bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular epidemiology of Acinetobacter baumannii complex causing invasive infections in Korean children during 2001–2020
Authors: Kang Hyun Mi , Yun Ki Wook , Choi Eun Hwa
Published: May 2023

Background

Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) has emerged as one of the most problematic pathogens affecting critically ill patients. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal epidemiology of AB causing invasive diseases in children.

Methods

Acinetobacter spp. cultured from sterile body fluids and identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACB) complexes by automated systems from children aged below 19 years old were prospectively collected during 2001–2020. The discriminative partial sequence of rpoB gene was sequenced to identify the species, and sequence types (STs) were determined. Temporal changes in antimicrobial susceptibilities and STs were analyzed.

Results

In total, 108 non-duplicate ACB isolates were obtained from patients with invasive infections. The median age was 1.4 (interquartile range, 0.1–7.9) years, and 60.2% (n = 65) were male. Acinetobacter baumannii comprised 55.6% (n = 60) of the isolates, and the 30-day mortality was higher in patients with isolated AB than in those with non-baumannii Acinetobacter spp. (46.7% vs. 8.3%, P < 0.001). After 2010, complete genotype replacement was observed from non-CC92 genotypes to only CC92 genotypes. Carbapenem resistance rates were highest in AB CC92 (94.2%), followed by AB non-CC92 (12.5%) and non-baumannii Acinetobacter spp. (2.1%). During 2014–2017, which included clustered cases of invasive ST395, colistin resistance increased to 62.5% (n = 10/16), showing a mortality rate of 88% during this period.

Conclusion

Complete genotype replacement of non-CC92 with CC92 genotypes was observed. AB CC92 was extensively drug-resistant, and pandrug resistance was observed depending on the ST, warranting careful monitoring.
Astrocytic CXCL5 hinders microglial phagocytosis of myelin debris and aggravates white matter injury in chronic cerebral ischemia
Authors: Cao Qian , Chen Jian , Zhang Zhi , Shu Shu , Qian Yi , Yang Lixuan , Xu Lushan , Zhang Yuxin , Bao Xinyu , Xia Shengnan , Yang Haiyan , Xu Yun , Qiu Shuwei
Published: May 2023

Background

Chronic cerebral ischemia induces white matter injury (WMI) contributing to cognitive decline. Both astrocytes and microglia play vital roles in the demyelination and remyelination processes, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the influence of the chemokine CXCL5 on WMI and cognitive decline in chronic cerebral ischemia and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) model was constructed to mimic chronic cerebral ischemia in 7–10 weeks old male mice. Astrocytic Cxcl5 conditional knockout (cKO) mice were constructed and mice with Cxcl5 overexpressing in astrocytes were generated by stereotactic injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV). WMI was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electron microscopy, histological staining and western blotting. Cognitive function was examined by a series of neurobehavioral tests. The proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), phagocytosis of microglia were analyzed via immunofluorescence staining, western blotting or flow cytometry.

Results

CXCL5 was significantly elevated in the corpus callosum (CC) and serum in BCAS model, mainly expressed in astrocytes, and Cxcl5 cKO mice displayed improved WMI and cognitive performance. Recombinant CXCL5 (rCXCL5) had no direct effect on the proliferation and differentiation of OPCs in vitro. Astrocytic specific Cxcl5 overexpression aggravated WMI and cognitive decline induced by chronic cerebral ischemia, while microglia depletion counteracted this effect. Recombinant CXCL5 remarkably hindered microglial phagocytosis of myelin debris, which was rescued by inhibition of CXCL5 receptor C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2).

Conclusion

Our study revealed that astrocyte-derived CXCL5 aggravated WMI and cognitive decline by inhibiting microglial phagocytosis of myelin debris, suggesting a novel astrocyte-microglia circuit mediated by CXCL5-CXCR2 signaling in chronic cerebral ischemia.
PET/CT imaging of giant primary pulmonary meningioma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Feng Yawen , Wang Peng , Liu Yufei , Dai Wenli
Published: May 2023

Background

An ectopic meningioma, such as a primary pulmonary meningioma (PPM), is a rare type of tumor that primarily originates outside of the central nervous system. The most common presentation of PPM is isolated pulmonary nodules or masses, and most of them are benign. Only sporadic cases have been reported. This case reported a giant primary pulmonary meningioma and systematically reviewed previously reported cases in the literature.

Case presentation

A 55-year-old female suffered from asthma after activity, chest tightness, and a persistent dry cough for 2 months. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a huge mass with calcification in the left lower lobe. And positron emission tomography (PET)/CT revealed mild FDG accumulation of the mass. The mass was finally surgically removed and PPM was confirmed according to histopathologic examinations.

