R/R) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

Methods

We performed a parallel comparison of transplant outcomes in 168 B-ALL patients undergoing haplo-HSCT after achieving minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative complete remission (CR) from CAR-T therapy (n = 28) or chemotherapy (n = 140) between January 2016 and August 2021. We further divided the chemotherapy group into the first CR group (chemo+CR1, n = 118) and a second or more CR group (chemo+≥CR2, n = 22).

Results

With a median follow-up period of 31.0 months, the 2-year overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and relapse rates in the CAR-T and chemotherapy groups did not differ significantly (OS, 87.9% vs. 71.5 %; LFS, 72.0% vs. 66.8%; NRM, 3.9% vs. 13.7%; relapse, 24.1% vs. 19.4%). Multivariate analysis confirmed that ≥CR2 at transplantation following chemotherapy was an independent risk factor associated with poor OS (hazard ratio (HR) 4.22 [95% CI, 1.34–13.293], p = 0.014) and LFS (HR 2.57 [95% CI, 1.041–6.343], p = 0.041). The probabilities of OS and LFS at 2 years in the CAR-T group were comparable to those in the chemo+CR1 group but significantly higher than those in the chemo+≥CR2 group (OS, 87.9% vs. 37.8%, p = 0.007; LFS, 72.0% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.043). No significant differences in the incidences of NRM were noted among the three groups.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that patients with R/R B-ALL receiving haplo-HSCT after CAR-T therapy achieved comparable outcomes to patients transplanted post-chemotherapy-based MRD-negative CR1, without increased risk of transplant-related mortality and toxicity.
Immune modulation as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Gelmez Metin Yusuf , Oktelik Fatma Betul , Tahrali Ilhan , Yilmaz Vuslat , Kucuksezer Umut Can , Akdeniz Nilgun , Cetin Esin Aktas , Kose Murat , Cinar Cigdem , Oguz Fatma Savran , Besisik Sevgi , Koksalan Kaya , Ozdemir Ozkan , Senkal Naci , Gul Ahmet , Tuzun Erdem , Deniz Gunnur
Published: August 2022

Erroneous immune responses in COVID-19 could have detrimental effects, which makes investigation of immune network underlying COVID-19 pathogenesis a requisite. This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 related alterations within the frame of innate and adaptive immunity. Thirty-four patients clinically diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 disease were enrolled in this study. Decreased ILC1 and increased ILC2 subsets were detected in mild and moderate patients compared to healthy controls. NK cell subsets and cytotoxic capacity of NK cells were decreased in severe patients. Moreover, CD3+ T cells were reduced in severe patients and a negative correlation was found between CD3+ T cells and D-dimer levels. Likewise, moderate and severe patients showed diminished CD3+CD8+ T cells. Unlike T and NK cells, plasmablast and plasma cells were elevated in patients and IgG and IgA levels were particularly increased in severe patients. Severe patients also showed elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8, reduced intracellular IFN-γ and increased intracellular IL-10 levels. Our findings emphasize that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly alters immune responses and innate and acquired immunity are differentially modulated in line with the clinical severity of the disease. Elevation of IL-10 levels in NK cells and reduction of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in severe patients might be considered as a protective response against the harmful effect of cytokine storm seen in COVID-19.
A high-throughput screening RT-qPCR assay for quantifying surrogate markers of immunity from PBMCs
Authors: Browne Daniel J. , Kelly Ashton M. , Brady Jamie L. , Doolan Denise L.
Published: August 2022

