bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A mRNA Vaccine Encoding for a RBD 60-mer Nanoparticle Elicits Neutralizing Antibodies and Protective Immunity Against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Transgenic K18-hACE2 Mice
Authors: Brandys Pascal , Montagutelli Xavier , Merenkova Irena , Barut Güliz T. , Thiel Volker , Schork Nicholas J. , Trüeb Bettina , Conquet Laurine , Deng Aihua , Antanasijevic Aleksandar , Lee Hyun-Ku , Valière Martine , Sindhu Anoop , Singh Gita , Herold Jens
Published: July 2022

Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic there is still a need for vaccines to effectively control the spread of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and associated cases of severe disease. Here we report a messenger RNA vaccine directly encoding for a nanoparticle displaying 60 receptor binding domains (RBDs) of SARS-CoV-2 that acts as a highly effective antigen. A construct encoding the RBD of the Delta variant elicits robust neutralizing antibody response, and also provides protective immunity against the Delta variant in a widely used transgenic mouse model. We ultimately find that the proposed mRNA RBD nanoparticle-based vaccine provides a flexible platform for rapid development and will likely be of great value in combatting current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
Case Report: Baricitinib as an Alternative in the Maintenance Therapy for Macrophage Activation Syndrome Secondary to Nodular Panniculitis
Authors: Yi Guanqun , Huang Zhengping , Huang Zhixiang , Wang Yunqing , Deng Weiming , Zheng Shaoling , Li Tianwang
Published: July 2022

Background

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a severe complication of autoimmune diseases with high mortality. We report the effectiveness of baricitinib as an option for the maintenance therapy in MAS secondary to nodular panniculitis.

Case summary

A 24-year-old female came to our hospital with repeated fever and a skin nodule on right tibial tuberosity. Results were notable for raised serum ferritin (SF), triglycerides (TG), elevated liver function enzymes, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and decreased activity of NK cells. The pathological biopsy of the subcutaneous nodules indicated nodular panniculitis. Hemophagocytic cells were found in bone marrow aspiration. She was diagnosed as MAS secondary to nodular panniculitis. With the treatment of methylprednisolone (MP) and immunoglobulin, her symptoms and laboratory data gradually improved. Nevertheless, her disease relapsed when the MP dose was tapered. Regarding the usage of JAK inhibitors in MAS, we used baricitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor) to treat MAS and her symptom and abnormal laboratory findings returned to normal. During follow-up, though the MP dose was tapered, she was stable without a MAS recurrence.

Conclusion

The case report suggested baricitinib is an option for MAS in the maintenance therapy phase and is potentially beneficial to prevent recurrence.
Seasonally and Spatially Variable Organic Matter Contributions From Watershed, Marine Macrophyte, and Pelagic Sources to the Northeast Pacific Coastal Ocean Margin
Authors: St. Pierre Kyra A. , Hunt Brian P. V. , Giesbrecht Ian J. W. , Tank Suzanne E. , Lertzman Ken P. , Del Bel Belluz Justin , Hessing-Lewis Margot L. , Olson Angeleen , Froese Tyrel
Published: July 2022

Globally, coastal waters are considered biogeochemical hotspots because they receive, transform, and integrate materials and waters from both land and the open ocean. Extending from northern California to southeast Alaska, the Northeast Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest (NPCTR) region is no exception to this, and hosts a diversity of watershed types (old-growth rainforest, bog forest, glaciers), and tidal (sheltered, exposed) and pelagic marine (deep fjord, shallow estuary, well-mixed channel) environments. With large freshwater fluxes to the coastal ocean, cross-ecosystem connectivity in the NPCTR is expected to be high, but seasonally variable, with pulses in runoff from rainfall, snowmelt and glacial melt, and primary production associated with changes in ocean upwelling and incident light. However, the relative contribution of each ecosystem to surface ocean organic matter pools over time and space remains poorly constrained, despite their importance for the structure and function of coastal marine ecosystems. Here, we use a four-year dataset of particulate organic matter (POM) chemical composition (δ13C, δ15N, C:N ratio) to quantify the relative contributions of watershed materials via riverine inputs, marine phytoplankton, and macrophytes (macroalgae and seagrass) to surface waters (0-10 m) at 11 stations representing fjord, shallow non-fjord estuary, sheltered channel and well-mixed coastal environments at the heart of the NPCTR in British Columbia, Canada. Watershed, marine phytoplankton, and macrophyte contributions to surficial POM ranged between 5-78%, 22-88%, and 0.1-18%, respectively, and varied by season and station. Watershed inputs were the primary source of POM across all stations in winter and were important throughout the year within the fjord. Marine phytoplankton were the principal source of POM in spring and at all stations outside of the fjord through summer and autumn, while macrophyte contributions were greatest in summer. These results demonstrated high, but seasonally and spatially variable, connectivity between ecosystems that are often considered in isolation of one another and highlight the need to consider coastal waters as integrated land-ocean meta-ecosystems. Future work should investigate how heterogeneity in POM sources determines its fate in coastal ecosystems,and the relative importance of different basal organic matter sources for the marine food web.
Two Decades of Community-Based Marine Conservation Provide the Foundations for Future Action
Authors: Villaseñor-Derbez Juan Carlos , Amador-Castro Imelda G. , Hernández-Velasco Arturo , Torre Jorge , Fulton Stuart
Published: July 2022

