bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognosis Implication of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Adult Patients With Acute Myocarditis
Authors: Zhao Yan , Lyu Naqiang , Zhang Wei , Tan Huiqiong , Jin Qi , Dang Aimin
Published: March 2022

Background

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in assessing the poor outcomes of adult patients with acute myocarditis.

Methods

A total of 170 adult patients with available NT-proBNP information were included in the study. They were grouped according to quartiles of NT-proBNP concentrations at admission. Baseline and follow-up information was collected. Thirty-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were death and heart transplantation. Long-term MACE included all-cause death, heart transplantation, re-hospitalization due to heart failure, sustained ventricular arrhythmia, and myocarditis relapse.

Results

During a median follow-up of 3.8 years, patients in the highest NT-proBNP quartile suffered from the highest risk both of 30-day and long-term MACE (P < 0.001 by log-rank test). Multivariate analysis showed that apart from left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), an increased baseline NT-proBNP > 3,549 pg/mL (hazard ratio 3.535, 95% CI 1.316–9.499, P = 0.012) and NT-proBNP > 7,204 pg/mL (hazard ratio 22.261, 95% CI 1.976–250.723, P = 0.012) was independent predictor of long-term and 30-day MACE, respectively.

Conclusions

Higher baseline NT-proBNP level was an independent predictor of poor outcomes in adult patients with acute myocarditis. Therefore, NT-proBNP may serve as a useful biomarker for risk stratification in acute myocarditis patients.
Long-Term Efficacy and Anticoagulation Strategy of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion During Total Thoracoscopic Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation to Prevent Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Kim Ju Youn , Jeong Dong Seop , Park Seung-Jung , Park Kyoung-Min , Kim June Soo , On Young Keun
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased ischemic stroke, and the left atrial appendage (LAA) represents the main source of thrombus formation. We evaluated the long-term efficacy of surgical thoracoscopic LAA occlusion during total thoracoscopic ablation of AF to prevent the stroke and anticoagulation strategy after surgery.

Methods

Patients who underwent total thoracoscopic ablation for AF, from February 2012 to May 2020, were included; Patients who did not receive LAA occlusion were excluded. We evaluated the development of thromboembolism in these patients.

Results

The total number of 460 patients [mean age, 57.1 ± 9.2 years; 400 (87.0%) males] were included in the study. The mean follow-up duration was 44.8 months. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 1.9 ± 1.6. Median OAC duration was 109.5 days after the surgery, and the final number of patients who discontinued OAC were 411 (89.3%) in total. Anticoagulation discontinuation rate according to CHA2DS2-VASc score are as follows; (i) 0 = 99.0%; (ii) 1 = 98.2%; and (iii) ≥2 = 81.3%. The annualized incidence rate of ischemic stroke was 0.78%/year, showing a 73% risk reduction compared with the CHA2DS2-VASc predicted rate without anticoagulation. The hazard ratio for ischemic stroke according to previous stroke history was 1.5 [95% confidential interval (CI) 0.3–7.3, p = 0.62], and that of remnant LAA was 5.1 (1.2–20.9, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Thoracoscopic LAA occlusion during total thoracoscopic ablation of AF was effective to prevent ischemic stroke. Most patients could discontinue OAC therapy after the procedure. Patients who had a residual trabeculated LAA, or peri-occluder pouch in follow-up CT need to maintain OAC therapy even after LAA occlusion.
A Survey of Data Quality Measurement and Monitoring Tools
Authors: Ehrlinger Lisa , Wöß Wolfram
Published: March 2022

High-quality data is key to interpretable and trustworthy data analytics and the basis for meaningful data-driven decisions. In practical scenarios, data quality is typically associated with data preprocessing, profiling, and cleansing for subsequent tasks like data integration or data analytics. However, from a scientific perspective, a lot of research has been published about the measurement (i.e., the detection) of data quality issues and different generally applicable data quality dimensions and metrics have been discussed. In this work, we close the gap between data quality research and practical implementations with a detailed investigation on how data quality measurement and monitoring concepts are implemented in state-of-the-art tools. For the first time and in contrast to all existing data quality tool surveys, we conducted a systematic search, in which we identified 667 software tools dedicated to “data quality.” To evaluate the tools, we compiled a requirements catalog with three functionality areas: (1) data profiling, (2) data quality measurement in terms of metrics, and (3) automated data quality monitoring. Using a set of predefined exclusion criteria, we selected 13 tools (8 commercial and 5 open-source tools) that provide the investigated features and are not limited to a specific domain for detailed investigation. On the one hand, this survey allows a critical discussion of concepts that are widely accepted in research, but hardly implemented in any tool observed, for example, generally applicable data quality metrics. On the other hand, it reveals potential for functional enhancement of data quality tools and supports practitioners in the selection of appropriate tools for a given use case.
Reconstructing Hydrothermal Fluid Pathways and Storage at the Solfatara Crater (Campi Flegrei, Italy) Using Seismic Scattering and Absorption
Authors: Di Martino Maria Del Pilar , De Siena Luca , Serlenga Vincenzo , De Landro Grazia
Published: March 2022