Immunoassays that quantitate cytokines and other surrogate markers of immunity from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), such as flow cytometry or Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Spot (ELIspot), allow highly sensitive measurements of immune effector function. However, those assays consume relatively high numbers of cells and expensive reagents, precluding comprehensive analyses and high-throughput screening (HTS). To address this issue, we developed a sensitive and specific reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)-based HTS assay, specifically designed to quantify surrogate markers of immunity from very low numbers of PBMCs. We systematically evaluated the volumes and concentrations of critical reagents within the RT-qPCR protocol, miniaturizing the assay and ultimately reducing the cost by almost 90% compared to current standard practice. We assessed the suitability of this cost-optimized RT-qPCR protocol as an HTS tool and determined the assay exceeds HTS uniformity and signal variance testing standards. Furthermore, we demonstrate this technique can effectively delineate a hierarchy of responses from as little as 50,000 PBMCs stimulated with CD4+ or CD8+ T cell peptide epitopes. Finally, we establish that this HTS-optimized protocol has single-cell analytical sensitivity and a diagnostic sensitivity equivalent to detecting 1:10,000 responding cells (i.e., 100 Spot Forming Cells/106 PBMCs by ELIspot) with over 90% accuracy. We anticipate this assay will have widespread applicability in preclinical and clinical studies, especially when samples are limited, and cost is an important consideration.
The key player in the pathogenesis of environmental influence of systemic lupus erythematosus: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor
Authors: Wu Jingwen , Pang Tianyi , Lin Ziyuan , Zhao Ming , Jin Hui
Published: August 2022

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor was previously known as an environmental receptor that modulates the cellular response to external environmental changes. In essence, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor is a cytoplasmic receptor and transcription factor that is activated by binding to the corresponding ligands, and they transmit relevant information by binding to DNA, thereby activating the transcription of various genes. Therefore, we can understand the development of certain diseases and discover new therapeutic targets by studying the regulation and function of AhR. Several autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), have been connected to AhR in previous studies. SLE is a classic autoimmune disease characterized by multi-organ damage and disruption of immune tolerance. We discuss here the homeostatic regulation of AhR and its ligands among various types of immune cells, pathophysiological roles, in addition to the roles of various related cytokines and signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of SLE.
The clinical features and prognoses of anti-MDA5 and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody double-positive dermatomyositis patients
Authors: Chen Xixia , Zhang Lu , Jin Qiwen , Lu Xin , Lei Jieping , Peng Qinglin , Wang Guochun , Ge Yongpeng
Published: August 2022

Objective

To explore the clinical features and prognoses of dermatomyositis (DM) associated with a double-positive anti-MDA5 and anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (anti-ARS) antibody presentation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 1280 consecutive patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). Individuals with anti-MDA5 and anti-ARS antibodies (anti-MDA5+/ARS+) were compared to anti-MDA5-/ARS+ and anti-MDA5+/ARS- control individuals based on clinical, pulmonary radiological characteristics, treatment, and follow-up information.

Results

Six individuals (0.47%) presented with anti-MDA5+/ARS+; of these, 2 (33.3%) were anti-PL-12+, 2 (33.3%) were anti-Jo-1+, 1 (16.7%) was anti-EJ+, and 1 (16.7%) was anti-PL-7+. Hallmark cutaneous manifestations, including Gottron’s sign (100%), heliotrope rash (50%), mechanic’s hand (66.7%), and skin ulcers (16.7%) were common. Anti-MDA5+/ARS+ patients tended to have higher ferritin levels (p = 0.038) than anti-MDA5-/ARS+ group, and higher CD4+ T-cell counts (p = 0.032) compared to the anti-MDA5+/ARS- group. Radiologically, NSIP with OP overlap was predominant (60%). Consolidation (60%), ground-glass attenuation (GGA) (80%), traction bronchiectasis (80%), and intralobular reticulation (100%) were common in anti-MDA5+/ARS+ individuals. All were diagnosed with ILD and 50% were categorized as RPILD. All patients received glucocorticoids combined with one or more immunosuppressants. Most (83.3%) had a good prognosis following treatment, but there was no difference in the survival rate between the three subgroups.