As a member of the “High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy”, Mexico has committed to expand community-based marine conservation. We draw from more than two decades of experience to outline how existing resources may be leveraged to help inform the country’s ambitious conservation plans. A total of 514.12 km2 have already been protected under community-based marine reserves. 14 years of ecological survey data, more than 130 community surveyors, more than one hundred publications, and an entire digital infrastructure provide a solid platform on which to continue building the community-based marine conservation movement. Parallel and complimentary efforts have advanced regulation, action, data access and transparency, and coordination. Future interventions should innovate, but leverage existing resources and continue to involve communities.
Airfoil Anemometer With Integrated Flexible Piezo-Capacitive Pressure Sensor
Authors: Ramanathan Arun K. , Headings Leon M. , Dapino Marcelo J.
Published: July 2022

Demand is expected to accelerate for autonomous air vehicles that transport people and goods, making wind sensors on these vehicles and in the air space where they operate critical to ensure safe control of many simultaneous take-offs and landings. Conventional anemometers such as pitot tubes as well as rotating, heated-element, acoustic, and drag technologies have drawbacks for small and micro-aerial vehicles including high power consumption, high aerodynamic drag, complex signal processing, and high cost. This paper presents an airfoil-shaped anemometer that provides low drag while integrating sensors for measuring wind speed and direction on tethered kites, balloons, and drones. Wind speed is measured by an integrated dual-layer capacitive pressure sensor with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) diaphragm while wind direction is measured by a 3D digital magnetometer that senses the orientation of the airfoil relative to the earth’s magnetic field. A model is presented for a dual-layer capacitive sensor and validated through quasistatic pressure chamber testing. The capacitive sensor as well as a commercial digital magnetometer are integrated into a NACA 2412 profile airfoil and tested in a laboratory-scale wind tunnel. The capacitive sensor provides a sensitivity of 1.84 fF m2s−2 and the airfoil exhibits a unique stable angle-of-attack to within ±2° as measured by the magnetometer.
Microbiome, Transcriptome, and Metabolomic Analyses Revealed the Mechanism of Immune Response to Diarrhea in Rabbits Fed Antibiotic-Free Diets
Authors: Wang Jie , Fan Huimei , Xia Siqi , Shao Jiahao , Tang Tao , Chen Li , Bai Xue , Sun Wenqiang , Jia Xianbo , Chen Shiyi , Lai Songjia
Published: July 2022

In this study, diarrhea was induced in rabbits by feeding them antibiotic-free feed. The gut provides important defense against the barriers of the body, of which the duodenum is an important part to help digest food and absorb nutrients. However, the mechanisms underlying the roles of the gut microbiome and fecal metabolome in rabbit diarrhea caused by feeding an antibiotic-free diet have not been characterized. Recently, only a single study has been conducted to further characterize the antibiotic-free feed additives that caused diarrhea in weaned rabbits. The multi-omics techniques, including 16S rRNA sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, and LC-MS analysis, were combined to analyze the gut microbial compositions and functions. They also determined the fecal metabolomic profiles of diarrhea in rabbits caused by feeding antibiotic-free feed. The results showed that the liver, duodenal, and sacculus rotundus tissues of diarrhea rabbits were diseased, the composition of intestinal microbes was significantly changed, the diversity of intestinal microbes was decreased, and the distribution of intestinal microbe groups was changed. Functional analysis based on the cluster of GO and KEGG annotations suggested that two functional GO categories belonged to the metabolism cluster, and five KEGG pathways related to the metabolic pathways were significantly enriched in diarrhea rabbits. Moreover, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the significant expression of genes related to diarrhea. Metabolomics profiling identified 432 significantly differently abundant metabolites in diarrhea rabbits, including amino acids and their derivatives. These amino acids were enriched in the tryptophan metabolic pathway. In addition, the functional correlation analysis showed that some altered gut microbiota families, such as Parasutterella, significantly correlated with alterations in fecal metabolites. Collectively, the results suggested that altered gut microbiota was associated with diarrhea caused by antibiotic-free feed additives in weaned rabbit pathogenesis.
Corynebacterium matruchotii: A Confirmed Calcifying Bacterium With a Potentially Important Role in the Supragingival Plaque
Authors: Li Qinyang , Zhou Fangjie , Su Zhifei , Li Yuqing , Li Jiyao
Published: July 2022