Imaging of fluid pathways is crucial to characterize processes taking place in hydrothermal systems, a primary cause of volcanic unrest and associated hazards. The joint imaging of seismic absorption and scattering is an efficient instrument to map fluid flow at crustal scale, and specifically in volcanoes; however, this technique has so far been applied to image volcanoes and hydrothermal systems at the kilometre scale. Here, we use data from a meter-scale, active seismic survey inside the shallow structure of the Solfatara crater to obtain the first frequency-dependent near-surface scattering and absorption model of a hydrothermal system. The Solfatara crater is the place used to monitor historic unrest at Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy), a high-risk volcano under continuous surveillance due to its closeness to a densely populated area. Improving the imaging of the shallow part of this system is crucial to broaden the understanding of unrest processes that are progressively characterizing other portions of the eastern caldera. The scattering contrasts highlight the primary structural feature, a fault separating the hydrothermal plume from zones of CO2saturation nearing fumaroles. While high-absorption anomalies mark zones of high soil temperatures and CO2fluxes, low-absorption anomalies indicate zones of very shallow upflow and are caused by contrasts between liquid-rich and vapour-rich fluids coming from mud pools and fumaroles, respectively. All maps show a SW-NE trend in anomalies consistent with fluid-migration pathways towards the eastern fumaroles. The results provide structural constraints that clarify mechanisms of fluid migration inside the crater. The techniques offer complementary geophysical images to the interpretation of hydrothermal processes and prove that seismic attenuation measurements are suitable to map fluid pathways in heterogeneous media at a detailed scale.
Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb Dating and Significance From Weathered Residual Kaolin Deposits on the Northern Margin of the Qinzhou-Hangzhou Suture Zone, China
Authors: Li Chunhai , Sun Qifa , Sun Zhonglin , Zhou Xiaohua , Zhang Wei , Chen Rong , Gao Tianshan
Published: March 2022

Weathered residual Kaolin deposits on the northern margin of the Qinzhou-Hangzhou Suture Zone are characterized by more feldspar-containing minerals and fewer dark minerals. These deposits have attracted increasing attention because of their high whiteness, low harmful impurity content, low depth of weathered mineralization, and ease for mining. The ore-forming rock masses mainly include granite (granite porphyry), quartz porphyry, eurite, haplite, and other acidic veins; the ore-bearing walls are mainly of Upper Proterozoic. Previous studies suggested that dyke rocks related to Kaolin deposits in this belt belong to the Mesozoic, but there is a lack of information regarding specific mineralization ages. In this study, two dyke wall-type weathered residual Kaolin deposits were selected from the northern margin of the Qinzhou-Hangzhou Suture Zone (Dongxicun and Yinbeidong, Jiangxi Province, China) for zircon SHRIMP dating. Two zircon U-Pb-based ages were obtained: 843 ± 10 Ma from Dongxicun granite veins that intrude into the Neoproterozoic Jiuling rock masses; 152.3 ± 1.8 Ma for Yinbeidong granite porphyry veins that intrude into the Neoproterozoic Anlelin Formation. We suggest that the dykes related to the Kaolin deposits were formed in the Neoproterozoic and late Jurassic. The Neoproterozoic dyke may be related to the convergence, formation, or pyrolysis of the Rodinia Supercontinent and the late Jurassic dyke may be related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate. These results provide a chronological basis for the investigation and evaluation of weathered residual Kaolin deposits on the Qinzhou-Hangzhou Suture Zone.
Reconstruction of Aeolian Activity Variability in the Central Tibetan Plateau From Grain-Size Distributions: End-Member Modeling and Source Attribution of Sediments From Lake Selin Co
Authors: Zhang Chunhui , Zhang Wanyi , Liu Yan , Yao Jinjiao , Wan Renchao , Li Huwei , Hou Xinyu , Zhang Chengjun
Published: March 2022

The grain size analysis and end-member modeling of clastic fractions in the Selin Co basin sedimentary sequence have been revealing variations of aeolian activity in the central Tibetan Plateau since 3,900 cal yr BP. The grain-size distributions measured in this study were classified into three statistical end-members that may be connected to clastic material inputs from a variety of sources and transport processes. Among these, the EM3 fraction (modal grain size of ∼138 μm) was suggested to indicate the aeolian activity history in the central Tibetan Plateau. The results indicate that the aeolian activity in this region occurred under dry and cold conditions since 3,900 cal yr BP, with three strong aeolian activity intervals at 3,200–2,900 cal yr BP, 2,400–1,400 cal yr BP, and after 130 cal yr BP. Comparison with other records showed that solar insolation, weakening Indian summer monsoon, and the strengthening westerlies have a direct relationship with the aeolian activity in the central Tibetan Plateau. We therefore suggest that the atmospheric circulation patterns and effective humidity may have a strong impact on the water balance and weathering intensity in the arid and semiarid areas, hence affecting dust emissions. Also, the coarse detrital end-member fraction of lake sediments is suggested as a potential aeolian activity proxy.
The Limits of Sharenting: Exploring Parents’ and Adolescents’ Sharenting Boundaries Through the Lens of Communication Privacy Management Theory
Authors: Walrave Michel , Verswijvel Karen , Ouvrein Gaëlle , Staes Luna , Hallam Lara , Hardies Kris
Published: March 2022