Conclusion

PPM is a rare disease with heterogeneity not only in CT features but also in glucose metabolism. FDG uptake levels do not identify benign from malignant, benign PPM may have high FDG uptake and malignant may have low.
Single-molecule methylation profiles of cell-free DNA in cancer with nanopore sequencing
Authors: Lau Billy T. , Almeda Alison , Schauer Marie , McNamara Madeline , Bai Xiangqi , Meng Qingxi , Partha Mira , Grimes Susan M. , Lee HoJoon , Heestand Gregory M. , Ji Hanlee P.
Published: May 2023

Epigenetic characterization of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is an emerging approach for detecting and characterizing diseases such as cancer. We developed a strategy using nanopore-based single-molecule sequencing to measure cfDNA methylomes. This approach generated up to 200 million reads for a single cfDNA sample from cancer patients, an order of magnitude improvement over existing nanopore sequencing methods. We developed a single-molecule classifier to determine whether individual reads originated from a tumor or immune cells. Leveraging methylomes of matched tumors and immune cells, we characterized cfDNA methylomes of cancer patients for longitudinal monitoring during treatment.
Reclassification of type 2 diabetes to type 1 diabetes in Asturias (Spain) between 2011 and 2020
Authors: Rodríguez Escobedo Raúl , Lambert Carmen , Morales Sánchez Paula , Delgado Álvarez Elías , Menéndez Torre Edelmiro
Published: May 2023

Background

Differentiating between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be difficult in adults. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of diagnostic reclassification from T2D to T1D, the characteristics of the patients and the impact on the management of the disease.

Methods

Observational and descriptive study including patients diagnosed with T1D in Asturias (Spain) between 2011 and 2020 who had been considered as T2D for at least 12 months.

Results

A total of 205 patients were included, representing 45.3% of those diagnosed with T1D over 30 years of age. Median time of evolution as T2D was 7,8 years. The age was 59.1 ± 12.9 years. BMI was > 25 kg/m2 in 46.8% of patients. HbA1c was 9.1 ± 2.1%, 77 ± 22 mmol/mol, and 56.5% were using insulin. Pancreatic antibodies were present in 95.5%, the most frequent being GAD, 82.6%. At 6 months, basal insulin use increased from 46.9 to 86.3%, and HbA1c decreased, 9.2 ± 2.0%vs7.7 ± 1.2%, 77 ± 22vs60 ± 13 mmol/mol; p < 0.0001.

Conclusions

Diagnosis as T2D in patients with T1D in adults is common. Age, BMI, insulin use and other clinical features are not definitely discriminatory. GAD is the antibody of choice in case of diagnostic suspect. Reclassification has important implications for metabolic control.
Epigenetic priming improves salvage chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma via endogenous retrovirus-induced cGAS-STING activation
Authors: Liu Jun , Min Suji , Kim Dongchan , Park Jihyun , Park Eunchae , Koh Youngil , Shin Dong-Yeop , Kim Tae Kon , Byun Ja Min , Yoon Sung-Soo , Hong Junshik
Published: May 2023

Background

Although most patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) achieve complete remission after first-line rituximab-containing immunochemotherapy, up to 40% of patients relapse and require salvage therapy. Among those patients, a substantial proportion remain refractory to salvage therapy due to insufficient efficacy or intolerance of toxicities. A hypomethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, showed a chemosensitizing effect when primed before chemotherapy in lymphoma cell lines and newly diagnosed DLBCL patients. However, its potential to improve outcomes of salvage chemotherapy in DLBCL has not been investigated.

Results

In this study, we demonstrated the mechanism of 5-azacytidine priming as a chemosensitizer in a platinum-based salvage regimen. This chemosensitizing effect was associated with endogenous retrovirus (ERV)-induced viral mimicry responses via the cGAS-STING axis. We found deficiency of cGAS impaired the chemosensitizing effect of 5-azacytidine. Furthermore, combining vitamin C and 5-azacytidine to synergistically activate STING could be a potential remedy for insufficient priming induced by 5-azacytidine alone.

Conclusions

Taken together, the chemosensitizing effect of 5-azacytidine could be exploited to overcome the limitations of the current platinum-containing salvage chemotherapy in DLBCL and the status of cGAS-STING has the potential to predict the efficacy of 5-azacytidine priming.
Idiopathic catatonic syndrome in a young male with no prior psychiatric history: a case report
Authors: Zick Jennifer L. , Wichser Lora
Published: May 2023

Background

Catatonia is a syndrome characterized by severe psychomotor disturbances such as hypomotility, bradykinesia, and unusual movements. The condition has been described in the context of a wide variety of primary disease processes, including psychotic and mood disorders and numerous general medical conditions. In the medical community, catatonia is misunderstood, under-recognized, and under-treated. There continues to be debate about whether catatonia is an independent syndrome or a secondary expression of other conditions. This is a unique case presentation, as there are few reports describing cases of isolated catatonic syndrome in the absence of any other psychiatric or medical condition.

Case Presentation

We present the case of a 20-year-old previously healthy Caucasian male whose initial presentation to psychiatric care was in the form of an acute catatonic syndrome dominated by mutism, blank staring, and poverty of movement. As the nature of the patient’s symptoms precluded the collection of a complete psychiatric  and medical history, we employed a broad differential diagnosis including catatonia due to another medical condition, catatonia as a specifier for a number of mental disorders, and catatonia not otherwise specified.