Corynebacterium matruchotii is a reported calcifying bacterium that can usually be isolated from dental calculus and induce mineralization in vitro. In recent years, based on in situ hybridization probe and sequencing technology, researchers have discovered the central “pillar” role of C. matruchotii in supragingival plaque, and many studies focused on bacterial interactions in the biofilm structure dominated by C. matruchotii have been conducted. Besides, C. matruchotii seems to be an indicator of “caries-free” oral status according to imaging and sequencing studies. Therefore, in this review, we summarize C. matruchotii ‘s role in supragingival plaque based on the structure, interactions, and potential connections with oral diseases.
Accelerated 2D Classification With ISAC Using GPUs
Authors: Schöenfeld Fabian , Stabrin Markus , Shaikh Tanvir R. , Wagner Thorsten , Raunser Stefan
Published: July 2022

A widely used approach to analyze single particles in electron microscopy data is 2D classification. This process is very computationally expensive, especially when large data sets are analyzed. In this paper we present GPU ISAC, a newly developed, GPU-accelerated version of the established Iterative Stable Alignment and Clustering (ISAC) algorithm for 2D images and generating class averages. While the previously existing implementation of ISAC relied on a computer cluster, GPU ISAC enables users to produce high quality 2D class averages from large-scale data sets on a single desktop machine equipped with affordable, consumer-grade GPUs such as Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 TI cards. With only two such cards GPU ISAC matches the performance of twelve high end cluster nodes and, using high performance GPUs, is able to produce class averages from a million particles in between six to thirteen hours, depending on data set quality and box size. We also show GPU ISAC to scale linearly in all input dimensions, and thereby capable of scaling well with the increasing data load demand of future data sets. Further user experience improvements integrate GPU ISAC seamlessly into the existing SPHIRE GUI, as well as the TranSPHIRE on-the-fly processing pipeline. It is open source and can be downloaded at https://gitlab.gwdg.de/mpi-dortmund/sphire/cuISAC/
Quantitative Cryo-Electron Tomography
Authors: Navarro Paula P.
Published: July 2022

The three-dimensional organization of biomolecules important for the functioning of all living systems can be determined by cryo-electron tomography imaging under native biological contexts. Cryo-electron tomography is continually expanding and evolving, and the development of new methods that use the latest technology for sample thinning is enabling the visualization of ever larger and more complex biological systems, allowing imaging across scales. Quantitative cryo-electron tomography possesses the capability of visualizing the impact of molecular and environmental perturbations in subcellular structure and function to understand fundamental biological processes. This review provides an overview of current hardware and software developments that allow quantitative cryo-electron tomography studies and their limitations and how overcoming them may allow us to unleash the full power of cryo-electron tomography.
Effects of Degrees of Degeneration on the Electrical Excitation of Human Spiral Ganglion Neurons Based on a High-Resolution Computer Model
Authors: Croner Albert M. , Heshmat Amirreza , Schrott-Fischer Anneliese , Glueckert Rudolf , Hemmert Werner , Bai Siwei
Published: July 2022

After hearing loss retrograde degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) has been described. Studies modeling the effects of degeneration mostly omitted peripheral processes (dendrites). Recent experimental observations indicated that degenerating SGNs manifested also a reduced diameter of their dendrites. We simulated populations of 400 SGNs inside a high resolution cochlear model with a cochlear implant, based on μCT scans of a human temporal bone. Cochlear implant stimuli were delivered as biphasic pulses in a monopolar configuration. Three SGN situations were simulated, based on our previous measurements of human SGN dendrites: (A) SGNs with intact dendrites (before degeneration), (B) degenerating SGNs, dendrites with a smaller diameter but original length, (C) degenerating SGNs, dendrites omitted. SGN fibers were mapped to characteristic frequency, and place pitch was estimated from excitation profiles. Results from degenerating SGNs (B, C) were similar. Most action potentials were initiated in the somatic area for all cases (A, B, C), except for areas near stimulating electrodes in the apex with intact SGNs (A), where action potentials were initiated in the distal dendrite. In most cases, degenerating SGNs had lower thresholds than intact SGNs (A) (down to –2 dB). Excitation profiles showed increased ectopic activation, i.e., activation of unintended neuronal regions, as well as similar neuronal regions excited by different apical electrodes, for degenerating SGNs (B, C). The estimated pitch showed cases of pitch reversals in apical electrodes for intact SGNs (A), as well as mostly identical pitches evoked by the four most apical electrodes for degenerating SGNs (B, C). In conclusion, neuronal excitation profiles to electrical stimulation exhibited similar traits in both ways of modeling SGN degeneration. Models showed degeneration of dendrites caused increased ectopic activation, as well as similar excitation profiles and pitch evoked by different apical electrodes. Therefore, insertion of electrodes beyond approximately 450° may not provide any benefit if SGN dendrites are degenerated.
Alterations in the Oral Microbiome Associated With Diabetes, Overweight, and Dietary Components
Authors: Shaalan Abeer , Lee Sunjae , Feart Catherine , Garcia-Esquinas Esther , Gomez-Cabrero David , Lopez-Garcia Esther , Morzel Martine , Neyraud Eric , Rodriguez-Artalejo Fernando , Streich Ricarda , Proctor Gordon
Published: July 2022

