bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On‐Site Multiply Stimulated Self‐Confinement of an Integrated DNA Cascade Circuit for Highly Reliable Intracellular Imaging of miRNA and In Situ Interrogation of the Relevant Regulatory Pathway
Authors: Jiang Yuqian , Chen Yingying , Shang Jinhua , Yu Mengdi , Weng Benrui , Liu Jing , Liu Xiaoqing , Wang Fuan
Published: September 2024

Artificial DNA circuits represent a versatile yet promising toolbox for in situ monitoring and concomitant regulation of diverse biological events within live cells. Nonetheless, their performance is significantly impeded by the diffusion‐dominated slow reaction kinetics and the uncontrollable off‐target activation. Herein, a self‐localized cascade (SLC) circuit is reported for the robust and efficient microRNA (miRNA) analysis in living cells. The SLC circuit consists of the cell‐specific localization module and the analyte‐specific signal amplification module. By integrating the reaction probes of these two modules, the complexity of the system is reduced to realize the responsive co‐localization of circuitry probes and the simultaneous cascade signal amplification. Taking advantage of the specifically activated, self‐localized, and cascade design, the SLC circuit successfully achieves the robust miRNA‐21 (miR‐21) imaging and the accurate cells differentiation. Moreover, the reverse regulation mechanism is successfully explored between messenger RNA (mRNA) and miRNA through the engineered SLC circuit and further elucidates the underlying signaling pathways between them. Therefore, the SLC circuit provides a powerful tool for the sensitive detection of intracellular biomolecules and the study of the corresponding cell regulatory mechanisms.
Flexible and Recyclable Bio‐Based Polyester Composite Films with Outstanding Mechanical and Gas Barrier Properties Using Leaf‐Shaped CNT@BNNS Covalent Heterojunction
Authors: Ding Jiheng , Zhao Hongran , Wang Hao , Chu Qinchao , Zhu Jin , Wang Jinggang
Published: September 2024

With the depletion of petroleum resources, the development of sustainable alternatives for plastic substitutes has grown in importance. It is urgently desirable yet challenging to design high‐performance polyesters with extensive mechanical and prominent gas barrier properties. This work uses bio‐based PBF polyester as a matrix, “leaf‐shaped” carbon nanotube@boron nitride nano‐sheet (CNT@BNNS) covalent hetero‐junctions as functional fillers, to fabricate CNT@BNNS/PBF (denoted as CBNP) composite films through an “in‐situ polymerizing and hot‐pressing” strategy. The covalent CNT “stem” suppresses the re‐stacking of BNNS “leaf”, endowing hetero‐structured CNT@BNNS illustrates superior stress transfer and physical barrier effect. The covalently hetero structure and high orientation degree of CNT@BNNS greatly improve the comprehensive performance of the CBNP composites, including excellent mechanical (strength of 76 MPa, modulus of 2.3 GPa, toughness of 85 MJ m−3, elongation at break of 193%) and gas barrier (O2 of 0.015 barrer, and H2O of 1.1 × 10−14 g cm cm−2 s−1 Pa−1) properties that are much higher than for pure PBF or other‐type polyesters, and most engineering plastics. Moreover, the CBNP composites also boast easy recyclability, overcoming the tradeoff between high performance and easy recycling of traditional plastics, which makes the polyester composite competitive as a plastic substitute.
High‐Throughput Computational Screening of Metal Sulfides for the Chemical Looping Elemental Decomposition of H2S
Authors: Tolstova Polina , Ahmad Rafia , Sepulveda Adrian Cavazos , Cavallo Luigi
Published: September 2024

Hydrogen sulfide is a significant byproduct of oil and gas production and is typically recovered as elemental sulfur, a low‐value commodity. In recent years, there have been efforts to upgrade H2S through elemental decomposition to S and H2, an essential energy carrier in a sustainable economy. Among the promising approaches is thermocatalytic looping, which involves a sulfide‐based redox pair. Unfortunately, the search for sulfides capable of facilitating this conversion is progressing slowly, and primarily focusing on monometallic sulfides. With a few notable exceptions, the field of bimetallic sulfide remains largely unexplored. In this study, a machine learning framework is employed to explore the material space of mono and bimetallic sulfides. The workflow begins by mining sulfides from the Materials Project database, allowing the workflow to be benchmarked using formation enthalpies derived from established density functional theory calculations. Through the machine learning framework, the number of bimetallic sulfide redox pairs considered is expanded from 102 cases in the Materials Project database to 105 cases. This expansion allows for the identification trends that can serve as guidelines for future research and helps prioritize materials for experimental testing.
Where do neurodevelopmental conditions fit in transdiagnostic psychiatric frameworks? Incorporating a new neurodevelopmental spectrum
Authors: Michelini Giorgia , Carlisi Christina O. , Eaton Nicholas R. , Elison Jed T. , Haltigan John D. , Kotov Roman , Krueger Robert F. , Latzman Robert D. , Li James J. , Levin‐Aspenson Holly F. , Salum Giovanni A. , South Susan C. , Stanton Kasey , Waldman Irwin D. , Wilson Sylia
Published: September 2024