Conclusion

Presentation with anti-MDA5+/ARS+ DM was rare. The clinical and radiological characteristics of anti-MDA5+/ARS+ DM combined the features of anti-MDA5+ and anti-ARS+ individuals. Individuals with anti-MDA5+/ARS+ antibodies may respond well to glucocorticoid therapy; glucocorticoids combined with one or more immunosuppressants may be considered a basic treatment approach.
Cultivation of previously uncultured sponge-associated bacteria using advanced cultivation techniques: A perspective on possible key mechanisms
Authors: Jung Dawoon , Machida Koshi , Nakao Yoichi , Owen Jeffrey S. , He Shan , Kindaichi Tomonori , Ohashi Akiyoshi , Aoi Yoshiteru
Published: August 2022

Most of the microbes from natural habitats cannot be cultivated with standard cultivation in laboratory, and sponge-associated microbes are no exception. We used two advanced methods based on a continuous-flow bioreactor (CF) and in situ cultivation (I-tip) to isolate previously uncultivated marine sponge-associated bacteria. We also characterized the physiological properties of the isolates from each method and attempted to clarify the mechanisms operating in each cultivation method. A greater number of novel bacteria were isolated using CF and in situ cultivation compared to standard direct plating (SDP) cultivation. Most isolates from CF cultivation were poor growers (with lower specific growth rates and saturated cell densities than those of isolates from SDP cultivation), demonstrating that it is effective to carry out pre-enrichment cultivation targeting bacteria that are less competitive on conventional cultivation, especially K-strategists and bacterial types inhibited by their own growth. Isolates from in situ cultivation showed a positive influence on cell recovery stimulated by chemical compounds in the extract of sponge tissue, indicating that some of the bacteria require a “growth initiation factor” that is present in the natural environment. Each advanced cultivation method has its own distinct key mechanisms allowing cultivation of physiologically and phylogenetically different fastidious bacteria for cultivation compared with conventional methods.
First record of the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum borbonicum in the continental coast of Colombian Caribbean: A new 42 hydroxi-palytoxin producer
Authors: Arteaga-Sogamoso Edgar , Riobó Pilar , Rodríguez Francisco , Mancera-Pineda José Ernesto , Franco-Angulo Julián
Published: August 2022

The dinoflagellate genusProrocentrumincludes several harmful toxigenic species, predominantly benthic ones. In the past, fast-acting toxicity in mice has been observed in extracts of the epibenthic speciesP. borbonicum, with the finding of two compounds termed as borbotoxins-A and -B. The presence of palytoxin-like compounds was also suggested from electrophysiological experiments. In the present study, a strain ofP. borbonicumwas isolated in the continental coast of Colombian Caribbean, in seagrass beds ofThalassia testudinumin Bonito Gordo, Tayrona National Natural Park (PNNT). The morphological and molecular characteristics were consistent with the original and former descriptions for this species. Typical haemolytic activity due to palytoxin was confirmed inP. borbonicumextracts in presence of ouabain, the toxin contents being estimated as 1.9 pg palytoxin equivalents cell-1. HPLC-HRMS analyses of these extracts unambiguously identified the presence of borbotoxins and 42-hidroxy-palytoxin (42-OH-PLTX). This is the first report of palytoxin-like compounds in another dinoflagellate genus thanOstreopsisand the first record ofP. borbonicumin Colombia and the Caribbean region.
Fermented tea residue improved growth performance, liver antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in juvenile largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Authors: Jiang Li , Zhou Xinhong , Yu Jing , Bao Songsong , Li Jin , Wu Qiuhong , Wu Mengjia , Wang Yachao , Liu Bo
Published: August 2022