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) represents the traditional food consumption patterns of people living in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and is associated with a reduced incidence of obesity and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The objective of this study was to examine differences in the composition of the oral microbiome in older adults with T2DM and/or high body mass index (BMI) and whether the microbiome was influenced by elements of a MedDiet. Using a nested case-control design individuals affected by T2DM were selected from the Seniors-ENRICA-2 cohort concurrently with non-diabetic controls. BMI was measured, a validated dietary history taken, and adherence to a Mediterranean diet calculated using the MEDAS (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener) index. Oral health status was assessed by questionnaire and unstimulated whole mouth saliva was collected, and salivary flow rate calculated. Richness and diversity of the salivary microbiome were reduced in participants with T2DM compared to those without diabetes. The bacterial community structure in saliva showed distinct “signatures” or “salivatypes,” characterized by predominance of particular bacterial genera. Salivatype 1 was more represented in subjects with T2DM, whilst those with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) had a predominance of salivatype 2, and control participants without T2DM or obesity had an increased presence of salivatype 3. There was an association of salivatype 1 with increased consumption of sugary snacks combined with reduced consumption of fish/shellfish and nuts. It can be concluded that the microbial community structure of saliva is altered in T2DM and obesity and is associated with altered consumption of particular food items. In order to further substantiate these observations a prospective study should be undertaken to assess the impact of diets aimed at modifying diabetic status and reducing weight.
Nuclease-Treated Stabilized Fermentation Product of Cetobacterium somerae Improves Growth, Non-specific Immunity, and Liver Health of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Xie Mingxu , Hao Qiang , Xia Rui , Olsen Rolf Erik , Ringø Einar , Yang Yalin , Zhang Zhen , Ran Chao , Zhou Zhigang
Published: July 2022

High-fat diets (HFD) are harmful to fish health. Probiotics are commonly utilized to improve fish nutrition metabolism, immune response, and health. Nucleic acids of the probiotic bacterium can be hydrolyzed by nuclease to generate nucleotides. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of stabilized fermentation product of nuclease-treated Cetobacterium somerae XMX-1 [XMX-1 (N)] on growth, non-specific immunity, and liver health of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Compared to the HFD group, 100 g/kg XMX-1 (N) significantly increased weight gain and decreased feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, 5 or 10 g/kg XMX-1 (N) had no influence on zebrafish growth. In addition, supplementation of 100 g/kg XMX-1 (N) significantly increased lysozyme activity and total antioxidant capacity in skin mucus, and the expression of inflammation related genes interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the gut as well as fatty acid oxidation related genes uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) in the liver, while decreased the content of hepatic triacylglycerol (TAG) in zebrafish. The gene sequencing, 16S rRNA, showed that 100 g/kg XMX-1 (N) enhanced the relative abundance of Firmicutes while lowered Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. 10 g/kg XMX-1 (N) significantly increased lysozyme activity and complement component 4 (C4) in skin mucus, and intestinal expression of inflammation-related genes. In the 5 g/kg XMX-1 (N) group, however, only an increase in C4 level in skin mucus was observed. Together, these results reveal that dietary supplementation with nuclease-treated C. somerae XMX-1 (N) has a dose-dependent beneficial effect on fish health.
Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of the Effective Chinese Medicines Against Gynecological Cancer Based on Meta-Analysis Combined With Network Pharmacology Analysis
Authors: Ren Ning , Yu Lulin , Qian Lihui , Ye Gewei , Zhu Zhenzheng , Yu Jieru , Sun Leitao , Zhang Leyin
Published: July 2022

This meta-analysis plus network pharmacology aimed to investigate whether traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with chemotherapy is associated with more beneficial efficacy data in the treatment of gynecological cancer (GC). A total of 11 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) consisting of 863 GC patients were included. Results showed a better ORR (RR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.18–1.71; I2 = 21.4%; p = 0.282), DCR (RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.25; I2 = 0.0%; p = 0.492), PD (RR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11–0.65, p = 0.003; I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.930), and QOL (SMD: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.38–1.33, p = 0.005) and higher proportions of CD3+ T (WMD: 5.65, 95% CI: 4.23–7.08, p = 0.000; I2 = 68.3%, p = 0.004), CD4+ T (WMD: 6.97, 95% CI: 5.35–8.59, p = 0.000; I2 = 83.4%, p = 0.000), and the CD4+/CD8+ T ratio (WMD: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.23–0.42, p = 0.000; I2 = 78.0%, p = 0.000). The number of adverse events (AEs) was significantly lower in the TCM + chemotherapy group. The active components and targets of 19 high-frequency Chinese medicines obtained from the meta-analysis were screened and explored in network pharmacology analysis. Also, a regulatory network of active components and targets, a core network and key genes, a diagram of protein interaction, network topology analysis, and gene body GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed. A total of 120 active components were identified. NPM1 and HSPA8 are the most critical target proteins in the core network of protein interaction. HSP90AA1 is the most important target protein in the TCM group. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that it was highly significant in the lipid and atherosclerotic pathways. Therefore, moderate evidence revealed that TCM plus chemotherapy has obvious advantages over chemotherapy alone in terms of tumor responses, QOL, peripheral blood lymphocyte levels, and fewer AEs in the treatment of GC. The potential important targets and core genes were displayed.