Features of autism spectrum disorder, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, and communication and motor disorders usually emerge early in life and are associated with atypical neurodevelopment. These “neurodevelopmental conditions” are grouped together in the DSM‐5 and ICD‐11 to reflect their shared characteristics. Yet, reliance on categorical diagnoses poses significant challenges in both research and clinical settings (e.g., high co‐occurrence, arbitrary diagnostic boundaries, high within‐disorder heterogeneity). Taking a transdiagnostic dimensional approach provides a useful alternative for addressing these limitations, accounting for shared underpinnings across neurodevelopmental conditions, and characterizing their common co‐occurrence and developmental continuity with other psychiatric conditions. Neurodevelopmental features have not been adequately considered in transdiagnostic psychiatric frameworks, although this would have fundamental implications for research and clinical practices. Growing evidence from studies on the structure of neurodevelopmental and other psychiatric conditions indicates that features of neurodevelopmental conditions cluster together, delineating a “neurodevelopmental spectrum” ranging from normative to impairing profiles. Studies on shared genetic underpinnings, overlapping cognitive and neural profiles, and similar developmental course and efficacy of support/treatment strategies indicate the validity of this neurodevelopmental spectrum. Further, characterizing this spectrum alongside other psychiatric dimensions has clinical utility, as it provides a fuller view of an individual's needs and strengths, and greater prognostic utility than diagnostic categories. Based on this compelling body of evidence, we argue that incorporating a new neurodevelopmental spectrum into transdiagnostic frameworks has considerable potential for transforming our understanding, classification, assessment, and clinical practices around neurodevelopmental and other psychiatric conditions.
A Deep Learning Multi-omics Framework to Combine Microbiome and Metabolome Profiles for Disease Classification
Authors: Licciardi Andrea , Fiannaca Antonino , La Rosa Massimo , Urso Maurizio Alfonso , La Paglia Laura
Published: September 2024

Microbiome and metabolome contain information about host disease. Therefore, a multi-omics analysis of these data types can provide key constraints for disease classification. However, due to multi-omics data’s complex and high-dimensional nature, classical statistical methods struggle to capture the shared information between microbiome and metabolome. Deep learning represents a power framework to address this issue. We design a deep learning model for the integrated analysis of microbiome and metabolome that leverages the complementary information between the two datasets to perform a medical diagnosis of a given disease as a supervised classification task. We test our approach on six different matched microbiome/metabolome datasets, related to diverse pathologies. A comparative performance analysis shows that our proposed model called microBiome-metaBolome Network (BiBoNet) performs better than classical machine learning methods. In addition, we show that BiBoNet achieves better results than deep learning models based on individual or combined data. We highlight the importance of multi-omics integration through deep learning for improved medical diagnosis using microbiome and metabolome.
Uniform $$L^p$$ Estimates for Solutions to the Inhomogeneous 2D Navier–Stokes Equations and Application to a Chemotaxis–Fluid System with Local Sensing
Authors: Fuest Mario , Winkler Michael
Published: September 2024

The chemotaxis-Navier–Stokes system $$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{array}{rcl} n_t+u\cdot \nabla n & =& \Delta \big (n c^{-\alpha } \big ), \\ c_t+ u\cdot \nabla c & =& \Delta c -nc,\\ u_t + (u\cdot \nabla ) u & =& \Delta u+\nabla P + n\nabla \Phi , \qquad \nabla \cdot u=0, \end{array} \right. \end{aligned}$$

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t

+
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n

=

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(

n

c

-
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)

,

c
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+
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=

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-
n
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,

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)

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=

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+
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+
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,

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=
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,

modelling the behavior of aerobic bacteria in a fluid drop, is considered in a smoothly bounded domain $$\Omega \subset \mathbb R^2$$

Ω
⊂

R
2

. For all $$\alpha > 0$$

α
>
0

and all sufficiently regular $$\Phi $$
Φ
, we construct global classical solutions and thereby extend recent results for the fluid-free analogue to the system coupled to a Navier–Stokes system. As a crucial new challenge, our analysis requires a priori estimates for u at a point in the proof when knowledge about n is essentially limited to the observation that the mass is conserved. To overcome this problem, we also prove new uniform-in-time $$L^p$$

L
p

estimates for solutions to the inhomogeneous Navier–Stokes equations merely depending on the space-time $$L^2$$

L
2

norm of the force term raised to an arbitrary small power.
Fatigue bei chronisch körperlichen Erkrankungen
Authors: Weis Joachim
Published: September 2024

Mit dem Begriff Fatigue werden Zustände ungewöhnlicher Müdigkeit und Erschöpfung beschrieben, die in Zusammenhang mit verschiedenen körperlichen Erkrankungen, insbesondere bei Krebs, multipler Sklerose, Parkinson und rheumatoider Arthritis, auftreten können. Im Gegensatz zu Erschöpfungszuständen bei Gesunden ist diese Form der Fatigue dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie über längere Zeiträume andauern kann, in keinem angemessenen Verhältnis zu vorangehenden Aktivitäten steht und sich durch Erholungsphasen nicht zurückbildet. Diese Form der Müdigkeit wird als ein multidimensionales Problem beschrieben, das physische, emotionale und kognitive Aspekte umfasst und mit einem hohen subjektiven Leidensdruck verbunden ist. Je nach Ausprägung und Verlauf der Symptomatik führt Fatigue zu einer starken Beeinträchtigung der Lebensqualität und schränkt die Teilhabe und Alltagsbewältigung ein. Ebenso kommt es häufig zu Einschränkungen der Arbeits- und Erwerbsfähigkeit. Wenngleich die Ursachen der Fatigue immer noch nicht vollständig geklärt sind, ist die Fatigue in Zusammenhang mit körperlichen Erkrankungen vor dem Hintergrund eines multifaktoriellen biopsychosozialen Modells zu verstehen. Die Möglichkeiten der Diagnostik und eine Übersicht über verschiedene Verfahren zur Abklärung der Fatigue werden dargestellt. Ebenso werden die Herausforderungen für die medizinische Versorgung skizziert und Hinweise für den Umgang im klinischen Alltag gegeben.
Grünholzfraktur des Unterarmschafts – Überbrechen obligatorisch oder fakultativ?
Authors: Petnehazy Thomas , Münnich Martin , Füsi Ferdinand , Hankel Saskia , Erker Anna , Friehs Elena , Elsayed Hesham , Till Holger , Singer Georg
Published: September 2024