Parents sharing information about their children on social network sites (SNSs) (i.e., sharenting) is common today. However, previous work confronting parents’ and adolescents’ views on sharenting and related privacy concerns is limited. Therefore, the present study scrutinizes parents’ motives for sharenting and adolescents’ attitudes toward sharenting and negotiated privacy management strategies. Communication Privacy Management (CPM) was used as a theoretical framework. Based on 30 semi-structured interviews, two motives for sharenting were identified. Parents share information about their adolescent children because they are proud of their offspring or to inform family and friends. In turn, adolescents’ approval of their parents’ sharenting behavior depends on the content parents disclose online. Adolescents perceive sharenting as positive as long as they are nicely portrayed and positive events are shared. Additionally, both adolescents and parents are concerned about the child’s online privacy. They adopt several strategies to respect privacy boundaries and to avoid privacy turbulence.
Network Pharmacological Study on Mechanism of the Therapeutic Effect of Modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in Osteoporosis
Authors: Huang Xudong , Zhou Zhou , Zheng Yingyi , Fan Guoshuai , Ni Baihe , Liu Meichen , Zhao Minghua , Zeng Lingfeng , Wang Weiguo
Published: March 2022

Background

Modified Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (MDHJSD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for the treatment of osteoporosis (OP), but its mechanism of action has not yet been clarified. This study aims to explore the mechanism of MDHJSD in OP through a combination of network pharmacology analysis and experimental verification.

Methods

The active ingredients and corresponding targets of MDHJSD were acquired from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. OP-related targets were acquired from databases, including Genecards, OMIM, Drugbank, CTD, and PGKB. The key compounds, core targets, major biological processes, and signaling pathways of MDHJSD that improve OP were identified by constructing and analysing the relevant networks. The binding affinities between key compounds and core targets were verified using AutoDock Vina software. A rat model of ovariectomized OP was used for the experimental verification.

Results

A total of 100 chemical constituents, 277 targets, and 4734 OP-related targets of MDHJSD were obtained. Subsequently, five core components and eight core targets were identified in the analysis. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that overlapping targets were significantly enriched in the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway, an inflammation signaling pathway, which contained six of the eight core targets, including TNF-α, interleukin 6 (IL-6), transcription factor AP-1, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase, and caspase-3 (CASP3). Molecular docking analysis revealed close binding of the six core targets of the TNF signaling pathway to the core components. The results of experimental study show that MDHJSD can protect bone loss, inhibit the inflammatory response, and downregulate the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CASP3 in ovariectomized rats.

Conclusion

The mechanism of MDHJSD in the treatment of OP may be related to the regulation of the inflammatory response in the bone tissue.
Spatial Distribution and Factors Influencing Ecological Efficiency of the Yellow River Basin in China
Authors: Guo Zhengquan , Tang Shuning , Wang Daojuan , Zhang Jiaqi
Published: March 2022

Improving urban ecological efficiency is an integral part of ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. We used the super-efficiency slacks-based model with unexpected output to measure the ecological efficiency of 62 prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin from 2005 to 2018. Its spatial distribution characteristics and convergence are discussed. The influencing factors and spatial spillovers of the ecological efficiency are assessed through the spatial Dubin model. The results show that: 1) The ecological efficiency is highest in cities in the lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin, mid-level in the upper reaches, and lowest in the middle reaches. 2) There is no σ convergence in the ecological efficiency of the Yellow River Basin, but there is absolute β convergence and conditional β convergence. 3) Economic development, financial development, and technological innovation significantly promote ecological efficiency, and the spatial spillover effects are significant. Increased connection with the outside world can significantly improve ecological efficiency, but there is no apparent spatial spillover effect for these connections. The industrial structure and urbanization rate reduced ecological efficiency and have a significant negative spillover effect. The energy consumption structure reduces the level of ecological efficiency, and the spillover effect is not significant.
Characteristics of Phytoplankton Community Structure and Indication to Water Quality in the Lake in Agricultural Areas
Authors: Huang Yiqiang , Shen Yucheng , Zhang Shouzhi , Li Yang , Sun Zeyu , Feng Mingming , Li Rui , Zhang Jin , Tian Xue , Zhang Wenguang
Published: March 2022