Conclusions

The presentation of an acute onset of psychomotor symptoms in the absence of a history of mental illness warrants extensive workup to rule out medical causes to ensure effective treatment of any underlying illness. Benzodiazepines are the first-line treatment for catatonic symptoms, and electroconvulsive therapy can be used to resolve symptoms in patients who do not respond to medical intervention.
Lumbar Morel-Lavallée lesion: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Moune Michèle Yolande , Djoubairou Ben Ousmanou , Mboka Fred , Viche Yadji , El Ouahabi Abdessamad
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Here we describe a rare post-traumatic lesion and discuss its management.

Background

Lumbar Morel-Lavallée is a rarely reported lesion. The cause is usually post-traumatic in a polytraumatic context, and care is often focused elsewhere. This leads to misdiagnosis with a risk of chronic pain and infection. In addition, there is no consensus for the management as few cases have been reported so far.

Case report

A 35-year-old African woman was involved in a motor accident. Physical examination at the emergency department revealed moderate head trauma, a lumbar inflammatory mass, and a closed leg fracture. She underwent a whole-body computed tomography scan, which revealed a left frontal brain contusion and a large left paraspinal mass in favor of a lumbar Morel-Lavallée lesion. She benefited from osteosynthesis and conservative management of the cerebral and lumbar lesions. After 4 days, she complained of headaches and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging was requested. There was resorption of the cerebral contusion, and the lumbar mass was heterogeneous. She was discharged 10 days later without lower back pain and fully recovered from the headaches. Ultrasound of the lumbar soft tissue performed a month later showed no more collection.

Conclusion

More frequent in young men, lumbar Morel-Lavallée lesion is underdiagnosed. Thus, there is no consensus on its treatment. However, conservative management followed by close monitoring is advisable in the acute phase. Other therapy includes surgery with or without the use of sclerosing agents. Early diagnosis prevents infections. Although the diagnosis is clinical, magnetic resonance imaging is the critical paraclinical examination for its assessment. Our case is interesting because it occurs in a woman following polytrauma, and to the best of our knowledge, it is an extremely rare lesion, especially in women.
Analysis of a multi-type resurgence of Mycobacterium bovis in cattle and badgers in Southwest France, 2007-2019
Authors: Bouchez-Zacria Malika , Ruette Sandrine , Richomme Céline , Lesellier Sandrine , Payne Ariane , Boschiroli Maria-Laura , Courcoul Aurélie , Durand Benoit
Published: May 2023

Although control measures to tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle have been successful in many parts of Europe, this disease has not been eradicated in areas where Mycobacterium bovis circulates in multi-host systems. Here we analyzed the resurgence of 11 M. bovis genotypes (defined based on spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR) detected in 141 farms between 2007 and 2019, in an area of Southwestern France where wildlife infection was also detected from 2012 in 65 badgers. We used a spatially-explicit model to reconstruct the simultaneous diffusion of the 11 genotypes in cattle farms and badger populations. Effective reproduction number R was estimated to be 1.34 in 2007–2011 indicating a self-sustained M. bovis transmission by a maintenance community although within-species Rs were both < 1, indicating that neither cattle nor badger populations acted as separate reservoir hosts. From 2012, control measures were implemented, and we observed a decrease of R below 1. Spatial contrasts of the basic reproduction ratio suggested that local field conditions may favor (or penalize) local spread of bTB upon introduction into a new farm. Calculation of generation time distributions showed that the spread of M. bovis has been more rapid from cattle farms (0.5–0.7 year) than from badger groups (1.3–2.4 years). Although eradication of bTB appears possible in the study area (since R < 1), the model suggests it is a long-term prospect, because of the prolonged persistence of infection in badger groups (2.9–5.7 years). Supplementary tools and efforts to better control bTB infection in badgers (including vaccination for instance) appear necessary.
Identification of 7-hydroxyindole as an alternative substrate of MauG by in silico and in vitro analysis
Authors: Nam Heejin , Moon Youngkook , Kim Eunjeong , Shin Sooim
Published: May 2023

MauG catalyzes the six-electron oxidation of pre-tryptophan tryptophylquinone (preTTQ) cofactor in methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH) to form mature tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) via long-range electron transfer. To identify alternative substrates for MauG, docking models for 10 tryptophan-like compounds were constructed using Autodock Vina. These demonstrated spontaneous binding to the preTTQ binding site of MauG, with hydroxyindoles most frequently sharing the natural substrate binding site of MauG. To confirm the result of in silico analysis, 7-hydroxyindole was reacted with bis-FeIV of MauG. The spectroscopic change, representing the reactivity of MauG, revealed the highly increased reaction rate (k3) toward 7-hydroxyindole, suggesting that bis-FeIV MauG extracted an electron from the 7-hydroxyindole and then oxidized to di-ferric MauG.
Water-stable, biocompatible, and highly luminescent perovskite nanocrystals-embedded fiber-based paper for anti-counterfeiting applications
Authors: Patel Madhumita , Patel Rajkumar , Park Chanho , Cho Kanghee , Kumar Pawan , Park Cheolmin , Koh Won-Gun
Published: May 2023