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of fermented tea residue (FT) on growth performance, intestinal morphology, liver antioxidant capacity and Aeromonas hydrophila infection in juvenile Largemouth bass. A total of 240 fish were randomly distributed in 12 tanks with 20 fish per tank (4 treatments with 3 replications) and fed with diets FT at the rate of 0 (control), 2, 4 and 6%. The weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR) and intestinal villi height (VH) of juvenile largemouth bass were significantly higher than those of the control group after feeding FT (P< 0.05); meanwhile, the liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and catalase (CAT) activities of juvenile largemouth bass were significantly higher and the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly lower than those of the control group after feeding FT (P< 0.05). Mortality occurred in all groups of largemouth bass after the injection of A.hydrophila, but feeding FT reduced the cumulative mortality compared with the control group (P< 0.05). In juvenile largemouth bass infected with A.hydrophila, the relative mRNA expression of the intestinal anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-α was significantly higher and that of the pro-inflammatory factors IL-1, IL-15, IL-8, and TNF-α was significantly lower (P< 0.05). In summary, it can be seen that a 2% FT addition can improve the liver antioxidant capacity of juvenile largemouth bass, enhance the resistance to A.hydrophila and increase the growth of largemouth bass.
Prospects of carbon fiber composites applications in hydraulic supports
Authors: Guo Haiwei , Zhou Miaomiao , Li Pengfei , Lv Meng , Zhang Yufang
Published: August 2022

This paper briefly analyzes the current development of lightweight design and applications for hydraulic support in the coal mines. Specifically, the comparative investigations of lightweight design demonstrate the potential application for carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP) in the production and manufacturing process of hydraulic support. After analyzing the major industrial applications of CFRP in the three main parts, hydraulic structure, cylinder and special frames, it demonstrated the feasibility of the potential CFRP exploitations in the future research of hydraulic support for coal mining sites.
Assessment of open surgery suturing skill: Simulator platform, force-based, and motion-based metrics
Authors: Kil Irfan , Eidt John F. , Groff Richard E. , Singapogu Ravikiran B.
Published: August 2022

Objective

This paper focuses on simulator-based assessment of open surgery suturing skill. We introduce a new surgical simulator designed to collect synchronized force, motion, video and touch data during a radial suturing task adapted from the Fundamentals of Vascular Surgery (FVS) skill assessment. The synchronized data is analyzed to extract objective metrics for suturing skill assessment.

Methods

The simulator has a camera positioned underneath the suturing membrane, enabling visual tracking of the needle during suturing. Needle tracking data enables extraction of meaningful metrics related to both the process and the product of the suturing task. To better simulate surgical conditions, the height of the system and the depth of the membrane are both adjustable. Metrics for assessment of suturing skill based on force/torque, motion, and physical contact are presented. Experimental data are presented from a study comparing attending surgeons and surgery residents.

Results

Analysis shows force metrics (absolute maximum force/torque in z-direction), motion metrics (yaw, pitch, roll), physical contact metric, and image-enabled force metrics (orthogonal and tangential forces) are found to be statistically significant in differentiating suturing skill between attendings and residents.

Conclusion and significance

The results suggest that this simulator and accompanying metrics could serve as a useful tool for assessing and teaching open surgery suturing skill.
AI-CenterNet CXR: An artificial intelligence (AI) enabled system for localization and classification of chest X-ray disease
Authors: Albahli Saleh , Nazir Tahira
Published: August 2022

Machine learning techniques have lately attracted a lot of attention for their potential to execute expert-level clinical tasks, notably in the area of medical image analysis. Chest radiography is one of the most often utilized diagnostic imaging modalities in medical practice, and it necessitates timely coverage regarding the presence of probable abnormalities and disease diagnoses in the images. Computer-aided solutions for the identification of chest illness using chest radiography are being developed in medical imaging research. However, accurate localization and categorization of specific disorders in chest X-ray images is still a challenging problem due to the complex nature of radiographs, presence of different distortions, high inter-class similarities, and intra-class variations in abnormalities. In this work, we have presented an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled fully automated approach using an end-to-end deep learning technique to improve the accuracy of thoracic illness diagnosis. We proposed AI-CenterNet CXR, a customized CenterNet model with an improved feature extraction network for the recognition of multi-label chest diseases. The enhanced backbone computes deep key points that improve the abnormality localization accuracy and, thus, overall disease classification performance. Moreover, the proposed architecture is lightweight and computationally efficient in comparison to the original CenterNet model. We have performed extensive experimentation to validate the effectiveness of the proposed technique using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chest X-ray dataset. Our method achieved an overall Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.888 and an average IOU of 0.801 to detect and classify the eight types of chest abnormalities. Both the qualitative and quantitative findings reveal that the suggested approach outperforms the existing methods, indicating the efficacy of our approach.
Immune dysfunction following severe trauma: A systems failure from the central nervous system to mitochondria
Authors: Dobson Geoffrey P. , Morris Jodie L. , Letson Hayley L.
Published: August 2022