Systematic Review Registration

www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021252500.
The Application of Nimotuzumab Combined With Definitive Chemoradiotherapy Toward the Treatment of Locally Advanced Cervical Esophageal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hu Jing , Chen Zhe , Lv Jiaming , Zheng Zhen , Bei Yanping , Chen Xue , Zheng Lu , Song Wenjie , Xu Yunbao
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of nimotuzumab in combination with chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

Retrospective analysis was conducted from September 2012 to February 2017 among 50 locoregional-advanced cervical esophageal carcinoma (CEC) patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) combined with or without nimotuzumab at Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was administrated on all patients. All patients were divided into two groups, of which 26 (Group A) received 200 mg (22 of 50) or 400 mg (4 of 50) of nimotuzumab per week with CRT and 24 (Group B) received definitive CRT.

Results

The median follow-up time was 23 months. The median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 40.6 and 21.1 months for all, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates on the whole were 79.6%, 62.1%, and 47.8%. There was no statistical difference in overall response rate and disease control rate between the two groups. Patients treated with nimotuzumab (group A) had better PFS than the definitive CRT group (group B) (P < 0.05). However, the median OS was 41.4 months in group A and 32.4 months in group B, respectively (P = 0.517). Multivariate analysis showed that PFS among those with lower Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (HR = 5.11; P < 0.01), stage II (HR = 9.52; P < 0.01) and the application of nimotuzumab combined with CRT (HR = 0.16; P < 0.01) was much longer. Furthermore, ECOG, stage, C-reactive protein (CRP) baseline, and histological grade can also be used as independent predictors of OS. Grade >3 adverse reactions were not observed. The most common adverse event related to nimotuzumab was mild fever and the occurrence rate was 19% (5 of 26). The incidence of anemia was 65.4% in group A and 87.5% in group B (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

For locoregional-advanced CEC, nimotuzumab combined with IMRT and concomitant chemotherapy was tolerated and effective. In addition, patients with a normal pretherapeutic serum CRP level (CRP < 10 mg/L) can achieve better OS.
Machine Learning-Based Models Enhance the Prediction of Prostate Cancer
Authors: Chen Sunmeng , Jian Tengteng , Chi Changliang , Liang Yi , Liang Xiao , Yu Ying , Jiang Fengming , Lu Ji
Published: July 2022

Purpose

PSA is currently the most commonly used screening indicator for prostate cancer. However, it has limited specificity for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. We aim to construct machine learning-based models and enhance the prediction of prostate cancer.

Methods

The data of 551 patients who underwent prostate biopsy were retrospectively retrieved and divided into training and test datasets in a 3:1 ratio. We constructed five PCa prediction models with four supervised machine learning algorithms, including tPSA univariate logistic regression (LR), multivariate LR, decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM). The five prediction models were compared based on model performance metrics, such as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, calibration curve, and clinical decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

All five models had good calibration in the training dataset. In the training dataset, the RF, DT, and multivariate LR models showed better discrimination, with AUCs of 1.0, 0.922 and 0.91, respectively, than the tPSA univariate LR and SVM models. In the test dataset, the multivariate LR model exhibited the best discrimination (AUC=0.918). The multivariate LR model and SVM model had better extrapolation and generalizability, with little change in performance between the training and test datasets. Compared with the DCA curves of the tPSA LR model, the other four models exhibited better net clinical benefits.

Conclusion

The results of the current retrospective study suggest that machine learning techniques can predict prostate cancer with significantly better AUC, accuracy, and net clinical benefits.
Year One of COVID-19 Pandemic: Effect on Presentation of Patients With Glaucoma in a Multi-Tier Ophthalmology Network in India
Authors: Das Anthony Vipin , Senthil Sirisha
Published: July 2022

Objective

To describe the demographics and clinical profile of patients with glaucoma presenting during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and unlock phases in India.

Methods

This retrospective hospital-based comparative study included patients presenting between March 25, 2017, and March 31, 2021. All patients who presented with glaucoma disorders were included as cases. The demographic and clinical data of these glaucoma patients were collected using an electronic medical record system.

Results

Overall, 34,419 patients (mean 47 per day) diagnosed with glaucoma diseases presented to the network and were included for analysis. The mean age of the patients was 54.16 ± 18.74 years and most were male (n=21,140; 61.42%) from the urban region (n=12,871;37.4%). On categorizing based on the timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the patients presented pre-COVID-19 (n=29,122; 84.61%), followed by a minority (n=175; 0.51%) during the lockdown and the rest (n=5,122; 14.88%) during unlock phase. An increasing number of patients with secondary glaucoma (n=82; 46.86%) and presenting from the local intra-city (n=82; 46.86%) was seen during the lockdown. There was a 6.6-fold increase in neovascular glaucoma and a 2.7-fold increase in lens induced glaucoma during the lockdown phase ((p<0.001) for both). There was a significant increase in subjects in 4th decade (p<0.03) and a decrease in subjects in 7th decade (p<0.008) during the lockdown period.