Hintergrund

„To break or not to break“ – Wie gehen wir mit der Gegenkortikalis um? Das ist die Frage, die sich die Kindertraumatologie seit vielen Jahren hinsichtlich der Therapie von Grünholzfrakturen des Unterarmschafts stellt.

Fragestellung

Häufigkeit der Grünholzfrakturen des diaphysären Unterarms im Kindes- und Jugendalter; Einfluss des Durchbrechens der Gegenkortikalis auf die Refrakturrate.

Material und Methode

Analyse und Diskussion relevanter Arbeiten, Analyse der Refrakturrate von kindlichen Grünholzfrakturen des Unterarmschafts im eigenen Patientenkollektiv.

Ergebnisse

Grünholzfrakturen treten im Bereich des Unterarmschafts häufig auf, und eine inkomplette Konsolidierung führt zu einer erhöhten Refrakturrate. Im Patientenkollektiv der Autoren von 420 Kindern mit Grünholzfrakturen des Unterarmschafts zeigte sich eine Refrakturrate von 9,5 %, wobei die Rate bei nichtkomplettierten Frakturen signifikant höher war, im Vergleich zur Gruppe der komplettierten Frakturen (15,2 % vs. 3 %). Während in der Subgruppe der konservativ behandelten Grünholzfrakturen (n = 234) das Durchbrechen der Gegenkortikalis die Refrakturrate signifikant verringerte, führte das Durchbrechen im Rahmen einer operativen Versorgung mithilfe der elastisch-stabilen intramedullären Nagelung (ESIN) zu keiner Veränderung der Refrakturrate.

Schlussfolgerungen

Im Rahmen der konservativen Therapie von Grünholzfrakturen des diaphysären Unterarms kann das Durchbrechen der Gegenkortikalis empfohlen werden, um die Refrakturrate zu minimieren. Das Komplettieren der Grünholzfraktur scheint im Rahmen einer operativen Behandlung mithilfe der ESIN nicht nötig zu sein.
Wheat improvement through advances in single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection and genotyping with a special emphasis on rust resistance
Authors: Geethanjali Subramaniam , Kadirvel Palchamy , Periyannan Sambasivam
Published: September 2024

Key message

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in wheat and their prospects in breeding with special reference to rust resistance.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based markers are increasingly gaining momentum for screening and utilizing vital agronomic traits in wheat. To date, more than 260 million SNPs have been detected in modern cultivars and landraces of wheat. This rapid SNP discovery was made possible through the release of near-complete reference and pan-genome assemblies of wheat and its wild relatives, coupled with whole genome sequencing (WGS) of thousands of wheat accessions. Further, genotyping customized SNP sites were facilitated by a series of arrays (9 to 820Ks), a cost effective substitute WGS. Lately, germplasm-specific SNP arrays have been introduced to characterize novel traits and detect closely linked SNPs for marker-assisted breeding. Subsequently, the kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assay was introduced for rapid and large-scale screening of specific SNP markers. Moreover, with the advances and reduction in sequencing costs, ample opportunities arise for generating SNPs artificially through mutations and in combination with next-generation sequencing and comparative genomic analyses. In this review, we provide historical developments and prospects of SNP markers in wheat breeding with special reference to rust resistance where over 50 genetic loci have been characterized through SNP markers. Rust resistance is one of the most essential traits for wheat breeding as new strains of the Puccinia fungus, responsible for rust diseases, evolve frequently and globally.
Thrombin receptor PAR4 cross-activates the tyrosine kinase c-met in atrial cardiomyocytes
Authors: Mittendorff Claudia , Abu-Taha Issam , Kassler Lena , Hustedt Tobias , Wolf Stephanie , Bode Johannes G. , Kamler Markus , Dobrev Dobromir , Fender Anke C.
Published: September 2024