In this study, we present a promising and facile approach toward the fabrication of non-toxic, water-stable, and eco-friendly luminescent fiber paper composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer and CsPbBr3@SiO2 core–shell perovskite nanocrystals. PCL-perovskite fiber paper was fabricated using a conventional electrospinning process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly revealed incorporation of CsPbBr3@SiO2 nanocrystals in the fibers, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that incorporation of CsPbBr3@SiO2 nanocrystals did not affect the surface and diameter of the PCL-perovskite fibers. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and contact angle measurements have demonstrated that the PCL-perovskite fibers exhibit excellent thermal and water stability. The fabricated PCL-perovskite fiber paper exhibited a bright green emission centered at 520 nm upon excitation by ultra-violet (UV) light (374 nm). We have demonstrated that fluorescent PCL-perovskite fiber paper is a promising candidate for anti-counterfeiting applications because various patterns can be printed on the paper, which only become visible after exposure to UV light at 365 nm. Cell proliferation tests revealed that the PCL-perovskite fibers are cytocompatibility. Consequently, they may be suitable for biocompatible anti-counterfeiting. The present study reveals that PCL-perovskite fibers may pave way toward next generation biomedical probe and anti-counterfeiting applications.

Graphical Abstract
A case of acute cholecystitis with abnormally high CA19-9
Authors: Oinuma Shinichiro , Yoshio Deguchi , Omotaka Syunsuke , Terunuma Takuya , Kasagi Shinya , Kimura Hironobu , Yokoyama Noboru , Inoue Haruhiro
Published: May 2023

Background

CA19-9 is strongly expressed in malignant tumors of the digestive system and is widely used as a marker for gastrointestinal cancer. In this report, we describe a case of acute cholecystitis in which CA19-9 was markedly elevated.

Case presentation

A 53-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis after being referred to our hospital with a chief complaint of fever and right hypochondrial pain. CA19-9 was abnormally high at 17,539.1 U/ml. Although the possibility of malignancy was considered, there was no obvious malignant lesion on imaging; the patient was diagnosed with cholecystitis, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed the day after admission. The surgical specimen showed no malignant findings either grossly or in the final pathological examination. There were no complications in the patient’s postoperative course, and he was discharged from the hospital on the third postoperative day. CA19-9 level quickly returned to within normal range after surgery.

Conclusions

In acute cholecystitis, CA19-9 levels exceeding 10,000 U/ml are very rare. We report a case of acute cholecystitis without malignant findings despite a high CA19-9 level.
Age-Related Differences in the Limited Range of Motion of the Lower Extremity and Their Relation to Low Back Pain in Young Baseball Players: A Cross-Sectional Study of 1215 Players
Authors: Kato Kinshi , Otoshi Kenichi , Tominaga Ryoji , Kaga Takahiro , Igari Takahiro , Sato Ryohei , Kaneko Yota , Konno Shin-ichi
Published: May 2023

Background

Age-related differences in the limited range of motion of the lower extremities and their relationship with low back pain in juvenile athletes have not been well assessed. This study investigated the relationship between low back pain and limited range of motion of the hip and knee in young baseball players during the baseball season.

Results

Participants comprised 1215 baseball players (216 pitchers, 999 fielders) aged 6–16 years who underwent medical checkups (self-completed questionnaire and physical examination). Of the 1215 players, 255 (21.0%) experienced seasonal low back pain requiring rest during the previous year. The prevalence of low back pain and a positive Thomas test, straight-leg-raising test, and heel-to-buttock test increased with age. Univariate analysis revealed that a positive heel-to-buttock test in both the throwing and non-throwing arm sides in the 11–12 age group and a positive Thomas test in the throwing arm side in the 13–14 age group were associated with seasonal low back pain (P = 0.0051,P = 0.021, andP = 0.048, respectively). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for factors associated with low back pain, showed significant associations between the positive heel-to-buttock test (odds ratio 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.11–2.79;P = 0.016) and low back pain in players aged 11–14 years.

Conclusions

A positive heel-to-buttock test is potentially associated with low back pain among juvenile baseball players. Particular attention should be paid to the limited range of motion of the knee joint and tightness of the quadriceps femoris muscle among baseball players with low back pain aged 11–14 years.
Return direction forecasting: a conditional autoregressive shape model with beta density
Authors: Xie Haibin , Sun Yuying , Fan Pengying
Published: May 2023

This paper derives a new decomposition of stock returns using price extremes and proposes a conditional autoregressive shape (CARS) model with beta density to predict the direction of stock returns. The CARS model is continuously valued, which makes it different from binary classification models. An empirical study is performed on the US stock market, and the results show that the predicting power of the CARS model is not only statistically significant but also economically valuable. We also compare the CARS model with the probit model, and the results demonstrate that the proposed CARS model outperforms the probit model for return direction forecasting. The CARS model provides a new framework for return direction forecasting.
Role of multimodal advanced biomarkers as potential predictors of cognitive and psychiatric aspects of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Badr Marwa Y. , Amer Reham A. , Kotait Mona A. , Shoeib Sara M. , Reda Alaa M.
Published: May 2023

Background

The value of biomarker research in Parkinson's disease (PD) exists in the early detection and accurate diagnosis of non-motor neuropsychiatric symptoms with implications for future treatment strategies. The aim of the this work was to assess and predict risk for possible cognitive, psychiatric abnormalities in patients with early stage idiopathic PD using a combination of advanced diagnostic biomarkers for early recognition and intervention.