When a traumatic injury exceeds the body’s internal tolerances, the innate immune and inflammatory systems are rapidly activated, and if not contained early, increase morbidity and mortality. Early deaths after hospital admission are mostly from central nervous system (CNS) trauma, hemorrhage and circulatory collapse (30%), and later deaths from hyperinflammation, immunosuppression, infection, sepsis, acute respiratory distress, and multiple organ failure (20%). The molecular drivers of secondary injury include damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and other immune-modifying agents that activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and sympathetic stress response. Despite a number of drugs targeting specific anti-inflammatory and immune pathways showing promise in animal models, the majority have failed to translate. Reasons for failure include difficulty to replicate the heterogeneity of humans, poorly designed trials, inappropriate use of specific pathogen-free (SPF) animals, ignoring sex-specific differences, and the flawed practice of single-nodal targeting. Systems interconnectedness is a major overlooked factor. We argue that if the CNS is protected early after major trauma and control of cardiovascular function is maintained, the endothelial-glycocalyx will be protected, sufficient oxygen will be delivered, mitochondrial energetics will be maintained, inflammation will be resolved and immune dysfunction will be minimized. The current challenge is to develop new systems-based drugs that target the CNS coupling of whole-body function.
The Global Pregnancy Collaboration (CoLab) symposium on short- and long-term outcomes in offspring whose mothers had preeclampsia: A scoping review of clinical evidence
Authors: Korzeniewski Steven J. , Sutton Elizabeth , Escudero Carlos , Roberts James M.
Published: August 2022

Preeclampsia is a maternal syndrome characterized by the new onset of hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation associated with multisystemic complications leading to high maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, sequelae of preeclampsia may extend years after pregnancy in both mothers and their children. In addition to the long-term adverse cardiovascular effects of preeclampsia in the mother, observational studies have reported elevated risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, cerebral and cognitive complications in children born from women with preeclampsia. Less clear is whether the association between maternal preeclampsia and offspring sequelae are causal, or to what degree the associations might be driven by fetal factors including impaired growth and the health of its placenta. Our discussion of these complexities in the 2018 Global Pregnancy Collaboration annual meeting prompted us to write this review. We aimed to summarize the evidence of an association between maternal preeclampsia and neurobehavioral developmental disorders in offspring in hopes of generating greater research interest in this important topic.
FoCupin1, a Cupin_1 domain-containing protein, is necessary for the virulence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4
Authors: Yan Tiantian , Zhou Xiaofan , Li Jieling , Li Guanjun , Zhao Yali , Wang Haojie , Li Huaping , Nie Yanfang , Li Yunfeng
Published: August 2022

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) is an important soilborne fungal pathogen that causes the most devastating banana disease. Effectors secreted by microbes contribute to pathogen virulence on host plants in plant-microbe interactions. However, functions of Foc TR4 effectors remain largely unexplored. In this study, we characterized a novel cupin_1 domain-containing protein (FoCupin1) from Foc TR4. Sequence analysis indicated that the homologous proteins of FoCupin1 in phytopathogenic fungi were evolutionarily conserved. Furthermore, FoCupin1 could suppress BAX-mediated cell death and significantly downregulate the expression of defense-related genes in tobacco by using the Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression system. FoCupin1 was highly induced in the early stage of Foc TR4 infection. The deletion of FoCupin1 gene did not affect Foc TR4 growth and conidiation. However, FoCupin1 deletion significantly reduced Foc TR4 virulence on banana plants, which was further confirmed by biomass assay. The expression of the defense-related genes in banana was significantly induced after inoculation with FoCupin1 mutants. These results collectively indicate FoCupin1 is a putative effector protein that plays an essential role in Foc TR4 pathogenicity. These findings suggest a novel role for cupin_1 domain-containing proteins and deepen our understanding of effector-mediated Foc TR4 pathogenesis.
An optimized mode of interferon intermittent therapy help improve HBsAg disappearance in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Li Minghui , Xie Si , Bi Xiaoyue , Sun Fangfang , Zeng Zhan , Deng Wen , Jiang Tingting , Lin Yanjie , Yang Liu , Lu Yao , Zhang Lu , Yi Wei , Xie Yao
Published: August 2022