Thrombin supports coagulation-independent inflammation via protease-activated receptors (PAR). PAR4 is specifically increased in obese human atria, correlating with NLRP3 inflammasome activation. PAR4-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in atrial cardiomyocytes is not known, nor have signaling partners been identified. Thrombin transactivates the hepatocyte growth factor receptor in some cancer cells, so we examined PAR4/c-met cross-talk in atrial cardiomyocytes and its possible significance in obesity. Cardiomyocytes from right atrial appendages (RAA) of obese patients expressed more PAR1 and PAR4 compared to non-obese. In HL-1 atrial cardiomyocytes, thrombin induced caspase-1 auto-activation and IL-1β maturation; IL-1β secretion was evoked by PAR4-activating peptide (AP), but not PAR1-AP. PAR4-AP additionally increased phosphorylated CaMKII-Thr287, mTOR-Ser2481, and Akt-Ser473 while suppressing AMPK-Thr172 phosphorylation. Total kinase levels were largely unaltered. PAR4AP rapidly increased phosphorylated c-met in HL-1 cells and over time also transcriptionally upregulated c-met. The c-met inhibitor SGX-523 abrogated the effects of PAR4-AP on CaMKII/AKT/mTOR phosphorylation but did not affect PAR4-stimulated IL-1β production. Obese human RAA contained more IL-1β, phospho-c-met, and phospho-mTOR than non-obese RAA; CamKII phosphorylation was not modified. Atria from high-fat diet (HFD) versus chow-fed mice also contained more IL-1β, together with higher myeloperoxidase activity, Acta2 mRNA total and phosphorylated c-met; these increases were blunted in PAR4-/- HFD-fed mice. Thrombin cross-activates c-met via PAR4 in atrial cardiomyocytes. Transactivated c-met contributes partially to PAR4-mediated signaling, but NLRP3 inflammasome activation appears to be largely independent of c-met. Abundance of PAR4 and activated c-met increases with obesity, providing therapeutic targets for management of adiposity-driven AF.
Tropical Refined Curve Counting with Descendants
Authors: Kennedy-Hunt Patrick , Shafi Qaasim , Urundolil Kumaran Ajith
Published: September 2024

We prove a q-refined tropical correspondence theorem for higher genus descendant logarithmic Gromov–Witten invariants with a $$\lambda _g$$

λ
g

class in toric surfaces. Specifically, a generating series of such logarithmic Gromov–Witten invariants agrees with a q-refined count of rational tropical curves satisfying higher valency conditions. As a corollary, we obtain a geometric proof of the deformation invariance of this tropical count. In particular, our results give an algebro-geometric meaning to the tropical count defined by Blechman and Shustin. Our strategy is to use the logarithmic degeneration formula, and the key new technique is to reduce to computing integrals against double ramification cycles and connect these integrals to the non-commutative KdV hierarchy.
Elastic-Degenerate String Matching with 1 Error or Mismatch
Authors: Bernardini Giulia , Gabory Esteban , Pissis Solon P. , Stougie Leen , Sweering Michelle , Zuba Wiktor
Published: September 2024

An elastic-degenerate (ED) string is a sequence of n finite sets of strings of total length N, introduced to represent a set of related DNA sequences, also known as a pangenome. The ED string matching (EDSM) problem consists in reporting all occurrences of a pattern of length m in an ED text. The EDSM problem has recently received some attention by the combinatorial pattern matching community, culminating in an $$\mathcal {\tilde{O}}(nm^{\omega -1})+\mathcal {O}(N)$$

O
~

(
n

m

ω
-
1

)

+
O

(
N
)

-time algorithm [Bernardini et al., SIAM J. Comput. 2022], where $$\omega $$
ω
denotes the matrix multiplication exponent and the $$\mathcal {\tilde{O}}(\cdot )$$

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~

(
·
)

notation suppresses polylog factors. In the k-EDSM problem, the approximate version of EDSM, we are asked to report all pattern occurrences with at most k errors. k-EDSM can be solved in $$\mathcal {O}(k^2mG+kN)$$

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(

k
2

m
G
+
k
N
)

time, under edit distance, or $$\mathcal {O}(kmG+kN)$$

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(
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m
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+
k
N
)

time, under Hamming distance, where G denotes the total number of strings in the ED text [Bernardini et al., Theor. Comput. Sci. 2020]. Unfortunately, G is only bounded by N, and so even for $$k=1$$

k
=
1

, the existing algorithms run in $$\varOmega (mN)$$

Ω
(
m
N
)

time in the worst case. In this paper we make progress in this direction. We show that 1-EDSM can be solved in $$\mathcal {O}((nm^2 + N)\log m)$$

O
(

(
n

m
2

+
N
)

log
m
)

or $$\mathcal {O}(nm^3 + N)$$

O
(
n

m
3

+
N
)

time under edit distance. For the decision version of the problem, we present a faster $$\mathcal {O}(nm^2\sqrt{\log m} + N\log \log m)$$

O
(
n

m
2

log
m

+
N
log
log
m
)

-time algorithm. We also show that 1-EDSM can be solved in $$\mathcal {O}(nm^2 + N\log m)$$

O
(
n

m
2

+
N
log
m
)

time under Hamming distance. Our algorithms for edit distance rely on non-trivial reductions from 1-EDSM to special instances of classic computational geometry problems (2d rectangle stabbing or 2d range emptiness), which we show how to solve efficiently. In order to obtain an even faster algorithm for Hamming distance, we rely on employing and adapting the k-errata trees for indexing with errors [Cole et al., STOC 2004]. This is an extended version of a paper presented at LATIN 2022.
Single and basal crop coefficients for temperate climate fruit trees, vines and shrubs with consideration of fraction of ground cover, height, and training system
Authors: López-Urrea Ramón , Oliveira Cristina M. , Montoya Francisco , Paredes Paula , Pereira Luis S.
Published: September 2024