In recent years, lakes’ water quality and quantity have been affected and damaged by agricultural activities. The sensitivity of phytoplankton to the hydrological environment can effectively indicate the health of the aquatic ecosystem and the change in water quality. Understanding the changes of phytoplankton communities in lakes contaminated by agriculture may contribute to determining the directions of protection of these water bodies and provide reference cases for wider research. It is found that there are 146 species, 63 genera, and 8 phyla of phytoplankton, including 57 species of Bacillariophyta, 46 species of Chlorophyta, 17 species of Cyanobacteria and Euglenophyta. The total abundance was changed successively with Bacillariophyta (75% in June), Cyanobacteria (50% in July–August), and Chlorophyta (75% in September–October). The total biomass decreased continuously over time. The biomass of Chlorophyta is highest in October (67.4%), and diatoms contribute the most biomass in other months (76.5%). The Redundancy analysis indicated that the main environmental factors affecting phytoplankton’s dynamic change are total salt, water temperature, total phosphorus, and 5-day biochemical oxygen demand. The phytoplankton can be divided into 21 functional groups. The MP group has the highest frequency, mainly distributed in the frequently stirred and turbid shallow water. Representative functional groups indicate the high degree of eutrophication and nutrient-rich conditions and the good associated environment for phytoplankton and slow water flow rate. With the seasonal change of agricultural irrigation and drainage, the water quality of Xinmiao Lake began to deteriorate from medium pollution in July and reached serious pollution in October finally. Furthermore, this research discovered that the risk of cyanobacteria bloom is high in summer, primarily when thermal stratification occurs. This study provides necessary information for understanding and predicting the changes of the phytoplankton community caused by the increase of nutrients, human disturbance, and temperature conditions in eutrophic lakes in agricultural areas.
Lake Sediment Methane Responses to Organic Matter are Related to Microbial Community Composition in Experimental Microcosms
Authors: Bertolet Brittni L. , Koepfli Cristian , Jones Stuart E.
Published: March 2022

Lake sediment microbial communities mediate carbon diagenesis. However, microbial community composition is variable across lakes, and it is still uncertain how variation in community composition influences sediment responses to environmental change. Sediment methane (CH4) production has been shown to be substantially elevated by increased lake primary productivity and organic matter supply. However, the magnitude of the response of CH4 production varies across lakes, and recent studies suggest a role for the microbial community in mediating this response. Here, we conducted sediment incubation experiments across 22 lakes to determine whether variation in sediment microbial community composition is related to the response of sediment CH4 production to increases in organic matter. We sampled the 22 lakes across a gradient of pH in order to investigate lakes with variable sediment microbial communities. We manipulated the incubations with additions of dried algal biomass and show that variation in the response of CH4 production to changes in organic matter supply is significantly correlated with metrics of sediment microbial community composition. Specifically, the diversity and richness of the non-methanogen community was most predictive of sediment CH4 responses to organic matter additions. Additionally, neither metrics of microbial abundance nor preexisting organic matter availability explained meaningful variation in the response. Thus, our results provide experimental support that differences in sediment microbial communities influences CH4 production responses to changes in organic matter availability.
Tolerance for Wolves in the United States
Authors: Slagle Kristina M. , Wilson Robyn S. , Bruskotter Jeremy T.
Published: March 2022

This study applies a psychological hazard-acceptance model to U.S. wolf conservation. Where most prior studies have focused on human populations most likely to interact with wolves (e.g., people who reside in wolves’ range), we sought to model tolerance among the general public throughout the United States, with representative samples from two regions with ongoing recovery efforts (i.e., the Northern Rocky Mountains and Western Great Lakes) as well as the rest of the country. As opposed to typical, attitudinal measures of tolerance (e.g., wildlife acceptance capacity) we sought to model supportive and oppositional behavior among the U.S. public as a function of perceptions of risk, benefit, and control, trust in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and affect toward wolves. At the national level, results predict a moderate amount of the variance for tolerant, stewardship behaviors (r2 = 0.22–0.25) and intolerant, oppositional behaviors to wolf conservation (r2 = 0.14–0.22). Most respondents (55%) did not intend to engage in either supportive or oppositional actions, and 23% indicated a preference for wolf populations to increase nationally. These preferences varied slightly by sample region when weighted to reflect regional demographics, with about one in three respondents in the Northern Rocky Mountains preferring for wolf populations to increase (32%), and slightly fewer saying the same in the Western Great Lakes region (30%) and rest of the United States (27%). We performed a post hoc logistic regression to identify factors that predisposed U.S. residents nationally to engage in any behavior toward wolves (tolerant or intolerant). This analysis suggested that the perceived importance of the wolf issue was most predictive of intentions to engage in behavior relevant to wolf conservation. Analyses indicate high levels of tolerance for wolves nationally, some support for their restoration, and only small minorities engaging in oppositional behavior. With the recent shift to individual state-level management, a more diverse policy matrix will increase the importance of understanding how human tolerance for wolves varies spatially (at the local level), and what factors drive tolerance at both the individual and group level.
Effect of Different Culture Conditions on Gene Expression Associated With Cyst Production in Populations of Artemia franciscana
Authors: Parraguez Margarita
Published: March 2022