Background

To investigate the effect of intermittent interferon therapy mode on the disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study in CHB patients who were suspended from pegylated interferon α (PEG-IFNα) therapy due to a plateau in HBsAg decline during the initial treatment period, and resumed interferon therapy after an interval of 3–6 months. Patients received entecavir or tenofovir during the interval period. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) virological and serological indexes, clinical biochemical indexes, and blood routine tests were performed at the baseline and every 3 months during follow-up of initial interferon treatment. A functional cure was analyzed as a primary outcome.

Results

A total of 304 patients treated with intermittent PEG-IFNα were included in the statistical analysis, including 215 men and 89 women, aged 37.97 ± 8.53 years, and 73 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative and 231 HBeAg positive patients. In total 59 patients (19.41%) achieved HBsAg disappearance through the initial, intermittent, and retreatment of PEG-IFNα treatment, of whom 43 patients (14.14%) achieved HBsAg seroconversion. Early HBsAg response to initial treatment was significantly associated with HBsAg response at 12 and 24 weeks of retreatment. After the intermission period, the incidence of HBsAg disappearance in patients with early HBsAg response in the retreatment period was 43.87%. The baseline HBsAg and 12-week HBsAg response in the retreatment period had higher predictive value than the initial treatment HBsAg response.

Conclusion

The initial, intermittent, and retreatment mode of interferon can help to improve the HBsAg disappearance rate in CHB patients.

Clinical trial registration

[www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04028856].
Antioxidative properties analysis of gastrointestinal lactic acid bacteria in Hainan black goat and its effect on the aerobic stability of total mixed ration
Authors: Yang Tianshu , Yang Jinsong , Tang Kai , Zhi Wenbo , Chen Rong , Tan Haisheng
Published: August 2022

In this study, lactic acid bacteria strains (HCS-01, HCS-05, HCS-07, HCW-08, and HCW-09) derived from the gastrointestinal tract of Hainan black goat were evaluated for their antioxidant capacity in vitro, and the lactic acid bacteria with strong antioxidant capacity were screened for application to improve the aerobic stability of total mixed ration (TMR). The results showed that all the tested lactic acid bacteria had a certain tolerance to hydrogen peroxide. By comprehensively comparing the scavenging abilities of fermentation supernatants, whole cell bacterial suspensions and cell contents of five lactic acid bacteria strains to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH), hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions, and their antioxidant enzyme activity, it was found that Lactobacillus fermentum HCS-05 and Lactobacillus plantarum HCW-08 have the strongest comprehensive antioxidant capacity, and their scavenging capacity for various free radicals has reached more than 60%. Using strains HCS-05, HCW-08 and laboratory-preserved Lactobacillus plantarum HDX1 fermented TMR, the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of the feed after 60 days of fermentation were significantly higher than those of the blank treatment group. The effect of mixed strains HCS-05 and HCS-08 for TMR fermentation was the best (P < 0.05). At the same time, the fermentation effect of Lactobacillus plantarum HDX1 on TMR was significantly lower than that of the selected lactic acid bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract of Hainan black goats (P < 0.05). The results show that the test strain can significantly improve the aerobic stability of the fermented feeds.
Exploring the deactivation mechanism of human β2 adrenergic receptor by accelerated molecular dynamic simulations
Authors: Chen Jianzhong , Wang Jian , Zeng Qingkai , Wang Wei , Sun Haibo , Wei Benzheng
Published: August 2022