The objective of the present review article was to update the standard single (Kc) and basal (Kcb) crop coefficients published in the FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 56 (FAO56), focusing on temperate climate fruit trees (pome, stone and nut fruit trees), vines and shrubs (kiwi, hop and blue- and blackberries). Standard conditions refer to crops grown in medium to large fields, having enough fetch for non-impeding accurate use of flux measuring equipment to represent non-limiting conditions of crop evapotranspiration, ETc. Moreover, the crop needs to be managed without soil water deficit, free of pests and diseases, and must be able to reach full production under the given environmental conditions. For this purpose, more than 150 articles published over the last 25 years were reviewed. Of these, we selected 76 that refer to case studies that reporting on appropriate yield conditions, describe adequate ETc measurement and adopt the FAO reference evapotranspiration or another method closely related to it. The selection of papers to be analysed followed the same methods as the companion papers on Mediterranean woody fruit crops (Pereira et al. 2023), and on tropical and subtropical ones (Paredes et al. 2024). The literature review focused on articles that are in line with the FAO56 methodology; that is, where the grass reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was computed with the FAO Penman–Monteith ETo, the ASCE Penman–Monteith ETo equations, or other equations whose results relate well to the former. In addition, where the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and/or crop transpiration (Tc) were determined with sufficient accuracy from field observations in crops grown under standard, well-watered conditions, i.e., under pristine (i.e., non-stress cropping conditions) or eustress (i.e., “good stress”) conditions. Information collected from the selected studies included cultivar and rootstock, plant density and spacing, training system, fraction of ground cover or intercepted PAR radiation, crop height and age. Additional data were gathered on irrigation system and strategy for full or deficit irrigation. The Kc and Kcb values reported were recomputed and grouped according to the degree of ground cover, training system and plant density. Thus, the proposed tabulated standard Kc and Kcb values for initial, mid- and end-season are based on the values obtained from field observations reported in the selected papers, and on the ranges of Kc/Kcb values previously tabulated, mainly in FAO56. The currently tabulated values are updated, with the aim being their use in orchard management. They should consist of the upper limit of Kc/Kcb application, and take into account the general awareness of water scarcity and water conservation, thus helping improve the accuracy in estimating crop water requirements and optimizing irrigation scheduling.
Connecting high-resolution 3D chromatin maps with cell division and cell differentiation at the root apical meristem
Authors: Caballero Lara , Pasternak Taras , Riyazuddin Riyazuddin , Pérez-Pérez José Manuel
Published: September 2024

Key message

We used marker-free technologies to study chromatin at cellular resolution. Our results show asymmetric chromatin distribution, explore chromatin dynamics during mitosis, and reveal structural differences between trichoblast and atrichoblast cell.

The shapes, sizes, and structural organizations of plant nuclei vary considerably among cell types, tissues, and species. This diversity is dependent on various factors, including cellular function, developmental stage, and environmental or physiological conditions. The differences in nuclear structure reflect the state of chromatin, which, in turn, controls gene expression and regulates cell fate. To examine the interrelationship between nuclear structure, cell morphology, and tissue-specific cell proliferation and differentiation processes, we conducted multiple visualizations of H3K4me1, H3K9me2, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, 5-ethynyl 2′-deoxyuridine, and SCRI Renaissance 2200, followed by subsequent quantitative analysis of individual cells and nuclei. By assigning cylindrical coordinates to the nuclei in the iRoCS toolbox, we were able to construct in situ digital three-dimensional chromatin maps for all the tissue layers of individual roots. A detailed analysis of the nuclei features of H3K4me1 and H3K9me2 in the mitotic and the elongation zones in trichoblast and atrichoblast cells at the root apical meristem revealed cell type-specific chromatin dynamics with asymmetric distribution of euchromatin and heterochromatin marks that may be associated with cell cycle and cell differentiation characteristics of specific cells. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of nuclei stained with 5-ethynyl 2′-deoxyuridine in the epidermis and cortex tissues suggests short-range coordination of cell division and nuclear migration in a linear sequence through an unknown regulatory mechanism.
Improvement and Analysis of Peak Shift Demand Response Scenarios of Industrial Consumers Using an Electricity Market Model
Authors: Cheng Long , Izumi Kiyoshi , Hirano Masanori
Published: September 2024

Electricity procurement of industrial consumers is becoming more and more complicated, involving a combination of various procurement methods due to electricity liberalization and decarbonization trends. This study analyzed and improved power procurement strategies for a factory to achieve carbon neutralization through a multi-agent model simulating the electricity market and introduced a factory agent using various procurement methods including PV, FC, storage batteries (SB), and DR. Firstly, we created a new procurement strategy utilizing all methods. Then, by using the simulation model, we assessed the effectiveness of the existing peak shift DR scenarios in terms of cost reduction efficiency. Results revealed that the introduction of PV has led to a counterproductive outcome for DR. Based on the results, we proposed two methods to improve the effectiveness of DR, namely considering the operation of PV in the DR scenario and expanding the range of optional time periods for DR activation. Finally, we made three new DR scenarios based on our proposal. Through experiment, the new scenarios were confirmed to be effective in cost-effectiveness for decarbonization.
Detailed analysis of learning phases and outcomes in robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomy
Authors: Yu Jia-Fan , Huang Wen-Yu , Wang Jun , Ao Wei , Wang Si-Si , Cai Shao-Jun , Lin Si-Ying , Zhou Chi-Peng , Li Meng-Yao , Cao Xiao-Shan , Cao Xiang-Mao , Tang Zi-Han , Wang Zhi-hong , Hua Surong , Zhao Wen-Xin , Wang Bo
Published: September 2024

Background

Thyroid surgery has undergone significant transformation with the introduction of minimally invasive techniques, particularly robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomy. These advancements offer improved precision and faster recovery but also present unique challenges. This study aims to compare the learning curves, operational efficiencies, and patient outcomes of robotic versus endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted, analyzing 258 robotic (da Vinci) and 214 endoscopic thyroidectomy cases. Key metrics such as operation duration, drainage volume, lymph node dissection outcomes, and hypoparathyroidism incidence were assessed to understand surgical learning curves and efficiency.