Methods

This cross-sectional case–control study was conducted on 58 eligible idiopathic PD-patients, and 45 age/sex-matched healthy controls. All participants were subjected to neuro-psychiatric-, radiological-, audiological-, and laboratory-evaluations. Cognitive assessment was performed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Mattis Dementia, and Parkinson’s Disease-Cognitive scales. Depression was evaluated by Hamilton Depression and Beck Depression Inventory-II rating scales. Radiologically, volumetric-MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and susceptibility weighted imaging were done. Audiologically, P300 and cortical auditory evoked potentials were elicited. Laboratory investigations included 24 h-urinary 5-HIAA and serum levels of IL6, BDNF, 5-HT, and aberrant cimiRNA 132-3p expression profile.

Results

Neuropsychological scales revealed mild depression and mild cognitive impairment, with significant differences in PD group. Volumetric-MRI highlighted that PD-patients had a significant bilateral decrease in the mean cortical thickness and thickness/volume of many brain areas. DTI showed a reduction in fractional isotropy and a significant bilateral increase in mean diffusivity through many areas in PD-patients. Patients also had either absent or diminished amplitude of P300,P1, diminished amplitude of N1,P2,N2 and delayed latency of all previous waves. There was a significant reduction of 24 h-urinary 5-HIAA and serum BDNF, with significant elevation of serum IL6, as well as non-significant reduction of serum 5-HT and microRNA-132-3p(2-ΔCt) in PD-patients.

Conclusions

Early stage PD-patients had subtle cognitive impairment and depression as detected by psychometric scales and correlated significantly with the various biomarkers, including advanced neuro-imaging, evoked potential studies, and laboratory markers. The key message of this work include evaluating the high prevalence of cognitive and psychiatric impairment in early idiopathic PD has encouraged research and workup for precision medicine. Proper integration of advanced multimodal biomarkers in this study has led to predict the risk of early mild cognitive and psychiaric affection. This will optimize the health strategies for early proper management to improve quality of life.
IPatch: a remote adversarial patch
Authors: Mirsky Yisroel
Published: May 2023

Applications such as autonomous vehicles and medical screening use deep learning models to localize and identify hundreds of objects in a single frame. In the past, it has been shown how an attacker can fool these models by placing an adversarial patch within a scene. However, these patches must be placed in the target location and do not explicitly alter the semantics elsewhere in the image. In this paper, we introduce a new type of adversarial patch which alters a model’s perception of an image’s semantics. These patches can be placed anywhere within an image to change the classification or semantics of locations far from the patch. We call this new class of adversarial examples ‘remote adversarial patches’ (RAP). We implement our own RAP called IPatch and perform an in-depth analysis on without pixel clipping on image segmentation RAP attacks using five state-of-the-art architectures with eight different encoders on the CamVid street view dataset. Moreover, we demonstrate that the attack can be extended to object recognition models with preliminary results on the popular YOLOv3 model. We found that the patch can change the classification of a remote target region with a success rate of up to 93% on average.
Agro-industrial waste: a cost-effective and eco-friendly substrate to produce amylase
Authors: Naik Bindu , Kumar Vijay , Rizwanuddin Sheikh , Chauhan Mansi , Gupta Arun Kumar , Rustagi Sarvesh , Kumar Vivek , Gupta Sanjay
Published: May 2023

The increase in the global population has led to a substantial increase in the demand for food supply as well as food manufacturing industries that regularly produce large amounts of food waste. Agro-industrial waste has attracted tremendous attention all over the world since ancient times, such waste is usually dumped or burned and poses a threat to human health and the environment, which has always been a matter of serious concern. However, food waste is a major source of complex carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals, fibers, and helps in the manufacture of raw materials for a variety of industrial purposes such as the production of biofuels, enzymes, bioactive compounds, biodegradable plastics, surfactants. Hence it is necessary to convert food waste into value-added products that reduce environmental problems. The present review paper attempts to outline and analyze the potential of agro-industrial residues as cost-effective substrates to produce the enzyme amylase using a wide range of microbial strains.

Graphical Abstract
Hyperoxia in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock: a systematic review
Authors: Catalanotto Francesca Romana , Ippolito Mariachiara , Mirasola Alice , Catalisano Giulia , Milazzo Marta , Giarratano Antonino , Cortegiani Andrea
Published: May 2023

Background

In septic patients, hyperoxia may help with its bactericidal effects, but it may cause systemic impairments. The role of hyperoxia and the appropriate oxygen target in these patients is unknown. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the available literature.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search screening PubMed and Cochrane Library. Studies on adult patients with sepsis or septic shock and admitted to ICU addressing the topic of hyperoxia were included and described.