The β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR), one of important members of the G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), has been suggested as an important target for cardiac and asthma drugs. Two replicas of Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations are performed to explore the deactivation mechanism of the active β2AR bound by three different substrates, including the agonist (P0G), antagonist (JTZ) and inverse agonist (JRZ). The simulation results indicate that the Gs protein is needed to stabilize the active state of the β2AR. Without the Gs protein, the receptor could transit from the active state toward the inactive state. During the transition process, helix TM6 moves toward TM3 and TM5 in geometric space and TM5 shrinks upwards. The intermediate state is captured during the transition process of the active β2AR toward the inactive one, moreover the changes in hydrophobic interaction networks between helixes TM3, TM5, and TM6 and the formation of a salt bridge between residues Arg3.50 and Glu6.30 drive the transition process. We expect that this finding can provide energetic basis and molecular mechanism for further understanding the function and target roles of the β2AR.
Research progress on astrocyte autophagy in ischemic stroke
Authors: Su Pei-Wei , Zhai Zhe , Wang Tong , Zhang Ya-Nan , Wang Yuan , Ma Ke , Han Bing-Bing , Wu Zhi-Chun , Yu Hua-Yun , Zhao Hai-Jun , Wang Shi-Jun
Published: August 2022

Ischemic stroke is a highly disabling and potentially fatal disease. After ischemic stroke, autophagy plays a key regulatory role as an intracellular catabolic pathway for misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. Mounting evidence indicates that astrocytes are strongly linked to the occurrence and development of cerebral ischemia. In recent years, great progress has been made in the investigation of astrocyte autophagy during ischemic stroke. This article summarizes the roles and potential mechanisms of astrocyte autophagy in ischemic stroke, briefly expounds on the crosstalk of astrocyte autophagy with pathological mechanisms and its potential protective effect on neurons, and reviews astrocytic autophagy-targeted therapeutic methods for cerebral ischemia. The broader aim of the report is to provide new perspectives and strategies for the treatment of cerebral ischemia and a reference for future research on cerebral ischemia.
Intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physical exercise improves poststroke motor function: A systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gao Bixi , Wang Yunjiang , Zhang Dingding , Wang Zongqi , Wang Zhong
Published: August 2022

Background

Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) is an optimized rTMS modality that could modulate the excitability of neural structures. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the efficacy of iTBS in improving the motor function of stroke patients. However, the specific role of iTBS in motor function recovery after stroke is unclear. Hence, in our study, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of iTBS for the motor function improvement of stroke patients.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched until May 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Results

Thirteen RCTs with 334 patients were finally included in our study. The primary endpoints were the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FMA) and Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) change from baseline. We found that iTBS led to a significant reduction in FMA score (P = 0.002) but not in MAS score (P = 0.24) compared with the sham group. Moreover, standard 600-pulse stimulation showed a better effect on motor function improvement than the sham group (P = 0.004), however, 1200-pulse iTBS showed no effect on motor function improvement after stroke (P = 0.23). The effect of iTBS for improving motor function only exists in chronic stroke patients (P = 0.02) but not in subacute patients (P = 0.27).

Conclusion

This study supports that iTBS has good efficacy for improving motor function in stroke patients. Therefore, standard 600-pulse stimulation iTBS therapy is proper management and treatment for chronic stroke.
Efficacy and safety of recanalization therapy for acute ischemic stroke with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Zilan , Teng Haiying , Wu Xiaoxiao , Yang Xingyu , Qiu Youjia , Chen Huiru , Chen Zhouqing , Wang Zhong , Chen Gang
Published: August 2022

Background

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide and created a tremendous threat to global health. Growing evidence suggests that patients with COVID-19 have more severe acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the overall efficacy and safety of recanalization therapy for AIS patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is unknown.