Results

Robotic thyroidectomy showed a longer learning curve with initially longer operation times and higher drainage volumes but superior lymph node dissection outcomes. Both techniques were safe, with no permanent hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve damage reported. The study delineated four distinct stages in the robotic and endoscopic surgery learning curve, each marked by specific improvements in proficiency. Endoscopic thyroidectomy displayed a shorter learning curve, leading to quicker operational efficiency gains.

Conclusion

Robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomies are viable minimally invasive approaches, each with its learning curves and efficiency metrics. Despite initial challenges and a longer learning period for robotic surgery, its benefits in complex dissections may justify specialized training. Structured training programs tailored to each technique are crucial for improving outcomes and efficiency. Future research should focus on optimizing training protocols and increasing accessibility to these technologies, enhancing patient care in thyroid surgery.
Association of pancreatic atrophy patterns with intraductal extension of early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Miki Mika , Masuda Atsuhiro , Takenaka Mamoru , Shiomi Hideyuki , Iemoto Takao , Tsumura Hidetaka , Tsujimae Masahiro , Toyama Hirochika , Sofue Keitaro , Ueshima Eisuke , Omoto Shunsuke , Yoshida Akihiro , Fukunaga Tomohiro , Tanaka Hidekazu , Nakano Ryota , Ota Shogo , Kobayashi Takashi , Sakai Arata , Kanzawa Maki , Itoh Tomoo , Kodama Yuzo ,   SMT Study Group in Japan
Published: September 2024

Background

Focal pancreatic parenchymal atrophy (FPPA) and upstream pancreatic atrophy (UPA) may indicate the presence of early pancreatic cancer. In early pancreatic cancer, the tumor occasionally spreads laterally along the main pancreatic duct, presenting challenges in determining the extent of surgical resection. This study aimed to investigate the association of pancreatic atrophy pattern and intraductal cancer extension.

Methods

Thirty-two patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who underwent surgery at five participating centers were enrolled. Pancreatic atrophy was defined as the narrowing of parenchyma compared to the surrounding parenchyma and was classified as either FPPA (partial atrophy surrounding the pancreatic duct stenosis) or UPA (global atrophy caudal to the site of duct stenosis). Intraductal cancer extension was defined as an extension exceeding 10 mm.

Results

Preoperative computed tomography revealed FPPA, UPA, and no parenchymal atrophy in 13, 13, and 6 patients. Cases with FPPA or UPA showed significantly longer cancer extensions than those without atrophy (P = 0.005 and P = 0.03, respectively). Intraductal cancer extension was present in all but one case of FPPA. 69% (9/13) of the cases with UPA showed intraductal cancer extension, whereas cases without atrophy showed no intraductal cancer extension. Importantly, two patients with FPPA or UPA showed positive resection margins during surgery and three patients with FPPA or UPA showed recurrence in the remnant pancreas.

Conclusions

The presence of FPPA and UPA indicates lateral cancer extension in early-stage pancreatic cancer. Preoperative assessment of the pancreatic parenchyma may provide valuable insights for determining the extent of surgical resection.
Mandibular overdentures retained by 1 or 2 implants: a 5-year randomized clinical trial on implant stability and peri-implant outcomes
Authors: Leles Cláudio Rodrigues , de Resende Gabriela Pereira , de Oliveira Martins Nilva , Nascimento Lays Noleto , Costa Nadia Lago , Srinivasan Murali , Schimmel Martin
Published: September 2024

Aim

This is a report of the 5-year results of a two-group parallel randomized clinical trial comparing longitudinal implant stability, and clinical and radiographic peri-implant outcomes of mandibular overdentures retained by one (1-IOD group) or two (2-IOD group) implants.

Methods

All participants received 4.1 mm diameter tissue-level implants (Straumann® Standard Plus – SLActive®, Institut Straumann AG), installed in the mandible midline (1-IOD; n = 23) or the lateral incisor-canine area bilaterally (2-IOD; n = 24), and loaded after 3 weeks. Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) was measured using a resonance frequency device (Osstell® Mentor, Integration Diagnostics) at implant placement, after three weeks (loading), and at the 6-month, 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-ups. Marginal bone loss and clinical implant outcomes (plaque, calculus, suppuration and bleeding) were assessed periodically up to 5 years after loading.

Results

Only minor changes in marginal bone level were observed after 5 years (mean = 0.37; SD = 0.44 mm), and satisfactory and stable peri-implant parameters were observed throughout the 5-year follow-up. No significant differences between groups were found. Overall, the mean primary implant stability was considered high (> 70) for the two groups (1-IOD = 78.1 ± 4.5; 2-IOD = 78.0 ± 5.8). No noticeable changes were observed between implant insertion and loading. A marked increase was observed from insertion to the 6-month follow-up – the mean difference for the 1-IOD group was + 5.5 ± 5.5 (Effect size = 1.00), while for the 2-IOD group, the mean difference was + 6.0 ± 5.6 (Effect size = 1.08). No relevant changes were observed throughout the follow-up periods up to 5 years. Linear mixed-effect model regression showed no influence of the bone-related variables (p > 0.05) and the number of implants (p = 0.087), and a significant effect of the time variable (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Satisfactory peri-implant outcomes and stable secondary stability suggest good clinical performance and successful long-term osseointegration of the implants for single and two-implant mandibular overdentures. Using a single implant to retain a mandibular overdenture does not seem to result in detrimental implant loading over the five years of overdenture use.