Results

We included 12 studies, for a total of 15.782 included patients. Five studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or analyses from RCTs, three were prospective observational studies, and four were retrospective observational studies. The definition of hyperoxia was heterogeneous across the included studies. Mortality was the most frequent outcome: six studies showed an increased rate or risk of mortality with hyperoxia, three found no differences, and one a protective effect of hyperoxia. At the critical appraisal assessment stage, no major methodological flaws were detected, except for a single-center, pilot study, with a lack of adjustment for confounders and imbalance between the groups.

Conclusion

The optimum range of oxygen level able to minimize risks and provide benefits in patients with sepsis or septic shock seems still unknown. Clinical equipoise between hyperoxia and normoxia is uncertain as conflicting evidence exists. Further studies should aim at identifying the best range of oxygenation and its optimal duration, investigating how effects of different levels of oxygen may vary according to identified pathogens, source of infection, and prescribed antibiotics in critically ill patients with sepsis and septic shock.
Applications and limitations of distributed acoustic sensing in shallow seismic surveys and monitoring
Authors: Abukrat Yarin , Sinitsyn Pavel , Reshef Moshe , Lellouch Ariel
Published: May 2023

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is an emerging technology gaining acceptance in a variety of seismological applications. We systematically analyze the adaptability and usefulness of horizontal DAS deployments for near-surface geophysical applications, such as surface wave inversion, diving wave tomography, and passive subsurface source location. We find that, in accordance with previous studies, DAS data are generally similar to traditional sensors and can be successfully used independently. Nonetheless, DAS data suffer from inherent limitations due to the design of the optical measurement system. Among others, we identify the gauge length, measurement directivity, and saturation at near offsets as the primary limiting factors. When operating in low-velocity environments and a standard 10 m gauge length, surface wave analysis may be constrained to the usage of low frequencies due to the wavenumber filtering effect of the gauge length. The measurement directivity generally prohibits applications that are based on upgoing P-wave energy, such as near-offset diving wave tomography. In addition, saturation at near offsets prevents reliable diving wave traveltime picking. As a consequence of these limitations, the ultrashallow resolution achievable with DAS data is poor. Source directivity also strongly limits passive source location resolution. Whereas some of the limitations can be alleviated through an optimal choice of optical parameters at the interrogator level, we mostly rely on adapted field acquisition and data processing workflows that use the undisturbed portion of the recorded signal. Eventually, the spatiotemporal resolution and relative ease of long-term deployments turn DAS into a worthwhile option for monitoring and time-lapse scenarios, or when operating in urban environments over existing infrastructure.
Numerical modeling of low-frequency distributed acoustic sensing signals for mixed-mode reactivation
Authors: Wang Chaoyi , Eaton David W. , Ma Yuanyuan
Published: May 2023

In recent years, the development of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology has enabled direct monitoring of subsurface strain during hydraulic fracturing (HF) operations. Most low-frequency (<1 Hz) DAS (LFDAS) signals exhibit strain or strain-rate patterns that are characteristic of propagating tensile hydraulic fractures. However, mixed-mode fault reactivation, consisting of shear slip (mode II) with tensile opening (mode I), can occur in cases where propagating hydraulic fractures intersect preexisting natural fractures or faults. In this study, we show an anomalous LFDAS signal that was observed during an HF operation, with characteristics that differ from typical signals from tensile hydraulic fractures. Anomalous characteristics include the onset of an asymmetric compression-extension doublet after pumping was terminated. The location of the signals, coupled with the image log and seismic data, suggests that mixed-mode reactivation occurred on a preexisting fault. We use a simplified numerical model based on the displacement discontinuity method (DDM) to simulate the anomalous LFDAS signal. Results find that the first-order characteristics of the anomalous signal can be approximated as an initial tensile fault opening (mode I) followed by a shear slip (mode II) on a fault. Therefore, we demostrate the approach of using DDM to investigate mixed-mode fault reactivation during HF operations.
A data-driven workflow based on multisource transfer machine learning for gas-bearing probability distribution prediction: A case study
Authors: Yang Jiuqiang , Lin Niantian , Zhang Kai , Ding Renwei , Jin Zhiwei , Wang Deying
Published: May 2023