Artemia franciscana inhabits hypersaline environments in the Americas and has a well-adapted reproductive system that allows it to survive in these extreme conditions, represented by the production of diapause cysts (oviparous reproduction). This reproduction mode is controlled by numerous genes that are expressed in response to different environmental stressors, enabling this species to avoid population extinction. However, to date, the expression of these genes has not been sufficiently studied to clarify their levels in response to a combination of different environmental factors under controlled conditions. We analyzed the expression of eight genes related to oviparous reproduction (SGEG, Arp-CBP, artemin, BRCA1, p8, ArHsp21, ArHsp22, and p26) to determine their association with cyst production in two populations of A. franciscana with contrasting phenotypes, one with high (Barro Negro, BNE, Chile) and one with low (San Francisco Bay, SFB, United States) cyst production. Populations were cultured under controlled conditions of salinity (SAL, 35 and 75 ppt), photoperiod (PHO, 12L:12D and 24L:00D), iron concentration (IC, 0[Fe] and 5[Fe]), and microalgae diet (DIE; Dunaliella tertiolecta (DUN) and Tetraselmis suecica (TETRA)). Sixteen treatments were performed by combining the two conditions of each of the four factors. Data on nine reproductive parameters per female were recorded, including the percent of offspring encysted (%) (POE). The gene expression levels were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The mean POE was significantly greater in BNE than in SFB (32.40 versus 12.74%, Mann–Whitney’s test, p < 0.05). Significantly upregulated expression of seven genes in BNE (more than twofold, p < 0.05) was observed in 38.28% of the treatments (e.g., DUN-75ppt-12L:12D-5[Fe] and TETRA-35ppt-12L:12D-5[Fe]). In SFB, seven genes showed significant differential expression, but most were downregulated in 29.69% of the treatments (e.g., DUN-75ppt-12L:12D-0[Fe] and DUN-75ppt-24L:00D-0[Fe]). Multiple regression analyses indicated that in BNE, five genes (SGEG, artemin, Arp-CBP, p8, and BRCA1) and three environmental factors (DIE, SAL, and IC) were important predictor variables for the POE response variable given that all of them were included in the highest-ranking models. In SFB, only two genes (ArHsp21 and artemin) and one environmental factor (SAL) were important explanatory variables in the highest-ranking models. It was concluded that the BNE population presented a characteristic gene expression pattern that differed from that of the SFB population. This pattern might be related to the marked oviparous reproduction of the BNE population. This gene expression pattern could be useful for monitoring the reproductive mode leading to diapause in Artemia and to assist with intensive cyst production in pond systems.
Prenatal Exposures to Common Phthalates and Prevalent Phthalate Alternatives and Infant DNA Methylation at Birth
Authors: Petroff Rebekah L. , Padmanabhan Vasantha , Dolinoy Dana C. , Watkins Deborah J. , Ciarelli Joseph , Haggerty Diana , Ruden Douglas M. , Goodrich Jaclyn M.
Published: March 2022

Phthalates are a diverse group of chemicals used in consumer products. Because they are so widespread, exposure to these compounds is nearly unavoidable. Recently, growing scientific consensus has suggested that phthalates produce health effects in developing infants and children. These effects may be mediated through mechanisms related to the epigenome, the constellation of mitotically heritable chemical marks and small compounds that guide transcription and translation. The present study examined the relationship between prenatal, first-trimester exposure of seven phthalates and epigenetics in two pregnancy cohorts (n = 262) to investigate sex-specific alterations in infant blood DNA methylation at birth (cord blood or neonatal blood spots). Prenatal exposure to several phthalates was suggestive of association with altered DNA methylation at 4 loci in males (all related to ΣDEHP) and 4 loci in females (1 related to ΣDiNP; 2 related to BBzP; and 1 related to MCPP) at a cutoff of q < 0.2. Additionally, a subset of dyads (n = 79) was used to interrogate the relationships between two compounds increasingly used as substitutions for common phthalates (ΣDINCH and ΣDEHTP) and cord blood DNA methylation. ΣDINCH, but not ΣDEHTP, was suggestive of association with DNA methylation (q < 0.2). Together, these results demonstrate that prenatal exposure to both classically used phthalate metabolites and their newer alternatives is associated with sex-specific infant DNA methylation. Research and regulatory actions regarding this chemical class should consider the developmental health effects of these compounds and aim to avoid regrettable substitution scenarios in the present and future.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insight into Spatio-Temporal Expression Characteristics and Genetic Regulatory Network in Postnatal Developing Subcutaneous and Visceral Fat of Bama Pig
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Wang Hongyang , Tu Weilong , Abbas Raza Sayed Haidar , Cao Jianguo , Huang Ji , Wu Huali , Fan Chun , Wang Shengchang , Zhao Ying , Tan Yongsong
Published: March 2022