Clinical relevance

This study corroborates the use of a single implant to retain a mandibular denture.
Culture and amplification-free nanopore sequencing for rapid detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes from urine
Authors: Bellankimath Anurag Basavaraj , Chapagain Crystal , Branders Sverre , Ali Jawad , Wilson Robert C , Johansen Truls E. Bjerklund , Ahmad Rafi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent infections globally. Every year, approximately 150 million people are diagnosed with UTIs worldwide. The current state-of-the-art diagnostic methods are culture-based and have a turnaround time of 2–4 days for pathogen identification and susceptibility testing.

Methods

This study first establishes an optical density culture-based method for spiking healthy urine samples with the six most prevalent uropathogens. Urine samples were spiked at clinically significant concentrations of 103-105 CFU/ml. Three DNA extraction kits (BioStic, PowerFood, and Blood and Tissue) were investigated based on the DNA yield, average processing time, elution volume, and the average cost incurred per extraction. After DNA extraction, the samples were sequenced using MinION and Flongle flow cells.

Results

The Blood and Tissue kit outperformed the other kits based on the investigated parameters. Using nanopore sequencing, all the pathogens and corresponding genes were only identified at a spike concentration of 105 CFU/ml, achieved after 10 min and 3 hours of sequencing, respectively. However, some pathogens and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARG) could be identified from spikes at 103 colony formation units (CFU/mL). The overall turnaround time was five hours, from sample preparation to sequencing-based identification of pathogen ID and antimicrobial resistance genes.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates excellent promise in reducing the time required for informed antibiotic administration from 48 to 72 h to five hours, thereby reducing the number of empirical doses and increasing the chance of saving lives.
Risk factors for infection after carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii colonization
Authors: Peghin Maddalena , Givone Filippo , de Martino Maria , Ali Raja Waqar , Graziano Elena , Isola Miriam , Grossi Paolo Antonio
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Predicting infection risk in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) colonized patients may help in improving timely appropriate antibiotic therapy. This study aims to explore risk factors for developing infections in hospitalized patients with previous CRAB colonization.

Methods

We performed an observational retrospective cohort study at ASST Sette Laghi-Varese Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. All consecutive adult (> 18 years old) hospitalized patients with documented colonization by CRAB at any anatomical site or with CRAB infections preceded by CRAB colonization were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate infection risk factors.

Results

Overall, 144 patients were included in the study: 104 colonized only and 40 infected patients. Colonization and infection rates significantly changed over the years (2020–2022, p < 0.001). The incidence of infections in CRAB carriers was 27.8% (40/144). Median time from colonization to infection was 4 days (IQR 1-8.5). Overall, inhospital mortality was 32.7% and 55.0% in colonized only and infected patients, respectively. At the multivariable logistic regression cardiovascular disease (OR 5.83, 95% CI 1.12–30.43, p = 0.037), COVID-19 (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.16–11.91, p = 0.027) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR 8.83, 95% CI 2.94–26.51, p < 0.001) were risk factors independently associated with cardiovascular disease CRAB infection after colonization.

Conclusions

We observed an increased infection risk in patients colonized with CRAB with cardiovascular disease, COVID-19 and admitted in ICU setting. Additional evidence is needed to identify predictors of infection in colonized patients.
Hunting bag statistics of wild mammals in Portugal (1989–2022): on the need to improve data report and compilation
Authors: Carvalho João , Hipólito Dário , Teixeira Daniela , Fonseca Carlos , Torres Rita Tinoco
Published: September 2024

Wildlife monitoring is key for the effective management of natural resources. Hunting-based data (e.g., hunting bag statistics) is an important source of information to overcome the financial constraints imposed to long-term monitoring. Here, taking advantage of three decades (1989–2022) of hunting bag statistics of wild mammals in Portugal, we present the trends and discuss the issues regarding nine game species (five wild ungulates, two carnivores and two lagomorphs). Our results show that hunting bag statistics mirror the general population trends of wild mammal populations at a national scale. The data reflects the increase in number and distribution of roe deer, red deer and wild boar, and the recent expansion experienced by the Egyptian mongoose. The decline in the numbers of European wild rabbit and Iberian hare harvested are also noticeable. Hunting-based data have been used in several research contexts; however, this information is usually affected by geographical, temporal and recording bias. Portugal is no exception. Engaging the interested stakeholders is pivotal to ensure data quality. By reporting reliable and systematically collected hunting data, game managers and wildlife researchers will be able to better understand the main drivers of population dynamics, adjust hunting bags towards sustainable yield and assess the ecological and socio-economic relevance of the hunting sector.
Associations of Partnership Types and Quality on Cognitive Performance Among Midlife and Older Sexual Minority Men With or Without HIV
Authors: Yoo-Jeong Moka , Weinstein Andrea M. , Ware Deanna , Brennan-Ing Mark , Shoptaw Steven , Teplin Linda A. , Haberlen Sabina A. , Friedman M. Reuel , Plankey Michael W.
Published: September 2024

Partnership status among sexual minority men (SMM) is a potentially important yet underexplored predictor of cognitive functioning. Using data from the understanding patterns of healthy aging among men who have sex with men substudy of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, we assessed the associations of partnership status and quality with cognitive performance in middle-aged and older SMM, adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical covariates. Partnership status was classified into four types: “only a primary partnership,” “only a secondary partnership,” “both a primary and secondary relationship,” and “neither a primary nor secondary relationship.” Partnership quality was assessed based on perceived support or strain from partners. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the z-scores on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Trail Making Test Parts A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B), and a composite Z-score that summed the SDMT, TMT-A, and TMT-B z-scores. Among 1067 participants (median age 60, 85.7% college educated), having a primary partner was associated with better cognitive performance (Z-score composite