Machine learning (ML) plays an important role in gas-bearing prediction based on multicomponent seismic data because it can reveal the complex relationship between reservoirs and their seismic attributes by establishing a nonlinear model. However, the degree of exploration in several areas remains limited, leading to insufficient sample data. Transfer learning (TL) can provide a feasible solution to this limitation by transferring learning information between data-rich sources and data-sparse target sources to accomplish a target task. Therefore, a data-driven workflow based on multisource TL is developed for predicting gas-bearing probability distribution to improve its accuracy in areas with limited sample data. First, the samples and labels of the synthetic data are established, and ML models (deep fully connected neural network and least-squares support vector machine) are applied to the synthetic data to predict the gas-bearing distribution. Subsequently, the samples and labels of the real data are established and completely mixed with the synthetic data to obtain the data set after TL. Finally, a supervised learning model is applied to predict the gas-bearing probability distribution in the study area. Adaptive mutation particle swarm optimization (AMPSO) is used to optimize the prediction performances of the two ML models. The prediction results of the AMPSO-ML are in good agreement with the actual drilling results. By comparing the prediction results after TL with those before TL, it is observed that the two models had higher efficiency and accuracy after TL, verifying the reliability of our scheme for predicting gas-bearing distribution. This method may be used for the effective prediction of gas-bearing probability distributions.
Patient-Reported Outcomes After Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor-Predominant Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Maragkos Georgios A. , Kosyakovsky Jacob , Zhao Patricia , Kearns Kathryn N. , Rush-Evans Shelly , Moosa Shayan , Elias W. Jeffrey
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND:

Magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has emerged as a precise, incisionless approach to cerebral lesioning and an alternative to neuromodulation in movement disorders. Despite rigorous clinical trials, long-term patient-centered outcome data after MRgFUS for tremor-predominant Parkinson's Disease (TPPD) are relatively lacking.

OBJECTIVE:

To report long-term data on patient satisfaction and quality of life after MRgFUS thalamotomy for TPPD.

METHODS:

In a retrospective study of patients who underwent MRgFUS thalamotomy for TPPD at our institution between 2015 and 2022, a patient survey was administered to collect self-reported measures of tremor improvement, recurrence, Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and side effects. Patient demographics, FUS parameters, and lesion characteristics were analyzed.

RESULTS:

A total of 29 patients were included with a median follow-up of 16 months. Immediate tremor improvement was achieved in 96% of patients. Sustained improvement was achieved in 63% of patients at last follow-up. Complete tremor recurrence to baseline occurred for 17% of patients. Life quality improvement denoted by a PGIC of 1 to 2 was reported by 69% of patients. Long-term side effects were reported by 38% of patients and were mostly mild. Performing a secondary anteromedial lesion to target the ventralis oralis anterior/posterior nucleus was associated with higher rates of speech-related side effects (56% vs 12%), without significant improvement in tremor outcomes.

CONCLUSION:

Patient satisfaction with FUS thalamotomy for tremor-predominant PD was very high, even at longer term. Extended lesioning to target the motor thalamus did not improve tremor control and may contribute to greater frequency of postoperative motor- and speech-related side effects.
Exploring the construct of anticipatory stress in finding a job after residency training through cognitive interviewing: Implications for learner well-being and health workforce planning
Authors: Jawad Sana , Thomas Megan , Hecker Kent , Kassam Aliya
Published: May 2023

Background: Anticipatory stress (AS) is denoted by concern about future events for which there is little control. Most AS research has been physiological studies such as measuring salivary cortisol levels.   Medical learners may experience AS regarding employment after residency, however anticipatory stress AS a psychological construct across career stages has not previously been studied. The objective of this study is to explore the psychological construct of employment AS in medical students, residents, and former Program Directors (PDs).  

Methods: Participants were recruited from a large Canadian medical school via purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews with n=21 participants (six medical students, nine residents, and six PDs) were transcribed verbatim, and coded by two independent reviewers using thematic analysis.  

Results: Participants agreed that financial, family, and geographical factors exacerbate AS, and it is mitigated by flexibility, social support, and being proactive. External support, job market saturation, and differences between medical specialties also influence AS. Perspectives unique to participant groups included: medical students reflecting on a hidden curriculum and preoccupation with proximal issues over distal concerns of employment; residents experiencing competing residency program demands; former PDs finding that resident competency, yearly hiring fluctuations, and existing stress impact AS. Consequences of AS include physical and psychological manifestations, performance anxiety, and pursuing additional training.  

Conclusions: Perceptions of AS vary by medical career stage. Individual, program and systems-level changes can help manage and address the underlying cause of AS: an unreliable job market for physicians. Correcting the mismatch between residency positions and job openings may be a proactive, preventative approach.
The role of diet and supplementation in the prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Mazurek Aleksandra , Machaj Damian , Polak Jakub , Grobecki Daniel , Lis Jakub , Machaj Dominik , Raczkiewicz Przemysław , Adamik Weronika
Published: May 2023