The depot differences between Subcutaneous Fat (SAF) and Visceral Fat (VAF) are critical for human well-being and disease processes in regard to energy metabolism and endocrine function. Miniature pigs (Sus scrofa) are ideal biomedical models for human energy metabolism and obesity due to the similarity of their lipid metabolism with that of humans. However, the regulation of differences in fat deposition and development remains unclear. In this study, the development of SAF and VAF was characterized and compared in Bama pig during postnatal development (infancy, puberty and adulthood), using RNA sequencing techniques (RNA-Seq). The transcriptome of SAF and VAF was profiled and isolated from 1-, 3- and 6 months-old pigs and identified 23,636 expressed genes, of which 1,165 genes were differentially expressed between the depots and/or developmental stages. Upregulated genes in SAF showed significant function and pathway enrichment in the central nervous system development, lipid metabolism, oxidation-reduction process and cell adhesion, whereas genes involved in the immune system, actin cytoskeleton organization, male gonad development and the hippo signaling pathway were preferentially expressed in VAF. Miner analysis of short time-series expression demonstrated that differentiation in gene expression patterns between the two depots corresponded to their distinct responses in sexual development, hormone signaling pathways, lipid metabolism and the hippo signaling pathway. Transcriptome analysis of SAF and VAF suggested that the depot differences in adipose tissue are not only related to lipid metabolism and endocrine function, but are closely associated with sexual development and organ size regulation.
Identification of a Novel Deep Intronic Variant by Whole Genome Sequencing Combined With RNA Sequencing in a Chinese Patient With Menkes Disease
Authors: Zhi Xiufang , Ai Qi , Sheng Wenchao , Yu Yuping , Shu Jianbo , Yu Changshun , Yu Xiaoli , Li Dong , Cai Chunquan
Published: March 2022

Background: Menkes disease (MD) is a rare X-linked connective tissue disorder of copper metabolism caused by pathogenic variant(s) in ATP7A gene. The aim of the present study is to determine the clinical characteristics and molecular basis of one patient with MD.

Methods: One 10-month-old Chinese boy who met the clinical manifestations of MD was enrolled in this study. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed in the patient in order to identify the variant(s), followed by Sanger sequencing. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) from whole blood was subsequently applied to assess the effect of variant on transcription levels, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for further validation. In addition, X chromosome inactivation (XCI) status of the patient’s mother at the DNA level was measured by capillary electrophoresis.

Results: The patient suffered from intermittent convulsions for more than 6 months, with psychomoto retardation and neurodegenerations. The patient also had curly hair, hypopigmented skin, cutis laxa, decreased muscle strength and hypotonia. MRI showed the intracranial arteries were tortuous with some “spiral” changes. The patient’s serum ceruloplasmin level was low. WGS revealed one novel hemizygous variant, c.2627-501C > T (NM_000,052.7), located in the deep intronic sequence of ATP7A gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was inherited from his mother. RNA-seq confirmed the variant itself, and identified a pseudo-exon inserted between exons 12 and 13 in mRNA of ATP7A. The sequencing results of RT-PCR from the patient confirmed this finding, while neither of his parents detected aberrant splicing. The Capillary electrophoresis results showed that the patient’s mother had a skewed XCI.

Conclusion: Our finding of the variant enlarges the variant spectrum in the ATP7A gene. This is a novel deep intronic variant which leads to the activation of a pseudo-exons in the ATP7A gene, and it demonstrates the usefulness of WGS combined with RNA-seq, in terms of revealing disease-causing variants in non-coding regions. Furthermore, the fact that the deep intronic variants cause disease by the activation of pseudo-exon inclusion indicates that in MD this might be an important mechanism.
Inheritance, QTLs, and Candidate Genes of Lint Percentage in Upland Cotton
Authors: Niu Hao , Ge Qun , Shang Haihong , Yuan Youlu
Published: March 2022

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is an important natural fiber plant. Lint percentage (LP) is one of the most important determinants of cotton yield and is a typical quantitative trait with high variation and heritability. Many cotton LP genetic linkages and association maps have been reported. This work summarizes the inheritance, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), and candidate genes of LP to facilitate LP genetic study and molecular breeding. More than 1439 QTLs controlling LP have been reported. Excluding replicate QTLs, 417 unique QTLs have been identified on 26 chromosomes, including 243 QTLs identified at LOD >3. More than 60 are stable, major effective QTLs that can be used in marker-assisted selection (MAS). More than 90 candidate genes for LP have been reported. These genes encode MYB, HOX, NET, and other proteins, and most are preferentially expressed during fiber initiation and elongation. A putative molecular regulatory model of LP was constructed and provides the foundation for the genetic study and molecular breeding of LP.
Association Studies of Environmental Exposures, DNA Methylation and Children’s Cognitive, Behavioral, and Mental Health Problems
Authors: Guo Jia , Riley Kylie W. , Durham Teresa , Margolis Amy E. , Wang Shuang , Perera Frederica , Herbstman Julie B.
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Prenatal environmental exposures have been associated with children’s cognitive, behavioral, and mental health problems, and alterations in DNA methylation have been hypothesized as an underlying biological mechanism. However, when testing this hypothesis, it is often difficult to overcome the problem of multiple comparisons in statistical testing when evaluating a large number of developmental outcomes and DNA methylation sites as potential mediators. The objective of this study is to implement a ‘meet-in-the-middle’ approach with a sequential roadmap to address this concern.

Methods: In the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health birth cohort study, we implemented a 5-step sequential process for identifying CpG sites that mediate associations between prenatal environmental exposures and cognitive, behavioral, and mental health problems as measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). These steps include 1) the identification of biological pathways that are relevant to each outcome of interest; 2) selection of a set of genes and CpGs on genes that are significantly associated with the outcomes; 3) identification of exposures that are significantly associated with selected CpGs; 4) examination of exposure-outcome relationships among those where significant CpGs were identified; and 5) mediation analysis of the selected exposures and corresponding outcomes. In this study, we considered a spectrum of environmental exposure classes including environmental phenols, pesticides, phthalates, flame retardants and air pollutants.