Conclusion

The presentation of patients with glaucoma disorders to the hospital is evolving due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The footfalls of patients during the unlock regained to two-thirds of the pre COVID-19 level. During the lockdown, the older patients were less, there was an increase in younger patients and those with secondary glaucoma, and the majority presenting from within the city.
Selection of Pediatric Mental Health Quality Measures for Health System Improvement in British Columbia Based on a Modified Delphi Approach
Authors: Waibel Sina , Wu Wan Ling , Smith Michael , Johnson L. Kit , Janke Rita D.
Published: July 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of mental wellbeing. The identification and implementation of quality measures can improve health outcomes and patient experience. The objective was to identify and define a core set of valid and relevant pediatric mental health quality measures that will support health system evaluation and quality improvement in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods

The study consisted of four phases. First, a comprehensive database search identified valid pediatric quality measures focused on mental health and substance use (MH/SU). Second, the identified quality measures were mapped to focus areas, which were then prioritized by two stakeholder groups consisting of 26 members. Third, up to two representative measures for each prioritized focus area were pre-selected by an expert panel (n = 9). And fourth, a three-step modified Delphi approach was employed to (1) assess each quality measure on a 7-point Likert scale against three relevance criteria (representative of a quality problem, value to intended audience and actionable), (2) discuss the results, and (3) select and rank the most relevant measures. Forty-eight stakeholders were invited to participate; of those 24 completed the round 1 survey, 21 participated in the round 2 discussion and 18 voted in the round 3 selection and ranking survey. For round 1, consensus was determined when at least 70% of the response rates were within the range of five to seven. For round 3, Kendall's coefficient of concordance W was used as an estimator of inter-rater reliability.

Results

One-hundred pediatric mental health quality measures were identified in the database search. Of those, 37 were mapped to ten focus areas. Pre-selection resulted in 19 representative measures moving forward to the Delphi study. Eleven measures met the consensus thresholds and were brought forward to the round 2 discussion. Round 3 ranking showed moderate to strong raters' agreement (Kendall's W = 0.595; p < 0.01) and resulted in the following five highest-ranked measures: level of satisfaction after discharge from inpatient admission due to MH/SU, number of patients experiencing seclusion or restraint, length of time from eating disorder referral to assessment, number of ED visits due to MH/SU, and number of readmissions to ED.

Conclusion

The selected core set of valid and relevant pediatric quality measures will support sustainable system change in British Columbia. The five top-ranked measures will be refined and tested for data collection feasibility before being implemented in the province.
Utility of a Laboratory Alert System for Detecting Adverse Drug Reactions in Hospitalised Patients: Hyponatremia and Rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Valdés-Garicano Mónica , Mejía-Abril Gina , Campodónico Diana , Parra-Garcés Raúl , Abad-Santos Francisco
Published: July 2022

Background—Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a public health issue, due to their great impact on morbidity, mortality, and economic cost. The use of automatized laboratory alerts could simplify greatly its detection.

Objectives—We aimed to evaluate the performance of a laboratory alerts system as a method for detecting ADRs, using hyponatremia and rhabdomyolysis as case studies.

Methods—This is a retrospective observational study conducted in 2019 during a 6-month period, including patients hospitalized at the Hospital Universitario de La Princesa. Patients were identified using altered laboratory parameters corresponding to the two signals: “rhabdomyolysis” (creatine phosphokinase >5 times the upper limit of normality (ULN): >1000 U/L for men and >900 U/L for women) and “hyponatremia” (<116 mEq/L) were detected. In cases where ADR was suspected, causality assessment was performed using the algorithm of the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System (SEFV).

Results—During the study period, 180 patients were studied for the “rhabdomyolysis” signal, 6 of them were found to have an ADR (3.3%). The sensitivity of the test was 60%, specificity 97%, and positive predictive value 41%. 28 patients were studied for the “hyponatremia” signal, and 11 patients were found to have an ADR (39.3%), with a sensitivity of 76.9%, a specificity of 93.3%, and a positive predictive value of 88.2%. We found no relationship between altered laboratory values and risk of ADR in any of the cases studied.

Conclusion—A pharmacovigilance program based on automatized laboratory signals could be an effective method to detect ADR. The study of the “hyponatremia” laboratory alert is more efficient than “rhabdomyolysis”. The evaluation of the hyponatremia alert allows the identification of 12 times more ADRs than the rhabdomyolysis alert, which means less time spent per alert evaluated to identify an ADR.
Physical Properties of Blood and their Relationship to Clinical Conditions
Authors: Alexy Tamas , Detterich Jon , Connes Philippe , Toth Kalman , Nader Elie , Kenyeres Peter , Arriola-Montenegro Jose , Ulker Pinar , Simmonds Michael J.
Published: July 2022