The role of diet and supplementation in the prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorders There is evidence indicating the positive effects of dietary intervention in the prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. There are studies linking maternal vitamin D deficiency with ASD in offspring. Children and adolescents on the autism spectrum are also supposed to have significantly lower concentrations of vitamin D than healthy children and adolescents. This indicates the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and treatment of ASD(5). Diets most commonly used in the therapy of autism spectrum disorders are: dairy-free and gluten-free, specific carbohydrate diet, low phenol, low oxalate and ketogenic diet(4). The most popular of them are dairy-free and gluten-free. However, studies conducted by Dr. James Adams attribute the highest effectiveness to a diet of specific carbohydrates(7). After applying the ketogenic diet, improvements in concentration, learning ability and social behavior were observed(1,26). However, it should be remembered that the scientific literature contains a small number of reliably conducted studies confirming the effectiveness of individual diets and supplementation in the prevention and treatment of ASD. Therefore, the positive impact of dietary intervention is still referred to as "potential". In addition, the use of certain diets may be associated with side effects, such as vomiting and hypoglycemia in the case of a ketogenic diet (1,28) and underweight in the case of elimination diets(16). Therefore, the introduction of dietary changes for therapeutic purposes should be carried out under the constant supervision of doctors and dieticians.
The platformization of higher education: challenges and implications
Authors: Pedró i Garcia Francesc
Published: May 2023

Worldwide, even in developing contexts, most universities have embraced different platforms, and quite commonly, many institutions support more than one platform simultaneously. Autonomy and self-regulation, which are critical features of higher education institutions, may prevent the sector from having government-led regulatory efforts addressing the many issues that emerge from the universal use of platforms spurred by tech gurus and vendors. Instead, the sector will have to find its way to generate a conducive policy and regulatory environment that maximizes the benefits of platformization and minimizes its risks. This self-regulatory effort may have an important exemplary effect on how other educational levels tackle those issues and influence public interventions in schools, particularly. In the end, higher education institutions have a major social and political responsibility as teacher training providers and researchers on both technological developments that nurture platformization and on its implications at all levels from a critical perspective.
Assessing Government Design Practices from a Human-Centered Perspective: Case Study of an Improved Cookstoves Program in Colombia
Authors: Gutiérrez Juan David , Muñoz-Cadena Sarah María
Published: May 2023

Governments and non-governmental organizations worldwide are promoting the transition to improvedcookstoves (ics), which aim to reduce household air pollution and decrease the use of biomass. This article follows a case-study approach to characterize and assess the design practices applied in a Colombian government-led program to foster the transition to ics in rural households between 2010-2018 in the department of Nariño. Data was collected from direct observation, 23 semi-structured interviews (with program beneficiaries, civil servants, and external stakeholders) and documentary evidence. We assessed the degree to which the program’s formulation, implementation, and evaluation considered the beneficiaries’ specific needs, values, contexts and human experience. We found that the government program design followed a top-down approach focused on a single design principle, efficiency. Moreover, the government’s design methods did not appear to sufficiently involve its potential beneficiaries or consider their actual human experiences and realities. We argue that if the government had applied a more human-centered design approach, it could have enhanced the integration of the socio-cultural backgrounds of the program’s beneficiaries. Overall, the results of this study underscore the importance of integrating human-centered design approaches to identify new paths to improve governments’ responsiveness and effectiveness.
Small- or Medium-Sized Enterprise Uses Operations Research to Select and Develop its Headquarters Location
Authors: Kik David , Wichmann Matthias G. , Spengler Thomas S.
Published: May 2023

Location decisions are strategic and usually multicriteria. In decision making, companies need to anticipate future developments at potential locations. Company-driven and municipal development measures change location conditions over time. For location-seeking companies, the realization of municipal measures is fraught with uncertainty. They are planned by several municipal actors, and their long-term implications are hard to predict. Thus, the early-systematic consideration of company-internal and -external development measures is vital for decision makers (DMs) in a future-oriented location assessment. In our paper, we develop a robust decision support framework for companies to solve the regional facility location and development planning problem (RFLDP). Our framework includes a quantitative planning approach based on established operations research (OR) optimization models and a practical guideline for a structured acquisition of relevant data. The chief executive officer (CEO) (or DM) of a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) asked us to solve his acute RFLDP. For this, we proposed a systematic workflow and accompanied the SME’s regional facility location and development planning. In doing so, we structured the CEO’s decision-making process effectively and created an objective-transparent basis for his strategic decisions. The core feature of our work is the inclusion of the human factor of DMs, as we interacted with the CEO along his decision-making process to gradually develop decision recommendations. As a result, the SME benefited from a better-informed and transparent planning process. We recommended a decision option that was structurally superior to other options, which emerged from the CEO’s intuition and conventional facility location problem solution approaches. Other stakeholders also benefited from the results of our work.

History: This paper was refereed.

Funding: This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) [Grant 439640382].
Going the Extra Mile: What Taxi Rides Tell Us About the Long-Hour Culture in Finance
Authors: Okat Deniz , Vasudevan Ellapulli V.
Published: May 2023

We analyze banks’ “protected-weekend” policies that restrict junior bankers from working during weekends. We use taxi rides from bank addresses in New York City to infer bankers’ working hours. We find the policies induced bankers to shift their work to late-night hours on weekdays. We then investigate whether such shifts in working hours affected the quality of work. After the policy, analysts of the policy-implementing banks make more errors in their earnings forecasts. They also herd more toward the consensus in their forecasts. We further provide evidence that junior bankers are the most adversely affected by the policy.

This paper was accepted by Victoria Ivashina, finance.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4774 .