Results: Among all considered exposures and outcomes, we found one CpG site (cg27510182) on gene (DAB1) that potentially mediates the effect of exposure to PAH on CBCL social problems at children aged 7.

Conclusion: This ‘meet-in-the-middle’ approach attenuates concerns regarding multiple comparisons by focusing on genes and pathways that are biologically relevant for the hypothesis.
Accessing Maternal Health Care in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study in Two Districts of Assam, India
Authors: Padhye Rashmi , Purushotham Anusha , Paul Maitrayee , Sardeshpande Nilangi , Ballala Ramnath , Dhar Shelley , Kaul Sunil , Khanna Renu
Published: March 2022

Background

COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent national lockdown in India compelled the health system to focus on COVID-19 management. Information from the field indicated the impact of COVID- 19 on the provision of maternal health services. This research presents users' and providers' perspectives about the effect of the pandemic on maternal health services in select districts of Assam.

Methods

The study was undertaken to understand the status of maternal health service provision and challenges faced by 110 pregnant and recently delivered women, 38 health care providers and 18 Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee members during COVID-19 pandemic. Telephonic interviews were conducted with the users identified through simple random sampling. Healthcare providers and the community members were identified purposively.

Results

Most of the interviewed women reported that they could access the health services, but had to spend out-of-pocket (for certain services) despite accessing the services from government health facilities. Healthcare providers highlighted the lack of transportation facilities and medicine unavailability as challenges in providing routine services. The study revealed high proportion of Caesarian section deliveries (42.6%, n = 32) and stillbirths (10.6%, n = 8).

Discussion

This research hypothesizes the supply-side (health system) factors and demand-side (community-level) factors converged to affect the access to maternal health services. Health system preparedness by ensuring availability of all services at the last mile and strengthening existing community-reliant health services is recommended for uninterrupted good quality and affordable maternal health service provision.
Transcriptional Regulation of Early T-Lymphocyte Development in Thymus
Authors: Bao Xueyang , Qin Yingyu , Lu Linrong , Zheng Mingzhu
Published: March 2022

T-lymphocytes play crucial roles for maintaining immune homeostasis by fighting against various pathogenic microorganisms and establishing self-antigen tolerance. They will go through several stages and checkpoints in the thymus from progenitors to mature T cells, from CD4-CD8- double negative (DN) cells to CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) cells, finally become CD4+ or CD8+ single positive (SP) cells. The mature SP cells then emigrate out of the thymus and further differentiate into distinct subsets under different environment signals to perform specific functions. Each step is regulated by various transcriptional regulators downstream of T cell receptors (TCRs) that have been extensively studied both in vivo and vitro via multiple mouse models and advanced techniques, such as single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq). This review will summarize the transcriptional regulators participating in the early stage of T cell development reported in the past decade, trying to figure out cascade networks in each process and provide possible research directions in the future.
One Health Surveillance for Rabies: A Case Study of Integrated Bite Case Management in Albay Province, Philippines
Authors: Rysava Kristyna , Espineda Jason , Silo Eva Angela V. , Carino Sarah , Aringo Ariane Mae , Bernales Rona P. , Adonay Florencio F. , Tildesley Michael J. , Hampson Katie
Published: March 2022

Canine rabies is a significant public health concern and economic burden in the Philippines. Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) that provide post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to bite patients have been established across the country, but the incidence of bite patient presentations has grown unsustainably, whilst rabies transmission in domestic dogs has not been controlled. Moreover, weak surveillance leads to low case detection and late outbreak responses. Here we investigated the potential for Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM) to improve rabies detection in Albay province. Using information obtained from animal bite histories combined with phone follow-ups and field investigations, we demonstrated that IBCM resulted in a fourfold increase in case detection over 13 months of study compared to the prior period. Bite patient incidence across Albay was very high (>600/100,000 persons/year) with PEP administered mostly indiscriminately. Clinic attendance reflected availability of PEP and proximity to ABTCs rather than rabies incidence (<3% of patient presentations were from “probable” or confirmed rabies exposures) and is therefore not a suitable indicator of rabies burden. Further analysis of the IBCM data suggests that rabies transmission is mostly localized with focal cases from the previous month and current cases in neighbouring villages being most predictive of future rabies occurrence. We conclude that investigations of suspicious biting incidents identified through IBCM have potential to foster intersectoral relationships, and collaborative investments between public health and veterinary services, enabling the One Health ethos to be applied in a more sustainable and equitable way. Triage of patients and investigations of suspect dogs offer an effective tool for improved PEP provisioning and reduction of unnecessary expenditure, whilst targeted field investigations should lead to increased and earlier detection of rabid dogs. Given the enduring risk of re-introductions from neighbouring populations, enhanced surveillance is critical to achieving and maintaining rabies freedom.
Green Turtles Highlight Connectivity Across a Regional Marine Protected Area Network in West Africa
Authors: Patrício A. R. , Beal M. , Barbosa C. , Diouck D. , Godley B. J. , Madeira F. M. , Regalla A. , Traoré M. S. , Senhoury C. , Sidina E. , Catry P.
Published: March 2022

Networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) are invaluable for the protection of species with high dispersal capacity, yet connectivity within networks is poorly understood. We demonstrate the connectivity within the regional MPA network in West Africa (RAMPAO), mediated by the largest green turtle population in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. We equipped with satellite tags 45 female green turtles nesting in the Bijagós Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau, and tracked them during internesting, migration, and foraging to quantify the degree of coverage the RAMPAO network provides during each of these critical periods. During the internesting period, turtles were largely concentrated around the nesting islands, with a mean of 94.8% (SD 0.1%, range: 46% - 100%, n = 40 turtles) of tracking positions falling within MPA limits. Among the 35 turtles successfully tracked into the foraging period, we identified variable migratory strategies, with 12 turtles remaining near-resident at distances of 40-90 km from breeding sites, 10 turtles migrating 300-400 km to The Gambia and Senegal, and 13 turtles traveling >1000 km to northern Mauritania. Of the 35 foraging turtles, 26 used MPAs, with a mean of 78.0% (SD 34.8%, range: 3.7% - 100%) of their tracking positions falling within the limits of RAMPAO MPAs, across Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mauritania. Migration corridors with high concentrations of passing turtles were mostly located nearshore, and 21% of these high passage areas fell within the MPA network. Overall, we found that this population connects five RAMPAO MPAs, yet some foraging sites (e.g., in the Bijagós) and important migration areas (e.g., Cap-Vert peninsula) described here are currently unprotected. These results are relevant to any considerations of MPA extension or establishment within the regional network, which would contribute towards meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity targets for national marine protected area estate coverage. By documenting biological connectivity across RAMPAO, this study represents an important example of the relevance of international protected area networks for green turtle conservation and for wider conservation action at a regional scale.
Intelligent Classification of Tungsten Inert Gas Welding Defects: A Transfer Learning Approach
Authors: Sekhar Ravi , Sharma Deepak , Shah Pritesh
Published: March 2022

Automated and intelligent classification of defects can improve productivity, quality, and safety of various welded components used in industries. This study presents a transfer learning approach for accurate classification of tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding defects while joining stainless steel parts. In this approach, eight pre-trained deep learning models (VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, InceptionV3, InceptionResNetV2, Xception, MobileNetV2, and DenseNet169) were explored to classify welding images into two-class (good weld/bad weld) and multi-class (good weld/burn through/contamination/lack of fusion/lack of shielding gas/high travel speed) classifications. Moreover, four optimizers (SGD, Adam, Adagrad, and Rmsprop) were applied separately to each of the deep learning models to maximize prediction accuracies. All models were evaluated based on testing accuracy, precision, recall, F1 scores, training/validation losses, and accuracies over successive training epochs. Primary results show that the VGG19-SGD and DenseNet169-SGD architectures attained the best testing accuracies for two-class (99.69%) and multi-class (97.28%) defects classifications, respectively. For “burn through,” “contamination,” and “high travel speed” defects, most deep learning models ensured productivity over quality assurance of TIG welded joints. On the other hand, the weld quality was promoted over productivity during classification of “lack of fusion” and “lack of shielding gas” defects. Thus, transfer learning methodology can help boost productivity and quality of welded joints by accurate classification of good and bad welds.
Expert Recommendations on the Evaluation of Sunscreen Efficacy and the Beneficial Role of Non-filtering Ingredients
Authors: González Salvador , Aguilera José , Berman Brian , Calzavara-Pinton Piergiacomo , Gilaberte Yolanda , Goh Chee-Leok , Lim Henry W. , Schalka Sergio , Stengel Fernando , Wolf Peter , Xiang Flora
Published: March 2022

A variety of non-filtering agents have been introduced to enhance sunscreen photoprotection. Most of those agents have only weak erythema protective properties but may be valuable and beneficial in supporting protection against other effects of UV radiation, such as photoimmunosuppression, skin aging, and carcinogenesis, as well as photodermatoses. The question arises how to measure and evaluate this efficacy since standard SPF testing is not appropriate. In this perspective, we aim to provide a position statement regarding the actual value of SPF and UVA-PF to measure photoprotection. We argue whether new or additional parameters and scales can be used to better indicate the protection conferred by these products against the detrimental effects of natural/artificial, UV/visible light beyond sunburn, including DNA damage, photoimmunosuppression and pigmentation, and the potential benefits of the addition of other ingredients beyond traditional inorganic and organic filters to existing sunscreens. Also, we debate the overall usefulness of adding novel parameters that measure photoprotection to reach two tiers of users, that is, the general public and the medical community; and how this can be communicated to convey the presence of additional beneficial effects deriving from non-filtering agents, e.g., biological extracts. Finally, we provide a perspective on new challenges stemming from environmental factors, focusing on the role of the skin microbiome and the role of air pollutants and resulting needs for photoprotection.