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= 0.41 [95% CI 0.12–0.70]), TMT-A (

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= 0.16 [95% CI 0.02–0.30]), and TMT-B (

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= 0.19 [95% CI 0.06–0.33]). Support from secondary partners was also linked to better cognition. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between partnership and HIV status, indicating that SMM with HIV and both primary and secondary partners showed better cognitive outcomes than unpartnered SMM with HIV. These findings suggest that having a primary partner and receiving support from secondary partners may contribute to better cognitive health among middle-aged and older SMM, especially those with HIV.
Lifestyle interventions in cardiometabolic HFpEF: dietary and exercise modalities
Authors: Vacca Antonio , Wang Rongling , Nambiar Natasha , Capone Federico , Farrelly Catherine , Mostafa Ahmed , Sechi Leonardo A. , Schiattarella Gabriele G.
Published: September 2024

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is rapidly growing as the most common form of heart failure. Among HFpEF phenotypes, the cardiometabolic/obese HFpEF — HFpEF driven by cardiometabolic alterations — emerges as one of the most prevalent forms of this syndrome and the one on which recent therapeutic success have been made. Indeed, pharmacological approaches with sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have proved to be effective due to metabolic protective effects. Similarly, lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise are crucial in HFpEF management. Increasing evidence supports the important role of diet and physical activity in the pathogenesis, prognosis, and potential reversal of HFpEF. Metabolic derangements and systemic inflammation are key features of HFpEF and represent the main targets of lifestyle interventions. However, the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of these interventions in HFpEF are incompletely understood. Hence, there is an unmet need of tailored lifestyle intervention modalities for patients with HFpEF. Here we present the current available evidence on lifestyle interventions in HFpEF management and therapeutics, discussing their modalities and potential mechanisms.
Hyperferritinemia Screening to Aid Identification and Differentiation of Patients with Hyperinflammatory Disorders
Authors: Carol Hallie A. , Mayer Adam S. , Zhang Michael S. , Dang Vinh , Varghese Jemy , Martinez Zachary , Schneider Corinne , Baker Joy , Tsoukas Paul , Behrens Edward M. , Cron Randy Q. , Diorio Caroline , Henderson Lauren A. , Schulert Grant , Lee Pui , Kernan Kate F. , Canna Scott W.
Published: September 2024

High ferritin is an important and sensitive biomarker for the various forms of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a diverse and deadly group of cytokine storm syndromes. Early action to prevent immunopathology in HLH often includes empiric immunomodulation, which can complicate etiologic work-up and prevent collection of early/pre-treatment research samples. To address this, we instituted an alert system at UPMC Children’s Hospital where serum ferritin > 1000 ng/mL triggered real-time chart review, assessment of whether the value reflected “inflammatory hyperferritnemia (IHF)”, and biobanking of remnant samples from consenting IHF patients. We extracted relevant clinical data; periodically measured serum total IL-18, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), and CXCL9; retrospectively classified patients by etiology into infectious, rheumatic, or immune dysregulation; and subjected a subgroup of samples to a 96-analyte biomarker screen. 180 patients were identified, 30.5% of which had IHF. Maximum ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients with IHF than with either hemoglobinopathy or transplant, and highly elevated total IL-18 levels were distinctive to patients with Stills Disease and/or Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS). Multi-analyte analysis showed elevation in proteins associated with cytotoxic lymphocytes in all IHF samples when compared to healthy controls and depression of proteins such as ANGPT1 and VEGFR2 in samples from hyperferritinemic sepsis patients relative to non-sepsis controls. This real-time IFH screen proved feasible and efficient, validated prior observations about the specificity of IL-18, enabled early sample collection from a complex population, suggested a unique vascular biomarker signature in hyperferritinemic sepsis, and expanded our understanding of IHF heterogeneity.
The Telegraphic Body: Dyspepsia, Modern Life, and ‘Gastric Time’ in Nineteenth-Century Medicine and Culture
Authors: Taylor-Pirie Emilie
Published: September 2024

From Italian physician Hieronymus Mercurialis’s contention that the stomach was ‘the king of the belly’, to its promotion by the end of the nineteenth century to the ‘monarch of humanity’ in patent medicine, to Byron Robinson’s discovery of the enteric nervous system in 1907 (a mesh of neural connectivity that led him to dub the gut ‘the second brain’), there has historically been a longstanding awareness of the expansive reach of the gut in the functions of the body. In the nineteenth century, the authority of the gut and its allyship with the brain became a focus for writers thinking about the intersections of illness and ‘modern life’. In medical texts, domestic health manuals, patent medicine, and fiction, the electric telegraph in particular became a way of envisaging what we would now call the ‘gut-brain axis’. The telegraphic metaphor enabled a view of digestion as not simply a mechanical or chemical process, but one that was understood in terms of time, space, and communication. However, such a framework also suggested problems of connection that were common to both systems, emphasising not only the healthy body’s quasi-telegraphic networks but also its vulnerability to delay, disruption, and pathological incoherence. This article will explore the use of telegraphic technologies as proxies for theorising gastric connection and more broadly the concept of ‘gastric time’ as a key conceit for understanding digestion as a process that was and is subject to the idiosyncrasies of bodily rhythms.