Methods

The PRISMA guideline 2020 was followed. Two independent investigators systematically searched databases and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant studies published up to 31 March 2022. AIS patients who received any recanalization treatments were categorized into those with COVID-19 and those without COVID-19. The main efficacy outcomes were patients' functional independence on discharge and successful recanalization, and the safety outcomes were in-hospital mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Subgroup analyses were implemented to assess the influence of admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and different recanalization treatments on the outcomes. STATA software 12.0 was used for the statistical analysis.

Results

This systematic review and meta-analysis identified 10 studies with 7,042 patients, including 596 COVID-19 positive patients and 6,446 COVID-19 negative patients. Of the total patients, 2,414 received intravenous thrombolysis while 4,628 underwent endovascular thrombectomy. COVID-19 positive patients had significantly lower rates of functional independence at discharge [odds ratio (OR) 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15 to 0.59, P = 0.001], lower rates of successful recanalization (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.68, P = 0.001), longer length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference 5.09, 95% CI 1.25 to 8.94, P = 0.009) and higher mortality rates (OR 3.38, 95% CI 2.43 to 4.70, P < 0.0001). Patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage than the control group, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (OR 2.34, 95% CI 0.99 to 5.54, P = 0.053).

Conclusions

Compared with COVID-19 negative AIS patients who received recanalization treatments, COVID-19 positive patients turned out to have poorer outcomes. Particular attention needs to be paid to the treatments for these COVID-19 patients to decrease mortality and morbidity. Long-term follow-up is necessary to evaluate the recanalization treatments for AIS patients with COVID-19.

Systematic review registration

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-4-0022/, identifier: INPLASY202240022.
Social complexity as a driving force of gut microbiota exchange among conspecific hosts in non-human primates
Authors: Pinacho-Guendulain Braulio , Montiel-Castro Augusto Jacobo , Ramos-Fernández Gabriel , Pacheco-López Gustavo
Published: August 2022

The emergent concept of thesocial microbiomeimplies a view of a highly connected biological world, in which microbial interchange across organisms may be influenced by social and ecological connections occurring at different levels of biological organization. We explore this idea reviewing evidence of whether increasing social complexity in primate societies is associated with both higher diversity and greater similarity in the composition of the gut microbiota. By proposing a series of predictions regarding such relationship, we evaluate the existence of a link between gut microbiota and primate social behavior. Overall, we find that enough empirical evidence already supports these predictions. Nonetheless, we conclude that studies with the necessary, sufficient, explicit, and available evidence are still scarce. Therefore, we reflect on the benefit of founding future analyses on the utility of social complexity as a theoretical framework.
Differentiation of different stages of brain tumor infiltration using optical coherence tomography: Comparison of two systems and histology
Authors: Strenge Paul , Lange Birgit , Draxinger Wolfgang , Grill Christin , Danicke Veit , Theisen-Kunde Dirk , Hagel Christian , Spahr-Hess Sonja , Bonsanto Matteo M. , Handels Heinz , Huber Robert , Brinkmann Ralf
Published: August 2022

The discrimination of tumor-infiltrated tissue from non-tumorous brain tissue during neurosurgical tumor excision is a major challenge in neurosurgery. It is critical to achieve full tumor removal since it directly correlates with the survival rate of the patient. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) might be an additional imaging method in the field of neurosurgery that enables the classification of different levels of tumor infiltration and non-tumorous tissue. This work investigated two OCT systems with different imaging wavelengths (930 nm/1310 nm) and different resolutions (axial (air): 4.9 μm/16 μm, lateral: 5.2 μm/22 μm) in their ability to identify different levels of tumor infiltration based on freshly excised ex vivo brain samples. A convolutional neural network was used for the classification. For both systems, the neural network could achieve classification accuracies above 91% for discriminating between healthy white matter and highly tumor infiltrated white matter (tumor infiltration >60%) .This work shows that both OCT systems with different optical properties achieve similar results regarding the identification of different stages of brain tumor infiltration.