It has been long known that blood health heavily influences optimal physiological function. Abnormalities affecting the physical properties of blood have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various disorders, although the exact mechanistic links between hemorheology and clinical disease manifestations remain poorly understood. Often overlooked in current medical practice, perhaps due to the promises offered in the molecular and genetic era, the physical properties of blood which remain a valuable and definitive indicator of circulatory health and disease. Bridging this gap, the current manuscript provides an introduction to hemorheology. It reviews the properties that dictate bulk and microcirculatory flow by systematically dissecting the biomechanics that determine the non-Newtonian behavior of blood. Specifically, the impact of hematocrit, the mechanical properties and tendency of red blood cells to aggregate, and various plasma factors on blood viscosity will be examined. Subsequently, the manner in which the physical properties of blood influence hemodynamics in health and disease is discussed. Special attention is given to disorders such as sickle cell disease, emphasizing the clinical impact of severely abnormal blood rheology. This review expands into concepts that are highly topical; the relation between mechanical stress and intracellular homeostasis is examined through a contemporary cell-signaling lens. Indeed, accumulating evidence demonstrates that nitric oxide is not only transported by erythrocytes, but is locally produced by mechanically-sensitive enzymes, which appears to have intracellular and potentially extracellular effects. Finally, given the importance of shear forces in the developing field of mechanical circulatory support, we review the role of blood rheology in temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support devices, an increasingly utilized method of life support. This review thus provides a comprehensive overview for interested trainees, scientists, and clinicians.
Contrasting Water Withholding Responses of Young Maize Plants Reveal Link Between Lipid Peroxidation and Osmotic Regulation Corroborated by Genetic Analysis
Authors: Galić Vlatko , Mlinarić Selma , Marelja Matea , Zdunić Zvonimir , Brkić Andrija , Mazur Maja , Begović Lidija , Šimić Domagoj
Published: July 2022

Linking biochemistry and genetics of tolerance to osmotic stress is of interest for understanding plant adaptations to unfavorable conditions. The aims of this study were to investigate the variability in responses of panel of elite maize inbred lines to water withholding for stress-related traits through association study and to identify pathways linked to detected associations for better understanding of maize stress responses. Densely genotyped public and expired Plant Variety Protection Certificate (ex-PVP) inbred lines were planted in controlled conditions (16-h/8-h day/night, 25°C, 50% RH) in control (CO) and exposed to 10-day water withholding (WW). Traits analyzed were guaiacol peroxidase activity (GPOD), total protein content (PROT), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), hydrogen peroxide accumulation (H2O2), proline accumulation (proline), and current water content (CWC). Proline accumulation was found to be influenced by H2O2 and TBARS signaling pathways acting as an accumulation-switching mechanism. Most of the associations detected were for proline (29.4%) and TBARS (44.1%). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment in regulation of integral membrane parts and peroxisomes along with regulation of transcription and polysaccharide catabolism. Dynamic studies involving inbreds with extreme phenotypes are needed to elucidate the role of this signaling mechanism in regulation of response to water deficit.
ASP-Det: Toward Appearance-Similar Light-Trap Agricultural Pest Detection and Recognition
Authors: Wang Fenmei , Liu Liu , Dong Shifeng , Wu Suqin , Huang Ziliang , Hu Haiying , Du Jianming
Published: July 2022

Automatic pest detection and recognition using computer vision techniques are a hot topic in modern intelligent agriculture but suffer from a serious challenge: difficulty distinguishing the targets of similar pests in 2D images. The appearance-similarity problem could be summarized into two aspects: texture similarity and scale similarity. In this paper, we re-consider the pest similarity problem and state a new task for the specific agricultural pest detection, namely Appearance Similarity Pest Detection (ASPD) task. Specifically, we propose two novel metrics to define the texture-similarity and scale-similarity problems quantitatively, namely Multi-Texton Histogram (MTH) and Object Relative Size (ORS). Following the new definition of ASPD, we build a task-specific dataset named PestNet-AS that is collected and re-annotated from PestNet dataset and also present a corresponding method ASP-Det. In detail, our ASP-Det is designed to solve the texture-similarity by proposing a Pairwise Self-Attention (PSA) mechanism and Non-Local Modules to construct a domain adaptive balanced feature module that could provide high-quality feature descriptors for accurate pest classification. We also present a Skip-Calibrated Convolution (SCC) module that can balance the scale variation among the pest objects and re-calibrate the feature maps into the sizing equivalent of pests. Finally, ASP-Det integrates the PSA-Non Local and SCC modules into a one-stage anchor-free detection framework with a center-ness localization mechanism. Experiments on PestNet-AS show that our ASP-Det could serve as a strong baseline for the ASPD task.
The Past, Present, and Future of Host Plant Resistance in Cotton: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Egan Lucy M. , Stiller Warwick N.
Published: July 2022

Cotton is a key global fiber crop. However, yield potential is limited by the presence of endemic and introduced pests and diseases. The introduction of host plant resistance (HPR), defined as the purposeful use of resistant crop cultivars to reduce the impact of pests and diseases, has been a key breeding target for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) cotton breeding program. The program has seen success in releasing cultivars resistant to Bacterial blight, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, and Cotton bunchy top. However, emerging biotic threats such as Black root rot and secondary pests, are becoming more frequent in Australian cotton production systems. The uptake of tools and breeding methods, such as genomic selection, high throughput phenomics, gene editing, and landscape genomics, paired with the continued utilization of sources of resistance fromGossypiumgermplasm, will be critical for the future of cotton breeding. This review celebrates the success of HPR breeding activities in the CSIRO cotton breeding program and maps a pathway for the future in developing resistant cultivars.
Determination of the Soluble Solids Content in Korla Fragrant Pears Based on Visible and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Combined With Model Analysis and Variable Selection
Authors: Yang Xuhai , Zhu Lichun , Huang Xiao , Zhang Qian , Li Sheng , Chen Qiling , Wang Zhendong , Li Jingbin
Published: July 2022

The non-destructive detection of soluble solids content (SSC) in fruit by near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has a good application prospect. At present, the application of portable devices is more common. The construction of an accurate and stable prediction model is the key for the successful application of the device. In this study, the visible and near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectra of Korla fragrant pears were collected by a commercial portable measurement device. Different pretreatment methods were used to preprocess the raw spectra, and the partial least squares (PLS) model was constructed to predict the SSC of pears for the determination of the appropriate pretreatment method. Subsequently, PLS and least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) models were constructed based on the preprocessed full spectra. A new combination (BOSS-SPA) of bootstrapping soft shrinkage (BOSS) and successive projections algorithm (SPA) was used for variable selection. For comparison, single BOSS and SPA were also used for variable selection. Finally, three types of models, namely, PLS, LS-SVM, and multiple linear regression (MLR), were constructed based on different input variables. Comparing the prediction performance of all models, it showed that the BOSS-SPA-PLS model based on 17 variables obtained the best SSC assessment ability with rp of 0.94 and RMSEP of 0.27 °Brix. The overall result indicated that portable measurement with Vis/NIR spectroscopy can be used for the detection of SSC in Korla fragrant pears.
Identification of Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Triticum timopheevii Accessions and Characterization of Wheat-T. timopheevii Introgression Lines for Enhanced Resistance
Authors: Steed Andrew , King Julie , Grewal Surbhi , Yang Cai-yun , Clarke Martha , Devi Urmila , King Ian P. , Nicholson Paul
Published: July 2022

A diverse panel of wheat wild relative species was screened for resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB) by spray inoculation. The great majority of species and accessions were susceptible or highly susceptible to FHB. Accessions of Triticum timopheevii (P95-99.1-1), Agropyron desertorum (9439957), and Elymus vaillantianus (531552) were highly resistant to FHB while additional accessions of T. timopheevii were found to be susceptible to FHB. A combination of spray and point inoculation assessments over two consecutive seasons indicated that the resistance in accession P95-99.1-1 was due to enhanced resistance to initial infection of the fungus (type 1 resistance), and not to reduction in spread (type 2 resistance). A panel of wheat-T. timopheevii (accession P95-99.1-1) introgression lines was screened for FHB resistance over two consecutive seasons using spray inoculation. Most introgression lines were similar in susceptibility to FHB as the wheat recipient (Paragon) but substitution of the terminal portion of chromosome 3BS of wheat with a similar-sized portion of 3G of T. timopheevii significantly enhanced FHB resistance in the wheat background.
The Stress Detection and Segmentation Strategy in Tea Plant at Canopy Level
Authors: Zhao Xiaohu , Zhang Jingcheng , Tang Ailun , Yu Yifan , Yan Lijie , Chen Dongmei , Yuan Lin
Published: July 2022

As compared with the traditional visual discrimination methods, deep learning and image processing methods have the ability to detect plants efficiently and non-invasively. This is of great significance in the diagnosis and breeding of plant disease resistance phenotypes. Currently, the studies on plant diseases and pest stresses mainly focus on a leaf scale. There are only a few works regarding the stress detection at a complex canopy scale. In this work, three tea plant stresses with similar symptoms that cause a severe threat to the yield and quality of tea gardens, including the tea green leafhopper [Empoasca (Matsumurasca) onukii Matsuda], anthracnose (Gloeosporium theae-sinensis Miyake), and sunburn (disease-like stress), are evaluated. In this work, a stress detection and segmentation method by fusing deep learning and image processing techniques at a canopy scale is proposed. First, a specified Faster RCNN algorithm is proposed for stress detection of tea plants at a canopy scale. After obtaining the stress detection boxes, a new feature, i.e., RGReLU, is proposed for the segmentation of tea plant stress scabs. Finally, the detection model at the canopy scale is transferred to a field scale by using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images. The results show that the proposed method effectively achieves canopy-scale stress adaptive segmentation and outputs the scab type and corresponding damage ratio. The mean average precision (mAP) of the object detection reaches 76.07%, and the overall accuracy of the scab segmentation reaches 88.85%. In addition, the results also show that the proposed method has a strong generalization ability, and the model can be migrated and deployed to UAV scenarios. By fusing deep learning and image processing technology, the fine and quantitative results of canopy-scale stress monitoring can provide support for a wide range of scouting of tea garden.